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* From the twitters…
For a rundown on an epic #Illinois Senate appropriations committee, check out @hannahmeisel's tweets. Real, dire threats? Or scare tactics?
— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) March 21, 2014
* So, I took a look. It appears that the Senate Republicans are still claiming that there’s plenty of money to go around, even with the expiration of most of the income tax hike, and that the Democrats are just trying to scare people by laying out what programs will have to be cut. This rhetoric flies in the face of projections from the bipartisan, bicameral projections by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which are incorporated into today’s testimony.
*** UPDATE *** I’ve experienced a bit of gnarly push-back, so let me be clear here.
The Senate Republicans have said for years that the Democrats weren’t cutting nearly enough to avoid a catastrophe when the income tax hike expired. The SGOPs have also complained for years that not enough was being cut so the state could pay down old bills.
But now, when their predictions appear to be coming true, the SGOPs say “All is well!!!”
They claim they can prove this is a nefarious Democratic conspiracy. I have no doubt, after years of watching budget battles, that some of the administration’s numbers are inflated. That’s usual. But I told Sen. Matt Murphy today to get me the proof. He pledges to do so.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 12:15 pm
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On the plus side, who says you need a broader medical MJ law or decriminalization. Narcotics enforcement will cease to exist due to these cuts. I wasn’t for them before, but now…
/snark
Comment by Jimbo Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 12:30 pm
These guys are a laugh riot.
So, the Illinois economy is in the toilet, which means there’s more tax revenue so don’t cut nothing?
Solid logic, there.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 1:07 pm
==Murphy says that income tax hike of 2011 was supposed to have gone to schools, asks what happened with that revenue?==
LOL, just make stuff up as you go I guess. I don’t think a single person said the revenue from that should go solely towards education. In fact, this article has Murphy begging for spending cuts.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/11/income-tax-hike-advances-in-springfield/
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 1:25 pm
I’m eager to see the proof. Hopefully, it’s a little more factual than the “savings” their alleged plan from a year or so ago was supposed to be. In other words Matt, don’t give me crap thought up by the Illinois Policy Institute.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 2:27 pm
Murphy is never the go-to guy on the state budget. He creates talking points just wonderfully, but they usually have little relevance to the actual numbers.
No one said the tax increase was “for education.” I never heard that once until today. It was for a whole host of things, but specifically mentioned at the time were avoiding drastic cuts in public safety, and human services, and keeping up with required pension payments, while paying down the then outstanding bills.
Some progress has indeed been made in all four areas, but, (I will agree with Matt), not enough.
Matt just made that one up after seeing Madigan’s proposal on the surcharge for education.
Comment by Walker Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 3:05 pm
Rich
Thank you and please continue to fill in the cracks and voids in their arguments.
Comment by Makandadawg Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 3:54 pm
Multiple times this Spring in these redundant House and Senate approp committees, lawmakers had groups testify, including U of I’s IGPA, and one of the things they kept saying was you need to look at the whole budget, i.e. the whole 70B, not 35B. And lawmakers every time act like this is some strange foreign concept, but no one does this. It blows my mind neither side is talking about the other half of the budget.
Comment by mcb Friday, Mar 21, 14 @ 4:31 pm