* I dunno. Maybe he was shaking because of the uncomfortable message he delivered to the party bosses? Whatever it was, he’s gotta get this sort of basic stuff under control…
His hands shook as he spoke, and he accidentally dropped the microphone when he finished, but Chris Kennedy tried to play it cool Monday as he made his pitch to Cook County Democratic leaders, downplaying — and even joking about — the value of their endorsement in the governor’s race.
“Slating? I don’t know. Is this like the Town and Country Restaurant? I mean, what are we talking about here in the back room of a restaurant?” Kennedy said. “If you think the people of the United States would put up with that, it’s not going to happen. It ain’t going to happen. I love you all. I mean no disrespect.” […]
“I just don’t know that it’s as meaningful as it was 50 or 60 years ago where people in the back room could control the outcome of an election,” Kennedy said. “I don’t believe that exists in the United States anymore. … I would say that having a huge social media presence. I’d say having the endorsements of people on Facebook, and LinkedIn, or Twitter or Snapchat is probably more important than what goes on in the back of a restaurant.” […]
Kennedy’s remarks also left Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios — the Cook County Democratic Party’s head — trying to defend the party: “This is not the party of 30 years ago and anybody who think it is is totally wrong.” […]
Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy, spoke for just over seven minutes — his hands visibly shaking during some of the speech. He dropped the microphone, which made an audible thump when it hit the floor.
Ticking off Joe Berrios isn’t the worst thing Kennedy has ever done. That man is just not beloved outside the room he shared with Kennedy and the other candidates today.
But, dude, get it together.
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Rauner honors tireless volunteer
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* NBC 5…
Howard Goldstein spent Thursday doing what he always does—volunteering with the Red Cross, serving food to his fellow veterans.
Little did he know, that Bruce Rauner, the governor of Illinois was waiting in the wings.
Striding toward the assembled volunteers in the food pantry at Hines V.A. Hospital, Rauner greeted each one. Then he called Goldstein forward, brought out a large proclamation, and revealed that he had declared Thursday, Howard Goldstein day in Illinois.
“Week in and week out for years and years, he’s helped volunteer with the Red Cross,” said Rauner. “He’s helped volunteer to help veterans, he’s helped so many organizations, here in Illinois and all walks of life. Howard’s an inspiration for all of us.”
Goldstein seemed genuinely shocked by the honor, pausing to thank the governor before escorting more veterans through the food line.
“I believe in giving back to the community so you just volunteer and do what you can,” he said. “I try to keep myself busy and stay out of trouble.”
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Chris Kennedy is to JB Pritzker as ____ is to ____?
*** UPDATE *** From the Tribune story on today’s Democratic Party meeting…
There were also divisions among the wealthier contenders. Businessman Chris Kennedy, an heir to the wealthy and iconic political family who last week put $250,100 into his own campaign and as a result lifted contributions limits in the race, implored Democrats not to back billionaire investor and entrepreneur J.B. Pritzker. Kennedy did not mention Pritzker’s name but likened him to Rauner, a former private equity investor he called a “billionaire bully.”
“It’s criminal what (Rauner) has done to the Republican Party. He has silenced it. There is no dissent. Don’t let that happen to our party. Don’t put somebody in charge of our state who does not need all of you, who is not dependent upon all of you for re-election. Because if you do that, you will turn the Democratic Party in this state into what the Republican Party has become,” said Kennedy, who afterward told reporters he was referring to Pritzker.
“Don’t kid yourself that we can outsource that task (of taking on Rauner), that we can simply go to somebody and say, go to another billionaire and say, if you will be our protector, if you will fight our fight for us, we will make you our king,” he said.
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What could Chicago lose?
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Monday a crackdown on “sanctuary” cities and states – of which Chicago is one – with a pledge to “claw back” or cut all Justice Department federal funds from localities sheltering illegal immigrants.
Sessions made the announcement at the start of the daily White House briefing, which is a surprise only in its timing. President Trump had earlier made the threat to yank federal funds.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has staunchly defended Chicago as a sanctuary city that welcomes immigrants.
Citing criminal acts by several illegal immigrants, Sessions said sanctuary city policies violate “federal law. The president has rightly said this disregard for law must end.” […]
Sessions said he is “urging” the localities to “rethink these policies” because “these polices make our cities and states less safe.”
OK, so what do these Justice Department grants pay for?
* Here’s one out of state example…
Most recently, its Office for Victims of Crime announced a grant of almost $8.5 million in support for victims of last year’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
* We’re talking about maybe $4.1 billion in grants…
Laurie Robinson, a former assistant attorney general under Presidents Clinton and Obama who headed the Office of Justice Programs, which oversees grants, said the statute implementing SCAAP gives an attorney general broad power to decide who gets money.
“They could cut off drug programs, domestic violence grants, violence against women grants,” she said.
Other grants won’t be as easy to end. Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services program distributed $208 million in 2015 to local agencies. But that money is distributed using a formula established by Congress, meaning an attorney general can’t revoke grants without lawmakers’ approval.
Click here to see a list of currently available grants.
* The CTBA took a look not long ago and found that if the feds stopped “funding related to immigration and law enforcement,” it would cost Chicago $78 million. The group didn’t break that out further, however, to just law enforcement dollars.
But the BGA did identify one grant which will surely apply…
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, which injects funds to local law enforcement agencies, including at least $9.6 million to the Chicago Police Department, has also been in the chopping block.
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It’s just a bill
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* But it’s an interesting development. Public Radio…
The Grand Bargain is a package of interlocking legislation designed to break the state budget impasse in Illinois. How important is school funding to that deal? Important enough that leaders titled it Senate Bill One.
Under the plan filed by Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), the state would freeze funding at current levels. Any additional dollars would be distributed based on each district’s demographics and unique needs, channeling the bulk of the money toward low-income districts.
Technically titled Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1, it’s a plan designed to address the notorious inequity that has plagued the state’s school funding system for decades.
“You know, the impact of this bill will be measured mostly by how much new money is put behind it,” Manar says. “Because if there’s no new money, nobody changes.”
The plan uses ideas from the so-called “evidence-based model” first touted by Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). He issued a statement today saying he’s “cautiously optimistic” about Manar’s amendment. “Senator Manar and I have recently worked through a number of complicated issues to address the inequities in our current formula,” Barickman’s statement says.
* SJ-R…
Illinois lawmakers are again considering proposals that would allow some participants in state government’s pension systems to take a lump-sum payout in lieu of regular annuity payments.
Buyout plans are part of pension discussions in both the House and Senate, all of which are in preliminary stages. But Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, chairman of the House Personnel and Pensions Committee, thinks the ideas have merit.
“I’m a fan of the buyout,” Martwick said of various House proposals. “I think those are truly what would be constitutional because they amount to a true free consideration.”
In other words, he said, participation in them is voluntary and there is a “tangible benefit” for those who partake. […]
Under Batinick’s proposal, a participant’s payout is based on the net present value of a person’s pension. That means the amount of money the pension system needs now to cover a person’s estimated retirement benefit, assuming that amount will grow over the years. Anyone thinking of participating in the buyout would have to get a calculation of the net present value from the appropriate pension system. The amount would be reduced by a certain percentage as a condition of getting the buyout.
* Illinois Review…
In response to the recent court ruling authorizing the prioritization of state legislators’ pay over other outstanding obligations, State Representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) filed legislation last week, House Bill 4026, to give the Comptroller greater discretion when issuing salary payments for members of the General Assembly.
Batinick said this would allow the Comptroller to prioritize Illinois’ other fiscal obligations over legislators’ and Executive Branch officers’ pay. House Bill 4026 is co-sponsored by Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee). The bill follows the introduction of similar legislation filed in the State Senate by Senator Dan McConchie, SB 989.
“There is no reason why we as legislators should be prioritized over the hundreds of vendors, social service providers and agencies who have been waiting months for payment from the state,” said Rep. Batinick. “This bill seeks to right that wrong by allowing the Comptroller to place the interests of vulnerable children, seniors and families ahead of legislators.”
* Related…
* Suburban lawmaker, distillery push law to bypass liquor distributors
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* Sen. Harmon is the Senate President Pro Tempore and is a close ally of Senate President John Cullerton, in case you’re unaware…
Yeah, well, the stack of unpaid state bills will be something like $24 billion by then, so good luck with tackling that “quickly,” Dan.
*** UPDATE *** More context…
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* A group called Republicans for Fair Taxation, which isn’t registered with the State Board of Elections, is running a robocall in at least one state Senate district today…
Boy, oh boy. Lawmakers really messed up. Get this: Sen. Brady is pushing to divert local property tax dollars to Springfield for the budget crisis. That’s money for local schools, for our kids. Thought he was a Republican.
Brady’s also pushing to bailout Chicago schools, giving them $215 million. Who’s he representing? Them? Or us?
He wants to raise taxes? Come on. We can’t trust establishment Republicans like Brady. They say one thing, do another when no one’s looking. Brady let us down. Again. Paid for by Republicans for Fair Taxation
Um, huh? Diverting local property tax dollars to state coffers? No such plan.
…Adding… Comments and text messages indicate that numerous Republican Senate districts were hit with that same robocall today.
* Listen…
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* As mentioned below, the Cook County Democratic Party is hosting gubernatorial candidates today…
*** UPDATE *** Let’s do a ScribbleLive thingy…
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* Tribune…
Attorneys for the state of Illinois asked a judge Friday to dismiss an education funding lawsuit brought by Chicago Public Schools as part of the district’s efforts to plug a gaping budget hole.
The state argued that CPS’ complaints about pension funding and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill to send CPS $215 million are issues to be settled by the legislature, not the courts.
The filing also addressed the district’s argument that the state should be found in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act for maintaining a “separate and unequal” system for funding school districts and pension obligations.
The Illinois Civil Rights Act “cannot override the State’s pension laws, the legislature’s funding decisions, or the governor’s lawful veto,” the state said in its request for a dismissal. “Plaintiffs’ claims fail for multiple reasons and should be dismissed.” […]
Attorneys for the state argued CPS “will not suffer irreparable injury” if the state doesn’t provide $215 million and has no grounds under state civil rights law to force through a new piece of legislation, or create a new stream of money that’s not already required by law to fix its complaints about education funding.
* CPS response…
“The State’s thin argument hinges on its claim that pensions shouldn’t be considered teachers’ compensation. This is simply preposterous.
“In reality, the State admits that the numbers CPS provided the court are correct, and then begs the court to exclude the fact that Illinois makes teacher pension payments on behalf of primarily white students and then denies those same resources to Chicago’s students of color – and that’s the heart of the State’s racial discrimination.”
* Some background from earlier this month…
Thomas Ioppolo, of the Illinois attorney general’s office told a Cook County chancery division judge that there are “a lot of issues of sovereign immunity, and separation of powers and whether a local entity like the Chicago Board of Education can even be a proper plaintiff under the Illinois Civil Rights Act.” […]
In the lawsuit, filed last month, the school board demanded the state be found in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act for maintaining what the lawsuit called a “separate and unequal” system for funding school districts and pension obligations.
Chicago Public Schools upped the stakes of the lawsuit Monday when it warned that the school year could end June 1 — nearly three weeks early – and summer school programs could be cut without a preliminary ruling in the school board’s favor from Judge Franklin Ulyses Valderrama.
CPS said it wants the judge to rule on its preliminary motion by May 1.
Part of this lawsuit basically boils down to whether the state should count teacher pension funding as education funding. If you do, then lots of minority kids in Chicago appear to be getting the short end of the stick.
The governor called the lawsuit “frivolous” when asked by reporters on Friday.
*** UPDATE *** Yikes…
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* The Hill, which is based in Washington, DC, takes a look at an Illinois gubernatorial candidate’s ties to the Illinois House Speaker. If that sounds like an odd angle for that particular publication, it kinda is.
Anyway, here’s an excerpt from the story about Sen. Daniel Biss’ 2016 LIFT PAC…
The super PAC’s contributors list doubles as a who’s who of donors in Madigan’s circle, including the speaker himself. Madigan has been the state House speaker since 1983 and also serves as the state party chair, so he has his fingers on the pulse of all things Democratic in the Land of Lincoln.
Madigan’s campaign committee gave the group $500,000, the largest donation from his campaign to a political organization aside from the state Democratic Party, according to data compiled by The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
The campaign committee for Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan, speaker’s daughter, gave another $150,000.
A host of other well-connected Democrats are also on the group’s donor list too.
There’s the $10,000 donation from Roger Kiley, Madigan’s former law partner, according to the Chicago Tribune, and the former chief of staff to iconic Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.
Then there’s a $1.5 million check from Democratic mega-donor Fred Eychaner, as well as two $10,000 checks from Cook County assessor Joe Berrios and his campaign account. Both Eychaner and Barrios are considered reliable Madigan allies.
Now, to be sure, Madigan did play a role in the PAC’s fundraising - a major role, according to people I talked to last week in anticipation of doing a story of my own this week. He couldn’t play an issues-oriented role because of the legal “firewall,” and he couldn’t directly fundraise, but he could certainly “encourage” people to listen to Biss’ pitch. Biss worked with some folks last year who are now with other gubernatorial candidates, so that might be where The Hill’s story originated.
Anyway, keep all this in mind as Biss rails at Madigan and bemoans the fact that Chris Kennedy busted the caps in the race. The dude’s own PAC raised $10 million last year from a host of politically connected and wealthy people, including Kennedy and JB Pritzker. There’s nothing at all inherently wrong with that. But he did what he did.
*** UPDATE *** From Sen. Biss…
Daniel Biss, Democratic candidate for governor, released the following statement today in response to Chris Kennedy lifting contribution caps late Friday with a contribution of over $250,000 to his campaign:
“If Democrats want to out-Rauner Rauner, we’re going to lose. Sending the message that only the rich or only the machine have access to this government just exacerbates the broken culture in Springfield that voters are yearning for us to fix.
“People in Illinois are hurting because of the failed policies of the last two years and the failed politics of the last 30, which have allowed billionaires and insiders to control our government for their own benefit.
“We can’t keep doing things the same way and expect different results. If we want to start solving problems for the rest of us, we need to build a movement to take our state back from money and the machine.”
* Meanwhile…
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* From the governor’s daily public schedule…
What: Governor Rauner Joins Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn to Urge Lawmakers to Act on the I-55 Managed Lanes Project
Who: State Rep. Jim Durkin, Road Builders Association, Metropolitan Planning Council, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, American Concrete Pavement Association and American Council of Engineering Companies
Where: 8630 Joliet Rd., McCook
Date: Monday, March 27, 2017
When: 11:00 a.m.
Note: For background, please read Secretary Blankenhorn’s op-ed on the I-55 Managed Lanes Project here.
* From that op-ed…
Under rules established in 2011 by the General Assembly, the one thing standing in the way for Illinois to proceed is a joint resolution by the House and Senate so IDOT can start listening to proposals from investors.
That is, just to get the OK to begin the procurement process and entertain proposals. If there are no solid proposals, IDOT cannot move forward.
Despite the interest from the investment community and the mounting travel times felt by commuters, the Illinois General Assembly has refused to vote on a joint resolution for almost a year.
Meanwhile, the clock ticks. Without a vote by April 1, the project no longer is feasible for the private sector. Investors will walk away. The cost to pursue this project in the future will only increase.
April 1st is Saturday.
*** UPDATE *** From Speaker Madigan…
“Where possible, we have been willing to work with the Governor on various parts of his agenda this spring including selling of the Thompson Center in Chicago and the reorganization he wants to do within state government. Our concern with private investors being involved in a toll lane is that, once again, it seems as though Governor Rauner is more interested in helping his wealthy friends. Despite multiple requests for information over several months, IDOT hasn’t prepared a plan that would lay out the costs, results, and anticipated tolls. IDOT hasn’t provided any evidence demonstrating that this project will save taxpayer dollars or result in better maintained roads. We continue to await this information.”
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* The Senate Democrats are doing a pretty good job lately of getting stories out there that aren’t being covered by “real” reporters. For instance…
In November, River Valley Metro made the difficult decision of eliminating two bus routes and ending Sunday and holiday service due to the state’s budget impasse. The Kankakee-area transit agency was owed thousands of dollars from the state with no prospect of receiving funding any time soon.
“At some point, we will run out of options and be forced to shut down,” River Valley Metro CEO Rob Hoffmann said at the time.
While River Valley Metro did finally receive a state payment late last year, the funding was not enough to restore cut services. In addition, the agency remains uncertain when they will receive their next payment, making it nearly impossible to hire and retain employees or make strategic plans for the future.
“We are having a heck of a time just hiring employees,” Hoffmann said. “The uncertainty surrounding our state funding is leading to a perception that we will eventually shut down completely.”
Today, the state owes more than $12.8 billion in unpaid bills to small business, non-profits and agencies like River Valley Metro.
“We need a budget, period,” State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “At some point, certain agencies and programs will be so damaged that they will be beyond repair. Do we want to wait to get to that point when we have nothing left?”
The state budget situation is also endangering funding River Valley Metro receives from federal grants and programs. Due to service cutbacks, River Valley Metro lost out on one federal program worth more than $150,000.
A quick Google news search shows no other recent stories about this problem.
Any more ideas for the SDems - or any of the other caucuses, for that matter?
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React rolls in to legislator pay case
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Jaime Andrade (D-Chicago) has been driving for Uber to make ends meet while his and other legislators’ paychecks were held up by two successive state comptrollers. This was his reaction to the legislator pay ruling last week…
Andrade insists the move did little to drive his colleagues to cooperate with Rauner.
“It was actually the opposite,” Andrade said. “It was just a political ploy . . . the public loved it, that the (legislators) didn’t get paid. If you would poll the regular residents I’m sure they’d say, ‘They’re all rich; they’re all lawyers. Don’t pay ’em.’
“They’re people. We’re getting paid. It’s still a sad day because nothing gets solved. Now people are more upset that the legislators got paid.”
He’s right on every point. Holding up those checks didn’t work for Gov. Quinn and it didn’t work for Gov. Rauner. It’s just a cheap populist stunt. And like most cheap populist stunts, the populace eats it up.
* The governor expectedly took full advantage of the public’s outrage…
“Lawmakers just made a big pot of money while they weren’t doing their jobs — while they weren’t passing a balanced budget,” Rauner said Friday. “This just shows how rigged our system is. Our taxpayers in Illinois are being abused, and our most vulnerable residents are being hurt.”
They only made a “big pot of money” because they’ve received just one check since June. But, whatevs.
* Editorial reaction was also expected. Here’s the Belleville News-Democrat’s take…
Diiiiiiiinnnnggg. We are conducting a hearing test. It is a test to see if Illinois House and Senate members are as tone deaf as we suspect.
We’re assuming some aural disability because that is all that would explain them spending the people’s time declaring October as Zombie Preparedness Month. Their resolution states that “while a Zombie Apocalypse may never happen, the preparation for such an event is the same as for any natural disaster.”
Our assumption is reinforced by the fact that they have time to consider whether pot should be legalized for recreational use in Illinois.
And, again, by them being so deaf to their constituents’ concerns and needs that they would unleash House Speaker Mike Madigan’s attorney and his minion, Illinois Comptroller Susana Medoza, on the pressing question of state lawmakers getting their pay on time. They not only undid the old Republican comptroller action to make state lawmakers and elected officials wait in line with everyone else owed $12.6 billion by our deadbeat state, they got a Chicago judge to order they be bumped to the head of the line.
Me first. Did zombies eat their brains? Are they high? Are they just deaf?
* The Daily Herald called Comptroller Mendoza’s promise to withhold the checks “Fake Spin”…
If, by now, you’re scratching your head over who is on what side in this debate, or how effective the paycheck threat can be, we don’t blame you. After all, if Springfield made sense, maybe the bills would be paid and a budget would be passed.
One thing that does seem clear, however, is that Mendoza’s commitment to pay-them-last is bullhorn loud but razor thin.
When a Cook County judge ruled last week that “there may be discretion by a comptroller as to certain expenditures but as to expenditures that are compelled by Illinois law, that discretion doesn’t exist,” Mendoza instantly caved.
Rather than seeking, as would be expected, a stay of the ruling while appealing the decision, Mendoza immediately released the legislators’ back pay.
In fact, it sounds like the paychecks are already going out.
* Tribune…
It’s maddening but not surprising. In Illinois, clout wins. Politicians win. Rank-and-file citizens are at the back of the line. Yet voters keep sending the same pols back to Springfield.
It’s not getting better. The Democrat-controlled General Assembly is halfway through the spring session and doing little at this point to deal with the crisis. Of the roughly 50 calendar workdays since lawmakers were sworn into office in January, they’ve been in Springfield less than half of the time. That’s the schedule set by Democratic leaders. That’s how seriously they’re taking the state’s mayday. In other words, not. Both the House and Senate are taking a two-week spring break in April.
Legislators, grab some beach. You must be so exhausted.
We wish we could offer some measure of genuine astonishment at their behavior. But history has shown they’re right on track: No balanced budget, no progress, no conscience. (A recent Reuters report noted that the fiscal year that ended last June was the 15th straight year Illinois wound up in the red.)
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* Simon Institute…
Large majorities of Illinois voters support marijuana decriminalization and legalization for recreational use, according to the results of the latest poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The Simon Poll was conducted Saturday, March 4th to Saturday, March 11th. The sample included 1,000 randomly selected registered voters and a margin for error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Sixty percent of the interviews were with respondents on cell phones.
Three-quarters, 74 percent, of voters support or strongly support decriminalization of marijuana where people in possession of small amounts for personal consumption would not be prosecuted but may be fined. One in five voters, 21 percent, oppose or strongly oppose decriminalization and 5 percent answered otherwise. In 2016, Governor Rauner signed a law decriminalizing up to 10 grams of marijuana. Under the new law people caught with up to 10 grams can face fines of $100 to $200 and potential municipal penalties instead of facing a class B misdemeanor and potentially six months in jail and $1,500 in fines.
Support is also strong for legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Two-thirds of voters, 66 percent, support or strongly support legalization of recreational marijuana if it is taxed and regulated like alcohol. A notable 45 percent of voters support legalization strongly. Only 31 percent of voters oppose or strongly oppose and 3 percent answered otherwise.
“Illinois voters are growing increasingly comfortable with the idea of decriminalizing marijuana,” said Jak Tichenor, interim director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, “and we now have evidence that most see it as a potential revenue source for the state.” A March, 2016 Simon Poll showed 51 percent opposed recreational use of marijuana while 45 percent approved. When coupled with the idea of regulating and taxing it like alcohol, this year’s poll showed a 21 percent increase in the number of people who approve recreational use.
Decriminalization by Region. In Chicago, 80 percent of voters support or strongly support decriminalization statistically the same as their neighbors in suburban Cook and the collar counties who support or strongly support at 79 percent. In the rural regions outside Cook and the collar counties, 63 percent of voters supported or strongly supported decriminalization.
Opposition or strong opposition by voters in Chicago is 16 percent, in suburban Cook and collar counties is 17 percent, and 31 percent outside Cook and the collar counties.
Decriminalization by Political Party. Among Democrats, Republicans and independents, Democrats support is strongest with 81 percent stating they support or strongly support decriminalization. Only 15 percent of Democrats oppose or strongly oppose decriminalization and 4 percent answered otherwise. Independent voters followed Democrats with 76 percent of independents supporting or strongly supporting decriminalization and 17 percent opposing or strongly opposing. Two-thirds, 66 percent, of Republicans support or strongly support decriminalization and 30 percent oppose or strongly oppose.
Decriminalization by Age Group. Illinois voters younger than 35-years-old show the most approval with 83 percent supporting or strong supporting decriminalization. Fifteen percent are opposed. Voters thirty-five to fifty-years-old support or strongly support at 81 percent, and oppose or strongly oppose at 15 percent. Three-quarters, 77 percent, of fifty-one to sixty-five- year-old voters support or strongly support decriminalization. One in five, 19 percent, oppose or strongly oppose. Two-thirds, 67 percent, of baby boomers and the greatest generation sixty-six and older support or strongly support decriminalization while 28 oppose or strongly oppose.
“These data show that virtually all Illinoisans have opinions on cannabis decriminalization and legalization. Few people seem indifferent on these issues,” said Delio Calzolari, associate director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and one of the designers of the poll. “A vast majority appear to philosophically agree with decriminalization like the steps taken last year, although the definition of decriminalization and amounts in question are debatable. There is also overwhelming support for new cannabis public policy for recreational use shown.”
Recreational Legalization by Region. In Chicago, 74 percent of voters support or strongly support legalization of marijuana for recreational use if taxed and regulated like alcohol. In suburban Cook and the collar counties support or strong support is 70 percent. In the rural Illinois outside Cook and the collar counties, 54 percent of voters supported or strongly supported legalization. Opposition or strong opposition by voters in Chicago is 22 percent, suburban Cook and collar counties is 27 percent, and 43 percent outside Cook and the collar counties.
Recreational Legalization by Political Party. Among Democrats, Republicans and independents, Democrats support is strongest among the three groups with 76 percent stating they support or strongly support recreational legalization if taxed and regulated like alcohol. Only 21 percent of Democrats oppose or strongly oppose recreational legalization and 3 percent answered otherwise. Independent voters followed Democrats with 68 percent of independents supporting or strongly supporting recreational use and 27 percent opposing or strongly opposing. A slight majority of Republicans, 52 percent, support or strongly support legalization while 46 percent oppose.
Recreational Legalization by Age Group. Illinois voters younger than 35-years-old show the most favorability to legalization of recreational marijuana if taxed and regulated like alcohol. Four in five, 83 percent, support or strongly support the proposition. This percentage is identical to the same support for decriminalization. Seventeen percent are opposed. Voters thirty-five to fifty-years-old support or strongly support at 77 percent, and oppose or strongly oppose at 22 percent. Among fifty-one to sixty-five-year-old voters 69 percent support or strongly support legalization and 28 percent oppose or strongly oppose. Baby boomers and the greatest generation sixty-six-years-old and older are split on the issue with 51 percent stating they support or strongly support legalization of recreational marijuana if taxed and regulated like alcohol and 45 percent stating they oppose or strongly oppose.
* The legalization question…
Do you support or oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana if taxed and regulated like alcohol?
More info here.
…Adding… Crosstabs are here.
* Related…
* Illinois considers legalizing marijuana for a fiscal boost
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Where are the women candidates?
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
Shortly after Donald Trump was elected, political types said women were coming out of the woodwork wanting to run for office.
A pro bono consulting group popped up in Illinois in November called Rodham Consulting, a nod to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s family name. Political professionals wanted to lend their advice and assistance to those newly energized women. Within just a few days, 122 potential candidates, advisers and others had signed up to participate.
Millions of women marched in Washington and other cities after Trump was inaugurated. The Chicago march was so large that police shut it down. There was clearly something new in the air.
But here we are in late March, and no Illinois women have yet come forward to say they definitely want to run for governor against Republican Bruce Rauner.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, a moderate downstater, for a while talked about running but ultimately decided to stay in Congress.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of south suburban Matteson floated her name months ago, but most observers figure she’ll stick with her super safe congressional seat.
Colleagues of state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) have long believed she might run for governor. She has the policy chops for the job and she’s also a strong fundraiser. But Steans is supporting J.B. Pritzker’s Democratic gubernatorial bid.
So, as Women’s History Month winds down and Trump’s unpopularity ratchets up, the list of announced or almost announced Democratic candidates for governor includes five people, all men: Pritzker; Chris Kennedy, the son of slain presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy; Chicago Ald. Ameya Pawar; state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston and Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Bob Daiber.
Please click here to read the rest before commenting. Thanks.
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“This is basically fraud”
Monday, Mar 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
I’ve been going to Illinois Statehouse committee hearings longer than I care to remember - something like 27 years. Last week, however, was the first time I can ever recall having to fight back tears during a hearing.
The House Appropriations - General Services Committee heard testimony last week from Kenea Williams, a state employee who works at the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia. She has fifteen-month-old twins named Kobe and Kade. They were born premature and Kobe has something called broncho pulmonary displasia. His little lungs are scarred and he requires supplemental oxygen just to live.
Long story short, the company that supplied the oxygen tanks for Kobe dropped out of the state’s group health insurance system because the state isn’t paying its bills during our long governmental impasse and they wanted their equipment back. Ms. Williams testified last week that Reps. John Cavaletto (R-Salem) and Charles Meier (R-Okawville) helped convince the company to continue supplying oxygen equipment to Kobe until this July.
But for whatever reason, company execs changed their minds and they sent some employees to retrieve the equipment in January. When a frightened Williams refused to answer her door, the employees apparently called the local county sheriff. Two sheriff’s deputies arrived, listened to the desperate mom tearfully plead her case and thankfully decided not to intervene. Ms. Williams has since found a new supplier for a home oxygen system.
So, think about this for a second. The state is deducting health insurance premiums out of Ms. Williams’ paychecks twice a month without fail. But there is no state appropriation for group health insurance in this fiscal year’s horribly inadequate stopgap budget, so lots of state vendors aren’t getting paid. The bill payment cycle for some of these insurance plans is currently about two years, so providers, like the company which supplied the oxygen tanks for Kobe, are understandably dropping out.
I’m told that the Illinois Department of Central Management Services played a very big role in finding another oxygen tank supplier for that little baby, who was also at the hearing last week with an oxygen tank and a tube taped under his little nose. Many kudos to everyone who helped keep that child alive, including those sheriff’s deputies.
But, people, c’mon. This story, while it currently has a happy ending, is just so beyond the pale.
If a private sector company withheld insurance payments from workers and didn’t pay the money it owed to the insurance provider, the state would clamp down super hard on that employer. But Illinois doesn’t even bother paying its end, and, in fact, the state hasn’t fully funded that insurance program in years.
This is basically fraud.
Others testified at the committee last week that some dentists are demanding payment up front from state employees. So, the patients are paying for insurance, but they can’t get treatment unless they pay in advance and then, presumably sometime down the road, the insurance company will reimburse them once the companies get paid by the state. A lobbyist for the Illinois State Dental Society recently told legislators that the state owes 9,000 dentists a total of $174 million.
Let’s just hope heart and cancer surgeons don’t start making patients pay in advance.
Legislators are basically doing the same thing to the worker health insurance fund that they used to do to the pension funds. They promise good benefits at a very reasonable cost to the employee, but then don’t provide nearly enough state funding needed to make the payouts.
Only, with the healthcare fund, it’s worse. The pension funds have always had enough cushion in them to forestall an immediate meltdown. They could pay retirees without any money from the state for a while.
But the health insurance fund has a $3.5 billion negative balance. And that deficit will only continue to grow because the only money currently going into the fund is from state employee payroll deductions.
“I pay my premiums,” Ms. Williams told the House committee last week. “I do my part. Now I feel like the state needs to do their part. They need to pay their bills.”
So, how about the governor and the General Assembly get a real budget deal done before we, as a state, collectively kill a supposedly fully insured baby? Is that really all that much to ask?
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[Bumped up to Monday from Friday for visibility purposes.]
[Reader comments now opened on this post.]
* It was bound to happen sooner or later…
Kennedy reported a $250,100 contribution to himself. So, all gubernatorial candidates can now take whatever they want from contributors from here on out. The official clock started ticking on March 20th, a year before the 2018 primary. Large contributions before that date (including Gov. Rauner’s $50 million contribution to his campaign last December) did not blow the caps.
Kennedy also reported some smaller contributions today totaling $73K.
Ameya Pawar reported about $70K in contris to his account yesterday. And JB Pritzker finally reported his $200K contribution to his exploratory campaign fund this week.
*** UPDATE *** Sen. Daniel Biss is fundraising off of Kennedy’s contribution…
When I announced on Monday, I said we’d need to be ready to take on money and the machine. I just didn’t expect to be proven right so soon.
The only thing standing in the way of big money influencing our politics are contribution limits. This is why it’s so noteworthy that late on Friday, and exactly one week before the quarterly filing deadline, Chris Kennedy gave more than $250,000 of his personal wealth to his campaign.
With that one contribution, Kennedy has blown the fundraising caps in this race — which means there are no longer any limits to what donors can contribute.
This is great news for money and the machine — which means it’s terrible news for Illinois.
This is more of what we DON’T need — the rich and powerful exploiting loopholes in the law to maintain their hold on our state government. I got in this race to change that — and it’s why I need you to step up and stand with me now. Together, if each of us steps up, we can overcome money and the machine.
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* Press release…
In an effort to protect taxpayers, Governor Bruce Rauner today vetoed legislation that creates a five-year pension funding fiscal cliff for Chicago’s municipal and laborer pension funds that will lead to increased taxes for residents in the City of Chicago in 2023 and beyond.
“This is another kick-the-can approach to pension funding that landed Chicago in fiscal crisis in the first place,” Governor Rauner said. “This bill will create an unsustainable funding schedule that will lead to tax increases without solving the real problem.”
Collectively, Chicago’s pension funds face a combined deficit of around $30 billion. At the same time, skipped or delayed pension payments over the years have caused the state’s unfunded pension liability to balloon to $130 billion. In vetoing this legislation Friday, Rauner called on the state and all of its communities to work together on a more comprehensive approach to reform.
The action followed a morning press conference in Chicago where Rauner encouraged the General Assembly to pass a pair of bills that will deliver statewide pension reform to save taxpayers billions, while providing Chicago Public Schools with additional funding it has requested to complete the school year.
“It’s like trying to fix a drought with a drop of rain. We see pension funding challenges throughout the state – one off, short-sighted approaches won’t really fix the problem,” Rauner said. “We must have comprehensive, long-term pension reform. Let’s get it done.”
The bill passed with large veto-proof majorities, but that was during the 99th General Assembly, so it’s back to the ol’ drawing board.
* The veto message…
Today, I veto Senate Bill 2437 from the 99th General Assembly, which makes changes to the Chicago’s municipal and laborer pension funds. This legislation allows members of those pension funds hired between 2011 and 2016 to opt to pay more in employee contributions, in exchange, those members could retire at age 65, rather than 67. Additionally, it allows new members to the system to retire two years earlier while also increasing their employee contributions.
While I appreciate the effort to address the insolvency of certain pension funds for Chicago’s public employees, the legislation will create another pension funding cliff that the city does not have the ability to pay. This legislation will result in increased taxes on Chicago residents.
This veto also reflects a concern that the legislation would do nothing to address the overarching problem of underfunded pension systems throughout our State. Chicago pension funds alone face a combined deficit of around $30 billion. Our state pension funds are collectively underfunded to the tune of $130 billion. Short-term fixes like Senate Bill 2437 are not the answer and in fact are what has led to our current pension woes. This practice has to stop.
I encourage the General Assembly to pass comprehensive pension reform for our pension systems across the state and to protect our taxpayers from the rising costs of these unfunded systems.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 2437, entitled “AN ACT concerning public employee benefits”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety. [Emphasis added.]
This was a negotiated settlement with the unions involved. And now, apparently, they’ve got to add it to the rest of the governor’s pension reform bill, which is going nowhere fast right now.
Expect vitriolic reacts in 3… 2…
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Senate President’s spokesman…
The Senate feared this would happen. That’s why we went ahead and passed the same plan early this session, once again with bipartisan support. Hopefully the governor will get another chance to reconsider his opposition.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Mayor Emanuel’s spokesman Adam Collins…
“The governor continues to make one irresponsible and irrational decision after another, and his veto today is the latest example. This bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support because it improves our fiscal stability for taxpayers and shores up pensions for thousands of retirees who earned them. Instead of helping secure the future of our taxpayers and middle-class retirees, the governor chose to hold them hostage - just as he has done to social service providers, schoolchildren and universities across the state. The governor’s actions are harming the most vulnerable in our state, and the people of Illinois deserve better.”
* Related…
* Pension battle between ‘Gov. Gridlock’ and ‘Madigan’s Mayor’?: Under the city worker pension plan, city taxpayers would contribute millions more a year to the municipal workers’ and laborers’ pension funds. To pay for the increased contributions, the City Council approved a new tax on city water and sewer service. Without acting, the Municipal Employees Pension Fund would be left with a gaping hole in 2023 — even after a utility tax is fully phased in — that would require tax increases to honor the city’s commitment to reach 90 percent funding over a 40-year period.
* Emanuel wins approval of pension bill, but Rauner may veto: Even with the already enacted tax and fee increases, the city in 2023 would have to come up with at least $278 million more a year to meet the pension funding requirements in the bill approved Monday. The Rauner administration noted that in its statement.
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* Libertarian Party candidates filed a federal lawsuit in 2016 challenging a state law that bans all campaign contributions from medical cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries. They won today in US District Judge John Z. Lee’s courtroom.
The gist…
In sum, the Court concludes that Defendants have failed to meet their burden of showing that § 9-45 is closely drawn to the government’s interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption or its appearance. Defendants have offered no justification for imposing an outright ban on contributions from medical cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries when more moderate measures, such as dollar limits on contributions, are available. Nor have they explained why the risk of corruption or the appearance of corruption might be uniquely problematic in the medical cannabis industry, such that it could be justifiable for the government to target contribution restrictions at the medical cannabis industry alone. As such, the Court concludes that § 9-45 places a significant and unjustifiable burden on the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association. Section 9-45 is therefore invalid under the First Amendment.
As the judge rightly pointed out, Illinois heavily regulates riverboat casinos but doesn’t prohibit them from contributing to campaigns. This was a bad law.
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security notified the Illinois General Assembly of confirmation that one of its vendors experienced a data breach affecting approximately 1.4 million Illinois job seekers, according to the vendor’s current estimate. The vulnerability was not the result of any deficiency in software maintained by the State of Illinois and may have impacted ten states.
“The threat of cyber-crime is a clear and present danger to the citizens of Illinois and our administration will continue pressing forward with a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy,” Eleni Demertzis, Spokeswoman for Governor Rauner. “We implore Comptroller Mendoza to reevaluate her decision to hold up funding for this important project, which everyday puts the people of Illinois at risk.”
* From a recent press release from the comptroller…
More than $26 million in consulting fee payments from the [Statistical Services Revolving Fund] are currently being held:
McKinsey - $12 million
Accenture - $7.35 million
RL Canning - $170,895
Deloitte - $318,776
SAP Public Services - $1.8 million
So, by all means let’s speed up payments to Deloitte, McKinsey, SAP and Accenture. They’re such tiny, cash-strapped companies that they couldn’t possibly float their state invoices for a while. The social service providers won’t mind being bumped back again, I’m sure. They can just go back to their banks for another loan.
Both sides should just work it out, already. Enough.
…Adding… Just to be clear, the money in that Statistical Services Revolving Fund was transferred out of the General Revenue Fund “in the final days” of the Munger administration, according to the comptroller.
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So, what will Vallas do?
Friday, Mar 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve seen a whole lot of stories about putting Paul Vallas in charge of Chicago State University. Some have focused on the fact that a white man would be running a predominantly African-American university. Some have focused on the various enemies he has. Some have talked about how Gov. Rauner wants to install him, which they claim can’t be good, except that Vallas ran with Pat Quinn against Rauner in 2014.
What I wanted to know was, what does Vallas intend to do at CSU? I talked with him about it a bit last night. It was clear that he had some ideas, so I reached out to one of his people and asked that person to get me some bullet points. Here they are, slightly edited…
1. Paul has already built a Strategic Planning Team. I can’t release names without permission, but this team is absolutely dedicated and has already met several times, working pro bono to prepare to conduct a comprehensive and wholly transparent review of CSU’s finances, organization, operations and education programs for the purposes of developing a long-term Strategic Plan for CSU. The review will include document review, interviews and listening sessions with administrators, faculty, students and stakeholder communities.
2. He will develop a separate budget with dedicated revenue sources to address the university’s long-term debt obligations and legacy costs. This will insulate and protect the university’s core operating budget to ensure financial stability and sustainability of the transformation.
3. CSU will serve as a “hub” of many CSU-curated, but not always CSU-generated, education, occupational training, and community support services. Like other prominent universities, CSU will also build capacity to launch programs that will not only expand education and job training opportunities, but that will also generate profits. These profits will be reinvested into the university including programs and buildings with potential reductions in tuition costs and increased scholarships, and used to help retire long-term obligations. (Also less dependence on state dollars – crucial in times like these).
4. Paul has already identified other local universities with plenty of programs but shortage of space. CSU has plenty of space, not enough programs. He will explore “swap partnership” space for their students, new programs and classes for CSU students – no cost to CSU, more & better programs for students – all to drive increased enrollment / more dollars to CSU – in spite of budget impasse.
5. He’s already talked to a prominent Silicon Valley tech firm interested in coming in to provide new tech platform at a cut rate. It is interested in helping out and is a fascinating project and a chance to “do good.” Its involvement would include tech internships and training for CSU students. Perhaps tech “lab” type course as the project is implemented. Increased use of digital learning tools at CSU will not replace the “physical” university which has ample space, but will be newly employed to:
• expand course offerings, experiences, and learning resources;
• Support blended learning and provide on-line courses and degree and certification programs – to drive increased enrollment.
• Support student learning 24 hours a day/7 days a week;
• Facilitate individualized learning programs;
• Develop online and 21st century learning skills;
• Increase student engagement, motivation, and completion/degree attainment;
• Accelerate learning; and
• Link both instructors to their students and to quality content, resources, and systems to help them improve their own instruction and personalized learning.
6. Will seek partnerships with international universities from African and Caribbean nations, for potential exchange, study abroad programs.
Vallas also talked last night about starting up a program to train a new generation of firefighters and police officers.
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The high price of deliberate inaction
Friday, Mar 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Back to Pearson’s Tribune story…
Rauner’s budget office projects that without action, the current budget year’s $14.7 billion backlog of bills will grow to at least $27.7 billion by July 2019. That’s the equivalent of what a 7.3-percentage-point hike in the personal income tax rate would generate, with a corresponding increase in the corporate rate.
Yep. And that’s not raising the income tax rate to 7.3 percent. It’s adding a 7.3 percentage point rate hike to the existing tax rate of 3.75 percent. So, you’re looking at a rate of over 11 percent.
Now, such a hike wouldn’t be needed for more than a year to pay off the backlog, so the state wouldn’t really need to actually raise it that high. The plan now is to bond out much of the debt and use some of the tax hike to pay it off and that probably won’t change.
But the longer this goes on, the lower our bond ratings will tumble and, therefore, the more expensive it will be to borrow, so the tax rate hike will have to be higher in two years than it would be now to make the interest payments.
And if we hit junk bond territory and nobody will loan us money? Well, those vendors are gonna be out of luck.
* Also, what a “nice” welcoming present for the next governor, whoever it may be. If it isn’t Rauner, his successor may very well wind up being a one-termer.
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A completely bogus Democratic argument
Friday, Mar 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Let’s go back to Pearson’s piece on the impasse…
Democrats don’t trust the governor — the feeling is mutual in Rauner’s camp — and the prevailing view in the House is to wait it out instead of approving his economic agenda in return for a tax hike.
“Why pass a tax increase and then give Rauner the power to spend without telling us where he’s going to spend?” asked a source close to Madigan who was not authorized to speak publicly about budget negotiations. “If (Rauner) got even a little of what he wanted now, what’s to stop him from saying he wouldn’t spend until he got even more of what he wanted?”
Nothing, and I do mean nothing will ever get done if that’s Madigan’s attitude. You don’t need more proof than that comment above.
And it’s so transparently bogus. If they seriously don’t trust him to spend the money, then get a memorandum of understanding out of him or something. Plus, if he doesn’t spend money that is clearly available to spend, he can be publicly shamed into spending it.
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Caption contest!
Friday, Mar 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You may not know that Deputy House Majority Leader Lou Lang was on Jeopardy back in 1986 and won two rounds. Here’s a photo from his TV appearance…
How did I get that photo? Well, Rep. Marty Moylan somehow obtained video of Lang’s long-ago Jeopardy appearance (I suspect Russian involvement) and is planning to show it at a fundraiser he’s having Monday with Reps. Fran Hurley and Natalie Manley at the Illinois Credit Union League. I’m not in the habit of plugging fundraisers, but how could I pass up this one?
Click here for the flier if you’re interested in going.
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* As I’ve already told you, Gov. Rauner is holding a press conference in Chicago today [ADDING: click here to follow it on ScribbleLive]. The governor is scheduled to talk about “Developments Regarding Illinois/CPS Pension Deal.”
Press release…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin today called on Speaker Michael Madigan and the House Democrats to join the House Republicans in passing comprehensive pension reform that would provide significant savings for taxpayers and $215 million to the Chicago Public Schools for a one time pension parity payment.
According to Durkin, the legislation is modeled after legislation introduced in a bipartisan manner in the Senate. Specifically, HB 4027 includes:
• Senate President John Cullerton’s “consideration model” that would require members of TRS, SURS, SERS, GARS, and CTPF to exchange their Tier 1 COLA for the right to have future raises to be counted as pensionable, or keep their COLA and sacrifice future raises as pensionable. This concept previously received union support by the We Are One Coalition
• Provides a one-time normal cost payment to the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund of $215.2 million for FY 17
• Closes new member participation in GARS
• Offers Tier 1 TRS, SURS, SERS and GARS employees the option to participate in a defined contribution (DC) plan
• Creates a voluntary Tier 3 Hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution plan for new Tier 2 employees under TRS, SURS, and certain SERS members who do not participate in Social Security
“With this legislation, we estimate the State of Illinois will realize short-term savings of $2.25 billion dollars from the general funds and a substantial step towards closing the deficit gap. This is a significant step towards achieving a balanced budget but also saving our pension systems.”
“I have secured 25 House Republican co-sponsors for this legislation. With our 26 votes the House Republicans have provided their pro-rata share of support for a structured roll call vote on this important issue. This means we will provide our fair share of votes. The Speaker needs to provide his 34 votes to move this legislation to the Senate. This legislation will earn the Governor’s signature. Speaker Madigan and I have worked in the past on pension reform and I am calling upon him to help secure passage of this legislation. This reform is a major piece of the puzzle for breaking the budget impasse,” said Durkin.
However, Senate President John Cullerton, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS have said they want permanent CPS pension funding in exchange for permanent pension reform. That wasn’t part of the deal with Rauner last year, but it was included in a Senate grand bargain bill that has already passed.
…Adding… Press release…
In response to Governor Bruce Rauner’s misleading press conference this morning, Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery, a high school English teacher, released the following statement:
“Governor Rauner is basing his promise to Chicago school children and taxpayers on alternative facts. The pension bill Rauner demands as a condition for funding education reflects legislation that has already been ruled unconstitutional by our Supreme Court several times. This new bill, which also steals from public workers’ life savings, is likely to face the same fate, and therefore, its savings amount to nothing. For Rauner to say this is ‘good policy’ suggests he doesn’t understand the law or doesn’t care.
In the meantime, we will fall deeper into debt and students of Chicago will be deprived of the future they deserve. It’s time for the Governor to drop the ultimatums and do his job.”
Actually, there are two bills. One is Cullerton’s consideration model. But there’s a second bill which wouldn’t likely be challenged in court, that would do some basic, easy pension stuff and the CPS pension funding language.
…Adding More… From GOP Rep. Dave McSweeney…
I oppose HB 4027 because it includes a $215 million bailout for the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund. I strongly support real pension reform, but oppose spending $215 million to bail out the CPS. We have to stop spending money that we don’t have.
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* Earlier today, we talked about this quote attributed to a “Rauner confidant” in the Tribune…
“It came down to three things: workers’ comp, parity in (the length of) the income tax and property tax and budget cuts. Cullerton’s position is ‘This is the deal, take it or leave it’ and as far as we’re concerned, it’s dead and there’s nothing more for us to do because we’re not going to take a bad deal and neither is the Senate (Republican) caucus,” he said.
* Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno just sent me this on the record text message…
No Governor’s spokesman, even Goldberg speaks for the Senate caucus. Also, the Grand bargain is not and never has been “take it or leave it” from Cullerton. We are still working on final version with more give and take.
Whoa.
The biggest rule under the Dome has always been to stay the heck out of the internal workings of a Leader’s caucus. Rauner has repeatedly violated that rule and she’s apparently had enough of it.
The governor, by the way, is holding a Chicago press conference today at 10:30. Could get interesting.
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* From the ILGOP…
When Lisa Madigan’s motion to stop state-employee pay failed at a St. Clair County Court last month, the Attorney General wasted no time in announcing she would appeal the decision. The Associated Press reported that Lisa Madigan immediately announced she would appeal the St. Clair ruling.
Yesterday, when a Cook County judge declared that lawmakers should be paid, Lisa Madigan was all but silent, saying only that her office was “reviewing the decision.”
Her priorities are backwards.
“Lisa Madigan is looking out for the politicians’ pay and not state employees. Instead of immediately announcing she will fight yesterday’s court ruling, as she did in her attempt to stop state employee pay, Lisa Madigan is so far refusing to fight to stop politicians, including herself, her father, and Comptroller Mendoza, from being paid. Lisa Madigan should announce today that she will file for an immediate stay to stop lawmakers from getting paid until they step up and pass a balanced budget with reform.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
OK, so lemme get this straight. She vowed to appeal a decision after a judge ordered state employees paid without a valid, legal appropriation, but she didn’t immediately vow to appeal a decision after a judge ordered state legislators paid because of a valid, legal appropriation.
Got it.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
“It is unfathomable that Susana Mendoza is rushing out $45,000 to every lawmaker without asking a judge for an immediate stay. Mendoza is putting Madigan Machine politicians first in line and breaking her campaign pledge to taxpayers.”
Susana Mendoza’s decision to get lawmaker pay out the door as quickly as possible, instead of immediately asking a judge for a stay, is an outrageous affront to taxpayers.
WMBD is now reporting that Mendoza is processing an $8.6 million payout for state level politicians, without asking for a stay.
Don’t forget – this is all a result of a lawsuit brought by Mike Madigan’s personal attorney.
This is the Madigan Machine at work, in plain sight, for all to see.
The video…
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* Tribune…
Responding to recently introduced legislation that would legalize marijuana in Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner had a less than enthusiastic response but said he’d be willing to study it.
“I’m not a believer that legalizing more drugs will help our society so I’m not philosophically enthusiastic about it, but I’m also open to what actually works to make life better to people,” Rauner told the “Roe Conn Show” on WGN-AM 720 on Thursday.
“I’m hearing some pretty bad stories. Now, I haven’t studied it. I think we should do a thoughtful analysis of what’s happening in these other states. I’m hearing a lot of trouble,” he said. “My friends in Colorado have told me some pretty terrible things about addiction problems and behavior problems, etc. over there in Denver.”
To sum it up, Rauner said, “I just believe we’re conducting a massive human experiment as we legalize these drugs.”
He’s relying on anecdotes from his rich Denver pals? Are you kidding me?
* Since he said we need to study the issue, perhaps he can take a few minutes to do some reading on the topic. This is from Wednesday’s edition of the Colorado Statesman…
Colorado alone has compiled several research studies demonstrating that legalization has not facilitated a spike in violent crime. During the first year of the implementation of Amendment 64, Denver experienced a 2.2 percent decrease in violent crime rates and an 8.9 percent reduction in property crime offenses, according to research conducted by the Drug Policy Alliance.
Many other reports have corroborated that data, including findings by the Colorado Department of Public Safety, the FBI Uniform Crime Report and a study conducted by a student research group from Metropolitan State University.
The Colorado Department of Public Safety report showed a 6 percent decrease in the violent crime rate statewide from 2009 to 2014.
Other jurisdictions that legalized the recreational marijuana industry have experienced similar declines in violent crime. In Washington State, violent crime rates decreased by 10 percent from 2011 to 2014. Portland, Oregon, saw crime rates drop since legalizing the recreational marijuana industry as well.
Another comprehensive study published by a criminology professor at the University of Texas at Dallas demonstrated that legalized marijuana was not a likely indicator of crime rates and that legalizing the industry can actually reduce homicide and assault rates. Dr. Robert Morris’ study tracked crime rates across all 50 states between 1990 and 2006, when 11 states legalized marijuana for medical use.
“We found no increase in crime rates resulting from medical marijuana legalization, Morris told Science Daily. “In fact, we found some evidence of decreasing rates of some types of violent crime, namely homicide and assault.”
Researchers have pointed to a few reasons why legalizing the marijuana industry has helped reduce violent crime rates. Marijuana-related crimes are often committed by underground cartels. Because the illegal cartels cannot access the court systems, they resort to violence when settling territorial disputes or business conflicts. As a result, legalizing recreational dispensaries can reduce violent crime rates by diminishing the prevalence and influence of these black market groups.
* He might also want to read these stories…
* Legal Marijuana’s Social Impact On Colorado
* Colorado Takes Aim at the Marijuana Black Market: A new measure that limits the number of marijuana plants a person can grow at home won approval in March from the Colorado House of Representatives. It is expected to win approval in the Senate, and Gov. John Hickenlooper has also supported tighter restrictions in the legal marijuana market.
* Ivy League Study: These Are the Top Reasons People Want Legal Marijuana
That state is showing the way. They have some problems and they’re fixing them. But crime isn’t an issue.
Sometimes I suspect that, back in the day, the local weed dealer was an AFSCME shop steward who ran over the Rauner family pet.
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When Springfield is in Atlanta
Friday, Mar 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My brother sent me this image today…
* Along with two text messages…
Sent to a retired teacher re: Healthcare forms. Funny.
From the person — A very late notice that they messed up my “proof of health insurance” form…for taxes.
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* From the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute…
Since the landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, many Congressional Republican members have vowed to repeal and replace the program. Under President Trump’s administration, Congress is now debating the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the House Republicans’ bill to “repeal and replace” the existing system.
According to a new poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois voters are divided on whether or not to repeal and replace the existing health care system. The poll, conducted Saturday, March 4 through Saturday, March 11, 2017, asked whether respondents agreed to repeal and or replace the current health care system. The sample included 1,000 registered voters in Illinois with a margin for error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Sixty percent of the interviews were conducted on cell phones.
Overall, when asked the question “Do you think Congress should vote to repeal the 2010 health care law, or should they not vote to repeal it?,” responses were varied. Just over one-third of those asked supported repeal (35 percent), half were in favor of retaining the current ACA (50 percent), and 15 percent had no opinion. Within the 35 percent (N = 353) who supported a repeal, 29 percent wanted Congress to vote to repeal the legislation immediately, 68 percent supported repeal once an alternative was in place, and 3 percent either didn’t know or refused to answer.
Voters in Chicago were the most supportive (60 percent) of the ACA, with those in suburban Chicago and the Collar Counties the second most supportive (52 percent); and the lowest levels of support (39 percent) were in the Downstate areas of Illinois. Chicago residents were only 25 percent in support of repealing the law, while 34 percent of suburban residents and 44 percent of Downstate residents responded yes to repealing. The disparity was even more marked among those identifying with a specific political party. Only 13 percent of Democrats supported repealing the ACA; 31 percent of Independents and 66 percent of Republicans supported repeal.
“The ultimate future of Obamacare, while unpopular with many people, has dramatic implications for the state of Illinois, “said Linda Baker, university professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. “As a state that added more than 650,000 people to its Medicaid program through the ACA, if the Act is repealed and the state is expected to assume costs currently being borne by the federal government for those recipients, there will be enormous consequences for the state and for those who may lose coverage.”
The current health care reform debate is occurring at a time when Illinois legislators have the Herculean task of solving an increasing structural deficit in the midst of almost a two-year budget stalemate. With Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and Democrat leadership in the General Assembly at odds with how to deal with that deficit and ultimately enact a budget, respondents to the Paul Simon Institute survey were also asked how the budget stalemate was impacting their lives.
Respondents were also asked, “Have you or someone in your immediate family been affected by the Illinois budget stalemate” 33 percent said it had affected them, with 62 percent responding that it had not. Of those affected by the budget crisis, the largest groups of respondents argued that it had resulted in K-12 funding cuts, job loss and cuts to needed social services. Finally, the respondents were asked if families living in poverty are more or less affected by the impasse. Over half (56 percent) said families in poverty had been more impacted, with 22 percent saying that families in poverty had been impacted less and another 22 percent saying they did not know.
Realizing there is a divide in the nation’s ideology on poverty, manifested in the debate on affordable and accessible health care coverage, the Paul Simon Institute also asked the same 1,000 Illinois voters about their opinions on causes of poverty. When asked “Thinking about the causes of poverty in your area, please tell me one major reason that people are poor,” a plurality (41.4 percent) of respondents blamed the government. About one-fourth (23.3 percent) blamed social or cultural factors, and 16 percent viewed a lack of employment as the cause. The remaining respondents placed blamed on medical factors (10.4 percent), educational factors (2.5 percent), and other factors (6.3 percent).
Asking for a secondary cause of poverty, respondents cited, in descending order, employment, social/cultural, education, government, medical and other. About 27 percent of respondents indicated employment as the secondary cause of poverty; 15.1 percent social/cultural factors as the secondary factor; 13.2 percent as education or relative lack of it; 12.5 percent government; 7.1 percent medical issues; and 24.9 percent with some other secondary cause.
In both the initial and secondary questions, there were subcategories associated with the key causes. Under the cause of employment, job shortages and wage levels were the primary causes listed. There was no singularly significant factor mentioned in the social/cultural category, while in the education category, the poor quality of public schools was cited as the most significant factor.
The survey next asked respondents what types of government interventions would best alleviate poverty. Respondents offered a variety of answers, in the topical areas of employment, education, social services, and social/cultural. As with prior questions, each response had several subcategories. With respect to the area of employment, the most significant responses were in support of government intervention to create jobs/prevent outsourcing and to increase funding for jobs programs, at 8.8 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Under the heading of education, the two most significant responses were at 13.9 percent for increased funding for job training programs and 12.8 percent in favor of improving the quality of education.
The survey next asked if respondents would be willing to pay more in taxes for poverty alleviation measures. Slightly over 59 percent said they would be in support, with 35 percent opposed with 6% undecided.
Toplines are here.
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* Rick Pearson has a long story in the Tribune today about the impasse entitled “Can budget deal ever get done with Rauner, Madigan at the table?” It’s pretty good, so you should go read the whole thing. I’ll probably circle back to it later today, but let’s focus on this part for now…
Illinois is likely to see “a series of what we’ve done the last couple of years — temporary patches, stopgaps and fixes, and that’s not ideal,” said a Rauner confidant who spoke on the condition his name not be used. […]
[On the Senate’s grand bargain] “It came down to three things: workers’ comp, parity in (the length of) the income tax and property tax and budget cuts. Cullerton’s position is ‘This is the deal, take it or leave it’ and as far as we’re concerned, it’s dead and there’s nothing more for us to do because we’re not going to take a bad deal and neither is the Senate (Republican) caucus,” he said.
But Democratic Sen. Kwame Raoul, a lead negotiator, said “it’s hard to figure out” if Rauner truly ever wanted to strike a deal.
“I think he applies this sort-of maybe venture-capitalist approach to deal making where you try to squeeze every bit you can without respect to good faith negotiations that good public policy negotiations require,” said Raoul, whose district includes Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. “I think certain tactics that may be very useful in another forum undermine the ability to kind of do things cooperatively in government.”
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