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GOP poll: Bost 51, Baricevic 35

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* It’s still pretty darned early for this. Also, pay attention to the generic ballot numbers at the end

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, is leading Democratic challenger C.J. Baricevic 51 to 35 percent, with 14 percent undecided, in a poll of 12th U.S. House District voters released Monday by Harper Polling, a GOP-leaning polling firm. […]

Harper’s poll showed that 24 percent of those surveyed strongly approved of Bost’s job performance, while another 30 percent somewhat approved. Sixteen percent somewhat disapproved, 11 percent strongly disapproved and 18 percent were not sure, according to a survey conducted Sept. 12-13 of 400 likely 12th District voters. […]

Bost is also viewed favorably by majorities of Republican voters (71 percent) and independents (53 percent), according to the survey from Harper Polling, which is based in Harrisburg, Pa.

In addition, 71 percent of voters surveyed said they believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction, while another 21 percent said it was moving in the right course. Likely voters were almost evenly split between a generic Republican candidate (43 percent) and a Democratic candidate (41 percent), with 9 percent of voters responding they are not sure, according to the poll.

That district is a lot different in presidential years. Democrat Bill Enyart defeated Jason Plummer by 9 points in 2012.

This is not to say that Bost is in trouble, by any means. Underestimate that guy at your own peril - Enyart and the DCCC did and look where that got them last year.

I’m just saying that the generic ballot doesn’t match up that well with actual district performance.

  17 Comments      


Progress reported on child care bill

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From SEIU Healthcare…

After months of an intense public campaign to expose and reverse so-called “emergency” rule changes made by Gov. Bruce Rauner to the highly-successful Child Care Assistance Program – a statewide effort driven by providers, parents, children’s advocates, even First Lady Diana Rauner herself – a new report suggests the appearance of cracks in the governor’s dam.

This morning, the Peoria Journal Star reported that Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, sponsor of the legislation to overturn Rauner’s extreme administrative CCAP changes (SB 570), has identified – and in one case already converted – Republican legislators needed to reverse Rauner’s reckless and inhumane policy:

    “With the possibility that not all Democrats would be present, she called on the audience to lobby local Republican representatives, even as she warned them that child care for low-income families is not a Republican or Democratic issue.

    Gordon-Booth specifically mentioned Reps. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria, Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, and Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. She said another Republican legislator, Dave Leitch, R-Peoria, would vote for the bill but he is sick and unable to attend Thursday’s session.

    Contacted later, Leitch said he would probably vote for the bill if he was able to travel to Springfield. “It’s one of the unfortunate casualties of not having a budget yet,” Leitch said. “But I hope it passes, it should pass.”

Earlier this month, SB 570 came up just one vote short on the floor of the Illinois House, and is likely to be reintroduced in Springfield in the coming weeks.

Republicans are now facing the hard reality that the public understands the truth behind Rauner’s extreme rule changes to CCAP, made by Rauner himself without public input or legislative debate – that they have absolutely nothing to do with the current budget impasse in Springfield, and are intended to dismantle the program entirely.

For months, Rauner and his allies have attempted to conflate these extreme, inhumane changes to the CCAP program with the budget impasse generally. Now, it appears the truth about this terrible policy – both cruel and harmful to Illinois’ economy – is now even understood by the Republican legislators Rauner has spent so much time trying to buy and bully.

The article is here.

With Rep. Esther Golar’s passing, the House Democrats are at least one vote shy of the 71 votes needed to pass the bill. So, with Rep. Leitch not attending due to illness and the expected absence of at least one other Democratic legislator, I doubt we can expect a vote.

The bill is on Postponed Consideration, so supporters aren’t facing a fast-approaching deadline. As long as Rep. Dunkin doesn’t skip town again and Rep. Leitch is eventually able to make it to Springfield the bill will likely pass on the next go-around.

  23 Comments      


Unclear on the concept

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Umm

Democrat state Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo is constantly viewed as being vulnerable and his reluctance to back Boss Madigan on all things leaves open the possibility that Madigan and the Dems could sacrifice him if push came to shove.

Franks does represent a heavily Republican district. But the GOP has yet to find a viable opponent. Maybe that’ll change with Rauner’s bigtime money. I don’t know.

What I do know, however, is that while Madigan might possibly, conceivably, maybe, perhaps take a pass on saving a member in an overwhelmingly Democratic district during a primary (cough*Dunkin*cough), he ain’t handing over a seat to the GOP as long as he gets his vote for Speaker, no matter how much of a pain in the rear Rep. Franks can be.

The only conceivable scenario is that Madigan is putting out electoral fires everywhere next November (not hugely likely considering that it’ll be a presidential year) and Franks is so far out of contention that it isn’t worth spending money on him. But, even then, I dunno.

  14 Comments      


Question of the day

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Your caption?…


  72 Comments      


Let’s see some evidence

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This is quite titillating, but I’d have some faith in it if Smith had given us at least one example of those “dirty details”

Andre Smith, a former personal assistant to the Rev. Corey Brooks, is threatening to dish dirty details about the clergy’s efforts to help Gov. Bruce Rauner attract black voters.

“I sat in on 98 percent of Corey’s meetings with Rauner. Nobody knows what I know,” Smith told me Friday.

Apparently, it was a cozy partnership until Rauner pulled out an ax to tackle the state budget.

“I took a stand with Corey [during the campaign] that Rauner wasn’t going to do these things, so me and Corey fell out,” Smith said.

“I believe that I am part of this dreadful thing that is hurting our people,” Smith said. “I believe that I should take the lead in helping to fix it.”

Smith, 47, twice ran for alderman in the 20th ward. He now has his sights on challenging state Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago).

Dunkin has come under fire for skipping the critical override vote on a major union bill. He was the only Democratic no-show, and his absence helped Rauner gain ground in his ongoing tug-of-war with House Speaker Michael Madigan.

All Smith will say is “stay tuned.”

This is Illinois, so obviously we can’t rule out the possibility of dirty dealings, but I’d really like to see something concrete before jumping to any conclusions.

* And speaking of Pastor Brooks, he just endorsed the governor’s choice to replace retiring Rep. Ed Sullivan. Press release…

Pastor Corey B. Brooks, Sr., founder of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and a community leader, endorses Nick Sauer for State Representative in District 51.

Pastor Brooks said, “Our state has been moving in the wrong direction for some time. We need strong and bold leadership to take us into a brighter future. I believe Nick Sauer is the type of leader we must have in these days and times if we are to forge ahead and create a better Illinois.”

Gov. Rauner appointed both Brooks and Sauer to the tollway board.

  42 Comments      


Edgar, Kinzinger backing Bush

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush has won the backing of two key Illinoisans: former Gov. Jim Edgar and U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the Tribune has learned. The two will be state chairmen for Bush’s White House run. Bush was tops in Illinois presidential fundraising last month.

* Meanwhile

State Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago) is angry with GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and what Acevedo called “derogatory comments” towards women and Latinos. Tuesday, the ten-term lawmakers introduced a House resolution calling on the RNC to denounce Trump and “distance themselves from him in the future.”

Acevedo’s resolution says “Donald Trump has repeatedly made misogynistic, sexist, and derogatory comments towards women; and Donald Trump has repeatedly made offensive and abhorrent comments towards people of Latino descent, Mexican immigrants, and Asians ..”

If the resolution passes, Acevedo wants copies of the resolution sent to the Republican congressional leaders, RNC Chairman Rheince Priebus and the GOP members of the Illinois delegation.

  38 Comments      


Putting human faces on line items

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A very worthy state program, without a doubt

Jamie Anderson grew up in the foster care system. She relies on her 4-thousand-dollar MAP grant to pay tuition at the University of Illinois Springfield. She says she works two jobs totaling 50 hours a week to cover living expenses.

So what does she do in her spare time?

“I volunteer with kids,” Anderson says. “I’m in the 4-H program, I’m a mentor, I’m in Big Brother Big Sisters Program, so I’m a Big….”

Hoping to become a child welfare worker, she’s set to graduate in May with a degree in social work. But like the other 130,000 needy Illinois college students, Anderson needs lawmakers to fund the Monetary Award Program.

Most campuses, including UIS, have floated students in the fall semester, counting on eventual repayment from the state. But State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says college administrators around Illinois have told him they cannot afford to make the same bet for the spring semester.

* Another undoubtedly worthy state program

Fear gripped 49-year-old Tina Wardzala of Cicero by the throat at a young age. It rarely has loosened its grip.

As a young girl, Tina said while her father was away driving a truck, her mother would invite men in, get drunk and pass out. Then the men would come to “play” with her.

About 15 years ago, Tina worked as a line cook at a diner and the regulars were like family. One of those regulars was elderly and ill. Tina was delivering a meal to the customer when she entered a dimly lit apartment hallway and found three men waiting. They raped her.

Before that moment of terror, Tina had worked at the diner and a branch library. She enjoyed music and waded into crowds at Grateful Dead and Neil Young concerts. In that moment, fear took her hostage. Mental illness enveloped her. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia and bipolar disorder. Cloaked in black, Tina shared her scariest secrets. At times, she choked out the words. At times, tears spilled. Fear has its hold. Now she also lives in fear of the state’s intractable politicians.

No court judge has risen to her rescue, nor those like her, diagnosed with mental illness. No continuing appropriation has saved her, nor the nearly 1,700 other adults and children who turn each year for help to the Family Service and Mental Health Center of Cicero, where she told her story from the safety of her therapist’s office.

“I’ve come a long way … thanks to my therapist and my team,” she said. It took Tina five years before she told her therapist about the rape that resulted in the birth of her 14-year-old son. She also has sons who are 25, 21 and 10 years old. Three still live with her, mostly on a $750 federal disability check and state food stamp money she says was cut recently from $365 to $140 a month.

Now her overarching fear is going somewhere uncomfortable, to a new doctor and a new therapist.

Executive Director John Morgan says the center got $190,000 in state grants and contracts for years. Now, only a $20,000 contract remains, one the state has yet to pay this year. Morgan has cut Tina’s psychiatrist’s weekly hours by three, as well as those of another psychiatrist, a woman who treats children and speaks Spanish in a majority Hispanic community. A crisis intervention worker and other workers’ hours also were cut. So far, Morgan has avoided layoffs. His staff refers some patients to a psychiatric hospital six miles away. There’s a six- to eight-week wait.

The problem, of course, is the lack of revenue to pay for these programs. Without a tax hike, the state is gonna run out of money or pile up unpaid bills in record amounts.

So, it’s great to put human faces on these problems, but we also need a recognition that the problems cannot be addressed without more money.

  38 Comments      


Kadner’s dogged determination kills casino mall

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Phil Kadner on June 22nd

A developer is apparently hoping to launch a unique concept, a sort of casino mall, in strip malls in Crestwood and Hometown.

The idea would be to lease storefronts to multiple owners of gambling cafes, with up to five video machines in each, to create more opportunities for patrons to gamble and to generate more foot traffic.

Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta and Hometown Mayor Kevin Casey said they were eager to embrace such an enterprise, while noting that the Illinois Gaming Board will ultimately decide whether it complies with the state’s video gambling law.

Presta said the Crestwood location — just south of Cal Sag Road and west of Cicero Avenue, across from an off-track betting parlor — could eventually be home to seven storefront gambling cafes, each owned by a different person or business.

* Kadner on July 1st

There apparently is nothing in Illinois’ gambling law that prohibits video gambling malls — a concept that may place as many as nine independently operated “casino cafes” in one location in the Southland. […]

[Hometown Mayor Kevin Casey] said that while he doesn’t gamble, he made a tour of video cafes in neighboring suburbs and saw people often waiting for a video machine to become available. He said some of those people walked out because they didn’t want to sit around and drink or eat, they wanted to gamble.

Most of those people, the mayor said, looked like middle-aged suburban housewives. And Casey figured that this idea of creating a string of gambling shops, each owned independently, in one location might prove to be a pretty nice attraction for his city.

* Kadner on September 15th

State Rep. Robert Rita, D-Blue Island, is trying to enlist the help of the Illinois Gaming Board to stop the development of “casino malls,” but the first two video gambling malls in the state are rapidly moving forward in Crestwood and Hometown. […]

There are already more video gambling machines (about 21,200) in restaurants, bars, truck stops and veterans halls than in all of Illinois’ casinos. In August, gamblers wagered nearly $75 million on video machines, bringing the total to $590 million for the first eight months of this year, according to the Gaming Board.

“The Illinois General Assembly did not allowing these types of (casino) malls in legalizing video gaming originally and is not interested in seeing this type of activity authorized in Illinois,” Rita states in a resolution that he plans to file this week. “While proponents argue these ‘casino malls’ could generate more economic activity and revenue, there are legitimate concerns about these malls shifting video gaming away from its intended purpose of main street community entertainment for bars, restaurants and other local businesses.”

* Kadner on September 17th

Video gambling malls proposed for Hometown and Crestwood are “backdoor casinos,” according to the chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, who said he’s “inclined to oppose them.”

Chairman Don Tracy made those statements at an August hearing of the board after the mayor of Hometown and a developer behind the concept of the casino mall in the suburb urged the board to approve license applications for three casino cafes in a strip mall that could eventually host as many as nine such businesses. […]

A spokeswoman for the Illinois Retail Gaming and Operators Association also appeared at the Gaming Board’s August hearing to oppose the Hometown casino mall. The association represents Dotty’s, one of the first innovators in the casino cafe industry; Loredo Hospitality Ventures, which owns Stall’s and Shelby’s cafe casinos; Gold Rush Amusements; Blackhawk Restaurant Group (which owns cafes under the names of Betty’s Bistro, Penny’s Place, Emma’s Eatery and Jena’s Eatery); Gold Rush Amusements; and Trident Partners, which owns Ruby’s.

She claimed that approving licenses for operators in Hometown Plaza would open the door for someone to buy an empty warehouse for the sole purpose of locating multiple video gambling operators under one roof.

“They simply don’t want any competition if they can stop it,” Casey said of the association. “That’s all that was about. The days of mom-and-pop stores, candle stores, Hallmark’s, (independent) pharmacies is over. Those are the sorts of places that used to operate in strip malls.

* Kadner last night

Illinois Gaming Board members attempted to shut down the development of “casino malls” on Tuesday, voting unanimously to reject the video license applications of three operators who hoped to open in a Hometown strip mall.

Gaming board chairman Donald Tracy reiterated a statement he made at the board’s August meeting, saying he viewed such operations as “back-door casinos,” circumventing the oversight and regulation of traditional casinos under state law. […]

“All three of these locations relate to what have been called video gaming malls, mini-casinos, casino malls, and back-door casinos,” Tracy said before the vote. “I view gaming malls as back-door casinos, as I said at the last meeting, without the traditional safeguards of licensed casinos such as regulated security, on-site oversight, position limits, self-exclusion rules and internal controls.”

Tracy went on to say that he considers such casino malls “a threat to Illinois gaming integrity” and if the state had envisioned their creation, it would have specifically created riverboat, casino-like safeguards.

  22 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Rep. Golar’s arrangements

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From state Sen. Mattie Hunter…

Arrangements for State Rep Esther Golar

Visitation: A.A Rayner & Sons, 318 E. 71st St., Sept. 28
Funeral: Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St., Sept 29
Wake: 10am
Service: 11am
Repast: 3850 S. Wabash

*** UPDATE *** The visitation will run from 4-8 pm, according to Sen. Hunter.

  3 Comments      


Lawsuit illustrates layoff difficulties

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The SJ-R explains today that the governor postponed his union worker layoff plans because of an amended union lawsuit. The governor’s folks say they’re confident that they’ll win the lawsuit, but the unions flatly disagreee

The amended lawsuit specifically talks about the layoff of 151 unionized state workers at nine different state agencies. The unions argued that the layoffs were scheduled in violation of labor agreements.

“While the governor has the right to initiate a layoff, there has to be a legitimate reason for doing do, for example a lack of work or a lack of funds,” Lindall said. “In no case do those conditions exist for these employees. The governor can’t arbitrarily target layoffs in one area for lack of a budget over another.”

Sean Smoot, director of the PBPA that represents 33 conservation police officers who were scheduled for layoff, said that’s particularly true in the case of the officers whose salaries are paid for with fees, fines and federal money rather than general state tax dollars.

“The existence of a budget or not really doesn’t affect the funding for these folks,” Smoot said.

I imagine this post is gonna cause a whole lot of conservative heads to explode.

  170 Comments      


DC games

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Yesterday on Illinois Review

Pro-Lifers Feeling Betrayed by Sen. Kirk’s Refusal to Defund Planned Parenthood

Life activists are putting pressure on U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and other members of Congress to end the 500 million dollar plus taxpayer subsidy to Planned Parenthood.

Kirk has been blasted for that vote… from both sides…


Um, huh?

* The above is part of a digital ad campaign being run by the DSCC here

“With just 10 days left before a potential government shutdown, Mark Kirk has yet to show that he will stand up against more Republican shutdown politics,” DSCC National Press Secretary Sadie Weiner said in a release that accompanied announcement of the ads.

But Kirk was the only Republican Senator who voted against de-funding in a Senate test vote in August. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also did, but only for procedural purposes to give him the ability to take up the bill at a later date.

“Yet another ad from outside partisan groups that is short on facts and lacking any credibility,” Kirk campaign manager Kevin Artl said. He said Kirk “continues to answer the call for independent leadership by breaking from his party to support women’s access to health care and opposing efforts to shut down the government.”

Kirk’s re-election campaign also released a statement from Carole Brite, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, saying they “were able to count on the leadership of Senator Mark Kirk who wisely voted against de-funding Planned Parenthood.”

Drop the stupid ads, already.

* Meanwhile, Joe Walsh is apparently taking yet another look at the 14th CD

Déjà vu? Top GOP sources say former congressman Joe Walsh of Mundelein is considering a primary bid against U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Plano in the 14th Congressional District next spring. […]

Hultgren’s staff is actively preparing for the scenario, and campaign workers for both Walsh and Hultgren were reportedly collecting petition signatures at a McHenry County Republican Party fundraiser last week.

But IR checked in with Walsh

“Are you, or someone on your behalf, circulating petitions to challenge Hultgren in the 14th CD?”

Walsh’s response via text was four letters: “Nope.”

* More stuff

State Sen. Mike Noland of Elgin was endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers last week despite his past comment that strikes were “embarrassing” and his receipt of campaign cash from Stand For Children, a group that helped muscle in a 2011 law to make it tougher to get teacher tenure.

Noland is making a Democratic bid for Duckworth’s seat as she wages a battle for U.S. Senate. He’ll compete in the primary against businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Villa Park Mayor Deborah Bullwinkel.

The Noland quote about strikes being “embarrassing” is here.

* And speaking of pretty old news…

Former Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., lost another high-profile endorser over his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, with former Sen. Adlai Stevenson III, D-Ill., switching to his Democratic primary rival, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.

Stevenson joins Abner Mikva — a former House member, Bill Clinton White House counsel and federal judge — in dropping Schneider over the Iran nuclear agreement.

Rotering and Schneider are in a battle to take on Rep. Bob Dold, R-Ill., in the north suburban swing 10th Congressional District.

Stevenson is a member of one of the most famous Democratic political families in Illinois with deep ties to the 10th district. His great-grandfather was Vice President Adlai Ewing Stevenson.

The Adlai E. Stevenson II High School in Lincolnshire, a major high school in the district, is named after the former senator’s father, who ran for president in 1952 and 1956 after serving as Illinois governor and United Nations ambassador.

  15 Comments      


Question of the day

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Caption?…


  100 Comments      


Mayor Emanuel unveils tax hikes, will need Springfield help

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times

The mayor’s painful prescription includes a four-year, $588 million property tax increase devoted exclusively to police and fire pensions and a first-ever garbage collection fee of $9.50-a-month-per household… Senior citizens would get a 50 percent discount.

The mayor’s budget also includes: $13 million in higher fees for building permits; a new, $1 million tax on e-cigarettes: a 50-cents–a-ride surcharge on taxicabs; a 30 cents-a-ride increase in the surcharge on ride hailing services and authorization for Uber, Lyft and Sidecar to make pickups at McCormick Place, O’Hare and Midway Airports in exchange for a $5 surcharge on every pickup and drop-off.

The cab and ride-hailing fees would raise $48 million. Struggling cabdrivers would get a 15-percent fare increase as compensation for losing what is now their last bastion of exclusivity. […]

Emanuel told the council he wanted to do what he could to help Chicagoans “who could least afford the additional burden” of higher taxes. “The lion’s share” would be borne by “our thriving central business district” as well as those whose homes are valued at more than $250,000. He backs a plan to increase the homeowner exemption to help those whose homes fall below that threshold won’t take a hit. […]

Emanuel said the dire alternative to a property tax increase is 2,500 police layoffs, 2,000 fewer firefighters, 48 fire station closings and twice-a-month garbage collection, instead of weekly pick-ups.

* Tribune

Even if he gets aldermanic support for his menu of tax hikes, Emanuel’s $7.8 billion budget proposal requires some help from Springfield and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Emanuel is counting on Rauner backing a bill giving the city more breathing room in paying required annual increases in police and fire pensions. Without that help, the city could find itself $219 million in the hole next year.

Emanuel also wants Rauner to approve an increase in homeowner property assessment exemptions to dampen the blow of the property tax increases. Rauner, however, wants to freeze property taxes, not raise them.

The mayor said he spoke with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, the two Chicago Democrats who control the General Assembly, about the increased exemptions and said they both agreed to move the bill, starting with a House hearing Thursday.

Should be an interesting hearing. But

Gov. Bruce Rauner has virtually promised to veto Emanuel’s homestead exemption proposal if it reaches his desk. How that issue plays out will be a key factor in determining the ultimate fate of the new budget.

From Innovation Illinois…

Governor Rauner is overstepping his authority and creating obstacles to the democratic process by threatening to veto the Mayor’s request for a change in the property tax exemption. Instead of supporting property tax relief for Chicago homeowners, the Governor is interfering in the City’s operations by insisting that Mayor Emanuel follow his lead by engaging in union busting as a quid pro quo for the Governor’s signature.

The State of Illinois cannot afford yet another government budget held hostage to Governor Rauner’s continuing attacks on working families in Illinois. The people of the City of Chicago deserve to have their elected officials make decisions on their behalf without interference by a Governor who puts his own extreme views on organized labor ahead of the public good.

Innovation Illinois urges Governor Rauner to withdraw his veto threat and allow passage of any reasonable changes in Illinois law that Mayor Emanuel and the City Council consider necessary to putting the City’s finances back on track.

* The Chicagoland Chamber wasn’t overtly hostile, but try reading between the lines…

Today, Mayor Emanuel presented the City’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget, which proposes to increase property taxes by as much as $600 million to pay for police and fire pensions, and $125 million in other revenue enhancements to pay for operating expenses. The property tax hike would take effect over four years, frontloaded in 2015 and 2016. The proposed budget includes $176 million in cuts and efficiencies.

No one likes higher taxes, least of all the business community that pays a disproportionate share of the property tax. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce will continue to monitor the City budget hearings and all proposals for additional fees or taxes, but no matter how large or small the property tax increase, the Chamber opposes all efforts to increase the homeowner’s exemption for residential properties.

An increase in the residential homeowner’s exemption would shift even more of the property tax burden on to businesses, as Cook County’s archaic and unfair classification system already requires commercial and industrial properties to pay 2.5 times more than residential properties.

The Chamber will remind the Aldermen that Chicago recently increased its minimum wage, implemented a plastic bag ban, increased the 911 surcharge, and is considering implementing a paid sick leave mandate. The Cook County sales tax increase and the looming state revenue shortfall should also be considered. Additional tax and regulatory burdens on the business community are simply not sustainable.

The Chamber applauds Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s leadership in presenting a budget that is honest about the true cost of government and takes another step in tackling our City’s legacy fiscal obligations. Chamber members want certainty so they can plan for the future, and this budget is a long-term step toward righting the City’s fiscal ship which has been off-course for a generation.

It took us a generation to reach this point, and the Chamber is committed to working with Mayor Emanuel and City Council on crafting an honest and responsible budget.

Also

Ald. Brendan Reilly, whose 42nd Ward covers most of the central business district and some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, made it clear he’s already hearing from constituents who feel that the property-tax exemption Emanuel wants to give residents whose homes are worth up to $250,000 will shift an unfair share of the burden to them.

  52 Comments      


State postpones union layoffs

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Sean Smoot…

“On Friday September 18th, the Conservation Police Lodge represented by the PBPA and the State of Illinois agreed to defer implementing any layoffs while the parties continue to discuss and/or litigate the propriety of the proposed layoff of conservation police employees. Accordingly, we have been assured that the layoffs will not occur as scheduled on September 30. We have been told that official notification of the agreement is being sent to the affected agencies and employees today.

“The state also agreed to defer proposed layoffs of employees represented by AFSCME and the IFT.”

I’m hearing that the Illinois State Museum also received a reprieve.

  27 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** A little help, please?

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From GoFundMe

Ashley Aldridge is a young 19 year old mom who was cleaning up lunch after feeding her children and heard someone yelling for help. She saw a man whose wheelchair was stuck in the railroad tracks. She ran next door and asked her neighbor to watch her kids when she heard the clanging of the gate warning of an approaching train.

Running over she tried to lift the Hoverround out of the tracks and looking to the side she saw the train approaching. She rushed to the front and with her 130 pound frame she lifted the 200 pound man, his body clearing the wheelchair just as the 80 mph Amtrak demolished the chair.

When interviewed Ashley has insisted that she is just happy he’s alive and that she doesn’t have to live with wondering “what if”, what she neglects to say is that her house was broken into just weeks before with her bill money and savings being taken, she neglects to say that she and her young husband struggle as he works a roofing job with varied hours. This site is to give people a chance to give back to someone whose story and courage has so blessed a community and even a nation.

Click here to donate.

*** UPDATE *** SJ-R

The story of Ashley Aldridge’s heroic efforts to save a man’s life in Auburn last week was told on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, recounted the story during a three-minute speech during which Aldridge’s photograph stood on an easel behind him.

“In a world in which we often hear the message we should only be concerned about ourselves and our own families, Ashley is an inspiration,” Durbin said. “Without a moment’s hesitation, this brave young mom risked her own life to save the life of a man she never met.”

Video of Sen. Durbin’s speech is here.

Donations have surged since I posted this earlier today, so click here if you haven’t yet.

* Related…

* Teen Saves 75 Year-Old Man Caught on Railroad Tracks: “I thought the train hit his feet. It was that close” said Aldridge.

* Auburn woman risks life to save man stuck on train tracks

* Brave Teen Saves Man Whose Wheelchair Was Stuck In Train Tracks

* Young Woman Saves Man Stuck On Railroad Tracks

  32 Comments      


A modest proposal

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My Crain’s Chicago Business column from last week is still fresh enough for a post here today

I’ve lost count of the number of legislative overtime sessions I’ve covered since I started writing in 1990. I think it’s eight, but I’m not sure.

What I do know is that every time there has been any impasse between the governor and the Illinois General Assembly, somebody somewhere always screams: “Lock them in a room and don’t let them out until they make a deal!”

Despite the obvious fact that doing such a thing would be a serious felony, I’ve watched countless politicians, columnists and plenty of other people who ought to know better advocate kidnapping government officials as an actual legislative solution.

One Chicago Tribune pundit even went so far as to suggest that House Speaker Michael Madigan be blindfolded and ushered into the governor’s office. Maybe it was a metaphor.

Look, I don’t blame people for being angry at their state government after months of impasse. I truly understand the rage at the people we elected to run our government who refuse even to talk to each other.

My first overtime session was in 1991 and it lasted about two weeks. I was completely miserable the whole time because I had never endured anything like that before.

But that overtime session was relatively brief (no matter how endless it felt), so nobody who relied on the government was affected that much. The same went for the following overtimes, when the basics often were taken care of with temporary, one-off budgets.

This time, though, real people are being hurt, including those who are least able to fend for themselves.

About a third of the state-funded providers of services for the homeless have shut down, according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. At the same time, most of the other nonprofit organizations are experiencing increased demand for services. There are dozens more problems just like that one. It’s only going to get worse.

So, yeah, I get the anger, particularly since the two sides really aren’t that far apart on the budget. When they finally get around to it, they could wrap it up in a matter of days.

Don’t believe me? Think the state is on the very precipice of fiscal death?

Well, a recent report by Moody’s Investors Service outlined a very doable solution to this year’s budget problems—a combination of an income tax hike that the governor could agree to and some modest cuts that even moderate Democrats could stomach.

The problem, of course, is that the Democrats will not accede to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s demand that a tax hike be accompanied by pro-business/anti-union economic reforms.

Neither side has moved closer to the other in months. I was so disgusted the other day that I actually found myself muttering about how they should be locked in a room together.

And then it hit me.

Remember in August when U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman threatened Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger with contempt of court because Munger hadn’t complied with the judge’s order to pay millions of dollars in bills for the severely disabled? That got everyone’s attention, and the bills started to be paid.

But one day, maybe soon, maybe in a few months, the state simply won’t have the money to pay those bills on time.

Maybe then, Coleman, a no-nonsense judge, could threaten to toss the governor and the four legislative leaders into the hoosegow until they come up with a freaking solution.

Do you think that would spark an interest in budget negotiations?

Please, Judge Coleman, your honor, ma’am, make this happen.

  65 Comments      


A look ahead

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* With session coming up in a couple of days and the governor’s latest veto threat, it occurred to me that perhaps we should talk about my syndicated newspaper column, which was published early last week

As you probably know already, Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger said that the state government’s backlog of unpaid bills will hit $8.5 billion by the end of December, up from about $6 billion right now.

That’s a headline-grabbing number, since the end of December is not exactly the greatest time for people and companies that are owed money by the state. The state’s bill backlog was about $8 billion this past January, right after most of the 2011 state income tax hike expired. But the backlog fell to $3.5 billion by the end of July, and just $2.3 billion of those bills was more than 30 days overdue.

But let’s take a look at another estimate Comptroller Munger released last week.

The comptroller totaled up state spending from last fiscal year that isn’t currently being mandated by federal and state court decrees (Medicaid bills, state employee and judicial salaries, etc.), continuing appropriations (bond and pension payments, legislative salaries), a signed appropriations bills (K-12 education) and other things, and came up with $4.3 billion.

The $4.3 billion is the total amount that was paid out last year but is not currently being sent to colleges and universities, state employee health care providers, non-Medicaid social service providers, MAP Grant college student aid recipients, lottery winners over $25,000, plus various “transfers out,” including to local governments for things like motor fuel tax distributions.

Eventually, that money will have to be paid in full or in part, or significant portions of the state are gonna be in a big world of hurt.

So, the Senate Democrats stepped in last week and passed an appropriations bill that covers most of those state payments that aren’t already going out the door. The problem, of course, is that just because they passed a spending bill doesn’t mean there is any money to pay those bills.

And there are indeed no available state revenues to pay for most of those appropriations (with the exception of money that comes out of “special funds” like the $582 million appropriated from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund).

It’s kinda like thinking you have money in your bank account because you still have plenty of checks.

All the Senate’s legislation would do is hasten the point at which the state physically runs out of money to pay any of its obligations. There’s already billions of dollars less coming into state coffers because of the January tax hike expiration, but the Senate bill would spend billions of dollars more.

The governor’s overall record on veto overrides so far this year has been 60 wins and one loss, with that “loss” being a veto of Medicaid funding for heroin treatment that was overridden by both chambers and is therefore now law. But the governor agreed to Republican legislators’ demands to not oppose the override, and there are those who believe he only vetoed it so he could look like he was opposed to spending money on heroin addiction treatment, so it wasn’t really a loss.

It’s therefore more than reasonable to assume that even if the House Democrats do manage to get all 71 of their members to town later this month and pass the Senate’s spending legislation (probably a big “if” since one of those Democrats has tickets to see Pope Francis that very day), the governor will likely veto the thing and then the House Democrats will struggle in vain yet again to override. So, last week’s floor action could very well turn out to be futile. And even if they do override him, the governor doesn’t have to spend the money without a court order.

In an open letter to members last week, the governor’s chief legislative liaison urged the Senate Democrats to “come back to the negotiating table to pursue compromise, reform and a balanced budget,” to which the Dems responded, “What is this ‘negotiating table’ that they speak of?”

According to the Senate Democrats, the four legislative leaders and the governor have not met with each other since late May. And the governor refuses to even discuss the budget until the Democrats agree to address his “Turnaround Agenda.”

I just don’t know what to say anymore.

  37 Comments      


Coalition says they’ve already met the minimum signature requirement

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

The non-partisan Independent Maps coalition announced Tuesday that it is more than halfway to its goal of collecting 600,000 petition signatures for a state constitutional amendment to create a non-partisan independent commission responsible for drawing state legislative districts.

“In less than five months, more than 300,000 Illinoisans signed petitions to put this important amendment before voters in 2016, and that puts us halfway to our goal of 600,000 signatures,” said Dennis FitzSimons, Chair of Independent Maps.

“Because entrenched political interests don’t want to give Illinoisans an opportunity to vote on this amendment, we know they will challenge the validity of some of our petition signatures,” FitzSimons said. “To be absolutely certain we will meet the Illinois Constitution’s requirement of 290,216 valid signatures, we’re going to collect more than twice that number. Defenders of the current partisan system will not be able to overcome those numbers.”

“We’re ahead of schedule, and that is thanks to the hard work of volunteers giving up weekends and evenings to collect signatures and to voters who signed the petition because they are fed up with the results of rigged legislative maps,” FitzSimons said.

“Voters are frustrated and feel their voices are not being heard in the General Assembly,” said Cynthia Canary, Executive Director of Independent Maps. “The discontent is real, and it stems in part from the fact that 60 percent of the legislators elected last year didn’t have anyone running against them. When legislative districts are designed to maximize partisan advantage, the likelihood of true competitive elections is minimized. Partisan maps discourage competition and give us legislators who cruise into office without having to debate a challenger or even listen to a single voter.

“Volunteers have told us that voters are sometimes so eager to sign petitions that they grab the clipboards out of their hands, sign the petition and ask others around them to sign, too,” Canary said. “We’re very encouraged by the response throughout Illinois, but there’s a lot of hard work ahead of all of us.”

Independent Maps got off to an early and fast start this spring thanks in large part to the Illinois League of Women Voters, which has local and regional Leagues across the state, and to thousands of volunteers engaged in two previous amendment campaigns. Last month, the Illinois Farm Bureau – with more than 400,000 members in Illinois – increased the reach of the coalition and made its 95 offices collection points for volunteers to turn in completed petitions.

From Sept. 20 to 27, Independent Maps is challenging Chicago area volunteers to deliver 10,000 signatures in 10,000 minutes. The #10in10Campaign will use social media to tell the stories of our volunteers’ involvement and encourage others to help us reach our goal of collecting 10,000 fresh signatures by 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27. To learn how to get involved, like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MapAmendment) and follow us on Twitter (@mapamendment).

As we’ve discussed before, this particular idea could very well hurt the Democratic Party’s legislative grip, not just because the resulting map would be more fairly drawn, but because the proposal would protect the “geographic integrity” of units of local government, which would likely disadvantage Chicago.

Unless the Democrats believe they have a slam-dunk legal case against this proposal, they need to get out in front of the issue with their own idea or they’re gonna pay a steep price - and they’ll deserve it.

  36 Comments      


Rauner pushing mandate relief

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The governor’s press office has recently been sending out “In Case You Missed It” e-mails about the topic of unfunded education mandates. Here’s today’s…

The following is a transcript of a story that ran on WQAD News. Watch the story here:

    HOST: Educators across the state of Illinois are praising Governor Rauner after his call to end some unfunded mandates that school districts say would save them money. But as News 8’s Shane Simmons reports some educators don’t see change coming anytime soon.

    REPORTER: For the last several years — Illinois schools have followed more than 100 unfunded mandates from the state. Basically, the state tells schools what they have to do. For example, schools are required to provide daily PE classes for students, which educators say is an additional cost that takes away from the classroom.

    SUPERINTENDENT 1: You almost get used to it. To where you know what you have to fund, how much it’s going to cost, and you build that into your budget.

    REPORTER: For years educators have pushed to eliminate some of these mandates, but say the idea just sat there and really didn’t go anywhere.

    SUPERINTENDENT 1: If we don’t have to have those mandates, that’s saving us money to put into education for our children.

    REPORTER: Governor Rauner says he wants to push lawmakers to let schools operate how they choose — specifically — letting districts decide whether or not they want to offer daily PE classes, drivers education and lifting restriction on third-party contracting, like for busing services. Rauner says it would save schools statewide $200 million a year. That would offset his other proposal – a property tax freeze. However some teachers unions oppose the move fearing lay-offs or outsourcing of jobs to a third party.

    SUPERINTENDENT 2: Anytime you give local school districts that opportunity to focus on putting more resources — that’s ultimately better for our kids.

    REPORTER: Dr. Jay Morrow from United Township High School says while some relief from the unfunded mandates would be nice — he doesn’t count on it happening anytime soon — pointing to a game of politics.

    SUPERINTENDENT 2: We haven’t spent a great deal of time getting the numbers on this because they have talked about mandate relief for quite some time, and I think this is all part of a grand scheme, a grand bargain you will, that it will be a give and take. And if this is a gave or take on who’s side, it all depends.

    REPORTER: Shane Simmons, WQAD News 8.

    HOST: Governor Rauner can’t take any action on the mandates alone. Previous bills on this topic have failed in the general assembly in previous years.

* So, why is this so difficult? Well, the AP had a pretty good story on this the other day

“It’s like nailing Jell-O to the wall,” said state Sen. Andy Manar, a Democrat who tried to negotiate mandate relief last year. […]

Manar, of Bunker Hill, said he couldn’t get district officials to agree on a “top 10″ of mandates they’d like to get rid of. What one legislator or organization sees as unnecessary another sees as critically important, he said.

Teachers’ unions also have opposed eliminating the requirements, which in some cases could lead to layoffs or outsourcing jobs to non-unionized companies.

Jim Reed, government relations director for the Illinois Education Association, said the state’s largest education union opposes new mandates that aren’t funded and believes the solution is for the Legislature to fully fund the mandates it’s approved.

He said outsourcing driver’s ed or school bus drivers could create safety problems, and physical education requirements shouldn’t be relaxed when childhood obesity is a serious problem.

What we could really use here is some strong gubernatorial leadership on a compromise.

  57 Comments      


Good morning!

Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The late Rep. Esther Golar

  23 Comments      


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