* Press release…

Vote Yes For Fairness, a new ballot initiative committee working to pass the fair tax in Illinois, launched today with a mission to stand up for working and middle-class families in the fight for the fair tax. Vote Yes For Fairness believes the fair tax is the next step the state needs to continue on a path toward fiscal sustainability and success for all its residents, and will be making that case to voters in the lead up to the November 2020 election.

With the fair tax, only those making more than $250,000 a year will pay more, with the majority of Illinoisans, including our middle and working-class families, paying less.

But if the fair tax does not pass, Illinois’ structural budget deficit would have to be addressed by either cutting spending on social services by 15% or by raising income taxes on all Illinoisans by 20%. Our working families simply cannot afford either option.

“After four years of irresponsible governance and fiscal mismanagement under the Rauner administration, Illinois is finally getting back on track, but the next step toward fundamentally changing the trajectory of our state is implementing the fair tax,” said Quentin Fulks, Chairman of Vote Yes For Fairness. “The fair tax will lift the burden off of middle and lower-income families, reduce economic inequality, and generate additional funding to address our budget crisis and fund our weakened education system. Vote Yes For Fairness will be sharing that message with voters across the state, and we’re confident it will pass in November 2020.”

* Crain’s…

Pritzker’s “Vote Yes for Fairness” is a ballot initiative committee helmed by Quentin Fulks, the head of his “Think Big Illinois” non-profit 501(c)(4). While it has a $0 balance, it can accept unlimited contributions in the weeks and months leading up to the election that will feature Pritkzer’s banner question over the state’s progressive income tax. Its stated purpose is “to support the proposed Graduated Income Tax Amendment to the Illinois Constitution.”

Opponents of the graduated income tax launched their own ballot initiative committee last month, called “Vote No On The Blank Check Amendment.” Crain’s reported that the group, headed by Greg Baise, the CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association who now leads Think Big opponent Ideas Illinois, planned to spend “a significant amount” to counter Pritzker. It has already begun some of its messaging, using the face of House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Ballot committee names are supposed to include words describing the question of public policy and whether the group supports or opposes the question. Those two names kinda stretches one of those requirements.

…Adding… From the new committee…

Hi Rich,

Hope your summer is going well!

I saw your post about Vote Yes For Fairness with the headline “Pritzker, Lightfoot launch campaign committees” and just wanted to reach out for clarification. Vote Yes For Fairness is not a Pritzker campaign committee. It will be advocating for the fair tax, which is obviously one of his policy objectives, but it is separate from Governor Pritzker.

Thanks!

Lara Sisselman
Communications Director

My response…

lol

ok

lol

fine

* Meanwhile…

[Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s] new PAC allows her to collect maximum donations of $10,800 from individuals; $53,900 from other committees and PACs, and $21,600 from parties, unions, and corporations. Those amounts are higher than the limits for her existing campaign committee; individuals and organizations can donate to both committees. […]

Dave Mellet, Lightfoot’s political director, says the PAC “will help support the mayor as she continues to reform city government and invest in all Chicago neighborhoods. We will also support candidates who share that vision for the city.”

The new committee is called Light PAC and is chaired by Laurel Appell, the president of Better Together Chicago, a 501(c)4 which funded Lightfoot’s transition with dark money (they listed funders here).

Its treasurer is Linda Loving, who works for Chris Kennedy’s Top Box Foods. Lightfoot endorsed Kennedy in the 2018 Democratic primary, even cutting a TV ad for him in late 2017.