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* Rep. Brad Halbrook’s HR101, which would separate Chicago from Illinois…
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is often bailed out by taxpayers in the rest of the State, such as the $221 million bailout for the CPS pension system that was signed into law last year;
* Politifact…
Halbrook’s resolution claims that “the City of Chicago is often bailed out by taxpayers in the rest of the State,” pointing to the funding CPS received in 2017 to help cover its pension costs.
We previously rated a similar claim False because the measure only provided CPS with financial support the state had long offered to all other districts in the state except Chicago.
Halbrook also upped the ante by contending the money for CPS wasn’t an isolated incident, with the state “often” throwing a lifeline to Chicago taxpayers at the expense of those Downstate. He offered no evidence, however, and academic research has found the opposite is true.
Experts we spoke with summed up the claim as a “myth,” “clearly not true” and “total nonsense.” We have a rating for claims that fit that description: Pants on Fire!
* But Rep. Halbrook has come up with a new explanation for why Downstate doesn’t get as much money as it appears…
It is, of course, true that downstate and central Illinois receive more direct state-level spending than income-tax dollars we pay. But this simple data point leaves out who actually benefits from that spending.
For example, tax dollars that flow to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign are actually used to subsidize the education of students from throughout the state of Illinois.
A fair study would show that the benefit of higher-education spending is less to the county hosting the institution and far more to the residents of the counties sending students to those institutions.
*Sigh*
Using that logic, couldn’t you also point to the “free” room and board that Chicago-area residents are receiving from the state while locked up in Downstate prisons?
A “fair study” would show the benefits to the entire state of higher-education spending, but when you’re so focused on individual counties instead of the state as a whole, this is the silly “logic” you’re bound to come up with.
* Related…
* Davidsmeyer signs onto separation resolution for Chicago, sparks debate: “It’s more of a frustration of the policies than the true belief that Chicago and Illinois would be better off as separate states,” he said. “… I don’t believe that Chicago and the state of Illinois should be separated. Our relationship is mutually beneficial.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:29 am
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It’s a long session in the super duper duper minority. Got to do something I guess. At least he can feel good about all those newspaper clippings he’s getting back in his district.
Comment by hot chocolate Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:33 am
–Separatist devises novel interpretation–
And the novel is “Gone With the Wind.”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:34 am
Pretty soon Halbrook will be on a mission from God …
Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:38 am
Halbrook should just quit making this an issue as it makes himself appear to be even more ignorant. Illinois without chicago would just be another version of Alabama
Comment by truthteller Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:38 am
And the novel is “Gone With the Wind.”
I was thinking more “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:40 am
Let it go Brad. You’re wrong and hung up on your own rhetoric. I know you’re a member of the party of alternative facts, but when this has been proven false time and again… I’d rather have a rep that can learn and admit that they’re wrong than one that doggedly stays on talking points.
Comment by Fixer Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:41 am
Question for CD, please announce to the citizens of your district where those employed by the State of Illinois will working as the Jacksonville area loves them public employment but when they leave the state, their jobs leave with them.
Illinois School for Hearing Impaired
Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.
Jacksonville Correction Center
DCFS Field Office
DHS Field Office
Illinois SOS Facility
That is a whole lot of your voters at the State of Illinois feeding trough.
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:48 am
==A fair study would show that the benefit of higher-education spending is less to the county hosting the institution and far more to the residents of the counties sending students to those institutions.==
He might want to ask some of his downstate Republican colleagues how they feel about that. How are the economies of Jackson, McDonough, and Coles counties doing these days? Better or worse than 10 or 20 years ago?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:49 am
“Our relationship is mutually beneficial.”
Umm…. Chicago is a city in our state, not some foreign land that our state merged with in some long ago treaty. The slick attempt at trying to sound serious while still pushing the narrative that Chicago is the “other” is truly sad by Rep. Davidsmeyer.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:50 am
= Illinois without chicago would just be another version of Alabama =
That seems to be the separatists’ goal…
Comment by cover Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:53 am
Can’t we separate Halbrook from Illinois?
I mean, we know what he’s doing, right? Stoking fear of “the other” to whip his supporters and fuel resentment. Facts don’t matter because the politics work so well. And the politics work so well because no one in his community or his party will stand up and tell people how wrong he is. This is demagoguery in its purest form.
There ought to be consequences for this, and until there are, expect more of it.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 9:59 am
He may be a rube, ignoramus, etc., but he’s smart enough to realize “Thanks Chicago for bailing us out” is a bad re-election rally theme.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:00 am
There’s a very simple first step for this one. Tie road maintenance funding to the taxes generated by each county.
Comment by tungsten Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:01 am
–I’d rather have a rep that can learn and admit that they’re wrong than one that doggedly stays on talking points.–
Halbrook’s a charlatan, puffing up his personal “brand.” That’s the only objective.
He want’s to be grand poohbah of the super-minority of the super-minority.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:02 am
Would someone in the Champaign Co GOP reading this blog start solidifying challengers for next cycle, please.
Comment by Midstate Indy Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:04 am
Truthteller we would be more like Mississippi than Alabama. While it’s social politics is very conservative, Alabama’s economy is on the upswing.
I’m waiting for Halbrook to break out the Make Illinois Great Again hats.
Comment by LTSW Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:05 am
Did our new Governor have dinner with the separatist leaders yet? /snark
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:17 am
=”A fair study . . . . “=
By which, of course, Rep. Halbrook means one that would support his unsupportable argument.
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:17 am
To what end, Louis? I gotta assume that they are no more coherent in private than they are in public.
Comment by TominChicago Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:30 am
“It’s more of a frustration of the policies than the true belief that Chicago and Illinois would be better off as separate states,” he (Davidsmeyer) said.–
So more of a childish temper tantrum, chock-fulla obvious dog whistles?
Gotta lot of time on your hands, don’t you?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:33 am
== Without Chicago Illinois would be another version of Alabama==
Well, without the Gulf Coast and with way worse college football teams. I was thinking more like Arkansas.
Comment by Twirling Towards Freedom Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:54 am
You know who likes the Chicago area?
Alabama. The University of.
That’s why they have a recruiter in Chicago, so when the Halbrooks or the world spread the message that Chicago-area kids aren’t welcome downstate, their parents have plenty of options to send them to other states that appreciate just how many successful students their are in Illinois and by sheer population, in the Chicago area.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 10:55 am
I like Holbrook’s response of “Well yeah. If you’re looking at actual dollars. I’m talking about the social values of the ‘Republic of Forgottonia’.”
Comment by Jocko Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:04 am
“Downstate” would be more than happy to take the chance of leaving Chicago behind. We would prefer to be Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, or any other state in the nation. Those states, mocked by the masses on blogs and newspaper comment sections have actual budgets, infrastructure projects and funding of their Higher education faculties. Those states have residents in rural areas that share the values of their elected leaders to at least some extent. In Illinois, if you are a conservative traditional voter, you are essentially unrepresented in Springfield, with moving to another state the only option for relief.
Comment by Unpopular Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:14 am
I say madigan should call his bluff and call the vote. We could even come up with a cool name like ‘Chexit’
Comment by Sox Fan Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:14 am
“It’s more of a frustration of the policies than the true belief that Chicago and Illinois would be better off as separate states,” he said. “… I don’t believe that Chicago and the state of Illinois should be separated. Our relationship is mutually beneficial.”
I’m sure that’s exactly what a number of voters thought when they voted “yes” for Brexit. Look what it got them.
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:16 am
=We could even come up with a cool name like ‘Chexit’=
Isn’t that a cereal?
Comment by JoanP Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:20 am
Legend has it that the Bank of Illinois at Shawneetown refused to fund the fledgling Chicago. How’d that work out?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:23 am
Unpopular, please just use an Illinois based moving company. Bye-bye.
Comment by Lt Guv Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:34 am
I would really love to know public opinion in Chicago/Cook county abut this issue.
Would they support separation? It would be wonderful to have a really accurate poll on this topic.
Comment by Nonbeleiver Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:40 am
In reply to “Unpopular” … It needs to be said that not everyone downstate agrees with this sentiment of separation.
Comment by someonehastosayit Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:43 am
Speak for yourself unpopular. I’m embarrassed to say that Rep. Halbrook is my representative. As a former republican voter turned independent voter - I’d be thrilled to have a moderate from either party earn my vote for a change. I usually like living in rural Illinois, but geez….
Comment by East Central Illinois Outcast Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 11:47 am
“I’m sure that’s exactly what a number of voters thought when they voted “yes” for Brexit. Look what it got them.”
The long term verdict on that issue has yet to be decided. And certainly the EU elites will throw every roadblock they can to sabotage it.
But, as I have said before, those who strongly support a separate state had better spend some time to come up with some details on exactly how this would work rathher than just shouting slogans and rhetoric.
Comment by Nonbeleiver Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 12:02 pm
Unpopular, I live in Alabama part time. They have all the usual political issues we have. I don’t believe the current crop of elected representatives from downstate Illinois could effectively govern. My newest neighbors in Alabama are from Bolingbrook. Moved because their kids are attending the university of Alabama. They are giving out of state kids with high test scores scholarship money to come down to improve thrir rankings.
Comment by LTSW Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 12:09 pm
Nonbeliever. What roadblocks are the EU elites throwing up? Are you as addled as Farage and the rest of the Brexiteers as to believe that the EU would let the UK cherrypick all of the benefits of the Union while being free to avoid the burdens. I actually think the EU was too benificent to the UK in the withdrawal agreement.
Comment by TominChicago Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 12:22 pm
I wonder if the study authors went back far enough in Chicago history, because CPS and CTA were bailed out of their mismanagement since the 1970’s. Meanwhile other communities of all sizes never got the same scale of help, thus the arguments raised today hold more validity than given credit for. However, the cure is NOT separating Chicago from the State, but making Chicago politicians and residents responsible for their actions or inactions at their expense, not the rest of the State,
Comment by revvedup Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 12:40 pm
Young people transitioning to adulthood can choose to live anywhere. When Halbrook states in his interview with Maxwell that a student from DuPage County attending university in Champaign would go back to DuPage County, he is admitting that there is no incentive for that student to find work in Champaign or nearby. He is admitting failure of the Eastern Bloc to attract young people and businesses.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 1:14 pm
–Unpopular, I live in Alabama part time. They have all the usual political issues we have. –
So, who’s the Illinois Roy Moore? And I’m quite sure that Illinois hasn’t had a 75-year-old Gov. Romeo like Robert Bentley.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 2:48 pm
@wordslinger:
who’s the Illinois Roy Moore?
Art Jones? Joe Walsh?
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 2:55 pm
– In Illinois, if you are a conservative traditional voter, you are essentially unrepresented in Springfield,–
That’s just terrible. You have a right to vote for representation in the GA. Literacy tests were specifically abolished by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 8, 19 @ 5:21 pm
==Those states, mocked by the masses on blogs and newspaper comment sections have actual budgets, infrastructure projects and funding of their Higher education faculties.==
So tell your rep to support the fair tax so we can fund infrastructure projects and higher education.
You wanna know how to stick it to Chicago? Support the fair tax. That’s where most of the millionaires and billionaires live.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Apr 9, 19 @ 7:00 am