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[Bumped up because this is the biggest story of the day.]
* I can’t understand why they buried this in the story, but Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn has come out against the governor’s gross receipts tax…
Yet, even Blagojevich’s lieutenant governor opposes the gross receipts tax.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, in Peoria on Tuesday on another matter, told reporters, “I don’t think it’s a good way to go. I’m not a fan of it at all. We need to have decent health care . . . but there is more than one way to get to heaven.”
Quinn said there are many corporate loopholes in the Illinois tax code. He said the state’s tax code should be made more fair and the state needs to stop shifting the burden onto ordinary businesses.
* Quinn’s position apparently makes him “ignorant” of the existence of God, according to a prominent African-American minister, Bishop Robert Sanders, who supports the governor’s tax and spending plan. Check out the video.
Bishop Sanders: “The governor is on God’s side.”
Mike Flannery: “And people who would oppose this would be against God?”
Bishop Sanders: “It isn’t that they would be against God. They would be ignorant, so they wouldn’t know whether there was a God.”
Wow.
* As I told you yesterday, the governor repeated his assertion yesterday that he would not support any other proposal until his tax plan, education plan and health care plan are all approved…
And while Blagojevich’s aides say he hasn’t given up on construction spending, he’s moved on to other priorities – raising nearly $7 billion in business taxes to better fund schools and dramatically expand health care.
“And unless and until we do that, as far as I’m concerned, nothing else is on the table,†Blagojevich said Tuesday after getting his tax plan endorsed by dozens of black ministers. “Those things have to happen before I’ll entertain any other discussion on any other issues.â€
* Illinois Chamber of Commerce website committed to stopping “largest tax increase ever”
* Blagojevich gets ministers endorsement for budget
“I believe the righteousness of our cause is pretty apparent,” he said. “This is more than a fight. … This is a crusade.”
* Transit pitch can’t sway Governor
* Transportation lobbies for budget space
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:13 am
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Hurray for Quinn!
Comment by leigh Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 8:37 am
Okay, Blagojevich has utterly lost it. Can you imagine the (national)outcry if a religious Republican governor(like a Brady or someone of that ilk) claimed that his budget was channeling “God’s will”? Makes me all the happier that I’m an athiest.
Comment by Pingu Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:08 am
Hmmm, this is already sounding like a bad idea if a minister questions whether a public official doesn’t know God.
Comment by Levois Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:09 am
I think the religious approach will blow up in the gov’s face. Just can’t see that crowd carrying the day for G-Rod’s Tax (GRT).
Comment by no luck here Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:21 am
Perhaps, under that hair helmet, he has an antenna to God himself. Wash, rinse, repeat, always repeat.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:35 am
This has started to sound a lot like lunacy. Invoking God in this instance sounds suspiciously like complete and total irreverence, much like making fun of those who believe in God. I think the governot is a nut job the more I see and hear from him. Then we have our spineless legislature. At least the Lt. Gov has a voice. Good for Quinn.
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:35 am
Is there any way to know something about Michael Madigan’s proposal?
Comment by Levois Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:36 am
For those who oppose the GRT, I have a great idea how to fund these ideas. How about we eliminate tax deductions for kids? That way the people who are using the resources are paying for them! Might reduce the size of some families, cutting consumption of valuable natural resources, and we could use the additional income for schools to eductate the fewer children better!
Comment by Dead Head Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:38 am
OK - just so that I am up-to-date:
Blagojevich didn’t meet and talk about his massive tax increase with anyone before he stood behind the podium and spewed out his Annual Budget Address? He didn’t meet with Madigan, Daley, Giannoulais, a single Illinois business, and now we know he didn’t even get his own Lt. Governor on board? But he did get together with his TV staffers and cut TV ads and printed brochures to mail out to us?
He just got re-elected, and hid from the press for three months. Then he comes out with this?
Did he read a book before he thought this through? Did he pick up a telephone and call someone to sound them out on this? How does he think his job is supposed to be done? THIS WAY? Did he learn anything during his first term?
He is the governor! We have a governor unable to communicate his ideas to the people he needs to work with in order to run our government. These are the people within his own party!
Talk about getting off to a bad start! We have four more years of this guy. We cannot afford to have four more years of flopping around, wasting our time, watching this megalomaniac spouting off about being God’s instrument of justice and refusing to do any other government work until we surrender to His will as described by Rod.
Blagojevich is insane.
Finally I have been seeing postings by bloggers who are questioning thousands of years of government tax theory from around the world. Every government in history has recognized the elemental fact that if your country doesn’t support children it has no future. For someone to question why we do not tax families, or why we give child tax benefits, is to question the reason we exist and continue to exist. Maybe these guys are geldings, or perhaps they merely hate children, but their questioning of basic governmental tax theory shows an incredible lack of intelligence. Open a book, look in the mirror, and start acting like an adult with responsibilities to others besides yourself.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 9:57 am
Are these the same ministers who took grant money from ComEd and then saw that God wanted to raise electricity rates?
If Blagojevich didn’t line-up Quinn who did he line up to support the GRT idea? Black ministers?
Blagojevich’s political strategy seems better suited to sneaking an unqualified judge through the Dem primary than for passing a high visibility issue statewide.
I’m not convinced the GRT is a bad idea, but I don’t think Blagojevich has a strategy that will work to get the GRT passed.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 10:10 am
Well finally Quinn says Blagojevich is ignorant. He has been holding his tongue for years now. Hmmm guess Quinn is looking at the governorship next election. Can you say Lame Duck
Comment by JW Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 10:15 am
I’m sure I speak for many other progressives who hoped that the religious left would regain the voice it had during times like the civil rights movement when I say this…
Bishop Sanders: “The governor is on God’s side.â€
Mike Flannery: “And people who would oppose this would be against God?â€
Bishop Sanders: “It isn’t that they would be against God. They would be ignorant, so they wouldn’t know whether there was a God.â€
…is not what we hoped for.
Comment by Underdog Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 10:23 am
What is the over/under on when Blago gets struck by lightning from above?
Comment by leigh Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 10:36 am
Hurrah for Pat! Always liked him, even when most haven’t. If we could only remove the “Lite” tag in his title now we would be better off.
Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 10:37 am
This is the age old trickle down deal.The members of these churches will have free health insurance which will allow some of them to drop their high dollar coverage which in turn will make the minister look like a hero.Which in turn will allow them to give more to the church so the minister can get a big raise and he can give more to Blago,s trust fund.Didn’t your daddy tell you nothing’s free.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 10:49 am
Originally posed by Leigh:
“What is the over/under on when Blago gets struck by lightning from above?”
Cruel, very cruel. I mean, there’s no odds listed for lightning strikes in Vegas, so no action there. We’d probably have to place our bets offshore.
OTOH, how about we borrow an old “Start Wars” terms using the acronym of “RFG”, or as they were called by the engineers: “Rods From God”.
That acronym has real potential with this whole GRT tax debate.
Comment by Judgement Day Is On The Way... Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:02 am
I guess Pat is running for Governor, but Lisa Madigan already guaranteed she’ll win downstate by taking on Ameren. In ‘98, ‘02, and ‘06 the Democrat who won downstate also won the nomination for Governor.
Comment by Sango Dem Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:20 am
Our Rod, who art in Chicago,
Hallowed by thy hairdo.
Thy healthcare come, thy will be done,
In Springfield, as it is in Chicago.
Give us this day our daily taxes,
And forgive us our ignorance,
As we forgive those that are ignorant to us.
Lead us not into bankruptcy,
But deliver us from evil corporations
Amen
Comment by Anon from BB Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:22 am
My favorite was Loyd’s last quote:
“The civic community has to step up — both in dollars and in words — to indicate that this is not an acceptable way of influencing an election,” Loyd said.
In other words: labor unions are trying to buy the election, the business community needs to buy it back. Give to Tillman.
Too funny.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:22 am
There is an e-mail going around Ill. Dept. of Public Aid requesting state employees to fill out a form and submit, showing their support for the Governor’s healthcare and education programs. You have to fill it out and submit it via internet, so that means using your state computer. That is a big no-no…..I would be curious to see if it went out to all depts.
Comment by Hard Working Taxpayer Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:24 am
Sorry Quinn. There is only one way to Heaven and neither you nor Blogo have hit that nail on the head yet.
Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:26 am
It’s about time Patrick Quinn spoke his own mind!
Me think Quinn’s starting to distance himself from Corruptovich…..
Comment by TimeToGrowSum Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 11:49 am
Thank Divine Providence for Rod.
Some of you sinners can’t see spiritual leadership even if it hits you up side the head with a tax bill. Don’t you understand that our esteemed Governor is bringing in the Kingdom? He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. You can’t do this sitting at home using a telephone or keyboard. You have to use the government.
The state government is the ideal tool to use to set up the Kingdom. It never makes a mistake. It is always right, no matter if it seems to be in error.
Remember, the love of money is the root of all evil. Those that cry out about how much this will cost are only exposing their own true motivation.
You deserve to be imprisoned if you oppose the laws that will make the ideal society. The Rod of iron will rule.
Yes, amen and amen.
Like I said earlier, don’t mess with prohibitions on adultery, lust or cursing. We have Separation of Church and State here in America. It’s called freedom.
But you greedy people have no right to mammon. Rod will make sure that you don’t worship it.
Now, let us join the wards at the Howe Developmental Center and thank Rod for our food.
Amen!!!!
Comment by Bill, of Goods Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 12:09 pm
Go Quinn.
Comment by i d Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 12:16 pm
Love it Bill!
But you are wrong about one thing - state government isn’t the ideal tool - you are
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 12:46 pm
Quinn sounds and performs more and more like an effective governor every day. Fitz will see to the promotion in due time.
Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 1:38 pm
Blago better be shaking in his boots. The Illinois Chamber has launched a web site!!!! While the Gov has been spewing ratings points and free media hits at the public, the business community huffs and puffs. The same rich guys will have the same meetings, pound their fists and say they’re really going to fight this time. But it will be the same old, tired robo-calls and wishy-washy advertising that won’t make any difference. Big biz, small biz, workers, everyone who cares about the economy of Illinois should be more mad at the biz lobbyists for sleeping on the job. We expect Blago to act like a Socialist. He shouldn’t be able to do it so easily.
Comment by Adam Smith Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 2:07 pm
Bill of goods,
Excellent!!!
Amen.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 2:54 pm
To paraphrse the wise Dr. Johnson, Religious fervor is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Comment by Skirmisher Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 3:24 pm
Where in the Bible does it discuss the GRT in any way shape or form? If it is not there, does some obscure Dead Sea Scroll or any of the other major religious books mention it? If Rod can say GRT is what God wants, there must have been some type of conversation going on to know what God wanted. So why didn’t he try “vote for me because I am on the side of the Lord” during the election run? God was talking to me just yesterday about the Super Bowl, my next raise, and the plans for the Nigerian Internet guys. I asked about the GRT and heard small snickers.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Mar 21, 07 @ 5:30 pm
Does this mean Quinn will not go to Heaven?
Comment by Bill Baar Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 7:32 am