Everyone has their own priorities
Thursday, Mar 26, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Eastern Bloc plus 2…
Governor Pritzker,
There are a series of serious structural reforms that should have been in place before this crisis that would have given both state government and Illinois citizens much more resources and flexibility to weather this emergency. Correcting that is a conversation that we will be having in the weeks and months ahead. Today, regular citizens and small businesses across Illinois need immediate help.
We are calling on you and the Legislature to take the following immediate action:
1. Freeze Unemployment insurance rates for 12 months and provide assurance that rates don’t reflect claims due to corona virus shutdowns and layoffs
2. Freeze the minimum wage for the next 18 months
3. Return the light trailer license fee back to $18 from $118
4. Sales tax holiday for the entire duration of any work restriction or stay at home order
5. Prorated abatement of property taxes across the board equal to number of days of work restriction or stay at home order
We applaud your common sense first step of moving the state tax filing deadline to align with the federal deadline. We need to do more to give small businesses immediate breathing room. We must do more than just offer small business loans. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the primary employer for the majority of our citizens. Giving them the confidence that our government is committed to removing barriers for them through these unprecedented times will help all the people of Illinois. As we come through this crisis – which we know we will – it is imperative that we ease the burdens on job creators and take every possible step to make it easier for our small businesses to put Illinois citizens back to work.
Let’s kick start our comeback by enacting these commonsense policies immediately.
Sincerely,
State Representative Darren Bailey-109th District
State Representative Chris Miller- 110th District
State Representative Allen Skillicorn- 66th District
State Representative Blaine Wilhour- 107th District
State Representative John Cabello- 68th District
State Representative Dan Caulkins- 101st District
State Representative Brad Halbrook- 102nd District
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:13 pm:
=== Return the light trailer license fee back to $18 from $118===
I laughed out loud.
You guys care less about the health of people.
The Hateful Eight’s “Eastern Bloc” are as phony to your health as POTUS is when choosing money over people.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:14 pm:
What did Rahm say about a crisis.
- Jibba - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:15 pm:
“Freeze the minimum wage for the next 18 months”
Knew this was coming.
“Sales tax holiday”
And why stop there? Let’s just stop collecting all taxes. The state clearly has no need for money anymore.
- Fayette County - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:15 pm:
A short PSA…Please remember that all of us in Wilhours district do not adhere to his beliefs or concerns. Thank you.
- Thomas Paine - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:17 pm:
“Please, what about the small businesses?”
Point: businesses cannot contract coronavirus.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:19 pm:
What good is a sales tax holiday during a stay at home order
Aren’t you at home not buying anything?
- Marty Meh-lan - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:20 pm:
I must be missing page two where they outline all the projects in their districts that they are also willing to postpose for 12 to 18 months to offset their request. Can someone please forward?
- Fixer - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
Never known these folks to have much common sense. Funny they preach it now.
- LakeCo - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:23 pm:
=Freeze the minimum wage for the next 18 months=
You mean for the people who are literally putting their lives on the line keeping you fed, safe, and comfortable in the middle of a pandemic?
- Glengarry - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:28 pm:
Anything I come across from these Eastern Blockheads, cracks me up.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:28 pm:
To the post,
These “Hateful Eight” with POTUS leaving the seven miss a very important thing about their wants;
Not one of these help first responders, nurses, doctors, those feeding us everyday, doing essential things to sustain lives or on stopping a global pandemic.
Taking any of these legislators as humanitarians or thoughtful to people… talking people, not companies or taxes… people… the very last legislators who see the work they do as life saving are the ones signing a letter that’s not only tone deaf, but truly cold to the human needs during a pandemic.
They are showing who they are.
Believe them.
- southsider - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:34 pm:
At least we are starting to identify some of the people and groups that plan to use this crisis for their own personal gain or political agendas. It is mind blowing to me how little some dare about others, yet entirely foreseeable.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:34 pm:
== 2. Freeze the minimum wage for the next 18 months ==
Nothing says “thank you” for putting your life on the line to make sure the rest of us can get by like $9.25 an hour.
- Washingtonian - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:36 pm:
Thought we learned no money in equals no money out.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:36 pm:
“Freeze Unemployment insurance rates for 12 months”
Yes, because we won’t be needing THAT fund anytime soon.
- Jocko - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:41 pm:
Do the eight realize that…because of ignoring the risks of community spread…they might have a ton of covid cases coming in the next few weeks?
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:41 pm:
Meh, if this is the worst they got, good. I thought they would be having some confederate-sympathizing rally encouraging young people to lick their grandma’s face. They’re are really moderating.
- Can - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:43 pm:
It’s possible that there is a high level of correlation between this post and the other one about Republicans not just losing ground, but getting clobbered.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
A serious proposal from serious legislators. How are these guys not in the majority?
- Perrid - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
They really, really want to kick the government and those that need the government’s help the most right where it hurts, when we are all at our most vulnerable.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
In fairness to these esteemed statesmen, they are simply following their national leaders on dealing with this public health crisis.
https://politicalwire.com/2020/03/26/relief-bill-includes-bonanza-for-real-estate-investors/
- Jack Sprat - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
Talk about tone deaf. Lord help me.
- Sue - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:52 pm:
Not the time to constrain govt revenues. State is already in bad shape and it’s bound to get worse given past and present decisions made by politicians on both sides of the aisle
- 13th - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:55 pm:
Come on everyone, they have given all of us our joke of the day, laugh and enjoy it s/
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:56 pm:
I agree with Sue.
Four words I never thought I’d type, but there you go. Well said Sue.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:57 pm:
- Sue - wins the day.
Ball game.
- Kaila - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 3:58 pm:
…But heaven forbid dont touch the road fund
- Hamlet's Ghost - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:01 pm:
I wonder if CorStrategies concurs with this approach
- bear3 - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:01 pm:
We have Amazon that does not pay taxes and will not take care of their people like Nestlé will. Please do not allow companies incentives in IL that will not take care of their people until unemployment does. The state and not local Government should control business tax abate ments and that for schools.
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:04 pm:
Trickledowners
- Tired Teacher - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:07 pm:
I have tried three times to express how angry and disappointed I am in a way that won’t get me banned. I am afraid words have failed me. The only worse failure is the abdication of civic responsibility and decency from these 8. Wow
- Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:12 pm:
==Return the light trailer license fee back to $18 from $118==
Really? That’s on your priority list right now?
- Flapdoodle - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:28 pm:
“The Hateful Eight”? More like “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight”. Here’s a way to while away some hours: Select a comedy ensemble and use its style to reenact the meeting and discussion that produced this letter. Among the possibilities: The Marx Brothers, The Three Stooges, Monty Python, The Keystone Cops . . . . you get the idea.
- RNUG - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:29 pm:
== 1. Freeze Unemployment insurance rates for 12 months ==
I can see that giving businesses a bit of assurance going forward.
But the rest of it is just a wish list.
- Morningstar - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 4:34 pm:
So disappointed. They didn’t mention the requirement to vaccinate your cat. /s
- Big foot - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 5:02 pm:
You all “ ain’t “ seen nothing. Wait for that dude from T. Town,that will replace Bailey.
- VerySmallRocks - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 5:32 pm:
Eastern Blocheads
- fedup - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 6:14 pm:
i·de·o·logue
noun: ideologue; plural noun: ideologues
an adherent of an ideology, especially one who is uncompromising and dogmatic.
- thoughts matter - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 6:49 pm:
The only ones that have anything to do with this virus are the unemployment rates and the affect of the virus on them. Good grief, the GOP couldn’t express their contempt for anyone not making $100,000 a year any clearer.
- Jibba - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 6:56 pm:
Trump: Let’s open by Easter.
Eastern Bloc: Hold my beer.
- SouthSide Markie - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 7:01 pm:
I’m so disappointed. Absolutely no mention of how separating Chicago from the rest of the State would end the pandemic.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 7:10 pm:
They’re playing to the crowd that called the DuQuoin State Fair officials to yell and curse them out about Confederate Railroad losing a booking.
- the old man - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 7:57 pm:
How about all legislators cancel their salaries for the nest 25 years, close their district offices and agree to not spend any money on campaigns for the nest 5 cycles.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 8:02 pm:
=== How about all legislators cancel their salaries for the nest 25 years, close their district offices and agree to not spend any money on campaigns for the nest 5 cycles.===
Just because weed is legal now doesn’t mean you should eat the whole tray of brownies…
- Shall not be infringed - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 9:14 pm:
>>>>Return the light trailer license fee back to $18 from $118
Laugh all you want.
that’s a big deal to a lot of people.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 9:30 pm:
=== Laugh all you want.===
Comedy like that will make me laugh.
===that’s a big deal to a lot of people.===
There’s 12 million or so in this state.
There’s not a clamoring or a majority… looking to lower this… because of a deadly global virus.
It’s comically sad.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 26, 20 @ 9:46 pm:
==that’s a big deal to a lot of people==
At this particular moment in time? And as part of the rest of their list? Yeah, I’m laughing. It deserves to be laughed at
- RNUG - Friday, Mar 27, 20 @ 3:08 am:
== At this particular moment in time? ==
Most trailer plates are coming due now …
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Mar 27, 20 @ 6:24 am:
We’re going to freeze wages of the grocery store workers, the warehouse folks, the cleaning crews risking their lives for us every day during the pandemic?
This was not well-thought out.