Ill. gov candidate promises to create jobs by capping spending while still improving service

Ill. gov candidate: Cap spending, upgrade service

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Republican Kirk Dillard promised Wednesday to create more jobs if he’s elected governor by capping spending while improving Illinois schools, upgrading the state’s infrastructure and offering tax breaks to help businesses.

Illinois should also try to attract financial-service companies and businesses developing “green” technology, he said. Like other gubernatorial candidates, Dillard said he would use the brainpower at Illinois universities to work with businesses on new ideas and technology, and would back that with state aid.

“I don’t ever want to hear about the next Netscape or some other ‘dot-com’ company being invented in Illinois but taken to another state because someone didn’t know where to get the funding,” Dillard said in a statement.

Dillard, a veteran state senator from Hinsdale, said Illinois’ budget problems are driving jobs away, partly because businesses don’t know whether they’ll soon be forced to pay higher taxes and fees.

He promised to freeze state spending at current levels “for the foreseeable future.”

His campaign did not immediately respond to questions about how Dillard could freeze spending while also accomplishing his goals for schools, infrastructure and tax breaks — including what he called “the nation’s most aggressive tax credit for research.”

Dillard also has promised to eliminate unnecessary business fees and regulations, create a jobs task force that includes both business and labor, and hold a summit on venture capital.