A resolution that hurts lower income and middle class families.

A resolution that seeks to increase the tax rate 1/4 percent for those earning between $18,000 - $36,000. and that seeks to increase the tax rate 1 1/4 percent for those earning from $36,000 - $58,000.

The "Fair Tax Act" would allow graduated tax rates to be raised in the future without public input or approval. This is truly a blank check with this change to our state constitution.

When the State income tax was raised from 3.75% to the current 5%, Illinois citizens were legally promised this increase was temporary and would sunset in 2015. Now members of this body are asking that we support increasing taxes on hard working, Illinois citizens.

Border counties like Rock Island will suffer the most, giving residents and business another reason to relocate into Iowa... a state with a more favorable business climate which attracts jobs and investments.

Since the tax increase was passed, our debt and pension debt have grown, and the state’s economy is among the worst in the nation. In the three years this tax has collected $18 billion in new tax revenue.

But we are going the wrong way- we went from $83 billion pension debt to $100 billion ($17 billion increase). Unpaid bill have increased.

Illinois doesn’t have a revenue problem- it has a spending problem. Voters have told us time and time again that they WILL NOT sign a blank check. They DO NOT want their taxes raised.

This resolution does nothing but endorse continuing down the wrong path by raising taxes on our Rock Island County residents. As an elected official, I pledge to continue listening and respecting the will of the people.

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