Metro East Sun

State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) fumes Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s timing is about as bad as his policies.

“Raising taxes in the middle of the current economic crisis is completely foolhardy,” Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “We will only continue to deteriorate as a state if the governor gets what he wants.”

A new Illinois Policy Institute analysis projects that small businesses across the state soon could be forced to pay as much as a 50.3% marginal income tax rate should the tax appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot in the form of a referendum question garner the support it needs for passage. Ignoring growing warnings from many that the tax stands to handcuff small business owners even more, the governor continues to push his signature proposal as one that will only mean higher tax rates for the state’s most affluent residents.

At around 60% of net job creation, small business owners currently rank as the state’s biggest job creators. But those numbers could soon be on the decline, with researchers finding an increase in the top marginal tax rate could mean a slide in the hiring practices of entrepreneurs and slumping earnings for workers.

“The governor simply doesn’t understand how small business works or what it means to employ people in one of those positions,” Plummer added. “He is a man born into elaborate wealth who has undergone great to avoid taxes. Raising taxes on the people of Illinois is no big deal, and he doesn’t appreciate the consequences of that.”

Plummer fears what it all could mean for the already struggling state.

“Illinois will continue to shrink and deteriorate unless we restore confidence in the economy,” he said. “We need to get this economy turned around and the way to do that is to empower small businesses, grow jobs and grow our tax base and revenues.”

As the situation grows more dire, Plummer still questions if Pritzker has gotten to the point where he’s ready to do what he thinks needs to be done.

“The reality is the governor doesn’t see himself being here in 10 years so he’s not as worried,” he said. “He doesn’t feel he’ll be one of us to have to put the pieces of a shattered state back together. To him, Illinois is a steppingstone for all his other personal ambitions.”