Illinois nonprofit launches digital campaign opposing new taxes

(The Center Square) – A grassroots organization has launched a digital campaign to voice opposition to the news that there could be newly proposed taxes on services in Illinois.

Americans for Prosperity Illinois said lawmakers are proposing up to $2.5 billion in additional taxes on Illinoisans to help bail out mismanagement and wasteful spending across the state and is urging Illinoisans to contact their lawmakers to reject new service taxes.

“We felt it was important as a grassroots organization to get that message out and make sure people knew what was going on in the last two weeks of session in Springfield, so we started a second tax digital campaign statewide to focus on the service tax,” said Americans for Prosperity Illinois State Director Jason Heffley.

Haffley said they also have a targeted campaign to focus on the Chicago Teachers Union’s proposed $7.3 billion tax increase.

Illinois House Republicans contend that new taxes on services are being floated to bail out public transportation.

“We want you to be on alert. It is time for taxpayers to guard your wallet in the state of Illinois,” said state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria. “We are already taxed to the max.”

Heffley said the proposal would introduce taxes on more than 80 services, including everything from vehicle repair to dating services, and would be the highest in the country. He adds that this story will probably have a familiar ending.

“We know what’s going to happen,” said Heffley. “People are going to continue to leave, businesses are going to continue to leave, no one is going to invest in Illinois because it’s too expensive, especially compared to our neighbors and other tax friendly states.”