McHenry Times

Illinois state Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) is sounding the alarm about a progressive tax proposal Democrats are again pushing after it was previously rejected by voters.

"In 2020 the voters of Illinois soundly rejected a Constitutional Amendment request to change Illinois' income tax structure from a flat tax to a progressive tax," Wilcox posted on Facebook. "I guess the Democrats weren't convinced, because there are some who want to bring the proposal back. I will fight this, because my constituents said No, and they meant it."

In 2020, Illinois voters rejected the proposed constitutional amendment, with 53.3% of them casting "no" votes at the ballot box as Democrats sought to replace the Illinois Constitution’s guarantee of a flat tax with a progressive system that taxed at different rates for higher-income groups.

State Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago), who is again pushing the bill, said he has not introduced a bill to put the tax structure back on the ballot; a recent Illinois Policy report said. But Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s office confirmed the two discussed it, with a spokesperson for Harmon adding, “The idea – the policy – is one the Senate president has long supported.”

Wilcox has served in the Illinois Senate since his appointment in October of 2018, his website biography said.