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This just in… * Recall held * Income tax advanced * Guv jokes * Smoking ban may be limited * Gun bill debated * Gun bill dies * Minimum wage debated, passes *

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Illinois

* 2:22 pm - No surprise here, but after a raucous two-hour debate, the Senate Executive Committee refused to vote on the proposed constitutional amendment to recall state officials. We’ll have some audio clips later. Quite the show.

* 2:32 pm - Earlier today in Senate Exec…

State senators advanced legislation Wednesday to allow Illinois voters to say whether the state should put a graduated income tax instead of the current flat tax.

The Senate Executive Committee voted 7-5 to send the proposed constitutional amendment to the full Senate.

Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) called the flat tax—which is 3 percent for individuals—unfair and regressive. He maintained putting the measure before voters would allow debate on potential changes in the state tax strucuture.

* 2:34 pm - The governor tried to make a joke yesterday when asked about the Tony Rezko trial…

Well I—I appreciate that question. That’s the first time anybody’s ever asked me that. Um.

And the pressure may be getting to his staff…

To the side, Blagojevich’s press secretary could be seen with her head in her hand.

* 2:50 pm - Also in Senate Exec today…

Illinois’ gambling casinos would be able to ignore the new law banning most indoor smoking under a plan that a state Senate panel narrowly approved today.

The legislation would keep the casino exemption in place for five years.

Sen. Frank Watson, R-Greenville, is the lead supporter of the idea, which he says will help casinos that have seen revenue drop because of the statewide smoking ban. By a 7-6 vote in the Senate Executive Committee, Watson added the casino exemption as an amendment to Senate Bill 2707.

* 3:18 pm - The House is currently debating HB 758…

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the requirements of sales of firearms at a gun show apply to private sales or transfers of handguns by persons who are not federally licensed firearm dealers.

* 3:56 pm - The gun bill, HB 758, came up short by two votes. 58-58-0.

* 3:58 pm - The House is now debating a minimum wage bill…

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Eliminates provisions that allowed an hourly wage of 50 cents below the regular minimum wage to be paid to an employee under 18 years of age. Makes other conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2009.

* 4:42 pm - The minimum wage bill passed with 62 votes, but a verification has been requested. The verification upheld the vote. The bill is declared passed.

* 4:49 pm - Statement from Gov. Blagojevich on the failed gun bill vote…

“Today’s House vote is yet another crushing disappointment to everyone involved in the fight against gun violence. We need common sense gun legislation and we need it now.” […]

Nationwide, 40% of gun transactions occur through unlicensed sellers and no-questions-asked private deals that require no background checks. A recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that unlicensed sellers were involved in about one-fifth of trafficking investigations and associated with nearly 23,000 illegal guns.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:23 pm

Comments

good! im glad to see somebody down there has some common sense

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:25 pm
Yeah not surprised gotta help out their governor over there.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:28 pm
I wonder if state voters would go for an income tax increase or to move towards a progressive tax. The way things are going in Illinois, I doubt they would. A flat tax is fair because no one is getting taxed more or less. That’s fair to me!

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:33 pm
Hey Kwame, please explain how a flat tax is regressive.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:34 pm
Hum…you can recall cars for faulty equipment, recall or remove drugs from the public, recant words from public…but you can’t recall officials when they are faulty or defective…great democracy.

Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:34 pm
===A flat tax is fair because no one is getting taxed more or less.===

Perhaps, but the poor in Illinois pay more state income taxes here than just about anywhere else. Also, I see no huge problem in letting voters decide this particular question, even though I prefer a Con-Con.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:43 pm
A flat tax sounds fair, but actually AIN’T so at all. Claiming 3% of the income of someone earning $18K tends to cut more directly into their standard of living than does taking 3% of the income of someone earning $180K or $1.80 mil.

It’s been widely reported that, as a percentange of earnings, state & local taxes eat-up more than twice as much of the income of Illinois’ poorest than they do the income of our wealthiest households. How the heck is that fair?

Comment by Linus Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:43 pm
A flat tax is incredibly unfair to the poor. However leaving their tax the same and doubling the upper income levels is dumb as well. It does nothing to assist the plight of the poor and gives way to much money to a state that already has a serious spending problem.

Comment by Leigh Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:46 pm
Well if the Senate won’t vote on it, they’re gonna freak once the Con-Con gets voted in and the amendment is shoved down their throats.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:53 pm
If we are going to truly do a graduated tax, something like up to $49,999 - 1%; $50,000 - 99,999 - 2%; 100,000 - 149,999 - 3%; 150,000 - 199,999 - 4%; 200,000 - 249,999 - 5%; 250,000+ - 6% and put a cap of 6% on the graduation.

I have no idea how the numbers would work out, but I think it is sensible to do a graduation of the tax this way to make it less regressive.

Comment by Anon from BB Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:56 pm
Interesting note about the casinos -
looks like revenue is down, but visits are up.

More people are going to the casinos, but are spending less money.

Probably has more to do with a recession.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:05 pm
I stand corrected - visits aren’t up at all casinos.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:06 pm
===More people are going to the casinos, but are spending less money. Probably has more to do with a recession. ===

Or that smokers are walking outside for frequent breaks. That might be more likely than a recession, which might tend to keep people out of the boats in the first place.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:08 pm
Or the high-dollar poker rooms are now cigar-free.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:08 pm
The trick at casinos is to keep people inside - no windows, etc.

You are right - smoke breaks cut into the length of their stay.

I still think Casinos just need to change their marketing. I always hate casinos BECAUSE they are too smoky.

Now they have an opportunity to get someone like me back in there.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:11 pm
Except the people who gamble overwhelmingly like to smoke. Something about their brains.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:12 pm
Boy those senators really know how to keep Halverson in the trick bag…maybe that race will be close after all

Comment by Wild Bill Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:13 pm
“Something about their brains.”

Are you saying one addiction fuels another?

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:13 pm
I don’t smoke, but I have visited the casinos alittle less since Jan 1. The cost of me driving to the casino is the biggest thing. Why would I want to spend 25 bucks on gas to go and lose more money. If I had a casino say in Springfield I could see me going there more often.

Comment by Mike Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:15 pm
I think there are plenty of non-heavy smokers that like to gamble but were turned off by the smoky casinos.

I don’t think the casino target audience is as limited as they claim.

Let them try reaching out on their own to get more customers. Any other business would do the same thing (and they are).

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:16 pm
I’m no scientist, but I have seen articles about the correlation about the part of the brain that stimulates the craving to gamble

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:17 pm
They will give the casinos a break because it cuts into state revenue. But they don’t care about local bars revenue. Our town bars report a 20-25% decrease in business since the ban became law. If they give the casinos a break, then the small businesses of the state should file suit for preferential treatment.

Comment by wizard Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:26 pm
I would assume there’s a correlation between placing numerous negative-edge bets and constantly buying products that kill you.

Comment by Greg Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:26 pm
This one’s for the Senate Democrats.
These are the lyrics to Tammy Wynette’s stand by your man. I think it’s relevant.

Sometimes its hard to be a woman (replace woman with Senate Democrats)
Giving all your love to just one man
You’ll have bad times
And he’ll have good times
Doing things that you don’t understand
But if you love him you’ll forgive him
Even though he’s hard to understand
And if you love him
Oh be proud of him
‘Cause after all he’s just a man
Stand by your man
Give him two arms to cling to
And something warm to come to
When nights are cold and lonely
Stand by your man
And tell the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man
Stand by your man
And show the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man

Rich, you should end the week with the Tammy Wynette video for “Stand by your Man”.

Comment by Truth Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:26 pm
>> More people are going to the casinos, but are spending less money.

Wait’ll the Bush tax refund checks start going out. Casinos are salivating. They’re banking on those checks going right into the slot and video poker games.

The sudden increase in revenue will be significant.

Comment by Macbeth Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:39 pm
Re: HB 758

It’s already illegal to transfer a firearm to an individual not holding a valid FOID. In light of this bill, what purpose does the FOID hold?

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:52 pm
Ken -
very simple.

You have to do a background check when you buy a handgun from a store, you should have to do a background check when you buy a handgun from someone else.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:01 pm
A graduated tax is simply income redistribution. Social reengineering has always failed in this country. I wonder why we continue to try.

Affordability of taxation is a specious argument. A gallon of gas or milk will always be a larger burden on the lower income earners. Do we have sliding scale on what we charge people for what they buy based on income level? The rich will always be able to afford things better than the rest of us. I certainly do not covet what belongs to what my wealthier acquaintances have. Should the state?

I do agree that the floor where the lower income folks pay to tax should be raised and perhaps as you enter the taxable range there needs to be a feathering of the rate. The deduction for property taxes be increased from the 5% credit we see now. Other than a ‘poverty’ exemption, all percentages should be equal.

For new revenue he state would be better off taxing the state supplied pensions like they tax those supplied by private industry. Seems like a violation of equal protection under the law to me. Why should a senior who has saved all their lives and is living off the interest owe money to the state while the richly rewarded public servants ,(like a recently departed school superintendent, 170K+ annual pension) pay nothing? If you like the affordability argument, can’t he afford to pay $5,100 income tax?

All the nitpicking about the details of new taxation misses the point that Illinois revenues are up. Just not up enough to satisfy the special interests.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:05 pm
===A gallon of gas or milk will always be a larger burden on the lower income earners. Do we have sliding scale on what we charge people for what they buy based on income level?===

No, because the government doesn’t control prices in this country. It does, however, control taxation.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:08 pm
Yikes!
Blaggo drops the ball big time on gun bill
BLaggoonies Jay Magoo and Director in Waiting Granberg vote “no” Bill losses by 2
Great job GRod

Comment by Wild Bill Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:08 pm
Moot now, but…

GoBearsss, but that’s my point. The FOID was sold as evidence of a background check, what’s the point of any other legislation? Is this a tacit admission that FOID is useless after all?

Dealers charge a fair amount to transfer a firearm not sold by them ($25 - $50 is typical here in NO IL), and many or most want nothing to do with it.

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:09 pm
School administrator pensions are sweet. I know a guy, 30+ years in his suburban district as principal and teacher, get’s something like 85% of his last position’s current salary plus free Blue Cross health and dental. Has a home here on a golf course, a home near Galena on a lake and golf course and a home in Florida on a golf course with a pool.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:19 pm
You mean you couldn’t get representatives from Southern Illinois to join on to your bill?

What a surprise.

Of course, you knew that before you ran it.

Comment by GoBearsss Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:19 pm
Blago: “A recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that unlicensed sellers were involved in about one-fifth of trafficking investigations and associated with nearly 23,000 illegal guns.”

So, four fifths were *not* associated with private sales. And you’re focusing on curtailing private sales why?

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 5:13 pm
are we sure the gun bill du jour is Blago’s bill? wasn’t it part of the mayor’s annual list? of course Blago supported it, but i’m just wondering. did the gov actually draft it and find a sponsor?
or did someone else, or a group, do it?

Comment by Amy Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 5:58 pm
Sorry Rich, I don’t get your point.

Just because the government can do something does not make it right or fair.

Taxation of income can be argued to be an unfair method of taxation as well. The very rich such as the Kennedies, the Soroses, the Buffets and the hedge fund traders all have methods to shield their income from taxation and unabashedly do so.

Those who earn a good salary simply hunker down and pay, pay pay without access to any of the benefits due to the lower incomes, or tools available to t hose with inherited wealth.

The playbook from the Democratic Party has been that of class envy and shifting entitlements up to the middle class in order to buy the party more votes. Our dear Governor has done his part by wanting to provide government subsidized health care to folks with 80K incomes. Perhaps next year he will want to raise the threshold to 100K.

I ask again, why should a retired school superintendent with a 170K pension get a free pass on his state income taxes while the legislators are circling around looking to tax the same income from another source?

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 6:40 pm
GoBearssss,
FOID card holders have had a BG check to get the FOID. If they commit a felony, the ISP is notified by the court officials and the ISP is empowered and required to cause the FOID to be void and to confiscate it imediately. In a legal private sale in IL, both parties must have FOIDS and ID’s, both must exchange copies and both must keep those copies for 10 years. If asked by law enforcement, they must produce those documents. 758 is a useless bill and was defeated. It would have done nothing to curb the illegal sale of guns in Chicago or anywhere else. Guns don’t commit crime, criminals do. Control the criminals and enforce the laws on the books.

Comment by TimB Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 7:20 pm
To add, as you say, when buying from an FFL dealer, that dealer must make a call for a BG check, by Federal law. That’s why the FOID is a duplication of effort and needless. Or, waive the background check for FOID holders.

Just some observations.
TimB

Comment by TimB Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 7:23 pm
Another bad gun bill goes down!!!

Comment by NIEVA Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 8:19 pm
Bad gun bills do more to unite Illinois gun owners than the NRA and ISRA put together. Keep those bad gun bills coming!

Comment by Pro-Gunner Thursday, Apr 17, 08 @ 6:59 am
Wouldn’t raising all taxes 1 percent and tripling the standard deduction to $6,000 be much easier and faster than a constitutional amendment and still be the equivalent of expanding a graduated tax?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 17, 08 @ 7:37 am
Since a recall amendment may not see the light of day, why not have a referendum for a Constitutional amendment that gives the people some very limited direct legislative authority, including the ability to initiate bills and impeachment?

For example, citizens could initiate a bill if it passed by a majority, but to be binding add 10 percent to the minimum required pass rate for objections by each of the current branches (Gov, Senate, House). That means if all three elected branches object to a referendum bill, it would require 80% voter support to be binding.

Also, binding votes should only occur in the third year of a bill referendum to allow elected officials time to work out better compromises and get public input via the first two years of advisory referendum.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 17, 08 @ 7:48 am