McHenry Times

Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-St. Charles) believes he speaks for most Illinois voters in dismissing renewed talk of a progressive tax hike as a viable option in tackling the state’s debt.

“I know people look for ways to resolve budget problems without having to address the bigger issues like pensions, workmen’s compensation or creating new jobs,” Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter. “But the taxpayers of this state do not want this, and they’ve been clear about expressing it.”

A few months after voters rejected a similar tax plan, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) recently suggested Democrats may be on the verge of seeking a redo on the issue.

Welch said any new plan would call for most of the new tax revenue to support paying down the state’s $141 billion pension fund debt. Ugaste said it’s just more of the same Democratic talking points.

“It’s never easy to raise taxes, but I think Democrats believe it’s easier than doing the real things we need to be doing to get our spending under control,” he said. “Voters will be strongly against the idea again and probably even more upset that their message was not received the first time around.”

Ugaste said he’s one of the sponsors of a resolution that all 45 GOP lawmakers have signed off on stipulating that any such proposal be stopped in its tracks.

In November, voters overwhelmingly shot down a similar proposal when the initiative gained just over 47% of the 60% support it needed for passage. The measure came up short despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker pumping millions of dollars of his own money into a campaign designed to get it over the finish line.