SE Illinois News

Darren Bailey sees J.B. Pritzker resorting to the only solution Democrats ever turn to, no matter the situation.

“That’s just the mentality they have,” Bailey told SE Illinois News. “Tax increases are the last thing Illinois needs right now, but for too many lawmakers what the people want and need means absolutely nothing.”

A new Illinois Policy Institute report details how many of the spending programs and revenue generating ideas for closing the state’s current structural deficit proposed by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Pritzker could swell the deficit and require tax increases, spiking tax liabilities by as much as $18 billion.

J.B. Pritzker

A home with an income of roughly $80,000 could see an annual tax increase of up to $3,500. At the same time, the current state income tax rate could double to as much as 9.95 percent and as many as 132,000 jobs could instantly disappear.

“All this tells us that we need to be lowering taxes by getting rid of things like our ridiculous pension system and the Obama Center spending bill,” said Bailey, running against Democrat Cynthia Given in the 109th District. “The time has come and passed for us to be holding government accountable.”

At least part of Pritzker’s plan centers on enacting a progressive tax that he has offered few details for in terms of revenue he hopes it will generate or how tax brackets might be constructed.

Bailey said he has only come across a select few residents in favor of taxes rising even more.

“Typically, it only turns out to be retired state employees receiving a pension and not paying state taxes,” he said. “In general, people don’t mind paying taxes, but they want to be getting something back. Right now, people are hurting because taxes are just too high. My fear is Pritzker will run things in the ground even more.”

The 109th House District includes Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.