-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER
FOLLOW US
WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES
Audio and summary Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks – Wirepoints
April 14, 2026
24 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.
Illinois the state of snatch and grab–keep and the citizens get NOTHING in return.
Bought an electric awhile ago. Charge at home via ComeEd RRTP overnight, when rates are lowest, oftentimes negative (they credit me to charge). Offsets gas increase nicely. And am in DuPage, so non-issue.
https://www.businessinsider.com/building-electric-cars-how-much-pollution-versus-gas-powered-vehicles-2019-11#:~:text=A%202015%20study%20from%20the,similar%20gas%2Dpowered%20vehicle%20
I paid ~$4 total using off peak ‘overnight’ pricing (https://hourlypricing.comed.com/live-prices/) for the last 2000mi, electric. Prior car was a 20yo Dodge Intrepid, so production input cost of electric more than offset by the prior extended retention period. Assuming ComEd mix is heavier nuclear (hence, most efficient), offsets of production and ultimate disposal are working out. Other car is an MDX, plain old ICE (Japanese Lean Production Method – quality), for extended haul trips, where electric is sketchy. It’s good to have a mix as a hedge for when either fuel source is too pricey. Options confuse the typical IL political… Read more »
Electric car enthusiasts generally likely are assuming way too much in the way of financial savings over the life span of their new cars. First, as the technology continues to improve we’ll have cars going greater distances and with batteries having a lower manufacturing cost IF rare earth metals needed to make them continue to be available for importation, a trade issue in itself. In any case those newer battery technologies will bring greater deprecation to the electric cars purchased these days since manufacturing costs to make such cars will be reduced. Secondly, at some point the expensive electric battery… Read more »
ICE vehicles are cheaper
Excuse me all… but it seems that the wise citizens of DuPage are now voting Democratic.
Why should it be surprising that their taxes are now doubling? This is exactly what they voted for.
They are not only going to get the taxes that they asked for but a whole hell of a lot more!!
Have fun folks and watch as your home values plummet and property taxes skyrocket.
A 15 gallon fill up will cost you 60 cents. 99% won’t even notice. Expect many more of these types of taxes. Your government needs the chedda. Quit fighting it and hand it over.
leave illinois and you do not have to pay it.Not ever again..
True but demand is increasing for DuPage County. Median selling price is up 10.5% YoY and median days on the market is down to 18. Median selling price is $305k. People want to live there and a 60 cent increase won’t hit their radar. They could always move to places like Champaign county or Joplin MO. Apparently they can save 5 to 7 bucks on a tank of gas. Of course the median household income is about half as much as DuPage County. At least then they could stick it to those politicians that raised the taxes by 4 cents… Read more »
Yes, there is an odd (stay within the confines) micro-situation that people who feel they can’t leave are just leaving the city for a better version of shtty IL. I don’t know why people don’t have greater courage, but the job situation likely is #1 and people don’t like change. They’ll keep eating taxes, it’s no surprise to me knowing what I know about humans.
EVERYONE can leave. Even farmers.
According to GasBuddy. DuPage gas prices at the time of comment are around $2.00. Champaign county? $1.71. Joplin MO? $1.55. Pretty noticeable. Does a frog notice the temp rising in a pot of boiling water? Hint: you are the frog
“A 15 gallon fill up will cost you 60 cents.” Where are you buying gas for $.04? The truth hurts? Maybe but this is a lie
He’s talking about what the additional tax cost would be not the total.
Yea I know but that is not what he said. 15 gallon does not cost 60 cents. That is Illinois math.
I notice the taxes every time I pump gas
.08 county depends on county and Chicago has a city tax also
.387 state
.18 federal
.0625 sales
This is just one commodity taxed more, where will they strike next. I for one believe we’re over taxed as it is and government too bloated.