By Kevin Lee 217-528-9604

SPRINGFIELD  –  Several Democratic state senators think a proposed change to the state’s constitutionally mandated flat tax could help solve the state’s budget crisis.

But other lawmakers think obtaining the bipartisan support needed for a constitutional amendment is unrealistic.

The state’s constitution requires that the state impose a flat income tax on residents, which means individuals pay the same percentage to the state, regardless of their income.

State Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, thinks that’s unfair because lower-income individuals end up paying more of their income in taxes.

He is proposing a constitutional amendment to revoke the flat tax in order to give lawmakers the option of imposing a progressive tax system, which would impose higher tax rates on individuals earning more money.

“Currently in the state of Illinois we have a flat rate of 3 percent across the board (for the individual income tax),” Frerichs said during a news conference Wednesday. “I could see something where lower-income people pay a 2 percent rate, those in the middle class stay at a 3 percent rate, and those at the upper end of the spectrum pay a 4 percent rate. That’s just one example.”

Frerichs said his proposal would not implement a new tax system. If passed, the amendment would just get rid of the constitutional requirement for a flat tax. Lawmakers would then have to craft a new tax structure.

State Sen. Gary Dahl, R-Granville, said the chances of passing an amendment are “slim to none.”

An amendment would require a three-fifths vote in both the House and the Senate before the question can even be placed on a ballot.

Then, voters would have their say in a statewide referendum.

Dahl would prefer officials assess the state’s spending habits before even thinking about any permanent changes to the tax system.

“We need to figure out the amount of money we need to run the state and keep not all of our programs, because some of them need to go away, but to keep most of our programs going, and take care of state business,” Dahl said.

Frerichs introduced a similar proposal two years ago without success. He thinks things will be different this legislative session.

“We’re nearly two years into an economic recession. The public is seeing great problems out there. You see it in our budget. Our budgets have not been balanced. We have huge deficits,” he said. “This is one way of hopefully balancing our budget without hurting those who are hurting the most.”

Frerichs is one of three Democratic state senators proposing a constitutional amendment for a referendum. State Sens. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, and Edward Maloney, D-Chicago, also favor a progressive income tax.

By Kevin Lee 217-528-9604

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael Frerichs says getting rid of the state’s flat tax could help the lawmakers balance the state’s massive budget shortfall.

As of now, the state Constitution requires that residents pay the same percentage to the state, regardless of income.

The Champaign Democrat wants a new Constitutional amendment to remove the mandated flat tax.

Frerichs says a new Amendment could pave the way towards a system where those who earn more pay a higher percentage in taxes.

021710Frerichs2                                                   :13                                                      …hurting the most.”

State Senator Gary Dahl says the chances of passing a new Amendment is “slim to none.”

He says that lawmakers seeking to solve the state’s budget problems should be more focused on spending first.

021710Dahl1                                         :20                                                       …based upon…that figure.”

Frerichs says any new Amendment passed would likely not take affect until next year.

There is no schedule on when lawmakers would hear the proposed Amendment.

By Kevin Lee 217-528-9604

SPRINGFIELD — A handful of Democratic lawmakers say the best way to fill the budget shortfall is to change the state’s Constitution.

One of them, state Senator Michael Frerichs wants to get rid of Illinois’ constitutionally-mandated flat tax.

The Champaign Democrat says the flat tax is unfair for lower-income families — they have to devote a bigger chunk of their paycheck to the state.

But getting rid of the flat tax mandate requires a Constitutional Amendment.

In order to pass an Amendment, both chambers of the General Assembly would need to approve by extraordinary majorities.

Then, voters would have their say in a statewide referendum.

State Senator Gary Dahl thinks the chances of getting rid of the flat tax are “slim to none.”

The central Illinois Republican says state government should focus on how much it is spending before changnin tax policies.

But Frerichs sees an Amendment as a possible first step towards balancing an out-of-whack budget.

If the Amendment passes, Frerichs says the state could create a progressive tax system.

In a progressive system, those who earn more money must pay higher taxes.

Frerich says he does not know when lawmakers will listen to his proposal.

By Kevin Lee 217-528-9604

SPRINGFIELD  — Lawmakers are pushing two proposals to move back the state’s primary election date.

They say voters and constituents are not satisfied with the current February date.

State Representative Elaine Nekritz is proposing a law that would push the primary back to March.

The Suburban Democrat says lawmakers moved the date from March to February to boost Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.

State Representative Dave Winters says a later primary would give voters and media more time to discuss the candidates.

The Rockford Republican says voters and media may have dismissed Scott Lee Cohen had the primary been held at a later date.

Cohen won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, but withdrew Sunday due to concerns of a previous allegation of domestic violence.

Another proposal from House Republican Leader Tom Cross would move the primary back to June.

State Senator Michael Frerichs says a new primary date should not interfere with budget talks that take place in early summer.

The Champaign Democrat wants to make sure lawmakers are not trying to juggle election bids with legislative duties.

Lawmakers did not know when changing the primary date would be discussed.

EDITOR’s NOTE: Extra graf available.

Republican State Senator Gary Dahl thinks moving the primary back would boost voter turnout, which was around 20 percent during last week’s election.

Dahl says voter turnout is low in February in part because of the difficult winter conditions.

By Kevin Lee 217-528-9604

SPRINGFIELD  –  Lawmakers say voters and candidates are not satisfied with February’s primary election date.

So they’re trying to push back the day when voters choose their party’s nominees.

Lawmakers and then-Governor Rod Blagojevich approved of a February primary date to boost Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.

State Rep. Dave Winters, R-Rockford, said a later primary would give voters and media more time to discuss the candidates.

020910Winters1                                                :12                                                …been the nominee.”

Cohen won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, but withdrew Sunday due to concerns of a previous allegation of domestic violence.

Republican State Senator Gary Dahl thinks moving the primary back would boost voter turnout, which was around 20 percent during last week’s election.

020910Dahl1                                                            :12                                        …because of the weather.”

Lawmakers say they did not know when legislative committees would discuss their proposals.

EDITOR’s NOTE: Extra clip available.

020910Frerichs1                                                :13                                                         …the best date.”

State Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, said a new primary date should not interfere with budget talks that take place in early summer.

By Kevin Lee 217-528-9604

SPRINGFIELD  –  In the wake of an eventful election, lawmakers are seeking to push back the date when voters pick their party’s nominees.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, has introduced legislation that would move the primary election to June.

State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Des Plaines, has proposed a law moving the primary back to March.

Cross introduced his proposal last May, while Nekritz introduced her plan last month.

Lawmakers passed and then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved in 2007 of advancing the date of the state’s primary elections to February.

Nekritz said lawmakers moved the primary date from March to February, in part, to accommodate for the presidential campaign of then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois resident.

But Nekritz added that attitudes towards the early primary date have since changed.

“With the constituents, the candidates, there was the general sense that there was not adequate time for grassroots efforts and the issues to develop (because of the February primary),” she said.

State Rep. Dave Winters, R-Rockford, said a later primary would give voters and media more time to discuss the candidates.

“We did see with Scott Lee Cohen, I think if you had given it another two or three weeks, that it very well could have been that some of the other candidates would have highlighted his weaknesses and he would not have been the nominee.”

Cohen was voted the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, but stepped down on Sunday due to concerns over a previous allegation of domestic violence.

State Sen. Gary Dahl, R-Granville, thinks moving the primary back would help voters avoid the difficult weather conditions they experienced during last week’s primary election.

Dahl said snowfall and wind may have dampened voter turnout, which was around 20 percent for the recent primary election.

“Had the primary been today, [voter turnout] would have been 10 percent instead of 20 percent. So if you get to April or later, your chances of having turnout are better simply because of weather,” he said.

State Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, said moving the primary date back would be beneficial, but holding a primary in June would be difficult.

“I think moving it to June will make it very difficult to get anything done with the budget at the end of the year if you have members running in primaries who want to get back home campaigning. I think that unless you want to move it back to August or so, I think March is probably the best date,” Frerichs said.

Nekritz previously introduced legislation to move the primary back to August, but said there would be complications with a primary so close to the November general election.

The state and local election boards would have to prepare ballots and organize early voting efforts within a matter of weeks, Nekritz said.

The Des Plaines Democrat said she had no timeline on when a legislative committee would hear her proposal.