by Kristina Rasmussen

The Tax Foundation has a great map up that shows how Illinois would benefit from an extension of the Bush tax cuts.

Illinois would save an average of $2,686 per return from an extension of the Bush tax cuts paired with an Alternative Minimum Tax, or AMT, patch. Totaled up, that's $16.2 billion that Illinoisans could keep in their checking accounts rather than sending it to the IRS.

Only nine states would stand to lose more per return in higher taxes than Illinois. Connecticut is worst, at $5,783.

The "fiscal cliff" is coming, but we don't have to go over the edge.