Reader comments closed until Memorial Day
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House will reconvene Monday at one o’clock, so we’ll restart the blog around noonish.
* My daughter and many of our friends lost a great friend this week. Lynn Greenholdt was a warm, joyful person who could have more fun than anybody else in the room and still somehow remain level-headed. My daughter Vanessa thought the world of Lynn, as did I. Lynn bravely fought breast cancer, but lost her battle this week. The world just won’t be the same without her always-positive spirit…
* Lynn, myself and lots of friends used to go to the old Bruce’s Tavern every Sunday night to hear Tom Irwin sing his songs, so this one’s for her…
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Rutherford continues fundraising
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Despite sitting on over $1.1 million in his campaign fund and having no immediate political prospects, Treasure Dan Rutherford is still raising money. From a Thursday afternoon fundraising e-mail…
…I know when my brother believes in something that he will continue to work hard for it. He will not back down. Drawing fair legislative maps during redistricting and getting the Constitutional Amendment on the ballot and adopted are just a couple of things I know he is very interested in.
I, along with hundreds of supporters, will never forget Dan’s remarks to the crowd on Primary Election night. With fire in his belly and a strong voice he addressed the crowd, “I will be back, and we will be stronger than ever. This is not the end but the beginning of a new chapter.”
This Rutherford Team and all of his supporters, will not back down. We can’t wait to see what Dan’s next chapter brings. We will continue to stand tall and proud beside him and support his efforts.
Dan is the State Treasurer through mid-January, 2015. He is staying politically active and plans to continue doing so, helping to bring diversity into the system. Dan’s political infrastructure is going to be maintained. He asks for your continued support.
To make a birthday gift to support his ongoing political efforts, please go to: http://danrutherford.org/calendar/event/43/EventDetails.aspx
Thank you. I know my brother appreciates you!
Sincerely,
Debi (Rutherford) Fornero
Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s ‘Sis’
Your thoughts?
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Local governments blast Link pension plan
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, had been pushing a plan to shore up hundreds of pension funds that cover police and firefighters outside of Chicago, with talk that he might run a bill this week or early next.
But the Link measure did not call for the type of benefit cuts that lawmakers already have approved for some state and Chicago funds and, in fact, would have placed a five-year “moratorium” on any changes. That has steam pouring out of the ears of municipal officials.
* An example of the steam from a press release sent out today by the Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition…
This proposal is not an “agreement” that brings comprehensive and long-term solutions, but merely window dressing that covers up the real impact on taxpayers and allows the unsustainable public safety pension crisis to continue to spiral out of control.
* Concludes Hinz…
In the face of such opposition, Mr. Link’s bill almost certainly is going nowhere.
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A look inside the belly of the beast
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a blast e-mail from Rep. Jeanne Ives…
It seems that legislators are voting based on the title of a bill rather that what’s in the bill.
This week, SB 3234, a bill that passed unanimously in the Senate, received 42 NO votes in the Illinois House because the title on the electronic board said ‘Tire Fee.’
In actuality, the bill simply deleted a reference to an out of date fee, paid to the Department of Revenue, of $1 per new or used tire that is sold in the State in order to bring Statute up to date with the new fee of $2.50 per tire. That fee was changed 10 years ago and the Department of Revenue suggested the bill to clean-up inconsistency in the statute.
It was simple and necessary. A ‘No’ vote was either due to a lack of information or, perhaps, it was yet another game being played out in the People’s House on the People’s Time.
That’s actually a pretty strong insight into what appears to have happened. From the bill’s synopsis…
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Removes an obsolete reference concerning tire user fees.
Now, check out the roll call. Most politically targeted Democrats voted “No” as did most Republicans.
The Statehouse is often a Bizarro World unto itself.
…Adding… The bill’s sponsor just told me that he made it “abundantly clear” during debate that this was in no way a fee increase. Yet, HDem targets and most HGOPs still voted against it.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kurt Erickson…
“We do not have the votes for a doomsday budget,” said Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon. “To us, there has to be another alternative.”
That alternative could be what insiders are calling a “maintenance budget,” that keeps spending near current levels by extending payment cycles for state contractors and reverses gains made on paying down a massive backlog of bills.
“We would return to the days when you’re just trying to hold the budget together with bailing wire and Band-aids,” Phelon said.
It also would give lawmakers some breathing room to see who wins the race for governor in November.
In other words, they’d make the spending match revenues by using bill payment money for programmatic spending and pushing even more vendor payments off to the future.
* The Question: Your thoughts on a “maintenance budget”?
*** UPDATE *** Since this appears to be off the table (a scenario described to me by a top Madigan guy the other day), the maintenance budget may be the only option left…
Madigan disputed a report in Friday’s Capitol Fax political newsletter that the speaker raised the idea of forwarding to Quinn the $38 billion in spending bills that passed the House last week and letting him make spending cuts if the tax-extension doesn’t pass.
“We’re not moving in that direction,” the speaker said.
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Credit Unions – Serving Consumers, Honoring Veterans
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
America’s credit unions are dedicated to fulfilling the daily financial needs of their membership and serving the needs of their communities. The movement’s “People Helping People” philosophy also motivates credit unions to participate in meaningful local activities, such as honoring our veterans. Each year at Christmas time, NuMark Credit Union in Joliet sponsors wreaths that are placed at gravesites as a thank you to veterans from each branch of the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This past year, through member donations collected at their branches and with funds directly provided by NuMark Credit Union, more than 140 gravesites were decorated with wreaths sponsored by the credit union at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. In addition, Alliant Credit Union, also in northern Illinois, recently received an award from the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation for its strong commitment to providing literacy resources for women veterans. For Alliant Credit Union, financial literacy support and career guidance is tremendously important in helping women veterans transition to civilian life. As not-for-profit financial cooperatives with a mantra of “People Before Profits”, credit unions are a highly valued resource by nearly 3 million Illinois consumers — and remembered for their efforts in serving their communities this Memorial holiday and every day.
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* Some folks say it should be easy for reporters to get answers out of political candidates. But it ain’t as easy as it looks.
For example, check out how aggressive some Chicago reporters were this week with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner over his adamant refusal to talk about any of his fiscal plans beyond platitudes.
Rauner just laughs and repeats his talking points, despite their pointed questions. He wouldn’t even name one person who sits on the advisory groups that he claims he’s put together.
Talk about disciplined…
*** UPDATE ***
The DGA provides a partial transcript, in case you can’t listen to audio files at work…
Q: The other day you referred to Democrats in Springfield as using the budget for political football. You are doing robocalls out to various districts telling people to vote no. You have not presented any kind of alternative plan and you say you are not going to do that until after the legislature is gone home. Aren’t you playing political football…Don’t you feel responsibility to say where you actually do stand so that Republicans in the General Assembly might have an idea what you actually stand for, specifically.
RAUNER: We will be coming out with our plans and our recommendations long, long before the election and the voters will have a clear choice.
Q: What’s taking so long? Because you’ve been running for 15 months. You know what the problems were. You knew that the tax is going to expire in 2015 as scheduled as you propose. What is taking so long? Who are these experts by name that you are working with?
RAUNER: We will be coming out with our plan in due time, long before the General Election.
Q: What is due time?
RAUNER: At the right time…
Q: What’s the right time? You’ve said this for months?
RAUNER: (Laughs) OK, I understand, next question.
Q: When are you going to tell us what you’re for instead of against?
RAUNER: (Laughs) Soon.
Q What is soon? Seriously? This is what everybody’s saying. You’re ducking the question. What tax rate would you agree to?
RAUNER: As I’ve been clear throughout, we will come out with a plan, both on tax policy and tax plan as well as a spending plan.
Q: What they’re going to do in the next two week, you’re going to have to live with next year if you win the election. So don’t you have a responsibility to weigh in, to explain to voters and to politicians what you think you want them to do?
RAUNER: I’ve been clear. I want them not to extend this temporary income tax.
Q: What you want them to do, not what you don’t want them to do?
RAUNER: (Laughs) To be clear, we’re going to be coming out with a plan on taxes and in spending in due time, at the right time, and long before the election.
Q: Will that come with your pension plan, too, that you’ve promised?
RAUNER: (Laughs) We’ll have a pension plan, an education plan, a transportation plan.
Q: Why should anyone believe this after hearing it month after month? Aren’t you shortchanging the voters?
RAUNER: (No response)
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Obama begins pushing Quinn
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lynn Sweet…
President Barack Obama, coming home to Chicago on Thursday to raise money for Senate Democrats, plans a sustained effort to help re-elect Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, White House political director David Simas told me.
“There will be strong support for Gov. Quinn throughout this cycle,” Simas said.
While some Democrats have distanced themselves from Obama, that’s never been the case with Quinn. Quinn told me earlier this year that if other Democrats did not want the president to stump for them, “We’ll be happy to take that time.”
In his home of state Illinois, Obama, in addition to fundraising, has enormous ability to engage, mobilize and turn out base Democratic voters for Quinn, locked in what is shaping up as a close and costly race against Republican Bruce Rauner.
* From the President’s speech at a fundraiser last night…
There are a couple other people I just want to acknowledge real quickly. Obviously, our Governor Pat Quinn is in the house. Please give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) Pat is doing a lot of hard stuff, and he’s doing it the right way. And I’m very appreciative for all the efforts that he’s making down in Springfield.
* Ironically enough, one of the fundraisers Obama attended was hosted by a Bruce Rauner supporter…
Obama’s Thursday visit to Chicago includes a reception at the Gold Coast home of Invenergy LLC CEO Michael Polsky. Campaign records show Polsky gave $5,000 to Citizens for Rauner Inc. in April 2013.
They also show Polsky gave $1,000 to Citizens for Lisa Madigan last year and $2,100 to groups supporting Gov. Pat Quinn in previous election cycles.
“We have support from all corners and all sectors,” Rauner said during a campaign stop in Chinatown. “So I’m not surprised that someone who might be a supporter of the president or other politicians might also support us.”
* From this morning’s pool report at a Chicago restaurant where President Obama breakfasted with Gov. Pat Quinn…
President Obama and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn arrived at Valois Restaurant for a hearty breakfast. Valois is clearly an Obama mainstay: A glass cabinet was filled with Valois coffee mugs adorned with Obama’s face, and assorted Obama clippings and photos hung on a wall.
A separate menu board featured “President Obama’s favorites,” including “N.Y. steak and eggs;” two eggs with bacon or sausage; two pancakes; steak omelet; Mediterranean omelet; and an “all-vegi” egg white omelet. Obama appeared to stray a bit from his favorites, ordering two eggs over medium with bacon and hash browns.
Obama ordered at the counter of this casual restaurant and greeted the cooks as he waited for his food, which came out on a plastic tray. The dining area was about half full, and everyone appeared appropriately shocked that the president had strolled in for breakfast.
At the counter, Obama plopped down two twenty-dollar bills and said, “I don’t take free food.” The president and the governor set their trays down on an empty table and spent a few minutes chatting with customers. Obama greeted folks with a “how are you doing?” or a “good to see you” and posed for a few pictures. His food remained untouched as he took photos and talked with a few more people, largely out of earshot of the pool.
Finally, Obama joked that the customers were working him too hard and said that he was going to eat his breakfast with Quinn. The pool was ushered out as they sat down to eat.
Obama spent about half an hour at the restaurant, and by the time he departed, an enthusiastic crowd had assembled outside. The motorcade departed Valois at 9:44 a.m.
* And the pool photo…
Caption?
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* Mike Boland always wanted to be the Illinois state treasurer, but he never pulled the trigger. Instead, he ran for lt. governor in the 2010 Democratic primary and finished a distant fourth place.
After losing the 2012 Democratic primary to Sen. Mike Jacobs, Boland moved to Indiana.
And now, a little over a week before the Hoosier State Democratic party’s convention, Boland will be tapped for the job he always coveted here. From an Indiana Democratic Party press release I obtained this morning…
Democrat Mike Boland of Fishers filed paperwork this morning to seek the Democratic nomination for Treasurer of State at the Indiana Democratic Party’s State Convention on Saturday, May 31.
Boland, a 30-year educator, moved to Indiana in 2012 with his wife, Mary, after serving in the Illinois General Assembly for 16 years. While in office there, was he awarded 36 awards for his service in the House from groups representing educators, veterans, child advocates, agriculture and firefighters. Since arriving in Indiana to be closer to family, Boland has become active in the Democratic Party, helping candidates and organizations with their mission to restore balance to Hoosier government.
“Mike Boland is a lifelong public servant who will work hard to advance the cause of ‘better and more balanced’ government in our Statehouse,” said IDP Chair John Zody. “Hoosiers deserve better in our state, and a candidate like Mike who understands that mission. When elected, he will keep his focus on Hoosiers instead of on politics.”
“The Treasurer of State is tasked with enormous responsibility in the financial management of taxpayer dollars. From college savings plans to the Indiana Bond Bank to the State Board of Finance, which can move money separately from General Assembly appropriations – it is imperative that there be transparent and balanced representation in our Statehouse,” said Boland. “As Treasurer, I will work to restore the trust of Hoosiers with my attention squarely focused on the fiscal health of our state. The current administration made headlines when it sued to put Chrysler out of business – and in doing so putting 5,000 workers out of a job. Hoosiers deserve better.”
Democrats will gather in Indianapolis on May 30 and 31 for ‘Big Dem Weekend’, which includes the Party’s annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner followed by the State Democratic Convention on Saturday. Nominations will be done at the Convention’s General Session, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Avenue, in downtown Indianapolis.
Apparently, the party was having trouble finding somebody to run.
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Farnham indicted
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the US Attorney’s office…
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging former Illinois State Rep. KEITH FARNHAM with possessing, receiving, and transporting child pornography, federal law enforcement officials announced today. Farnham was initially charged with one count of possession of child pornography in a criminal complaint filed last month in U.S. District Court.
Farnham, 66, of Elgin, was indicted yesterday on one count of possessing child pornography involving a minor under age 12, one count of receiving child pornography, and two counts of transporting child pornography, all via computer. Farnham, who was previously released on his own recognizance with conditions, including home incarceration and electronic monitoring, will be arraigned on a date yet to be determined in Federal Court.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of a computer hard drive that was seized at Farnham’s residence on March 13, when agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed federal search warrants at Farnham’s state office and residence in Elgin.
Farnham resigned his seat in the Illinois General Assembly on March 19.
According to the complaint affidavit, HSI agents were investigating information received from the HSI Cyber Crimes Center that an email address, later linked to Farnham, was being used to trade child pornography on the Internet.
Possession of child pornography of a minor under age 12 carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while each count of receiving and transporting child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Gary Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI in Chicago.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Petersen.
An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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*** UPDATE 1 *** To streamline the debate, the House only allowed one proponent and one opponent to speak.
The House voted against the budget proposal, 5-107.
So, just five people say they want these cuts. But not nearly enough favor the tax hike extension.
On to the next turn in the road.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Targets were all “No” votes…
Crespo was joined by Madigan; Rep. Toni Berrios, D-Chicago; Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion; and Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago [were the only “Yes” votes].
So, the targets mostly voted against the tax hike budget, and they voted against the tax cut budget.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* SJ-R…
The Illinois House could begin voting as early as today on a revised budget plan that would slash more than $3 billion from a budget proposal they approved just a week ago.
Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, chairman of the House Human Services Appropriations Committee, said the votes could come as early as Friday, while another veteran House Democrat said the vote was definitely on. […]
Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is chairman of the House General Services Appropriations Committee.
“I want to make sure that when we take those votes, people understand it’s not just cutting jobs. There’s going to be repercussions. People will feel the impact,” Crespo said.
Except Crespo has said he’s leaning against voting for the tax hike.
* Meanwhile, Madigan more than just hinted at the tax hike’s fate yesterday…
Asked about the Republican advisory amendment plan by Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, Madigan signaled the tax question was off the table because only 34 House Democrats Wednesday showed a willingness to back the tax extension. Sixty votes are needed to get the plan backed by Gov. Pat Quinn out of the House.
“I think as a result of yesterday, that’s pretty much moot,” Madigan told Sullivan.
Later, however, Madigan gave a conflicting answer when pressed by Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, if the tax-extension is dead for the spring legislative session, which is scheduled to end May 31.
“Mr. McSweeney, I don’t want to be quoted as the one who killed the governor’s proposal,” Madigan said.
That’s not really a conflicting answer.
Watch the live blog for the debate.
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The business of Illinois
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Chicago would become the only city in the state allowed to write its own rules on where medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers could set up shop under legislation the Illinois Senate passed on Thursday.
Sponsoring Sen. Kwame Raoul said the change was needed because current restrictions, which say grow centers cannot be within 2,500 feet from homes and schools and dispensaries cannot be within 1,000 feet of those buildings, make it practically impossible for them to locate within city limits due to Chicago’s density.
The proposal was approved 31-18 and now goes to the House. Opponents argued city officials should not be given so much leeway, pointing to a history of corruption and botched deals.
“You’ve got the state completely eliminating any regulations and saying the city of Chicago can do anything it wants, and there has been a history in the city of Chicago of insider deals,” said Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine. “Are we comfortable here as a state giving them the authority to say ‘well, I’m an alderman and my friend wants to put this marijuana dispensary next to a school because he can get a great deal?’”
That response is almost pure hyperbole. The new locations would still have to be approved by the state.
And, really, can you imagine trying to trying to find a place in Chicago that’s at least a half a mile in all directions from a house?
* Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune is rightly impatient about the progress of the fracking regulatory process…
Even by Springfield’s standards, this rule-making — the process of turning a law into precise restrictions and permissions — is unusually slow. Mind you, when the rules are finally completed, they have to go back to a legislative committee for a final sign-off.
“It’s important we follow the rules because we don’t want to do something that would invalidate the law in the future,” Natural Resources Department Director Marc Miller told us. “We’re going to do it right. We’re going to do it one time and get it done before the deadline in November.”
Getting it as close to right is, of course, important. Fracking is a controversial process that has to be done carefully to mitigate environmental risks. One reason the rule-making process is taking so long is that environmental groups have flooded DNR with comments and questions. The agency is obligated to respond to them all and finish up the rules by Nov. 15.
Ah, could that be the reason for delay? To push off a controversial decision until after the general election on Nov. 4?
Gov. Pat Quinn was very pro-jobs when he signed this bill, but now that the campaign has started he’s Mr. Green.
* Related…
* Advocates say new marijuana rules will hurt the poor
* Taxicab industry forms PAC to fight rideshare, swing elections
* Here comes the sun: Rooftop solar panels in Illinois get jump-start: The bill, supported both by environmental groups and by the state’s largest power generator, Chicago-based Exelon Corp., is a fallback alternative to an overhaul of Illinois’ clean energy law, which environmentalists say is broken because of changes in the state’s power market that have made it next to impossible to finance new renewable energy projects. That broader effort died earlier this month.
* Chicago unemployment plunges to 7.4 percent
* Push for tax on sugary beverages renewed - A once-dormant plan to impose a one-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages has been revived in the Illinois House.
* Tunney opposes Ricketts revamp on Wrigley
* Home sales down as buyers have less to choose from
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Sign and drive bill passes House
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Good news about a good idea…
Legislation approved Thursday by the Illinois House would allow drivers to simply sign their ticket rather than surrender their license when they receive a traffic citation.
The “sign-and-drive” legislation passed unanimously in the House, 116-0, and had already been approved in the Senate. It now goes to the governor.
Currently, drivers in many Illinois jurisdictions are required to surrender their driver’s license to the police officer when they receive a traffic ticket. The driver gets the license back after the ticket is resolved. The system is designed to ensure that the driver doesn’t skip court or otherwise disregard the ticket.
Under the bill, the secretary of state’s office would be required to temporarily suspend the driver’s license if he or she doesn’t appear for court.
In the post 9/11 world, people need their driver’s licenses for identification. It’s as simple as that.
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Your morning moment of Zen
Friday, May 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oscar the Puppy showed up for the last inning or so of the House vs. Senate softball game this week. Oscar always loves being around people, so he had a great time. He was even tapped as a “K-9 softball analyst” by the Illinois Channel…
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