Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Protestors block 30 cent gasoline tax hike Illinois taxpayers defeated the plan of downstate and Cook County Democrats to give the state of Illinois the highest gasoline tax in the country during the Illinois 100th General Assembly lame duck session. The Democrat mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel, showing how out-of-touch he was with taxpayers, had…
Laws needed to regulate credit card interest rates There are a lot of challenges facing American consumers, from rising taxes, government corruption and increasing crime, to failing education and deteriorating product quality. But one of the worst challenges facing the American consumer and American taxpayers is the unregulated credit card banking industry. This week, they…
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Pappas refunds taxes to 30,000 Cook County homeowners Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas helped taxpayers cut through the county’s bureaucracy and ordered refunds of more than $8.3 million to 30,000 homeowners who qualified for refunds but failed to apply. Pappas said the refunds were made without the taxpayers having to file refund request forms The…
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Let “Sub-Urban” voters vote for Chicago mayor Or, how the Suburbs got their name. Suburban residents should have the right to vote to select Chicago’s next mayor since Chicago survives not only on the taxes it collects from its residents but from nearly 30 percent of the taxes collected from residents who live in the…
Tax Raisers ready for massive Gas Tax increase In an urgent press conference at the Illinois State building the Illinois Representatives Allen Skillicorn (R) and Jeanne Ives (R) warned of an impending fuel tax hike. According to Representative Skillicorn, “There is a horrible rumor going around Springfield. Actually this is the worst kept secret in…
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My ongoing love affair with soda pop Soda pop defines my buying habits. If the cost of soda pop is “comfortable,” I will spend all my money at a store. But, if a store charges too much for soda pop, I will banish that store and defend the honor of my sweet love. It’s unforgivable…
Mayor Emanuel’s disregard for the best interests of taxpayers Mayor Rahm Emanuel, one of the worst mayors to ever sit in the Chicago mayor’s office, is making one last effort to slam taxpayers in suburban Chicagoland to pay for the financial shortfalls and deficits caused by his poor leadership. He wants to jack up the…
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Daily Herald slams minorities and women in Tollway coverage The Arlington Heights Daily Herald has been running a series of news reports that read more like opinion columns, slamming the Tollway Authority for changing its administrative staff, a change most people agree has been good. But do the attacks from the newspaper also have a tinge of…
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Hubacek board scuttles voices of parents and public The outrageous indifference to the needs of School District 103 by the dictatorial board majority led by Marge Hubacek prevented parents and taxpayers from expressing their concerns about the board majority’s poor decisions. Hubacek illegally blocked the parents from speaking limiting to only five the number who…
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Orland Park Mayor endorses Morrison, Dodge, Harold & Rauner in Nov. 6 election Keith Pekau, the mayor of Orland Park, one of the largest suburban communities in Cook County, released his endorsements for the upcoming Nov. 6, 2018 statewide and local elections. Pekau, who unseated a popular former Mayor Dan McLaughlin nearly two years ago,…
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Social Security to increase slightly over 2018 Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2019 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more…
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County law would make it harder to pass tax increases Cook County Commissioners submit bi-partisan amendment to require a two-thirds supermajority vote for any new tax or tax increase Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider and Cook County Commissioners Richard Boykin, Gregg Goslin, John Fritchey, and Sean M. Morrison will submit a bi-partisan amendment to require that…
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Orland Park trustee proposes restaurant tax Orland Park’s village board majority is preparing to increase taxes on its residents, both a property tax hike and a massive tax on local restaurants that the village officials defend by asserting that “it won’t just impact Orland Park residents. It will impact everyone.” That’s what they said when…
Speaker Madigan, Clerk candidate Yarbrough to keynote Arab American Forum The Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) announced this week that Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Karen Yarbrough, the current Cook County Recorder of Deeds and now the official Democratic candidate for Cook County Clerk, will be keynote speakers at the annual Candidate’s Brunch…
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Kaegi Vows to Fix Broken Property Tax System Cook County assessor hopeful Fritz Kaegi, who bested incumbent Joseph Berrios in the Democratic primary, pledged to attendees of an Illinois Campaign for Political Reform event that the obscure yet critical office will be more transparent and accountable under his watch. “You don’t need me to tell…
31,000 Cook County seniors could qualify for lower property taxes County Treasurer Maria Pappas: 31,000 senior citizens could apply for money-saving Cook County property tax exemptions As many as 31,000 senior citizens could save hundreds of dollars immediately on their property tax bills due August 1 by applying for exemptions they previously received, Cook County…
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Rauner needs to block water rate increase bill The Illinois House and the Illinois Senate approved a new law, HB 4508, that would allow two major water companies to massively increase water rates on its customers to help them buy up smaller water companies so they can grow and profit. The sponsors used the confusing…
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CUB to host meeting in Palos Township to help consumers save money Palos Township will be hosting a Citizens Utility Board (CUB) event on May 30, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. A free mini breakfast with coffee, juice and donuts will be offered to attendees, donated by Palos Township Trustee Sharon Branigan. Branigan,…
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