Pat Quinn committing political suicide
Over at Capitol Fax, Rich Miller is posting on Quinn’s push for a 50% increase in the income tax. This is political suicide.
First, the Madigan’s are engineering Pat’s political death, with the Speaker Madigan ready to increase taxes while the AG Madigan cynically argues against tax increases she knows “must pass” under this state’s current fiscal and political landscape.
If Quinn were more courageous, he’d end the absurd talk about “more money for education,” (they are the ones that bankrupted the state), cut spending much deeper than expected for a Democrat, and cement the political independents and center into his corner. As things are going, he’s increasing the taxes that AG Madigan will be disbursing. If it’s is true that tax increases are necessary, far better to expand the sales tax base to services than to increase the income tax.
When balancing this budget, 75% deep cuts and 25% tax increases would be the proper mix. Given that Illinois is a “Grant Making” state in terms of disbursing funds, zeroing out grants to all non-essential recipients would be the best place to start.
Ending all pension increases would be the next.
I would have thought Pat Quinn would have played this better. Too bad he’s destroying his chances for getting elected in 2010.
Tags: Bankrupting Illinois, The Madigans
March 13th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Bruno,
You say “Too bad he’s destroying his chances for getting
elected in 2010″. How? By extending the timeline of those with a vested interest, read : on the public trough,
in seeing that all of the necessary benefits are paid for
in the next 5 years?
Len
March 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Len,
Because the public, inactive as they are, will toss anyone who raises taxes with out at least equal cuts in spending. If Quinn won’t cut spending substantially, he’s playing right into the Madigans’ hands.
I don’t agree with Pat Quinn on everything, but the fact is that he’s 1000 times better than giving the governorship to the rapacious Madigans.
March 14th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I would be interested in knowing what percent of state GDP is spent by the state today vs. say, 20 years ago. Any idea where one would start looking in that? I think it would be a key fact in debating why cuts are necessary, not just more taxes.