Quinn congratulates Democrats on income tax increase

[Stuart G]

Source: Chicago Tribune



January 12, 2011
Quinn congratulates Democrats on income tax increase
Posted by Ray Long and Monique Garcia at 2:15 a.m.

A triumphant Gov. Pat Quinn congratulated fellow Democrats early today after the Illinois Senate and House sent him a major income tax increase without a single Republican vote in favor.

Quinn smiled and shook hands on the floor of the Senate around 1:30 a.m. after the Senate voted 30-29 for the bill, which would raise the personal income tax-rate by 67 percent and the business income tax rate by 46 percent.

The House passed the bill hours earlier Tuesday night -- likewise without a vote to spare and with nary a Republican in support.




Read more: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/01/quinn-congratulates-democrats-on-income-tax-increase.html

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Not one Republican vote...in either house. Illinois is in a severe financial crises, as are many states. This courageous move by the Democrats will save the state from financial ruin and also having to destroy the social net that exists. The Republicans couldn't care less, saying that more cuts needed to be made before tax increases could be voted on. Many cuts had already been made, but those were not enough for the Republicans. The tax rate will go down in 2015.

A tax increase has been talked about for many years as the state's finances slowly went down the shaft. Quinn and the Democrats did the right thing by raising taxes. In this climate, that is incredible.

[mucifer]

1. Gov. Quinn and the IL dems may not get reelected. I'm glad they did it.

People here don't realize how badly blago and the republicans before him screwed us by raising services but not taxes. Even with this happening there are going to be big cuts to public aid and other services.

[groundloop]

2. IMHO, instead of talking about "raising taxes", it should be "preserving services"

It's pretty basic, people expect the government to provide a variety of services and those services need to be paid for with tax dollars. If taxes are cut (or revenue falls) those needed services can't be provided. I remember reading about a study (can't remember where - maybe Dailykos) in which it was shown that too low a level of taxation was bad for businesses because of poor infrastructure. Our right wing friends should be reminded of this more often.

[DarthDem]

3. Outstanding Post

You know, that's a truly great idea. For my money, this past election was all about (well, largely about) a miserable failure of messaging by the Democrats. They just let the Rethugs steamroll them and frame the debate in Rethug-friendly terms, on just about every issue, probably most notably the health care reform bill. The Democrats have simply got to change the conversation and learn to define the debate, and unfortunately, I don't think Obama is nearly as good at this as you would think he should be given his oratorical skills and background (and I am decidedly not an Obama basher). Starting to talk about "preserving services" or maybe "defending services" instead of "raising taxes" is a really clever way to recapture lost ground and make it clear to people that we're trying to maintain the status quo or improve the lot of ordinary Americans - - and regrettably, that means increasing taxes because it can't be done any other way.

Hats off to Quinn and the Illinois Dems for a truly courageous act. I wonder if they will be punished for it at the ballot box. I really, really hope not.

[elleng]

4. Yes, 'framing' is important, and Dems rarely do it well.

[DCKit]

5. +2. Well stated.

(D) - Fiscal Responsibility

[mopinko]

6. i'm only upset about that 'fig leaf' of temporary.

they did the same thing the last time they raised the income tax. i am fine with eating my spinach, just don't try to tell me it is caviar, ya know.
but, thank you governor quinn. i guess these days the bottom line of what it means to be a dem is- be the grown up. and thank you for removing the ridiculous free rides for seniors on public transit. those that need that can still get that. any other droppings from the twisted mind of the last gov should be swept up as well.