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Morning briefing
Wednesday, Dec 7, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What do you guys think of this takeaway from a Republican legislator?…
* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs amendment to criminal justice overhaul weeks before cash bail set to end: Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed into law changes to a controversial criminal justice overhaul that will eliminate cash bail beginning Jan. 1, making good on assurances he gave during his successful reelection campaign that the measure would be tweaked. * WGEM | Illinois saw fourth lowest midterm turnout in past 40 years: e Illinois State Board of Elections certified the 2022 Midterm Election results Monday. State officials said 4.1 million ballots were cast, even though Illinois has 8.1 million registered voters. ISBE noted that it was the fourth lowest turnout for a midterm election in the last 40 years. * Tribune | Nearly 4 in 10 ballots were cast in Illinois before Election Day: Nearly 4 in 10 Illinois voters cast their Nov. 8 general election ballots before Election Day last month, reflecting an increasing trend toward voting by mail and early voting, the Illinois State Board of Elections said. * Triibe | Voting by mail is becoming increasingly popular in Chicago: “The feedback that we’ve gotten indicates that people prefer voting by mail because there’s a paper ballot, they’ve got all the time to research the candidates and offices, and there’s a tracking process that comes with it,” Chicago Board of Elections (CBOE) Director of Public Information Max Bever told The TRiiBE. “And even if their vote-by-mail ballots are rejected for some reason, they can still vote in person.” * Shaw Local | Will County Board Republicans elect board leader when Democrat leaves meeting: The board is now evenly split 11-11 between the parties. But County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, has a tie-breaking vote. That small advantage was not available to Democrats when Board Member Denise Winfrey, D-Joliet, left before the leadership vote. Republicans were able to make Ogalla the board chair in a 11-10 vote. * Daily Herald | Holiday displays — including the Satanic Temple’s — return to Illinois Capitol: On Tuesday “Minister Adam” of the Satanic Temple of Illinois, who declined to share his last name for security purposes, was joined by about 15 Temple members to dedicate this year’s display. It consists of a crocheted snake sitting on a book and a pile of apples crocheted by Temple members. “Every year, we do a holiday display and a show of unity and religious pluralism within the state Capitol rotunda,” Adam said. “And this year, we wanted to focus on the book bans that people have been trying to do all over the country.” * Tribune | Decades later, after the Navy solved identification mysteries, Illinois veterans’ remains come home from Pearl Harbor: With his burial in November, Tipsword is among dozens of Pearl Harbor veterans who have been identified and brought home to be reburied with loved ones. Through new DNA techniques, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has been able to sort through remains that were long considered unidentifiable. * Rep. Maura Hirschauer | Illinois lawmakers have a moral obligation to pass gun safety bill: Before I was a state representative, I was a volunteer and community leader with Moms Demand Action. My work with that organization informs my daily commitment to making sure that no parent drops their children off at school and fears they might not see them alive again, and that no person looks for active shooters in the grocery aisle, church pew or parade route. * Crain’s | How liberal is Illinois’ Legislature? A conservative PAC grades lawmakers.: CPAC’s Center for Legislative Accountability, working with the American Conservative Union Foundation, released its annual list of how members of the 50 state legislatures voted on issues for 2021. And while Illinois is not going to be mixed up with Alabama anytime soon, the list suggests Illinois isn’t as blue as you’d think. * Crain’s | Here’s the ballot order for the mayoral race: Community activist and entrepreneur Ja’Mal Green will be the first name Chicago voters see on the ballot in the crowded race for mayor—if he survives a petition challenge that could knock him off entirely. The Chicago Board of Elections held a lottery Tuesday to determine the coveted top position. All candidates who filed their nominating petitions before 9 a.m. on the first day of filing were eligible. * Sun-Times | Single-family lending drives neighborhood disparities, new report finds: A report from the Urban Institute finds that the more Black residents who live in a Chicago neighborhood, the less investment the area saw compared with predominantly white neighborhoods. * Tribune | CPS officials defend firing of Lincoln Park High ex-principal in federal trial stemming from ousted official’s lawsuit: Nearly three years after a scandal erupted at Lincoln Park High School that led to the ouster of the principal and other leaders, top Chicago Public Schools officials are having to defend their handling of the situation from the witness stand of a federal courtroom. * WTTW | CTA Works to Tackle Huge Staffing Shortfall, Improve Service and Draw Back Riders Before Stimulus Funding Runs Out: “Our constituents depend on CTA like their life depends on it,” Ald. Jeanette Taylor said at a recent City Council hearing on CTA service. “There’s a domino effect when CTA is not at its best.” * ABC 7 | CTA bus schedule disruptions are more common on South Side routes, data shows: The CTA blames the service disruptions on a staffing shortage and absenteeism. The CTA has roughly 1,000 vacancies across various frontline positions, but the majority of open positions are bus operators. The agency said that routes that come out of garages with higher rates of unplanned absenteeism are seeing the most service disruptions. Bus operator unplanned absenteeism system-wide is 14.5%, according to CTA data. * Chicago Block Club | Fake DoorDash Accounts Are Scamming Local Eateries And Customers: For weeks, customers would come to the Chatham bakery at 328 E. 75th St. with a receipt from the online food delivery platform, saying they’d paid for orders, owner Stephanie Hart said. Her employees would serve the desserts, not thinking anything of a receipt from a “legit company” such as DoorDash, she said. * Sun-Times | Online petition calls for School of the Art Institute to rescind Ye’s honorary degree: An online petition calls on the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to rescind the honorary doctorate it awarded the artist Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
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- Future - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:16 am:
Re- Rs not wanting term limits anymore.. “Things change.”- Dwight Yoakam. Keicher must like the GA and not want to leave lol
- Ok - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:17 am:
Given the low pay of legislators in relation to their responsibility, many see serving in the legislature as more of a lobbyist pre-apprenticeship program.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:18 am:
–But County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, has a tie-breaking vote.–
She’s the one who created the map that led to a breakeven board, in comparison to the democratic majority previously enjoyed.
Maybe now people will start to notice her voting record, and actions, do not often match her claimed party platform.
She’s a D, like Jim Glasgow is a D.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:39 am:
I agree that for the most part it’s not an issue. But I oppose term limits in general. We have elections. Those are our term limits
- Rabid - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:46 am:
incredible turnover lost 5 seats and 2 incumbents
- Future - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:47 am:
“Low pay” don’t disagree but their salary goes further than most. How many meals are compd for them every year, how many junkets paid for. Maybe they need another part time, as long as it isn’t property tax appeals or lobbying other branches of govt don’t care what they do
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:52 am:
===Given the low pay of legislators in relation to their responsibility===
Can you cite Illinois legislators’ pay as compared to the other 49 states.
I find it odd that in one breath folks champion the “sacrifices of service” yet the idea of what service means to compensation, then put in where Illinois legislators fall…
Cite where Illinois falls in legislative pay.
Thanks.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:53 am:
=We have elections. Those are our term limits=
Yep.
- SouthernCentrist - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:55 am:
He’s right - not really an issue here. I’m opposed to term limits for legislators in general, but we especially don’t need them here. Kind of funny how the state GOP dropped ‘WE NEED TERM LIMITS NOW’ almost entirely when Madigan left the legislature.
- Will County GOP Guy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:57 am:
Thanks Denise Winfrey! Enjoy your trip!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 8:57 am:
Another voice, as I’ve been in complete agreement in this, Illinois does not need term limits.
Elections are term limits.
If chambers want limits in leadership, that’s a whole different can with far different works you’re opening.
- Southside Sweeney - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:01 am:
@TheInvisibleMan are you implying that Bertino-Tarrant has control over a grown adult choosing to leave the most important meeting of the year for the County Board? Leaving her Party and Caucus Members flailing in the wind.
Ms. Winfrey is entirely at fault here. Imagine showing up to a “leadership” conference and having to explain this to them. Really sad, all because she was not chosen to be Speaker it sounds like.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:06 am:
Don’t need term limits. Just pull out a Blue Book from ten years ago and see how many of those lawmakers will return to the GA on January 11th.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:22 am:
If the president of the National Association of Counties is this bad at her job as a local county board member, perhaps the Association should rethink its leadership.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:29 am:
Did Winfrey yell And you get a board chair and you get a board chair………. on her way out?
- Jay Young - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:33 am:
NCSL surveys state legislator comp each year, and, in 2022, Illinois ranked #7 nationally.
Different states, different legislative calendars, so not really apples to apples.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:40 am:
===Different states, different legislative calendars, so not really apples to apples.===
Now do “part time legislators”
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:47 am:
–are you implying that Bertino-Tarrant has control over a grown adult–
No, I’m implying because I said it directly, that she drew the map that allowed this to even be an issue in the first place. In comparison to the solid majority the D caucus enjoyed prior to her redrawing the map.
Read what I say, not what you think I say.
Now the county has someone who was strongly pushing back on vaccines during a pandemic, and supported the Jan 6 crowd, as the county chair.
This is exactly why she is a poor county executive. The end results matter.
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:52 am:
The average and median term lengths are fine. There may be some angst with outliers: Flowers, Hoffman, and Durkin, whose service began 1985-95.
But, the real issue was always Madigan’s power. They wanted him out, and term limits for the GA was the easiest drum to beat. Term limits for leadership just did not have the same catchy appeal to voters and funders.
- Because I said so... - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 9:58 am:
@TheInvisibleMan, you saying JBT supported the Jan. 6th crowd. How did she do that and what proof do you have?
- Leigh John-Ella - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:01 am:
– Different states, different legislative calendars, so not really apples to apples.–
Add different roles to the list.
The responsibilities of the legislative branch vary from state to state. Not all are on a co-equal constitutional footing. Some function as more of an advising, yes/no authority on a strong executive branch.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:01 am:
–you saying JBT supported the Jan. 6th crowd–
No. You are saying that. Will county politicos seem to have a hard time reading.
Is JBT the county chair?
Come back to this discussion when you know the difference between the county chair, and the county executive.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:04 am:
The board chair shennanigans remind me of a classic Lincoln story where he had to jump out a window to, if I recall correctly, prevent a successful quorum call for a vote he didn’t want to take.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:04 am:
So, one GOP legislator not suffering from the long haul effects of Madigan Derangement Syndrome?
- Jay Young - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:05 am:
===Now do “part time legislators”===
Ok. There are 11 states where legislators spend more than two-thirds of their time as full time legislators. Avg comp = $82,358.
There are 14 states where legislators spend less than half of their time on legislating. Avg comp = $18,449.
Avg comp for the rest was $41,110.
- Techie - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:06 am:
Slightly off-topic, but given how many others are discussing legislators’ pay, it does seem odd to me that they make about $65,000 per year - I don’t know if that includes reimbursement for hotel stays or transportation. If not, that’s really not a lot of money for people whom we expect to focus on doing an important, difficult task on behalf of the public.
- Southside Sweeney - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:06 am:
-The end result matters-
There is absolutely a legitimate debate to be had regarding the final Will County Board map and if the party did enough to help Democrats.
BUT, The fact is Ms. Winfrey made a choice not to be at that vote. The map, no matter what one thinks of it, was drawn in a way that still kept the “power” with Democrats…that is until Ms. Winfrey decided to turn her back on her Party, Caucus Members, and Constituent.
A very selfish decision by a so called “leader”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:08 am:
The top five states with the highest-paid base legislative salaries are:
California - $119,702/year
New York - $110,000/year
Pennsylvania - $95,432/year
Michigan - $71,685/year
Illinois - $70,645/year
- Lurker - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:13 am:
I’m glad this PAC discovered Illinois is not as liberal as perceived. They could have just read OW comments for the last 10 years and known that was the case.
- Ok - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:27 am:
I never said in comparison to their peers, I said in relation to their responsibility.
You have legislators making decisions that involve million- and billion-dollar impacts to businesses, and are surrounded by lobbyists making half a million or a million-plus. They look across the table and say, I can do that and be much better off.
Long-gone are the days of legislators as “part-time” roles. Most will tell you it is their full-time job.
Very few are there for the long-haul unless they have a flexible cozy job on the other side (lawyer), or are independently wealthy. I only know of a handful that put in all the hours and don’t have other jobs or independent wealth.
So, you effectively create a system where the wealthy, lawyers, and lobbyist-in-training are the dominant type.
How is that good for policy?
- SweetLou86 - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:30 am:
Even if we didn’t have pretty healthy turnover (it’s pretty wild that Will Guzzardi, at just 35 years old and 4 terms in, is now in the elder half of the democratic caucus in terms of years served) I would still argue that term limits are bad and that legislator pay should be higher side when adjusting for regional cost of living. We want legislators who are invested in learning the ins-and-outs of various public policies. We want them to know how complex regulations work. Otherwise, the people who will know these things are the lobbyists who don’t have term limits. Without legislators who know the business, state government becomes dependent on lobbyists for basic functions and no one should want that.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:32 am:
===I said in relation to their responsibility.===
Isn’t running a state… running a state… from one of three branches of government?
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
- Winston Churchill
===Long-gone are the days of legislators as “part-time” roles. Most will tell you it is their full-time job.
Very few are there for the long-haul unless they have a flexible cozy job on the other side (lawyer), or are independently wealthy. I only know of a handful that put in all the hours and don’t have other jobs or independent wealth.
So, you effectively create a system where the wealthy, lawyers, and lobbyist-in-training are the dominant type.
How is that good for policy?===
“Citizen - Legislator”, amirite?
I really don’t understand your beef.
There are 45 other legislative bodies in America with lower base compensation
- Ok - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:41 am:
I mean… The beef is simple. Increase the pay so more normal people can afford to be legislators AND support their family, and to reduce the revolving door to lobbying.
Totally cool if they make it a Tiered system where new legislators make more than the current bunch.
- MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:43 am:
“Community activist and entrepreneur Ja’Mal Green will be the first name Chicago voters see on the ballot in the crowded race for mayor—if he survives a petition challenge that could knock him off entirely.”
And if he’s bumped, Ald. Sophia King, 4th, the only woman in the field challenging incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, will move to the top.
So it sure looks like it’s in the best interests of every other candidate to try to disqualify Mr. Green’s petitions.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:45 am:
===Increase the pay so more normal people can afford to be legislators AND support their family, and to reduce the revolving door to lobbying.===
What are the median and average income numbers for a family of four in Illinois?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:46 am:
(Sigh)
This alone…
===Totally cool if they make it a Tiered system where new legislators make more than the current bunch.===
Explain compensation for committee chairs and committee spokesmen (ranking minority on a committee) … and caucus leadership.
- H-W - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:49 am:
Allow me to be the odd duck here.
Elections are not open to everyone in a district. Elections are run by two parties, and those who get to run represent parties, largely. They are the party players. In this context, suggesting elections are term limits, suggests elections are open to the people. They are not. Independents do not win. Only Republican and Democratic faithful win.
Second, I’ll ask again. How does the retirement system work for legislators? Is it based on years of service, or just having served?
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:51 am:
–was drawn in a way that still kept the “power” with Democrats–
On paper. If you think JBT is a democrat, and would be an advantage to the democratic caucus in a tie-breaker.
She was also in the senate. Where she voted against cannabis decriminalization and legalization, and didn’t bother to vote at all for womens rights in HB40.
I’m going by her voting record and actions, not her declared party. Here’s her voting record on HB40, as I stated above;
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/100/senate/10000HB0040_05102017_001000T.pdf
Under the balance of power prior to her newly drawn map, Ms. Winfrey leaving the meeting wouldn’t have had any impact at all.
The position of board chair, is now a direct result of the new maps drawn by the supposed democratic county executive.
Take your pick, she can’t control her own caucus for an important vote, or she drew the map that allowed that to even become an issue in the first place. This outcome is a reflection on the county executive no matter how hard the deflectors try to pass blame elsewhere.
- Ok - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 10:57 am:
Google is your friend.
I don’t understand your beef. You imply they get paid enough, which is fine. Literally just two different opinions with no empirical right answer.
Given my personal experiences and the repeated bad behavior of legislators, it will take a lot for you to convince me that the low pay relative to the financial decisions they make (my original point) creates problems, among those problems is a functional limitation on who can and is willing to be a legislator, and the enticement to become a lobbyist. Both lead to bad policy.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 11:01 am:
===Given my personal experiences and the repeated bad behavior of legislators, it will take a lot for you to convince me===
Anecdotal belief that can’t be bridged by facts presented?
Are you my in-law uncle?
:)
Welp, good luck to you.
- South side cubs fan - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 11:02 am:
InvisibleMan you are correct. The county board map that JBT drew was a complete political failure. It should have been 16-6 democrat. I have no idea what went through her head.
That map (drawn by her), the foolish Dems on the county board that voted for it, and the meeting on Thursday, we a total and complete political failure that exposes the incompetence of the Will County dem party. BTW, the Dems on the board could have left, leaving the Rams without a quorum, and the blew it on that too.
Now Will County has a board chairman who refused to wear masks in public and is a resident of the fringe side of the R party.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Dec 7, 22 @ 11:19 am:
–The county board map that JBT drew was a complete political failure.–
It really hit home for me, literally. My house was previously in a district which made sense. It contained a lot of the areas I did business in locally, as well as contained many of the boards and other governing bodies I live within.
The new map, now has me in the same District as parts of New Lenox (two towns over), which would take me 45mins to get to on a good day, doesn’t contain much of any of the local governing bodies I live in, and is mostly a part of the county I haven’t even set foot in in over 10 years.
It’s hard to fail this badly, unless it is intentional.