Blagojevich is no friend to taxpayers

It was quite shocking to read John Patterson's recent article "Will your taxes rise if Blagojevich goes?" in which Gov. Blagojevich is portrayed, or at least alleged to be perceived by many, as a defender of taxpayers.

In fact, just last year Blagojevich championed a gross receipts tax on businesses and a new payroll tax on selected companies that would have resulted in the largest single-year state tax increase in a decade. The consensus among economists of all political stripes is that a gross receipts tax is one of the most economically adverse methods for filling government coffers.

Blagojevich's proposal, dubbed the "Illinois Tax Fairness" plan, represented a $7 billion net tax hike ($550 per Illinois resident). The legislature, to their credit, defeated it.

The governor's tax hike would have led to a markedly higher cost of living and made the Land of Lincoln a less attractive place to live, work, start a business and invest. Illinois taxpayers have nothing to fear from Blagojevich's departure.

Patrick Gleason

Americans for Tax Reform

Washington, D.C.