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*** UPDATED x2 - BIMP passes - Spending bill passes with 4 GOP votes *** After brief debate, Senate narrowly approves tax hike bill with one Republican vote
Tuesday, Jul 4, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller * The Senate approved SB 9, the revenue bill, on a vote of 36-18. Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady asked for more time to negotiate. But the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Toi Hutchinson, replied “We don’t have any more time. We know we don’t.” “We are faced with the fierce urgency of now,” Hutchinson said. “We don’t have any more time.” Hutchinson claimed the package before the Senate was the result of two years of bipartisan talks and a “lot of give and take.” “It is time to be the independent legislature the framers demanded,” Hutchinson said, urging her colleagues to show they are members of a “co-equal branch,” which was a clear dig at Gov. Rauner. …Adding… Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican, voted for the bill. Democratic Sens. Tom Cullerton and Julie Morrison voted against the tax hike. …Adding More… Roll call…
*** UPDATE 1 *** The Senate has approved SB 6, the omnibus appropriations bill with 39 votes. It should’ve had 40, but Sen. Martinez said her button wasn’t working. Roll call…  Republican Sens. Anderson, Fowler, McCann and Righter voted for the bill. *** UPDATE 2 *** The budget implementation bill passed 36-17 without any debate at all. …Adding… The Tribune’s headline writer strikes again…
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- Lt Guv - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:48 am:
Senator Hutchinson’s close was truly eloquent.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:50 am:
Wow Righter - didn’t see that coming.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:51 am:
Sanity has prevailed
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:54 am:
===Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican, voted for the bill.===
Agreed. Didn’t see that one coming.
Sen. Righter, thank you. You did right for your state.
You and the “Brave 15″… Much respect and thanks.
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:55 am:
Tom Cullerton & Julie Morrison are up in 2018. Hastings & Stadelman aren’t up until 2020. FYI.
- 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:55 am:
In the spirit of Inspector Gadget…”Go Go Governor Junk”. I can’t use exclamation point, so it is a tame go-go.
- Game Over - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:56 am:
Let’s get this over with… Veto, override, go home
- illini - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:56 am:
My Sen McCarter was a NV. I am so proud of him./S
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:57 am:
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will work out today. Not encouraged by the sole R vote, but it passed.
So much depends on getting this right.
Footnote: Disappointed in Tom Cullerton. He’s my senator. A few months ago he was going to give it up to run for a higher office, but now he’s playing it safe??
- Western IL - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Insanity prevailed: doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different results. Good job: driving more productive employers, workers OUT of Illinois. And your pensions will be worth maybe 20 cents on the dollar in a few years time. Illinois IS junk. You’ve just proved it.
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:00 am:
Let’s be honest, if Rauner doesn’t immediately veto so we can have an immediate override, he is putting Senator Haine’s life at risk - please be decent & veto as soon as you get it, Governor.
- UISer - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:00 am:
McCann, Fowler and Anderson join the spineless Dems and Reps in the House who voted for the budget, but against anyway to pay for it.
I hope you’re all proud of yourselves.
- Cards1 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:03 am:
Brady didnt sound very convincing on his request to delay the vote or ask for a no vote. Seemed more like he was forced to say those things.
- Captain Ed Smith - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Glad to see the GOP support. I just don’t think this Governor has ever come to terms with how important and reliant downstate Illinois is on State Government. Economic development downstate is state government. Nice Job to all.
- Skirmisher - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:06 am:
I will always admire those few Republicans who had the courage to do the right thing, and contempt for the majority of them who did not.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:07 am:
To the Green button votes: Thank.You.
I would love to use an exclamation point, but it was banned
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:07 am:
=Good job: driving more productive employers, workers OUT of Illinois.=
Move to Missouri. They just voted to reduce their income tax to 5.9 percent from its current 6 percent beginning with taxes paid in 2018. It will drop to 5.5 percent over the next five years.
Since ideology appears to trump math for you, this should be desirable over the 4.95% in IL.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:08 am:
Western Illinois, how disappointed are you going to be if you’re wrong and returning the tax rate to nearly 5%, you know, where it was for four years, doesn’t result in disaster?
If thing turn out OK, will you be upset? Will you still blame the tax hike?
- Scamp640 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:10 am:
@ Western IL. Just because the Illinois Policy Institute prints it, doesn’t mean its true. The IPI recipe for balancing the budget without a tax increase was based on pure fantasy with a dash of mean-spiritedness from the Koch Brothers playbook. Nobody, but nobody wants a tax increase. But this is the only way forward unless you have a better idea. What is the better way forward? And again, don’t point me to the IPI. I’ve read their plan and I have even spoken to them in person. They are recycling right-wing ideas to bolster the fortunes of the 1%.
- Piece of Work - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:10 am:
Yep, veto, override and MJM owns a 32% permanent income tax increase
- cdog - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:11 am:
Madigan and Cullerton cannot deny the fact that this tax increase, regardless of self-inflicted necessity, will continue to make Illinois unattractive for families and employers who are contemplating a move. We will most likely continue to lose that game.
Brady and Durkin need to reemerge and hold the democrats accountable to their negotiations, regardless of the whirlwind nature of the Saturday vote.
The best available compliment to this bitter fiscal reset, is the property tax freeze (truly helps middle class), followed by workers comp reform.
That single action could put Illinois on the map, at wallethub
, as a state which is not fiscally abusive to the hard-working folks writing the checks.
4 yr freeze with local control.
- UIC Guy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:12 am:
So the magic numbers (for veto override) are 36 and 71, right? Or do those numbers too go up because it’s after May 30th, or whatever the cut-off date is?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Good by let’s focus on real reforms instead of spewing anger and “Imma gunna leave” comments. If we don’t do real reforms coming up than this was for nothing. Rauner might not be the best individual for getting reforms through though due to the p* contest between him and Madigan. Regardless of party we need to work together not attack. Rauner shouldn’t veto but he will, hopefully we’ll just override.
- Fixer - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Tax hike or junk status?
Common sense trumped ideology today. Nice change of pace.
- Piece of Work - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:13 am:
To anon 11:07, check gas prices and real estate taxes in Missouri and let us know what you find
- TaxPensions - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:14 am:
Why so little talk on overgenerous govt union pensions? They are what is killing City and State…if they can’t be modified in some way I’ve come to the conclusion they MUST be taxed…and at a higher rate than the 4.95%.
- Pawn - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:15 am:
Wow. Sen. Righter. I’m impressed.
- Bored Chairman - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Will the Governor veto today? Will he work House and Senate Republicans to save him from an override? Is this all an elaborate kabuki dance designed to give Rauner the revenue needed to save the state while maintaining his anti-tax street creds? Will the Dems give him any reforms now that they got what they wanted? Stay tuned to “As Springfield Turns”.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:19 am:
47,
That’s exactly right. The reality is few noticed when their taxes went up and fewer noticed when they were cut. This is not a big deal and not something most people will even notice. It’s all politics. 100%.
- Generation X - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:20 am:
==Economic development downstate is state government==
Yeah there’s no medical industry in Springfield or Insurance giant in Bloomington. Caterpillar? ADM? Nothing but prisons South of I-80
- Liberty - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:24 am:
TaxPensions - could you be anymore clueless about the law?
- Stumpy's bunker - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:25 am:
Oberweis a no-show / no-vote?
(hearty, hearty horselaugh)
- Lt Guv - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:26 am:
UIC Guy, you have the numbers right, but nice work on Google.
- Scamp640 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:27 am:
@ Anon221 and Pawn:
I know Rich has banned the exclamation point. I wonder if we can use the rare, but useful, interobang punctuation mark that is a combination of an exclamation point and a question mark. Here’s how we could use it:
Senator Righter did what‽
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:28 am:
== …if they can’t be modified in some way I’ve come to the conclusion they MUST be taxed…and at a higher rate than the 4.95%. ==
Can’t cut them. That pesky Constitution.
Can’t tax at a different rate. That pesky Constitution.
- Piece of Work - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:29 am:
Sales tax in St. Louis and Kansas City is in the mid 8’s. Chicago is 10.25%. So really, don’t point to MO state income tax.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:29 am:
11:28 was I.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:34 am:
== Can’t tax at a different rate. That pesky Constitution. ==
And if you do tax pensions (which would be legal), you have to tax ALL pensions, not just State ones. That may well include Social Security also (it is a pension), since some government employees were not allowed to participate in Social Security and excluding SS could be argued as unequal tax treatment of one class of taxpayer.
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:35 am:
When do they send it to Rauner?
- Turn Around For What? - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:36 am:
==The reality is few noticed when their taxes went up and fewer noticed when they were cut. This is not a big deal and not something most people will even notice.==
I totally disagree with that statement. You must know families in a different income bracket than than the families I know.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:38 am:
Scamp640- I’ll just say Sen. Righter did right:)
- Western IL - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:38 am:
47th. Here’s what you don’t get. This fixes nothing, really…not the systemic rot that is the state of Illinois. IF you think people are going to stay here and just pay, pay, pay you’re sadly mistaken. Five years from now you’ll be fortunate to get 20 cents on your state pension dollar. Default is looming. You can pretend all you like that things will be sunshine and roses five years hence, but a real look at the real facts and figures don’t bear your optimism out. At all.
- astuishin - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:41 am:
==Move to Missouri. ==
Move to TX: no income tax and property and sales taxes order of magnitude lower. Homes are half the price for double he space in safe neighborhoods with very low crime and plentiful jobs. Just don’t vote the Dems they’ll start to make the state look like chicago.
- Pawn - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:44 am:
RNUG. I would if I could, but I’m on my phone. That may be beyond my tech abilities. I also want to honor Sen. Haine, risking his health (and possibly more– I don’t know the nature of his illness) to put us over the top. The spirit of Esther Golar is here as well. Exclamation points to all.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:45 am:
Western IL,
Nobody is pretending that five years from now things will be sunshine and roses. To the contrary and that’s a bogus straw man. What we who supported this effort are saying is that the price of inaction (Junk status, unpaid bills, higher interest rates, more than a billion a year lit on fire in a pile of political denial) was too big a price to bear. And your side has yet to present one alternative that would have prevented that. All you say is just vote no. That’s not an answer.
- illinifan - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:47 am:
Now both chambers need to work on the property tax and WC issues even if the Rs won’t show. Pass those forward to BVR. I would dare him to veto those items. It is time responsible actions are taken. The extra $395 million reduction in spending is a step forward.
- Pawn - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:47 am:
Chicago Cynic. I’d “like” your post if I could.
- Boone's is Back - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:53 am:
A lot of statesmanship. For the first time in a very long time I actually feel hopeful for our state.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:54 am:
So I increased my 401k contributions by one percent this year in order to be responsible and fully fund my retirement. Looks like the state of illinois will now take that and fund someone elses retirement. Yay…
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:55 am:
Chicago Cynic +1. Well said.
- Prairie Dog - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 11:57 am:
I am a conservative, but at this point the Governor has to get real. A spending cut is a victory and the need for revenue, regarding the tax increase, is dire. A half of a loaf is better than none. If the Governor has a better solution, then I have yet to hear it. I am disappointed that he and the Republican leaders were not proactive in hammering out a better deal. Doing nothing and criticizing is not leadership.
- Scamp640 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
@ Anon221. I agree.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
==Move to Missouri. ==
====Move to TX: no income tax and property and sales taxes order of magnitude lower. ====
Move to Somalia - No taxes, no “big government” , little infrastructure to maintain, and cheap weapons !
- Cardinals1 - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
TaxPensions - the reason pensions are a problem is because the legislature stole from the pension funds for years - that’s correct, stole - and now must pay it back, with interest. In other words, the problem isn’t pensions, but the legislature and those pushing for the money to be spent on anything but what it was not intended for, since 1970.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
Julie Morrison is a canary in a coal mine for Democrats - not that they shouldn’t be voting for the current bill, but a sign that the middle class natives are getting restless. Her district is suburban but blue (it includes Drury’s or at least parts of it IIRC).
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 2:13 pm:
Righter - EIU in district
- downstate commissioner - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 4:39 pm:
To all of you threatening to move to other states: Please do so, as soon as possible. If you’re not part of the solution, you are a part of the problem…
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 4:55 pm:
Did Righter really have a choice? Eastern Illinois is on life support. If EIU dies, that area never recovers. The governor still hasn’t articulated a plan to achieve any of his objectives. Even if you blame Madigan for everything that led to the shape of Illinois before Rauner, the governor found a way to make things worse. Perhaps if Drury and the other two Dems voted to override Rauner at first, the governor would have worked toward compromise. If the house overrides this Thursday, this would mean that the last two plus years driving the debt from $6 billion (which could have been substantially paid by this tax hike) to $15 or $16 billion was for nothing. This is an epic failure for Rauner and tripled our debt with nothing to show for it. Absolutely pitiful.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 6:29 pm:
== the reason pensions are a problem is because the legislature stole from the pension funds for years - that’s correct, stole - and now must pay it back, with interest. ==
Same basic problem the Feds have with Social Security. Except the Feds can change the SS rules and print money to make up the difference if needed.
- Moved On - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 9:43 pm:
Downstate Commish. Thanks, I already did 18 months ago. I won’t get into details, but you’ll miss me considering this increase (and those that are still to come). Frankly, I got sick and tired of paying for the corruption, waste, and public sector union/democrat/republican party “synergy” for the last 30 years. For those that think this puts Illinois on “a path to recovery”…good luck. This increase is the first of many. Math is a tough thing in the long run and you’ve got a demographic and state government funding time bomb on your collective hands. 4.95% isn’t even close to what’s needed. Since real reform is never going to happen, you’ll resort to more tax hikes. Even if you get reform, it won’t be enough. The tax base will shrink faster than you can raise rates and you’ll be in a swirling spiral of bankruptcy. While not possible at the moment, BK is your future and the only way out. Study Puerto Rico…its the testing ground for Illinois and all of the other basket case states. It was handled the way it was for very specific reasons, which will become apparent in time. For those on public pensions, get ready for a massive haircut despite the state constitution and SC rulings. These benefits can’t be paid in the long run, so they won’t. To your point, I’m glad I won’t be part of the “solution” (because there is none), but the many future attempts will be ruinous for those that stay.