Prairie State Wire

Forty business organizations across Illinois have joined the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in the fight against the progressive tax amendment.

If passed, the proposed amendment would repeal the state's constitutional flat rate personal state income tax and would allow the state to institute a graduated system based on income. If enacted, Illinois would have the sixth-highest top-bracket rate.

"Amid snowballing corruption investigations and a COVID-19 recession, now is the most dangerous time to give our politicians free-reign of our paychecks," Todd Maisch, Illinois Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said in a release. "The progressive income tax amendment is simply a big bag of cash dropped at the back door of the Capitol for the ethically-challenged legislature to spend however they want.”

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has been speaking against the graduated tax rate since January 2019 and recently joined with the Illinois Farm Bureau, National Federation of Independent Business – Illinois, and Technology and Manufacturing Assocation to form the "Vote No on the Progressive Tax Constitutional Amendment" Coalition. The coalition has more than 500,000 members.

“The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce has a long history of advocating for policies that will promote growth in our community,” Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce

Executive Director Latonya Brock said in the release. “The progressive tax increase would be devastating to many of our already struggling businesses at a time when they need the most support.”

The Illinois Chamber is supporting its member organizations by providing information, speakers and other materials to help local chambers explain how the amendment could be harmful to their communities. Information focuses on informing voters of how the amendment would increase the state's taxing power, make residents subject to multiple income taxes and increase taxes on the middle class. The chamber includes information about how the revenue from the tax increase is not going to address property taxes or fund backlogged bills or underfunded pensions.

Vote No has been endorsed by several editorial boards including The Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago Business, Shaw Media and The Wall Street Journal.

A list of supporting business organizations can be found on the Illinois Chamber's website.

The chamber is also working with The Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment to spread their message. More information can be found at www.chambersagainsttax.com.