Submitted by Tony Trimble
Vote NO to Defeat the Progressive Tax
By Dennis Green,
Lawrenceville, IL farmer and District 13 Director – Illinois Farm Bureau
The first item on this election’s ballot will be a seemingly simple question: Do you support an amendment to the Illinois Constitution? But this question is not as straightforward as it might first appear. This proposed amendment would change Illinois’ income tax structure. Do not skip over this section.Instead, vote NO.
Since the 1970s, the Illinois Constitution has been explicit that a tax on the income of Illinoisans must be a flat tax, where all income is taxed at one rate. The State’s current income tax rate is set at 4.95%.
If the proposed amendment is approved by voters, a new progressive tax rate structure – already enacted by lawmakers – would take effect. Under this progressive tax structure, the rates start at 4.75% and go all the up to 7.99%, depending on yourlevel of income.
I believe the drafters of our current Constitution got it right; Illinois should keep its flat income tax. A flat tax fairly applies one rate on everyone. This structure makes raising the tax rate a heavy lift for lawmakers, as they must answer to all voters. But, if our State moves to a progressive income tax, lawmakers would have additional political cover. They would be able to pick and choose whose taxes they raise, without having to worry about statewide opposition to their tax votes. If only a few people see their taxes going up at a time, it will be nearly impossible to make their opposition heard.
Unlike your vote to elect a candidate to office for a set term, your vote on the constitutional amendment will have lasting repercussions for decades. Therefore, in this election, I encourage you to answer NO to this first question on your ballot.
And, vote on election day, vote absentee, vote early – just be sure to vote!
