Reaction to Quinn's Budget: Temporary Taxes, Populism and the Olympics

By Kevin Robinson in News on Mar 20, 2009 2:20PM

As state lawmakers began to contemplate the hard decisions they faced with the governor's new budget proposal, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton indicated he was willing to entertain an approach that has been used during previous economic downturns: a temporary state income tax hike. Twice in the 1980s Governor Jim Thompson signed temporary tax increases into law, although the second increase, passed in 1989, became permanent under Governor Jim Edgar. "So that's something which could be suggested, if people were actually willing to vote for it, if that's the condition that helps get the 30 votes we need to pass it too," Cullerton told the Tribune, referring to the number of votes needed to pass the state senate.

While state lawmakers were wrestling with the difficult task of raising taxes and balancing the state budget during an historic economic crisis, Governor Quinn kicked off a tour of the state to pitch his budget proposal to voters. Speaking at a social service providor in Peoria Thursday, Quinn said "We're not going to throw senior citizens and children off the healthcare rolls," adding that "we've got to make sure we take care of our vulnerable citizens who have disabilities." He also reiterated his position that he's willing to hear other proposals and ideas that legislators unhappy with the budget may have. "The ink is hardly dry on the budget," he said.

The daunting budget hole and difficult increases and cuts ahead didn't stop representatives in the Illinois House from approving a quarter billion dollars in state funds to guarantee potential losses of Chicago gets to host the 2016 Olympics. "It's a very low risk deal for the state of Illinois, and a high reward," said South side Democrat Rep. Williams Burns. House Minority Leader Tom Cross echoed that support. "We have a chance to showcase the state of Illinois with a wonderful opportunity to bring the Olympics to the city of Chicago," he said. "We need to be supportive as we can of the efforts of the city and the Olympic committee to get the Olympics."