Senate Republicans file resolution opposing governor's $7.6 billion tax         

Watch the live debate on Wednesday

[May 08, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, and his Senate Republican colleagues have filed a resolution opposing the gross receipts tax proposed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, which will cost businesses and consumers $7.6 billion.

The Senate Republican caucus is also sending letters to their Senate Democratic colleagues, urging them to join in co-sponsoring the resolution.

Filed May 3, Senate Resolution 167 states that the gross receipts tax would force businesses to shift billions in costs to consumers, which equates to as much as $2,400 annually for every family of four, or an additional tax burden of almost $200 per month.

The House Republicans have introduced a similar resolution, House Resolution 344, that opposes the imposition of the gross receipts tax in Illinois.

Brady is also encouraging 44th District citizens to listen to a public debate about the tax as the House of Representatives convenes a rare committee of the whole at 9 a.m. Wednesday. During this extensive forum, which will be broadcast live via the Internet, legislators will hear testimony from all sides of the issue. The governor has been invited to testify before the committee, but his attendance has yet to be confirmed.

Those who are interested can go to Brady's site at www.brady.senategop.org and access a link to the live Internet stream to watch or listen to the proceedings on Wednesday.

[Text from news release sent on behalf of Sen. Bill Brady and received from Illinois Senate Republican staff]