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Even more unsolicited advice

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Illinois

* Dear major media,

Why do you listen to this guy?

“What Quinn hasn’t revealed is that the state is getting more than $11 billion in stimulus money, so that covers the alleged deficit. If he would raise the income tax $4 billion a year, that would give him $20 billion a year in new revenue,” added [president of the National Taxpayers United of Illinois, Jim Tobin].

Tobin says the money will likely just go to pad the pension pockets of retired state workers.

That’s so ludicrous on so many levels that I won’t even touch it. And not one person was quoted to shoot down these claims? Suddenly, I feel like banging my head against a wall.

* Dear Gov. Quinn,

Leaking stories to Michael Sneed means you’re putting your message in her hands, and you may not love the outcome…

To wit: Although Quinn will not dress up as an Easter Bunny, Sneed hears he will read stories to disabled kids searching for 1,000 plastic Easter eggs on the grounds of the governor’s mansion on April 11.

Sweet idea. Not-so-wonderful visual of Quinn as the Easter Bunny, however. You’d think after the “Will the new state police director attend the police academy?” piece, Quinn would’ve learned something.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:20 pm

Comments

We go from a governor who surrounded himself with people who knew the system so well that were able to take corruption to a whole new definition. Now we have a Governor who is so clueless to how the system works that I am embarrassed for him.

Comment by Wow Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:27 pm
How about changing their name to National United Taxpayers of Illinois or NUTI…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:43 pm
This guy is a total idiot! Pad the pockets of retired state workers? Hello, Stupid! IT SHOULD GO TO THE PENSION PLANS! That’s about what the state has borrowed from these retired workers over the past 10 years. You are right Rich. Why do they listen to this guy?

Comment by lincolnlover Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:46 pm
Just wanted to say, I think every day should have an Unsolicited Advice post.

Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:49 pm
Tobin might as well have said the sky was purple. Both statements are just as accurate. Did WBBM fire everyone who studied journalism? This is very sad. Even an intern should know better.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:54 pm
So what’s going on here, are we seeing attempts to make anti-tax voters look insane? If Tobin really was opposed to Quinn’s budget, he should let informed individuals present why the Governor’s budget needs to be rejected, and get off the stage. Moron.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 2:59 pm
Tobin means well, but he’s a Libertarian fanatic, and that makes things like conventional logic fail to exist within his universe. But hey, that’s the media’s job right, to get all sides & present them without comment, even if some of the ideas espoused are beyond ludicrous? That’s what passes for journalism these days.

Comment by Baines 4 Prez Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:03 pm
Tobin has proved himself so willingly ill-informed for so many years, that I can’t believe anyone listens to him. Despite not being responsible for screwing up our state, I throw him in the same boat with Blagojevich, as people who refuse to live in the real world when it comes to public policy. They like retreating to their childish philosophies and ignoring real problems.

I like Quinn’s proposal OK, but would trade increased exemptions for property tax relief and education funding. Either way, the most encouraging thing about it, is that Quinn at least proposed a budget for adults to consider, and they seem to be considering it. Some form of tax increase is almost certain to go through, and we can hope that we get the most out of the increase.

Comment by Sacks Romana Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:12 pm
Tobin believes (this is an exact quote from one of his more recent talks) that people who work for the state “should be the first to suffer” from budget cuts. His attitude toward state employees makes Cassandra look like a cheerleader for AFSCME.

Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:14 pm
Come on, be fair, a lot of people think $11 billion + $4 billion = $20 billion.

Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:15 pm
A wacky quote Yes, but a grain on truth. Some maybe not a lot of the stimulus package funds can help balance the State budget. It may not over 10% of the deficit, but 10% of $11 billion is not pocket change. It should enter in to the budget debate just not by Tobin.

Comment by downstate hack Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:24 pm
Not to even mention that it would be a one time stimulus amount of $11 billion that would somehow equate to $20 billion in new revenue PER YEAR.

This calls for some Onion humor:

LIBERTARIAN RELUCTANTLY CALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT

After attempting to contain a living-room blaze started by a cigarette, card-carrying Libertarian Trent Jacobs reluctantly called the Cheyenne Fire Department Monday. “Although the community would do better to rely on an efficient, free-market fire-fighting service, the fact is that expensive, unnecessary public fire departments do exist,” Jacobs said. “Also, my house was burning down.” Jacobs did not offer to pay firefighters for their service.

Comment by Sacks Romana Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:25 pm
Sneedless to say, the world could have done without the Easter Quinn visual.

I have to go into the memory banks, but I believe Tobin came to prominence during the Harold Washington years. The Mayor raised taxes, white folks got angry and Tobin rode the wave. He has been writing incomprehensible tax opinion and begging for money ever since.

If politicians raised taxes as often as this guy asks for donations, Tobin would really have something to write about.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:27 pm
Here’s an interesting blast from the past: a 1990 Illinois Issues article on Tobin which compares him to Pat Quinn (then a candidate for state treasurer)

http://www.lib.niu.edu/1990/ii900829.html

Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 3:44 pm
I would think the Sneed piece would make Quinn very hoppy.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 4:04 pm
Oh, what a mental image…Pat Quinn in a bunny suit taking notes from ideas given him by a 4-year old.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 4:17 pm
“You’d think after the “Will the new state police director attend the police academy?” piece, Quinn would’ve learned something.”

Quinn may be the most earnest, honest politician alive, but he seems not to have learned a lot about politics in his 30+ years. Keeping Filan & who knows who else from Fmr. IL Gov Goofy (FIGG).

Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 4:21 pm
Quinn in a Bunny Suit?

Sounds like a song!

Here comes Pat who cannot fail
Hoppin’ down the campaign trail,
Hippity hoppity,
Da’ Election on its way

Makin’ promises he’s enjoyed
A Budgetful to keep employed
Things to make his Election
Bright and gay

He’s got cash for Mayor Richie
Enough to fill those huge kettles -
There’s an squad car for Lil’ Monken
When he’s old enough to reach the pedals! Oh!

Here comes Quinn who wants reform
Hoppin’ against the political norm,
Hippity hoppity,
Da’ Election on its way

Quinn in charge, Blago’s off to jail
Perp walkin’ as he tells his tale
On WLS - listen to him say,

“I tried to do the things I should!”
“I tried to be so extra good!”
“I’m gone now so you’re really gonna pay!”

We’ll wake up on early morn
Angry - ticked off - frizzled hair
When we find Democratic taxes
That they’re hiding ev’rywhere,
Oh!

There’ goes Governor Patrick Quinn
Who discovered he can’t really win
When he raised our taxes
Before Election Day.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 4:46 pm
While Tobin’s math is wacky, the concept still is relevant.

Illinois is receiving new, one-time federal money, most of which is intended to fill in for revenue shortfalls caused by the recession (including a big chunk for education).

Also, some of the stimulus money is for new construction projects, which should reduce the amount of new revenue necessary for Quinn’s capital plan.

Has the federal money been entered into the equation in Quinn’s budget proposal?

Comment by Balance Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 4:51 pm
Thank you Secret Square for the Tobin indoctrination. Something tells me that a fellow like this probably has framed this piece for the wall.

Comment by Jake from ? Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 4:56 pm
“Has the federal money been entered into the equation in Quinn’s budget proposal?
“

Quinn closes about 30% of the deficit with federal stimulus money.

See a good summary here.

And federal money for capital projects does not downsize the state capital bill at all. The state capital bill is just the required matching funds to get the federal money for the vast majority of the projects (Illinois comes up with $10 billion, gets additional $15 billion in federal and local match).

Comment by George Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 5:17 pm
“disabled kids searching for 1,000 plastic Easter eggs on the grounds of the governor’s mansion” paints a cruel, cruel picture.

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 6:29 pm
Well, MrJM, I don’t think so, but then, to each their own. I think it’s a very nice way to welcome activities back to the mansion. And disabled kids? Super cool. How many egg hunts on very other corner are basically non-disabled kids and charge a rather high entry fee? And as for Quinn with bunny ears? That might be pushing it but I would not be surprised if some of his young extended family members are around to bring life and cheerfulness to what has been a pretty empty cold place of the last 6/7 years. All children desire to have a chance to have a bit of fun and I admire Gov. Quinn for doing this.

Comment by Princess Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 7:13 pm
Tobin gets a pass on TV, too. Same with Dan Miller (used to be at Crains and Sun-Times). They spout numbers and no one has the knowledge, background, savvy or institutional memory to challenge them. Shoddy.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 7:28 pm
Dear Lord Black:

The Sun-Times in its bankruptcy filing reveals that it owes the IRS $608 million due to your devious and unscrupulous business practices. Please put aside 50% of your earnings from the prison laundry to help cover this shortfall.

Dear Gov. Thompson:

The next time you’re chair of the Audit Committee of a public company, put on your glasses and find a quiet spot to read the reports.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 7:38 pm
Don’t quite understand why anyone would think it’s inappropriate or undignified for a governor to read stories to kids (any kids) at an Easter egg hunt. If only the last guy would have been content to engage in such wholesome activities.

Comment by Steve Downstate Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 9:04 pm
{Suddenly, I feel like banging my head against a wall.}

I am thinking maybe it was the Sambuca

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 10:04 pm
Sambuca? Where? Why aren’t you sharing it with the rest of us??

Comment by Lynn S Wednesday, Apr 1, 09 @ 12:08 am