* Speaker Madigan yesterday…
“The governor has spoken at length about a lame duck tax increase. I think it’s very interesting. I think that we ought to listen to the governor and work with the governor and that’s what I plan to do.”
* Gov. Rauner was asked about Madigan’s comment early this morning…
“That’s a little goofy. I mean, the speaker came out a year ago in December and said ‘Hey, let’s start with putting the income tax back up to 5 [percent] and go up from there.’ I mean that was a quote. I mean, I’ve never been an advocate for higher taxes. I’ve always fought against them. I’m trying to get more efficient government. So, for the speaker to [laughs] it’s a little, a little humorous.
“But, anyway, and at this point he seems to have backed off of pushing for a tax hike right now and has kinda said ‘Let’s just do stopgap budgets, like we’ve done seven stopgaps in the last two years. Let’s do more of those going forward.’ That’s not solving our problems. That’s going to push more employers out. That’s going to raise more taxes in our future, ’cause it’s more deficits today, more borrowing today. We need balanced budgets and reforms to grow our economy.”
So, the logical follow-up question would be: Doesn’t that make you in favor of a lame duck tax increase just like Madigan said you are? And if Madigan has, as you say, “backed off pushing for a tax hike right now,” doesn’t that erode your position?
But, hey. Morning shows.
* Meanwhile…
Concerned over a possible post-election tax increase, state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would require three-fifths House and Senate supermajorities to raise taxes until the new General Assembly is seated after the election. Lawmakers in past sessions have used the post-election lame-duck session, and its lower threshold to pass bills, as a way to enact significant legislation while avoiding voter wrath.
Franks, who will be sworn in next month as McHenry County Board chairman, said getting it onto the House floor for a vote, at the very least, will put House members on the spot regarding their willingness to raise taxes if a much-discussed “grand compromise” state budget package comes to fruition.
“My goal is to get a majority of the House of Representatives to support my measure, and once I do that, we’re on record as not wanting to increase taxes during the lame-duck [session],” Franks said.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the threshold required to pass legislation that takes effect immediately increases from a simple majority to a three-fifths supermajority – or 71 House members and 36 senators – with the end of the spring session May 31. But it decreases back to a simple majority – or 60 House members and 30 senators – on Jan. 1. That gives lawmakers after each November election a window to pass controversial legislation until the new General Assembly is sworn in on the second Wednesday in January, which this time around falls on Jan. 11.
- Reality Check - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
“But, hey. Morning shows.”
Not just any morning shows. This one is hosted by an Illinois Policy Institute employee.
Fake “news” isn’t just a problem in national politics.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:14 pm:
Rauner is not making any sense. But, obviously, you don’t have to on TV.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
Its great news to hear that both the speaker and governor have found the $8 billion/yr in spending cuts that I have been lobbying for..when will these cuts become public?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:17 pm:
#TaxHikeMike
…
To the Post,
The governor could put all 47 House and all 20 Senate votes… all of those politicians that you carry around in your pocket, like so many nickels and dimes… and on the stairs of the Capitol, with cameras and microphones, Rauner could say, “I have 67 votes for the Rauner Tax to pass today. Speaker Madigan won’t let us raise taxes!”
Then Lance can tweet a picture of the poster of…
#RaunerTax
… “ck” can have “bidnesses” say they want the #RaunerTax and Speaker Madigan, aka #TaxHikeMike doesn’t want to raise taxes. Heck, Goldberg can write pithy letters demanding Democrats raise taxes now.
…
Campaigns are hard. Governing is difficult.
Winning the morning shows and messaging still isn’t governing.
- Chicago_Downstater - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
Because what Illinois needs is another obstacle to passing legislation, Right Rep Franks? *sarcasm font disengaged*
- G'Kar - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
As usual, Rauner is misquoting Madigan. Here is what he said:
“A good place to begin, good place to begin would be the level we were at before the income tax expired,” Madigan said, referring to the 5 percent individual income tax rate and 7 percent corporate tax rate set in 2011 as part of a four-year temporary tax hike.
“And starting there, you can go in whatever direction you want to go,” Madigan said.
“go in whatever direction” is not the same as saying “go up from there.”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
Franks is a Lame Duck, more of a problem now for Rauner than Madigan.
The governor needs votes, not Madigan, thus the complaining by the Governor.
McSweeney? Welp, that’s more of a “Durkin” problem if we’re all wearing our “honest caps”, lol
- Hit or Miss - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
It is well known that Rauner is not for any tax increases and really wants to cut spending and thus taxes. I, however, do not see how cutting spending alone can correct the financial problems of the state without some tax increase even if spending is stable. Maybe a good starting point is for the governor to provide a list of the programs, with dollar amounts, he wishes to be either cut or eliminated. After that the tax increase issue can be addressed better.
- Anon - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:30 pm:
News flash to Gov. Rauner. We don’t believe you or your fake news outlets.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:30 pm:
The funniest part of the mornin’ shows was BigBrain on with Sam at the St. Pat’s annual fundraiser….the billionaire fails to offer the historic eastside school a nickel…too busy with the mumbo jumbo and plannin’ meetin’s everyday
- Unsolicited Advice - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:33 pm:
This is the real problem, it doesn’t matter who goes to what meeting if we can’t come up with an extra 7-10 billion dollars. We can’t print money like the Feds. No one has come up with that much in waste, fraud, and abuse (shockingly). Also, no politicians want a tax increase or huge cuts because elections are a thing and IL voters like nice things but don’t like paying for them. So we wait.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
12:30 - tap the brakes. Greg Bishop’s second gig is with the Illinois News Network. However - and this is important - WMAY is not a “one or the other” station. Greg is a libertarian but the afternoon and evening guys (Jim Leach and Frank McNeil) are Democrats and absolutely despise Governor Rauner. WMAY is a reputable news source and has excellent reporting. They are legitimate.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
===I mean that was a quote. I mean, I’ve never been an advocate for higher taxes. I’ve always fought against them. I’m trying to get more efficient government.===
If I was Madigan, I’d be tempted to call his bluff and give him a budget based on current revenues.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
===give him a budget===
I think the object is to force Rauner to submit a budget with the cuts in it.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:46 pm:
===I think the object is to force Rauner to submit a budget with the cuts in it.===
Agreed, but how’s that strategy been working out?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
===I think the object is to force Rauner to submit a budget with the cuts in it.===
Ball Game.
Step #1 - Finally and unequivocally have spelled out…
“The Rauner Cuts”
Step #2 - Have Durkin and Radogno as sponsors of the “largest tax increase in Illinois history”, and have Raunerites Green… 67 for 67.
#RaunerCuts saved!
#RaunerTax remains!
All the smattering that tries to dismiss it…
Governors own. They always do.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
== I think the object is to force Rauner to submit a budget with the cuts in it. ==
That … or to submit a specific tax hike number / proposal.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:03 pm:
=== If I was Madigan, I’d be tempted to call his bluff and give him a budget based on current revenues. ===
47, Rauner would love it. Madigan would be angering whatever allies he has left. It won’t happen. Impasse continues.
- Mister Whipple - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
From out here in the boonies, it doesn’t seem that hard.
With a budget out of balance, you either cut spending or increase revenue. The Dems have failed the first day of Messaging 101: Keep it simple.
Turns out, this is simple.
Governor, you’ve had two years to show us how/where to cut $6 (your number here) billion. You haven’t done that. So go ahead and admit you can’t.
Now that we all understand that, tell us what taxes you want to raise. You’re the governor. You present the budget message each year.
Show us.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
I’d bet Norseman is correct.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
This post,.in a nutshell, tells the whole story. Rauner really doesn’t care if and how much taxes are raised. He doesn’t care if spending is reduced by even a penny. This entire charade is about crushing labor and the votes it provides the Democratic party. Illinois, the blue island surrounded by a sea of red, is the target. Rauner will continue to move the goalposts as often as he needs to. Two more years of massive deficit spending followed up by a $100 + million election for what? Be the next governor who gets to raise income taxes to 7%? Rauner wins, when he( or the next governor) has to go in front of Congress and begs for state bankruptcy. This is the ultimate prize he seeks. Old Blue may be pushing up daisies when this happens, but this is this governors goal.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
===It won’t happen.===
Somebody needs to do their job and show the implications of what a balanced budget with current revenues would look like. And it won’t be pretty and everybody voting for it will take plenty of hits for the cuts involved. At least they can then look them in the eye and say to voters: “This was the only budget Rauner’s intransigence made possible. Unless we raise taxes, this is the best we can do, and I did my job. The hole is not getting deeper on my watch.”
It’s not like the Senate is going to go along with that kind of budget anyway, so there is no way it can pass. But it puts something different on the table and turns a theoretical debate that is going no where into a practical choice that reasonable people can understand.
Rauner needs a tax hike the most. If he doesn’t get one, that means he doesn’t get any reforms either. And it means he’s destroyed the state of Illinois. Epic fail with horrible consequences, all for a partisan agenda that hurts working people. That could be Rauner’s legacy if this continues.
- Not It - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
Forcing Rauner to submit a balanced budget, huh? Fine, submit a lump sum budget then.
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
Gosh. Have we heard this before?
What exactly does the Governor do all day? He doesn’t govern his agencies. He doesn’t propose legislation. He doesn’t cut deals.
He just phones in the same mindless drivel. Madigan bad. Grow economy. Blah, blah.
Great gig if you can get it.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
===…submit a lump sum budget then.===
Candidate Rauner criticized Democrats and Quinn for that very thing.
Further, the state was ill-served with lump sum monies in agencies and programs without a cohesive plan. Budgets are what they are, documents designed to show weighted (monetary) priorities of the Executive, passed by the Legislative, and then administered by that Executive branch through agencies, contracts, partnerships, etc.
The sole way a lump sum (which will not happen with Rauner; no trust) might even be spoken aloud is with about 7,856 MOUs just to have Illinois government function under the “trust” of Rauner… maybe.
That’s for openers…
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
everyone must admit the funniest part of the mornin’ shows was BigBrain on with Sam at the St. Pat’s annual fundraiser….the billionaire fails to offer the historic eastside school a nickel…too busy with the mumbo jumbo and plannin’ meetin’s everyday
- illini - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
I will not quite suggesting that this is “game, set, match” but if it is true that MJM is backing off his push for a tax increase then maybe —
It is time for BVR to do what he was elected to do - actually be a governor, propose a budget that the can see and approve/reject his priorities.
As Willie says “Governors own. They always do.”
- Simple Simon - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:46 pm:
47th is correct. Dems cannot propose a tax increase, nor can they allow continued deficit spending because Rauner’s power increases with greater chaos. And frankly, the Dems will continue to lose on messaging. If Rauner miraculously proposes a balanced budget, the Dems should pass it. If he does not, they should propose a draconian balanced budget and apologize profusely, blaming Rauner loudly and often. This is the only way out. When public opinion sours on the cuts, pass the increase Rauner will have to propose. Cuts will have to be across the board, including school funding, which will be the issue that will generate support for higher taxes.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
===When public opinion sours on the cuts===
…they’ll vote against those who passed the cuts.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
Tax hike mike seemed like a good idea at the time, how’s that working out for you now? Unless you impose the millionaire tax that was more popular than you, your term is limited
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
===they’ll vote against those who passed the cuts.===
And they’ll also vote against those who passed the income tax hike. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Occupational hazard.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 1:58 pm:
I wouldn’t hamstring myself like that. Never box yourself into a corner. We’ll soon see what that looks like with the Transportation Lock Box.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:04 pm:
We are all talking around what needs to happen because Rauner has put pre-conditions to the actual work at hand;
Structured roll calls to agreed to cuts married to a tax increase that should breeze through like the stop gap 110 or so to 3, 55 or so to 2…
Then both sides claim the positive victories the budget has, and stay away from the “bad”.
That’s what needs to be done.
The #TaxHikeMike, the ridiculous websites, the continued misinformation and media tours…
For 17 minutes, stop. While they’re all stopped, get the tax, then budget, then “reforms” done in the roll call. Then? Go to your separate corners.
- Winnin' - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:11 pm:
It’s pretty obvious what’s happenin’ here.
With Rauner goon’ after his members with such zeal, Madigan’s not going to deal.
Rauner has had his chance to govern. Instead, he chose politickin’.
Madigan won’t sacrifice votes for a tax increase just so Rauner can put his personal millions against those members.
Rauner needs to figure out if he wants to govern or go down as the worst one-term governor in Illinois’ history.
- Simple Simon - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
Thanks OW for the realpolitik. A solution that might actually work. Any chance Rauner will bite if no TA items are included? He doesn’t seem to care if we ever have a budget or if we overspend into oblivion.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
===go down as the worst one-term governor in Illinois’ history===
But what if he wins reelection?
As I’ve been saying since the election, the Rauner and Trump wins mean people should probably stop making predictions.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
1) I fully expect Rauner to win under the “can’t beat somebody with nobody” starting point… today. I have no idea what “tomorrow” is bringing.
2) ===Any chance Rauner will bite if no TA items are included?===
It’s up to Rauner to “find” his victory.
Rauner is the same governor that claims 44 TA items, now it’s 5, but labor must face its demise…
Rauner’s 2012 quote IS the ball game and why what I, and so many others, have said about compromise, the pre-conditions are helping the 2012 wants so if things break, Rauner is fine with it.
I’d like to see a package, but that includes an actual budget, an actual tax increase realized, and tangible and obvious areas of “agreement” like Workers’ Comp.
In two years, nothing really has moved but a stopgap, K-12, and “media tours”
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
===But what if he wins reelection?===
I agree with you about predictions, but fwiw. Assuming Illinois limps along with no reforms and no new revenue, and assume Trump as President behaves like Trump as candidate, then I think Rauner is going to be facing serious headwinds as public universities close, healthcare is cut, and people and jobs continue to flee the state.
But with all of his and Griffin’s money, he’ll still run again. And maybe this time Fire Madigan 3.0 will work. Maybe.
But if I was betting on it today, I’d bet that Madigan survives 2018, Rauner has a 50-50 chance, and that there is a 100% chance that Illinois is irreparably harmed if this drags on two more years.
I know it’s possible, but I have a hard time believing this can go on for two more years.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Rauner’s two years are not without accomplishment if you view it from his perspective.
He has put a hurt on labor in a big way. And he is bleeding them dry.
Ask yourself is labor better off or worse off than it was in 2011?
The income tax rate rolled back and the 5% was not made permanent.
Social services are being hammered along with higher ed and even public ed.
All of the above are stressed and feeling pressure.
He is winning the message battle big time or “bigly”.
Post election the right wing is feeling pretty good about the outcomes (the farther right the better they feel).
He definitely feels like he is winning and for good reason.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
OW you are totally right. National right to work will drop labor to a third of its size. But I have a religious faith that the fall will actually herald the rebirth, the second coming, of labor. I know it is true. I was a hospice chaplain. I know more intimate than almost any the signs of active death. I’m already planning and working hard to facilitate the rebuild from the bottom up. I would be worried if I thought life for the majority the 99% would get better. I don’t believe it will. As a matter of fact. I think it’s going to get apocalyptically bad. There’s where the rebirth begins. I just have to keep fighting for the economically oppressed. Keep rowing. Great 19th century whaling song I keep in my pocket since the election. Whalers separated out of sight of their ship when darkness falls in the arctic which can last for days.
Row on, row on another day
May shine with brighter light.
Ply ply the oars and pull away
There’s dawn beyond the night.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
- Honeybear -
You’ve done all you can and then some. Your hard work and understanding and the want to see the politics, all admirable.
But, it’s politics, so never give up or in until the dye is cast.
Keep you head up and your spirits high, even if you know the calm in the eye of a storm is the lull before the storm begins again.
You have deep faith, that’s a quality I admire in you, as you also see what realities may lay ahead. The better “men” will try to end this mess. Let’s hope it’s sooner than too late.
OW
- Joe M - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
Its time for Rauner to demonstrate how he can lead and run this state without revenue increases. Or if he can’t, then Rauner should propose the Rauner tax increases.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 7:39 pm:
==IL voters like nice things but don’t like paying for them.==
My property tax bill says otherwise.
- Illinoised - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 7:59 pm:
The
- Illinoised - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:23 pm:
The SJ-R has called for some “courageous outrage” on the part of citizens statewide. I hope someone or some group can devise an effective method of telling Rauner and Madigan how tired we are of their games. Perhaps a viable gubernatorial candidate (since it appears to be a money game, maybe Pritzker for the Demo or a pragmatic billionnaire for the GOP). Is there anyone out there who cares about the welfare of Illinois citizens more than they care about being the Grand Poobah? Given the presidential victory of that horrible and boorish person, and the condition of Illinois (I’ve had bad acid trips more enjoyable than my past few years in the Land of Lincoln) I have lost all faith in our two party political system and especially the executive and legislative branches of Illinois government.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 8:57 pm:
@Illinoised-feel better? Good rant. Seriously, I fell very much the same as you. I gave up on “party” affiliation years ago. And there seems to be no adult in the room anymore.
- Facts are stubborn things - Tuesday, Nov 29, 16 @ 10:31 pm:
Mjm watched Rauner come, and he will watch him go.
- reasonable - Wednesday, Nov 30, 16 @ 7:22 am:
it is clear there will be no tax increase, so how are they going to live within their means and pay off what they have already over spent. and how are they both going to use this in the next election cycle. The big losers in all of this, the citizens of Illinois.
- reasonable - Wednesday, Nov 30, 16 @ 7:27 am:
and the big gamble for the next election, do you get beat up more for voting for a tax increase or for voting for a budget with severe cuts, but is balanced?
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Nov 30, 16 @ 7:40 am:
Yes. More independents!