* Some would obviously disagree with his assessment, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens…
After winning passage of a state budget and an infrastructure plan that rely on hundreds of millions of dollars in increased taxes and fees, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday made the case to a group of business leaders that his “rational, pragmatic, progressive agenda” is good for Illinois’ economy.
Pritzker, an investor and billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotels fortune, rankled many in the business community when he began his term by signing into law a statewide minimum wage increase and proposing a host of taxes to fill the state’s gaping budget hole. The new governor’s signature policy initiative — shifting the state from its constitutionally mandated flat-rate income tax to a graduated rate structure — also has received strong pushback from pro-business groups.
The governor told a lunchtime gathering of the Executives’ Club of Chicago that he doesn’t see any tension between his Democratic political beliefs and his experience as an entrepreneur and investor.
“I’m a businessman. I’m a progressive. I’m a believer in growing the economy and lifting up people’s wages,” Pritzker said.
Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Pritzker has completely changed the direction of this state. The $15 an hour minimum wage, a possible graduated income tax, legal cannabis, legal sports betting and expanded gaming opportunities, strengthened abortion laws, big tax hikes to fund a $45 billion capital program, etc., etc., etc. Bruce Rauner had equally transformational ideas (in much the opposite direction), but Pritzker actually got his done (except the graduated tax, which is now up to the voters).
* Policywood Squares…
On state policies overall, he said there’s no tension between being progressive and being business friendly.
“It’s not the public sector that creates jobs, it’s the private sector that creates jobs,” Pritzker said. “You can be a progressive and believe that and know that the job of government is to create an environment for all of you to succeed in the private sector.”
One example Pritzker noted was the increase of the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years. He said special, yet temporary, tax credits for small businesses will ease the cost burden.
American’s For Prosperity Illinois State Director Andrew Nelms said the best way to increase wages is to allow the free market to prosper.
“Look to states where there’s a tight labor market and you’ll see that businesses are having to pay higher and higher wages, and offer higher wages and better incentives in order to attract and retain employees,” he said. “So rather than government by fiat dictating what businesses ought to be doing, government ought to be creating a level playing field where all businesses have the same opportunity.”
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
Listening to local central Illinois radio you would never know some business reforms were passed.
At least from what I’ve been hearing, the Gov is losing the message war as callers to, and host of radio shows continue to pound the GOP talking points of session was nothing more than a spending spree by liberal Chicago area Dems.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:31 pm:
===radio shows continue to pound the GOP talking points===
How is that new?
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:32 pm:
Monroe County saying good bye to 325 jobs. It aint all roses.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
===Listening to local central Illinois radio you would never know some business reforms were passed.
At least from what I’ve been hearing, the Gov is losing the message war as callers to, and host of radio shows continue to pound the GOP talking points of session was nothing more than a spending spree by liberal Chicago area Dems.===
The battle for hearts and minds isn’t downstate, or even central Illinois.
It’s the collars. That’s the ball game.
Counties, and land, don’t vote.
Does the Governor need to do better “downstate”, arguably yes, but… those shows are sometimes group think(?)
The real battle is where the gains in the statehouse were found… the collars.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:35 pm:
Good point Rich and one of the biggest mouths about “the Dem spending spree” is host of a Springfield radio show who is drawing one pension from the tax payers while having another tax payer funded job and his side kick is a self proclaimed right wing fiscal conservative drawing a state pension.
You gotta love Springfield radio.
- Not a Billionaire - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:35 pm:
The only two things not fully done are property tax which depends on graduated and we shall see what the task force says ..and the option to buy into Medicaid. Perhaps the feds are not allowing?
Otherwise be passed every promise which is stunning. I really can’t recall anything like it. He even went beyond with the business reforms.
- Montrose - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:37 pm:
“Monroe County saying good bye to 325 jobs. It aint all roses.”
Nothing refutes an argument for a set of bold policy changes like an anecdotal number offered without context.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:40 pm:
Montrose. As my good friend Wordslinger would tell me, Google is your friend.
- Montrose - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
“Montrose. As my good friend Wordslinger would tell me, Google is your friend.”
If google gave me any info on what you are talking about when I typed in “Monroe County 325 jobs lost,” your response would be valid.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
I don’t agree with Pritzker’s statement, that the public sector doesn’t create jobs. It creates and helps create plenty of jobs, in and out of government. But that’s quibbling. He’s doing a great job so far, and that’s in part because Democratic GA members are standing with him. That’s terrific for the base, this type of unity and progress.
I’m very glad Pritzker reaches out to Republicans and offers compromises. Business reforms could be great or very good, when union rights and injured worker compensation are not under assault. Rauner’s way was the lower-income, red state way.
- Morty - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:03 pm:
-Andrew Nelms said the best way to increase wages is to allow the free market to prosper.
Except, it hasn’t
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
Gotta love Americans for Plutocracy, an organization that combines the earth-is-the-center-of-the-universe dogmatism of the medieval church with 20th century televangilistic grifterism.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
==to allow the free market to prosper.==
Where on this planet is there a free market?
- PJ - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:15 pm:
The best to increase wages is to allow everyone to pay poverty wages. Checks out.
The free markets in sweat-shop countries really have it made - no labor restrictions (kids can work!), no minimum wages, no nothing. And look how they’re thriving! If only Illinois workers could have the same quality of life as Vietnamese laborers.
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:18 pm:
As we all know, the biggest employer in Illinois is small business.
JB can’t relate to small businesses nor does he really care to.
Every coach and every manager that gets hired says the same thing, “We are here to win championships.” JB is saying the same thing but we will see. Raising fees, raising taxes, not addressing real estate taxes, spending wildly et.al. is not the path to prosperity. It will show over the next 3.5 years. Especially if a recession hits.
- Steve - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:19 pm:
Why have tax credits for small business on the $15 minimum wage? If it’s such a good idea why should anyone get a tax credit?
- Scamp640 - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
I agree with Morty. I think Andrew Nelms is wrong. Average wages are lower in so-called “business-friendly” or “right to work” states. Poverty rates are higher in “free market” states.
https://www.brookings.edu/research/where-work-pays-how-does-where-you-live-matter-for-your-earnings/
https://ler.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/RTW-in-the-Midwest-2010-2016.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/03/12/scott-walker-right-to-work-and-labors-waning-power/wages-are-lower-in-states-with-these-laws
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2018/09/poverty-rate-drops-20-states-and-district.html
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
“You can be a progressive and believe that and know that the job of government is to create an environment for all of you to succeed in the private sector.”
If he keeps talking like this, he just might be my personal hero.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
===JB can’t relate to small businesses nor does he really care to.===
… and yet, its the incubator 1871 and those involved that did a whole ad about Pritzker, and helping small businesses in tech startup.
Other than that…
- Steve - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:28 pm:
- Scamp640 -
The standard of living is higher in right to work states, after factoring taxes, housing costs, and other factors . California have an usually high percentage of poor people.
- The Doc - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 1:34 pm:
==As we all know, the biggest employer in Illinois is small business.==
As we all know, that’s simply untrue, as a quick search of the Internet would reveal.
Try again, RaunerBot.
- Pick a Name - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 2:02 pm:
Google should be your friend The Doc. In the private sector, 38% of people work for large businesses and 53% work for small businesses.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
“The standard of living is higher in right to work states, after factoring taxes, housing costs, and other factors”
Many RTWFL states have higher state income taxes than Illinois. Many also have lower health insurance coverage rates and probably more workers working at or below minimum wage as well as less retirement security. Who has more money to retire in Florida, the average New Yorker or the Arkansan or Alabamian?
Cost of living also has to do with demand, which is why so many people want to live in big cities like NYC with all of its amenities and not in so-called flyover country. Cost of living is not a problem for corporate relocations to Chicago metro, who perennially leads the nation. Cost of living is not a good indicator of standard of living, as things that cost more generally have more value, and people are often willing to pay more.
But leave it to right wingers to tell people that they’ll be enriched by being made poorer. And leave it to GOP base types to believe it.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 2:39 pm:
I like that he seems to get that businesses need to make money and employ people in Illinois or there won’t be any taxes to pay for a progressive social agenda. Too many politicians lose perspective one way or the other.
- njt - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 2:45 pm:
=Google should be your friend The Doc. In the private sector, 38% of people work for large businesses and 53% work for small businesses.=
Looks 50/50, would like to know where the 38/53 comes from:
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-IL.pdf
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 2:55 pm:
OW you are charitable. ” land doesn’t vote” South of 80 is irrelevant. took your magnanimous varnish off. But bless you.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 2:59 pm:
“Too many politicians lose perspective one way or the other.”
Another liberal billionaire governor helped enact a progressive agenda, Gov. Dayton in Minnesota. That worked out pretty good. Pritzker is willing to enact pro-business reforms, just not the extremism of Rauner, the Koch brothers, etc.
Speaking of supply side economics, a Fox News host (Tucker Carlson) ripped Trump’s tax cuts as just benefiting rich corporations.
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/449544-tucker-carlson-gop-tax-law-far-better-deal-for-corporate-america-than-middle?amp
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:01 pm:
- oh? -
Here’s the rub;
Central, western, downstate Illinois is as important as Chicagoland, and I say that because ignoring that Illinois is a global agricultural giant is a bias that borders on not knowing how food is “made or whatever”
What the balance needs to look at is the complexity of Illinois is the state’s greatest strength, and Chicagoland needs to have far more respect for anything outside Chicagoland, and the “She-Caw-Go” folks should realize a world class city and region makes Illinois not be Mississippi.
Balance is the key.
Land doesn’t vote… people are voters.
Rural Illinois is an important global force, no different than Chicago. Rural Illinois is an asset, and should be a partner.
I can’t help people are ignorant to things.
- walker - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:02 pm:
Those in the state who know both small business realities, and Pritzker’s experience and interest, find the Governor’s business agenda to favor small business growth. Almost all his pro-jobs bills focus on startups and small businesses. For instance, the proposed graduated tax will also give tax cuts to over 85 percent of small business owners, due to their pass-thru legal tax status and actual taxable income. (Real data, not opinion.)
The informed criticism tends to come from those representing large corporations, who have not been the focus so far.
- Scamp640 - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:05 pm:
@ Steve: I am sorry to say that the facts are against you. You can take any standard of living metric you wish, including life expectancy, educational attainment, poverty rates, adjusted income, or other measures and you will see that the “right to work” states are worse off. Its not even close:
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/upshot/where-are-the-hardest-places-to-live-in-the-us.html
https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2018/comm/acs-poverty-map.html
http://money.com/money/5177566/average-income-every-state-real-value/
https://www.businessinsider.com/ranked-life-expectancy-by-state-2018-4
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
OW agri Illinois is in the business of receiving pity and subsidies to sell beans and corn to China. Don’t let nostalgia blind you to reality. They do not pull there weight…they are a burden.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:13 pm:
===Don’t let nostalgia blind you to reality. They do not pull there weight…they are a burden.===
Hmm…
===Marketing of Illinois’ agricultural commodities generates more than $19 billion annually. Corn accounts for 54 percent of that total. Marketing of soybeans contributes 27 percent, and the combined marketings of livestock, dairy and poultry generates 13 percent. The balance comes from sales of wheat and other crops, including fruits and vegetables.
Billions more dollars flow into the state’s economy from ag-related industries, such as farm machinery manufacturing, agricultural real estate, and production and sale of value-added food products. Rural Illinois benefits principally from agricultural production, while agricultural processing and manufacturing strengthen urban economies.===
Try this too…
===Illinois ranks third nationally in the export of agricultural commodities with $8.2 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries. Exports from Illinois account for 6 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports. Illinois is the nation’s second leading exporter of both soybeans and feed grains and related products. Approximately 44 percent of grain produced in Illinois is sold for export. The Illinois Department of Agriculture promotes items produced, processed or packaged in Illinois through international and domestic marketing exhibits, trade missions, industry tours, publications, the Illinois Product Logo program and an electronic database for trade leads.===
Source?
Illinois Department of Agriculture, not nostalgia.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/About/Pages/Facts-About-Illinois-Agriculture.aspx#h1
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:23 pm:
“you will see that the “right to work” states are worse off”
Union contracts don’t just bring higher wages. They also bring benefits, job security, workplace protections, etc. The entire package elevates standards of living. The super-rich have lawyers, contracts, etc., when they do business, to protect themselves. Unions provide protections for workers who are not super-rich.
I want to retract some of my criticism of unions and the GOP base. Many Republican voters repealed RTWFL in Missouri. Much respect to them and to others, like in Ohio, where an anti-union law was repealed a few years back.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:26 pm:
btw OW…very little is grown on Illinois farms that we eat. So…please spare me that chord. Agri is a net loser for the fed/state taxpayer. Cut rate property tax…federal subsidy…farm aid….it is a way of life that only lives in our nostalgic memory.
- Yep - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:26 pm:
The only thing we learn from history..Yep
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:30 pm:
- oh? -
“… livestock, dairy, poultry… “
Ya ever *been* outside Chicagoland? LOL
If you’d like to argue with the figures I cited, your beef isn’t with me, it’s with the Department of Agriculture, Illinois’ and the federal cabinet agency.
Your anger towards “downstate” is terribly misguided.
It’s embarrassing, really.
Illinois *is* a global giant in agriculture.
You may not like that…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:38 pm:
I think Kewanee calls itself the “Hog Capital of the World”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:40 pm:
More pumpkins are grown in Illinois than anywhere else…
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:41 pm:
OW. very true ….now do a stat research on what it costs the rest of us in subsidies and higher real estate taxes because they don’t pay on the formula we do. They consume more than they bring. Now consider the one dollar out two dollar in burden the agri counties benefit from the state. They bleed “hard working families” in Illinois withot remorse… even disdain those families.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:42 pm:
===…very true===
Yeah, I stopped reading after that.
Thanks.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:43 pm:
==They do not pull there weight…they are a burden.==
That’s a little harsh, ain’t it?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:46 pm:
===That’s a little harsh, ain’t it?===
You can’t help those who feel afflicted.
It’s their anger they’re holding tight, like if they let go then somehow being wrong is now seen as the waste it always was.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:49 pm:
As I write…ow…I sit…not in urban Oswego…but in Troy Grove. Very few hogs. zilch for poultry…no dairy. The embarassment is yours….come on down to farm country and I will show you. I didn’t argue with your figures so stop stuffing your straw man.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:51 pm:
Isn’t there a grain elevator in Troy Grove?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 3:54 pm:
Our sleepy hamlet, Oswego, has its roots in agriculture, and while Kendall County was, and could still be, one of the fastes growing counties in America, the rural footprint… in, around, all over Oswego is pronounced.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 4:26 pm:
Yep… grain elevator in Troy Grove….ship tax subsidized grain to China out of there. Thats where your taxes go. Oswego….sleepy little hamlet went from 13 thousand to 33 thousand 2000 to 2010…current estimate 38000. Your sleepy little hamlet is over a third as large as our whole county..and ours is second largest in Illinois my urban cowboy.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 4:28 pm:
- oh? -
No jobs at that grain elevator? How does the grain get there, they wish it there?
Your anger… find some clouds… yell at them, lol
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 4:41 pm:
So unlike you to go ad hominem. Bad day? How much you think those jobs ultimately cost the taxpayer urban cowboy?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 4:44 pm:
===How much you think those jobs ultimately cost the taxpayer===
You think they should shut down the grain elevator?
That make you happy?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 4:49 pm:
===…very true===
If what I typed was very true… then saying that “downstate” doesn’t add to the state or is a net loser is also wrong, since those facts were to refute your points.
So I suggested yelling at clouds since you can’t, won’t, and accept my facts.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 5:07 pm:
No….your gross receipt numbers are correct, I am sure. Those numbers don’t mean there is a net profit to the fed/state taxpayer. I suggested you check out what the tax waivers and sybsidies cost the tax payers vs what the rural counties pay in to state and federal. From what I can see it is a net loss.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 5:11 pm:
We’re all taxpayers… so there that too.
===net profit to the fed/state taxpayer.===
So you want that grain elevator closed in Troy Grove those jobs gone too?
You’re angry. You dunno why you’re angry, we’re all taxpayers, you dunno if you want the grain elevator closed, but you’re concerned about net profits for taxpayers… which is everyone.
===From what I can see it is a net loss.===
LOL
“From what I can see… “
Show your work. Thanks.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 5:28 pm:
lets call it for what is…you are all for tax breaks and subsidies for the rural Republican areas. Not so much for urbanized Democrat areas. you wouldn’t be a Republican if you weren’t. If the rural areas were self supporting we would not have federal crop insurance, direct subsidys, tax breaks. If what you claim is true those things would not be needed. I am not angry but admit to irritatition by the fiction these good Republicans are self reliant.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 5:34 pm:
===you are all for tax breaks and subsidies for the rural Republican areas. Not so much for urbanized Democrat areas.===
What do you base *that* on?
Show your work. Like you, I easily admit when I’m wrong, and apologize. Ask around.
===you wouldn’t be a Republican if you weren’t===
Democrats can’t be Pro-Ag? That’s a new one.
How can you be against subsidies if you can’t even show what damage they are doing.
===From what I can see it is a net loss.===
Show. Your. Work.
=== I am not angry but admit to irritatition by the fiction these good Republicans are self reliant.===
Here, Troy Grove is a small town.
You should go to the next town meeting and demand the grain elevator be closed, they are hurting taxpayers, with a net loss, and the town doesn’t need that “bad” in its town limits.
Lemme know how that goes.
LOL
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 5:44 pm:
On this issue, OW, we will agree to disagree.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 5:49 pm:
===On this issue, we will agree to disagree.===
Why? You can’t find facts to hold up your end of the argument?
Your end is “I’m irritated, I dunno why, but there has to be a reason… Republicans”
That’s not an argument to agree or disagree.
Let’s look at the facts;
===Marketing of Illinois’ agricultural commodities generates more than $19 billion annually. Corn accounts for 54 percent of that total. Marketing of soybeans contributes 27 percent, and the combined marketings of livestock, dairy and poultry generates 13 percent. The balance comes from sales of wheat and other crops, including fruits and vegetables.
Billions more dollars flow into the state’s economy from ag-related industries, such as farm machinery manufacturing, agricultural real estate, and production and sale of value-added food products. Rural Illinois benefits principally from agricultural production, while agricultural processing and manufacturing strengthen urban economies.===
Try this too…
===Illinois ranks third nationally in the export of agricultural commodities with $8.2 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries. Exports from Illinois account for 6 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports. Illinois is the nation’s second leading exporter of both soybeans and feed grains and related products. Approximately 44 percent of grain produced in Illinois is sold for export. The Illinois Department of Agriculture promotes items produced, processed or packaged in Illinois through international and domestic marketing exhibits, trade missions, industry tours, publications, the Illinois Product Logo program and an electronic database for trade leads.===
Sourced above.
Also this;
Counties, and land, don’t vote.
Does the Governor need to do better “downstate”, arguably yes.
Central, western, southern Illinois matter.
All of Illinois… matters.
There is no “agree to disagree” on this.
Sorry.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 6:19 pm:
I started with they are irrelevant. Why pray tell does he need to do better downstate? They didn’t vote for him and they don’t support Democrats in the G.A. The G.A. and the Governor didn’t need their votes last election and won’t in the next. They marginalized themselves. Or are you arguing for noblese oblige? Your arguement seems to be we need them. I don’t think we do. You see them as an asset…me a liability. We have a saying about certain extremeties on boar hogs down here. It applies to Republicans in Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 6:41 pm:
===Why pray tell does he need to do better downstate?===
Because he’s governor of all of Illinois.
The mere fact you ask that, your ignorance of things outside your anger is… glaring.
The governor is doing well, he can always do better.
===They didn’t vote for him and they don’t support Democrats in the G.A. The G.A. and the Governor didn’t need their votes last election and won’t in the next. They marginalized themselves. Or are you arguing for noblese oblige? ==
This speaks directly to…
“They ain’t like me, they get nothing.”
That’s not how governing works.
Also, not all votes were partisan, there was bipartisan support in this session. Please say there wasn’t. There was, and your ignorance to that would only be heightened by doubling down.
===Your arguement seems to be we need them. I don’t think we do. You see them as an asset…me a liability. We have a saying about certain extremeties on boar hogs down here. It applies to Republicans in Illinois.===
Anger.
That’s *who* you are… based on nothing.
We need a strong Illinois.
Oh… ask the Eastern Bloc… if you think for a millisecond I’d take their side, you are far beyond hope.
It’s comes down to…
You’re angry… anyone not angry like you… facts or not… they’re wrong.
Go yell at clouds.
You aren’t helping, you look foolish.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 7:11 pm:
===You seem to be the one yelling===
Nah.
You’re confusing mocking your utter ignorance as yelling.
It happens. LOL
Lemme know how that goes in ole Troy Grove. You’ll be quite popular.
- oh? - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 9:57 pm:
Utter ignorance….my you are on a roll.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 20, 19 @ 10:06 pm:
===my you are on a roll===
I’m vamping, helping ya, waiting for ya to drop a fact.
No one is stopping you.
- truthteller - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 8:04 am:
I put a local GOP state rep on the spot a week after all the bills were passed. Of course he voted against every one. I asked him if he thought it would wrong for your district to accept any state monies because you weren’t willing to vote for the money yourself…? He quickly changed the subject. The gutlessness runs rampant in GOP circles. Always oppose and always accept the monies..
- truthteller - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 8:07 am:
As for JB’s opinion and thoughts, I totally see his point that being a progressive, supporting a fair tax and fair pay is NOT against business interest. In fact, giving working people more money automatically puts more into the economy. Better roads and infrastructure makes business climate way better for all. Whats the #1 complaint we hear now from business? Lack of skilled workers…a situation that can be corrected.
- sonny chiss - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 9:02 am:
Even thought I’m not a fan of JB’s progressive agenda I have to say he is off to a good start and much more effective than his last two predecessors. On the flip side, the last two set the bar very low……
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 10:01 am:
===I can not emphasize enough. $1 to the state and $2 from the state. Thas is the fact that you conveniently ignore.===
Actually, I don’t.
Actually, I point out to the Eastern Bloc this fact.
Actually, I point out constantly that “downstate” needs Chicagoland, to the chagrin of former Raunerites now faux GOP members. Keep up.
That doesn’t negate the economic impact agriculture has, or the global position Illinois is in, or that you still won’t say that Troy Grove should force a shutdown of the grain elevator, LOL
=== I say the agri counties are net losses for state tax payers. That is what this blog is about…state government===
… and yet, the state’s Department of Agriculture, things you agree are true, say otherwise.
Your angry, biased opinion runs counter to your agreeing to undisputed facts.. you say you agree with when it come to the industry.
===If you want to argue the social benefits of offering a rural lifestyle…the aesthetics…that is a different issue.===
Do you just don’t like “rural folks”… since you already agree with undisputed facts from the Department of Agriculture.
Says more about you than maybe you might not have wanted to say.
You should tell the folks in Troy Grove your disgust with them… LOL