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* Media advisory…
Today, legislative leaders will hold a press conference in Chicago on JB Pritzker’s plan to raise taxes on hardworking Illinoisans. Pritzker has called a graduated income tax hike the “theme of this campaign.” Despite his claims that this would only affect the wealthy, his tax hike would crush the middle class and be a disaster for the state.
JB Pritzker’s expensive campaign promises would dramatically increase the state’s spending, requiring massive tax hikes. For more information, read Rich Miller’s recent post on Capitol Fax.
Leaders Jim Durkin and Bill Brady will be joined by other area legislators at the press conference. They will give short remarks and will take questions from the press.
* From the event…
Leader Durkin says the GOP caucus will oppose every measure pushed by JB Pritzker to try to enact a progressive income tax. pic.twitter.com/2FftOBJTO5
— Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) August 27, 2018
Jim Durkin at today's press conference: "I've never seen anyone in my life (JB Pritzker) so enthusiastic about raising taxes."
— William Allison (@WilliamAllison) August 27, 2018
* WLS AM…
GOP legislators are warning that the state income tax hike Democratic candidate JB Pritzker is pushing would hit every wage earner, not just the rich.
In the long-term, Pritzker wants to go to a graduated income tax – the more you make the bigger rate you pay – and in the short-term, raise the flat rate on the rich but protect the middle class with exemptions.
Jim Durkin, the Republican leader of the Illinois House says he’s never seen a Democrat so enthusiastic about wanting to raises taxes to spend more billions, noting “More Democrat spending, which is the root evil, the root problem causing all the issues we have in Springfield.”
Durkin’s solution to the states revenue needs is don’t raise taxes, but freeze spending and pass a pending pension reform bill.
* Raw audio…
At times, it almost sounded like the Republicans were viewing Pritzker’s election as a fait accompli. When Sen. Brady as asked about that, he said “On this issue alone, [Rauner] can win the election.”
…Adding… And this is the biggest reason why the last tax hike was needed…
moody's on NJ and ILL…..NJ had the weakest pension contribution ratio at 29.6%, and Illinois saw a 25% growth in ANPL with unfunded pension liabilities reaching $250B or 601% of state revenues in 2017, before the state's 2018 tax increase, an all-time high for any state.
— yvette shields (@Yvette_BB) August 27, 2018
Oy.
*** UPDATE *** The governor’s campaign compiled some quotes…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin:
“Mr. Pritzker has made raising taxes a central theme of his campaign. After the Mike Madigan 32% permanent income tax last year on all Illinoisans, including the middle class and low income workers. Pritzker now wants to raise the current rate against all Illinoisans until he can change the constitution so he could ram through what he has called the graduated tax system. Why? For more Democrat spending, which is the root evil and the root problem of all issues that we have in Springfield.”Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady:
“I don’t even think Pat Quinn or Rod Blagojevich would have the gumption to talk about forcing a tax increase on the backs of Illinois families and businesses. We already have one of the highest property taxes in the nation if not the highest as JB Pritzker knows very well. It’s time to reduce the tax burden on families and businesses.“…These calls by JB Pritzker and Mike Madigan and John Cullerton will not work to create opportunities for Illinois families. So candidate Pritzker, come clean with what your tax proposals truly are, but as you do that, you ought to reconsider Governor Rauner’s proposal which is reducing the tax burden on families and businesses.”
State Representative Grant Wehrli:
“JB Pritzker’s solution to Illinois’s fiscal woes could not be any more simplistic. It is simply a higher tax burden on all of us. It is an intellectually lazy approach to governance, there is nothing on the reform side, there is nothing on the cut side, there is nothing on the integration of technology to make our state government more productive. Intellectually lazy solution to our fiscal problems.”State Representative Keith Wheeler:
“Small business owners don’t hide their money offshore, overseas accounts, they pay taxes and create jobs, and they do the little things in our communities that make a difference, like sponsor that baseball team or promote a dance recital, so if you’re a small business owner, or you work for a small business, pay close attention. JB Pritzker’s tax increase is going to hit you, and it’s going to hit you hard. And here’s why: when a small business moves to another state, closes its doors, it never even opens, because the entrepreneur can’t see a way to make ends meet because our taxes are too high and still going up. Well then that real life toll on the family in Illinois that loses that job or never gets that opportunity, that’s real impact, so make no mistake. The Pritzker-Madigan tax increase will crush Illinois small businesses and kill Illinois jobs.”State Representative Deanne Mazzochi:
“JB Pritzker says that he won’t commit to the rates, that he’s going to take from our social service workers, our teachers, our farmers, truck drivers, doctors, business owners, and the rest of the middle class, because he needs to work with the legislature. And again, we know what that means—Pritzker puppet, Madigan master. JB’s commercials, that Madigan-Pritzker tax hike, is only going to hit the billionaire class, is a flat lie.”State Representative David Olsen:
“I think that the critical point is that this math doesn’t work unless there is a tax increase on the middle class, and so JB Pritzker’s plan—oh we’re just going to focus on the billionaires, that he’s going to pay more, it sounds nice, except that means a tax increase on every working family in Illinois, and that is really something that we cannot afford.”State Representative Peter Breen:
“JB Pritzker, as one of my colleagues declared he only made $15 million in income but had $120 million available to spend on his political campaign. So this guy is bad faith in a state where we have had enough bad faith we have had enough corruption. We need people, leaders, and policies that give people hope for the future and that’s something Governor Rauner is trying to bring to the state and we fully support him in terms of those policies that will turn around our state. Again, this is a tax cheat, pushing tax hikes. He is absolutely in bad faith and in the most corrupt and bankrupt state in the country and we can’t afford it.”State Representative Steve Reick:
“What we’re going to be left with are a whole bunch of people making less and less money providing less and less revenue in an economy that continues to stagnate. So whatever JB Pritzker is selling, I’m not buying it, nor should you.“…He’s wasting an awful lot of money on ads talking about taxing the rich. Let’s find out what he’s going to do about taxing the middle class, because that’s what’s going to happen.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:34 pm
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A combination of tax hikes, pension reforms and spending freezes are all NECESSARY to fix this problem. When you are going into deeper debt just from the interest alone on your credit card bill, you: 1)stop spending & 2)try to earn more income.
Comment by Romeo Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Also they are acting like changing fromna flat tax to a graduated tax is a fait accompli. Changing the Constitution won’t be easy and may not happen at all.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:38 pm
–Leader Durkin says the GOP caucus will oppose every measure pushed by JB Pritzker to try to enact a progressive income tax.–
So…. they’re calling the election for Pritzker already?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Democrats need to keep pushing the fact that taxes are not inherently bad. If they were so terrible, why not have a 0% tax rate? Oh right, because we want to pay for police, firefighters, schools, libraries, etc. In other words, civil society costs money.
The solution isn’t big government or small government. It’s the Goldilocks government - government that collects the right amount of tax money to pay for the right level of service. As it stands now, Illinois is providing decent services, but isn’t collecting enough to pay for it. It’s that simple.
Comment by Techie Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:41 pm
They don’t even know what the plan is, and they’re opposed to it?
Geez. Maybe if he’d put out specific numbers, anyone think the Republicans would respond differently?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:42 pm
Did anyone actually expect the GOP to do anything to fix the problem they helped create?
The Party of Trump has no purpose other than to oppose any idea put forth by the Dems, even if it was their idea (like Obamacare).
Comment by TaylorvilleTornado Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:43 pm
“Democrats need to keep pushing the fact that taxes are not inherently bad. If they were so terrible, why not have a 0% tax rate?”
Yep the laffer curve
Comment by Texas Red Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:44 pm
Republicans always whine about taxes but they have no problem with spending the increased revenue.
Comment by Boat captain Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:49 pm
“unfunded pension liabilities reaching $250B or 601% of state revenues…”
Wake me when it hits 602%.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:49 pm
OW nails it. Jim Durkin (Bruce’s “corner man”) is throwing in the towel early, don’tcha think?
Will reporters ask Jim how Illinois fared at the 3.75% tax rate Bruce said would work for his term?
Comment by Jocko Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:52 pm
So Pritzker’s ambiguity on his tax plan gets assailed by many, not that it is wrong to do so just a statement of fact.
Fair enough.
Yet the GOP continues to push a factless narrative and completely ignores the fact that Illinois has a mountain of long term and short term debt to repay ?
Please, they could never provide evidence that their no-tax utopia would ever work and now paying the bills is a bad thing. More factless narratives from the party of “No”.
They have not learned much in the lass 3.5 years.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Tomorrow,leader Durkin and the GOP caucus will hold a press conference announcing $250 billions found in waste,fraud and abuse.
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:58 pm
This is one of the consequences of JB refusing to share tax specifics. Republicans can throw vague generalities out there to scare people and JB’s hands are tied. He can’t defend what he doesn’t define.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 1:59 pm
Unfunded pensions are unsustainable according the Speaker Madigan but he will not call the bipartisan Cullerton bill for a vote.
JB agrees with him and says publicly no one leaves Illinois because of high taxes.
Are you actually calling the GOP plan a “no tax utopia”? Currently we have the 5th highest tax burden in the US
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:05 pm
Federal tax rate is progressive. Lot’s of states have progressive tax systems. More Republican propaganda.
Comment by Illinois Resident Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:07 pm
How effective the Brady and Durkin attack is… is open to question. The problem is most Illinois taxpayers wouldn’t mind a progressive income tax as long as their income taxes rates don’t go up. When people file their taxes next April: Mike Madigan and Pritzker will find out how tolerant Illinois will be for a progressive state income tax. Just a reminder, many wealth Illinois residents are going to pay much higher taxes because of the SALT limit of $10,000 starting right now. This is no small issue.
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:09 pm
==Federal tax rate is progressive. Lot’s of states have progressive tax systems.==
Guess what the feds and lots of states tax that Illinois does not?
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:09 pm
We can’t run a state without tax revenue. At least we can talk about how we raise the money w/o killing off people at the low end of the economic scale.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:10 pm
If the ship won’t sink, the GOP will sabotage it. Sickening.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:10 pm
First, the Republicans are as much to blame as the Democrats. Both parties played the chicken game with our budget for 2 years and now we’re in a deep pool of budget poo. Our roads are a mess and 20,000 people with disabilities are waiting for services. As others have said no one solution will work. We need to cut some expenses (legislators salaries first IMHO), freeze others (school funding), and increase some. Don’t see how you can void some additional tax increases.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:11 pm
Shouldn’t Durkin and Brady allow a graduated tax amendment on the ballot and let the people of Illinois decide for themselves?
Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:12 pm
City Zen - Enlighten me on your comment. BTW, the point is a progressive tax system is not extreme in any way.
Comment by Illinois Resident Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:17 pm
- Cheryl44 -
Illinois is bringing in more revenue than ever before. How much revenue is enough?
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:18 pm
=Unfunded pensions are unsustainable according the Speaker Madigan=
So maybe we should fund them?
Comment by Pundent Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:20 pm
Steve, why should someone making $10 million a year and someone making $100K a year both pay a 4.95% tax rate in our state?
Comment by Illinois Resident Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:20 pm
To - Illinois Resident -
The same reason they pay the same sales tax rate on Michigan Ave….
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:23 pm
It’s a smart move by the GOP… let the Dems do the heavy lifting for the remaining GOPers future ribbon cutting ceremonies
Comment by We'll See Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:26 pm
Steve - People that are lucky enough to make a ton of money should contribute more to taxes. They can afford it. The person just scraping by cannot.
Comment by Illinois Resident Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:30 pm
Steve,
The reason that sales tax is flat is due to implementation. If there was an easy way to tax wealthy spenders more than low income spenders, we might consider it.
Individual income is much easier to tax in a progressive fashion.
Not really interested in engaging with you about whether a progressive tax is “fair” when virtually every other sovereign body has reached consensus on that discussion.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Of course the GOP will fiercely oppose the highest incomes being taxed fairly. Working in the interests of the super-rich is their raison d’etre.
Democrats need to stop cowing to Republican narratives. Republicans are potentially backed into a corner. Own the progressive income tax or millionaire surcharge and use it to make the distinction between the two parties. Voters support these.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Republicans never met a progressive income tax they didn’t oppose.
Even if JB’s proposal raised taxes on only the top 1%, while giving a little relief to everyone under $100,000, Republicans will oppose it.
Though Republicans decry our highly regressive state and local tax system when it’s convenient, they refuse to take a concrete step to make the system a little less regressive. That’s because they see their job as protecting the wealthiest from paying a share of income in state and local taxes as high as the rest of us.
Comment by anon2 Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Lucky … You are correct. The unfunded pensions are unsustainable. Perhaps it is time we properly fund them and maybe even make up for all of those missed payments over the years. Payments that were used to pay for services for the citizens of Illinois and also to keep the tax rate as low as it was for years.
The unconstitutional (anyone being honest about that plan knows this) Cullerton plan. I fixed the statement for you.
Comment by AnonAnon Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:38 pm
Republican opposes Pritzker tax plan.
In other news, the sun rose in the east today.
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:47 pm
==Even if JB’s proposal raised taxes on only the top 1%, while giving a little relief to everyone under $100,000, Republicans will oppose it.==
As they should, since you conveniently excluded 20% of the state income taxpayers that fall outside those parameters yet provide 45% of the state income tax revenue.
https://www.civicfed.org/sites/default/files/further_agi_stratification_feb_16_2018.pdf
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:49 pm
Texas Red, if you don’t already know, the Laffer curve is non-empirical and cannot be used in any predictive sense. It is more of a concept than a model. We have no way of knowing whether our current or proposed tax rates are above or below what might cause decreased revenue. So says Forbes…
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2017/01/08/a-little-laffer-curve-reality-should-guide-republican-tax-reform/#1f32b47f2e61
Comment by Jibba Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 2:56 pm
@Texas Red and @Jibba
For the record, I was not referring to the Laffer curve - about setting tax rates based on how much revenue it will generate.
My point is simply that we should establish what services we want and expect government to provide, and determine if that’s a reasonable cost. If it is, then we should fund those services. We have modest services in this state - we just haven’t been collecting enough revenue to pay for them.
That’s really all I’m saying - there’s very little room to cut spending without cutting services. What we really need to do is properly fund those services, and yeah, the wealthiest among us should pony up first. The rest of us can barely afford to live as it is!
Comment by Techie Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:07 pm
I wonder if we had had the 4.95% rate all along we would have these problems. Seems like historic under taxation as opposed to over taxation is causal.
Comment by wondering Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:15 pm
1) Don’t expect honesty out of Rauner or the GOP regarding Pritzker’s proposals regardless of specificity. Since when has Rauner been honest about anything.
2) Don’t expect honesty out of the GOP regarding state finances. Most of those GOP legislators who did understand the problems are not running for re-election.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:16 pm
SALT is going to be a huge tax increase on most middle/upper class residents in Illinois next year even if everything else stays the same (which it won’t).
The idea that people are then going to sign on for another huge tax increase just isn’t living in reality.
The FEDS screwed us by capping SALT at the same time we decided to push for a progressive tax.
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:16 pm
LP….Where do we rank in per capita income among the 50 states?
Comment by ajjacksson Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:18 pm
“Yup, the laffer curve.” For adherents of the Laffer curve, optimum taxation is at the apex of the curve and anything on the sides is dysfunctional. Economists think the US taxes are 36% lower than the apex. I wonder how many Laffer curve loving politions out there are running on a 36% increase this fall.
Comment by 17% Solution Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:20 pm
http://www.nber.org/papers/w15343
Comment by 17% Solution Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:21 pm
Maybe. Just maybe. Maybe were providing more services than we can afford.
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:25 pm
The ILGOP’s state song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT8oGa3XTTw
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:31 pm
What would help that picture a little better is having a mom who’s allowed at the kitchen table with the men talking about finances.
You all did know this was a campaign photo, right?
You all did know that there are women in the suburbs who want to be included in the conversation about Illinois finances, right?
You all did know that 52% of the electorate is female, right?
It just amazes me to see the diminished role in the GOP caucuses of female input.
Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:39 pm
” there’s very little room to cut spending without cutting services.”
That statement is not necessarily true for all Illinoisans, It depends upon one’s particular circumstances.
Comment by Texas Red Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:44 pm
==Maybe. Just maybe. Maybe were providing more services than we can afford.==
You’re right, but no one wants to offer any cuts. Rauner said he would (“I’ll take the arrows”) but hasn’t, and his agency directors declined to offer any cuts at all in the committee hearings when asked. McSweeney is about the only one to offer any serious budget cuts, but most of his own caucus would vote against several of those - much less the dems. Until someone starts pushing some new ideas that would work, new tax revenue is going to be the focus
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:47 pm
The GOPies are really in sad sack mode already….they drag out Wherli…they spend all the cash from the tax hike
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:49 pm
“I don’t even think Pat Quinn or Rod Blagojevich would have the gumption to talk about forcing a tax increase…”
Did Brady have his memory wiped?
https://abc7chicago.com/archive/7384480/
Come to think of it, if you think the election can be won on this issue alone, and you lost to the guy proposing a tax increase…in a GOP wave year, no less…I can understand why you’d want to forget it ever happened…
Comment by John Deere Green Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:50 pm
== Perhaps it is time we properly fund them and maybe even make up for all of those missed payments over the years. Payments that were used to pay for services for the citizens of Illinois and also to keep the tax rate as low as it was for years.==
An ad that can convince successful-ish young millennials and gen Xers that they should pay higher taxes to correct the sins of past Illinois political can-kickers has yet to be written.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:54 pm
==Maybe were providing more services than we can afford.==
OK. So which services do we get rid of? You must have an idea or you wouldn’t have made that statement.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 3:58 pm
My former party really makes me ill anymore. All republicans care about is the 1%.
Comment by Generic Drone Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:00 pm
I hate paying higher taxes, but I do believe that paying a FAIR tax is your patriotic duty. Just make it fair and don’t waste the money….which is easier wished for than received.
Comment by Bobby Hicks Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:02 pm
The LP propaganda machine strikes again
==Unfunded pensions are unsustainable==
You can talk about pensions until you are blue in the face but what is owed is owed. No amount of bellyaching from you or anyone else can change that. I would also suggest you work on your reading comprehension. The Court laid it out for everyone to see. How about you actually read what they said.
==Currently we have the 5th highest tax burden in the US==
Are you capable of saying anything original or are you satisfied with throwing out talking points day in and day out?
You should change your screen name to LP - Lotsa Propaganda
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:02 pm
Dem. Yes for four years I have been listing ideas. Do you think there is ANY room for cuts? Are you happy with all state spending? How much additional revenue do you think we need?
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:09 pm
@Generic, I know how you feel. I still get a lot of solicitations from the ILGOP because I supported them for many years. They are not the party that they once were. These GOP Legislature members speaking out took money from Rauner and then stood by idly while small businesses went under because the Rauner administration refused to pay them for services they provided. Now they pretend that they are for small businesses. They will always fight the graduated tax because they don’t want the wealthy to pay any more than the folks at the bottom. The last 4 years we’ve seen unprecedented deficit spending by Rauner and most of these GOP members stayed silent about it while it was happening. Deficits don’t matter any more to these guys apparently.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:23 pm
==You should change your screen name to LP - Lotsa Propaganda==
I pictured Lucky to be more of a Lotso.
==I hate paying higher taxes, but I do believe that paying a FAIR tax is your patriotic duty.==
I will gladly pay whatever tax rate is deemed fair IF a retiree at my same income level pays the same tax as me.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:27 pm
==Maybe. Just maybe. Maybe were providing more services than we can afford.=
Its worse than that. We bought more services than we paid for. Now the $250 pension bill accruing interest. It must be paid, and that money buys no current services.
$250 Billion works out to $40,705 for each and every one of the 6.1 million individual returns filed in 2016.
I can see why a rational pol would conclude that facing the debt squarely will get them fired.
Comment by Ebenezer Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:36 pm
=Are you actually calling the GOP plan a “no tax utopia”? Currently we have the 5th highest tax burden in the US=
Help me remember your source for the tax burden shtick?
You don’t read so well. The GOP would love a no tax state. Kansas is the closest model and, given Rauner’s superstar recruit Donna Arduin (at $30 per month with zero results) I would say it is fair to say that is what Rauner and the rest of the Raunerites want to emulate. Kansas had to raise taxes as their already tiny economy tanked and the exponential growth that was predicted was the opposite of what happened.
A more successful contemporary example is Minnesota where taxes were raised on high earners and in migration increased as did jobs and economic growth.
It is funny what happens when the state starts to pay its’ bills and their finances stabilize or improve. The impact on everyone else trends positive. Like it or not (you can howl at the moon all you want) but state governments are major economic engines across the country, that is why it is so important to put them on fiscally solid ground and why those that have are doing better than those that don’t.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:45 pm
With JB talking about more spending and the need for more tax revenue, I would like to here him come out again and promise no new taxes on retirement income, including under a progressive income tax. I wonder if he will do it again? If not, start worrying retirees.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 4:48 pm
Illinois Republican, just the usual rerun, all talk no action and sprinkled with lies.
Comment by DeseDemDose Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 5:01 pm
We had pension reform in 2010 with the creation of the Tier 2 pension plan. The SCOIL said, unanimously, that Tier 1 pensions must be paid and cannot be changed unilaterally. As more Tier 1 pensioners retire, the burden will be reduced.
Comment by Hottot Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 5:57 pm
LOL
What does this tell us about ILGOP - that they have to say this?
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 6:11 pm
I really think the state Income tax form should clearly,in bold font, add a line for voluntary extra state income tax. Seems like most here are in favor of that. Seeing how generous folks are, it ought to solve the states debt in a couple of years.
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 6:37 pm
–Yep the laffer curve–
Geez, do you have car keys?
Texas Red is one of those “fiscal conservatives” who believes not paying your bills is a good thing.
He’s a deadbeat, borrow-and-spend, abuse-the-bankruptcy=courts kind of “fiscal conservative.”
Been a lot of that going around for decades now. Trust me, you don’t want to do business with those charlatans.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 7:36 pm
==add a line for voluntary extra state income tax==
Better yet, add a calculation that automatically determines what your tax liability would be in MN/WI/IA. If that other state is higher, the tax filer has the option to choose between that other state’s glorious progressive structure or Illinois’ evil flat rate. This can be done programatically.
If there’s significant uptake, then we should consider full implementation.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 7:45 pm
–An ad that can convince successful-ish young millennials and gen Xers that they should pay higher taxes to correct the sins of past Illinois political can-kickers has yet to be written.==
But the spot that strokes some old white men geezers to weak spasm, thinking they got the s— end of the stick in life, sells like hotcakes in some sad circles.
As one old white man to another — cowboy up, boo-boo. Be a mensch.
Being born a white man in the United States in the last half of the twentieth century is the best deal ever, for anyone, on this planet, ever.
That’s a start way up the ladder. In Sunday school, they taught us not to pull it up behind us.
So…. turn it up and dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANaP26V1tFw&list=RDANaP26V1tFw&t=5
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 7:55 pm
Attention old white geezers. Just shut up and buck up. Accept corrupt politicians. Accept poorly run govt agencies. accept cronyism,patronage jobs and the good old boy network. Accept polticians making ridiculous promises to get votes. Accept special interest groups controlling the system. You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and your parents wrapped you in ben franklins instead of pampers. Just live with ridiculously high taxes. Its all your fault and you darn well ought to know it
Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Aug 27, 18 @ 9:10 pm
==ts all your fault and you darn well ought to know it==
Stop being a victim.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 8:08 am