State budget expert to speak

PEORIA –  From a news release: 

The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria will hear economist Ralph Martire speak on state budget issues at 12 noon on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Main (downtown) Peoria Public Library, 107 NE Monroe.

Martire is executive director of the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.  His organization has criticized the “antiquated” tax structure in Illinois which produces “fiscal policies that are both unsound and place an unfair burden on low and middle income residents.”

The center’s most recent report, available on its website at http://www.ctbaonline.org

• Details how the tax increases passed in January averted a fiscal disaster in FY2012;
• Identifies over $388 million in cuts to human service programs;
• Reveals “that despite the recent tax increases and spending cuts, the FY2012 Illinois budget proposes over $1 billion in spending for which there is no revenue, and is subject to an accumulated deficit of over $7 billion after accounting for unpaid bills left over from FY2011.”

A dynamic speaker who can make tax and fiscal policy come alive, Martire has been interviewed many times on national radio and TV broadcasts.

The event is free and open to the public. Audience members can bring a brown bag lunch, if desired.  Drinks and dessert will be provided.  -30-

Comments

[Steve Waterworth]

Illinois' economy suffers from George W. Bush's taxes cuts ten years ago and the many retired Republican patronage state employees we're forced to support. State employees who did little for Illinois, but a lot for the Republican Party. To say nothing of the many jobs that have left Illinois for China.

[Dennis in Peoria]

I will be there to video it for CAPtions. Should be
interesting.