SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) defended the proposed 40% state income tax hike on his Facebook page Wednesday after Governor Rauner's annual State of the State Address.
Despite the Democrats maintaining a super majority in the Illinois Senate, Senator Syverson's comments indicate that he as a Republican is preparing to conspire with the Democrats and support a tax hike that will cost the average Illinoisan two weeks pay.
"I don't like having to be in this position, but it is something I warned over and over would happen if spending the last ten years (that I opposed) was allowed to continue," Syverson wrote on the post.
Senator Syverson's posted comments in their entirety:
The state has been living beyond its means for years. When Governor Rauner took over, the State was spending $1 billion more than revenue coming in. In an effort to make the new governor's job more difficult, the Democratic majority let the temporary tax expire (before the governor took office) without reducing spending. So today we find the state spending $500 million a month more than revenue coming in.
What are our options?
On the short term unfortunately there are very few:
- Cut spending. Governor Rauner has done a great job in his first two years to cut spending and implement reforms. Hundreds of millions have been saved and cut. ( will list those in another post) Problem is after you take out programs mandated by Federal law or the Courts, mandated debt obligations, prisons, road work, state police, you don't have enough left to cut $5 Billion.
- Just raise income tax, corporate tax, sales taxes, this would balance the budget but drive more people and companies out of illinois. This is what Quinn and company did for 10 years.
- A combination plan. One that made cuts and reforms first, one that had job reforms to keep and attract more jobs, one that would freeze or cap property taxes, and unfortunately extend the temporary income tax to pay bills.
Keep in mind we are not Indiana, WI, MO, or other states that have Republican control.
Illinois legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic and they only want option 2. Doing nothing puts taxpayers deeper in debt and drives up property taxes further.
While I do not like raising any taxes this latest proposal would keep the new tax at or below where it was before the last tax expired. However, it would also require further cuts, allow for consolidation of local governments, have pension reforms, put term limits on legislative leaders, and include a number a job reforms. If any of these reforms do not go into effect the tax cannot begin.
I don't like having to be in this position but it is something I warned over and over would happen if spending the last ten years (that I opposed) was allowed to continue. More to come this.
For those who say no just cut $5 billion I would ask you to tell me specifically where you would cut the $5 billion out of the States budget.
There is not a painless solution to the mess they put our state in. But I believe with Rauner at the helm we can come out of this stronger than we were.
Let me know your thoughts and questions.
