Oct 3, 2014
It happens all the time in election-year politics, but with just four weeks left until Illinois voters head to the polls, how can we be sure the candidate we vote for won’t flip-flop on a topic we care about deeply?
There have been two significant position changes in the Illinois governor’s race: Gov. Pat Quinn on the temporary income tax increase and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner on raising the minimum wage.
While Quinn made it clear earlier this year his intention to make the 5 percent personal income tax hike permanent, Quinn recently told the Daily Herald he never said it would be temporary. Rauner also has pivoted his position on raising the minimum wage. Over the past year, Rauner went from saying he “adamantly” opposed raising the minimum wage and would cut it back to the federal level of $7.25, to supporting a minimum wage increase if three business-related reforms are implemented.
In our “Spin Cycle” video, we take a look at all the flipping and flopping in the Illinois race for governor.
In case you need some more background information on where Quinn and Rauner stand on both taxes and minimum wage, check out this side-by-side comparison from our Election Scorecards.
What are they going to do to our taxes?
Quinn:
After signing a temporary income tax increase into law in 2011, Quinn now is pushing lawmakers to make the 5 percent rate permanent. Quinn says if the tax hike expires and falls back to 3.75 percent in 2015, major funding cuts for schools, roads and bridges, social services and public safety will have to follow.
He also proposed but failed to win approval in 2014 for a $500 property tax refund every year for homeowners and he proposed but did not get a doubling of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), as well as tax cuts for businesses that provide job training.
Rauner:
Rauner proposes to reduce Illinois income tax rates over a four- year term to 3 percent for individuals and 4.8% for businesses — the levels of both taxes before the 2011 tax increase raised them to 5 and 7 percent, respectively. They are scheduled to drop to 3.75 percent and 5.25 percent on Jan. 1.
But before the primary, Rauner indicated he would veto any extension of the income tax increase.
Rauner also has said this summer he would begin to impose taxes on an array of 32 business services, including lawyers’ services and computer programmers.
What about the state’s minimum wage?
Quinn:
Wants to raise the minimum wage to $10 from $8.25 over the next two years.
Signed a measure to ask voters if they want the minimum wage increased. This question, which will have no legal effect, will be on the November, 2014 ballot.
Rauner:
Despite early claims he would lower Illinois’ minimum wage by $1 to match neighboring states, Rauner now says he would support an increase in minimum wage coupled with business reforms. Rauner has said he considers $10 a “reasonable” minimum wage.
NEXT ARTICLE: Exclusive governor questionnaire on taxes, corruption and reform
[RECOMMENDED]
- Here are Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn’s Primary Election answers to the Reboot/BGA questionnaire.
- Here are Republican nominee Bruce Rauner’s Primary Election answers to the Reboot/BGA questionnaire.
- Check out our pension crisis timeline. It’s the perfect storm.
- Top 10 things to know about Rauner’s tax and budget plan.
- What’s Quinn’s plan for taxes and budgeting.