McHenry Times

House Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) said Illinoisans don't trust lawmakers with their money on the House floor during Monday's vote for a graduated income tax amendment to the state constitution.

"We have a trust problem that we won’t do with the money what we say it’ll go toward," Ugaste said. "We’re asking for yet more income taxes. This is causing a problem."

Ugaste said reform was important.

"If we want reform, we have reforms we can put in place to expand the economy," Ugaste said. "This (amendment) is an anti-growth measure. We can’t tax our way out of the situation we are in."

Ugaste said the graduated income tax would drive businesses and business owners out of the state.

"It’ll cause the middle class to leave the state because they will lose jobs," Ugaste said. "We’re losing population."

Ugaste said passing the income tax hike would be a double loss, as both high-income earners with leave and the jobs they provide will disappear.

"We’ll lose that tax revenue," Ugaste said. "Then this tax will have to fall on somebody. A flat tax is the last great defender from keeping the General Assembly from doing the wrong thing."

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 passed the House on Monday with 73 yes votes and 44 no votes. It will now be on the November 2020 ballot for Illinois voters to decide. Every single Republican voted no on the bill.

Many businesses and individuals have spoken out about their disapproval of a graduated income tax structure. Critics of the structure suggest because rates aren't nailed down in the amendment that it will eventually be a tax on the middle class.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been adamant about his preference for a "fair tax" since running for governor last year.