North Cook News

Marilyn Smolenski, who is running for state Representative in the 55th House District against incumbent Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines), is disappointed that Illinois taxpayers have continued to be overburdened and with no real end in sight. 

"High property tax, high sales tax and high income tax . . . it’s making Illinois unaffordable for families and unattractive to business," Smolenski told North Cook News. "We are losing talent, losing jobs and losing lifelong residents. Until we get meaningful reform and control over the property tax situation, there should be no increase in the income tax."

Smolenski explained that the income tax hike of 2017 was a failure as it didn't close the budget gap as promised and only fueled more overspending by the government.

Illinois House Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines)

"Prime working-age adults are leaving the state," she said. "Kids are going out of state for college and seeing no reason to come back as young adults. The rest of the country—I’m talking individuals and businesses—weigh the risks of coming here against the benefits this great state has to offer, and are deciding to make their futures elsewhere."

Smolenski said a proposed progressive income tax will not have the result that many believe that it will.

"Rather, a progressive income tax will squeeze working families whose earners are just reaching the peaks of their careers and finally seeing the benefit of all their years of hard work reflected in their current salary," Smolenski said. "Those are the same families who often are in the midst of paying to put kids through college and have a diminishing reason to continue to live in our state."

A progressive income tax will hurt small businesses, which will injure the state as a whole far more than the politicians who are recommending the tax are aware of, she said. 

"The only winners in the progressive income tax racket are the politicians buying votes for the nearest election," Smolenski said. "Smart voters know keeping the income tax flat and avoiding future hikes is the smart choice for Illinois."