Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) argues that there is a good reason why Democrats have been so scarce with the details about Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” proposal.
“When we left Springfield, they were unwilling to memorize any of those numbers,” he told the East Central Reporter. “In other words, these numbers were all written in pencil and nothing was written in ink so they can randomly make those numbers anything they want to at the demise of taxpayers here in the state.”
Miller said he finds solace in knowing that taxpayers now seem to be realizing what he’s always suspected. Nearly half, or 46 percent, of all respondents in a poll commissioned by Ideas Illinois now agree they think Pritzker’s progressive tax proposal amounts to “just a blank check for Springfield politicians” and will “hurt Illinois’ economy and force businesses to leave the state.”
Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland)
According to Illinois Policy Institute, support for the overall progressive tax plan has also waned from a high of 59 percent in February to current levels of just 51 percent. A referendum question on the issue is slated to appear on the November 2020 with ballot with 60 percent approval from voters, or over 50 percent of those casting a ballot overall, needed for passage.
“The 'fair tax' that Gov Pritzker talks about is definitely an attack on the taxpayers of Illinois,” Miller said. “I think one of the things that has woken up the sleeping giant is that we’ve gone from the attack on the taxpayer to the attack on any kind of moral decency when it comes to the life movement. We’ve attacked the gun owner. I mean we’ve attacked the core values, particularly of Southern Illinois. People are starting to wake up and they don’t like what they’re seeing.”
Miller said he hopes it all comes to mean that voters are starting to see many lawmakers for what they truly are.
“For too long, I think the citizens in Illinois have had a higher opinion of state legislators than they should have had,” he said. “It’s kind of like the old cliché: ‘While politicians are kissing the baby they’re stealing its lollipop.’ There’s a real lack of trust for legislators, and it’s rightly deserved.”
Alerts Sign-up