Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2023

Republicans, Democrats, And Independents Agree – NO ROFR In House Bill 3445

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A statewide survey in Illinois shows that voters are overwhelmingly against the higher electricity costs that would result from “Right of First Refusal” (ROFR) legislation.

Opposed to ROFR:

Voters know that ROFR leads to higher electricity costs. As one woman told her representative on Facebook: “Kindly vote no for higher prices on electricity. We already are paying high prices on everything else!”

ROFR is widely referred to as “crony capitalism” that kills competition, leading to rate hikes for consumers. ROFR has been found to be unconstitutional in some states – one reason why Illinois voters also believe passage would lead to wasteful spending on lawyers and lawsuits.

The Illinois Commerce Commission explains the benefits of competition: “…competition among transmission developers spurs innovative results and helps control costs.”

Transmission construction projects cost billions of dollars, and competition can deliver savings of 20-30%. Illinois ratepayers deserve affordable and reliable electricity. A vote for ROFR is a vote for higher electricity prices for consumers and a weaker grid.

Vote NO on ROFR!

See the survey results: https://www.fairenergyprices.org/il-rofr-survey

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Afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* All that turmoil for this? Sun-Times…

Eleven acres of Southwest Side land being set up for a migrant tent camp has a long history of industrial use, raising questions about the polluted soil and the health impact for the hundreds of people who would live there.

City officials are performing environmental testing of the land at 38th and California in Brighton Park as they prepare for a possible temporary home for at least 2,000 migrants. The site for the camp, which is surrounded by a residential area, is zoned for heavy manufacturing use.

Despite residents’ protests about the proposed housing, the city says the area appears to be “viable” for the camp. That determination was made before environmental testing.

The site, once owned by a railroad, previously included a zinc smelter, a potentially toxic operation that uses heat and chemicals to extract metals, according to a historic map provided by a community-based environmental organization.

Oy.

* “That kind of crowd”? WTTW…

It will be much more difficult for migrants sent to Chicago from the southern border to get a municipal identification card before the end of the year after City Clerk Anna Valencia canceled the remaining events designed to bring City Hall into the city’s neighborhoods.

More than 1,000 people – mostly migrants – lined up hours before the city clerk’s event on Oct. 12 at Gill Park in Wrigleyville was scheduled to start, overwhelming the 15-person staff, Valencia told WTTW News.

“It was too much to manage,” Valencia said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen when you have that kind of crowd. It didn’t seem like it would be a safe event.” […]

Valencia said she did not ask the mayor’s office or other city departments to provide additional staff or resources to allow the scheduled Mobile City Hall events to take place, or to add additional events to meet the demand for the city ID cards from the migrants.

* Maybe Chicago could forgive the water bill for this church…

A west suburban church is calling on others to help after spending thousands of dollars in recent weeks to help migrants.

The Parish of St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles in Oak Park said they’ve opened up their doors for migrants to shower, dress and eat, and the bills have skyrocketed. […]

These shower days mean water bills, which used to be in the hundreds, have skyrocketed to close to $10,000.

“You can see this is wonderful, but it’s not sustainable, by no means, and we are over capacity,” Woznica said.

* ABC 7…

Four people were taken to the hospital from a Chicago police station, where many migrants are staying, Monday morning.

One of those transports, from the 1st District police station near 17th and State streets in the South Loop, was a child.

Several emergency crews were on the scene.

There are several tents set up outside, with dozens of migrants walking around the area.

Crews were called for a report of multiple sick people at the police station.

* OK, let’s change topics. Press release…

Today, Governor Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Deputy Governor Grace Hou, Deputy Governor Martin Torres, elected officials, and state agency directors at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning to announce a proposal to create a new state agency to house all early childhood programs and funding. The new unified agency will provide a more equitable, integrated, and holistic system of services for young children and families in Illinois.

“We need a governance system that is unified in its approach to serving families, working with providers, and promoting equity,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our Smart Start Illinois plan served as the catalyst for this transition, but this new agency will cover so much more. From ISBE’s Early Childhood Block Grants and DCFS’ day care licensing program to DHS’ child care, home visiting and early intervention services, soon all of these programs will be administered under the same agency.”

Reaction from Dezaray Brookshire, State Government Director for Illinois Directors and Owners of Childcare Centers (ILDOCC)…

First, on behalf of ILDOCC, we want to applaud Governor Pritzker and his administration for acknowledging that the licensure and oversight of licensed daycares in the state of Illinois, as overseen by the Department of Children and Family Services, is broken and in desperate need for reform. We agree wholeheartedly that new leadership and a fresh approach is critical to rebuilding and strengthening childcare access in Illinois. And creating a single agency focused exclusively on this issue is a positive step forward.

However, even with today’s announcement, it is important to note that the biggest trade organizations that represent providers of child care in every corner of the state were not involved, consulted or informed prior to this morning’s event. This is an example of what providers have faced far too often — where policy decisions are made without the input of the front line experts that provide these services which are relied upon by working families in Illinois.

We welcome Governor Pritzker’s statement that the process must include all stakeholders, and his acknowledgement that the process will require legislation. This alone is a critical improvement over the status quo. As an organization that represents nearly 1,000 separate childcare facilities in Illinois, we look forward to the promise of our inclusion in this process. More importantly, we look forward to working with our legislative champions to ensure this process improves the industry, addresses the long-standing staffing crisis crippling the industry, and increases access to affordable childcare in every corner of the state.

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Tribune | Ald. Julia Ramirez issues statement ahead of meeting on potential migrant camp: ‘the mayor’s office did not consult with me’: “Additionally, to my frustration, the mayor’s office did not consult with me or my office about their current plans to construct a temporary shelter — meant to house 1,500 people — at 38th & California, nor did they inform my office that they would be sending work crews to conduct a site assessment last week,” she wrote.

* Crain’s | When her house sells, she’ll donate the proceeds to help homeless people and migrants: Robin Potter is selling her Logan Square home of 43 years with an unusual plan for more than $600,000 in proceeds she’s likely to collect when the sale closes: She’ll donate the entire amount to programs that help migrants and those experiencing homelessness in Chicago. “There’s need on a grand scale in this city, with 18,000 migrants and 68,000 people homeless,” says Potter, a labor and employment attorney. “They’re struggling, and it’s our duty to help them.”

* Tribune | 350 Horizon Therapeutics workers to be laid off, mostly from Deerfield offices, following acquisition by Amgen: As of late last year, Horizon had about 2,000 workers globally, including about 600 in its Deerfield offices, which were the company’s U.S. headquarters. Amgen acquired Horizon on Oct. 6 in a $27.8 billion deal. Amgen said in a statement that about 80% of Horizon’s workers will be placed into jobs at Amgen. The 350 who are being laid off are losing their jobs largely because of “overlap with existing teams at Amgen,” Amgen said in the statement.

* WTTW | City Health Official Watchdog Said Should Be Fired for Role in Smokestack Implosion Promoted, Will Oversee Environmental Inspections and Enforcement: The full 94-page report from the Office of the Inspector General, first reported by WTTW News, urged Graham’s termination, saying evidence demonstrated he was responsible for the “abdication of responsibility and willful bureaucratic negligence” for issues including the failure to adequately soak the ground prior to the implosion, which was led by Hilco Redevelopment Partners.

* WTTW | Cook County Prosecutors Won’t Charge Man Accused of Firing Gun Near Pro-Palestinian Rally in Skokie: Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office announced in a statement that after the office reviewed the events, it would not be filing charges against the man. “After reviewing the evidence, which includes surveillance video and witness statements, we have determined the individual, who holds a valid FOID card and Conceal Carry License and has no criminal history, acted in self-defense upon being surrounded by a crowd and attacked by some of those individuals,” Foxx’s office said.

* Block Club | Bring Chicago Home Advocates Rally To Get Northwest Side Alderpeople On Board With Proposal: Members of 39th Ward Neighbors United, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Communities United held a Monday rally at Ald. Samantha Nugent’s 39th Ward office, 4200 W. Lawrence Ave., to ask her to support the proposal. Over 50 people attended the rally, according to the sign-in sheet, said Mary Tarullo, associate director of policy and strategy at the coalition.

* Beacon-News | Kane officials say new solar field will save the county $200,000 a year: The solar field will be owned, operated and maintained by Nelnet Renewable Energy. The county will purchase the power from Nelnet at a reduced rate. The project was developed by the Kane County Environmental and Water Resources Department and members of the Kane County Board Energy and Environmental Committee.

* Daily Herald | $159 million redevelopment project at old Lombard seminary in jeopardy? Developer looking at options: Nearly three years ago, a suburban developer laid out an ambitious plan for a former seminary campus next to Lombard’s Yorktown Center mall. […] The mixed-use project, however, still hasn’t gotten off the ground. The Schaumburg-based development group is looking at their options, including taking on a partner to pursue the original plan, village officials say.

* Crain’s | MacKenzie Scott breaks donation record at another Chicago nonprofit: Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $8 million to Cara Collective, a Chicago-based workforce development organization. The gift is its largest donation ever, the nonprofit said. This is the latest donation to a Chicago-area nonprofit by Scott, who has donated more than $270 million to Chicago-based locations over the past few years.

* WAND | Owner of Macon Speedway plans to sell: According to the post, Kearns purchased Macon Speedway with the intention of running it with his family but medical issues have made it difficult. Kearns said that if the speedway does not sell in the off season to the right person, he and his son will continue to run it in 2024. The 2023 banquet to honor racers is still slated to continue.

* San Francisco | California DMV suspends Cruise’s driverless taxis in S.F., citing safety concerns: The DMV, one of the state’s regulators for self-driving cars, said there is no set timeline for the suspension. At this time, the DMV says the suspension of Cruise’s driverless ops is based on the determination that “the manufacturer’s vehicles are not safe for the public’s operation.”

* NBC | Tesla says Justice Department is expanding investigations and issuing subpoenas for information: The additional investigation topics and the subpoenas suggest that prosecutors have broadened their inquiry, and they have found the need to force Tesla to disclose information, legal experts say. The filing indicates prosecutors may be investigating Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and whether the company has been candid in describing the features of its vehicles, they say.

* Block Club | Enjoy The 80-Degree Weather — It’ll Be In The 40s By Next Week: “There’s basically a lot of strong, southerly and southwesterly wind, which is pumping a lot of warmer air into the area from the southern plains and the Gulf Coast,” he said. “That’s allowed us to warm up.” Warmer weather in the high 60s and low 70s is expected through the end of the week, though rain is also part of the forecast. By the weekend, temperatures will drop into the 40s and 50s as a cold front passes through the area, Yack said.

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Question of the day

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* In its ongoing series about anti-government extremists infiltrating law enforcement ranks, WBEZ, the Sun-Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published a story entitled “He was a rising football star — then he met this state trooper.” You should read the whole thing to see what happened to the kid, but let’s talk about this…

In a statement last week, state police said they knew Dumais had appeared on the Oath Keepers list, but officials determined that he had only “isolated involvement” with the group in 2009, before he joined the force in 2013. In the leaked data, Dumais appears on membership rolls dated as late as 2015.

“At some point in early 2009 I donated an amount of money which I cannot recall to the Oathkeepers Organization through their website,” Dumais wrote in an internal memo in January 2023. “I do not consider myself a member of this organization.”

Dumais did not return messages. A state police spokesperson defended him as a “decorated officer with no discipline” who was lauded for saving a woman from fatally overdosing and for being the lead investigator in three solved homicide cases.

The spokesperson for the state police said the allegations against Dumais in Mitchell’s lawsuit had been reviewed and it was decided there was “insufficient evidence to support discipline” against the state trooper. The spokesperson also said the settlement with Mitchell was smaller than his initial demand of $1.5 million.

And state police officials said Monday they recently added questions to their job applications to screen aspiring troopers who have been involved in anti-government groups.

The Oath Keepers list was made public in September of 2022.

* One issue not mentioned in the story is that the Illinois State Police Merit Board is specifically prohibited from investigating most actions that took place more than three years before a complaint is filed. So even if a complaint was filed against that trooper, the board couldn’t do anything about conduct in 2009 through 2015, when he was listed as an Oath Keepers member. Here’s the rule…

The Board will not consider any complaint based upon conduct which antedates by three years the date the complaint is filed, except in those instances where the conduct complained of is parallel to criminal conduct as provided by the laws of this state, the United States or any governmental subdivision thereof, in which case this shall conform with the applicable criminal statute of limitations when the applicable criminal statute of limitations is longer. On Petitions for Review, the Board will reverse the suspension based on conduct which antedates by three (3) years the date the suspension was given.

The State Police Merit Board proposed getting rid of this rule in May of 2022, with the support of the ISP. Click here and scroll down to see it. However, I’m told, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules asked the Merit Board to withdraw the proposed change due to lack of support among its bipartisan membership and opposition from police unions.

* The Question: Should this statute of limitations-style rule be rescinded, extended or left as-is? Make sure to explain your answer, please. Thanks.

…Adding… JCAR staff recalls this differently. They’re saying that JCAR took a pass because they learned an unfair labor practice charge was pending before the Illinois Labor Relations Board on this very issue, not on the policy per se.

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Hard-right House Republicans reject Invest in Kids Act compromise

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but take a look at the ad below by the Invest in Kids Act proponents for background if you need it. From the Illinois Freedom Caucus…

The IL Freedom Caucus today is issuing the following statement on the proposed Invest in Kids Act changes, which would keep the program going another five years but would reduce the maximum tax credit dollar amount from $1 million to $500,000 and would reduce the total overall scholarship opportunity amount from $75 million to $50 million.

“This proposal is a non-starter. It will not make the program permanent, and it reduces the available funding for scholarships. The best course of action would be to extend the program and to expand it. This school year alone, the scholarship program has helped 9,500 kids escape failing schools. There are 26,000 applicants in need of scholarship help. But instead of helping kids, it appears the Legislature is dead set on making it harder for this program to help kids in need.

The scholarship money for the Invest in Kids Act comes from private donations and amounts to just 0.9 percent of the budget for public schools. It does not use existing tax dollars or take away any funding from public schools. Illinois Education Association opposition to the Invest in Kids Act is a disgrace. We call on our colleagues to do right by our students, expand this program and make it permanent.”

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of State Representatives Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); Jed Davis (R-Newark) and David Friess (R-Red Bud). The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are members of the Illinois General Assembly who are advocating for limited government, lower taxes and accountability, and integrity in government.

All or nothing, apparently. Same as it ever was.

But that, as they say, appears to be the ballgame.

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Raoul, other attorneys general file lawsuit against Meta

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* CNBC…

A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general is suing Meta over addictive features aimed at kids and teens, the AGs announced Tuesday. The support from so many state AGs of different political backgrounds indicates a significant legal challenge to Meta’s business.

Meta is now facing multiple lawsuits on this issue in several districts. AGs from 33 states filed a federal suit against Meta in the Northern District of California, while 9 additional AGs are filing in their own states, according to a press release from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office. […]

Several of the practices the AGs focus on for Meta are similar to those exercised by other social media businesses, such as designing algorithms to keep users engaged.

“We share the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families,” Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. “We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path.”

The lawsuit is here.

* From AG Raoul…

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that his office filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. (Meta), the company that owns and operates Facebook and Instagram, for its harmful business practices targeting children.

The lawsuit, backed by a broad, bipartisan coalition of 33 states, was filed today in the federal district court for the Northern District of California. In their lawsuit, Raoul and the attorneys general allege that Meta’s business model, which seeks to capture as much user time and attention as possible to sell advertising, has targeted youth, including teenagers and even younger children, in ways that take advantage of them.

“Our children are in crisis, and we need to act,” Raoul said. “The addictive features on Meta’s social media platforms interfere with sleep and education, enable cyberbullying, and contribute to depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm. I believe the action we are taking today against Meta is one of – if not the most – important consumer protection actions my office will take. The consequences will affect an entire generation of young people. I am committed to holding Meta, and any other responsible actors, accountable for putting profits ahead of our children.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 14. During the decade since Instagram’s rise in popularity, the CDC reported that the number of high school students who experience feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and ideation increased by 40%. In that same time period, there was a 30% increase in the rate of high school girls who attempted suicide.

Raoul and the coalition allege that Meta designed its social media platforms to include features that exploit young users’ psychological vulnerabilities to keep them using the platforms longer, and that many of these product features are strongly linked to damaging psychological outcomes. The attorneys general allege that Meta is aware of the potential harms its products cause youth, including driving impulsive behavior; interfering with sleep and education; and exacerbating issues young people have with depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm. Meta’s own research confirmed that its social media platforms are among the worst in harming young users.

“Our son, Nate Bronstein, forever 15, is no longer with us because social media platforms have for far too long placed profits over children’s safety,” said Rose and Rob Bronstein, whose son, died in 2022. “Nate, a super-sharp, funny kid who loved making others laugh, was cyberbullied by fellow students at the Latin School of Chicago. These teens, blinded by the drive to get shares and views, and emboldened by features like self-deleting messages, relied on social media to send vile, threatening messages to Nate, leading to his tragic passing. Reasonable people everywhere have long realized the danger that social media poses to our children, yet the unsafe features remain, and the harm continues, while the profits grow. Thank you to our courageous elected leaders for holding the social media platforms accountable for this reprehensible behavior and protecting other families from having to endure the worst imaginable tragedy.”

“Smartphones and social media are almost universally in every young person’s hand and have the capacity to deeply harm and exacerbate mental health challenges for young people,” said NAMI Illinois CEO Alexa James. “This is a serious public health issue complicating a deeply serious mental health crisis our children and their families are already facing.”

According to the surgeon general, eighth and tenth graders now spend an average of three-and-a-half hours per day on social media. In Illinois, nearly a million Illinois teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 access Instagram every month. From 2020 to 2021 in Illinois alone, over half a million Illinois teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 accessed Instagram every day.

Raoul’s lawsuit alleges that Meta violated the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting the personal information of children under the age of 13 without obtaining parental permission as required by that statute. The coalition is asking the court to enter an injunction stopping Meta from continuing these unlawful practices.

Today’s lawsuit stems from a bipartisan nationwide investigation announced by Raoul in November 2021, and is part of the Attorney General’s efforts to protect children online and address the negative impacts of social media platforms on young Illinois residents. In May 2021, Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general urging Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. In March 2022, Raoul also announced a bipartisan nationwide investigation into TikTok for providing and promoting its social media platform to children and young adults despite its use being associated with physical and mental health harms.

…Adding… Sen. Rezin…

Illinois Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued the following statement in response to announcement that Illinois Attorney General has signed onto a multi-state lawsuit against Meta over the company’s use of addictive features aimed at kids and teens:

“I would like to thank Illinois Attorney General Raoul for his decision to join with 32 other state attorney generals to file a lawsuit to hold Meta accountable for the harmful and addictive algorithms they utilize to profit off of unsuspecting minors.

“I continue to remain committed to working with stakeholders to pass social media legislation during the General Assembly’s spring legislative session that will protect the well-being of our state’s children from every social media company that uses similar tactics that this lawsuit alleges.”

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Even after numerous push questions, GOP pollster finds Durkin still only at 40 percent who would consider supporting him

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The wording here is kinda hilarious. To be clear, any Republican would have “support” against a Democrat in Cook County…

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Jim Durkin, the former House minority leader, is still mulling a run for Cook County state’s attorney — and he’s got polling that shows he’d have support against a Democrat.

The survey by Coefficient identifies Durkin, a former Cook County prosecutor, as being “tough on crime” but also backing the assault weapons ban. He was one of only two Republicans to do so when he served in the Illinois House.

By the numbers: The poll shows most people in Cook County support President Joe Biden. Then, it asks, “regardless of your vote for president, would you consider voting for a reform Republican like Jim Durkin?” The answers: 34 percent of women and 46 percent of men said yes.

Durkin would face the winner of the Democratic Party primary, which is a battle between Clayton Harris III, a lawyer and lobbyist who’s been handpicked by Cook County Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle, and former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke.

The result is obtained after asking eleven questions, including blatant push questions about how Durkin is “tough on crime,” how he’d created a “multi-prong plan” to address crime, how he voted for the assault weapons ban and how he’d been given the “Defender of the Innocent” award, along with other questions about Kim Foxx, etc.

Also, the final question is misquoted by the above media outlet. The pollster doesn’t ask if respondents would “vote” for Durkin, it asks if they would “consider supporting a reform Republican like Jim Durkin to represent you as your Cook County district attorney” [sic]…

Yes 40 percent
No 25 percent
Unsure 35 percent

Man. That is one heckuva snowjob.

I have always loved me some Jim Durkin, but c’mon, man.

* Let’s move on to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s favorables…

Keep in mind that this is a county-wide poll, so the Chicago-only numbers have a significantly higher margin of error. Even so, not great.

More county-wide Mayor Johnson fave/unfaves, which might be useful when thinking about suburban legislative candidates…

* President Biden…

Coefficient was Gary Rabine’s pollster.

32 Comments

The CCS Opportunity In Illinois

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Carbon capture and storage, or “CCS,” is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their source and stores them deep underground. CCS is a proven and safe process and the Illinois State Geologic Survey has confirmed that our state’s geology is perfectly suited for this technology. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) enforces federal requirements to regulate the safety of the pipelines that will support CCS.

In addition to delivering a cleaner environment, CCS will generate $3.3 billion in value for the region and could spur 14,440 jobs. Now is the time to bring carbon capture technology and its environmental and economic benefits to Illinois. Policymakers must pass legislation to advance CCS and bring this opportunity to Illinois.

Learn more about the CCS opportunity in Illinois.

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Bruce Simon

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bruce Simon was truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. He was a kind man. He was also an effective, highly knowledgeable lobbyist. Bruce was a great White Sox fan and often hosted charitable and other events at the park.

Bruce passed away last night. This world just won’t be the same without him.

* From Comptroller Susana Mendoza…

My heart aches at this loss, but I thank God for having put me in Bruce Simon’s path over 20 years ago. It gave me the opportunity to meet one of the most amazing, kindest and caring souls in the world. Every time I was lucky enough to see Bruce or spend time with him, it was like seeing and feeling warm sunshine on a cold and cloudy day. I will always treasure our friendship and time together.

Even though Bruce was an incredibly successful lobbyist, I never really saw him so much as a lobbyist but instead an amazing public servant and advocate for millions - someone I really looked up to. I am a better elected official today because of Bruce’s influence on me starting in 2001, as an incoming freshman legislator. He taught me early on how important it was for the most vulnerable among us to have a voice of advocacy fighting for them from those in positions of power to do so.

I genuinely loved Bruce and will miss him dearly. He left an indelible mark of goodness on our state.

My thoughts and prayers are with Marguerite and Bruce’s kids at this time. Bruce loved them more than anything in the world. Being a husband, father and a grandfather was his best and favorite job.

On this earth, Bruce’s lungs gave out. But I know that he got a VIP Express Pass into Heaven where he was able to take the deepest and most gigantic breath of well-deserved Heavenly air. He’s at peace now surrounded by those he loved who went before him, and keeping an eye on all of us. Godspeed my friend until we meet again. ❤️🙏🏼

* RIP…

18 Comments

Today’s quotable

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Former WLS Radio host Big John Howell writing in the Sun-Times…

I was saddened, but not surprised, by the news of the stabbing death of Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume. An innocent 6-year-old victim of a racial, hateful and utterly inexplicable murderous rampage. Wait, maybe not inexplicable.

Prosecutors said in court Mondaythat the alleged killer had listened to conservative talk radio about the situation in the Middle East before the attack.

I don’t know if this is true, nor do I know any details on what programs might have prompted the attack. We’ll learn more regarding this in the future. I’m wondering if we’ll hear some familiar names?

I do know this: Radio companies, stations and especially hosts have to stop peddling lies, fables, conspiracies and corrosive content under the guise of “It’s just business.” I’ve said this a hundred times: If you break the stupid, you own the stupid. The excuse “I didn’t think they’d believe me” doesn’t wash in this environment. Too many crazies waiting for their marching orders.

I’m a 40-year veteran of the radio business, including the last 17 years as a prime time host on two of Chicago’s most conservative talk stations. I’m intimately familiar with techniques in how to influence an audience.

It’s one thing to exaggerate, embellish and utilize satire to make a point about pop culture and politics. It’s entirely different, and far more dangerous, to intentionally mislead and misinform an audience. Over the past few years, I’ve heard far too much of the latter. Extreme rhetoric from both sides is on the rise.

Radio hosts (and companies) have to exercise self control and discretion when presenting and discussing serious, incendiary, life and death topics. Don’t pander to the…(and I’m being kind here) under-informed. You’ll regret it. Those hosts who do so should be held accountable, and so should their enablers and sponsors.

Go read the rest.

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Here’s How To Make The Tax Credit Scholarship Better

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

We’ve been listening carefully to the governor, legislative leaders, and many members of the legislature about how to make the Tax Credit Scholarship better – and we now have an amended program proposal that does exactly that. Thousands of vulnerable kids are counting on us to put them before politics.

In response to direct feedback, our bill offers substantive improvements along with good-faith compromises which justify extending the Tax Credit Scholarship Program:

2. Reduce the overall size of the program to $50MM (down from $75MM) and reduce the individual giving cap to $500,000 (down from $1MM).

3. Reduce the tax credit for donors to 55% (down from 75%).

4. Encourage more middle-income donors by crediting donations of up to $5,000 with a 100% tax credit.

Illinois, let’s do the right thing. It’s about the kids, not the politics. Save the scholarships.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Open thread

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* We’re back in Springfield for the first day of veto session! What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

5 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Veto session begins today. AP…

* Related stories…

∙ WGEM: Nuclear power plants on agenda as Illinois veto session begins Tuesday
∙ Center Square: Illinois lawmakers plan to address several issues during the fall veto session
∙ 21st Show: Preview of the 2023 Veto Session
∙ WGN: State lawmakers return to Springfield Tuesday for fall veto session
∙ Scott Holland: Lawmakers will decide if tax break program can continue

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Sun-Times | Pritzker urges residents to unite ‘across religions, across ethnicities to renounce hatred’: “We stand here united across religions, across ethnicities to renounce hatred. To show our Muslim and Jewish neighbors that we stand with them, and to chart a new course of solidarity, justice and humanity,” Pritzker said.

* WBEZ | He was a rising football star — then he met this state trooper: One evening in 2018, Dumais came looking for Mitchell’s brother at the family’s home on a cul-de-sac in south suburban Matteson. Dumais and another officer apprehended Mitchell instead, forcing him into a squad car before realizing their mistake and letting him go. In that incident, though, the police injured Mitchell’s right knee badly, and he says he never completely recovered his blazing speed, which at the time threatened his hopes of success as a Division I football player.

Governor Pritzker will be announcing a new early childhood initiative at 10:30 am today. Click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…

* NBC Chicago | Illinois tech hubs to focus on crop production, quantum computing, White House says: According to the Biden Administration, hubs based in Chicago and Champaign were among 31 projects tabbed to receive funding through the program. […] According to a press release from the White House, up to $10 billion in funding is available through a bill, passed in 2022, that aimed to help address shortages in semiconductor manufacturing and supply chains, along with other tech-related issues in the U.S.

* Patch | Burr Ridge Mayor Not Running For State House: Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso said Monday he would not run for state representative in the 82nd House District.

* Sun-Times | No charges for man who fired gun in the air near pro-Palestinian protesters in Skokie: The 39-year-old man, who prosecutors declined to name, was released from police custody. In a statement issued Monday, prosecutors said the man, a Firearm Owner Identification Card and Concealed Carry License holder, had “no criminal history.” “After reviewing the evidence, which includes surveillance video and witness statements, we have determined the individual … acted in self-defense upon being surrounded by a crowd and attacked by some of those individuals,” according to the statement.

* Sun-Times | Over protests, city officials confirm Brighton Park tent plan, pending final ‘assessments’: “The City of Chicago has been identifying viable sites across the city to construct base camps as an alternative to new arrivals sleeping outdoors, at O’Hare and on the floors of police district stations as winter fast approaches,” the statement from the mayor’s office reads. “The site at 38th and California appears viable, and the intention is to construct temporary shelter at this site.”

* WTTW | Johnson Asks City Council to Reject Part of Deal He Inked with Police Union Amid Uproar Over Discipline Change: “While we recognize police officers’ right to arbitration, it is crucial that disciplinary cases be handled in a manner that allows for public transparency and true accountability,” Johnson said. “Since this is a matter that will require City Council action, I am asking the body to reject this measure when it comes up in the coming weeks.”

* Crain’s | What’s in store as the City Council gets set to scrutinize Johnson’s nearly $2B police budget: In Johnson’s $16.6 billion proposal, the CPD budget is increased roughly $91 million, from $1.907 million to $1.998 billion. The increase follows through on Johnson’s pledge to not take “one cent” from the department.

* WTTW | Chicago Program That Encourages Drug Treatment Over Arrest Shows Signs of Success, Research Says: But the program is only available to about 5% of all drug offenders. Only those who have not been convicted of a crime in 10 years and are deemed to pose no threat to the public are eligible.’ According to city statistics, 700 people have gone through the program since 2018.

* Illinois Times | City disburses $3 million grant to address homelessness: The grants will expand on the “co-responder” model the department has employed since 2019 in which police work in conjunction with mental health professionals to assist the homeless, Deputy Police Chief Joshua Stuenkel said. Comprehensive services also will reduce the number of trips police make to bring people to the Sangamon County Jail and Springfield hospital emergency rooms, said Mike Newman, the police department’s homeless outreach team coordinator.

* Chalkbeat | New federal program puts $12 million toward school integration in a dozen states: Among the winners are some of the largest districts in the country, including New York City and Chicago, where debates have long raged over how to address the inequities wrought by school segregation. Other winners include a cohort of Maryland districts and the East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana, both of which have been home to intense battles over school segregation in recent years.

* AP | UAW’s confrontational leader makes gains in strike talks, but some wonder: Has he reached too far?: People with personal ties to Fain say his approach, on the picket lines and at the bargaining table, reflects the bluntly straightforward manner he developed as he rose through the union’s ranks. He is, they say, the right man for the moment. People with personal ties to Fain say his approach, on the picket lines and at the bargaining table, reflects the bluntly straightforward manner he developed as he rose through the union’s ranks. He is, they say, the right man for the moment.

* NYT | Two Illinois Parishes Live on Either Side of a Catholic Divide: When the Rev. John Trout heard that Pope Francis wanted feedback from parishes before a major Vatican gathering this month on the church’s future, he decided that his suburban Chicago congregation would go all in. […] Less than an hour south of St. Joe’s, the Rev. Anthony Buś of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago said he viewed the gathering in Rome not as an opportunity but as a potential threat, or at the very least an irrelevance.

* WAND | Effingham Co. Coroner releases final report on deadly Teutopolis HAZMAT crash: Final an official autopsy reports were released for the five people who died from respiratory failure due to inhalation and exposure to anhydrous ammonia. This included severe chemical burns to the entire body, respiratory system, face, eyes, and lungs.