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* Gov. Rauner in June of this year…
We’re gonna be investing billions of dollars into our roads and bridges this year and every year.
And I’m gonna do a big capital bill here in the next six months to invest even tens of billions more on top of that.
* April of 2017…
Rauner suggests doing a capital bill before fixing the budget
* January of 2017…
I’d like to get a balanced budget and a capital bill with a balanced budget, and put a lot of resources into our universities across the state, but especially U of I… The U of I is a major economic engine for this state and I want to take them to a whole other level… We need a budget to do it, we need a capital plan to do it…
* December of 2014…
Rauner again vows support for capital bill
* Yesterday…
On Wednesday, Rauner dangled the potential of a capital bill after the Nov. 6 election, though he declined to say what funding sources would be used to finance bonds to enact a massive infrastructure plan.
“I hope and believe that shortly after the election in November, we will come together. I’ve had some indications from members of the General Assembly that we’ll all come together and get done promptly a large capital bill,” Rauner said at Union Station, the site of recent problems involving Metra delays to suburban commuters. […]
As for new revenue to finance a capital program, Rauner said the state should “make the structural changes in our economy so we’re growing more, reduce the regulatory burden on our businesses, reduce the … income tax burden on our businesses, so that we can bring more businesses here, grow our tax base.” As a result, Rauner said, “We will have more than enough revenue to fund a large capital program.”
But those “structural changes” also have included Rauner’s push to eliminate a requirement that prevailing regional union wages be paid to construction workers on public projects, and other efforts to weaken private and public sector collective bargaining.
Capital plans cost money, even with “structural changes.” You need a funding source. If he’s gonna keep talking about it, then he should tell us how he plans to pay for it. After all, he and his surrogates have repeatedly demanded that JB Pritzker detail his progressive income tax proposal.
* From today’s Peoria Journal Star…
Area Republican legislators gathered Wednesday to demand Democratic governor candidate JB Pritzker more clearly detail his tax proposals.
Flanking Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti at Peoria County GOP headquarters, each asserted that voters deserve to know the details of Pritzker’s graduated income tax proposal — a topic on which he has avoided releasing any specifics.
“We think that Mr. Pritzker needs to come clean with the public about the specifics of his plan before they cast a vote in November or in early voting,” state Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington said of the concept that would impose different tax rates on different levels of income rather than Illinois’ current system in which everyone pays the same rate.
Lack of information on such a major policy proposal is “intellectually dishonest,” state Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria said. He called on Pritzker to “have the guts to tell you what that looks like.”
That’s a legit hit. But I also want to see how Rauner will pay for a capital plan. And while he’s at it he could toss in his specific ideas for how he intends to lower taxes.
…Adding… No surprise here…
FWIW, I asked Sanguinetti to give specifics on her ticket's plan to lower taxes.
I need to review the audio, but those specifics seemed a bit sparse.— Chris Kaergard (@ChrisKaergard) August 30, 2018
*** UPDATE *** Sen. Sam McCann…
Governor Rauner continues his legacy of broken promises as a failed administration attempts another stunt to shadow four years of incompetency. You don’t raid the road fund every year of your administration, requiring the Constitution to be amended to stop the bleeding, and then credibly make a call to repair our roads and bridges. You don’t raid downstate road districts of their funding by spending money on the Obama library project in Chicago, and then make a call to increase transportation and infrastructure investment because our competitiveness and job creation is faltering. What you do is lead. You lead every day of an administration, not just attempt to during the weeks leading up to an election. You don’t wait to veto endless Bills after failing to work with the legislature, you work with the legislature to curb the need to veto Bills. There is no doubt that we need a Capital Bill. We have a $4.6B annual shortfall in transportation and infrastructure needs in the State of Illinois, and that number continues to grow every day. If you want to grow an economy invest in it.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:29 am
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The guy didn’t make an attempt to move a capital plan in his first term, even though infrastructure is literally a cornerstone responsibility of state government.
Do some of the people believe him now? On anything? How, given his track record with the truth?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:34 am
After 3 1/2 years it is hard to take him seriously on this. Maybe if he was wearin’ a hard hat, holdin’ a roll of duct tape, and shoutin’ “yay” it would be more believable.
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:37 am
—we need a funding source—
Why won’t at least some of last capital plans funding sources work?
http://www.sj-r.com/article/20090522/NEWS/305229853
Here is a look at the specific proposals the Senate approved Wednesday to fund a statewide capital construction program:
Legalizing video poker in places like bars, truck stops and social clubs, to raise an estimated $375 million.
Handing over day-to-day management of the Illinois Lottery to a private firm and allowing the sale of lottery tickets online, to raise an estimated $150 million.
nIncreasing the tax on alcohol, to raise $114 million. The cost of a bottle of wine would go up by 13 cents, of a bottle of spirits by 80 cents and a six-pack of beer by 2.6 cents.
Extending the sales taxes to previously exempt items such as candy, non-carbonated beverages, and health and beauty products, to raise an additional $150 million.
Increasing vehicle fees, to raise an estimated $331 million. The vehicle registration fee and the cost of a driver’s license will go up $20. Costs for titles and commercial licenses will each go up by $30.
Comment by hmmm Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:37 am
===Rauner floats capital plan for umpteenth time, but again won’t say how we’ll pay for it===
It’s modern day republican policy to spend thru the roof and not actually pay for it. And Willy says Rauner isn’t a republican….
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:38 am
==“I hope and believe that shortly after the election in November, we will come together==
“We”? Who is this “we” that you speak of? Do you have a mouse in your pocket? Unless you completely ignore recent polling data, you should definitely change that word to “they”.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:38 am
===…says Rauner isn’t a republican….===
Rauner is a Raunerite.
Raunerism has ridiculous Republican ”things” and an uber-Left, costal, limousine liberal social agenda.
I’ll be the first to admit, Raunerism is one warped way to govern.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:41 am
===Why won’t at least some of last capital plans funding sources work? ===
Often because the borrowed money has all been spent, but the revenue sources still need to be used to pay off the bonds.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:42 am
Structural changes = magic beans.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:44 am
===I’d like to get a balanced budget and a capital bill with a balanced budget, and put a lot of resources into our universities across the state, but especially U of I… The U of I is a major economic engine for this state and I want to take them to a whole other level… We need a budget to do it, we need a capital plan to do it…===
Give. Me. A. Break.
Rauner in the first three fiscal years flat out refused to fully fund higher education, using his veto to purposely hurt higher education.
I know, I know, after purposely hurting higher ed, Mr. Rose and Mr. Barickman will applaud this too.
Rauner despises Illinois higher education.
Raunerite legislators helped in the 99th GA.
It’s foolish to think Rauner cares now.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:51 am
Thank God that JB has gobs and gobs of money and will not be outspent by Rauner. Without real money to go against Rauner, people out there might believe him when he starts talking out of the other side of his mouth.
Comment by paddyrollingstone Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 9:56 am
===revenue sources still need to be used to pay off the bonds===
IMHO, BTW, the bonding periods shouldn’t be allowed to last too much longer than the spending periods.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:02 am
hmmmm …
Because the dollars you sited don’t directly fund projects, the dollars you cited pay to finance the projects.
This is all borrowing.
The state hasn’t paid off the loans yet.
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:03 am
Just issue a $1 trillion infrastructure obligation bond, invest it in the stock market, then use all those guaranteed stock gains to fund infrastructure projects.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:11 am
Hey, here’s an idea for funding. The GA could steal it from mandated pension fund payments. /s
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:12 am
I’d suggest the Pritzker Crew leave this be. Let the press go after Rauner or surrogates.
Issuing a release here… not too wise.
Maybe save it for when you (Pritzker Crew) decide that having a policy or plan is something needed when there’s a want to talk about… policy or a plan.
Let it be.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:15 am
$4,600,000,000 from “working together on ‘grand bargain’”?
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:22 am
Saw a Pritzker ad this morning claiming Rauner is a liar in describing Pritzker’s tax plan.
It then goes on for the umpteenth time to not tell us any plan details other than state two massive whoppers, everyone who is not rich will see their taxes go down including the middle class, and everyone’s property taxes are going down.
Kind of like “read my lips, your taxes are going down” and the classic “if you want to keep your doctor you can.”
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:24 am
===It then goes on for the umpteenth time to not tell us any plan details other than state two massive whoppers, everyone who is not rich will see their taxes go down including the middle class, and everyone’s property taxes are going down.===
You can’t have a policy ad that lacks actual policy.
The ad works.
Rauner is so terribly unliked, Rauner is having a difficult time making *anyone* running for Governor more unliked.
If the Pritzker Crew lacks in running an ad on a plan, it only works, this lacking, because Rauner as a failed incumbent allows Pritzker to be overtly vague.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:28 am
Fairy dust. Pay for it with magic fairy dust.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:30 am
–IMHO, BTW, the bonding periods shouldn’t be allowed to last too much longer than the spending periods.–
+1
Comment by hmmm Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:31 am
== in the next six months ==
So Rauner expects to have the clout to push this through after the election.
I need to get me some of whatever Rauner is on …
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:33 am
==come clean with the public about the specifics of his plan before they cast a vote in November==
Evelyn and Bruce conveniently forget to mention they ran up a 16 billion dollar tab over the past 3.5 years and have no plans on paying it back other than saying “Because Madigan” to anyone who’ll listen.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:37 am
One way to reduce spending is to implement property tax caps in Cook County. Why the other 101 counties have this but not Cook is a mystery to me. It isn’t like there is a powerful politician in the legislature that benefits from a corrupt property tax system or anything.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:39 am
” Sanguenetti’s specifics are… sparse.”
No kidding.
Comment by Understatement of the Year. Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:40 am
===Rauner said the state should “make the structural changes in our economy so we’re growing more, reduce the regulatory burden on our businesses, reduce the … income tax burden on our businesses, so that we can bring more businesses here, grow our tax base.” As a result, Rauner said, “We will have more than enough revenue to fund a large capital program.”===
So we can become economic wonderlands like Kansas and Louisiana?
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:44 am
===Rauner said the state should “make the structural changes in our economy….”
Wow, the state can do that?
Is there like some Five-Year Plan for the collectivation of agriculture?
A Great Leap Forward, perhaps?
Just what are the powers of a state, in the United States, to make “structural changes in our economy?”
Or are those just random Soviet-style nonsense words employed when you actually have nothing to say?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:54 am
“Rauner despises Illinois higher education.”
To be fair, most of the General Assembly despises higher ed as well. Who is banging the drum on its behalf?
Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:55 am
===To be fair, most…===
Yeah, I’m gonna stop you there. Respectfully.
The overrides were seemingly 3-4 votes short to save higher ed, and the Perfect 10 and Brave 15 overrode Rauner in the 100th GA.
The Raunerites downstate, who have higher ed in their districts, they voted consistently against higher ed in the 99th GA.
Most is a majority word.
It’s not most. It just wasn’t a constitutional majority to override.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 10:59 am
” I’ve had some indications from members of the General Assembly that we’ll all come together and get done promptly a large capital bill,” Rauner said”
I wonder if anyone has told this to Madigan and Cullerton?/s
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:04 am
Many folks are going to be disappointed when JB,after raising a host of taxes,still won’t have enough revenue to pay for the things he’s promised. Democrat. Republican. They’re all the same.
Comment by BlueDogDem Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:09 am
@Bluedog
At least there is some hope that JB will actually manage departmental budgets. We have seen no evidence that Rauner even knows that is part of his job. Even when he signs a budget, government is on autopilot while the never-ending campaign rolls on.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:25 am
Ducky. I guess we will find out. But comparing him to Rauner will not be much of a benchmark.
Comment by BlueDogDem Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:28 am
Rauner always has a plan coming with details. Somehow the details never show up. He always companies ready to coming. But names rarely pop up. Now he has ‘indications’ from GA members. Who? Right up there with those phone calls to Madigan after the election several years ago.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:45 am
==Many folks are going to be disappointed when JB,after raising a host of taxes,still won’t have enough revenue to pay for the things he’s promised. ==
That depends. Maybe JB figured out a way to pave roads with good intentions.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:48 am
Thats my problem ,City, i keep confusing good intentions with campaign promises.
Comment by BlueDogDem Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 11:55 am
There are many people still waiting to hear specifics from J.B. Talk is cheap on both sides. Neither give us specifics……it’s all about who can buy the election……..
Comment by wen Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 12:19 pm
Hey Rich, I have wondered for awhile. When bonds for the capital plans o get paid off, the fee doesn’t stop. Does that money just get thrown into the same pot as everything else?
Comment by Union thug Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 12:37 pm
Raise the gas tax ten cents and make sure it is spent only on new transportation projects. This is doable now because Trump’s energy policy has kept gas prices relatively low.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 1:16 pm
“One way to reduce spending is to implement property tax caps in Cook County.” Um…I’m not following, could you explain?
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 1:43 pm
Cook County already has PTELL (tax caps) only about 40 or so counties total have PTELL, not 101.
Cool along with the collar counties were the first to pass PTELL in their counties.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 3:33 pm
McCann never has anything negative to say about Pritzker.
I wonder why? Can anyone explain?
Comment by jim Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 4:32 pm
===McCann never has anything negative to say about Pritzker. I wonder why? Can anyone explain?===
Do you really wonder why… or…
Plus, Pritzker voters aren’t McCann voters, if you want someone to pretend with you and your babe in the woods routine, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 30, 18 @ 4:37 pm