I agree with you, darlili. The voters of IL. have poor pickin's for the governors spot.

Brady needs to focus like BTN said.

"Tip for Bill: Drop all the gassing puppies, creationism, anti-gay marriage and all those other 18th century notions and start POUNDING the state's FINANCES!!! And then POUND again!" And again, and again.

Isn't liberalism great! . . . . . . Until you run out of other peoples money!

Gus, anyone who thinks that any place is "bulletproof" needs his or her head examined. No place is infallible....on that same note, no place is better off than any other consistantly. Hence my earlier "roller coaster" comment.

As I said, it's obviously not the FIRST sign....but it's still got a LOT further to go. I've done quite a few economic studies (though mostly on a national scale) with professors and other eco grad students, and much of what's curently going on we predicted a few years prior to its beginning. I see it as common sense (though apparently it's not so common to those who haven't studied it - and even some who have).

Point being, everyone is in bad shape right now. Though the "statistics" show that we may be currently worse off than many other states, we're also still better off than many. I'm not saying it won't get worse, I'm not Nostradamus and it may....I'm just saying that it could be a lot worse than it is and all of those other places that are currently doing better than us....could quite easily end up in the same tank (or a lesser one) than/as us.

I do think it's premature to grab your cash and run....that's a decision that requires much forethought and forecasting to determine the best options. I don't think that most of the people choosing to do that have thought it through entirely.

ST, we haven't really had "good" pickin's for govorner....at least not since I've been voting!

For the time being, they are....doesn't mean it will continue that way. Though I'm inclined to believe with all the BS that goes on in DC, it won't feel it any time soon.

And I honestly consider TX almost a country all its own. That place has so many of its own rules and a completely different culture than any other state....it blows my mind.

Wait a second....did Gus just agree with me????

I'm starting to wonder: Where's Bill Brady?

Governor Jello gave his Debbie Downer, Reality Budget [Is that like the Jon & Kate Plus 8 budget? Or more like Survivor?] speech this past Wednesday. At noon.

I have had an eye cocked toward ANY press coverage of Brady's rebuttal/alternative proposals and have yet to read a thing in this regard.

ANOTHER Tip for Bill: Be PREPARED to "strike while the iron is hot". What? Will you wait a week or two before letting all of us Independent-minded voters who are CONSIDERING VOTING FOR YOU what your plans are?

It is starting to look like Bill doesn't really have much of a political posse around him giving him good strategic counsel. OK, other than a few roustabouts from the Bloomington Jaycees and a few hayseed Normal Chamber of Commerce hacks.

Illinois GOP: Are you going to HELP your candidate?

The entire Chicago area and suburbs are eagerly waiting!

In the interest of fairness, Brady did indeed have his rebuttal to Quinn published in the press, all two sentences of it:

quote:

"We cannot increase taxes in this state," said Brady, of Bloomington. "All we're going to do is push more jobs out of the state."

Yes, we know this Bill. So what are YOU going to do?

Know this Bill: I am strongly considering voting for you even though I find your social positions to be backwards, cruel and primitive. I'll trust that the Legislature would never allow your neo-Spanish Inquisition programs to become law in this state.

If I vote for you? And you end up raising taxes anyway? I will personally come to the Statehouse and spit in your face.

I want more than "We cannot increase taxes in this state" Bill. DUH!

Make me a believer Billy.

State's to be late on tax refunds

Right you were Gus.

Gee, you don't think that 36% might consist of people who simply don't earn a lot of money, do you? Or seniors who don't legally have to file under certain income levels? Or families making up to $50,000 with a couple of kids? Gotta read the whole report befort popping up acting like 36% of the population are evading legitimate taxes, IMO.

I've been volunteering at a tax prep site the last few weekends - here in DuPage County. Amazing the number of people who qualify for the help - singles earning under $20,000, and families under $40,000. How many people here want to try raising a couple of kids on less than $40,000? Of course, these people also page sales taxes and all the other user fees that the 'taxpayers' of this country pay - and it usually seems to eat up a lot more of their income.

Or, how about companies and high wage earners who have access to nice big fat juicy tax loopholes - and they know who there are as well.

PS - did my taxes in Feb - got my refund, state and fed, back in less than a week. BTW, thanks for nice legal deductions and exemptions and sheltered earnings like a 401-k, wageworks commuter payments, mortgage interest and property taxes, etc., I'm at a 10% tax rate. How in the world does that really seem reasonable, when a widowed mother of two, working her tail off as a LPN, doesn't even clear $40,000 a year?

There was a report from the Census bureau about the richest counties in the United States.


You might think New Jersey, or Silicon Valley, or Connecticut, or even Beverly Hills.

Nope the richest counties in the U.S were all suburbs of Washington D.C.

In Illinois the County with the lowest unemployment rate is Sangamon which is Springfield.

Under Quinns plan taxes will go up for a single taxpayer making 20K. A single person making 20K will see their taxes go up by 180.00 a Family of four will see theirs going up by 300.00.

All so that some school administrator can take home a 100K plus pension.

So, how's Brady's plan coming along?

One of my sons has already received his 2009 Ill-Annoy income tax refund - Old Skool, paper-check style. It wasn't much, about $45 but at least he got it.

Now, the question is: Will the check clear?

Lilly if you're paying 4K Fed taxes on a salary of 40K. You need a different accountant.

You should in all likelihood be getting money back. Especially if own a house, have three deductions, and pay Illinois income taxes.

I don't mind getting rid of those deductions that Clinton got rid of . I think one of Reagans better accomplishments was simplifying the tax code.

A better, fairer and more efficient tax code would eliminate all deductions. The U.S. tax code is a joke and a bad one at that.

As for loopholes in the Obama health care system they will tax "Cadillac" health care plans. That is unless of course it came via a collective bargaining agreement. So if you're a small to midsize company offering a good insurance program to your employees. You're going to get hit twice. One because insurance rates will go up to subsidize the uninsured who will now be added to the system and now another as you pay more taxes.

For me the irony is that for years organized labor campaigned for universal coverage but now they're unwilling to pay for it.

Also Obama attacked McCain for proposing just such a thing during the campaign. But in Obama's immortal words "The election is over".

Gus, I don't think I was clear enough in my post, but thank you for your good wishes. I'm single and make almost double the amount of the widowed LPN I mentioned, who was able to receive free tax prep help because she grosses less than 40k and is a head of household. She's one of the 36% who doesn't pay taxes, thanks to legal exemptions and deductions - but even with those, who'd like to take a run at raising two kids on that income? Yet, isn't her profession, although not an RN, something useful and one that many of us may need as we get older and need more nursing care?

Sure, raising good kids on a minimal income can be done - my mom raised two kids on little income - but, it sure as heck isn't easy.

Meanwhile, me, at quite a bit more annual income, but having certain exemptions and deductions and turbotax as an advisor, got a refund and clocked out at being assessed at the 10% tax rate. And I'm single and take care of myself. I just don't see the equity in the situations. Without those deductions (let's say I rented, my employer didn't offer a 40lk - not all do - and I couldn't do my long-term care insurance and mass transit costs on pre-tax dollars - again, not all employers offer that), my tax rate would have been quite a bit higher than 10%. But, all too often, it often seems just luck for the draw, for most employed people in this country, if their employer does offer a lot of benefits that can aid the employee tax situation.

I do agree a more equitable tax code would be a good thing. Right now, IMO, the system is too easily manipulated - albeit legally.

quote:

Originally posted by Grateful:
State's to be late on tax refunds

Right you were Gus.

Really? I got mine in a few weeks, the fastest I've ever seen a return come in. It still hasn't been a month since I filed and I got my return last week!

quote:

Gee, you don't think that 36% might consist of people who simply don't earn a lot of money, do you? Or seniors who don't legally have to file under certain income levels? Or families making up to $50,000 with a couple of kids? Gotta read the whole report befort popping up acting like 36% of the population are evading legitimate taxes, IMO.

This was exactly what my first thought was when I saw that. Thank you again, Darl.

quote:

How many people here want to try raising a couple of kids on less than $40,000

I am. My gross is just over $30,000. It's not easy and I'll be the first to tell you that the annual check is what allows for things like community sports activities....and new clothes for the kids.

quote:

Also Obama attacked McCain for proposing just such a thing during the campaign

Please provide a link for this, I don't recall it.

I'd like to post a retraction....I misread the link about being late. I actually OWE the state tax money, somehow....I was referring to my Federal Return earlier.

According to the Tribune. Illinois Unemployment is now at 12.2 percent. This is seasonally unadjusted. U.S Unemployment also non-adjusted is at 10.6 .

Illinois Unemployment