Millionaire Tax Proposal Fails
In this Feb. 4, 2015, file photo, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, right, reaches to shake the hand of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, left, after delivering his first State of the State Address (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
As Illinois lawmakers grapple with a budget shortfall, a measure to impose a tax on millionaires' income came up short.
Adding a surcharge to income over $1 million to raise more money for Illinois schools was a concept the Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan introduced last year, but there wasn't enough support.
Now, as Illinois faces a $6 billion budget gap, he's brought it back.
"We're simply asking those that have done well in life to help our educational system," Madigan said.
But his effort came up short, by three votes.
"Passage of this was in the hands of the Rauner Republicans," Madigan said, in a reference to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. "So roll call is very clear, the Rauner Republicans voted against the resolution."
There are 71 Democrats in the Illinois House --- just enough that if all of them had gone along with it, the measure would have passed. Instead, three Democrats voted no.
Critics say the measure -- which requires amending the state constitution -- would cause wealthy people and small businesses to leave Illinois.