* Last week the governor was asked about tax increases…
It’s very important that we live within our means in this state, and that we not resort to tax increases as a way to, you know, to balance the budget, right? And so that’s what the communication we’ve had with our agencies and looking at all the priorities that we need to take care of.
* Rich followed up at a press conference this afternoon by pointing out the highlighted quote above about not raising taxes and asked the governor if that would also apply to the mass transit fiscal cliff…
What I said last week was that we should be living within our means and doing everything we can to do that. I’ve also said in previous press conferences, and still believe that taxes should not be the first but rather the last thing that we look at.
And so when we look at when we look at the question of mass transit, we’ve got to consider everything that contributes to that, state government, county government, city government, as well as the fare box and all those things together are going to help solve the problem.
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 1:58 pm:
JB should have remembered George H W Bush’s “Read my lips: no new taxes” fiasco
- RNUG - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:01 pm:
Walking it back and hedging.
If he requested ideas for budget cuts the past week, he must not have heard very encouraging answers. He’s looking at likely getting less Federal dollars this year. And staring at a fair size budget hole.
So I can see why he would want to crack the new revenue door open. But I don’t see a relatively painless way to get it.
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:04 pm:
Speaking of transit fiscal cliffs…have any of the agencies submitted/shared publicly their plans if they don’t get new funding and are left with the status quo?
- H-W - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:04 pm:
Good. I was one who opposed taking tax increases of the table. It make little sense to say either (a) raise taxes, or (b) cut spending. That philosophical dialectic is nonsensical in the complex world of managing society/state/community. It is premised on the false assumption that no matter what happens, that which happens will not be serious enough to change the way we think about things. Life is complicated.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:09 pm:
we need to take care of what we need to take care of. and that may need more money in some way. but it is important to make clear to the public what their money buys. I think the public has a general lack of understanding about governments and what taxes “buy.” the more we explain government to them the more everyone understands, including those who run government. upon need to explain managers may have second thoughts about what they say needs funding. I’m not beyond the thought that reform can help our fiscal condition.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:15 pm:
Probably read the comments on yesterday’s QotD.
– MrJM
https://capitolfax.com/2025/02/03/question-of-the-day-3717/
- Sue - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:16 pm:
I guess the Governor is second guessing the 500 million he spent on free health care for his newcomers before the costs exceeded his estimates by 10 fold
- Carbo Load - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:17 pm:
Proving we can govern means everything should be on the table including revenues. There are no absolutes in consensus building.
- Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:22 pm:
=Probably read the comments on yesterday+
well, then he would have to ignore the poll’s results as 73% agreed “Do you agree or disagree with the governor’s pledge not to raise taxes to balance the budget?”
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:27 pm:
@misterjayem
Thank you, beat me to the punch.
- DS - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:36 pm:
The fare box thing is frustrating because fare evasion is so common that paying to ride cta is functionally optional.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:50 pm:
A good answer. Maybe try raising the income tax rate and giving lower incomes exemptions or deductions, before cutting the poor again.
- Steve - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 2:56 pm:
JB might have to convince the state legislature to raise the income tax rate to bring in more revenue. The flat state income tax means everyone will have to pay more. Can’t reform pensions. Can’t cut education.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 3:09 pm:
Recognizing that the state income tax may need to be increased is the responsible thing to do. We are likely going to see a federal corporate tax cut which will mean less money flowing to the states. You’ve got to make that up somewhere.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 3:27 pm:
== giving lower incomes exemptions or deductions, ==
Easiest way to do that is just raise the rate, then give a larger standard deduction. You go playing too much with targeted deductions and you risk someone suing over the flat tax provision. 4
- H-W - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 3:34 pm:
@ Sue
=== I guess the Governor is second guessing ===
I seriously doubt that. Governor Pritzker is far from the sort of person who would question providing access to healthcare to those in need. It comes under the first of these: “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (economic liberty).”
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 3:38 pm:
“he would have to ignore the poll’s results”
Did I say “poll results”?
– MrJM
- Sue - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 4:01 pm:
Guess our neighboring states are doing something wrong as they are talking about lowering taxes- as for HW- nice to give our newcomers free healthcare while sticking it to our own lower income state CITIZENS
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 4:28 pm:
As I stated yesterday, you should never take anything off of the table. While he is walking back a little he’s still made it clear it’s the last resort. I wouldn’t anticipate a general tax increase.
- DougChicago - Tuesday, Feb 4, 25 @ 4:29 pm:
That’s a resort he’ll surely be checking into