Rauner (Illinois) wants to seize utility funds for the poor to help balance budget

[David__77]

Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget has elicited gasps in some quarters for the cuts it proposes to taxpayer-funded state programs.

But Rauner isn't stopping at programs supported by state taxes. To plug a budget hole of more than $6 billion, he's proposing to snatch $265 million furnished by ratepayers in the form of surcharges on their utility bills.

The money Rauner is targeting helps low-income households pay their heating bills and makes affordable-rental units and public buildings more energy-efficient.

Trouble is, Rauner can't just grab the money. State law requires utilities such as Commonwealth Edison, Nicor Gas and Peoples Gas, which collect the funds, to use them for the intended purposes or reimburse ratepayers. So Rauner will need a change in those laws to shift the utility-collected funds to the state's general fund. A spokeswoman confirms he will propose just such a change.

...

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150223/NEWS11/150229958?template=printart

[This is truly bizarre. Gov. Rauner proposes to use rate payer funds for energy efficiency as general revenues. And, interestingly, this would create a de facto tax inequity, with customers of investor-owned utilities paying more to suppose state government than customers of municipal utilities. Municipal utilities don't run these energy efficiency programs.]

[KamaAina]

1. These leeches now control everything between Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

Yuck.

[randys1]

2. Rauner is hoping for a twofer, balance the budget AND kill some poor people

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. Thanks again assholes! There's your "business experience". nt

[closeupready]

4. Wow. What a DB. Words fail me here.

[rogerashton]

5. Stealing

It's what you do if you are a Republican governor.

[David__77]

6. What's interesting is that it represents a de facto tax increase.

Up to now, the dollars spent provide benefits to the rate payers providing them: they can receive incentives for installing energy efficient equipment. It has also provided that equipment to low income residents. Converting them into funds to pay for general state operations is the de facto creation of a new utility tax.

[truebrit71]

7. So his campaign slogan of "shake up Springfield' actually meant "fuck the poor"...

Who knew that this greedy, lying, asshole right-wing sack of shit would turn out to be a greedy, lying, asshole right-wing sack of shit...??

I'm totally shocked....

[salin]

8. Let them eat ...crumbs off of the cake!

[Brigid]

9. And to think that at one time, not so long ago,

I was thinking of moving to Chicago. But I've decided to stay here. Looks like I've made the right choice, this isn't the only story I've seen that confirms it.

[Lars39]

10. I hate Illinois nazis.

Yeah, I went there, Godwin; get with the times