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Look on the bright side!

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* The Illinois Policy Institute’s Kristina Rasmussen has an SJ-R op-ed…

To hear critics of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget proposal, you’d think he wants women to die from cancer, kids to wander in the streets and the poor to freeze in their homes. […]

Despite the claims of the so-called “Responsible Budget Coalition” – which tweeted Feb. 27 that “Rauner child care budget cuts mean 6-year-olds will have to take are of themselves” – the budget called for a current-year supplemental appropriation of $278 million for child care services to make up for the deliberate underfunding enacted by former Gov. Pat Quinn and the General Assembly last spring.

But instead, we see headlines such as “Rauner wants to seize utility funds for the poor to help balance budget.” Never mind that 263,000 Illinois households are still in line to receive heating assistance in the coming year.

Yes, the governor is taking the heat for eliminating numerous programs, but the reality is many of these initiatives had been funded last year by Quinn at a perfunctory amount of $1. It doesn’t compute that the guy who funded “homeless education” at $1 somehow is a saint, but the man who moves it to $0 is an ogre. […]

Contrary to the impression left by doomsayers, most core government services will be more than adequately funded under Rauner’s budget proposal. The lights will not go off at the Stratton Building. People still will get help. Pension checks still will be cut. Even the politicians at the Statehouse would have a hard time spending $31.5 billion without covering the basics.

Yes, poor people. Look on the bright side. Rauner’s budget would, indeed, eliminate all future child care assistance for any child 6 and over, but let’s brush right past that cold, hard fact and look at the child care that he still wants to fund! All is well! Facts are sooooo inconvenient!

And while heating assistance - paid for with a surcharge on every Illinois residents’ utility bills - is being cut in half, the federal government is still picking up the other half. Bright side, people! Bright side! And if you’re a motorcycle rider, your education funding - like LIHEAP, paid for by motorcycle riders - is actually being increased! So, buy a Harley Davidson, poor people! Pull yourself up by your Durango boot straps, already! Maybe the governor will even let you ride with him. Ever think of that? Then you can talk to him about cutting your 6-year-old off of childcare assistance. Brilliant!

And, yes, Pat Quinn is most definitely a “saint.” Yep. Everyone agrees on that, which is why he won reelection last year, right?

* Also, we just can’t afford programs that aren’t “core services,” like anything which isn’t funded by the federal government…

State grants that aren’t eligible for federal matching dollars through the Medicaid program have been especially vulnerable to potential cuts in recent years as Illinois struggled through a recession and bumpy recovery, said Tony Paulauski, executive director of the Frankfort-based Arc of Illinois.

A $482,000 state grant on the chopping block in Rauner’s budget is the sole source of funding for the Arc’s unique Lifespan program. Lifespan provides free information, counseling and advocacy to people with disabilities and their families. […]

The elimination of state general revenue fund support for The Autism Program would be the second-largest cut among the non-Medicaid grant programs. The largest single cut — $8.9 million — would remove funding for respite services throughout the state.

Respite is provided to families of children with intellectual disabilities. Trained workers care for children for hours at a time while family members take care of chores outside the home or simply get a break to preserve marriages and the health of caregivers, said Greg O’Connor, chief executive director of Springfield-based Sparc. .

* But, she does have a point. Rod Blagojevich and Quinn both tried to cut those two programs mentioned directly above. And both did cut back this one over time…

Rauner has proposed eliminating a $390,000 Illinois Department of Human Services grant to the Humboldt Park-based Children’s Place Association, which provides specialized preschool to about 65 toddlers of low-income Latino and African-American families who earn, on average, $5,000 per year. Approximately 50 percent of the kids are from HIV/AIDS-affected families. The others suffer from a broad range of medical disabilities.

They didn’t, however, eliminate it.

* Look, this isn’t about a few cuts that were also proposed earlier. It’s about the width and breadth of the governor’s proposed cuts. And that’s clearly newsworthy and should be debated, not breezed past.

Bruce Rauner has the big chair now. He most certainly helped create this problem by demanding that the General Assembly allow the income tax hike to expire on January 1st. They bowed to his demands. If the tax hike hadn’t expired, we wouldn’t be in this fiscal mess. The current situation is what it is. Deal with it.

/counter-rant

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:24 am

Comments

Count on the IPI to defend the indefensible. Next they will tell us how abolishing these programs for poor children and the disabled is helping make Illinois the most compassionate state in the nation.

Comment by anon Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:37 am
Bowed to his command. Like they would have passed it if Quinn won.

Comment by Me Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:38 am
There are a lot of groups presently lobbying with solidarity against many of the cuts that are proposed. They can be seen in the committee hearings and around the rail standing together against the austerity tide.

Behind the scenes though they are quietly working to see how they can outmaneuver their brothers and sisters for only their particular program.

At the end of the day they can’t all win. Soon the solidarity cracks will begin to show.

Comment by Cassiopeia Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:38 am
They forgot to point out how all his rich buddies won’t be hurt at all.

Comment by RetiredStateEmployee Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:38 am
“To hear c̶r̶i̶t̶i̶c̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget proposal, you’d think he wants women to die from cancer, kids to wander in the streets and the poor to freeze in their homes.”

Fixed.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:39 am
“Rod Blagojevich and Quinn both tried to cut those two programs mentioned directly above.”

And look where they are now. Quinn, in particular, is out of office in no small part because his base read him as unreliable on its priorities.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:40 am
So Retired, all those “rich buddies” don’t pay boat loads of taxes to the state, which helps funds many of the services you enjoy and have enjoyed?

Comment by anon Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:42 am
Oh, can’t you feel all the good vibes from this administration. Oh yeah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDZzf4ragg

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:43 am
” If the tax hike hadn’t expired, we wouldn’t be in this fiscal mess. ”

I laughed out loud.

Illinois has had that money for years and look at the mess Quinn and the Democrats have give us.

Dan Rutherford noted that much, if not all of that tax increase was supposed to help Illinois pay off its backlog of unpaid bills. Instead, he said, it went to pensions.

To use your own words, “Facts are sooooo inconvenient!”

John

Comment by John Boch Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:44 am
I laughed at the utter fallacy of the article when I read it earlier this morning. She actually said that Rauner’s budget adequately funds all core services. She failed to mention that the Governor’s plan is incumbent on a plan for saving 2.2 billion in pension savings. The plan may very likely be illegal, depending on how the SC rules in a few months on the pension reform bill.

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:45 am
The tax rate should of been reduced at a much more gradual rate its pretty clear.

Comment by Very Fed Up Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:45 am
===Illinois has had that money for years and look at the mess Quinn and the Democrats have give us.===

Um, when you subtract tax hike money, you get the mess.

Math isn’t that hard.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:46 am
She does have a point about the Quinn $1 line items. Both sides are doing lots of glossing over facts and figures these days. The rants on both sides are interesting but aren’t solving anything right now. With or without the “temporary” income tax, there still isn’t enough money to fund everything from desperately needed services to wish lists.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:48 am
Its simple, this isn’t an emergency situation any more than if you ran in to the lake and said it was flooding.

Comment by sss Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:48 am
==Pension checks still will be cut.==

I believe that statement would better reflect the desire of Rauner /IPI if the word “check” were not a part of the quote.

Comment by Kippax Blue Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:49 am
==all those “rich buddies” don’t pay boat loads of taxes to the state==

Rauner has allowed their taxes to go down in exchange for cuts in services to the less fortunate. And, when Rauner calls out “special interests” for lobbying, he never seems to mention businesses and wealthy folks asking for tax relief and government support for special projects. Sharing the burden seems to include tax cuts for the wealthy but not much else.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:51 am
She would have been more believable if she used the “State government can’t be all things to all people” argument.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:52 am
>
This is your state.
>
This is your state on IPI. Any questions?

Comment by Toure's Latte Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 9:58 am
Cassie I understand what you are saying but the appropriation chairs in both chambers have made it clear to advocates and providers they don’t want to hear or see any “cut them not us”.

Next week DHS has their appropriation hearings in the House and Senate. Pretty sure DHS leadership is not going to enjoy their time at the witness tables.

Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:02 am
anon:
Yes they do, but not enough. Get over it.

Comment by BenFrank Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:02 am
The most fair of all taxes, by far, is a progressive income tax. Amend the constitution to achieve this.

Comment by illinoised Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:06 am
Rauner is to blame because the super majority Democrats in the General Assembly didn’t extend the tax hike? That’s rich, Rich. Using that logic, the GA should just agree to Rauner’s budget.

Comment by Emanuel Can't Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:09 am
—The most fair of all taxes, by far, is a progressive income tax. Amend the constitution to achieve this—

Nah - just use emergency powers to get it done. Much easier.

Comment by Name Withheld Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:12 am
Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons? Actually, if we can stop locking up nonviolent criminals it opens up more space for debtors. Good thinking Bruce.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:13 am
The Raunerbots are up and at em. Too bad they can’t count and ignore the big picture when they disagree with reality errr I mean dissent with a proposed budget based on class warfare and disdain for the poor.

Comment by Jorge Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:13 am
“Dan Rutherford noted that much, if not all of that tax increase was supposed to help Illinois pay off its backlog of unpaid bills. Instead, he said, it went to pensions.”

Yes. And those pensions still need to be paid.

“Rauner is to blame because the super majority Democrats in the General Assembly didn’t extend the tax hike?”

Yes. He lobbied for it. Since when aren’t politicians responsible for their actions?

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:13 am
For all the shots that get taken at IPI (most of them well deserved by the way) on this blog, I read this editorial this morning and actually thought it was well written and well reasoned. There will always be an opposing view, and even some snarky ranting like above. On balance, this is one of the better op-eds I’ve read from IPI or anyone else. It’s a good piece.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:15 am
==Rauner is to blame==

For Pete’s sake people the budget proposed is Rauner’s budget. At this point in time it is completely irrelevant how we got into this situation. Unless you have a time machine you can’t fix the past. Now we have dopes trying to blame the budget RAUNER proposed on the Democrats. Give me a freaking break. Yeah, he was placed in a bad situation. But it’s HIS situation now. I’ve about had it with the blame game. Blame all you want but you aren’t solving anything.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:15 am
I was talking last night with a very politically conservative friend. He’s beyond livid at the Governor’s proposal for further cuts in the DHS program that his unwell son depends on. He wasn’t happy when the program was cut under Quinn, and he’s no more happy now that more cuts are being directed by Rauner, whom he had expected to be a supporter of for some time to come.

Now, he is re-evaluating everything - Rauner, taxes, everything. In fact, my buddy vehemently declared that they should never, ever have let that income tax increase expire, and he was particularly displeased that Rauner had called for letting it fade away.

My friend is a guy who never had a kind word to say about taxes in his life. Now, he’s struggling to find a kind word to say about the new Governor. He’s watching the state budget situation very closely.

Comment by Linus Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:15 am
Every unit that gets any government funding believes they are indispensable. Once created, any government position and government program is difficult to get rid of. Tough choices lay ahead. I hope the grown ups show up.

Comment by anonymouse Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:15 am
JB maybe you should find those guns you keep losing before you try math.

Does Kristina want to give us the lowdown on what the plan is to fix the $3 billion in phony “savings.” Rauner’s proposal is out of whack by about 10 percent.

More cuts or revenue increases?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:17 am
Rasmussen: rauner said let them have cake! What a benevolent leader, and they get cake to eat!

Comment by Ghost Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:17 am
==I read this editorial this morning and actually thought it was well written and well reasoned==

== It’s a good piece.==

Doesn’t take much to impress you then.

I laugh any time anybody tries to defend the crap coming out of the IPI.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:17 am
==So Retired, all those “rich buddies” don’t pay boat loads of taxes to the state, which helps funds many of the services you enjoy and have enjoyed?==
The wealthy pay very little actually by employing accountants and advisors to take advantage of every tax loophole, rebate, exemption available. That’s why Bruce keeps his money offshore. So no the wealthy and corporations are not paying their fair share. Sacrifice is NOT being shared. IT’S A TOTAL MYTH THAT THE WEALTHY PAY PROPORTIONALLY MORE!

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:18 am
===My friend is a guy who never had a kind word to say about taxes in his life===

So, it’s working, at least for him. IMHO, the IPI is likely being used as a stooge.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:20 am
Now we know who’s serving the cake.

Comment by bwana63 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:24 am
All I can tell you Demo, is read it again. I don’t see much out of IPI from this author. I reiterate it was a different take from what usually flows there. But, heck, I’m easy to impress. I’m seriously impressed with a lot of your writing even when we disagree. So, I must not be that easy.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:24 am
===On balance, this is one of the better op-eds I’ve read from IPI or anyone else. It’s a good piece.===

Please, from now on, when you try to defend yourself that you are NOT a shill, refer to the “On balance…” quote from above.

To the Post,

===Bruce Rauner has the big chair now. He most certainly helped create this problem by demanding that the General Assembly allow the income tax hike to expire on January 1st. They bowed to his demands. If the tax hike hadn’t expired, we wouldn’t be in this fiscal mess. The current situation is what it is. ===

What is tiring in these FY2015 discussions, the idea that Rauner, candidate and Governor-Elect, requested the income tax expire IS part and parcel of the mess of FY2015.

Refusing to see that, or accept it, is not recognizing that Rauner wears the jacket, too, on FY2015, and Rauner’s Cuts are brought about by Rauner’s own wants in addressing the FY2015 shortfalls.

Rauner is not absolved. At. All.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:24 am
- anonymouse - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:15 am:

Every unit that gets any government funding believes they are indispensable. Once created, any government position and government program is difficult to get rid of. Tough choices lay ahead. I hope the grown ups show up.

You are correct about it being a choice when it comes to treating those with substance abuse and mental illness. Make no mistake about the fact those people will still need services and the state will pay for them, it’s choice of whether the dollars go to DHS or DOC for those services.

Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:24 am
Where did the words “shared sacrifice” go anyway?

Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:25 am
“He wasn’t happy when the program was cut under Quinn, and he’s no more happy now that more cuts are being directed by Rauner”

This is kind of exactly what I was getting at- “But Quinn cut, too!”- Yeah, and Quinn had a 35% approval rating and lost. No one wants to emulate that.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:26 am
It all comes down to what do you want government to do. Once that is decided you need to fund that decision. The pension system has been allowing us to put off that decision for many many years. Elections matter and Illinois is not sure what it wants — Republican Gov. and a Democratic house and senate. Or perhaps we have decided — we want a balance… a little smaller government and a little more revenue? One thing is for sure, we need to quit putting off this decision by spending pension dollars and lets hope the ISC does not allow the government to make the retirees pay for putting off this decision for far too long.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:27 am
“The wealthy pay very little…”

This is the biggest lie in politics. You want to say they pay proportionally less, have at it. There is a significant portion of this population that pays 0 in state income tax. The wealthy are not in that group. The number is actually very large. Is it proportionally enough…that’s an argument. Saying they pay little is just a stupid lie.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:28 am
Isn’t the libertarian governance model about letting people chose where to donate their money rather than having government dictate it? Now that income tax are lower, will the libertarians and wealthy people step up and start donating to cover the costs of childcare, utility programs, etc? Maybe the state can set up a program where they can sponsor an ventilator and get their name posted so the child sees it all day long. (snark)

Comment by Chicago Guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:28 am
Willy, On balance your comment was ridiculous. Unbalanced, as you can often be, it’s also ridiculous.

Even Rich saw some decency in it.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:30 am
Yielding to Rauners demand to cut the tax back to original immediately may have been seen as a means to introduce the new Gov to a few of the realities of Cuts in Business vs. Cuts to Government Services. Not too much blowback as CEO when cuts made compared to Gov. Services. We will soon see if he is capable of changing, amending, negotiating. A year from now will our perception of him be better, wrose, or unchanged.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:31 am
A guy:

Don’t like the IPI and the main reason I don’t like them is that they portray themselves as “non-partisan.” If they’d stop that charade they would at least score a few points with me. But then again I don’t think I’m the constituency they are going for, lol.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:34 am
“To hear critics of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget proposal, you’d think he wants women to die from cancer, kids to wander in the streets and the poor to freeze in their homes.”

It’s not that Rauner or his IPI supporters want poor sick people and kids to suffer and die, it’s that they seem to not care if they do. They don’t want to pay a little more in taxes, people facing cuts be damned. This op-ed piece says as much, to me.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:36 am
Whenever Rasmussen opens her mouth, one can rest assured that there will be half-truths, serious omissions, and a great amount of spin — that is what she is paid to do.

Comment by ash Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:37 am
===Willy, On balance your comment was ridiculous. Unbalanced, as you can often be, it’s also ridiculous.===

You are a Dope.

Seeing “some decency” and you saying ===…one of the better…=== is ridiculously different in perception.

The glossing over Rauner is also quite responsible for the shortfall in revenue, that isn’t something to put into “one of the better”, given that being revenue short is a mitigating factor of FY2015 and Rauner was requesting it too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:38 am
Not that this is news - especially to this crowd…but, groups that are partially funded by Rauner like: IPI and AFP, who already had limited credibility at best, have absolutely no credibility when they go overboard trying to support Rauner’s over the top policy agenda.
And yes, Madigan was brilliant in letting the income tax expire as it’s all on Rauner now. That fact will serve to help Madigan with his Rep races in 2016 especially during a presidential cycle. Rauner and his $20 million may hold some weight but I foresee it being used against Republicans who choose not to genuflect to their master.
All Rauner had to “initially” do in order to build good faith with the public and the GA. was to work on real reforms like; eliminating unfunded mandates, reviewing and eliminating duplicative services, streamlining processes, etc.
Instead, he chose to place himself and his alleged ideology (ego) above common sense and now he’s behind the curve when he would’ve been far ahead of his predecessors. Hopefully, he and his young staff will learn that government is not run like a business. UGH

Comment by Just saying... Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:44 am
Short Rasmussen:

“You ingrates! You have an esteemed business leader running your state now. It’s only a matter of time before everything is perfect again, like it was in the 1950s. Stop your whining and clap louder.”

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:44 am
There’s just two words for all this sob sister stuff…tough crap. I don’t care.

Comment by Neglected stepchild Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:45 am
I thought the rules required the Governor to present an annual state budget proposal that can be paid for within existing revenues the state has. Rauner has done that. And now people are ’shocked’ at the cuts required to hit those numbers because the cuts now hit them personally. As if none of them had any idea what the outcome would be. Leave off the fact Rauner asked the GA to let tax increase to lapse. How is impact of any of this not just redressed dejavu of Quinn’s recommended / not recommended budget options from last year? The very real issues effected by budget cuts have been well known for several years.

The big picture budget math is the math no matter how many times you churn it or try to emphasize your particular political bent/opinion. Go buy plywood, cover the heat at your church, or buy a ticket to a movie. Costs rise no matter what you say.

The state provides services for people that they simply cannot do on their own. That recent Moody Analytic study shows Illinois has many strengths regardless of individual politics and opinions. Debate priorities all you want, just get on with it. The resources are here.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:47 am
Rich:
To think we wouldn’t be in this mess if the tax increase hadn’t been rolled back is not at all close to reality. The tax was in place for several years and the budget still couldn’t get balanced. Just like with your kids, when they are wasting money, you cut them back until they figure out how to spend the money wisely, you don’t just give them more.

This is similar to the Lottery that was implemented nearly 50 years ago, yet with all of that income to the states, how can the schools still be in the financial mess they are in. It is because while the state maybe put the lottery into schools, they took away from previous appropriations to schools to put it towards pork barrel projects and other wasteful endeavors. Making excuses doesn’t solve the problem.

Comment by Burgee Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:48 am
==To think we wouldn’t be in this mess if the tax increase hadn’t been rolled back is not at all close to reality==

To think that it didn’t play a role is even further from reality. Math is hard.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:52 am
Our local newspaper here in Champaign runs Scott Reeder columns(veteran statehouse reporter and a journalist with Illinois News Network, a project of the Illinois Policy Institute) by News-Gazette attribution, once our twice a week. The columns tend to be riddled with errors and misleading statements. The one of Wednesday (Mar. 11) included “On March 18, the Illinois Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments over whether those pension benefits can be trimmed”.

Comment by Retired Already Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:52 am
If we cannot separate the 2015 gap from the 2016 budget proposal, we get lost in discussing solutions.

As to what it might say about Quinn or Rauner personally? A fool’s game. We all know what IPI is ignoring: Quinn intended filling the gap by extending the tax rates, while we still don’t know how Rauner will close his major gaps.

Comment by walker Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:58 am
Bruce Rauner has made some difficult choices to begin to put the state on the path of fiscal responsibility. For those concerned about his pension proposal, he may have to reduce spending further to foster small business development and private investment. As a conservative, governor Rauner passionately believes in the notion of personal responsibility. This includes parents taking more responsibility in caring for their children. It may not be the role of government to raise a competent parent’s child.

Comment by Muscular Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 10:59 am
Much as I distrust this budget and its proponents, there is one sensible cut: The Autism Program. Largely a boondoggle, its line item was clouted up to $4.3M a few years ago to shore up the Hope School in Springfield. A lot of money for very little substantive deliverables. For years, they have simply redistributed most of the dough via smaller grants to local agencies, funds which are not Medicaid matched (and which tend to be relationship-based not open bid). Not to mention salaries: their last ED made over $300k! So, maybe this is one inadvertently wise cut among a pile of heartless slashing.
However, instead of cutting the line item entirely, Rauner should simply move it into direct services, which the feds match, thus making the $4.3 into $6.45M. That’s how you serve that community, instead of giving a monopoly to insiders.

Comment by disabilityactivist Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:04 am
When the 67% tax hike was passed in 2011, there really was no concrete plan to get the expenditures in line with revenues by 2015 when only a 25% income tax increase remained. Quinn, Madigan and Cullerton had no intention of taking heat for the level of spending cuts needed to get the Illinois fiscal house in order. The budgets they used were pretty much a sham, with $1 budgeted for what they knew were multi million dollar budgets.

Is it even possible for MJM, Cullerton and the caucuses to come up with plan to get spending down to current revenue levels if Rauner gave them another few years of 5% top do it? I think not. Could they be trusted to restrain spending growth if the tax increase was given? Once again,highly unlikely.

Serious statesmen would sit down and work out a feasible plan for a reduced spending plan to be implemented over a few years, when the 5% rate, if extended again, could again be reduced to 3.75%

That’s what would happen in just about any state besides Illinois and New Jersey.

As OW, Word, Dem and 47th are so fond of saying, “this isn’t some other state, this is ILLINOIS” as a reason that thoughtful solutions can’t be found.

What are the odds that cullerton and MJM will bite the bullet and seriously work to address this issue? I’m pretty sure if it’s part of a comprehensive solution, Rauner could sell it to his base.

It would still take trust, and given that MJM, Cullerton/Jones, Quinn and Blago let the pension funding level drop from 73% to about 39% from Ryan’s reign to today, how could they possibly be trusted to stick to any tax/spending reduction agreement?

If they don’t, Illinois is pretty much doomed….

Comment by Arizona Bob Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:05 am
Anon 10:47, Rauner did not propose a spending plan that can be paid with existing revenues. He’s off by about $3 billion, or 10 percent.

Most of tnat is banking $2.2 billion in fictional pension “savings.” That’s really just an attempt to balance the budget by shorting pension contributions.

Has that been tried before? Or is it the new honest, transparent way of doing things that we were promised?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:07 am
“The tax was in place for several years and the budget still couldn’t get balanced.”

Taking it away won’t get us any closer to balanced.

No one is saying that there can’t be any cuts. Many people are saying that “cuts only” won’t work, and the proof is in the pudding- Rauner’s budget still relies on $2 billion of phoney baloney pension “savings”.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:08 am
“To hear c̶r̶i̶t̶i̶c̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget proposal, you’d think he wants women to die from cancer, kids to wander in the streets and the poor to freeze in their homes.” — Not true–he just doesn’t care if that happens.

Comment by anon Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:13 am
===As OW…are so fond of saying, “this isn’t some other state, this is ILLINOIS” as a reason that thoughtful solutions can’t be found.===

Where did I say, specifically;

===’this isn’t some other state, this is ILLINOIS’ as a reason that thoughtful solutions can’t be found.”===

Where? Specifically.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:14 am
– For those concerned about his pension proposal, he may have to reduce spending further to foster small business development and private investment.–

What in the world are you talking about?

Your whole post is like that. Just random words and catch phrases thrown together in no meaningful order.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:19 am
==how could they possibly be trusted to stick to any tax/spending reduction agreement?==

Rauner is the Governor now. Once a budget is passed he’s in charge of it. He can spend or not spend whatever he wants. Just because there is an appropriation doesn’t mean it has to be spent. As far as the budget goes, trusting Madigan and Cullerton isn’t the issue. Madigan and Cullterton trusting Rauner to implement the budget as agreed is the issue. We’re seeing that play out with the current negotiations over a fix for FY15.

==Quinn . . . let the pension funding level drop==

Actually, Quinn (and the GA) fully funded the payments due to the retirement system for the past few years.

And, Bob, if you were intellectually honest you would realize that the retirement systems have been underfunded probably since their inception, but most definitely since the 1970 Constitution and again since the funding ramp enacted under Edgar.

We can debate the issues surrounding retirement system funding all you want, but that debate requires intellectual honesty.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:20 am
==Where? Specifically.==

We didn’t. Bob isn’t very good at reading comprehension. He has decided to put words into our mouth by extending our comments that Illinois isn’t another state and infer (ignorantly) that such statements also mean we don’t want thoughtful solutions. Don’t try to get into Bob’s head. It wouldn’t be a pleasant place to be.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:23 am
*havent read the comments so I dont know if this was addressed yet but…

Sorry Rich, gotta call BS on “if the tax hike hadnt expired we wouldn’t be in this mess”

Had the phase out not occurred it would have only eliminated half the projected budget gap. Thats according to the Fiscal Futures Project at the IGPA at U of I, which was presented at the Chicago Fed a few weeks ago.

Comment by Anonymouse Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:28 am
- Demoralized -,

I figured that might keep him busy enough thru the weekend when his creative writing can bloom into something Monday…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:30 am
===if you were intellectually honest===

He’s neither.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:32 am
its the fy 15 budget, stupid. how many days to an agreement? when will rauner meet with the leaders?

i am beginning to doubt we will get an actual agreement to give rauner any discretionary authority. there is no basis for trusting him.

Comment by Langhorne Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:33 am
==i am beginning to doubt we will get an actual agreement==

There will be an agreement. It just won’t be the “God” powers the Governor wants.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:35 am
=== it would have only eliminated half the projected budget gap===

Because the study included the late bills. That has to be dealt with over time since a bonding plan was rejected four years ago.

Extending the tax hike doesn’t solve all problems. I know that and have said that. But it makes the problems far more manageable.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:37 am
For FY2015, I can see “agreement” reached, with considerable GOP GA pain, and then I see FY2016 going about the same, same “agreement”, same GOP GA pain, but the wrinkle in FY2016 will be…

Memorandums Of Understanding.

Trust is earned, not given freely nor easily. Rauner, with zero governmental history of trust given or earned makes me lean to MOUs as a “clincher” added to the pain given to the GOP GA.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:38 am
=if not all of that tax increase was supposed to help Illinois pay off its backlog of unpaid bills. Instead, he said, it went to pensions.=

I believe the $100 Billion in under funding could reasonably be considered part of the backlog of bills. But, you would have to be reasonable to see it that way. I mean, some of that money has been due for 90 years.

facts are stubborn things said it, what do we want the state to do? I would add that we need to determine what exactly do we value and then take steps to fund that effort.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:40 am
“There’s just two words for all this sob sister stuff… tough crap. I don’t care.”

Don’t you have anything better to do with your time, Bruce?

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:49 am
==I don’t see much out of IPI from this author.==

A guy, the author is the vice president of IPI.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:54 am
Perhaps, some don’t understand why Governor Quinn lost re-election. Many voted against Quinn - or decided to not vote - BECAUSE he made deep, deep cuts. News flash, budget cuts do NOT make one popular. Get used to it. Governing is hard and, “No good deed goes unpunished.” That insightful quote is attributed to a conservative.

Comment by Nothin's easy... Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:00 pm
If you don’t know anyone utilizing LIHEAP then it does not exist, the IPI world is a utopia filled with people that do not need govt assistance and all they have to do is apply at he nearest Koch industry and get a job making the current minimum wage. Don’t worry work your fingers to the bone die before you retire and hope your kids can hit the lottery. Ahh nirvana!

Comment by Obama's Puppy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:10 pm
– ..IPI is likely being used as a stooge.–

Well, Rauner said he was going to get the best people for the job…..

IPI got paid, more than half a million alone from Rauner, plus more from his donor network. They got cushy high-paying jobs at the government trough.

They’re bought and paid for. They’ll do what they’re told, or off the gravy train they go.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:13 pm
From where did this maxim come? — Wealthy people will never support higher taxes.
I do believe several mega-wealthy people have declared that they would proudly pay more in taxes. I personally have ponied-up some serious tax payments over the years. Am I bitter about it? Do I need to keep more money than I keep? No and no, and I am not talking about millions of dollars.
My personal opinion is that if you are so wealthy and greedy that you think $30,000 in additional state tax on an AGI of $1,000,000 is going to ruin your day, maybe you need to buy an island and drop out of society.

(And btw Mr. Rauner, don’t forget that humans are capital too.)

Comment by cdog Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:19 pm
A. Bob: I was really upset as a kid when my tootsie pop increased 100% (1 cents to 2 cents).
Percentage based arguments always leave me wondering how many licks to the center of the tootsie pop.

Comment by Tommydanger Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:24 pm
For all of you complaining the IPI portray themselves as “non-partisan”, I would like to know what you think of Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.

CBTA is just the financial shell company of all the public sector employee unions in the state (the paper trail alone would make most corporations blush). Yet this is never mentioned in the MSM either.

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:30 pm
===what you think of Center for Tax and Budget Accountability===

Steve Schnorf is, or was recently, on the board of CTBA.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:33 pm
As a state employee, I guess I should look on the bright side too, like not having to answer what a Spenddown is or why only 2 caseworkers are responsible for filing claims for the entire state. I’ve never been layed off or went on strike before. Should be interesting, especially when it comes to paying my own bills.

Comment by DHSJim Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:34 pm
A friendly reminder that the state is operating under a 25% tax INCREASE over the prevailing tax rate that was in place for TWENTY YEARS. A tax increase, outside of the introduction of a state income tax, that was the largest in the history of the state.

For all those pining for the 5% rate of yesteryear…

- Are you retired and paying 0% in state income taxes?
- Are you close to retirement in which you will soon pay 0%?
- Are you employed by the govt in which your employment and/or pension is directly vested in any tax increase?

Do you truly have financial skin in the game in which it is money out of YOUR pocket?

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:45 pm
Nixit71 - I think that we should go back to a 5% rate (if not higher). I’m not retiring, don’t work for the government, and don’t have any state pension. 5% is not high. Look at what other states pay.

Comment by Chicago Guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:48 pm
===INCREASE over the prevailing tax rate that was in place for TWENTY YEARS===

And that previous rate wasn’t adequate to make current pension payments and fund the rest of government.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:53 pm
But I can be sold on a tax increase. Convince me based on the following…

The extra savings from the reduction to 3.75% is going directly into my child’s college 529 savings account. Every $ not put into that account cascades into ever increasing student loan debt that will follow him for decades. So convince that I should place my child’s education and financial well-being secondary to our state budget?

Always. Be. Closing.

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:56 pm
Wordslinger you just dont see the synergistic growth exponentials that are dynamically forming here…..

Comment by Ghost Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 12:57 pm
===Look at what other states pay===
I prefer to look at overall tax burden, and depending on your source IL is typically is the Top 10 in that regard (and not in a good way).

But an increased state income tax combined with an equal reduction in property taxes? Sold!

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:02 pm
“Do you truly have financial skin in the game in which it is money out of YOUR pocket?”

Yes. Let’s go back to 5%.

Also, all those retirees, near-retirees, and state workers? They get a vote, too. You don’t get to write them out just because they’re really inconvenient to your argument.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:11 pm
===But an increased state income tax combined with an equal reduction in property taxes? Sold!===

You’re an easy “sell”

Tell the class how the reduction of property taxes is done at the state level.

This should be fun…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:14 pm
==Are you employed by the govt ==

==Do you truly have financial skin in the game in which it is money out of YOUR pocket?==.

Yeah, because government employees don’t pay taxes. You aren’t going to make the dopey argument that government employees effectively don’t pay income taxes are you?

I didn’t notice that much of a difference in my paycheck when the tax rate went down on January 1. I make a good living and the result of the decrease was about $36 a paycheck. I’d gladly give that back to avoid the cuts currently on the table.

Also, what sort of government services are you willing to give up for that little extra change in your pocket? If you are fine with the cuts that have been proposed then say so and own them. If not, don’t whine about taxes.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:14 pm
“Convince me based on the following…”

I like having the extra $50 a month, too, and I spend it on absolutely unquestionably important things that you’ll never get to verify.

Let’s go back to 5%.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:15 pm
“Every $ not put into that account cascades into ever increasing student loan debt that will follow him for decades. So convince that I should place my child’s education and financial well-being secondary to our state budget?”

Every dollar. So we’re not actually talking about “secondary”. Every other dollar you spend on ANYTHING else is also ruining your kids’ future.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:18 pm
“Every $ not put into that account cascades into ever increasing student loan debt that will follow him for decades.”

BTW, so does every dollar of tuition increases…

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:23 pm
===For all those pining for the 5% rate of yesteryear…===

You mean 72 days ago “yesteryear”?

Dope.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:31 pm
===BTW, so does every dollar of tuition increases===
That’s already happening and shows no indication of declining anytime soon. Look at the admin overhead added at any state school over the past 20 years and you’ll see why.

===Also, what sort of government services are you willing to give up for that little extra change in your pocket?===
I am fine with whatever cuts our dear legislators decide based on the current tax rate. If they feel it is more prudent to pay the pension debt and cut services to pay for it, go ahead. Prioritize the remaining funds and legislate within the current means. I do this every day…I see no reason to accept less from my elected officials.

===Every other dollar you spend on ANYTHING else is also ruining your kids’ future.===
The same holds true for the state. I made the necessary budget cuts to pay for the tax hike back in 2011. I’m still living on that budget, and the excess funds are going into my kid’s college fund.

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:57 pm
Going to pile on and ramp it up Demoralized and Arsenal…
What sort of paradigm shift in how we proceed as a society are we willing to accept to keep the extra change in our pocket?

The promotion of capital improvements like roads and bridges, along with the stated goal of the destruction of unions, all to entice corporations that will most likely offer low-paying part time jobs, with sweet tax deals, all AT THE EXPENSE of the human capital and good will in our state, is not acceptable.

We should all be proud to serve and improve the lives of the unsafe, the sick, the uneducated, the under-privileged, the under-employed.

Back to 5% for the commoners, and an additional 3% for the Lords.

Comment by cdog Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 1:59 pm
“That’s already happening and shows no indication of declining anytime soon.”

And it’s only going to get worse with the proposed cuts to the higher ed budget.

“The same holds true for the state.”

No, not really.

“I made the necessary budget cuts to pay for the tax hike back in 2011.”

Well then we’re fine. Your “keep my taxes low or the kid gets it!” game was fun, though.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:01 pm
“What sort of paradigm shift in how we proceed as a society are we willing to accept to keep the extra change in our pocket?”

Absolutely none, don’t let the rhetorical extortion fool you.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:08 pm
I believe most people quickly question the depth and breadth of comments which basically do nothing but continue to blame Quinn rather than provide responsible alternatives to the current financial situation. There was an election and the previous governor was replaced by a new governor. Likewise, that same election resulted in the continuation of the “super majority” in both chambers of the legislature. The effectiveness of the new governor will be realistically evaluated by his success/failure in passing his proposed legislation in the House and Senate.

Comment by Buzzie Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:33 pm
How about these folks just move into Downton Abby with
Aaron S. ?

Problem solved.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:02 pm
The fact of the matter is that Democrats still control the House & Senate. They can call and pass a bill - the Governor cannot. Republicans can’t call and pass bills because they don’t control the gavels.

If Democrats wanted to extend the income tax, they had more than two months to do so. if this was the “right thing to do” then why did they wait and not do it? Politics.

I get it that they didn’t want to give money to Rauner to spend and wanted him to share in the pain or ask for revenue.

Comment by 1776 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:17 pm
“If Democrats wanted to extend the income tax, they had more than two months to do so. ”

With the Governor-elect openly campaigning against them doing so.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:22 pm
“They can call and pass a bill”

And the Governor can veto it.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:23 pm
= On balance, this is one of the better op-eds I’ve read from IPI or anyone else. It’s a good piece.=

No,it’s not.
It’s a defense piece from a Rauner supporter who works for a group that supported Rauner and received financial support from Rauner.

Comment by btowntruth Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:25 pm
I don’t understand the criticism of -nixit71’s- prudent approach to take responsibility for his children’s future. Maybe the sudden outpouring of altruism displayed by his/her critics is something they discovered at work.

Comment by CapnCrunch Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:32 pm
=== Precinct Captain - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 11:54 am:

==I don’t see much out of IPI from this author.==

A guy, the author is the vice president of IPI.====

Thanks for answering the question that wasn’t asked. I see a number of their articles, here, my local papers, etc. I haven’t seen articles authored by her. Until today. I’m sure they were out there. I just didn’t see one until today.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Tax the rich so I can have more
Talk about Greed

Comment by Whatever Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:02 pm
“I don’t understand the criticism of -nixit71’s- prudent approach to take responsibility for his children’s future.”

That’s because such criticism doesn’t exist. No one’s criticizing him as a parent, we’re criticizing him as an extortionist.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:02 pm