East Central Reporter

Illinois House Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) does not expect any significant changes to occur as the result of more than 250 new laws that will go into effect at the start of the year.  

“We aren’t enforcing things we already have on the books, so why would anything be different with any of the new laws,” Miller asked East Central Reporter. “I think it just adds to all the confusion we’re already forced to deal with.”

Miller points to the state's lax enforcement of federal immigration laws as a prime example of Illinois legislation existing in name only.

“Quite simply, the law is not being enforced,” Miller said. “The influx of illegal aliens that have not gone through the proper process required to be here is a real problem, especially when you consider the cost it’s coming at for the state.”

Miller says that another reason the new laws will not significantly differ from the current status quo is that many of them will require taxpayers to have to dig even deeper into their pockets. He especially shakes his head at the new levy on Uber and Lyft rides in the downtown Chicago Loop area jump from 72 cents to $3.

“Anytime you raise taxes on any entity, especially one that’s still relatively new, it stifles the growth and punishes creativity,” Miller said. “What happens, ultimately, is if something costs too much, people stop using the service. I don’t know what part of that Springfield doesn’t get or how they can’t see that all these taxes just make life harder for the middle class to survive and prosper.”