Senate expected to vote on Fair Tax Act tomorrow; citizens from all corners of the state will demand a 'YES' vote from legislators in both chambers to put Fair Tax on November ballot
Springfield - With just 72 hours until the deadline to pass the Fair Tax Act, over 1,000 citizens from all corners of the state will gather in Springfield tomorrow to demand lawmakers vote 'YES' on resolutions that would put the Fair Tax on the November ballot. A Fair Tax - with lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes - is supported by 77% of Illinois voters.
The first four months of 2014 have seen a robust discussion about abandoning our state's unfair, regressive 'flat' tax - that results in low and middle income Illinoisans paying two to three times the tax rate that the richest 1% pay - and has put the Fair Tax on the brink of passage, which would continue the conversation into November and let Illinois voters have the final say.
Hundreds and hundreds of parents, seniors, small business owners, educators, health care and human service providers; and ordinary taxpayers will hold a rally and press conference at the Lincoln Statue in front of the Capitol Building at 11:30am. Following the press conference, citizens will participate in one-on-one visits with their legislators to send them one final and resounding message: "We the People" deserve to decide on the Fair Tax for ourselves in November.
Under the Fair Tax rates proposed by Chief Senate sponsor Don Harmon and Chief House sponsor Christian Mitchell in SB350, 94% of Illinoisans earning up to $205,000 would receive a tax cut over what they currently pay - with residents earning the median income of $55,137 receiving a $303 break. The proposal would also avoid draconian cuts to vital services like education, health and human services, and public safety currently on the table if 2011 rates are allowed to simply expire.
Currently, Illinois lawmakers are prohibited?constitutionally barred?from enacting a Fair Tax. The Fair Tax Act simply allows citizens to vote in the upcoming November election on whether or not they want a Fair Tax. The effective deadline for lawmakers to put a Fair Tax on the ballot is Thursday, May 1st.
***Media interested in covering the event can RSVP to neal@abetterillinois.org***
What: With just 72 hours until the deadline to pass the Fair Tax Act, over 1,000 citizens from all corners of the state will hold a press conference and rally demanding their lawmakers vote 'YES' to allow Illinois voters the opportunity to choose for themselves on the Fair Tax on the November ballot
When: Tuesday, April 29th, 11:30AM
Where: Lincoln Statue, Capitol Building, Springfield
Who: Over One Thousand Illinoisans Voters
Kristen Crowell, Campaign Director of A Better Illinois
Sen. Don Harmon, Chief Sponsor of the Fair Tax Act and SB 350
Rep. Christian Mitchell, Chief Sponsor of the Fair Tax Act
Dan Montgomery, President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers
Chris Dupuis, Small Business Owner from Naperville
Rev. Marilyn Pagan Banks
A Child Care Provider
Others
In addition to the formal program there will be a number of small business owners, faith and community leaders, parents, child care providers, and ordinary taxpayers from all across Illinois available to speak to the media starting at 11:15 AM (and after the program, as well.) Please contact Neal Waltmire, if you would like to schedule an interview.
###
