Ignoring Gov. Jim Edgar’s desire to wait, House Republicans pressed their case for property-tax relief Thursday while Democrats argued the GOP proposal curries favor with the rich and fails to help the working poor.
Edgar has asked lawmakers to hold off on such proposals until they can better judge how much the state can afford. The GOP governor has told legislative leaders any tax break discussions need to take into account the overall budget.
But House Republicans–hoping to make headlines in a critical election year–called again for the House to consider property-tax relief. They bolstered arguments with new estimates that the state next year will receive $128 million more than legislative forecasters originally thought.
House Republican leader Lee Daniels of Elmhurst urged House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to allow a vote on the proposal, but Madigan scuttled efforts with parliamentary maneuvers.
The Daniels package would double the existing income tax credit for property taxes paid on all homes valued at less then $500,000 to 10 percent from 5 percent.
Daniels’ spokesman David Loveday said the Republican caucus did not want to wait for budget negotiations between the governor and the four legislative leaders to address tax relief.
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) contended the Republican proposal fails to address the needs of families unable to afford a home.
Madigan’s priorities for excess funds include retiring state debt or giving more funds for school construction. He also would support doubling the $1,000 personal income tax deduction–a move aimed at helping all economic brackets–if tax relief discussions emerge in budget talks.
Pay hike: Salaries of the 102 state’s attorneys around Illinois would jump 25 percent over the next two years if the legislature adopts a recommendation by the state Compensation Review Board made Thursday in Chicago.
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That would mean, for example, that Cook County State’s Atty. Dick Devine’s salary would increase from the current $112,124 to at least $139,633 by July 1, 1999, while DuPage State’s Atty. Joseph Birkett’s salary would jump from $96,837 to at least $120,595.
The recommended increases make up for four years of no raises or cost of living adjustments, according to Board Chairman Kevin Forde. Whether that rationale will pass muster with state lawmakers in a sensitive election year, however, is another matter. The raises would take effect unless both houses reject the proposals.
Combining offices: Senators considered a plan to eliminate the office of state comptroller, but ultimately rejected the idea of letting voters decide the issue. Senate Republicans had been hoping to consolidate all duties of the comptroller and treasurer into one office, a plan they claimed could save up to $12 million.
If voters had approved the idea in a November referendum, the state constitution would have been amended.
But opponents, mostly Senate Democrats, questioned whether it was a good idea to put so much responsibility in the hands of one person.