Kane County Reporter

Republican state House hopeful Laura Curtis fears what could be on the horizon in Springfield.

“If we continue to make the same tax-and-spend policy decisions, we will only see more pain for the families who stick around,” Curtis said. “I’m going to Springfield to protect your pocketbook from the ruling class, not open it up to pay for more corruption and insider deals.”

Curtis continues to be a vocal critic of the progressive tax plan Gov. J.B. Pritzker insists will only mean higher rates for the state’s most affluent residents. With the tax the governor has been pushing since his days as a candidate still far from a sure thing when it appears on the Nov. 3 ballot, Democrat Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton recently warned voters if Pritzker’s proposal fails to get the support it needs for passage on Nov.3, taxpayers could soon face a 20% state income tax hike to cover any looming budget shortfall. Such a steep rise would send rates spiraling to an all-time personal high state income tax rate for residents of 5.94%.

Since then, the governor has essentially co-signed Stratton’s threat, further warning taxpayers it’s either the progressive tax or a 15% cut in government services, which could mean cuts in funding for education and public safety and a state property tax increase.

Running against Democrat Maura Hirschauer for the right to replace outgoing state Rep. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) in the 49th District, Curtis fumes her opponent is easily in lockstep with the governor’s wishes.

“My opponent supports the tax hike amendment on the ballot and trusts (House Speaker) Mike Madigan and the Pritzker administration with more of your hard-earned money.”

Soon after the governor recently poured more than $56 million of his own fortune into the Vote Yes for Fairness initiative created to get the progressive tax over the finish line, Curtis urged voters to think of themselves when going to the polls.

“Pritzker continues to pour his own fortune into the Vote Yes for Fairness campaign, which will directly hurt Illinois residents and small businesses,” she told the Kane County Reporter. “This campaign, which is advertised as a fair tax increase, is only going to further burden Illinoisans in the upcoming years.”