Seniors Back Quinn Plan To Hike Income Tax
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Several dozen senior citizens played a large-scale version of the game "Operation" in front of the Thompson Center today--part of a demonstration in support of raising the income tax.
The demonstrators held up a large poster of the Illinois body politic - saying the state had taken the heart and the brain. In other words, they say, left it with inadequate funding in human services and education.
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Demonstrators like 77-year-old Jesse Soper of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus say it's unpopular, but it's time for an income tax increase.
"It's very hard for me to say we need to increase our taxes," Soper said.
But, he says, people must realize that less revenue means fewer services for seniors.
"Without a tax increase, their loved ones might end up in a nursing home or might be deprived of some vital services they really need."
The demonstrators delivered letters to the governor, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
Gov. Quinn has been a longtime advocate of raising the income tax from 3 percent to 4 percent.
