The difference in performance between Indiana and Illinois governments is truly difficult to grasp.
Indiana has announced a $360 Million surplus that will allow it to give a credit of $111 to all taxpayers in the state. Illinois faces never-ending tax increases and accumulated bills over $200 Billion.
Illinois blames the recession. Illinois says it provides superior services. Can anybody still say such things with a straight face?
When Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels visited Chicago two years ago promoting his state, I asked him myself what he attributed the differences in Illinois’ and Indiana’s fiscal performance to. Without hesitation, he said he cracked down on unions as soon as he took office. While unions are no doubt part of it, the difference between the financial situation in Indiana and Illinois is so vast that I for one am hard pressed to pin it on any single thing — or any list of things I can think of off the top of my head. Today’s Illinois inherited priceless assets that Indiana did not — O’Hare Airport, world famous universities, dozens of multinational companies, status as a financial center and countless more things Indiana envies, but Indiana’s government is able to pay its way and Illinois’ cannot come close.
Mind boggling.
A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
Unbelieveble that Illinois newspapers aren’t all over this.
Would like to know how many people have already made the move to Indiana. Got any numbers?
Fighting against unions is hopeless in this state