Prairie State Wire

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has appointed former state Rep. David Harris, a Republican of Arlington Heights, state revenue director.

"David Harris is a moderate Republican who led the revolt to entice other Republicans to vote for the largest permanent tax hike of 32 percent in the history of Illinois in 2017," former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, a Republican of Wheaton, said in an interview with Prairie State Wire. "I am sure he will get along well with Gov. Pritzker, who favors increasing taxes on hardworking Illinoisans instead of restricting and prioritizing our spending."

Ives said Harris will likely boost his pension as a result of this position.

Harris represented the 53rd District from 1983 to1993 and from 2011 to 2019. He did not run for re-election in November.

Prizker announced late in December that he would appoint Harrison to the post. 

The revenue department oversees a $55 million operating budget that doesn't include the revenues collected by that department. The director of revenue oversees revenue-generating functions and sustainable revenue generation. 

During Harris's tenure in the state House of Representatives, the state accrued pension debt of more than $250 billion, according to Wirepoints.

When Harris voted for the tax hike in 2017, Taxpayers United of America President Jim Tobin called him and the 10 other Republican representatives and state senators who voted with him "taxpayer traitors."

Harris also voted for Senate Bill 777, which amended the Chicago police and firefighter pension plans, and Senate Bill 2964, which amended the Prevailing Wage Act to allow collective bargaining agreements to set prevailing wages.

Harris also voted for tax-hike and regulatory bills such as House Bill 3655, which mandated eyelash technicians to complete a high number of hours in a training program, and House Bill 6162, which forced employers to pay sick leave for workers whose family members were sick.