Releasing its fourth US Senate Candidate Spending Analysis in the last week, the NTU Foundation highlighted the Illinois Senate race between Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk. NTUF found the difference in planned spending by both candidates to be as large as $75.3 billion. The line-by-line cost studies were compiled by consulting campaign statements, transcripts of debates, and news sources. The candidates’ own words were used as bases to link corresponding cost estimates found in both Third Party reports and NTUF’s Billtally Project database.
Alexi Giannoulias, currently serving as the state Treasurer of Illinois, would increase federal spending by $76.278 billion. Giannoulias proposed 55 policy items that would affect federal expenditures -- 23 would increase spending, two would cut outlays, and 30 were impossible to accurately score for either cost or savings. His two savings proposals included momentarily canceling increases in lawmakers’ pay and repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” policy. However, a recent court ruling on the military policy may preclude the issue before the 112th Congress convenes. Both policies, if enacted, would save $39 million.
Mark Kirk, currently serving as Illinois’s 10th Congressional District Congressman, would increase federal spending by $734 million. Of his 28 proposals affecting federal spending, nine would raise costs, one would lower them, and 18 were impossible to score at this time. Kirk’s single savings item was medical liability reform, which would cut spending by $2.575 billion.
NTUF has already released campaign spending studies on the California, Florida, and Pennsylvanian Senate races. Additional contentious races are currently being considered for analysis before the November 2nd general election. A report on Colorado’s Senate race will be released later this week.