Ted was on Capitol Connection last week talking with Mark Maxwell about the impact of COVID-19 on downstate Illinois and how a progressive tax is a terrible idea, especially when Illinois faces the worst economic crisis since the 1930’s.
Number of half-empty Chicago public schools doubles, yet lawmakers want to extend school closing moratorium – Wirepoints
April 19, 2024
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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.
CHICAGO – Thirteen people have been killed and at least 54 others injured in shootings across Chicago so far over the Fourth of July weekend.
I often watch “Capitol Connection.” Imagine my delight to tune in Sunday and hear Ted Dabrowski! From what I’ve seen, host Mark Maxwell respects his guests and listens to what they have to say. Still, his tone and questioning suggests that the “right” answer or the correct way of thinking is more aligned with the talking points of the current Illinois Democratic regime or the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability than with Illinois Policy Institute or Wirepoints. That is, if Illinois can’t pay its pensions and other bills, I guess it just needs more revenue! Time 14:43 – 14:48… Read more »
The interviewer seems clueless and puzzled. He just can’t fathom why you wouldn’t even try to reform state spending before giving them more money.
Anyone with the price of a full tank of gasoline should be on their way out of Illinois.
Do not look back, just keep on going.
Illinois “Land of Slavery”
Excellent job, Ted. But if you have to get this basic in explaining common sense solutions, there is not much that can be done with Illinois voters.
Even the Dictator for Life has mansions in Florida and Wisconsin
As I write this my wife and I are looking for a house in Tenn .just can’t afford to stay property taxes are over 3gs now .And now more taxes ! We are bailing !!!
My Illinois friend told me about a couple he knows who are retired teachers in their early seventies whose pensions total a quarter of a million dollars per year. I checked it out at pensions.bettergov.org and told him that was an exaggeration: their pensions only total $222,000 per year. However, I told him to not despair, because if you multiply 222k by 1.03 four times they’ll be at $250,000 in four years thanks to the largess of the taxpayers. They each have an expected life expectancy of another fifteen or so years, but I’m too lazy to do the math… Read more »
Ugh…insane.
but…the Illinois voters voted for it.
I voted to keep The Prick out, but the foolish side won. My voting is done in IL as my residency is near done.
They’re lightweights. I know a retired IL teacher couple who are in their 60s and have a higher combined pension than that. Lyn P – waiting for your reply
Feel like your are being screwed?
It is because you are.
Illinois “Land of Slavery”
I’m so aggravated. What do seniors like my husband and I do? We can’t move. We’re both ill. As people move away, we’re stuck here in our townhouse we own with the idiots that vote for these blood sucking leeches. Pritzker is the problem, but the system is thoroughly corrupt.
Joni, sorry for your situation. If nothing else, perhaps you can serve as a reminder to others that you should consider yourself lucky if you are healthy and able to leave, because your health can change and deny you the opportunity in the future.
Why are people leaving? For a better life, I can not think of a better reason. Let the greedy government workers (mooches) have Illinois. There is no hope, it is DOA, burnt toast. The Greed of the cops, teachers and firemen has DESTROYED THE QUALITY OF LIFE for the honest hard working taxpayer. KISS ILLINOIS GOOD BYE-it will be the best day of your life and your families life. Much more economic opportunity almost anywhere you go. Your children will thank you forever. Get out while you still can sell your home for something, take the first bid and run… Read more »
Have to agree. Sometimes tough truth is the right answer. I hope those that wish a relocated existence can persevere through the tough course and succeed.
I’m shocked by how many small businesses will not be reopening – Pritzker crushed them with his lockdown hoax. People will NOT invest in Illinois when you have a Governor in Chicago who will shut you down based on political whims. Pritzker has done permanent economic harm – He is the main problem.
Yes, Pritzker is a problem. The one that replaces him will likely be just as bad. The main problem is the voters.
I agree we have to be careful what we wish for. As to the problem with the voters the system is stacked against us. More than half the House ran unopposed and similar in the Senate. With the way political maps are drawn how does anyone vote them out. Those who vote are recipients like pensioners and their families/ current employees of the state and local municipalities which would easily be more than 1.5M then add in those who get freebies from the state(taxpayers) like subsidized housing-Medicaid-food stamps-child care/etc. I would love to vote them out but how? Even if… Read more »
Freddy, everything you said is spot on. Unfortunately, the only solution is to leave Illinois. That’s probably not what you wanted to hear, but even Wirepoints will tell you leaving Illinois is a completely rational response. I myself find it amazing that we live in a country where we can just walk away from a disaster like Illinois and be totally released from the state’s debt burden.
This interview illustrates the impossible task of communicating fact-driven logic to an indoctrinated audience. One method of eliciting understanding would be to advocate for the very thing that the regime in charge advocates: higher taxes. But rather than income taxes, which the regime in charge can essily evade, suggest raising taxes on the regime’s source of wealth. That would be real property, and the suggested methodology would be a graduated tax rate on property based upon property value. This addresses many problems which exist with graduated income tax: Income is portable, taxable property is not. Doctors and nurses and dentists… Read more »
I’m unfamiliar with the man asking the questions however he seemed to be ignorant of the Illinois debt scope. Ted had to explain a lot quickly. I get the feeling the other guy couldn’t keep up. This conversation is indicative of what Wirepoint followers like myself are up against when talking to friends, family, and neighbors. They resist the information because they can’t believe things are as bad as we describe.
Anyway, nice job Ted.