North Cook News

Veteran state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) wonders when Democrat lawmakers in Springfield will see the light.

“Our top Illinois state government officials haven't learned that their bad spending practices of the past just keep coming back to hurt Illinois taxpayers,” Morrison told the North Cook News. “We should not be raising taxes during an economic crisis, regardless of the income level of the individual or business.”

No matter what, Morrison frets that Democrats are committed to doing just that.

The progressive tax the governor has been selling since his days as a candidate is far from a done deal when it appears on the ballot next month. Democrat Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton recently warned voters if Pritzker’s proposal fails to get the support it needs for passage on Nov.3, taxpayers could soon face a 20% state income tax hike to cover any looming budget shortfall. Such a steep rise would send rates spiraling to an all-time personal high state income tax rate for residents of 5.94%.

Since then, the governor has essentially co-signed Stratton’s threat, further warning taxpayers it’s either the progressive tax or a 15% cut in government services, which could mean cuts in funding for education and public safety and a state property tax increase.

“Why won't the governor and top Democrat officials push harder for spending reforms,” Morrison added. “Are they that beholden to the special interests that have dominated Illinois for decades? There are tough but fair and common sense proposals that have been shelved because the Democrats think they can muster the votes for tax increases instead, especially when they repeatedly attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of voters.”

Morrison laments it all comes with a steep price.

“The population exodus will continue and home and commercial property values will continue to drop as the demand for buyers shrinks,” he said. “There are too many existing headwinds and Illinois should not throw on the proverbial ‘last straw’ that gets these taxpayers to conclude that leaving the state is a hard but better choice.”