Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) admonished House Democrats on Sunday for usurping control of Senate Bill 9, a budget bill, saying doing so undermined bipartisan negotiations.
“Just moments ago, in the House Rules Committee – the rules committee that is dominated by the Democrats – in a procedural move took SB9 – the Senate bill that I was in control of in the House – away from me,” Ives said. "They used a procedural move to take this bill from me, which must mean their only intent is a massive tax hike of over $5.4 billion on the hard-working folks in Illinois.”
Ives reminded the House that the bill is vehemently opposed by most Illinois residents.
Illinois State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton)
“If this is your intent, perhaps you guys should know that Illinoisans largely do not want this tax hike,” Ives said. “In fact, in a recent poll, around half of likely voters said spending cuts should be the only tool used to close the budget gap. Sixty-four percent opposed a state budget that includes raising the state’s income tax; 51 percent are opposed to raising the state income tax even if it comes with a property tax freeze. Raising taxes in the absence of spending cuts was notably unpopular. That support never registered above single digits.”
Ives argued that if Democrats pass the bill, they are tone deaf to the voice of the people and not interested in bipartisan talks.
“This is the last thing we should be doing, and for you to pull this bill from me simply shows that the Democrats are not interested in bipartisan support on what we should be doing with taxes,” Ives said. “I prefiled for the bill back on January 23, which is something anybody could do, so I could help control the conversation on taxes when that bill comes to the House. So Democrats, by taking back control of this bill, it must mean you only want a massive tax increase.”
Ives concluded by accusing Democrats of ignoring the critical issues of the state.
“It’s incredible that you guys ignore the facts on the ground,” Ives said. “You ignore that businesses are leaving. You ignore that residents are leaving. You ignore the fact that you have the highest property taxes. Every bill we see … is actually hostile to business. No business. No jobs. No people here. No taxes. So that is the problem with Illinois. I think we should work in a bipartisan manner on a solution, and taking this bill from me was the wrong approach.”
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