Illinois Senate and House Republicans united against a progressive tax

[June 29, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- Even though the Illinois House and Senate are not currently in session, Republicans are warning Illinois residents that top Democrats and dozens of Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation calling for a progressive income tax effective immediately upon adoption, calling the tax "a mechanism to increase revenue to fuel more spending."

"Every time we have an economic recovery, it's generally small business that leads the way," said state Rep. Rich Brauer. "If we want Illinois to pull out of the recession, it's counterproductive to put new taxes on small businesses and individuals."

Democrats pushed the largest income tax increase in Illinois history, a 67 percent increase, just two years ago, promising taxpayers that part of it would be temporary and would revert to original levels at the beginning of 2015. But now, those leaders are starting to push a new tax increase in the fiscal 2014 state budget, which, Republican leaders advise, will negatively affect small businesses and family farms.

According to the comptroller's office, Illinois' backlog of unpaid bills is $3.5 billion, with over 70,000 vendors owed. Illinois now has the worst credit rating in the nation. The governor's office is estimating that interest losses on a state bond issue will be $130 million over the 25-year life of the construction bonds that were issued just this week.

[Text from news release sent on behalf of Rep. Rich Brauer by Illinois Senate Republican staff]