North Cook News

Veteran state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) laments Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s disconnect with the people he’s supposed to represent is coming at a great cost to the entire state.  

“He has inherited billions of dollars, so starting a business from scratch with all of his capital on the line is not something within his experience,” Morrison told the North Cook News. “You talk to any business owner, where their personal home is the collateral for their business, and they’ll tell you that’s not how it works. Their family’s livelihood makes it or breaks it based upon the success of the business and their other employees are just as reliant on the business making it.”

Morrison fears if the governor gets his way with the progressive tax plan he has been pushing since his days as a candidate more of the same can be expected. A new Illinois Policy Institute analysis projects that small businesses across the state soon could be forced to pay as much as a 50.3% marginal income tax rate should the tax appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot in the form of a referendum question garner the support it needs for passage. Ignoring growing warnings from many that the tax stands to handcuff small business owners even more, the governor continues to push his signature proposal as one that will only mean higher tax rates for the state’s most affluent residents.

At around 60% of net job creation, small business owners currently rank as the state’s biggest job creators. But those numbers could soon be on the decline, with researchers finding an increase in the top marginal tax rate could mean a slide in the hiring practices of entrepreneurs and slumping earnings for workers.

“Taxation is a major obstacle for businesses in Illinois everywhere,” Morrison added. “If this tax becomes law, it will only hurt the state economy and individual job prospects more as more businesses decide to close or move away to other places.”

Since taking over in Springfield, Morrison adds Pritzker has proven to be all wrong for Illinois.

“He’s just so insulated from what most people in this state have to deal with,” he said. “I don’t begrudge the governor for being wealthy. I just think he is out of touch with the experiences of the vast majority of Illinois residents.”