Fight over progressive income tax starts in Illinois

[TexasTowelie]

Even though the issue would be decided at the ballot in November of 2020, Illinoisans are already getting a glimpse of what’s in store in the fight to change the state’s income tax structure from a flat percentage to one that taxes higher earners more.

Two nonprofits have formed with the missions of fighting for and against changing Illinois’ constitution to allow a higher percentage of income to be taxed from higher-earning residents.

Ideas Illinois is an initiative of the Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity. That's a privately-funded nonprofit run by former Illinois Manufacturers Association President Greg Baise and businessman James Gidwitz, brother of President Donald Trump's former Illinois campaign finance head, Ron Gidwitz. In the past, the organization successfully fought back then Gov. Rod Blagojevich's push for a Gross Receipts Tax, the union-led "card check" campaign and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle's tax on sugary drinks."

“We will focus on policies that will create jobs and grow our economy,” it says. “It’s going to take hard work and straight talk but together we can put Illinois on the right track.”

Read more: https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/fight-over-progressive-income-tax-starts-in-illinois/article_13e34422-3933-11e9-b083-efa4d8511c33.html

[frazzled]

1. I'm with "Think Big"

Illinois really needs a progressive income tax (and the funds it will generate), and I think people will go for it once the numbers are out.

Still, a constitutional amendment is a tough row to hoe. That’s when it’s good to have a billionaire governor: I think his nonprofit will outspend the stinky nonprofit.

[beachbum bob]

2. been needed for decades and the time has come where we will see progressive state

tax rates in Illinois. Americans have long sensed the favoritism given to the wealthier segment and its no different in Illinois. The class warfare has been over for a long time but we are seeing a rebirth of populism in which most americans see the rich as getting all the breaks and the rest of us pay for them. The media has been a propaganda outlet for years in driving discourse among average americans based on social issues while shielding the financial decimation of middle and lower class americans from having fair and open debate.

guns, bibles, abortions don't feed people, don't pay for college. America starting to get it. The 1% worse nightmare.