Consider 10 percent state income tax

It does not take a genius to understand why our state has a $27 billion deficit. Every two years, our state senators and representatives are primarily considering getting re-elected. They are scared to raise the state income tax.

Ever since the 1960s when Govenor Ogilvie, a Republican, promoted a state income tax, our politicians have been reluctant to raise taxes because Gov. Ogilvie lost by two landslides.

Now we have a good governor, Pat Quinn, who eliminated $5 billion in necessary expenditures. His opponent wants to open closed state prisons. He is playing to the ears of downstate jobseekers, obviously. He is a phony.

We have a big state. California's state income tax is 13.84 percent with a balanced budget and New York's is 11.15 percent.

We could have at least a 10 percent state income tax and eliminate any deficit and have balanced budgets. Our scared politicians have to be brave and have guts. Why not?

M. Barry Birchfield

Elgin