Marion's Butler Endorses Andy McKenna
January 23, 2010
Blackwell Thomas
CARBONDALE - Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna picked up the endorsement of Marion Mayor Bob Butler on a visit to Southern Illinois Friday.
The former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party said he was "privileged" to receive Butler's endorsement and then took questions on his platform.
Regarding the state's estimate $13 billion budget deficit McKenna said he would not raise taxes and instead would look to cut more from the state budget.
"In the last five years, state spending went up 35 percent," he said. "We need to bring spending in line with receipts."
When asked where exactly he would make the cuts, given that the state is operating with 4,000 fewer state employees than three years ago, McKenna said there are other places to turn.
Pointing toward pension reform, Medicaid and a new commission to more closely oversee state spending, McKenna said there are other places for the state to cut spending.
"All of those provide a way to bring state spending in line with receipts," he said.
McKenna has teamed up with state Sen. Matt Murphy, who is running for the lieutenant governor's post. He is in a crowded field of candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination that includes state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, former Illinois Attorney General, Jim Ryan, businessman Adam Andrzejewski and political pundit Dan Proft.
Polling numbers gathered by the McKenna campaign earlier this month show that he has pulled even with Ryan at 18 percent, while Dillard trails with 17, followed by Brady with 11 percent, Andrzejewski with 8 percent and Proft with 3 percent
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