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Today’s quotable
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former “‘Southern Avenger” Jack Hunter…
I thought a big part of being conservative meant picking a “side” and attacking the other. I thought not caring what others thought or felt was part of it. Some of my Confederate flag debates certainly reflected that mentality.
This is something ideologues do and is by no means exclusive to the right, as evidenced by the way some liberals cartoonishly portray conservatives, Christians, and, yes, Southerners.
Ideologues ridicule and dehumanize people at the expense of their personhood. Ideologues believe some groups must be attacked, and although the groups are comprised of flesh-and-blood human beings, it’s better not to think of them as people too much—it could get you off message.
It’s crude collectivist thinking. It’s an intentional lack of sympathy. It’s dehumanization. It’s at the heart of everything that’s wrong with our politics and culture.
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LaHood accused of “crony capitalism”
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Breitbart…
Republican state senator Darin LaHood helped to perpetuate a cycle of crony capitalism and donor back-scratching by voting for a bill that benefited both his law firm and campaign donors at taxpayers’ expense, according to a study of his votes, law firm payments, and campaign contributions.
LaHood, who is running against Breitbart News’ Big Government founding editor Mike Flynn in a contest to replace disgraced former Rep. Aaron Schock, voted for a bill which would financially benefit his law firm, Miller, Hall, & Triggs, which represents the city of East Peoria.
On May 30, 2012, LaHood voted “yea” on a bill which established in East Peoria a new “Tax Increment District III” — a law which conveniently required the city hire to lawyers who would confirm each year that the city was in full compliance. This was the third such zone established by the city. […]
Who represents East Peoria? None other than Miller, Hall, & Triggs, for which LaHood is an associate. Yet LaHood apparently did not disclose to taxpayers that his firm stood to make significant financial gains from the new TIF zone he supported; transcripts from the vote show no evidence that LaHood made public the ties his firm has to East Peoria. […]
Since that vote, developers have also donated tens thousands of dollars to his congressional campaign after being awarded businesses in the new TIF zones in what appears to be a cozy, crony capitalist set-up.
Chairman of Cullinan Properties Diane Cullinan Oberhelman (and wife of Caterpillar CEO Douglas R. Oberhelman) earned $1,759,302 from TIF zones since 2010. Cullinan also donated $15,000 to LaHood’s state senate campaign PAC, and $10,800 to his congressional PAC. In total, she donated $25,800. The Otto Baum company, which received $4,073,797 to develop the new TIF zone since 2012, donated $5,000 to LaHood’s state senate PAC.
* From the bill synopsis…
Provides that the redevelopment project in the TIF district created by an ordinance that was adopted on January 28, 1992 by the City of East Peoria must be completed by December 31 of the 35th year (now, the 23rd year) after the year in which the ordinance was adopted.
So, it extended a TIF district’s lifespan, but didn’t create it.
Also, I imagine Mrs. Oberhelman would’ve contributed to LaHood’s campaign with or without that vote. And I didn’t see any Otto Baum contributions to LaHood’s Senate campaign when I searched the ISBE site.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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* Subscribers know more…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is seeking to put off a massive teacher pension payment that’s due at the end of the month until Aug. 10 under a measure that surfaced Tuesday in the Illinois House.
The request for a delay comes after a series of internal Chicago Public Schools reports indicated that even if the school district drained its checking account, maxed out its credit card and burned cash set aside for other debts, it still would not be able to make the pension payment of more than $600 million, cover payroll and pay all the other due bills.
“We’re disappointed,” said Charles Burbridge, executive director of the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund. “We were expecting full payment next week as required by state statute. . . . It’s unfortunate that they’re in a position where they need to ask for this delay.”
But Burbridge said he was pleased that the amendment, introduced by House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, would not reduce the size of the payment CPS is required to make to restore the pension fund to financial soundness.
The bill is here.
…Adding… The train, as usual with these things, is moving fast. The amendment has been assigned to House Executive Committee, which starts at 11:15.
…Adding More.. Greg Hinz rather cleverly ties the school deal to the DCEO privatization bill that I told subscribers about this morning…
A Rauner sign-on would be rather interesting, given that the governor previously has seemed to be pushing to have CPS reorganize its affairs in bankruptcy.
But that may explain a second bit of action today. Madigan has agreed to call for a final vote a bill to partially privatize the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which Rauner has been pushing for pretty hard.
If the DCEO measure and the CPS bill pass, every side will get something. That’s the kind of stuff that bigger deals are made of.
…Adding… The bill passed Exec 8-2.
*** UPDATE *** It looks from the roll call that Madigan pulled his targets off, and others were absent…
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*** UPDATE *** The House Democrats just forwarded me their documentation. Click here.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* The chairman of the House Revenue & Finance Committee just accused the governor’s office of not telling the truth about internal office spending.
Gov. Rauner’s administration has claimed it’s spending $500,000 a year less than Gov. Quinn spent on staffing the governor’s office. Rep. John Bradley, however, said his research shows that Rauner is actually spending at least a million dollars more than Quinn.
Bradley said that number didn’t include “nine employees that appear on the telephone directory that we can’t determine where they’re being paid from.” He also said it didn’t take into account “contractual employees that have been hired at very substantial sums of money.”
* Rep. Bradley said he invited the governor to send a representative to today’s hearing, but nobody showed up today. When pressed, Bradley said he did not have documentation which he could immediately provide to the committee. He also didn’t have any witnesses to testify on the claims.
* From Lance Trover…
* Trover also sent me a letter documenting the governor’s contention that his office spending is $500,000 below Quinn’s. Click here to read it.
* Watch the hearing…
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Hoosiers win again!
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* DNAinfo…
The cost of marijuana in Chicago is about $300 an ounce, about ten percent higher than the national average, according to a Washington Post analysis.
However, that price is down from $349 per ounce recorded in the first 3 months of 2011, says the Post’s Wonkblog report.
Exactly what’s behind fluctuations in the price of marijuana is not clear, says the Post, which tracked prices through websites where users post costs.
But, the report, which lists average prices in eight cities and all 50 states, said legalization of marijuana, either for recreational or medicinal purposes, tends to add to the supply and drive prices down.
If you go to the WaPo post, you’ll see that Illinois pot prices are 9.7 percent higher than the national average. We also have higher prices than all of our bordering states except Iowa.
Indiana’s prices are 4.6 percent lower than the national average.
Must be all those non-union weed sellers.
/snark
…Adding… From “Slick Willy” in comments…
Indiana must have “right to weed zones.”
Heh.
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Phantom savings?
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Erickson…
Among the more than $820 million in budget cuts being threatened by Gov. Bruce Rauner is one that would delay the opening of a new nursing home for veterans.
But, records and budget documents show the $70.2 million project wasn’t expected to be opened for more than a year anyway, raising questions about what exactly would be saved. […]
Lyndsey Walters, spokeswoman for the Illinois Capital Development Board, which is overseeing construction of the 200-bed home, said the opening would be delayed six months until Jan. 1, 2017, saving $4 million.
Rauner’s original budget plan, however, shows no evidence of the facility opening before July 1, 2016, which is in the next fiscal year and, thus, not affected by the current budget battle. There are no line items in the state’s proposed operating budget showing earmarks to pay for furnishings or for the hiring of additional workers. […]
Ryan Yantis, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, said the $4 million in savings are “startup costs.”
Startup costs that weren’t in the budget to begin with? OK.
Unsurprisingly, this facility is in a Democratic legislative district.
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Rauner deploys “Task Force 1″
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Governor Rauner today directed the deployment of Illinois Task Force 1, an 80-member search and rescue team, to assist local responders as they search for people who may have been trapped after a tornado tore through Woodhaven Lakes campground in Lee County last evening. The village of Coal City in Grundy County was also hard hit by a tornado Monday evening.
Governor Rauner today also issued a state disaster proclamation for Lee and Grundy counties to make available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from the storms.
“Tornadoes and severe storms have once again caused devastation in northern Illinois communities,” Gov. Rauner said. “The state is supporting local responders in these hard-hit communities to ensure the safety of people affected by these terrible storms and help them begin the recovery process.”
Illinois Task Force 1 is the state’s urban search and rescue team with specialized training and equipment to support extremely difficult recovery efforts. In addition to 80 team members, the group includes trained search canines.
Governor Rauner activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Springfield Monday evening after a line of severe storms and tornadoes moved across northern Illinois. The SEOC was staffed throughout the night with representatives from several state agencies, responder mutual aid organizations, and the American Red Cross to ensure response assets and personnel could be quickly deployed to assist local governments and all impacted areas.
In addition, field personnel from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are assisting affected communities.
For updates on the current situation, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.ready.illinois.gov.
How’s everybody doing out there today?
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* Interesting…
If Gov. Bruce Rauner signs House Bill 2781, a pilot program will be created to replace snow days and other days when school would typically be canceled with days where students will receive instruction electronically. That instruction would be in place of using an emergency day that is tacked on to the end of the school year.
The pilot program could be implemented in up to three school districts, which may include one elementary or unit district, and last through the 2017-18 school year. The state superintendent of education would be tasked with selecting the districts. […]
Ottawa Elementary Schools Superintendent Cleve Threadgill is concerned a statewide program could become another unfunded mandate that would be burdensome on schools with a tight budget.
“It could become our responsibility (as a district) to make sure students have access to it,” he said. “That’s a concern.”
The legislation had Republican sponsorship, but bipartisan co-sponsorship. Just two Senate Democrats voted against it, Biss and Manar, with Republican Sam McCann also voting “No.”
Your thoughts?
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Putting human faces on line items
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Metro East Democratic legislators held a media event yesterday and spotlighted some folks who would be hurt by budget cuts…
Two years ago, Tara Miller’s now 4-year-old daughter Destiny was diagnosed with autism. Destiny had no functional speech, wasn’t able to say if she was hungry, if she was tired, or if she was hurt, and would avoid social interactions.
“I felt so alone, and even though she couldn’t tell me herself, I know my daughter felt more alone than me,” Miller, the East Alton resident, said through tears.
Miller and her daughter received services and resources as an autism center in Maryville, such as pictures to help Destiny communicate with others.
“She’s able to ask me for help, … and able to ask me for things she needs and wants,” Miller said. “She can speak to anybody who has a set of eyes and can look at a picture.”
For Miller, if the help she and Destiny receive through the Autism Program of Illinois is cut would be detrimental.
“If the funds for TAP are cut, or if there is a long budget stalemate, the results of it is your taking my child’s voice away,” Miller said. “She finally is able to speak, the regression will be unmeasurable, and I as a mother will be watching her disappear back into herself.”
* The governor’s response…
“(Speaker) Mike Madigan along with his allies Reps. Beiser, Hoffman and Jackson, and Sens. Haine and Clayborne, are more interested in protecting the political class rather than fighting for the middle class,” Kelly said. “They have passed another phony budget that is $4 billion out of balance while refusing to enact any of Gov. Rauner’s structural changes like lawsuit reform, freezing property taxes and term limits which could help turn our state around.”
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* WIBQ…
With a contract deadline just one week away, state workers in Illinois are continuing to push for a fair labor agreement.
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) say they are not pleased with Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed cuts in pay and benefits, and his willingness to allow a government shutdown. Anders Lindall with AFSCME Council 31 says a strike is not in the public’s best interest.
“We have never had a governor who has made such extreme demands as to give state employees no choice but to force them out on strike for fairness,” he says. “That’s not what the people want and certainly not what state employees or our union wants.” […]
There is no formal agreement to extend the contract, but Lindall says bargaining dates have been scheduled for July.
Let’s hope cooler heads prevail on both sides here.
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Norb Andy’s to close yet again
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* These guys just can’t catch a break…
The latest closing announcement for Norb Andy’s Tabarin has again raised the issue of parking availability in downtown Springfield.
Nate Gurnsey, one of the partners who took over the restaurant-bar in February, said Monday the loss of 18 parking spaces in an adjoining private lot owned by the Illinois Municipal League was behind the decision.
“A lot of them (customers) just gave up,” said Gurnsey. “They’d come by and see the lot was empty and figure nobody was here.”
Saturday is the final day of business for the well-known restaurant at 518 E. Capitol Ave., though the owner of the historic building said Monday he plans to reopen the restaurant himself after a series of ownership changes in recent years. […]
Gurnsey said the loss of parking spaces to a Capitol Avenue beautification project also hurt businesses along the corridor. The project begun just prior to the 2009 bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth extends from Fifth to 12th streets.
Norb’s was the place to hang back in the day. It declined when other bars and restaurants began catering to the Statehouse crowd. That bicentennial project closed the block several times.
Chicagoans are accustomed to walking more than a few feet after parking. Not so much in downtown Springfield, even though residents have no problem hiking across gigantic strip mall lots to shop and dine.
The Illinois Municipal League obviously has a right to close its parking lot to the bar’s customers, but it’s not very neighborly or municipally-minded of them, which is kinda ironic.
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Rauner extends TV ad buy into second week
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rick Pearson…
As lawmakers return to the Capitol on Tuesday amid a budget stalemate, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is launching a second week of statewide TV advertising as he tries to gain leverage over Democrats who control the legislature.
Rauner is spending roughly the same amount of money he spent on broadcast and cable TV last week, more than $800,000, said a source familiar with the advertising contract who was not authorized to speak publicly about it.
Rauner’s 30-second spots, which criticize Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, are airing in cities across the state, including Chicago, Rockford and Peoria as well as in St. Louis and the Quad Cities to reach residents on Illinois’ border. […]
The ads represent an unprecedented perpetual political campaign on TV airwaves, as Rauner seeks to move public opinion on his side in a budget battle in which he is trying to portray Madigan as an obstructionist. Madigan, the state Democratic chairman, has been speaker of the Illinois House for 30 of the last 32 years.
Subscribers have the ad buy details.
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Deja vu all over again?
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is trying to muster enough support to raise the sales tax by a penny on the dollar — an about-face on the key issue that propelled her into office.
The money would help shore up the pension system for county government workers and balance next year’s budget. But getting nine of the 17 commissioners to vote for the sales tax hike could prove challenging, given the enormous backlash that unfolded in 2008 after the County Board increased the sales tax by 1 percentage point.
The move by then-Board President Todd Stroger led to his ouster in the 2010 Democratic primary, as Preckwinkle emerged from a crowded field after pledging to eliminate what remained of the unpopular tax hike. Preckwinkle ran a campaign ad in which she shook hands with an actor portraying Benjamin Franklin. […]
If Preckwinkle can line up the votes, she would introduce the tax increase in early July and try to get it approved by the end of the month, sources said. The tax hike would generate more than $300 million a year starting in 2016, when the county will face rising debt payments, increased payroll costs and possibly increased pension fund payments.
* Greg Hinz…
Ms. Preckwinkle’s office declined all comment on her decision, which was first reported by the Chicago Tribune. But in a statement, it stopped far short of denying the action, saying that her next budget will be “particularly challenging” and that her finance team “is hard at work looking at a number of scenarios for coping with this difficult situation.”
Three county officials who asked not to be named confirmed that the effort is under way. Another official, Commissioner John Fritchey, D-Chicago, predicted very strong opposition.
While the county’s budget situation has tightened, “The president has to be cognizant of the fact that she was elected on the basis of a promise to roll back Stroger’s sales tax,” Fritchey told me. “It’s hard for me to envision a scenario” under which he’d vote yes, Fritchey said.
Another commissioner said raising the sales tax “is certainly more palatable than raising the property tax. But is it nine votes palatable? I don’t know.”
That source said Preckwinkle “has asked us to keep it quiet while she tries to put it together,” with a vote possible as soon as next month.
* Sun-Times…
When Preckwinkle ran against Stroger in 2010, she pledged to repeal the sales tax increase, and easily won the board presidency.
“. . . I’ll repeal the whole Stroger sales tax. You’ve earned your pennies. I’ll save them for you,” she said in one of her TV ads.
The last portion of the sales tax was rolled back at the beginning of 2013.
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