* The governor was asked that since he’s limiting youth sports, what does that say about schools…
I think each school is trying to set plans for their school. I’ve said all along here that the, the ISBE has been putting out guidance to make sure that there are some basic requirements like masking in schools that are adhered to. But because each school is so much different, they’re different campuses, they’re differently configured buildings, different numbers of people in a building per square foot. We really want those schools to make decisions for themselves. But there’s no doubt about it, I’m watching very closely. If the numbers continue to rise, you know we’re moving on. Regions if they trip the 8% metric or the other metrics that we’ve set out to try to put mitigations in place and we’re watching carefully about schools and whether or not you know they’re opening and doing the right thing. Opening safely I’m particularly concerned about school districts that are talking about opening, without any masks, which is, of course, against the rules in the state of Illinois. It’s also unsafe and unhealthy for not just the kids, but also the teachers, the administrators the paraprofessionals, and the families who come to school often several times a week.
Please remember to pardon all transcription errors.
* He was asked yet again why he wouldn’t institute travel quarantines like the mayor did…
We have many people that live in border communities who might work on the other side of the border. On both sides I might add. People who live in Wisconsin work in Illinois, you live in Illinois and work in Iowa and so on. I don’t want to restrict their activities.
I do think this is exactly the example of why we needed national mandates why we needed a national strategy around COVID-19. Because you can’t there’s no way to protect a border, you know we have half the positivity rate of some of our neighbors and a third of others. And I would like very much to, you know, to have Illinois be, you know, the lowest in the nation. I’d also like to have the whole nation that their positivity rates go down. So, I just don’t think it’s practical and so I haven’t imposed that. But I will adhere to that rule because I live in the city of Chicago.
He added that his family will also adhere to the rules.
* Will these youth sports regulations begin immediately?…
No, I believe the start date is the middle of the month because there are sports going on now. So we’ve tried to ease into it but I’ll get you the exact start date.
* The governor was asked about the growing calls for Speaker Madigan’s resignation and the scandal’s impact on his “Fair tax” proposal this fall…
Well, let me begin by saying that we, there is genuinely a problem that needs to be addressed with ethics legislation in the state, no doubt about it and I’ve been very clear about the many pieces of that legislation that I will be okay. I put those out months ago in fact you’ve seen for example the this revolving door where people are in the legislature one day, and they flip around and become a lobbyist or a consultant the next day for Commonwealth Edison or somebody else. So we need to move on ethics legislation no doubt about it.
In addition to that, I would say, I am concerned overall, there has been a history in Illinois among Republicans and among Democrats of corruption. To address this. There’s just no doubt I think there’s cynicism that abounds among voters and rightfully so when you hear about what Commonwealth Edison did and what anybody that was engaged may have done. So, those are things that I worry about all the time and I will pay very close attention. I think that it affects the politics. I think that the swamp in Washington DC that the President has created is another thing that plays a role in the cynicism of people in Illinois. I think we’ve got to address that one too.
* Follow-up on impact on his fair tax proposal…
I know that there are people who would like to have these things related to one another. They’re not. The truth is that we have an unfair tax system in the state of Illinois in which wealthy people pay the same rate in state taxes as people who are middle class or people who are working class. That’s not fair. There ought to be a higher rate for people who are millionaires and billionaires and there ought to be a lower rate for people who are working class, middle class families trying to make ends meet. That’s what this is about. I think that’s what people understand about it. It’s why it is doing well, in general, in people’s minds and I think why it’ll succeed.
* Governor, you said in January that when there’s “clear” evidence of targeting by criminal investigators, “that’s the point at which folks should step aside.” Do you not see clear evidence of this with Speaker Madigan? And if not, why not?…
Well I have been clear that, you know when there is a raid, when there is a an indictment, you know I have called for people to step down from their positions, or to resign. So I have said the same thing. I’ve said that, you know, if you know if these allegations are true, the speaker should, is going to be required to resign, in my view. By the way, that’s the same thing that the Republican caucus leaders in the General Assembly said when they responded.
[That was my question, by the way, because it came from an interview I did with him back in January. Thanks to Mary Ann Ahern for pressing the issue.]
“But that’s not what Sen. Steans said”…
I think everybody’s, as you’ve seen there have been a variety of reactions to this. I think there are three or four people that have said what Senator Steans has said, but I’m just saying, this is the standard that I think is reasonable. And it’s the standard I would add again that the leaders of the opposition have said as well.
- ajjacksson - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 12:55 pm:
The idea that each district is responsible for its own opening is nonsense. The IDPH is making the restrictions so difficult that no school will be able to open for in person learning. So stop with the charade about each school district choosing.
- 1st Ward - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 12:59 pm:
A follow-up should be isn’t there a different standard for someone in a leadership position i.e. Speaker than simply being a member of the house.
Steans wants him to step down as Speaker not resign as a house member. That seems fair.
- Annoyed - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:21 pm:
‘You could induct a ham sandwich’ -criminal law professor at every law school.
Indictment is a dumb standard. Convictions matter.
- pool boy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:26 pm:
As has been said many times, rules were made to be broken and standards change.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:38 pm:
C’mon JB, it’s not that hard - what’s good for Tom Cullerton is good for Mike Madigan. You should be pressing him to retire, but for whatever reason you don’t want to, so at least press him to step down as speaker.
- Simple Simon - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
ajjackson
Spot on. ISBE guidance is a joke. Come up with a metric for re-opening already - if it can be done for bars and restaurants etc it should be done for schools.
- Payback - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 1:49 pm:
“Well, let me begin by saying that we, there is genuinely a problem that needs to be addressed with ethics legislation in the state…” So then why haven’t we got a report from the joint commission on ethics? What’s the hold-up?
“I think that the swamp in Washington DC that the President has created is another thing that plays a role in the cynicism of people in Illinois.” Pritzker bashes the federal government, which is the only entity to prosecute any corrupt public officials of note in the past 90 years, like George Ryan, Rod Blagoevich, or Jon Burge. What’s the state of Illinois AG doing? Nothing. Weak misdirection by Priztker.
- radio flyer - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:07 pm:
JB just keeps digging the hole on Madigan. How many feet down is it now? How tall is JB? Just want to know how far down until he politically buries himself.
- Altgelds Ghost - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:22 pm:
JB made a dirty deal with the devil when he decided he needed MJM’s support to clear the way in the Democratic Primary.
Since that decision, Pritzker has done nothing to separate himself from MJM except lying to the voters about his true feelings.
During the campaign, Pritzker said he would stand up to Mike Madigan
Since the election, Pritzker has laid down with Mike madigan.,
For Shame JB For Shame
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:25 pm:
=== JB just keeps digging the hole on Madigan. How many feet down is it now? How tall is JB? Just want to know how far down until he politically buries himself.===
Meh.
Madigan is a baked factor. When Rauner spent his millions to link Madigan and Pritzker, Pritzker humiliated Rauner with the largest loss of an incumbent Republican Governor in… 100 years.
What new voters are going to be swayed?
The mouth breathing, please wear a mask, for others’ safety, please.
- 1st Ward - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:26 pm:
“What’s the state of Illinois AG doing? Nothing.”
Conflict of interest for a State AG to investigate a State Employee. Especially when it comes to politics. Feds need to handle. Checks and balances.
https://www.bettergov.org/news/a-corruption-fighting-attorney-general-easy-to-say-harder-to-do/
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:28 pm:
=== C’mon JB, it’s not that hard - what’s good for Tom Cullerton is good for Mike Madigan. You should be pressing him to retire, but for whatever reason you don’t want to, so at least press him to step down as speaker.===
This is the most reasonable take. This is thoughtful to the overall and governing.
It’s not because of “because Madigan” that will force things.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:45 pm:
In this environment, when one political party defends its corrupt leader to the hilt, the other party may be able to wait until one of its leaders is indicted prior to pressuring the leader to resign. Don’t bring down one of your own until it’s necessary.
- Iowa City - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 2:53 pm:
JB doesn’t need the campaign funds that Madigan routinely holds over the heads of his members to keep them in line. Now is the time for Madigan to be jettisoned. With all of the problems Madigan has had and is going to have with the feds, JB has plenty of cover to make his move. He can support the campaign needs of the Dems. It’s just a question of if he chooses to do so.
- Bottle Rocket - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 3:28 pm:
If this does not scream consolidation of school districts, nothing will. 800 plus different plans. Online learning courses can’t be centralized for the kids in southern illinois with no access to ap clases at stevenson? geez
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 3:44 pm:
=== This is the most reasonable take. ===
Another take is that when JB was being investigated for tax fraud, JB did not step down as a candidate, nor did Madigan or Steans suggest he should withdraw.
Back in 2002, a lot of people thought Lee Daniels was going to jail. Many wanted him to step down as minority leader. Jim Ryan, fearing for his own candidacy, forced Daniels to resign from his newly-minted post as GOP state chair.
Ryan as we all know lost badly, and it had nothing to do with Daniels.. Daniels, as some remember, was never charged let alone convicted, although his chief-of-staff pleaded guilty to mixing state business with politics.
A lot of people made quick judgements about Daniels, just as many made quick judgments about the guilt of Lang, Ford, Burke, Arroyo, Cullerton and Madigan. Our calls for folks to step down are based on those judgments, nor where people stand in the legal process. Influenced by factors that include the weight of the public evidence, our faith in that person’s character, and also how we would want to be treated in their shoes, goodness forbid.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 29, 20 @ 3:46 pm:
- Thomas Paine -
The House now has the Arroyo Rule.
So there’s that.