Free Republic

Reflections on Illinois roadways and the speed bumps of the General Assembly... When you or I walk outside in the spring, and see that the winter has left behind a few reminders on our driveways – a pothole, a chip, a crack – we check the finances, and perhaps we have the driveway completely repaved… …But much more likely, we head to the local hardware store, pick up a bag of concrete mix or blacktop patch, and get to work on our hands and knees with our trusty trowels. While fully repaving the driveway is certainly a “nice-to-have,” it’s hardly...

It’s easy to see the disguises that the Democratic Party is planning to don for Halloween. While we can only speculate on the taxes they are planning to increase — everything would be a safe bet — it is becoming clear how they will dress the tax increases up to make the radical change they will, in fact, represent seem moderate and reasonable, even necessary to protect the “middle class.” Of course, this will take place not this year but in 2009, after they have elected Hillary as president and as many as 58 Democratic senators (possible takeaways in Minnesota,...

New Jersey's reputation as a tax hell just got worse. The $1.9 billion worth of tax increases in the state's new budget represents a 5 percent increase over last year, far outpacing any other state, according to a study by the National Conference of State Legislators. New Jersey now has the highest state sales tax, tied with three other states, at 7 percent. Its cigarette tax now leads in the nation. And, of course, this all comes on top of the nation's highest average property taxes. It's no wonder people like Donley Kuendel are thinking of leaving. "The quality of...

<p>It took less than 48 hours for Lambeau Field neighbors to go on the offensive.</p> <p>Last week, the state Department of Revenue sent letters to residents living near Lambeau Field, warning them they would have to collect sales tax and pay income tax on the money they make from letting football fans park in their yards. Most of the residents got their letters Thursday and Friday, which told them they could be responsible for back taxes dating back to 1999.</p>