Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveils graduated state income tax plan he says would give break to taxpayers earning less than $250K (Springfield: 2015, how much)

[jasperhobbs]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAndrewJackson

Exactly, J(elly) B(elly) Pritzker was sworn into office on Jan 14th and less than two months later we can safely pronounce his reign as Governor as a total failure. It really is rather amazing. I did not think you could do worse than Rauner, but J.B. has done it in less than 60 days. The next recession and it is all over. The state has done nothing to build reserves in these, good times. Amazingly his fatness is actually spending more on education, and will be on public sector salaries and this making the precarious pensions in even worse shape. And his big plan (LOL) is to rely on a bunch of taxes that are discretionary (marijuana, gambling, plastic bags), revenue that will disappear in a heartbeat during an economic decline, but those salary increases, program expansions and corresponding pension increases won't disappear

Why don't you run for office and straighten things out? Then we can make fun of your less than perfect physique.

[GhostOfAndrewJackson]

Originally Posted by jasperhobbs

Why don't you run for office and straighten things out? Then we can make fun of your less than perfect physique.

01) Actually as a gym rat, my physique is rather nice
02) I did run for office

Kind of funny how that works out when you don't know who is on the other end of a keyboard isn't it?

[dtcbnd03]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAndrewJackson

01) Actually as a gym rat, my physique is rather nice
02) I did run for office

Kind of funny how that works out when you don't know who is on the other end of a keyboard isn't it?

It's the ghost of Blago!!!! I knew that was you!! How's prison? Think Trump will pardon you? haha kidding. Would be funny if you were the handle of one of the numerous politicians we've sent to prison.

[jasperhobbs]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAndrewJackson

01) Actually as a gym rat, my physique is rather nice
02) I did run for office

Kind of funny how that works out when you don't know who is on the other end of a keyboard isn't it?

I am proud of you. Keep up the good work

[dtcbnd03]

Originally Posted by Curly Q. Bobalink

Unless you're making the Big Bucks in Illinois, and I'm not, why in God's Name would anyone want to stay in a place with such a negative outlook? It's certainly not the weather.

I've been saying this for years now...with the exception of Chicago because it's a world class livable big city that offers benefits no other midwest city can possibly provide. I grew up in Illinois. I continue to live in Chicago because I love the city and my earnings potential here more than offsets the tax increases. But I'm fortunate and for the average family of 4 living downstate why stay? I talk to my brother about this every time I visit Rockford. The real reason is family and friends. Imagine the time and energy it takes to move and restart your life in a new state. They say it usually takes 10 years to feel comfortable and build up a good support network of friends and coworkers. I've got family nearby and friends I've known for the last 25+ years. Impossible to replace that. So it's a bit of Stockholm syndrome...

[damba]

Originally Posted by GhostOfAndrewJackson

02) I did run for office

I bet you ran for dogcatcher.

[GhostOfAndrewJackson]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

It's the ghost of Blago!!!! I knew that was you!! How's prison? Think Trump will pardon you? haha kidding. Would be funny if you were the handle of one of the numerous politicians we've sent to prison.

LOL, your comment was funny - thanks.

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by damba

I bet you ran for dogcatcher.

insulting someone because you dont agree with them on certain issues is really pretty sad...I'm sure you dont enjoy being personally insulted, the way you do to others on this forum when they have a differing viewpoint than yours, so maybe you should check that..

[MSchemist80]

Once they open the door for the progressive income tax it will eventually get tweaked to scr#w the middle class as well. The published rates are just to create support for it. As it is structured now it won't do too much to stabilize the state. The state and many local governments especially Chicago are too far gone. You can't hand out million dollar pensions like candy, not fund them for decades then try to play catch up as the baby boomers are all retiring. There is simply no way the state can extract more than >$250E9 needed to support the pensions and bloated mismanaged government.

[My Kind Of Town]

It would be nice if Illinois received their fair share in federal aid. Federal aid accounts for nearly 40% of Indiana’s annual spending. Compare this to 30% for Illinois. If Illinois received the same amount in federal aid as Indiana on a percentage basis, it would amount to an increase of ~$5B/year in added renenue. This is significantly more than the estimated $3.4B in additional revenue projected based on the graduated income tax proposal. Everyone says Illinois has a spending problem. The state spends less per capita than their conservative neighbor Indiana. So does the state really have a spending problem or is that an easy complaint for conservatives to point to any time budgetary discussions come up? See below.

Total estimated state spending, FY 2016 ($ in millions)
State State funds Federal funds Total spending Population Per capita spending
Illinois $39,168. $16,810 $55,978 12,801,539 $4,373
Indiana $18,958 $12,448 $31,406 6,633,053 $4,735

Source: National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017