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* The governor talks about House Speaker Michael Madigan’s “fumigation” bill…
* Quinn says he’s “not excited” about a proposal to legalize video poker to help pay for the capital plan, but is open minded. He also talks about other tax and fee hikes for the public works proposal…
* The governor rejects the idea for a temporary income tax increase…
* Quinn on the budget plan…
* And I’ve already posted this video, but here’s Quinn on reform…
…Adding… Here are some related links…
* Quinn wants to scale back firings plan
* SJ-R Opinion: Narrow focus of ‘fumigation’ measure
* Quinn holds ground on raising income taxes
* Lawmakers ready wish lists for construction plan
* Liquor tax would spare Joe Six-Pack
* Bill Fleischli: Cigarette tax hike sure to hurt sales
* Gov. Quinn ‘open-minded’ to legalizing video poker
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:56 am
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Previous Post: Reform is more than just saying “There oughtta be a law”
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Comment by George Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:02 am
seems short sided to reject a temp tax hike. In fact, since the tax hike is ostenisbly to deal with with current short falls tied in part to the economic downturn, this should almost be a critical component. There is no reason we should not require a futre legislature to explain the need to continue the propoed tax rate if they wish to keep it in play.
I support a tax increase to deal with our current fiscal problems, not to create a surplus of cash.
Comment by Ghost Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:04 am
If GQ plans on being there on the 32nd of May, I have a feeling he will only have Rod Serling for company.
His fumigation stance seems reasonable but there are many employees who were subjected to unfair treatment by Blago hacks who are demoralized. If he is concerned about moral he should consider these folks who have been there for years under the sway on corruption and get on with the firings.
The video poker games that pay out that are in the bars, snack shops, ect. are controlled by the mob. The mob would love to see this legislation pass, probably because they could add two machines to every place that already has one and make mini casino’s. I’m sure the skimming would be impossible to police because of the incredible logistical problems any enforcement would encounter. They should be very careful with this bill because it might sound good but could be a nightmare.
The Governor’s rejection of a temporary income tax increase could be his Achilles heal. If he truly is unwavering on this issue, it will tie up the budget and cause fighting and delays. Whether he is right or wrong, he is going to find that HE WON’T HAVE THE VOTES to pass his budget, which will mean he will have to sign off on someone else’s budget which will pretty much leave us where we have been with the former Governor. Half a loaf is better than none at all.
As much as his uncompromising on budget issues is his weakness, his strength is in the reform legislations he can present and that is where he should draw his line in the sand.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:33 am
So the idea here on the liquor tax is that boutique beers would be exempt along with Old Style, but two-buck Chuck would get the same increase as Mouton Rothschild? What goofiness.
Comment by Excessively rabid Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:33 am
The MSM doesn’t seem to get it: legalizing video poker wouldn’t be an expansion of gambling, it would be a way for the state to tax illegal gambling that’s apparently already widespread across the state.
I guess the follow up question to Quinn would be: As governor, if you don’t legalize this activity, shouldn’t the state police and local law enforcement be shutting it down?
From a governor’s perspective, it has to be one or the other, right?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:34 am
Actually, Madigan has put him in an interesting position with respect to the fumigation bill. Quinn says he wants to fumigate then drags his feet after appointing a few close friends and cronies to his staff and to a couple of state agencies. Madigan sends him a bill to push fumigation along. Quinn drags his feet some more.
I see some great campaign ads–and not for Quinn.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:59 am
Word, the State could also permit vdeo poker only at state run and owned locations and cash in on the whole enchilada, somewhat like we do now with the numbers racket (lottery).
Comment by Ghost Friday, May 15, 09 @ 11:34 am
Pat, it’s a bit late to worry about morale, chief. You and your crack staff probably haven’t noticed, but morale in State Government has been in the dumper ever since you and Rod (remember him?) took office and targeted state employees as tax-eating scum. You never emerged from the bunker to raise one word of protest against the harsh treatment. You did make sure and get some cronies on the payroll here and there, mainly through your backdoor alliance with Filan.
Any flicker of hope in the State workforce that you would be different than your partner Rod was rapidly extiguished when everyone learned that you were tight with State employees’ Public Enemy #1, followed by the insensitive, offensive, and undoubtedly illegal “fumigations.”
What you and Madigan did to Bauman at TRS was unconscionable, especially in the name of “ethics.” What was American about that, Pat?
Fired after 30 years of service, no warning, no hearing, no charges, no due process.
Answer-Nothing. Your running mate got a fairer hearing than Bauman and some of the others.
With those moves, and this ridiculous bill (and btw, your story keeps changing about when you learned about it and what the “original” idea was-may want to true that up before you get deposed)
you have achieved what many thought impossible-you took the morale of the State workforce even lower than it was under your running mate, Blago.
Nice work, meathead. Take your holier-than-thou sidekick Collins and run as a team in the State of Bite Me, K?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, May 15, 09 @ 12:09 pm
Regardless of how MJM’s fumigation bill is changed, Quinn should clean out the Ill Civil Service Comm. now in order to ensure that employees who should get fired do and that those who should not get fired don’t. Three of the five commissioners are Blago appointees, one was his children’s babysitter.
The 2 civil service comm. employees who hear discharge appeals and who are responsible for Agencies audits are Blago hires. The Ex. Secretary came from the Blago front office. This commission has violated the rules and regulation of the personnel code and even falsified documents in discharge cases.
Since ‘03 the commission has allowed the creation of over 435 additonal political position many of which don’t comply with the rules for exempt position. Blago’s former Inspector General had no problem finding that there were flagrant vilolations of the personnel code yet the commission’s audits have found to the contrary.
With the current make up of the Commission there can be little confidence that what should be done will get done. Gov start your fumigation at the Ill. Civil Service Commission.
Comment by Toad Friday, May 15, 09 @ 1:39 pm
Fumigation is needed and be should done quickly. I agree there many employees that work hard and have moved up through the system. Those are people to be reinstated. The problem is the vast number of knuckleheads brought in to be big wigs and get fat paychecks. These people have crippled the state agencies. Getting them out soon can go a long way towards keeping the competent members of the workforce. In case anybody wonders, after ten years of declining morale, getting rid of Rod only stopped the decline. We need to start moving in a positive direction. As a long time state employee, I’m tired of the clowns that know little or nothing and have made the system more difficult to work in. That goes for the legislature too, they vote themselves raises and colas without any shame. My cost of living has gone up too but my paycheck stays the same. Why doesn’t the press write about that?
Comment by BMAN Friday, May 15, 09 @ 3:03 pm