Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Dueling press releases

Posted in:

Illinois

* Rauner campaign…

Today, the Champaign News-Gazette published an editorial criticizing JB Pritzker and Mike Madigan for failing to release specifics on their graduated income tax hike. The News-Gazette forecasted that raising the overall rate from 4.95 to 5.95 seems likely, which would mean a 20 percent income tax hike on every single hardworking taxpayer in Illinois.

Robert Martwick is the only elected Democrat to release a tax plan with specifics, and his proposal would significantly raise taxes on everyone making more than $17,300 a year. Between that plan and this forecasted 20% tax hike, it’s clear that Pritzker and Madigan are committed to raising taxes on Illinois families.

Read more from the News-Gazette:

But as bold as he has been in announcing his general intentions, the billionaire businessman continues to shy away from the specifics voters need in order to judge his candidacy.

Pritzker, who is running on a costly platform that includes universal health insurance, has forthrightly suggested a two-tiered approach to income taxes in Illinois.

Legislators increased the state’s income tax to 4.95 percent last year, overriding Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the measure. But Pritzker has indicated that the state needs even more revenue.

So he has said that, if elected, he’ll concentrate first on increasing the 4.95 percent rate, although he has not said how much he would increase it. It probably would be in the area of 1 percent, lifting the state rate by another 20 percent to 5.95 percent.

So, the ed board takes a guess at the new rate (without noting that Pritzker also wants to boost exemptions to make the new rate more progressivey) and the Rauner campaign pounces.

* DGA…

Over the weekend, the Champaign News-Gazette Editorial Board sounded the alarm on Republicans’ disunity after a close and heated primary battle that nearly cost failed Governor Bruce Rauner his party’s nomination. Two months after the election, Rauner’s primary opponent still regularly attacks him and the Governor was forced to cede control of his party.

Read the full article from the Champaign News-Gazette Editorial Board here or excerpts below:

“[O]ne of Pritzker’s greatest strengths is that the Democratic Party is united behind his candidacy…

“Conversely, Republican Rauner is trying to put his fractured party back together after a bitter primary election he almost lost to state Rep. Jeanne Ives.

“For Rauner to have any kind of chance, he has to make peace with GOP dissenters angered by, among other things, the governor’s decision to sign legislation authorizing taxpayer-funded abortions.

“Complete unity may not be possible with GOP conservatives, many of whom would rather Democrat Pritzker win as a means of ideologically cleansing the GOP…

“The GOP dilemma cannot be understated.

“Just as family fights are the worst — leaving deep scars and long memories — so, too, are intra-party battles. Democrats and Republicans can fight ferociously over the issues, and it hardly matters because that’s what they are supposed to do. It’s different within a political party, where personal and political differences generate bitterness that only dissipates with time and sometimes not at all.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 21, 18 @ 9:50 am

Comments

This post is irrefutable proof that at least three people have read the CNG edit page recently.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:01 am
===“Complete unity may not be possible with GOP conservatives, many of whom would rather Democrat Pritzker win as a means of ideologically cleansing the GOP…===

This is partially accurate.

The reality is to destroy Raunerism, Raunerism must lose at the ballot box.

Diana’s uber-left, costal, limousine liberal infiltration into the former ILGOP can only be thwarted by Bruce Rauner losing.

That’s why McCann should scare the dickens out of Raunerites.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:02 am
A progressive income tax rate has about the same chances as a $15 minimum wage proposal did a few years back. When a billionaire yanks out toilets from a mansion to save money on taxes he’s not gonna sign anything raises his taxes. It’s another gimmick..
That said JB is a far superior choice for Governor in my opinion. Rauner will never give up his Captain Ahab role…

Comment by Mouthy Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:03 am
I’d think it’s the Pritzker campaign’s job to continually remind voters that Rauner lied about HB 40. That angered a lot of people on the right. I’m not on the right and that bothered even me. Work to build Democratic unity while trying to weaken Republican enthusiasm.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:15 am
== A progressive income tax rate has about the same chances as a $15 minimum wage proposal did a few years back. ==

Maybe, maybe not. Back in the 1960’s a lot of people were opposed to any income tax. But a Governor got behind it and sold it as better than the mess of presonsl property and excise taxes that funded the State at the time. Yes, that Governor list his next election … but he pushed through the change the State needed.

I could see JB managing to push through a graduated tax. It will.have to be sold, and may start at a lower rate than drsired by some, but it is in the realm of possibility. As discussed in another post, do what you can do today and come back to it another day. Maybe you even limit changes to the rates to only once every 5 or 10 years, or you cap the amount the rates can change every year.

And because it is part of his campaign, it may not cost JB a second term.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 21, 18 @ 10:33 am
From the CNG’s History webpage: “Today, as always, The News-Gazette strives for journalistic excellence”

Strive more. With a propaganda piece like that, you’re nothing more than Pravda, spreading obvious half-truths.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:12 am
JB should be specific, as soon as the Govenor is specific about specifically how he will balance the budget and pay down the debt while repealing the income tax hike.

Comment by anon2 Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:31 am
Why should either side, Rep. or Dem. garner support when none of them has a way out of our financial quagmire that they are willing to share? They are just as bad as the impotent Illinois legislature. If state government didn’t have the ability to steal money from our paychecks there would be very little reason to pay any attention to elected officials at all.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:34 am
Is anyone shocked that the arch conservative NG would just make stuff up as a straw man for Rauner to knock down? The real question is why the NG still exists. It is out of touch with its community and has been for 50 years. I root for the newspaper industry, having been a carrier for the SJR in my youth, but I will not miss the NG when it goes.

Comment by Jibba Monday, May 21, 18 @ 11:41 am
Progressive or not JB doesn’t have a magic wand. The pensions need ever increasing revenue and the soon to be governor seems interested in spending a lot of money. If you don’t mind rates approaching 8 percent vote for JB. PS the middle income types will also see higher taxes. That’s where the money is

Comment by Sue Monday, May 21, 18 @ 3:25 pm
So Sue is saying that, in the face of inevitable tax increases caused by increasing pensions, she would rather vote for a guy who lives in a fantasy world where tax cuts can be given rather than vote for a man who is not being specific about his plans?

Comment by Jibba Monday, May 21, 18 @ 8:42 pm