The governor should reject tax hikes and push for the structural spending reforms Illinois needs to fix its fiscal crisis and improve its economy.

Despite taxing both sales and income, Illinois has higher property taxes than every single state that does not charge an income tax.

Lawmakers need to look at the state’s major spending drivers instead of increasing taxes, which will continue to drive more people out of the state.

A new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois has experienced falling tax collections, which may indicate trouble in the state economy; spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.

Illinois state senators are considering a budget with massive tax hikes, but is short on critical pension reforms, which would save taxpayers billions.

In addition to raising the state’s personal and corporate income taxes back near their all-time highs, senators are proposing taxing businesses on the “privilege” of doing business in Illinois, as well as taxing several services.

As pressure mounts on state senators and representatives to vote in favor of multibillion-dollar tax hikes, lawmakers should remember the promises they’ve made to taxpayers.

The Illinois Senate’s proposed budget plan would raise the personal income tax rate to at least 4.95 percent with no real reforms to address the state’s skyrocketing debt and unsustainable spending. This proposal comes despite Illinois’ loss of $14 billion in annual income and hundreds of thousands of people in the wake of the 2011 income tax hike.

The Illinois Senate’s budget “compromise” hits Illinoisans with more than $5 billion in tax hikes, continued budget deficits and no real reforms.

Despite declining tax revenues and warning signs of a possible recession, Illinois lawmakers in Springfield are mulling tax hikes.