Was Illinois justified in raising Taxes?

[Neubarth]

They have all those social welfare programs that they have to pay for. One third of the adult population of the state is not in the labor pool because they are retarded (or have other mental problems) and are on public assistance and food stamps.

The only way to pay for all that state generosity is to raise taxes on the rich and what is left of the middle class. Are there any other alternatives, like telling the churches to foot the burden for the poor like they used to do two hundred years ago and before?

 

[william the wie]

Well the rich and middle class will look for the exits.

 

[Two Thumbs]

They have all those social welfare programs that they have to pay for. One third of the adult population of the state is not in the labor pool because they are retarded (or have other mental problems) and are on public assistance and food stamps.

The only way to pay for all that state generosity is to raise taxes on the rich and what is left of the middle class. Are there any other alternatives, like telling the churches to foot the burden for the poor like they used to do two hundred years ago and before?

They raised everyones taxes and the sales tax.

they also INCREASED spending.

So not only was it not justified it was utter bs. The surrounding states are licking thier chops knowing full well they have lowered thier taxes and industry will move in from Il.

 

[DaGoose]

Geez!! Illinois raised the income tax rate to 5% which will still be lower than many nearby states. The top personal rate in Wisconsin is 7.75 percent and Iowa's is 8.98 percent.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Geez!! Illinois raised the income tax rate to 5% which will still be lower than many nearby states. The top personal rate in Wisconsin is 7.75 percent and Iowa's is 8.98 percent.

They also have a higher sales tax and corporate tax

they raised it to cover their over spending, but then they increased how much they are going to spend this year, so the are just taking more to waste more.

 

[KissMy]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

 

[DaGoose]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

 

[editec]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

Don't you find it somewhat confusing that the very same people who claim they love the law, business ethics, and personal responsibility, totally FORGET that your wife's pension was a CONTRACTED BENEFIT?

Suddenly all their ethics and high ground capitalistic morality gets thrown out the window when they benefit the kind of people they hate.

These hateful morons want to take your wife's pension and give it to corporations in the form of tax breaks and sweet-heart contracts with the POLS that they put in office.

 

[william the wie]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

Don't you find it somewhat confusing that the very same people who claim they love the law, business ethics, and personal responsibility, totally FORGET that your wife's pension was a CONTRACTED BENEFIT?

Suddenly all their ethics and high ground capitalistic morality gets thrown out the window when they benefit the kind of people they hate.

These hateful morons want to take your wife's pension and give it to corporations in the form of tax breaks and sweet-heart contracts with the POLS that they put in office.

The pension fund managers who ran the pension funds into the ground and the Wall St. bond salesmen are politically protected.

 

[code1211]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

Don't you find it somewhat confusing that the very same people who claim they love the law, business ethics, and personal responsibility, totally FORGET that your wife's pension was a CONTRACTED BENEFIT?

Suddenly all their ethics and high ground capitalistic morality gets thrown out the window when they benefit the kind of people they hate.

These hateful morons want to take your wife's pension and give it to corporations in the form of tax breaks and sweet-heart contracts with the POLS that they put in office.

That's not it at all.

The pensions were a creation of a labor deal between a government official who didn't care and a union official who wanted more. If the deal was made, then the price should have been specified and the outcome guarenteed.

The price was not paid, the outcome was promised, but the method to fulfill was not put in place.

The government officials who approved the ponzi scheme are no longer around to hold the bag. The pensioners who accepted the deal in the past probably assumed that the pension was a part of their compensation and they were probably justified in this assumption.

However, obviously, the funds were never put up to guarentee the outcomes and the pensioners who depended on this being fulfilled were swindled by their union bosses and the government who, together, either stole the money or never put it aside in the first place. The criminals, both government and union, who decieved the pension earners are the bad guys here

Outrage can exist in this case over the obvious fraud that has been perpetrated against the retirees by the government, the unions and the combined dishonesty and corrupt incompetence of both.

Now the bill is come due and the money was stolen. Is it your recomendation that we happily forget the we got screwed again and just pony up money that ain't there? This is the result of outright theft and lies by those that we trusted and who stole the cash they said they were protecting.

Heads should roll over this.

 

[Trajan]

Geez!! Illinois raised the income tax rate to 5% which will still be lower than many nearby states. The top personal rate in Wisconsin is 7.75 percent and Iowa's is 8.98 percent.

taken on the whole, I'd say Illinois is not a place I would want to bus. if I had the ability top move.....There are a lot of changes in the surrounding sates list below ( Michigan is not connected but very close) ie. Michigan is killing its 22% bus. surcharge etc....Illinois for instance as the highest gasoline tax....etc. Wisconsin will now offer a tax free 2 years for any bus. moving in state....

Iowa
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6% (food and prescription drugs exempt); local option taxes can add up to another 1%.
Gasoline Tax:: 22.0 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 23.5 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: $1.36/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low - 0.36%; High - 8.98%
Income Brackets: Lowest - $1,428; Highest - $64,620
Number of Brackets: 9
Personal Tax Credits: Single - $40; Married filing jointly - $80;
Dependents - $40; 65 years and older - $20
Standard Deduction: (2010) Single - $1,810; Married filing jointly - $4,460
Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount
Federal Income Tax Deduction: Full

Wisconsin
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 5% (food and prescription drugs exempt); County tax is 0.5%.
Gasoline Tax: 32.9 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 32.9 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: $2.52 cents/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: * Low - 4.6%; High - 7.75%. The state's 2009-2011 budget includes a new 7.75 percent income tax bracket on all income over $300,000 for married couples and $225,000 for individuals and heads of households. And the exclusion for capital gains income was lowered to 30 percent from 60 percent.
Income Brackets: Lowest - $10,220; Highest - $225,000
Number of Brackets: 6
Personal Exemptions: Single - $700; Married - $1,400; Dependents - $700; 65 or older - $1,000.
Additional Exemption: Each taxpayer and spouse over 65 - $250
Standard Deduction: Single - $8,960 maximum (reduced as income rises); Married filing jointly - $16,140 maximum (reduced as income rises); Deduction phases out to zero for single filers at $87,500 and joint filers at $99,736.
Medical/Dental Deduction: 5% credit for expenses in excess of standard deduction
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None

Missouri
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 4.225% (prescription drugs exempt; food is taxed at 1.225%) Cities and counties as well as special taxing districts (such as fire districts) may impose a local sales and use tax that may raise the total tax by about 6%.
Gasoline Tax: 17.3 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 17.3 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: 17 cents/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: - 1.5%; High - 6%
Income Brackets: Lowest - $1,000; Highest - $9,000 [Tax is imposed at a rate of 1-1/2 percent on the first $1,000 of taxable income and increases at a rate of 1/2 percent for every $1,000 increment up to $9,000. The tax rate is 6 percent on Missouri taxable income exceeding $9,000.]
Number of Brackets: 10
Personal Exemptions: Single - $2,100; Married - $4,200; Dependents - $1,200; Plus $1,000 for dependent 65 or older.
Standard Deduction: Single - $5,450; Married filing jointly - $10,900. Deduction increases for those age 65 and older.
Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount. Individuals may subtract from their federal adjusted gross income, qualified health insurance premiums and long-term care premiums, to the extent their premiums paid were not reimbursed by their employer, or excluded from their federal adjusted gross income.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: The state allows a deduction on your individual income tax return for the amount of federal tax you paid. The deduction is for the amount actually paid as indicated on your federal tax form. For individual filers the amount cannot exceed $5,000. For joint filers the ceiling is $10,000.

Indiana
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 7% (food and prescription drugs exempt)
Gasoline Tax: 34.1 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: * 43 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: 99.5 cents/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Flat rate of 3.4% of federal adjusted gross income. See tax info. Also click here. Counties also have the authority for a local option income tax whose goal is to provide income for the counties instead of raising property taxes. Carroll, Clark, Clay, Madison and Wabash counties have adopted new county option income rates. For details, click here and here.
Personal Exemptions: Single - $1,000; Married - $2,000; Dependents - $1,500; $1,000 for taxpayer and/or spouse if age 65 or over; $1,000 for taxpayer and/or spouse if blind; $500 additional exemption for each individual age 65 or over if federal adjusted gross income is less than $40,000.
Standard Deduction: None

Kentucky
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6% (food and prescription drugs, residential utilities except telephone, and medical supplies are exempt)
Gasoline Tax: 22.5 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 19.5 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: 60 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low - 2.0%; High - 6.0%
Income Brackets: Lowest - $3,000; Highest - $75,000
Number of Brackets: 5
Personal Tax Credits: Single - $20; Married - $40; Dependents - $20; if age ;65 or older, take an additional tax credit of $40.
Standard Deduction: May either itemize deductions or take a $2,190 standard deduction.
Medical/Dental Deduction: The state allows a deduction of medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. You may also deduct medical and dental health insurance premiums paid with after-tax dollars. Long-term care insurance premiums can also be deducted.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None

Tenn.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 7% on tangible property (prescription drugs exempt); 6% on food and food ingredients. Counties and cities may add another 1.5% to 2.75% to the total of either rate (click here).
Gasoline Tax: * 21.4 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: * 18.4 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: 62 cents/pack of 20; 77.5 cents/pack of 25

Personal Income Taxes
Salaries, wages, Social Security, IRAs and pension income are not taxed. A 6% tax is levied on stock dividends and interest from bonds and other obligations. The first $1,250 in taxable income received by a single filer is exempt ($2,500 for joint filers). For details, click here.
Retirement Income Taxes: Persons over 65 with a total income of less than $16,2000 (single filer) or $27,000 (joint filer) are exempt from the above tax.

Michigan
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6% (food and prescription drugs exempt; home heating fuels are taxed at 4%)
Gasoline Tax: 35 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 31.9 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: $2.00/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Flat rate of 4.35% of federal adjusted gross income with modifications; some cities impose additional income taxes. Effective October 1, 2011, the rate will be reduced by 0.1% each year for the next four years until the tax rate is 3.95%. Beginning October 1, 2015, the rate is 3.9%.
Personal Exemptions: Single - $3,500; Married - $7,000; Dependents - $3,500; Persons 65 or older can claim an additional $2,200 exemption.
Standard Deduction: None
Medical/Dental Deduction: Medical expenses in excess of 3% of household income are deductible.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None


Illinois
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6.25% (1% on qualifying food, prescription & non-prescription drugs, medical appliances). Local government taxes can raise the total to a high of 11.5%.
Gasoline Tax: * 39.0 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 41.7 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: 98 cents/pack of 20 (In Chicago, the state and local rate is $3.66; Evanston is $3.48), Cicero is $3.14, Rosemont is $3.03, cities with no tax in Cook County - $2.98)

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Flat rate of 3% of federal adjusted gross income
Personal Exemptions: Single - $2,000; Married - $4,000; Dependents - $2,000
Standard Deduction: None
Medical/Dental Deduction: health insurance and long-term care insurance premiums are deductible.
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None



Retirement Living - Taxes by State: New York - Wyoming

Strassel: Wisconsin 1, Illinois 0 - WSJ.com




and-

snip-
Late Tuesday night, Democrats in the Illinois house and senate rammed through Governor Pat Quinn's 67% hike in the state income tax and a nearly 50% jump in the state corporate tax. The increase will add $1,400 to the average family's tax bill, and we doubt it will help job creation in a state that has lost 374,000 jobs since 2008.
New Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker immediately rolled out a press release inviting Illinois businesses to decamp to the Badger State, contrasting his agenda to reduce taxes and welcome business with the Illinois increase. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels added: "We already had an edge on Illinois in terms of the cost of doing business, and this is going to make it significantly wider."

That's for sure. Small businesses will pay the new 5% income tax rate, up from 3%, and the effective corporate tax rate will rise to 9.5%, which, when combined with the federal rate of 35%, will make the Land of Lincoln one of the most expensive places in the world to conduct business. Congratulations. Democrats say the higher rates will raise $7 billion to help close an estimated $14 billion budget gap, though tax hikes rarely raise the revenue that politicians promise. Rather than fix the state's $150 billion unfunded pension problem, the bill also authorizes nearly $4 billion in new debt to fund the state's pension payment this year.

Review & Outlook: Illinois Exit Fee - WSJ.com

 

[Big Black Dog]

I live in Illinois and here's the deal. Our politicians just love to spend money on giveaway programs and because the State is pretty much broke, they can't keep their beloved giveaway programs unless the taxes are raised. No giveaway programs means no votes on election day. There's also the retirement money that needs to be paid out to the State employees and let's not forget about our high Medicaid costs to the State. So, the answer is to simply tax the fuck out of anybody that is lucky enough to have a job so the rest of the deadbeats can still live in style.

 

[Mr. H.]

As an Illinois resident I heartily endorse the above post.

 

[Neubarth]

I live in Illinois and here's the deal. Our politicians just love to spend money on giveaway programs and because the State is pretty much broke, they can't keep their beloved giveaway programs unless the taxes are raised. No giveaway programs means no votes on election day. There's also the retirement money that needs to be paid out to the State employees and let's not forget about our high Medicaid costs to the State. So, the answer is to simply tax the fuck out of anybody that is lucky enough to have a job so the rest of the deadbeats can still live in style.

It sure looks to me after reading the posts above that Illinois is trying to eliminate the Middle Class. Can you tax the middle class out of existence?

 

[Jackson]

Illinois = "The Loneliest State"...no neighbors, no businesses... no intelligent people to talk to.

They will be gone.

 

[Two Thumbs]

I live in Illinois and here's the deal. Our politicians just love to spend money on giveaway programs and because the State is pretty much broke, they can't keep their beloved giveaway programs unless the taxes are raised. No giveaway programs means no votes on election day. There's also the retirement money that needs to be paid out to the State employees and let's not forget about our high Medicaid costs to the State. So, the answer is to simply tax the fuck out of anybody that is lucky enough to have a job so the rest of the deadbeats can still live in style.

It sure looks to me after reading the posts above that Illinois is trying to eliminate the Middle Class. Can you tax the middle class out of existence?

Yes

Eventually the middle class will be poor and the upper middle will be the middle and on up the chain until there is only have and have nots. That's the pre-utopia librals want. Once there we are in that state the system will crash and we will accept socialism as our savior, or die trying.

 

[KissMy]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

Government employees get a whole lot more than $28K a year. They also get a big lump sum payout when they retire & healthcare for life.

Cry me a river because even at $28K a year it is a hell of a lot more than the college grads I know making less than $14K a year & getting no benefits.

My uncle is an alderman in a large Illinois city & most of his family works for the city. They get big money & benefits as well as spreading around the government contracts to their friends.

 

[Old Rocks]

The Government backed Union Pensions are the real problem. They promised the unions 8.5% earnings on their pensions but the subprime derivatives lost them money instead of making them that crazy high fictitious 8.5% plus government underfunded many of them. All of us commoners are stuck with our 401k's that took a hit & are not backed by government. But these government assholes cant loose their multi million dollar pensions. Guess who must pay to keep these retired officials, police, firemen & teachers living the high-life.

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

Government employees get a whole lot more than $28K a year. They also get a big lump sum payout when they retire & healthcare for life.

Cry me a river because even at $28K a year it is a hell of a lot more than the college grads I know making less than $14K a year & getting no benefits.

My uncle is an alderman in a large Illinois city & most of his family works for the city. They get big money & benefits as well as spreading around the government contracts to their friends.

What the hell did those college grads major in? Basketweaving?

Just a lowly millright, but I will just miss six figures this year, cracked that in 2008. Some of the kids just out of two years training on windmill maintenance are matching my income. Yep, lot's of overtime, a dirty greasy job that is physically and mentally challenging. Required multiple skills, and a pretty heavy investment in tools. Plus constant updating on new tools that are developed.

Perhaps some of these kids should have a look at what craftmen make. They might find that is an honest and good paying way to go.

 

[KissMy]

Ya.....my wife will sure be living the "high life" on her $28,000 a year teacher pension.

And I happen to think that retired police and firefighters earn every penny of their pensions. They're the ones who will put their asses on the line just by you picking up the phone.

Government employees get a whole lot more than $28K a year. They also get a big lump sum payout when they retire & healthcare for life.

Cry me a river because even at $28K a year it is a hell of a lot more than the college grads I know making less than $14K a year & getting no benefits.

My uncle is an alderman in a large Illinois city & most of his family works for the city. They get big money & benefits as well as spreading around the government contracts to their friends.

What the hell did those college grads major in? Basketweaving?

Just a lowly millright, but I will just miss six figures this year, cracked that in 2008. Some of the kids just out of two years training on windmill maintenance are matching my income. Yep, lot's of overtime, a dirty greasy job that is physically and mentally challenging. Required multiple skills, and a pretty heavy investment in tools. Plus constant updating on new tools that are developed.

Perhaps some of these kids should have a look at what craftmen make. They might find that is an honest and good paying way to go.

I have a niece who graduated over a year ago from the state university with a 4 year degree in marketing & over $75,000 in debt on student loans. My brother & I told her she would make more sooner if she went to a trade school, but she was sucked in by the college recruters & did not listen to our experience. I understand she has applied at nearly a hundred places, but to date the best job she has landed is a part-time job at Macy's for $8.25/hr. She grossed around $11,000 for the entire year & most of that went to pay back student loans.

I do not see how pensioners think their retirement should be guaranteed by taxpayers at levels higher than the taxpayers can earn with the crap education these very pensioners charged these students for. It is an immoral scam & should be criminal.

 

[DaGoose]

I live in Illinois and here's the deal. Our politicians just love to spend money on giveaway programs and because the State is pretty much broke, they can't keep their beloved giveaway programs unless the taxes are raised. No giveaway programs means no votes on election day. There's also the retirement money that needs to be paid out to the State employees and let's not forget about our high Medicaid costs to the State. So, the answer is to simply tax the fuck out of anybody that is lucky enough to have a job so the rest of the deadbeats can still live in style.

As an Illinois resident I heartily endorse the above post.

I live in Illinois and here's the deal. Our politicians just love to spend money on giveaway programs and because the State is pretty much broke, they can't keep their beloved giveaway programs unless the taxes are raised. No giveaway programs means no votes on election day. There's also the retirement money that needs to be paid out to the State employees and let's not forget about our high Medicaid costs to the State. So, the answer is to simply tax the fuck out of anybody that is lucky enough to have a job so the rest of the deadbeats can still live in style.

It sure looks to me after reading the posts above that Illinois is trying to eliminate the Middle Class. Can you tax the middle class out of existence?

Yes

Eventually the middle class will be poor and the upper middle will be the middle and on up the chain until there is only have and have nots. That's the pre-utopia librals want. Once there we are in that state the system will crash and we will accept socialism as our savior, or die trying.

Don't forget that WE are the ones who voted them all in. WE believed that we can eat our cake and have it too. Now that it's time to pay up we are crying about it.

But that also doersn't change the fact that even with the increase we will pay less in personal state income taxes than most of our friends in neighboring states.