House Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) urged a No vote on the graduated income tax amendment to the state's constitution during Monday's session.
"There's an opportunity to cut spending down," Caulkins said. "We can control our spending. Make no mistake about this: This is a jobs tax."
Caulkins said the graduated income tax would drive even more jobs out of the state.
State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur)
"I strongly oppose this," Caulkins said. "It will eventually get to the middle class. We didn’t come here to drive businesses out. We are here to make this state more job-friendly."
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 and many businesses and individuals have spoken out about their disapproval of a graduated income tax structure. Critics like Caulkins suggest that because rates are not nailed down in the amendment, it will eventually become 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.
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