Legislature headed for midnight tax-hike showdown (Illinois)

Source: Chicago Tribune

A plan to raise the Illinois income tax by 67 percent and broaden sales taxes was approved by a panel of House lawmakers today, raising the stakes with just hours to go before the legislature's midnight deadline to pass a new state budget.

The measure passed the Democratic-controlled Senate last night, but it's not at all clear that the Democrats who control the House will do the same. Republicans in both chambers have so far refused to vote for any tax increase.

The tax measure was approved by the House Education Committee on an 11-6 party line vote, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposed. Two Republicans voted present.

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Quinn claimed the legislature needs to act by midnight or drastic cuts will be made on states services, from aid to senior citizens to help for victims of rape and domestic violence. But lawmakers could also pass a makeshift spending plan that would require them to return later in the year to vote again.

Read more: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/05/legislature-headed-for-midnight-taxhike-showdown.html

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Yet another state with serious financial problems. A 67% income tax increase sounds drastic, though.

of course "the children".

There is never any explanation of how those cuts were arrived at the the prioritizations used. How about a little transparency and less "OMG the world will come to an end". Make the case and the people will fund it.

And the evil tax and spend Governor is being blamed.:evilgrin:

or $1,000.00 per $50,000.00 of taxable income. Our state, the 5th most populous in the nation, ranks 6th in tax-payer supported debt http://www.ioc.state.il.us/FiscalFocus/article.cfm?ID=290 Our pension obligations are atrocious.

Either cuts in spending, tax increases, or a combo of both must happen. Pick your poison.

mike kohr
Bureau County
North Central Illinois

I got an email action alert on this earlier today urging me to call my State Rep. An excerpt from the alert explained it like this:

HB 174 would:

- 2% increase in income tax, bringing up to 5% total.

- increase corporate income tax

- reduce property tax

- has money directly funneled to education

** THE VOTE IS EXPECTED TODAY.
_______

My local rep is Bill Black (104th District) who is the Deputy Republican leader. I doubt he'll lift a finger to support a tax increase, but I did call his office urging his support for the bill.

Today really IS a make or break thing because after this date it will take a larger majority to pass a budget...



Laura

It should be a 1 year, 1 % hike. State ee's get 5% cut in pay, and end the stupid pension system.

Riiight.

Do just that and see how far the Dems will get in keeping that dominance when IL Labor gets done chewing them up and spitting them out.

Oh--and by the way, I am an IMRF employee as a County Government person, and you can just kiss my entire ass. YOU want to give up YOUR fucking retirement as a political gesture? Didn't think so. IF you have a retirement plan left these days you tend to feel mighty protective of it

Good luck recruiting any new employees to government service if you do kill our benefits to save cash, because without those fringes there really IS no incentive to put up with asshole taxpayers who think they have the right to use and abuse whoever picks up the phone when they call.

The stupid. It burns my eyes.

So there is an economic disincentive to actually retaining the most experienced judges. That isn't stupid?