Duncan Urges Income Tax Hike For Schools

Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan told state legislators yesterday that a "modest income tax hike" should be considered so that school funding can be increased.

"Keep it simple," Duncan said at a hearing in Oak Park convened by the Illinois House of Representatives Elementary & Secondary Education Committee. "We cannot solve every problem facing the state with a single new revenue source. Focus first on education and capital -- kids and jobs. Once we address these issues, Illinois can tackle other issues."

The amount of educational funding from the state has been a constant issue this year. It led to a week-long boycott of city schools by the Save Our Schools Now group, led by the Rev. James Meeks and 50 other pastors on the South and West Side. CPS officials and busloads of students have appeared in front of legislators in Springfield.

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