Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) called a proposed graduated income tax hike "intellectually lazy" during a press conference on Wednesday.
Wehrli signed on to co-sponsor House Resolution 153 along with all House Republicans, which opposes the graduated income tax hike Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been promoting.
"A graduated income tax is the wrong thing for Illinois," Wehrli said at the press conference. "It is human nature for us to look forward with optimism — that there are better days ahead. A graduated income tax dampens that."
Wehrli said the graduated income tax is the wrong thing at the wrong time and that House Republicans are unanimous in their opposition of the tax because Illinoisans are already taxed high.
"We all want to be successful and prosper personally and financially, but this puts yet another cloud over Illinois," Wehrli said at the press conference. "It's an intellectually lazy solution because it does nothing on the reform side. This won't solve much of anything."
Pritzker wants to institute what he is calling a "fair tax." The governor has proposed changing the state's constitution to include a graduated income tax that would mean higher taxes for those who make more money. The existing law is for a flat tax.
To get that constitutional amendment question to voters, supermajorities in both chambers must pass the measure. Democrats have supermajorities in both the House and Senate, according to Illinois News Network.
Resolution 153 states that a graduated income tax would create added burdens as well as dissuade economic prosperity.
"Illinois lawmakers, now more than ever, must act in order to ensure that the best days for Illinoisans are ahead of us; the time of kicking the proverbial can down the road is over, and the time of inaction has passed and is no longer a convenient option," the resolution states.
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