TAXES, POWER COSTS, ON THE RISE

The Illinois electorate wants to let Democrats be Democrates, and there they go again -- raising taxes.
It is, of course, what they do best. They upped Illinois' income taxes by a whopping 66% this month.

Added to the tax burden there sits before the Illinois Commerce Commission two rate increase requests by power giant, ComEd

The first of these requests is for a $369-million increase on the cost of delivery of power to the consumer. The second is said to be for an "alternative rate regulation plan." For $190-million, ComEd would place 'smart meters' in homes enabling the company to charge less for power usage during off-peak hours.

Among objections to the smart grid plan are added costs to retirees, who spend most days at home.

Somewhere in the proposals lie surcharges whose dollar cost is said to be unclear.

Meanwhile, back on the Federal front, Obama keeps denying the annual cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits under the pretense that the cost-of-living has not increased over the past couple years.

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COMMENT:
No doubt the new Congress now will ditto Obama's denial of SocSec cost-of-living increases.