Kane County Reporter

Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris’ support of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s fair tax initiative does not surprise 14th Congressional District State Central Committeeman Laura Pollastrini.

“Harris has been in favor of this middle class-crushing progressive income tax for a while,” Pollastrini told Kane County Reporter. “In the past, he refused to agree to the resolution put forth by Republicans, opposing the horrendous tax and in protection of taxpayers. Obviously, his support was rewarded by the Democratic governor when he bestowed him with a lucrative appointment to his cabinet.”

Harris discussed being in favor of getting rid of the flat tax provision from the state constitution during a recent interview with WCIA. 

14th Congressional District State Central Committeeman Laura Pollastrini

“We are going to get resistance from the Republicans, but I will tell you in areas where there are strong Republican representation, 98 percent of their constituents are not going to be affected,” Harris said in the WCIA interview. “As a matter of fact, they will be affected beneficially because they are going to see a decrease in their taxes.”

In 2017, the former House Republican also voted in favor of a fiscal year 2018 budget that would include an income tax hike.

“I've never met Harris,” Pollastrini said. “I have no idea where he stands on the majority of issues, but it is evident that he is not a fiscal conservative.”

Pollastrini said the progressive income tax will negatively impact poor and middle-class taxpayers.

“This progressive tax would in essence, hand the Democrats a blank check to be paid for by the poor and middle class of Illinois,” she said. “The fairy tale the Democrats are telling taxpayers is that only the rich will be affected. But the mammoth tax increases necessary to allow Democrats an unfettered bloated budget for new projects and programs cannot be paid for just by increasing the taxes of the rich. Democrats will have no choice but to tamper with those tax rates yearly, and the ones who will end up paying more, of course, will be the poor and middle class.”