House Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) does not believe that a graduated income-tax system will make Illinois' disastrous fiscal situation any less disastrous than it already is under the state's current flat tax system.
"Swapping the flat tax for a graduated one won’t make it better, it’ll give [the government] more taxes," Grant said on the House floor Monday. "Giving them more will only give them more incentive to spend."
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.
State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton)
Many businesses and individuals have spoken out about their disapproval of a graduated income tax structure. Critics of the plan suggest that because rates are not nailed down in the amendment that it will eventually be a tax on the middle class and not just the state's highest earners.
"It’ll be the middle class," Grant warned. "It will directly hurt the middle class over time."
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been adamant about his preference for a "fair tax" since running for governor last year.
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