February 6, 2014 | Wirepoints

Rich = Bad: Kirk Dillard’s new ads make unequivocal attack on wealth – WP Original

February 6, 2014 2 Comments

February 6, 2013 By: Mark Glennon Kirk Dillard, Republican candidate for Illinois governor, just released some new ads against opponent Bruce Rauner, a couple of which equate wealth with evil as unequivocally as anything that came out of Occupy Wall Street. The two ads are linked here: They don’t even mention Dillard’s own name, their sole point being that Rauner’s wealth makes him hypocritical, uncaring and unfit for office. If there’s a Democrat somewhere in the country engaging in class warfare this overtly I don’t know who it is. Good thing Americans weren’t thinking like Dillard

State Senator Mike Frerichs Panders With Diaper Tax Break, Stands By Vote to Double Income Tax – Illinois Truth Team

February 6, 2014 No Comments

http://www.iltruthteam.com/2014/02/mike-frerichs-tax-policy.html

New study: Over 500,000 illegal immigrants in Illinois, over half in Chicago area

February 6, 2014 No Comments

http://icirr.org/sites/default/files/Illinois undocumented report.pdf

The public’s changing views of public employee unions – Public Sector Inc

February 6, 2014 No Comments

“Even in labor-friendly California, citizens have soured on public sector unions, as 44% said they caused more harm and 39% more good, which was part of a net 16 point swing in attitudes about labor unions from positive to negative over the past two years.” via The public’s changing views of public employee unions | Public Sector Inc.

Illinois already has a progressive income tax – Reboot Illinois – Reeder

February 6, 2014 No Comments

Even with a flat income tax rate, primarily because of the way the earned income credit works, a household earning $15,000 in Illinois pays on average 1.9 percent of its income to the state. A family earning $30,000 pays 2.9 percent. A taxpayer earning $75,000 pays 3.8 percent. via Reboot Illinois – Reeder: Illinois already has a progressive income tax.

Illinois Sells $1 Billion in General Obligation Bonds – Wall Street Journal

February 6, 2014 No Comments

“Illinois sold $1 billion in general obligation bonds, paying less to borrow than they did in a similar sale in June, a sign that the state’s efforts to close a gaping pension gap are drawing back investors.” “Even so, Illinois’ borrowing costs are still the highest among U.S. states, reflecting lingering uncertainty over its ability to carry out reforms and boost revenue. Investors demand 0.84 percentage point more to buy Illinois 10-year debt over California issues.” http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304450904579367111455944866?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450904579367111455944866.html

The Politics of Being a City CFO – Governing.com

February 6, 2014 No Comments

Part of the changing role of CFOs is that their roles in city government have become more prominent since the Great Recession as cities have had to swallow budget cuts and tax hikes. http://www.governing.com/news/headlines/gov-politics-being-chief-financial-officer.html

Survey Finds Bipartisan Support for Immigration Reform among Midwestern Business Leaders – chicagotribune.com

February 6, 2014 No Comments

75 percent of Republican, 63 percent of Democrat and 55 percent of Independent Midwest business leaders surveyed favor the Senate bill on comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship combined with stricter border control. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/community/chi-ugc-article-survey-finds-bipartisan-support-for-immigrati-2014-02-04,0,2840978.story

Chicagoland Mass Transit Gets Low Rating from State – WJOL

February 6, 2014 No Comments

The Northeastern Illinois Transit Task Force says that “transit deserts” exist all over the Chicagoland area, and that planning efforts are falling short of what’s needed. http://www.wjol.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=3&item_id=38851

Mayor’s financial team defends new city borrowing – Hinz- Crain’s

February 6, 2014 No Comments

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140206/BLOGS02/140209874?r=8332E8774912D3C

Are Illinois’ $1.5 billion in tax giveaways working? Who knows? « Watchdog.org

February 6, 2014 No Comments

“I have not seen anything that, verifiably, show these things work,” said state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, in charge of one of two statehouse committees investigating the incentives. via Are Illinois’ $1.5 billion in tax giveaways working? Who knows? « Watchdog.org.