East Central Reporter

With just days remaining before voters go to the polls, Chris Miller is hoping Illinois residents have come to understand all the code language emanating from Springfield.

“Democrats talking about revenue and restructuring translates to mean they are actually getting even more creative at extracting dollars from you for the Mike Madigan machine,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “For all those not yet accustomed to deciphering Springfield code talk that means even more taxing and even less fiscal responsibility under a J.B. Pritzker administration.

Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) reports some of the new spending programs and revenue generating suggestions for closing the state’s current structural deficit proposed by the Democratic gubernatorial candidate could swell the deficit and require tax increases totaling as much as $18 billion to finance.

Shirley Bell

For a home with an income of roughly $80,000 that could mean an annual tax increase of up to $3,500, along with a spike in the current 4.95 percent income tax rate to as much as 9.95 percent. In addition, the state could experience the loss of up to 132,000 jobs and up to $31.3 billion in economic activity.

“We can’t be asking taxpayers to pay more,” said Miller, who is running against Democrat Shirley Bell in the 110th District. “Successful people have options, and that explains why the exodus out of Illinois has been so great. They’re not willing to wait around and take even more abuse from the lawmakers that are supposed to be working for all of us.”

At least part of Pritzker’s plan centers on enacting a progressive tax that he has offered few details for in terms of how much revenue he hopes it will generate or how tax brackets might be constructed.

No matter what, Miller said voters should expect Bell to go along with whatever Madigan desires.

“At a recent debate she said she didn’t know who she would vote for as House Speaker because she didn’t know who the Democratic candidate would be,” he said. “Anyone who’s been around Illinois politics for the last 40 years knows it will be Mike Madigan. She’s in line to support whatever he wants, from a real estate tax to a gas tax or anything else.”

The 110th House District includes Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar and Lawrence counties.