In his column today, the Tribune's Eric Zorn digs into Rod Blagojevich's theory -- espoused on WLS yesterday -- that Gov. Pat Quinn has entered a "corrupt bargain" with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullterton. I'm more interested in Blagojevich's ongoing allegation that Quinn's proposed budget breaks a "promise" he made during the 2002 and 2006 campaigns not to raise the income tax. After all, these are the sorts of claims that often find their way into attack ads. Have a listen:
BLAGOJEVICH: I kept the promise I made in two elections not to raise the income tax on people. ... I asked our new governor -- Gov. Quinn -- to keep the promise we both made when we ran as a ticket. I kept it for six years. Unfortunately, it took him less than six weeks to break that promise.
As the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate in both 2002 and 2006, Quinn certainly supported Blagojevich in the general election and campaigned with him along the way. But did he ever endorse Blagojevich's pledge not to raise the income tax?
We can't find any evidence he did. And it seems pretty unlikely, considering that, then-Lt. Gov. Quinn spearheaded a constitutional amendment in 2004 seeking to raise the income tax on those making more than $250,000 (which Blagojevich opposed).
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