Anti-tax crusader condemns Illinois income-tax proposal

SPRINGFIELD - Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist told lawmakers Monday that a higher income tax will not fix the state budget, will drive jobs out of Illinois and turn the state into the next California. But while Norqust blasted a proposed income tax hike, he didn't specify what should be cut.

"You don't have a $9 billion deficit, you have a $9 billion overspending program, where politicians spent other people's money and made commitments from other people's money," Norquist said. "I'm really tired of politicians creating a train wreck and then looking at everyone else and saying 'and what are you going to do about this?'"

Illinois' actual estimated budget deficit tops $12 billion. Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed hiking the state income tax from 3 to 4.5 percent in order to partially close the gap.

Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, insists an income tax hike will not fix reckless spending by politicians. "Illinois taxpayers have a problem, created by the politicians," he said.

"On a lot of these issues, on education spending, on pensions, you don't cut them. What you need to do is reform them to where they cost less money," Norquist said. "We have a crisis today because people didn't do reforms five, 10, 20 years ago."

Norquist suggested a 401(k)-style state pension program would save taxpayers money in the long-run. However, an analysis issued last week by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability showed that change would cost Illinois $95 billion more through 2045.

Any pension changes would also have to be approved by constitutional amendment on the 2010 ballot. The state budget is due Sunday.

The General Assembly's approval of a government accountability portal is a good first step toward improving Illinois government, Norquist said. State Rep. Michael Tryon, a Crystal Lake Republican, and state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, led the charge to establish a Web site listing all state spending and contracts.

"You can't even begin to talk about asking for more money until you show the people of Illinois what you're spending it on now," Norquist said.