Illinois State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) senses something brewing in Springfield, and it does not appear to be enthusiasm for Gov. J.B. Pritzker's 'fair tax' proposal.
“Something is going on and you can feel it,” Bailey told SE Illinois News. “It’s clear not everyone is on board with this progressive income tax idea, and Gov. Pritzker seems to be afraid of what’s going on. We’re spending way too much money that we don’t have, but this particular legislation hasn’t been brought to the table and there’s a reason for that.”
According to Illinois Policy Institute (IPI), recent polling in the districts controlled by Democratic Reps. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville), Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook), Sue Scherer (D-Decatur), Monica Bristow (D-Alton) and Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) reveal that voters in those areas are most likely either opposed to or split on the governor’s graduated income tax. Nevertheless, the Illinois Senate Executive Committee recently voted by more than a 2-1 margin to approve legislation that would eliminate the flat-tax protection currently in place.
State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia)
Bailey, who won in the 109th District in November with more than 75 percent of the vote, couldn’t be more opposed to the governor's proposal.
“We are painting ourselves in a corner,” he said. “We are doing great damage to this state and the reality is it’s probably going to take an even bigger financial crisis in Chicago for us to turn things around.”
The nonpartisan Tax Foundation projects the rates in Pritzker’s plan would drop Illinois near the bottom among all states in business-tax climate along with possibly further slowing economic growth and exacerbating the state’s outmigration problem.
“People have had enough,” Bailey added. “Gov. Pritzker can say whatever he wants but most people know before long this is a tax that will hit all of us in some way or another.”
The 109th House District includes all or parts of Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.
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