Lake County Gazette

Republican state Senate hopeful Thomas McCullagh is hoping taxpayers have had enough of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s strong-arm tactics.

“He’s trying to scare people into going along with his way of thinking,” McCullagh told the Lake County Gazette. “The bullying is emblematic of the way he’s done things since arriving 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.

Now running against incumbent state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) in the 49th District, McCullagh argues any tax increase is the last thing residents across the state want to see.

“They keep trying to sell it as just a tax on the wealthy, but people don’t want any more taxes, period” McCullagh added. “They’re overburdened already and they know this will be a tax on jobs by forcing more of them down the toilet.”

In the end, McCullagh fears if either of the two scenarios were to play out, it would only mean more of the same struggles for the cash-strapped state.

“You’ll see even more businesses leave in droves and the income brackets will be adjusted so that they hit even more people,” he said. “I think they’ll also see be a tax on retirement income and you’ll see more retirees leaving the state along with the businesses. It could be one of the final death knells for the state.”