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* Subscribers know more about this development…
House Democrats say they’re working behind the scenes to draw up their own budget plan they hope can pass before a May 31 deadline […]
“The truth is that what the governor is asking for is that we wholeheartedly accept his political ideology and agenda in exchange for a balanced budget,” Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said. “The people of Illinois deserve a balanced budget with or without Gov. Rauner getting what he wants on a number of political fronts.”
Democrats aren’t saying what their budget plan would look like. If it contained a tax hike, that would play into Rauner’s hands. The governor could veto the measure and force lawmakers back to the table over the summer as he airs millions of dollars in TV ads ripping Democrats for trying to raise taxes before making other fixes.
* Reuters…
Given the Democrats’ control of the state legislature and their opposition to many proposals for spending cuts, municipal bond fund managers see little alternative for Republican Governor Bruce Rauner other than eventually agreeing to hike taxes, such as raising the state’s income tax or broadening its sales tax base. […]
“What is quite simple a solution is to raise taxes,” said Tom Metzold, senior portfolio manager at Eaton Vance Management, which has been paring down its Illinois exposure. “You’re going to have a game of chicken over who blinks first - the cutting expenditure side or raising taxes side.” […]
“It doesn’t take much of a tax increase and/or a combination of some spending cuts to solve their problems, it just takes the political will,” said Guy Davidson, director of Municipal Fixed Income at AllianceBernstein, which owns some Illinois state general obligation bonds.
While Illinois ranks 31st among the states in terms of its state business tax climate for 2015, according to the Tax Foundation research group, its flat personal income tax rate is well below many other states, particularly for higher-income earners.
Davidson is way understating the problem here. These aren’t easy peasy things.
* Meanwhile, yet another House proposal that has no chance of passage, but could likely wind up as direct mail fodder for the Democrats since it’s quite popular…
People who make more than $1 million per year would pay more in taxes after their incomes reached seven figures under a plan that lawmakers started considering today. […]
The plan would add a 3 percent tax to annual incomes over $1 million and send the money generated to Illinois schools.
Business leaders pushed back, saying the idea would be “another nail in the coffin” for businesses considering leaving Illinois. And he echoed last year’s criticisms of the 2014 referendum as a populist political move.
“It’s an easy vote to say yes to, much like being able to say: ‘Tax somebody else to take care of the problems that we face in this state,” Illinois Manufacturers Association President Greg Baise said.
The House Revenue Committee approved the measure along strictly partisan lines today.
* More…
“After New Jersey implemented its millionaires tax, the state itself came out and estimated it lost $2.4 billion of income as a direct result of tax migration,” said Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “We think tax migration is going to be a very big issue.”
“In talking to our members, tax policy is indeed a driver of where they locate,” said Greg Baise, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “This will be another nail in the coffin for job creators who want to stay in the state.”
Baise said the amendment does not address tax policy in a broad manner, something Gov. Bruce Rauner has said he wants the legislature to do this spring.
Currie, though, said the number of millionaires in New Jersey increased after the state imposed a similar tax.
It’s gonna be a heckuva summer unless they can get their acts together right away.
…Adding… Wall St. Journal…
Anti-tax advocates contend that higher taxes on the wealthy lead to millionaire flight. They say this has been seen in Maryland, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York. The rich are mobile, they say. They can take their money, taxes and jobs wherever they are treated best.
But a new study focusing on New Jersey provides some of the most detailed evidence yet that so-called millionaire taxes have little effect on the movements of millionaires as a whole.
The study, by sociologists Cristobal Young at Stanford and Charles Varner at Princeton, studied the migration patterns of New Jersey’s millionaires before and after 2004, when the state imposed a “millionaire’s tax” that raised rates on those earning $500,000 or more to 8.97% from 6.37%.
The study found that the overall population of millionaires increased during the tax period. Some millionaires moved out, of course. But they were more than offset by the creation of new millionaires.
The study dug deeper to figure out whether the millionaires who were moving out did so because of the tax. As a control group, they used New Jersey residents who earned $200,000 to $500,000–in other words, high-earners who weren’t subject to the tax. They found that the rate of out-migration among millionaires was in line with and rate of out-migration of submillionaires. The tax rate, they concluded, had no measurable impact.
* Related…
* Expert panel criticizes medical care at Illinois prisons
* State tardy on $10 million in funding to U of I Extension
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:35 am
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Privatized medical care at prisons wasn’t a solution, was it?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:40 am
What’s new?
Comment by walker Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:41 am
I’m pretty pessimistic, but it is worth pointing out that the budget always looks like it’s going to fall apart right before it comes together.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:42 am
It gets harder every day to know who to be for in this state. I think we need to vote against everyone running for re-election next time. A bunch of new amateurs couldn’t do worse than the current crop.
Comment by Cassiopeia Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:43 am
===worth pointing out that the budget always looks like it’s going to fall apart right before it comes together===
The big difference is it looks like it’s going to fall apart after the leaders and budgeteers have been negotiating it. There are no negotiations. They should’ve started two weeks ago.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:44 am
Guess doing the job is too hard for Rauner?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:44 am
Send a budget with only the will of the people’s millionaire tax and force the governor’s hand to choose between the people or millionaires
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:49 am
In today’s world, a million dollars isn’t really that much, especially to a small business owner or farmer who has worked his but off to get to that income figure.(Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never see it, but I’d like to). It its a nice number to use.
What happens to the income estimates if the income limit is raised to two million? Seriously. I suspect that most people who have earned a million are still worried about losing it; a person well past that point ($2 mil.) is just making more money for money’s sake, and that should be the target…
Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:49 am
A draconian budget to get the repubs to beg for a tax hike? When there are no state parks, SOS offices etc in GOP land, they may think about it….
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:50 am
At this point, Rauner has done NOTHING to advance his own budget, except for carrots and sticks to advance a plan to do…what???
If Madigan and Cullerton pass their own budget, then Mr. Ranuer owns it; if he vetoes it, he will own the special sessions that will come.
I have been an independent Republican all my life; in my county you have to, to be allowed to vote on the County officers. But darn it…the Republicans seem to be hell-bent on chasing me away…
Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:56 am
The fiscal condition of Illinois can not be solved without both cuts and revenue increases. The democrats should be able to craft something reasonable with cuts and revenue enhancements that the Governor could not in good faith veto. Oh wait the Dems had ten years to fix the mess with total control and couldn’t do it.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:56 am
If Rauner were a genuine leader with honest motives, he would have called a meeting of the leaders a couple of weeks ago.
“Boys, and Christine, where are we?”
That hasn’t happened.
Btw, does anyone know if Donna Arduin still on the payroll? Her contract was for three months, if I recall.
Comment by Austin Blvd Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:58 am
I hope the Senate Dems read the post below. It would be refreshing to have someone stand up and (1) give an unvarnished shot of reality here and (2) propose a realistic plan to deal with it. Take the freaking heat and be honest. For once say “screw the next election, this is what we need to do right now to get a start on fixing our problem.”
Normally I write things like this under the influence of a lot of red wine and after watching Andrew Sheppard’s last speech in “The American President”, but today I’m jacked up on caffeine and ticked off at the ridiculous gamesmanship all calculated to who wins in the next election. People of Illinois are the losers right now - our legislators need to start stepping up and doing what we elect them to do.
Feel free to take your potshots - I’m not naive, just angry.
Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:02 am
“Send a budget with only the will of the people’s millionaire tax and force the governor’s hand to choose between the people or millionaires”
Wise choice. With the experience outlined above in NJ, a loss of revenue is just what Illinois is looking for.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:03 am
To say Rauner’s efforts on the budget will be entirely for naught, is wrong.
Any budget, including one primarily crafted by the Dems, will likely include many of the cuts and changes proposed by Rauner. It will have to.
Comment by walker Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:04 am
Anonymous 10:49:
Not a bad idea, but the Millionaire’s tax is a constitutional amendment that cannot be adopted until 2016 at the earliest.
Still, you are on the right track.
If Democrats pass anything, it has to be balanced, and it will set a floor for spending cuts, regardless of where the revenue comes from.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:08 am
Just a helpful reminder on a related issue, the General Assembly can appropriate money for a program, but the Governor is not forced to spend it.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:08 am
They’re baaack! Someone please tell those wayward GOP members what to do or how to vote.
“Bruce, give us guidance. We don’t know what to do. Help!”
Comment by Weenie Caucus Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:14 am
Why anyone would believe the Chamber is beyond me.
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2011/04/20/millionaire-tax-didnt-chase-the-rich-from-new-jersey-study-says/?wpisrc=nl_wonk
Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:16 am
I’m not enthusiastic about a millionaire, a constitutional change to implement a progressive tax is much better. Everyone is Wisconsin making over 244K is paying 7.65%. Everyone is Iowa making over 69K is paying 8.98%. Iowa has 9 brackets and Wisconsin 4 so many lower wage individuals are paying a very low rate. While other states are healthier fiscally than Illinois partisan fighting continues here, with one side looking out for business and the other looking out for the middle class. You would think that there could be a middle ground some where.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:20 am
In my first sentence in my previous post I was referring to millionaire “tax”.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:21 am
- Cassiopeia -;
“It gets harder every day to know who to be for in this state. I think we need to vote against everyone running for re-election next time.”
That’s how we got Rauner.
Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:24 am
Even if the only millionaire left in the State is Brucey, the income tax still adds an additional half billion in state coffers, right?
Comment by McDouble Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:25 am
So in order to avoid a 3% tax increase on his income over $1,000,000 Mr. Lake Shore Drive Condo owner or Mr. Barrington mansion dweller will instead pay higher taxes and move to a $125,000 home in Whiting and commute to his job in Chicago. 3% of a million dollars isn’t even enough to buy a decent car. 3% of three-million won’t get you into a quality wine club.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:27 am
According to the Phoenix Marketing International survey, the states with the most millionaires per capita in 2014 were:
1. Maryland
2. Connecticut
3. New Jersey
4. Hawaii
5. Alaska
Only one of them could remotely be considered a “low-tax” state. Alaska lives off the oil tax and federal taxpayers.
Last I checked, Bevely Hills, Marin County and Manhattan arent exactly ghost towns due to tax migration.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:30 am
Actually the budget talks are going on despite some unsourced reportin’ The talks aren’t terribly productive, but that happens.
Looks like GOPies in house and senate, already deeply embarrassed by the kinky donations, tried and failed to change the subject
Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:30 am
Dude:
Right now, the Fair Tax is not a choice.
Given a choice between every single Democrat voting to pass a Millionaire Tax and every single Republican voting to gut $7 billion in spending, the thinking goes that moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats will agree on some combo of revenues and spending cuts in the middle, and it won’t matter at that point what the governor thinks, because you will have a veto-proof majority.
This is essentially what happened toward the end of Blagojevich’s reign, we just need to get there much quicker.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:32 am
“If Democrats pass anything, it has to be balanced, and it will set a floor for spending cuts, regardless of where the revenue comes from”
Are you sure, It definetely wasn’t balanced last May of for that matter the last four years. Otherwise why would we have a $6 billion gap?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:32 am
= Otherwise why would we have a $6 billion gap? =
Uh, do you think maybe the income tax rate decreasing on January 1 had anything to do with it?
Comment by drew Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:42 am
Let’s just say I’m anxious to see this budget. I suspect many people are.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:47 am
@Archiesmom -
I’m right there with you. Referencing another thread, cash the check or don’t cash the check. I don’t care. Just be adults and solve these issues. That’s what you were elected to do. Period.
Comment by Observation Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:50 am
Being a contrarian, just a thought you might want to consider….
This isn’t your normal annual political battleground. It’s an insurgency.
And the guy in charge of the State is running point for the insurgents.
And you may all think he’s being extremely unsuccessful, but I wouldn’t necessarily put money on that.
Remember, the insurgent doesn’t have to win every battle - in fact, not even most of them. But the ‘Status Quo’ folks (in this case, the Democratic controlled legislature and the public sector unions) have to win just to preserve what they have constructed for themselves.
IMO, there is a growing political insurgency based on economics - and the Status Quo in Illinois has failed to recognize it.
Times are going to get interesting…..
Comment by Judgment Day Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:53 am
Spending must be contained. That is the priority. Head count reduction in the state workforce would be a fantastic way to start. I think another temporary income tax increase would be fine, after budget cuts and workforce reduction.
The State Constitution should be amended to remove the pension protection. So this can never, ever happen again to future generations.
Comment by Tone Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:54 am
===- A guy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:47 am
Let’s just say I’m anxious to see this budget. I suspect many people are.===
Same was said about “your Guy” Rauner.
Wonder if Rauner will even try for a budget, lol.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:55 am
Since when are billionaires insurgents? Rauner, Griffin, the Commercial Club, Zell, they are insurgents? They are obscenely wealthy and trying to protect the status quo so that they can continue to enjoy one of the lowest tax rates for millionaires in the country. “Insurgents” they are not. Defenders of the staus quo, yes.
Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:59 am
“Head count reduction in the state workforce” So…we need *fewer* case workers and prison guards? Fewer people helping with tax questions? Fewer people at drivers license facilities? http://www.governing.com/gov-data/public-workforce-salaries/states-most-government-workers-public-employees-by-job-type.html Go there and look where Illinois is.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:03 pm
Tone @ 11:54
Great idea — reduce head count. Please elaborate. Last time I looked Illinois had fewer employees per capita than any other state. So your input will be exceptionally valuable.
Your details will be much appreciated in an age of drive-by wisdom.
Comment by Wallinger Dickus Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Skeptic, the answer is obviously yes. We can’t afford them. Pensions to pay.
Comment by Tone Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:06 pm
+++ Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:55 am:
===- A guy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:47 am
Let’s just say I’m anxious to see this budget. I suspect many people are.===
Same was said about “your Guy” Rauner.
Wonder if Rauner will even try for a budget, lol.+++
Just as anxious to see that one. I suspect many more people are. Like you. lol
Comment by A guy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:07 pm
I think Judgement Day is correct. Rauner knows taxes will have to be increased, but spending must be reduced and things like worker’s comp must be reformed.
Comment by Tone Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:10 pm
“The people of Illinois deserve a balanced budget with or without Gov. Rauner getting what he wants on a number of political fronts.”
For once I half agree with the dems. Make it “without” and I’ll agree completely, even if I don’t like the way they go about it, which is expected.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:11 pm
You know, - A Guy -, I never thought, seriously, never thought in February, I’d still be waiting on Bruce Rauner for a budget.
I actually thought March thru May would be spent arguing the merits of Rauner’s FY2016. I really did, back then.
I thought the Illinois Crew Rauner has would have gotten this done to be, at least, discussed.
In reality, Rauner is like Quinn, unable to formulate a “voteable” budget.
Today.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:12 pm
“Since when are billionaires insurgents? Rauner, Griffin, the Commercial Club, Zell, they are insurgents? They are obscenely wealthy and trying to protect the status quo so that they can continue to enjoy one of the lowest tax rates for millionaires in the country. “Insurgents” they are not. Defenders of the staus quo, yes.”
—————
That line has been tried. Remember Pat Quinn? Didn’t work. But you want to keep trying, go for it.
Also, a political insurgency is all about keeping it simple. Here’s an example of simple that the public sector unions may have to deal with before long:
“All get to pay, few benefit”.
You can say it’s unfair and simplistic, but it’s a message that will likely resonate with a fair part of the electorate.
That’s a political insurgency.
Comment by Judgment Day Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:14 pm
=== Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
You know, - A Guy -, I never thought, seriously, never thought in February, I’d still be waiting on Bruce Rauner for a budget.===
It must be heart-breaking since your expectations and aspirations for him were so high!
Clearly I am teasing you here friend.
He just doesn’t believe there’s any repairing the current system. There needs to be a new approach and a new way of thinking. That means turning the tide on decades of “this is how we do it here”. It’s a very difficult, uncomfortable and often ugly process to watch. Sometimes thinking won’t change until circumstances do. We’ll land somewhere.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:22 pm
In the long run, continuing stagnation of middle class wages would hurt millionaires much worse than a 3% tax raise.
Also, just as a reminder, an icon of the millionaire tax refugees started his business, Jimmy Johns, in tax supported university towns. Funny how these self made men, indirect recipients of the public largesse, are so loathing of their base.
Comment by vole Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:37 pm
===He just doesn’t believe there’s any repairing the current system. There needs to be a new approach and a new way of thinking. That means turning the tide on decades of “this is how we do it here”.===
Doling out $400K before votes? You have me there, that’s new.
Use the search, I had very low, and very specific goals for the LLs and the Press Shop which would lead to Rauner successes. I had those goals and thoughts in January…
I respect the Illinois Crew Rauner has, I just wish/ed they could/could’ve kept Rauner focused on those, then these unhelpful sojourns.
I would’ve like to seen that Administration…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:39 pm
Doing a Dem budget doesn’t make sense. As many have said, this will only play into Rauner’s hands unless they can pull a miracle and craft a package that the media falls in love with. That ain’t happening.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:44 pm
- Norseman -, I’m still in the camp that the Dems crafting a budget is not the political play given Rauner is the Governor, and governors own budgets, so I’m curious as to the tact and framing this budget the Dems are crafting.
Can MJM and Cullerton shape 60 and 30 AND keep targets off a budget with a tax increase and funding for services AND service the debt…
… and let the Governor have a shot at AVing(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:50 pm
@Tone. “Head count reduction in the state workforce would be a fantastic way to start.”
State workforce is down nearly 20,000 since 2002. There isn’t
much left to reduce.
Comment by Rufus Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Can the legislature pass a budget and then override Rauner on the whole thing if he vetos it?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Anonymous, 10:56 ==Oh wait the Dems had ten years to fix the mess with total control and couldn’t do it.==
Pat Quinn actually had the political courage to raise the income tax, which made it possible to have balanced budgets which make the full pension payments and started to reduce the back-log of unpaid bills. The GA was unwilling to extent the higher income tax, no doubt thinking that it could be done after the election. Then Rauner was elected and nothing got done.
I was no great supporter of Quinn, but he was the grown-up in the room that everyone says they’re looking for—but with the great weakness that he could not control the unruly children.
Comment by UIC Guy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:00 pm
There’s always fat to cut.
Comment by Tone Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:14 pm
===There’s always fat to cut.===
Yep. Think there’s anything close to $6 billion? Or even $1 billion?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:16 pm
@Archiesmom — You go, girl. Can I have an “amen”?
Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:17 pm
Darn Rich, you beat me to it.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:20 pm
=There’s always fat to cut.=
Ok, tell me where.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Politics is the art of the possible, so I get this symbolic measure.
But saying a) a tax specifically set at the million-dollar mark; b) only to fund “education” (lord just wait, if this thing ever passed, how creative they’d get there) is of course a subpar outcome. Better than the status quo though. I also agree about building this thing, “It’ll never pass now” is valid but for the future of IL, if current distribution trends in income hold up, some kind of progressive tax structure is direly needed in the future. Politicians, like bank robbers, must go to increasingly where the income actually is, in this country.
Ideally just repeal the flat-tax language. Let future politicians and legislators and voters, decide.
Part of the irony here is that we’re all up in a storm about elected officials not doing their jobs and taking tough decisions or making choices and then we keep handcuffing them (no income tax, no pension reductions, oh OK an income tax but only if you do A, B, C, etc.) Maybe our elected officials would do a better job at addressing our problems in the present if our Illinois Constitution better allowed them to.
Comment by ZC Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:26 pm
Problem is all these “reduce headcount” and “cut fat” folks don’t realize that that’s been done. It’s time now to move forward. The GOP rallying call to “cut, cut” is played out.
Of course, no GOPer will ever admit it. It means losing potential fundraising leverage and giving up tried-and-true talking points.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:29 pm
=== In reality, Rauner is like Quinn, unable to formulate a “voteable” budget ===
No, OW, this is a different kind of governor. It’s all about a different style of governing, of leading. When you are in the minority, you have to use different tactics. It’s called asymmetric warfare.
That’s what you’re doing, Bruce. Right?
Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:31 pm
- dupage dan -,
Unless 60 and 30 have changed, and it hasn’t, nothing has changed.
Same rules. Gotta get those totals to get a budget; minority’s party, majority party, Raunerite Party.
It’s 60, it’s 30.
Nothing’s changed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:35 pm
Vole, is JJ a “tax refugee?” He was an Illinois delegate for Romney. His HQ is in Champaign, sp presumably he still earns and pays taxes in Illinois.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:38 pm
To conclude that flight would result in less tax revenue from millionaires, one must believe that HALF would flee, since the proposal is to nearly double the tax rate.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:54 pm
It would only double the tax rate on those dollars in excess of $1m. It would make very little difference, for instance, on someone who makes $1.1m. I very much doubt that half of them would flee the state.
Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:59 pm
. 3% of three-million won’t get you into a quality wine club.
But 3% of 10 million will get u some nice stuff.
The politics of avarice seem alive and well.
The question is whether the State will gain revenue. If recent history is correct perhaps not
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:08 pm
Tone,
Where does IL rank among states - state workforce head count per 1,000 residents. I’m sure you have the research, right?
Should IL base gov’t structure & policy decisions on myth?
_______________________
- Tone - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:54 am:
Spending must be contained. That is the priority. Head count reduction in the state workforce would be a fantastic way to start. I think another temporary income tax increase would be fine, after budget cuts and workforce reduction.
The State Constitution should be amended to remove the pension protection. So this can never, ever happen again to future generations.
Comment by zonz Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:35 pm
@ zonz
The state constitution should also be amended to ban contributions to legislative officers and executive branch officers. That should help out also. Helps get rid of pay to play.
Comment by dfgz Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:01 pm
- Tone - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:54 am:
Spending must be contained. That is the priority. Head count reduction in the state workforce would be a fantastic way to start. (WHERE?)
I think another temporary income tax increase would be fine, after budget cuts and workforce reduction (WHY? It makes no sense to reduce the workforce when it is already bare-bones. The work still has to be done!).
The State Constitution should be amended to remove the pension protection. So this can never, ever happen again to future generations. (WHAT? The only thing that should not have happened is allowing the pension payment holidays.)
Comment by Mama Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:14 pm
Cut state worker head count? We cut over 20,000 workers across the state. We were already one of the leanest states. Get a clue, we have agencies that can barely function. What is the saying?…Right Size….Down Size…….Fantasize!
Comment by Dazed and Confused Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:47 pm
Word,
JJ made a big deal about moving his family residence to an exclusive development in Florida as a symbolic, protest gesture and means of escaping an increase in the personal income tax rate proposed in Illinois (which was not actually a millionaire tax hike but it served the purpose for my argument). His company HQ likely stayed in Illinois. (I write this without actually looking any of this up to confirm it so take it as my obviously biased and prejudiced view on the subject.)
Comment by vole Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:54 pm
- Tone - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:54 am:
The State Constitution should be amended to remove the pension protection. So this can never, ever happen again to future generations.
Basically (for about the millionth time), everyone advocating for this seems to be advocating for breaking financial obligations. Tier II already accounts for reducing the future pensions (which would’ve been fine if the government wouldn’t have taken the “holidays”. if we are going to advocate breaking contracts after the fact, can we please at least include my mortgage along with obligations that debtors are no longer required to pay? I mean I have a “mortgage crisis” that needs to be solved! (/snark)
Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:59 pm