June 22, 2007

To the Honorable Members of the

Illinois Senate

95th General Assembly

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto Senate Bill 1395, entitled “AN ACT concerning revenue.” Senate Bill 1395 would increases sales taxes on Rockford area consumers on July 1, rather than on January 1, 2008.Sales taxes are regressive and disproportionately impact consumers regardless of ability to pay. There are other methods of revenue enhancement that provide  for the same worthwhile objective of infrastructure investment that are not regressive. Therefore, I do not support the proposed acceleration of this sales tax increase.

            For this reason, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill 1395.

Sincerely,

ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH

Governor