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The state of Illinois is offering some relief for families whose kids need a new wardrobe or a backpack full of supplies for the coming school year.
The state's first "Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday" will start Friday and run through Aug. 15. During the 10-day event, shoppers will get a 5 percent sales tax break - the state's portion - on shoes, clothing and school supplies under $100.
Republican critics have said the timing of the holiday is wrong, arguing a time of dire financial straits is not ripe for cutting back on revenue. Florida is among the other states that have tried a sales tax holiday and discontinued it two years ago because of downturns in revenue - only to have lawmakers bring it back this summer because it was so popular, albeit for two days instead of the week it used to run.
What Republican stated that they were against it?
Originally posted by Snarf
im not siding with the democrats here...though I do favor the tax holiday.
When the 6.25 percent Illinois sales tax, plus county taxes, city taxes and mass transit levies are taken together, Chicagoans pay 9.75 percent of every purchase in tax. This is equaled only by Los Angeles, according to an annual survey by CCH. Only in some parts of Kansas City is there a higher rate; that city has certain special tax districts in which customers pay 9.925 percent, though the city's base rate is one percent lower.
It's a great campaign mailer …", (but) it's a $60 million hit to state revenue at a time when we can't pay our bills," said state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville.
"This just doesn't make a lot of sense at a time when we're making cuts," said state Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville. "It's a distraction from finding substantive, long-term solutions. You make people feel good for 10 days, but then it's back to reality."
Otherwise, I find your OP and the article to be hyperbole.
Originally posted by Stormdancer777
Illinois is a filthy cesspool of dirty Chicago style cronie politicians,
two