SE Illinois News

Republican state House candidate David Friess views Illinois as being at a crossroads in terms of what kind of state it’s widely seen as.

“If the progressive tax passes and Illinois slides to 47th nationally in competitiveness, it will be a further decline to the state’s reputation as a business-friendly state and it will prevent our economy from growing,” Friess told the SE Illinois News. “If the tax passes, there will most certainly be an increase in outmigration which our state cannot withstand. Thousands have already fled our state and the No. 1 reason they have left is high taxes. If a progressive tax is passed, I am concerned that Illinois will experience a mass exodus of business, jobs and families.”

Running against incumbent state Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-Steeleville) in the 116th District, Friess is also cautioning the so-called fair tax now being sold by Gov. J.B. Pritzker only paves the way for more of the same hardship. A new report by the Tax Foundation details how the state’s competitive position would dramatically fall if the progressive tax proposal Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been pushing since his days as a candidate becomes law. If the measure passes, researchers report Illinois’ overall ranking would tumble all the way down to 47th in the U.S. for business competitiveness, ahead of only New Jersey, California and New York.

“I think the governor continues to fight and push for this progressive tax, even giving all the warning signs, because he puts politics before a basic understanding of economics,” Friess added. “The governor, and all his cronies that are supporting the progressive tax, don’t appreciate or understand that tax consequences don’t occur in a vacuum and that Illinois citizens have had the ability to vote with their feet for years."

Friess argues there’s a better way in easing the burden of residents across the state.

“The more prudent way of dealing with Illinois financial struggles would be to first root out corruption within Springfield,” he said.