Lake County Gazette

Republican state Senate candidate Chris Kasperski is warning frustrated residents not to look to Democrats in Springfield for relief or guidance.

“The governor must stop trying to deceive voters into accepting his doublespeak, throwing his millions into a propaganda campaign that suggests the fair thing to do is to mistreat some Illinoisians,” Kasperski told the Lake County Gazette. “Our neighboring states are benefiting from Chicago's stranglehold on Springfield's senses. It seems their only solution is to continue making the same mistakes.”

As the latest example of all the madness, Kasperski, who is running against state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) in the 31st District, points to lawmakers now being in the midst of again raising corporate tax rates, this time with the hit coming at the same time that neighboring Indiana is in the process of almost cutting its rates by half.

And with Gov. J.B. Pritzker now pushing his progressive tax proposal nonstop, Kasperski is among those cautioning things could get worse before they get better if Pritzker gets his way. Small businesses would particularly be hard hit, with tax rates on some operations jumping by as much as 47% at a time when the industry is already reeling from the impact of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

“We cannot keep chasing away people who could invest elsewhere,” Kasperski added. “Sen. Bush has inexplicably voted for such tax increases that have harmed local businesses and benefited their competitors right across the state line. We must refuse to accept that lack of leadership in the upcoming election.”

Kasperski added lawmakers need to recognize that the state’s losses are becoming the gains of neighboring states that have gleefully opened their arms to frustrated Illinois residents.

“They are mocking us with their billboards thanking Illinois for the increased businesses, as those who can make the trek across state lines are patronizing a lot more businesses that will help them save considerably, especially during these trying times,” he said. “We need to remember that our local businesses have been harmed tremendously by the policies that have ravaged our state for years, as well as the heavy-handed approach that the Illinois lawmakers have passed to allow Gov. Pritzker tremendous arbitrary powers to regulate every aspect of our lives and businesses in the name of public health.”