Category: Taxes

RTA rolls out Summer Campaign, encourages riders to show “We Can All Agree on Transit”

June 6, 2019June 6, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

RTA rolls out Summer Campaign, encourages riders to show “We Can All Agree on Transit” This summer the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of northeastern Illinois is launching a unifying marketing campaign to focus on the benefits of riding transit. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace provide two million rides each weekday and riders…

Government, News, Taxes, Transportation

Speaker Madigan applauds adoption of bipartisan balanced budget

June 1, 2019June 1, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Speaker Madigan applauds adoption of bipartisan balanced budget Legislative report: The Illinois General Assembly approved a bi-partisan budget on Saturday that Speaker Michael J. Madigan predicted will off-set much of the state’s outstanding deficits and shortfalls “Two years ago at this time, Illinois stood on the edge of a cliff. Billions of dollars in debt…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Taxes

Pritzker Applauds Cannabis law, passes Illinois House

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker Applauds Cannabis law, passes Illinois House The Illinois House approved the legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis, sale of recreational Marijuana (Cannabis), a vote appaluded by Gov. JB Pritzker. “The state of Illinois just made history, legalizing adult-use cannabis with the most equity-centric approach in the nation. This will have a transformational impact on our state,…

Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Taxes

Petroleum Marketers: Raising taxes on gas and cigarettes will hurt businesses across Illinois

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Petroleum Marketers: Raising taxes on gas and cigarettes will hurt businesses across Illinois New taxes will be disastrous for gas stations and convenience stores, particularly along border As lawmakers prepare to head home for the summer, one of their final acts before leaving the Capitol includes potentially doubling the state’s motor fuel tax and raising…

Business, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Taxes

The psychology of JB’s massive tax hike plan

May 29, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

The psychology of JB’s massive tax hike plan JB Pritzker has been lobbying hard to get the legislature to adopt his “Fair Tax” plan, but that plan is just a cover for 18 other big tax hikes that are waiting to slam your pocket book. The Pritzker “Fair Tax” will replace the Flat Tax with…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

“Fair Tax” approved by Illinois House, now goes to voters

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

“Fair Tax” approved by Illinois House, now goes to voters Leaders Also Announce Property Tax Relief Task Force As Part of Fair Tax; Bipartisan, Bicameral Task Force to Make Recommendations for Property Tax Relief. The “Fair Tax” law will be presented to Illinois Voters in a binding referendum in the November 2020 elections Governor JB…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Taxes

Lipinski introduces bill to help taxpayers hurt by SALT deduction

May 24, 2019May 24, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lipinski introduces bill to help taxpayers hurt by SALT deduction Lipinski Introduces Tax Relief Legislation That Will Help Families Hurt by SALT Deduction Cap Without Adding to Federal Debt Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) this week introduced legislation to provide tax relief to families in Illinois and across the country who saw their tax burden increase…

Government, News, Politics, Taxes

Teamsters Local 727 criticize Pritzker plan to impose 6% parking tax

May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Teamsters Local 727 criticize Pritzker plan to impose 6% parking tax Pritzker’s Proposal for State Parking Tax in ‘Rebuild Illinois’ Plan Will Do Real Harm to Illinois Business Climate. Confiscatory parking tax targets City and unreasonably burdens Chicago workers and businesses The “Rebuild Illinois” capital plan recently released by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker proposed a 6%…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics, Taxes, Transportation

Governor Pritzker needs a reboot on his tax plan

May 22, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Governor Pritzker needs a reboot on his tax plan Is Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker anti-women, or does he just not care about empowering women in politics? His faulty drive to replace the Flat Income Tax with the Graduated Income Tax is driven by a male arrogance and a shortsighted political strategy that spells loser across…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Poll: Pritzker Progressive Income Tax, Pension Holiday Plans Panned by South Suburban Voters

May 8, 2019May 8, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Poll: Pritzker Progressive Income Tax, Pension Holiday Plans Panned by South Suburban Voters A survey of south suburban Chicagoland voters shows that a majority of residents oppose Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s tax hike plan to switch the state from a fixed rate income tax to a graduated rate income tax. The survey shows that most respondents…

Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast: Pritzker’s “unFair Tax”

May 6, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast: Pritzker’s “unFair Tax” In his latest podcast, Ray Hanania on Politics, former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania digs deep into the problems that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “Fair tax’ poses for Illinois taxpayers. Hanania explores the problems caused when the state replaces the Flat Tax on incomes with a “graduated…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

J.B. Pritzker’s income tax shell game

May 1, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

J.B. Pritzker’s income tax shell game Once again, Pritzker thinks money will not only buy him into statewide office but it will also pull the wool over the eyes of Illinois taxpayers. Pritzker’s new income tax plan changes the flat tax to a graduated tax that would open the door to significant tax increases on…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, General Topics, Government, Illinois Legislature, Obituary, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes

Pappas: Last chance for homeowners to pay delinquent taxes

May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Last chance for homeowners to pay delinquent taxes Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded property owners who have delinquent or outstanding property taxes due to avoid having their properties sold. Pappas said there are 45,000 property owners who are at risk and need to take immediate action. The total outstanding is $145 million The clock…

Briefs, Chicago, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pekau thinks its all about him

April 8, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Pekau thinks its all about him Now that the Orland Park election for trustee is over, Mayor Keith Pekau could start working to make Orland Park better with the three qualified trustees he helped to get elected, Cindy Katsenes, William Healy and Michael Milani. Instead, he just can’t seem to get past the fact that…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Lyons School District 103 tosses failed board for new leaders

April 3, 2019May 8, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons School District 103 tosses failed board for new leaders Olivia Quintero, Jorge Torres, Vito Campanile, and Winifred Rodriguez ran under the banner of Parents for Student Excellence slate decisively defeated the controversy-plagued slate lead by Lyons School District 103 board member Joanne Schaeffer, newly appointed trustee Thomas Weiner, former trustee Connie Esparza, and Jacqueline…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, elections, Government, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pekau is way off base in starting fight with Gorman

March 28, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau is way off base in starting fight with Gorman The mudslinging battle to elect three trustees in Orland Park has taken another ugly turn over the issue of vicious but anonymous robocalls as Mayor Keith Pekau widens his list of enemies by taking shots this time at Liz Gorman, the centrist populist who made…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Why I support Toni Preckwinkle for Chicago Mayor

March 27, 2019March 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why I support Toni Preckwinkle for Chicago Mayor In politics, it’s rarely about who is great but rather about who is better. And in the race for Chicago Mayor between Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and former prosecutor Lori Lightfoot, the “better” candidate is Preckwinkle. Although I have some issues with her past policies,…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Voters should reject failed leadership in Lyons School District 103

March 25, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Voters should reject failed leadership in Lyons School District 103 In a heated election contest in the west suburban Lyons School District 103 where controversy, scandal and excessive spending dominate the board majority’s focus, voters need to take an active role in sweeping out the failed leadership and electing new trustees to restore the educational…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, General Topics, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Village of Lyons