At Tuesday's Illinois gubernatorial debate, candidates Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican Bruce Rauner clashed about issues important to the African-American community, such as jobs, education and dealing with violence in communities. The debate was held at at the DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago's South Side.
Under questioning from Perri Small of WVON-AM 1690, CBS 2 political reporter Jay Levine and Chicago Tribune business reporter Corilyn Shropshire, Quinn and Rauner hammered home the themes that have defined this race. For Rauner: Quinn is inept and ineffective in fostering business growth; he's part of an old political system that needs to exit. For Quinn: Rauner is too wealthy to understand average citizens' concerns; his business success has brought him wealth while hurting those on lower rungs of the economic ladder.
Check out the full debate and highlights at Reboot Illinois.
Many aspects of the future of Illinois depend on which candidate is ultimately elected in November, but Reboot Illinois' Madeleine Doubek says that no matter if Quinn or Rauner is elected, Illinoisans should be prepared for higher taxes.
Doubek writes:
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn told the Daily Herald in his endorsement interview that he'll try to make the temporary 5 percent income tax increase permanent, something Republican governor nominee Bruce Rauner now is highlighting in his latest ad. Quinn doesn't like to talk about it too much, but he's called for making the tax permanent since March. He probably figures if he wins, he's got a mandate to increase taxes and raise the minimum wage.
Rauner will be hiking taxes, too. Rauner said he would add sales taxes onto scores of services that haven't been taxed yet. The budget plans he's offered do not add up, with the personal income tax rate set to drop to 3.75 percent in January, so don't be surprised if he tries to take more of our money if he wins, too. He's said he hopes to drop the income tax rate back down to 3 percent over four years.
See the rest of her thoughts on taxes and the election at Reboot Illinois.
