Apparently, Time to Waste in Illinois

By Aaron Lowe

Recently, Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton spoke to the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune. Out of his appearance before the board came this item. Cullerton told the Trib, “There’s no reason” to vote on an income-tax increase this fall because there wouldn’t be enough support to make the hike effective immediately. Now, if Cullerton supports the increase and wants to balance the budget through an income-tax hike, why won’t he call the increase for a vote? He is the Senate president and he can ram things through to the floor.

He argues in the Trib piece that there would not be enough support in the House and Senate. Even if there is not enough support, if he really believes that this needs to be done for the state of Illinois, why will he not call a vote on the issue? If he is standing up for the people of his district and the citizens of the state, then he should be willing (and eager) to take a definitive stand on this issue. With a severe economic downturn and the state billions of dollars in debt, we as citizens need real financial solutions. If it means passing a tax hike, then it means passing a tax hike. If it means cuts here, cuts there, and a smaller tax hike, then so be it.

However, Mr. Cullerton is not interested in real financial solutions for the people; he is interested in politicking in order stay in his cozy leadership position. Cullerton told the Trib that he,” also believed it was important that lawmakers adopt a less-generous pension system for future state employees before seeking a major tax increase.” The state legislature had months to do this before taking the end of the summer off. Unfortunately, the only other citizens able to take months off are most likely the ones that are facing furloughs and layoffs. They have no choice. Cullerton could have extended the Senate session and tried to prevent the recess through a vote—but he of course he did not
do that. He could have asked Governor Quinn to call a special session. Instead he politicked and prophesized. Forget about a fall tax hike vote, it might be done right before the primaries if some Republicans get involved in the scheme he told the Tribune. All of a sudden, it does not seem like Illinois is in that bad a spot. It seems like we have all kinds of time to waste. Wait. That is just how the legislating game is played in Illinois. Laws are not made to, “eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity” as the Illinois state constitution preamble states. Instead, the game is played to the benefit of the office holder, the politician, not the every man, woman, and child individual that lives in this state every single day.


Commentary by Aaron Lowe. ©2009 Aaron Lowe.