House Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) rose in opposition to the graduated income tax plan during Monday's session.
"I, like my colleagues over here, believe the real push is for never-ending expansion," Bryant said on the House floor. "This punishes success. What exactly will this $3.3 billion tax hike pay for? Taxpayer funding of elected abortions, massive bureaucracy targeting gun owners."
Bryant questioned why there was such a rush at getting the referendum on the next ballot.
"The higher you climb, the more successful you are, the more jobs you create, the more Illinois is going to tax you and regulate you and increase fees on you," Bryant said. "There is another way, folks."
Bryant called the tax structure a "job-killing, tax-hiking, progressive income tax."
Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 passed the House on Monday with 73 yes votes and 44 no votes. It will now be on the November 2020 ballot for Illinois voters to decide. Every single Republican voted no on the bill.
Many businesses and individuals have spoken out about their disapproval of a graduated income tax structure. Critics of the structure suggest because rates aren't nailed down in the amendment that it will eventually be a tax on the middle class.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been adamant about his preference for a "fair tax" since running for governor last year.
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