Metro East Sun

Dwight Kay thinks most Illinois residents are near the end of the line when it comes to how much more of the “freight train” of tax abuse they are willing to accept.

“I think if you see this mileage tax that they’re now talking about go through you will hear an outcry of opposition not heard before in this state,” he told the Metro East Sun. “I think you will see more people than ever now leaving this state in a mass exodus you wouldn’t believe.”

Kay, who is running against Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) in Illinois’ 112th District, fears that some of the loudest reverberations could come from his neck of the woods. Illinois News Network reports that the plan would require motorists to track all the miles they travel with a device placed in their vehicle. The owner or driver would then be billed according to miles traveled.

Rep. Katie Stuart

“Everyone in Southern Illinois says that they would never put anything like that in their car,” he said. “This has gotten the attention of almost everyone down here and they’re all tired of all the foolishness coming out of Springfield.”

Kay said he isn’t surprised to hear the plan has gained at least a level of support from Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker.

“It plays into all the tax and spend policy ideas he’s put forth,” he said. “It’s obvious that we need to stop all the spending and get our budget in order. Right now, we don’t even know where all the money we’re collecting is going.”

As for his opponent, Kay said she seems to want whatever House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) supports.

“She’s a tax-and-spend Democrat just like him,” he said. “She’s shown no fiscal restraint at all; everything for her is about heaping more on the backs of taxpayers.”

Kay said it was only a matter of time before taxpayers had enough.

“It’s hard to keep pouring money into something and never having anything to show for it,” he said.

Illinois’ 112th District includes Bethalto, Caseyville, Fairmont City, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, Shiloh and Swansea.