Rockford Sun

Republican state House candidate Kathie Hansen doesn’t mince words in expressing her outrage over the tactics J.B. Pritzker has turned to in the name of ramming through his progressive tax proposal.

“I am beyond angry that the governor would stoop to the extortion of citizens by threatening to steal our money in other ways if we won’t agree to give it to him for the way he wants it,” Hansen told the Rockford Sun. "What he’s doing should be criminal. At the very least I know it’s without morals. It’s outright tyranny and the governor is like the classroom bully only interested in getting his way no matter who he hurts.”

With the progressive tax proposal Pritzker has been selling since his days as a candidate far from a sure thing when it appears on the Nov. 3 ballot, 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.

“You have to wonder why the governor is investing as much time and energy as he is into getting this passed,” added Hansen, who is now running against state Rep. Maurice West Jr. (D-Rockford) in the 67th District. “It’s got to be something in it for him and it probably has something to do with some business deal that will profit him in some way.”

In the event either of the two proposals actually becomes law, Hansen said she fears what it will mean for Illinois.

“You’ll see even more businesses closing and residents fleeing,” she said. “I fear older people will also have more money taken out of their pockets, with all of it coming at the worst time possible with pretty much everyone financially hurting right now.”