Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) implored the Senate to work on reforms before it considered passing a $45.4 billion tax hike on Tuesday.
“Before we go and are asked to vote on the largest income tax increase in the state, I think it’s important that we still sit at the table and try to work at these reforms before we pass a bill that would immediately impact the middle class,” Rezin said.
The bill, SB9, introduced by Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), would raise the individual income tax rate to 4.95 percent from 3.75 and the corporate rate to 7 percent from 5.25 percent, impose a 1 percent tax on cable TV and digital streaming, and create a separate 5 percent tax on satellite TV. It would allegedly balance the budget and create a $203 million surplus for the state.
However, many Republicans said it does very little to fix the economic issues in Illinois.
Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) expressed his regrets that the Senate didn’t do enough for taxpayers, calling the bill a punishment. Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) criticized Democrats for their inability to work in a bipartisan manner on reforms, and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) urged reconsideration of the bill, arguing that the entire process was rushed.
Rezin expressed similar concerns, stating in a press release that the bill was “more of the same from what we’ve seen over the past decade," and that it failed to “include necessary reforms that will boost our economy and create jobs.”
She insisted that the chamber instead focus its attention on reforms and reduced spending.
“We are in the process of putting together a series that not only looks at reforms, that looks at slowing the cost of growing our budget, that also -- before we look at new revenue, we continue to work on workers' comp reform, and I’ve been told we are close,” Rezin said. “We continue to talk about the need for property tax relief, each and every one of us. The state is ranked No. 1 for the highest property taxes in the entire country. We need to continue to work on that relief as well as mandate relief.”
SB9 passed the with 33 “yes” votes and “26 “no” votes. It is now in the House.
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