It’s been one week since Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller asked the question about whether Springfield insider Mike Bost would vote to prevent another government shutdown, and Mike Bost still hasn’t answered the question.
“Springfield insider Mike Bost will have a meltdown over just about anything, but he won’t say whether he would vote to prevent another government shutdown because he’s just another career politician who looks out for himself at the expense of middle class Illinois families,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “With 20 years voting in Springfield for plans that have forced higher taxes, borrowed millions and damaged the Illinois economy, it’s clear that Meltdown Mike Bost would only be part of the problem in Washington.”
BACKGROUND:
Bost Voted for Plan Allowing Gov. Ryan to Borrow Hundreds of Millions. In June 2002, Bost voted for House Bill 2828. The State Journal-Register reported the bill was “known as the tobacco securitization bill and allows the state to borrow up to $750 million against future funds from the national legal settlement with tobacco companies.” [State Journal-Register, 6/29/02; HB 2828, Motion to Concur, 6/02/02]
Bost Voted for Gov. Ryan’s Plan that Underfunded State Pensions. In June 2001, Bost voted for a bill that would an “early retirement incentive” for state employees. The bill would allow eligible state employees to purchase up to five years of service to qualify for early retirement. The Chicago Tribune reported, “Since the funding plan began in the mid-1990s, the Legislature provided more than $5.8 billion in benefit increases and giveaways that weren’t paid for…By far, the largest of those increases came in the form of a 2002 early retirement incentive aimed at trimming the state’s workforce during tough budget times.” [Gov. Ryan Press Release, 6/25/02; HB 2671, Motion to Concur, 6/01/02; Chicago Tribune, 12/15/11]
Bost Voted to Raise Taxes on Casinos. In June 2002, Bost voted to enact a higher tax structure for riverboat casinos and to raise the casinos’ admission tax from $2 to $3 per person. [State Journal-Register, 6/29/02; HB 2381, Motion to Concur, 6/02/02]
Bost Voted to Raise Taxes on Cigarettes. In June 2002, Bost voted to raise taxes on cigarettes by 40 cents a pack. [HB 539, Motion to Concur, 6/02/02; Chicago Tribune, 6/07/02]