No sooner did the House override the governor’s veto of the Illinois budget Thursday afternoon than Evanston’s Sen. Daniel Biss issued a statement calling for movement on other issues facing the state.
The gubernatorial candidate lauded the legislators on both sides of the aisle who “followed their consciences instead of their leaders” to avoid the “catastrophe” of another year without a budget, then prodded them to go to work to solve the state’s long term problems.
“We need to build on this collaboration,” he declared, “and come together to create real progress by making the rich pay their fair share to fund our schools, protect people’s health care, and get our economy moving.”
State Rep. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, whose district includes part of Evanston, said the budget approved by lawmakers cuts current state spending by nearly $3 billion and will cost taxpayers more than $1 billion less than the govbernor’s proposed budget.
“This is an important step forward to provide stability to families and businesses across the state and we know that our work is not finished,” Fine added.
The House, Fine said, “has approved several compromise pieces of legislation from the governor’s list of demands, including updating the school funding formula, enacting workers’ compensation reforms, selling of the Thompson Center and changing the way the state can purchase goods. These are good faith efforts to work with the governor, but even when he agrees with 90 percent of the legislation, he refuses to accept a compromise.”
Biss’ flagrant use of class
Biss’ flagrant use of class warfare in calling out the “rich” rings so very hollow given we have heard absolutely NOTHING from him around the “textbook institutional racism” created by the Cook County Assessor Office’s current property valuation process (see recent Chicago Tribune investigative series; quote is from a University of Chicago professor). All of his district is in Cook County — and yet nothing!
That, my good senator, is a real life example of Democrat control directly harming the poor and disadvantaged, and yet you are pitifully silent. Your credibility?
Concerned Citizen– I would
Concerned Citizen– I would suggest you pay attention to what is actually happening before you make your comments. Senator Biss has responded with a new plan to exactly what you are talking about:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/taxdivide/ct-cook-county-property-tax-biss-met-20170620-story.html
Ahh, yes — the initial
Ahh, yes — the initial presser, but unfortunately no drumbeat demanding action. If the senator has any aspirations for governor, and defeating billionaire JB, he will need to champion likely unpopular positions within his party — and one lonely presser will not sufice.
Fortunately, Senator Biss
Fortunately, Senator Biss will never be governor. We are not rich. We have worked all our lives with little help from our families and none from the government. We saved and lived below our means in order to be secure. Now, in our late 60s, we find that Senator Biss and his very connected friends would like us to help others because we were careful. Property taxes: up. Income tax (yes still working): up. Sales tax ( pop …. What next Air?) High and up. Back when we went to grade school (yes we learned how to use an abacus not a computer) we had over 35 kids in a classroom. Library? What library? Oh you want to go to college? Good luck. So I got straight A’s. Parents? Flunked fourth grade and stopped at 8th. Scholarships and cheap jobs (bus boy) and no help from the dear family. Oh yeah….try being gay in the 60’s. Piece of cake.
The government does not handle my money well. And Springfield is the worst of government (though Evanston is right up there). And you wonder why people are leaving Chicago/Illinois? But hey, sure, take my money. You obviously know best.
Oh. Here’s a budget thought. No salaries for legislators. Expenses only….while in Springfield. Don’t worry. People will still line up to run. Wouldn’t you Senator?
Why do we need a Legislature ?
Why do we need a Legislature ? Kind Madigan says my way or the highway, the state can go to ___ as long as I control everything and his minions and lemming fall into line. He sacrificed his daughter to remain in office, why not the state ? I assume the Republicans, and some Democrats, who voted for the bill/override did so because they realized we need to pay the bills and Madigan would never give ground, and hope they can fix the tax and spending mess through other legislation.
Biss wants to raise taxes again
Right after Illinois Legislators raised income taxes from 3.75% to 4.95%, Biss wants to raise taxes again.
Without even catching his breath, Biss is proposing a Progressive Tax in Illinois.
He’s pushing the ultra liberal chords of equity and fairness to promote this new tax agenda.
But what is equitable and what is fair? How do you define it, and how do you measure it?
And how much is enough?
Just with this new tax increase from 3.75% to 4.95%, an average Illinois family who makes $60,000 per year will pay an additional $720 per year.
Is that enough? Is that fair? And that’s in addition to other tax and fee increases that are being proposed or are under consideration at the city, county and state level.
And if Senator Biss forgot, Illinois is the only state in the midwest which has lost population in the last 3 years in a row. Yes, that means that more people are leaving Illinois than being born, and that are moving into the state. Not a strong place to start.
And what are the demographics of people leaving? Are they low income, lower spending residents; hence lower tax payers? Or are they higher income, higher spending residents who are paying more in taxes?
Lots to consider, and seems a little premature to focus on raising taxes again Senator Biss.
What is his income tax proposal ?
I’ve not been able to find it—rates, income levels, offsets or anything. Just that he is ‘Progressive’ and wants a ‘progressive tax.’
Web comment are that others have not been able to find it either.
Like many candidates and many issues, he probably wants to be vague so everyone thinks he is on their side and will deliver what ‘they’ want.
BTW neither of the other two Democrats seem to want to be specific either.
Progresive Probable answer
“1% for any income less than mine. 20% for anyone who makes $1 more than me.”
What comes now ?
Read the Sunday Trib or many other sources. Like when they proposed a tax increase several years ago [with scheduled decrease] to 5% to take care of deficits—yeah sure—and almost immediately started with new stories of woes, we are already getting the same thing.
With the new revenue, they are already starting their tale of woe. They propose new bond offering—like that is ‘free money’—at ever higher interest rates, and no end in sight. Most economists say bond debt is not bad—if it is for infrastructure or items that will grow economy. Even ‘real’ funding for educatiion/health could be valid but instead it is for wage and pensions and just keeping the status quo—and to protect their votes in the elections. Much like a company borrows to obtain new equipment/facilities so as to sell more.
When you borrow to pay current bills it shows mis-management that needs correction—and new management–Evanston, Illinois and U.S.. But politicians and those that depend on big government [politicans, administors, hangers-on] and those who get the dole–‘choosen winners’ and any ‘arts’ company, never seem to see that.