62nd House District candidates offer views on state budget deficit

No single political hopeful can fix Illinois' $13 billion budget deficit, but the two candidates in the race for the 62nd House District seat have ideas for getting the state out of its financial mess.

Republican incumbent Sandy Cole is challenged by Democrat Rich Voltair of Round Lake Beach. The district is in central Lake County.

Cole and Voltair talked about solving the state's fiscal problems and other matters in questionnaires for the Daily Herald.

Cole, of Grayslake, said she does not support raising the income-tax rate as a way to generate more funds for the state.

"The governor's request that the legislators take a leap of faith by joining him in raising income taxes during the second greatest recession in Illinois history, during 11-percent unemployment (and) during increased and unchecked state spending, simply doesn't pass the straight-face test," Cole said.

Rather, long-term solutions such as zero-based budgeting and the creation of sunshine commissions to review program effectiveness are needed, she said. Cole also favors reforming Medicaid, eliminating the lieutenant governor's office and reducing department spending by 5 percent to 10 percent.

"Fiscal discipline and living within our means (are needed)," she said. "Illinois can no longer afford to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic."

Voltair, of Round Lake Beach, said the state needs to find additional revenue. He favors property-tax relief for suburban homeowners and said a graduated income tax that would tax the rich at a higher rate could make up the difference.

He also backed establishing or increasing estate taxes on wealthy people. He opposes a sales-tax increase.

Voltair has publicly said he favors expanding video gambling in Illinois. In answering his questionnaire for the Daily Herald, he also called for the expansion of casino gambling.