Higher taxes bad for Illinoisans

Headlines across Illinois today tell us why we cannot trust lawmakers with the money they already take from us and should not trust them with even more.

The headlines tell us of a federal indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and key political insiders that is even more damning than the criminal complaint that led to Blagojevich's arrest nearly four months ago.

Over the years we have seen plenty of local and state politicians and political insiders go to prison. We've also seen billions of dollars stolen and wasted by these government criminals. Yet Gov. Pat Quinn and top lawmakers tell us they plan to take billions of dollars more from us by raising the state income tax 50 percent and imposing other fee and tax increases. Tax and fee increases would be more than bad economics in a state that already has one of the worst economies in the Midwest. They would also be a way for lawmakers to continue corruption as usual and avoid giving us something resembling honest government.

Steve Stanek

McHenry