North Cook News

Cook County Board Commissioner Sean Morrison still can’t believe voters may soon find themselves in the same predicament when it comes to the progressive tax proposal pushed by Democrats.

“Residents of Illinois have spoken; they want policies that reign in ramped up spending and demand more fiscal restraint,” Morrison told the North Cook News. “I cannot imagine a scenario whereby further taxing Illinois residents before effectuating real proven fiscal reforms will be successful.”

In November, voters overwhelmingly shot down a similar proposal when the initiative gained just over 47% of the 60% support it needed for passage. The measure came up short despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker pumping millions of dollars of his money into a campaign designed to get it over the finish line.

This time, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) said tax revenues would go toward paying down the state’s $141 billion pension fund debt.

Morrison said he still can’t believe voters may soon be forced to again deal with an issue they thought they had made themselves clear about.

“Yes, I am surprised by the speaker’s comments,” he said. “The tax increase resolution lost by 6 basis points, both Republicans and Democrat voters alike understand that increasing taxes to pay for four decades of gross fiscal mismanagement is egregious. Residents of Illinois understand that the increase in taxes is to pay off enormous debt and will not do one thing to better the lives of Illinois working-class families.”

Morrison said he doesn’t expect Welch’s vow about most of the added revenues being used for pensions to sway many voters given the state’s history of saying one thing and doing another when it comes to taxes.

“It is not a matter of trust. It’s a matter of proven history,” he said. “Our current history of one-party rule fiscal policies is what has created the current debacle.”