We don't have a revenue problem in Illinois, we have a spending problem. The citizens have answered the call once and paid an extra two percent. They don't need more money. They need to stop pissing money away.
My take on Illinois politics in a couple of paragraphs:
First off yes the citizens of Illinois have answered the call.
I am no fan of General Assembly Speaker Michael Madigan. He is a Democrat and while I tend to vote Democrat I don't see any pro middle class legislation coming of Springfield as this guy has frequently tried to cut education spending, has shot down recent attempts at a minimum wage increase, and it was only after huge public outcry did he bring marriage equality up for a vote.
We don't need anymore revenue in Illinois. We can however get the same amount revenue in a different manner with a progressive tax freeing up more money for middle class hopefully increasing consumer spending and creating more jobs.
I call them like a see them and Madigan is no progressive. He does just enough to keep the union bosses happy. As long as he controls the Democrat Party things won't get better in Illinois. I am normally against term limits because term limits just makes the lobbyist that offer jobs to politicians after they are out of office that much more powerful but I might support them to shake things up and get more progressive leadership in Springfield. I still worry about the long term affects of term limits as it like I said give lobbyist even more power.
I would hardly consider Illinois a liberal utopia as we have a flat income tax. Chicago has the highest sales tax in the nation and while it makes sense on some levels because of tourism. However a sales tax is the most regressive form of taxation as it disproportionately hurts the poor.
I am personally am unsure of how I am voting for the state elections in 2014. I am very happy with my state senator as he got some stuff done for our youth football program in terms of red tape when it came to getting our new scoreboard installed at the park district but I may vote Republican if I like a candidate for state office or do a write in as the Democrat Party in the state has not pursued an agenda of improving the jobs and economy in Illinois.
An aside: I wasn't big on Rahm Emanuel but I have sort to warmed up to him slightyly. After more research most of the school closings that had me outraged were at schools half empty and were too ineffecient to keep open but I am still disappointed he fired the former chief of police because of pressure from the cops because that chief wasn't a Chicago guy. The last couple years under Daily saw a major drop homicides and they ballooned under Emanuel before droping in 2013. He'll have to make more progress for in reducing homicides before I vote for him as mayor.
You'd think how outrageous it was would have been a hint too...but then again...