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* Turnabout is fair play…
Just a week after hundreds protested taxes at the Capitol, a larger group, including some suburban residents, turned out Wednesday to support higher taxes that’d prevent deep cuts to state programs.
The crowd, which organizers pegged at 1,500, was welcomed by Gov. Pat Quinn, who vowed to help working families and defended his plan to raise income taxes to help eliminate a deficit that’s grown to nearly $12.4 billion over three years.
But some of those people apparently haven’t gotten the message. Asking for a tax hike this year for a new program or increased spending other than capital projects is almost assuredly dead on arrival…
More than 200 dentists came to Springfield to convince lawmakers a tax increase on drinks high in sugar would greatly increase funding for state-sponsored dental programs across the state. The dentists say an added 5 percent tax on such drinks would generate $94 million.
You can debate the merits of that tax hike if you’d like. I just don’t see it happening.
* In Chicago, a few aldermen are talking about tax and fee cuts…
Specifically, ten City Council members led by Aldermen Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Tom Tunney (44th) want to:
* Waive the $3-per-car city parking tax on Saturdays and Sundays in the Central Business District.
* Phase out the $4-a-month employee head tax by lopping $1 off the hated tax in each of the next four years.
* Declare a moratorium on parking meter rate hikes tied to the 75-year lease of Chicago’s 36,000 parking meters until “pay-and-display” boxes are installed. Pay-and-display boxes take credit cards and are relatively free from the mechanical problems that have plagued the transition to a private contractor.
They also included “roll back the Cook County sales tax hike” in their plan, which they have zero control over, so one wonders about the “realness” of this as well.
* And Gov. Quinn will be picketed tonight by a teachers union…
More than 100 educators plan to protest education funding during Governor Pat Quinn’s stop in Rockford. […]
The protest is being organized by the Illinois Education Association. They’re upset because they say Quinn’s state budget proposal doesn’t do enough to balance education opportunities at all Illinois schools.
Discuss.
* Related…
* Rally Wants Better State Budget
* Tea Parties more like bad Republican infomercial
* A protest in need of a sane image
* Dentists seeking tax hike on soda, energy drinks
* Aldermen push own biz-friendly stimulus plan
* Chicago aldermen propose tax repeals
* National agency to state schools: Make college more affordable
* SIU officials trek to Springfield today
* $10.6 million in state budget for Triton
* More than just a welcome mat
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 7:03 am
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Chicago alderman discussing tax cuts? I’m confused.
Aren’t you supposed to be rubber stamping increases in fees and fines proposed by King Richard?
What’s next - perusing legislation and discussing it before a vote?
Comment by The Doc Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 8:09 am
Interesting to see some aldermen acting like legislators. These proposals are small change, though. Somebody needs to buck up and talk about TIFS.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 8:13 am
Wordslinger, I’ll give credit where it’s due - the city council pass the so-called TIF sunshine ordinance yesterday. It’s a small step in the real world, but a huge leap of faith for the typically spineless aldermen.
Comment by The Doc Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 8:17 am
I wish Quinn would spend a few moments addressing state operations and less time grandstanding. Honestly, I wouldn’t support any tax increase until his administration becomes serious about cleaning up the mess Blago left. So far, they’re clueless….
Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 8:35 am
What if we charge a sales tax on dental services instead, and add some fees to the practice of dentistry to pay for those state sponsored dental programs. After all, no reason dentists can not be the source of support for program in their industry.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 8:55 am
I’m with Louis. This is spring, the time for groups to go down and picket state officials and legislators for this and that. But below the very very top officials-Stermer, a few others, this remains a Blago-appointed government doing things the way they always do. The advantage is that now they can hide behind Quinn and not the damaged Blago. This gives them more protection, not less.
It’s the Chicago Way, really. Highly publicized firings of top guys followed by business as usual.
The Democratic Chicago Way.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 9:31 am
Chicago is no longer a place to shop. The parking fees are ridiculous. The sales taxes are killing retail. What was at one time a quarterly weekend experience for the VanillaFamily has ended, not because we cannot afford these costs, but because we feel like we are being ripped off by the bad value Chicago Loop shopping has become.
The Aldermen are thinking clearly - taxes are killing downtown Chicago as a regular destination for Illinoians.
Keep up the fight! It is for your own good! Glad someone recognizes this disaster.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 9:33 am
Before we get all warm and fuzzy, remember the aldermen now want to review what they originally rubberstamped in the first place. It’s all a game. An alderman is probably selected to be the “opposition” every few weeks to give the impression that they are not spineless clones. Nothing happens after the press release. Residents of any ward who had an alderman who actually stood up to Daley would suffer greatly by a reduction of city services and the Alderman would be out next election
Comment by Hank Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 9:48 am
I actually prefer the new parking meter system, as long as the meters work.
It’s cut down on the squatters, so you can actually find a spot if you have a couple hours of business downtown. I’ll keep a couple rolls of quarters in my glovebox to avoid being gouged by the garages any day.
As far as shopping downtown, I gave that up long before the County added on to create the very real psychological barrier of 10%. Less expensive options are nearby and plentiful.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 9:52 am
Funny how the article take the organizer’s word for the size of the crowd at this pro-tax rally, but “journalists” made sure to question the organizer’s of the tea party’s estimate of his crowd. Also, comparing the size of the crowds is comparing apples to oranges. The pro-tax rally was a single event bringing people from other parts of the state to the Capitol, while the springfield tea party consisted of local protesters and was only one of many throughout the State.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 9:55 am
I’m glad that some Chicago aldermen want to decrease tax rates. I don’t heard enough members of the Chicago media tell about the Chicago taxes. I researched the city budget and found that according to the budget estimates, on the city government website, the city has many city sales taxes. Some of them can be avoided, by conducting business in other towns. These taxes are the automatic amusement device tax, cigarette tax, employers’ expense tax, home rule municipal retailers’ occupation tax, hotel accommodation tax, liquor tax, motor fuel tax, motor vehicle lessor tax, municipal automobile renting occupation tax, municipal automobile renting use tax, municipal hotel operators’ occupation tax, off-track betting tax and admission fee, parking tax, personal property lease transaction tax, restaurant and other places for eating tax, soft drink tax, and vehicle fuel tax. If you think that the city government receives enough of your money, please conduct more business, in other towns.
Comment by ConservativeVeteran Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 11:21 am
That IEA-what a group of seasoned political operatives.
Week 1-Bash Quinn on the budget.
Week 2, Day 1-Bash Quinn on pension bill.
Week 2, Day 2-Support Quinn on pension bill “if we can have our TRS majority back-Stu who?”
Week 3-Bash Quinn on the budget.
without that jillion dollar PAC, they couldn’t get a resolution wishing Horace Mann Happy Birthday.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Apr 23, 09 @ 5:07 pm