Prairie State Wire

House and Senate Republicans want the fair tax amendment withdrawn from the November ballot, GOP leaders said during a news conference.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said he filed a resolution May 18 to withdraw the fair tax amendment from the November election.

"This [COVID-19] pandemic is an unprecedented event in our lifetime," Durkin said. "There has been an economic toll that we couldn't have expected just three months ago."

Durkin said there are currently more than 1 million Illinoisans trying to live on unemployment.

"Closed storefronts are taking over," Durkin said. "Small businesses have been reduced to insolvency in days. The world changed and there is no end in sight for this virus in Illinois."

Durkin said there are no sure signs that economic misery will subside quickly.

"This dramatic change is becoming the new normal," he said. "And yet the status quo remains the same and we're doing things the same way of doing business in Illinois with looking to raise taxes in the state. This is the worst time possible to add a large income tax hike that would be the last straw for Illinois businesses."

Durkin said the graduated income tax structure will stop new employers from coming to Illinois and will send people to other states.

"While the hike was already an unstable source of revenue, we know how what a terrible tool it’ll be for Illinois," Durkin said. "This will hurt our farmers so much. It will cripple manufacturers."

Durkin said there has been no property tax reform, nor ethics reform, so why should Democrats be trusted with a check for any more revenue.

"The recession caused by this pandemic will turn into a never-ending depression in Illinois," Durkin said. "We need to change how we govern—we need to repeal this. We need to change our old, bad habits and give Illinois a chance to succeed when we’re all going to need it."

Durkin said it is important these resolutions are put forward.

"The people in Illinois need to know there are people in Illinois fighting for them," Durkin said.

Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said Illinois is in a state of crisis.

"Our hearts go out to those affected by fatality and sickness of this horrific virus that we will defeat and we will win," Brady said. "Our hearts go out to those whose economic survival depends on us fixing this. This is a call for Democrats to remove this question from the ballot. This threat gives us more to worry about when people should be focusing on how to rebuild."

Brady said the Senate Republican caucus stands with business groups who want to see the measure removed from the ballot.

"We have challenging times ahead of us," Brady said. "It is important we lead during these times. I'm calling upon Democrats to join us in removing this threat of economic growth."

Brady said times have changed dramatically since this tax initiative was brought forward.

"Nevermore has our state been challenged than it currently is," Brady said. "People are speaking out on our real focus: rebuilding the economy and fighting this virus."

Brady said his first priority is safely rebuilding the state economy.

"Working together in a bipartisan fashion to help the public understand how this economy can be reignited as fast as possible and protecting the livelihoods of Illinoisans is my highest priority," he said.