If Quinn Becomes Gov, Watch Taxes Go Up

The following op-ed by ITEF’s Dennis Constant appeared in today’s Chicago Sun-Times

The legal system, not the press, will determine if Gov. Blagojevich has committed any crime regarding the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. But one thing is certain: If Blagojevich is forced from office and is replaced by Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, it will be bad news for Illinois taxpayers.

Blagojevich promised in 2003 that he would oppose any increase in the state income tax. Amazingly, this is one politician who actually kept his promise. Thanks in large part to Blagojevich, taxpayers were spared state income tax increases that would have made 15 years in a row. If Quinn takes over, the state will have a governor who promised that he will raise the state income tax.

Quinn’s entire political career is that of an opportunistic, slick, far-left-wing “populist” who wants to raise taxes on what he calls the “lucky fat cats.” Unfortunately, the lucky fat cats he wants to suck dry are a large part of Illinois’ middle class.

In April 2004, Illinois taxpayers, working through local taxpayer organizations as well as the statewide National Taxpayers United of Illinois, helped defeat Quinn’s plan to raise some Illinoisans’ state income taxes 100 percent in exchange for a token $200 “property tax rebate” for homeowners. Taxpayers also defeated the 100 percent income tax increase amendment in 2006 and 2008.

Blagojevich may be quirky, sometimes loopy and verbally self-defeating, but he has been the best friend Illinois taxpayers have had in the governor’s mansion for as long we can remember.

Dennis Constant,

research director,

Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation

Click here to view the original letter on the Sun-Times website