Don't trust lawmakers with more taxing authority

Here’s the reason you should vote no on the proposed “fair tax” amendment to the Illinois Constitution.

The amendment gives the legislature power to increase taxes on any group of taxpayers with no limits and no accountability and without any requirement to use the additional revenue to find essential needs such as health care, education or public safety.

The proposed amendment would give the legislature unlimited new authority to increase income tax rates on any group of taxpayers at will, including low-income and middle-income families and small business owners. There would be no limit on the number of tax brackets that could be created and no limit on how high tax rates could be increased on individual taxpayers. In addition, this proposed change will pave the way for a tax on retirement income.

Taxes and spending are out of control. The legislature should not be allowed to keep raising taxes until they get their spending under control. — Charles Hartley, Hinsdale