There are many great think tanks throughout the nation. Organizations such as the Cato Institute, the Heartland Institute, and the Heritage Foundation come to mind. I encourage everyone to read and preach the work of these organizations as well as those of other think tanks that espouse fiscal reforms and free-market ideology.

Yesterday, the Illinois House Republicans announced a policy agenda that they claim would rein in the spending and hold the line on taxes. After a review of these policy initiatives, it appears that they are very similar to past initiatives that both the House and Senate GOP have announced in previous years. These initiatives are generally founded on the free-market ideology that most fiscally conservative Americans would support. Thus, I applaud the GOP for their repetitive approach to announcing these type of initiatives.

Not to be outdone, the Democrats have jumped on the reform bandwagon as well. President Obama promises to reduce the size of government and promote transparency. The Illinois Democrats have launched various reform minded legislative initiatives, Governor Quinn has formed the "Reform Illinois Now Commission" and the Senate Democrats formed the "Deficit Reduction Committee".

I found it interesting to read Greg Hinz's (Crain's Business Magazine) initial response to the multitude of reform proposals and agendas - "So you want to reform Illinois government? After one of the stinkiest periods in the long and stinky history of Chicago and Illinois, dozens and dozens of proposals are floating around to make things better. Whole forests are being killed in the name of producing the ultimate plan. Some of the ideas sound good but are unrealistic, like public financing for all campaigns. Others represent pure partisan politics under the guise of reform, like a proposal from some Illinois Republicans, a minority party, to require a three-fifths supermajority in Springfield to raise any tax".

Greg Hinz is right! For so long we have been subjected to politicians talking the talk but never really walking the walk especially when it comes to taxes and substantive reforms. Thus, I would much rather see Republicans walk the walk, for the free-market ideologies they were founded under, rather than talking the talk by rehashing old policy agendas.

If House Republican Leader Tom Cross and his members are to "be credited with understanding that the root of our financial mess lies in unchecked spending at the expense of those who live and work in our state...” Then I suggest that Illinois Republican lawmakers, as a whole, say NO to all tax increases pending the passage of real reforms. That's right - walk the walk!
Unfortunately, based on past history, it appears all but a guarantee that a few Republicans will vote for a tax increase or two while they try to blame Democrats for failed policies that Republicans used to their advantage over the 26 plus years they were in control of the state. Both parties are guilty of this. But if we ride on the coattails of bad policy, benefitting where it makes sense, we give silent approval for such proposals. It's like accepting money you know was acquired illegally.

Leadership starts at the top and God knows this state is in need of real leadership...Pat Quinn has an opportunity to make the needed changes but will he capitalize on enacting real budgetary and ethics reforms or will he just be another Illinois politician that talks the talk?

Press conferences and policy agendas are a dime a dozen. What it really boils down to is holding our elected officials accountable for what they do - not for what they promise to do!

Joe Calomino
State Director
Americans for Prosperity