Some anti-tax hike react
Tuesday, Jul 4, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Nothing yet from the governor, and no ILGOP press release, but…
* Illinois Policy Institute’s Facebook page…
Ah, the joys of message synergy. Madigan, Madigan, Madigan. This will most definitely continue indefinitely.
* The Institute has also posted a cartoon shaming Republicans for bipartisanship…
* Press release…
State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) released the following statement after Senate Democrats passed an unbalanced budget: “It’s extremely disappointing that after all the progress we have made in negotiations, Democrats would simply ram through an unbalanced budget that doesn’t offer any fixes or reforms for the systemic issues that continue to plague Illinois. This budget does little to nothing to pay down the massive bill backlog nor will it stop the constant exodus of people and jobs from our state. We need bipartisan solutions, not more of the same failed ideas and policies that got us here.”
The Tribune reports today that the package would allow the state to generate $8 billion, mainly from federal matches, to pay down the backlog. The rest is gonna be the governor’s problem unless another deal is cut, I suppose.
* And another…
State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) releases the below statement following the House and Senate passing a budget plan, which includes a major tax increase:
“To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. Raising taxes and failing to address any of the fundamental issues that plague our state is detrimental to taxpayers. We’ve seen this before and it doesn’t work. This is the exact same failed approach the state took in 2011—increase taxes without addressing the underlying issues hurting our state. Continuing the mistakes of the past will not bring us a brighter future.
“This budget plan is bad for businesses and especially bad for families, and it certainly isn’t attracting people and businesses to Illinois. We had a real opportunity to come together and find bipartisan compromise. Unfortunately, today was a missed opportunity.
“Although I am saddened by the votes today, I remain committed to working to make Illinois competitive and a state that people can be proud to call home.”
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
Comics and memes will fix the state apparently
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
Did a double take with the cartoon. I didn’t read that as “flick” at first…
- Union thug - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
You assume they want to actually fix anything in this state
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
The trolling by the Dems on the bipartisan nature of both votes was fun to see on Twitter.
Can’t call either vote “Democrats” and be truthful to it.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
re: the IPI- My Grandma would say these guys are a broken record- same thing over and over again.
If we don’t increase revenue, show me how you balance the budget. They have no plan. Just the same old song- cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes.
Please guys- join the reality brigade. Put some numbers on the table.
- Aspects - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:04 pm:
Is this budget balanced and Barickman incorrect or is this budget unbalanced and Barickman correct?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
It’s been quite a sad spectacle to watch strong elements in the ILGOP devolve into chronic deadbeats, promoters of muni bankruptcy, snake oil “economists,” and the scourge of public education.
Quite a long way from the Main Street fiscal conservatism of my youth. They were prudent stewards, committed to leaving it better than they found it.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
People shouldn’t use a sans-serif font to write the word “FLICK” until they’ve mastered kerning.
– MrJM
- cdog - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:12 pm:
There were budget numbers on the table by different groups, with appropriate dollars to hurting entities, without a tax increase.
It is unbelievable that Madigan has double-dealt the Republicans, at this point in time.
Just last week, he stood in front of microphones saying he was the trustworthy one.
When Durkin reappears, it’s going to be very interesting. Hopefully he and Brady realize they have a few cards to play.
GOP will definitely pick up seats over this. Folks are really tired of being the blue state utopian experiment.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:17 pm:
Do these guys actually write their press releases or does Rauner hand them to them?
I am also curious is this budget balanced as written or not. And if balanced the extra 8 billion from Feds should help. But did they already count that 8 billion because that would be so Springfield like
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:17 pm:
Who says it was meant as “FLICK”.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
– blue state Utopian experiment–
LOL, you’re off to a fast start. Pace yourself if you want to see the fireworks tonight. It’s a long hot day.
No driving.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
That is a truly unfortunate photo of Mr. Speaker.
- dpgumby - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
the cartoon makes as little sense as their policy positions have made. Those waiting for a magical Ayn Rand fairy to wave her magic wand to solve Illinois budget issues should crawl back in your property tax freeze fantasy. This is the most adequate approach for the most people that is plausibly possible. That is more than Brucie has done in two years!
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
@cdog- You must hate math.
- MovingToSomalia - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
=Folks are really tired of being the blue state utopian experiment.=
Folks are really tired of being the deadbeat vulture experiment.
There, fixed it.
- Generic Drone - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
Cdog. You honestly believe republicans are going to gain seats from this fiasco. Dude. The only ones gaining anything from this are independent and third party candidates.
- El Conquistador - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
The repubs are so disingenuous that it defies all logic. It. Had. To. Be. Done. The ILGOP counts on ignorance and misinformation to exist. Good luck with that.
- Gooner - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
There is something remarkably cowardly about complaining of a tax hike when offering no plan at all.
- Power House Prowler - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
Sad, only some of the leaders understand how much money it take to run an agency. So much defered maintenance, so many vendors that wont do business with the state, even more that are owed money by the state. Very disappointed by the cut tax to balance rhetoric.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
Robo-calls already going out to try to stop the overrides.
- well - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
@DuPage Dave
Uh … they do have a plan. And it doesn’t hike taxes. Feel free to disagree with it, but it’s there. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/budget-solutions-2018-balancing-the-state-budget-without-tax-hikes/
- Responsa - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
We were at a cookout and fireworks party last night attended by approximately 20 adults of various ages (millennial to seniors) and from various middle class occupations. I will not pretend that the goings-on in Springfield occupied a huge amount of the conversations–but the subject very definitely *did* come up. (Along with the soda tax.)
I don’t think any of the attendees are in Sen. McConchie’s district, but his statement quoted above certainly reflects what came out as the general attitude of the aforementioned party guests.
After going through the topics and comments on this blog today I am sad to say that I don’t believe many of the regular denizens of this space appreciate just how much anger there is out here, and how much most people wanted and expected to see some better evidence of reform and structural change to accompany the needed revenue increases.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
IPI-the troll’s think tank
- Original Red - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
I’m in favor of more “radical” approaches like a graduated income tax. I’ll still be here, waiting for the end of neoliberalism. I would give anything to see a return to the social democratic programs that my parents had in their youth.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 4, 17 @ 4:37 pm:
== I don’t believe many of the regular denizens of this space appreciate just how much anger there is out here ==
The anger is obvious. It has been stoked by a non-stop ad campaign.
I hope this isn’t read in the wrong context, by the problem is partially uninformed citizens / voters. Nobody is standing up and telling them the hard truth that you can’t have all the services Illinois has been delivering at the lower tax rate. And no politician is saying “we mess d up years ago so now you have to pay for it”.
Nobody is having a substantive debate on what services the State should be delivering and at what level. Or whether a particular service could be delivered cheaper by the private sector.
I hate to say it, but Rauner is right that we should be looking at these things. But his diagnosis that the unions are the problem is more wrong than right. There are some problems with various union work rules … but you fix that at the bargaining table.
Back to the anger, that is what helped elect Trump … that and bring perceived as outside the Washington establishment.
I’m angry about certain things also. I think people on both sides have messed things up. I don’t like people who misuse facts and numbers. I think the politicians spend too much time placing blame than solving problems.
But I also as spend (see one might say waste) time to try to understand the issues. Most people don’t have the time to do so; they are too busy with their lives. They trust that the people they elect will do the right thing. They get angry when they don’t … or when they, the voters, have to intervene.
Anyway, the point of this long ramble is politicians can use voter anger. Some use it to tear things down; others use it as a force for positive change. Which is which depends on your politics viewpoint.