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Former Rep. Connie Howard sentenced to 3 months

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois…

U.S. District Judge Richard Mills today sentenced former Illinois State Representative Constance ‘Connie’ Howard to three months in prison for fraud committed by Howard when she was a state representative. Following her release from the federal Bureau of Prisons, Howard, 72, was ordered to serve three months home confinement, the first three months of a two-year term of supervised release. Howard was also ordered to pay restitution to two organizations: $15,900 to the Chicago Urban League and $12,450 to the Black United Fund, Chicago.

In July 2013, Howard waived indictment and admitted that from 2003 to 2007, she solicited and obtained approximately $76,700, representing that the funds would be used to provide scholarships. In fact, no more than five scholarships, totaling $12,500, were issued, and approximately $28,000 of the funds raised was converted to her personal and political use. Misuse of the funds included expenses associated with the promotion of her campaign, and campaign events, and to benefit one of her assistants.

At the time of the fraud, Howard was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. She served as Chairwoman of the Computer Technology Committee for the House of Representatives and the Eliminate the Digital Divide Advisory Committee of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Howard’s legislative and campaign offices were located in Chicago.

In 2003, Howard created an organization known as “Tee Off for Technology,” (TOFT), and established the “Constance A ‘Connie’ Howard Computer Technology Scholarship Fund, to provide scholarships to persons in need seeking a degree in computer science and related fields. Howard established an annual event in July 2003, known as the “Tee Off for Technology Celebrity Golf Outing.” Howard represented that the purpose of the organization and the annual golf outing was to be a fundraising mechanism for the scholarship fund. Because TOFT was not a tax-exempt organization, it partnered with tax-exempt organizations to serve as its fiscal agent to ensure that donations to TOFT and the scholarship fund were tax deductible.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass prosecuted the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by participating agencies of the Central District of Illinois’ U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Public Corruption Task Force including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Chicago Division; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; and, the Illinois Secretary of State Office of Inspector General.

Howard’s indictment and subsequent admission shocked a heck of a lot of people because Howard (D-Chicago) was pretty well respected in the GA.

Just goes to show, you never really know a person. Particularly in this business.

  10 Comments      


OK, now maybe take another lap?

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti made it her goal at the beginning of the Administration to visit all 102 counties in her first year in office. Her stop at the Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City last week completed that mission.

Below is the lieutenant governor’s statement on visiting all 102 counties.

“Last week, I accomplished my goal of meeting with residents in every one of our 102 counties in Illinois,” Sanguinetti said. “Along the way I’ve met with small business owners, farmers, elected officials, students, educators, entrepreneurs, labor leaders, healthcare professionals, waterway operators, coal miners, veterans… and an endless number of Illinois residents who are ready for real reform in Illinois.”

“The most important job of an elected official is to listen. As the governor’s partner, it was important that I connect with as many Illinoisans as possible in the first year of this Administration,” Sanguinetti said. “Meeting with residents in their own communities helps me to better serve them by learning firsthand what issues are most important throughout our diverse state.”

The lieutenant governor’s responsibilities as Chair of the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force, Chair of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, Chair of the Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee, and Chair of the Illinois River Coordinating Council, the Mississippi River Coordinating Council, and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council allows her to lead the charge in advocating for an important, diverse and geographically spread-out set of interests. The Lt. Governor’s outreach to all 102 counties insured the priorities of each committee, council and task force she chairs are driven by local priorities.

To see where the Lt. Governor’s travels have taken her please visit her website at: http://www.illinois.gov/ltg/visits/Pages/default.aspx

  35 Comments      


*** UPDATED x3 *** Leaders to meet again

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As you know by now, the governor signed the mostly non-GRF funding bill yesterday

Rauner billed the move as a compromise, although it also provided him political cover as some House Republicans were willing to vote for the Democratic plan in the face of pressure from suburban mayors to free up the money. House Democrats ignored the governor’s requests and pressed on with their first plan, but ultimately used a procedural move to prevent the legislation from going to the Senate while the latest deal was worked out.

Monday’s action is likely to be the last major effort to plug budget holes for the remainder of the calendar year, as neither the House or Senate is scheduled to return to the Capitol until January.

Key areas that remain unfunded include colleges and universities, scholarship programs for low-income students and various programs for victims of sexual assault and those with developmental disabilities.

* Republicans are blaming Democrats for not funding MAP grants

Republican Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet blamed House Speaker Michael Madigan for the lack of MAP funding.

“The Democrats had a few things that they added into this budget bill today, but apparently library grants rank higher than MAP grants in their opinion. The Speaker patted them on the head and said ‘We’re not going to (fund MAP) but we’re going to fund library grants,’” Rose said. “You’ve got Democratic supermajorities in the House and the Senate, yet Representative (Carol) Ammons was told no last week by the Speaker.

“We already have the answer, and the Speaker said no.”

The MAP funding bill has no HGOP sponsors. Just sayin…

* And the leaders are meeting again today

Gov. Bruce Rauner has planned another round of talks on state budget with legislative leaders in Chicago.

Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the meeting is Tuesday afternoon at The James R. Thompson Center.

Check back at 3:30 or so and I’ll have a ScribbleLive thingy posted if events warrant it.

*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor took questions before the meeting…

*** UPDATE 2 *** I’m assuming this sums it up pretty well…


*** UPDATE 3 *** More…



  37 Comments      


The slippery slope

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Hmm…


* In case you’ve been under a rock, here’s the official Trump statement

Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on. According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population. Most recently, a poll from the Center for Security Policy released data showing “25% of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad” and 51% of those polled, “agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.” Shariah authorizes such atrocities as murder against non-believers who won’t convert, beheadings and more unthinkable acts that pose great harm to Americans, especially women.

Mr. Trump stated, “Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make America Great Again.” - Donald J. Trump

* Trump’s been backtracking a bit

“If a person is a Muslim and goes overseas and comes back, they can come back,” he said. “They’re a citizen. That’s different.”

OK, but Syed Rizwan Farook was a citizen.

* It’s good to see Gov. Rauner knocking down this nonsense. But if we’re supposed to be so afraid of vetted Syrian refugee families that we won’t let them temporarily resettle in Illinois, is it any wonder that people would then be scared half to death of almost totally unvetted Muslim travelers? Some might call the governor’s refugee proposal a slippery slope which led to the current inflamed rhetoric.

I still believe a recalibration of certain immigration/visa policies is in order because I love my country and I don’t want to see it attacked. But we gotta be really careful about opening up a racist Pandora’s Box because I love my country’s Constitution.

  71 Comments      


Mautino sworn in

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* It’s official

Frank Mautino, who resigned his seat Monday following more than two decades as State Representative of the 76th District, was sworn in as Illinois Auditor General in a private ceremony at Ottawa’s downtown courthouse late in the afternoon.

It was standing room only in the courtroom as Circuit Judge Eugene Daugherity gave the oath of office to a visibly emotional Mautino who stood before dozens of family, friends, supporters and public officials from both ends of the political spectrum.

Also present was outgoing Auditor General William G. Holland, who has served as auditor general of the Illinois since his first appointment in August 1992. Before the ceremony, Holland praised Mautino’s legislative career, calling the Spring Valley native “a man of great wisdom and dedication.”

Holland, who came from Springfield with members of his staff for the occasion, said, “This office is going to be left in wonderful hands.” Holland leaves office Thursday, Dec. 31.

  9 Comments      


Question of the day - Golden Horseshoe Awards

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The raw vote tally and intensity of the nominations yesterday for our 2015 Steve Brown Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Government Spokesperson were pretty much split between two distinguished candidates. Oswego Willy was even torn

What has been so frustrating to anyone following Illinois government is the constant and almost predictable messaging by all the offices involved. Many times it was easy to speculate what one of the other would respond to when faced with the issue of the day, the sound bite of the moment.

What has been noticeable is this Spokesperson’s responses. While doing her job at a high level, there has been more “plain speak” coming from her than any I can think of as quickly. Sometimes it is about saying what needs to be said for your boss without being saddled with checking the boxes of what is required to be said.

I nominate Rikeesha Phelon.

Her work-product and plain speaking when asked to comment for the President and the President’s Office has been refreshing and insightful. I have also enjoyed the “gallows humor” along with subtly pointing out avenues her boss and Office feel should be the message of the moment.

Being a spokesperson is hard enough, let alone in the environment Illinois government finds itself in today. People and communications are critical in trying to get Illinois government to function. This year, Rikeesha Phelon has done an outstanding job by not being cookie cutter, but being herself, and letting the message be more about the issue, and far less about checking talking point boxes.

* OW texted me after he made that nomination and said he had another one in mind as well. I encouraged him to add it

I’d also like to include my name in calling for Lance Trover;

While dutifully working for the Governor, Lance has continued to be the constant and consistent voice in ensuring the Governor’s message is framed and making clear the position of the Administration.

Being a spokesperson is hard enough, let alone in the environment Illinois government finds itself in today. That holds true for Lance Trover, taking his lunch pail and hard hat and working tirelessly.

He has my unquestioned respect, and does the job with deft skill. Governor Rauner is being served exceptionally well by Lance Trover and deserves this award.

They’re both tremendously deserving, so they both win.

* OK, let’s move on to today’s categories…

* Best Illinois State Representative - Republican

* Best Illinois State Representative - Democrat

Remember, it’s about the intensity far more than the numbers, so make sure to explain your nominations. Also, do your best to nominate in each category. Thanks!

  36 Comments      


In which I concur

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Context

As far back as 1963, then-civil rights attorney George N. Leighton, who went on to become a federal judge, said the “number of (police brutality) cases” was “so numerous” and the patterns of brutality “so complex” that his Chicago branch of the NAACP hired an investigator just to document the allegations.

* So, I think Mark Brown nailed it

Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped crystallize the Laquan McDonald case for me Monday, although not quite in the way he intended.

Still struggling to contain the political fallout from McDonald’s alleged murder by a Chicago police officer, the mayor characterized the situation surrounding the teenager’s death as an “inflection point” that can lead to real, substantive reform in the Police Department.

“It cannot be just another incident,” Emanuel vowed as he introduced a new boss at the Independent Police Review Authority.

That’s it, though, isn’t it? That’s been the problem.

Right from the start, city government from the mayor on down treated McDonald’s death at the hands of a police officer as “just another incident.”

Just another police shooting. In a city that records dozens every year. […]

There’s a popular narrative in some quarters that Emanuel and his minions covered up McDonald’s shooting to get past the election. It’s possible, I suppose.

But I think the real problem may be that the alarm bells barely sounded at all.

There have been other police shootings, other citizen complaints, other videos, but people barely took notice. The city’s big media outlets weren’t even the ones which finally pried that McDonald shooting video from the government. There was no series of thundering editorials, columns and blog posts in April after the city council voted to give $5 million to McDonald’s survivors.

The mayor and just about everybody else treated this the same way they’ve always treated these things.

But this one crystallized it for people.

* Mary Mitchell also nails it

Video footage released by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez on Monday showing the police shooting of Ronald Johnson last year revealed more than a fatal police shooting.

It showed the turmoil that some Chicagoans are living in as a result of gun violence — turmoil that has also made it harder to hold police officers accountable for misconduct. […]

Prior to the shooting — something that is not captured on the video — Johnson allegedly struggled with another police officer and was able to break free, according to Alvarez’s investigation.

At one point, five police officers and at least three police patrol cars and a marked Tahoe were involved in the chase.

Officers were dispatched to the scene when frightened residents called 911 to complain about shots being fired. You could hear the fear in their voices.

Residents reported shots being fired in front of 346 E. 53rd St., and that there were hooded black males running in the backyards and trying to get into the building’s entrance.

One exasperated caller pleaded with police officers to do something.

Unbeknownst to scared residents, a group of males that included Johnson had left a party in the nearby building and someone had shot out the back window of the car the group was traveling in.

Way too many Illinoisans are trapped in their own homes while this insane street war rages on around them.

* Agreed

Chicago’s best hope — and the mayor’s best hope — is the federal Justice Department investigation announced Monday. This sort of “pattern and practice” probe, which likely will lead to long-term federal court supervision of the Chicago Police Department, has worked wonders for other police departments. In the most successful cases, the use of deadly force declines while crime rates decline or hold steady — and community trust soars.

“This mistrust from members of the community makes it more difficult to gain help with investigations, to encourage victims and witnesses of crimes to speak up, and to fulfill the most basic responsibilities of public safety officials,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Monday, announcing the investigation.

Yep, that would be Chicago. Bring in the feds.

* I wrote about this topic last week

[Rep. Elgie Sims] and [Sen. Kwame Raoul] also suggested licensing police officers, in that suspending or revoking a license might serve as an extra level of enforcement, as with lawyers, doctors and other licensed professionals.

Republican state Sen. Tim Bivins actually introduced a police licensing bill way back in 2010

Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board has the power to require local governmental units to furnish personnel rosters, employment status reports, and annual training plans to the Board. Provides that a police officer who has been licensed, certified, or granted a valid waiver shall be decertified or have his or her license or waiver revoked upon a determination by the Illinois Labor Relations Board State Panel that he or she knowingly and willfully violated a rule or regulation of his or her department or agency that has as a penalty the discharge or dismissal of the officer from the department or agency. Establishes hearing procedures on decertification. Contains other provisions.

Bivins’ bill attracted just two co-sponors (the Democrat Raoul and Republican Sen. Pam Althoff) and went nowhere.

* Other developments…

* ADDED: New FOIA bill on police videos filed: A bipartisan measure aimed at strengthening the right of the public to see police dash-cam video has been filed in the Illinois House in the wake of law-enforcement-involved shooting deaths in Chicago. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Art Turner, D-Chicago, and co-sponsored by Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, provides that such videos, including dash-cam and body videos, are not exempt from the state’s Freedom of Information Act unless an agency obtains a court order. The bill also requires a court to conduct an expedited hearing when an exemption to the FOIA Act is claimed.

* Video shows Chicago cops repeatedly using Taser, then dragging suspect from cell

* Chicago police commander goes on trial today on charges he assaulted suspect

* Chicago Police Department Chief of Detectives Dean Andrews Resigns

* African-American Legislators Call for Expanded Probe of Chicago Police

  18 Comments      


Unclear on the concept

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I wonder if Sen. Kirk realizes that Cairo, Illinois is further south than Richmond, Virginia

Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk gave a lively speech boosting Illinois to the manufacturers group on Friday, but one attempt at a joke veered into stereotypes.

Kirk said he often asks employers why they operate businesses in Illinois, given the state’s reputation for “high costs and unions and corruption.” Kirk said one employer explained that in the states south of Illinois, it was hard to keep a business open, “because everybody was huntin’ on that day.”

The first-term senator, who is up for re-election next year, put on a southern accent as he cracked the joke, drawing a bit of laughter from the crowd. Illinois employees, Kirk said, “they just show up, they work all day.”

“My reason for this is our inherent Polish character,” Kirk continued. “The 2 million Poles that, you know, Poles just work all day long and don’t ask for recess. … We’ve got to make sure that we sell that. There’s no absenteeism during huntin’ season for us, unlike the southern jurisdictions. We sell the Illinois worker who is just going to work like crazy.”

Yep. No hillbilly hunters and a whole lot of Poles. That’s what makes Illinois so great.

Sheesh.

But, hey, at least he’s saying positive stuff, unlike so many other folks in this state.

…Adding… Heh…


  48 Comments      


IDOT considering adding toll lanes to I-55

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* According to Greg Hinz, IDOT is looking at adding one toll lane in each direction on the Stevenson...

The Illinois Department of Transportation [yesterday] took the first formal step toward potentially adding tolled “managed lanes” in the median strip of Interstate 55 (the Stevenson Expressway) between Interstate 355 in Bolingbrook and Interstates 90/94 (the Dan Ryan Expressway) in Chicago.

The proposal—to be the subject of a public hearing at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Holiday Inn at 6201 Joliet Road in Countryside—would not directly impact existing, free lanes. But with the Stevenson and other highways more clogged every year and money short for expansion, motorists eventually may have to chose between creeping along in heavy traffic or paying up and accessing faster toll lanes.

“We can’t go on moving traffic in the same way we have in the past,” said IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “This approach works in more than 50 cities now,” such as Dallas/Ft. Worth, where tolled roads and lanes often adjoin existing free expressways. And, from my experience, vehicles on the toll roads move more quickly.

I, for one, would probably use the toll lanes if traffic was bad, and it’s often pretty bad in that area. But I’m not exactly poor. Your own thoughts? Would you use the lanes? Do you think adding toll lanes is fair to those who can’t afford them?

  63 Comments      


How does Chicago’s high police clearance rate compare?

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Tribune

In many quarters, it’s common knowledge that Chicago’s system of investigating shootings by officers is flawed. But the Tribune’s examination of the system shows that it is flawed at so many levels — critics say, by design — as to be broken. IPRA’s own statistics bear that out.

Of 409 shootings since the agency’s formation in September 2007 — an average of roughly one a week — only two have led to allegations against an officer being found credible, according to IPRA. Both involved off-duty officers.

Yikes.

* Jonathan Goldman takes a look at how Chicago’s clearance rate of 99.5 percent stacks up to Las Vegas and other cities

One of the findings by the [Las Vegas] Review-Journal was that the Use of Force Review Board cleared officers of wrongdoing in “a staggering” 97 percent of the use of force cases it reviewed. In its petition to the DOJ calling for an investigation, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) cited the 97 percent figure, noting that “Meaningful review of these events simply does not take place.”

Clearance rates in other places, while still high, were much lower than in Chicago. The Miami Police Department was also subjected to a DOJ investigation, which found that 87 percent of police shootings were cleared. In Palm Beach County, Florida, 90 percent of officer-involved shootings were cleared over a 15 year period.

A DOJ report examining the Philadelphia Police Department was released earlier this year, which found that 77 percent of the officers involved in a shooting did not violate departmental policies. Even with a clearance rate lower than some other departments, “Some interviewees told the Justice Department they believed that the department’s board of inquiry undermined findings from internal reviews of officer shootings, resulting in “too little discipline.””

Only one other police department had numbers similar to Chicago. The Newark, New Jersey police department was investigated by the DOJ beginning in 2011, after a request was made by the ACLU. In its petition calling for the investigation, the ACLU notes that in 2008 and 2009 there were 128 excessive force complaints made against Newark police officers. Not a single complaint was sustained – 100 percent were cleared, even better than Chicago’s 99.5 percent. An interesting trivia fact: the police chief in Newark at the time was Garry McCarthy, who was just fired by Mayor Emanuel from his Superintendent position here in Chicago because of similar problems.

Wow.

  15 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** Could Rush be toast?

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a press release…

[Yesterday] Alderman Howard B. Brookins, Jr. challenged the nominating petitions of his primary opponent, Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01). After extensive review, Rush submitted less than 750 valid signatures. Illinois election law requires 1,314 valid signatures for the 1st Congressional District.

“For years Bobby Rush has not shown up for his constituents and it’s clear the community is no longer there for him. There’s no doubt that losing touch with the district resulted in desperate attempts of fraud. From hundreds of signatures outside of the district to blatant forgery, I’m confident the Board of Elections will find enough evidence to remove him from the ballot,” said Alderman Brookins.

Multiple discrepancies found in petition sheets:

    Multiple signatures from the same person on different petition sheets.
    One signer signed for another person or multiple people at a single address.
    Circulators signed their own sheets.
    Circulator signatures do not match.
    Notary notarized his own signature.
    Circulators repeatedly visited the same addresses and collected duplicate signatures.
    Some sheets have no signatures and only printed names.

To see examples of these, please follow these links:

Subscribers know more.

* Greg Hinz has the react

Rush spokesman Stanley Watkins said the congressman’s campaign has not yet had a chance to review the challenge, but predicted the incumbent “will have sufficient signatures” to remain on the ballot for the March Democratic primary.

The Brookins camp is using well-known election attorney Mike Dorf to pursue the challenge. An even better known election lawyer, Mike Kasper, also is working for Brookins but on other matters, spokesman Tom Bowen said. Kasper’s other clients have included Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

A second challenge also was filed against Rush by another party, according to Board of Elections records. Details were not immediately available.

Resolving a petition challenge can be a lengthy, complex process. By law, those who sign are supposed to be registered voters in the district that’s involved, but sometimes people move. In other cases, attorneys for both sides argue over whether a signature is or is not legitimate.

*** UPDATE *** Check out the last line in this tweet…


Yikes.

  46 Comments      


Today’s quotables

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WJBC

State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said the budget impasse has carried on for so long, it’s possible Illinois might never get a spending plan for the budget year that started nearly six months ago.

“If what some people are saying is accurate, nothing will happen until after the March primaries, then what’s the point?,” Brady asked. “We are looking at a budget for next year anyway at that point.

John Tillman, CEO of the conservative think-tank Illinois Policy Institute, told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he expects the Democratic leadership will insist on a budget before the spring elections.

“I think (House) Speaker (Mike) Madigan is going to be very focused on those elections and he’s going to want to send his (party candidates) to go campaign because he feels very vulnerable,” Tillman said.

Thoughts?

…Adding… From comments…

Wait, Madigan feels vulnerable so he’s going to put his members on a vote to raise taxes right before their primaries? That’s insane.

Heh.

  32 Comments      


Today’s group project: We need to nip this fraud in the bud

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Somebody has set up a fake Oswego Willy Facebook account. This is so not cool.

So, please, click here. Then click on the “…” next to the “Message box and click “Report”…

Then click “Report this account,” and then click either “This timeline is pretending to be me or someone I know,” or “This is a fake account.” Then complete the process.

Thanks!

  85 Comments      


Budget-improving bullet points

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the U of I’s Institute for Government and Public Affairs

Researchers from IGPA’s Fiscal Futures Project found that Illinois’ budget practices are badly in need of reform. They assert, “The buy-now, pay-later content choices of the past were facilitated, even disguised, by then-existing procedural and reporting practices. Reform of these practices would improve budget transparency and accountability, and help prevent Illinois from getting into such dire fiscal straits in the future.”

The IGPA team suggests five concrete steps that Illinois can take today:

    1) Refine and expand multiyear budget planning,
    2) Require meaningful fiscal notes to accompany legislation,
    3) Modify cash-only budget reporting to include significant changes in liabilities and assets,
    4) Clearly identify non-sustainable or one-time revenue sources, and
    5) Adopt a broad-based budget reporting frame with meaningful spending and revenue categories consistently defined over time.

All of those would surely help. Requiring legit fiscal notes would be a good place to start, but so much more needs to be done.

The full report is here. Let us know what you think.

* Meanwhile

A working paper released by the Volcker Alliance, a nonpartisan organization established in 2013 by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul A. Volcker, sets forth six basic principles of sound budgeting for states and provides ten recommendations for improved budgetary transparency, including disclosure of 1) the use of one-time revenue sources to cover recurring expenditures, 2) deferrals of spending, and 3) underfunding of infrastructure maintenance and public-worker retirement obligations.

That report is here.

  33 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller

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* The Waukegan City Clerk was railroaded
* Whatever happened, the city has a $40 million budget hole it didn't disclose until now
* Manar gives state agencies budget guidance: Cut, cut, cut
* Roundup: Ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis testifies in Madigan corruption trial
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