Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) wonders why Gov. J.B. Pritzker isn’t willing to leave well enough alone.

“There is simply no need to raise taxes through the governor’s graduated income tax plan or other taxing proposals to balance the budget,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal. “I think we need to let economic growth drive our revenues and live within those means. I think he was talking in a way that suggests he believes his progressive tax will pass. He said changes will be made if that doesn’t happen, but he definitely sounded like this is a done deal.”

Grant laments much of Pritzker’s so-called recent budget address sounded like an infomercial for the progressive tax he is hoping will soon replace the state’s current flat tax system.

 While Pritzker continues to insist the tax will only mean higher rates for the state’s wealthiest citizens, Grant argues she can’t see how that can be.

“Like all taxes, sooner or later I believe that this will land at the feet of our middle-class,” she said. “I’m hoping that voters are paying close enough attention to realize this referendum will only be the start of a bunch of new tax rates to come.”

Finally, Grant said she believes Pritzker is only telling voters what he thinks they want to hear when it comes to getting his progressive tax across the finish line.

“I take issue with the governor’s approach for how he is selling his budget plan,” she said of Pritzker figuring at least $1.4 billion into his $42 billion proposal he said will be generated by the tax. “He is essentially tying Illinois’ fiscal future to the passage of his graduated income tax proposal. His ‘pass my graduated income tax Constitutional Amendment or else’ rhetoric was a bullying tactic. It was not well-received by a great number of lawmakers listening to the speech.”