Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

This just in…

Posted in:

Illinois

*** UPDATE *** The House Republicans say Cross did not support a motor fuel tax increase at the Daily Herald edit board meeting and claim the Daily Herald is updating its story.

* 4:04 pm - There are still many hills to climb, but the obstacles may be getting smaller…

Illinois Republican are open to a gas tax hike to fund a major public works package this year - but they want it to be smaller than one floated by Democrats.

“I think it would be a good way to jump start the economy,” said House Republican leader Tom Cross of the construction jobs during a meeting Monday with the Daily Herald editorial board.

Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont said some in her caucus may be open to a gas tax hike that falls under the 16-cent increase identified by Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat. […]

Radogno indicated the GOP side of the Senate aisle wants to cap the state sales tax on fuel when prices reach $2.50 or $3 a gallon.

Both the House and Senate GOP caucuses have yet to formulate an official proposal as they wait for Democratic leaders and Gov. Pat Quinn to make the first budget moves.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:06 pm

Comments

I am good with a modest increase to the gas tax, I’ll help pay my share for roads. But this milage tax that was shot down by the President better not come up. I understand that we as taxpayers may need to help, but do not bankrupt us. Little people going under will not fix the economy.

Comment by Dan S, a taxpaer, a voter and a Cubs Fan Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:16 pm
You know, once I sat in a room while our Sourcing director was negotiating price with a vendor.

They spoke for darn near 20 minutes, trying to make the other guy name a price first.

Apparently Chris and Tom are unaware of that elementary strategy of negotiations - make the other guy name a number first.

I think I would like to play poker with either of them…..

Comment by Pat collins Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:19 pm
Why not just come out in favor of more pension raids, an income tax increase, fund sweeps, a GRT, and a junk food ban (oh wait)…then there would be NO recognizable difference between the HGOP leader and the follied IL Dems. How disconnected does someone have to be to blow the opportunity to rail against the dems for raising taxes during a recession? Sheesh.

Comment by So. ILL Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:21 pm
And you would pay for all that road construction how? Eventually, you have to govern.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:25 pm
Waiting for the Carpentersville to start going after Cross for this in
3.2.1….

Comment by OneMan Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:26 pm
Over/under 12 cents a gallon.

LaHood’s freelancing on the mileage tax on the fed side was strange. A goofy combination of Big Brother and subsidizing Hummers.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:30 pm
Can their be an independent auditor to check if the proposed roads are really needed? Like, a crosstown expressway will pay dividens for future generations (and maybe in these tough times the need will trump resident concerns). Some county road to nowhere, not so much.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:30 pm
Almost no new roads. Vast majority is repairs or upgrades.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:31 pm
I’m still an R but understand that the money has to come from somewhere. I think 10 cents per gallon is a good start. Let’s see how effectively they spend that before talking about anything higher.

Comment by One of the 35 Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:34 pm
Kudos to the GOP leaders for recognizing that new revenue is desperately needed, even if means a gas tax increase.

Comment by The Doc Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:37 pm
Edgar was right…in this environment people want to hear a long list of cuts before they are willing to dig deeper in their pocket for a tax. We’ll get to the tax increase soon enough, but it isn’t very “Republican” of Mr. Cross to being it up first!

Comment by Niles Township Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 4:55 pm
Here is something that no one seems to be saying.

We dont need a capitol bill. At least we dont need one the size that is being talked about. Sure, there are some schools in need of repair, and I am sure a few potholes that need filled. However I have been from one end of this state to the other in the last three months.

I’m not an engineer, but the roads look good to me. So much of this is going to wind up being wasted as always. There needs to be a list submitted of the projects that need funding and then lets go through one by one and find out exactly how much money is needed.

This gas tax to no where is stupid, tell me exactly what I am paying for, then tell me how much extra in taxes I need to pay.

Furthermore, what are we going to do ten years from now when we “need” another capitol bill? Borrow some more? More gas taxes? At some point lets pay the bills and balance this budget before we spend more money.

Comment by Speaking at Will Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:00 pm
Lake Co. Dem: A new Crosstown Expressway or even Prairie Parkway is NOT what we need. That way lies madness, especially now as cost and damage from sprawl manifest themselves on our economy.

Cities were damaged (sometimes intentionally so) during the last 50-60 years’ worth of highway construction thanks to the needless destruction of intact urban neighborhoods. If you build more new highways, you only encourage more traffic, more sprawl, more greenhouse gas emissions — all as we reach peak oil production.

We’ll be much better off down the road (sorry about that) if, in the pending new federal transportation funding bill, we prioritize support for transit, passenger rail, and sustainable networks of connected streets and roads. The Congress for the New Urbanism (disclosure: I do freelance work for CNU) has a lot to say about transportation networks. Please check the web site: www.cnu.org/networks.

Comment by Railfan Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:00 pm
Am i the only one that realises the United States is in a recession? And the number one rule during a recession is not to raise taxes. I’m sure Mr. Cross doesnt watch CNN, but he might learn a thing or two from CNN’s “Your Money” regarding the state of the economy. Its on Saturday at Noon with a rerun on Sunday at 2pm incase you’re busy Mr. Cross.

Comment by Ali Velshi Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:03 pm
Senator John Sullivan is sponsoring SB 2036, which is a 3/8th cent income tax increase, to pay for the capital plan.

http://www.quincynews.org/local-news/sullivan-sponsoring-income-tax-hike-for-capital-plan.html

Comment by QuincyNews Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:05 pm
===And the number one rule during a recession is not to raise taxes. ===

Not always. It was done during the very painful 1983 recession here. Also, as people save more and refuse to spend, a tax hike could force that reserved cash into circulation. There are big downsides, of course, but it’s not 100 percent bad.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:11 pm
Thanks for the update Rich. The article does appear vague on what Leader Cross supports outside of gaming expansion. I also should have included Leader Radogno in my previous comment and welcome back Leader Cross to the Republican side now that it appears the Daily Herald has misrepresented his views.

Comment by Ali Velshi Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:22 pm
Railfan,

I am all for bringing more rail into the equation, but rail has a very limited ability to solve transportation issues…trains can only go where the tracks are, so they need to be run in strategic, high density corridors to have maximum benefit. The old interurbans were run on a shoestring budget and still lost money. The backbone of our mobility will be motorized vehicles for the foreseeable future. These vehicles will be weaned off oil as technology and economics dictate, prodded by a little gov’t. policy.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:26 pm
What all this I hear about frozen gruel taxes?

Oh. Nevermind.

Comment by Emily LeTilla Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:32 pm
The democrats screwed all of this up so why would republicans agree to anything. Stick to the motto folks and fire all of the republicans from state service. Nothing changes.

Comment by Juniper Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:32 pm
I’m not an engineer, but the roads look good to me.

Citizen: This state has the crummiest roads ever!

Rumor: a gas tax is being considered to fix the roads.

Citizen: Boy, these state roads are surely as smooth as a baby’s buttocks!

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:36 pm
WHY would Cross agree to this. JOBS??? For who???If your political affiliation does not check out to be democrat, neither you or your company are going to get a job, tis is a fact. If you are talking about IDOT jobs, well, there the former Blago staff person who was once in charge of verifying political affiliations for jobs is still working at IDOT. So do you think just anyone can get a job there?

Comment by Reality Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:52 pm
===If you are talking about IDOT jobs===

Um, no. Those would be with private construction companies. And a whole lot of those trades people are Republicans.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 5:54 pm
So StateWideTom is for capital but no funding
Great move. How about another Burris rant instead of something real.
BTW the casino industry is DOA so that old idea done.

Comment by EmptySuitParade Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 6:03 pm
How much has been raided from the Road Fund in the last six years? 2b-3b, is this just another way to raid more money???

Comment by Jacksonville Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 6:30 pm
“===If you are talking about IDOT jobs===

Um, no. Those would be with private construction companies. And a whole lot of those trades people are Republicans.”

Well that’s partially true when it gets to actual construction, but design and planning still falls on IDOT. However with the staff sliced and diced the way it’s been, a goodly portion of what should be going into staff payrolls will instead be routed to much more expensive “consultants” since the staff just ain’t there any more, neither in Springfield nor in the district offices. Whole place has been gutted except for showy areas in Finance and legal areas. The actual people that have something to do with IDOT’s supposed mission of maintaining and improving roads and bridges are long gone.
That’s the reason for costly consultants.
And that is where a lot of the money will go.

Comment by shermans ghost Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 7:00 pm
Rich,

People are paying down debt, right now. They’ve already spent the money, that’s part of the problem.

There is evidence that suggests hiking taxes slows recovery for states that do so. As an pro-market anti tax individual I think hiking taxes are like war — they are your last option. Around here, they seem to be the default option.

We can’t make current obligations without tax increases according to Springfield. So, why are they talking about new spending when they still have billions in old spending coming due?

One final observation: We hear from liberals how the rich should pay for the Bush years because they benefitted from his economic policies. Who made out during the fund raids and the spending increases these past six years? Maybe we should begin the conversation on who gets cut with them. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander…

Comment by Greg B. Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 7:06 pm
==As an pro-market anti tax individual ==

You have no problem with the market working its magic and allowing the banks and insurance companies go bust, correct? With all the consequences?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 7:42 pm
Will this be a permanent tax for temporary jobs? Just wondering.

Comment by Toast Man Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 7:43 pm
The tax will need to be for at least 30 years, which is as good as permanent

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Feb 23, 09 @ 9:19 pm
Wordslinger
Yes if they are improperly run! Keep the government out of telling them how and WHO to do business with and allow them to sink or swim on their own!
There is not ONE Dollar$$$$ in cuts on the table yet, not one. Lets get the list of tough cutting out of the way. Remember a gas tax hike in Illinois is a double hit because of the sales tax that put on top of the gas tax. Every penny is 2 million a year the G gets, if I remember correctly.

Comment by GOPvotecounter Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 7:38 am
$200 million sorry it’s early.

Comment by GOPvotecounter Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 7:40 am
As a Republican and as a wife of an owner of a heavy construction company, I can tell you this. A capitol bill will put back to work many Illinois workers. Maybe from the Ivory towers it is hard to see, but there are a lot of hard working people on unemployment right now.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 7:44 am
For the record, yes. I have no problem with allowing financial institutions to fail and having to live with the consequences.

Markets don’t work on magic and financial markets don’t fail…they adjust.

And what happens is fairly predictable. The consequences of what the federal government is doing are more likely to be more severe than just doing nothing. Of course that doesn’t say there aren’t things that can’t be done by government; it’s just unlikely, because of politics, they’ll be done.

Comment by Greg B. Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:44 am