SE Illinois News

Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) cannot see the logic in Democrats' potential renewed support for a progressive income tax plan, knowing voters are against such an idea.

"Given how resoundingly voters rejected the progressive income tax last year, it seems rather futile to pin our hopes on fixing our pension problems on the passage of the progressive income tax," Jacobs told SE Illinois News. "The best course of action we should take now is to reduce state spending and ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment to give the Legislature the authority needed to fix our pensions."

The progressive tax plan fell approximately 15 points short of the needed 60% affirmative on the ballot question in November.

Despite that, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) recently hinted Democrats are again considering pushing for an increase in income tax as a way to generate revenue to pay down the state's $141 billion unfunded pension debt.

Jacobs said it a waste of time and resources.

"The progressive income tax was tried, and it failed," Jacobs said. "We need a different approach to protect current retirees and to secure pensions for current workers to be there for years to come."

In November, the proposal garnered a little more than 47% of the vote despite supporters selling it as a plan that would only mean higher tax rates for the state's wealthiest residents. Gov. J.B. Pritzker invested millions of his money into a campaign to get it across the finish line, but it did not pass.

Several media outlets have also reported the measure even failed to reach the 60% threshold in several Democratic districts.

Illinois spends almost a quarter of every tax dollar on its state pension plans.