Metro East Sun

Republican state House hopeful Amy Elik shudders to think of what could easily be Illinois’ future.

“The passing of the progressive income tax would further damage Illinois' already low reputation and our economy would further suffer for it,” Elik told the Metro East Sun. “Outmigration continues to erode our tax base. Without spending reforms, this will cause fewer and fewer citizens to carry the burden of the state's massive budgets.”

Elik, who faces state Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) in the 111th District, is also sounding the alarm about the tax Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been trumpeting since his days on the campaign trial almost definitely paving the way for more of the same.

A new report by the Tax Foundation details how the state’s competitive position would dramatically fall if the progressive tax proposal Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been pushing since his days as a candidate becomes law. If the measure passes, researchers report Illinois’ overall ranking would tumble all the way down to 47th in the U.S. for business competitiveness, ahead of only New Jersey and California.

“Gov. Pritzker has placed his bets that the amendment will solve our fiscal problems when in reality it will compound them,” Elik added. “Instead, we need to support our current flat tax. At the same time, we need to pass fiscally sound budgets that support our most vulnerable citizens, rather than giving legislators pay raises.”

Elik insists that’s only half the battle in terms of putting the long troubled state back on sound financial ground.

“We need to continue to support pro-business legislation that will bring valuable jobs back to Illinois,” she said. “As a CPA and auditor, and as a state representative, I'll make it my mission to see that Illinois is brought back to fiscally responsible governance.”