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GOP trolls Pritzker on taxes, mainly his own

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* ILGOP Chair Don Tracy in a recent email to party members…

Pritzker fights to cut taxes for the rich, himself

It was revealed recently that Governor JB Pritzker joined with six other Governors from high-tax Democrat-led states in penning a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to eliminate the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions (SALT cap) - a provision of the 2017 Republican tax cuts.

A study from the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that if Governor Pritzker - champion of the so-called “Fair Tax” - were to get his way and the SALT cap was lifted, 62% of the resulting benefits would go to the top 1% of income earners. And 86% of the benefits would go to the richest 5% of Americans. Governor Pritzker is in the top 1%.

The 2017 Republican tax law was a tremendous boon to the middle class because it nearly doubled the standard deduction for single and joint filers, while the SALT cap is not applicable for the vast majority. Governor Pritzker is begging Biden to end the SALT cap that primarily targets the richest Americans, including himself.

Governor Pritzker begging Biden to lower his tax bill and that of his billionaire buddies is not surprising given his history of trying to avoid taxes. But this time, instead of writing a work order for a contractor to rip out the toilets in his mansion, he wrote a letter to the President. JB needs to answer how many thousands of dollars he stands to save if Biden grants his wish.

Pritzker bucks Lightfoot to force property tax hike

A Chicago public employee pension bill was just signed into law that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and business groups opposed, “arguing that the cost to taxpayers would be too high.”

Dan Petrella of the Chicago Tribune reports…

Lightfoot sent a letter to aldermen on April 1 urging them to oppose the bill. She said it would double pension costs by $18 million to $30 million each year.

“If the governor does not veto this bill, the city will have to find a means to address the increased cost since the legislation does not provide a way to pay for these increase costs,” Lightfoot wrote.

“During the 2022 budget season, it will then fall on the members of the City Council to make difficult decisions to pay for these additional costs.”

She said “the obvious revenue solution, another property tax increase…”

The bill passed in Springfield was signed by the Governor and Tax-Avoider-In-Chief himself, JB Pritzker. As a Chicago resident, Governor Pritzker should be sensitive to the ever-growing tax burden the city inflicts on its residents, but since he has a history of dodging taxes that others have to pay (stashing his fortune away in offshore accounts, ripping out toilets of his Gold Coast mansion to lower his property tax bill, begging Biden to lift SALT cap), Pritzker likely doesn’t mind because he’ll just find a way to avoid paying it.

The Governor’s lifestyle is so far removed from the average working family in Chicago he may be under the assumption everyone has a second mansion they can rip toilets out of to lessen their tax burden. Well, he’s wrong. At a time when the pandemic has hit small businesses and workers the hardest, the last thing Chicagoans need is the Governor stepping in to hike their property taxes. Take it from Mayor Lightfoot, Pritzker’s legislation will raise property taxes.

* Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Joe Sosnowski has introduced HR121…

Urges the Governor and the Illinois Department of Revenue to explore administrative or legislative options that will allow Illinois residents to voluntarily contribute any amount in excess of what they are required to pay the State of Illinois under Illinois income tax laws.

Sosnowski talked about his proposal as it relates to Gov. Pritzker with fellow Republican Rep. Tom Morrison…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:14 am

Comments

A serious proposal from two very serious legislators

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:27 am
So the state GOP is against tax cuts for the rich? Didn’t see that coming.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:29 am
Weird, I thought the GOP like tax cuts for the rich. Good to know they actually believe in a progressive income tax and have just been trying to fool us all these years.

Comment by uialum Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:34 am
The Republicans are of course unprincipled hacks on this issue, but they’re not actually wrong that lifting the SALT cap is a sop to the rich: https://www.dailyposter.com/p/dems-somehow-pretend-this-mostly

Comment by Quibbler Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:38 am
Maybe this is why Griffin is leery to fund this ridiculousness

Not seeing much of a brain trust argument here.

Being angry and blinded by that anger leads to silly ideas that go against all you espouse.

And folks wonder why they are in a super-minority?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:39 am
Sosnowski and Morrison. Two guys with more than 20 years of legislative experience between them who have yet to pass a significant piece of legislation.

Comment by Tammy Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:43 am
It’s always nice when a public official chooses a hairstyle that tells you pretty much everything you need to know about them as a human being.

This kind of legislation is a political gimmick that brings disgrace to the whole of the General Assembly and the Democratic Process and represents a weak minded effort as a “gotcha” moment that undermines the entire concept of a legitimate government through the sovereignty of consent and participation by the governed.

This bill is the legislative equivalent of the “if you don’t like it, leave” arguments against improving things and the author is clearly demonstrating the anti-American and anti-Democratic chops that caused him to elevated to the State Chair for ALEC.

Rep Sosnowski thinks he’s clever. Rep Sosnowski thinks he’s funny. But Rep Sosnowski is making it clear that he isn’t in Springfield to lead, and he certainly isn’t there to participate an a mature or responsible response to legitimate policy problems in the State of Illinois.

Our agencies remain chronically underfunded. DCFS remains chronically underfunded, under staffed, and operating in violation of numerous court imposed agreements and it’s only a matter of time before Rich is going to be posting another article about a child that died because a DCFS employee had two or three times the amount of work they were supposed to do.

We’re literally in a situation where children are dying because their government is failing them, and Joe is here introducing joke legislation so he can say “why don’t you just volunteer to pay more taxes, then?”

How about Illinois Representative Joe Sosnowski take responsibility for the state that he sought to serve and took an oath to serve and do something productive to actually address the needs of the People of Illinois instead of continuing to serve his own ego.

Rep. Sosnowski believes someday he is going to stand before his maker and be judged. He should take a moment to consider whether or not he’ll be asked to explain why he wasted an opportunity to improve the lives of Illinois of people so that he could just so he can make a cute argument on Facebook.

Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:45 am
This attack on Pritzker failed badly the first time, so let’s try it again. Please proceed, ILGOP—that is, if you can find the time while you’re fighting “critical race theory.”

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:46 am
Interesting how the Governor tried to raise taxes on himself and fellow millionaires and billionaires (particularly in Chicago and Chicagoland area) last year and the IL GOP was very much against it.

Comment by Common Sense Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:47 am
@Candy Dogood- Ditto, so well said.

Rep. Morrison cannot even suppress his impish smile from the get go, so thanks for wasting more of my tax money with your childishness and brodown fun with your BFF Sosnowski.

@Sweet N Sour- did he send you a nice floral arrangement or something? Or do you just enjoy the wasting of time and money with their cheeky hijinx? Jeez brosef.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:58 am
“Not seeing much of a brain trust argument here.”

I would argue this is a preview of the attack ads that will be run (if they have the money) to marginally improve Cook County performance from 24% in 2018/2020 to 26%/28%/30%? Property Taxes are a huge issue in Chicago likewise throughout the State. The GOP doesn’t have a plan but they can say at least we didn’t sign legislation increasing them that even your mayor opposed.

They can run JB ran on the “Fair Tax” but what’s fair about lifting the SALT CAP?

Could marginally move the needle if ran in the suburbs as well. These issues matter and shifts the debate from the ILGOP talking Covid. That looks like the goal.

If the ILGDF is cut another 10% a candidate hitting JB on the above and saying I will restore JB’s cuts to the ILGDF which stabilizes property taxes would definitely move the needle for some.

Comment by 1st Ward Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:05 pm
Just another take on JB’s miserable handling of his signature “Fair Tax”.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:12 pm
GOP trolls. Pritzker governs.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:29 pm
“allow Illinois residents to voluntarily contribute any amount in excess of what they are required to pay the State of Illinois under Illinois income tax laws.”

Is this “donation” tax deductible?

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:32 pm
=== Property Taxes are a huge issue in Chicago likewise throughout the State. The GOP doesn’t have a plan but they can say at least we didn’t sign legislation increasing them that even your mayor opposed.===

“Welp, we tried, we failed.”

That’s not a great argument.

Also, it’s wholly disingenuous to think, as it is today, the state can regulate property taxes since it’s the schools that take the greatest chunk of property taxes.

Like this…

=== If the ILGDF is cut another 10% a candidate hitting JB on the above and saying I will restore JB’s cuts to the ILGDF which stabilizes property taxes would definitely move the needle for some.===

Voters don’t do nuance (ILGDF) and especially don’t do nuance for impossible resolutions that can’t be achieved.

Do your take is to phony up “we tried, we failed” and pursue it with a nuance to property taxes that in reality are based on schools (for a majority of the taxes).

Griffin is gonna fund that nonsense?

It’s easier to say “don’t tax my retirement income” and defeat a tax.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:40 pm
So the DEMS want to favor legislation that helps higher income groups and the Republicans are opposed.

The political posturing and double standards by both parties just keeps on coming.

Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:45 pm
Ok, c’mon, this is FUNNY!

Comment by Ed Equity Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:50 pm
I fail to see what the problem is with putting a mechanism for people who feel they aren’t “paying their fair share” to be able to pay whatever extra they think they owe. Its almost like its not about them paying their fair share, but compelling others to pay what they think is fair. If the governor wants moral authority on this issue, he should support the resolution and encourage the DOR to create such a mechanism. He should also be the first person to cut a check.

Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 1:36 pm
“That’s not a great argument.”

Better argument for them than talking about say Covid or police and criminal justice reform. There stuck at 24% in Cook talking Covid or police and criminal justice reform maybe they can get to 26%/28%/30% talking about taxation. Worked for the Fair Tax got 29% support in Chicago and 47% in suburban Cook. It’s not only their “best” chance it’s their only issue they can run on unless Kinzinger jumps in.

Comment by 1st Ward Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 1:41 pm
=== Worked for the Fair Tax===

(Sigh)

Being against “taxing retirement income” and other smokescreens (that worked brilliantly) is not the same as you think your idea would

Again…

Voters don’t do nuance (ILGDF) and especially don’t do nuance for impossible resolutions that can’t be achieved.

Do your take is to phony up “we tried, we failed” and pursue it with a nuance to property taxes that in reality are based on schools (for a majority of the taxes).

Griffin is gonna fund that nonsense?

It’s easier to say “don’t tax my retirement income” and defeat a tax

It’s a hair-brain silly idea that shows, kinda what you’re saying… “they got nuttin’ “

Anyone who pays property taxes knows… schools eat up a vast majority. Ignoring that in a really bad nuanced attempt to “educate” on a fallacy is not a great argument, and who wants to pay for all that “educating” of voters?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 1:51 pm
==A study from the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that if Governor Pritzker - champion of the so-called “Fair Tax” - were to get his way and the SALT cap was lifted, 62% of the resulting benefits would go to the top 1% of income earners. And 86% of the benefits would go to the richest 5% of Americans.==

Leaving aside the other issues, if that is true, then they are making a legitimate point.

Comment by Anonanonsir Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 1:56 pm
Pritzker just dropped 60m on trying to raise his IL taxes +60%. Good luck trying to claim he’s favoring the rich.

Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 3:49 pm
Pritzker needs to worry less about the Federal income tax and concentrate on the state budget.

Due to the recently passed Stimulus bill Illinois will receive $7.5 billion.

The Governor should be out there with announcements that he is going to use this money to pay off the $5.74 billion in unpaid bills as well as some $2.5 billion borrowed from the FEDS.

Come on Governor, a golden chance to pay the state’s bills and I see no leadership.

Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 4:19 pm
“GOP trolls. Pritzker governs.”

Pritzker got booed at opening day… What that should read is: Crowds troll Pritzker. And GOP continues to troll itself (

Comment by Anthony Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 5:01 pm
===Pritzker got booed at opening day===

Unless you’re Jesse White, plan on getting booed at sporting events.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 5:27 pm