In the News

Journal & Topics, January 15, 2011

Local state legislators were mixed in their support or opposition to the 66% state income tax hike approved early Wednesday morning.

Though votes in the Illinois legislature generally followed party lines, not every Northwest suburban lawmaker fell in line with party voting.

An individual earning $40,000 per year could expect to pay an additional $760 annually in state income taxes or about $31 per check assuming twice a month paychecks, a state management and budget office (MBO) spokeswoman said. MBO officials pointed out that a federal Social Security withholding cut that became effective Jan. 1 would minimize the effects of the state hike.

For a few local lame duck legislators, such as Rep. Mark Walker (D-66th) and Elizabeth Coulson (R-17th), the vote would be their last. Walker voted for the measure while Coulson opposed it. At least one area legislator, Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R-65th) missed the vote because of illness though she said she would have opposed it.

State Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-57th) voted for the tax hike saying it would bring stability.

"This was a very difficult vote but this will allow us to pay our bills and provide stability," said Nekritz yesterday (Thursday). "The state is almost insolvent, our choices were bad and worse."

Nekritz said there are spending controls in the bill that will force state officials to make cuts. One of those controls that Nekritz introduced is a state-spending cap of $36.8 billion. If the state exceeds that amount, Nekritz said the tax rate would automatically be lowered back to 3%.

State Sen. Susan Garrett (D-29th) voted against the tax increase.

"Taxpayers wanted the governor to come out to say why," said Garrett. "It's impossible to have a tax increase when you don't give specific cuts in spending."

Garrett said the tax hike still leaves state agencies and others with uncertainty as to what programs might end up being trimmed.

For Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-33d) his support for the bill was all about jobs.

"This bill saves 250,000 jobs in Illinois. It will stop unemployment going up 6%," said Kotowski.

He said another recently passed law compels cuts to be made on a performance rather than political basis. He said the spending cap would force reductions of 4% across the board in the first year.

"We had to take immediate action to protect jobs," said Kotowski.

State Rep. Angelo "Skip" Saviano (R-77th) said he cast a vote against the hike.

"We've been consistent on our side. Until we see reform in how we spend money to see any new revenues won't just be eaten up by Democrats, I fear they will come back asking for more money next year," said Saviano.

"I'm not saying we don't need new revenues but putting new revenues in a broken system is foolish," he continued.

Saviano said his office has been flooded with calls from constituents outraged by the tax hikes.

Legislation is being crafted in hopes of rolling back the tax hike. Saviano said he wants to see the language of that legislation before making a decision, but he said he is considering the idea.

Mulligan said she would support legislation to roll back the tax hike. She said legislative leaders and Quinn have not talked about restructuring spending.

Mulligan said to cut spending she would have looked at each state program weighing each based on administrative costs vs. to services provided. If administrative costs are too high, Mulligan said she would cut that program.

"I think the coming year will be the worst year since I've been there (in Springfield)," said Mulligan.

How Northwest Suburban Legislators Voted

Roll call votes of local legislators in the Illinois House and Senate to increase the state income tax increase 66% from 3 to 5% on Wednesday. Jan. 12:

Illinois House

Voting in support

• Paul Froehlich (D-56th) Yes

• Lou Lang (D-16th) Yes

• Elaine Nekritz (D-57th) Yes

• Mark Walker (D-66th) Yes

Voting to oppose

• Suzie Bassi (R-54th) No

• Elizabeth Coulson (R-17th) No

• Fred Crespo (D-44th) No

• John D’Amico (D-15th) No

• Sidney Mathias (R-53rd) No

• Angelo “Skip” Saviano (R-77th) No

• Carol Sente (D-59th) No

Not voting

• Rosemary Mulligan (R-65th) Absent

Illinois Senate

Voting in support

• Don Harmon (D-39th) Yes

• Dan Kotowski (D-33rd) Yes

• Terry Link (D-30th) Yes

• Jeff Schoenberg (D-9th) Yes

Voting to oppose

• Susan Garrett (D-29th) No

• Matt Murphy (R-27th) No

• Mike Noland (D-22nd) No

• Ira Silverstein (D-8th) No