Pat Quinn speaks at The IVI-IPO annual dinner

What a Night (0.00 / 0)

The Governor possesses one of my most favorite qualities---he is a gentleman. His speech was great but I heard more when he lent his hand to Ms. Sommerville after she received her award. I heard more when he called out Jeff Smith for his courage and candidacy. I heard more when he stayed to shake every hand who wanted to shake his, regardless of who they were.  

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by: Suzanne @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 20:11:23 PM CDT

Last 2 Republican Governors & Blago: "Just Say NO to Taxes" Career Pols All (3.50 / 2)

Gov Quinn's keynote address was refreshing and frank. He encouraged everyone to call any Democratic state rep that voted no on the state income tax increase last May.

The legislators who would not vote for a state income tax increase last May are divided into two camps:  the Republican "Tin Man" searching for a heart, and the Democratic "Cowardly Lion" searching for political courage.  

Together, in the Land of Oz, they share the fairytale - that not raising the state income tax and pandering to the cut-waste-reform-first mantra --- will ensure long political careers.  Nothing is farther from the truth.  

They had no trouble increasing millions in revenues on user fees, and sales taxes---dollar and dime the taxpayers to death, while avoiding tougher challenges to overhaul the property tax and income tax system.

Illinois was in a fiscal mess years ago, under the last 3 administrations. Those budgets  were  "balanced" by under funding pensions and creative accounting even when the  economic times were better -- when real estate values were exploding and Illinois was raking in property tax dollars.

California and Illinois are in the top 3 states with the highest budget deficits.

California has 36.7 million residents and a $16 billion deficit.  Every man woman and child in that state would have to pay $435 to cover their budgetary black hole.  But in Illinois , with 12.9 million residents and a $11 billion deficit every resident would have to pay $852 to dig themselves out of our deficit pit created by the state's CEO's--- the legislators.

Both parties spent our money like drunken sailors, and part of the problem was the pay to play and no regulations on state contracts with the private sector, which was only addressed in this legislative session!

Thank God we have a fiscal conservative and reform minded Governor with courage to say yes to a modest 1.5% tax increase and reforms to the public pension system that's drowning generations in debt.

Andrea Raila

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by: AndreaRaila @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:25:54 AM CDT

Andrea Raila for commissioner n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: Jeff Smith @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 22:39:35 PM CDT

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