As Governor J.B. Pritzker nears his one-year anniversary in office, investors are signaling that Illinois is making some gains even as the worst-rated state grapples with rising pension debt and the highest borrowing costs among its peers.
Pritzker, a Democrat, and other state leaders have earned credit from the $3.8 trillion municipal market for achieving some fiscal stability. Illinois’s bond-market penalty, the premium that investors have long demanded to hold the state’s debt, fell to the lowest since 2015 this week, which some debt holders say is due to optimism for potential new tax revenue and others attribute to overall strong demand for high-yield muni bonds.
“There is distinct improvement” over the past year, said John Ceffalio, a credit analyst for AllianceBernstein LP, which owns Illinois bonds among its approximately $47 billion of municipal debt. “The big thing from the credit side is increased political stability and economic and revenue growth.” […]
Illinois has put itself in a “better position” given its revenue gains, willingness to raise taxes and planned infrastructure investment, Ted Hampton, an analyst for Moody’s Investors Service, said in an interview.
Still, Illinois’s “massive pension liability” has made it an “outlier” in terms of the scale of its fixed costs relative to its revenue, Hampton said. Illinois’s so-called fixed-cost ratio is 36.4% in 2018, the nation’s highest and four times the median of U.S. states tracked by Moody’s, which didn’t include a few states in its most recent calculation.
Collectively, Illinois’ downstate counties have suffered the worst loss of population, by far. The whole region lost nearly 120,000 people between 2010 and 2018 – more than 2.5 percent of its total population.
Three (DuPage, Will and Kane) of the five collar counties gained population, leaving the collar counties as the only growth area in Illinois.
However, that increase was largely at the expense of Cook County. Previous migration data shows many new collar residents come from Cook County.
Cook County itself lost 19,000, or 0.4 percent, of its total population over the 2010-2018. That’s on top of the more than 200,000 people it lost in the decade prior to that.
The Downstate population plunge includes people who moved to Chicagoland. They didn’t all leave for other states or countries. Click here and you’ll see the latest IRS numbers on that.
All counties with population increases over that time period were Champaign, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, McLean, Monroe, Will and Williamson.
The Champaign County State’s Attorney revealed Friday that her office is now working with other state and federal agencies on a investigation into a 2012 email written by a former powerful Springfield lobbyist that referred to an unspecified “rape in Champaign,” WBEZ has learned.
Democratic Champaign State’s Attorney Julia Rietz told WBEZ in an interview Friday afternoon that her office is involved in a “comprehensive investigation” with the Illinois Attorney General, the Illinois State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois into the content of the email.
“There are efforts being made to unravel this – again – cryptic, unspecific allegation regarding a sexual assault,” Rietz said.
* Meanwhile, the mayor stood up for the governor…
"I think the governor got it right in the first instance," referring the email to the state's Executive IG, says she and IG Susan Haling "worked together as colleagues" previously.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined the chorus calling for a criminal investigation of the alleged rape mentioned in McClain’s email. But she added a perspective that’s been missed.
“If there was a rape, we have a victim out there who’s watching. Hopefully not. But I have concerns the person is being re-traumatized by the way in which this story is unfolding and the way that we’re talking about it and losing site of the fact that there’s a potential victim out there,” the mayor said.
“It’s mind-boggling that someone would put something like that in an email so blithely as an argument for why a particular person should be saved from disciplinary action. Mike McClain will have to give account for himself, I would imagine, on a number of different fronts in the coming days and weeks. But this one is something unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”
Former Gov. Pat Quinn and currently Gov. JB Pritzker are among the state lawmakers calling for an investigation after WBEZ reported an email from a former lobbyist hinted at a rape cover-up.
The email was reportedly sent to aides to then-Gov. Quinn. Details about that rape case and apparent cover-up are unknown. […]
Quinn has said he had no knowledge of the matters mentioned in the email, but has called for an investigation. He said he was unaware of the email until he was told about it by reporters.”
”I think it must be fully investigated by law enforcement and justice must be done and the truth must come out. That’s what I believe,” he said.
* And Greg Hinz is done with MJM…
McClain email makes it clear: #MikeMadigan's time is up. A two year saga of revelations about how his closest allies and operatives acted — and his own reluctance to disclose all — ought to reach only one conclusion. https://t.co/skQ761HRpA
Washington politicians Nancy Pelosi and Lauren Underwood are trying to overturn the 2016 election. We, the people, elect the president, not Pelosi and Underwood. Impeaching President Trump was a complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars.
Congresswoman Underwood, you should be working to protect jobs, cover pre-existing conditions, lower drug prices, fix our roads and bridges, not trying to overturn an election.
I’m Jim Oberweis and I’ll put people over politics. That’s why I approved this message.
Keep in mind when you rate the spot that Oberweis is currently battling in a crowded Republican primary. Republican voters are his targeted audience.
The governor and lieutenant governor laid out extensive plans for criminal-justice reform Thursday, saying they’d work to end cash bail for low-level crimes, push drug offenders toward treatment rather than incarceration, and reduce mandatory sentencing.
At a so-called fireside chat at Kennedy-King College in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, Gov. J.B. Pritzker credited Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton with heading what they call the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative.
Pritzker cited how, on New Year’s Eve, he pardoned 11,000 drug offenders as part of the equity provisions in the legalization of cannabis, which took effect the following day. The JEO Initiative builds on that, with perhaps an initial focus on drug crimes, but it also attempts to extend such community-minded reforms across the justice system and in all areas of the state.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a pair of ambitious criminal justice reform goals Thursday: the end of cash bonds and mandatory minimum sentences in Illinois.
Pritzker says it’s part of “prudently” reducing the state’s 40,000 inmate prison population.
He acknowledges it will likely take several years to implement, but says ending cash bonds is a priority.
Ending cash bail throughout the state was at the top of his agenda.
“Judges can make the decision about whether somebody is a menace to the community, if they’re let out on bail. We need to put a system in place that has a standard for a judge to use to make those decisions,” Pritzker said.
The governor said his plan also includes sending low-level drug offenders into treatment programs, which could save taxpayers money, and reforming mandatory sentencing laws, which could reduce the prison population.
For every resident of Illinois (and in other states), this is the amount of resources invested in individual and family support services for people with disabilities. For each resident of Iowa (not with a disability, but in the general population) the state spends $111 on individual/family support services as defined below the graph; in Illinois, we spend $19. It’s not a budgetary formula, but an after-the-fact comparison that allows comparison of states with different populations.
For some families, this failure to provide necessary services tips the scale toward leaving this dysfunctional state for one that does better — say, Indiana, Michigan or Wisconsin. The Illinois Department of Human Services says more than 1,350 people on the waitlist last year moved out of state. It’s not known how many left specifically in search of better services, but given Illinois’ standing, it would be hard for families to do much worse. The state ranks an embarrassing No. 44 in a recent report on how well state Medicaid programs serve people with these types of disabilities.
Illinois spends at least $400 million a year on this type of services and aid, according to Allison Stark, director of the Human Services Department’s developmental disabilities division. That ranges from small group housing to larger facilities and includes community day programs and adaptive equipment. Stark estimates Illinois would have to double its spending to eliminate the wait for services.
The Tribune editorial board advocates reducing state pension spending. It’s the same basic logic Bruce Rauner used before his first run for governor…
“In Illinois there’s been a long-time history of what I would call social service, social justice, a bigger role for government in the safety net than in many other states,” Rauner said at a tax policy conference sponsored by the George W. Bush Institute. “I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic and bring the folks who say, ‘You know what? For our tax dollars, I’d rather help the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the elderly, the children in poverty. I’d rather have my tax dollars going to that than the SEIU or Af-scammy (AFSCME), who are out there for their own interests.’”
* Earlier this week we had some fun with a photo of a coyote across the street from Gibson’s. Since then, however, things got ugly…
Residents in Chicago have been rattled after two people, including a 6-year-old boy, were attacked by coyotes on the same day … after at least a decade without an incident.
Both attacks occurred Wednesday. The Chicago Tribune reports the boy was walking on a path near the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. A coyote lying on a grassy hill bit the boy on the head and had to be fought off by the boy’s nanny and other bystanders, the Tribune reports. USA Today reports the boy is recovering and is in “good spirits” in Lurie Children’s Hospital.
* So I was captivated last night by a Twitter play-by-play posted by Chicago Tribune overnight crime reporter Paige Fry…
Sounds like someone was reporting a coyote outside their home. Zone 4. #ChicagoScanner
A coyote was caught on Chicago’s North Side Thursday evening, but authorities said it was not yet known whether it’s the same animal that attacked a 5-year-old boy the day before about two miles away.
The coyote, which appeared injured, was spotted around 10 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Dayton Street in the Lincoln Park area, according to Chicago Animal Care and Control. Workers from the agency caught up with the animal about a block away and “safely” shot it with a tranquilizer dart.
The coyote was taken to the agency’s facilities for “further evaluation,” it said in a tweet. […]
But Ald. Brian Hopkins, whose 2nd Ward includes the museum, tweeted that “preliminary indications strongly suggest this is the animal involved … waiting for DNA test results to confirm.”
The alderman said the coyote may also be the same animal that bit a man in the buttocks later Wednesday in Streeterville. Neither the boy nor the man — who showed up at a hospital with what he said was a coyote bite — suffered life-threatening injuries.
* As we discussed yesterday, Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady sent a letter to Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly calling on the ISP to conduct an investigation into the 2012 Mike McClain email to two Pat Quinn administration officials which referenced ghost payrolling and a rape in Champaign. Here’s Director Kelly’s response…
As someone privileged to work every day with public servants of the highest integrity, and as a former prosecutor, these allegations are deeply disturbing, and the Illinois State Police takes them extremely seriously.
As a matter of law and policy, the Illinois State Police (ISP) and Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG) routinely coordinate and mutually support investigations and referrals for prosecution. These allegations are no exception.
The ISP and the OEIG are in communication and the ISP Division of Internal Investigations and/or the Division of Criminal Investigations will appropriately pursue any criminal aspects arising out of this investigation and dedicate whatever investigative resources are needed.
Previous investigations falling under the potential authority of both the ISP and OEIG have been thorough, professional and laid a strong foundation to pursue justice wherever the evidence may lead – precisely the kind of work you would expect from the former federal prosecutor leading the OEIG whom I hold in high regard. The ISP is committed to nothing less in this case.”
* Meanwhile, I tend to give Skillicorn wide latitude. He is who he is. But for a sitting legislator to say something like this about a governor (any governor) is just way over the line…
Face it some politicians condone rape. Gov. Pritzker Defends Actions After Discovering Email About ‘Rape In Champaign’ | WBEZ https://t.co/tY7V0UDo2c
* This Illinois Family Institute article shows us once again that people who constantly complain about out-migration will always try to blame it on their Number 1 issue. Upset about government pensions? That’s why people are leaving! Cranky about taxes? That’s why people are leaving! Despise the Democrats? That’s why people are leaving! Hate the winter weather? That’s why people are leaving!…
According to a recent article in Forbes magazine, Illinois has the disconcerting distinction of being the top state for out migration. That is, Illinoisans are leaving the state in record numbers. This is not a new trend. For 6 years in a row, Illinois has had a net population loss.
Is there a connection to our high taxes, political corruption, pension debt, radical abortion expansion, LGBT indoctrination and many other foolish policies? We believe there is, and a recent abortion-related law may be partly to blame.
When state lawmakers passed SB 25 and Governor JB Pritzker signed it into law, they opened the door to ending what little protection there is for young girls, a protection we fought long and hard for: Parental Notification of Abortion.
The rest of the article doesn’t actually explain how passing such a law would lead to more out-migration, however.
Fifty-six children died between July 1 and Jan. 1 after prior contact with the state agency charged with protecting children from abuse and neglect, according to new data from the Department of Children and Family Services’ inspector general.
The data on the first six months of the 2020 fiscal year follows a report released by the same inspector general last week, which found that 123 children had died in the 2019 fiscal year after having contact with DCFS in the previous 12 months — a 25 percent increase from the prior year.
After the release of DCFS Inspector General Meryl Paniak’s annual report last week, state officials were quick to point to the $128 million funding increase granted to DCFS in the current year’s budget, along with efforts to hire more frontline agency workers to both investigate claims of abuse and neglect and at the agency’s so-called “front door” — its overworked hotline. […]
Paniak told The Daily Line Tuesday that her preliminary numbers on child deaths “means we have a lot of work to do.”
“This is Marc Smith’s first round of getting my annual report and realizing the recommendations and the impact and having an opportunity to implement and make some changes,” Paniak said. “I think sometimes when there is difficulty, there lies opportunity. We need to take this opportunity and not wait. We have to move with a sense or urgency to make some changes now.”
Yet changes may not be happening fast enough. The inspector general confirms 56 more children with a DCFS history have died just in the last six months.
Two others suffered serious injuries.
“Enough is enough is enough, and the current administration has to own all the problems, and the current administration has to own the issues and injuries that are happening,” said Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert.
A Pritzker representative said it will take time for agency improvements to take hold. CBS 2 has obtained an internal DCFS memo outlining new screening procedures for kids who might be in danger.
State senators gathered at the Best Western Hillside earlier this week to talk about rules for electing the chamber’s next president and to hear from the three contenders vying for the job that opens up when Sen. John Cullerton retires from the General Assembly later this month.
The candidates — Don Harmon, Kimberly Lightford and Elgie Sims (in alphabetical order, FYI) — impressed their colleagues. “They all had good ideas. It’s going to come down to leadership style,” one senator told Playbook. […]
Senators have good reason to hold back on their endorsements: They’re either angling for a leadership position with whoever will offer it, or they don’t want to risk alienating the next president if they align with a losing candidate. […]
Sims heads one group. He’s a former state representative who’s been a senator since 2018. He’s not likely to be named Senate president, but throwing his name in the ring gives him bargaining power for a leadership position. A few senators (at least two) have committed to Sims as president so that gives him a bloc that could sway the decision toward Harmon or Lightford. One thing to watch: If Sims announces his support early, it may signal who will win the presidency. Sims will support the winner.
The second group includes 11 moderate-to-conservative Democrats who call themselves the “X” Caucus because they couldn’t otherwise come up with a name. The group is loosely headed by state Sen. Steve Landek of the 12th District. Members are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the vote. What they decide coming out of that meeting could shift the game entirely.
A more progressive third group includes Sens. Omar Aquino, Robert Martwick, Robert Peters and Ram Villivalam.
Some senators in the three groups are also members of the Women’s, Black or Latino caucuses, which have their own priorities. And don’t forget the Republicans. If Democrats don’t come out of their caucus with the full support of one candidate, Republicans could muddle things when the full chamber meets to finalize the decision.
There’s also an unofficial generational alliance — senators who are skeptical of old-school politics and practices. Will that play out in the decision-making?
I just don’t think the Democrats will take this fight to the full chamber, but weirder things have happened. It’s also possible that a new candidate could emerge if none of the three garner enough votes, but it’s probably too early to say anything for sure.
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), and Mike Bost (R-Ill.) today released this joint statement calling on the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged rape and cover up in Champaign.
“These revelations are extremely troubling and a thorough independent investigation needs to happen immediately. We are very concerned that the Champaign County State’s Attorney has determined she will not investigate this alleged crime. If these disturbing allegations, that were revealed this week, are true there’s a victim out there that deserves justice and a criminal that should be prosecuted. Given the unwillingness of the local state’s attorney to investigate this alleged crime and ties to the governor’s campaign, we believe a special prosecutor is warranted.”
Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said she had spoken to the attorney general’s office Thursday afternoon and would be assisting OEIG’s investigation to unravel the meaning of McClain’s reference to a “rape in Champaign.”
“Certainly, if there’s a victim in my county I want to do everything I can to bring the perpetrator to justice,” she said.
The allegations contained in the emails of a well-known lobbyist are deeply disturbing. I am calling on the Director of the Illinois State Police to conduct a full and thorough investigation. Here is my letter. #twillpic.twitter.com/YCfgOr5KUs
* Dan Mihalopoulos and Dave McKinney at WBEZ tracked down Mike McClain today…
In his first public comments since FBI agents raided his home last May, the former Springfield lobbyist and close confidant of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan said he would consult with his lawyer before deciding whether he could explain what he was referring to in the cryptic, 2012 email.
“I prefer not to comment right now, but thank you,” McClain told WBEZ reporters who approached him as he was leaving the swanky Chicago Cut Steakhouse in downtown Chicago after he had lunch there.
Apparently, “lay low until the heat blows off” is not an option he considered.
McClain told WBEZ Thursday that federal investigators had asked him to cooperate with their ongoing corruption probe into utility giant Commonwealth Edison. McClain, who represented the utility as a lobbyist, has emerged as a central figure in the scandal, but he intimated that he would not cooperate.
McClain repeatedly smiled and said he had been asked by federal investigators to cooperate. But when WBEZ asked if it would be hard to betray someone like his longtime friend Madigan, McClain paused and then said, “It would be hard to betray myself.”
* Video…
WBEZ EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Embattled ex-lobbyist and Madigan confidante Michael McClain tells @dmihalopoulos and me that he’s been asked to cooperate in the federal ComEd probe, but he suggested that would be an act of betrayal. pic.twitter.com/jOo9PWRmPL
It should come as no surprise that he didn’t know. Every single thing that’s been revealed has gotten the same response. Not knowing is foundational and fundamental to the entire design of the organization. pic.twitter.com/xZHieesLrD
* Gov. Pritzker took questions from Chicago reporters today and it naturally turned to the uproar over Mike McClain’s email to the Quinn administration. He touted the fact that he had asked the Executive Inspector General to look into it…
Reporter 1: An investigation could take quite some time. While that is going, what are you going to do? Are you going to have informal questions that you’re going to ask of Speaker Madigan, Gov. Quinn?
Pritzker: I, I, I presume that they’re being asked these questions already. I have not spoken with either one yet about this. But let me be clear. We have to get all the facts. I think that they will be by the investigatory bodies, I presume that people will be contacted by appropriate people. I’m disturbed, again, that people who serve in public office think that it’s OK to have communications like this that seem to have, you know, resulted in, uh, you know, outcomes that none of us, you know, think should occur. […]
Reporter 2: But then is your office doing something. I mean, I get it that there is an investigation, but do you also want answers yourself?
Pritzker: I do. I want the answers, but understand, we don’t have an investigatory capability in the governor’s office…
Reporter 2: Can’t you call Madigan and say ‘What the heck went on here?’
Pritzker: The best we have is the Office of Executive Inspector General and that’s exactly where it went to [crosstalk]. First with our general counsel. I, I wouldn’t know how to investigate this matter. What do you mean? I should just run around and just randomly ask questions?
[Crosstalk and a reporter pointed out that Forrest Ashby worked for Pritzker’s campaign].
Pritzker: Well, this is a consultant. We had 200 people doing field work on our campaign. And, um, you know, they were hired by our field staff to do field work around the state. So, what I want to know is, what is the rape that’s being alleged here? What, exactly, are the circumstances around that? Is there a cover-up that was done around that? And, secondly, what is this ghost payrolling reference to? Was there wrong-doing associated with that and who’s responsible?
Reporter 2: You’re asking us, but who else are you asking?
Pritzker: The OEIG. I don’t have investigatory capability in the governor’s office except that there is an OEIG. That is exactly what an OEIG is there for…
Reporter 2: …I would think, wouldn’t you go to Madigan and say ‘Tell me, explain this’?
Pritzker: Well I, what I know is the statement that was put out yesterday in which he says that he doesn’t know anything about it. […]
Reporter 3: Have you not spoken to the Speaker?
Pritzker: I have spoken to the Speaker repeatedly about the allegations of corruption and the need for us to address…
Reporter 2: Have you spoken to the Speaker about this email?
Pritzker: I think it just came out a couple of days ago. I don’t even think he’s in the state of Illinois.
Reporter 2: But you see this email and you don’t call him up and say ‘What is this about’?
Pritzker: No. It’s not his email. I, what I’m telling you is, immediately upon understanding that this needed to go to an investigatory body, it went to the OEIG. And that is, in fact, exactly where it ought to go.
* The Question: Should Gov. Pritzker pick up the phone and call Speaker Madigan and former Gov. Quinn and ask them about what happened, or should he just let the process he instigated work, or should he do something else? Make sure to explain your answer.
*** UPDATE *** If you saw Speaker Madigan’s letter to Leader Durkin, you may have noticed that Madigan said he’d spoken with the governor. The press conference above was held at 9 o’clock this morning. I asked Emily Bittner about that. Her response…
The Speaker called the Governor this afternoon to confirm that the Governor’s Office referred the matter to the Office of the Inspector General, which the Governor did. That was the extent of their conversation.
* She also sent this…
The possibility of a rape and ghost payrolling mentioned in that disgusting email are extremely serious criminal issues, which is why the governor’s general counsel filed a complaint with the appropriate authority, the Office of the Executive Inspector General, which has the power to investigate and make a determination about next steps. The most urgent need is to get to the bottom of the facts of these potential cases so that other authorities have any information that can potentially aid in an investigation. The appropriate authorities need the unfettered ability to do their jobs without interference; there are no circumstances where it would be appropriate for the Governor to start having conversations about possible crimes when they have been referred to the proper authorities.
She makes a good point. By calling Madigan and Quinn and asking him about this email he could be interfering in an investigation that he initiated. I do not know why he didn’t just say that to the reporters instead of all that other stuff.
I want to do what I did, which is turn it over to somebody who could actually go do an investigation [Office of Executive Inspector General]. Even members of the House and the Senate can’t go knock on peoples’ doors and, you know, get a subpoena or whatever in short order, get an answer the way an investigatory can in short order. We have to refer this to law enforcement or an appropriate authority as soon as humanly possible. You know the legislature cannot work that fast, so that’s why I think an investigatory body who is empowered to do that sort of thing should be in the lead.
…Adding… The House Republicans point out that federal investigations were ongoing when NRI was investigated by the Audit Commission. Rep. Derrick Smith (discipline) and Gov. Blagojevich (impeachment) were both investigated by Special Investigative Committees.
…Adding… From Leader Durkin’s spokesperson Eleni Demertzis…
Please see below an email sent to House Republican members from Leader Durkin regarding Speaker Madigan’s rejection to convene the State Government Administration committee. Feel free to use it in news coverage.
Also, you can attribute this to me:
We did not realize that ghost payrolling was too sensitive of a topic for the committee to investigate on behalf of Illinois taxpayers.
* Durkin’s email…
Dear House Republican Members,
Speaker Madigan’s response (see attached) to reject our call for an investigation into alleged claims of rape and ghost payrolling made by Mike McClain is disappointing but not surprising.
We live in a world of “firsts” and this is the first time I have seen Speaker Madigan abdicate his position and hide behind any Governor.
Please know that we will continue to fight to investigate this disturbing revelation and will do everything we can to restore pride in State government.
The Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board entered into a contract with Forrest Ashby on September 9, 2019 to perform consulting services related to revisions of correctional officer training protocols. Upon learning of media accounts related to his prior employment and due to the seriousness of allegations, the Board moved to suspended Mr. Ashby’s contract today, January 8, 2020 pending an independent investigation. Mr. Ashby was engaged because of his prior work and expertise in the corrections field.
Ashby is the guy whose job Mike McClain was trying to save in that now-infamous email to two top Pat Quinn executives. He has a $40 an hour contract with LETSB.
The brother of a former state representative was chosen Thursday as the next executive director of the state’s police training board, amid allegations that political influence drove the choice.
Kevin McClain, 58, of Springfield, who was named to replace Thomas Jurkanin at the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, said he believes the board selected him because of his qualifications. McClain, now chief attorney for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, previously did legal work part-time for the training board. […]
McClain’s brother, Michael McClain of Quincy, was a Democratic member of the Illinois House from 1972 to 1983 and now is a lawyer and lobbyist. Michael McClain said he did ask lawmakers and others to contact board members on behalf of his brother, though he said Kevin McClain did not ask for such help. […]
Ted Street, state president of the Fraternal Order of Police and a training board member, said Tim Mapes, chief of staff to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, called to ask about the appointment process. Mapes appeared to be promoting Kevin McClain, Street said. Street voted against McClain Thursday.
Ashby began working for the state in 1987. During a more than 30-year career, he bounced around from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs to the prison system and then back to the Department of Corrections. When he retired in January 2018, his final, annual salary was $87,528.
Two months after leaving state government, Ashby landed on the Pritzker’s campaign payroll, records show. He was paid at total of $47,500.
A Pritzker campaign spokesman told WBEZ that Ashby was hired to do “faith-based outreach” downstate.
“Mr. Ashby expressed interest in working for the campaign and was recommended to the campaign by Mike McClain and faith leaders across central and southern Illinois,” Pritzker campaign spokesman Quentin Fulks said. “Mr. Ashby had a resume that the campaign would have hired without this recommendation and he went through the same vetting procedure as every other staff member.” […]
“The campaign was not aware of this email from 2012, which is nearly five years before the campaign even began, and we would have had no way to discover this email,” Fulks said. “We were only made aware of this email as a part of [a] series of questions from WBEZ.”
An analysis of population trends now suggests Illinois will only lose one seat in Congress. […]
When the Census is completed and the districts are redrawn in 2021, Kimball Brace with Election Data Services said Illinois is on track to lose one Representative. Previous estimates suggested Illinois could lose two seats.
“In relation to other states, Illinois is only looking at the possibility of losing one seat, not really two seats,” Brace said.
Because Central and Southern Illinois lost a higher percentage of the population than the Democratically-held Chicago-area congressional districts, it’s likely a Republican-held seat will be dissolved.
Election Data Services created a variety of different methodologies to project the 2019 data forward nine months (from the July1, 2019 date of the Census estimates) to April 1, 2020 (several short-term projection methods for the trend occurring in 2018-2019, and 2017-2019, a middle term methodology using the 2015-2019 trend, and a long-term projection for 2011-2019). The different methodologies benefit some states and disadvantage others in the “musical-chairs” effort of allocating 435 seats to the 50 states. All the methods would add a second seat for Florida and a third seat for Texas, to the list of states noted above that will gain one or more seats by 2020. The list of losing states will expand to also include Alabama and Ohio, by the time the Census is taken in 2020. A map showing the 2020 projected apportionment using the 2018-2019 trend is attached. Because all the projection models produce the same state overall results in seats as the 2018-2019 trend map, only the tables of the calculations for the different projection models are attached so that how close states are to changes can be observed. […]
Previous Election Data Services studies have hinted that the states of Illinois and New York might be in a position to each lose a second seat by 2020. However, these new Census numbers seem to indicate this will not be the case, with both states just losing a single seat each. […]
Using any methodology, the population projections points toward a ten (10) seat change over 17 states across the nation by year 2020. States that will gain single seats include Arizona, Colo- rado, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon, while Florida is set to gain two congressional districts and Texas would gain three seats. Single seat losses will again occur in the Midwest and Northeast sections of the nation, where Alabama, California, Illinois, Michigan, Minne- sota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia would each lose a seat. All other states would keep the same number of representatives they were awarded in December 2010 when the official 2010 Census numbers were released.
* The gainers…
Arizona +1 (from 9 to 10)
Colorado +1 (from 7 to
Florida +2 (from 27 to 29)
Montana +1 (from At-large to 2)
North Carolina +1 (from 13 to 14)
Oregon +1 (from 5 to 6)
Texas +3 (from 36 to 39)
* The losers…
Alabama -1 (from 7 to 6)
California -1 (from 53 to 52)
Illinois -1 (from 18 to 17)
Michigan -1 (from 14 to 13)
Minnesota -1 (from 8 to 7)
New York -1 (from 27 to 26)
Ohio -1 (from 16 to 15)
Pennsylvania -1 (from 18 to 17)
Rhode Island -1 (from 2 to 1)
West Virginia -1 (from 3 to 2)
The adjusted gross income of Illinois taxpayers who didn’t migrate averaged $78,959. Illinois has been losing high-income residents (a lot of them retirees, one imagines) to Florida, middle-income residents to the South and West, and those with lower incomes to neighboring states. Also, the top two destinations for Illinois migrants are the top two for the nation as a whole, with Florida first, Texas second.
State lawmakers called for criminal probes and legislative hearings Wednesday following publication of an email written by a top ally to House Speaker Michael Madigan that praised a state worker who “kept his mouth shut” about a downstate rape. […]
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin sent a letter to the speaker Wednesday seeking special legislative hearings that could compel McClain and the former Quinn officials to testify about the case. […]
Other lawmakers and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse joined the senators’ condemnation and called for the Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate. […]
Contacted Tuesday, Rietz said she has not opened a probe into the matter.
“I do not know anything about those emails,” Rietz said in a statement. “I have not received any calls about these emails or any of the people named in them.”
So, somebody has to call her before she becomes interested in an alleged rape in her county that might possibly have been covered up by some of the most powerful people in her state?
Rietz said she could still request that a grand jury be convened if there was another reason, such as locking in a witness’ testimony under oath in a case under investigation.
* Well, maybe it’s back to Leader Durkin’s idea. From his letter to Speaker Madigan…
A recent investigative report from WBEZ alleges a disturbing criminal cover-up and shocking illegal activity by a State-registered lobbyist and several State of Illinois employees, either currently or previously employed by the State. The lobbyist was practicing under the Lobbyist Registration Act statute at the time of the alleged activity and the State employees were senior-level officials in a previous administration. The Illinois House of Representatives has an inherent responsibility to perform an independent inquiry into a matter of this nature.
It is a relatively routine practice for standing or special committees of the Illinois House to be convened to dig deep into allegations of misconduct related to State governance, so I respectfully request the State Government Administration Committee (“Committee”) be immediately convened to investigate the allegations from the WBEZ report. In addition to full subpoena authority that requires the testimony from the individuals below and any others deemed necessary, the testimony of the individuals called before the Committee must be under oath. At a minimum, the following individuals must be compelled to provide testimony before the Committee:
• Michael McClain
• Forrest Ashby
• Jerry Stermer
• Gary Hannig
• Lorrie Rickman-Jones
The seriousness of the allegations requires a thorough, comprehensive investigation by the Committee. Our Illinois constituents deserve it. Please advise me of your intentions to this request.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Elmhurst)…
These are serious criminal offenses that need to be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That should be done by the states attorneys office. The comments by the Champaign County States Attorney are troubling at best. I believe Attorney General Kwame Raoul needs to take the lead. This is not a political or a partisan issue these are egregious criminal offenses.
…Adding… This was sent last night and I missed it…
Outraged by allegations brought forth by a recent WBEZ story about the possible cover up of a rape detailed in a state government email exchange, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford urged that appropriate authorities, including the Champaign County State’s Attorney, the Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Executive Inspector General, take immediate steps to investigate this report.
The WBEZ story referenced a 2012 email to officials in then-Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration sent by lobbyist Michael McClain that among other things makes mention of a state employee who kept quiet about “the rape in Champaign”, asking that the administration keep that individual employed by the state.
Majority Leader Lightford issued the following statement regarding this incident:
“As a woman, a mother and a survivor of sexual assault I am sickened by the idea that anyone would infer that covering up rape should ever be interpreted as a form of loyalty. This is the type of behavior that keeps women and sexual assault survivors living in fear, and it can never be tolerated. Based on the revelations in this email, I know there is someone out there reliving their nightmare and awaiting justice for their assault. I want them to know they do not to be afraid any longer and I offer them my full support, assistance and compassion.”
Lightford also called on anyone with knowledge of this incident to contact the appropriate authorities, including:
If you have information please contact:
Champaign County State’s Attorney, 217-384-3733
Illinois State Police, 217-786-7107
Illinois Executive Inspector General, 217-558-5600 or 312-814-5600
…Adding… More…
Should Sims be elected Senate President, would he subpoena Jerry Stermer, Gary Hannig, Forrest Ashby to testify in Senate hearings? He said, “I don’t think the Senate should be impeding last enforcement role of getting to the truth.”
…Adding… Revised release from Majority Leader Lightford in wake of the news about Champaign County…
Any allegations involving the cover-up of sexual assault should be taken seriously and addressed without hesitation by those charged with investigating these matters, which is why I have urged the appropriate authorities, including the Illinois State Police, Illinois Executive Inspector General and the Champaign County States Attorney, to take the immediate steps and launch an investigation. And, given today’s news reports, I would like to once again ask Champaign County States Attorney, Ms. Rietz, to open an inquiry. I think the content of the email demands it.
If I am given the privilege to serve as Senate President, and simply as a woman and survivor of sexual assault, I will monitor all of this very closely. And, I will also send a very clear message that the culture of toxic masculinity in our politics will not be tolerated under my watch in the Senate. And I will take action on that front whenever the situation requires it.
…Adding… Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago)…
WBEZ reported that Mike McClain, who is directly and intricately tied to Illinois Democratic Party Chairman Mike Madigan, in a 2012 email, urged the administration of then-governor Quinn to grant leniency for a state worker in a disciplinary case by arguing that the state worker had kept quiet about “the rape in Champaign.” The shocking email provides additional evidence that the Madigan organization relies on people who cover up sexual misconduct. The culture of the Madigan operation is directly on Mike Madigan. For decades, Mike McLain was the ultimate insider to and for Mike Madigan.
Eight weeks ago, when news reports revealed that Madigan operatives paid off a sexual harasser, I called on Madigan to explain or resign as Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. Pay-offs and cover-ups are bad enough, but actively encouraging this behavior by rewarding the perpetrators is much worse.
I am renewing my demand for answers and genuine accountability from Mike Madigan, Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.
Women of the General Assembly, the Illinois Democratic Party, and the citizens of the State of Illinois need to take a stand against this culture and behavior. We deserve a full investigation and accountability.
…Adding… Rep. Terra Costa Howard…
I am sickened by the recent WBEZ report that a prominent lobbyist sent an email to high-ranking state officials, in which a rape was used as a political bargaining chip. I have spent my entire career as an attorney standing up for vulnerable people, and it makes my blood boil to think that a violent crime was covered up in the interests of “business as usual.” I know that my constituents join me in demanding a full investigation of this email and the appalling allegations it contained.
…Adding… More…
Senator Don Harmon on the McClain email: “First, anyone with knowledge of the alleged events should share that information with law enforcement immediately. Anyone who committed such a heinous crime should be prosecuted and jailed. 1/3
More Harmon: “Finally, the General Assembly should be prepared to use all tools at its disposal to determine and expose whether any government officials were involved in a cover up.”
Looks like we could see subpoenas and hearings if State’s Attorney doesn’t act.
Lightford also said she would issue subpoenas to compel testimony in Senate hearings, but only after criminal probe: “Should any such investigation not provide answers, we may have to use the full extent of our own legislative powers within the Senate to look into this.”
House Republican lawmakers complained Wednesday that most of their ideas for property tax relief were rejected by Democrats on a property tax relief task force and that the ideas advanced by Democratic lawmakers won’t be effective in curtailing property taxes.
However, Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, one of the leaders of the task force, said he’s still waiting for Republican lawmakers to recommend changes to a draft report prepared by the task force that could include their proposals. […]
Among the ideas Republicans said weren’t included in the report were pension changes for future employees, further relief for school districts from mandates dictated by the General Assembly, expanded property tax relief programs for seniors and more emphasis on consolidating school districts and other local governments. (The draft report does call for school and government consolidation). […]
“The House Republicans have not submitted their edits yet,” [Yingling] said. “They are the ones that released a draft report. My position has always been that in order to tackle the property tax crisis we need to have all four caucuses moving forward together and that everything is on the table.”
If the House Republicans don’t produce their edits, Yingling said the task force will have to decide how to move forward.
Among the Republican proposals not discussed in the draft report, according to Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, of Elmhurst, was cutting pension benefits for new employees of local governments and school districts and capping pensions for school administrators.
“We propose capping administrator pensions so that they can’t exceed the average household income in the state of Illinois, because administrative pensions are going absolutely crazy and driving costs up,” she said. “None of these were up for debate or up for consideration.”
In a separate interview, Rep. Sam Yingling, a Grayslake Democrat who served as one of the co-chairs of the task force, said Illinois did reduce pension benefits for new employees in 2010 when it adopted the so-called “Tier 2” pension plan. But he added federal law requires that in workplaces that offer pension benefits in lieu of Social Security, the benefits must be at least as generous as what Social Security provides.
He also noted the state now offers the option of opting out of the pension plan in favor of a 401(k)-style savings plan and that it is also offering buyouts of future benefits.
In response to the charge that House Republican ideas weren’t considered, Yingling said the draft report was sent to all four legislative caucuses — Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate — for their suggested edits, but that the House Republicans so far have not responded.
HB 348, which passed the legislature in the spring, consolidates townships in McHenry County, with an eye on other areas of the state emulating the consolidation model in the future. Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, with whom McSweeney did not get along, vetoed similar bills in the past. Durkin, with whom McSweeney has also sparred with, voted present on the bill in the spring.
Local government consolidation was also a top recommendation made by the task force in its report.
Task force co-chair State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) also voted no on McSweeney’s measure, and defended her vote to The Daily Line on Wednesday, saying any movement for government consolidation should respect local desires.
“One of the problems I think we have down in Springfield is we assume that there’s going to be this one-size-fits-all model that applies to everybody as the best, most perfect form of government,” Mazzochi said. “That’s actually not true. We see it because we made special rules for Chicago, we make special rules for downstate, we have special considerations for the suburbs. So again, when we’re talking about consolidation, I’m much more in favor of things that are grassroots bottom-up as opposed to Springfield top-down.”
Provides that the board of trustees of any township located in McHenry County may submit a proposition to dissolve the township to the township electors or township electors may petition for a referendum to dissolve a township.
