Bill filed to give homeowners a $500 tax refund

SPRINGFIELD - A proposal to give Illinois homeowners a $500 property tax refund has been introduced in the General Assembly.

House Speaker Michael Madigan filed the legislation Monday.

The measure was a key part of Gov. Pat Quinn's budget address earlier this year. The Chicago Democrat also proposed making Illinois' temporary income tax increase permanent.

Quinn says the $500 refunds would ease the burden of an unfair property tax system.

They also could help Quinn and other Democrats politically.

Under the proposal, refunds could be issued for 2013 property taxes as soon as September. That's just weeks before the November election, when Quinn and many other lawmakers face re-election.

Republicans have opposed the refunds because they would cost the state more than the current 5 percent property tax credit.