Illinois state finances are in shambles and have been for years. Governor Quinn is projecting a budget deficit of $11.6 billion for 2010, stretching state spending more than 20% beyond our means in state revenues. The state budget has ballooned in the last five years from $24.7 billion in 2004 to $32.2 billion in 2009 - an increase of nearly 30%. Years of state -rule by career politicians and government bureaucrats has taken its toll and now Illinois citizens have been left with a mountainous debt. Governor Quinn’s proposed “solution” - to increase taxes on Illinois’ working families – is no solution at all. We need a hard-working, dedicated, and successful businessman to put Illinois' house in order.

• Hold the Line on Government Spending: Illinois families have had to make tough choices on how we spend our money, and we should expect nothing less from our political leaders. Andy McKenna is not a career politician. On the contrary, he is a successful businessman who has spent his career balancing budgets and building good jobs. As governor, Andy McKenna will hold the line on government spending, and will not increase spending above the rate of inflation plus population growth.
  
  
• Cut Government Waste: Andy McKenna is a successful businessman who will bring a common sense perspective to Springfield. As governor, Andy McKenna will use the veto pen actively to strike out wasteful spending and the pet projects of career politicians. The state has no business spending $140,000 to construct high-end porta-potties at seven state parks, $500,000 for expenses related to the Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration, and $262,000 for fishing programs with the Chicago Park District.
  
  
• Consolidate Government Operations: A recent report by the Illinois Auditor General indicated that 83 state agencies don’t know enough about their own agencies to provide the Illinois Auditor General with a definitive list of the programs administered by those agencies. The Illinois Auditor General also identified 50 programs for consolidation. In almost every case, agency officials insisted that their program was unique and could not be combined with any other program. Springfield has been run by state bureaucrats and career politicians for far too long. We need a businessman like Andy McKenna in the governor’s office to rein in a government that has run amok.

Illinois State Budget, Fiscal Year 2010. Governor Pat Quinn, March 2009.

Inventory of State Programs. Illinois Auditor General Report. October 2007