* Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka reacted to Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address this week…
“I thought it was a pretty good speech, and I give the guy credit for taking on the really hard issues that have to be dealt with,’ Topinka said.
She said she’d like to see the tax increase phased out more gradually rather than have a large part of it disappear at once, which could trigger budget problems.
* State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s reaction…
“I appreciate the fact that Governor Quinn is putting several options on the table for solving the state’s fiscal crisis. This is an approach I have long supported. I don’t want the income tax hike to stay, but it needs to be part of the discussion and not the only solution.
“I think state leaders should look to further reduce spending as I have in the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. Through the years, I have been able to find ways to cut 10 percent from my budget. I also believe we need to focus on making Illinois more business friendly. ”
By the way, this is slightly off topic but Rutherford spokesperson Catie Sheehan, a former Downstate TV reporter, is leaving the office for a big job with the Mac Strategies Group on April 1st. That firm has made some big “gets” lately, including former Emanuel campaign manager Tom Bowen and former IRMA honcho Dave Vite.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:03 pm:
=== “I thought it was a pretty good speech, and I give the guy credit for taking on the really hard issues that have to be dealt with,’ Topinka said. ===
This is why we love Judy. Something other than blindly spouting party-line talking points.
I try picturing Sheila Simon doing the same after a Republican budget speech, and can no longer do so. Once upon a time maybe, perhaps before we knew her as well as we do now, but not any more.
- Soccermom - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
Dear Mac Strategies,
…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:12 pm:
Couldn’t agree more with Comptroller Topinka on a few fronts;
“Phase out” would be my first choice too, and got to give credit to Quinn for taking on this tough issue.
Adults understand all that is at play here. Refreshing to read.
- ChicagoR - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:17 pm:
If I were Rutherford, I’m not sure I’d want to remind everyone right now of all the measures taken in recent years to reduce costs in my office. It conjures up images of shared hotel rooms and “office retreats” at home.
- PublicServant - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
Two top Repubs…who don’t get to vote on the proposal…just sayin. So, so what?
- DuPage - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
Rutherford who? Oh, him. Almost forgotten about already.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:23 pm:
Soccermom, I’m pretty sure Catie had nothing to do with that Chicago presser. She wasn’t even working that day. I know that because I reached out to her and she was outta the loop.
- Dee Lay - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:45 pm:
” I know that because I reached out to her and she was outta the loop”
Isn’t that even more damning for a spokesperson?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 12:49 pm:
===Isn’t that even more damning for a spokesperson?===
Maybe keeping her out of it was, in part, because she may not agree on the strategy?
Rutherford may have gone totally solo for all we know. Rich clarified for me only one who can take no blame…
- shore - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
The Republican party won’t miss JBT or that quickly fading era of our parties leadership. The second dillard loss highlights what I said before the election and what some in the chicago media are waking up to which is that the party has moved on from the edgar generation and hopefully can now focus on leaders who are fresh and not tied in the minds of partisans to a past we’d like to forget as much as this winter.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
- Shore -,
Who are the fresh faces you speak? You don’t think, arguably, the most popular Republican in Illinois is someone who would not be missed?
Whomever may follow a Comptroller Topinka in the future, I hope has some of the qualities I see Ms. Topinka show when leadership and adult understanding in governing is needed most.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 1:25 pm:
I think it was nice of Judy to show any support for Pat Quinn. After what he and his running mate Rod Blagojevich did to portray her as a corrupt George Ryan lackey during her 2006 campaign for governor, it shows a lot of maturity that Judy wouldn’t give Pat Quinn anything other than her middle finger.
Judy is personally aware of how “honest” Pat Quinn is in reality, as do most of us stilted political hounds used to disingenuous Pat Quinn politics.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
===After what he and his running mate Rod Blagojevich did to portray her as a corrupt George Ryan lackey during her 2006 campaign for governor, it shows a lot of maturity…===
Agree with this.
The reality of governing is coming to the mature reality of what is best for the governed, and understanding the times when partisanship and reality are at odds.
- Walker - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 2:50 pm:
The reason these are smarter comments than most, is that they both understand the state budget. Rauner and most critics do not.
- Downstater - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 2:53 pm:
The phase out would be the best and most sound fiscal approach. Don’t think the Democrats want this, since it takes away their historical rhetoric about catastrophic cuts and takes the sales out of their argument for a progressive tax or surtax. Judy Topinka made a reasonable response. Looking forward to some top Democrats reasonable response.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 28, 14 @ 3:04 pm:
Shouldn’t Joe Walsh be Tweeting that Judy isn’t a Republican by now?