* This is the 15th state trooper struck by a motorist this year alone and the second who was killed…
An Illinois State Police Trooper is dead after being struck by a semi on U.S. 20.
Illinois State Police confirmed the Trooper was killed a little after 3 p.m.
The crash happened around 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon, just west of Highway 75. Details on the crash are unknown at this time, but the crash location is next to the Total Self Storage Facility on E. Currier Road.
At 3:10 p.m. the South Beloit Police Department posted the following message on Facebook:
“The South Beloit Police Department sends our deepest sympathies for the Illinois State Police District 16 Trooper who was killed this afternoon in a crash while on a traffic stop in Stephenson County. This Trooper had assisted our Department on several incidents over the years. Please keep the Trooper’s family and the Illinois State Police in your thoughts and prayers.”
* From the scene earlier today…
*** UPDATE *** ISP…
Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly regretfully announces the line-of-duty death of ISP District 16 (Pecatonica) Trooper Brooke Jones-Story.
This afternoon, March 28, 2019, at approximately 11:24 a.m., Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, #5966, was inspecting a commercial motor vehicle on United States Route 20 westbound, just west of Illinois Route 75 in Stephenson County. At approximately 12:20 p.m., Trooper Jones-Story was outside her squad car when she was struck and fatally wounded when a truck tractor semi-trailer combination struck her squad car and the semi Trooper Jones-Story was inspecting.
“Today is a dark day for the Illinois State Police family. This is the six-year anniversary of the death of another Trooper, and now another brave soul, Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, has made the ultimate sacrifice for people of this state. At this very moment, the men and women of the ISP are responding and focused on the job and mission, because that’s what Trooper Jones-Story would do,” stated Acting Director Kelly.
Trooper Jones-Story was a 12-year veteran of the Illinois State Police District 16 in Pecatonica.
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
Labor groups are pushing a proposed super minimum wage of sorts in Springfield—an early test of just how far a pro-union agenda will reach in a Capitol that has a Democratic governor and Democratic supermajorities in both the House and Senate.
Pending in the Senate is a bill, with amendments, that would require construction workers at “high-hazard facilities” not only to be qualified journeypersons who have received advanced safety training, but also would mandate they are “paid at least a rate equivalent to the prevailing (union) hourly wage rate for a journeyperson in the applicable occupation and locality.” […]
But business groups are lining up to oppose the bill, which reportedly stems from an organizing dispute at several Illinois oil refineries but which, according to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, would apply to workers at ethanol plants, chemical facilities and at least some other manufacturing plants. Similar measures stalled in prior Legislatures in recent years, perhaps because the state then had a Republican governor who would have vetoed it.
“This is all about organized labor using state government to mandate use of their services,” says Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch, who believes the bill could end up applying to many large manufacturing plants. “Along with some other issues, I think this raises the question of how many things Democrats are willing to cram down business’ throat.”
* Looks like no agreed-bill process on workers’ comp stuff…
After House and Senate Democrats sent SB 1596 to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce is petitioning the governor to veto the Workers’ Compensation reform bill.
The chamber’s recent letter to Pritzker outlines a handful of potential adverse effects on small businesses and invokes Pritzker’s campaign promise to involve employers in any reform process.
“We urge you to veto SB 1596, as business interests were provided no opportunity to negotiate the provisions of SB 1596 and its provisions will have a profound impact on the workers’ compensation system” wrote Illinois Chamber president and CEO Todd Maisch. […]
Maisch wrote that the proposed law would erode liability protection for employers in workplace injury cases. Under current Workers Compensation (WC) and Occupational Disease (OD) law in Illinois, the letter noted, employees are limited in the amount of time they have to sue their employers. […]
“Exclusive remedy protection for Illinois employers [would be] eviscerated, creating significant new exposures to liability, including punitive damages, that far exceed the benefits provided by the WC or OD Acts …” Maisch wrote.
* Illinois News Network…
A proposed policy change that would allow the state to capture more revenue is being called “theft of services” by retailers. The idea Gov. J.B. Pritzker uses to balance his budget remains in a committee.
Pritzker hopes to get an additional $170 million from recreational pot licenses for his budget that starts this summer. He’s also banking on $212 million from sports betting licenses. Both ideas have yet to advance at the statehouse. Then there’s the “retailers discount” the governor hopes to change to bring in $75 million.
Retailers get to keep 1.75 percent of the overall state sales tax they collect for the state for acting as the state’s sales tax collector. Illinois Retail Merchants Association’s Rob Karr said that doesn’t even cover the processing fees for electronic transactions, which he said make up almost 70 percent of sales. Pritzker wants to cap that reimbursement at $1,000 a year per retailer, Karr said.
“We are subsidizing the state somewhere between four and five cents for every electronic transaction so clearly it is a reimbursement to us and to take it away frankly or reduce it truly amounts to theft of services,” Karr said.
…Adding… From the governor’s office…
Hi,
The INN piece on the retailer’s discount you have up is wrong. The governor’s proposal caps the retailer’s discount at $1,000 per month, not $1,000 per year. Under the Governor’s proposal more than 95 percent of retailers will see no change in their discount as taxable retail sales are highly concentrated among a small percentage of high-volume retailers.
Thanks!
Jordan
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WIU gets entirely new board of trustees
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Gov. Pritzker Appoints All-New Board of Trustees to Revitalize Western Illinois University
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointments to the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees.
The new board will focus its efforts on revitalizing WIU’s student recruitment and outreach efforts, focusing investments on core programs, burnishing the university’s reputation and brand throughout the state, and strengthening relationships with its surrounding communities.
Greg Aguilar will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* Aguilar currently serves as of the Q2030 Regional Action Plan at the Quad-Cities Chamber of Commerce where he collaborates with community leaders, educators, businesses, nonprofits and grassroots organizations to build up the reputation of the Quad-Cities. He previously served as the director of talent attraction and retention for the Quad Cities Chamber where he led the Young Professionals of the Quad Cities as well as diversity initiatives for the Chamber. Prior to working at the Chamber, he served as the Northwest Regional Manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity where he covered 10 counties working with community stakeholders on workforce solutions, business retention, attraction and growth. Aguilar is a founding board member of the Greater Quad-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. His regional work in economic development, higher education, as well as diversity and inclusion has received various national recognitions including by the National Hispanic Institute and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2011 Mr. Aguilar’s work in diversity outreach at Ascentra Credit Union earned the credit union a Diamond Award from Credit Union National Association. The East Moline resident received his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Latin American studies from the University of Iowa.
Erik Dolieslager will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* Dolieslager brings a 19-year background in business, operations, regional marketing, public affairs and communications to the board. Since 2000, Dolieslager as served multiple regional management, sales and leadership roles within the Central States Coca-Cola Bottling Division, including district sales manager, business development manager and account manager. The former redshirt freshman Leatherneck linebacker began his career at WIU playing for the eventual all-time winningest Head Coach Randy Ball. As a WIU student athlete his focus on academics was paramount earning top tier semester GPA’s and All Conference Football Academic Honor Roll. Dolieslager brings experiences from both public and private university settings. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Medicine from North Park University in Chicago where he was voted two-year football team captain and earned All College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Honors while becoming a small school NFL prospect. The Quincy resident an active supporter in the multiple communities in which he serves including the Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation, Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce, Business Exchange Club and Community Business Association.
Kisha Lang will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* Since 2014, Lang has been the principal of Bridgescape Learning Academy’s Humboldt Park campus, which has increased reading and math test scores, attendance rate and graduation rate under her leadership. She previously served as assistant principal at Proviso East High School from 2011 to 2014. Lang also taught and served as dean of students, director of operations and turnaround administrator at three Chicago Public Schools — Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Harper High School and Orr Academy High School — for the prior 17 years. The Maywood resident is completing her doctorate in educational leadership and management from Capella University in May 2019 and received her Master of Arts from Concordia University and her Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University.
Nick Padgett will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* Padgett is the managing director of Frontaura Capital, which he co-founded to invest in stocks in frontier countries such as Vietnam, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka that are not yet classified as emerging markets. Previously, he served as the chief financial officer with Inforte Corp, a global technology consulting firm that he helped grow from its inception through its NASDAQ IPO in 2000. Before this, he was a sell-side technology research analyst with investment bank William Blair & Co. in the mid-1990s, after beginning his career with technology consultancy Accenture. Padgett received WIU’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2014 and the College of Business and Technology’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012. He has served on Western’s Presidential Advisory Board since 2014 and its College of Business and Technology Dean’s Advisory Board since 2008. The Macomb native who now lives in Chicago received his Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and his Bachelor of Science in computer science from Western Illinois University.
Polly Radosh will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* Dr. Radosh retired from Western Illinois University in 2008 after 24 years on the faculty, where she was a professor of sociology and the founding chair of the Department of Women’s Studies. Dr. Radosh was the recipient of multiple awards and honors at WIU, including four faculty excellence awards, three College of Arts and Sciences awards for excellence, the Provost’s award for excellence in multicultural teaching, and she was named the 2007 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. After retiring from WIU, Dr. Radosh was the Dean of the College at the State University of New York at Geneseo from 2008 to 2011. In that position, she oversaw significant campus changes to address fiscal and enrollment challenges and established review procedures for program cuts and staff reductions. The Good Hope, Ill., resident received her Ph.D. and Master of Arts in sociology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and her Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Douglas Shaw will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* Shaw spent 22 years as an IT professional for Caterpillar, beginning his career as a program analyst in 1997 and rising up the ranks to a global support team lead. Since 1999, Shaw has also taught management information systems as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois at Springfield-Peoria Center. He also currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Education for Peoria Public Schools and has previously served on the boards of Leaders Change Illinois, Illinois Valley Fuller Center for Housing, the Illinois Central College Scholarship Selection Committee, and the Planning Committee for the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership School. A veteran of the United States Army, the Peoria resident received his Master of Arts in management information system from the University of Illinois at Springfield and his Bachelor of Science in computer science from Western Illinois University.
Jackie Thompson will serve on the Western Illinois Board of Trustees.* With 41 years of broad experience at Western Illinois University, Thompson began her career at WIU in 1970 in a clerical role and held several positions with increasing responsibilities throughout her career. Thompson was named Vice President for Administrative Services in 1997 and served in that role until her retirement in June 2011. She served as president of the WIU Alumni Council from 1999 to 2001 and is currently serving as president of the WIU Foundation Board. She received the WIU Community Service Award, Alumni Achievement Award and the Affirmative Action Director’s Award. She and her husband, Dave, established two scholarships for their respective high schools, sponsor the Fallen Soldiers 5K walk/run, provided funding for the WIU Wellness Program, funded the Ray “Rock” Hanson statue and provide support to the WIU Alumni Association, Athletics, Performing Arts Society and many others. The Macomb resident received her associate of science from Robert Morris College and her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in education leadership from Western Illinois University.
*Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
The board, which had just three members before today, is scheduled to meet tomorrow morning at 8.
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* Greg Hinz…
In a sign of which way the political winds are blowing in Springfield, a major business group today came out in favor of a big increase in the state’s tax on gasoline and diesel fuel to pay for needed improvements in roads, bridges, transit and other transportation projects.
In a statement and interview—and in a piece of legislation introduced on its behalf—the Illinois Chamber of Commerce proposed a plan that would inject an additional $2 billion a year into the state budget for transportation, largely by raising the state’s motor-fuel tax from 19 cents a gallon now to 44 cents.
The measure sponsored by Rep. Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago, would partially compensate motorists by, over a five-year period, phasing out most of the state’s current 5 percent sales tax on sales, which has amounted to a tax on a tax. […]
Maisch said he has met with all four legislative caucuses and officials in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office, none of whom have endorsed any plan but all of which listened.
By my rough calculations (4.8 billion gallons sold a year, times $2.14 a gallon - which is the approximate price without all taxes - and calculating 5 percent of that), eliminating the state sales tax on gasoline would cost the annual GRF budget roughly $500 million.
The bill is here.
Related…
* Measure allowing local gas tax on top of state gas tax approved in committee: “This bill gives an opportunity for the locals to impose a 3 cents a gallon motor fuel tax,” said state Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside. “I intend to have fuller discussions with the transit board and all interested stakeholders including labor.” The amendment passed without debate, 8 to 7. During the vote, state Rep. Margo McDermed, R-Moneka, explained her no vote. “I’m not sure why we’re doing this one off when we need an overall solution to revenue in this area, so I’m a ‘no’,” McDermed said.
* Illinois Chamber of Commerce introduces its own, smaller, capital plan a week after Local 150’s
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
The Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA) and the Illinois Association of Convenience Stores (IACS) released the following statement pushing back against any increase in the state’s gas tax. The latest proposal would more than double the tax Illinois residents already pay for gasoline from 19 cents a gallon to 44 cents a gallon.
“Raising the state gas tax would push more customers to purchase gasoline and other goods outside of Illinois. Illinois already has the tenth highest gas tax in the nation and is one of eight states that also adds sales tax to the price of motor fuel,” said Bill Fleischli, executive vice president, IPMA-IACS. “Any increase would adversely impact low and middle-class families trying to get to work and school, as well as have devastating consequences on our local convenience stores, particularly those along the borders that are already competing for business with our surrounding states.”
A recent poll by AAA found that nearly 74 percent of Illinoisans do not support raising taxes to make improvements to infrastructure. Gas stations and convenience stores along the border have been hit especially hard by increased taxes. The state has already seen 700 gas stations close and a reduction of 9,000 employees in this industry in the last five years. The last time the motor fuel tax was increased, convenience stores and gas stations saw volume losses of 3 to 6 percent. Further, when consumers purchase gasoline in neighboring states, they purchase other goods as well, such as candy, beverages and food, which results in additional losses of 8 to 10 percent. This makes it harder for businesses to survive and results in lost revenue for the state.
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More classic rock at the Illinois State Fair
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I liked Foghat and Bad Company in the 1970s and early 1980s. But I didn’t know they were still touring, or alive. Press release…
On Saturday, August 10, Bad Company will take the Illinois State Fair Illinois Lottery grandstand stage. Opening for them will be Foghat.
Formed in 1973 with members Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell, and Simon Kirke, Bad Company was the first band signed to Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. Their self-titled debut album went five times platinum, cementing their success in the UK and later on the US. Their hits include “Can’t Get Enough” (#1), “Rock Steady,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and more!
After taking a break and pursing other avenues in the 80’s/90’s the band got back together in 1999 to release an anthology with four new songs and start touring again.
Opening for them is Foghat. Not a group to take it easy, they released their “Under the Influence” album in 2016 and another live album in 2017. Expect an energetic show with all their hits, including the ever popular “Slow Ride.”
Tickets for the concerts listed below go on sale via Ticketmaster on Saturday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. and at the Emmerson Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Monday, April 22 at the following prices:
Saturday, August 10: Bad Company with Foghat
Tier 3 - $30 / Tier 2 - $35 / Tier 1 - $40 / Gen Track - $40 / VIP Track - $60
I suppose it’ll be a fun little outing if the weather is nice and the beer is cold and nothing else is going on.
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* AP…
An audit released Wednesday found that a plan to save $500 million a year on state employee health insurance was so ill-conceived and poorly executed that it’s costing taxpayers $10 million extra annually without delivering the service promised.
Auditor General Frank Mautino reported that former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration, which originally proposed a private health insurance exchange, switched gears to an online custom-benefit portal that officials said could have been created in house. It replaced a paper-based health care program for 450,000 workers and retirees, but the promised cost-saving marketplace still isn’t in place, Mautino said. […]
State lawmakers ordered the review of the $94 million, 10-year contract with Georgia-based Morneau Shepell after an Associated Press report in June 2017 found that Morneau Shepell was the only company to respond to a November 2015 solicitation by Rauner’s Department of Central Management Services, that CMS was instructed to skip state guidelines for ensuring minority business participation, and that customers complained of system glitches.
Since then, Morneau Shepell repeatedly failed to meet performance guarantees and was allowed to revise them when reporting performance goals to CMS, the audit said. A breach of contract provision outlined in the solicitation never made it into the contract.
* From the audit…
The idea for what became the Custom Benefit Solution procurement came out of labor negotiations from the Governor’s Office and focused on achieving $500 million in annual savings. While the CMS Bureau of Benefits was unable to locate specific documentation from 2014-2015 relative to how the $500 million in annual savings would result from this procurement, it did assert that the savings were to be generated from changes to employee health insurance. The proposed changes were to create a multi-tiered system of plans, called “metal bands,” for the existing health insurance program for employees and retirees. Four tiers were to be set up – platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. The new tiered plans would have different premiums, deductibles, and co-payments levels, which the employees could choose from for their health insurance needs. The end result would have been a 60/40 split in healthcare costs borne by the employer/employee. As of December 4, 2018, over 1,000 days since the Custom Benefit Solution was awarded to Morneau Shepell, CMS reported the State has not implemented the new health plan options. Without the new plans the State has not achieved any of the anticipated savings.
Emphasis in original.
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48th Out Of 50
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
More than 270,000 Illinoisans are looking for work. But an analysis of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive income tax proposal shows just how harmful it would be for Illinois’ business climate – the state’s job engine.
The nonpartisan Tax Foundation projects Illinois’ business tax climate ranking would plummet to 48th in the nation – and the worst in the region – under Pritzker’s “fair tax” rates. Only California and New Jersey would rank worse.
It’s no wonder family-owned businesses like Piasa Motor Fuels near Alton, Illinois, would look for relief across state lines. State lawmakers representing districts with strong small business communities should be wary of following the governor’s lead.
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* Gov. Pritzker’s press office …
Statewide, 97 percent of Illinois taxpayers will pay the same or less in state income taxes under Gov. JB Pritzker’s fair tax plan, with only 3 percent of taxpayers paying more. County-level data shows that in over half of the state’s 102 counties, less than 1 percent of filers will pay more.
The new county-level data illustrates how a vast majority of communities stand to do even better than the statewide average if the governor’s fair tax is adopted.
A few sample counties are below:
* Adams County (Quincy): 98.44% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up only 0.15% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Champaign County (Champaign, Urbana): 98.12% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up only 0.15% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Cook County (Chicago, Schaumburg): 96.78% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up only 0.40% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Jackson County (Murphysboro, Carbondale): 98.87% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up only 0.11% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Kane County (Aurora, Geneva): 97.13% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up only 0.23% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Kankakee County (Kankakee, Manteno): 99.09% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up only 0.07% of the county will pay the top rate.
* LaSalle County (Ottawa): 99.06% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.08% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Macon County (Decatur): 98.49% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.15% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Madison County (Edwardsville, Granite City): 98.72% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.10% of the county will pay the top rate.
* McHenry County (Crystal Lake, Woodstock): 97.59% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.19% of the county will pay the top rate.
* McLean County (Bloomington): 97.94% of taxpayers pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.18% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Peoria County (Peoria): 97.32% of taxpayers pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.22% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Rock Island County (Moline, Rock Island): 99.07% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.11% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Sangamon County (Springfield): 98.13% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.13% of the county will pay the top rate.
* St. Clair County (Belleville): 98.80% of taxpayers pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.10% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Vermillion County (Danville): 99.42% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.05% of the county will pay the top rate.
* Winnebago County (Rockford): 98.89% of taxpayers will pay the same or less while millionaires who make up 0.08% of the county will pay the top rate.
Of the over 5.68 million filers in tax year 2016, less than 18,000 millionaires will pay the top rate while 5.52 million taxpayers — 97 percent statewide — will pay the same or less in state income taxes.
The full list is here.
* Meanwhile, remember how Think Big Illinois slammed Sen. Dan McConchie’s proposal to require a two-thirds super-majority to impose or raise taxes? McConchie responded and I didn’t get around to posting it. Oops. Here it is now…
Our initiative is to protect middle-income families. Now that the dark money group Think Big Illinois is voicing their opposition, it proves that people should be skeptical of the Governor’s proposed graduated income tax plan. They oppose a super-majority to raise taxes, which means we are unable to trust them to not raise taxes in the future. If it requires a super-majority to implement a graduated income tax in Illinois, then it should also require a super-majority to raise those tax rates. Otherwise, this is merely a place holder for a future tax increase on the people of Illinois.
…Adding… Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield)…
The question is not, and never will be, about what arbitrary rates Illinois Democrats are trying to sell to families and businesses. The question is, do taxpayers trust handing a blank check to lawmakers who have proven time and time again to be unable to rein in spending and offer real reforms to the state of Illinois?
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PBMs Help Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are the primary advocate for consumers and health plans in the fight to keep prescription drugs accessible and affordable. By leveraging competition among drug-makers and drugstores, PBMs help 266 million Americans every year access needed medications. PBMs will save patients and payers $123 per brand prescription, help prevent 100 million medication errors, and negotiate prescription costs down nearly $26 billion in Illinois. That means better care for more people at a lower cost.
Think of PBMs as your advocates—they’re in your corner, clamping down on prescription drug hikes because your health is non-negotiable. Learn more at http://OnYourRxSide.org
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Sixth case of measles reported so far this year
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) officials are reporting a confirmed case of measles in a north suburban Cook County resident with recent travel history to another country with ongoing measles transmission. The case was confirmed on Mar. 26, 2019, and is no longer infectious, but may have exposed others before realizing s/he was sick. Symptoms of measles include fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
If you visited the following locationson the days and times listed below, AND are experiencing symptoms: CALL your healthcare provider BEFORE going to a medical office or emergency department to make special arrangements for evaluation and protect other patients and medical staff from possible infection […]
There is no ongoing risk of transmission at the above locations. Public health officials are working with businesses to contact employees who were present during the potential exposure times.The healthcare facilities where the patient was evaluated are working to identify all possible areas of exposure and notify susceptible patients, staff, and visitors. The Illinois Department of Public Health is working with local health departments and hospitals during this investigation and information is subject to change
* Tribune…
Illinois has averaged a little more than five cases of measles per year over the last several years, with six cases reported so far in 2019, according to the most recent figures available. Health officials urge people to stay up to date on vaccines, as parents who have declined to get their children immunized have contributed to a resurgence in measles. Just this week, a county in suburban New York banned unvaccinated children from public spaces as it tries to stem an outbreak of the disease.
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* I’ve been covering this in the subscriber section for a while now, but let’s discuss it here today. From Friday…
The only Democratic state representative to not vote for House Speaker Michael Madigan for another leadership term says she plans to file a complaint for what she says is retaliation.
State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, said her House Bill 1474 to give rights to those who file complaints to the Legislative Inspector General against state lawmakers or their staff has hit roadblock after roadblock.
“I had been informed that my bill had a ‘do not call’ designation on it and that they were going to try and use bureaucracy to kill the bill and that’s exactly what’s happening,” Stava-Murray said. “But I’m not going to let it go down without a fight.”
Her measure was put into a subcommittee where she was first told it was unconstitutional. She said she worked with several organizations to modify the measure to bring their opposition to neutral. She said she was then told her measure was being lumped in with other bills to address ethics complaints at the statehouse, but she didn’t trust that process because it would take control of the legislation out of her hands.
“I see this as direct retribution for my vote against the speaker,” Stava-Murray said.
* Yesterday, also from the Illinois News Network…
State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, was joined by Denise Rotheimer on Wednesday at a news conference to draw attention to House Bill 1474, which had not been called for a hearing.
Rotheimer urged House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to release the bill.
“Speaker Madigan, you publicly admitted that you failed to protect the people from abuse of power, retaliation, sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination by state officials and employees in your apology letter saying you didn’t do enough. I believed it,” Rotheimer said. “It’s time to remove the flag that you put on House Bill 1474 and allow the people who file ethics complaints [to have] rights.” […]
Stava-Murray said she was first told her bill was unconstitutional. Then she was told it was being included along with other measures to address ethics in Springfield.
“It’s an established tactic” to kill a bill, Stava-Murray said. “It seems like legitimately they’re going to try and put something together, what that actually looks like is completely opaque and does not seem like it will be a very transparent system beyond those who are active in the working group.”
* Press release…
Majority Leader Greg Harris, Assistant Majority Leader Natalie Manley and Majority Conference Chair Kathleen Willis released the following statement Wednesday:
“A number of members have filed bills related to ethics and human rights issues in this legislative session. As members of the Legislative Ethics Commission, Representatives Manley and Willis believe these individual bills are best considered in a comprehensive approach. They have taken the initiative of using the variety of ideas introduced in these bills to develop a thoughtful approach to these issues.
“The individual sponsors of these bills—including Representative Stava-Murray—have been invited to be a part of this process.
“This is not a unique approach; over the years, we have used this process to develop thoughtful and impactful legislative solutions to large and complex challenges, including bills related to the Medicaid program, energy and utilities, and bills with a significant impact on the state budget, among other issues.”
* Back to INN…
Stava-Murray said she didn’t want to work with Willis on the bill because she felt Willis bullied her for not supporting Madigan for another term as House Speaker.
A spokesperson for Willis couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. […]
“What we’re most concerned about here is a sort of usurpation of democracy,” Stava-Murray said of the process. “Instead of that being a collaborative process, it’s looking like to be more of a closed off process with a very specified leader who’s known to be close to the Speaker.”
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Janus demands refund
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
A former state worker in Illinois who won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case last year striking down mandatory union fees for public employees is now asking a federal appeals court to order the union to refund nearly $3,000 in fees he was forced to pay over the course of his career.
Mark Janus worked as a child support specialist for the state from 2007 until 2018. And although he never joined a union, under Illinois law at the time, he was required to pay a “fair share” fee to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, Council 31. […]
In Janus’ case, however, the high court did not order any specific relief, but instead remanded the case back to federal district court in Chicago for further proceedings. Janus then asked the district court to award damages in the amount of fair share fees he had paid prior to the Supreme Court’s decision.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman denied that request and granted a motion by AFSCME to dismiss the claim, saying the union had acted “in good faith,” based on controlling law at the time.
* Hannah Meisel…
The National Right to Work Foundation, which helped represent Janus in the Supreme Court case, announced Wednesday it would take its case to the Seventh Circuit Court of appeals after the efforts to reclaim the $3,000 were rebuffed by an Illinois federal judge earlier this month.
But a Seventh Circuit panel has already rejected the idea in a case that came before it in December, when it said home health care workers, who won their own case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in a 2014 case that originated out of Illinois, were not entitled to the union wages they had to pay before the Harris v. Quinn decision.
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* Andy Shaw in the Tribune…
The biggest canard in the debate over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive income tax plan is that wealthy folks don’t want to pay more because they’re greedy.
That’s unfair and just plain wrong, and I know it from firsthand experience.
When I headed the Better Government Association, a nonprofit watchdog organization, from 2009 to 2018, one of my main responsibilities was to raise enough money to pay the bills and grow the staff.
In the process, I met many of the Chicago area’s top philanthropists, who are among our most successful business executives and civic leaders. They’re extraordinary individuals who give huge amounts of time and money to our iconic cultural and academic institutions, social welfare agencies and reform groups like the BGA.
But their generous support of good government organizations is tenuous, and for good reason: They’re increasingly pessimistic about the possibility of meaningful reform in Illinois after living through years — in some cases, decades — of waste, fraud, corruption and inefficiency in city, suburban, county and state government. […]
Illinois voters should not be asked to consider a progressive income tax that will cost wealthy individuals and companies more than $3 billion a year, and further weaken donor support for reform organizations, until Springfield lawmakers do their jobs by demonstrating a real appetite for the responsible budgeting, spending and cost-cutting they’ve mostly avoided for decades.
Thoughts?
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Durkin wants Raoul to review Smollett case
Thursday, Mar 28, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin on Wednesday called on Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to review the handling of Jussie Smollett’s case, saying the decision to drop all the charges sets a “dangerous precedent for high profile cases.”
A former prosecutor himself, Durkin argued that the surprise move to abandon the prosecution of Smollett raises questions about the “integrity” of the Cook County State’s Attorney Office. […]
“As a former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, I am concerned about the integrity of this investigation and of the office,” Durkin said in the letter e-mailed to Raoul and hand-delivered to his office. “This case has shed a negative light onto an office that I had the privilege to work in for many years. For someone to falsify a hate crime and to be ‘let off the hook’ is not only unfair but sets a dangerous precedent for high profile cases.” […]
“The Cook County State’s Attorney has primary criminal jurisdiction over criminal matters in Cook County and has discretion in how it handles criminal cases,” the statement [from the attorney general’s office] said. “Cook County chose to exercise its jurisdiction in this case and as a result, the Attorney General’s office had no role in this prosecution. The Attorney General’s office investigates matters of public integrity based on specific and credible allegations.”
And until somebody comes up with a “specific and credible allegation,” there’s not much he can do on his own.
* Also…
President Donald Trump on Thursday said that the US Department of Justice and FBI will look into the Jussie Smollett case in Chicago, after local prosecutors dropped charges against the Empire actor for allegedly filing a false police report in a hate crime hoax. […]
It’s unclear how or if the FBI and Justice Department will get involved. Federal investigators were already on part of the case, looking into a threatening letter Smollett allegedly mailed to himself.
Again, they’ll have to look for some sort of a crime. And as I told subscribers today, the only likely crime here is one against basic common sense, which isn’t actually in the statutes.
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* Kerry Lester takes a look at Illinois’ last constitutional convention in the context of the flat tax settled on by the drafters…
“A graduated, or progressive tax was first brought out for discussion when Otto Kerner was governor,” said Ray Serati, who covered the constitutional convention for Copley News Services at the time. “While there was some discussion of that in Con-Con, it just couldn’t gather enough support.”
[House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was a con-con delegate] said lobbying efforts led by delegate Joseph T. Meek, a Western Springs resident who was also president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association at the time, ensured the constitutional language would stop today’s lawmakers from instituting a graduated income tax without voters amending the constitution.
“He was the Rob Karr of his day, and he would spend every day, almost the entire day arguing for a flat rate of the income tax,” Madigan said. “He had a very persistent, but pleasant personality.”
Karr is president of today’s IRMA, which continues to oppose a progressive tax, spokesman Ryan McLaughlin said.
Go read the whole thing. Interesting stuff in there.
* Related…
* The Brief Time Illinois Had A Progressive Income Tax
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