Raoul, colleagues unveil ambitious economic plan
College access, paid sick leave, living wage will help Illinoisans get ahead
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois students could have the opportunity to attend community college for up to two years tuition-free, workers would be guaranteed paid sick time and a gradual increase in the minimum wage would help working families get a foothold in tough times under a legislative agenda many Senate Democrats are rallying behind as negotiations with Governor Rauner have stalled.
“I’m concerned that the priorities of the middle class and families struggling to get by have been neglected as the rhetoric at the Capitol has heated up,” Raoul said. “These initiatives are basic ingredients of a more competitive, compassionate Illinois: education access, workplace protections, a living wage and tax reforms so working families aren’t forced to shoulder more than their share.”
The agenda contains five key provisions:
· Illinois College Promise Program (SB 2146): Covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to two years at any of the state’s 48 community colleges as long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements.
· Healthy Workplace Act (SB 2147): Guarantees up to seven paid days of sick time to full and part time employees. Sick time would accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employees would not be able to take sick time for the first 120 days of employment.
· Tuition Tax Credit (SB 2149): Qualifying parents or students who are Illinois residents can claim a tax credit for higher education expenses incurred at any eligible public or private university, community college, vocational school or other postsecondary educational institution located in Illinois.
· Corporate loopholes (SB 2148): Ends a variety of corporate tax loopholes, including automatic tax breaks for production outside Illinois. Ending these corporate giveaways will bring the state $334 million in additional revenue.
· Minimum wage (SB 2145): Increases the state minimum wage to $9 per hour on July 1, 2015 and by $0.50 each subsequent year until the minimum wage reaches $11 on July 1, 2019. Provides a three-year tax credit for employers with fewer than 50 employees.
“This is an ambitious agenda but one that is profoundly commonsense, extending opportunities to our hard-working residents trying to improve their standard of living and give back to their communities,” Raoul said. “Illinois’ most successful reforms rarely come about without a commitment to cooperation — something our law enforcement reform package shows we can still muster — and I hope we can join together to help the people we represent get ahead and stay ahead.”
The introduction of this agenda, embodying longtime core concerns of many Senate Democrats, comes as Gov. Rauner threatens to shut down state government unless lawmakers erode legal protections for workers and their families and slash billions of dollars in essential services to seniors, at-risk youth and the state’s most vulnerable residents.
The economic plan, which Raoul will co-sponsor, was filed at the Capitol today and could be in final form for possible votes should lawmakers be called back into session this summer.
So, now we know at least part of the Senate’s agenda for next Tuesday’s session.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:30 am:
I’d have to think Sen. Raoul taking a leading role in this isn’t an accident, with thoughts of 3.5 years also in the mix(?)
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:30 am:
Let’s see something that helps the middle class and raises taxes on businesses …
DOA when it hits the governors desk.
- x ace - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:31 am:
Best Defense is a Good Offense ?
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:31 am:
This is another hazard of extended session. The children have nothing better to do so they continue to play.
- Peoria Guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:34 am:
lol Norseman.
- Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:36 am:
I just don’t think “the middle” has an appetite for an expansion of liberal largesse when the state is in such dire straits.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:39 am:
I’m completely lost as to what defines the middle class today. Wouldn’t paying for Community College be one of the things that is definitely within reach of the middle class?
This stuff is really tone deaf. Amazing. We’re $3B or so short in “whoever’s ” budget and these guys hear the whistle for a spending spree. Wowser.
- Amuzing Myself - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:40 am:
Interesting that they list what the business tax would bring in but don’t put price tags on the new spending programs.
- nona - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:42 am:
Rauner will oppose every item, even those that don’t cost the state a penny. His conception of helping the middle class is much different from Raoul’s. It means, for example, foisting a heavier college tuition bill on families who can’t afford it.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:43 am:
This looks like a breaking story in “Streetwise”.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:48 am:
I’m troubled by the references to “Streetwise” and “children”. What is it about Senator Raoul that elicits such reactions?
Seriously, it is 2015 and such insinuations are sickening!
- 4 by 4 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:48 am:
@Amuzing Myself is in the right ball park. If closing corporate tax loopholes pays for the proposed community college grants and tuition tax credits, then this is a good move by the SDems. But it seems to me those things will likely cost more than $334 million.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:50 am:
Bad form on “Streetwise”, only because I can’t figure out what you are trying to convey.
Further, - A Guy -,
===We’re $3B or so short in “whoever’s ” budget and these guys hear the whistle for a spending spree. Wowser.===
Are you saying Rauner has a phony budget too? I missed if you ever admitted that…
- Kent Gray - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:51 am:
I have been on a community college board for 17 years. For almost all of that time, the State has abdicated almost all financial support of community colleges. The most egregious failure by the legislature has been their refusal to pay (as was done previously) the Illinois Veteran’s Grant. The mandate by the legislature costs us almost a million dollars a year. It is a worthy benefit for our veterans, but it has to be paid for by their fellow students through higher tuition. This is because the legislature rushed to give away the benefit (free money), but doesn’t bother to back it up with funding any more.
It’s great to say that community college will be “free”, but the overpromising gutless wonders at the Capitol would be better off paying for all the previous promises before they start making more.
As a little background, when the community college system was created in Illinois, the concept was to have a third of the costs paid by tuition, a third by property taxes, and a third paid by the State of Illinois. When I started on our board in the 90’s, the State was paying in the upper teens as a percentage of our budget. It has fallen over the years to about 7%. Some years they don’t have enough money to make all of the quarterly payments, dropping us to 3.5-5%.
Under the current system, nearly ANY student with need will get to attend community college for free (through grants). Any other student can likely cover costs through student loans. At our pricing (about $3,000 per year, full time) we are by far the most affordable way to complete half of college.
There is no free lunch. Even in the fantasy world these democrats are living in.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:52 am:
So can a retiree in his golden years head off to community college for enrichment courses? I am thinking landscaping, culinary arts, or maybe computer skills.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:53 am:
==We’re $3B or so short in “whoever’s ” budget and these guys hear the whistle for a spending spree.==
That won’t matter; people only care about the budget being “unbalanced” in the abstract, it’s never been a voting issue. That’s why Governor Rauner announced his cuts, he was trying to demonstrate that stuff people like will have to be cut. But if people like these proposals (if they find out about them, I’m dubious on both prongs), they won’t care that they cost money.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:54 am:
This is called the “Turnaround in the Other Direction” agenda.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:55 am:
Snuck, Streetwise is a newspaper sold on the street by many homeless in Chicago. I’ve purchased many, many copies. It’s not great journalism, and you lose interest fast. The (Liberal) Senate Dems are proposing a rather interesting spending plan while our state is drowning in debt.
It’s an idiotic proposal that takes full advantage of the worst timing in the history of the state for such a thing. But Sen. Raoul (who I actually rather like) is taking a free pass at singing to his choir on something that has no chance of going anywhere. He’s peddling hope for something that has no chance.
You think that’s kind or decent or good government? Go ahead and be faux offended. This is an incredibly foolish facade.
But I do think it might get past the editors at Streetwise.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:56 am:
I shouldn’t say “never been a voting issue”, that’s too simplistic. But people’s voting relationship to the budget is far more complicated than “they vote against people who propose unbalanced budgets”.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:57 am:
I’ll hazard a guess that some of this proposal is stuff Gov Rauner could support, if he believed the state was going to have the revenues to pay for them: more access to post-secondary education, better wages at the low end of the income scale, it’s the sort of stuff that lifts people up, and it feeds itself, because it results in a better prepared workforce.. But, to believe that, he needs to know that the state’s business climate is healthy, because job growth is where that revenue will come from. And, to believe that the state’s business climate is healthy so employment can grow, he has to have significant sign-on to and progress in getting big pieces of his turnaround agenda enacted. That would especially include worker’s comp, unemployment comp, and tort reform.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:59 am:
===Are you saying Rauner has a phony budget too? I missed if you ever admitted that…===
Actually Willy, for the purpose of your daily argument, I was acknowledging your point of view. lol.
I think the Governor has the opportunity to fill the gap in his budget with enhanced revenue. I don’t think the Speaker or Sen. Pres. do.
Can’t be any clearer than that.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
===I think the Governor has the opportunity to fill the gap in his budget with enhanced revenue. I don’t think the Speaker or Sen. Pres. do. ===
Um, if the Dems go along with the governor’s proposal on collective bargaining for health insurance, the hole will easily be filled with the $3.5 billion in new revenues already supported by the governor.
- Rat Race? What's that?? - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:04 pm:
Bunch of gimme gimme gimme. Petty pandering. Petty pandering that’ll work. Doomed.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
==I think the Governor has the opportunity to fill the gap in his budget with enhanced revenue. I don’t think the Speaker or Sen. Pres. do.==
I thought the gap was about the same, ~$3 billion? I don’t understand how “more revenue” can fill one $3 billion hole, but not the other.
- Liberty - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
Rauner has laid out his idea for Illinois and refused to compromise so the liberals are doing the same. This is what happens with stand offs.
- Kent Gray - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
Langhorne-Of course it’s free for seniors! We must also provide free tuition and fees to any Illinois resident over 65. Because, as a group, seniors are FAR poorer than college age students!
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
Other people’s money? Stop it, that kind of thinking is precisely what is sinking the Speaker’s ship.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
My apologies A Guy, solipsism is alive and well on the right AND THE LEFT!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
- A Guy -,
They are both phony, but where they are off, they are off in the same ballpark, and where Rauner has given, repeatedly, both Madigan and Cullerton are refusing to tie the now at the end.
Rauner and his Crew haveta be frustrated.
Playing a lone game of “good cop / bad cop” by Rauner, in the open, and behind closed doors is exaserbating the Dems, so much so, that the Dem leaders are refusing to give Rauner a “win” to get a greater piece of the loaf.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
Way to ruin the narrative…
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:55 pm:
Honeybear, you made me look that word up. Having done that…”I think I might agree”.
Willy, tip in from Mr. Miller. The Governor has greater levers here.
- Empty Suit - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:02 pm:
That’s their response to $4 billion out of whack budget? More spending and sticking it to businesses?
Holy Schmolly!
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
So with all the new proposed costs on small businesses, where are the recently laid off people going to work when they are healthy?
- Anon - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:36 pm:
It’s a welcome development, particularly following Madigan’s recent comments indicating a lack of interest in low-income Illinoisans.
While the sick leave and minimum-wage provisions seem fairly reasonable, they would likely accelerate the trend of employers to classify workers as “independent contractors” who work outside the labor laws, without a minimum wage or any benefits. Few politicians seem aware of this trend, let alone have any solutions for it.
And of course any way of paying for the agenda that is less progressive than the flat income tax would dilute its effect.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
A Guy, nearly a whole quarter was spent on Solipsism in a philosophy course I took at U of C Div School. To bad, my post accusing the right of solipsism as deleted. It’s why I was apologizing to you. It’s your post I was going after on another stream. It’s a great word isn’t it! Now we can lob it at each other to our hearts content! Actually the whole incident made me realize we’ve got to stop lobbing, myself included. I’m thankful for all the combatants on this blog willing to fight for the improvement of our state.
- Arizona Bob - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:03 pm:
So their solution is spend more money they don’t have and make the Illinois business environment even more toxic.
I wasn’t a big Rauner fan in the election, but SOMEONE has to stand up to these dysfunctional hacks.
- 4 by 4 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:04 pm:
@ Kent Gray
Those are all legit points…but the state does pay the employer pension contribution for your college, that ain’t nothing.
- sideline watcher - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
So no one on this thread believes that we need more money? I”m sorry to ask that way but seriously. A flat regressive tax that clearly doesn’t work is fine with you? If I’m going to choose between making it so corporations don’t have to pay as much to injured workers and lowering wages of blue collar workers so CEO’s can make more profit while wages stay flat and this Dem agenda…then I pick the Dem agenda. I think the flat regressive tax is unconscienable and I also think its absolutely ridiculous that 1.75 percent more income tax is so offensive that we would cut universities and schools and LIHEAP and autism and on and on. So yelling at me that as a Dem all I want is a tax increase…you are right. Its not an insult. Its responsible. So feel free to call me a tax eater and all of the other mean and hateful things you can think of. The turnaround agenda is only for corporate CEOs and that offends me.
- cover - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:15 pm:
= DOA when it hits the governors desk. =
That agenda wouldn’t pass the House, and would not pass the House even if Quinn were still Governor.
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:45 pm:
Okey doke. Where were these bills in April?
We can be very close to a face saving deal, which includes a bit of the pro-business agenda, a bit of new taxes, and some significant spending reductions.
Please let’s not muddy the waters now.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
Walk, from your lips to God’s ears…and a few other guys!! lol.
Honey Bear..Gotcha. Nice gesture. Sorry I missed the opening lob. Musta been something. We’re good.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
Watcher, unless you’re new, you know that most of the people posting regularly on this site believe we need more revenue, either/both in the form of higher income tax rates, a progressive income tax, and/or an expanded sales tax base (and the closing of some tax loopholes). What you and many other posters are choosing to ignore is the undeniable, oft-repeated fact that Governor Rauner has said that he is perfectly willing to look at new or increased revenues but his turnaround agenda has to get some traction and start moving first. I believe that is very rational on his part, because if the revenues get done first, he gets none of his agenda advanced. All can agree/disagree with his position on this, but he has repeatedly made it clear, and he is the Governor.
- Very Fed Up - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
Coupled with a strong progressive income tax this agenda looks like a winner. Hopefully in 3.5 years the regressive Madigan/Cullerton tag team will be gone and will get a chance to vote on something like this
- sideline watcher - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
Steve, I’m not new here. And I actually love when you post because I know its fair and comes from all of your years of experience. Honestly. I feel the same way about the community on this blog…it is truly one of the best in the country as it relates to covering, debating, and digesting statehouse news.
But I am frustrated. I am frustrated with the framing of the Dem agenda. I don’t see it as any more one sided I suppose than Rauner’s turnaround agenda. When I put the list of things on the turnaround agenda in one column it is very tilted towards one segment of society with the very real realities of the budget being held hostage for it. I get that most folks don’t know what is in the budget, and that they think waste, fraud and corruption are like 9 out of 10 dollars. But in reality, 9 out of 10 dollars goes to education, healthcare and public safety and human services which have all been cut to the bone. So wholeheartedly disagree with the premise that it is appropriate to do this much damage because you want to negotiate people who got elected just like he did into positions that didn’t get them elected. Its a set up for failure.
So I’m frustrated. I also don’t really care that he’s the Governor. The legislature doesn’t work for him. He’s 1/3 of 3 co-equal branches of government as far as he’s concerned everybody but him is corrupt. And I think he’s surrounded himself with people who do not want to cooperate. I said a few months ago on a thread that he brought in all these people from the RNC and the Kirk’s staff. And what I was getting at was that at the national level, you can just continue fighting. You never have to solve anything. Its just continual war. All the time. Every response is a threat.
There was a time when even Democrats were polled as being hopeful about a new administration. All that is gone now, and in this one area….the ability to lead…the ability to inspire people to want to go where you want them to go…the platform that is the Governor’s office has been wasted with a 4 month scorched earth statewide flyaround literally making sure that any goodwill or trust that could have been had or developed has evaporated.
That’s why I’m frustrated. It didn’t have to be this way. I am a Dem who was NOT a Quinn fan. And I was in the column of people who thought that divided government could be a really big opportunity. But this isn’t Wisconsin or Indiana with Republican majorities which could have moved on his conservative turnaround agenda immediately. He came into a Dem legislature and behaved as if that didn’t matter at all on topics he steadfastly avoided in the general election. But I guess for those who believe in the absolute ineptness of government no matter what, this plays right into that meme. Great. Really sad.
I read everyday. Sorry for the long post. I really look forward to what you all have to say. I really do.
- Federalist - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
I assume these Democrats are kidding us but it is a little late, or far too early, for an April Fool’s joke.
- Tom Joad - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:10 pm:
That is quite and agenda Raoul came up with. Too bad we can’t afford it. Maybe Rich can use this song tomorrow morning: Maybe I’ll be there to shake your hand, Maybe I’ll be there to share the land, that they’ll be giving away when we all live together.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 5:56 pm:
I wonder if the the governor’s willingness to raise taxes by $3.5 billion will be the highlight of the ad campaign?
If not, it’s still coming.
- AnonymousOne - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 8:49 pm:
With proposals favoring the upper class (union busting, frozen wages, middle class job losses) it’s pretty unclear who will be picking up the tax tab. The upper class clearly makes sure that their load is light. The lower class is in for some hits and many in the middle class are dropping, dropping…….soon to be members of the lower class. So who can be milked for more revenue to pay for the growing numbers of lower class members? You’d think the upper crust would love a robust middle class to pay for the lower. Keeps the heat off them.
- G'Kar - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 12:03 am:
Forgetting for a moment if it can be afforded or not, one thing, as a community college professor, that bothers me about the proposal for free tuition (and it also comes from Obama) is that it would be another source of upward pressure on grades. Grade inflation is real and having students say to us “if I don’t get a C I will lose my free tuition” will become a common mantra.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 4, 15 @ 10:23 am:
Remember everyone. As someone stated yesterday, both sides are dealing with a borderline personality, sociopath governor. It’s his way or the highway. So we intelligent insightful people need to make sure EVERYONE votes next time. Including our apatheitc youth. We are in financial trouble, no matter who is governor, but this just makes for a stalemate at the cost of innocents.