McLean County Times

Sen. Thomas M. Bennett shared an update from the State Capitol in a Facebook post on Jan. 27.

'It's time for another Weekly Wrap from the State Capitol!' Bennett said.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, Senate Republicans have filed a resolution opposing a progressive income tax. The bill, SR0027, was filed on Jan. 25. However the bill has faced opposition as reported by the assembly.

"Opposes the reconsideration by the Illinois General Assembly of any constitutional amendment intended to change the flat-rate income tax language of subsection (a) of Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution of Illinois."

Despite the resistance, Sen. Robert Martwick insists on proceeding with the bill. 

Martwick is proposing that legislators revisit the progressive income tax that voters rejected in 2020. According to Illinois Policy, in 2020, 53.3% voted against the progressive income tax that targeted higher income groups with a higher tax rate than others.

In addition, the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, has been quoted by The Center Square as saying that he has other priorities this session. 

"That's not something I am focused on this session," Pritzker said. "We have done important work to balance the budget and close corporate loopholes. There is a mistaken belief by some that the balancing of the budget was entirely because of money that came from [federal tax funds for COVID-19 relief] to the government, and that is just false."

Senate sponsors include John F. Curran, Sue Rezin, Neil Anderson, Dale Fowler, Terri Bryant, Jil Tracy, Sally J. Turner, Donald P. DeWitte, Steve McClure, Dave Syverson, Dan McConchie, Win Stoller, Jason Plummer, Chapin Rose, Craig Wilcox, Erica Harriss, Andrew S. Chesney, Tom Bennett, and Seth Lewis.