The rank and file get the summer off. There is enough money to run the government as per usual for at least several months-well into the fall-no layoffs, no hits on the pensions, no cuts. And the middle class has at least a temporary reprieve from higher taxes while the economy struggles to recover. No service taxes, no income tax increase, both of which I’m sure would have been effective immediately. And, since it’s Quinn in charge, all the Blago hacks get to keep their high paying jobs except a few symbols like Filan.
The leadership has to work harder over the summer but so what. Nobody forced them to take those jobs.
The legislature has a total disconnect from reality and Quinn has failed to create a sense of urgency. Cassandra brings up very good real operational issues…no layoffs…no Union contract demands….no service shut downs…No sense of crisis within the state government bureaucracy. Hell, the main stream media is barely covering the state government melt down. Madigan has never wanted a Democrat Governor and now he’s proven, by his own lack of serious leadership, that Democrats CAN’T run Illinois state government. The 42 votes for “The Quinn Tax Increase” was a joke. It was Madigan’s “Showtime” and he presented a farce. The real vote was the Currie sponsored 50% budget cuts which received Madigan’s “Magic 61” votes. That was a worked roll call, the 42 vote roll call was a take it or leave it proposition with no implied Madigan consequences.
- Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 6:27 am:
The GA and Governor continue to make Illinois look like a laughing stock. The only difference this year is we are Blagoof free but getting the same results.
- James the Intolerant - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 7:04 am:
I don’t wait to hear any name but Madigans as the culprit. If he wanted it, it would’ve passed. If you aren’t going to raise taxes, frulough days, layoffs, pay cuts, and program cuts. Can’t have it both ways.
I don’t see what all the fuss is. They still have 30 days until the new fiscal year; we aren’t (YET!) at the point like the last few years with budgets going into August and September, with Blagojevich ‘zeroing’ lines that already had expenditures from them.
Seems like an easy pick
Madigan puts on 42
GOPs vote for ALL spending programs
Boxed Tom put on ZERO
What size jacket would u like TC? How abou 32 short?
Circular Firing Squad Suit Shop will shorten the sleeves and have it ready by 10 a.m.
What nonsense. What nerve. With the Democrats dominating Springfield government, they couldn’t muster enough votes to come close, let alone pass a tax increase? That is the real story coming out of Springfield!
The failures of this legislature belong solely to the Democrats who dominate it, and who shut out Republicans and bottled up their bills with a certain amount of glee? Remember Ms. Representative “Good Heavens!”?
I do think that somebody should take some Senate Dems to the woodshed. We were sorta kinda getting
used to the idea of Quinn’s tax increase, however
ineptly he presented it and however vague his claims to cutting expenditures. But that wasn’t good enough for the Senate Dems. I guess they figured if we were good for a 50 percent increase we were good for a 67 percent increase, and, while we’re at it, why not throw in a service tax too. These taxpayers are beyond clueless–they’ll pay anything. Apparently, not all were taken in.
Meanwhile, Quinn is up there saying I’ll take your money, any way it comes. Duh. Do we need a governor for that. Governors are supposed to shape the debate, not just take the money. That’s the easy part.
Of course, it’s not over. There will be more time for vendors to protest a service tax. Hopefully somebody will notice that the corporate tax rate increase as proposed was awfully, awfully low. Will a bunch of anti tax increase Democrats spring up and file for the primaries. Unlikely in most districts. That’s where the Republicans come in. They have to find a civil way to come up with a solution that doesn’t plunder the lower middle class and that requires sacrifice from everybody, not just the unfavored few. And they have to put up some non-wacky candidates in those primaries in case we find ourselves with the same old tax and spend Democrats come election time.
Cassandra, I thought Quinn did his job, shaping the debate, while others chirped on the sidelines, until the last week. It changed shape over the course, as debates will, when others participate. Now, as they are saying, it will be the legislature’s tax increase. Maybe the Republicans will insist on the two-tiered pension plan. Then, if they all eat their dinner, they’ll get dessert (capital plan).
- Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 1:57 am:
Partisan rancr; at a time when bi-partisanship is now constitutonally required, does not seemlike a recipe for a swift resoution.
Either cancel your August vacations, or be sure to buy the trip cancellation insurance when booing.
- Cassandra - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 2:31 am:
Has anything really changed?
The rank and file get the summer off. There is enough money to run the government as per usual for at least several months-well into the fall-no layoffs, no hits on the pensions, no cuts. And the middle class has at least a temporary reprieve from higher taxes while the economy struggles to recover. No service taxes, no income tax increase, both of which I’m sure would have been effective immediately. And, since it’s Quinn in charge, all the Blago hacks get to keep their high paying jobs except a few symbols like Filan.
The leadership has to work harder over the summer but so what. Nobody forced them to take those jobs.
It could have been a lot worse.
- Louis Howe - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 3:48 am:
The legislature has a total disconnect from reality and Quinn has failed to create a sense of urgency. Cassandra brings up very good real operational issues…no layoffs…no Union contract demands….no service shut downs…No sense of crisis within the state government bureaucracy. Hell, the main stream media is barely covering the state government melt down. Madigan has never wanted a Democrat Governor and now he’s proven, by his own lack of serious leadership, that Democrats CAN’T run Illinois state government. The 42 votes for “The Quinn Tax Increase” was a joke. It was Madigan’s “Showtime” and he presented a farce. The real vote was the Currie sponsored 50% budget cuts which received Madigan’s “Magic 61” votes. That was a worked roll call, the 42 vote roll call was a take it or leave it proposition with no implied Madigan consequences.
- Bill - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 4:41 am:
We’ll all get screwed after the filing deadline.
- Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 6:27 am:
The GA and Governor continue to make Illinois look like a laughing stock. The only difference this year is we are Blagoof free but getting the same results.
- James the Intolerant - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 7:04 am:
I don’t wait to hear any name but Madigans as the culprit. If he wanted it, it would’ve passed. If you aren’t going to raise taxes, frulough days, layoffs, pay cuts, and program cuts. Can’t have it both ways.
- Bill Lee - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 8:01 am:
I don’t see what all the fuss is. They still have 30 days until the new fiscal year; we aren’t (YET!) at the point like the last few years with budgets going into August and September, with Blagojevich ‘zeroing’ lines that already had expenditures from them.
- Boxing Cross - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 8:02 am:
Seems like an easy pick
Madigan puts on 42
GOPs vote for ALL spending programs
Boxed Tom put on ZERO
What size jacket would u like TC? How abou 32 short?
Circular Firing Squad Suit Shop will shorten the sleeves and have it ready by 10 a.m.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 8:23 am:
“It’s Tom Cross’ income tax.”
What nonsense. What nerve. With the Democrats dominating Springfield government, they couldn’t muster enough votes to come close, let alone pass a tax increase? That is the real story coming out of Springfield!
The failures of this legislature belong solely to the Democrats who dominate it, and who shut out Republicans and bottled up their bills with a certain amount of glee? Remember Ms. Representative “Good Heavens!”?
How pathetic of them!
- Cassandra - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 8:27 am:
I do think that somebody should take some Senate Dems to the woodshed. We were sorta kinda getting
used to the idea of Quinn’s tax increase, however
ineptly he presented it and however vague his claims to cutting expenditures. But that wasn’t good enough for the Senate Dems. I guess they figured if we were good for a 50 percent increase we were good for a 67 percent increase, and, while we’re at it, why not throw in a service tax too. These taxpayers are beyond clueless–they’ll pay anything. Apparently, not all were taken in.
Meanwhile, Quinn is up there saying I’ll take your money, any way it comes. Duh. Do we need a governor for that. Governors are supposed to shape the debate, not just take the money. That’s the easy part.
Of course, it’s not over. There will be more time for vendors to protest a service tax. Hopefully somebody will notice that the corporate tax rate increase as proposed was awfully, awfully low. Will a bunch of anti tax increase Democrats spring up and file for the primaries. Unlikely in most districts. That’s where the Republicans come in. They have to find a civil way to come up with a solution that doesn’t plunder the lower middle class and that requires sacrifice from everybody, not just the unfavored few. And they have to put up some non-wacky candidates in those primaries in case we find ourselves with the same old tax and spend Democrats come election time.
- curly - Monday, Jun 1, 09 @ 1:17 pm:
Cassandra, I thought Quinn did his job, shaping the debate, while others chirped on the sidelines, until the last week. It changed shape over the course, as debates will, when others participate. Now, as they are saying, it will be the legislature’s tax increase. Maybe the Republicans will insist on the two-tiered pension plan. Then, if they all eat their dinner, they’ll get dessert (capital plan).