The city of Quincy is building a new, alternate water source that will feed cleaner water to its residents and those who live at the Illinois Veterans’ Home, Gov. Bruce Rauner announced today.
City officials will break ground on a large diameter, Ranney collector well in August. It’s being partially funded through a $3 million grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which will cover half the cost of construction. The City of Quincy will cover the remaining costs and will operate the new well.
* Rauner campaign…
“Pritzker is trying to have it both ways by calling Governor Rauner’s trips to Quincy ‘a political stunt.’ It’s time for Pritzker to put politics aside and call on Madigan to pass the funding bill through the General Assembly to get this done for the veterans at Quincy.” -Rauner campaign spokesman Will Allison
* A short video provided by the Rauner campaign shows Pritzker did, indeed, refer to Rauner’s Quincy visit as a “political stunt”…
* The Pritzker campaign, however, provided this transcript from today…
Reporter: So should the legislature authorize the $250 million dollars?
JB: I do believe the legislature is going to have to act to, again, the reports give us a couple of options here and one of them is tearing down the existing buildings and replacing them, moving the residents. Here’s the most important thing we’ve got to do and act upon right now: make sure our veterans and their families are safe. That’s the principle you have to act on from the very beginning, it’s taken him two and a half years or more to get there. So whatever money gets spent right now has to be money to make sure our veterans are safe and secure.
* The bill in question is SB3611. The legislation would appropriate $16.1 million for “campus improvements, water quality improvement projects, and emergency capital projects at the Quincy Veterans Home including, but not limited to, any other State owned building in Quincy.” It also appropriates $230 million for “campus upgrades, and other capital improvements.”
The bill was just introduced today. Its effective date isn’t until July 1.
Needless to say, sending an appropriations bill over to the House in mid-May is not something the Senate Democrats would like to do. Speaker Madigan could use that approp bill to make all sorts of mischief with amendments. In the past, he’s amended Senate appropriations bills with the House’s budget, launched them across the rotunda and then immediately adjourned, leaving the Senate the choice of passing it as-is or forcing an overtime session.
Attorneys on behalf of thousands of low-income people filed a motion in court on Wednesday to enforce federal law and the State of Illinois’ agreement to process Medicaid applications in a timely fashion. The attorneys charge that the State is violating both federal law and an Illinois court order by significantly delaying Medicaid applications and denying residents access to health coverage.
The motion, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, asks the court to enforce an existing consent decree that requires the State to determine eligibility for Medicaid within federal timelines, and to offer temporary medical assistance to people whose applications nonetheless pend beyond the federal time limits. The advocates allege the State is woefully behind on its processing and has not offered temporary medical assistance as a solution.
“I have represented a multitude of youth clients experiencing homelessness, many of whom have significant physical and mental healthcare needs, who are going without access to care for months,” said Tanya Gassenheimer, Youth Health Attorney at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Gassenheimer, who helps youth experiencing homelessness apply for Medicaid and file appeals with DHS regarding any issues with those applications, filed a declaration in the motion. “My clients rely on programs like Medicaid for survival. These issues are simply inexcusable and it’s well past time for DHS to act.”
Under federal law, the State of Illinois is required to process most applications for Medicaid—the federal-state program that provides health coverage to roughly 3 million Illinoisans—within 45 days. Pursuant to the existing consent decree in Cohen v. Wright, if a determination has not been made in that period, the State must notify applicants that they are eligible for temporary coverage and promptly provide it if requested.
Yet as detailed in declarations filed by enrollment assisters and healthcare providers, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) is months behind in processing applications and has also stopped sending notices offering temporary eligibility. As a result, tens of thousands of low-income people throughout Illinois are being denied medical care. Among the widespread suffering and hardship, pregnant women are giving birth without health coverage, people facing mental health crises are missing treatment, and children with serious medical conditions are forgoing crucial medication. […]
Plaintiffs allege that delays in processing Medicaid applications have worsened in the last several months, and that eligible individuals are routinely waiting for three to six months to have their applications processed and approved. The lawsuit comes after lawyers representing the plaintiffs tried for months to resolve the issues without legal action, but were unable to compel DHS to comply.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 - Posted by Advertising Department
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Gov. Bruce Rauner is joining humanitarian and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bruce Montgomery Operation HOPE, 815 W. 63rd St., 4th Floor, Chicago, IL, to sign an executive order that will give African Americans a fair share of all state contracts.
For three-years, Dr. Wilson has been working on getting a state bill passed to get equity for blacks seeking state contracts. He thanked Rep. Will Davis (D-30th) and Senator Mattie Hunter (D-3rd) for helping to get a bill passed that creates a task force to ensure African Americans get their fair share of state contracts.
Thursday, Dr. Wilson said the governor would sign an executive order guaranteeing that Blacks will get a fair share of state contracts including ads for the black press. “This is a big deal,” Dr. Wilson said.
The executive order will create a Commission charged with issuing regularly proposed solutions to systemic causes in minority including African-American participation in state procurements. It will review on a quarterly basis state agency performance as it relates to African American businesses and to increase transparency surrounding state agency compliance, report results to the African American-owned business community.
(W)hat is the most expensive race of 2018 so far? Try the gubernatorial contest in Illinois between wealthy Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and wealthy Democratic opponent J.B. Pritzker, where a whopping $66 million has already been spent on TV and radio ads, per Advertising Analytics.
Here are the most expensive contests of 2018 in terms of ad spending through May 13:
Illinois Governor: $66.3 million
Indiana Senate: $16.0 million
Florida Governor: $15.2 million
Wisconsin Senate: $14.2 million
Ohio Governor: $12.9 million
PA-18 race: $11.9 million
Georgia Governor: $10.5 million
West Virginia Senate: $9.6 million
Florida Senate: $8.9 million
Pennsylvania Governor: $8.9 million
* Lari A. Dierks takes a very long, but quite sound look at the pension “consideration” proposals currently under consideration. Her conclusion…
Illinois faces drastically increasing pension payments that will continue to strain the revenue available for other vital state services. While current employees’ retirement benefits could be modified through classic contract principles, the illusory proposals offered by Governor Rauner or Senate President Cullerton will likely fail in the courts. To successfully withstand a constitutional challenge, the consideration offered to employees must provide a true benefit that is not currently available to the employee. While this idea is generally inconsistent with the overall goal of pension reform, it may be possible to offer a new, subjectively greater, benefit to the employee that would result in monetary relief for the state.
At the end of the day, significant decisions must be made by the Governor and the legislature to ensure the fiscal health of the state and the pension systems. The Illinois Supreme Court established the boundaries of these potential decisions through its decisions emphasizing that pension benefits may not be unilaterally diminished or impaired. It is true that the court may entertain modification of pension benefits using the classic contract principles of valid offer, acceptance, and consideration. Still, the key to this caveat left by the court focuses on the validity of the consideration offered. The choice between two currently available benefits does not satisfy the test for valid consideration; thus, it is unlikely that the current “consideration” proposals would withstand the court’s scrutiny. Put bluntly, such a false promise of consideration does nothing to rectify Illinois’ growing pension payments and liabilities. Going forward, responsible debate should focus on true consideration, reform of the tax system, or modification of the state’s statutorily required contribution.
The article’s title is “A Lesson from Goodfellas: Why Current Illinois Consideration Based Pension Reform Proposals Still Fail.” I believe it refers to this video clip that you shouldn’t watch if you don’t like profanity or are at work.
State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Buffalo Grove, filed a motion Wednesday to accept Gov. Bruce Rauner’s changes to Carroll’s legislation limiting access to military-style assault rifles in the wake of the Parkland shooting. While Rauner is insisting on a number of unvetted, last-minute changes to the bipartisan bill, Carroll will seek to move the amended legislation forward and will hold discussions with all stakeholders.
Carroll released the following statement Wednesday:
“I was disturbed to learn through the media—and not from the governor himself—that Governor Rauner had made completely unvetted changes to my bill. While I’m new to this Legislature, I’m shocked that the governor’s approach to an issue that has long divided Republicans and Democrats is to veto bipartisan legislation and substitute his own language at the last minute, without any consultation from the bill’s sponsors, supporters, or even from his own bipartisan gun safety task force.
“But my focus remains on enacting serious gun laws that keep deadly, military-style assault rifles off our streets, and keep our children, our schools and our communities safe. I will not let the governor end debate by forcing a political stalemate, and that is why I filed the motion to accept the governor’s amendatory veto.”
“The House has for decades had a process where amendatory vetoes are reviewed to deter whether they comply with the constitution,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, Rauner’s political nemesis. “I’m not certain what (the death penalty) necessarily has to do with gun violence or guns.”
Should Madigan determine that Rauner’s plan is too broad, legislators may never have the chance to vote on it – killing both Rauner’s package and the underlying measure to put a hold on gun purchases.
What [Gov. Rod Blagojevich] did was use his amendatory veto power to change the bill, adding the free [transit] rides for seniors but leaving stand the [CTA sales] tax increase. The Legislature narrowly approved the change.
…Adding… I suppose it’s possible that they could run the floor vote just to put Republicans on record, particularly on the gun control stuff. We’ll see.
* Other bills…
* Illinois lawmakers ask, does research count as work?: The House Labor & Commerce Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to continue discussing a measure allowing all graduate students to collectively bargain. State law says students who work as teaching assistants can unionize but not those who work as research assistants.
* Lawmakers Consider Physician Exemption For Lyme Disease: Illinois lawmakers could give doctors more protection when it comes to prescribing experimental drugs for Lyme disease. Experts say the bloodsucking bugs could be expanding their range this year, spreading the disease and other tick-borne illnesses. … The proposal would exempt doctors from disciplinary action in these cases. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is opposed to the idea. Meghan Kolassa, with the department, said no doctors have been disciplined for treating Lyme disease in Illinois.
* On Local Food Lobby Day, lobbyists ask for leeway to grow hemp in Illinois: Osland said there is potential for Illinois to grow hemp that it now imports from China, Europe, Canada and other states such as Kentucky. Illinois’ hemp bill, which passed in 2014, currently allows only certain universities to apply for permits to grow hemp for research. The Industrial Hemp Farming Bill (SB2298) would allow Illinois farmers to apply for permits to grow hemp as authorized in the 2014 farm bill. … Industrial hemp can outcompete “super weeds” that are herbicide resistant, she said. It can also be a transition crop on the way to organic certification. Part of the opposition is connected with those against legalizing marijuana. Therapeutic hemp is thought to have medicinal benefits but is not a drug by definition, Osland said. There is also some pushback from the medial cannabis industry that wants exclusive rights for therapeutic products.
* Our View: In Illinois, bet on expanded gambling: One local company will surely be watching what happens next – if it hasn’t already begun lobbying to make it so. Effingham-based J&J Ventures owns many of those video gaming terminals across the state. Managing Member Bob Willenborg offered a carefully worded statement on Monday about the potential for widespread gambling on sports.
* Powering Into the Future: Illinois, which passed grid-modernization bills in 2011 and 2016, ranked second in Gridwise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index. The Future Energy Jobs Act, passed in 2016, created incentives for utility efficiency and demand-response investment and builds on previous smart-grid efforts with modern regulatory and pricing approaches. It also removes market barriers to real-time power pricing options. “Illinois is now a leader with New York in helping its grid move forward and evolve in the 21st Century,” says Illinois Senator Sue Rezin (R). “Illinois chose to keep its highly reliable nuclear fleet operating at full speed for the next 10 years while phasing in the energy efficiency programs.”
Illinois is spending millions to rent a warehouse in Springfield to store Department of Human Services’ records when it could have been purchased for substantially less, state Sen. Andy Manar said Tuesday.
Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said the administration of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a five-year, $2.4 million lease for property at 2410 South Grand Ave. E. that could have been purchased for about one-third of that cost.
The warehouse was the former home of Barney’s Furniture before the store moved to a new location on Wabash Avenue last year. Chicago-based Climate Controlled Holdings LLC bought the building from Barney’s. That sale closed at the beginning of this year, Sangamon County records show. Climate Controlled then leased the building to the state for five years at a cost of $478,256 annually the first two years, $487,881 for years three and four, and $497,507 for the final year.
The latest county assessment shows the property has a fair market value of $1.2 million. Manar said Tuesday the building could have been purchased for $750,000.
* The Illinois Auditor General is out with its report today, and it’s stinging…
The decision to enter into the lease actually involved two different leases – one for a file storage warehouse and one for an IT (Information Technology) and Telecommunications Support Center. After the winning vendors were selected but prior to the final award, the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) switched the purposes of the leases and the using agencies. However, CMS violated a provision of the Illinois Procurement Code by awarding leases to vendors who were not qualified respondents for the leases awarded. For example, the vendor awarded the warehouse lease was not a qualified respondent under the Procurement Code as it had submitted a response for the IT and Telecommunications Support Center and not the warehouse lease. This was no fault of the vendors as the decision to switch leases was made by CMS. In addition:
• Offers were evaluated and awards selected based on the requirements set forth in the solicitation document. These requirements were then changed.
• CMS and the Chief Procurement Office for General Services have characterized the switch of the leases as substituting using agencies. However, the switch was not a simple substituting of using agencies. Not only were the agencies changed, the purposes of the leases were changed, the structural layouts were changed, the tenant space requirements were changed, and the prices offered were changed.
• Other responders did not get the opportunity to change their bids to meet the new lease requirements violating the principle of fair and equal treatment.
• By not rebidding, CMS may have excluded potential bidders who were not afforded the opportunity to bid on the new space requirements.
• The State Purchasing Officer responsible for reviewing the leases could not provide adequate documentation of review.
Other key findings of the audit include the following:
• The information provided by CMS to the Procurement Policy Board for the Department of Human Services (DHS) warehouse lease was misleading and incomplete which hampered the Board’s ability to review the lease. A draft version of the information sent to the Board contained additional language explaining the switching of leases but it was removed in the final version sent to the Board.
• The amount of space requested in the DHS space request was insufficient to meet its file storage needs. DHS also could not provide documentation demonstrating any cost savings resulting from consolidating files.
• CMS did not conduct an analysis of the cost-benefit of purchasing instead of leasing the property at 2410 South Grand Ave. East.
• DHS has not conducted a comprehensive cost- benefit analysis of digitizing records.
The switching of leases lacked transparency. The information provided by CMS to the Procurement Policy Board for the DHS warehouse lease was misleading and incomplete which hampered the Board’s ability to review the lease. Based on the information provided, the Board would have been unable to tell that the lease originated as an IT and Telecommunications Support Center. A draft version of the white paper prepared by CMS contained additional explanatory language that was removed in the final version sent to the Board.
The Department of Central Management Services and the Chief Procurement Office for General Services should put procedures in place to ensure that leases are awarded only to qualified respondents who submitted bids meeting the original lease specifications. […]
The Procurement Policy Board should consider developing a written conflict of interest policy for Board members to clarify instances where a conflict may exist and establish steps to take when a conflict does exist.
I’m sure there will be react, so this post will likely be updated.
*** UPDATE 1 *** GOP Rep. Dave McSweeney…
The Performance Audit report on the Barney’s warehouse lease is a devastating indictment of incompetence and wasteful spending. My HJR 63, which I worked closely on with Senators Manar and Tom Cullerton, helped bring light to this situation. I hope that all ten recommendations by the Auditor General are immediately implemented.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton…
“The release of today’s audit report on the Gov. Bruce Rauner’s corrupt insider deal is eye opening. I was honored to work with Senator Manar and Representative McSweeney to pass HJR 63. Many questions are still left out there including whether Governor Rauner will ever admit his failure in leadership and the obvious corruption revealed within this report. I trust the Attorney General is reviewing the details of this audit.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Democratic Sen. Andy Manar…
Audit results released today regarding the Rauner administration’s pricey lease of a Springfield warehouse for paper storage confirms what some lawmakers have known all along: that the deal doesn’t pass the smell test.
State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), chairman of the Senate Appropriations II Committee, said he is troubled by the audit report.
“At various points in the process, people chose to ignore rules, guidelines and best practices that are there to eliminate questions about backroom deals and political favors,” Manar said. “This was an unnecessary cost to taxpayers, and it seems to me the problems uncovered by this audit merit further scrutiny.”
“I still have a lot of questions, and I think it is clear more conversations should occur, not the least of which are about the ethical expectations and the spending priorities of the Rauner administration,” Manar said.
“Ultimately, I think the average Illinois taxpayer doesn’t believe we should be spending money on politically connected leases for storing paper. We have more important needs in Illinois. I’ve never understood why any of this happened to begin with.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Comptroller Mendoza…
We are studying the Auditor General’s disturbing findings about the Rauner Administration manipulating leases to reward insiders. The stinging audit finding that the Rauner Administration violated state procurement code vindicates our decision to put a hold on the payments of these leases.
The Comptroller’s office exists to serve as a watchdog for the taxpayers of Illinois and when state contracts are found to be in violation of state laws or codes, you can bet I will hold those up for review. A decision about whether or when we release the hold on these payments will come after further review of these alarming audit findings.
*** UPDATE 5 *** CMS…
As the Auditor General’s report notes, the Illinois Chief Procurement Office (CPO), which oversees State procurements agreed that CMS properly complied with Section 40 of the Illinois State Procurement Code.
However, per the Auditor General’s recommendations, CMS has taken steps to tighten up the leasing procurement process. We have made improvements that will ensure more comprehensive documentation, including revision of the agency space request form to clarify reasons for choice of location. CMS is also revising its process to require formal documentation of decisions on leasing vs. purchase of real property. CMS has proposed legislation (SB3143) to annually analyze all leases with a purchase option and to provide recommendations to the General Assembly on leasing vs. purchase decisions. The Department has also implemented better procedures to protect confidential information, and to ensure that staff adheres to recommended practices throughout the procurement process going forward.
*** UPDATE 6 *** Pritzker campaign…
“Violating procurement law, skirting accountability requirements, and handing out no-bid contracts to unqualified vendors is how Bruce Rauner does procurement reform,” said Pritzker campaign spokesman Jason Rubin. “This scathing report shines a light on a failed governor whose mismanagement keeps costing Illinois taxpayers.”
* But Gov. Rauner seems to be a little behind on the space-time continuum when it comes to this issue, because he keeps publicly implying that the plant sits empty…
“We tried to get another car plant to come in, 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.”
* But wait…has the Mitsubishi plant really been sitting empty for nearly two years? The way the governor tells it, no one would be faulted if they believed that to be the case…
November 2016: The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity cut a $49 million EDGE tax credit deal with Michigan-based car company Rivian Automotive.
* So Bernie Schoenberg asked the governor yesterday why he repeatedly acts like the plant is closed and completely unproductive…
Bernie: Governor, why did you say last week at the Kemp Forum last week that the business climate is so bad that no one would buy that [Mitsubishi] plant and people are moving out of state from it, when you were there a year ago with Rivian Automotive CEO to open the new plant and the state is offering $49 million in incentives? You have repeatedly said in forums that no one will buy that plant — isn’t that a flat-out falsehood?
Rauner: Um, Rivian didn’t really buy it. They sort of were pretty much given the plant —
Bernie: You said nobody would even take it if we gave it to them. So that was also wrong. You said that last week in the Kemp Forum when you were trying to say how bad Illinois is. I’m wondering why you keep telling that falsehood?
Rauner: There’s nothing false about it, Bernie. We are not competitive on our regulations and our taxes. This is a huge problem. It’s the reason we have outmigration net from the state. And we’re not growing anywhere near as fast as we should. These facts are well-established. We’re working as hard as we can. We’ve added about 180,000 new jobs since I became governor, we’ve been working hard to do it. I’m proud of that. But you know what? We should be growing five times faster than that, and to do it, we need to get regulatory relief on our businesses, cut the red tape. We need to bring down our tax burden. Our taxes are already too high —
Bernie: They have 40 employees already. They have promised to have 500 within a few years or 1,000 to match — to get the state aid that you promised: the tax break. How can you keep saying, ‘Nobody will buy that plant, nobody will use that plant’ when you were there? They have 40 employees, your own Department of Commerce has a deal with them — it’s just a flat-out falsehood, is it not?
Rauner: [laughs] No, Bernie, it’s not at all. That plant should have well over 1,000 people today. And that plant should have brought hundreds of millions of dollars today. We had to basically cut a deal on the hope, on a gamble that it might work out. And it’s the best we could do and hopefully that will become successful someday. But that should be generating tax revenue already today and should be hugely successful over the last five years. Our regulations and our taxes have driven our employers out of the state. That’s a fact and we’ve got to change it. And raising our taxes will not solve our problem.
* This isn’t the first time Bernie has tried to pin down the governor on the story about the Mitsubishi plant: Read his December story here.
* Ever since the days when the Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed, the constitutional amendment would regularly pass one Illinois legislative chamber and then die in the other. The Senate approved the measure earlier this year…
BREAKING: Rep. Lang says he does not have the votes and will not call the ERA for a vote today in the Illinois House.
At a presser afterward, Lang said part of the reason he's not looking to call #SJRCA4 in the House today is that every vote is needed and there are some attendance issues. #twill#ERAIllinoishttps://t.co/9UHEvVrlj6
Vice Chair Rep Wallace asks #ERA opponent Bouc, who testified that her oppo comes from her great advocacy for women, to tell cmte what kind of work she's done for women:
"Have you spoken on women-specific programs and issues before?"
Some video of Rep. Lang’s press conference is here.
* But a Chicago event is apparently going ahead anyway…
JB Pritzker and ERA Advocates to Hold Press Conference Ahead of House Vote
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Women’s March Co-Founder Jessica Scheller to Speak
WHAT
JB Pritzker to speak in support of the Equal Rights Amendment and call on Bruce Rauner to stand with Illinois women. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Women’s March co-founder Jessica Scheller and ERA advocates to join press conference.
WHEN
Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00 AM
…Adding… JB Pritzker…
“It’s time to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. I urge Republicans and Democrats in the House to come together and get this done, and I call on the governor to get off the sidelines and finally summon the courage to lead,” said JB Pritzker. “This isn’t hard. Women are asking for some basic rights. Our state is dealing with a lot of complicated issues. This isn’t one of them. Bruce Rauner should declare his support, and ask members of his own party to step up and vote for the ERA. I’m proud to stand with supporters of the ERA to fight for its passage, and I will be an unwavering advocate and ally for women’s rights as I have always been. It’s time for Bruce Rauner to do the same.”
Governor Bruce Rauner’s surprise proposal to revive a debate over the death penalty for cop killers and mass murderers in Illinois drew mixed reactions from the state legislature on Tuesday. […]
Rauner initially said that his death penalty proposal would “dramatically increase public safety.” But pressed on whether or not the policy would actually deter mass shootings, he only said it would be “serving justice.”
“I’ve never said that it’s a deterrent, but I believe that is the appropriate penalty in the worst crimes that are imaginable within society,” [House Republican Leader Jim Durkin] said, adding that restoring the death penalty would signal a shift in how police officers are perceived by the public.
“We have to be able to change society about who we respect. Right now, there’s an attitude that police are the ones that are being vilified more so than the criminals who are committing these terrible crimes. So, we have to change the attitude about what police do. It’s for the people who have lambasted the police and have been highly critical of police. When their house is burglarized, who do they call? They call the first people, the police, to come over.”
Kind of a stretch.
* Related…
* Zorn: Even a ‘no doubt’ death penalty is fatally flawed: What we do know, Dunham said, is that in many of the 162 cases since the mid-1970s in which death row inmates have ultimately been exonerated, lower-level appellate courts have thundered about the “overwhelming evidence of guilt.”
* Former Gov. Quinn calls Rauner death penalty proposal ‘insincere’: “I think it’s regrettable that Rauner has tied this issue to anything other than a straight up issue of the death penalty,” Quinn told the Sun-Times. “It deserves that kind of complete focus, to not be tied to anything else. It hurts democracy. I think his actions yesterday were completely insincere. And it’s the way he operates.”
* Rauner on Death Penalty: More Politics than Policy?: The death penalty is not a deterrent, said Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association, an independent prison monitor and criminal justice reform advocacy group. She said the move was a step back from the strides Rauner made in criminal justice reform. … “It doesn’t do any favors to the state of Illinois,” Vollen-Katz said. “It is not going to make us safer, it is not going to save us money, it is just another failed tough-on-crime policy that seems to be an attempt at gaining attention and not doing what’s right for the people of Illinois.” … “We are distressed and alarmed by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call for the reinstatement of the death penalty in any way, shape or form,” the [Catholic Conference of Illinois] said in the statement. “His call to put to death individuals convicted of mass shootings or the fatal shooting of a law enforcement officer under proof of ‘beyond all doubt’ instead of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ is simply parsing words. You cannot teach killing is wrong by killing.”
* Our View: Don’t play politics on death penalty: But putting people to death should not be a “gotcha” move that aims for a payoff in November in the voting booth. If the governor truly wants to reinstate the death penalty in Illinois in certain cases, an amendatory veto of a bill that has nothing to do with that issue is not the place to do so. A proposal of that magnitude should have hearings and be debated in the legislature and in the public realm. Is the death penalty actually a deterrent to committing crimes, as many proponents claim? Has enough changed in the way cases are handled and evidence processed since the death penalty was abolished that Illinois can be confident it could be reinstated without having the same problems that led to its demise? These are valid questions that deserve serious discussion.
The foundation that supports the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is selling a black dress once owned by movie star Marilyn Monroe to raise funds to repay a loan used to buy artifacts relating to the 16th president.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation is putting nine items up for auction in Las Vegas June 23, including photos of the 1950s movie icon. Julien’s Auctions says the wool dress could sell for more than $60,000.
The foundation owes about $10 million on a 2007 loan it used to buy items purportedly belonging to Lincoln, including a stovepipe hat, bloodstained gloves and an 1824 book.
There is a burgeoning threat to President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy.
As the Tribune has reported, his presidential seal, stovepipe hat, locks of his hair, gloves he carried with him the night of the assassination — stained with the very blood he spilled that this nation might have a new birth of freedom — could regrettably be moving closer to the auction block. […]
If a single Lincoln artifact goes to auction, taken from the public realm, then we, as a nation are collectively diminished and must look ourselves in the mirror and take responsibility. It is not any one individual’s or group’s responsibility to bear; it is all of ours to bear.
What would Lincoln do if faced with this problem? He would solve it and not let us down. In that same vein, we must solve it and not let him down. We should, posthaste, set our hearts, minds and yes, money to the task we have before us.
* Gov. Rauner was asked about the issue yesterday…
Gov. Rauner said the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum foundation that’s considering unloading prized Abraham Lincoln artifacts to pay down debt shouldn’t do “any panicked selling.”
The governor on Tuesday didn’t say whether taxpayer money would be used to try to keep the Land of Lincoln’s Lincoln stuff off the auction block. […]
“The loan that they used to buy that material is not due (until October 2019). That’s a long time. So, move slowly,” Rauner said. “Certainly let’s not have any panicked selling or action or whatever.”
“And obviously we, as the state government — it’s separate from that foundation,” he said. “They’re separate, we have to keep them separate, we have to make sure we manage our taxpayer funds very prudently.”
Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman announced today the results of a full compliance review of the good government organizations he has fostered over the years. The review was conducted in the wake of a hit piece by the Chicago Sun-Times, which made false allegations in the hope of triggering a legal investigation.
For example, the Sun-Times reported an alleged “no-interest loan,” which was actually a bookkeeping error that misidentified a double payment to a vendor and was quickly rectified.
The Sun-Times has refused to address these errors. Further, on Monday one of the two reporters involved in the February article began a new line of inquiry that indicates another agenda-driven article is forthcoming.
Statement from John Tillman:
“I joined the Illinois Policy Institute in 2007 because I wanted to find policy solutions that will help save this state.
“Since then, we’ve become the strongest voice for taxpayers in Illinois. We read every bill. We have top experts analyzing Illinois’ challenges and finding solutions. Thousands and thousands of Illinoisans have turned to us for a voice. And we are excited to be a champion for people who have felt neglected by their elected officials for too long.
“One way we’ve promoted free markets and small government is by serving as an incubator for other good government organizations, working with them as they launch and then stepping back as these groups go off on their own.
“Rather than focusing on this amazing work, on Feb. 11, 2018, the Chicago Sun-Times published an article riddled with errors that misled readers about our work. The authors presented this as if it were investigative journalism, but there was no investigation and no journalism – simply the stitching together of information found in publicly available documents in such a way that suggested wrongdoing, of which there was none.
“The article got a lot of things wrong and purposely misled readers. The Sun-Times singled out a particular transaction that an outsourced accounting firm referred to as a “no interest” loan to a related party where I have an ownership interest. We were not given time to research that transaction before the story was published. Since then, as part of our internal review, we have researched that alleged “no interest” loan. It turned out to be a bookkeeping error: A double payment on an invoice that was quickly rectified. The Sun-Times has refused to update their article with this information, despite their journalistic obligation to gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story.
“Further, the Sun-Times presented perfectly normal contracts for services provided as money being ‘channeled’ to people improperly. They massively underreported the revenues of our total operation to create the illusion that my compensation is out of line.
“In a changing media landscape, it’s important that legacy media players such as the Sun-Times live up to the tradition of journalistic excellence. Sadly, they failed in this article and appear poised to try again. An email we received Monday reflected a new line of questioning that is equally inaccurate and misleading in its narrative.
“None of what is happening is a coincidence. It’s part of a concerted, bipartisan effort to silence effective voices of dissent that seek to hold politicians of both parties accountable for their policy and leadership choices.
“It’s important to have a healthy ecosystem of government watchdogs keeping elected officials from both parties in check, especially in a city like Chicago and a state like Illinois.
“But make no mistake, any effective voice for taxpayers at the state level will come under this sort of attack.
“We will not be silenced.”
For a rundown of the inaccuracies in the Chicago Sun-Times article, visit illin.is/suntimes.
* E-mail to state party officials from ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider…
Good evening,
Ahead of our meeting on Saturday, I’d like to share some important updates with you. After many conversations and hearing from many of you, Mark Shaw and I have come to an agreement that we believe is best for the party to achieve our shared goal of reelecting Gov. Rauner. Mark has decided to run for President of the Republican County Chairmen’s Association with the full support of Gov. Rauner and me, rather than run for Chairman of the state party.
To ensure that the Illinois Republican Party and the Republican County Chairmen’s Association work together in an efficient and seamless manner, I am happy to announce that I have appointed Mark as a Co-Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party as well. In this new role, Mark will be the primary liaison to our County Chairmen and will take the lead on grassroots engagement, training, and mobilization. To win in November we are going to need a grassroots army to battle the Democrats, and I am confident Mark will get the job done.
To beat Mike Madigan and J.B. Pritzker, we need to work on addition, not subtraction. In these new roles that Mark is taking on, I truly believe that we are utilizing each other’s strengths and talents in the best way to serve our party.
I know these past few weeks haven’t been easy on all of you as we’ve worked through these internal family issues. I hope that with this announcement, we can end this chapter and get to work on the important tasks in front of us. Mark and I are 100% committed to focusing our attention on coming together to defeat Mike Madigan, JB Pritzker, and the Democrats. We ask each of you to join us in that effort.
I’d like to thank Mark for his input on how we can make the Illinois Republican Party stronger. Because of his contributions in this process, I believe we have emerged stronger together with a renewed focus on what we need to do to win in November.
I look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday.
Sincerely,
Tim
* Press release…
ILGOP Leadership Announcement
ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider and Lake Co. GOP Chairman Mark Shaw announce a reorganization plan that focuses on grassroots organizing dedicated to reelecting Gov. Rauner and Republicans statewide
“Chairman Mark Shaw is a great asset to the Illinois Republican Party, and I’m very pleased to announce a new joint effort with him to refocus our party’s efforts on grassroots and county-level organizing. This year’s election might be the most consequential one in our state’s history, so we must be more organized than ever before. That is why I wholeheartedly endorse Mark Shaw to lead the Illinois Republican County Chairmen’s Association as President. Mark will also serve as co-Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and lead conservative and grassroots outreach for the party. With Mark joining me at the helm, the state party and Republican organizations across Illinois will coordinate new efforts to reelect Gov. Bruce Rauner and our Republican ticket statewide.” - Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider
“Many conservatives sent Governor Rauner a message in the primary. On the night of the primary, Governor Rauner said he heard them, and I heard them – loud and clear. But Republicans must focus on the issues that unite us and the election ahead of us. Conservatives in Illinois must come together to reelect Governor Rauner, or we won’t have a voice in state government for the next decade.
“That is why I’ve decided to join together with Chairman Tim Schneider in a unity effort to lead Republicans in Illinois. I’m asking the State Central Committee to reelect Tim Schneider to another term as our party chairman, and I am honored to serve as co-Chairman of the party. The joint unity effort will make our conservative voice louder and ultimately make our party stronger. I look forward to working with Tim in my new role to focus our party’s attention on the grassroots and do the important organizing work to reelect Gov. Rauner, elect more Republicans statewide, and build our party at the statewide and local level.” - Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw
Today, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider and Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw announced an agreed reorganization plan that restructures party leadership and refocuses party efforts on grassroots and county-level organizing dedicated to reelecting Governor Rauner and the statewide Republican ticket.
With the full support of Chairman Shaw, Chairman Schneider will continue to serve as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, and Chairman Shaw will serve as Co-Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and lead conservative and grassroots outreach. Additionally, with the full support of Governor Bruce Rauner and Chairman Schneider, Chairman Shaw will run for President of the Illinois Republican County Chairmen’s Association. Both leadership positions will be elected this Saturday, May 19, at organizational meetings in Springfield.
Chairman Schneider and Chairman Shaw look forward to working together over the next six months to unify Republicans in Illinois, reelect Gov. Rauner, and defeat Mike Madigan.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Rep. Jeanne Ives…
Late last night, the two candidates for ILGOP Chair, Chairman Tim Schneider and Lake County GOP Chairman Mark Shaw, announced a compromise that has the candidates sharing the seat. State Representative Jeanne Ives, a former Republican candidate for Governor, released the following statement in response:
This is an encouraging about face by Rauner and his surrogates including Tim Schneider who spent the primary campaign ridiculing conservatives and telling us to leave the party.
If this compromise elevates the party’s conservative base in terms of both policy views and party leadership, that would be good.
If this compromise turns out to be the typical surrender Republican Rauner play of buying people off with money and titles, that would not be good.
While I’m guardedly optimistic, I’ll reserve judgment to see how the deal operates in practice.
*** UPDATE 1 *** DGA…
The nation’s most vulnerable incumbent was forced to partially cede control over his party’s operations this morning, as news broke Rauner’s hand-picked party chairman agreed to be a “co-chairman” to avoid a divisive party vote. Politico Illinois wrote Rauner’s bowing to reality shows “weakness” and would “never could have happened under Rauner two years ago.”
But Rauner still has not solved his biggest problem — winning back state Representative Jeanne Ives and the 48% of Republicans that supported her. Ives was skeptical of today’s news, warning that if this was the “typical surrender Republican Rauner play of buying people off with money and titles, that would not be good.” Her statement also showed she was not involved in the deal. She told CLTV last week they still have not spoken.
“Bruce Rauner is fighting for his political life and he only has himself blame,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner still has to find a way to win back the 48% of Republicans that voted to throw him out two months ago, and the millions of Democrats and Independents that are tired of watching Illinois fall behind under his failed leadership.”
