SPRINGFIELD - State Senate Kyle McCarter spontaneously expressed his frustration with a plan both Democrat and Republican leaders are sliding through the Illinois Senate on a Facebook Live presentation Wednesday, and he's getting mixed reviews.
While over 4500 have seen the video as of Thursday afternoon, he's not being so warmly received within his GOP Senate caucus, he told Illinois Review.
"Let's just say it's not a good relationship right now," McCarter said. "But things are likely to get much worse before they get better."
After going into session for one hour Thursday, the Senate adjourned with a plan to return to Springfield in two weeks to vote on a "grand deal" that will hike Illinois income taxes, initiate a brand new "business opportunity" payroll tax and plunge the state $7 billion deeper into debt.
"This will be the biggest backroom deal of all time," McCarter said. "There will be no sunshine and huge changes will take place to the proposal that Democrat and Republican leadership will sign onto. The deal will be made behind closed doors with the Chamber, the IMA, maybe the NFIB, unions, and those of us in the Senate won't have a clue what's in the deal until we're forced to vote on it."
The Senate bills containing the tax hikes and increased debt were slipped through the Senate Executive Committee with little or no discussion this week. However, it is known that the new "Business Opportunity" tax will burden small businesses with at least $225 annually for writing just one 1099 or W2 form.
"If they put a fraction of the effort, energy and creativity they put into coming up with new taxes into finding ways to cut budget costs, we'd be talking about a completely different proposal," McCarter said.
At the national level, manufacturers and small businesses are exhilarated with the expected tax cuts and policy changes that will cultivate better business climate within America's borders.
Why aren't Illinois Republicans taking note and following suit at the state level, we asked McCarter.
"It's because Illinois Republicans want to be loved and accepted," McCarter said. "We're here to look out for our people back home, not make the politicians happy. Anyone that has sought the American dream has had to make sacrifices and had to say no to things they couldn't afford at the time. Illinois lawmakers need to think about that when voting on this deal."
Although McCarter would not comment on the topic, the question many are asking is why the Senate Republicans are so eager to take part in hiking income and payroll taxes. Why not just let the Democrat majorities in both chambers vote the tax hikes through without Republican help?
The answer is likely tied to the fact that Governor Bruce Rauner doesn't want to be the only Republican tied to the whole mess, and demands to share the blame with his GOP colleagues. He may have even promised to provide financial support in future campaigns if they trudge through deep political waters with him.
McCarter's floor comments Thursday morning: