[The IMA’s Mark Denzler] charged that Team Pritzker is mischaracterizing the biggest proposed shift: limiting the corporate net operating loss deduction to $100,000 a year per company. In fact, all the Trump tax bill did was boost the percentage of losses that could be claimed at once, from 80 percent to 100 percent, Denzler said. The idea of a flat-dollar cap is new, and many Illinois companies will lose, he said, pointing to the aviation, automotive and hospitality sectors in particular.
Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Maisch said that cap would give Illinois the most restrictive loss-deduction law of any state in the country. He points to a Tax Foundation study showing only a handful of other states limited such deductions, all of them at much higher rates. (Click here to read the study, page 58.)
“This is a massive tax increase, and it comes after the governor’s graduated income tax plan was resoundingly defeated by voters,” Maisch said. Whatever help Pritzker gave business in recent months, “They’re going to take all of the money back, and then some. Effectively, we’re getting a huge tax increase in the middle of a recession.”
* From the governor’s office…
An estimated 80 percent of Illinois corporate income taxpayers carrying [net operating losses] will not be impacted by the limit. In the 2018 tax year, 2,805 corporations had NOLs totaling over $6.4 billion, over half of which was claimed by only 89 corporations. Those that are impacted will only be delayed in using their NOL deductions; they will not lose them. However, with this change, it is estimated that an additional $314 million in corporate income tax revenues for the general funds will be collected in fiscal year 2022 and $21 million for local governments.
* This post will be updated, of course. Posted in the order they were received. First up, the IFT…
Westmont, Illinois – Following Governor Pritzker’s budget address, Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery released this response.
“Despite the pandemic, Governor Pritzker has made huge strides in moving our state forward. We’re pleased to see that his proposed budget does not rely on increasing taxes or layoffs that would only hurt working families. We support his decision to close corporate tax loopholes to fund vital services and protect our hardest hit.
“When it comes to funding education, the Governor has done the best he can with the dire fiscal hand he has been dealt by COVID and the millionaire-led effort to prevent fair taxation in our state. When Illinois adopted the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) plan, we all hoped education dollars would flow to our neediest communities and the state’s share of education funding would steadily increase. Yet Illinois remains near the bottom of the country in equitable education funding, and for the second year in a row, it will not be increased. And higher education is still suffering from decades-long disinvestment.
“We remain hopeful that Governor Pritzker will increase funding for schools in FY22 if revenue projections continue to improve and that he will fully fund EBF and higher education in future years. The IFT will continue to advocate for additional sources of state revenue and increased funding for schools, colleges, and universities.
“Recovering from the pandemic is vital to Illinois’ economic well-being, and it will take our collective power to make that happen. The IFT stands ready to work with Governor Pritzker to ensure that the recovery is focused on our most vulnerable.”
* Comptroller Mendoza…
Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza released the following statement regarding the governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2022:
“Today, the governor presented a cautious but morally responsible plan that recognizes the predicament Illinois finds itself in at this time, without seeking to balance the budget on the backs of working families. I’m pleased he’s prioritizing health care and human services, because they are vital to helping people survive the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The last thing we need right now is to shred our social safety net again to save money. And I’m happy he is keeping his focus on prioritizing repayment of our COVID-related debt. I am optimistic Illinois will get the federal help we so desperately need. As we all know, nearly every dollar coming into Illinois is already spoken for. I hope lawmakers will remember this as they begin budget discussions and work together to pass a responsible budget for the state.”
State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) released the following statement following Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address:
“This year has been unimaginably difficult for families in Illinois and across the country. As we have adjusted to the new reality, it is important that our state budget focuses on how to best support those who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic.
“While the budget proposal isn’t perfect and we continue to negotiate how to utilize the funds that we have, I look forward to working with my colleagues to provide stability for residents of our state.”
* Sen. Peters…
Gov. JB Pritzker gave his annual budget and state of the state addresses this morning, after which State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) issued the following statement:
“The COVID-19 pandemic requires all of us to shift our priorities. The governor’s proposed budget is not perfect, but considering the circumstances, it can’t be. However, it takes into account the realities of our state’s economic and fiscal situations, and it’s a good place to begin the grueling process of drafting our first full budget after the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
“However, I do wish the proposed budget would have made a greater commitment to funding programs that will work to bring safety and justice in our communities. There is a modest increase proposed, but this past year showed us that much more is needed.
“I know we have a lot of work in store for us over the next few months. This may be the most difficult and unique budget in Illinois history, and I know that when it is all said and done, it will be a budget that works for all Illinoisans and that it will go a long way toward making everyone in this state whole.”
* Responsible Budget Coalition…
The Responsible Budget Coalition issued the following statement in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address.
As a coalition of the state’s leading advocacy, human service, community and labor organizations, we judge any budget by these principles: It must contain adequate revenue, fairly raised, and it must avoid cuts to vital programs and services.
We support Governor Pritzker’s call to close corporate tax loopholes and decouple Illinois from unwise federal tax provisions. We also urge the state’s Congressional delegation to join together for significant federal COVID relief that has been blocked for far too long.
“But we are in the middle of a pandemic. Since March of last year, Illinois has seen more than 20,000 people die from COVID-19, record levels of unemployment, dramatic increases in food insecurity, and an explosion of our state’s affordable housing crisis. Black and Latinx people have been disproportionately impacted by sickness, death, and economic hardship,” said Jeremy Rosen, Co-Chair of the Responsible Budget Coalition and Director of Economic Justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. “At a time like this, the State of Illinois needs a budget that makes bold investments to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget simply does not meet this moment.”
The working people of Illinois are fighting to get back on their feet. Cuts to vital programs will hurt not help them. RBC member organizations will work with legislators to identify revenues that can prevent cuts and invest in a more equitable Illinois.
* TMA…
TMA President Steve Rauschenberger issued the following statement today in response to Governor Pritzker’s State of the State Address:
“We heard the governor loud and clear during his State of the State Address—he wasn’t making a plea for unity or a promise of hope for struggling businesses. Instead, the words he spoke today echo his intentions to continue hurting manufacturers who are trying desperately to recover from the pandemic.
The day after voters overwhelmingly rejected his progressive tax in November, the governor responded by threatening the business community for leading the charge against his prized tax hike. Today, he followed through on that threat by proposing a nearly $1 billion tax hike on our small businesses—taking money from our job creators and placing it in the hands of Springfield politicians so they can continue their insatiable spending habits.
This massive tax hike will hurt TMA members as they fight to compete regionally, nationally, and globally, especially eliminating the manufacturing & equipment exemption and the research & development tax credit. Manufacturers can’t afford greater strains imposed by our own government if we’re going to recover from the pandemic’s economic hit. We urge the governor to stop championing policies that will put Illinoisans on the unemployment lines and force our job creators and innovators to leave our state to survive.”
Um, the budget doesn’t eliminate the M&E exemption and R&D credit. Not sure what world he’s living in.
* We Are One Illinois…
We Are One Illinois coalition of unions responds to governor’s budget address
“Illinois faces a budget crater caused by the pandemic and the defeat of the Fair Tax amendment that would have required the very rich to pay their share.
“We support Governor Pritzker’s proposed steps to address the budget shortfall by closing tax loopholes that big corporations exploit at the expense of the people of our state, and by decoupling Illinois from unwise federal tax changes.
“But our communities need essential public services now more than ever. More must be done to invest in schools, health care, public safety, help for the unemployed, for children and seniors, people with disabilities and more.
“Part of the solution lies with Congress. Like every state, city and town, Illinois needs the significant federal assistance found in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
“Further action from Springfield may be needed, as well. As the budget process goes forward, we will work with legislators and the governor to identify revenue-raising measures that can prevent harmful cuts and strengthen our state.”
We Are One Illinois is an unprecedented labor coalition working on behalf of more than over 1 million statewide members.
* IMA…
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) released the following statement regarding Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual budget address:
“In the midst of a global pandemic that has caused widespread economic disruption, the Governor’s repeated attempts to hike taxes on small businesses and job creators is unacceptable, especially after voters overwhelmingly rejected his last plan to raise taxes. Illinois should be looking for ways to support businesses, create good-paying jobs, and jump-start investment in our communities. Instead, this administration wants to not only hike taxes but also cut job training funds intended to build a skilled workforce. Meanwhile, other states have embraced policies to grow the economy by cutting taxes, reducing regulations and adopting liability protections,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Throughout the pandemic, manufacturers answered our nation’s call by making and donating personal protective equipment, creating life-saving vaccines and therapies, and stocking our grocery stores with safe and nutritious food. The industry stands ready to lead our economic recovery, but it’s imperative the governor and lawmakers work with manufacturers, not against us.”
…Adding… IML…
The Illinois Municipal League (IML) issued the following statement regarding Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address for State Fiscal Year 2022:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to municipalities across Illinois, from revenue shortfalls to additional health and safety costs. While we recognize the need to address the state’s fiscal challenges, additional cuts to the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF), which designates a portion of state income tax revenue to cities and counties, will exacerbate the current challenges communities face. Every dollar cut from LGDF is a dollar added to property taxes or a dollar taken away from much-needed local programs and services.
“Additionally, further cuts to LGDF could result in higher unfunded pension liability costs, all at a time when all aspects of society continue to endure the ongoing pandemic and revenue sources are limited. We urge the Governor and the General Assembly to reverse the cuts made to LGDF over the past several years and support initiatives that promote the wellbeing of our shared constituencies, the residents of Illinois,” said Brad Cole, IML Executive Director.
* SEIU Healthcare…
The following was released by SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State Address:
CHICAGO – “As a union of over 90,000 essential healthcare workers who have been serving on the frontlines for the entirety of this pandemic, we are grateful for the steps the Governor’s proposed budget would take towards fairer and more equitable revenue sources but also aware that these measures will be insufficient to fund the recovery that the working people of Illinois so desperately need.
“Our members applaud Governor Pritzker’s leadership in his support of closing corporate tax loopholes and decoupling Illinois from ill-advised Federal tax provisions. These are crucial steps in the right direction. But the devastation of this pandemic, and its disproportionate impact on Black, brown and low-income workers and their communities, call upon us to do more. Our members have faced daily risks on the job of getting sick, spreading the virus to those they care for, and also of increased economic insecurity. While rightly being celebrated by many as heroes, they have paid a high price for the essential roles they have played. And they continue to pay that price.
“We must avoid cuts to vital programs and services, as these are more desperately needed now than ever before. But more is still needed—it is time for us to make bold investments in the resources and support structures that will enable a full recovery for all of Illinois—a recovery that includes the essential workers who continue to put their lives on the line every day to provide crucial services to our state’s most vulnerable.”
* IPHA…
Tom Hughes, Executive Director of the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), released the following statement on Wednesday:
“On behalf of the 88 certified local health departments our association represents, we commend the governor for a budget proposal that prioritizes the public’s health and the services needed to protect Illinoisans as we continue to face the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This budget recognizes the importance of those who work on the frontlines to protect the public’s health and safety, including local health departments.
“This pandemic has placed an incredible strain on frontline workers and members of our association who continue to work around the clock to keep Illinoisans safe. It has also further revealed the incredible need for local health officials and professionals to help provide protection on a local level to individual communities and counties. The governor has made tough decisions based in science to help protect the public and save lives, and we thank him for that. We seek to continue to work with him and the Illinois General Assembly to increase funding to local health departments so they can continue their service of protecting the public throughout this pandemic and into the future.”
* ILGOP…
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s Budget Address:
“Spurned by the progressive tax defeat last November, Governor Pritzker is taking his anger out on the people of Illinois with his latest budget proposal. Despite a global pandemic that has forced families and businesses to cut costs to survive, Pritzker’s plan, riddled with accounting gimmicks, spends the same record amount as last year at the same time cutting funding for public schools, eliminating scholarships for poor children, and hiking taxes on small businesses. Other than front-line healthcare workers, no one has sacrificed more during the pandemic than small business owners and our school-age children. This budget hits them the hardest. It’s quite simple - Pritzker is a sore loser who has proposed a truly nasty budget.”
* Speaker Welch…
SPEAKER WELCH RELEASES STATEMENT ON BUDGET ADDRESS
“As expected, given the challenges of COVID-19 and the accompanying job loss and business disruption, this year’s budget requires hard decisions by the legislature and the governor. As the governor said, we must always be grounded by equity and empathy.
Today’s address was the first step in a process that involves all of us coming to the table and working line-by-line to build a budget that reflects our priorities: our COVID-19 response, improving operations for the Illinois Department of Employment Security, funding veterans homes, and providing resources for schools and job training efforts. To do this, we need to close corporate tax loopholes that have made it easy for them to avoid paying their fair share.
All said, one thing is clear: we need federal assistance. For the past year, state and local governments have been hit with a host of new expenses as a result of COVID-19, such as testing, mitigation efforts, and vaccine distribution. I’m glad we finally have an administration that takes this seriously and understands that this is not a red versus blue issue.”
* IEA…
The following statement is attributable to Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin:
“We appreciate that the governor is willing to look at a variety of ways to continue the state’s funding obligations by closing tax loopholes rather than increasing taxes on all struggling families and we urge state government to continue to look for more funding resources. Our state legislature made a brave decision in 2017 and changed the formula for funding education in Illinois. Part of that change included boosting education funding by at least $350 million a year for 10 years to try to get the state up to 80 percent of its base funding level required by our state’s constitution – 80 percent – and to try to give Illinoisans property tax relief. And, while we understand there was an economic downturn that caused flat funding last year and a worldwide pandemic this year that caused fiscal challenges, we can’t move forward if we keep holding ourselves back. Funding the formula needs to be high on the list for any new revenue, as does increasing funding for higher education. We hold out hope that as vaccinations increase and cases decrease, the economic outlook for Illinois can continue to improve and education can be funded to the fullest extent.”
* Chamber…
Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch released the following statement on Governor Pritzker’s Budget Address.
“The Illinois Chamber is opposed to the massive tax increase proposed by the Governor’s budget plan under the guise of “closing corporate loopholes.” We understand that the state has fiscal problems to address, however, the Governor’s plan will have a long-term negative impact on job creation and tax revenues for the state as it produces an unfair increase on taxpayers after they resoundingly defeated the graduated income tax. This not only will expand what will get taxed, but will also reduce key tax credits for vital sectors of the economy.”
“We know the administration faces a tough fiscal task. However, these tax increase proposals will only paper over our short-term problems but accelerate Illinois’ long-term economic crisis. In particular of the many problems in the Governor’s proposals, a particular concern is the elimination of the single sales factor in assessing Illinois income tax. This misguided proposal has the impact of increasing taxes on Illinois based businesses at a time we can least afford it.”
* Empower Illinois…
Governor Pritzker’s plans to make devastating cuts to Illinois’ Tax Credit Scholarship Program–that serves low-income and working-class families–in addition to withholding required public education funding increases, is harmful to students across Illinois. Making these cuts to the Tax Credit Scholarship Program does not help support those most in need, and scholarships for kids are not “corporate loopholes.”
During this challenging time, kids need more quality education options, not fewer. And while Illinois’ financial challenges are significant, the State should not balance its budget on the backs of children from low-income and working-class communities or the schools that serve them so well.
We are hopeful that the Governor and Illinois General Assembly will come to support the low-income and working-class scholarship families. We are ready to work together to realize this vision.
* IRMA…
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) released the following statement regarding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal:
“Retailers have served a vital role throughout the pandemic, ensuring safe and reliable access to food and supplies to now helping vaccinate the state and nation. Despite immense challenges, including government closures, capacity restrictions, denial of access to PPE, and civil unrest that forced some businesses to rebuild not once but twice, retailers were repeatedly called upon to lead the way. This includes establishing health and safety protocols the government soon followed. While the governor claims he is focused on rebuilding the state’s economy, it is counterintuitive that his first step is to raise costs on businesses by eliminating the retail discount, which only partially reimburses store owners for administering and collecting sales tax on behalf of the state,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “Claiming this change would only impact ‘big’ retailers ignores the fact that it is a partial reimbursement for costs incurred on behalf of the state and attempts to deceive smaller retailers into believing they won’t be touched. Action in other states proves the government will continue to redefine ‘big.” Shifting more of the cost of administration and collection onto retailers does nothing to support struggling businesses and indicates the governor fails to fully appreciate all that retail contributes to our state, which prior to the pandemic employed one-fifth of all workers in Illinois and served as the second largest revenue generator for state government and the largest revenue generator for local governments. As I’ve long said, as goes retail, so goes Illinois.”
* Chicagoland Chamber…
“The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is keenly aware of the many fiscal challenges facing Illinois, ranging from the state’s ever-growing unfunded pension liabilities to a budget that has only worsened due to the pandemic. As the voice for Chicago’s business community, we know first-hand how these challenges have created additional hardships for employers as they struggle to remain open, pay rising property tax bills and employ workers. We will fight for policies and a budget that helps small businesses, creates jobs and provides a pro-growth environment that our state needs for economic recovery.
We will continue to advocate for additional Federal aid to come to Illinois which will help with these immediate budget challenges. In the event it does, we urge Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to prioritize small businesses and workforce development programs that provide the education, training and resources our businesses need to get people back to work and prepare our workforce for the post-COVID world.
The Chamber stands ready to work with Governor Pritzker and other elected officials to address these challenges, particularly the unfunded pension liabilities, and put in place policies that will ensure the long-term wellbeing of the business community. These policies will welcome new employers to our state and create job opportunities for our residents,” said Jack Lavin, President & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
* IFRA…
The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, representing Illinois gas stations and convenience stores, today issued the following statement in response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022 as outlined in his speech today:
“At a time when so many small businesses and families they support are teetering and on the brink of disaster, this new Illinois budget proposal would push many over the edge.
“Proposing to close millions of dollars in ‘tax loopholes’ and ending other incentives for businesses that were negotiated just a couple of years ago will undermine any progress we might be able to make in climbing out of the pandemic hole in 2021 if they become law. Make no mistake, these will be tax increases on businesses – and Illinoisans will suffer because of them.
“Particularly concerning for my members is more quickly ending an exemption for the sale of biodiesel at the gas pump, valued at $107 million. This change would add approximately 20 cents to a gallon of diesel fuel and is especially egregious considering that Illinois is one of only six states that already imposes a sales tax on motor fuels. Ending this incentive would also be incredibly damaging to our vital agriculture community in Illinois and hurt my small business members at a time when it’s so easy for customers to drive across state lines to fill up their vehicles.
“Congress created the CARES Act to provide a lifeline of support for businesses across the country after the devastating effects of the pandemic. The Legislature soundly rejected the idea of decoupling from federal tax aid for small businesses during the lame duck session a few weeks ago, but the issue is not dead yet. Now, as businesses are filing their tax returns this spring, this bad idea is even worse and we urge our policymakers to reject it.
“We call on the Governor and legislators to work on a better state budget framework this spring that recognizes the pain caused by the pandemic, and doesn’t add further to the misery many small businesses and families are facing. It’s time to do better.”
* IL Business Alliance…
Jared Carl, president of the Illinois Business Alliance, issued the following statement in response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address today:
“Today, Gov. Pritzker attempted to pay lip service to the Illinois businesses community. His actions tell a different story.
“Pritzker’s time as governor marks one of the most negative business climates in Illinois history. In the spring of 2020, Pritzker ordered Illinois businesses closed. Many remain closed today, and some will never reopen. The price of Pritzker’s actions was demonstrated in Illinois’ high unemployment rates. At its peak last year, unemployment topped 1 million; today, too many Illinoisans remain unemployed.
“Pritzker’s budget banks on skimming nearly $1 billion from the business community through a variety of measures. But make no mistake: No matter what Pritzker calls it, forcing businesses to send more money to Springfield is a tax increase.
“Voters soundly rejected Pritzker’s last attempt to raise taxes on businesses when they voted down the graduated income tax amendment on the November ballot. The message then was as loud and clear as it is today: Illinoisans don’t want to send the state government more money.
“Instead of raising taxes on businesses, Pritzker and state lawmakers should focus on reopening the economy and addressing the long-standing and systemic problems with Illinois’ finances. The state’s budget was in terrible shape long before the pandemic due to decades of fiscal mismanagement, unaffordable pension costs and corruption. These long-standing problems are where the governor should have focused today.”
* AALC…
The Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) released the following statement on Wednesday following Governor J.B. Pritzker’s budget address:
“On behalf of the thousands of seniors and people with disabilities that we are entrusted to protect, we commend the governor for presenting a Fiscal Year 2022 budget that holds human services level and protects 3.2 million Illinoisans on Medicaid during the worst global health crisis in modern history,” said Karin Zosel, Executive Director of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition. “We plan to work further with the Illinois General Assembly and administration to help craft and implement a budget based on the governor’s recommendations that will protect our most vulnerable residents. We thank the governor for his efforts to do so and look forward to working together to make Illinois the leading state nationwide in care for our aging population and those with disabilities.”
* Senate President Harmon…
Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement on Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed budget:
“This proposal is a good-faith effort by the governor to both recognize our state’s financial realities and honor our commitments and priorities.
“Coming out of this pandemic, we need to get people back to work. Our first priority with any tax incentive needs to be jobs for hardworking Illinoisans.
“So, I think it’s fair to ask what the hardworking taxpayers of Illinois are getting in return for these corporate tax breaks. It’s entirely appropriate to put some of these incentives under the microscope to see what works and get rid of what doesn’t.
“Senate Democrats, however, are always interested in finding resources for education. I suspect this year will be no different.”
* ISG…
Illinois farmers grow sustainable and high-quality soybeans that provide feed, fuel and food for Illinois and the world. As part of the sustainable cycle of soybean production, a major byproduct is soy-based biodiesel. Biodiesel is a direct alternative to petroleum-based diesel and is cleaner burning with up to 80 percent lower carbon emissions per gallon. Illinois uses 180 million gallons of biodiesel each year, returning an estimated value of $600 million to Illinois’ family farms annually. Since 2003, Illinois has been using B11 and higher biodiesel blends, supported by the exemption of those fuels from state sales tax. This policy for a homegrown Illinois product has made our state a national leader in using cleaner burning fuels and improving air quality.
Today, Governor Pritzker proposed the elimination of the sales tax exemption that has resulted in enhanced biodiesel utilization and cleaner air. Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) is committed to clean fuel and supports HB229 which continues Illinois’ leadership in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and instituting the statewide use of B20 and higher blends. ISG commits to continued discussion with Governor Pritzker and cleaner fuel advocates to reconcile the proposals in a way that enhances the use of biodiesel in Illinois for improved air quality outcomes.
Today, ISG Chairman, Doug Schroeder, a soybean farmer from Mahomet, Ill., releases the following statement: “As a farmer who understands that there are markets around the world for my crop, I am always reminded of the value that biodiesel has right here at home. Biodiesel adds value to my farm, my community, and my state. This last year and COVID-19 have put extra attention on air quality for all Illinoisans. Sustaining our use of B11 at a minimum and moving to B20 and higher biodiesel blends helps in promoting an Illinois product, all while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. I look forward to continuing the conversation, and working with all partners to use more biodiesel to improve our economy and public health.”
* Speaker Pro Tempore Gordon-Booth…
State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, issued the following statement after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address:
“Illinois needs a balanced, fair budget that helps our communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and that invests in building stronger families, stronger neighborhoods and stronger schools. As the highest-ranking legislator from downstate Illinois, I will fight to make sure that we receive our fair share of funding for COVID-19 relief, community development, education and job training. Even as we face a tough budget outlook, we must continue to prioritize these critical investments. Crafting a fair and responsible budget will not be easy, but I am confident that by working together, the legislature and the governor can put families first in a fiscally responsible manner.”
* llinois House Legislative Black Caucus Chair Kam Buckner…
“This isn’t the first time Illinois has faced tough budget decisions and it won’t be the last, but I am committed to ensuring that we continue to invest in our future by protecting education funding and supporting job training and development. Especially as we work to recover and build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot turn our backs on programs that protect children, families and seniors.
“A budget that is balanced on the backs of our most vulnerable Illinoisans is not a budget that will work for our state, morally or fiscally. Even with the difficulty the state faces, I am confident that legislators can craft a balanced budget that is fair and responsible while prioritizing critical needs including COVID-19 relief, jobs and schools.”
* Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition appreciates the unforeseen and unprecedented challenges the state is working hard to overcome. We’re all in this together. COVID is new, but the climate crisis not. In fact, the pandemic has only exacerbated many of the problems the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would solve.
But in an 11-page speech, Governor Pritzker spent less than one sentence talking about how clean energy can create equitable jobs, lower bills, and hold utilities accountable. He says it’s time to get to work … when? It’s past time.
Eduardo and his neighbors in Waukegan have been breathing in toxic pollution for their entire lives - and it’s even more dangerous during this pandemic. They can’t afford to wait any longer.
Gina is a 4th generation SE Sider, activist, and mother who has experienced disinvestment for years, and these communities are especially vulnerable to COVID. Environmental justice communities like hers can’t wait.
Michelle started a successful clean energy business in Springfield, but the lack of action at the state level has made it extremely difficult for them to grow. We should be supporting small businesses right now, not leaving them behind.
Other Governors have managed to address the climate crisis and confront this historic pandemic. We can do that in Illinois, too. #CEJACantWait
* Leader McConchie…
“Unfortunately, the governor continued the budget gimmicks of his predecessors and ignored his constitutional responsibility to present a budget within current revenues,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). “By skipping out on the hard work of reform, he is continuing to punt on those fundamental changes so necessary to put Illinois on a stable financial path.
“Instead, the governor proposes to balance the budget by taking money away from roads and bridges, levying tax increases on employers during the pandemic, removing incentives designed to create blue collar jobs, and seeking to repeal recent efforts to revitalize the manufacturing industry in Illinois.
“This continues to show just how out of touch he is with how Illinois families live and operate. It is my sincere hope that the governor will rethink this proposal and work with the legislature to come up with a plan that will actually move our state forward.”
* Catholic Conference…
The proposal by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to slash the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program reduces the most effective state program for low-income and working-class students in Illinois. Even during the pandemic, scholarship recipients have been attending high-quality, nonpublic schools. Students at Catholic schools have been learning in-person since August and have surpassed nationally-certified benchmarks. This is the time to expand the program so that more low-income and working-class students can attain educational achievement that will lead to a successful future.
We urge the governor to reconsider and work towards expanding educational opportunities instead of restricting them.
* ASNCH…
– Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address, Tim Egan, board member of the Illinois Association of Safety Net Community Hospitals (ASNCH) and President and CEO of Roseland Community Hospital, released the following statement on Wednesday:
“As safety net hospitals, we serve as frontline healthcare providers to some of the most vulnerable populations in Illinois, who often have no other place to turn for their care. Today, we are encouraged by the Governor’s words about communities of disinvestment and the actions taken by the Governor and his administration to help remedy and reinvest in those vulnerable communities when they need it more than ever.
“Safety net hospitals are the both the economic and healthcare anchors of minority communities and have faced incredible challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This health crisis has laid bare what safety net providers have said for many years: that access to care is dependent on the color of one’s skin and their financial resources. The time has come and passed for this to end.
“We are pleased to see a budget proposal that makes the proper investments in healthcare and services so that providers like us can continue to serve the at-risk populations that need us. We now implore the Illinois General Assembly to follow the governor’s proposal and to ensure that hospitals and providers are able to continue to provide care to any person that needs it in our state. This begins with making investments in healthcare in under-resourced, minority communities, which have been divested in for decades.”
“We thank the Governor for the tough decisions he has made throughout this pandemic to save lives, and look forward to working together with him to ensure that everyone in Illinois has access to quality healthcare, no matter their race or the amount of money they have.”
* Climate Jobs Illinois…
Climate Jobs Illinois today applauded Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s call for a clean energy bill that preserves Illinois’ nuclear fleet and expands the state’s wind and solar industries. But the labor coalition stressed that any energy legislation must include strong labor standards to create true economic opportunities for Illinois families.
“Gov. Pritzker is right to prioritize clean energy legislation this year that preserves the state’s nuclear fleet as part of a comprehensive plan to transition Illinois toward a clean energy economy,” said CJI Executive Director Joe Duffy. “However, any clean energy legislation must put Illinois’ working families first and include comprehensive labor standards so these new clean energy jobs provide a path to the middle class, especially for communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.”
Among Climate Jobs Illinois’ policy recommendation to move Illinois to a 100% clean energy economy is to stabilize the state’s nuclear plants to ensure adequate baseload availability from clean energy sources and to save 24,000 jobs in communities that rely heavily on the tax revenue generated by these plants to fund education and critical local government services.
The union coalition has proposed including the Braidwood, Byron, Dresden and LaSalle nuclear plants in the Zero Emission Standard (ZES) program and adopting the Fixed Resource Requirement process, or a similar process that allows the nuclear fleet to remain competitive in future capacity auctions. Currently, only the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants are included in the program and receive zero emission credits (ZECs), which compensate for the environmental benefits of carbon-free energy generation.
* U of I…
Under the fiscal year 2022 budget proposed today by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, funding for the University of Illinois System would remain flat, matching the state appropriation for the current fiscal year. The governor also recommended a $28 million increase for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), which provides financial aid to support Illinois students, including thousands across the U of I System’s universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.
The governor’s budget proposal also reauthorizes all capital funding initially approved in fiscal 2020 for bricks-and-mortar projects across the system, including funds for development of the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) and the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN). In December, DPI and IIN received about $142 million in the first round of funding from $500 million in capital funds approved for the initiatives.
“We are grateful for Gov. Pritzker’s support of higher education and increased funding for MAP grants during these historically difficult times, with state revenues strained by an ongoing global pandemic,” said Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System. “We hope the legislature adopts his spending plan, and approves funding to support the students, faculty and staff whose talents will help move Illinois beyond the current crisis and into a bright, prosperous future.”
“We are also grateful for the governor’s continued support of capital funding to ensure our facilities match the excellence of our world-class academic programs. His support for DPI and IIN is building a pioneering education and research enterprise that will move Illinois, the Midwest and our nation forward, creating the jobs and businesses of tomorrow.”
* Sen. Hastings…
Following Governor JB Pritzker’s annual budget address, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) offered the following statement:
“The proposal outlined by Governor Pritzker today is just the start of what will certainly be a challenging negotiation process. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our people with generational economic challenges, and there is no question that this is going to be an incredibly difficult year for the state of Illinois. That is why our focus must be providing critical services to the people we represent, improving the unemployment system, assisting small businesses impacted by the pandemic, and putting people back to work through investment in infrastructure projects.
This is going to be a delicate budget making process, but the situation we find ourselves in calls for a reassessment of how we spend money in Illinois. I look forward to working to implement a budget that tightens the state’s belt, restricts reckless spending, and puts us back on track.”
* AFSCME…
Governor Pritzker’s budget plan for the 2022 fiscal year provides Illinois with a path forward. While we will need to review all the details in greater depth before taking a position on this plan, it appears to maintain vital services, continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic and meets the state’s pension obligations. In addition, we’re pleased to note that the governor has rejected the calls from some quarters to place an unfair burden on state employees in addressing the state’s fiscal challenges.
Illinois faces steep budgetary challenges for two reasons: the defeat of the Fair Tax constitutional amendment—which would have allowed higher tax rates for the wealthy—and the devastation of the COVID pandemic that has battered every state.
To overcome these challenges, everyone must do their part.
For big corporations, the time for tax loopholes is over. We strongly support Governor Pritzker’s call to end these unfair special deals. Profitable corporations should not get tax giveaways when so many working people have lost their jobs and are struggling to pay their bills.
For Congress, significant COVID relief to states is long overdue. Approve the American Rescue Plan that President Biden has put forward.
For Illinois legislators, consider additional revenue measures. Ideas already employed by neighboring states can help stabilize our state’s finances.
For our union, AFSCME members in the public service will continue to serve their communities as they have throughout the pandemic, despite the risk to themselves and their families. We stand ready to work with the governor’s office to find efficiencies and innovative approaches that can save money in state operations.
Finally, for Republican leaders who worked to defeat the Fair Tax, it’s time to accept responsibility. The depth of the budget shortfall stems from their crusade to defeat the Fair Tax amendment, yet for months they have offered nothing but empty criticism combined with periodic calls to cut the pay of state workers. Now they oppose ending loopholes for big business, without putting forward a single, sensible alternative to help close the state’s budget gap.
* IABH…
The following statement on Governor JB Pritzker’s FY 2022 budget can be attributed to Illinois Association for Behavioral Health CEO Jud DeLoss:
“During the 2018 gubernatorial election, Governor Pritzker campaigned on his support for mental health and addiction treatment, and he has kept his promise. The governor’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget provides a 22% increase in addiction treatment and a 3% bump for mental health services, and this money will be crucial to fight the opioid overdoses breaking records in counties such as Cook, DuPage, Lake and elsewhere in the state in 2020 and to address the surging mental health needs triggered during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is good news in a bad news budget year.”
* TASC…
The following statement on Governor JB Pritzker’s FY 2022 budget can be attributed to Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, Inc. (TASC) CEO Pamela Rodriguez:
“Despite the gaping, $3 billion, pandemic-driven Illinois budget hole, Governor JB Pritzker was able to preserve core addiction treatment and case management services in his Fiscal Year 2022 budget needed for individuals in the criminal justice system who are working to rebuild their lives on exiting prison or who are being diverted from incarceration by participating in treatment as an option. The governor deserves credit for keeping core services intact.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,795 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 24 additional deaths.
- Cook County: 1 male 40s, 2 females 70s, 1 male 70s, 3 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s
- DuPage County:1 female 30s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
- Lake County: 1 female 50s
- Macoupin County: 1 male 70s
- Madison County: 1 male 70s
- McHenry County: 1 male 60
- Mercer County: 1 male 70s
- Morgan County: 1 female 70s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 70s
- St. Clair County: 2 females 50s, 1 male 80s
- Will County: 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,166,717 cases, including 20,057 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 49,937 specimens for a total of 17,320,814. As of last night, 1,719 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 375 patients were in the ICU and 176 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 10–16, 2021 is 2.8%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 10–16, 2021 is 3.4%.
Due to adverse weather across the country, the number of doses of vaccine delivered to Illinois is delayed. While this week’s allocation from the federal government was approximately 365,000 doses, we have only received approximately 55,000 doses of that allocation so far this week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated some shipments may go out today. A total of doses of 2,102,500 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 445,200 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 2,547,700. A total of 1,903,942 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 256,114 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 60,552 doses. Yesterday, 40,380 doses were administered. Weather will most likely contribute to reduced vaccinations over the next several days.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for deaths previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
* Click here, here or here to watch the governor’s budget address. Click here to read the address in full. Click here for the budget briefing issued by the governor’s office this morning. Some excerpts…
Closing the FY2022 Projected Deficit
FY2021 and FY2022 General Funds Revenues Summary
✓ Base General Funds revenues are estimated to total $41.7 billion, a $226 million, or 0.5%, increase from FY21 revised base estimates.
✓ Total General Funds revenues for FY22 reflect a $1,772 billion, or 4.1% decrease from FY21 due to the one- time nature of the $1,998 million in MLF borrowing.
✓ Individual income taxes are forecasted to be below FY21 due to the extension of the April 2020 tax filing deadline to July 2020 – in FY21.
✓ Revenues from adult-use cannabis are expected to generate $69 million for transfer to the General Funds in FY22.
✓ Federal revenue forecast equals $3,971 million, a reduction from FY21 due to only a half year of enhanced Medicaid match.
✓ FY22 revenue forecast benefits from proposed closure of several tax loopholes.
FY2021 and FY2022 General Funds Expenditures Summary
✓Proposed FY22 General Funds operating expenditures total $30.0 billion, a $4.2 million decrease from FY21.
✓The proposed budget reflects full payment of the certified FY22 pension contribution.
✓Total FY22 General Funds expenditures are $41.6 billion, a $1.8 billion (4.2%) decrease from FY21.
✓ Estimated FY22 budgetary surplus of $120 million.
Closing Corporate Loopholes - “Off the Top” Expenditures of State Tax Dollars
Efficient and Effective Government
✓State Employee and Retiree Health Care Savings – the administration has negotiated over $900 million in health care cost savings.
✓ Estimated $650 million in collectively- bargained cost savings with employees through FY23.
✓ An additional $260 million in savings achieved through negotiated insurance rates and contract terms with providers.
✓Agency Efficiency Savings –
✓ Electronic and web-based alternatives to save postage and paper.
✓ Merging anti-fraud program at Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission with anti-fraud unit at Department of Insurance.
✓ $10 million in reductions to contractual and commodities appropriations at the Department of Corrections.
✓ Optimizing the State Workforce – Since 2002, the state’s workforce is down >22%. ✓ Agencies carefully manage on-board headcount.
✓ Approximately 5,000 current vacancies.
Higher Education
Provides Stability to Our Colleges and Universities
Supports college affordability and focuses on closing equity gaps in Illinois education.
✓ Increases Monetary Award Program (MAP) funding to protect awards for current students - $28 million
✓ Maintains general funds state support for ✓ Universities – $1.157 billion
✓ Community Colleges - $249.5 million
✓ Adds first annual payment to stabilize College Illinois - $20 million
✓ Funds the Common Application Partnership Program - $1 million
✓ Provides funding to help implement the new equity-driven strategic plan for higher education institutions - $250,000
✓ Federal assistance through Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) will go directly to higher education institutions.
Investing in Economic Development - Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity:
✓ Includes funding from the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program to execute rental and housing assistance programs through IHDA and DHS - $570 million
✓ Continues funding to support entrepreneurs and communities harmed by the decades-long war on drugs with the Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program - $18 million
✓ Invests in broadband deployment to maximize all opportunities for federal funding - $25 million
✓ Supports the administration of the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act- $2 million
✓ Reappropriates capital funding to provide competitive matching grants that expand access to high-speed broadband internet across the state - $375 million
✓ Continues competitive grant funding to provide infrastructure improvements, such as street, highway, bridge, park district and recreation improvements to benefit local communities - $202 million
✓ Reappropriates Minority-Owned Small Business Capital Grant funding to allow DCEO to continue equipping small, minority- owned businesses and community organizations with the resources to create jobs, build capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally - $25 million
✓ Includes a reappropriation for competitive capital grant funding to fund economic development opportunities including the Shovel Ready Sites Program, opportunity zone investments, development of wet lab space and targeted investments in economically depressed areas - $303 million
Historical research for Governor Pritzker’s remarks came by way of a broad coalition of libraries and archives from around the state. The story of Hallie Staley Kinter was documented in a 1977 oral history interview available from the Oral History Collection of the University of Illinois at Springfield. In no particular order, the Governor’s Office offers its gratitude to:
• Hallie Staley Kinter Memoir, Oral History Collection, Archives/Special Collections, Norris L Brookens Library, University of Illinois Springfield
• Chicago Public Library Archives and Special Collections
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• STORIED, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement
• Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library
• Curtis Mann and the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library
• McLean County Museum of History
• Illinois State Library
• Illinois Digital Archives
• Illinois Department of Agriculture
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• The Mahomet Daily
• Mauricio Peña/Block Club Chicago
• Frank O. Lowden Papers, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
• Chicago Magazine
• Chicago History Museum
• The Midway Village Museum via the Rockford Register Star
• The Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive via the Daily Journal
In his prepared remarks, Pritzker blistered Republicans nationally and locally for seeking to block further federal assistance to states, saying, “In essence, they eliminated the fire department, burned down the house and poured gas on the flames — and now they’re asking why we’re not doing more to prevent fires.”
“In a normal year, I might have more patience for their hypocrisy. But this is not a normal year,” he said. Of Republicans refusing to offer up proposed budget cuts, Pritzker said, “Apparently their idea of bipartisanship ends when hard choices must be made.”
The third spending plan offered by Pritzker in his term in office, along with his view of the state of the state, comes at a critical time for the Democratic governor, setting the stage for an expected 2022 reelection campaign in which his pandemic restrictions are expected to become a central theme. The governor has faced an increasingly restless audience of voters and lawmakers despite a state COVID-19 death toll of more than 20,000.
Please. He should be so lucky if his restrictions become a central theme. They’re popular. It’s the mistakes and blunders that will likely be a problem, including the veterans’ home mass die-off.
Scrambling to plug a $3 billion budget gap, Gov. J.B. Pritzker aims to raise $900 billion by closing “corporate tax loopholes.”
Yet he won’t consider closing the biggest loophole of all, one that costs Illinois as much as $3 billion annually. This loophole exempts half the economy—the faster-growing half, by the way—from a tax that applies to the other half.
I’m talking about the loophole that exempts services from sales tax, which Illinois levies almost exclusively on merchandise sales. Illinois has lagged far behind national trends in modernizing its sales tax system to reflect the long-term shift toward a more service-based economy. A generation ago, services accounted for about one-third of the economy; today it’s half or more, depending on how the data is compiled.
This has been debated endlessly for decades. It’s not a bad idea, but Pritzker campaigned against it, so supporting it now would be a huge flip-flop. Still, as the old saying goes, a statesman is a politician who flip-flops in your policy direction.
Under normal circumstances and in a normal state, I would support a progressive income tax system. But these aren’t normal times, and Illinois is far from a normal state. We’re in the midst of a steep recession triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Raising taxes on anybody during a recession puts more downward pressure on the economy.
Even before the virus-induced downturn, Illinois was mired in a fiscal bog of its own making, thanks to decades of irresponsible political leadership. A graduated income tax would reward many of the same politicians who created the mess, entrusting them with more money and greater taxing power. Bad idea.
So, lemme get this straight. High earners during a recession shouldn’t face an income tax hike, but everyone including the unemployed should pay taxes on services during the same recession?
Out of power and divided about their future, Republicans see an opportunity to begin winning back the suburban voters they lost under Donald Trump’s presidency by capitalizing on widespread frustration with pandemic life and directing it at an old enemy: teachers unions. […]
Seeking to protect members, particularly older teachers, from contracting Covid-19, some teachers unions have pushed for no return to in-person learning until teachers can be vaccinated, while others have demanded additional safety measures — ranging from better ventilation to increased cleaning — before agreeing to a return. […]
But the frustration over shuttered schools, kids being kept home and other Covid-19 restrictions are real and even some progressives say the unions are overreaching. (Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused them of wanting to “take over” not just the schools, but also the city.) And Republicans think they can channel that anger into a grassroots uprising to drive a wedge between suburban voters and the Democratic Party. […]
Democrats and union leaders say they are unconcerned with the GOP strategy, noting widespread vaccination should allow schools to almost completely reopen before any major elections.
They point to a string of recent polls that show support for teachers unions has, if anything, grown slightly during the pandemic. Many Republicans, they add, are publicly opposed to Biden’s stimulus plan, which they say would accelerate school openings.
The “progressive” label on Mayor Lightfoot would be news to a lot of Chicago progressives. Also, in Illinois, school districts make their own decisions about reopening under certain guidelines, like mask requirements. And while public health experts say schools should be reopened, there are always some major caveats that schools may not be able to meet (like adequate ventilation, for instance). Not to mention that for decades the GOP has demanded “local control” over schools.
* OK, with that in mind, here’s the NRSC…
Senator Duckworth has remained completely silent on reopening schools, choosing to cower to the teachers unions that fund her campaign rather than fight for students across the country.
Democrats stated on the campaign trail that scientists and Center for Disease Control (CDC) officials should make the determination on how and when America’s children should return to school. After numerous scientific studies, over $80 billion invested into making schools safer, and clear guidance from CDC officials, the answer is clear: the time to return to school is now.
When given an opportunity to put her money where her mouth is, Senator Duckworth has gone mute.
Statement from NRSC Chairman, Senator Rick Scott: “So much for ‘following the science.’ Classrooms are among the safest places in the country for children and teachers and the consequences of keeping children away from in-person learning are incalculable. In the face of overwhelming evidence, Senator Duckworth refuses to speak out against the union bosses and support reopening our schools. She’s gone completely mute. The question every Illinois voter should be asking is, ‘why does our Senator fight for teachers unions instead of our kids?’”
…Adding… With a hat tip to a commenter, here’s a recent poll…
55% of GOP voters said schools should be reopened even if all teachers aren’t inoculated, while 74% of Democrats said schools should wait.
48% of all voters approve of President Biden’s handling of education issues, but the share who disapprove has increased 4 points over two weeks, to 32%.
Democrats, Republicans most likely to agree on trusting local school administrators, boards of education with the issue of in-person fall classes.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday will propose rolling back several tax policies he agreed to in 2019 to win Republican support for his infrastructure plan and budget in his first year in office, according to sources familiar with the plan.
The proposed tax policy changes, aimed at closing what Pritzker describes as $932 million in “corporate tax loopholes,” include: […]
The tax policies Pritzker is targeting were part of an eleventh-hour deal he struck with House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs in 2019 to help deliver major legislative wins for the rookie Democratic governor.
More recently, Pritzker has blamed Republicans and their allies in the business community for helping defeat his preferred budget solution — a graduate-rate income tax — at the ballot box in November.
Click here for the list. The House Republicans are not happy campers, of course.
In a preview of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s third budget address on Wednesday, Comptroller Susana Mendoza (D-Illinois) warned state lawmakers against a temptation to redirect any federal Coronavirus relief funds towards pet projects.
“I do not want the legislators, or anyone else for that matter, to get excited about any new federal stimulus dollars coming in,” Mendoza said Tuesday afternoon. “Because honestly, it’s not going to be like Christmas morning. There is not going to be a new Lexus in the state’s driveway with the big red bow.”
Mendoza said any federal relief funding, which President Joe Biden’s administration has floated in his American Rescue Plan, would effectively help the state prevent “our family pickup truck from being repossessed,” she said. “That’s how people should see this. Those dollars are spoken for.”
“We have to learn to live within our means,” she said. “We cannot count on future revenues from federal stimulus towards this budget.”
State Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat and the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said Pritzker’s expected education funding plan will be a “big issue of contention” if it doesn’t pay for the state’s evidence-based education model. Pritzker last week said he is confident that “significant federal funding for education will provide additional support for schools while the state maintains its existing investment.”
The evidence-based model of education funding approved by lawmakers in 2017 promised to inject $350 million of new money into education every year. However, that did not happen in 2020, and Pritzker’s initial overview made no mention of the $350 million this year.
“(Pritzker is) feeling federal dollars can be used to offset $350 million, but it doesn’t work that way,” Crespo said.
State Rep. Terra Costa-Howard, a Glen Ellyn Democrat and a member of the House K-12 appropriations committee, said the state’s education system cannot afford to miss the $350 million payment again.
The 2022 campaign cycle is already underway with statewide candidates from both parties announcing their intentions. The Illinois Republican Party is joining the fray, launching a cycle-long campaign to oust incumbent Illinois Governor, Democrat JB Pritzker. ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy has released the following statement announcing the campaign:
“From Cairo to Chicago, Quincy to Danville, the people of Illinois are saying enough is enough. No more tax hikes, unbalanced budgets, and radical leftist agendas - and no more unaccountable rule by one man shutting down our economy and destroying Illinois’ future. It’s time we FIRE PRITZKER.
The Illinois Republican Party is committed to spending the time, energy, and resources it will take to rid Illinois of our failed Governor. Pritzker ran as an autocrat who would get back the basics of running government. Instead, we got a campaign to raise taxes, a ‘police reform’ bill that makes us less safe, indoctrination of our students, an incompetant unemployment system, over 30 dead veterans at a state facility, and king-like rule during the pandemic - indefinitely shutting down our economy and never consulting the legislature.
Pritzker’s leadership has been terrible for Illinois and people are voting with ‘For Sale’ signs in their front yards. In just the last year, 80,000 Illinoisans - second in the nation - fled the state for lower taxes, less corruption, and better opportunities. The ‘FIRE PRITZKER’ campaign is about harnessing the anger over our friends and family leaving and putting it to good use, defeating JB Pritzker in 2022.”
The ILGOP has launched FirePritzker.org, a website hub where individuals can get involved in the movement to defeat JB Pritzker in the next gubernatorial election by signing up to volunteer, donating, or buying gear such as yard signs, t-shirts or bumper stickers.
If anyone has time, talent, or resources to give to the cause, they should visit FirePritzker.org and sign up today.
Discuss.
*** UPDATE *** DPI…
Morning, Rich – A response from Mary Morrissey, Executive Director of DPI:
“What exactly is the GOP plan for the state of Illinois other than denying science and voting against COVID relief funds? We’ve heard the same tired attacks against Governor Pritzker since he took office, but we’ve yet to hear any solid plans to support our workers and families and move past this catastrophic pandemic. I guess we’ll keep waiting.”
A dangerous trend has returned to Illinois, two years after three Illinois State Police troopers were killed.
Scott’s Law crashes involving Illinois State Police troopers are on the rise so far in 2021, with 10 crashes reported since Jan. 1. Three of the Scott’s Law crashes happened on just one day—Feb. 16.
Scott’s Law, also known as the Move Over Law, requires Illinois drivers to slow down and safely change lanes when a vehicle with flashing hazard lights is on the side of the road. […]
Out of the 10 Scott’s Law crashes in 2021, six have left troopers with injuries. One of the crashes, in Will County on Feb. 15, left a trooper seriously injured. None of the crashes in 2021 have been deadly, however Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said one Scott’s Law crash is too many.
“…this about more than just obeying the law,” Kelly said. “It’s about basic decency and respect for the very lives of the brave souls on our streets simply trying to help the public.”
State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said Pritzker and the state legislature are in “an impossible position,” but called for Pritzker to slash state agency spending by 7-8% across the board, while protecting education funding.
You'd probably have to file another resolution in a few years creating another taskforce to decommission that taskforce because nobody ever showed up for a meeting
Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for all 102 counties in response to the dangerous winter storm that has blanketed the state with life threatening wind chills, power outages and accumulating snow. The extreme arctic temperatures affecting more than ten states adds additional stress on utility providers across the nation. As of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, approximately 7,000 Illinois households were without power, and that number is expected to fluctuate as the strain of arctic temperatures and extreme weather continues. To alleviate stress on the nation’s grid, all Illinois residents are encouraged to take appropriate measures to safely conserve energy.
“I have directed my administration to use all resources at our disposal to keep our communities safe amid dangerous and ongoing winter weather,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We are in communication with local governments to ensure they have the support they need in disaster response and recovery operations. We are also working with our federal partners to pursue federal assistance to help communities recover and to do what we can to protect ratepayers from soaring utility bills. I urge all Illinoisans to take this extreme weather seriously, avoid all unnecessary travel and check in on your neighbors.”
Extreme weather has resulted in frozen wells in key natural gas producing states, including Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The sub-zero temperatures are resulting in increased demand and decreased supply, causing natural gas prices to spike. Utility companies across the nation are reporting soaring wholesale costs, and without federal intervention, those increased prices could result in higher utility bills for Illinois residents in the coming weeks.
The 2020 census data needed for the redrawing of voting districts around the country are extremely delayed and now expected by Sept. 30. […]
Then, in a statement, the bureau said the timing shift allows it to “deliver complete and accurate redistricting data in a more timely fashion overall for the states,” which are expected to receive the information at the same time rather than on a rolling basis as after past head counts.
Dogged by the coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration’s interference with the census schedule, the latest expected release date — six months past the March 31 legal deadline — could throw upcoming elections into chaos in states facing tight redistricting deadlines for Congress, as well as state and local offices.
In a press briefing Friday, James Whitehorne, the head of the bureau’s redistricting office, said that if the agency completes its quality reviews earlier than expected, it would release the redistricting data earlier. But Whitehorne also said: “We don’t anticipate finishing much before Sept. 30.”
The Census Bureau was scheduled to detail by the end of December 2020 how many congressional seats will go to each state. That announcement is six weeks late, and now isn’t expected until late April of this year.
So, while there’s time to draw congressional districts before candidate filing begins in late August, there will be no time to draw state legislative districts. Looks like a delay in the primary could be in the cards, although some sort of temporary workaround will have to be constructed to deal with the state constitution’s June 30th deadline to draw state legislative maps.
Jim Lewis, a senior researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago who oversaw remap work at the Chicago Urban League on behalf of Black communities in the 1990s, said he’d be “surprised if leadership allowed the process to go to the commission.” A new map could be made with other census data, including from the American Community Survey. But that map could be “legally contested once the new block-level data is released in the fall.”
John Patterson, spokesperson for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, said “we continue to monitor the situation.”
A spokesman for Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said the delay in the data is a “unique situation,” and the new House leader is “still assessing all options, but his goal remains making sure all communities get their due representation in Congress.” […]
At an unrelated news conference Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his office is looking at how the state might “manage through that” delay.
“It’s obviously extraordinarily difficult,” the governor said. “It’s one thing when they said April, it’s another thing when they said September. It really creates a challenge for us all, but we’ll get through it, we’ll deal with it like we have all the other changes through COVID-19.”
* Related…
* NCSL: Searching for Silver Linings in Delayed Census Results
* NCSL: 5 Ways to Handle Census Delays and Redistricting Deadlines
* Blizzard and long holiday weekend caveat. Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,348 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 32 additional deaths.
- Cook County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 5 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 5 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 3 males 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
- DuPage County: 2 males 50s, 1 male 60s
- Lake County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 male 80s
- Whiteside County: 1 male 80s
- Will County: 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,164,922 cases, including 20,034 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 46,630 specimens for a total of 17,270,877. As of last night, 1,726 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 385 patients were in the ICU and 179 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 9–15, 2021 is 2.8%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 9–15, 2021 is 3.4%.
A total of doses of 2,029,675 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 445,200 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 2,474,875. A total of 1,863,562 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 251,373 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 63,772 doses. Yesterday, 40,354 doses were administered. Weather will most likely contribute to reduced vaccinations over the next several days.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
Tuesday, Feb 16, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Employers in Illinois provide prescription drug coverage for nearly 6.7 million Illinoisans. In order to help keep care more affordable, employers work with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who deploy a variety of tools to reduce prescription drug costs and help improve health outcomes. In addition to helping employers, PBMs also work with the Illinois Medicaid program in the same way to help control costs. Over the last five years, PBMs have saved the state and taxpayers nearly $340 million.
Today, Illinois faces a multibillion budget shortfall as more Illinoisans are relying on Medicaid to help meet their health care coverage needs. As legislators work to address these challenges, one way to help ensure continued cost savings is by strengthening the PBM tools that the State and employers use, which are poised to save employers, consumers and the State $39 billion over the next 10 years. These are meaningful savings that will help continue to contain costs, ensure consumer access to medicines and drive savings in public health programs.
Amid a pandemic and economic challenges, now is the time to strengthen, not limit, the tools that employers, consumers and the State rely on to manage costs and ensure consumers can access the medicines they need.
The governor also promised no tax increases, though that’s not how Republicans see it.
“What the Democrats call as loopholes, we look at those as tax increases,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. “But we also believe that that is a disincentive for businesses to remain in Illinois to grow, and to keep employees employed, and to bring in new people.”
Republicans also called for greater transparency.
“Where department heads, agency directors come before the legislature to answer questions, provide information about their budgets,” said Deputy Minority Leader Tom Demmer.
The governor fired back, calling on Republicans to suggest their own budget solutions, setting up a potentially rocky spring legislative session that will have to navigate while still in the midst of a pandemic.
Considering the situation Illinois is in and the proximity to the next election, there will be no comity with Republicans this year no matter how great the budget proposal might be, and it won’t be great, by any means.
As I told subscribers last week, the real conflict the governor faces will be with members of his own party, most of whom will want more spending, not less.
Press conferences can make for great copy, but they don’t always reflect reality. And the reality is the House and Senate Republicans are in the super-minority. All they really have in their arsenal is media access.
The budget will also close $900 million in unspecified corporate tax loopholes. Republicans call this a tax hike, however.
“What the Democrats call loopholes, we look at those as tax increases but we also believe that that is a disincentive for businesses to remain in Illinois, to grow and to keep employees employed and to bring in new people,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.
Keeping those tax breaks forces a choice between the good the tax breaks do versus the harm to the rest of the budget that keeping them causes. It’s spending by another word, even if may not be exactly dollar-for-dollar…
The Republicans said Pritzker apparently wants to eliminate corporate tax incentives to create jobs, which they said wouldn’t be a wise move in a pandemic-induced recession.
Deep spending cuts are also not a wise move during a recession.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) says the Democrats’ budgeting practices are straight out of Fantasyland.
“Gov. Pritzker and his enablers from the House and Senate continue to budget at $42 billion,” Durkin told an online news conference. “With a snap of a finger, this budget becomes law; nevermind the global crisis.
“The Illinois Democrats cooked up a budget predicated on imaginary money that may or may not ever show up.”
Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) also noted that the administration said a tax increase was possible when the “Fair Tax” failed to get enough support from voters. Yet, the administration recently announced Pritzker’s budget proposal would not include a tax increase. The same press release indicated the budget would “strengthen” IDPH, DCFS, IDES, and other “vital services.”
“We have a credibility issue and a transparency issue,” Demmer said. “The administration needs to be more forthcoming with information for both Republicans and Democrats in the legislature. And if they’re not going to be forthcoming, we need to use the power of the legislature to demand those answers.”
His beef is with the House Speaker.
* The Tribune editorial board wants a crackdown on AFSCME…
For all of Pritzker’s use of unilateral executive orders and emergency rules, he can’t claim his hands are tied with AFSCME. He has options. He needs to apply them.
A second item worth watching is Pritzker’s upcoming new budget. Despite his decision not to raise the current flat income tax, there’s still a lot of budget detail we don’t know, notably whether Congress will come to the state’s aid with a big check from President Joe Biden’s pending $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. If Biden delivers, Pritzker will be able to breathe much easier. If not, some distasteful spending cuts and other revenue enhancers are on the way.
Of course, Pritzker could have avoided much of this nastiness if he’d acted like the bean-counting businessman he is and moved to slash overly rich state pensions, one way or another. But that, sadly, does not appear to be in the cards.
One way or another, the budget will get done before the new fiscal year begins July 1, but probably not without the usual gimmicks that will make it looked balanced on paper.
No one should envy the challenge facing the governor. He’s got a tough job. Then again, he’s getting what he asked for — good and hard.
Yep.
* From Jordan Abudayyeh…
Republicans fought against the fair tax to protect millionaires and billionaires from paying their fair share and took the best option to balance the state’s budget off the table. The Governor has presented more than $700 million in budget cuts, yet Republicans have offered no solutions to the fiscal challenges facing the state because, by their own admission today, Republicans don’t believe it is their responsibility to present their ideas to balance the budget. It’s going to take a lot more than empty rhetoric to rebuild the state’s economy after this devastating pandemic and the Governor welcomes Republicans to present their realistic ideas, so the state can balance the budget in a bipartisan fashion.
Their real job is to lob verbal grenades at this point. It’s not like they’ve been invited to the budget table as equals, after all.
Background…
The transparency and process arguments made by House Republicans are rooted in willful ignorance of the many ways the Governor’s Office communicates budget related matters to the General Assembly.
Attached is a breakdown of cuts that has been publicly available since December and below is the press release announcing the cuts.
* I’ve already given my take to subscribers, so here’s Mark Maxwell…
Last month, Schimpf called Pritzker “a catastrophic failure as a governor,” and said about the Jan 6 Capitol riots that “what we can’t survive is deviating from the rule of law and the level of political toxicity that we have right now in our country.” https://t.co/XRqa5JVij9
Republican former state Sen. Paul Schimpf announced his candidacy for Illinois governor on Monday, throwing his hat in the ring for the GOP nomination to potentially challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2022.
Schimpf most recently served as state senator for the 58th District in southern Illinois, which includes Murphysboro, Waterloo, Red Bud and Du Quoin, among other communities. He was elected to that office in 2016 and served one term before declining to run for reelection in 2020.
Schimpf, 50, is a retired Marine and an attorney who advised in the prosecution of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2005 and previously ran unsuccessfully for Illinois attorney general in 2014.
“I promise I will work hard, tell the truth, and keep my promises,” he said Monday morning, in a virtual news conference with reporters to officially kick off his campaign.
“This is decision I came to over the past year, as I watched the state deteriorate. We’ve watched our friends, neighbors and relatives leave the state … I’m not going to stand by idly while our state government squanders its opportunities.” […]
“Illinois needs a governor who understands the day-to-day challenges that we all face,” Schimpf said, “a governor who will live by the same rules that the rest of us follow, and, most importantly, a governor who will stand up to the entrenched special interest groups who have severely damaged our state.”
Schimpf, who attended the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1993, was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps until he retired in 2013. He attended the Southern Illinois University School of Law. In 2005, he was deployed to Iraq to be the chief American adviser to prosecutors in the Saddam Hussein trial.
“For far too long, we have had Illinois governors who were either career politicians or wealthy corporate executives who couldn’t understand or empathize with the struggles that the people of Illinois face,” he said in making his announcement for the GOP nomination via Zoom.
“We need a governor who understands those day-to-day challenges that we all face, a governor who will live by the same rules that the rest of us follow, a governor who will stand up to the entrenched special interest groups that have done so much damage. Most importantly, we need a governor we can trust to do the right thing and make tough decisions,” he said. […]
“I know that Gov. Pritzker has a lot of resources,” Schimpf said. “I don’t expect to be able to match him dollar for dollar, but I do expect to be able to get my message out with a lot of hard work.”
Campaign finance records show Schimpf began the year with $62,529 and has raised another $87,000 since Jan. 1.
He also addressed Illinois’ tax burden, quoting Ronald Reagan and stating Illinois needs a governor who “understands those day-to-day challenges that we all face” and who will “stand up to the entrenched special interest groups that have done so much damage to our state.”
While Schimpf tied himself to popular Republican icon Reagan, Illinois Democrats quickly sought to tie Schimpf to Trump and Rauner, a one-term governor who presided over a two-year budget impasse that saw the state’s backlog of unpaid bills balloon to over $16 billion. […]
“Schimpf was a consistent vote for Bruce Rauner’s catastrophic agenda, even going along with his attempts to continue the historic budget crisis that resulted in Illinois going 736 days without a budget,” [Mary Morrissey, executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois] said. “He supported Donald Trump’s re-election, even after the former President failed at his central task of keeping Americans safe by lying about the dangers of the coronavirus and instead promoting conspiracy theories.”
Schimpf’s biography touted his vote against the compromise budget that raised the state’s flat income tax and ended the two-year budget impasse in 2017.
Kristina Zahorik, president of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association, in a statement, said Schimpf built a facade of being pro-labor and moderate.
“When given the opportunity to prove that during his short time in the Illinois Senate, he opposed key labor issues like supporting increasing the minimum wage,” Zahorik said. “He also consistently voted to extend the (Gov. Bruce) Rauner budget crisis that crippled our state.
“We rejected Bruce Rauner and we’ll reject Paul Schimpf.”
Early in @GovPritzker's new term in office, state senator Paul Schimpf vowed to disagree "as friends and fellow problem solvers."
Today, Schimpf launched his bid for governor and attacked Pritzker for "going it alone" without the legislature in the fight against the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/lN61roQnay
He also had a bit of trouble answering a question yesterday about how he would’ve handled the state’s COVID-19 response differently than Pritzker, saying he’d have wanted more legislative oversight (yeah, all governors want that) and then saying he didn’t have enough time to fully answer the question, which I think was only the third question.
On Feb. 15, 2021, at approximately 11:46 a.m. Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash on Interstate 55 northbound near Illinois Route 30 in Will County, involving an ISP Trooper.
On the above date an ISP Trooper responded to a traffic crash that occurred near the above location. The Trooper pulled behind the wrecked vehicles in the left lane and had the emergency lights activated in order to assist with directing traffic to the right. At approximately 11:46 a.m., while the Trooper was in his squad car, a 2010 black Cadillac crashed into the rear of the Trooper’s squad car causing injury to the Trooper. The Trooper was airlifted to a local area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Cadillac, 20-year-old Angel M. Casillas from Joliet, IL was also transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The vehicles from the initial crash were not involved.
This crash marks the sixth ISP Scott’s Law related crash year-to-date in 2021 and the second in two days. Interstate 55 at IL Route 30 was closed until approximately 3:45 p.m. for the traffic crash investigation. As soon as information becomes available, we will be sure to provide an update.
On Feb. 16. 2021, at approximately 8:15 a.m. Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle personal injury traffic crash on Interstate 80 eastbound over Interstate 55 in Will County, involving a District 5 ISP Trooper.
On the above date, a District 5 Trooper was on Interstate 80 over Interstate 55 at the scene of a motor vehicle crash. The Trooper was inside of the stationary squad car, positioned behind the crash scene in the right lane with the emergency lights activated. The driver of a Gold Chevrolet, traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 approaching the Trooper’s location, lost control of the vehicle causing the Chevrolet to spin. The rear end of the Chevrolet crashed into the rear end of the squad car.
The Trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local area hospital for treatment; the Trooper has since been released. The driver of the Chevrolet, Michael J. Ryan, a 43-year-old male of Joliet, IL did not sustain any injuries. Ryan was cited for a violation of Scott’s Law, Driving Too Fast for Conditions/Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.
The ISP would like to urge the public to obey the requirements of Scott’s Law, otherwise known as the “Move Over” law. When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down and change lanes when it is safe to do so. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.
“This is the second crash, in less than twenty-four hours, that has resulted in a Trooper being injured and it is unacceptable,” stated Interim District 5 Commander, Lieutenant David Keltner. “When roadway conditions are unfavorable, our Troopers remain on the roadways to assist motorists who need help; I am pleading with everyone to pay attention while you drive, move over for them, and slow down on our roadways so these men and women make it home to their families,” added Lieutenant Keltner.
While the House Republicans made some decent points last week when arguing against the chamber’s new rules, they all but dismissed some pretty darned historic changes.
For years, decades even, the House Republicans have argued for leadership term limits. House Speaker Michael Madigan rebuffed them at every single turn. Heck, Madigan retaliated against members of his own party who dared broach the subject.
Remember in 2018 when labor union leaders loyal to Madigan revolted against then-Senate President John Cullerton when he aired TV ads for four suburban candidates who argued for leader term limits, including limits on the House Speaker? Cullerton was threatened so strongly with financial retribution that he had to pull down the ads and agree not to ever do that again.
The Senate Democrats have been all but completely shut out of the significant postage discount provided by Madigan’s Democratic Party of Illinois the last couple of election cycles because their mailers often referenced their candidates’ support for leader term limits (without even mentioning Madigan). That DPI rebuke has cost the SDems a small fortune.
The new rule for leader term limits is, therefore, big. And, yes, a chamber’s rules can be fairly easily changed, but it’s a start and a constitutional change couldn’t take effect until 2023 at the earliest anyway.
The new rules also mean House committees will be allowed to meet virtually as long as the House isn’t in session. That’s a good step during the pandemic, but I’m not sure it’s something they should be doing after this nightmare is finally over.
The Republicans have demanded a rule requiring up or down committee votes on all bills. Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) made a hypothetical argument during debate that a bill could be co-sponsored by every member of a committee and still not get a vote. But such a thing is unheard of in the real world. And if a bill did reach even close to such a milestone and didn’t get a hearing, it would likely be because the co-sponsors only signed on for a press pop and had no intention of ever moving it.
The demand is also a clear and open invitation to parliamentary mischief. Republicans could easily flood the zone with bills and bog down every single committee in perpetuity. They did it many years ago and paralyzed the House with hundreds of floor amendments, before those rules were tightened up.
Not to mention the national upheaval’s impact on the state. Two weeks ago, Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) called the governor’s pandemic-related executive orders and emergency rules “COVID fascism,” according to WCIA-TV’s Mark Maxwell. Last month, the FBI warned that “Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols,” so Gov. Pritzker, like many others, called in the National Guard. Last week, Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) called the governor’s response “a political agenda.”
Most Republican legislators here are not that far “out there,” but empowering folks who say things like that just ain’t going to be very high on the Democrats’ agenda. Those characters could be ignored or even laughed at before the violent Jan. 6 insurrection. No longer.
All that being said, the Republicans made decent points about the use of shelled-out bills as vehicles for last-minute legislation, or for requiring more time to review important legislation before it can be passed. But Majority Leader Greg Harris was unapologetic, saying if using these parliamentary maneuvers helped pass bills that he and his caucus strongly supports, then so be it.
But Leader Harris did say that the working group in charge of rule changes would continue to meet at the request of Republicans. The vote, he said, was only a first step. He said items like notice for consideration of legislation, selection of committee chairs, debate times and other items would be up for consideration. We’ll see if that ever happens.
After the debate, Harris gave me a copy of my Capitol Fax newsletter from 20 years ago which was published the day after a similarly contentious floor debate on the House rules. The biggest difference between then and now, though, is that some rank-and file House Democrats, including some anti-Madigan folks like Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), were allowed input on the new rules and spoke in favor of the resolution’s passage. That would’ve been completely out of the question in 2001.
So, while the Republicans, reform advocates, newspaper editorial boards and even I aren’t totally pleased, there was progress. And that’s not the norm. Keep at it.
Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, the last Republican to win statewide office in Illinois, in 2014, said Mr. Kinzinger could find himself a casualty of the bitter schism dividing the party. “The only winners in the war between Trump and Republicans will be Democrats,” Mr. Rauner said. “For some voters, character matters. For most, it doesn’t.”
