EFFINGHAM – Citing his consistent voting record against tax increases and the far-left policies being pushed by Governor JB. Pritzker, State Representative Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) announced this week he is running for re-election as State Representative in the 107th District.
“I ran for office because I wanted to be an advocate for reform,” Wilhour said. “Springfield needs leaders who have the courage to push for reform and who will prioritize the way we spend and allocate taxpayer money. We are in dire straits in Illinois and we cannot achieve our goals of lowering property taxes, making continuing investments in infrastructure, properly funding education and protecting our most vulnerable until we have leaders who are willing to make the tough choices. Raising taxes is not a tough choice. It is the easy way out. Illinois is broke because too many career politicians have taken the easy way out for far too long.”
During the legislative session that ended in June, Wilhour voted against a measure to put the progressive income tax Constitutional Amendment on the 2020 ballot. He voted against doubling the gas tax on motor fuel and opposed the minimum wage increase and radical legislation to expand abortion services in Illinois. He also opposed tax increases on vehicle title transfers, cigarettes and he opposed a measure increasing license plate renewal fees.
“Working-class men and women need better representation in Springfield,” Wilhour said. “That has been the most revealing part of my time in the legislature. The vast majority of us don’t get corporate and special interest handouts and the gas tax increase, vehicle fee increases along with the minimum wage increase are disproportionally devastating to our rural economies. I will continue to be a much needed voice for working families.”
Wilhour said in addition to running for re-election, he will be campaigning against the progressive income tax because the progressive income tax will only serve to enrich and empower the political ruling class in Illinois.
“I was elected to stand up to the political ruling class,” Wilhour said. “The progressive income tax is going to make the ruling class even more powerful. They would get to decide what the tax brackets will be and how much each taxpayer in those brackets would pay. The progressive income tax is not going to even the playing field between the rich and the poor – it is only going to serve to empower the ruling class at the expense of everyone else. Illinois residents have the opportunity to stand up and tell the Governor it’s time to deal with the real issues by voting NO on the Governor’s massive and unfair tax increase in 2020.”
Blaine Wilhour was raised on a family farm in rural Altamont, the fourth of six children. Blaine partners with his dad and brothers on their family farm, and is one of two managing partners with Longhorn Buildings, LLC, their family owned construction business. He is a graduate of St. Elmo High School, and served in the Army National Guard as an Intelligence Analyst. He and his wife Amber have three boys and live in Beecher City.
Wilhour is seeking his second term as State Representative. The Primary Election is March 17, 2020.
