State Republicans' dream agenda: fight tax increases, look for tax breaks
SPRINGFIELD - If Republicans ran state government, they say they'd make it harder to raise taxes, fast track property tax relief and make it easier to kick unpopular politicians out of office.
These were just a few of the provisions contained in Illinois Republicans' "Agenda for Action" they unveiled Thursday. Specifically, Republican leaders say if they were in charge, they would quickly move to increase how many votes it takes for lawmakers to increase taxes, approve recall of elected officials, and increase homeowners' tax exemptions and rebates. More details can be fond at www.agendaforaction.com.
The move is akin to Congressional Republicans "Contract with America" that Newt Gingrich used to wrest control of the U.S. House away from Democrats in the 1990s.
The reality check for Illinois Republicans is that they're not in charge of anything. Every statewide office, the Illinois House and Senate, both U.S. senators and the Illinois Supreme Court, all are controlled by Democrats.
Traditionally, Republican suburban congressional seats have been snatched away by Democrats. And with Barack Obama leading the ticket this fall, many political experts predict more hard times for the Illinois GOP.
Republican leaders hope their agenda will provide a rallying point and allow them to tell what they'd do differently as they point to a litany of failings during six years of Democratic control.
"We have record high debt, unpaid bills, fiscal mismanagement ... federal investigations," Illinois Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville said of the Democratic reign.
"When you look at the last six years," added House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego, "the Democrats have nothing to show for it."
A spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich vehemently disagreed.
"In six years, we have accomplished a number of things that help people from investing a record amount of money toward education, to making sure uninsured women can get mammograms and pap smears to raising the minimum wage twice to giving children health insurance. And we have done all that without raising taxes. The governor doesn't mind if he has to get beat up or bruised on behalf of the people, because it's provided results," said spokesman Lucio Guerrero.
And since sweeping control six years ago, Democrats have only added to their influence, picking up key suburban state Senate seats in the 2006 elections that also saw Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich re-elected.