Prairie State Wire

Illinois Business Alliance issued the following announcement on March 19.

Press Release from the

Illinois Business Alliance

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jared Carl (312) 316-3348

jcarl@ilbusinessalliance.org

In light of COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois Business Alliance calls on Gov. Pritzker and General Assembly to take graduated income tax proposal off the ballot

Chicago, IL (March 19, 2020) – The Illinois Business Alliance is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to remove the graduated income tax amendment from the 2020 General Election ballot.

There's no question that the national and state economy are hurting from the steps taken to slow the spread of the COVID-19 illness. Schools, places of worship, restaurants, bars and retailers have all closed their doors. Many Illinoisans are grappling with loss of income, or worse, unemployment. As the nation works to fight this health crisis, it must also deal with a looming economic crisis that will be felt particularly hard here in Illinois.

In November 2020, Illinois voters will be asked if they want the state to abandon its flat income tax structure and adopt a progressive, or graduated, income tax system backed by Pritzker. While the governor has promised the tax proposal would not increase taxes on most Illinoisans, it's universally accepted that businesses – especially small businesses – would pay higher taxes under Pritzker's proposal. The Illinois Business Alliance believes changing the tax structure at this time is dangerous for the state's financial health and would add an additional, unnecessary level of uncertainty to the engines of Illinois' economy.

"There's a time and a place to debate a graduated income tax, but now is not that time. People throughout the state are distraught and they don't know how the pandemic will affect their jobs and their livelihoods. Some businesses have been forced to close because of mandates from the state, while others that remain open face difficult decisions: Should we shut our doors? Keep employees at home? Can we afford to have zero income while the state practices social-distancing? Adding the prospect of higher taxes to their plate is unthinkable right now," said Jared Carl, President, Illinois Business Alliance. "What Illinoisans need right now – including the business community – is stability and relief, not a potential tax increase."

About the Illinois Business Alliance

The Illinois Business Alliance is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit business league that exists to improve Illinois' business climate. Learn more about the Illinois Business Alliance at www.ilbusinessalliance.org/.

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Jared D. Carl | President

Illinois Business Alliance | Westchester, IL

E: jcarl@ilbusinessalliance.org | M: (312) 316-3348

Aligned to make Illinois a business-friendly state

www.ilbusinessalliance.org

Original source can be found here.