Question of the day
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background for this question is here, and it’s been updated twice, so go check it out.
Ready? OK. Assuming it passes the House, should the Senate Democrats pass the Gov. Rauner-opposed stopgap budget bill that funds some higher education and social service needs, or should it focus on passing its grand bargain proposal and a full-year budget? The polling app isn’t working today, so answer below and make sure to explain your answer, please.
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Downstate school districts file lawsuit
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
A coalition of 17 downstate school districts say they filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Gov. Bruce Rauner and his administration, contending the state has failed to provide enough money to deliver a “high quality” education for students.
The suit against Rauner and the Illinois State Board of Education argues that Illinois’ reliance on local property taxes to pay for schools creates a disparity in poorer communities where districts have less of a tax base to rely on. That makes it harder for students to meet educational standards adopted by the state as class sizes increase and programs are cut.
The school superintendents bringing the lawsuit want the state to put in place a different model to determine how much money the state should funnel to low-income districts in order for students to meet those standards, saying current assessments are “arbitrary and capricious.”
“Despite efforts to properly educate our leaders, pleading for change and commonsense solutions at our legislators’ fingertips, when negotiations begin in the Capitol, students’ needs get lost in the political shuffle and the battle for power in Springfield far outweighs doing what is right for children,” said Brad Skertich, superintendent of Southwestern Community Unit School District #9, which serves the towns of Brighton, Medora, Piasa and Shipman
I’ve asked for a copy of the lawsuit and will share when I get it.
* From Illinois Secretary of Education Dr. Beth Purvis…
“Illinois school districts are receiving the highest level of funding ever under Governor Rauner, who has increased school funding by $700 million since taking office. The Governor also created a bipartisan school funding commission to improve the formula, which has recommended changes that will create an equitable school funding formula that will better meet the needs of each students within every school district in our state. The Governor never stops working to increase funding for our students and hopes school districts across Illinois will work with him and members of the General Assembly on this endeavor.”
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Repubs, Dems crow about local victories
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the ILGOP…
For the past year, J.B. Pritzker and Mike Madigan have teamed up in an attempt to install Madigan supporters in local elections – and have failed miserably.
Before the 2016 election, Pritzker secretly funneled $200,000 to Madigan-backed House candidates, hiding his name by funneling the money through corporations. Madigan Democrats lost six seats in that election.
Last month, Madigan ally Linda Chapa LaVia failed to advance to the runoff in her race for Aurora Mayor after being blasted for her ties to Madigan. Pritzker campaigned and provided Chapa LaVia with financial support. Then, Pritzker backed Rick Guzman in the runoff, who lost to Republican Richard Irvin. Irvin will be Aurora’s first black Mayor.
And just yesterday, Pritzker teamed up with Democratic activists to oust Mayor Roger Claar from Bolingbrook. Despite statewide Democrats descending on the town, and despite Pritzker’s photo-op door knocking, Claar appears to have held on in a village with a heavy Democratic registration advantage.
Instead of trying and failing to win local races, Madigan should pass a balanced budget with reforms.
* From the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association…
Against Proft and Rauner’s Millions, Democrats Make Historic Gains
Big Republican outside money wasn’t enough to stop Democratic victories
Springfield, IL - Across Illinois, Democrats made unprecedented gains against outsized Republican spending and influence in local races. Republicans invested heavily in municipal and township races across the state, but Democrats made headway in elections they had not won - in some instances - for over a decade.
“Dan Proft and the Republicans were ready for the Democratic backlash after Trump’s election, but the money Bruce Rauner gave them wasn’t enough,” said Doug House, Chairman of the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association. “Across the state, Democrats picked up seats we weren’t supposed to win as well as in other places where thousands of dollars were spent against us. The takeaway: No Republican will go unchallenged no matter how hard and how tough the race will be.”
Democrat wins were evident across Illinois in these locations:
City of Kankakee - Chasity Wells-Armstrong upset incumbent Nina Epstein, electing Kankakee’s first Democratic African-American Mayor.
City of Rockford - Democrat Tom McNamara bested his opponents in a landslide, proving Rockford does not stand for Bruce Rauner’s turnaround agenda.
City of Springfield - Democrat Kristin DiCenso won in convincing fashion beating her Republican Precinct Committeeman opponent by almost 70%
West Deerfield Township (Lake County) - For the first-time Democrats took entire control of this Lake County Township.
Vernon Township (Lake County) - Democrats swept the trustee elections, as well as electing Daniel Didech as Supervisor - taking out five incumbents.
Normal Township (McLean County) - Democrats elected supervisors and trustees to this township board for the first time in over 100 years.
Springfield Township (Sangamon County) - Lakeisha Purchase made history last night by becoming the first Democrat (and top vote getter) to be elected to the Springfield Township board since 1976
Chatham Township (Sangamon County) - Diana Carlile became the first Democrat (and top vote getter) ever to be elected to this predominantly Republican stronghold.
Palatine Township High School District 211 (Suburban Cook County) - Love trumped hate, and incumbent school board members who supported transgendered students were re-elected against opponents funded by outside hate group Alliance Defending Freedom.
New Trier Township (Suburban Cook County) - Among many areas Dan Proft was funding, Republican candidates attempted to fly below the radar in this township, but were soundly defeated by the Democratic Economy Party.
Maine Township (Suburban Cook County) - Democrats elected Claire McKenzie in the all GOP-controlled township government.
Richland Community College (Macon County) - Macon County Democratic Chairman Jim Underwood won in impressive fashion and will now be able to bring a strong Organized Labor voice as this Community College as they deal with higher education cuts from Bruce Rauner.
Lincoln Land Community College (Sangamon County) - Not even Donald Trump could save 16-year incumbent and former Trump State Director Kent Gray. He was trounced by Democrat Gordon Gates in this contested race.
In other races across the state Democrats came within inches of beating entrenched incumbents. Grass-roots Democrat Jackie Traynere lost by less than 100 votes against 30-year Republican Trump supporter Roger Claar after Dan Proft and others spent hundreds of thousands in television attack ads against Jackie.
* Greg Hinz referees…
Gov. Bruce Rauner and his conservative allies had a good night in yesterday’s suburban elections, winning more races than they lost. […]
[However] On the North Shore, a slate of incumbents easily held off challengers in contests for New Trier Township commissioner, despite lots of conservative activity. And in High School District 211, where Rauner ally and big funder Dick Uihlein also was involved , incumbents won easily in a race focused on whether to revisit the district’s stance on allowing transgendered students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their self-identified gender.
Beyond that, Rauner made a bit of play in elections in Rockford, and got clocked.
Still, overall results show that as long as Rauner’s big wallet is open, it will have an impact.
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* Illinois Policy Institute…
A new report by the Illinois Policy Institute finds that workers’ compensation costs Illinois taxpayers $982 million each year proving that not only is it a budgetary item, but it is also a major cost driver that should be controlled and managed.
The new report analyzes workers’ compensation costs for state government, school districts, townships, special district governments, municipalities, counties, other special police and fire districts, and publicly funded construction projects.
Illinois taxpayers are forced to shoulder not only the cost of government wages, health insurance, pensions and other benefits, but also to fund workers’ compensation costs that surpass those among the other states in the region. According to the recent “2016 Oregon Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking Summary,” Illinois’ system is the most expensive in the Midwest and ties for seventh-most expensive in the nation.
The report is here.
* Greg Hinz takes a look…
That comes up to a combined $982 million, about 4 percent of payroll. The total number is almost certainly higher because the institute was able to get only partial information from the city of Chicago. (Chicago officials tell me the cost to the city alone runs about $100 million a year.)
If those costs were lowered to the average of other Midwest states, state and local governments collectively would save about $300 million a year, the institute contends. […]
“I always figured 5 percent of payroll (for workers’ comp),” says [Brad Cole, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League], the former mayor of Carbondale. “I haven’t seen their report yet, but I think their numbers are reasonably accurate. Some of the items they talk about have a considerable cost.” […]
[The Illinois AFL-CIO] underlines that the institute’s figures in part are estimates, and says that cost of workers comp for construction workers is covered by private contractors, not the government. Finally, it says that average medical costs alone here are lower than in Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa.
On the other hand, Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno likes it. She says in a statement, “Once again, we have evidence that Illinois’ workers compensation system is costly to not only private industry, but units of government and the taxpayers as well. Illinois is out of step. There are definitely ways to lower costs—some of which was accomplished in our 2011 reform effort which is now showing some results. But there is clearly room for additional cost-saving reforms which I continue to fight for in the legislature.”
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Open thread
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m giving a speech soon, so you’re on your own for a while. Please keep it Illinois-centric and be nice to each other. Thanks!
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Mrs. Rauner is not alone
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve seen some people mocking Mrs. Rauner on social media for this comment by her husband. But it’s not a laughing matter. I know numerous parents who are upset to the point of freaking out about this very same thing…
Gov. Bruce Rauner continues his push to reverse the trend of people leaving the state by bringing about economic reforms he says will grow the economy.
During his most recent Facebook live event Tuesday, Rauner read a question about why people are sticking around if the state is in such bad shape. Rauner said he and his wife, Diana, struggle with this issue.
“We’ve raised our six kids in Illinois. None of them live in Illinois,” Rauner said. “They all have found their opportunities outside of Illinois. My wife cries about it. It’s so sad.”
Many young adults are leaving because of the lack of opportunities in Illinois, the governor said.
“I talk to so many people who are frustrated. They don’t see their children and their grandchildren having the future in Illinois that they had themselves, that we had, that I had, growing up in Illinois going back 30, 40, 50 years ago,” he said.
The governor is in a position to do something about it, of course. Some of the parents I know are sad because they don’t want their kids going to an Illinois university, and that’s directly on the governor for his refusal to negotiate a budget.
And this impasse isn’t helping the economy and jobs one bit. It’s hurting. Period. Full stop.
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Proft wins big in Orland Park
Wednesday, Apr 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Orland Park Village President Dan McLaughlin got thumped by 8 points yesterday. Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC deserves most of the credit…
The race drew $200,000 in campaign ads and mailers to oust McLaughlin, who had been in office since 1993 and raised eyebrows when the village board voted last year to make the mayor’s office a full-time job. The move bumped his $40,000 salary up to $150,000 in what Pekau denounced as a “pension grab.” McLaughlin dismissed the claim as “misinformation” because the move eliminated a costly village administrator position.
McLaughlin also suggested the presidential election played a role in his defeat, saying it ushered in “a sea change in the way people cast their votes.”
“The national elections in November taught us those lessons,” McLaughlin said in a concession statement. “The election is over, at least for me. In tact is a team of trustees who love Orland Park like I do.” […]
Pekau, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business consultant, said he would opt out of a pension if he won. On Monday, he said the donations from Dan Proft-led Liberty Principles PAC, which received hefty donations from Gov. Bruce Rauner last summer, helped his cause.
* Meanwhile…
A slate of candidates calling itself Parents with Purpose went after three open seats on the District 211 school board, largely in opposition to the district’s agreement with the federal government to provide girls’ bathroom and locker room access to a transgender student who filed a complaint with the federal government.
The slate was supported by an aligned group called Parents for Privacy, made up of about 50 families who are suing District 211 and the federal government over the agreement. The suit is pending.
With almost all precincts reporting, though, incumbents Robert LeFevre Jr. and Anna Klimkowicz and former board member Edward Yung appeared headed for victory. They have said generally that they support the agreement, though it applies to only one student.
* And…
In an historic election for the Lake County city [of Waukegan], Democratic alderman Sam Cunningham defeated independent candidate Lisa May. Cunningham’s victory will make him the city’s first African-American mayor. May would have been the city’s first female mayor.
* Moving on to Rockford…
Democrat Tom McNamara took home the Rockford mayoral race with 68 percent of the vote. […]
McNamara will replace Larry Morrissey , a three-term mayor who decided last fall to not run for re-election. […]
McNamara may find a friendlier City Council seated before him when he is sworn in as mayor May 1st. Although Rockford’s aldermen have tended not to vote along party lines, power will shifted from Republicans to Democrats. Republican Jamie Getchius and Independent Teena Newburg are both incumbents who lost to their Democratic challengers. Democrats picked up two open spots for a total of 8 of 14 council seats. A record number of Independents ran this year – five for alderman and two for mayor – but they all lost.
* Back to the suburbs…
In Evanston, management consultant Steve Hagerty was leading the city’s first openly gay alderman, Mark Tendam, with 50.5 percent of the vote — a margin of just 163 votes.
In Aurora, the race to lead the state’s second-largest city was also too close to call, as Rick Guzman — assistant chief of staff to Mayor Tom Weisner, who stepped down for health reasons last year — led by just nine votes as of 10 p.m. over Ald. Richard Irvin.
Absentee ballots were expected to be tallied in both races into Wednesday morning.
Irvin currently leads by 122 votes.
* Other results…
* Jim Ardis wins fourth consecutive Peoria mayoral term
* Pecak upsets Broda to become Lisle mayor: Pecak said during the campaign that he was running to bring change to the village. The construction manager said he would work for a property tax freeze, a balanced budget and improved transparency.
* Thoms wins Rock Island mayoral race
* Moore clinches second term as Quincy Mayor
* Gordon Gates defeats incumbent Kent Gray for LLCC trustee seat
* Lincoln-Way 210 voters have their say following school closure: Two longtime Lincoln-Way High School District 210 board members appeared to be trailing in their bids for re-election against a crowded field Tuesday night, following a heated year of fallout stemming from the closing of a high school and questions about board oversight.
* Palatine District 15 voters oust incumbents in referendum backlash: The slate was supported by the Palatine Republican Township Organization, which drew the ire of other candidates who warned the party involvement set a dangerous precedent.
Anything else you’d care to mention?
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* WJOL Radio…
Longtime Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar could be returning for another term. As of last night, the incumbent held a narrow lead over challenger Jackie Traynere with all 32 precincts reporting. Claar has been the mayor of the village for over 30 years. He stirred up controversy last year after hosting a September fundraising event for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
His opponent, Jackie Traynere, currently a Will County board member, received endorsements from Illinois’s U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and congressman Bill Foster. But unofficial results show Claar leading Traynere by just 103 votes. Provisional and mail in ballots will be counted in 2 weeks.
* AP…
Traynere spokesman Tom Bowen acknowledged because of the number of outstanding votes, Traynere is facing an “uphill battle.” […]
Claar hosted a fundraiser for Trump in September, which angered some voters in the suburb of about 75,000 people. As a result, support for Traynere poured in from top Democrats nationwide, including from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and a group spun out of Sanders’ campaign. […]
[Claar] has previously dismissed the situation in Bolingbrook, saying Democrats are “trying to take over” and partisan politics shouldn’t be a factor in the race. His tenure has seen major development and growth in Bolingbrook.
The municipal contest is technically nonpartisan. But concerns raised in the presidential campaign and initial months of Trump’s tenure have hit home in the racially-diverse community with two mosques and where at least 20 percent of the community is foreign born.
* Patch…
It looked like every member of Claar’s Bolingbrook First slate would hold onto their seats except for trustee Sheldon Watts, a recent appointee on the board.
* NY Times…
The race was seen as offering a glimpse into Mr. Trump’s early effect on elections in 2017. Mr. Claar, 71, the village’s mayor for 31 years, was running unchallenged for his ninth term last fall when he co-hosted a fund-raiser at the Bolingbrook Golf Club for Mr. Trump, who was then the Republican presidential nominee.
But it quickly escalated into a political issue for Mr. Claar: More than 100 people protested the fund-raiser, saying that Mr. Trump did not share the values of their diverse, Democratic-leaning village of about 74,000. One of the protesters, Ms. Traynere, 54, decided to challenge Mr. Claar in the mayor’s race — and quickly made Mr. Claar’s association with Mr. Trump one of her main lines of attack.
A lineup of powerful Democrats in Illinois, including both United States senators, campaigned for Ms. Traynere. Soon Mr. Claar, who usually runs unopposed, found his job on the line.
There were other issues at stake in Bolingbrook — Ms. Traynere said Mr. Claar had driven the village into debt, and Mr. Claar said she was unqualified for the job. Before Election Day, it was unclear whether Bolingbrook residents would vote on their feelings for Mr. Trump, or whether they would focus on more local concerns instead. Early voting was brisk, indicating that residents were fired up about the race.
* And the Tribune, which for whatever reason didn’t cover this race until it was over…
Traynere said she called Claar and congratulated him on a good race, but she did not concede.
She pointed to Claar’s thin lead as an indicator that people in Bolingbrook want change.
“I don’t think this town wants him,” she said, adding that if Claar had done such wonderful things for Bolingbrook his lead would be larger.
“David really hurt Goliath,” she said, noting Claar had the benefit of a larger campaign fund.
If he won, the town wants him. And if he outspent her, that’s on her and all the folks who backed her.
Claar apparently did very well with vote by mail, which may be why the Traynere people aren’t predicting victory. He mailed to a wide swath of registered voters and then constantly followed up. Bolingbrook is a nice place to live if you like the suburban experience, so running on that and against the natural fear of change (particularly tax hikes) was a pretty solid formula and helped bring people to the polls who may have otherwise not voted. And it appears to have worked.
Also, I’m told Congressman Dan Lipinksi dispatched a few of his precinct workers to Bolingbrook to help Claar. Some of the same folks who backed Traynere are also coming after him in the Democratic primary.
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* Subscribers know more, including the Team Rauner react and immediate prospects in the Senate…
House Democrats are weighing a plan to rush money to social service providers and universities that have gone months without state funding, with some pushing for a vote this week before legislators leave town for spring break.
As with all things in the Capitol, plans remain fluid. But there’s roughly $750 million set aside in special funds not currently being used that could potentially be tapped, said Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat and key budget negotiator. That’s just a fraction of what would normally be spent on higher ed and care for the state’s most vulnerable, but Democrats’ hope is to provide a lifeline amid widespread cuts and layoffs.
“I think we need to do everything that we can to get some money to these folks as soon as we can,” Harris said.
Talks of pushing the plan come as a bipartisan budget proposal in the Senate remains stalled, which Democrats blame on interference by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Still, Rauner continues to say he’s hopeful the Senate can come up with a broad agreement, and he has generally opposed one-off spending plans.
He may have generally opposed one-off spending plans, but he did two in 2015 and another one last year.
*** UPDATE *** Monique with some deets…
*** UPDATE 2 *** The governor tweets his video response…
He’s claiming the proposal will “force higher debt,” but these things are being funded by special state funds specifically designed for those very same spending purposes.
The proposal is here.
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* There are two distinct tracks currently developing in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. One is for “top underdog” status between Pawar, Biss and, to a lesser extent, Bob Daiber and Kurt Summers if he gets in.
The other developing track is for “acknowledged frontrunner” status between Kennedy and Pritzker. The Summers poll showed Kennedy leading the pack with 44 percent, so he’s a frontrunner, but Pritzker has the big dough. Unlike the other candidates, Kennedy needs to show he can raise the money to directly compete with Pritzker. I’m not sure this shows he can do that yet…
Businessman Chris Kennedy hasn’t released his full contributions for the first quarter, but according to records with the state Board of Elections, he has received at least $145,700. He also has contributed $250,100 to his campaign, which broke the caps.
Kennedy’s campaign on Tuesday said he is attending a fundraiser in New York, hosted by his sister, which is expected to reap $250,000 for his campaign.
Aside from his own contribution, Kennedy has so far reported raising less money this quarter than Pawar or Biss. And with the contribution caps off, you’d think he would be expecting to raise more than $250K at a Kennedy-hosted fundraiser in one of the wealthiest cities on Earth.
First quarters are usually a first-time candidate’s best quarters, but that isn’t happening with Kennedy. Still, there’s a very long way to go with a whole lot of unknowns in front of us and money isn’t everything.
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* Politico…
Turns out an effort has been underway by a segment of the party to recruit state Sen. Sam McCann (R-Plainview) to run against Rauner in a GOP primary. Three sources told us as much, and last night, McCann confirmed to POLITICO he has been approached. Despite Rauner’s financial advantage, a primary from a serious opponent would obviously create a major headache for the governor. Having to defend himself from the conservative wing of the party (I love Trump!) while making himself general election-worthy (I hate Trump!) could prove beyond tricky.
McCann made clear he would not entertain a decision about a gubernatorial run during the legislative session. “I do not intend to think about the concept of running for governor, let alone comment on it, until after May 31st, if at all,” McCann told POLITICO. “There was a significant segment of the party that attempted to recruit me to run as an independent in 2014. I chose not to do that because I wanted to play a role in bringing my party and my beloved state together, not see them both torn apart more than they already were. Fast forward to the present and we see our state more divided and in bigger shambles than ever. It’s heart wrenching,” McCann said.
“I have been casually approached by some within the party about running for governor. I have said to each of them what I will say to you now: I am a patriot. I do not believe it is fitting or proper for anyone of either party to actively and openly campaign for any state office as long as the General Assembly is engaged in its regular spring session. Especially considering the historic times in which we find ourselves,” he said.
HISTORY — You may recall that McCann is a pro-union Republican who went against Rauner and voted for a labor arbitration bill. Rauner and the governor’s political allies heavily targeted McCann in the last primary election, to no avail. McCann is now helping lead the charge against Rauner’s move to privatize nurses in Illinois prisons.
* OK, first of all, McCann is up for reelection next year, so he’d have to give up his seat.
Second, primarying Rauner probably wouldn’t turn out that well for McCann. Remember all the 2016 primary race oppo on his personal finances and the claim that he was Speaker Madigan’s “favorite Senator”? McCann’s voters ignored most of it because they know their guy. He won’t be known statewide so Rauner wouldn’t even have to respond all that much to either the Trump stuff or the social conservative angle (McCann is pro-life).
Third, if labor unions help primary Rauner they could wind up highlighting his moderation on some social issues, which will only help him in the fall. They’ll also give Rauner and his organization a tuneup race and an excuse to blanket the state with ads. But if McCann (or somebody else) sticks to things like the impasse, he could rough Rauner up a bit in advance of the fall campaign.
* But could he win? According to that recent Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll, Rauner’s job approval rating is 63 percent among Republicans. That’s more than enough to win a primary, of course, but it ain’t great for an incumbent and will hurt him with base turnout in the fall if those numbers don’t improve a lot. There is some room here to bruise him badly in a primary if the poll is accurate and the race is run properly. But a primary is still almost undoubtedly a Kamikaze mission.
*** UPDATE *** Considering the Statehouse’s usual gossip mill, this recent WMAY interview might be where the rumors actually started…
An area Republican lawmaker says he would be willing to support a primary challenger to GOP Governor Bruce Rauner if the right candidate came along.
State Senator Sam McCann made the comment during a live interview with WMAY’s Frank McNeil Monday. […]
McCann says he’s tried to mend fences with the governor, without success…and says the two of them have traveled too far to come back.
And then somebody tells somebody about the radio program and it eventually morphs into Republicans want McCann to run. Or not.
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