Springfield, IL – State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined a group of House and Senate Republicans today to introduce legislation that would put a statewide advisory referendum on the November ballot asking voters whether or not the five percent ‘temporary’ income tax increase should become permanent.
“A number of issues are expected to be placed on the ballot in November as a way to gauge public sentiment. The proposal we are introducing today would ask the voters to decide whether or not the five percent ‘temporary’ income tax increase should be made permanent,” said State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Addison). “Extending the income tax increase hits residents and small employers directly in the pocketbook. They deserve the opportunity to weigh in on the decision.”
Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) said, “I believe the voters in my district will make their views clear. We do not support the 67 percent income tax increase. But if the Democrats need more convincing, we will give them the vehicle to hear from the voters loud and clear.”
All Republicans in the House and Senate oppose raising the income tax because it does nothing to help the 550,000 unemployed Illinoisans to find work. Illinois’ unemployment rate of 7.9% (April 2014) is the second-worst jobless rate among the 50 states.
“We’re asking the Democrat majority, ‘Before you break your promise and make your job-killing tax hike permanent, why not ask the people how they feel,” Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) said.
By the time the Democrats’ 2011 “temporary” income tax increase is set to expire in January 2015, it will have taken more than $31 billion from the pockets of working families and small businesses.
“This non-binding advisory referendum would allow us to poll the voters about how they feel about making the ‘temporary’ tax increase permanent,” said State Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove). “The increased taxes have cost the average family of four making around $50,000 about $1,000 annually. They have had to make sacrifices on necessities for their families. Before, any vote is taken to extend or make the ‘temporary’ tax permanent, the voters should have their voices heard.”
“Democrats want to increase state spending by $4 billion in FY15. This isn’t our money. It’s the taxpayers’ money. If the Democrats truly believe that the budget they passed last week is responsible and the state can’t operate without this money, they need to explain it to the public and let the voters voice their opinion,” said State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein).
Sen. Rezin is pictured above during the press conference on the advisory referendum at the State Capitol on May 20.
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