Representative Winters Pleads with Dems to Release HB4916 from Rules Committee

April 10, 2008

During session on Wednesday April 9, 2008, Representative Dave Winters (R-Shirland) asked that HB4916 be released from the rules committee and come before the General Assembly for a vote. HB4916 is a bill that requires a rate freeze for those qualifying seniors on their property tax.

Winters spoke on behalf of his constituents here at home as he met with senior voters only two days prior at a press conference in Rockford. Representative Winters was joined by fellow Republican, Representative Ron Wait (R-Belvidere).

Winters and Wait are not the only legislators supporting this bill as there are 18 co-sponsors, all Republicans.

Winters addressed those concerns of his senior constituents by citing the majority of the revenue taken in from property taxes goes to fund public schools. The dilemma comes from the fact that seniors, who many are on a fixed income, continue to see appreciation in the value of their homes, denoting increased taxes, but have no children left in the school system.

“The only other relief we will see is when the homes to the right and to the left are vacant, boarded up, and condemned. Only then will we see the negative effects, as the value of the people’s homes depreciates and the much needed tax relief comes into effect,” Winters said on the house floor.

Winters noted that a minimum of five representatives must ask for the bill to be voted on for release from the Rules Committee, “which I have on my side of the aisle.”

Unfortunately for the seniors seeking the much needed property-tax relief, Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie) immediately following Winters’ passionate speech, cited another rule. For a bill to be released to the General Assembly from the Rules Committee, a unanimous vote must take place on the floor for discharge.

Representative Lang proudly announced, “I vote ‘No.’”

The final vote was 53 in favor of property tax relief to 59 against (All Democrats). The fight for property tax relief is obviously one that Representative Winters and the House GOP are fighting for, but the House Democrats don’t feel the need to cut taxes as their wild, spontaneous spending habits go unchecked.