Dear Friends,

Thanks very much to the 435 of you who answered the survey that was included in a mailing sent to you. Below are the results of the survey, with the percentage of respondents answering indicated in parentheses after each option. Comments and suggestions individuals shared follow. I read these results with tremendous interest and find them helpful in shaping my views. I appreciate the time you took to share your views.

Sincerely,

Senator Heather Steans
7th District – Illinois

2013 Constituent Survey Results

Currently the State of Illinois has a flat income tax, where all income levels are taxed the same. Are you in favor of:
A. Keeping the flat tax (23.7%)
B. Creating a sliding scale where the tax rate is higher for individuals with higher incomes (69.0%)
C. Other (7.3)

The temporary income tax increase (from 3% to 5%) is scheduled to start phasing out in January 2015. Should the state replace this revenue, and if so, how?
A. Make the temporary income tax increase permanent (23.0%)
B. Increase the corporate tax rate only (15.0%)
C. Broaden the sales tax to include services (like haircuts and dry cleaning) (4.0%)
D. Allow licenses for additional casinos (9.2%)
E. Increase gasoline tax (1.8%)
F. Decrease tax deductions (4.0%)
G. The state should not replace this revenue (8.0%)
H. Other (35.0%)

Which approach to Illinois Senate and House redistricting do you support?
A. The current system, in which districts are organized by a legislative redistricting committee and voted on by the House and the Senate (9.5%)
B. A hybrid system in which a redistricting plan is proposed by an independent commission and brought up to vote in the legislature (7.6%)
C. A non-partisan, independent commission composed of citizens so as to reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of the state (72.8%)
D. Other (10.1%)

Which sustainable environmental policy should Illinois prioritize?
A. Incentivizing water conservation (9.6%)
B. Greening Chicago Public Schools (3.0%)
C. Reducing diesel pollution (10.5%)
D. Increasing requirements to use renewable energy (19.7%)
E. Increasing mandatory recycling requirements (14.1%)
F. Other (43.1%)

How can Illinois better prevent crime?
A. Increase police and surveillance cameras (12.8%)
B. Increase after-school programs for youths (21.0%)
C. Increase funding for community organizations, such as Ceasefire, that seek to prevent crime (16.2%)
D. Other (50.0%)

How can Illinois better encourage business development and business?
A. Provide tax incentives for businesses to expand (12.8%)
B. Lower the corporate income tax rate (6.1%)
C. Increase funding for job training programs (11.4%)
D. Fund road, school and other public infrastructure projects (17.3%)
E. Increase funding for education (7.9%)
F. Other (44.5%)

Comments and Suggestions

Below is a compilation of the comments and suggestions I received. I also indicate how many people shared similar thoughts.

Safety/Crime/Prisons (4)
Concentrate on neighborhood safety (2)
More focus on gun safety (1)
Decrease gun-related criminal acts (1)

Taxes - Decrease (6)
Lower personal income tax (2)
Reform property tax deduction income criteria (1)
Reduce rate for car licenses and pet licenses (1)
Reform CEDA income eligibility requirements (1)
Reduce entrance fees for Chicago museums (1)

Taxes - Increase (8)
Increase corporate tax/remove corporate tax breaks (3)
Implement a progressive tax (2)
Increase taxes to fund pensions (1)
Increase driver license’s fee (1)

Reduce state spending/abuse (4)
Increased public acknowledgment in legislature’s role in current financial crisis (2)
Eliminate pensions for state politicians (1)
Eliminate health subsidies for state politicians (1)

Education (4)
Increase vocational training programs for high school students (1)
Increase training programs (such as computer training) to increase competitiveness with other countries, such as Japan, China (1)
Increase funding public schools instead of charter schools (1)
Hire dedicated and qualified teachers (1)

Human Services/Health Care (6)
Oppose gay marriage (1)
Increase funding and benefits to veterans (1)
Expand Medicaid (1)
Increase affordable housing for all (1)
Create housing credits for rent and mortgage (1)
Affordable housing for mental ill (1)

Pensions/Benefits (31)
Address/take action on pension crisis (22)
Pass pension reform bill (3)
Eliminate pensions for state politicians (2)
Leave pensions alone/support teachers, firefighters, police pensions (2)
Leave the pension system as it is (1)
Eliminate pension system (1)

Ethics and Elected Officials (8)
Establish term limits (6)
Eliminate corruption/support stronger ethics laws (1)
Limit political campaign contributions (1)

Human Rights (1)
Increase cultural diversity (1)

Environment (2)
Ban/better regulate fracking (2)

Jobs/Economic Development (16)
Increase job training (5)
Increase small business incentives/reduce restrictive business constraints (4)
Allow casinos to fund pensions (1)
Private financing to redevelop run down neighborhoods (1)
Aid start-ups in the state (1)
Increase neighborhood/community development (1)
Oppose gambling because it takes away from essential services and business services (1) Reduce business incentives, such as enterprise zones, DOE grants and research development grants (1)
Allow a casino in Chicago (1)

Housing/Infrastructure (2)
Provide more affordable housing generally and for seniors (1)
Fix infrastructure (1)

Budget (16)
Increase fiscal responsibility and governmental transparency (12)
Make budget priority (2)
Increase transparency and clear link between revenue and spending (2)

Other (30)
Establish priorities that offer best opportunities and results even though there are no easy solutions (10)
Review of Senator’s tenure (7)
Commentary on survey itself (5)
Current financial crisis is dire (3)
Reduce American involvement in foreign affairs (1)
Put caps on health insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals (1)
Consider the impact of Dominick’s closing has on neighborhoods (1)
Introduce more traditional democratic, liberal policies (1)
Introduce more traditional constitutional based policies (1)

District Office

5533 N. Broadway • Chicago, IL 60640

773-769-1717 (Phone) • 773-769-6901 (Fax)

Springfield Office

M120 Capitol Building • Springfield, IL 62706

217-782-8492 (Phone)

Unsubscribe

www.SenatorSteans.com

Dear Friends,

I welcome you to join me tomorrow, Wednesday January 15th, at an informational forum on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, Illinois’ new marriage equality law. The forum will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Loyola Park Field House (1230 Greenleaf, 2nd floor).

The forum will be an opportunity to learn about the passage of the Marriage Equality Law while in the company of several local elected officials who strongly supported its passage including Cook County Clerk David Orr, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, Alderman Joe Moore and Ed Yohnka of the ACLU.

Please join us to learn how this law will affect you and/or loved ones and celebrate this accomplishment while discussing the work that lies ahead to make our state, city and neighborhoods welcoming for all.

Sincerely,

Senator Heather Steans
7th District – Illinois