John Laesch of Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice writes to tell me that a bill has now been introduced in the General Assembly calling for a constitutional amendment creating graduated income tax. Such an amendment would then be placed on the 2014 ballot.
John and NIJWJ have been active in bringing attention to a revenue solution to the state’s pension liability.
On Jan 9th, State Representative Naomi Jakobsson filed a bill that would give Illinois voters an opportunity to amend Illinois’ tax code and pave the way for a graduated income tax.
On Jan 23rd, State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia added her name as a co-sponsor to the bill.
The bill, HJRCA 0002 would amend the Illinois Constitution and allow for a graduated income tax.
The language of the bill reads:
Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that individual income taxes may be at a graduated or a non-graduated rate. Provides that any such tax imposed on corporations shall be at a non-graduated rate, not to exceed the average of the lowest and highest individual rates by more than a ratio of 8 to 5. Effective upon being declared adopted.
If the bill passes the general assembly, Illinois voters would have to approve of the measure by voting “yes” on the November 2014 ballot before it went into law.
The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability has shown that a well designed graduated income tax rate structure could reduce taxes for 94 percent of Illinois taxpayers and raise at least $2.4 billion more in revenue than the current five percent flat tax.
Illinois is one of seven states with an income tax that does not have a graduated tax structure.
As a new legislative cycle is starting, it is important to continue pushing lawmakers to support HJRCA 0002.
Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice is one of many organizations in the state that is working to reach our lawmakers and let them know that it is time to bring Illinois into the 21st century with a modern tax structure that will help correct Illinois’ revenue problem.
On Jan 2nd, Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, and a number of panelists held a joint forum to talk about Illinois’ revenue problem. You can watch videos of the economists and lawmakers speaking at the forum by following the link to this story.
Fred Klonsky 
Had this proposal been on the ballot this past November, I’ll bet it would have passed.
i attended a state afscme union conference last year where the graduated tax issue was raised. at that time the union was in the early stages of organizing support for the graduated tax plan. i have`t read or heard anything from the union since. it could be the union is focused on the pensions and cut backs. with the intro of this bill i`m thinking the game is on.
i enjoy reading your posts.
rich sodergren from the hometown of ronnie
reagan