Moeller starts in Springfield after Farnham resignation
Political Editor
mriopell@dailyherald.com
SPRINGFIELD — New state Rep. Anna Moeller, an Elgin Democrat, started her work at the Capitol this week as lawmakers begin their push toward finishing a budget by the end of May.
Moeller's transition from her spot on the Elgin City Council to the Illinois House was brisk. Democrat Keith Farnham resigned the seat less than two weeks before Moeller was sworn in Sunday, and she attended her first day of legislative session in Springfield Tuesday as lawmakers start to grind through dozens of votes per day on the House floor.
Neither federal authorities nor Farnham have offered more details about the early March raid of Farnham's home and Elgin office, but a search warrant shows agents asked to search computers and other electronic devices in his office for child pornography.
“The community has wanted to put what happened behind them,” Moeller said.
Ahead of lawmakers, though, lies a likely controversial debate about income and property taxes. They have until May 31 to come up with a budget plan, and top Democrats have pitched competing ideas to raise income taxes on millionaires, make the 2011 tax hike permanent, and other alternatives.
Moeller said she's undecided on Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to make the tax hike permanent coupled with some additional property tax relief.
“I know that it's going to be presented in a comprehensive package, and quite honestly, I need to look at what that package looks like before I can decide how I'm going to vote on that,” she said.
Moeller was in Springfield a month ago lobbying in her role as executive director of the McHenry County Council of Governments.
She said she in part was talking to lawmakers about keeping the state from taking some local governments' share of the state income tax, a move that has emerged the past few years but stalled. It's not part of Quinn's budget plan this year.
Moeller plans to be on the November ballot to seek a full term, and Republicans have viewed Farnham's resignation as a potential opening to take a seat where they didn't previously have a candidate running.
Both parties can appoint candidates to the November ballot later this spring.