SPRINGFIELD, IL (April 11, 2018) — Forty-nine Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives joined House Minority Leader Jim Durkin in opposing the progressive tax yesterday, signing on to House Resolution 975. This signifies a major win for taxpayers.

If lawmakers hold firm to this resolution, progressive tax proponents won’t have the votes needed to pass the initiative onto the November 2018 ballot.

Experts from the Illinois Policy Institute are available for interviews in Springfield and Chicago.

Stats about the progressive tax:

• It is unpopular with Illinoisans:
  • Nearly 12,000 Illinoisans signed on to an Illinois Policy petition to say they oppose a progressive tax.
  • In a poll produced by Illinois Policy, 71 percent of voters said they oppose or have no opinion on the progressive tax.
• To move forward, a progressive income tax faces a looming deadline:
  • To change the constitution, a supermajority of lawmakers in both the House and Senate must vote in favor of a proposal to put an amendment question on the November 2018 ballot.
  • Lawmakers have until May 6 to pass a constitutional amendment that would appear as a referendum question in November.
  • The House needs 71 votes to create a supermajority. By signing this resolution, 50 members out of 118 total members said they would not support instituting a progressive tax, meaning a progressive tax constitutional amendment would fall short by at least three votes if Republican signers of the resolution hold firm.

Quote from John Tillman, Chief Executive Officer: 
“Support for the anti-progressive tax resolution is a win for Illinois taxpayers. Changing Illinois’ flat income tax to a progressive income tax would guarantee a middle-class tax hike.

“We congratulate House Minority Leader Jim Durkin for his work to ensure Illinois taxpayers are protected against a money grab, and believe all representatives should stand firm in opposition to a progressive tax.

“Illinois’ problems are rooted in outrageous spending – not in a lack of revenue. Instead of lobbying for more tax dollars from overburdened residents, Illinois lawmakers should be focused on fixing the state’s spending problem. A spending cap – like SJRCA 21, which has bipartisan support – would finally limit government spending to what taxpayers can afford.”

For bookings or interviews, contact Melanie Krakauer at media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 346-5700.