The
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability sends out a weekly
newsletter with information on budget and tax issues across
Illinois.
Read
the latest issue of the Weekly Review
2011
NOVEMBER
2011
11/22 Progress Illinois, "Housing Safety Net Frays As Demand Grows," referring
to CTBA May report, "estimated that for every $1 that was being spent on
prevention programs, $4 was saved in the reduction of other costs related to
homelessness, such as hospital stays, incarceration and shelters."
http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2011/11/22/housing-safety-net-frays-demand-grows-says-report
11/14 ABC7 News, "Cook County Committee Approves Proposed Tax Hikes," Martire
(at minute 2:06),
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8431590 Plus, VIDEO
on CTBA website.
11/7 Chicago Tribune, "Spending Gap Between State's Rich, Poor Schools Is
Vast," Martire, note quote at end,
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-07/news/ct-met-school-funding-gaps-20111107_1_spending-gap-taft-s-district-poorest-schools/2
11/2 Kankakee Daily Journal, "Making the Case for Taxing the Wealthy" Martire
www.daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=481993
11/1 Lake County News-Sun, Political Briefs, "LWV Education Forum, Highland
Park," Martire,
http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/8549721-418/political-briefs.html
OCTOBER
2011
10/8
Rockford Register Star, “Empty coffers make states
take closer look at public pensions,” Martire,
http://www.rrstar.com/businessrockford/x1581989764/Empty-coffers-makes-states-take-closer-look-at-public-pensions
10/7 Woodrige/Downers Grove Reporter, “Downers Grove, Lisle Women Voters
hosting education funding expert”, Martire,
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/woodridge/newsnow/x153918894/Downers-Grove-Lisle-Women-Voters-hosting-education-funding-expert
10/1
San Antonio Express, “'Double dip' curbs don't apply
to most IL workers,´
Martire,
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Double-dip-curbs-don-t-apply-to-most-IL-workers-2198078.php#ixzz1bANpVeM8
SEPTEMBER
2011
9/29
Medill Reports, “Taxpayers already overburdened, budget critics say,” Baiman,
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=189595
9/26
Huffington Post, “Illinois Budget: Even With Cuts, Deficit Will Still Grow $5
Billion, Watchdog Group Says,” (Civic Federation Report), FYI: honorable
mention in comments section by Crookedcountyillinois, who usually opposes CTBA....
9/21 State
Journal-Register, “State has options to avoid cuts,”
Martire column,
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x2046632351/Ralph-Martire-State-has-options-to-avoid-cuts
9/20 Pekin
Daily Times, “Women Voters to Meet Thursday,” Martire,
http://www.pekintimes.com/newsnow/x2046632178/Women-voters-to-meet-Thursday
9/13
Bloomberg News, “Illinois Says Hospitals No Longer ‘Poorhouses’ Shielded From
Tax,” Martire,
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-13/illinois-says-hospitals-no-longer-poorhouses-shielded-from-tax.html
KSRO
1350am, Sonoma County, CA, “Obama Jobs Plan Splits Leaders of Strapped States,”
Martire,
http://www.ksro.com/news/article.aspx?id=3196087
AUGUST
2011
8/20 Rockford
Register Star, Job-Poaching, cite CTBA,
http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x386670846/Job-poaching-campaigns-have-mixed-success-in-Illinois
8/19
ModernHealthCare.com, Hospital Benefits from Property Tax Breaks, CTBA Charity
Care report cited,
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20110819/BLOGS01/308199999#
8/16 Chicago
Sun-Times, U of C Trauma Center Protest, CTBA Charity Care report cited,
http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/7082574-418/protestors-want-u-of-c-to-reopen-its-trauma-center.html
8/11 Chicago
News Coop, Chicago Public Schools Reserve Fund, Kaslow,
http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/reserve-fund-provides-answer-for-cps-and-questions-for-others/
8/10
U.S.Election News site, Charitable Tax Check Off, Martire,
http://uselectionnews.org/illinois-borrowing-money-from-charitable-foundations/854756/
8/5/11 Chicago Political Buzz Examiner, “Whose Debt Is It
Anyway,” Martire http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-chicago/whose-debt-is-it-anyway
WJBD 100.1 FM, “Illinois Expecting Fewer Tax Revenues”
Martire,
http://www.wjbdradio.com/index.php?f=news_single&id=28314
JULY
2011
Illinois Is
Broke (an effort initiated by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of
Chicago) Reprint “National Default Would Slow Down Local Economy” with Baiman
quote (below).
http://www.illinoisisbroke.com/newsitem.aspx?id=1349 , 7/29/2011
ABC Channel 7, National Default Would Slow Down Local Economy. “The Center for
Tax and Budget Accountability is an Illinois economic think tank that estimates
the state's budget shortfall to be $7 billion. The group supported raising the
income tax. The center's director of policy analysis says cuts to services could
worsen the economic recovery.” Baiman said, “The vast majority of economic data
indicates that spending is a much larger multiplier, creates much more jobs then
tax cuts."
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8276904 , 7/28/2011
NBC Channel 5, State Borrowing
Money Meant for Charities. IL is using $1.2 million in charitable tax check off
funds owed to 11 charities to pay its bills. Martire said, “It all points to the
state of the economy in Illinois. So literally if you have a starved fiscal
system, it actually encourages the state to engage in irresponsible fiscal
practices.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/illinois-charitable-donation-126228818.html#ixzz1TkmNOF1t ,
7/18/2011
CBS Channel 2 interviewed Ralph on the issue of "decoupling" IL corporate income
tax law from recently passed federal bonus depreciation rules. "It's $600
million in revenue we would have collected had it not been for the change in
federal law. Simply put, decoupling the Illinois corporate income tax from the
federal bonus depreciation rules would alleviate the need to make $600 million
in cuts to education and human services in fiscal year 2012.", 7/4/2011
JUNE
2011
Hallmarks of Good Budget and Taxation Policy – Part 1 Partnering with
fiscal watchdog agencies like the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability would
be a good way to create a simpler city tax code.
www.mayoraltutorial.com , 6/28/2011
Examining Education
is a series of programs for radio focused on the big debates in the field of
American education presented in four installments being aired in June by WILL
radio (AM 580) the public broadcasting service of the University of Illinois.
(WILL links thousands of families to the programming of National Public Radio
(NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).) The programs can be heard at
6:00 P.M. on each Saturday in June. 6/10/2011
Ralph was featured last
Saturday, June 11 on funding public education.
http://will.illinois.edu/site/headline/examining-education/
Blog about the sustainability of
the Teachers’ Retirement System’s (TRS)
pension mentions CTBA’s Illinois Retirement Security Initiative (Bukola Bello’s
IRSI)
http://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-we-believe-we-know-about.html
MAY 2011
Cincinnati
Enquirer,
Kill Ohio
'death tax'?,
Martire in
sidebar,
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110528/BIZ/105290336/Kill-Ohio-death-tax-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7C ,
5/29/2011
Illinois
Education Assn., Flip it to fix it: An immediate, fair solution to budget
shortfalls , Baiman,
http://www.ieanea.org/blogs/strong/flip-it-to-fix-it-an-immediate-fair-solution-to-budget-shortfalls/ ,
5/27/2011
Donors Forum,
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability's
"The Cost to Illinois Taxpayers of Cutting Human Services Funding in the FY2012
Budget "
discredits the myth that government spending on human services is wasteful.
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ee76b63e7e78f21a320971fd4&id=896d8ee917&e=e2c95b9271 ,
5/23/2011
Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association,
Illinois Lawmakers Reprioritize Gov. Pat Quinn’s
Illinois Human Services Budget ,
Martire,
https://iadda77.wordpress.com/tag/ralph-martire/ ,
5/21/2011
National
Immigrant Justice Center's Pro Bono Partners
http://immigrantjustice.org/nijcs-pro-bono-partners
Treatment
Alternatives for Safe Communities Blog, Feigenholtz, Steans Reshape Illinois
Human Services Budget , Martire,
http://iltasc.wordpress.com/2011/05/21/feigenholtz-steans-reshape-illinois-human-services-budget/
Evanston Now,
Tough choices drive cuts to human services in
Illinois, Martire
http://evanstonnow.com/story/government/statehouse-news/2011-05-21/state-faces-tough-choices-on-human-services-cuts ,
5/21/2011
FOX
Illinois, Tough choices drive cuts to human
services in Illinois, “ The human services
budget also is competing with education, health care and public safety, all
priorities with broader appeal,” Martire,
http://www.foxillinois.com/news/illinois/Tough-choices-drive-cuts-to-human-services-in-Illinois-122377039.html ,
5/20/2011
Daily Herald,
“P-cards come up again in Grayslake district” Martire,
http://daedit.sx.atl.publicus.com/article/20110518/news/705189675/print/ ,
5/18/2011
Illinois
Statehouse News, “Local
cities: Show us the money, Illinois ” , Baiman,
http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6058/local-cities-show-us-the-money-illinois/ ,
5/18/2011
April 2011
State owes businesses $850M in tax refunds , CapitolFax, 4/28/2011
http://capitolfax.com/2011/04/28/state-owes-businesses-850m-in-tax-refunds/
March 2011
State
Journal-Register on CTBA Budget Analysis,
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1608496792/Statehouse-Insider-Even-more-spending ,
3/27/2011
Capitol Fax
blogpost by Barton Lorimor on CTBA Budget Analysis,
http://capitolfax.com/2011/03/26/cbta-fy12-deficit-cut-in-half-by-news-taxes-but-shortfall-remains/ ,
3/26/2011
RoadRunner
website repeating Capitol Fax blog,
http://features.rr.com/article/0d8vfSVa35c6n?q=Illinois
Progress
Illinois, coverage of CTBA Fiscal Symposium,
http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2011/03/25/despite-tax-deal-more-erosion-seen-core-public-services ,
3/25/2011
Senate Dem.
website, State Senator John Mulroe on CTBA Fiscal Symposium,
"Taking part in
discussion and debate plays a key role in policy making," Senator Mulroe said.
"Events like this symposium help us all to be more knowledgeable about the
State's budget and the steps which are necessary to restore the fiscal health of
our state."
http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/index.php/sen-mulroe-home/1634-mulroe-attends-center-for-tax-and-budget-accountabilitys-10th-annual-fiscal-symposium-
Tribune
columnist Eric Zorn, repeating Sen. Cullerton’s quip re: Senator Dillard,
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2011/03/fine-line.html
Tribune
columnist Eric Zorn, reprinting much of CTBA’s
Analysis of Proposed FY2012 (State of Illinois)
budget ,
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2011/03/tanks.html
Donors
Forum, CTBA symposium outreach by the coalition of grantmaking foundations. They
refer to CTBA as their partner: Thanks to Symposium Committee member Jack
Kaplan for contacting them on our behalf: http://twitter.com/DonorsForum/statuses/48802092118310912 .
3/18/2011
and
http://blog.donorsforum.org/2011/03/the-center-for-tax-and-budget-accountabilitys-fiscal-symposium-is-just-around-the-corner-this-annual-event-featuring-a-pane.html
Progress Illinois, Criticism of Illinois Policy Institute’s budget
proposal,
http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2011/03/10/lots-budget-proposals-none-them-good ,
3/10/2011
Elmhurst Tribune, Martire to speak on education funding,
http://triblocal.com/elmhurst/community/stories/2011/03/ralph-martire-to-speak-on-illinois-education-funding/
Progress Illinois,
CTBA's
retirement income proposal in "Funding Our Future" was broader ….
http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2011/03/08/cullerton-talks-tax-wealthy-retirees-income
Northwest Indiana Times, Minimum wage
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_48bf6f98-e84b-5de0-b7f7-1d005258f59a.html ,
3/9/2011
Northwest Herald, Martire on
Illinois Policy Institute’s line-by-line budget solution
http://www.nwherald.com/2011/03/09/could-outside-sources-help-fix-the-states-money-crisis/ae12jyb/
Progress Illinois, Tax for Wealthy Retirees referencing “Funding
Our Future”
http://www.progressillinois.com/explore
FOX News,
Illinois Tax Retirement Income;
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/illinois-tax-retirement-income-john-cullerton-401k-ralph-martire-john-tillman-taxes-20110308 ,
3/8/2011
Belleville News-Democrat and wire service sources, Illinois
pensions are 'gobbling up funds'
http://www.bnd.com/2011/03/06/v-print/1618750/employee-pensions-are-drain.html ,
3/6/2011
City and State employee pensions face the chopping block,
http://www.gazettechicago.com/index/2011/03/city-and-state-employee-pensions-face-the-chopping-block/ , 3/4/11
Progress Illinois;
"Is
Welching On Public Pension Promises An Option For Illinois?",
http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2011/03/03/powerful-pension-clause
FEBRUARY 2011
Martire guest on WVON 1690 AM “Dollars and Sense” , from 8 - 9:30am
on Gov. Pat Quinn's Fiscal Year 2012 General Fund budget proposal. 2/26/2011
Sun-Times Media Group – Martire
Appointment
http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/3877153-418/u46-chief-appointed-to-federal-panel.html
FOX
Business “But one expert ….
http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2011/02/23/illinois-governor-seeks-federal-guaratees-state-debt/ ,
2/23/2011
San
Jose Mercury News; Reinlander, WI; 1350 KSRO, Santa Rosa, CA; and other
Associated Press outlets: “
http://www.ksro.com/news/article.aspx?id=3002442
“
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/23/rahm-emanuel-faces-many-c_n_827019.html
National Access Network “Equity and
Excellence Commissioners”
http://www.schoolfunding.info/news/federal/2011-02EEC.php3
Minneapolis Star Tribune “While
Minnesota debates taxing high-end earners and Wisconsin takes aim at state
employee unions, Illinois has already decided on its dramatic remedy…”
http://www.startribune.com/local/116539743.html , 2/21/2011
Money makes the world go around
UPI.com, 2/13/2011
Also, no other state successfully raised income taxes to balance its
2011 budget, Ralph Martire , executive director of the Center for
Tax and Budget ...
Three Views on the "Rahm Tax "
NBC Chicago
Setting the savings aside, Illinois' Center for Tax and Budget
Accountability thinks the Rahm Tax is a concept whose time has come.
When sales taxes were ...
Groups Want Minimum Wage Increase , WGIL Galesburg Radio,
2/11/2011
Increasing minimum wage: good for
workers, bad for businesses ,
Illinois Statehouse
News
The "Devastating" Impact
Of Human Services Cuts ,
Progress Illinois
Group pushes minimum wage
increase - WJBC - The Online Voice of ...
Talbott spoke at a statehouse news conference, as did Ron Baiman
of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Baiman was there to
refute claims that a ...
wjbc.com/group-pushes-minimum-wage-increase/
Despite Tax Hike,
Deficits Still Loom For State ;
Progress Illinois, 2/7/2011
JANUARY 2011
CTBA MEDIA COVERAGE
D300 School Board to Take Another Look at Budget Cuts ;
Algonquin School Dist. Cuts
http://lakeinthehills.patch.com/articles/d300-school-board-to-take-another-look-at-budget-cuts ,
1/21/2011
A Quinn win in border war , Chicago Tribune, 1/21/2011
Illinois
Enacts Tax Reform, A Step in the Right Direction
http://progressivestates.org/node/26233 , Progressive States Network,
1/20/2011
Quinn for the win in border war: Now, can the Bears make it 2 in a row against
Wisconsin? , Chicago Tribune Blog, 1/20/2011
Illinois Wakes Up
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/17/opinion/17mon1.html , NYTimes,
Jan. 16, 2011
Tax Reform in Illinois
http://www.ctj.org/taxjusticedigest/archive/2011/01/tax_reform_in_illinois.php
Citizens for Tax Justice ,
1/14/2011
NATIONAL COVERAGE! MSNBC, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” ,
1/13/2011
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and
news about the economy
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#41066731
WGN radio 720 “Ralph may not have made a lot of friends, but he sure put this
issue into perspective.”
http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/johnwilliams/wgnam-john-williams-uncut-illinois-should-raise-taxes-011311b,0,5988323.mp3file
St. Louis Post Dispatch
"Anybody who owns a calculator and can do simple math ….” http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_5b6a5f57-3605-5841-ab0c-296a4706cd39.html
http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2011/01/13/filling-illinois-investment-deficit
http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/01/illinois-tax-increase-why-lawmakers.html
Zorn column http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2011/01/taxes.html
1/12/2011
Reaction to Historic Tax Hike
http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=42,8,80&pid=7jRjYnHQuPTD5oaloQI_QfTZtL8z7Z2p
,
WTTW
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0112/Illinois-tax-increase-why-lawmakers-passed-66-percent-income-tax-hike , Christian
Science Monitor
http://www.progressillinois.com/posts/content/2011/01/12/democrats-take-monumental-first-step-fix-state-budget
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2656045/posts
1/10/2011
Spending Caps
http://www.carmitimes.com/state_news/x703876270/Spending-caps-no-budget-cure-all-states-find ,
CarmiTimes White Co.
Tax Increase;
mhopf@whig.com/221-3391
http://www.whig.com/story/news/Hopf-Political-Column-010910 ,
Quincy Herald Whig
TABOR;
http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2011/01/10/tabor-shelved-now ,
Progress Illinois
1/8/2011
Spending Caps;
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1964018152/Illinois-discussing-constitutional-spending-limit ,
Peoria Journal Star
Tax Hike;
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010705834.html?wprss=rss_business ,
Washington Post
"Politicians here have been craven on the tax issue," said Ralph Martire,
executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, a research
and advocacy group. "They have convinced people that they can have public
services and not pay for them. "
1/7/2011
Tax Hike;
http://www.bnd.com/2011/01/07/1542681/ill-legislators-pause-before-big.html .
Belleville News-Democrat
Spending
Caps;
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bensenville/statenews/x1966198647/Spending-caps-no-budget-cure-all-states-find ,
Bensenville Press