Rightward, ho: What's behind state Democrats' sudden shift?

Reducing pension benefits for public employees over the howls of powerful unions.

Introducing school choice voucher programs, specifically targeting Chicago Public Schools.

Giving tax credits to small businesses.

Freeing Chicago teachers to move to the suburbs.

In a different era, this would resemble the "to do" list for suburban Republicans in Illinois.

But today, it is shaping up to be the main agenda for Chicago Democrats running the state as they grapple with a massive budget shortfall and fear retaliation from voters going to the polls this fall.

"My hat's off to them," remarks state Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican and a veteran voice on conservative proposals in the General Assembly.

Republicans return to Springfield this week scratching their heads at such Democratic policy moves that undermine their own political union base and make inroads toward more conservative proposals. But some observers see the rug being pulled out from under the GOP.

"(Democrats) have to go on the offensive to mitigate the economic environment of high unemployment and budget problems," says Roosevelt University political professor Paul Green. "They can't be on the fence, do nothings and hostages of the unions. These things are showing that they are not - at least momentarily."

Republicans have been touting for months that they can make big gains in the general election by focusing on economic issues as the state drowns in red ink and struggles with double-digit unemployment.

At the top of the ticket, Republican state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington has built his campaign for governor on targeting government pensions and health care subsidies while opposing tax hikes, supporting school vouchers and promising to bring jobs to the state with tax breaks.

That platform takes attention away from Brady's social positions, like opposing stem-cell research, supporting school districts that want to teach creationism and blocking gay rights, all positions that tend not to poll well in this Democrat-leaning state.

Now the Democrats have tamped down the pension issue by passing a law putting new teachers and other government employees into a much less lucrative system. The ruling party passed small business tax credits to stimulate job creation. A measure authorizing vouchers in Chicago that would affect more than 20,000 students has cleared the Senate, though it has a murky future in the House.

Plus, there is also talk of Medicaid reform on the horizon.

Such a combination of actions could remove or at least weaken many planks of Brady's campaign before he even gets into the heart of campaign season.

Yet, aside from the political ramifications, observers also see pragmatic reasons for the Democrats' more Republican approach these days. The moves could make it easier to pass Gov. Pat Quinn's prized income tax hike.

House Democrats are unlikely to pass an income tax increase without support from at least some Republicans. And the Republicans who could be convinced to go along have been holding out for pension reform and other GOP proposals.

"I think it is more likely that Republicans in the House are going to vote for a tax increase," remarked Lauzen of the pension move.

As for Democratic leaders, they have steered clear of questions about the political machinations behind the type of legislation they're pushing.

House Speaker Michael Madigan said he wasn't considering the impact of unions on elections or Republican votes for a tax increase when he unexpectedly pushed through pension reform.

"It has been a long time coming," he told reporters while making the case that the reforms would save the state billions of dollars and help balance the budget.

For his part, Quinn did say last week that he knew pension reform was essential before pushing a tax hike.

"I think the voters will appreciate the fact that we realize before you talk about revenue, it is important to talk about saving money for taxpayers," Quinn said in essentially co-opting a major theme of Republican campaigns this year.

Meanwhile, many Republicans and conservative proponents point out the Democrats haven't exactly replaced the donkey with the elephant in Illinois.

Some Republicans have wanted to cut benefits for current state workers, a move Democrats and others contend would be illegal. They also wanted to move new workers to a 401k-type system.

Dan Miller, publisher for the conservative think tank Heartland Institute, said he isn't impressed with the Democrats' moves. He says they may seem to come from a Republican playbook only because he views the GOP as too moderate in many cases. Several Republicans who represent a lot of government workers downstate did oppose the pension reform.

"I've seen it all before," Miller said. "I don't think there are any stars for anybody in this one."