Progressive Income Tax Defeated

The “Fair Tax” amendment supporters have conceded defeat.

The group maintained the amendment would cut taxes for 97-percent of Illinoisans who make less than $250,000 a year and require the wealthiest top three percent to pay their fair share and raise billions for schools, health care and jobs.

With 98% of precincts reporting, the measure fell 55% to 45%.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce was one of the groups working against the program. President and CEO Todd Maisch says it is clear that Illinoisans do not trust this legislature and administration to spend more of their precious tax dollars without restraint. He says we heard from the electorate that Illinois needs a lot more than tax increases to fix our economy. 

Opponents contended if the amendment was approved, the legislature would be able to seek tax increases against different segments of the population more easily.

Organizers of the campaign supported and heavily financed by Governor JB Pritzker say although the outcome is not what they wished, moving Illinois toward tax fairness while funding important priorities in every community is the work the coalition has been doing for years and will continue to do.