Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Afternoon roundup
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Sep 5, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

Shortly after saying Illinois Democrats have “learned lessons” from recent corruption convictions of close associates of Michael Madigan, Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed an ally of the indicted former longtime Democratic House Speaker to a state board that oversees billions of dollars in lending.

Former Democratic state Sen. Steven Landek, who retired from the Senate in January after more than a decade in Springfield but still serves as mayor of southwest suburban Bridgeview, was one of three people Pritzker appointed to the Illinois Finance Authority on Monday.

The Landek announcement came just days after a federal jury convicted one of Madigan’s top aides, Tim Mapes, on perjury and attempted obstruction of justice charges alleging he lied to a grand jury to try to protect Madigan from a widening corruption probe. […]

“Just because someone’s name is brought up does not mean that they’re guilty of something,” Pritzker said Tuesday in Decatur, describing Landek as “someone who’s spent many years in public life and I think has been examined up and down, certainly by his constituents over many years.” […]

As the Tribune has previously reported, Bridgeview was among more than a half-dozen suburbs that awarded insurance business to Mesirow Financial, the firm that employed Madigan’s son, Andrew. Bridgeview selected Mesirow as its broker for risk management insurance in December 2010, about a month before Michael Madigan presided over a meeting of local Democratic Party leaders who unanimously chose Landek to replace retiring Sen. Lou Viverito of Burbank.

Setting aside the Madigan stuff for a moment (if you can), Bridgeview is eye-deep in debt because the town financed a gigantic soccer stadium which doesn’t currently have an MLS team. It’s still in junk bond territory, according to S&P. And now he’s on a board that, by its own account, is “one of the largest issuers of private activity bonds in the nation.”

* Press release…

The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its 2023 Legislative Environmental Scorecard today. The scorecard, which is released annually, assigns a percentage score to legislators based on how they voted on bills affecting the environment. This year, 17 state representatives and ten state senators received 100% scores based on their record on 28 bills during 2023 legislative business.

“With fewer legislators earning top marks than in recent years, this year’s scorecard highlights the true environmental champions in our General Assembly,” said Jen Walling, executive director of IEC. “When so many of their peers failed to recognize the stakes during those final hours of the legislative session, and when some leaned on industry’s misleading talking points, these legislators stood with their constituents and our environment.”

The 2023 Legislative Environmental Scorecard includes 28 legislative measures. Specific priorities from this year’s Scorecard include:

    • Healthy Soils and Waters Initiative – SB 1701, IEC supported (Sen. Villivalam / Rep. Kelly)
    o With the goal of improving the health of Illinois’ soils and the function of our watersheds, this legislation invests $18 million into the Partners for Conservation Fund for in-field conservation practices, soil assessment, and support for Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
    • Single-use Plastics Reduction – SB 58, IEC supported (Sen. Fine / Rep. Gong-Gershowitz)
    o A critical step in reducing demand for single-use plastics, which pollute our waterways, pile up in our landfills and deposit PFAs and microplastics into our environment, SB 58 bans styrofoam from purchase by state agencies and public universities.
    • Nuclear Moratorium Lift – SB76, IEC opposed (Sen. Rezin / Rep. Yednock)
    o Without adequate state protections and siting regulations in place, lifting the decades-long moratorium on the development of new nuclear facilities would leave Illinoisans vulnerable to dangerous, costly development. Gov. JB Pritzker has vetoed this legislation.
    • Ameren’s Monopoly on Clean Energy Transmission – HB 3445, IEC opposed (Rep. Walsh / Sen. Stadelman)
    o This bill, since amendatorily vetoed by Gov. JB Pritzker, allowed Ameren, a privately-owned utility company downstate, the right of first refusal for transmission projects in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) territory, effectively eliminating the competitive project bid process. These processes increase project costs, which ratepayers would ultimately pay.
    • I-55 Expansion – HJR 23, IEC opposed (Rep. Stava-Murray / Sen. Cunningham)
    o This resolution initiates the first stages of a proposed project to increase the number of lanes on I-55 in the Chicago region, much of which lies immediately adjacent to environmental justice communities. This will negatively impact air quality in areas already seeing the highest rates of air pollution in Illinois.

“We score legislators on the environmental legacy of their voting record every year, giving their constituents a powerful accountability tool when evaluating the performance of their legislators,” Walling added. “Every vote that impacts our environment counts, and it’s important that legislators know we, and more importantly, their constituents, are watching.”

The complete scorecard is here.

* Rep. Dan Didech’s new Republican opponent


Well, looks like I'm not waiting till the 5th when petitions can begin circulation.

Below is the 94th Areo Squadron’s…

Posted by Christopher Henning on Sunday, September 3, 2023

Gov. Pritzker won that district by almost 36 points. Mr. Henning is on his own.

* WTTW

[Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez] won office in 2020 without the support of the party, and has found herself at loggerheads with the progressive political organizations and labor unions that helped elect Johnson mayor. In 2022, Martinez campaigned alongside John Catanzara, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7, after he compared a requirement that Chicago police officers be vaccinated against COVID-19 to the Holocaust and resigned before he could be fired for making “obscene” and inflammatory social media posts between 2016 and 2018.

Martinez is also expected to campaign for state Sen. Natalie Toro, who Martinez helped appoint to represent the 20th District in the Illinois Senate. Toro replaced Cristina Pacione-Zayas, who resigned in May to become Johnson’s first deputy chief of staff.

Toro will face Graciela Guzman, who has the support of the political movement that not only elected Johnson but also notched a series of victories in the 2022 Democratic primaries, winning six of seven contested races. […]

As she runs for another term as circuit court clerk, Martinez is also expected to seek reelection as the 33rd Ward Democratic committeeperson, an unpaid position that makes her the head of the party in the Northwest Side ward that includes Albany Park.

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd Ward), who defeated a candidate in February’s aldermanic elections who was supported by Martinez, told WTTW News she will challenge Martinez for committeeperson.

Ald. Rodriguez Sanchez won that February race by 21 points.

* Isabel’s roundup…

    * Politico | ‘A big f-ing deal’: Dem convention delegates will stay within Chicago city limits: “It means we’ll be able to conduct joint activities together whether it’s nighttime fundraisers or events. You name it,” Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party for the past 13 years and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, told POLITICO.

    * Crain’s | Why rescheduling would be more than just a tax break for cannabis: Now that the Department of Health and Human Services recommended moving cannabis to schedule 3, the industry is asking what impact a potential reclassification would have on the financial futures of U.S. cannabis companies. Mike Regan, director of research at Excelsior Equities, recently spoke with Green Market Report to break down the math. “Consensus estimates expect about $4.3 billion of total gross profit in 2024 for the public U.S. marijuana companies, so removing 280E taxes would free up about $900 million to pay interest expenses and be reinvested in operations, marketing, and employees,” he said.

    * Center Square | New Illinois program aims to help reduce legal fights among divorcing parents: Established by the Illinois Supreme Court, the program allows local circuit courts to establish a program permitting judges to appoint a “parenting coordinator” to resolve minor disputes between parents who cannot come to agreement with each other.

    * Chalkbeat | Illinois parent mentors kick off the school year, ready to get back into classrooms: The Parent Mentor Program has around 2,000 parent mentors and staff in over 200 schools, at almost 40 school districts around the state, according to a press release. The organization works with 44 community-based organizations across the state to help recruit parents from their neighborhoods. Through the program, community organizations train parents to work in their child’s school — experience that they can later use to work in classrooms as a special education classroom assistant or toward becoming a teacher.

    * Crain’s | United Airlines lifts nationwide ground stop: This is the second ground stop this year due to a computer malfunction. Southwest Airlines issued a ground stop April 18 that delayed nearly 2,000 flights nationwide.

    * SJ-R | Here’s the latest on what we know about the cybersecurity attack on HSHS systems: Workers are still trying to restore the clinical, administrative and communications systems that were impacted by the attack, including MyChart communication, which helps patients schedule, manage, and check in for appointments; message care teams; pay bills; get test results and after-visit instructions and request prescription refills.

    * WBEZ | Chicago says employers should give contracts to domestic workers, but that’s not happening: As of January 2022, house cleaners, nannies and caregivers who work in Chicago are entitled to a written contract in their preferred language, outlining, at minimum, their wage and work schedule. If households use an agency, the agency is responsible for providing workers with the contract. Other provisions in a written contract might include who provides supplies, what happens when an employer cancels, and situations where a worker might be asked to do something outside their scope. The contracts are meant to protect workers from being taken advantage of, as well as to make employers’ expectations clear.

    * Sun-Times | Chicago Trump Tower’s pollution fines don’t have to be covered by insurers, court rules: The state agency said that every day, the owners of the building drew about 20 million gallons of water out of the Chicago River for its cooling system and released the same amount back into the river at a higher temperature — potentially causing harm to fish and other aquatic life.

    * Benzinga | Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference Unites Industry Titans and Advocates in Chicago: Speakers for the Sept. 27-28 event include Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, former Rep. Ed Perlmutter, former Sen. Cory Gardner, and more. … Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, the world’s largest and most successful cannabis investing and finance event, will return to Chicago on Sept. 27-28, 2023, at the Magnificent Mile Marriott in the heart of the Windy City. This year’s event promises to be an extraordinary convergence of thought leaders, policymakers, advocates, and institutional investors at a time when community is vital to the success of the industry.

    * WBEZ | New union petitions continue to rise in Chicago, following last year’s trends: The high number of new union petitions is even more powerful when combined with high success rates of union votes, [Robert Bruno, professor of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign] explained. His research has found that most petitions for new unions are making it past the union elections, which if successful, means the union can officially enter negotiations with the employer.

    * Citizens for Ethics | Routine Disqualification: Every state has kept ineligible candidates off the ballot, and Trump could be next: In Illinois, the secretary of state excluded presidential candidate Linda Jenness from the ballot because she was 31, four years younger than the requirement in Article II of the U.S. Constitution that a president must be at least 35 years old. Following Jenness’ petition for candidacy, the State Electoral Board, composed of state election officials including the secretary of state, governor, and attorney general, voted to deny certification, excluding Jenness from the ballot on two grounds. First, Jenness refused to submit a signed loyalty oath, which Illinois state law required at the time. And second, Jenness did not meet the federal constitutional requirement of being at least 35 years old.

    * AP | Conservative book ban push fuels library exodus from national association that stands up for books: This summer, the state libraries in Montana, Missouri and Texas and the local library in Midland, Texas, announced they’re leaving the ALA, with possibly more to come. Right-wing lawmakers in at least nine other states — Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming — demand similar action.

    * The Guardian | Texas fracking billionaire brothers fuel rightwing media with millions of dollars: “Farris and Dan Wilks, who believe their billions were given to them by God, have spent the last decade working to advance a dominionist ideology by funding far-right organizations and politicians that seek to dismiss climate change as ‘God’s will’, remove choice, demonize the LGBTQ community, and tear down public education, all to turn America into a country that gives preference to and imposes their extreme beliefs on everyone,” said Chris Tackett, a Texas-based campaign finance analyst.

    * Star Tribune | Consumers have yet to develop a taste for Kernza, the environmental wonder grain: “I still have half of my 2021 crop in storage, I have all of my 2022 crop in storage, and at this point I will have all of my 2023 crop in storage with no market available to me,” Coffman said. He decided to plant only 10 acres of Kernza next year, down from 30.

       

16 Comments
  1. - Roadrager - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 2:20 pm:

    ==Bridgeview is eye-deep in debt because the town financed a gigantic soccer stadium which doesn’t currently have a team.==

    Hey, what are the Red Stars, chopped liver?

    *checks NWSL standings*

    Okay, but still.


  2. - Amalia - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 2:24 pm:

    fascinating article about kernza. looked to see where it is grown in Illinois. https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/GLBW_Kernza_Promotion_Illinois_Woody_Woodruff.pdf


  3. - Red Line Rambler - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 2:27 pm:

    Shoutout Seat Geek Stadium. Home of the women’s professional team, the Chicago Red Stars!


  4. - TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 2:43 pm:

    “Why rescheduling would be more than just a tax break for cannabis”

    The 60% equity return on Green Thumb in a single week after a long period of buying more as it hovered around book value, is also nice.


  5. - vern - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 3:13 pm:

    === This year, 17 state representatives and ten state senators received 100% scores based on their record on 28 bills during 2023 legislative business. ===

    Only glanced at the scorecard, but I think these numbers would approximately double if IEC didn’t score the nuclear reactors bill. The legislators who scored 95%+ didn’t “fail to realize the stakes.”

    If anything, they better understand the stakes of climate change. The environmental movement shouldn’t be casting out 95%+ supporters because they disagree in good faith on which forms of carbon-free energy should be used to ameliorate the climate emergency.


  6. - the 647 - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 3:18 pm:

    Maybe change it to “the town financed a gigantic soccer stadium which doesn’t currently have a MLS* team.” The Chicago Red Stars are a real tenant. I’m hoping to take my kids to one of their games next month.


  7. - Original Rambler - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 3:55 pm:

    Landek a less than ideal choice but being a former member of the club his appointment will sail right through executive appointments.


  8. - The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 3:57 pm:

    Re: SeatGeek

    That stadium is also home to the MLR’s Chicago Hounds, and in the club’s first year in the league won the right to host the Championship.


  9. - Bulls - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 4:08 pm:

    Since when are political organizations allowed to call themselves “the movement”. Sounds more like a wrestling faction than an actual name for a body of elected officials.


  10. - Donnie Elgin - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 4:18 pm:

    Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed… Landek

    It is important to know the distinction between corruption and cronyism.


  11. - Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 6:54 pm:

    A lot of people use Mesirow for their insurance needs… they’re good and they’re competitive. They earn the business and have for a very long time…


  12. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 7:19 pm:

    ===A lot of people use Mesirow for their insurance needs===

    lol

    C’mon.


  13. - Torco Sign - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 7:22 pm:

    Rep. Bob Morgan has his eye on Congressman Brad Schneider’s seat. He probably regrets not scoring a 100 here.


  14. - Frida's boss - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 7:30 pm:

    Man seems like the Northside and Latinos love using Martinez to help them get elected or appointed then turn around and stab her in the back for not kowtowing to DSA agenda.


  15. - Tired teacher - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 8:08 pm:

    As soon as Republicans get upset about Trump and his cronies, I will begin to worry about Illinois and JB. Jeez… will the Trib ever change ????


  16. - Jibba - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 8:46 pm:

    So the cannabis companies will be keeping that tax break, not passing it on to the customers?


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
* Reader comments closed for the holidays
* And the winners are…
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to previous editions
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Report: Far-right Illinois billionaires may have skirted immigration rules
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards (Updated)
* Energy Storage Brings Cheaper Electricity, Greater Reliability
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller