From the Illinois Policy Institute…
Republicans at War?
There’s no shortage of opinions regarding Tuesday’s Delaware primary results, which sent Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell into the running for Joe Biden’s U.S. Senate seat. Is the GOP “at war,” or is something else in play? What does O’Donnell’s victory mean for both parties across the country? Check out a roundup of TV news—and late night talkers.
What Karl Rove Should Have Said
When political strategist Karl Rove famously weighed in on O’Donnell’s victory in Delaware, he didn’t try to hide his disapproval of the political upstart. Raising several questions about her past, he also expressed doubts in her political abilities: “I’ve got to tell you, I wasn’t frankly impressed as her abilities as a candidate.” What should Rove have said instead? Click here to read more.
Is There a Tax Hike Brewing in Your Backyard?
Want a round up of local Illinois measures on the ballot this November 2? Check out Ballotpedia.org, which shows that local governments across the state are trying to hike taxes and borrow more money. Is a tax hike up for consideration in your backyard? Find out now.
Where’s the Money Going?
One fact is sure—it’s flowing out of Illinois. Check out the Tax Foundation’s state-by-state money migration tool to see winners and losers among the 50 states.
Tax Transparency
Do you know what you pay for mosquito abatement? Transit? Business taxes? Too many people have little to no idea what taxes they’re responsible for paying. In last week’s State Journal-Register, Kate Piercy discussed the need for true tax transparency in Illinois. Click here to read more.
First-Class Subsidies
Amtrak’s first-class sleeper service offers many perks—private bathroom, fresh linens, complimentary bottled water—but unfortunately, unsuspecting taxpayers are footing the bill. Is a rarely used train service worth over a billion dollars? Kristina Rasmussen discusses this great train debacle here.
Illinois Budget Solutions: A Policy Discussion with Congressman Mark Kirk
Illinois is at a crossroads. The state’s backlog of unpaid bills tops a record $4.7 billion. Families and businesses face looming tax hikes at the state and federal level. The unemployment rate is over 10 percent. What policy choices will help turn Illinois around?
Please join us as we welcome U.S. Representative Mark Kirk to Springfield on Monday, September 20 at 11:00 am. Representative Kirk will discuss Illinois’s fiscal crisis and take questions from the audience. For more information or to RSVP, click here.
The Turnaround Bus Returns Next Week!
After a brief hiatus, our Illinois Turnaround Tour revs up again next week, spreading the word about policy solutions to turn this state around. Want to get on board or find out about future stops? Click here for more information.