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Wednesday, Mar 13, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Tuesday, Mar 12, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker was asked by reporters today why he doesn’t support expanding the sales tax to cover services. He talked about his general opposition to flat taxes and how, although it may be necessary to increase them in some instances, he prefers progressive taxation.

He also said that some of the folks arguing for an increase in flat taxes are the same people who are advocating for the “3 percent.” You’ll recall that Pritkzer’s proposed graduated income tax would only raise taxes on the top 3 percent of earners, so he’s got a new catch-phrase.

“The bulk of a flat tax increase falls on the middle class and the working class and people that are striving to get to the middle class,” Pritzker said.

* A reporter then chimed in…

I was asking about a tax on services. Is that a flat tax?

“Those are flat taxes. What do you think?” an incredulous Pritzker responded. “Everybody gets taxed at the same rate.”

Maybe the reporter just got confused for a moment. Stuff happens and he’s a bright guy, so whatever. And always remember the old saying about how there are no bad questions, just bad answers.

But what you’re seeing here is how difficult it’s going to be to explain this stuff when even experienced political reporters seem to have trouble following the thread.

…Adding… Come to think of it, a graduated sales tax might not be a bad idea. Slap an extra tax on First Class airfare, or $600+ per night hotel rooms or $70,000 cars or whatever.

…Adding… The raw audio is here.

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Pritzker unveils tax calculator

Tuesday, Mar 12, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker’s office has a new online calculator to help you figure out what your taxes would be under his progressive tax proposal. Click here to see it.

The Tribune also has a new online calculator, but its calculations don’t include the new $100 per child tax credit or the increased property tax credit, so it’s less useful. However, the Tribune’s calculator gives you your total bill (although flawed), while the governor’s calculator only tells you how much less or more you’ll pay.

…Adding… Press release…

After unveiling his fair tax proposal that gives relief to 97 percent of taxpayers, Gov. Pritzker launched a Fair Tax Calculator today to let Illinoisans see how the fair tax will affect their families.

The Fair Tax Calculator is available at www.illinois.gov/FairTaxCalculator.

“As I said throughout the campaign, Illinois’ flat tax system is regressive and unfair to the middle class and those striving to get there,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “People like me should pay more and people like you should pay less. Simple. That’s what the fair tax will do.

“As we negotiate this proposal with the General Assembly and ultimately ask the people of Illinois to decide, my administration is committed to being fully transparent and giving residents the tools they need to understand this proposal. To that end, I’m proud to introduce the Fair Tax Calculator. This calculator will allow every taxpayer in Illinois to calculate exactly what the fair tax will mean for them and their family.”

In addition to shifting from a regressive flat tax to a fair tax, Governor Pritzker’s proposal would increase the property tax credit by 20 percent and institute a new $100 per child tax credit.

Users can input their income, filing status, exemptions, dependents, property tax paid and K-12 expenses to calculate how the fair tax compares to the current flat income tax.

Using that information, the calculator determines how much the total tax bill changes. For 97 percent of Illinois taxpayers, the amount will go down. In some cases the reduction will be nominal; in others, it will result in several hundred dollars.

“Illinois’ unfair tax structure forces the lowest earners to shoulder a greater tax burden than higher earners, but Gov. Pritzker’s plan will make the wealthy pay their fair share,” said William McNary, c0-director of Citizen Action/Illinois. “When the top 1 percent who make more than $537,800 a year pay just 7.4 percent of their income in taxes while the lowest 20 percent of earners making less than $21,800 a year pay 14.4 percent, the time for change is now.”

“Working families across the state will benefit from Gov. Pritzker’s fair tax plan that gives 97 percent of taxpayers relief and returns fiscal stability to Illinois,” said Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “We must put the days of governing by crisis behind us and institute a fair income tax that ensures state government can adequately serve the people.”

“Gov. Pritzker is making good on his promise to make our state a better place to live for working families,” said Carole Pollitz, a business agent with IBEW Local 134. “Raising wages and reducing taxes on the middle class gives the average Illinoisan a break and benefits our entire state in the process.”

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*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Tuesday, Mar 12, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

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It’s just a bill

Monday, Mar 11, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* In this case, it’s a dead bill…

It will be at least another year before self-driving cars hit Illinois roads.

Bill-sponsor Mike Zalewski says it is time to pump the breaks on his legislation. The bill is currently in committee, and if it were to pass there, it would be put up for a vote in the House. However, there are still a lot of issues and it is enough to make Zalewski admit that the bill is not ready for a vote this session.

Skeptics include Abate Illinois. That is a group dedicated to preserving motorcyclists’ rights. Zalewski is planning on hearing out every concern he can.

The assistive technology is great. Completely automated cars are, however, nowhere near fruition. I’m with ABATE on this.

* When I was in the hospital years ago, I noticed that nurse staffing levels were way down on the weekends. I simply couldn’t get the same medical attention as I did during the week. And I noticed it again when Steve Schnorf was in the hospital before he passed away…

Under the Safe Patient Limits Act, no nurse working in a hospital could be responsible for more than four patients at a time.

That number would be lower for special units like maternity wards, intensive care units and emergency rooms.

Paul Pater, with the Illinois Nurses Association, said high patient-to-nurse ratios are dangerous for everyone.

“Hospitals and administrators take advantage of our empathy and sense of duty to our patients to force unsafe situations on the nurses of Illinois in a misguided attempt to save money,” Pater said.

* WMAY…

Democratic State Senator Andy Manar is joining with Republican Jason Barickman on a bill that would reduce the signature requirement for new political parties and independent candidates. Currently, established political parties need fewer than 10,000 signatures to get on the statewide ballot… while independents need 25,000.

The bipartisan bill would put everyone at the same, lower threshold. Manar and Barickman say their bill should get bipartisan support.

* Illinois Policy Institute…

Airbnb’s growth has created push-back from hotels in the form of new taxes and stringent regulations by local communities, but a new Illinois House bill would halt bans and overregulation of vacation rental services.

House Bill 2919, introduced by Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, limits the home-rule authority of local governments. HB 2919 would prohibit municipalities from enacting ordinances that have the “express or practical effect” of banning Airbnb and similar vacation rental services, as happened in Lake Bluff and a well-connected ward in Chicago.

Vacation rental services provide valuable and affordable lodging alternatives for visitors, and income streams for residents. Studies suggest the growth in vacation rentals benefits both property owners and the broader economy.

The services, also known as home sharing, have come under fire across the nation. New York City bans vacation rental of full units for fewer than 30 days.

…Adding… E-mail to the author of that Policy Institute piece…

Hi Joe,

I’m writing on behalf of the Village of Lake Bluff to request a clarification regarding your recent article on HB2919 (re: short term rentals / Airbnb).

In the second paragraph, your article references some prior (2017) IPI reporting on Lake Bluff’s short term rental regulations that is no longer accurate. In early 2018, following a fact-based public process, the Village adopted regulations that allow short-term rentals to operate with reasonable restrictions that protect public safety and ensure payment of the Village’s hotel tax. I have attached our regulations if you are curious to know more.

There are inconsistencies between our regulations and what would be permissible under HB2919. Notably, we would prohibit the use of neighborhood houses as vacation rentals 365 days a year. However, certainly, we do not “ban” short term rentals. As someone reading your article would likely come to that conclusion, we would appreciate an edit or a clarification.

Thanks,

Glen Cole
Asst. to the Village Administrator
Village of Lake Bluff

* Other stuff…

* Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation at Southern Illinois Hospital: Ferrell Hospital CEO Alisa Coleman says the additional funding is huge so her facility and the 50 others like it receive the appropriate payments under the hospital assessment program. “More than 43% of critical access hospitals are operating in the red today and others on extremely thin margins.”