Strengthened by unprecedented political support, Illinois House legislators are uniting in a new Progressive Caucus to provide a better direction for the state.
Leaders and members of the new Progressive Caucus in the House today used a Statehouse news conference to discuss its platform of principles and legislative agenda for the 2019 session:
Minimum wage: Working families shouldn’t have to work hard and live in poverty. Increasing the minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 an hour around Illinois, phased in over several years with tax credits and with other protections for small businesses, will help lift up Illinois families and improve our economy. This legislation already has cleared the Senate and will get a vote in the Illinois House today.
Adult use of cannabis: Legalizing marijuana use by adults, with tight regulations and sensible taxation, will reverse a trend of senseless incarceration for minor drug users and create economic benefits for Illinois.
Small donor match: The influence of big-dollar donors and candidates in Illinois politics must be curbed. Creating a donor-matching system where tax dollars can help support political candidates who raise campaign funds in small amounts and level the playing field.
Progressive Caucus members also plan to lead and weigh in on a number of other initiatives, including the push for a constitutional amendment to create a progressive income tax where wealthier Illinoisans pay their fair share to fund critical state programs and services, such as education, health care and social services.
Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, a co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, outlined the caucus’ statement of principles and vision for going forward.
“It’s a new day in Illinois, and we’re excited to lead on this bold agenda,” Guzzardi said. “By enacting these policies, and by organizing around our shared vision, we’ll be able to move our state forward and pass legislation that will transform the lives of the people of this state. I’m excited to be a part of this Caucus, and to stand together with so many of my colleagues in this work.”
The Progressive Caucus members are: Co-Chairs Reps. Guzzardi, Theresa Mah, and Carol Ammons; Treasurer Rep. Celina Villanueva; Secretary Rep. Delia Ramirez; and member Reps. Kelly Cassidy, Sara Feigenholtz, Robyn Gabel, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Greg Harris, Rob Martwick, Joyce Mason, Aaron Ortiz, Lamont Robinson, Anne Stava-Murray, and Maurice West.
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:07 am:
I support a higher minimum wage and cannibis, but I am absolutely against public financing of campaigns. Tax dollars should go to providing services to constituents, not financing the political careers of candidates that have a hard time raising money.
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:07 am:
“to fund critical state programs and services, such as education, health care and social services”
Also pork bellies, which is used to make bacon, which you might find in a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich.
- Fixer - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:18 am:
Yeah, CZ, we’ve seen how well it worked with starving those things over a two year period. We should definitely try it again…
- curtis - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:18 am:
== Joyce Mason==
A target on this caucus? Interesting…
- Ze-row - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:24 am:
Good grief…I fear our state masters view what their comrades in CA, NY, NJ and WA have achieved is just a nice start. Turn up the dial on the exodus machine.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:27 am:
===a donor-matching system where tax dollars can help support political candidates===
In a vacuum, that’s a really good idea. In cash-strapped Illinois, that’s a luxury we can’t afford right now.
But 2 out 3 ain’t bad.
- Pundent - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:30 am:
=Turn up the dial on the exodus machine.=
Oh please. Would you like a bag to help with all that hyperventilating? Which of these proposals do you expect will have people running for the border? The idea of raising the minimum wage or implementing a progressive income tax is by no means radical.
- Montrose - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:31 am:
Its always nice when one of the top priorities on your just released legislative agenda is hours away from heading to the governor’s desk.
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:41 am:
I wonder what type of impact the capping of Salt is going to have on the appetite for more taxes in the state going forward.
Most of our residents don’t yet realize how big a tax increase they have already incurred because of it, and are in for a nasty surprise when they file this April.
It gets zero attention, but could well be a ticking timebomb in terms of the plans to implement the progressive tax as many of the same folks that are hit hardest by the Salt cap are the same ones that the progressive tax will go after the most.
There will be a breaking point where people tap out.
- A 400lb. Guy on a bed - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:41 am:
=against public financing of campaigns=
Because, all that Dark Money is a good thing.
- Ze-row - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:43 am:
For Pundent:
https://wirepoints.org/moodys-to-pritzker-new-taxes-could-threaten-to-increase-the-outflow-of-illinois-residents
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-a-national-outlier-when-it-comes-to-losing-residents
- Nick Name - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:48 am:
===I am absolutely against public financing of campaigns. Tax dollars should go to providing services to constituents===
Leveling the playing field so all our candidates aren’t billionaires is definitely a service to constituents.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:54 am:
== I fear our state masters view what their comrades in CA, NY, NJ and WA have achieved is just a nice start.==
I’ve always viewed Illinois as the 3rd most liberal state in the nation after NY and CA
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 11:02 am:
The minimum wage hike and marijuana legalization appear to be the most doable, as Democrats have very comfortable margins to get 60 and 30 votes in the GA. Maybe a Republican or two (or more) will vote for marijuana legalization.
The fair tax amendment should be a nail-biter in the House, with little room for error, but this may be the best time yet to try. It’s something that’s greatly needed, to put our most vulnerable populations and state workforce in a more secure place, long-term.
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 11:24 am:
Small donor match: Sponsored by the Data & Marketing Association.
- don the legend - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 12:46 pm:
==I’ve always viewed Illinois as the 3rd most liberal state in the nation after NY and CA==
Do New York politicians outside of New York City screech that NYC should be it’s own state?
I ask because “upstate” New York is more conservative, rural, has a capital city that’s far removed, shares borders with less populated states etc.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 12:48 pm:
===I ask because “upstate” New York is more conservative===
Upstate is the key word. We have a strong southern influence in Illinois.
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 1:04 pm:
=== Leveling the playing field so all our candidates aren’t billionaires is definitely a service to constituents.===
I don’t want my tax dollars going to campaigns when there aren’t dollars going into social services, education, infrastructure or, basically, any other state service provided to the public. And to say that all of our candidates are billionaires is just silly. Just because Rauner and Pritzker are billionaires doesn’t mean that every candidate for public office is.
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 1:07 pm:
=== Because, all that Dark Money is a good thing. ===
It may not be “good” but the First Amendment permits it. Explain why taxpayer funded political messaging is a good thing? Why should I be subsidizing the messaging for candidates with whom I disagree simply because they cannot raise money on their own?
- progressive01 - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
Combining the City of Chicago’s election department with suburban Cook’s could save enough money to pay for small donor matching itself.
- progressive01 - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 1:35 pm:
In the current system, the amount of money in your pockets equals the amount of ‘free speech’ you can have by running endless commercials. One way to raise funds for small donor matching could be to tax anyone who runs political ads before a certain date in a cycle.
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 2:56 pm:
=== Combining the City of Chicago’s election department with suburban Cook’s could save enough money to pay for small donor matching itself. ===
And how is that? Do you realize how many candidates run for public office? How much money would they be entitled to under this system? And how much money do you reasonably believe you could save by combining the City of Chicago’s election authority with Cook County’s? Most of the expenses of running these offices are salaries of staff and election equipment (which would still exist even if you combine the two offices)
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 2:58 pm:
=== One way to raise funds for small donor matching could be to tax anyone who runs political ads before a certain date in a cycle. ===
Even if you did enact this tax, I still think that tax revenues are better spent in areas other that the financing of campaigns.
- Nonbeleiver - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 3:07 pm:
RNUG - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 10:54 am:
== I fear our state masters view what their comrades in CA, NY, NJ and WA have achieved is just a nice start.==
I’ve always viewed Illinois as the 3rd most liberal state in the nation after NY and CA
I have not always viewed Illinois as being a liberal state. Certainly, at least by Presidential standards it was a bell weather Swing state to watch on election night.
But I do agree RNUG that it is one of the most liberal states today. And with projected demographics it will stay that way.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 3:13 pm:
===I have not always viewed Illinois as being a liberal state. Certainly, at least by Presidential standards it was a bell weather Swing state to watch on election night.===
Since 1996, Illinois has gone in the Democratic column.
2000 - Gore
2004 - Kerry
2008 & 2012 was native son Barack Obama
2016 - Clinton
Illinois’ bell weather status left after Bill Clinton.
- Nonbeleiver - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 3:22 pm:
- don the legend - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 12:46 pm:
“Do New York politicians outside of New York City screech that NYC should be it’s own state?
I ask because “upstate” New York is more conservative, rural, has a capital city that’s far removed, shares borders with less populated states etc.”
Actually it has been an issue in the past and seems to be resurfacing again.
https://www.news10.com/news/local-news/should-new-york-be-divided-into-two-states-/1772671697
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB-TV) - There is now new life in a decades-old debate across New York State. Should New York be divided into two states?
Batavia native and Republican State Assemblyman Steve Hawley is re-introducing a non-binding referendum to separate downstate from upstate.
“Spending is the issue, mandates are the issue, fees and philosophies of government are the issues and I think we’re very very different, upstate New York and Western New York in particular,” Hawley said.
Doubt that such a split will happen in either NY or Illinois
- don the legend - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 3:25 pm:
TYVM Nonbeliever. Not surprised due to the similarities.
- Guest - Thursday, Feb 14, 19 @ 6:22 pm:
3.2 billion short this year and 7 billion short from prior years budgets. Who knew the answer is to spend more?
- rosey - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 6:57 am:
I in favor of the min wage increased to $15 and make it legal for adults to use cannabis. We are finding out every day that this is used to help people in pain without the side effects of prescribed medication. Today with everyone on the internet, youtubing, fb, etc I don’t understand why campaign dollars are so necessary. I think the system is so broken and beyond repair.