How Democrats wrangled the tax votes in Springfield [IL]

Chicago Tribune ^ | January 12, 2011 | By Rick Pearson and Ray Long

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Twenty-four hours before state lawmakers sent Gov. Pat Quinn the first income tax increase in two decades, the votes weren't there.

For some lame-duck lawmakers who were either retiring or defeated in November, consideration of a post-legislative career in a Quinn administration was under discussion for votes. For others, a second round of construction bonding offered prospects for new pork projects to bring home to their districts. Still others wanted assurances that new political maps being drawn to reflect the federal 2010 census would protect them from an election challenge.

The process of crafting laws has long been compared to sausage — no one should see how either one is being made. The General Assembly's passage of Illinois' first income-tax increase since 1989 reflected the frenetic efforts of Democrats to take advantage of their majority to force through a politically controversial measure.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Taxed Enough Already.

[pnh102]

Shrug. I would say that this would enrich the moving industry, but rich people don’t really have to physically move in order to establish residency in another state.

[Dr. Sivana]

Shrug. I would say that this would enrich the moving industry, but rich people don’t really have to physically move in order to establish residency in another state.

It depends on the state. Rush Limbaugh certainly had to move out of NY.

[scooby321]

It will make getting players for the Cubs, White Soxs and Bears where other teams located in Florida or Texas the players won’t have that tax to pay.