North Cook News

Republican Senate candidate Barrett Davie said Illinois is not better off one year after lawmakers passed a historic 32-percent tax increase.

“Most people in this state understand that everyone will have to pitch in a bit to put our state back on track, but what they do not understand is why Mike Madigan and his allies — like my opponent (Sen.) Julie Morrison — fail to develop, or actually block, the necessary economic and political reform that could put us on a more sustainable path,” Davie said.

Lawmakers last year voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a $5 billion permanent income tax hike that increased individual tax rates up from 3.75 to 4.95 percent and increased corporate taxes by 1.75 percent, according to the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI).

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield)

Running against Morrison (D-Deerfield) in November’s general election, Davie responded to the Illinois Policy report “Failure: On the Anniversary of the 2017 Tax Hike,” telling the North Cook News Illinois is facing an existential financial crisis even more so after the levy rise due to Democrats.

Davie, who is running against Morrison (D-Deerfield) in the 29th Senate District in November’s general election, doesn’t think the increase helped anyone except people like his opponent: Democratic incumbents.

“Madigan and Morrison have no ideas for the future of our state other than ever-increasing taxes to pay for ever-increasing promises for their special interest allies in Springfield,” he said.

The 2017 tax increase is expected to impact the state much like the 2011 tax increase did, which cost Illinois’ economy $55.8 billion in real GSP growth and 9,300 jobs from 2012 to 2016, according to IPI. Illinois already ranked 42nd in the nation in jobs growth and lagged behind all neighboring states in 2017.

“All of this puts more and more financial pressure on the residents of our 29th district, while also leading to the departure of more and more of our friends and family from the state of Illinois,” Davie said.