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Committee of the Whole open thread and GRT updates

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Illinois

* The Committee of the Whole meeting begins at 9 o’clock. You can listen or watch it live at this link. Use the comments to help live blog it.

9:46: If you’re having any trouble looking at the video or hearing the audio, open your Windows Media application and under “Open URL” enter (for video) http://12.43.64.137/hsevideo or for audio: http://12.43.64.137/audio

9:41: The guv just warned of a billion dollars in budget cuts if nothing is done this session. He also reiterated his pledge to veto a tax increase on “people.”

9:27: Anyone else having trouble with audio or video? Big problems on my end. Looks like the governor is beginning now. Wow, they swore him in.

9:26: Madigan just said that the House will vote tomorrow on a resolution asking members whether they are for or against the GRT.

9:16: OK, it’s starting.

9:11: While we’re waiting, I forgot to mention that the blog was referenced in an NPR “All Things Considered” report yesterday. Go here and click on the “Listen” button directly under the headline “Florida Joins Crackdown on Campaign ‘Robo-Calls’”

9:07: Members are still milling about, according to Paul. It hasn’t begun yet, so that’s why your video/audio feeds aren’t working.

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* Mayor Daley, whose words always hold sway at the Statehouse, urged compromise yesterday…

Mayor Daley urged Gov. Blagojevich on Tuesday to give up the ghost on his struggling gross receipts tax and drop his threat to veto the most viable alternative: an increase in the state’s income or sale

UPDATE: I accidentally killed off the rest of this post trying to update it from my Treo. Live and learn, I suppose.

Here are the GRT links from earlier today…

* It’s last call for a tax bill in Illinois

* Governor’s tax plan faces rocky hearing:

* Statehouse to discuss governor’s tax plan

* Daley urges compromise as governor’s tax hike keeps growing

* All day hearing could be key moment for governor’s tax plan

* Editorial: Don’t waste opportunity to address budget issue

* Statehouse Insider: Hearing may be death knell for tax proposal

* Q & A on gross receipts tax with Rep. Kevin Joyce

* Sun-Times Editorial: Gross receipts tax just doesn’t add up

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 8:41 am

Comments

How can the Capt Fax be running behind on a day like today? Even Grod may be on time.

Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 8:46 am
It will be interesting to hear the contrast between Blagojevich and Quinn, coming right after one another.

Think Blago will answer reporters’ questions at the Statehouse?

Comment by So Ill Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 8:58 am
Since when has Pat Quinn’s opinions mattered?

Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:12 am
Just me, or is the audio choppy…when it’s on it sounds great, but there’s a lot of down time. Apologies if this is supposed to be the case.

Comment by So Ill Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:18 am
pretty good applause for the governor

Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:27 am
Audio sounds good now. Just took them some time to get started.

Since they swore the Gov in, if he tells a falsehood can he be held in contempt? That’d be funny.

Comment by So Ill Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:36 am
Gov on sales/income tax hike: ‘If you pass it, I won’t sign it. If you pass it, I will veto it.’

Comment by So Ill Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:37 am
Of course, the business community would prefer an income tax over a GRT. Does da Mare think we’re that clueless? Remember, it’s a lot harder to cheat on the GRT than it is on the coporate or individual income tax, with the latter’s myriad of deductions and credits. A lot of da Mare’s corporate honcho pals may not even claim Illinois residence. Their “homes” are probably in Florida or another state with no income tax. They don’t care if we individual taxpayers get a higher income tax and they figure their tax departments can more easily get around an increase in the coporate income tax than they can get around the GRT. And if all else fails, with the coporate income tax, they can always buy a few legislators and put through some more loopholes. Democratic legislators.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:39 am
The governor is making a compelling case. Legislators should have heard this argument long ago. If they let large bizs bully them, we’ll never have another chance to make this kind of investment in people again.

Comment by demgrrl Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:49 am
Who’s doing the bullying though, dem? I mean…it seems to me as though it’s the Governor who is unwilling to consider alternatives. ‘My way or the highway’, right? That’s bullying, isn’t it?

Comment by So Ill Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:50 am
cassandra,

meant to say that you’re right on the money. He needs the big bizs to pay for the Olympics so he won’t do a thing to jeopardize his relationship with them, even if it’s at the expense of his own school system.

Comment by demgrrl Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:51 am
So Ill,

the biz community has been bombarding legislators from day one with all sorts of scare tactics. Just ask any of them. The gov’s points are totally valid — income and sales taxes will hit people directly. They’re already paying more than they should. Why should they be asked to pay more?

Comment by demgrrl Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:55 am
dem girl, so it’s alright for people to be hit with stealth taxes, which is what will happen when businesses pass the costs along? The public ain’t buying it…we know we’ll be paying it.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:58 am
He also reiterated his pledge to veto a tax increase on â€œpeople.â€ Come on Guvna, you have no credibility when you think you can pigeon hole people and corporations. WE ARE ALL PEOPLE!!!!!!

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:01 am
I’m Not, I’m Not, I’m Not,
The guv just warned of a billion dollars in budget cuts if nothing is done this session. GOOD!
Now there’s a start! Cut all the patronage fat you created since 2002.

Comment by No Compromise Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:02 am
Both sides have experts, in the end we all lose.
The governor said himself “Budget Cuts”.
Trim the massive amount of state government FAT!

Comment by From Meigs Field Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:08 am
‘Scare tactics’ and ‘Reality’ are different things, demgrrl.

I don’t argue with the fact that people are paying more than they should, but I take issue with the suggestion that they won’t pay more anyway if a GRT is enabled. Businesses will pass as much of that along as they can, and whether you feel that is fair or right or not, it is the truth. So it’s hypocritical for anyone who votes for a GRT to suggest that it won’t be paid by the average person. Emil Jones said as much yesterday.

And by bullying, I’m referring also to the assertion that if someone doesn’t like the Gross Receipts Tax, then they don’t want to help people. That’s not true — but there’s a difference between helping people at all costs, and helping people within our means.

The problem is that the state has spent too much time working outside of its means. I frankly don’t care whose fault that is. Isn’t it time to stop doing that?

Comment by So Ill Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:09 am
Does anyone really think that any GRT tax won’t just be passed through to customers?

If so, you are clueless.

Comment by gulag Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:11 am
You make valid points S Il, but I would disagree that the state is working outside it’s means. The state has added more than 500,000 working people and kids to health care over the last three years. That’s the most meaningful investment we can make in people and it’s worth the cost. According to the comptroller’s office, the administration cut half a billion in medicaid debt last year alone — while adding all these people to the health care rolls. I think we need to look at these facts and look beyond alot of this rhetoric.

Comment by demgrrl Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:17 am
The governor hasn’t operated within his means since 2002.
*Further more, I certainly do not trust Rod or Emil with more of MY MONEY!

Comment by Achilles Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:17 am
I was listening to NPR yesterday when they mentioned your site Rich. Nice to see you gettinng more national exposure.

Comment by Councilman Sinnock Online Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:18 am
This video-audio is as bad as the GRT tax. It all sucks. This is a big state. Is this really the best we can do ?

Comment by Lula May Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:18 am
And the marketplace is going to decide to pass through this tax to customers.

Comment by gulag Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:22 am
argghhhh - stop saying GRT Tax.

Yes, nitpicking. No ATM machine, HIV virus, PIN number, VIN number.

thanks, I feel better. Back to the program.

Comment by vinron Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:25 am
- demgrrl - Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:17 am

The state has added more than 500,000 working people and kids to health care over the last three years. That statement is a joke! That whole program is state propaganda charade……
Doctors aren’t getting paid for services!

Comment by Update Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:26 am
Comments closed on this thread because of a problem on my end. Go here for a fresh thread. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 10:48 am