Pritzker Throws Water on Tax Hikes
Governor JB Pritzker speaks with reporters Wednesday in Springfield.
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
With time running out on the General Assembly to pass a budget before Saturday’s scheduled adjournment, Governor JB Pritzker drew a line in the sand on tax increases Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters following an unrelated event in Springfield Wednesday, Pritzker said he is opposed to “any taxes that are broad based or that would affect working families in this budget.”
“Anything that’s broad based and would have a negative impact on working families, I would veto a budget like that,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker specifically pointed out his opposition to increases on individual income taxes, corporate income taxes, and sales taxes.
“We are not about raising those taxes at all,” he said. “I would veto a budget that does that.”
House Democrats were polled on a laundry list of potential tax increases last week, which sources say most failed to reach majority support among the Democratic caucus.
Reporters at the event (we weren’t in town yet) did not ask Pritzker specifically what tax increases he would support outside of the relatively minor revenue enhancements he proposed in his budget plan earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Pritzker dismissed criticisms from some members of the Black Caucus that could tank his proposal to allow some community colleges to offer select four -
“What they should be reminded of is that the universities have been in negotiations for a couple of months and came to a point where they’re neutral on the bill,” Pritzker said. “What we’re trying to do is provide for people who otherwise can’t afford a four-year university education the opportunity to get a great education, a four-year degree and a job that’s associated with that. It’s not opening up a bunch of new four-year universities but rather programs that require a four-year degree that are now affordable and local to many people where we need those jobs filled.”
