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It’s just a bill

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WBEZ

In 2008, a collection agency took him to court and obtained a court order known as a “judgment” allowing it to be more aggressive in pursuing him. That meant his debt began to be subject to the state-set annual interest rate of 9 percent.

Today, Majcher owes $21,821 — more than ten times what he originally spent.

“The feeling is like suicide,” Majcher said. “You end up in the situation in which comes suicidal thoughts. No exit.” (Majcher is not currently having suicidal thoughts.)

A group of Illinois lawmakers are now working on a package of legislation designed to increase state protections for debtors like Majcher. Advocates say, if passed, these bills would lift the economic fortunes of thousands of Illinoisans struggling with debt. But opponents argue that the legislation would be harmful to the low-income people it is meant to help. […]

Democratic Illinois state representatives Barbara Flynn Currie, Juliana Stratton, Will Guzzardi, and Christian Mitchell are sponsoring a package of legislation that would increase protections for debtors. Notably, HB 5487 would cut Illinois’ post-judgment interest rate for small claims from 9 percent to 2 percent. Another bill, HB 5483, would reduce the amount of time a judgment can be pursued from 27 years to five years. Other bills in the package would make it harder for creditors to take people’s wages or money from the sale of their home or vehicle, and establish a “debtor’s bill of rights.”

* Other bills…

* Illinois considers changing gun transfer rules following Waffle House shooting: The Illinois Senate on Wednesday advanced new rules about the transfer of firearms in response to the mass shooting at a Waffle House last month in Nashville, Tenn. Travis Reinking of downstate Morton has been charged with four counts of criminal homicide in the killings. Authorities have said his firearm owner’s identification card previously had been revoked and his guns transferred to his father, who returned them. The measure aims to prevent similar situations by allowing for a minimum of one year in jail for people who return firearms without first checking to see if the recipient has a valid license. There’s currently no punishment on the books.

* Gun dealer licensing compromise passes Senate: “Every gun used in the state of Illinois to kill someone starts as a legal gun,” Harmon said. “Somewhere between the manufacturer and the crime scene, someone who is pretending to be a law-abiding gun owner is not. This bill attacks that problem.”

* Illinois Rep. Says Grad Student Union Is Disrespectful To Military: State Rep. Jeanne Ives, a Republican from Wheaton, is a proud West Point grad, and not a fan of unions. So when state Rep.Will Guzzardi, a Chicago Democrat, proposed expanding grad student union benefits to include research assistants, Ives was outraged by an anti-military petition on the group’s website, and a verbal firefight ensued. Guzzardi: “Representative your political disagreements with the positions of this union have not the slightest bearing with either the merits of this legislation or the first amendments rights of employees to collectively bargain.” Ives: “This has everything to do with this legislation because these are not the people that we should be expanding benefits for.”

  30 Comments      


Ill. Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman retiring next month

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

By Hannah Meisel

* Press release…

Justice Charles E. Freeman, the first African-American to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court and as Chief Justice, has announced he will be retiring effective June 14 after a long and distinguished career as a lawyer and judge. Justice Freeman, 84, is the fifth-longest serving justice in Illinois Supreme Court history at 27 years, six months.

“I have been honored to serve with Justice Freeman for nearly 13½ years. As one of the most senior and experienced members of the Illinois judiciary, Justice Freeman brought to the court not only a wealth of legal knowledge, but also unparalleled insight into the court as an institution,” Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier said. “As the first African-American to sit on the high court, he inspired generations of attorneys of color to pursue careers in public service and positions of leadership. As a colleague, he was the embodiment of collegiality.

“It is impossible to overstate Justice Freeman’s impact on Illinois law. In the course of his long tenure, he has participated in resolution of some of the most difficult and important controversies to come before the courts of Illinois. Research nearly any point of Illinois law and you will find controlling precedent that he authored. While Justice Freeman may be retiring from office, the extraordinary body of legal decisions he helped craft will serve as an enduring legacy of his commitment to justice and to the people of Illinois.”

* The court has already appointed First District Appellate Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. to fill Freeman’s seat, effective June 15 through Dec. 7, 2020.


* Freeman has had an interesting and varied career in the law. He was born in Richmond, Virginia and was descended from slaves freed by Quakers before the American Civil War. He came to Chicago to pursue a law degree from the John Marshall Law School in 1962, and remained in Illinois ever since.

After serving as an Illinois assistant attorney general, Cook County assistant state’s attorney, he was appointed by various governors (Otto Kerner, Dan Walker) to state administrative law positions.

Justice Freeman won election to the Cook County Circuit Court in 1976 and served for 10 years, during which time he swore in longtime friend Harold Washington as Mayor in 1983. The two had shared an office in Chicago as attorneys.

Freeman was elected to the First District Appellate Court in 1986, and then was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990, defeating his opponent Robert Chapman Buckley 62 percent to 38 percent.

In 1997, Freeman was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Chief Justice, a role he served in for three years, making him the first African-American to lead a branch of Illinois government.

Asked about the significance of being the first African-American Chief Justice, Freeman responded, “I’m an African American who now has become chief judge; I’m not an AfricanAmerican chief justice. I have no different perception on what course I would take because of my heritage.”

* Freeman is known for his opinions upholding defendants’ rights, including a 1994 case in which the court ultimately overturned a wrongful conviction and saved the man from death row.

  14 Comments      


Bravery prevents tragedy in Dixon

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) on yesterday’s shooting at Dixon High School…

“The decisive actions taken by Officer Mark Dallas today prevented what could have been a tragedy on a massive scale at Dixon High School. I know I am joined by many in the Dixon-area and throughout the state in thanking him for his bravery; he is a true hero. His actions today also show the importance of school resource officers and the essential role they play in public safety by protecting students and teachers each and every day,” said Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon).

* Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin…

“Our hearts are heavy with the news of another school shooting. The quick, brave actions of Dixon Police Department School Resource Officer Mark Dallas stopped the gunman and saved many lives,” said IEA President Kathi Griffin. “Today’s events will undoubtedly cause some to wonder if arming teachers will somehow be a deterrent, a way to keep our children and our schools safe. But that’s not what our educators have signed up for. It’s the job of a school resource officer, and we commend him for keeping our students and staff safe.”

* Tribune

A school resource police officer is being lauded as a hero for intervening when a former student at Dixon High School opened fire Wednesday morning near the school gym where students were gathered for a graduation rehearsal, authorities said.

The officer, identified by the city as 15-year department veteran Mark Dallas, shot and injured the gunman after the suspect fired at the officer while trying to flee, police said.

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old former student Matthew A. Milby, was taken into custody, and no one else was injured in the gunfire exchange, authorities said. […]

According to WGN-Ch. 9, a woman who identified herself as the gunman’s mother told reporters, “My son has been very, very sad for a long time.”

She said her son was bullied and ostracized at school, and was beaten up in October. She said she doesn’t know where her son got a gun, according to WGN.

* ABC 7

Howell said Dallas ran toward the shots, coming face-to-face with Milby, a former student, holding a gun.

Milby ran away and out of the school. Police said he fired at Dallas when he tried to chase him down. That’s when the officer fired back, hitting and injuring Milby. […]

“I could not be more proud of the police officer and the way he responded to the situation. While shots were ringing out through the hallways of the school, he charged towards the suspect and confronted him head on,” Howell said. […]

Julie Milby, the alleged shooter’s mother, said her son was ostracized at school and left to finish his credits outside of class.

“I know that he’s been very sad for a long time,” she said. “Well, my kid is laying up at the hospital shot. Thank god they didn’t kill him, that’s a blessing. Thank god he didn’t kill anyone else.”

* CBS 2

Julie told NBC that she did not believe he was trying to hurt anyone and suspects he was “thinking they were going to kill him.” She said her son had been sad for so long.

According to Julie, Matt was on the football team but had been kicked off for smoking marijuana. She also said kids had stolen from him and his friends stopped talking to him, so he felt isolated.

Julie grew up with Officer Mark Dallas and told NBC they saw each other while she waited outside of the school yesterday. She was waiting for her son like other parents were, at this point she had no idea her son was the shooter.

According to Matt’s mother, he was badly beaten by a 25-year-old in October and said other kids just watched. After being beaten, Julie says the principal, Dr. Grady would let him stay in his office.

* SaukValley.com

Although several of his friends said he had not been to school in months, Milby was not expelled, as previously reported, did not drop out, and was eligible to graduate with his class, Superintendent Margo Empen said. She said she could not provide further details because of school privacy laws.

In fact, Milby went to the school this morning to pick up his cap and gown, his mother said.

Senior Caleb Carlson, 19, said he’s known Milby since middle school, when they were friends.

“I knew that he had quite a few guns,” he said.

* Gov. Rauner was asked about the shooting by Tom Miller of WJPF

Tom Miller: It’s interesting because Governor I couldn’t help but see yesterday’s Dixon event without using the filter of the proposal in Springfield to remove police officers and replace them with counselors.

Governor Rauner: Yes that’s exactly wrong. It’s fine for schools to have counselors as well, being proactive to deal with mental illness health issues that’s good and appropriate. And I think that was also included in my public safety proposal. I said let’s free up local sales tax revenues so schools have that choice, if they choose to, to have a resource officer, a security trained police officer or person as well if they also want mental health professionals that would be great. I supported that as well.

* But that bill he referred to was changed before it passed the House

State Rep. Chris Emanuel Welch, D-Westchester, said he amended his House Bill 4208 to take out some of the language that would have encouraged schools to phase out armed resource officers in favor of mental health professionals. Welch’s amended measure would create a new grant for schools “that would expand or create restorative justice programs, hire school psychologists, social workers and other mental health and behavioral specialists,” Welch said in floor debate Friday.

  10 Comments      


Governor tries to defend Rivian comments

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* More background is here. Bloomington radio station host Sam Wood said he “laid into” Gov. Bruce Rauner during his radio show yesterday over this

Gov. BRUCE RAUNER again falsely said in an appearance in Chicago last week that no auto company would take over the former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, omitting the fact that an electric vehicle manufacturer bought it in 2017 in a deal his own administration touted. […]

“We tried to get another … car manufacturer to take over the plant. No one would come in. No one would even take the plant if we gave it to them, because our regulations are so hostile to business and our taxes are so high.” […]

His Chicago remarks were similar to a story — minus the race of the United Auto Workers member involved — that Rauner told talk-show host TOM MILLER in December on Carterville-based WJPF, a station which bills itself as “the voice of southern Illinois.”

“I can’t give this plant away,” Rauner said then, adding, “No auto company wants to invest in Illinois because of (House Speaker MICHAEL) MADIGAN’s power, because of regulations and taxes.”

* Gov. Rauner told Wood his staff was monitoring Wood’s radio program, so he decided to call in unannounced

Wood: We’ve been talking a little bit about the news — CapitolFax reported out earlier today about some comments you made at a press conference about Rivian Automotive. I have not been filled in on why you’re calling. I’m assuming this is related to that?

Gov: It is. My team listens to you every day. I’m over in Quincy right now at the Veterans home meeting with our heroes here and talking about the new water sources at the veterans home. My team told me that some of our political opponents are spinning up a bunch of kind of false spin in the media and the blogs and with a reporter in Springfield.

Wood: Well I’m going to cut you off there, Governor. What spin? Because we don’t have much time. How is this being spun?

Gov: So quickly, somehow there’s some spin out there that I’m critical of Rivian or don’t think Rivian’s good or gonna do well, and that’s just not true. I love Rivian. We worked hard to recruit them. We cut a deal with them to give them EDGE tax credits and I’m all in for them to succeed. What some of our political opponents are taking out of context is my concern that our regulations and our taxes are not competitive and attractive for manufacturing firms, especially auto companies. The auto industry is booming around the country especially in Indiana and other states. We are not booming like they are we had a hard time finding someone to take that Mitsubishi plant. It had 1,000 UAW workers there and I want tens of thousands of UAW jobs created in Illinois, but our regulations and taxes are pushing us out. So we took a gamble with Rivian, they’re at 40 employees, which is awesome, they hope to add hundreds and we gave them EDGE credits to do it, but it’s frustrating because if we had better competitiveness as a state, we could already have thousands of jobs working in and around that facility. That’s, that was the point I made and it’s being spun, I think, in not a valid way.

Wood: But you can understand why a lot of people in Bloomington-Normal feel like — I mean, this is not the first time you have failed to mention Rivian Automotive. At the Kemp Forum, you completely dismissed the fact that there is an occupant inside that former Mitsubishi plant. It’s Rivian. Why the confusion? Why do you forget that plant is occupied?

Gov: It’s not forgetting, and it’s not being critical of Rivian. The fact is, if we were competitive, if we had the regulations and the tax structure to be attractive to major manufacturing firms, that plant would already be full. That’s not a criticism of Rivian. I’m cheering for them. We worked hard — I worked hard to bring them.

Wood: Gov. Rauner, where does the 1,000 employee number come from? Were you not aware of the benchmarks that were set up as a part of these tax incentives that were offered to Rivian?

Gov: Rivian has nothing to do with 1,000. We hope they get big. We don’t know how big. They’re a startup. The 1,000 was who was there before with Mitsubishi —

Wood: It was more than 1,000.

Gov: Well at the very end that’s what it was, it was way more than 1,000. We could have had thousands of folks there if we were competitive. That’s my point. That’s my only point. It’s not at all critical of Rivian. Rivian’s a great start-up. We want more high-tech start-ups in Illinois. But that plant could have and should have been full with UAW members if we were competitive. That was the point I was making.

Wood: But do you disagree with the fact that Rivian is meeting their benchmarks in terms of what was agreed-upon?

Gov: Uh, I haven’t looked at their latest benchmarks. They are a start-up doing well and we’re cheering for them and I’m a big advocate for Rivian. Different issue from what could have been in that plant if we were competitive, that was the point I’m making.

Wood: All right, fair enough.

Nobody said or even implied that the governor was “critical of Rivian or don’t think Rivian’s good or gonna do well.” The point was he continually talks like Rivian never opened its plant.

* Related…

* Local officials: Rauner wrong on Rivian

  27 Comments      


Yay!

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sometimes, you just feeling like cheering

  36 Comments      


CPS will get state oversight on special ed

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

The Illinois State Board of Education took on sweeping authority to supervise special education at Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday, voting to appoint an outside monitor who for at least three years will have to approve any changes to the district’s special ed policies and procedures.

ISBE will now meet with CPS to map out what state schools Superintendent Tony Smith described as “the road to transformation” after officials concluded that the district’s 2016 overhaul of special ed violated a swath of federal law and regulations.

“The corrective action and recommendations we offered today are the right first step to helping CPS fully serve all children and families,” Smith said in a statement. “The common good requires uncommonly good public schools.”

* Sun-Times

The ISBE vote Wednesday followed a state probe begun last fall after a group of special education advocates, bolstered by reporting from WBEZ, Chicago’s public radio station, asked for the state’s help in examining sudden and unpopular changes to special education at CPS, changes they believed were illegal and “driven by budgetary concerns.”

Among other things, state investigators held three public meetings in March and also collected some 8,600 pages of documents before releasing their report April 18.

In a press conference held after the state made its decision, Jesse Sharkey, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said the city’s board of education were “deaf, dumb and blind judges made of stone” to complaints that union members and parents brought before them.

“If they’re going to say ‘We’ve turned over a new leaf’ and ‘We hear you, and we’re going to now fix the problem,’ I want to know why they didn’t do anything to fix this problem for over a year when we brought them specific instances of this system being broken,” Sharkey said.

* WTTW

Advocates say a single independent monitor won’t be enough to clean things up.

“We cannot change this culture or practice at CPS without robust supports,” said Amy Zimmerman of the Legal Council for Health Justice, “and that’s going to require a significant amount not only of monitoring and ensuring compliance with the remedies that ISBE has put forth, but there’s also a requirement for a lot of technical assistance that they’re going to need.” […]

The district will have to get approval from the monitor to make any changes to special education policies or procedures, access to any and all meetings and trainings, as well as serving as the third party when staff, parents or advocates have a concern to raise.

Even the state board acknowledges it will be a heavy lift.

“It is a robust report,” said Stephanie Jones, general counsel for ISBE. “There’s a lot of requirements, and it’s probably more than one person can do. We acknowledge that. But we do believe that we have the staffers in the agency to support the monitor and provide the services that ISBE is requiring of itself to provide, through the recommendations, and also provide the oversight that we believe CPS needs.”

  5 Comments      


Orr outlines three campaign reform ideas

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Cook County Clerk David Orr sat down with the Sun-Times editorial board to lay out three reform ideas

Between the deadline for candidates to file their petitions and the start of early voting, there simply isn’t enough time to fairly settle all ballot challenges. Most recently, candidates had to file by Dec. 4, and early voting started on March 5.

Orr wants to add two more weeks, and the Legislature should go for it, although his companion idea to move the primary to May might not get much support.

Second, Orr points out that it makes no sense to require some candidates for office in Cook County to gather more than 8,000 signatures when only 5,000 are needed to run for governor. To run for mayor of Chicago, a candidate must collect 12,500 valid signatures, which in the real world of city politics usually means having to collect at least 25,000 signatures to weather the storm of petition challenges. […]

A little excessive, can we agree? A 5,000-signature cap on signatures for all state and local offices would be prudent.

A third promising idea is to follow Denver’s lead and allow people circulating petitions to use internet-connected tablet computers that would instantly determine whether a signature on a petition is valid. That would cut down on the time needed to deal with signature challenges after candidates file.

A May primary would be a nightmare for legislators stuck in session. I just don’t see that happening.

Any other ideas?

  13 Comments      


Rate the new anti-Rauner online ad

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois Working Together


Bruce Rauner Has Failed At Growing Jobs in Illinois

Bruce Rauner told us he could grow jobs, but after three years in office Illinois is growing fewer jobs than before Rauner. Invest in our state, stop attacking working families, and let's get Illinois back on track!

Posted by Illinois Working Together on Wednesday, May 16, 2018

  15 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 - Rep. Bryant to Dunn: Resign *** SIU President Dunn “reveals his contempt for the Carbondale campus and community”

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Kathleen Chwalisz, co-chair of the SIUC Faculty Senate Budget Committee, in a Southern Illinoisan op-ed

After Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the rest of the region were blindsided last month by a $5 million reallocation threat to campus and the associated $39 million threat to the region, the SIUC community has been wondering, “How did we get here?”

Budget-related documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act show that SIU President Randy Dunn actively concealed from SIUC Chancellor Carlo Montemagno his plan to transfer $5.125 million from the Carbondale to Edwardsville campus. He sought to use the fictitious 60/40 split formula to — in Dunn’s words in an email exchange with Vice President Duane Stucky, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and SIUE Budget Director William Winter — “shut up the b*tchers from Carbondale.”

Randy Dunn’s email reveals his contempt for the Carbondale campus and community, as he denigrates us for questioning the rationale, process and timing of the proposed reallocation move.

In emails and meeting notes, it is apparent that Dunn charged SIUE officials to come up with justification for a manufactured dollar amount — and Board of Trustees Chair Amy Sholar was in on the plan.

Go read the whole thing.

*** UPDATE *** Rep. Terri Bryant, who represents SIUC, just delivered a thundering address on the House floor calling for Randy Dunn to resign immediately.

…Adding… Rep. Bryant did a radio interview after her floor speech. Click here.

…Adding… Rep. Bryant’s full floor speech is here.

  53 Comments      


Madigan files identical bill to Rauner’s AV, plans hearing

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* House Speaker Michael J. Madigan…

“The issues the governor raised in his amendatory veto of House Bill 1468 deserve a full hearing and consideration before the House. With this in mind, we have filed an amendment to Senate Bill 2580, containing the exact language the governor suggested. The amendment will be sent directly to the House floor this morning and a subject matter hearing on the measure will be held on Monday afternoon. We look forward to hearing from stakeholders and continuing our effort to keep our children, our schools and our communities safe from senseless gun violence.”

The amendment is here.

Thoughts?

  39 Comments      


Why won’t the governor speak up about the ERA?

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* NewsRadio

As state lawmakers delay a vote on the Equal Rights Amendment, the Democrat running against Gov. Bruce Rauner is pushing him to say where he stands on it. […]

The Rauner campaign responded with this statement: “The Governor supports equal rights for everyone.”

* Sun-Times

Democrats have clearly calculated that bringing up the ERA at this time puts Republicans, especially Rauner, in a tough spot.

For the governor, declaring himself in favor of the amendment would risk further alienating the conservative wing of the Republican Party that he is trying to win back after a divisive primary election against Rep. Jeanne Ives.

Conservative Republicans argue the ERA would open the way for government-paid abortions and co-ed prisons, which ERA supporters deny.

But openly opposing the ERA would hurt Rauner’s chances with women voters, particularly the suburban independent women who provided an important part of his winning coalition in 2014.

* ABC 7

With concerns about taking any stand that might further anger his base this election year, Governor Rauner has refused to directly support the Amendment.

“I’ve made my position clear, I support equal rights for everyone,” Rauner said.

  8 Comments      


Rauner wants Quincy bill passed right away

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

Rauner also urged lawmakers to act quickly to authorize $230 million to rebuild the post-Civil War era veterans home, including replacing aging water pipes that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contends may be the source of bacterial contamination.

“We need that bill to pass,” Rauner said, adding “that bill should have been sent to my desk already.”

“For the legislation, the General Assembly’s meeting today. They’ve been meeting every day. They could get this done, like today, tomorrow,” he said.

They need a few more days than that.

The administration-backed bill authorizing the money was introduced Wednesday. The House and Senate need three days each to pass a new bill.

* Related…

* Quincy, state will split cost for new city water source

* Rauner: State will help fund new water source for Quincy

  33 Comments      


DuPage Credit Union: Helping Students In Need

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

For the fifth year in a row, DuPage Credit Union will host its annual “We’ve Got Your Back” fundraiser in partnership with the DuPage Regional Office of Education and Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet. This event raises money for students across DuPage County who are in need and exemplifies the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.” The credit union expects to raise more than $10,000 this year; 100% of the proceeds will go towards school supplies for students in DuPage County. The “We’ve Got Your Back” fundraiser has raised more than $50,000 and provided more than 4,200 DuPage County students in need with backpacks packed with school essentials since its inception. This year’s event has recently kicked off, and donations will be accepted through July at any branch location or at https://www.dupagecu.com/backpacks/.

  Comments Off      


Suburban volleyball coach’s accusers testify in Senate hearing

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

By Hannah Meisel

* Michael O’Brien and Jon Seidel from the Sun-Times have been following this story for months now, in November publishing an expose on former Olympic volleyball coach turned suburban club coach Rick Butler’s alleged sexual abuse of his female team members.

Since then, Butler has been class action suit from parents and past alleged victims.

* Earlier this week, two of Butler’s former players testified in front of a special Senate committee hearing on sexual harassment about the alleged sexual abuse and even rape they endured while being coached by Butler decades ago.

They asked lawmakers to consider extending the statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases, in situations when the accused abuser threatens to sue victims for defamation to try to keep them from coming forward.

* The Sun-Times’ report details how Butler and his wife, who run the Sports Performance Volleyball Club in Aurora, allegedly threatened the girls into silence.

Three women who in the 1990s accused a popular west suburban volleyball coach of sexual abuse have long said he was never prosecuted because they didn’t make their accusations until crucial legal deadlines had passed.

But Tuesday, one of them told state lawmakers Rick Butler could have faced criminal charges if another accuser, who remains anonymous to this day, had come forward at the same time. Instead, she was allegedly threatened into silence.

“She’s still ‘Jane Doe,’ as you can imagine,” Sarah Powers-Barnhard said during a hearing in Springfield. “And that came from being threatened.”

* WGN’s account of Sarah Powers Barnhard’s testimony

“He told me I had to follow him blindly. That if I wanted to reach my goals to play in college and the Olympics, I had to understand I was different from everybody else. I had to follow him blindly. I just listened and he just leaned over and kissed me. I hadn’t even kissed a boy at that point,” Powers Barnhard said.

She said kissing was just the beginning. And while she played for him, he sexually assaulted her hundreds of times.

“When we were in Germany as a team, we were on a train, and he grabbed me and took me into the bathroom and raped me there with my teammates close by,” she said.

“We were staying in tents and our host put is in a room. Rick slept on the floor next to me and he fondled me during the night with my teammates next to me. I could do nothing about it.”

* Tribune story

“I’m not here today because I want to relive all of the horrible things that Rick Butler did to me when I was a child entrusted to his care,” Julie Romias said in a hushed Capitol hearing room. “I’m here because I feel that I have to be because change needs to happen.”

So awful.

  17 Comments      


*** LIVE *** Session coverage

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


  Comments Off      


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

Thursday, May 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

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« NEWER POSTS PREVIOUS POSTS »
* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* The Waukegan City Clerk was railroaded
* Whatever happened, the city has a $40 million budget hole it didn't disclose until now
* Manar gives state agencies budget guidance: Cut, cut, cut
* Roundup: Ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis testifies in Madigan corruption trial
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

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