Question of the day
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Sheila Simon Will Not Seek Re-Election As Lieutenant Governor
CHICAGO, IL- Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon has announced that she will explore other opportunities to serve the people of Illinois and not run for reelection to the office of Lieutenant Governor.
“Serving as Lieutenant Governor has given me an opportunity to advocate on important issues that affect our state but it is time for me to do even more,” Simon said. “I want to serve the people of Illinois in a role where I can have an even greater impact.”
Sheila Simon has a long history of public service. Simon began her career working for Land of Lincoln legal assistance, helping working families who could not afford an attorney. As an Assistant States Attorney in Jackson County, Simon prosecuted domestic violence cases. Simon worked with a team at Southern Illinois University to open the University’s domestic violence clinic.
As Lieutenant Governor, Simon has expanded pro-bono services to domestic violence victims, increased access to higher education, and fought for the strongest government transparency legislation in 40 years. Simon informed the Governor of her decision in December.
“My career has been dedicated to advocating for the people of Illinois. I look forward to continuing that service,” said Lieutenant Governor Simon.
There’s no doubt that this was worked out with Gov. Pat Quinn in advance.
* The Question: Do you think Simon should run for attorney general if Lisa Madigan runs for governor, run for comptroller against Judy Baar Topinka, or run for treasurer in an open-seat contest? Make sure to explain your answer, please.
* Alternate Question: Who should Quinn pick as his running mate?
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Today’s quote
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
The spiritual leader of Roman Catholics in the state capital Tuesday urged the Illinois Senate to vote down legislation authorizing gay marriage and offered pastoral help for gays and lesbians to “live a life of chastity.”
“As the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, I strenuously object to this legislation and hope our elected officials will see the value marriage contributes to the common good of our society,” said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, who testified against the same-sex marriage legislation. […]
“The Catholic Church has great love and compassion for those who experience same-sex attraction and offers pastoral help for people dealing with this condition to help them live a life of chastity,” Paprocki said in a written statement issued late Tuesday afternoon.
“This is a separate issue, however, from the definition of marriage as a natural institution between a man and a woman committed to an exclusive and life-long relationship open to the potential to bring new life into the world,” he said.
Discuss. But remember that “separation of church and state” doesn’t mean that churches have to be silent on public policy issues. Some of y’all are often unclear on that concept.
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New poll
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As I told subscribers this morning, be careful when you read the media coverage of these poll results…
The 2014 governor’s race in Illinois could be anybody’s game, according to the results of a new poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU Carbondale.
A statewide survey of 600 registered voters from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8 shows Democrats leaning toward Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in a hypothetical primary race with Gov. Pat Quinn and former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley. Republicans, meanwhile, are more undecided, with Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford taking a slight lead over other possible contenders, such as state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, and U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, a Republican representing the state’s 18th congressional district.
Institute director David Yepsen said the poll, which has 4 percent margin of error, is a good snapshot of the potential races that will be heating up later this year.
The overall poll has a 4 percent margin of error. But the Democratic and Republican primary head-to-heads have much higher MoE’s. From the pollster…
The Democratic subsample of 310 respondents has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points, and the Republican subsample of 186 respondents has a margin of error of 7.2 percentage points.
That GOP subsample is awfully darned tiny.
* Keeping that in mind, this is from NBC5…
Of Republicans, 53.2 percent said they are undecided, 10.2 percent like State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, and 9.7 would vote for Senator Bill Brady. Congressman Aaron Schock won 9.1 percent while former Congressman Joe Walsh got 5.9 percent and state Senator Kirk Dillard 3.2 percent.
Among Democrats, 31.9 percent would vote for Madigan while 22.9 percent would vote again for Quinn and 11.9 would pick Daley. Even in this camp 28.4 percent was undecided.
Republican Bruce Rauner’s name was tested, but nobody picked him. That’ll change with $50 million, however.
* Sun-Times…
Those polled gave Quinn poor remarks for the work he has done, with only 32.8 percent giving the governor positive job-performance ratings. The poll showed 51.3 percent disapproving of the governor’s job performance.
Those findings represent a sizable slide for Quinn since the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute’s polling unit last was in the field. Last summer, 42.2 percent of those surveyed carried a positive view of the governor’s job performance while 49 percent disapproved.
That question was asked of the entire universe, so it’s far more valid. But last year’s poll on Quinn’s job performance was somewhat of an outlier, since most other polls have shown far worse job performance numbers.
* Related…
* Rutherford points to office savings
* Union targets Quinn — again
* Schools facing another year of deep funding cuts
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Hey, Joe, go get a job
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From last September…
Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) had a message for Sandra Fluke during a campaign stop on Saturday: You’re 31 years old, “go get a job.”
Prefacing his comments as a “rant,” Walsh called the Georgetown Law School graduate’s speech at the Democratic National Convention “embarrassing.”
“Think about this, a 31, 32-year-old-law student who has been a student for life, gets up there in front of a national audience and tells the American people, ‘I want America to pay for my contraceptives.’ You’re kidding me. Go get a job. Go get a job, Sandra Fluke,” he said to applause at a diner in Addison, Ill.
* And, now, Walsh wants to modify his child support obligations to 20 percent of his current income, which would be nothing since he currently has no job…
But an attorney for Walsh’s ex-wife said that the former congressman is behind on child support payments that were dictated under a previous court order and that Walsh’s ex-wife was taken by surprise by a Feb. 1 court filing that asks “to terminate child support obligation,” saying Walsh “is without sufficient income or assets with which to continue to pay his support obligation.”
“This is the first communication we’ve received from the congressman; she had no information prior to receiving this filing in the mail that he was going to seek,” said Jack Coladarci, an attorney for Walsh’s ex-wife. “He did not pay January and he has not paid February support… You still have to keep paying until the judge says you can stop.”
Walsh’s court filing states: “Joe’s employment has been terminated through no voluntary act of his own and he is without sufficient income or assets with which to continue to pay his support obligation. Due to a substantial change in circumstances, Joe requests that his child support obligation be terminated based on his present income and circumstances.”
But Walsh insists he’s not trying to get out of paying anything.
He said the key part of the filing comes at the end; when it asks that the court “modify Joe’s child support obligation to a sum equal to 20 percent of his net income until the minor child graduates from high school in 2013.”
Asked why the motion was titled “motion to terminate child support,” Walsh’s lawyer, Janet Boyle, characterized the title to the motion, which Walsh signed, as misleading.
“It probably should have been a motion to modify, that’s probably what I would have captioned it. My office used a word that is getting turned around here,” Boyle said. “That’s what we’re asking for, a modification, whether that’s modified to zero or some other number has yet to be seen.”
* From Walsh…
Here are the facts: My three kids are 25, 22, and 18-years-old. My youngest son will be emancipated in May of this year when he graduates from high school. Two weeks ago, I did what every other father who is paying child support is supposed to do — by law — when their employment situation changes — I modified my support agreement. With my Congressional term ending on January 3, and with my ex-wife having been paid in full through my term in Congress, by law, I filed a modification of my support payments for my remaining unemancipated child for these next four months. This modification called for me to pay my ex-wife 20% of my net income during these four months, which is my responsibility by law.
This is what the law requires me to do, and I’ve met that obligation. I’ve only been out of Congress for a month, and I expect to be employed again very soon. Regardless, I will continue with my child support payments by law until my son Patrick is emancipated.
This action was not done surreptitiously or with any malice towards my ex-wife. I did exactly what the law required me to do. Nothing was covered-up. Nothing was hidden.
* Walsh may have a valid point here, though…
Ms. Korecki of the Sun-Times posted her story to the newspaper’s website at the exact same time that she sent an e-mail to my attorney asking for comment. She claims falsely in her e-mail that my voicemail was full. That is not true.
* Whatever the case, the guy needs to go get a job. Any job. I’ll bet Burger King is hiring.
I mean, think about this, a 51, 52-year-old former congressman gets up there in front of a national audience and tells the American people, “I’m meeting my obligations.” You’re kidding me. Go get a job. Go get a job, Joe Walsh.
Just sayin…
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A road map it ain’t
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rahm Emanuel had been trying to claim that this deal would serve as a road map for future pension talks with all unions. Maybe not…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday touted a pension reform deal forged with Chicago Police sergeants as a “roadmap” for other unions to follow, but the divide-and-conquer strategy didn’t work with the Fraternal Order of Police.
In fact, it started a civil war within the ranks of Chicago Police officers.
FOP President Mike Shields, who has demanded a 12 percent pay raise over two years, accused the sergeants association of being “in bed with the city more than any other union in the history” of labor.
Shields branded sergeants association president Jim Ade “the biggest sell-out in the history of sell-outs” for agreeing to: raise the retirement age for sergeants to 53; increase employee pension contributions from 9-to-12 percent by 2015 and scale it back to 10 percent when funding levels reach 80 percent; eliminate cost-of-living increases every other year; limit C.O.L.A. in intervening years to 2.5 percent with simple interest and raise health care contributions for new retirees to 2 percent of annuities.
Sergeants also would get a 9 percent pay raise spread over four years while maintaining the $1,800-a-year uniform allowance and $3,220 in annual duty availability pay that supplements their income.
The city and union also have agreed to seek state legislation that would allow Emanuel to increase funding for the sergeants pension fund over a seven-year period. That would give the city more time and, if the economy turns around, reduce the amount of new revenue needed to meet union leaders half-way.
Also, there’s no doubt that any such deal would be challenged in court as unconstitutional.
Nice try, though.
* Meanwhile, from the Sun-Times…
The platform 1.2 million uninsured Illinoisans can use under ObamaCare to purchase health insurance has won federal approval, sources confirmed Tuesday.
The development, while expected, will be announced at a Wednesday press conference in Chicago by Gov. Pat Quinn and Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the federal Health and Human Services Department.
* Crain’s fleshes the story out…
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will appear in Chicago today to kick off the rebranding of health insurance exchanges as “marketplaces” for health coverage.
A key part of President Barack Obama’s health reform law, the state-level exchanges are intended to be online sites where consumers and small businesses can shop and compare health insurance plans.
With less than eight months to go before the sites are set to go live on Oct. 1 for open enrollment, state and federal officials are mounting a final public relations push to maximize participation in the exchanges. Having more customers will mean the marketplaces will function more effectively, experts say.
Only 17 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to set up exchanges, according to the Menlo Park, Calif.-based Kaiser Family Foundation. State officials estimate that about 486,000 people will obtain insurance through the Illinois exchange.
For the first year, Illinois’ exchange will be jointly run by the federal government, though state officials say it will shift to state control in 2015.
* Related…
* AARP-Illinois pushes for Obamacare
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Under the bus he goes
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As I told you the other day, the heat is really on UNO right now. Their $35 million construction grant was deleted from the mini capital bill approved by the General Assembly this month because of all the bad publicity. After dismissing questions about conflicts of interest as no big deal, the politically connected group is now apparently trying to get this matter behind them so they can eventually get that state cash…
The No. 2 executive of the United Neighborhood Organization quit Tuesday, eight days after the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the politically influential charter school operator paid state grant money to companies owned by two of his brothers.
Miguel d’Escoto, who was UNO’s senior vice president of operations, resigned “by mutual agreement” in a letter submitted Tuesday evening, said the group’s CEO, Juan Rangel. […]
Rangel said UNO’s contracting process “followed the law.”
“However, we want to avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest,” said Rangel, who was a co-chairman of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2011 campaign.
D’Escoto was paid $200,000 a year by UNO and had worked for it for six years, public records show. He previously was a city transportation commissioner in the administration of former Mayor Richard M. Daley.
D’Escoto’s brothers were paid with state funds under a $98 million grant UNO got to build new schools. The Sun-Times reported Feb. 4 that UNO’s contractors under the grant included d’Escoto Inc. — owned by former UNO board member Federico “Fred” d’Escoto — and Reflection Window Co., owned by Rodrigo d’Escoto.
Rangel said Sunday UNO would stop doing business with d’Escoto Inc. until after the organization completes an internal review of its contracting process.
As a side note, a South Side school construction project is not up and running yet because it had to follow the state’s bidding laws. UNO didn’t have to do that, and some African-American legislators aren’t too pleased.
* And speaking of Chicago school-related conflicts of interest…
The day before Chicago Public Schools is set to release the list of schools in danger of closing, a group of parents asked the CPS Inspector General of Chicago Public Schools to investigate the district’s closing process.
Parents 4 Teachers, which has strong ties to the Chicago Teachers Union, filed a complaint alleging conflict of interest, saying the district is motivated to close schools not by a budget deficit but by a desire to expand charter schools.
The letter dated Feb. 12 cited ties between the independent commission appointed by CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett to research school closings, and the Civil Consulting Alliance, which has ties to charter-school boosters. It also pointed to a $478,000 grant to CPS from the charter-supporting Walton Family Foundation to pay for breakout sessions at school closing hearings.
“They share the same offices,” Erica Clark of Parents 4 Teachers said of the commission. “They are advised by organizations that are in business to promote charters.
“These are clear conflicts of interest that have to stop,” she said.
Clark and her group also allege that CPS has misled the public into believing that school closings will help bridge a deep budget gap.
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Tillman: I’m not saying, I’m just saying
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A whole host of groups that claim they are non-partisan really aren’t. John Tillman at the Illinois Policy Institute recently penned a memo to Republican leaders about how they should behave now that the Democrats have veto-proof majorities. It’s a decidedly partisan memo, but Tillman claims he did it as a private citizen, not as a member of the tax exempt Institute.
An excerpt…
Bipartisanship should only be attractive to the GOP when the Democrats are adopting elements of GOP policies, not when the GOP signs onto Democrat policies that move our state in the wrong direction and gives them the political cover they seek (and thus makes it harder to beat them at election time). […]
The [Republican legislative] caucuses must re-define what having a seat at the table means. It does not mean that you negotiate with those in power for how to pass bad legislation made marginally better. Instead, it means setting up new “tables” all across the state. Once you have laid out your principle-centered agenda and specific policies, begin a road show traveling all across the state, district-by-district, civic group-by-civic group, those who support, those who oppose, seats held by Rs and seats held by Ds, and make your case over and over again for two straight years.
In other words, forget about governing and focus on politics. Leave Springfield and go purely political. Don’t try to modify Democratic proposals to make them better, which could be quite good for the state. Instead, refuse to participate in governance.
Politically speaking, I’m not sure how traveling the state with a mobile policy road show will do all that much to win votes. And, frankly, the Institute’s recommendations could be a no-go as well. The Senate Republicans unveiled a vague “road map” to budget cuts a couple of years ago and the Senate Democrats beat SGOP candidates over the head with it for weeks last fall. It turned out that Illinoisans actually hated imaginary budget cuts more than they hated real tax hikes - at least in those targeted districts.
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* 8:12 am - From a press release…
MEDIA ADVISORY: Simon To Make Major Political Announcement
CHICAGO, IL- Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon will make a major political announcement ahead of Wednesday’s United Negro College Fund Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
What: Political Announcement
Who: Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon
When: Wednesday, February 13
10:15 AM
Where: Hyatt Regency Chicago
Acapulco Room
151 E. Wacker Dr
Chicago
Some of us have been hearing for several days that Simon will run for another statewide job next time around, including possibly comptroller if Lisa Madigan runs for reelection. If she doesn’t run for reelection, Simon could run for attorney general. Stay tuned.
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It’s all a shell game! Vote NO on SB9
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
ComEd is at it again!
Senate bill 9 is not about infrastructure; it’s not about modernization; and has very little to do with actual energy. It’s about money. Your money. The money ComEd was supposed to give back to you.
ComEd is back in Springfield, pushing legislation – Senate Bill 9 – even though the bill doesn’t even have language attached to it.
It’s a shell game – and if you blink you’ll lose track of it.
ComEd wants SB9 to kill the money they owe you in rate cuts.
They complain about the Illinois Commerce Commission’s order to delay the so-called “grid modernization program”. They do not tell you that the ICC is merely following the law…the very same law ComEd pushed through the General Assembly in 2011.
ComEd is worried about their bottomline – their parent company, Exelon, is cutting their own annual dividend 40%.
Don’t be fooled by ComEd’s shell game – call your legislator, urge them to Vote NO! on SB9
Call now toll-free 800-719-3020
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Vote YES on SB 9
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA), also known as the Smart Grid law, directed ComEd to invest $2.6 billion over 10 years to modernize the power system in Northern Illinois. ComEd began work immediately and invested $165 million in this program, creating over 700 jobs in 2012. However, the smart meter installation has been delayed and the grid modernization program has been jeopardized due to an Illinois Commerce Commission ruling that impacts ComEd’s ability to fund the work.
SB 9 is designed to resolve these issues to get the smart grid program and the resulting benefits – shorter and fewer outages, giving customers greater control over energy usage and costs, and creating 2,000 jobs – back on track. The legislation would clarify the existing Smart Grid law to be consistent with the original legislative intent and with HR 1157 and SR 821.
The bill supports the advancement of a modern, reliable electric grid, which is critical to our region attracting new businesses and keeping Illinois competitive.
Members of the General Assembly: Vote YES on SB 9.
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Reader comments closed for Lincoln’s birthday
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Today is a state holiday, so I’m shutting down comments. Expect very light posting, if any. Here’s a roundup…
* Ex-Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh insists he’s not trying to stop paying child support: Both he and his attorney say that since he is no longer employed as a congressman, they want to “modify” the previous agreement so that he pays 20 percent of his current salary.
* Joe Walsh: I Will Sue the Chicago Sun-Times
* Credibility of key witness against State Rep. Derrick Smith is questioned: Meantime, prosecutors argue in court documents the hearing isn’t necessary because the witness’s background doesn’t change what Smith said on tape.
* Quinn on the fundraising trail
* Robin Kelly is going to Washington to attend State of the Union at the Capitol
* Pontiac prison hunger strike enters second week
* Local schools fear state aid shortfall next year - State may pay only 80 percent of state aid
* Budget cuts could delay medical licenses in state
* Still Few Gains In Illinois Pension Talks: One suggestion: extend the temporary income tax increase, set to expire in 2015, and earmark that revenue towards paying the pension obligations.
* No solution after Illinois pension summit
* Summit on Illinois pension woes ends with no new plan
* At Unions’ Pension Summit, ‘Not a Whole Lot’ Accomplished
* Sen. Righter: Speaker’s math doesn’t equal fairness
* Rutherford points to office savings
* Kadner: Business group soft on state officials
* Hinz: Lisa Madigan faces test over energy fracking
* Water district gets $250 million state loan
* Welcome to the New Federal Supermax - The recently acquired “Gitmo North” doesn’t jibe with the government’s stated goal of reducing solitary confinement.
* Alzheimer’s explains Ronald Reagan’s 1994 gun ban support, son says: The former president also endorsed the Brady gun-control bill in a 1991 op-ed piece in the New York Times.
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