Mo’ money for Shearer PAC
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Steve Shearer’s anti-Bruce Rauner Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs PAC took in $485K today from labor unions. Expect more to come. I told subscribers about this earlier today.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From an article posted on LegalUSPokerSites.com…
John Cullerton, the president of the Illinois State Senate, announced his support for legalized online gambling in his state. The senator said he expects “stiff opposition” to his proposal, but the state could expect a 9-figure windfall in additional revenues if pro-gambling legislation was passed.
The Poker Players Alliance has estimated Illinois would make nearly $200 million a year if it licensed, regulated, and taxed online poker sites. Over the past two years, three other U.S. states have legalized online casinos and card rooms, and these states are already receiving additional revenue from the gaming activity.
Cullerton says the need to protect Illinois’s land-based casinos is going to be a complicating factor in any legalization process. Several factors are leading to Illinois lawmakers trying to find new ways to collect funds. With the state’s tax base increasingly impatient with new taxes, Cullerton believes the state’s leaders need to discuss all possibilities–including tapping the online gambling market. […]
When asked to address moral complaints on the ethics of approving online gaming with state laws, Cullerton added, “The point is people are already gambling, and we’re not making any of the money. There are other states that are just getting started that are bringing in some money. So that may play a role in it when we try to pass a budget.” […]
Still, Cullerton believes the greatest opposition will not come from the problem gambling groups and others against gambling on moral grounds. He believes the state’s already-entrenched gambling interests could line up against the plan. If so, they might pour significant amounts of money into swaying public opinion, lobbying state lawmakers, and defeating any bill put before the legislature. Such efforts have met with success in other states, and can be certain to tap a certain segment of the population which is anti-gambling.
One factor in the favor of Cullerton and his allies is the framework state-backed online gambling has taken in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, the other states which have approved online poker. In those states, not everyone can collect a license and start accepting licensed and regulated players. The pre-existing gambling establishments are given the right to secure a license for online gambling websites, so the established gaming operations stand to gain from the venture.
* The Question: Should Illinois legalize onlne gambling? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
surveys & polls
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Bills, bills and more bills
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I doubt this’ll pass any time soon, but we’ll see…
Despite warnings that more than $2.3 billion must be cut from next year’s state budget, the largest state employee union is renewing its call for money to be set aside to pay back wages owed to union workers.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is again calling on lawmakers to approve one of the bills pending that would allocate $112 million to pay the wages owed to workers from as far back as 2011.
AFSCME has begun calculating how much is owed to workers in various parts of the state based on the number of workers in legislative districts. In the Springfield area, AFSCME says more than $17 million is owed to about 4,600 unionized state workers who did not get raises owed to them under previous union contracts.
“They do their jobs every day,” AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said in a statement. “It’s illegal and wrong to withhold wages for work performed.”
* Meanwhile, Exelon’s recent Statehouse maneuvering is more than a bit sketchy. They are worried that municipal aggregation, low natural gas prices and late night wind turbines (which are driving down rates to almost zero) are badly hurting their nuclear power plants’ ability to compete. But they won’t just come out and say what, exactly, they want to do about it…
State lawmakers say shutting the Byron station down would be a major loss.
“It would be a significant negative impact both in jobs and funding for community services, for school districts, many of the services that Byron area residents have come to rely on.” -says 90th District State Representative Tom Demmer.
Exelon representatives say they are in constant contact with state lawmakers, but the company is only making legislators aware of hardships.
“We haven’t asked any officials from Illinois to do anything regarding current market conditions. Right now we’ll just continue to operate safely here at Byron and see what the next few years brings for us.” -Dempsey says.
* They have floated some ideas, however…
Crain’s reported that Exelon lobbyists have floated the idea of a clean energy standard or credit that would provide extra payments for the plants. A company statement, though, denied it has asked for legislation that would change market conditions and did not provide further details on potential plant closures.
But do they also want to give wind turbines a bigger break? Doubtful.
* Seems like a dose of overdue common sense…
The Illinois Senate has advanced legislation making it a crime for 911 dispatchers to tip off criminals when law enforcement is nearby. […]
State Sen. Dave Koehler is the bill’s sponsor. He says the legislation is necessary because in 2010 the Illinois Supreme Court ruled nothing in Illinois law made it illegal for a dispatcher to alert a drug dealer that police were in the area. […]
In 1998 a dispatcher in the Chicago suburbs was convicted of official misconduct after she tipped off a local drug dealer that police were near his house. The dispatcher appealed.
* This is a polite way of saying the bill is deader than a rock on a stump…
Illinois lawmakers have mixed thoughts on a proposal that would allow communities around the state to install speed cameras, which are only allowed in Chicago.
The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports the measure by Collinsville Democrat Rep. Jay Hoffman is generating discussion among legislators.
Murphysboro Republican Rep. Mike Bost calls the devices a “cop-in-a-box,” and says his constituents think they harass drivers.
* Passing a committee does not mean it’ll become law. Just sayin…
A bill that would make smoking in a car with a minor present a petty offense is one step closer to becoming law.
The Senate Public Health Committee Tuesday voted 5-2 to send SB2659 to the full Senate. If passed, motorists found in violation of the law would have to pay fines of $100.
“There are very serious health effects associated with exposure to second-hand smoke, especially for minors. This plan is aimed at reducing that exposure,” Chicago Democratic Sen. Ira Silverstein, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement Tuesday.
According to a provision in the bill, police officers who notice someone smoking in a vehicle with a minor in it cannot stop that vehicle solely for that reason, drawing criticism from some committee members during a hearing last month.
Occupants of motorcycles and convertibles with their tops down would be exempt. Illinois would become the sixth state to have such a law. Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon and Utah have enacted similar legislation, and another 14 states are considering measures.
* Not a bad idea…
Those who wait to renew their registration through CyberService or the mail until the last days leading up to the expiration of their current registration will now be provided a way to avoid being issued a ticket for driving that vehicle if the sticker doesn’t arrive in time.
“There should be no more worrying about the possibility of being forced to drive illegally without an up-to-date sticker,” said Van Pelt. “Now all you need is a receipt from the Secretary of State while you wait.”
The legislation provides that this new printed receipt proof of registration is only valid for 30 days from the expiration of the previous registration sticker’s date, giving Illinoisans plenty of time to receive and attach the registration stickers. Senator Van Pelt hopes to avoid future instances of responsible drivers being punished because of the length of time it takes to acquire a current sticker.
* From a press release…
State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is holding a press conference to discuss Senate Bill 3138, a measure that would allow Illinois to opt into the Do Not Adopt Registry administered by Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). The registry aims to protect animals from being adopted by convicted animal abusers by providing shelters, stores and organizations with access to a nationwide searchable database.
Sen. Rezin will be joined by Chris Green, Director of Legislative Affairs with ALDF; Jason Helland, Grundy County State’s Attorney; and other guests.
I didn’t know such a registry existed. Interesting.
* Other stuff…
* Kadner: The south suburban casino lottery: Local mayors can’t get together on a single site for a gambling casino in the south suburbs, and there also seems to be wide disagreement on a revenue-sharing plan if a casino eventually is built.
* Committee to hold hearings on raising Illinois minimum wage to $10.65: The first hearing is 2 p.m. Wednesday in Room 413 of the Stratton Office Building in Springfield. Hoffman said it will be the first of several public hearings on the issue. “These hearings are opportunities for folks on all sides of the debate to engage the legislature, and help impact our decisions if a minimum wage bill is called for a vote,” Hoffman said.
* Proposed Legislation Asks State To Study Interest-Free College Loans
* Bill to support levee fix advancing
* Illinois House panel passes Poison Center bill
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Oh, it’s on
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I caught more than a little good-natured grief while I was out on the town last night regarding my admittedly non-plungy Polar Plunge.
And today, Sen. Bill Cunningham rubs it in…
Whatever, dude.
* Our page was in the top fifteen of all 2,466 Special Olympics Chicago fundraisers. I searched for “Cunningham” and didn’t find any results.
So, top that, Senator.
…Adding… How about we do a caption contest on that second Cunningham photo? I’ll donate $100 to Special Olympics Chicago in the name of the funniest commenter. And I’ll shame Sen. Cunningham into at least matching it.
Heh.
…Adding More… Always a good sport, Sen. Cunningham says he’ll donate $200 in the name of today’s winner. Thanks!
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They’re gonna need all the help they can get
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Newspaper endorsements aren’t truly effective until a candidate uses them in a mailer or TV ad. And since Rep. Ron Sandack is fighting for his political life against a hardcore, well-funded conservative, and Rep. Ed Sullivan is having more trouble than expected with his conservative primary opponent, this Tribune nod is probably not something they’ll be touting to GOP primary voters in its entirety…
Only three Republicans in the Illinois House supported same-sex marriage when it was approved last year. Two of those Republicans face primary challenges, largely because of that vote. They are Rep. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove and Rep. Ed Sullivan of Mundelein.
Their votes caught many same-sex marriage opponents by surprise. Sandack and Sullivan voted in 2010 against legislation that allowed civil unions, a far less-sweeping change in law.
Um, OK.
* But there are some things the two incumbents can use. For instance…
Sullivan and Sandack protect your pocketbook. They are fiscally prudent. They have the record to prove it.
* Meanwhile, this is how the Trib described freshman Rep. Kathleen Willis’ Democratic primary opponent Tony Favela…
Favela is running an aggressive campaign
Who spun them on that?
Favela has raised almost no money and he’s just barely on the HDem radar screen.
Heckuva job, Brownie.
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* Oof…
Sen. Bill Brady twice compared Republican opponent for governor Bruce Rauner to jailed former Gov. Rod Blagojevich during Tuesday night’s GOP candidate forum.
“The more I hear Bruce Rauner speak the more he sounds like Rod Blagojevich,” Brady said. “That’s the way he came to Springfield.” […]
Later in the forum, Brady brought up Rauner’s reported ties to Blago-linked Stuart Levine.
“He’s tied to more felons who are in jail than I think Rod Blagojevich,” Brady said
Too bad Brady doesn’t have any money to burn that message in.
* Kerpow…
After the debate, Dillard lit into Rauner for his past donations to Democrats, including former Democratic National Committee chair Ed Rendell.
“Bruce Rauner is the worst kind of insider,” Dillard said. “Bruce Rauner is the king of all pay-to-play politics in the history of Illinois.”
Dillard questioned Rauner’s contention that he did not know Levine.
“A man like Bruce Rauner who goes and asks for $50 million from the board that Levine controls, you don’t think knows who’s on that board?” Dillard said. “Bruce is a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them.”
Maybe more of that during the debate?
* Oy…
Rutherford’s campaign has been weakened by a federal lawsuit from a former treasurer’s office worker alleging sexual harassment and being forced to do political work on state time. Asked if he should publicly release a taxpayer-funded report looking into the allegations that he commissioned, Rutherford said “no” and cited the lawsuit.
“The report is not going to be released,” he said.
What happened to his rhetoric about how he really, truly, sincerely wants the report to be released, but he just can’t because his lawyer won’t let him?
* Related…
* Zorn: Rauner’s attack on Quinn is a crime against truth
* VIDEO: Bill Brady Compares Bruce Rauner to Blagojevich
* VIDEO: Dillard: “I Will be Able to Tell Mayor Rahm Emanuel No”
* VIDEO: Republican Candidates Talk Job Creation
* VIDEO: Republican Candidates Discuss Equal Pay for Women
* Dillard unveils economic plan with tax credits to create jobs
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Kid… Have you rehabilitated yourself?
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The effort by House Speaker Michael Madigan to rehabilitate his public image after years of negative media coverage appears to be continuing. From a press release…
Hoping to secure a second presidential library for Illinois, House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and State Rep. Monique D. Davis on Monday introduced legislation to devote $100 million in state capital funding toward the presidential library and museum of President Barack Obama.
“Illinois has a long and proud tradition as the birthplace or home of some of our country’s most influential commanders-in-chief, from Lincoln and Grant to Reagan and Obama,” Madigan said. “We hope President Obama selects his adopted home state of Illinois to be the location of his presidential library, which will be a lasting testament to his contributions and leadership as an Illinois state senator, U.S. senator and president of the United States. It’s important that we make a strong financial commitment to honor the legacy of one of Illinois’ favorite sons and the first African-American president of the United States.”
According to the National Archives, the president selects the location of his presidential library with advice from the Archivist of the United States. A number of proposals may be submitted by various interested locations.
According to Politico, among the interested locations are the University of Chicago, which is close to Obama’s Hyde Park home and where he taught constitutional law; the University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago State University; Columbia University in New York City, where Obama received his undergraduate degree in 1983; and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where Obama’s parents met. While three Illinois sites are seeking to land the presidential library and museum, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former chief-of-staff, said in January that he wants the city to make a single proposal for one location.
“Chicago is a world-class city and the ideal location to build a lasting tribute to President Obama’s achievements,” Madigan said. “Chicago is where the president got his start in public service as a community organizer and as a state senator. Housing his library and museum in the city and state where his impressive career took root is the right thing to do.”
The reported target date for selecting the site of President Obama’s library and museum is early 2015.
If you’ll recall, Madigan derisively referred to Obama as “The Messiah” several years ago.
* Leader Durkin isn’t ready to sign on…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin says if Illinois could get back to rosier budget days, he’d give the idea consideration.
Durkin says it’s a question of priorities. He also says the proposal is premature, given that other states — like Hawaii, where Obama was born — are still in the running.
Madigan’s plan gives no indication of where Illinois would get the money.
* So, what about the money?…
Steve Brown, a spokesman for the speaker, said a time frame on how the money would be appropriated has not been set, noting the state “will need a new capital plan to accommodate programs like this one.”
The last capital construction program, passed by the Legislature in 2009, funded $31 billion in projects around the state, through approving video gambling and taxing liquor, soft drinks and candy, and increasing driver’s license fees.
Headline is explained here.
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New poll: Rauner still way ahead
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a We Ask America tracking poll of 1,262 likely GOP primary voters, with the firm’s Feb. 25th tracker numbers in parentheses…
Bill Brady 12% (13)
Kirk Dillard 14.5% (17)
Bruce Rauner 40% (36)
Dan Rutherford 8% (7.5)
Undecided 26% (27)
* From the pollster…
As the results show, Bruce Rauner continues to dominate the others by a wide margin. With only two weeks to go, it will be extraordinarily difficult for any contender to close the gap. Absent a Richter-scale scandal or some kind of proof of certain unions’ claim that they can talk their members into pulling GOP ballots for Dillard (more on that tomorrow), Mr. Rauner’s lead should hold.
We believe that the Fat Lady is clearing her voice.
* Trendlines since last May…
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AFSCME backs Dillard
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers this morning that this would likely happen soon. Well, it happened today. From a statement by Henry Bayer, executive director for AFSCME Council 31…
“We believe that Kirk Dillard would be the best choice in the Republican primary because he has a long record of public service and a demonstrated understanding of state government. He rejects the demonization of public employees – correctional officers, caretakers for those with disabilities, and thousands of others who provide the vital public services that Illinois citizens demand.
“On the other hand, his primary opponent Bruce Rauner is a billionaire CEO with no experience and little understanding of state government. He calls himself a ‘political outsider’ but has a long record of political cronyism and questionable business deals.
“Rauner asserts that state and other public employees have no legitimate voice in state government while claiming he would run the state ‘like a business’. Illinois citizens would be ill-served by turning over its veterans’ homes and mental health facilities to someone who sought to squeeze profits out of hundreds of nursing homes that were subsequently plagued by millions of dollars in verdicts from wrongful death and patient-neglect lawsuits.
“We believe Kirk Dillard, with his long experience in the Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar administrations, as well as the state senate, is the responsible choice in the Republican race for governor.”
The IEA and IFT have already endorsed Dillard.
Discuss.
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* I was out of the office chasing other stories when Attorney General Lisa Madigan released a letter to the Macon County Clerk, who was asking for direction on whether to issue same sex marriage licenses. The clerk’s state’s attorney had advised against it, so he turned to Madigan several days ago. From her response…
For the reasons explained in more detail in the legal papers filed in the Lee case, my office’s position is that current Illinois restrictions against same-sex marriage violate the equal protection rights that belong to all citizens under the United States Constitution. Since the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), there has been a consistent stream of lower federal court decisions declaring restrictions against same-sex marriage unconstitutional. […]
In its February 21, 2014 decision, the court in Lee likewise ruled that “marriage is a fundamental right to be equally enjoyed by all individuals of consenting age regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation, and the public policy of this State has been duly amended to reflect that position.” Because the case was filed only against Cook County Clerk David Orr, the court stated that its ruling applied only to Cook County: “Although this Court finds that the marriage ban for same-sex couples violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause on its face, this finding can only apply to Cook County based upon the posture of the lawsuit.”
As a general matter, a court decision is not binding on persons who were not parties to the case. In limited circumstances, a person who was not a party may be considered to be in privity with one of the parties and therefore bound by the court’s rulings. That exception does not apply here. […]
Even though the ruling in Lee is not binding on you, the protections guaranteed by the Constitution must exist without regard to county lines, and the Lee decision, along with the federal court decisions noted above, should be persuasive as you evaluate whether to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Additionally, while the ruling in Lee does not control other courts as binding precedent, we expect Lee to be persuasive to other state or federal trial courts addressing the same questions. If there is another suit challenging a county clerk’s refusal to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple in Illinois, our office would likely move to intervene, as we did in Lee, and urge the court to follow the holding in Lee.
Thus, in deciding whether to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples before June 1, each county clerk should consult with his or her State’s Attorney and give full consideration to the rulings in Lee and the many other cases cited above, as well as to the cost and potential outcome of litigation in the event of a lawsuit challenging any denial. In the meantime, same-sex couples who wish to marry in Illinois before June 1 may ask their local clerks to issue the marriage licenses. If such requests are denied, couples may opt to obtain their marriage licenses in Cook County to be married there, or they may file a lawsuit, as the plaintiffs did in Lee, in which we would argue that it is unconstitutional to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
* Gov. Pat Quinn issued a statement…
Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement on the state’s immediate recognition of marriage equality for all:
“Nobody should have to wait for equal rights when it comes to love. I encourage every county clerk in Illinois to quickly follow the Attorney General’s guidance.
“Following this guidance, the Illinois Department of Public Health will now accept all marriage licenses issued by any county clerk in Illinois.”
Under current law, the public health department helps ensure that new marriages comply with state laws.
* From Equality Illinois…
Equality Illinois said Monday that a letter released tonight by Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan gives all Illinois counties the green light to immediately begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The letter released by the Illinois attorney general regarding marriage equality says “the protections guaranteed by the Constitution must exist without regard to county lines.”
The letter was sent in response to a question from Macon County Clerk Stephen Bean in Decatur about whether the federal court decision ordering Cook County Clerk David Orr to begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples applies to counties in the rest of the state. It was shared with all 102 counties in the state.
“We agree with the Attorney General that the recent federal decision knocking down restrictions on marriage equality as unconstitutional should be the determining factor in clerks’ decisions to issue the licenses before the June 1 effective date of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans.
“Already some 260 couples have obtained licenses in Cook County, according to David Orr’s office, and there are many thousands more around the state awaiting the time that they can have their love legally recognized,” Cherkasov said.
* Tribune…
Lake County officials said Tuesday that they had no plans to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses before June 1, according to State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim.
Lawyers in the prosecutor’s office, which gives legal counsel to Lake County Clerk Willard Helander’s office, view the ruling that Madigan cited as applying only to Cook County, Nerheim said.
Issuing questionably valid licenses could make a mess of future divorce and probate cases, Nerheim said.
“We just want to make sure that those licenses are valid,” he said.
Officials from other counties in the Chicago area did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
*** UPDATE *** Another one…
St. Clair County Clerk Thomas Holbrook on Wednesday said his county was ready to immediately start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The announcement came a day after Attorney General Lisa Madigan told all Illinois county clerks they had the right to give them out.
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