Darren Bailey: “I will never, ever give up my AR-15 or any other gun — so you need to know that.”
“When someone shows up at my front door and expects me to turn in a gun or even so much as register a serial number, it will not happen.”
“I am the most pro-Second Amendment legislator in Springfield and gubernatorial candidate.”
“This is all about the right leadership doing the right thing and the gun laws, taking guns off the street — that’s not it.”
“The FOID Card system is simply to pilfer money from people’s pockets. It’s not working. The FOID Card’s not working and it needs to go.”
“I’m a lifelong NRA member. I’m a lifelong Illinois State Rifle Association member. I’ve been endorsed by those groups, too. So you have someone here that will certainly get rid of that FOID program.”
A: No, no. I’ve always said when I’m done, I’m done. I do not plan to run for anything again. I only wanted to be a member of Congress and I’ve had the opportunity to represent a phenomenal district with phenomenal constituents for 10 years. I’m not looking at running for anything again. And I am going to help elect Republicans up and down the ticket because that’s what we should do when we’re no longer a part of the competition.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who is running for reelection this year, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Leadership Blue Gala that Florida Democrats will hold this Saturday in Tampa.
On the rise— Pritzker’s appearance comes nearly two weeks after the mass shooting in Highland Park thrust him into the national spotlight. Pritzker’s reaction — where he said he was angry and furious about gun violence in the nation — was seen by some as an illustration of the type of passion Democrats need heading into the midterms and 2024.
Here to help— Pritzker’s decision visit to Florida will also be sure to stoke longrunning whispers about a possible presidential bid, especially since he’s spending time in the home state of Gov. Ron DeSantis, himself a potential GOP presidential candidate. “Florida is in dire need of a pro-choice, Democratic governor, and Governor Pritzker is proud to support the Florida Democratic Party in their efforts to flip the state blue,” campaign spokeswoman Natalie Edelstein said in a statement sent to Shia Kapos, author of POLITICO’s Illinois Playbook. […]
Pritzker’s keynote speech will come on the heels of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s splashy decision to air ads bashing DeSantis and urging Floridians to move to his state. In that case, DeSantis has fired back and is now even fundraising off Newsom’s attacks. Expect his campaign team to fashion their own greeting for Pritzker.
* ILGOP…
A normal person following Governor JB Pritzker’s extensive travel schedule in recent months would be racking up the frequent flier miles. Luckily for our trust-fund billionaire governor, Pritzker has private jets to whisk him around the country - and even overseas - as he continues to give a wink and a knowing nod to the idea he may be just what national Democrats need in order to keep the White House in 2024 as Biden stumbles mightily.
After a recent trip to Europe to stump for Green New Deal policies, and political stops in New Hampshire (wink, wink) and Maine, Pritzker is headlining an annual Democratic gala in Florida this week. His spokeswoman said, “Florida is in dire need of a pro-choice, Democratic governor, and Governor Pritzker is proud to support the Florida Democratic Party in their efforts to flip the state blue.”
“Illinoisans don’t care what Florida needs and neither should Governor Pritzker at a time when working families are drowning under historic levels of inflation and high gas prices,” said ILGOP spokesman Joe Hackler. “Illinois has the highest taxes in the nation, highest gas prices in the midwest, an economy lagging far behind our midwest neighbors, and the imminent threat of power outages across almost all of the central and southern parts of the state. If Pritzker wants to run for President, he should start by doing his current job as Governor of Illinois - and doing it better.”
Frankly, I don’t think anyone in their right mind should be going to Florida in July. Yuck.
“Out-of-touch trust-fund billionaire J.B. Pritzker doesn’t have to worry about the cost of gas or groceries, but Illinois families are paying through the nose thanks to Pritzker’s tax increases and record-breaking inflation,” GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey said in a statement. “Instead of coming to Springfield to do his job, Gov. Pritzker is gallivanting with his rich friends in Europe, New Hampshire, DC, Maine and Florida.”
Added Bailey, “Illinois families have a message for J.B.: Repeal the Pritzker gas tax hike. Stop campaigning for president and do your job.”
The Europe reference is a trip the governor took to England last November to promote policies designed to curb climate change.
Bailey wants Pritzker to call lawmakers back into session to deal with inflation and gas prices. Lawmakers are expected to meet around Labor Day to deal with abortion-rights legislation and perhaps new gun-control laws—not gas prices, though.
So, that’s three trips in 9 months.
…Adding… Natalie Edelstein with the Pritzker campaign…
“Florida is in dire need of a pro-choice, Democratic governor, and Governor Pritzker is proud to support the Florida Democratic Party in their efforts to flip the state blue. As a lifelong Democrat, Governor Pritzker is committed to supporting his party in every corner of our country. If the governor can play even a small role in helping Florida Democrats elect a Black woman to the US Senate, flip the governor’s office, and elect pro-choice, pro-science, pro-worker candidates to the legislature––he will gladly do so.”
The governor was apparently invited in April to speak at the event by the state party chair.
In the wake of a July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park, Ill. that killed 7 people and injured 46, Illinois’ billionaire Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker declared: “We need to ban assault weapons, not just in the state of Illinois, but nationally.”
He also criticized the National Rifle Association (NRA), the controversial gun lobby, tweeting, “As Governor, on behalf of the people of Highland Park — leave us the hell alone.”
Despite the rhetoric, Pritzker and his powerful administration have done nothing to help pass an assault weapons ban that has been languishing in his state’s legislature since February. Even worse, the Pritzker family’s hotel chain, Hyatt Hotels, has been hosting NRA events for years — including as recently as late May.
The NRA’s relationship with Hyatt creates ethics concerns for Pritzker, said Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist for the good government group Public Citizen. “This is clearly a conflict of interest,” he said. “It’s the same kind of conflict of interest we saw so rampant with Donald Trump.” […]
The [Pritzker] spokesperson added, “The Governor does not have a financial interest in Hyatt and has never had a role in the business, other than one part-time summer job as a teenager.” […]
Despite Pritzker’s spokesperson’s claim that the governor “does not have a financial interest in Hyatt,” he is commonly described as an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune. While the governor’s financial disclosure does not show direct Hyatt holdings, a 2019 investigation by the Chicago Tribune pointed out, “The complex and vast nature of Pritzker’s wealth and a lack of transparency illustrate how difficult it can be to learn when a wealthy politician’s financial interests might butt up against what’s in taxpayers’ best interests.”
* The Lever is a David Sirota project. Sirota published a newsletter for the Bernie Sanders campaign…
Bern Notice received attention Monday for having promoted a Guardian column by Zephyr Teachout, a Sanders surrogate, that accused Joseph R. Biden Jr. of having “a big corruption problem” hours before Mr. Sanders disavowed the column. (That newsletter edition was erased from the internet as of Tuesday morning.)
And Sirota is not happy with the pushback on this latest piece…
Illinois @GovPritzker just deployed his spokesperson to attack @LeverNews for reporting that he & Illinois Dems have refused to pass assault weapons ban legislation stuck in the Dem state legislature.
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, on Thursday was calling Democratic colleagues to gauge their support once again. Hirschauer, who helped start a chapter of the gun violence prevention group Moms Demand Action before taking office in January 2021, said “it has some momentum behind it now.”
“It’s a pretty simple bill. It bans military style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The general public in Illinois has clearly said that those types of weapons are designed for the battlefield, not for hunting or any reasonable use,” Hirschauer said.“So, we are moving forward with it. I’m working it from the ground up, roll calling, gathering support and just really doing my homework on it.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** And now you know it’s oppo - likely combined with “out of town stupid” - because now they’re claiming the governor and the Democrats are actually “blocking an assault weapons ban”…
Illinois has a Democratic supermajority and a Democratic governor.
It is positively hilarious that reporting a simple story on them blocking an assault weapons ban is considered “oppo.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** I sent the sponsor the link to this post and at first glance thought it was a Republican attack. I pointed out that this was a left-wing group and Rep. Hirschauer said this…
Well, that’s a head scratcher and doesn’t match up with the thoughtful and supportive conversations I have been having daily with members of my caucus and folks in the Democratic Party. My statement stands:
My co-sponsors and I are extremely serious about taking action that will get weapons of war off our streets and I invite my colleagues across the aisle to join me instead of playing tired political games that only serve the NRA agenda.
As part of his continuing plan to carefully unwind the state’s COVID-19 executive orders, Governor Pritzker today updating vaccine and testing requirements in some industries. The updated executive order amends testing requirements for some unvaccinated health care employees and removes mandates for some other industries. Among the provisions that have been lifted in past months, Governor Pritzker has reduced requirements for school exclusion, removed provisions relating to setting up alternative care facilities, returned to non-emergency hospital oversight by removing several provisions and restarted normal jail-to-prison transfers. Other changes included lifting provisions in an effort to ensure governments are resuming normal operations.
The Governor continues to maintain all provisions necessary for the health and safety of the people of Illinois, as well as all provisions in disaster proclamations that enable the state to recoup the maximum available from the federal government.
“Vaccination continues to be the number one tool we have to fight COVID-19, and I’m proud that so many Illinoisans have taken advantage of this life-saving tool,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I continue to urge all Illinoisans to make sure they’re up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the most at-risk populations and those unable to be vaccinated are protected from the serious side effects of this disease. As we continue to move toward living with this virus, my administration will relax some requirements while continuing to protect the most vulnerable and ensuring we can get every federal dollar our residents are eligible to receive.”
Currently, Illinois requires at least weekly testing of health care staff who are unvaccinated. Under the updated requirements, long-term care facilities with the most vulnerable residents, including skilled nursing homes, will now test staff who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine weekly if located in an area of moderate community level transmission and twice weekly in areas of substantial or high community level transmission, as recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Unvaccinated staff at hospitals and other healthcare facilities that are certified by CMS will now be required to test weekly only if located in areas of high community level transmission.
Vaccine mandates for higher education employees and students and emergency medical service providers will not be reissued. Vaccination mandates will remain in place in K-12 schools, daycares, state-run 24/7 congregate care facilities, and any health care facilities not covered under the federal CMS vaccine mandate (including independent doctors’ offices, dental offices, urgent care facilities, and outpatient facilities).
“We continue to remind everyone in Illinois that the most important step they can take to protect themselves, their loved ones and friends and colleagues is to remain up-to-date on vaccinations and booster shots,” said Acting IDPH Director Amaal Tokars. “This is especially important for those who are vulnerable to serious outcomes. We urge everyone to take advantage of the current availability of vaccines for the sake of their children, as well as getting up-to-date as a parent, guardian or grandparent.”
“The Illinois hospital community appreciates the Governor’s actions today limiting the COVID-19 testing mandate for healthcare workers to high transmission counties,” said A.J. Wilhelmi, President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. “This Order will help hospitals maximize the use of resources for patient care, while simultaneously continuing to operate with reasonable and effective infection controls to remain safe places for patients, visitors and healthcare workers.”
“We are grateful to the Governor for his leadership throughout the pandemic. As we move into this next phase, we are building on the success of our campus leaders, staff, faculty, and students over the past two years in keeping our campuses safe, while keeping students on their path to credentials and degrees, especially our students of color and low-income students who were most impacted,” said Ginger Ostro, Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
“The COVID-19 vaccines protect us from developing severe illness,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “The requirement for school personnel to get vaccinated or test weekly ensures that students, families, and educators across Illinois can go to school with confidence in their health and safety.”
“We support Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order because it will ensure that children, teachers, staff and our communities stay safe and healthy,” said Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery. “His leadership ensured that we ended the last school year with a successful vaccination model, which sets us up for the upcoming school year so we can keep our school buildings open and everyone in them healthy.”
“We know the best place for students, and those who teach and care for them, is in the classroom and in school buildings. We are looking forward to the start of this school year,” said Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin.
School and daycare-aged children have much lower rates of vaccination than the general public and have less ability to consistently and safely mask. In addition, outbreaks at schools threaten the ability to continue with in-person learning and the developmental benefits it provides.
To find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you, including for children ages six months to four years, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/.
* As many of you know, I have not attended a game at, nor otherwise set foot in the home stadium of Chicago’s National League baseball club in more than 20 years. But I’ll be there tomorrow for the Mets game.
I just figured it was time to go check out all the changes to the park. I grew up a Cub fan (and absolutely despised the Mets), but left them behind for the White Sox after years of chafing at the whole “lovable losers” schtick. Maybe I’m mellowing with age. Anyway, I’m in town and a buddy had tickets, so what the heck.
The Volcker Alliance, a non-partisan government watchdog, has issued a new report showing Illinois is at risk of facing a “fiscal cliff” once one-time federal relief funds dry up. That means the state will have to either cut programs or raise revenues to maintain spending that has been enabled by the federal funds, once those funds run out. The report shows Illinois has allocated nearly 60% of its $8.1 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Only California and Pennsylvania have allocated more of their recovery funds.
Illinois has a potential for a fiscal cliff if it uses a portion of the SLFRF appropriations or reserves to pay for recurring spending. Its history of using one-time revenue sources to finance recurring needs led to the state’s D average grade, the second-lowest mark, in budget maneuvers for fiscal 2015–19.
So, the Volcker Alliance is essentially warning the state to not do what it did under Bruce Rauner’s administration, which was supported almost wholeheartedly by the… Illinois Policy Institute.
Also, the Volcker Alliance could not point to any hard evidence that Illinois is using federal assistance for ongoing spending. It just figures it is because Rauner.
But it’s true that Illinois needs to watch its spending and conserve cash and not go on any spending binges now, particularly since revenues are indeed expected to decline in the coming years.
Either remaining federal funds Illinois still holds, or a recently reported windfall in state revenue, should go to pay down the state’s remaining unemployment trust fund debt, a state lawmaker says.
Illinois state government accumulated more than $4 billion in unemployment trust fund debt during the COVID-19 pandemic economic restrictions imposed by the governor. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved using $2.7 billion in federal COVID-19 relief tax funds to pay some of that down. About $1.8 billion remains unpaid.
State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, is calling for a special session so lawmakers can pay off the debt with either remaining federal funds or a recently reported windfall of more than $1.8 billion in state revenue as reported by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Press release…
With the latest $100 million deposit into the Budget Stabilization Fund, the state’s “Rainy Day” Fund, Illinois now has more than $850 million in the bank to weather potential economic turbulence. Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly worked together to ensure the state would have a record $1 billion in the account this fiscal year, and today Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza announced the deposit of $100 million of that commitment.
The improved Budget Stabilization Fund, now at $854 million, is one of the many steps towards financial responsibility that has resulted in six recent credit upgrades for the state.
“I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve deposited an additional $100 million into our state’s Rainy Day Fund,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This is just one of the ways that we are building long-term financial sustainability—and we are seeing tangible results in real-time. From tax relief for Illinoisans to our six credit rating upgrades, we are creating an Illinois that is economically prosperous for all. I want to thank Comptroller Mendoza for swiftly depositing this funding early in the fiscal year.”
Illinois’ Budget Stabilization Fund had been decimated by budget impasses and mismanagement. At one point the fund held less than $60,000, an amount that would have sustained state operations for less than thirty seconds. Beginning in FY24, state law requires minimum payments of $45 million dollars a year will be required in each state budget to continue stabilizing the fund.
Credit rating agencies pointed to the Budget Stabilization Fund as a key reason for Illinois’ six ratings increases during Gov. Pritzker’s term. S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings both cited the fund’s improvement in their decision to increase its rating, as well as responsible payments to pension funds and up-to-date bill payments. These upgrades allow the state to borrow money at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayer dollars.
The “Rainy Day” Fund, also known as the Budget Stabilization Fund, protects the state services that Illinoisans rely on every day. It is in place to meet state needs in case of deficits or shortcomings in a budget, provide credit stability, and reduce the need for short-term borrowing. Its increased balance offers Illinoisans protection in times of immediate need while building a stable, long-term financial groundwork for the state.
In addition to the recent $100 million deposit and the extra pension fund payments, the Fiscal Year 2023 budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Pritzker is providing financially responsible relief for Illinois working families. On July 1, residents began to receive over $1.8 billion of tax relief, including tax relief for gas, property, groceries, and school supplies. Direct payments to Illinois families are expected this fall, according to the Comptroller’s office. The budget also made unprecedented investments in college affordability, the Illinois State Police and proven violence prevention programs across the state.
RESULTS ARE IN: State Sen. Melinda Bush has won the 10th District Democratic State Central Committeewoman race. In an email to supporters, former state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash said late-arriving vote-by-mail ballots have been counted, and “it appears our campaign will come up just short.” Out of 50,681 ballots cast, Bush received 50.2 percent of the vote to Gash’s 49.8 percent.
Bush had the endorsement and financial backing of Gov. JB Pritzker, so political insiders expect she could be his candidate when the central committee meets in the coming weeks to elect the head of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Also in the running will be the current party leader, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who has the support of Sen. Dick Durbin.
Sen. Bush has told me on several occasions that she had no interest whatsoever in the party’s top job. I never wrote that because, well, nobody has even so much suggested it. But I checked back in with her today just to make sure and Bush’s response to the story was, um, unprintable. Suffice it to say, she doesn’t want the post and won’t seek it. I’m not sure where that even came from.
Whatever. At this point, I’m kinda doubting there will be much of a fight, if any. If the governor thought he had the votes, you’d think there’d be some sort of an announcement by now.
…Adding… Sen. Bush…
Today, State Senator Melinda Bush released the following statement on her victory in the race for Democratic State Central Committeeperson for the Tenth District:
“I am humbled that Democratic voters of the tenth district have chosen me to represent them on the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee and am thrilled to be given the opportunity to identify, recruit and re-elect great candidates to expand our representation across the district. Working in concert with a great team of talented activists and organizations like Lake County Democratic Women, I know what it takes to position Democrats to win tough races - recruit good candidates, surround them with talented staff, run strategic campaigns and then hold them accountable after they take office. This is an approach that has worked well for us in Lake County and I look forward to partnering with my fellow members of the Democratic State Central Committee to bring it statewide.
“Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign and stood by our side. You forever have my gratitude. I would also like to thank Lauren Beth Gash for her years of dedicated service to the district and our party. Her continued engagement in this work will be welcomed and is needed.”
Senator Bush won the race for Democratic State Central Committeeperson for the Tenth District by 247 votes. She won 60% of the vote in McHenry County, 55% of the vote in Lake County, and 31% of the vote in Cook County.
NEW: by Cook PVI℠, four more districts shifted from R-leaning to D-leaning in redistricting than vice versa (17 to 13). But because Ds hold most seats in both categories, Rs have more pickup opportunities from revamped lines. https://t.co/AffIOzAvbVpic.twitter.com/eo8W90Y0OJ
NEW: after redistricting, the number of hyper-competitive House seats (Cook PVI℠ between D+3 and R+3) has declined from 51 to 45, our lowest count ever. Full report: https://t.co/AffIOzAvbVpic.twitter.com/9GiB63pcoO
NEW: the entire decline in competitive House seats from redistricting is attributable to GOP gerrymanders (esp. TX and GA), whereas swing seats *increased* in Dem-controlled states and held steady in court/commission-drawn states. Full report: https://t.co/AffIOzAvbVpic.twitter.com/TnherK4HS2
Ed Burke was indicted in May of 2019. I know COVID and all, but 4 1/2 years from charges to trial is long even for a federal political corruption case. https://t.co/URb7njM7jP
In his nearly 14 years as a state legislator State Rep Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) built an excellent reputation in Springfield. He was liked and respected by his colleagues regardless of party and ideological disposition. He was an active legislator who studied issues and liked to talk about policy.
He was more accessible to the news media than most state legislators and he chaired the House Revenue and Finance Committee and was close to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
But all of that didn’t translate into enough votes for Zalewski in last month’s primary election as the seven-term incumbent was defeated in the Democratic primary in the 21st District by challenger Abdelnasser Rashid, who won just over 52 percent of the vote in an extremely low-turnout election.
Zalewski was beaten badly on his home turf in Riverside, where he has lived for the past 12 years. He only received 40.2 percent of the vote in the Riverside portion of his district, which includes all of Riverside north of the BNSF railroad tracks. Zalewski didn’t even win the Riverside Township’s 10th Precinct, where he lives, getting only 42 percent of the vote.
Whew.
I checked and Reps. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie) and Kathy Willis (D-Addison) both won their home precincts.
Federal health officials say the COVID-19 risk level has fallen from “high” to “medium” in Chicago and suburban Cook County — but across Illinois, hospitals are admitting the most patients they’ve seen with the virus in almost five months.
And residents are still being urged to mask up when gathering indoors in more than two-thirds of counties statewide, including most of the Chicago area.
The latest troubling numbers were released Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which reported 1,309 people hospitalized with the coronavirus, the most since Feb. 21, when the state was subsiding from its worst resurgence of the pandemic. At least 149 of the latest patients are receiving intensive care, the most since the first week of March.
Hospital admissions have more than doubled since mid-April, following a steady increase in cases since the early spring — a trend playing out in most other parts of the country, too.
To put this into perspective, the all-time hospitalization high was 7,353 on January 10. The previous spike saw hospitalizations hit 6,175 on November 20, 2020. And yes, they went way down this year after the massive Omicron wave infected a kabillion people and more folks got their shots and boosters.
Tellingly, not a single expert was quoted to back up the paper’s hospitalization hype.
ICU usage is also still relatively low. The all-time high was 1,290 on April 28, 2020. Today, it’s 134.
* Remember, this was all an exercise in preventing our hospital system from being overrun. They’re not doing great (for lots of reasons), but they’re currently not being inundated and I’ve yet to see one expert warning that such a thing was imminent or even likely. We have vaccines. We have treatments. And lots of people have been previously infected (more than once). It’s always good to take care of yourselves and others. Use some common sense and don’t be an idiot.
But, if we ever do see a fast-spreading variant that evades vaccines as well as antibodies from prior infections and forces hospitalizations up in a scary way, it’s possible, even probable, that fewer people will believe the danger because of “Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’” stories like that one.
…Adding… Again, people need to use common sense and continue to use caution in congregate settings…
The Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases among its veterans and staff. Based on robust rapid testing and the support of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) laboratories, in quick succession the Department identified 16 residents and 10 staff positive for COVID-19. Most of the positive residents are presenting with mild symptoms. However, in the last several days, four veterans were transported to the emergency department out of an abundance of caution. Two veterans remain hospitalized for conditions unrelated to COVID-19 symptoms.
All the residents who tested positive have been moved to the negative pressure isolation unit and are being closely monitored and cared for by dedicated Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) personnel. All positive residents have received at least two doses of the vaccine, and 11 of the 16 veterans are up to date with their boosters. A staff physician is assessing residents’ need for anti-viral post exposure medication. Quincy staff are in close communication with the families and loved ones of the residents in the isolation unit.
“Our top priority remains the health and safety of our military veterans and the dedicated IDVA staff who care for them,” said IDVA Director Terry Prince. “The Department continues to adhere to current regulations and is receiving assistance from the local health department and the IDPH. We are grateful to our team for remaining highly vigilant for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and for responding swiftly, appropriately, and professionally to any potential cases.”
Protocols include continuing daily health screenings of our veterans, rapid COVID-19 testing of staff at shift change and regular testing of residents, use of N-95 respirator masks with eye protection, maintaining social-distancing practices, using gloves and gowns, and intensified cleaning and disinfection protocols. During an outbreak, residents are encouraged to stay in their rooms to minimize movement within the facility. IDPH and the Department’s Infection Control Specialist have been on site, working with the Quincy team to ensure staff compliance with our infection control directives, COVID testing, and care of our veterans.
Communal dining and activities have been curtailed in the affected areas until the outbreak ends. Activities and social services staff continue to provide leisure activities, in accordance with social distancing practices, to care for the psychosocial wellbeing of our veterans. Visitation is allowed to continue, per CDC guidelines however, families have been notified that we are in outbreak status and that rescheduling visitation should be considered.
Governor JB Pritzker has appointed Dr. Sameer Vohra, a distinguished pediatrician and healthcare policy expert, to lead the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) beginning August 1. Dr. Vohra, the Founding Chair of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s (SIU-SOM) Department of Population Science and Policy, follows Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who stepped down in March after leading IDPH and the State of Illinois through the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m proud to announce the Illinois Department of Public Health’s next visionary leader: Dr. Sameer Vohra,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Dr. Vohra is accomplished in every sense of the word. His experience and education transcend sectors and fields, bringing a well-rounded perspective to this agency. As a leader in state and national health policy, I have absolute confidence in Dr. Vohra’s ability to continue shaping a stronger IDPH for the 21st century.”
Dr. Vohra is a general pediatrician who holds degrees in law and public policy. He is a cross-disciplinary leader in state and national health policy formulation, and his recent focus has been on improving health outcomes in Central and Southern Illinois. An Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Public Health, Medical Humanities, and Law at SIU-SOM, he currently serves the State of Illinois as the Interim Chair of the Children’s Mental Health Partnership.
He completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago and earned a Master of Arts in public policy from the University of Chicago. He holds a medical doctorate from SIU-SOM; a juris doctorate from SIU School of Law graduating first in his class; and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and science in human culture with honors from Northwestern University.
“I am humbled that the Governor has entrusted me to serve the people of our State as the 20th Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health,” said Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Governor Pritzker, along with the dedicated staff of IDPH, have served our State admirably during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am honored to lead this agency into the future, continuing to keep us safe from emerging illnesses, supporting our public health workers, and promoting wellness in every community across Illinois.”
Dr. Vohra also serves on IDPH’s Illinois State Board of Health, the Illinois Medicaid Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, and recently completed a term on the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund Steering Committee. He has previously served on national committees for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American Medical Association, and on the Board of Trustees for the Illinois State Medical Society and Chicago Medical Society.
He has received numerous honors including a United States Fulbright Scholarship in 2009, an American Medical Association Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Leadership Award in 2014, and was named an Edgar Fellow in 2016 as one of 40 emerging political and policy leaders in Illinois. In 2020, he was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar, chosen by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Clinton Presidential Center, the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, and the LBJ Foundation.
Since Dr. Ezike’s departure, IDPH has been led on an interim basis by Amaal Tokars, PhD., the department’s Assistant Director.
“It has been my great honor to serve the people of Illinois and Governor Pritzker as leader of IDPH during this interim period at a time when we are facing public health challenges on a number of fronts,” said Dr. Amaal Tokars, who will remain as IDPH Assistant Director, having served in that capacity since June 2020. “I applaud Governor Pritzker’s appointment of Dr. Vohra, a distinguished leader in the healthcare policy arena who is well-known among Illinois stakeholders for his expertise and dedication to improving health outcomes and addressing healthcare disparities that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
IDPH has 200 different programs that benefit each state resident and visitor. With the assistance of local public health agencies, these essential programs and services make up Illinois’ public health system, a system that forms a frontline defense against disease through preventive measures and education.
…Adding… ISMS…
Statement attributable to Clarence W. Brown Jr., MD, JD, President, Illinois State Medical Society:
“The Illinois State Medical Society is pleased to see long-time member Dr. Sameer Vohra appointed to lead the Illinois Department of Public Health. Dr. Vohra is a true public health advocate and is an excellent choice as the next leader of this vital department. Congratulations Dr. Vohra! Your physician colleagues know the citizens of Illinois are in good hands with you looking out for their health and well-being.”
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes it unlawful to deliver, sell, or purchase or cause to be delivered, sold, or purchased or cause to be possessed by another, an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge. Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly possess an assault weapon, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge 300 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, except possession of weapons registered with the Illinois State Police in the time provided. Provides exemptions and penalties. Prohibits delivery, sale, purchase or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices. Provides exemptions and penalties.
Full text is here. The bill now has more than 50 co-sponsors.
* The Question: Do you support this bill? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
Domestic violence continued to surge in Chicago and across Illinois in 2021, while pandemic-based isolation and economic uncertainty made it harder for victims to get help, a new report released Monday states.
A statewide domestic violence hotline received nearly 30,000 calls in 2021, up [9%], and the number of murders and shootings involving domestic relations in Chicago increased nearly two-thirds from 2020, according to the “Measuring Safety: Gender-based Violence in Illinois” by The Network, a Chicago-based advocacy organization. […]
Despite the increase in calls to domestic violence hotlines from Chicago residents, the number of cases reported to police fell by 5% in 2021, to around 151,000 reported incidents. The decline likely doesn’t represent a downturn in abuse, given the surge in domestic-related shootings, Farrell said, but probably results from a sense of futility by victims. Victims interviewed by study authors reported feeling ignored by Chicago Police, and CPD made arrests in only about 5% of domestic violence calls, a decline of 15% from 2020 and more than a third from 2020.
One positive finding of the report was a marked increase in funding for domestic violence services, which included $35 million allotted by Chicago to address gender-based violence and human trafficking, and $71 million in state funding for domestic violence services.
Sustain Increased Financial Investments in Direct Services
The City of Chicago and State of Illinois recently made new investments in services for gender-based violence which will help service providers expand and improve their programs. These increased investments must be sustained and built on moving forward.
Increase Awareness of, and Connection to, Community-Based Resources
Many survivors reported being unaware of the services available. It is vital that awareness of these resources is raised so survivors can access the services they need.
Increase Gender Based Violence Data Collection and Availability
Many factors connected to gender-based violence are still unknown due to limited data collection. The Network encourages those within all systems who interact with survivors to accurately record information from these interactions that can be utilized for research.
Prioritize Gender-Based Violence Services Over Other Systems of Response
As this report highlights, the majority of survivors receive the strongest support from direct service providers. As officials look to address increasing rates of gender-based violence, emphasis must be placed on these service providers which continue to provide a positive impact on survivors.
* This is legal, but the Chicago FOP president is still gonna have to explain to his members why he spent their cash to help a losing candidate pay back a loan to herself after the election…
This is also one reason why the Chicago FOP funneled $50,000 through a newly formed PAC "United Working Taxpayers" to run negative campaign mailers against Jones' opponent.
— The People's Fabric (@peoplesfabric) July 11, 2022
Jones was clobbered by Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago).
Bailey made national headlines after his comment on the Highland Park mass shooting that left seven dead. Bailey said, “let’s move on and celebrate the independence of this nation”. He later apologized for his comments.
“No, I apologized for that and as a matter of fact that was taken out of context,” said Bailey
THIS RACE IS GETTING WEIRD: Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Dan Brady may face another opponent on the ballot for secretary of state. His name is (drum roll) Jesse White, a Libertarian, who shouldn’t be confused with Democrat Jesse White, who has held the job for 20-plus years.
We discussed a State Journal-Register story about the Jesse White development way back in January.
Democrat Paul Lange, running for Congress in a district that gave Donald Trump 72 percent of the vote in 2020, knows he’s something less than a longshot against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, who bulldozed another incumbent Republican two weeks ago.
“I think I have a chance,” said the Quincy man who last ran for public office (and lost) as a candidate for state representative in 1994 and 1996. “Is it a large chance? No. But you know, I grew up a fan of the Baltimore Colts and the Baltimore Orioles.” […]
Lange said he isn’t relying on state or national Democratic committees to support his campaign.
He’s not “relying” on them because they’re not going to give him any money. Donald Trump won the district by 38.6 percentage points in 2020 and 38.1 percent in 2016. Bruce Rauner won it by 26 percent. The only statewide Democrat to eke out a victory was Jesse White (the real one, not the Libertarian). JW won by 3.2 percentage points in 2018. All of this reliable data is easily accessible online.
* This is the most Dan Lipinski thing ever. Gin up lots of favorable news media coverage, allow volunteers to collect thousands of signatures and oops…
Lipinski said the law didn’t play into his decision not to run. “I was told a challenge would very likely prevail,” he told Playbook. “And challenging the law would demonstrate how the system is rigged by the two parties against independents.”
* You really can fool some of the people all of the time with nonsense…
* Related…
* Major fundraising underdogs among challengers to unseat incumbents: “You know, I don’t want to say, well, Madigan would have won it and Welch didn’t sort of thing,” Redfield said. “Because you can’t ever go back. Madigan, a couple of cycles ago, you’d be shocked.”
The woman found guilty of bombing a mosque in Minnesota was sentenced on Monday to charges in Illinois.
Emily Claire Hari, formerly known as Michael Hari, is the leader of an Illinois anti-government militia group that authorities say masterminded the 2017 bombing of a Minnesota mosque. […]
On Feb. 9, 2022, Hari pleaded guilty to attempted arson charges in the 2017 attack on the Women’s Health Practice, a women’s clinic in Champaign, Illinois.
On Monday, Hari was sentenced to a total of 14 years behind bars.
Emily Claire Hari, formerly known as Michael B. Hari, 50, of the 200 block of First Street in Clarence, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence, attempted arson, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Sentencing for Hari has been scheduled on June 13, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
In court before Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, Hari admitted guilt to all four charges contained in the indictment. During the hearing, the government stated that, during the latter part of 2017, Hari started a militia group, which called itself the “Patriot Freedom Fighters,” and which sometime later went by the nickname the “White Rabbits.” In addition to Hari, who served as its founder and leader, the militia group included convicted conspirators Michael McWhorter, Joe Morris, Ellis J. Mack, and Wesley Johnson. Around the latter part of 2017, the conspirators began engaging in repeated criminal acts of violence, which they referred to as “jobs.” As part of their militia activities, the conspirators obtained materials used to make incendiary devices, provided weapons and uniforms to the conspirators, and assigned rank to the conspirators To assist in their militia activities, the conspirators acquired and/or assembled four shotguns and four assault rifles, some of which were fully automatic. The weapons, as well as thermite (a pyrotechnic composition), were stored in a locked safe in the militia group’s “office” in Clarence.
On November 7, 2017, Hari, McWhorter, Morris, and Johnson travelled to the Women’s Health Practice located in Champaign, Illinois. The Women’s Health Practice provided medical services at that location and purchased and distributed medical supplies. The conspirators went to the Women’s Health Practice for the purpose of using an incendiary device (i.e., a pipe bomb) constructed by Hari to set the building on fire. Hari rented a truck in which the conspirators traveled to the Women’s Health Practice. Once there, Morris broke a window and placed the pipe bomb in the building; the pipe bomb did not ignite, however. On the morning of November 7, 2017, a receptionist at the Women’s Health Practice found the pipe bomb on the floor and called law enforcement officers.
* Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering urge President Biden to push federal action on guns: During his remarks to hundreds of guests on the South Lawn, Biden acknowledged Rotering and Pritkzer and thanked them for their response to the July 4 shooting, which authorities say was carried out with a legally purchased semi-automatic rifle. “We had a number of conversations immediately after the attack in Highland Park, and I’ve been impressed with the way they’ve handled things,” Biden said. “It’s been extraordinary. And as the three of us have discussed, we have more to do.”
* Pritzker, other Illinois officials call for more action on gun control at White House event: The new law “will make a difference,” the governor said. “But there is so much more to do. We need an assault weapons ban. We need a ban on high-capacity magazines. The president indicated he will be fighting for that as well. We’re grateful for that.” Asked whether there was legitimate interest in going further than the new law, Pritzker said, “Are you kidding me? I think there is a lot of interest in getting more done. Whether or not they can bring enough Republicans along is a question. Whether or not you have to wait until after November when maybe there will be more pro-gun safety Democrats in the Senate and the House, that may be the case. But for many of us, the fight goes on.”
* Gov. Pritzker pushes president for assault weapons ban: “Well, we expressed to the President our desire to see more done at the federal level, particularly a ban on assault weapons ban on high capacity magazines,” said Gov. Pritzker. “He agrees that more needs to be done and he is passionate about this.”
* Highland Park mayor, Gov. Pritzker visit White House: “We all share a love of freedom. We all share a love of helping our children grow up in a clean and safe society. We also love and share an appreciation for our first responders. Our first responders are out gunned by these combat weapons,” Rotering said. “I think if people listen to what has happened week, after week, after week, in our communities and recognize that this is not what our freedom was fought for. We are, in fact, going in reverse.”
* Highland Park mayor, Gov. Pritzker call for federal assault weapons ban: The legislation will also help states put in place red flag laws that make it simpler for members of law enforcement to take weapons away from people believed to be dangerous. “So the parent, a teacher, a counselor can flag for the court that a child is a danger to themselves and to others,” said the president.
Republican nominee for governor and State Senator Darren Bailey has called for special sessions to address rising crime, inflation, mental health issues, and taxes in Illinois. Unfortunately, instead of acting swiftly to address these issues, Pritzker is again running from his failures to enforce current laws and his pro-criminal agenda that puts Illinois families and jobs in jeopardy to campaign for president in Washington, D.C. Darren Bailey released the following statement:
“J.B. Pritzker is in D.C. hobnobbing with his elite friends when he should be home answering for his soft on crime bills, like the no cash bail and the so-called SAFE-T Act. This morning six men were in a shootout in the South Loop, which is starting to look like the O.K. Corral. Families and jobs are fleeing daily due to rising crime and taxes. This is all on your watch, Pritzker. Stop running for president, J.B., and do your job. It’s time to provide relief, catch criminals and keep families safe. Lives depend on it.”
The scenario is straightforward: Pres. Joe Biden resigns “for health reasons” or is pushed out of office. Vice President Kamala Harris thereby becomes president and, under the 25th Amendment, submits her nominee for a new vice president to Congress, who takes office if approved by both houses by majority vote.
Who would be that nominee?
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker now appears as likely a possibility as anybody, provided you see it through the lens of progressives now in charge. […]
Many Illinoisans will find it absurd to think of Pritzker as a presidential or vice-presidential prospect. That’s because his chances of winning in a general election are an entirely different story. But from the viewpoint of progressives at the national level who dominate the Democratic Party, it’s not absurd.
…Adding… Press release…
The Senate Judiciary Committee released Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton’s prepared testimony during today’s hearing entitled “A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision.” Stratton is the first Black woman to serve as Illinois’s Lieutenant Governor, a position she has held since 2019. Her testimony focuses on the steps that Illinois has taken to protect access to abortion, the challenges of out-of-state patients coming to Illinois to seek care, and the significant racial disparities that already exist for abortion access and maternal mortality.
Key quotes as prepared:
“I come before you today because people throughout the entire Midwest are relying on our commitment to protect and preserve women’s rights—namely the right to an abortion.”
“[Illinois is] not just an oasis of reproductive care, but an island… It looks like disenfranchised yet determined patients coming from every surrounding state, but also from as far away as Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. It looks like the entire staff in our state’s abortion clinics fielding phone calls for appointments because the number of out-of-state patients has doubled since Roe V Wade was overturned.”
“[W]e know that inequities are amplified within the Black and Latinx communities. A post-Roe America will be devastating for Black women, whose maternal mortality rate is already two to three times higher than that of white women because of structural racism and misogyny. One study… projects that without access to safe and legal abortions, that number will increase by over 30 percent among Black women and nearly 20 percent for Hispanic women.”
“We are facing a future rife with needless death, despite 61% of Americans believing abortion should be legal… Before the threats to Roe V Wade were fully realized, Illinois was proactive, upholding bodily autonomy, and protecting the right to an abortion. And still, the overturning of Roe V Wade has sent us down a dark, agonizing path.”
“I say this, not just as the Lt. Governor of Illinois, but as the mother of four daughters. My daughters, who now have fewer rights than I had. And based on Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion, it is likely this may not be the last rights that will be stripped from future generations.”
Full text of Lt. Gov. Stratton’s prepared remarks are available here.
Full hearing on the impact of gun violence on children can be watched live here; on Twitter here; and on Facebook here.
