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Where they stand on the tax hike and the flat tax

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Illinois

* Greg Hinz wondered if the gubernatorial candidates would support extending the temporary income tax hike and a graduated income tax. So he asked.

Bruce Rauner’s campaign wouldn’t clarify whether it would support extending part of the tax, but did say…

“The entire tax system needs to be reformed and the overall tax burden needs to go down to make Illinois more economically competitive and help spur job creation. Illinois needs a better-run state government, not one that continues to spend more.”

Sen. Kirk Dillard said he’d veto any tax hike and insisted on a flat tax. Sen. Bill Brady said he’d veto any income tax extension, including a partial extension.

Treasurer Dan Rutherford was somewhat more nuanced…

“I, like everyone else in Illinois, don’t want the increase to be extended or made permanent,” he says. “But if they haven’t fixed the financial problems the state has by (2015), it may need to be on the table.” […]

“I’m the only guy who’s being realistic,” he says. What I don’t know is whether Republican primary voters will buy it.

Gov. Quinn completely dodged the questions, and Bill Daley said he was against making the tax hike permanent, but favored a graduated tax…

Mr. Daley clearly would support graduating the state’s individual income tax. His spokesman says that move would “cut taxes for at least 90 percent of regular Illinoisans while asking those at the top who have done well to pay more.” He adds, “Gov. Quinn made the mistake of raising taxes (taxes that hit middle-class families hard) before they solved the pension mess. Bill says that’s like pouring water into a leaky bathtub.”

* In other news, Rutherford recently talked up some of his past success…

“Historically you can not win a state-wide race in the state of Illinois without getting 20 percent of the city of Chicago,” Rutherford said. “If you don’t get 20 you are not playing.”

During his election for treasurer in 2010, Rutherford said he received 22 percent of votes in the city of Chicago, while the Republican candidate for governor only received 18 percent.

Rutherford also stressed to his supporters that Republicans need to start embracing communities of diversity, and start making their presence known in those communities.

“The majority reason why we as Republicans faulted and faltered is because we just didn’t show up,” he said. “I think part of success is showing up.”

Keep in mind that Bill Brady was heavily attacked in the Chicago media market for being out of step with the area’s values, while Rutherford’s opponent barely laid a glove on him. However, Rutherford’s opponent was a black female, so that’s something.

* Sen. Dillard also talked up his past…

Dillard, who is Assistant Senate Republican Leader, said he is a conservative reformer in the General Assembly who never voted for a tax increase.

“I am tested, I am proven,” Dillard said. “I also once ran [the office] of the last clean competent governor of Illinois, Jim Edgar … I care about the future of this state greatly … We inherited a $1 billion deficit and left a $1.5 billion surplus when I was there, running the Edgar administration. We paid our bills in 17 days and we had an unemployment rate below the national average … Wall Street increased our credit rating during that administration for the first time in state history.”

Dillard said he has a track record of being able to make a Democratic-led legislature do things not in its DNA, ” to live within its means.”

Dillar said during the Edgar administration, “We made Michael Madigan the minority leader and we can do it again.” Madigan is the state’s majority leader.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:48 am

Comments

fyi LARD, we all remember that the pension short-funding problems started under you and Edgar.

Comment by too obvious Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:53 am
It’s nice the Rutherford has a little more common sense than the others as far as taxes are concerned. Anybody that thinks the tax increase shouldn’t be extended or that taxes should be cut isn’t living in reality right now. Maybe in the future but certainly it can’t happen right now.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:54 am
Good to see that our sitting Governor is the only one of the six who completely dodged the question.

Now there’s leadership.

Comment by Keep Calm and Carry On Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:01 am
Quinn dodged the question probably because he doesn’t have a clue…a joke of a governor!!!!

Comment by concern1 Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:09 am
We shouldn’t let Quinn dodge the question because
he is very likely going to be governor for another four years, whatever his views on taxes. So his plans are far more relevant to our lives than Daley’s or those of the Republican hopefuls.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:09 am
===Sen. Kirk Dillard said he’d veto any tax hike and insisted on a flat tax.===

So does that mean Dillard would veto an extension of the current tax rate? Brady’s answer is much clearer.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:15 am
No one, from either side of the aisle, when passed or even now, produced a realistic financial plan that would ensure this tax rate would not probably have to be extended. (realistic meaning without assuming stupifying growth in the economy.)

My position then, as now: don’t claim it’s temporary unless you can prove that is achievable.

Comment by walkinfool Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:18 am
With the exception of Rutherford, everyone is living in a fantasy land expecting the revenue fairy to save the State.

If you’ve been paying any attention to the pension ‘reform’ debate or took just a cursory look at the CTBA (Martire) studies, it’s obvious revenue needs to go up, not down.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:22 am
Rutherford looks better and better to me; we need leaders who will tell it like it is, rather than just make empty promises…

Comment by downstate commissioner Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:48 am
Dillard is mostly correct about the “clean and competent” Edgar administration, but some folks still may remember the MSI scandal. There did seem to be more competent staff then, that’s for sure, but Dillard’s tenure wasn’t completely without a black eye.

Comment by Woodchuck Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:07 pm
Too, the pension underfunding started in the 40s. Nice shot, but incorrect.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:08 pm
I wouldn’t agree the Edgar administration was all that clean; it just appeared that way to the public. Where I was at, seemed to receive more political pressure, both in terms of ticket pushing and ’steering’ of contracts, during that period than any other. Defintely remember the MSI fallout.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:35 pm
I’m glad to see at least one candidate openly support a progressive income tax. The idea is like the CTBA’s idea, where a majority or vast majority of workers would get a tax cut.

I disagree with Daley about the 2011 income tax increase. The money was needed to pay bills, and I wouldn’t hold something like that hostage to get a pension deal, especially when the votes are there to pass the tax increase.

There is already a grassroots effort building support for the progressive income tax, just like during the last tax increase.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:36 pm
Is Rutherford the only adult in the race ?

““I, like everyone else in Illinois, don’t want the increase to be extended or made permanent,” he says. “But if they haven’t fixed the financial problems the state has by (2015), it may need to be on the table.” […]

“I’m the only guy who’s being realistic,” he says. What I don’t know is whether Republican primary voters will buy it.”

Comment by AFSCME Steward Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:49 pm
This is nice campaign rhetoric, but could the state afford to cut taxes for 90% of the taxpayers ? We have billions in unpaid bills & pension liability. Raising the taxes of the wealthy sounds nice, but would not equal the cuts being made. What is actually needed is an intelligent look at state government from a cost & efficiency perspective, without campaign promises that just pander to voters. It sounds great, vote for me & I’ll cut your taxes & soak the rich. The problem is the math doesn’t add up.

“”Mr. Daley clearly would support graduating the state’s individual income tax. His spokesman says that move would “cut taxes for at least 90 percent of regular Illinoisans while asking those at the top who have done well to pay more.” He adds, “Gov. Quinn made the mistake of raising taxes (taxes that hit middle-class families hard) before they solved the pension mess. Bill says that’s like pouring water into a leaky bathtub.””

Comment by AFSCME Steward Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:57 pm
Since Dillard forever ties himself to Edgar, a little history might be in order. It was a long time ago, and memories might be foggy.

I seem to recall that in 1990 Edgar had the Testicular Virility, in both the primary and general election, to campaign on making the-then temporary income tax increases permanent.

It was only common sense then, as it is now, if you are going to keep a flat rate.

Once he took office, Edgar also did some short-term borrowing to catch up on bills — an action that, under the constitution, required the approval of Comptroller Netsch and Treasurer Quinn.

And I’m a little hazy on the details, but the Edgar administration also had John Glennon quarter-backing some commercial paper deal to bundle and sell Medicaid payables in a private placement. I can’t remember how that went down, but I recall I thought it was a little hinky at the time.

As COS in the “last clean competent” administration, maybe Dillard remembers what Glennon was up to back then.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:21 pm
It was the Edgar administration which put in place the current pension funding legislation which promised to solve the pension funding problem. However, it actually continued the underfunding with obviously impossible increases in the out years. It is called the pension ramp or kicking the can way down the road.

Changing that legislation is the only way the current “pension crisis” can be solved.

Comment by Concerned Retiree Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:40 pm
Actually, CR, it can also be solved by following the current plan. And too, get a clue.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:47 pm
Perhaps not compared to a revolution, but we’ve got some times coming that are going to try men’s souls if they want to be Governor of Illinois. I generally favor truth-tellers, and that’s going to be hard for some, I think. But when you don’t tell us the truth, I always worry, not that you are fibbing (I already know that), but that you truly believe what you are saying, and that’s scary.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:57 pm
Steve, Will you please explain what the current plan is?

Comment by Concerned Retiree Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:59 pm
===I think part of success is showing up.=== Yes, 80% to be precise.

Comment by SAP Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 2:02 pm
I’m sorry - but to call Edgar “Clean” is just to much - and the first couple of years were not to competent -

Comment by Marie Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 2:18 pm
Dillard voted to raise the sales tax for the RTA, and for public safety in DuPage.

Not only did Edgar make the temporary income tax hike permanent,but in ‘97 he proposed the “Netsch II” income tax hike. Since Edgar is Dillard’s role model, does the Senator embrace Edgar’s income tax positions?

Comment by reformer Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:21 pm
AFSCME Steward @ 12:57 pm:

The Martire graduated tax proposal, prepared with the help of IDOR modeling, is estimated to bring in about $1.5B - $2B more than today’s tax structure.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:37 pm
Quinn lied about the tax hike to begin with now he won’t even answer questions about it. Anyone but Quinn is my hope for 2014.

Comment by Fed up Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:06 pm
Fed up @ 4:06 pm:

I’m no Quinn fan but he didn’t lie about the temporary tax increase. It was never going to fix the pension underfunding problem; all it was meant to do was keep the State’s nose a bit above water and tackle the bill backlog IF the follow-on bonding bill was passed by the GA (it wasn’t). The politicans and media may have left the IMPRESSION the 2% was going to fix the pensions but all it did was let the State keep up with the pension ramp payments or pretty much mandatory spending increases. You had to read beyond the first two or three paragraphs of the tax increase story to find the actual facts …

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:20 pm
=Rutherford also stressed to his supporters that Republicans need to start embracing communities of diversity, and start making their presence known in those communities.=

Must have a small group of Republican supporters if that’s the message he’s sending to them–or, he has some really, really bizarre idea of what many Republicans are.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 5:03 pm
Concerned Retiree, I believe he’s talking about the Edgar plan that is in place. If faithfully followed, it will address the pension funding. The problem that has folks in a snit is that this requires a high annual payment that “crowds out” the availability of state funding for other programs. So the Solons and Mr. Night and Day have to cut worthy and unworthy - depending upon one’s perspective - programs; increase taxes; or do a combination of both.

Again folks, this is not about saving pensions for public workers. This is about grabbing money from one pot to spend in another.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 5:17 pm
Norseman,

Good summary .. and much shorter than I would have been

Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 5:44 pm
==Must have a small group of Republican supporters if that’s the message he’s sending to them–or, he has some really, really bizarre idea of what many Republicans are. ==

Anonymous — the really bizarre idea is that you apparently missed the message that the GOP is losing ground with minority -so to be majority- populations — and that the message of less government fingers in your wallet or purse - is something in which most people who have worked hard to get what they have can respect. So are you saying that expanding the tent to others whose diversity may actually be able to relate to a theme of keeping more of what you make is an anethma to the tea party that your candidate is catering to? Just curious… Maybe your new to Illinois politics and that’s okay but those like me who have been around awhile and remember what it was like to have the GOP control the governor’s mansion and at least one chamber of the GA know that Rutherford’s message of inclusion is what is needed. If Rauner or Dillard or Brady were saying the same thing, I would applaud them too. But they’re not saying that, at least not yet. They are running a primary election. Rutherford is saying what he believes, damn the consequences. Do is Daley. Give props at least for their conviction instead of just demeaning the obvious solution to engaging more voters.

Comment by Woodchuck Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 7:34 pm
–oops — so is Daley… Rich, you need a spell checker on here

Comment by Woodchuck Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 7:36 pm
=So are you saying that expanding the tent to others whose diversity may actually be able to relate to a theme of keeping more of what you make is an anethma to the tea party that your candidate is catering to?=

No. Is that the BS you’re going to continue to spread about the GOP membership in general?

I’m saying that unlike the way some people want to paint Republicans, many are already where Mr. Rutherford and the GOP seem to think we need to be. And they also are the ones who find the entire message and the “finger-pointing” that we need to become more tolerant, less bigoted, and “diverse” insulting.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:10 pm
–And they also are the ones who find the entire message and the “finger-pointing” that we need to become more tolerant, less bigoted, and “diverse” insulting.–

Just how diverse and tolerant would you call the Illinois GOP right now?

Having said that, I think with Kirk, Rutherford and JBT you might have the makings of a vanguard that will at least push back against the Auto-da-Fe.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:18 pm
To my friend, anonymous - I’m not spreading BS that you delicately refer to. I hope that you’re a day ahead of Rutherford’s message. If that’s the case, then God bless you. I don’t doubt that there are some in the GOP’s baby tent that are ahead of the curve as it appears you may be. There are, however, a lot more that need to hear the message of inclusion, in realism, of reality. Perhaps we’re not as far apart as we your posts would appear but sniping at the obvious only gets one person shot.

Comment by Woodchuck Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 1:17 am
==I’m saying that unlike the way some people want to paint Republicans, many are already where Mr. Rutherford and the GOP seem to think we need to be. And they also are the ones who find the entire message and the “finger-pointing” that we need to become more tolerant, less bigoted, and “diverse” insulting.==

Really? I’m sure everyone left out of the lily white membership of the ILGOP is so happy with ILGOP’s diversity. It’s not like an atmosphere was allowed to exist for folks like Jim Allen to stay in power until their thoughts became public and embarrassing and they got thrown overboard. With that kind of diverse, welcoming atmosphere the ILGOP is sure to succeed in 2014 + beyond.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 1:43 am
=To my friend, anonymous =

I’m not a friend of anyone who calls me a bigot, Mr. Woodchuck, contrary to the facts and for his or her personal gain.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:15 am