On Tuesday Americans for Tax Reform\’s Karen Bailey will speak out against Gov. Blagojevich\’s budget when she travels to Chicago to meet with Illinois workers and business leaders.
WASHINGTON-Before Gov. Blagojevich (D-Illinois) cheers too loudly for his new budget, opponents of his plan will voice their concerns to the Illinois community. Americans for Tax Reform\’s Karen Bailey will join businessmen and workers at a 10:00 a.m. press conference Tuesday, June 24th at the Embassy Suites, 600 N State in Chicago, to address the budget\’s disastrous consequences for Illinois\’ jobs, consumers, and the state\’s economy.
Gov. Blagojevich is priding himself on finding a solution to Illinois\’ worst financial crisis in history with his new budget. But, the problem with his solution is that it targets many of the core businesses that have yet to heal from last year\’s 50% tax increase. While Blagojevich brags that his budget will not raise sales or income taxes, consumers will indirectly pay the taxes when businesses are forced to charge higher prices to pay for their higher taxes, fees, and government mandates.
"The people of Illinois must not allow Gov. Blagojevich to deceive them…they did not escape the latest tax hikes, they will be some of the biggest victims," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "Businesses across the state will be forced to lay off workers, cut hours, and raise prices for their services. Many will follow the mass exodus of businesses that have already left the state. The people must look past the rhetoric to see how Blagojevich\’s budget will ultimately take money out of their pockets."
Illinois businesses currently pay almost half of all state and local taxes, and now Blagojevich will force some industries to pay tax rates of up to 70% on their gross revenues. His budget slaps even tougher blows on businesses by increasing fees and regulatory burdens. After last year\’s tax increase, thousands of jobs were eliminated, and Blagojevich\’s budget this year is sure to toss even more people out of work and businesses out of Illinois.
Karen Bailey will be joined by John Berthoud, President of the National Taxpayers Union, D. Eric Schippers, President of the Center for Individual Freedom, Greg Blankenship, Director of the Illinois Policy Institute, as well as businessmen and workers affected by the governor\’s plan.
"We hope that Tuesday\’s press conference will convince Illinois that Gov. Blagojevich cannot continue raising taxes every year," Norquist continued. "The state\’s businesses cannot survive and the economy cannot grow if the most vital resources are butchered with taxes.