State of Illinois Archives: on Tax Reform
Alexi Giannoulias:
Extend $8000 homebuyer credit; one-year payroll tax holiday
The Giannoulias Plan To Build The New American Economy: jumpstarting America's economic engine. Alexi proposed an extension of the successful $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, a one-year payroll tax holiday for middle income workers, and a
job creation payroll tax credit. He would offset the costs of these job-creating tax incentives by eliminating nearly $200 billion in tax loopholes used by corporations that ship American jobs overseas.
Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, AlexiForIllinois.com, "Issues"
Dec 25, 2009
Bill Enyart:
No tax breaks for millionaires nor pledges against taxes
Said Enyart, "we have seen in Mr. Plummer's actions--from trying to smear my wife for her service as a judge, to cheating on his taxes, to signing a pledge that protects tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs--that my opponent does not respect
Southern Illinois values. In addition, Plummer continues to refuse to disclose his tax returns, tax rate, or how much he stands to profit from the tax breaks for millionaires he supports."
Source: Press Release, "Southern Illinois Values"
Oct 31, 2012
Bruce Rauner:
Reduce anti-competitive corporate tax & income tax
Our state's tax and regulatory environment is so anticompetitive that our state government hands out millions of dollars per year just to keep employers in Illinois. We should be out recruiting new businesses and jobs to Illinois instead of spending our
time and resources struggling to hang onto the jobs we have.We need to completely overhaul the tax code; not just tinker around the edges. To do that, we can:-
Get rid of the Quinn-Madigan 67% income tax hike.
- Get rid of the Quinn-Madigan 45% corporate tax hike.
- Ensure your property taxes never go up if the value of your home decreases.
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Overhaul the tax code so that it's fair to all taxpayers.
Source: 2014 Illinois Gubernatorial campaign website BruceRauner.com
Nov 4, 2014
Bruce Rauner:
Reduce property tax for homeowners & businesses
One of the most critical ways to lower our cost of living and compete for more good jobs is to reduce our property tax burden. We have the second-highest property taxes in the country.
They are crushing homeowners and small business owners from one end of the state to the other. In many cases, people are paying more in property taxes over the course of living in their home than the original purchase price.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Illinois legislature
Jan 27, 2016
Chris Kennedy:
Tax reform must shift burden to wealthy
Chris supports a progressive income tax because he believes that the wealthy need to pay their fair share. Illinois has one of the most unfair and unequal tax systems in the country, particularly when it comes to property taxes.
Our unfair tax system hits low-income and middle-class residents the hardest.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website KennedyForIllinois.com
Sep 1, 2017
Daniel Biss:
Initiate a state graduated income tax
In staking out a populist progressive tone, Biss backed changing the Illinois Constitution to allow the imposition of a graduated income tax, which would require the wealthy to pay higher rates.
He also spoke of the need to change Illinois' property tax-dependent system of financing education and providing economic help to impoverished neighborhoods and communities.
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race
Mar 20, 2017
Darren Bailey:
Fought against tax hikes, tax relief a top priority
In 2018, Darren was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives 109th district. There he fought against tax hikes, reckless spending, and sanctuary state legislation. Darren currently represents the 55th district in the Illinois State Senate
and with his lifelong background in the farming industry, is the lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee. As a State Senator, Darren refuses a legislative pension and makes tax relief for hardworking Illinoisans a top priority.
Source: 2021 Gubernatorial campaign website BaileyForIllinois.com
May 30, 2021
Darren Bailey:
Will work to lower both property and income taxes
Darren firmly believes in fiscal responsibility and knows that every penny matters. Raising taxes hurts hardworking Illinois families and is not a solution for a state with some of the highest tax burdens in the entire nation.
In the state legislature, Darren has fought against tax hikes and reckless spending and advocated for more business-friendly policies. As Governor, he will work to lower both property and income taxes.
Source: 2021 Gubernatorial campaign website BaileyForIllinois.com
May 30, 2021
J.B. Pritzker:
Illinois needs progressive income tax
It's time for Illinois to modernize our tax code--and to do that, we must fairly raise revenue. Right now, Illinois has one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation. Low, middle, and working-class families pay more of their income in taxes
than millionaires and billionaires and that's unacceptable. A progressive tax system built around our modern economy will give us the tools we need to provide our children a top-notch education and expand job training programs across the state.
Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com
Jul 17, 2017
J.B. Pritzker:
Fair income tax to shift burden to the wealthy
There is a structural deficit today of over $3 billion per year that if left unaddressed will continue to grow. There is a backlog of unpaid bills and debt that exceeds $15 billion. Our option is to reject imposing additional income, retirement and
sales taxes on the middle class and instead enact a fair income tax. This would lift some of the tax burden off of middle income earners and instead ask the wealthiest to pay a little more.
It is not fair that I pay the same tax rate as a teacher, a child care worker, a police officer or a nurse. And efforts to simply increase the income tax rate across the board fuels further income inequality and kicks the can
down the road for our children and grandchildren to solve our ongoing budget issues. The state needs a fair tax, and I am going to be relentless in pursuing one over the next two years.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 20, 2019
J.B. Pritzker:
Property taxes must be seriously reduced
Property taxes in Illinois are simply too high. Local governments continue to max out their levies even when they don't need to. There are perverse incentives in state law that encourage that. We can change the law to support local governments and
lower property taxes. And with nearly 7,000 units of government in Illinois, it's time to empower local taxpayers to consolidate or eliminate them. These changes can make a serious dent in property taxes.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address
Jan 29, 2020
J.B. Pritzker:
Cut corporate loopholes forcing middle class to pay more
This will be one of the most challenging budgets this government has ever had to craft, but I know there are willing partners in the General Assembly.
In addition to the budget committee, I've spoken with members and committee chairs of the General Assembly, and incorporated their ideas, like cutting corporate loopholes that force the middle class to pay more.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 17, 2021
J.B. Pritzker:
Fight inflation by suspending grocery tax in coming year
I am proposing the Illinois Family Relief Plan--to provide immediate assistance to help families fight inflation. Another place where families are getting hit hard by rising costs is at the grocery store.
We can afford to suspend the state tax on groceries in the coming year, and have the state make up any lost revenue to local governments, so we can bring some relief to families at the check-out counter.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 2, 2022
Mark Curran:
Simplify tax code; against tax breaks for large corporations
I would support simplifying the tax code. I am not in favor of tax breaks for big banks, internet, oil, gas and other large corporations giving them an unfair advantage. We will be better as a nation with tax policies that help the local economies.
America will be better when we have more entrepreneurs and small businesses. We need to enforce antitrust laws and ensure that Washington is not giving the big corporations an unfair advantage over the little guy.
Source: Chicago Sun Times on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Jan 22, 2020
Mike Bost:
Flat tax structure for state income taxes
Q: Should Internet sales be taxed?A: No.
Q: Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
A: Yes.
Q: Would you support returning any operating surplus to Illinois taxpayers?
A: Yes.
Q: Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support removing the sales tax on motor fuels?
A: Yes.
Source: 2000 Illinois National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Mike Bost:
Overhaul tax code to be less complicated
We must overhaul our tax code--making it less complicated for
individuals and small businesses while also reining in burdensome government regulations to compete in a global market.
Source: 2014 Illinois House campaign website, BostForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Pat Quinn:
Shift from property tax to taxing ability to pay
We ought to reform our tax system. We have an unfair tax system. It relies way too much on property taxes, and other levies that are not based on ability to pay. Taxes should be based on ability to pay. Nobody likes paying taxes, nobody. But in a
democracy, that's what all of us as citizens do. And so I look forward to working with the general assembly on finding a fair way to raise revenue from a fair tax code. There is something wrong where our state is taxing poor people into further poverty.
Source: Illinois 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
Paul Schimpf:
In Legislature, I voted against every tax increase
When I'm elected, working families in Illinois will finally have an ally as their governor. I know our families are struggling under the highest combined tax burden in the country, especially our sky-high property taxes. When I served in Springfield,
I voted against every tax increase that passed my desk, and as your governor I will put an end to the Democrats' addiction to tax hikes on hardworking Illinoisans.I will grow our economy for working families.
Illinois families are struggling under the highest combined tax burden in the country, especially our sky-high property taxes, and businesses and families are fleeing our state. I will re-ignite our economy by ending
Pritzker's failed tax-and-spend policies and supporting our small businesses, manufacturers, and family farmers. I am the only candidate for governor, from either party, who can relate to middle-income and working families.
Source: 2021 IL Gubernatorial campaign website Schimpf4Illinois.com
Nov 15, 2021
Richard Durbin:
Close tax loopholes and gain $1.2T from the wealthy
Q: If the government saves money in tax reform, that means somebody's taxes go up. Do you think that taxes have been raised enough on the wealthy?DURBIN: I can tell you that there are still deductions, credits, special treatments under the tax code
which ought to be looked at very carefully. We forgo about $1.2 trillion a year in the tax code, money that otherwise would go to the government, and when you look closely, some of those things are near and dear to us individually and to the economy--
the mortgage interest deduction, charitable deductions, deductions for state and local taxes, but beyond that, trust me, there are plenty of things within that tax code, these loopholes where people can park their money in some island offshore and not
pay taxes, these are things that need to be closed. We can do that and use the money to reduce the deficit.
Q: So there are other taxes that you believe that you can raise, retrieve, whatever, from the wealthy?
DURBIN: Absolutely.
Source: CNN SOTU 2013 interview on 2014 Illinois Senate race
Jan 6, 2013
Richard Irvin:
Will fight to cut taxes, get property tax relief
As Mayor of Aurora, Richard eliminated wasteful spending and balanced the city budget every year. He stopped tax hikes, delivered tax relief and sparked economic growth, while bringing new businesses, jobs, and more opportunities to Aurora.
As Governor, Richard will turn around Illinois' economy by reining in government spending, fighting to cut taxes, balancing the budget, and fighting for property tax relief.
Source: 2022 Illinois Gubernatorial campaign website IrvinBourne.com
Jun 2, 2022
Richard Irvin:
I hate what Trump stands for, but delivered tax cuts
Text messages written by Irvin in 2018 during the middle of the Trump presidency, and obtained by WTTW News, appear to show Irvin has very strong feelings about Trump, and they are not positive. The messages offer some insight into aspects of Irvin's
political beliefs his campaign has been reticent to address."And I hate Trump too!" Irvin wrote. "He's an idiot!!!" Shortly after, Irvin added, "and a bigoted racist." Irvin then clarifies his position on Trump once again: "And although I don't hate
Trump the man, I do hate what he stands for."
In a statement to WTTW News Irvin said, "I don't recall sending those texts, and while there are areas where I disagreed, the Trump Administration delivered positive results for Americans like tax cuts,
opportunity zones, and a focus on public safety--all of which we utilized to great effect in Aurora and are now a focus of our campaign to take back Illinois from the disastrous Pritzker regime."
Source: WTTW on 2022 Illinois Gubernatorial race
May 13, 2022
Juliana Stratton:
Supported amendment to make graduated state income tax
Stratton warned that if voters do not approve the constitutional amendment to shift from a flat to a graduated income tax, all residents of the state could see an income tax hike of at least 20%. Stratton made the comments during a virtual rally
held in support of what she, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and proponents of the measure have dubbed the "fair tax." The proposal is a constitutional amendment to change Illinois' income tax structure from a flat tax to a graduated income tax.
Source: NBC-5 Chicago on 2026 Illinois Senate race
Sep 25, 2020
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026