Tax supporters descend on Capitol
SPRINGFIELD - Just a week after hundreds protested taxes at the Capitol, a larger group, including some suburban residents, turned out Wednesday to support higher taxes that'd prevent deep cuts to state programs.
The crowd, which organizers pegged at 1,500, was welcomed by Gov. Pat Quinn, who vowed to help working families and defended his plan to raise income taxes to help eliminate a deficit that's grown to nearly $12.4 billion over three years.
"It is very important that in the next 40 days and 40 nights that we pass a fair budget in Illinois with a fair tax system," said Quinn, referring to the scheduled May 31 end of the General Assembly's spring session. "We know we have stern challenges, the toughest challenges Illinois has ever had."
Quinn has proposed increasing the income tax rate to 4.5 percent from 3 percent while also increasing exemptions so those at the lower end of the salary spectrum would see no increase and could pay less in taxes.
The latest Capitol rally comes a week after massive anti-tax rallies occurred around the country, including several protests in the suburbs.
And while this crowd supports the governor's tax plan, other aspects have drawn criticism.
Secretary of State workers from suburban offices came to ask lawmakers to support their pension plans and not increase their insurance rates. Quinn has asked for concessions in both areas to help control state spending.
"Right now our insurance rates are going to go up about triple and we don't make that kind of money that we can afford for our insurance rates to triple," said Gail Seyller, of Elgin who came to the Capitol on her furlough day to protest budget cuts.
Chris Boundi, of Hanover Park, is concerned that if they cut her pension she wouldn't ever be able to retire because she will not get full Social Security because she is a state worker. Boundi said she'd worked 25 years for the state but can't afford to retire.
Other protesters were concerned with cuts to health care, child care and education funding in the upcoming budget. A group called Campaign for Illinois' Future, which encompasses myriad health care, union, education and clergy groups, organized Wednesday's rally. The 1,500 attendance figure was based on counting heads as people exited buses at the Capitol, organizers said.
"It is clear that Illinois cannot cut its way out of this budget crisis," said Ed Geppert, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. "The state cannot force the deficit onto the backs of school children, college students, the poor and those in ill health."
At the same time the Campaign for Illinois' Future was supporting Quinn's income tax increase, dentists were lobbying for an increase on soda to pay for the state-sponsored dental care offered to children and lower income families.
More than 200 dentists came to Springfield to convince lawmakers a tax increase on drinks high in sugar would greatly increase funding for state-sponsored dental programs across the state. The dentists say an added 5 percent tax on such drinks would generate $94 million.