Jillian Bernas, candidate for Illinois House of Representatives, District 56
Jillian Bernas, candidate for Illinois House of Representatives, District 56
After a recent poll showed more than half of Illinois residents wanted to leave the state over high taxes, state House candidate Jillian Bernas called on voters to enact change in Springfield.
“Families want to leave Illinois, because they have no guarantees that lawmakers will work on reforms instead of raising taxes,” Bernas told the North Cook News. “The 53 percent of voters that want to leave Illinois might reconsider if they saw legislators working in good faith on reforms to control costs and improve the state’s financial position.”
Bernas, a Republican, is running against Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) in District 56. Mussman is a four-term incumbent, but Bernas thinks it's time for a change. Bernas says the poll results reflect voter frustration with the status quo.
State Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg)
The poll was conducted by the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois-Springfield and by NPR Illinois.
Bernas acknowledged the difficulty implementing reforms versus relying on an automatic strategy of raising taxes.
“My opponent, Michelle Mussman, has added to our financial peril by regularly supporting unbalanced budget appropriations that add to our debt,” Bernas said. “This forces Illinois families into a precarious position where they are forced to pay more taxes and always will be with current lawmakers.”
Bernas pledged to stake out an agenda focusing on property taxes, small-business regulations and a balanced state budget.
“Right now, Illinois is one of three states in the nation where property taxes make owning a home a worse investment since the Great Recession,” she said. “Families want to be in a place where their home builds value.”
She also recommended a slate of pro-business reforms to help grow the economy and create jobs, plus balanced budget legislation to lift the state to sound financial footing.
“Families balance their budgets and lawmakers should as well,” she added.
District 56 includes the communities of Rolling Meadows, Bloomingdale, Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg and Wayne.
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