Republican candidate Doug Jameson is concerned that lawmakers want to use a proposed progressive tax plan to enable the government instead of the people.

“The flat tax part is the only attractive element of the tax system we have and now they want to do away with that,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “I’m totally opposed. Despite it being billed as something that would only impact the rich, it would start hitting people who make as little as $17,000. All it would do is drive more people out of Illinois.”

Legislators in May passed House Resolution 1025, a non-binding endorsement of a progressive tax system that states lawmakers “stand united in support of a fair and progressive income tax that must reduce taxes on low and middle-income families while raising taxes on the wealthiest Illinoisans.”

The resolution comes after Democratic lawmakers failed earlier this year to pass a progressive tax rate. House Bill 3522, also known as the Friendly Act, would have increased income taxes on Illinoisans earning as little as $17,300 a year, according to the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI). 

Jameson, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District, said taxes are the primary concern for voters.

“Most all the people I talk to say the top issue in the state for them is taxes,” he said. “All of them say the same thing. We’re not just taxed enough, but we’ve allowed the system to get over-burdensome for practically everyone.”

Some economists have also sounded the alarm about the likelihood of such a tax system further weakening an already battered economy.

“We’ve got to cap property taxes and start to choose for ourselves what services we need and can afford,” Jameson said. “Beyond that, we need to start consolidating units of government. Right now, we have twice as many units as a state like Texas with only half the population. We have to look at being far more efficient and cutting all this wasteful spending.”