SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. David Harris announced Tuesday he won't seek re-election in 2018, the Daily Herald reports. Harris is among the 23 Republicans that voted in July to raise the state income 32%, and 15 that Republicans voted to override Governor Rauner's budget veto.
With Harris' announcement, over half of the 15 that voted to override the governor's budget veto will not seek re-election, including Rep. Mike Fortner, Steve Andersson, Sara Jimenez, David Harris, Bob Pritchard, Bill Mitchell, Chad Hays and John Cavaletto.
The anti-tax group Taxpayers United circulated flyers and educated voters about Rep. Harris' support for the tax hike after holding a press conference in August condemning Harris' vote.
Thus far, Harris' Republican pro-tax hike House colleagues that have announced they are not seeking re-election in 2018 include Steve Andersson, John Cavaletto, Mike Fortner, Chad Hays, Sara Jimenez, Bill Mitchell, Reggie Phillips and Bill Pritchard.
The 23 Republicans that voted for the budget hiking the state income tax to 4.95% were: Andersson, Bennett, Bourne, Brady, Bryant, Butler, Cabello, Cavaletto, Davidsmeyer, Durkin, Fortner, Hammond, David Harris, Hays, Jimenez, Meier, Phillips, Pritchard, Reis, Severin, Stewart, Unes and Welter.
The 15 Republicans that rejected Governor Rauner's veto were Andersson, Bryant, Cavaletto, Davidsmeyer, Fortner, Hammond, D. Harris, Hays, Jimenez, Meier, B. Mitchell, Phillips, Pritchard, Reis and Unes.