* From what I’ve been getting, one of Gov. Quinn’s plans is to use Sen. Susan Garrett to attack Sen. Bill Brady on social issues while he focuses on economic issues.
That makes plenty of sense. Quinn has had huge problems with women voters for months. It’s not just the early prisoner release scandal, either. “They just don’t connect with him,” sighed one Quinnster this week. Garrett might help him win their confidence while he cuts capital project ribbons and talks about jobs.
* One thing that went through my mind yesterday about picking Garrett as Quinn’s running mate is that I don’t ever recall her ever voting for a tax hike. The Daily Herald has a story up about Garrett this afternoon and takes a look at the issue…
Should she be selected, Garrett would offer somewhat of a contrarian view to Quinn’s on taxes. While Quinn has made an income tax increase the cornerstone of his campaign, Garrett voted against the income and sales tax increase the Senate passed last year that had Quinn’s backing.
She was noncommittal regarding Quinn’s latest push for a 1 percentage point increase in the state income tax to fund education and prevent more than $1 billion in cuts and pay down millions more in unpaid payments to school districts, colleges and universities.
“I’m a step-by-step person,” Garrett said when asked whether she’d vote for Quinn’s income tax increase.
She said she wanted to see pension reform and other efforts before considering tax increases.
While her public position is understandable, that’s the usual line legislators use when they are actually planning to vote “No.” And, at least as far as I can remember, she’s pretty much always a “No” on this stuff. She started legislative life in the House, where she was constantly targeted for defeat. So, she (and staff) watched her voting record pretty closely. That habit continued when she moved to the Senate, much to the chagrin of some of her colleagues.
The Republicans could use the tax issue to ridicule the governor, of course. “Your own running mate won’t even back your tax hike.” Then again, having someone on the ticket who isn’t supporting a tax hike can’t be all bad.
I’m curious what you think.