Illinois is broke(n) ...

[FreshFish]

Re: Illinois is broke(n) ...

That's why you don't place taxation or spending details into a state constitution. You write language that the state may levy taxes for its operation, but you don't state the method of that taxation. Those details are better left to the politicians living in the moment of need, to address what would best serve the State.

That's one point of view....set in the context of the times, the clause in the Illinois constitution made sense then because the state income tax was relatively new and a proposed increase in the income tax rate so soon after starting it in the first place generated a lot of debate.

The idea apparently was that if you make graduated rates unconstitutional, then the state would need to keep income tax rates low since everyone would be affected; and people had only grudgingly come to accept any state income tax at all in the first place.

At that time, most people viewed budgeting as: you start with the revenue you have and then figure out how to allocate it among competing priorities; it was not a popular view then that you make promises left and right to get elected, and then try to figure out where to find the money to pay for them.

I recall Richard M. Daley opposing a small social welfare program. He said, paraphrase, once you try to do something nice on a temporary basis to help out a few people in need, then pretty soon it gets viewed as a 'right' and everyone starts clamoring for it, and that blows your budget all to h^ll.

[Jimjamesak]

That's one point of view....set in the context of the times, the clause in the Illinois constitution made sense then because the state income tax was relatively new and a proposed increase in the income tax rate so soon after starting it in the first place generated a lot of debate.

The idea apparently was that if you make graduated rates unconstitutional, then the state would need to keep income tax rates low since everyone would be affected; and people had only grudgingly come to accept any state income tax at all in the first place.

At that time, most people viewed budgeting as: you start with the revenue you have and then figure out how to allocate it among competing priorities; it was not a popular view then that you make promises left and right to get elected, and then try to figure out where to find the money to pay for them.

I recall Richard M. Daley opposing a small social welfare program. He said, paraphrase, once you try to do something nice on a temporary basis to help out a few people in need, then pretty soon it gets viewed as a 'right' and everyone starts clamoring for it, and that blows your budget all to h^ll.

Cite your sources please.