Staff

Keith Staats joined the Taxpayers’ Federation in 2026 as President.  Keith has 36 years of experience in state and local tax.

Keith joined TFI from the Chicago office of Duane Morris, LLP . At Duane Morris, Keith represented clients in a variety of state and local tax matters.

Prior to joining Duane Morris, Keith was Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Tax Institute from 2015 through 2024 and also served as acting President and CEO during 2023.

Keith served on the legal staff of the Illinois Department of Revenue for almost 10 years and was general counsel from 1999 to 2002. Earlier in his career, Keith was Deputy Director of the Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

After leaving government service, Keith was in private practice with the accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP and the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery.

Maurice Scholten joined the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois in 2015 and is currently the Legislative Director.

Mr. Scholten received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Kellie Cookson has worked as Executive Secretary for the Taxpayers’ Federation since December 1994. She was assigned Office Manager in October of 2007. Her primary duties are website maintenance, membership billing, publications and general office duties. Prior to that, she was an MLS secretary / receptionist at the Springfield Association of Realtors.

She and husband, Rodger, their two sons and daughter reside in Springfield.