<H2>Swimming in debt, Ill. considers massive tax boost
By DEANNA BELLANDI Associated Press The Associated Press</H2>Tuesday, January 11, 2011 3:16 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A major Illinois tax increase has jumped its first legislative hurdle, setting the stage for a vote by the entire Illinois House.
The tax plan was approved 7-5 Tuesday by the House Revenue Committee.
It would temporarily bump the state's personal income tax rate to 5 percent, up from 3 percent now. That's a slightly smaller increase than Democratic leaders originally proposed.
Legislative leaders agreed to impose strict caps on spending. If spending grows more than 2 percent a year, the income tax increase would immediately be canceled, officials said.
The tax package could generate about $7 billion a year, enough to balance the annual budget and begin chipping away at a backlog of unpaid bills.
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The bill is SB2505.
Online:
www.ilga.gov———
The gov also wants to end capitol punishment. How many millions a year are spent feeding clothing, free meds, etc for these on death row?
Clean it out, repeat the process. POWDERMAN.
