GOP 'solutions' too simplistic

While I fully share the concern expressed in a Fence Post letter by state Reps. Michael Connelly and Darlene Senger on the suffering and pain the economic crisis, created by Republicans since President Reagan, has brought to their constituents, I believe Republicans have very short memories when it comes to raising taxes.

Republican Gov. Jim Edgar insisted on making a temporary tax hike permanent and recently said that a tax hike is needed if coupled with spending cuts. Both Senger and Connelly seem to have forgotten that Republican Gov. Ryan left our state with a $3 billion deficit.

Connelly was a DuPage County Board member when Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, now a governor candidate, proclaimed often the county faced a $40 million deficit. He said if the voters didn't agree to raise taxes. he had to cut human services, slash 200 employees and impose a 20 percent reduction in all departments. He was so afraid of not getting the tax hike that he asked Democratic leadership for a bailout. The duplicitous Schillerstrom then worked against the proposed tax hike knowing it would fail. The Democrats did bail him out and no cuts were needed.

Our state Republicans should not copy national Republicans who are clearly the party of "No" and place most of the blame on Gov. Pat Quinn and then offer poor solutions. I believe that if all state jobs were eliminated that would still leave several billions in deficit, so proposing standard approaches like freezing salaries or making 10 percent cuts across the board are too simplistic to make any real difference. Instead of claiming Quinn is in a "doomsday panic" mode, our representatives of both parties should be working hard together to find real solutions.

Paul E. Sjordal

Naperville