SPRINGFIELD – An effort to slow down, if not stop, Gov Pritzker's #1 priority – to amend the State's Constitution to allow different levels of taxation based on income – took a partisan turn at the State Fair Thursday.
The "Vote No for Blank Check" PAC headed by former Illinois Manufacturing Association's Greg Baise appeared at the Illinois Republican Party's fair gathering Thursday – and has taken over a growing non-partisan movement with its anti-Democrat logo featuring Speaker Madigan:
The Democrats want those Illinois taxpayers that make more money to pay a higher state income tax rate – and those that oppose the effort want the state's Constitution to remain as it is – an across-the-board rate.
The Democrats aren't hiding their party affiliation on the effort with their typical class-envy argument: the rich shouldn't benefit from their funds – those less fortunate should.
Greg Baise, his Vote No Blank Check and the Illinois Republican Party linked arms at the State Fair, diminishing the possibility of stopping their efforts in a deep Blue state.
Still, the group distributed a press release Friday morning, boasting how they were quoted in various news outlets across the state, including this from the Chicago Tribune:
Republicans opposing the proposed constitutional amendment are looking for campaign help from an allied group, called the Vote No on Blank Check Amendment. The group was recently formed by Greg Baise, former president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, who also appeared Thursday before top GOP leaders. The group’s logo includes a broken pen beneath the silhouette of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan — Rauner’s chief political nemesis.
In an announcement earlier this week, The Vote No on Blank Check Amendment Committee said it has "officially been formed to educate voters, especially middle-class families who face a permanent tax hike if the amendment is passed."
“There is nothing fair about it – approval means handing Springfield politicians a blank check to raise taxes on Illinois families,” Baise added. Reflecting the fact he hangs over every decision in Springfield, the Vote No on Blank Check Committee logo shows a Speaker Madigan silhouette hovering over a blank check.
“Governor Pritzker and Speaker Madigan are the single greatest impediment to their own agenda because people don’t trust them with a blank check and higher taxes,” Baise said.
More to come …
