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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Here’s the roundup…
* WMBD | Pritzker promotes early childhood education proposal in Peoria: Pritzker ackhowledged getting enough people to fill early childhood and child care jobs has been a problem, and raising the minimum wage — as the state has done each of the last several years — may not be enough. * WTTW | CTA’s Reliance on Overtime Continued to Rise in 2022 as Agency Lost Bus Drivers: Records obtained by WTTW News show that 14.5% of the agency’s operator workforce was paid for average weeks of 50 hours or more in 2022. That’s an increase from 13.6% of operators in 2021. * Chicago Mag | Nabeela Syed; The Gen Z Legislator: Last spring, during her campaign for the Illinois House of Representatives, Nabeela Syed was knocking on doors when she passed out in front of a potential constituent. “It was Ramadan, and I was fasting,” Syed, a devout Muslim, recalls. “I fainted on someone’s doorstep!” * Capitol News Illinois | New law allows Illinoisans to change sex on birth certificate without doctor’s affirmation: By removing the need of a health care professional to reaffirm an individual’s gender change status, the law makes it easier for a person’s documents to be consistent, according to a statement from state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, a lead sponsor on the bill. * WAND | Illinois engineers push for tax credits to attract workers amid shortage: The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois wants state lawmakers to pass several bills this spring to address a shortage of over 82,000 workers. * Center Square | Illinois lawmakers eying reappointment of child welfare director: State Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, was asked about Pritzker’s appointment, which still needs to be approved by the Senate within 60 session days of the appointment. “We will be taking that up as part of the executive appointments process, so I am not going to get ahead of that,” Gillespie said. “We know there are issues within DCFS that need to be fixed. Nobody is denying that.” * WAND | Illinois Republicans hope ICC, IPA can help address high energy bills, capacity concerns: An Illinois House Joint Committee had the opportunity to hear from the Illinois Commerce Commission and Illinois Power Agency Tuesday afternoon. The ICC is trying to achieve market reforms to help build up the capacity for customers in the MISO region. The organization understands there is a shortfall right now, but ICC Public Utility Bureau Chief Jim Zolnierek said all hands are on deck. * Center Square | Group says Illinois’ biometric privacy laws could cripple businesses: “Seventeen billion dollars for statutory violations,” Phil Melin, executive director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse-Illinois, told The Center Square. “That is going to kill businesses, and the Supreme Court said as much in their decision, I mean literally, White Castle won’t be able to pay that much money.” * Jim Dey | Governor’s wind-farm reversal rubs more salt in downstaters’ wounds: The legislation also would require municipal officials in the Windy City to “place multiple wind-energy facilities in each public park.” What’s this about? A political double-cross, and a political disconnect. * Greg Harris | Nation should follow Illinois’ lead and protect patients by banning health copay accumulators: Illinois was one of the first states in the country to ban copay accumulators with a measure enacted into law in 2019. I was proud to sponsor this legislation because patients — not PBMs — should realize the savings from manufacturer coupons and support from nonprofits and charitable organizations. * Crain’s | Huge jackpots boost Illinois Lottery to record sales: Two of the biggest jackpots in American history apparently were good for business at the Illinois Lottery — and for the state of Illinois treasury. Lottery officials today reported record sales of $1.8 billion in the six months that ended Dec. 31, with proceeds to the state also hitting a high of $468 million. * KSDK | What the mayor says about St. Louis being labeled the ‘least safe’ city in the country: “Obviously there’s a disconnect,” said Jones. “WalletHub doesn’t live here, and isn’t here, but if they take random statistics from random newspapers then of course. You’re only looking at a population of 300,000 people, so those rates are going to seem like it’s violent.” * Politico | Joe may not run — and top Dems are quietly preparing: Biden’s past decisions around seeking the presidency have been protracted, painstaking affairs. This time, he has slipped past his most ambitious timetable, as previously outlined by advisers, to launch in February. Now they are coalescing around April. * Illinois Newsroom | Illinois Congressman Eric Sorensen is ‘optimistic’ Congress can pass a new farm bill: In today’s deep dive, we’ll hear from new Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen, who will talk about the chances of getting a new farm bill passed by September.
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- Torco Sign - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 9:38 am:
“Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse-Illinois”–lovely name. (googles Phil Melin) I wonder if Phil Melin, former Republican staffer, has the same concern for non-corporate or non-wealthy citizens whose lives are ruined by being unable to pay bills. Since his boss voted to repeal Obamacare dozens of times, the answer is probably no. Thanks for the concern, though, Phil.
- Red Ketcher - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 9:57 am:
“… Lawsuit Abuse-Illinois”
Word association immediately triggered - “grifter”
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 10:08 am:
It’s ‘lawsuit abuse’ when companies or individuals found to be in the wrong have to pay out (or their insurers do). Yes I know about forum shopping, etc. issues, but the real issue turns out to be misconduct and getting caught at it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 10:54 am:
What’s adorable with Jim Dey and his lil writing, he cites the Chicago Magazine ridiculousness with
“Counties that Pritzker didn’t carry”
“Signing gerrymandered maps”
“Illinois secession”
Not at any time in that lil piece is there anything but trying to make Rose a hero by helping the old, angry, white, rural, “aggrieved”..,. ironically, in a “woke” way… be “seen”
It’s a sad commentary.
You can that immediate sentence above as you’d like.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 11:07 am:
==What’s adorable with Jim Dey and his lil writing==
Jim Dey’s piece is a perfect example of the victimhood that these sorts of people like to exhibit. I guess they think if they play the victim enough then they’ll eventually get sympathy. It’s really a sad existence.
- Suburban Mom - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 11:18 am:
good news, other jurisdictions are moving towards BIPA, soon companies will be able to be destroyed in ALL states for being cavalier with people’s biometric data.
- Lurker - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 11:21 am:
Wow, that poorly written Jim Dey article is quite the absurd read.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 11:25 am:
Sen. Rose is getting some good mileage out of his clever little bill. I would like a reporter to ask him if he thinks county boards should be have approval authority over CAFOs…under current law, board votes are advisory and the Dept of Ag gets final say.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 11:59 am:
ACEC is attempting to address the incestuous dilemma of civil engineering.
IDOT and all of the consulting companies are looking to hire the same people. Often, engineers hop from one company to another, looking for higher salaries.
There aren’t enough people willing to take these jobs. Civil engineering is the equivalent to the general practitioner of the medical field. The continued low pay versus the computer science/engineering field is a drawback to entice new people to the field.
In addition, the added requirements of a masters degree or 30 hours beyond a bachelor degree prior licensure is detrimental to new engineers. The continuing problem of student loans to pay for the advanced education is a drawback.
It used to be that IDOT was the nursery for highway engineers. But the poor salaries paid by the department are no longer an incentive for public service. IDOT doesn’t understand why they can’t attract new engineers when they pay significantly less than a consulting company.
I hold 2 board certifications and am a State of Illinois licensed professional engineer with over 31 years of experience as a transportation engineer, including nearly 25 years with IDOT.
I came to civil engineering 10 years after high school. As a result, working for IDOT, after nearly 25 years and near the end of my career, I am making less than $120 thousand per year. I could easily find a job at a consultant making 50% more. It is likely once I retire from IDOT, I will work for a consulting company for a few years.
Our field lives and dies on the political whims of infrastructure.
IDOT must once again become the nursery of transportation engineers. Offering higher salaries, better advancement, more opportunities and prestige.
It used to be that former IDOT employees were the best of the class. Now we are the never was.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:58 pm:
==It used to be that former IDOT employees were the best of the class. Now we are the never was.==
Brought to you courtesy of Blago, Quinn, and Rauner.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 5:17 pm:
===(Lightfoot): “Any suggestion that I or anyone in my administration is indifferent to the cause and suffering of first-responders when it comes to COVID issues is just utter nonsense,” she said. “In my administration, we simply don’t play politics with the pension code, and we don’t play politics with the law.”===
Somehow, I trust Comptroller Mendoza more than Lori Lightfoot.