http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019-05-07/editorial-illinois-latest-bond-issue.html

The Quad Cities’ congresswoman is urging representatives to stay focused on centrist issues like health care and infrastructure in her new role as head of a powerful Democratic campaign committee.

Opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois on Monday rejected Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s argument that his proposal would promote social equity by providing potential benefits to communities that have been disproportionately affected by enforcement of lower-level drug crimes.

“Minorities have said to me we don’t want this stuff in our neighborhood,” state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, said at a news conference outside the Thompson Center in the Loop. “There’s other ways to generate revenue, not on the backs of our children and young adults.”

What Illinoisans want are drastic reforms that would return Illinois to competitive levels of service and tax burden. Those reforms include big ones like real pension reform, which would take a state constitutional amendment, and fair maps. They know dozens of smaller reforms are essential too, to right the ship. The last thing they want is another tax increase with no reforms, which is where we are headed. Confidence will plunge still further and the tax base will continue to shrink.

“Don’t say Democrats are incapable of cutting spending. They are. Skip bills that come due, whip out the credit card, destabilize the state’s retirement system and keep poor kids in failing schools. Now that’s a plan they can get behind.”