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* Matt Hopf at the Quincy Herald-Whig…
Calling Illinois the transportation hub of America, Gov. Bruce Rauner said the state has underinvested in its infrastructure.
“It has also not expanded to keep up with the rest of the economic growth across America,” he said. “We need to do a big infrastructure bill. I’m going to be pushing to get a balanced budget and do a major infrastructure investment program, so we can be investing in the rail system, the roads and the locks and dams here in Western Illinois, but all across the state.” […]
While not citing specifics on how to pay for a statewide capital plan, Rauner said he could go along with some new revenue and tax options being proposed by legislators.
“There’s been many things that have been put on the table, and I’m flexible,” Rauner said. “We’ll work that out. We need to pay for it, and we can. We’ll find the money if we have a balanced budget, and if we have more job creation.”
He’s been promising a big infrastructure plan since the 2014 campaign, but has yet to propose a thing.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:20 am
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More taxes. More spending. The blueprint to being a fiscal conservative.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:22 am
Not a bad idea. Now that the gas tax has to constitutionally go to the roads and with Indiana looking at increasing their gas tax, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to increase Illinois’ 3-5 cents a gallon.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:24 am
Forget about the fact that seniors, children, people with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence and other vulnerable populations are suffering. What about our infrastructure?! /s
Comment by Sick & Tired Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:25 am
“While not citing specifics on how to pay for a statewide capital plan, Rauner said he could go along with some new revenue and tax options being proposed by legislators.”
And tell us GrandBargain Bruce what taxes ware those and will the stooges at the Bank of Proft and IPI agree
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:25 am
===While not citing specifics on how to pay for a statewide capital plan, Rauner said he could go along with some new revenue and tax options being proposed by legislators.===
I’ve never seen or recalled a governor saying things of this nature without a plan/plans in the pipeline that said governor points to, via speech or visit, and allows those projects to help carry the weight of words.
Rauner has done nothing as a governor to move this capital plan but quotes and “stuff” like this…
===…if we have more job creation.===
Ok. Then make “the deal” already.
Having a member of the General Assembly, a Democrat, vote to curtail collective bargaining and raise taxes on their own, without Raunerite votes… and the give us a capital plan yet developed…
… no Democratic support will be found. Not my rules, it’s the politics of leverage with an actual, spelled out, real project plan… as the carrot.
“…if we have more job creation.”
That’s not gonna do anything to move anything… anytime soon… without an actual capital plan.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:26 am
So Illinois isn’t overtaxed after all and we can afford a new tax for infrastructure? But not a tax to actually pay our debts?
If I was any contractor on a infrastructure program associated with this proposal, I would do is insist on two things:
a) the “non-funding” clause be removed from the State’s boilerplate
b) the contract require all payments be made in the current fiscal year
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:30 am
== “…if we have more job creation.” ==
Maybe we should start with JOB RETENTION, by paying what we already owe.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:32 am
There’s no point in paying attention to what he says, unless you enjoy pointing out his hypocrisy and cynicism.
His actions, or lack thereof, tell the tale.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:33 am
This. This is why raising taxes WILL NOT SOLVE anything. Give a politician, regardless of party, a dime, and they spend a dollar. Debts will not be paid down. The cycle continues….and this bozo campaigned on being a fiscal…..
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:33 am
===I’m going to be pushing to get a balanced budget and do a major infrastructure investment program===
When? As soon as you aren’t the governor???
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:34 am
Locks and dams are run by the army corp of engineers. Railroads are run by warren buffett.
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:35 am
===While not citing specifics on how to pay for a statewide capital plan, Rauner said he could go along with some new revenue and tax options being proposed by legislators.===
Oh for crying out loud, why won’t he ever propose something specific? Why did he want this job in the first place? When is he going to start doing it.
Do your job, Governor.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:37 am
Promisin’ is easy, doin’ is hard.
Comment by Illinoised Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:39 am
Maybe when he closes down all but a couple of schools of higher education he’ll have the money.
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=238965
===“We maybe don’t need as many of one type of study or program in multiple locations around the state,” Rauner said. “Maybe we should think strategically and have one or two schools specialize in certain subjects.”
Rauner said that will make the system more efficient, driving value for taxpayers.===
Sheesh!
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:41 am
Maybe Rauner should visit Trump and put dibs on a large share of the $Trillion infrastructure plan.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:42 am
Flexible. Rauner. Prove it.
Comment by Archiesmom Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:42 am
- I’m flexible -
Sure you are, as long as someone else does all the work of coming up with a plan.
What a lazy, vacuous Governor.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:44 am
The locks and dams are part for the fed plan when did the state start paying for fed job (Water Resources Reform and Development Act) Keep Illinois money on Illinois infrastructure NOT THE US Government lock and dams
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:47 am
More than 50% of dams are privately owned. Less than 10% are owned by state or federal governments.
Comment by Man with a Plan Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:50 am
Still campaignin’ and not governin’!!!!!
Comment by illini Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:52 am
Rauner is so messed up, he thinks he can bring everyone happily to the bargaining table by telling us that he supports new taxes.
Rauner has completely lost it.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:55 am
Laser focused.
Isn’t that what we hear out of this administration?
Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:00 am
An increase in road-specific revenue is probably more marketable now with the lock-box amendment.
Comment by BK Bro Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:02 am
Fake Rauner “I would support a huge infrastructure plan and the money to pay for it but that mean old Mike Madigan won’t let me”
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:07 am
For a guy who gave up playing cards for fear of having to say the word “Trump”, Rauner certainly uses a bunch of his schtick. Maybe it will be a “big and beautiful” infrastructure program that he will fund “big league.”
Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:11 am
@Anonymous Mar 14, 17 @ 10:24 am
If I remember correctly the new amendment; Article 9 Section XI of the IL Constitution only says that taxes that are charged for usage of the road (titles, registration, fuel tax) have to be spent on transportation. That could be buses, airports, trains, and roads.
So don’t think that if the gas tax goes up that it will necessarily go toward the roads.
Comment by Kevin Highland Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:18 am
Time to legalize and tax pot in order to fix the potholes!
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:18 am
The best time to do finance construction spending is when your credit rating is nearing junk status.
What’s his message to MAP Grant students? The world needs ditch diggers?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:21 am
Rauner is as big a failure as Blagojevich at this point.
Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:22 am
Good. Maybe he’ll lose his last friends now, the IPI and company.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:32 am
Unspecified tax increases for undefined projects. That does not move the discussion forward.
It sounds good to the uninformed.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:34 am
I’m certain Rauner knows what he’s doing and is succeeding on his own terms (which he can’t publicly acknowledge).
Unless you think he’s nuts or stupid (which I don’t), nothing else makes sense.
Rauner has been blessed with an incredibly lazy Democratic Party that apparently believes silence in the face of outrage is a virtue.
That’s starting to change with Mendoza. But the Dems should have been pounding Rauner for the last 18 months all over the state with real stories of real people who have been harmed by squeeze the beast.
For crying out loud, why haven’t the Dems at least aggregated the people who have lost their jobs and the contractors that have gone out of business over the state’s failure to pay its bills. They have the resources to do it.
But nothing. 3D Chessmaster my tukkus.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:36 am
Y’all are missin’ the big story here. Gov. Rauner called for higher taxes. Say it loud!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:41 am
Last Bull Moose is on to something. “Unspecified tax increases for undefined projects.” Me thinks The Governor is looking for cover, justification for raising taxes. In the surreal world of Rauner spin he will raise taxes because the state is about to fold and claim it is for a bridge; which he would also like to sell you.
Comment by wondering Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:45 am
===Y’all are missin’ the big story here. Gov. Rauner called for higher taxes. Say it loud!===
…
Rauner also said…
===…if we have more job creation.===
See/Hear the difference?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:49 am
Who knew being the Governor could be so complicated..
Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 11:59 am
@Saluki Not sure who is/was a bigger failure at this point in their terms, but I know one of them had passed some budgets. He even did it with the impossible Madigan. Rauner can’t even do that. That is turning out to be a pretty big thing. Yep, the bar is that low.
Comment by Nearspringfield Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 12:07 pm
I totally agree with Wordslinger’s tukkus.
There have been a few efforts by Democrats — Rahm and a Daniel Biss come to mind — to articulate a more forceful message. And efforts by others to speak out. (Thank you Emily Miller.) But the messaging from the state party leadership has been dreadful.
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 12:12 pm
==I’m going to be pushing to get a balanced budget and do a major infrastructure investment program==
Before Bruce wins the gold medal for cycling, he might want to take off those training wheels.
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 12:19 pm
OW: knowing how eager Rauner is to pin bad stuff on someone else, anytime he acknowledges that current revenue is not sufficient to meet the state’s needs should be broadcast far and wide. The governor, who said the temporary tax should lapse, now admits the state needs more revenue to fund priorities. Start there and keep on pushin.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 12:24 pm
Blah, blah, blah. If I’m going to be taxed to death (closer to death) let’s start with paying down the backlog of bills, including state employee/retiree insurance claims. Oh wait, can’t do that cause we need them to all die from lack of medical care. Then pension debt problem is solved.
All talk and no action, Governor.
Comment by Had Enough Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 12:24 pm
===…admits the state needs more revenue to fund priorities.===
No. That’s not accurate.
What is accurate is Rauner tying, fur the 6,532nd time, that revenue is that give “if”
===..if we have a balanced budget, and if we…===
Rauner is admitting nothing as a stand alone.
There’s no difference.
That’s the real rub.
There’s no capital plan, there’s no amount the plan will cost, and there are preconditions FIRST before either will see the light of day.
Same song, 2 plus years running.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 12:31 pm
OW: Give him a couple props, he didn’t use the words “phony”, “sham” or “..with reforms” in the entire piece.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 1:31 pm
- Skeptic -
Well, you do have me there. I am both excited and thrilled by those missing words…
… the missing plan, the missing budget, the missing tax plan to pay for all this…
But, very respectfully, you have me with your points.
I’ll defer to your choice level of props as apporpriate.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 1:35 pm
Well, right now Rep Pritchard is presenting a ten cent gas tax increase in House Transportation. HB3136. Stay tuned to see how the votes come down in committee (but good for the House Dems for posting the bill and giving it a hearing … ).
Comment by Dan Johnson Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 2:14 pm
2 Dems voted yes, the other Dems voted no and all Republicans voted no. But everyone acknowledged Bob for trying to actually move an infrastructure bill.
Comment by Dan Johnson Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 2:19 pm
Sounds like Rauner is trying to buy votes around the state.
“The state has underinvested in its infrastructure.”
The state is broke and you don’t want to raise taxes so…
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 4:30 pm
Pivot from TA agenda to infastructure.
Comment by Of acts are stubborn things Tuesday, Mar 14, 17 @ 10:00 pm