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Illinois Senator Richard J. “Dick” Durbin has been a “disaster” for Illinois, according to Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Since Durbin came on the scene in 1997, this ultra-left-wing senator has ravaged taxpayers year-after-year,” said Tobin. “The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) in Washington, DC, rates every senator and congressional representative, and Durbin has received an ‘F’ for every congress. He has consistently voted against the interests of taxpayers without a bit of remorse.”
“But the bad news doesn’t stop there,” said Tobin. “His overall score is worse than the Democrat average for the Senate, and it has been for every term since he has been in the US Senate.”
“The last congress rated by NTU was the 112th Congress (2012). Out of a perfect pro-taxpayer score of 100, the Republican Senate average was a decent 72%. The Democrat Senate average was a dismal 11%. Dick Durbin’s score was a pitiable 10%. Durbin voted against the interests of Illinois taxpayers 90% of the time.”
“In the 109th Congress (2005), Durbin’s taxpayer score was an incredible 4%, voting against the interests of Illinois taxpayers 96% of the time, against the Democrat Senate score of 12%.”
“In the 106th Congress (1999), Durbin’s taxpayer score was a mind-boggling 3%, voting against the interests of Illinois taxpayers 97% of the time. The Democrat Senate average was 9%.”
“How such a left-wing politician like Durbin has remained in office all these years is a puzzle, but what isn’t a puzzling is the need to throw him and other pro-tax politicians out of office. Durbin is up for reelection this November 4, and Illinois is going down the drain. Unless pro-tax, pro-spending machine politicians like Durbin are removed from office, Illinois’ economic future will be hard to salvage.”
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The Illinois state corporate income tax continues to be understated by reporters and politicians, according to Jim Tobin, the president of one of the nation’s largest taxpayer groups, Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“The total Illinois corporate state income tax rate of 9.5% includes a base rate of 7% and another 2.5% on top of that, which was added by constitutional amendment in 1980,” says Tobin, “The additional tax was called a ‘personal property replacement tax,’ which purportedly replaced a 19th-century tax that was not even being collected.”
“But the government game of misrepresenting the actual corporate income tax rate is perpetuated by a press that is either lazy, sloppy or part of the conspiratorial group who would drive taxes even higher.”
“Let’s not forget that the Chicago Sun Times, who consistently understates the corporate income tax rate, also supported Gov. Quinn’s 67% income tax surcharge increase.”
“I guess if the press can’t ask the hard questions of the lawmakers, such as what’s the plan for fixing Illinois’ financial house of cards, it’s up to us to ask why not?”
“It is also reasonable to ask how much responsibility lazy or incompetent press bears in the state’s financial and corrupt cesspool when they fail to do basic diligence, much less responsible, investigative journalism.”
The facts are readily available at the non-partisan Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C., “The Illinois corporate state income tax rate, raised from 7.3% to 9.5%, rose from being the 21st highest overall corporate tax rate in the country to 4th highest.”
“This is the third time since October we have provided this information to all members of Illinois Press.”
The first report is HERE, released October 10, 2013. The second report is HERE, released March 31, 2014.
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Taxpayers United of America (TUA) recognizes outstanding journalists who shed light on the ongoing, difficult process of true reform in the government pension and compensation systems.
“Reform isn’t a one step process, and in order to keep the government bureaucrats moving in the right direction, it takes strong leadership, profound activism, and responsible journalists to keep the pressure on,” said Jim Tobin, president of TUA.
“Please view the excellent report from Diane Moca of CBS 58 in Milwaukee on the convenient loopholes in the government pension double dipping ‘reforms’ that features interview excerpts of me and our executive director, Rae Ann McNeilly.”
“In his article with Rae Ann’s comments, Wisconsin Reporter, Ryan Ekvall, investigates the empire-building of state-level government bureaucrats siphoning hard-earned tax dollars from local control to enrich a bloated team of cronies, whose role or accountabilities are generally unknown.”
“We must never let up on the pressure. Your support of our work and the journalists who continue to take our work to taxpayers are key to continued success.”
“Please attend the May 15th meeting of the Brown County Taxpayers Association where I will be speaking on the ongoing need for reforms in Wisconsin.”
Thursday, May 15, 2014
12 noon to 1:30 PM
Titletown Brewery
200 Dousman Street, Green Bay, WI
This is on the west side of the river and right across the street from the Neville museum, in the old Northwestern Railroad Station. Map is available HERE.
Jim Tobin
