So I may not be able to do this blog for much longer, so I should have fun while I can. The budget address is Wednesday, so what will be the plan? Just as a warning, these are just wild guesses.
    First thing, why did Quinn propose cutting the fee to file for an LLC in his state of the state? Dan Long from CGFA says their data shows Illinois' current personal income tax rate(with the temporary hike) as being competitive with neighboring states. But the corporate rate is not. If it drops to 3.5% per Madigan's earlier proposal, plus the 2.5% replacement tax(which needs to be added together for accurate comparison), we get a 5% corporate rate, which is competitive with the neighbors. If you drop the corporate rate and extend the personal rate, the first complaint will be that most businesses file as individuals. But then Quinn can say he made it easier for them to file as corporations, thus protecting the job creators, while bringing in needed revenue. Problem with this idea? Not populist enough for Quinn. You seem like you are giving breaks to big business, while hurting ordinary citizens. Solution? Madigan's millionaire tax. No it doesn't fill the entire budget hole, but it helps the cause.
    Another thought on a different route, whether to pass a full year or 6 month budget. A 6 month budget means you can match spending to revenue, which would include the current rates, thus negating the 1.6 billion dropoff for the first half of the year. Quinn can spend like the rates stay the same, then if he gets re-elected or not, push for an extension during the lame duck session, or if he loses, let Rauner deal with 1.6 billion less for half the budget year, which would make cuts twice as harsh for that half. I honestly think Quinn believes in his cause, and would have a hard time doing the latter, but maybe he would be okay simply trying his best to pass the extension whether he wins or loses, whether it passes or fails.
   Third possibility I'm throwing out there, push for a progressive income tax. Getting on the ballot and passing it in November doesn't bring enough money in soon enough, but he could push for new borrowing to cover us until then.
    Whatever way he goes, Rauner is now the opponent, so Quinn has to be very careful about simply pushing for an extension of the current tax hike. Generally speaking, pro-tax increase candidates lose to those who push for lower taxes. So no matter what, he has to make sure any higher taxes are targeted at millionaires and not most voters. And hes to make sure he pushes for at least current levels of education funding, since schools are a pet cause for Rauner.