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Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, argued in favor of the graduated tax during a meeting with the Daily Herald editorial board; Adam Schuster, director of budget and tax research for the Illinois Policy Institute, argued that a graduated income tax rate gives legislators too much power and is the wrong way to tackle debt.
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Audio and summary Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks – Wirepoints
April 14, 2026
29 Comments
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago Fiscal Crisis Worse Than Pre-Bankruptcy Detroit, HIV Surge and Public Health Threat From Open Borders Goes Unreported
April 10, 2026
2 Comments
Summary and audio linked here.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago pension buyout plan mostly shifts debt rather than eliminating it, property tax surge doubles inflation over three decades
April 3, 2026
9 Comments
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times falsely blame Texas Gov. Abbott for 2020 to 2024 surge in Chicago Latino HIV, AIDS infections – Wirepoints Quickpoint
March 31, 2026
11 Comments
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
Still waiting for someone to explain the merits of the Blank Check Amendment
This jag knows nothing of what he is talking.
This is all to cover up the Illinois Dem government and their not budgeting and the unions and the pensions. They let things get out of hand.They need to deal with it and cut government jobs and cut taxes and then people might come back to Illinois and buy things–but that might be a bit too simple for their brain.
I reject any premise coming from Ralph. The revenue system does work. As total revenue grows, so will the states portion of that increased revenue (with a 5% flat tax). I have not heard Ralph once debunk this once. What doesn’t work is a budget that increases 10% year over year, with a multiplier when adding in additional pension liability.
Hey, how are the tollways doing in supporting schools? How bout the most recent income tax increase to 4.95%? Did they solve the problem? Oh wait, this progressive tax will decrease my property tax? Just stop it.