A federal jury convicted the Cook County Commissioner on all counts after deliberating for just a few hours.
Earlier Thursday, prosecutors blasted the former alderman as a tax cheat who “decided the rules shouldn’t apply to him.”
But Beavers’ defense team painted him as an elderly man who “may” have a gambling problem and never intended to defraud the IRS.
Jurors began their deliberations Thursday afternoon after hearing closing arguments in a packed courtroom, during which defense attorney Sam Adam Jr.’s theatrical style again clashed with prosecutors’ dry demeanor — and irritated Judge James Zagel, who issued a series of rulings in an attempt to rein Adam in.
Accused of cheating on his taxes in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Beavers “has been an elected public official for the last 30 years — he understands and he knows the importance of paying taxes,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Hamilton told the jury.
Instead of paying taxes on checks he cut himself from his political campaign funds and spent on losing gambling runs at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Beavers deliberately “kept everyone in the dark,” by falsifying his tax returns and campaign records, Hamilton said.
The Illinois House voted Thursday to limit compounding annual cost-of-living increases for state retirees in a constitutionally questionable move targeting the largest driver of the state’s $97 billion pension crisis.
The Senate-bound measure, sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), passed the House on a 66-50 roll call and would affect current and retired state workers, university employees, legislators and downstate and suburban teachers. Judges weren’t included.
Under the measure, current and future public employees would have to wait until age 67 or five years after retirement to begin collecting retirement benefits. State employees'’ annual cost-of-living adjustments would be capped at the lesser of 3 percent or $750 per year. […]
The vote represents the third incremental pension-reform measure to pass the House, following votes last week to cap the size of pensions and raise retirement ages.
…Adding… My reading of the bill indicates that the shorthand used in the above story is wrong. COLAs can’t be collected until age 67, not pensions.
In a rare speech from the floor, Speaker Michael Madigan indicated today’s move, in addition to other measures the House approved last week, means lawmakers should be close to “finalizing” more comprehensive legislation.
But while most observers agree cutting annual pension increases would save the state the most money, the move is also among the most controversial. The Illinois Constitution states pension benefits are not to be “diminished.”
State Rep. Mike Fortner, a West Chicago Republican, was among those who raised legal questions in opposing the plan. […]
A proposal from state Rep. Tom Morrison, a Palatine Republican, that would move most public employees into 401k-style retirement plans is set for debate in a House committee later today. But it isn’t expected to be approved.
* I told you earlier today that some anti-gun protesters planned to picket Attorney General Lisa Madigan over her refusal so far to appeal the federal court decree on concealed carry to the US Supreme Court.
Madigan has pointed out before that it’s too late to get on the Supremes’ docket at the moment. But these folks (and Gov. Quinn) didn’t want to hear that.
* Turns out, just a dozen people showed up to the protest, and they paraded around the Thompson Center wearing signs that said “Lisa, Don’t Let Us Be Targets”…
The pro-gunners often describe a fevered dystopian future of blood-thirsty dictatorial tyrants to justify their personal arsenals. On the other side we have folks who actually fear that licensed, trained, concealed carry permit holders will be targeting them for, I suppose, murder.
Man, do I ever despise arguments based on ignorant fear. It’s a big reason why I have such a hard time talking to some hardcore pro-gunners on this site. I don’t oppose much of what they want to do, but too many of them are such wussy fraidycats that I can’t deal with ‘em.
I’ve been in two war zones (three if you count Albania’s civil war) and never once carried a gun. The only time anybody around me had a gun was when I embedded with a National Guard unit in Baghdad on night patrol. I just don’t get this crazy fear. And today’s anti-gunner protesters appear to be pretty much a carbon copy of their opponents.
David Borris, president of Chicago Area Peace Action said, “believe me, there’s going to be all the Dirty Harry wannabes that are gonna see that purse get snatched, and they’re going to want to drop to one knee, and start shooting.”
I hear this sort of thing a lot from anti-gun folks.
* The Humane Society recently held a pet photo contest for legislators and staffers. Rep. Renee Kosel’s new puppy “Cookie” won for most adorable dog…
What a sweetie!
* “Frau Frau,” whose owner is Senate Democratic legislative assistant Mitchell Remmert, won the most adorable cat contest…
Aww.
* No offense whatsoever to Rep. Kosel, but I wish the Humane Society had allowed me into the competition because I would’ve submitted this undoubtedly winning video of my new puppy…
* The University of Illinois’ campuses will become totally smoke-free later this year. Some legislators want the ban applied to all public colleges…
An Illinois Senate committee approved a measure Tuesday that would ban people from smoking on state-supported university and community college campuses.
The vote was 7-5, with all but one Democrat, including Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, voting for the measure, while Sen. John Sullivan, D-Quincy, voted against it.
State law already prohibits smoking within public buildings, certain indoor areas and within 15 feet of building entrances. The proposal would prohibit smoking anywhere on campus, including parking lots and vehicles.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, said such legislation would encourage people to quit smoking.
Sullivan noted that people currently can step outside the State Capitol building and smoke as long as they are 15 feet away from the door, so why did Link want to have a total smoking ban on all college campus property?
“Maybe what we will do is help people from ever starting,” Link said. “If we just get them while they are young, maybe they won’t take this up.”
“But what about from the staff and employees’ standpoint?” Sullivan asked. “Smoking is legal. So, what kind of accommodations will be made for employees who work at these universities and colleges?”
“It’s the same thing you have even in private industry when we went smoke-free,” Link answered, noting that the campuses of some hospitals and pharmaceutical companies are now entirely smoke-free.
* The Question: Should the GA pass a bill to make all Illinois universities and colleges completely smoke-free? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
* Former Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has been in the news quite a bit lately. He’s starting a fascinating new gaming company…
According to Hillenmeyer, the core concept behind OverDog is a simple one: Many professional athletes and even more sports fans are avid gamers, so why not create a product that allows them to face off against each other? […]
As Hillenmeyer explains, the way the product would work is a pro athlete would log on to the app via his smart phone and issue a challenge to his fans in any game of his choosing. After the athlete has issued the challenge, fans would get a notification on their phones and decide whether or not they want to play against the athlete. However, not every fan is going to be able to play against an athlete every time, so potential opponents for pros will be decided by a random drawing. Also, Hillenmeyer says that they are working to incorporate a streaming aspect, so at some point in the future of the product you could still watch the matchup even if you weren’t the one facing off against a pro athlete.
* But Hillenmeyer is also becoming involved in Statehouse issues. For instance…
Former Chicago Bear linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer is backing a plan to limit tackling in practice for high school and youth football players.
The legislation from state Rep. Carol Sente, a Vernon Hills Democrat, could come before state lawmakers this week.
Hillenmeyer has written a letter to lawmakers urging support for Sente’s plan, which would limit full-contact tackling in practice to two days per week during the season in an attempt to reduce the risk of long-term injury from concussions. How often young players tackle at preseason practices would be left to coaches’ discretion.
“Without it, a rogue, wannabe-Mike Ditka youth coach will continue to have unchecked ability to overexpose our next generation to harm, harm that is avoidable and has long-term implications,” Hillenmeyer wrote.
State lawmakers Wednesday balked at a suburban official’s plan to limit tackling at youth and high school football practices.
State Rep. Carol Sente’s plan to limit full-contact practice to twice per week tried to address a new focus on the long-term brain damage the repeated hits in football can cause.
But an Illinois House panel disagreed it was something the state should try to regulate, and rejected it by a 5-6 vote.
“I still have concerns about legislating these kinds of rules for athletes,” said state Rep. Sandra Pihos, a Glen Ellyn Republican.
Two Hall of Fame athletes signed a letter supporting a gay marriage bill on its way to the Illinois House.
Former Chicago Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks and former Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent, along with former Bears Hunter Hillenmeyer and Brendon Ayanbadejo, wrote that the “Illinois General Assembly should act now and give same-sex couples the freedom to marry.”
“In sports, any time a player is not treated with fairness and respect, the game is diminished,” the letter reads in part. “Similarly, treating any group of people as second-class citizens hurts us all, because discrimination is wrong no matter whom the target is.”
I’m not sure I’ve seen an athlete take this much of an interest in Springfield on bills as diverse as these. He hasn’t started contributing to campaigns yet, so maybe it’s just a passing thing.
* Roundup…
* Senate panel: Schools must carry catastrophic accident insurance: The Illinois Senate Wednesday started moving forward on an issue sought for years by former Rolling Meadows High School football player Rob Komosa, who died last weekend. A Senate panel Wednesday approved legislation that would require public and private schools to carry catastrophic accident insurance to cover their student athletes.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2013 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Wireless broadband technologies make life safer for citizens and our first responders who courageously step into harm’s way.
Police officers use wireless broadband technology to run facial recognition checks on suspects, process fingerprints, and share photos and videos.
Ambulances are equipped with wireless broadband technology that sends critical vital statistics ahead to emergency room doctors, saving critical minutes when life hangs in the balance.
Soon, wireless broadband technology will let fire commanders in the field receive real-time thermal imaging information so they can observe how fires are changing and moving
That’s why the state’s leading public safety organizations ― the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association ― joined the Illinois Partnership for the New Economy & Jobs to support a modern communications law in Illinois.
Remarkably, Illinois’ communications law still requires some companies to invest in 100-year-old technology, diverting limited resources from new broadband networks.
In 2013, the state should adopt a modern communications law to attract more private investment in the broadband networks that help make Illinois safer.
* Two things to think about before we move to the actual topic of this post. First, from the Illinois Constitution…
Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.
Pretty darned plain language there.
* And this is from the S&P downgrade back in January…
If there is meaningful legislative action on reform, we believe that there could be implementation risk based on the potential for legal challenges, and it could be several years before reform translates into improved funded ratios and budget relief.
* Now, on to today’s stories about the pension votes yesterday…
The Illinois Senate Wednesday approved a plan to cut working teachers’ pensions while rejecting a more sweeping plan, sending mixed messages about where the debate over one of the state’s biggest financial problems will go next.
A plan by state Sen. Daniel Biss to cut the pensions of public employees including teachers and lawmakers, which had appeared to gain bipartisan momentum in recent months, was instead soundly defeated 30-23.
Biss’ plan would have cut annual cost-of-living pension increases, raised the retirement age and required local school districts to start paying into a 401(k)-style plan for teachers, among other things.
But whether it would pass muster under an Illinois Constitution that says benefits cannot be “diminished” was a key question in the debate.
As a result, a proposal from Senate President John Cullerton was approved by a 30-22 vote.
I have yet to hear any credible arguments about how Biss’ plan survives constitutional muster. The best argument is that nobody ever knows for sure how a court will rule. That’s true. Other than that, the Constitution is pretty clear here.
The Senate voted 30-22 to reform just one state pension systems facing financial trouble, but it was the largest of five, the Teachers’ Retirement System.
True to the approach he’s taken previously, Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, wrote the legislation to give teachers a choice between health care coverage during retirement or reduced annual cost-of-living increases. The “consideration” approach, Cullerton insists, would allow the state to sidestep a prohibition in the Illinois Constitution against reducing previously promised pension benefits.
“Benefits cannot be changed unless the Legislature offers public employees and retirees a choice and the opportunity to consider and accept that offer,” Cullerton said.
But between the slim victory on a narrowly drafted bill and the earlier defeat of another Democrat’s comprehensive approach to the pension crisis, the action Wednesday leaves questions about whether the General Assembly has the stomach to tackle the pension mess.
Biss, D-Evanston, and Cullerton took different approaches toward overhauling the retirement plans, and the divide broke down along partisan lines — as well as along Cullerton’s power base.
Biss’ broader pension measure picked up a dozen Republican votes, including that of Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont. She called Biss’ measure the most comprehensive approach and the “best path forward at this point in time.”
But only 11 Democrats jumped in with Biss. The 23 votes fell seven short of passage.
The Senate Democratic rank and file sided with Cullerton over Biss. No Republicans backed the Cullerton plan, noting it only affected active teachers. […]
The Biss plan would save an estimated $150 billion over 30 years. Cullerton’s plan would save an estimated $18 billion to $40 billion.
Biss’ plan won’t save a freaking dime if it’s kicked out by the courts.
These Democrats voted against the bill: Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Melinda Bush, James Clayborne, William Delgado, Mike Frerichs, William Haine, Linda Holmes, Toi Hutchinson, Emil Jones III, Dave Koehler, Dan Kotowski, Terry Link, Andy Manar, Iris Martinez, Pat McGuire, Julie Morrison, John Mulroe, Tony Munoz, Kwame Raoul, Martin Sandoval, Ira Silverstein, Steve Stadelman, John Sullivan and Donne Trotter.
These Republicans voted against the bill: Jason Barickman, Dave Luechtefeld, Sam McCann, Kyle McCarter, Dale Righter and Chapin Rose.
And these three Democrats voted “present,” which is tantamount to voting “no”: Democrats Jacqueline Collins, Tom Cullerton and Mattie Hunter.
There are some hardcore conservatives amongst those GOP “No” votes. But they also have state facilities in their districts.
* Sen. Rose was one of those “No” votes, but he wants to cancel spring break…
“I see all of this as a gradual progression,” said Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet. “If you start tweaking this cost of living adjustment cap on people who have already retired, you started putting this thing together.”
Rose said he wished the Legislature would stay in session for the next two weeks — when it is scheduled to take a recess — “on joint House and Senate meetings and just focus on this and not anything else. I would take everything else off.”
Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, criticized the “piecemeal approach” of Cullerton’s bill.
But Barickman also voted against the more comprehensive bill.
* The Biss bill died because the Republicans, prodded by Ty Fahner and the business groups, killed Cullerton’s hybrid SB1 bill, which included his language and Biss’ language. It was a politically possible bill. Now, we’ve got a stalemate. The Sun-Times remains optimistic…
Illinois’ $97 billion unfunded pension bill demands a big, sweeping solution. If there was ever a time to make it happen, it’s now.
The answer lies in a separate bill that failed in a Senate vote Wednesday.
That plan, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Biss, is the only plan out there that truly reforms public employee pensions. It significantly cuts benefits — we won’t sugarcoat that — but does so in a fair and targeted way by phasing in an increased retirement age, shielding the pensions of the lowest income retirees from cuts and giving the retirement systems the right to sue if the state fails to pay its share.
Biss’ bill fell short by seven votes. Insiders tell us it simply can’t pass and it’s time to get real.
No doubt there is truth to that claim. But Illinois lawmakers can do better.
And really, 23 votes on a bill that wasn’t pushed by the Senate president is a pretty good showing the first time out of the gate. Picking up seven more votes as the spring legislative session continues is doable, particularly since Biss’ bill appears to be the favored approach in the House. A similar House bill is sponsored by Reps. Elaine Nekritz and Tom Cross.
There is almost no doubt in my mind that if Ty Fahner and the Tribune editorial board hadn’t stuck their big noses into this thing, Cullerton’s SB1 would’ve passed the Senate.
I’m starting to think that somebody doesn’t want anything to pass until 2015.
* And while I fully understand the criticism of Cullerton here (that he ought to just give up on his consideration idea and go with something else that might be able to pass like a stand-alone Biss plan), I’d point out that the Senate President strongly believes Biss’ bill is unconstitutional. So, this is something to keep in mind…
SECTION 3. OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE
Each prospective holder of a State office or other State position created by this Constitution, before taking office, shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:
“I do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of …. to the best of my ability.”
No one’s supposed to know it, but the parent companies of the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times are on a collision course over unpaid bills.
At issue are the $70 million-a-year contracts for Tribune Co. to print and distribute the Sun-Times and its suburban daily newspapers. (The distribution deal began in 2007, and the printing deal began in 2011.) Just as Tribune Co. was emerging from bankruptcy at the end of December, Sun-Times owner Wrapports LLC paid only a fraction of what it owed, according to sources at both companies.
Since then, nothing. Some see it as a sign of financial trouble at Wrapports, where advertising revenues have fallen far short of projections. Others see it as a strategic move to force a renegotiation of the agreement or as a precursor to a bid for the Tribune.
Fearing that Tribune Co. could simply pull the plug, Wrapports has begun searching for alternate printing facilities. (Just a bluff? Who knows?) On the other hand, Wrapports chairman Michael Ferro appears to be gambling that the Tribune won’t put its No. 1 client out of business while it’s trying to attract a potential buyer. In the end, it all may wind up in court — if not on the front pages of both papers.
The Chicago Democrat said Wednesday he often breakfasts by peeling the potassium-packed fruit.
He spoke to reporters after announcing the winners of the Illinois School Breakfast Challenge. The competition challenges schools to increase participation in the school breakfast program. Winners attended an afternoon event at the Executive Mansion in Springfield.
Quinn said he also added some scrambled eggs to break his fast Wednesday.
But the event comes after he’s proposed some steep cuts to school nutrition.
The governor’s budget calls for $400 million in cuts to education. Out of education cuts comes $5 million from free school breakfast and lunch programs.
Governor Quinn shifted the blame saying, “Obviously our pension challenges. Our foremost fiscal challenge in Illinois. It’s squeezing out money in the classroom.”
He’s hyping a program that he’s cutting, without mentioning it. Marvelous.
The percent of Illinois students who are homeless or living in poverty has grown in recent years.
The Illinois State Board of Education reported Wednesday the proportion of low-income students grew from 37.9 percent to 49 percent between 2003 and 2012.
The ISBE says the spike in low-income students and those with limited English has led to increased costs for school districts. But state funding for education has decreased by more than $861 million, or nearly 12 percent, since the budget year that started in July 2008.
So, we have more homeless school kids while the governor is cutting breakfast programs, but there he was yesterday touting the breakfast program and talking about how he likes to eat bananas in the morning.
Demonstrators Wear Targets to Show What Illinois Will be Like Under Concealed Carry
Advocates for safe streets plead, “Lisa Madigan, Don’t Let Us Be Targets”
WHO: Rev. Wendy Ann Witt, Associate Pastor, Chicago Temple; Garrett Evans, student shot at Virginia Tech University; David Borris, Chicago Area Peace Action; Ellen Chiocca, Moms Demand Action; Lee Goodman, Stop Concealed Carry Coalition; and other community leaders
WHAT: Demonstration to ask Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the 7th Circuit Federal Court’s decision that threw out Illinois’ ban on carrying concealed weapons in public
WHERE: James Thompson State of Illinois Building, 100 West Randolph, Chicago, IL (Street level, plaza entrance, inside)
WHEN: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 11:00 am
CHICAGO (March 19, 2013) – Community leaders wearing National Rifle Association approved pistol targets will publicly call upon Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to comply with Governor Pat Quinn’s request that she appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the 7th Circuit Federal Court’s decision that threw out Illinois’ ban on carrying concealed weapons in public.
Madigan has stated that she does not plan on appealing since the Illinois General Assembly may pass a new law authorizing people to carry concealed weapons. But once the legislature acts, the case becomes moot, and it will not be possible to appeal. “Madigan is acting like a lawyer who waits until after her client has been executed to appeal the sentence,” said Lee Goodman, organizer of the Stop Concealed Carry Coalition.
Lee Goodman, a Northbrook resident and a member of the Stop Concealed Carry Coalition, was heartened by the governor’s stance and his statement that Attorney General Lisa Madigan should appeal the decision of the circuit court.
“I believe that’s the first time he said the decision should be appealed,” Goodman said.
