I watched a couple of football games Sunday (ugh, those Bears will kill me one day) and I saw the new Pritzker ad four times, but I only saw the original Rauner spot once and have yet to see the RGA’s ad.
Anyway, what do you think of the ad?
…Adding… I suppose it’s what definition you have for “propose,” but I disagree with this take from the Rauner campaign…
Hey, Rich-
Actually, Pritzker did propose a VMT, emphasis added:
Charging gas taxes based on how many miles people drive instead of how much fuel they burn could pump up revenues to help fix Illinois’ roads and bridges, Democratic candidate for governor J.B. Pritzker told the Daily Herald editorial board.
Called a vehicle miles traveled or VMT tax, it’s an idea worth exploring, the billionaire Hyatt hotel heir said in a Thursday interview where he also pushed for a graduated income tax, but gave few specifics.
…
“In some states (such as Oregon) they have done tests recently for a VMT tax because we have more and more electric cars on the road, more and more hybrids, and because gas mileage is rising. It’s only fair if you’re on a road and traveling on that road that you should pay your fair share,” he said.
A VMT tax “is something we should look at … we have to careful how it gets implemented and that’s why it should only be a test at this point.”
I’ve been listening to the radio a lot (can’t stand national network broadcasters, football or baseball), and all I hear is the Liberty Principles ad. It’s a pretty effective message even if it is ridiculously misleading. Enough gullible people will believe it.
Pritzker’s spot here is an effective rebuttal, but really, how do you explain something you never did? Might as well respond with Rauner hates kittens and apple pie. Make him respond to nonsense and at least seize the initiative.
I watched HULU all night last night and saw those 2 negative ads against JB constantly and only 2 positive JB spots about 1/2 as often.
- Louis G Atsaves - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:02 am:
Pritzker only talks about mileage taxes. Pritzker only talks about raising personal income taxes but won’t say how, only that most will not be included, only the rich guys like Pritzker and Rauner.
Pritzker talks about increasing spending but won’t say how he’ll pay for all of it.
Pritzker vaguely talks property tax relief.
I get it. It’s all talk, none are proposals. Read my lips and duck after the election. Take all the income generated by cash hidden in tax havens, remove all household plumbing, and eureka. No one pays for anything.
The Nirvana lie.
And people laugh at Republican budgeting?
The over reach of Rauner lies responses falling flat.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:04 am:
I saw this spot and at least another new one this weekend. Good for Pritzker to stay on message about the wealthy paying more and a tax reduction for the middle class. Good for Pritzker to not leave an attack unanswered.
What is plan B for JB in the likely event that bipartisan opposition to the graduated income tax in the Democratic GA continues and falls 10 votes short again like it did a few months back?
No plans to cut or limit the growth of spending that supposedly will only be paid for the wealthy.
The reality is JB will raise taxes on more than just the wealthy and we don’t even know who he considers to be “wealthy”.
Poor Bruce. His playbook is useless when he has an opponent with the resources to respond. He would have loved to run against Biss or Kennedy. By now he would have defined them and rendered them unelectable.
Louis- come chat with folks about election data when you get out of the bubble.
Come to Dupage and see how bad it is for Bruce.
Rauner lies is working. We’re more worried about down ticket at this point, Governor is sunk. It’s been over since HB40 with DuPage. Jeanne won Dupage.
==What is plan B for JB in the likely event that bipartisan opposition to the graduated income tax in the Democratic GA continues and falls 10 votes short again like it did a few months back?==
He’s articulated plan for a “synthetic progressive income tax” based on expanding EITCs.
==No plans to cut or limit the growth of spending==
What’s left to cut? Rauner promised to take the slings and arrows for heavy cuts, but never proposed any specifics. The only possible conclusions, then, are that Rauner lied about something or that there’s nothing that can feasibly be cut.
Cutting an ad to reply to an ad that most voters have probably never seen is an approach. A strange approach, but a way for the ad agency to spend more ad money I guess. I have no idea if it is persuasive. Maybe it is.
What’s left to cut? Rauner promised to take the slings and arrows for heavy cuts, but never proposed any specifics. The only possible conclusions, then, are that Rauner lied about something or that there’s nothing that can feasibly be cut.
Really? Who was standing in the way of unpopular budget cuts?
“Senate Democrats on Wednesday rejected a proposal to give Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration broad powers to cut state spending, with one lawmaker comparing the idea to “handing a razor blade to a toddler.”
In his budget proposal last month, Rauner asked for more authority to cut state spending if lawmakers would not negotiate a budget with him. He also proposed relying in part on a sweeping budget package under consideration in the Senate, but Democrats have since accused him of interfering with negotiations and stalling progress.”
“If Senate Democrats are unwilling to let the governor balance the budget on his own, they have no alternative but to work with him to achieve a bipartisan balanced budget that makes structural changes to our broken system,” the administration said in a statement.”
These are the “toddlers” lecturing about budgets who have not balanced one in almost two decades.
Really important for JB to push back hard on this. General Assembly members are getting calls based on the ‘call your legislator’ card at the end of the ad — anecdotal evidence that Rauner has struck a cord.
I think the Pritzker campaign did a good job with this one. They needed to respond to the Rauner campaigns latest scare tactic, the mileage tax, and I think they did so in a concise and effective manner. They need to stick with the failure and lies theme all the way to election day. I’d give the ad a solid B.
==Who was standing in the way of unpopular budget cuts?==
No one was standing in the way of him *proposing* cuts. And he still didn’t do it.
Maybe he’s just a liar. He probably is, he lied about his own grandpa and lied to a Cardinal. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he just looked at the budget and realized there was nothing he could cut.
“Who was standing in the way of unpopular budget cuts?” Exactly what unpopular cuts did he propose? (Answer: None. Even his agency heads couldn’t come up with one.) What you claim is “obstruction” was the leg balking at giving Rauner carte blanche. But then you knew that, your programming just won’t let you admit it.
Pritzker only “floated” the idea of bringing back the proposal because reduced fuel tax revenue was putting pressure on the funding of infrastructure needs. In 2016, Cullerton introduced SB 3267 that would require owners or lessees of a motor vehicle registered in Illinois to “pay a distance-based road user fee for metered use of the public roads in Illinois”. The fee was calculated at 15 cents per mile traveled and if approved would have gone into effect on January 1, 2017. The bill raised many issues including those of privacy because it would require a GPS system to be installed in the vehicles. Former State Senator Matt Murphy, a Republican from Palatine called on the state to considered a more measured approach, arguing that it would be better to test it out as a pilot program first. Other members of the General Assembly were not so friendly to Cullerton and ultimately Cullerton backed away from the legislation, tweeting out that he no longer intended to move forward with SB3267. So, if Cullerton no longer intended on pursuing a Vehicle Mileage Tax or VMT, why in the world did Pritzker “float” the idea again during the primaries? It was during the Democratic primary, when Pritzker said he wanted to focus “on rebuilding roads, bridges and waterways”, and noted that because our traditional gas tax income was shrinking, we’d need to consider a VMT. Pritzker said a VMT tax “is something we should look at” because “it’s only fair if you’re on a road and traveling on that road that you should pay your fair share”. To Pritzker’s credit, he did include Matt Murphy’s recommendation of doing a pilot implementation first, but in January of 2018 there was absolutely no question that Prizker was telling Democrats that he would support reconsidering Cullerton’s VMT legislation or what Rauner called a “Car Tax”. But, now during the general election he is denying that he ever proposed a VMT.
“But, now during the general election he is denying that he ever proposed a VMT” So saying “Something we should look at” is a proposal?” By that logic when someone says “All options are on the table” then he/she has just proposed…well, anything. I don’t buy it.
I don’t believe either candidate. I don’t believe Rauner based upon experience, and I don’t believe Pritzker because he doesn’t have to tell any truths to win.
Yet I make it a point to vote for a new liar over a failed liar.
Say what you will, all the Illinoisans both downstate and upstate, both Dem and Repub who oppose the concept of a mileage tax have won this round. JB’s “harrumph, well I never” ad pushback has made it difficult if not virtually impossible for him to propose it, support one, or even talk about one should he become governor without looking very hypocritical and sneaky.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
I would like Pritzker to also take the lead in narratives instead of just responding. Rauner’s record is so bad that is should not be a problem to do. Rauner is desperately deflecting, but his race should be about his record. When the right wing gives the oppo gift of naming Rauner the worst GOP governor in America…
I saw two new JB ads on TV this weekend, back to back. The first one I remember was short and about Rauner ballooning the bill backlog. The other may have been about education?
He makes a good point about electric cars and hybrids, though hybrids do use gas. All users of public roads should have to pay something for the use of the roads and a gas sales tax makes sense, but tax policy needs to change with technology. So, maybe you drop the gas sales tax all together and tax mileage. Or maybe you keep the gas sales tax and charge a higher vehicle registration fee for hybrids and electric cars (more for electric cars than hybrids).
==In his budget proposal last month, Rauner asked for more authority to cut state spending if lawmakers would not negotiate a budget with him. ==
He already had the authority to cut spending wherever he wanted to with his reduction veto power. Sure, the GA could override him, but they would have to do it point by point, specifically. If he had any honest cuts to make, he could have and should have made them.
It isn’t. It’s what every responsible candidate for public office should do. Explore what is possible to prepare for the inevitable. Rauner has become a loathsome caricature. No ideas. No plan. Attack those who want to look at how to fix the problems that he has had a hand in creating. I had such high hopes for Bruce. Now, not so much. So done with him.
@Skeptic, just merely saying something should be looked at is not a proposal, but repeating exactly what Il Senate President John Cullerton proposed during a primary is clearly a proposal to revisit the issue. Why doesn’t Pritzker just stand by his word? Aren’t Democrats even a little disheartened to see Pritzker pull it off the table once again?
Eh, I agree JB seems to be more in the discussion/exploration phase, it’s not a proposal yet, but it’s not that big of a stretch to call it a proposal.
No matter what, JB is wearing the VMT label and the Raunerites have effectively gotten that message out. For those of you who don’t frequent the real world, there sure as hell was a lot of bar talk this weekend about JB’s “new tax.”
Hey- did any of you folks see the WSJ obituary last week of James Mirrlees. Mirrlees was the 1996 Economics Nobel Prize recipient. His work proved that a progressive tax whereby wealthier taxpayers get hit along the lines Pritzker is proposing actually produces less revenue then does a flatter tax regimen. If you don’t believe me look up his work. Mirrlees himself was surprised at his findings as they are counterintuitive. Bottom line is what Pritzker is suggesting(raise the rates on higher income and Lowe the rates for lower incomes)will leave the State with less revenue if the 1996 Nobel Prize winner knew what he was talking about
Did I see the ad? Only every time I opened a news website. Probably 30 times and sorry to disappoint but I have always been a Dem till now. Just can’t handle more taxes and not ready to go to Wisconsin
Mind made up…
If you saw JB saying he did not make a Mileage tax proposal, and seeing the conversation above about the issue becoming toxic, why do you believe so fervently that it will happen? So much so that you willingly will vote for a serial fibber who needed a major tax increase to fund his budget? I doubt very much you are a Dem rather than a political operative, but if the barest thought of a mileage tax alone is enough to drive you toward Rauner, then I worry for our Democracy.
It’s not just considering a Mileage tax, I heard the state is going to raise the vehicle registration to around $500 per car, sugar tax, bag tax, higher income tax, and anything else they can think of tax. I’m sick of it and done with it.
Even though I’m sure my candidates will be losing the majority of elections, I will be voting for Repubs.
BTW, where I live every bar, restaurant or strip mall has slot machines in them. Where is all this money going in our broke State?
Well, Mind Made Up, at least you are not a one issue voter. You have fallen for all of Rauner’s fibs. Not saying taxes will not go up, but I don’t believe a word from Rauner or other bar tumors.
Think Rauner is going to give you a tax break? He had 4 years to work on it, and he couldn’t even propose one balanced budget and overspent by $16B, which has to be repaid by someone, Talk about fiscally responsible. Best of luck finding a candidate who will lower your taxes. Hint: there isn’t one.
The only ads I see are on Hulu. I’ve seen the Vietnam Veteran Rauner ad, the Mrs. Rauner ad, and the Rauner attack ad on the travel tax. All pretty negative. All give Madigan equal billing at the end with Pritzker.
I’ve seen the 30 second interview, the Dad Joke ad, and the karoyoke ad. All positive, absolutely no substance. I get the “JB” is a likeable guy, but I don’t know what he stands for. Seems like they think Hulu watchers are millenials who only want to vote for “likeable” people.
Now that I read the JB is a billionarie, I don’t think I care for the guy until he advertises some policy.
I wonder how Illinois got in this position? Couldn’t have been democratic control of illinois for the last 50 years. You can’t blame Rauner for Illinois problems. The biggest problem in this state is overspending, and over administration. There are too many politicians and too many pensions. We will always pay more in Illinois and the politicians will find new ways to spend the new revenue. This stae is becoming very hard to live in.
Open your eyes…I can and do blame Rauner for $16B worth of our problems, plus 13 deaths of veterans, and countless students who couldn’t continue college, citizens unable to access mental health services, etc. isn’t that enough for you? It is for me. Rauner failed, like Quinn. Time to give the other guy a shot.
And I remember decades of Republican governors who helped make our problems, including a guy named Edgar Ramp. This your first week in Illinois, or just your first visit here?
I love this time in the election season when the drones start coming to this page thinking that mindless comments attacking one side or the other will somehow make a difference.
For the new people, this site prides itself on interesting, informed, and often witty comments. If you claim Illinois has been under “democrat” rule or you claim to be shocked that JB or Rauner is wealthy, you are wasting your time. All you are going to get from the regulars is a smirk.
These boots were made for walking and that is what they will do, these boots are gonna walk all over the state of illinois and right over the border to wisconsin. Cya crappy illinois.😊
The motor fuel tax has been at 19 cents since 1991. It is not indexed for inflation.
If this is what happens when someone even proposes *talking* about how to raise revenue, it’s no wonder this chronic underinvestment has led to such poor infrastructure.
CMAP published a brief note on various road usage charges here:
(They estimate 2 cents per mile, indexes to inflation. Since I drive about 20k/yr in a hybrid, I’d pay about $400/yr to the road fund—as opposed to about $95 in MFT and $110 for vehicle registration. Colorado, California, and Oregon ran pilot programs already, so there really is no need to guess how the program could work or driver satisfaction.)
Easily solved. Mr. Pritzker should sign a “contract” with the citizens of Illinois to resign if he even puts such a bill forward. Easy enough. This will be his “soda tax”….it will destroy his administration.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 9:52 am:
==I saw the new Pritzker ad four times, but I only saw the original Rauner spot once==
That’s probably more important than the artistic merits of either ad.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 9:57 am:
I’ve been listening to the radio a lot (can’t stand national network broadcasters, football or baseball), and all I hear is the Liberty Principles ad. It’s a pretty effective message even if it is ridiculously misleading. Enough gullible people will believe it.
Pritzker’s spot here is an effective rebuttal, but really, how do you explain something you never did? Might as well respond with Rauner hates kittens and apple pie. Make him respond to nonsense and at least seize the initiative.
- Spliff - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:00 am:
I watched HULU all night last night and saw those 2 negative ads against JB constantly and only 2 positive JB spots about 1/2 as often.
- Louis G Atsaves - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:02 am:
Pritzker only talks about mileage taxes. Pritzker only talks about raising personal income taxes but won’t say how, only that most will not be included, only the rich guys like Pritzker and Rauner.
Pritzker talks about increasing spending but won’t say how he’ll pay for all of it.
Pritzker vaguely talks property tax relief.
I get it. It’s all talk, none are proposals. Read my lips and duck after the election. Take all the income generated by cash hidden in tax havens, remove all household plumbing, and eureka. No one pays for anything.
The Nirvana lie.
And people laugh at Republican budgeting?
The over reach of Rauner lies responses falling flat.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:04 am:
I saw this spot and at least another new one this weekend. Good for Pritzker to stay on message about the wealthy paying more and a tax reduction for the middle class. Good for Pritzker to not leave an attack unanswered.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:06 am:
“When you’re a failure you lie…. when you’re desperate, you lie more….”
Short, sweet, accurate. Who doesn’t know someone like that, and can relate?
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:10 am:
–The Nirvana lie.–
Cobain lives? Or is that a knock on Buddhism?
–The over reach of Rauner lies responses falling flat.–
Huh? Those are words, but they don’t seem to be in any order that conveys a coherent thought.
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:13 am:
What is plan B for JB in the likely event that bipartisan opposition to the graduated income tax in the Democratic GA continues and falls 10 votes short again like it did a few months back?
No plans to cut or limit the growth of spending that supposedly will only be paid for the wealthy.
The reality is JB will raise taxes on more than just the wealthy and we don’t even know who he considers to be “wealthy”.
- Money - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:13 am:
Poor Bruce. His playbook is useless when he has an opponent with the resources to respond. He would have loved to run against Biss or Kennedy. By now he would have defined them and rendered them unelectable.
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:29 am:
Louis- come chat with folks about election data when you get out of the bubble.
Come to Dupage and see how bad it is for Bruce.
Rauner lies is working. We’re more worried about down ticket at this point, Governor is sunk. It’s been over since HB40 with DuPage. Jeanne won Dupage.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:38 am:
==What is plan B for JB in the likely event that bipartisan opposition to the graduated income tax in the Democratic GA continues and falls 10 votes short again like it did a few months back?==
He’s articulated plan for a “synthetic progressive income tax” based on expanding EITCs.
==No plans to cut or limit the growth of spending==
What’s left to cut? Rauner promised to take the slings and arrows for heavy cuts, but never proposed any specifics. The only possible conclusions, then, are that Rauner lied about something or that there’s nothing that can feasibly be cut.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:40 am:
And while we’re at it, what’s Plan *A* for Rauner? I still have no idea what he’ll even try to do if he gets re-elected.
- Responsa - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:44 am:
Cutting an ad to reply to an ad that most voters have probably never seen is an approach. A strange approach, but a way for the ad agency to spend more ad money I guess. I have no idea if it is persuasive. Maybe it is.
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:53 am:
What’s left to cut? Rauner promised to take the slings and arrows for heavy cuts, but never proposed any specifics. The only possible conclusions, then, are that Rauner lied about something or that there’s nothing that can feasibly be cut.
Really? Who was standing in the way of unpopular budget cuts?
“Senate Democrats on Wednesday rejected a proposal to give Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration broad powers to cut state spending, with one lawmaker comparing the idea to “handing a razor blade to a toddler.”
In his budget proposal last month, Rauner asked for more authority to cut state spending if lawmakers would not negotiate a budget with him. He also proposed relying in part on a sweeping budget package under consideration in the Senate, but Democrats have since accused him of interfering with negotiations and stalling progress.”
“If Senate Democrats are unwilling to let the governor balance the budget on his own, they have no alternative but to work with him to achieve a bipartisan balanced budget that makes structural changes to our broken system,” the administration said in a statement.”
These are the “toddlers” lecturing about budgets who have not balanced one in almost two decades.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-senate-budget-hearing-met-20170315-story.html
- Roman - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:58 am:
Really important for JB to push back hard on this. General Assembly members are getting calls based on the ‘call your legislator’ card at the end of the ad — anecdotal evidence that Rauner has struck a cord.
- The Dude Abides - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:58 am:
I think the Pritzker campaign did a good job with this one. They needed to respond to the Rauner campaigns latest scare tactic, the mileage tax, and I think they did so in a concise and effective manner. They need to stick with the failure and lies theme all the way to election day. I’d give the ad a solid B.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 10:59 am:
==Who was standing in the way of unpopular budget cuts?==
No one was standing in the way of him *proposing* cuts. And he still didn’t do it.
Maybe he’s just a liar. He probably is, he lied about his own grandpa and lied to a Cardinal. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he just looked at the budget and realized there was nothing he could cut.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:04 am:
==How is that a proposal?==
It’s not, but he didn’t immediately reject the idea, and voters don’t do nuance, so here we are.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:07 am:
===voters don’t do nuance, so here we are===
Agreed. But I actually do do nuance and I disagree. Whatevs.
- G'Kar - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:09 am:
I’ve seen the Rauner ad and the RGA’s ad regularly, sometimes back to back in the Peoria TV market.
- Skeptic - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:11 am:
“Who was standing in the way of unpopular budget cuts?” Exactly what unpopular cuts did he propose? (Answer: None. Even his agency heads couldn’t come up with one.) What you claim is “obstruction” was the leg balking at giving Rauner carte blanche. But then you knew that, your programming just won’t let you admit it.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:13 am:
==But I actually do do nuance and I disagree.==
Yeah, me, too. It’s one short step away from just making something up whole cloth. I’m just being extra Hyman Roth-y today.
- Dennis - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:16 am:
Pritzker only “floated” the idea of bringing back the proposal because reduced fuel tax revenue was putting pressure on the funding of infrastructure needs. In 2016, Cullerton introduced SB 3267 that would require owners or lessees of a motor vehicle registered in Illinois to “pay a distance-based road user fee for metered use of the public roads in Illinois”. The fee was calculated at 15 cents per mile traveled and if approved would have gone into effect on January 1, 2017. The bill raised many issues including those of privacy because it would require a GPS system to be installed in the vehicles. Former State Senator Matt Murphy, a Republican from Palatine called on the state to considered a more measured approach, arguing that it would be better to test it out as a pilot program first. Other members of the General Assembly were not so friendly to Cullerton and ultimately Cullerton backed away from the legislation, tweeting out that he no longer intended to move forward with SB3267. So, if Cullerton no longer intended on pursuing a Vehicle Mileage Tax or VMT, why in the world did Pritzker “float” the idea again during the primaries? It was during the Democratic primary, when Pritzker said he wanted to focus “on rebuilding roads, bridges and waterways”, and noted that because our traditional gas tax income was shrinking, we’d need to consider a VMT. Pritzker said a VMT tax “is something we should look at” because “it’s only fair if you’re on a road and traveling on that road that you should pay your fair share”. To Pritzker’s credit, he did include Matt Murphy’s recommendation of doing a pilot implementation first, but in January of 2018 there was absolutely no question that Prizker was telling Democrats that he would support reconsidering Cullerton’s VMT legislation or what Rauner called a “Car Tax”. But, now during the general election he is denying that he ever proposed a VMT.
- Skeptic - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:33 am:
“But, now during the general election he is denying that he ever proposed a VMT” So saying “Something we should look at” is a proposal?” By that logic when someone says “All options are on the table” then he/she has just proposed…well, anything. I don’t buy it.
- Gooner - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:54 am:
I loved this ad.
Even without having seen anything from Rauner on the topic (that I can remember) it made JB look strong, and Rauner look weak.
JB is far more effective on camera than I ever expected. He reminds me a bit of Bill Clinton. He comes off as a tough guy who feels your pain.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:09 pm:
I don’t believe either candidate. I don’t believe Rauner based upon experience, and I don’t believe Pritzker because he doesn’t have to tell any truths to win.
Yet I make it a point to vote for a new liar over a failed liar.
- Responsa - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
Say what you will, all the Illinoisans both downstate and upstate, both Dem and Repub who oppose the concept of a mileage tax have won this round. JB’s “harrumph, well I never” ad pushback has made it difficult if not virtually impossible for him to propose it, support one, or even talk about one should he become governor without looking very hypocritical and sneaky.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
I would like Pritzker to also take the lead in narratives instead of just responding. Rauner’s record is so bad that is should not be a problem to do. Rauner is desperately deflecting, but his race should be about his record. When the right wing gives the oppo gift of naming Rauner the worst GOP governor in America…
I saw two new JB ads on TV this weekend, back to back. The first one I remember was short and about Rauner ballooning the bill backlog. The other may have been about education?
- Nanker Phelge - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:17 pm:
He makes a good point about electric cars and hybrids, though hybrids do use gas. All users of public roads should have to pay something for the use of the roads and a gas sales tax makes sense, but tax policy needs to change with technology. So, maybe you drop the gas sales tax all together and tax mileage. Or maybe you keep the gas sales tax and charge a higher vehicle registration fee for hybrids and electric cars (more for electric cars than hybrids).
- Duopoly - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:41 pm:
=Yet I make it a point to vote for a new liar over a failed liar.=
The establishment two-party system in a sentence.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 12:55 pm:
==In his budget proposal last month, Rauner asked for more authority to cut state spending if lawmakers would not negotiate a budget with him. ==
He already had the authority to cut spending wherever he wanted to with his reduction veto power. Sure, the GA could override him, but they would have to do it point by point, specifically. If he had any honest cuts to make, he could have and should have made them.
- phocion - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 1:05 pm:
==How is that a proposal?==
It isn’t. It’s what every responsible candidate for public office should do. Explore what is possible to prepare for the inevitable. Rauner has become a loathsome caricature. No ideas. No plan. Attack those who want to look at how to fix the problems that he has had a hand in creating. I had such high hopes for Bruce. Now, not so much. So done with him.
- Dennis - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 1:28 pm:
@Skeptic, just merely saying something should be looked at is not a proposal, but repeating exactly what Il Senate President John Cullerton proposed during a primary is clearly a proposal to revisit the issue. Why doesn’t Pritzker just stand by his word? Aren’t Democrats even a little disheartened to see Pritzker pull it off the table once again?
- Silicon Prairie - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
We already have a mileage tax, it’s called a tollway
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
L. A. is serving word salad?
Time to don his BigBoyPants?
- Mind made up - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
Rauner;s ad worked on me. I drive too many miles to be taxed on this. Goodbye JB. Hello GOP.
- Perrid - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:08 pm:
Eh, I agree JB seems to be more in the discussion/exploration phase, it’s not a proposal yet, but it’s not that big of a stretch to call it a proposal.
- Wylie Coyote - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:29 pm:
No matter what, JB is wearing the VMT label and the Raunerites have effectively gotten that message out. For those of you who don’t frequent the real world, there sure as hell was a lot of bar talk this weekend about JB’s “new tax.”
- Sue - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
Hey- did any of you folks see the WSJ obituary last week of James Mirrlees. Mirrlees was the 1996 Economics Nobel Prize recipient. His work proved that a progressive tax whereby wealthier taxpayers get hit along the lines Pritzker is proposing actually produces less revenue then does a flatter tax regimen. If you don’t believe me look up his work. Mirrlees himself was surprised at his findings as they are counterintuitive. Bottom line is what Pritzker is suggesting(raise the rates on higher income and Lowe the rates for lower incomes)will leave the State with less revenue if the 1996 Nobel Prize winner knew what he was talking about
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
Mind made up…
Perfect handle for you, Raunerbot. Did you actually watch the ad?
- Mind made up - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 4:05 pm:
Did I see the ad? Only every time I opened a news website. Probably 30 times and sorry to disappoint but I have always been a Dem till now. Just can’t handle more taxes and not ready to go to Wisconsin
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 6:27 pm:
Mind made up…
If you saw JB saying he did not make a Mileage tax proposal, and seeing the conversation above about the issue becoming toxic, why do you believe so fervently that it will happen? So much so that you willingly will vote for a serial fibber who needed a major tax increase to fund his budget? I doubt very much you are a Dem rather than a political operative, but if the barest thought of a mileage tax alone is enough to drive you toward Rauner, then I worry for our Democracy.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 7:24 pm:
==I have always been a Dem till now==
Oh, one of those Dems who believes the first Republican ad they see.
My girlfriend in Canada knows a lot of you guys.
- Arsenal - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 7:26 pm:
==For those of you who don’t frequent the real world, there sure as hell was a lot of bar talk this weekend about JB’s “new tax.”==
Which part of the “real world” has the bars where people talk about political ads all day?
- Mind made up - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 7:47 pm:
It’s not just considering a Mileage tax, I heard the state is going to raise the vehicle registration to around $500 per car, sugar tax, bag tax, higher income tax, and anything else they can think of tax. I’m sick of it and done with it.
Even though I’m sure my candidates will be losing the majority of elections, I will be voting for Repubs.
BTW, where I live every bar, restaurant or strip mall has slot machines in them. Where is all this money going in our broke State?
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 8:01 pm:
Well, Mind Made Up, at least you are not a one issue voter. You have fallen for all of Rauner’s fibs. Not saying taxes will not go up, but I don’t believe a word from Rauner or other bar tumors.
Think Rauner is going to give you a tax break? He had 4 years to work on it, and he couldn’t even propose one balanced budget and overspent by $16B, which has to be repaid by someone, Talk about fiscally responsible. Best of luck finding a candidate who will lower your taxes. Hint: there isn’t one.
- Jibba - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 8:03 pm:
That was supposed to be “rumors”, but tumors is funnier.
- HuluYaHoo - Monday, Sep 10, 18 @ 11:36 pm:
The only ads I see are on Hulu. I’ve seen the Vietnam Veteran Rauner ad, the Mrs. Rauner ad, and the Rauner attack ad on the travel tax. All pretty negative. All give Madigan equal billing at the end with Pritzker.
I’ve seen the 30 second interview, the Dad Joke ad, and the karoyoke ad. All positive, absolutely no substance. I get the “JB” is a likeable guy, but I don’t know what he stands for. Seems like they think Hulu watchers are millenials who only want to vote for “likeable” people.
Now that I read the JB is a billionarie, I don’t think I care for the guy until he advertises some policy.
- Open your eyes - Tuesday, Sep 11, 18 @ 7:53 am:
I wonder how Illinois got in this position? Couldn’t have been democratic control of illinois for the last 50 years. You can’t blame Rauner for Illinois problems. The biggest problem in this state is overspending, and over administration. There are too many politicians and too many pensions. We will always pay more in Illinois and the politicians will find new ways to spend the new revenue. This stae is becoming very hard to live in.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Sep 11, 18 @ 8:05 am:
Open your eyes…I can and do blame Rauner for $16B worth of our problems, plus 13 deaths of veterans, and countless students who couldn’t continue college, citizens unable to access mental health services, etc. isn’t that enough for you? It is for me. Rauner failed, like Quinn. Time to give the other guy a shot.
And I remember decades of Republican governors who helped make our problems, including a guy named Edgar Ramp. This your first week in Illinois, or just your first visit here?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 11, 18 @ 8:31 am:
Open your eyes. Illinois has been under democratic control for the last fifty years?? What total nonsense.
- Gooner - Tuesday, Sep 11, 18 @ 9:59 am:
I love this time in the election season when the drones start coming to this page thinking that mindless comments attacking one side or the other will somehow make a difference.
For the new people, this site prides itself on interesting, informed, and often witty comments. If you claim Illinois has been under “democrat” rule or you claim to be shocked that JB or Rauner is wealthy, you are wasting your time. All you are going to get from the regulars is a smirk.
- snoozer - Tuesday, Sep 11, 18 @ 5:54 pm:
These boots were made for walking and that is what they will do, these boots are gonna walk all over the state of illinois and right over the border to wisconsin. Cya crappy illinois.😊
- Abu Iskandr - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 3:19 pm:
The motor fuel tax has been at 19 cents since 1991. It is not indexed for inflation.
If this is what happens when someone even proposes *talking* about how to raise revenue, it’s no wonder this chronic underinvestment has led to such poor infrastructure.
CMAP published a brief note on various road usage charges here:
http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/updates/all/-/asset_publisher/UIMfSLnFfMB6/content/modernizing-transportation-revenue-collection-with-a-road-usage-charge
(They estimate 2 cents per mile, indexes to inflation. Since I drive about 20k/yr in a hybrid, I’d pay about $400/yr to the road fund—as opposed to about $95 in MFT and $110 for vehicle registration. Colorado, California, and Oregon ran pilot programs already, so there really is no need to guess how the program could work or driver satisfaction.)
- hackemdown - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 2:34 pm:
how about a duel between rauner and JB with sabers. survivor becomes governor.
- David Ross - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 9:44 am:
Easily solved. Mr. Pritzker should sign a “contract” with the citizens of Illinois to resign if he even puts such a bill forward. Easy enough. This will be his “soda tax”….it will destroy his administration.