We disagree with Republican Peter Breen on more than a few issues. When it comes to abortion rights, most notably, he is staunchly and quite actively pro-life while this editorial page is strongly pro-choice.
But Illinois faces a host of problems, from ballooning pension fund debt to oppressive property taxes to an exodus of residents, on which Breen has worked with Democrats in an honest attempt to solve. We endorse Breen, an attorney from Lombard, for a third term.
Breen is among those suburban GOP legislators who now back tougher gun restrictions, having listened to their constituents. He supported the gun dealer licensing bill that Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed, and worked with Democratic Rep. Kathleen Willis of Addison on the Firearms Restraining Order Act, which allows guns to be seized from people deemed to be dangers to themselves or others.
Breen also voted for the school funding reform bill that should, in time, make Illinois education funding more equitable. Yes, he voted for the legislation only after lawmakers included a tax credit scholarship program for private schools, a bill sweetener to which we objected. But that’s how politics work — you give to get.
Breen’s Democratic challenger, attorney Terra Costa Howard of Glen Ellyn, a former president of the District 41 School Board, says she would have voted ‘no’ on the bill.
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SUN-TIMES 2018 ILLINOIS VOTING GUIDE
Ahead of the historic 2018 elections, the Sun-Times is teaming up weekly with the Better Government Association, in print and online, to fact-check the truthfulness of the candidates. You can find all of the PolitiFact Illinois stories we’ve reported together here.
RELATED
* Illinois House 48th District Republican nominee: Peter Breen
• Illinois House 48th District Democratic nominee: Terra Costa Howard
• Endorsements for 16 Illinois House races in the Chicago area, Districts 15 through 50
• Endorsements for 17 Illinois House races in the Chicago area, Districts 51 through 98
