* RGA..

Last week, Illinois Democrat gubernatorial candidate and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune J.B. Pritzker admitted that if elected governor, he would immediately move to hike taxes on Illinois families even further.

The News-Gazette editorial board reports, “Pritzker said, as soon as he takes office, he’ll urge the Democratic legislature to approve an immediate increase in the state’s current 4.95 flat income-tax rate.”

The Journal Standard also notes that raising taxes is the “main thing” Pritzker wants to do if elected.

Pritzker refuses to pay his own fair share in taxes, but will hike taxes on every single family in Illinois. Pritzker has reportedly used offshore shell companies in the Bahamas to dodge his own tax burden, and claims that his Gold Coast mansion is “uninhabitable” in order to allegedly receive huge property tax breaks.

Illinois can’t afford J.B. Pritzker’s tax hikes.

* From the rest of that News-Gazette editorial…

At the same time he’s proposing an income-tax increase, Pritzker said, he’ll urge legislators to increase exemptions and deductions to ensure that lower- and middle-income taxpayers would not pay more.

“… You could have what I would describe as … an artificial progressive income tax in which we would raise the exemptions for those striving to get to the middle class, those in the middle class too, and raise the overall rate and raise the earned income tax credit at the same time — all of which would create a kind of artificial graduated income tax in the state,” he said.

* And this is from Chuck Sweeny’s column…

The main thing Pritzker wants to do is raise taxes.

Pritzker wants to convert Illinois’ flat 4.95 percent income tax to a “progressive” income tax, which would have several rates.

Pritzker says he only wants to raise taxes on wealthy people and that most people would actually see a tax reduction under his plan.

So, what are the rates? And who would be labeled as wealthy? Pritzker wouldn’t tell us during the Democratic primary campaign. And he won’t tell us now.

Whatever the spin or misrepresentation from the RGA, voters don’t do nuance. Pritzker’s entire tax idea is nuanced.

*** UPDATE *** I forgot to post this press release…

Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) on Monday launched a new digital ad and website calling on lawmakers to oppose scrapping Illinois’ constitutionally protected flat income tax for a graduated one. AFP-IL, the state’s leading free-market organization, has been at the forefront of fighting this anti-taxpayer agenda that would force a costly graduated income tax on taxpayers.

WATCH VIDEO:

Americans for Prosperity-Illinois State Director Andrew Nelms issued the following statement:
“If lawmakers scrap our constitutionally-protected flat income tax in exchange for a graduated income tax, they will have free rein to raise our taxes. The last thing Illinoisans need right now is a graduated income tax that will inevitably lead to higher taxes. Springfield has proven incapable of spending tax dollars wisely, so giving them a blank check is outrageous. Families throughout the state are scrambling for the exit, and amending the Constitution to allow for higher taxes will only make matters worse. We urge the legislature to ‘Keep Illinois Flat’ and reject the graduated income tax.”

The video highlights how scrapping the flat tax would give lawmakers more latitude to increases taxes on Illinoisans. The video urges Illinoisans to visit KeepIllinoisFlat.com to contact their lawmaker and tell them to oppose the graduated income tax.

SCRIPT:

“When politicians in Illinois have an opportunity to raise taxes, they take it – like when they hiked income taxes 32%,” the video states. “Our property taxes are some of the highest nationwide. Now some lawmakers want to scrap our constitutionally protected flat income tax and replace it with a graduated one. At any time, they can add brackets or increase rates. A blank check signed by you, the taxpayer. How do you think Springfield will use that power?”