Is the Tribune Using Front Page Newspaper Article to Pimp for an Income Tax Hike?

by Cal Skinner

You may have noted that the Chicago Tribune is putting a story with the logo

“STATE OF
CORRUPTION"

on its front page.

Everyday, I guess, but I only looked at Friday's and Monday's papers for this article.

Friday the upper right hand story was entitled

Reform
heads for
frenzied
Friday

It was by Springfield Bureau Chief Ray Long, with the assistance of Ashley Rueff and Robert Becker.

It probably tilts toward the reformers' point of view a bit, but it tells what's happening in the State Capitol.

Monday's article, by Rick Pearson, is not so objective.

Reform
may be
cover for
tax hike

Pearson starts with the premise that reform could be linked to an income tax hike.

As if taxpayers would willingly accept a 50% income tax hike for any change in the way of doing business that led the Democrats to hike spending by a billion dollars a year since they took control of all three branches of state government, thus, getting the state into the mess it now has.

Did you know

“rank-and-file legislators may decide the more reforms they enact, the more it could give them cover for raising the state's income tax...”

Didn't think so.

Having established the theme of his article, Pearson goes around and asks whether such a quid pro quo is likely.

Needless to say, he found someone to agree with the strategy he advances. And he got quoted first.

But others, like Senate President John Cullerton and House Republican Leader Tom Cross disagreed.

House Speaker Mike Madigan is the only significant voice to support Pearson's thesis.

And the “let me continue doing what I've always done, but limit what others (excluding newspapers) can spend” approach to finance reform is not meaningful reform.

Pearson doesn't even point out that most of the so-called reform folks are liberal enough to be in favor a massive income tax hike anyway.

Keep an eye the Tribune's coverage of this strategy for passing a huge tax hike this week.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog, where I wonder why Ed and Anne Burke's real estate tax bill is lower than mine.