The primary avalanche begins
Friday, Aug 4, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’re going to see lots more of these, unless every Republican who voted for the tax hike simply retires (and many will). And while I don’t know much about this specific situation yet, a lot of primary opposition to Republicans who voted for the tax hike will be organic. The dominant wing in the GOP these days hates taxes, no matter how needed they might be. So some just won’t wait for the big anti-tax players (like Dan Proft) to make a decision before they jump in…
Pittsfield businessman Jonas Petty says he looks forward to bringing his conservative values to the Illinois House.
“My values will align with my actions,” he said.
Petty, 38, is running in the Republican primary against state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer of Jacksonville in the 100th House District. [..]
Davidsmeyer was one of 15 House Republicans who joined Democrats and voted for a budget last month – after the state went two years without one – that was opposed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. After Rauner vetoed the actions, Davidsmeyer later voted against the override, but 10 Republicans did, allowing the budget to take effect.
“I don’t believe you can call yourself a conservative and vote for a tax hike with no reform,” Petty said.
Davidsmeyer responded later that, “To say you’re a conservative and stand by and not pay your bills is not a good thing either.” He had noted when he voted for the budget, including an increase in the income tax on individuals from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent, that he was worried the state backlog of bills could grow from what was about $15 billion to $25 billion; and he was concerned about a potential state bond-rating downgrade to junk status.
Rep. Davidsmeyer voted against the veto override motion, but that won’t spare him much grief.
…Adding… Related…
* Potential successors emerge as Mitchell says he will not seek re-election
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:22 am:
Gotta love our two party .
- Sgt. Slaughter - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:24 am:
This joker will be eviscerated. He has no idea what his family, friends, business, and co-workers are about to endure.
- Perrid - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:24 am:
I just don’t understand how people can say with a straight face that more of the impasse would have been better than a 1.2 percent tax hike. The median household income in IL in 2015 was just under 60k, so people are saying that less than 60 dollars a month - for a household - is more important than our state’s credit rating. More important than public universities. More important than our roads, for God’s sake. Come on people, use your heads.
- AimtoMisbehave - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:27 am:
Jonas is a conservative now eh? I guess people change over time.
Davidsmeyer voted for his district like a good Representative should. He is well liked throughout the district too. I see this going much like the Benton / McCann race, but hopefully with not as much outside money. In the end , C.D. will win & I look forward to helping that happen.
As for Mr. Petty, well I wonder if he still keeps track of each time he gets his name mentioned on ESPN radio…
- SURSorBust - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:36 am:
“My values will align with my actions,” –um, did you mean, your actions will align with your values, perhaps?
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:36 am:
Perrid. Maybe you do, maybe you dont. Know anybody that has a hard time getting their car fixed? Groceries? Make property tax payment? I rarely criticize others for their opinion, but you have no real clue of the struggles of the working poor and middle class. Kinda similar to our Democratic and Republican elected officials.
- dray - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:44 am:
He better hope his campaign is better than that brown water he calls “coffee.” Blech.
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:53 am:
Yes, by all means, defeat the “RINO” in the primary.
After the hard right turn to Bill Brady, the move to an incredibly wealthy, seemingly moderate Rauner kind of had us D’s worried about a new majority of moderate R’s being elected to the General Assembly on Rauner’s coat tails. Between Petty, Yost, goofy Doug Jameson and the Govs new direction with his IPI all star team, it seems we don’t have to worry about that so much these days.
- walker - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:55 am:
“Avalanche”
True that; but Proft and allies are setting off the charges. Big money to come is being assumed by those choosing to join Republican primaries.
- NearSpringfield - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 10:56 am:
He owns Free Press Coffee. Wonder who buys non-gas station coffee in Pittsfield, Mt Sterling and Springfield? Bet it is a lot of state workers.
- Retired Educator - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 11:05 am:
I only know Davidsmeyer by reputation and a couple brief meetings at political functions. He seemed like a thoughtful guy who truly cared about his district and the State of Illinois. I assume that is a primary characteristic of good legislatures. The decision to override was, I am sure a difficult but needed decision. I like his reasoning, and applaud his integrity.
- AC - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 11:24 am:
“I don’t believe you can call yourself a conservative and vote for a tax hike with no reform,” Petty said.
Are we to assume that this “reform” doesn’t need to be defined, because using Rauner’s words implies endorsement of Rauner’s “reforms”. I mean, a statewide single payer healthcare system would be “reform” but I don’t think that this is what he’s advocating.
- Perrid - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Blue dog dem, I get that $15 dollars a week is a lot to some people, but there really wasn’t any option. Even with the hike we are probably still in deficit spending, considering how many of the cuts are not likely to actually appear. So unless you wanted to cut $6 billion, 1/6, of the budget, there was going to be a tax increase. And that doesn’t count the backlog. Its just reality that a hike was going to happen. Rauner’s impasse guaranteed it. Punishing officials for accepting reality is, frankly, stupid and self-destructive.
- Morty - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 11:49 am:
-struggles of the working poor and middle class.
Like the ones being hurt by the impasse?
- Highland IL - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 11:51 am:
Davidsmeyer hasn’t been there for his district. The Wells Center closing in Jacksonville is an example of his inaction.
- MyTwoCents - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
No reform? You mean Tier III or procurement reform aren’t reforms? Or the fact Davidsmeyer voted for a budget that cut spending even below Rauner’s proposed level?
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Perrid. There are always options other than sticking it to the little guy…..on second thought, Dems and Repubs have been doing it in this state for decades. Status quo.
- Demoralized - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
blue dog:
And those options this time would have been? And don’t give me the progressive income tax as an option. Option for the future? Sure. Option to fix the immediate crisis? No. There were no choices other than to include a tax increase as part of the solution. Period.
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
Dem. Been hearing that lame excuse for decades as well. I know you frquent here, but i will say it again. Freeze k-12. Eliminate LGDF. For starters.
- walker - Friday, Aug 4, 17 @ 3:17 pm:
Warning, just hearsay:
Profit, (and even people who say they represent AFP) are directly recruiting local (N/NW burbs) “Conservative” Republicans to primary House incumbents who voted to override Rauner’s budget veto. Big money support mentioned but not specified.
Rich doesn’t deal in rumors, but I believe this one. We’ll soon see who starts organizing petition drives — they start just a month from now.