GOP view: Yes, Illinois needs change - from Democratic rule

As Illinois Democrats gather 600 miles away in Denver for the Democrat National Convention, few of their references in Monday's speeches and program focused on accomplishments in their home state. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

While the theme at the Democrat National Convention is on change, it is hard to argue that there is a state in the union that needs change more than Illinois.

Over the last six years, Democrats in Illinois, led by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones have increased state spending by $9 billion, ballooned our state debt to over $100 billion and raised taxes and fees on employers and families across the state.

The result of Democrat leadership has created a state that is fractured, crumbling and out-of-work.

Communities in Cook County are seeking to secede from their home counties because they believe they are being taxed without representation.

Our state infrastructure, like roads, hospitals and schools, is crumbling because Statehouse Democrats cannot agree on a plan to access the billions in federal funds waiting to be used in Illinois.

And recent unemployment figures demonstrate that the Democrats' job-crushing taxes and fees have produced over 400,000 unemployed Illinoisans.

The priorities of the Democrat Party in Illinois are not the priorities of the families of Illinois.

During just the last 60 days of legislative session, Democrats have advanced pay raises for themselves and Rod Blagojevich, introduced a measure to double the income tax on families and produced a budget that was unbalanced by over $2 billion. This is a record of dysfunction and disappointment.

All the while, the issues important to Illinois families are ignored. Over the last six years, here is what hasn't been accomplished:

• No ethics reform

• No education funding reform

• No major property tax relief

• No job creation legislation

• No state construction program

The list goes on and on, but I know we all understand the problem. We see it every day in the form of the nation's highest sales tax, rising gas prices, skyrocketing property tax bills and pot-holed roads. The evidence of dysfunction is apparent everywhere.

Politics is by its nature divisive, but after watching some of the speeches Monday night, there is one common thread that binds Republicans with Democrats in Illinois - we need change.

Tom Cross, an Oswego Republican, is Illinois House Minority Leader.