Three Republican state lawmakers want to shine a light on what they perceive as shadowy behavior by Democrats, particularly Governor Pat Quinn.
During a Bloomington news conference, central Illinois state senators Darin LaHood, Chapin Rose and Jason Barickman blasted Quinn for admitting the temporary income tax hike passed four years ago would be made permanent during an upcoming lame duck legislative session, likely in January. LaHood says such sessions are no place for major legislation to be considered.
"People are sick and tired of this kind of activity going on in the state of Illinois. It leads to cynicism. It leads to the bad reputation that our state has, and here we now have the Governor saying, 'we're going to make this permanent during a lame duck session,'" said LaHood.
In January 2011, Democrats raised the income tax rate from 3 to 5 percent. It passed without a single Republican vote. Democrats said at the time the revenue would help pay the state's bills and improve the overall economy.
LaHood, Rose and Barickman point out two lame duck Democrats went on to jobs in the Quinn administration. All three co-sponsored resolutions that would have prevented tax votes during lame duck sessions, and Rose authored a failed constitutional amendment that would have prevented lame duck sessions except during an emergency.