Illinois taxpayers should not have to pay the cost of a Democratic lack of accountability, a Libertarian leader told Metro East Today recently.

“I feel that the proposed $5.4 billion in tax increases, which could possibly expand to $7 billion, is not the best measure to be taken to resolve the fiscal issues in Illinois," Jake Leonard, a former candidate for the 95th House District and current chairman of the Tri-Counties Libertarian Party, said. “With the state’s debt and unpaid liabilities increasing by the minute, it is not right for any taxpayer, regardless of political affiliation, to be penalized with more taxes just because the Democratic majority is incapable of creating a balanced budget, which is mandated in the Illinois Constitution -- more or less balance their own checkbooks.”

The tax increase is the latest in a series of high-dollar fiscal proposals from Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and his colleagues.



Jake Leonard

"Manar certainly hasn’t had the best interests of his constituents in mind since he’s become senator," Leonard said. "He’s pushed for tax hikes and other proposed taxes that would do far more harm to the lower and middle classes than the wealthiest 1 percent of residents, especially within the 48th District. He was elected to express the concerns and represent the best interests of his constituents in the 48th District, not do the first and then choose to represent in favor of the interests of Chicago instead."

Utilizing their overwhelming majority in the Illinois General Assembly, Democrats pushed through a budget that contains a $5.4 billion tax increase on Tuesday. No Republicans supported the measure, and Gov. Bruce Rauner has vowed to veto any budget without a property tax freeze.

The budget would raise the state income tax rate to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent and expand sales and use taxes on goods and services.

“People are leaving Illinois because they’re sick and tired of excessive taxation, and these new taxes will only ensure more people leave the state for more individual-friendly and business-friendly states,” Leonard said. “An Illinois Policy Institute study currently shows one person leaves Illinois every 4.5 minutes as of result of this state devolving to the point of being against the individual and hostile toward businesses and corporations, making small businesses suffer the most.”

Under the bill, the sales tax would expand to apply to laundry services, security and alarm services, and tattoo and piercing products and services, among others. A franchise tax of 5 percent would also be levied on satellite television services.