Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

It’s up to Pritzker to move this to the “acceptance” stage

Posted in:

Illinois

Or a vote [on the graduated income tax proposal] could be postponed until late this year or the fall, after Democrats get through the filing period for the March 2020 primary.

“The vote doesn’t happen now,” shrugs one Democratic lawmaker.

“I think it will make the ballot—but not until next year,” says a lobbyist.

Pritzker’s team says it’s confident that it will get what it wants.

I heard an idea along those lines last week: Postpone the vote until after the primary. I told the person who suggested it that it was goofy. You’re gonna hold a vote in the spring on income taxes because you’re worried that Democratic primary voters will be up in arms? If that’s the case, then y’all should just forget about the whole thing.

I mean, this plan is supposedly designed to appeal directly to Democratic primary voters. I just don’t see how it could result in more than a challenge or two at most. The bigger lift is convincing independents and some Republican voters to go along with it. Passing the proposal now gives everyone a chance to cool off. Waiting until April or May of next year means the issue will be hot non-stop for months on end.

From everything I’ve been told, Madigan’s political staff would like it passed now for those very reasons. Get it over with. Out of sight, out of mind.

But, some folks have apparently passed through the denial and anger stages and are now in the negotiating stage, although I gotta figure we’ll see at least a couple more blowups before this is all over (depression stage).

It’s the way of the House: Why do we even need to do this?! You can’t make us do it! OK, fine, we can do it, but for the love of all that is holy can’t we just put it off until some other time in the future?! We’re so sad that we have to do this!!!

Just about every major issue has followed that progression in the House. Then they reach the acceptance stage… or not. We’ll see. Their backs will soon be up against a May 31 wall. Some are now looking for a way to move that wall back. It’s up to Pritzker to make sure that doesn’t happen.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:09 pm

Comments

I am not a particular fan but can be convinced. however I do not see any chance or any wisdom in putting off the vote. Brilliant to vote after a primary and close to a general, would never pass that way. A hot button from march till November.

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:14 pm
==can’t we just put it off until some other time in the future==

We have to delay forever because I’m desperate to return to Springfield to do the work my constituents sent me here to do.

Comment by lakeside Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:16 pm
==Just about every major issue has followed that progression in the House. Then they reach the acceptance stage… or not.==

This is wise. This is the time of session where it always seems like everything’s about to fall apart. Sometimes it really does. But not always.

I believe LBJ had a particularly colorful phrase for this part of the process.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:20 pm
It’s a tax cut for 97% of the state’s taxpayers. Even in DuPage it’s a cut for almost 95%. In Lake, a cut for 93%.

Legislators should be falling all over themselves to vote for this.

Comment by Reality Check Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:22 pm
Wow is that just incredibly insightful. Yeah it helps that I really understand Kubler-Ross but besides that it is just so spot on.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:25 pm
He’s got money, an election mandate, favorable polls, a tax cut for 97% of taxpayers, it’s dark, and he’s wearing sunglasses.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:25 pm
Governor Pritzker seems quite confident.

I hope his confidence is not mis-placed.

The cake has been cut… portions served? …time to get it done.

Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:27 pm
Geez. Time to get over yourselves. If you can’t vote to do the right thing then step aside. We are at a historic moment in time for Illinois and the change in our archaic tax system is long overdue. Why would we willingly throw ourselves off the financial cliff when we can do something to stop it? Vote for the bill and let voters decide whether or not to do the rest. And here’s what your message will look like in your emails back home to constituents: I believe that you as a voter have the right to decide what is in the best interest of this state. Vote for or against this referendum when it’s on the ballot. The choice is yours. We’re just giving you the option to make it.

Comment by Shytown Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:27 pm
–I heard an idea along those lines last week: Postpone the vote until after the primary.–

Makes no sense, for reasons stated.

Sounds like some are perhaps starting to spin for a potential failure this session.

That may happen, but don’t let anyone tell you that was the plan.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:28 pm
i’ve never encountered cowardice comparable to that of illinois house members; it’s shocking how little they’re willing to risk

Comment by lincoln's beard Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:28 pm
They need to grandstand for another 12 months.

Comment by Former State Worker Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:30 pm
Carroll and Yingling can have fun explaining double digit cuts to schools, first responders, and more if they sink the Fair Tax. A progressive primary opponent will have a lot of fun trotting out the laid off teachers, the domestic violence victim denied shelter, the student denied a chance to go to college because that’s what is going to happen.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:31 pm
===The bigger lift is convincing independents and some Republican voters to go along with it. Passing the proposal now gives everyone a chance to cool off. Waiting until April or May of next year means the issue will be hot non-stop for months on end.

From everything I’ve been told, Madigan’s political staff would like it passed now for those very reasons. Get it over with. Out of sight, out of mind.===

Ya have 71, ya don’t have 71…

They need 71, they need it before June. The politics itself scream to this.

If there is a wait, Summer, before fall session, or even an overtime scenario, the bottom line is Pritzker needs to find that 71, its his thing, it’s his thing to Dems in this state. It’s his promise.

I come at it like this.

Done on time
Overtime
Before fall, before petitions.

Those are the only possible options, and option 3 is “fine” only if that’s the hard deadline AND it passes.

Once petitions begin, it’s self defeating.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:33 pm
==Some are now looking for a way to move that wall back. It’s up to Pritzker to make sure that doesn’t happen.==

I agree with this 100%. While 2 months ago was the time for him to start sitting down with folks one on one in the legislature, it’s not too late to schedule folks now.

Start with strong yes votes, ask them who they think will be problematic and will they help to get them on board.

Move on to the maybe’s and no’s. Find out what their issues are, don’t provide a lot of pushback just thoughtful questions, then start the pressure.

- Use your campaign ad money to target them
- Use other legislators to pressure them
(Committee Chairs, etc)
- Threaten to veto other legislation the no’s
want passed
- Introduce an alternative bill that will
deliver deep, deep cuts all aimed at the
districts of the no voters. Give the
legislators’ constituents a clear choice of
what will happen if their legislator decides
not to come along.

Do something other than being above it all and snarky.

Comment by MG85 Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:34 pm
Put it up this session or overtime for votes, after some negotiation. Those who can’t stand the heat shouldn’t be in the kitchen, especially Democrats, since this is a huge issue for supporters. Pritzker and his allies have the means to support primary opponents of legislators who oppose it and give cover to those who vote for it.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:37 pm
Oh…

Let’s say petitions start.

Pritzker want that option out there with primary challengers to sitting Dem members… the issue… the sitting member is against the progressive tax… challenger favors the tax proposal.

“Now what?”

Nope. The politics to this is a hard deadline of September, petition season, and that is even against the best political elements at play here.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:37 pm
===- Use your campaign ad money to target them
- Use other legislators to pressure them
(Committee Chairs, etc)
- Threaten to veto other legislation the no’s
want passed
- Introduce an alternative bill that will
deliver deep, deep cuts all aimed at the
districts of the no voters. Give the
legislators’ constituents a clear choice of
what will happen if their legislator decides
not to come along.===

If you need the “stick” for a proposal that is something Dems are most likely to back… you’re doing it wrong.

“Threaten”?

I guess Pritzker wants “no $&@#% problems”?

No. The stick for the sake of the stick isn’t a great idea…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 2:44 pm
==No. The stick for the sake of the stick isn’t a great idea…==

I’m inclined to agree with you OW, but I’m not the one who stated in his Inaugural Address “But if you lead with partisanship and scare tactics, you will be met with considerable political will.”

The stick doesn’t have to be limited to Democrats and please note that I didn’t write “talk with Democrats” I wrote “with folks one on one in the legislature.” Folks is still a bipartisan phrase and I believe JB should talk with every House member, and then treat them all the same regardless of party. It’ll give him more credibility as someone who will work with whoever is willing to work with him.

So I agree with stick for stick’s sake is no bueno, but if we are going to believe that Yingling and the like are “grandstanders” then they are acting in bad faith, and JB is pretty clear and on the record with how he plans to deal with that sort of ilk.

Comment by MG85 Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:01 pm
How about someone tells the Dope crowd to line up…that should provide some GOPies.
Maybe someone needs to be a deputy warden

Comment by Annonin' Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:06 pm
===Folks is still a bipartisan phrase and I believe JB should talk with every House member, and then treat them all the same regardless of party. It’ll give him more credibility as someone who will work with whoever is willing to work with him.===

What GOP member is inclined to help on this amendment?

I can’t think of any, while I can also think of the manner in which “no” is now being used by Baise and Co to keep GOP members from making this bipartisan.

I could argue the Senate was more apt to have GOP votes on the amendment.

===if we are going to believe that Yingling and the like are “grandstanders” then they are acting in bad faith, and JB is pretty clear and on the record with how he plans to deal with that sort of ilk.===

Bad actors facing threats?

This is Ken Dunkin territory.

If that’s the case, it’s best to get it passed then move forward, not make the stick during the process the focus.

If the focus is making the pain be the lever here, that’s not going to work. Pritzker will be just as Rauner was… with a Dem proposal that should net 71.

The process itself in this “acceptance” phase means… the dealing with things after, not threats during.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:10 pm
I don’t think it’s a stick for stick’s sake on this. This is a core Democratic issue. Democrats who would oppose it need to ask themselves why they’re Democrats. The party doesn’t need much of Raunerite neoliberals, socially liberal but right wing fiscally. Not standing up for tax fairness invites the bad that has happened to the state financially to keep happening. The massive damage from the budget impasse should be fresh in everyone’s mind.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:20 pm
==Pritzker will be just as Rauner was==

That statement is laughable. Did Rauner apply pressure to his caucus? Sure, but he was the one extorting his members who, otherwise, wanted to vote for a compromise.

In this case, Pritzker should treat bad faith actors as he said he would. It is, unlike Rauner, the legislators who are extorting JB. He needs to reject that attitude from legislators and let them know that this sort of unnecessary behavior won’t be tolerated by removing their seat from the table. What good is a legislator to his constituents if he has no say?

==What GOP member is inclined to help on this amendment?==

I don’t know and neither does JB. Would they be more inclined if they learned that 30% of the state funding in their districts may possibly get cut to balance the state budget unless their representative votes to allow them to decide on the Fair Tax issue? Again, I don’t know, but JB hasn’t tried. It’s time constituents understand the ramifications of their legislators’ actions.

To zoom out a bit, I think he should have plenty of carrots too, but carrots have to be discussed/understood by both parties, so I personally think the carrots should given to those who play ball. Messages don’t have to be sent only in times of bad acting. They can also be sent when people behave well.

Comment by MG85 Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:22 pm
I believe this should be called for a vote before voting on the budget. At least IMHO.

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:25 pm
This worried about the vote seem to be worried for General election sake. A primary vote to put the question on the ballot really shouldn’t be that difficult. Most Democrats want the question passed from what I can tell. Even though they don’t know what it is.

BTW - Reality Check almost a 95% cut in income taxes in DuPage County?

Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:30 pm
===Did Rauner apply pressure to his caucus? Sure===

Yeah, I’m gonna haveta stop ya right there. After reading after that, the rest is gibberish, distinction without difference.

Gibberish like this…

===He (JB) needs to reject that attitude from legislators and let them know that this sort of unnecessary behavior won’t be tolerated by removing their seat from the table.===

Same as Rauner.

This is… fun.

===I don’t know and neither does JB. … Again, I don’t know, but JB hasn’t tried.===

You know he and his Crew haven’t tried?

Also, have you heard any saying they were inclined to listen to the proposal? If anything, the super minority has been unified to be “No” and not know about compromise.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:30 pm
JB doesn’t think he is leading with partisanship and scare tactics?

Tell that to the poor minority kids whose private school scholarships he wants to take away 3 years before the sunset was agreed to by the legislature. Even though the program saves a considerable amount of money when these kids go to private schools.

In Illinois, Democrats catering to the union base supersedes all else

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:35 pm
===Tell that to the poor minority kids whose private school scholarships he wants to take away 3 years before the sunset was agreed to by the legislature.===

Elections have consequences.

===Even though the program saves a considerable amount of money when these kids go to private schools.===

Did the program even *meet* the funding level it was suppose to hit?

It’s a yes or no question, thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:45 pm
===Even though the program saves a considerable amount of money when these kids go to private schools.===

Who does it save money, other than those taking the tax credit?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 13, 19 @ 3:51 pm
==In Illinois, Democrats catering to the union base supersedes all else==

Really? So when Daniel Biss (D Evanston), Kwame Raoul (D Chicago), Michael Madigan (D Chicago) heralded through both chambers an illegal pension theft bill, then Pat Quinn (D Chicago) signed that bill into law, that was Democrats “catering” to Unions above “all else?”

Really? Is that what you really think? Is that why it took back pay owed to Union members 7 years to get appropriated?

Is it why, right now, AFSCME employees are still waiting on back pay from the wage theft that Rauner committed over his tenure and Democrats still have passed appropriations to pay for it?

Good grief the amount of sheer ignorance on the relationship between Unions and the Democratic Party is laughable. I don’t even have to look back over the last 50 years, I can just reach back to the last Democratic Governor in Illinois.

Comment by MG85 Monday, May 13, 19 @ 4:10 pm
“Less than two years after Illinois started using taxpayer dollars to send students to private schools, newly-elected Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker wants to kill the scholarship program that benefits more than 7,000 students.”

Do you honestly think that the state only having to pay less than $8,000 to educate each of the 7,000 poor students doesn’t save the state money?

https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/families-fight-to-keep-controversial-state-scholarships-for-private-school/0f9b9522-c1ed-4df7-81ed-bbc85f9f8244

Who is the biggest funder of Democratic party and all of the other funds controlled by them in Illinois for the past 5 decades MG85?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 13, 19 @ 4:19 pm
==Who is the biggest funder of Democratic party and all of the other funds controlled by them in Illinois for the past 5 decades MG85?==

Your question is irrelevant to your position

When you say “Democrats catering to their union base supersedes all else,” that means that Democrats will put the interest, positions, and desires of Unions before any other group and that is just flat out easily discredit with but one example.

I offered you 3. Now, to your question, I don’t know who the “largest” donor is to Democratic members (I haven’t done the research) but does that mean politicians only do what their highest donors want?

What about the 2nd highest donors, do they not get a say? Are you telling me to buy a politician all I have to do is give them $1 more than the folks who give the most?

By that logic, the billionaires in this state could buy the Democratic Party tomorrow from Unions without even breaking a sweat. Why do you suppose that hasn’t happened? It’s because there’s more at play than donations Lucky.

Comment by MG85 Monday, May 13, 19 @ 4:29 pm
- Lucky Pierre -

Rauner lost.

If you were so worried about minority kids, you would’ve been angered at Rauner passively closing social services for 2 years.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 13, 19 @ 4:31 pm
“In Illinois, Democrats catering to the union base supersedes all else”

Projection. It’s the ILGOP who won’t put a single vote on a progressive income tax and is completely beholden to the rich. Democrats passed pension reform more than once. Democrats took years to fully pay back state workers. Ask Pat Quinn post-2014 how much Democrats catered to unions.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 13, 19 @ 4:33 pm
–By that logic, the billionaires in this state could buy the Democratic Party tomorrow from Unions without even breaking a sweat.–

Um…. who spent how much money last election?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 13, 19 @ 5:10 pm
On the scoreboard of stunningly bad ideas, there is a new leader in the clubhouse.

Comment by Just Stop Monday, May 13, 19 @ 5:19 pm
Official State Game: Kick the can *down the road).

At least Gov. LePetomaine in Blazing Saddles got it right once in a while: “…We’ve got to protect our phony-baloney jobs, gentlemen. We must do something about this immediately, immediately, immediately!”. Instead, on major Statewide issues, it’s like watching paint dry while Rome burns…

Comment by revvedup Monday, May 13, 19 @ 6:38 pm
==who spent how much money last election?==

@wordslinger, by my count, it looks like Unions were vastly outspent by billionaires.

Comment by MG85 Monday, May 13, 19 @ 8:53 pm