DECATUR Ill. – In line with her firmly-held opposition to tax increases on middle-class and working families, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, joined a bipartisan group Wednesday to oppose attempts to raise income taxes on residents through a loophole open in January 2017.

“I ran for state representative because I believe that burdens on working-class families like the 2011 income tax hike are wrong and must be stopped,” Scherer said. “Sneaky, behind-the-scenes actions like raising taxes after legislators are no longer accountable to their district’s residents hurts families and our state, and I will work to stop this.”

Under current law, it is easier to pass tax increases during a brief period between the New Year and when newly elected representatives join the General Assembly. Scherer believes this loophole must be closed, and tax increase votes must be made more difficult to pass. On Wednesday, Scherer spoke in favor of House Resolution 1494 to call on the governor and legislative leaders to reject any attempts to pass tax increases in this ‘lame duck’ loophole. She joined a bipartisan majority to pass the measure.

The same day, Scherer attended a morning committee in support of House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 62 to change the state constitution and close the loophole that allows tax increases to pass with fewer votes. Scherer is one of the bipartisan co-sponsors of this measure and is pushing for its passage this week.

“Residents in my communities want lower taxes and they deserve a say in the policies that affect their lives, and I will work to make state law and the state constitution accountable to them,” said Scherer. “It should be very difficult to pass tax increases, but regardless of the number of votes needed, I care and will continue voting against any attempts to raise taxes on middle-class and working families.”

For more information, please contact Scherer’s constituent service office at 217-877-9636 or by email at StateRepSue@gmail.com. Scherer represents the 96th District, which includes portions of Christian, Macon and Sangamon counties.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, continued his fight against an income tax increase by supporting two measures at the state house this week that would make it more difficult for legislators to increase the income tax rate during a “lame duck” session.

“I do not support increasing the income tax rate at all, but I especially disapprove of a vote during a lame duck session,” said Moylan. “It’s no accident that the last income tax increase in 2011 was passed during a lame duck session. Politicians often look to pass income tax increases during this time because the outgoing members are no longer accountable to the voters.”

Moylan voted in favor of House Resolution 1494 on Wednesday in order to oppose the consideration or passage of any income tax increase on the people of Illinois during any “lame duck” special session that may be called to meet on or after January 1, 2017 at any time prior to January 11, 2017, which is the day the new General Assembly will be inaugurated.

Moylan also supports House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 62, a measure that proposes to amend the Illinois Constitution by requiring any proposed tax increase introduced between a general election day and the subsequent inauguration day to receive a three-fifths majority vote to pass instead of a simple majority vote.

“A vote on approving something as consequential as a tax increase should never be held during a lame duck session,” said Moylan. “Trust in Illinois government is low because politicians in the past have snuck through last-minute, controversial legislation during lame duck sessions. It’s time to restore trust in Illinois government by stopping this practice and by instead making it harder for unaccountable politicians to force through tax increases on Illinois residents.”

For more information, please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent service office at 847-635-6821 or staterepmoylan@gmail.com.
###

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Representative John D’Amico, D-Chicago, co-sponsored a resolution on Wednesday opposing the practice of passing tax increase legislation during the time period between the November election and the January inauguration.

“I co-sponsored this resolution because elected officials should stay accountable to their constituents,” D’Amico said. “We should not have members who are retiring and already have one foot out the door vote for tax increases that could last forever. This is not how state government should be run. It is not fair to the people these politicians promised to serve.”

House Resolution 1494 opposes any tax increase during a lame duck session. A “lame duck” session is a time period between the election in November and when all lawmakers are sworn in during January.

“Illinois needs to stop its ‘business as usual’ attitude when it comes to taxes,” D’Amico continued. “Last minute, midnight votes need to stop. These bad votes hurt Illinois families and they only help the special interests. I look forward to working next year with my colleagues in a transparent fashion to end this budget impasse and help middle class families.”

# # #

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to proposals to raise taxes during the upcoming lame-duck session in January, state Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, supported legislation Wednesday to oppose the passage of tax increases during these special sessions.

“The decision to raise taxes should not be made by legislators who are no longer accountable to their constituents,” Walsh said. “Holding these votes immediately following an election accomplishes nothing more than to increase the public’s mistrust in government.”

The Walsh-sponsored House Resolution 1494 calls on the General Assembly to oppose the consideration of tax increases between the dates of Jan. 1, 2017 and Jan. 11, 2017. Sessions held during this time are referred to as “lame-duck sessions,” where representatives and senators who have either been defeated in the previous election or are retiring have the opportunity to vote on legislation, including tax increases. The income tax increase of 2011 was passed during that year’s lame-duck session. Walsh is also sponsoring House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 62, which would require a three-fifths supermajority vote, or 71 votes in the House and 36 votes in the Senate, to pass any legislation raising taxes during the lame duck period. This measure would need to be approved by both the General Assembly and voters in the 2018 General Election.

“Sneaking tax hikes through the General Assembly during this time period and allowing politicians to avoid going on record does nothing to help us solve the difficult problems we face in Illinois,” Walsh said. “Any votes to raise taxes should only be made by elected officials who are still accountable to the people they represent.”

House Resolution 1494 passed the House of Representatives. House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 62 awaits further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, continued her push for accountability in the lawmaking process this week by supporting legislation making it more difficult to levy new taxes on area residents during the “lame duck period” between the election and the new General Assembly taking office.

“Votes regarding income tax levels deserve the accountability that accompanies the trust placed in Representatives through the General Elections,” Hurley said. “We should not have outgoing legislators raising taxes on working families in the 11th hour of their tenure in the General Assembly.”

The “lame duck” period refers to the time between the General Election and the swearing in of the new General Assembly where outgoing legislators retain their power to vote despite having lost the confidence of their constituents. Hurley is sponsoring House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 62, which would require any revenue increase voted on during this period to receive a three-fifths majority vote; in place of the simple majority required under current law. Additionally, Hurley is also sponsoring House Resolution 1494 which opposes any new tax increase during the final days of the 99th General Assembly. The two legislative items will make it harder to institute a tax increase during this period of low accountability.

“Illinois residents are tired of moving from one crisis to another, and being forced to foot the bill for Springfield mismanagement,” Hurley said. “We need a balanced solution to our budget issues that maintains the high standard of accountability residents expect.

House Resolution 1494 and House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 62 both passed the Illinois House with bipartisan support.

For more information, please contact Hurley’s constituent service office at 773-445-8128 or repfranhurley@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.–State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, co-sponsored a resolution on Wednesday calling for politicians to stop the habit of voting for tax increases during the time between the November election and the January inauguration.

“I co-sponsored this resolution because every two years we hear how there ‘might’ be a tax increase after the election,” Manley said. It really is despicable that politicians try and wait out the people until after the election to pass a tax increase. Well, the politicians are going to have a much more difficult time passing a tax increase now.”

The resolution, HR 1494, states outright opposition to any tax increase during a lame duck session. A “lame duck” session is the time period between the election in November and when all members are sworn-in during January.

“These last minute, midnight votes need to stop,” Manley said. “We should always take votes in the light of day and not try and hide what we are doing from the public. If you believe in something, you should be able to vote for it before an election, not just after one”.

# # #

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—As rumors of a tax hike during outgoing lawmakers’ last days in office begin to circulate, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is speaking out loudly against any proposal that raises taxes.

“Illinois families must not bear the financial burden every time there’s a revenue shortage due to poor fiscal management by state government,” Yingling said. “Our state cannot govern from fiscal crisis to fiscal crisis by raising taxes on hard-working residents, and I am in firm opposition to any effort to pass a bill that raises taxes in the last days of the legislative cycle.”

Yingling is supporting House Resolution 1494, which affirms his opposition to any tax increase during a “lame duck” session of the General Assembly’s in early 2017. The measure passed in the House with overwhelming bi-partisan support.

“I have and always will remain an advocate for fewer taxes,” Yingling stated. “In addition, I look forward to continuing my bipartisan work to make government more efficient and responsive to taxpayers.”

Yingling represents the 62nd District, which contains portions of Gages Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Hainesville, the Round Lake communities, Wauconda and Wildwood.

###

AURORA, Ill. – As Springfield politicians conspire to raise taxes in the coming weeks, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is supporting legislation to prevent unaccountable and outgoing politicians from raising taxes on middle-class taxes.

“Middle-class families in Illinois are already being crushed by skyrocketing property taxes and burdensome regulations,” Kifowit said. “I refuse to stand by and allow unaccountable politicians to sneak through a tax hike on hard working Illinoisans before the new General Assembly is sworn in.”

Kifowit supported House Resolution 1494 to oppose any tax increases during any upcoming session between Jan. 1, 2017 and Jan. 11, 2017. Sessions held during this time are referred to as “lame-duck sessions,” where representatives and senators who have either been defeated in the previous election or are retiring have the opportunity to vote on legislation, including tax increases. The income tax increase of 2011 was passed during that year’s lame-duck session.

“We must restore trust in government by stopping these backroom deals from taking place,” Kifowit said. “Any votes to raise taxes should occur after the new General Assembly has been sworn in, not before by a group of legislators on their way out.”

For more information, please contact Kifowit’s constituent service office at 630-585-1308 or Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net.

###