Both major party candidates for governor of Illinois have pledged to not raise taxes during the next administration. It is high time politicians were forced to live up to their campaign promises. Politicians should be made to post a performance bond for their promises, just as contractors do to back up their performance promises. Make the politicians back up their campaign promises with their own money.
For taxes, politicians should be asked to post a $1 million bond, to be forfeited to charity if they increase taxes. If Jim Ryan or Rod Blagojevich refuses to post the bond, refuses to put their money where his mouth is, we voters know what his no-tax-increase pledge is worth–nothing. And if they post the bond and later raise taxes anyway, at least this way they’ll pay a penalty.
