Elect Kirk, stop higher taxes

The country's deficit is ballooning out of control, and some politicians in Washington have a plan to fix it without raising income taxes: a value-added tax (VAT) that Democrats want to add to existing taxes in order to fund an ever-expansive federal government. The VAT is a tax on goods and services at each stage of production, from the raw materials to the store, which consumers pay in the form of a hidden sales tax. In effect, the VAT will make everything we buy much more expensive.

Luckily, Illinois voters can stop this from happening because we have Mark Kirk and a special election.

The Democrats' best chance to impose a VAT and ensure more taxes, larger government, and higher unemployment is after the November election but before the new Congress takes power in January the "lame duck" session when they have nothing to lose. We have the chance to stop this destructive tax that would cripple the economy and make all Americans poorer because we can send a new senator to Washington immediately after the election.

If that senator is Mark Kirk, Illinois voters can deny the Democrats in Washington more of the taxpayers' money and end their reckless spending and irresponsible governing.

Jack Morrissey

Crystal Lake