In the Early Bird, we noted the Daily Herald's write-up of a Zogby poll conducted for two "Illinois insurance trade groups."  The survey found that 55 percent of respondents oppose raising the income tax to help close the state budget deficit:

One quarter of those polled said they would support raising the state's 3 percent income tax to help close an estimated $9 billion budget hole. Another 13 percent favor applying the sales tax to services, such as haircuts or auto repair, that are not taxed now.

But the majority - 55 percent - were opposed to any increase in those taxes to balance the state's budget.

One item, however, appears to be missing from the survey: a question about support for a graduated income tax.  Indeed, a poll conducted last fall by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found that 66 percent of respondents favored higher income tax rates on the wealthiest residents of the state, such as they have in 33 other states.   

It's no wonder that most Illinoisans support a progressive income tax, rather than an across-the-board hike. After all, as a 2007 report (PDF) by the Insitute on Taxation and Economic Policy showed, 80 percent of the state's wage-earners had a higher tax burden than the national average for their income level: