Metro East Sun

Former House candidate Mike Babcock, a Republican, dreams of the day when Springfield is more about service and less about politics.

“I think we need to see a fast exit from the likes of people such as (House Speaker) Mike Madigan,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun. “We need someone who truly cares about the people of the state and not just being in power.”

Babcock views Democrats' dogged push for a progressive tax to replace the current flat tax system as leading to just more of the same taxpayer abuse.

Even as Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to insist that the progressive tax he has been promoting since his days as a candidate will only mean higher taxes for the state’s richest residents, recent analysis by Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) finds that if it were to ever become law, it would easily wipe out all the 45,000 net jobs the state gained in 2019.

In all, IPI pegs the losses as in the neighborhood of more than 56,000 jobs.

“A tax like this is only designed to penalize people,” Babcock said. "But over time, it will only keep people moving out of Illinois. Any time you have a shrinking population and are losing jobs and businesses, it’s not a lasting way. In the end, the burden will only fall on those that are still here.”

In early November, voters across Illinois can have their voices heard on the issue when they go to the polls to vote on the question of if the state Constitution should be amended to allow lawmakers the power to enact a progressive tax system as a replacement to the current flat tax.

Between then and now, Babcock said he expects Democrats to do all they can to get the tax over the finish line.

“Quite frankly, they can’t help themselves,” he said. “They just can’t restrain themselves when it comes to spending. They see money and their impulse is to spend more, but you can’t account for any of it being spent in areas that might be needed. It’s just raise taxes and spend some more, that’s their whole strategy.”