Community forum to fight rising taxes draws more speakers March 30, in Orland Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ray Hanania
March 24, 2009 312-933-9855 cell
708-403-1203 home
rayhanania@comcast.net

Community Forum to Fight Rising Taxation in Cook County and Illinois
Features Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins and regional elected officials

Orland Park – A growing number of government leaders will participate in a community forum to stop rising taxation to be led by Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins.

The forum, the first in a series, will be held Monday, March 30, 2009 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Drive (1 block west of LaGrange Road).

In addition to Mayor Mullins, other speakers will include Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin, Orland Township Supervisor Robert Maher and National Taxpayers United of Illinois President Jim Tobin.

Mullins tapped the public’s interest by suggesting that Palatine Township secede from Cook County in protest of excessive taxes imposed by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. Mullins will also discuss how communities like Palatine, Orland Park, Tinley Park and others on Cook County’s Western most borders can network to stem the taxation Tsunami. And, the forum will address the recent tax increase proposals introduced by Gov. Pat Quinn, including a 50 percent hike in the Illinois personal sales tax.

“I think it is important for communities to come together and have these discussions,” Mullins explained.

“Secession is difficult to do and requires 50 percent plus one vote of the citizens of a township and 50 percent plus one vote of the voters in Cook County all to agree. And that is challenging. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have these conversations.”

Mullins said she believes these public discussions can help make our county officials like Stroger recognize that taxpayers deserve better and that government should first find ways to make their governments more efficient before turning to taxation.

The forum is being organized as the first in a series on community issues to engage and empower residents by Radio talk Show host and columnist Ray Hanania.

“The forum is open to the public. It’s not just for voters in Orland Park but the whole Southwest region so that the public can engage these very important taxation issues,” Hanania said.

“Too many callers to the station are reporting that they feel helpless, especially in these tough economic times, and have no options to confront the tax increases that are increasing all around them and on every level.”

For more information, contact Hanania or visit the radio web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com. Hanania’s talk show program is broadcast Monday through Friday from 8-9:30 am on WJJG 1530 AM.

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