 In the 30-second commercial, Hynes addresses the state's troubled
fiscal condition. He says that as state comptroller, whose main
duties are to pay the state's bills, he warned ousted Gov. Rod
Blagojevich about overspending.
"That governor's gone, but our problems aren't," said Hynes, who
talks directly to the camera while seated behind a desk. He is
dressed in a dark jacket and tie.
Quinn replaced Blagojevich in January when the former governor
was removed from office by lawmakers after his arrest on federal
corruption charges. Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to scheming
to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.
Hynes swipes at Quinn for proposing a 50 percent income tax
increase. The comptroller touts his own tax plan that he said would
raise income taxes only on people making more than $200,000. It's a
graduated income tax rate system instead of the flat tax rate
Illinois currently uses.
Hynes also said the state could help balance its budget by
cutting waste "line by line."
Quinn immediately fired back.
"It is unfortunate that, in these difficult economic times, the
Comptroller is trying to deceive Illinois voters by giving a false
impression of my record," Quinn said in a written statement. "I have
always supported a principle as old as the Bible: Taxes should be
based on the ability to pay."
[to top of second column]
 |
When Quinn proposed an income tax hike in March to plug a budget
deficit of more than $11 billion, he also suggested reducing the
sting on the poor and working-class families by upping personal
exemptions. Quinn's tax proposal went nowhere in the General
Assembly.
Hynes spokesman Matt McGrath said Hynes bought TV airtime early
in the campaign so voters would know the key differences between him
and Quinn. The Democratic primary is in February.
It's risky for Hynes to spend money on TV airtime now, but it's
understandable because he's trying to topple a sitting governor,
said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the
University of Illinois at Springfield.
"It's a risk because people aren't really thinking politics. On
the other hand, he's playing catch-up. He doesn't really have any
other option," Redfield said.
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. |
