Will County Gazette

Republican Congressional candidate Mike Fricilone senses a disturbing pattern with almost every plan put forth by Democrats in Springfield.

“The problem with the other side of the aisle right now is everything is about scare tactics,” Fricilone told the Will County Gazette. “That’s all there is, forcing people to call along with your agenda.”

In Fricilone’s mind, the push being made by Democrats to get Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive income tax proposal offers a clear illustration. 

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.

Now running against Democrat Marie Newman in the 3rd Congressional District, Fricilone isn’t buying it.

“Again, they’re making up numbers to scare people to vote for progressive taxes,” he said. “The voters that I talk to are not in favor of this, partly because they don’t understand all the components of it given it allows the government the authority to tax anytime they want to. Despite what they say, this is not just a tax on the rich; it’s a tax on everybody in the state.”

Fricilone reasons the cost of that could be catastrophic for the state as a whole.

“It will mean a lot more people will leave the state and the tax burden on everyone that stays will only be increased over time,” he said.