Leaders of education and labor organizations called on the Governor and General Assembly to pass a budget that provides sustainable and reliable revenue to properly fund schools and state services in Illinois. "One time fixes and regressive tax proposals are part of the reason the state has the financial problems we face today," said Michael Carrigan, President of the Illinois AFL_CIO. "We must do better and we can."
Representatives from the Illinois Federation of teachers (IFT), Illinois Education Association (IEA) and Illinois AFL-CIO called on the legislative leaders to support a plan to increase the Illinois income tax by 1/4 % per year for four years, raising approximately $800 million per year in new revenue. The funds raised should be earmarked for education and placed in a new special fund from which appropriations could be made only upon a 3/5 vote of both chambers.
"This is a bi-partisan way to address the school funding crisis in our state," said Ken Swanson, President of the IEA. "Lawmakers need to find the courage to step forward and pass a proposal that truly provides education opportunities for children and supports vital state services."
House Speaker Michael Madigan has said that an income tax increase has the greatest level of support of any revenue proposal that has been considered by the House Democratic caucus. Senate President Emil Jones has said he also supports an increase in the income tax. "We believe strong support for a modest increase in the income tax exists in both the Democratic and Republican caucuses in both chambers," said Ed Geppert, President of the IFT. "The General Assembly has the power to make this happen, and they ought to use it."
The group also called on the leaders to negotiate a capital plan that will provide for badly needed public infrastructure projects and repairs to our crumbling public schools. The bonds for these plans should be financed by a reasonable increase in gambling revenue.
"Political infighting is not an excuse to ignore the school funding and other public needs in Illinois," said AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer. "The time for a solution, a budget that meets the needs of our citizens and our schools, is now."
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