CAIRO, IL – With the serious threat of severe flooding looming and rain continuing to fall, state Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) is working with other local lawmakers state Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), state Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), state Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton) and state Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) to encourage local residents to volunteer as the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers continue to rise.
“We are desperately looking for anybody who wants to help volunteer in Golconda, Shawneetown, Old Shawneetown, Harrisburg, Carmi, Brookport, Metropolis, Cairo, Karnak, Olive Branch, Thebes, Tamms, New Haven, Junction and Grand Tower,” Phelps said. “We will be down in Cairo today with the Governor, while the Army Corps of Engineers survey the situation. We need volunteers in these towns to continue sand bagging because the rivers are still rising.”
The Army Corps of Engineers is continuing work on the Birds Point levee in preparation of a possible blast to alleviate the strain the Ohio River is currently putting on the floodwall, a move that would spare the city of Cairo from being leveled. The Cairo floodwall can handle up to 64 feet of water; currently the water has risen to 61.05 feet as of this morning eclipsing the 1937 record of 59.5 feet. Sources expect the river to crest on Wednesday at 61.5 feet and stay at that level until Friday.
“We need help,” Bradley said. “There is no way to describe the amount of water we are already dealing with. This is a catastrophe and any and all help is needed.”
The state has already provided hundreds of thousands of sandbags to local communities and has ordered one million additional sandbags. Inmates at the Tamms, DuQuoin and Dixon Springs correctional facilities have filled more than 80,000 sandbags, while inmate crews have been assisting with sandbagging in several communities. Other resources coordinated by the state include portable toilets, bottled water, life vests for emergency workers, generators, trucks for transporting assets, pumps, hoses and light stands.
“We have neighbors who are hurting and need help,” Bost said. “We encourage everyone who is willing and able to volunteer tying, loading or stacking sandbags, or helping carry families’ possessions to dry land. Whether you can lend a hand to a neighbor across the street or across the county line – Southern Illinois needs to pull together.”
“I was pleased that the Mayor of Cairo [Judson Childs] took steps over the weekend to evacuate residents and protect their safety,” Forby said. “As water levels rise, cities near the river are facing some of the flood’s most devastating effects and they need the people of Southern Illinois to come together now, more than ever. I am encouraging all residents in the area to volunteer any way they can.”
“In times of crisis like this one, we often find that our fellow citizens rise up to help their neighbors,” Luechtefeld said. “I would encourage interested volunteers to contact their local ESDA officials and they will help coordinate your efforts.”
For more information, please contact Rep. Phelps’ constituent service office at (618) 253-4189 or reach out to the American Red Cross Little Egypt Network at (800) 272-2984.
As if it isn’t complicated enough to pass a workers’ compensation reform bill — what with unions, trial lawyers and the medical community so far allied against major changes — there’s also a noticeable schism within the business lobby about what to do and how far to go.
This schism isn’t new. In one way or another, the major business groups compete against each other for members and, therefore, tend to tout themselves as the true leaders over the others. That sometimes-friendly, sometimes-not rivalry intensified a bit since the Democrats won complete power in 2002.
The Illinois Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association both are run by political pragmatists who are far more interested in cutting a deal than taking shots. The National Federation of Independent Business is far more conservative, and the Illinois Chamber is sort of a hybrid of both.
The manufacturers group and retail merchants organization both have appeared to be more willing to work closely with the Democratic majority than their counterparts. And that’s been the case with the workers’ comp reform negotiations as well.
The Manufacturers Association, for its part, has been attempting to cajole and drag the governor and the Democratic legislative leaders as far as it can to its side. The association obviously is encouraged by the progress. But, so far, the effort hasn’t satisfied the Chamber, and the National Federation of Independent Business is nowhere near on board.
Greg Baise, the manufacturers group’s president, said last week he knows he still has a ways to go before he can get a deal. And, he warned, if the business community is sharply divided, then the bill likely will fail.
There’s no reason for Republicans to alienate the doctors at the Illinois State Medical Society and the Democrats to upset the trial lawyers and the unions if the reform legislation is decried as an empty sham.
That’s easier said than done, of course. But Baise believes, probably rightly, that Gov. Pat Quinn must take a far more forceful lead on the issue if it’s going to pass.
“The governor is the only person who can make this happen,” Baise said. Quinn, Baise said, needs to push this issue as far as he can toward the business’ side or “it won’t get done.”
Baise has been taking that message to newspaper editorial boards lately, so we probably can expect to hear more on this subject soon.
There are some areas of compromise emerging, however. A bill pushed by the Senate Republicans, which failed in mid-April, included a section that allows business owners to choose the doctors who will treat workers’ comp-related injuries. The Democrats claim this is a killer political issue they could use against the GOP if necessary. People want to choose their own doctors, so the issue can be framed in a highly negative way.
The House Republican leadership also is said to be against the proposal, and they’re actively looking for ways they can climb on board a reform bill without completely freaking out the doctors, who contribute a whole lot of money to their campaign coffers. This issue may be one way to get them to an agreement.
But the distance between the two sides on this subject is more like a chasm. They don’t even agree on what caused Illinois’ workers’ comp costs to soar. Six years ago, Illinois had the 20th-highest workers’ comp costs in the nation. By last year, it was the third highest.
Organized labor and the trial lawyers say the insurance industry is to blame for the high costs. The insurance companies, they claim, lost money in the Great Recession and stock market crash and are making it up by charging higher prices here.
The business groups say insurance companies are very competitive in this state and operate under low profit margins. Plus, why are our costs going up so fast and other states aren’t?
That’s a good point. Instead, they say, medical prices have been allowed to skyrocket and none of the big reforms they wanted six years ago were implemented.
With the big recent blowup over whether Caterpillar would leave the state or not, workers’ comp has become a very high priority issue in the General Assembly. Legislators in both parties understand that something has to be done.
But actually getting it done is a whole lot more difficult than it looks on the outside.
* Related and a roundup…
* No deal imminent on workers’ comp: Baise said that’s one of the issues under discussion and the debate centers on “what level of causation” would be acceptable to all the parties. He noted that other states have good workers’ compensation systems that have settled that issue and wonders why Quinn hasn’t used his influence to get that done here.
*** UPDATE 1 - 1:26 pm *** Two sources just said that Gen. Walsh told top state officials this afternoon that the Missouri fuseplug levee will likely be blown by midnight. We’ll see.
*** UPDATE 2 - 1:50 pm *** I’m told that Rep. Brandon Phelps and Sen. Gary Forby both met personally with Gen. Walsh this afternoon on behalf of their district to plead with him to blow that Missouri fuseplug levee today or tonight.
Maj. Gen Michael J. Walsh, President of the Mississippi River Commission, will announce his decision regarding operation of the Floodway at a press conference at 5 p.m. today (May 2) at the Checkpoint on the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway levee road. A represent from COL Reichling’s staff will also be present to answer questions.
*** UPDATE 4 - 3:43 pm *** Video from today’s press conference featuring Gov. Quinn and others…
*** UPDATE 5 - 4:31 pm *** Aerial video of the flood zones…
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* A frustrated, exhausted state Rep. John Bradley just called with a plea to the Army Corps of Engineers: “It’s time to blow the levee” in Missouri to relieve severe flooding pressure on Illinois.
Bradley said he’s been participating in sandbagging all weekend, but things are getting worse. “We can’t pump water out fast enough. It’s going over the sandbags,” he said. “Even a foot of relief would make all the difference in these towns,” he said.
Old Shawneetown, Olive Branch, Tamms, Grand Tower and Junction are just some of the towns that Bradley said are in serious trouble right now. “We haven’t lost Cairo yet,” he said, “but we’re losing these towns around it.”
Bradley also said that the water is rising in and around larger towns like Metropolis, Harrisburg and Carmi.
“It’s time to blow that levee,” Bradley said. “Let’s quit waiting.”
* Major General Walsh with the Army Corps of Engineers is in Cairo right now meeting with the governor.
But Rep. Bradley is clearly frustrated with all the talk about doing something and now wants some action. He certainly has a point. As of noon today, the Ohio River was at 61.15 feet at Cairo. The previous record was 59.5 feet. Have a look…
* I’ve avoided doing this since we’re a state blog, but my mom just sent me an e-mail and, as is usually the case, I think she might be right…
I know it’s not usual for your blog, but I think you should have a post about Illinois citizens’ reaction to the killing of bin Laden or some such thing
Have at it, but I will impose one rule: Absolutely no partisan bickering. Thanks.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Statement from Jonathon Monken, State Homeland Security Advisor…
As the State Homeland Security Advisor to Governor Quinn, I have been in contact with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the death of Osama bin Laden. At this time, we are working closely with the State Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) as intelligence experts there collect and disseminate information to our state and local law enforcement partners regarding this event. I am also in close communications with the Illinois State Police.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has indicated that it does not intend to issue a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) at this time. While our country remains at a heightened state of vigilance, we do not want the public to be alarmed.
As always, it is important for people to remain vigilant, be aware of situations taking place around them and report anything that appears suspicious to local law enforcement agencies.
A number of precautions have been taken, including having all police personnel in uniform. Key personnel with the Fire Department and Department of Aviation have also been notified to “remain vigilant,” the release said.
In addition, OEMC personnel have been actively monitoring cameras citywide, including those in the Operation Virtual Shield surveillance network with special emphasis on critical infrastructure. Those employees are also in contact with the police Crime Prevention Information Center to monitor cameras and share information.
City officials have also been in contact with the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, as well as federal and state law enforcement officials to share and distribute information, the release said.
Illinois can more than double its renewable energy capacity by developing its permitted “ready for construction” wind projects, but the narrow scope of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) makes it extremely difficult to build new wind farms.
In the absence of any 2011 RPS revisions, Illinois is poised to lose these projects along with thousands of jobs.
In order for the state to be competitive and reap wind energy’s full benefits, the Illinois legislature must include renewable provisions in the state’s 2011 energy bill.
These provisions are two-fold:
1. Incentivize local economic development
2. Create a stable financial structure that guarantees long-term contracts for wind power
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan said [Saturday] that he isn’t ruling out the possibility of cutting Chicago and other cities’ share of income taxes as part of a state budget plan. […]
The Tribune disclosed Quinn’s office was looking at suspending the nearly $100 million a month in payments the state makes to cities across Illinois in an effort to pressure reluctant lawmakers to support a borrowing plan to pay some long overdue bills.
“I’ve committed to Gov. Quinn that I’m going to work with the governor in terms of adopting a balanced budget and so my commitment is to work with the governor,” Madigan said.
“In the majority of states across the nation it has happened where local governments have been called upon to sacrifice also,” he said. “So it’s not out of line to ask local governments to share the sacrifice. So that’s why I would say my plan is to work with the governor.”
* The Question: Should the state significantly cut funding (let’s say, at least a third) to local governments to help balance the budget? Take the poll and the explain your answer in comments.
* The Lake County Sheriff has long been a lightning rod on the immigration issue. For instance, here’s a story from 2008…
Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran on Thursday released the results of an audit that showed a fifth of his jail population is undocumented and pressed for the power to deport them.
In the process, he took shots at Cook County, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and politicians in Springfield and Washington for not doing the same.
“The city of Chicago as well as the state of Illinois have shown little interest in cooperating with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” Curran said. Later, he added: “Throw the bums out of Springfield and Washington but treat the illegal immigrants with love and respect.”
A churchful of activists seeking state laws to protect undocumented immigrants got a boost from an unlikely source Saturday when Republican Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran told them he had seen the errors of his former pro-deportation stand.
“I was on the other side of this issue, so in essence, a persecutor at one time,” Curran told thousands of activists at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in West Lawn, standing with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
“I cannot think, in good conscience, that breaking up families is something that God is going to look favorably upon in America if we continue to go down that route,” he said as protestors erupted in applause. “My confirmation name as a Catholic is Paul. St. Paul was a persecutor at one point. There was a conversion story. We can stop this silliness of deporting people, breaking up families, and then claiming that we’re ‘pro-family.’ ”
The event was held in the home turf of Madigan, who years ago refused to meet with some of these activists.
But on Saturday, Madigan told them he was on-board with their main requests, and they in turn praised him for his support and help in killing 14 “anti-immigrant” bills that have come up in the state legislature.
“We know that if we work together there will be a fair remap for the state of Illinois and we know that if we work together there will be an Illinois Dream Act,” the Speaker of the House said to raucous cheers.
“Everybody in America came from somewhere else. My family came from Ireland many, many years ago,”
He and Cullerton gave favorable forecasts for passage of the state’s Dream Act, which would create a commission funneling private scholarships to children of undocumented immigrants who were educated here. Efforts for a similar federal law, giving citizenship to foreign-born students who attend college or serve in the military, have failed.
Madigan’s ward is seriously Latino these days and so is his House district. So, it makes sense for him to reach out to those he formerly snubbed. As the video shows, the crowd ate it up.
*** UPDATE *** Blagojevich’s defense lawyers have made a motion to scrap jury selection and start all over because of “overwhelming bias.” Natasha Korecki Tweeted U.S. District Judge James Zagel’s response…
judge says if jury pool is tainted, it’s b/c ex-gov wouldn’t shut up.
Heh.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* It turns out that the Illinois State Police was secretly working with the FBI in the days leading up to Rod Blagojevich’s arrest. Blagojevich had ordered that his campaign office be swept for bugs. But the Sun-Times reveals today that the coppers faked the sweep and told Blagojevich no bugs existed in order to deliberately hide the FBI’s snooping…
The revelation appeared to stun Rod and Patti Blagojevich in a recent interview.
“Wow,” Rod Blagojevich said, describing his State Police security detail as “quasi-family.” […]
In an interview, Blagojevich said he regretted naming [Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent, who worked closely with the FBI]. He distanced himself from the bug sweeps, saying he didn’t order them himself, adding: “They were routine.”
Yeah. Sweeping the governor’s campaign office for listening devices is “routine” in a year when he’s not campaigning. Sure.
More…
[Former ISP Director Terry Gainer] said the fact Blagojevich seemed surprised at the State Police’s role in the federal probe showed a distorted view of what the law-enforcement agency’s purpose really is all about.
“That’s where some elected leaders get it wrong. You are not loyal to the person. You are loyal to the office,” Gainer said. “Again, policemen are supposed to remember they took that oath and put the badge on. You don’t owe blind allegiance to those elected officials.”
The lawyers clashed briefly over Juror 213, an African-American woman whom Zagel wound up cutting because she was busy trying to run a medical transport company and has two sons with felony convictions whom she is trying to keep out of further trouble.
Blagojevich’s attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, grew upset because the woman was only one of two prospective jurors to note on written questionnaires that Blagojevich was innocent until proven guilty. Sorosky said he thought maybe the government was fearful of that opinion and pointed out the woman was a “person of color.”
Assistant U.S. Atty. Reid Schar reacted strongly to any insinuation that race was a factor in the selection process.
“I don’t know what it is with Mr. Sorosky today, but the attacks on the government aren’t getting us anywhere,” Schar said.
Zagel said he did not believe race was a factor in the government’s request that the woman be bounced by the judge.
After the government asked Zagel to dismiss an unemployed man who said he spends his days watching reruns of “The Beverly Hillbillies” and who struggled to express himself during his interview, defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky bristled.
“Maybe he didn’t speak King’s English . . . but we would be developing a class standard if we don’t let him serve,” Sorosky said. He added that prosecutors seemed to want only people who could “be depicted in a Norman Rockwell painting” as jurors.
Dropping his characteristic formality, prosecutor Reid Schar turned to Sorosky and said angrily, “Shelly, go ahead and argue your point but don’t misinterpret what I’m saying.”
In the end, Zagel dismissed the man on the grounds that he “seems to be entirely detached from reality.”
CAIRO – Governor Pat Quinn will give an update on flood response in Southern Illinois.
WHO: Governor Quinn
Federal, State and Local Officials
WHEN: Media advised to arrive at 11:15 a.m.
Briefing scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
Directions: I-57 South. Use Exit 1 to reach US 51 South. Checkpoint is located on Rt. 51, just north of entrance to City of Cairo. Press must present credentials to Illinois State Police at checkpoint and further guidance will be provided.
* Rivers rise, residents sweat - Army Corps of Engineers preparing to blow Missouri levee after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to not hear Missouri’s appeal on the matter
Situated in a cornfield east of the intersection of U.S. 47 and Illinois 113 in Grundy County is the point referred to by the census as the Mean Center of Population for Illinois.
The coordinates are calculated as the place where an imaginary, flat, weightless and rigid map of Illinois would balance perfectly if all its residents were of identical weight. […]
“Somewhere close to half the population of the state is within 40 miles of The Loop,” Illinois State University geography professor Mike Sublett said.
This actually isn’t “new” news. The state’s population center has been in Grundy for the past twenty years. In fact, the population center actually moved a tiny bit south in the most recent census.
* Meanwhile, I defended Rod Blagojevich for years for not living in Springfield. I have no regrets about that because I also criticized him for not showing up for session days. And, here we go again…
Since his inauguration for a full term Jan. 10, Gov. Pat Quinn has spent 12 days in Springfield, according to a review of his publicly released schedule.
Counting days Quinn spent partially in the capital city raises the number to 24, according to the governor’s staff, which also reviewed his private schedule.
The Executive Mansion is not the White House. There is no requirement or even established tradition that he should live there, the whining from Springfield types notwithstanding. As the top story clearly shows, most of Illinois lives in the Chicago media market. Population trumps geography any day in my book. I really don’t care how many days the governor spends in Springfield as long as he gets the job done. By the end of the session, we’ll have a good idea if he cleared that particular hurdle.
However, the governor has said time and time again that he “lives” at the mansion. That’s obviously not true, so this SJ-R story is a legit little gotcha.
Quinn spokeswoman Mica Matsoff responded that “when the General Assembly is in Springfield, so is the governor.”
Not true. The GA has been in session more than 24 days since Quinn was inaugurated. They surpassed 24 session days back in March.
“I live at the mansion,” “I’m there whenever the Legislature is in town,” “I won’t support any tax increase above 1 percentage point,” “I’m for the death penalty,” “My helicopter couldn’t land in Cairo.” These things do add up.
