65 Comments - Nobody Sent - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:35 am: So changing the tax system will hit some wealthy enclaves harder and I’m supposed to be upset by that? Do you hear that? Its my tiny violin playing for them. - Nick - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:35 am: Amazing work by the IPI. As we all know Wilmette is a great representation for the entire state of Illinois. - Jibba - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:36 am: ==A staggering 39% of joint filers in Wilmette would be hit=== More like that it is staggering how concentrated wealth is in this state and country. - Ok - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:36 am: Won’t someone please think of Wilmette - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:37 am: === Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims only 3% of Illinois taxpayers will see their tax bills go up under his progressive income tax ballot measure. But that picture changes significantly at the community level.=== “And?” So it still is 3% statewide… Yay IPI - Steve - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:38 am: Those Wilmette taxpayers better hope Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren don’t get a wealth tax on top of this potential Illinois tax rate change. That would be a lot of tax increases at one time. Some of those wealthy people who own business might not be giving out such big of pay raises to their workers who maintain their standard of living if they are business owners. All on top of the recent SALT cap. Whew.. - South of Sherman - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:38 am: And ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of adults living in the Pritzker household will see their taxes go up!!! Thanks, Captain Obvious, for that live update. - South of Sherman - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:39 am: (Sorry about the all caps and exclamation points. Got a little carried away.) - JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:41 am: =don’t get a wealth tax on top of this potential Illinois tax rate change. That would be a lot of tax increases at one time. = Yes crippling./s - Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:43 am: an increase could be one penny more. certainly it’s more than that here, but just showing income levels and percentages does not say how much. say how much. but we still aren’t crying for you when we see that because it’s not that much. - Steve - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:45 am: - JS Mill - Hope many of those wealthy don’t declare residency somewhere else while still maintaining an Illinois presence. - Kyle Hillman - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:45 am: So a tax change designed to tax rich people more is going to tax rich people more. Cool. - Andrew - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:47 am: Hey -Steve-, don’t let the door hit you on the way out - njt - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:47 am: ===Hope many of those wealthy don’t declare residency somewhere else while still maintaining an Illinois presence.=== Let’s see them relocate their business. See Citadel, et. all. - Trapped in the 'burbs - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:47 am: I live in Wilmette and will be paying the increased costs. Call me crazy but I’m fine with paying a little more if the money actually helps. Our elected officials “balanced” the budget for years by skipping pension contributions, infrastructure improvements and other essential areas. I have always voted in favor of referendums to increase funding for schools. It’s time we address the financial problems in this state. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:47 am: === Hope many of those wealthy don’t declare residency somewhere else while still maintaining an Illinois presence.=== You should vote against the progressive tax. Oh, wait… - Anonish - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:48 am: I think only folks from Kenilworth ever feel bad for people who live in Wilmette. - unspun - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:48 am: By all means, let’s all pass our tattered hats in behalf of the Ricketts family. - @misterjayem - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:48 am: “Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims only 3% of Illinois taxpayers will see their tax bills go up under his progressive income tax ballot measure.” Still undisputed. – MrJM - njt - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:51 am: Won’t someone think of the 0.02% /s - Back to the Future - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:52 am: No my heart does not bleed for Wilmette. In order for the Fair Tax to pass voters will have to believe Springfield needs more money and they will have to believe JBP’s statement that only 3% of all taxpayers will see tax increases. - BigLou - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:52 am: I have a question. Assuming the Fair Tax passes, will it be written in a way that allows legislators to lower the income amounts in the future? Say now the limit is people over $200k, if the legislatures need more money will they eventually be able to lower the income level to $100K? - don the legend - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:56 am: Sounds like Steve is happy he’s not in that tax bracket. Me,not so much. However my career choices have made sure that I am not. That’s on me. But I still take the time to understand all that I do get for my taxes. It’s staggering what we citizens receive: education, public health and safety, first responders, safe transportation of all types, criminal justice, defense, social services. Grandson of Man does a much better job explaining why the wealthiest among us benefit the most from a fair and stable tax structure. - Steve - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:58 am: For all those who don’t think taxes have consequences over time…. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-28/jpmorgan-weighs-shifting-thousands-of-jobs-out-of-new-york-area - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:58 am: Not sure who you should ask to pay more: those who have wealth or those in poverty. Of course, history has always targeted the middle class, causing some to sink in economic status. Seems logical to ask more of those who have the most. Call me crazy. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:59 am: - Steve - Taxes don’t matter to you. You don’t vote. - Andrew - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:59 am: - Big Lou - You know how legislation works, right? If they pass a law that says X, a future legislature can obviously come in and pass a law that updates or invalidates or changes X. That is how legislation works. And how it should. That is true for this and literally every other issue that can be legislated. - T - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:02 am: I am still waiting for an explanation of why a “FAIR” tax doesn’t cover money in Caribbean trust funds that has been and continues to be hidden from Illinois tax collectors. Doesn’t seem FAIR to me. - Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:03 am: Where’s that parody of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” when you need it? - Jibba - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:03 am: Thank you, Trapped in the Burbs. Seriously. Steve is not wrong to worry about the wealthy moving, but we have no really good options at this point. Maintaining our quality of life while publicly getting our financial house in order is our best shot. - Chris - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:05 am: “ will they eventually be able to lower the income level to $100K?” They can always raise the rates on everyone, too. Nothing (except 60-30-1, and elections) prevents the base rate from being 6, 8, 10%. “ For all those who don’t think taxes have consequences ” As the article says, it has a lot to do with the cost of office space, too. And, of course, wage competition. - Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:06 am: Hard not to notice that there’s no mention of the *massive* federal tax cut these same folks got just a couple years ago. Why, it’s almost as if they’d like Illinoisans to forget all about the giant giveaway Paul Ryan and dear leader provided to the extremely wealthy. Hmm…. - Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:07 am: IPI protecting the Wilmettes of the State. - Steve - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:09 am: OW Voting with one’s feet is a lot more effective than casting a single vote in an election with millions of voters… especially in a state that’s isn’t politically competitive. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:10 am: === Voting with one’s feet is a lot more effective== So when are you moving? - TominChicago - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:12 am: Does the IPI really think that this is a persuasive argument? - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:14 am: === especially in a state that’s isn’t politically competitive.=== In 2014, the GOP had THREE statewide offices and a United States Senator. Then came Rauner, then came Trump, then implosion. Your dorm room lunacy for not voting and thinking your “voice” and “feet” matter… move already. You’re trolling yourself by marginalizing… you. I’m done, thanks. Move on. - Cable Line Beer Gardener - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:15 am: I wonder how many of those taxpayers in Wilmette actually pay the bills? - Jocko - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:15 am: They should have asked Wilmette resident Sylvie Légère Ricketts for a quote. I hear she (and her husband, Todd) just got hit with a big bill. /S - Illinfan - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:16 am: What do the Ricketts have to do about this? - Steve - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:16 am: I’ll wait to see the outcome of the progressive income tax situation. Pending indictments and the reversion of the federal tax code may really change things. Those SALT deductions may be coming back sooner than people think with the Republicans out of power nationally in the coming years. - Back to the Future - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:21 am: I don’t mean to sound “preachy” or argumentative, but Voting is a duty. There is no excuse for deciding not the Vote. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:22 am: =Hope many of those wealthy don’t declare residency somewhere else while still maintaining an Illinois presence.= Oh the humanity (banned punctuation) How will these people, who have benefitted so gloriously from society, who will they make it? Just curious, why don’t the sky is falling/poor rich people crowd ever mention how federal taxation on income, for the wealthiest in particular, is at historic lows? When taxation was high like in the 50″s and 60’s our economy (not just the stock market and financial services) was really booming. Maybe just an oversight?/s - Jocko - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:24 am: Illinifan @11:16a https://capitolfax.com/2019/07/09/todd-ricketts-is-in-some-hot-tax-water/ - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:33 am: Ailments ia one of the richest areas in the state. Those numbers would be expected there - Perrid - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:34 am: BigLou, you can look up the language for the proposed amendment yourself, it’s SJRCA0001. But this is the relevant bit (and the vast majority of the amendment): “The General Assembly shall provide by law for the rate or rates of any tax on or measured by income imposed by the State.” So the GA can set rates higher or lower, whatever they want. - Randomly Selected - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:35 am: Could be a smart play by IPI. The fair tax amendment needs 60% so maybe their play is to pull in rich Independents and hassle loafer republicans that could be wavering bc of the national climate. Cut off margins around the NE of the state bc downstate is probably in the bag. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:37 am: That’s the whole idea, that upper incomes pay more. Nice to see the IPI lay it out, especially for those poor North Shore right wingers like Ricketts and Rauner, who have suffered so terribly under Illinois’ income taxes. - Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:39 am: “So the GA can set rates higher or lower, whatever they want.” Just like they can today. - City Zen - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:44 am: On the plus side, in some communities, the Fair Tax only impacts elected officials. - Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:44 am: Good to see JB stopped calling it the fair tax. It’s usually those who are unaffected that refer to it by that name. - BigLou - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:47 am: Thanks. I guess I wasn’t clear but I think you answered my question. If they pass the fair tax the legislature can raise/lower the limit “at will” and not have to go through the hoops they are to get it passed now. So to me it seems like down the road we are going to see the bar being lowered so they can keep raising revenue as they keep spending money. - Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:50 am: “.. to go through the hoops they are to get it passed now.” Same hoops, it just changes who does the yelling when they do. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:51 am: The Fair Tax is a very good plan for the rich, better than for others in comparison with other states. In other states, higher rates kick in at lower incomes. The top rate would be 7.85% for incomes over $500k, which compares very well with Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. - Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:53 am: Seems like the obvious solution is to build 20,000 units of low-income senior housing in Wilmette to decrease the percent of Wilmettons impacted by the fair tax. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 11:57 am: What a dumb line of attack. So 60-80% of Wilmette will be unaffected by this. Awesome. Very progressive tax policy. If you get 60% of Wilmette to support this you’ll pass it in a walk. - OpentoDiscussion - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:02 pm: The info from IPI is hardly startling. Those communities with higher income individuals will pay more. DUH! My concerns are that this started out with many of its proponents as being a millionaires tax. Naturally this was worked way down to include those making a 1/4 of that. Furthermore it is not indexed and as time progresses more and more and more will be paying the higher rate even though their purchasing power will not match. A rather sneaky, but all too typical, approach to gain ever ever more taxes. As long as retirement income is not taxed I will likely never be affected by this graduated tax. But I oppose it for the reasons I have outlined. Will it drive people out of the state? Certainly not those with incomes who do not meet these levels. And not those who have a business or profession which basically requires them to stay in Illinois. Others will probably leave. Not immediately but over a period of time- nothing dramatic in he short term but will probably have long term negative effects. And it certainly does not make Illinois a magnet to come to, unless again, their business or profession requires it. - Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 12:06 pm: “Seems like the obvious solution is to build 20,000 units of low-income senior housing” Or open a homeless shelter there. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 1:20 pm: The SALT cap was eliminated by Republicans to try to force blue states to cut spending, to teach Democrats a fiscal lesson and yank them in line. But Republicans are exploding federal deficits and adding to debt. How can Trump/GOP supporters criticize anyone on fiscal responsibility with a straight face, especially in Illinois after the last governor and his horrific fiscal record? - Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 1:27 pm: So Speaker Madigan and the Democrats who passed unbalanced budgets for the past few decades have been fiscally responsible? - Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 2:26 pm: == How can Trump/GOP supporters criticize anyone on fiscal responsibility with a straight face,== == So Speaker Madigan and the Democrats who passed unbalanced budgets for the past few decades have been fiscally responsible?== Ask and ye shall receive, Grandson - Bruce( no not him) - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 2:40 pm: So, Willmette has that much money? Now I know where to go trick or treating. Bet they give out the full-size candy bars. - Perrid - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 4:07 pm: Skeptic, what? The whole point of the amendment is to let them do something they can’t do now, so I don’t understand “Just like they can today”. Also, if by “same hoops” you mean a normal tax hike bill, then yes. If BigLou meant a constitutional amendment when he was asking about “hoops”, then no, they only need this one constitutional amendment. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 7:11 pm: “So Speaker Madigan and the Democrats who passed unbalanced budgets for the past few decades have been fiscally responsible?” So what was the Republican answer to Madigan and Democrats? Bruce Rauner, who probably caused more per capita fiscal damage than any one politician ever in this state. Where were the right wing fiscal scolds during Rauner? Where is the Tea Party now, that Republicans are piling up federal deficits and debt? - justacitizen - Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 10:21 pm: ===The SALT cap was eliminated by Republicans to try to force blue states to cut spending, to teach Democrats a fiscal lesson and yank them in line.=== I think you mean SALT cap was ‘initiated’ by Rep? I’m also not sure your logic makes sense. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.