GOP Leaders: We’re Gaining Momentum

By Kevin Lee     Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD  –  With the state facing a record budget deficit and former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich facing another corruption trial, Republicans believe votes are up for grabs in November’s general election.

Republican officials, candidates and supporters convened at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Thursday for “Republican Day,” a day after Democrats rallied supporters.

Democrats have had a stronghold over the governor’s office, all statewide offices and both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly for the last eight years. Republicans claim the majority party has failed in governing the state, and the time is ripe for change.

At the top of the ticket, State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, took his shots at his electoral opponent, Gov. Pat Quinn.

Brady questioned Quinn’s leadership, citing occasions when the governor proposed a 33 percent income tax hike, appointed someone to promote kayaking and canoeing in Illinois and instituted pay raises to dozens of positions throughout state government.

“We don’t need Pat Quinn’s secret tax increases, we don’t need his canoe czars, we don’t need his pay raises. What we need is honesty and integrity in government and that’s what we’re going to bring to Springfield, come January 2011,” he said.

In April, Quinn eliminated the $85,000-a-year “canoe czar” position within hours of filling the position. He has justified the pay raises as necessary for keeping top talent aboard state government.

Various proposals for an income tax increase have stalled in the General Assembly.

A staunch tax increase opponent, House Republican Leader Tom Cross is hoping that this November, voters will end Michael Madigan’s reign as Speaker of the House.

Madigan, who also serves as the Illinois Democratic Party chairman, has been an Illinois House member for almost 40 years and has held the chamber’s highest position for 25 years.

Cross said he understands that Madigan is seen as one of the most electorally unassailable members of the Illinois House.

“You’re going to hear a lot of people, a lot of Democrats saying ‘It can’t happen,’” Cross told supporters. “Well Mike Madigan, the Speaker of the House, has been here 40 years. It’s time for him to go home. You send him home by electing 12 Republicans to the Illinois General Assembly and we take back the Illinois House.”

The election of 12 Republicans would shift the majority of Illinois House lawmakers to the Republican side, ending Madigan’s reign as Speaker.

In his speech to supporters, GOP Congressman Mark Kirk, who is running for U.S. Senate against Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, took a crack at Blagojevich.

He explained to Illinois supporters that they’ll have to vote twice for a senator on November’s general election ballot.

“We’re going to have two elections. We’re going to elect a senator to serve in January for six years and we’re going to elect a senator to replace Roland Burris in the United States Senate,” Kirk said to cheers from the crowd.

In December 2008, former state Attorney General Burris was controversially appointed by Blagojevich to the Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama.

Federal prosecutors charged Blagojevich with attempting to sell Obama’s Senate seat during his  corruption trial, but the jury could not come to an unanimous agreement on those charges.

Illinois will have a dual election because a federal court ruled in July that voters must formally choose a replacement for Obama to the U.S. Senate, cutting short Burris’ tenure.

Voters will have to wait 75 days until they take to the polls for the state’s general election on Nov. 2.