U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) is being diplomatic as far as the Republican gubernatorial primary is concerned.
In a recent interview on the Politically Speaking podcast Shimkus said he currently has no plans to endorse a candidate and is waiting until after the primary before he lends support for incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Shimkus' remarks about the GOP primary for governor came during the interview is which he addressed the massive tax reform bill discussed in the House. Like most of the Republican caucus, Shimkus wanted to see a major overhaul of the federal tax code.
Shimkus, for one, sees the move as doing what the people have been asking for for years. Over the past 20 years, Shimkus said, he has been espousing a fair, flat tax code so people can see what exactly they are paying for and what they will expect to pay each year.
“People believe the tax code is too complex,” Shimkus said during the interview. “They like it simple. They wish they didn’t have to go to an accountant.”
In order to accomplish the transparency and simplification so desired, he said, the deductions have to be taken away. While the majority of people he has heard from are relatively happy with the new proposed fix to taxes, there are some, mainly the uber-wealthy, who see the new code as Uncle Sam digging even deeper into their pockets.
“We want clarity and simplicity.” Shimkus said. This will have to be true for not only the individual, but the corporations.
Could the tax cut mean a see-saw effect on the federal deficit? Less taxes, more debt? Shimkus envisions that the tax fix will spark economic growth instead.
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