Now is the time to implement long overdue changes in Illinois taxes, housing and infrastructure, as well as a complete revision of the policies and spending habits of the state government, agreed a panel of U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert and state senators and represenatives.

“We need to solve the major underlying challenge of balancing the services that government provides with our ability to pay,” said emcee Dick Crawford, vice president of government relations for McDonald’s Corp., speaking to area business leaders at the Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Summit, held at the Renaissance Oak Brook Hotel.

The panel consisted of state senators and representatives from 11 suburban districts. Entitled “Supporting Business through Legislative Advocacy,” the discussion centered on the current and future legislative concerns facing Illinois.

“Our job is to ensure that government policies are smart and sound and allow you and your businesses to grow, prosper and create more jobs,” said Biggert (R-13).

According to Biggert, the federal government has not passed any legislation to combat the housing crisis. She outlined a “Republican alternative package” of common sense reforms that she and a number of her house colleagues will soon introduce.

The plan calls for federal reform of government sponsored enterprises in order to put much needed liquidity back into the mortgage marketplace. It also outlines a restructuring of the Federal Housing Authority as well as more funding for the housing counseling. There is also a provision in the bill that will put accountability back into the appraisal process.

“Our goals are to stem the tide in rising foreclosures, help Americans keep their homes and prevent future market downturns without discouraging investment and without limiting the availability of credit,” she said.

State infrastructure needs were also addressed. The federal government collects [Article].16 for each gallon of gas Americans put into their automobiles. That money is stored in a reserve fund and distributed back to each state every five to six years through transportation bills, in order to pay for road and infrastructure projects. Eighty percent of that money is paid by the federal government; each state must match the other 20 percent.

“In Illinois, the governor has swept our road fund for three consecutive years in a row, leaving us no money,” said State Sen. Carole Pankau (R-23). “We have no money to match the federal program.”

If the state cannot come up with the funds to cover the remaining 20 percent, the money will then be doled out to other states.

“Other states are sitting there looking at Illinois, licking their chops because they’re going to get the money,” Biggert said. “This is a tragedy for Illinois.”

As for government spending, the panel agreed that money for education and health care has been misappropriated through the actions of the leaders in Springfield. In addition, Illinois ranks 48th in the nation in job creation and economic development over the past six years.

“If we had a more vibrant economy, we certainly wouldn’t have some of the budget problems we have today,” said State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-24).

Despite these budget issues, the state continues to spend billions of dollars each year, noted Dillard. State funds have risen by $6 billion since Gov. Rod Blagojevich took office in 2003, yet Illinois has the largest budget imbalance, $750,000, of any state in America.

“We need to stop funding new programs until we get our budget deficit in order,” Dillard said. “We need to make sure these programs have both an income limit and we need to limit (the program’s recipients) to Illinois residents only, especially since we can’t pay our bills.”

Upcoming tax increases proposed on both the state and federal level are also a major concern. The marriage penalty will soon be back, stated Biggert, along with increased rates on ordinary income, capital gains, dividends and the alternative minimum tax.

“We can’t afford to weigh down our economy with more tax increases,” said Biggert. “American consumers need more buying and borrowing power, not less. We must extend the 2003 tax cuts.”

State Sen. Dan Cronin (R-21) spoke on what he called “the misguided spending” of the state government.

“There’s been no fiscal restraint (by leadership in Springfield) and there really doesn’t seem to be any type of common ground or shared vision about where we’re going as a state,” Cronin said.

He pointed out the $7.5 billion tax increase proposed by Sen. John Cullerton (D-6) that is being represented as a way to fund education.

“A very small percentage of that money, less than $1.8 billion, will go to education,” said Cronin. “The overwhelming majority will go to fund the functions of government.”