West Central Reporter

The Illinois State Board of Elections is facing a lawsuit as it spent an estimated $1.8 million on 5.65 million pamphlets before the Nov. 3 election that were allegedly biased in presenting a question on abandoning the Illinois Constitution's flat-rate tax protection. 

By state law, pamphlets and the language used on ballot questions are supposed to be neutral. The lawsuit focuses on getting the mistake corrected, receiving an explanation, and sending out a corrective notice. 

The general assembly passed a pamphlet with language that appears to be in favor of the change, reading: “The proposed amendment grants the State authority to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels, which is how the federal government and a majority of other states do it. The amendment would remove the portion of the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution that is sometimes referred to as the ‘flat tax,’ that requires all taxes on income to be at the same rate. The amendment does not itself change tax rates. It gives the State the ability to impose higher tax rates on those with higher income levels and lower income tax rates on those with middle or lower income levels. You are asked to decide whether the proposed amendment should become a part of the Illinois Constitution.”

The lawsuit was filed by the Illinois Policy Institute and three retired individuals who expressed concern over the possibility of lawmakers imposing a tax on retirement income. One of the three individuals is Don Wojtowicz, an 84-year-old retired police officer. 

“They’re in the hole for billions. How do you think they’ll get that money? They’re going to take it out of my pocket, your pocket and everyone else’s pocket,” Wojtowicz said. “And they’re lying when they tell you they’re not," told by

The full lawsuit text is available online.