Question of the day
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A few stories to set the mood…
* Spring break ending, legislators go to pot, gambling, Pritzker’s budget
* Latest pitch for Rockford casino involves getting support from Chicago, legislators
* There’s a lot on the agenda when lawmakers return to Springfield. Here’s a rundown
* The Question: Your predictions for the final five weeks of the spring session? Snark is heavily encouraged.
- intern - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:33 pm:
blaze it
- Iggy - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:37 pm:
Marty Moylan is visited by the ghosts of incarcerated past, sees the error of his ways and donates his salary to the first reformed convict growing operation.
- The Real Captain - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:37 pm:
Weed, gambling, capitol, fair tax, oh my!
- Steve - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:38 pm:
New laws are coming.
- Groucho - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:40 pm:
In an attempt to fully comprehend the issues, Pritzker smokes a joint, gets wasted, then blows the whole budget at the casino.
- cdog - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:41 pm:
A lot of Pritzker’s $1,100,000,000 in “fresh revenue” is likely to spoil and the fruits won’t be harvested as advertised.
(Bond Buyer, 2/25/19, “Why Illinois budget proposal raises new rating concerns.”)
- Al - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:45 pm:
The Liquor Warehouseman and Casino license holders will continue to get pretty much whatever they want.
- XonXoff - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:53 pm:
Placing revenues over personal freedoms, 5 plant homegrow gets thrown under the bus in a last minute deal to get the revenue producing portions/licenses through. Street dealers and Chiefs of Police rejoice. It becomes the Bronze standard of tax and regulate legislation. I hope I’m wrong.
- Kayak - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:54 pm:
The House and Senate Republicans are invited to the Mansion for the first ever “Weed Summit”. Days later, Pritzker signs every bill in his agenda.
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 3:55 pm:
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! /s
- dbk - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:01 pm:
In a seeming fit of investigative zeal, IL legislators head to CO for a weekend field trip.
Upon returning, they unanimously pass every bill before the IL GA within 24 hours of boarding in Denver.
Well, since snark was heavily encouraged…
- Earnest - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
Pritzker suddenly realizes that what people have been saying for years is true: there is enough fraud and wasteful spending in Illinois government to balance the budget.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:06 pm:
JB needs to rebrand the state vegetable to marijuana.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:06 pm:
The GA unanimously passes all pending legalization and revenue bills after sampling homegrown and commercial samples at a buffet catered by the casino owners.
- Oh Really? - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:08 pm:
Pritzker and the Democrats get everything they want, more money, more spending and another “pension holiday.” Headline of Tribune in 2030 reads: State Retirees to Receive Half of Promised Pension Benefits Due To Completely Eroded Tax Base in Illinois. Article goes on.. “High earners fled the state leaving only pot-smoking gamblers to pay the bills. We told you this would happen in 2019.”
- stlboy - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:10 pm:
April showers bring May flowers (of a different bloom).
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:12 pm:
In a surprise eleventh hour move, the GA authorizes Historical Preservation to trade the Thompson Center for Rauner’s mansion and turn the mansion into a State historical site / Chicago Governor’s mansion.
- Tequila Mockingbird - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:24 pm:
In a brilliant move, the ILGA passes a legal weed bill and simultaneously puts a 400% tax on snack foods.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:27 pm:
There is a statewide shortage of Fritos, Cheetos, Doritos and snack aisles are empty from South Beloit to Cairo.
Everyone just stares at each other. No one really cares about anything else. White Castle has the biggest month in it’s history.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:29 pm:
In the confusion, Rockford changes it’s name to Chicago and gets a really big casino, man.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:31 pm:
Just for fun, JB puts his Hyatt properties into the state assets and starts bonding. (Until the last cookie is gone)
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:38 pm:
A state of justice prevails… overall.
- OutOfState - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:39 pm:
Weed gets pushed to veto session. Legislators panic about revenue, pass the graduated income tax. And a weak gaming bill gets passed at the last possible minute, leaving everyone unhappy.
- XonXoff - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:50 pm:
John Deere and Company revenues soar with world-wide pre-orders for new hemp harvesting equipment.
- Quizzical - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 4:56 pm:
Thick joints in Illinois will hereafter be called “Pritzkers”.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 5:00 pm:
Snake eyes.
- DougChicago - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 5:03 pm:
The headlines of 2031 will be along the lines of—-
Following Incomplete Payment of State Pension Obligations Court Enjoins Comptroller to Pay Full Amount and Orders Legislature to Enact Revenue Measures to Ensure Adequate Funding
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 5:05 pm:
I predict six more weeks of Winter.
- Whatever - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 5:34 pm:
I don’t know what will happen in the last 5 weeks, but I’m confident that the last 5 weeks will happen on May 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 5:39 pm:
Dad shoes.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 6:00 pm:
In an attempt at compromise, Rockford is granted a casino license…but only for ‘wacky games’ played in National Lampoon’s Vacation.
- Rural Survivor - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 6:41 pm:
Recreational Marijuana becomes law.
Domino’s opens up down the street from the Capital.
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Apr 30, 19 @ 8:18 pm:
Per diem paid to legislators > benefits received by IL taxpayers.