(SPRINGFIELD) A new survey shows Illinois has the highest tax rates in the U.S. According to a WalletHub report released yesterday, the Land of Lincoln has the highest state and local taxes and the highest annual tax rates on median households, coming in 53% higher than the national average. While the lowest tax rates in America were found in Alaska, Delaware, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, behind Illinois with the highest rates are New York and Connecticut.
(SPRINGFIELD) A downstate lawmaker is praising the Environmental Protection Agency for repealing the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, calling the move a win for Illinois businesses, even though the Illinois Attorney General’s Office is warning the rollback ignores decades of climate science and threatens public health. State Representative Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville says the federal move will ease economic pressure on employers and statewide families alike. Downstate lawmakers say Illinois should align itself with the federal changes.
(SPRINGFIELD) Some upstate lawmakers and the Citizens Utility Board are pushing legislation to help protect customers from bad energy deals. At a press conference yesterday, House Bill 4313 was introduced that would help prevent predatory pricing by alternative electricity and gas suppliers. The measure would also regulate supply rates, require a customer’s signature before automatic contract renewals, and require supplier to provide more accurate data to the ICC.
(SPRINGFIELD) Some Illinois municipal leaders are pushing for the ability to impose local fuel taxes at a time when gas prices are rising dramatically. Speaking at an Illinois Municipal League press conference yesterday at the State Capitol, some mayors noted that under current state law, only non-home rule communities in Cook County or those with a population more than 100,000 can impose a local motor fuel tax without a referendum. Introduced last year, House Bill 1283 says that all municipalities may impose a motor fuel tax in 1-cent increments, capped at 3 cents a gallon, which many say would create financial flexibility for many small communities.