Pritzker wants you to give him a blank check, don't worry, with the exception of the toilet tax refunds, he is a very trustworthy fella

Pritzker administration ramps up graduated income tax debate, warning refusal could mean 20% hike for all

The flurry of warnings and rhetoric came after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s public threat of the potential 20% tax increase on Thursday.

By David Roeder and Sam Charles Updated Sep 25, 2020, 12:34pm CDT

full of shit

The debate over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s top November election priority shifted into high gear Friday as the Democratic governor warned that rejecting his graduated income tax proposal would mean either steep budget cuts or a 20% income tax increase for all taxpayers.

The Pritzker administration’s introduction of the threat of an across-the-board tax increase into the discussion of his coveted “Fair Tax” amendment sparked dueling news conferences between the governor and Republicans opposed to Pritzker’s proposal to allow different tax rates for different income groups.

The flurry of warnings and rhetoric came after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s public threat of the potential 20% tax increase on Thursday.

Stratton said on a video call Thursday if voters reject Illinois’ graduated income tax proposal, then the Legislature will be compelled to consider a 20% increase for all taxpayers. She made the comment while speaking to a rally of supporters of the so-called Fair Tax amendment, which is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

“To adequately address the budget crisis under our current tax system, lawmakers will be forced to consider raising income taxes on all Illinois residents by at least 20% regardless of their level of income,” Stratton said in the video, which the tax amendment proponents posted on Facebook.

“We all know that our middle- and lower-income families cannot withstand a 20% tax increase and it will only serve to deepen the dramatic inequities that we already see across the state.”

Pritzker has previously warned if voters reject the amendment, the state, facing budget deficits worsened by the pandemic, will be forced to consider dramatic cuts. Stratton’s comments appeared to mark a new tack in the administration’s push for the change.