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GOP reps should resign or retire

Republican State Representatives Steve Andersson of Geneva and Mike Fortner of West Chicago have so poorly represented taxpayers by voting for a permanent 32 percent income tax increase without any significant reforms to public pensions, Medicaid eligibility, property taxes, not even temporary term limits, job protection/creation, etc. that they need to resign, retire or be replaced.

More of your money spent on status quo in Springfield and Chicago. Andersson and Fortner fell in line with Downtown Chicago Democrat Mike Madigan's interests to tax and spend their own suburban constituents' income without fundamental improvements.

According to the front page of a Sunday Chicago newspaper, if you're a senior struggling to live on $25,000, your income tax will now be $1,080 per year; a two-income family with perhaps both parents working who are fortunate enough to earn $100,000, will now pay $4,519 a year; and, a single adult with no dependents earning $40,000, will be required to pay $1,872 a year. Where will you find the money? Thank State Representatives Steve Andersson and Mike Fortner.

What is really incredible about the increase is that your budget negotiators secured nothing in return for your sacrifice. That is capitulation and incompetent political representation.

During the past five years, Kane County government has stopped the historical onslaught of 50 percent property tax increases accumulated over the previous seven years. We have cut county bond debt by 67 percent and reduced unfunded pension liabilities by more than $10 million. All these savings without diminishing the quality of county services.

It's hard to contain growth in government, but our state representatives must have the discipline and intelligence to at least try.

Fortner called a 32 percent tax increase "reasonable"; Andersson lobbied for votes to tax you more.

Chris Lauzen

Kane County Board Chairman

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