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The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

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Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

aparch said:
Just a reminder, we're approaching nine months without a budget for the State of Illinois. State Universities are planning on canceling spring break in hopes of speeding up the semester so they can get kids graduated before they run out of money.

Also, for the first time since 1818, the Governor of Illinois submitted the next fiscal year budget without having a current year budget.

Gov. Rauner (R) sumbitted the 2017 funding bill last week without an approved 2016 bill. Illinois Democrats continue to refuse to work with Rauner.
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How does that even work? Is IL running on the equivalent of a Continuing Resolution?

They're still collecting revenue, right? They still have a state treasury. They must be paying bills, because the lights haven't been cut off to the statehouse.

This aint looking good: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...odys-to-downgrade-several-state-universities/
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

Kepler said:
How does that even work? Is IL running on the equivalent of a Continuing Resolution?

They're still collecting revenue, right? They still have a state treasury. They must be paying bills, because the lights haven't been cut off to the statehouse.

This aint looking good: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...odys-to-downgrade-several-state-universities/
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The state lottery isn't paying out winners over a certain dollar amount. From the few things I've read over the year, it looks like non-essential programs are either not happening at all or severely cutback (debatable as to what those are), but required government functions are happening using leaner budgets.
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
I thought only Republicans were obstructionist. :)
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:D

Kepler said:
How does that even work? Is IL running on the equivalent of a Continuing Resolution?

They're still collecting revenue, right? They still have a state treasury. They must be paying bills, because the lights haven't been cut off to the statehouse.

This aint looking good: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...odys-to-downgrade-several-state-universities/
Click to expand...
St. Clown said:
The state lottery isn't paying out winners over a certain dollar amount. From the few things I've read over the year, it looks like non-essential programs are either not happening at all or severely cutback (debatable as to what those are), but required government functions are happening using leaner budgets.
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A patchwork of bills have slowly been passed that continue to operate "essential" government functions. The State Police. Education. Construction. Thanks to the potential jackpot of the Powerball and some strong arming from Powerball and Mega Millions in potentially dumping Illinois because they weren't paying their share, Illinois also passed a bill that resumed the payouts for all lottery winners.

And to top it off, the 2017 budget does NOT include any reparations to those affected by this stalemate.

Here's a pretty good rundown of the latest:
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1342399/illinois-budget-impasse-outlook
In the latest chapter, Rauner urged lawmakers to make a choice now: Pass the business-friendly reforms he wants in exchange for his approval of a full $36 billion budget, which would include raising taxes, or allow the Republican to make $3.5 billion in cuts from the spending plan however he chooses.

But Rauner’s proposition in his annual budget address appeared to do little to move Democrats who control the Legislature.

Here’s a look at what to expect next in the state’s epic budget battle:
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As a condition for a budget agreement that includes new revenues, Rauner is asking lawmakers to pass several pieces of legislation he says will help the state’s economy by improving the business climate; save the state money, like expediting the purchase of goods and services; and change the political dynamic, such as instituting term limits.
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But there’s no guarantee Rauner’s own proposed measures will be given a hearing by House Speaker Michael Madigan and other Democrats who control the schedule. And even if they’re heard, they’re a long way from making it through the legislative process. Before the March 15 primaries, the House is meeting only three times, and the Senate six.
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Even without a budget, court orders and other mandated spending on essential services like health care means about 90 percent of state government is still being funded. But that’s plunging Illinois further into debt because the state is spending based on revenue levels from last year, when the individual Illinois income tax rate was at 5 percent, not the current rate of 3.75 percent.

Illinois faces a roughly $5 billion budget deficit this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and its unpaid bill backlog could reach almost $26 billion by 2020 if current revenue and spending policies continue.
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Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
Who voted to lower the taxes?
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The Illinois House of Representatives has been solidly Dem since January 1997. (Madigan became speaker then.) The Dems took over the senate in 2006.


The bill that raised taxes was passed in 2011 by then Democratic Governor Pat Quinn. The bill was allowed to sunset on January 1st of 2015, in a move used by both as a way to try and draw votes.
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

aparch said:
The Illinois House of Representatives has been solidly Dem since January 1997. (Madigan became speaker then.) The Dems took over the senate in 2006.


The bill that raised taxes was passed in 2011 by then Democratic Governor Pat Quinn. The bill was allowed to sunset on January 1st of 2015, in a move used by both as a way to try and draw votes.
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Free stuff is always popular and irresponsible.

Oh, wait, is that not what they meant by that? :rolleyes:
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

From a November 5th, 2014 article: NBC Chicago - What Does Governor Rauner Promise for Illinois?

Change is in the air for Illinois politics. The only question is: How much?

With the apparent election of Bruce Rauner to the governor’s mansion, Republicans have won the state’s top job for the first time in more than a decade. Rauner campaigned on a platform of change, using as his campaign slogan the need to “Shake Up Springfield”. But now that he’s going to actually run the state, the question becomes how Rauner looks to govern as the state’s chief executive.
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Can Illinois afford to drop the individual income tax rate from 5 percent to 3.75 percent without blowing a hole in the state budget? That's the billion dollar question facing Rauner the moment he takes the oath of office.

In 2010, Governor Quinn signed a bill temporarily increasing the Illinois’ income tax rate to help reduce the state’s budget deficit. In 2014, Quinn campaign on making the hike permanent, while Rauner said he wanted it repealed.

Democrats in the state legislature, such as Senate President Cullerton, have already signaled that they’re not going to lift a finger to help Rauner navigate the difference between dumping the increase and finding ways to pay the state’s bills.

If Rauner wants to cut the state’s income tax rate, he’ll have to pay the political costs for cutting the state budget. If he wants to keep the increase intact, he’s going to have to suffer for going back on his word.
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My apologies, apparently Quinn (D) was campaigning to keep the tax increase, only Rauner (R) wanted it to sunset.
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

aparch said:
Illinois Democrats continue to refuse to work with Rauner.
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Did they all go to a motel in Wisconsin? ;)






(Midwest political joke, to avoid dealing with Gov Walker the Democrats from Wisconsin went to a motel in Illinois)
 
FreshFish said:
When did the Republicans take over California and Connecticut??? I must have missed that.
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When did CA have its credit rating downgraded? I must have missed THAT. The only states that have been downgraded in the last 5 years are IL, MN, NV, and NJ.

https://ballotpedia.org/State_credit_ratings
 
LynahFan said:
When did CA have its credit rating downgraded? I must have missed THAT. The only states that have been downgraded in the last 5 years are IL, MN, NV, and NJ.

https://ballotpedia.org/State_credit_ratings
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Alaska has or will soon be AFAIK.
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

LynahFan said:
The only states that have been downgraded in the last 5 years are IL, MN, NV, and NJ.
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Credit ratings agencies asleep at the switch again?

CT's budget is in a shambles. GE is moving corporate headquarters from Fairfield CT to MA (you know your state is in trouble when MA is considered a tax haven!). Every time CT raises taxes, more people and more businesses leave, and they just can not raise the revenue they expect.

Ever since the "temporary" state income tax was enacted 20 years ago or so, the state has been in decline. I'm sure it's just a coincidence....

The only business that is doing well in CT is craft breweries. For them at least, business is going really well.

Unless you consider college basketball to be a "business" -- 14 national championships and counting. A recent NCAA D1 Hockey championship too, and the nation's # 1 D1 team this year (so far). Of course, then they all graduate and move to a different state.



on a barely related tangent, I notice that NY had 43 congressional representatives after 1950 census and has 27 after 2010 census. Except for NY City, the rest of the state is also hurting really, really, badly. It seems like 1/4 of the state's state representatives/senators (not federal) either have been or are about to be indicted for corruption or are already in jail.
 
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Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

Hmmm...

When the feds do it, Republicans holler about "fascism" and "local control".

But when they do it at the state level, it's about "ensuring uniformity for businesses"?
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

Wait. Minnesota had its credit downgraded? Was that because of the GOP's protest against intelligence?
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

dxmnkd316 said:
Wait. Minnesota had its credit downgraded? Was that because of the GOP's protest against intelligence?
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It happened a few years ago, and it wasn't much of a downgrade as it's still a very high rating. I think it was more of a symbolic move when we had the gov't shutdown... until Budweiser's distribution license for the state failed to get renewed, then the public demanded an end to it. Credit agencies were worried at the time that it was going to be long, long shutdown. Access to beer proved them wrong.
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

St. Clown said:
It happened a few years ago, and it wasn't much of a downgrade as it's still a very high rating. I think it was more of a symbolic move when we had the gov't shutdown... until Budweiser's distribution license for the state failed to get renewed, then the public demanded an end to it. Credit agencies were worried at the time that it was going to be long, long shutdown. Access to beer proved them wrong.
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Useful

ScoobyDoo said:
Pawlenty regime. Yes it downgraded. It's a GOP strategery.
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Not useful
 
Re: The States: Mad Scientist Laboratories of Democracy

ScoobyDoo said:
Just more excuse for the party of fiscal responsibility.
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Yes, yes, feel the hatred flow through you!

Seriously, what excuse was offered in my post? I laid out the facts of the situation and not a single party was named or blamed.

You're becoming a freakin' meme, and not the sort for which you should be proud.
 
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