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Illinois Politics
How is it that Gov. Rod Blagojevich has become more bullish in his tax relief rhetoric than any noticeable member of the Illinois Republican Party? From yesterday's State of the State speech: ... We put a record amount of money in our public schools without raising taxes on people and, most recently, Illinois became the only state in the nation where a senior citizen can ride the bus for free. ... Now when was the last time you hard that kind of tax rhetoric from, say, IL House GOP Leader Tom Cross? And, even when Illinois Republicans do offer some forceful tax rhetoric, some promises to hold the line on taxes against the Democrats' proposals, it's rather hard to take. DuPage County State Sen. Kirk Dillard was on this morning with WLS' Don Wade & Roma Morning Show thundering about the Springfield Democrat leaderships' desire to hike the income tax. But, his words belie his actions of only a month or so ago. Remember, it was Dillard - along with fellow DuPage County GOPers Sen. John Miller and Sen. Dan Cronin - who were instrumental in passing the CTA bailout that raised the sales tax in Cook County and the collar counties. The proposal wouldn't have passed the State Senate without Dillard's (or Millner's, or Cronin's) vote. Not only did those votes push through a tax increase, they also provided political cover for the Democrat member of the Senate that wasn't there to cast their vote: State Sen. Debbie Halvorson. Halvorson, as you know, is embroiled in the contest to claim retiring GOP Congressman Jerry Weller's seat. And a vote for a tax hike might have been messy to explain. Dillard, Cronin and Miller spared her all that trouble. But, this is Illinois. In a state where the GOP is now little more than a nasty rumor, it's Gov. Blagojevich who's talking like a Republican on taxes and the legislative Democrats who are pushing to tax increases. With the help of the Republican legislative leaders. While on the Don Wade & Roma Morning Show, Blagojevich shed even more light on his philosophy behind his new budget and the State of the State address: ... and what is government supposed to be about? You're supposed to be about helping people. That's why we have government. ... Think you've heard this kind of rhetoric before? Tax cuts? Government investment in making your life better? Creating jobs through government intervention in the economy? It's compassionate conservativism. It's the rhetoric of George W. Bush, and currently of Republicans like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. It's big government conservativism. Welcome to a state that has been turned on its political head. The Democrat governor is sounding like a Republican. And it's the Republicans who are trying to figure out how they're going to pay for the Governor's proposals. Filed Under: Illinois Politics E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format |
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