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Central Illinois Gazette

Jakobsson on board with income tax increase

Posted by: Tom Kacich

Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:57 PM

State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, is one of the 40 or so House Democrats who would vote for a state income tax increase if it comes before the House, she said today.

Her big concern, she said, is the threat to social service providers who depend on state grants.

"Doors are going to close," Jakobsson said. "We saw a little bit of that last year when the Prairie Center (provider of substance abuse services in Champaign and Vermilion counties) had to stop some of its services. Without this tax increase it will be much, much worse."

She said she signed on to Gov. Pat Quinn's original permanent, 50 percent tax hike and continues to support that, but would also vote for a temporary increase.

She said she believes it hasn't been stressed enough that Quinn's budget already includes some cuts.

"The budget has been cut in areas. There has been belt-tightening. The budget the governor presented is a bilion less than the budget for the curent fiscal year. That is a good step toward belt-tightening.

"And with Quinn's original plan (which isn't officially dead) a lot of people would end up without paying a tax increase. I think a lot of it has to do with educating the public."

The Legislature faces a late Sunday night deadline to pass next year's budget -- and all other measures -- before legisation requires an extraordinary majority.

Democrats have insisted that Republicans must provide votes for a tax increase, but so far the GOP has stood firm, contending that more budget cuts must be made before they can support a tax hike.