* The Chicago Tribune disgracefully redbaited Gov. Blagojevich in a blistering editorial today [emphasis added]…

This constant quest for new hills to climb conveys the governor’s eagerness to solve problems and be noticed. Unfortunately, at a moment when he wanted to sell his state on some controversial concepts, he delivered a divisive populist rant (”middle-class families,” good–”corporations,” bad, bad, bad) that only confirms the perception of him in some quarters as a lightweight. Illinois citizens might have been swayed Wednesday by the bring-us-together touch of Barack Obama. Instead they got Hugo Chavez.

Unconscianably ridiculous accusations like that pretty much negates everything else in the editorial. No matter what I might think of Blagojevich (and the record clearly shows it ain’t much) I’d delete a comment here if the commenter compared the governor to a commie dictator. That editorial board ought to be ashamed of itself and issue a retraction.

Anyway, the goofy editorial goes on to nitpick the proposals to death, proposes alternatives that would have less chance of passing than even the governor’s own plan (like cutting pension benefits for new state employees), and shamelessly flip-flops on its prior support of the guv’s proposed gross receipts tax (probably because the owners sent the message down after the first editorial appeared that Mother Tribune pays little corporate income tax and the GRT would impact the bloated company’s bottom line).

I understand completely the argument that big business is making against the GRT, and I’m sympathetic. But I can’t help but wonder why my own little company is paying more Illinois corporate income taxes than mega corporations like the Tribune. Call me Hugo Chavez, but it’s not fair, and it’s not right.

* To illustrate my point, here’s an excerpt from the Sun-Times coverage…

Buttressing his argument, the governor claimed the average individual taxpayer pays $1,500 in state income taxes. By contrast, he said, 12,521 corporations with Illinois sales of $263 billion paid an average state tax tab of $151.

* For future reference, any time there’s a proposal for a tax hike over $500 million or so, it can be classified as the “largest tax hike in state history.”

Drawing a muted legislative response, Gov. Blagojevich on Wednesday proposed a record $60.1 billion budget reliant on the largest tax increase and biggest borrowing spree in state history.

* The AP compiled some legislative reactions to the budget address…

* Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, on launching major new programs: “Do we really need new programs if our situation is so desperate we have to raise this kind of tax?”

* Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, on people who lack health care: “I think health care is a laudable goal for everybody. I feel bad for them. But is it government’s responsibility to take care of people from birth to the grave? I’m not so sure that’s my philosophy.”

* Douglas Whitley, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce president, on the economy: “Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s budget plan for state taxpayers is a reckless and irresponsible affront to every employer and worker in Illinois. If this plan is approved, Illinois will most certainly lose jobs and businesses to other states for lack of regard for the economic consequences of his political ambitions for big government.”

* Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, on raising business taxes: “It’s a good plan. It’s a fairness plan. I expect that (criticism) from the Republicans. I expect that from the Republicans, to stand up for the big corporations that pay little or no taxes and the big corporations want to shift it to the individual.”

* You can listen to more reaction to the governor’s budget address by various Senate Democrats by clicking the thingy below (Do you recognize that interviewer’s voice, by the way?)…

* Lots more audio clips can be found at this link.

* The Tribune coverage focused on Democratic legislative reaction…

(T)he reaction of fellow Democrats who control the legislature was mixed, at best, portending a long debate among already feuding political leaders over how Illinois will move forward. […]

[Senate President Emil Jones’] top budget negotiator, Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), was more cautious after the combined State of the State and budget address. He said that Blagojevich’s plans were “real short” of the support needed to pass and that the governor’s “broad brushstrokes” may well be scaled back by lawmakers.

In the House, Speaker Michael Madigan’s lack of a formal reaction to Blagojevich’s proposals was telling.

Madigan (D-Chicago), who has questioned the wisdom of leasing the lottery, has made no public comment on the governor’s plan for a new $6 billion tax on business gross revenues. But in an analysis of Blagojevich’s budget to House Democrats, Madigan’s staff said the governor offered no rationale for refinancing the state’s public retirement system with the “largest pension obligation bond in history.” […]

“The immediate thing my voters, my citizens, want me to deal with today is not health care, education funding or pensions, but utility bills,” said Rep. Gary Hannig of Litchfield, the House Democrats’ top budget negotiator. “A lot of Downstaters … have to get that issue corrected before we can ever think about anything else.”

* The Southtown also recorded some less than enthusiastic responses and fleshed out a very key point…

“This is a long way from finished. (We) want to look at the numbers because we’ve had too many times down here where we say there is going to be revenue that doesn’t turn out to be,” state Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) said. “We’re having a hard time meeting our current obligations. Taking on new obligations, unless we have some rock-solid numbers on the revenue side, I think it’ll be very tough.”

State Rep. David Miller (D-Calumet City) predicted “a long hard road for the governor to sell this to the people and the members of the General Assembly.” […]

Key to winning support for Blagojevich’s budget is House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). Madigan did not hint Wednesday of his position on Blagojevich’s ideas. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said they met face-to-face Tuesday night in Blagojevich’s office for a brief overview.

“We think it’s going to require bipartisan cooperation and a lot of stamina,” Brown said of Blagojevich’s plan. “But we really need to see the details.”

That “bipartisan cooperation” line is key. Blagojevich and Jones would like Republican votes, but are prepared to go ahead without them. If Madigan wants to include the Republicans, then the GRT is definitely in deep trouble.

There’s a lot of coverage to wade through and my intern Paul and I have compiled a list…

* Kristen McQueary: Let the goofy budget games begin

* Daily Herald: Governor issues ‘moral imperative’ of business taxes for schools, health

* The Daily Herald live-blogged the speech yesterday.

* St. Louis Post Dispatch: Illinois Governor lays out new tax proposal

* Rockford Register Star: Governor pitches ’07 Budget; highlights

* Copley: Business is tartgeted to aid schools, healthcare

* Editorial: Governor’s big dreams, taxpayer’s beware

* Pantagraph: $60 billion state plan unveiled.

* CBS2: Blagojevich unveils big plan for healthcare, education

* The Southern: New tax plan could hurt business growth

* AP: Governor’s education plan would silence reformers for now