State Rep. Dan Caulkins | Contributed photo
State Rep. Dan Caulkins | Contributed photo
State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) doubts anyone can be surprised by the investment Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proved willing to undertake to make certain his progressive tax proposal becomes law.
The Chicago Tribune reports the governor recently made another $51.5 million contribution to a ballot initiative committee dedicated to supporting progressive tax legislation he has been backing since his days as a candidate. Vote Yes to Fairness, a committee headed by the governor’s former deputy campaign manager, recently pocketed the funds and is already at work selling legislation that would convert the current flat-tax to a progressive tax system.
“He has to do this because he’s included the income from that tax hike into the budget,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “If the progressive tax doesn’t pass, that’s another billion dollar hole in his already out-of-whack budget. He really doesn’t have a choice because no one else is going to fund a media campaign to raise taxes on everybody in the state.”
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.
“It’s interesting that he thinks this is what it’ll take to trick people into voting to put another tax on themselves,” Caulkins added. “The bottom line is this will mean a higher tax for everyone. All of us are going to lose out on this and the biggest losers will be retirees because every state that has a progressive tax on the books also taxes retiree income. There’s no mystery here about who he’s going after.”
From Day One, Pritzker has sought to sell the tax as a change that will only mean 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.
"The governor knows it's just a matter of time before this tax will hit everyone, yet he keeps selling it as something other than that," Caulkins added.
Alerts Sign-up