It’s just a bill
Friday, Feb 10, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Press release…
State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, and state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, recently introduced legislation, House Bill 2123 and Senate Bill 1392, to crack down on abusive and harmful use of digital forgeries known as “deepfakes” and create a path for victims experiencing physical, emotional, reputational or economic harm to seek justice.
Deepfake technology is used to create extremely realistic digital forgeries, which are increasingly being used to falsely portray people participating in pornographic activity without their consent. Victims are routinely humiliated, abused and blackmailed as the result of the creation and dissemination of pornographic deepfake videos.
Deepfakes are also being used to falsely portray public figures making offensive or harmful statements, including elected officials and world leaders. These false depictions have the potential to undermine public trust, obfuscate the truth, and spread dangerous misinformation. In a particularly dangerous example, Vice reported a video forgery that used deepfake technology to falsely depict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surrendering to Russian forces. This type of malicious misinformation has the potential to create mass confusion and provoke violence if not addressed.
“This ‘deepfake’ technology presents a very real threat to privacy and to the truth,” said Gong-Gershowitz. “Deepfakes can falsely and convincingly portray anyone saying anything, creating confusion and eroding public trust. This raises serious implications in a world already struggling with rampant misinformation and social media manipulation. Our laws and regulations must keep up with this rapidly-evolving technology to protect individual privacy and public trust.”
* It’s that time of the year…
* Press release (no relation)…
Today, Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) reintroduced the Safety & Opportunity for Girls Act.
On his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order to interpret Title IX as requiring schools to allow access to sex-segregated spaces and activities based on gender identity. The Safety & Opportunity for Girls Act, sponsored by Rep. Mary Miller, adds a clear definition of sex to Title IX to clarify that “sex” means biological sex, not gender identity.
Rep. Mary Miller says that she is sponsoring the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act to protect spaces for women and girls in school.
“Democrats continue to push radical gender ideology on our children, and we must draw the line to protect women and girls,” Miller said. “Title IX was created to enhance opportunities for our daughters, not threaten their safety. No girl should be robbed of athletic opportunities by being forced to compete with biological males in school sports. The Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act would make it clear that the definition of sex in Title IX means biological sex, not gender identity.
My goal is to protect spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams for women like my five daughters, and so many others across the country.
* Daily Herald…
The Northwest Suburban High School District 214 and Palatine Township Elementary District 15 school boards plan to retain a still-to-be-named lobbyist to oppose — or at least get amended — recently filed state legislation that would take a cut of their future property tax revenues and give the Chicago Bears a massive tax break at Arlington Park.
The District 214 board unanimously supported hiring a lobbyist Thursday night, which followed the District 15 board’s similar vote Wednesday night. The districts want to present a united front before legislators in Springfield and hope to get Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 on board as well. The District 211 board next meets Feb. 16.
“We would like to have a seat at the table so our voice is not lost as we move through this large, complex and certainly rapid-moving and high-stakes issue,” said District 15 Superintendent Laurie Heinz. “The board has always and will support everything that has to do with the economic development within District 15 boundaries. But the economic development must make sense and fully address any impact on District 15 and residents within our communities.” […]
The legislation, filed Monday by Democratic state Sen. Ann Gillespie of Arlington Heights, would allow developers of “mega projects” — those worth at least $500 million — to make payments to local taxing bodies like schools while also getting an assessment freeze of up to 40 years. Under the proposal, the Bears’ payments would be negotiated, but it’s the village of Arlington Heights — not the school districts — that would be doing the negotiating.
Gillespie, an admitted skeptic of her own bill, said she filed it so that it could be part of a larger conversation about her long-sought reforms to tax-increment financing.
* WMBD…
Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin reintroduced legislation to designate the sites of the 1908 Race Riot in Springfield, Illinois, as a national monument.
According to a press release, both senators have been longtime supporters of turning the site into a national monument, originally introducing the legislation in 2019 and 2021.
It has the support of the NAACP, Sierra Club, The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum.
* Center Square…
If a Democratic lawmaker has her way, non-citizens will be able to vote in school board elections in Illinois.
State Sen. Celina Villanueva has introduced legislation to allow “non-citizens of the United States” to register to vote in school board elections. The measure is headed to the Assignments Committee, where it will be reviewed. School board elections will take place this year on April 4.
* Sen. Chapin Rose’s SB1867…
Creates the If This Is Such A Good Idea, Let’s Start With You Act. Provides that the following actions must be completed no later than June 30, 2024: (1) the City of Chicago must convert Millennium Park into a solar energy park by building solar energy facilities on all open space and by mounting solar energy facilities on structures, except that no solar energy facility is required on Cloud Gate; (2) the City of Chicago must mount one wind energy turbine on Cloud Gate (The Bean exhibit) in Millennium Park; and (3) the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District must place at least one wind energy facility in each public park operated by the City or Park District. Also requires each forest preserve district in Cook County to place at least one wind energy facility in each forest preserve operated by the forest preserve district. Requires reports to the General Assembly on the progress of complying with the requirements and the benefits that the wind and solar energy requirements have conferred upon the City of Chicago and Cook County. Limits concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
* A bill from Maine…
Some Democratic lawmakers are proposing pushing back high school start times across Maine.
They say it’s a serious issue involving teenage health.
The bill, An Act to Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools, is very simple. If approved, high schools in Maine wouldn’t be allowed to start before 8:30 a.m.
“I’ve been having kids all over the state actually write me saying how much they really want to see this pass,” said State Sen. Mattie Daughtry, (D) Brunswick.
“If you look at teens and development, their circadian rhythms are actually different than the rest of us,” Daughtry said. “So waking a teen up at 6 a.m. is the equivalent of you and I getting shaken awake at 3 a.m.”
…Adding… Crain’s…
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild filed bill with the state Legislature that would allow craft breweries to ship beer directly to consumers.
Allowing brewers in the state to sell beer online and ship to customers’ homes would serve as a lifeline to the craft beer industry, which continues to face economic fallout from the pandemic, said Ray Stout, executive director of the trade organization. It would also bring the industry up to speed in a world where people are accustomed to buying almost everything with the click of a mouse. […]
The bill, which has been introduced in the Illinois Senate and is expected to be introduced to the Illinois House of Representatives in the coming days, marks the guild’s second attempt in as many years to try to codify direct-to-consumer beer shipping into law.
The newest bill puts a cap on how much beer a consumer can order online — 12 cases, which contain 24 beers each — per year. Stout said he thinks that cap makes the bill more likely to pass. He does expect push back from distributors, however.
- Demoralized - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:27 am:
Dear Sen. Rose,
Stop acting like a child.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:34 am:
If you can’t see the ILGOP has no intention of reclaiming relevancy after Rose’s pathetic attempt at cleverness, you don’t want to.
- The Truth - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:39 am:
When did Chapin Rose become such a child?
- very old soil - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:46 am:
What is wrong with Senator Rose’s bill?
- Demoralized - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:47 am:
==What is wrong with Senator Rose’s bill?==
I sincerely hope that was snark
- Franklin - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:55 am:
Pearls are being clutched.
- H-W - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 11:57 am:
I wonder if Illinois Representative Miller understands that when she uses terms like, women, girl, daughter, etc., she is signifying gender identities, not sex categories.
I am so disappointed in my elected representative. But she does justify the gerrymandering of the House seats so as to avoid allowing more people like her to represent Illinois. Thanks Democrats.
- Original Anon - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
Good luck on changing high school start times. I knew a superintendent who cited a ton of data that late start times would improve academic performance. But overcoming busing scheduling and shortages, parents of younger children opposed to a change, and the overlap into afternoon high school sports was too much.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:17 pm:
I was going to add a comment about the bill from Chapin, but it seems there is already a consensus on his obvious behavior.
I’m putting a vertical wind turbine on my new garage to add to a diverse energy supply for my house. More solar panels go up next year.
Okay then. I went first. Your turn, Chapin.
- Osborne Smith III - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:17 pm:
Seriously, Chapin? Grow up. Even if we were to agree that the substance of your bill might be worth discussion (it’s really not, to the extreme that you’ve filed it), putting that title in official form versus what you might choose to refer to it casually is just childish and petulant. You’re better than this.
- Moe Berg - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Frat Boy).
- very old soil - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:25 pm:
My comment was only half snark. I would like to hear why you think that it would be wrong to place solar panels in those places.
- rtov - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
I expected better arguments against Sen. Rose’s bill than just name calling.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
“I expected better arguments ”
You’ll get them when a serious bill is introduced.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:41 pm:
===I expected better arguments against Sen. Rose’s bill===
When Rose continually acts like a child, irrational, silly, and unimpressive, the ridiculousness that is both Rose and amd work product… if you take Rose seriously “now”, that might say more about you than you might realize.
- JS Mill - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:44 pm:
=When did Chapin Rose become such a child?=
When he ran for office.
=I expected better arguments against Sen. Rose’s bill than just name calling.=
The bill is a joke and an insult to governance. If you really didn’t see that then the joke is on you.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:48 pm:
==David Schwartz and Matthew Slade==
Alex, what are two people with too much time on their hands? Also they are two people who haven’t been in my kitchen.
- rtov - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:54 pm:
Oh - I don’t know how anyone could take this bill seriously. It’s a waste of time and resources. With that being said, a major municipality like Chicago has the ability to be a leader in sustainability and innovation by requiring wind and/or solar devices to be installed on existing and incorporated into new buildings. It is not unheard of, see the Strata SE-1 in London. A 43 story sky scrapper that has three wind turbines at its peak which are claimed to provide close to 10% of the energy needs for its operation. Why hasn’t there been a bigger push for these measures in Chicago by those pushing the CEJA? Why wasn’t that a part of the CEJA?
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 12:59 pm:
“I expected better arguments against Sen. Rose’s bill than just name calling.”
In other words, “I expected you to engage my stunt bill in good faith, like the mark I expect you to be.”
- rtov - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:02 pm:
Rather than name calling, I would have suggested putting together a plan that actually uses his stunt against him, like I referenced above. Name calling is admittedly more fun though.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:04 pm:
- rtov -
Think on this.
You made a better argument than that ridiculous, childish bill.
Think on it and why Rose is getting these comments.
- rtov - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:07 pm:
I get it your point and my comments weren’t meant to defend the lunacy of that bill. They were instead meant to point out that name calling is as (or maybe even less) productive as the bill its self. Can we at least agree on that?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
===Can we at least agree on that?===
Rose put into legislative action lunacy in a bill to “own the libs”
Rose deserves the scorn as Rose trolls for the cheers.
With respect
- rtov - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:14 pm:
Our tax dollars hard at work… disgusting.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:18 pm:
Rtov-
No, we cannot agree. The ridiculousness of this bill is in it’s title for crying out loud.
There is no intention of seriousness with this garbage and will be treated accordingly.
- The Truth - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:19 pm:
==I get it your point and my comments weren’t meant to defend the lunacy of that bill. They were instead meant to point out that name calling is as (or maybe even less) productive as the bill its self. Can we at least agree on that?==
That’s fair and true. But we’re just some jamokes on the internet, not people titling proposed legislation with such absurd names. The derision is deserved, too.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:20 pm:
To the commenter I deleted because of no screen name: First, this is not my post. Second, all Isabel did was post a bill synopsis with no commentary. Third, Sen. Rose texted me a link to said synopsis late yesterday afternoon. So, bite me.
- sulla - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:26 pm:
Regarding Chapin Rose’s outburst, expect to see a lot more blowback from rural counties on PA 102-1123 once more local county boards start understanding the scope of the legislation.
My county has been very supportive of renewable projects over the years and has willingly permitted over a dozen of them. However, a number of electeds I’ve talked to, including those that have voted for renewables in the past, are majorly ticked off about the state yanking away that approval authority from locals on principle.
- Amalia - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:27 pm:
has MC Miller done anything to help women and girls in sports before this proposal? there is zero nuance in what she’s saying. and there is nuance in the issue of women and girls in sports. it’s not an easy issue because the include everyone side does not look at the reality of biological differences and they paint everyone as anti trans, which clearly Miller is. nuanced grown up discussion, MC Miller, not what you’ve done.
- JS Mill - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:32 pm:
====Can we at least agree on that?====
No. Years ago, I sat on a panel with Rose during the hubbub over common core (does anyone remember?) and he was so ill informed and infantile I had to shut him down. He is a panderer and nothing more. He should not have a seat at the grownup table.
- rtov - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:34 pm:
A wise democrat of the general assembly would take this bill, change the name to something along the lines of “Leading by Example Act”, amend the living daylights out of it, and input requirements of solar and possibly wind sustainability standards for buildings in Chicago. Rose would then be a sponsor of a legitimate renewable energy bill, to the horror of his base. [Granted I am not sure if the rules of procedure would even allow for that as I too am just some jamoke posting stuff on the internet.]
- low level - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:36 pm:
Regarding Sen Rose, I knew him at U of I. We worked against each other but I always had respect for him and admired his political ability. I’m not sure who he is anymore…
- The Truth - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:45 pm:
low level, right there with you.
- Occasional Quipper - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:49 pm:
It’s obvious that Senator Rose was just trying to make a point. I would say he was successful because not a single commentor here explained why his point is “lunacy”, but instead resorted immediately to ridicule and name-calling. Talk about “acting like a child”. So someone please explain why it’s okay for Chicago legislators to once again impose requirements on downstate that they’re not willing to accept in their own back yard. It would ruin the view of the Chicago skyline? How about people who retire to a nice little place in the country only to have their view of the sunset blocked by huge wind turbines? Why is that different? There’s just not enough space in downtown Chicago? How about some offshore wind turbines out on Lake Michigan? Plenty of room out there. It is the Windy City, after all, so take advantage of all that wind.
- cermak_rd - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:54 pm:
I think non-citizens should be able to vote for (and run for) school council races. Whether they rent or own, they’re paying property taxes and goodness knows these races can use all the interest they can muster. Also who knows, it might incent some of them to go through the bother of doing the paperwork so they can naturalize so they can vote in other races.
- The Truth - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 1:56 pm:
==There’s just not enough space in downtown Chicago?==
nice, you answered your own long-winded half-question
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:00 pm:
===It’s obvious that Senator Rose was just trying to make a point.===
Then every single thing you wrote after is gibberish, and the criticism towards Rose is warranted.
You want to have adult discussions, then as a legislator act like an adult towards policy.
- very old soil - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
What Occasional Quipper said. Grant Park is pretty big. And once the Bears move…
- Padraig - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
(No relation)
I giggle every time I read that.
- Occasional Quipper - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:02 pm:
== answered your own long-winded half-question ==
part of why it was long-winded was because I included an alternative of building an offshore wind farm on Lake Michigan. I guess you were more interested in being witty than discussing the merits of that idea.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:03 pm:
===What Occasional Quipper said===
You mean, “this”?
===It’s obvious that Senator Rose was just trying to make a point.===
It’s pure gibberish if it’s sole purpose was to make a “point”
It’s like agreeing you are aggrieved and want to merely “own the libs”, lol
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:07 pm:
===because I included an alternative===
Yeah, here’s the thing to that…
===It’s obvious that Senator Rose was just trying to make a point.===
… you already admitted the bill is to prove a point, not move policy.
Let Rose decide the alternatives that actually talk to policy, not make a point like you smartly point out.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
===It’s obvious that Senator Rose was just trying to make a point.===
Yes, and he was doing it with lots of snark. A bit, if you will.
But, people, the whole reason for these posts is to show you that not every bill should be taken seriously. Most bills die. Many bills, like this one, aren’t even meant to be passed. The news media too often equates “introduced” with “passed.” That’s just not reality.
Take a breath already.
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 2:47 pm:
We know Rose is not serious because the acronym for it would be the completely unpronounceable ITISAGOLSWY Act.
- thisjustinagain - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:15 pm:
I love Rose’s bill title itself, as a demonstration of confronting the ever-present issue of people making decisions for others who may not be in the same area, or having the same resources, etc.
I admit the proposed law itself is rather silly; they could put a wind turbine on top of Willis Tower and get more wind velocity being higher off the ground. (Snark).
- Perrid - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:20 pm:
very old soil, for one thing Rose could work on the language so it’s not over the top, and very clearly intentionally provocative. For example, it’s ridiculous to say “every open space” in parks has to have solar panels. Parks are PARKS, they’re meant for people to enjoy some greenery and open space in the middle of the city. Putting panels or turbines up in an empty field a few miles from people’s houses is obviously different, and if you can’t see that I don’t know how to have a conversation with you. Rose isn’t being serious, he’s being insulting on purpose.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:27 pm:
=== for one thing Rose could work on the language so it’s not over the top===
Meh. It’s more fun triggering libs. lol
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:29 pm:
Gotta love a guy named Stout being the executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. It’s got to be a brilliant bill. Ok, I’m done for the day, think I’ll head to a brewery.
- Anon221 - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:46 pm:
Perrid- “Putting panels or turbines up in an empty field a few miles from people’s houses is obviously different…”
Just keep in mind, that sometimes these are not a few miles away. Sometimes they are just at the edge of a setback… which right now can be just the bare minimum due to HB 4412’s passage. Some folks in our area have 5-6 turbines less than a mile from their homes.
And, before I get jumped all over, I don’t support Rose’s stunt. It belittles the actual concerns of folks who already live in wind or solar projects, or may soon be forced to… or move, as some have told me to do if I don’t like it. These are literally hundreds to thousands of acres involved per project… even if the actual “footprint” of each turbine site is less than a few. These companies don’t apply for onw at a time. They apply for an entire area that encompasses participating and non-participating landowners alike.
Empathy and compassion for others to often gets lost in the race to score points verbally or in posts.
- What's in a name? - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:46 pm:
I think somebody in Maine lost a bet with his or her teenager.
- Consider This - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:47 pm:
Chapin is being Chapin. Job pays well and beats working. Who knows…… he may make it into the next snapshot of the Freedom Caucus.
- Huckleberry1926 - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:53 pm:
I’m only curious if any slammer of Rose has a wind farm proposed in their back yard of 2000 acres? I have one of those proposed, so what’s good the the goose is good for the gander. Put one in Chicago for them to look at to match the one proposed in Plano.
- Huckleberry1926 - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 3:54 pm:
Sorry, not wind, but solar. Fat thumbs (and Rich, “bite me” is the best and always makes me giggle)
- very old soil - Friday, Feb 10, 23 @ 4:12 pm:
Perrid I agree that the language could be improved, But as I recall the law he is responding to doesn’t limit solar or wind turbines to a few miles from people’s houses, but a few hundred feet.