Illinois Republican Party

Republicans talk special election, jobs at State Fair
8/20/2010

By Rick Pearson & Ray Long - Chicago Tribune

Republicans began their day at the State Fair hearing U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk's pitch to elect him this fall to fill out the final two months of Democratic Sen. Roland Burris’ term as well as the full six-year term.

Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman, said the vote to fill the Burris vacancy — a special election held simultaneously with the Nov. 2 election for the full term — “could mean all the difference for the economic future of the United States.” Kirk contended Democrats in a post-election, lame-duck congressional session will try to approve a massive spending bill that would “shock” the stock market and the economy.

Voters will cast two votes for U.S. Senate because of a recent federal court ruling that found that the appointment of Burris by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was only temporary. Burris was appointed just weeks after Blagojevich’s arrest at home on federal corruption charges. Blagojevich was convicted earlier this week of lying to FBI agents, but a jury was unable to reach a verdict on 23 other counts, including allegedly trying to peddle the Senate vacancy for personal and political gain.

Republican governor candidate Bill Brady noted the Blagojevich conviction today but told the breakfast crowd at a Springfield hotel that the campaign needs to move beyond the issue of past corruption to talk about the need to help job creation and spur an economic rebound.

“It is our time. It is our opportunity if we are willing to make the extra effort,” said Brady, a state senator from Bloomington. He said it was not an election about partisan politics but “about the people of Illinois.”

“It is incumbent upon us to reach beyond traditional Republican boundaries,” Brady said, noting the need for Republicans to attract independent voters and even disaffected Democrats to the polls.

After his speech, Brady said "everyone's disappointed" that the Blagojevich jury returned only one guilty verdict.

"I don't think there's anyone in Illinois that didn't want to turn a page and close this chapter in our lives," Brady said. "The drama's going to continue" because prosecutors want to put Blagojevich on trial again.

But Brady said the Blagojevich saga is a distraction from the Republican message of lowering taxes, balancing the state budget and creating jobs.

"Illinois is hurting," Brady said. In a meeting with African-American Chicago ministers, Brady said, they estimate unemployment in some neighborhoods is as high as 40 or 50 percent.

"This election needs to turn the page on corruption, turn the page on insider politics and give the people an opportunity to bring those jobs back to Illinois," Brady said.
Pat Brady, the state GOP chairman who is no relation to Bill Brady, said voters who are content with the state's poor economic condition and want a tax increase should vote for Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who was Blagojevich's successor. But, he said, those seeking change and reform should vote for Bill Brady, though the GOP contender has not detailed how he plans to cut the state budget in lieu of a tax increase and doesn't plan to do so before the election.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune

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