Progressive tax opposition builds as Senate Republicans make budget demands

Income taxes will arguably be one of the most contentious issues during the current legislative session. And rightly so. Under current law, all Illinois families and businesses will receive tax relief in 2015. That’s because the state’s personal income tax is slated to drop to 3.75 percent from 5 percent, and the corporate income tax...

Income taxes will arguably be one of the most contentious issues during the current legislative session. And rightly so.

Under current law, all Illinois families and businesses will receive tax relief in 2015. That’s because the state’s personal income tax is slated to drop to 3.75 percent from 5 percent, and the corporate income tax is slated to drop to 5.25 percent from 7 percent.

But there is a group of lawmakers and special interest groups that don’t want to let that happen. Instead, this group is pushing to increase income taxes yet again. But this time the plan is to do it by swapping out the state’s constitutionally protected flat-rate income tax for a progressive income tax – one that would increase taxes by nearly $800 on the average Illinois family.

The good news is the opposition against another income-tax increase in Illinois is growing quickly. Many political leaders in Illinois think taxpayers are already taxed too much.

Last week, Illinois Senate Republicans gave Democrats a list of conditions that must be met before they’ll sign off on a budget. The conditions are simple – budget without another tax increase. Specifically, Republican lawmakers asked that the General Assembly let the 2011 tax hike sunset in 2015 as promised and eliminate the discussion of a progressive income tax increase in Illinois.

The only problem is Democrats have a supermajority in the House and Senate. That means defeating higher taxes is going to be a difficult battle. But it’s a battle worth fighting, and it can be won. It’s time for lawmakers to begin respecting Illinois taxpayers. That means balancing the budget, reining in spending and keeping their promise to lower income tax rates in 2015.