Rockford Sun

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) has picked up the endorsement of the Rockford Register Star editorial board in her Republican primary run against Gov. Bruce Rauner.

With voters scheduled to go to the polls on March 20, the newspaper saluted Ives as having the legislative experience and political savviness to get things done in Springfield.

“Opponents play up her very conservative stance on social issues, but Ives stresses that she has been – and will be – first and foremost a taxpayer advocate,” the board noted. “If you really want to shake up Springfield, Ives is your candidate.”

Illinois State House Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton)

While Rauner has insisted he needs another term to enact all the reforms he has in mind for Illinois, Ives has stressed things are now so dire in the cash-strapped state that change in Springfield has to come now or, at the very least, the principles for it have to be put in place.

“Ives is realistic and understands that Illinois can’t be turned around overnight,” the board noted. “She said it could take five to 10 years to get Illinois’ fiscal house in order, but the steps to do so must begin quickly.”

Indeed, time is of the essence with a recent Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University poll showing that 84 percent of respondents agree that the state is now on the wrong path. Much of that vibe stems from the state’s lack of fiscal stability, with Illinois' crippling pension system debt accounting for most of the trouble.

“Ives advocates a constitutional amendment to allow changes in state and local government pensions,” the Register Star added. “That would be difficult to approve, but it might be the only way to keep pension costs – now about 25 percent – from gobbling up the entire state budget.”

The paper's board noted that education reform and remaining true to all of her political positions, in general, are also priorities for Ives, with the final impetus for her to run coming after Rauner reneged on his promise to not sign abortion expansion House Bill 40 into law.

“Who lies to a priest?” Ives said back then after it was reported that Rauner had gone as far as to tell Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich he planned to veto the bill. "Rauner’s a habitual liar.”

The Register Star concluded enough is enough and something has to give for the good of the state as a whole. "Rauner has had his chance,” the board said in its editorial. “Republicans should give Jeanne Ives an opportunity by voting for her March 20.”