McHenry Times

Allen Skillicorn, candidate for the state House from District 66, is not impressed with the politicians in Springfield and their partisan agenda.

“Our state faces big problems,” Skillicorn told the McHenry Times. “Overshadowing these problems, however, is a partisan obstacle. The issues at hand are larger than the majority of the General Assembly elected to solve them. And to be clear, by majority, I do mean Illinois Democrats.”

Perhaps the biggest problem Illinois is facing is the lack of a balanced state budget for yet another year. The uncertainty caused by the legislature's inability to pass a budget before the end of the spring session on May 31 means schools may not be able to open in the fall, and public services and employees could face even greater cuts and layoffs. 

Skillicorn questions the budget solution proposed by House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Dist. 22) last month -- a plan that was more than $7 billion in the red. The Senate eventually voted down the budget, but Skillicorn wonders why Madigan was able to get as far as he did with the bill. 

“Speaker Madigan ramrodded a budget unbalanced by a staggering $7 billion that would force a 47 percent tax hike on all Illinois families,” Skillicorn said. “There was no discussion, no waiting period, and the 500-page bill was passed by the Illinois Democrat super-majority within minutes of unveiling. None of these representatives read the bill or studied it.”

Neither the state House or Senate is doing much to alleviate the pressures being placed on families, which is why Skillicorn is running for office. 

“In the House, they passed a budget that is $7 billion out of balance and would require tax increases of $1,000 on our families," he said. "In the Senate, they proposed a graduated income tax hike, GPS trackers to tax us on miles driven, a property tax hike and a retirement tax on seniors. I’m going to Springfield because the families in our region are being taxed out of their homes, can’t afford to wait any longer, and they can’t afford to pay any more.”

District 66 has been particularly hard hit by the antics in the legislature, according to Skillicorn. It doesn't help that the House rejected a last-minute funding plan from the Senate that would have guaranteed the state's schools had the money they needed to open in the fall and other state services were at least temporarily funded. 

”Both Kane and McHenry counties have some of the highest property taxes in the nation,” Skillicorn said. “Our jobless rate also leads the nation. Families I talk with are hurting because the politicians in Springfield refuse to work out solutions to our economic and job climate problems. Legislators had five months this session to find solutions, to find some compromise. Instead under direction from Mike Madigan and the Chicago Democrats in charge, the legislature had time to pass a ridiculous resolution for Healthy Puppy Day, but did not have time for a third reading and vote on a stop-gap measure that would ensure our schools open on time and fund core services.”

Reforming Illinois is more than about words. It’s about action, which Skillicorn says he will bring to the state.

”This (legislature’s lack of progress) doesn’t work for our families," he said. "All these politicians claim to be for lower taxes, yet we pay the highest property taxes. We don’t have a balanced budget despite all these politicians who claim they are fiscally conservative. Reforming Illinois is about substance. Talk versus action. I am going to Springfield to do the right thing, not just say the right thing."

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