Votes Needed for Quinn Tax Hike

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 8, 2011 3:30PM

The Illinois House returns to work tomorrow and, with time ticking down on the current veto session, it looks like House Democrats are going to need some votes if they want to pass that proposed income tax hike hammered out with Gov. Quinn. Spring Valley Rep. Frank Mautino, House Speaker Michael Madigan's budget expert, told the Sun-Times, "I don't see there are enough votes."

The lynchpin for passage is Quinn's proposed billion borrowing plan which he hopes will erase the outstanding debts. that's going to require a super-majority vote of Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and House Republicans have vowed to fight borrowing so much money without having some questions answered as to how it will be repaid. Compounding matters, House Republicans have not yet seen details of the deal.

Mautino told the Sun-Times that, if House Democrats were assembled to review the plan, the borrowing plan could be restructured. Another possible casualty of the plan could be the proposed $1 sin tax increase on cigarettes. Gov. Quinn, for what it's worth, expressed optimism that the tax hike plan would pass.

The State Legislature's veto session expires Wednesday, so Quinn, Madigan et al. have some work to do.