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Illinois Lawmakers Pave Way For Tax Hikes on Wealthy

May 28, 2019 at 7:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Bloomberg: “Illinois lawmakers paved the way for higher taxes on the state’s richest residents, approving a constitutional amendment to do away with the flat income tax that will go before voters during next year’s presidential election.”

“The state’s House of Representatives on Monday voted to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow for higher tax rates on the top earners, the centerpiece of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s plan to stabilize the worst-rated state’s finances. The state Senate already passed the measure, leaving it poised to go on the November 2020 ballot for voter approval.”

Filed Under: State House Tagged With: Illinois

Rauner Vetoes Bill to Raise Teacher Pay

August 27, 2018 at 9:54 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) “vetoed legislation that would have raised the minimum salary for an Illinois teacher to $40,000 within five years, putting the re-election-seeking Republican at odds with teachers unions once again,” the Chicago Tribune reports.

“The bill approved by lawmakers in the spring would make the minimum teacher salary for next school year $32,076. The number would rise to $40,000 for the 2022-23 term and grow with the Consumer Price Index after that.”

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Illinois

Democrats Were Fired Up In Illinois

March 21, 2018 at 7:32 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “Democratic primary turnout was up across the state — overall, it was triple what it was in 2014, according to the Democratic Governors Association.”

“And turnout was 30 percent higher on Tuesday than in 2010, a more comparable primary election since there was a competitive Democratic primary that year. In an ominous sign, Republicans saw an estimated drop of 30 percent in turnout over 2014, which was a highly competitive primary where Rauner edged out three other top contenders.”

Filed Under: 2018 Campaign Tagged With: Illinois


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Rauner Pours $46 Million Into Legislative Races

October 25, 2016 at 12:56 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

With little more than two weeks until Election Day, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s (R) personal investment in eroding the ranks of legislative Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) has grown to nearly $46 million, the Chicago Tribune reports.

“The massive influx of cash represents the election-year battle lines playing out in Illinois after more than a year of fighting between Rauner, the first-term governor, and Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving speaker, over the future of the state.”

Filed Under: State House Tagged With: Bruce Rauner, Illinois, Michael Madigan

Trump Dumps Illinois Director

March 14, 2016 at 7:40 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 3 Comments

“Donald Trump’s Illinois campaign director has been sidelined after the national campaign grew furious over what sources described as a lack of organization in the state in the run-up to Tuesday’s primary,” Politico reports.

Kent Gray was pushed aside “early last week after the Trump camp learned he made few inroads with get-out-the-vote efforts and organizing volunteers.”

Filed Under: 2016 Campaign Tagged With: Donald Trump, Illinois

Trump Ahead In Illinois

March 13, 2016 at 9:12 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 29 Comments

A new NBC News/Marist poll in Illinois finds Donald Trump leading the GOP primary field with 34%, followed by Ted Cruz at 25%, John Kasich at 21% and Marco Rubio at 16%.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders 51% to 45%.

A new CBS News/YouGov survey finds Trump leading with 38%, followed by Cruz at 34%, Kasich at 16% and Rubio at 11%.

On the Democratic side, Sanders leads Clinton 48% to 46%.

Filed Under: 2016 Campaign Tagged With: Illinois

Trump Up Big In Illinois

March 11, 2016 at 10:23 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 12 Comments

A new We Ask America poll in Illinois finds Donald Trump leading the GOP presidential race with 33%, followed by Ted Cruz at 20%, John Kasich at 18% and Marco Rubio at 11%.

Filed Under: 2016 Campaign Tagged With: Illinois

Trump Holds 10-Point Lead In Illinois

March 8, 2016 at 7:37 am EST By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

A new Chicago Tribune poll in Illinois finds Donald Trump leading the GOP field with 32%, followed by Ted Cruz at 22%, Marco Rubio at 21% and John Kasich at 18%.

The primary is on March 15.

Filed Under: 2016 Campaign Tagged With: Illinois

Rauner Keeps Spending to Bash Illinois Democrats

July 13, 2015 at 7:10 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 10 Comments

Bloomberg: “Bruce Rauner (R) spent more than $25 million of his own fortune to get elected governor of Illinois. While the state is running out of cash and thousands of state employees might not get paid because of a budget dispute, the Republican chief executive isn’t done spending yet.”

“As Illinois’s gridlocked government stumbles toward a shutdown, the independently wealthy Rauner remains in campaign mode. He sends cash to his party’s lawmakers and bankrolls statewide TV ads vilifying Democratic legislative leaders who oppose his agenda.”

Filed Under: State House Tagged With: Bruce Rauner, Illinois

Bonus Quote of the Day

April 8, 2015 at 9:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 23 Comments

“I am going to try to rip the economic guts out of Indiana… I am one of the baddest enemies anybody can have. When I set a goal we do it. And we’re coming after Indiana big time.”

— Gov. Bruce Rauner (R), quoted by the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: State House Tagged With: Bruce Rauner, Illinois, Indiana

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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