* Sun-Times on the education funding reform deal…
Declining to offer specifics on the deal “out of respect for leaders in the legislative process,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the state is “finally being fair.”
Asked if the deal in principle would net CPS the same benefits as the original bill Rauner used his amendatory veto on, Emanuel said: “That, and more.”
* Tribune…
Asked if the tentative deal included all the funding increases for CPS that were in the original Democratic bill, Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded, “That and more.”
I’m hearing the same thing through the grapevine.
* So we go through all that turmoil and CPS apparently gets what it wanted anyway?
Tell me why this just happened.
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* So after decrying the “false rumors” about staff exits earlier today and telling his own staff that rumors about Dennis Murashko leaving were false, his general counsel did, in fact, resign. From the governor’s office…
General Counsel Dennis Murashko will leave the Administration at the end of August to pursue opportunities in the private sector. As part of the legal team’s succession planning, Kenton Skarin will assume the role of Acting General Counsel to the Governor. He currently is serving as the Governor’s Deputy General Counsel and is responsible for managing all aspects of legal operations within the Administration.
“One of the most talented and creative lawyers, Dennis has been my trusted senior adviser for almost three years, and I have always valued his good counsel,” Gov. Rauner said. “On behalf of the residents of our great state, I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Before assuming a role in the Administration, Kenton worked in the Issues and Appeals Practice of Jones Day’s Chicago Office. There, he practiced complex litigation and appeals in trial and appellate courts in Illinois and across the country. Kenton also previously served as law clerk to the Honorable Justice Clarence Thomas on the United States Supreme Court and to Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. Kenton graduated first in his class from Northwestern University School of Law and summa cum laude from North Central College in Naperville. He is a lifelong resident of Illinois.
*** UPDATE *** From this morning’s press conference…
REPORTER: “Are you keeping your chief of staff?”
RAUNER: “We announced some changes in the communications department, and that’s all the changes there are.”
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* No details yet, but unless there’s some last-second glitch I’m told an announcement is coming momentarily from the leaders. Stay tuned.
While we wait, I should note that I told subscribers yesterday that reaching an agreement was “all on” House GOP Leader Jim Durkin’s shoulders. He obviously needed a deal to prevent yet another member revolt, but he had the unenviable task of convincing Gov. Rauner to go along. That’s never easy. So, kudos.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Joint Statement from House and Senate GOP Leaders on School Funding Reform
Chicago, IL - House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and Senate Republican Leader-designee Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) today released the following statement on school funding reform negotiations:
“This afternoon the four legislative leaders and the governor reached an agreement in principle on historic school funding reform. Language will be drafted and details of the agreement released once the drafts have been reviewed. The leaders will reconvene in Springfield on Sunday in anticipation of House action on Monday.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
Statement from Democratic leaders on school funding negotiations
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan
Senate President John J. Cullerton
“The legislative leaders appear to have reached a bipartisan agreement in concept and will meet again on Sunday in Springfield. The Illinois House is expected to be in session on Monday at 4:30 p.m.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release…
The following statement can be attributed to the Governor’s Office:
“Governor Rauner applauds the four leaders in coming to a consensus on historic school funding reform that reflects the work of the School Funding Reform Commission. He thanks them for their leadership and looks forward to the coming days when the legislation is passed by both chambers.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Andy Manar…
“I am encouraged that the legislative leaders appear to have reached an agreement in concept on school funding reform. As many have reiterated time and again for years on end, the inequities that deepen with each passing day in our public schools are a horrible stain on our great state. The status quo is unjust and immoral. Our goal is simple: create a system that is both adequate and equitable for all children. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this job done.”
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* The Illinois Business Immigration Coalition has a pretty good summation of the TRUST Act bill. And since there’s so much opposition from people who don’t know what’s actually in it, I thought I’d share part of their press release with you…
Trust ACT SB 31 is a ” very reasonable” bill, as Governor Rauner said on Friday, August 18 on WBEZ’s morning shift program. It has the backing of business leaders and support from some big names in state law enforcement like Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. Trust Act will make our communities safer and our economy stronger.
SB 31 was negotiated from 40 pages down to 2 pages, see the actual language SB 31 (and amended by HA#3) HERE. These changes and amendment have led to some confusion about what SB 31, as approved, does and does not do.
SB 31 was negotiated with law enforcement and immigrant advocates, with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in support, and the Illinois Sheriffs Association neutral and prominent law enforcement officials, such as sheriffs Tom Dart (D-Cook County) and Mark Curran (R-Lake County) actively in support.
What IS in TRUST ACT SB 31-HA#3 See the actual language HERE
1) State and local police would not arrest or hold a person based solely on immigration status.
2) State and local police honor ICE detainers sanctioned by a judge.
3) State and local police are allowed to communicate with federal agents, and fully compliant with federal statutory requirements.
What is NOT in TRUST ACT SB 31-HA #3 See the actual language HERE
1) SB 31 does NOT create “safe” zones such as hospitals and schools
2) SB 31 does NOT create “sanctuary” state or municipalities
3) SB 31 does NOT prohibit law enforcement communications with federal agents
WHY TRUST ACT SB 31 is a Good Step Forward for Illinois
1) The core duty of local police is community safety, not federal immigration enforcement. Immigrants are more likely to report crimes and come forward as witnesses to crimes when they are not afraid. Trust Act SB 31 promotes trust between immigrants and local police which strengthens community safety for all Illinois residents.
2) Reduce unnecessary disruption to the workforce - our economy depends on immigrants as workers, business owners and entrepreneurs. Efforts to repair our broken immigration system have been stalled in Congress for well over a decade, with no resolution in sight. That’s the reality that makes the Trust Act a smart move for Illinois.
WHO SUPPORTS TRUST ACT SB 31
LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTS SB 31 CLICK HERE
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart
Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
Melrose Park Chief of Police Sam C Pitassi
Stone Park Chief of Police Christopher P. Pavini
Franklin Park Chief of Police Michael Witz
Chicago Heights Chief of Police Tom Rogers
Elgin Chief of Police Jeffrey Swoboda
Berwyn Chief of Police Michael D. Cimaglia
Elmwood Park Chief of Police Frank Fagiano
Evanston Police Chief Richard Eddington
174 BUSINESS LEADERS SUPPORT SB 31 CLICK HERE
179 FAITH LEADERS SUPPORT SB 31 - CLICK HERE
* But this was a bit odd today…
*** UPDATE *** From the Welcoming Illinois Campaign…
Hey Rich, we thought you’d also like to have the list of over 80 organizations that make up the Welcoming Illinois Campaign, which actually wrote SB31, negotiated with law enforcement and legislators, and successfully passed it this spring by working closely with Senate President Cullerton, Rep. Chris Welch, and Rep. Lisa Hernandez. This began and will end as a community driven victory.
Here’s the list:
Access Living
ACLU Illinois
Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE)
American Immigration Lawyers Association - Greater Chicago Chapter
Apna Ghar Inc.
Arab American Action Network
Arab American Family Services
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
Casa Michoacan – FEDECMI
Centro Romero
Centro Trabajadores Unidos
Champaign Urbana Immigration Forum
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Irish Immigrant Support
Chicago Legal Clinic
Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network
Chicago Religious Leadership Network
Chicago Teacher’s Union
Chinese Mutual Aid Association
Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community
Communities United
Community of Congregations
Council on American Islamic Relations - Chicago
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
Chicago Teachers Union
Enlace Chicago
Erie Neighborhood House
Faith Coalition for the Common Good
Family Focus Aurora
Famil Federacion de Hidalguenses en Illinois
Fedenaymo Nayaritas at Midwest
Federacion Internacional de Morelenses
Fight For $15
Gamaliel of IL/Iowa
Gamaliel of Metro Chicago
Grassroots Collaborative
Hamdard Center
Hana Center
Hanul Family Alliance
Healing to Action
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
Illinois AFL-CIO
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Illinois People’s Action
Illinois Women’s March
Indo-American Center
Instituto del Progreso Latino
Interfaith Leadership Project
Jobs With Justice
Latino Organization of the South
Latino Policy Forum
Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
Mano a Mano
Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Mujeres Latinas En Accion
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Illinois Chapter
Northern Alliance for Immigrants
Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
North Suburban Teachers Union
Northwest Suburban Organizing for Action
Pan Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition
PASO West Suburban Action Project
Peoria No Ban No Wall
Planned Parenthood Illinois
Project Irene
Quad Cities Interfaith
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
SEIU Local 1
SEIU HCII
Southern Illinois Immigrant Rights Project
Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)
Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project (SSIP)
Syrian Community Network
The Resurrection Project
The Young Center of the University of Chicago
United African Organization
United Congregations of Metro East
United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations
UNITE HERE Local 1
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Question of the day
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Your one-word description of the past 37 days of the Rauner administration since the first big round of staff firings? One “real” word only, please.
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* From the Teachers Retirement System…
The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees this week reduced the State of Illinois’ annual funding contribution to the System for fiscal year 2018 by $530.8 million; reluctantly adhering to a new law that changes the statutory pension funding formula.
The revised state contribution for TRS is now $4.034 billion. The previous FY 2018 contribution, certified by the TRS Board last October, was $4.564 billion.
“The changes enacted this year in the pension funding formula move TRS further away from financial stability and continue to kick the can down the road. Period,” said Dick Ingram, executive director of TRS. “Cutting the state’s contribution only increases our concern that TRS will eventually become insolvent.”
Ingram added that the System’s $71 billion unfunded liability – one of the largest in the country – is a direct result of decades of underfunding by state government. In FY 2018, the state’s contribution will fall $2.839 billion short of what the System’s actuaries say is “full funding” for the year, or $6.873 billion.
“For every dollar that the state cuts from the TRS contribution now, they will have to spend $3 down the road to replace that revenue because of the interest costs,” he said. “A $530 million funding cut today just puts off the inevitable and will create a payment of $1.6 billion in the future.”
A new state law approved in July by the General Assembly changed the pension funding formula in two significant ways that reduce the state’s allocation to the System:
TRS must retroactively “smooth” the fiscal effect of any changes made in the TRS assumed rate of investment return over a period of five years. The “smoothing” applies to any assumption changes from 2012 on.
Local school districts will pay more of the cost of a member’s pension if that member’s salary is equal to or greater than the governor’s statutory salary of $177,412. The district will be responsible for paying the actuarial cost of the benefits earned on the portion of the member’s salary that exceeds $177,412.
The new state contribution does not include any potential cost savings from the creation in July of the Tier III “hybrid” retirement plan because Tier III is still being developed. When Tier III will be implemented will be decided by the Board at a future meeting.
The TRS Board is required each year to certify the state’s annual contribution to the System for the next fiscal year. That contribution is reviewed by the State Actuary before it is included in the state budget for the upcoming year.
* Greg Hinz provides some background…
For lawmakers, that means they had an additional $500 million to spread around on school spending and other popular items. But for TRS, as Ingram summaries, “For every dollar that the state cuts from the TRS contribution now, they will have to spend $3 down the road to replace that revenue because of the interest costs,” he said. “A $530 million funding cut today just puts off the inevitable.”
Now, some of you may be inclined to blame those no-good union-loving Democrats, since the measure involved was enacted after a heavily-Democratic supermajority overrode Rauner’s veto of the bill involved. Blame away.
But if you check a little further, you’ll discover, as multiple GOP sources confirm, that Rauner proposed just such a stunt himself in his budget. I guess ducking tough decisions so you can eat your dessert not is a bipartisan endeavor.
And beyond that, guess who else proposed doing such a thing in its plan to curb state spending? Answer: the Illinois Policy Institute, the libertarian outfit that by some accounts has taken control of much of Rauner’s administration. In its 2018 plan (see Section B, last bullet of the second series), IPI says its plan “phases in the costs of any pension funds’ actuarial changes over a five-year period. This will reduce the required $800 million increase in state contributions (for TRS and other pension funds) by nearly $650 million in 2018.”
Clunk. Listen closely and you’ll hear the sweet sound of providing taxpayers relief today by kicking that ol’ can down the road to deal with tomorrow.
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* Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) has been an outspoken critic of the Illinois Policy Institute during the cartoon controversy. Ford was at an event today with Gov. Rauner and things were going pretty well at first…
* But then…
* From a reporter friend who was there…
Ford “did it so adorably. Like not aggressive. Almost like a joke. But he was in [Rauner’s] face.”
* And then…
* Press release…
Landmark juvenile justice reform legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Bruce Rauner will clear roadblocks to success for tens of thousands of Illinoisans whose youthful mistakes have restricted access to education, jobs, and housing.
House Bill 3817 strengthens confidentiality protections against the sharing of juvenile records and expands the number of juvenile records eligible for automatic expungement. The new system of erasing past mistakes and protecting public safety is similar to an American Bar Association model statute and implements most of the recommendations of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission’s 2016 report “Burdened for Life: The Myth of Juvenile Record Confidentiality and Expungement in Illinois.”
“As one of the first juvenile justice systems in America, the Illinois system was built on the principle that mistakes made by children should not brand them for life,” said Paula Wolff, Director of the Illinois Justice Project. “However, confidentiality protections eroded over time, and a complicated and expensive expungement system has made record clearing uncommon, rather than the norm.”
“Loose confidentiality laws and arrest records that follow kids for life make it extremely difficult for youth to overcome their mistakes – can cause families to become homeless, can stall or end a youth’s education and can make every road to a job a dead end,” said Julie L. Biehl, Director of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. “This broken system has made our neighborhoods less safe, but this new, balanced law will eliminate some of the burdens for young people attempting to leave their past behind them and lead productive lives.”
The Illinois Justice Project commended the HB 3817 sponsors, Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, and Sen. Michael E. Hastings, D-Tinley Park, as well as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who championed these reforms and was a strong advocate of the reforms.
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Thanks for the ZZ Top earworm, JB
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* JB Pritzker is fully self-funding his campaign. So, instead of asking for small-dollar contributions to boost his e-mail contact list (as well as mailing addresses and mobile phone numbers for further outreach and volunteer recruitment), he’s now giving out free swag…
Hey there–
Summer’s almost over, but you can still show your support for JB today with a pair of free JB sunglasses!
This has been a big summer for our campaign—we’ve rolled out plans for healthcare and early childhood education, marched in a ton of awesome parades, and announced our amazing Lieutenant Governor candidate, Juliana Stratton—and we’re just getting started.
We want to thank you for continuing to support us on this journey.
Tell us where to send your JB sunglasses – and we’ll get them to you as soon as we can!
Thanks for everything,
JBPritzker.com
P.S. Nothing’s holding you back from passing this along to friends and family in Illinois so they can get some matching shades!
Maybe they shoulda handed out free eclipse glasses last week. Also, click here if you didn’t understand the headline.
Anyway, what do you think about this?
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A peek into the school funding reform talks
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune has a good story about what the four tops are discussing during their private negotiations…
Top lawmakers are discussing giving CPS the authority to raise its property tax levy above a state cap, which limits an increase to 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. The state granted similar power last year, paving the way for a $250 million tax increase to boost contributions to the pension fund for CPS teachers.
The state also would pick up much more of CPS teacher pension costs, which now top more than $700 million per year. Illinois already covers pension costs for school districts outside the city. However, that change might not be written into the school code but instead included with laws governing the state’s retirement systems — reflecting a change Rauner wanted.
Meanwhile, voters in school districts with a surplus of education money may be allowed to determine via a referendum if they want to cut property taxes. This would apply predominately to communities in the suburbs and collar counties, and a decrease would likely be limited to no more than 10 percent.
Another possible change would require the property value in any new TIF districts to be counted toward a school district’s ability to generate property taxes. It’s a nod to a change pushed by Rauner, who has argued that Chicago is using a large number of TIF districts to hide property wealth and is therefore getting more than its fair share of state money.
There’s more, so go read the whole thing.
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* Greg Hinz…
The head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce says the state has a real shot at luring a huge new Toyota plant here, believe it or not.
In an interview, chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch confirmed talk that the automaker, in partnership with another Japanese car manufacturer, Mazda, has “really zeroed in” on a site in Rochelle, which is near Rockford in northwest Illinois. And the odds of winning are significantly greater than they were with Foxconn, which considered Illinois for a massive new electronics plant that appears to be headed to southern Wisconsin.
“The Toyota thing is much more real than Foxconn,” said Maisch, whose group is well connected with the Rauner administration, which has taken the lead in efforts to win the Toyota plant. “I believe we still are in play.”
Toyota and Mazda have said the plant would cost $1.6 billion and employ up to 4,000 workers. The companies are known to have been pitched other Illinois locations, including near Ford’s South Side Torrence Avenue factory, but the companies want at least 800 acres. “That means they need a greenfield location,” Maisch said, ruling out the South Side.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Intersect Illinois, the state’s economic development organization, have said almost nothing about the Toyota hunt, not wanting to risk offending the often secretive automaker. But Rauner recently disclosed that he’ll soon be headed to Asia, specifically to China and Japan, which would give him a chance to make a personal pitch to top company officials.
Remember how Gov. Pat Quinn used the dramatic annoucement of the Ford plant expansion during horrible economic times to defeat Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary? If Rauner can land that Toyota plant, he’ll finally have something positive and concrete to show for his term in office. Go get it, dude.
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* From the IEA…
After years of starving the education system in Illinois, many people came together in an unprecedented way to pass an education funding reform bill that helps provide “adequate and equitable” funding throughout the state.
Illinois has been ranked, for years, 50th among all states in funding our children’s future. Senate Bill 1 will change that. But in an effort to get enough votes to get SB 1 passed, it is being proposed that the state fund a tax credit (voucher) program.
“It’s a bitter irony that, to get the governor to do the right thing on school funding, the General Assembly is being pressured to do the wrong thing and pass a voucher program,” said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association.
“A voucher program is the wrong thing because it reduces money available to educate children in public schools, because private schools are not accountable for how they spend public dollars and because there is no advantage for the children this proposal is, allegedly, intended to help.”
In an age where accountability means everything – where standards are being implemented to ensure students are being taught what they need to succeed in life – why would Illinois take public money and give it to private schools that have no accountability?
“The voucher scheme is essentially a ransom payment that is being demanded in order to get fair funding for public school children statewide. It’s wrong,” Griffin said. “If we are really interested in helping children, the obvious thing to do is support existing schools. We oppose this voucher scheme.”
Again, and with feeling this time. It’s not a voucher program. The MAP grant program is much more akin to a voucher system. The state gives money to colleges (public and private) based on awards to individual students who apply and qualify financially.
This is not that. It’s an income tax credit for individual donations to private schools (and even public schools for out-of-district tuition assistance). There’s a big difference. The state doesn’t hand you or your kid’s school a voucher, and you won’t get a tax credit when you pay your own kid’s tuition, either. You have to donate to the school’s scholarship fund to qualify for the credit and then that school hands out the awards under certain state guidelines.
* Anyway, the IEA is also asking members to contact legislators and urge them to oppose the proposal. And some Downstate legislators in both parties are starting to feel heat on this topic as we ramp up to next week’s House action.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
The Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE), a unit of the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE) opposes all publicly funded subsidies of private education such as private school voucher programs (including tax credits, taxpayer savings grants/scholarships, and portability) for all students, including students with disabilities, as they are contrary to the best interests of students and their families, the public school system, local communities, and taxpayers. Public education is essential to provide equitable opportunities and positive educational outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. IAASE opposes public subsidy of private education for the following reasons:
• Students with disabilities do not have equal access to private schools. Mission-based entrance policies which describe students who “match” a private school’s mission are often discriminatory against students with disabilities. There is evidence of discriminatory practice within this context based on race, disability, and socioeconomic status. Any organization receiving public funding must offer equal access to their programs.
• Private schools significantly lack accountability. As such, the measures so critical to considering school success are missing from private education. Standardized assessment, student achievement targets, funding oversight, reporting requirements regarding discipline, oversight on least restrictive environment, transition outcomes, discipline, disproportionality, maintenance of effort, evaluation timelines, special education teacher certification requirements, incidents of restraint and seclusion and other essential oversight required of the public school systems are necessary to ensure equitable access for students with disabilities.
• Students with disabilities and their families are not guaranteed basic due process rights afforded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) when they enter private schools. If parents make a unilateral decision to enroll their child in a private school, the right to an individualized education program (IEP), special education and related services, mediation, dispute resolution and other due process rights are not available. Therefore, participation in the educational program is limited for students with disabilities in private schools.
• Subsidizing private schools with public funds does irreparable harm to public schools. Access to equitable public opportunities and positive educational outcomes are based on a strong state and federal investment in public education. Use of public dollars to pay for private education decreases the funding available to ensure a strong public school system which is essential to quality educational opportunities for students with disabilities. A parallel system of education publicly funded in the private sector is unsustainable for taxpayers and harmful to students with disabilities.
For these reasons, IAASE calls upon the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois State Senate to oppose any statutory or administrative change that promotes public subsidy to private education, such as vouchers, scholarships, voucher-like programs and/or tax credits.
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* SJ-R…
Several downstate school superintendents Wednesday said lawmakers still need to move quickly to enact a revised school aid formula to ensure state education money is soon distributed to schools.
The superintendents spoke at a Statehouse news conference after House Speaker Michael Madigan canceled a scheduled vote on overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a school funding reform bill.
“Currently we have $7 billion sitting in the budget that can’t be distributed until we have a (revised funding formula),” said Edwin Shoemate, superintendent of the Cobden school district in far southern Illinois. “We have missed two checks for general state aid and our third check is now in jeopardy. We have reached an urgent point where something has to be done and done quickly.”
“We have enough money to make it through September, but we will not make it through October without any state aid,” said Chuck Lane, superintendent of the Centralia High School district.
* S&P…
The state of Illinois’ failure to reach an agreement regarding a new state funding formula for school districts has caused the state to miss its first two general state-aid payments for the fiscal 2018 school year. S&P Global Ratings believes that the fiscal outlook for many Illinois school districts–which are already pressured due to years of state underfunding and late payments–will likely worsen significantly should the state fail to reach a new funding formula agreement, distribute the missed payments, and submit timely future payments to districts. Without the resolution of this impasse, significant downward pressure on certain Illinois school district ratings will likely remain, especially for districts with weak reserves, weak liquidity, and greater reliance on state aid.
For certain districts, continued disruption of these payments will likely lead to significant budgetary imbalances and a resulting use of reserves, which will likely further pressure districts with already thin reserves. To address the current payment disruptions, many districts will need to make significant expenditure reductions. School districts in Illinois have the ability to use their working cash fund to assist with liquidity and can issue working cash bonds to help offset delayed state-aid payments, if they have the capacity. While these methods may provide a temporary measure of fiscal relief for certain districts, the longer the funding formula stalemate, the greater the possibility for significant fiscal pressure and downgrades on affected ratings in this sector. Alternatively, should a funding formula agreement be reached that provides greater state-aid clarity, is commensurate with most districts’ financial needs, and is fully appropriated by the state, long-term stability could return to the sector. We will continue to monitor these developments, including the timely disbursement of state-aid payments (should an agreement be reached), due to potential future liquidity stresses at the state level. In addition, we will examine each district on a case-by-case basis to review the effect of these issues on credit quality. In the meantime, many Illinois school districts will need to continue to adjust to these mounting fiscal pressures in order to avoid falling deeper into a fiscal hole. Further, we believe the response from each district’s management will be critical in maintaining credit quality, although the options are somewhat limited for many districts.
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* The governor was right when he said his newly departed staffers weren’t a good fit for his administration. Despite all the problems, I don’t think they’re bad people or even incompetent. They just weren’t cut out for their government jobs. At all. So, I do hope they all find safe landings somewhere…
We had a long debate when Rod Blagojevich was governor about whether he was getting bad advice and being ill-served or whether the fault was mainly his. He eventually answered that question.
* Meanwhile…
But…
Rauner said talk of departures by his current chief of staff, Kristina Rasmussen, and chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko were just “rumors.” The source said Rasmussen also was on the call and told staff she “couldn’t wait to see all of their smiling faces.”
We’ll soon find out.
* Some Republicans have been privately expressing reservations about running with Rauner for over a month. I’m sure it’s worse now, though…
* And this is one long list…
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* The Tribune has more about the staff meeting I told you about earlier this morning…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner held a conference call with staff members Thursday morning to announce the departure of his new communications team, saying they were “good people trying to do good work” but ended up being not a “good fit.”
According to one person who was on the call but who was not authorized to speak publicly about it, Rauner told aides “the intensity of the battle is going up” and he wanted to address the staffing rumors because he expected them to continue, the source said.
“The reality is in addition to the enemies on the other side of the aisle (Democrats), we have enemies in the media and enemies who should be on our side, some of them former members of the administration,” the source recounted Rauner as saying.
*** UPDATE *** Sfondeles…
During a morning staff conference call, Rauner sought to dispel controversy over the exodus, according to a source with direct knowledge of the call. He called rumblings of the departures of his chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen and chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko “rumors.” And he confirmed the communications staffers’ exits, saying they were not a “good fit.”
And he pointed the finger at “enemies” — everyone from Democrats, media, bloggers and “people who shouldn’t be our enemies, including people who used to work for this administration.” Rauner, too, vowed to go on the offense against attacks on his administration.
The governor told staffers his team would “fight every rumor and innuendo diligently,” calling them “disgusting,” the source said. The governor said his administration would “stand together” and squash rumors in every possible way and said some were coming because he’s trying to challenge the “status quo.”
Whew.
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Rauner touts pension reform law
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed House Bill 418, which prevents retired police officers from opting into the pension system a second time if they return to the force as a police chief or join another municipality’s force.
This bill will protect taxpayers from situations in which police officers are collecting two pensions from the same pension fund — a problem known as “double dipping.” Police officers that are promoted to police chief or join a different force will enroll in 401(k)-style retirement plans instead of opting into the pension fund again.
“Illinois taxpayers can’t afford to pay the same person twice,”Gov. Rauner said. “This bill is an important step to help control Illinois’ unsustainable pension costs. It will protect taxpayers from pension fund abuse while still ensuring our police officers are fairly compensated for their service.”
The bill was sponsored by two Naperville Republicans after controversy over whether a Naperville police chief should be able to accrue new pension payments while simultaneously earning a salary of over $168,000 and collecting payments from his first pension.
“Illinois’ pension systems are in dire need of repair as our pension liabilities at both the state and local levels continue to rack up,” said Sen. Connelly (R-Naperville). “While I recognize that many changes need to occur within the current system, this law at least gets us going in the right direction.”
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* Tribune…
Democrat Ameya Pawar says that if elected Illinois governor, he would work to have Illinois rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day.
While the idea may sound somewhat new, the concept of Indigenous Peoples Day has been around for a while.
Vermont already has replaced the October federal holiday named for Christopher Columbus with Indigenous Peoples Day, as have the cities of Denver and Phoenix. Locally, Evanston recognized Indigenous Peoples Day last year.
“This is about acknowledging the contributions indigenous people have made to our country and celebrating the cultural history of Native Americans living in Illinois,” Pawar, Chicago’s 47th Ward alderman, said in a statement.
“It’s also about raising awareness of the inhumane treatment of Native Americans by European settlers who raided their land, ripped apart their families and nearly destroyed an entire race of people. In a state as diverse as Illinois, it serves us well to celebrate our history and our multicultural identity; and recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day is an important part of that.”
Thoughts?
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Former restaurant owner mulls House bid
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Rauner has often tweeted about visiting Charlie Parker’s Diner in Springfield over the years, and now the former owner is thinking about running for the Illinois House. Bernie fills us in…
Sangamon County Republicans are asking people interested in running for the Illinois House seat now held by Rep. SARA WOJCICKI JIMENEZ, R-Leland Grove, for resumes by Sept. 1.
Jimenez announced last week she would not seek re-election in 2018. One person already showing interest in the 99th District job is MIKE MURPHY, the 63-year-old former owner of Charlie Parker’s Diner.
“I’ve been involved and interested in politics for a long time,” Murphy told me. “I have a philosophy of life (that) you try to make things better for the next generation. … Illinois was a powerhouse when I was a kid and growing up, and now we’re a long way from being a powerhouse.” […]
He and his wife, CINDY, who has been a teacher for more than 30 years, owned Charlie Parker’s — the Quonset hut with the cool display of records on the walls that has received visits from politicians including MITT ROMNEY and Gov. BRUCE RAUNER — from 2009 through their sale of the business in March. He’s now doing restaurant consulting. […]
He says he would have to know more before judging if Jimenez did the right thing by breaking with Rauner and voting for a state budget that included a tax increase. But he said the only way he would support more money to the state would be if there were “strict guidance on how that money is going to be used” to help get Illinois back to the “straight and narrow.”
“Strict guidance on how that money is going to be used.” Hmm. Like a decent state budget, perhaps?
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* Press release…
The following is a statement on behalf of Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Caring Across Generations, and SEIU Healthcare Illinois in response to the withdrawal of rules that would have forced 36,000 vulnerable Illinois seniors out of the Community Care Program and into the unproven and untested Community Reinvestment Program:
“Our coalition welcomes news that the Department on Aging will be withdrawing their prior Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) rules from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), and we are ready to continue the work of building a stronger Community Care Program that will meet the needs of future aging Illinoisans while protecting their health, safety, and dignity.
“Our coalition has opposed the CRP rules since they first appeared in the Governor’s FY17 budget proposal and since then they have been rejected by advocates, seniors who stood to be impacted, caregivers, senior service providers, and by the General Assembly in their recent bipartisan budget vote. We want to thank state lawmakers who stood up for Illinois seniors throughout this process. We are especially grateful for the leadership of State Senator Dan Biss and State Representatives Greg Harris and Anna Moeller.
“As we have stated from day one, we are ready and willing to work with IDOA, the Rauner administration, and the new Community Care Program Services Task Force to strengthen the successful Community Care Program to utilize each taxpayer dollar as efficiently as possible while simultaneously enabling Illinoisans to age in our communities with the services and support they need.”
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* The governor was not scheduled to take questions from reporters today, but to his credit he did. You can click here to watch.
Gov. Rauner said that Tuesday’s infamous “as a white male” press release was drafted by Diana Rickert and sent out by Laurel Patrick. Both of those folks have resigned.
* Gov. Rauner also revealed that he has seen the Illinois Policy Institute’s cartoon. “I can see why some people would be upset about it,” he said. Rauner then claimed that part of the reason he ran for governor was because he wanted a more “just system,” and pointed at the Chicago public schools as an example of something that needs to be fixed.
Rauner was asked if he thought the cartoon was racist. “I understand why some people are upset by it.” He then repeated that line when asked again.
When it was pointed out to him that the cartoon was published by an organization he has supported and is his “go-to” think tank, Rauner said: “I have not leaned on them as my go-to think tank. That is not an accurate statement… I do have a few folks in my administration who used to work there… A very tiny fraction of our administration is from that organization… In no regard does that organization speak for me.”
* Asked about all the recent turnover, Rauner said: “The work that we do for the people of Illinois is incredibly difficult” and stressful. He complained about “false rumors,” political attacks and online attacks that had to be dealt with. Getting people who are willing to do the jobs isn’t easy. “We’ll always work to have great people who are willing to do it,” he said.
Asked if the turmoil in his administration could undermine his ability to work with the General Assembly on education funding reform. “I disagree with the characterization of turmoil,” he said.
“A handful of people” have changed, he insisted and claimed that his “only frustration” is Speaker Madigan, who he said “sat on SB1″ for two months to create a crisis.
* “Yes or no, is the cartoon inappropriate?” he was asked at the end of his press conference. Another reporter asked, “It sounds like you agree with the message of the cartoon, is that correct?” Rauner talked extensively about Chicago’s TIF districts when speaking of his reaction to the cartoon. But the governor walked away without answering either question.
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Pritzker trolls Rauner with Craigslist job ad
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Pritzker campaign just posted a Craigslist ad…
LOST: Best Team In America
NOW HIRING: ENTIRE GUBERNATORIAL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Seeking Best Team in America…Take 2
JOB DESCRIPTION: The communications department is responsible for crafting effective “messaging” for the governor’s office. We are currently seeking candidates for entry level to senior positions following what some are calling a “Wednesday night massacre.” Prior team members have been unwilling to show a racist cartoon, compared abortion to Nazi eugenics, tweeted homophobic and sexist slurs, advocated for the firing of all state workers, and got into Twitter fights with reporters over spelling errors. Come on board!
Ideal applicants will have the ability to convince Illinois voters that going 736 days without a budget is good and school funding is bad. Candidates need not know how many votes it takes to pass legislation or amendatory vetoes. An ideal applicant will be a self-starter. At times, it may even feel like no one is in charge.
REQUIREMENTS: Extensive experience in radical, right-wing activism. Government experience optional. Leave your G’s at home.
DURATION: 37 days… perhaps.
ATTIRE: Steam-pressed plaid shirts and Carhartt jackets.
SALARY: Commensurate with lack of experience.
LOCATION: Springfield or under the nearest bus.
Please email resumes and cover letters to BestTeamInAmericaTake2@gmail.com.
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* Press release…
Statement from Gov. Bruce Rauner
CHICAGO (Aug. 24, 2017) – Diana Rickert, Laurel Patrick, Meghan Keenan and Brittany Carl have submitted their resignations to the Office of the Governor.
We are grateful for their hard work on behalf of the people of Illinois and wish them all the best going forward.
Elizabeth Tomev is acting communications director.
* We will have live video soon from BlueRoomstream.com of the first event, even though it says in his daily public schedule that he won’t take any questions…
Daily Public Schedule: Thursday, August 24, 2017
What: Gov. Rauner signs HB 418, protecting taxpayers from police pension fund abuse
Where: Naperville City Hall, 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2017
Time: 10 a.m.
Note: No additional media availability
What: Gov. Rauner signs series of criminal justice reform bills
Where: Safer Foundation North Lawndale Adult Transition Center, 2839 W. Fillmore St., Chicago
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2017
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Note: No additional media availability
*** UPDATE *** From the DGA…
Rauner’s Office in Disarray (Again) As He Struggles to Respond to a Cartoon
Prairie State Purge 2.0 – Rauner Fires Staff He Hired Just a Month Ago in Last Purge
Rauner Fires Top Staff in the Middle of Major Education Funding Fight
Last night, Governor Bruce Rauner commenced a staff purge targeting staffers he brought in just weeks ago, during his last purge. In early July, Bruce Rauner suffered an embarrassing defeat when a group of bipartisan lawmakers overrode his veto of the state’s first budget in two years. Rauner decided to clear house and 21 people were fired or resigned. He replaced much of his top aides with members of the right-wing think tank Illinois Policy Institute believing it could solve his communications problems.
It has not been a good month for Rauner’s new inexperienced staff:
The bodyman was hired and fired on the same day for homophobic and racist tweets;
A comms staffer had to explain her past writings comparing abortion to Nazi eugenics;
A policy staffer got into a twitter fight over the rules of a blog’s comment section;
Rauner was repeatedly unprepared for basic questions about his policy;
Rauner was criticized for his office’s slow response to major flooding;
And more.
It all came to a head last week. The still existent Illinois Policy Institute published a cartoon many deemed racist and which drew immediate and bipartisan condemnation on the Illinois House Floor. For a week, Rauner’s team fumbled its response to the cartoon; Rauner refused to condemn the it, refused to look it, and proceeded to argue that some people did not find it offensive. On Tuesday, Rauner’s office produced dueling statements. The first said Rauner, “as a white male”, had nothing more to add to the debate. The second read “Earlier today an email went out from my office that did not accurately reflect my views.” The second statement did not condemn the cartoon or add much to the debate, however.
So, Rauner begins again. The details are still fuzzy but Rauner’s Prairie State Purge 2.0 includes most of his communications staff, with others potentially later.
The timing could not be worse – Rauner’s in the middle of a major political fight he started by issuing an amendatory veto of the state’s education funding formula. Rauner’s veto was seen as extreme and influenced by his then-new Illinois Policy Institute staffers. Illinois schools are opening their doors unsure if they would survive past October as lawmakers try and deal with the veto. Rauner’s plan has not received much support – it was already overridden in the Senate, and received zero votes in the House.
“At no time has Bruce Rauner ever taken responsibility for the consequences of his failed leadership, and this recent staff purge suggests he is not about to start,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “As Governor, Bruce Rauner forced the state through a two-year budget crisis that was only ended over his objection. Debt piled up, social services were cut or closed, and jobs and people fled the state. Now Rauner is pushing the school system to closure for political gain. No staff purge can solve the problem at the center of this administration – Bruce Rauner.”
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Rauner tells staff that three have resigned
Thursday, Aug 24, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* During a Rauner administration staff meeting this morning, three comms staff resignations were confirmed: Diana Rickert, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for communications; Laurel Patrick, his communications director; and Brittany Carl, a comms person best known for her “Nazi eugenics” comment.
The governor told staffers that reports that his chief of staff Kristina Rasmussen and his chief legal counsel Dennis Murashko could also be resigning were “vicious rumors.” But I’m told Murashko has been asked to stick around until a replacement can be found. His policy director, Michael Lucci, appears to be safe.
The communications team departures, Rauner insisted to staff, were “mutual decisions,” and that the staffers were “not a good fit.”
The governor also reportedly blamed many of his current problems on the top staff members who were fired or resigned in July and, I’m told, said he would use legal means to go on offense and stop them.
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