Learn more about how Republican’s plan to re-take the state House by reading a Crain’s article excerpted below.


©2010 by Crain Communications Inc.

Illinois Republicans see a chance to recapture control of Springfield

Crain’s Chicago Business July 05, 2010

By Greg Hinz

For Illinois Republicans, Nov. 2, 1994, was as good as it gets. Not only did they win every election that counted, they took away Michael Madigan's speakership, making Springfield's senior Democrat the minority leader of the Illinois House.

Can they do it again?

. . . 2010 still is shaping up as the kind of year in which the GOP can actually dream. The dreams don't get any more delicious than dispatching Mr. Madigan's majority the year before legislative reapportionment.

"The political environment for us has never been better," says Kevin Artl, political director for House GOP Leader Tom Cross. "If you look at any metric compared to 1994, they're all better."

. . .

As Team Cross sees it, its chances start with picking up at least a couple of the four seats outside Chicago held by . . . Democrat incumbents who might be vulnerable — like Jay Hoffman (who was former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's floor leader) and Kevin McCarthy (whose district often votes Republican).

' The Democrats . . . have failed miserably.'

. . .

It's a little early to tell how those newcomers will perform. But the party already has made 174,000 phone calls, with field organizers on the ground since April, Mr. Artl says. In every case, the core message is the same: "Enough is enough. Every Democratic candidate we're going after voted for more government spending (and) for more borrowing."

But even the staunchest Republicans may pause in going after someone like Mr. Madigan, who, despite a ton of bad publicity of late, has run the House (and much of the rest of Illinois government) for 28 of the past 30 years, excepting only the term after the Newt Gingrich revolt of 1994.

. . .

Illinois State Chamber of Commerce President Doug Whitley says business folks "are much more sensitive to what's at stake" this time. "The Democrats who have been in charge for a decade have failed miserably. Look at the budget, the condition of the Illinois economy," he says.

Some business leaders clearly are helping, with a group including former state party Chairman Andy McKenna Jr. (whom Mr. Cross endorsed for governor), private-equity mogul Bruce Rauner and the horseracing Duchossois clan part of a small group that reportedly has promised to raise $1 million for Mr. Cross' campaign coffers.

Will it work? It won't be easy. But if the GOP really catches the wind, it could get interesting.

©2010 by Crain Communications Inc.

Issue Focus: Voter Choice & Empowerment

Do you think someone that wants to represent you should be required to meet you and other voters when they petition to get on the ballot? Ever said: ‘I vote the candidate, not party’ only to be denied the opportunity to do so because Illinois has “closed” primaries? Would you like to run for office but find the process too cumbersome and confusing? Did you know in Illinois we don’t actually register for a political party? It is only assumed based on your primary ballot selection.

As part of my government reform campaign platform, below are my “Voter Choice and Empowerment” legislative ideas to help answer some of these questions.

With voter participation at all time lows (primary election turnout is typically 20-30 percent, general election turnout hovers in the 50-55 percent range), “plant” candidates and party boss manipulation of who gets on the ballot a perennial election issue, numerous idiosyncrasies to the archaic petition rules, and the desperate need for more good citizens to participate in our electoral process, I propose Illinois:

• modernize ballot access requirements with respect to nominating petitions;
• establish “open primaries” in Illinois;
• allow citizens to declare a party affiliation.

To help build a better government and brighter future for Illinois we need to empower voters and foster greater transparency, involvement and fairness in elections.

My ideas include: (a) decrease the petition signature requirements for established party candidates by 30 percent and put independent and “third party” candidates at the same threshold (we already have enough Scott Lee Cohen's involved so let’s make the process more understandable for solid citizens and diverse opinions); and (b) would require candidates to obtain at least half the necessary signatures themselves, with the remaining signatures to be gathered half from in-district residents, half any other Illinois voting age citizen.

Also, instituting open primaries to allow voters to select their candidate of choice, regardless of party, and proactive registration/choice of party, or none at all, is intended to encourage more voter participation, and help political parties organize. For example, in Cook County where most judicial candidates only run on the Democratic ticket, voters could still vote for a judge and the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Or conversely, we may actually see some Republican judicial candidates.

By opening the primary process and giving voters the right to declare party, be it Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Tea, citizens will be encouraged to participate more in government and how it operates by giving them more choice. By mandating candidates actually meet voters via a required number of petitions, the days of just hiring signature firms will end and more citizen legislators will hopefully emerge. Taken together, we can begin to reform our government where it starts – at the ballot, each election. Next step is a fair map, real contribution limits and legislative leader term limits.

Cost of Blago-McCarthy healthcare

The Illinois Auditor General's recent report detailing the costs and lack of controls in the massive free healthcare expansion called "All Kids" pushed by ex-Gov. Blagojevich and supported by Rep. Kevin McCarthy is another prime example of the need for new leaders and greater accountability in Springfield.

The report, summarized here: http://www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Performance-Special-Multi/Performance-Audits/10-All-Kids-Hlth-Ins-Pgm-digest.pdf outlined some disturbing facts: more than 94,000 kids had family incomes in excess of program limits (200% of poverty) or were illegal aliens; the program collected a meager $8.9 million in premiums and cost the state $70 million in claims without any federal reimbursement; the two state agencies responsible for much of the program failed to follow state regulations in administering it.

Taxpayers across Illinois deserve better. They deserve programs that are properly administered, efficient and benefit actual citizens.

You can read the full report here: http://www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Performance-Special-Multi/Performance-Audits/10-All-Kids-Hlth-Ins-Pgm-Full.pdf

Issue Focus: State Budget

The General Assembly failed to pass a final budget and adjourned “at the call of the chair” – meaning members will return to Springfield when the leaders call them back to vote on a final spending plan.

Lawmakers can’t seem to agree on what to do. The main debate centers around more borrowing, more taxes, and more spending (recall, the governor’s own introduced budget was billions in the red). Some have called for spending cuts, but there is no consensus on what and where. Clearly, there is waste and inefficiencies in government spending, but we have no room for either with a $13 billion dollar debt.

It is time for a line by line review of the budget, a forensic audit of state government agencies and ending the wasteful spending on non-essential programs so we can fund those that truly matter – the teacher in the classroom, the crumbling bridge repair, the community organization helping the disabled and public safety.

The simple question is: do you really expect the people that have gotten us into this financial mess will be the same ones who get us out of it? If not, then it is time to give someone new a chance to do a better job.

Junkas Fundraiser - May 26

Below is the flyer and response form for my upcoming fundraiser. Hope you can support the campaign at this or a future event. Thanks, Jeff

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jeffrey L. Junkas
Republican Candidate for State Representative, 37th District

Spring Fundraiser
featuring Dan Proft, WLS-AM commentator
and to also benefit Operation Homefront Illinois

Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 5:30 — 8:00 p.m.
VFW Post 2791, 17147 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park

Tickets: $50.00 per person*
Includes open bar (beer, wine, pop) and food

*30% of the entry fee goes towards school supplies for military families
via Operation Homefront Illinois, a nonprofit that “provides emergency and morale assistance
for our troops, the families they leave behind, and for wounded warriors when they return home.”

Sponsorships are available. Please contact the campaign for details.

Please complete the below form and either mail it or bring it to the event. Tickets will be held at the door.
Make check payable to Citizens for Jeffrey L. Junkas, P.O. Box 2385, Orland Park, IL 60462

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

_____ YES, I will attend the event: # of adults______
_____ YES, I would like to sponsor the event in the amount of $_____
_____ Sorry, I cannot attend but enclosed is a contribution of $_____ to help the campaign

Name:_______________________________ Address:_______________________________
City:______________________ State:___ Zip:_________

Cell Phone:____________________
E-mail:_____________________________

Alt. Phone (home/work)_______________________

Contributions of $500 or more: Employer_____________________ Occupation:_______________

For more information, please contact Michelle Murphy Junkas at (708) 469-9000, e-mail murphyjunkas@hotmail.com or visit http://www.jeffjunkas.com/

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT

Paid for by Citizens for Jeffrey L. Junkas. Contributions are not tax deductible as a charitable donation.
A copy of our report filed with the Board of Elections is (or will be) available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, IL.

New Pension Law

After many years of not allowing a hearing on Republican proposals, of adding “sweeteners,” of underfunding and ignoring the problem, with lightening speed – roughly 10 hours from committee to the governor’s desk – the General Assembly passed legislation making changes to the state’s pension system.

But political cynics wonder…why now? Perhaps it is a little more about the November elections than a bond rating (which is horribly low, though that didn’t happen overnight). For me, this move is reminiscent of the swift and unexpected action the Democrat majority took in 2005 when they bucked another powerful, longtime political ally (trial lawyers) and passed medical malpractice (“med-mal”) reforms with caps on lawsuit damages.

Then, as now, the Democrats faced an energized and angry electorate (albeit mainly downstate on the med-mal issue) ready to make the majority party pay at the ballot for a lack of action on seemingly obvious policy choices (ex: a bill to cap the salary level used to calculate pensions has been around at least seven years). Then, as now, the Speaker muscled a bill through despite strong objections from organizations that for decades have provided the Democratic Party a wealth of campaign donations and election day muscle.

While the med-mal law was unfortunately overturned by the state Supreme Court (see my previous post on the topic), at the time, incumbent Democrats were able to wave the reform flag in a last-ditch effort to save their jobs. The pension reform law change sets that stage for a repeat performance. Let’s hope the electorate remembers the years of inaction and remains unsatisfied with a decade-plus of failed status quo and elects new leaders in November.

For more details, please see:

Springfield State Journal-Register article: http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1838107161/House-puts-pension-reforms-on-fast-track

The pension bill, SB 1946 (as enrolled): http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?GAID=10&SessionID=76&GA=96&DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=1946&LegID=44843&SpecSess=&Session=
Commentary by Rick Miller on pension law:
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/miller/2127729,032910miller.article

Governor's Budget

“Dead on arrival.” That’s how Gov. Quinn’s budget is being described. Despite a delay granted to him to propose his budget, despite universal control of state government operations within his party, and despite record debt, record unemployment, and a stagnant economy that has countless Illinoisans hurting, the governor calls for $3 billion in new spending and a 33 percent tax increase.

It is this kind of policy from the controlling Democrat party the past decade-plus that has helped put us in the financial straits we’re in as a state – essentially bankrupt.

So how do we get out of it?

First, this budget mess took years in the making and it will likely take more than one year to get out of it, but do you trust the same old Springfield Democrat to do it?

We should not have $3 billion in new spending. Freeze spending. We’re in a recession with people struggling day-to-day. We should not be spending any more (once again) than we take in.

It is a shame too that the governor singled out education for massive cuts if his tax increase isn’t approved. Meanwhile his majority party lets commonsense reforms to welfare, Medicaid, and state spending languish. Example: HB 4810 to require drug testing for welfare benefits failed in a Democratic-controlled House committee. And yet we test high school athletes for drugs.

It seems clear to me, and I hope thousands of voters across the state, that the one party Democrat controlled state government must end. All we have seen is failed ideas, excessive spending, and more taxes on our hard earned money, all while too many schools are failing students, our infrastructure is crumbling and we’ve not enacted real government reforms that put people’s faith back in the system.

I’m committed to working for sound policy that respects and prioritizes those that fund this government, the taxpayers.

For more perspective on the governor’s budget, see the following articles:

Associated Press: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5htoBBWAb5ILVe0HqQ1DGut3jWX-wD9EDCBQO0

The Journal-Gazette: http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2010/03/14/opinion/editorial/doc4b9afd24a8b8e969152350.txt

Business Week: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9ECMOJ00.htm