Noland, Rauschenberger square off in heated radio debate

Two Elgin candidates for 22nd state Senate sparred in a radio debate Tuesday, drawing distinct differences for voters who will choose between the Democratic incumbent and the Republican who held the seat for 14 years previously.

Democratic Sen. Michael Noland and Republican challenger Steve Rauschenberger were repeatedly warned by WRMN-AM 1410 hosts not to take pot shots at one another, in responding to wide ranging questions from listeners about education, state debt, unemployment, and even the legacy of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Here are their responses, by topic:

On property tax relief:Noland called property tax relief "one of our top priorities" and touted his push for a plan that would double the property tax credit, a measure that was stuck in a rules committee for much of last session. He also said he would support Gov. Pat Quinn's recent call for a tax swap, in which schools would lower property taxes as income taxes would rise. Noland said that rebate should be specified to those with fixed or limited incomes like seniors.Rauschenberger, a former state senator from 1992 through 2006, stressed that as things stand right now, Illinois cannot pay school districts the money currently owed. "It's unrealistic to say we can help with property taxes until we get our house in order," he said.Michael Madigan: Good for the state or bad?Rauschenberger called the speaker a "poster child for what's wrong with Illinois politics," and someone who "stands in front of the video camera who says we're adjourning without a balanced budget," letting lawmakers off to go campaigning instead.Noland said Madigan had "served a little too long," pointing out that he filed a term limit bill. "I'm looking forward to changing leadership in the not so distant future," he said.Student performance:Rauschenberger said the public school system is antiquated, still set in the 1950s."Expectations for a high school graduate or a kid in 1950 is real different from it is today," he said. He advocated for a system change, which includes focusing more energy and resources on early childhood education.Noland agreed that a reallocation of resources is "an important discussion to have. But we have to look at tenure, at class size, those things cost money."Unemployment:Noland highlighted the passage of the $31 billion capital bill, which Quinn signed in July 2009. He also talked about creating more than 1,000 local jobs - bringing back $40 million for a construction project to Harper College in Palatine and $18 million for interchange improvements at Barrington Road and I-90.Rauschenberger said he hated "to be the disagreeable one" but pointed out that neither of the aforementioned projects had started, because funding hadn't been secured."It is not fair to tell constituents that there's an interchange that's going to be built. It's in a plan yes. But it's not funded and it's not underway. Don't mislead people about what's going on."The 22nd race is expected to be one of the closest on the state legislative level, as Republicans hope to regain some power by taking the seat back.There are just 55 days until the Nov. 2 election.False600904Steve Rauschenberger False