Editorial: Courage, yes, but also tax, gambling increases

Over the years, we've used this space many times to bemoan the dysfunction in Springfield and to excoriate legislative leadership as well as legislators in general for their partisanship and lack of effectiveness.

That's been particularly true in the past two years of stalemate when, it seems, so little has gotten done and the state's problems have been allowed to only grow worse due to political gamesmanship and the stranglehold power of special interests.

Our frustration, and that of the citizenry, boils over, to be sure.

Finally now, there is an encouraging hint that perhaps legislators themselves are sharing in that frustration with a system that seems to leave them powerless to solve the state's many problems.

Earlier this month, the Illinois Senate passed a bill that would limit the term of the senate president to no more than 10 years. That is a huge step toward reform of the way the system works and wouldn't have happened without the acquiescence of Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago. We laud Cullerton's unselfish willingness to move forward on that needed reform, part of a grand compromise that he and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont are trying to strike.

As to the grand deal itself, we can say this: We appreciate the political courage Cullerton and Radogno are displaying in putting the state's interests above their own, risking the political fallout from special interests and partisans.

We are not ready, at least not yet, to sign onto the entire proposed 13-point proposal that would include a significant increase in the state income tax and an expansion of legalized gambling. We do, however, agree without reservation with many aspects of the plan - a property tax freeze, the leadership term limits, workers' compensation reform.

And it is clear that Illinois is not going to solve its significant problems and rebuild its reputation, is not going to stop the exodus of families and businesses fleeing the state, unless our two parties work seriously together in a spirit of cooperation and compromise.

No matter anyone's positions on the proposed grand deal, the two Senate leaders deserve everyone's thanks for their willingness to put themselves on the line.

As Radogno told our editorial board, there are two choices - to do something or to do nothing.

"The only alternative" to compromise, she said, "is to stay in a state of chaos."