Can Illinois ever go red? (Chicago, Madison: houses, taxi, income)

[MongooseHugger]

I don't mean so much with the Presidential vote, which takes Chicago into account, but I mean the legislature. (We got Minnesota to have Republicans control both houses and that's been a blue state for a long while (even was the only state that didn't go for Reagan in 1980.) )

Madigan no longer has a supermajority in the state House. A few more wins in the House and the majority could switch to Republicans in the House.

[Caglee]

Most of the Chicago collar counties are going blue as Chicago democrats move out of the city and bring their voting habits with them. The rest of the state will continue to slide blue as normal hard working people continue to migrate to other states as well. However, I never thought Rauner would ever have a shot at winning so maybe there's hope?

[MSchemist80]

No. The Republicans citizens are fleeing the state.

[Maintainschaos]

The problem with many Illinois Republicans (and there are plenty in the state) is that they are mostly no different than many conservative Midwestern Republicans who want to take away or alter civil liberties as well as remain fiscally conservative. Part of the reason Rauner won against Brady was that he was a less socially conservative individual. If IL republicans were 1) more organized 2) would distance themselves from their mostly extreme socially conservative base and 3) back a candidate that's worth anything, they might have a chance. Until they stop appealing to their *socially* conservative base, they aren't going to make much headway against Chicago-area Democrats, especially in a state with such a large metropolitan area with a strongly Democrat-leaning core.

[chet everett]

... the pattern of Illinois politicians rewarding those who support them with do-nothing jobs, lifetime pensions, and unsustainable generous benefits has been key to winning office. Politicians that have an (R) after their name or a (D) have used the same tactic. The path from heading up agencies notorious for having armies of "workers" that have less skills than a service-animal -- "verify paperwork at station B-3, take eye test at station C-6, take written test at station D-11, wait for photo at station E-4..." and for this they'll get 75% of their salary plus guaranteed 3% annual increases for as long as they draw breath!

Until the state workforce has the same "you can fired anytime and you gotta support your retirement from a self managed 401k" as normal workers reform will be illusory.

[flyingcat2k]

I don't know if Illinois will ever go red before King Madigan dies. The gerrymandering that man can do is amazing and his control of the courts is unchallenged. There will be a short period of about 3 months when the King dies that Illinois may change. It doesn't have to go "red" to save itself but the Democrats need to make the Labor unions realize that it is 2017, not 1967. They need to pay for their retirement like everyone else. If the daughter is his successor, nothing will change and Illinos will have another 40 years of Madigan rule.

[BOBNCHI]

King Madison, Prince Cullerton and don't forget Princess Lisa all have to go!

[IrishIllini]

I don't see how anyone with the name Madigan wins a Governor's race in Illinois, but I could very well be wrong. I hope I'm not. Her, Cullerton, and Madigan himself are awful to the core.

[Mathguy]

I'm less than 10 years from retiring and would like to move back to IL but it's just not going to happen. I have too many assets and don't want to get hosed out of them.

So good luck. I will one day pull my relatives assets out of state upon inheritance and not look back.

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

I'm less than 10 years from retiring and would like to move back to IL but it's just not going to happen. I have too many assets and don't want to get hosed out of them.

So good luck. I will one day pull my relatives assets out of state upon inheritance and not look back.

What assets do you have that you'll get hosed out of them? I'm genuinely curious.

Illinois does not have the taxing power of the federal government. Unless they're all income producing assets I don't know of any reason you'd be taxed? If they are income producing assets, you'll get taxed at 3.75 percent. Retirement income is not taxed.