Dupage Policy Journal

Ajay Gupta, a candidate for Illinois House District 41, has expressed his belief that reducing taxes and regulations would stimulate entrepreneurship. He also advocates for expanded school choice to empower parents in making educational decisions. These remarks were made during an interview.

"Economic development and job growth in my district would be best achieved by slashing taxes and regulations, thereby enabling entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs without government interference," said Gupta. "By prioritizing school choice, and in particular, by empowering parents with funding to select schools—public, charter, parochial, or private—that best meet their children's needs."

Economic development and education policy are central debates in Illinois House District 41, which includes Naperville and nearby suburbs. According to WTTW, controversy grew after lawmakers allowed the Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program to lapse, sparking parental concerns over school options while local leaders also prioritize business growth and workforce development to keep the district competitive.

Illinois continues to rank poorly on overall tax competitiveness. The Tax Foundation’s 2025 State Business Tax Climate Index ranks the state 37th in the nation, burdened by some of the country’s highest property taxes and relatively uncompetitive sales and corporate tax structures. These factors discourage investment and affect local economies such as District 41.

Parental demand for school choice remains high despite program cuts. Fox Illinois reports that Department of Revenue data show that 9,656 students statewide received Invest in Kids scholarships in 2022–23 before the program ended. This highlights the scale of families seeking alternatives and fuels continued debates over charter schools and voucher access in districts like the 41st.

Gupta is a Naperville resident, immigrant, and attorney with two decades of experience in tax and white-collar law, financial economics, and teaching. Trained at Harvard (JD), NYU (LLM in Tax), Yale (MBA), and Stanford (MA), he has served as a federal prosecutor, economic consultant, policy commentator, and adjunct law professor. Gupta is running for State Representative to restore fiscal sanity—implementing spending caps tied to inflation and population, enacting pension reforms, and lowering taxes that are driving residents and employers out of Illinois.

The Illinois House of Representatives is the 118-member lower chamber of the state legislature, with representatives elected to two-year terms without limits. According to the Illinois General Assembly, it shares legislative and budgetary power with the Senate and Governor while District 41 represents Naperville-area communities addressing policies on taxation, education, and infrastructure.