Questionnaire for Candidates for Illinois Governor
From WBEZ, Chicago Public Media
Please answer these yes/no questions, and at the bottom of the questionnaire, list the name
and title of person who filled out the questionnaire. Have candidate sign for verification.
Please return this page with answers to Dave McKinney, dmckinney@wbez.org by no later than
Monday, September 24, 2018
Do you favor maintaining Illinois’ flat 4.95% income tax rate?
YES _X_
NO ____
Do you favor lowering Illinois’ income tax rate to 3%?
YES ____
NO _X_

Do you favor increasing the flat tax rate to a level higher than 4.95%?
YES ____
NO _X_

Do you favor a graduated state income tax?
YES ____
NO _X___
_________If yes, identify the highest tax rate
_________If yes, identify the lowest tax rate.
_________Identify what is appropriate tax rate for an individual earning $50,000 annually.

Do you favor an expansion of the sales tax to include services?
YES _X___
NO ____

I would be in favor of a 1.5% consumption tax on goods and services to provide property tax
relief to property owners. The money generated by the consumption tax MUST go to this relief
program only.
Do you favor legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes?
YES __X__
NO ____
________If so, identify the specific tax rate the state should apply to marijuana purchases.

Do you favor freezing property taxes for all local taxing units?
YES __X__

 NO ____

Do you favor expanding casino gambling in Illinois?
YES __X__
NO ____
________If so, where?

Local municipalities should have the right to determine if their city should have a casino. I
would prefer a single location per county or per home-rule municipality..
Do you favor a casino managed by the City of Chicago?
YES ____
NO _X___

Municipal governments should not be involved in private enterprises and certainly ones that are
fraught with moral and financial hazards as casinos. Municipal governments should be auditing
and enforcing standards at private enterprises, not managing the day to day operations.
Do you favor slot machines at O’Hare and Midway Airports?
YES __X__
NO ____

It would be tightly controlled by an independent operator with no ties to Chicago government.
Do you support requiring health insurance companies to not charge people higher rates if they
have a pre-existing condition?
YES ____
NO __X__

Do you favor the state licensing gun shops?
YES ____
NO __X__

Do you favor banning the sale of bump stocks?
YES ____
NO __X__

Do you favor banning the sale of high-capacity ammunition?
YES ____
NO __X__

If the federal government strips organizations that receive federal money for abortions, would
you support state funding of organizations that provide abortions?
YES ____
NO __X__

 Should the state admit negligence in its handling of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks at the
Quincy veterans’ home so that the 12 pending Court of Claims lawsuits can be settled?
YES _X_
NO ____

Do you favor changing the state constitution, removing the language that state pension benefits
cannot be diminished?
YES __X__
NO ____

Do you favor additional borrowing to help pay down Illinois’ $129 billion unfunded pension
liability?
YES ____
NO _X_

Russ Clark, Michael Burns, Krysta Walker, Amanda Parsons - Kash Jackson Policy Team Name, title of person filling out questionnaire
_9/23/18_ Date

____________________________________Signature of Candidate