Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) recently launched the “Freeze the Tax” multimedia effort to urge Springfield lawmakers to pass a permanent property tax freeze, legislation AFP-IL has championed for several years. Illinois homeowners already suffer under some of the highest property taxes in the nation, yet property taxes continue to rise at a faster rate than home values and income. “Freeze the Tax” features a web video, digital ad buys, and a direct mail campaign in addition to grassroots activity.
“With negotiations in the General Assembly ongoing and only three weeks remaining in the Legislature’s Spring Session, now is the time for our elected officials to finally resolve this important issue,” stated AFP-IL State Director Andrew Nelms. “We know, both anecdotally and through polling, that Illinois residents overwhelmingly support a long-term property tax freeze. We also know Illinoisans pay more, much more, in property taxes than residents of other states. Yet, the Legislature has failed to get the job done. So we’re sending them a simple message loud and clear – enough is enough, freeze property taxes now!”
Digital ad buys and direct mail target districts of the following elected officials:
Senators: Sen. Scott Bennett (Champaign), Sen. Melinda Bush (Grayslake), Sen. Cristina Castro (Elgin), Sen. Thomas Cullerton (Villa Park), Sen. William Haine (Alton), Sen. Linda Holmes (Aurora), Sen. Julie Morrison (Deerfield), and Sen. Laura Murphy (Elk Grove Village).
Representatives: Rep. Daniel Beiser (Alton), Rep. Deb Conroy (Villa Park), Rep. Fred Crespo (Streamwood), Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (Aurora), Rep. Anna Moeller (Elgin), Rep. Martin Moylan (Des Plaines), Rep. Michelle Mussman (Schaumburg), Rep. Carol Sente (Vernon Hills), Rep. Katie Stuart (Collinsville), and Rep. Sam Yingling (Round Lake Beach).
“Illinois homeowners pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation and property taxes keep going up, faster than our home values and family incomes. For far too long, Springfield has failed to provide any relief. It’s time to give homeowners a break. Tell Springfield to pass a permanent property tax freeze. Take action at FreezeTheTax.com.”
“I’m not focused on the politics. I’m trying to get a balanced budget with structural changes to grow the economy, protect our taxpayers, properly fund our schools and our human services.”
With less than three weeks left until the end of the legislative session, Governor Bruce Rauner is busy jamming both work-related and campaign events into his schedule.
After leaving a school in Bloomingdale Friday, Rauner headed to a midday fundraiser at Bentley’s Pancake House in the northwest suburb. The flier for the fundraiser, which was emailed to supporters, asked for donations from $5 to $50.
Rauner again refused to discuss his re-election campaign during the event and has not formally announced that he’s a candidate in the 2018 race.
The anti-Rauner group, Illinois Working Together, is making hay about the exchange, complaining that Rauner made the campaign stop at the time the Illinois Senate was in session. “It is inexcusable for Gov. Rauner to be campaigning while legislators are trying to find a path forward on a budget,” Jake Lewis, campaign director for the group told POLITICO in a statement.
It’s a state SUV — NBC’s camera shot shows Rauner entering a state SUV. Well, he is governor and has state police security detail. A Rauner campaign spokeswoman, Kirsten Kukowski, said this via text message: “Since the Governor’s term in office, the party has reimbursed and will continue to reimburse the state of Illinois for the Governor’s travel outside official state business.” She added that “most executives are in this position and handle similarly.”
Asked how his campaign stop squares with comments hours earlier that he’s not thinking about politics, Kukowski said: “As far as your question goes, he made a stop to talk to people between official events and it’s paid for by political funds as we’ve explained in the past. We will of course continue to do that.”
Today, the JB Pritzker for Governor campaign released its second TV ad, “Incubate.”
“Incubate” highlights JB’s visionary work to grow Illinois into one of the top technology hubs in the world. Five years ago, JB brought tech leaders and entrepreneurs together to found 1871, a non-profit technology incubator. In the years since, Chicago transformed from a city falling behind in the tech economy, to a leading center for technology growth and innovation. Along the way, 1871 supported hundreds of startups and helped create over six thousand good paying jobs in Illinois.
“When Illinois was falling behind in the tech economy, I decided to think big, bring people together, and get results for our state,” said JB Pritzker. “I’m proud of our work building 1871, and helping turn Illinois into one of the top technology hubs in the world, a center for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. But there is more work to be done. Under Governor Rauner’s failed leadership, Illinois is losing jobs and wasting opportunities. We need a Governor with big ideas, who knows how to bring people together and get things done.”
Encouraging start-ups is the prominent feature of the new ad, which contains testimonials from people largely affiliated with 1871. The candidate does not speak in the ad.
Instead, it features Suzanne Muchin, founder of Mind + Media Matter Studio, a multiplatform marketing firm and 1871 board member; Matt Moog, CEO of PowerReviews, a customer review technology firm who chaired 1871; Shradha Agarwal, president of Outcome Health, a consumer focused wellness website; Amanda Lannert, CEO of Jellyvision and a member of 1871’s advisory board and Neal Sales-Griffin, CEO of CodeNow, a computer code mentoring firm and one of Encouraging 1871’s first tenants.
In the ad, Moog touts that “Illinois is now one of the fastest growing and largest technology hubs in the world” after Muchin laments that a decade ago the state was far behind on high technology jobs.
“This is what’s possible. When someone like J.B. puts forward a big idea and a big vision, that is exactly what our state needs right now,” Muchin says to close the ad.
