Prairie State Wire

Mark Curran doesn’t envy the position he thinks Gov. J.B. Pritzker finds himself in now that his progressive tax legislation has been so soundly defeated.

“He’s got to find other ways to come up with the money he needs to start to get finances under control,” Curran told the Prairie State Wire. “I was never in favor of his plan, but you have to admit he didn’t create this financial mess all on his own. He inherited a really bad situation.”

Despite selling the tax he has been pushing since his days as a candidate as a measure that would only mean higher rates for the state’s richest residents and pumping more than $50 million of his own money into a campaign to sway voters, the tax fell far short of garnering the 60% support needed for passage. Curran, who netted just under 40% of the vote in a six-person field in his loss against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), argues he sees the governor now having only one choice.

“He’s going to need to make cuts, plain and simple,” he said. “I really think we’re at a point in Illinois where the thought of more tax hikes is not what anyone wants to see.”

Just the same, Curran said he’s not surprised to see the governor now lashing out to no end now that his signature piece of legislation has gone up in flames.

Curran insists he could see it coming.

“I think all the money spent to make sure of that had a lot to do with it,” he said. “I really wouldn’t be surprised to see them try it again in a couple years. When people see all the cuts this may force, who knows what could happen. All the governor is thinking is he’s got to make these pension payments.”