The unfair tax proposal will cost us our future

Stop saying the progressive income tax will lead to property tax relief, because it won't. Stop saying it won't be a middle-class tax hike, because it will.

Politicians say Illinois needs the progressive tax because it will fix all of the state's problems. They want us to make a decision based on a false premise; they're selling snake oil. Taxpayers know the truth. We know it will cost us our future.

This is the third major tax hike proposal in a decade. The General Assembly has done nothing to address Illinois' structural spending problems. Everyone agrees that the progressive tax won't generate enough revenue to take care of the budget deficit, let alone pensions. The typical family in Kane County would have to pay $2,700 to $3,900 more in income taxes in order to bring in enough revenue.

Lawmakers are already trying to backdoor middle-class tax hikes through things like the gas tax and Netflix tax. If all of these tax hikes went into effect, any minimal relief folks could see from a progressive tax will be nonexistent. Instead, we will be even worse off.

Here's what I want to know from suburban state representatives who claim to represent us, such as Reps. Jonathan Carroll, Daniel Didech, Mary Edly-Allen and Marty Moylan: When the progressive tax inevitably fails to generate enough revenue, then what will you do?

We already know the answer is hike taxes. It's time to listen to your constituents: Do what's right and table the progressive income tax.

In fact, no Illinois taxpayer should be subjected to a tax increase of any sort until the rapid and uncontrolled growth in liabilities is adequately addressed.

Connie Cain

Gilberts