Where do the candidates for governor – incumbent Pat Quinn and challenger Bruce Rauner – stand on the issues?
MINIMUM WAGE
Quinn: Wants to raise minimum wage to $10 an hour over the next two years.
Rauner: Favored cutting state minimum wage by $1 to the national rate of $7.25 an hour, but later supported raising national minimum wage or increasing the state minimum wage if tied to pro-business reforms.
JOB CREATION
Quinn: Wants to give tax cuts to businesses that provide job training and lower the filing fee for paperwork to establish a limited liability corporation from $500 to $39 to help small businesses set up shop. Created position of Small Business Advocate to look at policies and how they impact small businesses. Provided state funding for healthcare technology startup hub to drive entrepreneurship.
Rauner: Wants reforms to reduce costs for companies that create jobs and to attract new companies such as lowering the income tax rate from 5 percent to 3 percent and corporate income tax rate from 7 percent to 4.8 percent, expanding the sale tax base to include services such as those provided by travel agents and interior decorators, and freezing property taxes. Also supports reducing the $500 fee to start an LLC.
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EDUCATION
Quinn: Wants to double funding over next five years for the state’s Monetary Assistance Program, which provides grants to eligible students applied toward college tuition.
Rauner: Supports programs that pair students with businesses in sectors like manufacturing, energy and health sciences. Wants to discontinue job training programs with unsuccessful job placement rates.
MARIJUANA
Quinn: Signed bill into law last year for a four-year pilot program to allow the legal use of medical marijuana for patients who have qualifying debilitating medical conditions.
Rauner: Said he would have vetoed the law and didn’t support or advocate for medical marijuana legislation, but thinks the process to get cultivation and dispensary licenses should be more open, transparent and competitive.
Source: brucerauner.com, quinnforillinois.com, illinois.gov, baiduhai
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