Legislative leaders put re-election first

State Senate President John Cullerton gave a recent response to an editorial on tax breaks for Sears describing how he championed the deal and was working to make sure it passed. What he doesn’t talk about is how we wouldn’t need this kind of taxpayer giveaway if Illinois were in sound financial shape.

As most people probably already know, Cullerton and House Speaker Mike Madigan have basically run this state for a long time. Gov. Pat Quinn just seems to be a clueless observer. Cullerton and Madigan recently helped push through the largest tax increase on businesses and individuals in Illinois history. Illinois is ranked next to last in the country in almost every important financial category.

The most urgent financial issue facing the state is pension reform, yet the two most powerful legislators refuse to tackle the problem. The state continues to drown in debt, and these two continue to put their own re-election (with union support) ahead of the good of the state.

Jim Marks

Long Grove