Over the weekend, the Champaign News-Gazette editorialized against making the temporary tax permanent, saying: Legislative Democrats, particularly in the Illinois House, have a political problem — they want to make the states temporary 5 percent income tax permanent but fear the political fallout of voting for it. Gov. Quinn, supported by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, wants the temporary tax made permanent by the May 31 adjournment deadline. Quinn contends its necessary so local and state officials can properly plan for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 and avoid big cuts to important programs, like education. So over the next 14 days, recalcitrant Democrats — Republicans arent interested in voting yes — will be subject to furious lobbying. Speaker Madigan has conceded that he plans to cajole some legislators. But hes also come up with a unique tactic that he contends will persuade legislators to vote yes. Hes asking legislators to approve a $38 billion spending plan while realizing that Illinois will only have $34 billion in revenue unless the tax is made permanent. Madigan said his intent is to set the bar against which we will work to convince people to vote for the revenue. This kind of spend-first, tax-later approach is symptomatic of Illinois financial problems. Click here to visit our Action Center & urge your legislators to keep the temporary tax hike temporary: bit.ly/ReJmfY
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 13:56:07 +0000
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