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House’s newest freshman ponders tax vote

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* Rep. Nathan Reitz was appointed to the House this month after Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Smithton) resigned to take a job at IDNR. The BND’s Joseph Bustos talked to the newbie about several topics, including the governor’s proposed graduated income tax plan…

In an interview, Reitz, the former shift supervisor at the Dynegy-owned Baldwin Power Plant, wouldn’t give a definitive answer on whether he would vote differently than Costello on the issue.

“Right now I’m still looking at everything and at the end of the day I have to do what’s best for all the people in my district, and lowering taxes on the middle class is definitely my focus right now and will always be my focus,” Reitz said. […]

Nathan Reitz’s appointment this month was followed by a call from the Illinois GOP for the younger Reitz to follow in Costello’s footsteps and oppose a graduated income tax system. […]

“I’ve spoken to several people and told them I have to do what’s best for the people in the 116th district,” Reitz said. “They will be the people that ultimately have the decision to bring me back to Springfield in two years. If the fair tax is something that needs to happen to make that a possibility, we probably need to sit down and look at it.”

If “lowering taxes on the middle class” is his focus, then he can theoretically make the argument that this particular proposal would do that for all but a few of his constituents. Do you think he may have just tipped his hand?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 24, 19 @ 11:21 am

Comments

–Do you think he may have just tipped his hand?–

My guess is the whole Costello job/Reitz appointment maneuver was predicated on Reitz being the ace-in-the-hole, the final vote, if needed.

If it comes down to one vote and it doesn’t go that way, somebody got played.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 24, 19 @ 11:29 am
Rep. Reitz meet (former) Rep. Wojcicki-Jimenez. Though votes ahead.

Comment by The Bashful Raconteur Friday, May 24, 19 @ 11:36 am
Since 99% of Rep Reitz’s constituents will get a tax cut or pay the same under the gov’s plan, voting yes should be a no-brainer.

Comment by Reality Check Friday, May 24, 19 @ 12:03 pm
Regardless of the details of Pritzker’s plan: Voting for anything with “pritzker” and “tax” associated with it is a big risk for Reitz. Especially as unpopular things like gas tax hike, bag tax etc continue to be blasted into his district.

Comment by competition Friday, May 24, 19 @ 1:02 pm
@competition:

Meh. Long as there’s a D next to his name, Reitz’s opponents will tag him with whatever Pritzker does. Might as well be for good stuff like cutting taxes for 99% of your constituents in order to fund their schools etc.

Comment by Reality Check Friday, May 24, 19 @ 1:08 pm
Reality Check is correct. The mailers will all be essentially the same no matter how they vote.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 24, 19 @ 1:39 pm
This seems like the quintessential example of “You had (have) one job.”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, May 24, 19 @ 2:01 pm
Yes, he tipped his hand. No, he’s not the newest legislator

Comment by unclesam Friday, May 24, 19 @ 2:04 pm
I have asked myself this question, but now ask someone “out there”, if the flat tax has been so unfair, why has our esteemed state leadership done nothing to change its unfortunate effects for DECADES? Are they just now coming to some “cosmic” realization of the economic injustice it has inflicted on Illinoisans? So now we are to trust that the General Assembly will do the right thing…because…they have been doing the wrong thing for so long in ignoring this problem. Maybe everyone should “ask themselves…”.

Comment by wiseguy Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:33 pm