Question of the day
Thursday, Apr 9, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad idea. It could be a good idea. But the timing is horrible…
After months of indecision, the Rauner administration is lifting a freeze it put on $100 million in business tax-incentive deals that had been approved in principle by outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn but not yet executed.
The Rauner administration and business sources confirm that an internal review of such spending was conducted and a decision reached to fulfill “commitments made by the Quinn administration” to companies including eBay, CapitalOne, CDW and SAC Wireless. Some deals reportedly were finalized in the past 10 days or so, others are still in process.
But the decision to go ahead with deals under the state’s Economic Development for a Growing Economy program may be controversial — both because Rauner and others have criticized the EDGE program, and because he has suspended $26 million in social services grants and $180 million in park grants that had been approved by Quinn but not yet been disbursed.
Rauner has cited the state’s financial woes in freezing those monies. A spokeswoman said the EDGE credit will proceed “because they have no impact on the current fiscal year.”
That part about the impact on this fiscal year is probably true because it takes a while to get these things going. But, man, they nitpick $26 million for indigent burials, autism programs, etc. and then give some huge corporations EDGE credits?
Whew.
* The Question: The Rauner administration’s new slogan?
…Adding… From the IFT…
“If anyone is still unclear about Governor Rauner’s priorities, look no further,” said Aviva Bowen, IFT Director of Communications. “Giving tax breaks to big corporations while slashing millions from the services our most vulnerable citizens rely upon is beyond the pale.
“Cutting funding for autism, homelessness, parks, and after-school programs before asking the most wealthy to chip in a dime is completely out of touch with what Illinois wants or deserves.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Livin’ on the Sonny Side of Life
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We’ll take your funds and the Cannoli!
- Juice - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
I was criticized for saying “I will bury her”, so now we won’t be burying anyone.
- sal-says - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
We Care: Big Business & 1%’ers Only
- Arsenal - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
“That part about the impact on this fiscal year is probably true because it takes a while to get these things going.”
That’s as may be, but it doesn’t really jive with his comments on the tax code you previously posted. If we have to make the major, systemic changes he’s talking about, then the fact that we’ll lose the money 9 months from now instead of now is a pretty trifling thing.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:45 pm:
The Rauner Administration- ‘Shared Sacrifice’ is too selfish- we’re going to give you ALL the sacrifice!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:46 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Confusing and Suprising Since January.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:46 pm:
“Rauner Admin…We can afford corporate giveaways, because they never die and we don’t have to bury them”
“Rauner Admin, where optics don’t matter, because we just don’t care”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:47 pm:
The Rauner Administration - The Grants Giveth, We Taketh Away
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We’d Feel Awful If…Oh, Who We Kidding…
- Truthteller - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:49 pm:
“We’re here to help, but only if you don’t need it”
- Truthteller - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
Robin Hood had it backwards; we’ll get it right
- Earnest - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
We told you Rauner would use his business experience to run Illinois and he is.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
It’s hard to beat the man himself
“I am one of the baddest, you know, enemies anybody can have. And when I set a goal, we do it. I don’t care what the headline is. I want the results. And we’re coming after Indiana big time. But you know what, we’re going to do it on our terms, the right way.”
He’s Gengis, you know, Khan
- How Ironic - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
Rauner Admin “The more it hurts you, the better we’re doing”
Rauner Admin “Making the poor feel worse since 2015″
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We’ll Lie to Your Face, Now You Know
- How Ironic - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Rauner Admin “Entitlements are for the rich, scorn for the rest”
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
We’re kinda new at this.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
Welfare: Not for the poor anymore.
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
We wish we cared.
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
$20 million says we’re right.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:54 pm:
The Rauner Administration - If You Know What’s Good For You, Watch Out Over Holiday Weekends
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:55 pm:
“Illinois-NOT for you”
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
Feels a bit obvious, but
“Robbing from the poor to give to the rich.”
Also,
“Heckuva Job, Brucie”
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
Slightly better hair. Even more clueless.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We Have No Social Agenda, Remember?
- dupage dan - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
“Base-a-ball been berry berry good to Bruce Rauner” - (whisper whisper whisper)
And now, the clarification/walk-back
“Jus-a-base, base been berry berry good to Bruce Rauner”.
- ??? - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
“Believe me, I’m gonna rip the guts out of….well, out of everyone and everthing.”
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
“Get a job. But not a good-paying union job.”
“We’d like to invite the poor to take a break. Maybe go fly a kite. Or take a long walk on a short pier.”
- Bluefish - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
“You’re Stuck with Us for the Next 45 Months”
- Nobody - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
So what are you going to do about it?
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
“The New Illinois. For Rich People Only. Kinda Like San Francisco, But Bigger.”
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:59 pm:
This governmental message is brought to you by Capital One.
“The only way you get buried in Illinois, is in debt.”
- How Ironic - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 2:59 pm:
Rauner Admin “Doing our best to top Henry F Potter”
Rauner Admin “Lord of the Flies wasn’t so bad”
Rauner Admin “All citizens are equal, just some are more equal”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We Don’t Care. There. We Said It, Ok?
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
Your program gets cancelled, and your program gets cancelled, and your program gets cancelled!!!
- How Ironic - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:02 pm:
Rauner Admin “Those with cash to the front. No cash, please leave”
Rauner Admin “Illinois can be Mississippi if I try real hard”
- Sir Reel - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Since we can’t create jobs, we’re gonna buy ‘em.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:07 pm:
We’re doing stuff.
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:08 pm:
Give us four years and we’ll give you Kansas.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:09 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Say the Governor’s a Bully Again, He’ll Have Your Legs Broken
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
Dopey and Grumpy are roll models. Bashful and Happy, not so much.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
The Rauner Administration - If it didn’t come from us, it’s corrupt.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
We got ours, for the rest of you:
“It’s not that we’re insensitive, we just don’t care…”
- Sangamo Sam - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
*role
- Norseman - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
Illinois, We know where all the bodies are not buried.
Illinois, Only 4/5th of the State is Corrupt
Illinois, The best motorcycle education program in the country.
Illinois, Our word is the good as the next guy’s.
Illinois, Let them eat cake 2.0
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
The Rauner Administration - If You Have To Ask If You Matter To Us, You Don’t
- Norseman - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
Oops.
Illinois, Our word is as good as the next guy’s.
- MrJM - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:16 pm:
“The Question: The Rauner administration’s new slogan?”
Pillage * Plunder * Privatize
– MrJM
- D.P.Gumby - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:16 pm:
Governor Brucie–If its against me, its corrupt.
- BlameBruceRauner - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:16 pm:
Bring out your dead……Oh wait we cut that program
- walker - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
We have our priorities.
- Dinsdale - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
Don’t bring out your dead.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:21 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Work Against Us, Face $20 Million Dollars!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:24 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Yeah, We Sleep Just Fine At Night
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:26 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We’d Care, But The “Money” Is So Much Better Not Caring
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:26 pm:
Not a slogan, but Confucious once said:
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
Rauner is incapable of feeling shame apparently.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:27 pm:
The Rauner Administration - We Do Feel Bad, Nut It Goes Away Pretty Quick, So…
- Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
Stop complaining and pull yourself up by your corporate welfare!
- Mittuns - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
“You tired, you poor,
You huddled masses yearning to be cut-free,
The wretched refuse of burdensome mores.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to my axe, I lift it outside the copper doors!”
- kimocat - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Now you know how we really feel about the middle class — who needs it.
- Muscular - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:31 pm:
Illinois is open for business and ready for work.
- Fantasma - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:34 pm:
Juice
I love it!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:34 pm:
Illinois is open, for the highest bidders, and ready for co-opting!
- AC - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:35 pm:
The Rauner Administration, we’ll get around to governing, eventually
- Mittuns - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:37 pm:
Farmer Brucie took an axe, And gave the budget forty whacks; and When he saw what he had done, He gave the poor forty-one.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Fighting Corruption With Every Sweetheart EDGE Credit Awarded
- Demoralized - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Creating tax incentives off of the dead since 2015
- 100 Miles West - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do, we do!
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do, we do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do, we do!
Who robs cavefish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do!
We do!!!
- Sunshine - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:40 pm:
Tax breaks for sale!
Don’t be poor in Illinois. We can’t afford you!
Grease my palm and I’ll find a way to hear you.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:40 pm:
Give me your tired, your hungry, and your corporate handouts
- anonlurker - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:42 pm:
Bruce Rauner: Moonwalking for Illinois
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:42 pm:
We have a three step program!:
1. Cut social programs.
2. ?????????
3. Illinois turnaround!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:42 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Optics Are For The Un-Corrupted
- bluecollargal - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:43 pm:
Illinois - The most compassionate state for America’s top 1% - Caution stay away if you plan to die poor.
- Pacman - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:44 pm:
What’s good for the golden goose isn’t so good for the poor old gander
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:46 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Optics Bad? Send Out Diana!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:47 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Trust Us
- Diogenes in DuPage - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:48 pm:
The Rauner Administration — lobbying by the unions, attorneys, and the 99%ers is corrupt.
- Hah - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:49 pm:
Government of big business, by big business and for big business.
Buying off government- it doesn’t sound so bad when we do it
Do as I say, not as I do
The Rauner Administration- It’s like ENRON only with beer and basketball games
Our interests are special
- Belle - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:50 pm:
‘There are 49 other states to choose from. If you’re not rich, may we suggest LA or AK?’
- Pacman - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:51 pm:
The Rauner Administration- where common sense won’t be tolerated
- Publius - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:51 pm:
You wanna see a corupt bargain? Say yes to twenty million bucks sucker.
- AC - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:52 pm:
Optics? My vision is just fine.
- Not liking my old nickname - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:53 pm:
We take from the poor, and give to the rich.
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:53 pm:
Good Friday Massacre? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
- Reformed Optimist - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:54 pm:
Bruce Rauner: He’s the “I” in Illinois. You can have the “no.”
- olddog - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:55 pm:
Illinois — it’s not my problem, and I don’t care.
http://dianeravitch.net/2014/01/16/candidate-rauner-in-illinois-supports-charters-lower-minimum-wage/
- Hedley Lamarr - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:56 pm:
I’m Growing!
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:58 pm:
Oligarchy: Putting Theory into Practice
or
Oligarchy: Showing the Russians How to Do It
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 3:59 pm:
We Learned to Govern by Reading “Animal Farm”
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:00 pm:
Don’t Fight Us Because We Will Rip Your Guts Out!
- Anonyin' - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
“Makin’ Blagoof Look Better By The Hour”
Btw if we give Pat “Fire Madigan” Brady credit for the ComEd windfall who are the hired hands who do the winin’ here?
- Joe M - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
What is good for the 1-percenters, is good for Illinois - Gov Rauner’s new slogan.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
- Anonyin’ -,
What’s up with the “Governor that shan’t be named??” lol!
The Rauner Administration - Governing. We Don’t Think It Means What You Think It Means
- MrJM - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:11 pm:
“The Rauner administration’s new slogan?”
You Knew I Was A Scorpion
– MrJM
- Thunder Fred - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:12 pm:
Lots of ignorant comments in this thread. I say ignorant because it seems many people don’t understand how EDGE credits work.
These projects don’t receive money from the State. They still pay new tax revenue to the state. Under the EDGE credit they pay slightly less in tax than they otherwise would have for a short period.
If the project is cancelled because the EDGE agreement is cancelled the State does not save any money. The State loses significant amounts of new tax revenue.
Please understand, paying less is not the same as paying nothing and it is certainly different from receiving payment.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:14 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Co-Optin’ Ain’t Corruptin’
- OldSmoky2 - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
Come on, come on, listen to the money talk.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Cuts, Breaks, Less, More, It’s Only Money
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:17 pm:
The Rauner Administration - Making Illinois the “Bake Sale!” State
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:17 pm:
I did a bad thing
- nona - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
“Soak the poor.”
“Stick it to the little guy.”
“Jesus never met a welfare queen.”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:20 pm:
Illinois it’s bleeping golden
- Soccermom - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:21 pm:
Freddy — you seem to think we’re buttheads. In fact, we’re “but-for” heads…. (See what I did there? Thanks, ladies and germs. I’ll be here all week.)
Um, $100 million in EDGE credits adds up to, I think, $100 million. These corporations not only can apply the tax credits against their own tax bills, and also can get to keep the employee income tax withholding that would otherwise go to the State — something I like to call a Very Special EDGE.
It costs the state money. Under Pat Quinn, the State handed out more than $500 million in EDGE credits - not included this latest chunk. It’s a loosey-goosey program that needs to be reined in, not made more “special.”
- zatoichi - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:22 pm:
Winnin’ is a good thing.
- jazzy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:26 pm:
Today is a new day to help corporate america….we are here to help…
- SaggingTree - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:29 pm:
The Rauner Administration — We Don’t Care That You Care.
- One of the 35 - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:38 pm:
We will voluntarily honor our agreements with big business. We won’t honor our agreements with employees to pay them pension benefits, unless the courts force us to do so!
- Juice - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:42 pm:
Buyin’ Elections cuz I’m sick of payin’ for Autism.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:44 pm:
I think we perfectly understand the issue. The problem is, that’s $100 million in tax revenue we won’t get now. It’s just as good as spending. In fact, things like that are often called “Tax expenditures”.
- GraduatedCollegeStudent - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:46 pm:
“Unlocking Illinois’ value”
- Crispy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:48 pm:
The new Illinois: at the intersection of “Where’s mine?” and “Greed is good.”
- A guy - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:50 pm:
The Rauner Administration “No matter what you read on the blog, Rich likes me personally. That’s enough for me”.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:50 pm:
I’m a bad boy.
- GA Watcher - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
Illinois: Comfortin’ the comfortable, afflictin’ the afflicted
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
They only noncorupt branch I bought
- anonlurker - Thursday, Apr 9, 15 @ 4:57 pm:
[One] man is an island.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Apr 13, 15 @ 8:16 am:
“First, Shared Sacrifice. Next, Human Sacrifice!”
For the record, according to the google, in 2014:
Capital One:
Revenue — $22.3B
Net Income — $4.3B
EBay:
Revenue — $18B
Net Income — $3.5B
CDW:
Revenue — $10.8B
Net Income — $133M
Under what theory of government, economics or morality are these highly profitable corporations entitled to handouts from the taxpayer? It’s criminal, whether it’s Quinn or Rauner.
If Mr. Businessman really wants to shake things up, he can cut companies that make billions in annual profits off the dole.
Maybe start at that end of the spectrum, rather then with the indigent and those with disabilities.