Biss, Pritzker and the money debate
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Heh…
* From Biss’ fundraising e-mail…
Clearly, I’m having a bit of fun — but there’s a broader, more important truth here about how to build our politics in this state.
I’m of the belief that we are stronger when all of us, from all walks of life, come together to build something collectively — not when we’re dependent on a single person or their vast personal wealth to make change.
Unfortunately, we know all too well here in Illinois what happens when we let one individual have a disproportionate share of power or influence. Whether because of their money or their connection to the machine, what happens is a select few make decisions about us, without us — and the rest of us pay the price.
That’s why we’re doing things differently with this campaign, and building a new kind of politics in Illinois. One powered by action, support, and yes, $25 contributions from thousands of people like you.
If you share this vision for a new politics in Illinois, help us grow this movement. Chip in $25 or more and let’s show that a movement of people is stronger than any self-funder (even me).
* Sun-Times…
Rauner and state Sen. Daniel Biss are the two gubernatorial candidates reporting more than a million dollars of campaign cash on hand, according to the first major campaign report filed Monday with the state’s Board of Elections.
Businessman Chris Kennedy fell just shy of that mark, with $907,427.61 on hand when the reporting period closed at the end of March.
And billionaire venture capitalist J.B. Pritzker beefed up his total with $7 million out of his own pocket after the filing period closed.
* Pritzker was in Champaign yesterday and talked about money…
“This election isn’t about money, it is about values,” said Pritzker. “It is about standing up for progressive values. It’s about standing up and saying that millionaires and billionaires ought to pay a higher rate of tax than people who make 20 and 30 and 50 and $50,000 a year.”
Pritzker referred to a graduated income tax, which he says should be part of any tax increase in Illinois. […]
Pritzker used his own family story to promote the value of entrepreneurship and philanthropy —- touching on the work of his father, Hyatt hotel magnate Jay Pritzker, his own company, and his work to expand Illinois’ school breakfast program and establish the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.
“I know I started out lucky in life,” said Pritzker, “but I know I have to work hard every day to earn what I’ve been given. So I’ve spent much of my life building things that would be good for other people.”
* More on that topic…
During his tour Monday, Pritzker told reporters that he favors getting rid of Illinois’ flat income-tax rate.
“When I become governor, the first question we ought to ask is: Who should pay the bulk of whatever it is that we want to pay for? And the answer is that yes, millionaires and billionaires and people who can afford to pay are the ones who should pay more, not people who make 20 and 30 and 40 and $50,000 a year.”
Asked if he supported a graduated income tax or the “millionaires tax” proposed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, Pritzker said he wanted a graduated tax.
“We can call it whatever you like,” the Chicago Democrat said. “I think a fair tax in this state would be to ask people who can afford to pay to pay more. It shouldn’t fall on the middle class or people who are working poor.”
…Adding… A bit of context…
- Blue Bayou - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:01 am:
Needs more Carhartt.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:05 am:
So Pritzker, let’s see a copy of your latest tax return. I hope you took zero deductions to pay the max rate of ~40% federal tax, right?
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:19 am:
Biss is making the best play available to him under the circumstances.
Under the circumstances.
Anyway, glad to see a progressive income tax becoming the consensus Democratic position.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:23 am:
JB Decoder Ring: I’m raising taxes on everyone making over $50,000.
- Seats - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:25 am:
Anonymous 10:05: not really fair to hold someone to an ideal instead of a rule in place at the time. If that person wants to put a rule in place that ensures he (and others) will stop getting a millionaire welfare then that is great news to me.
- Anon1032 - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:33 am:
As the note above makes clear, Quinn and Hynes spent about 8 million in their primary. In this first quarter, Kennedy only raised $761k from people not named Kennedy. Yikes.
- Rocky Rosi - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:33 am:
Pritzker must walk a fine line on the money issue and not personally “over fund” his campaign. Doing so will turn off a lot of people. And yes I know the Gov has ” over funded” his war chest but he also branded himself as a common man.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:34 am:
==Kennedy only raised $761k from people not named Kennedy==
Money all counts the same.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:37 am:
Good for Pritzker, a super-rich guy, supporting taxing himself and others like him at higher rates. It’s humane and such a contrast with Rauner, who got a big tax cut and more than tripled his income in 2015, while fighting to force drastic cuts on the type of people who enrich him, state workers.
We very much need to shift the tax burden in Illinois more to the rich. To me this is something of nearly-existential importance for the long-term health of Illinois. Still, this strong desire for reform should never sabotage the doable, which is passing a budget within constitutional confines.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 10:49 am:
==millionaires and billionaires ought to pay a higher rate of tax than people who make 20 and 30==
Do “people who make 20 and 30″ even pay state income taxes after EITC, deductions, etc?
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 11:15 am:
It’s about values…
Well, that will be an interesting discussion.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 11:42 am:
I think Rod’s ‘06 spending is inflated by his early (post primary) attack ads against Judy. He didn’t spend that much to win renomination.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 11:47 am:
“I’m ripping this check up and sending it back to you. It doesn’t have enough (expletive deleted) zeros on it.”
-Rahm Emmanuel
- Ghost - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
posting a sig like that is a good way to help counterfeiters
- Boat captain - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 1:07 pm:
Will never vote for Biss,won’t forget the pension bill he supported. I don’t have a problem with Pritzker’s being wealthy. Going to take deep pockets with what Rainer already has put into his campaign. And with what he has put into his campaign account he will be a serious contender because of the advertising he can do. I think the stunt with the check is silly and a goofy thing to do.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 2:13 pm:
Will the tax paid by say, 50,000 millionaires plus cover the nut?
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 9:31 pm:
35% of Americans pay zero Federal income tax.
Others like Senator Biss who is an MIT and Harvard grad pay $500 or less. He only thinks others don’t pay enough
Is that really a fair share?
- Ana Luiza - Wednesday, Apr 19, 17 @ 5:01 am:
http://www.Deleter.jp/softweb/cgillust/yybbs081224/yybbs.cgi?list=thread