Rep. Mitchell responds to governor's budget

Wants the governor to spend more time in downstate Illinois    

[March 09, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Rep. Mitchell said that the Governor has quite a few ambitious proposals for his upcoming budget, but gives very few details about each and leaves many questions unanswered.

"Universal health care is a goal that all legislators should be open to discussing," said Mitchell. "There are just so many unresolved issues with a proposal of this scale. You have to consider the effects on everybody. What will this project cost the families, what type of coverage is being offered, and what will the long term impact be on central Illinois jobs?"

The Governor's plan to fund this new project comes from a proposed gross receipts tax.

"People in my area are worried about job security. This would be the largest tax increase ever in Illinois. By increasing taxes Governor Blagojevich will make it more difficult to attract and retain good paying jobs," said Rep. Mitchell. "The Governor advertises this as a tax on business that is not the case; this is a tax that everyone will feel in their wallets. This tax will raise the price of all goods and services. In addition to paying these increased prices you will still be forced to pay a 5% sales tax, resulting in the double taxation for the citizens of Illinois."

"The gross receipts tax also brings about many concerns with regards to the loss of jobs," Mitchell said. "Small and new businesses already face a number of difficult tasks to overcome; this additional tax just raises an even bigger burden of having to charge more to their customers. This will result in these businesses cutting back their work force and getting rid of jobs that are so important to the hardworking families of my district."

"What was more surprising to me about the Governor's address today was what he failed to mention," Representative Mitchell said. "There was little attempt from Governor Blagojevich to address the high electric rate problems that we have been asking him about since last year. He has failed to help with this issue and is leaving downstate Illinois in a crisis."

"What the Governor seems to forget is that the people of downstate Illinois selected him to represent their needs as well. Macon County has lost 17,000 people and numerous jobs in recent years, and Governor Blagojevich has failed to help our area. He is now proposing this new tax that will be a job killer to central Illinois. I ask that the Governor spend more time in central and southern Illinois and do the job that the residents of Illinois have asked him to do," Mitchell stated.

[Text copied from file received from Rep. Bill Mitchell]