Lake County Gazette

Veteran state Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) isn't a fan of the new way Gov. J.B. Pritzker is doing business in Springfield.

“Threatening voters to do something they wouldn’t normally do is no way to govern,” Wilcox told the Lake County Gazette. “Everything this administration does stems from some kind of threat to do this or else. That’s not the kind of of the people, for the people and by the people kind of government were supposed to have.”

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.

Wilcox fumes he doesn’t think any of it has to be.

“If we continue to just seek additional taxes the population and business exodus will both continue to rise,” he added. “People are leaving Illinois because they don’t like the way it’s governed or the future they see for the state as a result of that.”

For the sake of everyone, Wilcox argues the time for change is now.

“If we want Illinois to be the best version of itself we have to get away from these tax-and-spend policies,” he said. “The voters are clearly telling us that’s not what they want.”