Lake County Gazette

Ken Idstein stands as a shining example to lawmakers who might be thinking of ways to make good on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s push to enact a full and balanced budget.

“The governor and all legislators should always strive to pass a balanced budget,” Idstein told the Lake County Gazette. "Working together as a team – across the aisle – can accomplish this goal.”

Idstein, a Grayslake Republican, recently hired Adam Solano, his Republican primary challenger, as treasurer of his November campaign against Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District.

Grayslake Republican Ken Idstein, running for the 62nd District Illinois State House

“We respected each other during our primary race, kept it clean and committed to work together after the primary to our common goal of the House District 62 seat,” Idstein said.

Rauner, whose plan also calls for lawmakers to enact a full-year fiscal 2019 budget before July 1 that adheres to a revenue estimate instead of a partial spending plan that would only carry the state through November’s general election, can only hope for such solidarity.

Running against Democrat J.B. Pritzker in November, Rauner has also pressed lawmakers to present him with a bill that seeks to save taxpayers as much as $1 billion in annual pension costs prior to the end of the spring legislative session on May 31.

Meanwhile, Idstein joins the likes of Republican House Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) in throwing his support behind Rauner's plan.

“This will be a very positive event in moving Illinois in the right direction,” he said.

As it is, Illinois’ $130 billion in unfunded pension liability and a two-year stretch where the state was forced to operate without a balanced budget in place has pushed the state’s credit ratings to just a shade above junk status.

Turning to his own campaign, Idstein said he is still putting things in order for November’s run.

“We’re continuing to set up the structure of the campaign and committee, aggressively looking for office space,” he said.

The 62nd House District includes parts of Grayslake, the Round Lake communities, Hainesville, Wauconda and Gurnee.