* A group of Protestant and Jewish religious leaders called Clergy for a New Drug Policy is lobbying for marijuana legalization in Illinois and several other states…
“It’s a primary change if something is decriminalized,” said the Rev. Al Sharp, the Chicago pastor who launched the group this spring. “The goal is to change the culture of punishment in this country, which the war on drugs has contributed so thoroughly and so devastatingly to.”
Sharp considers himself just as much a policy wonk as he is a pastor. As the former head of nonprofit agencies such as Protestants for the Common Good and the Community Renewal Society, groups founded as alternatives to the religious right, he has made lobbying for public policies such as more education funding and better housing his ministry. […]
When legislators in Springfield recently approved a bill to remove criminal penalties for simple marijuana possession, replacing the threat of jail time and a criminal record with a sanction similar to a traffic ticket, Sharp and his fellow clergy claimed victory.
If the bill is signed into law, Illinois will join 17 other states in decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, a group that advocates the legal use of marijuana. Nearly half the country, including Illinois, already allows for the use of medical marijuana.
But without the support from groups on the Right, like the Illinois Policy Institute, this stuff was going nowhere.
The Hastert indictment raises questions even more gut-wrenching: about the proper use of the criminal law; the degree to which technical statutes should be employed to punish alleged conduct that is offensive but uncharged; and the role that celebrity and prominence should play in making prosecutorial decisions. […]
The Hastert indictment strikes me as a significantly more questionable call. If Hastert sexually abused a student when he was a teacher and wrestling coach, that conduct is repugnant; it should have been reported and prosecuted decades ago.
Now, it is too late for that. Instead, Hastert was tripped up by bank reporting requirements intended to catch drug kingpins and organized crime bosses. His alleged crime is that he structured his hush money withdrawals to avoid triggering reporting rules and then — seemingly on a single occasion — lied to FBI agents about why he was making the withdrawals. […]
Hastert did, it seems, a terrible thing. He is, or was, paying for it — literally. He shelled out $1.7 million “to compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct,” the indictment says. He is at once alleged perpetrator and victim of a shake-down scheme; his alleged victim is both prey and blackmailer.
* Let’s focus on the currency issue. From the indictment…
Title 31, United States Code, Section 5313(a) and Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1010.310-313 required domestic financial institutions to prepare and file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network a Currency Transaction Report (Form 104) for any transaction or series of transactions involving currency of more than $10,000.
Federal law also makes it a crime to attempt to evade this reporting requirement. So, if you consciously don’t want to deal with that reporting hassle and instead withdraw just $9,500 from your bank account, you can actually be charged with a felony.
First of all, that’s your money in your bank account. This is so invasive.
We’re eventually going to reach a point through the magic of inflation when $10K is a normal withdrawal for anybody in the middle class. [Adding: I withdrew cash before my extended trip to New Orleans and the bank flagged it for the IRS. I couldn’t believe my bank did it because it was nowhere near $10K.]
These sorts of drug prohibition-era penalities need to be repealed. Maybe Hastert’s indictment will finally wake up Congress.
Four years after a strident confrontation with organized labor he later regretted laid the groundwork for a more cooperative relationship, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will strike a dramatically different tone on Wednesday.
The mayor has summoned leaders of virtually every union representing city workers—with the exception of the Fraternal Order of Police—to an unprecedented meeting at the plumbers’ union hall.
The conversation is certain to include the $30 billion pension crisis that has dropped the bond rating of the city, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Park District to junk status and threatens the on-time opening of schools this fall. […]
Asked about the meeting with Emanuel, [Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez] compared it to the highly strained relationship between organized labor and rookie Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“Sitting down and having a constructive and collaborative dialogue stands in stark contrast to what’s happening at the state level, with the governor,” Ramirez said.
Rahm learned the hard way. But the governor most likely just figures that his old pal has sold out.
* Meanwhile, the Effingham City Council heard from dozens of union members Tuesday evening about “right to work,” even though it doesn’t appear the governor’s resolution was up for formal council debate…
Dexter Sloan spoke about what his life was like before he joined a union four years ago. “I started from the bottom,” he told the council. “I started at $5 an hour. I busted my butt every day — eight to 10 hours a day — and getting nowhere.”
Sloan was working two jobs just to get by. And getting by, he said, was all he could do. “Almost five years ago, my firstborn son had a brain aneurysm and died in my arms — because I didn’t have insurance,” Sloan said. “That’s when I left and went union.”
Since joining, he’s gotten better wages, better training, and benefits he never had before. “I can provide for my family now,” Sloan said.
Upon finishing his address to the council, a thunderous applause came from other union workers at the meeting. A handful of others would also officially address the council.
Under state law, the move toward closure would trigger a two-month review process to let local workers, community members and others weigh in. It’s a process that has been seen downstate several times in recent years as governors have targeted prisons.
The process typically peaks with a lengthy public hearing that can turn emotional.
“It can be a difficult process,” said state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat and member of the commission that would hold the hearing. “But it’s very important.”
In the end, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability issues an opinion about whether a facility should close, but a governor can proceed either way, no matter the opinion.
* In other news, AARP responded today to the governor’s cuts…
“Governor Rauner’s decision to file emergency rules creating a means test for the Department on Aging’s Community Care Program (CCP) is in effect a harsh cut that endangers the lives of thousands of older Illinoisans, and the communities in which they live.
Nearly 39,000 older Illinoisans who receive CCP services in their own homes and communities are at great risk of losing those services and have no alternative other than costly and often unnecessary institutional care.
The cuts affect not just the individuals receiving the programs and services – the community agencies providing those services will also be gravely hit. They may have to lay workers off or shut down altogether, creating a negative ripple effect in countless local economies across Illinois.
Additionally, those individuals who are caregivers for CCP clients will also be hurt – many will have to cut hours from work or leave their jobs altogether to care for Mom and Dad, further compounding the drastic effect on local economies.
These cuts are not the right way to proceed in order to fix a budget gap.
The Community Care Program saves taxpayers’ money. National and state studies have consistently demonstrated that caring for an individual in a nursing home environment costs triple to taxpayers what it costs to care for the same individual at home and in the community.
Cutting CCP does not correct the budget imbalance – actually, it makes it even worse down the road. Any immediate savings will be eliminated in the future and taxpayers will have to foot a significantly larger bill.
On behalf of our 1.7 million Illinois members, we strongly oppose the Governor’s decision and we urge him to cancel the emergency rule and protect a service that is critical to thousands of older citizens and to the communities where they live.”
Speaker Mike Madigan’s House is scheduled to take up [the workers’ comp] issue tomorrow. I don’t know whether this will be a serious effort at compromise or another extended middle finger back at the governor. But, in earlier conversations, some progress has been made. I’m not going to relate all the details, but there are ways to cut costs that both sides should be able to agree on because, compared with other industrial states, Illinois remains an outlier. And there are ways to further lean on insurance companies to pass on the savings to employers in the form of reduced premiums.
Another issue on which there is surprising agreement on both sides of the aisle is the need for an at least temporary property tax freeze, primarily for public school districts. The teachers unions won’t like it and will seek a big hike in state aid. But such a property tax freeze plan fared very well in an earlier test vote in Madigan’s House. That tells me suburban Democrats want something done. So does Rauner. So do it, and declare victory.
Tort reform is on a lot of people’s lists. That’s a tougher issue, but not impossible if both sides focus on things such as venue shopping. As Illinois Chamber of Commerce chief Todd Maisch puts it, there’s no reason that half of the asbestos cases in America should be filed in Madison County in Illinois.
* The asbestos thing is a bit overblown because plaintiffs and defendants have established a sort of specialty court in Madison County. That’s happened elsewhere with other types of cases. Subscribers know more about the workers’ comp stuff, but that property tax freeze on school districts would be vigorously opposed by the City, for obvious reasons. Tribune…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday declined to say whether Chicago Public Schools will be able to make a $634 million teacher pension payment due at the end of the month. […]
While CPS officials have declined to offer specifics, the district could be in a cash-flow crunch. The budget the Chicago Board of Education cobbled together last year relied on counting 14 months of revenue for its 12-month spending plan. Those two additional months are July and August. Historically, CPS has made the payment in a lump sum at the very last minute: June 30, the last day of the financial year.
CPS owes $634 million to the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund by month’s end. It’s unclear what would happen if the cash-strapped school district did not make that deadline, however, because state law does not specify.
“If they don’t follow the letter of the law, we have the option to sue,” said Charles Burbridge, executive director of the teachers’ pension fund, who noted the district had included the payment in its annual budget. “We are expecting to get that payment. We have not had any sign from anyone that that payment is not coming.”
The sooner every voter understands not only who broke Illinois but who’s now refusing to accept real reforms, the sooner Madigan and Cullerton will have to accept a simple truth:
Their party lost the governorship because the people of Illinois were fed up with the status quo. That hasn’t changed. The people want to fix how this sorry state does business.
Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s management steps in preparation for the out-of-balance state budget passed by Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan:
“The Democrats continue to want to spend more money than Illinois has in hard-earned tax dollars. Their budget plan is $4 billion out-of-balance. At the same time, President Cullerton and Speaker Madigan refuse to structurally change state government policies and practices, having rejected a comprehensive package of reforms negotiated in good faith.
Gov. Rauner seems to be the only adult in the room and he is making tough but necessary decisions. The alternative to a bloated budget and getting us to a balanced budget is passing reforms that grow the economy and eliminating wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse. It is up to the Democrat super-majority to decide whether the political class will cease oppressing the working class. Gov. Rauner simply wants to empower the people and restore freedom to the citizens of Illinois.”
* I dunno if this really means anything, but I’ll take it. From U-Haul…
There is nothing wrong with being runner-up in this countdown when you’ve jumped two spots and resurfaced as the Midwest magnet for do-it-yourself movers.
Chicago comes in at No. 2 on the U-Haul Top 10 U.S. Destination Cities for 2014. These rankings reflect the top destinations of one-way U-Haul truck rentals for the past calendar year.
The Windy City moved up from its No. 4 ranking a year ago and has climbed five sports since dipping to No. 7 back in 2008. Chicago was last as high as No. 2 in 2007.
While migration trends don’t correlate directly to a city’s population or economic growth, they are a strong gauge as to how well cities are attracting new residents. […]
“One of the fastest growing neighborhoods is the Wicker Park/Bucktown area, at least on the north side. A lot of people are still downsizing and it’s such a hugely dense area, so storage is in high demand. The job and housing markets have improved. A few years ago, people were trying to leave because it was too costly to live here. Now they’re coming back. Unemployment has dropped and Chicago seems to be more of a destination. There is still rebuilding. The city is knocking down buildings and creating huge skyscrapers for condos. There is definitely opportunity for people to move here.”
* A super-wealthy anti-tax man spends $40 million on campaigns and lobbying expenses in Missouri to get what he wants. It’s today’s must-read…
Republicans are in firm control of the Missouri House of Representatives, and they run a good whip operation. If they can’t get a bill passed with a solid GOP majority, they don’t bring it to the floor. They’d rather not advertise dissension within party ranks. A couple of years ago, however, the leadership made a big exception to that rule. They knew they lacked the Republican support to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of an $800 million state income tax cut, but they still called the package up for a vote, forcing all legislators to go on record, including 15 Republicans who ended up bucking the party majority and opposing the cut.
Rank-and-file members are convinced this all took place to please one man. A decade after returning to the state with a fortune he earned managing money in California, 70-year-old Rex Sinquefield has become a powerful presence in Missouri politics. Unlike most people who disagree with the positions politicians take, Sinquefield has the resources to make them pay. Last year, he and campaign committees he funded helped recruit candidates to run in primary contests against several of the Republicans who had broken party ranks on the tax cut vote. Each of the challengers was offered six-figure support. “He came after me with a lot of money and a very, very negative campaign,” says Nate Walker, one of the targeted House members. “I had to go and mortgage my house so I could at least fight back a little bit.”
The issues that concern “Rex,” as he is universally referred to in political circles, have become central to the state’s agenda in recent years. In addition to his campaign contributions, Sinquefield has spent millions on lobbying efforts and on the Show-Me Institute, a free-market think tank he established in St. Louis. Last year, he estimated his lobbying operation employed about 1,000 people “the last time I looked at my checkbook.” It’s hard to tell to what extent he was kidding, but he didn’t seem to be joking when at the same event he twice referred to Nixon as an “idiot.” (Sinquefield declined requests to be interviewed for this story.) […]
Win or lose, the ongoing Sinquefield saga in Missouri sheds light on the central role money plays in contemporary American politics, as well as its limits. While many megadonors, such as billionaires Charles and David Koch, continue to be cash machines for federal candidates, others are finding they can get more for their money by focusing on a single state. Not every state has a Sinquefield, but quite a few do. And some of these state moneybrokers, such as Republicans Art Pope in North Carolina and Bruce Rastetter in Iowa, and Democrats Tim Gill and Pat Stryker in Colorado, threaten to amass the kind of clout in individual legislatures that was held more than a century ago by railroads and mining companies, and triggered Progressive Era campaign finance limits in the first place. “It costs less currying favor with state lawmakers,” says Kenneth Vogel, author of Big Money, a book detailing donations in the current super PAC era, “and bills are actually moving. They don’t have the same level of gridlock as Washington.” […]
While many legislators have balked at parts of Sinquefield’s agenda, Sinquefield can take some satisfaction in the fact that many of his critics won’t be around all that long. House and Senate members in Missouri are limited to eight years in office; if the current cohort is hard to persuade, the next generation of legislators may feel it’s not worth the aggravation of standing up to him and enduring thousands of dollars in attack ads as their reward. And Sinquefield doesn’t intend to stop writing checks until he can succeed in reshaping Missouri more to his liking. He once grandiosely declared that he refused to die until his favored tax and education policies had been adopted. “There’s more coming down the pike,” says Travis Brown, Sinquefield’s lobbyist. “He’s got a very ambitious agenda.”
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity, a business-backed group formed to support Democrats who take tough votes on the state budget, has raised more than $14 million in two political funds. But it will not be joining Rauner in a media campaign for legislative term limits, workers’ compensation reform and other changes the governor is pushing to be packaged with a 2016 state budget agreement.
Instead, says Greg Goldner, a longtime Chicago political operative who is the organization’s consultant, the group will engage only in limited activities for now, and only positive ones.
“Our primary goal is to defend Democratic legislators who are willing to take tough votes, not to push them,” Goldner told me. “Legislators who made good votes (this session) deserve a little pat on the back instead of always being criticized.” […]
Goldner hinted in recent weeks that it was about to open its wallet soon, seemingly preparing for a two-pronged attack on lawmakers alongside Rauner, who has gathered an even bigger war chest that he says soon will target legislative foes, especially House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
But in the interview, Goldner seemed to suggest there is little role for IllinoisGO in what is starting to look like a personal battle between the governor and the speaker. “We will be most effective if we can articulate a positive alternative,” he said.
Raoul, colleagues unveil ambitious economic plan
College access, paid sick leave, living wage will help Illinoisans get ahead
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois students could have the opportunity to attend community college for up to two years tuition-free, workers would be guaranteed paid sick time and a gradual increase in the minimum wage would help working families get a foothold in tough times under a legislative agenda many Senate Democrats are rallying behind as negotiations with Governor Rauner have stalled.
“I’m concerned that the priorities of the middle class and families struggling to get by have been neglected as the rhetoric at the Capitol has heated up,” Raoul said. “These initiatives are basic ingredients of a more competitive, compassionate Illinois: education access, workplace protections, a living wage and tax reforms so working families aren’t forced to shoulder more than their share.”
The agenda contains five key provisions:
· Illinois College Promise Program (SB 2146): Covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to two years at any of the state’s 48 community colleges as long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements.
· Healthy Workplace Act (SB 2147): Guarantees up to seven paid days of sick time to full and part time employees. Sick time would accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employees would not be able to take sick time for the first 120 days of employment.
· Tuition Tax Credit (SB 2149): Qualifying parents or students who are Illinois residents can claim a tax credit for higher education expenses incurred at any eligible public or private university, community college, vocational school or other postsecondary educational institution located in Illinois.
· Corporate loopholes (SB 2148): Ends a variety of corporate tax loopholes, including automatic tax breaks for production outside Illinois. Ending these corporate giveaways will bring the state $334 million in additional revenue.
· Minimum wage (SB 2145): Increases the state minimum wage to $9 per hour on July 1, 2015 and by $0.50 each subsequent year until the minimum wage reaches $11 on July 1, 2019. Provides a three-year tax credit for employers with fewer than 50 employees.
“This is an ambitious agenda but one that is profoundly commonsense, extending opportunities to our hard-working residents trying to improve their standard of living and give back to their communities,” Raoul said. “Illinois’ most successful reforms rarely come about without a commitment to cooperation — something our law enforcement reform package shows we can still muster — and I hope we can join together to help the people we represent get ahead and stay ahead.”
The introduction of this agenda, embodying longtime core concerns of many Senate Democrats, comes as Gov. Rauner threatens to shut down state government unless lawmakers erode legal protections for workers and their families and slash billions of dollars in essential services to seniors, at-risk youth and the state’s most vulnerable residents.
The economic plan, which Raoul will co-sponsor, was filed at the Capitol today and could be in final form for possible votes should lawmakers be called back into session this summer.
So, now we know at least part of the Senate’s agenda for next Tuesday’s session.
* The budget may be messed up. The Turnaround Agenda may be in shambles, but there has been historic progress on the criminal justice front this spring. Tribune…
Illinois’ latest effort toward criminal justice reform has been heralded as a return to the state’s roots as a pioneer in the treatment of juvenile offenders.
State lawmakers on Sunday passed a bill that would reduce the number of juveniles automatically transferred to adult court. At issue was not whether juveniles can be tried as adults. Rather, it’s whether a juvenile defendant should be allowed a hearing in front of a juvenile court judge who would consider factors such as background, mental capacity and culpability before deciding whether to send the youth to adult court.
The bill, now awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature, eliminates the automatic transfer to adult court of 15-year-olds accused of any crime, no matter how serious. For 16- and 17-year-olds, only those charged with murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated battery with a firearm would automatically be sent to adult court.
If signed into law, the measure would reduce by more than half the number of juvenile offenders in Cook County who are automatically sent to adult court, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a news release. She championed the new legislation and decried the current law’s “disproportionate impact” on minorities.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
ILLINOIS HOUSE, SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASS BAIL BOND REFORM MEASURE
HB 1119 headed to Gov. Rauner’s desk for signature
CHICAGO - Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey (D-12th) today announced that House Bill 1119, legislation that eliminates excessive charges in bail bond processing fees in Cook County, has unanimously passed both chambers of the Illinois legislature and is headed to Governor Bruce Rauner for signature and final passage.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming bi-partisan support that this common-sense measure received in Springfield, and I am hopeful that Governor Rauner signs it into law,” Commissioner Fritchey said. “I am grateful to State Representatives LaShawn Ford and Ron Sandack, as well as State Senator Kwame Raoul, for their leadership on this issue. Together we’ve recognized that our over-reliance on a money-based bail system isn’t working, and if we’re holding even one person in jail who shouldn’t be there but simply can’t afford to pay their way out, we’re operating at a loss both financially and morally. While there is more to be done, passing HB1119 is a positive step in making our criminal justice system more fair.”
Currently, state law authorizes court clerks to retain 10% of posted bail as ‘bail bond costs’ regardless of the size of the bond. Pursuant to the current law, in 2013, a staggering $5.6 million was kept by the Clerk of the Court of Cook County as bail bond costs. HB1119 caps the amount of bail bond money that can be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County at $100, regardless of the amount of the bond.
If passed, the law will go into effect January 1, 2016.
* And…
ATTORNEY GENERAL APPLAUDS LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE OF MEASURES TO SUPPORT WOMEN, CONSUMERS, SENIORS
Chicago — Attorney General Lisa Madigan today highlighted legislation initiated by her office that will be heading to the governor’s desk for final approval. […]
Improving Response to Campus Sexual Violence
Attorney Madigan spearheaded House Bill 821 to address sexual violence on college campuses. Madigan convened summits around the state to discuss the legislation, which will set standards to prevent and respond to sexual violence at higher education institutions throughout Illinois.
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act will ensure that Illinois colleges and universities take steps to develop clear, comprehensive campus sexual violence policies. Some of the requirements include notifying student survivors about their rights; providing a confidential advisor to survivors to help them understand their options to report the crime and seek medical and legal assistance; adopting a fair, balanced process for adjudicating allegations of sexual violence; and training students and campus employees to prevent sexual violence and improve awareness. The legislation, which was sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), passed the House and Senate almost unanimously.
Greater Protections for Nursing Home Residents
Attorney General Madigan initiated House Bill 2462 in response to complaints from nursing home residents and families concerned for their relatives’ care and security. Madigan’s proposal would allow residents of nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities or their family members to purchase and install video or audio monitoring devices in their rooms. Some provisions include requiring resident and roommate consent before devices can be installed, making residents or their families responsible for purchasing and maintaining the devices, and prohibiting facilities from retaliating against residents who use the devices.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) passed both chambers of the General Assembly with strong legislative support. If enacted, Illinois would become the fourth state to explicitly allow electronic monitoring devices to be installed in resident rooms in nursing homes.
* Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children takes a look at Gov. Rauner’s announced budget cuts from yesterday. Her analysis is in italics when discussing specific actions by the governor…
Not sure if you already have folks who have sent you this data, but just in case, the attached spreadsheet is an analysis we (Voices for Illinois Children, as part of the Responsible Budget Coalition) did of CCP cuts in Rauner’s budget. We, at this point, assume that the cuts he suggested yesterday mirror those of his original proposal. We have no indication that it would be anything other than that.
We don’t have numbers on a good number of items cut yesterday because they have never been mentioned before to advocates as being potentially on the chopping block. If you’re looking at this from a policy perspective, the fact that we’ve not discussed these cuts before (when SO many other cuts have been contemplated) makes me ask why the Governor considers the cuts to be a good idea to enact immediately when they were not included in the initial budget proposal or Good Friday Massacre. But of course, this decision was not made while looking at this from a policy perspective. This is like a sick game of chess where the pawns are seniors, children, and low-income families.
• Prepare and provide notice for the July 1 suspension of the State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (SLIHEAP). The federal portion of the program, funded at about $170 million, will continue. [According to the Governor’s budget book, 155,000 families would lose heating assistance, while 60,000 families would lose cooling assistance.]
Department on Aging
• File emergency rules to enact means testing to Aging’s Community Care Program. No income limit currently exists.
• Increase the Determination of Need (DON) Score required to obtain services through Aging’s Community Care Program [Combined effect of above two items (assuming same DON score increase as in his budget) would be about 39,000 seniors losing access to the program. (The attached document has estimates by area of state for CCP.)]
Department of Human Services
• DHS will pursue cost control strategies through emergency rules to the Childcare Program:
• Increase copays for parents using the programs [increases costs to parents by $10 million annually (if the copayment increase is the same as envisioned in his budget)]
• Freeze intake and create waiting lists. [This is somewhat ambiguous. Does he mean freeze all intake? Intake for school aged children? As we’ve discussed before, freezing intake for school-aged kids could eventually mean that tens of thousands of kids could lose access.]
* Meanwhile, SEIU Healthcare points out that some of these things probably aren’t legal…
Gov. Bruce Rauner late Tuesday announced unilateral cuts to a wide array of vital services and programs that working families and seniors depend upon–without waiting for a budget deal to be finalized.
The package of cuts Rauner announced included eligibility restrictions for the Community Care Program that likely contradict Illinois law, as well as cuts to the state Child Care Assistance Program.
Following is the response of SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Keith Kelleher:
“Bruce Rauner’s unilateral cuts announced [yesterday] likely will not pass muster in court and they certainly do not pass muster with the values of the people of Illinois. They will inflict pain on countless struggling families and seniors–all in the name of ‘reform.’
“The bottom line is that Bruce Rauner refuses true budgetary reform–generating much-needed revenue by making the wealthy of the state pay their fair share.
“Denying child care for kids; home care for seniors; and the crucial resources that thousands of working families rely upon to meet their most basic needs shows a warped set of priorities, especially when Gov. Rauner is doing everything he can to protect those at the very top.
“We will pursue all the options at our disposal to protect seniors, as well as children and working families, from these immoral and unilateral moves.”
The union says it currently estimates 5,000 families, 10,000 kids and 40,000 seniors would be immediately impacted by the cuts.
Downstate, Rauner initiated the closing of the Hardin County work camp, a Department of Corrections facility based in southern Illinois. About 180 inmates will be moved to other facilities and 60 workers affected, the governor’s office said.
“I’m a big believer in working in a bipartisan manner, a big believer in compromise,” said Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, who represents the area. “But I can’t compromise when he’s going after families I represent. I’m going to fight harder than I ever had to make sure this doesn’t close.”
Closer to home, Maria Whelan, president and CEO of Illinois Action for Children, which administers the child care subsidy program for low-income parents in Cook County, said the announcement of larger copayments and a freeze on new entrants came as a surprise.
“What that means is that when you get a job working nights and weekends at a Target or a McDonald’s or a Wal-Mart … that you have no access to child care,” Whelan said. “I find it absolutely stunning that we can talk in the same sentence about turning around a state in terms of our economy and pulling out from under working families one of the most important and essential work supports that they must have to do their jobs.”
Madigan: House to Vote on Reforms to Assistance for Injured Workers
CHICAGO – House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced the House will take up legislation Thursday to reform the system of assistance received by workers injured while on the job.
“As we have said previously, we’re willing to work with and compromise with Governor Rauner on any number of issues, and this proposal to reform the system of assistance for workers injured on the job will show that,” Madigan said. “The governor stated he believes this is one of the top issues, so we want to help him address it. We believe workers assistance can be reformed without hurting middle-class families. Our reform legislation will ensure savings for employers while protecting the livelihoods of injured workers.”
The House will convene at 1 p.m. Thursday.
*** UPDATE *** Lance Trover…
“Unsurprisingly, Speaker Madigan has proposed phony reforms in any effort to protect his special interest allies. His proposal ignores the most important reforms we need for our worker’s compensation system, and in another instance, could actually undermine previous reform efforts. Sadly, this is exactly the type of unserious, political posturing Illinoisans have now come to expect from the Speaker and the politicians he controls. Illinois needs real reform.”
Senator David Luechtefeld has announced he will not move from Okawville to the 58th district to seek reelection in the district he has served for 20 years. The deadline of moving into the district to file as a candidate for the November 2016 election was June 1, 2015.
Through redistricting after the 2010 census, Okawville was put in 54th district. Luechtefeld was able to run one more time in the 58th district, in 2012.
The Senator said that he intends to serve the remainder of his term that ends in January 2017. […]
At age 74, Luechtefeld said that it “is time” to leave office when the term ends.
Darin LaHood’s campaign today released its first television ad for the 2015 special primary election that takes place on Tuesday, July 7th.
The ad, titled “Conservative Leader”, outlines Darin LaHood’s proven conservative record of fighting for transparency, higher ethical standards for government and special interests, term limits, and Pat Quinn’s sixty-seven percent income tax hike. Darin will continue to push for these same conservative principles in Washington.
On transparency, higher ethical standards for government and special interests…Darin has authored and supported numerous pieces of ethics reform legislation for government officials and lobbyists. He introduced SB 3649, legislation that prohibits a sitting member of the Illinois legislation to become a lobbyist within one year of leaving office. Additional pieces of legislation supporting higher ethical standards are: SB 2263, SB 2265, SB 3646.
On term limits…Darin has been a long-time advocate for term limits in order to prevent career politicians on both sides of the aisle. He has introduced and/or supported SJRCA 41, SJRCA 19, SJRCA 69, all pieces of legislation that push for term limits in the Illinois General Assembly and the Executive Branch.
On Pat Quinn’s sixty-seven percent income tax hike…Darin has stood up to Pat Quinn’s income tax hike, not once but twice. Most recently, he was a sponsor of SR 1265, legislation that would prohibit a vote on taxes during a veto or lame duck session.
