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* Sometimes, you notice a little something when reading a bunch of stories on the same topic and a blog post idea emerges. This is one of those posts. Tribune…
But the budget proposal Rauner offered in February also did not account for an immediate drop in the tax rate, which is now 4.95 percent for individuals, up from 3.75. Instead, his budget plan would spend the extra money from the tax hike, while suggesting pension cost savings could generate as much as $1 billion to pay for a modest rollback of about a quarter-point at some point down the road.
To accomplish that, Rauner pointed to pension legislation introduced by Cullerton and co-sponsored by House Republican leader Jim Durkin. It passed the Senate last spring before stalling in the House. Rauner said the bill was “not perfect” but that he wants it sent to his desk.
Asked if the speaker would allow the bill to be called for a vote, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said, “So far the sponsor has not persuaded many members that it meets the standards set by the Illinois Supreme Court in various pension rulings.”
* Brown was more up-front about his feelings with the Sun-Times…
“You can’t really react with a straight face,” Brown said of the governor’s desire to roll back the income tax after passing pension reform. “It’s all predicated by a pension law change some people say is unconstitutional. So I guess it’s a pipe dream.”
* He said this to ABC 7…
“The Rauner priorities seem the same as the past. He has generally failed to persuade many that this is a path to improved prosperity,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Mike Madigan.
* But he was snarkier with WTTW…
Despite Rauner’s insistence that his plan is bipartisan, or non-partisan, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown characterized most of Rauner’s agenda as a retread for which there is no support.
“He offers no explanation of why they would want to agree,” Brown said of legislators stance on Rauner’s demands, calling it “the same mumbo-jumbo he’s been peddling for several years without any persuasive arguments, and therein lies part of his problem with why none of this has been passed.”
* Sun-Times…
Brown, too, noted the governor didn’t list improvements to the Quincy Veterans Home as one of the things he wants to focus on: “It appears it has quickly fallen as a priority.”
* Fox 55…
Brown added he thought it was stunning the governor did not include a solution to the Quincy Veterans’ Home crisis in his list of priorities.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 10:53 am
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Nothing prevented Rauner from proposing a budget that didn’t include the tax increase.
He chose instead to propose spending all of it, plus more from phony savings.
Still think he wasn’t complicit last summer in raising taxes?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 10:58 am
===“The Rauner priorities seem the same as the past. He has generally failed to persuade many that this is a path to improved prosperity,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Mike Madigan.===
Rauner can really, really… really embarrass Brown by putting 60 on the stairs.
Why won’t Rauner?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:05 am
I know Rauner’s people said the reason they didn’t add Quincy to the list is because they thought they already had bipartisan support or some other such nonsense, but that’s horse-hockey.
In my admittedly unprofessional estimation Rauner and his superstars either didn’t include it because they’re hoping it’ll just go away, or they actually legitimately forgot about it. Either way is disturbing.
These folks deserve better.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:09 am
When it comes to good governing the Speaker is not someone I look to for advice.
Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:13 am
Why is “problem solver” Steve Brown convinced the bill is unconstitutional but the majority in the Senate does not?
Have you seen him walking around the statehouse in a black robe?
The same mumbo jumbo has been coming out of his mouth for the past few decades
We are not change people, everything in Illinois is fine despite the fact Illinois residents have the least faith in their state government of any state in the union
What is the Democrats plan for improved prosperity?
Another tax increase?
Please tell us Steve why the future will be more prosperous than the past if Illinois does not change anything?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:14 am
“rown added he thought it was stunning the governor did not include a solution to the Quincy Veterans’ Home crisis in his list of priorities.”
There are no rich people there, that’s why.
Better to spend public money on private schools, right?
Comment by Streamwood Retiree Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:30 am
Wow this segment does not seem too popular. Is function of GovJunk blunders, miscues and assorted mumbo jumbo or that the responses were totally on A-OK on target.
However the best lines of the day had to be the Mayor notin’ GovJunk signed legislation licensin’ catfish sales, but vetoed the gun stores.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:57 am
==convinced the bill is unconstitutional==
Anybody with the slightest reading comprehension skills is convinced of that. I’m not sure how many ways the Supreme Court can say that you cannot diminish benefits for those currently in the system.
==The same mumbo jumbo ==
Speaking of the same mumbo jumbo, the same mumbo jumbo has been coming out of the Governor’s mouth his entire term. Apparently he thinks if he says it enough times he’ll get what he wants. He’s not too good at understanding being told no.
==despite the fact Illinois residents have the least faith in their state government==
And you don’t think the Governor has contributed to some of those current feelings?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 12:58 pm
Steve Brown is right about the Governor regurgitating the same thing over and over. Didn’t he ever learn the “no means no” concept?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Um Pierre,, majorities of both houses thought the last pension bill was constitutional (or gave it no thought).
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 1:14 pm
LP: You still haven’t answered our question, how does the Democrat’s plan (or alleged lack thereof) show that the TA will lead to prosperity? It’s a simple question really, yet you consistently avoid answering it. It’s almost as if the answer is “it doesn’t and it never will” yet you’re afraid to say that.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:24 pm
===What is the Democrats plan for improved prosperity?==
Rauner, by nearly every measure… Illinois is worse since Rauner?
What will be different in a Rauner second term?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:26 pm
==What is the Democrats plan for improved prosperity?==
I’m guessing the steps start something like:
1) Get rid of Ruiner
2) Start paying down on the damage he caused with the budget stalemate
Comment by HangingOn Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:28 pm
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The only thing Democrats really want to change is the tax code. They are not concerned with Illinois business and the middle class families they employ.
One quick scan of the headlines would indicate Illinois has had one of the weakest recoveries since the Great Recession in 2008.
Why is that? Why is Illinois leading the nation in outmigration?why is our unemployment rate one of the highest in the country since 2008?
Could it be our sky high property taxes? JB says with a straight face they are not a problem but his actions tell a different story. He avoided $250 K in property taxes by removing plumbing
Now we have unelected Steve Brown pontificating about the pension bill the Democratic Senate passed while his boss will not even attempt to adddress the problems Illinois is facing
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:50 pm
===Now we have unelected Steve Brown===
Now that’s just plain silly.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:51 pm
===“You can’t really react with a straight face,” Brown said ===
The same can be said of Madigan’s pension reform bill. He knew full well that it would be declared unconstitutional but got to have his cake and eat it too by passing the buck to the Supremes.
If Rauner was even halfway cognizant of the legislative process he would have proposed a constitutional amendment to make Madigan’s bill legal and put his GOP members on it. But hey what are you gonna do.
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:53 pm
LP: You still haven’t answered our question.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:55 pm
===Why is Illinois leading the nation in outmigration?why is our unemployment rate one of the highest in the country since 2008?===
What would be different in a Rauner second term, lol
===The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results===
Three years, no budget signed by a governor, a governor purposely hurting Illinois, so much so a bipartisan General Assembly stopped Rauner’s insanity, override the hurtful Rauner and saved Illinois.
You mean like that?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:56 pm
===You still haven’t answered our question.===
Don’t fear, as you know, “Lucky Pierre” won’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:58 pm
==Now we have unelected Steve Brown pontificating==
He’s a spokesperson Mr. Wizard. It’s part of their job to pontificate.
What the heck do you think it is you do here all day Mr. Unelected?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 4:09 pm
Boone, the constitutional amendment argument is a canard. It could not be applied retroactively. And there is no need to apply it prospectively because everyone hired since 2010 (Tier Two) has a crappy pension. The Tier One folks will eventually die off, but until they do, no law or constitutional amendment may diminish their pensions. Why do folks keep sticking their heads in the sand on this issue?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 7:21 pm