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Chicago, IL — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) delivered his third State of the State address to the Illinois General Assembly today, which attempted to strike a hopeful tone in the face of the monumental financial burdens plaguing the state.
“All of us – Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between – have a moral obligation to work together to bring change. We together can return Illinois to a place of hope, opportunity, and prosperity,” remarked Rauner at the close of his speech.
But all is not sound in Illinois. The state government is broken.
Taxpayers United of America (TUA) stands with taxpayers, no matter what political party is in power, and TUA will continue to push for systemic change to the operations of the Illinois state government.
“Once again, Gov. Rauner stood before the Illinois General Assembly and tried to outline both the progress made since he took office, as well as the obstacles immediately before us,” said Jared Labell, executive director of TUA.
“However, speeches are not going to solve Illinois’ disastrous financial crisis or lessen the tax burden on its residents.”
“Legislators should vote on behalf of the interests of taxpayers, not their fellow government employees. Illinoisans want their very real and mounting concerns over the state’s financial situation addressed, not ignored for another few decades.”
“TUA opposes the proposed multi-billion dollar income tax hike floated recently by the Senate leadership of the Illinois General Assembly. We will champion the interests of the taxpayers of Illinois and continue to oppose the state government’s spendthrift policies,” said Labell.
Gov. Rauner will deliver his budget address to the Illinois General Assembly on February 15.

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Chicago, IL – The Illinois Senate is expected to vote on a budget compromise this Wednesday, the day of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s (R) State of the State address. The proposal will include hikes to Illinois’ personal and corporate income tax rates and neglects to consider substantive, long-term reforms to the state government.
Taxpayers United of America (TUA) urges the Illinois Senate to reject this deeply flawed budget.
“The only compromise found in the new budget proposal is a growing tax burden for Illinois residents in exchange for minimal reforms,” said TUA’s president, Jim Tobin. “Passing this budget will continue to allow Springfield to operate its fiefdom without systemic changes to Illinois’ state government.”
Under the proposed budget compromise, the state’s personal income tax would increase from 3.75 percent to 5.25 percent, surpassing former Gov. Quinn’s (D) 2011 sixty-seven percent income tax hike, which sunset in January 2015, and failed to significantly reduce the state’s unfunded liabilities or improve Illinois’ financial standing.
The state’s corporate income tax rate would also be hiked under the proposal, from its current rate of 7.75 percent (including the often-overlooked personal property replacement income tax surcharge of 2.5 percent) to a rate of 9.5 percent, one of the highest corporate income tax rates in the country.
“According to the Tax Foundation’s most recent data, Illinois is tied with Wisconsin and California for the fourth highest overall state and local tax burden,” said Tobin. “Taxpayers are fleeing the state at the highest rate in the country for better economic opportunities, which increases the tax burden for those of us who cannot move or refuse to leave the lives we’ve made for our families in Illinois.”
“The Senate’s proposal includes a two-year property tax freeze and minor government pension and worker’s compensation reforms, but the hikes to the personal and corporate income tax rates will only continue the financial downfall of Illinois,” said Tobin. “We urge the Senate to reject this tax-increasing budget compromise in the interest of the taxpayers of Illinois.”
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2017
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Chicago, IL – Some Illinois lawmakers are hoping to end the state’s 18-month budget stalemate when they return to Springfield today for a two-day lame-duck session, but raising the Illinois state income tax by $4 billion is not a winning proposal for anyone, especially taxpayers.
“Taxpayers should demand legislators reject a new personal income tax hike,” said Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America. “Not only is a $4 billion income tax increase unwise and unnecessary, considering how much money the state already confiscates from hard-working taxpayers, but to try to push this proposal through the Illinois General Assembly with so little time during the two-day lame-duck session is ridiculous.”
The full details have not yet been released, but according to Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-32, McHenry), the deal was shaping up over the weekend between talks with Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and GOP Leader Sen. Christine Radogno.
The proposal includes raising Illinois’ personal income tax to nearly 5 percent from its current rate of 3.75 percent in exchange for a temporary property tax freeze, overhauling the state’s government pension system and changes to workers’ compensation; items Gov. Bruce Rauner has placed at the top of his Turnaround Agenda.
“We support freezing and rolling back property taxes, as well as significantly reforming the government pensions and workers’ compensation, but not at the cost of another economically disastrous $4 billion income tax hike,” said Tobin.
“Lawmakers should refrain from last minute agreements and instead allow the new Illinois General Assembly to take up the matter as soon as they are sworn in. Taxpayers must demand their legislators hear their pleas for tax relief and vote accordingly. Illinois’ taxpayers cannot afford yet another state income tax hike and we urge all members of the Illinois General Assembly to reject it,” said Tobin.
Contact:
Jim Tobin
(312) 427-5128
(773) 354-2076
Jared Labell
(773) 766-4947