Pritzker’s “swear jar”
Friday, Apr 12, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Back to Tina Sfondeles’ interview with Gov. JB Pritzker…
And, of course, he spoke about the graduated income tax. But he tries not to call it that.
It’s a “fair tax” — a more digestible term that no doubt helps to market his plan. But it’s not so easy. Pritzker has a swear jar of sorts in his office. He has to put in money every time he doesn’t use the preferred “fair tax” name.
“Someone else in my office suggested something like that, and I thought it was a good idea. It turns out I’m the guilty party for the most part because people ask me questions that have the words ‘graduated income tax’ in or ‘progressive,’ and then I sometimes will parrot it back, and then I catch myself,” Pritzker said. “So yes, but it’s really my own swear jar.”
* Ideas Illinois had a little fun with the swear jar…
This week Governor Pritzker acknowledged to the Chicago Sun-Times that his office has created a swear jar to train him and his staff to use the term “fair tax” when describing his Jobs Tax™ on middle class families.
“It is telling that Governor Pritzker is the biggest offender of his own swear jar while trying to convince himself that his jobs tax on middle class families is fair. His Jobs Tax™ swear jar is offensive to every small business owner and middle class family in Illinois,” said Executive Director of Ideas Illinois Jason Heffley.
* Back to Pritzker…
“[Republicans] could have come to talk about any of those things [proposed individual and corporate rates],” Pritzker said. “I’m here. I sit in the governor’s office. My door is open. … The most important part, I think, is that I’m open to conversations about it. I have risen the subject where I could with Republicans. But coming with proposals and having real conversations and negotiations, that’s something that I welcome. But you can’t sit on your hands and say no to everything. That’s what Bruce Rauner did for four years and that clearly didn’t work.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:00 am:
Thankfully, the “I’m not in charge” jar is empty.
- Honeybear - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:01 am:
If he’s into swear jars
I’m sure he’s got one for
Backpay
with not a cent in it.
I’ll be up there today
to put in
a thousand dollars
- Annonin' - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:02 am:
Spanky Baise will need a swear bucket if he keeps that Jobs Tax mumbo jumbo up. Be honest Spanky just say Rauner Rates
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:08 am:
Pritzker says he has a Latin saying on his desk, on a plaque, about not letting certain people get one down.
It is a fair tax, on both sides, fair because upper-income earners would pay more and because the top rate is not too high.
- City Zen - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:14 am:
They trademarked Jobs Tax?
- T - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:20 am:
I’ll believe it’s a “FAIR” tax when it includes income from trust funds held in the Bahamas.
T.
- Honeybear - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:22 am:
Oh this is fun.
Cyber swear jar
State Workers denied step wage backpay
post “backpay dollar” right here.
- Pappy - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:25 am:
I found this interesting dashboard this morning comparing fiscal health of all 50 states. Guess where we rank for most categories?
https://public.tableau.com/en-us/s/gallery/are-states-financially-healthy?gallery=votd
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:26 am:
–They trademarked Jobs Tax?–
I saw Baise in a rasta hat and Birkenstocks selling tie-dye “Jobs Tax(TM)” tees in Daley Plaza.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:27 am:
=It is telling that Governor Pritzker is the biggest offender of his own swear jar while trying to convince himself that his jobs tax on middle class families is fair. His Jobs Tax™ swear jar is offensive to every small business owner and middle class family in Illinois,” =
I don’t remember Hefley being elected to speak for the middle class. I know I didn’t.
What is absolutely offensive is calling the proposed income tax a “jobs tax”. That is a complete lie.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 10:45 am:
We’ve heard missiles called “Peacekeepers” and torture called “enhanced interrogation.” Graduated income tax seems mild in comparison.
- Whatever - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 11:08 am:
==I’ll believe it’s a “FAIR” tax when it includes income from trust funds held in the Bahamas.==
If you’re talking about income the governor gets from a trust fund in the Bahamas or anywhere else, US and Illinois tax apply to it.
- Honeybear - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 11:33 am:
Cyber Chalkboard
I apologize. I will not co-opt Rich’s blog post.
I apologize. I will not co-opt Rich’s blog post.
I apologize. I will not co-opt Rich’s blog post.
- RIJ - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 11:57 am:
Honeybear LOL sometimes we get triggered by the oddest things. S’okay.
- M Friedman - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
A fair tax would be any tax that included pension reform. I guess until the State reaches meltdown as residents flee in massive numbers, will they admit our problem is one issue-Pensions.
- Honeybear - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
-admit our problem is one issue-Revenue-
fixed it
- Hieronymus - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
@”- M Friedman - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
A fair tax would be any tax that included pension reform. I guess until the State reaches meltdown as residents flee in massive numbers, will they admit our problem is one issue-Pensions.”
Why yes, indeed. How about this pension reform constitutional amendment to address the “problem”?
The Comptroller will make the actuarially required payments to all pension plans every year, ahead of all other expenses.
- Nacho - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
Not sure how well mocking a swear jar for not saying fair tax works when you’ve gone to the step of trademarking Jobs Tax.
- I Miss Bentohs - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:48 pm:
They trademarked Jobs Tax?
==
No, they did not. Thus that is not legal.