* US Rep. Bost hailed the passage of his proposal Wednesday…
* However…
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed six of the 12 appropriation bills that fund the federal government. 207 Democratic members joined 132 Republicans in voting for the funding package. From Illinois, Representatives Mike Bost, Mary Miller, and Darin LaHood voted NO along with 80 other House Republicans.
Today, Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association President Mark Guethle released the following statement:
“Thank you to Illinois Democrats for continuing to responsibly fund the federal government. And thanks for nothing Mike Bost, Mary Miller, and Darin LaHood.”
“It gets worse: Representative Mike Bost had the nerve to celebrate the passage of the legislation he voted against because it included a provision he supported. Even richer, there is more than $40,000,000 in funding for projects in Illinois that Darin LaHood and Mike Bost specifically requested to be included in the bill. While we are glad tax dollars are coming back to Illinois, we cannot let LaHood or Bost take any credit for funding they would not even vote for.”
“Bost, Miller, and LaHood think they can convince Illinoisans they are fighting for them, but voters need to know it is a lie. You can’t vote NO and then take the dough – that’s partisan politics at its worst.”
US Rep. Bost recently defended earmarks like those mentioned above in the Tribune…
Bost supports earmarks and notes that neighboring U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Hindsboro, a Bailey backer and Freedom Caucus member, rejects them to the chagrin of local mayors in her district.
“Any earmark, or whatever you want to call it, that I have ever asked for, I will defend it because I am talking to my people and knowing that it is supported,” the congressman said.
“If you don’t do it in your district, somebody’s going to do it in theirs. And if Mary doesn’t want what should have been her earmarks, then send them to the Illinois 12th because I’ve got other places where I’m going to be falling short and projects that need to be done so that we can grow and be the booming economy that we need to be,” he said.
He’ll defend them, but apparently won’t vote for them.
* Meanwhile, Darren Bailey concocts a conspiracy theory…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, Mar 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Press release…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Primient leadership, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and local stakeholders to celebrate Primient’s new investments in Decatur. With this milestone $400M investment over the next 5 years in infrastructure and operations, Primient will improve refining and drying practices and further ensure quality and reliability for decades to come. A leader in sustainable food and industrial ingredient production, Primient is the sole corn wet miller to replace coal use at every facility with more sustainable energy sources.
“Illinois is open for business, and we’re showing the rest of the nation that business development and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I couldn’t be prouder to join Primient leadership as they announce a historic $400 million capital investment here in Decatur. Today’s announcement doesn’t just secure Primient’s status as a market leader — it speaks to their commitment to serve as a true community partner.”
“In Illinois, we embrace innovation. We are ready to make changes that will protect our land for future generations and it’s exciting to partner with businesses who share that goal,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “I look forward to seeing how Primient will use these funds to propel sustainable energy. This is the kind of work that will ensure Illinois’ long-term economic and environmental success.”
Primient’s Decatur facility investments will prioritize a few key projects:
- Modernizing and upgrading feed, germ, and drying processes,
- Improving syrup refining reliability and efficiencies,
- Enhancing safety and equipment capabilities,
- Updating employee spaces such as lunch and locker rooms,
- And providing additional training and development opportunities and programming.
[…]
The investment aims to guarantee the Decatur site’s future for the next 20 years, with technological and environmental considerations to ensure prosperity. As a long-term community partner, Primient has increased corn processing capacity by 10 million bushels, locally sourced, and created hundreds of jobs for Illinoisans.
As part of the expansion, the company received an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit, which stipulates a $40 million minimum investment and creating 50 new full-time jobs and retaining nearly 540 full-time jobs. A link to the full agreement can be found here. (Note: Agreement will be on this site when executed).
* Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association…
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) released the following statement applauding the Senate Environment and Conservation committee for passage of SB 2960, which will ban single use toiletries in hotels.
“The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association applauds the Senate Environment and Conservation committee for passage of SB 2960, which will ban single use toiletries in hotels. While most hotels are already in compliance with this bill and have proactively replaced these products with more environmentally-friendly options, we remain committed to strengthening sustainability efforts and reducing waste within our industry. We thank Sen. Laura Fine for her leadership on this measure, which will codify these practices into law and make common-sense sustainability effort the baseline for Illinois hotels,” said Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association.
* Press release…
Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) was joined at a March 7th Capitol press conference by Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) and Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) to talk about legislation he is sponsoring to require an annual report to the General Assembly identifying all state spending on services and resources for migrants. […]
Curran’s Senate Bill 3170 would require the Illinois Department of Human Services to work with relevant State agencies, to prepare an annual report to the General Assembly identifying all state spending on services and resources for migrants. It would also be made available to the public on the Department’s website.
…Adding… From the governor’s office…
Following Donald Trump’s orders, Senate Republicans are blowing their racist dog whistle and conflating different immigrant populations to vilify human beings for their political gain. Whether it’s the Governor of Texas shipping people across the county creating a humanitarian crisis or Republican legislators complaining that people who call Illinois home are getting services they need, Republicans are once again proving their only focus is on dividing us. Just because they do not agree that we should live up to our duty to care for people, doesn’t mean information about how we’re doing that isn’t already publicly available. Instead of their ridiculous political theater, the super minority party should be focused on working with their colleagues in the General Assembly to vote for a balanced budget that invests in the very services they claim they care so much about.
Whew.
* Press release about a bill that’s now heading to the governor’s desk…
Today, the Illinois House of Representatives passed HB779, a rewrite of the Pawnbroker Regulation Act (PRA). Upon passage, a coalition of consumer advocates – including AARP, the Catholic Conference of Illinois, the Chicago Urban League, and Woodstock Institute – and financial technology (fintech) companies (the “Coalition”), sent a letter to Governor Pritzker identifying the pros and cons of the bill.
Among the pros: the bill prohibits pawnbrokers from making auto title loans, which is a problem in other states. The bill also empowers the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR), to collect data about every pawn loan made in the state.
Among the cons: the bill permits pawnbrokers to continue charging 240%+ APR on loans less than $500.
“This bill is a ‘mixed bag’ from a policy perspective. Unable to compete with the pawn industry’s considerable resources, we decided to remove our opposition to the bill and take “No Position.”” said Brent Adams, Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at Woodstock Institute. “The interest rates are still too high, but HB 779 lowers the rate on loans of $500 and above. A critical component of HB 779 is data collection, which is intended to enable the stakeholders to revisit the issue of interest rates at a future date. We are grateful for the leadership of State Senator Elgie Sims, who spearheaded negotiations in the Senate and signaled a commitment to addressing rate-related concerns in the years to come.”
Earlier this year, Woodstock released a report, which showed that Illinois consumers have saved over $600 million thanks to the 36% interest rate cap on consumer loans that was established in 2021. Woodstock’s report stated that there is a high probability that some of the money saved by consumers on payday and auto title loans was spent on pawn loans. The report pointed to Ohio where, after enacting a cap of 28% APR on payday loans, there was a 97% increase in pawn shops.
Caps on pawn loan finance charges vary considerably among the states. Michigan caps pawn loans at 36% APR plus a $3 per month storage fee while Kentucky permits a pawnbroker to charge as much as 264% APR. Iowa has no cap.
In recent years, more states have established rate caps and resisted industry efforts to raise rates. New Mexico established a 36% rate cap on installment loans modeled after the Illinois law. Colorado and Minnesota reduced the allowable APR on certain small short-term loans, and Florida’s governor vetoed a bill last year that would have raised interest rates on installment loans to 36%.
* A little taste…
* Here’s the rest…
* Sun-Times | Why aren’t more families in need getting food aid from federal nutrition program WIC?: This paradox of increased need and lower participation is due to several factors, advocates say, including barriers to apply for and maintain benefits, lack of awareness and, for some, fear stirred by misinformation.
* Daily Herald | Illinois Bar Association makes recommendations for Cook County judicial candidates: For the Illinois Supreme Court, the ISBA found Jesse G. Reyes and Joy Virginia Cunningham highly qualified. For the First District Appellate Court, the association found Mary Lane Mikva, Cynthia Y. Cobbs, Celia Louise Gamrath, Leonard Murray and Carl Anthony Walker highly qualified.
* Press release | Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7, offers endorsements in some Cook County judicial races
* RiverBender | Duckworth Meets With Illinois Farm Bureau’s New President Brian Duncan: “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need—and I’m always proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage any time I get the chance,” said Duckworth. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I look forward to working with the Illinois Farm Bureau President Duncan to support farmers across the state to make sure they have the resources and information they need.”
* Naperville Sun | Community members chant ‘cease-fire now!’ after Naperville council doesn’t respond to resolution request: As was the case at the last meeting, council members didn’t speak to the comments or make any indication that a local cease-fire resolution is something they’d consider. Aggravated, cease-fire supporters remained in the council chambers at meeting’s end in an effort to get some response from officials before they left.
* SJ-R | Former employee: Springfield principal moved because of ‘failed leadership,’ not race: Jackson, a veteran of the District for more than 25 years who is Black, became a focal point of the Feb. 20 school board meeting when her reassignment to coordinator of SCOPE (Serving Children of Parents Employed) program was singled out by a board member. [District 186 Superintendent Jennifer Gill] said Tuesday at the District’s office that the letter was “mistimed,” and she had already begun to have conversations with Jackson about moving to SCOPE.
* Block Club | Anti-Gentrification Ordinance Protecting Homes Near The 606 And Pilsen Could Be Extended: A demolition surcharge ordinance approved by City Council in 2021 imposes up to $15,000 in fees on developers who tear down single-family homes and multi-unit buildings in parts of Humboldt Park, Logan Square and Pilsen, which have seen rapid gentrification and displacement in the past decade.
* Crain’s | University of Chicago grad students reach tentative contract agreement: Union members will next vote to ratify the contract with a date to be announced soon. The union, Graduate Students United, or GSU, represents some 3,000 graduate students at the university. […] While the union has not yet released the details of the agreement, it said that it had raised PhD stipends to $45,000, a key proposal that the university and union had remained at odds over.
* Naperville Sun | Naperville City Council OKs maximum 32-ounce beer/cider servings — with limitations: The developer sought two changes to standing limits on behalf of tenants: an increase in the maximum serving of wine from six to nine ounces and the allowance of 32-ounce pours of draft beer/cider. Two proposed tenants, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Yard House, sell the larger servings at their restaurants elsewhere.
* Daily Herald | Why EV charging could soon cost more in Des Plaines: The city council this week tentatively approved a new fee formula for city-owned charging stations. A final vote is expected at the council’s March 18 meeting. […] The proposed new rate is based on the supplier’s rate, with service and administrative fees added on. And rather than charging people based on the amount of time their cars are plugged in, the machines will compute fees based on kilowatt-hours of energy used.
* Sun-Times | Obama in Chicago to see prototype of 88-foot ‘Power of Words’ immersive exhibit: Obama’s belief in the power of words and storytelling is a theme for the museum — from design to content. In 2021, the foundation announced words will be part of the exterior design, with two upper walls of the museum tower featuring quotes from Obama’s 2015 speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march that include, “America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’”
* Block Club | How Fred Mitchell Worked Chicago’s Political Machine To Give Black West Siders A Voice: Still, Janousek wanted to hear what Mitchell could offer. The 22nd Ward was changing — Polish and then Puerto Rican and Mexican residents had been moving into the area along with some Black families like Mitchell’s. To win elections — to hold onto power — Janousek’s ward organization needed to get the newcomers to the polls.
* CBS Sports | How to watch Southern Illinois Salukis vs. UIC Flames: Live stream, TV channel, start time for Thursday’s NCAA Basketball game: UIC is 0-4 against Southern Illinois since February of 2023 but they’ll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The UIC Flames and the Southern Illinois Salukis are set to clash at 9:30 p.m. ET at Enterprise Center in a Missouri Valley postseason contest. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they’ll have plenty of motivation to get the ‘W’.
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* Rivian’s CEO just said that the company plans to start deliveries of its new R2 in the first half of 2026. How will they do that? By building the car at their plant in Normal.
More in a bit.
…Adding… Full remarks…
I’m excited to say that we’re going to be pulling the timing in to allow R2 to start deliveries in the first half of 2026. And we’re able to do that, we’re able to achieve that accelerated time by leveraging our production capabilities in Normal using our Illinois site to launch R2 and get that in the market as quickly as we can.
Now our Georgia site remains really important to us. It’s core to the scaling across all these vehicles between R2, R3, R3X. And we’re so appreciate of all the partnership we’ve had there. But being able to leverage the team, the skill, the passion we have in our Illinois facility to get that into the market, to get customers [the car] as quickly as possible. We are just ecstatic about that.
…Adding… Gov. JB Pritzker…
Once again, Rivian has reaffirmed a message I have been championing since day one of my administration—Illinois is one of the best places to do business in the country. I want to congratulate Rivian on the newest additions to their growing line of vehicles and look forward to seeing them on the roads very soon. Rivian’s latest announcement and related expansion will add more economic investment and job growth to the Bloomington-Normal community on top of the thousands of jobs they have already created. I’m pleased that Rivian is an important partner in building Illinois’s rapidly-growing manufacturing sector, and I look forward to working with them to continue to build the clean energy economy of the future.
Notice the word “expansion.” The plant is apparently getting bigger.
…Adding… Atlanta Journal-Constitution…
BREAKING: Rivian pauses plan to build $5B Georgia factory […]
“Rivian’s Georgia plant remains an extremely important part of its strategy to scale production of R2 and R3,” the company said in a statement. “The timing for resuming construction is expected to be later to focus its teams on the capital-efficient launch of R2 in Normal, Illinois.”
The decision to pause the factory will save Rivian more than $2.2 billion in comparison to waiting to launch R2 production in Georgia, the company said in a news release.
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* From Gov. Pritzker’s press conference today…
Q: Today, the House is expected to vote on the Chicago elected school board implementation. Literally, what we’ve seen the last couple of days, there’s been some division among the Democrats on which plan works better. Obviously, they voted on the hybrid model. So this appears to be another issue where we’ve seen the division of Democrats in the legislature as of late. So with this hybrid model, with this school board issue, where do you stand on this and what does this division in this latest issue say about the state of the Democratic Party?
Um, only two Senate Democrats voted against the bill on Tuesday. They have structured roll calls with more conflict than that.
But, yes, there was a strong disagreement between the two Democratic-dominated chambers about this issue for months. In the end, they worked it out and decided to get something done before the deadline.
* Pritzker didn’t respond to the Dems in disarray part, but he did say that he’s long supported an elected school board, and said he could support the current version as well. “Either way, I think the city of Chicago is doing the right thing,” he said. “The Chicago Public Schools will be better led by people who are representative of the people and not just appointed by the mayor of the city of Chicago.”
…Adding… And it’s important to note that the final vote has been more about a disagreement over foreign policy with the mayor than party differences over the bill itself…
Also, Rep. Jaime Andrade (D-Chicago) is now asking about the CPS policy going forward on selective enrollment schools, not an elected school board.
…Adding… The House just passed the bill 75-31-3.
…Adding… Speaker Chris Welch…
“With the passage of this legislation, we made history and we’re charting a brighter future for generations to come. Chicagoans in every part of the city can begin to circulate petitions to run for their school board in just three weeks and this November every Chicagoan will be able to vote for an elected representative who will answer to them. Today, we were able to keep our promise to allow every Chicagoan to have a say in their school board.
“I want to thank Rep. Ann Williams and the entire CPS Districting Work Group for getting this historic proposal across the finish line. It’s been a long, deliberate process, but this House Working group stood by the compromises that made this elected school board possible after years of negation. Thank you for your hard work and thank you for your continued commitment to getting this right for the children and families of Chicago.”
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* Background is here if you need it. Russell Lissau at the Daily Herald…
An Illinois-based, regional office of a powerful labor union for autoworkers has rescinded its endorsement of the candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 11th Congressional District and instead is backing the incumbent, the group announced Thursday morning.
The UAW’s reversal is a blow for challenger Qasim Rashid, who just last week had announced the union’s endorsement to reporters and on social media. The UAW had been the most prominent group to endorse Rashid’s bid to topple Foster from the post he’s held since 2013. […]
The regional UAW’s members voted to change their endorsement in the race Thursday night. Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell attributed the earlier support of Rashid by the Ottawa-based group to “some miscommunication in our internal democratic process.”
“The UAW is excited to endorse Bill Foster for Congress,” Campbell said. “Foster’s efforts to save, and build upon, thousands of Illinois jobs (in Belvidere) is just one of the many reasons that working families should join the UAW in support of Congressman Bill Foster.”
Hilarious. Rashid probably shouldn’t have bought a non-American car a few months ago. Also, on a purely hardcore political level, if an organization goes out of its way to stiff elected officials and others who went out of their way to help them, as happened with Foster, then maybe other folks won’t be so eager to stick their own necks out in the future.
* From a Foster spokesperson…
Congressman Foster will always fight for American workers because it’s in his DNA. He started a company with his brother when he was 18, and they refused to ship those Midwest manufacturing jobs to China to make more money for themselves. The campaign is thrilled to be recognized by the voice of working people - members of Organized Labor - for his commitment to fighting for good paying, American jobs.
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, Mar 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WGEM…
Lawmakers joined leaders from organizations serving people with developmental disabilities at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday to rally against eliminating the subminimum wage for people with disabilities.
Known as the Dignity in Pay Act, HB 793 would require people with disabilities less than the minimum wage paid to everyone else beginning in 2027.
People who oppose the legislation said it will force organizations providing services and jobs to people with disabilities to lay them off or potentially close.
“Without a well-constructed, well-developed plan, the people who HB 793 is intended to benefit would likely experience unnecessary hardships,” said Doug McDonald, the CEO of Sparc, a Springfield-based organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
* Center Square…
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said under federal law there’s a waiver for minimum wage because the productivity of someone with certain disabilities isn’t the same as someone who has full-cognitive abilities.
“It’s neat to see how happy these people are to get their paycheck. They made their contribution to society at the level they are able to contribute. Who wouldn’t in a perfect world want to do this [mandate at least minimum wage for disabled adults]? But the reality is, you’re going to put these people out of work,” said Rose. […]
“They are calling it the Dignity in Pay Act, and I am here to counter that narrative,” [state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville] said in October. “The bill is not agreed, as Charlie [Meier] pointed out when 33 out of 35 providers are not in agreement, that is not agreed.” […]
“It feels like they’re saying there’s only two options: ‘Sub-minimum wage or no job.’ It’s not true. The research has shown, nationwide, that we can phase this out. I was talking with a small town mayor in Alaska, which has phased it out. He was the lead sponsor on this bill and they found a lot of success with customized employment in their small town,” said [Nicholas Boyle, an economic justice policy analyst with Access Living]. “Other places can do it, I don’t see why Illinois can’t.”
* Sen. Michael Hastings…
Senate Bill 3538 would require any self-insured county or municipality that provides health insurance coverage to first responders to include mental health counseling coverage without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on patients.
“First Responders” are classified as any police, corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel that are employed by local government entities, which would include counties and townships. […]
Senate Bill 3538 passed the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
* SJ-R…
Through Senate Bill 2705, the sale and distribution of products such as carpets, cookware, food packaging and more containing intentionally added PFAS would no longer be allowed starting next year. By 2032, all products with PFAS, unless it is proven it cannot be made without it, would be banned.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture would also have to approve bans of pesticide, fertilizer, agricultural liming material, plant amendment, or soil containing them.
State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, is leading the bill currently awaiting committee assignment. The intent behind the bill, she said is not to burden manufacturers but instead to produce environmentally-friendly products that are more cost-effective. […]
Lawmakers are also weighing legislation that would require manufacturers of intentionally added PFAS to register their products with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Opponents, such as the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, have said identifying these products would be challenging and implementation would be costly.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
State Senator Robert Peters advanced legislation Wednesday to ban employers from requiring workers to attend meetings regarding political or religious matters. […]
Senate Bill 3649 will prohibit Illinois employers from requiring employees to attend employer-sponsored meetings where the primary purpose is to communicate the employer’s opinions on religious or political matters. Further, the legislation safeguards employees from adverse actions for refusing such employer-sponsored meetings.
The National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel issued a memorandum outlining a plan to advocate for mandatory meetings concerning union representation, political opinions and religious matters unlawful under federal labor law. There has been no action following the memorandum, which was issued in 2022. […]
Senate Bill 3649 passed the Senate Labor Committee and now awaits further consideration in the Senate.
* WAND…
Illinois lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to ensure school vendors and learning partners follow the state’s new comprehensive literacy plan.
House Democrats want vendors responsible for English language arts improvement plans to abide by the historic Literacy and Justice For All Act.
The Illinois State Board of Education introduced the framework for the literacy plan in January. However, this bill could ensure schools are not limited by their vendors. […]
The proposal passed out of the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee on a 11-2 vote. House Bill 4902 now heads to the House floor for further consideration.
* Sen. Dave Koehler…
enate Bill 3077 would create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. This measure would require the Illinois Department of Agriculture to amplify local food processing, collection and distribution within the state through grants. Eligible applicants would include farms, co-ops, process facilities, food businesses and hubs with fewer than 50 employees, as well as Illinois nonprofit organizations and local governments.
Koehler’s bill creates a two-tiered grant system for both individual and collaborative projects. Individual projects may receive grants between $1,000 and $75,000, where collaborative projects may be awarded $1,000 up to $250,000. These grants may be used toward production, grading and packaging equipment, as well as refrigerated trucks, milling equipment, local fish processing and milk processing.
According to the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, a 10% shift in the average grocery budget toward local food purchasing could generate billions in economic growth for the state. By incentivizing the expansion and collaboration of local food providers, Senate Bill 3077 will reinforce Illinois’ food industry, grow local economies and provide access to locally sourced food to residents across the state. […]
Senate Bill 3077 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday and now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.
* Sen. Seth Lewis…
With 25 students from the Prairie School of DuPage in the committee room with him to help lobby for his bill, State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) received unanimous recommended approval from the Senate’s State Government Committee on Wednesday for legislation that designates the Calvatia Gigantea as the official state mushroom.
As the bill was presented, committee members learned that 174 witness slips in favor of the bill had been properly filed by students, parents, and others in support of Senate Bill 3514.
“I visited with these students at their school in Wheaton several weeks ago, and they told me they wanted Illinois to adopt a new symbol,” said Lewis. “They engaged in a great deal of research, and asked me to file a bill to make the Calvatia Gigantea, or “Gigantic Puffball” the official state mushroom. I filed Senate Bill 3514 on their behalf on February 9.”
Upper Elementary Teacher Erin Hemmer testified before the committee and explained that students compiled research and held a “primary” election that brought the list of mushroom choices down to two, and then the students made campaign signs for their favored choice prior to a “general” election to determine the winner. “They entered this process with wonder and passion,” said Hemmer. “I am very proud of them.”
Upper Elementary student Charlotte DiGangi also testified on the bill and said the idea for a state mushroom came from a question she asked during a classroom discussion on state symbols. “We were talking about all of the different state symbols and I asked if there was a state mushroom,” said DiGangi. “I said we should have a state mushroom and now here we are.”
The Prairie School of DuPage is a private, environmentally-focused school that offers K-8 students a progressive, hands-on education.
“This was a priceless lesson in the value of civic engagement and sends a message to these students that even at a young age their voice can be heard and that they can influence change,” added Lewis. “It was an honor to partner with them on this legislation, and look forward to their continued assistance as we bring this bill across the finish line.”
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Mar 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* ICYMI: State commission says Illinois underfunds public universities by $1.4 billion. Capitol News Illinois…
- The Commission on Equitable Public University Funding is made up of 34 members, including legislators, representatives from public universities, and members of advocacy organizations.
-It found that dedicating an added $100 million to $135 million annually to public universities would allow the state to bridge the funding gap in 10-15 years.
- The amount of operational funding covered by the state has decreased from 72 percent covered in 2002 to 35 percent in 2021.
- Public universities are currently at 68.5 percent funding adequacy collectively the commission found.
* Related stories…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Borderless | 7 Things Migrants Should Know About Upcoming Shelter Evictions: Earlier this year, residents expected to vacate the shelter between Jan. 16 and Feb. 29 were given a 60-day extension due to cold weather. If you were given a move-out date between March 1 and March 28, you should have received a 30-day extension from your assigned exit date. For individuals who received a 60-day notice on Feb. 1, your eviction date will be April 1, according to the city.
* Sun-Times | Votes on Johnson’s ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum to help the unhoused should be counted, judges rule: In the opinion, written by Mitchell, the appeals court argued it cannot interfere with the legislative process by removing the question from the ballot. “The holding of an election for the purpose of passing a referendum to empower a municipality to adopt an ordinance is a step in the legislative process of the enactment of that ordinance. Courts do not, and cannot, interfere with the legislative process,” the opinion reads. “Courts are empowered to rule on the validity of legislative enactments only after they have been enacted.”
* ABC Chicago…
The appellate court ruling came down as Mayor Brandon Johnson was speaking to the media at a news conference on an unrelated subject.
“I’ve said all along that the people of Chicago should determine how we should address the unhoused crisis in Chicago,” the mayor said in the moment, “and I made a commitment, not just as a candidate but as mayor of the city of Chicago, that I would do everything in my power to move us closer towards housing for all, because this has been a long time coming for the people of Chicago.”
The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago released a statement on the decision, saying, ”We are disappointed in the outcome of this case, but felt it was important to challenge this misleading and manipulative referendum question. This massive tax increase would hurt homeowners, renters, union workers, and businesses throughout the neighborhoods. Even worse, a yes vote on this referendum is a vote to deliver huge blank checks to the City with no plan for how millions will be accountably spent. We have already ramped up our efforts to educate the public about the negative impacts of this tax increase.”
In a statement, Maxica Williams, chair of the End Homelessness Ballot Initiative Committee and board president of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, said:
“Our longstanding coalition of policy advocates, service providers, labor unions, and homeless and formerly homeless people commend the judges of the First District Appellate Court for dismissing the real estate lobby’s effort to invalidate Ballot Question 1. We look forward to keeping up our efforts to reach hundreds of thousands of voters about their opportunity to vote yes for a fair and sustainable plan to fund housing, care for the homeless, and ask wealthy real estate corporations to pay their fair share.”
Governor Pritzker will be in Decatur at 10 am to celebrate Primient investments in Illinois. Click here to watch.
* Capitol News Illinois | With feds citing ‘extensive cooperation,’ judge gives ex-Sen. Terry Link 3 years’ probation: In June, Link was the government’s star witness in the trial of Jimmy Weiss, a politically connected businessman charged with bribing both Link and Arroyo. Weiss had been pushing for the legalization of “sweepstakes machines,” a close cousin of the heavily regulated and taxed video gaming terminals found in bars, restaurants and standalone video gambling cafes across Illinois.
* WMBD | Here is a look at the 88th district Illinois State House race: Erickson introduced a resolution in January that McLean County, which he said has not declared itself a sanctuary, should not allocate county tax dollars should it be presented with an influx of migrants. His stance not to vote for a tax rate increase while on the county board is indicative of his desire to lower taxes. He also wants to push back on gun registration and gun bans.
* WCIA | House District Republican Primary to be decided by rare write-in battle: Teacher’s unions backing a candidate against Niemerg is not surprising. He consistently attacks them, going so far as to say no one who calls themselves a Republican should accept money from them. “I think Republicans should swear off taking teachers’ unions money until the teachers’ unions actually stand for teachers instead of the woke indoctrination that I see coming out of Springfield,” Niemerg said.
* Daily Southtown | Republicans in 19th Senate primary say property taxes, immigration as top issues: Samantha Jean Gasca, of New Lenox, Hillary Mattsey Kurzawa, of Frankfort, and Max Solomon, of Hazel Crest, are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge 19th District incumbent state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, in November. It will be the second time in the past two elections where Hastings has faced a general election challenger after Lockport Republican Patrick Sheehan conceded a very close race in 2022.
* Sun-Times | Protests & peace — Chicago ready for demonstrators at Dem convention, but police won’t ‘tolerate violence’: Snelling made a distinction between the types of demonstrations that are expected during the Democratic convention and “pop-up” protests that were sparked by George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a Minneapolis cop that gave way to widespread looting and gun violence. He specifically pushed back on a scathing report by the city’s inspector general’s office that found officers were “outflanked, under-equipped and unprepared,” and that the department “critically disserved both its own front-line members and members of the public.”
* Crain’s | House OKs extra $75 million for security at DNC: Tucked into a huge, $467.5 billion bill to pay for federal spending on scores of items this year is $75 million for Chicago, with an identical $75 million for Milwaukee, where Republicans will hold their convention. That’s $25 million more than the $50 million convention cities have received in recent years, but advocates say costs and security needs have risen.
* Crain’s | As Durbin frets over O’Hare expansion’s future, airlines re-up their support: But in a March 4 opinion piece in the Chicago Tribune, Durbin wrote “if United and American airlines had it their way, they would delay the satellite terminals and build only the part of the project that benefits them and doesn’t increase competition. This means putting off the construction of both satellite terminals to focus on the Global Terminal.” [….] American and United, meanwhile, insist they’re still committed to the project and haven’t proposed to build only the global terminal because satellite capacity would be needed to handle the activity from Terminal 2 while it’s being demolished and rebuilt.
* Tribune | After loss of tax credit money, anonymous donors help Catholic school in Cicero stay open: In late January, the archdiocese announced that St. Frances of Rome in Cicero would close its doors in June. The sunset of the state’s Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program created a financial cliff for the school, which has a majority Hispanic student population from working-class families. For weeks, parents, parishioners and community members rallied to garner attention and pressure leaders to save the school outside the parish’s Sunday Mass and in front of Holy Name Cathedral in River North, where the Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich works.
* Sun-Times | Chicago’s search for new revenue targets video gaming, wealth taxes, heliport, downtown digital ads: Freshman Ald. William Hall (6th), Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hand-picked chair, also warmed to possibly leveling the tax playing field between the haves and have-nots by seeking legislative approval for a city income tax on salaries over $100,000 earned in Chicago or taxing stock holdings and personal liquid assets of wealthy residents.
* Crain’s | Bears’ stadium plans involve significant public amenities — and public subsidies, too: To make the stadium more attractive, the team is also proposing infrastructure improvements that would better connect the entire museum campus to the city’s grid and Northerly Island. While the city has long sought improvements to the campus, the infrastructure would likely add hundreds of millions to the total taxpayer tab to support a new stadium.
* Axios | Illinois’ recreational weed market is most expensive in the Midwest: According to the Marijuana Policy Institute, Illinois’ legal cannabis tax is among the highest rates in the U.S., with up to 40% over the sale price. We’re behind several states, including Washington, New York, Nevada and California.
* ABC Chicago | Aurora at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont on track to be world’s fastest supercomputer: Argonne’s new supercomputer doesn’t just have one node, 10 or 100, instead it has 10,000 of them. Each single rack of nodes weighs eight tons and are cooled by thousands of gallons of water. Its computing power equals 2 exaflops, or 2 billion-billion calculations per second.
* AP | Alabama governor signs legislation protecting IVF providers from legal liability into law: Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill after it was approved in a late-night session by lawmakers scrambling to address a wave of criticism after services were halted at some of the state’s largest fertility clinics. Doctors from at least one clinic said they would resume IVF services on Thursday.
* AP | State of the Union: What to watch as Biden addresses the nation: The White House hasn’t disclosed specific proposals that will be in this year’s speech. But he could reference unfinished business from his first term, and he’ll likely press for military assistance for Ukraine to reinforce American leadership overseas.
* Sun-Times | Here are the guests of Illinois members of Congress for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address: With access to in vitro fertilization now an issue, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, whose two daughters were born using IVF, invited Illinois reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Dr. Amanda Adeleye to be her guest “as part of the senator’s continuing efforts to protect access to in-vitro fertilization.”
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Live coverage
Thursday, Mar 7, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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* First Appellate District…
The City of Chicago and Defendants Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago appeal a final order of the circuit court in favor of the Plaintiffs, a collection of local business and real estate organizations. At issue is whether the circuit court erred by enjoining the Board of Elections from counting and reporting votes related to a referendum on the March 19, 2024, general primary ballot in Chicago commonly known as “Bring Chicago Home.” The referendum relates to a legislative effort to create a graduated transfer tax on real estate in Chicago where state statute requires voter approval whenever the City intends to raise the rate of taxation or impose a new tax. Because we conclude that the circuit court erred, we vacate the judgment of the circuit court and remand with instructions to dismiss the complaint for want of jurisdiction. […]
Like the parties, we are left guessing as to the bases for the circuit court’s ruling because the lower court gave no reasons for its ruling. Rather, the circuit court read the parties’ briefing verbatim in open court and then made its oral ruling: “I am going to grant their motion for judgment on the pleadings and grant the relief requested in the Complaint.” Three days later, the circuit court issued a written order that stated, “For the reasons stated in open court and on the record, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings is Granted.” […]
Illinois courts, however, have declined to exercise jurisdiction over challenges to referenda that are part of the legislative process. It is well settled that courts cannot “enjoin the holding of an election” on such a referendum. […]
This rule stems from two bedrock principles. First, Illinois’s constitutional system of government is one of separation of powers. In it “[t]he judiciary has no supervision over the legislative branch of government.” Id. Therefore, “[t]he courts can neither dictate nor enjoin the passage of legislation.” Id. The holding of an election for the purpose of passing a referendum to empower a municipality to adopt an ordinance is a step in the legislative process of the enactment of that ordinance. Courts do not, and cannot, interfere with the legislative process. […]
Second, we do not issue advisory opinions. Courts are empowered to rule on the validity of legislative enactments only after they have been enacted. “[U]ntil the legislative process has been concluded, there is no controversy that is ripe for a declaratory judgment.” […]
Plaintiffs further argue that the Illinois Supreme Court has recognized an exception to the rule against enjoining a referendum election where the challenge is based on noncompliance with the eligibility requirements for placing referendum questions on the ballot. However, no Illinois court has ever sanctioned a challenge to a referendum that was a step in the legislative process. […]
Thus, Plaintiffs’ complaint is premature. Fealty to our constitutional system of government and to well-settled concepts of justiciability requires us to decline to interfere with the legislative process. Accordingly, the circuit court erred when it exercised jurisdiction over the complaint. […]
Finally, we have allowed the City to participate in this appeal as if it was a party in all respects for two reasons. First, the City has a direct and substantial interest in this case and risked being unfairly prejudiced by the circuit court’s judgment if not allowed to appeal. Citicorp Savings of Illinois v. First Chicago Trust Co., 269 Ill. App. 3d 293, 299 (1995) (“[I]t is settled law that a non- party may bring an appeal when that person has a direct, immediate and substantial interest in the subject matter, which would be prejudiced by judgment or benefited by its reversal.”). Plaintiffs’ contentions to the contrary are without merit. The City has a clear and direct interest in defending the referendum, which is the product of a City Council resolution.
Second, the circuit court committed an abuse of discretion in denying the City’s petition to intervene. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, “upon timely application anyone shall be permitted as of right to intervene in an action *** when the representation of the applicant’s interest by existing parties is or may be inadequate and the applicant will or may be bound by an order or judgment in the action.” […]
The referendum is the result of a resolution passed by the Chicago City Council, and it is a step in the legislative process mandated by the Municipal Code. 65 ILCS 5/8-3-19; In re County Treasurer, 2017 IL App (1st) 152951, ¶ 17 (abuse of discretion to deny intervention where intervenors had a direct interest). Further, the only defendant in the case, the Board of Elections, asserted that it had no role in addressing whether the referendum complied with the Municipal Code or the Illinois Constitution, and thus it could not represent the City’s interest. See Kozenczak v. Du Page County Officers Electoral Board, 299 Ill. App. 3d 205, 207 (1998); 10 ILCS 5/6-1 et seq. (West 2022); Flood, 2016 IL App (4th) 150594, ¶¶ 18-21 (abuse of discretion to deny intervention where intervenor’s interests were inadequately represented). Against this backdrop, the City’s petition amply demonstrated its right to intervene, and the circuit court committed an abuse of discretion in concluding otherwise.
CONCLUSION
We offer this gentle reminder that seems warranted in light of some of the contentions raised by amici: we have decided this case exercising our best judgment in strict accordance with the law. Nothing in this decision is intended to suggest that we have any opinion one way or the other on the merits of the referendum at issue. That is a question wisely entrusted not to judges but to the people of the city of Chicago.
For all these reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is vacated and the case is remanded with instructions to dismiss the complaint for want of jurisdiction.
Judgment vacated; remanded with instructions.
…Adding… Lots of lawyers thought the case against the referendum was a slam dunk, including Odelson…
“The referendum question was poorly written. The case law supports the fact that it’s illegal to have multiple questions in one question,” said Burt Odelson, who opposed Kasper in the Emanuel residency case. “It is in his favor. It would be a highly charged political decision if it was reversed . . . the appellate court should be unanimous.”
Though Kasper’s involvement in the litigation would appear to set up an almost cartoonish David and Goliath battle between Chicago’s homeless population and an associate of Springfield’s embattled former House speaker, Dorf argues that’s not the case.
“The problem with the Bring Chicago Home referendum is not one of good versus evil. It’s one of competence in drafting a referendum,” he said. “The Johnson administration really should have thought more before they drafted it. They drafted a referendum, which I think made for great press and really showed what he wanted to do. It was really aspirational, but it just was a bad referendum. And they could have done it in a way which would pass the law, and they didn’t do it.”
* Max Bever, Director of Public Information, Chicago Board of Elections…
“This afternoon, the Illinois Appellate Court reinstated the citywide referendum question to the March 19th Primary ballot in Chicago. The initial judgment of the Circuit Court of Cook County is vacated, and the case is remanded with instructions to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.
All votes cast for the citywide question will be counted and reported by the Chicago Board of Elections on Election Night, March 19th.”
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times…
Former state Sen. Terry Link was sentenced to three years probation Wednesday for dodging $82,000 in taxes, escaping jail time after he cooperated for years with the FBI and helped prosecutors convict others for a bribery scheme.
“I admit I made a mistake,” Link told the judge before sentencing. “I didn’t go in there with the intent of cheating the government out of anything. … I accept the responsibility of what happened. I accept that this happened and I have to pay the consequences.” […]
Link has explained that his friend’s business was going under, his wife was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, and his son was struggling with drug addiction. So Link took money out of his campaign fund to help. The friend’s wife and son died within months of each other, and the friend died in December 2018 before he could repay the senator.
Meanwhile, Link failed to report the money taken from his campaign fund to the government as income. Link agreed when he pleaded guilty in 2020 to pay the amount he avoided in restitution.
O’Neill told Rowland on Wednesday that the FBI initially approached Link “before they had any information about the tax crime.” O’Daniel said that Link started out by providing “general background information” to the FBI so agents “better understood the mechanics” of the General Assembly.
* Illinois Answers…
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard stepped up efforts to distance herself from the cancer foundation bearing her name after the Illinois Attorney General’s office banned the nonprofit from raising money and indicated the latest paperwork it filed with the state failed to provide basic information.
In an appearance last week on a prominent national webcast, Henyard, who is also the Thornton Township supervisor, told former CNN host Roland Martin that she doesn’t “have a foundation” and doesn’t know anything about the state intervening in the operation of the Tiffany Henyard Cares Foundation. […]
But last year, Henyard told Illinois Answers Project and FOX 32 Chicago that she is “the face of the foundation” but also “my face is nowhere” near the operation or its leadership, which consists of people who work for her in south suburban government, including her boyfriend, according to court records. A new filing in a separate court case alleges the nonprofit has paid him to serve on the board but doesn’t specify how much. […]
State records show that in addition to working for the nonprofit, [Victor Osaque] filed the business registration with the state on behalf of a clothing store and restaurant in southeast suburban Glenwood that are owned by Henyard’s boyfriend, Kamal Woods, who traveled with her during the trip to Springfield.
Woods is listed as a director of the Tiffany Henyard Cares Foundation and worked as the Thornton Township Youth Program director, which paid $76,923 in 2023, records show.
* Leader Kimberly Lightford…
Standing alongside advocates, university professionals and students, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford outlined the data-driven findings of the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding at a press conference Wednesday. […]
The report follows Lightford’s passage of a 2021 measure to create the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding. Over the last two years, the 30-person commission studied if public institutions of higher education are in dire need of a new funding model when serving underrepresented and historically underserved student groups, including Black and Brown students, as well as students from low-income families. […]
The commission found on average, university systems in Illinois spend over double the amount on academic and student supports – the spending that most directly impacts student success – than at its less-resourced regional universities. Worse, these arbitrary and inequitable allocation decisions have compounded yearly due to a lack of equitable distribution.
“These recommendations are bold and speak to the needs of our students and the institutions that serve them,” said Christian Perry, director of policy and advocacy at Partnership for College Completion. “We are proud to support this report and educate people across Illinois to spread the word about how we can transform our higher education system and our state’s future economic vitality for the better.”
The commission outlined its proposed funding formula for public higher education, which would be calculated based on students’ needs, be driven to support historically underrepresented students and the universities that disproportionately enroll them, and get all universities to adequate funding within 10-15 years.
Click here to read the report.
* Illinois Health and Hospital Association…
Illinois’ more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems are powerful economic drivers for their communities and for Illinois, generating a statewide economic impact of $117.7 billion annually from spending on payroll, supplies and services, and capital, according to a new report released today by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA).
Hospitals across Illinois serve their communities by providing lifesaving care; promoting community health and well-being; fostering neighborhood revitalization and enhancing public health and safety through community partnerships; and advancing health equity initiatives to ensure optimal health for all residents. The new report, “Illinois Hospitals and Health Systems: Essential to Illinois’ Economic Growth,” highlights these varied and important contributions while quantifying the hospitals’ economic impact.
Among the report’s key findings:
* One in 10 Illinois jobs is in healthcare.
* For every Illinois hospital job, 1.4 jobs are created in other sectors.
* For every $1 hospitals and health systems spend, an additional $1.40 is generated in the state and local economy.
“As strong community anchors, Illinois hospitals and health systems generate a tremendous amount of economic activity. They are major employers who provide good-paying jobs and large buyers of supplies and services,” said IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi. “Their impact on the economy comes in addition to the work of providing essential healthcare services, enhancing individual and community health and well-being, and addressing health disparities so all individuals can achieve optimal health.”
Estimates of Illinois hospitals’ economic benefits were based on the Regional Input-Output Modeling System II (RIMS-II) developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The Final Demand multipliers, obtained from BEA RIMS-II, were applied to 2022/2023 Medicare cost report data of hospital jobs and spending to obtain the “ripple” effect of jobs and spending throughout the economy.
* Now on a t-shirt!…
* Here’s the rest…
* WTTW | More Than 3,500 Teenagers in Illinois Pre-Register to Vote, As New Law Goes Into Effect: State Election Officials: As of Tuesday, 3,570 individuals have pre-registered to vote, according to an Illinois State Board of Elections spokesperson. Of that total, 2,954 are 16 years old and 616 are 17 years old. […] Younger voters historically have had lower turnout in elections compared to older age groups, with the lowest voter turnout typically among voters ages 18-24.
* WSIL | Pinckneyville library asking for patron support after suspected vandalism: The library owes $2,500 to the city council after required renovations to windows in the children’s room. The library took to Facebook on January 7th to let patrons know about suspected vandalism that destroyed the building’s original windows. On February 29, the team announced on Facebook the windows had been fixed, but at a cost.
* Block Club | The CTA’s Oversight Board Is Filled With Political Insiders, Not Transit Experts: Board directors say they are independent of the CTA’s leadership. But board members ignored Block Club’s messages about how they were selected and how they view their roles. Instead, the board used a CTA spokesperson to respond to questions. […] For years, the board has been dominated by members with political connections and clout, including operatives for former Mayor Richard M. Daley, a Republican political consultant convicted for his involvement in a kickback scheme, former alderpeople, loyalists who have worked in city agencies and Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks.
* Lake County News-Sun | Waukegan council members exchange accusations of sexism, cronyism; ‘It’s a really bad look to create a boys club’: Picking an all-male committee quickly drew criticism from Taylor Ald. Lynn Florian, 8th Ward, Ald. Edith Newsome, 5th Ward, and Ald. Thomas Hayes, 9th Ward. Florian asked why there were no women, and only one experienced council member. […] “I think it’s just interesting that we decided to change this when you have a female mayor, and you put no females on the committee,” Taylor added.
* WCIA | Champaign school district releases statement, next steps after board member resignation: At the end of the meeting Monday night, Board member Jamar Brown announced his resignation, describing his second term as a negative experience. “The Unit 4 Board of Education is deeply grateful to Mr. Jamar Brown for his service,” Champaign School District Board of Education President Dr. Gianina Baker said in a statement to WCIA. “The Board will now follow its policy regarding filling the vacancy.”
* Daily Herald | Regional public safety facility pitched for former Route 53 extension property: “It’s been there vacant — just corn fields — for many, many years,” said Chuck Smith, chief of the Vernon Hills-based fire district. Smith would like to acquire the 34 acres to build a regional public safety training facility. His idea has support from several local entities and some state lawmakers.
* Sun-Times | Branching out? Streets and Sanitation boss reports 172% ramp-up in Chicago tree trimming: Over the years, the long wait to get a tree trimmed in Chicago has been a chronic complaint of alderpersons and their constituents. Not this year. Using twice as many crews and a grid-based system to blitz specific geographic areas, Streets and Sanitation’s Bureau of Forestry is on track to finally deliver on its ambitious plan to trim every tree in Chicago in the next five years and maintain that five-year cycle.
* Crain’s | Judge allows Art Institute to keep disputed artwork — for now: In a ruling last week, Judge John Koeltl sided with the Art Institute, granting it ownership of the drawing until oral arguments for a separate case brought by the Manhattan district attorney start this spring, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Back in January, the DA accused the museum of “willful blindness” to evidence that showed the drawing was stolen by the Nazis when it purchased the piece in 1966. “Russian War Prisoner,” created by artist Egon Schiele, was owned by Fritz Grünbaum, a Jewish cabaret star killed in a concentration camp in 1941.
* SJ-R | New report finds 2 Springfield hospitals in compliance with pricing transparency laws: Both hospitals in Springfield have been found compliant with federal law in a recent report in February from Patients Rights Advocate, a nonprofit group which pushes for transparency in the healthcare industry across America. In the sixth-annual study, Patients Rights Advocate reviewed 2,000 hospitals nationwide and found only 689 compliant, or only 34.5% of all hospitals. Springfield Memorial Hospital and HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield met compliance regulation with the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
* Crain’s | VillageMD laying off dozens amid Illinois clinic closures: Chicago-based VillageMD laid off about 50 workers across two clinics, in Lincoln Park and suburban Wheeling, according to a recent layoff notice the company filed with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. VillageMD eliminated 24 positions at the Lincoln Park clinic and 25 positions at the Wheeling location.
* AP | Charges are dropped midtrial in ‘Hotel California’ lyrics case. Don Henley plans to fight on: In explaining the stunning turnabout, prosecutors agreed that defense lawyers had essentially been blindsided in recent days by getting 6,000 pages of communications involving Henley and his attorneys and associates. The material was provided to both sides only in the last few days, after Henley and his lawyers apparently made a late-in-the-game decision to waive their attorney-client privilege to keep legal discussions confidential.
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review…
On Tuesday evening, Illinois Review hosted My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell as the election integrity advocate addressed a packed ballroom in Bolingbrook to discuss his latest initiative as voters prepare for the most consequential election in our nation’s history in November.
Lindell is on a nationwide tour to promote his Election Crime Bureau – an initiative that he has largely self-funded that provides tools and resources to grassroots activists free of charge in an effort to secure elections in communities and cities across the country. To date, Lindell has over 300,000 volunteers nationwide, including in Illinois.
* Mr. Lindell is at the Statehouse today and posed for photographs…
And yes, that’s Darren Bailey in the second pic. Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) is in the top photo. Rep. McLaughlin is facing a super-tough general election against Democrat Maria Peterson.
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* CBS 2 story on February 26th…
Another migrant shelter in Chicago closes its doors.
CBS 2 has learned the Near South Health Center at 35th and Michigan is no longer housing new arrivals.
It’s the fifth shelter to close down this month.
There are still more than 12,000 migrants in 23 shelters across the city.
The number living in those remaining shelters is down to 11,795 as of yesterday afternoon. That’s far lower than the almost 15,000 shelter residents in late December, and about what the population was on October 23rd. However, back in October, 6,224 migrants were awaiting placements in shelters. That backlog was just 20 people yesterday.
* But this is what Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) told 21st Show host Brian Mackey about the situation…
It has slowed down a bit. I would not be surprised if it doesn’t ramp up - the busing of people from Texas to here - as we get closer to the DNC.
The influx has definitely slowed down. According to city data, just 1,051 migrants have arrived in Chicago via Texas bus and by airplane since February 9th. For comparison, 6,643 folks arrived between January 3rd and February 9th.
And Sen. Peters is not the only one who wouldn’t be surprised if the pace increases as the Democratic convention nears. But will the city be caught off guard? What happens if the Texas floodgates re-open and Chicago has shut down even more shelters?
I suppose we’ll find out.
* As of Feb. 28th, 13,798 migrants had been resettled. That number has climbed to 14,165 as of yesterday. The city says the total number of migrants reunited with sponsors is now 5,043, up from 4,893 on Feb. 28.
The resettlement/reunited pace appears to be significantly slowing down. From Feb. 20-28, 1,320 were resettled. Since Feb. 28, just 367 have been resettled. And that’s relevant because evictions are supposed to begin next week…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city has not yet decided whether it stick with next week’s deadline to begin migrant shelter evictions. […]
If the date is not moved again, migrant evictions would begin next Saturday, March 16.
Right now, there are nearly 12,000 asylum-seekers staying in 23 shelters run by Chicago and the state.
A whole lot of those asylum-seekers are children. Families should have been exempted from the start, perhaps with some limitations. But another mess could play out in front of our eyes.
* More from Isabel…
* Tribune | Migrants report shelter staff limits hygiene products and say they fear retaliation for speaking out: The reports of rationing hygiene products come after the Tribune last week reported that a shortage of essential supplies in the city’s shelters forced some parents to reuse dirty diapers on their babies. On Sunday, volunteers distributing boxes of diapers at a city shelter on the Lower West Side said migrants told them they were being retaliated against because they are accepting donated supplies amid the shortages. “There’s concern that when they talk to us or they take our supplies, they get in trouble,” said Southwest Collective founder Jaime Groth Searle.
* Axios | Most migrants living in Chicago shelters aren’t eligible to work: “Maybe 10% of those in shelters are eligible for work authorization, and, in the best case scenario, maybe half are eligible for rental assistance,” Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), who chairs the City Council’s Immigration and Refugee Rights committee, tells Axios. “I’m concerned that, by the end of April, this will lead to about 5,000 to 6,000 people out on the street and without the ability to work.”
* Tribune | North Shore residents providing care packages to displaced migrants: “The ‘Shop and Drop’ program started during COVID,” said Swanson. “Everyone thought maybe three weeks or a month and it would be over. Here we are four years later working through the same needs. Thankfully the infrastructure of distribution to those in need was in place.” […] The packages include water, non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products, first aid kits, winter clothing, baby items and children’s comfort items such as books/games/stuffed animals and a note of welcome and encouragement in Spanish is attached to each package.
* Maine Public | When work permits arrive, asylum seekers in Maine face varying paths toward economic independence: A recent study from Massachusetts, which is also experiencing a sharp increase in asylum seeker arrivals, found that new immigrants in that state can expect to make roughly $24,000 per year when the first start working, and that earnings tend to increase steadily.
* KUOW | Facing another hotel eviction, Seattle area asylum-seekers lean on religious groups to foot the bill: Councilmember Sarah Perry called on the Muslim Association of Puget Sound, which she said previously helped support refugees from Afghanistan, for help. The association will provide $60,000 for hotels for the next two weeks. […] Leadership at Plymouth United Church of Christ in Seattle said they would help with funding at the other end of that window, as asylum-seekers wait for county funding to kick in.
* Tucson kVOA | Federal funding to assist with asylum seekers expires in less than 30 days: At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council discussed a plan inspired by what El Paso and San Diego are doing to manage street releases. […] The city also discussed working with the Department of Homeland Security to set up a controlled release spot instead of using the Greyhound bus station. They’re also considering busing migrants to Phoenix since they can provide more help.
* Sun-Times | Feds pin Chicago shooting on migrant with alleged cartel ties — but there’s no record of charges: But court records show that no charges have been filed in the Feb. 4 attack, and a CPD spokesperson said a suspect was released from custody without being charged. After the Sun-Times asked a marshals spokesperson about the case, a news release posted Monday to the federal agency’s website was taken offline. The spokesperson didn’t respond to a subsequent request for comment.
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* WGLT…
The electric automaker Rivian will eliminate one of its three shifts in Normal next month, saying it can meet this year’s modest production goals with only two shifts because the manufacturing plant is getting more efficient.
Rivian employs around 8,000 people in Normal – the bulk of them hourly manufacturing workers. A Rivian spokesperson told WGLT on Tuesday that “all hourly employees will be offered a job on one of the two available shifts as we will increase capacity per shift.”
It’s unclear if any of those hourly workers will see their total weekly hours change as a result. The hourly jobs will still be full-time roles. The Rivian spokesperson said they “gave hourly employees the opportunity to provide feedback regarding shift patterns and to submit their own shift preference. We are assigning shifts based on tenure, preference and operational needs.” […]
Rivian plans to make around 57,000 vehicles in Normal this year – the same as in 2023. High interest rates have cut in demand for EVs, including at Rivian, and founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said increasing demand is one of their key focus areas for the year. There’s also a broader skepticism about how quickly American transportation will electrify that’s led more established automakers to scale back or slow their EV investments.
* Crain’s…
The electric-vehicle maker said last month it expects to keep production at the plant flat this year at about 57,000 vehicles, although analysts had been expecting a production increase to about 81,000 vehicles. The plant in Normal, which employs about 8,000 workers, is shutting down for several weeks in April for retooling that will increase efficiency and reduce costs.
“The shift change will begin when we return from the April shutdown, during which we will transform our R1 production to integrate new engineering design changes that we expect will significantly reduce our cost,” a spokeswoman says. “All hourly employees will be offered a job on one of the two available shifts as we will increase capacity per shift.”
* Crain’s yesterday…
Electric-vehicle maker Rivian laid off about 100 workers at its assembly plant in Normal as part of a broader cost-cutting effort.
The Illinois layoffs are just a tiny fraction of its workforce here. Rivian employs more than 8,000 people in Normal, about 7,000 of whom are hourly workers who produce electric trucks, SUVs and delivery vehicles. But it also has engineers and designers at the facility, the company’s only production plant.
Rivian said Feb. 21 that it would eliminate 10% of its salaried jobs in an effort to cut costs and get to profitability more quickly. The company lost $1.52 billion on $1.32 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter. […]
The company is expected to preview its mid-size SUV, the R2, later this week in California. The vehicle, forecast to be priced between $40,000 and $60,000, is expected to be built at Rivian’s new plant under construction in Georgia.
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* Amanda Vinicky…
[I]n the Reproductive Health Act, or RHA, a law (Public Act 101-0013) Pritzker signed in 2019 and added to in 2023 (Public Act 102-1117). It “sets forth the fundamental rights of individuals to make autonomous decisions about one’s own reproductive health.”
Because of the RHA, “there won’t be an Illinois Supreme Court that comes out and rules what Alabama did,” said lobbyist Stephanie Vojas Taylor, who helped draft those portions of the law. […]
“What the RHA did before was basically say an embryo is not a person, it has no personhood — but it was only in the context of abortion,” Vojas Taylor said of the 2019 law. She added that after the Dobbs ruling, the 2023 additions to Illinois’ Reproductive Health Act made it so that the state was shouting “if you need an abortion, you can come here. We love women.” […]
In addition to defining terms of [assisted reproductive technology], the RHA also updated the state’s Parentage Act to lay out that legal arrangements like consent forms at fertility clinics or marriage or divorce agreements determine what happens to unused frozen fertilized eggs, or parents who “no longer wish to use any remaining cryopreserved fertilized ovum for medical purpose.” […]
“We actually have a pretty long history, a good statutory framework of IVF,” said state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who sponsored the RHA and was among the first to require insurers cover infertility treatment.
* As you know, a bill sponsored by Rep. Cassidy would give a tax credit to doctors or families who move to Illinois to provide or obtain access to reproductive or gender affirming care. WBEZ has more…
[L]awmakers and reproductive rights advocates are bracing for the potential of patients and providers coming to Illinois for IVF treatment. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said it’s still too early to tell, but they are keeping a close eye on what conservative lawmakers in other states do next.
“They achieved their goal in Alabama, but there’s probably five or six states that are just two or three steps behind,” Cassidy said. […]
Cassidy, meanwhile, is proposing that Illinois give a $500 tax credit to physicians and patients fleeing states that are limiting access to health care that is lawful in Illinois — which can include abortion, gender-affirming care and fertility treatments.
“As we’re giving a clear path for providers to bring their licenses and their talents here, that will help with the infrastructure issues as well,” Cassidy said. “I think we anticipate … some potential need to accommodate inbound patients. Will it be at the volume of abortion? Probably not. Like I said, it’s a much harder thing to travel for.”
* WAND…
Private insurance companies in Illinois can currently limit patients to four rounds of IVF treatment. State lawmakers removed the cap on infertility coverage for state employees last year. Although, a proposal in the Illinois House could expand private insurance coverage for the critical infertility treatments.
Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) told the House Insurance Committee Tuesday that the live birth rate for a single cycle of IVF is roughly 30%. She explained there are similar success rates for one to four cycles of IVF.
However, the success rate jumps to 65% for women who complete six cycles of IVF treatment. […]
“We don’t cap the rounds of chemo that you can do if you have cancer,” said Stephanie Vojas Taylor. “So, I’m not sure why we’re capping the rounds of infertility coverage for someone who has a medical diagnosis.”
* Politico…
Sen. Tammy Duckworth is bringing an Illinois doctor who specializes in reproductive health and in vitro fertilization as her guest to the president’s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Thursday night, highlighting her party’s efforts to protect access to abortion and in vitro fertilization.
She’s not the only one: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) is hosting Jen Welch, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04) is bringing Abby Favro, a constituent from Elmhurst and the chief development officer for Planned Parenthood of Illinois. And Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) is hosting Dr. Lisa Green, the CEO of FCHC in Harvey and an advocate on Black maternal health issues.
Duckworth has been focused on IFV for years, in part because she relied on IVF for the birth of her two children. “It’s thanks to doctors and health professionals like Dr. Amanda Adeleye that millions of Americans — myself included — have been able to have kids and grow our families, but Republicans intent on exerting even more control over women’s bodies are putting access to these treatments at risk across the country,” she said in a statement.
Her bill to enact federal protections for the procedure to the Senate floor last week was blocked by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican from Mississippi.
* More…
* CNN | Alabama lawmakers set to finalize IVF legislation, but experts say it’s going to take more work to protect fertility services: The new legislation does not address the issue of personhood at the heart of last month’s unprecedented ruling in a case stemming from the accidental destruction of frozen embryos at a fertility clinic, and experts say it’s going to take more work to protect fertility services in the state.
* Tennessee Lookout | Bill to protect IVF treatment, access to contraceptives dies in Tennessee House: But a majority of GOP members on the House Population Health Subcommittee dismissed the need to clarify the state’s abortion ban, which makes it a Class C felony for anyone who performs the procedure. “Even though we are talking about this being clarifying language, to me there’s actually more confusing language in this, in that the laws we currently have … both IVF and contraception is legal in the state of Tennessee,” said Rep. Brian Terry, a Murfreesboro Republican.
* WSJ | America’s First IVF Baby Is Fighting for the Treatment That Gave Her Life: Elizabeth Carr has always been a living symbol of fertility technology’s possibilities. Now she is the face of its challenges. Carr, 42 years old, is the first baby born by in vitro fertilization in the U.S. Over the years she has told countless audiences how the technology made it possible for her mother to have a baby.
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Poll has Bost up, but with caveats
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Hmm…
Haley is now out.
* M3 Strategies polling memo…
BACKGROUND
M3 Strategies surveyed 473 likely voters in Illinois’ 12th Congressional District from March 2nd to March 4th. It has a margin of error of 4.48% at 95% confidence. Respondents were randomly selected from a pool of individuals who are likely to vote. All responses were generated via SMS to web survey.
KEY FINDINGS
• Congressman Mike Bost leads Darren Bailey on the initial ballot by 6%. Bost leads 45% to 39%, with 16% of voters still undecided.
• Congressman Bost wins older voters, taking those over the age of 65 by over 30%, while Bailey wins among all younger age groups.
• Bost and Bailey split Trump voters, each taking 43%. Bost wins voters who say they are undecided or will vote for Nikki Haley.
• When undecided voters are forced to choose, Congressman Bost’s lead grows to 8%, winning 54% of the vote to Bailey’s 46%.
• Both candidates are well-known and well-liked, pointing to limited room for growth from positive messaging.
o Nearly 77% of those over 65 view Congressman Bost Favorably, including 60% Very Favorably.
o Bailey’s highest favorable rating comes from those aged 31-45, with 71% viewing him Favorably.
• President Trump’s endorsement does not appear to be decisive in this race, with 64% of voters saying that it had no impact or they were not aware of it. 20% of voters said Trump’s endorsement made them more likely to vote for Bost, and 17% said it was more likely to make them vote for Bailey.
o Still, 29% of undecided voters and 18% of Trump supporters said they were unaware Trump had endorsed in the race.
• Asked about the frozen embryos created through “in vitro fertilization” (IVF), only 40% of likely Republican Primary voters in IL-12 believe that “Frozen embryos outside the Mother’s womb should be considered a child,” pointing to broad, bipartisan support for IVF.
And now you see why neither Bost nor Bailey want to comment on IVF.
Read the toplines and some crosstabs by clicking here.
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Tribune…
Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, and Rep. Anna Moeller, an Elgin Democrat, introduced companion bills Tuesday that would establish a permitting program to protect wetlands from pollution and draining.
Illinois is one of several states with no statewide protections for wetlands on private land. It relied on federal Clean Water Act protections until the conservative court severely curtailed them in Sackett v. EPA, a ruling that has been celebrated by real estate developers and industry but has greatly concerned environmentalists.
“We’re not trying to write or pass the perfect wetlands law of our dreams as conservationists. What we’re trying to do is step up where the federal government has now stepped back,” said Paul Botts, the executive director of the Wetlands Initiative, a Chicago-based conservation organization that advised on the bill.
If passed, the Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Act will empower the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to regulate land use around the state’s remaining wetlands, which can be valuable natural defenses against flooding and water pollution.
* Press release…
Today, Illinois Senator Laura Ellman (District 21) and State Representative Anna Moeller (District 43) joined forces with community advocates to announce the “Wetlands and Small Stream Protection Act” – new legislation protecting Illinois waters in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that rolled back crucial federal safeguards in the Clean Water Act.
Illinois law does not currently include a comprehensive program to safeguard waters and wetlands that are now no longer federally protected, leaving the few remaining Illinois wetlands vulnerable to development. In their May 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision, the Court left protections up to the states, prompting Sen. Ellman and Rep. Moeller to introduce SB3669 and HB5386. […]
When enacted, this legislation will reinstate vital protections for Illinois wetlands, creating a long-term Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) program to protect our state waters by:
-requiring that wetland developers apply to IDNR for a permit before destroying the wetlands and small streams on which the Supreme Court has now declared an open season,
-requiring avoiding wetlands destruction to the extent possible and compensating for the losses that their activity would have on floodwater retention, water quality, and wildlife,
-allowing the Illinois counties that have good wetlands protection programs to continue their good work, and
-charging applicants a modest fee that would help pay for the program.
* WAND…
Private insurance companies in Illinois can currently limit patients to four rounds of IVF treatment. State lawmakers removed the cap on infertility coverage for state employees last year. Although, a proposal in the Illinois House could expand private insurance coverage for the critical infertility treatments.
Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) told the House Insurance Committee Tuesday that the live birth rate for a single cycle of IVF is roughly 30%. She explained there are similar success rates for one to four cycles of IVF. […]
Rep. Will Hauter (R-Morton) argued that some people may abuse the insurance coverage instead of looking into alternative family planning options such as adoption or foster care. However, Croke stressed that people make very personal decisions about starting a family and the state should not prevent patients from receiving this coverage.
The plan passed out of the House Insurance Committee on a 11-2 vote and now heads to the House floor for further consideration. If approved by both chambers and Gov. JB Pritzker, House Bill 4112 could take effect on January 1, 2026.
* Sen. Mike Porfirio…
To protect our nation’s veterans from predatory business practices, State Senator Mike Porfirio has advanced legislation aimed at combating “claim sharks” who target veterans by offering veteran and military benefit services in exchange for financial compensation.
“Our veterans have sacrificed greatly for our country, and it is our duty to ensure they are protected from crooked practices,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This bill will not only hold claim sharks accountable, but it will also establish a framework that promotes transparency, empowering veterans with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their benefits.”
Senate Bill 3479 aims to combat claim sharks who target veterans in their deceptive business practices by ensuring transparency regarding these businesses lack of VA accreditation. Some of their predatory practices include guaranteeing an increased disability rating or percentage increase, advertising expedited VA claims decisions, requesting login credentials to access a veteran’s personal information through secure VA websites and more.
Through this measure, veterans will be better informed about the services offered to them, reducing the risk of misleading or fraudulent advice. The goal is to provide veterans with an avenue of recourse against these deceptive practices and establish a more secure environment when seeking assistance related to their veteran or military benefits. […]
SB 3479 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.
* WGEM…
Pharmacists from across Illinois rallied outside the state capitol Tuesday calling for legislation banning certain practices from pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), which they said hurt local pharmacies.
Illinois Pharmacists Association Executive Director Garth Reynolds said PBMs are prescription drug middlemen. Examples include Express Scripts, CVS Caremark and Optum Rx. They negotiate between insurance companies, drug manufacturers and pharmacies.
He supports a bill that would ban PBMs from steering patients to pharmacies they own or a mail-order service. It would also ban “spread pricing.” It’s a practice in which PBMs charge insurers or drug companies more than they pay pharmacies.
“Because of a lot of this restrictive economic structure, it makes it so that for each and every prescription, pharmacies more and more are being paid in the negative, and you can’t run a pharmacy, or any business let alone, on negative dollars coming in,” Reynolds said.
* Sen. Michael Hastings…
Residents across Illinois may soon have relief from noisy highways, thanks to a measure advanced by State Senator Michael E. Hastings. […]
Hastings introduced Senate Bill 3175 in response to a number of noise complaints he was receiving from residents in the 19th Senate District.
IDOT currently maintains a Type 1 program which studies the possible impact and mitigation effects on newly constructed highways. Hastings measure would require IDOT create and implement a Type 2 Noise Suppression Program by July 1, 2025 to provide noise abatement for existing highways.
He believes this expansion of the program would alleviate constituents’ concerns and help improve the quality of life for residents throughout the state.
“This legislation will move us one step closer in improving the quality of life for those who have been suffering from endless highway noise for years,” Hastings said.
Senate Bill 3175 passed the Senate’s Transportation Committee on Tuesday and will continue on for further consideration.
* The American Council of Engineering Companies…
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) has unveiled its 2024 legislative agenda, calling for a renewed commitment to full funding for infrastructural development through Rebuild Illinois and modernizing research and education tax credits and other incentives that will help the state recruit and retain engineers who build the infrastructure that will keep the state at pace with a 21st century economy.
The legislative agenda prioritizes the continued funding of transportation and infrastructure projects by the state through the historic $45 billion Rebuild Illinois program. ACEC Illinois is urging the state and the legislature to reconsider the recently-released budget proposal that calls for a diversion of $175 million committed to fund bridge repair, road improvement and other critical need projects to pay for spending on public transportation operations in the Chicago region. These public transportation costs have been historically paid for by the state’s General Revenue Fund since they are not associated with capital improvements, repairs or upgrades.
According to the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, the $175 million loss in road funding would multiply to more than a $1 billion impact in lost road and bridge improvements over the next few years. The fiscal impact of such a roll back would limit plans by IDOT and other agencies, delay projects, slow the modernization of the state’s transportation network and have an enormous impact on the state’s ambitious infrastructure development program.
“The bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Program is a once in a generation opportunity to upgrade and modernize our state’s road transportation and physical infrastructure to meet current needs and the demands of the future,” said Kevin Artl, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “Our legislative priorities aim to ensure that the progress so far made is protected and not diminished by infrastructure funding cutbacks or diversion and that incentives for research, training and workforce development are maintained to make Illinois a destination point for engineers from across the world to locate here and work on these critical projects.
Other key issues in ACEC Illinois’ 2024 Legislative Agenda include a call for continued appropriation of funds for training and retention of engineering talent through education tax credits that will provide for a tax credit of 10% of the salary paid by engineering firms to recent graduates of Illinois’ engineering schools and 5% of the salary paid to recent graduates of engineering schools outside of Illinois; and modernization of the state’s research and development (R&D) tax credits to match changes to the R&D credit at the federal level. ACEC Illinois also supports legislation that will protect and help diverse businesses succeed at the state level through diversity in contracting and calls for a resolution to urge Congress to take action to protect the USDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program which is at risk due to recent legal decisions. ACEC Illinois also supports the Knowledge Transfer Act that promotes knowledge transfer, collaboration and greater communication between engineering companies, state agencies and the private sector. […]
ACEC-IL 2024 Legislative Agenda
-Preserve REBUILD Illinois: To keep Illinois’ promise to citizens to repair, maintain and upgrade Illinois’ infrastructure to support a 21st Century economy, ACEC Illinois will oppose efforts to roll back or divert funding for ReBuild Illinois capital investments.
-Maintain Funding for IDOT Engineer Student Loan Repayment Program: Legislation was passed last year to launch a pilot program to incentivize engineers trained in Illinois to work in Illinois. The state budget included funding at the pilot level, and ACEC requests re-appropriations of those dollars, as students graduate college and become eligible for the program, in order to see the program implemented.
-Modernize the State’s Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit (SB 163), (HB 4457): Research and Development (R&D) is critical to Illinois’ engineers as they work to modernize the state’s infrastructure. However, Illinois’ R&D credit is outdated and expires without state intervention. ACEC Illinois supports this initiative that increases the R&D credit by providing that the increase in research and development activities shall be based on an increase over 50% of the average of the qualifying expenditures for each year in the base period. This change modernizes the bill to match changes to the R&D credit at the federal level. Additionally, the bill makes the R&D credit permanent moving forward. The legislation is sponsored by Senator DeWitte and Rep. Joe Sosnowski.
-Retain Illinois Students of Engineering (RISE) Tax Credit (HB 2425) (SB 2282): Helping attract and retain engineers as the industry faces a shortage of educated talent, this legislation provides for a tax credit of 10% of the salary paid to recent graduates of Illinois’ engineering schools and 5% of the salary paid to recent graduates of engineering schools outside of Illinois. This legislation is sponsored by Rep. Marty Moylan and Senator Ram Villivalam.
-Knowledge Transfer Innovation Act (SB 3712): To ensure Illinois’ most innovative engineering firms can share their cutting-edge technology and design approaches with state agencies, this legislation allows for greater communication and knowledge transfer between the private and public sector. This legislation is sponsored by Senator Ram Villivalam.
-Protect Illinois’ Diverse Businesses: The USDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program along with other local DBE programs are at risk due to the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling last year to block considerations of race in university admissions. In Illinois, IDOT, Tollway and CDB have effectively and credibly used these programs to help Illinois businesses succeed and grow, and ACEC is calling for attention to this issue to ensure they are protected. The Resolution is sponsored by Senator Villivalam.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* ICYMI: Illinois Senate passes plan for ‘hybrid’ elected Chicago school board backed by CTU. Tribune…
- The bill would create a hybrid elected school board in Chicago this fall, with half of the members voted in by residents and the rest appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
- The bill includes a district map that lawmakers from both chambers have previously agreed on. It would create seven majority-Black districts, six majority-Latino districts, five majority-white districts and two in which no group has a majority.
- The Senate passed SB15 in a 37-20 vote. It now goes back to the House, which approved a similar plan last fall.
* Related stories…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Capitol News Illinois | Judges, ex-lawmakers, lobbyists wrote to support convicted ex-Madigan aide: And on Tuesday, Kness published 181 pages of letters, including nearly a dozen written by public officials both retired and still serving, along with many lobbyists and political heavyweights still active in Springfield. Among them was former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride, who noted he’d gotten to know Mapes over 20 years on the court, and that Mapes’ son Devin had been a judicial intern in his office. He also administered the oath for new attorneys when Devin was admitted to the bar.
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson says no plans yet to again extend migrant removal deadline: “We’re doing everything in our power to demonstrate compassion. Now, as far as whether or not we will extend deadlines, we haven’t gotten to that point,” Johnson said at a Tuesday news conference. […] The policy could lead to the removal of as many as 5,673 migrant residents, Brandie Knazze, head of the city’s Department of Family and Support Services, said when the March 16 date was announced. Over 2,000 more people could be forced out by the end of April under the policy, she added.
* 21st Show | Senator Peters speaks on Black Caucus’ goals, migrant assistance, and Safe-T Act progress: Alongside financial and educational reforms, the Caucus is actively working on the Safe-T Act, a comprehensive package aimed at overhauling the justice system and enhancing law enforcement accountability. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to tackling systemic inequalities and ensuring that the needs and interests of the Black community in Illinois are addressed and met with tangible actions and policies.
* Here’s the rest…
* Tribune | On eve of CPS contract negotiations, teachers union President Stacy Davis Gates invites civic leaders’ engagement: “We’re not gonna fight for the schools Chicago Public Schools students deserve. We’re gonna give it to them,” she said. Pending union delegates’ approval in a vote on a draft contract proposal to be sent to CPS Wednesday, Davis Gates hinted at likely union demands: A librarian and restorative justice coordinator in every school. “Less onerous” teacher evaluations. Adjustments to health care in the interest of reproductive justice. Expanded community schools and special education programs.
* WCIA | Bipartisan Illinois leaders call to put constitutional ethics initiative amendment on November ballot: WCIA reached out to House Democrats for comment but no one was available. We also reached out to House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch’s office for comment but have not heard back.
* WMBD | Gov. Pritzker announces federal funding to address food insecurity in Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker announced the $28.8 million at the Midwest Food Bank in Morton on Tuesday, declaring the funding a big step forward for providing nutrition to those in need. “Nearly 3.3 million Illinoisans live in a food desert, leaving families with few options when it comes to putting food on the table”, he said.
* WJBC | Illinois pharmacists rally outside of state capitol: Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, and other advocates rallied outside the Capitol Tuesday to call for regulation to weaken the influence of the pharmacy benefit managers, or PBM’s. More government regulation? “I usually don’t go for that as the primary response,” said Garth Reynolds, executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, “but this is an area where there is so much unruly abuse. We need to bring in some structure to reel everything back in to a normal business relationship.”
* ABC Chicago | Former state Senator Terry Link to be sentenced Wednesday in tax evasion case: Link could be sentenced to a year in federal prison, but prosecutors are asking for probation instead. That’s because Link cooperated in a sting operation against State Representative Luis Arroyo, who was convicted of bribery.
* WMOK | The Illinois Chamber of Commerce Announces Additions to Legislative Affairs Team: The Illinois Chamber of Commerce announces two key additions to their legislative affairs team. Effective immediately, Keith Wheeler, has been appointed to the role of Executive Director of Government Affairs and Technology Council. Jordan Ryan is appointed as the Director of Legislative Affairs.
* Sun-Times | City Colleges brings back South Side nursing school: The University of Chicago clinical lab will consolidate existing labs at their medical campus and shift 350 jobs — plus an additional 200 — to the Washington Park neighborhood. The first floor of the facility will be rentable retail space, which officials said will help support restaurants and businesses, as well as the transit hub.
* Crain’s | The ‘Vader’ of Illinois election law could take down ‘Bring Chicago Home’: Michael Kasper, the attorney representing the Building Owners & Managers Association of Chicago and other real estate interests in the fight against Johnson’s so-called “Bring Chicago Home” ballot measure, is well-aware of his own reputation as one of Illinois’ most effective, and perhaps notorious, election lawyers.
* Tribune | Jury finds man guilty in slaying of CPD Officer Ella French: The verdict was read to a hushed courtroom with a heavy presence of deputies lining the aisles. Judge Ursula Walowski warned observers to remain calm and silent. Afterward, family members of French, Yanez and Blas hugged and cried. Yanez and Blas were both present for the verdict.
* Sun-Times | Gene Schroeder, oldest living Chicago Bear, says team needs new stadium, is ‘only going to get better’: He played six seasons with the Bears, and has spent the last six decades as a devoted fan. Now, having just turned 95 on Sunday, he’s believed to be the oldest living former player for the franchise. […] Schroeder laments the loss of that family dynamic in the game today. “That’s gone like dinosaurs,” he said. But he believes current general manager Ryan Poles has done an “absolutely outstanding job.”
* Crain’s | Chicago Bears promote senior exec for stadium development: Karen B. Murphy, the team’s senior vice president of business strategy and CFO, has been promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president of stadium development and COO, the team announced on March 5. She has been with the organization for 25 years after starting as a controller in 1999.
* Tribune | 26 of the best corned beef sandwiches in Chicago and the suburbs, including a stunning option from John’s Food & Wine: The corned beef is stunning at John’s Food & Wine in Chicago, where it is the chefs’ modern statement on not only the sandwich, but how to pay their cooks $36 an hour. Co-chefs and co-owners Adam McFarland and Tom Rogers opened their debut restaurant last October in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. They seem determined to hide how special it is. From the name, with all due respect to their fathers both named John, to describing their menu as seasonal new American.
* SJ-R | Millions could be invested in two Springfield neighborhoods: What to know: Through the new program, the Springfield Project and Springfield Urban League Inc. could receive up to $3 million to promote economic development in the neighborhoods. The funding, allocated to 10 cultural districts throughout the state, will be made available in 2025 when the five final districts are announced according to the governor’s office.
* Crain’s | Details of Rivian’s next-generation R2 model leak prior to unveiling: The R2 is a critical model for Rivian because it’s on a new platform designed for more affordable vehicles that will be built at a future Georgia factory in 2026, allowing the EV startup to compete in the under-$50,000 market, the company has said. According to purported source-code data from Rivian’s website posted on X, the R2 will start at $47,500 before shipping, have a range of up to 330 miles and be very similar in size to the Tesla Model Y compact crossover.
* SJ-R | Real or fake? Illinois students learning the dangers of social media ahead of election: According to the Pew Research Center, 44% of U.S. adults ages 18-29 routinely rely on Tik Tok for news — by far the highest consumption of any age demographic. More Americans overall have come to the video-sharing platform for news, increasing by more than 20% between 2020 and 2023.
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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