Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn has promoted all sorts of referendums, the latest being a series of county
“Stick it to the rich”
referendums in 2004.
It called for doubling the income tax on those earning over $250,000 a year and using the proceeds to increase State Aid to Education and send an annual check of about $200 to each homeowner.
75% voted in favor. Only about 100,000 of the half million voted in Downstate counties and other local jurisdictions lived outside of Cook County.
Tiny Hardin County (population 4,800) in Southeastern Illinois along the Wabash River voted almost 59% “No.” Hardin is one of Illinois’ poorer counties, but it voters apparently don’t like it when someone wants to raise their taxes.
82% of Cook County residents (72% in suburban Cook County) made their “income envy” known.
Just thought you’d like to know.