* If the administration is planning to release minor drug offenders, I have no problem with that at all. I’m opposed to locking them up in the first place, so an early release would be a rare bright side of the budget crisis. They should pardon them while they’re at it and get those people out of the parole system as well.
But if they’re gonna put convicted home burglars or the like back out on the street before they finish serving their time, then I would not be cool with that whatsoever. “Nonviolent” does not always mean “no threat”…
Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to slice $125 million from the Department of Corrections’ budget by laying off more than 1,000 employees and “downsizing” institutions likely will mean fewer inmates.
Derek Schnapp, Corrections spokesman, confirmed today that the department is drawing up lists of low-level offenders with less than a year on their sentences who could be released early and put on parole.
Furthermore, Schnapp said, more than 500 employees will be laid off from prisons in East Moline, Lincoln, Logan, Decatur, Vandalia and Vienna effective Sept. 30. Another round of layoffs that will result in 500 more employees losing their jobs will be announced in the future, Schnapp said, but he couldn’t say when.
Either way, this governor flip-flops so much that nobody really knows what could be next. He just vetoed an appropriations bill after soundly thwhacking the GA for sending him legislation that included his introduced spending levels for crying out loud.
…Adding… If you missed the governor’s presser, or you want to hear it again, IIS has a couple of links…
The governor just said he would “veto a bill that the General Assembly sent to me last week.” It’s another budget bill. Dealing with “a lot of parts of state government.”
Quinn said he would veto the bill and send it back with instructions for “how they can save money.”
Bill didn’t follow principles of sacrifice. Some agencies got the same amount of money as last fiscal year, for instance, Quinn said.
$185 million cut from state operations. 2,600 layoffs. Notices “have begun to go out already.”
Furlough days.
Remember, none of these announced cuts are new, except for this new veto.
Most telling line so far, Quinn says lawmakers wanted cuts so he’s giving them what they want.
* The appropriations bill Quinn is vetoing is reportedly HB 2145.
This is a full veto.
* Question: How will you get the unions to go along with furloughs? Answer: I support unions, etc., etc., etc. but no real answer except to say furloughs will limit layoffs and he hopes to convince the unions of that.
Quinn also wants to talk to the union about killing off the scheduled raises.
* Quinn: No furloughs will mean another 2,500 layoffs.
* Quinn won’t confirm a report earlier today that he might implement early release for some inmates. He would only say the Dept. of Corrections would have to change the way it operates.
* Quinn: “They are cuts in [Fiscal Year] ‘09 spending.”
* “They want me to do it,” Quinn said about the GA’s desire for him to make cuts.
* The governor is blaming the GA again, but he won’t admit that he could use the item reduction and line item vetoes on his own. Instead, he wants to get together with the GA to work out the cuts.
* It sounds like he just took a question at his press conference from a non-reporter. That would be very Blagojevichian.
* QUINN: “We’re going to keep vetoing it and vetoing it until we get spending in line.”
* Quinn: At least $25 million in savings from constitutional officers. Hello, Lisa?
* The governor’s press release is now out…
July 7, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today vetoed House Bill 2145 saying the General Assembly’s bill fails to make any significant cuts in state operations. Instead, the Governor proposed passing a responsible “Tough Choices” budget, which calls for cutting an additional $1 billion in state costs.
“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because it favors preserving the government status quo and fails to make the necessary cuts and reductions in state government operations,” said Governor Quinn. “It does not reflect the spirit of shared sacrifice that must prevail throughout our state government, particularly during these harsh economic times.”
HB 2145 appropriates $3.8 billion to fund state operations. However, HB 2145 fails to adequately cut the cost of state operations, including the budget of the General Assembly and other Constitutional Officers, including the Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller and Secretary of State.
Governor Quinn said the General Assembly and all statewide officers should cut their budgets by at least 10 percent, a cost-cutting move that includes an option of ordering up to 12 furlough days for all employees.
“I presented my budget to the General Assembly on March 18 with a clear message: When it comes to making cuts, we have to make tough choices, not bad choices. It was true then and it’s true today,” said Governor Quinn. “My goal has always been to pass a fair and comprehensive state budget that serves the fundamental needs of the people of Illinois.”
The Governor’s “Tough Choices” budget proposes cutting $1 billion from the state budget including:
· $185 million from state operations, including approximately 2,600 layoffs and 12 furlough days for state employees
· $140 million from Medicaid and health insurance
· $250 million in targeted reductions in grant programs
· $125 million from the Department of Corrections
· $175 million cut from proposed increases for K-12 education
· $25 million from other state offices, departments and agencies not under the Governor
· $100 million in additional reserves
* Quinn said the budget bill is “so flawed” from “beginning to end” that he couldn’t just do reduction or line item vetoes. Instead, he believes they must “start from scratch” and begin again.
Quinn: legislative leaders to meet Monday, lawmakers could have “busy Tuesday”
* Quinn is again complaining (valid complaint, by the way) about how this approp bill unconstitutionally bars him from letting professional and artistic contracts.
* “We vetoed your first effort, now let’s get serious,” Quinn said, talking to the GA.
* Quinn said he would sign another approp bill dealing with Medicaid reimbursement.
* The governor also said he “just got” the capital bill and that’s why he hasn’t moved on it yet. That’s such a bogus claim. He could’ve looked at the capital bill online for weeks.
A day after he said he’d take responsibility for $1 billion in budget cuts, Gov. Pat Quinn today instead threw the issue back into the laps of lawmakers.
Refusing to wear the collar alone for painful choices, Gov. Pat Quinn today said he’s rejecting a budget bill approved by lawmakers and directing them to cut $1 billion from state operations.
*** The governor’s veto message can be read by clicking here *** [Fixed link]
* If you look at the veto message linked above, you’ll see the governor never outright claims that the budget is out of balance. Instead, he relies on other constitutional issues within this one bill - issues that, while mentioned at today’s presser, were not the governor’s prime focus at all.
* Does this mean we can now assume Mark Kirk is out of the US Senate race?
The head of the Illinois Republican Party is making a move to run for the U.S. Senate. Andy McKenna Jr. is due in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to meet with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and with GOP members of the state’s congressional delegation. Key among the latter is North Shore Congressman Mark Kirk, who so far has not heeded pleas by party leaders to run, creating a political vacuum.
Mr. McKenna already has spoken with NRSC Chairman Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and has been encouraged to proceed, according to a source familiar with their conversation.
I’ve been hearing about this for weeks, but was loathe to post it here since McKenna’s name draws so many hateful comments. Please, try to contain yourselves today, OK? Thanks.
* I’m sure former Chicago Ald. Billy Ocasio has good reasons for wanting Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus to replace him on the city council, now that Ocasio has taken a high-level position with Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration. Rev. De Jesus is being slammed by some as being way too insensitive on gay rights, but, again, I’m sure he has his reasons.
Still, why would Ocasio want a replacement who doesn’t even live in his ward? Wasn’t there a qualified candidate who was actually a constituent?
Not that it will probably matter, since Mayor Daley makes the choice, doesn’t particularly care for Ocasio and has a list of four candidates. Presumably, at least one of them lives in Ocasio’s ward.
* Why would Gov. Quinn support an old plan for eleven stops on the proposed high speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis? Isn’t that a bit much?
Will Cook County Board Commissioner Bill Beavers retire . . . thereby enabling beleaguered Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to run for Beavers’ job — and step aside from the board presidency . . . before the juggernaut of Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, who wants Stroger’s job, runs him down?
* Assume, for the moment, that Attorney General Lisa Madigan runs for US Senate next year. If so, who would be the strongest Democratic candidate for governor? Explain.
* The Sun-Times editorial board gets to the real heart of the matter on this “Clout goes to U of I” Tribune series…
The rich kids, in short, got the break — not the kids who really needed it.
Yesterday’s Tribune published a list of some kids who got bumped ahead of others. Check out their schools…
Highland Park applicant: 24 students above him denied or wait listed
Loyola Academy applicant: 42 students above him denied or wait listed
Benet Academy applicant: 27 students above her denied or wait listed
Highland Park applicant: 23 students above him denied or wait listed
Highland Park applicant: 20 students above him denied or wait listed
Devoted donors to the Fighting Illini are often thanked with prime stadium seats, first crack at tickets to bowl games or a chance to meet some of the school’s marquee players.
But a few patrons of the University of Illinois’ athletic programs also try to use the department’s prestige to give applicants they know an edge in the competitive admissions process, according to newly released campus records.
Why? The Benjamins, baby…
Boosters gave about $12.7 million, or 21 percent, of the $61 million budget last year. That money, which includes endowment funds, provided scholarships for 400 student athletes. The school’s athletic department does not receive state funds, Arner said.
* Higher education budgets were never a priority during the Blagojevich era. Universities had to fight for every additional dollar. Perhaps this is a big reason why the clout list became so important. That’s no excuse.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich sent two letters of recommendation on behalf of applicants to Southern Illinois University’s law school, the university said Friday after a search of its admissions records in response to a federal subpoena.
The university, based in Carbondale, said it discovered the 2005 letters but found that neither applicant was admitted to the law school.
Little ol’ SIU could resist but the U of I couldn’t?
[University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman] said he didn’t feel he could refuse demands from trustees, particularly from former board chairman Lawrence Eppley, who often presented candidates on behalf of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“I’m not sure,” Herman said. “I felt my job in danger, but did I feel some need to do what would secure the broader best interests of the institution? Yes.”
* And we might soon find out about even more troubles. The university now as a website listing all FOIAs filed, including this one…
I request a copy of all electronic and paper correspondence with employees of the Chicago Tribune, CLTV, WGN, WGN radio and Tribune Company regarding student admissions.
Heh.
The Sun-Times asked for any Barack Obama correspondence to the university, including recommendations. The university then asked the paper to narrow its search.
* The ongoing investigation surrounding state Rep. Paul Froehlich’s use of property tax appeals to allegedly boost his campaign fundraising and his reelection prospects has turned over a much overlooked rock.
Victor Santana.
As a result of the probe, Fox Chicago reports that Santana, who is about as close as you can get to Cook County Board of Review member and county Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios, has been banned from doing any business with the Board of Review.
Part of the problem with Santana is that he’s allegedly been charging people for his interventions with the Board of Review, which would be illegal since he’s not an attorney. He’s reportedly been helping Froehlich with property tax appeals in Froehlich’s district.
But was Froehlich getting help on the inside? Judy McCurdy, who ran Froehlich’s office until she was fired last year, says she was instructed by Froehlich not to follow the standard procedure of mailing the tax appeals to the board.
“The forms were mailed to an individual by the name of Victor Santana, who was the connection for Paul Froehlich.” Said Judy McCurdy
Even though Santana hadn’t worked at the board of review in years, he still had open access to staffers and private areas controlled by commissioner Joseph Berrios. Now, all three commissioners, including Berrios, have banned Santana from their offices…
Placko: “Have you ever taken this kind of action before, banning someone from the board of review?”
Houlihan: “Well I’ve been here two and a half years and we have not banned anyone since I’ve been here.”
And the mystery gets even deeper. Remember Mike Gray, the owner of the Schaumburg furniture store? He told the board, that’s not his signature on his tax appeal which was notarized by Victor Santana.
Gray says he paid Santana two thousand dollars to handle two appeals. Problem is, Santana is not an attorney.
“The concern with Victor Santana is that he, according to certain individuals, has earned money for his involvement and assistance in handling real estate appeals. And unless he’s an attorney he should not be doing it.” Said Larry Rogers Jr.
Here’s the full Fox report…
* Doing research on Santana is not easy. He doesn’t show up much on campaign reports, for instance. What appears to be his company, QTA [Quick Turn Around] Services, gave money once to a committee he controlled that is now defunct, Citizens in Action. There’s another business named “RFG Consultants” that has the same address that he’s used. That company has given a few bucks. Santana’s apparently listed on one disclosure report as being paid $200 in 2001 for a “baptism.”
And I haven’t yet found anything that looks like an expenditure to him on Rep. Froehlich’s campaign finance report for the last six months of 2008. He did give to Froehlich’s township committee back when Froehlich was a Republican.
*** UPDATE - 10:23 am *** As I figured, all this Chicago media hype about today’s big budget cut announcement is simply a retread of the cuts Quinn outlined last week in Springfield.
[ *** End of Update *** ]
* Gov. Quinn held a meeting yesterday about the state budget with almost 40 suburban lawmakers. By looking at the media coverage, it didn’t really go very well…
Rep. Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat who attended today’s meeting, said the governor hasn’t proven to the public that a tax increase is a last resort. Instead of identifying specific spending cuts and negotiating with unions early in the spring, the governor has waited until the new fiscal year this summer to lay the groundwork for a tax hike. “This should have been the very last option on the table. And for him, it was the first and only,” he said. […]
Few legislators had high expectations for next week’s special session. “I think next will be a colossal waste of time,” said Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican. “I don’t think any suburban legislators’ mind was changed by this meeting.”
Part of the problem, of course, was the audience itself. Many of those at the meeting were Republicans who won’t vote for a tax hike no matter what, or Democrats like Jack Franks who also will never, ever vote for a tax increase. And then there are those who are planning a statewide bid (Franks included), who won’t be on board no matter what…
“Again, until there is no more talk of a tax hike, I think we’re going down the wrong road,” [GOP gubernatorial candidate Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) said.
“We need a Quinn budget that isn’t based on a Blagojevich strategy,” [Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake)] said. “Would you give these guys more money to spend?”
South suburban Democrats emerged from the meeting aligning with Quinn, saying a combination of an income tax increase and cuts to services will solve the budgetary mess.
“There’s no way we’re going to get out of this without cuts and revenue enhancements,” said state Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields). “Walking around acting like we can do this without an income tax increase is disingenuous at best.”
State Rep. Al Riley (D-Olympia Fields) said the process now comes down to casting aside worries over what voters might remember when they next pull the ballot box lever.
* As for the cuts, Quinn already laid out a billion dollars in reductions last week, so it’s not clear to me if today’s announcement is for another billion or is just a retread of this. The press coverage indicates it’s a retread, which would mean today’s event is a complete fabrication…
$185 million: state operations
• 12 furlough days
• More than 1,600 layoffs for non-Department of Corrections staff
$140 million: Medicaid and health insurance
• Includes $100 million saved by moving Medicaid patients to managed care
$250 million: grants
• Cuts will be targeted to maximize federal matching funds
$175 million: education
• Maintains funding at fiscal 2009 levels and preserves all federal ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds
$125 million: Department of Corrections
• More than 1,000 layoffs of DOC personnel
$100 million: additional reserves
$25 million: other state offices, departments and agencies not under the governor
* Raw video of the governor’s press availability from yesterday…
* AFSCME spokesman offered up his union’s side to Fox Chicago this morning…
Sources said the $85,068-a-year inspector was working a side job installing a flood-control system in the 3500 block of North Octavia — with no permit and none of the required city licenses — when he inadvertently broke the water pipe leading to the home.
Kendrick dialed 311 to report the break. When investigators arrived on the scene, he identified himself as a city inspector and asked them for city-owned parts — lead packs and copper — to repair the broken pipe, sources said.
Little did he know that one of the responding investigators was Pat McDonough, who helped blow the whistle on the Hired Truck scandal.
Illinois leads the nation in bank failures this year, though regulators say that is primarily because it has more banks than any other state.
The number doubled to 12 with the shutdown of six banks in two days last week. State and federal regulators said the Campbell Group, a family-operated holding company for all six, invested in the kind of risky mortgage-backed securities that brought down much larger financial institutions.
All the banks, which were spread from central to northern Illinois, were open Monday with new owners.
“They are a family-owned company. Six of their eight banks made some bad investments, while the other two made community loans, and they are doing fine. It’s the same type of loans that shut down AIG,” said Sue Hofer, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation.
BELVIDERE — About 1,700 Chrysler workers will report back to work Wednesday for the first time since May 1, when Chrysler LLC shut down production after entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
United Auto Workers Local 1268 President John Gedney confirmed Monday night that the company will restart production. The newly formed company that emerged from bankruptcy, Chrysler Group LLC, restarted production at the end of June at plants in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Mexico and Canada.
United Airlines, the nation’s third-largest airline, said Monday its June traffic fell 7.5 percent, as an improvement in business at its regional affiliates failed to offset steep dropoffs on most domestic and international routes.
Like other airlines, Chicago-based United has been contending with a steep decline in traffic, especially in lucrative first- and business-class tickets, as the recession curbs travel.
UAL Corp.’s United said paying passengers flew a total of 10.57 billion miles last month, compared with 11.43 billion a year earlier. Excluding a 16.9 percent gain from regional carriers that United operates, traffic fell 10 percent.
Underserved by rapid transit, residents there would benefit from a proposed “Gold Line,” an innovative hybrid of both Metra and the CTA, according to Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, or SOUL.
With the city bidding for the 2016 Games, the line also would serve key Olympic venues, say SOUL members, who represent more than 20 churches and community organizations.
SOUL estimates that implementing the Gold Line would cost $159 million. This would pay for adding 26 Electric District Highliner cars for $91 million as well as for new tracks, station upgrades and fare equipment.
City of Springfield workers will rally outside Municipal Center West before Tuesday’s city council meeting, as a deadline looms for talks between the unions and Mayor Tim Davlin’s administration about potentially drastic cuts in city services.
“This is an action by a number of unions calling on the city council and the mayor to come together to try to work cooperatively to try to solve the fiscal situation in a responsible manner,” said Jeff Bigelow, regional director for Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
A combined union statement issued today called for the city council to “reopen the budget process and pass a reasonable and realistic budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, not one doomed to fail.”
“After this process, if there are sacrifices to be made by the employees of the City, then those sacrifices will be made in an informed manner,” the statement said.
Either way, there likely will be fewer sheriff’s deputies on the roadways of Kane County soon.
The Policeman’s Benevolent Labor Committee-Kane County Sheriff’s Office said in a release that the Kane County Board “is scheduled to permanently jeopardize the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to provide sufficient police services to the citizens of Kane County, especially those living in unincorporated areas, by reducing the number of sworn deputies that provide essential and required police services.”
The press release was issued just days after members of the county board finance committee approved a resolution that would decrease the number of sworn deputies on the force to 87 from 90 through an early retirement program. That resolution is expected to be approved by the board’s executive committee on Wednesday and then be discussed and probably approved by the full board on July 14.
The public should not be concerned about a lack of police enforcement next year even though the Peoria Police Department will enter 2010 with fewer employees than it has now, Chief Steve Settingsgaard said Monday.
“It’s a very good possibility we’ll have a reduction in staff,” Settingsgaard said during the first of five public forums on the 2010 budget. “This council, the city manager and myself will look at a lot of places to save budget money before we give up a position impacting true public safety.”
The Illinois attorney general’s office sued a Burbank furniture salesman Monday for allegedly bilking his customers out of more than $62,000.
Ziyad Suleiman, 5860 W. 75th Place, has had 54 complaints lodged against him and his four furniture businesses across the Southland, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in the lawsuit.
Suleiman operated District Furniture Inc., in Chicago; US Furniture Inc., in Burbank; Express Furniture Gallery Inc., in Bedford Park and Chicago Ridge; and Export Furniture Inc., in Bedford Park, between 2001 and this year, the lawsuit said.
While running those businesses, the lawsuit alleges, Suleiman failed to deliver furniture, delivered damaged furniture and refused to give refunds to customers.
