tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post1931946101645001701..comments2023-11-30T04:19:29.368-06:00Comments on ILLINOIZE: Overtime budget decision: Emil Jones v. Tom CrossRich Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405714376169753223noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-61117335978560189462007-07-05T14:02:00.000-05:002007-07-05T14:02:00.000-05:00There are a lot of us real taxpayers out here who ...There are a lot of us real taxpayers out here who don't see this as a Republican vs. Democrat thing (despite dan's--and Blago's--tired efforts to demonize the Republicans yet again)<BR/>but as a raid on our finances by a bunch of corrupt (and wealthy) politicians who want to keep power as long as they can.<BR/><BR/>The purpose of a lottery sale or an income tax increase is only peripherally to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-42725045732469587092007-07-03T17:37:00.000-05:002007-07-03T17:37:00.000-05:00Thanks for checking JBP. And JD on the way, I don'...Thanks for checking JBP. And JD on the way, I don't sense electricity rates have really caught fire in ComEd territory. I understand they have in Amerenland. And property taxes....I don't know about that either. Certainly for some (seniors who don't understand the freezes they get, property-poor areas with very high rates), but I wouldn't say that those are the two big issues for most voters.Dan Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-13344032897190697192007-07-03T16:07:00.000-05:002007-07-03T16:07:00.000-05:00Got the actual number and story from someone from ...Got the actual number and story from someone from that office..<BR/>It was the I-Save Rx program...The state paid about $1 Million to facilitate unlawful imports of drugs from Canada. The total value of the imported drugs...$1.8 Million.<BR/><BR/>Here it is from the auditor general.<BR/>http://www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Performance-Special-Multi/Performance-Audits/JBPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17015371340244747070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-24774384391373165022007-07-03T16:01:00.000-05:002007-07-03T16:01:00.000-05:00"I agree that the little things hurt the perceptio..."I agree that the little things hurt the perception that state government isn't particularly prudent, particularly Air Blagojevich."<BR/><BR/>Dan, small things (more than just one), easy to understand by taxpayers, and it just sticks in their throats. BIG IMPACTS.<BR/><BR/>If Blago thought the GA was being difficult before the 4th of July recess, just wait.<BR/><BR/>As for state controlled Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-48967052773964833902007-07-03T14:42:00.000-05:002007-07-03T14:42:00.000-05:00I agree that the little things hurt the perception...I agree that the little things hurt the perception that state government isn't particularly prudent, particularly Air Blagojevich. And I don't believe it's close to accurate to say the PR for AllKids costs more than delivering service to the hundreds of thousands of children who are covered under the program. <BR/><BR/>That being said, I do think that transit has a great opportunity to move Dan Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-84626001028439237302007-07-03T13:54:00.000-05:002007-07-03T13:54:00.000-05:00perhaps you should remember that we are in a speci...perhaps you should remember that we are in a special session because of an all democrat leadership.BLAGO, EMIL JONES AND MADIGAN did not need any republican votes to do anything during the legeslative session but they still did nothing. EMIL JONES should remember that his constituants are hurting from high electric rates but the millions he has recieved from com ed have made him deaf to there Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-3288718793437613222007-07-03T12:51:00.000-05:002007-07-03T12:51:00.000-05:00Dan:You're being way, way too optimistic - based u...Dan:<BR/><BR/>You're being way, way too optimistic - based upon what I'm hearing, the Republican reps are getting in terms of feedback, people just flat out don't trust state government to use any of their tax money wisely. They look at their May/June, 2007 electric bills and figure they already got their state tax increase.<BR/><BR/>It's always the little stuff being tossed out there (like Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-80238035040710871462007-07-03T10:13:00.000-05:002007-07-03T10:13:00.000-05:00Dan,Your analysis is somewhat accurate inside the ...Dan,<BR/><BR/>Your analysis is somewhat accurate inside the confines of conventional wisdom, which in my view, is a contradiction in terms.<BR/><BR/>In my view, our over use of party labels and annoying "partisanship" obfuscates the fact that nearly every thinking person is about 1/3 libertarian, 1/3 collectivist (Democrat), and 1/3 conservative (Republican)<BR/><BR/>If you strip the words above Extreme Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477416791736537181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-85782648741737025962007-07-03T09:55:00.000-05:002007-07-03T09:55:00.000-05:00Whenever anyone claims that higher taxes are some ...Whenever anyone claims that higher taxes are some kind of "investment" in providing services to the poor, I revert to the fact that the PR program for All Kids/Kids Care cost more than the actual total cost of providing All Kid/Kids Care.<BR/><BR/>That's right, the majority of the spending was on PR, not on healthcare delivery. The State could not care less about the poor, and the voters know itJBPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17015371340244747070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-85103456514261033552007-07-03T08:36:00.000-05:002007-07-03T08:36:00.000-05:00The fact is that all 3 players (Rod, the 2 Tops, a...<EM>The fact is that all 3 players (Rod, the 2 Tops, and the 2 not-so-tops) badly want to hike taxes. Another fact is that they are afraid to.</EM><BR/><BR/>It's just that simple, although you have to give Cross credit for hanging tough so far.<BR/><BR/>This isn't Libertarian. It's anyone radicalized by the corruption in this State. (And the radicals sure aren't in the left anymore!)Bill Baarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07095486926836836714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-8251393555376724722007-07-03T08:09:00.000-05:002007-07-03T08:09:00.000-05:00Bruno, I think everything you've just said would a...Bruno, I think everything you've just said would apply to a Libertarian. A Republican, on the other hand, understands that government works. Raising state taxes to pay for 100% of the cost of special education teachers -- those committed souls who spend their days one-on-one or in small groups with our children who happen to be born with severe disabilities and relieving their parents of the Dan Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-30770403154604022502007-07-03T00:19:00.000-05:002007-07-03T00:19:00.000-05:00DJW,Sooner or later, the "R" voting populace is go...DJW,<BR/><BR/>Sooner or later, the "R" voting populace is going to understand that any dime going to public education is never, ever, ever, going to be "R friendly." The entire <I>Raison d'ĂȘtre</I> of the public education establishment is to destroy everything a "republican" might stand for.<BR/><BR/>Even such bureaucrateze gibberish like "mandated categoricals" and "EFAB funding formulas" can'tExtreme Wisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477416791736537181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-78403654584306358262007-07-02T23:19:00.000-05:002007-07-02T23:19:00.000-05:00I think there are lots of specific R items. Specia...I think there are lots of specific R items. Special education and mandated categoricals are essentially R items (since they benefit more affluent school districts more). I could be wrong, but I've always understood those two components of General State Aid to be be more R-friendly.<BR/><BR/>YDD, the Ds who represent more affluent districts also largely represent people who are willing to raise Dan Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-27289696848475474322007-07-02T20:00:00.000-05:002007-07-02T20:00:00.000-05:00The fact is that revenues will need to be raised (...The fact is that revenues will need to be raised (either by taxes, "user fees", "sin" expansion or selling off state assets) to accomplish a more ambitious budget. In the past, brick-and-mortar projects have provided tangible results that provided some cover for those revenue increases. If Republicans act as a bloc, they have a good chance this session of getting some projects, which they feel Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-45762318960646292412007-07-02T17:20:00.000-05:002007-07-02T17:20:00.000-05:00For every House Republican who represents a low in...For every House Republican who represents a low income district that would benefit from higher state spending (and higher taxes), there are probably one or two Democrats that represent more affluent districts that would not benefit, or where a tax hike would at least be a toss-up. Just off the top of my head:<BR/><BR/>May<BR/>Feigenholtz<BR/>Crespo<BR/>Nekritz<BR/>Lang<BR/>Hamos<BR/>Franks<BR/>Yellow Dog Democrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04298700349853141750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-64141175898394880562007-07-02T16:56:00.000-05:002007-07-02T16:56:00.000-05:00I'll let you all in on a little secret:One of the ...I'll let you all in on a little secret:<BR/><BR/>One of the top legislative liasons has been working with Tom Cross's office in an intense effort to get accurate estimates on several capital projects in or near his district.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-34640344410783929752007-07-02T16:25:00.000-05:002007-07-02T16:25:00.000-05:00Dan, you may be right and me wrong, but I think it...Dan, you may be right and me wrong, but I think it takes more than the 36 and 71 necessary to pass a bill. Once the players have identified themselves, any Governor can peel off SOME votes on a override. I would figure at least 38 and 73, but I don't think it matters, because as of the mess the GA and Gove have gotten themselves into, I don't expect any R votes to bail them out unless it would steve schnorfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10898800797439322237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-10136778123944542152007-07-02T16:14:00.000-05:002007-07-02T16:14:00.000-05:00"It's ideological...to suggest that people don't b..."It's ideological...to suggest that people don't benefit from investments like a higher foundation formula or more health insurance eligibility or better transportation networks"<BR/><BR/>Hmmm..it's quite measurable that education, healthcare and transportation are not so hot.<BR/><BR/>When you can measure the piss-poor results, your ideology is irrelevant. <BR/><BR/>JBPJBPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17015371340244747070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-67773540686776458132007-07-02T14:37:00.000-05:002007-07-02T14:37:00.000-05:00Steve, I don't understand why the governor's veto ...Steve, I don't understand why the governor's veto matters any more. I'm a fan of an income tax hike (and a sales tax hike for transit). The Governor will veto both of these. But, so what? The same 71 bipartisan Representatives who calculate their people will be better off with an income or sales tax hike and the same 36 Senators (either all D or a little bipartisan) who make the same calculation Dan Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-36626665910054055082007-07-02T12:15:00.000-05:002007-07-02T12:15:00.000-05:00Dan,I don't think I buy much of what you're saying...Dan,<BR/>I don't think I buy much of what you're saying here. You use a curious construct for rural Rs "voting their districts", apparently what is externally defined as best for their district as opposed to the usual what the voters in the district want.<BR/><BR/>Realistically, your pining (and mine) for an income tax increase, and in your case, a sales tax increase, just aren't going to be steve schnorfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10898800797439322237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-7519911959789859192007-07-02T10:02:00.000-05:002007-07-02T10:02:00.000-05:00I didn't bother laying out the math of either cham...I didn't bother laying out the math of either chamber, assuming readers understand that the House GOPers didn't have any voice in putting us into overtime and that readers understand that Senate Dems have a super-majority. But as to the bigger question: how can House Republicans ever justify raising revenues if they don't trust that the money will be spent in their districts, I think the answer Dan Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07467295534995212259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-73643352533071187622007-07-02T09:52:00.000-05:002007-07-02T09:52:00.000-05:00"there are certainly 4 lower-income districts curr..."there are certainly 4 lower-income districts currently represented by House Republicans that would benefit from higher taxes"<BR/><BR/>Benefit how? From giving more money to a thoroughly fouled up organization like Illinois State Government? Poor people, much like wealthy people, do not benefit by giving their hard earned resources to Gov. Blagojevich and Co. so that our Politicians can JBPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17015371340244747070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-86889324247665553002007-07-02T09:45:00.000-05:002007-07-02T09:45:00.000-05:00Not sure I buy into your premise, but let's play.....Not sure I buy into your premise, but let's play...<BR/><BR/>If that's the case, in your scenario, the Republicans only come out to provide the votes, and then they're back "on the shelf", until next time.<BR/><BR/>Because truthfully, the Republicans have pretty much seen needs for their districts ignored, and "wishes" for Democratic areas fufilled - and Emil Jones has spent the most time piggingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-30793076028860742992007-07-02T09:36:00.000-05:002007-07-02T09:36:00.000-05:00Your analysis seems over-simplified, incomplete, s...Your analysis seems over-simplified, incomplete, snd biased.<BR/><BR/>First, the tone of your piece would suggest to the reader that the House Republican caucus is responsible for the current stalemate; and I believe the reality is that there is nothing further from the truth for the minority caucus, which was afforded little input, other than what the Speaker would allow, prior to May 31st.<BR/>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14463601.post-80478671609929480602007-07-02T09:34:00.000-05:002007-07-02T09:34:00.000-05:00Perhaps it might be worth remembering why at least...Perhaps it might be worth remembering why at least 4 House Republicans are now required to pass a budget.grand old partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10258795327487150279noreply@blogger.com