pintobean (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 04:18 PM
Original message
Quinn to Lay off Thousands (IL)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Quinn-to-Lay-...
A decision made by Gov. Pat Quinn may leave thousands of state workers without a job by the end of the week.
The cuts are coming in the face of a budget deficit that doesn't leave enough money to pay the workers, the governor says. Quinn also plans to close a prison, juvenile detention center and homes for the mentally ill.
If no cuts are made, several agencies will run out of money by spring, Quinn says. "We can't spend money we don't have," Quinn said Tuesday.
The state's largest government employee union, AFSCME, promises to sue if the layoffs are made, much like they did over blocked pay raises
more at link
blm (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 02:42 PM
Original message
GOP claim: Scariest thing a citizen can hear is, "I'm from the fire dept. and here to help you."
oops...I mean..."I'm an emergency worker and I'm here to help you."
oops...I mean..."I'm from the federal government and I'm here to help you."
Oh hell....GOP claims are full of shit, anyway, especially when GOP governors need firefighters, emergency workers and federal assistance in their own state.
No word yet on whether public aid to historically democrat constituencies will be cut.
That's crazy talk, young man. Stop it right now!
:hammer:
:-)
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 04:29 PM
Response to Original message
1. Well, states can't print money...
Edited on Tue Sep-06-11 04:31 PM by Yo_Mama
And Illinois has had budget problems for a while now.
http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6646/illinois-... /
Illinois did raise income taxes, but it is not enough. Obviously the weaker national economy doesn't help the fiscally troubled states like CA, IL & NJ.
Edit - if the claim that Illinois has 140 billion in unfunded retirement obligations is true, their pain has just begun. You can't make up that type of shortfall just from tax increases, so they will both have to raise taxes, cut spending and modify their obligations to retirees to make it work.
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
1. Well, states can't print money...
Edited on Tue Sep-06-11 12:31 PM by Yo_Mama
And Illinois has had budget problems for a while now.
http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6646/illinois-... /
Illinois did raise income taxes, but it is not enough. Obviously the weaker national economy doesn't help the fiscally troubled states like CA, IL & NJ.
Edit - if the claim that Illinois has 140 billion in unfunded retirement obligations is true, their pain has just begun. You can't make up that type of shortfall just from tax increases, so they will both have to raise taxes, cut spending and modify their obligations to retirees to make it work.
yo-mama
Edit - if the claim that Illinois has 140 billion in unfunded retirement obligations is true, their pain has just begun. You can't make up that type of shortfall just from tax increases, so they will both have to raise taxes, cut spending and modify their obligations to retirees to make it work.
1+1=POTATO.
Illinois did raise income taxes, but it is not enough.
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 04:29 PM
Response to Original message
1. Well, states can't print money...
Moe: "Hey, Knuckleheads, drill more holes in the bottom of the boat to let the water out!"
Larry and Curly: "Soitinly!"
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 01:11 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. I know
An effective corporate income tax rate of 9.5% doesn't leave a lot of room for hikes, and that increase in the personal income tax rate is probably hurting Illinois' economy. I'm not saying that it wasn't necessary, but obviously once you get to that point your further taxation options are limited.
I talked to some people I know in the area earlier in the year, and they said property taxes were going up too.
If the median household is paying out 1K to 2K more in taxes this year, it stands to reason that you can't do the same thing again next year to bring revenue up. It also hurts the economy and tends to bring down private job creation. The state may have the money and spend it, but the money the households don't have shows up as drops in revenue for stores, car dealerships and service businesses, to name a few.
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 12:56 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. You're right
Revenues go up all by themselves when jobs are increased, but there is a limit as to how much you can increase taxes without killing jobs. The answer to Illinois' problems is to increase private jobs in relationship to public jobs - by definition, government jobs are a net drain on the economy.
There was a neighborhood on the East side of Milwaukee that was creating their own "money" that the merchants there could use to trade services with each and their customers. I do not know the details but I could imagine Illinois trying to do the same thing for use in state to pay debts and other obligations.From what I've heard, scrip was pretty common during the Depression, and coal mines paid in scrip for decades.
Found a link on the neighborhood:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/35474954.html (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/35474954.html)
Oh! that's totally signature worthy.
Nuclear Unicorn (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 01:43 PMhttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1885957
Original message
Rhode Island considers radical moves as pensions put state on brink
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — This state has barely a million residents, but it is at least $6.8 billion short when it comes to funding pension plans for retired teachers, police officers and other public employees.
State Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo (D) said that per capita, Rhode Island has the nation’s largest unfunded pension liability. But if the Ocean State’s pension problem is among the country’s most severe, so are the remedies being considered to solve it.
An ongoing pension reform effort is likely to result in reduced benefits for 51,000 public workers and retirees. Officials are pondering lowering retirement payments, replacing part of the guaranteed pensions with 401(k)-type accounts, and sharply reducing generous cost-of-living increases enjoyed by retirees. The Rhode Island legislature is expected to consider changes next month during a special session.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/rhode-is...
Where's the money?
Surely, when the benefit offers were being crafted someone sat down and computed -- Benefit Pay-Out Amount x Avg Retirement Age x Retiree Life Expectancy = Total Commitment cost
The money was there. The promises were made.
Where's the money?
hack89 (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 02:11 PM
Response to Original message
6. The money was never there.
You made an error when you assumed that any thought went into the offers - most of these benefits were paybacks for union support in elections.
The money was never there - the state and cities were warned over a decade ago that they were not contributing enough to pension funds. The politicians did nothing except kick the can down the road for someone else to fix.
Thanks, but from what you have in the quote in your post, it omits the key point to which I was responding, that is the DUmmie saying "They raised taxes, but not enough." [My emphasis]
:-)
pintobean (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Yo, Yo_Mama
The dumpster dwelling cavemen are very interested in this thread. It's probably as intriguing as watching paint dry.
Say hello!
Back to the IL thread - Pintobean is going to get in trouble...
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-06-11 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. ??? n/t
The dumpster dwelling cavemen
pintobean Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Sep-06-11 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Yo, Yo_Mama
The dumpster dwelling cavemen are very interested in this thread. It's probably as intriguing as watching paint dry.
Say hello!
hack89 is trying to speak truth to stupid. On DU, that usually ends up with a tombstone sooner or later.
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Sep-06-11 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
1. Well, states can't print money...
Edited on Tue Sep-06-11 12:31 PM by Yo_Mama
And Illinois has had budget problems for a while now.
http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/6646/illinois-... /
Illinois did raise income taxes, but it is not enough. Obviously the weaker national economy doesn't help the fiscally troubled states like CA, IL & NJ.
Edit - if the claim that Illinois has 140 billion in unfunded retirement obligations is true, their pain has just begun. You can't make up that type of shortfall just from tax increases, so they will both have to raise taxes, cut spending and modify their obligations to retirees to make it work.
Yo_Mama (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Sep-06-11 12:56 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. You're right
Revenues go up all by themselves when jobs are increased, but there is a limit as to how much you can increase taxes without killing jobs.
The answer to Illinois' problems is to increase private jobs in relationship to public jobs - by definition, government jobs are a net drain on the economy. Here is where our national woes come in - it's very hard to accomplish that task in the current setting.
You mean Illinois raised taxes and it didn't help? do ya think maybe businesses were driven out of the State?
BTW, NJ is doing pretty good.
MerryBlooms (716 posts) Tue Sep-06-11 12:52 PM
Response to Original message
4. Yep, we're in serious trouble -
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/ill...
http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/legislation-to-... /
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-06-15/news/ct-m...
The Illinois Toll Authority voted Thursday to almost double what it charges people to use its roadways.
Anyone with an I-PASS will see their basic toll jump from 40 to 75 cents starting next year. Drivers using cash to pay tolls will be paying twice what I-PASS users pay.
Before the 7-1 vote, the board heard more testimony favoring the increase as a way to jumpstart the region's economy.
Legislation to raise electric rates to help pay to modernize the Illinois’ power grid is on its way to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn, despite his repeated pledges to veto it.
The energy bill would raise electric rates as part of a $3 billion, 10-year plan to give Commonwealth Edison and Ameren money for basic infrastructure and a modern Smart Grid.
The bill would allow a 2.5 percent annual rate increases for the first three years. ComEd bills are projected to climb about $36 a year, while Ameren customers would pay about $34 more by the project’s 10th year.
It’s estimated consumers might save $7 to $10 per month by using smart meters.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's handpicked Chicago Public Schools board drew a battle line between the new administration and the teachers union with its first official act when it voted Wednesday to rescind the 4 percent annual raise due to teachers and other school union members.
The board's unanimous vote, allowed under a provision of the contract that is set to expire in 2012, saves an estimated $100 million as the city's public schools confront a deficit now pegged at $712 million for the coming year.
:lmao: frank, and BTW, has Skinner ever responded to 1 of your e-mails at all?
The primitives can kiss franksolich's ass.
Not to butt in (heh), but they can lick your crack, too.
Not to butt in (heh), but they can lick your crack, too.
I beg your pardon! we're not all men here TYVM!
And no, I won't show my boobs LOL.
by quoting ballygrl, then repeating your photo experience, are you suggesting she post pics when no members are around, only "guests"?
/logsout
:popcorn:
Aside from BFDU, I must say that I also saw the dual moons of Planet Nebraska myself, and then noted they had disappeared behind a gray cloud a few minutes later.
:whistling:
by quoting ballygrl, then repeating your photo experience, are you suggesting she post pics when no members are around, only "guests"?
/logsout
:popcorn:
No sir, not at all.
Ballygrl is a lady, and I'm a gentleman, both of us people of refinement.
True...surprising, but not shocking.
Oh dear, one wonders if there will be a mass suicide at the DUmp. Doubtful, but one can always hope.
I think that the closest we'll get to that happening will be the night of November 6th, 2012. :yahoo:
My 60th birthday.
Oh dear, one wonders if there will be a mass suicide at the DUmp. Doubtful, but one can always hope.
If anyone wants to see what it is like at the DUmp on a big losing Presidential night, check out this link:
2004 Election Predictions (http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,50573.0)
If anyone wants to see what it is like at the DUmp on a big losing Presidential night, check out this link:
2004 Election Predictions (http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,50573.0)
WOW! I bookmarked that link so I can read it later. I was on a board, and let me tell you, I never saw a bigger bunch of whiny assholes (excuse the swearing but I can't think of another word that fits) as I did the night of that election, the board had a small political section, the conservatives were outnumbered like 30-5 LOL, and it really shocked me how whiny, bitchy and classless an ideology can be. The funny part though were a couple of moderates trying to make peace and the leftists screamed at them and told them off.
Blaze Diem (1000+ posts) Tue Nov-02-04 07:05 PM
Original message
When do we get to tell Freeps to quit whinning and just GET OVER IT?
That should be the only answer allowed to their voter challenges.
They are such a freakin sneaky bunch..get over it ... gee too bad for them...too bad they didn't vote for Kerry/Edwards cuz then they'd be WINNERS instead of sore LOSERS.
Thanks, Ralph, you're a peach! The KERRY IN A LANDSLIDE!!!! posts make me laugh. Good stuff.
This one was funny:
Do you mean winning?
And are you 8 years old?
I'm afraid the thread has been hijacked away from Illinois. I'll stop.