Caption contest!
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m sure you know this already…
The Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee on Saturday elected Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider as its chairman.
Schneider, who was unanimously elected to a four-year term as the Illinois Republican Party’s chairman, replaces Jack Dorgan, who held the position since June and was named co-chair of GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s finance committee last week.
Schneider, a small business owner from Bartlett, has been a Cook County commissioner for the 15th district since 2007.
Little is known about Schneider’s view on social issues, and there aren’t that many pictures of him on the Internet, so this Facebook pic, of Schneider standing between ousted GOP Chairman Pat Brady and state Sen. Matt Murphy, will have to do. Let’s welcome Chairman Schneider, shall we?…
47 Comments
|
Question of the day
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
More than 40 years after the Equal Rights Amendment was first passed by the U.S. Congress, an Illinois state senator is taking another crack at getting her colleagues in Springfield to adopt the provision that would enshrine in the U.S. Constitution the idea that rights can’t be abridged on account of sex.
Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, said the proposed amendment is still relevant today given the ongoing debates about equal pay, abortion rights and other issues on which women are fighting for equality.
And she said it’s symbolically important to “get Illinois off the list” of 15 states that have not yet adopted the proposed amendment. The other holdouts are mostly traditionally more conservative states in the southern and western parts of the country. […]
The amendment appeared to die in 1982 after only 35 states passed it by the deadline that Congress set after adopting it in 1972. That was three short of the 38 needed to amend the Constitution. Supporters of the amendment are now pushing a “three state solution,” arguing the 1982 deadline should not apply. If three more states pass it, the supporters will try to make the case that there is no need for the U.S. Congress to start the amendment process over.
Steans has tried to pass the amendment a few times before, without success.
* The text…
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
* A little history…
The ERA was introduced into every Congress between 1923 and 1972, when it was passed and sent to the states for ratification. The original seven-year time limit in the ERA’s proposing clause was extended by Congress to June 30, 1982, but at that deadline, the ERA had been ratified by 35 states, three states short of the 38 required to put it into the Constitution.
It was a very big deal here. Before my time, but stories still abound.
* The Question: Should the Illinois General Assembly ratify the ERA, even if it is too late? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
online polls
77 Comments
|
Comments Off
|
More reform and renewal
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
An Illinois Department of Transportation administrator has resigned amid an investigation into his time at the agency.
Agency spokesman Guy Tridgell said Monday that Carmen Iacullo retired April 30.
That was about the time Tridgell says the department turned over information about Iacullo’s tenure to the Office of the Executive Inspector General. Tridgell would not elaborate. […]
Tridgell says the investigation is not connected to an agency scandal in which as many as 200 people were hired without following rules barring political hiring decisions.
* More…
A former colleague described Iacullo as “a kingmaker” at IDOT’s Schaumburg district, having a big say in who was hired and how new employees were assigned.
“He would drop [new hires] in the bureau and say, ‘Find him something to do,’” said Patricia Casale, a retired IDOT clerical secretary.
Casale said one of her roles was to type up lists of questions to be asked of prospective employees during interviews. She said she personally handed the lists to Iacullo prior to interview sessions.
In 2006, Iacullo testified about his time at the Chicago Department of Transportation during the corruption trial of Robert Sorich, patronage chief for then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley before being convicted of rigging the city’s hiring system to favor candidates with clout. During the trial, Iacullo talked about attending meetings with Sorich, where “Iacullo would recommend candidates, including individuals from his [Democratic] political group, for promotions,” according to court records.
13 Comments
|
*** UPDATE *** The governor blinks…
Moving to head off a developing campaign issue, Gov. Pat Quinn today called for amending the state’s ethics law to impose a blanket one-year ban on top ex-aides lobbying their former colleagues.
After a series of recent media reports about activities by his ex-chief of staff, Jack Lavin, who left state payroll last September, Mr. Quinn’s office released a statement saying that he will push for legislation to forbid such work for one year after a senior official leaves office.
“The governor favors amending the law to say that any chief of staff, deputy chief of staff or deputy governor – whether they’re participated in a decision or not – should not be permitted to lobby any official in state government for one year,” Mr. Quinn’s spokeswoman said. “We’re pursuing legislation.”
Mr. Quinn’s office previously said that the lobbying work by Mr. Lavin had been reviewed by attorneys and met the requirements of law. But that stance today came under fire from a top ethics watchdog group and from the campaign of Mr. Quinn’s election rival, GOP nominee Bruce Rauner.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Longtime readers know that “Reform and renewal” was a deliberately sarcastic headline I used countless times during the Rod Blagojevich years because it was one of his campaign slogans.
So, let’s get back to it…
A former top aide to Gov. Pat Quinn is now working as a lobbyist for a group representing casino owners and a company hoping to get into the medical marijuana business, raising eyebrows among some who want to strengthen the state’s so-called revolving door ban.
Jack Lavin, who left his job as Quinn’s chief of staff last September, started his own lobbying business in February and has landed several contracts in recent weeks, Lee Enterprises reported Sunday.
Records show Lavin represents the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, which has been in the middle of talks regarding an expansion of gambling in Illinois. He’s also signed on with Effingham-based Healthcentral LLC, a company formed to compete for a license to grow marijuana after lawmakers approved a four-year medical marijuana pilot program.
* This is all legal…
Although Illinois has a revolving door ban designed to put roadblocks in front of agency directors and other top state officials seeking to join companies that have contracts with state government, Lavin has apparently moved into his new role without a hitch.
Under the law, certain state employees or former state workers cannot accept employment or compensation from a non-state employer if the worker, in the past year, made regulatory or licensing decisions or awarded contracts affecting the non-state employer.
As chief of staff from December 2010 to October 2013, Lavin was in the midst of some of the biggest decisions facing Quinn, ranging from expanding gambling to the legalizing medical marijuana.
* Greg Hinz…
And should a governor who frequently brags about how he’s cleaned up state government after the Rod Blagojevich years just watch as his former top aide exploits a huge loophole to swing the revolving door in his favor? […]
Rauner campaign manager Mike Schrimpf was even more pointed.
“First Pat Quinn’s running mate is hired by Blagojevich’s former budget director, then we learn about dozens of political hires in Quinn’s administration,” he said, referring to Paul Vallas and a hiring scandal in the Illinois Department of Transportation. “How Pat Quinn’s former chief of staff is trying to cash in as a lobbyist. There’s seemingly no end to the ethical cloud hovering over Pat Quinn.”
* Lavin was also hired by a ride-sharing firm…
In the latest move, Uber Technologies Inc. has brought aboard Jack Lavin, who until September was chief of staff to Gov. Pat Quinn. Another addition: lobbyist Al Ronan, whom I hadn’t seen on previous lists. They join, among others, former state Sen. Jim DeLeo, D-Chicago, and Mike Kasper, who has close ties to both Mayor Rahm Emanuel and House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing firms could use the help because, so far, they’re losing in Springfield. […]
Mr. Quinn’s spokeswoman, Brooke Anderson, said hiring Mr. Lavin won’t have any impact on his ex-boss. “The governor will treat this legislation just like any other,” she insisted.
* Again, this is all legal and Quinn can’t just tell Lavin that he can’t make money because Lavin doesn’t work for him any longer.
But it’s probably also fair political game and another smallish strike against the governor.
29 Comments
|
Adventures in budgeting
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sigh…
During last week’s budget debate in the House, Republicans started complaining about the Illinois Department of Transportation budget that includes the state airplanes.
It turns out a rumor they had heard was true. The state planes had been used to fly prairie chickens from Kansas to Illinois as part of a repopulation effort. Most of the costs are covered by the feds, but there’s a few thousand state dollars involved, although to listen to the Republicans it’s enough to wipe out a $2 billion budget deficit. Still, the debate focused attention on the air fleet, which is a favorite whipping boy.
Including to Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, who has several times focused on the state airplanes as a source of waste that could be eliminated to help avoid higher taxes. She’s even advocated getting rid of them altogether.
So when the IDOT budget came up for a vote after the blow-up over the bird flights, how did Scherer vote? Yes, of course.
Looks like one of the duckling handlers messed up.
* Other budget stuff…
* Rauner: Gov, lawmakers ‘playing political games’ with budget: “I think it’s absolutely wrong to do what they’re doing. They’re playing political games and showing a lack of leadership and unfortunately in Springfield, that’s been the status quo. Right now, they’re trying to portray themselves as just doing whatever the voters want. They’re saying voters like more spending so we’re gonna give them more spending. Voters don’t like taxes so we’re just not going to vote on taxes,” Rauner charged. “That’s political gamesmanship. That’s playing political football with our financial health. It’s a huge mistake. It’s a failure of leadership. It’s a failure of the General Assembly and the Governor down there.”
* Quinn to lobby House Democrats on tax hike extension: After the bills passed, Madigan put a hold on them to stop them from being sent to the Senate. Madigan said the action was needed because the House may choose to change the bills later. It also prevents the Senate from making alterations while House lawmakers figure out the revenue side of the budget equation. “If they’re here, they can’t be amended by the Senate,” Madigan said.
* Civic Federation: Property Tax Rebates Inefficient
* IHSA payroll under scrutiny: Altogether, the IHSA’s tab for “salaries, other compensation [and] employee benefits” totaled nearly $3.1 million for the last school year, 2012-2013, up 21 percent over the previous year.
* Republican Wozniak takes shot at Democrat Smiddy over budget votes
* Editorial: Quinn, get off the ropes and sign city pension bill
* Legislator rolls dice that letter will revive gambling bill
* Casino association opposed to slots at racetracks proposal; revenue at riverboats down since 2007
9 Comments
|
Today’s numbers are depressing
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a new study by Roosevelt University’s Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy…
In Illinois, 84% of all marijuana arrests are for misdemeanor possession and these arrests represent a sizable portion of arrests within the state. For example:
* Three year averages for marijuana misdemeanor arrests from 2010-2013 are over 41,000 per year;
* In comparison to FBI index crimes, arrests for marijuana misdemeanors were equivalent to 50% of arrests for all index crimes, that is serious and violent crimes;
* Compared to all drug arrests, marijuana misdemeanor arrests make up 39% of drug arrests – including sales and possession of controlled substances - in the state of Illinois;
* Of marijuana misdemeanor arrests, 85% of arrests were for possession of cannabis totaling less than 10 grams.
* More…
* In Champaign, 75% of marijuana misdemeanor offenders received a ticket instead of arrest […]
* In Chicago, 93% of misdemeanor marijuana possession violations resulted in an arrest and in only 7% of cases a ticket was issued […]
* Chicago was the only municipality studied with a marijuana arrest rate higher than the state rate, specifically 150% higher than the state average; and more than 230% higher than the U.S. rate
* Context…
* Illinois’s marijuana possession arrest rate is more than 150% higher than the national average;
* Illinois ranked third in the nation for the black to white racial disparity of marijuana possession offenders, despite the fact that marijuana use is the same between these two groups;
* In Illinois, African Americans were about 7.6 times more likely to be arrested than whites;
* Cook County made the most marijuana possession arrests of any county in the nation with
33,068 arrests in 2010 and also had one of the worst racial disparity rates in the nation;
* Illinois’ estimated spending for marijuana possession ranged from $78 million to $364 million
per year on marijuana possession arrests and adjudications.
* Related…
* Study: Despite new law, pot arrests still likelier than fines
* Pot Enforcement ‘Uneven, Unjust,’ Says Roosevelt University Study: Chicago’s 2013 arrests actually increased in some areas, “predominantly minority neighborhoods on the city’s South and West sides.”
* Chicago cops likely to arrest — not ticket — for pot possession
39 Comments
|
*** UPDATED x3 *** Rauner at home and at ease
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ABC 7’s Charles Thomas scored the first interview of Bruce Rauner at his home…
Rauner still lives in the house he built 20 years ago. By far it is not one of the largest or most expensive homes in tiny Winnetka.
“I’m not into conspicuous consumption at all,” he said. “That’s not of interest to me.”
Trulia estimates the house is worth about $2 million, which ain’t much considering the man’s fortune, which he estimated to Thomas runs in the “hundreds of millions of dollars for sure.” From a screen cap…
And a satellite view…
…Adding… Satellite view of the governor’s private house…
* But Rauner doesn’t appear to put on airs with his biker buddies…
He’s a member of the A.B.A.T.E. Motorcycle Club whose leader said Rauner joined in 2008.
“I was shocked when I heard,” Patrick Jones said of Rauner’s wealth. “To us he’s just a regular guy.”
The piece included footage of Rauner shaking hands with a biker who has a Confederate flag on his jacket arm (a detail I hadn’t noticed until someone with the Quinn operation pointed it out last night)….
*** UPDATE 1 *** The Quinn campaign is now trying to make this an issue…
Illinois Leaders Call for Apology After Bruce Rauner Embraces Supporter Wearing Confederate Flag
CHICAGO – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Secretary of State Jesse White, Congressman Bobby Rush, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Danny Davis, Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough issued the below statement rejecting Bruce Rauner’s television appearance warmly embracing a supporter wearing the Confederate flag. The story was a profile about Rauner and the people with whom he hangs out, including a man wearing the Confederate flag with the inscription “Fighting Terrorism Since 1861″:
“It is shocking to see Republican candidate for Governor, Bruce Rauner, warmly embracing a supporter wearing the Confederate flag.
“Bruce Rauner owes the people of Illinois an apology.
“There’s no place in the Land of Abraham Lincoln for the Confederate flag, a symbol of racism and slavery.
“There’s one and only one flag of the United States of America - the stars and stripes.”
I didn’t notice that inscription.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rauner responds…
I really doubt he saw that flag patch when he shook the guy’s hand. This is more of an advance staff error than a Rauner error.
…Adding… No way did he say “condones.” Nobody’s that stupid. That’s gotta be a typo. I’ve asked Monique for clarification.
*** UPDATE 3 *** As I suspected…
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* And, finally…
He says he would not be surprised if democrats uncover more scandals involving some of the companies in which his company has invested.
“Human beings aren’t perfect and we’ve invested in thousands of executives and sometimes their behavior isn’t what it should be,” he said.
147 Comments
|
The pension militia?
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Make sure to read the last sentence in this section of Doug Finke’s latest column…
The state finally filed its response last week to the five pension-reform lawsuits.
It essentially raised the arguments most thought it would. The pension debt is so severe that the pressures it was putting on the state’s efforts to meet its other obligations justifies the reforms.
Opponents of the reform law have argued pension benefits represent a contract between the state and public employees and thus cannot be changed. The response from the state, though, says the extraordinary nature of the problem allows the state to modify those contracts, including those established under the pension-protection clause of the Illinois Constitution.
At least, it appears that way. The pension-protection provisions are under Article XIII of the state Constitution. The state’s response makes reference to Article XII, which deals with the militia.
Oops.
52 Comments
|
A new twist to an old game
Monday, May 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Every year, we get at least one “corporate fight” in Springfield. Two or more corporations or industries will duke it out over some proposed law change or another.
The cable TV industry, for instance, tried a while back to convince the General Assembly to tax satellite TV users. When I first started doing this job many moons ago, banks wanted the right to sell insurance to the public, which the insurance agents’ lobby opposed, as did a union which represented some insurance agents. The banks fought for years and eventually won.
This year has been relatively quiet until probably a few weeks ago. Psychologists want the right to dispense prescriptions to their patients, even though they’re not medical doctors. The doctors are opposed and so are the psychiatrists. Both sides recently hired a bevy of Statehouse lobbyists.
But the biggest issue to develop this spring was the fight between taxi company owners and ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft. Rather than call a cab company or wave a taxi down on the street, ride-share consumers use smart phone apps to book their rides. It’s become hugely popular in many cities around the world, but taxi company owners see the industry as an encroachment on their turf.
The ride-share companies started operating in Chicago without so much as a “How do you do” to the local government regulators and the fairly heavily regulated taxi companies retaliated. They initially tried to put the ride-sharing companies out of business with a ridiculously over the top bill.
Attempts at compromise failed. Eventually, a somewhat reasonable bill emerged, but Uber and Lyft fought it hard and both sides bulked up. Their spending rapidly escalated as independent contract lobbyists were hired left and right.
But the Statehouse spending may not have stopped there.
Earlier this month, some wealthy taxi company owners converged on Springfield and met with the Legislative Black Caucus at their headquarters near the Statehouse. The taxi owners’ goal was to convince the legislators to support tough – some would say too tough – regulations of Uber and Lift. Most House Black Caucus members subsequently voted for the regulatory bill, along with the vast majority of most other state Representatives.
Rumors soon began flying, though, that the taxi owners had donated money to the Black Caucus Foundation’s annual golf outing. The Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that raises money for things like college scholarships.
Maze Jackson, a former Statehouse lobbyist, was named the Foundation’s executive director effective March 1st. Jackson terminated his lobbying registration in late February. Before he did so, he worked with a lobbying firm that now represents the taxi industry.
Jackson admitted last week that he had held “discussions” of a “possible” donation, but he flatly denied that anything was solidly pledged and defended the talks because, he said, they were not directly related to any legislation. The donation wasn’t discussed at the meeting with legislators, he insisted. The Foundation is prohibited from being involved in politics, and Jackson said he’s committed to raising as much money as he can from anyone he can for minority scholarships.
Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Ken Dunkin(D-Chicago) also flatly denied that anything untoward had taken place. Other members of the Black Caucus, however, privately expressed worries that the situation could taint their Foundation in an era when even a slight appearance of impropriety can invite a federal probe.
Jackson also claimed that a lobbyist for a ride-sharing company had approached him about making a donation. But that lobbyist said that he was conversing with Jackson at the Statehouse and Jackson casually asked him what he was working on. When the lobbyist told Jackson that he was lobbying for a ride-sharing company, Jackson said that the taxi companies had already donated to the Foundation. The lobbyist said he told Jackson that his company would probably do the same, but he said he never actually followed up with his client.
One of the ride-sharing companies pushed this story hard last week in what was apparently a last-ditch attempt to derail the regulatory package. So far, though, the legislation appears to be on track.
There is no solid evidence right now of any direct quid pro quo here. Obviously, though, this doesn’t look good on its face. At all. And it needs to stop.
Thoughts?
10 Comments
|
* My latest column for Crain’s Chicago Business…
Chicago property taxes are most likely rising soon. But that doesn’t mean Chicagoans have to be happy about their plight.
I commissioned a poll on May 14 to gauge just how deep the anger really is.
It’s deep. Deep Tunnel deep.
“Despite recent pension reform legislation in Springfield,” respondents were told, “the city of Chicago must still come up with $50 million next year and $250 million a year in five years to fully fund just two of the city’s six pension systems. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says property taxes will likely go up to prevent cutting needed city services. Do you agree with Mayor Emanuel that a property tax increase is probably necessary?”
Click here to read the rest and see the results for this and other polling questions. Subscribers have crosstabs.
* Meanwhile, Greg Hinz has a new Crain’s column entitled “Emanuel’s still strong, but here’s how he could lose in 2015″…
In politics, you can get away with not being liked. Or you can be a governmental failure who can’t get much done. But you can’t be both at once and, however Mr. Emanuel defends himself, that’s the narrative that’s increasingly playing around Chicago.
Discuss.
35 Comments
|
* From AFP-IL director David From…
AFP-IL is launching a new ad today aimed at holding Gov. Quinn and legislators accountable on their promise that the tax hike is temporary. It’s a $140,000 cable buy running in markets across the state, specifically the NW Cook Suburbs, Quad Cities, Will Co., Metro East, and Springfield markets.
The TV ad is the next effort to complement AFP’s mail and grassroots campaign in a dozen House districts.
* Rate it…
…Adding… Script…
They say nothing lasts forever.
Unless you’re Governor Pat Quinn.
Three years ago, when he raised taxes by 67 percent, he promised it would be temporary.
Now, he wants to make his “temporary” tax hike permanent and continue the overspending.
Quinn’s policies are costing Illinois – we have the third highest unemployment rate and people are fleeing our state for places with LESS taxes and MORE opportunity.
Tell Pat Quinn we don’t want another tax hike or broken promise.
40 Comments
|
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|