By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – With a week to go before the election, State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and a coalition of religious and union leaders Tuesday urged people to vote for the constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax.

Manar added the richest Illinoisans (except Gov. JB Pritzker) are against it.

“We stand in stark contrast to those that are littering the airwaves with false and misleading information, Manar said outside the Sangamon County Complex in downtown Springfield. “Some of those commercials, i would describe as scare tactics. (The amendment’s opponents) want to protect their wealth at the expense of everyone else’s.”

The amendment – if it gets sixty percent of the vote – would tax higher earners at a higher rate. Proponents say only the top three percent – those making $250,000 or more – would see a tax hike from the current flat 4.95 percent. Opponents say not only would the amendment hurt successful people and discourage people from living here, but also that lawmakers will not be able to help themselves in raising more taxes on more people.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]