The HDem super majority myth
Thursday, May 21, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Perhaps the least surprising “news” item of the day…
State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he can’t get behind a bill that may be called for a vote on the House floor on Thursday that would tax individuals who make more than $1 million a year.
“I don’t think I can vote for it. I think it’s bad policy,” Franks told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday. Franks said neither Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan nor any representative from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office has reached out to him on the vote.
Franks’ “no” vote is significant since the so-called Millionaire’s Amendment, which passed out of committee on Wednesday, needs a supermajority to advance. That means all 71 Democrats would have to vote in favor.
Franks has never voted for a tax hike, so he’s not about to start now. Besides, the millionaire’s amendment was not overwhelmingly popular in Franks’ district last year like it was elsewhere, winning 52-48. Gov. Rauner, however, crushed Pat Quinn in that district 65-31.
Expect at least two other Democrats to also oppose this.
* Kerry Lester looks at the House’s super majority…
Democrats have the numbers, but not the power needed to enforce their agenda. They’ve signaled they want and may need Republican votes on any deal to fix the state’s financial crisis. Rauner, meanwhile, has made overtures to woo independent Democrats to his side and wields a $20 million war chest with which he aims to support lawmakers who back him.
“The term supermajority, it’s a myth,” said Rep. Jack Franks, a Democrat from Marengo. “And it’s probably more of a hindrance than a help. It creates expectations that aren’t realistic.”
Franks is one of several lawmakers who pride themselves as independents. In his case, he’s the only elected Democrat in solidly Republican McHenry County and therefore wary of being seen toeing any Democratic line. He describes himself as a pro-labor Democrat endorsed by numerous unions, but also says he’s never voted for a Democratic budget or a tax or fee increase in his 16 years in the statehouse.
Franks and fellow Democratic Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood, who also crosses party lines on occasion, opposed last spring’s “millionaire tax” push by Madigan and other Democrats. Madigan withdrew the proposal within weeks, which would tack a 3 percent surcharge on income earned of more than $1 million, due to lack of support, but has reintroduced it this year. The two also were among about a half-dozen lawmakers who opposed extending the temporary income tax hike increase, which their Democratic colleagues felt was necessary to fund the $35.7 billion budget.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
The super-majority myth is the pipe dream of some Republicans who don’t want to have any responsibility for en-eeee-thang.
- Ray del Camino - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:27 pm:
Franks is a Republi-crat. Shouldn’t count him.
- Very Fed Up - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:33 pm:
It is the height of irresponsibility not to pass this surcharge. A top rate of 3.75% currently is among the lowest in the nation. Should be an obvious no brainer for both parties to pass.
- OneMan - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:36 pm:
Yep, it is Tax On other People (TOP) tax, everyone loves those…
While we are at it, lets tax lite beer, since I heck I never drink the stuff.
- Jack Stephens - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
It is about time that Wealthy Welfare is cut!
- Federalist - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
There are a number of downstate Democrats who are more centrist and are often in disagreement with Madigan and Chicago. Hardly headline news.
They will break on occasion with the DEM leadership and thus as pointed out there is no guaranteed super majority.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:47 pm:
==A top rate of 3.75% currently is among the lowest in the nation. Should be an obvious no brainer for both parties to pass.==
Over a half dozen States have 0% personal income tax
- Jack Stephens - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
And Minnesota raised taxes and there state is growing. Scott up North passed Koch Bros bills and the state is going backwards!
- Apocalypse Now - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:55 pm:
Raise the income tax rate only if there is a dollar for dollar cut in real spending, not budgetary gimmicks.
- Carhartt Representative - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
I agree that it’s a poor substitute for a progressive income tax, but at this time it’s the height of irresponsibility to have large budget problems and have one of the lowest top income tax rates in the country
- zonz - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
Wouldn’t a “yes” be FOR sending the proposal to the voters rather than a vote FOR the proposal?
Methinks Rep. Franks doubts the wisdom of the voters.
__________________________
“I don’t think I can vote for it. I think it’s bad policy,” Franks told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday. Franks said neither Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan nor any representative from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office has reached out to him on the vote.
- Steve - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:26 pm:
Those looking for more revenue from the super-rich pray the “Connecticut situation” doesn’t occur.
http://nypost.com/2015/02/09/connecticut-to-super-rich-residents-please-dont-leave-us/
In April 2014, super-rich taxpayers in Connecticut and elsewhere shielded their income through charitable donations or other means to avoid a tax hit following the expiration of federal tax cuts.
The result: Connecticut income tax revenue plunged by nearly $281 million, more than 14 percent, compared with the same month a year before. In the 2014 budget year, state income tax revenue was $8.7 billion, more than half the $16.4 billion in total revenue from taxes and fees.
- Juice - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:13 pm:
Steve, I don’t entirely understand your point. Yes, the article comes with a very post-esque headline, but if you read it, it simply states that CT goes to greater lengths then most to keeps tabs on its extreme wealthy. You don’t think the Governor is doing that currently? He is probably on the phone with our richest resident at least once a week.
And the drop in Revenue in April 2014 had absolutely nothing to do with state tax policy. Nearly every state experienced that drop. When the fiscal cliff was going on at the end of 2012, there was a huge sell off of assets because of the uncertainty over federal tax policy. The taxes on those sales were then paid in April 2013. A similar experience did not occur in 2014, shocking no one. Some states, Illinois included, recognized that and budgeted appropriately. Some states, CT, NJ, PA, had assumed they would occur again because that is easier then facing reality. Then when reality struck them in their state’s bank accounts, they acted like they had no idea it was coming.
- Steve Reick - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:16 pm:
Jack voted for Blagojevich’s 2005 pension holiday (S.B. 27), which will ultimately be a $140 billion tax increase on the people of Illinois and in 2014 he voted for a $100 million tax increase on companies that self-insure (S.B. 3324).
- Wordslinger - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
– over a half dozen–
I’m sorry, that’s just a funny turn of phrase.
I take it that means more than six but less than 12? Any reason to not just write the numbe?
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
Why does Jack hate the will of voters?
- Retiree - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
My understanding is the amendment would include language distributing the funds to school districts on a per pupil basis. If that is correct, then the amendment should be defeated. Such a method of distribution defeats the purpose of the General State Aid formula and will, no doubt, result in decreased appropriations for education from other funds.
- zonz - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
I often mention BRU-CREW’s problem with “epistemic closure” a/k/a the closed information loop.
Meanwhile in Minnesota - below are three info tidbits
*1*
Unemployment Rates for States
Mar. 2015 http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
*2*
Budget & Economic Forecast (FEB 2015)
Page “i”
“The improved budget outlook continues into the planning horizon as revenue growth exceeds
spending growth. There is a structural balance of $3.184 billion for FY 2018-19.”
http://www.mn.gov/mmb/images/Budget%2526Economic_Forecast_Feb2015.pdf
*3*
This Billionaire Governor Taxed the Rich and Increased the Minimum Wage — Now, His State’s Economy Is One of the Best in the Country Posted: 02/24/2015 4:58 pm EST Updated: 04/26/2015
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-gibson/mark-dayton-minnesota-economy_b_6737786.html
- Enviro - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
Top rates for personal state income tax:
California 13.3%
Hawaii 11.0%
Oregon 9.9%
Minnesota 9.85%
Iowa 8.98%
New Jersey 8.97%
Vermont 8.95%
District of Columbia 8.95%
New York 8.82%
Maine 7.95%
- dupage dan - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
Once a group gets to a certain size, homogeneity is more difficult. If the contrariness of opposing parties is not a factor, then contrariness within a caucus rises. Simple reality in group dynamics. The founding fathers, whatever you may think of them, were smart enough to build into the structure of our gov’t ways to limit or slow down huge shifts and changes in the way things are done, or the fundamental tenets within. Hence the need for strong majorities for truly important legislation.
It makes me wonder about the con-con of 1970. The votes needed to create the pension guarantees seem remarkable now. I have read some of what transpired but, unless one is there, some of the atmosphere and intensity doesn’t filter thru the span of time. We believe they may well have anticipated such a situation as we are in now. And tried their best to make their intentions as clear as possible.
The need for more revenue is clear, even to a conservative like me. Too bad the GA didn’t have the cojones to keep the temp tax in place when they had a sympathetic governor. It didn’t solve our problems but it was the most painless way to avoid what is happening now and would allow the state to limp along a little easier without the draconian cuts being contemplated now.
- The Colossus of Roads - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
Herein lies the problem, elected officials should be looking out for both their constituents and the state as a whole, otherwise they are just looking out for themselves.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 3:25 pm:
To the Post,
Speaker Madigan has to “musts”;
A vote for him as Speaker
A vote for the Rules of the House he supports.
That’s why his Caucus grows, and the Rauner-Bought, GOP Caucuses that are requiring such rigid requirements, growth before and now since the co-opting might stll be sparse.
If you pay attention, there’s a reason they call it herding cats for healthy diverse caucuses, and smaller caucuses are less worried about herding cats.
- walker - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 3:49 pm:
The bigger Madigan’s caucus, the more individual members of both parties say “Let someone else take the heat” on tough votes.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 4:06 pm:
– pray the “Connecticut situation” doesnt occur–
That’s a funny thing to pray for. According to Forbes, Connecticut has the highest per-capita income of any state in the country.
Of course, some among us are “praying” that we adopt the fiscal and labor policies of Mississippi, clearly covetous of the economic opportunities and quality of life that they’ve proven to engender over many decades.
And Througn the Looking Glass we go…..
- Keyser Soze - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
Franks has invoked the sanity clause.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 4:32 pm:
KS, sorry to break it to you, but there is no sanity clause.
(Chico to Groucho, “Nignt at the Opera,” 1935).
- nona - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 7:48 pm:
Though the GOP has long criticized House Democrats for marching in lockstep, the record shows Democrats disagree more among themselves than do Republicans who truly do vote lockstep.
- Archpundit - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 10:51 pm:
—-While we are at it, lets tax lite beer, since I heck I never drink the stuff.
That would be a true sin tax. Bad taste is the ultimate sin.