From Americans for Prosperity, Illinois…
WOW! This year’s lame duck session in Springfield has been one of the most fast paced and productive sessions in recent memory. With only three days remaining, it appears that lawmakers will be receiving a formal legislative package that includes a request for a 75% increase in state income taxes.
It appears that the initial debate on the language will start in the House of Representatives. Our sources advise that Speaker Madigan is going to allow a straight up vote on the package. There is rumored to be 51 members in favor. In order to pass the House, the bill will need 60 votes. Therefore, it’ll be up to Governor Quinn to convince nine additional House members to move in favor of the tax hike. And so, this weekend, the hard lobbying will begin. The language of the full tax package is being drafted.
Below are the basic tenets of the package as we understand it today.
- Increases the state income tax rate on individuals from the current 3 percent to 5.25 percent, raising $6 billion a year. Most of the increase would expire after four years. At the end of that time, the permanent individual tax rate would be 3.75 percent.
- Local governments would not get their usual cut from the increase.
- An increase in the corporate income tax rate from the current 4.8 percent to 8.4 percent, raising $1 billion a year. That increase also would drop after four years.
- An increase in the state cigarette tax by $1 per pack, raising $377 million. Those funds are devoted to education funding.
- Borrowing $8.5 billion to eliminate the state’s backlog of bills.
- Paying all property owners a $325 check from the state each year as a credit against property taxes. The rebate would be permanent. The current deduction for property taxes on the state income tax return would be eliminated.
- Instituting a three-year moratorium on new state programs. Spending increases would be capped at 1 percent per year for three years.
AFP-IL and our over 50,000 activists have written thousands of letters and made hundreds of phone calls to their lawmakers asking them to vote “NO” on tax increases during the lame duck session.
Yesterday, the State Journal Register posted AFP’s position on the looming tax increase vote.
If you believe as we do that lawmakers should vote “NO” on tax increases during the lame duck session then click here NOW to send a letter to your lawmakers and have your voice heard.
On a side note, AFP-IL members played a pivotal role as a partner with the Stop Coalition. Our letter and phone calls to lawmakers assisted in defeating the Utility Tax rate increase Senate Bill 2485.
We ARE making a difference!
Joe Calomino
State Director
AFP-IL
Visit the links below for a brief update on some major Lame Duck sessions activities
Tax Increases:
Income tax hike deal reached
Ill. lawmakers reach tax deal
Democrat lawmakers push 75% state income tax increase
Dems push income, cig tax increases, property tax break
Top Dems: Deal on Illinois Tax Hike
Illinois Senate leader: Tax deal reached
Teneska (Utility rate increase):
Congratulations! Your letters and phone calls helped to defeat this initiative!
Tenaska coal plant bill fails in state Senate
See vote history
Medicaid:
House OKs Medicaid bill that should save hundreds of millions
Illinois House sends Medicaid overhaul to Quinn
See vote history
TABOR (Tax Payer Bill of Rights):
TABOR advances
Read TABOR language
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