Press Releases: Budgets and Taxes

Chicago-based Heartland Institute Reacts to Metra Fare Hike

November 17, 2011
Steve Stanek
James L. Johnston

The Metra Board of Directors today approved the agency’s 2012 budget, which includes fare increases across all ticket types and a variety of other changes to Metra’s fare policies.

Heartland Institute Reacts to Cook County Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Hike Votes

November 14, 2011
John Skorburg
Steve Stanek
John Nothdurft

A committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a 50 percent hike in alcohol taxes, from 6 cents per gallon to 9 cents per gallon, and an extension of the cigarette tax to

Heartland Institute Experts Available for Comment on Pennsylvania Fracking Fee Vote

November 02, 2011
Richard J. Trzupek
Jay Lehr, Ph.D.
John Nothdurft

Negotiations continue in the Pennsylvania Senate as legislators attempt to determine the size and distribution of a proposed impact fee on Marcellus Shale gas wells.

Heartland Institute Reacts to $196.5 Million High-Speed Rail Grant for Chicago to Detroit Line

October 06, 2011
Wendell Cox
S.T. Karnick
Steve Stanek

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Michigan $196.5 million to help kick-start a high-speed rail line between Detroit and Chicago.

Heartland Institute Experts Available for Solyndra Hearings Commentary

September 21, 2011
James M. Taylor, J.D.
Steve Stanek

The U.S. House of Representatives will hold hearings Thursday and Friday on the bankruptcy of Solyndra that cost taxpayers more than $500 million in loan guarantees.

Heartland Institute Responds to President Obama’s Latest Deficit Reduction, Tax Plan

September 19, 2011
Steve Stanek
John Bethune
S.T. Karnick
James L. Johnston

In a speech in the Rose Garden Monday, President Barack Obama unveiled a $3 trillion deficit-reduction plan with some $1.5 billion in tax hikes.

Heartland Institute Experts Available to Comment on Obama’s Jobs Speech

September 08, 2011
Peter Ferrara
S.T. Karnick
Steve Stanek

President Obama is expected to ask for some $300 billion in economic stimulus in his speech tonight at a joint session of Congress.

Heartland Institute Responds to Illinois Gov. Quinn’s Proposed Layoffs

September 06, 2011
Steve Stanek
S.T. Karnick

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) announced Monday that the state’s budget deficit may require him to lay off thousands of state workers by the end of this week.

Heartland Institute Legal Expert Reacts to Layoff Notices at WEAC

August 15, 2011
Maureen Martin

The Wisconsin public school teachers’ union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, announced Monday it has issued layoff notices to about 40 percent of its employees, about 42 individuals.

Heartland Institute Experts React to Credit Rating Downgrade

August 05, 2011
Michael J. New
Peter Ferrara
S.T. Karnick
Robert Genetski
Steve Stanek
Joe Cobb
John Skorburg

Standard & Poor’s, one of the major credit rating agencies in the United States, downgraded America’s rating from AAA to AA-plus, the first-ever downgrade of this country.