* Oh, man…
Let’s just hope that ratio doesn’t hold up for the 31 who have pending test results. But hope, as they say, is not a plan.
* Meanwhile…
The Illinois Department of Corrections also is reporting two confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents of the North Lawndale Adult Transition Center, a state-funded facility that provides housing and support for people recently released from prison.
“The facility has been placed on lockdown and all workplaces of the incarcerated individuals are being notified,” Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lindsey Hess said in an email.
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Everyone has their own priorities
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Green Party…
Dear Governor Pritzker, President Harmon, Speaker Madigan, and Director Sandvoss,
For months, the Green Party has been preparing for the start of the petitioning period applicable to “new” political parties, which begins on March 24, 2020, and ends on June 22, 2020. The Illinois Green Party has held its nominating convention and has nominated Green Party candidates for the 2020 Illinois statewide ballot. (Under the Election Code, the Green Party was not eligible to participate in the state’s Primary Election this year for statewide offices.)
The Green Party has successfully completed Illinois statewide petition drives in the recent past (including 2012 and 2016), and we are confident that, without the recent turn of events involving COVID-19, we would have successfully completed the petition drive this year as well.
According to current state law, a new political party must file 25,000 valid petition signatures to get ballot access for this year’s Illinois statewide General Election ballot. Experience teaches us (and other electoral candidates) that it is wise to gather twice the number of required signatures, in order to account for problems with voter registrations. Given past response rates, this would translate into well over half a million public contacts.
However, because of the COVID-19 outbreak and the Governor’s responsive Executive Orders, as well as the national state of emergency, local restrictions, and related health-care protocols regarding social distancing, the Green Party’s ability to obtain the necessary signatures here in Illinois this year has been essentially nullified. We acknowledge that the actions taken to limit gatherings and ensure social distancing are appropriate for containing and controlling the virus, but they also make it literally impossible for the candidates of minority political parties, as well as independent candidates, to be placed on the general election ballot.
Current circumstances make petitioning extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, for the party and its candidates, as well as make it risky, health-wise, for the petitioners and the potential signers.
Any efforts at gathering enough signatures for the statewide ballot depend on face-to-face contact with as many potential petition signers as possible, and large crowds—now banned by law—normally provide the primary source for signers. Even where registered voters may be found in smaller gatherings, or may be passing by on a sidewalk, current health-care protocols advising that a distance of at least six feet be maintained between unfamiliar persons make petitioning all but impossible.
Moreover, few people remaining in the security of their homes are likely to open their doors to petitioners in this environment, let alone agree to have a close conversation and handle a clipboard and pen being handed to them by a stranger. Likewise, most prospective petitioners, including the many volunteers who have assisted us in the past, are understandably going to be reluctant to handle a clipboard and pen that has passed through the hands, and within close proximity of the nose and mouth, of large numbers of unknown persons.
Accordingly, we respectfully request that the Governor, General Assembly, and the Board of Elections take account of these radically changed circumstances and take immediate emergency action to honor the right of our political party and its candidates for President, Vice President, and U.S. Senate to appear on the general election ballot.
We ask that the petition signature requirement for the statewide ballot be waived or suspended for the current election cycle for the Illinois Green Party’s statewide candidates. We understand that the Libertarian Party of Illinois may be making a similar request and we would be supportive of that party being granted a waiver as well.
We would also ask for similar relief for Green Party candidates planning to petition to attain ballot status in county-level races in Jackson County, Illinois.
* Rick Pearson…
The Green Party has asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker, legislative leaders and state elected officials to “waive or suspend” the current petition signature requirements.
However, there are no provisions that would allow an administrative suspension of the signature rules. Instead, it would require a change in state law, and lawmakers in both parties have shown little interest in relaxing ballot access rules in Illinois amid the uncertainty over when the General Assembly can reconvene in Springfield.
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* Gov. Pritzker…
In addition to those measures, today I am proud to announce an important new measure to support our residents and most small businesses, and to soften the immediate economic impact of this moment. Illinois will delay our tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15, aligning our tax day with the federal government’s and giving our millions of taxpayers three additional months to file their individual returns refunds will continue to be distributed in a timely fashion.
Remember I’m using Otter for transcription so typos are inevitable.
* More assistance…
By Friday, our small businesses will be eligible for a share of $90 million in state emergency assistance through three new programs.
First, all of our small businesses outside of Chicago, that’s businesses with fewer than 50 employees, and under $3 million in 2019 revenue in every industry are eligible for our new $60 million dollar Illinois small business emergency loan fund, allowing up to $50,000 loans with five year low interest. Repayment terms require loan payments won’t begin for six months, offering crucial time for business owners to begin recovering from the economic impact of COBID 19. DCEO, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in partnership with our Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has established a loan loss reserve of $20 million to back up the financing provided by our state charter banks. I want to thank the Illinois Bankers Association and the community bankers Alliance for their partnership in launching this program […]
Our second Small Business program also focuses on our suburban and downstate communities, specifically on areas with low to moderate income populations. We’re launching a $20 million downstate small business stabilization program, which will provide emergency grants of up to $25,000. These are grants of $25,000 to small businesses that are being served by Office of Community Development.
And lastly, our hospitality businesses have experienced some of the most significant hardships during this crisis. To help address the significant challenges of our bars and restaurants in small hotel companies, DCEO retooled existing funds to offer support to our state’s hospitality industry through this crisis. Our new hospitality emergency grant program will offer $14 million to help hotels bars and restaurants support their payroll and rent, as well as job training and technology for operations like pickup and delivery, which for now have become central to many restaurants staying open.
* More…
I’ve asked each of those federal institutions to offer all borrowers multi-month forbearance, to reduce the strains of this period and offer millions of Americans financial relief. They’ve offered this not only to Illinoisans now, but to qualified mortgage holders nationwide, please contact your mortgage servicer or Fannie Mae directly for more information. On a similar note we’ve sent letters to the three national credit bureaus, asking them not to punish people’s credit ratings for the instabilities of our time.
* Comptroller Mendoza is caring for an ill mother and couldn’t be at the event, but she put out this release…
Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement that Illinois will extend the deadline for state income tax filing:
“While extending the state’s tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020, creates some needed relief for taxpayers, it also results in a significant delay in revenue for the state in the short term. Traditionally, April is the state’s best revenue month. The receipts that come in from Illinois taxpayers in April allow us to address bills from low-revenue-producing months such as February.
“In addition to the short-term revenue delay, given the COVID-19 crisis and necessary emergency response, we, like the rest of the country, can anticipate a future loss in revenue from lower payroll and sales tax receipts this fiscal year. It is too early to measure the financial impact.
“Postponing the state tax filing deadline will be a challenge to the state and our office’s cash-management duties, but it is a responsibility we are prepared to meet. Over the last three years, the Illinois Office of Comptroller has proven itself to be well-experienced in managing fiscal crises, and we are prepared for the demanding times ahead.
“We will continue to make critical payments for debt service, state payrolls, K-12 schools, our social and human service providers, and required pension payments. We will prioritize state payments to our hospitals, doctors and everyday heroes on the front lines fighting COVID-19.
“I appreciate Governor Pritzker’s incredible leadership through this ordeal. It’s been an honor to work with him and Treasurer Frerichs, and we will continue to work together, utilizing every budget and statutory tool available to us to get Illinois through this crisis, this budget year and into the next.”
* The governor went on to praise the Senate’s stimulus bill and then said…
Finally, I just want to say that I know that there are people all across our state that are making real sacrifices by adhering to our stay at home order, which is in its fourth day. And I know that, for those of you able to remain home. It feels like you’ve been there forever.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you, the sacrifices that you are saving lives. Truly. I’ve also said a lot about the amazing work that our doctors and nurses and our first responders are doing, taking a risk every day going to work, to protect us. But I also want to recognize our grocery store workers our custodians and our Metro and Pace and CTA workers. The factory workers who are producing essential medical equipment and the food on the grocery shelves and the warehouse workers and truck drivers who make sure that our goods get to their destination. They are some of the unsung heroes in this fight. Those who do the work behind the scenes to keep this state safely moving forward.
* IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike…
Right now, we know of the counties [where the virus was found], but we know that the number of counties will grow as well. Continue to stay home and continue to practice social distancing. Protect yourself, protect your loved ones and protect your entire community by following the same instructions you’ve been hearing every day. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap. Cover your coughs. Please stay home. Clean frequently touched services. Together, we are protecting all of Illinois and decreasing the number of fatalities from this extraordinary event.
* Treasurer Michael Frerichs…
Our state investment portfolio is about $14 billion, about the same amount it was late last year when news of the virus began emerging. The amount is the same because state law prohibits investing any portion of the $14 billion state portfolio in the stock market. […]
The State Treasurer’s Office has launched a bridge loan program to help them push through these uncertain times. We have made 250 million dollars available to banks and credit unions across our state, and it historically low interest rate of almost zero. We agreed to deposit a quarter of a billion dollars from the state’s portfolio and increments of one or $5 million with financial institutions across the state. In turn, they have agreed to turn around and use the money to help small businesses and nonprofits, pay rent purchase supplies, and to make payroll. Our goal is simple. We understand businesses slowed. We do not want businesses to close forever. We want them to be able to make payroll and pay their own bills is easier to ramp up a business that is struggling than a business that has shuttered.
On a smaller scale, last week my team issued emergency rules for our unclaimed property division. We raised the ceiling for our Fast Track program from $500 to $2,000. As a result, we’ve been able to push out nearly $3 million in additional unclaimed property to more than 3000 people across our state in just the last week.
Finally, we have rolled over $200 million in investment notes or loans [to help] the state comptroller pay medical bills. My office can invest up to $2 billion in the state of Illinois bill backlog at a reduced market based rate, as opposed to nine or 12% late payment interest rate penalty. During this time of need, this authority not only saves money, it gets more cash out the door to our healthcare providers. We are continuing our discussions with the Comptroller and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget about ways to support the state’s cash flow using legal tools we already have.
* President of the Hotel Lodging Association Michael Jacobson…
The damage is worse than the impacts of 911 and the 2008 recession combined. Unfortunately, with that level of decline, there’s a human impact when it comes to the 10s of thousands of layoffs that we’ve seen in our industry in just the past several days. We expect that number to hit more than 120,000 total layoffs in the coming weeks. Small businesses that operate our hotels are hurting and deciding every day whether or not to close their hotels altogether. Our employees are hurting and hoping that they can just keep their job.
That is why we commend the governor for announcing this new fund dedicated to providing grants to small hotel owners in an effort to retain as many staff as possible. These relief funds will provide critical resources to hoteliers to avoid as many layoffs as possible at their property.
* OK, on to questions for the governor. Will program spending have to be put off because of the tax filing delay…
The answer is nothing that is a vital service or critical service for people across the state will be put off. In fact they’ve been significantly enhanced I would say across the board. Making sure that we’re providing more resources for those who are homeless, making sure that we’re providing food for people who are you know kids in particular but families where the kids aren’t able to go to school now and so they need meals during the day and frankly, some of them are getting breakfast and lunch at schools who are providing meals across the state and funding for that. So there’s a lot that’s going on and I would say nobody should be suffering from a lack of service.
Director Ezike said the state checks PPE to make sure it’s still usable after a question about how other states are reporting the federal government is delivering expired PPE equipment.
* People are still having trouble accessing IDES’ online unemployment system. The governor said earlier this week that the problem was fixed and it’s obviously not. The governor said the reporter was 100 percent right…
As I’ve said this is an unprecedented number of people who are applying same time, and our DoIT, our department of innovation, technology, our state CIO, have been on this every day they’re trying very hard to expand availability they are expanding the availability. But it is true that we remain overloaded. People are going to have to be patient at least for now. Over the course of this week those changes are coming online. I can’t guarantee that it’s going to be easy for everybody who gets there, especially if people show up all at the same time during work hours for example. But you can go online, any time of day or night. And so I would suggest to people that perhaps finding off hours to go online to make that filing will be much easier for you and easier on the system. So, you know, hang with us here we’re going to make changes that are making it better. But it is true, it’s not working the way that I want it to either.
* Do we know how much Illinois and local governments in the state will get from the congressional stimulus bill…
We don’t yet know. I mean let me add to everybody that that bill hasn’t actually passed. There was a negotiation, there’s an agreement. We believe that it will pass the Senate and the House and get signed by the president but we don’t exactly know. The bill is being read and evaluated by really everybody around the country, but particularly by our federal director and our federal representatives to determine what we might get in the state. A lot of this is population based I should say. And so, you know, Illinois being the sixth populous state in the United States and allows us to get a larger percentage than many other states.
* How are all of you holding up in this? Yesterday it sounded like the situation was wearing on some of you…
Not sure which of us they’re talking about, um, we’re all holding up just fine thank you for whoever gave that question. Who cares about everybody who’s standing here and also my staff who are working long hours. We all are, but my staff especially. I’m so grateful to them because really they’re getting here early in the morning, they’re here late late at night, they’re solving problems for people all across the state and giving of themselves in ways that I don’t think anybody imagined that they would need to when they went into public service. So I’m grateful to them and everybody seems to be doing just fine. We’re also making sure that they’re healthy, giving them, you know room to stay at home. For many of them, but we’ve got some core staff we’re here just all the time. Those who are at home I might end are working non stop, nevertheless, so I’m grateful to them as well.
* Director Ezike…
It is, it is hard. I’m a doctor, I’m a mother and I just buried my father last month. And so when I think about people who can’t do what I did for my father last month I feel it very real as to what people are going through in the sacrifices that they’re making I think for, for all of us.
* Pritzker…
I’ll just add that for all of us I think I have a friend who I spoke with today who’s whose wife and children, all have fevers.
All are experiencing some symptoms they’re staying at home. They’re on their way I hope to recovery. But, as you can imagine my friend’s concern for his family was great. So, you know, all of us, I think, are aware of how serious this situation is and are touched by somebody, somebody at work, somebody at home, somebody in your life, no doubt, you know, that has contracted this or is affected by it. So I appreciate the concern by whoever asked that question.
* There’s been a fair amount of back and forth with the White House over PPE. Are you concerned that President Trump will play politics and not send shipments to Illinois…
I would hope not. I really would hope not, I, you know, I’m talking I’m working with the professionals at the Army Corps of Engineers. I spoke with the Secretary of the Army yesterday, the Secretary of Defense. So many people are working hard to help us address the challenges that we have as a result of COVID 19. And so, you know, my expectation is that people in the federal government level one to do the right thing.
So, we’re continuing to protect the people of the state of Illinois and I’m going to do whatever it takes, frankly, to get that job done. And sometimes, when I have to be critical in order to get something done I’m going to be doing that. You’ll hear me do that, but I am not somebody who normally, you know, likes to, take on a confrontation if I don’t need to. But I will, and especially on something this serious.
* Is it possible to get PPE from China now?…
There is a big challenge. I mean you know it’s the relationship between President Trump and the Chinese government has not been good.
And so there’s actually been over the course of this process, over the last few weeks there are challenges getting things out of China.
And as you know, that’s where a lot of PPE is manufactured, so yeah we’re overcoming those challenges wherever we need to and acquiring PPE really from anywhere that we can. T\here are manufacturers here in the United States and as you heard me the other day, there are manufacturers here in the state of Illinois that we’re acquiring from so you know it’s it’s coming in, it’s not as fast as I would like. I’d rather the federal government had taken this over and doing it to themselves for everybody, but you know we’re getting the job done.
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 330 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including three deaths; a Kane County man in his 90s, a Cook County man in his 60s, and a Will County woman in her 50s.
Douglas, Marshall, and Morgan counties are now reporting cases. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,865 cases in 35 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to 99 years.
Two correctional officers and one man incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center have tested positive as well as a contractual worker at Sheridan Correctional Center. The two Stateville correctional officers are recovering at home and the individual who is incarcerated is isolated and recovering in the hospital. Those who have been identified as being potentially exposed are being quarantined and the facility is on a 14-day lockdown.
After consulting with IDPH, the Department of Corrections determined staff and men incarcerated at the Sheridan facility were at low to medium risk for potential exposure. The facility also was placed on a 14-day lockdown.
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COVID-19 roundup
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We probably test too much anyway…
All standardized tests for Illinois students are likely to be canceled this spring as state education officials work toward securing a waiver from the federal government and seek an exemption from state law requirements.
The Illinois State Board of Education earlier this week submitted a statewide waiver application to the U.S. Department of Education to waive all federally required assessments, summative designations and reporting on accountability metrics on the Illinois Report Card for the 2019-20 school year.
* Tribune…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot threatened to shut down the city’s parks and lakefront if the city’s residents don’t obey Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.
“If we have to because you are not educating yourself into compliance, and if you are not abiding by these very clear but necessary stay-at-home orders, we will be forced to shut down our parks and entire lakefront if people continue to flout these social distancing” rules, a visibly frustrated Lightfoot said. […]
Police will begin ticketing people who do not obey the state’s stay at home order, Chicago interim police Superintendent Charlie Beck said. […]
“Beginning today, one warning,” Beck said. “After that, you will be cited.”
* Press release…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is pleased with the recent decision by the federal government to extend the federal REAL ID deadline beyond Oct. 1, 2020.
White sent a letter on March 18 calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to push back the Oct. 1, 2020, federal REAL ID deadline. White joined the National Governors Association, other states, government leaders and the travel industry, urging DHS to extend the enforcement date on REAL ID due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the general public and driver’s license and ID card-issuing agencies nationwide.
DHS has not yet established the new federal deadline. Current Illinois driver’s licenses or ID cards (DL/ID) will continue to be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities until a new deadline is set by the federal government.
“The decision to extend the enforcement date of REAL ID is the proper and necessary action during this time of uncertainty and crisis,” said White. “The guiding principle of my decision making will, and must, continue to focus on the health and safety of all Illinoisans. This move by the federal government embraces this philosophy and I commend them for it.”
White stressed he will continue to monitor the situation involving DHS and REAL ID and is eager to learn of the new enforcement date set by DHS. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced on March 23 that the REAL ID deadline will be extended beyond Oct. 1, 2020.
A new deadline might be nice. Or just kill the whole silly program.
* Danny Ecker at Crain’s…
Two major events that were expected to draw about 100,000 visitors to McCormick Place in May will no longer be held at the convention center, adding to the harsh immediate economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology said in a statement today it will hold its upcoming annual meeting virtually instead of at the Near South Side venue, where it was scheduled for May 29 through June 2. Separately, the upcoming National Restaurant Association Show slated for May 16-19 at McCormick Place has also been canceled.
The events are two of the biggest of the year at McCormick Place, which has already lost more than 20 trade shows, meetings and conventions to the concerns surrounding the outbreak. Those would have accounted for more than 250,000 hotel room nights.
* David Roeder…
City and state officials are considering whether to shelter homeless people in McCormick Place to help control the coronavirus pandemic, a spokeswoman for the convention complex said Tuesday.
“We’ve been having lots of conversations with the governor’s office and the city in terms of how our campus might be used during this crisis. Nothing has been confirmed,” said Cynthia McCafferty, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which runs McCormick Place.
The city’s home for major conventions has been idled by the coronavirus and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order that most people in Illinois stay at home. With 2.6 million square feet in four buildings, plus a 10,000-seat arena for college basketball, McCormick Place could be suited to host people not infected by the coronavirus but in danger of contracting and spreading it.
Its space also could be used for people sickened in the pandemic and needing care, but that would require expensive preparations and equipment that may be scarce. New York is using its Javits Center convention facility in Manhattan as a field hospital.
* From the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice and numerous other groups…
A key role of the Illinois Supreme Court is to issue orders and promulgate rules that make the local courts fairer, more effective, and efficient. At this time of public health emergency, it is incumbent upon the Illinois Supreme Court to protect litigants, defendants, court personnel, and members of the community who come in contact with our justice system in any way.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented threat to public safety. In accordance with the many state and local shelter-in-place orders and the CDC’s recommendations, the criminal courts, in particular, have a critical responsibility to permit people under their jurisdiction to stay home and to properly care for their families and communities. The novel coronavirus is an unparalleled threat to people taken into custody. Jailed people are simply unable to perform the “social distancing” measures that federal, state, and local officials have stressed are essential to slow the rate of infection. Police officers, corrections officers, and individuals newly admitted to custody threaten widespread contagion. Individuals exposed to COVID-19 who are taken to Illinois jails and prisons put the thousands of people already detained and working there at great risk.
We urge the Illinois Supreme Court to work with the Chief Judges, sheriffs, prosecutors, and public defenders from across the state to develop uniform COVID-19 protocols that are in line with the mandates of federal, state, and local public officials. As Illinois lawyers, advocates, and community members, we trust our Supreme Court to take the necessary actions to protect the health and wellbeing of the people. The remainder of this letter outlines the supervisory orders we feel are appropriate to ensure swift and equitable health protections for people in the state’s jails and prisons. We urge the Illinois Supreme Court to ensure that these protocols are implemented equitably for all people in custody in Illinois.
* Good idea…
Jewel-Osco stores have started installing plexiglass sneeze guards as a preventive measure against the coronavirus.
The guards will be installed at all cashier registers, service desks, pharmacy counters and Starbucks terminals.
In addition, the Itasca-based grocery chain is placing floor tape near produce departments, checkout lanes, pharmacy and customer service desks to remind shoppers to practice social distancing.
* I’m the world’s worst golfer, but lots of people love it, so here…
Mahomet’s Lake of the Woods is open for golf — with a few twists.
There are no carts to ride, no tee times to book, no flags to pull from greens and no rakes to smooth out the bunkers.
And the clubhouse is closed, so golfers need to call ahead (217-586-2183) to check in and pay online or over the phone. […]
After initially being told they couldn’t operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, state golf courses were given the all-clear, so long as they adhered to social distancing requirements and put in place the aforementioned restrictions.
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Please, don’t be a Covidiot
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Times like these bring out the best in some people and the worst in others…
30-year-old [Ro Nguyen] had just watched a movie at a Streeterville cinema with a friend on March 12 and was strolling down East Grand Avenue around 8 p.m., the two of them marveling at the deserted streets.
As they headed toward the Red Line station, Nguyen said a man walking nearby saw them and yelled out, “F— China!”
Then the man spat on Nguyen, he said. The saliva splattered on his jacket. […]
Asian American organizations last week launched the #WashTheHate campaign on social media, highlighting stories of coronavirus-related racism. The Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council and Chinese for Affirmative Action groups also started collecting reports of incidents of hostility against Asians.
Go read the whole thing.
* The Sun-Times ran that goofy Politifact piece we discussed yesterday, but gave it a proper headline…
Fact-check: Postponing primary not in Pritzker’s power
* More from the Sun-Times…
A 52-year-old Niles man allegedly charged at police officers during a DUI arrest and coughed on them while yelling, “Now you have the corona!” police said.
Grzegorz T. Kuprowski faces a felony count each of driving under the influence and battery of an officer, according to a statement from Niles police Sgt. Tony Scipione. […]
During a DUI test, Kuprowski became upset with the officers and started coughing on them, saying “get away” and that he had “corona bacteria,” Scipione said.
Dude is such a Covidiot that he doesn’t know the difference between a virus and bacteria.
* Ugh…
City Hall reports that the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has fielded 190 price gouging complaints this month, up from only two complaints during the same period last year.
Not surprisingly, most are for household or health items such as toilet paper, tissues and hand sanitizer. Some are related to food and drink, presumably bottled water. BACP evaluates each complaint based on relevant factors, such as prices prior to the Illinois Disaster Declaration and prices at nearby stores, and will impose fines of up to $10,000 per offense.
Earlier this week, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said price gouging complaints had also ballooned statewide in March.
* Press release…
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is calling on the country’s top online marketplaces to crack down on price gouging amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Raoul joined a bipartisan group of 33 attorneys general, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro along with co-leading Attorneys General Hector Balderas (NM), William Tong (CT), and T.J. Donovan (VT), in sending a letter today urging the companies — Amazon, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook and Walmart — to quickly implement preventative measures on their platforms to ensure that consumers don’t get taken advantage of during this public health crisis.
“We believe you have an ethical obligation and patriotic duty to help your fellow citizens in this time of need by doing everything in your power to stop price gouging in real-time,” the letter reads, in part.
The letter follows an analysis by U.S. PIRG Education Fund which revealed that existing monitoring on Amazon’s platform was not preventing significant price hikes. In particular, the price of most of the hand sanitizers and masks rose at least 50 percent higher than the 90-day average. Since then, more than 267,000 Americans have signed PIRG’s petition calling on Amazon to protect consumers from price gouging.
The analysis is here.
* Anyone can sue anybody for anything, but if this nurse’s claims are true it’s totally unacceptable behavior by Northwestern…
A former nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired after warning coworkers that masks the hospital provided did not adequately protect staff against COVID-19.
Lauri Mazurkiewicz filed the suit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, naming the hospital and several employees as defendants, the lawsuit states.
According to the suit, the hospital began accepting and treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in March, allegedly exposing Mazurkiewicz and others to the virus.
Instead of distributing N95 masks, which are effective at preventing the wearer from contracting the virus, the hospital allegedly provided staff with “less-effective” masks, the lawsuit claims. The hospital allegedly also prevented its employees from wearing N95 masks.
* Tribune…
Chicagoans were ordered to stay at home starting last weekend and, according to a company grading social distancing, the city’s getting an A.
Both Cook County and the state of Illinois have high marks as of Tuesday on the “Social Distancing Scoreboard,” an interactive project based on GPS location data collected by the company Unacast that roughly measures whether or not people are heeding the advice of officials to “flatten the curve” of the spread of the coronavirus.
The scores were determined by the change in average distance traveled compared with before the coronavirus outbreak. If residents are staying put aside from the occasional trip to the grocery store or pharmacy, the dip in travel would be apparent in the data.
A more than 40% decrease leads to an A, with grades dropping from there. Anything less than a 10% decrease — or an increase — ends in an F.
Counties scoring an “F” included Effingham, Cumberland, Bond, Union, Johnson, Pulaski, Jefferson and Clark. Grundy scored a “D.” Here’s the map…
…Adding… And if you need further convincing…
More here.
…Adding… Hey, I have an idea. Let’s endanger most of our loyal customers…
* Related…
* CDC doctor: Rural areas shouldn’t let guard down as big cities bear brunt of COVID-19
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I stocked up on a lot of things, got a bunch of important stuff taken care of, but I didn’t get a haircut and neither did Oscar. Oops…
With barbershops and salons closed throughout the state, some Illinoisans are wondering what they can do with their hair until the governor’s stay-at-home order expires on April 7. Salons and tattoo shops are among the nonessential businesses that have been closed in Illinois to slow the spread COVID-19. Both expect pent up demand when they’re allowed to open back up.
* Dentists will also be booked solid when this thing finally ends…
To Our Ruggless Dental Patient Family, We wanted to provide you with a quick update on the status of our practice. Governor Pritzker has extended the “stay at home” order until April 7th. Following that announcement, the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) also released a recommendation for dental offices to avoid all elective dental care until April 7th. Here at Ruggless dental, we prioritize the safety of our patients, staff, and the community, and are going to continue to follow the recommendations set forth by the ISDS. If you have an appointment scheduled with us between now and April 8th, we will be contacting you to reschedule. As a reminder, we still remain available for any dental emergencies. If you are experiencing dental pain or a dental emergency please do not hesitate to call our office! We have staff available to answer phones and offer assistance.
* The Question: Now that we’re a few days into this, what would you have done differently?
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As if we don’t have enough to worry about
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ted Cox at One Illinois…
As the nation struggles to get a handle on the new coronavirus pandemic, it threatens to complicate another familiar, almost annual public scourge: spring flooding.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its spring flood projections last week, declaring 23 states at risk of moderate to severe flooding, including Illinois. The NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecast “above-average temperatures across the country this spring, as well as above-average precipitation in the central and eastern United States.”
The federal agency went into detail, explaining that “ongoing rainfall, highly saturated soil and an enhanced likelihood for above-normal precipitation this spring contribute to the increased chances for flooding across the central and southeastern United States. A risk of minor flooding exists across one-third of the country. […]
But at major risk of flooding is the northwest corner of the state, which saw extensive flooding last spring, as in Savanna, where they fought for weeks to keep the Mississippi from filling the town.
The idea of all-hands-on-deck sandbagging is all but unthinkable in the midst of the current COVID-19 outbreak, with its demands for social distancing to stem the spread of the disease, but towns and cities along the Mississippi might have to find ways to adapt.
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* This summary of the US Senate’s stimulus proposal was prepared by Illinois’ DC office…
• Extended UI program increases the maximum unemployment benefit by $600 per week and ensures that laid-off workers, on average, will receive their full pay for four months instead of 3 months.
• $100 billion in a Marshall Plan for the Health Care System.
• $150 billion for state and local Coronavirus Relief fund.
• $10 billion for SBA emergency grants of up to $10,000 to provide immediate relief for small business operating costs.
• $17 billion for SBA to cover 6 months of payments for small businesses with existing SBA loans.
• $30 billion in emergency education funding and $25 billion in emergency transit funding.
• $30 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private nonprofits providing critical and essential services.
• More than $10 billion for the Indian Health Services, and other tribal programs.
• Prohibits businesses controlled by the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and heads of Executive Departments from receiving loans or investments from Treasury programs.
• Makes rent, mortgage and utility costs eligible for SBA loan forgiveness.
• Bans stock buybacks for the term of the government assistance plus 1 year on any company receiving a government loan from the bill.
• Establishes robust worker protections attached to all federal loans for businesses.
• Creates real-time public reporting of Treasury transactions under the Act, including terms of loans, investments or other assistance to corporations.
• Creates a Treasury Department Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery to provide oversight of Treasury loans and a Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to protect taxpayer dollars.
• Adds a retention tax credit for employers to encourage businesses to keep workers on payroll during the crisis.
• Provides income tax exclusion for individuals who are receiving student loan repayment assistance from their employer.
• No bailout for big oil.
• Eliminated “secret bailout” provision that would have allowed bailouts to corporations to be concealed for 6 months.
• Prohibits airlines from stock buybacks and CEO bonuses.
The Financial Times reported that the state and local money is a loan, but I’m told it’s actually a grant. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s letter to his members outlining the package is here. NPR also has a roundup here. The House has yet to sign off on the package.
* Illinois obviously needs the dough. From Hannah Meisel…
The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability on Tuesday released a three-year budget forecast for the state, which the office acknowledged was now largely moot due to the still-unraveling impacts of the Coronavirus on the state economy.
COGFA estimated that the impact of the virus, also known as Covid-19, on Illinois would be even more damaging than the Great Recession, and predicted Illinois would likely also drop into a recession — just as the outlook for the state’s economy was becoming stronger. Standard & Poor’s earlier this month already declared a global recession. […]
But on Tuesday, COGFA predicted Illinois would experience a “peak-trough decline” in revenues of 20 percent — a reduction of more than $8 billion, though COGFA estimated that drop-off would likely be experienced “over multiple fiscal years.” […]
“If governments’ revenue performance also deteriorates – a rising risk stemming from the economic fallout of the coronavirus – pension affordability ratios will worsen significantly for some because of the combination of cost hikes and revenue stagnation or decline,” according to Moody’s.
Moody’s also said that governments’ capacity to “smooth” pension costs — a tool often used during and after the Great Recession — is much more limited now than a decade ago, as “significantly deferring costs to make up for 2020 investment losses would carry potentially severe long-term pension funding consequences for some governments.”
* From that COGFA report…
The accumulation of a bill backlog is a threat to the State of Illinois due to the high cost of either having to borrow from the financial community at higher rates or through incurring late-payment interest penalties. The backlog of bills had grown to a high of approximately $16.7 billion during the fall of 2017. As of March 12, 2020, the Comptroller reported a General Funds backlog of $7.6 billion, which is down from $8.8 billion from a similar time last year
The backlog is now at $8.07 billion.
* Meanwhile, from the New York Times…
The crisis has brought state policymaking to a standstill regardless of partisan control. Any legislative proposal with a price tag appears endangered.
In Idaho, Republicans shelved plans for broad property tax relief, saying they lacked time with the virus looming. In Missouri, also held by Republicans, the clock could run out on efforts to pass a bill to create a statewide database for doctors and pharmacists to track opioid purchases, leaving at least one Missouri Republican wondering aloud about additional opioid overdose deaths that may not be prevented now.
In Connecticut, controlled by Democrats, a long, fierce battle to create a public health option for those who cannot afford private insurance appears likely to fail, after lawmakers adjourned until at least March 30.
In Minnesota, the only state in the nation where the legislature is split between the political parties, Democrats had an eye on paid family and medical leave; Republicans hoped to exempt social security income from state income tax. Now everyone is recalculating. […]
And in state after state, lawmakers say they suddenly have little money to address anything but the unfolding medical and economic crises. In some places, the annual budget-writing process, which depends on projected tax collections, has been sent into chaos.
* And here’s a letter signed by every member of the Senate Republican caucus…
Governor Pritzker,
We want to commend you and your staff for your hard work during these difficult and unprecedented times. Like you, we agree that containing the COVID-19 virus and helping those in need is a top priority.
As Illinois residents continue to follow the best health practices recommended to help contain this virus, we believe it is important to give relief to those dealing with the economic repercussions facing our state. The Federal government recently moved to delay the Federal tax filing deadline, which we believe should be emulated in Illinois. This delay will help residents maintain the recommended social-distancing practices while also providing some liquidity to those who need it most.
Therefore, we are asking you to extend the state’s income tax filing deadline and couple it with the new Federal deadline of July 15. This simple act would make a big difference in the lives of residents throughout Illinois.
I totally forgot to tell subscribers this morning that the governor’s budget office informed some legislators yesterday that they think they can extend the income tax filing deadline if they have to, but they were hoping for a block grant from the federal government to ease the pain. So, stay tuned.
* Related…
* Illinois’ D.C. delegation unifies around call for federal government to pick up National Guard costs: In a letter spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos of Moline, the delegation asked Defense Secretary Mark Esper to issue more authorizations of National Guard under what’s known as Title 32, which provides for upfront federal funding for the Guard’s work. Guard units activated in New York, California and Washington have received the Title 32 funding designation.
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* From an email to House Democrats…
Good morning, members –
Please be advised that the session days scheduled for next week will be cancelled. Regarding the committee deadline for House bills, which was previously extended to April 3, that deadline will be extended to April 24. The 3rd reading deadline for House bills will be extended to May 8, which will now be a scheduled session day. Note that these and other deadlines will be reviewed and extended as needed moving forward.
As I indicated in previous communications, the session schedule is “in flux,” and members should be prepared to return to Springfield to address urgent matters, including during the weeks of April 5 and April 12 (the legislative spring break).
Furthermore, we are planning to have another conference call for House Democratic caucus members on Monday, March 30 at 9:30 a.m. Discussions on budget-making and the hospital assessment program are ongoing this week – members should anticipate receiving a status update on these matters during the Monday call.
Finally, the Office has been working on a Google Drive folder that contains all the various pieces of information that’s been shared by the Governor’s Office and others. The intent is to make it easier for you to navigate all the quickly changing information on various topics. We will continue to update that folder with new information on a daily basis – you will find that each file is dated, so you can quickly see how recent the information is. You can view that folder and its contents through this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16CgavsCW6YqWLMB2G_-RXOm0GCrgXSmQ?usp=sharing
I would encourage you to share this link with your district office staff.
Take care and be well,
Jessica
Jessica Basham, Chief of Staff
Office of the Speaker
Illinois House of Representatives
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon has canceled the Illinois Senate’s scheduled session days for next week. The 59-member Senate was scheduled to be at the Capitol on March 31 and April 1 and 2.
Harmon informed Senate Democrats on a caucus conference call Wednesday, part of an ongoing effort to keep members and staff informed during the COVID-19 public health emergency. He said senators and staff continue to examine legislative and procedural priorities so that when the legislative session resumes, the Senate is prepared to act efficiently and effectively.
“We are going to have to figure out what is critical and what is time-sensitive,” Harmon said.
After next week, the Senate was not scheduled to be back at the Capitol until April 21. The Senate President asked members to keep their calendars clear for possible return dates.
Faced with a growing pandemic, Senate President Harmon first called off session days earlier this month to comply with public health recommendations to protect senators, staff and the general public that comes to the Capitol.
“For now, we are taking it day by day and urging everyone heed the advice of health care professionals by practicing social distancing, regularly washing hands and avoiding all unneeded travel,” Harmon said.
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Feds remind states about unemployment gag order
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
Under what amounts to a gag order from Washington, state officials have abruptly stopped releasing daily figures on how many Illinois workers are filing for unemployment insurance amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
Instead, as per orders, they’ll give the totals as part of a single national release only weekly on Thursdays, a step some data-security hawks may like but that also arguably makes it easier for President Donald Trump to continue to assert that he has the epidemic under control.
Through last Thursday, March 19, the Illinois Department of Employment Security was releasing the figures day to day upon media request, with the numbers soaring to a total of 64,000 over a three-day period ending then, nearly 10 times the level from the same period a year earlier. […]
Continues [federal] Statistical Policy Directive No. 4, “Employees having sworn to observe the limitations imposed on the dissemination of information face a class E felony charge and imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or a fine of not more than $250,000.00, or both, if the information is willfully disseminated in violation of the limitations.”
That federal directive was issued in 2008. More here.
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