Metro East Sun

Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer (Edwardsville) dreads what could be coming given the senate’s recent passage of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan.

“This is a huge red flag,” Plummer said in a press release. “Shifting from a flat tax to a graduated tax makes it even easier for politicians with no fiscal discipline to raise taxes again. No one in their right mind would give Springfield legislators a blank check to control tax rates.”

Serving the 54th District, Plummer has long spoken out in opposition of the plan Pritzker has been pushing since his days on the campaign trial. While supporters of the legislation argue it will only mean a tax increase for the state’s most wealthy, Plummer counters that there can be no guarantees.  

“Under Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1, there are no provisions in place to prevent future rates from being raised, creating greater uncertainty for taxpayers who are already on the fence about leaving Illinois,” he said. “It is important to note that since the governor announced the so-called ‘fair tax’ rates, they have already changed. The top marginal rate on this proposal has gone up and the income to which the top rate is subject for those filing separately has already come down by $250,000.”

Plummer said all the talk about the proposed tax being a step toward finally balancing the state’s budget strikes him as just more political rhetoric.

“Looking back to 2017, the record-setting $5 billion permanent income tax hike was supposed to balance the budget, but has failed to do so,” he said. “Whatever trust there was is gone. The same legislators who’ve promoted tax-and-spend policies for years, while refusing to rein in state spending, will be the first ones calling for future increases.”

The 54th State Senate District encompasses all or portions of Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Madison, Marion, St. Clair and Washington Counties.