SPRINGFIELD  –  Senate Democrats attempted to jump-start a tax hike on the eve of the legislature’s scheduled adjournment, approving a plan to increase personal income taxes by 67 percent and broaden the sales tax to include services such as cable TV. The 31-27 Senate vote late Saturday capped a long day of political chaos that enveloped the Capitol as House Democrats tried to advance their own alternative plan — increasing income taxes by 50 percent for two years — even though they appear to lack the votes to pass it without Republican help that’s not forthcoming. Facing a late night Sunday deadline, Democrats under House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago began preparing the equivalent of a political punt — formulating a state spending plan that would keep normal state operations going for the budget year that begins July 1 but not last the full year. In a committee meeting in the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield on Saturday, Illinois State Senator John J. Cullerton (D-Chi.) (right) urged support for an increase in the state income tax rate. (Tribune / Terrence Antonio James) MORE PHOTOS The action, which unfolded on the floor of the House and Senate and in a series of closed-door meetings among legislative leaders and Gov. Pat Quinn, demonstrated the dilemma of Democrats who rule Springfield. They’re trying to deal with a huge budget gap while trying to keep control in next year’s elections. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) acknowledged that the Senate tax increase plan, backed by members of the chamber’s African-American caucus, would not fill a two-year budget hole estimated at nearly $12 billion and also would require $2 billion in spending cuts. Republicans have demanded more cuts before considering voting for a tax hike. “You can’t cut the budget in this bill, but we can show that since we’ve acknowledged we’re $7 billion short and we’ve only raised $5 (billion), then implicitly we are going to cut $2 billion,” Cullerton said. But Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) noted that in addition to raising income taxes, the measure would impose first-time sales taxes on 39  services, ranging from cable TV to the labor on oil changes. “I think this is an absolutely horrible idea,” Murphy said. Republicans bashed Democrats for spending too much during the six-year tenure of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Democrats said Republicans own a share of the tax burden because of the economic policies of the Bush White House. Quinn, who originally wanted a permanent 50 percent hike in the income tax rate, has agreed to a two-year tax hike that is being weighed by the House. Quinn also acknowledged that former Republican Govs. Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar had made calls to some Republicans in an attempt to sway them to support a tax hike. In the House, Madigan’s less-than-full-year budget would get lawmakers out of Springfield without a tax hike and provide time for incumbents to see who their opponents are in next year’s elections before having to face another potential tax-increase vote. Click HERE for a .pdf file showing how the senators voted. Tribune reporters Monique Garcia and Ashley Rueff contributed to this report. — Rick Pearson and Ray Long