CHICAGO–Gov. Patrick Quinn (D) has no mandate whatsoever to raise the state income tax according to Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI), despite Quinn’s claim on Nov. 8 that “I think we will have a requisite majority in both Houses to pass an income tax increase, and we have to do it as soon as possible. That’s the lesson of Tuesday to me”.

“Patrick Quinn is drinking his own Kool-Aid,” said Tobin. “His claim that he has a mandate from the Nov. 2 election is ludicrous.”

“Quinn not only has no mandate, he didn’t even get a majority of the votes on Election Day. He received only 47% of the votes. His gubernatorial opponents who opposed raising the state income tax received 51% of the votes.”

“We call Quinn ‘Governor 3-county,’ because he won the voting in only three counties, St. Clair County, Alexander County, and the heavily populated and profoundly corrupt Cook County.”

“Quinn won in only three of 102 Illinois counties, so he shouldn’t insult the intelligence of Illinois voters by telling them he has a mandate to raise the state income tax.”

“Rather than raising taxes to pump more taxpayer dollars into the floundering state pension plans, he should lead the effort to reform that broken system. New government hires should be required to fund their own retirements with 401(k) plans. Ending pensions for new government hires will eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions.”

“Furthermore, if each government employee in state pension funds were required to contribute an additional 10% to his or her pension, taxpayers would save over $150 billion over the next 35 years.”

“Finally, if Illinois government employees paid for one-half of their health care premiums, even more money would be saved – an estimated $230 billion over current projections.”

“It’s time for Gov. Quinn to get real. Instead of trying to raise the state income tax, he should work to reform the broken, unsustainable Illinois government pension fund programs.”

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3 Comments
  1. Do one more thing if you can make them pay back my retirement fund so I can retire and spend time with my kids.

  2. One Correction though I mean the Teamsters. You can contact Local 330 in Elgin they will tell you what our contract says.

  3. Why don’t you go after the politicians maybe if they put 10% into the retirement system. Their wouldn’t be a short fall.