Will County Gazette

State Rep. Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, walked away from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recent budget address feeling more fearful than ever about what she thinks could happen if he ever gets his way with his progressive tax proposal.

“What he’s selling is the teaser rate before the big boom comes,” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. “This wasn’t really a budget address but rather a chance for him to sell his tax. He spent all his time talking about all the things he’s holding back until he gets his tax. That sounds like a case of hostage taking to me.”

McDermed added Pritzker’s words struck her as someone willing to sacrifice the future in order to get what he wants in the here and now.

“He acts like he’s the state’s biggest cheerleader, but he’s really he’s just the biggest manipulator when it comes to forcing people to give him what he wants,” she said. “Most concerning, it sounds as though Gov. Pritzker is walking away from the idea that Illinois needs most, reform its $137 billion pension debt.”

Given the state’s history when it comes to the budget, McDermed said she can’t see why anyone would be willing to give Springfield lawmakers the right to set its own tax rates.

“All the progressive tax will do is what every other taxing body in this state always seems to do, which is spend all this money on whatever it wants then decide how much they need to tax the people,” she said. “That’s not the way it’s supposed to be done, and why this state is in the position it is right now with things showing little sign of getting any better.”

McDermed represents Illinois' District 37, which includes New Lenox, Tinley Park, Frankfort and Mokena. She was first elected in 2014.