* The Illinois Supreme Court rejected a bid by the Republican legislative leaders to keep their lawsuit alive against the new district map…
House Republican Leader Thomas H. Cross III and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno filed a complaint in February against the State Board of Elections and other state officials, claiming the redistricting maps are unconstitutional.
The complaint contends that 27 representative districts, including districts 113 and 114 in St. Clair County, violated provisions of the Illinois Constitution requiring districts to be compact and politically fair. Republicans claim that Democrats gerrymandered the districts in a way that would benefit their party in the next election.
The court in March ordered both parties to file briefs on whether the motion was timely under Supreme Court Rule 382, which governs actions related to redistricting challenges. The Board of Elections argued that the Republicans waited more than eight months after the maps were approved to file the complaint in an effort to delay the primary election.
The majority Democrats did not provide any reasoning for their decision. The vote was along party lines, with the three Republican justices dissenting. Justice Bob Thomas pointed to the lack of timelines in the state Constitution and in Supreme Court rules.
* House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno issued a joint statement…
“It is unfortunate the Illinois Supreme Court issued a partisan decision,” it read. “The majority took the unusual step of providing no grounds for their decision to prevent the people of Illinois from getting their day in court. The ruling is further evidence of the need for true redistricting reform in Illinois.”
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jun 7, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bill Knight, the deputy director of the journalism program at Western Illinois University, has a new column about a bill that passed both chambers which would remove campaign contribution caps when independent expenditures reach $250,000 in a statewide election or $100,000 in other races…
“Citizens throughout Illinois were angered by Rod Blagojevich’s corrupt actions and the state’s history of corrupt agreements involving political contributions, and voters demanded reform of Illinois’ loose campaign finance regulations, which allowed unlimited contributions to all candidates,” [Brian Gladstein, the executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform] said. “This bill would be a step backwards and open the door to more corruption in the future.”
Democrats argued that they need limits lifted to make campaigns “fairer,” by leveling the playing field against SuperPACs. They’re concerned after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 “Citizens United” decision and an Illinois court ruling in March that the federal case applies to Illinois, too, that they need to respond if a SuperPAC spends a lot of money against them. […]
Various opponents of the bill note that Illinois’ first campaign-finance reform restricting political action committees to $50,000 hasn’t had a chance to work yet.
“This is an inappropriate and hasty response to recent court decisions which have enabled the creation of so-called SuperPACs,” Gladstein said. “The proposal’s adoption by the General Assembly comes less than two years after Illinois’ corruption-fighting campaign contribution limits system went into effect. SB 3722 would allow a return to the environment that allowed corruption to flourish in our too-recent past, if the governor signs it.
“There are other ways to address the issue of independent expenditure committees, such as better and stronger definitions to what it means to be coordinating with a candidate,” Gladstein continued. [Emphasis added.]
* From the current state law banning coordination…
Each quarterly report shall include the following information regarding any independent expenditures made during the reporting period: (1) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom an expenditure in excess of $150 has been made in connection with an independent expenditure; (2) the amount, date, and purpose of such expenditure; (3) a statement whether the independent expenditure was in support of or in opposition to a particular candidate; (4) the name of the candidate; (5) the office and, when applicable, district, sought by the candidate; and (6) a certification, under penalty of perjury, that such expenditure was not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of such committee. [Emphasis added.]
* The Question: Should Gov. Pat Quinn sign the bill lifting contribution caps when bigtime independent money is spent? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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Is S&P really that clueless? It appears so
Thursday, Jun 7, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A top Moody’s analyst is fine with the progress Illinois has made on the budget and pensions so far this year…
Moody’s analyst Edward “Ted” Hampton praised the session’s achievements and said the agency at the moment remains comfortable with the state’s current rating level, though pensions remain a central concern. “Obviously this session yielded some progress on some fronts and not on others,” he said.
* But an S&P analyst is more circumspect…
[S&P analyst Robin Prunty] said in an interview that while the state retains some breathing room to act, she is concerned over the difficulty of achieving the three-fifths majority needed to approve legislation in a special session: “We are watching to see if there is credible action but it’s hard to know if they will come to an agreement.”
I pointed out S&P’s misreading of the Illinois Constitution to subscribers today, but since the analyst repeated the assertion made in the firm’s original report, I figured I’d pile on some more. Here we go…
* From the Illinois Constitution…
SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE OF LAWS
The General Assembly shall provide by law for a uniform effective date for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. The General Assembly may provide for a different effective date in any law passed prior to June 1. A bill passed after May 31 shall not become effective prior to June 1 of the next calendar year unless the General Assembly by the vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house provides for an earlier effective date. (Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 8, 1994.) [Emphasis added.]
So, yes, they could pass a pension reform bill with an immediate effective date and try in vain to round up 71 House votes and 36 Senate votes. That would be hard. Maybe impossible.
Far more likely, though, is that any pension reform bill (if there is one) will have a delayed effective date, requiring only simple majorities.
This ain’t rocket science.
* Related…
* Will Walker election affect pension debate?: While the Wisconsin vote Tuesday is seen by some as a jumping-off point for GOP leaders in states like Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri to push for anti-union measures, Illinois public employee unions remain part of the discussions that are focused entirely on benefit costs. “I have a difficult time drawing a lot of parallels between them,” said Illinois Education Association director of government relations Jim Reed.
* State pension talks stalled: “My position on pension reform is that we have to eliminate the free lunch for local school districts,” Madigan said after emerging from the meeting. But Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, of Lemont, said the proposal amounts to a “poison pill” designed to hold up action on other pension reforms. She noted the idea has little support among suburban and Downstate lawmakers because it could force property taxes to go up as schools seek to cover the added expenses. Radogno said the cost-shift idea should be separated from other pension proposals that do have support.
* Officials to meet again on pension solutions: Illinois officials will spend the next two weeks gathering financial information from the state’s more than 800 school districts to get a better idea of how shifting pension costs away from the state would affect those districts… Quinn said the next two weeks will be spent collecting financial data from school districts, including “what their reserves are, what their current contracts are, what exactly they have right now as to their costs.” “The more facts we could gather regarding what the impact would be on school districts, it would be very important facts we should know,” Quinn said.
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*** UPDATE 1 *** According to a top source, General Enyart is submitting his resignation today from his position with the state and the National Guard to pursue the 12th Congressional District seat. I should have his official letter around one o’clock. Enyart’s announcement is set for 2 o’clock.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The resignation letter is here.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Enyart says he won’t announce his decision about whether to try for the ballot appointment until next week…
Maj. Gen. William Enyart, commander of the Illinois National Guard, retired from the military effective today, and said he was seriously considering seeking the Democratic nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello.
Costello, who has represented the 12th Congressional District since 1988, announced in October that he won’t seek re-election in November. That threw up for grabs a seat that had been considered safe for Democrats since World War II.
“I want to step down and take some time with my family and weigh the prospect of a candidacy.” Enyart said while standing at the Veterans Memorial in the Public Square here.
“I would not resign if I was not prepared to look at it very hard.”
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* I received this via e-mail earlier today…
Major General William L. Enyart will make an announcement regarding his future plans at 2 pm, Thursday, June 7 at the Veterans’ Monument, Belleville Public Square, Main and Illinois Streets, Belleville, IL.
Enyart is considering a bid for the 12th District. As you already know, this is longtime Democratic incumbent Jerry Costello’s seat and his hand-picked replacement dropped out of the race last month. Whoever is chosen for the spot will face Republican Jason Plummer in the general election.
* OK, on to the very big tea leaves…
Enyart said he had spoken with Costello about his possible candidacy but wouldn’t discuss specifics. “I’ve had the best job in the world with the Illinois National Guard,” Enyart said. “But this could be an area where I could a have significant impact.” […]
Metro East politicos say Enyart would be a formidable candidate with his military experience and contacts at Scott Air Force Base, which is the district’s largest employer and an important touchstone in Washington.
But a wild card in the mix is Circuit Judge John Baricevic, a Fairview Heights man who has a long résumé with decades in public office and who said he’s considering a run for the seat.
Baricevic said he enjoys public service but added that his decision could hinge on Enyart, whom Baricevic said would be a good candidate.
“If he’s serious about it, then I’ll probably step aside,” Baricevic said.
Baricevic was considered by insiders to be the guy who would be the most likely to get the weighted vote from St. Clair and Madison counties. If he’s willing to step aside for Enyart, and Enyart has talked to Costello about a bid, and Enyart is making an announcement today, you don’t have to be blind to see the signals here.
* Enyart, by the way, is a military lawyer who lists no combat experience on his resume…
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1982 - November 1984, Trial Counsel, 66th Infantry Brigade, Decatur, Illinois
2. November 1984 - February 1985, Executive Officer, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Litchfield, Illinois
3. February 1985 - August 1985, Assistant Trial Counsel, 86th Army Reserve Command, Urbana, Illinois
4. August 1985 - September 1990, Selective Service System Officer, Detachment One, State Area Command, Springfield, Illinois
5. September 1990 - August 1993, Assistant Judge Advocate, State Area Command, Springfield, Illinois
6. August 1993 - May 1996, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 66th Infantry Brigade, Decatur, Illinois
7. May 1996 - September 1997, Command Judge Advocate, 33rd Area Support Group, Chicago, Illinois
8. September 1997 - October 2002, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, State Area Command, Springfield, Illinois
9. October 2002 - December 2005, Staff Judge Advocate, State Area Command, Springfield, Illinois
10. December 2005 - May 2006, Deputy Commander, Joint Forces Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois
11. June 2006 - September 2007, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters, Springfield, Illinois
12. September 2007 - Present, The Adjutant General, Illinois National Guard, Springfield, Illinois
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The human side of cost-cutting
Thursday, Jun 7, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Cares Rx is a program for low-income seniors and the disabled. Here’s a brief description…
Illinois Cares Rx pays Medicare Part D premiums and reduces co-pays, deductibles and other pharmaceutical costs.
The program’s clients must have incomes below $22,340 a year for a single person and $30,260 for a two-person household.
* That program was eliminated under the Medicaid restructuring agreement. The human cost…
Bonita Turley gets emotional when she thinks about the $100 in additional medical expenses she could have to pay each month.
The Buffalo resident is among a chorus of seniors and advocates who hope Gov. Pat Quinn decides not to sign a budget-cutting bill that would eliminate Illinois Cares Rx, a statewide prescription-assistance program for low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities.
“I want to be as independent as I can,” said Turley, 65, a former insurance clerk who takes medicine for diabetes, seizures and thyroid problems.
Assuming that Ms. Turley is single, that $100 a month cost increase would be 5.3 percent of her annual income if she is at the top of the scale. That percentage could be a whole lot higher depending how far she falls under the cap.
Just something to think about.
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