Voters weigh in, lawmakers fret over looming tax hike

Voters seemed angry at the ballot box last week.

In Cook County, they voiced opposition to a sales-tax hike - by 90 percent in some towns - and threatened to secede from the county.

Across the suburbs, they rejected giving more money to schools, firefighters and police.

To lawmakers now contemplating a 50 percent increase in the state income-tax rate, the message might be getting through.

"In my district, they are complaining because they read the papers," state Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, says about the reports of corruption that come alongside calls for tax hikes.

Crespo's position on the income tax hike proposed by Gov. Pat Quinn has since firmed up.

"I would vote against any increase in taxes because of the economy being the way it is right now and how my district is hurting right now," Crespo says.

In the face of voters' clear point of view, Crespo probably is not the only lawmaker fretting more about the looming vote to hike the income tax and other fees to cover the state's $11 billion-plus shortfall and provide cash for a major public works boon.

"This is going to make it tougher," says Paul Green, a political-science professor at Roosevelt University.

Indeed, Quinn and legislative leaders already faced an uphill battle in selling a tax hike during a recession to voters shaken by the ouster and indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges - the second state CEO in a row to face such accusations.

But supporters of tax and fee hikes say the increases are needed no matter the mood of voters.

The state is months behind on paying bills to health-care providers, contractors and even schools, jeopardizing businesses that contract with the state and critical social services for hundreds of thousands of citizens.

The size of the shortfall is staggering.

Even if every state worker were fired this week, including state police and lawyers, that would save about $3.5 billion - nowhere near the $11 billion or so that is needed.

Quinn said recently he is trying to level with voters by insisting a tax hike, combined with federal stimulus funds and $1 billion in spending cuts, is the only reasonable option.

"The people of Illinois, I think, are ready for the challenge," he said. "You have to do what is right and honest and proper."

Green points out lawmakers will need to find some political cover from legislative leaders or the governor if they believe the public is overwhelmingly against any tax hike.

"Normally, the Illinois General Assembly has never been a proving grounds for martyrs," he says. "They aren't going to commit suicide over a tax increase."

State Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican, said it will require a lot more budget cuts and explanation on the need for a tax increase to get his voters behind it.

Millner acknowledges cutting the state budget alone won't solve the financial problem, but he said he is having a hard time convincing voters of that.

"People are angry about it," he said. "People are just telling me 'No, don't do it.'"

And after this week's election "no one is going to want to hit that 'Yes' button for a tax increase," Millner says,