Lawmakers will be forced to consider 20% tax hike if voters nix graduated tax amendment

The Center Square ^ | 9/24/20 | Cole Lauterbach

[AT7Saluki]

Illinois taxpayers, who already have one of the nation’s highest total tax burdens, could see a 20% income tax hike if voters don’t approve of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” constitutional amendment in November.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said on a conference call Thursday that the state would have to raise income taxes by $4 billion, more than the income tax amendment would have brought in before the Pritzker administration’s shutdown orders ground the state’s economy to a crawl amid the pandemic.

“To adequately address the budget crisis under our current tax system, lawmakers will be forced to consider raising income taxes on all Illinois residents by at least 20% regardless of their level of income,” she said. “We all know that our middle and low-income families cannot withstand a 20% tax increase and it will only serve to deepen the dramatic inequities that we already see across the state.”

[AT7Saluki]

Full title: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton says lawmakers will be forced to consider 20% tax hike if voters nix graduated tax amendment.

So ... if we don't vote to raise taxes, they're going to raise taxes. Got it.

[ClearCase_guy]

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax”

I'm thinking that this is not the Fair Tax I'm looking for ...

[SES1066]

In spite of DECADES of Democratic rule of the Illinois Legislature, the easily seen “cause and effect” appears to elude the voters. One party rule by the ‘D’s results in rewarding THEIR VOTER BASE with budget-busting contracts. Floating bonds to make future taxpayers pay these rewards = free money then.

Now these payments have come home to roost and that means taxes must be raised. What a surprise! There is a fix though, expel Cook County/Chicago and make it pay for its own sins! Then listen to its screams!

[Mr. K]

I wonder if they considered REDUCING SPENDING????

[The Louiswu]

What can the citizens of Illinois realistically do? They’re screwed.

[oldasrocks]

NO Way, Normal people reduce expenses when faced with a cut. Hogs are the trough scream for more and more feed.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

I have friends that live there and wont move.I would be out of there in a flash.

[PilotDave]

“What can the citizens of Illinois realistically do?”

MOVE!

[virgil]

No, they never cut spending. If they are cornered into making spending cuts, they threaten to cut the most essential and popular programs. Then, the whole idea of spending cuts loses traction.

[ConservativeMind]

All options only hit reportable income earners.

All illegal crime proceeds, welfare recipients, tax dodgers and people sitting at home not working PAY NOTHING.

What kind of perverse incentive is that for a state’s income?

[econjack]

It amazes me that, in any discussion of a balanced budget at any level of gov't, there is never a discussion on the other avenue to balance a budget: less spending. Frank Beard's book, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution points out that there are only two required function of gov't: 1) the provision of social overhead capital (i.e., goods deemed necessary by society but not provided by private markets, like a standing army), and 2) policing of property rights (e.g., a legal system). Then look at a program to give away free cell phones, and it's easy to see how politicians use our money to buy their job security. Time to clean house...

[Mouton]

The tax increases will continue until the mood of the voters changes.

[lowbridge]

Wash your mouth out with soap!

[central_va]

Illinois should issue state “script” only usable at state sponsored stores. State employees and pensioner should be paid in script. State grocery stores will only sell whole foods and not junk, sugar and pre processed foods.

[HangnJudge]

VERY glad I live in E. Tenn.
One of most fiscally responsible states in the union
To the North, Kentucky, not so much...

[jdsteel]

“ To adequately address the budget crisis under our current tax system...”

When I hear BS like that it makes me crazy. Don’t they understand the difference between “income” and “expenses”?

Oh, I know it’s all semantics combined with Marxism...but it’s idiotic none the less.

[Stevenfo]

I live in Illinois. One thing you never hear discussed here are ways to reduce the cost of government. I once did see the state brag they had “saved” money by manipulating interest rates they are paying on some bonds, but that is all.

[ealgeone]

I wonder if they considered REDUCING SPENDING????

LOL!!!! Are you kidding??

Seriously, I know you're being serious.

Cutting spending is an unknown concept to the dims. Spending more to spend more is all they know.

[ealgeone]

I'm afraid they won't. They keep voting for the same stupidity over and over and over.

Makes it hard to feel sorry for them.

[usual suspect]

Install a pension cap of 50,000 dollars per year for all state and municipal employees. Co pay their golden parachute health plans with 2500 fees.