Chicago City Wire

Wirepoints president Ted Dabrowski called Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch's suggestion to reintroduce a graduated tax ironic.

Welch announced he wants a do-over of the progressive tax proposal introduced last November, but this time, the tax proceeds will go to government-worker pensions.

Dabrowski said the ironic part was that when Welch asked for the do-over, his predecessor's huge retirement benefit was reported. 

Mike Madigan is to receive a pension that will start at $85,000 but will increase to $149,000 the following year, due to a special clause for lawmakers over 55 years of age who have rendered more than 20 years of service, a provision which Madigan himself helped pass.

Pension is one of the big problems of debt-ridden Illinois. In an article by Dabrowski, he said, “Lawmakers failed to contemplate that pension benefits could be used by future legislatures for political gain or that benefits growth could markedly outstrip the ability of residents to pay for them.”

The first time the progressive tax was proposed, it was soundly rejected 55 percent to 45 percent. It was supposed to fix the state's budget and was said to impose higher taxes on those who have a higher income. It was heavily supported and funded by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, however, it was still rejected by a majority of voters.

Dabrowski also pointed out that Welch himself said, “…folks don’t trust us.”

“Illinoisans don’t trust their politicians. It’s why they rejected the progressive tax in the first place,” Dabrowski added.