| |
|
|
November 1, 2007
Chicago Public Radio
Chicago Public Radio Takes a Closer Look at the Cook County Phone Tax
As far as bills go, most monthly phone statements are pretty intimidating.
There are charges for local, long distance, local long distance, local long distance
charges during off peak hours...the list goes on.
Rather than do the math, many people just look at the number in bold and pay up.
But that bold number could be jumping significantly for people who live in Cook County.
This week, we've been taking a closer look at some of the tax hikes proposed for Cook
County and Chicago residents.
For Chicago Public Radio, Robert Wildeboer reports.
To read the entire story, click here.
Press Release
November 1, 2007
Consumer, Civil Rights, Business Organizations Form Coalition to Fight Cook County Phone Tax
Group urges Cook County residents to contact commissioners to stop unfair tax CBS2Chicago
October 16, 2007
County Proposes $4 On Cell Phones, Other Devices: Tax Could Quickly Add Up To Big Bucks For Local Families
"Stan Rosenberg and his family use a number of wireless and other telecommunications devices.
A count in their home revealed at least 10. At $4 a month for each one, the cost of a proposed new
Cook County tax for the wired clan would be nearly $500 a year."
"'All this together is really creating a situation that's intolerable,' said Republican Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica."
To read the entire article or to watch Mike Flannery's report, click here.
ABC7Chicago
October 16, 2007
"County follows city’s lead with call for high taxes, fees"
"Stroger’s trying to erase a $230 million dollar deficit - but his menu of tax options includes
some that may not survive a court challenge even if they do survive the budge battle"
"The revenue options in the new Cook County budget reportedly include a $4-a-month levy on all
telecommunications devices, including cell phones, which could end up costing families with
multiple devices several hundred dollars a year."
To read the entire article or to watch Andy Shaw’s report, click here.
Chicago Tribune
October 16, 2007
"Legal fight brews on proposed phone tax."
"Cook County's proposed $4 monthly tax on all telephones in the county, including cellular phones, is probably unconstitutional."
"The 1970 Illinois constitution prohibits home rule bodies, including Cook County, from imposing taxes on services without approval by the General Assembly."
To read the entire article, click here.
Chicago Tribune
October 13, 2007
"County eyes $4 phone tax: Consumer, business groups oppose idea"
"'It's unfair and egregious,’ said [Rev. James] Demus [founder of the Ministerial Alliance Against the Digital Divide],
"and is an undue hardship on poor people. We understand the needs of the county and city, but we think this phone tax is exceedingly unfair.'"
"[Doug] Whitley [president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce] said a significant new phone tax would raise the
cost of doing business in Cook County, and that some operations with many phone lines, such as call centers,
likely would look at moving outside the county to escape the tax."
To read the entire article, click here.
Chicago Tribune
October 13, 2007
"Welcome to the tax merry-go-round"
"Excuse Cook County taxpayers for experiencing vertigo from the push-and-pull the cash-strapped government is inflicting upon them."
"Think your kids might escape because you carry only a cell phone? Sorry, the tax would apply to your RAZR’s and high-speed Internet access."
To read the entire article, click here. |
|