Illinois House Republicans recently announced their unanimous opposition to a proposal, currently filed as HJRCA 33, that would replace Illinois’ flat tax with a graduated tax -- leading to higher income tax rates for everyone making over $18,000 a year and costing Illinois jobs.
“The majority party is going to try and sell this initiative as a way to tax the rich. What they don’t want the public to know is that lower and middle-income families will be paying more as well,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. “To make matters worse, Illinois already has the third worst unemployment in the country - moving to a graduated tax would put Illinois at a competitive disadvantage and cost us jobs.”
Approval of a measure to amend the Illinois Constitution in favor of a graduated tax would require a three-fifths majority vote of the Illinois House and Senate. In the House, where Democrats currently hold 71 seats, a three-fifths majority equals a minimum of 71 votes.
Help send a message to the majority party that moving to a graduated tax is bad for Illinois by signing our petition.