Letters                                                                 

What Republican sweep really means

Editor: Some dramatic changes have occurred in the operation of state government that should not go unnoticed. While much attention was focused on the Republican sweep of the November 1994 election, very little notice has been given to what that will mean.

In his inauguration speech. House Speaker Lee Daniels offered a brief glimpse of the future as interpreted with an often contradictory "Illinois Agenda." The message of Daniels and his controversial and infamous mentor, Illinois Senate President James "Pate" Philip, is to expect a lot less from state government unless you are wealthy businessmen.

'I have come to believe we will be backtracking into the past'

They intend in the next two months to ram through a series of measures that will cut the already woefully inadequate funds for public education.

They hope to drastically water down the protections available to injured workers, the victims of drunk drivers or consumers harmed by shoddy manufacturers.

The businessmen's bonanza will continue with huge property tax breaks under the guise of property tax caps.

There are also plans to ignore the massive health care spending problems in the Illinois Department of Public Aid by creating a smoke screen designed to punish single mothers who have the misfortune of being poor.

Finally, they will trumpet more "tough on crime" rhetoric while refusing to help local city police forces put more officers on the street, moving quickly to repeal Gov. Jim Edgar's early release plan or banning the violent criminal's firearm of choice — the semi-automatic assault weapon.

Mr. Daniels' "Illinois Agenda" claims he will work to ensure that "special interests ... must not succeed in their on-going campaign of self interest. ..." He does not tell you that the special interest of Illinois doctors, with an average salary of $191,000, or hospital CEOs who get $235,000 a year, will race ahead of the basic rights and needs of workers who earn less than $27,000 on average.

If you are not a wealthy businessman, the protections and rights we have come to expect and enjoy will be drastically affected on this fast track plan. I have come to believe we will be backtracking into the past. I hope your readers are alert to this plan and move quickly to tell Daniels, Philip and Edgar that their votes in November were not intended to be interpreted as a mandate to strip away rights and protections.

Michael J. Madigan
Democratic Leader of the Illinois House

Clarification

State Department of Public Aid spokesman Dean Schott contacted Illinois Issues to clarify some points made about welfare by Rep. Bill Black in our January 1995 issue. Schott says people who leave Project Chance for a job are eligible for a year's worth of Medicaid and child care assistance. He also says applicants for public assistance need not list their primary residence as an asset. Second homes, second cars, stocks and certificates of deposit must be listed as assets. We regret that the article implied otherwise.

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