Illinois graduated income tax plan will go to voters after Governor JB Pritzker's bill passes the State House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- Voters will decide whether to change Illinois' income-tax structure after the House approved a constitutional amendment on Gov. J.B. Pritzker's graduated tax proposal.

The House voted 73-44 Monday to put the question on the November 2020 ballot. It needed 71 votes.

The progressive income tax was the cornerstone of Pritzker's campaign and of his administration. The governor's plan promises that 97 percent of taxpayers would not pay more. Only those making over $250,000 a year would be impacted.

"I choose fairness and I believe that Illinoisans will too," Pritzker said.

The plan is projected to bring in $3.4 billion for the state.

"This gives us the tools to start reforming Illinois, to really start fixing the problems in a mathematical way, acknowledging the realities of our problem and putting us on a path to fiscal prosperity for this generation and for the next," said IL. Rep. Robert Martwick, a bill supporter.

Republicans have argued vociferously against changing the tax plan. They said it will kill jobs and force people to leave state. They said democrats got Illinois into the fiscal mess and can't be trusted to fix it.

"Take responsibility for this mess before you ask more of its citizens," said House Republican Leader IL. Rep. Jim Burkin. "Let's make no mistake, today's vote is the end result of the Illinois Democrats' historical, reckless, and irresponsible budgeting and spending."

The bill includes $100 million for property tax relief. The governor said he is setting up a tax property relief task force to study the issue to help correct the problems with Illinois property tax system.

The referendum will now be put on the 2020 presidential ballot. It requires 60 percent of voters to approve it.