* Gov. JB Pritzker was asked about Ald. Sigcho-Lopez’s recent criticism that the governor isn’t doing enough to tax the rich. His response seemed to contradict itself. First, he said…
By the way, the governor is not the one who ultimately proposes those bills or even signs them. When it’s an amendment to the Constitution, the governor really has almost nothing to do with it other than perhaps advocacy.
And then, in defense of his own history, Pritzker said…
The very first thing that I did, or one of the very first things that I did in office, was propose and ask the General Assembly to put on the ballot the amendment that would have a graduated income tax in the state.
Um.
* More from his response…
I think it’s something that is being talked about by members of the General Assembly. We’ll have to see if it gets proposed. It’s not something that’s been a priority for me going into the next session. We clearly want to make sure first that we are looking at finding efficiencies in government. That’s always the very, very first thing. But I do think a graduated system is better than a flat tax system, and so if there’s a possibility for us to have a system like that, it’s better than the one we have.
- Steve - Friday, Nov 21, 25 @ 2:07 pm:
I’ve been saying this issue isn’t going away. When you have no desire to limit spending in Illinois: you get high taxes across the board. Many Illinois taxpayers could actually be paying more than 4.95% in the coming years.
- NotRich - Friday, Nov 21, 25 @ 2:08 pm:
Translation: not happening with 2028 Prez run in the picture
- Change Agent - Friday, Nov 21, 25 @ 2:15 pm:
We can’t efficiency our way out of the hole Illinois is in and that the feds are digging deeper and deeper. If Pritzker wanted to be bold, he could be the Presidential candidate who steps up and says “I taxed the rich to protect everyone else from Trump.”
- Dirty Red - Friday, Nov 21, 25 @ 2:17 pm:
Also from the presser: It takes almost two months for agencies to find 4% in cost savings? That’s…interesting. They’re going to have a blast this spring, if true.
- Sue - Friday, Nov 21, 25 @ 2:22 pm:
I said Tuesday- with JB running for reelection in 2026 there will be no tax issues on the calendar or ballot- these progressives need to stop yelling fire everyday- btw- anyone notice Goldman could not place its Chicago debt offering this week?GS got stuck with 76 million of Chicago debt for which there were no buyers
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 21, 25 @ 2:34 pm:
“We clearly want to make sure first that we are looking at finding efficiencies in government.”
The irony of Pritzker sounding more like Quinn, and Quinn like Pritzker of old. That’s not smart political strategy (see Quinn).
A progressive state income tax is absolutely needed. Voters recently signaled support for the millionaire tax. The governor does not need to sign a CA that passes in the GA. Advocates can show their mettle by working on what the voters want.