* Crain’s…

In a press briefing yesterday regarding where negotiations stand with CPS on a new contract, CTU Research Director Pavlyn Jankov said that to raise the at least $1 billion a year CPS needs, officials ought to “revisit” the moribund graduated income tax plan. […]

Said [Gov. JB Pritzker] spokesman Alex Gough in an email to Crain’s: “Four years ago, Gov. Pritzker invested more than anyone in the state to enact a fair tax structure in Illinois. The voters made their voices heard on this issue. Since then, the governor has used the available resources to enact balanced and fiscally responsible budgets that make critical investments in support of children and working families across the state.”

A similar statement came from Elizabeth Mitchell, spokeswoman for Senate President Don Harmon. “The Senate president has long supported the (graduated income-tax) idea,” she told Crain’s. “But we all saw the message voters sent four years ago.”

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch declined comment.

The CTU has long been fond of relying on magic beans to balance budgets because they didn’t have to concern themselves with the details of governing. Old habits are hard to break.

* The 2020 Fair Tax constitutional amendment needed to be “approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election.” Instead, it got thumped 53-47. The “Yes” votes totaled just 45 percent of all those voting.

Also, even if attitudes change, it would be another two years before another constitutional question could be placed on the ballot.

…Adding… A commenter makes a very good point. If this survives all odds and somehow makes it onto the ballot, and it’s then positioned as a windfall for CPS, it’ll do even worse next time.