GOP gubernatorial candidates square off in debate
SPRINGFIELD - The Republican candidates for governor differed during a debate Monday over whether they'd borrow to pay state bills, invest in high-speed rail service and cast out hundreds of state employees hired by ethically tainted previous administrations.
State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington was alone among the six GOP candidates on hand in saying he'd oust those brought in by former Govs. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich who remain employed by Gov. Pat Quinn.
"Absolutely, I'd fumigate them," Brady said.
The other five Republicans assembled on the stage disagreed, saying the situation needed a closer look and they'd keep quality employees regardless of who hired them.
"I'm not somebody who uses a meat ax where a scalpel is appropriate," said conservative commentator Dan Proft of Chicago.
He called it "nonsense" to start "chopping off some heads and holding them up in the public square."
Former state Attorney General Jim Ryan of Elmhurst cautioned against "guilt by association" in considering who to keep employed. Hinsdale businessman Adam Andrzejewski said he'd end patronage hiring, but that doesn't mean those people don't do their jobs.
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom suggested so-called fumigation pushes make good sound bites, but he'd keep those doing their jobs. State Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale said he'd eliminate some jobs in Chicago and move them back to Springfield.
Quinn initially called for such a fumigation when he was elevated to the governor's office upon Blagojevich's removal. But when he didn't act, House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, tried to force the issue by introducing legislation to fire 3,000 hires from the Blagojevich and Ryan administrations. That number was later reduced, and the legislation ultimately stalled.
There also was division over whether the state should borrow $500 million or more to pay some of the billions worth of bills that have piled up in state offices.
Andrzejewski, Brady, Dillard and Ryan all said such borrowing can be appropriate, and businesses that provide services on behalf of Illinois shouldn't suffer because of the state's poor fiscal leadership.
But Proft and Schillerstrom opposed such borrowing.
"I don't think its right to pay the mortgage with your Visa card," Schillerstrom said.
The panel of Republican candidates also split on whether to invest millions in high-speed rail service between Chicago and St. Louis, with Dillard and Brady offering the only support for such spending.
Both said such infrastructure investment was key to the state remaining a crucial transportation hub.
But Schillerstrom, Andrzejewski, Proft and Ryan all said high-speed rail is not a priority.
"I don't think this is the time to even think about spending money on that project," Ryan said. "It's expensive, and I don't think we need it."
The 90-minute debate featured six of the seven candidates in the Republican field. Only Chicago Republican and former state party Chairman Andy McKenna did not participate. A spokesman said McKenna already had scheduled a fundraiser when the debate invite arrived. He said the candidate is committed to upcoming debates.