Republican activist David Krupa has what he views as a surefire prediction he takes no joy in making.
“In recent history, we’ve seen several scandals around policies and initiatives that Illinois government has pushed,” Krupa told Chicago City Wire. “The red-light scandal and what’s happening with ComEd are a couple that quickly comes to mind. Before it’s all over, I predict this progressive tax Gov. Pritzker and Democrats are attempting to ram down our throats will end up the same way.”
State Sen. Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) is the fourth Democratic lawmaker to now find himself facing criminal charges. Facing tax evasion charges, Link joins former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, who faces up to 10 years in prison, and state Sen. Tom Cullerton, who has been hit with a 41-count indictment on embezzlement charges. One-time state Sen. Martin Sandoval has already pleaded guilty to taking $250,000 in bribes from SafeSpeed, a red-light camera vendor.
And then there is longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan, who now finds himself implicated in an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd in which it’s alleged bribes were steered to several of his close associates as part of a pay-to-play scheme aimed at currying favor with him.
“It just makes you wonder who the progressive tax is supposed to help because it certainly isn’t the people of the state,” he added. “Nothing about this tax adds up. Gov. Pritzker continues to talk about it as a measure that will only mean higher rates for rich citizens. Now ask yourself why the governor would want to tax himself more as one of the wealthiest people in the nation. The progressive tax may as well be called the corruption tax because it’s something lawmakers need to be able to pay for all the patronage jobs they’ve set up and the only way to do that is by overtaxing.”
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