Macon Reporter

Illinois State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Champaign) recently criticized Illinois Senate Democrats for largely ignoring Republicans' budget proposals.

Rose made his comments during an April 7 news conference at the Illinois Capitol Building.

"The Senate GOP filed a budget tax plan that provides real and permanent tax relief to the people of the state of Illinois," Rose said in the news conference, quoted by the Macon Reporter. "On all counts our plan is far superior to what's been released by either the House Democrats or the Senate Democrats. The sales tax on gasoline is far more relief to families in this state than their plan and the governor's plan. On property taxes, it provides better relief. Again, it's permanent. It's permanent tax relief for the people of Illinois.

"As we've looked at a couple of the racks that have come out in the last 24 hours since the House filed their budget plan, it has become very clear to us that it is possible for our plan, our permanent plan that plans that's about $2.4 billion for people in Illinois and still comes out ahead on the budget. Still balance the budget and still many of the priorities that the people of Illinois expect us as legislators to deliver on.

"Interestingly enough and in the spirit of bipartisanship, we can incorporate many of the House Dems' proposals in our proposal. For example, we can do the teacher tax credit that they proposed permanent basis. We can do the breast pump sales tax exemption on a permanent basis. We can even do the earned income tax increase that the governor has proposed on a permanent basis. Not election-year gimmicks and not designed to go away after the election's over, but on a permanent basis for the people of Illinois. And still have a surplus. 

"We have attempted to negotiate you know our plan, 80% of it was delivered to House Democrats almost two months ago. We were supposed to have another meeting yesterday after delivering the full plan on Tuesday but those meetings have not happened."

Senate Bill 4161 would make senior income tax exemptions permanent and increase the exemptions seniors receive on their income taxes from $1,000 to $2,000 per year. The bill was introduced by Sen. Sue Rezin on Feb. 9 and referred to the Senate Assignments Committee.

Senate Bill 4163 would amend the state's income tax code and double the credit for property tax payments from 5% to 10%. The bill was introduced by Sen. Chapin Rose on Feb. 9 and referred to the Senate Assignments Committee.

Senate Bill 4164, filed by Sen. Don DeWitte, would cut sales tax permanently on food, medical devices and prescription drugs in the state of Illinois. It was introduced on Feb. 9 and referred to the Senate Assignments Committee.