VIDEOS: Nekritz, Greenberg Discuss Gambling, Pension Reform

State Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) and Republican challenger Jonathan Greenberg, who will face off in the 57th District race this fall, discussed their qualifications and answered questions at a June 5 forum in Buffalo Grove.

Their full responses to questions on the following topics can be heard in the videos attached at right.

On pension reform

Both candidates acknowledged that the state's inability to cover pensions is a problem. Illinois has "$600 billion in accrued liability and $70 billion to pay for it," Greenberg noted.

Nekritz: “I feel we were very, very close to getting a solution, so I believe we can get there.  … What’s been happening is because the entity is setting the wages and benefits and sends the bill to the state, that the incentives are bad. We need to figure out a way to create the appropriate incentives so that the entire cost of that wages and benefits package is taken into consideration rather than saying, ‘We’re just going to shift the bill to the state of Illinois and they’ll pay whatever it is.’ That’s a big part of what’s gotten us into the problem that we have. That policy alignment is, I think, a really important component of this in order to make it successful.

Greenberg: “The reason we’re in this mess is years and years of choices made by politicians in Springfield to chronically underfund our pensions. “I believe we need to move to a 401K system … It’s the only way to control the costs, it’s the only way to pay down the unfunded portion of our liability … We are in a massive hold. Nibbling around the edges will not work anymore. Patting ourselves for trying really hard in Springfield will not work anymore.”

On slots at race tracks

Nekritz: "I don’t believe that government should be relying on gaming as a source of revenue. That’s not my preferred way of funding government, and in an ideal world, I would not support that. That being said, I recognize that a park and the other race tracks around are struggling and that other states all of the surrounding states that have horse tracks, have found a way to use their casino revenue to support the horse racing industry. So I’m open to considering that."

Greenberg: “I want to do what’s best for Arlington [Park]. Arlington is a local business for us. I want Arlington to do well.

“Ultimately, gaming is a regressive tax. You’re raising revenue essentially from people who can’t afford it. The same thing can be said of the lottery. It’s not only not a good way to fund government, it’s kind of an immoral way to fund government. If we’re expanding gambling to fund government, I don’t like it. I’ll probably vote for it anyway, because, again, I’m a libertarian. If you want to gamble, gamble. But as a source of raising revenue, I think it’s backward, I think it’s regressive, I think it should be resisted as a source of raising revenue."

On leadership

The candidates discussed their approaches to elected office in their closing remarks.

Nekritz: “To me, one of the most important things one can do as a legislator is to listen. Listen to constituents, listen to those who are stakeholders in an issue, and try to bring people together to try to forge a compromise … It’s clear that in this day and age that what we need is solutions, not dogma.”

Greenberg: “I believe compromise is absolutely vital … but I also believe leadership is important … You’re always going to hear from me where I think we should go. That’s not the same thing as not being willing to compromise. It’s not the same thing as thinking that I know all the answers. But it is leadership."

Previously on Patch: