At least one person is optimistic about Illinois’ fiscal future.

One of the authors of a Southern Illinois University study, “Gridlock Broken?,” Prof. John Jackson, says there is hope.

“We had really normal budgeting for 2017 and ‘18. Even though (then-Gov. Bruce Rauner) was against it, he built the increased revenue into his budget,” says Jackson. “Then in ‘19, we had a very normal budget year, (similar to those under) Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar, George Ryan.”

With the campaigns about to ramp up for and against a graduated income tax, Jackson says the idea of a tax structure which imposes a higher rate upon higher earners actually had support of a majority of Republicans – until the name of Gov. JB Pritzker was attached to it.

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