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* I’ve been telling subscribers about this for at least a couple of weeks now. Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton are both hoping to run a six-month budget this May…
Just days after the Civic Federation’s Lawrence Msall cast an ominous warning on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight that absent new tax revenue, “we run the risk of the state’s entire financial system collapsing,”a team of journalists convened on the set Friday night to talk about the political calculations for actually passing an inevitable income tax increase.
At one point, host Joel Weisman asked his panelists: “Where does Mike Madigan stand on it?”
“Where he’s always been,” veteran political reporter Mike Flannery responded. “He wants to protect his Democratic caucus. Madigan has set the earliest ever adjournment deadline, May 7 … [T]he thinking in Springfield is [pass] a six month budget, get the heck out of town.”
In theory, the “six month budget” would allow the Democrats to get through Election Day without putting any votes on an income tax hike.
The “theory” would be to pass another budget like the one they did last year, giving the governor tremendous authority to decide which budgetary line items to save and which to cut. If Quinn is reelected, then they’d take up a tax vote (if needed) in the January lame duck session. If Bill Brady is elected, they’ll just dump the problem in his hands.
* The Question: Your thoughts on this idea?
…Adding… Yes, the story is wrong about the “earliest ever” adjournment date. They adjourned April 15th one year. Stick to the question, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:05 am
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Brilliant. If they do that, we’ll get the tax increase one way or the other.
Comment by Old Milwaukee Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:15 am
May 7 is not quite the “earliest ever” deadline; the GA’s final spring session day in 2006 was May 4.
What are my thoughts on this idea? Stinkin’ cowardly that’s all I can say. I’m sure they will find a way to put off making a decision even AFTER the election no matter who gets elected, because they will already be thinking about 2012…
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:15 am
Under Pate, didn’t the GA adjourn in April 1 year?
Comment by You Kidding Me? Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:18 am
If the State needs to raise taxes then eventually it will happen.
I do think the lawmakers will go with a 6 month budget and get out of town unless the GOP is willing to put some votes on the tax increase.
I do not think either Cullerton/Madigan or the Dems are going to pass tax increases on their own.That could be political suicide.The problems that exist are a result of the current state of the economy as well as past errors under both the Dem. and the Gop. These problems go back further than the past 7 years!
Comment by MOON Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:18 am
They can still dump the problem on Brady if they do a tax hike that sunsets next July 1.
Comment by George Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:20 am
Well, there is also redistricting, more important to long-term Dem power than who the guv is.
Are there enough seats in play to imperil Dem control of redistricting. If so, that explains
any reluctance to impose an unpopular income tax increase, despite contrl of all three branches?
Comment by cassandra Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:22 am
it is yet another duck and run move…I am sure that this is how it will shake out…when Quinn decides unilaterally what to cut we can expect “outrage” from our duly elected representatives who will run back to Springfield and raise the IL income tax…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:30 am
If they’re not going to do anything until after the election, they might as well do this and go home.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:30 am
Here’s the problem - they leave in early May with a 6-month budget that by necessity has to cut education by a HUGE amount.
Then the teachers start ratcheting up the apocalyptic scenarios all summer, and it sucks all the attention to that.
And then they have to go back in August anyway because Quinn doesn’t want to be responsible for closing down schools and firing thousands of teachers.
Comment by George Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:37 am
It is a bigger act of cowardice than the passing of all of last years problems to this year. How many millions in interest is this costing the taxpayers of Ill.
Comment by fed up Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:38 am
Its a cowardly idea, no doubt about that. Is the theory that the beating Madigan/Cullerton will take for the easy way out in the Press, and maybe to some extent, the public much less than what they will take for raising taxes? That has to be it. I think the most interesting thing will be how the Dems spin it for the 7 to 10 days that the MSM actually cares about what they did before they go onto another topic.
Comment by Red Ranger Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:40 am
What a “six month budget” does is lead to many of the problems we had last year with the doomsday budget. They cannot literally pass a six-month budget. It has to be an annual budget. In terms of planning, the Governor’s office cannot, in good conscience, say we will spend 12 months of revenue on six months of expenses. They will have to plan as though that “six month” budget needs to last 12 months.
It will bring another doomsday scenario, another budget standoff, and another session that goes past the planned adjournment. It won’t be pretty (not that any of the options are pretty).
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:43 am
I echo many of the sentiments here. This proves what cowards they are. It also adds fuel to the call for term-limits. Madigan needs to go.
Comment by lincolnlover Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:45 am
I think this would just guarantee Brady’s election. It forces Quinn to personally make all of the cuts, without any cover, and just before the election. Electoral disaster of epic proportions. And then we all get to hold our breath until that coin toss…
Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:47 am
My thinking has evolved on this for the past few months. I’ve come to believe that since PQ is an unelected governor, he probably ought to win a popular mandate before raising taxes. It was Quinn, himself, who got me to thinking about that when he was saying that his primary race would be proof that the people wanted a tax hike.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:52 am
Apparently MM is not a student of history; he really should be more careful what he wishes for.
Comment by King Pyrrhus Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:58 am
“He wants to protect his Democratic caucus.”
Do oaths of office mean nothing? Where is the above written into the oath of office?
And how about the requirement to balance the budget?
Do these weenies not have any accountability?
Comment by vole Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:00 pm
It is a predictable scenario and I fully expect the legislature to adopt the 6-month budget and run. They know the bad press won’t kill them. And, I kind of agree that there is justice in delaying the tax showdown until after the election. If Quinn wins, he does have a mandate. If Brady wins, then he fully deserves to have the train wreck dumped in his lap after all of his goofy pledges to balance the budget with no tax increases. I don’t like it, but I can see the reason behind the alldged Madigan/Cullerton strategy. In any case, the pain is not nearly deep enough nor widespread enough to convince the voters that it is time to balance the state budget. The pain, in fact, is hardly begun.
Comment by Skirmisher Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:03 pm
“since PQ is an unelected governor, he probably ought to win a popular mandate before raising taxes”
No, but he was elected Lt. Governor. With that comes the knowledge that he could at some point become governor and accept all the responsibilities of that office. Mandates? Please. He became governor by default and he will be elected by default because of a dysfunctional GOP. No more kicking the can down the road with this political nonsense!
Comment by vole Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:04 pm
What six month budget? The 2010 budget has paid the bills for only 2 months worth of that budget has all of the K-12 schools, State programs and Universities cutting Jobs. So if you have another “6 month budget” for 2011 you will really be behind 16 months, if that’s not a disaster I don’t know what is. The important thing is that Mike Madigan can keep his majority.
Comment by Dnstateanon Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:07 pm
(Sorry if this duplicates. Rich something funky is up w/ commenting.)
….
Rich, the “earliest ever adjournment deadline” came from Ch. 2’s Flannery. PI was just quoting him.
Comment by Rob N Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:09 pm
===No, but he was elected Lt. Governor.===
Right, but he was elected with a guy who promised no tax hikes on “people.” Remember?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:09 pm
Old Milwaukee says, “Brilliant. If they do that, we’ll get the tax increase one way or the other.”
No, no, no.
Haven’t you been paying attention?
Brady’s now-stated position (I think Rich had the video a few days ago) is based on a relatively simple math formula:
$0 from no tax increases
MINUS
($13 billion deficit)
= A surplus! Woohoo! We’re all saved!
Look! Over there! Bill Brady has found Blago’s secret stash of Magic Beans.
Beans do often lead to a lot of hot air after all.
Comment by Rob N Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:11 pm
Vole ponders, “Do these weenies not have any accountability?”
Madigan doesn’t want the Dem caucus to have to bite the bullet while Brady is relying on magic beans and, ergo, ignorance among voters. (Brady’s position is no taxes and no cuts even as he somehow relies on a pixie dust surplus.)
Where’s a voter to go?
Comment by Rob N Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:13 pm
A 6-month budget would simply be palming more debt to the future. What if Quinn wins, and they still can’t push through an income tax increase? Then what?
As other posters said, it’s cowardly because it only addresses the politics, not the business of the state.
Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:22 pm
===What if Quinn wins, and they still can’t push through an income tax increase? Then what?===
Well, then they wouldn’t be able to do it now, either. And the cuts would be gigantified.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:23 pm
Even with a gutless gimmick like a 6 month budget, there still aren’t enough “unsafe” seats after the primary to imperil the Democrat’s majorities. By doing that, they either get Quinn elected with his “mandate” to raise taxes or they get to try to force the newly elected Governor Brady to go back on his no taxes pledge by inheriting an even worse situation than exists today.
Comment by N'ville Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:30 pm
Yes, this is the most cowardly, self preserving, morally unethical, selfish, thing the GA has done to date. And neither side is blame free.
That being said the question is what will the repercussions be? Will the voters punish the leaders and the sheep by voting out all incumbants? Is the public anger that great? The anger is there but it is not concentrated on the GA and it has not reached the point where action will be taken.
Are voters ready to vote for anyone but the incumbant? No I think they are going to be hesitant to change what they know, even if it isn’t working. As much as they hate what is going on they will vote for Quinn because they don’t know Whitney and Brady has no clue on the budget.
So a six month budget will pass and the collapse will become a reality while the GA is in recess. Quinn might attempt to call them back into session but they will refuse. Quinn will get re-lected. The GA will come back in the fall and maybe pass a tax increase. A lot of pain will be felt by many but they will never get organized enough to do anything about it. MJM knows this and is counting on it.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Gigantified. LOL I like the word, Rich, but I don’t like to think of the implications of it.
Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:37 pm
“since PQ is an unelected governor, he probably ought to win a popular mandate before raising taxes.”
Doesn’t this concept sort of support the idea that the Lt. Gov. position is useless?
If Quinn or any Lt. Gov. can’t take over seamlessly and govern the state without being re-elected why even bother with the position?
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:37 pm
Yet another reinforcement of the theory that the interests of the poor, defenseless and average working class are secondary to the needs of the political class.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:39 pm
==They cannot literally pass a six-month budget. It has to be an annual budget. In terms of planning, the Governor’s office cannot, in good conscience, say we will spend 12 months of revenue on six months of expenses. They will have to plan as though that “six month” budget needs to last 12 months.==
Yes they can and yes he can(disregarding t6he good conscience part). This is exactly what they did last year. Quinn and others swore that the GA would have to pass a tax increase after the filing deadline during the veto session. He spent and borrowed accordingly. Then it had to happen after the primary (like right now). He borrowed and spent accordingly. Now it is after the general. My prediction is they will tell the governor it is a 12 month budget and to decide where to cut. He’ll flip flop like an Asian carp, cutting and then rescinding to stem the outcry hoping to kick the can down the road still again. Same old,same old.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:40 pm
Cowardly? Yes. But how many of the gutless wonders will be sent back to Springfield in Nov.? My guess is about all of ‘em.
Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:42 pm
===Is the theory that the beating Madigan/Cullerton will take for the easy way out in the Press, and maybe to some extent, the public much less than what they will take for raising taxes?==
Yes.
===My prediction is they will tell the governor it is a 12 month budget and to decide where to cut. He’ll flip flop like an Asian carp, cutting and then rescinding to stem the outcry hoping to kick the can down the road still again.===
Correctamundo.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:45 pm
Didn’t Quinn promise to enforce the constitution? Doesn’t the Illinois Constitution call for a ballanced budget? Weather Blago didn’t want a tax increase or not the Democrats have now run all 3 branches of government for 8 years. How about that promise? The Democrats voted in to office want to raise taxes,the people voted them in to run the government I don’ see you reasoning. Except they know the people will hold them accountable for what happens afterwards. This is why we are in this position.
Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:47 pm
I don’t know….. I could see the voters really sticking it to the Dems for such an obvious political move with the intent of raising taxes after the election, and the GOPers hollering the entire campaign that the Dems are planning on doing just that after the election. If the voters are actually paying attention (far from a given) and the media actually asks questions about their plans after the election (even further from a given, especially after the SLC fiasco), I could see such a move for a six-month budget as being potentially even more toxic for the Dems than even a very unpopular tax increase. Better to feel the pain months before the election than be worried on Election Day that the Dems are going to increase your taxes.
On a semi-serious note….. can we just fake the state’s death to void all our debts? Put a giant Groucho mustache and glasses on our state, change our name to the State of Lincoln or North Kentucky or Fuwisconsin or Forgottonia, and when the bill collectors come just say that Illinois’ dead now, and we just got a great deal on the land?
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:49 pm
They used this “vote something to get us through the end of the calendar year and go home” last year, when there was no general election and the primaries were 7 months away. Why should they show any courage this year? Or next?
Comment by Pat Robertson Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:51 pm
This is beyond mere cowardice. Madigan is so intent on preserving his majority, he won’t risk USING it for anything… so what’s the point of HAVING it, then? Nothing but self-aggrandizement.
This is going to feed a huge anti-incumbency movement that can only work against the very thing Madigan wants. As a voter, I have to say, if those quivering chihuahua’s in cheap suits don’t pass a meaningful and realistic budget, I’m going out of my way personally to vote out every office I have a vote for, regardless of party affiliation, everybody gets the boot. You are all fired, legislators, as far as I’m concerned, and Quinn too.
At some point, if you can’t get the lid off the jar, you just cut your losses and get out the hammer.
Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:52 pm
==Responsa== I think the whole thing has to do with Quinn himself. Some people have an air of confidence and authority that follows them everywhere. Quinn has none of that. Because of that he was ineffective as a Lt Gov. and rendered that position as useless,hence the bill. He has carried that with him to the Governor’s office. Put someone like Ray Lahood in that position and you get a totally different outcome.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:53 pm
You make an interesting point, Rich. If the R’s won’t put any votes on a tax increase this session, setting up the vote for Governor as a referendum on the increase provides the cover the D’s are looking for. It will also set up a classic battle between the “tax and spend, big government” Dems vs. the “slash and cut, live within your means, conservative” Repubs up and down the ballot. This would be a dream come true for talk radio GMs across the state.
Comment by GA Watcher Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:54 pm
It makes a lot of sense from a political strategy perspective.
The GOP wants to play political hardball/hot potato with the tax increase by standing in opposition to it since its not a GOP gov in office, and try to regian some offices. based on that MM decides not to be left holding the hot potato, so defers the budget issue until after the election giving the problem to which ever gov wins.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 12:55 pm
If the Republicans, even the 7 or 8 who would vote to raise taxes, stick together and hold out, the only way taxes will get raised is if Brady wins. Then watch the increase fly through the GA pronto. We’ll know after the election if they can override his veto, but probably not. Then it will be time to go to court to see who gets paid and who doesn’t.
Get those resumes ready everybody!
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:01 pm
My thinking has evolved on this for the past few months. I’ve come to believe that since PQ is an unelected governor, he probably ought to win a popular mandate before raising taxes. It was Quinn, himself, who got me to thinking about that when he was saying that his primary race would be proof that the people wanted a tax hike. —Rich Miller
Ok. But the problem here was that Quinn spent only 1/3 of last year talking about the tax increase as the only way. when lisa madigan bowed out, quinn demurred and for rest of the year only really talked about the tax increase issue when asked about it. if you look at the period between late August through December, you see a Rasmussen poll that came out in late August showing Quinn was DOA if he pushed for a tax increase. shortly thereafter he became mum about the subject. it helped that the GA, namely cullerton, signaled that any talk of a tax incease wasn’t going to happen during the veto session. around october the media perhaps sensing that quinn had gotten cold feet asked him if he still supported an increase in taxes and would fight for it after the primary? this sort of questioning continued through december, but other issues such as MGT Push got in the way and shifted attention. some in the media came back to in january in part because of mckenna’s ads. quinn had no mandate for a tax increase after his slim primary win.
if quinn spends the better of this year NOT talking about the budget and tax increase issues, and spends the bulk of it cutting ribbons and promising people everything under the sun and other b.s., and he wins in november, then he STILL doesn’t have a mandate to tax. he won’t really have run on that, now will he?
his failure to get anything but a stopgap budget will be very problematic for him, and could very well be used against him and cost him the election. provided brady’s people are smart enough, they can do a lot of damage to quin and beat him.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:01 pm
“makes a lot of sense from a political strategy perspective”
Yes, that is the problem. If these guys were running a company, they might be in jail for fraud and abuse to the share owners. So, again, where is the accountability? Elections are not getting us any.
Comment by vole Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:05 pm
==setting up the vote for Governor as a referendum on the increase provides the cover the D’s are looking for.==
Fair enough GA watcher, if it really were to be a referendum—-but do you actually expect to see “Vote for us so we can raise your taxes” on the Dems or Quinn bumper stickers? I’ve voted in a lot of elections and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a campaign slogan like that.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:05 pm
No doubt that is what they will do. Unbelieveable! How long can this go on?
Comment by Just the Basics Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:08 pm
oh yeah, and one other thing…
hynes was right to not signoff on quinn’s end of 2009 borrowing scheme. as it was quinn presented that LATE, just as he is his fy11 budget, and without any plan to pay the money back when it became due in a month or so.
quinn must’ve been lying about everything related to that borrowing scheme. too bad some e.g. providers and agencies awaiting payment fell for his lies. to be sure, hynes wasn’t being political, he was being careful and smart.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:11 pm
Yet another example of profiles of the courageous- The State needs new revenue and cost reductions, not deferrals- it is deferrals year after year that caused this mess- Quinn is the only honest one in the bunch
Comment by steve Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:13 pm
@Rich -
There’s another reason to pass a six month budget and wait on a tax increase.
IF a Constitutional Amendment for a progressive income tax is on the ballot, and IF it gets the required 60% of the vote, Democrats would have more options and Republicans would be forced to negotiate, not just over the SIZE of the tax increase (right now, Cross says $0), but also WHO PAYS.
What is the prognosis for a progressive income tax amendment these days?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:16 pm
Is it too late to join the Eurozone and get a bailout from France and Germany!?
Comment by CLJ Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:17 pm
quinn and no one else has a progressive tax increase proposal out there, and you know it. That was hynes’ idea and quinn bashed it repeatedly saying that it wouldn’t fix things NOW, and that only his plan would. nice try though ydd.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:19 pm
Such action would be totally disgraceful. Speaker Madigan needs to learn that his failure to provide true leadership will eventually tarnish Lisa’s chances of ever moving up from Attorney General.
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:27 pm
It is a bad precedent.
There were reasons Illinois has missed budget deadlines over the past several years - there had to be deals and compromises made. Players had to agree on a deal. There had to be an agreement.
Now there doesn’t have to be, and this changes things. It changes how business interact with Illinois government regarding contracts and payments. It forces these businesses to deal with legislative uncertainty, when they are already dealing with fiscal uncertainty. There will be a continued need to lobby and work the General Assembly. This doubles the heavy lifting and costs.
This isn’t governing. This is misgoverning.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:29 pm
How about the fact it is Unconstitutional. We have a balanced budget requirement in our constitution. Of course that would require our Attorney General do something other then wait on her daddy(or whatever) tell her what to do next.
How do you vote for any candidate for legislature when the party platform is, “yea, we got nothin.” 7 years of absolute control and you have no answers. If your not even going to try, why would I vote for you?
Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:37 pm
Vole, remember when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Who’s with me?????
Seriously, barring an uprising from the apathetic voters of Illinois…does anyone really see the State getting healthy? The comments are in line with my POV. Cowardly and not responsive to the NEEDS, not wants, of the State.
Tax the hell out of everything, cut where cuts need to be made, and get the bills paid and move the State foward. Once that ever happens, then maybe start looking at repealing some taxes and restoring programs. I know it’s not as simple as that, however, it’s not frickin’ rocket science either.
Comment by Former Card Carrying Repub Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:38 pm
Typical Illinois legislative response, No real action just a cowardly approach with no short or long time solution.
Comment by downstate hack Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:41 pm
WCW: it doesn’t matter who’s idea it was to raise taxes…your guy is no longer a factor in fixing the budget debacle…let’s review: when RBB took over the Governorship in 2003, the State was $5 billion dollars in debt…after numerous program initiatives and unfunded programs (Family Care, Kid Care,Free Rides for Seniors) when Blago was ridden out of Town let’s low ball the State debt @ 10 billion…Quinn has contributed very little to the now close to $13 bilion in red ink since he took over a little over a YEAR ago…if you pile the legislators largess on top of Blago’s feel good but unfunded programs, viola, giant debt!
If you haven’t noticed, the idea that a tax increase is necessary to eliminate the deficit along with Government efficiencies is starting to resonate with the electorate…the people are starting to realize it is a must do…if it all works out, Pat will be doing the people’s business by asking for a tax increase…crazy like a fox, right Rich?
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:41 pm
- That was hynes’ idea and quinn bashed it repeatedly saying that it wouldn’t fix things -
Another example of your ignorance. Quinn pushed for a progressive income tax amendment for years including back in 2007. He bashed Hynes for suggesting he could implement a progressive income tax as a way to fix the current budget problem. Its not reality, there is no way it could be done.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:51 pm
It’s the ultimate cop-out, but why should I expect anything else. Anyone who votes it should be booted for dereliction of duty. Disgusting.
Comment by Jim Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 1:59 pm
yeah, we got that quinn pushed for it YEARS AGO WHEN IT WASN’T NECESSARY. HE DID NOT PUSH FOR IT LAST YEAR AND DERIDED HYNES FOR PUSHING IT. as some budget analysts and experts rightly noted, hynes’ progressive tax scheme was the far better and more comprehensive approach, and the right way to go.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:00 pm
WCW - He derided him because it was an impossibility, could not be done to address the current budget problem. What part of that do you not understand?
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:05 pm
WCW: you have finally gone off the deep end with your last comment…please take the rest of the afternoon off in order to compose yourself…I don’t recall Pat Quinn asking for a tax increase “years ago” whatever that means…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:07 pm
Its probably true that Madigan/Cullerton want to protect their majorities. However, the GOP leaders are trying to protect what they have and add to their numbers.
If a tax increase is truly needed then the responsible thing is for BOTH the Dems. and the GOP to get together and pass the tax increase.
It is time to quit blaming the Dems. and only the Dems. Both are partly resposible for the current state of affairs!
Comment by MOON Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:11 pm
If this is done, we are allowing politics to rise about governing.
This budget problem has been around many years. Doomsday is here. Allowing them to continue to put this off until after the election doesn’t mean a thing anymore than it did after the elections of 2002, 2004, 2006 or 2008.
Start governing! You wanted these jobs, now start doing them!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:11 pm
the state owes monetyy all over the place and a stopgap just makes the matter worse.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/03/u-of-i-tuition-could-rise-by-20-percent-next-year.html
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:13 pm
==we are allowing politics to rise about governing.==
Yeah, and your point is?
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:28 pm
Vole, the voters have only themselves to blame in the end. To me, I think we too easily jump on the bandwagon to attack a Blago, or MJM for the mess we are in. This way, much like Dorian Gray, we need not ever look at our trueselves or the effects of our votes. It is the other guys fault, ever mind.
VM, I understand your point, but the idea that goerning and politics are unrelated is neither realistic nor functional. The purpose of an elective form of government is to impose politics on government to try and sort out the best course of action.
If we do not elect represenatives who can make tough decisions, then we are just getting what we asked for.
Quinn tried to make a tough call on taxes and selling thompson. Like the decisions or not at least he was decisive; but those dang voters started circulating overlydramatic attacks on these decisions send forth the real message, voters dont want leaders, they want politicians.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:36 pm
There can be no six month budget unless Quinn signs and I can’t imagine that he would. An abbreviated budget would make it very very difficult for state government and it’s partners to operate, which means that Quinn would have to possess some extraordinary management skills that I don’t believe he has.
Comment by Budget Watcher Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:45 pm
To Bill and others: don’t assume that the Dems will pass a tax increase if Brady wins the race to be Capitan of the Titantic as state government goes under.
The Republicans won’t help the Dems govern - why should the Dems be so gracious to the incoming Republican Administration?? And under a progressive income tax, if the constitutional amendment is approved, Gov. Brady will have to take responsibility for a role in setting the tax plateaus by income category - hurting his rich Republican friends in the process as it climbs over 3%.
If Quinn and a Democratic majority in both chambers win, then the Dems will address the tax issue. If Brady wins, Brady is stuck governing with no money and no hope of avoiding insolvency.
Comment by Capitol View Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:46 pm
I am not a doomsday believer. It is hard not to feel a profound sense of doom, nonetheless.
Can PQ prevent this? Can he veto this truncated budget and force the hand of the GA? Would he?
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:49 pm
“Quinn tried to make a tough call on taxes and selling thompson. Like the decisions or not at least he was decisive; but those dang voters started circulating overlydramatic attacks on these decisions send forth the real message, voters dont want leaders, they want politicians.”
that’s not true at all. quinn blew the thomson thing with the way HE rolled it out. quinn blew the tax thing last year, the year that he needed to get it and could have, because he did not go about getting it in a strategic and plasnned out way. in addition to thart despite being told how he might get last year, he ignored all reasonable advice and pursued his own misguided “my way or the highway” course of action, which only served to futher to lessen the likelihood tgat he would get a tax increase last year. again last year was the optimal time to get.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:53 pm
the idea that goerning and politics are unrelated is neither realistic nor functional…
You are preaching to the choir here. I had a lengthy response last week regarding that topic.
This is not a similar situation. This is a abdication of governmental responsibilities. No one who elected these people want them to NOT make any decisions. There is a difference between making a decision based on political interpretations and abdicating a decision.
This is not governing.
These people have to be defeated this November.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:57 pm
Budget Watcher - Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:45 pm:
“There can be no six month budget unless Quinn signs and I can’t imagine that he would. An abbreviated budget would make it very very difficult for state government and it’s partners to operate, which means that Quinn would have to possess some extraordinary management skills that I don’t believe he has.”
ya think????? yes, well we thought that last year and took quinn at his word that he would NEVER EVER sell Illinois and its interests out and pursue anything other than a fully balanced budget. he talked a lot about doing the right thing and courage over politics. but haven’t you noticed that there has been big gaps between what quinn says and then what he actually does? we got a stopgap for fy10 despite quinn’s months of saying how he’d never do that.
let’s see… whatever.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 2:59 pm
If this is the way the General Assembly wishes to go, they might as well just resign from office right now.
Can you imagine what this would do to our credit rating?
Cullerton may as just well hang a sign on his door knob that reads, “We Quit!” - because that is what he is doing here.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:01 pm
I vote VanillaMan to lead to the revolution.
The people who are not leading us are the people who need defeated…and yah, right. Tom Cross, MJM, etc…they aren’t going anywhere.
Lawyers. Professional Politicians. And the such.
Comment by Former Card Carrying Repub Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:02 pm
The Democrats are playing with fire here. They are so destroying peoples’ belief in the ability of government to do anything that they will realign the state’s politics permanently. Frankly, in my view, Illinois will find a rancid, rank reactionary like Brady preferable under these circumstances — and not just for one term, either. It will simply be a different path for Illinois in the future — a Mississippi or Alabama one — and if we’re lucky, Chicago will survive as some kind of global economy city-state. And the reasoning for it will be a desire to no longer be screwed around with by the government, to be able to at least plan one’s life around a government that you know won’t be there for you.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:03 pm
TJ ==can we just fake the state’s death to void all our debts?==
Good idea, but first we need to take out a juicy, mega life insurance policy on the State of Illinois (but Illinois doesn’t have a chance in hell of passing the routine physical exam - it’s as sick as they come).
Hey, maybe AIG would underwrite the policy sans exam - do they do life insurance?
Comment by Portage_Parker Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:10 pm
Well, I guess Rich has pointed out why this tactic will succeed. As informed as most of the people are on this blog there is still a very real difference in what should be done, who is at fault, etc. There is no real consensus.
So how can the folks who don’t have a grasp of the true issues and who will not be properly informed by the main street media make an informed decision?
Intended or not I think the Budget website gave this exact picture to Quinn and MJM. They got a sampling of how voters are all over the place on blame, etc. They already know they will not be called on the carpet by the voters.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:23 pm
“Vole, the voters have only themselves to blame in the end.”
What choices have either of the parties given us in Illinois? If the voters were really selecting the cream of the crop, I might concede your point. But the system powered by money, the dysfunction of leadership in the legislature, the gerrymandering of districts, etc. does not aid the voter into bringing accountability to the process. Add to that the failure of the media to bring to us any meaningful coverage of issues and policy and you have the menu for failure. If the voters respond primarily to 30 second negative TV ads like they have in the last few statewide races, then please don’t blame this mess on us. The system is broken and self perpetuating — an illusion of democracy, elections, and governance.
Comment by vole Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:25 pm
@WCW
- SJRCA 38 (Raoul-Frerichs-Steans-Sandoval) creates a progressive income tax, as does SJRCA 92 (Maloney-Crotty-Delgado).
In the House, you have HJRCA 27.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:34 pm
irish, i kinda hope you are right. i would like to see the clsass-warfare game play itself out. with dem voters finally coming to realize that dem politicians don’t care a hill a beans about the “little guy”, and are shallow self-serving manipulative opportunists just as much as the republicans, perhpas even moreso. at least republican constituents have something to show for theirs, whereas democrats really don’t, save the career dems pols, trial lawyers and union bosses though.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:50 pm
how about a temp tax increase alond with real cuts? Say two years and then back to 3%?
Comment by g man Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 3:59 pm
I agree with Vanilla Man and others who contend that a 6 month budget is yet another cowardly abdication of the responsibilities legislators were elected to discharge. I know that in state government, and especially in Illinois state government,that it is customary to place politics above the responsibilities of office. But this will be such a glaring example of that principle that perhaps it will catalyze the voter uprising we need to purge the system. We are sorely in need of a statesman to lead us out of this political/economic abyss.
Comment by One of the 35 Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:04 pm
WCW - That comment was just an observation of what I perceive to be reality right now. The sad part about it is that by the time the reality hits home with the majority the State will be so far gone that the cost in human pain and in dollars to fix the problem will be as Rich said “gigantified”.
No one is blameless here, Anyone who can’t see that an income tax is needed has their head in the sand. And if he were a Statesman instead of a Politician, Tom Cross would set aside partisanship and sit down with Madigan and come to an agreement. ALL of them are at fault. A bipartisan coalition of rank and file GA members could go to the press and say even though our leaders are playing these games we recognize that the good of the state and it’s people are not being addressed we are ready to agree on a tax increase. The leaders would have to go along. So no one gets a pass here. All of them are culpable.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:05 pm
This is the most despicable, cowardly way to run government imaginable. It is only possible because incumbents are so hard to unseat and so many districts are safe for one party or the other. This is a great argument for why the Illinois Fair Map Amendment should get on the ballot and be approved by the voters.
Comment by LouisXIV Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:21 pm
It may not be “good policy,” but when has anyone said state government isn’t a mixture of bad policy and good politics? Take Rod’s Senior’s Ride Free. Perfectly bad idea with the state’s fiscal condition, but great politics; and it got swallowed up of its own weight.
Most people out there wiping counter tops aren’t stewing about an immediate resolution to the state’s budget crisis. But they are pretty sure somebody in Washington or Springfield (they’re not sure which is where, most of the time) is plotting to misspend their hard earned tax dollars and they’re not sure they want to give them any more.
I would say Cullerton, MJM, Cross and Radogno (and their political staffs) know this better than most. The 6-month budget gets them off the hook and lets both parties run their message. The political natural selection that takes place in November gives them time to evaluate who can run in the new districts that are being drawn as we blog. Radogno and Cross have to protesteth.
In reality, though, why hang someone out on a vote when they may be facing a nearly new set of voters in 2012? The roof won’t come crashing down. Can someone please refer me to the Encyclopaedia section that describes the last state in the Union to go into receivership? Are real, spontaneous crowds of unemployed people gathering at the capital to protest (or are they politely reserving their spots through the Secretary of State’s office for “2 p.m. on a Tuesday”).
Most bloggers here know that if these elected officials really thought it was in their best interests to be solving this thing today and if the legislative polling showed that taking action (by raising taxes, cutting money for seniors and kids, and reducing funding for roads and “pork”) was what the people wanted, we wouldn’t be debating this. It would be done and everyone would be claiming victory.
As it is, this is bad policy but good politics and sometimes that’s as good as you’re going to get around here. If you want a solution, wait a few years until the coast is clear, the map is clear and the people are watching baseball or some other such fine diversion.
Comment by C'Mon Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:23 pm
“What choices have either of the parties given us in Illinois?”
If we had elected Jim Ryan we would be in a lot better shape then where we stand today…. or Judy barr Topinka… just to hit the highlite reel.
Complaining about the lack of choices is that whole shiftung the blame thing. We have had many choices for canuidates, well known and not, that may have taken us in a different direction. laming the selction is just another cop out on responsibility.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:29 pm
irish, sorry but i will give the republicans a pass here. they are not needed to pass any tax increase, and they were vocal against blago’s spending. after all didn’t they enlist help from mike madigan in and effort to curb blago’s (reckless) spending? their point last year was that w/o substantive cuts, which would have included ending things like free rta rides for all seniors, which quinn ultimately refused to support and for some strange reason still does, and political reforms, they were opposed to going to the illinois people asking them for more of their hard-earned money. that the dems, namely quinn and cullerton’s senate dems with their 67 percent tax increase last year thought it acceptable and reasonable to ask the people of illinois to give and get nothing in exchange was reprehensible! if only quinn had done what he was told to do last year to secure passage of his income tax increase, he wouldn’t be resorting to gimmick websites today trying to hurry up and find political cover.
even lisa madigan and dan hynes essentially making the republicans point said last spring you can’t ask the people for more money without giving them anything—especially during a recession. why was this commonsense thinking so lost on quinn? nothing has chaged irish, the republicans are still on firm and reasonable ground here. my only problem with madigan is his being disengenuous in his claim that he can’t call the tax increase vote to the floor w/o GOP votes to support it. he don’t need no stinkin’ GOP votes to much of anything, so please.
assuming quinn et al. dems do take the easy way out and go for a stopgap when the social services providers and agencies start whining again, i hope they whine to and about the people who actually screwed them and keep screwing them all the while smiling in their faces—the dems.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:33 pm
Hey !Irish, Vole, Cap View, Dem’s
It is not up to the GOP to “help” The voters gave the Senate a super majority and the house has almost the same. The Voters were listening to the Democrats when they said they could lead the state better. Didn’t they?
There is a major differences between the parties and their governing philosophys. You Democrats are in charge of everything! So Govern! Stop blaiming people who couldn’t pass their own agenda, what you want is for enough Republicans to vote YOUR WAY to give you guys cover.
This is why the Republican party has been at war about we used to have Republicans who acted and voted like Democrats, it has now changed! Show us you guys are right! Democrats have been in control of the purse strings in this whole country since 06 stop whineing and govern!
Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 4:41 pm
I respond with a question, What does the constitution require?? They were elected to do a job and serve the public, not get re-elected.
Comment by Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 5:47 pm
Fascinating Story and Comments
Fascinating, but totally baseless
Capt Fax kept all hands busy today
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 5:59 pm
look, let’s stop calling the all seniors free ride program a blago program. it effectively became quinn’s when he refused to cut it last year on top of his giving the cta a generous bailout at illinois taxpayer expense.
that bailout nonsense alone is a perfect illusrtation of how and why he should never be trusted when it comes to borrowing schemes. he borrows and spends, quite recklessly i might add. and without one iota of a doubt he is a tax-and-spend liberal too.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 6:52 pm
votecounter, WCW - what are they there for?
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:01 pm
to advocate on behalf of their constituents, and make sure that minority views are represented to the extent that they can with Mike Madigan around and in full power. I’ll put the republican quality of life up against the democrat quality of life any day. look at the mess democrats have made of the city of Chicago. poverty, despair, anti-socialism, low education attainment, irresponsibilty are rampant.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:44 pm
and i forgot to include idleness in that list of 70 or 80 years of dems tyrannical rule of Chicago.
Comment by Will County Woman Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 10:46 pm
Gutless move by a gutless leader in Madigan, his House is up every 2 years, when will he ever find time to actually lead rather than worry about the next election and getting too many members or trying to set Lisa up for Governor in 14.
Comment by ourMagician Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:07 pm
=== i will give the republicans a pass here. they are not needed to pass any tax increase, and they were vocal against blago’s spending. after all didn’t they enlist help from mike madigan in and effort to curb blago’s (reckless) spending? ===
@WCW -
You’re historical revisionism is breath-taking.
I give Frank Watson credit for standing up to Blago, but Cross was in bed with Blagojevich up to his pajamas.
And Republicans were more than happy to vote for Blagojevich budgets, with the exception of the Gross Receipts Tax, as long as they got their piece of the pie.
In fact, from 2003 until the Burris Senate appointment, you have to search pretty hard to find tape of Tom Cross uttering the word “reform.”
Finally, at the risk of repeating myself again, when Madigan advanced legislation to reform Illinois’ pension system, every single one of Tom Cross’s Republican cohorts on the Committee voted NO.
=== look at the mess democrats have made of the city of Chicago. poverty, despair, anti-socialism, low education attainment, irresponsibilty are rampant. ===
Yeah, because Republicans are doing such a great job with Alabama.
To be sure, there is plenty of poverty in Chicago. But its nothing compared to the poverty and unemployment in Southern Illinois, Winnebago County, or across the state.
In fact, last time I checked there were 50 counties in Illinois with unemployment rates HIGHER than Cook County. Will County is one of them. LOL.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:32 pm
That was kinda funny, YDD. Good one. lol
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 2, 10 @ 11:56 pm
you’re talking about blips in unemployment = poverty.
i’m talking about systemic institutional problems and the lagging in all social indicators that extend into multiple generations such as those we have seen in democratic strongholds such as chicago, detroit, philly, newark, baltimore etc. peristing for decades!
what you’re talking about doesn’t compare to what i am talking about. at all!
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Mar 3, 10 @ 1:06 am
p.s. thanks for the info about the senate legislation concerning the progressive tax.
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Mar 3, 10 @ 1:07 am
This is going to fuel a huge anti-incumbency vote next election, if they only do a 6 month budget. I don’t understand what Madigan is doing here; why work so hard to maintain a majority if you never put it to use? If you only hold power for its own sake, that’s criminal.
Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Mar 3, 10 @ 7:28 am