SR1265 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1265 LRB098 21622 GRL 60473 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, After the 2010 General Election, the 97th General Assembly was scheduled to be sworn in on January 12, 2011; and

WHEREAS, The 96th General Assembly met in a lame duck session on January 11, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Debate in the Senate on increasing taxes began at 11:16 PM on January 11, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Senate voted in the middle of the night for the largest tax increase in Illinois history; and

WHEREAS, In the time since this tax increase, the State of Illinois has been ranked as having one of the highest tax burdens in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Since the income tax increase took effect, Illinois has risen to have the 3rd highest unemployment rate in the nation; and

WHEREAS, There will be a General Election held in Illinois on November 4, 2014; and

WHEREAS, At that election, the voters of Illinois shall elect new Representatives and Senators to serve in the 99th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, The 98th General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn sine die on January 13, 2015 and the 99th General Assembly shall be sworn in on January 14, 2015; and

WHEREAS, A veto session will be scheduled following the 2014 General Election; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Senate President Cullerton has repeatedly stated that lawmakers will have to vote on extending Illinois' temporary income tax hike after the 2014 election; and

WHEREAS, The lame duck session and the veto session of the 98th General Assembly are not appropriate venues for voting on any new tax, tax extension, or tax increase; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that no vote on creating, extending, or increasing taxes shall be taken during the veto or lame duck session of the 98th General Assembly and prior to the 99th General Assembly taking office.