Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement today - Tax Day - in advance of the House of Representatives' Thursday vote on H.R. 9, the Small Business Tax Cut Act:
"As we file our tax returns, Illinoisans feel the pinch of the tax increases imposed on them last year by state lawmakers in Springfield. We were told these taxes would be used to pay Illinois' debts and prevent budget deficits down the line, but the truth, as many of us feared, is that these tax hikes have done nothing to help our state. Illinois' unemployment has remained above nine percent since March of 2009, and our state currently has the lowest credit rating of all 50 states.
"Thanks to the Illinois tax hikes and rising gas prices, our small businesses are cash-strapped and can currently face federal tax rates as high as 35 percent. As a small business owner myself, I know that pain all too well. Further, Americans spend more than $160 billion and over six billion hours a year filing their taxes, mostly when trying to figure out the various deductions and credits that are available.
"There's broad, bipartisan support for pro-growth tax reform that simplifies the tax code, brings down rates, broadens the base, and closes loopholes. Rather than advancing partisan and unserious show votes - votes on policies that don't lower gas prices, don't encourage economic and job growth, and don't impact our deficit - we in the House want to ensure more opportunities for job seekers and job creators, and make our tax code fairer, flatter, and simpler. We want to cut wasteful spending and debt, and help small business owners grow both jobs and paychecks by providing them with tax relief. I truly believe we can and must work together to get this done. Illinoisans deserve policies that promote growth and opportunity, not more taxes, borrowing, and spending."
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