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Take the world's smallest political quiz and see where you fit!Quinn’s Request
Incumbent Governor Quinn asked the public for ideas to resolve Illinois’s Budget Crisis Below is the response which I respectfully sent to his office:
It is becoming a more and more common refrain that increased taxes, “Revenue Enhancements,” is the only way to combat our state’s fiscal crisis. But while this may shore up the crumbling walls for a brief period, it will only exacerbate the overall problem.
Our government has resorted to taxing just about everything to fund its out of control spending, resulting in one of the most oppressive overall tax burdens in the country. This tax, borrow and spend attitude shown by Illinois politicians from both sides of the aisle has resulted in anemic job growth and a net migration of citizens out of Illinois throughout the past decade. Our politicians have been promising us the world, but only delivering the bill.
Illinois is in fiscal crisis, but raising taxes so that our politicians can continue to fund their pet programs is not the solution. Instead, we need to reassess what is meant by “vital service.” We need to readdress how truly vital services are funded and administered so that they do not become endangered by a bankrupted state. We need to dramatically cut spending, reform the state’s pension systems, restructure how Medicaid is delivered and administered, and rethink the financial relationships among state, county and municipal governments. This medicine will be bitter, but it is needed if we are serious about restoring Illinois to financial health.
We cannot afford to rely on increased revenues as the solution to our financial problems. If history is any indication, a tax hike in any form will only embolden our politicians to spend still more while further encouraging the relocation of jobs and people to friendlier economic climes. No society has ever taxed its way into prosperity, and raising taxes on any Illinoisan is not the answer. Instead, we need to bring discipline to government spending, and soon.
Thank you,
(signed)
Ed
Edward Rutledge
Libertarian for Lieutenant Governor
www.Rutledge4Illinois.com
info@Rutledge4Illinois.com
Rutledge for Illinois
PO Box 180011
Chicago, IL 60618
(309) 828-9212
