Prairie State Wire

The Illinois House Republicans have voiced their opposition to a proposed expansion of the state's sales tax, which would include services such as haircuts, car repairs, and streaming subscriptions. They argue that this proposal would disproportionately impact working-class families who rely on these services. The GOP describes the proposed tax as a "cash grab" that exacerbates the financial strain on residents already burdened by high taxes.

According to the Tax Foundation, Illinois has a combined state and local sales tax rate averaging 8.86%, ranking it among the highest in the nation. The state's property tax rate is also notably high, with an effective rate of 1.95% on owner-occupied housing value, placing it second nationally. These figures underscore the existing tax burden on Illinois residents, which critics argue would be further intensified by the proposed service tax.

The Illinois Policy Institute estimates that expanding the sales tax to services could generate up to $2.7 billion annually. However, this revenue would come at a significant cost to consumers, particularly those from lower-income brackets who spend a larger portion of their income on taxable services. The institute warns that such a tax could lead to decreased consumer spending and negatively impact small businesses across the state.

The Illinois House Republicans are the minority caucus in the Illinois House of Representatives, advocating for fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and economic reforms to strengthen the state's competitiveness. The caucus opposes new taxes that it believes will harm families and job creators and routinely proposes alternative budget measures focused on efficiency and accountability. Its legislative agenda prioritizes protecting taxpayers and expanding economic opportunity.