It started with the progressive income tax. Then they came after Netflix. And gasoline. And video gambling. And retailers. All in, Illinois lawmakers before the spring legislative session ends will push 19 new or increased taxes worth nearly $7 billion.

This onslaught of tax proposals is hurtling toward passage by the May 31 adjournment. If all of these backdoor middle-class tax hikes go through, any potential “relief” Illinoisans are supposed to see under the governor’s progressive income tax will quickly disappear.

Why are Springfield lawmakers and our new bully billionaire governor trying to make taxpayers the only defense against decades of fiscal mismanagement by their state government? Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s single strategy is a progressive income tax. This, along with the other 18 tax schemes, makes clear that taxpayers will be sacrificed so the leaders may avoid facing spending reforms that would actually solve the problem.

Nearly 10,000 Illinoisans have filed witness slips against the progressive tax amendment that has cleared the Senate and awaits a vote of the House. That’s unprecedented. Nearly 100,000 Illinoisans have signed a petition asking their lawmakers to vote against the progressive income tax.

Why won’t the governor and Springfield lawmakers listen?

Everyone agrees the progressive tax won't generate enough revenue to take care of the structural deficit, let alone pensions. No Republicans support the proposal. Even Democrats are peeling off the plan because they know it means tax hikes for their middle-class constituents.

So Pritzker is now taking desperate measures, such as removing anti-progressive tax Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Smithton, by giving him a cushy agency directorship (and a reason to resign from the House). Costello was the first of his party to oppose the tax because of constituent opposition; his replacement should also heed taxpayers, as two more Democrats recently have said they’ll likely do.

Kristen McQueary: Pritzker's gas tax: Well, it's not a soda tax so, good to go? »

When state representatives have the audacity to oppose the governor’s proposal, Pritzker responds by attacking them. That’s what happened when these two Democrats, state Reps. Sam Yingling of Grayslake and Jonathan Carroll of Northbrook, recently said the progressive tax was the wrong choice for their constituents.

Pritzker responded to their pro-constituent decision by saying, "Those who oppose this (progressive tax) plan are siding with millionaires and the very wealthy against everyday Illinoisans, and they need to offer an alternative that will fix our state's long-standing fiscal challenges."

Fortunately, plenty of alternatives — many of them with bipartisan support — are ready for consideration within the Capitol.

The most important legislation in play in Springfield is a plan to fix Illinois’ $133 billion pension crisis. Two companion bills (HJRCA 21 and SJRCA 9) would amend the state constitution so it still protects earned benefits but would allow for changes to future benefit accruals. They’ve already been filed in the General Assembly and could be moved ahead immediately. After amending the constitution, lawmakers should reintroduce reforms similar to those passed through the Democratic supermajority-controlled General Assembly and signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013.

School district consolidation would save $2.9 billion over five years but still allow us to invest more money in classrooms, students and teachers by reducing administrative bloat. This reform could move ahead immediately if legislators adopt House Bill 3053, a bold piece of legislation from suburban Democrat Tom Cullerton.

House Speaker Michael Madigan in 2012 supported aligning responsibility for setting retirement benefits with accountability for paying these retirement benefits at schools and universities. These two policies alone would save $12.2 billion over five years.

Taxpayers are already paying the second-highest property taxes in the country, paying the sixth-highest sales taxes and paying the fifth-highest overall tax burden. For fairness, it is time to limit automatic pay raises for some of the nation’s highest-paid state workers. Gov. Pritzker should also take the lead on right-sizing group health insurance costs while maintaining quality care. These steps could save $4.2 billion over five years.

It’s time for Pritzker to stop making Illinois taxpayers the only solution. It’s time for the governor to scrap his progressive tax push and move against the costs that drive up Illinoisans’ taxes and drive out their public services.

The alternatives to never-ending taxation are out there. It’s time for Springfield to listen, be brave and lead.

John Tillman is CEO for the Illinois Policy Institute, a Chicago-based research organization.

Editorial: When taxpayers trust Springfield ... Part 1: The 'College Illinois' debacle »

Editorial: When taxpayers trust Springfield ... Part 2: 'Give us the tax hike, we'll fix Illinois!' »

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.