Lake County Gazette

Republican state House candidate Dan Yost is convinced the state can’t tax its way out of its current danger zone.

“It is going to make more of a difference, just not a good one,” Yost told the Lake County Gazette of the progressive tax being pushed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that’s set to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot in the form of a referendum. “It’s a bad tax at a really bad time and I believe it will devastate our economy. If we had people flocking to Illinois for the booming economy, the great jobs and low cost of living this would still be a bad idea.”

With the state far removed from such conditions, Yost, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) in the 61st District, argues the tax makes even less sense for the already financially fragile state.

“This tax is going to make things worse, especially on the heels of shutting down the economy over COVID-19,” he added. “People are fleeing, jobs are disappearing, and politicians seem to be looking for more ways to make Illinois more unaffordable.”

Yost, an Antioch resident, said he can’t see how it would be lost on voters that lawmakers in Springfield are back seeking more of their hard-earned income just three years after imposing a record-setting permanent income tax hike that rose personal and corporate rates by an average of nearly 33%.

Yost laments another increase only assures more of the same recklessness.

“The more money Springfield has to spend, the more people, businesses and organizations are dependent upon the government,” he said. “When you try and rein in spending, someone or some group is going to be upset that their funding was cut and that could endanger a politician’s chances for re-election. Figuring out how to fix our problems here in Illinois is simple but actually fixing them is hard and it takes courage and time and the acknowledgement that we have a problem to begin with.”

Between now and Election Day, Yost said he plans on warning as many voters as he can about the dangers of essentially granting Springfield a blank check by passing the tax.

"The more revenue they get, the more debt they can ‘afford’ and so the more they spend,” he said. “It isn’t complicated. The state needs to exercise discipline and learn to live within our means. If they won’t do it, then it’s up to the voters to impose it. Now is the time for voters to stand united and insist on fiscal discipline not tax hikes.”