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* Press release…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Tuesday after the House approved House Resolution 1025, endorsing a fair tax plan that cuts middle-class taxes while making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share:
“Today’s vote was a promise to taxpayers that as we continue working toward a fair tax in Illinois our focus will be on cutting taxes on the middle class, putting more money in the pockets of working families, stimulating our economy and helping small businesses grow. The House Democrats backing this resolution stand ready to work with all of our colleagues to enact a fair tax plan like those currently in place in 33 states—including Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana—and cutting taxes for most Illinoisans.
“But while our current tax structure unfairly forces hardworking families to pay a much larger share of their income in state taxes than corporate CEOs and hedge fund billionaires, Governor Rauner is willfully misleading taxpayers. He doesn’t want anyone to see that he’s blocking tax relief for the middle class, all in an effort to protect a special deal for millionaires and billionaires like himself.
“While much work remains to be done, it’s now time for anyone who is serious about cutting taxes for the middle class and growing our economy to come to the table and work with us to enact a fair tax.”
Well, that kind of language will help the budget talks I’m sure. Say what you want about him, but the governor has stayed pretty darned mum lately, and that hasn’t hurt things. Just the opposite.
* The roll call is here. Just 61 members voted for it. The Democrats voting against it were pretty much what you’d expect: Costello, Kifowit and Scherer. Kifowit is the only non-target. DeLuca, Drury and Yingling (another target) didn’t vote.
But Rep. Natalie Phelps Finnie and Katie Stuart, both Tier One targets, voted “Yes.” That’ll make for some interesting ads.
…Adding… Rauner campaign…
Today, Illinois House Democrats voted in favor of a resolution to support a graduated tax hike just like JB Pritzker has been campaigning on. Rauner campaign spokesman Colin Maynard issued the following statement in response:
“Pritzker has bragged that the ‘theme’ of his campaign will be a graduated tax hike. Today’s vote in the House makes it clear the Madigan Machine in Springfield is ready to work with Pritzker to raise taxes on Illinois families and small businesses. Hardworking taxpayers simply can’t afford the Pritzker-Madigan team.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 2:49 pm
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If I were a Democrat from a more downstate district I frankly wouldn’t be running away from the electorally-based proposal of cutting most of my voters’ taxes. Regardless, I agree that the Gov. is disingenuous on this issue - could it be because he’s a billionaire who might really enjoy paying the same income tax rate that I currently do?
Comment by Stark Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 2:55 pm
Last time I checked, Halbrook was a Republican…..
Comment by Jen Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 2:56 pm
This is an issue that should build up during the election, and one that needs Pritzker to win and push the message into the next gubernatorial term. It’s about fundamental fairness, shifting the tax burden more onto the highest incomes.
Bruce Rauner would just about rather pluck out his own eyes rather than pay a penny more in taxes than anyone else. Republicans, being who they are, will protect the super-rich at all costs. In this environment, why should any worker agree to Rauner’s cuts when the multimillionaire refuses to pay more and blatantly lies about the harm of a progressive income tax?
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:02 pm
While much work remains to be done, it’s now time for anyone who is serious about cutting taxes for the middle class and growing our economy to come to the table and work with us to enact a fair tax.”
Maybe you should have started working a little earlier in the session Speaker. We heard the same speech a year ago
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:02 pm
This is too rediculous. Speaker Madigan has led the legislature for longercthen most Illinois citizens have been alive yet only now is the Tax system he has been responsible for is unfair. This is why most of our residents hate this State
Comment by Sue Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:05 pm
then do the heavy lifting to change it; releasing a light-weight, house resolution, press-pop hurts - rather than helps the cause
Comment by if want to change it and actually have the will..... Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:13 pm
You know what tax plan is unfair? A tax plan where if the government makes a mistake the citizen has to hire an expensive and well-connected attorney to fix that mistake.
Comment by Not It Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:23 pm
1969-1982 “Damned Ogilvie Tax” - 2.5%
1983 “New Wave Tax” - 3%
1984 “Material Girl Tax Cut” - 2.75%
1985-1988 “Ferris Bueller Tax Break” - 2.5%
1989 “Kinder, Gentler Tax Hike” - 2.75%
1990-2010 “Crystal Pepsi Clear Tax” - 3%
2011-2014 “The Sack Tap Temp Increase” - 5%
2015-current “Fixed For Ya Tax” - 3.75%
2019 “Fair Tax” - .0005 to 10%
2020 “Even Fairer Tax” - .001 to 9.5%
2021 “Enhanced Fairer Tax” - 1% to 9.255%
2022 “Keep ‘em In Illinois Tax” - 3% to 5%
2023 “We’re Begging You Stay Tax Break” - 4.95%
2024 “We’re So Sorry We Won’t Do It Again Tax Break” - 4.5%
2025 “Illinois Fire Sale Tax Break” - 4%
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:31 pm
We know if GovJunk filed in Iowa his 2016 taxes would have been $5 million HIGHER. Protecting that loophole will be hard for Durkie and NoTaxBill
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:42 pm
I would say he’s misleading taxpayers insofar as he continues to insist that taxes can be cut right now. Anybody who has even rudimentary math skills rightfully laughs at that notion.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 3:42 pm
“1969-1982 “Damned Ogilvie Tax” - 2.5%
1983 “New Wave Tax” - 3%
1984 “Material Girl Tax Cut” - 2.75%
1985-1988 “Ferris Bueller Tax Break” - 2.5%
1989 “Kinder, Gentler Tax Hike” - 2.75%
1990-2010 “Crystal Pepsi Clear Tax” - 3%
2011-2014 “The Sack Tap Temp Increase” - 5%
2015-current “Fixed For Ya Tax” - 3.75%”
This helps make the case for a progressive income tax. All those years the marginal rates were ridiculously low for the super-rich. Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, our neighbors, have been taxing the rich at much higher rates.
We can’t blame the state’s personal income tax rate for sluggish economic growth. It was very low in 2015-mid 2017–compared with most neighbor states—just like it’s been for decades.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 4:06 pm
Interesting that Madigan chose to include Missouri in the list as the highest tax bracket is for income over $9,072.
Comment by My thoughts Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Please raise your hand if you believe a politician who tells you that they can cut taxes on 98 percent of Illinoisans and still raise billions of dollars in new revenue. If you do, I’ve got some oceanfront property for sale in Nebraska.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 4:21 pm
funny. “Fair Share”…”endorsing a fair tax plan that cuts middle-class taxes while making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share”. What exactly is “fair share” if all are paying the same percentages? Not only does the Speaker not understand basic math except when counting his millions while he cuts the property taxes of those he is criticizing, but he forgets that the vast majority of small businesses are Subchapter S Corps who will be decimated with a new progressive income tax.
Comment by taxedtoomuchoutwest Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 4:22 pm
“…to enact a fair tax plan like those currently in place in 33 states—including Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana”
Indiana has a flat state income tax. This is the second time someone in the Democratic Party has mistakenly included Indiana as an example for a fair state income tax.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 6:13 pm
I’m Missouri, if you earn more than $9,000/year, you’re in the top tax bracket…so essentially anyone with at least a minimum wage job is in the top tax bracket. In Kentucky, if you earn more than $8,000/year, you pay 5.8%, and over $75k, you pay 6%. In Iowa, if you earn over $14K, you’re paying 6.12%. Those are hardly “progressive” rates.
When is Madigan going to release his proposed brackets?
Comment by Dave W Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 6:28 pm
Team Rauner, the simple fact is your boss can’t afford any more
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, May 30, 18 @ 8:42 am