Dillard’s nuanced tax stance
Friday, Feb 7, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Most folks in the media have so far interpreted Sen. Kirk Dillard’s views on the “temporary” income tax hike as far less nuanced than it actually is. For instance, this is from Dillard’s campaign website…
“I did not vote for that bill (increasing the tax from 3 to 5 percent), which was brought up in the middle of the night on the last day. The Democrats said they were going to use the funds to pay off old bills. That didn’t happen.”
We should roll back the income tax.”
If elected, would appoint a blue ribbon committee of business leaders, farmers and taxpayer advocates to rewrite the Illinois tax code, which he calls archaic. Would have very few politicians on the committee.
Does not take “no new taxes” pledges because he wants to keep his options open, but opposes the planned progressive income tax, “which would be nothing but a massive tax increase.” [Emphasis added.]
* Ben Yount reported Dillard saying this last July…
Kirk Dillard is flying around Illinois, announcing his run for governor by loudly proclaiming that he will not raise taxes if elected.
But the suburban Republican state senator is admitting quietly that he may not roll back Illinois’ 67-percent income tax increase from 2011.
“I said I’m not going to sign an increase in the income tax,” Dillard explained Monday at his campaign stop in Decatur. “Everything is going to be on the table.”
* From last November…
“The Senate Republican caucus has a plan that shows you how you phase out that tax. It lays out a menu of options,” [Dillard] said.
* This week…
Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Kirk Dillard on Thursday held out the option of a short-term extension of the temporary income tax hike as he works for an overhaul of the state’s tax structure.
Speaking to The State Journal-Register editorial board, Dillard made it clear he wants the tax hike to expire and pledged it would during his term as governor if elected.
However, with the bulk of the tax set to expire at the end of the year and no clear indication of what lawmakers will do about it, Dillard said a short-term extension might be an option.
“You could do something on a temporary basis while you wait for the (tax overhaul report),” Dillard said. “You can let it go and see how big your budget hole gets, or you can keep it for another six months.”
* And, of course, he also said earlier in the week…
Dillard also left the door open for the potential broaden the sales tax [to include services]. “Everything needs to be looked at,” said Dillard
Discuss.
- walker - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 9:56 am:
Good for Dillard. He’s a realist who can add and subtract.
- veritas - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:02 am:
His comments are quite understandable to me - particularly compared to Rauner who either flip flops several times on the minimum wage issue or does the standard, “I’ll get back to you later with details.” Oh and the other one, “I don’t know anything about that.”
- Samurai - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:02 am:
Not an economic expert, but it seem to me the fiscal policy of taxing and spending has to related to where the economy is at any given point. Dillard has been a fiscal conservative his entire career. IMHO only a fool would commit unequivocally to a particular fiscal policy. The economic climate in 2005 was not that of 2008 which is not that of 2014. Dillard is doing the right thing.
- Downstater - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:03 am:
Tap dancing on the head of pin to try and answer a basic question about lowering or reducing taxes, but instead throws out the idea of additional taxes. No thanks.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:05 am:
Dillard realizing that if taxes were rolled back, not such a good idea. “Everything needs to be looked at”, aka where is the money come from.
I also like the King of the Forest comment by Dillard, referring to Quinn. Really never heard that type of verbiage before.
- vole - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:15 am:
His “blue ribbon committee” prescription sounds more like a red ribbon committee to me. Not exactly a profile in courage.
- CicrcularFiringSquad - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:20 am:
Hey the ReBooters have some analysis up that basically sez all the GOPies are doing the ropa-dope on the tax hike right now. Even Mitt Rauner
That should drive the wing nuts toward the brink.
THe better question is when will the media darlings start asking Mitt and “The 3″ about program cuts and local tax hikes needed when the tempt tax goes bye bye.
It is not a tough question. Heck one could even ask NoTaxBill how IL would have survived his 2010 through now budgets without the temp tax?
- Cassandra - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:33 am:
A temporary extension of Quinn’s tax increase sounds like the best political tack for both candidates in the general. Folks are already paying it, no massive cuts and attendant doomdsday talk, unrealistic promises of later cuts, what’s not to like.
Still, does it matter what Dillard thinks. In the wake of Rutherford’s recent difficulties, I’ll be interested in what Rauner thinks. I’d bet no rash promises of immediate tax relief but who knows.
- A guy... - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:35 am:
Clear as mud. Not really nuanced at all. Just the work product of a mind and campaign in complete disarray.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:35 am:
Mr. Dillard knows we are taxed enough already.
He also knows government operations.
I am more comfortable with Mr. Dillard regarding taxes, based on his experience and his actions, than I am on a ignoramus spouting anti-tax slogans.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:44 am:
Nuance? In politics?
How am I supposed to fit all that into a sound bite, lol?
Good for Dillard for thinking things through. That’s the “old” Dillard we were beginning to think had disappeared a couple of months ago.
- Samurai - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:47 am:
==
I’ll be interested in what Rauner thinks. I’d bet no rash promises of immediate tax relief but who knows==
Abolish the tax on passive income. The trickle down will simply be amazing.
- Mason born - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:48 am:
At least Dillard appears to have actually thought about it. Versus spouting off whatever his poll advisors spout off. The real question is for Rauner to explain where he will cut within the law.
- cicero - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 10:58 am:
Apparently even Republicans aren’t prepared to slash spending by $4B in their first full FY. They know downstate Republican areas would be hurting under the doomsday budget. Madigan is betting the next governor will ask for some hike in taxes and provide some GOP votes to do it so Dems don’t have to do all the lifting.
- AnonymousOne - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:01 am:
Psycho babble. Whining about the deficits, lack of revenue, but let’s cut the tax rate and collect LESS. Proponents of rolling back the tax rate need to finely detail exactly what/where they will cut in order to pay bills. It’s great to say no taxes, but no one wants to speak clearly about who’s going to be hurt when there’s less coming in and get the feedback on THAT matter.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:05 am:
Maybe the winner can take a look at what Dillard is thinking and incorporate that into their platform. No one is gonna see this otherwise.
- PhoenixRising - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:25 am:
A very good route for Dillard. Good thought and planning—We will be hearing more from the Senate
Republicans on a gradual phase out of the tax increase and other options to bring in revenue.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:26 am:
@AnonymousOne - I take it you include Speaker Madigan in that group following his recent proposal to cut corporate taxes?
- Ghost - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:18 pm:
Just have dillard submit a proposed budget for next year based on getting rid of the current tax hike.
A blue ribbon panel wont produce anything for years; they have to meet, draft something, hammer that out until it is in a bill fromt. renegotiate over the proposed bill. pass the bill etc etc. Meanwhile what will he cut to keep the state running? The personnel budget is 3 billion give or take. if you lose 1.5 billion are we going to half the work force to 22k? and if you half the work force that means all those income producing positions go away to so even greaters losses are incrurred….
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:34 pm:
Politics isn’t so much ‘the art of the possible’, a lofty and sadly, badly outdated cliche. Politics is saying whatever you think will bring in money, which will help ( maybe ) get you elected. When is the last time you felt truly confident in the honesty of a politician (aside from local)
- Johnnie F. - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
Rauner’s solution will be to tax the pensions of retired government union bosses, retired democratic legislators and 1/3 of retired republican legislators…..thats where the real money is.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
I can’t quite figure out the play here.
Madigan called for cutting the corporate income tax. With that in play, as has been pointed out by others, that makes a vote to extend the personal income tax increase way tougher.
Without a vote by the GA and the signature of a governor, those increases will expire.
- Demoralized - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:19 pm:
Listening to Kirk Dillard during this campaign has been a little like taking a leisurely drive in the country. You are never quite certain where the road is going to take you . . .
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:55 pm:
Just more of the same ‘ol Kirk, renewing his Membership in the “Flip-Floppin’ Wishy-Washy Club,” Illinois Chapter. After awhile, it just has to make you stop and HONESTLY WONDER–since he’s SO difficult to decipher where he actually, explicitly STANDS sometimes on many issues of importance: just what WOULD he do, and be like, as Governor?! Personally, I fear he’d be all over the Board so often that he’d drive me CRAzy…!