The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor said he and Neil Hartigan promise to streamline Illinois’ wasteful tax spending.

Democratic candidate Jim Burns said in a Northern Star interview Thursday that if he and Attorney General Neil Hartigan are elected, they will begin by spending existing Illinois taxes more efficiently.

The bureaucracy under Gov. James Thompson’s administration has grown too large, he said.

“Would you dare go to the public with what they’ve seen and ask for new taxes?” Burns said.

He and Hartigan would not rule out tax increases down the line if elected, but only after it was demonstrated that current revenues were being spent efficiently, he said.

Hartigan has not yet decided if he will support the extension of the portion of Illinois’ income tax surcharge going to public education, Burns said. Hartigan has already opposed extension of the portion going to municipalities, he said.

“(Hartigan) expected to see substantial portions of those monies for tax relief,” but opposed it when he discovered only six percent being used for that purpose, he said.

Burns criticized Hartigan’s opponent Republican Jim Edgar for saying he is against tax increases while supporting the full surcharge’s extension. “Sixteen days after (the bill) was passed he said he wanted it to be permanent,” Burns said.

A recent Chicago Tribune poll showed 60 percent of Illinois voters support the extension of the surcharge if the money goes only to public schools.

Burns admitted that his lack of experience in an elected office might require a learning process about dealing with the General Assembly. He knows the law, though, and is a fast learner, he said.

Burns said he favors having the state do more to crack down on drug users. He supports community action rather than state laws because he feels this is a more effective way of combatting drug use, he said.