McSweeney: Beware of “Grand Bargain”

Galati's Hideaway east of  Cary's Jewel shopping center is hard to find, but Saturday evening it's parking lot overflowed.

Galati’s Hideaway east of Cary’s Jewel shopping center is hard to find, but Saturday evening it’s parking lot overflowed.

State Rep. David McSweeney was the main speaker at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee’s free pizza and soft drink party held at Galati’s Hideaway in Cary Saturday evening.

David McSweeney warned about a "grand bargain" in Springfield at the end of the session.

David McSweeney warned about a “grand bargain” in Springfield at the end of the session.  Township GOP Chairman Demetri Tsilimigras and County Board members Andrew Gasser and Donna Kurtz listen at his right.

After telling of having two bills ready for action on the House floor, McSweeney warned against

Fox River Grove has a red light camera endangered by a David McSweeney bill.

Fox River Grove has a red light camera endangered by a David McSweeney bill.

“anyone talking about a ‘grand bargain.’

“That’s code words for a tax hike.

“I’m not going to vote for a tax hike.”

The two bills on which he expects a vote would

  • freeze taxes for certain small townships
  • ban red light cameras for non-Home Rule municipalities.

Fox River Grove is not a Home Rule unit.

McHenry County Board member Andrew Gasser, Algonquin Township Republican Party Chairman Demetri Tsilimingas and State Rep. David McSweeney.

McHenry County Board member Andrew Gasser, Algonquin Township Republican Party Chairman Demetri Tsilimigras and State Rep. David McSweeney.

Gesturing toward Demetri Tsilimigras, McSweeney asked, “Would he make a fine Judge?”

Alg Twp GOP Crowd 4-18-15

Part of the Saturday Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee pizza party crowd.

McSweeney also praised Andrew Gasser, who worked hard on McSweeney’s fall 2012 election campaign “before it was fashionable.”

State Rep. David McSweeney was conversing with newly-elected Lakewood Village Board member Paul Serwatka and West Dundee Village Board member Dan Wilbrandt.

State Rep. David McSweeney was conversing with newly-elected Lakewood Village Board member Paul Serwatka and West Dundee Village Board member Dan Wilbrandt.

Touching base with local supporters were newly-elected McHenry County College Board member Karen Tirio and Crystal Lake School Board member Rosemary Kurtz.

Other elected officials attending were Cary Mayor Mark Kownick and Algonquin Township Trustee Larry Emery.


Comments

McSweeney: Beware of “Grand Bargain” — 6 Comments

  1. The Mayor of Chicago Mr. Rahm Emanuel declared after his re-election he will be working on a mega mega deal.

    Chicago is desperate for cash, the Chicago Public Schools 3 year employer holiday on pension contributions proved disasterous, the majority of taxing districts have underfunded pensions, more people are retiring at higher starting pensions, the increased number of retirees will put pressure on taxpayer subsidized retiree healthcare which the IL Supreme court ruled in the Kanerva case last year is protected against benefit reductions by the pension / retirement benefit sentence added to the IL State constitution in 1970, all that will drive all sorts of horse trading this session.

    The legislative hikes to already underfunded pensions and retiree healthcare over the last 45 years (escalating 1971 after pension and retiree healthcare benefits were declared contractual and cannot be diminished or impaired in the IL State Constitution) are taking an increasing toll and putting increased pressure on taxpayers.

    You can only play kick the can and hide and seek for so long.

    Maybe another last minute 327 page type mega bill like the pension SB 1 / Public Act 98-599 which the legislature had 1 day to consider before a vote was taken December 3, 2013 at which point it was passed and subsequently challenged in the courts and now we are waiting for an IL Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the law.

    The only thing you can be assured of is that whatever passes will be a pothole patch not anything which permanently fixes the core problems, as Illinois is incapable of permanent pension and retiree healthcare reform at this point that will be acceptable to property and income tax payers and public sector unions.

    You cannot fix 45 years worth of damage in the short term.

    Benefits in all the 18 pension funds and the retiree healthcare funds should be compared, 1970 benefit levels to 2015 benefit levels.

    There is the story.

    The majority of legislators and all the Governors in the period voted to rip off the taxpayer for their personal gain.

    And it was a rip off because at the time they passed the hikes, pensions were underfunded.

    Some of the retiree healthcare benefits apparently don’t even have to be pre-funded, as if the taxpayers will magically have the money someday.

    It’s insanity and it’s happend for 45 years so most people think it’s normal and acceptable.

    It’s not normal and it’s not acceptable.

    But it happened.

  2. How will the additional cost of Obamacare Cadillac Plan excise tax affect the obligation to provide unimpaired healthcare benefits?

    The language of the pension benefit guarantee does not seem to be describing an obligation to pay taxes on behalf of recipients.

    If the excise tax on health care benefits is passed on to the recipients, as federal tax burdens typically are, the recipients may decide to rework their own system.

  3. Dave should be all over the budget and pensions mess.

    These other thingys are busy time nonsense.

  4. Glad Dave is keeping us up to date and fighting for people in villages that are being over extended through taxes and fines.

    Im sorry to have missed the event but I had prior commitments.

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