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.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised tax relief for 97 percent of Illinoisans as a selling point for his proposed “fair tax.” But a new ad campaign abandons that claim.

The last state to take Pritzker’s path should serve as a bright red flag to Illinoisans weighing whether to back him.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims his progressive income tax will only affect the rich. But Illinoisans making as little as $26,100 would see an income tax hike under rates Pritzker cited in his budget address.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims his progressive income tax will only affect the rich. But Illinoisans making as little as $26,100 would see an income tax hike under rates Pritzker cited in his budget address.

While progressive tax proponents champion the measure as a “tax on the rich,” middle-income families in Rock Island County could see a tax hike under the income tax models praised by Illinois Gov. Pritzker.

While progressive tax proponents champion their “tax on the rich,” middle-income families in Decatur could see a tax hike under the income tax models praised by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is arguing that Illinois should adopt income tax rates similar to neighboring Wisconsin and Iowa as a way to be more “competitive,” even though adopting those rates would mean tax hikes for middle-income families.

Pritzker’s first budget address exalted the graduated income tax as a solution to the state’s fiscal problems. Despite evidence to the contrary, the governor is urging state lawmakers to speedily advance the measure.