While many had speculated that an extension of the tax increase during the fall veto, or a lame-duck session, would be all but guaranteed if Governor Pat Quinn had won re-election, Democrat leaders in the House and Senate may not be so quick to act given Quinn’s recent defeat. The 2011 tax hike is scheduled to begin to be phased-out on January 1; however, Democrat legislative majorities will likely force the new Governor to lay out his own plan to balance the budget without the additional tax revenues.
The measure faces opposition from Republicans who have contended that passing major initiatives with support from outgoing “lame-duck” legislators is poor public policy. Since the tax hike was passed in 2011 Republican lawmakers have stressed the need for reasonable spending reductions and cutting fraud and waste out of the state budget.