Metro East Sun

Tom McRae says he was saddened but not shocked by the record 32 percent income tax increase enacted by Illinois this summer.

“Raising taxes on middle-class families seems to be only solution to the political class currently in Springfield,” the Madison County Board member told the Metro East Sun. “It’s clear that won’t solve the problem, but common sense doesn’t seem to be too common in Illinois.”

McRae argues that the $36.1 billion budget plan that included the income tax hike illustrates the need for major change in government.

Bill Haine

“Illinois has a spending problem and not a tax problem,” McRae said. “These latest increases and this new budget plan just bear that out. I totally disagree with the increase because Illinois cannot attract new businesses or retain the talented people we have by pushing more jobs out of state. If you look at the recent tax increases and combine that with the high property tax levels and the workmen’s comp issues, that’s the only conclusion you can come to in terms of what impact this is having.”

McRae particularly feels for his Madison County constituents, whom he says have long been plagued by what he considers to be poor representation in Springfield. 

Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) was one of 36 senators to vote to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of the budget bill.

“People in Madison County need more of voice,” McRae said. “The county has been controlled by Dems for the majority of the last 100 years, and we need new voices in Springfield that will stand up for middle-class families and bring checks and balances to (House Speaker Mike) Madigan’s stranglehold.”

McRae said he doesn’t think Illinois families can take much more and that the rising out-migration numbers across the state are reflective of that.

“Families have gotten to their absolute limit,” he said. “The entire system needs a complete overhaul and major reforms. We’ve gotten to the point where monthly property taxes are higher than mortgages for some families.  The only way forward is cuts and reforms. There’s not a household around where isn’t some expense that can be reduced.”