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* From Dan Proft of the Liberty Principles PAC…
Statement by on the “grand bargain” before the Illinois Senate:
The truth about the so-called grand bargain is, to paraphrase Voltaire, it is neither grand nor is it a bargain.
It is the same old power politics presenting the same false choices to keep the same false prophets atop their very real perches of privilege.
Chicago Democrat bosses Madigan and Cullerton don’t need to learn new tricks as long as Republicans continue to fall for their old ones.
If the Chicago Democrat bosses pass a structural tax hike with the votes of a handful of a pliable Republicans, they present Governor Rauner with this choice:
(1) sign the tax hike immediately becoming the majority owner of it thus giving lie to your campaign promise to provide tax relief to Illinois families and businesses thereby destroying your brand as an outsider, maverick willing to take on the craven political establishment of both parties to set Illinois on a growth track; or,
(2) veto the tax hike and be attacked as someone who won’t compromise with Democrats and even moderate Republicans to do a budget deal.
If Governor Rauner chooses the first option, he destroys his base and likely precludes his re-election as a result.
If Governor Rauner chooses the second option, he preserves his base party support with an existent opportunity to work to the middle for victory as he successfully did in the 2014 election.
Democrat bosses got previous Republican Governors Thompson and Edgar to choose the first option. Those decisions by those Republican governors began the descent of the ILGOP into superminority status and of IL to its designation as the worst governed state in the nation.
GOP State Senators who vote for the not grand non-bargain are in effect saying they want Chicago Democrat bosses to continue to run this state and run it into the ground for their benefit.
GOP State Senators who vote for this not grand non-bargain are in effect saying they do not want Gov. Rauner re-elected.
Our position at Liberty Principles PAC is that GOP State Senators who vote for this not grand non-bargain are actually in effect saying they don’t want to be re-elected.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Illinois Policy Institute…
Illinois lawmakers have begun voting on the components of a “grand bargain” budget proposal, and voting is expected to continue today. Illinois Policy CEO John Tillman released the following statement:
“This entire budget package is a weak charade meant to convince Republicans to provide Democrats cover on yet another tax increase. Don’t take the bait. Stand up for the people and vote against any proposal that forces Illinoisans to pay more before the state enacts real reform.
“Furthermore, this is not the budget Illinois needs. This is not a reform package. Lawmakers must vote no.
“Illinois cannot weather another tax increase. The state is on the brink of an economic collapse. Moody’s Investors Service has said Illinois is facing economic deterioration. But don’t just take Moody’s word for it. Look around: People are leaving. Businesses are shutting down or packing up and fleeing. The state’s revenue is declining. Raising taxes to prop up a broken and dysfunctional state government will not change that – it will escalate Illinois’ decline. If the tax increases in the Senate’s so-called ‘grand bargain’ are enacted, taxpayers will be crushed and the state’s economy may not recover for decades.
“A multibillion-dollar tax hike would destroy what little recovery has been made since the recession. At the end of 2016, Illinois had the worst jobs growth rate in the region. Nearly 1 in 5 homes are deeply underwater on their mortgages, and Illinois is the only state in the region with a shrinking population. Bloomington, Carbondale, Peoria and the Quad Cities are currently in recession, according to Moody’s, and Elgin, Danville, Decatur and Kankakee are on the brink of recession.
“Illinoisans dutifully paid more than $31 billion in higher taxes after the tax increase of 2011. They were told the revenue would be used to strengthen the state’s economy, pay off the backlog of bills, and get Illinois back in fiscal shape. They were told that a spending cap enacted with the tax increase would prevent the state from this type of crisis ever occurring again. Illinoisans were lied to. Now, policymakers in Springfield are lying to them again. If this deal passes, overburdened taxpayers will be forced to sacrifice again – and even more people will throw up their hands in disgust and decide to leave. More families and jobs will cross the border, and the downward economic spiral will continue.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Yep…
On attacks on GOP by Proft, Policy Institute on voting for budget package, Radogno says "it says more about them than it does about me.”
— Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) March 1, 2017
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:13 am
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Throwing a Hail Mary.
Comment by Illinoised Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:15 am
Exactly who is the governor of Illinois these days?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:16 am
What percent of the GOP primary vote did Governor Proft get in 2010?
Comment by Please Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:17 am
The best way to figure out the smartest course to take politically is to do the exact opposite of Proft and his merry band of losers.
Comment by Do the opposite Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:18 am
More of the same.. From more of the same.. If the two sides can’t find common ground we are so doomed. I missed the solution to the problem Dan.
Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:19 am
Please, the answer to your question is 7.7 percent
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:19 am
Of course Proft starts his ramblings with “to paraphrase Voltaire”. Proft is always grasping at straws to try and make himself look intelligent and cultured–see his embarrassing videos sitting fireside and sipping scotch.
He loses far more often than he wins. Sad!
Comment by Gregg10 Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:24 am
Anybody or anyone who believes for one minute that Proft did this press release on his own without permission from his money line is delusional.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:26 am
Who elected Dan Proft?
Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:26 am
Proft is financed and directed by that finance by Uihlein… and by Rauner too.
Here’s where actual “thinkers” are going to part ways with the naive…
Proft is wanting the following to be believed…
1) Uihlein and Proft are now at odds with Rauner.
2) Proft has decided to personally be at odds with both Uihlein and Rauner.
Or… My Choice…
3) Proft is using his alleged “Independent” PAC to signal Senate Raunerites that Uihlein and Rauner want them to turn on Radogno and the Grand Compromise, or face “a #%$& problem” and $50 million either from Rauner directly or indirectly.
It’s 100% “3″ unless Rauner decides to purposely and unquestionably turns on Proft in no uncertain terms.
I’m not holding my, or anyone else’s, breath.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:30 am
==the worst governed state in the nation.==
That was pre-Bruce…right?
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:32 am
Ooh, “paraphrasing Voltaire. ” That way, you know he’s smart.
“…false prophets atop their very real perches of privilege.” That way, you know he’s a terrible writer with a serious mixed metaphor problem.
Proft does what his Sugar Daddies tell him. He’s fronting for Rauner to kill any deal, his phony saber-rattling at Rauner aside.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:39 am
“I wonder what Dan Proft thinks?” asked no one ever.
Comment by Jaisen Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:41 am
Pardon, 11:39 was me.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:41 am
If one were to assume that Proft and his Liberty Principles PAC are actually speaking for BVR ( and there is good reason to believe that is the case ) this would appear to be a signal that the Grand Bargain is indeed dead.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:43 am
= = Who elected Dan Proft? = =
Reminds me of the following teenage phone conversation scenario:
Caller 1: Can you come to my party?
Caller 2: I’d really like to but I need to ask my Mom. [Looks at Mom and shakes head “No”]
Mom: No! You have chores to do.
Caller 2: I’m really sorry but Mom says “No” - maybe next time.
Caller 1: I’m really going to miss you. [Hangs up phone]
Caller 2: Thanks Mom!
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:44 am
To paraphrase Socrates, Dan Proft is pretty dumb.
Comment by PJ Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:45 am
Shorter Bruce Rauner: “I’d love to do a grand bargain but Dan Proft says I can’t. Sorry.”
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:47 am
I think if k had the opportunity to share a cigar and a Scotch with Dan Proft, I’d say this to him, as he tries to convince me with his take…
“Don’t be obsessed with your desires Danny. The Zen philosopher, Basho, once wrote, ‘A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.’ He was a funny guy.”
… but that’s just me.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:49 am
To paraphrase Proft: “Voting for a tax hike can kill you politically.”
Well duh. True for both sides.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:51 am
Illinois residents would do well to remember the Governor has line item veto capability. The reality is we can’t cut our way out of this (if we could, why didn’t he just line item out the budget he was given when he started) The structural deficit has nearly tripled as a result of our not having a budget. The longer we wait, the bigger the tax increase will need to be.
Comment by Just the Facts Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:52 am
To Tillman and the Update…
Tillmam…
===Republicans to provide Democrats cover on yet another tax increase.===
I’m gonna stop you right there Mr. Tillman.
Rauner’s own phony, out of whack, status quo budget requires an increase in revenue.
If you would like Rep. Ives to put in Bill form and get 60 and 30 for it, then the rest of your drivel would make sense.
Here’s the spoiler alert.
It IS drivel. So there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:54 am
Chaos is lucrative.
Comment by Oh Boy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:56 am
Rauner funded Proft with $2.3 million. Rauner funded IPI with $500,000. These two groups are trying to pull Republican votes off the Senate package, Rauner is trying to kill the grand bargain.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:56 am
Democrat bosses got previous Republican Governors =Thompson and Edgar to choose the first option. Those decisions by those Republican governors began the descent of the ILGOP into superminority status and of IL to its designation as the worst governed state in the nation.=
How many elections did Thompson and Edgar lose for governor? As many as Proft has won. It’s easy to oppose everything, it’s hard to stand for something.
Comment by OurMagician Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:08 pm
@OW, I think #3 also. We’ll get a budget when Rauner wants one. I don’t think he’s ready yet. Remember that Rauner said that crisis creates leverage. Hopefully if Illinois bleeds a little longer the opposition will cave to him. GOP members are being reminded to continue to toe the line or they will face a well funded opponent the next time they face the voters.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:08 pm
“Proft is financed and directed by that finance by Uihlein… and by Rauner too.”
The truth about the so-called the Liberty Principles PAC is, to paraphrase Voltaire, it is neither liberated nor is it principled.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:09 pm
- The Dude Abides -
Yep, that’s the message. The crisis needs to continue. The vertical integration is again being used, left-handedly, to make sure it’s not Rauner as the messenger, but it’s without question Rauner’s message.
(Great to read - @MisterJayEm -, tip my cap. OW)
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:18 pm
Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute says, “policymakers in Springfield are lying.”
Freudian slip.
Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:19 pm
Just ask Proft to post a balanced budget with current revenue that the existing gop can submit and vote for
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:25 pm
Tillman cites Moodys to support his opposition to a tax hike. Yet Moodys has stated that “Illinois has the capacity to absorb higher income tax rates.” Aug. 31, 2015
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:25 pm
You know, for someone willing to “take the arrows” Rauner sure does like to send messengers instead of delivering it himself.
Rauner doesn’t want the Grand Bargain to land on his desk where he has to sign or veto.
Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:25 pm
Hired gun provides political cover for his paymaster.
Comment by The_Equalizer Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:29 pm
So BigBrain grand bargain looks like grand trap…guessing no one believes Profit, Tillman, Single Mom or anyone else in the clown car is operatin’ without direction…but it would be fun to know how they fashioned this scheme
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:30 pm
The governor could put an end to these threats against GOP senators right now:
Not a dime from his campaign fund to Proft, not a dime from his funder network to IPI, if they continue with the threats.
Curious that he does not, considering his public support for the process.
I’m beginning to question his sincerity and truthfulness.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Tillman’s got a lotta nerve to quote Moody’s. They’re downgrading Illinois because taxes are too low, not because taxes might increase.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:37 pm
Rauner needs the Grand Bargain as part of the long game to win in 18. But he has to appeal to the Trumpists by resisting tax hikes. How to do both? Enlist his employee, Proft.
The votes may already be locked up to pass a Grand Bargain.
The rest is window dressing.
Comment by IRLJ Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:38 pm
To paraphrase Voltaire: “What a crock of mer…” Wait, can I get banned for non-English mild swears?
Comment by West Side the Best Side Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:46 pm
=== Rauner needs the Grand Bargain as part of the long game to win in 18. But he has to appeal to the Trumpists by resisting tax hikes. ===
If the Grand Bargain passes the General Assembly, and the Governor signs it, then he will be responsible for the tax hikes.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:48 pm
I am for anything that he unions, trial lawyers snd Proft are against. If they all hate the Grand Bargain that is a good sign it is on a the right track
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:52 pm
I think this move just makes Rauner look weak.
He is bending over backward to convince Senators to kill this deal before it reaches his desk while avoiding responsibility.
That tells me he understands that whoever kills this is going to be really, really unpopular.
It also tells me that if it reaches his desk, he will sign it.
Any leader who asks people to do things they are afraid to do themselves is weak and cowardly.
Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:08 pm
If Mr. Tillman had a serious alternative it might make his criticism more valid. He isn’t interested in solving anything. This notion that compromise is a dirty word is what has gotten us to this point. He thinks that’s a successful strategy? Perhaps Mr. Tillman could address how he thinks it’s better that the state hasn’t had a budget for 2 years and how continuing that is good for business. Mr. Tillman is part of the problem.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:10 pm
“If Governor Rauner chooses the first option, he destroys his base and likely precludes his re-election as a result.
If Governor Rauner chooses the second option, he preserves his base party support with an existent opportunity to work to the middle for victory as he successfully did in the 2014 election.
Democrat bosses got previous Republican Governors Thompson and Edgar to choose the first option. ”
Bro, Thompson and Edgar won a buncha elections, tho.
I think that if Rauner gets to 2018 without ever passing a budget, he’s in for a world of hurt. And the hurting decreases the earlier he signs it. So just get it done.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:20 pm
I think Tillman has moved into a subdivision with a very high rate of vacancy right now. And it’s causing him to get louder. Not more effective; louder. He doesn’t want his admirers to live in his subdivision, just wants them to occasionally visit him at his “country space” now and then.
He’s overplayed his hand badly. He’s advocating the worst solution now; doing nothing. They haven’t been able yet to kill this legislation in the embryo, so they’re ticked.
Their approach has sullied the honor of public service. No one is “afraid” to leave or walk away from a place where the honor has already left. They have to listen to this moron’s rant while they’re months and months behind on pay, and many of these are people who have already rejected the pension. As Bruce Willis said in Die Hard, (paraphrase) “I’m feeling pretty damm unappreciated at the moment”. Who could blame any of them.
Tillman is not a smart man. He’s putting that on display for all now. We’re 14:58 into his 15 minutes. Creep.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:40 pm
Michelle Flaherty, you are a gem. Not a obsessive ‘gotta comment’ type, but when you do, it is short and sweet - well, not sweet to the target, but love hearing from you.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:44 pm
Rauner, behind the curtain or in front of it, sends in others to do the dirty work. Unless there is proof he’s not payin’ Proft and Co. anymore, Rauner’s hands are far from clean in makin’ sure nothin’ gets done in Illinois. The GA members who fear Proft and Co. and Rauner need to grow some backbones. They need to understand that if they worship Rauner’s money, they are gonna get played.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qYalWMLigY
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:47 pm
—-Democrat bosses got previous Republican Governors Thompson and Edgar to choose the first option. Those decisions by those Republican governors began the descent of the ILGOP into superminority status and of IL to its designation as the worst governed state in the nation.
Dan is very confused about Illinois politics and Republicans. One or two statewide True ™ Conservatives have won statewide in Illinois since at least 1976. If you go by top of the ticket with Governor or US Senator other than the two exceptions I list next, you have to at least go back to the 1950s and more like the 1940s to identify a conservative Republican winning either spot. Peter Fitzgerald and Rauner if you consider him to have run as a True ™ Conservative–I tend to count Rauner are the two exceptions The next closest is probably Jim Ryan and George Ryan, but they wouldn’t pass the True ™ test by most of the True ™ Conservatives. Both were pro-life, but fully willing to work with unions and such and while they wanted government to be more efficient, they weren’t openly hostile toward it.
Peter beat a scandal plagued US Senator who also wasn’t good at the job 1998. He probably wouldn’t even qualify at a True ™ conservative by many in the True ™ caucus now. Rauner won in 2014 against, well, I don’t know what to say because it would take too long, Quinn.
Proft and Tillman seem to think they are operating in a rock ribbed conservative state. Illinois is a blue state that will elect a good moderate Republican or a True ™ Conservative Republican when the Democrats put up a godawful candidate.
The notion that two Governors who won a total of 6 statewide elections as Governor were the reason for the downfall of the Illinois Republican Party is absurd. In fact, the people who have been most successful since then have been in their image Topinka and Rutherford. Demographics have only tended towards Democrats over time in Illinois and the IL GOP has moved to the right in nominating people.
Rauner may win in 2018 if Democrats offer up a crappy candidate or if the candidate is a simple stand in for Madigan. However, starving the state isn’t the path to winning for anyone.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:57 pm
Proft “Illinois cannot weather another tax increase. The state is on the brink of an economic collapse. Moody’s Investors Service has said Illinois is facing economic deterioration.”
Aren’t the rating agencies mainly focused on the state not paying its bills, and not having a balanced budget? Those things can’t be done on existing revenue.
Comment by titan Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 2:16 pm
==“Illinoisans dutifully paid more than $31 billion in higher taxes after the tax increase of 2011. They were told the revenue would be used to strengthen the state’s economy, pay off the backlog of bills, and get Illinois back in fiscal shape. They were told that a spending cap enacted with the tax increase would prevent the state from this type of crisis ever occurring again.==
And guess what? The backlog was paid down significantly, and pension fund contributions were made, so we were in better fiscal shape. And the spending caps worked until the expired after 2015 (which kinda makes me doubt anyone claimed they would work forever).
==Illinoisans were lied to.==
By Tillman, it would appear.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 2:43 pm
–The state is on the brink of economic collapse–
Tillman runs a “think tank.” Ask him, he’ll tell you.
What could that possibly mean, by any standard of economics scholarship?
The state GDP in 2016 was $841.3B, behind CA, TX, NY and FL.
I guess the other 45 states are on double-secret-probation economic collapse, going by the deep thinkers logic.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 2:47 pm
To the Update…
===On attacks on GOP by Proft, Policy Institute on voting for budget package, Radogno says “it says more about them than it does about me.”===
With you. All. Day.
You deserve much better Leader Radogno, and I’m with you because you’re Spot On with that quote, and with the Grand Bargain.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 3:02 pm
===On attacks on GOP by Proft, Policy Institute on voting for budget package, Radogno says “it says more about them than it does about me.”===
Does it ever.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 3:16 pm
==“it says more about them than it does about me.”==
It also says more about the people who are writing the big checks to fund Liberty and IPI and are remarkably quiet.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Radogno shows class all the way. Very impressed. We got what we expected from those two bomb throwing check cashers.
Comment by Oh Boy Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 5:04 pm
Proft and Tillman = Laurel and Hardy, only not as funny.
Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 5:34 pm
Owning is an unavoidable part of buying.
Comment by peon Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 5:52 pm
A witty saying proves nothing ( Voltaire )
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 7:27 pm
Any chance Bruce gave a call to Tillman and Proft and told them to make some noise about the Grand Bargain before the vote today?
Comment by No Longer A Lurker Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 9:09 pm