By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ new Senate President said the progressive income tax will be one of his top priorities, but Republicans worry the proposed tax structure would make Illinois less competitive at a time when the state’s population is declining.
New Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, faces a number of challenges heading into the start of the spring legislative session next week. Among them are how to address ethics regulations amid a sweeping federal corruption probe. He’ll also face challenges in crafting the upcoming state budget and dealing with frustrations over the state’s high property taxes.
Democrats elected Harmon as Senate President on Sunday. He will take on the leadership role as federal authorities continue a broad investigation that has included allegations a state representative offered a bribe to an unnamed state senator who was wearing a wire while being investigated for tax fraud.
“As I traveled around the state visiting with my colleagues’ campaign, two things I heard most often from my colleagues was an urgent need for us to work together to help restore the public’s trust in Illinois government,” Harmon said.
Harmon’s predecessor, John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said the right path was a task force, which is to deliver recommendations by the end of March.
State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Rock Island, said ethics reforms are needed.
“We can make all the task forces we want, but until we start taking action we’re going to keep spinning our wheels,” Anderson said.
Before the end of the legislative session last fall, Republicans offered a slew of ethics measures they said could be implemented immediately, but the legislature opted for an Illinois Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. Democrats have veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
Aside from ethics reforms, Harmon said his second priority was “a similarly urgent need for us to rationalize our tax policy by adopting the Illinois fair income tax on the ballot in November and finding a way to push down the pressure on property taxes.”
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, said a progressive income tax system would give lawmakers too much power over tax brackets.
“Springfield has shown that we can not always make the right fiscal decision and we always put revenue generation ahead of spending reform,” Plummer said. “And I’m afraid that this just kind of kicks that can further down the road.”
With Illinois continuing to lose population year-after-year, Plummer said a progressive income tax would make Illinois less attractive.
Voters will decide the fate of the progressive income tax at the ballot box in November. The proposed constitutional amendment would change the state’s flat income tax to allow for a system that has higher income tax rates for higher earners.
Lawmakers return to Springfield next week for the start of the spring session. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to give his State of the State speech on Jan. 29.
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