Haine bemoans Senate’s failure to back property tax freeze

 

From Illinois Business Journal news services

SPRINGFIELD – By lack of votes, the Illinois Senate defeated a measure Wednesday that would have enacted a property tax freeze for the next two years.

“I am troubled to see this measure fail,” Sen.Bill Haine, D-Alton, said. “I want to emphasize that this property tax freeze would have been an important step in getting our property taxes under control. This is why I voted for the measure. This measure would have protected all taxpayers, including retirees and small businesses.”

The legislation was Senate Bill 316. The measure failed to pass the Senate when not a single Republican lent support for freezing property taxes or reforming public school funding, he said.  In fact, most of the Republicans either voted present or did not vote at all. From Southwestern Illinois, Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, and Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, did not vote. Sam McCann, R-Carlinville, voted present.

The measure needed a three-fifth’s majority to pass, which would have been 35 of the 59-member Senate. The measure gained only 32 yes votes.

Backing the measure were fellow Senate Democrats James Clayborne, D-Belleville, and Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill.