In the last state wide election voters supported by a wide margin a tax on incomes of a million dollars or more in Illinois but Wednesday the Illinois House voted bill down that would give voters a chance to vote again.

Speaker Mike Madigan helped place an that advisory question on the 2014 ballot and today before his chamber voted on putting a binding constitutional question on the fall ballot he says that education funding must come before wishes of the top earners in the state.

Republican’s feel that the tax will drive the state’s highest earners out of Illinois. Rep. David Harris a Republican from Mount Prospect says that its about more than the 1 percent.

The bill failed by three votes. It would have created a surtax on the portion of income above $1 million. Madigan wanted the new tax proceeds to go education and be doled out on a per-pupil basis. Madigan says that it would generate about a billion dollars or $530 per pupil per year.

Republicans contend the move would push high earners out of the state and generate less money than expected.