South West Illinois News

David Severin, the Republican candidate for the 117th District state House seat, released a statement on his campaign website explaining his "better path" for Southern Illinois last week, calling for changes in the Assembly and speaking about the voting record of his opponent, state Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion).

"Throughout this campaign, I have called for major changes in how Illinois does business, especially in who we send to represent us in Springfield," Severin said. "However, I don’t want to only earn your vote because I’m not John Bradley – I want to earn your vote because you believe in a better way, a better path for our home. That is what I hope to offer with my candidacy. I believe that a better path includes passing balanced budgets, having a real plan to create thousands of good-paying jobs, term limits for career politicians and fully funding our schools."

Severin spotlighted Bradley's support of the Taxpayer Accountability and Budget Stabilization Act of 2011, which resulted in a temporary 67 percent income tax hike. Individual income taxes rose from 3 to 5 percent, while corporate income taxes rose from 4.8 to 7 percent. While the temporary hike added nearly $32 billion to the state's revenues, when it expired in January 2015, the unpaid-bill backlog had only dropped by $1.5 billion, leaving the state still nearly $7 billion in the red.

While pension reform is needed in Illinois, Severin said the 2013 attempt to reduce  cost-of-living increases for current retirees also was supported by Bradley. Supporters said the reforms would save $160 billion over 30 years. Teachers, caregivers and state workers, many of whom rely completely on their Illinois pensions and do not receive Social Security, would have seen a reduction in their pension benefits over time. Then-Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill into law, but the Illinois Supreme Court issued a ruling on teachers' and state employees' health plan changes on July 3, 2014. The court said the state Constitution's pension-protection clause prevents the Assembly from reducing pensions or benefits. The decision overturned the Assembly's attempt to reduce retirees' pensions and benefits, including the contracted annual 3 percent cost-of-living increases.

The instability of Illinois' economy and its budget woes also were touched on by Severin.

"Over the last decade, Bradley could have stood up for children or cut school funding," Severin said. "Four times, Bradley chose Speaker Madigan’s education-slashing budgets."

The state has not had a full budget since fiscal 2015. Nineteen of the 20 budget bills presented to Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2015 were vetoed. The budget stalemate continued through 2015 and into 2016. Rauner had his own budget plan, the "Turnaround Agenda," but House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) disagreed with the Rauner's proposed reforms. Madigan's more-than-$40 billion spending plan presented to the House on May 25 was a 500-page all-in-one budget bill. The state revenues for 2017 were estimated at $32.6 billion. SB 2048 would have left the state approximately $7 billion in the red. Bradley was among the representatives who voted "yes" for the unbalanced budget. The Senate killed the bill in a 31-17 vote.

The General Assembly adjourned the spring session, leaving the state without a budget and no expectation of funding for education or other critical services. In late June, however, the legislature held a special session and passed a six-month "stopgap" budget. Although it was only a partial budget, it ensured that schools would open in the fall, and other essential services received funding.

The stopgap budget will expire after the general election in November. When the legislature reconvenes, a full budget will have to be hammered out by the lame-duck legislators, or it will be dropped into the laps of the new Assembly when it is sworn into office in January.

"We are at a standstill," Severin said. "We are at a fork in the road, and it's time we decide which path we will take."

Severin plans to continue his series on the "better path" needed for Illinois over the next few weeks, with a focus on job creation, improving schools and implementing reforms in Springfield.