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* Shot…
State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) was joined by members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday to unveil a proposal that would protect middle-class residents by giving them a voice in safeguarding their hard-earned money.
Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 12, sponsored by Sen. McConchie, proposes an amendment to Illinois’ Constitution to prohibit the Legislature from imposing or raising a state tax or fee except through legislation approved by a two-thirds super-majority vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Currently, legislators only need a simple majority to pass a tax increase or to implement a new tax.
In announcing their Constitutional Amendment, Republicans said taxpayers deserve the option to decide whether a supermajority should be required when the Legislature votes on legislation dealing with taxes, and noted that increasing taxes in Illinois is too easy and is often used as a first resort when dealing with financial issues.
“With all the new taxes being proposed by the super-majority in both chambers, we need to ensure adequate protections are in place to protect those middle-class families already feeling the burden imposed by years of government over-spending and fiscal mismanagement,” said McConchie.
Senate Republicans noted that 15 states impose some kind of super-majority requirement to raise or implement taxes. Also, similar proposals have been introduced by legislators in Illinois in the past.
“California, who is in a financial position similar to Illinois, has implemented this requirement,” said McConchie. “Wisconsin also has this provision in place. In fact, many states are moving toward empowering their residents by offering this protection.”
To put SJRCA 12 on the ballot in 2020, a 3/5 majority is required, and for the amendment to be adopted, voters must approve it on the ballot with a 3/5th of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election.
If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, any new state tax or any state tax increase would need 40 votes in the Senate and 79 votes in the House.
* Chaser…
Think Big Illinois Executive Director Quentin Fulks released the following statement in response to the Illinois Senate GOP’s proposed constitutional amendment to block the implementation of a fair tax:
“Republicans in Springfield are so desperate to keep our current unfair tax system that they are resorting to political stunts in an attempt to ensure a system that disproportionately places the burden on middle and lower-class families stays in place.
“It’s not surprising that Republicans are using every trick in the book to protect the wealthy donors they rely on to fund their campaigns, but Illinois needs a fair tax to modernize our tax code and bring in much-needed revenue, which will go toward helping solve our budget crisis and fund critical programs, including our schools.
“Under Governor Pritzker’s fair tax plan, 97% of Illinoisans will see no state income tax increase, with only those making above $250,000 paying more. That’s the kind of tax system Illinois’ working families deserve, and that’s what Think Big Illinois will continue to fight for.”
…Adding… One more…
The Senate GOP filed a resolution seeking a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority to raise or enact any new taxes. Speaker Madigan’s spokesman responds, “Typically, [Madigan] has not been a big backer of allowing the minority to exercise outsized control.”
— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) March 26, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 12:59 pm
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Can’t think of a better way to say “we will never have a majority” then this. Seriously, can you imagine what a pickle the Republicans would be if they had control and had to abide by these rules?
What a bunch of show boating balony
Comment by HorseShoe Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:08 pm
I would suggest a 7/5ths majority requirement for super minority caucuses to propose higher vote requirements.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:10 pm
Someone should break the news to the GOP caucuses that voters already decided on super-majorities last November.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:13 pm
–“California, who is in a financial position similar to Illinois, has implemented this requirement,” said McConchie. –
Might want to check your research there, senator.
California is running annual budget surpluses of $20 billion plus.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:17 pm
“It’s not surprising that Republicans are using every trick in the book to protect the wealthy donors they rely on to fund their campaigns”
The gist of it. That’s what the ILGOP will have to run on, that plus the Trump administration supporting the total repeal of the ACA.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:18 pm
Just remember … only 3 articles of the Illinois Constitution can be amended in any one election.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:23 pm
The new ILGOP- “we take our super minority status as a sign that the people of Illinois have given us a clear mandate to run Illinois. If you look at the map we clearly have more square footage and that has to mean something…..right?”
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:37 pm
I think we need to slow this process down. Only 15 states have similar measures? We better spend a few years collecting data on their efficiency before we make a crazy leap. What’s the rush?
Someone get Marty Moylan on the horn. God knows we can’t be proposing things that every other state in the union hasn’t already done.
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:41 pm
This can clearly backfire, since Illinois still lacks a stable State government. Assume the amendment passes. Now assume our illustrious elected officials, who created this fiscal nightmare, never find the courage to pass another increase. Funding for everything collapses, along with the bond rating, while Illinois taxpayers cheer they kept their taxes low…until the I-80 bridge in Joliet collapses, or other catastrophe, and the same taxpayers complain nothing was done, but re-elect the failed incumbents for more of the same, because nobody wanted to pay more taxes (or vote for them to be raised).
Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 1:52 pm
California **Used** to have this, and it nearly destroyed the state. they finally got rid of it, and have righted the ship and are running fairly competently these days
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:00 pm
==I think we need to slow this process down. Only 15 states have similar measures?==
Less states than that have legalized recreational marijuana. Should we slow down there as well?
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:13 pm
Waste of time. It would just create a system where future revenues would still be put in place by a simple majority of re-election minded legislators through a series of naming convention gimmicks - fees, surcharges, etc - basically calling a tax increase anything but a tax increase. I doubt this proposal would accomplish what McConchie thinks it would accomplish, but hey it looks good on a campaign mailer I guess.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:15 pm
A better idea would be for all state income tax increases must be passed by the voters by referendum.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:15 pm
Translation - We’d like to be able to gridlock state government even when we’re a super-minority.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:17 pm
===A better idea would be for all state income tax increases must be passed by the voters===
And if you do that, only the rich will pay taxes. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:26 pm
==Less states than that have legalized recreational marijuana. Should we slow down there as well?==
Boy. That one zoomed right on over your head.
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 2:42 pm
This is exactly the kind of thing that was passed with bipartisan support by the Cook County Board after the soda tax fiasco….
Comment by Rather B. Fishin Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 3:34 pm
Just shows how sloooooow a news morning it was today. GOPies and NoTaxBill offer a silly idea and media runs with it.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 4:08 pm
The middle class champions won’t have a problem excluding the rich then from such protections
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 5:03 pm