The Illinois General Assembly and governor devised 20 different ways to take more money from taxpayers to finance spending on government operations and infrastructure.

Band-Aid fixes and spending-heavy compromises were rampant. And now it’s all coming home to roost.

Contrary to claims from both Republicans and Democrats, and despite raising nearly $1.1 billion in new taxes and fees for operations, the fiscal year 2020 budget is out of balance by between $574 million and $1.3 billion.

Springfield politicians talking out of both sides of their mouths on tax “fairness” is one of many reasons they didn’t deserve a raise.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s amendment would allow Illinois to impose an effective corporate income tax rate of up to 15.28% – the nation’s highest by far.

An amendment that would allow lawmakers to scrap Illinois’ constitutionally protected flat income tax and replace it with graduated tax rates will appear as a referendum question on voters’ 2020 ballots.

Caving to pressure from the governor would risk the well-being of Illinois.

Polling indicates the progressive income tax is unpopular in key Illinois House districts.

Southern Illinoisans want their representative to vote “no” on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive tax constitutional amendment. This preference extends beyond GOP voters, with independents also showing strong opposition.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will not selectively hand out infrastructure projects as a way to buy support for proposals to increase taxes and fees, should he stick to his word.