Illinois House passes resolution to issue bicentennial medallions

Lawmakers passed a resolution to issue commemorative medallions while the state continues to go without a budget.

In an executive session June 22, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a resolution authorizing the state treasurer to issue official commemorative medallions honoring the state’s bicentennial.

Meanwhile, Illinois is still without a budget.

The vote occurred on the second day of a special session called by Gov. Bruce Rauner. Both chambers were in special session for mere minutes, with the House adjourning 10 minutes and 41 seconds after convening and the Senate adjourning after 11 minutes and 54 seconds. The special legislative session will cost taxpayers about $50,000 per day, according to an estimate by the Chicago Tribune.

Illinois is a facing a possible credit downgrade to “junk” status, but state lawmakers are devoting time to ineffectual resolutions instead of constructing a balanced budget.

Both Democrats and Republicans have proposed plans to raise taxes by more than $5 billion, which would increase the average Illinois household’s tax burden by more than $1,125 each year. But Illinoisans have expressed that they don’t want a budget that hikes taxes.

Nearly two-thirds of likely Illinois voters don’t want an income tax hike as part of the state budget, according to polling conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and commissioned by the Illinois Policy Institute. More than three-quarters of respondents oppose hiking sales taxes. And nearly 80 percent agree “Illinois state lawmakers should pass major structural reforms before passing any tax increase.”

The Illinois Policy Institute has introduced a budget proposal that offers real reform without raising taxes. This kind of reform-minded, no-tax-hike proposal is in line with what Illinoisans want. Lawmakers should use that as a framework while taxpayers pay for their costly special session.