Issues
Taxes and Spending
Government needs to learn to live within its means like our families and businesses do. This year, the State of Illinois took in $2 billion more in revenue than last year and yet Governor Blagojevich and the democrats wanted even more. Springfield must stop coming up with massive new social programs and instead focus on putting its fiscal house in order.
I see no point in exploring the Governor’s new social experiments while under funding the State’s historic priorities like education and transportation. I would commit to zero growth budgets for any programs other than transportation, education and public safety. I would also stop redirecting transportation funds away from our crumbling infrastructure.
A positive business climate is critical to the long-term strength of not only the 48th Representative District but the state as a whole. Today, the push is for more taxation of individuals and businesses. I will challenge new taxes and fees that result in diluted job creation. Further, a critical component to enhancing our economic climate is investment in workforce development. As chairman of the DuPage County Economic Development Committee, I have seen firsthand how small investments into workforce development can pay huge dividends for the County, region and State. For example, last year a minority-owned manufacturing plant in Addison received a $75,000 workforce development grant. Without it, her 750 employees would be out looking for work, her plant would be closed and the service businesses surrounding her business would lose its biggest customer. Instead, the investment was used to re-train her employees. Today, there are 1500 employees working hard to fill the orders pouring in.
Transportation is another critical component to an attractive business climate. A comprehensive regional transportation plan should be implemented including full funding of the Star Line and encouraging public/private partnerships to increase parking inventory along the Burlington Northern line to take cars off the highways.
I would support legislation that would put newly hired state and local workers into a defined contribution plan such as a 401(k). Defined contribution plans have advantages for workers. For example, because the employee owns the plan, legislators (or Governors) may not take from a workers retirement savings. It also allows workers the ability to transfer benefits from one job to another whether in government or the private sector.
Under a defined contribution plan, the state has to make the contributions and can’t defer payments and leave it to the next generation of Illinoisans to pay for it. In the end, moving from defined benefit to defined contribution would strengthen the state retirement system while also over time be far more cost effective for taxpayers.
Furthermore, the State must protect the benefits of those employees already in the system.
The residents of the 48th District demand and expect excellence in education. Indeed, the residents here pay some of the highest property taxes in Illinois for education. I am suspicious of any bill coming from the Chicago Democrats called a “tax swap”. I am concerned the only thing swapped will be more tax dollars from DuPage County to fund the bloated and under-performing Chicago Public schools and it’s under funded pension system. In my view, what’s proposed isn’t a tax swap, it’s a tax grab under the guise of a tax swap. I would demand that the Auditor General do a complete and thorough audit of the Chicago Public Schools and the wasteful spending. Twenty-five percent (25%) of all state money appropriated for education goes to the City of Chicago. The taxpayers have a right to know where that money goes before any talk of a “tax swap.”
The United States still has the highest quality healthcare in the world. We should never put that at risk in favor of a one size fits all socialized healthcare system. I agree that we need to maximize any federal investment that allows us to provide coverage to the neediest children and expectant mothers. The state should support working families by providing greater incentives to acquire personal coverage. The State also has a role in assuring that each health plan provides an adequate bottom line set of coverage.
As Chairman of the DuPage County 911 Board, I am responsible for planning, coordinating, supervising and funding the operation of the Emergency 9‑1‑1 system in DuPage County. I have endeavored to create strong fiscal management controls, and also a positive and constructive working relationship among the various Police, Fire and EMS agencies in DuPage County, in order to implement state-of-the-art emergency computer systems, radio communications systems, mapping technologies, officer training and operational protocols that promote standardization of the 9-1-1 emergency services throughout the County. Under my leadership, the DuPage County 911 Board has become a prime example of government that works. By working cooperatively with the local municipalities, we have created a volume purchase funding model that allows us to provide advanced emergency technologies and equipment to the Police and Fire Departments that individual municipalities would not be able to afford to purchase, thereby improving the safety and quality of life of all citizens of DuPage County.
In light of the dangers in today’s world, the state must continue to make homeland security a priority.