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* 1:20 pm - From the Senate Democrats…

Leaders’ Meetings:
We continue to see progress in meetings with the Governor and the Speaker but discussions are ongoing. Therefore we do not intend to release details [about] revenue options. The Senate President will be avaliable for availabilities and interviews once a clear and viable proposal emerges.

Today’s leaders’ meeting has ended. We haven’t scheduled a follow-up meeting at this time.

Schedule:
Tomorrow is not a pre-scheduled session day for the Senate. That was the original schedule, and so far it hasn’t changed.

They’re running out of time here. If the Senate goes home today without an agreement with the governor, the chamber won’t be back until Tuesday, unless they change the schedule.

* The House Democrats say the governor wanted time to meet with members face to face and the leaders thought that this was a prudent thing to do.

Reading between the lines here, things aren’t looking great. The governor should’ve just told the two leaders to pass what they could and he’d sign it. And he should’ve done that two months ago. Here we are ten days into the post-election session and nothing’s been decided yet.

Oy.

* 2:11 pm - From the SJ-R…

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, left a three-hour closed door meeting with Gov. Pat Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, indicating they had focused on a proposal that will be presented to rank-and-file lawmakers soon.

“We have a more specific plan,” Madigan said. “We’ll see what they say and then if they have reactions, then we’ll go back and make adjustments.”

Madigan would not talk about specifics.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:21 pm

Comments

They are so inept they can’t even do what they say they all agree on. They won’t get it done.

Comment by Old Milwaukee Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:28 pm
Word is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is opposing the workers’ comp bill now because they say it will just shift half a billion in costs from workers’ comp insurance to employer-based health care insurance.

No word yet on how much it will drive up Medicaid costs for the state of Illinois.

But if the Speaker or Cullerton are insisting that workers’ comp be part of tax increase, the opposition from the insurance industry is not good news.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:36 pm
I don’t agree with the way matters are going (in the direction of a multiple-whammy (tax increase, maybe no property tax rebate, lack of access to Medicaid for those above $60,000 family of four)on middle class earners but I don’t assume it is because Quinn et al are inept. These are complex issues and each adjustment to the plan has multiple implications, multiple winners and losers. Looks like rich folks and middle and upper middle class retirees and public employees will be the winners at this point, but I don’t have all the info. Anyway, I don’t assume incompetence at all. Even if it turns about badly for the groups I am concerned about. Quinn, Madigan and Cullerton are neither stupid nor inept.

Comment by cassandra Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:43 pm
They are on track. We always think they are cutting it to close but they manage to find a way. If this is the Speaker’s plan it will happen….it always does.

Comment by Raising Kane Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:48 pm
For some reason, comments are getting nastier as the week has progressed. Maybe it’s the tax hike. I dunno. But I’ve deleted several just on this post. Enough already.

A warning to all of you: Tone it down now. I don’t have time to police this stuff today.
And keep your little drive-by thoughts and bumper-sticker slogans to yourself. It doesn’t elevate the discussion at all.

A few people can take down a whole website. I won’t let that happen.

Lifetime bannings will begin immediately if this doesn’t stop.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:53 pm
===We always think they are cutting it to close but they manage to find a way.===

That hasn’t happened in years.

And, so far, it’s not the Speaker’s plan. If it was, it would’ve passed already.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:56 pm
For all the Speaker’s ability to pull together the deal the micro-negotiating from Quinn again shows the man’s incompetence.

If it falls apart it is in the Governor’s lap. The moment will pass. There is unlikely to be time nor legislative courage for a do-over.

Comment by Cassiopeia Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 1:57 pm
This is totally Madigan’s plan. It was his plan before the election and will put whatever muscle he needs behind it. His problem is Quinn’s lack of focus but he will yank the leash when he needs to. There is no way we get to next Thursday without a big tax increase.

Comment by Raising Kane Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:04 pm
This is their job. They need to get this done. I know this is going to sound naive, but this issue should have stopped being about politics a long time ago. It should be about what’s best for the state as a whole. So get it done!

Comment by Seriously??? Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:06 pm
{”[The new additions] provide that our race tracks in Cook County may relocate within three miles of their current location, under certain conditions. It provides a $2-million renovation tax credit to be utilized by all riverboats in the state of Illinois,” Lang said.}

What’s the deal on this? Levering Arlington Heights? Jurisdiction shopping based on local tax rebate in exchange for job creation and sales tax revenues?

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:11 pm
LOVE THE TRANSPARENCY… not.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, left a three-hour closed door meeting with Gov. Pat Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, indicating they had focused on a proposal that will be presented to rank-and-file lawmakers soon.

“We have a more specific plan,” Madigan said. “We’ll see what they say and then if they have reactions, then we’ll go back and make adjustments.”

Comment by Wondering... Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:28 pm
Again, enough with the drive-by sloganeering. Last warning. I’m really in no mood today.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:32 pm
Are the GOP leaders in long meetings drafting an alternative? These guys aren’t even quoted in the newspapers anymore.

How about one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet on revenues, one on expenditures? How about a press conference?

How does the opposition spend their days in session? Movies? Bowling? Scrapbooking?

With Dem corruption and incompetence all around them, the Illinois state GOP just missed out on the biggest off-year GOP landslide in nearly 100 years. In Illinois, they knocked them silly for Congress; even Crazy Joe Walsh won with no GOP establishment help at all.

Seriously, are they just content with X amount of seats, X amount of staff and X amount of contributions, and no heavy lifting?

What are they doing?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:34 pm
If a state income tax increase is enacted by the end of the 96th, does anyone know the earliest date that the state could implement the collection of this additional tax?

Comment by Eagle Eye Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:34 pm
EE, they usually give businesses several months to retool their payroll programs. If it does pass, it might not kick in until July 1.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:35 pm
===Quinn, Madigan and Cullerton are neither stupid nor inept.===

They may not be stupid but they - along with the other side if the aisle - are certainly inept at leadership and doing the job taxpayers elected them to do.

Comment by Tea Party Liberal Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:37 pm
I have a sneaking suspicion a whole lot will be passed in the early morning on Jan 12.

Comment by John Bambenek Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:39 pm
I don’t think the Senate schedule indicates anything I think the Senate will go along with any increase at this point–it is the House that seems to be the issue.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:40 pm
===early morning on Jan 12. ===

MJM did that once. I think he said afterward that he wouldn’t ever do it again. We’ll see.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:41 pm
Anonymous, you’re partially right. The House is a problem. The Senate ain’t totally copacetic right now either, though.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:42 pm
I think they’ll pass something, today. But, it will be what Madigan decides is acceptable.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:44 pm
The Gov meeting with House Dem members should be a good sign. These are the same folks who will be hitting uup the Gov for jobs and pork, so Quinn should look them in the eye and ask them to support his position. They need topay it forward.

Comment by Tom Joad Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 2:58 pm
–The Senate ain’t totally copacetic right now either, though.—

That’s because it is taking so long in the house. Any one Senator can threaten to balk in exchange for their given pet issue. Everyone know we need to borrow, everyone knows we need to cut, everyone knows we need to increase taxes, but because we have waited till the last minute it creates an artificial drama that any individual legislator can play on.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:13 pm
If I’m not mistaken, it was Madigan/House in 2009 who didn’t call HB 174 for a vote. I remember the House voting down the temporary tax increase, supported by Quinn.

This has a shade of 2009, when HB 174 was laid to rest, except that we state employees were much more frightened, as the prospect of layoffs seemed very real. This year I feel more secure, since we got a layoff freeze extension through mid-2012.

When I met with a few legislators in late 2009, they told me that HB 174 was being rewritten, and it’s the focus of the Responsible Budget Coalition.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:51 pm
I just heard house had voted to repeal death penalty. Is this true?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:55 pm
The Senate is debating the death penalty repeal right now. (I learned far more than I ever wanted to know about certain horrific murder cases from listening in to this debate.)

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 3:59 pm
“we got a layoff freeze extension”

Merit Comps didn’t!

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:00 pm
Thanks secret would you please post vote when it is taken.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:03 pm
Oh wait, my bad, it was the House I heard debating the death penalty.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:09 pm
If it’s taken before I leave work, I will.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:09 pm
House vote on death penalty abolition: was just about to be announced when Rep. Yarborough asked for postponed consideration… I assume that means it was about to lose.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:35 pm
Senate will be back on Monday now.

Comment by DC Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:39 pm
Check out House Amendment #1 to HB 1665 to get a peek at our possible tax future.

Comment by Great Caesar's Ghost! Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 4:43 pm
C’mon Madigan!
You’re up.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:00 pm
Great Caesar’s Ghost - thanks for tipping that, spit out my beer when I scrolled down to page 135 and saw it again extends the sale tax to all kinds of services and amusements.

http://ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/09600HB1665ham001.htm

Anybody remember how much that tax expansion was expected to raise back when they tried this a few years ago in HB 174?

Bad enough my baseball tickets went up 12% last year because new owners finally added on the amusement tax instead of eating it in the ticket costs. Tacking sales tax on top of that ticket means an extra 20%+ effective tax hike to watch bad baseball will be brutal.

Comment by Chicago Bars Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:30 pm
That ain’t gonna be the bill. Take a breath.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:43 pm
Phew. I’m only expecting to get one pocket picked with tax hikes this week, going to be a bitter 2011 if it’s both pockets.

Comment by Chicago Bars Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 5:59 pm
Rich it is perfectly right to say Quinn is a liar if the tax increase is to more than 4%. That is what Quinn campaigned on and he stated he would veto any tax increase to more than 4%. The way this is being done is a sham. Madigan kept saying he wasn’t convinced that a tax increase was needed during the campaign. Your personal feeling aside that are liars

Comment by Fed up Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 6:01 pm
Sun Times reporting agreement on the income tax hike. Going to 5.25%

Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Jan 6, 11 @ 6:02 pm