Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Arbitration, closures and license plates
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Arbitration, closures and license plates

Monday, Jul 9, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As you already know, Gov. Pat Quinn refused to pay for state raises for 30,000 unionized workers last year because he claimed the General Assembly didn’t appropriate enough money to fund them. Quinn was right about the lack of appropriations, but during my vacation a judge ruled that he has to prove it

A nonbinding arbitrator’s ruling last summer sided with the union representing nearly 30,000 state workers, saying they should get the raise. Now Cook County Judge Richard Billik Jr. says the arbitrator should consider the administration’s contention that $75 million needed was not provided by the Legislature in the budget for fiscal 2012. […]

Billik sided with some of the administration’s arguments, including that Quinn can’t spend money that hasn’t been appropriated by lawmakers even if bound by a contract.

But the judge said that for that argument to hold up, the administration must prove that it lacked the money, and he ordered the matter sent back to the arbitrator for additional fact-finding. No date was immediately set.

“It is the court’s view that because the amount of funds is disputed, further proceedings are necessary. … The case is remanded to arbitration,” Billik said.

* Meanwhile, the governor also talked about his rationale for closing state facilities

Quinn insisted the moves were necessary to restore fiscal stability to Illinois when questioned by reporters after signing the budget over the weekend. “A lot of those facilities have been in place for a long time, but having said that, the mission has to be to carry out what’s good for the people of Illinois in their needs, and we cannot see state government putting facilities in places as an employment program”, said Quinn.

Quinn once again emphasized his reasoning for closing both the Jacksonville and Murray Developmental Centers. “We’re not going to have an institution-based system. Now we’re in the future. We’re moving forward towards community care. I think it’s a better way to go. It makes sure that they’re is a way of independent living, and a fulfillment opportunity for those who are in those systems. It’s a fundamental policy difference that I have with some members of the General Assembly, but I think that is what the people of Illinois want”, said Quinn.

* And Quinn came up with a populist idea for raising a few bucks

It once belonged to a succession of Roman Catholic cardinals in Chicago. Then, it went to an Illinois secretary of state who would later be remembered for the shoeboxes stuffed with cash that he left behind after his death. Most recently, it adorned the car of a former Illinois first lady. […]

But for the past decade, Illinois’ No. 1 license plate — the most coveted of all the state’s nearly 7.8 million passenger-vehicle license plates — has quietly been kept out of circulation.

That has been the case ever since the widow of former Gov. Richard Ogilvie relinquished the showpiece plate in 2002. […]

But told that that’s the case by a Chicago Sun-Times reporter, Quinn now has a plan to put passenger plate No. 1 back into circulation.

He wants the plate sold to the highest bidder, with the proceeds going to programs for military veterans.

The governor has long been a proponent of auctioning off coveted low-digit and single-letter license plates, which for decades have gone to those with political clout — including more than a few who ended up being felons.

Four other states now allow license plates to be auctioned to the high bidder.

No one can say for certain how much Illinois’ No. 1 might draw. In 2009, though, Delaware plate No. 11 pulled in a whopping $675,000 at auction. And that was No. 11, not No. 1.

* Related…

* ADDED: Prison workers say violent incidents on rise

* Illinois Has a Budget and 160-Thousand Unpaid Bills

* Budget blocks funds for prisons Quinn is to close

* Illinois Services Threatened As Pension Hole Grows: “It’s a little bit humorous to me,” Allan says. “The retirement card that I received today simply says ‘thank you.’ And the reason for that is because there are so many state employees and university people retiring within the city of Springfield that you cannot go into any store and buy a retirement card at this point.”

* Advocates praise Quinn’s plan to close juvenile prisons: “Consolidation of the youth prison system will drive down the cost of a system where the annual cost has recently risen to close to $100,000 per bed. That drains away money that could better be spent on rehabilitation of our youth and helping them transition safely back into their communities,” said Paula Wolff, senior executive of Metropolis Strategies, a Chicago-based civic organization.

* State still figuring out contributions for health coverage

* Budget leaves gambling bill, senior fares unsettled

* Quinn changes mind on closing transition centers

       

38 Comments
  1. - DeKalb Dragon - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:31 am:

    [snark alert] Quinn can now get rid of that backlog of bills by just declaring the legislature did not allocate enough money!


  2. - RNUG - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:32 am:

    RE: Arbitration - given the Gov can transfer a percentage of funds and that agency Directors can transfer a percentage between line items within their agency, it’s going to be tough to prove there were NO funds available for a 2% increase in just the personnel line item.


  3. - Shore - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:39 am:

    why don’t they do this with all of them and then up the cost of the ones that people request and use the funds for whatever impoverished child/women who have been abused program they cut this year. I am sure bearfn1 bulls82 ect as well as any single digit license plate would fetch a sum. I don’t think there would be a mass outrage over this kind of stuff.

    Mrs. Blago by the way is welcome to license plate 14.


  4. - Deep South - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:45 am:

    Our “Accidental Governor” continues his legacy as the most inept leader in state history. This is one Democrat that will never vote for a Quinn ticket again.


  5. - wordslinger - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:54 am:

    “…Our “Accidental Governor” …”

    Won the primary, won the general election. No accident there.

    I was driving on the Ike years ago when a little old lady in a black Caddy passed me sporting Illinois “1″ plates. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out who it could be.

    It was many months later that the Sun-Times did a story on vanity plates and revealed that it was Mrs. Ogilvie.

    Might be a good future question of the day: Suggested vanity plates for state pols.


  6. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:54 am:

    AA is certain that one of the top priorities for the Leaders in Veto Session will be amending the Vehicle Code to allow one license plate to be raffled off like steer at the State Fair just to give Gov. Hapless a press pop.


  7. - Anonymous - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:03 am:

    Good idea, Word.
    How about ideas for a vanity plate for Mrs. Blago?
    (IEATBUGS)


  8. - Cindy Lou - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:05 am:

    I’m curious what the future back-up plan is in the case of another emergency such as the storms that forced the movement of dixon prisoners? Quinn assures the prison will be repaired before Tamms closes…what’s the plan after that if another such quick move becomes necessary.

    I tend to feel more than a spokesperson assurance ‘no problem’ (at least this time) needs to be long term developed. Illinois does not have the most predictable of unforeseen weather related incidents. I’m uneasy with the thought of automatically racing to sell off building/s the state already owns and is set-up for specialized prisoners.


  9. - Plutocrat03 - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:09 am:

    I’m glad the State’s most pressing problems have been solved an we can focus on the disposition of a single license plate.

    Looks like the same ‘here’s a kitty’ meme at work again.

    On a lighter note, should the license plates for State pols come with a ghosting of vertical bars that would be filled in upon conviction?


  10. - Stones - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:09 am:

    No disrespect meant towards veterans at all but it seems that everything PQ does is geared towards them. It seems to me that there are many worthly uses an influx of cash into the state’s coffers.


  11. - Deep South - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:18 am:

    Yep, wordslinger…the Gov. won 4 of 102 counties in the general to take his place as the Gov. of Cook County. Do you like “Governor Irrelevant” better?


  12. - Deep South - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:21 am:

    Well, the above Deep South isn’t me. How about picking another name my friend? In any event, winning Illinois isn’t about winning counties….the state doesn’t have an “electoral college” system. Winning the most votes is what its all about.


  13. - Bocephus - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:31 am:

    Sorry to take your name Deep South…first time user. Just not sure how anyone from the deep south can defend our Governor and his actions.


  14. - downstate hack - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:35 am:

    Why has the gaming bill not reached the Governor’s desk? It passed in May. Anyone have an explanation?
    Thanks.


  15. - Norseman - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:36 am:

    Stones, there is not much I like about Quinn’s actions/policies, but I do respect what he’s done for vets. I don’t think his support for vets, while probably politically motivated, has created any adverse consequences for the non-vet citizens of the state. Our vets need all the support they can get.


  16. - wordslinger - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:36 am:

    –Yep, wordslinger…the Gov. won 4 of 102 counties in the general to take his place as the Gov. of Cook County. Do you like “Governor Irrelevant” better?–

    Irrelevant? Not so long as the veto pen works.

    What’s irrelevant is the never-ending “four of 102 counties” nonsense. My “village” has more voters than more than 70 Illinois counties. So what? My vote still counts as one. How many should you get?


  17. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:41 am:

    ===My “village” has more voters than more than 70 Illinois counties.===

    Nice perspective.

    You didn’t mention, however, that your village of Oak Park has about 51,000 people, about the population of a single Chicago ward.


  18. - Stones - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 11:54 am:

    Norseman, you are correct - nobody in this day and age are going to disagree about programs and support of veterans including myself. My point however is that our state has more needs than resources.


  19. - Bocephus - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:01 pm:

    I’d love to see Quinn’s approval ratings outside of Cook County. Guess that would be too much “nonsense.”


  20. - Bigtwich - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:01 pm:

    “Legislators represent people, not trees or acres. Legislators are elected by voters, not farms or cities or economic interests.”

    Chief Justice Earl Warren

    “…the forces of our national life are not brought to bear on public questions solely in proportion to the weight of numbers. If they were, the 6 million citizens of the Chicago area would hold sway in the Illinois Legislature without consideration of the problems of their 4 million fellows who are scattered in 100 other counties. Under the Court’s new decree, California could be dominated by Los Angeles and San Francisco; Michigan by Detroit..”

    Senator Everett Dirksen


  21. - soccermom - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:12 pm:

    ENOUGH WITH THE FOUR COUNTIES NONSENSE! (Sorry, Soccermom had an horrific weekend, and not in a good way.)

    Pat Quinn won a primary fight to become the Dem nominee for Lt. Gov. One can presume that the voters of Illinois knew that the Lt. Gov steps up if the Governor steps down or drops dead. So it is hardly “accidental” that Pat Quinn became governor when Rod went to his reward.

    Pat Quinn then faced a tough primary challenge, and won. And then won in a tough general election. Yes, more than half of his votes were in Cook County. That’s where most of the votes ARE. (And incidentally, Bill Brady got 400,000 votes in Cook. Should we erase them from his totals on the grounds that they were tainted by Chicago?)

    Not to mention — Pat Quinn pulled more than 800,000 votes outside of Cook. So clearly he had support statewide.

    I have an idea — let’s redraw the county lines so they each hold the same number of voters. And while we’re doing it, let’s reduce the number of counties to 50, and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

    And then let’s have forced remedial civics education for everybody who thinks that our political system is based on a one-county, one-vote principle.

    Bah, humbug.


  22. - wordslinger - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:30 pm:

    Rich, you are correct and there are more GOP votes in many of those wards than there are in many downstate counties. If you hustle.

    Bigwitch, I think Warren got the better of that one (with the exception, of course, of the Constitutionally mandated unequal representation in the U.S. Senate). I’m sure southern Illinois doesn’t mind their disproportionate amount of state dollars.

    For the record, however:

    Combined population of Quinn’s Mighty Four (Alexander, Cook, Jackson, St. Clair):

    5.5 million

    Combined population of the 98 Victims:

    7.4 million

    No matter how you slice it, the Brady Bunch lost it, fair and square.


  23. - grand old partisan - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 12:43 pm:

    Deep South – If I may, how about “Governor Inept.” It’s the most indisputably accurate and concise epithet for Mr. Quinn.

    Norseman – I don’t dispute that the Governor’s heart is in the right place when it comes to veterans, but I think Stone’s point is that his head is in the wrong place. He needs to stop wasting valuable time and energy pursuing stuff like this and get his head around the enormity of the problems facing this state. He is the Governor of Illinois, not the fundraising chair for the Wounded Warrior Fund.


  24. - Irish - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:10 pm:

    So the legacy of this Governor will be.” I improved things north of Rte. 80″, “no contract is worth the paper it is written on.” and “The biggest patronage Governor in two decades. And don’t get in my way of appointing my buddies to lucretive positions or it is war.”

    Patronage is the reason that the Governor has declared war on the unions and the reason for every closure, layoff, reneging on the contract. etc. Bottomline the Governor is very irritated that the unions are fighting him on kicking the old PSA positions out of the union. He wants more places to put people he owes favors. He is running out of made up administrative jobs where he can put his cronies and he needs more positions. The unions are fighting him and so he is making them pay for that. Pay to Play is alive and very well.


  25. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:13 pm:

    ===The biggest patronage Governor in two decades===

    You gotta be kidding me.


  26. - Allen Skillicorn - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 1:49 pm:

    I suspect anyone that could afford $675k for a license plate left IL after the income tax hike.


  27. - Secret Square - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 2:11 pm:

    So there’s allegedly a shortage of “Good luck on your retirement” greeting cards in Springfield-area stores because of the recent stampede of state employees retiring? Can anyone else vouch for this?


  28. - Jimbo - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 2:22 pm:

    Community Care” means state contracts for political allies.It also may be deadly to the victims of this scam.I am not a union booster in this issue.I saw the results of the last “Community Care “debacle in the past.Tragic.


  29. - RNUG - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 2:27 pm:

    Irish,

    If Blago & Quinn hadb’t mistreated the PSA’s so bad, they wouldn’t be in the union in the first place.


  30. - Irish - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:09 pm:

    RNUG -I couldn’t agree more


  31. - Tobor - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 3:13 pm:

    Google Metropolis Strategies.


  32. - D.P. Gumby - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 4:45 pm:

    8 and variations of 8 are lucky numbers in Chinese. In Hong Kong, license plates w/ 8 have sold for hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars by 1%ers who want the numbers. Indeed, condos and apartments on the 8th floor of buildings sell/rent for more than other floors, I understand. So, for once, Gov. Squirrel may be onto something.


  33. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:35 pm:

    -8 and variations of 8 are lucky numbers in Chinese-
    Wouldn’t you know it, Jim Thompson ends up with the lucky number?


  34. - TIRED OF HIM - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:40 pm:

    How is it that Quinn and his idiot advisers are going to close State run facilities in DOC and leave open CONTRACT ones- put State employees out of a job and have contract workers doing the same work—- what kind of contributions are they giving?
    But I guess when his Chief of Staff worked for BLAGO what do you expect


  35. - anon - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 5:47 pm:

    Tired Of Him,

    AMEN!!!


  36. - RNUG - Monday, Jul 9, 12 @ 10:21 pm:

    Tired of Him,

    Big ones … that’s the way the system works. It is much easier to torque a single large annual campaign contribution out of the contract holder than it is to try to get small contributions out of actual State employees … especially because that is unethical / illegal unless it is totally voluntary … or at least I thought that ethics test said it was bad.


  37. - OneMan - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 10:02 am:

    It sounds nice, but just once I would like…

    To see Pat Quinn come up with a one time revenue thing that goes to something besides vets… Like school transportation, DHS Inspectors, State Parks, etc….

    We get it Pat and good for you, but expand the focus a touch.


  38. - soccermom - Tuesday, Jul 10, 12 @ 10:04 am:

    Not to get all googoo, but closing State facilities and reducing the State payroll eases the pressure on the pension systems.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* HGOPs whacked for opposing lame duck session
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* Report: IDOC's prison drug test found to be 'wrong 91 percent of the time'
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Session update (Updated x2)
* Illinois Supreme Court rules state SLAPP law doesn't automatically protect traditional journalism (Updated)
* ‘This is how I reward my good soldiers’: Madigan ally testifies he was rewarded with do-nothing consulting contract
* Illinois Supreme Court rules that Jussie Smollett's second prosecution 'is a due process violation, and we therefore reverse defendant’s conviction'
* Dignity In Pay (HB 793): It Is Time To Ensure Fair Pay For Illinoisans With Disabilities
* It’s just a bill (Updated)
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller