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Community Corner

Rep. Sandack Responds to House Democrats' Budget which Presumes Permanent Extension of Tax Hike

Yesterday, Illinois House Democrats took action to approve a spending plan that presumes an extension of a temporary tax hike set to expire on January 1, 2015. In response to the passage of the bills, State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) has issued the following statement:

“Any legislator who voted in favor of this irresponsible spending plan is saying they want to break the promise made to taxpayers that the 2011 tax increase would be temporary.

“Most of the Democrats who voted in favor of this $37+ billion spending plan are on the record previously as saying they were committed to allowing the temporary tax increase to sunset on time.  Those same people were also part of the unanimous House vote earlier this year to cap spending for FY 15 at $34.5 billion. With their yes votes on these budget bills, they’re saying their promise to keep the tax hike temporary could not be trusted, and their vote to cap spending at $34.5 billion meant nothing.

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“This entire process was backwards. In our personal and business lives, we would never set a spending plan without first determining what our revenues will be. By setting expenditures at a level that exceeds expected revenues for next year by up to $4 billion, the stage has been set for the permanent extension of the income tax and the continuation of run-away spending in Illinois.

“I must question the constitutionality of this budget. The Illinois Constitution is quite clear in its mandate that the General Assembly may not approve appropriations that exceed projected revenues. Our vote on agreed revenues of $34.5 billion was unanimous. The Democrat voted this week surpasses that ceiling by at least $3 million.”

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