Posted by Greg H. at 3/4/2010 11:50 AM CST on Chicago Business
As Gov. Pat Quinn prepares to release his proposed state budget next
week, Illinois House Republicans are offering their own agenda for economic
reform.
In cooperation with the Illinois Policy Institute, a libertarian think
tank, House Rs want a combination of procedural shifts and spending cuts
that they say would make government work better.
The agenda constitutes a platform of sorts for the fall elections. And,
for that and related reasons, don't look for House Speaker Michael Madigan,
a Democrat, to quickly hold a roll call on each and every item, as the Rs
want.
At the top of the list are three changes designed to give legislative
minorities -- in this case Republicans -- a better chance at getting their
way.
One change would require an automatic vote by the full House on any bill
co-sponsored by at least one-third of its members. Even some popular bills
now are routinely buried in committee at Mr. Madigan's direction.
The Rs also would require the entire budget to be posted on the Web at
least seven days before any votes and, most controversially, require a
three-fifths supermajority vote to enact any tax or fee hike.
Similar measures have been offered in prior years, but were rebuffed by
Democrats, who argue that money is not more important than meeting human
needs.
The agenda is less specific on how it would cut state spending, which it
notes has risen 39% over the past decade compared to a 6.8% increase in the
state's population.
A press release says only that the group favors "common-sense reforms,"
and formation of a special panel that would review all state rules and
regulations with an eye toward eliminating those that retard job growth.
House Republican Leader Tom Cross has left the door open to a tax hike to
help close a record state budget hole of as much as $13 billion, but only
after reducing pension benefits for retired state workers, moving some
Medicaid patients into managed care and slashing other state spending.
Mr. Quinn's budget address is scheduled for Wednesday.
