State reaches again for our pocketbook

A few weeks ago it was the Stroger machine digging into the working family's pocket. Now it is our elected legislators in Springfield.

Instead of being more fiscally responsible and tightening up the state budget and reducing waste, the elected men and women in Springfield are ramming SB 2288 down our throats.

Senate Bill 2288 has many of the ugly characteristics of the tax swap and HB 750 married with the false promises of reducing our property taxes and improving the funding for public education.

We are all to believe, suddenly, Springfield and our governor are going to become miraculously more proficient in collecting and distribution our tax dollars, giving up all the back-room shady deals and pork-barrel spending which ultimately hinders the progress of education, businesses and families here in Illinois?

Reading about the Rezko trial daily in this paper places doubt on the ability of our state government to do anything ethical, let alone spend our tax dollars wisely.

SB 2288 promises to increase our state income tax 67 percent, the largest increase ever and increase the corporate income tax rate nearly twofold (4.8 to 8 percent).

The remaining businesses in Cook County, our important tax base (along with our property taxes) for funding our schools, will be wiped out, leaving the harsh and bitter business climate of Illinois to greener and more fertile pastures overseas and in bordering states.

This bill makes the nearly empty, promise that monies collected are going to be spent on education, when truthfully only a small fraction (7.5 percent) of the $8 billion collected will go to schools.

Be watchful, stay informed and most importantly, contact your legislator and ask them to vote against this SB 2288 and HB 750. Don't sit back and watch as the politicians pick your pocket again.

Lisa Cadwallader Neal

Roiling Meadows