Metro East Sun

Former House candidate Mike Babcock worries what could become of Illinois if Gov. J.B. Pritzker gets his way with his progressive income tax proposal.

“My understanding is he is the only donor to have donated to this committee working to promote this legislation,” Babcock told the Metro East Sun of reports the governor contributed roughly $56.5 million to the Vote Yes to Fairness committee launched by one of his former deputies. He is the only individual to have contributed more than $250 to the cause.

Babcock, a Republican from Bethalto, said he can see the governor imagining an even bigger windfall to make the kind of moves he dreams of making in Springfield should voters sign off on the measure in November.

“The governor claims his progressive tax will only mean higher rates for what he calls the rich, but the reality is Democrats would be free to change this program any time they see fit to the point of taxing anyone they want to at any time they feel the need," Babcock said. "Besides that, if you’re going to tax the rich to the max, you run the risk of eventually chasing the people out of (state) that generate many of the jobs."

Through it all, the governor has sought to sell the tax as a change that will only mean higher rates for the state’s most affluent residents. Voters will finally have their say in November’s general election, where approval from 60% of those who vote on the issue or a majority of those who vote in the election overall is needed for passage.

Babcock is already clear about where he stands.

“Should this thing pass, it’s just a matter of time before it hits everybody,” he said. “You know there’s no way they can generate the level of revenue they’re looking for without tagging everyone with this tax.”