* I received this e-mail from the Senate Democrats last night…
You are invited to join an exclusive, blogger-only discussion regarding progress on upcoming legislation to reform Illinois government with members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Senators Don Harmon, Jeff Schoenberg, Susan Garrett, Bill Haine and Kwame Raoul will provide you with an update and address submitted questions. Please respond to [redacted] to receive your password for the conference call and feel free to submit no more than three questions related to Ethics Reform measures.
The call will take place [today], Thursday, May 14 at 7:30pm.
Thank you in advance for your interest and participation.
Sincerely,
Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus
I’ll probably participate just to hear what happens. I’m not quite sure how many bloggers got the invite, but if you have a blog and didn’t hear from them, you can e-mail me and I’ll pass along your info.On second thought, since I have a lot to do this afternoon, just put your contact info in comments and I’ll ask the SDems to check it. Thanks.
* And then a few minutes ago, we received word that House GOP Leader Tom Cross is opening up his Friday caucus meeting to Democrats, the general public, the media and everyone else.
Friday’s special guest is Patrick Collins, the chairman of the governor’s reform commission. Cross has pushed for a Committee of the Whole to debate the commission’s report, but that request has been repeatedly denied. So, they’re gonna do their own thing.
The meeting will take place tomorrow morning at 9:30 at the Howlett Building auditorium. Click here to read the letter from Cross to Collins.
* And Gov. Quinn is going out of state for Illinois’ new Department of Corrections Director…
A 19-year veteran of the Ohio prison system is expected to be named the new head of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Michael P. Randle, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, would replace Roger Walker at the helm of one of Illinois’ largest state agencies.
Gov. Pat Quinn will unveil his pick for the $150,000 per year post at a 1:30 p.m. news conference Thursday.
Randle served in a number of positions - including warden at two Ohio prisons - before moving into the system’s administrative division.
Thoughts?
…Adding… I’ve told subscribers about this new web page, but forgot to tell everyone else. Tweet Illinois allows you to follow state legislative Twitter posts. It’s a great little page created by the Illinois Policy Institute.
Thursday, May 14, 2009 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
With Illinois facing a record $12.4 billion budget shortfall, the last thing government should be doing is cutting programs that actually save taxpayers money. If the General Assembly slashes funding for home care, that’s exactly what they’ll be doing.
Seniors who now live in their own homes with the help of home care workers will be forced into expensive nursing homes and hospitals instead.
That’s bad for seniors and for taxpayers. It’s bad for every family with a loved one who depends on home care to live a healthy, independent life.
Tell Springfield that the right answer isn’t slashing home care and leaving vulnerable seniors on their own. The right answer is a plan for new revenue that’s fair to all of us.
Thursday, May 14, 2009 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Are Illinois retired teacher pension benefits too rich? Do they cost too much? Does the governor’s plan improve the state’s fiscal health? These are fair questions and ones the Illinois Federation of Teachers would like to answer.
Illinois retired teachers currently average $41,532 in annual pension benefits received. Most do not get a Social Security benefit. The state’s “normal cost” for the current plan is around 6.5%, and since there is no Social Security payroll tax to pay, that is it. By contrast, private employers pay at least 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare.
No, benefit levels are not the problem, nor is their cost to Illinois taxpayers. The 800 lb. gorilla in the pension room is the pension debt, and reducing benefits for new hires does not change that. Even COGFA says the governor’s plan is not the answer, giving it harsh treatment in its April pension briefing memo.
Governor Quinn’s pension proposals will penalize new teachers for decades, even after the economy bounces back. A decent, stable pension system is one of the reasons young teachers can stay in the profession when teacher salaries don’t compete with other professions. Our current plan is affordable and provides decent benefits.
* Ending the diversion of money from the Road Fund to the general fund.
* An increase in vehicle registration and licensing fees.
* A tax increase on wine and spirits. (Beer would be excluded from the increase.)
* A tax increase on candy.
* Applying sales tax to some sweetened tea and coffee beverages, as well as health and beauty products.
* Internet sales of lottery tickets and having a private firm manage the lottery with a focus on appealing to new players.
That “tax increase on candy” is actually just applying the sales tax to candy. It’s currently exempted along with other food. Ending diversions from the Road Fund would mean either cutting programs or coming up with money elsewhere in the budget. Not mentioned above is legalizing video poker, which is starting to move through the House.
Nothing is currently set in stone, however. This is just a menu at the moment, but the four legislative leaders have at least set the menu.
* The Question: Which of these capital plan revenue generators is acceptable to you? Explain.
* The Illinois Senate had a very thoughtful, reasoned debate yesterday on a bill to ban texting while driving. Now, you’d normally think this topic would be a no-brainer. I mean, there’s no way people should be allowed to text their buddies while speeding down the Kennedy Expressway.
But the Senate, unlike the House, which approved the bill 89-27, delved into the matter much more deeply….
[Sen. Martin Sandoval], a Chicago Democrat, opted to pull the bill before lawmakers could vote on it so he could clarify whether drivers would get in trouble for using the GPS functions on their cell phones, texting while idling in traffic jams or texting while sitting on the side of the road.
As most people know, you’re more likely to be crawling on the Kennedy than zooming. So, should people be banned from texting while they’re hoplessly stuck in traffic and late coming home for dinner? That’s a problem…
Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican, agreed that the intent of the bill was to minimize distracted driving. But he wasn’t convinced that a driver stuck in gridlock on the interstate could be classified as a putting other vehicles in danger if he or she decided to send a text message.
Also, the way our state laws are set up, you are considered operating a motor vehicle even if the car is off and the key is on the floor. I think they probably did this to bust drunks who are sleeping in their cars. But banning texting while parked is pretty goofy.
Sen. James Meeks, a Chicago Democrat, questioned how a police officer would differentiate between texting and making a phone call because the same buttons are used to accomplish different tasks. He said Sandoval’s measure would give too much latitude to law enforcement. “Now we’re giving the police the right to examine individual motorists’ cell phones to try to ascertain whether they were sending a text or making a phone call,” he said, later adding, “This is very dangerous.”
Same goes for GPS on cell phones.
Sen. Mike Jacobs, an East Moline Democrat, cited a statewide poll that showed more than 75 percent of those polled thought texting while driving should be banned. But, he added, it’s another story if you’re the one getting pulled over and ticketed.
Creates the Sunshine Commission Act. Provides for the appointment by the legislative leaders of a Sunshine Commission, consisting of 4 legislators and 4 public members, to conduct a thorough review of the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of each “State executive branch program”. Requires the Commission to report its recommendations to the General Assembly within 6 months after the Act’s effective date. Requires the General Assembly, by joint resolution, to approve or reject the report within 60 session days after the report is filed. Repeals the Act 2 years after its effective date.
For one thing, it is an abandonment of responsibility. The Legislature and governor should be making these choices individually.
For another thing, we doubt such a program “hit list” would get approval - rendering the commission’s work an exercise in futility.
They do say this, however…
But having qualified experts review these programs and suggest changes is a good idea.
The editorial claims the panel would look for ways to “consolidate or eliminate duplicative and ineffective programs.” It goes beyond that, however. Examining the “relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of each ‘State executive branch program,’” is more than just consolidation or elminating duplication. We may be getting into ideological territory with this legislation. And here are the “qualified experts” that the sponsor wants to examine these programs…
Each public member shall have professional, private sector experience in the field of banking, finance, or accounting, with at least one public member experienced in each of those fields.
I can see the point of having an audit to determine whether the agencies are following the relevant statutes and whether the programs are functional, but I wonder whether those “experts” are the best people to examine the programs themselves. The banking and finance industries haven’t been all that great lately, to say the least.
With some serious tweaking, this might not be a bad idea, however.
The Illinois Chapter of Americans for Prosperity based in Chicago and Judicial Watch Inc. based in Washington, D.C., filed suit in Sangamon County. They allege that both offices repeatedly denied requests under the Freedom of Information Act to release information about how a lump sum of $1.7 billion was spent in fiscal year 2008. [Emphasis added.]
Senate President John Cullerton is making peace with a government watchdog group that sued his predecessor to get access to a secret list of legislative earmarks.
Cullerton (D-Chicago) has provided Judicial Watch a list of legislative projects kept by ex-Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and vowed that any similar grants approved in the upcoming 2009-2010 state budget will be identified individually for public scrutiny.
Under Jones, Senate Democrats had $18.7 million for legislators’ pet projects in the 2007-2008 budget year but fought to keep those projects and their sponsors secret, arguing the records were exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) put his members’ projects online at the time.
“There will be no more buckets of money handed out from the caucus for members to kind of distribute as they will,” Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said. [Emphasis added]
Kudos to Cullerton for settling this suit and barring this practice from here on out. But, unless I’m missing something, it appears the problem may not have been nearly as bad as the plaintiffs suggested. The actual amount was about ten one percent of what was originally alleged.
Also, take a look at the project list. [Fixed link] Most of it is pretty run of the mill stuff.
* Meanwhile, the judges are already calling Springfield about this reform…
The legislation makes the basis for General Assembly and judicial pensions the average of the highest four years of salary out of their final 10 years of state employment. Currently lawmakers’ pensions are based on their final salary.
The change cleared the House without opposition. In the Senate, only Quad-Cities Democrat Mike Jacobs voted against it. It now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn who has supported similar reforms.
You usually only hear from judges at the Statehouse when legislators are debating pay hikes. Now, they have another topic. Pensions.
* Here’s a Statehouse truism: Lobbyists always grumble, whether they’re good government types or just hired guns. They always grumble about their bills…
There is private grumbling among good-government groups that lawmakers are reluctant to act on the most sweeping ethics proposals. But most are maintaining a public display of optimism, even as they work behind the scenes to get whatever deal they still can with the two Chicago Democrats who will ultimately decide what bills move — House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. […]
Already, a number of proposals offered by Quinn’s reform commission have been discarded. Recommendations to limit the amount of time that legislators can serve top leadership roles and to make it easier to allow bills to get a vote have been set aside for now by lawmakers.
The commission’s call to move back the state primary balloting closer to the general election, aimed at lessening the costly role of fundraising, has fallen. Quinn’s push for public recall of elected politicians has been shunted aside by lawmakers, and the commission’s call to overhaul the partisan process of drawing legislative districts won’t get a vote this spring.
No surprise on any of it. The remap reform is the most important thing they could do to shake up the General Assembly, but they love them their maps. They’ll probably never do it on their own. A big reason I wanted a constitutional convention last year was so the idea at least had a chance.
* Related…
* Cook’s veto override bill is dying in House: House sponsor Paul Froehlich (D-Schaumburg) said he has no idea why the bill went nowhere in the House. He’s “still trying to breathe life into it,” he said, and maintains hope that Madigan will release it.
* Committee hearing delayed on Speaker Madigan’s bill to fire state employees: Bob Reed, a spokesman for Gov. Pat Quinn, said administration staff “are in discussion with Speaker Madigan and Senate President (John) Cullerton’s office to ensure the bill is properly focused and also financially and administratively responsible.” He declined further comment.
* The heart of pay-to-play: The Illinois Reform Commission recommends a long list of changes to make the process more open, fair and honest. At the top of the list is a smart idea: Install a statewide “czar” dedicated to insulating purchasing officials from political arm-twisting, and ensuring greater consistency, accountability and transparency in the way the state spends its money.
* It’s a bit frustrating watching some politicians play with the idea of running for various offices like they’re picking out a new toy…
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan appears to be leaning strongly toward running for governor– not US Senate.
She’s not ruling out a senate race, but tells ABC 7 News the possibility of moving to Washington, D.C. doesn’t appeal to her.
“My focus has long been on looking at a race for governor as you know I’ve made no decision yet,” said Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General.
I understand the problem with schlepping back and forth to DC, especially with young kids. But that’s not exactly a high-minded reason to avoid a race. Pick a lane, please.
I’m taking a very, very careful look at this, and actually may make that run. I’ve set for myself an arbitrary deadline of June 8th where I’m gunna make a decision. And you know, I feel confident, actually, that if I ran I could win. Here we are though, at this incredibly opportune moment to really make big change. Big change moment today in our country. So I have to decide if I want to spend the next 18 months basically raising money. You know what I mean?… Rather than, I’m on the Energy and Commerce Committee, health care, energy. I’m on the Intelligence Committee, I’m in the Leadership of the House. So, I have to weigh all that. Clearly being in the Senate would give me an even larger opportunity to move an agenda.
Watch the video…
She also talks about US Sen. Roland Burris…
I don’t see how he can, at this point, win a primary. The numbers speak very loudly to that. And he’s just been embroiled in this toxic situation, and it hasn’t really gotten any better for him. And so I would say, that’s not, you know, I don’t see him as being competitive in a Democratic Primary.
And muses on the GOP’s chances in the contest…
Cenk Uygur: Is there a Republican in the state that can make a real run against a Democrat in Illinois?
Representative Schakowsky: For U.S Senate? I… no. And here’s why I say that: we are Barack Obama’s home state, and having a Republican who would run against the Obama agenda is a loser in Illinois. It just, you know, for our mostly blue state, I don’t see how that could happen. You know, there are things, I suppose that, you know, 2010 became a bad year because a lot of the hopes and dreams weren’t realized. But even then, I think there’s going to be a distaste for someone who’s part of the “just say no” group as a candidate for U.S Senate.
Discuss.
…Adding… The IL GOP’s new Web ad, “100 Days of the Same,” contains an interesting clip of Chris Kennedy that could be used in the upcoming campaign if he runs for US Senate…
FLORES: It spans anywhere from $300 to $500, but it also allows for revocation of the business license. It’s going to be enforced and if we have to have committee hearings on this to maintain and follow the enforcement we will.
But Mayor Richard Daley says the city is in no postion to enforce the ban. Daley says the bill just sends a message to companies. BPA is used by some manufacturers to harden plastic. Some studies have linked the chemical to medical problems, including cancer. But the American Chemistry Council says BPA does not harm children or infants.
The CTA is addressing a $155 million shortfall for this year mainly by moving $128.6 million designated for capital projects into “capital eligible” alternatives, that includes preventative maintenance and bus and rail car rehabs
This means the capital money will not be spent on other projects, such as fixing up old stations or 100-year-old bus garages.
The CTA also plans to fill this year’s gap through $3.8 million in savings in labor costs, and reducing by $10 million its reserve for injury and damage. No further fare increases or service cuts are planned for this year. A fare increase was imposed Jan. 1.
The CTA had hoped to receive an additional $56 million from the RTA to cover its 2008 shortfall — however, the RTA has since informed the CTA that the money is a loan and will have to be repaid.
CTA Board Chairman Carole Brown said she was disappointed by the RTA’s flip-flop on the $56.1 million, as well as by RTA inaccuracies in predicting the level of public subsidies. Only last month, the RTA told the CTA that the $56.1 million was being provided as a grant, not as a loan, officials said.
In the future, the CTA will independently monitor the public funding stream more closely, rather than rely on RTA projections, “so we are not surprised” again by the RTA, Brown said.
But RTA officials said they had to obtain bank loans to address the CTA deficit.
“It appears as if we have been successful,” Dart said at a news conference in Chicago Wednesday, adding that he is “cautiously optimistic” the new policies will reduce prostitution ads on the site.
The reversal by Craigslist was also praised by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, whose office had sued the Internet site earlier, winning some concessions.
“We think it may make a dent” in Chicago area prostitution, Madigan said of the changes.
But both Dart and Madigan said there likely would still be thinly veiled prostitution ads on Craigslist under the new ‘adult services’ category even with pre-emptive monitoring. But they said that is better than the current anything-goes ‘erotic services’ pages.
State Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) introduced a resolution in Springfield calling on Obama to nominate a member to the Surface Transportation Board who will consider “significant community impacts related to public safety, noise, vibration, traffic congestion, and other environmental concerns…”
Under pressure from the City Council, Mayor Daley has agreed to revise his mandatory furlough plan to include a sliding scale: the higher the salary, the more unpaid days off.
The Daley-sponsored ordinance introduced at Wednesday’s City Council meeting would require pedicab operators to purchase a $400 license that would only be issued to those with insurance to cover $50,000 worth of property damage, $100,000 to cover injuries to one passenger and $300,000 to cover multiple injuries.
As of Wednesday, 666 Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices have been installed in the vehicles of first-time DUI offenders in Illinois.
The devices are not new, but the law requiring first-time DUI offenders to have them installed in their vehicles if they wish to drive during their mandatory driving suspension period is. It went into effect Jan. 1.
