South West Illinois News

Constituents of Reps. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) and Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) are receiving robocalls urging them to tell their representatives to vote against the budget passed by the Senate on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Illinois Republican Party.

The Illinois GOP launched the automatic calling campaigns in 19 House districts, including Costello's 116th and Phelps' 118th, that are considered contentious in order to fight legislation that it says raises taxes without putting reforms in place.

 “Last night, with little debate, Senate Democrats in Springfield passed one of the largest tax hikes in state history,” the calls say. “Their plan will raise the income tax on every Illinoisan by 32 percent. They passed huge taxes on everyday services like Netflix, dry cleaning and television. And they chose to let property taxes continue to skyrocket.  Now the bill goes to Mike Madigan's House for a vote. You can help stop the tax hikes.”

The budget would increase the state income tax and expand the state sales tax to encompass more services. Republicans are criticizing the lack of a property tax freeze to provide some relief to the state’s residents and a lack of reforms to spur economic growth.