Madigan says he’d support income tax increase (as if there’s not enough reason for him to go) – Quicktake

Embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan isn’t known for misreading election results; nobody denies his political cunning.

But he sure seems to have missed the memo about Illinoisans wanting reforms instead of taxes. They sent that message loud and clear by decisively defeating the proposal to authorize progressive tax increases at the ballot box last month.

Madigan said it’s “very possible” that Gov. J.B. Pritzker could get the legislature to raise the state’s flat income-tax rate according the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m prepared to vote for that, presuming it’s the governor’s request,” Madigan said. He (Madigan) can provide the “strong leadership” to get it done, he said.

Republicans, of course, jumped on Madigan for that, but what’s interesting is that it might make his bid to retain his position as House speaker more difficult. Some House Democrats, whose votes he needs, surely did get that memo about reform instead of taxes. As Greg Hinz at Crain’s put it, “the tax question could make it even harder for some reluctant Democrats to vote to re-elect Madigan as House speaker when they convene early in January.”

Pritzker, too, appears nervous about an income tax increase. When asked about Madigan’s comments, according to Crain’s, Pritzker said, “What I can say is, I’m focused on the (spending) cuts that have to be made,” not on tax increases. “I’ve asked Democratic and Republican leaders for their best ideas” on how to make state government operate more efficiently.”

On the other hand, maybe that’s underestimating the power of public unions, which Madigan is smart enough to keep happy. They want tax increases, not spending cuts, and it’s their influence that Madigan has most effectively wielded throughout his tenure.

-Mark Glennon

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Alphabet Soup
3 years ago

The definition of insanity…doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results….ugh

Chase Gioberti
3 years ago

Do you suppose the Democrats second choice would be a MAGA reformer?

I prefer Madigan to what the crazies have waiting in the wings.

Killem All
3 years ago

I favor pitchforks. its revolution time

Last edited 3 years ago by Killem All
Barry Lind
3 years ago

Madigan controls and raises our real estate taxes EVERY year….yet has a law firm that he runs that fights real estate taxes. How is that even legal?????? That’s the BIG corruptions. Yet no says or does any thing about it. And he constantly gets challengers to his seat kicked out of elections so he can go unopposed by challenging their signature petitions Most corrupt man in Illinois.

Last edited 3 years ago by Barry Lind
Fed up neighbor
3 years ago
Reply to  Barry Lind

Nobody says anything because the sheep follow the leader and eat crumbs.

Governor of Alderaan
3 years ago

Madigan doesn’t have to be speaker to support tax increases

Thee Jabroni
3 years ago

Yes,i agree with most of these comments,but,is the general populace that f-ing stupid to keep voting for these dumocrats!-i guess so,so here you go idiots of illinois,im leaving this crappy,corrupt state soon,so,you all have fun with the high taxes,forced business closures and the elite public sector employees who havent been hurt by this fake pandemic ,im gonna laugh from florida when i read about the public sector employees get a check that bounces for their exhorbinant pension!-not sure whos more greedy,illinois politicians or elitist public sector employees!

con
3 years ago
Reply to  Thee Jabroni

In many districts, there are no Republicans running for office. Chicago voters are forced to vote for Democrats. Do not blame the voters in all cases.

John
3 years ago
Reply to  Thee Jabroni

Exactly, don’t blame Madigan. Blame the Illinois voters who consistently support these guys. High taxes and poor government performance seems ok with Illinois voters..thats the problem. The best strategy for anyone who cares is an exit strategy.

Thee Jabroni
3 years ago
Reply to  John

Exactly!-exit …stage left!!!

The Truth Hurts
3 years ago

Of course Pritzker is going to say he is focused on spending cuts. He gets to show some sacrificial cuts and talk about how the cuts will hurt vulnerable Illinois residents. He will say he asked both republicans and democrats for feedback on how to cut government and this was the best both parties could develop. He will then blame the evil powers of KG and his money that “tricked” the Illinois people to vote the wrong way. He will then transition to even with these painful cuts Illinois needs more tax revenue. That’s when he needs Madigan or another… Read more »

Morefandave
3 years ago

Madigan is taking his cue, as he always has, from the public sector unions, who are the co-conspirators, along with state officials, in the insolvency of the state. His (and their) motto is “I got mine.”

Ex Illini
3 years ago

He’s trying to suck up to JB in a last ditch attempt to remain Speaker. He knows that the whole house of cards comes tumbling down when he is kicked to the curb. That’s why he wouldn’t get out of the way for his daughter.

Riverbender
3 years ago
Reply to  Ex Illini

We have all heard the story about the embezzling book keeper that could never take a vacation because they had to be there to keep their activities private. I think your “he whole house of cards comes tumbling down when he is kicked to the curb.” has considerable merit.

Illinois Entrepreneur
3 years ago

This is all about the public employee unions. They absolutely want tax hikes, and have sent their own private “memo” to everyone in their pockets that cost cuts will not be allowed without a severe political price. The cowards in our legislature will obey, but their challenge is to figure out how to lie to the public at the same time while doing something else legislatively. Pritzker already has a beat on it, asking “both sides” for “ideas” on how to make state government “more efficient.” This guy is a mealy mouth on steroids. He’s afraid to upset anyone but… Read more »

Morefandave
3 years ago

Madigan plays so many games, we probably haven’t discovered even half of them. He, his law firm, and the public sector unions having been raping the State of Illinois for years. If they ever create a public officials Hall of Shame, he will be a unanimous first year inductee.

Illinois Entrepreneur
3 years ago
Reply to  Morefandave

You would think he’d have some shame about the wreckage that he’s left here. About the wealth and prosperity he’s destroyed in people’s home equity, and the state’s firm reputation as absolute last in just about anything important.

But I get the feeling that the guy just doesn’t give a rat’s a** about anything but his own dealmaking and power trips.

What a sad individual. No patriotism, no pride, no civic loyalty — just power and greed mixed up in one POS dinosaur.

James
3 years ago

Why should that be his point of view when his district’s voters have repeatedly praised his view of politics as it affects them even to the point of his repeated re-elections there? Maybe its those voters who should feel a sense of shame. Withouts convincing evidence to the contrary from their point of view he’s simply doing what every legislator seeks to do for his district, helping them as much as possible. But that’s assuming no clearly illegal actions were part of his game–a huge leap for their collective conscience, I readily admit.

Illinois Entrepreneur
3 years ago
Reply to  James

On a term to term basis as a state rep, I agree that for voters it is a transactional view – “Did the guy give us what we want?” But I’m referencing his role as Speaker of the House. He deliberately changed the rules so that only he could approve all legislation in the house. He did this when he came into power. No where else in the country does the equivalent role have the power that he’s created for himself. This affects the entire state. Rather than create a healthy, positively functioning government and state, he made it a… Read more »

James
3 years ago

I don’t disagree, but again the reasoning from his and the Democrats generally is that his peers in the legislature repeatedly voted for him as their Speaker of the House which is essentially the argument I made for the the happiness of the voters of his own district. He has pleased his peers and been re-elected by his district voters as well many, many times. Then, the state at large has become Democrat in its voting over the time he’s been in office. So, who exactly should we blame for his success and the reason everyone who who once voted… Read more »

Illinois Entrepreneur
3 years ago
Reply to  James

I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said.

We get the government we voted for, certainly!

Wolfnight
3 years ago

Arguably Americans freely note and discuss some of the voting patterns in our country; men vote majority Republican, women vote Democrat, for example. But one of the most important and strongest voting tendencies is little noted: private sector workers tend to vote Republican, government workers vote Democrat. The Democrat Party has now become the Government Workers Party, and it’s a very dangerous development for Illinois and beyond. The rampant cheating by the government functionaries at the polling places in the recent fraud election was carried out by government employees and strong backers of the Democrat Party. The temptation and incentive… Read more »

Fed up neighbor
3 years ago
Reply to  Wolfnight

They think they can tax there way to prosperity, federal taxes, state taxes, city taxes, county taxes, sales taxes, usage taxes, property taxes, licensing fees, where does it ever end. The democratic man takes great interest in all things he can buy with his money, democratic man is more concerned with his money over how he can help the people.

ProzacPlease
3 years ago

Let’s not forget the role of the public employee unions in keeping Madigan in power all these years. His rise coincides with the rise of union power.

Freddy
3 years ago
Reply to  James

I don’t know how true this is but a while back I spoke to someone and Madigans name came up. He said he has relatives in Madigans district and if you did not vote for him they were basically hassled with alleged violations and water being cut off/etc. He seemed truly miffed and upset so there may be some validity there. Remember that 19 year old that ran for some office in his district and they found 2,500 who recanted their signatures considering only 1,500 sign the forms. What happened to that investigation?

g
3 years ago

Lock him up!!

Stevet
3 years ago

Throw this piece of filth out !

KJ
3 years ago

Mike is incompetent at governing. How else do you explain Illinois’s current economic outlook?

Mike will be the next Speaker. Because choosing someone incompetent with a plan is better than incompetent without a plan. This is the same logic why Republicans don’t get elected.

Bob
3 years ago
Reply to  KJ

Its actually sickening that this scab on the state is even allowed to utter anything at all .

MM
3 years ago
Reply to  KJ

there are republicans in il?

Thee Jabroni
3 years ago
Reply to  MM

If you google spineless jellyfish you will see pics of illinois republicans

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