Tag: Burke

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ICYMI: The Burke case and the need for property tax reform in Illinois

ILGOP Chairman Schneider renews call to prohibit lawmakers from performing property tax appeals legal work, agrees with Chicago Mayor Emanuel’s proposed ban for City Council

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider authored a guest column in the Daily Herald discussing the need for property tax reform, specifically prohibiting the practice of lawmakers at any level of government from operating law firms on the side that perform property tax appeals. Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and House Speaker Mike Madigan are among those lawmakers.

From Chairman Schneider’s guest column:

…Nowhere else is the property tax system so corrupt and unethical. The recent indictment of property tax attorney and Chicago Alderman Ed Burke for extortion of a Burger King franchise in his ward is simply the tip of an enormous iceberg. The public has known for years that the entire property tax system is fundamentally broken, yet no reforms have been enacted by our elected officials to correct it.

Either we demand a fairer system of property taxation in Cook County, and elected officials who actually look out for their constituents, or we are doomed to lose even more residents to the Republican-run, taxpayer-friendly states of Texas, Tennessee, Indiana and Florida.

Don’t let this moment pass with a cynical acceptance of Chicago’s corrupt culture. We must reform our property tax system and end conflicts of interest. We can no longer allow the very people who write public policy to profit from it.

Legislators and policymakers — the Ed Burkes and Mike Madigans of Illinois — should be prohibited from performing property tax appeal legal work as long as they are elected officials. It is impossible for them to perform the public work the people entrusted them to do without considering the profitability and interests of their own private law firms. They should be free to choose one or the other, but not both…

Recently, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled an ethics reform package following the Burke indictment that would “preclude council members from representing developers and property owners in the kind of property tax abatement work Burke did through his outside law firm.” Chairman Schneider supports Mayor Emanuel’s proposed ban and urges Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to take up legislation that would enact similar rules for state lawmakers.

Crain’s Chicago Business also published an editorial calling on Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s next mayor to outlaw the “indefensible” practice of “[representing] businesses on their property tax appeals and hold immensely powerful political offices.”

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Crain’s Calls On Pritzker To Support Outlawing Property Tax Appeals Work For Lawyer-Lawmakers

“[Pritzker and Chicago’s mayor] first ought to tackle the ethics issues and conflicts of interest highlighted in the Burke case once and for all.”
“We know the practice of lawmakers at any level of government serving as property tax appeals lawyers is a conflict of interest, and it must end. Governor-elect Pritzker should call on lawmakers to immediately take up legislation outlawing the practice. With our state’s terribly high property taxes, the people of Illinois deserve elected officials who are wholly committed to reforming our government and tax system for everyone, instead of using their position for self gain.” – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider
Today, Crain’s Chicago Business published an editorial calling on Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s next mayor to outlaw the “indefensible” practice of “[representing] businesses on their property tax appeals and hold immensely powerful political offices.” Crain’s also called it a “no-brainer” for Pritzker.

From Crain’s Chicago Business editorial:

This is why outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner, for all his faults, wasn’t wrong to advocate for term limits and to suggest that House Speaker Michael Madigan’s day job, like Burke’s, presents such a clear conflict of interest to his role as a public servant that it defies logic. In fact, it is well past time for it to be illegal to do what Burke and Madigan have done for decades—handling property tax appeals for businesses standing to benefit from or be harmed by government actions.

If the city or state were on autopilot, with finances in good shape, it might not matter so much. But with job one for both the newly elected governor and soon-to-be-elected mayor being to fix the city and state’s fiscal house—which likely involves overhauling state and city tax frameworks—they first ought to tackle the ethics issues and conflicts of interest highlighted in the Burke case once and for all.

If our elected leaders are going to go for the type of grand bargain that seems required—more taxes, fewer services—they should offer taxpayers something in return, like good government, or at least better government.

Incoming Gov. J.B. Pritzker would earn goodwill from both parties if he targeted what has now been shown in the starkest manner possible to be indefensible: the ability to represent businesses on their property tax appeals and hold immensely powerful political offices. Start there. It’s a no-brainer.

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Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider Calls For An End To Politicians Serving As Property Tax Appeals Lawyers Following Burke Corruption Charges

Chairman Schneider also calls for comprehensive reform of Cook County’s property tax system

Today, Federal officials announced corruption charges against Chicago Alderman Ed Burke for attempting to extort a fast food business in a scheme to steer business to Burke’s law firm. The Chicago Tribune is also reporting that campaign cash that was a part of Burke’s extortion scheme was intended for Cook County Board President and Cook County Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response:
“Illinois’ broken and corrupt property tax system enabled Chicago Alderman Ed Burke to extort a fast food restaurant in an attempt to solicit business for his lucrative property tax appeals law firm and line the campaign coffers of Democratic elected officials in Cook County. The practice of lawmakers at any level of government serving as property tax appeals lawyers is unethical, and it must end. Today, the Illinois Republican Party is calling for comprehensive reform of Cook County’s property tax system to protect taxpayers.”

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