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* Blogger and former GOP state Rep. Cal Skinner was at a McHenry County Democratic function the other day when Rep. Lou Lang spoke. Lang claimed that 12 House Republicans expressed a willingness to vote for a tax hike to balance the state budget, but that their leader, Tom Cross, killed it for political reasons…
“There was one woman on the Republican side of the aisle that I sat beside in a meeting in the Governor’s office after the [failed tax hike] vote,” Lang elaborated.
“She’s a person who actually cares about human services.
“She was sitting there crying real tears.
“Do you recall you voted ‘No?’” Lang said he asked.
“This is the kind of hypocrisy that goes on in Springfield on a daily basis,” he added.
I’ve never heard the 12 number before. It’s always been 8 HGOPs.
Anyway, Lang bottom-lines the “real” HGOP objection…
“The reason Republicans wouldn’t cross over was because they wanted a greater say in reapportionment and wanted $2-3 billion more cut.”
They were also bone tired of being beaten over the head by Speaker Madigan at every turn.
* Related…
* Illinois textbook crunch: State funding cut has schools scrambling: The elimination of a state-funded textbook program has left some school administrators scrambling to figure out how to make up the funds without jeopardizing education.
* What if the construction deal collapses?: Of course that would concern me,” said state Sen. Pamela Althoff, a McHenry Republican who supported the construction plan. “The program in and of itself - the capital projects - would remain stable. The problem again would be finding revenue streams. That would be difficult in this climate. It all boils down to: Where do we get the money?”
* Mike Lawrence: Bureaucratic bloat saps state resources
* Expect to pay more for candy, shampoo
* Here is a nice, quick breakdown of the new taxes and fees
* Taxes on hard liquor, candy, hygiene products headed up Tuesday
* Illinois shoppers brace for higher taxes at grocery
* Many Corner Liquor Stores Upset Over Higher Tax
* Bellwood, East Dundee sales-tax rates top Chicago’s 10.25%
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 11:15 am
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED w/ Additional Thoughts *** Speaker Madigan’s property tax practice examined
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I’m shocked, SHOCKED to discover that an elected official would actually use their vote against a massive tax increase, an increase which is clearly against their party platform and the best interest of their constituents, for leverage in other issues!
I DEMAND an investigation! NOW!
Comment by PalosParkBob Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 11:39 am
These statements from Rep. Lang are consistent with what he told several of us from AFSCME Local 2858 that met with him concerning the tax increase. He basically told us that MJM held back votes because there were no republicans willing to vote yes because of their leadership. He gave us a number of 43 democrats willing to vote yes & 12 republicans, making a vote of 55 (this was after the May 31 deadline when a super majority was needed) MJM held back votes because he wanted republican support so the dems would not get the blame for the tax increase. The republicans that wanted to support the increase were basically instructed by TC to not support the increase.
Comment by Fed Up Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 11:43 am
When Illinois State Senator A J Wilhelmi (from Will County) went along with the last sales tax increase that Cook County was attempting to push through, I could hear the cries of disbelief and amazement from other Will County voters who were his ardent supporters. He later tried to explain why Will County voters should be “okay” with having their sales taxes rate increased by another one-half percent but it fell on deaf ears. He said that for every dollar extra the sales tax increase was going to cost us, we were going to get “some” of it back. Ha-ha (The operative word was “some”.)This economy is killing people. It is as if our elected representatives down in Springfield are thinking out loud, “Let them eat cake.” The politicians are so utterly insulated from what is happening in the real world that they have lost all touch with our reality. Let me give them a well-intentioned “Heads-Up”. My tip for them is “REALITY” is going to come back and bite them in the ass when they come up for re-election in November 2010. Are these “tea parties” that are going on a bit over the top? Of course they are, but for every person that is at one of these, there are 1,000 sitting back at home saying “Yeah, these folks are nutty but, by God, they are right in what they are saying”.
Senator Wilhelmi is a nice young guy but he will soon find out that his desire to please his Cook County political brethern and his Democrat Party’s leadership with his agreeing to vote in favor of the last Will County sales tax increase is what ended his political career. Independents, GOP’ers, and many normally die-hard Democrats have told me, “Enough!” There will be many new faces come November 3, 2010 down in Springfield. Try the same retirement packages and health & hospitalization packages that the rest of us use. Then, and only then, will we support you self-serving “Boss Hogs”.
Comment by Beowulf Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 12:02 pm
One other thing.
First, any female crying on the floor over “human services” should be taken aside by female leadership in the House and read the riot act.
There are too many strong, competent woman leaders out there to tolerate such weakness being shown by one of their members.
I once was working for a client in tough negotiations where a woman professional started getting misty eyed and a quivering lower lip after some criticism.
The Boss, also a woman, immediately took her aside an told her in no uncertain terms that if she EVER embarassed her by such a show of weakness again, she’d be looking for new employment.
If this GOP legislator wanted to save some human service programs, she’d be better served by “womaning up” and identifying waste to cut and save her program!
If Tom Cross is finally playing hard ball and using every power he has to stop this job killing tax increase, more power to ‘em!
“There’s no crying in baseball!”
Tom Hanks from “A League of Their Own”
Comment by PalosParkBob Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 12:04 pm
Of course it was killed for political reasons.
Are you new here, Lou?
Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 12:07 pm
I don’t know if Lang’s correct, but I’ve always found it strange that the GOP didn’t beat the drum loud and long that they had killed a tax increase.
Maybe they know another vote’s coming.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 12:08 pm
I am shocked to hear this about the General Opposition Party….
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 12:36 pm
The Kit Kat-give me a break award today goes to Lou Lang.
Blaming republicans when democrats are dominant in the state is sad and pathetic. Last time I checked there are more than enough dems to pass bills. Republicans should not be accountable for dem failure to pass bad legislation.
Comment by Shore Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 12:37 pm
I am not opposed to a tax increase but I do think that Tom Cross should have only put 1 republican on any tax increase and made every Democrat vote for it. They got us into this mess they should suffer the consequences.
Comment by ahoy Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 1:19 pm
Crying…are you serious? I think the GOP is not broadcasting killing another tax/fee hike is because they don’t want to be tied to bragging about service cuts.
Comment by Wumpus Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 1:22 pm
I don’t think there is any question Tom Cross wants the money from a tax increase. He wants the pork projects where he can go cut a ribbon and put the photo on campaign mailers.
He wanted the benefits, but he wanted the Dems to bear the collar alone for the downside.
Cross is a guy who will enjoy the benefits, but then have no problem blaming the other side for making it happen. He has no shame.
At least the Dems are honest about their desire to tax and spend.
The video poker Tom Cross helped pass is much worse than any income tax increase in any case. Much more destructive on several levels.
Comment by Just sayin Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 1:49 pm
Well, if the Republicans play their cards right it could be Governor Dillard or some other Republicans governor getting to spend all those billions from the Democratic tax increase. Now that would be rich—as Republican pay to players would be again, should it pass.
I hope not too many of us thought that the Republicans were acting out of concern for the masses this past session. Quinn didn’t, obviously–he has made barely any of those cuts he promised and the entire Blago bureaucracy is still running day to day ops in most state agencies.
A shadow dance with a pot of gold waiting at the end of the fall session?
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 3:22 pm
To all who see-through Lou and aren’t buying into his crap, thank you!
I agree that if it really meant so much to the democrats then they just should have passed it without the republcians.
Lou should really keep quiet.
Comment by Okay then... Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 3:29 pm
Any more updates on the Wirtz lawsuit seeking to block the institution of the liquor and other sales tax increases set to go into effect tomorrow? Was this suit heard in court today in hopes of a last-minute attempt to block the increases?
Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 5:15 pm
What am I missing? The GOP says they won’t vote for a tax increase unless they have some say in how the money is spent. Sounds reasonable to me.
Comment by Its Just Me Monday, Aug 31, 09 @ 7:40 pm
hey Palos Park Bob, are you living in the dark ages? women don’t have to pretend to be made of stone, emotionless anymore. i give this woman credit for her honesty… something we could use more of these days, yes?
And Bob, do you know anything about the human services cuts from last year? Try hearing stories about the disabled, blind and seriously mentally ill being thrown out on the streets and/or hardworking employees of these providers losing jobs after they’ve given up their lives to help these people. If you’re not misty after hearing a few of these heart-wrenching stories, you are without a conscience or soul.
Comment by dupage progressive Tuesday, Sep 1, 09 @ 9:08 am
[…] There are Republicans like Voinovich in Illinois. They were willing to do the right thing this year when it came to the budget, but in a bit of highly effective political maneuvering, their leader stopped it from happening. […]
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