Tax season. We have it every year. You file your state income taxes. Sometimes you get a big refund. Yet, some people say they are surprised by how much money they owe this time around. 

As the governor and legislature have grappled in a historic death match over their views of how to sync our policy desires and our resources, many wonder if there is something especially daunting about budgeting in the Prairie State.

The Illinois House of Representatives on Sunday passed both a budget and a tax increase to pay for it, but both still must clear the state Senate. And the tax increase was met with an immediate promise of a veto from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

All Illinois residents pay the same income tax rate. Now a plan is afoot to change that, with a constitutional amendment, to have the wealthy pay more.