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* Press release…
With Tax Day just a few days away, Think Big Illinois released new ads in several districts showing the unfair burden middle-class families are currently facing, and how a fair tax would help lift that burden. These ads are part of Think Big Illinois’ latest efforts to give voters the opportunity to have their voices heard on a critical issue that impacts all Illinoisans.
The ads also highlight the much-needed revenue a fair tax will bring into the state, which will go toward addressing the $3.2 billion budget deficit and funding critical programs, including our schools. The fair tax will generate this funding while ensuring 97% of Illinoisans see no income tax increase, and forcing the wealthiest Illinoisans to finally pay their share.
The ads call on Representatives Monica Bristow, Jonathan Carroll, and Mary Edly-Allen to support a fair tax.
* The ads have a different tone than the previous spots, which called on viewers to “Tell [House Democratic member] to vote ‘Yes’ and put the middle class first.” It seemed almost Rauneresque. This one says “Call [House Democratic member]. Tell her to keep standing up for the middle class.” Much better…
* Script…
It’s tax time, and if you’re a middle-class family in Illinois…
That means once again, you’re getting ripped off.
Because in Illinois, middle-class families are forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of the tax burden.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Under a fair tax, millionaires would be forced to pay their fair share.
To help address the budget crisis and fund our schools.
Call Monica Bristow.
Tell her to keep standing up for the middle class.
Support the fair tax.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:26 am
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Two working parents making 130k living in Evanston each paying childcare should not be paying .2 percent less than truly rich people. That is not FAIR. If we’re gonna have a progressive tax let’s have a progressive tax
Comment by Boomer Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:32 am
I don’t mean this to be snarky: somewhere there must be data that says the “now that you’ve heard our 20 second pitch, call [politician] and tell him/her to [do what we say]” line is effective and not an insult to the listeners intelligence. I’d be more persuaded by “go to our website to learn more - if you agree with us, call [your rep/pols name]…”
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:32 am
Better than the first round, but I’m still not a fan of ads like these from members’ own party. Just comes across as heavy handed.
Comment by Fixer Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:33 am
Good ad and good to see the Gov’s team keeping sensitive and listening to what message works best on Members.
Comment by Minnie Pearl Jam Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:34 am
Asks to support the legislator in what they are already doing. Not confrontational. Very good.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:47 am
===That is not FAIR===
Couples making a quarter of a million dollars annually, even in Evanston, are upper income.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:48 am
Much tougher message than the previous, really puts the legislator on the spot.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:02 am
I like this ad much better. It does a nice job tying the angst in paying taxes to the fairness idea.
Boomer, those 2 working parents from Evanston will benefit from the state getting back to financial stability, which is the main purpose of the bill.
Comment by Dunn Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:04 am
There are 74 Dems, which means up to 3 could defect. Who are the “no way no how” Hard Nos? Yingling, Moyland & Stuart?
Comment by Grand Avenue Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:07 am
==Two working parents making 130k living in Evanston each paying childcare should not be paying .2 percent less than truly rich people. That is not FAIR. If we’re gonna have a progressive tax let’s have a progressive tax==
Failure at understanding progressive tax brackets? You’d only be paying that 7.75 rate on $10k above $250k (assuming you absolutely have NO deductions of any sort.)
Comment by CT Resident Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:08 am
“middle-class families are forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of the tax burden”
But does their tax burden decrease? If I’m paying “x” and “x” does not change, it doesn’t matter if my share of the total cost is 10% or 100%.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:10 am
I found it a little strident, but:
“Because in Illinois, middle-class families are forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of the tax burden”
That’s right.
•Why should the rich get the benefits at the same cost as the rest of us?
•We need pro-growth reforms, such as right-sizing the tax code and adequately funding education and the rest of the state.
•But, Republicans and the anti-tax, anti-union right wing people who are funding opposition are not change people, so Democrats have to do all of the heavy lifting.
B-
I mean, come on, Democrats. Are you going to let the most vulnerable and many thousands of state workers get placed in the most insecure spot while people like Rauner and his supporters, who hurt so many and tried to slash workers and unions, make lots of money? Rauner made $279 million in his first two years as governor, while using government to cut so many, including ripping off state workers. Please learn the lesson and be Democrats.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:18 am
–There are 74 Dems, which means up to 3 could defect.–
Costello is on the record as being opposed. But he’s an old-timey pork barreler, so I wouldn’t rule out a capital-bill-driven epiphany.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:25 am
===I wouldn’t rule out a capital-bill-driven epiphany===
I think the epiphany will be closer to home. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:27 am
Husband: Our tax burden is too high. We cannot afford to spend $20,000 in state and property taxes any longer. This is ridiculous.
Wife: Honey, the problem is the rich aren’t paying their fair share in taxes. Going forward, they will.
H: Fair enough. So how much will we be paying in taxes going forward?
W: $20,000
H: $%?&
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:28 am
City Zen, if you’re paying $10,000 in income taxes, that’s about a $200,000 annual income. Very few people make that kind of money.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 10:41 am
If this fails it will be because they didn’t have rates high enough on the truly wealthy to be able to meaningfully cut taxes on those below 100K.
You are basically asking the professional class (100-250k) to make it easier for the state to target them in future tax hikes in exchange for nothing in return right now.
Everyone who has lived in this state and seen the way the government spends knows this is just a down payment on future needs, but scrapping the flat tax will make it easier for the state to raise taxes which will likely starting hitting those below 250k not too far down the line.
Designing this in a way that gives people no meaningful cut now while increasing the likelihood of more and more frequent hikes in the future just seems misguided.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 11:10 am
Rich - It could be any amount.
The ad is not good. It segues from “taxes” to “ripped off” rather quickly. It reminds people of all the taxes they pay and then implies that will not change.
Taxes…ripped off…continue to be ripped off. Not a great message. Hope JB isn’t paying these marketing folks twice like his other staff.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 11:14 am
“Support the Fair Tax”
I’m not sure that’s the best tag line because it sounds like we’re asking them to vote for a new tax (a Fair Tax on top of income tax, gas tax, property tax, sales tax)
Maybe “Support a Fair tax system”
Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 11:35 am
Seems like a quartet has now become a trio.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 11:37 am
Don’t you just love these non sensible debates over what is middle class? Well I don’t.
Too often it borders on class/income demagoguery and ignores the reality that it is one’s personal money and not a piggy bank for the state.
Comment by Nonbeleiver Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 11:55 am
“Too often it borders on class/income demagoguery and ignores the reality that it is one’s personal money and not a piggy bank for the state.”
The mother of class warfare was when the former governor tried to slash thousands of state workers through brutal cuts and stripping labor protections. He actually did rip them off on steps and longevity pay.
Here was someone who made $333 million in 2015-2017 using government to steal from the likes of those making $50,000 a year. And right wingers think government is oppressive?
Democrats need to fully understand the ramifications of huge cuts and a flat tax hike. They need to be aware of who has been making the biggest income gains and who can and should afford to sacrifice.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 12:32 pm
‘Democrats need to fully understand the ramifications of huge cuts and a flat tax hike. They need to be aware of who has been making the biggest income gains and who can and should afford to sacrifice.”
Thanks for proving my point. You certainly fall into the category of those who I was talking about.
By the way, I never voted for Rauner and repeatedly pointed out his many shortcomings on this site over the years.
But that is a different issue than what I am talking about.
Comment by Nonbeleiver Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 12:47 pm
They might want to take the imagery of a Chicago neighborhood and downtown Chicago and refocus on say a downstate neighborhood and maybe St. Louis since that is the Bistrow TV market. How much are these TV consultants being paid?
Comment by Hey You Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 12:50 pm
“Thanks for proving my point. You certainly fall into the category of those who I was talking about.”
I sure hope so. Darn right I fall into the category of advocating for those who can least afford cuts and for upper-income earners to pay more state income tax than the rest of us.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 1:03 pm
City Zen, obviously, your alternative is to relocate to an environ where you make the same income but don’t pay 20K in taxes on it.
The climate and beaches in Mogadishu are spectacular. There are some tradeoffs, of course, but taxes, no worries.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:14 pm
===I wouldn’t rule out a capital-bill-driven epiphany===
I think the epiphany will be closer to home. lol–
East Jackson Street, home to the double-your-pleasure LLC?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 11, 19 @ 9:19 pm
Is it fair for a person making $200,000 to pay ten times as much state income tax as a person making $20,000? That’s the current flat tax. You don’t think it’s enough?
Comment by I’m begging you Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 7:38 am