SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) – Democratic state lawmakers are moving closer to a possible vote on an income tax hike during the final days of the current legislative session.

As the lame-duck session of the current General Assembly is wrapping up in Springfield, Democratic leaders have been looking at the possibility of passing a tax hike proposal that already has been approved in the Illinois Senate, according to Senate President John Cullerton.

In May 2009 — during the early part of the current legislative session — Senate Democrats approved a proposal that would raise the individual income tax rate in Illinois from 3 percent to 5 percent.

The Illinois House has yet to vote on that measure and House Speaker Michael Madigan has been pushing two proposed constitutional amendments that might help win support for higher taxes.

The first would limit growth in state spending, while the other would make it more difficult to approve costly pension benefits for government employees.

Democrats are also pursuing deals on Medicaid costs, school reform and worker’s compensation.

Together, the measures could be used to argue Democrats are serious about handling tax money more responsibly if an increase is approved.

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