House Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) said Illinois residents will continue to leave if the state changes to a graduated income tax structure.
"Our state is losing people by the tens of thousands every year," Windhorst said on the House floor Monday. "We have the highest tax burden in the union and raising taxes is not the answer."
Windhorst said raising taxes will only make things worse.
"We need to add taxpayers, not taxes," Windhorst said. "With fiscal sanity, we have the ability to balance the budget without a tax increase."
Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 passed the House on Monday with 73 yes votes and 44 no votes. It will now be on the November 2020 ballot for Illinois voters to decide. Every single Republican voted no on the bill.
Many businesses and individuals have spoken out about their disapproval of a graduated income tax structure. Critics of the structure suggest because rates aren't nailed down in the amendment that it will eventually be a tax on the middle class.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been adamant about his preference for a "fair tax" since running for governor last year.
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