Illinois House members clash on tax hike

SPRINGFIELD -- What seemed to be an argument suited for the Cook County Board found itself in the Illinois House Thursday.

Republican lawmakers railed against the 1 percentage point Cook County sales tax hike that takes effect July 1, pulling out large, red foam No. 1 fingers to indicate their Democratic counterparts have helped cause the "highest tax burden of the entire country."

"Congrats, you're No. 1!" yelled state Rep. Mike Bost while waving his foam finger.

The downstate Republican joined others in proposing a "sales tax holiday," which would coincide with federal economic-stimulus rebates of $600 per person and $300 per child to be handed out to families over Memorial Day weekend. For four days, Illinois consumers could spend that money on items $600 or less without paying a penny in sales taxes.

State Rep. Dave Winters, a Rockford-area Republican, said the consumers would see $40 million in tax relief on estimated sales that weekend alone. Winters also said 15 other states have used sales tax holidays.

If some sort of remedy isn't found, Republican lawmakers warned some taxpayers would go out of state to buy their goods. Or just might move out altogether.

"They want a change that will reduce the cost of their living," said state Rep. Jim Meyer, a Naperville Republican. "They can't do that as long as this body allows other bodies to increase their taxes."

Currently, the Palatine sales tax rate is 8.75 percent. An RTA hike next month will set it at 9 percent until July 1, when the new county sales tax will increase it to 10 percent.

"This is going to be the end for some suburban Cook County businesses," said state Rep. Suzanne Bassi, a Palatine Republican, noting her constituents will travel this summer to nearby Deer Park in Lake County for a sales tax that's 3 percentage points less.

The Republican slam on Cook County sales taxes prompted state Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, to remind lawmakers that the county is a separate government from the state. He also noted they could propose laws to help economic development and lower tax burdens.

"These speeches should have been made before the Cook County Board of Commissioners, not the floor of the House," Lang said.