Kane County Reporter

Republican state Senate candidate Ben Bierly argues the progressive tax system now being promoted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks to how distorted the world of politics has become.

“We the people need to take an honest look at what’s happening down in Springfield,” Bierly told the Kane County Reporter. “We don’t need politicians in the modern sense of the word; we need public servants who serve for a time, then return to the population they represent. This latest development shows the suspect manner of the promise of a ‘fair tax,’ which is clearly anything but fair to people of all economic status.”

Running against state Sen. John Connor (R-Lockport) in the 43rd District, Bierly insists the concerns about the tax shouldn’t end there.

State Sen. Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) is the fourth Democratic lawmaker to now find himself facing criminal charges. Facing tax evasion charges, Link joins former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, who faces up to 10 years in prison, and state Sen. Tom Cullerton, who has been hit with a 41-count indictment on embezzlement charges. One-time state Sen. Martin Sandoval has already pleaded guilty to taking $250,000 in bribes from SafeSpeed, a red-light camera vendor.

And then there is longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan, who now finds himself implicated in an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd in which it’s alleged bribes were steered to several of his close associates as part of a pay-to-play scheme aimed at currying favor with him.

“We don’t have to guess what the future holds if we turn to Pritzker’s graduated income tax,” Bierly added. “While speaking at a Des Plains Chamber of Commerce event, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs told us clearly that retirement income will be on the table if the citizens allow this progressive income tax. There is no guarantee with this proposed amendment that lawmakers won’t change the tax brackets and tax rates in the future. The idea of the fair tax fixing our problems is at best a laughable attempt and at worst is a downright dishonest attempt at bilking 'We The People' without fixing the real issue – our state spending."