House Republican State Representatives Joe Sosnowski, Steve Reick, and Tom Weber held a press conference on April 15 to address what they say is a record of high taxes under Governor J.B. Pritzker and House Democrats.
The representatives said that the increasing tax burden in Illinois is affecting families, seniors, and small businesses. They pointed to the timing of their remarks on Tax Day as significant for residents facing financial pressures.
“We are here today because April 15th is Tax Day, and in Illinois, it’s a reminder that families, seniors, and small businesses are all suffocating under the ever-increasing costs to live, work, and survive in Illinois,” said Rep. Weber.
According to the representatives, since 2011 there have been at least 70 tax and fee increases in Illinois. They said that at least 49 of those increases have taken place during Governor Pritzker’s administration since he took office in 2019. The group also reported that state tax revenue has grown by $18 billion since 2019—a rise they described as a 50 percent increase exceeding inflation rates. Last year’s state budget included $700 million in new taxes alone. They added that each resident pays $1,434 more annually compared to when Pritzker began his term.
“The simple fact is this: the extremely high tax burden in this state continues to force families, seniors, and small businesses away,” Weber said. “Not because they did something wrong, but because constantly increasing taxes are bleeding people dry.”
The legislators referenced several bills—House Bill 9, House Bill 4626, House Bill 5017 and House Bill 3226—that aim to provide taxpayer relief but have not advanced under Democratic leadership.
Weber was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois’ 64th District in 2019 after replacing Barbara Wheeler according to Ballotpedia.
“No more excuses. No more delays. Illinoisans deserve relief—now,” Weber said.
