Issue Position: Taxes

Issue Position

Taxation is crippling our economy and is driving people, jobs, and businesses out of our state. I oppose tax increases. Illinoisans already have what many call the highest tax burden in the country and Springfield has shown that when given more money, they will swiftly waste it and enact no reforms. In fact, I support lowering and capping property taxes, lowering the state income tax, and rolling back many of the ridiculous and burdensome fees that people and businesses in Illinois face. I also support treating businesses that want to expand in Illinois fairly across the board and generally oppose special incentives given to certain businesses that know how to effectively take advantage of local governments; having the public fund their private sector enterprises.

I find myself wondering how different Illinois might look if rather than balancing the budget on the backs of taxpayers, the state had pursued pro-growth policies like our neighboring states in every direction. Businesses that went to Missouri, Wisconsin, or Indiana may very well have come here and brought quality jobs with them. Instead, the only entity experiencing consistent growth is government. As a businessman, I know exactly what factors make for a good economic climate and how on tax policy, Illinois is doing practically everything it can to make an Illinois town look unappealing compared to one a few miles away in another state. Many doubt we would have a deficit problem in Illinois if tens of thousands of good people, and good businesses, hadn't been chased out of Illinois by poor public policy. Just think how vibrant our state would be. I will fight to bring those businesses and jobs back, create new ones, and get bad policies out of the way of Illinois' vast potential.

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