* I’ve asked the candidates for a response and will post if they ever arrive…
“The silence from the Democrat candidates for governor speaks volumes about their respect for taxpayers. Rather than offer relief after backing Madigan’s 32% tax hike, Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss are keeping quiet on the unpopular soda tax in a desperate attempt to curry favor with Chicago Democrat insiders. Taxpayers won’t let the Democrats’ deafening silence drown out their cries for help.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
Days before the October 10th hearing of a plan to repeal the hugely unpopular soda tax, the Democrat candidates for governor - Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss - are maintaining their silence in a desperate attempt to curry favor with Chicago Democrat insiders like soda tax-loving Toni Preckwinkle.
Poll after poll after poll has revealed that support for the soda tax will quickly sour relations with voters, but that hasn’t stopped the Democrat governor candidates who are eager to push their tax hike agenda.
Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss will do anything for support from the Chicago Machine, even if it means keeping quiet as beleaguered Cook County taxpayers cry for help after being whacked with massive income, sales, and property tax hikes.
Even as Madigan and vulnerable House Democrats join Republicans in opening up a new front in the war against the soda tax, Pritzker, Kennedy, and Biss are staying the course and staying mum.
The silence from the Democrat candidates for governor speaks volumes about their respect for taxpayers; in that, they have none left.
They have commented in the past, but nothing lately.
- Blake - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
Stop trying to make this a state issue. If you won’t let counties make their own tax policy decisions, then why have counties?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
This is a trap exposing Democratic candidates as favoring tax revenue regardless of its source, even unpopular ones. As long as Preckwinkle is willing to take the heat, this tax will keep making Chicago Democrats happy withe the revenue.
- MG85 - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
==even if it means keeping quiet as beleaguered Cook County taxpayers cry for help after being whacked with massive income, sales, and property tax hikes.==
Two points I’d like to make.
I’m glad to see the ILGOP recognize Cook County residents as members of the state of Illinois. Sometimes they seem to indicate otherwise when referencing issues that impact downstate Illinois.
2. I wish there was some way “beleaguered Cook County Taxpayers” could respond effectively to this soda tax hike. If only they could attend meetings, reach out to Cook County elected officials, and maybe even have a democratic process to elect who they think would be against such a policy. If only those types of things existed, the IL GOP wouldn’t have to rely on big government from the governor’s mansion to rule over municipal decisions.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
ILGOP seem to have the drama bug, as the tone of this PR release seems way out of whack. Why would any candidate respond to this, as it seems to be at the pitch level of immaturity.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
To quote the famous Democrat Eleanor Roosevelt, “You’re d****d if you do and d****d if you don’t.”
- Rabid - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
ILGOP poll driven response to the cook county sugar crises, wants Rauner to be their sugar daddy too
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
===soda tax-loving Toni Preckwinkle.===
Is that the best ya got ILGOP? You’re weak compared to your POTUS. This is nothin’ compared to Lyin’ Ted, Crooked Hillary, or even my personal favorite, “Rocket Man.” Good luck making that one stick.
- Anon1234 - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
Talking to friends and neighbors, I feel I’m the only Cook County resident who feels the soda tax is just as good as any other sin taxes. Everyone complains about it, so I’m sure it will poll well to tie candidates as for or against the tax even if it isn’t a statewide issue. I’m amazed how passionate people are about their sugary drinks.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
==soda tax-loving Toni Preckwinkle.==
==Is that the best ya got ILGOP?==
Agreed. Taxie Popwinkle would be better.
- DeseDemDose - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
Republicans pretend to sincerely worry about a pop tax in Cook County but were willing to not fund CPS. Hardy har har, as usual.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 1:59 pm:
==I’m amazed how passionate people are about their sugary drinks.==
I think its less about the passion for soda and more about the passion against the usury nature of the tax. Buy soda on sale and you might be paying a 70% soda tax, and that’s before sales tax. That’s an outrageous premium by anyone’s measure.
I bet if it was explained that way to the consumers, the county would’ve received much different feedback and probably could’ve implemented it a different way.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
I am attending and helping out with a family birthday celebration in Chicago over the weekend. Last night the hostess sent me an email with a list of beverages and asked it I’d mind purchasing them and delivering them from Lake County when we come on Sunday. Of course I agreed to do so. This pop tax brouhaha ain’t going to fade any time soon.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
Even a blind pig finds a truffle now and then.
This is a good irritating issue to trip up Democrats. They don’t like the tax, but they like the money. A quandary they made themselves.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 3:00 pm:
While yes it is largely a county issue, that county happens to be the most populous one, and is ripe for confusion by voters as to who is responsible for this tax. All they know is they don’t like it. Speaker Madigan has apparently expressed concern for the fallout affecting his House candidates. While not exactly honest, it would be campaign malpractice for the GOP not to keep pushing the issue and sowing confusion.
- 4 percent - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 4:58 pm:
Laura Fine and other sponsors of the bills in the House and Senate are certainly laying low.
- anon2 - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 6:25 pm:
If the County Board doesn’t repeal the tax, then the General Assembly may well do so. That would benefit the Democratic targets who are sponsoring the repeal bill. In which case, the bigger the issue the GOP makes of the tax, the bigger the benefit for Rep. Mussman when her bill is enacted.
- Ron - Wednesday, Oct 4, 17 @ 10:20 pm:
I hate soda but this tax is beyond ridiculous. Toni is worse than Stroger now.
- cc - Thursday, Oct 5, 17 @ 1:24 am:
Good grief, the new cost of a 7 & 7…ouch.