Dive Brief:

• Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan proposed a constitutional amendment tacking a 3% surcharge onto incomes over $1 million. If passed, the amendment would raise $1 billion a year for K-12 education. 
• News of the proposals comes just as the state’s gubernatorial race heats up. Three days ago, Republicans chose wealthy private-equity investor Bruce Rauner to run against populist Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. 
• The state is already in an ongoing debate over tax policy, and many believe the proposal was an attempt to divide Illinois citizens even more. “It’s designed to highlight Rauner’s wealth and it’s designed to underscore Democrats’ populist message,” said David Yespen, a public policy analyst. 
• Adding to the juxtaposition of financial visions, Quinn's budget, set to be unveiled in less than a week, is expected to deal with his plan for a temporary income-tax increase that will expire mid-year and leave a predicted $3-billion hole.

Dive Insight:

A spokesman for Rauner has already announced that while he will pay more for schools, he will not support Madigan’s proposal. As predicted, the announcement has divisive repercussions; although the House Speaker denies that being his intention. According to Madigan’s math, if the proposal went through, the money would be distributed on a per-pupil basis and would end up being about $550 per student in grades K-12. His math is based off of a 2011 estimate of 13,675 people in Illinois having adjusted gross incomes of over $1 million.