So it looks we suburbanites are going to get screwed again. Our taxes and train fares will go up while those in the city who will benefit the most will get basically a free ride. Hey if Chicago gets the Olympics just wait till we get stuck with that bill.

So just to confirm, we'll pay higher taxes, in part, so that the 65-year old V.P. of Boeing can ride the CTA for free.

Makes sense.

Blago has got to go.

Every single one of these *** holes has to go.

quote:

Originally posted by middlein87:
So just to confirm, we'll pay higher taxes, in part, so that the 65-year old V.P. of Boeing can ride the CTA for free.

Makes sense.

Blago has got to go.

Only if the VP of Boeing would (sniff) ride the CTA. I will bet that the Opera crowd on the Metra will like this.

Also, even without the free ride provision, those 65 year olds in Chicago would be paying the Glen Ellyn transfer rate of $3 per $1000 to sell their houses. The buyer still pays $7.50/1000. $10.50 per $1000 beats Cicero and Berwyn for transfer taxes.

The richest group of people in this country are the elderly so in terms of economic fairness this makes no sense. In terms of political opportunism which is Blowdryovichs only real skill it does.

Blago has the biggest "hero complex" I've ever seen. Instead of working with legislators to get the transportation bill done, (and going back on his campaign promise not the raise taxes), he let the legislature do the heavy lifting, waited for the bill to pass both houses and everyone adjourn..THEN came up with his "Hey, Seniors look at ME!" plan. Couldn't he have told his key supporters that the price for his broken campaign promise would be a little pandering to the AARP? Certainly...but then the dramatic press conference could never have taken place.

I remember back in the 90's when he was a pup congressman trying to be a hero. Went to Bosnia with Jesse Jackson to negotiate a hostage release and made the huge mistake of getting caught between Jesse and a TV camera. He was herded to the back of the pack while Jesse and the former hostage paraded before the press. He hasn't changed a bit.

I have a feeling that "Public Official A" will be getting plenty of press in the coming years. Similiar to his predecessor.

I really despise our governor. His displays of ineptitude are stunning. The fact that he is successful with even some of his grandiose plans is even more irritating. I would like to note that seniors - over 65 - were already receiving reduced CTA fares. Those fares are about 50% of full fares. Also, a 30-day pass could be purchased for $35. That was a pretty good deal, but apparently not good enough.

quote:

Originally posted by GEmom2:
I really despise our governor. His displays of ineptitude are stunning. The fact that he is successful with even some of his grandiose plans is even more irritating. I would like to note that seniors - over 65 - were already receiving reduced CTA fares. Those fares are about 50% of full fares. Also, a 30-day pass could be purchased for $35. That was a pretty good deal, but apparently not good enough.

Without being an apologist, that's why the giveaway doesn't cost that much. Economically, seniors are not excessive or long term users. And who is to say that this won't get challenged in court? The fault, in large part, lies with the leadership (read Madigan) in the state legislature. Blago was neutralized in this debate until he got to use his amendatory veto power. Keep this in mind the next time you want the President to have the almighty "line item veto".

Call him what you will, until you get that constitutional convention back in session, you won't have recall powers. But, I might add, the last ConCon gave the amendatory veto to the governor. Shortly thereafter, Ogilvie started rewriting legislation in wholesale fashion. That kind of behavior was overruled by the Supreme Court. As I think this will. I believe it's the province of the legislature to raise taxes, and Blago's use of it in this instance as a giveaway/condition of tax increase is, in effect, tax legislation.

So, maybe Madigan gets the last laugh.

taxpayer: if chicago gets the olympics we can all rent out our houses for 2 weeks! maybe 3 if we get media people in! we can't fund transit and we're going for the olymipics? folly.

quote:

Originally posted by taxpayer:
So it looks we suburbanites are going to get screwed again. Our taxes and train fares will go up while those in the city who will benefit the most will get basically a free ride. Hey if Chicago gets the Olympics just wait till we get stuck with that bill.

I see your point. This is outlandish.

quote:

Under the bill, additional funding would be generated by raising Chicago area sales taxes, by 0.25 percent in Cook County and 0.5 percent in the collar counties.

Why are we paying more? What's the reasoning behind this?

Then there is the proposed Bush tax rebates. Would be nice if our household received a check for $1,600. But then I read this:

quote:

The rebates would likely be limited to individuals with incomes of $85,000 or less and couples with incomes of $110,000 or less, the aides said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no final decisions had been made.

This kind of stuff just kills me.

Dear BBoy: I wonder how much will be blown on lottery tickets.

I saw this today too:

written by: By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

quote:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pressed to make sure tax relief would find its way into the hands of lower-income earners while Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, pushed to include upper middle-class couples with incomes of up to $130,000 or so, according to congressional aides.

I hate Pelosi, and it now appears that I hate Boehner equally. So if I read this correctly, married couples who make more than $130,000 are not likely to get squat? What the hell is this all about?

Lotto tix, that cracks me up!

BB - I think they increased it to $150,000 plus you get $300 for every kid you have. If you lived in the middle of no where 150k is a lot of money to make per year.

This is a bunch of garbage. I guess it looks like this is what they came up with.

quote:

Under the agreement announced by the White House, Boehner and Pelosi, individual taxpayers would get up to $600 in rebates, working couples $1,200 and those with children an additional $300 per child. In a key concession to Democrats, 35 million families who make at least $3,000 but don't pay taxes would get $300 rebates.

The rebates would phase out gradually for individuals whose adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 and for couples with incomes above $150,000. Contributions to IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts and health savings accounts would not count toward the income limit.
"This package will lead to higher consumer spending and increased business investment," Bush said in hailing the agreement

I for one am thoroughly disgusted with both parties. IMO, all this amounts to is a redistribution of wealth. So the message is, if you and your spouse elect to work (making many personal scarifice to do so) you get less, if anything at all even though you pay more? Don't pay taxes, don't worry we'll give you free money!

quote:

Don't pay taxes, don't worry we'll give you free money!

I'm with you, I don't understand giving a rebate to someone who hasn't paid taxes.

bb - I suspect your house or ours would not run out and spend their rebate, but save it somewhere. We would just go on stimulating the economy at our usual pace. I am curious as to how families who don't pay taxes can still receive a "rebate," but frankly, $300 is not much in the scheme of things. It is purely politics as usual.

In a related note - the train conductor announced the fare increases for Metra yesterday. He stated that the current $5 weekend roundtrip fare will be no more, and now the weekend trip will cost $7 each way dryly adding, "Metra doesn't want you to ride the train on the weekend." Yes he did.

Aren't you simply stunned that money gets thrown to the population during an election year? And not a peep from either party about how the pandering to the electorate causes an expansion of the deficit.

On the other hand, a rebate is no redistribution of wealth. It's just stupid.

Yes, it is all about the votes in an election year. No doubt!

IMO, what the governemnt is saying is, if we give back some of the money you have overpaid, the $150,000 and over crowd will do the responsible thing and pay off debt or save it for a rainy day; therefore, we are going to give it to those who we think are irresponsible and will spend it on "Lotto Tickets". I would be insulted if I were this crowd. Now I understand the purpose of this thing is to stimulate the economy now, but giving any money back to someone who hasn't paid is a redistribution of wealth, IMO. It is also stupid.

Will those folks who have not paid taxes get $300 plus $300 per kid or just $300?

I am very frustrated and starting to understand your cynical views.