Issues concerning graduated income tax

An open letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker: The subject of this letter is the proposed graduated income tax.

First, there is a question of why you, Mr. Pritzker, are using tax money to promote it via the "Fair Tax Calculator" on the Illinois government website or the Constitutional referendum traveling around the state presumably on official business, when it is against the law for local governments to do promotions in that manner.

Second, why does the government get to apply a blatant marketing label to the issue? "Fair tax" is open to debate and point of view. Proponents of a flat tax also call it a "fair tax". So which is fair?

These questions were asked in a Daily Herald editorial on April 14. But I do have an issue with the graduated tax you are proposing because although you claim 97 percent of Illinoisans won't see an increase in their income tax but they won't be seeing a lot less either from the high 4.75 to 4.95 percent rate.

As an example, California, which has the highest tax in the country, has a more progressive graduated tax than the one you're presenting. Just look at where their rates start; at 1 percent. Even the 4 percent rate isn't imposed until over $30,000 dollars. And Iowa's graduated income tax is 0.36 percent to 8.98 percent.

So I don't think you should be bragging about no tax increase while we pay 4.75 percent. Especially for those who earn $50,000 or less. I'm not on board. Also, we hope government funds are not being used for "Think Big Illinois" advertising.

Dick Geisler

Palatine