 The Chicago Democrat has in the past advocated for capital
punishment. Quinn said Wednesday that he would follow his conscience
but would take into consideration what the residents of the state
want, too.
"I think it's important to listen to other people, to make sure all
opinions are voiced. I do think the opinion of the members of the
General Assembly expressed in the House and Senate is one that's
very serious indeed," Quinn said.
Quinn said if he vetoes the abolition, it will die on the spot.
Normally, the legislature would have the chance to override a
governor's veto. But since the new General Assembly sworn in on
Wednesday didn't pass the law, it can't override a veto, Quinn said.
Unlike the death penalty, Quinn did say he would give his signature
to a 67 percent personal income tax increase.
"We have an emergency, a fiscal emergency. Our state was careening
towards bankruptcy and fiscal insolvency. Even in the last couple of
months the situation got seriously more dire," Quinn said.
The new tax is estimated to bring in more than $6 billion, which
will be used to pay down what could be a $15 billion deficit.
Residents in the state will be handing over an extra 2 percent of
their income to the state under the tax increase. Rates will go from
3 percent to 5 percent for four years and then are set to go down to
3.75 percent in 2015. However, the legislature in office at that
time could vote to make the 5 percent rate permanent.
Controversial and contentious is how Illinois House Speaker Michael
Madigan described the recent General Assembly's actions.
Madigan, D-Chicago, made his remarks as the newly elected
legislature was sworn in Wednesday.
"The recent session of the General Assembly was among the most
controversial, among the most contentious, and yes, among one of the
most successful sessions in the history of this state," the Chicago
Democrat said.
[to top of second column]
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Republicans might disagree whether the session was a success. The
income tax increase passed with the minimum votes in both chambers,
with no Republican support. Many Republicans said reforming the
public pensions and Medicaid systems didn't go far enough in cutting
government bloat.
"We still have to work on the jobs climate in this state. I'm very
encouraged about your focus on workers' compensation. I do believe
that's an extraordinarily difficult issue. But I think you and I and
the caucuses we lead -- our colleagues -- we can move forward on
that. And I really look forward to working on that," Senate
Republican Leader Christine Radogno said.
State Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he understands that more
needs to be done and looks forward to working with Radogno and the
rest of the GOP.
"I believe that we in the Senate have created a workplace of
cooperation and bipartisanship in the past two years, even though
you may not agree with all we've done," Cullerton said shortly after
being re-elected as the Senate president.
Leaders for both political parties said the legislature needs to
learn austerity so it can climb out of a billion-dollar budget hole
and stop the same thing from repeating.
"We have to learn to live within our means. We cannot backtrack on
those changes we made in the Medicaid system. We cannot backtrack on
those changes we made to the pension system. That's going to require
courage. That's going to require people to say no," Madigan said.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON] |
