McHenry County Blog

Jim Tobin’s National Taxpayers United of Illinois has revealed the top 50 pensions for the General Assembly Retirement Fund.

It doesn’t have many pensioners, but the legislative retirement fund has some big payouts.

Part of the reason is that statewide elected officials can opt in.

While he was in office, for instance, Governor Jim Thompson announced that he would be in the same pension fund that regular state employees paid into.  Right before leaving office that changed.  He transferred his pension credits to the GA Retirement System.

Indeed many of the largest pensions you see below are the result of an ex-legislator getting a well-paying job for a while and transferring in the pension credits in their new public pension fund back to the more lucrative legislative system.

Tobin’s press release follows:

TOP 50 GA PENSIONS REVEAL MILLION DOLLAR PAYOUTS AS TAX INCREASE LOOMS

CHICAGO–Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI), today released the latest pension study of pension researcher Bill Zettler: the Top Fifty pensions received by former members of the Illinois General Assembly.

“Governor Quinn and the lame duck General Assembly are desperate to increase tax revenues any way they can to ensure that these outrageous, lavish pensions are available to themselves when they retire.

“Under the current pension program, General Assembly members are guaranteed to be millionaires if they can collect for only eight to ten years.  Protecting this rite of passage has become their highest priority, despite the terrible financial situation in which most Illinoisans find themselves.

“Under the guise of securing the financial future of the Illinois general fund, Quinn and his conspirators are trying to push any tax increases that they can.”

“If Quinn can’t get HB 174 with the 67% income tax increase through the house, he will push to get a 33% income tax increase passed.

“At the same time, there are efforts to increase the gasoline tax by an unknown amount, the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, and a new 7-10% sales tax on 39 services.

“The primary objective is to pump 15 billion taxpayer dollars out of taxpayer pockets and into the pension and payroll funds of the robber barons that are bankrupting the great state of Illinois, not to secure the financial future as they would have us believe.”

“Do you recognize any of these pension millionaires? Figures are as of 10/1/2010.  A complete list can be viewed at www.ntui.org.
Mo. Pension         Yearly Pension         Total Pension Paid So Far
Arthur Berman                     $16,459               $197,503           $1,449,640
Judy Barr Topinka              $12,144                 $145,727            $402,229
Jim Edgar                           $10,910                 $130,925             $1,106,372
James R. Thompson           $10,601                 $127,215             $1,547,836
James “Pate” Philip             $10,551                 $126,615             $713,029
Dawn Clark Netsch             $10,143                 $121,720             $1,476,711
Walter Dudycz                     $7,661                 $91,937                $449,128

“Jim Edgar and James R. Thompson engineered the largest tax increases ever passed in Illinois. Arthur Berman was the author of the Berman Tax Increase Amendment. Dawn Clark Netsch never met a tax she didn’t like.”

“I urge members of the Illinois General Assembly to vote in the interest of the constituents they serve and not their own best interest.”

How do legislators manage to hike their pensions so much?

Some get a short-term position paying a lot more than they received in their last year as a state legislator. Former State Senator John Friedland, for example, was hired as a lobbyist by the Elgin Sanitary District for a couple of months as a hefty salary. That boosted his base salary.

Add three percent extra each year, which all on public pensions in Illinois receive and it mounts up over time.

Others like Terry Stezco lose an election and get a well-paying local governmental job. In his case, Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan hired him.

Others get appointed to head state departments. Chuck Hartke, for instance, was appointed Director of the Department of Agriculture.

All can transfer pension credits from the new pension system and their final salaries–upon which their pension is based–back into the General Assembly Retirement System.

Here’s the press release.  You will note the “Grafton Township Hall bill” whose number is Senate Bill 3010.

TAXPAYERS NAME GOV. PATRICK QUINN “TAX VILLAIN”

CHICAGO—The president of Illinois’ largest taxpayer organization today named Gov. Patrick Quinn (D) its “Tax Villain of the Month.”

“Gov. Patrick Quinn, throughout his political career, has been a relentless enemy of Illinois taxpayers,” said Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI).

“He signed every significant tax increase bill approved by the Ill. General Assembly, including five bills that increased our property taxes:

• SB 2125, which increased the first installment of property taxes in Cook County from 50% to 55% of last year’s taxes
• HB 242, which allows local governments to issue bonds without a local property tax increase referendum
• HB 6041, which allows school districts to raise property taxes without a property tax increase referendum and transfer working bond money to any school fund without voter approval
• SB 3010, which allows townships to raise property taxes without a property tax increase referendum to build township halls
• SB 3638, which increased property taxes on recently purchased homes and removed automatic senior citizen property tax exemptions.

“Not being content with that, Quinn supported raising our state personal income tax 67% and the state corporate income tax from 7.3% to 9.7%, to help fund the lavish, gold-plated pensions received by retired government employees.”

“Patrick Quinn is a career politician who does not understand, and has no sympathy for, the concerns of those working to make ends meet in the private sector. It’s time voters send him into a long-overdue retirement.

“As long as he is in office, Illinois taxpayers need to keep one hand firmly on their wallets.”

I don’t smoke.

Never have.

But hiking cigarette taxes a buck a pack strikes me as discrimination against a minority portion of the electorate.

Even if it is phased in over two years.

How will Illinois rank with other states once the per pack taxes reaches $1.98?

Take a look.

The only border state that won’t draw new customers is Wisconsin, where the tax is already $2.52 per pack, according to the Tax Foundation.

Below, Jim Tobin, the man who ran as Lt. Gov. when I ran for Governor in 2002 on the Libertarian Party ticket evaluates the effects of the proposal:

Dear Taxpayer,

Once again, the greedy tax-and-spend Springfield politicians are planning to drive business and jobs out of our state, this time with Senate Bill 44. This proposed legislation will raise the state cigarette tax from $0.98 to $1.98 a pack.

On top of this projected $1.98 per pack Illinois cigarette tax, Cook County’s cigarette tax is $2.00 per pack, to which Chicago adds $0.68 per pack and Evanston adds $0.50 per pack. Plus, the federal tax was upped to $1.01 last year. More than 40% of the Illinois population will see cigarette tax rates higher than $5.00 per pack if they pass Senate Bill 44.

High taxes on items such as cigarettes encourage people to shop across state lines where taxes are lower. The passage of Senate Bill 44 would place Illinois at a competitive disadvantage to the surrounding states of Missouri ($0.17/pack), Kentucky ($0.60), Indiana ($0.995), and Iowa ($1.36).
In Chicago, where the 10.25% sales tax rate also applies to cigarettes, one pack will sell for almost $10.00 under this proposed legislation. That kind of tax gouging not only drives economic activity out of Illinois, it invites more illegal black-market activity in—and everyone pays for the increased criminal activity this will bring to the state.

In 2004, Illinois tobacco tax revenues were $760 million, but in 2009 they were only $582 million. That is a decline of $178 million over those five years during which Cook County and Chicago raised their cigarette taxes. Clearly there is no assurance that the tax revenue generated by an increase would meet the projected revenue. In fact, a Reason Foundation study of cigarette tax increases across the US showed that 68% of cigarette tax hikes fail to meet revenue projections.

Because raising state taxes on tobacco actually results in lower tax revenues over time, even non-smokers end up paying more. Non-smokers currently pay $178 million per year to make up for lost revenue from past cigarette tax hikes.

I have sent a letter to every Illinois representative recommending they oppose SB0044 which guarantees a 100% cigarette tax hike. Please help me keep the pressure on by also contacting your state representative. The harm that a tobacco tax increase will cause Illinois is clear: fewer jobs and less business. Illinois needs lower, not higher, taxes!

Thank you,

Jim Tobin, President, National Taxpayers United of Illinois

P.S. If you need help finding your state representative call (217) 782-4141 or (312) 814-6440.

You may also call our office or use the Legislator Lookup function on the ILGA website.

Click to enlarge any image.

The following press release from congressional candidate Joe Walsh is presented for your information:

Lake Zurich, IL, January 12, 2010. Joe Walsh Candidate for Congress in the IL  8th District is announcing support and endorsements.

Walsh continues to receive endorsements and support in his race for Congress.  The following is an initial list of endorsements, further endorsements will be forthcoming:

The following organizations have endorsed Joe Walsh:

• Illinois Federation For Right to Life
• Tea Party Palatine
• Lake County Tea Party
• Illinois Conservatives on Facebook
• National Taxpayers United of Illinois
• Republican Assembly of Illinois

The following individuals and elected officials have endorsed Joe Walsh:

• Bryan Javor, Chairman McHenry CountyYoung Republicans
• Don Castella, Chairman, Vernon Township Republicans
• Nick Provenzano, Candidate for McHenry County board, District 3
• Tom Roeser, Conservative Catholic Activist
• Louis Rofrano, Mc Henry County Right to Carry Association
• John E. Vincent, Former Wauconda Township Committeeman
• John O’Neill, Candidate for State Representative, 63rd District
• Glenn Garamoni, Precinct Committeeman, Fremont Township 121
• Bill Parrot, Chairman, Patriots United
• Peter S. Karlovics, Precinct Committeeman, Warren Township 308
• Joyce Story, Precinct Committeeman McHenry 14

Walsh has garnered lots of support from numerous committeemen throughout the district as well.

“Once again I am honored to have received the support of these organizations and these individuals.  Their support is providing crucial momentum to my campaign and has raised the energy level going into the final weeks of this election,” said Walsh.
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I would observe that not all of these endorsements are exclusive. The Illinois Federation Right to Life, I know, endorsed more than one candidate.  Maria Rodriguez was also endorsed.

With the primary election coming up in about five weeks, active citizens are starting to think more seriously about narrowing down their choices for contested offices.

At Zane Seipler’s fund raiser Wednesday night, for example, one person concluded that Andy McKenna was the most likely to be able to win the November election. Not a perfect candidate, but considering one needs three elements to win a campaign—issues, money and a candidate—his opponents don’t seem likely to put it together as well.

Now, National Taxpayers United of Illinois’ campaign arm, Tax Accountability, has put out its recommendations, I listed the ones that will be on area ballots.

U.S. Senate

• John Arrington – R
• Robert Marshall – D

U.S. Congress

• 8th District (McHenry, Lake and Cook) – Joe Walsh
• 14th District (Kane, DuPage and points west) – Randy Hultgren

Governor

• Adam Andrzejewski

Lt. Governor

• Dennis Cook – R
• Jason Plummer – R
• Randy White – R

State Senate

• Chris Lauzen – R (Northern Kane County)

State Representative

• Tim Schmirtz – R (Northern Kane County)
• John O’Neill – R (Jack Franks’ district)

McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks is the only Democrat who made the “Taxpayer Friends” list of National Taxpayers United of Illinois.

He scored 69% on NTU’s Tax Survey, tying with Republicans Sandy Cole, Bill Mitchell,  Ruth Munson, Dennis Reboletti, David Reis, Keith Sommer and Jill Tracy.

The rankings were based on 2007-2008 legislative votes.

Two GOP state senators got the same score:  Gary Dahl and John O. Jones.

The brainchild of founder Jim Tobin, who used to give Governor Jim Thompson fits, the rating of legislators is regularly used in political campaigns.  And, in the interest of full disclosure, Tobin was my lieutenant governor candidate when I ran for governor on the Libertarian Party ticket against Rod Blagojevich and Jim Ryan in 2002.  We also worked together to kill Lee Daniels’ and Pate Philip’s 1993 bill to allow tax districts to sell bonds without a referendum.  We won in the first time, but lost when Daniels became House Speaker.

[Trivia question:  What 2002 gubernatorial candidate's fund raiser(s) has still not been convicted--or even charged--with a Federal felony?

[Hint:  It's not one of the power party candidate's.]

This year, National Taxpayers United of Illinois has selected thirteen bills on which to judge state senators.  I’ll list below, just in case you want to look them up here (the descriptions provided are from NTU; if not provided, you’ll have to look up the bill for yourself):

• House Bill 664, a property tax cut increasing tax exemptions for seniors, vets, the disabled, etc.
• SJR Constitutional Amendment 92, graduated income tax



• House Bill 656, doubling CTA (I usually call it the RTA) sales tax hike, but as the Sun-Times headline clearly shows, Tobin is correct
• House Bill 656 with amendatory veto to provide free rides for seniors
• House Bill 405, allowing increase in park district taxes for aquarium, park and museum maintenance with referendum
• Senate Bill 345 allows counties to raise sales taxes for public safety and roads (Senate sponsor Bill Peterson)
• House Bill 1562 allows school boards to raise taxes without a referendum to pay lawyers
• House Bill 1921 imposes a 25 cent tax on every disposable lighter (Jack Franks co-sponsor)
• House Bill 556 increases the cigarette tax by 75 cents a pack
• Senate Bill 837 doubles Chicago’s 911 tax
• Senate Bill 835 allows 101 counties to raise local sales taxes to pay for school construction and maintenance, referendum required
• Senate Bill 835, veto override vote
• House Bill 3866, legislative pay raise

In the House, the legislation used to judge state representatives was the same as the senate with these two exceptions:

• HJR Constitutional Amendment 42, a 100% income tax hike that would have doubled the personal income tax on those with over $250,000 in income
• House Resolution 402, which condemned the Gross Receipts Tax

So,if Franks received a 69% rating, how did the other local legislators stack up?

State Senator Pam Althoff got a 54% score.

Senate colleague Dan Duffy is not ranked because the ratings only considered 2007-2008 bills, but the man he replaced Republican Bill Peterson came out with 46%.

State Rep. Mike Tryon received a 54% rating, the same as his state senator.

State Rep. Mark Beaubien got 31%.

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Local legislators ranked are seen above.  Jack Franks is on the top of the story.

Grouped together at the bottom are State Senator Pam Althoff, State Rep. Mark Beaubien and State Rep. Mike Tryon.

I’m pretty amazed that the issue I stressed when I ran for governor against Rod Blagojevich and Jim Ryan in 2002 is getting attention during this year when the media is pushing reform:

When my Libertarian Party running mate Jim Tobin and I kicked off our campaign in his National Taxpayers United of Illinois office in the South Loop, the sign we held up is the one you see below.

The sign went everywhere in the campaign and might have gotten some real play had Blagojevich and Ryan not conspired to skip the Illinois League of Women Voters gubernatorial debate after I managed to reach the 5% threshold in the Daily Southtown’s 1,000 person survey. (That was the largest in the entire campaign, by the way.)

It seemed perfectly obvious to me that legislative leaders should not be leaders for life.

Except for two years after Republican Lee Daniels managed to elect a Republican majority in 1994—the year that the GOP’s Contract with America clicked on the national level—Mike Madigan has been speaker since George Ryan held the office in the early 1980′s.

Pate Philip stopped all sorts of bad legislation in his leadership of the state senate during the 1990′s, but it still seems to me that there ought to be turnover.

While the old guy/gal may pick the new guy/gal, at least the newbies would have different friends.

When Daniels got deposed during a staff-campaign-work-on-state-time scandal initiated by Rich Means–part of which took place in McHenry County–successor Tom Cross won votes by promising not to try to follow Daniels’ example of being Republican leader as long as he could.

Cross promised term limits.

In 2008, that 2002 promise went bye-bye.

And, of course, nothing will happen on the issue because Madigan is not willing to see an end to his regime…even if it were ten years from now.

The Daily Herald has polled suburban legislators on how they stand on various reform proposals and how the term limits for leaders issue shakes out can be seen below.

First House members:

• Susanne Bassi – Favors
• Mark Beaubien (Republican representing eastern part of McHenry County) – Favors
• Bob Biggins – Favors
• Linda Chapa-LaVia – Favors
• Franco Coladipietro – Favors
• Sandy Cole – Favors
• Michael Connelly – Favors
• Tom Cross – Opposed (Big surprise there.)
• Keith Farnham – Opposes
• Mike Fortner – Favors
• Jack Franks – (Democrat representing northern & western McHenry County) Favors
• Paul Froehlich – Opposes
• Kay Hatcher – Favors
• Emily Klunk-McAsey – Did not respond to Daily Herald
• Sidney Mathias – Favors
• Rosemary Mulligan – Favors
• Elaine Nekritz – Favors
• JoAnn Osmond – Favors
• Sandra Pihos – Favors



• Randy Ramey – Opposes (Step-father is Pate Philip.)
• Dennis Reboletti – Favors
• Kathleen Ryg – Favors
• Skip Saviano – Favors
• Tim Schmitz – Favors
• Darlene Senger – Favors
• Ed Sullivan – Favors
• Mike Tryon – (Representing southeastern McHenry County) Opposes
• Mark Walker – Opposes
• Eddie Washington – Favors

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The top sign is the one used in the 2002 campaign. The bottom one was the first version. I concluded that 8 years as leader was better than 6, hence the change in toll free phone numbers.

National Taxpayers United of Illinois has issued a laudatory press release about U.S. congressional candidate Chris Lauzen. It follows:

NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNITED OF ILLINOIS NAMES STATE SENATOR CHRIS LAUZEN, CANDIDATE FOR THE 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BEST “TAXPAYERS’ FRIEND” IN THE STATE SENATE

(CHICAGO) — National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTU) recently released its 12th non-partisan Tax Survey of the Illinois General Assembly. “The Survey details the tax and spending records of every member of the 94th General Assembly from January 2005 to January 2007…Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-25, Aurora), for the third time, has been rated one of the best Taxpayers’ Friends,” said NTU President Jim Tobin.

“I am proud of my record of holding the line on spending people’s hard-earned tax dollars, especially during a time when Democrats control every level of government in the State Capitol.

“While some candidates for office may make attractive promises on tax issues, I have demonstrated through 15 years of votes, legislation, and battle scars, that I keep my commitments. I’m grateful for NTU’s award and pledge to continue my “friendship” with Illinois’ taxpayers if I am elected to Congress next year,” said Lauzen.

Established in 1976, National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTU) is the largest taxpayer organization in Illinois with over 10,000 members and affiliation with more than 200 local taxpayer organizations.

To read the entire NTU’s 12th non-partisan Tax Survey of the 94th General Assembly, visit their website at: www.ntui.org.

National Taxpayers United of Illinois has issued a laudatory press release about U.S. congressional candidate Chris Lauzen. It follows:

NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNITED OF ILLINOIS NAMES STATE SENATOR CHRIS LAUZEN, CANDIDATE FOR THE 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BEST “TAXPAYERS’ FRIEND” IN THE STATE SENATE

(CHICAGO) — National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTU) recently released its 12th non-partisan Tax Survey of the Illinois General Assembly. “The Survey details the tax and spending records of every member of the 94th General Assembly from January 2005 to January 2007…Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-25, Aurora), for the third time, has been rated one of the best Taxpayers’ Friends,” said NTU President Jim Tobin.

“I am proud of my record of holding the line on spending people’s hard-earned tax dollars, especially during a time when Democrats control every level of government in the State Capitol.

“While some candidates for office may make attractive promises on tax issues, I have demonstrated through 15 years of votes, legislation, and battle scars, that I keep my commitments. I’m grateful for NTU’s award and pledge to continue my “friendship” with Illinois’ taxpayers if I am elected to Congress next year,” said Lauzen.

Established in 1976, National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTU) is the largest taxpayer organization in Illinois with over 10,000 members and affiliation with more than 200 local taxpayer organizations.

To read the entire NTU’s 12th non-partisan Tax Survey of the 94th General Assembly, visit their website at: www.ntui.org.