Kendall County Times

State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) argues Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s actions clearly speak for themselves.

“If anyone ever doubted how committed the Democrats are to raising taxes even higher in Illinois, look no further than the $51.5 million Gov. Pritzker just gave to help convince voters to approve his progressive income tax,” Oberweis, who is now running against U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District, told the Kendall County Times. “Make no mistake; the progressive income tax is nothing more than another jobs-killing tax increase in Illinois.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, Vote Yes to Fairness, a committee headed by the governor’s former deputy campaign manager, received the funds and is already hard at work trying to push the progressive tax Pritzker has sought since his days as a candidate over the finish line come November.

In addition to being the only individual to contribute more than $250, Pritzker’s latest gift comes on a top of an earlier donation of $5 million.

From Day One, the governor has sought to sell the tax as a change to the current flat-tax system and implement higher rates for the state’s most affluent residents. Voters will have their say in November’s general election, where approval from 60% of those who vote on the issue or a majority of those who vote in the election overall is needed for passage.

Between now and Election Day, Oberweis said he plans to do all he can to stymie the governor’s efforts as not being in the state’s best interests.

“Illinois has nearly 7,000 units of local government and has some of the highest taxes in the nation,” he said. “If raising taxes was the answer to Illinois’ financial woes, why is Illinois still struggling despite multiple tax increases in the last 10 years? Raising taxes does not work. We need to find ways to rein in spending and get our economy growing again. Raising taxes will cost jobs – not create them. We need reforms – not more jobs-killing tax hikes.”