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*** UPDATED x5 *** So far today…
Thursday, May 6, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller Please post your own updates in comments. Thanks. * The House has passed a bill to bring some sanity to the recently changed lobbyist fees law. The law was struck down as unconstitutional. It imposed $1,000 annual fees for both individual lobbyists and the entities they work for. That can add up quick for small not-for-profit groups. The annual fee in this bill would be $300 and it passed 116-1 (Rep. Mell was the lone “No” vote). [UPDATE: Somebody else voted Mell’s switch and voted wrong. Oops. She corrected the record right away.] The legislation now moves to the Senate. The proposal is SB 1526. * The “slots at tracks” language has finally surfaced. Click here to read it. This could start moving quickly. We’ll see. * Senate committee approved the AT&T dereg bill today and it’s heading to the floor for certain passage. My intern Dan Weber talked to a representative from CUB about what they believe is still wrong with the legislation that zoomed out of the House unanimously yesterday. Take a look… * The House approved the governor’s back to school sales tax holiday 65-51. It now moves to the Senate, where Senate President Cullerton has expressed reservations. Republican Rep. Chapin Rose has co-sponsored similar bills in the past, but he said with the budget crisis engulfing the state this is the wrong time to be taking money out of the till. He debated sponsoring Rep. Keith Farnham, a Tier One target. Watch… * A House committee has approved the cigarette tax hike with a new change…
*** UPDATE 1 - 1:43 pm *** The so-called “7 percent solution” property tax measure just passed 107-10. It now moves to the Senate. *** UPDATE 2 - 1:59 pm *** The Senate just passed the AT&T bill 59-0. End. *** UPDATE 3 - 2:15 pm *** Old news, but here you go…
*** UPDATE 4 - 2:33 pm *** Commenter “George” made an excellent point…
*** UPDATE 5 - 2:44 pm *** Rep. Randy Ramey has been getting razzed on the House floor today for his jacket. It’s much-deserved…  …Adding… Video… * Other stuff…
Please post your own updates in comments. Thanks.
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- VanillaMan - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:20 pm:
It is a good day.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:26 pm:
It’s still early…don’t pop the champagne just yet. There’s a long, long way to go before we’re done.
- OneMan - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:30 pm:
As for the campus voting bill…
It wasn’t rocket science to get registered or vote in DeKalb. Heck my polling place was in my dorm. And if a college student doesn’t have time to vote over the 12 hours the polling places are open I will show you a kid who spends too much time at the bar.
- Deep South - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:42 pm:
The House also passed the university borrowing bill - SB640 - didn’t they?
- AT&T owns us all - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:44 pm:
Did your intern catch Cullerton ask (via Lightford) Bond in committee if he would be willing to amend the telecomm. bill to not let AT&T off the hook for broadband deployment in central, southern & rural areas in illinois???
It’s something they are required to do right now & this bill gets them off the hook.
Cullerton (and the rest of the senate executive committee) seemed surprised that AT&T wasn’t willing to do this. Could it be that something could be done where EVERYONE wins?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:46 pm:
Deep South, that’s true. Keep the updates coming.
- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:04 pm:
The 7% property tax “solution” has real problems. That’s why it hasn’t passed before this.
The media is too lazy and ignorant to explain the shortcomings of Houlihan’s proposal.
In some cases it does shift the tax burden from affluent homeowners to distressed businesses or to homeowners in less affluent communities.
And it’s much less effective in communities that are smaller (e.g. suburbs).
- collar observer - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:05 pm:
Stop digging the hole! Thank you Rep. Rose -
Farnham needed some undressing on this one.
Farnham, your constituents want to see some responsible legislating - you have a few hours left before you hit the campaign trail full-time. Good luck with that.
- George - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:29 pm:
At this time, it is always most beneficial to look at what will be heard in Executive Committee hearings (today’s House Exec Committee hearing is at 4 pm).
Looks like 2 bills:
SB28 McCormick Place
SB3660 Emergency Budget Act
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:31 pm:
Good point, George. Was just going to look at that. Thanks.
- unclesam - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
The Capfax now has two catchphrases for usage:
Oh look, a kitty!
And
Stop digging the hole!
- George - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:34 pm:
Hadn’t heard about the furloughs, yet. That’s a good move.
Plus, I really like the borrowing from the special funds. There is a ton of unallocated balance there that could be borrowed interest-free, and would not require the State to go out to the markets.
- Moving to Oklahoma - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:51 pm:
I guess deer season is in at the capitol building.
- Siriusly - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:53 pm:
If the only thing 117 House members can find to razz Randy Ramey about is his coat then we’re clearly in need of new leadership in Illinois.
- heet101 - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:55 pm:
Siriusly,
Seriously? A lighthearted moment is sometimes necessary on the House floor. don’t be a killjoy
- Aldyth - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:07 pm:
So, if the state legislature’s work is compressed into the last two days of the legislative session, what do they do during the other ninety days?
Then again, maybe we really don’t want to know that.
- Advocate - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:40 pm:
What bothers me about the entire Rose/Frerichs episode is that, while I agree that a college student could more than likely make their way to the voting polls on their own, neither gentlemen see that in their own area there are so many terrible nursing homes that do not allow their residents to vote and the residents cannot get out to voice their opinion. When they need their assistance the legislators refer them to agencies like mine that are poorly funded because they can’t come up with a budget. While Rose may have merit in questioning the bill, I, and about 600 nursing home residents in his area, think his reference to nursing homes was ridiculous!
- Siriusly - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:48 pm:
Heet101 - please reread what I wrote. In case you still don’t get it, I was saying there is more there to make fun of there besides his coat. If you need me to explain it again I can use 14 point type for you.
Don’t lecture me about funny I knew funny. You’re no funny young man.
- Nikoli - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:05 pm:
Republicans just went to caucus. Committee meetings begin at 5pm. House is in recess until 6pm.
- Taxmandan - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:08 pm:
I’m so glad I quit smoking. I am saving over $700 per year in just in state cigarette taxes.
- George - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:09 pm:
The budget bill just popped up to be heard in the House exec committee at 5 pm now.
- George - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:10 pm:
Sorry - the bill is SB1211, House Amendment 1 (currently)
- Robert - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:15 pm:
regarding the cigarette tax hike: ==A tweak to the bill would allow the money to go into the Education Assistance Fund after the federal match. The money would be spent on special education and transportation costs.== was this money that was spent last year from another source, or is this new spending that increases the deficit? I’d been hoping that a sensible tax hike wouldn’t be earmarked to new spending.
- Downstate - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:16 pm:
The House Revenue and Finance Committee is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. to discuss SB 377, the tax amnesty bill, and SB 2093, the STAR Bonds bill for Southern Illinois.
State Rep. John Bradley’s introduced another amendment (House Floor Amendment #4) which amends the one filed yesterday. Not sure what the changes are yet.
- LINK - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:40 pm:
George at 2:34. What do you mean by “furloughs”? Thank you.
- George - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:44 pm:
LINK - The Emergency Budget Act includes furlough days for the General Assembly plus furlough days for Statewide electeds and Department Directors.
Small, but meaningful.
- George - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:45 pm:
Robert - the cig tax hike is a deficit closer, not new spending.
- DE - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:52 pm:
Any movement on SB 3146, slots/video at the racetracks?
- steve schnorf - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:58 pm:
It is my recollection that Ramey’s jacket is very similar (identical?) to the ones the entire Illinois delegation wore to a national convention not that long ago.
- Moderate REpub - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 7:22 pm:
Aldyth - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:07 pm:
So, if the state legislature’s work is compressed into the last two days of the legislative session, what do they do during the other ninety days?
Preparing for the last 2 days.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 10:18 pm:
Schnorf those jackets were awesome. Wasn’t that a Pate deal of some kind?
- steve schnorf - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:11 pm:
WS, he thought the delegation should be able to show off the Orange and Blue and be easily seen on tv. In fact they almost glowed in the dark. My recollection is of orange and blue ties too, I think i still have one somewhere. I have a picture of Edgar in his jacket with my kids. JE wasn’t too big on the polyester. I think it was the Houston convention.