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* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
The General Assembly’s top four legislative leaders are expected to meet this week, and more tax increases could be part of the discussion, according to Illinois News Network sources and at least one other media outlet.
Mark Maxwell of CBS’ WCIA affiliate in Champaign tweeted Sunday: “4 legislative leaders to meet this week, draw up a capital bill to fund road construction. New taxes on gas/services on the table.”
Sources also told Illinois News Network last week that leaders would discuss a gas tax increase and new service taxes this week as part of a statewide capital projects plan, but spokespersons for GOP legislative leaders denied any such discussions were scheduled.
Direct calls to both Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin on Thursday weren’t successful in getting a response. After following up with text messages, communications people from each office were prompt to respond, but only with denials that such a meeting was to take place.
Durkin spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in an email she hadn’t “heard of any discussions.” Asked for direct response from Durkin, Demertzis said, “Like I said, we are unaware of any conversations.”
In a followup email Friday, Demertzis said, “Same answer as yesterday.” When asked if she asked Durkin about the scheduled meeting, Demertzis said, “Like I said yesterday, we are unaware of any discussions, either in the past or planned for the future, about a capital plan or an increase in the motor fuel tax.”
I heard the same thing last week and was told there were no plans to discuss a capital bill. Todd Maisch of the Illinois Chamber talked about the very real need for a capital plan on Rick Pearson’s radio show yesterday (click here), but didn’t sound all that enthused about ways to actually pay for it (gas tax, services, etc.). And without money, you can’t do a capital plan. Also, as I wrote in Crain’s not long ago, the general feeling is that the Democrats don’t want to give Rauner a big “win.” Not to mention that Gov. Rauner has, in the past, talked about his desire to pair a capital plan with major reductions to the prevailing wage, which the Democrats oppose.
* But the four leaders are meeting this week without staff and Gov. Rauner talked to reporters about it a bit today…
Rauner says leaders are meeting Tuesday to talk about the budget: "It is not balanced. It is not in good shape." Says it needs major cuts.
— Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) September 18, 2017
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:49 am
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We’ll know Bruce is serious about the budget when he fires the deputy governor he’s kept on payroll while she figures out what election she wants to lose next. Until then, this is just more concern trolling.
Comment by One hand //ing Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:56 am
Why would Madigan give Rauner a capital bill 12 months before the election? No way he’s going to give Rauner dozens/hundreds of tape cutting opportunities.
Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:01 pm
Rauner wants help making cuts. What happened to taking arrows?
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:05 pm
Is it meta when IPI cites INN as the news source?
Vertical Integration.
It’s how the IPI politics to the wanted policy will be framed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:06 pm
We passed the lockbox amendment last year so shouldn’t the money be there for capital projects?
Comment by Grand Avenue Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:08 pm
Given rauners critical of the tax increase, I wooukd t give him a capital plan until he can out in support of the taxes he needs to operate. Why let him spend if he thinks all the money we need is here at a lower tax rate
Comment by Ghost Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:19 pm
Of course, given how embarrassing Rauner and his staff have conducted themselves at press conferences…maybe Madigan would like to give Rauner all kinds of capital projects press conferences. i.e. “It’s good to be in Rockford, I mean Aurora”
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:22 pm
If there were a capital plan, it would come with tax hikes. I doubt the Governor wants to be responsible for some tax hikes, which would likely be more regressive than the income tax hike. On the other hand, maybe Madigan wants to allow the Governor to propose and support higher taxes.
Comment by anon2 Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:33 pm
IDOT program was wacked hard by the pre-lockbox sweep. It’s now catching up. And even with the lockbox, IDOT work will be down 20% next construction season. That’s a lot of labor sitting it out, wondering why their union leaders are letting Madigan get away with it. Just sayin’…
Comment by phocion Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:51 pm
It’s more important to watch the state’s capital infrastructure to continue to fall apart rather than to give anyone a “win” or to *gasp* come up with the revenue to pay for a much needed capital plan.
Raise the gas tax. Decide on services to tax and be done with it. It’s waaayyyy past time Illinois addresses it’s capital needs.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:04 pm
As for the Governor’s complaints that the budget needs more cuts, he doesn’t need the leaders for that. He has the authority to do that on his own. We have a budget now. He can spend or not spend what he wants.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:06 pm
==Raise the gas tax.==
Long overdue. The average car is about 1,000 lbs heavier than 30 years ago. Hybrid technologies add hundreds of pounds to the weight of a car and consume less gas, which is more wear and tear not properly being accounted for.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:06 pm
Everyone wants a capital plan, but who is willing to take political responsibility for jacking up the gas tax? Bueller..? Bueller..?
Comment by anon2 Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:19 pm
Rather than raise gas tax, how about we charge the rate to farm equipment that everybody else pays.
Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:31 pm
I’m sorry, is Rauner part of this meeting?
Doesn’t sound like it.
Sounds more like the GOP leaders meeting with the Dems to once again figure out how to manage the state around Gov. Do Nothing.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 2:57 pm
Dems plus honest and honorable Republicans already gave Rauner the tax increase he said he wanted and needed but didn’t have the testicular virility to sign.
If Rauner wants a capital plan, and would sign a bill with the necessary revenues for the bonds, I have no doubt that he would get it.
But he can’t have his cake and eat it, too, a second time, with a well orchestrated veto-override.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 4:08 pm