Will County Gazette

Illinois House Minority Leader Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) has some stern advice for Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“It’s the wrong approach; everything he’s proposing is about more taxes,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette. “What we need is a system with more efficiency and a plan that grows the economy. Just proposing more taxes is not the answer.”

Batinick said it’s no wonder the governor’s team is now feeling the need to try threatening voters into supporting the progressive tax plan he’s been pushing since taking over in Springfield. 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.

Batinick broods that’s just more of the same way of thinking that has landed the cash-strapped state in its troubled predicament.

“They have no ideas other than to raise taxes even more and to spend even more money,” Batinick added. “There are no ideas for actually growing the tax base or adding to the job count. In the end, Democrats are just a one-trick pony where taxing and spending more are all that matters.”

In these changing times, Batinick argues the climate couldn’t be worse for such a reckless style of governing.  

“A system of tax, tax, tax is never the answer, and that’s especially true during the time of a recession” he said. “We can’t afford to just keeping losing more people. Our outmigration issues already have us heading in the wrong direction.”