Dueling press releases

Today, the Champaign News-Gazette published an editorial criticizing JB Pritzker and Mike Madigan for failing to release specifics on their graduated income tax hike. The News-Gazette forecasted that raising the overall rate from 4.95 to 5.95 seems likely, which would mean a 20 percent income tax hike on every single hardworking taxpayer in Illinois.

Minnesota Legislature tests governor’s resolve with tax bill

Republicans who control the Minnesota Legislature are testing Gov. Mark Dayton's resolve with a bill that syncs Minnesota taxes with the federal overhaul. The House passed the bill Tuesday on a 78-50 vote despite the Democratic governor's promise that he would block that legislation until lawmakers provide emergency funding for public schools.

Pelosi: Democrats have cash and environment to win House

Israeli Operatives Who Aided Harvey Weinstein Collected Information on Former Obama Administration Officials - In June, 2017, Ann Norris, a former State Department official, received an e-mail containing an unusual proposal. Norris is married to Ben Rhodes, a former foreign-policy adviser Trump's GOP 'warriors' lead charge against Mueller - Trump has hailed a quartet of aggressive House Republicans whom Democrats say are trying to 'sabotage' the Russia probe.

Ghost of past Kansas tax-slashing kills push to resume cuts

Persistent budget problems that followed a now-abandoned tax-slashing experiment in Kansas helped kill new cuts this year that were meant to return an unexpected "windfall" to the state from changes in federal tax laws. Top Republicans pushed Friday - the last day of the GOP-controlled Legislature's annual session - for passage of a bill that would save taxpayers an estimated $78 million during the state's next budget year, which begins July 1. It was a response to changes in federal tax laws that will force some individuals and corporations to pay more to the state because the state's tax code is tied to the federal one.

Dem Rep signs on as chief-co of anti-prog tax rez

Calls to protect Illinoisans from a progressive income tax are now coming from both sides of the aisle in Springfield. State Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Smithton, signed on as chief co-sponsor to House Resolution 891 on April 27. The resolution was filed in March by state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and states that Illinois should not scrap its constitutionally protected flat income tax.

Petition to repeal gas tax increase submitted, organizers expect it will qualify for November ballot

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox, front, and congressional candidate Diane Harkey, in yellow, carry boxes of signatures into the office of the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox, front, and congressional candidate Diane Harkey, in yellow, carry boxes of signatures into the office of the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Arizona lawmakers haggle over funding before teacher strike

File - In this April 11, 2018 file photo, teachers at Humphrey Elementary school participate in a state-wide walk-in prior to classes in Chandler, Ariz. Tens of thousands of Arizona teachers are poised to walk off the job this week to demand more funding for public education, an unprecedented action in a conservative state without many union protections.

Congressional Roll Call

Voting 414 for and three against, the House on April 18 passed a bill requiring a sweeping modernization of Internal Revenue Service information systems that would make it easier for taxpayers to communicate with the agency online and bolster cyber-defenses against large-scale hacking operations as well as smaller schemes targeting the identities and refunds of individual taxpayers. In addition, the bill puts the IRS on a path toward providing taxpayers with secure individualized portals on the agency website to be used for obtaining forms and data and filing returns.

The ghost of Brownback appears

The specter of Sam Brownback haunted the Kansas statehouse last week in the form of a proposition that would place unchecked power for funding public schools in the Legislature's hands. Beginning with his election as governor in 2010, Brownback and his allies blamed the Kansas Supreme Court for the state's financial distress.

Kansas officials boost projected tax collections by $540M

Larry Campell, left, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer's budget director, confers with J.G. Scott, center, the Legislature's top fiscal analyst, and Raney Gilliland, right, the director of the Legislature's research staff, before the release of a new fiscal forecast, Friday, April 20, 2018, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The new forecast boosts projected tax collections through June 2019 by a total of $540 million less Larry Campell, left, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer's budget director, confers with J.G. Scott, center, the Legislature's top fiscal analyst, and Raney Gilliland, right, the director of the Legislature's research ... more TOPEKA, Kan.