Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) | https://repmorrison54.com/
Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) | https://repmorrison54.com/
Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) wants to see voters demand greater accountability from their government, especially when it comes to finances.
“Illinois residents should be very wary of the politicians’ promise to increase taxes now in order to provide tax relief down the road,” Morrison told the North Cook News. “How often has that worked out?”
Morrison fears that the progressive tax system being pushed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker could be another one of those traps. While Pritzker has vowed that the new system he wants to replace the current flat income tax with will only mean higher rates for the state’s wealthiest residents, critics question how that is possible, given the state only has so many so-called “rich” residents.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
“Residents should demand serious spending reforms of their elected officials – from the governor through their state representatives and senators and all the way down to their local officials,” Morrison said. “Illinois would be far better off with more taxpayers than just simply higher tax rates.”
Voters will have their say on the matter in November when the question of whether lawmakers should be authorized to convert the flat tax to a progressive tax system appears on the ballot in the form of a constitutional amendment. As Illinoisans prepare to go to the polls, critics of the proposed change like Morrison are warning voters of the checkered history of progressive tax structures and how they have failed to live up to expectations in other states.
Revenues from the tax in California have been barely half of what was promised, and Connecticut has lost more than $10 billion and 360,000 jobs since making the switch.