Will County Gazette

State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) views Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest tax hike threats as another one of his knee-jerk reactions.

“He sees his argument about his progressive tax being about fairness starting to flop and this is the reaction you would expect from him,” McDermed told the Will County Gazette. “Let’s hope voters are smart enough to see through everything and view this for the money grab on the middle class that it is. Ultimately, that’s the only way they will get anything from this, by putting everything on the shoulders of the middle class.”

With Election Day fast approaching where the measure will appear on the ballot as a referendum, 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.

“As people are learning more about this tax, they’re understanding that it’s a bad deal and so now you’re seeing the threats start to pile up,” McDermed added. ‘It’s a style the governor has become known for.”

McDermed fears things could get worse before they get better.

“I think if Democrats don’t get a hold of these mistakes and start thinking about how to reduce the cost of government it will continue to slow the growth of jobs in the state and we’ll continue down this bad trajectory where new jobs with good, long-term ability to support a family are going to continue to go other places,” she said.