Today, proponents of a progressive tax hike plan to lobby in Springfield in support of higher taxes on the middle class – Here’s five reasons why a progressive tax hike is wrong for Illinois

Across the state, tax hike advocates are laying the groundwork for Illinois to abandon its flat income tax in favor of a “progressive” or “graduated” state income tax system. This is being pitched as a “tax on the rich,” but in reality would mean tax hikes for middle class Illinoisans.

Today, supporters of the progressive tax hike are planning to lobby legislators in Springfield to ask them to raise taxes on middle class Illinoisans. The Illinois Policy Institute has studied the progressive tax hike plans being circulated across the state, and can speak to why this tax hike would hurt the middle class in Illinois and would hurt the state’s economy. Experts from the Illinois Policy Institute are available for interviews today in Springfield and in Chicago to discuss why this tax hike is wrong for Illinois.

Here’s why a progressive tax hike is wrong for Illinois. This tax hike would:

• Raise taxes on Illinois’ middle class.
• Force tax hikes on 85 percent of Illinois taxpayers, according to one tax hike plan.
• Hurt Illinois’ already crippled economy.
• Destroy at least 65,000 jobs and decrease Illinois’ economic output by a staggering $19 billion to as much as $26 billion, if this tax hike was implemented as suggested in one progressive tax hike plan circulating across the state.
• Allow Springfield politicians to continue delaying major reforms such as pension reform, Medicaid reform and education reform.

Here are some facts about Illinois taxes and progressive taxes:

• Illinoisans already pay the second highest property taxes in the nation.
• Illinois has the 11th highest total tax burden in the nation as a percentage of income.
• 31 out of 33 progressive tax states tax the middle class at a higher rate than Illinois’ 2015 rate of 3.75 percent.
• One progressive tax hike plan circulating across Illinois would raise taxes on all income above $5,000!

Experts with the Illinois Policy Institute are available for interviews in Springfield and Chicago. Contact Diana Rickert 312-607-4977 to arrange interviews.