Demand Change

The state’s gas tax increases again on July 1. The doubling of the gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents was part of Gov. Pritzker’s 2019 budget that included 20 tax and fee hikes. The gas tax increases every year with inflation and also empowers local governments to raise their gas tax.

To show your appreciation for higher taxes, sign here to thank Gov. Pritzker!

Parents deserve more options for their child’s education. That’s why school choice policies such as Illinois’ tax credit scholarship program, the Invest in Kids Act, are so critical in times like this.

Gov. Pritzker has repeatedly called to end the Invest in Kids Act with the Illinois Education Association’s support.

The Invest in Kids Act was passed in 2017 and has empowered thousands of parents across Illinois to choose where their child can receive the best educational opportunity.

Anthony Holter, president of Empower Illinois, the state’s largest scholarship-granting organization, said they “issued 5,500 scholarships (last year) and with every one issued, there were six more kids in line for one.”

Parents are desperate for better educational opportunities for their children. The General Assembly must act to save and make the Invest in Kids Scholarship Program permanent so that all children, no matter their disability, family’s income, or zip code, receive the best education possible.

Gov. Pritzker pledged he would “veto any map that was unfair.” Now, when it’s actually time to start drawing the maps, he is backtracking. We are seeing the same corrupt process as before. 

Springfield political insiders are trying to disenfranchise voters and draw maps that favor themselves above doing what’s fair. They are committed to meeting the constitutional June deadline to submit a map before they even receive the accurate census data for fear of having to work in a bipartisan manner. They are rushing because their power is at stake. 

Creating an independent commission to draw the maps instead of giving the authority to partisan politicians would give Illinoisans true representation and power to participate in competitive races. 

In 2020, there was a bipartisan movement for a Fair Maps Amendment which would do just that. Some said it was a publicity ploy not intended to go anywhere. And it didn’t: the Amendment died in committee. With the positive headlines secured, The General Assembly didn’t gather for months missing the deadline to get it on the ballot for voters to decide in the 2020 Election. 

Gov. Pritzker used all his political capital to get his Tax Hike Amendment on the ballot the year before. He wanted to give politicians more power to tax and spend. Pritzker didn’t prioritize Independent Maps. He focused on power for the politicians and ignored power for the people. 

He is already in political trouble with his approval ratings plummeting and his handpicked candidate to succeed Mike Madigan and become the new Democrat State Party Chair failed to garner the votes. He’s not going to rock the boat with the political insiders he seeks to please in Springfield. 

For too long, politicians have had the power to choose who they represent rather than the other way around. 

Sign here to demand an independent and transparent map-making process that puts the voters before the politicians. 

Gov. Pritzker has proposed $1B in tax hikes on businesses to fund his unbalanced budget.

Gov. Pritzker has no other solution than raising taxes to tackle the state’s fiscal problems. Businesses have suffered enough during this pandemic and can’t afford another Pritzker tax hike.

Sign here to stop Pritzker’s $1B Tax Hike!

Gov. Pritzker has shut down small businesses for months and expects them to pay even more in taxes.

He wants to use this lame duck session to eliminate state-level tax benefits that were created in the CARES Act.

Now is the worst time to raise taxes on struggling small businesses.

Sign here to save small businesses!

Last June, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stated: “One thing  a progressive tax would do is make clear you can have graduated rates when you are taxing retirement income. And I think that’s something that’s worth discussion.” 

Today Frerichs scheduled a press conference to clarify his statement on taxing retirement, but he cancelled it at the last minute to hide his true intentions from voters.

Sign here if you are against a retirement tax in Illinois! 

Mike Madigan refuses to testify before a bipartisan committee about his alleged involvement in the ComEd bribery scandal.

What does he have to hide? 

Sign here to demand Mike Madigan testify! 

Gov. Pritzker continues to threaten tax hikes on middle class families and small businesses after they rejected his Tax Hike Amendment. Illinois voters said NO to any more taxes.

Sign here to show Gov. Pritzker you won’t give into his bully tactics and demand no more tax hikes without reforms!

Last election cycle Speaker Madigan gave over $21 million to State Representative candidates. After the election, despite corruption and sexual harassment scandals swirling around his office, these candidates returned the favor and loyally voted Madigan in as Speaker.

Last week, Speaker Madigan was implicated in a bribery scandal with ComEd after the company admitted it provided jobs and contracts to Speaker Madigan’s allies in exchange for rate hikes and favorable regulations.

Yet, Democrat candidates refuse to return the tainted money or pledge not to take any more.

Sign here and demand local democrats return the tainted Madigan Money.

Return Madigan’s Money

2018 General Election Madigan Contributions (Prairie State Wire)

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Mike Madigan’s closest confidant, Mike McClain, and three others plead not guilty for their alleged involvement in the ComEd bribery scandal.

It is abundantly clear Mike Madigan cannot be trusted. Madigan’s alleged involvement in a bribery scheme involving ComEd proves he does not have Illinois families’ best interests in mind. He is out for himself, his power and his riches.

Sign here and demand Madigan resign!

SIGN THE PETITION

In light of the coronavirus crisis shutting down the economy and wreaking havoc on the small business community, the Illinois Opportunity Project stands with the Illinois Business Alliance in calling on Gov. Pritzker and the General Assembly to remove the graduated income tax from the ballot in November.

JOIN US IN THE FIGHT

SIGN THE PETITION

In typical fashion, the General Assembly introduced and passed a 3,000 page budget in less than 24 hours. 

This would be Gov. Pritzker’s third unbalanced budget in a row since he has taken office. Illinois already has the 2nd highest property taxes in the nation and Pritzker’s economic policies continue to drive them up with no urgency for relief.

There is still time to demand property tax relief and call on the Governor to veto this budget. 

SIGN HERE TO DEMAND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FROM GOV. PRITZKER!