* Background on this post is here. From Chris Kennedy’s press conference today…
* Pritzker campaign…
Yesterday, Chris Kennedy took his campaign to a new low, with disgusting attacks on JB Pritzker’s family. When asked about his support for taxing retirement income in a WGN interview Kennedy said, “Our parents, particularly my mother, you know she taught us this lesson, it’s better to win than to lose, but she also made it clear, it’s better to lose than to cheat. I think that’s a lesson the Kennedy family learned that apparently they don’t teach in the Pritzker family.”
Kennedy’s attack leaves out the fact that he does in fact support taxing retirement income. Kennedy laid out how he would implement the tax at a meet in greet last year and Kennedy was recently asked if a retirement tax could be part of a progressive income tax system and said, “I think it could.”
“Even in the nastiest of political campaigns, things like family should be off limits,” said Pritzker campaign manager Anne Caprara. “Trying to imply that Chris Kennedy’s family is more virtuous than JB’s family is out of line, and lying about his own record on supporting a tax on retirement income is disingenuous. This is a low-blow from a candidate on the wrong side of this issue and desperate to resurrect his flailing campaign.”
* In the video clip linked above, Kennedy says this about what he could do with the retirement income tax if elected governor…
But I might means test it. I think, you know, I’ll probably have retirement income plus investment income. You ought to be able to go after my retirement income.
* From Pritzker’s TV ad…
Chris Kennedy and Dan Biss both support taxing retirement income.
Is it really Pritzker’s job to explain the nuance?
- Annonin' - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 11:54 am:
It seems Kennedy is barely treading water and about the drift into a dangerous end of the pool. What if someone blurts out Marilyn ……?
- Anon0091 - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 11:55 am:
The expression is leading with your chin and it’s just what Kennedy is doing. He said it. It’s crystal clear. And trust me Chris, you really don’t want to make family cheating a topic, especially in the state where cheating put Kennedy over the top.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Geez, prep the ICU for a Mary Schmich arrival.
- Retired Educator - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:01 pm:
Another pension thief heard from. I thought that was simply a Biss deal. Kennedy is taking a page out of Dan’s playbook. Kennedy is a footnote now. He is trying to become relevant. It isn’t working .
- Perrid - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:03 pm:
I would say no, that this is business as usual, but it’s clear to anyone and everyone that Pritzker is implying Kennedy would “come after” everyone’s retirement income. He knows full well that he is outlining a picture that everyone is going to fill in incorrectly, so it is dishonest and distasteful, but not unexpected from any politician and certainly not out of bounds.
- Stand Tall - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:03 pm:
The whopper of a lie is Pritzker saying the rich should pay their fair share as his actions to not jive with that statement. And any progressive tax plan that the Democrats want to implement will hit the middle class with a big tax increase. Look no farther than Chicago to see who got hit hardest with taxes and fee increases in relation to the percentage of their income.
- Soccermom - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:05 pm:
You know, a friend of mine grew up down the lane from the Kennedy compound. He told very different stories about “upbringing.”
And for Kennedy to go after Pritzker’s mom? Seriously?
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
==another pension theif heard from==
Just remember, we’re talking retirement income. That includes social security, IRAs, 401ks, etc. Retirement income is retirement income. That does not mean pensions alone.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:10 pm:
I think the elephant in the room is retirement income, period, even though it is being marketed as “rich people’s retirement”. Retirees know of the state’s long term obligations, and once that door is opened, the middle class of retirees may be next.
- Sue - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:21 pm:
NJ Dems are pushing back their new Governors millionaire tax push. The Dems recognize that successful people will just pick up and leave like they have in CT. Raising taxes on the wealthy doesn’t raise projected revenues. Now with limits on deductions even Dems realize they need to rethink their tax the rich goals
- TKMH - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
==NJ Dems are pushing back their new Governors millionaire tax push. The Dems recognize that successful people will just pick up and leave like they have in CT. Raising taxes on the wealthy doesn’t raise projected revenues. Now with limits on deductions even Dems realize they need to rethink their tax the rich goals==
The top tax rate in NJ is 9%. We have a ways to go.
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
Uncle Teddy was never in those family discussions, right?
- anon2 - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
I’ve been wavering between the top three Democratic candidates, but that personal nastiness from Kennedy disqualifies him as far as I’m concerned.
I would not be threatened by removing the tax exemption from pensions exceeding $100,000. It’s highly regressive to tax the working poor, but to exempt retirees with six-figure incomes. On the other hand, I recognize the political reality and it’s unlikely the exemption will be reduced.
- Amalia - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:24 pm:
JB should stop lying about taxing social security. no one can do that. check with your accountant, JB. but perhaps since your accountant knows that is a lie, you won’t get that vote.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:33 pm:
===JB should stop lying about taxing social security===
If you watch that video clip, Kennedy says it should be taxed.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:38 pm:
“A Kennedy losing to a Pritzker - good heavens Lovie, the wigs will be on the lawn, Who will Jj Pettycourt and Poppy St. James invite to this year’s Nantucket Salon or take the box seats at the Grand Opening at Canne?
- A Jack - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:42 pm:
Chris’ grandfather Joe made the family fortune by trading on insider information that he later outlawed. And then there is that bootlegger story. The Kennedy family is not known for its stellar ethics.
- Downstate - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:44 pm:
The Kennedy clan evaded any Mass. estate tax on Rose’s passing because they claimed she was a Florida resident. Incredibly, Rose hadn’t spent any significant time outside of Mass. in more than a decade before her death. Seems hypocritical from a family that thinks taxes are a great idea.
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:10 pm:
=hypocritical from a family that thinks taxes are a great idea==
Absolutely correct. But even more hypocritical is the wealthiest folks (and particularly those in politics) love to preach about ethics and moral duties to the underprivileged all while working harder than hades to figure out a way to exempt themselves from having to do so.
Kennedy a case in point.
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:18 pm:
RICH we need to keep Rauner because of the DEMS hard charging effort for changing taxes etc..
- Loop Lady - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
@ A Jack…
Joe made his money from bending the banking laws, not from bootlegging…read up will you?
No one has talked about electing a governor that is Jewish over an Irish Catholic…wow, I guess the electorate has evolved…
- James - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:50 pm:
taxing retirement income of means tested retirees
Don’t support it now, gubernatorial candidates, it’s the third rail, but could be part of a five year plan. Gain some voter trust, win a first and second term, then unveil your support for it for only the wealthiest retirees about 5 years from now. The GA may be desperate enough to pass it by then. Once it becomes law, it will be easier to change the means threshold in subsequent years, so it’s in line with other states. If it fails and you go down with it, hey, at least you got 8 years to accomplish other things.
- Amalia - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:52 pm:
it can’t be taxed. not in any state.
- A Jack - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
Bending bank laws is cheating correct? And if isn’t than why did he outlaw them later?
And I said there is that bootlegging “story” that is awfully persistent. Joe was involved in the import of liquor whether during or after prohibition.
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
Pritzker also lied about 2, not 1, but 2 opponents. Biss is also very hypocritical. Kennedy is just to straight up. So I don’t know who to choose
- Loop Lady - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 2:38 pm:
@ Jack
It wasn’t cheating if no laws were in place to prevent it…
He was clever enough to do it before there were laws against it…
Well heeled families of today that came here generations ago had a wide open playing field…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
Kennedy will continue to think he has wedge issues where his name is immune to what he himself is calling out on the issues.
It’s disappointing, but campaigns losing daylight and lacking money often think… but their thoughts are too cute by half.
- A Jack - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 3:10 pm:
@LoopLady. Pritzker didn’t break any laws either, so if breaking laws is the test of cheating, then Kennedy owes Pritzker an apology. You can’t have it both ways and neither can Chris Kennedy.
- ShawneeCoal - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
Kennedy= Tax Tax Tax. Tax your gun. Tax your ammo. Tax your pensions.
- SSL - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 3:21 pm:
A common character flaw of the Liberal Elite is founded on two principles. First, they know what is best for everyone, so just be quiet and let them make the rules. Second, the rules don’t apply to them. The Kennedys and the Pritzkers are both liberal elitists of the highest order. Their actions speak for themselves. You may want to live your life according to their rules. I don’t.
- @misterjayem - Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 4:43 pm:
Kennedy’s statement compounds the social faux pas of attacking family with the political sin of being utterly counterproductive.
He’s simply no good at this.
– MrJM