Why didn't Illinoisans pass the 'fair tax?'

Ralph Martire's Dec. 6 op-ed got it all wrong, as did Pritzker and the Illinois Democratic legislature (Republicans are irrelevant in Illinois).

Mr. Martire claims the money spent by a few billionaires sold Illinoisans a bill of goods, and thus the "fair tax" amendment failed.

He doesn't mention Pritzker and others spent as much pushing the graduated income tax.

The reason it didn't pass is simple: Illinoisans have been bamboozled by our Democrat-controlled government many times before (bond issues placed to shore up the huge state pension deficit with the money raised being spent elsewhere, etc.)

Illinoisans rightfully don't trust their state legislature.

The amount that would have been raised wouldn't even cover the current year's deficit.

Illinoisans knew in future years taxes of every kind, on everyone, would be raised.

We want to see fiscal responsibility in government and we want control of our state's budget to be taken back from the public employee unions.

As long as Democrats buckle to those unions, a graduated income tax in Illinois should never pass.

Over several decades, Texas passed amendments to its constitution that include a debt limit, a welfare spending limit, a pay-as-you-go limit and a limit on the growth of certain appropriations.

I will continue to vote against it until it is presented in a fiscally responsible package of amendments to the Illinois Constitution.

W. Andrew Wright

Barrington Hills