* Press release…
Last night, Daniel Biss was asked on WTTW whether he would favor raising taxes immediately.
His response – tax hikes are “needed” and he would raise taxes across the board without reform.
“We can’t afford to wait…We have to be willing to make some compromises, we have to be willing to sit down and put everything on the table and do what’s needed,” said Biss about his tax hike plan.
Watch here.
Biss joins J.B. Pritzker and Mike Madigan in calling for an immediate tax hike without reform.
* His full comment…
We can’t afford to wait a minute more than we have to to get a balanced budget that properly funds our priorities. And so, on the road to amending the Constitution enabling us to have a fairer tax system that will finally allow us to ask the richest Illinois residents to pay their share, we have to be willing to make some compromises. We have to be willing to sit down and put everything on the table and do what’s needed to get a balanced budget. But in the long-term, the only way to make sure that our budget is still balanced, and fair and working for the people in 10, 20 and 30 years is to fix the Constitution and enable fair taxation.
He also touted his support for term limits on legislative leaders and lowering property taxes.
*** UPDATE *** From the Biss campaign…
“Daniel Biss is interested in actually doing something about Illinois’ problems, not just buying millions of dollars of TV commercials complaining about them. It’s an honest and pragmatic approach. So, it’s not surprising that the Governor and his party machinery aren’t familiar with it.”
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Caption contest!
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
A happy 75th birthday to longtime Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, who came into this world on April 19, 1942, according to his official bio.
The World War II baby was first elected to the House in November 1970 and convinced his Democratic colleagues to elect him speaker in 1983 (he was minority leader or majority leader for six years before that). As is often mentioned, Madigan has served as speaker for all but two years since then. (The Newt Gingrich-led GOP landslide in November 1994 swept Democrats out of power, but Madigan rebounded in 1996 to regain control of the chamber.)
If Madigan keeps control of the House and his chief nemesis, Republican Gov. Rauner, wins re-election next year, their historic stalemate conceivably could last through 2022. The speaker would turn 80 that year.
Rauner, for the record, just turned 61.
* A birthday caption contest is in order…
*** UPDATE *** From the ILGOP…
Mike Madigan is 75 years young today!
We’re celebrating here at the ILGOP by reflecting back on everything that Madigan has done for our state. He’s spent over half of his life - 46 years to be exact - in the Illinois political system. So what has he brought to IL?
* massive job losses
* record income tax hikes
* highest property taxes in the country
* worst state pension crisis in America
Let’s band together to tell Madigan how we really feel on his special day. Sign our card here.
Thanks,
Team ILGOP
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* This event is a week from tomorrow…
* As you know, Rauner said last week that he will veto HB40, which would delete the “trigger” language in state law that some say would return Illinois to pro-life legal status if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill would also provide for Medicaid funding of abortions beyond what is provided now.
Needless to say, HB 40 is the top legislative priority for groups like Planned Parenthood. Vetoing the bill would break a promise to pro-choice voters made by his wife and others during the campaign. So, things could get, um, interesting at the gala.
JB Pritzker and his spouse are listed as $10,000 “Baby Boom” contributors.
Maybe I should take my tux to the cleaners.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I expect this has something to do with what Gov. and Mrs. Rauner told pro-choice activists in 2014…
RAUNER DECEPTION ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TO BE REVEALED
Pro-choice group releases evidence exposing Governor’s frenzy to curtail women’s right to choose
What: Personal PAC makes major announcement regarding Gov. Rauner’s position on HB 40
When: April 19, 2017; 12:30 p.m.
Where: Allegro Hotel, 171 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (Palladium Room)
Who: Marcie Love, Personal PAC Founder & Chair Emerita
Melissa Widen, Personal PAC Board Chair
Terry Cosgrove, Personal PAC President & CEO
Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President
Anna Valencia, Clerk, City of Chicago
*** UPDATE 2 *** Susan Musich, Board Chair, Planned Parenthood of Illinois…
Last week, Governor Rauner let us know his true stance on reproductive rights. By stating his intention to veto HB 40, Governor Rauner is refusing to safeguard legal access to abortion in Illinois in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned. Further, he is perpetuating discrimination against women with low-incomes by prohibiting them from using state Medicaid coverage to access abortion care.
Planned Parenthood believes that women should have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion, regardless of where they live or the source of their health care coverage. The uncertainty of reproductive health care policies in Washington DC means that we must ensure there are protections in place at the state level. Governor Rauner need to stand with all Illinois women, not just some!
*** UPDATE 3 *** Posted by a commenter…
In 2014, Bruce Rauner took the pro-choice position to every question in the Personal PAC questionnaire except on Parental Notification, as confirmed by Diana Rauner
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2014/10/diana-rauner-bruce-convinced-pro-lifers-to-put-aside-their-views-on-this-issue.html
That means that he answered YES to questions 1, 5, and 6
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4Bi-iePG1O6SmMwei1LMjFCazA/view
Question 1 asks:
A 1975 Illinois Law (Illinois Abortion Law of 1975: P.A. 81-1078) states that when the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision is overturned or modified, Illinois law will revert back to its pre-Roe status, meaning abortion will again become illegal in Illinois as it was prior to 1973.
1. Do you SUPPORT legislation repealing this 1975 law and replacing it with a law stating that decisions about reproductive matters are to be made privately between a woman and her doctor, without government interference?
Question 5 asks:
5. Do you SUPPORT restoring abortion coverage under the state Medicaid plan?
Question 6 asks:
6. Do you SUPPORT legislation to restore state employees’ health insurance coverage for abortion?
Bruce Rauner said he supports all 3, which is what HB 40 does
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Biss, Pritzker and the money debate
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Heh…
* From Biss’ fundraising e-mail…
Clearly, I’m having a bit of fun — but there’s a broader, more important truth here about how to build our politics in this state.
I’m of the belief that we are stronger when all of us, from all walks of life, come together to build something collectively — not when we’re dependent on a single person or their vast personal wealth to make change.
Unfortunately, we know all too well here in Illinois what happens when we let one individual have a disproportionate share of power or influence. Whether because of their money or their connection to the machine, what happens is a select few make decisions about us, without us — and the rest of us pay the price.
That’s why we’re doing things differently with this campaign, and building a new kind of politics in Illinois. One powered by action, support, and yes, $25 contributions from thousands of people like you.
If you share this vision for a new politics in Illinois, help us grow this movement. Chip in $25 or more and let’s show that a movement of people is stronger than any self-funder (even me).
* Sun-Times…
Rauner and state Sen. Daniel Biss are the two gubernatorial candidates reporting more than a million dollars of campaign cash on hand, according to the first major campaign report filed Monday with the state’s Board of Elections.
Businessman Chris Kennedy fell just shy of that mark, with $907,427.61 on hand when the reporting period closed at the end of March.
And billionaire venture capitalist J.B. Pritzker beefed up his total with $7 million out of his own pocket after the filing period closed.
* Pritzker was in Champaign yesterday and talked about money…
“This election isn’t about money, it is about values,” said Pritzker. “It is about standing up for progressive values. It’s about standing up and saying that millionaires and billionaires ought to pay a higher rate of tax than people who make 20 and 30 and 50 and $50,000 a year.”
Pritzker referred to a graduated income tax, which he says should be part of any tax increase in Illinois. […]
Pritzker used his own family story to promote the value of entrepreneurship and philanthropy —- touching on the work of his father, Hyatt hotel magnate Jay Pritzker, his own company, and his work to expand Illinois’ school breakfast program and establish the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.
“I know I started out lucky in life,” said Pritzker, “but I know I have to work hard every day to earn what I’ve been given. So I’ve spent much of my life building things that would be good for other people.”
* More on that topic…
During his tour Monday, Pritzker told reporters that he favors getting rid of Illinois’ flat income-tax rate.
“When I become governor, the first question we ought to ask is: Who should pay the bulk of whatever it is that we want to pay for? And the answer is that yes, millionaires and billionaires and people who can afford to pay are the ones who should pay more, not people who make 20 and 30 and 40 and $50,000 a year.”
Asked if he supported a graduated income tax or the “millionaires tax” proposed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, Pritzker said he wanted a graduated tax.
“We can call it whatever you like,” the Chicago Democrat said. “I think a fair tax in this state would be to ask people who can afford to pay to pay more. It shouldn’t fall on the middle class or people who are working poor.”
…Adding… A bit of context…
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* From David Jacobson, Vice President Communications – Public Finance Group, Moody’s Investors Service…
Late yesterday, Moody’s announced it was placing all seven of its rated public universities in Illinois under review for downgrade because of the state’s failure to enact a budget providing full operating funding to the universities for the current fiscal year FY 2017 and the resulting operational and liquidity strains on the universities. The total debt affected by these rating actions is $2.2 billion.
Moreover, we have already downgraded Northeastern Illinois University two notches from Ba2 to B1 because of the university’s continued rapid liquidity deterioration due to weakened cash flow, caused in part by the protracted state budget impasse. With continued pressure on enrollment and sustained state funding uncertainty, the university has limited avenues by which it can improve its liquidity position over the medium term. Northeastern Illinois’ B1 rating also remains under review for downgrade.
We expect to conclude these reviews within 90 days. Reviews will focus on each university’s exposure to continuing state budget pressure given failure of the state to adopt a budget for the current fiscal year and the resulting use of each university’s own liquidity to bridge the funding shortfall. This includes an assessment of projected liquidity and operating performance for each university for the June 30, 2017 fiscal year-end. We will review contingency plans and other expense actions initiated to cope with the shortfall in state operating appropriations. Also included in the reviews are budgeted FY 2018 operations and assumptions. We will also assess each university’s near-term debt service commitments against pledged revenues and related reserves.
The result of the review could result in differing actions, including some potential multi-notch rating actions depending on liquidity and ongoing ability to adjust to the prolonged lack of state operating funding.
…Adding… Some context from Elizabeth Campbell at Bloomberg…
Four of the seven already have junk ratings on their bonds, while two others are within one or two levels of losing their investment-grade status. Only debt from the state’s flagship institution, the University of Illinois, is rated more than three steps above junk. The review affects $2.2 billion of debt and threatens to leave the universities facing increased borrowing costs if investors demand higher yields to compensate for the risk. […]
Moody’s also lowered Northeastern University deeper into junk on Monday, dropping its rating by two steps to B1, four levels below investment grade.
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