It’s just a bill
Monday, Feb 4, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senators in both parties who demand budget cuts now have a clear way of expressing themselves…
While the rules for the Illinois House’s 101st General Assembly were contested then approved on partisan lines, things went more smoothly in the Senate on Thursday, Jan. 31.
The upper chamber added a provision in its rules to allow any senator to file a committee amendment to a bill that provides appropriations for state spending. Previously, only the bill’s sponsor or a member of the committee considering the bill could file such an amendment.
State Sen. Dale Righter, a Mattoon Republican, said he was thankful for the amendment, which he said should make things “interesting.”
Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said he wanted to “highlight the fact that we handle things differently in the Senate” than in the House.
Aside from the merits of the proposal itself, I wonder how long the fledgling Capitol News Illinois service will refer to the Senate as the “upper chamber.”
* Maybe legislators should take this class, too…
As other states look at upping financial literacy requirements, should Illinois high schools require students to learn basic budgeting before getting a diploma?
Just this month, lawmakers in Florida introduced a bill that would require all students to take a class on basic skills, like how to save money and apply for loans. A new bill in South Carolina would make passing a financial literacy test a graduation requirement.
Starting in 2017, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office has partnered with Econ Illinois, a nonprofit affiliated with Northern Illinois University, to create the first ever standards-based financial literacy curriculum for grades 1-8 in Illinois. According to spokesman Greg Rivara, grades 1-3 currently are online at the treasury’s website. Grades 4-8 will be available shortly.
The state does not require standardized testing on the topic.
* Other stuff…
* Illinois not doing enough to cut down tobacco, e-cigarette use: American Lung Association: The association gave Illinois failing grades in funding for smoking cessation and prevention programs, tobacco taxation and access to existing quit-smoking services.
* Schimpf talks gun laws and minimum wage: “It’s difficult for people who are in different part of the state, particularly those who are in a more urban area, to understand the complexity of a rural area when you have to protect yourself,” Bryant said.
* State Senator pushes back as gun control measures gain traction in Springfield: “There are an awful lot of bills filed by Second Amendment advocates that aren’t going to move either,” Harmon said. “So everyone should just calm down.”
* Should boat sizes be limited on the Chain, Fox? Owners, waterway agency disagree with state senator’s plan for a cap
* With first full term ahead, Bristow looks to get comfortable in House seat
* Rep. Weber optimistic about changes with new Illinois Legislature
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:08 am:
The Speaker sends a spokesman to WGN radio who complains about the partisanship in the House.
https://wgnradio.com/2019/01/22/spokesperson-for-mike-madigan-jessica-basham-on-capital-infrastructure-bill-timeline/
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:17 am:
Getting a handle on finances, primarily, how to stay out of bad debt and being able to figure out the ‘best deal’ in everyday situations, would be a tremendous gift to young people.
- Occam - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:21 am:
Interesting to read between the lines from the Effingham Daily News article.
Looks like the GA will kill any attempt at regionalizing the impact of the new $15/hour minimum wage: “Lightford (Maywood, D) said this would be discussed, but she was not sure it would be permissible per the Illinois constitution.”
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:23 am:
===Speaker sends a spokesman to WGN radio who complains===
1) She’s his chief of staff;
2) She didn’t complain.
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:29 am:
LP
Don’t you think four years of you whining was enough?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:39 am:
Just what we need in the elementary schools yet another mandate. For example, teaching kids in 3rd grade about “fiat” money. Politicians just can’t keep out of education. Perhaps this would be better suited for the legislature since they are the ones who have spent this state into it’s bleak fiscal position.
- Mr. B.A. - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:51 am:
Back when I started teaching Social Science in the mid-80s, Most Illinois high schools had a Consumer Education class required for graduation, as the State of Illinois deemed it necessary for students to learn about checking, mortgages, and such. The problem was, most colleges would not accept Con Ed as a prerequisite; only Economics. Somewhere in the 1990s most high schools started to offer just Economics, as the State said it would allow a Economics class to fulfill the Con Ed requirement. Economics is an important theory based class, but it lacks in day-to-day real-life teaching of fiscal matters. I believe the Con Ed requirement is still on the books… but what will the colleges say?
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 11:53 am:
– I wonder how long the fledgling Capitol News Illinois service will refer to the Senate as the “upper chamber.” –
It’s nice to see Bill Haine picking up some freelance work in retirement.
- Redbird - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 12:07 pm:
Although not always implemented in the most beneficial manner, Consumer Education is a mandated high school course.
(105 ILCS 5/27-12.1)Pupils in the public schools in grades 9 through 12 shall be taught and be required to study courses which include instruction in the area of consumer education, including but not necessarily limited to (i) understanding the basic concepts of financial literacy, including consumer debt and installment purchasing (including credit scoring, managing credit debt, and completing a loan application), budgeting, savings and investing, banking (including balancing a checkbook, opening a deposit account, and the use of interest rates), understanding simple contracts, State and federal income taxes, personal insurance policies, the comparison of prices, higher education student loans, identity-theft security, and homeownership (including the basic process of obtaining a mortgage and the concepts of fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, subprime loans, and predatory lending), and (ii) understanding the roles of consumers interacting with agriculture, business, labor unions and government in formulating and achieving the goals of the mixed free enterprise system. The State Board of Education shall devise or approve the consumer education curriculum for grades 9 through 12 and specify the minimum amount of instruction to be devoted thereto.
- supplied_demand - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
==It’s difficult for people who are in different part of the state, particularly those who are in a more urban area, to understand the complexity of a rural area when you have to protect yourself==
I find it bizarre how politicians from rural areas can’t seem to understand that inverse of this is also true (on this and other issues).
- What's in a name? - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 12:48 pm:
I graduated HS in 1978. We had a required Economics Class that included some consumer education and budgeting. One assignment was to develop a budget based on a job and income that was assigned. The assignment required finding an actual apartment for rent and visiting car dealers for “deal sheets.” Along with most of the 17 year old males in my class I opted for a brand new Trans Am and lived in a small box under the tracks. Life is about choices. I can’t say I would object to this exercise but I didn’t know they weren’t doing it anymore.
- Downstate - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 1:02 pm:
I was taught Consumer Ed by a well meaning teacher that has no business teaching it.
Some schools now offer a Dave Ramsey course. It’s an excellent curriculum targeted to high school students.
Delivering education in a video form from exceptional teachers is far better than live instruction from a mediocre one.
- Demoralized - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 1:25 pm:
==Some schools now offer a Dave Ramsey course.==
I’d like to know who those schools are because if it was my kids school I’d have strong objections.
- Smitty Irving - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 3:28 pm:
Downstate -
“Dave Ramsey??? Sure, it you’re not a state employee who racks up 6-12 thousand dollars in travel expenses annually.
- Cornfed - Monday, Feb 4, 19 @ 6:54 pm:
—I find it bizarre how politicians from rural areas can’t seem to understand that inverse of this is also true (on this and other issues).—
You only talk of banning this and that, instead of dealing with the criminal element in your city.
- Downstate - Tuesday, Feb 5, 19 @ 8:37 am:
—Dave Ramsey??? Sure, it you’re not a state employee who racks up 6-12 thousand dollars in travel expenses annually.—
Sorry. Not sure what you mean by this.