House 66 candidates call for limited spending, no tax hikes

Both candidates for representative in Illinois House District 66 are calling for limits on state spending, and neither Arlington Heights resident supports new taxes or revenue.

Mark Walker, the Democratic incumbent, thinks a process change is most important, and while he agrees every department can reduce spending, he refuses to specify which causes should be cut. He believes spending priorities should be decided by state residents.

Under the system used in Washington state and Iowa, experts would first determine the amount of revenue available for the next five years, and the legislature would set a legally binding spending limit.

After priorities are set - perhaps by surveys of residents as in some states - organizations would bid for the money, detailing what they would accomplish with the funds they request, and how they would measure their success.

Performance budgeting and revenue first are already in law, said Walker.

"My role is to figure out how to make it actually work," he said.

In his view the state is like a big franchiser, with other agencies getting the money and doing the work. The system he espouses would work especially well for the 40 percent of the budget spent on human services, he believes.

It will take three to five years to make this work, said Walker, and there is a 50 percent chance the legislature will approve it this fall.

Meanwhile, David Harris, the Republican challenger, agrees the budget deficit is not going away in one year, but he said if the legislature brings spending down closer to revenue and shows belt tightening, bond rating companies will take notice.

This is important to draw and keep businesses, the candidate said.

In the 1983 recession, which occurred during Harris' decade in the legislature, he voted for a temporary tax increase but later voted against making it permanent.

"This time the situation is very different. Up until the last year and a half the problem was not lack of revenue," said Harris. "It has been excessive spending."

According to Harris, the director of a major nonprofit agency in the district said he can live with cuts in revenue if the state money comes on time, which it has not.

Outlining where cuts could be made, Harris started with a reduction of at least 10 percent.

Then he listed:

• The four state private planes should go, although maybe the governor could keep one.

• Military affairs and emergency management should be combined, as should the treasurer and the comptroller.

• Abolish the lieutenant governor's office and boards and commissions such as the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

• Medicaid could have significant savings if managed care were instituted, thus preventing treatments for minor illnesses at emergency rooms. Its services should also be limited to Illinois residents.

Harris said he is afraid the economy is not going to revive enough to produce new state revenue any time soon, calling it a "seismic change." He specifically cited the downturn in home building and manufacturing.

Walker said his talks with local businesspeople - particularly manufacturing and distribution companies - tell him things are getting better.

"Almost everyone I talk to had a record first half in sales; almost no one is hiring - they work their people overtime," he said.

Companies would hire more employees if they could be sure that their business will stay strong and knew what the costs of health care will be, he said.

Walker said housing and construction are still a drag on the economy, and the retail sector wavers.

And he is optimistic about recovery.

"It's not going to be years from now; it could easily be next year," he added. "We are not in decline and there's no double dip recession."

The 66th House district covers the southern portion of Arlington Heights, much of Elk Grove Village and some Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect and Schaumburg.