SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. David Harris announced Tuesday he won't seek re-election in 2018, the Daily Herald reports. Harris is among the 23 Republicans that voted in July to raise the state income 32%, and 15 that Republicans voted to override Governor Rauner's budget veto.
With Harris' announcement, over half of the 15 that voted to override the governor's budget veto will not seek re-election, including Rep. Mike Fortner, Steve Andersson, Sara Jimenez, David Harris, Bob Pritchard, Bill Mitchell, Chad Hays and John Cavaletto.
The anti-tax group Taxpayers United circulated flyers and educated voters about Rep. Harris' support for the tax hike after holding a press conference in August condemning Harris' vote.
Thus far, Harris' Republican pro-tax hike House colleagues that have announced they are not seeking re-election in 2018 include Steve Andersson, John Cavaletto, Mike Fortner, Chad Hays, Sara Jimenez, Bill Mitchell, Reggie Phillips and Bill Pritchard.
The 23 Republicans that voted for the budget hiking the state income tax to 4.95% were: Andersson, Bennett, Bourne, Brady, Bryant, Butler, Cabello, Cavaletto, Davidsmeyer, Durkin, Fortner, Hammond, David Harris, Hays, Jimenez, Meier, Phillips, Pritchard, Reis, Severin, Stewart, Unes and Welter.
The 15 Republicans that rejected Governor Rauner's veto were Andersson, Bryant, Cavaletto, Davidsmeyer, Fortner, Hammond, D. Harris, Hays, Jimenez, Meier, B. Mitchell, Phillips, Pritchard, Reis and Unes.
I wonder how much he got for that vote…obviously enough to retire on. To actually override a Republican governors veto is dreadfully wrong. And once again add additional taxes to a State that is swimming in taxes, how did they ever pass themselves off as Republicans?
Brian Stewart is not running for reelection, but for Senate. Dixon mayor Li Arellano, conservative, is running in the primary.
The outrage at the “surrender Republicans” might be meaningful EXCEPT for the fact that Rauner’s own proposed budget included THE SAME 4.95% income tax rate (a 66% increase) that Madigan’s did. So either way, Bruce made sure he’d have the revenue to cover all those new state-funded abortions…
What makes them any different from Rauner, Radogno, Kirk, Cross, Topinka, Ryan, Edgar, Thompson? They’re a perfectly snug fit in the Republican Party.
Harris was toast.