Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2013

Tuesday, Sep 3, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

* Recommendations made by the Illinois Early Learning Council are reportedly being taken seriously by Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration…

The proposed rule changes, for example, would require day care providers to offer children at least two occasions per day of age-appropriate outdoor time, depending on the weather.

Children would be prevented from remaining still for more than 30 minutes, outside of scheduled nap times.

The rules would ban children younger than 2 from watching television and limit children age 2 and older to watching one hour per day of TV.

The new nutrition rules include a prohibition on serving snacks with high sugar or fat content and on using trans fats or saturated fats as butter substitutes.

Current rules forbid serving desserts with high sugar and fat content but don’t mention serving those items as snacks.

In addition, infants may not have bottles in their cribs, and older children may not carry no-spill cups throughout the day or night unless the cups contain only water.

All of this, according to the Erickson report, is being done to circumvent childhood obesity.

QUESTION: Should these proposed restrictions on unhealthy snacks and amount of down time be enacted? Please answer in comments below and explain your answer. For example, if “Yes,” then should there be other items on this list? If “No, then would you approve of any of these recommendations?

49 Comments

Uphill battles

Tuesday, Sep 3, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

* Kurt Erickson used the top of his Sunday column to talk about the challenges Leader-elect Jim Durkin faces…

Rank-and-file members emerged from Thursday’s king-making session saying they want to gain seats and become more relevant under the Statehouse dome.

But that leads to another one of Durkin’s problems. He inherits a campaign warchest that is lagging behind the money House Speaker Michael Madigan has at his disposal.

It probably was smart of Durkin to not make any pronouncements about how many seats Republicans might have a shot at picking up in the 2014 election.

From Riopell…

On pension reform, Durkin has voted for a sweeping package of benefit cuts backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, while Rep. Raymond Poe of Springfield, a downstate favorite for House GOP leader, voted against each of the pension reform bills that came to the House floor this year.

Durkin is like Cross in that respect and might be expected to follow the same path on an issue that has not only split the two parties but also has caused internal fights among both Republicans and Democrats.

Finke provides more context on the HGOP and pension reform…

Cross, the current leader, is also a strong supporter of SB 1. So what happened when the bill got a vote in the House in May? It passed, but only 22 Republicans voted for it, despite the leader’s support. Another 24 voted against it. Cross’ position was no guarantee the rest of his members were in lock step.

Moreover, if the business community wants to retaliate against Republicans they think are on the wrong side of pension reform, they already have their list of targets. Threatening Poe supporters seemed rather pointless.

The Champaign News-Gazette in an editorial said Durkin was “clearly the best choice.” But given the information here, which shows division among Republicans on pension reform, does that statement still hold up?

* Natasha Korecki has numbers…

Last session, the House Republican Organization, a fund-raising arm for members, closed out with a paltry $21,000. Though now there’s fund-raising hope with the Reform PAC that’s called on big-name donors, including gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, to pump money into Republicans running for the Illinois House. There’s $100,000 and counting since the PAC’s Monday filing. Durkin officially takes the helm on Sept. 20.

* A Political Action Committee chaired by Bruce Rauner is also planning to put legislative term limits on the November 2014 ballot. As Kerry Lester says in her report, this is not the first time this issue has come up, and it’s generally a populist issue. Gov. Pat Quinn has also said he favor term limits.

The reported challenge comes from a past Court opinion and getting enough signatures…

But history shows that it will be an uphill battle in Illinois, the biggest hurdle being a 1994 state Supreme Court ruling that stopped the initiative by Quinn, now the Democratic governor Rauner is aiming to unseat.

“How are you going to get around that decision?” asked Charlie Wheeler, who teaches public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “A precedent is a precedent.”
…
To get the term-limits question on the 2014 ballot, proponents would need to gather signatures totaling 8 percent of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, in this case roughly 288,000.

Rauner campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf would not reveal details of the new campaign or what maximum term it would seek to impose. If elected, Rauner pledges to serve a maximum of two terms in the governor’s mansion, but the state constitution would restrict any term-limit initiatives to legislators.

Discuss.

13 Comments

Daley hits Quinn for paycheck veto

Tuesday, Sep 3, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

* Bill Daley whacked Gov. Quinn this weekend for his amendatory veto of legislative salaries from the fiscal year 2014 budget…

“It’s an abuse of power and a disgrace that any governor and a democratic governor albeit will take such an outrageous step. Obviously it hasn’t produced anything,” Daley said.

Lawmakers have now missed two pay periods. You’ll recall the Governor vetoed the legislative salary appropriation from the budget until they pass pension reform. The Governor stood by prior statements that lawmakers should override his veto instead of filing a civil suit claiming the move was unconstitutional.

* Speaking of that lawsuit, attorneys for the Governor filed a motion to dismiss…

In a motion filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday, Quinn’s lawyers acknowledge such an override could be unpopular with Illinois voters. But they say as long as the option exists, the lawsuit filed by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton seeking to restore legislators’ pay is premature.

“When a veto rankles the General Assembly, the usual and constitutionally sanctioned response is to seek to override it,” the attorneys state. “They have declined to exercise that power.”

Quinn’s lawyers also argue he has the constitutional authority to veto money for lawmaker salaries.

* Rich reported on a list of items being discussed by a bi-partisan committee of House and Senate legislators a couple weeks ago. The AP picked up on the list a day later. This weekend a Lee Enterprises editorial board said the items are “a good start,” but that they lack in some areas…

First, it does not address increasing the retirement age of public sector employees. Many public sector employees can retire as early as age 55, a benefit that is unheard of in the private sector. Taxpayers are weary of footing the bill for early retirement of public sector employees.

The second area that the plan doesn’t address is relieving the pressure the pension system places on the rest of the state budget. From the years between 2020 and 2038, 20 percent of the state budget would go toward the pension system. That means that other state services — education, health, public safety and others — would continue to struggle for the funds that remain.

* Related…

* Daley looks for path to victory

* Governor Quinn pushes to raise minimum wage to $10

* Quinn keeps pushing to raise Illinois’ minimum wage

* Quinn, Daley agree with Obama on Syria

11 Comments

Here come the Lite Guvs

Tuesday, Sep 3, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

From Kirk Dillard’s Twitter feed…

Excited to introduce my running mate for Lt. Governor, Rep Jil Tracy! Here's a sneak peak of the… http://t.co/syE4tQLLUB

— Kirk Dillard (@KirkDillard) September 3, 2013

If you dropped by yesterday, then you know Rutherford confirmed via his Twitter that he will formally name Steve Kim as his running mate later this week.

* Rich has already addressed this issue…

Last week, calls went out to voters elsewhere in the state inquiring about the support for Rep. Adam Kinzinger possibly making a bid for the governor’s mansion.

The Channahon Republican’s camp has been quiet about the calls — which, we’d stress, do not definitely come from them. In fact, a spokesperson with his campaign operation didn’t even return a phone call from us.

But, closed lips or not, it got us thinking here. The prospects of a Kinzinger bid would seem to be good just based on the evidence.

Roundup…

* Rutherford names attorney as lieutenant governor pick

* Dillard Picks Rep. Tracy for Lieutenant Governor

* Two GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Announce Running Mates

* SIU grad likely Lt. Gov. candidate

* Candidates for Gov. to Choose Running Mates

* Candidates For Illinois Governor Can Circulate Petitions for 2014

* Voice of the Southern: Ask what candidates will do for the budget

* Labor Day marks start of Illinois’ 2014 campaigns

* On Labor Day, Candidates For Governor Kick Campaigns Into Gear

36 Comments

Weekend update

Tuesday, Sep 3, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

For those of you who got an early start to the weekend, rest assured I am not here because Rich was part of the White Sox rebuilding efforts. In fact, I’m told no other teams were biting when he was put on waivers. Rich is taking some time off and should be back this time next week. I’m filling in by tossing up a few posts and keeping the comments section up to code while Rich is, according to commenter “uncle sam…”

Training Oscar in one of two ways: (a) to be a ninja so that Oscar can secretly spy on legislators and lobbyists; or (b) how to go from “lightweight” to “super heavyweight” before veto session begins.

* As you may have noticed Friday afternoon, a late distributed press release announced Gov. Quinn has reappointed Aaron Jaffe as chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board. This weekend the Tribune editorial board heaped praise on the move…

We’ve always hoped that the lawmakers who fill their pockets with gambling industry contributions, and who want the independent Gaming Board to be anything but the independent law enforcement agency it is, would make a frontal assault on nominees such as these three. We cannot wait to see which senators would speak or vote against Jaffe, Holewinski or Gould and their stellar record of insulating the Illinois gambling industry.

We’re hard-pressed to think of another agency in Illinois’ often dysfunctional state government that has kept its head so far above political pressure, bureaucratic inertia and threats of criminal influence. Four times in its history the Gaming Board, its investigators and regulators have confronted the sorts of wrongdoing or inappropriate associations that in other states have erupted into devastating scandals. Four times the Gaming Board acted firmly, without regard for politics, and as a result this industry hasn’t suffered long-term embarrassments.

The editorial implies that anyone against Jaffe’s appointment wants the mob to takeover gaming in Illinois and zero government oversight. But Jaffe has been criticized in the Statehouse by legislators for his position on the gaming bill…

During the most recent legislative session Jaffe opposed a measure to add five casinos in the state, saying it didn’t give the board enough regulatory authority. That led to heated exchanges, including one hearing where Jaffe called a state senator “atrocious” and the senator returned the jab.

The press release also reported a new university trustee appointment for SIU…

Quinn on Friday appointed Joel Sambursky of Carbondale to a 5-year term at Southern Illinois University. The former quarterback was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame in 2012. Sambursky’s selection comes after the state Senate rejected previous Quinn appointments to the university board. That happened after a power struggle at SIU and a fight over the way the Senate provides advice and consent on appointments.

Former DFPR director Nikki Zollar was appointed to the Chicago State University Board of Trustees.

* This being Labor Day weekend, opinion pages were filled with commentary on organized labor issues. The AFL-CIO opined on the challenges immigrant and public sector workers face in today’s climate…

More than 11 million aspiring Americans attend school, work in our neighborhoods, raise families, own homes and dream of a better life. But their dreams will never be realized with the threat of deportation hanging over their heads and a path to citizenship so far out of reach.

While immigrant workers struggle to become part of a country that benefits from their labor but doesn’t protect their rights, unscrupulous employers abuse the system by exploiting workers with little to no protections — and pay them less.

The Tribune editorializes why the state’s unemployment rate is above nine percent…

The state raised personal and corporate income taxes just as other states moved to cut the tax burden.

Illinois borrowed and spent its way into massive government debt.

Think any employer doesn’t know Illinois has worst-in-the-nation credit ratings and unfunded pension obligations? Even as states from California to Rhode Island have dealt with similar financial crises, Illinois has stalled.

Many of our political leaders don’t welcome employers, they try to dictate terms to those who have the temerity to set up shop here. (Hello, Wal-Mart and Ford Motor Co.)

At the end, the editorial restates a campaign slogan the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago used in the mid-2000s.

* Other items for your review…

* Probe of contacts between Metra Board member and ex-CEO sought: Email and phone exchanges between Metra Board member Jack Schaffer and ex-CEO Alex Clifford should be investigated to see if Schaffer leaked confidential information that could have affected Clifford’s buyout, a Cook County commissioner has urged in a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn.

* Cook commissioner calls for probe of McHenry County Metra dissenter

* Cicero state rep allegedly complained to Clifford about ‘mistreating’ of husband at Metra job

* West suburban fire board pumped up chiefs’ pensions, promoted trustee’s partner: State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), whose legislative district includes the fire protection district, calls the pay-hikes-for-“pension spikes” deals “outrageous” and says they “should not be tolerated.”

* Reporter ordered to reveal source: Will County Circuit Court Judge Gerald Kinney on Friday ruled that patch.com reporter Joseph Hosey must hand over all of his documents relating to the January stranglings of Eric Glover and Terrance Rankins. If the documents do not reveal his source, then Hosey must provide Kinney with an affidavit telling him who provided him with the records, when and how, according to the ruling.

* Gay marriage push looking to unions, immigrants: “The immigration advocates, they really know how to get it done,” said Jim Bennett, a director for Lambda Legal, a gay rights group that’s part of the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign. “We have a lot to learn from them.”

* Will County officials prepare for possible strike: A year of labor negotiations has failed to produce a contract for members of Local 1028 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 1,260 of the county’s 2,300 union and non-union employees. | Union members are concerned because the county is asking employees to pay more for health insurance while offering small pay raises, said Dave Delrose, president of Local 1028.

* SIU president: Lobbyists crucial to protect school interests: “I know it’s probably hard for the public to understand, but it’s like anything else: We have to keep the legislature alerted to the bills that are passing through, and how they affect us. If we don’t do that, and we miss a very important bill that adversely affects our university, I’m to blame for that,” Poshard said.

* Widow who pushed for medical marijuana law not allowed to use it

* Deadbeat Illinois: Payment delays force schools office to borrow

* State, city budget woes help investors find yields

* How a $200 million township school treasurer’s office stuck it to taxpayers

* Madigan sues phone company she says scammed customers

* Concealed-carry instructor applications available

* New proof of insurance law raises questions

* Emanuel announces 50 speed camera locations

* Analysis: Overpromising could come back to haunt Emanuel

* Former Chicago Police Superintendent LeRoy Martin dies at 84

* Chicago crime down in August 2013

* CTA, Pace Announce Key Dates in Ventra Transition

* City harbors only 76% full; economy took wind out of sails

* CPS dumps ‘probation’ label for schools not making the grade

* New Lenox revises sales tax rebate

* Aurora City Council approves water bill hike

* Rockford police may get $400,000 to better track parolees

* Morton rethinks video gaming

* Peoria preparing new bid for power

* Poll: Majority still oppose (Peoria) buyout of water company

* State report recommends removal of Danville dams

* Fertilizer plant decision weeks away; Tuscola is finalist

* Council may vote on sales tax hike in Urbana

* Springfield awarded $14 million for 10th Street rail underpass

* Schoenburg: Mooney’s winding road to academic stardom

* Margaret Vaughn, lobbyist

* U of Illinois consider future of online courses

* Former Saluki Rounds Out SIU Board of Trustees

* Right to work: Boost to economic growth or path to lower wages?

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