On the recordApril 19, 2012
I thank Leader Cantor for giving me the opportunity to be here today and speak in favor of the Small Business Tax Cut Act. As Illinoisans filed their tax returns, folks in my district felt the pinch of the tax increases imposed on them by our State's lawmakers, who last year raised personal income taxes by 66 percent and corporate taxes by 45 percent. State lawmakers told us that taxes would be used to pay Illinois debt and prevent budget deficits down the line; but the truth, as many of us feared, is that these tax hikes have done nothing to help our State. In fact, Illinois unemployment has remained above 9 percent for 36 straight months, since March of 2009. And thanks to Illinois tax hikes, rising gas prices, and Federal tax rates as high as 35 percent, our small businesses are strapped for cash. As a small business owner, I know the pain all too well. Rather than advancing partisan and un-serious show votes--votes that don't lower gas prices, don't encourage economic growth, and don't impact our deficit--we in the House want to ensure more opportunities for job seekers and job creators.
