By IL Radio Network
Springfield, IL – In an effort to scare up enough money for a building and construction program, state Senator John Sullivan proposed a modest income tax increase to raise an estimated $1.2 billion.
The Rushville Democrat says he figured out how much money the state needed for construction projects when figuring out his proposed tax increase.
Sullivan's proposal didn't make it out of committee. So he stripped the bill of its original language to keep it alive as a shell bill. That means lawmakers can come back and amend it later if they so choose.
Sullivan says he wants to keep the bill in play because the state has entertained raising the gas tax, leasing the lottery and expanding gaming to fund a capital bill, none of which he particularly favors. He says an income tax increase is the fairest way to fund such a program.
This proposal is separate from Gov. Pat Quinn's, which seeks to raise the income tax from 3 to 4.5 percent to raise anywhere from $2.5 billion to $3 billion.
