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Chicago, IL – Members of the Illinois Senate return to Springfield for three days this week to vote on the 12 bills forming the so-called “grand bargain” budget plan. Taxpayers United of America (TUA) urges Illinoisans to demand state senators VOTE NO and kill this legislation now.
“The backbone of this legislation is a multibillion dollar state income tax hike orchestrated by Senate President John Cullerton (D) and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno which far outweighs any minor benefits to taxpayers found in the remainder of the legislation. We urge state senators to vote against the entire package,” said Jared Labell, executive director of TUA.
“Taxpayers are outraged, and understandably so. For decades, compromise in Illinois has meant a growing tax burden for Illinois residents, while politicians across the state and in Springfield conduct business as usual,” said Labell. “The Cullerton-Radogno multibillion dollar state income tax increase is out of the question for taxpayers, who are rightfully disgusted with Springfield.”
“TUA warned against the ‘grand bargain’ budget plan a couple days before Gov. Rauner’s (R) State of the State address. Legislators clearly heard our message on behalf of our members and taxpayers, temporarily halting the Cullerton-Radogno state income tax hike,” said Labell.
But now some Republican Senators are surrendering to government pensioners, government unions, and current government employees to support the disastrous Cullerton-Radogno multibillion dollar state income tax hike.
State Senator Dave Syverson of Rockford defended the Cullerton-Radogno state income tax hike after Gov. Rauner’s annual State of the State address. “While I do not like raising any taxes this latest proposal would keep the new tax at or below where it was before the last tax expired,” Syverson wrote.
Republican state Sens. Chris Nybo of Lombard and Karen McConnaughay of West Dundee joined Democratic state Sens. Kwame Raoul and Heather Steans of Chicago to support the state income tax hike on Chicago Tonight February 1.
And of course, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno has spearheaded this unnecessary income tax increase, telling taxpayers, “Unfortunately, our fiscal situation is so dire that it is unrealistic to think we can ‘cut’ our way out of it.”
Unlike those legislators, Republican State Senator Kyle McCarter of Lebanon received the highest rating of any of his senate colleagues on TUA’s last biennial tax survey of the Illinois General Assembly, and he continues to fight for taxpayers in Springfield and oppose this legislation.
Tax hikes are not inevitable if systemic changes are made to the operations of Illinois’ state government, yet this budget plan accomplishes nothing but guarantee the Cullerton-Radogno multibillion state income tax increase will further cripple Illinois’ economy and the finances of taxpayers.
State Sen. Dave Syverson of Rockford
(217) 782-5413 and (815) 987-7555
State Sen. Chris Nybo of Lombard
(217) 782-6578 and (630) 519-3652
State Sen. Karen McConnaughay of West Dundee
(217) 782-1977 and (847) 214-8245
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont:
(217) 782-9407 and (630) 243-0800
Find your legislators here and contact them today!