Kalish Helps Fair Tax Pass Key House Committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish, D-Chicago, advanced a Fair Tax system for Illinois, passing a constitutional amendment out of a top House finance committee allowing for 97% of taxpayers to receive relief while requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share.

“The time to adopt a Fair Tax is now,” Kalish said. “Under the status quo, middle-class families will continue to bear too much of a burden and our state will continue to struggle. Schools will lack adequate funding, critical services like breast cancer screenings will face uncertain funding, and our state’s backlog of unpaid bills will continue to grow. It’s time to move Illinois forward with a Fair Tax that allows us to balance the budget and invest in our communities – all while cutting taxes for those who need it most.”

The Kalish-sponsored Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 (SJRCA 1) would let the residents of Illinois vote to amend the state constitution and allow Illinois to join the federal government as well as 33 other states, including neighboring Wisconsin, Missouri, and Iowa, in asking the wealthy to pay their fair share.

Kalish voted pass the measure out of the House Revenue & Finance Committee on Tuesday.

“A Fair Tax will get our state’s finances back on track without raising taxes on the middle class,” Kalish said. “I am proud to stand with Governor Pritzker and many of my colleagues in the House as we continue our efforts to pass a Fair Tax, lift up the middle class and build a brighter future for Illinois.”

SJRCA 1 previously passed the Senate and is awaiting a final vote on the House floor.