Pro-Income Tax Increase AARP Event Flops

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Oak Park-The “Illinois Tax Solutions Forum” presented by AARP, which is staunchly supporting the graduated income tax increase amendment, was a complete flop.

“Very few people were there,” said Val Zimnicki, Taxpayers United of America (TUA) Director of Outreach. “Even with the Full-Page ad in the Chicago Sun Times, I counted only 33 people.”  

“I am glad the event flopped,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “Not only did AARP present the debate, they also actively participated in it and sided against taxpayers. The fact that tax thieves are starting to peddle propaganda so early indicates their desperation.”  

“Two years ago, Illinois passed a $5 billion dollar income tax increase that went exclusively to paying lavish government pensions. Now Springfield, led by Governor Pritzker is coming back for more. Illinoisans will have the opportunity on Tuesday November 3, 2020 to tell these greedy politicians that enough is enough.”

5 NEW HOME RULE VICTORIES AND NEW CHALLENGES

Last night was a series of mixed blessings for taxpayers.

Yesterday taxpayers resoundingly turned down home rule from entering their communities. Beach Park, Lemont, Winthrop Harbor, Prospect Heights, and Zion all voted “No” on adopting Home Rule. By rejecting Home Rule, taxpayers have refused to give local politicians unlimited taxing power.

“I am happy for all of our local advocates,” said Taxpayers United of America (TUA) President, Jim Tobin, upon hearing of the victories. “TUA has warned for years that Home Rule means home ruin. This shows we are being heard loud and clear. I am hopeful this overwhelming victory discourages other power hungry local politicians, but governmental greed knows no limit. We have defeated 431 local tax increase referenda since 1977.”

However, the battle for the Illinois statewide government ended on a less rosy tone.

J. B. Pritzker ran over incumbent Bruce Rauner for Illinois Governor in an unsurprising victory. Rauner, who refused to sign a Tax Accountability taxpayer protection pledge, ran an ugly Republican primary campaign against Jeanne Ives. Representative Ives had scored a perfect 100% while Rauner only scored a 92% in our TUA Tax Survey of the 99th Illinois General Assembly. Representative Ives had also signed a taxpayer protection pledge.

Rauner’s attack on a committed taxpayer advocate combined with the tens of millions in funds for the Pritzker propaganda machine sealed the fate of the Republican governor.

Now with a committed tax raiser back in the governor’s seat and a Democrat majority, it falls to taxpayers to resist the Income Tax Increase Amendment, a graduated income tax increase for middle class taxpayers.

Tax Protest Meeting Berwyn!

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A July 23 protest was the result of rising property taxes placed on Berwyn School District taxpayers after a referendum passed last year that had an estimated increase of $300 for the community’s average homeowner. That number has more than doubled, and some local taxpayers have seen property tax increases of over $10,000. Many of those that went to the meeting also went to the school board meeting that Wednesday to demand their money back.

300 angry Taxpayers attend TUA Taxpayer Protest Meeting July 23, 2018.

Over 150 of the above taxpayers attended a July 25 school board meeting, demanding $5,000,000 of their hard earned money back.
A recording of the SD 100 board meeting can be found here: https://vimeo.com/281815776