Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » *** UPDATED x1 - Think Big Illinois responds *** Rate the new Ideas Illinois digital ad opposing the graduated income tax
Ideas Illinois launches digital ad asking voters if they trust Madigan & Pritzker with a blank check
Ad comes as Pritzker & Madigan seek passage of massive Jobs Tax on middle class families & jobs creators
Ideas Illinois today launched a digital ad asking voters if they trust Speaker Madigan & Governor Pritzker with a blank check when it comes to their taxes.
“The bottom line is we simply cannot trust Speaker Madigan and Governor Pritzker with a blank check when it comes to raising taxes,” Ideas Illinois Chairman Greg Baise said.
Announcer: There’s a debate going on about Illinois’ tax system.
The latest sales pitch from Springfield insiders?
Pritzker and Madigan want to change the constitution to allow a permanent jobs tax on middle class families.
‘Trust us,’ they say: we’ll use your money to fund our schools, fix our roads, shore up pensions and cut property taxes.
Do you trust them?
In the last 8 years these same Springfield insiders handed us two of the largest tax hikes in history.
…promising these tax hikes would solve all problems. But nothing changed.
We’re still burdened with debt – schools are underfunded – roads and bridges, crumbling – property taxes, still sky-rocketing.
But here they go again, asking you to pay more.
They’re putting a constitutional amendment on your 2020 ballot, paving the way for their jobs tax on the middle class.
It won’t say how much you’ll pay: a blank check for Springfield. Pritzker and Madigan want you to trust them to do the right thing.
But they broke their promise before… and they’ll do it again, if we trust them again.
Not this time.
Visit ideas Illinois.org/broken promises to learn more.
*** UPDATE *** Think Big Illinois…
Today, Ideas Illinois released a new digital ad in their latest attempt to mislead Illinoisans about a fair tax. The only problem is, they actually told the truth for a few seconds of it, and in doing so, detailed exactly why a fair tax is needed to help Illinois fix its $3.2 billion budget crisis and fund critical priorities in our state.
The ad details what the revenue from a fair tax would go to – addressing the $3.2 billion state budget deficit, funding schools, fixing roads, protecting pensions and cutting property taxes.
“In their latest effort to keep our current unfair tax system in place, Ideas Illinois actually showed exactly why we need to implement a fair tax,” said Quentin Fulks, Executive Director of Think Big Illinois. “Not only will a fair tax bring in $3.4 billion of much-needed revenue that will go to fund critical priorities like our schools, but it will do so while lifting the burden off middle and working-class families. That’s why Think Big Illinois is committed to fighting for a fair tax.”
53 Comments
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:23 am:
Really fake sounding voice doing the narrating. This ad almost makes the case for more revenue, talking about debt, crumbling bridges, underfunded schools.
I rate it: bad and same old, same old from The ILGOP and it’s shrinking old, white base.
So what are the right wing/Republican plans for the calamities they say we have?
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:27 am:
I must have missed the part where Pritzker voted for the last 2 tax hikes. Also, the numbers are out so unless they’re gearing this to the top 3% of earners this message is disingenuous at best.
We overwhelmingly elected Pritzker governor less than 5 months ago. Now the argument is that im not supposed to trust him? Also, the ad says they won’t say how much we will pay. If im not mistaken, they already have said how much and in most cases it is less. I grade this as an f.
Let’s call this what it is. They’re lying, again. Until folks actually start researching issues themselves though, there’s a massive segment in the central and southern parts of the state that will eat this up.
Ad itself is too long, but it’ll fire up the target demographic.
I am incredibly biased against what they are trying to sell, so bear that in mind, but this just comes off as lies and hysteria to me. The “raised taxes TWICE in 8 years” is so much spin it is this close to a bald faced lie, which puts my back up to anything else they would have to say. The fake sounding voice also doesn’t help. And like always, if more revenue is not the solution, tell us YOUR solution.
Basically I rate this ad as a waste of time and money.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:40 am:
Pritzker wasn’t around before January, so how did he break a promise? Also changing the flat tax to graduated tax isn’t a blank check and it isn’t raising taxes. Raising or lowering taxes has to be done separately and it already can be done now with flat taxes. But the biggest flaw in this ad is the narrator admits Illinois needs more revenue for infrastructure and schools and pensions.
This, like his op-eds, contains no plan. Can Greg and friends beat something with nothing? Opponents to Pritzker’s tax plan face the same problem republican opponents of the ACA faced - they have no alternate solution to offer. They can gripe all they want in commercials like this one and in Facebook ad buys, but until they give me an alternative to consider I can’t take Greg’s position seriously.
==Just because Pritzker won last November does not mean voters trust him.==
Ok, putting aside whether I agree with this statement or not, Pritzker won overwhelmingly less than 5 months ago and his largest campaign promise was a graduated income tax. If we didn’t trust him then on that, we wouldn’t have voted for him at all.
Setting aside content for a second, a 1:22 ad is going to be either skipped or scrolled past, it needs to quickly grab and then hold your attention, this ad fails to do that. It’s ok with the sound off, as that’s how most people on social media will see it on their phone, it has text to accompany whatever the VO is (I didn’t bother to listen) but the visual is too slow and uninteresting to effectively hold anyone’s attention.
“There’s a debate going on about the Illinois Tax System”….
Doesn’t quite have that ominous ‘There’s a bear in the woods” ad from the Reagan campaign in the 80’s. Lol
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:04 am:
“Question 2: What role does Illinois’ tax strategy play in population stabilization/growth strrategy?”
It surely isn’t scaring away corporations, who perennially relocate to Chicago metro more than any other region.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:11 am:
The voice over was nice and sarcastic. Fit perfectly with the message. The message of lacking trust in the proponents was consistent throughout. The visuals with the drooping flag over the school house, the sagging bridge and the property tax message were on point.
A little long for my taste. If someone stopped watching after 15 seconds or so, they still would have received the message.
Shocking to most around here who like to dismiss opinions that do not match their own, but there are other messages other than raise taxes, and to keep on raising taxes to pay for increased spending. And I don’t buy the “what is your plan (to raise taxes)” approach critics are raising. Not everyone agrees that state government has to do everything all the time for everyone. Other philosophies call for limited state government to provide only basic services.
I would rather see a debate over what basic services means rather than the current “keep raise taxes and raise spending” approach. That doesn’t sound like good government to me and others holding such views.
Louis, I’d love to see a debate too. That requires folks to come to the table though and so far the only thing ILGOP seems capable of is screaming “NO” as loudly as possible but offering nothing else.
Uh … I think people realize that the general assembly can change the tax rate without switching to a progressive structure. I still haven’t heard a single half-persuasive reason why IL shouldn’t do adopt a progressive rate.
B - liked it because it reminds us that whenever there’s new revenue on tap, it will be used instead to finance a christmas tree of idea-fairy programs; leaving education, pensions and infrastructure parsing leftovers…(again)
Grade C-
I really dislike the voice over guy’s presentation. Ruins anything else of value in the ad’s message for me. The agencies need to start using (and directing) voice over talent that might be recognized as a normal person by other normal people. This isn’t 1973 anymore.
This ad lacks truth and respect for the viewers’ knowledge of the proposed progressive tax plan.
How can this be called a tax om the middle class when only the top 3% will see an increase in their state income tax?
The Chicago metro area has an outstanding track record in attracting corporate headquarters. Unfortunately that has not translated into population stabilization/growth. Illinois has lost population every year since 2014.
Since Rich doesn’t allow comments on the paid advertisements, I’d like to use this space to note that Baise’s ad on Capfax today marks the first time in recorded history that a republican tried to argue that a tax cut will lead to less economic growth. Trump did away with most core conservative beliefs, why shouldn’t Baise do the same?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:44 am:
===Louis, I’d love to see a debate too. That requires folks to come to the table though and so far the only thing ILGOP seems capable of is screaming “NO” as loudly as possible but offering nothing else.===
It depends on the agenda presented. If the agenda is to discuss tax increases without anything else, then expect a “no.” And that is but one example.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:46 am:
Looking forward to the commercials where they show graphics of married couples with their children behind jail bars with a giant “Marriage Penalty” stamp.
If someone wants to make an argument about cuts then they should probably have an idea of what those cuts might look like. People sure love to talk about cuts. Not so much talk from them on what those cuts might look like. Those people need to put up or shut up.
So, Louis? What say you? Any ideas? Put up or shut up.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
===Oh Counselor, so then I guess you stipulate that every one that was asked, couldn’t name a cut.===
The above is similar to the “Rauner Failed to Accomplish Anything” argument run amok. Such broad generalizations sure throw a wet blanket over intelligent discussion.
===The above is similar to the “Rauner Failed to Accomplish Anything” argument run amok. Such broad generalizations sure throw a wet blanket over intelligent discussion===
LOL… so you stipulate…
===…every one that was asked, couldn’t name a cut.===
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:23 am:
Really fake sounding voice doing the narrating. This ad almost makes the case for more revenue, talking about debt, crumbling bridges, underfunded schools.
I rate it: bad and same old, same old from The ILGOP and it’s shrinking old, white base.
So what are the right wing/Republican plans for the calamities they say we have?
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:27 am:
I must have missed the part where Pritzker voted for the last 2 tax hikes. Also, the numbers are out so unless they’re gearing this to the top 3% of earners this message is disingenuous at best.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:27 am:
Understood that it’s digital, but it’s way too long. You don’t need 1:22 to say “taxes bad.”
Why not produce a :30?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:27 am:
Too long. Especially for digital.
- Lord of the Fries - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:28 am:
Too long. Also why are they reiterating the oppositions talking points, doesn’t seem effective.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:28 am:
I was expecting a video of City Zen in a rocking chair just repeatedly mumbling “marriage penalty” over and over.
- Exit 59 - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:29 am:
I didn’t see one idea on that website. Just a contribute button.
- Sox Fan - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:29 am:
We overwhelmingly elected Pritzker governor less than 5 months ago. Now the argument is that im not supposed to trust him? Also, the ad says they won’t say how much we will pay. If im not mistaken, they already have said how much and in most cases it is less. I grade this as an f.
- Fixer - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:32 am:
Let’s call this what it is. They’re lying, again. Until folks actually start researching issues themselves though, there’s a massive segment in the central and southern parts of the state that will eat this up.
Ad itself is too long, but it’ll fire up the target demographic.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:36 am:
Just because Pritzker won last November does not mean voters trust him.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:37 am:
Rambles. Drones on. Angry white mannish.
- Perrid - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:40 am:
I am incredibly biased against what they are trying to sell, so bear that in mind, but this just comes off as lies and hysteria to me. The “raised taxes TWICE in 8 years” is so much spin it is this close to a bald faced lie, which puts my back up to anything else they would have to say. The fake sounding voice also doesn’t help. And like always, if more revenue is not the solution, tell us YOUR solution.
Basically I rate this ad as a waste of time and money.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:40 am:
Pritzker wasn’t around before January, so how did he break a promise? Also changing the flat tax to graduated tax isn’t a blank check and it isn’t raising taxes. Raising or lowering taxes has to be done separately and it already can be done now with flat taxes. But the biggest flaw in this ad is the narrator admits Illinois needs more revenue for infrastructure and schools and pensions.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:41 am:
This, like his op-eds, contains no plan. Can Greg and friends beat something with nothing? Opponents to Pritzker’s tax plan face the same problem republican opponents of the ACA faced - they have no alternate solution to offer. They can gripe all they want in commercials like this one and in Facebook ad buys, but until they give me an alternative to consider I can’t take Greg’s position seriously.
Try harder, Greg
- Sox Fan - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:48 am:
==Just because Pritzker won last November does not mean voters trust him.==
Ok, putting aside whether I agree with this statement or not, Pritzker won overwhelmingly less than 5 months ago and his largest campaign promise was a graduated income tax. If we didn’t trust him then on that, we wouldn’t have voted for him at all.
- The Captain - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:48 am:
Setting aside content for a second, a 1:22 ad is going to be either skipped or scrolled past, it needs to quickly grab and then hold your attention, this ad fails to do that. It’s ok with the sound off, as that’s how most people on social media will see it on their phone, it has text to accompany whatever the VO is (I didn’t bother to listen) but the visual is too slow and uninteresting to effectively hold anyone’s attention.
- WH Mess - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:51 am:
C+/B-
Watched it with the sound off first. As noted before, It does make the case for investing in schools and infrastructure.
Graded up to a B- because bringing Madigan into it will help generate negative energy among a decent chunk of the 97% …
- WSJ Paywall - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:51 am:
Way too long and no subtitles, which is essential for digital ads. D
- Mike Royko - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:52 am:
4 of the fastest US shrinking cities are in Illinois.
Question 1: Do we want to reverse this trend?
Question 2: What role does Illinois’ tax strategy play in population stabilization/growth strrategy?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2019/03/21/population-decline-us-cities-losing-most-residents/39199277/
- don the legend - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:57 am:
This ad sounded great when they were previewing it inside their panic rooms with their doomsday meals and their end of days plan.
- Jocko - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:03 am:
I give them credit for holding off on “Because Madigan” for this long.
Who is the couple at 1:07? Are they supposed to represent Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class?
- Just In - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:04 am:
“There’s a debate going on about the Illinois Tax System”….
Doesn’t quite have that ominous ‘There’s a bear in the woods” ad from the Reagan campaign in the 80’s. Lol
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:04 am:
“Question 2: What role does Illinois’ tax strategy play in population stabilization/growth strrategy?”
It surely isn’t scaring away corporations, who perennially relocate to Chicago metro more than any other region.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:11 am:
The voice over was nice and sarcastic. Fit perfectly with the message. The message of lacking trust in the proponents was consistent throughout. The visuals with the drooping flag over the school house, the sagging bridge and the property tax message were on point.
A little long for my taste. If someone stopped watching after 15 seconds or so, they still would have received the message.
Shocking to most around here who like to dismiss opinions that do not match their own, but there are other messages other than raise taxes, and to keep on raising taxes to pay for increased spending. And I don’t buy the “what is your plan (to raise taxes)” approach critics are raising. Not everyone agrees that state government has to do everything all the time for everyone. Other philosophies call for limited state government to provide only basic services.
I would rather see a debate over what basic services means rather than the current “keep raise taxes and raise spending” approach. That doesn’t sound like good government to me and others holding such views.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:20 am:
It’s better than the Pritzker admininistration’s math and Econ skills. But, that is also a ridiculously low bar to beat and not saying much.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:21 am:
As this ad reminds me, we have to raise revenue to fix the stuff that’s falling apart. I suppose that’s not the take away they were after.
- Fixer - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:24 am:
Louis, I’d love to see a debate too. That requires folks to come to the table though and so far the only thing ILGOP seems capable of is screaming “NO” as loudly as possible but offering nothing else.
- Just anon - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:27 am:
Uh … I think people realize that the general assembly can change the tax rate without switching to a progressive structure. I still haven’t heard a single half-persuasive reason why IL shouldn’t do adopt a progressive rate.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:33 am:
It’s a C-/D+
“Why?”
It’s the same closing argument Rauner had, Rauner was “the last chance” and lost by the largest margin by an incumbent Republican in 100 years.
It’s stale and not reflective to where the state voters are or were in November.
It’s a waste of time and money, this message plan.
- Adm. Stockd'l - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:35 am:
B - liked it because it reminds us that whenever there’s new revenue on tap, it will be used instead to finance a christmas tree of idea-fairy programs; leaving education, pensions and infrastructure parsing leftovers…(again)
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:56 am:
–I would rather see a debate over what basic services means rather than the current “keep raise taxes and raise spending” approach.–
So start one.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 10:58 am:
At least Spanky did not spend a lot on production. They should feature Ives and her diversity crew ranting about the ad.
- Responsa - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:04 am:
Grade C-
I really dislike the voice over guy’s presentation. Ruins anything else of value in the ad’s message for me. The agencies need to start using (and directing) voice over talent that might be recognized as a normal person by other normal people. This isn’t 1973 anymore.
- Enviro - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:10 am:
This ad lacks truth and respect for the viewers’ knowledge of the proposed progressive tax plan.
How can this be called a tax om the middle class when only the top 3% will see an increase in their state income tax?
- Mike Royko - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:23 am:
The Chicago metro area has an outstanding track record in attracting corporate headquarters. Unfortunately that has not translated into population stabilization/growth. Illinois has lost population every year since 2014.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/population-loss-in-illinois-is-driven-by-larger-numbers-of-people-leaving-for-other-states/f1bf43a4-0e93-407c-8240-7c3b9d58547b
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:38 am:
Since Rich doesn’t allow comments on the paid advertisements, I’d like to use this space to note that Baise’s ad on Capfax today marks the first time in recorded history that a republican tried to argue that a tax cut will lead to less economic growth. Trump did away with most core conservative beliefs, why shouldn’t Baise do the same?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:44 am:
===Louis, I’d love to see a debate too. That requires folks to come to the table though and so far the only thing ILGOP seems capable of is screaming “NO” as loudly as possible but offering nothing else.===
It depends on the agenda presented. If the agenda is to discuss tax increases without anything else, then expect a “no.” And that is but one example.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:46 am:
===So start one.===
Trying.
- City Zen - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 11:57 am:
Looking forward to the commercials where they show graphics of married couples with their children behind jail bars with a giant “Marriage Penalty” stamp.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 12:16 pm:
===So start one.===
Trying.–
Try identifying a current state “basic service” that you think should be done away with.
If you’ll recall, Rauner’s cabinet directors could not identify any spending cuts they’d support when quizzed by legislators.
- Shytown - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
Not a great ad, but great retort from Think Big Illinois
- City Zen - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
==Try identifying a current state “basic service” that you think should be done away with.==
You know, JB’s staff gets paid twice to do this. Has Louis even been paid once yet? RTWFL?
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 1:57 pm:
Really awful Ad.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
===Rauner’s cabinet directors could not identify any spending cuts they’d support when quizzed by legislators.===
Not all of those cabinet directors were asked that question. Your overly broad generalization is noted for what it is.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 2:07 pm:
===Not all of those cabinet directors were asked that question. Your overly broad generalization is noted for what it is.===
Oh Counselor, so then I guess you stipulate that every one that was asked, couldn’t name a cut.
LOL
- Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
City
If someone wants to make an argument about cuts then they should probably have an idea of what those cuts might look like. People sure love to talk about cuts. Not so much talk from them on what those cuts might look like. Those people need to put up or shut up.
So, Louis? What say you? Any ideas? Put up or shut up.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
===Oh Counselor, so then I guess you stipulate that every one that was asked, couldn’t name a cut.===
The above is similar to the “Rauner Failed to Accomplish Anything” argument run amok. Such broad generalizations sure throw a wet blanket over intelligent discussion.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 3:06 pm:
===The above is similar to the “Rauner Failed to Accomplish Anything” argument run amok. Such broad generalizations sure throw a wet blanket over intelligent discussion===
LOL… so you stipulate…
===…every one that was asked, couldn’t name a cut.===
The short answer is yes, Counselor.
- Rabid - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 5:02 pm:
Jobs tax, what’s you talking about
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 5:31 pm:
So Louis — you’re the one who said you wanted to start a debate over state services and spending.
For someone who wants that debate, you’re avoiding basic questions quite a bit.
- Rabid - Thursday, Mar 21, 19 @ 9:54 pm:
Still using the Rauner random word generator with the two minimum madigan
- Zac - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 11:27 am:
I run an online business that I can and WILL move to another state if these increases go through.
In 2018, I paid $33k in state income taxes, $10,800 in property taxes and $7k in business taxes.
I will 100% move to Texas and pay 0% income tax in 2020 if these tax bumps happen. I am actually planning on it.
I hope JB’s numbers factor in the losses from people he is pushing out by ripping them off.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 1:28 pm:
–I run an online business that I can and WILL move to another state if these increases go through.–
That does it for me — this anonymous, fact-free poster has dazzled me with fact-free brilliance.
Just one question: If where you are located doesn’t matter, why didn’t you move to a no-income-tax state before?