A republication of our Wirepoints article.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is renewing charges that President Trump’s farm trade bailouts are going unfairly to Southern cotton farmers and not to soybean growers truly hurt by the president’s tariff war with China.

“Politicians in high-tax states claim that taxes don’t drive people out, but their constituents disagree: in the Berkeley poll, 58 percent of those considering leaving California said that high taxes were one reason….”

Before coming through with the $500 million, Pritkzer wanted Illinois universities to first prove their commitment by raising just as much in private investments.

That target hasn’t yet been met – donors have come through with $230 million thus far, including a $5 million gift from University of Illinois board of trustees chairman Don Edwards and his wife Anne, which was just announced Wednesday. Pritkzer said the state’s guarantee of support will help meet the fundraising goal.

MSNBC’s Joy Reid said the word “heartland” is “like a dog whistle for white voters.”

While all 13 Illinois US House Democrats voted to benefit the wealthy by increasing the SALT tax deduction, it was Illinois’ own Congressman Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville who actually introduced the legislation to increase the amount of state and local taxes (SALT) that can be deducted from federal tax returns, an amendment to the GOP’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

For the first time since news broke last summer that federal investigators had subpoenaed Exelon and subsidiary ComEd in their probe of Illinois political corruption, the company is explicitly warning investors that it could be subject to criminal or civil penalties.

An actuary’s perspective.

It’s been less than a year since the gas tax was raised statewide, and now gas prices could be going up again. A new bill would allow local governments to vote on whether they’d like to increase the fuel tax locally, by three cents.

“Everywhere I go, I hear a new optimism that Illinois is finally getting on the right path and that our future is brighter.”

“Walk a mile in their shoes, which are sunk deep into the fetid and festering sewer of government in Illinois, and it’s a different perspective altogether.”

Statewide revenue hasn’t increased since 2012, but six new casinos could soon be added to the mix.

In prepared remarks — which she was not permitted to read at the hearing — Porter described a “shocking development” since she first went public with her concerns last year.

See our own story on this topic linked here.

It was introduced by Rep. Jesus Garcia of Illinois.

From Jan. 21 to Feb. 3 alone, 11 new class action lawsuits were filed in Cook County Circuit Court against a range of employers under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.

A reprint of our Wirepoints article.

A bill to extend an expiring ban on fentonyl had passed the U.S. Senate without a dissenting vote. So it’s perplexing that nine House Democrats from Illinois voted against the bill: Sean Casten, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Chuy Garcia, Robin Kelly, Bobby Rush, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Schneider and Lauren Underwood.

A union representing Secretary of State Employees picketed outside the capitol Tuesday. Deneen Taylor, representing 98 IT employees in White’s office, said management was failing.

“This technology and the demands are increasing yet the number of employees to hold those positions and make sure everything is up to date and working properly aren’t there and that rests on the Secretary of State and their hiring,” Taylor said. Taylor said members were ready to strike for more money and improved hiring practices.

A cannabis-infused chocolate bar purchased in Illinois’ capital city of Springfield might cost $25 before taxes. But after the state, city and county take a cut, the consumer would end up paying $33.19.

Pritzker’s chief-of-staff Anne Caprara said when it comes time for the Democratic National Committee to discuss its primary voting structure, a very real push will be made to make Illinois the lead in the nation in the nominating process.

“In his Jan. 29 State of the State speech, Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for ‘real, lasting ethics reform.’ Good. But not good enough. Not for the moment we’re in.”

The snafu stems from a data-matching error between the state’s election board and the Illinois Department of Corrections. Individuals were incorrectly categorized as currently incarcerated when in fact they had completed their sentences and been discharged, officials said.

“The graduated income tax proposal that forms the basis of so many of Pritzker’s plans requires a constitutional amendment—creating an opening to push through a pension fix at the same time. Pritzker won’t walk through that door, no doubt because the unions that helped him win office wouldn’t like it much. But the responsibility Pritzker won was to represent the interests of all Illinoisans, not just those who carry a union card.”

“I’ve argued before that it is shorter-term cash considerations that pose a danger for pension funds, and that the system will not suddenly blow up, but rather slowly unravel. Looking at aggregate numbers is misleading…if enough of the 6,300 state and local pension plans fail, it will cause legal and political changes that will likely end the current system of partially funded defined-benefit plans for public sector employees. That could happen in the next recession.”

“This is not poor leadership, but an absolute lack of leadership. I have lived in Illinois my entire 63 years and will be retiring soon. J.B., will you do what it takes to keep me from taking my money in retirement and moving to another state? You can be certain that there are many like me.”

It’s actually a Midwest index.

Former State Senator Martin Sandoval is now turning on his various co-conspirators in what ultimately will become an every-man-for-himself feeding frenzy. “I intend to fully cooperate with the government, and because of that, I can no longer provide any further comments,” he told reporters.

Comment: Just imagine all the press like this and ribbon cutting ceremonies Pritzker will be getting out that obscenely oversized $45 billion capital spending program, paid for mostly with regressive new taxes.

“There are too many cooks in the kitchen,” said Sam Panayotovich, sports betting analyst for NBC Sports and a former sports anchor for WGN radio. “The leagues want a piece. The (state government) wants a big cut. The tax rate is too high. There are just too many things that too many people want and it just makes everything just way more difficult.”

Comment: My, what dumb article. More on that coming soon.

Comment: Good to see there’s at least one reporter in Illinois who sees through the flim-flam.

One Republican is convinced a state version of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal is something Illinois should adopt. House Assistant Minority Leader Grant Wehrli of Naperville signed on as Chief Co-sponsor of the Clean Energy Job Act, he announced last week.

Former Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty on Tuesday to agreeing to act as a “protector” for red light camera company SafeSpeed in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes, and is cooperating with federal prosecutors in a sweeping corruption probe of SafeSpeed, ComEd, and others.

One of many national stories about Sandoval.

A trip to renew your state ID or driver’s license can be a confusing experience. Here is what you need to know before you go to get a REAL ID.

For decades, major energy initiatives in Illinois have run through two gatekeepers—House Speaker Michael Madigan and Commonwealth Edison. Springfield is preparing to test whether it can fundamentally alter the state’s energy future with those two political powerhouses sidelined.

That’s according to Kinsa Health, a company that collects about 40,000 temperature readings a day via its smart thermometers. As noted recently by the New York Times, the company can track the flu faster than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To be precise, 9.14 percent of Illinoisans have flu-like symptoms.

“[B]eyond reform that can be scratched on paper, changing the culture of business as usual in Springfield and at City Hall requires a revolt. It requires voters to prioritize ethics reform at the ballot box, and it requires political leadership willing to light a blowtorch. If that revolt doesn’t start with party leaders, don’t even dream of change. It’s got to come from the top and from the inside.”

Two years after President Trump signed the tax law, its effects are rippling through local economies and housing markets, pushing some people to move from high-tax states where they have long lived. Parts of Florida, for example, are getting an influx of buyers from states such as New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Rick Bechtel, head of U.S. residential lending at TD Bank, lives in the Chicago area and said he recently went to a party where it felt like everyone was planning their moves to Florida. “It’s unbelievable to me the number of conversations that I’m

The International Union of Operating Engineers, which has many friends on both sides of the political aisle in Illinois, is pushing to have the General Assembly approve a proposed constitutional amendment effectively banning right-to-work laws—which guarantee that no employee can be compelled to join or pay dues to a union—anywhere in the state.

“The last thing the state of Illinois needs is another way to turn off companies looking to bring good jobs here. But that’s exactly what would happen if a powerful state labor union gets its way in its push for a permanent ban on so-called

“We continue to anticipate plenty of action on the political corruption front coming out of 219 S. Dearborn in the coming days, weeks or months. The difference is that we’ve lowered our expectations about the timing. You know the old saw about a watched pot never boiling.”

Why is this all taking longer than expected? Maybe because there are so many cases that federal authorities don’t have the resources to reel in everything at once? Or maybe it’s because suspects started cooperating as charges were about to be filed, giving prosecutors more time to prepare and new information to

“The Civic Federation agrees with Joe Cahill’s recent critique of the shortcomings of the draft preliminary report of the State of Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force. Though it only reflects the initial work of more than 80 members of the General Assembly, much more is needed if Illinois is to begin addressing its property tax crisis.”

By Truth in Accounting’s Bill Bergman

“Long story short: Property taxes can’t plummet until legislators put forth a constitutional amendment that allows for pension reform. That notion tosses Illinois Democrats, their Springfield apologists and their union allies into conniptions. Which leaves Democrats arguing about whether to, say, expand the sales tax base. That new revenue could go to school districts and other local governments, and they in turn could reduce their property tax levies.”

More than 129,000 Illinois public pensioners will see expected payouts of $1 million or more during retirement.

If you own a trailer, the new license plate fee might empty your pockets starting this year.

Comment: We are not fans of his politics, but this is a refreshingly different move. Bravo.

Hoping to nail shut a door that former Gov. Bruce Rauner tried to pry open, a major state labor group is moving to put Illinois permanently off-limits to efforts to ban so-called union shops in the state.

The move is being led by International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, a large, well-funded building-trades group with considerable influence on both sides of the aisle in Springfield.

IUOE specifically wants the Legislature this spring to approve—and send to voters for final action on the November ballot—a proposed constitutional amendment banning right-to-work laws in the state. While political conservatives strongly

“Our research revealed Illinois legislators have acquiesced to a power grab by the federal and state judiciary.”

Across all five state retirement systems, typical career workers pay for about 5% of the cost of their pension benefits. They receive an average of $1.7 million to $3.6 million.

After more than a decade, the Illinois Senate finally has a new leader. But newly installed Senate President Don Harmon will have to wrestle with the same cast of snapping demons as predecessor John Cullerton.

Publicly, party leaders made a show of unity. Lightford, who is Senate majority leader, hugged Harmon on the Senate floor Sunday afternoon as she nominated him to become the next Senate president. Harmon, who is white, was elected unanimously after hours of negotiations. But afterward, accusations flew of personal betrayal, and long-time simmering feuds bubbled over.

Lightford, D-Maywood, blamed former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., and his son, Emil Jones III, who is currently in the Senate, for her loss. She would have been the first female black Senate president. She thinks their opposition may stem from

Comment: A particularly good summary of what should be obvious.

Over the last year, the City Council pushed Decatur’s boundaries outward, annexing hundreds of properties despite vehement objections from new residents whose spacious houses and half-acre lots contrast sharply with the smaller, aging homes in neighborhoods closer to downtown.

Illinois’ problem isn’t the form of taxation, it’s the level. Illinois government is simply spending at a rate its dwindling number of taxpaying residents cannot afford.

On the graduated income tax proposal, Brady says:

“Pritzker has sold it in a way that some people might believe—and he might even believe. But the truth of the matter is, if you look at the history of politicians, particularly Democrats, you’ll find they are more than willing to reach into the taxpayers’ pocket and take more money,” Brady said. “And there were other circumstances surrounding his election victory. Gov. Pritzker spent a record $180 million on his campaign. Gov. Rauner spent less than $50 million. It was a very lopsided appeal.

“I believe the voters will reject—when they’re informed

Presented without comment.

Comment: To all of us who think Illinois taxes cause population loss, this article says “back that argument up before it carries you off to fantasyland — or to Indiana, whichever is worse.” They should have added, for all you Wirepoints commenters who’ve told us you’ve moved or plan to because of taxes — you’re all liars. CC: Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Madigan’s home ward, the 13th on the Southwest Side, is receiving a special $10 million appropriation for street resurfacing, new streetlights and other improvements—a gift far larger than most and maybe all of the city’s other 49 wards are receiving.

The money was tucked into Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s huge new $45 billion capital program, the one that passed the Legislature last year with Madigan’s help. And though neither state officials nor especially Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration seem thrilled about it, both are going along with the move.

Based on Wirepoints’ compilation of Census data.

Quentin Fulks is the Chairman of Vote Yes For Fairness, a ballot initiative committee working to pass the Fair Tax in Illinois. Presented here, without comment, is his case that “drastic” out-migration is due to the unfairness in our tax system, which would be fixed by a progressive income tax, and that “it’s clear that taxes are not the reason people are leaving Illinois.”

A quarter of every tax dollar generated from recreational cannabis will go to the newly created Restore, Reinvest and Renew program. When she was a state senator, Toi Hutchinson explained what that’ll be spent on.

“That money is specifically going to small community agencies in the areas that have been impacted the most, that do the work on the ground,” Hutchinson said in 2019.

Comment: This article makes pretty much the same criticisms as ours on the draft recommendations by the Property Tax Relief Task Force. From this article: “The draft report of the property tax relief task force offers little hope that elected officials will do what’s necessary to reverse these trends.”

The high court’s action leaves a dark cloud over special revenue bonds, which could increase borrowing costs for local governments seeking to finance infrastructure projects.

“We agree with Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business that it’s time for Madigan to go….As for Pritzker, how much confidence are we supposed to have in his call for an investigation when the presumed anti-whisteblower did work for him and in essence still does? The governor is “appalled and disgusted?” Really? It has as much credence as Pritzker’s feigned support for redistricting reform. Pritzker talked a good game about that when he was running, but when was the last time anyone saw him actually do anything to make it happen?”

While much was made in advance about its potential significance, creation of the 88-member legislative committee on property-tax reform was never anything more than a political sop that Gov. J.B. Pritzker used to persuade reluctant Democrats to put his proposed constitutional amendment replacing the state’s current flat tax mandate with a progressive income tax on the November 2020 ballot.

State investigators are looking into whether an explosive email that refers to keeping quiet about a “rape in Champaign” could be tied to an inmate who got out of prison early and then sexually abused a young girl, sources familiar with the probe told the Tribune. “I can confirm it is one possible scenario that is being looked at,“ the source said.

Farm income is down, prices continue low. Stress grows.

While our neighbors have exercised some fiscal restraint, our elected officials continue to spend like drunken sailors.

After two years of revelations, it’s obvious Madigan’s closest associates felt that no one could hold them to account, however foul the deed. It’s time for the Illinois House speaker to go, Greg Hinz writes.

There is some concern that these measures may not work in the way intended. The process is expensive – requiring a nonrefundable $5,000 application fee with winners paying $60,000 for the new dispensary licenses. The complicated 400-page application may limit who can realistically apply or necessitate hiring a consultant to navigate through it. The social equity points given for hiring impacted minorities may also work against local entrepreneurs and favor big cannabis companies.

Nearly 20,000 people with disabilities in Illinois are on a waiting list to receive state aid after they age out of the state’s public education system, the Tribune reported last month. Most wait years before they are selected.

The Census Bureau and IRS last week also released state population growth and income migration data for 2018 that show the exodus from high-tax to low-tax states is accelerating. Four states have lost population since 2010 including West Virginia (-3.3%), Illinois (-1.2%), Vermont (-0.3%) and Connecticut (-0.2%), but 10 experienced declines last year. New York was the biggest loser as a net 180,000 people left for better climes. Over the last decade New York has lost more of its population to other states (7.2%) than any other save Alaska (8%), followed by Illinois (6.8%), Connecticut (5.6%) and New Jersey (5.5%).

“[T]he outflow of Illinois residents just keeps climbing. And they’re taking wealth with them: Financial website Wirepoints reports that the average adjusted gross income of those who left in 2018 was about $85,000. Those who moved to Illinois had incomes of around $66,000. Collectively, that’s a lot of lost spending power.”

Trifinity Specialized Distribution, a Waukegan, Ill.-based company that serves major box stores and drug retailers, is relocating to Kenosha, bringing 61 jobs with plans to expand capacity. The company founder noted that the move is a money saver in several ways, saying taxes in Illinois, Lake County and the local community made it difficult to remain there. He also said the tax structure is lower in Wisconsin than in Illinois and noted that the Illinois fuel tax is going up by 35 percent.

A national republication of our Wirepoints article.

“Politicians like Pritzker occupy special places on the planet where the things they either say or don’t say are explained away by their public-relations representatives.”

Comment: Nobody should support it because it’s garbage. See our summary of it linked here.