Battle Of The Billionaires

 

 

The headlines screamed out of Chicago. The state’s richest resident was ponying up $20-million dollars to fight the proposed Illinois “fair tax” constitutional amendment.

A guy by the name of Ken Griffin made the contribution to the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment late last month. That group includes a coalition of small businesses, community advocates and farmers who believe, as I do, that the proposed graduated rate tax will not solve Illinois’ fiscal mismanagement and will increase the flow of business out of the state.

Yes, Griffin is a billionaire. So is the current governor of the state, J.B. Pritzker. Griffin has given $20-million dollars to fight the tax hike. Pritzker has given $56.5 million to pass it. The difference between the two? Griffin earned his money. Pritzker was born into the Hyatt hotel fortune.

We are only a few months away from election day…only weeks away from early voting. Do you really think the Governor thinks this is a “fair tax”….or do you believe he wants to change the state constitution so he can generate more revenue?

He sure hasn’t demonstrated the ability to cut a penny from the state budget. Everyday another press release goes out about new capital projects and new grants….all while the state pays more and more money just to cover the interest on its record debt.

Illinois can’t attract new business. If the “fair tax” passes, we won’t be able to keep what we’ve got.