Dupage Policy Journal

Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Westmont) is more disappointed than she is surprised that Democrats are already talking progressive tax again.

"I am never surprised when Springfield Democrats want more tax dollars," Mazzochi told the DuPage Policy Journal. "Am I disappointed that they are discussing raising taxes when the population just said no to the Constitutional Amendment to raise taxes? Yes."

House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) recently raised the prospect of Democrats seeking a redo on the tax that failed short of passage in November. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other supporters insisted that it would only mean higher rates for the state's richest residents.

This time around, Welch and company are hoping a vow that revenues generated from the tax will be used to pay down the state's $141 billion debt in unfunded pension liability will make the difference.

Mazzochi said she'd heard it all before.

"Illinois got an income tax in the 1970s because Springfield promised the new taxes would be used to pay off pension debt," she said. "That never happened, and every time Springfield raises taxes, we see more new spending, not paying down debt."

Mazzochi said the only way to truly tackle the problem is by lawmakers making structural changes that lead to real reforms.

"Without honesty about the problem, better structural discipline and an end to insider deals in favor of transparency and including all sides in the budget process, you'll get more kicking the can down the road," she said. "We are now paying 40% of our education dollars towards teacher pensions, not classrooms. That is unsustainable."

In November, the plan received 47% of the 60% support it needed for passage despite Pritzker pumping millions of dollars of his own money into a campaign aimed at getting it over the finish line.

Mazzochi said it's no wonder voters have come to have such little faith in Springfield.

"They have been treated unfairly, spoken to dishonestly and their resources spent haphazardly for nearly 50 years," she said. "And even when they vote no, what will they get, but the same poor solution repackaged untruthfully. It's very cynical. None of these solutions or resounding votes are getting across the lesson residents want the majority party to learn."