Download Lex Green's 2011 Budget for Illinois

{   Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4   }

Read Lex's View on the 2011 Budget for Illinois.  Read more...

I do not support any tax increases, period. I support an immediate freeze on new spending and the elimination of non-essential state programs in order to get our state back on a path towards being debt-free and balancing our budget. I want to eliminate the 3% income tax. Many states do not have an income tax. I also want to eliminate the gasoline tax, cigarette tax and taxes on alcoholic beverages. It is my opinion that a sales tax is the fairest way to generate revenue. It taxes consumption so that those who can’t afford to spend a lot, pay the least taxes. I also want to eliminate corporate taxes. Illinois’ government spending needs to be drastically reduced to balance the budget within the limits that tax revenues supply.

According to the Illinois constitution: Appropriations for a fiscal year shall not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly to be available during that year. I will veto or reduce any non-essential appropriations that exceed funds as required by the Constitution. If my veto is overridden, I will instruct the Comptroller to prioritize appropriations, so that essential services will be funded first, and I will not approve deficit spending or request bonds to cover emergency shortfalls. NO NEW DEBT.  Read more...

Most political corruption is introduced and sustained in the electoral process. That is why I am a strong advocate of term limits. We should make the idea of “career politicians” a thing of the past. We should elect men and woman of principal who will serve their limited terms, then return to the private sector. If they are freed of the worry of re-election, lawmakers can concentrate on passing ethical law. They will not be indebted to large contributors or the political parties that direct funding.

Therefore, I support the Bambenek Putback Amendment which includes term limits for office holders. The Putback Amendment also reforms re-districting which, when politicized as it is now, is just as corrupt. This will keep political dominance of a few power brokers from controlling our laws and our future.  Read more...

Public jobs, except for essential services, are a drain on state funds and subsequently to the taxpayer’s finances. It is the state’s responsibility to provide an environment of low taxes and limited regulation to encourage businesses to form and employers to come to Illinois. To achieve that goal, public works programs should be limited to essential services and infrastructure maintenance.  Read more...

Gun ownership is an individual right and an individual responsibility. I will veto any law that infringes on the right to gun ownership I will also utilize all of my executive authority to combat local and Federal Governments’ unconstitutional infringements on our natural right to keep and bear arms.

The Illinois Constitution Reads: "Subject only to police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." I will instruct the state police to regard the phrase “subject only to police power” to mean that only when a gun is used in a crime can it be confiscated. Also I will support an amendment to the Illinois Constitution to remove this phrase.  Read more...

The best answer to overpriced Healthcare is free markets. Absent that, I favor a state solution to perceived problems in the health care system. I will work to establish by law that all providers use one menu of prices for all health care products and services. Graduated pricing based on individuals’ level of insurance or other class determinant is discriminatory. Menu pricing will re-introduce competition into the health care industry.  Read more...

The Constitution of the United States sets forth an agreement between states to provide a limited national government. The Bill of Rights was implemented to establish a list of inalienable rights of individual citizens to be protected. I support any law or resolution that establishes full incorporation of the Bill of Rights and the protection of all other rights of citizens from infringement by the United States national government. Also I support any law or resolution that proposes to protect Illinois citizens from excessive national taxation.  Read more...

There is no proof that throwing more money into education makes it better. In fact, education spending has increased and the results have been disappointing. There is no logic in sending money to the state, letting them use it to create a bureaucracy, then holding a hand out for permission to use our own money. We need to put decisions about education back into the hands of parents, teachers, and local communities.

We ought to let the local districts keep the money and spend it the way they see fit. School choice through open enrollment and local control of charter school creation would solve problems associated with inequities in resources and graduation rates. We could then greatly reduce the State Board of Education and save billions from the Boards $11 Billion budget.  Read more...

I am a lifelong Illinois resident, and I lived on a family farm near Waynesville until the age of seven. The solutions I propose for all Illinois business will also benefit agribusiness. A free and prosperous state is important to farming. As goes the state economy, so goes profitability for the farming community. I want to reduce or eliminate taxes and reduce regulations for all businesses, including agribusiness. The reduced costs of production will help farmers and the state. I oppose tax credits because they target one industry, when a total elimination of that type of tax would benefit all Illinois businesses. I feel the farming community will grow stronger when the Illinois and Federal governments are reduced to just providing essential services.   Read more...

As Commander of the Illinois National Guard, it will be my duty to position the troops of Illinois in a way that safeguards the people of Illinois as well as our brave men and women soldiers. The valiant members of the Illinois National Guard are deployed overseas without a legally declared war. I will issue a command to the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard to return all Illinois Guard members from the field of battle to Illinois for the purposes of protecting the citizens of Illinois. Only upon a declaration of war by the United States Congress will I recognize the authority of the President to command our troops overseas. I will also direct the Adjutant General to recognize that the Guard is to be deployed in this state only for the protection or assistance of the people and never as a federal police force.  Read more...

I support the strictest limits on Eminent Domain. The right to be secure in the ownership of property is a cornerstone of our Republic and “public use” must exclude all uses that benefit individuals or corporations other than the property’s owner.  Read more...

Former Governor Blagojevich signed the National Popular Vote Bill in April of 2008. I want to repeal that law and elect Illinois electors proportionally to the percentage of popular vote each candidate receives. This will make Illinois' vote for President fair.  Read more...

There should be only one set of rules for running for office. The current laws place the Democrats and Republicans at a distinct advantage over all other candidates. I support passage of a law requiring equal ballot access requirements for ALL candidates running for office, regardless of political party affiliation.  Read more...