* The governor did much the same thing right before his special session on the budget in a failed attempt to hold his people together. The state party gave much of Rauner’s contribution to the House Republicans back then, so we’ll see what happens with this cash…
Amends the Vital Records Act. Defines “intersex condition”, “licensed health care professional”, and “licensed mental health professional”. Changes provisions concerning the issuance of new birth certificates for individuals that have undergone gender transition treatment. Provides that in order to change an individual’s sex designation on the individual’s birth certificate, a licensed health care professional or licensed mental health professional must make a declaration concerning the treatment. Requires that the licensed health care professional or licensed mental health professional sign and date a specified statement. Provides that newly issued birth certificates may reflect a name change if the documents for a name change are submitted. Changes a reference from “sex change” to “change of sex designation”. Provides that following the issuance of a new birth certificate, the individual may request the original certificate and evidence of adoption, paternity, legitimation, or change of sex designation for inspection or certification purposes. Makes corresponding changes.
Oh, some heads are gonna explode on the far right this weekend.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
State Senator Toi Hutchinson – 40th District:
“Transgender and intersex persons in Illinois deserve to live their lives with dignity and safety, consistent with their gender identity. It is an honor to have worked with so many others to pass this legislation, especially as we see other states and the White House attempt to enshrine discrimination based on gender identity into law.”
State Representative Greg Harris – 13th District:
“I’m proud to be part of a team in Illinois that is expanding equality and fairness for all our citizens. Especially in a time when so many are trying to roll back legal protections and foster intolerance and hate, it is important that we stand together.”
Brian C. Johnson, CEO, Equality Illinois:
“With the simple act of bringing Illinois law up to date with modern medical standards, the lives of transgender and intersex people have become meaningfully better. Every year, we hear stories about how the outdated requirement to undergo surgery before updating the gender marker on your birth certificate placed an onerous burden on transgender Illinoisans. The American Medical Association and many other respected professional organizations said this burden was unnecessary and inconsistent with modern medical standards.
“We heard from a transgender high school senior in Springfield who said the costs of the unnecessary surgical procedures required by the old law means he’d have to sacrifice a year of college. We listened to a mother in Urbana who lamented that the state will deny her child’s authentic self if the law was not modernized. And we read a letter from a transgender woman born in Illinois who now lives in Arizona about how she has no agenda other than to live authentically and without burden.
“Now, transgender and intersex individuals born in Illinois can update their birth certificate, and align all their relevant identification documents, consistent with modern medical standards. Thank you to Governor Bruce Rauner for signing the bill into law today and to our chief sponsors Rep. Greg Harris and Sen. Toi Hutchinson for their fierce leadership and tenacity.”
Today, I return House Bill 302 with specific recommendations for change to provide a clear, constitutional threshold to help Illinois families receive insurance benefits and to stop the inappropriate payment of contingency fees to private auditing firms.
Few things are more traumatic than the death of a loved one. Life insurance provides an important resource for financial assistance after such a loss. As public servants, we have a duty to protect beneficiaries and ensure they receive the benefits they are owed. That is why I signed legislation (Public Act 99-0893) creating the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act, which took effect January 1, 2017. The Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act requires life insurance companies to continually cross check in-force policies with the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to determine potential beneficiary eligibility. If a potential match is identified and a beneficiary has not yet come forward, insurers are required to make a good faith effort to locate the beneficiary or beneficiaries and provide claim assistance.
While the current law is forward-looking for all policies in force as of January 1, 2017, HB 302 retroactively would require insurers to cross check policies that have lapsed or terminated. For those insurers with electronically searchable records, records must be searched back to 2000. However, if an insurer does not have electronically searchable records, the search must be conducted back to only 2012.
While I support the intent of this legislation, HB 302 is inequitable and potentially unconstitutional. Illinois’ administrative rules only require insurance companies to keep lapsed or terminated policy records for the current year, plus the five prior years. See Title 50, Section 901.20. Creating a two-tiered enforcement timeline creates an arbitrary and discriminatory requirement that does not uniformly impact the life insurance industry. An insurer’s obligation to comply with HB 302 should not depend on differences in its record retention policies. Such differential enforcement violates due process. See Nat’l Endowment for the Arts v. Finley, 524 U.S. 569, 588-89 (1998) (due process protects against “arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement” of legal standards). To avoid this inequitable and constitutional flaw, I support a clear and logical threshold that mirrors the current five-year administrative recordkeeping requirements so that all insurers — regardless of their record-retention policies and capabilities — are required to retroactively search for policies in force at any time on or after January 1, 2012.
Additionally, this legislation does nothing to stop the continuing overreach of private auditing firms that currently contract with the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, and they are reaping great rewards that would otherwise benefit taxpayers. Throughout the country, including Illinois, states have retained private auditors with contingency fee arrangements for the identification of unclaimed property, including life insurance policies. The expansion of these private auditors, however, incentivizes behavior that rewards private companies at the expense of state taxpayers. One such company has made more than $20 million in finder’s fees in Illinois since 2011. That money could have (and would have under current state law) gone to pay down our state’s desperately underfunded pension liability. We should stop this practice and pursue more responsible financial arrangements. This will ensure that we are conducting searches of unclaimed property in a fiscally appropriate manner and in a way that best serves our state’s taxpayers.
* The governor also vetoed the attorney general’s bill…
Today, I veto Senate Bill 1351, which seeks to create the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act.
While the intent of this bill to support struggling student-loan borrowers is laudable, the bill, as written, encroaches on federal government’s responsibilities and would add confusion to the already complex student loan process.
This legislation would require servicers to be licensed by the state, adding another layer of Illinois state bureaucracy without any guarantee the change would improve service. In fact, this requirement may push smaller servicers out of business. The recent U.S. Department of Education decisions regarding student-loan borrowers have been cause for concern. Therefore, my staff will continue to work with the department and members of Congress to address these concerns as the federal government moves to reauthorize the Higher Education Act.
Students do need additional support in understanding their loan repayment options, but loan servicers are not the appropriate actors for the role. Instead of adding another layer of state bureaucracy in the form of a student loan ombudsman, the General Assembly should consider allocating those funds to nonprofit counselors who are far more effective at advising students than any government agency.
There are several important components of the Student Loan Bill of Rights contained in SB 1351. Students should not be defrauded – purposely or through incompetence – by their loan servicer. I urge the sponsors to work with members of the Department of Education and my office to ensure a set of common-sense student protections that will not conflict with evolving federal regulations and to craft a more narrowly tailored bill to support student-loan borrowers in Illinois. Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1351 entitled “AN ACT concerning education,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.
Today, I veto Senate Bill 1720, which would make failure to pay wages a Class 4 felony instead of a misdemeanor.
Every worker is legally entitled to wages earned, and there should be penalties for employers who fail to make due on wages owed. However, there is little evidence that the current system of making failure to pay wages a misdemeanor requires a major shift to making it a felony.
Today, I veto Senate Bill 1714, which would add reporting requirements for consultants retained by retirement system, pension fund, or investment boards.
This legislation is a classic example of multiplying red tape without first demonstrating any benefit. Retirement system, pension fund, and investment boards all hire consultants to help identify investment opportunities. Under this bill, all consultants now will have to report to the boards that hired them on their engagement with investment services provided by a minority-owned business, a female-owned business, or a business owned by a person with a disability.
Today, I veto House Bill 2462, which would prohibit employers from enquiring about previous salary and compensation of prospective employees.
The gender wage gap must be eliminated, and I strongly support wage equality. Massachusetts already has established a best-in-the-country approach to the issue of employers inquiring about salary history. Illinois should model its legal regime on Massachusetts’ model.
Today, I veto HB 1797, which would remit the $15 million debt owed by the Illinois International Port Authority to the State of Illinois. HB 1797 is requesting the State of Illinois absolve the port authority of its debt with no clear plan for future profitability.
Furthermore, the International Port Authority was cited in 2013 by the Illinois Auditor General for numerous findings, indicating reasons for limited profitability through financial and ineffective governance. Additionally, Auditor General Holland cited the port authority for a nonexistent, long-term plan for economic development of water or rail to pay the debt owed to Illinois. This bill does not address the broken aspects driving the port district’s current financial instability, but instead masks the endemic problems with false hopes of increased economic opportunities.
The Illinois taxpayers deserve transformational changes at the International Port Authority before we should consider forgiving this debt. Internationally, new port management models have been created to deliver greater private sector participation and investment in ports. New management models could increase port utilization and create new jobs, while reducing operating costs and eliminating risks to the taxpayers. I look forward to working with the International Port Authority and the City of Chicago to find a solution to benefit the people of Illinois and our economy in the near future.
Today, I veto House Bill 2525, which addresses Illinois’ Workers’ Compensation System.
Illinois remains in a fiscal and economic crisis that taxes and regulations cannot solve. The only way to truly improve our state’s financial status is to grow our economy through the creation of jobs and opportunity. Our workers’ compensation insurance is one of the most expensive in the nation, and the statutory scheme underlying these costs is riddled with problems and stakeholders that stand in the way of getting injured employees back to health and encouraging employers to invest in Illinois again. We need thoughtful reform of this system, and we must focus our efforts on solutions that encourage economic growth while also making sure we are providing efficient and effective care to injured workers.
Unfortunately, this bill does not make the changes necessary to achieve those goals. It fails to acknowledge the cost-drivers that are putting our state at a competitive disadvantage for jobs and growth. Instead, it imposes additional regulatory structures where they are not needed.
This legislation does not represent real reform. It does not address the competitive disadvantages that are resulting in the disappearance of jobs in our manufacturing sector, where middle-class workers once could find opportunities for growth and advancement. It will not stop the flood of hardworking individuals who are leaving our state when these opportunities are lacking.
Today, I veto House Bill 2567, which creates the Automobile Dealers’ License Task Force to study licensing and oversight of nontraditional vehicle dealers in Illinois.
Regulations for vehicle dealers in Illinois must be fair for traditional and nontraditional vehicle dealers. However, this bill excludes nontraditional vehicle dealers from participating on this new task force. Instead of creating a task force comprised of a diverse representation of the automobile dealers industry, this task force only welcomes traditional industry groups to have a seat at the table in this discussion. Unfortunately, this one-sided approach could facilitate damaging public policy that protects traditional automobile dealers at the expense of nontraditional dealers and, potentially, consumer and market preferences.
Illinois must encourage competition and innovation, which means embracing traditional and nontraditional business models that provide value to the people of Illinois. That requires including diverse perspectives and inviting traditional and nontraditional entities to have a say in market regulations, which this bill does not accomplish.
* And…
Today, I veto House Bill 3897 from the 100th General Assembly, which will impose a new regulatory burden on Illinois businesses.
House Bill 3897 would create a new mandate on businesses throughout Illinois. The State of Illinois already suffers from a bloated administrative code. Illinoisans will spend at least $250 million in direct license fee costs and fill out more than 4 million pages of paperwork for state agencies over the next decade. Miring small and new businesses in red tape hinders their growth and makes Illinois less competitive than its peers.
In the face of a swollen administrative state, all new legislation mandating more rules and regulations should be held to the highest scrutiny. House Bill 3897 fails to pass this test.
Today, I veto Senate Bill 41 from the 100th General Assembly, which allows municipalities to assign, sell, or transfer their interest in funds received from the State.
Illinois is suffering from one of the most mismanaged and overburdened public finance systems; ranking second worst in the United States by independent outlets. This bill would create a moral hazard that encourages additional borrowing at the local level, while prioritizing bonded debt at municipalities over the provision of services.
…Adding… The provisions of SB41 was in the BIMP bill, which is now law. So the veto means nothing.
There were others, so click here. I’ll post reacts on another post.
* No press release or even a list of signed and vetoed bills from the governor, but there are some press releases…
Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement after Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation that would have increased the statewide minimum to $15 per hour by January 2022.
“Governor Rauner’s veto doubles down on his stance against some of our most vulnerable communities. Throughout his term he has irresponsibly cut the child care assistance program, held up grant money for low-income college students and caused severe damage to our social services through a historic budget stalemate.
“There is no reason why a single parent working full-time should qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. Our workers deserve financial independence and the empowerment that comes from being able to provide for a family.
“Our fight does not end here. I will continue to stand for hardworking people struggling to make ends meet as I have done my entire career because I know the difference a living wage can make in a person’s life, in our communities and in our entire state.”
* And another one…
Following is the statement of SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley following Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 81, legislation to raise the minimum wage in Illinois to $15 by 2022.
“Bruce Rauner’s veto of a $15 minimum wage for Illinois sets the stage for 2018. More than 2.3 million Illinois workers would have benefited from Senate Bill 81, which was carefully considered and vetted by business groups, workers and economists before its passage by the General Assembly.
“Knowing this was wrong for Illinois he waited to the last minute and, with this veto, Gov. Rauner showed us once again who he is and what his vision is for Illinois: A permanent low-wage economy, where services and infrastructure are slashed, where workers are deprived of dignity and rights and where corporations call all the shots.
“In supporting the $15 wage bill, we understood that raising the wage isn’t a threat to jobs. In fact, it would have immediately provided a BOOST to the Illinois economy. It would have stopped the subsidy of corporations who don’t pay a living wage. It would have slowed population flight by making Illinois a wage oasis. And it would have helped MILLIONS of Illinoisans get a fair shot at entry into the Middle Class.
“The Illinois minimum wage has remained at $8.25 since 2010. This is not even CLOSE to enough to get by and the terrible effects are falling disproportionately on women and people of color.
“The time for a raise to is now. If Gov. Rauner won’t allow this to happen in Illinois, we will join with workers across this state to elect someone next November who will.”
*** UPDATE *** Here’s his veto message…
Today, I veto Senate Bill 81 from the 100th General Assembly, which raises the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next four years.
Helping low-income families and individuals get out of poverty is a top priority, and I share the passion of many members of the legislature for improving the well-being of those struggling to make ends meet. However, mainstream economic theory and mainstream economic evidence strongly suggest that an increase in the minimum wage of this magnitude will hurt the very individuals it seeks to help.
The most thorough research to date, published earlier this year by researchers at the University of Washington, found that for every 10 percent increase in the hourly earnings of low-wage workers, there was a 30 percent reduction in employers providing those jobs.
This research implies that Senate Bill 81 will result in a net reduction of earnings for low-wage Illinoisans in excess of $1,500 per year. This legislation would cost significant sums of money for the very people it purports to help. Illinois needs to be seeking comprehensive solutions that grow the economy and the number of jobs available where individuals can train, grow and attain better lives for themselves and their families.
* Press release…
Illinois Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Todd Maisch’s statement on Governor Rauner’s veto of SB 81:
“Thanks to the governor’s veto of SB 81 Illinois employers can breathe a little easier today. We applaud the governor for vetoing legislation that would have increased the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. This keeps Illinois in competition with our neighbors by helping to maintain our jobs and to recruit prospective employers.
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is opposed to the legislation because the proposed increase in minimum wage would kill jobs, even for those looking to climb the economic ladder. By vetoing the legislation, the governor is saving thousands of jobs.
A study completed by the University of Washington this summer confirmed that jobs and work hours fell in Seattle after it raised its minimum wage to $13 just last year. If anything, this should be a sign that $15 minimum wage laws do more harm than good. Even St. Louis is expected to roll back its minimum wage from $10 per hour to $7.70 per hour at the end of this month.
Elected officials in other states are acknowledging that higher minimum wages are destructive to job growth. Too many lawmakers continue to ignore the truth that raising the minimum wage, like in SB 81, kills jobs.”
* And…
On Friday, Governor Rauner vetoed SB 81, which would have gradually raised the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. Grassroots Collaborative is a labor-community coalition representing tens of thousands of Illinois low-income families whose lives and communities would have greatly benefited from the passage of SB 81. The following is a statement from Amisha Patel, Executive Director of Grassroots Collaborative.
“Governor Rauner has shown once again that he does not care about our communities and the pain Illinois families are experiencing. Raising the wage floor in Illinois to $15 per hour would have created a pathway for 2.3 million Illinois workers to move their families out of poverty. After decades of cuts to vital services, education, and infrastructure Governor Rauner is adding insult to injury for communities that continue to be abused by the Governor and his wealthy clique of political insider friends.”
“Governor Rauner showed his true allegiances by protecting his wealthy friends at the expense of Illinois working families. By vetoing the bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, Rauner denies a desperately needed raise to 40% of all Illinois workers - 46% of all female workers in Illinois, 48% of African American workers, and 61% of all Latino workers. After cutting funding to communities across the state by not passing a budget for two years, Rauner’s veto further devastates these 2.3 million Illinois workers. Bruce Rauner cares only about corporate CEOs and their lobbyists - and millions of workers will be the ones who pay the price.”
* Pritzker campaign…
“Today, Bruce Rauner vetoed an opportunity for working families across this state to build better lives,” said JB Pritzker. “Once again, Rauner abandoned Illinois working men and women and stood in the way of progress for those striving to get into the middle class. It is time Illinois’ working families had a partner in Springfield who is committed to the fight for 15. I know we need to raise the minimum wage to $15 and I will make sure Illinois workers have a seat at the table in the work ahead. Rauner’s veto reminds us that our fight is far from over and I look forward to standing with Illinois families every step of the way.”
* Biss campaign…
“Rauner may have proven himself an ally to a few hundred CEOs, but with this veto he’s also confirmed himself as an enemy to the 1.3 million Illinoisans who work at low wage jobs.
“We need a government that works for the rest of us, not for the millionaires—and this election gives us an opportunity to rise up and make our voices heard. To say loud and clear that no one deserves to live in poverty, and all workers deserve a living wage. That’s why I co-sponsored the minimum wage increase in the Senate, why I’ll work to override Rauner’s veto, and why I’ll keep fighting for living wages when I’m governor.”
* Rep. Guzzardi…
State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39th) issued the following statement in response to Bruce Rauner’s veto of SB 81, which would have raised the minimum wage to $15 in Illinois:
“I am deeply disappointed but not in the least surprised by this veto. Once again, Gov. Rauner has shown that he’d rather protect the profits of his corporate allies than help lift millions of Illinoisans out of poverty. We, the people of this state, know whose side the Governor is on. It’s not ours.
“We’ll work harder than ever to build support for a living wage in the legislature. I hope we can override the Governor’s veto. And I also hope we can elect a Governor who will put working people before corporate profits.”
* Ameya Pawar…
“When Bruce Rauner was running for governor, he was outspoken against raising the minimum wage in Illinois. Meanwhile, during his time as a venture capitalist, he relied heavily on low wage workers to make hundreds of millions of dollars in profit.
“Now we see him vetoing the graduated increase of a minimum wage for Illinois workers by 2022 at a time when corporate profits are at an all-time high and the Illinois economy continues to struggle. Make no mistake: This is Rauner’s vision for Illinois, a race to the bottom where workers are stripped of wages and rights, where middle-class families are struggling to get ahead while all control of our future is placed in the hands not of everyday Illinoisans, but in corporate boardrooms where scruples fail to reach.
“A $15 wage floor for Illinois workers is needed to keep our state competitive, to grow our economy and to ensure dignity for those whose labor profits others. Rauner’s veto will not end this fight and it will not end mine.”
* IRMA…
“Illinois retailers applaud Governor Rauner for standing up for Main Street businesses by vetoing SB 81, legislation that would have forced employers to reduce hours and eliminate jobs. The state’s minimum wage is already the highest in the Midwest and if this measure had become law it would have put Illinois retailers at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring states. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the real-world effects of the political campaign for a $15 minimum wage in Chicago and other jurisdictions and the results are in; it deprives economic opportunity from those with few or no skills. We thank Governor Rauner for his actions today on behalf of every retailer across this state.”
* Greg Baise…
“The IMA is strongly opposed to the ‘Fight for $15’ minimum wage increase, a wholly irresponsible measure that would force employers to make cuts and put more middle class families out of work. Across the country, states and municipalities with an increased minimum wage are experiencing the aftermath of that decision, and even in Illinois where Cook County passed a minimum wage increase in 2016, more than half of their municipalities are opting out of this job-killing measure. To create jobs and grow businesses in Illinois, we need sound public policy and meaningful reforms that entice companies to grow within our borders, and not just another mandate that artificially inflates wages. Lawmakers should focus on creating good, high-paying manufacturing jobs that pay more than $74,000 annually in wages and benefits, far more than the minimum wage. We applaud Governor Rauner for standing with employers on this decision.”
* Chicagoland Chamber…
“We applaud Governor Rauner for standing up for Illinois’ business community by vetoing SB 81. At a time when our employers continually see new taxes, fees and mandates at both the local and state level, we cannot afford new laws that would inhibit job growth and business development. In addition, we need to do the harder work of investing in our citizens’ workforce development, including vocational training, community college, and the trades. A politically expedient increase in the starting wage does not provide a road to prosperity over the long term. Our state is in need of sound economic reforms, which will strengthen our communities, and the Governor’s actions today was a major step in protecting our state’s jobs,” said Michael Reever, acting president & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
* Chris Kennedy…
Governor Rauner has dealt a cruel blow to all working people today by vetoing SB 81, a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Rauner cannot be trusted to serve in the best interest of the people of Illinois. His leadership does not represent our state.
As governor, I will continue to push for a $15 minimum wage and promise to sign such a bill into law. When those most impacted by poverty do better, we all do better. As FDR once said, “In our seeking for economic and political progress, we all go up - or else we all go down.”
* Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan…
“Governor Rauner’s veto of the bill to increase the state’s minimum wage is another failure in his leadership. Our economy is off balance, with too much wealth in too few hands. The state minimum wage has not been increased since 2010, and it is there to provide for economic stability for working families. Rauner chose winners and losers with his decision today, he once again chose corporate CEOs over working people.”
* From Steve Yaffe at the Illinois Republican Party…
Hey Rich!
This has been an open secret over here for some time, but I wanted you to be the first member of the press to know that Tuesday will be my last day at the ILGOP.
Don’t worry though, I’m not disappearing! I am taking a position at the Republican Governors Association to handle rapid response for Illinois and a number of other states.
The opportunity to work on the national level and in new states to get Republican governors elected while still being involved in Gov. Rauner’s campaign is something I couldn’t pass up.
Some background:
I started by working on Rauner’s campaign January of 2014 as a freshman college intern making phone calls, a bit before the primary. As the general election ramped up, the campaign needed interns to staff the war room. I was lucky enough to be offered a chance to do that, and things snowballed from there, with Mike Schrimpf eventually offering me a Press Assistant job for the rest of the campaign.
I’ll never forget when I called my parents telling them I was taking months off from college at the University of Chicago to work on a political campaign. It took some convincing.
I worked as a Press Assistant up through inauguration before returning to school.
Soon after getting back to college I decided I wanted to stay involved, so I started interning for Mike and Lance at the Governor’s office as a communications intern, taking whatever classes let me spend as much time as possible over there.
In March of 2016 I joined the state party full time as Rapid Response Director. What many people don’t know is that during the last cycle I had not technically graduated from college yet. In fact, I took another 6 months off for that race, and from January-June of this year I worked both full time at the ILGOP and college until (finally) getting my degree.
The best and most insightful thing I’ve learned in my brief time in politics is that it can be incredibly meritocratic and nothing is more satisfying than working on a great team.
Let me know if you have other questions!
- Steven
You may not have agreed with what he wrote, but Steve is one hard working dude. Replacing him will not be easy. I wish him nothing but the best. He’s been providing us with entertaining content for a good long while.
* The governor’s campaign sent this out late this afternoon…
It’s been a busy week in Illinois where we took steps forward on pension reform and criminal justice reform, and legislative leaders came to an agreement on a historic school funding bill that will bring more money and more choice to our education system. Gov. Rauner applauds the legislative leaders for coming together to compromise and looks forward to passing this legislation.
- Team Rauner
* The Sun-Times, by the way, picked up on the governor’s Marion comments…
Gov. Bruce Rauner told Downstate business leaders on Friday that legislators are “very close to a final deal” on education funding reform — but he blasted Speaker Mike Madigan for putting “a bunch of bad things” in the bill — including “money that shouldn’t go to Chicago.”
The governor’s tone is unlike a statement his office released on Thursday in announcing the agreement in which he applauded the leaders and said he looked forward to seeing a deal get passed in both chambers.
On Friday, the governor told the Marion Chamber of Commerce he wants to “fix” problems within the deal in another bill. […]
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown on Friday declined to comment on the governor’s call for another bill, but remained optimistic that the deal could be finalized.
“There’s no reason to believe anything has changed,” Brown said.
* From today’s Marion Chamber of Commerce event we discussed earlier today…
Rauner assistant reviews audience questions before event moderators ask them. So far, he's the only speaker who has done that. #twillpic.twitter.com/ZIkIPYcvOu
Daniel Biss released the following statement in response to Governor Rauner’s inclusion of private school vouchers in the most recent school funding proposal.
“While I am encouraged that we are closer than ever to an agreement on public school funding, it is absurd that, in order to fund public schools, Governor Rauner and his allies are demanding a tax credit scheme that will just put more money in the pockets of millionaires and billionaires. The private school voucher program doesn’t help create a more equitable education system—it’s a false choice, and just the latest example of Rauner putting millionaires over the middle class.
“What we need is equitable school funding for all Illinois students, not more money in the pockets of people like Bruce Rauner and J.B. Pritzker.”
Not a bad political move by Biss because it forces Pritzker to make a choice between the teachers unions and supporting a funding reform bill.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign…
JB and Daniel Biss are both in favor of funding our schools and are both against private school vouchers. It’s unfortunate that Daniel Biss is more focused on playing politics than standing up to Bruce Rauner and doing what’s right for Illinois kids.
I asked Slayen if the statement meant that Pritzker was opposed to the negotiated agreement, but haven’t heard back. I’ll let you know.
…Adding… The Pritzker people say they don’t want to comment on the bill itself until it’s finalized.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Chris Kennedy campaign…
Rich,
Here’s video of Chris speaking out against vouchers last week during his interview with Capitol Connection.
At the 2:05 mark, Mark Maxwell asked Chris to weigh in and Chris responds:
“If you read the state Constitution, it makes it very clear in plain language that we’re not allowed to use tax dollars to fund private education and Catholic education. Now, maybe Bruce Rauner can find a way through twists and turns to get around that provision in our state constitution, but once you start violating Constitutions, I don’t know where that game ends.”
Additionally: While it’s certainly a sign of progress that leadership has reached a school funding agreement, it’s concerning that it seems to maintain Governor Rauner’s $75 million school voucher program masked as a scholarship program. Our governor shouldn’t advocate for robbing the public education system to enrich private schools. Our governor should serve the needs of all students throughout the state. We need a leader who will overhaul the way we fund schools so that all students have access to a quality public education.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Ameya Pawar…
“Education funding should be distributed equitably to public schools across Illinois. It is dead wrong to give vouchers and tax credits to private or parochial schools. Using taxpayer money to fund private schools benefits the children of wealthy families at the expense of the rest of the state.”
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* I’m hearing that the House Democratic teleconference meeting today was “brutal” on this topic. “Our caucus is going crazy over the quasi voucher [stuff],” said one House Democrat. “I don’t see a path to 71,” said another. “Longest caucus call ever,” said yet another who was on the call.
If Downstate Republicans allied with the IEA start to jump ship (especially now that the governor has given them political cover to do so by essentially saying the bill is another Chicago bailout attempt), then we’re in for some real turmoil.
The tax credit could get pulled out of the bill by the leaders or yet another side deal is cut against the governor’s wishes like what happened with the budget, or… Well, I’m not sure at this moment. Maybe Madigan can work some magic. But this is gonna be tough.
* Gov. Rauner gave a “good news, bad news” speech today at the Marion Chamber of Commerce. Here’s one part…
I think we’re on the verge of what is [pause] largely good education funding reform. Our education funding in Illinois has been broken for decades. We have the largest gap between what low income districts and especially rural small rural districts get per student versus what high incomes districts get per student. We’ve got a new funding formula, we’ve been battling it through. It’s also got more school choice in it. And it’s a funding formula that I believe in, it’s a better system.
Bad news is Speaker Madigan’s caucus took the bill, inserted a bunch of bad things in it, we’re trying to get out as many of those as we can. A lot of, they’re trying to divert a lot of the money that should be coming to southern Illinois and central Illinois and divert it to the broken financial condition of Chicago. So, we’ve been battling, we’ve been battling that. And it’s not been easy. […]
The bad news is, again, there was an insertion to assist Chicago and its financial crisis and diverting money that shouldn’t go to Chicago. Um, in, in, it should be in the classrooms, spread around the state. Some should be in Chicago, but many, much of it should be here in, you know, Williamson County, it should be in Sangamon County as well. It’s not fair, but it’s going to end up being a compromise, it’s not where we’d like it to be, but what I’ll try to do is fix the problems with it in subsequent legislation.
.@GovRauner said today the school funding compromise was “not fair” & he will try to pass “subsequent legislation” to “fix the problems” pic.twitter.com/TlPApg12bV
* Sent to a friend whose name is not Kristina, but the Drury campaign thinks it is…
Kristina,
In June, we launched our campaign with a simple message: Illinois government has been hijacked by politicians like Bruce Rauner and Mike Madigan to serve their own interests, not ours, and it is time to return our State back to its rightful owner – you!
With experienced and trustworthy leadership in the governor’s office, we can rebuild our State, fix the big issues holding Illinois back, and ensure our brightest days are ahead of us. If Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump have taught us anything, it’s that experience and trust matter.
After Labor Day, campaign season really gets going. With our ever-growing base of supporters in every corner of the state, we are ready to end Mike Madigan’s chokehold on Illinois and replace the status quo with fresh ideas that will allow Illinois to thrive.
Illinois yearns for a Democratic candidate who can get things done without being another rubber stamp for Madigan. We stand alone in fitting the bill and, with your support, we will win.
Kristina, as we head into the fall campaign season, we need your help to build on our momentum and seize the chance to bring honest change to Illinois.
Please make a contribution before our August deadline:
In 2014, then-candidate Bruce Rauner made his pitch to business leaders by saying “I’m not a politician” and promising to “take arrows” when things go wrong. Rauner said leaders “take on the responsibility and you take the heat and you take the blame when things don’t go well, but you give the credit to your team.”
Fast forward to today, with an administration in absolute turmoil, the Bruce Rauner who said he would take responsibility is nowhere to be found. Yesterday, Rauner went so far as to name names as he threw his staff under the bus for his own failure to address blatant racism from the Illinois Policy Institute. If leaders “take the blame when things don’t go well,” then what does that make Bruce Rauner?
“In Bruce Rauner’s own words, leaders ‘take arrows.’ What Bruce Rauner has done as governor is take those arrows and hurl them at everyone around him,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “As we’ve seen time and again from this governor, he takes no responsibility for his failure to lead this state and instead makes his staff, allies, and Illinois families expendable as long as it advances his own interests.”
Emphasis added because, well, that should be obvious.
Yesterday was a little weird for Governor Bruce Rauner. Reeling from his office’s inability to respond to a cartoon published by a close political ally, Bruce Rauner announced he was clearing house for the second time in as many months. Gone were four communications staffers all brought on just over a month ago. Rumors were that more departures were on the way.
The day turned bizarre thereafter. In a conference call with his (temporarily) remaining staff, Bruce Rauner then warned his administration was surrounded by “enemies” like the media and former colleagues:
“‘The reality is in addition to the enemies on the other side of the aisle (Democrats), we have enemies in the media and enemies who should be on our side, some of them former members of the administration,’ the source recounted Rauner as saying.”
And then came the untruths. In the same conference call, Rauner rejected “rumors” that more staffers were headed for the exists, including his (new) chief of staff and general counsel. He did the same to reporters later:
REPORTER: “Are you keeping your chief of staff?”
RAUNER: “We announced some changes in the communications department, and that’s all the changes there are.”
By the afternoon, Rauner’s office issued a press release announcing his General Counsel was also leaving. Throughout the day, Rauner blamed his staff for the Illinois Policy Institute cartoon headache and declared the staffers who were leaving were “not a good fit.” At no time did Rauner take any responsibility himself for the fallout. And this morning did not start any better - The Quad City Times Editorial Board called Rauner’s administration “on the brink of collapse.”
Failing administration. Staff purges. Conspiratorial view of enemies. Blatant untruths. And a lack of personal responsibility. That could describe someone else’s week. Strange how they both have the same disapproval rate in Illinois.
“Governor Bruce Rauner’s operation is falling apart at the seams,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “At no point this week did Rauner show an ounce of the executive leadership he touted in 2014 or the moral leadership required to lead the state. Rauner’s accelerating staff purges and inability to take any responsibility is confirming voters’ impression of him as failed leader. Illinois families are worse-off under Bruce Rauner’s flailing administration.”
* Yesterday, I posted a little piece about JB Pritzker giving away free sunglasses to supporters. Some wondered where the shades were manufactured (China was mentioned) and if they were made by union labor. The topic came up again today on an unrelated post.
So, I asked the Pritzker campaign. They said the sunglasses are made in the US of A by union labor. The glasses even have a union “bug” on them, I was told.
* The Quad City Times editorial appears to have been written before the school funding reform deal was announced…
Bruce Rauner’s administration is on the brink of collapse. Only a deft hand, which Rauner has struggled to produce, can jerk it from the ledge on which it teeters. […]
The past five weeks haven’t gone well.
Nor have the past two and a half years. And, here, is the real threat to Rauner’s political capital and retention of his seat in 2018. Basically nothing of value was accomplished after more than two years of budgetary strife. All those systemic failings Rauner correctly identified remain in place. His messaging — commingling re-election politicking with policy — has undermined any ability to actually make deals with General Assembly Democrats. Republicans in the Legislature are, again, under pressure to break from him on the school funding issue and override his veto.
Wednesday night’s staff shakeup is just another opening for his political opponents. It’s just another excuse for his Democratic gubernatorial challengers to tee off. It’s just another signal of an administration that, after years, just hasn’t been able to gain traction.
Rauner’s general analysis of that which ills Illinois wasn’t incorrect. But his inability to win the argument dogs him. It began with a short-sighted attempt to create right to work zones as soon as he entered office, immediately souring any future relationship with unions. It became more obvious as each piece of his “Turn Around Agenda” fell away. Desperation oozed this summer as Rauner pounded on General Assembly Democrats in stops throughout he state, only to ultimately lose the budget battle because he lost members of his own party.
Bruce Rauner’s administration has been on the brink for weeks now. But, on Wednesday, it became incredibly clear that he has no idea how to salvage it.
* The Question: Assuming it becomes law, do you think Gov. Rauner has saved his political life by agreeing to an education funding reform deal, or is it too late? Click here to take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
ICYMI: “4 Top Legislative Leaders, Rauner Reach ‘Historic’ School Funding Reform”
Plan Includes School Choice, Proves Bipartisanship Still Possible
Yesterday, Governor Rauner, House and Senate Republicans, and House and Senate Democrats announced a compromise plan to pass historic education funding reform.
It proves that bipartisanship is still possible in Illinois.
And thanks to strong negotiations led by House GOP Leader Jim Durkin and Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady, Illinois is now poised to have a school choice program for the first time – something the Chicago Teachers Union is not happy about.
The Illinois Republican House and Senate announced Thursday that the four top legislative leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner have reached a “historic” school funding reform.
The governor’s office released a statement, saying, “Governor Rauner applauds the four leaders in coming to a consensus on historic school funding reform that reflects the work of the School Funding Reform Commission. He thanks them for their leadership and looks forward to the coming days when the legislation is passed by both chambers.”
Daily Herald: State leaders say they’ve got a deal on school funding reform
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that one source said a scholarship program to provide tuition help for parents of children in private schools, through vouchers, was part of the deal. Cardinal Blase Cupich and other religious leaders had lobbied hard for the tax credits — $75 million for donors to the pilot program — long sought by parochial schools.
A separate GOP source with knowledge of the negotiations said that Chicago got nearly everything it sought in exchange for nothing leaders had not already conceded.
And the final package includes none of the collective bargaining changes Rauner wanted.
Rauner appears to have caved under pressure from the House GOP caucus to avoid another disaster like the budget override, the GOP source said.
So, the governor got rolled, but still took a win.
* Eric Zorn might learn from the governor. Zorn penned a column late yesterday which blasted the tax credit proposal for private school tuition programs…
In a statement issued Thursday, Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin said, “In an age where accountability means everything — where standards are being implemented to ensure students are being taught what they need to succeed in life — why would Illinois take public money and give it to private schools that have no accountability?”
Why?
Because too many lawmakers, including some Democrats, have either given up on the idea of public education, are secretly fond of the idea that taxpayers should support religious indoctrination or are under the delusion that competition for scarce resources will magically make public schools better.
But neither joy nor heartbreak have evidently altered the governor’s enthusiasm for brinkmanship. He’s now threatening to veto key elements of an education funding bill — a bill that gave him 90 percent of what he wanted, according to his education chief — because he feels it’s too generous to the teetering Chicago Public Schools. […]
Yes, crisis creates opportunity. That’s no special trick. All disasters do. Crisis also creates suffering, which those seeking to exploit it should never forget.
It’s a $75 million tax credit. That’s pocket change in the broad scheme of education funding. Take the overall win.
* Yesterday, Dan Proft said this about Gov. Rauner on his radio show…
“If you can’t stand up for yourself, if you can’t lean into criticism and push back, if you’re too busy etch-a-sketching and reinventing yourself every time a snarky tweet is directed towards you, then you’re going to get run over.”
* So, I asked Proft about his comment last night. I agree that Rauner too often allows others to get up in his head. But why would Proft denounce and threaten primary opponents against Republican Reps. Tom Demmer and Grant Wehrli - who always vote “right” - over a couple of tweets about a cartoon? His response via text message…
First, Wehrli doesn’t vote “right” and even when he does it’s often not without drama. Second, and more importantly, the charge of racism in these times and in the present context is a lot more than “snarky” and the communication channel through which it’s made is irrelevant.
My response was precisely the opposite of reinventing or etch-a-sketching based on a tweet, wasn’t it? When race hustlers and identity politics simps try their smear tactics with me I raise their profile so everyone can see that bulljive shoved right back up their hind quarters.
One additional point: Dem pols, Chicago/Springfield govt press corps have been trying to keep this phony story alive for a week and Demmer, Wehrli helped them do it while also allowing the claim of “bipartisan” outrage to be bandied about, didn’t they?
* Meanwhile, the Illinois Policy Institute did its best to keep the cartoon story alive today by issuing this press release…
Pastor Corey Brooks: Statement on behalf of Illinois Policy Institute cartoon
“Racism is all too real for thousands of members of my congregation and community in Woodlawn. We have struggled to bring good job opportunities close to home. We have struggled with a justice system that too often puts punishment over rehabilitation. And for decades, we have struggled to provide quality educational opportunities for our children.
“Most of all, we have struggled to provide hope. And the reaction to the Illinois Policy Institute’s editorial cartoon from a small group of lawmakers in Chicago is not reason for me to hope.
“Instead of fighting against injustice and inequity in our education funding system, our lawmakers have decided to slander the Illinois Policy Institute with accusations of racism and bigotry.
“Witnessing the Institute’s work on behalf of our community, those accusations could not be further from the truth. But sadly it’s not surprising to me that politicians have made them so carelessly.
“The cartoon speaks to a dangerous truth about the nature of TIF slush funds and how they affect our children. And speaking truth to power is not tolerated in Chicago. Especially when that truth shines a spotlight on how politicians have failed our city’s black community.
“I do not agree with all of the policy solutions proposed by the Illinois Policy Institute. But I do know that they are deeply invested in the future of Chicago children. Instead of dividing us with false charges of racism, lawmakers should be working together with groups like the Illinois Policy Institute toward TIF reform that keeps more money in the classroom for our kids.”
* Finke has a good piece today about Rauner’s latest staff shakeup. Here’s one part…
Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, one of the negotiators on school funding reform, said there is cause for concern as Rauner and state legislators head into the 2018 election campaign.
“We have approached the period where we’d like to see a first-term governor hitting his stride,” Barickman said. “Significant turnovers is obviously not that. That politically causes concerns. On issues of policy, having a strong and effective governor is clearly important to advancing a Republican agenda.” […]
Rauner ran as an outsider to Illinois politics and first brought in senior staff more familiar with Washington than Illinois, Barickman said.
“Illinois politics is its own breed,” he said. “I think he could benefit from some senior staff who have established relationships with the legislative branch.”
* There’s real worry out there about going into 2018 with an unstable team at the top, and for good reason…
Some political experts say the Rauner Administration is beginning to reflect President Trump’s hiring and firing frenzy in the White House.
More is at issue for Rauner besides the cartoon. His abrupt move to drop his new communications team reflected longer-term high-stakes concerns over his political future.
Left without many big first-term accomplishments following a long-running budget stalemate in which Democrats blocked his economic agenda, the Republican governor finds himself once again attempting to readjust politically.
Rauner first began the recalibration last month following a stinging and embarrassing defeat when Democrats, joined by some Republicans, enacted a state budget and tax-hike package over his veto — effectively ending the stalemate that kept Illinois without a full-year spending plan that devastated social services and threatened to sink the state’s credit rating to junk status.
Except the veto override was being viewed at the time as a “win” for Rauner because he got the revenues from a tax hike along with the favorable political issue of his veto. The governor turned that win into a loss by acting like it was a loss and clearing out his top staff.
But now Rauner must find a new messaging team — positions that may be difficult to recruit for, given the turnover.
* Adding to the problem is that the governor himself is just not believable…
While multiple sources said exits of high-level staffers are also on the way, Rauner on Thursday morning told reporters that the communications team resignations are the only exits, for now.
“We’ve announced some changes in the communications department and that’s all the change there are,” the governor said.
Yet by 6:15 p.m. his administration released a statement announcing the departure of Murashko, saying the top legal counsel was leaving for the private sector.
And if his chief of staff steps down later today or within the next two weeks as rumored, he will have again undercut his claims yesterday.
News of the exits spread throughout the political realm on Wednesday night. One senior Republican operative called the ousting a sign the governor has realized he made a “mistake.”
“The governor and First Lady have finally admitted they made a colossal mistake in hiring these right wing ideologues,” the operative said. “One can only hope for the sake of our state government they will make better choices in the future.”
Republicans said they had reached an “agreement in principle” on a school funding measure. Democrats said they had reached an “agreement in concept.”
The bill, however, is still being drafted, and details were closely held.
It was against that backdrop that Mayor Emanuel offered this observation during a hastily called City Hall news conference late Thursday afternoon: “You’re never done until it’s done.”
And while it’s being cheered by lawmakers on both side of the political aisle, the Chicago Teachers Unions said its essentially calls it a reverse robin hood scheme.
CTU said the deal rips off the public schools by funnelling at least $75 million a year towards vouchers. […]
CTU leaders say it’s reliance on vouchers siphons money from poor districts and allows the rich to avoid paying their fair share in taxes.
“We see vouchers as a problem because its going to rob the money that the same black and brown kids, both Rahm Emanuel and Bruce Rauner talk about saving,” said Stacy Davis Gates, CTU Political and Legislative Director. “It’s going to rob them of those very valuable funds.”
The CTU said vouchers are aimed at the heart of public education and amount to stealing from black and brown children.
* And here’s GOP Rep. David McSweeney’s press release this morning…
The “compromise” education formula deal appears to be a total capitulation by the Governor. I now understand why Mayor Emanuel is so happy. It appears that CPS could get even more money than under SB 1 and the state will spend about $7.5 billion more on education over the next ten years without real reforms that cut school administrative costs and encourage consolidation. While I support the scholarship tax credits, overall this is a bad deal for taxpayers that will set up immediate pressure for another harmful tax hike.
Today, Daniel Biss announced the endorsement of former Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon.
“Daniel gets things done—that’s why I’m endorsing him for governor” said Sheila Simon. “Daniel hasn’t been stopped by political logjams or by criticism from some members of his own party. Daniel finds new ways to solve old problems and encourages all of us to fight for what we believe in. From introducing a constitutional amendment to create a progressive income tax to fighting for a more just school funding system, Daniel is a leader.”
“It’s an honor to receive Sheila’s endorsement today,” said Daniel Biss. “Every time we’ve worked together, I’ve admired Sheila’s authenticity. In a political environment increasingly marked by blind adherence to party leadership, and in which party leadership is increasingly disconnected from a grassroots base, Sheila always puts people above politics.
“As lieutenant governor, Sheila’s innovative approach to public policy pushed our laws to match our priorities—like funding domestic violence shelters, establishing election contribution limits, and improving graduation rates at community colleges. Instead of looking over her shoulder to see what everyone else is doing, she considers the gap between our state’s potential and its reality and creates new solutions to bring about that vision. It’s been a pleasure to work with Sheila throughout my time in the legislature, and I could not be more excited to have her support in this race.”
* Meanwhile…
The Ameya Pawar for Governor campaign today launched the New Deal Journal on its campaign website. The new content hub will serve as a means for Pawar’s campaign to share insights into issues and policy, volunteer profiles, news, and dispatches from the trail directly with the people of Illinois.
“A lot happens on a statewide campaign,” explains Pawar. “As I’ve traveled more than 8,0000 miles across the state, speaking with voters from Rockford to Cairo, and from Rock Island to Chicago, it’s clear people want to get involved with our people-powered campaign in many different ways. The New Deal Journal provides a new platform where voters can follow the campaign in a way they may not have been able to before. I’m looking forward to sharing some of my experiences on the trail and reading the stories from some of the thousands of volunteers who, like me, believe that we are one Illinois, and that when we lift one community up, we all get lifted.”
Declining to offer specifics on the deal “out of respect for leaders in the legislative process,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the state is “finally being fair.”
Asked if the deal in principle would net CPS the same benefits as the original bill Rauner used his amendatory veto on, Emanuel said: “That, and more.”
Asked if the tentative deal included all the funding increases for CPS that were in the original Democratic bill, Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded, “That and more.”
I’m hearing the same thing through the grapevine.
* So we go through all that turmoil and CPS apparently gets what it wanted anyway?
* So after decrying the “false rumors” about staff exits earlier today and telling his own staff that rumors about Dennis Murashko leaving were false, his general counsel did, in fact, resign. From the governor’s office…
General Counsel Dennis Murashko will leave the Administration at the end of August to pursue opportunities in the private sector. As part of the legal team’s succession planning, Kenton Skarin will assume the role of Acting General Counsel to the Governor. He currently is serving as the Governor’s Deputy General Counsel and is responsible for managing all aspects of legal operations within the Administration.
“One of the most talented and creative lawyers, Dennis has been my trusted senior adviser for almost three years, and I have always valued his good counsel,” Gov. Rauner said. “On behalf of the residents of our great state, I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Before assuming a role in the Administration, Kenton worked in the Issues and Appeals Practice of Jones Day’s Chicago Office. There, he practiced complex litigation and appeals in trial and appellate courts in Illinois and across the country. Kenton also previously served as law clerk to the Honorable Justice Clarence Thomas on the United States Supreme Court and to Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. Kenton graduated first in his class from Northwestern University School of Law and summa cum laude from North Central College in Naperville. He is a lifelong resident of Illinois.
*** UPDATE *** From this morning’s press conference…
REPORTER: “Are you keeping your chief of staff?”
RAUNER: “We announced some changes in the communications department, and that’s all the changes there are.”
* No details yet, but unless there’s some last-second glitch I’m told an announcement is coming momentarily from the leaders. Stay tuned.
While we wait, I should note that I told subscribers yesterday that reaching an agreement was “all on” House GOP Leader Jim Durkin’s shoulders. He obviously needed a deal to prevent yet another member revolt, but he had the unenviable task of convincing Gov. Rauner to go along. That’s never easy. So, kudos.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Joint Statement from House and Senate GOP Leaders on School Funding Reform
Chicago, IL - House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and Senate Republican Leader-designee Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) today released the following statement on school funding reform negotiations:
“This afternoon the four legislative leaders and the governor reached an agreement in principle on historic school funding reform. Language will be drafted and details of the agreement released once the drafts have been reviewed. The leaders will reconvene in Springfield on Sunday in anticipation of House action on Monday.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
Statement from Democratic leaders on school funding negotiations
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan
Senate President John J. Cullerton
“The legislative leaders appear to have reached a bipartisan agreement in concept and will meet again on Sunday in Springfield. The Illinois House is expected to be in session on Monday at 4:30 p.m.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release…
The following statement can be attributed to the Governor’s Office:
“Governor Rauner applauds the four leaders in coming to a consensus on historic school funding reform that reflects the work of the School Funding Reform Commission. He thanks them for their leadership and looks forward to the coming days when the legislation is passed by both chambers.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Andy Manar…
“I am encouraged that the legislative leaders appear to have reached an agreement in concept on school funding reform. As many have reiterated time and again for years on end, the inequities that deepen with each passing day in our public schools are a horrible stain on our great state. The status quo is unjust and immoral. Our goal is simple: create a system that is both adequate and equitable for all children. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this job done.”
* The Illinois Business Immigration Coalition has a pretty good summation of the TRUST Act bill. And since there’s so much opposition from people who don’t know what’s actually in it, I thought I’d share part of their press release with you…
Trust ACT SB 31 is a ” very reasonable” bill, as Governor Rauner said on Friday, August 18 on WBEZ’s morning shift program. It has the backing of business leaders and support from some big names in state law enforcement like Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. Trust Act will make our communities safer and our economy stronger.
SB 31 was negotiated from 40 pages down to 2 pages, see the actual language SB 31 (and amended by HA#3) HERE. These changes and amendment have led to some confusion about what SB 31, as approved, does and does not do.
SB 31 was negotiated with law enforcement and immigrant advocates, with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in support, and the Illinois Sheriffs Association neutral and prominent law enforcement officials, such as sheriffs Tom Dart (D-Cook County) and Mark Curran (R-Lake County) actively in support.
What IS in TRUST ACT SB 31-HA#3 See the actual language HERE
1) State and local police would not arrest or hold a person based solely on immigration status.
2) State and local police honor ICE detainers sanctioned by a judge.
3) State and local police are allowed to communicate with federal agents, and fully compliant with federal statutory requirements.
What is NOT in TRUST ACT SB 31-HA #3 See the actual language HERE
1) SB 31 does NOT create “safe” zones such as hospitals and schools
2) SB 31 does NOT create “sanctuary” state or municipalities
3) SB 31 does NOT prohibit law enforcement communications with federal agents
WHY TRUST ACT SB 31 is a Good Step Forward for Illinois
1) The core duty of local police is community safety, not federal immigration enforcement. Immigrants are more likely to report crimes and come forward as witnesses to crimes when they are not afraid. Trust Act SB 31 promotes trust between immigrants and local police which strengthens community safety for all Illinois residents.
2) Reduce unnecessary disruption to the workforce - our economy depends on immigrants as workers, business owners and entrepreneurs. Efforts to repair our broken immigration system have been stalled in Congress for well over a decade, with no resolution in sight. That’s the reality that makes the Trust Act a smart move for Illinois.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart
Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
Melrose Park Chief of Police Sam C Pitassi
Stone Park Chief of Police Christopher P. Pavini
Franklin Park Chief of Police Michael Witz
Chicago Heights Chief of Police Tom Rogers
Elgin Chief of Police Jeffrey Swoboda
Berwyn Chief of Police Michael D. Cimaglia
Elmwood Park Chief of Police Frank Fagiano
Evanston Police Chief Richard Eddington
*** UPDATE *** From the Welcoming Illinois Campaign…
Hey Rich, we thought you’d also like to have the list of over 80 organizations that make up the Welcoming Illinois Campaign, which actually wrote SB31, negotiated with law enforcement and legislators, and successfully passed it this spring by working closely with Senate President Cullerton, Rep. Chris Welch, and Rep. Lisa Hernandez. This began and will end as a community driven victory.
Here’s the list:
Access Living
ACLU Illinois
Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE)
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Greater Chicago Chapter
Apna Ghar Inc.
Arab American Action Network
Arab American Family Services
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
Casa Michoacan – FEDECMI
Centro Romero
Centro Trabajadores Unidos
Champaign Urbana Immigration Forum
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Irish Immigrant Support
Chicago Legal Clinic
Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network
Chicago Religious Leadership Network
Chicago Teacher’s Union
Chinese Mutual Aid Association
Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community
Communities United
Community of Congregations
Council on American Islamic Relations - Chicago
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
Chicago Teachers Union
Enlace Chicago
Erie Neighborhood House
Faith Coalition for the Common Good
Family Focus Aurora
Famil Federacion de Hidalguenses en Illinois
Fedenaymo Nayaritas at Midwest
Federacion Internacional de Morelenses
Fight For $15
Gamaliel of IL/Iowa
Gamaliel of Metro Chicago
Grassroots Collaborative
Hamdard Center
Hana Center
Hanul Family Alliance
Healing to Action
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
Illinois AFL-CIO
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Illinois People’s Action
Illinois Women’s March
Indo-American Center
Instituto del Progreso Latino
Interfaith Leadership Project
Jobs With Justice
Latino Organization of the South
Latino Policy Forum
Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
Mano a Mano
Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Mujeres Latinas En Accion
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Illinois Chapter
Northern Alliance for Immigrants
Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
North Suburban Teachers Union
Northwest Suburban Organizing for Action
Pan Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition
PASO West Suburban Action Project
Peoria No Ban No Wall
Planned Parenthood Illinois
Project Irene
Quad Cities Interfaith
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
SEIU Local 1
SEIU HCII
Southern Illinois Immigrant Rights Project
Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)
Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project (SSIP)
Syrian Community Network
The Resurrection Project
The Young Center of the University of Chicago
United African Organization
United Congregations of Metro East
United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations
UNITE HERE Local 1
The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees this week reduced the State of Illinois’ annual funding contribution to the System for fiscal year 2018 by $530.8 million; reluctantly adhering to a new law that changes the statutory pension funding formula.
The revised state contribution for TRS is now $4.034 billion. The previous FY 2018 contribution, certified by the TRS Board last October, was $4.564 billion.
“The changes enacted this year in the pension funding formula move TRS further away from financial stability and continue to kick the can down the road. Period,” said Dick Ingram, executive director of TRS. “Cutting the state’s contribution only increases our concern that TRS will eventually become insolvent.”
Ingram added that the System’s $71 billion unfunded liability – one of the largest in the country – is a direct result of decades of underfunding by state government. In FY 2018, the state’s contribution will fall $2.839 billion short of what the System’s actuaries say is “full funding” for the year, or $6.873 billion.
“For every dollar that the state cuts from the TRS contribution now, they will have to spend $3 down the road to replace that revenue because of the interest costs,” he said. “A $530 million funding cut today just puts off the inevitable and will create a payment of $1.6 billion in the future.”
A new state law approved in July by the General Assembly changed the pension funding formula in two significant ways that reduce the state’s allocation to the System:
TRS must retroactively “smooth” the fiscal effect of any changes made in the TRS assumed rate of investment return over a period of five years. The “smoothing” applies to any assumption changes from 2012 on.
Local school districts will pay more of the cost of a member’s pension if that member’s salary is equal to or greater than the governor’s statutory salary of $177,412. The district will be responsible for paying the actuarial cost of the benefits earned on the portion of the member’s salary that exceeds $177,412.
The new state contribution does not include any potential cost savings from the creation in July of the Tier III “hybrid” retirement plan because Tier III is still being developed. When Tier III will be implemented will be decided by the Board at a future meeting.
The TRS Board is required each year to certify the state’s annual contribution to the System for the next fiscal year. That contribution is reviewed by the State Actuary before it is included in the state budget for the upcoming year.
For lawmakers, that means they had an additional $500 million to spread around on school spending and other popular items. But for TRS, as Ingram summaries, “For every dollar that the state cuts from the TRS contribution now, they will have to spend $3 down the road to replace that revenue because of the interest costs,” he said. “A $530 million funding cut today just puts off the inevitable.”
Now, some of you may be inclined to blame those no-good union-loving Democrats, since the measure involved was enacted after a heavily-Democratic supermajority overrode Rauner’s veto of the bill involved. Blame away.
But if you check a little further, you’ll discover, as multiple GOP sources confirm, that Rauner proposed just such a stunt himself in his budget. I guess ducking tough decisions so you can eat your dessert not is a bipartisan endeavor.
And beyond that, guess who else proposed doing such a thing in its plan to curb state spending? Answer: the Illinois Policy Institute, the libertarian outfit that by some accounts has taken control of much of Rauner’s administration. In its 2018 plan (see Section B, last bullet of the second series), IPI says its plan “phases in the costs of any pension funds’ actuarial changes over a five-year period. This will reduce the required $800 million increase in state contributions (for TRS and other pension funds) by nearly $650 million in 2018.”
Clunk. Listen closely and you’ll hear the sweet sound of providing taxpayers relief today by kicking that ol’ can down the road to deal with tomorrow.
* Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) has been an outspoken critic of the Illinois Policy Institute during the cartoon controversy. Ford was at an event today with Gov. Rauner and things were going pretty well at first…
Rep. La Shawn Ford asked Gov whether he'll apologize to black community over cartoon; said he's not apologizing for something he didn't do. pic.twitter.com/UXM6jCXKRz
Landmark juvenile justice reform legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Bruce Rauner will clear roadblocks to success for tens of thousands of Illinoisans whose youthful mistakes have restricted access to education, jobs, and housing.
House Bill 3817 strengthens confidentiality protections against the sharing of juvenile records and expands the number of juvenile records eligible for automatic expungement. The new system of erasing past mistakes and protecting public safety is similar to an American Bar Association model statute and implements most of the recommendations of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission’s 2016 report “Burdened for Life: The Myth of Juvenile Record Confidentiality and Expungement in Illinois.”
“As one of the first juvenile justice systems in America, the Illinois system was built on the principle that mistakes made by children should not brand them for life,” said Paula Wolff, Director of the Illinois Justice Project. “However, confidentiality protections eroded over time, and a complicated and expensive expungement system has made record clearing uncommon, rather than the norm.”
“Loose confidentiality laws and arrest records that follow kids for life make it extremely difficult for youth to overcome their mistakes – can cause families to become homeless, can stall or end a youth’s education and can make every road to a job a dead end,” said Julie L. Biehl, Director of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. “This broken system has made our neighborhoods less safe, but this new, balanced law will eliminate some of the burdens for young people attempting to leave their past behind them and lead productive lives.”
The Illinois Justice Project commended the HB 3817 sponsors, Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, and Sen. Michael E. Hastings, D-Tinley Park, as well as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who championed these reforms and was a strong advocate of the reforms.
* JB Pritzker is fully self-funding his campaign. So, instead of asking for small-dollar contributions to boost his e-mail contact list (as well as mailing addresses and mobile phone numbers for further outreach and volunteer recruitment), he’s now giving out free swag…
Hey there–
Summer’s almost over, but you can still show your support for JB today with a pair of free JB sunglasses!
This has been a big summer for our campaign—we’ve rolled out plans for healthcare and early childhood education, marched in a ton of awesome parades, and announced our amazing Lieutenant Governor candidate, Juliana Stratton—and we’re just getting started.
We want to thank you for continuing to support us on this journey.
Tell us where to send your JB sunglasses – and we’ll get them to you as soon as we can!
Thanks for everything,
JBPritzker.com
P.S. Nothing’s holding you back from passing this along to friends and family in Illinois so they can get some matching shades!
Maybe they shoulda handed out free eclipse glasses last week. Also, click here if you didn’t understand the headline.
Top lawmakers are discussing giving CPS the authority to raise its property tax levy above a state cap, which limits an increase to 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. The state granted similar power last year, paving the way for a $250 million tax increase to boost contributions to the pension fund for CPS teachers.
The state also would pick up much more of CPS teacher pension costs, which now top more than $700 million per year. Illinois already covers pension costs for school districts outside the city. However, that change might not be written into the school code but instead included with laws governing the state’s retirement systems — reflecting a change Rauner wanted.
Meanwhile, voters in school districts with a surplus of education money may be allowed to determine via a referendum if they want to cut property taxes. This would apply predominately to communities in the suburbs and collar counties, and a decrease would likely be limited to no more than 10 percent.
Another possible change would require the property value in any new TIF districts to be counted toward a school district’s ability to generate property taxes. It’s a nod to a change pushed by Rauner, who has argued that Chicago is using a large number of TIF districts to hide property wealth and is therefore getting more than its fair share of state money.
The head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce says the state has a real shot at luring a huge new Toyota plant here, believe it or not.
In an interview, chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch confirmed talk that the automaker, in partnership with another Japanese car manufacturer, Mazda, has “really zeroed in” on a site in Rochelle, which is near Rockford in northwest Illinois. And the odds of winning are significantly greater than they were with Foxconn, which considered Illinois for a massive new electronics plant that appears to be headed to southern Wisconsin.
“The Toyota thing is much more real than Foxconn,” said Maisch, whose group is well connected with the Rauner administration, which has taken the lead in efforts to win the Toyota plant. “I believe we still are in play.”
Toyota and Mazda have said the plant would cost $1.6 billion and employ up to 4,000 workers. The companies are known to have been pitched other Illinois locations, including near Ford’s South Side Torrence Avenue factory, but the companies want at least 800 acres. “That means they need a greenfield location,” Maisch said, ruling out the South Side.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Intersect Illinois, the state’s economic development organization, have said almost nothing about the Toyota hunt, not wanting to risk offending the often secretive automaker. But Rauner recently disclosed that he’ll soon be headed to Asia, specifically to China and Japan, which would give him a chance to make a personal pitch to top company officials.
Remember how Gov. Pat Quinn used the dramatic annoucement of the Ford plant expansion during horrible economic times to defeat Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary? If Rauner can land that Toyota plant, he’ll finally have something positive and concrete to show for his term in office. Go get it, dude.
After years of starving the education system in Illinois, many people came together in an unprecedented way to pass an education funding reform bill that helps provide “adequate and equitable” funding throughout the state.
Illinois has been ranked, for years, 50th among all states in funding our children’s future. Senate Bill 1 will change that. But in an effort to get enough votes to get SB 1 passed, it is being proposed that the state fund a tax credit (voucher) program.
“It’s a bitter irony that, to get the governor to do the right thing on school funding, the General Assembly is being pressured to do the wrong thing and pass a voucher program,” said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association.
“A voucher program is the wrong thing because it reduces money available to educate children in public schools, because private schools are not accountable for how they spend public dollars and because there is no advantage for the children this proposal is, allegedly, intended to help.”
In an age where accountability means everything – where standards are being implemented to ensure students are being taught what they need to succeed in life – why would Illinois take public money and give it to private schools that have no accountability?
“The voucher scheme is essentially a ransom payment that is being demanded in order to get fair funding for public school children statewide. It’s wrong,” Griffin said. “If we are really interested in helping children, the obvious thing to do is support existing schools. We oppose this voucher scheme.”
Again, and with feeling this time. It’s not a voucher program. The MAP grant program is much more akin to a voucher system. The state gives money to colleges (public and private) based on awards to individual students who apply and qualify financially.
This is not that. It’s an income tax credit for individual donations to private schools (and even public schools for out-of-district tuition assistance). There’s a big difference. The state doesn’t hand you or your kid’s school a voucher, and you won’t get a tax credit when you pay your own kid’s tuition, either. You have to donate to the school’s scholarship fund to qualify for the credit and then that school hands out the awards under certain state guidelines.
* Anyway, the IEA is also asking members to contact legislators and urge them to oppose the proposal. And some Downstate legislators in both parties are starting to feel heat on this topic as we ramp up to next week’s House action.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
The Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE), a unit of the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE) opposes all publicly funded subsidies of private education such as private school voucher programs (including tax credits, taxpayer savings grants/scholarships, and portability) for all students, including students with disabilities, as they are contrary to the best interests of students and their families, the public school system, local communities, and taxpayers. Public education is essential to provide equitable opportunities and positive educational outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. IAASE opposes public subsidy of private education for the following reasons:
• Students with disabilities do not have equal access to private schools. Mission-based entrance policies which describe students who “match” a private school’s mission are often discriminatory against students with disabilities. There is evidence of discriminatory practice within this context based on race, disability, and socioeconomic status. Any organization receiving public funding must offer equal access to their programs.
• Private schools significantly lack accountability. As such, the measures so critical to considering school success are missing from private education. Standardized assessment, student achievement targets, funding oversight, reporting requirements regarding discipline, oversight on least restrictive environment, transition outcomes, discipline, disproportionality, maintenance of effort, evaluation timelines, special education teacher certification requirements, incidents of restraint and seclusion and other essential oversight required of the public school systems are necessary to ensure equitable access for students with disabilities.
• Students with disabilities and their families are not guaranteed basic due process rights afforded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) when they enter private schools. If parents make a unilateral decision to enroll their child in a private school, the right to an individualized education program (IEP), special education and related services, mediation, dispute resolution and other due process rights are not available. Therefore, participation in the educational program is limited for students with disabilities in private schools.
• Subsidizing private schools with public funds does irreparable harm to public schools. Access to equitable public opportunities and positive educational outcomes are based on a strong state and federal investment in public education. Use of public dollars to pay for private education decreases the funding available to ensure a strong public school system which is essential to quality educational opportunities for students with disabilities. A parallel system of education publicly funded in the private sector is unsustainable for taxpayers and harmful to students with disabilities.
For these reasons, IAASE calls upon the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois State Senate to oppose any statutory or administrative change that promotes public subsidy to private education, such as vouchers, scholarships, voucher-like programs and/or tax credits.
Several downstate school superintendents Wednesday said lawmakers still need to move quickly to enact a revised school aid formula to ensure state education money is soon distributed to schools.
The superintendents spoke at a Statehouse news conference after House Speaker Michael Madigan canceled a scheduled vote on overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a school funding reform bill.
“Currently we have $7 billion sitting in the budget that can’t be distributed until we have a (revised funding formula),” said Edwin Shoemate, superintendent of the Cobden school district in far southern Illinois. “We have missed two checks for general state aid and our third check is now in jeopardy. We have reached an urgent point where something has to be done and done quickly.”
“We have enough money to make it through September, but we will not make it through October without any state aid,” said Chuck Lane, superintendent of the Centralia High School district.
* S&P…
The state of Illinois’ failure to reach an agreement regarding a new state funding formula for school districts has caused the state to miss its first two general state-aid payments for the fiscal 2018 school year. S&P Global Ratings believes that the fiscal outlook for many Illinois school districts–which are already pressured due to years of state underfunding and late payments–will likely worsen significantly should the state fail to reach a new funding formula agreement, distribute the missed payments, and submit timely future payments to districts. Without the resolution of this impasse, significant downward pressure on certain Illinois school district ratings will likely remain, especially for districts with weak reserves, weak liquidity, and greater reliance on state aid.
For certain districts, continued disruption of these payments will likely lead to significant budgetary imbalances and a resulting use of reserves, which will likely further pressure districts with already thin reserves. To address the current payment disruptions, many districts will need to make significant expenditure reductions. School districts in Illinois have the ability to use their working cash fund to assist with liquidity and can issue working cash bonds to help offset delayed state-aid payments, if they have the capacity. While these methods may provide a temporary measure of fiscal relief for certain districts, the longer the funding formula stalemate, the greater the possibility for significant fiscal pressure and downgrades on affected ratings in this sector. Alternatively, should a funding formula agreement be reached that provides greater state-aid clarity, is commensurate with most districts’ financial needs, and is fully appropriated by the state, long-term stability could return to the sector. We will continue to monitor these developments, including the timely disbursement of state-aid payments (should an agreement be reached), due to potential future liquidity stresses at the state level. In addition, we will examine each district on a case-by-case basis to review the effect of these issues on credit quality. In the meantime, many Illinois school districts will need to continue to adjust to these mounting fiscal pressures in order to avoid falling deeper into a fiscal hole. Further, we believe the response from each district’s management will be critical in maintaining credit quality, although the options are somewhat limited for many districts.
* The governor was right when he said his newly departed staffers weren’t a good fit for his administration. Despite all the problems, I don’t think they’re bad people or even incompetent. They just weren’t cut out for their government jobs. At all. So, I do hope they all find safe landings somewhere…
Illinois Policy Institute says they have no comment on whether they plan to hire former staffers back after resignations from Rauner admin
We had a long debate when Rod Blagojevich was governor about whether he was getting bad advice and being ill-served or whether the fault was mainly his. He eventually answered that question.
* Meanwhile…
Governor's official statement did not list these reported exits. I'm told a search for new Chief of Staff is underway. https://t.co/hMHQmDf1lg
Rauner said talk of departures by his current chief of staff, Kristina Rasmussen, and chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko were just “rumors.” The source said Rasmussen also was on the call and told staff she “couldn’t wait to see all of their smiling faces.”
We’ll soon find out.
* Some Republicans have been privately expressing reservations about running with Rauner for over a month. I’m sure it’s worse now, though…
Several Republicans running for office in 2018 are expressing doubts about running with @GovRauner citing months of unforced errors.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner held a conference call with staff members Thursday morning to announce the departure of his new communications team, saying they were “good people trying to do good work” but ended up being not a “good fit.”
According to one person who was on the call but who was not authorized to speak publicly about it, Rauner told aides “the intensity of the battle is going up” and he wanted to address the staffing rumors because he expected them to continue, the source said.
“The reality is in addition to the enemies on the other side of the aisle (Democrats), we have enemies in the media and enemies who should be on our side, some of them former members of the administration,” the source recounted Rauner as saying.
During a morning staff conference call, Rauner sought to dispel controversy over the exodus, according to a source with direct knowledge of the call. He called rumblings of the departures of his chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen and chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko “rumors.” And he confirmed the communications staffers’ exits, saying they were not a “good fit.”
And he pointed the finger at “enemies” — everyone from Democrats, media, bloggers and “people who shouldn’t be our enemies, including people who used to work for this administration.” Rauner, too, vowed to go on the offense against attacks on his administration.
The governor told staffers his team would “fight every rumor and innuendo diligently,” calling them “disgusting,” the source said. The governor said his administration would “stand together” and squash rumors in every possible way and said some were coming because he’s trying to challenge the “status quo.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed House Bill 418, which prevents retired police officers from opting into the pension system a second time if they return to the force as a police chief or join another municipality’s force.
This bill will protect taxpayers from situations in which police officers are collecting two pensions from the same pension fund — a problem known as “double dipping.” Police officers that are promoted to police chief or join a different force will enroll in 401(k)-style retirement plans instead of opting into the pension fund again.
“Illinois taxpayers can’t afford to pay the same person twice,”Gov. Rauner said. “This bill is an important step to help control Illinois’ unsustainable pension costs. It will protect taxpayers from pension fund abuse while still ensuring our police officers are fairly compensated for their service.”
The bill was sponsored by two Naperville Republicans after controversy over whether a Naperville police chief should be able to accrue new pension payments while simultaneously earning a salary of over $168,000 and collecting payments from his first pension.
“Illinois’ pension systems are in dire need of repair as our pension liabilities at both the state and local levels continue to rack up,” said Sen. Connelly (R-Naperville). “While I recognize that many changes need to occur within the current system, this law at least gets us going in the right direction.”
Democrat Ameya Pawar says that if elected Illinois governor, he would work to have Illinois rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day.
While the idea may sound somewhat new, the concept of Indigenous Peoples Day has been around for a while.
Vermont already has replaced the October federal holiday named for Christopher Columbus with Indigenous Peoples Day, as have the cities of Denver and Phoenix. Locally, Evanston recognized Indigenous Peoples Day last year.
“This is about acknowledging the contributions indigenous people have made to our country and celebrating the cultural history of Native Americans living in Illinois,” Pawar, Chicago’s 47th Ward alderman, said in a statement.
“It’s also about raising awareness of the inhumane treatment of Native Americans by European settlers who raided their land, ripped apart their families and nearly destroyed an entire race of people. In a state as diverse as Illinois, it serves us well to celebrate our history and our multicultural identity; and recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day is an important part of that.”
* Gov. Rauner has often tweeted about visiting Charlie Parker’s Diner in Springfield over the years, and now the former owner is thinking about running for the Illinois House. Bernie fills us in…
Sangamon County Republicans are asking people interested in running for the Illinois House seat now held by Rep. SARA WOJCICKI JIMENEZ, R-Leland Grove, for resumes by Sept. 1.
Jimenez announced last week she would not seek re-election in 2018. One person already showing interest in the 99th District job is MIKE MURPHY, the 63-year-old former owner of Charlie Parker’s Diner.
“I’ve been involved and interested in politics for a long time,” Murphy told me. “I have a philosophy of life (that) you try to make things better for the next generation. … Illinois was a powerhouse when I was a kid and growing up, and now we’re a long way from being a powerhouse.” […]
He and his wife, CINDY, who has been a teacher for more than 30 years, owned Charlie Parker’s — the Quonset hut with the cool display of records on the walls that has received visits from politicians including MITT ROMNEY and Gov. BRUCE RAUNER — from 2009 through their sale of the business in March. He’s now doing restaurant consulting. […]
He says he would have to know more before judging if Jimenez did the right thing by breaking with Rauner and voting for a state budget that included a tax increase. But he said the only way he would support more money to the state would be if there were “strict guidance on how that money is going to be used” to help get Illinois back to the “straight and narrow.”
“Strict guidance on how that money is going to be used.” Hmm. Like a decent state budget, perhaps?
The following is a statement on behalf of Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Caring Across Generations, and SEIU Healthcare Illinois in response to the withdrawal of rules that would have forced 36,000 vulnerable Illinois seniors out of the Community Care Program and into the unproven and untested Community Reinvestment Program:
“Our coalition welcomes news that the Department on Aging will be withdrawing their prior Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) rules from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), and we are ready to continue the work of building a stronger Community Care Program that will meet the needs of future aging Illinoisans while protecting their health, safety, and dignity.
“Our coalition has opposed the CRP rules since they first appeared in the Governor’s FY17 budget proposal and since then they have been rejected by advocates, seniors who stood to be impacted, caregivers, senior service providers, and by the General Assembly in their recent bipartisan budget vote. We want to thank state lawmakers who stood up for Illinois seniors throughout this process. We are especially grateful for the leadership of State Senator Dan Biss and State Representatives Greg Harris and Anna Moeller.
“As we have stated from day one, we are ready and willing to work with IDOA, the Rauner administration, and the new Community Care Program Services Task Force to strengthen the successful Community Care Program to utilize each taxpayer dollar as efficiently as possible while simultaneously enabling Illinoisans to age in our communities with the services and support they need.”
* The governor was not scheduled to take questions from reporters today, but to his credit he did. You can click here to watch.
Gov. Rauner said that Tuesday’s infamous “as a white male” press release was drafted by Diana Rickert and sent out by Laurel Patrick. Both of those folks have resigned.
* Gov. Rauner also revealed that he has seen the Illinois Policy Institute’s cartoon. “I can see why some people would be upset about it,” he said. Rauner then claimed that part of the reason he ran for governor was because he wanted a more “just system,” and pointed at the Chicago public schools as an example of something that needs to be fixed.
Rauner was asked if he thought the cartoon was racist. “I understand why some people are upset by it.” He then repeated that line when asked again.
When it was pointed out to him that the cartoon was published by an organization he has supported and is his “go-to” think tank, Rauner said: “I have not leaned on them as my go-to think tank. That is not an accurate statement… I do have a few folks in my administration who used to work there… A very tiny fraction of our administration is from that organization… In no regard does that organization speak for me.”
* Asked about all the recent turnover, Rauner said: “The work that we do for the people of Illinois is incredibly difficult” and stressful. He complained about “false rumors,” political attacks and online attacks that had to be dealt with. Getting people who are willing to do the jobs isn’t easy. “We’ll always work to have great people who are willing to do it,” he said.
Asked if the turmoil in his administration could undermine his ability to work with the General Assembly on education funding reform. “I disagree with the characterization of turmoil,” he said.
“A handful of people” have changed, he insisted and claimed that his “only frustration” is Speaker Madigan, who he said “sat on SB1″ for two months to create a crisis.
* “Yes or no, is the cartoon inappropriate?” he was asked at the end of his press conference. Another reporter asked, “It sounds like you agree with the message of the cartoon, is that correct?” Rauner talked extensively about Chicago’s TIF districts when speaking of his reaction to the cartoon. But the governor walked away without answering either question.
NOW HIRING: ENTIRE GUBERNATORIAL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Seeking Best Team in America…Take 2
JOB DESCRIPTION: The communications department is responsible for crafting effective “messaging” for the governor’s office. We are currently seeking candidates for entry level to senior positions following what some are calling a “Wednesday night massacre.” Prior team members have been unwilling to show a racist cartoon, compared abortion to Nazi eugenics, tweeted homophobic and sexist slurs, advocated for the firing of all state workers, and got into Twitter fights with reporters over spelling errors. Come on board!
Ideal applicants will have the ability to convince Illinois voters that going 736 days without a budget is good and school funding is bad. Candidates need not know how many votes it takes to pass legislation or amendatory vetoes. An ideal applicant will be a self-starter. At times, it may even feel like no one is in charge.
REQUIREMENTS: Extensive experience in radical, right-wing activism. Government experience optional. Leave your G’s at home.
DURATION: 37 days… perhaps.
ATTIRE: Steam-pressed plaid shirts and Carhartt jackets.
SALARY: Commensurate with lack of experience.
LOCATION: Springfield or under the nearest bus.
Please email resumes and cover letters to BestTeamInAmericaTake2@gmail.com.
CHICAGO (Aug. 24, 2017) – Diana Rickert, Laurel Patrick, Meghan Keenan and Brittany Carl have submitted their resignations to the Office of the Governor.
We are grateful for their hard work on behalf of the people of Illinois and wish them all the best going forward.
Elizabeth Tomev is acting communications director.
* We will have live video soon from BlueRoomstream.com of the first event, even though it says in his daily public schedule that he won’t take any questions…
Daily Public Schedule: Thursday, August 24, 2017
What: Gov. Rauner signs HB 418, protecting taxpayers from police pension fund abuse
Where: Naperville City Hall, 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2017
Time: 10 a.m.
Note: No additional media availability
What: Gov. Rauner signs series of criminal justice reform bills
Where: Safer Foundation North Lawndale Adult Transition Center, 2839 W. Fillmore St., Chicago
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2017
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Note: No additional media availability
*** UPDATE *** From the DGA…
Rauner’s Office in Disarray (Again) As He Struggles to Respond to a Cartoon
Prairie State Purge 2.0 – Rauner Fires Staff He Hired Just a Month Ago in Last Purge
Rauner Fires Top Staff in the Middle of Major Education Funding Fight
Last night, Governor Bruce Rauner commenced a staff purge targeting staffers he brought in just weeks ago, during his last purge. In early July, Bruce Rauner suffered an embarrassing defeat when a group of bipartisan lawmakers overrode his veto of the state’s first budget in two years. Rauner decided to clear house and 21 people were fired or resigned. He replaced much of his top aides with members of the right-wing think tank Illinois Policy Institute believing it could solve his communications problems.
It has not been a good month for Rauner’s new inexperienced staff:
The bodyman was hired and fired on the same day for homophobic and racist tweets;
A comms staffer had to explain her past writings comparing abortion to Nazi eugenics;
A policy staffer got into a twitter fight over the rules of a blog’s comment section;
Rauner was repeatedly unprepared for basic questions about his policy;
Rauner was criticized for his office’s slow response to major flooding;
And more.
It all came to a head last week. The still existent Illinois Policy Institute published a cartoon many deemed racist and which drew immediate and bipartisan condemnation on the Illinois House Floor. For a week, Rauner’s team fumbled its response to the cartoon; Rauner refused to condemn the it, refused to look it, and proceeded to argue that some people did not find it offensive. On Tuesday, Rauner’s office produced dueling statements. The first said Rauner, “as a white male”, had nothing more to add to the debate. The second read “Earlier today an email went out from my office that did not accurately reflect my views.” The second statement did not condemn the cartoon or add much to the debate, however.
So, Rauner begins again. The details are still fuzzy but Rauner’s Prairie State Purge 2.0 includes most of his communications staff, with others potentially later.
The timing could not be worse – Rauner’s in the middle of a major political fight he started by issuing an amendatory veto of the state’s education funding formula. Rauner’s veto was seen as extreme and influenced by his then-new Illinois Policy Institute staffers. Illinois schools are opening their doors unsure if they would survive past October as lawmakers try and deal with the veto. Rauner’s plan has not received much support – it was already overridden in the Senate, and received zero votes in the House.
“At no time has Bruce Rauner ever taken responsibility for the consequences of his failed leadership, and this recent staff purge suggests he is not about to start,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “As Governor, Bruce Rauner forced the state through a two-year budget crisis that was only ended over his objection. Debt piled up, social services were cut or closed, and jobs and people fled the state. Now Rauner is pushing the school system to closure for political gain. No staff purge can solve the problem at the center of this administration – Bruce Rauner.”
* During a Rauner administration staff meeting this morning, three comms staff resignations were confirmed: Diana Rickert, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for communications; Laurel Patrick, his communications director; and Brittany Carl, a comms person best known for her “Nazi eugenics” comment.
The governor told staffers that reports that his chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen and his chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko could also be resigning were “vicious rumors.” But I’m told Murashko has been asked to stick around until a replacement can be found. His policy director, Michael Lucci, appears to be safe.
The communications team departures, Rauner insisted to staff, were “mutual decisions,” and that the staffers were “not a good fit.”
The governor also reportedly blamed many of his current problems on the top staff members who were fired or resigned in July and, I’m told, said he would use legal means to go on offense and stop them.
