by Phil Collins
EDITOR'S NOTE: Phil Collins has a B.A. in political science. Collins was a full-time employee for the U.S. Senate campaigns of John Cox and John Borling. Collins is the executive director of the Illinois Center Right Coalition, and he founded the Republican Assembly of Northern Cook County. In 2008, Collins ran for delegate to the Republican National Convention, for Mike Huckabee, and he received almost 4,000 votes. That was more votes than a State Rep. (Suzie Bassi) and Lake County Clerk (Willard Helander), combined. Collins volunteered at Republican National Conventions in 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2008. Collins was in the Navy for 21 years, and, for six months, he was near Baghdad, in the Triangle of Death, in a Marine infantry battalion.
PHIL COLLINS: IN HIS OWN WORDS
I think that, in 2010, Illinois Republican candidates should run together, similarly to the Contract with America. They should promise that, if our state elects Sen. Bill Brady, for Governor, and Republican majorities, in both Houses of the legislature, they'll pass these bills:
1. Cut all state tax rates and fees to their 2002 levels. Blagojevich-proposed tax & fee increases caused many companies to leave Illinois, harming the state's economy.
2. Consolidate public school districts, ensuring that each district includes at least one high school, at least one junior high, and at least one elementary school. Illinois includes many districts that include one school each. Each district collects property taxes from the homeowners, of the district, and each district has employees, with an average superintendent salary of $120,000, per year. The taxpayers could save money, if some districts are consolidated.
3. Repeal the 2003 law which states that illegal aliens may attend state universities and pay in-state tuition.
4. Repeal the 2007 law which states that illegal aliens may obtain drivers licenses.
5. Approve, for the Nov. 2012 ballot, an amendment, for the state constitution, which would establish term limits for all elected officials. State legislators could serve up to 10 years, in each house, and county board members could serve up to 10 years. All officials, whose offices always have four-year terms, may serve up to eight years.
6. Approve, for the Nov. 2012 ballot, an amendment, for the state constitution, to allow recall elections of all elected officials. The number of petition signatures, for a recall, would be the same as the number that is needed, for run for that office.
7. Approve, for the Nov. 2012 ballot, an amendment for the state constitution, that would state that, when a state legislator dies or resigns, with at least four months remaining in his or her term, the governor will choose dates for a special primary election and a special general election.
8. A change to election code which would state that all candidates, of all parties, who run for the same office, must submit the same number of petition signatures, 1% of the number of people who voted in the last general election, for that office.
9. Approve, for the Nov. 2012 ballot, an amendment, for the state constitution, for binding, citizen-proposed, statewide referendums. To get on the ballot, the supporters would be required to submit at least 5,000 petition signatures.
10. Approve, for the Nov. 2012 ballot, an amendment, for the state constitution, that would state that, if an Illinois U.S. senator resigns or dies with at least four months remaining, in his or her term, the governor will choose dates for a special primary election and a special general election. On the same day that the governor announces the election dates, he or she would make a temporary appointment, someone who would fill the Senate seat and may also run, in the special elections, if he or she chooses.
11. Starting in 2014, all regularly scheduled elections will be held in even-numbered years. Each township, city, school board, library board, and park district board may choose whether their elections will be held during the years of presidential elections or the years of governor elections. This would greatly decrease the amount of money that the state, county, township, and city governments pay, to administer elections.
12. Starting a year after this bill is signed, a state government employee must work for the state for at least 20 years, to receive a state pension. The pension will not be more than 1/2 of the highest salary that the employee received. This is used for military members, who risk their lives for our country.
13. Starting in Jan. 2012, state legislators will decrease their salary to $55,000, per legislator, per year, and they won't accept a raise while the state government has a budget deficit.
Contact Phil Collins at: philacollins@yahoo.com
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I very much like Phil's suggestions, but would like to add one. In all elections, there would be added one more voting line, NONE OF THE ABOVE. If 51% or more vote that line,the election must be run over with all new candidates. It would cost a bit first few times, but later the parties could choose to run good candidates instead of lesser of evil ones....
Posted by: Charlie | July 18, 2010 at 08:45 PM
Phil, I like your article, however, it is missing the passage of SB-600. Lets put an end to the combine!
Posted by: Gary | July 19, 2010 at 06:56 AM
Charlie, I agree with your idea.
Gary, I strongly support SB 600. However, my suggestions are intended to help republican candidates appeal to moderate and independent voters. Few of those voters care about the leadership of the IL GOP.
Posted by: Phil Collins | July 19, 2010 at 11:47 AM