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“Wishing away” the revenue collapse

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Illinois

* We saw a whole lot of political back and forth yesterday after Gov. Quinn signed most of the budget. But here’s the most honest takedown I saw, from David Lloyd, the director of Voices for Illinois Children’s Fiscal Policy Center….

The new budget stops Illinois’ progress improving its finances in its tracks. For the next year, Illinoisans will live under an irresponsible budget because of the failure of the General Assembly to take the common-sense path of extending income tax rates beyond their scheduled expiration.

Rather than confront reality and continue to pay down billions in unpaid bills, lawmakers took Illinois in the opposite direction by using various budget maneuvers that try to wish away the $2 billion revenue collapse.

A year from now, Illinois’ financial dam will truly break. Revenue losses will reach nearly $5 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2015. That will mean deep reductions in investments in schools, safe communities, and other areas crucial to economic growth and our state’s future. Unless income tax rates are extended, Illinois’ already worst-in-the-nation credit rating will likely go even lower. The way out is for lawmakers to extend the current tax rates beyond December 31.

Keep in mind,that the “nearly $5 billion” figure used above is revenue alone. The borrowing needs to be paid back, some expenses were kicked down the road, etc. The real budgetary hole is far higher.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 8:56 am

Comments

Isn’t this the case for Rauner. Quinn has been at the helm for 6 years and has a speaker of the same party and they can’t pass a legal budget.

Rauner may not have laid out his plan in full, but if the guy who just signed the budget still doesn’t have a plan, how do you fault him?

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:05 am
It would be really helpful if the opinion leaders picked up this language and quit providing respectability cover to keeping a $5B revenue hole. On a related point, I wish someone would run a few different models on the impact of employment from the two different budgets. Firing all those teachers, health care providers and local government officials has to be much worse for our economy than keeping the income taxes we’ve been paying for four years.

Comment by Dan Johnson Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:12 am
I don’t know why people are so up in arms about the budget right now…. If Quinn gets reelected, they will vote to keep the income tax hike in the lame duck session. If Rauner wins… they will vote to keep the income tax hike in the lame duck session…. You thought there would be two different scenarios didn’t you?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:14 am
The CTBA’s Ralph Martire did a piece recently in which he criticized voters, who don’t want to cut social services and other vital services like education but at the same time don’t want to increase taxes or keep the 5% income tax.

I thought it’s about time that voters take some of the blame. We blame politicians but let voters off the hook. Why didn’t politicians vote to keep the income tax increase? Because of fear of voters and their rejection of the increase, and fear of people like Rauner who has lots of money to throw into races.

It’s so much easier to criticize politicians when voters have them in a box, so it’s a tough environment. If I faced a real chance of losing an election because of a tough vote, I can’t say that I’d behave any differently.

I saw an interesting exchange between Carol Marin and Rep. Nekritz. Marin criticized Nekritz for not educating her constituents as to the dire condition of the budget and the need for revenue.

While I think that politicians can do a better job of getting out the message, it’s not their responsility to educate voters. This is 2014. Voters need to read more and be more up on issues, especially because there are many media outlets that are as near as a smartphone or computer.

The way things are looking, eventually voters are going to have to swallow some pain. It’s hard to see how we can just cut our way out of this.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:14 am
Our budget crisis has exposed the reality of priorities in our state. Although we give lip service to the importance of education and caring for those unable to care for themselves it is glaringly obvious that the only thing that matters is the money of big business and their profits for themselves. We have no pension problem……….the shortfall in the funds is directly caused by a shortfall in revenue to pay for everything we want, and the funds were robbed to pay for those things, leaving our public workers and retirees holding the bag for everything everyone got. If our legislators had any spine at all, they’d extend the income tax and find additional sources so that we wouldn’t have to be ashamed to be last in school funding, slashing programs every which way and a terrible credit rating. But this isn’t news. Solutions would be news. Ralph Martire seems like the only sane one talking but the powers that be don’t want to listen to reason.

Comment by Just Trying to Survive Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:19 am
Great Opinion……….OK all you Quinn lovers, lets re-elect him again…..

Comment by Concerned Voter Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:23 am
I agree. Clearly, Rauner will have to extend the income tax hike at least temporarily should he take office. He wouldn’t want his first year to be a fiscal catastrophe, he’d never recover. Toni Preckwinkle did something similar when she took office, and it didn’t appear to harm her politically. And Quinn wants to raise taxes. He believes in raising taxes.

Couldn’t Lloyd find something innovative to talk about. You get the legislature and governor you voted for. We voted for this group. Get over it and earn your (no doubt)hefty nonprofit salary by coming up with something new to talk about instead of the same old complaints. In the government service field it’s innovation we need right now–painfully absent in Illinois. The money will be there in January.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:23 am
Rich, have to disagree about this being the most honest. Voices for Illinois Children has long been pushing for increased state spending, so their call to increase the income tax rates are typical drivel. They try to sound reasonable and nonpartisan, blaming “lawmakers”, when in reality they are referring to the big three–Madigan, Fullerton & Quinn–but guess who they will be supporting in November?

Same old same old.

Comment by Down South Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:26 am
===If Rauner wins… they will vote to keep the income tax hike in the lame duck session===

Id be willing to bet big money against that happening. The latter, I mean, not the former. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:33 am
I very much doubt it will happen should Bruce Rauner win, but I wouldn’t bet “big money”. Of course, in this state the definition of “big money” varies from place to place. lol

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:35 am
**Rich, have to disagree about this being the most honest. Voices for Illinois Children has long been pushing for increased state spending, so their call to increase the income tax rates are typical drivel.**

Attacking the messenger isn’t the same as pointing out how they are not being honest. Can you point out where, exactly, they are not being honest?

**but guess who they will be supporting in November?**

No one, considering they don’t do politics, at all.

Comment by AlabamaShake Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:42 am
People resist making tough choices

A) Raise revenue

B) Make cuts that few will see as being “waste, fraud and abuse”

Of course, those who wish to create a sharecropper society call all government spending waste, fraud and abuse.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:50 am
==Voice for Illinois Children has long been pushing for increased state spending===

Perhaps because Illinois ranks last in the 50 states in state spending on Education, which translates into children? Apparently, kids just aren’t worth it—-unless, of course, they are your own.

Comment by Just Trying to Survive Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:51 am
Kansas offers an interesting example for Illinois to study regarding the ability of states to cut waste, fraud and abuse rather than stuff that matters.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:54 am
Can’t see the Democratically controlled GA giving a Governor Rauner a new revenue stream (allowing income tax rate to go back to where it was), Rauner will have to prove good faith, and not govern with shutting down the government, or refusing to see the constitution as something to follow.

The pension legal fight will also be casting a dark deep shadow, as it has now, but speculation at some point will be gone, and the legality of pension reform will be decided, for good and for bad, with both having a new reality.

Two major crossroads will dictate Fiscal 2015;

The court rulings on constitutionality of pension reform.

The reaction of the other two branches of government to that fiscal reality.

I still feel a one year extension, followed by a reduction of half of the increase in 2016 Fiscal, and the complete removal of the other half of the extension in 2017 was the best way through all this, especially with pension reform still in limbo.

Tough call, but governing at times ain’t easy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:55 am
They might even have to cut back on some of the community college grant money.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:01 am
This is not the case for Rauner. Quinn has not been able to get his plan enacted, but at least he has one. Rauner, if he has a plan, has kept it to himself. Anyone who says that the Governor can pass whatever he wants when his political party controls tha House and the Senate is being deliberately obtuse. The relationship between the Governor and the legislature was every bit as strained in 1994-1996 as it is now.

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:01 am
If Rauner wins he has a better than even chance of being a good governor. Quinn has bumbled away for the last 6 years. Any change would be for the better.
It will be tough for Rauner but I’m sure he will handle the job better than Quinn.

Comment by Mokenavince Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:02 am
Quinn offered two plans — one with the current tax rates continued past their sunset (the “preferred budget”), and one with the lower tax rates (which he called the “doomsday budget”). Both were legitimately balanced. The Speaker brought the lower spending one to the floor.

Legislators from both parties rejected both proposals. To say Quinn didn’t have a plan is unfair. To say he couldn’t get the legislators to do their jobs, is fair.

How will Rauner do better? His leadership personality and charisma? Campaign funding and threats? In this arena the power does not reside with the Governor.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:04 am
we get the government we deserve. Illinois wants lower taxes and more services. Going into an election we are telling our legislatures to do just what they did….get past the election before they face up to what we have…the need for more revenue and or less services.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:04 am
Bill White,
Kansas is also an interesting example of what Wall Street wants. The state cut taxes and got a credit downgrade for fiscal instability.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:15 am
===The way out is for lawmakers to extend the current tax rates beyond December 31.===

I fully agree that this is one way to consider. Another possible solution was for the GA and/or Quinn to cut spending to match the new lower level of revenue. The GA did not want to cut spending and Quinn cut the budget by only a few million dollars (rather than by billions of dollars). As I see it, the lawmakers failed to make the hard decisions needed by Illinois.

Comment by Hit or Miss Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:19 am
Deep cuts in education in FY 16?
Not if Rauner is governor. He has pledged to increase spending on education, which would be a miracle in his first budget without a tax hike.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:23 am
I don’t understand why Quinn participated in this farce.

As Walker pointed out, Quinn presented two legitimate budget options. The GA punted.

He should have vetoed the lot of it and called them back into special session to do their jobs.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:28 am
Quinn not only presented two budgets, one with and one without the income tax extension, he also presented two 5 year financial plans using the same revenue assumptions. Using the five year plans (he is calling them blueprints) one could also compromise by reducing some expense categories in order to avoid extending the full 5% tax.

This 5 year modeling is really important, more so than a single year budget. Rauner would never produce anything similar since it would force him to divulge his stand on policy issues, assuming he has any.

Comment by Archimedes Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:30 am
Walker - There are several ways Raunner could do better. First, Raunner can force the issue - Quinn can’t wage civil war with Madigan. Raunner could say “I’ll compromise - we Republicans (har) don’t like increasing taxes but if you’ll agree to cuts - maybe even sequester cuts (which worked better at the Federal level than all you Democrats with your horror stories predicted) in spending programs and in exchange I’ll support some permanent increase in taxes but not as much as the last increase (or something like what OW proposes above or the like).” If the Dems don’t agree, he stands firm and let’s a supermajority override with some worse budget or looks like the better statesman.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:30 am
Rauner option two: propose a bipartisan commission a la Simpson-Bowles and demand that at least ___ % of what it takes to balance the budget comes from spending cuts, agree to put it to an up or down vote. Political cover for all.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:33 am
===He should have vetoed the lot of it and called them back into special session to do their jobs.===

That would be the smart governmental and political move, however, I think Quinn is afraid if he called them back after a veto, he would get hammered by Rauner and the GOP on one flank, and some Dems on the other flank, and that Crew might not be up to that challenge in July of an election year.

Smart governors would have called them back. Thsgveiukd be governing, not grandstanding.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:34 am
== the guy who signed the budget doesn’t have a plan ==

On the contrary, Quinn’s plan was both honest and specific –to extend the income tax hike. He proposed a budget with the hike extended, but the House refused to go along. He also proposed a budget balanced without the tax hike, and the House didn’t like that either, including Republicans who always talk about smaller government.

== If Rauner wins…they will vote to keep the income tax hike in the lameduck session. ==

What makes anyone think Democrats would bail out a Republican governor without any GOP votes to share responsibility? Politically that wouldn’t make sense. Now if governor-elect Rauner were to ask the Speaker to do so, and procured 20 or so House Republican votes for the bill, then it would be feasible.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:35 am
@Michelle Flaherty

To clarify, I see Kansas as a useful example of “what not to do” and I note that the Democratic candidate is leading Sam Brownback in the latest poll.

A Democrat is leading in the governor’s race. In Kansas.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:42 am
If anyone thinks the Dems in the GA will hand Rauner a tax increase if he wins is nuts. Pretty sure they will look at him, Durkin and Radogno and say, “well you said we don’t need it so you figure it out”.

Under Rauner the GOP members of the GA are going to get real uncomfortable real fast, the days of just saying No to everything will end in a hurry.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:46 am
Bill
Tell us more about what the GOP did in Kansas that has a Democrat leading in the gubernatorial race.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:47 am
“Smart governors would have called them back. That would be governing, not grandstanding”

Yikes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:47 am
“Smart governors would have called them back. That would be governing, not grandstanding”.

Did someone miss Rod’s attempts at calling them back, and back, and back and back again?

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:52 am
==How will Rauner do better?==

Rauner has never failed at anything in his life, according to his own words, so his record of lifetime success at everything plus Evelyn’s magic will fix the state finances.

Step 1: Get elected
Step 2: ????
Step 3: PROFIT!!!!

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:52 am
“Smart governors would have called them back”

You mean like Blagojevich did?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:53 am
@Anon

Kansas passed massive state level tax cuts based on the premise that reducing taxes would stimulate business and grow the economy and that would allow them to balance the budget.

Instead, Kansas faces a huge revenue hole and they need to cut spending that very few would describe as “waste fraud or abuse”

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:54 am
It all started with an ill advised cut to the Kansas income tax

http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article497494/Kansas-budget-is-running-on-fumes-and-it-could-get-worse.html

Bruce Rauner and Sam Brownback should probably get together and share notes.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 10:56 am
=== “Smart governors would have called them back”

You mean like Blagojevich did? ===

Well, of course calling them back to have them sit is Dopey, especially with no plan to fix it, so if Quinn vetoed, and was unwilling or seems unwilling to get to real governing, that would be very Blagovian.

Good point, very well made, lol

Either call them back with no plan, ala Blago…all bad news there

Do what Quinn did…no remedies.

Or actually, maybe, govern beyond what the Senate and House gives ya way before June or July, like in April or May.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:02 am
That will mean deep reductions in investments

Is that what its called today?

Be honest. He wants more tax money.

We cannot have an honest discussion if everyone, even the guy hounding the legislators for their fear of asking for more revenue, refuses to be honest in describing what it is they want.

It isn’t an investment. Stop it.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:03 am
Does anyone find it strange how this HUGE budget hole will hit just about the same time the pension bill heads to court?

Comment by Jack Handy Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:11 am
The fact that Blago abused special session calls doesn’t make the tool off limits forever. The authority pre-dates him.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:12 am
@OswegoWilly,

Sometimes we agree , sometimes we disagree. But your following comment matches what I would support.

“I still feel a one year extension, followed by a reduction of half of the increase in 2016 Fiscal, and the complete removal of the other half of the extension in 2017 was the best way through all this, especially with pension reform still in limbo.”

Comment by Federalist Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:16 am
=== Deep cuts in education in FY 16?
Not if Rauner is governor. He has pledged to increase spending on education, which would be a miracle in his first budget without a tax hike. ===

Rauner has no understanding of the fiscal issues. Based on his track record, his notion of how to “increase spending on education” is to close neighborhood schools and throw money at his charter school cronies.

Comment by olddog Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:17 am
Did Blago only do that in his second term? The guy got reelected even with scandal in the air and the one GOP candidate so many Illinois political junkies seem to genuflect to, so the political battles with Madigan couldn’t have been -that- damaging to his popularity.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:17 am
I’ve looked at the Kansas situation. There are good arguments against the income tax cuts.

But the immediate problem there is that the government misread last year’s revenue bump that most states saw. The increased revenues had to do with a change in the federal tax code.

Illinois, to its credit, recognized that this would be a one-time thing. The bump generated about a billion dollars here, and that cash was earmarked for old bills and wasn’t put into the base. Also, COGFA’s revenue projections for this fiscal year drastically under-estimated a repeat revenue bump - on purpose. Other states, Kansas included, put that bump into their base. Oops. Ergo the hole.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:17 am
Blagojevich and Quinn lack(ed) in understanding the levers of government. A case in point is the fact Rod called the GA back repeatedly with no remedies easily “achieved” or even done…

And Quinn has repeatedly refused to learn how the levers of government work for the Executive Branch.

The levers are still there, they can be used effectively.

“A good tradesman never blames his/her tools.”

You have 2 bad tradesmen in a row, it still can be the tradesmen and not the tools.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:21 am
==- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:03 am:==

What else would you call educating kids?

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:27 am
== Illinois, to its credit, recognized that this would be a one-time thing. The bump generated about a billion dollars here, and that cash was earmarked for old bills and wasn’t put into the base. ==

Sounds like the IL Democratic super-majority actually was fiscally prudent and sensible, here.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:31 am
The GOP legislature in Missouri passed a massive tax cut this session and their revenue grew only about 1/5th of what was anticipated, likely opening a pretty large hole in their budget.

Comment by Mittuns Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:36 am
== Illinois, to its credit, recognized that this would be a one-time thing. The bump generated about a billion dollars here, and that cash was earmarked for old bills and wasn’t put into the base. ==

And that is why most of us trust COGFA’s numbers; they have a lot of smart people working there who do good work.

It’s just too bad the politicans don’t have the guts to implement realistic plans based on the information COGFA can provide …

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:37 am
GoM is right. The voters share a large part of the blame. Would we call them “low information” voters? Why not. I wonder just how many Illinois folks, outside this estimable blog, are even aware of what has just happened? How many understand the history involved? The political dynamics? How many voters have delved into this?

We all live very busy, challenging lives. At this juncture, however, it is clear that these events will have direct impact on Illinois residents in ways we have not seen before. And yet, many are ignorant of the implications. And we can see the results of this ignorance - look who we have as candidates for the gov office?

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:42 am
=== If Rauner wins he has a better than even chance of being a good governor. ===

The only chance that Raunervich has of becoming a good governor is for him to renege on most of the rhetoric he’s spoken. He will have to work with Madigan and Cullerton on initiatives in exchange for budget concessions that will require enhanced funding.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:54 am
What else would you call educating kids?

Educating kids.

Citizens and voters seem a tad tired of all the pious bull crap which really means little more than, “I want more tax money to keep up with what we have, and how we do things.”

If he really wants to take our legislators to the wood shed on their political caution, he should first do the same.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 11:59 am
As far as the budget, I don’t see that Quinn had much of a choice in signing the budget with the exception of his minor changes. Madigan and Cullerton couldn’t come up with a decent budget and bumbling Pat would not have fared any better. He also needed to avoid angering folks that he’s going to need come election.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 12:00 pm
===If Rauner wins… they will vote to keep the income tax hike in the lame duck session===

If I was a Democrat in the GA I would ‘help’ Rauner keep his campaign promise to cut taxes. I would vote no on any type of tax increase during the lame duck session especially any increase in the income tax. I would then sit back and wait for Rauner to present his budget. At that point it could become very interesting.

Comment by Hit or Miss Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 12:05 pm
@Lake County Dem: OK. Those are some things Rauner might try with the Dems. Something might get somewhere.

Strange as it might seem, some of the strongest fiscal conservatives in Springfield for about 5 years now, have been among the Dems. They actually proposed tough spending cuts and other serious and massive “reforms.” The Speaker is much more fiscally conservative than his average caucus member, and would probably deal fairly with Rauner.

Now what would Rauner do with the Republicans who were and remain some of the staunchest resisters of spending cuts (no matter what they pretend in front of a microphone)? They demanded previously proposed cuts not be made in their districts. They voted unanimously against a budget with spending cuts that matched the revenue without the higher tax rates. And refused even to discuss alternative cuts. They are going to do a 180 because Rauner’s around?

And in the end, let us not forget the Illinois Budget Arithmetic Challenge. Outlining unlikely but potential saves in the $3-400 Million range, versus a $3-4 Billion problem, doesn’t to begin meet the Challenge.

Any budget plan that correctly adds up, will probably require extending the current rates for some period. Rauner, as a smart business and financial guy, will see that, and eventually ask for it behind closed doors. The numbers don’t lie. We’ll see.

Sorry to rant.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 12:38 pm
OK Republicans, please find $5 billion to cut and then you may re-enter this conversation.

Comment by Left Leaner Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 12:59 pm
Left Leaner the GOP doesnt need to make cuts the Dems have super majority’s and had every oppurtunity to pass any tax hike they wanted. They chose not to, this is the DEM Budget passed by Democrats and signed into law by a democrat. To whine about the opposition when you have a super majority is just cowardice and lack of leadership.

Comment by fed up Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 1:31 pm
==They are going to do a 180 because Rauner’s around?==
Maybe some of them. He does have enough money to buy some of them off via campaign contributions.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 1:57 pm
Vanilla Man-Normally I don’t comment on other posts but if you can’t, or won’t, see the education of children for the obvious investment that it is there is no debate with you.

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 2:05 pm
- fed up - Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 1:31 pm:

As I have said before, the IL GOP may soon be the barking dog that actually manages to catch the truck they’ve been chasing.

“Okay, now what?”

= = =

As far as a post Rauner win tax hike, I’d be good with that if and only if Radogno and Durkin both rally more than 50% of the necessary votes from the GOP caucus.

Otherwise, no deal.

Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 2:13 pm
The ROI leaves a bit to be desired. Probably because we haven’t invested enough, huh?

What difference is it what you call it? Seems like you need to make some kind of a point - like “we have to DO IT for the CHILDREN. Fine, it’s for the children, we get it. So, call your rep and tell him/her to DO THEIR JOB. Given the Machiavellian Madigan machinery in this state, that oughta be easy to do.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 2:19 pm
BW - that is funny right there. Almost worth the price of admission to see the look on the GOP candidates faces if/when they win - if it weren’t so darned dire & depressing. Uh oh, now what! lol

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 2:21 pm
if you can’t, or won’t, see the education of children for the obvious investment

Oh geez, back away from your pulpit.

I am unwilling to let some guy knock legislators for doing what he himself does - use weasel words to avoid saying what he really means.

Based on how we currently process and handle education, we will need more money if nothing changes during the next fiscal year.

There. Flat out. No weasel words. We’re all adults. If you want our money, talk to us like you respect us.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 3:12 pm
==Left Leaner the GOP doesnt need to make cuts the Dems have super majority’s and had every oppurtunity to pass any tax hike they wanted. They chose not to, this is the DEM Budget passed by Democrats and signed into law by a democrat. To whine about the opposition when you have a super majority is just cowardice and lack of leadership.==

The Dems never had 60 votes for the increase. Several had even signed onto a bill to rescind the increase as soon as they were inaugurated as members. Try to keep up.

BTW, VM you might want to re-read the statement It’s pretty darn respectful to “us.”

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 3:33 pm
Mittuns

–The GOP legislature in Missouri passed a massive tax cut this session and their revenue grew only about 1/5th of what was anticipated, likely opening a pretty large hole in their budget. –

Just FYI That MO tax is a graduated reduction that does very little at first. this years revenue will have no impact from the cut. Sorry i get STL news and if not for Rich here would know more about MO events than IL.

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 4:27 pm
If the next gov is an R, and that gov wants revenue increases, I don’t know what President Cullerton will do, but I suspect that Speaker Madigan will expect R sponsorship and at least 30 R votes

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 4:45 pm
Fed Up@ Try to catch up. We were talking about what Rauner, as Governor would do, in the future. There is no sign yet that the R’s in the legislature have any plan to support spending cuts. None. They regularly vote against them. How’s Rauner going to turn them around, when he has to?

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 5:59 pm
V Man

Name some politicians who weren’t weasels and used weasel words. It’s the nature of the game to be deceptive, slick and often, outright lie. It’s apparently way too much to expect that we would be treated as grown ups.

Comment by Just Trying to Survive Tuesday, Jul 1, 14 @ 9:40 pm
===Name some politicians who weren’t weasels and used weasel words. It’s the nature of the game to be deceptive, slick and often, outright lie. It’s apparently way too much to expect that we would be treated as grown ups.===

Another victim heard from…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 2, 14 @ 9:04 am