Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2024

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

At Logan Correctional Center, some problems can be seen clearly from either side of the bars.

There is consensus among employees and inmates on the need to rebuild the deteriorating Central Illinois facility, described in a state report last year as “inefficient, ineffective, and unsuitable for any population.”

But the Illinois Department of Corrections faces fierce local pushback against its proposed solution, which involves moving the women’s prison from Lincoln to the grounds of Stateville Correctional Center in suburban Chicago.

Dozens of people, mostly prison employees and Lincoln residents, wrote this month to a state legislative commission tasked with making a recommendation about the plan. In written testimony to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, they said the move would disrupt the lives and families of more than 450 workers while upending the larger social fabric and economic fate of the community, population roughly 13,000.

“Its closure would not only result in the loss of jobs but also the loss of a sense of belonging and identity for many members of our community,” said Blake Utterback, a food service supervisor at the prison. “The social bonds that have been forged within its walls would be severed, leaving a void that cannot easily be filled.”

* Planned Parenthood of Illinois…

Today, Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) welcomes patients to the newly renovated Peoria Health Center, 2709 N. Knoxville Ave. In early 2023, the health center suffered $1 million in smoke and fire damage from a firebombing and took over a year to rebuild. The 4,289-square-foot Peoria Health Center’s layout has been repurposed to optimize patient care.

“I am proud to announce that we are back and stronger than ever,” said President and CEO of PPIL, Jennifer Welch. “The firebombing destroyed our health center and robbed the community from accessing needed health care such as family planning, STI testing and treatment, gender-affirming care and cancer screenings, but it didn’t break our spirit. The Peoria Health Center plays a vital role in the Central Illinois community and surrounding states. Thanks to the ongoing support from Peoria leaders, residents, and donors we have the pleasure to be part of this amazing community once again.”

The Peoria Health Center attack is part of an ongoing trend of violence and arson against abortion providers since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. According to the National Abortion Federation, arson attacks have increased by 100%. In January, 2023, Tyler Massengill was arrested and pleaded guilty to the attack. He was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $1,450,000 for malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage the Peoria Health Center.

The Peoria Health Center features new state-of-the-art equipment, 1 education room, 3 exam rooms, 3 ultrasound rooms, as well as administrative spaces. The Peoria Health Center offers gender-affirming care, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, HIV testing, birth control, and medication abortion care.

* Jake Sheridan…

* Politico…

State Rep. La Shawn Ford has filed a resolution that calls for city and state officials to work to reach an agreement with the Bears and Chicago White Sox, which are also looking to build a new stadium, to work together so all the teams stay in the city. And that includes women’s teams, too, according to Ford’s resolution.

What it says: Ford’s resolution “urges the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to report on how much of the outstanding debt could be paid off by selling its existing assets to a private developer.” Read the resolution here

“I think this can reset the conversation,” Ford told Playbook. “We want to keep our teams in Chicago but the goal is to look at government property and its highest and best use.”

Ford’s pitch: Consolidate the teams onto one giant sports complex. “We could combine space and redevelop areas where the ballparks are and find a landlord that’s possibly not the government so we can get them on the tax rolls,” Ford suggested.

* First it’s two batches of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus, now IDPH reports two cases of rabid bats…

th the weather warming up, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is warning the public to beware of wild animals that may carry rabies, especially bats, as they become more active this time of year. The warning follows the discovery since May 10 of the first two rabid bats of 2024 in the state in Cook and Will counties, IDPH said. The bats were recovered inside two homes in those counties and subsequently tested positive for rabies.

“Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “It is important that Illinois residents know how to prevent rabies exposure to protect themselves and their loved ones. Bats are the most common carriers of the rabies virus in Illinois but not the only carrier. Illinois residents should stay away from bats and any wild, unfamiliar, or stray animal, as well as any animal that appears to be sick. Groups of bats can move into people’s homes and that underscores the importance of knowing the ways of keeping bats out of your home.”

Public health officials stress that if a bat is found inside a home, it is important to try and cover it with a container and contact animal control so it can be tested for rabies. (See below for tips on how to capture a bat.)

IDPH is also reminding the public to make sure that rabies vaccinations are up to date for pets and any valuable livestock and horses for which a rabies vaccine is available. If a pet is exposed to a high-risk wild animal - such as a bat, skunk, raccoons, fox or coyote - pet owners should immediately contact a veterinarian for advice.

*** Statewide ***

* IPM | Coal ash is polluting Illinois rivers. Environmentalists want the state to move faster to stop it: Dynegy’s coal ash ponds have been leaking into the river and groundwater. Environmentalists fear the three million cubic yards of coal ash will flood into the Middle Fork if the banks erode. […] Andrew Rehn, climate policy director at Prairie Rivers Network, said one way to prevent groundwater contamination is to relocate the coal ash waste into a pond that’s properly lined to seal it off. But most of the coal ash ponds are not lined this way.

* LA Times | Editorial: California blew it on bail reform. Now Illinois is showing it works: Bail reform opponents predicted mayhem. Too many criminals would be caught, ticketed and turned loose to commit more crimes, they said. They were wrong. Nearly a year later, data show Illinois’ no-money-bail program is working out quite well. Arrests for new crimes by people released pending trial are coming in so far at about 4% in Cook County, which includes Chicago and much of the state’s crime. That’s about on par with or slightly better than the pre-reform rearrest rate over the last several years. Defendants who promise to show up for their hearings do, for the most part. Warrants are issued for the approximately 10% who don’t — again, about the same as the proportion previously released before trial with or without having posted bail.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | ShotSpotter Showdown Set Amid Fierce Debate Over Value of Gunshot Detection System: Ald. David Moore (17th Ward) told WTTW News Friday he will force a vote on an order that accuses Mayor Brandon Johnson of having “usurped the will of the City Council and their ability to represent constituents” by canceling the city’s contract with SoundThinking, which operates the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system. During the 2023 campaign for mayor, Johnson vowed to terminate the city’s use of the system, saying there was “clear evidence (ShotSpotter) is unreliable and overly susceptible to human error.” He blamed the system for the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer responding to an alert from the system in March 2021.

* Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools Pitches Safety Plan Calling For Restorative Justice, No Police In Schools: The proposed plan, which is on the agenda for next week’s board meeting, comes three months after the Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution to remove school resource officers, or SROs, by the start of next school year. At the time, the board directed CPS CEO Pedro Martinez to create a new safety plan by June 27 that focuses on restorative practices. Thirty-nine high schools still have on-campus police officers staffed by the Chicago Police Department. At 57 other schools, Local School Councils, or LSCs, voted to remove SROs.

* Crain’s | Facing budget deficit, Howard Brown Health to close two clinics: Howard Brown, which serves nearly 40,000 patients a year, said the closures are intended to help address an ongoing financial shortfall as well as the departure of doctors from each location. Commercial lease agreements are also ending for each clinic. “These closures mark a business decision that will ensure our ability to serve patients with quality care for the next 50 years,” Robin Gay, who was named Howard Brown’s interim president and CEO in February, said in a statement. “As we continue to work to achieve fiscal sustainability, we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide core health care services to all individuals in our community, regardless of their ability to pay.”

* Block Club | Meet The 2 Chicago Musicians Behind The Score Of ‘The Bear’: Johnny Iguana and Jeffrey “JQ” Qaiyum have worked on countless musical projects together since they became friends almost 25 years ago. They’ve produced records and singles, played in a band called Them vs. Them and are at work remixing tracks from Iguana’s 2020 blues album for legendary Chicago label Delmark Records.

* PJ Star | Motorsports race in Illinois named one of the best in the country by USA TODAY poll: A recent USA Today Readers’ Choice poll determined the top races by asking a panel of experts for nominations. Readers then voted on the nominees. Chicago’s Grant Park 165 was named the ninth best race in the country. “First run in 2023, the Grant Park 165 pits NASCAR drivers against one another over 75 laps as they speed down Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue, and DuSable Lake Shore Drive,” USA TODAY wrote in the winning entry. “The 2.2-mile route travels along Lake Michigan and around Grant Park, providing scenic views for spectators.”

* Sun-Times | Garlic in your nostrils? Potatoes in your socks? Health misinformation is rampant on TikTok, Chicago researchers find: In January, Dr. Christopher Roxbury and rising fourth-year medical student Rose Dimitroyannis analyzed 221 videos posted on sinusitis, or sinus infections, on the app over a 24-hour period. They concluded nearly 60% of the videos they looked at from nonmedical influencers, or TikTok users who didn’t identify themselves as medical professionals, contained inaccurate or misleading information. That compares to nonfactual information in 15% of videos from medical professionals. Compounding the problem: Videos from nonmedical influencers were far more popular and visible on the app, according to the study.

*** Sports ***

* Sun-Times | Cubs’ Shota Imanaga is crushing it on the mound, but life as a Chicagoan is coming along more slowly: Imanaga has ordered Japanese takeout a number of times but has not yet sat down for a proper meal in a restaurant. He keeps meaning to sample a Chicago hot dog but has yet to belly up to a counter and order one. He has gone all-in on a couple of pizzas and marveled at the portion sizes, the thought occurring to him that pizza could help him keep his weight up throughout the long grind of a season. “I’ve definitely noticed the fact that I’m a lot shorter than a lot of players here, but [at least] if I do gain weight, they’re not going to notice much,” he cracked.

* WBEZ | How Angel Reese has juggled her first month as a professional athlete: Since being drafted by the Sky with the No. 7 pick a month ago, Reese attended her first Met Gala, appeared in a Good American ad campaign that’s featured on billboards in downtown Chicago and made her WNBA debut. She had 12 points and eight rebounds in the Sky’s 87-79 loss to the host Wings on Wednesday night. On Saturday, she’ll graduate from LSU — she majored in interdisciplinary studies and minored in communications, leadership and psychology — in the morning. That night, Reese will play in her second game, a rematch with the Wings.

* Forbes | White Sox Should Try To Hang Onto Their New Ace, Not Trade Him: Erick Fedde is a commodity the White Sox must consider trading. But rather than feel pressure to strike quickly, rookie general manager Chris Getz should take his time as he talks to teams interested in the 31-year-old ace. Fedde has returned from one season in Korea as the best starting pitcher in the American League. He’ll take a 4-0 record and a 2.60 ERA into a Monday start in Toronto — not bad on a team that is 14-33 with a 5.10 rotation ERA, better only than Oakland in the AL.

*** National ***

* Tribune | Cyberattacks on Ascension, Lurie are the latest in a string of health care breaches: Lurie and Ascension are hardly alone when it comes to battling increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals going after health care organizations. Last year, a record 725 large health care security breaches were reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, according to the HIPAA Journal, which covers news related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The number of large, reported health care breaches increased by 93% between 2018 and 2022, according to the health and human services department.

* Politico | Tesla loses top public policy staffers amid challenging times for the carmaker: Hasan Nazar — who led federal U.S. policy for Tesla — is departing, along with other policy staffers including Patrick Bean and Brooke Kintz, according to two people familiar with the situation granted anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel issues. Bean oversaw global charging and energy policy, and Kintz led state-level policy in the U.S. and oversaw work in North America.

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Question of the day

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune…

Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, Pritzker’s budget point person, earlier this month issued a memo to state agency heads advising them to identify possible budget cuts, writing “opposition” to the governor’s revenue proposals was “significant enough.” The memo implied that if the legislature doesn’t pull together support for Pritzker’s revenue plans, state program spending could be on the chopping block.

“The Governor will not sign an unbalanced budget. Therefore, we must prepare to implement a potential balanced budget scenario with $800 million less in available revenue,” Manar wrote. “While we do not know which specific programs would be impacted should the General Assembly choose to not pass the revenue package, we think it is prudent to prepare for the possibility.” […]

State Rep. Will Guzzardi, who is a part of a House Democrats’ working group on budgetary matters, downplayed the level of opposition against the governor’s proposal cited in Manar’s memo.

“I think ‘opposition’ is too strong a word from what I’ve been hearing from my colleagues. Some of these ideas are new to some of my colleagues,” said Guzzardi, of Chicago. “There’s some education that folks need to do.”

* Andy Manar was on Jak Tichenor’s program late last week…

We were just simply putting agencies on notice that, while the governor proposed what we think was a solid budget back in February, there may be some changes that are coming from the legislature, and those things take time to implement. So I have no doubt this will come together in the coming week or two and we will again pass, now, our sixth balanced budget in a row.

* Charlie Wheeler brought up something that I pointed out to subscribers when Manar’s letter first went out. Agencies were advised to focus on cutting things like grants…

I think that was a message directed, as I said last week, not so much at the department heads as it was directed at the lawmakers. Because some of the programs, some of the most costly programs the state has, for example, the school funding formula that’s not going to be cut. … But grants are other things that are smaller sums individually. … Like a grant to a local park district to improve a playground, or a grant to local school to maybe buy some new equipment … Those are the kinds of things that lawmakers particularly enjoy, because when the ribbon is cut, ‘I’m the legislator, I’ll be there to cheer for the ribbon being cut. Now look you got this beautiful new facility. And of course, I helped get it for you.’

* The Question: How do you see this session playing out?

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Your moment of zen

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Isabel is fully back at work today. Oscar was so happy to see her yesterday…

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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There’s no real mystery here

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Daily Herald…

Illinois has only been collecting an income tax for 55 of the state’s 206-year history, but it could soon account for more than 60% of the state’s general fund revenue.

That’s according to a new report from the Illinois General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability that estimates the state will receive nearly $31.4 billion in state income tax revenue in the next fiscal year that begins in July.

The state’s reliance on income tax to bolster the general fund — the state’s chief operational revenue account — has nearly doubled since 2004, state records show. That year, income taxes only accounted for 30.3% of general fund revenues.

The trend is worrisome to some lawmakers and government finance watchdog groups.

“To be at 60% for income tax is an extraordinary number because generally it is a more volatile mode of taxing than some other taxes like sales tax,” said Joe Ferguson, president of the nonpartisan government finance research organization the Civic Federation. “It’s a general concern because it involves the evolution of a tax structure which was already, and throughout history, been known to not be well aligned with the economy.”

Sales taxes are less volatile than income taxes?

* OK, here’s a brief explanation from COGFA: “(T)he composition of income tax receipts has primarily been influenced by changes in income tax rates, stagnant or declining revenues from other sources, and favorable economic conditions driving income tax growth.”

It basically boils down to the fact that the income tax rate has been increased, wages have risen and other taxes haven’t kept up with the income tax’s growth, partly because those tax rates haven’t been increased.

I’m a fan of broadening the tax base. We artificially narrow too many taxes. Services aren’t taxed (to be more aligned with the economy), retirement income isn’t taxed, food and medicine aren’t taxed, etc., etc., etc. Politically, though, some of these are very difficult to touch. Retirement income is like the “third rail” of Illinois politics, as the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary clearly showed. It polls horribly here. And it ain’t much better for the service tax.

* Anyway, click the COGFA chart for a larger image…

Income tax receipts as a percentage of the General Funds budget fell during the big crash, rose after tax rates were increased, fell when the tax hike expired, rose after the tax hike was restored and dipped during the first year of the pandemic.

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One problem, mayor: You can’t do this tax without the legislature and the governor

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Crain’s…

City Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski said recent policy changes to shore up the city’s beleaguered pension plans will continue through Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first term and Chicago’s diverse economy will fuel the growth necessary to buffer the city’s tax base.

Jaworski and Johnson also hinted the city is seriously exploring extending its sales tax to professional services, an idea that has been met with resistance in the past but is popular with politicians because it could broaden the city’s sales tax base and bring in more revenue, while potentially lowering the overall tax rate. […]

[Johnson] and Jaworski pointed to potentially extending the sales tax to professional services — an idea City Hall sources have told Crain’s is the likeliest to move forward — and a City Council subcommittee on revenue that Johnson hopes will provide other options.

Johnson said extending sales taxes to services, which could hit law firms, consultants and other professional work, could allow the city to lower the overall sales tax rate because the tax would be broadened.

Um, no.

* From Article VII of the Illinois Constitution…

A home rule unit shall have only the power that the General Assembly may provide by law (1) to punish by imprisonment for more than six months or (2) to license for revenue or impose taxes upon or measured by income or earnings or upon occupations.

“Upon occupations” means a service tax.

* The City of Chicago imposed a one percent service tax in 1981. By the end of the year, the Illinois Supreme Court had knocked it down, saying that “the intent of this section of the Constitution is that the legislature exercise ‘maximum supervisory power’ in these enumerated areas”…

The service-tax ordinance is challenged, inter alia, on the ground that it is a tax “upon occupations” enacted without legislative authorization in contravention of the 1970 Constitution. Since the adoption of the 1970 Constitution, this court has had several occasions to rule on similar challenges to various taxing ordinances enacted by home rule units. In those cases, which will be discussed later, it was noted that section 6(m) of article VII of the Constitution requires that the powers and functions of home rule units shall be liberally construed. In those cases, in upholding taxing ordinances, this court “liberally construed” the powers of home rule units to enact taxing ordinances under the 1970 Constitution. We are urged to do so once again and to uphold the Chicago service-tax ordinance. We cannot uphold the ordinance without violating the clear limitation of article VII, section 6(e), of the Constitution, which requires authorization by the General Assembly before a home rule unit can impose a tax upon occupations. […]

The reasons given in the majority report of the Committee on Local Government of the constitutional convention for restricting a home rule unit’s authority to impose a tax upon occupations are just as applicable to the Chicago service tax. The mere recitation in the ordinance that the tax is upon purchasers of services does not eliminate the evils the delegates to the convention sought to prevent.

Obviously, the city of Chicago was aware of the “legal incidence” language previously used by this court and attempted to tailor its ordinance to incorporate a sufficient amount of such language “magic words” to transform an occupation tax into a tax upon the purchaser.

Emphasis added.

* It’s also in state law. From the Home Rule Municipal Service Occupation Tax Act…

Limitations: Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Municipality to impose a tax upon the privilege of engaging in any business which under the Constitution of the United States may not be made the subject of taxation by the State of Illinois.

* Also, even if the General Assembly gives its approval, future service taxes can be tricky here if they aren’t uniformly applied. From the Illinois State Bar Association…

In 1981, the ISBA, the Chicago Bar Association, and other plaintiffs sued Chicago, challenging the constitutionality of an ordinance that imposed a 1 percent tax on all purchased services. The ordinance exempted the commodities and securities businesses as well as all transactions on a futures or securities exchange for 10 years.

The Illinois Supreme Court held that the city’s tax was unconstitutional because it represented a tax on occupations. Commercial National Bank of Chicago v. City of Chicago, 89 Ill.2d 45, 70 (1982). The Illinois Constitution prohibits home rule units like Chicago from imposing an occupation tax without the authorization of the General Assembly.

The ISBA and the CBA also argued that the ordinance violated section 2 of Article 9 of the Illinois Constitution because it was not uniformly applied. The exemptions provided for the securities and exchange industry unfairly taxed attorneys, who provide services substantially similar to those provided by securities and exchange businesses. The Illinois Supreme Court agreed, holding that the distinction between attorneys and securities and exchange businesses was “wholly arbitrary and cannot be upheld.”

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Support House Bill 4781

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

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It’s just a bill

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

Lawmakers passed more than 200 bills this week ahead of their scheduled May 24 adjournment.

Many of the measures will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker, including a bill that changes how damages accrue under Illinois’ first-in-the-nation biometric data privacy law.

The Illinois House on Thursday approved Senate Bill 2979 with several Republicans joining supermajority Democrats in its passage. The Senate last month also OK’d the measure on a bipartisan vote.

The measure is a response to an Illinois Supreme Court ruling last year that “respectfully suggest(ed)” lawmakers clarify the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. That ruling found fast food chain White Castle violated BIPA each time its employees used their fingerprints in the course of performing their jobs, as the company never obtained permission under the law. […]

The legislation would change BIPA’s violation accrual so that each initial collection of a fingerprint or other biometric data would amount to one violation, rather than a violation occurring for each individual scan. Employees might scan their fingerprints dozens of times per shift if they’re unlocking doors or cabinets with those scans.

* SJ-R…

With unanimous support, two bill protecting artists from having their content stolen through the means of artificial intelligence passed in the Illinois Senate.

Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, led both bills — House Bill 4762 and House Bill 4875. Since they were amended in the Senate, both pieces of legislation will return to the House on a concurrence vote.

The former would order an artist to be represented by legal counsel or labor union when negotiating terms, thus avoiding the potential for a contractor to replace them with AI-generated content in the artist’s likeness. […]

HB 4875, on the other hand, would grant artists the right to seek legal action if their content is replicated without their consent.

* Covers…

Illinois lawmakers are giving serious thought to ensuring any skeeball betting stays nice and friendly, not part of someone’s business plan.

The gaming committee of the Illinois House of Representatives met Thursday and advanced legislation that will prohibit establishments like Dave & Buster’s from “facilitating wagering” on their games at their place of business.

The legislation would also ban a “family amusement establishment” from promoting gambling on its games, namely those that require inserting a coin or token to activate. […]

Didech claimed he had yet to hear any opposition to his legislation, which he suggested will still be tweaked before it goes for a full vote in the House. He mentioned Golden Tee and pool tournaments at bars as examples of what he does not want to see banned. […]

The gaming committee voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to House Bill 394 by a 15-0 margin. It was then reported to the House floor for further action.

* WICS…

A new bill is moving throughout the General Assembly that would protect forensic pathologists from being liable for civil lawsuits after government jobs.

Forensic pathologists help local governments determine what caused a person’s death. Some say they are liable for lawsuits for their opinion if there’s a mistrial or a conviction is overturned.

Currently, if a forensic pathologist gets sued over a government job, they are financially liable. This bill would require local governments to cover their legal fees. […]

If this bill passes, forensic pathologists would receive the same financial backing from local governments like coroners and police do during lawsuits. […]

The bill passed a Senate Committee with no opposition. It will now go to a vote on the senate floor.

* WTAX…

A lengthy, heated debate in the Illinois Senate Friday was about a bill requiring Illinois foster parents to have a “hair care plan” to assist in allowing the foster child’s hair to be worn in a way reflecting the child’s culture. State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) spoke against it.

“I think if we really want to help these children, we should give these same dollars – potential millions of dollars this is going to cost – to helping foster parents with extra help for tutoring or for counseling,” Syverson said, “so they learn what’s important, so they actually learn to read and write and do math. […]

State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) recalled his childhood in South Dakota, where Native American children were taken away.

“The first thing that was done is they cut their hair,” said Koehler. “Think about that. Think about the culture of the Native Americans and what their hair meant to them. This is a racial discussion, and I choose not to be racist. and I’m going to vote for this bill.” […]

HB 5097 has passed the Senate, 49-9, and goes to the House.

* Tribune…

Illinois lawmakers are considering several measures aimed at addressing the opioid overdose crisis and putting a greater emphasis on harm reduction, though some of the more controversial proposals with that approach have stalled.

With one week left in the legislature’s scheduled spring session, at least three bills addressing the crisis have passed through one chamber of the General Assembly.

One measure has the potential to broaden access to fentanyl test strips, expanding on legislation from last year that allowed the drug testing supplies to be sold over-the-counter and distributed by health departments. […]

The bipartisan bill, a product of work by an intern in the office of Democratic sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman, passed without any no votes in the Senate and in a House committee, and now awaits consideration by the full House.

* Shaw Local…

A proposed state law could mean that parents of babies born opioid-positive are not immediately reported to county state’s attorney’s offices. Instead, the decision to alert law enforcement would be discretionary and based on investigations by the Department of Children and Family Services.

Senate Bill 3136 has passed through the state Senate and awaits a final vote in the House before next week’s deadline of the General Assembly’s spring session. It would take effect Jan. 1.

Proponents have said the new law would help keep moms struggling with substance use disorder alive and keep families together. […]

The proposed change would mean that, should a baby be born opioid-positive, rather than reporting the mother to the state’s attorney’s office, DCFS would first conduct a full investigation and then make that determination, said Charles Golbert, the Cook County public guardian.

* WAND…

A plan heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk would improve access to Alzheimer’s treatment in Illinois.

The bill requires the State Employees Group Insurance Program to cover medically necessary FDA-approved treatments or medications to slow progression of the disease.

Senate Bill 3318 would also require coverage for diagnostic testing from doctors to determine the best treatment or medication. […]

The proposal passed unanimously out of the House Friday afternoon. It previously gained unanimous support in the Senate.

* WMBD…

Illinois doctors will soon no longer have to worry about prior authorizations when treating patients with blood clotting disorders.

Right now, doctors have to seek prior authorization to administer certain drugs or procedure to a patient. Prior authorization is a form of approval used by insurance companies to determine coverage of medications and procedures

House Bill 4055 would end prior authorization for FDA-approved medications for hereditary bleeding conditions for up to six months. The bipartisan bill passed the House and Senate unanimously.

“It’s part of the governor’s overall program to try to eliminate pre-existing conditions where they just don’t make any sense,” said State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria)

* WAND…

The Illinois Senate unanimously passed a plan Thursday to enhance the quality of public drinking water.

This proposal calls on the Illinois Department of Public Health to work with the Pollution Control Board to update drinking water standards to establish new limits on maximum levels of forever chemicals.

Senate Bill 727 would also require the Illinois EPA to bring together a group of environmental stakeholders within a year to identify any other contaminants or chemicals that should be regulated by the state. […]

The plan could also codify new rules issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that set the maximum contaminant levels on six forever chemicals.

* WGEM…

Daycare centers in Illinois may soon be able to operate 24 hours per day. The state House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Friday allowing daycares to operate 24 hours and provide care for children up to 12 hours at a time if their parent has a job requiring regularly scheduled shifts.

After 12 hours, there must be a 10-hour waiting period before the kid can return to the daycare center.

The bill’s sponsors, state Rep. Randy Frese, R-Quincy, and state Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, said the goal is to provide flexibility to shift workers. […]

The state Senate passed the bill unanimously on April 12. It now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.

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Musical interlude

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My brother Devin used an AI music app called Udio to create a song. His only inputs were “write a honky tonk song about Rich Miller of Capitol Fax.” Here’s what it came up with…

rich-miller · Springfield%20Chronicles%20ext%20v2

Hilarious and spooky at the same time.

20 Comments

Get it together, man

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Back in April, the executive director of the American Nurses Association Illinois, Susan Swart, told my associate Isabel Miller that advanced practice registered nurses are losing their jobs because of ongoing and severe state licensing delays.

Swart said some of those nurses are waiting “a year to 18 months” to get their licenses from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

“The nurses apply for [jobs] because they’re accepting this position, and [licensing] is taking so long, they’re losing positions,” Swart said.

And it’s not just nurses having problems getting state licenses.

Licensed social workers are not required to take an exam to obtain their state licenses. They self-report background issues, so they aren’t required to undergo state background checks. Their only real licensing requirement is to show they’ve obtained a master’s degree in social work.

And yet, the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation still takes three to four months to process license applications for LSWs, according to Kyle Hillman with the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The applications are “the easiest thing to review,” Hillman said. It’s basically a rubber-stamp operation.

Needless to say, these delays are completely unacceptable. The General Assembly passed legislation last year to give the IDFPR some breathing room on licensing renewals so it could focus its efforts on first-time licenses. And yet, here we (still) are.

In response to Hillman, an IDFPR spokesperson revealed the agency has only eight workers processing license applications for 80 health-related professions.

That’s an astoundingly low number of employees for the immense task they’re charged with tackling.

Eight?

For 80 health-related professions?

What the heck?

There are thousands upon untold thousands of people in licensed health-related professions here. No wonder people have to wait months on end for their license approvals.

Up until that response, IDFPR would only say the agency was “under-staffed” when groups like the National Association of Social Workers tried to find out how many employees it had assigned to process applications. Now those groups know, and they’re not happy.

The IDFPR also previously refused to tell the NASW if it was separately processing the no-brainer licensed social worker applications to speed things along. But the agency’s statement admitted the social worker apps were in the big pile, along with all the other health-related professions.

That makes no sense. Take a few days and get the easy stuff out of the way, for crying out loud.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has talked a good game about workforce development. But it does no good to help train and attract nurses, social workers and a host of other much-needed professionals if his licensing agency can’t even figure out how to deal with fruit that is literally sitting on the ground, let alone the low-hanging variety.

The IDFPR spokesperson claimed the licensed social worker processing time is down 60% from eight months ago. But it’s still a ridiculously long wait.

Pritzker’s proposed state budget includes money “for the procurement of a new licensing system” for IDFPR, but that project is way behind schedule.

Last year, the legislature gave IDFPR three months to build a new computer software system and have that system up and running in three months. Well, the department is now at its deadline to have the system running, but it hasn’t yet even finished the procurement process to buy the software.

And the governor’s proposed budget would only increase IDFPR’s headcount by a mere 28 people across the department’s four divisions (after significant hiring this fiscal year).

Meanwhile, a February report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute’s “The Illinois Update” revealed that more than half of Illinois registered nurses are over the age of 55, and one-third say they plan to leave the profession within 12 months. As a result, the report said Illinois “is projected to see an RN shortage of 15,000 by 2025.”

Last week, the General Assembly passed legislation (HB5047) that would extend the time period that license-pending practical nurses and license-pending registered nurses could work to six months, up from three, before their employment is terminated. But even that may not be enough time for IDFPR.

According to the governor’s proposed budget, the number of licensed professionals outside of cannabis is expected to be 1.35 million people by the end of next fiscal year. But that relies on the state getting its act together.

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Passing HB5395 Will Put Critical Healthcare Decisions In Hands Of Patients And Their Doctors, Not Insurance Companies

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

With this bill, we’re putting power back in the hands of doctors and patients. Gov. Pritzker’s Healthcare Protection Act (HB5395) will curb predatory insurance practices and help Illinoisans access reliable, timely health care by dismantling profit-focused barriers to care. Insurance companies want to deny claims and cut corners to keep their costs down at the expense of patients. Passing this bill is a critical step to removing barriers to mental health and substance use disorder care in Illinois. The HPA would ban prior authorizations for inpatient mental health care to ensure children and adults experiencing crises can undergo safe, effective, and timely treatment. Illinois healthcare providers are aligned that “HB5395 will help us more effectively address behavioral health needs in the right setting at the right time.”

Illinoisans deserve reliable and safe mental health care without jumping over insurance company hurdles. Join Inseparable in supporting the Healthcare Protection Act. Vote Yes on HB5395!

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Open thread

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: ‘Only so much to go around’: Spending demands mount as Illinois lawmakers craft budget. SJ-R…

* Related stories…

∙ State Week: An Illinois budget showdown looms as session adjournment nears
∙ Tribune: Lawmakers set to wrangle over tax hikes, insurance reforms in final days of session

Governor Pritzker will give remarks at the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony at 1 pm. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | 3 women allege grooming, sexual misconduct by former high school teacher and coach: A Tribune review of Till’s case as revealed through public documents and interviews shows multiple missed opportunities by school administrators and teachers to investigate signs of alleged misconduct by the teacher and coach, beginning with Crawford’s complaint in 2002. State law requires school staff to report immediately when “they have reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacities” may have been abused.

* WCIA | IDFPR misses deadline to procure new professional licensing system: In the past, the agency has cited their outdated licensing system for delays. To address that, Governor Pritzker signed legislation in December giving the agency ninety days to enter a contract with a vendor to obtain a new one. But that deadline has come and gone. “I obviously am disappointed that we have not yet had a contract inked with regards to getting this processing system up and running so that we can start to dramatically reduce these wait times,” State Rep. Bob Morgan, (D-Deerfield), who sponsored the legislation allowing the agency to procure a new system, said.

* Tribune | Attorney general probing Cook County Health Foundation spending: The request from the AG’s Charitable Trust Bureau earlier this month follows Tribune reporting last month about a potential conflict of interest and spending issues at the nonprofit foundation while it was pursuing an expanded partnership with the county’s public health system. In the process, foundation leaders spent nearly $80,000, entered into contracts and hired attorneys with ties to one of the board’s leaders, at times without the rest of the board’s approval, according to a memo prepared for the board by the law firm Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila.

*** Statewide ***

* Tribune | Law enforcement leaders eye therapy dogs as potential boost to officer mental health: The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, which manages professional development and quality control for police departments across the state, recently acquired its first therapy dog. Board Chair Sean Smoot said he’d witnessed how animal therapy helped officers in other big-city departments such as Baltimore after they’d responded to traumatic incidents and hopes the board’s program will have a similar impact.

* Tribune | Landfill study shows flawed detection methods, higher methane emissions in Illinois, other states: Released Thursday by the environmental nonprofit Industrious Labs, the study is the most recent of several reports that show landfill operators are likely understating their annual emissions to the federal government as major methane leaks go unnoticed. A Harvard study using satellite data released earlier this month found emissions at landfills across the country in 2019 were 51% higher than EPA estimates for that year. A study published in March in the journal Science used airborne surveys and found emissions between 2016 and 2022 to be even higher.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Miscommunication in migrant shelters leads to confusion and worry : When city officials announced the looming eviction day, it set off a wave of worry and panic among people living in the shelters. Many come with little means, can’t work legally, don’t have family in Chicago and don’t know where to go. Dozens of migrants interviewed by the Tribune at four migrant shelters around the city say they are unclear about where they will live and what will happen to them on the day of the deadline.

* NYT | Protesters Stormed an Ex-Senator’s Office and Demanded She Leave. She Refused: Ms. Heitkamp, the director of the institute and the only staff member left in the building, refused to go, slowing what had apparently been an effort to take over the building, the latest tactic in demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war that have taken place on the University of Chicago campus and across the country. “They desperately wanted me out,” Ms. Heitkamp recalled. “I told them, ‘I’m not going to leave. This is our building.’ And I planted my feet.” She added, “I’m a stubborn old woman.”Ms. Heitkamp, who represented North Dakota as a Democrat in the Senate, said she tried to engage in a dialogue with the protesters about their goals and why they had targeted the institute, even as she heard others smashing furniture in other rooms. “I was trying to find common ground,” she said. “They kept saying, ‘Aren’t you worried about your safety?’” The confrontation ended, she said, when campus police officers suddenly arrived and some protesters, who had brought a supply of bagels and water to last for an extended period, fled out of windows.

* Sun-Times | Bears season-ticket holders feel blitzed by steep price increases: Bears fan Mike P. from Downers Grove loves his season tickets in section 320 at Soldier Field, but this season, the cost to attend a game has jumped by nearly 50% for him to watch from the same spot he has sat in for years. “I gotta be honest with you, I wasn’t happy,” said Mike.

* Block Club | Maxwell Street Market Moving To ‘Original Home’ After 15 Years In South Loop: City officials are moving the famed Maxwell Street Market back to where it began near the University of Illinois Chicago and away from a Downtown landing zone for migrants arriving in the city. The open-air market at Desplaines and Polk streets will relocate to Maxwell Street between Halsted Street and Union Avenue near UIC; vendors will also be located on Union Avenue between Rochford and Liberty streets. The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced the news Thursday.

* Tribune | Tribune press operators say goodbye to an era as Freedom Center makes its final run: On Saturday, the Freedom Center printed its final edition of the Chicago Tribune before facing a demolition deadline and planned redevelopment into a casino. Tribune Publishing is shifting printing operations to the northwest suburban Daily Herald plant, which it purchased in May 2023. For dozens of production workers, some of whom spent decades tending to 10 massive Goss Metroliner offset presses churning out upward of a million copies of the Tribune and other newspapers each day, their Freedom Center career was filled with sacrifice, camaraderie and by its nature, countless sleepless nights.

* NBC Chicago | Museum of Science and Industry debuts new name in honor of Ken Griffin’s donation: Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry officially changed its name to the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in acknowledgment of a record donation by the billionaire Illinois businessman. Signs on the museum’s grounds in Hyde Park reflected the new name, as did its website and account on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. To celebrate, visitors were granted free admission on Sunday.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Shaw Local | Joliet attorney raises constitutional challenge to Illinois civil forfeiture: A Joliet attorney seeks to have an Illinois civil forfeiture law declared unconstitutional under claims that Will County prosecutors are profiting from seized property belonging to people who’ve committed no crimes. The case that led attorney Frank Andreano to request a judge to declare civil asset state forfeiture law unconstitutional involves Almeda Cain, 84, of Richton Park, who owns a 2014 Mazda SUV. […] “They’re taking property away from people who’ve committed no crime,” said Andreano, who said he plans to take Cain’s case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

* Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Sade Robinson’s mom wants Waukegan alderman “reprimanded” for social media post: Family members grieving the murder of Sade Robinson were disgusted to see a social media post from a Waukegan alderman that included a photograph of a human arm found on the Illinois shoreline, Robinson’s mother Sheena Scarbrough told the Journal Sentinel. “I respectfully want him held accountable,” Scarbrough said in reference to Waukegan Alderman Keith Turner. “I want him reprimanded.” She voiced frustration that a “professional person” would post something like that.

* Aurora Beacon-News | After estimates say city lost population, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin says he is ‘thoroughly disgusted’ with U.S. Census Bureau: Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said Friday he is “thoroughly disgusted and ultimately dismayed with the U.S. Census Bureau” and its population estimates through the past three years. “The gravity of this situation” cannot be overstated, he said. “I am calling on the U.S. Census Bureau to be a more responsible and professional partner in this process.”

* WTTW | ‘We Were Not Dropping Acid’: The Story Behind the Making of DuPage Forest Preserve’s Viral Cicada Video: The brainchild of staff at the DuPage County forest preserves, this video has nabbed hundreds of thousands of views, tens of thousands of shares and comments, and caught the attention of a certain late-night TV talk show host (more on that in a minute). If you haven’t seen it yet, we’re jealous you get to experience this wonderful weirdness for the first time. Click play, and then read on as Jonathan Mullen, the fellow behind the camera, shares the backstory of this quirky creation.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | Nearly 8,500 Springfield kids eligible for new food assistance program. What to know: A new federally-funded program granting food assistance to families with school children will have major local ramifications, District 186 School Superintendent Jennifer Gill says. State and federal officials announced the approval of the state’s Summer EBT program by the United States Department of Agriculture on May 15, now providing a one-time issuance of $120 per child benefit during the summer months. The program is described as the “first of its kind” in more than 50 years.

* WLOS | Bigfoot legend alive and well at Marion’s 5th WNC Bigfoot Festival: “The best part of the festival is always going to be the food. The vendors here are great, right?” said David Martin, content creator, Squatch Watchers. “The barbeque right behind me is to die for. The food brings me out here but the best part is the interactions with the fans.” “People these days? They talk about it. They are shows on TV that are talking about it. ‘Finding Bigfoot’ did a lot for that, ‘Expedition Bigfoot’ did a lot for that… people come forward to talk about it,” said Rick Reles, vendor.

* News-Gazette | Paxton showing how to revitalize a downtown: Donna Pepper, executive director of Paxton Main Street, perhaps put it best: “For Paxton, it has just fallen together perfectly.” The cooks in this creation are Paxton city government led by Mayor Bill Ingold; investors/developers John and Jeff Grove, as well as Alan Meyer, Casey Blakey and Scott Harden; and numerous business owners who take pride in their properties. Building improvements totaling $3.4 million have been made, according to Pepper, with more than 80 jobs created/retained.

* Rouley & Ruey | Morel Mushroom Hunt: Once a year, for just three to six weeks, morel mushrooms appear, flourish and then quickly disappear in wooded and not-so-wooded areas from southern to northern Illinois. These delectable and rare edible fungi have an earthy, nutty flavor and are highly valued by chefs and everyday cooks nationwide. But finding these delicate mushrooms is the real fun for morel hunters from the east coast to the Midwest, where they’re most plentiful. Passionate morel hunters get out, mesh bags in hand, at the first sign of mushrooms in their area. They keep their favorite spots a secret, compare successes, use pronouns to refer to mushrooms and exchange recipes and hunting stories as the season hits its peak. Call it a short frenzy of morel madness.

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Get The Facts On The Illinois Prescription Drug Board

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

The price-setting board proposed in HB4472 is not the solution for Illinois. It would give bureaucrats the power to arbitrarily set medicine prices, deciding what medicines and treatments are “worth” paying for. We can’t leave Illinoisans’ health care up to political whims. Let’s make it easier, not harder for patients to access their medicines. Click here to learn more.

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

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Monday, May 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich 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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