Galesburg Reporter

In a Jan 27 news release, Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) opposed a Democratic senator's plan for a progressive income tax.

“Once again, Democrat legislative leaders are assuming they know what’s best for Illinoisans and are ignoring the will of the people who a little more than two years ago resoundingly voted ‘NO’ to the question of changing Illinois’ income tax structure,” Tracy said. “Why do legislative leaders put an issue on the ballot if they are not going to abide by the vote?” 

Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) is proposing that legislators revisit the progressive income tax that voters rejected in 2020. According to Illinois Policy, in 2020, 53.3% voted against the progressive income tax that targeted higher income groups with a higher tax rate than others.

Tracy is opposing this.

“My concerns then, and my concerns now, are that forcing a fundamental change to our income tax structure, without any guaranteed protections for middle-income families, will only lead to further income tax increases,” Tracy said. “Illinois families cannot afford to give Democrat leaders a blank check.”

Senate Republicans have filed a resolution opposing a progressive income tax. The bill, SR0027, was filed on Jan. 25. The bill "Opposes the reconsideration by the Illinois General Assembly of any constitutional amendment intended to change the flat-rate income tax language of subsection (a) of Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution of Illinois." 

Sponsors include Republican Sens. John F. Curran (Lemont), Sue Rezin (Morris), Neil Anderson (Aledo), Dale Fowler (Harrisburg), Terri Bryant (Murphysboro), Jil Tracy (Quincy), Sally J. Turner (Lincoln), Donald P. DeWitte (West Dundee), Steve McClure (Litchfield), Dave Syverson (Rockford), Dan McConchie (Lake Zurich), Win Stoller (Peoria), Jason Plummer (Vandalia), Chapin Rose (Champaign), Craig Wilcox (McHenry), Erica Harriss (Glen Carbon), Andrew S. Chesney (Freeport), Tom Bennett (Watseka) and Seth Lewis (Bartlett).