Illinois Valley Times

Veteran state Rep. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) views voters’ sound rejection of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive tax plan as just another indicator of how far Springfield government has fallen in the eyes of many.

“I think the election spoke for itself in the way people from both sides of the aisle came together to say no to this tax,” Rezin told Illinois Valley Times. “Their actions stated loud and clear that they do not trust Springfield to raise their taxes as they see fit and the progressive tax opened the door for all of that.”

Despite the governor selling the tax he has been pushing since his days as a candidate as a measure that would only mean higher rates for the state’s richest residents and pumping more than $50 million of his own money into a campaign to sway more voters, the tax fail far short of netting the 60% support needed for passage.

“Again, it shows that voters from both parties do not feel the progressive tax was what it was being sold as,” Rezin added. “I think the middle class really figured that out and didn’t won’t to be stuck with bearing the brunt of everything.”

Rezin said she’s not surprised to now see a frustrated Pritzker now lashing out whenever he has a chance to, threatening everything from across-the-board tax hikes to “painful” budget cuts in order to counterbalance things as he sees fit.

“We’re always happy to sit with the governor and discuss any positive reforms that will encourage businesses to reopen and reemploy some of the many people that have been laid off,” she said. “Since the pandemic hit, I’ve said that’s what we need to be doing. While the governor is threatening to cut, many other states have been able to grow as businesses there have a seen a reason to reinvest, which isn’t the case here right now.”