McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) thinks every Democrat General Assembly candidate should have to answer for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest tax threat.

“I think it’s fair to know where they stand on the issue because Democrats have been promoting his progressive tax,” Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter. “I think every voter has a right to know.”

With voters set to determine the fate of the tax the governor has been pushing since his days as a candidate in roughly a month, 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.

“I’ve never been a fan of that style of governance, where you’re threatening people with something else if they don’t go along with what you want,” Ugaste said. “It’s just about intimidation and bullying.”

In the end, Ugaste said the situation revolves around the same things that always seem to take precedent over everything else in Springfield.

“If they do raise taxes by that amount that type of increase based on government projections would bring in more revenue than the fair tax is supposed to bring in,” he said. “That tells me some people are just interested in more taxing and spending.”

Ugaste laments it all comes at a steep price.

“Residents are already getting crushed and can’t find afford another tax,” he said. “People are leaving Illinois because of all the taxes. We need to create efficiencies, stop all the spending and see where we are with that. Instead, we keep going back to the same things where we think taxing more and more is the answer.”