While the Illinois General Assembly greeted newly installed Gov. Pat Quinn (D) warmly at his joint state of the state and budget address March 18, Quinn knew his budget would be a tough sell with an agenda that included hiking the state income tax by 50 percent.
“I hope you’re applauding at the end of the speech,” Quinn told a standing ovation of lawmakers who, just seven weeks earlier, impeached and removed his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich.
In his speech, Quinn said Illinois was in the throes of three crises: an “integrity crisis” that landed the state’s last two governors in jail; a fiscal crisis that put the state budget $11.5 billion in the red; and an economic crisis affecting the whole country that caused rising unemployment.
To close the budget gap, Quinn called for hiking the state income tax from 3 percent to 4.5 percent. To cushion the blow for poorer families, he also proposed raising the exemption from $2,000 to $6,000. (Illinois’ Constitution requires a flat tax.)
Quinn also called for pension reforms, closing corporate tax “loopholes” and cutting some services. He weighed in against expanded gambling, which is often suggested as a way to bring in more state revenues.
He called on lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House and Senate to take his proposals seriously, even though they could be politically unpopular.
“Saying ‘no’ is not enough...unless you are willing to speak the truth and offer real alternatives,” he said.
To read the full text, click here.
Powered by