Dupage Policy Journal

In the mind of state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton), the recent federal corruption indictment of Sen. Terry Link just raises more questions about the fair tax Democrats have been pushing since Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s days as a candidate.

“It’s just more phony baloney,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal. “People need to understand this is not really a fair tax and it hardly represents much of a savings for low income people.”

With veteran state Sen. Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) recently becoming the fourth democratic lawmaker who’s strongly backed the plan to now find himself facing criminal charges, Grant openly wonders what their motivations for pushing the tax the way they have might be.

“One thing we know is that this legislation would open the door to allowing legislation in the future that lets lawmakers raise taxes anytime they want,” she said. “In addition, someone close to the governor recently talked about how it also opens the door to tax retirement income. None of that is good for the common person."

Facing tax evasion charges, Link joins former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, who faces up to 10 years in prison, and state Sen. Tom Cullerton, who has been hit with a 41-count indictment on embezzlement charges. One-time state Sen. Martin Sandoval has already pleaded guilty to taking $250,000 in bribes from SafeSpeed, a red-light camera vendor.

And then there is longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan, who now finds himself implicated in an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd in which it’s alleged bribes were steered to several of his close associates as part of a pay-to-play scheme aimed at currying favor with him.

“I think the people in my district are on to everything that’s happening with this out-of-control corruption,” Grant added. “I’m hoping that’s the same with most people across the state.”