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* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s Facebook page…
BREAKING: Senate Republican leadership is selling out Illinois taxpayers. Contact your state senator today and tell them to reject the proposal to hike your income taxes by more than 30%.
Contact your Senator now and tell them to vote “NO” on the income tax hike: http://illin.is/2iGZOb5 […]We’ve now sent thousands of emails into state Senate offices. Tell your state Senator to reject the bogus deal that uses fake reform to mask a massive tax hike.
As of 9:47 this morning, the post had been shared almost 1,000 times.
* From the group’s Twitter feed…
It’s generous of the Illinois Senate to give homeowners two years to relocate to another state. #grandlarceny
— Illinois Policy (@illinoispolicy) January 20, 2017
Illinois taxpayers shouldn't be forced to bail out politicians' failures https://t.co/VsgLMJjKRc #twill
— Illinois Policy (@illinoispolicy) January 19, 2017
* From the opinion piece linked above…
Illinoisans don’t deserve the Senate’s terrible budget deal. They deserve structural spending, pension and economic reforms that finally bring an end to Illinois’ perpetual crises. If politicians would implement real reforms, such as 401(k)-style retirement plans, comprehensive property tax reform, a revamped workers’ compensation system, and changes in collective bargaining and Medicaid, they wouldn’t be burdening their constituents with multibillion-dollar tax hikes.
And all that will balance the budget… how?
I suppose they could kick people off of Medicaid to save some money, but even that wouldn’t be enough. Workers’ comp changes would save the state some cash, but not a huge amount. It could spur economic activity, but the governor’s own projection didn’t come up with huge amounts of state dough. 401(k)-style retirement plans won’t address the gigantic unfunded pension liability, which is what is really driving state outlays. Property tax reform won’t directly save the state cash. Paying poverty wages to state workers would save some dough, but not nearly enough.
It’s easy to kick and scream. It’s much, much harder to actually come up with a real solution.
* According to GOMB, we’ve got a projected base FY17 spending level of $39.7 billion if everything that isn’t on autopilot is appropriated and Chicago gets its pension parity payment. The projected revenue without a tax hike is $33.7 billion.
That’s a $6 billion hole and the fiscal year is more than half over.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:03 am
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Comment by not buying today Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:06 am
Fantasyland from Rauner’s IPI. Is the governor’s office running a sink job?
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:08 am
Politicians trying to ram this down the tax payers throats, as a reform package, when it is mostly a tax increase. Then they will come back in a couple of years, asking for even higher taxes!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:11 am
Real solutions require hard thinking. Not the propagandists’ strong suit.
Comment by Ray del Camino Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:11 am
Rauner can’t be against compromise, so with Rauner “vertical integration” system, “sytematically” Rauner can choose whom and how he will sink things, especially within the traditional Republican and/or conservative ranks.
These types of rollouts aren’t accidents.
They can’t be. Rauner “funds” any and/or all of these groups in the integration.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:14 am
They should be ignored by respectable media until they put forth an actual plan that they would support. All this crap is meaningless noise - it’s easy to whine about compromises when you don’t ever try to advance solutions.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:16 am
Rich, why not put in a call to Tillman and ask him to comment on how that will balance the budget?
I’m sure he’ll jump at the opportunity to explain.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:16 am
= = Senate Republican leadership is selling out Illinois taxpayers. = =
Wow. Just wow.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:17 am
And thankfully Bruce Rauner is standing strong against Michael Madigan and the Legislators He Controls who are dying to ram through a tax increase with no reforms. . . oh wait. . .
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:18 am
I’ll say it again, If IPI and other Raunerites snuff out the Senate deal (the only bi-partisan rey of hope we’ve seen for two years,) then give them the balanced budget they want in the form of a lump sum. Let them convince Illinois that state government can run on $32 billion in tax revenue by cutting waste, fraud and abuse.
Comment by Telly Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:18 am
I think it is hilarious that 1.4% is stabbing his pet legislators in the back by having his leashed media mouthpiece bad mouth the budget talks.
When are the republican’ts going to learn that they can’t trust the “head” of their party?
Comment by Huh? Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:22 am
Anyone know if Cullerton and Ragdono pitched their plan to the Trib editorial board during their Chicago media tour yesterday? Doesn’t it look like the Tribsters weighed in on it this morning.
Just trying to get a feel for how the IPI/Tronc/Rauner troika is coordinating here. Looks like IPI is doing the infantry work while the Tronc artillery remains in reserve.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:30 am
So Rauner wants a deal, does he? Apparently, only with Dem votes. Good luck with that.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:32 am
Perhaps the Illinois Policy Institute should propose some policies that should be instituted in Illinois?
Just a thought.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:32 am
I guess this legislative session will be about the Republicans that had been lockstep with the Governor learning that they’ve always been an expendable instrument and he doesn’t care about them or their careers and believes he can replace them at will should they step out of line.
Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:33 am
Rauner has to decide if his attack dogs are driving a better bargain or destroying the best shot at a doable deal. It’s time for him to speak out on taxes and revenue.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:33 am
We’re going to have to do a lot of things, including some (not all) of the things IPI suggests and some of the things IPI is ragging against. Our problems are so big we’re also going to have to do things not even mentioned, but this is the problem with 18 years of a failed government.
We are also going to need to extend and adjust the pension ramp. Yes, the Edgar ramp was irresponsible and back-loaded, let’s adjust the current ramp into something manageable.
Comment by Ahoy! Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:33 am
I don’t care what they do in Springfield at this point. Fix it! I’ve emailed and called my state reps and senators. They don’t listen/care anyway. Just do what you’re gonna do and quit stalling!
- how I feel today.
Comment by Peoria Citizen Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:34 am
= = Senate Republican leadership is selling out Illinois taxpayers. = =
With friends like these who needs enemies…
Comment by Highland Il Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:39 am
Oof!
It is fair to ask if the governor is using his various organizations outside state government to kill a deal.
Of course he would deny it, but if the ILDP had any clue it would put that in play for the media (outside of CapFax) because this is the only place that seems to be noticed.
If that is the play then, as so many here have hypothesized, Rauner simply wants to shut down the state government.
IPI and others need to get specific on cuts, show us their recommended numbers. And quit shouting about things that won’t and can’t happen.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:48 am
Show us your plan IPI or please just keep your mouth shut.
Comment by Rufus Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:53 am
Exactly OW
This what I was thinking when I made the “torpedo” comment about GOMB. Challenging it. Not to say I was right or prescient but this seems to be confirmation of a fear. With compromise would come labor peace and that is what I think is at the heart of Rauners rejection. It’s not taxes for Rauner. It’s labor death that is a must for him. A grand bargain ruins that. I don’t even think it’s business. They need stability the most. What we are hearing are those who followed Rauner and bet it all. “Round he throws his baleful eyes. That witnessed huge affliction and dismay. Mixed with obdurate hate and steadfast pride”
Those who have followed wagered everything and now richness the destruction they caused. They must have victory in the way they defined it or else all this is in vain. Baleful eyes people. We are witnessing obdurate pride and steadfast hate
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:55 am
The spirit of compromise evolves into Rauner’s terms of capitulation.
Rauner doesn’t want a budget. Rauner only wants a dysfunctional State government that Rauner can blame on Madigan.
Total annihilation, no prisoners.
- “All that most maddens and torments; all that stirs up the lees of things; all truth with malice in it; all that cracks the sinews and cakes the brain; all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil”….
Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:57 am
To call IPI a “think tank” is an oxymoron. There is no “thinking” going on in this tank.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:02 am
Is Rauner taking a page from Trumps playbook and now raging against all political establishment D & R? After all, with him it’s all campaign all the time. How does Radogno play into this whole compromise? She’s been such a R-team player till word of this grand bargain emerged.
Comment by Johnnie F. Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:22 am
Either Rauner is part of the current IPI attack on the Senate framework, or he may up very very sorry he financed this goofy group of right wing whack jobs who don’t apparently believe in arithmetic….
Comment by formerpro Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:33 am
Thoughtful words, - Honeybear -, thoughtful and words that engage in the thinking of “where are we, where is ‘next’ in this”
===he may up very very sorry he financed this goofy group of right wing whack jobs who don’t apparently believe in arithmetic….===
Yeah, not this.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:11 pm
Maybe IPI and the Speaker are in cahoots. IPI working to demolish this “grand bargain” certainly would take pressure off Madigan as the obstacle to a budget.
Comment by My New Handle Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:11 pm
- goofy group of right wing whack jobs who don’t apparently believe in arithmetic…. -
The IPI believes in only one form of arithmetic, the part about Rauner’s money equals continuing pay checks for their phoney baloney jobs.
No way they’re bucking him on this.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:19 pm
IPI doesn’t seem to understand that creating a new Tier 3 class with just a 401(k) would make the state’s finances much worse for quite a while. The 401(k) money is owned by the worker - the state would not have the pool of ongoing contributions going into the system while still having to pay out to the retirees (the $100 billion the GA borrowed to pay for other stuff would be all on the taxpayers going forward).
Comment by titan Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Guess IPI will be defunded..how about Proft….GOPies and the othet stooges in the clown car
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:39 pm
What does Rauner and his subsidiaries do besides say no to everything? Everybody knows that Illinois has to cut spending and raise taxes. Both sides have to have some skin in the game. Kudos to Cullerton and Radogno for trying to accomplish something. Still waiting for Rauner to submit a budget. Where’s the leadership? Hope Cullerton and Radogno succeed in taking this away from Madigan and Rauner. If they get this package through the senate, Madigan should drop this on Bruce’s lap and force him to make a decision.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:52 pm
@10:11 Talk is cheap. Your solution? And no fairy tale platitude of wf and abuse. SPEAK.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:13 pm
To quote our new President,
“We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.”
So whaddya got IPI?
Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm
“Illinois taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out politicians’ failures”
Why not? We elected those politicians. If we are not allowed to experience the consequences of our folly what will stop us from behaving like fools again in the future?
Comment by CapnCrunch Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:46 pm
Thanks for putting “Institute” in quotations marks, Rich.
Everyone paying attention suspects or is already convinced that Rauner is the one ginning up opposition to the Senate deal.
Whether they want to completely sabotage it or are just trying to drive a harder bargain is anyone’s guess.
But to an extent, it does not really matter.
Grand Bargains are a delicate balancing act that requires trust.
Rauner just turned his moose lose on the China shop.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:51 pm
IPI does not get paid by the ultra-rich conservative folks to promote what is good for Illinois, rational ideas, or compromise. IPI get paid to push an ultra conservative agenda that benefits the ultra-rich. period.
Comment by Joe M Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:15 pm
And out of the chaos comes the man Rauner, who stands firm against Madigan and tax increases,who said no to waste and corruption…keep bruce fightin the good fight…
Comment by Liberty Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:16 pm
===…Rauner, who stands firm against Madigan and tax increases,who said no to waste and corruption…keep bruce fightin the good fight…===
LOL!
The Rauner Tax will be signed by Bruce Rauner. You best come to terms with Rauner signing a “huge” tax increase.
Where is this waste and corruption, and what is the return on investment on all that stoppin’ of waste and corruption?
What… exactly… is that good fight if/when Rauner signs that Rauner Tax and there’s no measurable waste and corruption thingy you tout?
Now, if this was snark…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:21 pm
@Willy:
Not if Rauner continues to get away with killing off deals with either poison pills or proxy organizations.
Right now I would say a full budget is atbest a toss up question.
Madigan is smart to stay as far away from thouse house of cards as possible. If he is even in the same zip code as the Senate, Rauner will pin the blame for a collapse on him.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:32 pm
- Juvenal -
If the Senate can’t get this thing balanced and with a structured roll call to get 30, then Madigan and Rauner need to start worrying.
If Rauner is trying to tank on Radogno, well, that’s a Radogno problem now, sadly, because Rauner will “remind” her and everyone “it’s my party”… like he’s done, unless he’s denying he’s not involved in politics, but I digress…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:39 pm
Proposal must be pretty serious if it’s attracting this kind of a response. Hmmm.
Comment by A guy Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 3:03 pm