I never thought I’d see the day that I’d read this in the paper: “…the crowd turned to face the Capitol and shouted ‘Raise my taxes.'”
A rally of 15,000 people from throughout the state roared in anger and frustration outside the state Capitol on Wednesday, protesting budget cuts affecting education and social services…. Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, co-sponsored legislation in the Senate calling for increasing the state income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent.
That’s right, a crowd of Illinois residents, including many from Peoria, descended on Springfield yesterday imploring lawmakers to raise their taxes — and not a little bit, either. Going from three to five percent is a 67% increase.
Raising taxes in order to maintain/increase spending is not the answer. Instead, reforms should be made to the pension system, and programs like FamilyCare/AllKids need to be means-tested. There are undoubtedly some programs that could be cut completely.
If anyone thinks that more money is the answer, look no further than the lottery. Remember that? The lottery was going to help schools! Well, they kept their promise. The proceeds from that tax on the poor did go to schools, but then they reduced other spending on schools by a commensurate amount, so it was a zero-sum bargain — an accounting trick. They found other ways to use the net increase in funds, and it wasn’t to help schools.
I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that people would ask to have their taxes raised. After all, they voted for an increase in their sales taxes here locally in the middle of a recession to pay for a non-essential boondoggle. I guess it really is better here — residents have money to burn.
…so they can keep their jobs while we are loosing ours.
That crowd of 15,000 Illinois residents was teachers representing their unions.
Yes People of all color protesting taxes. Yelling to raise taxes. No Hitler signs and no anti-Obama signs. Wasn’t it refreshing from the old redneck tea baggers?
“while we are loosing ours.” Unemployment is falling.
I think that the State should act like people and families have to when doing budgets. Look at programs and services and decide which are needed and to what degree. Look at how much money is available to fund them and then don’t spend more than that. We need to create priorities and realize that government can’t be all things to all people. I don’t think that program funding should be based on what benefits the people that pay the most taxes but I also don’t think that government spending is the cure for all that is wrong in the world. If programs are tested and found to be worthy then make the case for increased taxes and I think that you would have a better chance of getting people to accept. More spending is not always the answer but better/educated spending is. I remember when I first started working (ie had an income) someone told me that you can have anything you want, just not everything that you want.
Illinois has one of the lowest state income taxes in the country. When confronted with the choice of paying a few hundred more in state taxes each year, or seeing public education and other critical state services gutted, I would choose the former. It’s easy to pick a few programs that you personally get no benefit from and say “trim those!” Or to call for eliminating waste and fraud, but the revenue crisis we’re facing here is far bigger than those measures can address.
I agree with you that the lottery and various other gambling initiatives are cruel and unethical revenue devices. And for all the harm they do to low-income individuals, it brings in very little money in the end.
I think that the State should act like people and families have to when doing budgets. Look at programs and services and decide which are needed and to what degree. Look at how much money is available to fund them and then don’t spend more than that
I don’t understand your point. That’s exactly what’s going on. Suddenly there’s a lot less income so they’re having to cut lots of important things. At a certain point, though, there’s nothing left to cut. A family who depends on their cars to get them to work might be able to sell one of those cars, but can’t get rid of both, or risk making things worse.
Education spending in particular is an investment in the state. The better educated our residents, the more money they can make and the better off the state will be on the whole. When public colleges become unaffordable and K12 districts strip off all programs beyond reading and math, the next generation is going to be a lot poorer and even less able to afford what services are left.
“The better educated our residents, the more money they can make”
That is really sad, Paul. Why would someone who is better educated necessarily make more money? Why would you or anyone else think that some who was more educated would want to earn more money?
This is one of the problems of Education… we are telling our children that education is equated with jobs and money. Some kids (like suburban white collar whites) see it as true and go for it, while others realize that they are never gonna get anything other than minimum wage, manual labor jobs so why bother…
“Education should make men out of carpenters, not carpenters out of men.”
What they said was “raise me taxes.” What they meant was “Raise everyone’s taxes so I can continue to get raises and a sweet, sweet pension that’s out of proportion to the private sector, and if you don’t, we won’t vote for you.”
while I rarely agree with Billy he hit it right on the head
The teachers have had it realllllllly good, better than 90% of the people, despite what the teachers union spin cycle might tell you. I have no problem with cutting a teacher loose, as long as they cut an appropriate number of administration throughout.
I wonder what the effective tax rate for education is in Peoria, factoring the huge portion of property tax, the state funding, and any federal funding. Anyone know?
Also, at the next round of negotiations between d150 and the union, I hope they have someone other than a $100,000-a-year drivers ed teacher speaking.
“That is really sad, Paul. Why would someone who is better educated necessarily make more money? Why would you or anyone else think that some who was more educated would want to earn more money? ”
Wait! What? Are you serious? It is well established that education level correlates with income level. Highly educated people really are generally more successful in life.
Why wait for the legislature? If you want to pay higher taxes, you can send the state a check today. They will take it – and waste it – promptly. Never understood why those screaming for higher taxes don’t just do that – of course many of those people pay little or nothing in taxes and don’t donate much to charity. IT”S ALL ABOUT OPM!
And Mahkno, you’re dead wrong. Unemployment is going up. Add those who are “no longer looking” and those in part-time jobs (“underemployed”) and it’s probably 20% already.
I think if revenues are 10% lower than last year then cut everything by 10%…then there would be no arguing that this program was getting cut more than another program.
As far as expecting the gov’t to “live like we do”…the average family has over $8,000 in credit card debt…so they are already “living like we do”.
I agree in some respects, CJ, with what you say. Really. I will say this, though…the folks that are asking for taxes to be raised are doing so to salvage early childhood services for children in the state. Right now, it’s estimated that 10,000 kids will be cut from programming. I’m not happy with that amount, and like you, would like to see a “right sized” budget that spends less but protects programs that serve those that need them most…and those that are effective. I’d lump early childhood services into both those categories.
I contract as a speech-language pathologist one day a week at a county school (in Peoria, but outside D150). The Bright Futures programs are going to be completely eliminated, which for this school, means that 40 kids each year who are at-risk for academic failure will no longer receive preschool via their local school district. MANY of those kids are on my caseload and need the exposure to academic concepts, socialization, peer modeling, etc. that is provided within the context of their preschool class…and, sadly, many parents of these students don’t have the resources to pay for private preschool, which can be very expensive.
So, yes. I think that we need to do something drastic about the budget. I get that and am totally on board. But, of all the programs to cut, I personally don’t see that early childhood education is the best choice…Additionally, the loss of these programs is effective at the end of the current school year. Making changes to the state budget in the way that is needed will not yield immediate resources that will allow for the reinstatement of early childhood programs. Unfortunately, a raise in taxes would, at least in the eyes of this group of protesters (like you…I wonder if that would actually happen!) So, I can sympathize with the efforts of the folks demonstrating yesterday. They’re making their voices heard despite the fact that they’re being ridiculed by some for doing so…
Sorry Mouse but that leftist liberal rag known as the Wall Street Journal begs to differ. We are in a recovery. Jobs are being created not lost. People are even being called back locally but you would never know it cause the Journal Star is conveniently blind to it.
Thousands and thousands of people whose paychecks and pensions depend on a tax increase say, coincidentally I’m sure, that we need to raise taxes. Won’t anyone think of the CHILDREN!!!!
How about the over 65 people riding the bus for free. Gov. Quinn will not consider changing that. Billy Dennis is right. Government workers saying “raise everybodys taxes” I see were Obama is “considering” a VAT or national sales tax. That won’t affect anybody making over $250,000. HA HA!!!
Billy, I have no horse in this race financially. I will still provide services for these children whether or not they’re attending preschool, as they’re still entitled to services under IDEA…I am thinking about what I perceive as best for the kids that I serve. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can certainly speak for myself. I understand your sarcasm, but not everyone is just out to save their own jobs…
I have no faith that the state is using the revenues it currently receives in a responsible way. Instead of honest dialogue about the budget situation, Gov. Quinn is playing games. Right now, giving the state more money would be like buying whiskey for an alcoholic; it may make them feel good in the short-term, but the real issues remain.
Recently I received one of those insipid automatic survey calls. The voice first wanted to know if I felt schools should receive more state funds. The second question concerned whether or not I would support the tax increase. The final question asked if I would contact my State Rep. to encourage him (or her) to support the tax increase in order to provide more funds for the ailing Chicago schools? CHICAGO??? Excuse me?
A few days ago I asked a teacher if there were any provisions in the bill for statewide funding distribution (should the tax increase be passed), she said she hadn’t seen any legislation, but that we should lobby for it anyway.
The last few years (and probably more) Illinois has passed a budget that has been “balanced” on paper. The balancing has at times been the result of over inflated revenue projections, the budgeting of non payment of operating bills, delay of payments to pension obligations, the borrowing of money from state funds that have positive balances and the issuing of bonds. Why is this allowed to happen? The situation is only getting worse and needs to be dealt with.
“It is well established that education level correlates with income level. Highly educated people really are generally more successful in life.”
http://www.millionairedropouts.com/millionaire.php/The_Millionaire_Dropout_List/
Unbelievable…
…Rush Limbaugh? Glenn Beck? Bill Gates?
Here are ten high school dropouts
http://socyberty.com/people/10-famous-millionaire-high-school-dropouts/
Yeah… education and money… ha ha ha
walkofshame is correct.
JC – I agree with your thoughts that early childhood education is a critical need that should be funded. I am not convinced that some of the entities delivering those services are doing so effectively. So, I guess I am with C.J. that there needs to be a lot of refinement in how state services are delivered. I don’t understand why early childhood education isn’t an extension of the services offered through public schools, which could open to everyone. A means test could be attached to the program to determine who pays and who doesn’t. In many other countries, public schooling begins a 3 years of age.
Additionally, the State of Illinois needs to get out of the pension business. Private sector employers dumped their defined benefit pension plans 8 to 10 years ago. The State MUST do the same in order to provide the truly essential services.
Finally, dramatic reform is needed in how State education dollars are allocated. If you have ever visited a public school in one of the upscale suburban neighborhoods of Chicago and witnessed the facilities, you would never believe there is (or ever was) limited funding for education.
What programs do you people want to cut? There are too many generalities “pension reform”, “welfare”, etc… What specifically in the pension plan to think needs to be cut? What part of welfare needs to be cut? No one likes to pay taxes but no one also works for free. Do you realize most people work for the government even if they work for a private business, ie. Haliburton, Bechtel Most major contracting companies do some work for the government. There are no solutions offered on this board just continual complaints and criticism over trying to solve problems. It is leading to the race to the bottom. We should cut teachers pay because private employees don’t make that much (Does that make it right?) The private side lost their pension and benefits along the way in this race while CEO’s keep their pensions and healthcare benefits. The party of NO is not giving solutions so they must be part of the problem.
Aw geez, Randall….
[facepalm]
Illinois is in the worst shape, per capita, in the nation. We have the highest debt, most corrupt politicians, and businesses are fleeing because of the unfriendly atmosphere. What these protestors in Springfield do not understand is that they will never save these services. Things must be cut now. It is not politics, just simple economics. Illinois took the pension money and other monies, collected for future expenditures, and spent it immediately. They spent the money right away, rather than cut the tons of redundant programs that Illinois funds, or raise taxes to what they really should have been (Can anyone say Madoff?). Worse yet the machine that drives the State, business, is being demonized and ran out in droves. To all those who support this income tax hike, there are more fees, taxes, permits, and red tape to consider besides just the income tax. It’s time to pull your heads out of your rear ends, and take a look at the world around you. This isn’t Candy Land, and money is not in an unlimited resource.
The truth of the matter is that the Democrats have been in charge of this state for many years. They have turned a once prosperous manufacturing state into a wasteland, where people try to get their goodies from the government, at the expense of their neighbors. Many good people have left to find another state that will let them make a good life for themselves, and their families, and do not penalize them for success. Just look around: Michigan, California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are all in economic ruin. They all have unfunded pensions and budget deficits into the billions. I see a common thread, mahkno do you? I know, I know, all they need is a little more money and they can fix it…
Sure, Mahkno, jobs are being created. The PJS is turning down all those want ads because they are blind. Sure they are. Go right ahead and buy stocks. The Wall Street Journal wants fools like you to participate in this “suckers rally”.
Hey there frustrated. While I agree that we need to look at how to dramatically reform how schools are funded…..schools funded through property taxes don’t work. Some of the poorest areas have the highest rates of taxation but have such limited property values that they raise very little monies for schools. While areas with high property worth can have very low tax rates and have huge amounts of money to spend on their schools. In addition there is usually exceedingly high levels of community and parent support in those schools. PTA’s and PTO’s that raise large sums of money in addition for those schools. We need to level funding though. Here in chicago they are going to raise class size to 35 students in a class K-12th grade. I received my school budget last friday and they want to cut 7 of my teachers and two special education assistants while cutting 25% of our discretionary budget because the state has cut 386 million dollars and is 300 million behind on payments to the district. Education equates oppurtunities and lack of education often equates limited oppurtunities “He who opens a school door, closes a prison.”
Victor Hugo
Trisha – That is what I was trying to say. You just said it better.
I am sure some Chicago schools, like so many downstate schools are suffering budget woes as well. BUT . . . some Chicago schools are looking fine. Our family visited Stevenson H.S. (Chicago Suntimes ranks it one of the top schools in Illinois) and our jaws dropped. The facility is a mix between an upscale office building and a junior college with deluxe 50 meter pool complete with stadium seating, gym with running track, and astro-turf football field. Beautiful, and yet some school in Illinois don’t have up-to-date textbooks.