by Kenneth Speegle

Created on: March 20, 2009

It's not particularly surprising that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has pinned his hopes of pulling the State of Illinois through this economic crisis by raising taxes like never before. The quick and easy solution that our so-called political leaders turn to every time they hit a financial wall (that they created) is to extract more money from the hard-working citizens that they're supposed to represent.

While there's no disputing the fact that the Illinois state budget is in a state of crisis, there's also no denying that the economy is in a tailspin. Does he really think his plan will do anything to change this fact? His plan to double the personal income tax rate, increase the corporate income tax rate, and increase a multitude of taxes and fees across the state is a recipe for disaster. Illinois residents who are already strapped for cash will have no choice but to send even more of their dwindling resources to Springfield to help the state balance its books.

This is supposed to be a temporary financial problem that can be cured by the influx of cash that he expects from this proposal. There's been no talk of this tax increase being temporary, so one is left to wonder: Once this once in a lifetime fiscal emergency passes, will the tax increase go the way of the 8-track player and the do-do bird - or will it stick around like an out-of-work brother-in-law? I think we all know the answer to this question. Once passed, these tax increases will become permanent. Eventually, new spending will continue to expand and in time, some future political leader will come back to us, hat in hand, begging for even more money.

In the meantime, our personal budgets will continue to shrink and our jobs will disappear. Businesses that might have otherwise been able to retain staff or even expand their businesses will be forced to decide between paying higher taxes or leaving for lower-tax states. If they do manage to keep their doors open, layoffs will be inevitable. The only question that business owners will have to answer is whether they'll lay employees off or relocate. Either way, workers will lose their jobs, the state will lose a valuable tax base, and the standard of living in Illinois will decline.

It's time the state do what the rest of us are forced to do during tough economic times. When our income drops or our expenses rise unexpectedly, we either reduce spending or we do without. The state should do the same. The Governor's plan to tax us to death is reminiscent of another Illinois politician whose only real skill is being blessed with a silver tongue and having the ability to raise cash. His slogan was "Change we can believe in." When he's done with us, all we'll have left is change. And Governor Pat Quinn seems bound and determined to wrap his hands around the change with which we are left.

Let's hope the Governor is unsuccessful in his attempt to extract these additional taxes and fees from us or the only Illinoisans that will be gainfully employed will be the political class that controls the state and the state workers who pass out social welfare benefits.

Isn't THAT a scary thought?

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