SPRINGFIELD - Illinois' long time "flat tax" is endangered if State Representative Naomi Jakobsson's (D-Champaign) joint resolution to amend the state constitution goes anywhere this session. HJRCA 2 would add the terms "graduated rate" to Illinois' revenue section ("<>" indicates deletions from and "__" indicates additions to current language), and would require a statewide ballot vote:
A tax on or measured by individual income may <shall> be at a graduated or a non-graduated rate. At any one time there may be no more than one such tax imposed by the State for State purposes on individuals and one such tax so imposed on corporations. Any such tax imposed on corporations shall be at a non-graduated rate. In any such tax imposed upon corporations the rate shall not exceed the average of the lowest and highest rates <rate> imposed on individuals by more than a ratio of 8 to 5.
Jakobsson's effort is no surprise. Her 2012 campaign website said the ten-year incumbent was frustrated, saying a needed tax hike had "stalled":
"...Nobody likes the Illinois state budget this year. The recession decimated tax revenues. Attempts to enhance revenues through a tax increase, although supported by Naomi, have stalled."
