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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is the 6th most populous
3state in the country; it is home to world-class cities,
4enriched communities, and renowned tourist destinations and is
5a leader in many areas, including transportation, technology,
6finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and, most importantly,
7access to an unrivaled labor force; and
 
8    WHEREAS, There are many positive aspects of this State that
9should be applauded and highlighted, but, unfortunately, we
10find ourselves at a true crossroads; decades of fiscal
11irresponsibility and political malfeasance have resulted in an
12undesirable state of affairs that has plagued and will continue
13to loom over the Land of Lincoln; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Illinois has to move towards a future that seeks
15and expects to be competitive in all sectors; that is what
16every State across America is doing in order to embolden their
17residents and, furthermore, keep and attract the best and
18brightest employees and employers; and
 
19    WHEREAS, With this reality in mind, Illinois lawmakers, now
20more than ever, must act in order to ensure that the best days
21for Illinoisans are ahead of us; the time of kicking the
22proverbial can down the road is over, and the time of inaction

 

 

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1has passed and is no longer a convenient option; Illinois must
2unequivocally reinforce the notion not only to every resident
3but to any person that may wish to come to the Prairie State
4that Illinois is truly forward-looking; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Currently, there is no greater threat to
6Illinoisans than that of continuing down our current
7trajectory; through years of laxity, unchecked spending, and
8ever-growing means of over-taxation, Illinois residents are
9being subjected to incredible pressures to leave their homes
10and relocate elsewhere; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Illinois has among some of the highest tax burdens
12of any state not only in the Midwest but in the country;
13Illinois has one of the highest average property tax burdens in
14the United States; Illinois residents are charged one of the
15highest average combined State and local sales taxes; if this
16were not enough, Illinois has estate, corporate franchise, and
17numerous other State and local taxes that make taxpayers
18reasonably question what Springfield is doing right; and
 
19    WHEREAS, To continue on this senseless path of
20overburdening, debilitating propositions of increased taxation
21and reckless spending is simply unconscionable, a path which
22now appears to include a new unfair tax on Illinois taxpayers;
23proponents of a graduated income tax offer that this is a

 

 

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1"fair" treatment of taxpayers, yet this is far from the truth;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Studies have shown that states with graduated
4income taxes impose an increased burden on the middle-class;
5instead of creating fairness, this venture squeezes the tax
6base; and
 
7    WHEREAS, A graduated income tax in Illinois would only
8create added burdens and dissuade economic prosperity, two
9unintended consequences that proponents of enacting such a tax
10system fail to mention; and
 
11    WHEREAS, National organizations, such as the Hoover
12Institution, have outlined the gross inadequacies of the
13graduated income tax system; while it may appear to provide
14equity, the so-called progressive income tax punishes
15hard-working, middle-class families and small businesses that
16make up the majority of the tax base; there is nothing fair in
17making average Illinoisans pay for the shortcomings of a
18legislature that has created a tax-and-spend paradigm that is
19unsustainable; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Illinois is home to approximately 1.2 million
21small businesses, which, in turn, employ 2.5 million persons;
22small businesses, often structured as pass-through entities,

 

 

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1will inevitably be further targets of this so-called
2progressive tax, becoming yet another group that proponents
3have failed to consider in their purported call for fairness;
4for these small businesses and the millions of workers they
5employ, there can be no greater disincentive to continue
6operating in Illinois than enacting yet another anti-business
7measure; and
 
8    WHEREAS, During the 2018 campaign cycle, blanket,
9unsubstantiated promises were made to Illinoisans across this
10State; assurances were offered from ardent proponents that this
11so-called progressive move would lead to tax savings, without
12once providing substantive proposals; however, the campaign
13speeches are over; and
 
14    WHEREAS, It is not enough to propose living in a
15make-believe reality where promises can be made to spend the
16peoples' money with no consideration given to the very real
17consequences that will inevitably come back to haunt us; the
18unbridled desire for revenue has, without fail, forced
19Illinoisans across the State to pay for the reckless spending
20plans of those in power; and
 
21    WHEREAS, We must vociferously fight against tax-and-spend
22policies of the past; this General Assembly presents an
23opportunity to work collaboratively and on a bipartisan basis

 

 

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1to (i) balance the budget, (ii) make sure government services
2are efficient and effective, and (iii) prevent any new and
3unnecessary taxes; and
 
4    WHEREAS, A move by the General Assembly to amend the
5constitution to impose a graduated income tax would mean
6turning our backs on the residents of this State and the spirit
7of bipartisanship; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Today, it is an almost preconceived maxim in
9Illinois that the need for new revenue and the wanton lack of
10checks on spending will always result in higher and new taxes
11for everyone; the time has come to end this unfortunate and
12vicious cycle; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we stand united in opposition to any measure that would allow
16the creation of a graduated income tax on Illinois residents;
17and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
19delivered to each member of the Illinois General Assembly and
20the Office of the Governor as a testament to our unwavering
21commitment to improving the day-to-day lives of families across
22this great State.