By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Two fiscally conservative state lawmakers said the plan to raise taxes is just more of the same.

State Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) said lawmakers should cut spending rather than raise taxes.

The latest budget proposal in Springfield would use $5.4 billion in tax increases and $2.7 billion in spending cuts to balance a new state spending plan.

McSweeney said Illinois tried a tax increase in 2011, and the state only paid some of its past-due bills and barely covered the pension payments.

“Raising taxes is the absolute wrong thing to do,” McSweeney said. “What we need to do is reform pensions and Medicaid.”

McCarter said he knew lawmakers would push for a tax hike when he saw the plans to sweep special state funds.

“You could see the legislators backing themselves into [a tax hike] by appropriating money they didn’t really have,” McCarter said.

McCarter said after Illinois raised taxes in 2011, thousands of people left the state. He said lawmakers need to plan on the same thing happening if they approve this latest tax increase.