Kendall County Times

Former Kendall County Republican Chairman James Marter (R-Oswego), now a candidate for U.S. Rep. in Illinois' 14th Congressional District, is admittedly frustrated by the current Democratic leadership's tax-and-spend policies.

“I have friends that have already moved away from Illinois because our taxes are too high and now we’re looking to take even more,” Marter told the Kendall County Times. “What business wants to come to Illinois knowing you can’t keep any qualified workers because no one wants to stay here due to all the taxes?”

The latest levy now being proposed comes in the form of a progressive income-tax system that Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been pushing since his days as a candidate. 

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker

“I know they’re selling it as just a tax on the rich, but when you tax the rich they just pack up and leave,” Marter said. “The bottom line is this bill will raise taxes on everyone and this is just a backdoor way of doing that.”

Marter says he is hoping voters will save themselves by rejecting an amendment set to appear on the ballot next November that would pave the way for lawmakers to change the current flat income-tax system to a progressive or graduated tax structure, what Pritzker is calling a '"fair tax." 

“If we don’t stop this, there will be a collapse of everything,” Marter said. “It’s going to squeeze people’s budget and will accelerate their plans to get out and find somewhere less taxing to live. Why don’t they try to cut something instead of just raising taxes?”

Marter argues that it is not by coincidence that similar tax systems have not lived up to expectations in other states. Revenues in California have been barely half of what was promised, and Connecticut has lost more than $10 billion and 360,000 jobs since switching to a progressive income-tax rate.

“It’s a very bad idea and will only add to the mass exodus out of Illinois,” Marter said.