Act now to repeal income tax hike

On the same day the General Assembly voted to abolish the death penalty, lawmakers also implemented a death penalty on Illinois’ economy by passing a 67 percent income tax hike in the face of overwhelming public opposition. This tax hike tells the working and middle class voters of Illinois where they stand with the Democratically controlled state government — on the outside looking in. At the front of the line are the public employee unions and all who benefit from state government spending at the expense of average citizens. An Illinois Policy Institute study on taxpayer migration shows Illinois’ high tax ways are not just driving out job creators and workers, but also the income and tax revenue they represent. One Illinois citizen left the state every eight minutes between 1991 and 2009, totaling 1.2 million. Between 1995 and 2007, out-migrators took with them $163.6 billion in income and $16.9 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Make no mistake, the folks in charge in Springfield are fully, transparently aligned with the status quo of economic decline and mass exodus. But is it hopeless? No. In fact, they have done us a favor. This tax hike is a wake-up call. If you like the way Springfield is operating, then continue voting (or not voting) the way you did in November 2010. But if you don’t support the tax hikes and this direction, you have an opportunity to work toward transforming the state. Start by going to www.repealthetaxhike.com and signing a petition to show legislators you won’t take the tax increases sitting down.

As momentum builds, we as a movement can work toward a policy of not just repealing the tax hike, but eliminating income taxes altogether. Nine states have no income taxes. Our mission should be nothing short of becoming the 10th. John Tillman

CEO

Illinois Policy Institute

Chicago