* JB Pritzker on the pension problem in February…
“There is really only one good way to do it and that is to step up payments,” Pritzker told Crain’s. “Think about the principal payments on your home. Step up principal payments earlier than they are due and try to flatten out the amortization schedule on an annual basis. Flatten it. The result of that will be that we can manage the budget of the state. Because that is really what is at stake here.”
Pretty sure he said that more than once.
* And now?…
Since winning the primary, Pritzker has softened his stance, refusing three times to acknowledge that was ever really his plan.
“There are multiple plans that have been put forward,” Pritzker said.
Considering he previously said “There is really only one good way to do it,” wasn’t that his plan at the time?
“No, that’s a plan that was put forward by an organization. You can look it up,” he said.
Sigh.
OK, well, that takes $1.7 billion off of my guesstimate of his annual revenue needs, lowering it to $9 billion.
But what’s he gonna do now?
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:21 pm:
“But what’s he gonna do now?” Hold ‘em until the 7th and pray for rain?
- Evanstonian - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:22 pm:
You gotta remember he’ll probably come up with a way to cut pensions ala the last Democratic governor. So, that’ll save at least a few billion. At least until the SC (hopefully) overrules it.
Who’d a thought the billionaire is already waffling on his progressive policy positions? Good going, labor.
- dbk - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:27 pm:
He was right in February.
- California Guy - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:30 pm:
He can’t talk about what he actually wants to do because labor won’t support him, thus re-electing Rauner.
- Occam - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:32 pm:
So he’s reversing the only rational proposal he’s put forth during the entire campaign?
Somebody must have run the numbers for him and told him that there was no way he could generate an incremental $10.7 billion in tax revenue (per Rich’s numbers) and that something had to come off the table.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:35 pm:
“Think about the principal payments on your home.”
With or without toilets?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:44 pm:
What’s he gonna do now?
Same thing Rauner did four years ago. Win, and then act on the plans he was serious about.
You want to know which ones those are? Just like Rauner, he’s going to make you wait.
- Seats - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:48 pm:
Well that is disappointing to hear.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:53 pm:
Occam is right. I have to assume that JB’s wishes are aspirational, not specific plans, and will be prioritized given when or if funding becomes available. I’ve never completely believed any politician, so why start now?
- Downstate Dem - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:57 pm:
Who remembers Nixon’s plan to end the war?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:01 pm:
Nobody cares…they just want rid of Rauner…November is comin’
Here’s a news flash…Breaking News…taxes are going to increase…forever…and ever…Amen.
It’s how capitalism works.
- Anon0091 - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:01 pm:
I don’t think he’s backed off on this at all. I’d wait for a better source than Mark Maxwell’s interpretation.
- Wylie Coyote - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:07 pm:
Boy, where’s Blagojevich when we really need an honest Democrat!
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:24 pm:
===Mark Maxwell’s interpretation===
If you read Pritzker’s two comments and say he hasn’t backed off then you are either unbelievably stupid or a hyperpartisan hack or both.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:49 pm:
- California Guy - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:30 pm:
He can’t talk about what he actually wants to do because labor won’t support him, thus re-electing Rauner.
——-
Or actually resulting in the election of Governor Sam McCann.
- wondering - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:58 pm:
What’s he going to do now? Avoid being painted into a corner to appease pundits, that’s what.
- formerpro - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 6:35 pm:
All politicians are in denial about the need to raise additional revenue to catch up on all the inadequate pension payments over the years….all of them! Go back and re-read the Supreme Court decision. Yes, Rauner is worse. And yes, it’s a tough message that the taxpayers don’t want to hear.
- Stuntman Bob's Brother - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 8:14 pm:
So until JB can get the progressive tax in place, is he willing to get the flat rate bumped up to maybe eight percent, and then increase the personal deduction to some point where it provides relief for low and middle class earners? (maybe $3K, which would hold harmless a single earner making about sixty grand?)
- SSL - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 8:19 pm:
Kick that can JB. Kick that can hard.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
- BlueDogDem - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 8:28 pm:
Typical from a candidate from our two party system. There really is no fixing this mess. Sorry.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 8:57 pm:
Fix the mess by paying what is due, every year, for the next 20 years. Don’t worry about paying ahead, even if it saves money over the coming decades. We don’t have that luxury right now.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:53 pm:
–Typical from a candidate from our two party system. There really is no fixing this mess. Sorry.–
So sad for you, boo-boo. Tears on the cracker barrel.
Which authoritarian system do you prefer?
- BlueDogDem - Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 5:41 am:
My only tears are for individuals who think the two party system can fix this state. It’s blinded,partisan cheerleaders on both sides of the aisle who created the political division in this country.
- Not an Apologist - Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 6:43 am:
Only in Illinois would we elect another billionaire where we have absolutely no idea what he stands for or what his ideas are on any real issue. I’m sure this will work out great.
- cue “he’s got to be better than Rauner” response.
- Jibba - Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 7:53 am:
Not an Apologist predicts correctly. It is the definition of insane to stick with the billionaire who failed, expecting different behavior, rather than to try someone new who seems to have his priorities right, even if he is a billionaire.
- Arock - Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 8:21 am:
You really expect the ones(the ones with money and clout) that have funded the politicians that created this mess to really have a way of fixing what they helped create? The leaders of either party didn’t get there because of what they have done for the little guys, they know who bankrolls their campaigns.