The most pressing problem in the 8th District is taxes, because Illinois’ tax system is regressive, placing a higher tax burden on low- and middle-income families, who pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes than wealthier residents. The top 1% in income earners take home 65 times as much as the bottom 99% but pays the same tax rate. In addition, Illinois consistently ranks among those states with the highest property taxes in the country, placing a significant burden on homeowners. Even so, Illinois’ tax system struggles to generate enough revenue to cover rising spending and debt in the state, which leads to ongoing budget gaps that prevent investments in infrastructure, education and other priorities. This situation contributes to the state’s persistent budget deficits and population loss, with high property taxes, sales taxes and complex business taxes adding to the overall strain, hindering economic growth and competitiveness. Relying on “sin taxes” such as taxes on smoking and gambling only contributes to the problem, creating an unreliable revenue stream. What can be done to ease this situation? I would support fulfilling cannabis legalization to its full potential with an expansion of licenses available for businesses. I would support modernizing the state’s current tax system, which currently taxes primarily goods and not consumer services. This doesn’t reflect today’s service-based economy. For example, in 2022, the sale of goods accounted for just 17% of the state’s GDP, while the sale of services accounted for 74%. Essential services such as healthcare, housing and child care would be exempted from this tax.