Illinois Statewide Mega-Thread: State has first budget in over a year

[Torie]

The Dems I guess are not inclined to vote unanimously to override a veto to keep the tax hike going I guess. There must be some DINO's in their ranks.

[Mr. Illini]

Madigan calls Rauner's budget proposal "reckless"

Says you can't balance Illinois' budget without new revenue streams, which he insists on if he is to work with Rauner in spending cuts.

And he knows full well that the Gov's official budget cannot include new revenue streams. See my comment about the law he passed in 2011.

Yet you know full well that the Governor has flatly rejected both an income tax surcharge and an extension of the income tax hike.

[muon2]

Madigan calls Rauner's budget proposal "reckless"

Says you can't balance Illinois' budget without new revenue streams, which he insists on if he is to work with Rauner in spending cuts.

And he knows full well that the Gov's official budget cannot include new revenue streams. See my comment about the law he passed in 2011.

Yet you know full well that the Governor has flatly rejected both an income tax surcharge and an extension of the income tax hike.

But he has suggested other revenue sources including an expansion of what is currently the narrowest sales tax base in the US.

[Mr. Illini]

Madigan calls Rauner's budget proposal "reckless"

Says you can't balance Illinois' budget without new revenue streams, which he insists on if he is to work with Rauner in spending cuts.

And he knows full well that the Gov's official budget cannot include new revenue streams. See my comment about the law he passed in 2011.

Yet you know full well that the Governor has flatly rejected both an income tax surcharge and an extension of the income tax hike.

But he has suggested other revenue sources including an expansion of what is currently the narrowest sales tax base in the US.

Also one of the lowest income tax rates on top incomes in the US. Also one of the flattest tax systems in the US, which would be exacerbated with a broader sales tax, which is regressive.

[Mr. Illini]

Something I have been working on for a few weeks now. Enjoy, although Republicans will enjoy a little more than others:

[muon2]

Madigan calls Rauner's budget proposal "reckless"

Says you can't balance Illinois' budget without new revenue streams, which he insists on if he is to work with Rauner in spending cuts.

And he knows full well that the Gov's official budget cannot include new revenue streams. See my comment about the law he passed in 2011.

Yet you know full well that the Governor has flatly rejected both an income tax surcharge and an extension of the income tax hike.

But he has suggested other revenue sources including an expansion of what is currently the narrowest sales tax base in the US.

Also one of the lowest income tax rates on top incomes in the US. Also one of the flattest tax systems in the US, which would be exacerbated with a broader sales tax, which is regressive.

Actually a sales tax on services hits the middle class more than the poor. People of limited means are more likely to buy and do it themselves whereas people with more income are more likely to hire a service to do a task. Interestingly the most lucrative parts of the service economy are in legal and accountancy services, which are less used by lower income families. Sales taxes as a whole may be regressive, but IL already includes the most regressive parts and exempts the parts that are preferentially used by those with more disposable income.

[Mr. Illini]

Rauner with unprecedented absence at EQIL LGBT Gala

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/370847/chicago-politics-menu-lgbt-gala

Remember they campaigned against him really hard last year, meanwhile awarding Mark Kirk their Freedom Award. One would think that it would be a good move for an incumbent GOPer to show support for LGBT issues in this state, but I guess he doesn't want the same advantage that Kirk will have in his next election.

[Miles]

I have a few more maps like this coming, but here's 2014 Governor in the East St. Louis area (Madison and St. Clair counties, plus I threw in Macoupin):

[Miles]

More of East St. Louis:

2010:


Swing from 2010 to 2014:


Change in turnout:


Turnout was down almost everywhere, but East St. Louis itself cast almost 14% fewer votes in 2014, which really didn't help Quinn.

[Mr. Illini]

Excellent news on immigration reform.

[Maxwell]

I'm liking Rauner a lot. He's taking strong stands on both sides of the spectrum. Keep it up!

[RINO Tom]

Something I have been working on for a few weeks now. Enjoy, although Republicans will enjoy a little more than others:

Back to how voting in Illinois once was and SHOULD be!

[Ebsy]

I think some time out of power in Illinois will do Democrats some good.

[Mr. Illini]

U of I Chancellor and Provost: Rauner cuts are "draconian," of "magnitude we cannot simply absorb"

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/article_f112ec54-e175-11e4-899d-9f3de8fb64d4.html

Good to see U of I standing up for its history as a world-class public university and key research piece for our state. As many things that I can't stand about Rauner (and Walker), it really digs into me even deeper when institutions like U of I (and UW-Madison) start looking at slashed funding.

[Gass3268]

Right-to-work goes down in flames in Illinois House with zero yes votes

LOL!

[Mr. Illini]

Legislative Dems have the system down to a point - they friggin wrote it. They are using it to completely discredit all of Rauner's proposals.

[Ebsy]

Man, Madigan is creaming Rauner.

[RINO Tom]

Man, Madigan is creaming Rauner.

How good for the state, we've REALLY been trending up under huge Democratic majorities!!

[Ebsy]

Man, Madigan is creaming Rauner.

How good for the state, we've REALLY been trending up under huge Democratic majorities!!

Right to work wouldn't solve any of the state's problems.

[Miles]

Man, Madigan is creaming Rauner.

She's well on her way to avenging the tragic loss of the People's Pat!

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Rauner campaigned as a moderate, but Dems knew once the tax increase expired, services will be cut. Better way of handling a disappointment of a GOV, dont primary Quinn, see how a Republicans will look in face of service cuts, and let Madigan ride in, in 2018, on a good note.

[Mr. Illini]

Man, Madigan is creaming Rauner.

How good for the state, we've REALLY been trending up under huge Democratic majorities!!

And no conservative policies will help to address the issues. Dems drive up the deficit with spending, what does Rauner want to do? Let the tax hike expire.

[Mr. Illini]

My prediction is that he will sign pot decrim and conversion therapy ban. He will veto the equal pay bill.

I'd say he doesn't have much to worry about with "angering his base." The risk of a depressed turnout in rural downstate is worth making moves that will please independents in the suburbs.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Good news! Rauner and the legislature passed and signed a bill, the "Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act", two days ago, after being unanimously approved by the legislature and is hailed as a compromise between business and labor.

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It also restores $25 million to older people on unemployment who also had their Social Security benefits reduced by up to 50% of the estimated insurance amount.


http://www.rebootillinois.com/2015/11/09/editors-picks/mark-fitton/rauner-business-labor-strike-deal-on-unemployment-insurance-reforms/48558/

Additionally, Rauner is reforming the Illinois EDGE policy of doling out tax credits to companies that create jobs in one location and still lay off in other locals. Created in 1999 by then-Governor Ryan to reward companies that hired and/or invested in their physical plants, the bill became a handout for companies that never fulfilled their obligations, especially after a clause treating each separate location of the same firm as a separate, independent unti was added to the Corporate Accountability for Tax Expenditures Act in 2003.

Illinois initially budgeted over $1 billion for the program, with over $450 million doled out so far, $102 million in 2014 alone. At least 78 companies who signed EDGE contracts since 2004 were not actually required to add employees, with at least 51 of those agreements cut by the Quinn administration.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-rauner-edge-changes-met-20151111-story.html

[Green Line]

Good news! Rauner and the legislature passed and signed a bill, the "Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act", two days ago, after being unanimously approved by the legislature and is hailed as a compromise between business and labor.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It also restores $25 million to older people on unemployment who also had their Social Security benefits reduced by up to 50% of the estimated insurance amount.


http://www.rebootillinois.com/2015/11/09/editors-picks/mark-fitton/rauner-business-labor-strike-deal-on-unemployment-insurance-reforms/48558/

Great!  And with that Rauner has already accomplished more than Pat Quinn did in 7 years.