Rauner begins trek up Brownback Mountain to Illinois fiscal cliff
When billionaire Bruce Rauner decided to buy the Illinois governorship last February, he looked westward for inspiration. Sadly, for Illinois, he didn't look far enough.
Rauner's gaze beheld Brownback Mountain, a.k.a. Kansas, governed by Sam Brownback, the most fiscally irresponsible governor in America. In 2012, to ensure his re-election two years hence, Brownback cut taxes on small businesses and partnerships, to zero. That's right, not one red state cent. "Tax revenue will actually rise", cried Brownback. That reminds me of the parable where Jesus used a couple of fishes and loaves of bread to feed the multitude. Two years on Kansas is broke and in violation of its balanced budget law. Brownback's solution? Borrow money from public employee pension funds. If that don't work, take more from health and environment, at a time when a Kansas court chided Brownback for already underfunding K through 12 education.
Rauner's Illinois version of Brownback Mountain consisted of eyeing the $6 billion Illinois budget shortfall and promising cutting personal and corporate taxes by a total of $6 billion. That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it. And further channeling his new mentor on Brownback Mountain, or maybe it was Jesus, Rauner promised to increase funding for education and other critical services.
Today, when Bruce Rauner ascends to the Illinois governorship, he should rue the day he stopped his westward gaze at Brownback Mountain. He should have extended his vision to California where another Governor Brown, as in Jerry, closed a $25 billion budget deficit in 2010, with sensible spending cuts and tax increases.
Fasten your seat belts, Illinoisans. We may be seeing a replay of Brownback Mountain turning into Brokeback Mountain.
Rauner's gaze beheld Brownback Mountain, a.k.a. Kansas, governed by Sam Brownback, the most fiscally irresponsible governor in America. In 2012, to ensure his re-election two years hence, Brownback cut taxes on small businesses and partnerships, to zero. That's right, not one red state cent. "Tax revenue will actually rise", cried Brownback. That reminds me of the parable where Jesus used a couple of fishes and loaves of bread to feed the multitude. Two years on Kansas is broke and in violation of its balanced budget law. Brownback's solution? Borrow money from public employee pension funds. If that don't work, take more from health and environment, at a time when a Kansas court chided Brownback for already underfunding K through 12 education.
Rauner's Illinois version of Brownback Mountain consisted of eyeing the $6 billion Illinois budget shortfall and promising cutting personal and corporate taxes by a total of $6 billion. That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it. And further channeling his new mentor on Brownback Mountain, or maybe it was Jesus, Rauner promised to increase funding for education and other critical services.
Today, when Bruce Rauner ascends to the Illinois governorship, he should rue the day he stopped his westward gaze at Brownback Mountain. He should have extended his vision to California where another Governor Brown, as in Jerry, closed a $25 billion budget deficit in 2010, with sensible spending cuts and tax increases.
Fasten your seat belts, Illinoisans. We may be seeing a replay of Brownback Mountain turning into Brokeback Mountain.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 5:32 AM
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