East Central Reporter

A downstate lawmaker is urging voters on in what he hopes builds to be a full-scale revolt against Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“Based on the governor’s actions, it’s long past due,” state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) told the East Central Reporter. “This tyranny has to end at some point.”

Miller thinks voters took a big step in soundly rejecting the governor’s signature progressive tax plan earlier this month. With roughly 47% support, the measure the governor has been pushing since his days as a candidate as a plan that would only mean higher tax rates for the state’s richest residents fell far short of the 60% approval among those who voted on it needed for passage.

“This is a real victory for taxpayers,” Miller added. “From this, hopefully they’ll see they can stand up to the governor and don’t have to just go along with all his tax, borrow and spend policies. Maybe we can force also force him to the table to deal with pension reform, workers’ compensation reform and all the other things that make it harder on businesses and families in this state.”

Miller said he isn’t surprised to see an agitated Pritzker now threatening everything from across-the-board tax increases to “painful” budget cuts as a way of balancing things out as he sees fit.

"The threats are what you get from a spoiled brat billionaire who’s never been told no to anything he’s wanted to,” he said. “Gov. Pritzker doesn’t understand the dynamics of having to struggle or figure things out. Instead of coming up with real solutions to deal with all the state’s problems, he’s pouts and tries to bully and intimidate. He needs to deal with the reality that Illinois is in trouble and it’s largely because of our lack of fiscal discipline.”