Quinn accuses Hynes of going AWOL during negotiations over
the state's historic budget deficit, claiming he even spent time at
a Chicago spa. And Hynes whacks Quinn for allegedly wanting to raise
taxes on someone making $14,000 a year.
Here are some of the facts behind their TV ads:
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CLAIM: Quinn says Hynes stayed on the sidelines while he and
legislators were figuring out how to close a gaping hole in the
budget. Quinn's ad heaps on the criticism, claiming Hynes was
"absent" while the governor "made tough choices."
FACTS: Hynes doesn't have a formal role in state budget negotiations
even though he is one of the state's top financial officers. If he
wanted, Hynes could use his position to advocate for the budget
measures he thinks make the most sense.
But Hynes was largely silent during the key months when the budget
was being debated.
After Quinn unveiled his budget proposal, including a tax increase,
a Hynes aide simply called it "a starting point." Hynes wouldn't
comment when asked about the tax nearly a month later. After another
month, Hynes still wouldn't spell out where he stood on Quinn's
proposal or what he thought should be done.
Hynes points out, however, that he did brief Quinn on budget issues
early in the process and provided a list of contracts that could
potentially be cut. "I was trying to be helpful, but he was ignoring
my advice," Hynes said.
A week before the budget deadline, Hynes issued an open letter to
Quinn criticizing his handling of the budget and calling for a
temporary budget to allow negotiations to start all over.
"That's the kind of thing you do when you just want to showboat
instead of work at something," Quinn told The Associated Press.
___
CLAIM: Quinn's ad says that while he was busy working on the budget,
Hynes was "hitting a spa in Chicago."
FACTS: The spa in question is a Chicago hair salon that also offers
services like manicures, facials and waxing, according to its Web
site. Hynes spokesman Matt McGrath said the comptroller was getting
his regular haircut on the two days Quinn mentions.
According to the schedules that Quinn cites to support his
accusation, Hynes visited the spa first thing in the morning before
going to his downtown Chicago office. Nothing in the documents
suggests Hynes shirked any responsibilities.
Quinn is twisting the facts.
On Tuesday, Quinn visited Washington rather than take part in a
meeting on the budget problems of Chicago-area mass transit. The
Hynes campaign immediately noted that one of the complaints in
Quinn's ad was that the comptroller had visited Washington while
state budget problems were unresolved.
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[to top of second column] |
 CLAIM: Hynes' ad shows video of Quinn advocating a tax increase for
anyone making more than $14,000 a year.
FACTS: Under the plan Quinn discussed with a newspaper editorial
board, $14,000 was the magic number for individual taxpayers. Anyone
making more would pay higher taxes. For instance, a person making
$14,500 would pay $375 in taxes under the current system but $382.50
under the Quinn proposal.
That's partly because the tax relief portion of Quinn's plan
depended on household size. A family of four would get a bigger
break than a single person.
Campaign ads sometimes take snippets of video out of context, but
this comment from Quinn is used fairly.
Still, it leaves out Quinn's argument that with state government
awash in red ink, additional money must be found somewhere. He
defends the concept of shielding families with children from more of
the tax burden.
___
CLAIM: Quinn scoffs at Hynes' promise to cut spending, with the
narrator of his ad saying Hynes approved "every single state check"
for years as the state budget hole deepened.
FACTS: As comptroller, Hynes has virtually no power to block
spending, even if he disagrees with it. In fact, when Hynes recently
delayed approving some payments, Quinn scolded him for stepping
out of line.
The state comptroller keeps track of how much money the government
has and makes payments as ordered by the governor and the
Legislature. If no money is available, he doesn't write the checks.
But he can't decide which expenses are wise and which are wasteful.
The only time he can refuse to make a payment is when it would be
illegal for some reason.
Hynes tried to delay paying some bills for marketing the state
lottery and tourism programs. He wanted to put Quinn on the spot by
forcing the governor to order those bills be paid when others were
waiting.
Quinn responded that Hynes should simply "do his job" and pay the
bills.
[Associated Press; By DEANNA BELLANDI]
Associated Press writer Christopher
Wills in Springfield contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. |
