All Press Items

CTBA experts are available to provide insight, analysis, and data to the press on a wide range of public policy issues. In addition, CTBA disseminates new research and timely updates on policy developments to the media.

What We Do

  • Policy analysis and advocacy
  • Empirical research
  • Advice and technical assistance
  • Strategic leadership in coalitions
  • Legislative testimony
  • Public education
February 19, 2013

Today the Equity and Excellence Commission, appointed by U. S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan to examine disparities in educational opportunities with a focus on systems of finance, will release the results of its 2-year investigation in a report: "For Each and Every Child." CTBA Executive Director Ralph Martire is a federal commissioner.

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January 1, 2013

LWV debate on the merits of the proposed Graduated Rate Income Tax Structure held at the North Suburban Library in Loves Park, IL with speakers Robert Evans, Ralph Martire, and IL State Senator Dave Syverson. Hosted by Sue Stephens from WNIJ, the NPR station in Dekalb, IL.

July 3, 2012Daily Herald

If you want to believe "unaffordable" pension benefits promised to public sector workers like teachers and social workers caused Illinois' outsized, $83 billion unfunded pension liability, stop reading now. This column will only make your head hurt by disproving that canard with facts. If you'd rather understand both the true cause of that underfunding and how it actually strains the state's budget, then continue reading.

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June 20, 2012

Chicago, IL  — Both President Obama and the Republicans who control Congress want to extend the Bush tax cuts in ways that will advantage affluent taxpayers over everyone else. However, according to a new analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and Citizens for Tax

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June 19, 2012Illinois Channel

At the annual conference of the State University Annuitants Association, CTBA Executive Director Ralph Martire says state government doesn’t have a spending problem, but a tax problem. He shows how Illinois’ current tax system fails to tax as much as two-thirds of Illinois’ economic activity.

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January 18, 2012

CTBA issues joint release and comments on Good Jobs First findings that states lack sound, consistent policies to enforce job-creation and other performance requirements in economic development subsidy programs.

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July 14, 2011

CBS Channel 2 - Martire Interviewed on $600 million opportunity for IL budget by CBS Channel 2's Kristyn Hartman for the 10:00 p.m. newscast on the issue of "decoupling" Illinois corporate income tax law from the recently passed federal bonus depreciation rules.

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October 27, 2010

CTBA released Funding Our Future, a thorough analysis of the state’s long-term spending patterns, budget problems and tax policy and offered the media a private briefing. The report also includes an analysis of the two major gubernatorial candidates’ respective budget proposals. The report has been peer reviewed by independent Ph.D. economists that are university-based, think tank-based, and working for the federal GAO.

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October 6, 2010

EthicsDaily.com, challenging people of faith to advance the common good, tackles contentious topic of "Faith and Taxes" with CTBA's Ralph Martire.

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March 18, 2010Illinois Times

Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, says the proposal would be “insufficient and probably counterproductive.”

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