Mar 22, 2007 1:45 pm US/Central
Lieutenant Gov. Opposes Blagojevich Tax Plan
Quinn: Tax Plan Would Hit 'Ordinary People" In The Pocketbook
CHICAGO (AP) ―
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Gov. Rod Blagojevich presents the state budget on Wednesday, March 7, 2007.
CBS
Gov. Rod Blagojevich suffered a very public rejection from within his own administration Thursday as Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn disparaged the tax and health care plans that Blagojevich has made his top priority.
Calling a news conference at the state Capitol, Quinn said the governor's proposal for a new $6 billion business tax would end up hitting "ordinary people" in the pocketbook.
He also said expanding health care and pumping new money into schools can be done over time and doesn't have to be accomplished immediately, as Blagojevich has proposed.
Quinn urged lawmakers to drop Blagojevich's plans and instead approve a new "Taxpayers Action Board" that would search the state tax code for loopholes that could be closed. He said ending unfair tax breaks could bring the state more than $1.5 billion in new revenue.
Such a high-profile split between an Illinois governor and lieutenant governor is unusual.
Despite twice being elected as a team, Blagojevich and Quinn aren't particularly close political allies and have sometimes disagreed. But Quinn generally serves as a loyal soldier in the administration.
Quinn said his decision to reject Blagojevich's proposals was not personal.
"I don't particularly enjoy disagreeing with the governor," he said. "You have to follow your own conscience."
Blagojevich's office did not immediately respond to Quinn's comments.
Blagojevich has proposed a "gross receipts" tax would produce about $6 billion. All businesses with more than $1 million in annual revenues would be taxed on most of their transactions.
The Democratic governor says the gross receipts tax would be simple and fair, creating little extra pain for consumers.
The money would go to schools and programs to make health insurance available to everyone in the state.
Quinn is not the only state official questioning Blagojevich's proposals.
Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, both Democrats, said Wednesday they have reservations.
Hynes said Blagojevich should be doing more to pay the state's overdue bills, and Giannoulias suggested the tax increase could force businesses to leave Illinois.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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