Below are statements from Republican members of Illinois House Redistricting Committee on the Democrats’ continued effort to gerrymander legislative redistricting maps:
“Tonight’s drop of partisan maps is yet another attempt to mislead voters in an effort to block fair elections,” said State Representative Tim Butler (R-Springfield), “after so many promises made by Democrats to have an open and transparent process involving the public. We continue our call upon Governor Pritzker to live up to his pledge to the people of Illinois and veto a map that was drawn by politicians like what we see here today.”
“Releasing new partisan maps late on a Friday night proves that the Mike Madigan playbook continues in the Illinois House,” said State Representative Ryan Spain (R-Peoria). “In a further attempt to skirt any transparency, Democrats dropped partisan maps drawn in a locked room by politicians who hand selected their voters.”
“The Democrats did not listen to the dozens of advocacy groups who have demanded transparency, accurate data, and an open process that takes politicians out of the map making,” said State Representative Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville). “This should not be a partisan process. We have long advocated for an independent commission, but the Democrats have turned their back on that idea.”
“I am, to say the least, dubious of the process and product of the legislative maps presented after 7 p.m. on a Friday night by the supermajority Democratic party,” said State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton). “When Speaker Welch assumed his perch after 50 years of Madigan’s reign, he promised a “New Day” in Illinois. Unfortunately, we’re stuck in Groundhog’s Day with a partisan map, drawn by partisan politicians to protect their partisan advantage. Governor Pritzker has to keep his pledge to VETO this partisan map. This is step one in dealing with inherent, generational corruption that plagues our state, and will continue to unless JB Pritzker keeps his promise to VETO a map drawn by politicians FOR politicians.”
…Adding… House and Senate Democrats…
The Senate and House Redistricting Committees have released a proposed map of new legislative boundaries designed to comply with federal and state law and ensure the broad racial and geographic diversity of Illinois is reflected in the General Assembly.
The proposed map incorporates suggestions gathered during more than 45 public hearings held across the state as legislators sought input on how to best ensure communities across Illinois receive fair and equal representation. The proposal can be viewed at www.ilsenateredistricting.com and www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting. The public is encouraged to provide feedback during additional hearings that will take place next week before a map is voted on by the General Assembly.
“Redistricting is about making sure all voices are heard, and that’s exactly what this map accomplishes. This is a fair map that reflects the great diversity of our state and ensures every person receives equal representation in the General Assembly,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. “I’m grateful to all of the community groups and organizations who engaged in this process in a meaningful way and look forward to continuing those conversations in the coming days.”
“This proposed map amplifies the diverse voices of the people of Illinois, allows communities to be represented by people of their choice and ensures that every person in our state has a say in their government,” said Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, Chairperson of the House Redistricting Committee. “This fair map reflects input from grassroots individuals and community organizations across our state and I’m thankful for every person who took the time to make their voices heard. I look forward to continued engagement as Illinoisans provide feedback to this proposal in additional public hearings.”
Next week, there will be four hearings on the proposed map:
· Tuesday, May 25 at 4:00 PM – Joint House and Senate Hearing
· Tuesday, May 25 at 6:00 PM – House Hearing
· Wednesday, May 26 at 4:00 PM – Joint House and Senate Hearing
· Wednesday, May 26 at 6:00 PM – Senate Hearing
These will be hybrid hearings with the opportunity for in-person and virtual testimony. Details can be found online at www.ilga.gov.
Redistricting occurs every ten years as each state is required to draw new boundaries for legislative districts in response to shifts in population. While the Illinois Constitution does not require the use of U.S. Census data to draft a map, the Constitution does contain a June 30 deadline for the General Assembly to craft a map.
To fulfill this constitutional obligation and prevent the redistricting process from being turned over to a committee of partisan, political appointees, the proposed map was drafted using population information from the American Community Survey’s (ACS) 5-year estimate for 2019, in addition to robust public input. The ACS estimate varies by just 0.3 percent from the state’s official population count released by the U.S. Census Bureau in April.
Top of mind for the Redistricting Committee is conforming to several constitutional and statutory standards, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act prohibits the drawing of redistricting plans that results in the denial or abridgment of the right to vote based on race, color, or membership in a language minority. Building on that federal law, Illinois Democrats spearheaded the passage and implementation of the Illinois Voting Rights Act in 2011, which also ensures redistricting plans are crafted in a way that preserves clusters of minority voters if they are of size or cohesion to exert collective electoral power.
In Illinois, legislative redistricting maps must also meet three requirements: districts must be substantially equal in population, compact and contiguous.
Friday, May 21, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Study Finds Expanding Illinois’ Renewable Energy Program Will
Lower Energy Costs for All Illinois Consumers
• A study by former Illinois Power Agency (IPA) director shows that passing Path to 100 (HB 2640 / SB 1601) will lower energy costs for all ratepayers
• Consumers save more than $1.2 Billion over ten years by fully funding Illinois’ renewable energy program to 40% by 2031
• Path to 100 would create 53,000 new construction jobs
Why more renewables = lower costs:
1. Wind and solar generators have zero fuel costs, so they win wholesale energy auctions and displace more expensive power plants. These savings are passed on to all consumers.
2. Rooftop and community solar reduce peak demand, which reduces the amount of capacity that grid operators need to buy. These savings are passed on to all consumers.
3. Rooftop and community solar customers receive direct savings on their bills.
After months of almost cinematic twists and turns, an overture from a Swiss billionaire and campaigns from journalists for local ownership, shareholders have decided the fate of Tribune Publishing: Hedge fund Alden Global Capital will buy the Chicago Tribune parent for $17.25 per share.
Shareholders voted for the deal this morning in a meeting open only to those who hold stock. The meeting lasted less than 15 minutes. Alden, already the company’s largest shareholder, will pay $454 million for the roughly two-thirds of Tribune Publishing it doesn’t already own. Alden’s per-share price values the company at about $630 million.
The acquisition will put Tribune Publishing fully under the control of Alden, which has a reputation for deep cost-cutting, including newsroom layoffs, at roughly 200 newspapers it has acquired in a buyout spree across the troubled industry.
In a statement on the deal, Alden President Heath Freeman said: “The purchase of Tribune reaffirms our commitment to the newspaper industry and our focus on getting publications to a place where they can operate sustainably over the long term.”
* Republican gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Darren Bailey…
We’ve recently seen now Rodney Davis seems to have joined Adam Kinzinger in some of his antics on going back to January 6 for whatever that’s all about. As bad as everything is in this country we seem to, we can’t get over things and we can’t move on. We’ve got a lot of things to deal with and it’s time to get rid of, put some of this nonsense behind us and let the law take care of that and let our elected officials move on.
Guess what? People that have had this vaccine aren’t guaranteed they’re not gonna get Covid. Actually there’s good odds that they’ll get it again. So this is craziness. The FDA has not even approved this vaccine, ok, over 4,000 people have died and normally if it’s FDA approved if 5 people die a black label goes on this. I just learned this recently, black label about death goes on this, right. If 50 people die they stop it. Ok, 4,000 people, over 4,000 people so far have been reported to die from this.
Man, that’s just nuts.
* Excerpt from Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf’s press release…
Members of Schimpf’s Law Enforcement Advisory Council include:
Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard
Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing
Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff
Retired Illinois State Trooper Jay Wittenborn
Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Correction Lodge 263 President Scott Ward
Grundy County States Attorney Jason Helland
Correctional Case Work Supervisor Richard Graves
It has been very frustrating to watch this public health issue cause the many problems that we face today. I know many of our residents are struggling with the restrictions we are facing from the state. I will always side with our residents Constitutional Rights regardless to what consequences I may have.
‘Million Unmasked March’ protest scheduled at Illinois capitol […]
Organizers say they will have several guest speakers including Grundy County States Attorney Jason Helland, Illinois State Representative and State Senate candidate Darren Bailey, Constitutional Lawyer Thomas Devore
Loretto’s tax reports do not state who paid for Lightford’s trips.
Carroll said wholly owned insurance companies are not uncommon in the health care industry, and Loretto was forced to create its own firm several years ago “because there was not a single provider in the United States that would provide the insurance required for it to operate.”
“Members of boards who create captives also often serve on those boards, and this is no different in the case of Loretto,” Carroll said. “Board members of captives are required by Cayman Islands’ law to travel at least once a year to the island to attend one of their two annual board meetings. […]
In 2008 and 2012, Lightford used her campaign fund to reimburse Westside for bills totaling $1,833 related to Westside board meetings or other functions in the Cayman Islands, where Westside is registered.
So, at least in those two years, the hospital didn’t pay for her trips.
Loretto’s former hospital management firm and top contractor, Renaissance Hospital Management Inc., gave $38,350 to Lightford’s political fund between 2002 and 2014, records show.
But she has been paid through the hospital’s wholly owned insurance company, Westside Insurance Co. Lightford’s state ethics disclosures list her connection to Westside but do not divulge what she was paid or even her title with the firm.
Illinois lawmakers are required to disclose the name of organizations they received more than $1,200 from in a year but do not have to detail how much money they made or what work they did.
We need a better disclosure law.
*** UPDATE *** Leader Lightford…
Rich, the insinuation that I am somehow “financially benefiting” from the hospital’s captive insurance company is beyond ridiculous. I receive less than the $5,000 a year that’s required to be reported. I report it anyway in an effort to be transparent only to turnaround and now have it used against me. I have followed what are standard business practices, and I am proud of the work I have done for this vital health care resource in a tragically underserved community.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,573 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 21 additional deaths. In addition, 64% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 47% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cook County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 90s
DuPage County: 1 male 90s
Kane County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s
Kendall County: 1 female 60s
Macoupin County: 1 male 90s
Madison County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
Ogle County: 1 male 40s
Peoria County; 1 male 70s
Sangamon County: 1 female 30s
St. Clair County: 1 male 40s
Tazewell County: 1 male 80s
Will County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
Winnebago County: 2 females 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,373,457 cases, including 22,556 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 73,099 specimens for a total of 24,124,753. As of last night, 1,426 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 360 patients were in the ICU and 206 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 14-20, 2021 is 2.2%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from May 14-20, 2021 is 2.8%.
A total of 10,767,013 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 76,812 doses. Yesterday, 126,023 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.
A Tribune analysis of federal vaccination data shows that in Glencoe’s predominant ZIP code, roughly 1 in every 6 residents was given their first dose from Chicago’s vaccine supply during the rollout’s earliest phases.
Residents of other affluent suburbs also had luck finding shots in the city between December 2020 and mid-April, a period when eligibility rules were still in play, people were desperate to find appointments and city officials were promising to steer doses to the hardest-hit neighborhoods. At least 1 in 8 of all residents in ZIP codes covering Oak Park, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka and River Forest received their first dose in Chicago, the data shows. When looking only at those residents who got vaccinated, the numbers are even more stark: At least 1 in 4 found shots in the city.
In fact, more Northbrook residents received first doses from the city’s supply than people living in Englewood’s primary ZIP code.
Pekin-based Reditus labs has discovered the Indian double mutant variant of the coronavirus in Bloomington-Normal. The lab tests nasal samples throughout the country.
Reditus said the latest batch of 371 randomly selected positive samples showed a single instance of the so-called B.1.617 Indian double mutant variant. Preliminary evidence indicates the Indian variant is potentially more dangerous than previous strains of the virus, Reditus said. […]
The dominant strains of variants in the batch tested by Reditus were the UK and Brazilian variants. Those two strains accounted for 65% of the samples. 85% of the total batch was collected in Illinois. The South African and Santa Clara variants also had a presence.
Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer didn’t mince words Thursday, calling his team’s failure to get 85% of Tier 1 employees fully vaccinated “disappointing,” and agreeing the team would be at a competitive disadvantage if they don’t reach the goal.
“It’s disappointing to not be at 85% as a team,” Hoyer said on a teleconference before the game against the Washington Nationals. “We’ve worked hard to get as many people vaccinated as possible. It’s hard to try and convince or educate the people who have been reluctant. […]
About half of the league’s 32 teams — including the White Sox — are already past the 85% mark and have had protocols relaxed. Hoyer pointed to the “conveniences” of having those relaxed protocols, including managers and coaches being able to shed masks in the dugout, players dining out together and eliminating the contract-tracing element.
Hoyer called it “a real competitive advantage we’re going to miss.”
William Stratford, 29, won’t be fully vaccinated until next month, but shoppers and co-workers at the home improvement store where he works had been coming in without a mask even before the CDC put out its latest guidance.
He has complained to management and eats lunch in his car to avoid mask-less people in the breakroom. He gets stares from shoppers and co-workers.
“I know for a fact people have a negative opinion of me,” said Stratford of Valley Center, California, who asked that the store where he works not be named out of fear of reprisal. “It’s become a divisive issue in the workplace.” […]
Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial International Union, said about 40% of workers who participated in a recent union survey said they were vaccinated. He acknowledged that some many never get the shots, but he said the CDC and companies should have waited a few months to give people more time before shifting the guidance for indoor settings.
Five years ago, Illinois lawmakers passed a law that boldly aimed to build a solar power industry from scratch while also saving thousands of jobs at two struggling Exelon nuclear plants.
Besides bailing out the nuclear plants, the Future Energy Jobs Act promised to create tens of thousands of solar power jobs and get the state moving away from fossil fuels to a point where, by 2025, Illinois would be getting a quarter of its power from “clean energy” sources.
Things haven’t worked out as planned. The 2025 target is now far out of reach, the jobs expectations went unmet, and the solar industry is laying off workers as the funding that was promised has dried up, an investigation by Inside Climate News and the Chicago Sun-Times found.
The plans the law promised sputtered from the start.
Now, state legislative leaders are racing to meet a May 31 deadline to fix its biggest problems — including the impending loss of more than $300 million in funding for renewable energy programs.
An Illinois House committee Thursday unanimously approved a bill designed to create more racial, ethnic and gender diversity in the ownership of marijuana dispensaries.
“There is an entire ecosystem that needs to start to grow,” Toi Hutchinson, senior adviser to Gov. JB Pritzker on cannabis policy, said before the House Executive Committee voted 15-0 to send House Bill 1443 to the full House for a vote as soon as Friday.
Sponsored by state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, the bill would make the first major changes to the state’s recreational marijuana industry since Illinois lawmakers first allowed the cultivation, sale and use of cannabis to people 21 and older in Illinois in January 2020.
Two of the state Senate’s newest members — the chamber’s first LGTBQ senator and a Republican farmer from southern Illinois — clashed Thursday over legislation meant to standardize sex education curriculums in the state.
State Sen. Darren Bailey, a downstate Republican running for governor, accused the bill’s Democratic sponsors of “pushing perversion in our schools.”
North Side state Sen. Mike Simmons, who is gay, called Bailey’s remark “deeply offensive” and asked that it be stricken from the record. […]
The Senate bill on sex education seeks to standardize the curriculum in Illinois schools, ensuring each grade “has the opportunity to be safe and … have access to age- and developmentally appropriate and medically accurate information,” according to the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago.
A bill that would require schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products in all bathrooms for grades 4 through 12 passed the Illinois House and will now be up for consideration in the Senate. […]
Rep. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, said he was mostly concerned about the language requiring the products to be available in all bathrooms, which would include male bathrooms.
“There have been male and female bathrooms a hundred years plus in this country and nobody has had a problem taking care of the sensitive nature of being a certain gender,” Chesney said.
“But to perhaps put female products in male bathrooms is not only confusing to a sixth grader, but completely inapplicable. I would really appreciate it if the sponsor would stay the hell out of my bathrooms,” he added.
Hernandez said this is necessary so that male friends can help out their classmates in emergency situations. Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, added that this is also a more inclusive approach to protect transgender youth.
* I’ve been telling subscribers about this development for several days…
Measures in the Illinois House and Senate cued up for possible passage before the end of the month could ask voters to enshrine union protections in the state constitution.
State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, has Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 11 making its way through the Senate.
“It proposes to amend the Illinois Constitution to provide that no law passes on or after the amendment’s enactment may prohibit the ability of workers to collectively bargain over wages, hours, terms and conditions,” Villivalam said during committee Wednesday.
The measure advanced out of committee without any debate.
If passed by the Senate, it would need to pass the House. A similar bill has been filed in the house. Voters would have the ultimate say in the 2022 statewide election.
…Adding… Overwhelming majority…
SJRCA 11 passes with 49 voting in favor and 7 voting against
We’re all for a a bill that passed out of an Illinois Senate committee this week that would require high schools to offer instruction about understanding and evaluating news and social media as part of their computer literacy courses.
Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, questioned how objective schools could be in teaching students how to evaluate news stories by separating factual news from “fake news.”
She was told that teachers would be trained in how to instruct students in media usage and that the difference between fake news and real news is the same as the difference between fiction and nonfiction.
“So the teachers themselves would be deciding what’s fake news, by their own opinion,” Bryant said, according to Capitol News Illinois.
It sounds to us like Bryant could use that course herself.
Teaching critical thinking should always be central to the mission of our schools. That doesn’t mean the teacher decides whether a particular news story or social media post is factual. The teacher would help students learn for themselves how to separate facts from fiction and separate opinions from facts.
* As you may be aware, Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) has been pushing to open up IDES offices. SJ-R…
In a statement to The State Journal-Register on Thursday, IDES spokeswoman Rebecca Cisco said physical safety at unemployment and department offices was a serious concern.
“A local office was vandalized and had a large piece of equipment thrown through the office window while another local office experienced a bomb threat; police reports were filed in both incidents. While there have been other physical incidents of this nature, staff routinely experience verbal threats from individuals via the phone and through email. Collectively, this remains a concern, and is being considered as the Department looks for a way to move forward with a phased reopening,” Cisco said.
Cisco said the department remains closed because of both the pandemic and threats to safety.
“Really that’s a bunch of nonsense. They’ve not shared any additional information other than a case of some graffiti at a Springfield office,” Sosnowski said.
* I asked the administration if Rep. Sosnowski had asked for a security briefing…
He did not. He sent a letter saying open the offices. But has not asked for a meeting or to be briefed on security threats
* As I told subscribers earlier this week, releasing the new maps on a Friday and holding redistricting hearings over the subsequent weekend while most members of both chambers are back in their districts makes sense and is a tried and true tactic. So, we’ll see…
At long last, we should see the first draft of the new Illinois redistricting maps today, according to Senate sources briefed on the matter. We’ve been told several public hearings will follow where advocates can voice concerns and weigh in on the lines.
While Republicans have called for an independent process, spending records and vouchers filed with the Illinois Comptroller’s office show they are also actively working on a backup plan.
The House and Senate combined to spend more than $1.4 million so far to re-draw the maps. In the Senate, Democrats reported spending $557,594.80 so far, dwarfing the $173.731.44 in Senate Republican map-making expenses. Meanwhile, House Republicans reported spending $427,165.77 compared to $260,627.05 for House Democrats. […]
Expense reports show House Republicans are hiring attorneys, redistricting experts, data consultants, and purchasing software and IT equipment — all the tools they would need to draw the maps themselves.
Eleni Demertzis, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), said, “the majority of the fees are for attorneys/counsel which are necessary to explore all different avenues during the redistricting process.”
There’s no guarantee, though, that the Democrats have actually submitted all their vouchers for payment. So, the numbers may not mean that much.
Tinley Park officials gathered in the center of town Thursday afternoon to give updates and express concern regarding the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center property, where it was recently discovered that 2.1 million gallons of water spilled out of the property’s buildings and into Tinley Park’s storm sewers due to a water main break. […]
“The Village has been pleading with the state to do something about this for years,” [Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz] said. “I cannot for the life of me understand why those with the power in State Government to effectuate a transfer of this property to the Village continue to stonewall Tinley Park.” […]
Glotz said he has sent over 13 emails to Sen. Michael Hastings, who represents the 19th District. Hastings never directly responded to Glotz, but the mayor alleged that in an indirect response, Hastings “threatened” to “cut Tinley Park into five different districts, so Tinley Park never gets anything done.” The mayor added that Hastings said “a couple of other despicable comments” that he didn’t want to repeat.
Hastings told the Southtown that the allegations were “baseless.”
For better or worse, despite the popularity of Bitcoin and alternative coins, crypto isn’t likely to disrupt the campaign finance world any time soon. While a number of young candidates made media splashes in the 2020 cycle by announcing that their campaigns would accept Bitcoin contributions, the current federal rules restrict those donations to a degree that reduces such announcements to little more than PR stunt.
Despite the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies in the last year, however, those rules aren’t formalized. They stem from a 2014 Federal Election Commission advisory opinion specific to Bitcoin, but which allows room for materially similar transactions that would extend to alternative denominations as well. Candidates looking to appeal to new donors through cryptocurrency also bristle at other restrictions, such as the $100 cap on individual contributions—roughly three percent of the $2,900 limit for donations made with cards or checks.
But the FEC argues these policies aren’t simply one more instance of a stodgy federal government unwilling or unable to adapt to a transformative new technology. From the agency’s perspective, the features most responsible for crypto’s appeal—privacy and institutional independence—pose threats to the very foundation of campaign finance law.
* So I asked Matt Dietrich at the Illinois State Board of Elections about cryptocurrency regulations here…
Cryptocurrency isn’t mentioned anywhere in statute. In theory, it’s not restricted but it must be accurately reported. We haven’t had cryptocurrency contributions reported, but when we’ve had questions about it we advised candidates to report it as an investment.
Friday, May 21, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Strong evidence supports the role of telehealth in patient-centered care. That’s according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Reflecting on telehealth during the pandemic, AHRQ researchers identified important benefits of virtual care:
• Increasing access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas;
• Promoting continuity of care;
• Decreasing healthcare costs; and
• Improving patient self-management and patient outcomes.
“With a robust telehealth infrastructure in place, patients may receive more timely diagnoses and treatment recommendations, more appropriate follow-up care, and a reduced likelihood of experiencing an adverse event as a result of delayed assessment and treatment,” the authors said.
During the pandemic, healthcare professionals throughout Illinois have made sure patients could continue needed healthcare services using telehealth. Passing House Bill 3498 in the Illinois Senate will ensure Illinoisans continue to have access to innovative telehealth services after the pandemic.
The pandemic presented a “unique opportunity to implement innovative and creative approaches to patient care [that] will have long-lasting impacts for the future of telehealth,” the AHRQ article notes. As part of delivering safe, high-quality healthcare “telehealth will become a part of standard practice.”
Former City Club President Jay Doherty asked a judge Thursday to toss parts of a bombshell indictment filed last fall charging him and members of former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s inner circle with bribery, calling the federal prosecution “shaky at best.”
The indictment alleged that Doherty, Madigan confidant Michael McClain, ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and onetime ComEd lobbyist John Hooker arranged for Madigan’s associates and allies to get jobs, contracts and money in order to influence Madigan. […]
Attorney Gabrielle Sansonetti wrote that one of the federal laws Doherty is accused of violating “prohibits any prosecution where the object of the bribe is a bona fide job in the usual course of business” and added that, “the indictment fails to evidence the grand jury’s consideration of this essential element.”
Without requiring such evidence, the attorney wrote, prosecutors are “free to indict any legislator who recommends any person for a job to any entity that will benefit or may have previously benefited from that legislator’s official action.”
Prosecutors “can easily secure evidence regarding the legitimacy of the job at issue,” Sansonetti wrote. Meanwhile, she added that Doherty “must wait until a jury trial to prove the legitimacy of the jobs.”
With COVID-19 restrictions lifting across Illinois, State Senator Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is restarting traveling office hours this month, with the first event scheduled in East Dundee on Tuesday, May 25.
The East Dundee event will take place from 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM at the Fox River Valley Public Library, 555 Barrington Avenue. District office staff will be available to assist individuals and businesses with access to state services, as well as answer questions and gather opinions about legislation.
“We had to suspend these community outreach events for the last 14 months during the pandemic, and I’m pleased to be starting them back up again,” said Sen. DeWitte. “We hold these traveling office hours throughout the 33rd District so that the services my office can provide are brought into my constituents’ own communities. For those who do not live near my West Dundee office, these events provide easier access for legislative services.”
Additional traveling office hours have also been scheduled in the following District 33 communities:
· June 30: Geneva, 9:30-11:30 AM
· July 29: Elgin, 9:30-11:30 AM
· Aug. 24: Algonquin, 9:30-11:30 AM
“These traveling office hours are open to all residents in the 33rd District, and I would encourage anyone who is having issues with state agencies to stop by and receive assistance from my talented staff,” Sen. DeWitte said. “This includes those having issues with unemployment, FOID cards and CCL licenses, professional licensing, and other issues.”
* The Question: How are you trying to get back to “normal”?
Perhaps Exelon’s most politically potent argument in Springfield as it seeks more ratepayer subsidies for its Illinois nuclear plants is the preservation of more than 1,000 union jobs at two facilities slated to close in the fall without state help. But hundreds of Exelon’s nuke workers in Illinois quietly have left or lost their jobs over the past three years as the company has throttled back costs.
Between 2017 and 2020, employment at Exelon-owned plants in Illinois declined by nearly 600, according to the audit performed at the request of Gov. J.B. Pritzker by Cambridge-based Synapse Energy Economics. The average headcount per plant at the company’s six facilities in the state was 630, versus nearly 800 in 2017.
The report, when it was originally released in April, blacked out the employment numbers. But Exelon in recent days has permitted most of the report to be made public.
Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
It was a monumental task, but AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital was up to the challenge. In a matter of days, the Hoffman Estates hospital successfully and safely transitioned nearly 300 patients to virtual programs after the pandemic began. At the same time, the hospital began accepting new patients for virtual care.
To preserve access to telehealth, the Illinois Senate has an important opportunity to pass House Bill 3498 in the final two weeks of the spring legislative session. The Coalition to Protect Telehealth urges senators to pass the bill with the strong support shown in the House last month.
In a statement for Mental Health Awareness Month, which is this month, AMITA Health said: “Our treatment outcomes have continued to show gains consistent with pre-pandemic patient outcomes. Virtual services have been a gift that has allowed the hospital to continue its mission and support the hundreds of patients who rely on us each and every day.”
Transitioning AMITA patients to virtual behavioral health care had never been done on such a large scale. Now that the hard work is done, let’s keep the gift of telehealth for Illinoisans who rely on it. Learn more at https://protectillinoistelehealth.org/.
* Last December, Census estimates claimed Illinois had lost about a quarter of a million people. When the official count came out, however, those estimates were off by about a quarter of a million people. But here comes the Illinois Policy Institute, flogging the estimates again…
Illinois’ population decline is hitting all metropolitan areas of the state.
All metropolitan areas in Illinois shrank from July 2019-July 2020, new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show. The statewide population decline is driven entirely by people leaving Illinois, but it is also the primary reason individual metro areas are shrinking.
While the estimates released May 4 by the Census Bureau offer insights into where population decline is occurring the most, there are discrepancies between the Census Bureau’s estimates of the population and their official decennial Census count, which showed a much smaller statewide population loss that hasn’t yet been addressed by the Census Bureau.
Questions over the accuracy of the official count have been raised on numerous occasions in recent years. One of the primary ways the Census Bureau checks the official count is to compare it with their previous estimates.
It is also unclear what effect Illinois’ increased census outreach spending, which was second highest in the nation, had on the official results. It is possible increased spending resulted in a more accurate count in 2020 than in 2010, which could explain the difference between the official count and estimates. The 2020 estimates are based on the 2010 official count.
That implies the official count may be wrong and the estimates may be right.
Hilarious.
…Adding… “This is the Illinois version of the ‘Big Lie,’” said a pal just now.
Mr. T is back with another forceful message for his native Illinois: Get vaccinated! While about 40% of Illinoisans are fully vaccinated, those numbers are lower among minorities and in some areas like Alexander County, home to Cairo in far Southern Illinois, less than 12% of people are vaccinated. His message last year was to wear a mask. This year, it’s: “From Chicago to Cairo, I’m asking everybody to get fully vaccinated. I pity the fool who don’t get fully vaccinated!”
We were hoping that some of the federal [ARP] funds could be used to pay back the borrowing in the Municipal Liquidity Fund and clearly the current interim guidance says that’s not a permissible use. So we’ve been working very hard with the governor and the Senate to devise a plan to make our full repayments using state resources.
More in a bit, I think. The unpaid amount is about $2 billion.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza announced today that they have agreed on a plan to pay off $2 billion in emergency borrowing thanks, in part, to the state’s strong economic rebound.
The State borrowed $3.2 billion dollars from the federal Municipal Liquidity Facility, of which $2 billion remains outstanding, for cash management and to pay for essential state operations at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to a number of factors, including the state’s investments in key economic sectors like small businesses and childcare providers, Illinois’ revenues have come in stronger than expected. This overperformance, in tandem with effective cash management by the Illinois Office of Comptroller, will be instrumental in paying down the outstanding federal debt.
“Repaying the federal government is an important step in our efforts to ensure the state remains on sound fiscal footing,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The General Assembly has been a critical partner in utilizing the federal dollars to help the most vulnerable get through the pandemic. I also credit the Comptroller in strategically managing cash flow in these trying times.”
“The federal loan was a lifeline to keep our state and our economy afloat. That our economy has rebounded so strongly that we can now pay it off early is a testament to the resilience of the people and businesses of the great state of Illinois,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).
“The financial health of our state is incredibly important and I am grateful for Leader Greg Harris and our budget negotiators for all of their hard work in ensuring our debt is paid off early,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Westchester). “The General Assembly will continue to work closely with the governor to establish a targeted spending plan for the ARPA funds that will address underlying disparities revealed by the pandemic. We will continue to prioritize helping those communities recover by establishing high-quality affordable housing, community-based mental health and substance abuse services, and upgrades to area hospitals serving disproportionately impacted areas throughout the state.”
“Since taking office in the middle of a financial crisis, followed by the COVID-19 crisis, I’ve championed the need to be fiscally responsible and pay down our debts while prioritizing vulnerable populations,” said Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza. “I am pleased that the state’s leadership is also committed to aggressively paying down debt and engaging in responsible fiscal practices.”
The loan was scheduled to be repaid in three installments by December 2023. Instead, the Comptroller will utilize the state’s revenue overperformance and effective cash management to pay off the debt in its entirety within the next budget year. Early repayment of the borrowing will save taxpayers up to $100 million in interest costs.
Last week, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget revised upward its General Funds revenue estimates by $1.469 billion for fiscal year 2021, compared to estimates published with the Governor’s introduced budget in February 2021. The state’s improved revenue outlook will help ensure that the state will have a balanced budget for fiscal year 2021.
Final income tax payments received earlier this week, along with stronger year-to-date receipts in the state’s main revenue sources (individual and corporate income tax and sales tax) will allow the remainder of the repayment to occur beginning in the next several months.
Illinois and its local governments are expected to receive more than $26 billion in allocations through ARPA, including $8.1 billion to the state for fiscal recovery funds that can be used through calendar year 2024 to help the state respond to and recover from the pandemic and invest in critical water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
The procession of Americans heading to the unemployment line fell last week, with jobless claims totaling a fresh pandemic-era low of 444,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Economist surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting 452,000 new claims as the jobs picture improves thanks to an accelerated economic reopening across the country.
The total represented a decline from the previous week’s 478,000.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported 17,530 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of May 10 in Illinois, a 4% decrease from the previous week. […]
There were 18,355 new unemployment claims filed during the week of May 3 in Illinois.
There were 15,134 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of April 26 in Illinois.
There were 17,141 new unemployment claims filed during the week of April 19 in Illinois.
There were 15,248 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of April 12 in Illinois.
* IDES…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate remained at 7.1 percent, while nonfarm payrolls were about unchanged, up +300 jobs, in April, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The March monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, down from +32,300 to +28,900 jobs. The March preliminary unemployment rate was unchanged from the preliminary report, remaining at 7.1 percent.
The April payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflects activity for the week including the 12th. The BLS has published FAQs for the April payroll jobs and the unemployment rate.
In April, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Leisure and Hospitality (+8,100), Government (+4,300) and Construction (+4,000). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines were: Manufacturing (-7,800), Professional and Business Services (-4,900), Educational and Health Services (-2,800) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-2,800).
“As the state works through the bridge phase to a full reopening, IDES will continue to support claimants while also ensuring information is provided that supports both employers and jobseekers,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “IDES and the Pritzker administration look forward to working with the Biden administration and US DOL to identify and implement new strategies to reengage dislocated workers into the labor force.”
“Illinois is on the road to reopening, and last week’s move to bridge phase is set to reignite tourism, events and service industries – providing a much needed boost to key drivers of our economy,” said Sylvia Garcia, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, we continue to make progress on advancing a safe reopening across Illinois. Through our continued work to boost vaccination rates, follow public health guidance, and extend additional relief for the businesses who need it, we are laying the groundwork for Illinois businesses to thrive and bring more residents back to work safely.”
The state’s unemployment rate was +1.0 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate reported for April, which was 6.1 percent, up +0.1 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -9.4 percentage points from a year ago when it was at 16.5 percent.
Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +408,400 jobs, with gains across most major industries. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases were: Leisure and Hospitality (+135,000), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+107,800) and Professional and Business Services (+56,300). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up +7.7 percent over-the-year as compared to the nation’s +10.9 percent over-the-year growth in April.
The number of unemployed workers rose slightly from the prior month, a +0.5 percent increase to 438,100, but was down -56.0 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force was up +0.3 percent over-the-month and +2.0 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,542 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 42 additional deaths. In addition, 64% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 47% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Coles County: 1 male 80s
- Cook County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 females 70s, 7 males 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 female 100+
- DeWitt County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s
- Henry County: 1 female 60s
- Kane County: 1 male 70s
- Kankakee County: 1 female 70s
- Lake County: 1 male 80s
- LaSalle County: 1 female 80s
- Livingston County: 1 female 70s
- Logan County: 1 male 60s
- Macon County: 1 male 90s
- McHenry County: 1 male 60s
- Peoria County: 1 male 30s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 70s
- Sangamon County: 1 male 50s
- Stephenson County: 1 female 70s
- Tazewell County: 1 male 60s
- Vermilion County: 1 female 70s
- Will County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Winnebago County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,371,884 cases, including 22,536 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 79,529 specimens for a total of 24,051,654. As of last night, 1,488 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 404 patients were in the ICU and 226 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 13-19, 2021 is 2.2%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from May 13-19, 2021 is 2.7%.
A total of 10,640,990 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 65,998 doses. Yesterday, 89,832 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.
Schools would be required to report incidents of sexual assault to state education officials, witnesses would not be required when seriously ill patients make decisions about life-sustaining medical treatments, and gender-neutral language would be allowed on marriage certificates under bills passed by the General Assembly Wednesday. […]
The House passed a Senate bill dealing with medical procedures sought or declined by the seriously ill.
The bill makes changes to the Practitioner Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment law, including removing a requirement that a witness be present to sign the forms reflecting the decisions the patients make. […]
Another Senate bill that allows for the hiring of security officers for the state’s appellate court system passed, 116 to one. The measure also heads for the governor’s desk.
A bill creating more elected positions in Capital Township is set for a final vote in the Illinois House even as one local representative fights against it.
“Our predecessors in the General Assembly were very thoughtful on consolidation. (Current law) calls for any township that’s wholly contained within a municipality of 50,000 that the county clerk should be the assessor and the clerk of the township, and the treasurer of the county shall be the supervisor of the township,” said state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield.
Senate Bill 826 would change this to allow the voters of Capital Township to elect those positions exclusively to a township position rather than having the county officer in those roles also carry out the duties for the township. The measure was introduced by state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield.
“This bill addresses an electorate’s right to choose their own representatives. Under state law, the current Sangamon County clerk and treasurer are automatically officers of Capital Township, and that’s not fair,” Turner said.
Adding to his frustration are two dispensaries across the street from one another on West Randolph, in one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. […]
State law says pot shops are not to be within 1,500 feet of each other.
But a state spokesman says the shops were allowed there because the license for each was approved on the same day. So, at the time, “there were no such dispensaries within 1,500 feet of either applicant,” the spokesman wrote in an email. […]
There is concern that because of the 1,500-foot rule, minority groups, once they do obtain licenses, will be shut out of the best locations.
“Illinois with the greatest intentions had the biggest, I would say failure in the rollout of the cannabis industry,” says state Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago).
Ford recently introduced legislation to eliminate the 1,500-foot rule for minority-owned dispensaries.
The Illinois Supreme Court is considering whether Gov. JB Pritzker is legally obligated to recommend more state spending on K-12 education.
But lawyers for the state say it’s not Pritzker — or any governor — the schools have an issue with; it’s the legislature itself, which passes state budgets for the governor to sign.
On Tuesday, attorneys for 22 downstate school districts asked the state’s high court to take a fresh look at a decades-old issue the justices have ruled on before, hoping for a different outcome — and millions/billions more dollars that would come with a win. […]
Thomas Geoghegan, an attorney for the 22 districts, told justices Tuesday that Pritzker is not living up to the goals outlined in the funding formula and is therefore violating a provision in the state constitution to achieve efficient education funding.
“The full funding of this Evidence-Based funding act is a constitutional obligation of the state, and the governor has to accept it as such,” Geoghegan said.
The Illinois State Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday calling on all public schools to return to in-person learning during the upcoming school year.
The resolution doesn’t institute any mandates or requirements for Illinois schools to follow, but shows unified support from ISBE for an upcoming decision by State Superintendent Carmen Ayala.
In a weekly blog posted to the ISBE website, Ayala said she plans to make the mandate official “at the conclusion of the current academic year,” meaning the change will not take effect until next school year.
Once Ayala issues an official declaration, all public schools will be required to return to in-person learning for the 2021-2022 academic year with no exceptions. Only students who are both unvaccinated and under a quarantine order from the Illinois Department of Health will be eligible to continue remote learning.
Following a February survey of school districts that illustrated a persistent teacher shortage in the state, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools has released policy recommendations calling for better benefits and more lenient certification in an effort to reverse the trend.
The IARSS, which serves as an intermediary between local school districts and the Illinois State Board of Education, had the survey conducted between September and October to see how school districts were faring with the supply of professional and substitute teachers during the 2020-2021 school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Illinois was split into seven regions for the purpose of the survey, and school districts reported the shortage was worst in west central and southeastern Illinois.
White papers developed in response to the survey give seven policy recommendations as ways to combat it from the local to statewide level. The two primary methods discussed in the white paper are improving teacher pay and lessening the restrictions on certifications teachers need in order to get hired.
* Board approves new name for UIC Law: The UIC John Marshall Law School will change its name to the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law after receiving approval from the University of Illinois Board of Trustees today.
Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
After years of tireless work by legislators and advocates, a comprehensive, nation-leading clean energy bill is coming together in Springfield. But with less than two weeks left until the end of the session, the state’s biggest polluter is seeking a total exemption from the new legislation, allowing them to continue polluting our state with expensive, dirty energy. We can’t let that happen.
The Prairie State Coal Plant is one of the largest coal plants in the country, and it emits more toxic sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides than any source in Illinois. In fact, Prairie State emits more carbon pollution than the state’s next two largest polluters combined. Its emissions cost us nearly $2 billion in damage to our health and environment each year, causing 50 premature deaths annually.
Illinois is ready for a just transition to 100% clean energy. We are on the cusp of leading the nation with a comprehensive climate bill that creates equitable jobs and holds utilities accountable. We can’t lead by letting the worst polluter off the hook.
For more information, visit the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition at ilcleanjobs.org
* The Liberty Justice Center outlined the civil case against the campaign committee of former state Rep. and current Auditor General Frank Mautino…
1) Mautino’s campaign committee made more than $225,000 in payments to Happy’s Super Service Station in Spring Valley, Ill. between 1999 and 2015. These payments were for gas and repairs of vehicles privately owned by Mautino’s family and friends. Direct payments for gas and repairs of privately owned vehicles by campaign committees are illegal under Illinois law. Individuals who use privately owned vehicles for campaign purposes may only be reimbursed based on actual mileage.
2) Mautino’s campaign committee reported that it also made nearly $200,000 in “expenditures” to Spring Valley City Bank, but the committee’s former treasurer has admitted these actually were cash withdrawals from the committee’s checking account that were spent elsewhere. The campaign committee never reported which vendors or individuals actually received the money.
The Center has been involved in the case (Cooke v. Illinois State Board of Elections) since 2016. Mautino’s campaign committee appealed an adverse appellate court ruling and the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on it today.
By its plain language, section 9-8.10(a)(9) does not permit committees to make expenditures for gas and repairs to vehicles that are not owned or leased by the committee. For such vehicles, a committee may only make expenditures for actual mileage reimbursement. Because the Committee made expenditures for gas and repairs for vehicles it neither owned nor leased, the Committee violated section 9- 8.10(a)(9), and the Board’s finding to the contrary was clearly erroneous and is reversed. … In light of our conclusion that the Committee violated section 9-8.10(a)(9), we remand the cause to the Board for a determination of whether the Committee’s violation thereof was knowing pursuant to section 9-8.10(b).
However, the campaign says it has a letter from the Illinois State Board of Elections informing it that the gas and repair payments were permissible. It would be tough for the Board to now say the committee knowingly violated the law.
* Section 9-8.10(a)(2) of the state elections law prohibits a political committee from making any expenditures “Clearly in excess of the fair market value of the services, materials, facilities, or other things of value received in exchange.” But the Supremes ruled today that Mautino’s accusers could not provide any facts or documentation to prove their allegations about the gas station and the bank…
Section 9-8.10(a)(2) regulates only the amount or price of an expenditure. Based on insufficient evidence, Cooke did not demonstrate that the Committee violated section 9-8.10(a)(2). Therefore, we affirm the Board’s decision declining to find a violation of section 9-8.10(a)(2).
The House passed a measure Wednesday to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol with the support of 35 Republicans, including Adam Kinzinger and Rodney Davis of Illinois.
While the measure to create a 10-member bipartisan commission passed because of the Democratic votes, it does show some movement among Republicans.
Only 10 Republicans, including Kinzinger, voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for his role in instigating the insurrection. While Trump and House GOP leaders were against the commission, it still gained 35 Republican votes.
…Adding… From Aaron DeGroot…
Hey, Rich.
Hope you’re well and ready for a semi-normal summer. Saw your post about Rodney’s vote from yesterday. Wanted to point out that Rodney was the first member of Congress to propose 1/6 commission legislation, which he did six days after the attack on the Capitol (on 1/12). Rodney’s bill, H.R. 275, is substantively similar to what passed the House yesterday. Rodney’s proposal was styled after the 9/11 commission. Figured I’d flag because this issue since it’s relevant to his work at the Committee on House Administration, where he serves as the lead Republican.
Petitioner John Tillman filed a petition for leave to file a taxpayer action under section 11-303 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/11-303 (West 2018)) in the circuit court of Sangamon County. In his attached complaint, petitioner alleged that certain general obligation bonds issued by the State of Illinois in 2003 and 2017 were unconstitutional. The circuit court denied the petition to file the proposed complaint, finding that there was no reasonable ground for the filing of such action. The appellate court reversed the circuit court’s judgment and remanded for further proceedings. 2020 IL App (4th) 190611. For the following reasons, we reverse the judgment of the appellate court and affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
The State issued and sold the 2003 bonds, applied the proceeds as specified in the law, and made payments on the bonds for years while petitioner did nothing. More than 16 years later, petitioner requested that the court declare the bonds invalid and enjoin the State from making future payments on them. The same is true for the 2017 bonds, which were authorized by the General Assembly and issued and sold by the State. The proceeds from the sale were then used to pay billions of dollars in unpaid state vouchers, all while petitioner did nothing to stop any of these actions. It is patently obvious that the State will suffer some prejudice if relief is granted at this extremely late stage. Respondents maintain that granting relief to petitioner would amount to a de facto default on outstanding bonds that are backed by the full faith and credit of the State. We agree. Enjoining the State from meeting its obligation to make payments on general obligation bonds will, at the very least, have a detrimental effect on the State’s credit rating.
Nevertheless, petitioner argues that the State has not suffered prejudice from his delay because his complaint does not seek to undo past payments made by the State on the bonds but, rather, seeks to enjoin only future payments. Thus, according to petitioner, an individual can wait years, or even decades, after bonds are authorized and issued by the State to challenge the issuance of the bonds in court. We reject this argument. The fact that a petitioner requests only prospective relief does not preclude the application of laches where he had constructive notice of his legal claims years before filing his action. See, e.g., Solomon, 48 Ill. 2d at 322 (holding that laches barred a taxpayer action to enjoin the future issuance of bonds and expenditure of bond proceeds); Schnell v. City of Rock Island, 232 Ill. 89, 93, 96 (1907) (holding that laches barred an action to enjoin future municipal bond payments).
We hold that the necessary elements for laches have been met in this case. There is no reasonable ground under section 11-303 of the Code for filing petitioner’s proposed complaint. We therefore affirm the circuit’s order denying the instant petition, although on different grounds than those relied upon by that court.
I’ll update with responses as they come in.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Comptroller Susana Mendoza…
“The Supreme Court of Illinois got it right: The taxpayers of Illinois should not have to suffer financial Armageddon just so rich people who bet against Illinois can profit. Never bet against Illinois.
“The original judge on this case was right to throw out this irresponsible lawsuit brought by former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s No. 1 advisor and Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman. His ridiculous lawsuit was aimed at tanking Illinois’ finances – for the profit of named or unnamed hedge funds.
“As today’s ruling noted, bond counsel and the state Attorney General signed off on all these bonds. They were constitutional. While the fiscally responsible 2017 bond offering that I championed saved taxpayers $4 to $6 billion in late payment interest penalties and served as a lifeline to businesses across Illinois, it hurt the profit margins of those who chose to bet against Illinois. They gambled and lost. Their irresponsible game is over.
We are pleased that the court upheld the legality of the general obligation bonds approved by the General Assembly in 2003 and 2017 and rejected the plaintiff’s belated attempt to create unnecessary havoc in Illinois’ fiscal standing. The fact is that the plaintiff filed a lawsuit opposing the state’s issuance of bonds not days, not months, but years after the bonds were issued – in fact, after the money had been spent. Our position has been that, given the delay in filing the lawsuit, the plaintiff lacked a legal basis for filing at all, and we are pleased the court agreed.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Emily Bittner at the governor’s office…
The administration is pleased that the Supreme Court sided with hardworking taxpayers over a frivolous lawsuit designed to grab headlines.
*** UPDATE 4 *** John Tillman…
“I am of course disappointed in the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling. We are evaluating our options as to how to proceed from here. In the interim, I continue to be profoundly concerned about Illinois’ reckless debt accumulation. All Illinoisans should care about this. If the state doesn’t tackle pension reform now, it will slide into a fiscal crisis beyond repair that will threaten not only taxpayers and the people who depend on government services, but also people who are counting on their public-sector pension in retirement.”
Illinois bonds rose in active trading after the ruling, driving the average yield on some sold in 2017 to 1.12% from 1.4% and the price jumped to more than $1.20 from about $1.19 a day earlier. The case has been closely watched by investors in the $3.9 trillion municipal bond-market, where it was seen as a potential harbinger of potential lawsuits elsewhere if it prevailed.
“Even though the probability was low that the challenge was going to be successful, it wasn’t zero,” said Dan Solender, director of tax-free fixed income for Lord, Abbett & Co., which holds $34 billion in muni assets. “The expectation was this was not going to be a problem but still the bonds are moving up because there is now some definite resolution to the situation.” […]
With the outcome of the case now behind the state, it “can move forward in addressing the more pertinent fiscal issues,” said Dennis Derby, a portfolio manager for Wells Fargo Asset Management, which owns Illinois debt that was challenged as well as other bonds issued by the state as part of a $40 billion municipal-bond portfolio.
* Related…
* National Review: John Tillman Shows How Conservative Activism Can Work
Thursday, May 20, 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.
Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
We can’t have fair maps if those maps aren’t drawn using the full set of detailed Census data. But, due to census delays, Illinois politicians are planning to use outdated, estimated numbers to draw election maps that will last for a decade.
We know those estimates missed tens of thousands of us. We need the next set of election district maps to fully reflect our communities, and the only way that can happen is if those maps are drawn with current, complete Census data to give all our communities accurate and fair representation.
Call Governor Pritzker’s office today to ask that he push lawmakers to seek court permission to delay the process so that the next set of election maps are drawn with COMPLETE Census data, NOT old estimates.
