Rahm's Bad Day
- Gov. Pat Quinn today came out against Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to raise Chicago property taxes and cut retirement benefits as a way to shore up some of Chicago’s government worker pension systems.
The re-election seeking Democratic governor called the bill floating around Springfield “a sketch” that "kept changing by the hour” and blasted the property tax as a “lousy tax” because it is not based on the ability to pay. (Quinn signed a major income-tax increase into law in 2011, and Illinois has a flat income tax rate that some liberal groups have criticized for not being based on the ability to pay.)
“I don't think that's a good way to go,” Quinn said of hiking property taxes. “And I say it today and I'll say it tomorrow, they've got to come up with a much better comprehensive approach to deal with this issue. But if they just think they are going to gouge property tax owners, no can do. We're not going to go that way."
Quinn seems to be telling Rahm not to expect much help from Springfield - and he might make it stick. All he has to do it convince Cook County voters along with East St. Louis voters and he's three-quarters of the way to reelection.
Labels: state politics
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
46 Comments:
So we are on our own on our own
Chicago's government worker pension plan would have no trouble if the politicians didn't fail to fund it properly as required by law.
Seize the tif funds ! The money is there.
Fuck the outfit and crony capitalists it was promised to.
They are few......we are many.
This is why they want our 2nd amendment.
The mayor is working over time to screw the retired city workers out of as much as he can. All of the politicians know this rat has almost a $Billion sitting in city TIF accounts. Why should anyone outside of Chicago get stuck for the mismanagement of our pension funds by Daley and others. I hope the politicians stick this scheming low life with making that $600 million payment next year. Just in time for his reelection.
So, in essence, this bill that Rahm is proposing in Springfield, if passed, would eventually put the blame on the state legislature for raising property taxes, and help Rahm save face.
Nice try Rahm.
Quinn knows you too well, and Quinn may be a potatohead, but he didn't just fall off of the potato truck. He knows you really backed Rauner and that's why he won't play ball with you.
RAHM: just use the TIF money to make the required balloon payment, and blame Daley and former governor Edgar for the pension funds being short, which would actually be telling the truth.
Just googling this stuff reveals an interesting prediction from 1991:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-11-07/news/9104100148_1_pension-santos-city-treasurer
Sounds as though Rahm has a plan.....make Quinn look bad so Rauner wins the election, then Rauner and the 9 fingered elf can run the state their way....
The article about former Governor Edgar's contribution to today's pension mess, as linked by SCC back on March 20, 2013:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-13/opinion/ct-edit-sec-20130313_1_pension-mess-pension-burden-pension-obligations
Has anyone gone to jail or given a deposition after the SEC accused Illinois politicians of fraud?
[crickets chirping]
It will still be up to property owners to pay higher tax. Rahm was just trying to front it onto the state legislature so he and the City Council can stand there and look like saints and shrug, "Oh WE didn't raise your taxes, it was the State Legislature"
Right, like that child's trick would work with a slippery bunch of double dealing thieving bums like Chicago Aldermen.
He wants the raise, just not the blame what with elections next year. Suck it up Rahm baby, you gonna have to write a $600 million check next year buddy boy. Don't make any new plans with that TIF money and hope jury awards don't come in too hard on the City for injury suits and shootings etc.
Only Rahm's taxes are bad though right? Do Quinn and Madigan still get to make their income tax hike permanent?
There's ALREADY a law on the books that clearly states Chicago HAS to pay into the pension funds or else it will have it's state freebee cash diverted to those pension funds.
End of story.
And to all those cowards that caved in at the SEIU union headquarters, eat a dick. I'm sure your membership is completely against getting fucked by scumbags like you who roll over for a pathetic runt like Emanuel.
NO bargaining unit should EVER give away ANY pension benefits or even consider or discuss it until ALL TIFF funds are shut down and that money spent on pensions, AND until after the casino is built and profits from THAT honeyhole are sent into pensions.
Chicago collects over HALF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR from TIFFS.... how much more revenue would they get from the casino....
Pension payments would be well covered with money left over to corrupt..... but Emanuel just can't stand to see money go to waste on things that don't get him reelected or make his friends richer.
Make this city shut down ALL it's corrupt money siphons..... make this state grant the fucking casino already.
Shut down Emanuel's ability to cry poor baby..... he'll never be able to cry bankruptcy once all the money is revealed.
TIFFs have killed this city..... BAN THEM FOREVER AND MAKE THEM ILLEGAL.
Rahm announced his pension fix/property tax hike to box Quinn in and help Rauner.
Quinn immediately, and correctly told Rahmner to get fucked.
They really, really, really want Rauner.
This is what happens in an election year. Each and every one of them running for office this year and next (locally) better watch what they do with this pension reform stuff. The only reason many are hesitant is because it is an election year.
Hey Aldermen: watch how you vote, cause you may not be there after Feb 2015!!!!
liberal groups have criticized for not being based on the ability to pay
Ability to pay! WTF Maybe if you would have applied yourselves in school, as a family and in life you would have the same ability as I. I 'hung out' with my friends HINT HINT after school. But I was home so I could get enough sleep before I went to school. So since I was raised by my Mother and a man who stayed with her, worked everyday, went to church and taught us right from wrong, my father [I know this is a foreign concept to most ghettos in Chicago but is seem to work for me] , I have the ability to pay.
Or simply said "The fucken' bust outs suck in life and can achieve any worth. And because of their fucked up existent everyone has to pay a little more for them!
I'd be happy to pay if they would nt just steal all of it.....
The Daley-Emanuel death spiral continues.
Rahm needs 485 million and change to cover the shortfall.
..He just put 500 million into the TIF accounts. Will he use that money?
NO that is for payoffs and breaks to friends, relatives, and the DNC connected. The working homeowners will pay more and blame the Police and Fire...
I had no intentions of voting for Quinn or Rauner. I just may cast a ballot for Quinn for sticking it to Rhams raggedy thieving ass.
Called Allderman Oconnor (41st) and inquired about why the streets in the ward look like an air strike was called in, and was told we had a very bad winter. Really? Who knew? Anyways when asked about when the streets will be passable since some locations should be closed off due to the potential for serious vehicle damage I was told about the lack of funds in the budget. When I told her office employee that I along with all my neighbors are city's employees she actually thought that I would accept her Koolaid drinking answer of " as a city employee you along with your neighbors know the budget constraints that we face and that Mayor Emanuel is addressing". At this point I cut her off and told her why not have all the Aldermen get together and stop he TIF district money from going to the Mayors own personal slush fund? I told her that there's between $450,000,000.00 to $500,000,000.00 EVERY YEAR that's in this TIF money and should be used for infrastructure, fire and police as it is intended. But alas I was met with the deafening sound of silence. So up here in the 41st we gotta suck it up I guess, we got increases in our water bills, property taxes (over $8,000.00 for me) and I can't even drive down the street without feeling like I'm on an obstacle course. This is what happens when the Mayor bought off the Aldermen for extra office/discretionary $$$ for total control of the city budget and services. Over 100 yrs of Machine Rule and this is what we get. Oh well I guess it could be worse? Could it?
If he takes the money from DePaul, Maggie Daley park and the Navy Pier fly over he has more then half his balloon payment...not a big Quinn fan but nice to see someone call bullshit on Rahm....and thinking he's a better choice then Rauner....Why don't we address welfare reform/abuse and quit blaming the pensions for all his money problems.....The aldercreatures just voted to give him $900 million with no questions asked....
since when did quinn become such a genius--- his pension reform package for state workers is being challenged in court--- his temporary state tax hike has now become permanent--- a tax hike in an election year will never fly--- to a wealthy person like rahmbo a tax hike means nothing--- he doesn't have to worry about how much his pension will be and how much he pays for health care--- this guy is one arrogant spoiled brat....
All the three J.Os , Madigan, Quinn, Rahm , have to do is put a casino in Chicago split the profits between the city and state and put all the profits into the city and state pensions. The pensions have too agree to a few modifications for new highers and the problem is fixed.They can continue to use other money for their pet projects, the pension funds get stabilized, more jobs are created and life goes on in Camelot. Put it where it belongs in Chinatown.
Quinn is a piece of dog shit but I will agree with him on at least one issue: government is just way too reliance upon the property tax as a means of raising revenue. Using the income tax instead does align the obligation to pay with the ability to pay.
Raising the property tax only squeezes little old ladies who live on a fixed income.
But where will we get the money, then? Easy.
Go for the TIF Funds. Upwards of a BILLION sitting in there.
And build the casino. All profits to police and fire pensions.
Problem solved.
Call the next case.
An Open Letter to Rahm and the 50 Aldermen:
Go ahead, raise my taxes.
Go right ahead.
Aldermanic elections coming up in 10 months.
We will be watching your vote.
And we WILL remember.
I hope all of Rahm's days are bad!
Love the mayor's recent comment "everybody has to contribute something so no one has to contribute everything"
Got it.
Let's see.
Workers get to contribute more above what they are contributing now.
Homeowners get to pay more property taxes than they are paying now.
And what about you, Mr Mayor. What are you contributing?
How about some
TIF MONEY
TIF MONEY
TIF MONEY
Interesting article in this months Bloomberg Magazine. Many casinos around the country in States other than Nevada (Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, etc.) are experiencing substantially lower gambling revenue because of over saturation of the market(too many competing casinos within driving distance). Rahm's hope that a Chicago casino will bail out the pension crisis may be wishful thinking. I don't think that Indiana, other Illinois, Michigan or Wisconsin casinos will give one bit of their marketshare to a Chicago Casino without a marketing fight. The little prick is slowly being boxed in with limited options.
Quinn has to win:
Cook
Lake
St. Clair (ESL)
Will
and that is it. Blago won only 8 out of 102. You do not have to win South of I80, except for St. Clair.
Thats why we have two states.
One thing the Mayor is not telling anyone, that when he raises taxes on real estate, TIF gets more money. He has all the money the world in the TIF fund. He seems to alway have money for his projests. Daley crime family fund?
Hey Rahm, I know your A.D.D. gets in the way of your mental comprehension, so let me spell it out for you:
Gov Quinn does not want a property tax increase.
The Illinois Legislature does not want a property tax increase.
The 50 Chicago Alderman do not want a property tax increase.
The homeowners of Chicago do not want a property tax increase.
Looks like you're standing alone on this one.
I hope Rahm has many more bad days in the near future.
Oh oh according to sneed disability dean is going to have breakfast with rahm! Ok dean with your " if I am elected fop business will be open book" what happened? Also who did you send packing from fop hall? Who is coming in? Crickets dean? Ala mike shields and crew!
Heard billy Doherty is going to the airport not back to 022, will he cry about blog some more?
On one hand you have Quinn, who won't bargain with Rahm, wants to give back some tax money, who probably won't tamper with police & fire pensions.
On the other hand you have Rauner, Rahms pal who will affect pensions across the board and permit Rahm to forego the $600mil payment.
Rahm & Rauner are evil. Shaky aldermen don't know what to do either.
This is the first time a Dem mayor hasn't come out to support a Dem governor.
Even Rahm can't wait to get out of this city and state.
This is why shortshanks didn't run again the city is going to declare bankruptcy,the board of Ed will be first!
All the more reason to Ticket anyone that works for City Hall.
Question #1. Did Rauner help Rahm become a millionaire when Rahm left the White House?
Question #2. Is there really a half billion dollars hidden in the TIFs?
Question #3. Is there about a one billion dollar surplus in the Illinois Tollway Fund, controlled by Quinn ?
Does anyone know?
Anonymous said...
Quinn is a piece of dog shit but I will agree with him on at least one issue: government is just way too reliance upon the property tax as a means of raising revenue. Using the income tax instead does align the obligation to pay with the ability to pay.
Raising the property tax only squeezes little old ladies who live on a fixed income.
But where will we get the money, then? Easy.
Go for the TIF Funds. Upwards of a BILLION sitting in there.
And build the casino. All profits to police and fire pensions.
Problem solved.
Call the next case.
4/08/2014 09:19:00 AM
Chicago is years too late on that casino. Mumbles failed to act when the time was ripe. Now casinos aren't making as much as they did ten years ago.
I get a casino and small airport right on the lakefront would make loads of dough however. With a heliport, Coast Guard all weather heliport rescue station. Runway long enough for Air Force One. Naw, let some drug addict rock stars wiggle around and let the yuppies run around in the weeds while they pretend that is how it was 250 years ago.
Out on Northerly Island on a security gig I ran into a drunk democrat trying to sneak in to a catering tent for a private party out there. We threw him out. He was drunk and sputtering how Jerry "Ice Man" Butler was his uncle. I can still recall his indignation, "Man, "Ice Man Butler" is my uncle!" As if that made the slightest shit.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
This is why shortshanks didn't run again the city is going to declare bankruptcy,the board of Ed will be first!
4/08/2014 01:48:00 PM
It is so obvious Daley II didn't run again because a deal was cut for Rahm to take the office virtually unopposed in exchange for Daley NOT going to Federal prison. Bankruptcy doesn't fit into Rahm's aspirations. Can't get elected to a national office (wink, wink) if your only prior elected position results in a bankruptcy.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Oh oh according to sneed disability dean is going to have breakfast with rahm! Ok dean with your " if I am elected fop business will be open book" what happened? Also who did you send packing from fop hall? Who is coming in? Crickets dean? Ala mike shields and crew!
Heard billy Doherty is going to the airport not back to 022, will he cry about blog some more?
4/08/2014 11:31:00 AM
Wow, the guy hasn't been in a week and already your complaining. Your disability dean comment speaks volumes. I'm just glad that the membership had enough smarts to see past the petty name calling.
Use the TIF funds to pay the debts owed by the city! Get rid of the TIF's which is nothing more than a slush fund for bullshit
'Ability to pay'
In other words we've got Quinn who wants to squeeze the productive people more, probably will end taxing the whole state for Chicago, and on the other hand there is Rahm who wants to soak it to all the serfs and slaves in his domain.
But let's call property tax what it really is, rent. The amount by which we lease land from government. Don't like calling it rent? Just don't pay it and see what happens. Eviction.
You were warned not to vote for that pos O'Connor in the 41st Ward. She is anti city worker, anti Police and a complete asshole to deal with. She disrespects all residents and is taking back door support from Rahm and Pat O'Connor who tells her what to do. I miss the days of Brian Doherty(R) who was a stand up guy. He had his faults, everybody does, but you knew where he was coming from. I loved it best when he would be in a bar or pub and someone would push or shove him, he would break his fucking nose. That's how a man handles assholes.
Only 13% of voters voted for the Mayor. That's a problem....
anyone who thinks that a casino is going to solve the pension problem, think again. you're just putting more money into the hands of the corrupt machine. you won't see a damn dime, but just giving that idiot another source of revenue to play with. throw that bum out of office and that will give access to the TIF money.
"TIFFs have killed this city..... BAN THEM FOREVER AND MAKE THEM ILLEGAL."
4/08/2014 05:00:00 AM
...along with condo conversions.
You saw those maps, "destruction of the middle class." Working people driven back and forth across the city by the "flippers;" not just once, but two-three-four times in a row.
The damage done to society is virtually incalculable.
Quinn = bad.
Rahm Emanuel/Ezekiel Emanuel/ Valerie Jarrett/David Axelrod/Bruce Rauner = 100x worse.
Name yer poison.
You were warned not to vote for that pos O'Connor in the 41st Ward. She is anti city worker, anti Police and a complete asshole to deal with. She disrespects all residents and is taking back door support from Rahm and Pat O'Connor who tells her what to do. I miss the days of Brian Doherty(R) who was a stand up guy. He had his faults, everybody does, but you knew where he was coming from. I loved it best when he would be in a bar or pub and someone would push or shove him, he would break his fucking nose. That's how a man handles assholes.
4/09/2014 12:01:00 AM
If you are looking UP to a drunk that gets in repeated bar fights, how low are you?
Enough of the anti-O'Connor rants. We don't care about your personal issues. Like most posters with an agenda, it's pretty obvious and really annoying.
4/08/2014 08:36:00 PM
This right there is pretty good proof that we don't have a Chapter 9 filing by the city to worry about. They are going to continue to try to back door us in contract negotiations over Language and Pensions like they are doing with the Lt's and they did with the Sgt's.. I agree with 4/08/14 12:31am. The thing is all of us in city unions need to force our elected reps to go after the City in Court. Or kick them to the curb in a recall election and get people that Will go after the city in court for its continuing violations of the 2006 Pension Protection Act.
Lawsuits seem to be the only thing that makes this city follow the rules it holds Us to.
Press them on it.
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