Look elsewhere for Illinois solutions

I urge our political leadership to look for answers from two other states who have made their political decisions with less corruption or financial disasters.

Before retiring to Illinois, we lived in Nebraska for 20 years and before that for three years in Wisconsin. Those two states have some good answers politically on how to run a government.

In July, my grandson and I visited the Nebraska state capitol. We learned Nebraska ended the fiscal year with a $60 million surplus and a budget in place for the next fiscal year. Nebraska has a unicameral system with only one legislative body of 49 senators. We learned that recently they had set term limits of two, 4-year terms, with a four year wait before a state senator can run again for office. Such a term-limits law would end the long and often corrupt party and legislative leadership we endure in Illinois.

The tax rate in Nebraska is set after the unicameral has approved its budget, dividing the total cost of government equally between a sales tax and an income tax. Those running for state office do not make "cutting taxes" a major part of campaigning. Those who depend on state funds are paid on time and in full.

Contrast that to what is happening in Illinois. In this past primary a large part of the electorate who think of themselves as independent voters were unable to have any input in many primary races.

In Wisconsin, we voted in "open primaries," where every voter was given a ballot with all candidates listed. This enfranchises every voter, but cuts the power of entrenched party rule. With such a law, it might even be possible for the city of Chicago or Cook County to elect a Republican. What a breath of fresh air that would be here in Illinois.

Jerry Lundby

Carol Stream