Institute responds to faith leaders advocating for higher tax rates on the middle class

On April 8, activists arrived unannounced at the Springfield office of the Illinois Policy Institute to protest our leadership in unmasking an unfair progressive tax grab. They left behind this letter. The following is our response. *** Dear Revs. Sharp, Coulter and Knox: Thank you for visiting our Springfield office earlier this week, and for...

On April 8, activists arrived unannounced at the Springfield office of the Illinois Policy Institute to protest our leadership in unmasking an unfair progressive tax grab.

They left behind this letter.

The following is our response.

***

Dear Revs. Sharp, Coulter and Knox:

Thank you for visiting our Springfield office earlier this week, and for your letter. Had you let us know you were coming, we would have enjoyed a chance to discuss with you our policy proposals and why we believe they help the poor and disadvantaged. Perhaps we would have learned from one another. Unfortunately, it seemed that you came to our little office in an attempt to intimidate and silence people with whom you have a political disagreement, rather than to engage in any meaningful discussion.

Reading your letter, I was particularly drawn to the citations from Isaiah and Luke at the top. Your selective misuse of Scripture no doubt appeals to those whose politics already agree with yours and who are looking for solace in sacred literature. You are not the first to abuse the Bible in this manner, nor – sadly – will you be the last.

Scripture – all religion, for that matter – governs and places boundaries around our personal behavior. To the extent that you read the words “justice” and “mercy” and “aid to the poor” as meaning increased taxation on Illinois families … that is, I suppose, your right. But let’s at least be honest that your reading of the text is suffused with your political bias to the point that a reasonable observer finds it difficult to distinguish which informs which.

Tax policies have outcomes associated with them. One cannot raise or lower taxes in a vacuum. I don’t see anything just about treating one Illinois family differently from another (actually, Leviticus 19:15 could be seen as prohibiting it). I don’t see anything merciful about driving wealth and jobs out of Illinois. And, with billions in unpaid bills and the nation’s worst unfunded pension liabilities, the likelihood that revenue will be used to aid the poor is pretty remote.

So, if you’d like to discuss the actual ramifications of a progressive tax hike on revenue and growth in our state, we’re happy to talk to you. If you’d like to discuss why we believe our policies are better for all Illinoisans – including those most vulnerable – we’re happy to have that conversation. If you’re interested only in hearing yourselves chant, throwing out barely relevant talking-points and abusing the air of biblical scholarship and moral authority conferred upon you by your religious denominations, you can stand outside and shout about it.

Either way, we won’t be silenced and we won’t be intimidated.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Jonathan L. Greenberg

Vice President of External Relations

Illinois Policy Institute