* Gov. Rauner spoke at a fundraiser for House Republican Leader Jim Durkin yesterday…
Rauner, the re-election-seeking governor who has used his campaign wealth to heavily subsidize Durkin’s candidates for the Illinois House, called the House “the barricade” against Democratic plans to approve a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ask voters to approve a graduated-rate income tax to replace the currently mandated flat tax. The proposal is backed by Rauner’s Democratic challenger, J.B. Pritzker.
“The only way they can get that done is by having a super-majority back in the General Assembly. And the barricade, the wall, the barrier against that happening is the House of Representatives. Hold the House. Pick up seats in the House. That’s what it’s all about,” Rauner said.
Democrats hold a 67-51 majority in the House, led by Rauner’s chief political nemesis, House Speaker Michael Madigan, who also chairs the state Democratic Party. It takes 71 votes in the House to approve a proposed constitutional amendment and 36 votes in the Senate, which Rauner is not heavily contesting this election. Democrats have a 37-22 Senate majority.
Interesting how the Republican State Leadership Committee announced yesterday that it was busting the contribution caps for Durkin just before Durkin’s contributors descended on his event.
* Sun-Times…
Rauner spoke briefly to the crowd, saying he had to attend to another dinner and speech. But the embattled Republican governor told the state’s Republicans that the Illinois House “is the barricade against a massive new income tax hike in the state of Illinois.” […]
“Even though the president unfortunately lost Illinois, we picked up four seats in the House, two seats in the Senate two years ago. And we’re going to put together the biggest ground game in Illinois history this election cycle. We’re going to work our tails off and pick up more seats in the House.”
The Senate Republicans are hosting their annual “Fall Classic” today and tomorrow in southern Illinois. Golf, skeet shooting, fishing, boating. Will the governor show up with a check in hand?
* Photo from yesterday’s event…
- City Zen - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
Not the most diverse crowd out there. Almost looks like a Local 150 officers meeting.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
GovJUnk with Durkie and McCarthy — a trifecta loser bet if there ever was one
- Ike - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
Zen - really got something against local 150, don’t ya
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
That’s phony.
Even Pritzker knows his progressive income tax can’t happen until 2021, and who really knows who will get taxed, there’s no plan.
Also,
Rauner himself signed a budget using every dime of the 32% tax increase, and by a vote of 152-20, “more than a handful of Raunerites votes to use that 32% tax ibcreasectoo.
LOL
Phonies… phonies everywhere.
Rauner is wearing a tie.
That’s fun.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
Rauner doesn’t want to give voters an opportunity to decide the issue. He must want to ensure the subject is only decided by the politicians.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
“Even though the president unfortunately lost Illinois”
Operative word being “unfortunately.” Did Rauner vote for Trump? I imagine he did, salivating at the prospect of big tax cuts for the wealthiest, gutting regulations and the Janus case.
Rauner’s absolute refusal to pay a higher state income tax than anyone else completely justifies any unions fighting against him tooth and nail. Why should those who live paycheck to paycheck sacrifice when the guy who made $279 million in his last two reported tax years is utterly resistant to paying more? It’s that simple and clear.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
Hopefully, there will be a big enough Blue Wave to knock down the barricade.
- BlueDogDem - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
I would bet Costello won’t back a progressive income tax.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
==really got something against local 150, don’t ya==
Someone is obviously against something. Not sure it’s me.
- Real - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
Nice. A group of old rich white men not wanting to pay there fair share in taxes, but the have all types of money to buy and sway elections.
- BlueDogDem - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
The barricade against a progressive income tax will be Pritzkers failure to define it.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
If McCarthy were ever to get any real traction, that photo would come in handy.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:36 pm:
===“Even though the president unfortunately lost Illinois, we picked up four seats in the House, two seats in the Senate two years ago. … ===
Munger lost to Mendoza.
That was the biggest, most impactful race… and Rauner lost the proxy war.
With a 26/52 approval-disapproval… Rauner should worry. Munger’s loss could be a precursor.
Raunerism needs to end.
- Real - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:36 pm:
This looks like the business suited guys in the Purge movie.
- BlueDogDem - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:38 pm:
OW. Raunerism needs to end. Is that an endorsement for Pritzkerism?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
===Is that an endorsement for Pritzkerism?===
There is no such thing as Pritzkerism.
I’ve explained Raunerism, “ad nauseam” it needs to end.
I fed you.
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
BR: “Jim Durkin, Yay”
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:46 pm:
Rauner was just with his buddy Scooter “Scottholes” Walker of WI, the governor of a state with a progressive income tax. Surely he vented to and chastised him.
Scottholes is what some are calling potholes in Wisconsin, due to poor road conditions/lack of infrastructure investment.
- Ike - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:47 pm:
Zen - you keep bringing 150 up in most threads, even when the topic is not about them.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
===“The only way they can get that done is by having a super-majority back in the General Assembly. And the barricade, the wall, the barrier against that happening is the House of Representatives. Hold the House. Pick up seats in the House. That’s what it’s all about,” Rauner said.===
Shorter…
“Im conceding to Pritzker. We need more Raunerite House members when I’m gone. I gave Durkin money.”
- anon - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:55 pm:
That’s Kevin Durkin, next to McCarthy in foreground ,a top ten of tort attorneys in Illinois.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
I know Illinois wasn’t directly affected the way other places were but a partisan fundraiser on 9/11? They couldn’t pick any other date for this? IIRC we are still a nation at war because of what happened on 9/11, right?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
–Money shot below with Garry McCarthy.–
Um, Tina, are you aware of the origin of that phrase?
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 3:36 pm:
It will be several years before this topic will be up for constitutional consideration. And unlike our current governor I’m willing to put the decision in the hands of the people.
- Been There - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 4:30 pm:
===
–Money shot below with Garry McCarthy.–
Um, Tina, are you aware of the origin of that phrase?====
Gary does look like he’s pretty happy though.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 4:47 pm:
Norseman nailed it. Rauner wants the GOP Legislature to make the decision on the graduated tax, not the voters. Rauner doesn’t write checks to the voters and thus doesn’t control them. The GOP Legislature has for the most part gladly cashed those Rauner checks and done what their master has told them to do. The result of that is the condition this state is now in.
- El Conquistador - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 4:56 pm:
Rauner’s the barricade to good government.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 4:58 pm:
Perspective?
Rauner’s last barracade was…
Franks, Drury… and Ken Dunkin.
Capiche?
- Jocko - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 5:01 pm:
Be thankful the guy to the right of McCarthy kept his fist clenched. Outside of a Blues Brothers/Indiana Jones movie…it’s not a good look for anyone, especially republicans.
- Theq - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 5:04 pm:
Is it really a good strategy to have Rauner help you campaign?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Sep 12, 18 @ 7:16 pm:
word, apparently she’s not.
- anon2 - Thursday, Sep 13, 18 @ 9:13 am:
When Madigan brought up the millionaire’s tax for a vote a couple of years ago, not a single Republican supported it, despite the fact that even conservatives don’t define millionaires as part of the middleclass. And despite the fact that precious few residents in Southern IL GOP districts would be affected.