Sangamon Sun

In the eyes of state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield), Gov. J.B. Pritzker has a lot more invested in his progressive income tax proposal than just the $51 million he recently contributed to a ballot initiative committee working to get the legislation passed in November.

“The push for this tax increase is his ideology,” McClure told the Sangamon Sun. “It’s who he is; he philosophically believes people should pay a lot in taxes and this makes it easier for Democrats to make those adjustments. With this constitutional amendment, lawmakers can decide to raise taxes on anyone at anytime.”

The Chicago Tribune reports the governor recently made the donation to Vote Yes to Fairness, a committee headed by the governor’s former deputy campaign manager as a replacement for the current flat-tax system. In addition to being the only individual to contribute more than $250, Pritzker’s latest gift comes on a top of an earlier donation of $5 million.

“If the rates that have been talked about are always going to be consistent, why not put those percentages as part of the amendment,” McClure added. “The reason is they want the flexibility to raise taxes on any level at any time. Every time there’s a tax increase, it’s always sold as, 'Just do this and all will be fine.' It never is because we don’t have a taxing problem but rather a spending problem.”

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.