East Central Reporter

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is starting to believe the Illinois way of doing things goes against everything he learned while growing up.

“Since I was a kid, I’ve been led to believe that trying to achieve is what you do,” the newly elected Republican state representative told the East Central Reporter. “You set high standards for yourself and try to make a way for your family. Now, this 'regressive' tax system burdens anyone that is successful and has done well for themselves. You’ve got the government sitting there like a vulture trying to collect off of it. It’s so counter-productive and takes away people’s incentive to achieve.”

Miller said the latest example, of course, is the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee approving a constitutional amendment that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been pushing to make way for his progressive income-tax system. By a 9-6 vote, the committee recently passed Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 (SJRCA 1), paving the way for it to now go before the full House for a vote.

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland)

Receiving 71 votes or more will assure the measure of appearing on the 2020 ballot in the form of a referendum question for voters. 

“When you penalize achievement, there is a problem,” Miller said. “This progressive tax would penalize our biggest contributors and will only increase the exodus out of Illinois with people and businesses.”

Miller said he is still confident, knowing that Republican lawmakers are united in their resistance to all the Democrats' tax-increasing policy proposals.

“The last conversation we had in the caucus was about making [Democrats] own all the bad bills they are putting forth,” he said. “Some of these bills are truly indefensible and are bad for the state, bad for individuals and bad for businesses.”