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* Tribune editorial…
While coronavirus developments unfold by the minute and consume the attention of elected officials, legislation is piling up in Springfield with no easy answer on how to address it. Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered Illinois residents to shelter in place starting Saturday, and the legislature’s spring session has been indefinitely sidetracked.
House and Senate leaders canceled a session for the last full week of March and are working to postpone deadlines for bills that normally would be moving through committees. It’s possible lawmakers will work into the summer — eventually — if the pandemic is under control by then. But what about now?
First of all, Pritzker didn’t issue a “shelter in place” order. As I’ve already explained, that’s for things like hurricanes. Do better.
* Back to the editorial…
Still unresolved for taxpayers: property tax relief, which Pritzker and other Democrats promised as part of their push for a graduated income tax. One was not supposed to happen without the other. To get votes to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot and move the state from a flat income tax to a graduated one, supporters of a graduated tax promised property tax relief. And they set up a big task force to study the issue. […]
Springfield lawmakers face numerous issues with deadlines approaching and the clock ticking. No one suggests they return to the Capitol until the pandemic has eased. And it’s possible that emergency health-related matters will have to be addressed. But other policy issues, too, demand attention. Relief for property taxpayers is one of them.
* Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) sponsored the task for legislation and cc’d me on his response to the Tribune…
I read the editorial about property taxes in the 3/23/2020 issue of your paper.
Right now, the health and safety of everyone in Illinois is our top priority. Period end of story. There’s nothing else that’s more important.
We are well-aware of the challenges property owners face in Illinois. That’s why several bills have been introduced including my future legislation offering a real comprehensive consolidation package.
However, the best thing we can do is let our Governor focus on keeping the people of Illinois safe and giving our doctors and others on the front-line the opportunity to stay ahead of this pandemic.
All of us in the legislature have an agenda that’s been put on hold during these unprecedented times. Don’t you think we wish things were different? Don’t you think we want to legislate?
When all is said and done, and none of us know how this is going to end, we will pick up the pieces and get back to work.
I hope all of you are taking the recommended precautions and keeping your families and communities safe.
May G-d bless you during these challenging times.
State Rep. Jonathan Carroll
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:35 am
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The Tribune really is tone deaf and this only further shows why the Tribune editorial board has become such a joke.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:46 am
Rep Carroll might have pushed back a little hard. The Tribune practically had kid gloves on for this one, just pointed out a problem (one of many) from all the disruption.
Comment by Perrid Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:46 am
Property tax reform is not a joke
The legislative task force appointed to solve the problem was
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:57 am
=it’s possible that emergency health-related matters will have to be addressed. =
Just “possible”? How about inevitable?
Comment by JoanP Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 10:58 am
I have noted the Tribune’s political right ward drift in recent years. And with the takeover by the Alden hedge fund group and subsequently many good writers/columnists getting laid off or leaving the Trib, I am expecting the Trib’s journalism to decline further.
For those of us that remember when the Trib was better it is sad. I miss the days of Claudia Cassidy, Bob Greene, Ann Landers, Jack Mabley, Mike Royko, Gene Siskel, Mike Downey, and many others.
Outside of the occasional decent investigative journalism by the Trib, eventually it will just become a tabloid to be ignored. Something to put on the bottom of a bird cage.
Comment by Big Jer Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:04 am
This was tame compared to the unbelievably tone deaf weekend editorial about a federal stimulus and how businesses are “adapting.”
Comment by Not for Nothing Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:15 am
The Tribune forgets that Illinois residents HAD property tax relief (by underfunding the pensions from 1985 to 2012) and now the bill has come due.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:27 am
Not an either/or situation. It’s an and/both.
Comment by Tawk Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:30 am
In the 2nd quarter of this year we are going to see a dramatic decrease in the amount of tax revenue collected given all the job losses. There couldn’t be a worse time to discuss cutting property taxes.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:31 am
=== Not an either/or situation. It’s an and/both.==
It’s on the ballot.
If fighting to remove it becomes “because rich” as any smart Democratic messaging would be, during a pandemic when the have and have nots are seen in the prism of healthcare… yeah, the CA won’t be leaving, but arguing it should because the 3% need relief will help it pass.
Total tone deaf reasoning by the Tribune.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:34 am
You have to hand it to the Trib Editorial Board, they stick to their narrative no matter what. Looking forward to reading how reducing property taxes is going to solve climate change!
Comment by Peace, Love and Guitars Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:34 am
Im surprised they didn’t call for an immediate special session to address fair maps…
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:42 am
=== Im surprised they didn’t call for an immediate special session to address fair maps…===
I’m hoping this is snark… that’s my hope here…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:43 am
It’s worth pointing out that one of the arguments for property tax “relief” was that you had all these school districts sitting on “excessive” cash reserves.
They don’t look excessive any more.
Thankfully, true business leaders in Illinois are not worried about their petty, partisan grievances right now, they like Governor Pritzker are trying to keep us safe and alive.
I am sure there were newspapers back in World War II complaining about the shortages of chocolate and rationing of silk. Let’s just create a historical stack next to those upon which to lay everything McQueary and Kass write for the next nine months.
Comment by Charlie Brown Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:51 am
- Lester Holt’s Mustache -
It’s crazy. That I know. You’re on it.
To the Post,
Rep. Carroll is understanding the challenges right now and this idea that in the short term, which may be 90 days in some things, we also need to realize things like the dangers of 177 members, lobbyists, staff, press, all those involved need to distance themselves first.
Looking at the prudent steps necessary, let’s be honest to the challenges… the Tribune refuses to do so? Is that the lesson here?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:56 am
Remember, the Trib still employs Kass.
Comment by Springfieldish Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 11:57 am
===They don’t look excessive any more===
Please. Some of them are sitting on 2+ years of cushion.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:20 pm
I guess the legislature is considered non-essential, since they don’t have to come to work as I do. They should put on their big boy/girl p
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:28 pm
Pants and get to work. If I can risk my health, so can they.
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:29 pm
Kristen is finally getting something that will kill lots of people in Chicago!
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:33 pm
Well said Jonathan Carroll. Those Tribsters and all the other looking to use this crisis for their own agendas should just look in the mirror, look at their children and then stand down. Stand the heck down. What is wrong with you people.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:46 pm
It would be helpful to push back tax day to match the feds. Since the state tax relies on what we report to the Feds, if Illinois doesn’t push back tax day, we will still need to (somehow) get our taxes done by April 15. I know the state needs revenue, but most folks don’t have access to tax help.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:51 pm
Property tax relief is a joke. We raised income tax temporarily and then permanently with the promise of property tax relief. There will never be an up or down vote on property tax relief or reform as long as Mike Madigan draws breath.
He is the most corrupt politician in the history of State legislators. He makes his money off property taxes which is why it will never be called for a vote.
Comment by the Patriot Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 12:58 pm
Again the Tribune is tone deaf and disconnected to reality. After the recent blood bath Statehouse Chick was promoted. The Lake Forest, Kenilworth and Hinsdale Tribune will continue to push their agenda. Hard to remember when it was an excellent newspaper.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 1:31 pm
GA needs to cap the interest rate on property tax sales at 6%. Currently the bid rate doubles every 6 months.
Comment by Nitemayor Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 1:34 pm
Good ol’ Captain O, ever the victim
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Mar 23, 20 @ 2:27 pm
===I guess the legislature is considered non-essential, since they don’t have to come to work as I do. They should put on their big boy/girl pants and get to work. If I can risk my health, so can they.===
You miss the point. It’s not about any one person risking health since the odds of dying for any one individual are low.
The problem is not spreading virus to a large number of people, which will cause the numbers of deaths to go up and overwhelm our medical infrastructure and people.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Mar 24, 20 @ 7:00 am
== We raised income tax temporarily and then permanently with the promise of property tax relief.==
There was no “promise of property tax relief” associated with the last income tax increase. There were separate bills freezing property taxes that Rauner vetoed.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Mar 25, 20 @ 8:18 am