UPDATED: State Senate and House Candidates Talk Taxes, Health Care and Illinois' Money Use (Live Blog)
Candidates running for the 18th Illinois Senate district and hopefuls for the 31st and 36th Illinois House districts answered questions at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters Wednesday night. Read our live blog transcript for a recap.
Photos
Update, 10:20 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
The following candidates, and an unchallenged incumbent, shared their views on a variety of topics Wednesday night at the Green Hills Public Library.
Those who participated:
- Kelly Burke and Bob Shelstrom (36th House)
- Barbara Bellar and Bill Cunningham (18th Senate)
- Mary Flowers (31st House)
Topics discussed:
- for or against video gambling, and other gambling in the state
- what should be done with pension obligations
- supporting flat or graduated income tax
- views on the Affordable Health Care Act, and its implications for Illinois
- how Illinois got into financial ruin, and how the state can be brought out
Read our live blog transcript for their stances, and look for videos of the forum in coming days.
Update: Candidates for the 16th Illinois Senate and 35th Illinois House districts will not appear at tonight's debate. Officials from the Green Hills Public Library, which is hosting the forum, decided to only include races that fell within the library district boundaries, said Barbara Pasquinelli, co-President of The League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area. Information provided earlier indicated the 16th and 35th districts would be represented.
Original story:
The League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area are hosting a candidate forum for two state senate districts and three state house districts Wednesday night at the Green Hills Public Library in Palos Hills.
Audience members will get a chance to submit questions for the candidates to answer during the forum.
Patch will be on hand running a live blog of the forum, which you can join and offer your own thoughts during the event. Look for video of the candidates’ statements and different stances on issues in following days after the forum.
Check our election guides below for more information about some of the races represented at the forum.
Got questions for the candidates? Let us know in the comments.
barbara bellar
12:56 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Truly truly amazing the vital, essential and informative truth that was snipped and skewed from this debate editing project, I would advise either making the entire debate available for the viewers or don't do it at all! The selective editing does quite a disservice to the voters of Illinois! Quite a political trick! Who did you learn such tactics from? I expect more integrity from THE PATCH!
cc
3:35 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Bravo for calling them out on it Barbara - you have my vote. I for one am sick of the lies, the cover-ups and the puppeteering of the media. I'm also sick of the overspending, the handouts and the constant taxing of loss of my rights as an American. Your video on Obamacare sealed the deal for me.
Bob
10:05 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
C'mon, Barb. This was a live blog. It seems the Patch covered it pretty well. I'm interested in what you think wasn't covered properly. If you think something was missed, this is the PERFECT venue for setting the record straight. I'm sure if there's something improtatn they missed, we readers would love to hear what it was.
I understand you were upset that I referred to us as "neophytes", or novices. When it comes to the dirty dealing in Ilinois politics, I think that's a pretty big positive for us. We know what needs to be done and how to do it without being contaminated by the politics of patronage and corruption by Madigan and our opponents. I would hope that's what the voters want in Representatives.