On January 11, 2011 Illinois Democrats raised the state income tax by 67% during a lame duck session in what sponsors claimed would be a short term solution to paying Illinois’ bills. Three years later, Illinois continues to carry nearly $7 billion in unpaid bills while struggling with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation at 8.4%.
Representative Rich Brauer responded to threats that the State government will have to make significant cuts: "Its about priorities. When you look at state government spending in the last 10-12 years, spending has exploded. They are looking at things that are designed to hurt and I think there are some scare tactics in there." Read more.