Tom Cullerton launches petition to stand up against taxing senior citizens' retirement income
VILLA PARK- State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is standing up for DuPage County retirees.
Cullerton introduced Senate Resolution 113 that would prohibit taxing retirement income.
"Our seniors have made life choices based on a promise made by the state," Cullerton said. "It is ridiculous for the state to recant on this contract. Illinois' retirees cannot afford to suddenly be taxed by the state."
Proposals have been floated around by Chicago nonprofits to change the Illinois income tax code to include taxing retirees' income. Cullerton is strongly opposed to any plan that would tax senior citizens.
The average Illinois retiree receives an annual pension of just $32,000 a year and many receive much less.
"We can't afford to tax away seniors' opportunities to live independently," said Cullerton.
Cullerton recently launched a petition located on his website www.SenatorTomCullerton.com to combat any legislation to tax senior citizens' retirement income.
In a 2016 Nielsen survey conducted of Illinoisans over 50, three-fifths say they would leave the state if such a tax were approved.
"As we try to keep our residents in state and increase opportunities, why would we enact policies that would chase seniors out of Illinois," Cullerton said. "Taxing seniors' retirement income isn't going to solve our budget deficit."