Ex-budget chief asking the wrong questions

Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's budget director, David Vaught, tries in his April 4 op-ed to convince us his boss was a great success and Gov. Rauner is screwing up the great Pat Quinn legacy.

If you remember the Quinn years differently, then you're in the majority of Illinois residents who recognized that Illinois can do better than the Illinois Democrats' record of higher taxes, no reforms and inexcusably dismal job growth.

Mr. Vaught makes vague reference for constitutional amendments to prevent gridlock, yet provides no detail. The only specifics he offers is a plan to, again, raise taxes. Talk about being out of touch with reality.

During Quinn's term, taxes went up 67 percent and it didn't solve the problem or provide value to the taxpayers. Spending continued to climb, the state's credit rating was downgraded to the worst in the nation and he left a $1.6 billion deficit when he was voted out of office.

Even worse, the nation was adding 15 million jobs from 2000 to 2015 but Illinois - a great state with almost unrivaled economic potential - was losing over 100,000 jobs and people were fleeing.

Illinois voters elected Bruce Rauner and his comprehensive plan to fundamentally change the direction of this state. The reforms have met stiff resistance from Quinn's allies in the legislature - entrenched supermajority Democrats fiercely protective of the status quo which empowers them, who offer no plan of their own to balance the budget and improve job opportunities. Mr. Vaught should really be asking, "Where is Speaker Madigan's plan?"

While he's at it, Mr. Vaught could call on his Democrat allies to engage in the give and take necessary to put Illinois back on the right track. Gov. Rauner's efforts at compromise continue to be met with staunch Democrat resistance resulting in continued gridlock and instability.

The simple truth is that Gov. Rauner is doing exactly what he told the voters he would do before the election: challenging the broken status quo that has systematically crushed opportunity in Illinois for years.

Rather than fighting the last governor's race all over again, Mr. Vaught should focus his energies on encouraging Mr. Madigan and the legislative majorities to respect the will of the people.

State Sen. Matt Murphy

Palatine