Source: http://www.terriannwintermute.com/

Economy

My number one priority is enacting policies that promote a healthy economy. I am concerned about Illinois’ taxes, bond rating and other policies that make companies look at nearby states as an option for relocation. In my past roles in government (County Board and Economic Development) and in my role as a business owner, I am tired of being in competition with Indiana and having the scales tilted against us. I like to win and I want Illinois to again be a premier State in which to do business!

I will as state Senator oppose the myriad business tax increases and fee hikes, many of which have been implemented in the last five years under the Blagojevich administration, that are driving businesses out of Illinois.

In the first year of Democrat control of the General Assembly there were trucking tax increases, liquor tax increases, sales tax increases, riverboat tax increases and changes to the state’s death tax. These tax increases cost for Illinois businesses by millions upon millions of dollars and significantly harm Illinois' economy. Business should not be given a free ride, they need to be held accountable, and be an active and willing participant in helping grow our economy, as well as pay what they owe in taxes.

Just last year, SB 1544, pushed by the Governor and legislative Democrats, imposed nearly $180 million in tax hikes on employers.

In 2007, my opponent Linda Holmes voted in favor of the tax increases on employers, joining Rod Blagojevich and the Senate Democrats in their disregard for Illinois businesses and employers.

We must reverse this trend and help our state create jobs and a healthy Illinois economy that promotes employment and commerce. Illinois unemployment rates have continued to climb in the hostile business climate created by Blagojevich and a Democrat majority. It is a shame that Illinois continually ranks near the bottom of states in job creation and near the top in unemployment, an economic indignity we can no longer afford to tolerate.

Terri's Record of Job Creation:

Job creation in Bolingbrook: As Economic Development Coordinator for Bolingbrook (2002-2006), Wintermute contributed to the creation of 2,000 jobs. New jobs were created at such companies as Diagio, Southern Wine and Spirits, Goss International, NFI Logistics, Molex, Stevenson Crane, Quantum Foods, and Midwest Fuel Injection.

Job creation in Will County: As a Will County Board member from 1996-2006, Wintermute supported a business attraction/retention program in cooperation with the Will County Center for Economic Development. Through this program an estimated 5,000 jobs were created during Wintermute’s tenure (Source: John Grueling/WCED). New jobs were created at such companies as Chicago Tube and Iron, Hickory Farms, General Motors, Gillette, Plainfield Molding, and Wilton Industries.

Job Creation at Chicagoland Quad Cities Express, Inc.: Wintermute’s family business, Chicagoland Quad Cities Express, Inc., has 70 employees of which nearly 95% are members of Teamster’s Locals 710 and 781. Since her father’s passing in 2002 and his business partner’s passing in 2003, Terri has worked to attract new customers and retain good-paying union jobs for her employees. The average tenure of an employee at Chicagoland is 14 years.

The Blagojevich Holmes Connection Since her election as State Senator, Linda Holmes has supported 90% of the Governor Blagojevich’s legislative initiatives, including state budgets, increased pension bonding, wasteful pork-barrel spending, leasing of state assets, expansion of government paid-health care, and increased taxes on struggling Illinois businesses.

Education Funding

I believe Illinois must recognize that students in today’s public schools represent our future workforce. As we prioritize our limited state resources we need to accept that fact. As economic forces become increasingly global, an educated workforce is paramount to Illinois and our nation.

Some voices have suggested that we move away from funding education through property taxes. My position is that I would consider legislation that increases the state’s funding of public schools while not harming any school financially, has an equitable offset from property taxes to income taxes and provides for local control by a locally-elected school board. I do not favor a sales tax imposed on services to fund schools.

The hesitation to changing the current formula for funding schools is the fear that moving from a property tax to an income tax funding formula takes away local control. I believe if electors from a local school district want to pay additional tax dollars to pay for new programs in music or an additional foreign language courses, that choice should be available to them through a referendum voted up or down by the taxpayers who will pay for these services. Education choices and decisions by a locally-elected Board of Education with citizen input should never be impaired.

State Budget/Spending

At this point in time the state is staring at a $2 billion deficit. This is not acceptable. There are many reasons for the woeful state of Illinois’ budget but chief among them is one-party rule. The 2008 state budget is the result of six years of Democrat rule in Springfield.

Under Gov. Blagojevich and Democrat control, General Revenue Funds appropriations have increased by 33% ($7.4 billion) and coupled with unprecedented expansions in the state’s Medicaid programs, our state’s fiscal balance is teetering near collapse. Illinois has a backlog of unpaid bills totaling $3 billion and the payment cycle makes medical providers wait more than 75 days for payment.

Clearly, our state’s fiscal house is a mess. Our state needs a change in leadership and a change in attitude. Instead of seeking more revenue to continue to ramp up state spending, we need to scale back our state budget and return to responsible financial stewardship of the taxpayers dollars. We need to cut back state spending and reduce the size of government, not keep asking government to do more.

The first thing I would urge the state to do would be to stop creating new programs such as the All Kids program and I would call for a reduction in pork projects or member initiatives. In my opinion, Illinois’ growing debt is the State’s most serious problem. While we always need a safety net to provide healthcare and other services to our most needy citizens, Illinois cannot be in the business of providing free health care to families who can afford it, but turn to the government for a handout.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois ranked eighth on the list of States with the highest debt per capita. Illinois’ debt per capita in 2005 is reported to be $8,122. What does the debt figure mean? Well unless our representatives work to reduce that debt, we might as well call it a tax IOU. Borrowing money with the intent of raising our taxes after the next election cycle is simply not good government.

Comptroller Dan Hynes’ website states that, “Illinois is a State with future general and special obligation bond debt service totaling $40.9 billion as of June 30, 2006 ($22.7 billion principal and $18.2 billion interest).” Based on his figures, interest charges that represent 44.4% of the debt service illustrate how the costs of debt can spiral.

Illinois needs more sound fiscal management. We need a plan to pay our obligations, re-pay the debt, and restructure the debt (whenever possible) to decrease the carrying charges. As a State Senator, I will not vote for Pension Raids that increase our future debt obligations. I will be a voice for living within our means.

I will review the budget for duplicative programs and unnecessary spending. I was amazed to read a statement earlier this year by Auditor General Holland that there is no master list of programs funded by the State of Illinois. The Governor and General Assembly are entrusted to spend taxpayers’ money wisely. Spending more than you earn and not having a clear understanding how or where you are spending it is not good fiscal policy.

Ethics

It’s time to end “pay-to-play” politics once and for all in this state, and end the ‘shell game’ between versions of comprehensive ethics reform. First, the governor should sign the ethics package the General Assembly sent him this past Spring. It is disheartening that even after dozens of government officials are indicted and convicted for corruption, the problem doesn’t seem to go away in Chicago, Cook County and at the state level.

One idea to limit influence over State contracts would be to pass House Bill 1. This legislation would prohibit officeholders from accepting contributions from business owners with more than $25,000 in State contracts. I hope the Governor signs the legislation and other laws to bring greater transparency to government.

Taxes

As our household budgets have less and less discretionary funds, it is imperative that government start holding the line on taxes. With gas prices at record highs, the housing market in a free fall, government should be doing its best to assist taxpayers by not further burdening the families of Illinois.

There has been talk among Democrats about implementing some form of a new tax to balance the state’s $2 billion deficit and there has been discussion of creating a new revenue stream to pay for a capital construction plan to repair our state’s roads and bridges.

I do not favor any new taxes, sales or income taxes, to balance the state budget. It’s time for Illinois to make some tough choices to bring our state’s books back into balance. Let’s look at reducing the size of state government before creating new taxes to build new revenue streams. I believe we need to stop creating new programs at the state level and return Illinois to a state of fiscal responsibility.

While I do favor a capital construction program to pay for new school construction and for infrastructure, I believe we need to find creative ways to pay for these improvements, perhaps through the sale of the state’s 10th casino license to be used for a gaming facility in the city of Chicago.

Property tax reassessment freeze for military personnel

One of the first issues I would like to tackle as state Senator is to craft legislation that freezes property tax assessments for active duty military personnel who are stationed overseas.

Let’s give our active duty military personnel a break from rising property tax bills by freezing their assessments while they are serving our country.

After reading about a Will County serviceman who returned from fighting overseas to discover a huge increase in his tax bill due to a high reassessment, I decided to look into what legislative recourse might be available for military personnel. This particular soldier had missed the deadline for appealing his assessment because he was overseas flying Blackhawk helicopters for the Army.

That’s just not right. We have to do a better job representing our men and women in the military and this is the type of legislation I hope to be involved in when I am a Senator.

CN - EJ&E

Opposition to CN/EJ&E Railroad merger

Like you, I am concerned about the Canadian National takeover of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad, which runs through Plainfield. Concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact upon surrounding suburban communities, not just here in Plainfield, but in Naperville, Joliet, Aurora and many other communities throughout our region. As a resident and a candidate for state Senate I stand opposed to the CN merger and the drastic increase in freight traffic proposed for our region.

As a retired 10-year member of the Will County Board where I chaired the Land Use Committee and was the county’s representative to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, I have reviewed many plans over the years and I have serious traffic and safety concerns about this transaction. I believe this proposed transaction and its increase in rail traffic will negatively impact the quality of life in an area where the average commute to work is already approximately 35 minutes. More congestion is not good for our communities. Our roadway system is already strained by Will County’s rapid growth. Additionally, the number of street grade crossings and increase in rail traffic create an increased safety concern.

The CN merger is not just an economic issue but a quality of life issue. Additionally it is a safety issue. A dramatic increase in freight traffic will lead to longer delays at rail crossings, higher train-related accident rates, higher incidence of hazmat transport through our communities and noise pollution. Most worrisome is the fact that fire and ambulance emergency response teams will face delays greater in frequency and length at rail crossings. The increase in freight cars carrying hazardous materials near ecologically sensitive areas like Lake Renwick is also problematic from an environmental perspective. Not to mention the increase in freight cars carrying hazardous materials on rail lines through residential areas. Not all emergency first responders will have the training or equipment needed for a hazmat response.

Many lawmakers have questioned the STB’s environmental impact report on the CN merger and community reaction at public meetings has been overwhelmingly and diametrically opposed to the merger. I join the community in their concerns and will work in the state Senate, where appropriate to advocate on behalf of the community to find common-sense solutions to our transportations issues.


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