Peoria Standard

Proposed tax hikes by gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker could not come at worse time for the state, Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) said at a recent news conference on Pritzker's proposed tax hikes.

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) also was in attendance, along with Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) and Rep. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria).

Spain said that there are no shortages of challenges in Illinois, with high taxes and a poor business climate topping the list.

Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Illinois)

"The challenges manifest themselves in some very difficult symptoms that hurt our state," he said. "When you have high taxes and a poor business climate, it is no wonder that we are the state leading the nation in population loss. There's no other place in America losing population faster than Illinois."

Spain also said the tax hikes couldn't come at a worse time, because the U.S. Census is in two years.

"Anyone running for governor has the responsibility to look at any policy decision they may be advocating and ask the questions: 'Does this help bring people back into the state of Illinois?' and 'Does this help attract and retain talent and jobs here in our communities?’ Spain said.

 “If you look at the notion of another tax increase, in this case, another graduated tax proposal advocated by Mr. Pritzker, the answer is no, this does not help us boost the population in the state of Illinois.”

Barickman believes Pritzker needs to come clean with voters before they cast their votes in November or in early voting, he said.

"Two things have emerged from Mr. Pritzker in his plans if he is in fact elected governor of the state," Barickman said. "First, he wants to spend more of your money."

Barickman said the second thing is that Pritzker wants to tax Illinoisans more.

"Gov. [Bruce] Rauner has consistently tried to lower the financial burden of our state, but the problems of the state pre-date him and are a result of decisions made from both sides of the aisle," he said. "Our state needs leadership, discipline and responsibility and a willingness to stand up to the Legislature and Speaker [Mike] Madigan, but Pritzker says, 'I'll be a go-along, get-along governor.’"

Barickman said Pritzker doesn't want to provide the leadership the state needs.