News April 2004

Chamber challenges Blagojevich’s fee hikes
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has launched a legal challenge to fee hikes Gov. Rod Blagojevich used to prop up the current state budget. Last year, with help from the General Assembly, the first-year governor avoided a general tax increase, in part by raising roughly 330 fees to generate an estimated $420 million in new revenue.The chamber argues that Blagojevich violated state law when he siphoned money from the higher fees to fill a $5 billion deficit in the state’s main checkbook. “We believe there is a fundamental distinction between a fee and a tax, a distinction the Blagojevich Administration has chosen to ignore,” says Doug Whitley, chamber president. “And we believe it is illegal for our state government to arbitrarily increase fees to finance general purpose government.” Filed in Cook County, the chamber’s lawsuit specifically challenges a 1.5 percent surcharge the administration added to the workers’ compensation premiums employers pay. The chamber essentially argues that, in pursuit of a balanced budget, the administration unfairly taxed the business community. The challenge comes as the legislature enters the final weeks of its spring session and must begin negotiations on next year’s budget, which Blagojevich wants to support by raising about 200 fees for a total of$57 million.

Illinois Issues April 26, 2004

---

Case summary of Operation Saferoad (updated December 17, 2003)
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osr/osrcasesummary.pdf

Press release, the Ryan indictment
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/2003/pr121703_01.pdf

Read our analysis: George Ryan's political career

llinois Issues, December 17, 2003

---

Illinois Issues tribute to Paul Simon

Illinois Issues, December 10, 2003