Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Trooper Lambert to be buried tomorrow
Next Post: One of our own needs a little help
Posted in:
* You think Illinois is broke now? Check out this historical tidbit from Amanda Vinicky’s latest story…
But there was a time – just before the [Illinois] constitution was adopted [in 1970], in fact – that Illinois had no income tax at all.
“We have no money,” John McCarter, who ran the newly formed budget bureau Ogilvie created, remembers the state’s comptroller telling him at the time. So little, there wasn’t enough to cut employee paychecks.
Whew.
* Ogilvie was the father of Illinois’ modern state government. It started when he pushed through a state income tax to pay for it…
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency was born under Ogilvie, and the state’s prison and juvenile justice systems were modernized.
High-ranking members of the Ogilvie administration, including McCarter (Ogilvie’s budget director), Paula Wolff (policy work, which was, at the time, rare for a woman) and Peter Bensinger (the first director of the department of corrections created under Ogilvie), say lessons from the past can serve to inform Illinois’ politicians today.
“He was interested in doing the right thing, putting the right policy in place and those policies have been sustained over time,” Wolff said. “The important thing in thinking about the continuum of governors is that governors who stand up for the policy things they care about, who are willing to do what they think is right, are the governors who have made the lasting contribution in Illinois.”
And then Ogilvie paid for all that by losing his next election to Dan Walker, who bashed Ogilvie but then spent every dollar from the new income tax that he possibly could.
* Coincidentally, Amanda found this poster while cleaning out her Statehouse office…
Illinois pols will spend a lot of time debating the income tax in the months and years ahead. Fifty years ago when Gov. Ogilvie was inaugurated (no Maroon5) IL had NO income tax.
Are there lessons for @GovPritzker from his audacious move to institute one?https://t.co/YVDs1KTKUk pic.twitter.com/rYwFhQCZcA— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) January 17, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:22 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Trooper Lambert to be buried tomorrow
Next Post: One of our own needs a little help
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Ogilvie was the best governor Illinois has ever had.
Comment by Interested Observer Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:33 am
Is the formula that easy? No income tax, no Maroon Five. I’m sensing a policy shift coming…
Comment by LoyalVirus Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:33 am
I had just become old enough to vote when Ogilvie was running the first time. He got my vote. And again against Walker. I believed Ogilvie was a good admninistrator and a very good governor. I still believe that he was the best governor since that time.
Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:34 am
==…Dan Walker, who bashed Ogilvie but then spent every dollar from the new income tax that he possibly could.–
Sounds like someone we know. Forgot his name.
I do remember seeing that poster as a kid. Must be from the ‘72 election. I doubt that “charisma” was an issue in the ‘68 Shapiro/Ogilvie race.
Some serious ticket splitting here in ‘72.
Nixon — 59%
McGovern — 41%
Walker — 51%
Ogilvie — 49%
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:40 am
Good column by Amanda. Telling my age, Olgivie was Governor when I started with the State. And I remember government, mostly, working under his administration.
Olgivie did what he thought was right got the State … and he didn’t have the luxury of billions of dollars to back up his independence. And, as Amanda pointed out, he lost the next election because of it. He would be a good role model for JB to emulate … but hopefully JB will be reelected because the State needs some long term leadership stability.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:41 am
Thanks. I have one of those posters somewhere, too.
And I agree that Ogilvie was the best governor in my adult life,
My first votes were for McGovern, Ogilvie, Percy, and Mikva.
I miss that version of the Illinois GOP.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:43 am
== I still believe that he was the best governor since that time. ==
I agree he was probably the best Governor in my lifetime.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:43 am
I have to wonder if Paul Simon, an experienced member of the GA who would go on to the US Congress and Senate, had any influence. This was the last time individuals from different parties shared those offices.
Comment by illini Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:43 am
How dare you run a piece about that terrible Democrat Ogilvie who not only raised taxes he championed the imposition of the income tax. Income tax being a terrible burden on folks that was first instituted nationally by that Democrat Abraham Lincoln.
Oh wait, are you telling me these were actually Republicans interested in properly funding government services for the people they serve.
I saw Ogilvie on my first trip to Springfield. He was doing the GOP thing at the fair. A larger than life figure who looked large to a young Norseman.
Great find Amanda. Something else to help you decorate your pad.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:46 am
Taxes in government. Everybody wants to go to heaven. Nobody wants to die.
Comment by HL Mencken Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:48 am
But Ogilvie has to take a back seat to Jesse White, the greatest Illinois politician ever. #medozaformayor
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 9:56 am
I was 11 years old in 72 and vividly remember my GOP parents discussing why they were going to vote for Walker because of income tax issue.
We were a middle class family and my parents were convinced the income tax would destroy them.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:01 am
–And, as Amanda pointed out, he lost the next election because of it.–
Both of his races were close. As I pointed out earlier, Walker beat him by two points in ‘72. In ‘68:
Ogilvie: 51%
Shapiro: 48%
Ogilvie’s vote in both races was nearly the same: 2.31 million in ‘68, 2.29 million in ‘72.
And here’s the’68 presidential election in Illinois:
Nixon: 47%
Humphrey: 44%
Wallace: 8%
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:07 am
Indeed, Ogilvie was the best…..his is a case study in how we got where we are. He had the audacity to state the obvious, no free lunch. His fate was not lost on the subsequent politicos. Other than Quinn of course, a slow study. In Illinois realism is countered by nihilism.
Comment by wondering Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:11 am
In Illinois , there seems to be a correlation between zero income and better public school outcomes. Go figure….
Comment by steve Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:20 am
Truth has powerful charisma.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:22 am
I forget the word “tax” above.
Comment by steve Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:22 am
Lawrence had that very posted framed in his SIU office. Made me chuckle every single time. That’s a classic piece of memorabilia. Put it in the next WTTW telethon and I will outbid.
Comment by The Bootlicker Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:26 am
Bensinger said. “Put your polls aside, put your political party aside, put your state first and do what you need to do.”
Dear god, is there a place in the Capitol where we can chisel this quote in stone?????
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:27 am
Given the emnity between Walker and Daley, I have to wonder if the spread between Walker and Ogilvie would have been a lot wider if Walker had the full support of the Party.
Comment by TominChicago Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:38 am
Great report by Amanda, as usual.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:38 am
–But Ogilvie has to take a back seat to Jesse White, the greatest Illinois politician ever.–
Maybe Lincoln could have accomplished something in his second term…..
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:39 am
–In Illinois , there seems to be a correlation between zero income and better public school outcomes.–
You personal history is anecdotal.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:46 am
Anyone notice that Illinois residents , by some measures, were healthier before a state income tax and Medicaid?
Comment by steve Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:50 am
Steve, please flee.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:57 am
==Is the formula that easy? No income tax, no Maroon Five.==
Yes. Under the graduated income tax system, the wealthiest Illinoisans will be forced to listen to the most Maroon 5.
Comment by LXB Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:57 am
What “measures,” Steve?
Comment by TominChicago Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:58 am
The other day I searched for but couldn’t find Illinois demographic history on race. I imagine today’s racial breakdown is different than in Ogilvie’s time. The political dynamics must be different as well.
Today a progressive income tax, which is what Pritzker is proposing, is maybe not met with the same negativity that would have been present in the past. Lots of people support it, but rates have to be cut for a great many people. If the GA and Pritzker can come up with such a plan, I believe it’s a winner politically. There is room to raise rates for millionaires and above, to around 9%. Iowa has
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:05 am
==Anyone notice that Illinois residents , by some measures, were healthier before a state income tax and Medicaid?==
Anyone notice that these are idiotic statements? Enough already.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:09 am
Steve
Please. You are certainly on a roll to win most ridiculous statements ever.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:10 am
“Iowa has”
The invisible social media gremlin hit the “send” button on my comment before I was finished. Sorry.
Iowa has an 8.98% state income tax rate for incomes of $69.256 and above. We in Illinois should easily be able to stomach that type of rate for millionaires and above.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:22 am
The IPI said there is no place Illinois can cut spending. I thought that would be good enough for you Steve. If not, please tell the IPI they have everything wrong and how you will make us a better State.
Keep us up-to-date on this please.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:28 am
Let us not forget he was a wounded war hero, fought the Chicago Outfit in US DOJ under Eisenhower, and was elected Cook County Sheriff and Cook County Board Chair when the Mayor was Richard J. Daley. Quite accomplished.
Comment by Smitty Irving Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:35 am
=So little, there wasn’t enough to cut employee paychecks.=
Basically the Rauner dream.
=Anyone notice that Illinois residents , by some measures, were healthier before a state income tax and Medicaid?=
What is funny is the pensions were funded at about the same rate they are now and most people back then thought pensions, public and private, were good.
Ahh, the good old days right steve?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:02 pm
Loved voting for him. I believe he was also a wounded World War 2 vet. Commanded a tank. Also this probably apocryphal but supposedly Daley said he would not use income tax against him in campaign but then Walker got nominated
Gosh I wish we had Republican candidates like that again
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:20 pm
Big mistake, the more income you bring in, the more you can spend on new programs. Extra money should be used to pay down the state’s debt.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:24 pm
Income tax. Good thing. Property tax. Horrible thing.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:42 pm
When Olgivie was a Republican leader in Cook County, the GOP elected candidates as County Sheriff, County Treasurer, Regional Superintendent of Schools and took control of the Sanitary District. The political landscape was much different then. Some were afraid when Olgivie went to Springfield, it would undo all of the gains that they had made at the County Building. It did within a few elections.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:54 pm
I remember Olgivie was wounded during WWII and his face was scarred. This injury resulted in his losing use of some facial muscles after surgery and he also appeared grim and somber because he could not smile normally. As such, his photos always looked like he was the coroner.
I saw an Illinois license plate “1″ on a vehicle. I believe his widow, Mrs. Olgivie has that plate number still.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 12:59 pm
I would be curious to know how much debt there was back in 1970 vs today?
Comment by Bobio Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 1:13 pm
Ogilvie would not be permitted in McSweeney’s GOP where opposition to tax hikes is the first commandment.
Comment by anon2 Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 1:46 pm
=Let us not forget he was a wounded war hero, fought the Chicago Outfit in US DOJ under Eisenhower, and was elected Cook County Sheriff and Cook County Board Chair when the Mayor was Richard J. Daley.–
All true.
But he also inexplicably employed at both the U.S. attorney and sheriff’s office the notorious Richard Cain, a crooked cop, bagman and made Outfit guy, who was a double or triple agent between law enforcement and the Outfit until his head was separated from his shoulders by a shotgun at Rose’s Sandwich Shop on Grand Avenue.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 2:40 pm
I am a lifelong Democrat, but I believe Governor Ogilvie will be recognized as one of the greatest Governors of Illinois. He put the interest of the citizens of Illinois above his own political interests.
Comment by South of 64 Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 11:47 pm