He says it's for education. Wait just a doggone minute. That's why we pay a big part of our real estate taxes. Have I used up my minute yet? That's how the Illinois Lottery was justified. Still some time left? At a time when more people are considering enrolling their children in private schools, we should look at funding schools only on a basis of which students they actually have. This is a case where legislators completely lack the fortitude to foster quality education. They refuse to pay based on the appeal that the schools have because of their addiction to revenue, rather than focus on quality and positive/negative reinforcement of paying for results.
He also had the brainstorm of raising taxes to corporations by 1%. That will raise prices and therefore the cost of citizens living both inside and outside of Illinois.
A brief history of Illinois income taxes:
Year ............ Tax Rate
Big Bang to 1969 ... 0% (sales tax previously covered everything)
1969-1983 ........ 2.5%
1983-1984 .......... 3%
1984-1989 ........ 2.5%
1989-2010 .......... 3%
Proposed ........... 4%
During a recession, every company has gone through belt-tightening, but this is unheard-of in the government. It is clear that there is no fiscal responsibility in government, they can only grow. If this increase is approved, the legislators, will borrow and grow to the new maximum extent possible and come back to the Illinois taxpayers with their hand out again. Quinn's threats of cuts to education does not ring of sincerity either.
History shows that tax hikes are followed by more hikes and increasing debt. There is strong opposition to this irresponsible tax hike, but Quinn is doggedly determined. Let us hope is bark is worse than his tax bite. Let us hope he doesn't have "hydrophobie" (for a description, watch Old Yeller).
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