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| EMANUEL: Wants state support for tax hike |
The
Legislature adjourned Friday morning without the Illinois House of
Representatives taking up the issue. Republicans remain adamantly opposed to
the solution desired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and I’m also sure there are
Democrats who don’t think much of the solution put forth.
ALTHOUGH
I SUSPECT if they don’t go along with it, they’re going to learn just how harsh
the Wrath of Rahm can be. Plus, they’ll get the blame for the city’s pension
problems becoming an overwhelming burden on municipal government.
This
coming after many of them took the hard vote for a state pension funding reform
mechanism that is so despised by organized labor that many unions did their
best to try to defeat its more vulnerable political supporters at the ballot
box.
This
is going to get ugly. Nobody is going to wind up pleased with whatever solution
ultimately gets agreed upon. Although as I sit here writing this commentary, I
don’t have a clue what that solution will wind up being.
Now
as desired by city officials, they want to reduce a $20 billion debt due to
pension obligations by about half during the next four decades (pensions always
are long-term issues, which is what makes them easy for political people to
think they can put them off to a later date).
BUT
THE BURDEN grows and grows, and eventually, political people get pressured to
act for fear the debt will devour everything else in government.
 |
| QUINN: Unsure if he can help |
That
ultimately is what nudged the General Assembly to act on the state pension
program. It is what is forcing them to deal with the city’s problem.
Which
Emanuel has proposed paying down with increased property tax revenues. Some
$750 million more to be raised during the next five years. Purely a local
issue. Except that because it involves pensions, the state Legislature has to
review it.
The
same Republicans who always rant and rage about “tax” as though it were an
obscenity don’t want to get the blame for supporting a property tax hike for
Chicago residents. Just think of what happens if Chicago voters get it into
their heads that “Republicans from Springfield” was more of a dirty phrase than
usual.
 |
| DURKIN: Doesn't want blame for Chgo. hike |
IT
WOULD BE just the kind of thing to get them to turn out en masse on Nov. 4 and
vote against every GOPer possible – including the gubernatorial bid of Bruce
Rauner. Only Gov. Pat Quinn would like that idea; as Rauner is counting on Chicago voter apathy (particularly amongst African-American voters) to bolster his chances of winning.
Except
that maybe he won’t.
Because
Democrats in Springfield, including the city’s legislative delegation, also are
being asked to back this increase, along with the one he’s already asked for in
terms of making permanent an income tax increase from a couple of years ago that
was only supposed to be temporary!
He’s
already got the ire of the ideologues because of that, although we can dismiss
that because it comes from people who are going to say Pat Quinn is vile and
evil no matter what he says or does.
 |
| RAUNER: Could he be hurt too? |
BUT
ASKING FOR an income tax hike AND a property tax increase in Chicago? The
Chicago Tribune caught Quinn engaging in some double-talk while refusing to say
if he supports Emanuel’s pension solution but also saying he’d like lower
property taxes.
It’s
not likely he, or anyone, can have both. Although Quinn was accurate in telling
that newspaper that the pension solution may wind up having to be altered,
although Illinois House Minority Leader James Durkin, R-Western Springs,
suggested to the Chicago Sun-Times some changes that the labor unions are
saying would kill the whole deal.
And
the only thing that might be worse for political people is if no deal gets
approved for pension funding.
 |
| Soon to be popular w/ Statehouse scene? |
Just
think of how much ridicule and abuse the General Assembly was submitted to in
recent years when they were unable to reach any kind of pension funding
shortfall agreement.
I’M
SURE THE City Council does not want to be in that same situation, and is eager
for the Legislature to back something on their behalf.
And
the only point I’m willing to make on this particular date is that whatever
solution ultimately gets approved, I’m sure there will be several lawsuits
challenging it in the courts – just like all the legal actions now being taken
against Illinois government on the pension question.
Where’s
the Tylenol bottle? Oh that’s right, there’s a rush on the headache-relief
pills from all those legislators trying to pick the lesser of financial evils!
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