* Senate President Don Harmon…
The people of Chicago deserve representation and accountability. The Illinois Senate is not going to consider an elected school board bill with woefully inadequate ethical provisions.
We are concerned with the failure to include strong ethical safeguards in the legislation the House approved.
For example, there is no prohibition on executives and employees of school district contractors and vendors being able to serve on the board.
The House legislation opens the door for corruption by exempting board members from the requirements under the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act.
A Chicago School Board must be held to the same ethical standards as every other school board in Illinois.
These are specific accountability protections the public requested during numerous Senate hearings. We also heard repeated testimony regarding the importance of electing all 20 board members next year, a provision the Senate supports and one that is lacking from the House version.
We are eager to work with the House on the shared goal of an elected representative school board but we will not accept watered down ethical provisions, and we believe the parents, families, students and taxpayers of Chicago deserve immediate representation.
Much progress has been made this week. I look forward to continuing discussions with our colleagues in the House to swiftly reach an agreement.
…Adding… Rep. Ann Williams, sponsor of HB4221, which is the House’s latest version of an elected school board bill…
The House and Senate are both working towards the same goal: a fully elected school board for Chicago Public Schools. While we may have suggested different paths to accomplish that goal, and these particular concerns from Senate President Harmon were never brought to our attention until tonight, I feel confident we can continue to work together to achieve a product that Chicago can be proud of.
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Afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Sue Rezin…
Illinois has once again taken another step closer to paving the way for the development of new nuclear reactors within the state thanks to the passage of Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin’s (R-Morris) new legislation, House Bill 2473, in the Senate on Wednesday, November 8.
“House Bill 2473 is a new piece of legislation designed to thoroughly and specifically address the concerns that the Governor stated in his veto message of my original bill,” said Sen. Rezin. “I would like to personally thank Senate President Harmon, his team, and other stakeholders that assisted throughout this negotiation process.”
House Bill 2473 lifts the ban on next generation nuclear reactors less than 300 MW beginning January 1, 2026. Additionally, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security will be directed to establish rules for reactor decommissioning, environmental monitoring, and emergency preparedness by January 1, 2026. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will also provide consultation.
Furthermore, House Bill 2473 authorizes the Governor to commission a brand-new study to research the State’s role in guiding the development of new nuclear technology and makes conforming statutory changes, including updating references to IEMA-OHS in preexisting Illinois law.
“The federal regulatory permitting process already takes six to eight years, so if we want to take advantage of the amazing advancements in new nuclear technology that have occurred over the past decade and prevent our state from falling behind the rest of the nation, we need to end this moratorium now,” continued Sen. Rezin. “Nuclear provides clean, reliable, and secure energy that we can count on as we strive to reach our clean energy goals in Illinois. With the passage of this legislation, we provide our state with the opportunity to truly embrace the next generation of nuclear technology and all of the benefits that it offers.”
House Bill 2473 passed out of the Senate with a 44-7 vote and is now on its way to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Since House Bill 2473 doesn’t take effect until January 1, 2026, it only requires a simple-majority vote in order to be sent to the Governor’s desk.
* Sen. Rachel Ventura…
State Senator Rachel Ventura passed a measure through the Senate that would move the state toward lower emissions, improve air quality throughout Illinois and require newly purchased state-owned vehicles to be zero emission.
“We cannot afford to delay transitioning to zero-emission vehicles,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “With this legislation, Illinois will not only save money in the long run, but will also protect the environment.”
Highway vehicles release about 1.4 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year — mostly in the form of carbon dioxide — which contribute to the global climate crisis. Roughly five to nine tons of greenhouse gases are burned each year for a typical vehicle according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Ventura’s measure aims to lower the state’s overall emissions by addressing the pollutants released into the air by vehicle emissions, which have a direct impact on the environment.
Under Senate Bill 1769, passenger vehicles purchased or leased by the state must either be a manufactured zero-emission vehicle or converted into a zero-emission vehicle with the exception of law enforcement vehicles and vehicles procured by IDOT as part of their consolidated vehicle procurement program by 2030. Currently 13 other states have adopted similar zero-emission vehicle requirements, Minnesota being the only other Midwestern state to do so.
“This is just one step toward mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis. Illinois continues to lead other states, but there is more work to do,” said Ventura. “Going forward, the state needs to create a reliable electrical grid to support the increased demand of electrification, incentivize carbon-free energy production, and expand and restore natural carbon capture methods.”
Senate Bill 1769 passed the Senate on Wednesday and heads to the governor.
* From Gov. JB Pritzker’s Think Big America last night…
“Tonight, Ohio voters showed, once again, that they will not stand for draconian and extreme attacks on their reproductive rights. Ohioans have spoken loud and clear - abortion bans have no place in their state. Women deserve the freedom to make their own reproductive health choices and, thanks to the hard work of Ohioans across the state, that freedom is now protected in the state constitution. Think Big America applauds everyone who worked tirelessly to pass Issue One in a historic victory that will resonate for decades to come. Tonight, we celebrate the win for freedom in Ohio and tomorrow we continue the fight to pursue these same victories for reproductive rights across the country.”
* From Pritzker’s group today…
“Virginians voted to protect the future of abortion in their state and send reproductive rights allies to Richmond. Think Big America congratulates reproductive rights champions, state senators-elect Danica Roem, Schuyler Van Valkenburg, and Russet Perry. Virginia remains the final state in the South without an abortion ban and the message sent on Tuesday is loud and clear - we want to keep it that way. Despite the best efforts by anti-choice extremists and their far-right allies, women’s freedom to determine their own healthcare decisions won out yesterday. Think Big America applauds the hard work of everyone in Virginia who made these victories possible and who have steadfastly defended reproductive rights and abortion access along the way.”
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…
* Tribune | Jury selection for ex-Ald. Edward Burke corruption trial continues: That’s a little more than half of the 47 potential jurors who are needed before attorneys can proceed to the next phase of selection, in which each side will get to strike a certain number of people from the jury pool without giving a reason. The slow pace means opening statements in the case will likely be Thursday at the earliest.
* Center Square | Lawmakers grill IDES director over billions in unemployment fraud during pandemic: A performance audit released by the Office of the Auditor General showed that overpayments of $5.2 billion in the Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs were the result of fraud, non-fraud and identity theft between 2020 to 2022. The audit also found that nearly 3,500 inmates in Illinois prisons received fraudulent benefits. The Auditor General’s office found that inmates received over $40 million in benefits.
* ABC Chicago | Former Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti officially launches Cook County state’s attorney bid: Bob Fioretti was expected to be at the Billy Goat Tavern on West Madison Street Wednesday morning to say he’s running as a Republican. Fioretti previously ran for Cook County Board president and lost to Toni Preckwinkle.
* Daily Herald | Deferred prosecution OK’d for Sugar Grove trustee charged with forgery: He is accused of forging the signature of a North Aurora building department official on a certificate of occupancy for a home in the Moose Lake Estates subdivision and presenting the forged document to a title company. Michels works for a company that builds custom homes. According to a North Aurora police report, the forgery was discovered when a homeowner inquired about getting a permit to build a swimming pool. North Aurora employees were confused, however, because they had not issued an occupancy certificate for the house.
* Crain’s | Paid leave policy outrages Chicago restaurants, but workers want PTO: If passed, the proposal would require Chicago employers to provide employees 10 paid days off starting next year. Companies with more than 100 employees will be required to pay out up to seven unused days off when a worker ends employment. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees would be exempt from having to pay out unused days, and there would be a one-year phase-in of required payout for companies with 51 to 100 workers.
* SJ-R | Springfield City Council adopts moratorium on residency requirement for municipal workers: Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory, Ward 3 Ald. Roy Williams Jr. and Ward 4 Ald. Larry Rockford voted against the ordinance, which, like two weeks ago at committee of the whole, engendered a long discussion. Before the vote, the council approved two amendments to the ordinance, including one that would subject the council to revisit the ordinance after one year, though no sunset provision was attached to it.
* NBC Chicago | Several Illinois schools listed in Wall Street Journal rankings of best Midwest colleges: Lake Forest College was named as the second-best small Midwestern college, while ranking 27th overall nationally. The University of St. Francis in Joliet was ranked as the ninth-best small Midwestern college. Four Illinois schools made up the top 10 mid-size colleges, with Chicago’s Illinois Institute of Technology topping the list.
* ABC Chicago | Bill Murray, Mike Veeck are new co-owners of Joliet Slammers baseball team: The Joliet City Council unanimously approved the sale Tuesday evening. Murray is part of a group that’s reached an agreement, in principal, to buy 75% of the team. One of the other co-owners is Mike Veeck, the son of late White Sox owner Bill Veeck.
* Daily Herald | ‘I’m overwhelmed’: Victory Auto Wreckers’ owner says of public response to business closing after 78 years: That’s why Weisner’s phone has been ringing nonstop and T-shirt sales have jumped since he announced the business closing on Dean Richards’ WGN Radio 720 show Sunday morning. “It’s endearing,” he said Tuesday of the ongoing response. “I didn’t think we had that much of an impact on people’s lives. Thank you so much for everything.” Nov. 18 is the last day Victory will accept vehicles and Nov. 30 is the final day it will be open to the public.
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* The Invest in Kids Act extension bill needs 71 votes to pass the House. House Republican Leader Tony McCombie told WJPF Radio host Tom Miller today that there are only 57 votes in the House…
Chris Welch will not call it. He has, from my understanding, 17 hard yeses on the Democrat side of the aisle. We only have 40. So some on our side of the aisle say ‘Well, you know, you could do more, you could do more.’ And my issue is I have 40 Republicans in the House, they have 17 hard yeses. That’s 57. I can do the math. And Welch will not call a bill when a bill is not going to be passed. He is not going to put his members on a bill and put pressure on them when there’s no bill to be solidly passed. So it’s not going to be called by the Speaker. There is a compromise by the advocates, I would say a compromise that they worked very hard on, carried by Representative Guerrero, and one that I believe Republicans, I know Republicans would support, I know 17 Democrats would support, but it’s not enough to apply pressure to the Democrats for Speaker Welch to call it.
Except the Illinois Freedom Caucus refused to support Rep. Guerrero-Cuellar’s bill. They did signal a willingness to compromise yesterday, but, again, the bill doesn’t have 71 votes, so it doesn’t mean much…
As the Illinois General Assembly convenes for this year’s’ final week of Veto Session in Springfield, we must take action to support the Invest in Kids Scholarship Program before its’ sunset December 31st.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus has been engaged in working out an agreement that addresses the concerns about enhanced targeting of the scholarships to the students most in need, and including a reasonable sunset where the program can be reviewed. We appreciate Representative Guerrero-Cuellar’s willingness to put a proposal on the table. We support this legislation (HB4194) with the following amendments:
1. Maintaining the scholarship program’s credit cap at $75 Million
2. Allowing for a 65% tax credit for regular contributions, and 75% tax credit for contributions to an underserved area.
We remain committed to working with all sides to see this successful program extended in the most meaningful way. The children who are counting on us to protect their educational opportunities deserve an up or down vote on this bill.
No such amendment has yet been filed.
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ILEPI rebuts IPI critique
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After I posted an Illinois Economic Policy Institute analysis last month, the Illinois Policy Institute published a critique, including this…
Data from state income tax returns shows Illinois’ population is declining – and the ILEPI study excluded it
An entire section of the new report is dedicated to comparing differences between annual Census estimates and Illinois Department of Revenue data on state tax returns. They use the tally of the number of tax returns filed (which is not the same as total population) from 2010-2020 as evidence of Illinois’ population growth during the decade. The authors have problematically excluded the parts of that same dataset showing the number of individuals represented in the tax returns has declined substantially from 2010-2020.
ILEPI’s report contains a table showing growth of 200,143 Illinois tax returns from 2010-2020. But the number of tax returns filed is not representative of the number or individuals in the state. Many couples file jointly or have dependents who do not file their own tax return. The state tax data also includes the number of basic exemptions – a count of the number of individuals (filers and their dependents) – represented in the data, which shows Illinois’ total population declined by 354,759 people between 2010 and 2020. (Illinois eliminated basic exemptions for joint filers earning more than $500,000 and all other filers earning more than $250,000 in 2017, so we’ve re-added those figures to the data based on previous Illinois income tax returns).
While every Illinoisan is not required to file a state income tax return, these figures are similar to the Census Bureau’s original estimate of Illinois’ population decline of approximately 253,000 during the decade. The fact that not all Illinoisans file state income tax returns likely explains the bulk of the difference between the Census Bureau’s estimates of population decline and changes in state tax return data.
* I asked ILEPI’s Frank Manzo for a response to this. Here’s an excerpt…
Critiques that the ILEPI-PMCR study did not include basic exemptions in analyzing Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) tax statistics misunderstands the key takeaway that Illinois’ tax base has expanded.
Tax return data is useful to include because it can provide additional information on changes that are occurring within a state, but it is only partially complete because it does not include people who do not file taxes. People who do not earn incomes are not included in tax statistics, but are included in Census counts and in household surveys.
With that said, Illinois Department of Revenue tax returns between 2010 and 2020 generally corroborate a finding in the official Census count that the Chicago area added population and Downstate lost population. The tax return data show that the Chicago area added 203,000 taxpayers (a gain of 6%) while Downstate lost 3,000 taxpayers (a loss of 0.2%).
Overall, the data show that Illinois added more than 200,000 taxpayers between 2010 and 2020, a 4% increase statewide. Additionally, there was an 80% growth in taxpayers earning over $500,000 per year and a 52% gain in those reporting between $100,001 and $500,000 while those claiming Earned Income Credit (EIC) government assistance fell by 11%.
While exemptions could potentially be useful to include, they would simply be estimates in Illinois, because the state eliminated exemption allowances for high-income taxpayers in 2017. However, this is the group of taxpayers that has grown the most over the decade. Assumptions would need to be made about how many exemptions these households would claim, and the resulting population estimate could swing wildly depending on the built-in assumptions.
The data that is objective and not based on any assumptions is the number of tax filers. That data shows that the tax base has grown and that Illinois has become higher-paid. It does not show a state in decline.
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Oops
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jumped the gun on a post. Sorry. Deleted. To atone, here’s an Oscar pic…
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Rep. Bob Rita’s HB4222…
Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that each licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop establishment shall notify the Illinois Gaming Board in writing prior to a proposed sale or transfer of the licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop establishment. Sets forth provisions concerning the change of ownership of a licensed establishment. Provides for conditional licenses for licensed establishments. Provides that a licensed terminal operator shall be excused from any surveillance obligation imposed upon a licensed terminal operator if the failure of the terminal operator to comply with the surveillance obligation is caused by specified circumstances. Effective immediately.
* SB2638 from Sen. Julie Morrison…
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that moneys collected by a municipality from hotel use taxes may be expended to contribute to fund actuarial liabilities of the municipality’s pension fund established under Article 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the Illinois Pension Code or Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code with regard to sheriff’s law enforcement employees if the municipality has not established a pension fund under Article 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the Illinois Pension Code.
* Press release…
Continuing his advocacy for immigrant employees following the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1515 earlier this summer, State Senator Javier Cervantes brought forth a new plan that would protect marginalized workers and give employees time to correct employment verification document discrepancies before an enforcement action is taken against them.
“Throughout my years working alongside labor and health care organizations, I have seen employees hurt by this process,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “In working with the governor’s office and advocacy groups, we are confident we have come up with a plan that will protect employees and work for everyone involved in the verification process.”
Currently, federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system. E-Verify compares information from an employee’s I-9 Form to records available to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility. If discrepancies are found, immigrant workers have the possibility of receiving a “no match” letter for a variety of reasons, including instances where the individual changed their name due to marriage. Many employers terminate employees who receive this notice, even though they could be legally working in the United States.
Senate Bill 508 would prevent employers from imposing work authorization verification requirements that are greater than those required by federal law and give employees time to correct documentation discrepancies. The new legislation would require employers, upon finding a discrepancy in verification information, to notify the employee that the federal or State agency has notified the employer and the time period the employee has to contest the information. The employee would be given an explanation of the discrepancy and retain the right to have a representative present for meetings related to employment verification. Employers would be barred from taking any adverse action against the employee based on the notification. […]
Senate Bill 508 passed the Senate Floor on Tuesday and heads to the House for further consideration.
* HB4223 from Rep. Michael Marron…
Creates the 5-day Budget Review Act. Prohibits a hearing or vote on any appropriation bill or revenue bill for at least 5 days after the bill is made publicly available. Provides that a vote on an amendment to an appropriation bill or a revenue bill is not in order unless that amendment is made publicly available at least 48 hours prior to the vote. Provides that these temporal limitations may be waived by an affirmative two-thirds vote of the full committee or house considering the legislation. Effective immediately.
* Effingham Radio…
The Illinois Legislative Prayer Caucus (ILPC) is spearheading a drive to reestablish a prayer room in the Illinois State Capitol. The ILPC is for legislators only and operates under the umbrella of the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation (CPCF). The CPCF connects legislators within states and across the nation in prayer and action. Members of the ILPC believe that through trust in God, humble prayer and strategic action, the religious liberties of all Americans will be protected.
When a prayer room was established in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, it took one year from start to finish beginning in 1954 then opening in 1955. However, in Illinois, it took a 15-year effort to have a nondenominational chapel, or prayer room as it is known, established in the Illinois Capitol. The process in Illinois began in 1982 and in November 1997, the prayer room was opened and dedicated.
During a 2009-2013 renovation of the West Wing, the prayer room in the Capitol was remodeled and converted into a House committee room.
In this final week of the Fall Veto Session, Rep. Brad Halbrook, Chairman of the ILPC, has filed a Resolution (HR 495) to reestablish the prayer room during the current, ongoing renovations of the North Wing of the Capitol building.
As Rep. Halbrook has stated, “Prayer was a vital part of the founding fathers’ lives as they sought the direction, protection & wisdom of God. Our great need of God’s help today is no different than our forefathers’ need when they created this nation. This is why it only makes sense to have a prayer chapel designated for our Illinois State Capitol.”
* WCMY…
Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin provided a status update on her efforts to end the state’s moratorium on building new nuclear reactors:
“As a result of ongoing negotiations with the support of the Senate President, his team, and other stakeholders, we are in the process of finalizing the language for legislation that I believe will be voted on in the Senate this week.
“The new legislation will have similar language to Senate Bill 2591, which I filed last month. It is my hope that this new bill will address the concerns of the Governor by including a very specific and intentional definition of what constitutes new nuclear within our state. Furthermore, it will include state-level oversight in addition to the already stringent oversight laid out by the federal government.
“Nuclear energy runs 24/7, 365 days a year, rain or shine. Nuclear is the clean and affordable energy that is necessary to help power Illinois and America’s future. The federal regulatory permitting process takes six to eight years, so we must act quickly to ensure that our state has the opportunity to take advantage of the amazing advancements in new nuclear technology that have occurred over the past couple of decades. The longer we wait to end this moratorium, Illinois falls further behind the rest of the nation.”
* Rep. Dan Caulkins introduced HB4220 yesterday…
Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to provide certain written summaries and verbal notifications to parents, guardians, or other persons having legal custody of a child who are under investigation for child abuse or neglect. Provides that, after initiating an abuse or neglect investigation, the Department shall provide the investigated person with a written summary of the following information: (1) the known allegations and factual claims the Department is investigating; (2) the Department’s procedures for conducting an investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect; (3) the person’s right to file a complaint with the Department or request a review of the Department’s investigative findings; (4) the person’s right to review all records of the Department’s investigation within 24 hours of making the request unless such review would undermine an ongoing criminal investigation or jeopardize the child’s safety; and other matters. Requires the Department to provide a verbal notification of the person’s right to: (i) not speak with any agent of the Department without an attorney present; (ii) record any interaction or interview the person has with a child protective investigator or any other agent of the Department with the understanding that upon court order the person may be required to disclose the recording to the Department, a law enforcement agency, or another party; (iii) refuse to allow a child protective investigator to enter the home or interview the child without a court order; and other matters. Provides that the Department shall provide a verbal notification to the child of the child’s right to have an adult the child is comfortable with present during any investigatory interview with the Department. Provides that the child protective investigator assigned to investigate the report of abuse or neglect shall document in the case record that the investigator provided the written summaries and verbal notifications. Provides that if a parent, guardian, or legal custodian under investigation for child abuse or neglect does not receive the written summaries and verbal notifications, any information obtained from such person is not admissible as evidence against the person in any civil proceeding.
* SB2637 from Sen. Willie Preston is on First Reading…
Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale a food product for human consumption that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, or red dye 3. Provides that a person or entity that violates the prohibition shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $10,000 for each subsequent violation. Makes a conforming change.
* Rep. Ryan Spain’s HB4216 is on First Reading…
Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements, including firearm certification. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Effective immediately.
* Sen. Celina Villanueva’s SB2633…
Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act to include in the definition of “petitioner” an intimate partner. Amends the Protective Orders Article of the Code of Criminal Procedures of 1963 and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, if the petitioner seeks a court order prohibiting the respondent from possessing firearms, firearm ammunition, and firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm, the court shall immediately issue a search warrant directing seizure of firearms at the time an ex parte or final order of protection is issued, if the court finds, based on the facts presented that: (1) probable cause exists that the respondent possesses firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm; (2) probable cause exists to believe that the respondent poses a danger of causing personal injury to the petitioner or child by having in the respondent, custody or control, or by purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm and that the danger is imminent and present; and probable cause exists that firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm are located at the residence, vehicle, or other property of the respondent.
* HB4217 from Rep. Joe Sosnowski is in Rules…
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Deletes provisions requiring an applicant or holder of a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card to be a resident of the State of Illinois. Provides that a person who is not a resident of the State may apply for a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card if the applicant complies with the provisions of the Act. Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, by rule, allow for non-resident license applications from any state or territory of the United States if the applicant complies with the provisions of the Act (rather than from any state or territory of the United States with laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, that are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act).
* HB4219…
Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning fentanyl education, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, provides that in at least one unit in the State-required health courses for grades 6 through 8 a school district shall provide instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl.
* SB2635 from Sen. Cristina Castro…
Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of “employee” does not include: (1) an employee who is employed by an institution of higher education (i) for less than 2 consecutive calendar quarters during a calendar year and who does not have a reasonable expectation that he or she will be rehired by the same employer of the same service in a subsequent calendar year or (ii) as a temporary appointment as described in the State Universities Civil Service Act; (2) higher education faculty and instructors who have teaching, research, and extension faculty contracts or appointments of less than 12 consecutive months of the year; or (3) an employee employed by a public community college or other public institution of higher education in the State of Illinois whose position is covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement. Provides that the definition of “employer” does not include laboratory schools as defined in the School Code. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2024.
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Some insights into the nature of the beast
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former Rep. and current registered lobbyist Mike Zalewski invited one of my very favorite Statehouse denizens onto his podcast this week: Lobbyist and former Senate Democratic staffer Ron Holmes. An excerpt…
Z: You worked on the assault weapons ban. Did you learn anything about the building or the way it works [while] working on that particular issue? Did anything surprise you about that? … Is there anything you took away from that process that was unique to you?
Holmes: Each day I go down to Springfield and and walk through those doors, I make it my intent to learn something about someone or something. And I think the biggest lesson from the assault weapons ban negotiations is that sometimes it’s better to just sit still and allow things to kind of work themselves out than being in a position where you’re just trying to force it.
Z: In that building specifically, no one has ever hurt themselves by waiting. That is the important thing about the way that place works.
Holmes: Yes. And when calm heads, you know, happen and people are able to put out their press releases back and forth and the finger-pointing with orders behind the scenes. And then it’s like ‘Alright, we saw. All right. Let’s, what is it that we’re really talking about here? What are the differences? Let’s put pen to paper and go.’ And by far that is one of the more interesting things that I learned from that.
The second thing is in many ways, one of my criticisms of the gun violence prevention movement has been - and I’ve been involved in many of the public safety bills that have passed over the last decade - has been that everyday violence isn’t always treated the same way as mass shootings. And the number of folks that also said, ‘Hey, what do you guys need for your community?’ was very emotional. Because I think that there’s always this divide in Springfield. Naturally, people always look for two sides of every story and so, to see surburban lawmakers also say to Black and Brown caucus members, ‘No, no, no. You absolutely should get these other things’ was very interesting to watch.
Z: It’s the nature of the building right now. The two chamber leaders, the House speaker and the Senate President, are prime ministers. They have to build coalitions on every single issue right now.
Holmes: And those coalitions look different on every issue. On every issue.
Z: It’s sausage-making every day. And you traditionally had, you know, Downstate caucus and lakefront caucus and the city caucus and all that, but it’s much more pronounced now. And quite frankly, what I worry about is the nature of the building when the next economic downturn occurs.
Holmes: Yeah. Everything’s all good when you’ve got a $50 billion budget and everybody’s able to walk away with something. But I think yeah, I mean, to your point, happy days aren’t always going to be here and how Democrats govern in times of downturn is just as important as times of prosperity.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
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* Background is here if you need it. From Christina Baker at the Bond Buyer…
The accounts payable tab is at $572 million, down from $5.9 billion in 2021 and its peak of $16.7 billion in 2017. Illinois estimates that the accounts payable will stand at around $527 million at the end of the fiscal year.
“What was the bills backlog is now a normal accounts payable situation,” [Fitch Ratings analyst Eric Kim] said.
Illinois is also steadily increasing its reserves. The budget stabilization fund stands at $1.965 billion now and the state plans to add another $138 million by the end of the fiscal year. The fund is 4.2% of Illinois’ enacted 2024 revenues, but the state has raised the target to 7.5% of revenues. Fitch’s report said the state’s rating could be raised if the fund reached 10% of state spending.
The 2024 budget creates long-term sources of funding for the budget stabilization fund, including 10% of cannabis tax revenues, and repayment over 10 years from the state’s $450 million loan to the unemployment insurance trust fund.
* Let’s go back to Fitch’s report…
Factors that could, individually or collectively, lead to positive rating action/upgrade:
–Material improvements in fiscal resilience, primarily through building reserves to, or approaching, 10% of spending, while maintaining other improvements in fiscal management such as normalization of accounts payable.
–Sustained progress toward structural balance and improved liability management, primarily through materially narrowing the wide gap between actual and actuarially determined pension contributions.
–For Build Illinois, an upgrade to the state’s [Issuer Default Rating].
Factors that could, individually or collectively, lead to negative rating action/downgrade:
–Reversion to the previous pattern of irresolute and contentious fiscal decision-making, which could include delayed budgets with unsustainable fiscal measures such as deeper pension funding deferrals or sustained increases to accounts payable or other budgetary liabilities.
–Imprudent budget management that builds in significant new recurring spending or revenue reductions without offsetting actions, threatening recent progress towards structural balance.
–For Build Illinois, deterioration in the state’s IDR given the linkages, or material weakening of pledged revenue coverage and structural resilience. Fitch considers this unlikely given the limitations on additional debt issuance.
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Today’s must-read
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Molly Parker at Capitol News Illinois…
A review of hundreds of pages of state audits, law enforcement records, a federal lawsuit, and reports by oversight and advocacy bodies point to troubling conditions inside many of the state’s 16 juvenile detention centers, which operate much like adult jails, detaining court-involved youth with open cases when a judge determines they are at risk of fleeing or reoffending. The facilities combined can house upwards of 1,200 youth as young as age 10, though they are rarely at capacity.
The records show that youth have been Tased, pepper sprayed and roughed up by staff and law enforcement officers; forced into isolation for days at a time; denied access to their psychotropic medications and mental health treatment; and received little or no schooling, despite state and federal laws mandating that the youth receive educational services while incarcerated. Nearly two-thirds of those who are detained are Black teens.
Poor conditions in juvenile lockups across the country have recently made headlines, bringing renewed calls for reform. What makes Illinois different from many of its state peers is that no independent agency licenses or certifies the youth detention centers. Even in some states that have been heavily scrutinized for problematic conditions inside their youth facilities, such as Louisiana, Tennessee, Michigan and Pennsylvania, a licensing process is in place that allows for sanctions up to closure.
Under state law, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice sets standards for county detention facilities that hold youth in custody and conducts audits of them. While the department has repeatedly cited several centers for failing to meet its standards, under state law, IDJJ cannot mandate corrective action plans, issue fines or shut down detention centers found in repeated violation of the rules. Instead, the IDJJ reports are sent back to the county detention facilities’ staff and to the chief judges of each judicial circuit, under whose authority they operate. Neither the staff nor the judges are obligated to respond.
Go read the rest.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* ICYMI: Lawmakers put forth new plans for Chicago’s transition to an elected school board. Chalkbeat…
- Rep. Ann Williams’ bill would make 10 elected school board members and 10 appointed by the mayor from each pairing of districts. A school board president would also be appointed by the mayor.
- Senate President Don Harmon put forward a plan to have all 20 districts vote in 2024, the mayor would appoint the school board president.
* Related stories…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* Sun-Times | Advocates angered by delay in passing ‘Karina’s Bill,’ aimed at taking guns from those accused of domestic violence: Late Tuesday, the Senate president released a statement saying there likely would be no action on “Karina’s Bill,” named after Karina Gonzalez who was shot to death in her Little Village home allegedly by her husband despite an order of protection. A spokesman for Senate President Don Harmon said several issues with the bill, including questions of enforcement, had not been resolved in time to act on the measure during the veto session.
* Politico | Biden to meet UAW president again with strike heading to rear-view: The White House said Tuesday that the meeting will take place in Belvidere, where Stellantis agreed to reopen a stalled plant and add additional jobs as part of the tentative contract deal between the UAW and the company late last month. […] In Illinois, Biden will deliver remarks touting gains in the deals the UAW won, as well as his economic and pro-union policies, according to the White House. He will also meet with other UAW members and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, the White House said.
* Capitol News Illinois | State gets 9th recent credit upgrade as administration faces scrutiny for pandemic unemployment handling: Fitch’s review of state finances drew similar conclusions to those that came before it: reserves are growing while long-term liabilities, including pension debt, remain “an elevated but still moderate burden.” “Reserves have improved to historically high levels for the state and provide an important fiscal cushion, but levels remain relatively modest versus other states,” Fitch said in its analysis. “Management has eliminated many outstanding budgetary liabilities and established a sustainable pattern of smoother fiscal decision-making.”
* WBEZ | Here’s what you need to know about the tax increase Chicago voters will consider in March: The campaign, known as Bring Chicago Home, seeks to adjust the real estate transfer tax, a one-time tax imposed on the sale of property. Voters would be asked to authorize City Council to adjust Chicago’s current, flat tax to a tiered, marginal tax that would increase the tax rate on portions of property above $1 million — while implementing a tax cut on property valued under that amount.
* Block Club | Bring Chicago Home Heads To Chicago Voters After Council Passage Tuesday: Property buyers in Chicago currently pay a one-time flat tax of 0.75 percent on all sales, regardless of final price. In September, Johnson and Council allies introduced a revised version of Bring Chicago Home featuring a marginal, tiered rate instead of a flat tax. Under that plan, people buying properties under $1 million would see reduced property transfer taxes. Real estate sales over $1 million would see higher rates only on the portion of the sale above $1 million.
* Sun-Times | Ramirez-Rosa narrowly escapes City Council censure — with help from mayor and Ald. Mitts: Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote against censure of his former floor leader, accused of “manhandling” Ald. Emma Mitts while trying to prevent her entrance to Council chambers.
* Daily Southtown | Calumet City drops disorderly conduct charges against Ald. Monet Wilson; she agrees to follow rules of conduct: Wilson received three citations, with fines totaling $2,250, for allegedly being out of order during discussion of agenda items at an Oct. 26 meeting where she was accused of continuing to speak although she did not have the floor.
* WTTW | Paper Restrictions at Cook County Jail Signal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Concerns: Since the beginning of 2023, Cook County Jail administration has reported 16 deaths in custody, with five attributed to overdoses, three of which involved synthetic cannabinoids, according to Cook County Medical Examiner records. This hidden substance is frequently concealed, jail officials say, in paper-like items including photographs, books and letters mailed to detainees. Synthetic cannabinoids, a lethal substance, becomes even deadlier when mixed with additives like fentanyl and rat poison, meant to enhance the user’s experience when smoked.
* Tribune | Racketeering trial of ex-Ald. Ed Burke sees second day of jury selection, courthouse display of corruption cases past covered in brown paper: A pool of at least 47 people is needed before proceeding to the next phase, in which each side will get to strike a certain number of people from the jury pool without giving a reason. The slow pace means opening statements in the case will likely be Thursday at the earliest.
* Sun-Times | Public corruption display at fed courthouse covered at request of Ed Burke’s lawyer: Chicago’s federal court puts its history proudly on display on the 25th floor, sharing stories with visitors about everything from the 1918 bombing of the old courthouse to the prosecution of Al Capone. But following a request from one of ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke’s lawyers, courthouse staff began temporarily covering up some of the 11 displays on the wall, including one about the history of public corruption prosecutions in Chicago.
* WCIA | Illinois community colleges launch new brand campaign: The state’s community colleges have come together to drop a new advertising campaign. The campaign is called “For Every Student, For Every Community”. Community college leaders say the campaign will highlight the benefits they bring to Illinois like economic development, as well as unite the 48 community colleges across the state under a single brand.
* AP | Ohio voters enshrine abortion rights in state constitution: Ohio voters on Tuesday night approved a proposed amendment that will enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution. As of just after 9 p.m., when the Associated Press called the vote, the “Yes” vote led roughly 57.7% to 42.3%.
* SJ-R | Senators Durbin, Duckworth to introduce bill to expand Lincoln Home site: The Abraham Lincoln Association has secured $400,000 for the construction of the cottage and the purchase of land at 617 S. Eighth St., the site of a former parking lot. Abraham Lincoln and his family lived in the home at Eighth and Jackson from 1844 to 1861, when they left for Washington, D.C. Lincoln was elected president in 1860.
* Block Club | Meet George Hollywood, The Parakeet Who Evaded Capture All Summer At An Edgewater Beach: George Hollywood survived the summer at Hollywood Beach by mimicking the behavior of other birds. He is now up for adoption through Chicagoland Exotic Animal Rescue.
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Click here or here to follow breaking news.
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Senate President Don Harmon has filed amendment 2 to HB2233 dealing with the elected Chicago school board. Under this new proposal, half of the 20 members will be elected for two-year terms, and half elected to four-year terms. In two years, those with two-year terms will be elected to four-year terms. The amendment bypassed committee.
Rich talked to Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson who said that the Speaker and Senate President will meet to discuss this idea. There was no immediate indication that this would be a problem.
An agreement had been made with former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to appoint phase-in the elected board, but she’s no longer around.
Adding…Rep. Ann Williams, sponsor of HB4221, which is the House’s latest version of an elected school board bill…
Our priority is to ensure this every Chicagoan has the opportunity to vote for the elected school in year one. The House’s “Representation for All Plan” is an effort to ensure the most equitable and representative as. possible. We’re reviewing the Senate’s amendment and open to continuing the conversation.
* UPDATE: The Senate has adjourned without moving HB2233.
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Afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Illinois House has adjourned until tomorrow. But the majority Democrats did release their own elected Chicago school board plan…
The proposal is here. This bill avoids the Senate plan’s issue of disenfranchising half the city for two years. But now we have two competing measures and veto session ends in two days.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Gun rights advocacy groups say they intend to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state’s assault weapons ban after a federal appeals court on Friday refused to block enforcement of the law.
In a statement Saturday, the Illinois State Rifle Association said it was not surprised by the 7th Circuit panel’s 2-1 decision, which said plaintiffs in the consolidated cases had not met their burden to show they were likely to win in a constitutional challenge to the law.
“It has always been and is our intent to take our case to the U.S. Supreme Court where we believe we can get a favorable ruling for law-abiding gun owners in Illinois,” the organization said. “We will continue to stand up for the Second amendment and Illinois law-abiding gun owners and against our anti-gun Governor Pritzker and General Assembly.”
In addition, the National Foundation for Gun Rights – which provided attorneys involved in the consolidated case – said it will appeal as well.
* Center Square…
The four former Commonwealth Edison leaders convicted earlier this year during a high-profile corruption trial want to push back sentencing dates to give them more time to address anticipated disputes.
The four former ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted in May of a bribery scandal centered around former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Defense attorneys want to push back the sentencing dates from January 2024 to February 2024, according to court records.
* Ironically enough, neither this lobbyist nor this lobbying firm are registered with the state this year. Forest Park Review…
Lobbyist Michael Axelrod of consulting group GPG Strategies appears to have strategized with Mayor Rory Hoskins in defense of GPG’s record ahead of an August meeting during which the company’s contract was expected to come under fire, an email to the mayor shows. […]
Both the body of the email and the presentation offered examples to show that Axelrod’s firm lobbied the Chicago Transit Authority, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Office and other state and federal agencies on behalf of the village.
* I saw photos online of a bunch of people who took campaign money from Paul Vallas and/or Dan Proft in this loud crowd. But for some reason, most Chicago reporters have chosen to ignore the formerly (?) paid provocateurs disrupting city council meetings and at other migrant-related meetings around the city…
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s allies tried Tuesday to approve their own, softer version of a non-binding referendum on Chicago’s burgeoning migrant crisis, but failed after being shouted down by an angry crowd ordered forcibly removed from City Council chambers.
“Sergeant-at-arms, clear the room,” Rules Committee Chair Michelle Harris (8th) shouted after Chicagoans opposed to housing the new arrivals shouted down Council members on both sides of the issue.
Several people in the gallery, including a woman in tears, were escorted out by security after another observer singled them out as supporters of welcoming migrants.
“These are the people who are against us,” a man shouted, pointing at those being escorted out and waving other angry crowd members over.
* Speaking of Chicago…
The Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals (ASNCH) today warned the proposed Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance would pose devastating financial consequences, including layoffs and service cuts, for the city’s hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of low-income and uninsured patients.
In a letter to Mayor Johnson, ASNCH called for a carve out of safety-net hospitals from the proposed ordinance.
ASNCH estimates that for a safety-net hospital with 650 employees, this ordinance could impose an additional cost of $2 million annually, creating a substantial financial burden for hospitals already relying heavily on state Medicaid funding, with limited capacity to offset losses from commercial payers.
This added burden will force safety-net hospitals in Chicago to make difficult decisions, including reducing staff and eliminating critical services that many residents depend on for basic healthcare.
Specifically, the ordinance would require safety-net hospitals to dramatically increase labor costs and related expenses, including for outside agency staff, which already have hiked hospital labor costs by 30 percent. The measure would also require paying out sick time for “on-call” employees, who only report to work when needed, and “in-house registry” nurses, who accrue benefits with another full-time employer, meaning these employees would be provided benefits at two different organizations at the same time.
Crain’s reports the proposal was delayed today.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Iowa Capital Dispatch | Illinois regulators: Carbon pipeline permits should wait for new rules: Two engineers for the Illinois Commerce Commission say federal regulators should finalize new rules about carbon dioxide pipelines before state regulators approve pending permits for construction. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration “has acknowledged that its rules are outdated and inadequate,” Brett Seagle, a commission engineer, recently testified in regard to a pipeline proposal by Wolf Carbon Solutions. “The lives and safety of Illinois citizens must come before business concerns.”
* Block Club | Illinois Gun Shops Lead in Providing Guns Used In State And City Crimes, Data Shows: More than one-third of Illinois guns used in crimes recovered by authorities are linked to Chicago. And Illinois gun shops were the leading single-source of these crime guns state and citywide, not out-of-state vendors, according to data recently released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tax increase for homeless services will head to voters: In a 32-17 vote, aldermen approved the “Bring Chicago Home” measure to create a citywide referendum on implementing a tiered tax rate on all property sales, which advocates have said is a critical strategy to generate much-needed revenue for the city’s homeless population.
* AP | Ohio is the lone state deciding an abortion rights question, providing hints for 2024 races: Ohio is the only state to consider a statewide abortion-rights question this year, fueling tens of millions of dollars in campaign spending, boisterous rallies for and against the amendment, and months of advertising and social media messaging, some of it misleading. Advocates for and against are watching the outcome for signs of voter sentiment heading into 2024, when abortion-rights supporters are planning to put measures on the ballot in several other states, including Arizona, Missouri and Florida. Early voter turnout was robust.
* BGA | Policy: BGA Condemns Improper Adjournments of City Council Meetings: This week, on Tuesday Nov. 7, the council’s Committee on Committees and Rules was recessed until Thursday by the declaration of committee chair Michelle Harris, who did not call for a vote. Mics were again shut off, and after a lengthy delay the chamber shifted to a scheduled meeting of City Council. The council’s rules are clear, as are the Robert’s Rules of Order on which they are based: adjournment (the official ending of a meeting) and recess (the pause of the meeting until continuation at a later time) are motions that must be made by a member and affirmed by a majority vote. Absent that vote, the meeting cannot be concluded or postponed. This ensures that all members have their time to speak, at least until a majority of the body is willing to go on the record as ending discussion.
* Sun-Times | Public corruption display at fed courthouse covered at request of Ed Burke’s lawyer: Chicago’s federal court puts its history proudly on display on the 25th floor, sharing stories with visitors about everything from the 1918 bombing of the old courthouse to the prosecution of Al Capone. But following a request from one of ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke’s lawyers, courthouse staff began temporarily covering up some of the 11 displays on the wall, including one about the history of public corruption prosecutions in Chicago.
* WBEZ | In Ed Burke’s 14th Ward, big frustration with politicians persists. ‘They’re all kind of crooked, I guess’: Like Sophie and other residents, Bettis isn’t optimistic this one trial — or even Madigan’s trial next year — is “going to end corruption in Chicago,” but he thinks it could mean “a change-up in the people who are running this area.” Burke gave up his seat earlier this year, after not filing to run for reelection. He was succeeded by Ald. Jeylu Guitierrez, a first-time elected official who was endorsed by Burke’s long-time rival, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.
* Block Club | Downtown Police District Council Immobilized As Mayor’s Office Fails To Fill Vacancy: The Mayor’s Office shot down a candidate for a Downtown police district council after four months of deliberation — rendering the council useless. The Central (1st) Police District Council only has two of its three spots filled, and one council member is on leave. That means the remaining council member can’t host meetings because they can’t form a quorum.
* SJ-R | Five years after sales tax hike, district, county schools benefit; here’s what it took: The referendum passed in 2018 with 53 percent of county voters favoring it. It was the first school referendum to pass since 1984. The hike did make Springfield’s overall sales tax rate − 9.75% − one of the heftiest in the state. Because the district educates just under 50% of students in the county, there were initial projections that it stood to get about $10.1 million annually. The average, though, has worked out to $13 million.
* Muddy River News | ‘I realized I can change’: Adams County problem-solving courts graduate nine in combined ceremony: The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center was the site for the first combined graduation ceremony for the Adams County problem-solving courts, which provide opportunities for repeat offenders to address the root cause of their criminal activity. People who qualify are screened and placed in one of three tracts — Drug Court, Mental Health Court or Reintegration into Society Efforts (RISE) Court.
* Naperville Sun | With single-use plastic nixed, Naperville Mariano’s customers must bring bags or buy them starting this week: As of Monday, the grocer at 1300 S. Naper Blvd. is no longer offering single-use plastic shopping bags at checkout or pickup, company representatives said in a news release. The Naperville store is piloting the change as part of a larger commitment by parent company Kroger to reduce the disposable products and replace them with alternative, sustainable options.
* Block Club | Jeff Tweedy Talks About The Music That Changed His Life: The first 40 minutes constituted an in-depth conversation between Sagal and Tweedy, where they discussed everything from Tweedy’s relationship to the songs he connected to throughout his life (“I don’t think of myself as my songs. I think of myself as the songs that made me.”) to his struggles with addiction.
* WBEZ | Jeff Tweedy’s new book is a soundtrack through childhood, sobriety and stardom: The Wilco songwriter and bandleader told a sold-out crowd at the Athenaeum Center that he wanted to share through his book the emotional spaces music can hold. His book spans 50 chapters, each named after a song that he connects to his life and his own creative process — one he has refined over nearly three decades. The songs include music from well-known artists such as Bob Dylan and Billie Eilish as well as lesser-known acts such as Leo Sayer.
* WTTW | Measure Aimed at Curbing Illegal Early Morning Chicago Trash Pickup Advances: “They might get a scolding call from someone at Streets and Sanitation, but then a few weeks later, they’re back at the same old thing because there is no real meaningful penalty or enforcement mechanism,” said Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward), the measure’s lead sponsor and a longtime advocate for slapping sanitary scofflaws.
* The 21st Show | Illinois food banks gearing up for 2023 holiday season: The Eastern Illinois Food Bank and similar agencies are gearing up for the holiday season. We are seeing the highest rates since the years of the Great Recession. According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 44 million Americans live in what are called “food-insecure households” that includes more than 13-million children.
* NBC Chicago | A look at restaurants featured in ‘The Bear’ as show gets renewed for 3rd season: Recently awarded a James Beard Award for the Best Chef- Great Lakes, Kasama, the product of a husband and wife duo, is a Filipino restaurant in the city’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood. It was the first stop on Chef Sydney’s list.
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‘The votes are not there’
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lots has been written and broadcast about Invest in Kids. The PR push has truly been magnificent. But it’s been super-rare to see a mainstream news media outlet actually convince legislators to honestly assess its future. Marni Pyke did just that…
The Invest in Kids initiative will expire Jan. 1 unless lawmakers approve an extension. So far, “I don’t know if there’s a path yet to get it passed,” Democratic state Rep. Marty Moylan of Des Plaines said.
Democratic state Rep. Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates agrees. “Based on my observations … the votes are not there,” he said Friday. […]
“We’re talking about real money here,” Crespo said. “We’re talking about $75 million that the state does not realize by giving out these credits. There are issues and concerns with the separation of church and state. Some of our members feel that the state should not be funding any private or Christian schools.”
* Associated Press…
Critics of an Illinois program providing private school scholarships say there’s no proof it improves academic achievement. But state education officials, delayed by COVID-19’s school disruptions, have never reported the academic performance of participating students as required by the Invest in Kids Act, a hot issue as lawmakers reconvene Tuesday. […]
The coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down annual statewide student assessments in 2020 and 2021, the first two years of Invest in Kids. The first report measuring progress among program participants won’t come out until early next year, education officials said.
“Unfortunately for the thousands of Invest in Kids families, it appears that Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker’s administration either failed to complete, or failed to share these assessments four years in a row, which has emboldened opponents to point to the lack of data the administration refused to collect,” Senate Minority Leader John Curran, a Republican from Downers Grove, said in a statement to The Associated Press. […]
Research group WestEd, whose contract for the analysis is $640,275, couldn’t start until it had 2022 results; its inaugural report will indicate whether students improved on 2023 tests.
* Sun-Times…
U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Nikki Budzinski, Sean Casten, Danny Davis, Jonathan Jackson, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Delia Ramirez wrote “school vouchers … perpetuate and deepen the education inequities that plague Illinois.”
They also took issue with religious groups using public dollars.
“This program diverts public funds from the public school system to be used to pay for tuition at private and religious schools,” the lawmakers said in the statement. “Furthermore, many of the schools funded by the program have policies that openly discriminate against students on the basis of disability status, gender identity, sexual orientation, if they are pregnant or parenting, or immigration status.”
Senate Republicans dispute that narrative as they continue to try to save the program. Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, planned a Tuesday morning news conference in Springfield to urge Democrats and Pritzker to reconsider.
Curran has argued the program has not taken money away from public education, and he supports a compromise that would lower the total donations eligible for tax credits from $75 million to $50 million. He has also railed against the ideological fights over the program, arguing the children benefiting from it should be guaranteed the certainty of a permanent program.
* SJ-R…
An administrator at a Catholic elementary school on Springfield’s east side is concerned for a future without it.
Michael Carlson, principal at St. Patrick Catholic School, said it charges $1,750 in tuition yet it costs more than $8,000 educate a student. Only one of the school’s 62 pre-K through fifth-grade students is not on an income-based Empower Scholarship, covering the full tuition costs.
“Invest in Kids is incentivizing donors to invest in our community,” he said on Wednesday. The scholarships are eligible for students living in households earning less than 185% of the federal poverty level.
At Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, 21 of 525 students are either on complete or partial scholarships but another 40 are on the waitlist, according to Bill Moredock, the school’s president.
…Adding… Sen. GOP Leader Curran held a press conference today. Highlights from his press staff…
Presser
5:20 - “It is abhorrent that there are leaders in the legislature that are ignoring the pleas of these children and these families that are trying to save their educational opportunity – their preferred setting that they are excelling in educationally. We have to listen to these children and the parents who have been here and afford this choice to these low-income families. The same choice that I’m afforded and many of my colleagues are afforded.”
6:45 – “Governor Pritzker unfortunately today is sending a very loud and clear message that these low income children are not a priority. Where is the Governor on this topic? Where is he today? He’s in Florida… in another state talking about federal issues.”
7:15 – “We have issues here in this capitol that need to be resolved.”
7:22 – “In two days we’re going to be done. And we either leave here with our heads held high because we acted and saved opportunity for these low-income students or we return to our districts in really a cloud of failure because we will be failing thousands and thousands of low-income families throughout this state.”
7:58 – “Labor leaders have come out in support of this program and the opportunity it affords in the vocational setting. We need to continue to grow and pursue these opportunities for these low-income families. It is really about lifting kids out of their current situation.”
8:22 – “When the governor came out this week and eventually said leave something on my desk, pass whatever, when I get back from Florida, I’ll take a look at it. That is not leadership. What we are calling on is for leadership on this issue, both from the legislative leaders as well as the governor. It is time for the governor to lead on this issue and come back to Illinois.. and help continue this program for these low-income kids.”
8:54 - “It is time to do what’s right. We are here to call on our colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle – put this bill on the board, it’s time for this to be called for a vote. We want this voted on this week.”
Q and A
9:23 – “We are here to act to extend this program. Where’s the governor? He needs to be leading on this. It is members of his party and his side of the aisle that are not putting this bill up for a vote. The governor needs to interject himself in this.”
10:05 – “We are standing here united fighting to continue this program. These kids deserve not only the full effort of Senate Republican Caucus, they deserve the full effort of each and every legislator in the capitol. There are children on these scholarships in each legislators’ district. It is time to represent the people of you’re district not the ideology of your party. It is time to put this on the board for a vote.”
12:15 – “It is department by department by department under the governor’s control including ISBE that has not done the assessment. If it was me, I’d be here, I’d be laser focused on Illinois. I wouldn’t be ‘thinking big’ about America. I wouldn’t be in Florida. I’d be in Illinois and I’d be getting the job done and until the job stay focused on Illinois.”
…Adding… From Mac Strategies…
Good morning,
We wanted you to be aware that there will be action in front of Speaker Welch’s office at 12:30 p.m. and in front of the Governor’s office at 1:00 p.m. Approximately 250 students and families in blue shirts and with signs demanding an extension of the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
…Adding… As promised…
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
North Illinois has some of the worst air quality in the country, in large part due to heavy freight traffic. Converting just 3 in 10 heavy-duty trucks in Illinois from gas to electric would save $5.8 BILLION in health care costs and over 600 lives.
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Illinois children deserve clean air now and a healthy future. Fortunately, there are bills in front of the Illinois State House and Senate right now that can help transition whole fleets of large trucks to electric – saving lives and saving money. Our legislators must support. More here.
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* Fitch Ratings…
Fitch Ratings has assigned an ‘A-’ rating to the following State of Illinois’ GO bonds:
–$175 million taxable series of December 2023A;
–$350 million tax-exempt series of December 2023B;
–$350 million tax-exempt series of December 2023C.
Additionally, Fitch has upgraded the following state of Illinois ratings:
–Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘A-’ from ‘BBB+’;
–GO bonds to ‘A-’ from ‘BBB+’;
–Build Illinois senior and junior obligation sales tax revenue bonds, which are linked to the state’s IDR based on state-dedicated tax analysis, to ‘A+’ from ‘A’.
The Rating Outlook is Stable.
* Press release…
Governor Pritzker today celebrated the state’s ninth credit rating upgrade in just over two years as Fitch Ratings elevated Illinois’ rating for general obligation bonds. This fiscal progress comes as the result of five balanced budgets and years of responsible financial management and discipline under Governor Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly.
“We are continuing to right the past fiscal wrongs in our state with disciplined fiscal leadership, and credit rating agencies and businesses alike are taking notice of Illinois’ remarkable progress,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Another credit rating upgrade means millions saved for Illinois taxpayers in interest—money back in the pockets of our state where it can better serve our residents.”
The rating of a state’s bonds is a measure of their credit quality. A higher bond rating generally means the state can borrow at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Between 2015 and 2017, the State of Illinois suffered eight credit rating downgrades and sat at the top of many analysts’ lists of the worst managed states in the nation under the previous administration. At its worst, Illinois’ bill backlog hit nearly $17 billion.
“In addition to building up reserves, the state has also actively reduced various long-term and budgetary liabilities, most prominently its unpaid bills, and laid a more sustainable fiscal foundation,” said Fitch’s report on the upgrade. “Illinois reduced its accounts payable balance by approximately $1 billion over the course of fiscal 2023 to less than $500 million, a level the state has not seen in more than two decades and continuing a pattern of using unappropriated surpluses to pay down bills.”
Across major credit rating agencies S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings, and Moody’s Investors Service, the state has received nine upgrades since June of 2021. Illinois is now back in the “A” category for all three agencies. Prior to those upgrades, the state had not received an upgrade since June of 2000, over two decades. Agencies have cited the state’s actions in paying down bill backlogs, repaying debts, increased fiscal transparency, building financial reserves, and balancing the state budget as factors in the upgraded ratings.
* Back to Fitch…
The upgrade of Illinois’ IDR to ‘A-’ from ‘BBB+’ reflects the state’s ability to execute on significant planned reserve contributions and maintain improvements in budget management including normalized accounts payable, thereby improving the state’s overall operating profile.
Illinois’ ‘A-’ IDR reflects solid operating performance that remains below most other states, with a long record of structural imbalance primarily related to pension underfunding offset by continued progress towards more sustainable budgeting practices. The ‘A-’ IDR also reflects the state’s elevated long-term liability position and resulting spending pressure. Illinois’ deep and diverse economy is only slowly growing, but still provides a strong fundamental context for its credit profile. […]
Long-Term Liability Burden: ‘a’
Long-term liabilities are an elevated but still moderate burden on Illinois’ significant resource base. Constitutional limitations suggest Illinois has very limited flexibility to modify existing pension obligations. Other post-employment benefit (OPEB) obligations also have constitutional protections, but the state’s recent progress in materially reducing OPEB liabilities highlights both the state’s ability to manage within those protections and the inherent variability in OPEB calculations.
Operating Performance: ‘a’
Reserves have improved to historically high levels for the state and provide an important fiscal cushion, but levels remain relatively modest versus other states. Management has eliminated many outstanding budgetary liabilities and established a sustainable pattern of smoother fiscal decision-making. Sizable gaps in pension contributions relative to actuarially determined levels persist, with recent supplemental contributions helpful, but insufficient to address this structural budget gap.
…Adding… House Speaker Chris Welch…
“In May I proudly told members of the House that we’d crafted a budget that would improve our fiscal house and our credit. Today, it’s clear that Democrats are continuing to deliver on that promise as we have reached ‘A’ status with every rating agency.
“We heard a lot of partisan, misleading spin about our budget from Republicans, but financial experts and watchdogs agree that our budgetary decisions continue to move Illinois down a path of progress and prosperity. While we hope our Republican colleagues join us in this effort, Democrats will continue to budget responsibly and make smart investments for a stronger future for all.”
* Comptroller Mendoza…
In giving Illinois our 9th credit upgrade in the past two years, Fitch Ratings noted our progress in reducing our backlog of bills to what is now a “normalized” accounts payable that stands at $1.86 billion today – down from a high of $16.7 billion during the budget impasse. Fitch credited the state for boosting its Rainy Day fund to nearly $2 billion. That fund was down to $48,000 during the impasse.
Fitch encourages Illinois to bring that fund up to a level most other states have and to make greater progress paying down our pension liabilities. That is exactly what my Rainy Day and Pension Stabilization Bill, HB2515, proposes to do and I look forward to seeing it reintroduced in the next legislative session.
This upgrade is a tribute to the responsible debt management my office has undertaken in recent years working with the General Assembly and Governor. These upgrades lower the state’s costs for projects like building roads and bridges, saving taxpayers money.
All the hard work my staff and I have done to stabilize the state’s finances has been to get Illinois ready for its growth spurt. Illinois is open for business and we’re looking forward to future credit upgrades on the horizon.
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* I don’t think these asylum-seeker ideas floated by the Illinois Policy Institute are gonna work, but at least they’re trying…
Some have called on the Biden administration to expedite work permits for undocumented migrants, but federal law currently requires asylum seekers to wait about 180 days before they can apply for permission to work legally in the United States. It would take an act of Congress to change that law and allow asylum seekers to legally work sooner. […]
Some states are exploring the limits of their authority. New York is floating the idea of issuing their own state work permits for asylum seekers so they become less of a burden on local social services. Circumventing federal wait periods through state work permits is likely to face legal challenge, and it is not clear states have the authority to do so. The UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Poverty has proposed state universities or other state entities could hire asylum seekers without running afoul of federal law. The University of California regents are planning to hire undocumented students under this theory. That strategy seems to have more sound footing in statute and case law, but it has not yet been litigated, either.
* New York Times…
Frustrated by the federal response to the migrant crisis, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday that New York State was considering ways to issue work permits to asylum seekers in a bid to circumvent the long wait for permits at the federal level. […]
Earlier on Tuesday, White House officials pushed back against a state-level work permit system. In a call with reporters, senior administration officials said that work permits were “very clearly a federal authority,” adding that workarounds were “not something that we would encourage states to pursue.” […]
“A court would be very likely to strike such a state permitting process down if it involves allowing private employers to use these state-issued work permits to hire recent migrants,” said Stephen W. Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law at Cornell University.
Mr. Yale-Loehr and other immigration law experts have called for a different approach that they argue is allowed under federal law: having state governments hire asylum seekers directly. The University of California regents, for example, announced earlier this year that the university system would explore a way to hire students who lack legal status and work permits.
A very real consequence of the state issuing its own private sector work permits is that the asylum-seekers who go to work could be found in non-compliance with federal law and then be deported.
And direct government employment would also gonna run smack dab into our state’s byzantine and slow-as-molasses public employee hiring regulations and its union contracts. Not to mention the budgetary costs. It’s one thing for a university to hire a few dozen undocumented students. It’s quite another to put thousands of new arrivals (many or even most of whom don’t speak English) on the public payroll.
* However, just about every charitable, religious and social service organization is short of volunteers, and many need Spanish language volunteers. So many migrants are just hanging out all day, every day. Connect at least some of them with those groups. It won’t put money in their pockets, but it will give them something to do and would benefit the community at large.
* As of Friday, 20,221 migrants have arrived in Chicago since last year. 11,737 are currently in shelters (4,117 are children) and another 3,228 are currently in staging areas like police stations (731 children). That means about ten thousand adults are in the system, although not all of them will qualify for this…
A Biden administration pilot program, kicking off Thursday in Chicago, is designed to help new arrivals in shelters overwhelming the city apply for their work authorizations.
The pilot program is a joint effort of the White House, Illinois, City Hall and the Resurrection Project, a social service agency that provides legal services for migrants. […]
Angelo Fernández Hernández, a White House spokesperson, told the Sun-Times that the launch Thursday of what they call a “clinic” is designed to be “a one-stop-shop work authorization clinic to help get eligible noncitizens work authorizations and jobs — and decompress the shelter system.
“The clinic will begin with a pilot, serving approximately 150 migrants per day, and we will work with the state, city and the Resurrection Project as they scale in the coming days and weeks,” Fernández Hernández said.
It’s gonna take a while.
* Meanwhile, from Fox 32…
On the eve of a major meeting in Brighton Park, and just hours until migrant families are set to move into a shelter in West Town, a group of Englewood residents is calling on the city to turn migrant buses around.
Held at the Center of Englewood, a group of residents attended what was dubbed a ‘Stop the Buses’ rally.
Hosted by the Black American Voters Project and NumbersUSA, panelists shared how they feel immigration negatively impacts Black Americans.
Turnout was small, and Fox 32 reporter Kasey Chronis for some reason didn’t mention that NumbersUSA was founded by a white nationalist.
Ugh.
Returning to my above idea, migrants volunteering in communities would show those community members that they’re non-threatening, even helpful human beings.
* More from Isabel…
* The Hill | More than 100 mayors back Biden’s supplemental request with added migrant funding: In a Tuesday letter, mayors from all over the U.S. said President Biden’s $1.4 billion request to Congress to help at the state and local level in supplying shelter and services for migrants is not enough. They said although the $1.4 billion is “welcome,” they need more “badly.”
* NYT | Republicans Are Hammering Democrats on the Migrant Crisis. Will It Work?: The episode has been played on repeat this fall in attack ads blanketing the airwaves in Erie County as Republicans try to turn the migrant crisis gripping the state into a political cudgel to flip perhaps the most important elected office in western New York. Clear across the state, on the tip of Long Island, a similar dynamic is playing out in Suffolk County, where Republicans are favored to win back the top office for the first time in two decades. Part of their strategy: attack ads focused on the busloads of migrants arriving in New York City, miles away from the suburbs.
* Fox Boston | Gov. Healey: Emergency migrant shelters expected to reach capacity as soon as today: A majority of the migrants coming into the state have been staying in motels and hotels, but by either Tuesday or Wednesday, the state expects there won’t be any rooms left and families will have to be put on waiting lists. According to the state’s latest numbers, there are currently 7,439 families enrolled in the state’s shelter system. The state reports that 30 of those families came on board in the last 24 hours.
* CBS Colorado | Denver spends millions of dollars on plane, bus and train tickets for migrants to other cities: Over the last year, Denver has spent nearly $4.5 million transporting more than 12,000 migrants out-of-state […] [Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for Denver Human Services] provided a spreadsheet showing the city has transported migrants to virtually every major city in the country over the last year. It’s not only sent them to big cities but smaller ones like Wilson, North Carolina. Most of them have gone to Chicago, New York and Salt Lake City. It’s also sent several hundred migrants to Texas, which has bused 6,600 migrants to Colorado since May according to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
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Here’s How To Make The Tax Credit Scholarship Better
Tuesday, Nov 7, 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:
1. Add a new priority level of scholarship recipients from the most under-served areas of Illinois to create opportunities for thousands of primarily Black and Latino children. Donors will be incentivized to prioritize helping this new “Region 7” beyond the thousands of other kids who qualify based on financial need.
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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* Background from WTTW…
With its 11 nuclear reactors at six nuclear power plants, “Illinois generates more electricity from nuclear energy than any other state, accounting for one-eighth of the nation’s total nuclear power generation,” according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
That’s even with a ban effective since 1987 that forbids new nuclear power plants be built here.
Illinois legislators voted to lift the ban and open the door to so-called advanced nuclear reactors.
Advocates say nuclear power is a greenhouse gas emission-free option that would provide a smart energy alternative as Illinois law is moving coal-fired plants offline. Many environmentalists and other critics want Illinois to focus on wind and solar options as the state looks to meet a legal goal of 100% renewable energy come 2050.
Pritzker isn’t outright opposed to more nuclear energy, writing in his veto message that “there appears to be real potential for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which could, in the future, safely provide power for large energy consuming businesses in areas where their energy needs cannot currently be met.”
* Sun-Times…
State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, also plans to file a measure to counter Pritzker’s veto of a bill that would have lifted a moratorium on new nuclear power plants in the state.
The governor in August vetoed the moratorium lifting, writing it did not provide regulatory protections for the health and safety of Illinois residents, and there was an “overly broad definition of advanced reactor” that could open the door to large-scale nuclear power plants. Environmental groups like Sierra Club and the Illinois Environmental Council had asked for the veto.
But Rezin on Monday said she believes her new measure addresses the governor’s concerns. She said she is in talks with Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and plans to introduce the measure as soon as possible. There are also other proposals in motion, including in the House.
“I would say that this compromise narrowly defines new nuclear down to the actual megawatt, as opposed to the amended version that he vetoed in the House that used the federal definition of new nuclear,” Rezin said. “So this new version is more specific, limiting the size by dividing the megawatts in the nuclear reactor.”
* More from the Daily Herald…
Chief co-sponsor Rep. Mark Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat and longtime supporter of nuclear, said SMRs will be “really valuable for the future” despite concerns about waste and potential accidents.
“I understand people’s fear, but we haven’t had any issues with waste and accidents in Illinois in at least 60 years. I think it’s overblown,” Walker said. “The thing to keep in mind about issues with regulation and siting is you have to go through environmental studies, multiple contacts with communities, and all kinds of things that the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires anyway.”
Pritzker’s veto letter referenced a lack of “regulatory protections or updates to address the health and safety of Illinois residents who would live and work around these new reactors.”
The regulatory commission represents what Rezin calls “the most heavily regulated department at the federal level.” To answer Pritzker’s concern, the new bill would provide additional local oversight by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
* The Sun-Times editorial board is not so sure that safety issues are overblown…
But the technology to make the small reactors work is not ready. The first small reactor design obtained U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval in July for a facility in Idaho, but development will take years. Focusing on building wind and solar energy and storage should be the priority.
Besides dotting the state with more spent nuclear fuel storage sites or requiring the transportation of spent fuel to existing sites, additional reactors can pose a security threat. As retired Brigadier General Wendell Chris King, a specialist in hazardous waste management, said during a radio discussion in August, “How do I protect those [small modular nuclear reactors] from an external threat? And the more [reactors] you got, the harder it is to protect.” […]
Whether small nuclear reactors can be financially feasible isn’t certain. The first standard nuclear plant to be built from scratch in the United States in 30 years went into operation this year in Georgia, seven years late and $17 billion over budget.
Once the moratorium is lifted, it won’t be easy to impose it again if companies start making plans to build small nuclear reactors in the state. The time to lift the moratorium is after the challenge of safe nuclear waste disposal is solved.
Your thoughts?
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* Alexa James, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, writing in Crain’s…
In the wake of mass shootings, we are understandably desperate to make sense of what happened and identify solutions when the otherwise unthinkable has occurred, which often leads to calls for increased mental health funding. Though it’s a positive sign to see broader recognition of the importance of mental health, these rinse-and-repeat conversations connecting mental health and mass shootings are not leading to fewer tragedies. […]
Much of my life’s work revolves around voicing the needs of those living with mental illness, so I will always stand by increased funding for the work we at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Chicago and other advocates lead, but we must be able to move beyond the basic rhetoric that more mental health funding on its own will serve as a solution. […]
For many reasons, the mental health system alone is not equipped to change the tide on this public health crisis. While there are certainly instances in which mass shooters are living with a psychiatric disorder, it’s a dangerous misconception to assume that all are — as it is to see this connection in most cases applied to perpetrators who fit a certain profile.
In reality, mass shooters don’t necessarily suffer from major psychiatric disorders. In 2000-2013, only 25% of assailants had been diagnosed with one, according to a 2018 study by the FBI.
The fact that only 25 percent of mass shooters were diagnosed with major psychiatric disorders doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the rest didn’t have a major disorder. The FBI study reported that they could not verify if 37 percent had even been checked for mental illness. But it’s still a valid point.
* Here’s more from that FBI study…
In light of the very high lifetime prevalence of the symptoms of mental illness among the U.S. population, formally diagnosed mental illness is not a very specific predictor of violence of any type, let alone targeted violence. Some studies indicate that nearly half of the U.S. population experiences symptoms of mental illness over their lifetime, with population estimates of the lifetime prevalence of diagnosable mental illness among U.S. adults at 46%, with 9% meeting the criteria for a personality disorder. Therefore, absent specific evidence, careful consideration should be given to social and contextual factors that might interact with any mental health issue before concluding that an active shooting was “caused” by mental illness.
In short, declarations that all active shooters must simply be mentally ill are misleading and unhelpful.
Food for thought.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* What’s going on in your part of Illinois…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* ICYMI: Week two of veto session begins today. Sun-Times…
- Senate Republicans continue to pressure Democrats and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to extend the Invest in Kids program.
- Sen. Sue Rezin plans to file a measure to counter Pritzker’s veto of a bill that would have lifted a moratorium on new nuclear power plants in the state.
-Legislators also plan to try to approve an elected school board map that will divide Chicago into 20 districts.
* Related stories…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Sun-Times | White House, state, city team up for pilot program to help migrants apply for work permits: A Biden administration pilot program, kicking off Thursday in Chicago, is designed to help new arrivals in shelters overwhelming the city apply for their work authorizations. The pilot program is a joint effort of the White House, Illinois, City Hall and the Resurrection Project, a social service agency that provides legal services for migrants.
* WTTW | Aurora Officials Gave Long-Delinquent Aviation Company a Sweetheart Deal, Lawsuit Claims — Ahead of Sale to Company Now Backing Aurora’s Mayor: A federal lawsuit awaiting a judge’s ruling says that vision involves terms for Revv’s owners that illegally disadvantage one of their competitors at the airport, JA Air. The legal fight predates Revv — with JA’s suit arguing that the city long failed to hold Revv’s predecessor company accountable for potential safety hazards, unfair price undercutting and more. JA claims the lack of oversight has made it a financial underdog for nearly two decades — and has come at a cost to Aurora taxpayers. The two firms are both private companies that provide aviation services including flight lessons, maintenance, refueling and more.
* Tribune | An Illinois judge reversed a sexual assault verdict he had rendered. A hearing will now decide whether he stays on the bench: “I was so ready to see him finally get what he deserved,” said Vaughan, now 18, who agreed to be identified for this story. Instead, in a decision that gutted the Vaughan family and stunned sexual assault advocates and survivors well beyond the downstate Illinois river town, Adrian reversed his guilty verdict, saying that the 148 days Clinton spent in county jail was “plenty of punishment.”
* Some data to start your morning…
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* Capitol News Illinois | Gun rights groups to seek Supreme Court ruling on assault weapons: In a statement Saturday, the Illinois State Rifle Association said it was not surprised by the 7th Circuit panel’s 2-1 decision, which said plaintiffs in the consolidated cases had not met their burden to show they were likely to win in a constitutional challenge to the law. “It has always been and is our intent to take our case to the U.S. Supreme Court where we believe we can get a favorable ruling for law-abiding gun owners in Illinois,” the organization said. “We will continue to stand up for the Second amendment and Illinois law-abiding gun owners and against our anti-gun Governor Pritzker and General Assembly.”
* WCIA | State superintendent breaks down new statewide public school report card: Public schools in Illinois are recovering slowly from the pandemic, but there are still some lasting effects. Overall proficiency levels are on the rise, according to the report, but chronic absenteeism remains a big problem.
* Tribune | Ex-Ald. Edward Burke finally getting his day in federal court as high-stakes corruption trial begins with jury selection: The judge and attorneys took the all day to question 20 prospective jurors. The judge has said they need to get about 44 people who make it through “for cause” strikes before proceeding to the next phase.
* WTTW | Jury Selection Begins in Corruption Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke: One of the first acts of Burke’s attorneys was to object to a large display in the hallway outside the 25th floor courtroom that memorializes the other high-profile public corruption cases that have taken place at the Dirksen Courthouse. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall said she would take that request under advisement.
* Daily Herald | Food and drinks during Kentucky trip violated District 214 gift ban policy, ethics panel says: A Northwest Suburban High School District 214 ethics panel Monday ruled two employees violated the Arlington Heights-based district’s ethics and gift ban policy after going on an HVAC contractor’s all-expense-paid trip to Kentucky. The three-member ethics commission — composed of District 214 parents appointed by Superintendent Scott Rowe — made its determination after an internal investigation by district legal counsel Kevin Gordon of the Oakbrook Terrace-based law firm Kriha Boucek.
* Block Club | At Vigil For 16-Year-Old Cyclist Josh Anleu, Family Urges Drivers To ‘Do Better’: Josh Anleu felt free when he bicycled through the Northwest Side, an activity that helped him escape the daily tasks of school and home life, his family said. That freedom was cut short when a driver hit the 16-year-old Schurz High School student on his bike last month at the intersection of Long and Waveland avenues. Anleu died two days later from his injuries, making him the second teenage cyclist in Chicago to be hit and killed by a driver in less than two years.
* The Grio | Twin brothers sue NCAA over eligibility dispute involving NIL compensation: The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Matthew Bewley and Ryan Bewley, 19-year-old twins from Florida, in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Wednesday. The Bewleys spent two seasons at Overtime Elite Academy before accepting scholarships from Chicago State University in June. The brothers are seeking damages and an injunction that would clear them to play for the Cougars, who visit Bowling Green on Monday night for their season opener. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman scheduled a hearing for Tuesday in the case.
* WGN | Questions emerge over CTU president’s Indiana property tax claim: The head of the Chicago Teachers Union has claimed a home in South Bend, Indiana as her primary residence for the past sixteen years, according to documents reviewed by WGN Investigates. Indiana officials tell WGN Investigates they are removing the homestead exemption and may seek back taxes.
* Crain’s | Johnson’s first budget easily clears committee hurdle: The lack of significant amendments to the proposal is reflective of the modesty of Johnson’s first budget, which held to a campaign promise to not raise property taxes while only delivering “down payments” on his spending initiatives to reimagine Chicago.
* Tribune | City Council committee grills Peoples Gas ahead of ICC decision on proposed $402 million record rate hike: The Illinois Commerce Commission is expected to rule Nov. 16 on the rate hike proposal, which includes $207 million to continue funding the ongoing pipeline replacement program. If approved, the rate increase would add $11.83 per month to the average residential customer bill beginning in January.
* Sports Handle | Illinois: The State With The $20 Million Sports Wagering License And No Takers: Now in its fourth year of conducting business and firmly established as a top-three market nationally, there is one area where the Land of Lincoln has yet to hit paydirt — finding an operator wanting to go through the full process of becoming an online-only licensee. While no licensing process is easy, the Illinois Gaming Board has as thorough a vetting process as any state before awarding a license.
* Tribune | Yorkville’s Dallas Ingemunson, longtime GOP stalwart, dies: Ingemunson also served as a political mentor to Tom Cross of Oswego. A former assistant in Ingemunson’s state’s attorney’s office, Cross was elected to the Illinois House in 1992 and a decade later became the leader of the GOP minority in the chamber, where he served until August 2013. “Dallas was a true public servant who never failed to help a person with a problem regardless of their status in life,” Cross said.
* The Berg | Illinois Joining Forces Launches Operation Connect-A-Vet to Empower Friends and Families to Link Vet: “As we approach Veterans Day, we must remember the sacrifices made by veterans and raise awareness of the support they truly deserve. Operation Connect-A-Vet embodies our nation’s spirit of unity and service. This Veterans Day, IJF is proud to unite our community to provide vital support for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families,” said Erica Borggren, Board Chairwoman of Illinois Joining Forces.
* Bloomberg | WeWork goes bankrupt, signs pact with creditors to cut debt: The New York-based company said it had struck a restructuring agreement with creditors representing roughly 92% of its secured notes and would streamline its rental portfolio of office space, according to a statement. The Nov. 6 Chapter 11 filing in New Jersey listed assets of $15 billion.
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Click here or here to follow breaking news.
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