Will County Gazette

Republican House Floor Leader Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) said the fact Democrats are again considering a progressive tax months after it failed showed the primary plan to address state financial issues is to raise taxes.

"I think it shows you just how out of ideas they are for how to get this state back on track," Batinick told the Will County Gazette. "It's really a bad thing that they have no other solutions for this state other than to raise taxes. The people have already shown they don't want this."

It's been nearly four months since voters rejected the progressive tax plan that Gov. J.B. Pritzker backed — which called for raising the tax rate on the state's wealthiest residents.

House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) said during a conversation with the Economic Club of Chicago that Democrats were considering the tax again, but this time, the state would use some of the revenues to cover pension costs. Illinois has $141 million in unfunded pension liabilities.

Batinick said he's sure voters have to be wondering what they have to do to get through to the people that are supposed to be representing them.

"It's clear the voters don't want this," he said. "I think what they're hoping is that people will be so worn down they won't have the spirit to fight it any longer. I took an active role in fighting it the last time around, and I'll be doing so again this time."

In November, the plan received just 47% of the 60% support it needed for passage despite Pritzker pumping millions of dollars of his money into a campaign aimed at getting it over the finish line.