The budget being expected to be pushed through the General Assembly Friday does not count on extending the 2011 income tax hike. But Republicans say they can "see through" the Democrats' plan to revisit the income tax after the November election.
After Democratic leadership gave up on attempting to keep Illinois income tax at five percent, the House pushed through what Democrats call a "middle of the road" budget. It taps into other revenue sources and relies on delaying payments to vendors in order to keep spending relatively flat.
But Democrats say they'll likely need to revisit the income tax after the November election, when lame duck lawmakers don't have another election for at least two years.
But they're pushing through this budget anyway, which frustrates Senator Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap).
"But what we're hearing this week is Democrats speaking out of both sides of their mouths," he said. "Pass this gimmicky budget, but we're going to pass this tax increase in the lame duck."
Republicans are calling for an end of so-called "lame duck" sessions, between elections and when new members are sworn in. No previous attempts have succeeded in killing the duck.
