Metro East Sun

Illinois state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) says he is starting to see signs of his worst nightmare coming to life..

“I voted 'no' on this thing and my greatest fear was that it was going to cause even more people, including job creators, to leave the state and take their resources with them,” McClure told the Metro East Sun of the progressive tax plan Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been promoting since his days as a candidate. “This is not what Illinois needs right now.”

McClure points to a recent Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) report that finds the proposed Pritzker tax, which targets the higher rates for the state’s most affluent residents, it could result in the loss of of all the 45,000 jobs Illinois gained in 2019. In all, IPI projects that 56,399 jobs statewide would be lost. On a per capital basis adjusted to take into account the number of employed residents, McClure’s 50th Senate District would lose 1,800 jobs.

The 50th District is in central Illinois and includes all of Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Pike, and Scott counties as well as portions of Macoupin, Madison, Jersey and Sangamon counties.

“I’m concerned that if this thing passes the General Assembly will be able to raise taxes at different rates anytime they won’t to do so,” McClure added.  “Things are already bad enough in Illinois when it comes to taxes.”

Later this year voters will determine if the state constitution should be amended to allow lawmakers the authority to enact a progressive tax system to replace the current flat tax.

Over time, McClure said he’s come to understand why Democrats push as hard for tax increases.

“It’s just part of their care,” he said. “Something about their crazy beliefs have them thinking if you have more money you need to give them more. In my view government should act for as little as possible and being as efficient as they can be.”