Survey: Kosel's Constituents Want Gun Control, Income Tax Repeal
Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) issued a nine-question survey in January that covered a wide range of issues, including job creation, income taxes, schools and more. Kosel said she'll use the feedback to "represent the district effectively."
Many Lincoln-Way area residents want more gun control, a repeal of last year's income tax hike and marijuana to remain illegal, at least according to a survey administered by Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox).
Kosel issued a nine-question survey in January that covered a wide range of issues, including job creation, income taxes, schools and more. Kosel said she'll use the feedback to "represent the district effectively."
“Hearing directly from my constituents on the issues that matter most to them and their family is an invaluable resource for me,” Kosel said in a news release.
Kosel said hundreds of constituents responded to the survey, and she noted that the tallies were not done scientifically and only reflect the opinions of those who participated in the survey.
Here are the results:
1. What issue is most important to you?
- Jobs/economy: 22.2 percent
- Pensions: 21.4 percent
- Taxes 11.7 percent
- Balance state budget/unpaid bills: 9 percent
- Spending/fiscal responsibility: 5 percent
- Political corruption: 4 percent
- Other: 24 percent
2. Do you support repeal of the 66% income tax rate increase enacted in January 2011?
- Yes: 56.8 percent
- No: 29.3 percent
- Undecided: 13.9 percent
3. What do you think would be the most effective way to stimulate job growth in Illinois?
- Tax incentives for employers: 27.4 percent
- Lower taxes: 18.6 percent
- Less government regulation: 8.5 percent
- Capital/infrastructure investment: 5.5 percent
- Support small business: 5 percent
- Fiscal accountability: 3.5 percent
- Workers comp reform: 1.5 percent
- Other: 30 percent
4. In regards to the expansion of gambling in Illinois, do you think Illinois should:
- Create additional casinos: 45.5 percent
- Slots at racetracks and/or at major airports: 9 percent
- New casinos AND slots at racetracks/airports: 2 percent
- None of the Above: 34.5 percent
- Undecided: 9 percent
5. With respect to gun issues, do you believe we need more gun control, less gun control, or are current gun laws adequate?
- More gun control: 49.4 percent
- Less gun control: 38 percent
- Current gun laws are adequate: 12.6 percent
- More strict enforcement of gun crime sentencing provisions: 0 percent
6. Should the state legalize marijuana?
- Yes: 39.3 percent
- No: 44.9 percent
- Undecided: 15.8 percent
7. Do you believe Illinois should consider consolidating school districts?
- Yes: 41.5 percent
- No: 41.5 percent
- Undecided: 17 percent
8. Do you believe township governments should be consolidated?
- Yes: 48.5 percent
- No: 35.5 percent
- Undecided: 16 percent
9. Do you support investment in constructing a high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis?
- Yes: 35 percent
- No: 52 percent
- Undecided: 13 percent
You can contact Kosel's district office by calling 708-479-4200 or emailing rkosel@ilga.gov.
CCW
8:18 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Visit any gun store in Will county and see if people want more gun control. Gun sales are going ballistic right now so what gives? I guess the only people who answered this poll are the liberals who moved down here from Chicago...and brought all their bad habits with them.
Susan
8:56 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
You can say that again! Kosel will be making a big mistake if she proceeds with gun control. She should be pushing for concealed carry. Less government- more freedom.
Charles F. Parks
2:53 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
I totally agree. Some of these stupid polititions don't realize that it's not the people that own guns legally that we have to worry about. The bad guys that carry guns illegally are the ones they need to stop, and you do that with cracking down on anyone that carries a gun without the proper permit or license. We need stiffer sentences for those people. It's so stupid that I can travel to FL. and as soon as I cross into IN. (and every state between there and FL.) my concealed weapons permit (from the state of FL.) is recognized all the way down. To get that permit I had to go to school and pass the tests for proper use of the weapon, and I was given proper instructions for using it. It should be that way in IL., also. Stop the bad guys, or give us the right to protect ourselves.
Tony
9:37 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
We need more gun control to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, so far all gun control measures are taken against the law abiding citizens. There needs to be some laws about the type of weapons that people can buy, some of these should be by permit only for gun collectors.No average person needs a 100 shot machine gun that you can carry in your pocket.
CCW
10:45 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Tony, sorry but machine guns are banned in Illinois and highly regulated in other states. There are no guns like you describe. We don't need gun control to keep guns away from criminals, we need to stop letting criminals go with a slap on the wrist. The key phrase you used was "law-abiding citizens", thats what most gun owners are. We are tired of being demonized for exercising our Second Amendment Rights. No one but a criminal has anything to fear from a law-abiding citizen with a gun. How is it that 49 other states have no problem with allowing their citizens to carry guns, but Illinois deems us too stupid and childlike to be allowed to defend ourselves? What makes us different? Are the other 49 wrong?
Eleanor Wiegand
9:21 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
BRW: Some one or sometimes 2 or 3 people are shot every night in Chicago alone. Many more in the whole state. Yeah--lets let everyone carry a gun.
alski
7:25 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
At any rate it looks like...let's see. at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, people won't be voting for her.
alski
7:28 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
and only 4% consider political corruption an important issue!!?? Do any of these people live in Illinois??
alski
7:27 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
I wonder if "gun reform" and "gun control" kinda fell under the same category when the votes were being tallied?
Melissa
8:18 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
As usual, the numbers are being misrepresented. If you look at the real numbers, the majority of responders (50.6% if you add the votes for increased and satisfied with current laws together) DON'T want increased gun control. If you are gonna run it in the headline make sure it's accurate!
CCW
2:44 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Its a shame that so many people chimed in about who has the best pizza but no one really seems to care about which direction our state and country is going.
nick
6:48 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Check out gun news at the Illinois State Rifle Association site:
http://isra.org/
Russ
10:20 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Unless I am reading the tote board wrong, Renee did vote in favor of concealed carry last year.
R.W.Voter
1:30 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Those 2 or 3 shot in chicago and maybe many more in the state Eleanor were shot with illegal guns. Have never investigated wrongdoing by a legal gun owner. If you don't want one, you don't have to have one. Simple, but if you look at the sales figures in the area on gun sales, a whole lot of people feel safer in this state owning a firearm. And They are Safer.
D Tanner
9:30 am on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Eleanor Wiegand
Those shootings will likely go down when thugs who mug rape kill etc have to think twice that the girl jogging,guy driving the car they want to carjack etc may be able to protect themselves now. sure there is cases when a gun owner who legally conceals still gets shot mugged rapped etc but at least you have a fighting chance. for example which house do you think would get robbed one that could have a alarm system or one that for sure doesn't have a alarm.
CCW
12:55 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Eleanors reponse is typical of the uniformed. I guess some people just can't believe that the gun crime in Shi@cago is caused by illegal guns. Okay, I'll tell you all a secret...all of the legal gun owners go up to the city each night and shoot people just for kicks because paper targets are so boring. Some nights we all can't make it so there are less killings on that day. THERE, our secret is out. Its not the gangs or anything, we are doing it..the law-abiding, legally registered gun owners are the culprits...Are you happy now Eleanor?
Don Petersen
11:49 am on Thursday, March 15, 2012
I love questions like the one on gun control. If you asked the majority of the respondents "what the gun laws are now?", they have no idea! They equate the gang bangers in Chicago and the target shooters in Kankakee as "Gun Owners". Talk about your "low involvement" voters!
But then again this is the same brain trust that elected Blago twice and would probably vote for him again if Madigan put him on the ballot tomorrow.