Elections have consequences
Thursday, Aug 22, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pritzker’s deputy press secretary…
That isn’t a complete list.
…Adding… Another one…
* From Sen. Manar…
Teachers will see an increase to their minimum salary under a new law sponsored by State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker.
“We’re facing a severe teacher shortage in Illinois and increasing their salaries is just one way we can attract and retain qualified teachers in this state,” Manar said. “We need to start taking this problem seriously and this legislation is a good step toward solving it.”
House Bill 2078 will increase the minimum salary for teachers to $40,000 over a four year period.
Illinois had not updated its minimum teacher salary since 1980. Since that time, state statute has mandated that that Illinois school districts pay teachers with a bachelor’s degree a minimum of only $10,000.
“This is a long-needed change and I’m glad to see that both sides of the aisle came forward to support this legislation,” Manar said. “We’re showing that we value teachers in Illinois and that’s going to go a long way toward attracting qualified teachers in Illinois and convincing young people to consider a career in education.”
Under the measure, the state would update the minimum mandated salary for teachers annually over four years, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. After that, subject to review by the General Assembly, it would be increased according to the Consumer Price Index. The phase-in would look like this under the proposal:
· $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year;
· $34,576 for the 2021-2022 school year;
· $37,076 for the 2022-2023 school year; and
· $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year;
The measure will go into effect January 1, 2020.
- Lt Guv - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:54 am:
One more step to undo the damage. Keep it up.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:55 am:
The framing of how terrible Rauner was, and how much is getting done by Pritzker is a strong strategy coming out of this first session for that Crew.
It allows the utter failure Rauner was to boost the already impressive list of accomplishments with Rauner’s low bar a benchmark so easily hurdled, no matter if you agree with these bills or not.
It’s also a passive-aggressive “elections have consequences” response to those who disagree with some of all these bills, and a pretty tasty trolling of Raunerites who voted more with Ken Dunkin than any other Democratic legislator.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 9:59 am:
Terrific. Those with high incomes have made the biggest igains for a long time in Illinois. Those who professionally oppose teachers making a minimum salary, and unions, make good or great money themselves and advocate for their billionaire funders.
Illinois under Pritzker is planting the flag and making a strong stand for lower/middle-income workers. How refreshing it is, after our neighbors enacted RTWFL and launched other attacks on workers, on behalf of right wing billionaires.
- Name Withheld - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:04 am:
Shoutout to my friend Robb Craddock who helped the Governor get this done. It is really nice to see domino after domino fall as JB accomplishes in months what Rauner couldn’t do in years: negotiate.
- efudd - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:06 am:
The fact that legislation has to be crafted and made law ensuring teachers make at least 40Gs a year is a little frightening.
I know, some small school districts won’t be able to pay it. If this forces them to consolidate, so much the better.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:12 am:
“Shoutout to my friend Robb Craddock who helped the Governor get this done.”
Congrats to management and the union for a quick contract settlement. Great job by Mr. Craddock and his team, after the futile war Rauner waged via the former lead contract negotiator for management. What a destructive and needless waste that war against AFSCME was, with thousands workers being ripped off for four years and taxpayers on the hook for interest on step pay increases.
- Anon for Now - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:16 am:
Not snarky, but when is the right time to move past the previous administration? Current office is doing great things but those are good regardless of who preceded. When do actions become there’s not and responses to what came before?
- Anon for now - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:17 am:
Their’s. Ding me for that, it’s fair.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:18 am:
===but when is the right time to move past the previous administration?===
I’m still not over the Blagojevich administration.
- Just Another Anon - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:19 am:
@Name Withheld
“negotiat[ing]” is really easy with a supermajority in both houses of the legislature…
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:23 am:
Since the State is now telling local school boards what to teach, and how much to pay teachers, let’s just abolish all local school boards and have everything managed through Springfield. While we are at it, let’s abolish property taxes for schools too.
- OutOfState - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:23 am:
=== when is the right time to move past the previous administration?===
Next year, when we compare the second year to the first. Also, never, because it’s a helpful comparison for some voters/readers.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:24 am:
I’m still not entirely over Walker and Thompson.
I still miss Dick Ogilvie.
But we have to appreciate what we have in the present.
- Name Withheld - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:30 am:
—“negotiat[ing]” is really easy with a supermajority in both houses of the legislature…
Yep. It’s also less difficult when you actually consider the other side to be an equal collaborator and not some you demonize by calling them - oh, I don’t know - Afscammy, for example. But hey, that’s just me. Others may be successful with that style.
- City Zen - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:31 am:
==After that, subject to review by the General Assembly, it would be increased according to the Consumer Price Index.==
So now we care about inflation. Fantastic.
- Truthteller - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:32 am:
=== I’m still not over the Blagojevich administration ===
And neither is the state’s fiscal state
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:36 am:
The joke of the day. Governor creates task force looking at property tax reductions.
- lincoln's beard - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:40 am:
===Since the State is now telling local school boards what to teach, and how much to pay teachers, let’s just abolish all local school boards and have everything managed through Springfield. While we are at it, let’s abolish property taxes for schools too.===
This, but unironically
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:42 am:
===“negotiat[ing]” is really easy with a supermajority in both houses of the legislature…===
Rauner could never put 60 or 30 on the stairs.
That’s on Rauner, not the legislators.
Keep up.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:53 am:
“Rauner could never put 60 or 30 on the stairs.”
But he did have a lot of imaginary Democrats secretly supporting him. They were with the corporations who told him they would locate here if he stripped union rights.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:55 am:
===imaginary===
This. Yep.
I’m guessing Rauner imagined his time as governor a bit different.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:57 am:
“But he did have a lot of imaginary Democrats secretly supporting him” And little old ladies at the grocery store. Don’t forget them.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:59 am:
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 10:36 am:
The joke of the day. Governor creates task force looking at property tax reductions.
Punchline?
Sounds like 235,000 teachers in the state, 8,000 spots impacted by new starting wage. State is spending $500 million more on education funding this year. Seem’s like that should ease any property tax burden.
One reason property taxes are high is because state funding is so low. Another reason is some residents in school districts never say no to property tax increase votes (my local district has NEVER voted one down). If the state is committed to getting more state dollars in the mix local dollars don’t have to be there to supply funds to education.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 11:04 am:
“While we are at it, let’s abolish property taxes for schools too.” Good idea, let’s do it. Oh, you wanted to do it without raising other taxes? Well, good luck then.
- JB13 - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 11:09 am:
Or, and stay with me here, JB is a super progressive Democrat working lockstep with a super progressive Democratic supermajority that had waited years to unload their progressive legislative priorities?
Nah. He’s a brilliant leader of humans. That’s the ticket. We’ll keep saying it til it’s true.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 11:13 am:
===…working lockstep with a super progressive Democratic supermajority that had waited years to unload their progressive legislative priorities===
… and yet, it was this very last election, voters increased the majority in the House, the largest in Madigan’s tenure as a Speaker, and the Senate is at 40.
Pesky voters…
…ruining your rant.
- Truthteller - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 11:44 am:
Illinois need to end the kingdoms of townships for starters, followed by county level school control, ending the ridiculous exiting system which only waste tax dollars, require downstate school district to fund THEIR teacher and admin pensions…evaluate state university system and uncontrolled admin cost, professor benefits as well. Problems are east to spot and takes courage and guts to fix.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 12:09 pm:
==The joke of the day. Governor creates task force looking at property tax reductions.
Punchline?==
Ignore Blue Dog, it’s not his fault. Coal-fired power plants in IL are getting shut down laying off hundreds of workers, and hundreds of steel workers around the country are getting laid off too. After figuring out that trump has been lying to him and his buddies for the past four years, he’s understandably angry. You gotta take it out on someone, and JB is -right- there. What else is the guy supposed to do, yell at the Fox News anchors on his teevee screen?
- Pundent - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
=After figuring out that trump has been lying to him and his buddies for the past four years, he’s understandably angry.=
I see no evidence that he’s figured this out.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
Lester. Thanks for the recognition. As for the steel industry, cant speak for everyone, but the widget business is the best its ever been. From a personal standpoint, i have never lived through such robust times. I hope you and yours are enjoying some good times as well.
.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 12:57 pm:
“From a personal standpoint, i have never lived through such robust times.”
But you still bellyache like a champion.
– MrJM
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
..still bellyache like a champion.
Nah. Me. I cant have it any better. Its the working poor and middle classes that get my worry. And this governor keeps doing things that hurts that group.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 1:10 pm:
Blue Dog, I am glad to hear it. I’m personally getting a little itchy, what with coal not coming back like we were promised and now the steel industry hitting a lot of bumps with no help on the horizon. Next year is an election year though, so I’m hoping we’ll get some more promises from the white house soon. Who knows, maybe next year we’ll finally win that easy-to-win trade war. Ah well as long as widgets are still in demand. Helps us to put up with JB’s nonsense a little bit longer
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 2:43 pm:
“Its the working poor and middle classes that get my worry.”
Of course — during the Rauner administration, you demonstrated a concern for others that was nothing less than heroic.
– MrJM
- 12 hours - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 2:44 pm:
Hanns has been so consistently good for Prtizker. Routinely impressed by him
- LakeCo - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 3:09 pm:
== And this governor keeps doing things that hurts that group==
Like what, specifically?
- don the legend - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 4:23 pm:
BDD, I qualify as solidly middle class. I support paying our state’s bills, honoring our pension promises, fixing our roads and bridges, legalizing marijuana, paying people a fair wage, a progressive income tax, respecting the civil rights of all of our state’s residents.
JB is one of the few politicians that is aggressively honoring his campaign promises.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 22, 19 @ 5:21 pm:
=Sounds like 235,000 teachers in the state, 8,000 spots impacted by new starting wage. State is spending $500 million more on education funding this year. Seem’s like that should ease any property tax burden.=
Yeah except that $500 million isn’t. It was more but that was to creep back toward 1996 funding level. Many districts didn’t get any extra.
My one issue is that this new minimum is an unfunded mandate.
=followed by county level school control, ending the ridiculous exiting system which only waste tax dollars, require downstate school district to fund THEIR teacher and admin pensions…evaluate state university system and uncontrolled admin cost, professor benefits as well. Problems are east to spot and takes courage and guts to fix.=
Bet that rant felt good. Now support your argument about “county level school control”. Bigger is better? Maybe check out how the non-wealthy big districts are doing and then give it another think.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 6:54 am:
==but the widget business is the best its ever been.==
I’m sure the rubber chicken and whoopi cushion industries are robust too. People need to laugh during such dismal times.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 7:23 am:
“I support paying our state’s bills, honoring our pension promises, fixing our roads and bridges, legalizing marijuana, paying people a fair wage, a progressive income tax, respecting the civil rights of all of our state’s residents.”
This.
- Pundent - Friday, Aug 23, 19 @ 7:33 am:
You have to understand that BDD likes corporate tax cuts and Chinese tarrifs. Things like a $15 minimum wage and fair tax don’t resonate.