Better than Hume-Abrams-Hannity-Oprah-Couric: Berkowitz w/State Rep. Candidate Stratton (R-Glencoe), Cable and Streaming; Where is Karen May?
Jeff Berkowitz: Some people characterize it as a sixty-six percent increase [in the income tax]. And [the tax swap would] lower property taxes somewhat, but there would be a net increase in revenue by House Bill 750, or similar plans, of six to seven billion additional tax dollars.
*****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: You oppose that?
Tim Stratton [State Rep. Candidate (R-Glencoe)]: I oppose that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, [Rep.] Karen May [D-Highland Park], you know her position?
Tim Stratton: I’m not sure what her position is. When she was asked by the Pioneer Press about her position on that, her response was that we would have to wait and see what leadership came up with...
Jeff Berkowitz: She [Rep. May] might be for it?
Tim Stratton: She may be. I am not sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Karen, if you’re out there, come on Public Affairs, and we’ll get your position straight-- right from you.
************************************
Now posted on our Youtube page (Third to your right from top left hand corner] is this week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton(R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), Watch show with State Rep. Candidate Stratton.
**************************************************************
Does Eight-year Democratic State Rep. incumbent, Karen May, lack focus on the fiscal issues of the State, as asserted by her opponent, State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe]? Tune in to this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," to watch that and many other key state legislative issues discussed by 58th Dist. candidate Stratton.
You can watch the show with Glencoe Parks Commissioner, Ice Miller senior counsel and Republican State Rep. Candidate Stratton on your computer, 24-7. State Rep. May [D-Highland Park] was invited, prior to the taping of our show w/Candidate Stratton, to appear on "Public Affairs." Show host Jeff Berkowitz spoke with Rep. May and two of her staffers after the taping of the show and invited, Rep. May, again, to appear on "Public Affairs." She has yet to respond with a date when she is available.
***********************************************
The Public Affairs suburban airing schedule is included, below.
*****************************************************************************
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe) on Speaker Mike, Blagojevich, Pres. Jones, budget deficits, education, town meetings, pension commitments, possible Democrat plans for a 2009 tax increase and/or tax swap, a capital plan/budget, gaming, gays, guns, God and abortion.
********************************************************************
[See a more detailed list of show topics, below].
*******************************************************************
A Partial Transcript of this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs, featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) is included, below:
*******************************************************************
Illinois Democrats plotting to raise income taxes in 2009?
Jeff Berkowitz: …people are saying that Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is planning to handle the deficit by [electing more Democrats in November, 2008 ]…right now the Democratic margin in the House is 67-51, Madigan would like it to be veto-proof.
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.]: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: Then it is expected the Speaker would favor [and pass in 2009] an increase in the income tax, perhaps get the Senate to go along with that. The Governor says he opposes that, but …his veto would be over-ridden.
Tim Stratton: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think that’s the scenario? Are the Democrats plotting to raise taxes [in Illinois] in 2009? Raise income taxes?
Chicago Sun-Times wants to elect more Republicans?
Tim Stratton: Sure. I think if you look at what history has shown us, that that is a distinct possibility. And, I think there is a reason why the Chicago Sun-Times came out just last week, saying that we need to elect more Republicans to state government.
Jeff Berkowitz: The Sun-Times said that?
Tim Stratton: The Sun-Times said that.
Jeff Berkowitz: You expect to get them to endorse you over your opponent?
Tim Stratton: I will work to get their endorsement.
Stratton would not support higher taxes?
Jeff Berkowitz: We’ll see what they have to say about that. Okay, so you wouldn’t go along with that income tax increase under any circumstances?
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.]: No, I would not.
Jeff Berkowitz: You would look to cut spending?
Tim Stratton: I would look to cut spending.
Jeff Berkowitz: But on education, you say you have to be careful, and you want to avoid significant cuts?
Tim Stratton: Sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: But you might cut the rate of growth, in spending, for education?
Tim Stratton: I might cut the rate of growth in spending. We might have to do that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Although, mostly, the local education, kindergarten through twelfth grade, in your area-- a great percentage comes from property tax.
Tim Stratton: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: So it’s really, in large part, not affected by what you do in the state. True?
Tim Stratton: Correct. Now there is legislation that is pending which would—and this has been floated around for some time—which would swap local property taxes with a corresponding income tax increase.
Jeff Berkowitz: Which would raise the income tax from three percent to either four or five percent?
Tim Stratton: Five percent I think was the number that I heard.
Jeff Berkowitz: Some people characterize it as a sixty-six percent increase [in the income tax]. And [the tax swap would] lower property taxes somewhat, but there would be a net increase in revenue by House Bill 750, or similar plans, of six to seven billion additional tax dollars.
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: Sure.
Does Tim Stratton support a Tax Swap? Karen May?
Jeff Berkowitz: You oppose that?
Tim Stratton: I oppose that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, [Rep.] Karen May [D-Highland Park], you know her position?
Tim Stratton: I’m not sure what her position is. When she was asked by the Pioneer Press about her position on that, her response was that we would have to wait and see what leadership came up with, to make sure it wouldn’t hurt our school districts.
Jeff Berkowitz: She [Rep. May] might be for it?
Tim Stratton: She may be. I am not sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Karen, if you’re out there, come on Public Affairs, and we’ll get your position straight-- right from you.
Who supports local control of schools? Stratton? May?
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: And I oppose that [the tax swap], by the way, partially on the basis of local control of school districts. I think residents I’ve spoken with in the 58th district understand that we have some of the best school districts in the state, if not the nation. They’re willing to pay for that quality education, and they oppose the notion of putting Springfield in charge of our school finances, which, in essence, this bill would do because the monies would be collected by the state.
Jeff Berkowitz: And you don’t want to put Springfield in charge? You want Glencoe to be in charge of Glencoe? New Trier in charge of New Trier?
Tim Stratton: Exactly. I want Lake Forest in charge of Lake Forest schools, Deerfield in charge of the Deerfield schools, Northbrook in charge of the Northbrook schools.
Jeff Berkowitz: Local control. You believe in local control?
Tim Stratton: I do.
Jeff Berkowitz: Karen May, you’re not so sure [of her position]?
Tim Stratton: Not so sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: Well, again, we’ll ask Karen May when she’s here, if she comes on, and she can speak for herself.
Who supports reforms in education? May? Stratton?
Jeff Berkowitz: Reforms. You’d like to see some reform in education?
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I would. I would.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, in Chicago, where there are more, perhaps, non-performing schools, schools that don’t perform well than on the North Shore—four hundred thousand students or so, many say half are in failing schools. They’re spending fourteen thousand dollars per kid, per year. Pretty hefty amount, not so much, perhaps, as on the North Shore, a but decent expenditure. Should there be more charter schools available, more options in the city of Chicago?
Tim Stratton: I generally believe we should have more options, more charter schools.
Jeff Berkowitz: More choice?
Tim Stratton: More choice.
Jeff Berkowitz: More competition?
Tim Stratton: More competition. I think we have to make sure that the organizations that are running the charter schools are properly certified, accredited, and the children are getting-
Jeff Berkowitz: The people are on waiting lists for these charter schools. Don’t you think they can make the decisions as to whether these schools are accountable and good?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Because if they don’t like the charter schools, they can always go back to the public school.
Tim Stratton: Exactly. Exactly.
Jeff Berkowitz: So wouldn’t we rely on them for whether it’s doing a good job?
Should Government or You make the important choices?
Tim Stratton: In large part, I believe in the market.
Jeff Berkowitz: You believe in individuals making choices for themselves?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is this the Republican message? To get distracted for a second. What is the Republican message coming out from [Republican House Leader] Tom Cross, from [Senate Republican Leader] Frank Watson, and from you and others running for the state House and state Senate? What’s the State GOP message?
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I think the state GOP message is that, look, we’ve got to have more personal responsibility, personal decision-making, first and foremost. I think that that’s an excellent point. I think the other economic message that we’re getting out is that, look, we know Illinois is broken. We know that people expect more out of their state government. And, we have to be prepared to give it to them. And that means encouraging job growth and investment in Illinois, not treating business as the enemy and driving jobs out of the state.
How to encourage job growth.
Jeff Berkowitz: What do you do to encourage job growth?
Tim Stratton: I think we make for a more favorable environment.
Jeff Berkowitz: How do you make it a more favorable environment?
Tim Stratton: Specifically, what we need to do is get our tax and fee situation under control. My opponent supported some of the largest tax and fee increases in the state’s history, with the various Blagojevich budgets which have been enacted.
Jeff Berkowitz: That impairs business development, that’s your point? Economic development? Growth by businesses?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Less growth, fewer jobs?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Keep taxes low, attract more companies, more jobs?
Tim Stratton: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the message coming out?
Stratton’s websites:
Tim Stratton: You know, another thing that folks can read about on my web site is-
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s your website?
Tim Stratton: It’s TimForIllinois.com…
Jeff Berkowitz: And you’ve got a blog as well.
Tim Stratton: I do. I’ve got a blog—it’s ChangeIllinois.blogspot.com And we’ve got a lot of important state issues and material there.
***************************************************************
Tim Stratton, Candidate for State Rep. (R-Glencoe, 58th District) debates and discusses state legislative issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Topics discussed include whether the problem in Springfield is a hateful relationship between the Speaker of the Illinois House and the Governor or is the problem a two billion dollar budget deficit; how much does the fact that there is no love lost between the Senate President and the Speaker compound the problem? What role do the Republicans play in the budget process?
Should the State issue sixteen billion dollars worth of pension obligation bonds? Should there be an across the board cut in spending by State Government? Does the eight-year Democratic incumbent, Rep. Karen May, lack focus on the fiscal issues of the State? Can a freshman State Rep. expect to have an impact on the way the Legislature handles fiscal issues?
Additional topics discussed include whether Rep. May, in the name of democracy, ought to be willing to do five town meetings with Tim Stratton and whether Rep. May ought to be willing to come on “Public Affairs.” Should Illinois keep its commitment to pay prior pension commitments? Even if that means raising taxes significantly to fund those pension commitments. Should lllinois move toward defined contributions instead of defined benefits for its public employee pensions?
Further topics discussed include whether Speaker Mike Madigan and other Democrats are planning to raise taxes in 2009? Would Stratton support any net increases in taxes? A tax swap? House Bill 750? How would Rep. May respond to those issues? Should there be local control of school districts? Should parents in Chicago have more charter school options and choice? What is the State GOP message? How do you improve the business climate in Illinois? Should there be a Capital Budget/Plan? How to finance the bonded indebtedness for a Capital Plan? Expanded Gaming?
Yet even more topics discussed include Gays, Guns, God and abortion? Is Stratton Pro-Choice on the issue of abortion? Does he Support Roe v. Wade? Does he support Parental Notice with judicial bypass? Support basic gun control? A statewide ban on assault weapons? Support Same Sex Marriage? Civil Unions? A silent moment for reflection at the beginning of the school day? A ban on partial birth abortions? Ethics Reform? An expedited permit process for refineries in Illinois?
About our Guest: State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) is a Senior Counsel with the 250 attorney, multi-office firm of Ice Miller, working out of its Chicago office. His practice focuses on Public Finance and Municipal Law. Tim has lived in Illinois for the last ten yours and in Glencoe, with his wife and young daughter, for the last five. He is an elected member of the Parks Board in Glencoe. To find out more about candidate Tim Stratton, please go here.
*****************************************************************
Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs."
**************************************************
Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
The show with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [Watch here] is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:
Tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette
and Tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
*****************************************************************
Public Affairs City of Chicago and City of Aurora airing schedule, featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this coming Monday night.
The "Public Affairs," show with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, July 28, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
*************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, this past week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*************************************************************
Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include tonight's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols
*****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: You oppose that?
Tim Stratton [State Rep. Candidate (R-Glencoe)]: I oppose that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, [Rep.] Karen May [D-Highland Park], you know her position?
Tim Stratton: I’m not sure what her position is. When she was asked by the Pioneer Press about her position on that, her response was that we would have to wait and see what leadership came up with...
Jeff Berkowitz: She [Rep. May] might be for it?
Tim Stratton: She may be. I am not sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Karen, if you’re out there, come on Public Affairs, and we’ll get your position straight-- right from you.
************************************
Now posted on our Youtube page (Third to your right from top left hand corner] is this week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton(R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), Watch show with State Rep. Candidate Stratton.
**************************************************************
Does Eight-year Democratic State Rep. incumbent, Karen May, lack focus on the fiscal issues of the State, as asserted by her opponent, State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe]? Tune in to this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," to watch that and many other key state legislative issues discussed by 58th Dist. candidate Stratton.
You can watch the show with Glencoe Parks Commissioner, Ice Miller senior counsel and Republican State Rep. Candidate Stratton on your computer, 24-7. State Rep. May [D-Highland Park] was invited, prior to the taping of our show w/Candidate Stratton, to appear on "Public Affairs." Show host Jeff Berkowitz spoke with Rep. May and two of her staffers after the taping of the show and invited, Rep. May, again, to appear on "Public Affairs." She has yet to respond with a date when she is available.
***********************************************
The Public Affairs suburban airing schedule is included, below.
*****************************************************************************
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe) on Speaker Mike, Blagojevich, Pres. Jones, budget deficits, education, town meetings, pension commitments, possible Democrat plans for a 2009 tax increase and/or tax swap, a capital plan/budget, gaming, gays, guns, God and abortion.
********************************************************************
[See a more detailed list of show topics, below].
*******************************************************************
A Partial Transcript of this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs, featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) is included, below:
*******************************************************************
Illinois Democrats plotting to raise income taxes in 2009?
Jeff Berkowitz: …people are saying that Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is planning to handle the deficit by [electing more Democrats in November, 2008 ]…right now the Democratic margin in the House is 67-51, Madigan would like it to be veto-proof.
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.]: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: Then it is expected the Speaker would favor [and pass in 2009] an increase in the income tax, perhaps get the Senate to go along with that. The Governor says he opposes that, but …his veto would be over-ridden.
Tim Stratton: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think that’s the scenario? Are the Democrats plotting to raise taxes [in Illinois] in 2009? Raise income taxes?
Chicago Sun-Times wants to elect more Republicans?
Tim Stratton: Sure. I think if you look at what history has shown us, that that is a distinct possibility. And, I think there is a reason why the Chicago Sun-Times came out just last week, saying that we need to elect more Republicans to state government.
Jeff Berkowitz: The Sun-Times said that?
Tim Stratton: The Sun-Times said that.
Jeff Berkowitz: You expect to get them to endorse you over your opponent?
Tim Stratton: I will work to get their endorsement.
Stratton would not support higher taxes?
Jeff Berkowitz: We’ll see what they have to say about that. Okay, so you wouldn’t go along with that income tax increase under any circumstances?
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.]: No, I would not.
Jeff Berkowitz: You would look to cut spending?
Tim Stratton: I would look to cut spending.
Jeff Berkowitz: But on education, you say you have to be careful, and you want to avoid significant cuts?
Tim Stratton: Sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: But you might cut the rate of growth, in spending, for education?
Tim Stratton: I might cut the rate of growth in spending. We might have to do that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Although, mostly, the local education, kindergarten through twelfth grade, in your area-- a great percentage comes from property tax.
Tim Stratton: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: So it’s really, in large part, not affected by what you do in the state. True?
Tim Stratton: Correct. Now there is legislation that is pending which would—and this has been floated around for some time—which would swap local property taxes with a corresponding income tax increase.
Jeff Berkowitz: Which would raise the income tax from three percent to either four or five percent?
Tim Stratton: Five percent I think was the number that I heard.
Jeff Berkowitz: Some people characterize it as a sixty-six percent increase [in the income tax]. And [the tax swap would] lower property taxes somewhat, but there would be a net increase in revenue by House Bill 750, or similar plans, of six to seven billion additional tax dollars.
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: Sure.
Does Tim Stratton support a Tax Swap? Karen May?
Jeff Berkowitz: You oppose that?
Tim Stratton: I oppose that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, [Rep.] Karen May [D-Highland Park], you know her position?
Tim Stratton: I’m not sure what her position is. When she was asked by the Pioneer Press about her position on that, her response was that we would have to wait and see what leadership came up with, to make sure it wouldn’t hurt our school districts.
Jeff Berkowitz: She [Rep. May] might be for it?
Tim Stratton: She may be. I am not sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Karen, if you’re out there, come on Public Affairs, and we’ll get your position straight-- right from you.
Who supports local control of schools? Stratton? May?
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: And I oppose that [the tax swap], by the way, partially on the basis of local control of school districts. I think residents I’ve spoken with in the 58th district understand that we have some of the best school districts in the state, if not the nation. They’re willing to pay for that quality education, and they oppose the notion of putting Springfield in charge of our school finances, which, in essence, this bill would do because the monies would be collected by the state.
Jeff Berkowitz: And you don’t want to put Springfield in charge? You want Glencoe to be in charge of Glencoe? New Trier in charge of New Trier?
Tim Stratton: Exactly. I want Lake Forest in charge of Lake Forest schools, Deerfield in charge of the Deerfield schools, Northbrook in charge of the Northbrook schools.
Jeff Berkowitz: Local control. You believe in local control?
Tim Stratton: I do.
Jeff Berkowitz: Karen May, you’re not so sure [of her position]?
Tim Stratton: Not so sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: Well, again, we’ll ask Karen May when she’s here, if she comes on, and she can speak for herself.
Who supports reforms in education? May? Stratton?
Jeff Berkowitz: Reforms. You’d like to see some reform in education?
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I would. I would.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, in Chicago, where there are more, perhaps, non-performing schools, schools that don’t perform well than on the North Shore—four hundred thousand students or so, many say half are in failing schools. They’re spending fourteen thousand dollars per kid, per year. Pretty hefty amount, not so much, perhaps, as on the North Shore, a but decent expenditure. Should there be more charter schools available, more options in the city of Chicago?
Tim Stratton: I generally believe we should have more options, more charter schools.
Jeff Berkowitz: More choice?
Tim Stratton: More choice.
Jeff Berkowitz: More competition?
Tim Stratton: More competition. I think we have to make sure that the organizations that are running the charter schools are properly certified, accredited, and the children are getting-
Jeff Berkowitz: The people are on waiting lists for these charter schools. Don’t you think they can make the decisions as to whether these schools are accountable and good?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Because if they don’t like the charter schools, they can always go back to the public school.
Tim Stratton: Exactly. Exactly.
Jeff Berkowitz: So wouldn’t we rely on them for whether it’s doing a good job?
Should Government or You make the important choices?
Tim Stratton: In large part, I believe in the market.
Jeff Berkowitz: You believe in individuals making choices for themselves?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is this the Republican message? To get distracted for a second. What is the Republican message coming out from [Republican House Leader] Tom Cross, from [Senate Republican Leader] Frank Watson, and from you and others running for the state House and state Senate? What’s the State GOP message?
Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I think the state GOP message is that, look, we’ve got to have more personal responsibility, personal decision-making, first and foremost. I think that that’s an excellent point. I think the other economic message that we’re getting out is that, look, we know Illinois is broken. We know that people expect more out of their state government. And, we have to be prepared to give it to them. And that means encouraging job growth and investment in Illinois, not treating business as the enemy and driving jobs out of the state.
How to encourage job growth.
Jeff Berkowitz: What do you do to encourage job growth?
Tim Stratton: I think we make for a more favorable environment.
Jeff Berkowitz: How do you make it a more favorable environment?
Tim Stratton: Specifically, what we need to do is get our tax and fee situation under control. My opponent supported some of the largest tax and fee increases in the state’s history, with the various Blagojevich budgets which have been enacted.
Jeff Berkowitz: That impairs business development, that’s your point? Economic development? Growth by businesses?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Less growth, fewer jobs?
Tim Stratton: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Keep taxes low, attract more companies, more jobs?
Tim Stratton: Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the message coming out?
Stratton’s websites:
Tim Stratton: You know, another thing that folks can read about on my web site is-
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s your website?
Tim Stratton: It’s TimForIllinois.com…
Jeff Berkowitz: And you’ve got a blog as well.
Tim Stratton: I do. I’ve got a blog—it’s ChangeIllinois.blogspot.com And we’ve got a lot of important state issues and material there.
***************************************************************
Tim Stratton, Candidate for State Rep. (R-Glencoe, 58th District) debates and discusses state legislative issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Topics discussed include whether the problem in Springfield is a hateful relationship between the Speaker of the Illinois House and the Governor or is the problem a two billion dollar budget deficit; how much does the fact that there is no love lost between the Senate President and the Speaker compound the problem? What role do the Republicans play in the budget process?
Should the State issue sixteen billion dollars worth of pension obligation bonds? Should there be an across the board cut in spending by State Government? Does the eight-year Democratic incumbent, Rep. Karen May, lack focus on the fiscal issues of the State? Can a freshman State Rep. expect to have an impact on the way the Legislature handles fiscal issues?
Additional topics discussed include whether Rep. May, in the name of democracy, ought to be willing to do five town meetings with Tim Stratton and whether Rep. May ought to be willing to come on “Public Affairs.” Should Illinois keep its commitment to pay prior pension commitments? Even if that means raising taxes significantly to fund those pension commitments. Should lllinois move toward defined contributions instead of defined benefits for its public employee pensions?
Further topics discussed include whether Speaker Mike Madigan and other Democrats are planning to raise taxes in 2009? Would Stratton support any net increases in taxes? A tax swap? House Bill 750? How would Rep. May respond to those issues? Should there be local control of school districts? Should parents in Chicago have more charter school options and choice? What is the State GOP message? How do you improve the business climate in Illinois? Should there be a Capital Budget/Plan? How to finance the bonded indebtedness for a Capital Plan? Expanded Gaming?
Yet even more topics discussed include Gays, Guns, God and abortion? Is Stratton Pro-Choice on the issue of abortion? Does he Support Roe v. Wade? Does he support Parental Notice with judicial bypass? Support basic gun control? A statewide ban on assault weapons? Support Same Sex Marriage? Civil Unions? A silent moment for reflection at the beginning of the school day? A ban on partial birth abortions? Ethics Reform? An expedited permit process for refineries in Illinois?
About our Guest: State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton
State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) is a Senior Counsel with the 250 attorney, multi-office firm of Ice Miller, working out of its Chicago office. His practice focuses on Public Finance and Municipal Law. Tim has lived in Illinois for the last ten yours and in Glencoe, with his wife and young daughter, for the last five. He is an elected member of the Parks Board in Glencoe. To find out more about candidate Tim Stratton, please go here.
*****************************************************************
Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs."
**************************************************
Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
The show with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [Watch here] is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:
Tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette
and Tonight (Tuesday) at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
*****************************************************************
Public Affairs City of Chicago and City of Aurora airing schedule, featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this coming Monday night.
The "Public Affairs," show with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, July 28, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, this past week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include tonight's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols
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