Republican members of the Illinois House reaffirmed their opposition to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax proposal Tuesday, calling it a “blank check” to lawmakers and citing “empty promises” from Democrats in previous General Assemblies. Representative Mark Batinick, a Plainfield Republican, read from statements made by state Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and other Democrats from years past which said previous tax hikes would balance the state’s structural deficit, help pay down the...