Commentary: Fixing Illinois’ fiscal mess is possible, but we might need Michael Madigan to do it – Chicago Tribune*

Jim Nowlan, a former president of the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois: "Think of the revenue side of state and local finance as a four-legged stool. The legs are the income, sales and local property taxes plus fees, hundreds of them. In Illinois, the property tax leg is way too long; the sales tax peg is skinny and short; our present income tax leg is, we contend, about the right length and, last time we looked, Illinois license and fee revenue was less than in most states."