Mar 20, 2007 7:37 pm US/Central
Gov.: Budget Puts Me 'On The Side Of The Lord'
Dozens Of Ministers Throw Support Behind Blagojevich Budget Plan
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Gov. Rod Blagojevich (File)
CBS
The governor says he has heavenly help as he pushes for the largest increase in taxes and spending in the history of Illinois.
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is "on the side of the Lord."
The governor called his campaign a "crusade," declaring that, as he sees it, he is on the side of God in offering Illinoisans more access to medical insurance and better schools.
Tuesday's political appearance even began with a prayer.
Surrounded by about a dozen Christian ministers at the South Side's Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, the governor was once again trying to build political support for his proposals by invoking religion.
"When we get sworn into office, do you know what we do?" Blagojevich said to the crowd. "We put our hand on the Holy Bible and we swear under God that we are going to do our duty for the people. And that's what this fight is really all about – tax fairness to fund our schools and to give everyone the chance to live the American dream.
"This is more than a fight in Springfield. This is a crusade," he said.
The governor knows that key parts of his plan face big trouble in the General Assembly.
House Speaker Mike Madigan, unhappy with Blagojevich's proposed gross receipts tax on business, Tuesday pushed an alternative through committee: a 60 percent increase in the state income tax to provide more money for schools while also reducing property taxes.
Some of the ministers with Blagojevich, though, agreed with the governor that this is not a normal dispute about taxes and policy, but an issue of fundamental morality.
"This is Armageddon, and we are on the side of the Lord," Blagojevich said.
The budget would include the biggest tax increase in Illinois history to pay for health care and education. Under the plan, a new tax on business transactions would bring in an estimated $6 billion.
One speaker at the South Side event -- the Rev. Stephen Thurston -- says the governor's plan to give all Illinois residents access to health insurance should be a model to the nation.
"The governor is on God's side," said Bishop Robert Sanders of New First Church of God.
Those against the governor's proposal, Sanders said, are ignorant so "they wouldn't know if there was a God."
There are local religious leaders who see things differently.
"I would be careful that the governor or others say that in this specific tax plan God is the co-signer because in looking at the tax plan, it's one of several good plans out there," said Rev. Phil Blackwell of First United Methodist Church.
Blackwell added that he salutes the governor's goals on improving access to medical insurance and to better schools.
The house committee in Springfield held a hearing Tuesday on Madigan's proposal to increase the personal income tax by 66 percent, but the committee did not vote before it adjourned.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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