Dupage Policy Journal

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) laments that Democratic legislators in Springfield floating the idea of a progressive tax plan are missing the mark when it comes to the issues lawmakers should be most focused on.

“We have a spending problem, not a revenue one,” Ives told the DuPage Policy Journal. “We already have the highest tax burden in the country; simply squeezing taxpayers even more won’t do the state any good over the long term. The progressive tax option is one that’s totally wrong for Illinois.”

Ives argues even most Democrats have reservations and are only stoking the idea of a progressive tax in hopes of somehow scoring points with voters in an election year where the governor’s mansion is among the offices in play.

“I believe Democrats believe their voters believe taxing the wealthy makes sense,” Ives said. “Democrats count on voters to be uninformed to advance their cause. They count on that every election cycle there is and this one is no exception.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker has been pushing the idea of a progressive tax, and more recently House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) joined the chorus by introducing a resolution calling for “support of a fair and progressive income tax system.”

Again, Ives takes great exception, arguing that’s totally the wrong direction.

“Putting together an austerity budget where we concentrate on paying only the necessities needed for government is where we should be going,” Ives said. “Right now, there seems little chance of that happening. With all the debt, the only reason we’re afloat is vendors continue to service the state even with all the debt.”

Ives narrowly lost to Gov. Bruce Rauner in the Republican primary in March, garnering roughly 48 percent of the vote on a platform of fiscal responsibility and greater government accountability.