Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday will give the State of Illinois’ combined, annual State of the State and Budget Address.
But the Pritzker Administration apparently couldn’t wait to us about what will likely be the most enticing proposal in the speech. Over the weekend, Deputy Gov. Andy Manar told reporters to expect a proposal for temporary tax breaks totaling about $1 billion in the form of a freeze on the annual increase in gas taxes, a suspension of the state’s 1% sales tax on groceries and a rebate on property taxes for up to $300.
The tax break is needed, Manar said, because “the governor understands that the surge in inflation is taking a bite out of people’s pocketbooks. And it’s hitting working families hard in Illinois.”
Hold on a minute, curious readers might ask:
Didn’t the Pritzker Administration lead the charge just two years ago for over $5 billion in new taxes, primarily on those same working families, that they are already paying?
Didn’t they tell us just last year that, if we didn’t vote for its proposed Progressive Tax in 2020, the state would have to raise income taxes by 20%?
Didn’t the federal government flood Illinois with nonrecurring bailout money that’s still coming in, now approaching $200 billion, which is the only reason the state has some change in its pocket this year for some tax relief?
Isn’t the inflation that the tax break is supposed to address the result of that deluge of federal bailout money that has come from both the Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank, all of which Pritzker supported?
And didn’t Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) say just last week, when asked about the possibility of tax relief, “We could do it, but we wouldn’t provide a lot of relief for struggling families…We don’t want to do something that is flashy showbiz but doesn’t provide real relief to people.”
Why, yes, actually, that’s all true. But Pritzker, you see, is up for reelection this year, so flashy showbiz is exactly what it’s time for it’s time for – handouts and triumphal celebration.
The triumphal celebration, you should expect, will comprise much of the rest of Pritzker’s speech. He will no doubt repeat the central messages you’ve been seeing in campaign ads. Manar summarized them in his recent interviews. “We’ve restored fiscal stability to the state budget,” he said. “We have balanced budgets. We have paid off debts, and we’ve controlled spending and caught up on our bills.”
Each of those claims is unadulterated hogwash, which regular readers here know we have already documented in detail. But we will stay on it. We intend to call out every falsehood and distortion we see during this election, whether from Pritzker, his opponents or anybody else.
Yes, we expect to be very busy.
-Mark Glennon
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
In the picture above, where are the captured citizens of IL whispering in JB’s ear … “All Glory is Fleeting, Fat Man” (Sic transit gloria mundi)
I think he is gambling that he will be in Washington before his glory fades in Illinois.
I predict that JB will come out to do his presser, see his shadow (how could he not) & scurry away fearfully, yelling 6 more months of covid restrictions…
Hate to be a cynic, but what illinoisan with half a clue isn’t. It’s no contest, jb will easally win. Irvin, Sullivan, etc those guy have zero chance….handing out $300 (trinkets-to-the-indians) chump change tax breaks to dullard voters is all about passing the mother load—AMENDMENT 1, so ppf don’t have to suffer
I’m astounded non of the Republican gov candidates are sounding the alarm on Amendment 1? One would think it would be #1 campaign issue
Hard to be the #1 campaign issue when the majority of the senate Republicans voted to put it on the ballot. Both parties supported the amendment.
Yet more evidence that gaslighting and censorship work.
Heads up Illinois – if you are dumb enough to re-elect Pritzker, then don’t complain when a big kick to the you know what comes shortly afterward. You will have asked for it.
Sadly about 85% of the state detest him. Cook/County/Chicago voters kiss his feet and work their way to his fat, spoiled, rich kid arse and will overwhelmingly vote for him again. Remember Pat Quinn won the governorship once and only carried 3 counties statewide. He got 90%+ of the vote in Cook/County/Chicago and squeezed by with about 15,000 more votes statewide.
Update: Just returned from my Wisconsin visit to the gym. Filled up @ $3.09.9, gas 2 miles away in Illinois $3.57.9, .$48 cents a gallon difference. No tax for you JB!
If you buy gas at a Shell station and have the loyalty card you can save another 5 cent a gal. I just paid $3.049 in Beloit. If by chance you have a Sam’s Club credit card you can save an additional 5% at most gas stations up to $300/yr.
Sad thing is, I expect this’ll all work. I don’t think the Illinois Republican Party – outmaneuvered, outspent and out marketed – will be capable of pulling themselves together and showing Pritzker the door. Sadly, I suspect that it would be the same outcome if the incumbent Democratic governor in Illinois was Bill The Cat, or more particularly Freemont the Boy Bug. “Jes fine” is, in fact, the only thing an Illinois Democratic political candidate needs to say. Too many of those of us who bother to vote in Illinois remain stubbornly wrong-headed when we decide what to do about… Read more »
Don’t be such a pessimist. JB Pritzker a Chicago Progressive is kicking off his 2022 campaign with ….. wait for it…. TAX CUTS. His internal polling must show he’s in a terrible position heading into this once in a generation Red Tsunami. There’s no other explanation. He knows the not-on-Twitter voters see progressive policies as toxic. His campaign four years ago on seemingly popular progressive policies has backfired nationally and is now completely toxic. JB is a politician and he’s simply polling and campaigning on what residents want to hear. Polls (and most likely JB’s polls too) show voters could… Read more »
https://mobile.twitter.com/Peoples_Pundit/status/1486506238871584773 https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1245722831280836609/vu-063Uf_x96.jpg Rich “The People’s Pundit” Baris @Peoples_Pundit “Cost of Living / Inflation” has officially overtaken “Economy and Jobs” as the Most Important Voting Issue for 2022. Coronavirus has fallen to a distant and tenuous third place, statistically tied with “Immigration”, which is now on the rise. JB has no shot of winning 2022 if he campaigns on “I gave you Plebians masks forever, I shut the state’s economy down, I let Lori Lightfoot destroy Chicago for a generation, I made IL a sanctuary state, I passed a bill that lets accused criminals roam free with no bail, and I… Read more »
Yes, he must be feeling the heat. There’s no other reason for this pandering. Cutting taxes is necessary, but doing so with out taking care of the structural deficit is malpractice. These politicians rely on the greed, stupidity and ignorance of the electorate. The fact that one is talking about the structural deficit is a joke. People are angry about the mandates, and rightly so, but the financial catastrophe that’s coming down the line will be worse than Covid ever was. They all insult our collective intelligences on a daily basis, and the press enables them in exchange for access.… Read more »
“They all insult our collective intelligences on a daily basis, and the press enables them in exchange for access.” And money. JB is likely to spend over $300,000,000 of his own money on his campaign in the upcoming months and a large chunk of that will go directly to the media. Why criticize him or his policies and risk a smaller advertising payout from the campaign? The media execs are salivating for a buffet at JB’s advertising dollar trough. It’s rough trying to make any money in media these days and from a business perspective, it would be idiotic to… Read more »
It will be death by a thousand cuts for Illinois. There really is no other way. King Pritzker will give a one year reprieve on the inflationary increase in the gas tax and a one year small property tax credit, but then it’s back to raising revenue through additional fees, taxes and further expansion of sin taxes (a casino on every corner, next to a weed shop). As more and more residents walk out the door, shrinking the taxpayer base. The unfunded pension liability will grow, and Covid will get blamed for a future pension holiday happily agreed to be… Read more »
That July gas tax reprieve amounts to about 1/2 a cent a gallon, Whoopie! Fortunate to live near Wisconsin border where gas is usually .30 to .50 cents a gallon cheaper. Guess where I will continue to go. Groceries are also cheaper, no tax at all, no extra tax on adult beverages so folks guess where I will continue to shop. The average family will probably end up with $10.00 extra in their pocket, Whoopie!
Just bought gas today in Wisconsin, $.48 cents a gallon cheaper than Illinois stations near me. Hey JB……..screw you!
I stand corrected. The July increase based in the 7% rate of inflation, thanks to president PotatoHead, would have been around $3.1 cents a gallon bringing the Illinois gas tax to $.41 cents a gallon. Whoopie! $3.00 saved for every 100 gallons of gas purchased, I’m a millionaire. Filling up with Wisconsin gas saves me that much every fill up.
Few follow IL state politics which is why crap fax blogger has a near monopoly on access journalism. Hardly anyone even knows he’s giving a speech and the local news will spend 30 seconds or less covering it.
Most people either like the fat a$$ or they don’t. Most of us just don’t like his ugly triple chined face. Most residents won’t even be aware of this tax cuts which will probably all die in the legislature anyways
“We’ve restored fiscal stability to the state budget.”
No, you inherited the highest tax rate in the state’s history and used that extra revenue to pay bills on time. Nothing was restored. Even Blago could’ve balanced his budgets under a 4.95% tax rate.
If “the governor understands that the surge in inflation is taking a bite out of people’s pocketbooks,” then why weren’t the tax brackets in his Fair Tax indexed for inflation?