News From
State Representative David Allen Welter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rep. Welter
May 7, 2019 (815) 416-1475
Welter sponsors new amendment to raise the bar for future income tax hikes
SPRINGFIELD – State Representative David Allen Welter, R-Morris, has signed on to co-sponsor new legislation filed today that would require the approval of a supermajority of lawmakers to levy any future income tax increases. The amendment would require 2/3rds approval from lawmakers in both the Illinois House of Representatives and State Senate in order to pass.
“A two-thirds majority threshold to approve a tax increase would be a safeguard for middle class families, which is something we sorely need,” Representative Welter said. “According a recent study by WalletHub, Illinois residents pay the highest overall tax burden in the country. This legislation would hold the General Assembly more accountable when it comes to raising income taxes.”
The legislation, HJRCA 34, was filed today by State Representative Tom Morrison, R-Palatine.
Representative Welter has been a staunch opponent of Governor JB Pritzker’s push for a graduated income tax. He is co-sponsoring HJRCA 34 along with 30 other members of the House to protect Illinois residents from changing rates, which is not currently guaranteed by SB 687, legislation in support of a graduated income tax that was approved by the State Senate on May 1 and is currently under consideration in the House. The Democrats’ proposed rates in SB 687 are not guaranteed to stay in place should the state constitution be amended to replace Illinois’ current flat tax with a graduated income tax. While a supermajority is required to pass SB 687, which would put the question to voters on the November 2020 General Election ballot, only a simple majority is required to increase those rates moving forward.
Representative Welter serves the 75th District, which includes portions of Kendall, Grundy, LaSalle and Will Counties.
