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| Illinois House rejects increasing state income tax |
| 2009-06-02 |
| Unable to muster a last-minute legislative Hail Mary, Gov. Quinn came up empty-handed Sunday in his bid to increase the state income tax by 50 percent to stave off $7 billion in budget cuts. Dealing Quinn the biggest legislative defeat of his 17-week governorship, the House voted 42-74 against his push to temporarily raise the income tax rate for individuals from 3 percent to 4.5 percent. Sixty votes were needed for passage. "I'm a little disappointed tonight in our General Assembly, that we were not able to get enough revenue to have a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year," a visibly frustrated Quinn told reporters Sunday evening. "While we're disappointed, we are not in any way undaunted." Unable to nail down the income tax increase, Quinn is in an epic bind. If he can't convert 29 Republican and Democratic income tax opponents to "yes" votes in the coming weeks, Quinn must cut billions of dollars in vital state services as he gears up for a 2010 gubernatorial run later this year. The top House Republican pinned blame for the tax plan's failure on Springfield's ruling Democrats, who could not put together a balanced budget despite having comfortable House and Senate majorities and a governor with whom they can finally work after ousting ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "They've clearly failed, no question about it," said House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego). Others in Cross' party were celebratory. "People say 'just stop the spending,' and I agree with them. I claim a victory here for those folks," said Rep. Randy Ramey (R-Carol Stream). The governor still has about 10 weeks of budgetary wiggle room before having to strike some kind of tax-hike deal or begin what one Democrat called an "apocalyptic" series of funding cuts. To avert that budgetary bloodbath, Quinn said he intends to reconvene the four legislative leaders for more budget talks today, ruling out a special session and insisting he plans to bring no other funding options to the table beyond his tax-hike plan. "I believe in the tax based on ability to pay: the income tax," Quinn said. "If we were here 100 years ago and Teddy Roosevelt was still alive, he'd tell you it follows a principle as old as the Bible. Taxes should be based on the ability to pay." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 The role of taxes is to pay for the minimum government the people need to ensure their rights and property How refreshingly naive. The role of taxes is to bribe potential voters, reward supporters, friends and relatives, and provide unofficial remuneration for the permanent legislative class. Oh, and it's also handy for the occasional experiment in social engineering. |
| Posted by: The Democrats 2009-06-02 18:06 |
| #7 "I believe in the tax based on ability to pay: the income tax," Quinn said. "If we were here 100 years ago and Teddy Roosevelt was still alive, he'd tell you it follows a principle as old as the Bible. Taxes should be based on the ability to pay." Gov. Quinn just joined in the competition for idiot of the day. Talk about "stuck on stupid", this man is there. The role of taxes is to pay for the minimum government the people need to ensure their rights and property. ANYTHING ELSE is theft. That's why the US Congress is known as the biggest criminal group in the country. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-06-02 17:58 |
| #6 Downstate communities on the west side of the Wabash looked like they were suffering far more from the recession than those on the east bank. Farming communities on both sides. Maybe it was just a coincidence. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-06-02 14:10 |
| #5 Besoeker, you intrigue me. What were the differences you saw? |
| Posted by: Jonathan 2009-06-02 10:09 |
| #4 Motoring up there last week. The differences between small-town rural Illinois and rural Indiana are striking. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-06-02 09:19 |
| #3 This was basically a punt by the Ill. House to put off a decision until November at which time they will know if they will have any opposition in the next election (I voted not to raise taxes!). Then they will conveniently discover that the state desparately needs a tax increase and will vote for it. Same old same old in the Land of |
| Posted by: Spot 2009-06-02 09:14 |
| #2 "If we were here 100 years ago and Teddy Roosevelt was still alive, he'd tell you it follows a principle as old as the Bible. Taxes should be based on the ability to pay." He'd also tell you, Gov. Quinn/Ceasar, you've been rendered stuck on stupid. |
| Posted by: Muggsy Glink 2009-06-02 02:39 |
| #1 "Quinn must cut billions of dollars in vital state services" No, he needs to cut expenditures. You know, like the rest of us have to when we don't have as much income as we used to. He could start by cutting bullshit expenditures designed to make some leftie feel good, and political patronage "jobs," before even thinking about cutting truly essential services. But he won't. :-( |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-06-02 01:34 |