Illinois State workers, contractors used for tax plan boost

The AP reports:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich used state economic development programs to target businesses that had received government grants and would support his plan to increase taxes on larger companies.

State-funded "entrepreneurship centers" were asked to contact businesses and recruit them for Blagojevich's tour this week touting his proposal, according to interviews and documents obtained by the Associated Press.

And regional managers for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity were instructed to contact area businesses to gauge support. To ensure they said the right things, managers were given a script that outlines the plan, which calls for $8.6 billion in business taxes to help schools and make health insurance available to everyone.

The plan has been widely criticized by the state's business leaders, who argue it could result in job cuts and higher prices.

"It looks like your business will be able to benefit from our health care and tax reform plans. ... Would you be willing to join us for a business round-table meeting?" the callers were told to say.

What better proof than this that the state is a criminal gang?