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Income tax hotly debated throughout Illinois state races

The controversy over a graduated income tax could set Republicans and Democrats apart before the General Election Tuesday, November 6.
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STERLING, Illinois- The controversy over a graduated income tax could set Republicans and Democrats apart before the General Election Tuesday, November 6.

We had a Special Edition of Breakfast With...Illinois State House Candidate Joan Padilla, a Democrat from Sterling, Wednesday, October 24 on Good Morning Quad Cities. We were at Smoked on 3rd Barbecue Bistro & Catering.

Padilla is running in the 71st state house district, covering parts of Rock Island, Whiteside, and Carroll Counties. Padilla supports Democratic Governor's Candidate J.B. Pritzker and his plan to replace the state's flat-rate income tax with a graduated plan, making wealthier taxpayers pay more. She says people are already moving to neighboring states like Iowa, and a higher tax for the wealthy won't make the problem worse.

"I believe when our people know that we're actually going to invest in them through education, through social services, public safety, those types of things, and we expand our economy with helping small business, they'll put down their roots and stay," Padilla said Wednesday.

Padilla says she believes the state can come to a 'fair bracket system,' so that people from lower and middle class backgrounds can get more of a break.

Thursday, October 25, we found out Padilla's opponent, Republican State House Representative Tony McCombie is a supporter of The Right to Bear Arms, as is Padilla. We also asked McCombie how she feels about the graduated tax plan. To see our Breakfast With...McCombie at the Kountry Kettle in Savanna, click here. Our coverage started at 5 a.m. on Good Morning Quad Cities.

To see the discussion News 8's Jim Mertens had with both Padilla and McCombie, click here.

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