Breaking: @GovPritzker will NOT axe the private school tax credit scholarships so long as state fulfills education funding formula. Technically, he breaks a campaign promise, but honors GOP wishes. Some hardline folks in teachers unions may bristle, but they still get paid. Spox: pic.twitter.com/ljpEw7KOTG
Here was the plea from a single mother to @GovPritzker. She was beaming with pride about her children’s progress at their new school and couldn’t understand why the Governor had planned on phasing out the program: https://t.co/lvbdL3gm7d
Let’s all try to remember stuff like this when the usual suspects howl that Democrats are jamming through everything and shutting out Republicans.
One of the reasons those secret working groups are so secret is to let the ILGOPs into the process but still allow them to complain that they were shut out. Behind closed doors, they agree with some of the taxes and all of the spending, but in public, not so much. That’s why secrecy is so important, lol.
I supported the Governor’s position on this but I also think he’s made smart concessions so far this session. Last night in committee on marijuana legalization there were a number of comments from Republicans about how well the compromise worked.
There’s still a ton to get done today, perhaps too much, and that may ultimately change my final impression of this session but up until now I’ve found a lot to like in both the process and outcome.
A large number that was a tiny percentage of the overall education budget. CPS spends more paying the pension pick-up of its employees. Considering the “pleads” of that mom and others in a similar plight, this was a smart move and an easy “give”.
10-year old Emmorie Bland attends St. Patrick’s Catholic School…on scholarship program. She said, “When I first came here, like when I first first came here, I didn’t really do good in any of the subjects. But then since I came here again, I got better and better. Now, I’m getting A’s and B’s.”
I would like to see this program ended, but I think Pritzker’s other priorities such as cannabis legalization and progressive income taxation have a much more significant financial impact on the State. It is nice to have a Governor who can negotiate and work with people, even if it means he doesn’t get everything he wants.
We finally get to see one of those ladies that is always asking/pleading with the Governor to take some sort of action. I have heard a lot about them over the years, but this is the first time I have ever seen proof of their existence. Nice.
I hate the idea of the state diverting money to pay for some people to go to a private school while we are already under funding the public option, it screams of duplication and waste at the very least, but whatever. It’s at most $100 million, in practice a fraction of that, so if the R’s want a fig leaf to say they’ve won something, fine.
He is Doing the Do-able. Lets hope the gaming and sports betting gets done as well. Lots and lots of jobs will be created, as well as much needed tax money will not go to out of state casinos and racetracks.
–One of the reasons those secret working groups are so secret is to let the ILGOPs into the process but still allow them to complain that they were shut out. Behind closed doors, they agree with some of the taxes and all of the spending, but in public, not so much.–
I dislike the program on philosophical grounds, but can accept its existence as part of bipartisan governing. Sadly, I suspect the drumbeat of Rs claiming to be steamrolled by Dems will continue. Do we know the socioeconomic status of recipients so far? Proof of the charitable nature in practice might be more effective than one example.
If a kid is sent to private school and not public school, isn’t there some cost-savings in the sense that the public school doesn’t have to expend money to educate them? So the tax diversion in the form of a tax credit could be arguably justified? I’m open to being educated if I’m missing the boat on this one.
Just Observing—If those private schools didn’t exist obviously the kids now attending them would attend publics. The parents of the private school kids pay real estate taxes that fund those schools yet do not utilize them.
If all of those kids attended publics, how could the school systems handle it?
I’ve sent at least $150,000 to the public school system and have never used them.
Pick a name…your property taxes would be even higher if all children went to public school.
What some folks fail to appreciate is that taxes pay for the operation of a public school, not to educate their specific children. Just like a library…you don’t have to use it, but we’ve decided it should be there just in case.
The Governor and more than half of the legislature either themselves attended or send their own kids to private school. It’s very difficult for them to tell their constituents they shouldn’t have the same option. Good for the Governor for being vulnerable enough to see this and to change his mind. Reasonable people sometimes shift in their position.
Pick a name…you missed the point. If you and all your private school cohort suddenly chose to use public schools, public school budgets would need to go up to accommodate them, hence your taxes would go up. Just because you choose not to use public schools does not mean funds used to support public schools can be diverted to support children in private schools. Or perhaps you were looking for thanks?
- Former State Worker - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:51 am:
Odd having a Governor who is willing to negotiate and not dictate.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:53 am:
“The governor is committed to negotiating in good faith with Republicans.”
What a change from the last governor. Hopefully he can get something for this compromise.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:54 am:
Part of a deal for R’s putting votes on something today?
- 47th Ward - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:56 am:
File this one under “Accepting Republican Input.”
Let’s all try to remember stuff like this when the usual suspects howl that Democrats are jamming through everything and shutting out Republicans.
One of the reasons those secret working groups are so secret is to let the ILGOPs into the process but still allow them to complain that they were shut out. Behind closed doors, they agree with some of the taxes and all of the spending, but in public, not so much. That’s why secrecy is so important, lol.
- The Captain - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:56 am:
I supported the Governor’s position on this but I also think he’s made smart concessions so far this session. Last night in committee on marijuana legalization there were a number of comments from Republicans about how well the compromise worked.
There’s still a ton to get done today, perhaps too much, and that may ultimately change my final impression of this session but up until now I’ve found a lot to like in both the process and outcome.
- Charlie Brown - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:57 am:
Did he just tie the Scholarships to the Fair Tax?
Sounded like it.
- efudd - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:58 am:
Charlie Brown-
And if he did?
Sounds like sausage being made.
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:58 am:
===Sounded like it. ===
lol
That already passed. The only vote remaining is Senate concurrence on the rates bill and that is not in doubt.
- City Zen - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:59 am:
A large number that was a tiny percentage of the overall education budget. CPS spends more paying the pension pick-up of its employees. Considering the “pleads” of that mom and others in a similar plight, this was a smart move and an easy “give”.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:00 am:
10-year old Emmorie Bland attends St. Patrick’s Catholic School…on scholarship program. She said, “When I first came here, like when I first first came here, I didn’t really do good in any of the subjects. But then since I came here again, I got better and better. Now, I’m getting A’s and B’s.”
Great to see JB embrace school choice
- Anon E Moose - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:04 am:
I would like to see this program ended, but I think Pritzker’s other priorities such as cannabis legalization and progressive income taxation have a much more significant financial impact on the State. It is nice to have a Governor who can negotiate and work with people, even if it means he doesn’t get everything he wants.
- Henry Francis - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:07 am:
We finally get to see one of those ladies that is always asking/pleading with the Governor to take some sort of action. I have heard a lot about them over the years, but this is the first time I have ever seen proof of their existence. Nice.
- wordslinger - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:13 am:
Looked like he kept it in his back pocket so he could let GOPers claim a victory, in exchange for something.
Smart. The amount of state money involved is very small due to the lack of private support for the scholarships.
- Perrid - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:17 am:
I hate the idea of the state diverting money to pay for some people to go to a private school while we are already under funding the public option, it screams of duplication and waste at the very least, but whatever. It’s at most $100 million, in practice a fraction of that, so if the R’s want a fig leaf to say they’ve won something, fine.
- Al - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:18 am:
The Credit was too generous.
- The Dude Abides - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:22 am:
Hmmm, the art of making a deal seems to be working better than the previous my way or the highway approach.
I think JB did the right thing here.
- Big Joe - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:23 am:
The more I read about Gov JB, them more I realize how destructive his predecessor was. Thanks goodness we are rid of GovJunk.
- Sue - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:24 am:
Maybe he was told Andrew Gollum would be Florida’s Governor but for his opposition to Charter schools
- Big Joe - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:26 am:
He is Doing the Do-able. Lets hope the gaming and sports betting gets done as well. Lots and lots of jobs will be created, as well as much needed tax money will not go to out of state casinos and racetracks.
- Cheryl44 - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:30 am:
I don’t like these scholarships but it’s nice to have a governor willing to listen to people and how to compromise.
- wordslinger - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:31 am:
–Maybe he was told Andrew Gollum would be Florida’s Governor but for his opposition to Charter schools–
Huh? Illinois charter schools are publicly funded. This is a tax credit to support private school scholarships.
- wordslinger - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 11:57 am:
–One of the reasons those secret working groups are so secret is to let the ILGOPs into the process but still allow them to complain that they were shut out. Behind closed doors, they agree with some of the taxes and all of the spending, but in public, not so much.–
That’s what I figured.
Some of the people, all of the time….
- Pick a Name - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 12:13 pm:
Do some research Word, a lot of funding was made to the private scholarships.
JB made a mistake saying he was going to abolish them but I give him credit for reversing course.
- Robert the 1st - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 12:19 pm:
=Let’s all try to remember stuff like this when the usual suspects howl that Democrats are jamming through everything and shutting out Republicans.=
So generous of you for not dragging children out of successful schools and throwing them back into your party’s “job’s program”
- Generic Drone - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
Well what do you know? Compromise is alive and well again. And the world didn’t colapse.
- Jibba - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 12:29 pm:
I dislike the program on philosophical grounds, but can accept its existence as part of bipartisan governing. Sadly, I suspect the drumbeat of Rs claiming to be steamrolled by Dems will continue. Do we know the socioeconomic status of recipients so far? Proof of the charitable nature in practice might be more effective than one example.
- Charlie Brown - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 12:36 pm:
Rich -
I realize that it is passing the GA, but it still needs to be approved by voters.
- Just Observing - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
If a kid is sent to private school and not public school, isn’t there some cost-savings in the sense that the public school doesn’t have to expend money to educate them? So the tax diversion in the form of a tax credit could be arguably justified? I’m open to being educated if I’m missing the boat on this one.
- wordslinger - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
–So generous of you for not dragging children out of successful schools and throwing them back into your party’s “job’s program”–
And what has been your scholarship contribution and tax credit?
Even with a 75-cent on the dollar tax credit, the support from private contributors has been weak.
- Pick a Name - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
Just Observing—If those private schools didn’t exist obviously the kids now attending them would attend publics. The parents of the private school kids pay real estate taxes that fund those schools yet do not utilize them.
If all of those kids attended publics, how could the school systems handle it?
I’ve sent at least $150,000 to the public school system and have never used them.
- Jibba - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 1:44 pm:
Pick a name…your property taxes would be even higher if all children went to public school.
What some folks fail to appreciate is that taxes pay for the operation of a public school, not to educate their specific children. Just like a library…you don’t have to use it, but we’ve decided it should be there just in case.
- Pick a Name - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
Jibba, you missed the point completely.
- Ed Equity - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 7:15 pm:
The Governor and more than half of the legislature either themselves attended or send their own kids to private school. It’s very difficult for them to tell their constituents they shouldn’t have the same option. Good for the Governor for being vulnerable enough to see this and to change his mind. Reasonable people sometimes shift in their position.
- wordslinger - Friday, May 31, 19 @ 10:34 pm:
–If all of those kids attended publics, how could the school systems handle it?–
What a mystery. Perhaps with the 75 cents on the dollar that are diverted through tax credits?
–I’ve sent at least $150,000 to the public school system and have never used them.–
That’s was your choice, but do you have a point? If so, what is it? I don’t want to put words in your mouth. Because that’s dishonest and weak.
- Jibba - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 1:17 am:
Pick a name…you missed the point. If you and all your private school cohort suddenly chose to use public schools, public school budgets would need to go up to accommodate them, hence your taxes would go up. Just because you choose not to use public schools does not mean funds used to support public schools can be diverted to support children in private schools. Or perhaps you were looking for thanks?