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Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Is Illinois' graduated income tax in trouble?

It's been quite a while since I've followed Illinois politics on this blog. I did want to talk about last years gubernatorial election where the ineffective Republican Governor Bruce Rauner was bounced out of office after one term by billionaire Democrat J.B. Pritzker. Pritzker wants to install a graduated or progressive income tax in this state.

Since Illinois created a state income tax during the 1970s it has remained flat though over the years there have been increases. Indeed until the governorship of Pat Quinn during his four year term in office the income tax had been increased though later once he lost his bid for re-election in 2014 in favor of Rauner it reverted back to its lower rates.

Still there have been over the years people advocating for such a income tax system. For Pritzker who is a wealthy man this is about insuring that the wealthy of Illinois pay their fair share. Of course you have opponents who will claim this will only serve to further increase the exodus out of this state.

So after the legislative session ended for the summer last month we got some movement on it. In order to change from a flat rate income tax to a graduated rate income tax not only did the Illinois General Assembly approve legislation for that end, the Illinois constitution has to be changed also. The flat income tax is in our state constitution.

A lot could happen between now and the Presidential election next year, however, right now it seems the public is down on the idea of a graduated income tax. This according to what you see over at CapFax earlier today. Could this be Pritzker's one defeat as our new Governor?

Well, I think Pritzker has been far more effective governor since George Ryan. So he has another three years to get things done, however, it's refreshing to see Democrats actually working together instead of at odds as had been the case during the Blago or Quinn years. Rauner wanted to pick a fight with the Democrats who control the state legislature especially, however, it's also important to wrest control of the General Assembly from the Democrats which is why I consider him very ineffective.

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