What A Constitutional Convention Could Do
Here are three examples of things a constitutional convention might be able to accomplish:
Restructure our tax system. Poor and moderate-income people in Illinois actually pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes in Illinois than those with higher incomes, and corporations pay among the lowest corporate taxes in the nation. There is also an increasingly unhealthy dependence on property taxes, sales taxes, casino/lottery revenue in Illinois that is both inequitable and counterproductive. The delegates to a Constitutional Convention could address these issues in a fair and effective manner, without having to bow to the paid lobbyists.
Reorder our funding priorities. A Constitutional Convention would allow us to insist that certain priorities—including health care, education, public transportation, and public employee pensions—be funded by elected state officials before the legislature is allowed to spend money on legislative perks, corporate subsidies and “pork” projects.
Restrict the ability of public officials to assure their own reelection and control the election of others. A Constitutional Convention could limit the terms of some elected or appointed public officials, allow for the merit selection of judges, and reform our campaign contribution practices, which are among the worst in the nation.
There are other issues a constitutional convention might address. It would be up to the delegates who were elected. Remember, however, that whatever they propose would have to be put to a vote in any case.