* I had a long talk with a staunchly pro-labor southern Illinois Democrat last night who was surprised to learn that one of his local lumber yards - which employs 50 people - has gross receipts of about $5 million a year. One of his car dealers, who is threatening to move out of state if the governor’s gross receipts tax passes, had gross revenues last year of about $4.7 million. Both businessmen are furious about the GRT plan. The legislator is not exactly overjoyed with the governor right now and won’t be around when Blagojevich breezes through the area on his statewide bus tour next week.

So, this statement by the Illinois Education Association’s spokesman might be a bit optimistic…

McBarron said that the teachers unions have plans to step up their campaign for the gross receipts tax next week when legislators return from Springfield to their districts.

“They’re going to be hearing from their constituents, and we feel confident that by the time they return to Springfield, many of them will feel much better about supporting the gross receipts tax,” McBarron said.

* The editorial page editor of the Rockford Register-Star makes a connection today between the GRT and skyrocketing downstate electric bills in a column about the Illinois Press Association’s opposition to the tax hike…

Advertising representatives at smaller newspapers, especially those served by Ameren, are having a tough time selling ads. Business owners say they have enough trouble paying utility bills that have almost doubled; they can’t buy ads, too. Throw in a new tax and those small businesses, and the newspapers in their communities, will struggle to survive.

You may see a lot more of that logic during the governor’s statewide bus tour next week.

* The Tribune is now noticing dissension within the Senate Democratic ranks since Senate President Emil Jones issued a statement saying he will never call the tax swap for a vote…

Senators in Jones’ own caucus are showing signs of rebellion and are chafing under a process where legislative leaders call most of the major shots.

Meeks suggested rank-and-file lawmakers are weary of “sitting on the bus in full gear while other people play the game.”

Key Hispanic senators also released a statement criticizing the Blagojevich proposal and praising legislation to reduce reliance on local property taxes for schools.

The Tribune often drives coverage in other papers and media outlets, so watch for this meme to finally begin spreading.

* And Phil Kadner makes a good point about the significance of HB 750 moving out of a committee yesterday…

But it never would have passed out of committee without a green light from House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

* More tax and spend stories…

* Harriet Meyer: Governor’s budget plan a boost for healthcare, education

* Joseph Persky, professor of economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers: GRT is best option for raising revenues

* Governor’s ‘drive for healthcare’ goes to Quincy

* Doug Whitley: Governor’s new tax is bad policy

*** UPDATE *** Unlike the teachers unions, the Illinois PTA is supporting HB 750 as the “best way to provide fairer funding for schools.” No mention of the gross receipts tax on the organization’s front page…

You are urged to call your representativesand senator next week to express our continuing support for H/S 750, as the best way to provide fairer funding for schools, while providing additional money for state needs by the fairest method.

[Hat tip: YDD in comments.]

*** UPDATE 2 *** From a press release…

On Monday April 2, at 1:30 the Illinois Press Association will host a teleconference with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Taxpayers Federation to address Governor Blagojevich’s proposed Gross Receipts Tax (GRT). Both Doug Whitley of the Illinois Chamber and Tom Johnson of the Taxpayers Federation will offer remarks for a few minutes and then take questions from IPA members.

The IPA encourages all members – publishers, editors and reporters — with questions or concerns about the proposed GRT to take part in this conference.

*** UPDATE 3 *** The biz groups opposed to the GRT have a new television ad. Watch it below…

*** UPDATE 4 *** Blagojevich GRT advisor Doug Kane is our newest blogger at Illinoize. Check out his first post here…

We have been told so often over the past several decades that a state has to have a good business tax climate in order for its economy to grow, that we have begun to accept it as the truth.

*** UPDATE 5 *** Tom Kacich at the Champaign News-Gazette has a great blog and a very good post this afternoon about the governor’s upcoming stop in Danville. He wonders which state legislators might show up and then writes…

And state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, said today that she still hasn’t taken a position because she still hasn’t seen the GRT legislation. “I don’t really talk about hypothetical situations,” she said. “I haven’t even seen what the proposal is yet so I can’t take a position on something I haven’t seen.’

In addition, she wasn’t aware that Blagojevich was going to stop in Danville on Thursday. “What you’re telling me is something I haven’t been told.”

Nice advance work by the governor’s office, I’d say.

What the heck is this guy doing? More House and Senate Dems are peeling off this idea every day, the business groups are running effective TV ads against it (I even saw one on ESPN last night) and statewide Democratic officials have come out against it. It looks like the teachers unions and a few other groups are going to be stuck driving over the cliff with the governor on this initiative.