Better Government Association

Some Politicians Want Voters to Have More Power

Produced by Becky Schlikerman

July 09, 2008

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn and Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool want to give voters more say over how government taxes and spends. Specifically, they want people to be able to vote on new and existing taxes through ballot referenda.

Dan Sprehe of the watchdog Better Government Association says he supports the plan.

SPREHE: Scandal after scandal, corruption story after corruption story, conviction after conviction- I have a hard time saying voters having more power is a bad thing.

Sprehe says giving voters more power does come with some risks--mainly that some things may take longer to get approved. But Sprehe says, in today's political climate, that's the last thing to worry about. Unlike other states, Illinois law doesn't allow residents to introduce and vote on matters regarding finances.