Prairie State Wire

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Curran can relate to the way he thinks a lot of Illinois taxpayers are feeling given Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s latest tax hike threats.

“Should it happen, you can see the state crumbling under the weight of it,” Curran told the Prairie State Wire. “You can see people feeling like they’ve stuck around to fight the good fight, and now finally feeling like they’d be better off someplace else.”

Polls show the progressive tax plan the governor has been selling since his days on the campaign trail is far from a done deal. 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.

“In Springfield, it just seems lawmakers think they can take whatever they want,” added Curran, who is running against longtime Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin. “The state is in dire straits because of all the promises made and now they’re being no money to even make pension payments, but you still just can’t whatever you want from people. Sooner or later, they’re going to leave the state.”

After having previously served more than a decade as Lake County sheriff, Curran insists he has a completely different vision of what government should look like and stand for.

“I’m going to be there for the middle class and small businesses,” he said. “I’m not going to be someone just asking what’s in the best interest of my party, but rather the state and the country.”