Since the launch of his campaign, Illinois’ District 66 House candidate Allen Skillicorn has promised he would focus on property taxes and fight to reduce the tax burden on Illinois citizens, as he has successfully done as trustee for the Village of East Dundee.
In a Chicago Tribune questionnaire, Skillicorn, a Republican, maintained his position and said reducing property taxes and worker compensation reform are his highest priorities for state government.
“Property taxes are a crushing burden threatening homeowners and businesses across Illinois. Worker compensation reform — this is crucial to Illinois businesses, jobs, and the vitality of our state economy,” Skillicorn said.
On July 10, 2015, Skillicorn signed the Tax Accountability Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising to “support economic freedom by working to decrease the overall tax burden of taxpayers.”
In response to whether or not he supports legislative term limits and term limits for leadership positions, the marketing director said he does and has set a self-imposed limit should he win.
“Yes, I support term limits. After eight years, it is time to move on from the Illinois House,” Skillicorn said. “Limiting a politician's span of service helps them focus on what they were sent by the people to do. Endless re-election campaigns and the accumulation of power by too many for too long have led Illinois to its current state of dysfunction.”
House Speaker Michael Madigan is the longest-serving Speaker in Illinois history. He has held the position since 1983, with the exception of two years when Republicans gained control of the House. Madigan has been a member of the House representing District 22 since 1971.
When it comes to key strengths and weaknesses of Chicago and Illinois political leadership, Skillicorn said he believes Gov. Bruce Rauner is putting a commendable amount of effort into rescuing the state.
“Gov. Bruce Rauner is a courageous businessman trying to save the failing state of Illinois,” he said. “Although I'm not wealthy, I made modest contributions to Rauner's 2014 campaign, put up yard signs, and much more. With my efforts East Dundee was the first municipality in the state to support his Turnaround Agenda. I'm running to help Gov. Rauner in the State House.”
The praise of Illinois’ political leadership ended there.
“In stark contrast, House Speaker Michael Madigan, President John Cullerton, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and many other Democrats have brought Illinois to its current state of crisis, dysfunction and chaos,” Skillicorn said. “How many families have to flee Illinois before they embrace basic reforms to make Illinois competitive? How many innocent peoples' lives must be destroyed for the narrow, partisan gain of the Illinois Democratic Party? For so many reasons, I'm also running because what Chicago Democrats are doing to our state is wrong.”
Skillicorn was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune earlier this week. Tax Accountability, the Political Action arm of Taxpayers United of America (TUA), has also endorsed the conservative candidate.
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