Macon Reporter

Illinois House candidate Amy Elik (R-Alton) is determined to be an agent of change in Springfield.

“I support bold reforms, and will be a fiscal watchdog with the courage and background to root out fraud, waste and corruption,” Elik told the Metro East Sun. “Our state economy has suffered due to the unfriendly business climate, high property taxes and tax policies that hurt families. First, we need a change in leadership.”

Running against incumbent state Rep. Amy Bristow (D-Alton) in the 111th District, Elik’s candidacy comes at a time when Illinois ranks next to last in the U.S. with just a 1.1-percent inflation-adjusted compound average growth of personal income – a full point behind the national average of 2.1 percent. And Gov. J.B. Pritzker's progressive income tax proposal only figures to make things worse, with Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) reporting that states with the most competitive income tax policies such low, flat rates or no income taxes at all are showing the strongest personal-income growth.

According to IPI, four of the five worst-performing states for personal-income growth have progressive income tax systems similar to what Illinois Democrats are pushing for.

“Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” Elik said. “Democratic leaders will continue to raise taxes to fund their pet programs and enable higher spending. Let's stop asking families to pay more to support the fraud, mismanagement and corruption in Springfield.”

Elik is convinced her vow not to vote for Michael Madigan as House Speaker is a good first step in that direction.

“The state is already paying the price of the decades of fiscal mismanagement and corruption,” she said. “Tens of thousands of people are leaving our state in favor of better opportunities elsewhere. If things do not change, people will continue to leave and those of us who stay will be taxed even more to fund a bloated and corrupt government.”