Smart Government

Democrats and Republicans go back and forth on what size government best fits the job. Size is beside the point. Illinois urgently needs smart government. If we don’t embark on a new course immediately, if we don’t fundamentally rethink our way of doing things and challenge the status quo, we’ll never recover. Leaving it to the old guard to muddle through the mess they’ve created is not an option.

 

Jobs (Not Taxes)

My opponents support raising personal and corporate income taxes. Think about it. Raise income taxes in the midst of the most severe recession since the Great Depression? With the number of jobs falling and unemployment rising? It’s immoral to ask the underemployed and furloughed citizens of Illinois to pick up the tab for irresponsible governance. Raise corporate tax 50% when Illinois is currently 47th in the nation for job growth? It is illogical and counterproductive, rather than bringing in new businesses it will drive them away.

 

Pension Reform

Illinois currently has the highest unfunded pension liabilities of any state in the country. Experts estimate it is now $73 billion. This is much larger than the costs to operate the entire state for one year.

Governors and legislators from both parties have consistently underfunded. Indeed, this past July Governor Quinn signed a bill authorizing borrowing $3.5 billion for current pension obligations.

 

Campaign Finance Reform

One of the major reasons this state has been paralyzed to address the deep economic and social problems we face is due to the involvement of money with politics. Elected officials collect large sums of money to run their campaigns, and they often pay back campaign contributors with special access and favorable laws. This common practice is contrary to the public interest, yet legal.