* If you have the time and inclination, here’s the video of last night’s panel discussion “The Two States of Illinois” featuring myself, Jim Edgar and Randy Blankenhorn. The moderator was Chris Mooney. Have a look…
UIS Political Studies Professor Kent Redfield agrees unity will be key, no matter how many Republicans run.
“They need to not destroy each other in the primary,” Redfield said. “You don’t need a rerun of what the GOP did to themselves nominating Mitt Romney in last presidential election. Whoever wins needs to come out of that with the ability to move to the center.”
Nobody much laid a glove on Bill Brady in 2010, mainly because hardly anybody thought he could win the primary until the end. Topinka got banged up a lot in ‘06, as did Jim Ryan in ‘02. The candidates have to be tough, of course, but they also need to draw a line someplace.
The Illinois General Assembly sent Gov. Pat Quinn a concealed carry of firearms bill that embodies the art of compromise. In other words, nobody likes it.
Pro-gun groups say the bill is too restrictive. They say it carves out so many places you can’t carry a concealed weapon that it neuters the ability of law-abiding citizens to adequately protect themselves.
Gun control advocates say the bill is too loose. They say it doesn’t give law enforcement enough discretion to deny concealed carry permits.
We’re not crazy about the bill, either. We would have preferred a law modeled after New York’s, which empowers local law enforcement to approve concealed carry permits only when applicants show they have a need for extra protection.
That concept didn’t get much traction in the Illinois General Assembly. Lawmakers sent Quinn a bill that incorporates the wish lists of pro-gun groups and gun control advocates, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Quinn could veto the bill or attempt to rewrite it. We advise him to sign it.
* An e-mailed response from a longtime reader and subscriber…
If I can, allow me to pile on the Tribune Editorial Board for a moment. Did you catch their piece today praising the concealed carry legislation? They called it a “bill that embodies the art of compromise.”
Yes, these are the same rabidly anti-compromise folks who have trashed John Cullerton at every turn for trying to find some middle ground on pension reform. Which is it, Tribsters…should the General Assembly and governor dig their heals in and demand the best bill possible, or should they acknowledge an impasse and negotiate a bill that is far from perfect, but better than doing nothing?
On one issue, compromise is a political art form. On the other issue, compromise is a nearly impeachable surrender of legislative and executive responsibility. Unfreakingbelievable.
Indeed, the same day the Trib praised a legislative compromise on guns, they again trashed Cullerton for refusing to “cave” to Speaker Madigan on pensions.
Last summer the Chicago City Council passed a law that allowed police to issue tickets instead of booking and locking up marijuana possessors. Supporters said it would reduce costs and keep low-level users out of the criminal justice system. “This is just a no-brainer,” Alderman Danny Solis, the chief sponsor, said at the time.
But the law hasn’t worked the way Solis hoped. Police have concluded that the ticketing process is a pain in the butt and doesn’t send a strong enough message in tough neighborhoods. So they rarely use it, issuing just 17 citations a week citywide.
Meanwhile, the arrests keep coming. In the ten months since the law was passed, police have made more than 12,000 arrests for misdemeanor possession, 76 percent of them in black wards, according to police data.
That’s an average of 281 arrests a week, or more than 40 a day. They’ve consumed 97,000 police hours and at least $30.2 million in court costs.
Police officials say they enforce the laws to protect public safety. Solis says he’d like some more answers. He promises to hold a hearing in the coming weeks to revisit the issue with police superintendent Garry McCarthy.
Former White House Chief-of-Staff Bill Daley has a history of flirting with running for governor and U.S. senator only to back off in the end, but he said Thursday he’s “not teasing this time.”
hey
Daley said he’s seriously considering the race–and promising a final decision within a week–because of the Il. General Assembly’s stunning failure to address the state’s $100 billlion pension crisis.
“I’m not teasing this time…I’ve looked at this in a serious way over the last number of months. But, after the debacle Friday, as a Democrat, I look at this and say, `What is going on here?’…This is beyond the pale,” Daley said Thursday.
“The governor is a good, decent honest man. After the Blagojevich fiasco, his honesty is what was needed, obviously. But, we also need to get things done. And that’s what’s been lacking.”
Regardless of what he does, far too many people believe that Daley somehow has an inside track into what Attorney General Lisa Madigan is planning to do, or not do. That’s almost undoubtedly not true. The South Side Irish are allies, but they never over share. We’ll know more from AG Madigan sometime after July 4th, I’m told. And as of today I’m still standing by my original estimate of the chances of her running.
Anyway…
* The Question: Do you think Bill Daley will announce for governor next week? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
* The only way that House Speaker Michael Madigan is going to budge off his hardened pension reform position is if his Democratic caucus members demand that he do so. This is the first such public demand. Many, many more are needed, both publicly and privately, before Madigan will even begin to rethink his strategy. From a press release sent out by Rep. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago)…
“It was a failure of our political leaders that led us to adjourn without a solution to our problem,” Martwick said. “The problem must be addressed, and it must be done quickly. The issue cannot wait any longer.”
“The growing pension crisis has resulted in a downgrade of our bond rating, already the lowest in the nation. I believe that President Cullerton’s SB 2404 is the best solution to this problem. I urge the leadership to call this bill for a vote in the House. It is a responsible plan that was negotiated in good faith and takes into consideration the fact that the employees are not to blame yet will bear the brunt of the solution.”
Martwick also called on Governor Quinn to finally engage in the process. “Despite his recent statements, Governor Quinn has been completely absent during this process and it’s time for him to get involved. I’m calling on the governor to support President Cullerton’s bill and commit to signing it, as this is the bill that the elected representatives of the people want. If not, he should be prepared to present his own plan, something he has failed to do so far.”
Again, if nobody else stands up, Madigan won’t back down. The unions need to stop messing around with silly Springfield TV ads that nobody is watching and start focusing on using their lobbyists to personally encourage House Democratic members to call their Speaker.
I, Governor Pat Quinn, hereby call and convene the 98th General Assembly in a special session to commence on June 19, 2013, at 1:00 pm, for the purpose of considering any legislation, new or pending, which addresses pension reform.
* If true, this situation just cannot be tolerated. I’m glad the prison is closed after reading these stats, but it ought to go without saying that the assaults by staff on juvenile inmates are absolutely unacceptable. Heads really need to roll…
Nearly one in five inmates at a now-defunct Joliet, Ill., youth prison reported being victims of sexual assault, one of the highest rates of any youth detention center in the country, according to a report released Thursday morning by the U.S. Department of Justice.
In survey results published Thursday, 21 percent of inmates at Illinois Youth Center-Joliet, a high-security juvenile detention center that was closed this year in a cost-cutting move by Gov. Pat Quinn, reported they had been sexually assaulted by other inmates or had sexual contact with a staff member.
That percentage was more than double the national average of just under 10 percent, according to the report, “Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities Reported by Youth.”
Overall, the rate of sexual victimization of Illinois youth prisons was more than 15 percent, higher than all but four other states.
Most of the respondents said the sexual contact was with staff of the facility, with only 2 percent reporting unwanted sexual contact with other inmates.
Absolutely, totally disgusting.
* Speaking of intolerable situations, IDOC Deputy Director Ty Bates has once again been accused of sexual harassment. After the last incident, Bates was promoted to his current position as Deputy Director of IDOC’s Southern Region. According to WILY Radio, he is reportedly Gov. Pat Quinn’s southern Illinois campaign coordinator.
*** UPDATE *** The governor’s office denies that Bates is the southern Illinois campaign coordinator. “That is 100 percent false,” was the quote.
The reported messages allegedly started the afternoon of April 3, 2013, with Bates sending the R/O a message from his “personal, private cell phone number.”
In that message, he reportedly told the R/O she is “very shy” and he didn’t remember her being that shy. Later that same day, he allegedly messaged her saying he would be in the town of her facility the next night and offered to buy her a drink if she would be willing to pick him up, as he would be in his state issued vehicle. She reportedly declined, but Bates allegedly responded with, “If memory serves me right you bought yourself a new set of boobs?”
After she confirmed his question, he reportedly responded that he couldn’t tell with her uniform and said, “I wouldn’t mind seeing them to see if they’re perfect.” She reportedly did not respond. […]
The final string of text messages were reportedly not sent until April 8, 2013, with Bates reportedly messaging the R/O that she looked good in yellow, and the R/O responding “spring colors.”
Bates then allegedly inquired if the R/O was wearing spring colors “underneath,” ultimately following with, “I’d like to see what’s underneath.”
The R/O reportedly returned to her normal duty station eight days later.
* Senate President Pro Tempore Don Harmon has had to take some votes this year that might not match up well with his very liberal Oak Park-based district. However, he did introduce this constitutional amendment on the last day of session…
Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes a provision that provides that a tax on income shall be measured at a non-graduated rate. Provides that there may be one tax on the income of individuals and corporations, that this may be a fair tax where lower rates apply to lower income levels and higher rates apply to higher income levels, and that no government other than the State may impose a tax on or measured by income. Effective upon being declared adopted.
[NOTE: I linked to an earlier version of the proposal. The above is now the correct one. Sorry.]
State Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat and a top member of his party’s leadership team, is behind the proposed amendment in the Illinois Senate. He says as the state’s 2011 income tax hike is set to expire, it’s inevitable that lawmakers will be talking taxes soon.
“I think we have to build momentum,” Harmon said. “It will inevitably be part of the debate.”
* Several Democratic House members introduced their own progressive income tax proposal on May 31st…
Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Removes a provision that provides that a tax on income shall be measured at a non-graduated rate. Provides that there may be one tax on the income of individuals and corporations, that this may be a fair tax where lower rates apply to lower income levels and higher rates apply to higher income levels, and that no government other than the State may impose a tax on or measured by income. Effective upon being declared adopted.
State Rep. David McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican, has amassed 46 opponents to a graduated income tax in the Illinois House, two short of the number he needs to eventually block it. He says he’s still looking for two more.
“I’m going to work it nonstop,” McSweeney said.
The battle over taxes could be the biggest budget challenge lawmakers face next year, perhaps bigger than the ongoing pensions battle. The income tax hike is set to expire in January 2015, halfway through the state’s budget year.
My own opinion is that they could probably pass this in the Senate, but the prospects in the House may be dim. As usual, Speaker Madigan is gonna want some Republican votes, and those probably don’t yet exist.
…Adding… It’s not clear from the DH story posted above, but Rep. McSweeney has a House resolution opposing a graduated income tax, HR 241. It has 46 co-sponsors…
States the belief that the Illinois Constitution should not be amended to permit a graduated income tax.
First, he doesn’t appear any closer to a deal with House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) than he was when lawmakers adjourned for the summer last Friday.
And, compared to last week, a higher voting threshold is necessary in the House and Senate to get anything to the governor’s desk, meaning a much harder legislative lift to pass anything.
On top of those points, history is no friend of the governor when it comes to special sessions. This marks the second time in less than a year Quinn has ordered a special session in a bid to break the impasse on pension reform. The last one accomplished nothing.
“I would say he tried that last year, and it didn’t work. I’d suggest he seriously, seriously consider the drawing board before he invites us back to Springfield,” said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago). “It’s a risky play for him unless he’s pretty sure he’s got a solid agreement and therefore some solid votes.” […]
Last August, Quinn also ordered legislators back to Springfield for a special session, but that only resulted in both legislative chambers briefly gaveling in and gaveling out with no action taken.
This order carries the added risk of highlighting Quinn’s ineffectiveness in working the levers of power at the Statehouse with the 2014 campaign cycle beginning and his own re-election bid facing possible challenges from Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan and former White House Chief of Staff William Daley.
The odds are stacked against success on June 19 because under the Illinois Constitution, both chambers will have to approve pension legislation by a three-fifths vote in each chamber to get anything to the governor’s desk in order for it to take effect immediately. Otherwise, anything passed with a simple majority vote in chamber would have to wait until next June 1 to take effect.
* Related…
* Quinn calls special legislative session for June 19: Last week, aides signaled that Quinn was leaning away from a special session after its experience last August. The governor called lawmakers into session on pensions during State Fair week, only to see them adjourn without action. Quinn’s predecessor Rod Blagojevich made a habit of calling special sessions on the budget that lawmakers eventually tuned out altogether.
* Quinn calls pension session after credit downgrade: “Moody’s provides more damning evidence that we can’t afford a continual stalemate on pensions,” Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said. “It’s time to identify a reasonable compromise.”
* Tribune Editorial: We hope Standard & Poor’s latest warning brings Mr. Cullerton to his senses
* Sen. Kirk Dillard has been counting on people like Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman to back his second gubernatorial bid. But rich guys tend to stick with other rich guys, so Dillard missed out…
Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman announced a personal endorsement of venture capitalist Bruce Rauner one day after the GOP candidate entered the gubernatorial race.
The businessmen visited the Caterpillar site in East Peoria before holding a news conference in Two25 Restaurant in Peoria.
“I am here as an individual citizen and taxpayer. It has nothing to do with what I do in my day life or what I do for a living. This is a personal endorsement by Doug Oberhelman,” Oberhelman said.
Oberhelman lauded the political candidate for his high ethical standards, calling Rauner “absolutely incorruptible,” as well as praising his background of supporting education and as a breath of “fresh air” from career politicians.
Oberhelman had been on the Aaron Schock bandwagon because Schock is a local guy. But Schock dropped out, ironically after being pressured by anonymous attacks that many believe were funded by Rauner.
* Speaking of Peoria and Rauner, as mentioned above the new gubernatorial candidate held his first press conference yesterday since announcing his candidacy. He took questions from the local media, and, as you might expect, most of the questions were softballs. But he sounded far more conciliatory than he has in the past. For instance…
Q: As a political outsider, how do you plan on working with the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate in light of the gridlock in the last couple of weeks?
A: “Well, I’m a big believer in communication and close communication with everyone in a decision-making position. I look forward to working very closely with Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton, the legislative leaders throughout. We have many problems to solve, and I’ll try to take a collaborative approach. […]
Q: Gov. Pat Quinn has been criticized as being disengaged with the Legislature. How will you work with lawmakers?
A: “I would say Gov. Quinn has done an atrocious job of working with the Legislature. The governorship, again, is powerful, and the governor can lead the negotations and drive results because the governor has leverage points in negotiation that Quinn has never tried to take advantage of.
As he announced his run for governor or this week, venture capitalist Bruce Rauner said the best way to deal with the same-sex marriage question is by taking it out of the Legislature and putting the question to voters.
There’s a bit of a problem with going that route, gay rights activists say.
It would, in effect, do nothing.
“The only way there can be a ballot initiative is an advisory referendum, which would not be binding,” said Camilla Taylor, senior staff attorney with Lambda Legal, which has been in the thick of the legal and legislative battles to legalize same sex marriage. “It’s simply a statement of desire on the part of the voters for the Legislature to do something.”
Which puts the matter right back in the Legislature’s ball park.
There is a way to amend the constitution. That too, requires action by the General Assembly.
“The only way to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot is by passing both houses with a 3/5 majority,” Taylor said. If that passed both houses by a supermajority it then would go to voters.
* ABC7’s I-Team has a perhaps unintentionally hilarious story about tracking down House Speaker Michael Madigan. I heard late yesterday morning that the Speaker was back in his ward office, and apparently Chuck Goudie did as well. So Goudie and the I-Team got all sleuthed up and headed to the Southwest Side. Check out the video...
American flags, bright flowers and perfectly manicured greenery surround the Madigan home here on the Southwest Side.
This afternoon, speaker Madigan and his wife drove up in separate cars- the speaker surfacing for the first time since last weekend when the general assembly recessed for summer vacation without solving the state’s financial crisis.
When he pulled up in front of his house to pick up his wife, ABC7’s Chuck Goudie wanted to ask Mr. Madigan about the Illinois pension debacle and other unfinished legislative business. Mr. Madigan declined and left briskly, even leaving his wife behind in the garage.
Madigan apparently not interested in addressing the state’s credit rating that at that very moment was being lowered by Moody’s. […]
Speaker Madigan retreated a few blocks to his precinct office. When we arrived here, staffers refused to answer the door, even though they could be seen scurrying behind glass and heard on the phone asking for direction.
During the two hours we were in the hallway, constituents showed looking for help and they got the same treatment. No one let them in. A pregnant woman and her son rang the bell for a half hour and the youngster banged on the glass. But they were all ignored by Mr. Madigan and his staff who were inside.
One staffer left with his head covered, another was deployed to the parking lot and could be heard signaling that “the coast is clear.”
Speaker of the House Michael Madigan came down the rear stairs to a waiting car that kicked up a little gravel and he left.
* The optics of Madigan’s “disappearance” have been absolutely horrible. It’s hurt his pension reform push and is spilling over into the governor’s race. Of course, no matter what he does, this is all supposedly designed to help his daughter. But if it is, he’s not helping her, he’s hurting her. Another ABC7 report…
“He’s calling the special session because he’s trying to look dynamic, trying to take control of the situation, but Mike Madigan really has all the power in the Illinois General Assembly. And he’s choosing for some reason not to use it right now,” said Laura Washington, ABC7 political analyst.
Leading some political observers to question whether the 2014 gubernatorial race is behind the pension impasse.
Tonight, while speaking at a gathering of lawyers, the speaker’s daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who’s mulling a run for governor, denied her father is trying to weaken Gov. Quinn to benefit her.
“There’s absolutely no credence to that. Everybody recognizes that the number one priority - not just this year but, truth be told, for the past several years - has been to resolve the pension crisis,” said Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General.
“She’s got a really big father problem. Now and later, she’s going to continue to have to deal with her father and the shadow of her father in everything she does going forward,” said Washington.
* The station also sat down for a friendly chat with the governor…
In an exclusive interview, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said he realized a special session would be necessary to address the $100 billion pension debt crisis last week.
Gov. Quinn called the special session on Thursday after Moody’s downgraded Illinois bonds. Lawmakers should report to work on June 19.
“There’s only one way to comprehensive public pension reform and that’s for the General Assembly to convene in Springfield, our state capitol, they’re going to be there on the 19th of this month and we’ve got to get this job done. The legislature has to do its job which is to put the bill on my desk so I can sign it into law,” Gov. Quinn said.
The governor wants the legislative leaders from both parties to work with him until the 19th to build consensus on pension reform. He says he talked to Republican leaders and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, but has yet to speak with House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has not returned the governor’s phone calls.
“I left a message with his staff, top assistant. I left a message on his wife’s cellphone. I’m hoping to be talking very soon to Mike Madigan,” Gov. Quinn said.
Perhaps sensing an opportunity, former Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley today sounded increasingly like a candidate for Governor, blaming the pension mess on the man he might want to replace.
“Legislators don’t forge the compromise. The governor has to forge the compromise,” said Daley.
