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Pat Quinn
Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
1:49pm
Wed Mar 17, 2010

Quinn Pushes Congress On Renewables

Frustrated with the lack of federal action to spur job growth and mitigate carbon emissions, Gov. Pat Quinn and 28 other governors sent a list of recommendations (PDF) to Congress yesterday and urged the adoption of a federal renewable energy standard.

If the governors get their way, lawmakers in Washington would require electric utilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources (solar, wind, or biopower) by 2012. That would put the nation on pace to obtain 20 percent of its energy from renewables by 2020, a target environmentalists consider reasonable. Illinois already has stronger renewable energy standards on the books for both electrical and natural gas companies. Even so, the state would benefit because uniform standards would increase national demand for renewable energy produced within our borders. 

The Christian Science Monitor has a nice recap of the report here.

Quick Hit
by Josh Kalven
10:36am
Tue Mar 16, 2010
2 comments

Memo To AP: Quinn Has A "Backup Plan"

Today's AP article on Gov. Pat Quinn's WTTW appearance takes an odd angle.  The version that appeared in the Daily Chronicle is headlined "Quinn won't discuss backup plan" and reports: "Gov. Pat Quinn refused to say Monday whether he has a plan to avoid deep cuts in education if lawmakers resist his call to raise the state income tax."

During the Democratic gubernatorial primary, we criticized challenger Dan Hynes -- who was pushing a progressive income tax system as a solution to the budget crisis -- for not offering a "plan B" if legislators didn't go for his plan this spring.  But the current situation is quite different.  Unlike Hynes, Quinn is talking candidly about the specific types of cuts he foresees in lieu of an income tax increase.  You can disagree with what he's targeting; but you can't deny that it represents a "plan B." 

The AP's assumption seems to be that Quinn should provide a menu of revenue options that lawmakers can pick from.  What it misses is that those criticizing Quinn's plan aren't themselves offering any serious alternatives.  GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady, for instance, won't even put his vague budget proposal in writing.  Where's the AP article on that?

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
5:45pm
Wed Mar 10, 2010

How Much Would Quinn's Tax Hike Raise?

How much revenue would be generated by Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed 1 percent increase in the state income tax rate? Quinn’s budget director, David Vaught, told the AP today that the administration estimates the bump would raise $2.8 billion annually. The increase would also be permanent, not temporary. What's unclear is whether the new revenue -- if approved -- would fully restore the proposed education cuts, which total $1.3 billion.

Meanwhile, more and more reactions to Quinn's budget address are coming in from progressive interest groups.  Be sure to check out the updates to our item from earlier today.