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| Governor Defends Tax Increase |
(IRN)-Governor Pat Quinn is now well into his defense of the income tax increase which passed the General Assembly just before it adjourned. "What's right is not always what's popular and what's popular is not always what's right," said Quinn, referring to the increase of the personal income tax to five percent and the corporate income tax to seven percent. "I think we did the right thing for the people. In the long run, our state will be a better state if we pay our bills."
The bill will take effect retroactively, collecting taxes from January 1 of this year. No Republicans voted for the temporary increase which will level off at 3.75 percent in 2015. "I regret that my friends who are Republicans did not vote for the revenue," Quinn said. "They did vote for some things like our Medicaid reform. We thank them for that."
"We were able to do a lot of things on a bipartisan basis so I really hope we can continue to do that," he said, referring to the previous legislative session.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is calling for Illinois businesses to quote “escape to Wisconsin” following the tax increase. Mitch Daniels in Indiana has also called for Illinois businesses.
"Well lots of luck to them," said Quinn, "but that's not going to happen. I think if you look at the statistics, the facts. Facts are stubborn things. This past year we've created more jobs, far more jobs, than both Indiana and Wisconsin."
Criticism of the corporate tax increase is that it cements Illinois' position as being anti-business. Quinn wants cooperation from neighboring states. "With respect to our friends in Indiana, I don't believe in calling other state names. I believe in regional cooperation. We're a region, we should work together," Quinn said.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 01 13 11 by Newsroom |
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