Kane County Reporter

Dan Ugaste wants to see logic prevail in Springfield.

“I don’t understand how we think we can solve our financial shortcomings and budget issues by raising taxes when part of the problem stems from them being too high to start with,” Ugaste told Kane County Reporter. “We’ve got to find ways to be more efficient, if we’re going to stop people from leaving the state. Right now, we’re definitely heading in the wrong direction and talk of raising taxes, even more, isn’t helping.”

A new Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) report details how the latest push to raise taxes comes at a time when taxpayers are already burdened with at least $100 million in wasteful government spending.

Richard Johsnon

Researchers highlighted line items such as $13.1 million allocated for an arts council chaired by the wife of longtime Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan and pork projects that include $10 million set aside to rehabilitate Chicago’s privately owned Uptown Theatre.

The report comes as Illinois taxpayers already pay the second-highest property tax rates in the country and one of the highest combined tax burdens.

“We need Madigan out and more Republicans in,” said Ugaste, running against Democrat Richard Johnson in the 65th District. “That’s the only way to truly change things, and hopefully we can see the change begin in the next couple weeks.”

With the state having lost population in each of the last four years and a recent Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield survey finding more than half of residents have considered calling someplace else home, Ugaste said he’s preaching to voters that change has to come now.

“My closing message is a vote for Johnson is a vote for more of same,” he said. “What that means is higher taxes, more out-of-control spending and larger deficits.”

The 65th House District includes Batavia, Burlington, Dundee, Elgin, Geneva, Grafton, Hampshire, Plato, Rutland and St. Charles.