* Six days out and she goes back up. Also, I have no info yet about the size of this buy. Press release…
Today, the campaign for Toni Preckwinkle released it’s next ad, “Troubling,” which will air on broadcast, cable and digital.
The ad exposes mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot’s role, then serving as Chief of Staff in the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, in the botched response to a tragic West Side fire that resulted in the death of four children, and the ensuing cover up.
A judge ordered sanctions against Lightfoot for her “shockingly lax” and “cavalier” handling of the case, in which evidence was either withheld or destroyed.
The judge in the case called Lightfoot’s actions troubling, and questioned Lightfoot’s honesty with the court, to the point that he advised her that she might want to retain legal counsel.
A tragic fire made worse when the 9-1-1 call center run by Lori Lightfoot, allegedly botched the response, costing lives.
To cover it up, Lightfoot allegedly lied, and became extremely evasive. That’s not “bringing in the light.”
“Lori Lightfoot says she wants to bring in the light, but her actions tell a different story,” said Jessey Neves, campaign manager. “This tragic story sheds light on the fact that when Lori Lightfoot had the opportunity to show accountability and transparency, she led a troubling cover up.”
After years of delays, all Illinois residents will be able to get new driver’s licenses and state IDs beginning Monday that comply with post-9/11 federal requirements aimed at making identification cards more secure.
Secretary of State Jesse White’s office began issuing cards that comply with the federal Real ID Act in January, and they will be available at all 138 driver services facilities statewide by Monday. Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, Illinois residents will no longer be able to use their current state-issued cards to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities.
But White said Wednesday that residents still have a choice about whether to get a new driver’s license or ID. They’ll still be able to use a passport instead of a driver’s license when traveling by air or accessing federal buildings, and people who don’t fly or visit government facilities won’t need a new ID or a passport.
“There’s no rush for you to apply for the Real ID,” White said at a news conference at the Thompson Center in the Loop.
* From Secretary White’s office…
Based on federal guidelines, to obtain an Illinois REAL ID card, all applicants – including those who currently hold a standard Illinois DL/ID – must provide:
• One document proving identity (examples: a U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport, an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form).
IMPORTANT: Name change documents, such as a marriage certificate, will be required if the applicant’s current name is different than the name that appears on the document used to prove identity (example: birth certificate).
• One document proving Social Security Number (SSN) (examples: an SSN card, a W-2 or a pay stub with full SSN).
• Two documents proving residency with the applicant’s correct name and address (examples: a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title or bank statement).
• One document proving signature (examples: a credit/debit card, a canceled check or a current Illinois DL/ID).
House Bill 3493 would set up a state commission similar to the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utilities. The commission could investigate drug prices and set limits on reimbursements and payments. The poll found the idea was strongly favored by 42 percent and somewhat favored by another 27 percent.
* That bill went down today in committee on a tie vote after two Democrats flipped to “No” and another Dem sided against it…
Republican House members Deanne Mazzochi and Ryan Spain tear into @WillGuzzardi’s bill, calling it a “government price control” on prescription drugs. Mazzochi predicts it would be struck down in courts and says the workload would overwhelm any state board. pic.twitter.com/X8QD9fBVBG
House Democrats Thaddeus Jones, Rita Mayfield and Larry Walsh voted no on HB 3493. Jones signed on as a co-sponsor and told supporters he would vote yes as recently as last night. So Jones voted against his own bill. Mayfield was also leaning toward yes but flipped to no. https://t.co/rUW30uQlrQ
* Meanwhile, Rep. Guzzardi lives in the Logan Square neighborhood and voters in that part of town overwhelmingly supported lifting the state’s ban on rent control last November…
In wards that encompass parts of Logan Square (35th), Uptown (46th) and Rogers Park (49th), a nonbinding referendum asked voters whether they want the state’s ban on rent control to be lifted.
In each of the three wards, at least two-thirds of voters supported lifting the ban: 71 percent in the 35th, 70 percent in the 46th and 66 percent the 49th, according to vote totals posted by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
* Guzzardi’s bill died in subcommittee today when Democratic Reps. Curtis Tarver and Rita Mayfield sided with Republicans and voted against it and Rep. Andre Thapedi voted “Present.” The Chicagoland Apartment Association put together a coalition to lobby against the bill and issued a press release celebrating its demise…
We believe today’s decision is a positive development for the millions who rent their homes in Illinois because market-rate housing will continue to function without interference. It is true that affordable workforce housing, especially in Cook County, is currently lacking in supply, but the concept of rent control would make the goal of providing additional affordable housing less attainable because it would reduce the supply and quality of rental units to select from. SHAPE Illinois can now concentrate our efforts on advocacy for legislative initiatives that create more vitally important affordable housing, including, 1) HB2168 by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz to provide tax relief for the construction and rehab of affordable housing, 2) Prioritizing at least one billion dollars for the construction and preservation of affordable housing in the upcoming capital bill, and 3) SB2090 by Sen. Omar Aquino which allocates more resources to the state’s Rental Housing Support Program by doubling the modest $9 cost for each county’s document recordation fees.
A measure to require the Chicago Public School Board be elected by voters, rather than appointed by the city’s mayor, advanced out of committee Wednesday.
State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, said his bill codifies a popular idea that some city residents have been seeking for years.
“It’s something I’ve been pushing for for a while,” he said. “It’s something that I think the citizens of Chicago deserve.”
Martwick said he’s confident Gov. J.B. Pritzker will sign it if it were to pass.
A representative from the city of Chicago opposed the move in committee Wednesday morning, saying the new mayor, whoever she is, should have the ability to appoint a new member. […]
If passed, there would be 20 subdivisions for Chicago Public Schools with districts drawn by the Illinois General Assembly. The first election would be for the 2023 consolidated primary elections.
So, Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton will be in charge of drawing the maps?
A lawmaker has filed a bill in response to a Northwest Herald investigation that would amend the state’s school code to require school districts to report any investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against a school employee or contractor to parents.
On Monday, state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, filed House Bill 3819 to address concerns raised after a Northwest Herald investigation revealed Community High School District 155 officials knew in August – months before notifying parents – about a police probe into allegations against a Crystal Lake Central High School teacher later charged with felony grooming of an underage girl for sex.
After a two-week internal investigation in the school district’s human resources department, 48-year-old Matthew R. Fralick was allowed to return to his high school classroom.
Filed in Springfield on Monday, McSweeney’s bill would amend the state’s School Code to require any school district that takes disciplinary action against an educator or contractor due to allegations involving an offense that is sexually motivated to report the allegation – including the person’s name – to parents and guardians.
Illinois lawmakers have set the wheels in motion to allow for power provider Exelon’s nuclear fleet, as well as wind and solar power providers, to sell energy to a state authority that opponents say will give it preferential pricing over coal and natural gas sources.
Testimony about how the legislation would affect costs for ComEd ratepayers differed, so what it means for consumers isn’t clear.
The move is a response to wholesale power grid operator PJM Interconnection Inc. separating Exelon’s nuclear power from other sources’ bids because Exelon gets subsidies from the state and would be able to undercut coal plants and others looking to sell energy commitments on the wholesale power market.
“The clean capacity procurement provisions in this bill are driven by new federal regulations that change the way the regional grid operator, PJM in the northern part of the state, procures its generating capacities,” said Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Joliet. “Under these regulations, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, would undercut key provisions of the Future Energy Jobs Act … including the development of clean energy like wind and solar and our existing clean energy resources.”
Exelon said in a government filing last month that its Dresden, Byron and Braidwood stations were at risk for “early retirement” due to economic conditions related to the bidding process.
* I told subscribers about these dark money group ads earlier today, so I’ll just leave it at this press release…
Today, Ideas Illinois launched a campaign targeting state legislators calling on them to oppose the Pritzker-Madigan Jobs Tax on middle class families.
“The politicians in Springfield can stop this massive Jobs Tax now by simply not putting it on the ballot in 2020,” Ideas Illinois Chairman Greg Baise said. “Ideas Illinois is calling on legislators to protect the interests of middle class families in their districts rather than handing a blank check to Springfield insiders.”
Democratic Reps. Monica Bristow, Jonathon Carroll, Terra Costa Howard and Mary Edly-Allen are being targeted. Here’s one of the spots…
The group’s online ads say Springfield politicians have hiked taxes in the past and promised those tax increases would fix the state’s problems.
“Pritzker and Madigan want to change the constitution to allow a permanent jobs tax on middle class families,” it says. “It won’t say how much you’ll pay: a blank check for Springfield. Pritzker and Madigan want you to trust them to do the right thing. But they broke their promise before … and they’ll do it again, if we trust them again.”
The ads are supposedly online and TV, but they’re not yet on Facebook (I’m told they start tomorrow) and the other side says they haven’t seen any TV buys as of yet (I’m told they’re coming). Think Big Illinois started its own campaign two weeks ago, but its Facebook ads have stopped running.
…Adding… Think Big Illinois…
This is the latest in a string of attacks by some of the wealthiest Illinoisans who will do or say anything to avoid being forced to pay their fair share.
But the facts are clear – irresponsible governance and financial mismanagement have left Illinois with a $3.2 billion deficit. A fair tax will address this crisis, while only raising taxes on people making more than $250,000 a year and bringing in $3.4 billion a year in much-needed revenue that will go toward funding critical programs, including our schools.
As evidence mounts that Illinoisans across the state support a fair tax, we expect efforts by opponents to only grow more desperate as they fight to keep in place a system that benefits them and their bottom line.
Today, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA) released a report, Fully Funding the Evidence-Based Formula: Four Scenarios, which shows that, even if Illinois annually increases school funding up to the full $350 million minimum established under the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, or EBF, it would take over 30 years to fund all schools to the levels which the evidence indicates is needed, on a fully inflation-adjusted basis.
After decades of failing its children, particularly children of color and children in low-income communities, Illinois finally has a school funding formula designed both to close the state’s historic income- and race-based funding gaps, and ultimately to provide every school district the resources which the evidence shows is required for all students to succeed academically. The EBF accomplishes this by:
* first identifying an unique “Adequacy Target” of funding for each school district-which represents the amount the research indicates that school district needs to provide an adequate level of education to the students it serves; and then
* distributing most of the new funding Illinois invests in education to those districts furthest from their respective Adequacy Targets.
Unfortunately, according to the Illinois State Board of Education, the state’s FY 2019 appropriation for K-12 education is $7.35 billion short of what the evidence shows is needed to fund every school district in the state up to its full Adequacy Target.
“The report illustrates that an extraordinary funding effort is necessary to move Illinois’ children to adequacy,” State Representative Will Davis said. “If we believe in what we seek to accomplish, additional resources are necessary.”
As it stands now, the EBF only requires the state to increase funding for K-12 education by a minimum amount which ranges from $300 million to $350 million annually. The EBF also commits the state to funding the formula fully by June 30, 2027. However, if the annual, year-to-year increase in school funding is capped at $350 million, it would take 31 years, or until 2051, to cover the current $7.35 billion shortfall on a fully inflation-adjusted basis.
CTBA’s report details the following different funding scenarios for the EBF, which vary by timeline:
* If Illinois were to increase K-12 appropriations by a flat $350 million each year, it would take approximately 31 years to fund the EBF fully after adjusting for inflation.
* To fund the EBF on a fully inflation-adjusted basis in 10 years as required by statute, Illinois would have to increase K-12 funding by $779 million annually, or slightly more than double the minimum currently established by law.
* To fund the EBF fully in 5 years, Illinois would have to increase K-12 funding by $1.58 billion each year.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is having a hard time getting the numbers to add up on his $3.4 billion progressive income tax hike. And the administration now is releasing details contradicting data they previously released.
Despite changing their numbers, each of the figures reported by Pritzker’s team has failed to match any of the actual data. This has not only been confirmed by the Illinois Policy Institute’s analysis of both IDOR and IRS data, but by the Civic Federation’s analysis of IDOR data as well.
One problem is that the governor’s team based their growth estimates on a preliminary 2016 income number from IDOR even though a final number is available. The final number is lower by nearly $3 billion, which means their growth rates are artificially inflated.
By using outlandish projections for income growth, the administration alleges that a graduated income tax plan is capable of bringing in an additional $3.4 billion while avoiding tax hikes for 97 percent of Illinoisans. Unfortunately, because the governor’s baseline is far off, his plan will not deliver on his promise of closing the structural deficit. When his plan ultimately fails to bring in enough revenue, he will have to raise taxes on middle-class Illinoisans.
DCFS Interim Director Debra Dyer-Webster said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget request is intended to address many of the agency’s needs. It calls for total spending of $1.26 billion in the upcoming fiscal year, a $75 million increase over this year’s budget. That would be the largest single-year increase the agency has had in more than 20 years.
Much of the increase would be used to hire 126 additional investigators and case workers to ease the workloads on staff in local and regional offices around the state. […]
But Sen. Andy Manar, a Democrat from Bunker Hill, questioned whether the $75 million increase the administration wants would be enough to address the agency’s needs.
“The $75 million is the single biggest increase we’ve had in over 20 years, but it is only a first step,” said Royce Kirkpatrick, DCFS’s acting chief financial officer.
Lawmakers questioned why they didn’t ask for all the money that they needed.
“We recite the names of dead children in this committee hearing once a year,” Senator Andy Manar said. “So why didn’t the department walk in the door today with the request that is necessary to operate the department for the upcoming fiscal year?”
All agencies testify about the official budget request that comes directly from the governor. Manar knows this, of course, but he also has a valid point. Shouldn’t DCFS tell the General Assembly exactly what it needs? That might make the governor look bad for skimping, but the Illinois State Board of Education presents its own budget proposal every year. Yes, it’s a quasi independent body with its own board, but it’s still not a bad idea.
DCFS has huge problems. So, what do you really need?
* And we may know some answers to that question in six weeks or so. As I was writing all of that, this popped into my in-box…
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced that Marc D. Smith, the Executive Vice President of Foster Care and Intact Services at Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, will be his nominee to lead the Department of Children and Family Services.
Governor Pritzker has also expanded expert services that the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall already provides to DCFS, asking them to conduct an independent and comprehensive review of how the agency’s Intact Family Services unit functions, and has asked for initial actionable recommendations in the next six weeks. This will ensure that respected independent experts with a deep understanding of DCFS operations and challenges can provide immediate input to the new director and administration.
“The most vulnerable people in Illinois are the children served by DCFS, and we must provide them the best services that our state can offer, which means assessing and implementing the recommendations of child welfare experts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Within six weeks, Chapin Hall will deliver a report to the new DCFS director with strategic recommendations for improving children’s safety and the quality of the services the agency is providing.”
Following the initial recommendations, Chapin Hall will also provide a more comprehensive review of policies, practices and procedures in the Intact Family Services Unit in order to make additional concrete recommendations for action. Chapin Hall will apply a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary systems approach and will survey several areas, including infrastructure supports like technology to determine if there are better ways to detect increased risk and prevent harm to children. A copy of their scope of work is attached.
Background
Marc D. Smith will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Since 2009, Smith has served as the Executive Vice President of Foster Care and Intact Services at Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, Illinois’ largest provider of services to families in crisis. In the role, he collaborates with child welfare leaders, professionals, and other stakeholders to implement family-centered systems and practices that protect and support vulnerable children and families. Smith came to his most recent role after working for more than two decades as a social worker, trainer, and leader in child welfare. From 2004 to 2009, he served as a program administrator and recovery coach at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, where he managed the Child Welfare Division. Earlier in his career, Smith worked as a public service administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1993 to 2000. Smith has served on numerous boards, committees, and work groups, helping to shape policies and inform best practices in leadership and in the field. He has also led the development of program models that have increased the likelihood of family reunification, increased adoptions, and significantly improved the ability of workers and agencies to connect people with substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and other supportive services. A licensed clinical social worker and certified trainer, the Joliet resident received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter, is encouraged to hear that Governor J.B. Pritzker has selected Marc Smith, LCSW, for the role of director of the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). As a licensed clinical social worker and leader in foster care services, Mr. Smith brings a deep understanding of the system and how our contracted services work. DCFS has numerous challenges that need to be addressed, and we stand ready to work with the new appointment in improving the outcomes of youth in care and those who are now alumni.”
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Credit unions value customer and staff education. The Illinois Credit Union League, the primary trade association for credit unions in Illinois, provides education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the cooperative. ICUL provides credit unions with the latest training and insights through webinars, conferences and peer networking groups. Along with providing education to members, ICUL consistently works to ensure the general public and policy makers are informed about the nature, structure and benefits of credit unions! For more information about the credit union difference, please visit: www.yourmoneyfurther.com.
In response to the surprising decision by prosecutors to drop the case against Chicago actor Jussie Smollett, State Representative Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago) plans to file legislation to prohibit any production using the actor from receiving Illinois Film Tax Credits. […]
Rep. McAuliffe will be filing the bill this week.
*Sigh*
McAuliffe and I go way back, and if he runs again next year (very doubtful, I think) he may not have an easy time of it. To his credit, he always thinks like a target. And many (not all) targets love them some publicity.
And it’s not like Michael is all that unique. Every time something big happens, some legislator tries to jump on the publicity hound bandwagon with some bill tailor-made to attract attention. The practice is as old as legislatures themselves. Some members are probably kicking themselves today for not thinking of this tax credit angle first.
* And, of course, it worked like a charm…
* Tribune: State legislator says productions employing Jussie Smollett should not get state tax credits
* Sun-Times: A ‘Jussie’ restriction? Lawmaker would nix tax credits for Smollett shows, films
* Daily Line: Chicago’s only GOP lawmaker calls for ‘Empire’ to lose tax credits after charges dropped against Smollett
* CBS 2: IL State Representative Wants To Prohibit TV Companies From Receiving Tax Credits If They Employ Jussie Smollett
All of those stories are basically just re-writes of his press release. Mission accomplished.
* I asked the HGOPs how Rep. McAuliffe could possibly draft a constitutional bill to deprive an otherwise eligible company from receiving state tax credits if they employed this goofball and was told only that a bill would be filed by the end of the week.
So, I guess we gotta wait. But how are they gonna draft this thing? “Any production company that employs any person who was arrested for (fill in the blank) between (fill in date range) and then all charges were mysteriously and suddenly dropped is ineligible to receive the state film tax credit”?
* ABATE withdrew its endorsement of Gov. Bruce Rauner last year after he issued an executive order allowing relatively easy access to roads by so-called “autonomous” cars and trucks. I received this ABATE release yesterday…
[Monday] at a press conference with the Illinois State Police raising awareness for Scott’s Law, Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to a question on driverless vehicles with remarks urging caution on the implementation and utilization of driverless vehicles. ABATE of Illinois agrees with Governor Pritzker’s remarks, especially with the admission that this technology is “not ready today”. A point so important that the Governor repeated it for emphasis. The Governor even went so far as to say “This is not something that we’re going to authorize sometime soon in the State of Illinois.”
Unfortunately, this unproven technology is currently allowed on Illinois roads with no oversight due to an executive order signed by former Governor Rauner in October of 2018. The order allows robot cars and semi-trucks on Illinois Roads simply by filing a letter with IDOT. ABATE of Illinois calls on Governor Pritzker to rescind that dangerous order, and return the issue of Autonomous Vehicles back to the General Assembly where stakeholders can work together to craft reasonable regulations that protect the safety of all road users in Illinois.
“We certainly need to be careful about the implementation, the utilization of driverless vehicles. They’re not ready today. They’re not ready today. And I know that the tests that I’ve seen have been imperfect at best. And so we’re going to have to wait and see. This is not something that we’re going to authorize sometime soon in the State of Illinois” - J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
* So, I checked in with the governor’s office. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
The governor was clear in his comments [Monday] and is always open to reviewing proposals brought forth by advocates.
…Adding…A resolution sponsored by Sen. Tom Cullerton to disapprove Rauner’s EO was adopted 18-0 by the Senate Transportation Committee on March 5th. It’s now awaiting floor action.
* From House Majority Leader Greg Harris’ Facebook page…
Today is Gun Rights Lobby Day, Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy Lobby Day, Episcopal Lobby Day, Catholic Charities Lobby Day, lots of Mayors and Town administrators who want interchanges, water and waste water plants, a bridge or such, hospitals looking for upgrades, expensive radiology equipment and ADA compliance and I don’t know who else. The Rotunda and galleries will be a mob scene P.S. Did I miss anyone who’s coming today.? UPDATED: IARF, Access Living, Disability Advocates and SEIU Healthcare have lobby days too!
Gun owners are heading to the Illinois state capitol Wednesday to try to convince lawmakers to rethink a number of bills that they say go too far.
IllinoisCarry.com spokesperson Valinda Rowe said she expects to see a record turnout for the Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day, or I-GOLD. She said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to sign the Gun Dealer Licensing Act as his first bill was the beginning of a wave of what she said were attacks against gun owners. […]
A program at the Bank of Springfield Center, a few blocks from the capitol, will begin in the morning with a march through Springfield and down Capitol Avenue to the state capitol building at 1 p.m.
Rowe those showing up will talk to lawmakers about their rights on the legislative front.
“Which, right now, the tide is against us on that front because of the numbers that they have in the House and Senate and a governor that will sign whatever is passed,” Rowe said.
