Kendall County Times

Congressional candidate and state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) broods over the no-win situation he feels Gov. J.B. Pritzker has put Illinois residents in when it comes to their tax burden.

“If voters don't vote to raise their own taxes, then Pritzker is going to raise taxes on them, anyway,” Oberweis told the Kendall County Times. “If this is the choice in front of voters, then we must force the legislature and the governor to try to make good on that threat.”

Election Day, where the progressive tax measure Pritzker has been pushing since his days on the campaign trail is slated to be on the ballot in the form of a referendum question, is fast approaching. 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.

Now running against Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District, Oberweis argues the time for voters to take a stand against all the abuse is now.

“The best course of action for taxpayers is to vote ‘no’ on the progressive income tax and then vote down any legislator who votes further tax increases,” he said. “It is time to get control of runaway spending, not to keep raising taxes and driving more people out of Illinois."