Don't take credit when you didn't vote yes

Transparency, accountability, reform, citizen empowerment: admirable and achievable goals to reform Illinois politics. Before we can move forward, however, we also need consensus among our elected officials. A good example of this is the $29 billion bipartisan capital program, HB 255, that allows revenue to be raised to provide much needed jobs and repair infrastructure and improve schools, HB 312.

While the spending bill was unanimously supported in the Senate, the revenue bill passed with a 47-12 vote. Revenue bills are always the more difficult and unpopular vote, especially in trying economic times, but a revenue stream is necessary to support expenses. Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican, is slated to receive approximately $193 million for the capital construction plan. It seems a little disingenuous of Sen. Lauzen to emphasize his involvement in bringing more jobs, better roads and bridges and school funding to our district, when he actually was one of the minority "no" votes. It is OK to vote "no" but it is not OK to take credit for something that someone else did. In this case, it was something 47 other people did - make a difficult and maybe unpopular vote to aid their constituents. If we are to truly reform Illinois politics, then we need to elect representatives who are responsible, accountable and sincere consensus builders. It can be done.

Leslie Juby

Geneva