Several weeks ago, I was having a conversation about the state of Illinois politics, and I used the time-honored phrase, “tax and spend Democrats”. Immediately this liberal lady told me to stay off that subject. Obviously I hit a nerve, a very sensitive nerve, so the talk ended.
But the conclusion of the spring session of the Illinois Legislature just proved my point. Democrats hold the governorship (J. B. Pritzker, a billionaire) and have supermajorities in both the House and Senate of the Legislature, and the results of the spending and taxing bills emphasized that the moniker “tax and spend” Democrats is fitting.
On the taxing side alone, the laundry list of new and improved taxes is breathtaking. Here, in no order and not exhaustive, are a few of those bills which have been or will be signed into law by our good governor. The income tax question will be placed on the ballot next year to do away with our constitutionally protected “flat tax” and be replaced with a graduated income tax. In spite of protestations to the contrary, a graduated income tax always generates more revenue as tweaks to the process increase the graduation and those who are impacted to include more taxpayers.
Our gas tax will double, from 19 cents per gallon, to 38 cents per gallon by July 1. License fees for cars will go from $101 per year to $151 per year. Title fees for vehicles rise from $95 to $150. The cigarette tax increases another $1 per pack, making the total tax for that pack $2.98. Online purchases will now be taxed in most cases. Recreational marijuana will be legal, all for the purpose of — you guessed it! — taxing it. On the gambling front, six more casinos are authorized, video gambling is expanded, and for the first time, betting on sports events are now legal. All of these will be taxed through the bills making them legal. Other gaming opportunities are expected to bring in more than $650 million in licensing fees, with more taxes realized from those who gamble.
Infrastructure spending, social services, schools and universities, among others, are to be the beneficiaries of this increased largess of taxation funds. But the budget has so thin a margin for success that even a mild recession will sink the state into debt over this year’s spending plan. One part hidden in the 1500 page budget bill presented to the Legislature at the last minute. was the $1.5 million to $6 million allotted to each of the 177 members of the General Assembly, to use as they see fit!
Illinois is one of the states with the highest tax burden in the nation, the fifth highest. And Illinoisans who can are leaving the state in droves, heading to more tax favorable climes, like Indiana and Texas. So it begs the question — who in our state would vote for a government like this? Four groups come to mind.
First are the true believers. These voters look at America, see the richest nation in the world, with innovators and entrepreneurs the envy of other countries and believe that whatever pipe dream coming down the pike can be enacted into law and paid for without disruption in our way of life. All you have to do is squeeze here and there, and voila!the money is available. So it is we can have free stuff — free health care, college fees, guaranteed income for anyone who works (even for those who don’t want to work), free child care, free abortions. Just soak the rich, we are told.
Second in this list are those who receive all the freebies. Why not vote for the politician who promises all these things? This bloc of voters don’t care who has to pay for all the stuff they receive because usually they have such a low level of income they are not required to pay any taxes.
Third are the legacy voters, those who vote for a party (usually the Democrats) because their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and assorted other relatives have been voting that way for eons. One example comes to mind. A professional in a neighboring state belonged to a religious group that had a strong moral objection to abortion. When election time came around, he (quietly) voted for a member of the political party who supported abortion on demand. Why? Because he and his family had always voted for that party! Blind loyalty pays off for some politicians.
In our hyper political climate, a fourth element was seen in the last general election cycle — the anti-Trumpers. Because the media’s coverage of the President was 92% negative, many in Illinois reflexively voted Democratic, being influenced by the fourth estate’s efforts to demonize Republicans. That meant in Illinois, the supermajority was put into office.
One illustration of the effect of all this was seen in the vote for Illinois’ new abortion law. A recent poll showed that 80% of Americans want some restrictions on the procedure, but now in Illinois abortion is totally unrestricted. At any time during the pregnancy, for any reason, a woman can have an abortion. There is no parental consent required for minors, and in the event the woman is married, the husband doesn’t have to give his consent. Votes in the Legislature were totally out of sync with the majority beliefs — 64-50 in the House, 34-20 in the Senate.
My comment about “tax and spend” Democrats was spot on. With the political climate in Illinois, driven by the population of Chicago and other metropolitan areas, whatever the Dems want, they will get. So remember, when you pay the extra for your car license, more for your driving license, more for your pack of cigarettes, more for every gallon of gas, who is responsible for picking your pocket. Not the Republicans, but the taxers and spenders on the other side of the aisle. And until one or more of the above groups change, the situation will not improve