* They weren’t the only ones to complain that the ethics bill doesn’t do enough. Most probably believe that. They were, however, the only ones to vote “No.” So, I suppose they get points for consistency, but it might not be so easy to explain back home why they voted against some of the bill’s individual provisions…
Among other things, they voted against a statewide ban on fundraisers during session and the day before and the day after scheduled session dates.
* The funniest part, though, is that right after the ethics bill vote, Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) rose on the floor to publicly thank the lobbyist who had bought pizzas for the chamber. Yes, you read that right.
Timing is everything, I suppose.
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* House Majority Leader Greg Harris laid out the case for this budget proposal at a House Executive Committee hearing today. The governor, he rightly noted, wanted to cut money going into the Local Government Distributive Fund, but that was “left alone” in this budget, as well as transit funding. The state’s bill backlog, he noted, is now just $3.2 billion.
Harris also said…
We have tried to use that FY 21 money in some very strategic ways to enhance our FY 22 budget. Things like making a prepaid deposit to make one large Medicaid payment a month in advance, which would allow us to capture an additional share of the federal enhanced Medicaid model before it expires.
Harris said the budget pays down $2 billion of debt, “and we repay our interfund borrowing.”
* As far as the federal ARPA money goes, Harris said the state is “spending some of that money in early summer,” on things like violence prevention, after-school programming, youth programming, mental health, substance abuse, “things sorely needed in our communities.”
He said legislators will work through the summer to develop a “very targeted and strategic approach” for the balance of the federal money.
Capitol News Illinois…
It also calls for spending about $7.5 billion in state general revenues on Medicaid, plus another $7.4 billion for other human services; $1.9 billion for higher education; another $1.9 billion for public safety; and $1.4 billion for general services.
In addition to those regular items, Harris said, the plan calls for spending about $2.5 billion of the ARPA money Illinois expects to receive. Of that, $1.5 billion would go for things like economic recovery programs to help businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, public health, affordable housing and violence prevention programs like after-school activities, and summer youth employment.
Another $1 billion of the ARPA funds would be directed into the ongoing Rebuild Illinois capital improvements program to accelerate some of the projects slated for construction.
There’s more, but you get the idea.
* Harris also said this…
There are no tax increases in this budget
* The Illinois Chamber thinks otherwise…
Despite impressive out performance of tax revenue growth and $8.1B of federal assistance, the Democrats’ budget still punishes Illinois employers with higher taxes in order to “balance” a bloated state spending plan. We see no meaningful restraint in states spending, only more proposals that force employers to pay higher taxes or decide whether or not to continue their investment in Illinois.
The so-called “loophole” closures are nothing more than tax increases on employers that target, in particular, the manufacturing sector which has lost 50,000 jobs in the last two years. These changes make the Illinois tax code go further outside of the mainstream of state tax policy. Job creators will undoubtedly react negatively.
These tax increases, when combined with extraordinarily punitive changes to our civil liability system, increased regulation, and a potential labor drafted rewrite to the Illinois Constitution, makes the 102nd General Assembly the worst for job creation in a generation.
* Dot points from the governor’s office about what loopholes were closed…
• Cap Corporate NOL Deductions at $100,000 Per Year For the Next 3 Years (~$314M)
When a company suffers a net operating loss (NOL) in a given year, it can carry forward the NOL to future years and deduct it from otherwise taxable income. Capping the amount of NOL deductions to $100,000 will impact the wealthiest businesses, and will add $314 million in corporate income tax revenues, as well as $21 million in local taxes.
• Align Domestic & Foreign-Source Dividend Deduction (~$107M)
Under the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA), corporations are allowed to deduct foreign-source dividends at 100% and global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) at 50%. Aligning the tax treatment of dividends from foreign sources and GILTI to the treatment of domestic dividends will primarily impact large, multi-national corporations with foreign subsidiaries or substantial ownership interests in foreign corporations. This alignment will produce $107 million in corporate income tax revenues for the state and $7 million for local governments.
• Roll Back Trumps’ Tax Cut & Jobs Act 100% Accelerated Depreciation Deduction (~$214M)
The TCJA allows businesses to take a 100% depreciation deduction in the year of purchase for various qualifying assets. By applying the standard depreciation schedule, the state will generate $214 million in business income tax revenues and $14 million for local governments.
• Freeze Phase Out of Corporate Franchise Tax (~$20M)
Public Act 101-0009 was enacted in 2019 and began the gradual phase out of the Corporate Franchise Tax (scheduled to be fully repealed in 2024). The budget freezes the phase out of the repeal by eliminating the first $1,000 in Corporate Franchise Tax currently in place. This change will eliminate the tax burden for the smallest businesses while allowing our state to retain approximately $20 million in revenue.
That’s significantly less than the $900+ million Pritzker proposed. Biodiesel, retailers’ discount, tax credit for private schools and the Blue Collar Jobs Act were all preserved. Adding: The Manufacturers Purchase Credit was also saved
…Adding… Illinois Municipal League…
“The Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) serves as a financial foundation for cities, villages and towns across the state and is crucial to keeping local tax burdens as low as possible. When these dollars are reduced, local leaders are forced to make difficult decisions, which include cuts to critical services or increasing taxes and fees to ensure municipal budgets stay balanced.
“We commend Governor JB Pritzker, legislative leaders and state lawmakers for not enacting further cuts to LGDF and increasing state and local revenues by adopting various changes to the state’s tax code.
“Communities need this funding as we recover from the pandemic and economic collapse, due to public demand for even more community programs and services, said Brad Cole, IML Executive Director.
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* House committee hearing on the new budget…
Transcript…
House Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer: We talked about the $1 billion capital [program], the ARPA dollars going to capital projects. How are those capital projects chosen?
House Majority Leader Greg Harris: Through the normal process by which all capital projects are chosen.
Demmer: What is that process?
Harris: The members make requests and departments make requests and they are fulfilled within an order depending on the category. For instance, IDOT has a five-year plan. Members might have a request, but they have a first, second and third priority and as funds are available they would be funded.
Demmer: Do you know if any requests came from Republicans for those projects?
Harris: Not off the top of my head, no.
Demmer: So, we have a billion dollars of new capital projects that have been available, but it appears that it was only known that those projects were available or eligible for requests from Senate Democratic and House Democratic caucuses?
Harris: Certainly would be happy to come talk.
* Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police press release excerpt…
The trailer bill to the SAFE-T Act, filed and released today on the last day of the spring legislative session, addresses many of our most egregious concerns in the law.
Therefore, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police supports the trailer bill, HB 3443 SA 5, while acknowledging a concern that the unresolved issues be addressed in a timely manner in the months to come. As a reminder to our members, in January 2021 we strongly opposed the original law, HB 3653 and urged Governor Pritzker to veto it. But he signed it on February 22, 2021, and ever since, we have been in negotiations with the sponsors, Senator Elgie Sims and Representative Justin Slaughter, on a trailer bill. Those negotiations intensified in the last three weeks. We asked the sponsors for an ability to fix language that was either ambiguous or impractical to implement, and we communicated with ILACP members regularly about our desired changes. The trailer bill language addresses most of those concerns and makes training and implementation much easier moving forward.
What the group claims are improvements…
• Body cameras
o Removes the provision that said an officer cannot view his or own video before writing a report.
o Removes the provision that makes it a felony to violate department policy on body cameras.
o Improves the language (in our favor) about what would be a felony for violation of state law regard to use of body cameras. Must be intentional, willing, and a clear attempt to obstruct justice. Eliminates a felony offense for inadvertent mistakes or problems with cameras.
o Clarifies that law enforcement agencies that are in universities, park districts, conversation districts, forest preserves, railroads, etc. (any agencies that are not municipal or county) have a mandatory date of January 1, 2025, for implementation of body cameras.
• Use of force
o Removes the ambiguous language about letting someone flee if they can be apprehended at a later date. The “apprehended later” idea was reinserted in a different place in the trailer bill, but in a different way that initially seems more palatable. We are continuing to review and discuss this.
o Addresses the concern that it was unclear what an “imminent threat” might be when it comes to using deadly force, and removes the undefined idea that a serious crime must have “just” been committed. The word “just” has been removed from the law.
• Chokeholds and tasers: Addresses the definition of chokeholds and removes the provision that says you cannot target the back with a taser.
• Most new training requirements: Now effective January 1, 2022, instead of July 1, 2021
• Obstructing and resisting officers: Clarifies that you can arrest someone for obstructing without an underlying offense. Separates resisting from obstructing.
I may update this post.
*** UPDATE *** From the BIMP…
To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Coronavirus Vaccine Incentive Public Health Promotion authorized by this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly in Section 21.14 of the Illinois Lottery Law and Section 2310-628 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law, emergency rules implementing the public health promotion may be adopted by the Department of the Lottery and the Department of Public Health in accordance with Section 5-45.
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Unclear on the concept
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Their argument only works if you believe Exelon got a reasonable, fact-based deal in 2016…
Using those 2016 numbers is also like a car salesperson making a pitch about the monthly payment amount instead of the auto’s actual price.
You may recall these folks from the Mel-O-Cream stand they set up outside the Statehouse.
They also claim they’re faxing the governor’s chief negotiator, who is in Springfield this week. But I’m told the governor’s office doesn’t have a Springfield fax machine.
Meanwhile, some progress is being made on the energy bill. It’s not soup yet, though.
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Today’s remap quotable
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
When the State Legislative Redistricting map was released late Thursday, one thing was unfortunately and immediately clear, the highly concentrated Arab- American and Muslim community in Southwest Suburban Cook County was divided into 4 districts, creating a map that does not even remotely represent one of the largest Arab-American and Muslim communities in the nation.
Retired Judge William Haddad, who Chairs the MENA Independent Government Advisory Council Says,“Our elected officials say they have a keen awareness for diversity, inclusion, and equal representation but what we see with this map is status quo gerrymandering. The Arab-American and Muslim Community in Southwest Suburban Cook County deserve a district but have once again been left behind.”
They make a good point.
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* Sponsor’s dot-points about the proposed gaming bill…
SPORTS BETTING
• Allows Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky basketball team, to qualify as a sports betting venue
o Initial license fee of 5 percent of AGR, not to exceed $10 million
o Valid for four years – could be renewed for four years with a $1 million renewal fee to the Gaming Board
o Current law allows seven master sports betting licenses, and no facilities have been awarded licenses to date by the Gaming Board
• Allows bets on Illinois college teams (not individual performances). Bets can only be placed in person, and this has a two-year sunset provision
HORSE RACING
• Allows stallions owned by non-Illinois breeders to bring their stallions to Illinois to breed with Illinois mares, and allows those foals to qualify for the Illinois Conceived and Foaled racing program.
• Removes the requirements that the stallion owners under the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund (the fund used to pay purses for the Illinois Conceived and Foaled program) must be Illinois residents.
• Adds a provision providing that while a non-Illinois based stallion involved in the program shall stand for service at and within Illinois at the time of a foal’s conception, semen from such a stallion may be transported outside of Illinois.
o Permanently removes provisions requiring that a mare must be inseminated in Illinois in order for the offspring to be eligible for the program and that semen from an Illinois stallion may be transported outside of Illinois. Current law provides that these provisions are temporarily suspended from 2018 until 2022.
• Provides that the Racing Board can grant a racino license in southern Cook County at any of its meetings and can reject applications that don’t conform to established procedures.
o The Board can consider amended applications – applicants would have current and future rights of existing Illinois racetracks when the license is granted
GAMING BOARD
• Creates a single renewal date for all casino, video and sports wagering licenses, and allows multi-year licenses across all gaming disciplines
o Changes the duration of the sports wagering supplier license from an annual term to a 4 year term to align the sports wagering supplier license with the casino supplier licensure term of 4 years;
o Allows entities holding several licenses across casino, video and sports wagering with different renewal dates to merge these dates into a single renewal date for all of the respective licenses. This would reduce considerable, duplicative work done by the Gaming Board’s (IGB) Licensing, Legal, Finance, Audit and Investigation units and eliminate similar redundancies for IGB licensees submitting multiple renewal applications; and
o Allows multi-year licenses across all gambling disciplines. This would eliminate the current requirement under the Video Gaming Act for annual license renewals. Initially, all video licenses would be issued for one year, and renewals would be for four years. This change would make the license periods for video gaming terminal operators, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers mirror the periods for casino licenses issued under the Illinois Gambling Act.
• Creates a sales agent and broker license in video gaming, with various requirements
CASINOS
• Provides that licensed casino and racino employees also can work in sports betting positions at the same facility
• Requires casino licenses to have fully executed labor peace agreements
• Changes state taxation of the Casino Queen in the Metro East to its modified AGR, with stipulations
VIDEO GAMING
• Limits home rule communities to a fee of no more than $250 per video gaming machine
• Prohibits communities from imposing a “push tax” on video gaming
• Allows qualified fraternal and veterans organizations deriving charters from national organizations to apply for video gaming licenses in communities or counties where video gaming is banned (excluding Cook County and Chicago)
Remember, it’s just a bill. Things can change, things can die.
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*** UPDATED x2 *** Ethics reform bill filed
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* If you’re watching our “cheat sheet” post, you know that House Amendment 2 to SB539 was just filed. That’s the new ethics language. Click here to read it and I’ll go through it with you in a bit.
…Adding… OK, let’s start with this…
No legislator or executive branch constitutional officer shall engage in compensated lobbying of the governing body of a municipality, county, or township, or an official thereof, on behalf of any lobbyist or lobbying entity that is registered to lobby the General Assembly or the executive branch of the State of Illinois.
Same applies to county, municipality and township electeds and appointeds.
From the provided dot points…
Prohibits State officials, including legislators, and officials of counties, municipalities, and townships from lobbying for compensation on behalf of a lobbyist or lobbying entity registered to lobby their unit of government. Violation of the prohibition is Class A misdemeanor. It excludes communications: (a) within the scope of the officials public duties; (2) by an attorney in connection with the practice of law or in the course of representing a client in any judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative proceeding; and (3) by legislators in the ordinary course of employment where primary purpose of employment is not to influence government action.
* More…
No person who is appointed to an affected office shall: (i) serve as an officer of a candidate political committee; or (ii) be a candidate who is designated as the candidate to be supported by a candidate political committee.
There’s a provision for a new limited activity campaign committee that was previously floated by the Senate Dems. From the dot points…
Requires that any individual whose appointment to any executive agency, board, or commission is subject to Senate confirmation and controls a political committee must institute a freeze on funds going into or out of the committee immediately upon being named as an appointee. Creates a new kind of committee, “limited activity committee,” for those individuals. A limited activity committee may not accept contributions, except for personal funds in order to pay for maintenance expenses.
* Economic interest statements…
The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse or any other party, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement.
It goes on to mandate reporting of certain things, including “the name of each unit of government of which the
filer or his or her spouse was an employee, contractor, or office holder during the preceding calendar year” along with…
each person known to the filer to be registered as a lobbyist with any unit of government in the State of Illinois: (i) with whom the filer maintains an economic 14 relationship, or (ii) who is a member of the filer’s family.
To be clear, I’m skipping through this and not including some things, so if you have any questions, search the bill before asking why you didn’t see such-and-such in this quickie take.
* No legislative or executive branch campaign fundraisers are allowed anywhere on session days (previously only banned in Sangamon County) and the day before the legislature is in session.
* The state has no revolving door law for the executive branch or legislators. The proposal would impose a 6-month waiting period. Republicans had demanded 12 months. [Adding from a pal: It’s 6 months or until the end of their term, whichever is shorter unless they finish their term in which case they can lobby the next day.]
* Executive inspectors general can now initiate investigations without prior approval of the Executive Ethics Commission based on complaints, but only within one year of the alleged violation.
* The Legislative Ethics Commission is prohibited from proposing or enforcing rules mandating that the Legislative Inspector General must receive prior approval from the Commission before initiating an investigation.
* Legislators who resign or retire during their terms will not be paid a salary for the full month. Instead it’ll be pro-rated. Right now, a member can resign on the first of the month and get a pensionable check for the entire month. This starts with the next General Assembly, of course. It’s not legal to reduce or increase legislative compensation during their terms.
* Provided dot points on lobbying reforms…
Local Lobbyist Registration: Requires persons who undertake to lobby officials of counties, municipalities, and townships to register with the Secretary of State and submit expenditure disclosures like lobbyists at the State level.
Lobbying Definition: Expands the definition of “lobbying” to include soliciting other to make communications.
Consultant Disclosure: Requires lobbyists and lobbying entities to disclose persons or entities they hire to provide advisory services such as strategy development or guidance on lobbying or influencing. Excludes (i) employees of the lobbyist or lobbying entity and (ii) attorneys providing legal services, such as drafting and rendering legal opinions on the effect of government action.
Lobbyist Training: Requires ethics and sexual harassment training to be completed by lobbyists prior to their registration being considered complete, rather than within 30 days of registration.
Lobbying Preemption: Allows Chicago to continue to enforce its ordinances related to restrictions on lobbying.
That consultant disclosure is a good first step. They’re becoming all too common.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The bill has been amended to include a provision allowing campaign expenditures for child and elder care that the Senate has already passed.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Senate Republicans and Democrats held a joint press conference to talk up the ethics bill this afternoon. That’s not a common occurrence in these parts.
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* There’s been some head-scratching about the Senate Executive Appointments Committee’s refusal to take up the nominations of Omer Osman to run IDOT, Mark Smith to head DCFS and Rob Jeffreys to direct IDOC. Their nominations have languished forever, but the Senate didn’t seem too concerned about it, even though these are the top three Black men nominated by the governor to run important agencies.
Finally, all three were favorably reported to the Senate floor during a committee hearing this morning.
* Despite Senate Republican pressure, however, the committee did not take up Pritzker’s nominations for the Prisoner Review Board. From the Senate GOP…
“The Senate Executive Appointments Committee’s continued lack of transparency on the Prisoner Review Board appointments is unacceptable. Our caucus is frustrated and disappointed that the Chair chose not to call Gov. Pritzker’s ten pending PRB appointees, that, just days ago, the Senate voted unanimously to waive their posting notice requirements so they could be heard in today’s committee. Ten unconfirmed people, four of whom have had their appointments pulled and then reappointed the next day, are making decisions on whether to release violent felons back into the community.
“Nearly three-fourths of the current acting PRB members are making serious, life-altering, and potentially dangerous decisions without even the basic transparency of a hearing. Gov. Pritzker may be comfortable ruling the state by executive order, but the Illinois Senate Republicans will not accept his attempts at directing them to abdicate their constitutional legislative responsibility.
“The Caucus will continue to fight for the public’s right to hear these appointees and they will not be silenced by political threats or ploys.”
Background is here and here if you need it.
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Pass The Omnibus Energy Bill And Let’s Make History!
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Passing the omnibus energy legislation creates thousands of jobs and puts Illinois on a path to 100% clean energy. Specifically, this history making legislation:
• Expands and fully funds the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 40% by 2030
• Creates thousands of jobs
• Locks in $1.2 billion in savings for Illinois ratepayers
• Establishes the most progressive labor and equity standards for renewable energy in the nation
• Ensures RPS goals are met with combination of utility scale, rooftop and community solar
• Helps businesses, nonprofits and schools to help offset their electricity bills with expanded rooftop and community solar
• Establishes a policy framework for energy storage expansion
• Builds out electric vehicle infrastructure and helps to create an EV ecosystem
• Ends formula rates
• Creates job training and workforce development programs to ensure clean energy workforce reflects the diversity of our State
• Establishes a Climate Bank through the IFA to provide low interest loans and creates seed capital program through DCEO to help establish minority-owned businesses
The time for talk is over. Now it’s time to vote. Pass the Omnibus Energy Bill and create a prosperous clean and renewable energy future for all of Illinois. For more information, visit www.pathto100.net.
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* Remember that this is a holiday weekend, so numbers for cases and deaths have historically been on the low side because people aren’t being tested or aren’t in their offices to do the reporting…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 521 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 33 additional deaths. In addition, more than 67% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 50% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cook County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 50s, 3 males 50s, 2 females 60s, 7 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
DuPage County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
Kane County: 1 male 70s
Lake County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,382,186 cases, including 22,827 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 25,692 specimens for a total of 24,616,087. As of last night, 1,093 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 294 patients were in the ICU and 167 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 24-30, 2021 is 1.6%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from May 24-30, 2021 is 2.0%.
A total of 11,291,906 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 50,162 doses. Yesterday, 22,255 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in-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.
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May 31, 2021 cheat sheet
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* These have been popular posts in the past, so let’s do it again. If you catch any additions, updates or see any errors, please let me know in comments or text me if you have my number. I will update this when I can. Lots going on, so be patient with me, please.
Let’s start with packages and bills that do not yet have a firmly identified vehicle…
* Energy package
* Parental notification repeal
* No previously identified vehicle bills are awaiting amendments.
* Amendments filed to vehicles and awaiting action…
* HB 900 - Capital reappropriation (SA1 filed) *** SA2 FILED ***
* Bills awaiting action in the Senate…
* SB 521 - Gaming items *** (HAs 1, 3, and 4 adopted) ***
* Bills awaiting action in the House…
* HB 562 - FOID (SA1 adopted)
* HB 2567 – University procurement (SA2 adopted)
* HB 2643 - Unemployment Insurance
* SA2 to HB 550 - Legislative COLA suspension
* “Passed Both Houses”…
* HB 2908 - Elected school board compromise
* SB 166 – Social Equity pillar trailer (HA2 adopted)
* HB 3743 - Telecom sunset extension
* HB 806 - Licensing Omnibus (SA2 adopted)
* HB 2621 - Affordable Housing package (SAs 1, 3, 4 adopted)
* SB 2294 – Medicaid Working Group package (HAs 1, 2, 3 adopted)
* SB 508 – Property tax package (HAs 2, 5 adopted)
* SB 825 – Elections omnibus (HA1 and HA2 adopted)
* HB 3443 – Criminal justice pillar trailer (SA5 adopted) *** REP. HARPER MOVES TO RECONSIDER ***
* HB 3308 – Telehealth
* HB 2620 – Liquor omnibus (SAs 1, 2, 4, 5 adopted.)
* SB 539 – Ethics omnibus (HA2 adopted)
* SB 2800 – Budget (HA1 FILED) *** HA2 and HA3 ADOPTED***
* HB3743 - Telecom sunset extension (SAs 1, 2 adopted)
* BIMP
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* I told subscribers about this on Saturday. The Politico story is a bit convoluted, but it’s so far the only other outlet to have covered this exceedingly rare if not unprecedented move, so here you go…
A big shift in Democratic leadership was announced Saturday. Rep. LaToya Greenwood of East St. Louis takes over for Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana as House majority conference chair.
The move, which drew praise from Democratic moderates, came after an apparent power grab on the House floor.
Rep. Delia Ramirez was taking her turn presiding as speaker when Rep. Terra Costa Howard’s bill on handling “unfounded” DCFS reports came up. Ramirez said she needed a break and stepped aside, allowing Ammons to take the gavel — a position that requires neutrality toward lawmakers and legislation.
Ammons opposed the DCFS bill and tapped Rep. Mary Flowers, a fellow Democrat critical of the measure, to question Costa-Howard. Onlookers said Flowers was abusive and that Ammons allowed her to go on too long.
Lawmakers said Ammons misused the podium and that the whole episode looked choreographed, though Flowers says it wasn’t.
Rep. Rita Mayfield also made a move to reconsider the vote before that was withdrawn. The bill passed.
In announcing Ammons’ exit, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said, “I am grateful for the work she has done” and that he’s “happy” to have Greenwood on board.
As subscribers know, there’s more to it than that, but a member of leadership getting the boot with just a few days left in session is pretty big news.
* This morning…
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Open thread
Monday, May 31, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Clifford is a fine young man…
Anything on your mind right now?
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* House Floor Amendment 1 to SB2800. Click here.
…Adding… A few more…
* Sen. David Koehler’s FOID bill: SAM1 to HB562
* Rep. Sonya Harper’s trailer bill for the new equity law: HAM2 to SB166
* Rep. Robert Rita’s gaming bill: HAM1 to SB521
I’ll have more for subscribers in the morning, including a summary of the new elections bill.
*** UPDATE *** This is from that Rita bill…
…Adding… Press release…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, representing community providers of services and programs for thousands of Illinoisans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, today issued the following statement as lawmakers prepare to vote on a Fiscal Year 2022 state budget and adjourn the spring legislative session:
“Our mantra this spring has been clear: we must do better on funding I/DD services in Illinois. The proposed state budget legislators have put together does not meet that standard.
A federal decree requires Illinois to do better, by providing better funding for services, staff wages, and reducing wait lists for services. The Guidehouse rate study commissioned by the Department of Human Services and released late last year made clear it will take a significant investment starting this coming fiscal year to make real progress.
The Governor’s proposed funding increase of $122 million – the amount that is included in the budget being considered today – is simply not nearly enough to meet the tremendous needs of the people we serve. This budget does not:
• Fully fund the rate study, nor an agreement among our service providers and the labor unions representing their workers to increase state support
• Support 28,000 individuals currently receiving services and more than 17,000 on the state waiting list for services
• Fully fund a single priority in the rate study, including wage increases for staff. In Chicago, frontline staff will barely make above the city’s increased minimum wage
• Spend a dime of the state’s $8 billion in federal relief funds on I/DD services and supports
Other critical, core government services and programs are receiving large budget increases and amounts, including K-12 education, hospitals and nursing homes. But this budget ignores the stark reality that Illinois ranks 47th in spending on disability services.
Our ask today is simple: amend the proposed state budget to provide a full $193 million to fully fund the rate study starting Jan. 1, 2022. We must do better, before it’s too late.”
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
With just one full day left in session, Gov. Pritzker indicated that decarbonizing our power sector is central to a comprehensive clean energy bill and he would not allow ratepayers to underwrite Exelon’s profits. He wrote:
“As we try to find an agreed solution, there is another part of the legislation that will not only make agreement with Exelon easier to reach but will provide essential overall benefits. Nearly 50 legislators highlighted in a recent letter the critical importance of decarbonizing our power sector, including an end to fossil fuels in the next two decades. I agree with them. A key step to reducing the effects of carbon and transitioning to a clean energy economy is to require polluting power plants to help pay for clean energy … This step will help Exelon’s zero emission fleet be more competitive in the market and help pay for clean energy jobs programs.”
Learn more about equity-centered climate legislation at ilcleanjobs.org.
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* Jennifer Smith Richards at the Chicago Tribune and Jodi S. Cohen at ProPublica…
Illinois lawmakers took sweeping action Sunday to limit the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, following through on promises made after a 2019 ProPublica-Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that school workers had regularly misused the practices to punish students.
The House voted unanimously to pass legislation barring school workers from locking children alone in seclusion spaces and limiting the use of any type of isolated timeout or physical restraint to when there’s “imminent danger of physical harm.” The legislation requires schools that receive state funding to make a plan to reduce — and eventually eliminate — the practices over the next three years. Schools that develop plans more quickly can receive priority for new grant funding for staff training.
A main feature of the legislation — and the element that proved most contentious among lawmakers over the past 18 months — is an immediate ban on schools’ use of prone, or face-down, restraint for most students. Restraining a student that way would be permitted only for children whose special-education plans specifically allow it as an emergency measure and only until the end of the 2021-22 school year, granting schools more time to phase out the practice than some legislators and advocates sought.
* ACLU of Illinois…
The passage of House Bill 219 is a huge win for students across the State of Illinois. The measure was advanced after media reports indicated that schools regularly used restraint and seclusion practices. More alarming, these harmful practices were used most often against youth of color and youth with disabilities.
It is worth noting the cruelty of some of these practices. Many of the prone restraints authorized by schools were tantamount to the use of deadly force. And we know the devastating psychological impact on students from being secluded. These practices simply cannot be permitted in our schools, and this bill makes that clear. Thanks to passage of this measure, Illinois joins the majority of states across the country in banning these cruel, unnecessary measures.
We thank Senator Gillespie and Representative Carroll for their leadership and commitment to seeing this wrong righted.
We look forward to seeing this measure signed into law by the Governor, and to the future benefit that will flow to students all across our state.
* Sen. Ann Gillespie…
“This legislation protects all students, particularly the most vulnerable, from these harmful practices,” Gillespie said. “I am grateful to all our partners that put in years-long work to keep students safe.”
Current law allows school staff to isolate a student if they pose a danger to themselves or others. However, a Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois investigation revealed that isolation rooms are often used as a punishment for refusing to do classwork, swearing and other behavior that does not pose a threat to safety.
Senator Gillespie’s measure would prohibit a school employee or contractor from secluding children as disciplinary action and limits the use of restraint only to instances allowed by the Illinois State Board of Education. The legislation also establishes priority access to grant funding for schools that reduce or eliminate the use of prone restraint and isolated time out in less than three years.
* Rep. Carroll…
After reading the media stories and reliving the horrors of these practices from when I was a child, we’re now the Governor’s signature away from ending these horrible practices. This took 18 months, but everyone who was a part of this process should be very proud.
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Caption contest!
Sunday, May 30, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From what I can tell from the live coverage post metrics, readership is still pretty strong, but comments are obviously slow today. It’s Sunday, so that’s understandable. Lots of people read this blog without ever commenting and a number of commenters are either busy at the Statehouse or are off doing holiday weekend things.
So, we’ll see how this post goes. The pic was taken yesterday during the Republican press conference outside the governor’s office demanding that Pritzker veto the remap bill…
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* Just keep in mind that it’s a holiday weekend, so death reporting could be low and testing could be light. But those hospital numbers are extremely encouraging. Vax up!…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 602 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 18 additional deaths. In addition, 67% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 50% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cook County: 1 male 40s, 2 males 60s, 2 females 80s, 3 males 80s
DuPage County: 1 female 90s
Kane County: 1 male 50s, 2 males 70s
McLean County: 1 male 70s
Tazewell County: 1 male 40s
Vermilion County: 1 male 70s
Will County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s
Winnebago County: 1 female 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,381,665 cases, including 22,794 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 38,607 specimens for a total of 24,590,395. As of last night, 1,078 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 298 patients were in the ICU and 163 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 23-29, 2021 is 1.7%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from May 23-29, 2021 is 2.1%.
A total of 11,269,651 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 52,177 doses. Yesterday, 39,222 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in-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.
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* Senate GOP press release on May 26th…
The latest convicted felon released by the Prisoner Review Board is now a fugitive, leaving parole officers searching for the man that murdered a teenager, among other serious crimes. This news comes amid the growing concerns brought forth by Republican members of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee this week regarding a maneuver Governor Pritzker is using to allow his Prisoner Review Board appointees to serve on the board without ever being vetted by the Illinois Senate.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Ray Larsen (Larson), who was released from prison earlier this month—a decision made by the Prisoner Review Board, showed up on state prison records as missing since Monday.
In a joint statement, State Senators Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville), Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), and Steve McClure (R-Springfield) released the following statement:
“Recent developments on Ray Larsen are exactly the reason why we can’t continue to allow individuals on the Prisoner Review Board to make these serious decisions without being properly vetted. We now have a potentially dangerous individual on the loose at the hands of unconfirmed Gov. Pritzker appointees. As members of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee, we again demand that these individuals come before the committee to testify so that they can undergo the proper and constitutionally-required process to ensure it is appropriate for them to continue serving on the Prisoner Review Board.”
* “Recaptured”…
* Um…
Early Friday, authorities found him at a Chicago-area hospital. Chicago police officers, state parole officers and deputy U.S. marshals had been on the lookout for him.
It’s unclear why Larsen was at a hospital or what he’d been doing the past week. A source said he might have been wandering around the city, riding the CTA.
Jason Sweat, an attorney for the prisoner review board, said Larsen was in Chicago police custody Friday night. He said the state will file papers saying he violated his parole, and the board will hold a hearing to decide whether to revoke his parole.
Emphasis added.
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“The problem is Exelon”
Sunday, May 30, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers about this earlier today, but Hannah Meisel at WUIS takes a long and thorough look at the impasse…
With two more days until the scheduled adjournment of the General Assembly’s spring legislative session, negotiations on a high-stakes deal to steer Illinois away from carbon-causing energy sources — as well as a host of other goals from ending controversial formula ratemaking and forcing ethics reforms as a utility-involved corruption investigation looms large — have reached impasse, according to multiple sources engaged in bargaining.
As of Saturday night, parties remain far apart on the linchpin of the deal: how much the state should provide in subsidies for nuclear giant Exelon to prevent the company from the threatened closures of at least two, if not three, of Exelon’s six nuclear power generating stations that are not profitable. Those six locations serve the northern half of Illinois, which contains the majority of the state’s 12.8 million people.
Exelon’s ask from the state has varied, but those close to negotiations say the company has asked for a 10-year plan for subsidies with a credit in the first year that nearly amounts to what Pritzker’s office is offering in total. Exelon on Sunday declined to comment on the parameters of its subsidy ask.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s lead energy negotiator, Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, told Exelon the state’s final offer is $540M in subsidies for three plants over five years. Lawmakers have been briefed on that offer. There are currently no other negotiations scheduled, though that could change.
* Check this out…
But a coalition of labor unions, some of whom represent the more than 2,400 unionized workers at the plants is throwing down a final gauntlet in the waning days before lawmakers’ May 31st adjournment. On Saturday evening, that coalition organized under the Climate Jobs Illinois moniker sent Pritzker a letter after parties were informed negotiations over the nuclear subsidy were at impasse.
But a coalition of labor unions, some of whom represent the more than 2,400 unionized workers at the plants is throwing down a final gauntlet in the waning days before lawmakers’ May 31st adjournment. On Saturday evening, that coalition organized under the Climate Jobs Illinois moniker sent Pritzker a letter after parties were informed negotiations over the nuclear subsidy were at impasse. […]
“The governor’s not the problem,” [Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago)] said. “The problem is Exelon. Exelon is used to getting everything they want. And we want them to get what they need.”
Evans is an Assistant House Majority Leader and began the talks on organized labor’s side, so that’s quite significant.
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What else happened Saturday?
Sunday, May 30, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Legislation prohibiting law enforcement from conducting background checks on those attending public meetings unless they pose a security risk passed the Senate.
“For years, folks were showing up to Chicago Police Board meetings for their civic duty and every citizen who showed up experienced a background check,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago. “That’s a violation of so many people’s rights.”
Peters referenced a 2019 Chicago Tribune report that found law enforcement officials have conducted background checks on those who attended Police Board meetings since at least 2013.
Republican Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said law enforcement who’ve tried to keep people safe now “have to try and prove what their motivation was or what their intent was.”
“I truly do not understand how law enforcement could be prohibited from protecting us by doing simple background checks when someone comes into a meeting,” Bryant said.
Whew.
* Center Square…
Lawmakers are in the process of changing a recent tax credit program for the development of data centers, but some worry the proposed change hijacks the successful program to favor union interests and could drive jobs out of state.
The Data Center Tax Credit Act was enacted with bipartisan support two years ago. The credit has been touted by the governor, Democrats and Republicans alike for attracting billions of dollars of private investment in the state and thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs. […]
The House amendment that passed 65-42 with one voting present clarifies what is considered a data center, including opening it to facilities that operate within five miles from each other, and requires green building certificates for the entities seeking the credit, among other changes.
But another provision was recognized as controversial by amendment sponsor state Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights. He said the proposed change requires entities seeking a credit or seeking renewal of a credit to have a “labor peace agreement” he said would have the employer agreeing to not hinder any attempts for workers to unionize.
“It is not a unionization mandate, but it could lead to that through a fair and open, normal election process,” Walker said. “Employees might well vote to be part of a union …”
But Republicans criticized Walker’s amendment to the Senate bill as changing rules on data centers looking to develop in Illinois mid-stream.
* Another bill…
The Illinois House unanimously passed a bipartisan juvenile justice reform Saturday that outlaws the use of deceptive interrogation techniques on minors.
The measure, contained in amendments to Senate Bill 2122, makes confessions by minors in custody inadmissible if they were obtained by “a law enforcement officer or juvenile officer (that) knowingly engages in deception.”
The bill was introduced in the House by Chicago Democratic Rep. Justin Slaughter and was also sponsored by two Republican former prosecutors, Minority Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, and Rep. Patrick Windhorst, of Metropolis.
“There have been a hundred wrongful convictions in Illinois predicated on false confessions, minors make up 31 of these cases. Research, experience and common sense tell us that minors are between two and three times more likely to falsely confess the crimes they didn’t commit,” Slaughter said.
* Center Square…
A bill providing legal protections for a person who reports a drug overdose is headed to the governor’s desk.
The Illinois Senate Saturday passed “Alex’s Law” by a 40 to 16 vote. The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, said the legislation is about saving lives by ensuring that people who seek emergency assistance for an individual experiencing symptoms of an opioid overdose will not be arrested for any crime related to the use of drugs at the scene.
“If somebody seeks medical attention for someone who is overdosing, it won’t affect their pretrial release or furlough so long as evidence of a violation was acquired as a result,” Ellman said.
The bill was inspired by 25-year-old Alex Green of Naperville who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2018. Green was with others at the time of his overdose, but they dropped him off at a gas station and fled fearing persecution. Officers who arrived on the scene were not able to identify what had happened until it was too late.
* This was a fun debate…
Student athletes at colleges in Illinois could get sponsorship money under a bill advancing at the statehouse in the final days of session.
State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, passed an amendment, 95-18, Saturday to Senate Bill 2338. It must now head to the Senate for concurrence before the end of session May 31.
“It creates the Illinois Student Athletes Endorsement Act,” Buckner said. “Generally, it allows student athletes in Illinois to earn market value competition for the use of their name, image or likeness, or voice, while enrolled in a post secondary education institution.”
The measure also allows them to hire counsel and an agent if they find it necessary.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Elementary school children in all public schools in Illinois would be entitled to at least 30 minutes of unstructured playtime each day under a bill that passed the state House on Saturday.
That’s only half the amount of playtime that the original bill would have required as it passed out of the Senate. The original bill also would have applied to students from kindergarten through eighth grade, but the bill was narrowed as a concession to opponents that included groups representing teachers, principals and administrators.
Even with those changes, Senate Bill 654, which some have dubbed the “right-to-play” bill, cleared the House by the smallest allowable vote total, 60-52.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters and Rep. Aaron Ortiz, both Chicago Democrats who recalled their own time in school without being allowed recess time.
* And yet another press conference…
House and Senate Republicans stood outside the governor’s office Saturday demanding Gov. JB Pritzker veto the maps Democrats passed Friday.
GOP members say Democrats drew their own districts and used flawed data instead of waiting for the 2020 Census data. Of course, Pritzker campaigned on a goal for independent redistricting and told voters he would veto any map made by lawmakers, lobbyists, or staff.
Many groups feel the map doesn’t reflect the diversity of Illinois. Still, the governor is expected to sign the maps anyway.
“It is a rejection really of those people, whether it’s minority groups, good government groups, any of those,” said Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). “It is a rejection of that in favor of one thing and one thing only. And that is partisan advantage for his own party.”
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* Greg Bishop at the Center Square…
The Illinois House was unanimous on a resolution urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reopen the offices of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Those offices around the state have been closed to the public for more than a year.
House Resolution 226 from state Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, calls on IDES to make an immediate public commitment to reopen their public-access public employment offices to provide face-to-face help to Illinois residents. […]
While he supported the measure, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, urged Republicans to support the budget which could increase funding for IDES.
“Some representatives … think this state runs just on air, but it actually takes money, it actually takes revenue and I think that when we negotiate the budget and we have an opportunity to vote to make sure that our state agencies run, I urge you to support the budget and the revenue enhancements to make sure that we’re able to do that, or even closing some loopholes to make sure that it is possible to do exactly what this resolution calls for.”
The measure passed 108-0 with one voting present.
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Rep. Will Davis voted “Present.”
Gov. Pritzker has said IDES is putting together a timeline for reopening the offices.
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Always check for motions
Sunday, May 30, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rachel Hinton at the Sun-Times was the only reporter who wrote about this bill who noticed that a crucial motion had been filed…
In the House, lawmakers held a heated debate on House Bill 1091, one of two bills in the Legislature that’s aimed at making the state’s FOID card system more effective.
Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, sponsored the bill and introduced it in the House. Hirschauer said it would create an option for an electronic FOID card; allow for automatic renewal of the card when one’s concealed carry license is renewed and requires an applicant seeking to get, or renew, a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card to include a full set of their fingerprints to the Illinois State Police, unless the applicant has already done so.
Hirschauer said the bill will help to “keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” like the man who fatally shot five of his co-workers in 2019 at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora. […]
That bill passed 60 to 50, largely along party lines. But, by Saturday night, Rep. Frances Hurley, D-Chicago, had filed a motion to reconsider. As a result, the bill would stay in the House unless, or until, the motion is taken up by members.
Yep.
This is a House bill, so it needs three days of readings in the Senate. That can’t happen before midnight Monday even if the brick is lifted by Rep. Hurley today.
I’ve made this mistake before. It’s maddening and embarrassing. Thank goodness for reporters like Hinton.
…Adding… Literally seconds after this post went live, a story by NPR Illinois’ Hannah Meisel went online…
State Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) recounted his Nov. 2019 arrest after a traffic stop, when Chicago Police detained the Democrat for seven hours for carrying a gun with an out-of-date FOID card.
In reality, Tarver renewed his FOID card two days prior but Chicago Police’s database had not yet ingested the renewal information. Tarver said electronic notifications for FOID card renewal deadlines may have prevented his arrest.
“I get a letter to my home address from 10 years ago, and it becomes an issue,” Tarver said. “I take care of it with the State Police, I still get pulled over because the system’s [are] not caught up with each other, and I’m screwed.”
Tarver asked Hirschauer to commit to getting that passed. […]
However, it’s unclear whether the legislation will make it to the Senate, as after the bill’s narrow approval, State Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago), who voted for the bill and managed members of her own Moderate Caucus within the House, filed a motion to reconsider.
Another fine Statehouse reporter heard from.
* Oops…
* Illinois House sends controversial FOID card bill to Senate
* Mandatory fingerprints for legal gun owners passes to Illinois Senate
* Illinois Lawmakers Advance Bill Requiring Fingerprints For Gun Card Applications
* House passes bill requiring fingerprints for FOID cards, but Senate may make changes
* Illinois House passes proposal requiring fingerprints from gun owners: It now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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