Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti framed the upcoming gubernatorial election as a referendum on taxes and corruption during an interview recently broadcast on radio station WMAY.
In a four-minute segment with host Ray Lytle, Sanguinetti said incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner has been “the only one to stand up to Mike Madigan,” whose multi-decade reign as House Speaker has recently seen allegations of a quid pro quo scheme to retain his speakership.
“So here’s Bruce Rauner, who doesn’t take a pension, does not take a salary, believes in the greatness of our state,” Sanguinetti said. “And then you’re up against somebody that Mike Madigan has appointed to run against him, which is J.B. Pritzker.”
Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti
| illinois.gov
Pritzker, an heir to the Hilton Hotel fortune, was embroiled in a recent scandal after Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard uncovered a “scheme to defraud” the state, as reported Oct. 2 in The Chicago Tribune. Pritzker removed toilets from one of his houses to improperly collect $330,000 worth of property tax breaks. according to the report.
Sanguinetti also mentioned a recent lawsuit where 10 former Pritzker campaign staffers brought a lawsuit alleging “racial discrimination and harassment within” his campaign.
“I think that there are a lot of things about J.B. that should give you pause,” Sanguinetti said. “There is no leader in J.B. Pritzker.”
The interview turned to Pritzker's proposal of a mileage tax. Sanguinetti, chair of the governor’s Rural Affairs Council, said the plan would disproportionately hurt rural citizens, who have to drive long distances to reach hospitals, grocery stores and other essential services.
“We’re still trying to come up for air because of Mike Madigan’s 32-percent income tax increase and he wants to give us more in the way of taxes,” she said. “We simply can’t afford a J.B. Pritzker.”
Pritzker has publicly championed a graduated income tax that is supposed to place higher taxes on the wealthy but his exact proposal has been unclear. However, Sanguinetti said that a similar proposal introduced by Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) would hike taxes on those earning as little as $17,200 per year.”
“I have never seen $17,200 per year be called rich,” she said. “So lots of problems with J.B. Pritzker all around.”
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