Debunk myths opposing 'Fair Tax'

The myths about the "Fair Tax" being propagated by ads featuring sympathetic little old ladies and paid for with money from some millionaires need to be debunked. The amendment does not give more power to Springfield. It merely gives them power to create higher tax rates for higher earners and lower tax rates for lower earners which they cannot do now.

The amendment does not hurt small businesses. It cuts taxes for small businesses and all taxpayers making under $250,000 in profit. Moreover, keeping rates lower on middle class and those with lower incomes gives them more disposable income to spend and boost our economy and support small business.

The amendment will not tax retirement income. Illinois does not tax retirement income, and nothing in the amendment changes that. Cutting state spending will not fix things. Illinois has already underfunded education, public safety and human services for many years. Underfunding of education contributes to our high property taxes and cutting can only make things worse. There is no evidence raising taxes on the wealthy will cause them to leave Illinois. In actuality, states that in recent years have raised millionaire rates have seen a growth in their millionaire populations.

We need revenue now, and we either generate it fairly or the same unfair and unjust way that we have to do it now without the amendment. We need to avoid an increase in income taxes that will hit everyone in Illinois regardless of their financial ability to handle it. That makes acting now most compelling. We can do that by passing this amendment so that 97% of Illinois will get a tax reduction. Please join me in supporting fairness in income taxation in our State, and vote yes for passage and urge your friends and neighbors to lend their support.

Elliott Hartstein

Northbrook