A group of University of Minnesota Law School instructors administered popular artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT four law school exams that it took alongside real students, and discovered that the bot was a C+ student on paper.
The ChatGPT bot is currently considered the world’s most advanced example of generative intelligence.
The instructors were curious about ways the bot might be used both to help students cheats and professors teach, so they decided to test its abilities.
The bot ended up with a ‘low but passing grade’ in Constitutional Law, Employee Benefits, Taxation, and Torts. All told, it wound up with a C+ average.
According to the paper, the bot came in 36th out of 40 students in Con Law, 18th out of 19 in Employee Benefits, 66th out of 67 in Tax, and dead-last out of 75 in Torts.
* A few days ago, I asked ChatGPT for some help with the blog…
Q: Summarize today’s news about Illinois government and politics.
A: I’m sorry, I don’t have the capability to provide you with today’s news as my training data only goes up to 2021 and my knowledge cut off date is 2021.
To which a friend replied in a group chat…
Oh my God, is ChatGPT Mike Madigan?!?
Heh.
* Yesterday, I thought I’d ask ChatGPT a question that might be able to provide us some humorous blog content…
What would Abraham Lincoln say to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker?
The answer was really weird. Here’s a brief excerpt…
The process of creating a podcast involves several steps:
1. Idea generation: The first step in creating a podcast is to come up with an idea for the show. This could be a topic you’re passionate about, a hobby you enjoy, or a problem you want to solve.
2. Research: Once you have an idea for your podcast, you’ll need to research the topic to ensure that it’s something people will be interested in listening to. This could involve looking at the competition, identifying gaps in the market, and talking to potential listeners.
Um, what?
* But I went back last night and that answer had mysteriously disappeared and was replaced by another one…
It is impossible to know exactly what Abraham Lincoln would say to JB Pritzker as they lived in different times and contexts. However, based on Lincoln’s speeches and writings, he likely would have emphasized the importance of preserving the Union, promoting equality and justice, and working for the betterment of all citizens.
Not great, but at least it’s on-topic.
* A suburban legislator I talked with uses ChatGPT to draft some letters and says it’s like having a world-class chef helping in the kitchen…
It’s the biggest technological innovation since at least the Internet. Will reorient almost every sector of the economy over the next 5-10 years. I don’t know what the policy implications are yet but I’m certain it will raise novel legislative issues we will need to deal with.
* Not long after that conversation, I asked ChatGPT to write a letter to an Illinois legislator’s constituent defending the state’s new assault weapons ban…
Dear Constituent,
I am writing to address your concerns about the recently passed assault weapons ban law in Illinois. I understand that this is a highly debated issue and one that many people feel strongly about. However, I firmly believe that this law is necessary for the safety and well-being of our community.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that this law does not prohibit the ownership of all firearms. It specifically targets the possession and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, which have been used in numerous mass shootings in our country. By limiting access to these types of weapons, we can reduce the risk of mass shootings and other gun-related violence in our state.
Additionally, it is important to note that this law includes a provision for current owners of assault weapons to register their firearms with the state, ensuring that they can continue to legally possess them. This is a fair and reasonable solution that allows individuals to continue to exercise their Second Amendment rights while also taking steps to protect public safety.
I understand that this law may not be popular with everyone, but I believe it is a necessary step in addressing the ongoing issue of gun violence in our country. As your representative, I am committed to working towards solutions that keep our communities safe and I believe this law is a step in the right direction.
Thank you for your understanding and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration:
Marc Smith will continue to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Smith previously served as the Executive Vice President of Foster Care and Intact Services at Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness. Prior to serving with Aunt Martha’s, Smith worked for more than two decades as a Social Worker, trainer and leader in child welfare. From 2004 to 2009, he served as a Program Administrator and Recovery Coach at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, where he managed the child welfare division. Earlier in his career, Smith worked as a Public Service Administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1993 to 2000. Smith has served on numerous boards, committees and work groups, helping to shape policies and inform best practices in leadership and in the field. Smith received his Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University and his Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The directors of IEPA, and the departments of Juvenile Justice, Labor, Insurance and Healthcare and Family Services were also reappointed.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today awarded $13 million to 30 recipients to expand the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program, which creates a qualified talent pipeline of diverse candidates in construction and the building trades. The program’s second year expands access to the program across the state and will serve up to 1,400 pre-apprentices – a 40 percent increase from the program’s inaugural year.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked today at the press conference to announce the Pre-apprenticeship Program expansion about the Chicago mayor’s race and his 22 aldermanic race endorsements…
As I said, first of all, I’m pleased to have endorsed people who are doing a good job. They’ve asked me to endorse them. I could have done it sort of one at a time. I just decided to release it all at once.
And with regard to the mayor’s race for the city of Chicago. You know, it’s very important to me that the mayor of the city, whoever that is, and the governor of the state, whoever that is at the time, work closely together. We saw what happened in previous years when we had a Gov. Rauner who couldn’t work with the Mayor of the City of Chicago, and that was not good for the city. It was not good for the state of Illinois. And so I want to make sure that a good working relationship exists. There is one now with the current mayor, but whoever wins the election, I intend to have a good relationship with them, too. And so I’m staying out of the mayor’s race, but I’m glad to support local officials who are running for public office.
* Vallas press release…
Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is continuing to build significant momentum behind his surging campaign, and he is announcing today that he has now raised more than $2 Million since January 1. The massive fundraising effort has allowed Vallas to outpace all other candidates in television advertising spending, while also building robust communications, voter outreach and organizing programs.
* Back to Gov. Pritzker. When responding to a question, he had this to say about MAP grant funding changes…
Community colleges play such a critical and important role. And when I came into office, what was happening was we had MAP grants that were available that we were funding and they’re available to community college students as well as university students. But because of the fiscal year and the run of the fiscal year, university students were the first ones to apply and then we would run out of money each year. Everybody else applying later than that would be out of luck. So it turns out many community college students don’t apply in the same semester that the high school students or people who are seeking to go to university apply. So we changed the way we allocated those funds. So the community colleges would benefit to a much greater degree because we need people to get engaged in the trades to learn, to earn a certificate to earn an associate degree for example. And so, again, community colleges being just as important as full four year universities.
Interesting.
* AG Raoul…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced he charged a former assistant Coles County state’s attorney with 32 counts of misconduct over interactions he had in his official capacity with three Coles County women between the ages of 18 and 35.
Formerly from Charleston, Illinois, Brady Allen, 33, now resides in Missouri but turned himself in to the Coles County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 26 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Raoul’s office charged Allen with nine counts of bribery, all Class 2 felonies; one count of witness harassment, a Class 2 felony; 21 counts of official misconduct, all Class 3 felonies; and one count of witness intimidation, a Class 3 felony. If convicted, Allen could face up to 7 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. […]
From December 2018 until he resigned in August 2020, Allen served as an assistant state’s attorney in Coles County. Raoul’s office alleges that within that time frame, Allen had inappropriate text, email, phone and social media communications that were sexual in nature with female defendants he was currently or had previously prosecuted. According to Raoul, Allen solicited sexual contact, photos and videos with an understanding that in exchange, the female defendants would receive preferential treatment in their pending criminal cases.
Even after Allen was assigned to another courtroom, Raoul alleges Allen continued to solicit sexual contact, photos and videos, suggesting to the women that he could influence his colleagues at the Coles County State’s Attorney’s office. Raoul is further alleging that once Allen’s behavior was discovered, he offered to pay one female defendant’s fines and court costs if she could convince another female defendant to not pursue claims against Allen.
* Press release…
The Park District of Tinley Park [yesterday] announced it has received support from 14 additional members of the Illinois House and Senate for its proposed plan for the site of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center and Howe Development Center to transform the long-vacant property into a hub of athletic fields, track and field facilities, a domed sports complex and open recreational space.
This week, the 14 legislators, who represent communities surrounding the Tinley Park area, sent a letter of support, including: Reps. Dagmara Avelar, Kelly Burke, Will Davis, Anthony DeLuca, Marcus Evans, Fran Hurley, Thaddeus Jones, Natalie Manley, Nick Smith, Larry Walsh, and Sens. Napoleon Harris, Patrick Joyce, Elgie Sims, and Rachel Ventura.
The Park District has also previously received the support of three legislators who represent Tinley Park: Reps. Debbie Meyers-Martin, Bob Rita, and Justin Slaughter.
Last November, the Park District formally bid on the property located at 7400-7600 W. 183rd St. and laid out its vision to meet the needs of the Tinley Park residents and expand opportunities for neighboring communities.
The Park District’s Phase 1 of development for the property includes playground and sports facilities fully accessible for people living with special needs, multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting, ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space.
In their letter this week to the Park District, the group of 14 legislators said the Park District’s Phase 1 plans would create an opportunity for people across the Midwest to attend tournaments, games and events at the site.
“Additionally, transforming this site into a place for all to enjoy addresses a critical need for many of our communities that could benefit greatly from access to more recreation opportunities,” the legislators wrote.
* Leader McCombie…
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (89th District- Savanna) announced the House Republican’s budget team on Friday, naming Deputy Leader Norine Hammond (94th District- Macomb) as Chief Budgeteer for the caucus for the 103rd General Assembly as well as announcing that Representative Amy Elik (111th District- Alton) will be elevated to Deputy Budgeteer.
“I am pleased that Deputy Leader Norine Hammond has accepted my appointment as Chief Budgeteer. Her in-depth experience in appropriations and policy makes her the perfect candidate for this important role,” said Leader Tony McCombie. “I have no doubt that she will work tirelessly to ensure that the budget benefits all citizens of Illinois and I look forward to the positive impact her input will have on the state. Furthermore, her dedication to serving the people of Illinois ensures that their needs and concerns will be considered in the budgeting process.”
As a member of the Higher Education Committee, Hammond has worked for increased funding for universities and community colleges throughout Illinois. She has successfully passed legislation to tackle the teacher shortage; keep Illinois students attending Illinois colleges and universities; and fairly fund public K-12 education. She has also been a strong advocate for procurement reform and other cost-cutting measures which keep dollars focused on strategic goals instead of overhead and administrative costs.
“Representative Amy Elik has spent the past twenty-eight years working as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor for businesses and government bodies. She is a valuable voice for sensible fiscal management and good government budgeting practices within our caucus. Representative Elik will provide critical support to the process and to Deputy Leader Hammond in improving the most important piece of legislation to come out of the State House annually,” Leader McCombie continued.
Rep. Elik has previously served on the House Republican budget team, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and other relevant financial committees which have prepared her to take on this role in the budget process.
* Press release…
To recognize the most outstanding engineering achievements and celebrate the exceptional work engineers provided to their clients in the past year, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) today launched its 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards competition titled “Engineering Works.” The award is designed to honor the best infrastructure projects in Illinois and the engineering companies behind their design and construction. The competitive process to select a winner is now open to the public to learn about the projects and vote to pick a winner to be honored at the ACEC Illinois Awards gala in February.
Collectively, Hallmark Movies totaled 156 billion minutes of viewing which is kind of staggering. That's more than SNF, MNF and the FOX NFL 4:25s put together.
On Saturday, State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview) will be joined by friends and community at a district swearing-in ceremony and reception. The oath of office will be administered by The Honorable Judge Rouhy Shalabi.
“I’m eager to reaffirm my oath of office before family, friends, elected leaders, and the communities that make up the 21st District as I begin my first term,” said Rep. Rashid. “As the first Palestinian-American legislator in Illinois, it is especially meaningful that Judge Shalabi will be presiding over the oath.” Judge Shalabi joined the bench in 2020, becoming the first Palestinian-American judge in Illinois.
What: District Swearing-in Ceremony for State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid
Who: U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, State Representative Dagmara Avelar, State Representative Mary Flowers, State Representative Norma Hernandez, State Senator Mike Porfirio, State Senator Celina Villanueva, MWRD Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda, Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele, Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty, Cicero Trustee Blanca Vargas, Riverside President Joseph Ballerine, Riverside Trustee Cristin Evans, Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero, Berwyn City Council Members Marybeth Arenella, Joe Carmichael, Richard Leja, Scott Lennon, Robert Pabon and Alicia Ruiz, North Riverside President Joseph Mengoni, Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, Countryside Mayor Sean McDermott, Summit Trustee Mayra Ortiz, Hodgkins President Ernest Millsap
* WCIA | State treasurers, comptrollers call on House Speaker, Congressional lawmakers to take action on debt ceiling: State treasurers and comptrollers across the nation including Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs are calling on U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers on Capitol Hill to take action to reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling. Otherwise, they warned in a letter to him sent Tuesday, it could have major consequences for their states, including Illinois.
* Crain’s | Here are the committee assignments for freshmen of Illinois’ congressional delegation: Three of the Illinois congressional delegation’s four freshman Democrats are joining the House Agriculture Committee, including two from downstate and one from less rural environs—Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Chicago.The assignments were announced Thursday by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
* Sun-Times | Walking with the victims of Chicago’s gun violence: Gunshot victims in Chicago are regularly sent home from hospitals without the supplies they need to properly care for their injuries. So Mannion travels around with her mobile medical supply cabinet, a sad symbol of the city’s inability to deal with violence and its aftermath. […] Mannion is part of a growing army of former gang members in Chicago working to prevent violence. Some try to intervene in gang conflicts to stop retaliation. Others, like Mannion, seek to stop the cycle by tending to the physical, mental and emotional needs of victims and their families.
* WaPo | Data shows student debt relief applicants in each state as auditors question cost: The most populous states had the highest numbers of applicants and automatically eligible people, with California leading the pack with 2.3 million people, followed by Texas with 2.1 million, the data shows. Wyoming and Alaska had the fewest, with 30,000 and 38,000 respectively. Locally, 685,000 Virginians, 522,000 people from Maryland and 72,000 D.C. residents have tried to take advantage of the program, according to the data.
* WTTW | Chicago’s Plan to Make Crosswalks Accessible for Blind Pedestrians Moving at a Crawl: Last March, the Chicago Department of Transportation said it was planning to install about 150 accessible pedestrian signals in 2022 and 2023. So far, only nine of those signals are actually up and running – and only eight of them are new, since one of those installations was an upgrade to an older signal.
* ABC | New US race, ethnicity standards proposed; first since ‘97: A Middle Eastern and North African category could be added to U.S. federal surveys and censuses, and changes could be made to how Hispanics are able to self-identify, under preliminary recommendations released Thursday by the Biden administration in what would be the first update to race and ethnicity standards in a quarter century.
* The Atlantic | ‘We Used to Be Called Moderate. We Are Not Moderate.’: Early this summer, the federal government will, in all likelihood, exhaust the “extraordinary measures” it is now employing to keep paying the nation’s bills. As the country careens toward that fiscal abyss, Congress will face a now-familiar stalemate: Republicans will refuse to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to cut spending. Democrats will balk. Markets will slide—perhaps precipitously—and the economy will swiftly turn south.
* Journal Courier | Springfield museum debuting exhibit on Generation X this weekend: The museum’s “Growing Up X” exhibit will open Saturday at the museum’s downtown Springfield location. The exhibit will feature cultural touchstones for those who grew up in the 1970s and ’80s, such as Apple IIe computers, telephones with cords and Teddy Ruxpin toys. Visitors also will learn how Gen X was shaped by events such as the Vietnam War, the AIDS crisis and the War on Drugs.
* David McGrath | How teachers can defeat ChatGPT-using students: If you’re a student, beware: 9 out of 10 who cheat with ChatGPT would likely be caught, earning an F for their trouble or outright expulsion. And the 10th student, smart enough to evade detection, is probably smart enough that they don’t need ChatGPT in the first place.
* AP | FDA eases rules again for gay men seeking to donate blood: The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced draft guidelines that would do away with the current three-month abstinence requirement for donations from men who have sex with men. Instead, potential donors would be screened with a questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors.
* Tribune | ‘I didn’t have a Plan B.’ How Leila Rahimi became one of Chicago’s favorite sportscasters.: Long before Leila Rahimi was named 2022 Illinois Sportscaster of the Year, she was a teenage girl calling in to her local sports radio station. But she wasn’t just calling in as a fan and avid listener, she was creating the lane to her future. “I had been calling in to the Dallas Cowboys postgame show on KVIL-FM 103.7 starting when I was a freshman because I loved watching the Cowboys, and then I started recording using a cassette,” Rahimi told the Tribune. “Once I had a body of work together, I submitted it to try to get a sports broadcasting scholarship in the name of Mark Holtz, the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers broadcaster.”
* Crain’s | Chicago Cut Steakhouse expanding: The steakhouse will add 4,500 square feet on the floor above its restaurant in the glassy 300 N. LaSalle St. building, said Managing Partner David Flom. That second floor will be all private dining.
* WaPo | The military draft ended 50 years ago, dividing a generation: The announcement, 50 years ago Friday, brought immediate relief to American men ages 19 to 25, who were eligible to be drafted during the war. It also created an arbitrary but lasting divide between the nearly 2 million men who had been drafted and those who would avoid conscription by celebrating their 19th birthdays after January 1973.
* The former state Representative has been with the administration from the beginning. Back in a minute with an update.
…Adding… Rough transcript of the governor’s remarks…
The progress that we’re here to celebrate today is progress that’s being replicated all around the state in East St. Louis, in Springfield, and Peoria, in Chicago, in Waukegan and elsewhere, Rebuild Illinois has rebuilt nearly 5000 miles of road and hundreds of bridges, cleared congestion and made communities safer and commutes safer, all while creating thousands of jobs and opening doors for a more diverse array of Illinoisans to build skills in this field through programs like Illinois works it’s the largest infrastructure investment in state history. And so much of it is still to come.
For a public servant, that alone could be the policy achievement of a lifetime. It would not have been possible without the leadership of a person that I have leaned on and relied upon, since day one of my administration, whose work on a bipartisan basis leaves a legacy that we all should admire.
Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell was my administration’s lead negotiator for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. He dedicated every day and night for months on end to making sure that Illinois took nation-leading climate action with equity and workforce development at its heart. And when we announced this accomplishment, he asked me not to praise him. But instead, each and every one of his team members who slogged through pages of text, crunched every number and pursued every innovation possible to get it done. He wanted to ensure that their dedicated service behind the scenes got the credit that it deserved.
That spirit, that spirit of teamwork, of camaraderie of a fierce pursuit of progress, and justice and safety is evident in every policy initiative that he’s been a part of. From providing prompt relief for Illinoisans impacted by tornadoes and floods to ensuring that Illinois was a leader in gun safety. It’s evident even when the task at hand is unlike any ever seen before in government, like finding PPE anywhere in the world during the shortages in the spring of 2020, so that we could keep Illinois and safe from the virus. And of course, in negotiating and implementing our Rebuild Illinois capital plan, which we’re all here talking about, and Illinois Works as a fundamental part of it.
At every turn, Christian Mitchell has delivered. In my first inaugural address, I read a Franciscan prayer shared by Sister Barbara Centner of Mercy Hospital at a vigil for people who had passed away as a result of a terrible attack that occurred there. And I have pledged that my administration would do everything in our power to make a positive difference that would lift up the people of our state. Over the last five years, Christian Mitchell has proven himself a fierce believer in that creed over and over again. Integrity, loyalty, and passion have been the hallmarks of his time in state government. Of course, the greatest hallmark of public service is that if you do the job, right, we can provide support and relief and upward trajectory for the families and people that we serve that far outlasts our tenure in office.
In March, Christian will step down from his role as deputy governor and we will miss him immensely. Christian, thank you. Thank you for your dedication, for your hard work. You’ve been a tremendous friend and ally and have been committed to really doing the best that you could for the people of Illinois at every turn. I thank you for the leadership that you’ve shown. Illinois is stronger because of you.
…Adding… Press release excerpt…
Deputy Governor Mitchell played a pivotal role in negotiating landmark legislation during Governor Pritzker’s first term. He led efforts to pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021. Mitchell also oversaw the development and implementation of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, a $45 billion plan that reimagines and revamps Illinois infrastructure, mass transit, public universities, and more. Mitchell was also point person for Governor Pritzker on the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act of 2019, advocating for policies that addressed historic criminal justice inequity and disinvestment through the legalization of cannabis. Mitchell was also lead strategist for the Governor’s office on the assault weapons ban, criminal justice reform, and vote-by-mail expansion, and led the state’s procurement of a personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile during the COVID-19 pandemic. He oversaw a broad swath of state agencies during his tenure, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections, State Police, Emergency Management, National Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Capital Development Board, and Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office.
Mitchell has held consulting and advising roles throughout Chicago, Illinois, and national Democratic campaigns and offices. A Chicago native, he holds a Bachelor’s in public policy from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago.
* The New York Times has an article today about the jockeying for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. It talks about how many of the states around Illinois are backing a Chicago location. And it goes into some of the sniping…
[Gov. JB Pritzker] has noted that the city often hosts large-scale events, the state reflects the nation’s diversity — and that summertime in Chicago, along Lake Michigan, is “phenomenal,” an implicit contrast with the heat and humidity in Atlanta, and the pungent summer smells of New York City. […]
But some Chicago-skeptical Democrats quietly point out that the city is closely associated with a different Democratic president — Barack Obama — and argue that the only splashy convention Mr. Biden would ever get should be in a place that could be made to feel distinctly his own.
In an interview, Mayor Adams emphasized New York’s event infrastructure and cast the racially diverse, liberal city as a place that showcases “all the values that we look for in the Democratic Party.” (Democrats in the state, however, had a deeply disappointing midterm election.)
“When you do an examination of all the things that a good convention looks like, it says New York,” Mr. Adams proclaimed. “It reeks with New York.”
A downstate Republican is joining area sheriffs in pushing back against Illinois’ new assault weapons ban.
Sheriffs in Crawford, Jasper and Lawrence counties are among many law enforcement agencies that have refused to enforce the new law, claiming it is unconstitutional.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg said the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is an attack on Second Amendment rights and an attempt to avoid the larger issue: lack of mental health support in Illinois.
“You’re talking about gun violence, and the solution is we are going to strip these folks in this room of their Second Amendment rights. We have some of the most stringent gun control laws in the nation but still, crime is out of control in the city of Chicago as I alluded to earlier, so if the Democrats want to come to me and talk about mental health, completely open to that,” said Niemerg.
* Gov. Pritzker addressed this during his CBS News interview earlier this week…
We also by the way, have invested in mental health and substance abuse treatment significantly during my term in office. I’ve been in office for four years and I’m proud of that fact. And there is a great deal of investment that we’ve made over the last two years, made in crime prevention that is in in violence prevention on the streets, lots of programs to put kids to work, during the summers and so on. So we’re doing quite a lot what makes me think that we’re going to have a diminution of crime in our state because we’re doing all of those things. You can’t just do one, you know, assault weapons ban, all by itself. It doesn’t have the desired effect of truly reducing gun violence by a significant amount. It’s important, it’s one component, but you’ve got to do all these things.
Now, Republicans talk an awful lot about mental health and say what we really need to do is not pass assault weapons bans, but really we need mental health treatment. But they voted against it every time in our state, and we’ve made significant strides in mental health treatment. So you know, they’re hypocrites.
* But Rep. Niemerg did make a decent point at that press conference…
So, if the Democrats want to come to me and say, ‘Let’s talk about mental health,’ let’s run a standalone bill. Let’s actually approach this as we rightfully should. I am completely open to that. But all too often, you might get a little bit of funding, some crumbs for funding that fall in some huge budget bill, that we don’t know what’s in it. I sit on Appropriations, General Services. I see the budget at 11:55 on an evening and it just dropped at 11:50.
* To that larger point, Capitol News Illinois has a story about the omnibus health care bill that passed the House on the final day of the lame duck session…
A law recently signed by Gov. JB Pritzker will extend the deadline for the state to transfer criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial from jail to a mental hospital.
That same bill, House Bill 240, also gives nursing homes in Illinois two more years to comply with minimum staffing levels implemented in 2022 before getting fined by the Department of Public Health. […]
And even though parts of the bill received criticism, many lawmakers who opposed those elements said they felt compelled to vote for it anyway because other parts of the bill were too important. Those necessary provisions included enabling certain rural hospitals to draw upon more federal funds, distributing federal disaster aid to ambulance services impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and extending the deadline for a shuttered hospital in Chicago’s west suburbs to reopen under new ownership.
“I think that there are some important changes in this bill, and I certainly disagree with the process of putting things together where some I really support and some I don’t,” said then-Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, during a committee hearing on the bill.
Bourne ended up voting against the bill, but quite a quite a few Republicans set aside the opposition from the county sheriffs and voted for it. The bill passed 85-24. Rep. Niemerg, unsurprisingly, also voted “No.”
In the old, old days, omnibus bills were fairly rare and appropriations bills were numerous. Agencies often had their own approp bills. But so many inter- and intra-chamber games can be played with appropriations bills that the practice ended. It also makes for an easy gotcha opportunity by the majority party: “Yeah, they talk a good game, but they won’t vote for the spending bills.”
Perhaps Mr. Niemerg should come to the Democrats and talk to them about mental health. Perhaps his party should proffer a bill addressing mental health solutions to crime. While he is at it, he could also coordinate a Republican plan for addressing the social causes of many mental health issues, like poverty, underfunded rural schools, inadequate labor market opportunities.
Perhaps instead of waiting for the Democrats to address mental health, the Republicans should take up that issue. It is not as if the Democrats would avoid that discussion.
* WQAD | Pritzker signs ‘omnibus’ health care bill — here’s what’s in it: And even though parts of the bill received criticism, many lawmakers who opposed those elements said they felt compelled to vote for it anyway because other parts of the bill were too important. Those necessary provisions included enabling certain rural hospitals to draw upon more federal funds, distributing federal disaster aid to ambulance services impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and extending the deadline for a shuttered hospital in Chicago’s west suburbs to reopen under new ownership.
* Fox Chicago | Illinois lawmaker says banning assault weapons masks larger issue: mental health: State Rep. Adam Niemerg said the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is an attack on Second Amendment rights and an attempt to avoid the larger issue: lack of mental health support in Illinois. “You’re talking about gun violence, and the solution is we are going to strip these folks in this room of their Second Amendment rights.”
* WBBM | Pritzker endorses for some City Council races, is silent on others: Pritzker endorses many incumbents, including some who are running unopposed, like Pat Dowell (3rd), Walter Burnett (27th) and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th). But there are no endorsements for other stalwarts like Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Brendan Reilly (42nd).
* Politico | College Board: States have not influenced our new African American studies course: Their letter comes as Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed success in potentially changing the course, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has sent his own letter urging the nonprofit that oversees AP exams not to follow Florida’s lead, calling it “political grandstanding.”
* Illinois Review | Former Republican Nominee for Governor Darren Bailey Calls on IL GOP Chair Don Tracy to “Step Down”: In a Facebook post on Tuesday, former Illinois State Senator and Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey publicly called for the first time for IL GOP chairman Don Tracy to “step down,” writing, “Enough with this nonsense! The Republican Party wants to distract from their failures by blaming the candidates that they have no control over! THE PEOPLE PICK THE CANDIDATES! Mr. Tracy, I have been patient with you, but it’s time to follow Jim Durkin’s lead and step down. The Republican Party Platform has the answers to all of our state’s problems. We simply need real leadership and candidates who will stand For The People!!!”
* Sun-Times | Highland Park parade shooting: Prosecutors get more time to indict suspect’s father: “Unexpected absences in our office” kept prosecutors from seeking an indictment against Robert E. Crimo Jr., Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Facklam said during a short hearing at the Lake County Courthouse. Crimo Jr. is charged with seven counts of reckless conduct for allowing his son to obtain firearms — one count for each of the people killed in last year’s Highland Park Fourth of July massacre.
* Sun-Times | Mayoral candidate Sophia King unveils education plan: Mayoral challenger Sophia King has a grand plan to breathe new life into a Chicago Public Schools system that has been hemorrhaging students — with more than 82,000 students lost in the last decade. It builds on the plan she has already announced to deliver Chicago from violent crime.
* Illinois Times | Luring new sports gamblers with freebies: Sports betting in Illinois is aggressively marketed by the companies authorized to take bets on sports in Illinois. These “sportsbooks” compete fiercely for gamblers, particularly new ones. One of the tools they use is to boost a new bettor’s wager with bonuses, so that the gambler feels like he’s playing with free money. Addiction experts fear too many will get hooked.
* Center Square | School choice movement gaining momentum in Illinois: A survey this month by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation showed that nearly 54% of parents have recently explored or are currently considering new options for their child’s education.
* AP | 5 women, immense power: Can they keep US from fiscal brink?: This year, for the first time in history, the four leaders of the two congressional spending committees are women. Granger is chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, while DeLauro is the top Democrat; Murray is Senate Appropriations chairwoman and Collins is the top Republican.
* Propublica | The Museum Built on Native American Burial Mounds: In 1945, the state of Illinois purchased the site and later expanded it into a museum. The exposed human remains were used for decades to teach schoolchildren, visitors and local residents about what the museum presented as a long-gone culture of Illinois Indians. The exhibit closed in the early 1990s, after Congress passed legislation requiring museums to begin returning Native American human remains and funerary objects to their rightful owners. Contractors installed cedar floorboards over the pit. They left no doorway, no hatch.
