ILGOP Releases Robocalls Ahead of House Tax Hike Decision
Will House Democrats Back the Madigan Tax Hike Plan?
Over the weekend, NBC Chicago reported that 46 of Mike Madigan’s House Democrats plan to vote for a 32 percent income tax hike without reform.
That’s a massive pay cut for working families without any property tax relief.
Today, the Illinois Republican Party released robocalls into 19 House districts, highlighting that Madigan’s members have a critical choice to make in the coming days. Will they stand up for taxpayers, or do Mike Madigan’s bidding and pass a tax hike without reform?
Subscribers know what may happen here, but the one thing you can probably bet on is they won’t move that House-crafted tax hike plan to the floor if only 46 Dems support it.
HD 15 – John D’Amico
HD 17 – Laura Fine
HD 18 – Robyn Gabel
HD 43 – Anna Moeller
HD 44 – Fred Crespo
HD46 – Deb Conroy
HD 55 – Marty Moylan
HD 56 – Michelle Mussman
HD 57 – Elaine Nekritz
HD 59 – Carol Sente
HD 62 – Sam Yingling
HD 72 – Mike Halpin
HD 84 – Stephanie Kifowit
HD 98 – Natalie Manley
HD 96 – Sue Scherer
HD 111 – Dan Beiser
HD 112 – Katie Stuart
HD 116 – Jerry Costello
HD 118 – Brandon Phelps
* Script…
Hi, this is Rachel with a Tax Alert update.
Over the weekend, NBC news reported that 46 Democrats in the Illinois House are committed to voting for a 32 percent income tax increase with no reforms to grow jobs or deliver property tax relief.
House Speaker Mike Madigan’s plan to force higher taxes without reforms will be one of the largest tax hikes in state history.
Call Representative Marty Moylan and tell him to oppose the Madigan tax-and-spend plan without reforms.
Tell Representative Moylan, we deserve a balanced budget with a property tax freeze - not another Madigan spending spree aimed at forcing taxes higher without reform.
Durkin is gutless and just as afraid of Rauner as the rest of the Republicans. I am still surprised by how cheap they let Rauner buy them all off for. Downstate is being hurt worse than Chicago and its suburbs.
There is no difference between Rauner and Madigan, other than Rauner is strong arming Republicans with his own money, where Madigan’s economic resources come from working people.
There will not be a budget, just as Rauner put his thumb down on the Grand Bargain Budget.
Rauner needs to dirty up that immaculate work shop in those commercials, as he will have plenty of time after November 2018 on his hands.
The governor talks about bi-partisan and working together to get an agreement. But, this is a different looking way to go about working in a bi-partisan manner. I looked up the meaning of the term and everything and this is nothing like it.
46 Democrats in the Illinois house agree to fund the Governor’s budget, without also including reforms that they believe would hurt middle class people.
Tell your representatives that they should only support the tax increase everyone agrees on if they take away local control from local governments.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:55 am:
Sorry to interrupt your constant rant there Oswego Willy. Governor Rauner seems pretty consistent that tax increases must be coupled with real reforms. In other words, “just raise taxes/revenues” by themselves will not be sufficient to fix the long term problems of this State.
But then again, an awful lot of folks, including elected officials and a few early birds running for Governor, either deny or pretend that those long term problems are even problems.
Your comment only works if you agree social services must be destroyed, state universities must be closed…. because Bruce Rauner can’t get 60 or 30, like every governor since 1971.
You want Eastern Illinois University closed - Louis G Atsaves -?
That’s really good to know.
===But then again, an awful lot of folks, including elected officials and a few early birds running for Governor, either deny or pretend that those long term problems are even problems.===
… and yet you ignore the graduated income tax proposals and property tax “ideas”, (albeit not in any presented form) and you are worried about my rants? LOL.
I think you’re willfully ignorant. I’m probably right? Exactly right?
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:02 am:
*****coupled with real reforms****
I see that phrase quite a lot but I never see the true budget savings those real reforms will be. Real Reforms sounds like a good principal but if there is no justification in real dollar and cents they are meaningless.
When the Governor asks for “real reforms” which Democrats (rightly or wrongly) contend would do more harm than good, what is that in exchange for? It can’t be tax increases, because the Governor’s own budget requires a tax increase to balance. If the Governor was advocating for a budget that didn’t require tax increases, he’d be offering something real in exchange for his signature. Instead, there seems to be very little disagreement over the budget or revenues, so it comes off to me as the Governor making demands and offering little or nothing in exchange, other than a modest tempering of his demands.
Which are so important he hasn’t bothered with clearly articulating what they are and how much they’ll save. He’s also moved the goal posts a fair amount, especially when the Democrats offer to meet him part of the way.
If the Governor really wants a budget, we’ll find out in the next few weeks.
- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:10 am:
Is Rachel the same “concerned mom” who said her kids went to school in about 5 different towns in ads last fall?
The House did pass a property tax freeze, but DopeyDuct is proving that as always his word is worthless. If he trashes all elements of any budget plan before a vote he will never confront the need to sign or veto which allows him live in some dream world that he has not wrecked the state.
Louis and LP, it’s been a long weekend — maybe don’t start that “reform” drinking game quite yet.
Unless you can articulate them and give us the projection on when they’ll cover their horrible cost to date. Like the big kids do.
Start with the projected $12B increase in the backlog of bills by the end of this fiscal since Rauner took office. Keep in mind, “B” stands for “billions.”
Some of the reps on that list should have legitimate concern for an off-presdiential year election cycle. ILGOP has money and an effective message. Tax hikes are not popular. The governor is winning the air war.
Rachel also called to let me know my car’s warranty was expiring but could get extended.
I’m sure glad she (and the Governor and the Republicans) are looking out for all of us.
I’m a little unclear on the specifics of exactly how they are helping us but I’m sure they are. Because they said so.
/s
Oswego Willy is right. Rauner does not want a budget and he does not want tax increases. Regardless of his play-acting about being willing to support them if he get “reforms” - the nature of which keeps shifting depending on the day.
Honestly, look at Rauner’s actions, not his words. His actions say “I’m an Ayn Rand libertarian and I’m OK with the state burning down and being loaded up with debt, as long as we don’t increase taxes.” It’s what he, Griffin and Uihlein believe the most.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:48 am:
Still waiting to hear why the 80% of the voters who want political reform shouldn’t at least get the chance to vote for those reforms in exchange for a tax hike. Or why that median $60K household should have to suffer more than the Rauners of the world (because a flat tax hurts such a family far more in real world impact).
In Illinois, voters do a lot of waiting.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:53 am:
Moe - that’s true but incomplete. Some of Rauner’s TA reforms are political reforms that don’t cost a penny and the vast majority of voters support. The Democrats won’t even offer them as part of the negotiations (term limits on the legislature leaders is so trivial in comparison as to count). Madigan isn’t even pushing his millionaire’s tax - a soupcon of progressivity in the tax budget. While the Republicans play to the 1% libertarian agenda, the Democrats are selling out the middle class (save public workers) for special interests. Which is why the public can’t stand either side in this. As long as the electric bill is getting paid (so to speak), the public has tuned out.
Thanks for the kind words, and yes, this is another clear example of actions flying counter to words and, in the end, Rauner waiting and striving for inaction to be the action Rauner desires.
Crazy that any governor wants their state to fail.
So, is Rauner going to continue to whittle down the Dems, or are they going to show strength in numbers? Remember the old stick lesson? A large bundle is hard to break, start taking sticks out and it becomes much easier with each removal.
A budget needs to be sent to Rauner’s desk, with or without Republican votes. If the Dems wait for after May 31, and their numbers are low now, nothing happens because now we’re at 3/5ths. Rauner wins.
At least if it’s sent before the 31st, it’s now in Rauner’s court. He vetoes. Dems should also show strength in numbers during the override, and Republicans… well, we would see then what colors are most important to them. And if Rauner does line item out everything but K-12 funding that is a fantasy world. This State does not survive on K-12 selective funding (as we’ve been shown not everything for K-12 is being paid now) alone.
LCD: I think the fundamental problem is that the Dems, especially the House Dems, do not believe they have a trustworthy person to negotiate with in the governor. (At this point, I expect the Senate Dems recognize that as truth, too.) And, again, based on actions it’s understandable why they feel that way. So, agree to a compromise on term limits or redistricting, and then you get asked for more on something else.
Oswego Willy: you look at the actions of governors Sam Brownback, Scott Walker, Matt Bevin and Mike Pence, and now Rauner, and it’s hard not to conclude that something has gone drastically wrong with the GOP in terms of a willingness to wreck states and their institutions in the service of the twisted philosophy of Ayn Rand.
Anon221: Correct. The Dems should take a stand on a budget and pass something to Rauner. Hard for the public to rally to your cause if you won’t actually define what it is, aside from the meaningless and stale rhetoric of “fighting for the middle class.” Guess what, Dems, that’s what the Republicans say they are doing, too.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:24 am:
Rauner does NOT…
Does. Not.
The governor does not want a budget. Rauner wants the state to fail, for state universities TO close, for social services TO close…
… and after 3 years, Democrats continually lose the messaging.
Big ups to Pritzker for matching the last robocalls, even if it’s just window dressing to show he (and his Campaign Crew) has the backs of Democrats.
If you want to make a case that Rauner wants a better Illinois, please, do include these and the immediately previous robocalls in your argument.
If I have to listen to the ridiculous, at least make it comical for me.
- Blue Bayou - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:25 am:
I guess if you can’t/won’t govern, and you want to destroy the fabric of the state’s infrastructure, you attack instead of build.
- OurMagician - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:32 am:
Hey “Rachel”-don’t you know NBC News is “fake news” or is this the one time they’re not?
- DeseDemDose - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:34 am:
Durkin is gutless and just as afraid of Rauner as the rest of the Republicans. I am still surprised by how cheap they let Rauner buy them all off for. Downstate is being hurt worse than Chicago and its suburbs.
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:40 am:
The robocall is encouraging reform not just a tax increase
It says the House just wants to raise the income tax and not freeze property taxes.
I guess you just think all we need to do is raise the income tax to fix Illinois
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:42 am:
There is no difference between Rauner and Madigan, other than Rauner is strong arming Republicans with his own money, where Madigan’s economic resources come from working people.
There will not be a budget, just as Rauner put his thumb down on the Grand Bargain Budget.
Rauner needs to dirty up that immaculate work shop in those commercials, as he will have plenty of time after November 2018 on his hands.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:42 am:
Is this the same “Rachel” who is from “Card Services?”
She has such credibility.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:42 am:
The governor talks about bi-partisan and working together to get an agreement. But, this is a different looking way to go about working in a bi-partisan manner. I looked up the meaning of the term and everything and this is nothing like it.
I wonder if the governor knows that? /s
- AC - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:52 am:
Hi, this is AC with a tax alert update.
46 Democrats in the Illinois house agree to fund the Governor’s budget, without also including reforms that they believe would hurt middle class people.
Tell your representatives that they should only support the tax increase everyone agrees on if they take away local control from local governments.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 10:55 am:
Sorry to interrupt your constant rant there Oswego Willy. Governor Rauner seems pretty consistent that tax increases must be coupled with real reforms. In other words, “just raise taxes/revenues” by themselves will not be sufficient to fix the long term problems of this State.
But then again, an awful lot of folks, including elected officials and a few early birds running for Governor, either deny or pretend that those long term problems are even problems.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:00 am:
===…must be coupled with…===
Yeah, I’m gonna stop you right there.
Oh - Louis G Arsaves -
Your comment only works if you agree social services must be destroyed, state universities must be closed…. because Bruce Rauner can’t get 60 or 30, like every governor since 1971.
You want Eastern Illinois University closed - Louis G Atsaves -?
That’s really good to know.
===But then again, an awful lot of folks, including elected officials and a few early birds running for Governor, either deny or pretend that those long term problems are even problems.===
… and yet you ignore the graduated income tax proposals and property tax “ideas”, (albeit not in any presented form) and you are worried about my rants? LOL.
I think you’re willfully ignorant. I’m probably right? Exactly right?
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:02 am:
*****coupled with real reforms****
I see that phrase quite a lot but I never see the true budget savings those real reforms will be. Real Reforms sounds like a good principal but if there is no justification in real dollar and cents they are meaningless.
- J IL - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Maybe I forgot but I thought the House did pass a property tax freeze some time back?
- AC - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:08 am:
When the Governor asks for “real reforms” which Democrats (rightly or wrongly) contend would do more harm than good, what is that in exchange for? It can’t be tax increases, because the Governor’s own budget requires a tax increase to balance. If the Governor was advocating for a budget that didn’t require tax increases, he’d be offering something real in exchange for his signature. Instead, there seems to be very little disagreement over the budget or revenues, so it comes off to me as the Governor making demands and offering little or nothing in exchange, other than a modest tempering of his demands.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:08 am:
===must be coupled with real reforms.===
Which are so important he hasn’t bothered with clearly articulating what they are and how much they’ll save. He’s also moved the goal posts a fair amount, especially when the Democrats offer to meet him part of the way.
If the Governor really wants a budget, we’ll find out in the next few weeks.
- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:10 am:
Is Rachel the same “concerned mom” who said her kids went to school in about 5 different towns in ads last fall?
- Annonin' - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:10 am:
The House did pass a property tax freeze, but DopeyDuct is proving that as always his word is worthless. If he trashes all elements of any budget plan before a vote he will never confront the need to sign or veto which allows him live in some dream world that he has not wrecked the state.
- Lance Mannion - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:18 am:
Good spot.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:19 am:
- Lance Mannion -
What’s “good” about it.
Use your words. What exactly makes it… good.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:24 am:
Rachel? Wha’ happen to Caroline?
Louis and LP, it’s been a long weekend — maybe don’t start that “reform” drinking game quite yet.
Unless you can articulate them and give us the projection on when they’ll cover their horrible cost to date. Like the big kids do.
Start with the projected $12B increase in the backlog of bills by the end of this fiscal since Rauner took office. Keep in mind, “B” stands for “billions.”
- Fake News Enthusiast - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:25 am:
Some of the reps on that list should have legitimate concern for an off-presdiential year election cycle. ILGOP has money and an effective message. Tax hikes are not popular. The governor is winning the air war.
- Biscuit Head - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:34 am:
Rachel also called to let me know my car’s warranty was expiring but could get extended.
I’m sure glad she (and the Governor and the Republicans) are looking out for all of us.
I’m a little unclear on the specifics of exactly how they are helping us but I’m sure they are. Because they said so.
/s
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:43 am:
Oswego Willy is right. Rauner does not want a budget and he does not want tax increases. Regardless of his play-acting about being willing to support them if he get “reforms” - the nature of which keeps shifting depending on the day.
Honestly, look at Rauner’s actions, not his words. His actions say “I’m an Ayn Rand libertarian and I’m OK with the state burning down and being loaded up with debt, as long as we don’t increase taxes.” It’s what he, Griffin and Uihlein believe the most.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:48 am:
Still waiting to hear why the 80% of the voters who want political reform shouldn’t at least get the chance to vote for those reforms in exchange for a tax hike. Or why that median $60K household should have to suffer more than the Rauners of the world (because a flat tax hurts such a family far more in real world impact).
In Illinois, voters do a lot of waiting.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:53 am:
Moe - that’s true but incomplete. Some of Rauner’s TA reforms are political reforms that don’t cost a penny and the vast majority of voters support. The Democrats won’t even offer them as part of the negotiations (term limits on the legislature leaders is so trivial in comparison as to count). Madigan isn’t even pushing his millionaire’s tax - a soupcon of progressivity in the tax budget. While the Republicans play to the 1% libertarian agenda, the Democrats are selling out the middle class (save public workers) for special interests. Which is why the public can’t stand either side in this. As long as the electric bill is getting paid (so to speak), the public has tuned out.
- DeseDemDose - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:54 am:
Moe! Thank You.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 11:57 am:
- Moe Berg -
Thanks for the kind words, and yes, this is another clear example of actions flying counter to words and, in the end, Rauner waiting and striving for inaction to be the action Rauner desires.
Crazy that any governor wants their state to fail.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
So, is Rauner going to continue to whittle down the Dems, or are they going to show strength in numbers? Remember the old stick lesson? A large bundle is hard to break, start taking sticks out and it becomes much easier with each removal.
A budget needs to be sent to Rauner’s desk, with or without Republican votes. If the Dems wait for after May 31, and their numbers are low now, nothing happens because now we’re at 3/5ths. Rauner wins.
At least if it’s sent before the 31st, it’s now in Rauner’s court. He vetoes. Dems should also show strength in numbers during the override, and Republicans… well, we would see then what colors are most important to them. And if Rauner does line item out everything but K-12 funding that is a fantasy world. This State does not survive on K-12 selective funding (as we’ve been shown not everything for K-12 is being paid now) alone.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
LCD: I think the fundamental problem is that the Dems, especially the House Dems, do not believe they have a trustworthy person to negotiate with in the governor. (At this point, I expect the Senate Dems recognize that as truth, too.) And, again, based on actions it’s understandable why they feel that way. So, agree to a compromise on term limits or redistricting, and then you get asked for more on something else.
Oswego Willy: you look at the actions of governors Sam Brownback, Scott Walker, Matt Bevin and Mike Pence, and now Rauner, and it’s hard not to conclude that something has gone drastically wrong with the GOP in terms of a willingness to wreck states and their institutions in the service of the twisted philosophy of Ayn Rand.
Anon221: Correct. The Dems should take a stand on a budget and pass something to Rauner. Hard for the public to rally to your cause if you won’t actually define what it is, aside from the meaningless and stale rhetoric of “fighting for the middle class.” Guess what, Dems, that’s what the Republicans say they are doing, too.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 5:51 pm:
Americans for Prosperity (a Koch Bros. front group) just sent postcards in the 43rd House and 22nd Senate Districts.
- Frankie Figgs - Tuesday, May 30, 17 @ 7:43 pm:
Meanwhile, the GOP has no plan, no ideas, no hope, no leadership, and no guts.
- Gale Girolamo - Wednesday, Jun 7, 17 @ 2:47 am:
It’s an amazing article in favor of all the online viewers; they will take advantage from it I am sure.|