Illinois Is Burning? More
Hysteria from the I.P.I. (and the Tribune Editorial Board)
Usually it takes at least a couple of days before the
Chicago Tribune’s Editorial Board follows an emotional diatribe by Illinois
Policy Institute’s opinion writer Diana Sroka Rickert with an echoing piece
re-mastered to smooth some of the hysteria and to borrow some of the
arguments.
Perhaps with Bruce Dold now in charge of the daily, McCormick
(the novice Editor) couldn’t wait to follow up.
It was quick, but in keeping with Dold’s models, he and his team
elevated Rickert’s rants, cleaned up the innuendos, and thieved her arguments
in a more, well, tastefully manner.
But, it’s always wise to remember that the Illinois Policy
Institute enjoys a special relationship with the Chicago Tribune, one in which
the far-right leaning group gets expansive opportunity to promote their
tea-party, state’s rights, free markets, and no taxation policies. And that relationship is symbiotic, as the
Trib can later (usually more than one day) edit and refine the I.P.I.’s latest
tirade into something more palatable for their avid readers and corporate
elite.
According to Rickert’s argument, General Assembly
legislators – Democrats – are playing at computer games like Candy Crush, while
the state budget goes undone. This
is not a new phenomena – legislators of both parties have been caught before
doing emails, seeking purchases on E-Bay, even playing Battleship with each
other – but this affront by Rep. Cloonen and Rep. Smiddy took place while the
debate over the budget took place and was caught on WCIA television. Heavens!
WCIA has always been receptive to the I.P.I.’s offers to put
their own spin on what is happening in Springfield, and as a centrally located
television studio in Champaign area, they both have continued to curry this
relationship. You’ll find the I.P.I. is often part of their coverage.
The WCIA helps I.P.I.; and the I.P.I. helps the Chicago
Tribune. Symbiotic.
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| Bruce Dold with Editorial Board of Tribune |
Back to the Rickert article:
while the legislators (2 of them played upon their
computers/smartphones) nothing transpired with the 2016 budget. Then, Rickert chastises the Illinois public
for not getting what’s happening: “Many people have oversimplified the budget
impasse as a battle between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Madigan. The fight is so much more than a personality
clash between political titans.”
Ironically, she then reduces the differing positions as
black and white: “One side believes our state is in crisis and needs
fundamental reforms to grow and prosper…”The other side says things are working
just fine, thank you – oh, and let’s raise taxes again.”
Thanks for explaining
the intricacies.
The next day, the McCormick Tribune Editorial Board fired
off its own I.P.I. follow-up: “Since last summer, we’ve been writing about
Madigan’s refusal to entertain any form of compromise with Republicans or with
Rauner to get his state back on track.”
After that, they “borrowed heavily from Rickert’s barney.
Rickert: “State
Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie, one of Madigan’s top allies, told a Springfield
reporter, ‘It’s entirely possible that we won’t have a budget during the
governor’s term of office.’”
Tribune: One of
Madigan’s top lieutenants, Rep. Lou Lang, D. – Skokie, told a crowd of union
workers last week that it is Rauner who’s not interested in doing the job he
was elected to do, then he added: ‘We
may or may not have a budget during the entire term of Bruce Rauner.’”
Rickert: “State
workers make up less than 1 percent of Illinois’ workforce. Yet they think the rest of us – the 99
percent, if you will – want to pay more in taxes so they can get a raise?”
Tribune: And the
crowd of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
cheered. What do they care? They’re still getting paid.”
Ms. Rickert should certainly be flattered. Indeed, one hopes (and suspects) that the
Editorial Board in their oak-lined meeting room are paying a significant
stipend to Ms. Rickert for so helpfully paving the way in ink and anger.
Bottom line in agreement: Both the Tribune and the I.P.I. are
shocked,…SHOCKED… by the pain placed upon their perceived real victims of the
budget impasse: the taxpayers of
Illinois. Especially, they both exclaim,
if nothing is done with the budget for 2016.
But the latest reports from the Moody’s by Mark Zandi
indicate the inability for Illinois to secure a budget for this next year –
2016 – will serve to further destroy the already damaged social service network
in Illinois: state spending on social
services will end up anywhere from $400 million to $500 million less than last
year.”
Taxpayers? Not
really. Think of the marginalized, the
poor, those who have less.
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| "There will have to be some pain first…" |
So, Rauner’s battle with “the way it has been” vs. “the way
I want it” will continue, and the state will continue to lose middle and
low-income jobs as a result. More than
5000-plus jobs for service sector individuals this next year. And, without those workers who spend everything
they earn, Illinois will see a further loss of those who represent nearly 67 to
70% of our economy.
A recent report from the Center for Budget and Tax
Accountability is more than sobering. It
is remindful of our responsibilities as humans to one another and to our fellow
citizens.
When – not if – the next state budget does not pass:
“And while low-income families
of all races suffer when Illinois' poor fiscal policy forces spending
cuts, African Americans are hurt disproportionately. Sure, most — 54
percent — poor people in Illinois are white, but that's just because most
of the state's population, 77.5 percent, is white. However, as a group,
only 11 percent of Illinois whites are poor. Meanwhile African Americans, who
represent just 14.5 percent of the state's total population, nonetheless
account for 29 percent of its poor folks. Indeed, almost one-third of
Illinois' African Americans live in poverty.
Which is why it's
so incredible — as in, lacks credibility — when some politicians and talking
heads claim that Illinois' fiscal problems won't be fixed until some
"crisis" forces a resolution. Apparently, it isn't a crisis when
lousy fiscal policy just harms poor folks generally and African Americans
specifically.”
In her opinion, Ms. Rickert declares the state is burning while its poor "taxpayers are crushed."
Those who are truly crushed are already on the ropes and unable to pay taxes, unable to earn enough.
Those who are truly crushed are already on the ropes and unable to pay taxes, unable to earn enough.
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