Illinois state Rep. Tara Costa-Howard (D-Lombard) was among a group of DuPage County legislators standing in opposition to a proposal from state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) to study the “systemic conflicts of interest in the Illinois property tax system.”

State Reps. Dianne Pappas (D-Bloomingdale) and Karina Villa (D-Batavia), and state Sens. Suzy Glowiak (D-Oakbrook Terrace) and Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) were the other DuPage County Democrats who shot down Mazzochi's proposal. Mazzochi presented her idea of studying the issue of property taxes before a task force where she also stressed the need for greater transparency and a fairer system.

The motion failed by a final vote of 40-23. Soon after the votes were tallied, Mazzochi vowed to fight on.

Illinois state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst)

“Today’s vote demonstrates that members of the majority are insincere about real reform," she said in a press release. "If this task force wants to achieve meaningful reform, we must address the problem of high-level political insiders who game the system, whether at the state, county or local level.”

Mazzochi said Illinois residents are already handcuffed enough by the state’s runaway tax system.

“Illinois residents already pay among the highest property taxes in the nation,” she said in the release. “They don’t need an added corruption tax. The antics on display at the meeting are the exact reason why we do not have property tax relief today.”