* The House passed an amended SB 9 tax hike bill on a vote of 72-45 today. 15 Republicans voted for the proposal. [Click here for the roll call.] The bill now heads to the Senate.

Several Republicans broke with the governor today. This bill was truly the result of a movement by the rank and file.

Reps. Andersson, Bryant, Cavaletto, Davidsmeyer, Fortner, Hammond, David Harris, Hays, Jimenez, Meier, Mitchell, Phillips, Pritchard, Reis and Unes all voted for the bill. Several of those members are also members of House GOP leadership.

The bill permanently raises the income tax rate to 4.95 percent. Gov. Rauner has opposed a permanent income tax hike if it’s not tied to a permanent property tax freeze. Brian Mackey hit the highlights of the bill on Twitter today. Click here for that.

* Quite a few of the members who spoke in favor of the proposal were Republicans. “This is the sword I’m willing to die on,” said Rep. Mike Unes (R-East Peoria). “If it costs me my seat, so be it”…

“Come tomorrow morning at the opening of business, if we don’t get this done, we will be the first state in the history of the United States of America to be in junk bond status.”

Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights), who didn’t vote on the amendment, said during a thunderous speech that he wasn’t elected to the House to preside over the financial destruction of Illinois.

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), who voted against the bill, insisted that the state’s economy was “too weak for a tax hike”…

The only people who are going to gain from this are the public sector unions … They are the only ones who are going to gain in this tax increase, not the hard-working people who live down the street from me and our small businessmen.

Another “Yes” vote, Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), described herself as being on the right and said “I hate taxes, I hate them.” But, she said, “As someone who’s on the right, who’s a fiscal conservative, we can’t have vendors, mom and pop places to be asked to do services for the state… and then after they perform those services say ‘Whoops, we don’t have the money to pay them’… and allow them to go into bankruptcy.

Bryant’s voice cracked at times, said she’s probably “get primaried” for her vote, but said, ” I don’t have to own what people did before I came here, but I do have to own what’s been done the past three years.”

Rep. Greg Harris, the bill’s Chicago Democratic sponsor, listed all of the calamities the state has survived, then asked as he closed debate: “If we defeat this bill tonight, will the state of Illinois survive us?”

* The bill now moves to the Senate for concurrence. The bill received 32 votes last May, which was two more than required at the time. But it’ll need 36 tomorrow when the Senate returns.

Sens. Tom Cullerton, Hastings, Stadelman and Morrison all voted “No” in May. Sen. Haine was absent and he’s not expected to be in Springfield tomorrow because he’s very ill. No Republicans voted for the proposal when it was last in the Senate.

* This post will likely be updated with reactions from various folks. Stay tuned.

*** UPDATE *** The ominibus appropriations bill just passed 81-34…

The House has adjourned until tomorrow at 10.

* News coverage…