Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » 2025

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* AFSCME Local 2858, Alliance for Community Services…

Department of Human Services (DHS) workers and consumers at the Lincolnwood Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC, aka ‘public aid’) are speaking out against dangerous conditions, violations of consumer privacy, and management’s failure to uphold contractual agreements. These issues have remained unresolved even after repeated complaints.

The office has several safety hazards, caseworkers are forced to conduct interviews in areas near the entrance of the building or at their desks, blocking aisles, creating fire hazards, and creating privacy violations. Workers also raise concerns about poor air quality and water safety but management has failed to respond adequately. Additionally, management has repeatedly mishandled contractual remote work agreements with employees, increasing risks of contracting infectious diseases. These incidents are part of a pattern of mistreatment that has worsened since the office’s relocation and renaming. […]

An alarming concern is the violation of consumer privacy. “In many instances, caseworkers are asked to violate clients’ HIPAA and PIPA rights by interviewing them in areas where their information is not safe: people can walk by, look in, or even just listen into conversations and potentially steal sensitive client information,” workers stated in a letter.

Workers are calling on the public to take action by reaching out to local politicians, filing complaints with the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), and joining in the effort to pressure DHS management to improve services and conditions at their offices.

* Illinois State Rifle Association…

The Illinois State Rifle Association vigorously supports House Bill 1611, which, as amended, prohibits law enforcement from entering a home “without knocking and announcing their office.”

There have been a number of cases where errors have been made, and the wrong homes have been targeted. And for any law-abiding gun owner, if someone is smashing through your door or window in the middle of the night, or early in the morning – your first instinct is to grab your firearm because you have reason to believe this is a home invasion.

“No knock” warrants place law enforcement and ordinary law-abiding citizens in grave danger. Mistakes are made all the time – and sadly, innocent people have been killed because of them.

Save lives and join us in supporting HB 1611.

*** Statehouse News ***

* The Nation | Democratic Donors Packed the House for an “Actual Billionaire”: Pritzker, to his credit, began his remarks by subtly disavowing the banner under which CAP had called him forth. “I did not see that the title of my talk was a better way forward,” he said. “I think about that and I think the only way out is through.” His comments were gratifyingly plainspoken, in contrast to both the event’s confusing forward-speak, and the party’s broader propensity, in these days of untrammeled reaction, to be terrified by its own shadow. Pritzker spoke of how “Elon Musk and his fellow DOGE bags” are “ intentionally dismantling” the bulwarks of government and “giving themselves the authority to rebuild it in their own interests.” He spoke candidly of the leering cruelty of the Trump White House’s deportation raids and the DOGE assault on governance. “People’s lives are a game to them,” Pritzker said of “the memelords and minions of the White House.”

* Tribune | Bill aimed at bolstering county public defender system moves forward in Springfield: It’s the first time the bill, dubbed by advocates as the Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation bill, or FAIR Act, has moved forward since a version was introduced last year by Democratic Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park. But lawmakers in favor of the bill, which is primarily geared toward rural counties, acknowledged it still needs some changes before advancing through the legislative process.

* Tribune | After testimony from Anjanette Young, state lawmakers move bill aimed at tightening rules on search warrants: Six years after Chicago police officers wrongfully searched the home of social worker Anjanette Young, she told state lawmakers about the trauma she experienced in testimony on legislation that would essentially bar no-knock search warrants in the state. “I pray that none of you never have that experience because my story now includes experiencing PTSD, depression and fear of the very people who were sworn to protect and serve,” Young told Illinois lawmakers on Tuesday. “My story now includes the sheer panic when a police officer pulls me over for a routine stop. These are not normal interactions that any resident should have, however, these are real life events that happened to me since 2019.”

*** Statewide ***

* WAND | Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois celebrates Social Work Month, calls for more social workers: LCFS said the demand for social workers continues to rise. Lori Lynch, an adoption worker with LCFS, has been with the organization for over two decades. She says more social workers are needed to meet the growing needs of families in Illinois. “We are always looking to hire in all of our different programs—foster care, counselors. There is a great need.”

*** Chicago ***

* Block Club | Rohingya Refugees’ Dreams Of Family Reunification Shattered With Trump’s Resettlement Freeze: Trump’s administration’s refugee suspension and aid cuts have prompted Jabbar to think about his immigration journey. He fled military persecution in the violence-stricken region of Rakhine in 1996. He spent years without legal status in Malaysia, enduring constant fear of arrest. “Without documents, life was a constant struggle,” he said. “You could be detained at any moment.” After 16 years of uncertainty, he resettled in Chicago in 2012. He worked in a restaurant while learning English, but his dreams of earning a degree were put on hold. “I’m the only son in my family. I had to work to support my mother and sister,” he said

* Block Club | CTA Promises Better, Faster Blue Line Service At Night For Spring Schedule: But the larger improvements are planned for the Blue Line to Forest Park. That line will schedule 30 extra trips on weekdays, 17 more trips Saturdays and two new trips Sundays. That should shrink wait times for Blue Line Forest Park trains from 15 minutes to seven and a half minutes for service 6:30 p.m.-midnight weekdays and 9 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, according to the CTA.

* Tribune | Would you let a robot draw your blood? Northwestern among health systems trying new device: “With this device they never see the needle and and they never see or experience or feel the blood tubes being changed,” Gerberich said. “That really helps with those types of patients that are ordinarily squeamish.” The Aletta has a 95% success rate when it comes to drawing usable blood on the first attempt, and the machine can be especially useful for patients who might otherwise be difficult to successfully stick, according to the company.

* Crain’s | Cigna, Blue Cross Illinois parent close $3.3 billion Medicare deal: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois parent Health Care Service Corp. has closed its $3.3 billion purchase of Cigna’s Medicare operations, the companies announced Wednesday. The deal, which includes Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medicare supplement assets along with the CareAllies consulting unit, quadruples Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp.’s Medicare Advantage membership to about 800,000 and closes the book on Cigna’s Medicare plan business.

* Tribune | Ex-Augusta National employee who stole Arnold Palmer’s green jacket to be sentenced in Chicago: A former warehouse worker at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia found golf legend Arnold Palmer’s 1958 Masters green jacket in a box of items errantly marked for destruction and sold it to a Florida memorabilia collector for $50,000, defense lawyers say. Years later, that same jacket was tracked by the FBI to a stately home in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, where the latest owner was looking to sell. The price by then was almost $4 million, court records show. The new details were revealed as the former employee, Richard Brendan Globensky, is set to be sentenced Wednesday in Chicago for a 13-year scheme to illegally fence more than $5 million worth of Masters Tournament memorabilia.

* WTTW | Weather Whiplash With Rain, Thunderstorms, Snow and Dusty Skies on Wednesday and Thursday: On Wednesday and Thursday, the forecast for Chicago includes a chance of almost anything and everything: rain, thunderstorms, wind and even snow. According to the National Weather Service, the threat of thunderstorms runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the greatest chance of tornadoes being south of I-88.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Press Release | Governor JB Pritzker Endorses Mayor Daniel Biss for Re-election : “I’m proud to endorse Daniel Biss for re-election as Mayor of Evanston. Daniel is a friend, a colleague, and has been a partner to me in fighting for working families. He has a long track record of standing up for Evanstonians and a real record of results for the community,” said Governor Pritzker. “These are trying times and we need leaders at every level of government to stand up and fight back against the constant threats from Donald Trump. Daniel has done just that, all while passing policies that have moved Evanston forward. Daniel and I have worked together on issues big and small facing Evanston. I’m thrilled to support him for re-election and continue that work, ” said Governor JB Pritzker

* Naperville Sun | ‘Tesla Takedown DuPage’ protest draws hundreds to Lisle: ‘We’re in a full-on constitutional crisis’: Carrying homemade signs that read “Send Elon to Mars on a Starship rocket” and “This Musk stop,” people lined the sidewalk in front and on either side of the 3200 Ogden Ave. business as they shouted chants like “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go” and “Love, not hate, makes America great.” Several area organizations teamed up to stage the “Tesla Takedown DuPage” event, including the Democratic Party of DuPage County, Democratic Women of DuPage County, Indivisible Illinois, Indivisible Batavia Aurora Area, Indivisible DuPage, Indivisible Naperville and Indivisible West Suburban Chicago.

* Daily Herald | ‘Stay away’: Judge orders accused Tesla vandal to keep off company’s property: During a hearing at the county courthouse in Rolling Meadows, Judge Ellen Mandeltort also warned Erin L. White that she will be jailed if she violates those and other conditions of her release. White is charged with criminal damage to property, a Class 4 felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespass to property stemming from an estimated $9,000 in damage done last week to the Tesla facility on the 900 block of Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove.

* Daily Herald | ‘I can’t wait’: Des Plaines City Council approves incentives, development deal for new downtown restaurant: Aldermen on Monday unanimously agreed to lend the two limited liability companies behind the project — Miner Street Station and D-4 of Des Plaines — $3.6 million to help pay for construction. Up to $1.2 million of the loan will be forgiven when the final occupancy certificate for the restaurant is issued, documents indicate. Ownership partners include the operator of Park Ridge’s Harp and Fiddle restaurant. Although “Harp & Fiddle” appear on an architectural rendering for the proposed building, the name and theme of the proposed eatery haven’t been revealed.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | Restart of instruction at Neoga schools postponed to March 26 following tornado: Superintendent Kevin Haarman posted, “After a thorough evaluation by architects and engineers of both the Jr/Sr High School and Elementary School buildings, we have determined that additional measures are necessary to ensure a safe teaching and learning environment for our students and staff.”

* WSIL | St. John’s to Rebuild After Devastating EF-2 Tornado: A terrifying night unfolded for residents of St. John’s, Illinois, as a powerful EF-2 tornado ripped through the area, leaving behind a trail of destruction. In just minutes, homes were leveled, businesses were torn apart, and lives were upended. But as residents begin picking up the pieces, one thing remains clear, community strength is at the foundation of recovery. The storm tore through with winds over 130 miles per hour, reducing structures to rubble and tossing debris across neighborhoods. At one local business, most of the roof was ripped away, leaving remnants scattered in nearby trees. A trampoline dangled over a utility line, and in one field, the entire contents of a home were strewn as far as the eye could see.

* Pantagraph | Home Sweet Home Ministries proposes 56-bed ’shelter village’ for homeless: During a special session on Monday, the City Council heard a presentation from Home Sweet Home Ministries about the proposed community concept, which has already been used in more than 100 cities nationwide. Matt Burgess, CEO of Home Sweet Home Ministries, said the cabins would be about 80 to 100 square feet and would be just big enough for a bed, desk, dresser space for clothing and other amenities. They would have electricity and also be climate controlled over the summer and winter.

* WIFR | Bleed for Weed blood drive coming to Freeport: After successfully giving blood, donors will receive a voucher for an eighth flower or an edible product of the dispensary’s choice. Donors can redeem the voucher at Lyfe Dispensary in Rockford. In addition to the voucher, free t-shirts will be handed out while supplies last.

* WCIA | Illini seniors looking to make noise in return to NCAA Tournament: First time, we was like kids in a candy store,” senior guard Genesis Bryant said. “We were just happy to be there, just to experience that scene, but I think now we have some maturity under our belt and for seniors, this our last year… so we don’t have a next year in college basketball… so I think just bringing that desire and that passion and also just the intensity of knowing like, we’ve been here before.”

* WSIL | John A. Logan College students work with Habitat for Humanity to build a local home: Arthur Zaitz, a board member with Jackson Union Habitat for Humanity, mentioned that they typically build about one home each year. This year, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home will include laundry facilities and a new kitchen. The home will be offered to a selected family for close to Habitat for Humanity’s costs after building and financing.

*** National ***

* Start Cities Dive | Up to $51B in transportation grant awards at risk, advocacy group says: The memo cites presidential executive orders and a previous order and memorandum by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that orders agency administrators to identify and eliminate rules, regulations and funding agreements that include or reference climate change, racial equity or environmental justice among other criteria. On March 10, Duffy announced in a press release the rescission of two Biden-era memoranda. These included policies aimed at improving road safety, making streets and transportation infrastructure accessible to those with disabilities, and fostering renewable energy and electric vehicle charging stations. The latest DOT policy memo targets bicycle infrastructure as well.

* NYT | Kennedy’s Alarming Prescription for Bird Flu on Poultry Farms: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, has an unorthodox idea for tackling the bird flu bedeviling U.S. poultry farms. Let the virus rip. Instead of culling birds when the infection is discovered, farmers “should consider maybe the possibility of letting it run through the flock so that we can identify the birds, and preserve the birds, that are immune to it,” Mr. Kennedy said recently on Fox News.

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RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail creates more jobs in Illinois than any other private sector employer, with one out of every four workers employed by the retail sector. Importantly, retail is an industry in which everyone, regardless of credentials, can find a viable career path.

Retailers like the Mikol family enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.

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A couple of programming notes

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

1) As I write this, Feedwind is down. The site supplies our RSS feeds on the right-hand side of the page. I’ve reached out to ask when they expect to be up and running again. Thanks for your patience.

2) I’ve seen a big uptick in the number of anonymous comments lately. Y’all need to take two seconds to come up with a screen name, or you’ll be deleted no matter how insightful your comment may be (although, anons are usually the opposite of that). Stop wasting our time. Thanks.

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Number of state workers busted by OEIG for alleged Paycheck Protection Program abuse/fraud rises to above 100

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Executive Ethics Commission today released a new batch of investigative reports issued by the state’s Executive Inspectors General. Click here. All but two of the 39 reports had to do with the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which was designed to help small businesses weather the international pandemic storm by lending them money to pay for payroll and operating costs. Many were eligible for loan forgiveness. 403 state employees have been dinged for violations since the OEIG began investigating the misuse of the program.

According to a search of the Ethics Commission’s website, 402 investigations into the PPP program have been reported so far.

…Adding… The commission says the actual number is 107, not 402.

* Excerpts from one such report…

The OEIG located public records from the SBA showing that Ms. Pickering received a PPP loan for a sole proprietorship for $20,829 in April 2021. The OEIG subpoenaed loan documents from the lender, which included a PPP “Borrower Application Form Revised March 18, 2021” signed in Ms. Pickering’s name and dated April 23, 2021. The “Self-employed individual” box was checked on the application, the Business Legal Name was “Michelle Pickering,” the year of establishment was listed as January 1, 2018, Ms. Pickering was identified as the sole employee, and the business was categorized under a code for “Taxi and Ridesharing Services.” The loan application contained various certifications, all reflecting the initials “MP,” which included a statement that the applicant “was in operation on February 15, 2020 and had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes or paid independent contractors”; a statement that the funds would be used as authorized by PPP rules; and a statement that information provided in the application and supporting documentation was “true and accurate in all material respects.”

The loan application listed the gross income amount for tax year 2020 as $99,980. That figure was used to calculate the loan amount of $20,829 (intended to cover a period up to 2.5 months). A 2020 Schedule C Profit or Loss From Business form for a “ride sharing, taxi, and limousne [sic] services” business with Ms. Pickering listed as the proprietor, which listed gross income of $99,980 and various expenses totaling $3,600, was submitted with the loan application. […]

The OEIG also obtained and reviewed the DHS personnel file for Ms. Pickering, which contained Reports of Secondary Employment submitted in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The form submitted in 2019 reported that Ms. Pickering worked as a “caregiver” for a company called RAH outside her DHS work hours. None of the other forms documented that she had reported any secondary employment. […]

On August 30, 2023, the OEIG interviewed Michelle Pickering. Ms. Pickering said that since working at DHS she has not owned a business or had any secondary employment or any other forms of income outside of her State employment. […]

Ms. Pickering denied ever owning or operating any business and ever being self-employed. Ms. Pickering also claimed that she had not applied for any loans for any businesses. When shown the PPP loan application in her name during the interview, Ms. Pickering claimed that she had not seen it before and did not fill it out, but said it had been submitted by Individual A. Ms. Pickering claimed that while she was shopping at a grocery store she came across Individual A talking to another person about obtaining a loan to start a business. Ms. Pickering claimed that at that time she was thinking about starting her own business, and Individual A told her that Individual A could obtain funding for Ms. Pickering to start her own business.

Ms. Pickering said that she had never owned a taxi or ridesharing business. However, Ms. Pickering claimed that she considered opening a business by making deliveries for warehouses called DWR. Ms. Pickering said she has a [redacted] and can only drive for approximately 10 minutes at a time, so she would have someone else do the driving for her business. Ms. Pickering claimed she never provided Individual A with her business idea or possible business name. Ms. Pickering confirmed she only had an idea for starting a business and it was never in operation or earned any money.

Ms. Pickering confirmed she gave Individual A all her personal information while at the grocery store, including her State ID, Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, email address, and bank account information. Ms. Pickering claimed that she only had that one interaction at the grocery store with Individual A, and she never obtained any contact information for Individual A or ever met or spoke with Individual A again. […]

Ms. Pickering admitted that none of the information on the loan application and associated documents, aside from her personal information, was true and accurate, and that her receipt of the PPP loan funds was a violation of State ethics rules.

This third party claim is a common refrain in the reports.

* Conclusion…

Regardless of the ease of procuring these PPP funds, this was not free money for the taking. These loans, as with any other, required truthful information as a basis for approval. State employees are expected, at minimum, to maintain the public’s trust and confidence. Misappropriating such funds is far from being ethical, professional, acting with integrity, or conducting oneself in a manner that reflects favorably upon the State. Accordingly, the OEIG recommends that DHS terminate Michelle Pickering.

Pickering is not listed on the current state employee database.

* Some of these folks are being prosecuted. From a few days ago…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced today his office obtained a guilty plea in a case against a Chicago man who fraudulently received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan totaling approximately $14,582 while employed by the Illinois State Police (ISP).

The Attorney General’s office prosecuted Ravonn Hankins, 34, who pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a Class 2 felony. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Mariano R. Reyna sentenced Hankins on Thursday to two years of second chance probation and 30 hours of community service. Hankins has also paid $14,582 in restitution.

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Homeschoolers descend on Springfield by the thousands to protest regulatory bill (Updated x2)

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Homeschooling advocates were already at the Statehouse at 6:30 this morning…

One of the larger crowds I’ve seen in Springfield as thousands of homeschool families ask lawmakers to oppose legislation in committee today that adds more regulation to homeschooling. People covering every part of the Capitol #twill pic.twitter.com/tBno6uD58b

— Ben Szalinski (@BenSzalinski) March 19, 2025

“We farm. Having the kids be a part of the farm and our business allows them to have a better education. Why does Illinois feel like they can educate our children better than us?” #ProtectHomeschoolFreedom #twill https://t.co/uwNuN0GtXd pic.twitter.com/WvhJdD3mF5

— ILHouseGOP (@ilhousegop) March 19, 2025

ABATE and others are also in town today, so that crowd wasn’t completely homeschoolers.

* Some folks have pointed to problems in public schools with teachers being regularly busted for child sexual abuse as a reason why the state should get its own house in order before sticking its nose into homeschooling. But the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), had this response…

A comment that was made earlier about educator misconduct in our schools I found kind of interesting because those rules that we have in our schools for somebody who’s been convicted of a prohibitive offense, like a sex offense - those don’t apply to homeschool families.

So you guys are all okay that anybody who has that conviction, that’s okay for them to be homeschool parents. Talk about a level of protection that is missing on children. Again, that is a huge level of protection that is not on a child, none of those things that would prohibit an individual from being even in our school around kids, that doesn’t apply to homeschool families and homeschoolers, because there are zero protections here in the state of Illinois.

The bill passed committee with one Democrat, Rep. Fred Crespo, voting “Present” and all Republicans voting against it. It now goes to the floor, but has an uncertain future.

…Adding… House Republicans…

Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie strongly opposed HB2827, a bill that adds unnecessary regulations on homeschooling families in Illinois. The legislation was presented today in the House Education Policy Committee and advanced to the House Floor for further consideration. Following the committee hearing, Leader McCombie issued the following statement:

“Today, the Democrat majority silenced over 35,000 advocates who oppose this misguided legislation—a blatant disservice to Illinois families that must not be ignored.”

“With the serious challenges facing our state, lawmakers should be addressing real problems, not creating solutions for issues that don’t exist. HB2827 is nothing more than a strategic push for more government control, doing nothing to tackle the true root issues plaguing public education.”

…Adding… ILGOP…

Today, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement following the House Education Policy Committee’s passing of HB2827.

“Let’s be clear about what The Homeschool Act really is – a disgusting attempt by Illinois Democrats to take away parents’ rights to homeschool their children and insert the government into our day-to-day lives. Politicians in Springfield have no right to tell parents how to teach our children and the ILGOP and 40,000 families who filed witness slips will continue to fight tooth and nail to stop these draconian policies and attempts to diminish parental rights.”

* AFP-IL Launches Campaign Opposing Regulations on Homeschooling: Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-Illinois) is launching a statewide video campaign urging Illinoisans to contact their lawmakers and demand they reject HB2827, the Homeschool Act.

* Illinois parents, lawmakers sound alarm over proposed homeschooling bill: ‘Direct assault on families’: Some left-leaning politicians have also voiced concerns about HB2827. Illinois state representative La Shawn Ford, a Democrat, told local outlet The Center Square that he’s “not for it.” “From the constituents that I’ve gotten calls from, I’m understanding why they don’t like it,” Ford is quoted as saying. “The loss of their autonomy, that’s a major concern that they lose the autonomy over their children, which is why they choose homeschooling. They want to have control over their children’s education, including the curriculum, how they teach and the philosophy.”

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Civic Federation, CMAP, IEPI and CTBA all call for expanding sales tax to some services to raise $2 billion

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Civic Federation, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability have released a report calling for the expansion of the sales tax to some services…

As the State of Illinois’ second largest revenue source, the sales tax is a critical tool that supports government operations and public services throughout the state. First implemented in the 1930s, Illinois’ antiquated sales tax structure still primarily taxes goods rather than services. Due to this narrow tax base — which does not reflect the modern, service-oriented economy — the sales tax is falling short. Illinois needs a more strategic and sustainable fiscal structure that delivers consistent and reliable revenue growth, efficient spending, and economic competitiveness.

The time has come to fundamentally modernize the sales tax in Illinois to better reflect a 21st century economy. Applying the sales tax to consumer services would help secure Illinois’ financial future and its ability to meet residents’ needs by supporting critical public services, reducing tax inequities, and enhancing fiscal stability

* From the press release…

• Illinois’ sales tax structure is outdated. The current tax system primarily taxes goods, even though consumer spending has shifted significantly toward services over the past several decades. Illinois taxes only 29 out of 176 consumer services, far fewer than most neighboring states.

• Modernization would promote more tax fairness. High-income households spend five times more on untaxed services than low-income households, creating an unfair system. Illinois’ current system also gives preferential treatment to service-oriented business over retail firms. Expanding the tax base to include services would help correct this imbalance.

• New revenue would help support critical services. Expanding the sales tax to include consumer services could generate nearly $2 billion annually for the state, with additional funds flowing to local governments and public transit agencies.

* Exemptions and other items of concern…

▶ A service tax should be imposed on a broad set of consumer services to comply with the Illinois Constitution’s uniformity clause, which requires that taxes be consistently applied, with reasonable exemptions.

▶ Any economically efficient plan to tax consumer services should include two important exemptions to support the state’s households and businesses:

▷ Essential services like housing, healthcare, and childcare that are generally not classified as volitional consumption should be excluded from any tax on consumer services. Taxing these transactions could cause significant disruptions for households of all incomes and would be contrary to the state’s broader policy objectives.
▷ Services purchased by businesses as an input into products later offered for sale should also be excluded. These business-to-business (B2B) transactions, which include services like accounting and legal support, are considered intermediate inputs that help create products that will be taxed when sold to the final consumer. Taxing these transactions would lead to tax pyramiding — an economically inefficient approach that results in uneven and inconsistent effective tax rates. Taxing B2B services would also damage Illinois-based businesses’ ability to compete with peers in other states.

▶ To address existing taxes on services, the General Assembly should work with local governments to transition their existing service taxes (such as Chicago’s tax on streaming services) and avoid double-taxation by multiple units of government. The state can ensure local taxing jurisdictions, including communities with existing service taxes, benefit from sales tax modernization by guaranteeing that any expansion of the state sales tax base is fully reflected at the local level.

▶ As part of an expansion of the sales tax base, taxing jurisdictions should consider potential adjustments to their current rates, with the goal of maximizing revenue while decreasing overall tax burden on consumers.

* Where they’d like to see the new money go…

▷ Addressing the $770 million public transit funding deficit estimated by the RTA and total $1.5 billion needed annually to enable significant improvements to the transit system in northeastern Illinois;
▷ Paying down Illinois’ $144 billion in unfunded pension obligations;
▷ Fully funding the evidence-based K-12 education funding formula;
▷ Making additional contributions to the state’s rainy-day reserve fund; and
▷ Funding tax relief for low-income households by increasing resources allocated to programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief program.

Before commenting, please click here and search the full report with any questions you may have.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this?

…Adding… TFI…

Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois President Maurice Scholten released today the following statement in response to a new report encouraging Illinois lawmakers expand state sales taxes to include more consumer services:

We appreciate the research teams for their recommendations and share their belief that funding education, mass transit, and public pension systems are vital to economic growth. Expanding Illinois’ historically narrow sales tax base could be one part of a long-term solution, but it is important to remember new sales tax revenues would take a significant amount of time before they are available to address these critical services.

In addition to ensuring their legislation would survive a constitutional challenge, lawmakers must work with local governments already relying on excise and service taxes to ensure these services are not subject to punishingly high tax rates. Moreover, all those affected by these changes must have sufficient time to prepare for such a seismic change to Illinois tax policy.

Illinois taxpayers deserve responsible sales tax policy - a modern system that treats goods and consumer services equally, thereby allowing lawmakers to lower the statewide sales tax rate to be more competitive with neighboring economies. We believe such a policy is within reach, and one that would help Illinois taxpayers realize a more sustainable future.

The report, “Modernizing Illinois’ Sales Tax: A pathway to a sustainable future,” was co-signed by the Civic Federation, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Although the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois did not co-sign the report, Scholten, an attorney who has spent the past 15 years impacting Illinois state and local tax policy, was consulted by its authors and provided feedback incorporated into the final product.

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It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Capitol News Illinois…

Four years ago, the General Assembly unanimously approved a law aimed at ending a routine indignity faced by foster children who, lacking luggage of their own, sometimes moved from home to home with their belongings in a trash bag.

As a result, the Department of Children and Family Services was required to“ensure” that children being removed from their homes or placed in a new foster care setting have “appropriate baggage and other items,” according to the law. While follow-up legislation to strengthen the law has flagged in recent years, a pair of Democratic lawmakers earlier this session introduced a bill to strengthen the law — and a formalized process for keeping track of times when DCFS falls short.

The legislation, House Bill 10, would add the luggage mandate to the Illinois Foster Child and Youth Bill of Rights and require DCFS to purchase luggage the agency can’t otherwise provide through donations from nonprofits or grants. It would also clarify that once a foster child has been given luggage, it belongs to him or her and the agency can’t reclaim it.

The bill would also require DCFS to record and report instances where the agency failed to provide the luggage and to file an annual report providing an explanation for the times a trash bag was used to move the belongings of a foster child.

But HB 10 isn’t moving forward this year. Its sponsor, Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, said after she filed the legislation, DCFS informed her that the agency was largely in compliance with the 2021 law. Croke said she and advocates want to keep a focus on the agency to ensure full compliance.

* The Eco-Justice Collaborative, Prairie Rivers Network…

The bill to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration passed a House Committee today. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers voted to move the bill out of the House Energy & Environment Committee and to the House floor.

“Today was an important day for central Illinois,” said Representative Carol Ammons, “When it comes to our Mahomet Aquifer, we won’t allow anyone to put our clean drinking water at risk. Our collective goal must be to make sure the law keeps that risk at zero.”

“Passing HB 3614 by such a wide margin showed the House Committee recognizes the hazards of allowing the Mahomet Aquifer to be used as an experiment for carbon sequestration technology.” said Pam Richart, Co-Director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative, “ADM’s Decatur carbon sequestration project, the only approved operating Class VI well project in the county, leaked twice. We aren’t ready to do carbon sequestration at this scale under our sole source of drinking water.”

“It feels like the voice of the public is finally being heard,” said Andrew Rehn, Climate Policy Director at Prairie Rivers Network. “Protecting drinking water is just common sense. This legislation is bipartisan and has strong support from mayors and village presidents across the Mahomet Aquifer region. It was terrific to see representatives from outside the aquifer stepping up to support these key protections. We hope to see the same in the Senate.”

The Senate version of the bill (SB1723), championed by Senator Faraci, will be next heard in the Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee on Thursday at 10am.

* Ben Szalinski at Capitol News Illinois…

Chicago police executed a search warrant at the wrong address more than six years ago that left social worker Anjanette Young handcuffed and naked in her home as she was getting ready for bed.

An Illinois House committee on Tuesday moved to overhaul how Illinois police officers execute search warrants in response to the botched 2019 raid at Young’s home, which includes banning what’s often called “no-knock” warrants.

“What happened to her did not need to happen, and in fact, should never happen again,” bill sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said. “Situations like this don’t just erode public trust, they also increase the danger to officers who are entering an unknown environment without reliable intelligence. That unpredictability puts them at a great risk of confrontation or injury.”

The House Judiciary- Criminal Committee voted 8-5 to pass House Bill 1611, but lawmakers in both parties expressed concerns about the logistics of implementing the new limitations.

* Sen. Karina Villa…

State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would increase access to non-opioid prescription medication to address the often-fatal addictiveness of prescription opioids.

“Prescription opioid medications are highly addictive, leading to countless deaths during the opioid epidemic, which our communities are still facing today,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “By expanding access to non-opioid alternatives, individuals will still be able to receive the care they need while reducing their risk of developing a serious addiction.”

Senate Bill 1238 would require health insurance providers to develop a plan for providing adequate coverage and access to non-opioid, non-narcotic and non-medication pain management services, which serve as an alternative to opioid and narcotic prescription drugs.

Additionally, the measure would allow the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of non-opioid alternatives for pain management.

“Providing access to safer alternatives for pain management will save lives by reducing dependency and misuse of opioids,” said Villa. “This would help meet the needs of thousands of individuals across our state who depend on prescription pain medications without putting them at risk of developing a substance use disorder.”

Senate Bill 1238 passed the Senate Insurance Committee Tuesday.

* Holly Rosencranz from the Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action…

Illinois faces mounting threats to water quality. Pollution continues to degrade our rivers and waterways, and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned decades of clean water protections has only made things worse. Illinois has already lost nearly 90% of its wetlands since becoming a state two centuries ago. Without decisive action by our state’s leaders, our remaining wetlands now face even greater risk of destruction.

To address this, Illinois lawmakers have introduced The Wetlands Protection Act (HB3596/SB2401) — a crucial piece of legislation that would restore protections for wetlands across our state. It is imperative that the Illinois legislature acts swiftly to pass this bill and safeguard these vital ecosystems.

Access to clean water is fundamental to human health. Clean water is critical for hydration, hygiene, preventing waterborne illnesses and sustaining numerous physiological functions. Without strong protections, contaminated water sources will pose a greater risk to public health.

Sensible legislation like The Wetlands Protection Act is essential for securing clean water, protecting food sources, and ensuring the health of Illinois communities. By passing this bill, we can improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and promote the health and well-being of current and future generations. I urge Illinois leaders to vote for and enact HB3596/SB2401, demonstrating their commitment to protecting our state’s natural heritage and a healthier future for all.

* Sen. Steve Stadelman…

With other states reporting influxes in drivers concealing or switching their license plates to avoid legal repercussions, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to ensure Illinois law explicitly bans license plate flippers.

“Devices like flippers allow drivers to evade tolls and law enforcement, creating unfair and unsafe road conditions for everyone,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This measure reinforces the importance of accountability on our roads by making it clear these devices are illegal.”

Senate Bill 1883 builds on current law, clarifying that the use of tape or flippers on any registration plate and any other evidence of registration issued by the Illinois Secretary of State is illegal. A license plate flipper is a device that allows drivers – with the push of a button – to obscure their license plates, often used to avoid identification when committing traffic violations. Illinois would join the expanding number of states in outlawing license plate flippers.

“We need to secure the safety of our citizens and officers on the road,” said State Senator Mike Porfirio (D-Lyons Township), chief co-sponsor of the measure. “This bill aims to deter vehicles from hiding their plates and evading accountability.”

Senate Bill 1883 passed the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday.

* Center Square…

Legislation has been introduced in House Bill 1330 that would require each in-home service provider to spend a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for services on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. The measure would create a minimum wage of at least $20 an hour for in-home workers. […]

Those eligible for the program must be 60 years or older, either U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, and have non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less.

State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, the sponsor of the legislation, said every time a care worker leaves the industry because of low wages, the crisis gets more dangerous for seniors.

“The solution is investing in care workers to stabilize the care workforce,” said Canty. “We need to invest in care by raising wages for home care workers.”

* Sen. Robert Peters…

Illinois could reshape the way agencies respond to mental health crises and offer critical services to those in need, thanks to a new measure from State Senator Robert Peters that would ensure better coordination, training and accountability in the delivery of behavioral health services.

“We must meet the growing mental health needs of our communities by providing the necessary resources, training and structure to ensure every individual in crisis gets the help they deserve,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This is about keeping people safe and providing them with the right support when they need it most.”

Under Peters’ measure, the implementation deadline of the Community Emergency Services and Support Act would be extended until July 1, 2027, ensuring a more thorough and thoughtful rollout of critical services. The initiative comes at a time when mental health services are under increasing strain, with more people experiencing mental health crises and a heightened demand for accessible care.

In addition to providing a clear roadmap for CESSA implementation, the bill would require new training for mobile mental health relief teams and an updated data collection structure, transforming how mental health emergencies are handled and offering a strong framework for individuals in crisis and the organizations that serve them.

“By extending CESSA’s timeline and enhancing its scope, we are creating a system that holds providers accountable while certifying people in crisis are met with professional care and support,” said Peters. “Senate Bill 2500 is a major step in making our state a model for compassionate, effective and efficient mental health care.”

Senate Bill 2500 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

* WAND…

House Bill 2658 could reduce driving under the influence and prioritize public safety by revoking the driver’s license and allowing people to apply for a permit if they agree to use a BAIID device.

Sponsors said this change would allow drivers to go anywhere they need to travel six days per week, twelve hours per day and a 200 mile radius of their home after they test for blood alcohol content.

“We are cracking down on peoples’ ability to drive under to drive under the influence by actually using an interlock device,” Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) said Tuesday. “But at the same time, if they do use that device, it will allow the expansion of places they can go.” […]

The measure passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee Tuesday night. It now moves to the House floor for further consideration.

* Sen. Karina Villa…

State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would address unequitable school disciplinary practices.

“The practice of ticketing in schools does not address the root causes of students’ behavior and instead creates financial hardships for working families, affecting Black and Latino families the most,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This creates serious learning disparities between students of color and their white counterparts.”

In 2015, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law ending the ability of schools to issue monetary fines to students for disciplinary infractions at school. However, students in schools across the state continue to be fined due to the practice of students being referred to law enforcement for school-related behavior.

A 2022 investigation revealed that Black and Latino students were ticketed at disproportionate rates. Between 2019 and 2021, 11,950 tickets were issued with fines as high as $750.

Senate Bill 1519 aims to address the issue by ensuring that no person on school grounds is allowed to issue a fine or ticket to a student for a school-based disciplinary infraction. The bill would also require school districts with a school resource officer to have a memorandum of understanding with their local law enforcement agency, establishing that SROs are properly trained and do not use fines or tickets for disciplinary infractions.

“Ticketing in schools as a form of discipline forces students to miss class to attend hearings designed for adults,” said Aimee Galvin, government affairs director for Stand for Children Illinois. “This practice creates a new form of exclusionary discipline, which does not make schools safer and may worsen academic outcomes. Every student deserves to feel safe and welcomed in their school.”

Senate Bill 1519 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

* More…

* WTTW | How the Proposed Ban on Cellphones in Illinois Classrooms Would Work: Illinois students have yet to recover from pandemic-era learning losses, according to a study from the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative released in August that showed less than a quarter of school districts are “back to pre-pandemic levels in English language arts.” The figure is lower for math, with 15% of high schools scoring on SAT math as well as before the pandemic and 22% in grades 3-8. One change Gov. J.B. Pritzker said could improve student achievement: banning an “impediment to learning in the classroom: cellphones.”

* WAND | Chronic health prescriptions only require prior authorization once under new IL proposal: Prior authorization is when doctors need to know if the patients health insurance will or will not cover the cost of a prescribed drug. Currently chronically ill patients need prior authorization each time they refill their medicine. This bill would change that, only needing prior authorization once. State Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) said the current system puts an “unnecessary burden on the patient.”

* WAND | Illinois legislation could create prison ADA compliance task force: The proposed task force would study the number of people in Illinois prisons who have sight, hearing and mobility issues in order to create the best accommodations for them. Task force members would be required to look into the number of committed people not having their ADA needs met and areas the Department of Corrections is currently unable to make accommodations.

* WAND | Bill could ensure Illinois prisoners receive physical mail, collect data on mail restriction: A bill in Springfield could require IDOC to collect data on why they restrict access to mail and how often it happens. The plan would also limit the department’s use of access to mail, in-person visits and virtual calls as disciplinary punishments. Sponsors and advocates said denying connection with family and friends can lead to worse outcomes.

* Tribune | State legislators look to establish rules for artificial intelligence in elections, education and health care: The Democratic-controlled legislature, in the early stages of a two-year term, is considering bills to address how AI affects residents in areas including education, health care, insurance, elections, picking up on work from the previous General Assembly. Last year, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation that made it a civil rights violation for employers to use AI if it subjects employees to discrimination, as well as a measure prohibiting the use of AI to create child pornography, which made it a felony to be caught with artificially created images. In 2023, he signed a bill to make anyone civilly liable if they alter images of someone else in a sexually explicit manner.

* WAND | Chronic health prescriptions only require prior authorization once under new IL proposal: This bill would change that, only needing prior authorization once. State Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) said the current system puts an “unnecessary burden on the patient.” The plan received some oral bipartisan support, with State Rep. William Hauter (R-Morton) saying he “hates prior authorization.” Republicans voted against the bill since the language of the bill may change.

* TEXT:

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Misguided Insurance Regulation Proposals Could Increase Premiums For The Majority Of Illinoisans

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Several bills proposed this legislative session seek to ban certain factors that insurance companies use to set fair and accurate insurance pricing for customers. The bills would ban the use of credit-based insurance scores, zip codes, age, and gender in insurance pricing.

An op-ed published recently in the Chicago Tribune explains why such bans could cause insurance rates to rise for the majority of consumers.

Case in point: When the use of credit was banned in Washington in 2021, more than 60 percent of Washington drivers saw an increase in their insurance premiums. Should similar legislation pass in Illinois, the majority of Illinoisians with better-than-average credit could see premium increases.

With stubbornly high inflation and high property taxes, now is not the time to pass bills that could end up hiking insurance premiums for most Illinoisans.

Click here to learn more.

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Caption contest!

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The “Sullivan Caucus” is the Statehouse’s St. Patrick’s Day party, and it was last night at the Gin Mill…

No Sullivan’s are currently serving in the General Assembly, by the way. Times change.

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Nursing Home Residents Have Waited 14 Years For Safe Staffing—Lawmakers Must Hold the Line

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement and has been updated at the advertiser’s request.]

Advocates for senior care and nursing home frontline workers have been fighting for over 14 years to hold the nursing home industry in Illinois accountable for safe staffing levels.

Lawmakers established legal requirements for safe staffing levels, only to have nursing homes routinely ignore them. Then these legal limits were bolstered with enforcement measures—but the worst actors in the industry continue to staff at dangerously low levels. In fact, Illinois is worst in the country with the largest gap between care hours needed and care hours actually provided. Dead last among states.

And now after 14 years of time and again receiving warnings and incentives and second, third and tenth chances to staff at the legally required levels, the industry began accruing fines in January that are actually substantial enough to take the profit motive out of short staffing.

The industry’s response? HB 2292—designed to once again water down the existing fines and enforcement measures so they can continue to shortchange vulnerable seniors.

This is despite the over $3 billion that Illinois pays to nursing homes annually for resident care—including hundreds of millions of dollars specifically earmarked to bolster direct care staffing levels.

It’s time for lawmakers hold firm and let the nursing home industry know that in Illinois, care comes first—not nursing home profits.

Oppose HB 2292—because safe, dignified, accountable nursing home care can’t wait.

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Open thread

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Isabel met her paternal grandfather’s best friend in the world last night. Kankakee Township Supervisor Larry Enz attended the 1st Grade with my dad way back in 1949 and they’ve been tight ever since…

I worked for Larry building houses back in the 1980s for about a year. He was the best boss I ever had, but that experience forced me to realize that I’d better get my life together and find myself a career I was actually good at. I went back to school and then a couple of years later started writing about state government for another company. Three years after that, I started this company. So you could say Mr. Enz is a big reason you’re reading these words today.

In all the time I knew Larry I never once heard him talk about politics. Then, about 20 years ago, he reluctantly agreed to run for the Kankakee County Board. He’s never looked back.

Mr. Enz is in town lobbying against some bills. He corralled every legislator who visited our Saputo’s table last night. Dude definitely still has game. Click here and here to see what he’s up to. But go easy on him. Old family friends get a pass, and you’re likely not an old family friend.

* Anyway, what’s going on in your part of the world?

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Gov. Pritzker is launching a statewide “Standing Up for Illinois” Tour…

[Today,] Governor Pritzker will kick off the Standing Up for Illinois Tour where he will travel across the state to shed light on how the Trump Administration’s extreme agenda is hurting working families, farmers, veterans, seniors, and other Illinoisians. Governor Pritzker will not only highlight the harm Republicans are inflicting on Illinois, but he will encourage everybody to stand up for their fellow Illinoisians.

Throughout the tour, Governor Pritzker will showcase how Illinoisans know all too well how harmful reckless cuts can be to critical services and showcase how strong, responsible fiscal leadership has enabled Illinois to achieve balanced budgets and economic growth while supporting working families. This week is just a start as the Governor will continue being a vocal advocate for all Illinoisians harmed by the Trump Administration and calling on the public to speak up and stand up for our state.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

- Wednesday [1:30 pm]– Standing Up for Farmers (Champaign) Governor Pritzker will join Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski at Sola Gratia Farm in Urbana to hold a roundtable with farmers and environmental leaders who had climate-smart agriculture funding cut off – hurting local farm economies across the state. Before the roundtable, Governor Pritzker will meet with laid-off workers at the University of Illinois Soybean Innovation Lab that is set to close its doors next month because of the Trump Administration cut off USAID.

- Thursday – Standing Up for Seniors (Romeoville) Governor Pritzker and Lt. Governor Stratton will join Congresswoman Lauren Underwood in Romeoville to highlight the Trump Administration’s threats to Social Security and the seniors, people with disabilities, and other working people who rely on the benefits for housing, clothes, and food. DOGE is planning to cut Social Security customer phone support, eliminate thousands of jobs, and force seniors and disabled people to go to far-away offices for their benefits.

- Friday – Standing Up for Infrastructure (Rockford) & Standing Up for Medicaid (Peoria) Governor Pritzker will attend an event celebrating the Rockford Mass Transit District expansion and tout Illinois’ investment in infrastructure. He will note how Illinois still has hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for infrastructure projects on pause. After, Governor Pritzker will attend a community meeting in Peoria at a center that helps people with disabilities access educational and employment opportunities. Governor Pritzker will meet with and hear directly from community members who rely on Medicaid for healthcare.

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | The state must pass hemp restrictions while Mayor Brandon Johnson’s local efforts flounder, a City Council majority says: A majority of the Chicago City Council wants Illinois legislators to pass rules on the sale of hemp products, calling into doubt Mayor Brandon Johnson’s efforts to regulate it at the city level. The letter, signed by 28 aldermen and sent to Illinois General Assembly members Monday, expressed “deep concern” over the ongoing lack of laws governing the often-intoxicating products. The high number of signees, including six members of the aldermanic Progressive Caucus that often sides with the progressive mayor, raises questions about whether Johnson has the support to get aldermen to adopt his own guidelines.

* Eye On Illinois | IDFPR seems to finally be moving in the right direction: From 2019 through 2022, applications for licensure in one of the 130-plus regulated career fields increased 15% to about 104,000 – many of which came in on paper because the agency was struggling to use its 1990s computer technology. One person speaking at a September 2023 hearing said he’d only seen things worsen over almost 25 years. […] These and countless other stories stand in stark contrast to Wednesday when the only news coming out of a House Health Care Licensing Committee was positive: the new Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment is functioning properly. The first of six rollout phases is completed, and although just a handful of professions are live, lawmakers and IDFPR officials act like everything is on track for all license types to be incorporated by the end of summer, according to Capitol News Illinois.

*** Statehouse News ***

* AXIOS | Removing homeless encampments could be violation of human rights: The Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness sent a letter last week to municipalities, emphasizing that all individuals — including those seeking shelter — must have non-discriminatory access to public spaces under the state’s Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act.

* Semafor | Schumer was ‘wrong,’ Illinois governor says, but stop the Democratic ‘warfare’: Chuck Schumer’s government funding decision was “wrong” — but now is not the time for civil war. That’s according to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who gave fellow Democrats clear advice on Tuesday as the Senate minority leader kept trying to quell progressive fury over his vote to advance the Trump-backed funding bill. Pritzker told Semafor that he disagrees with Schumer’s decision, but he wants his party to stop “splintering” over it.

* SJ-R | People rally at Illinois capitol to end subminimum wages for tipped workers: Proponents, including tipped workers and One Fair Wage, argue the bill would provide wage stability and reduce poverty, particularly for women and people of color. Opponents, such as the Illinois Restaurant Association, express concerns about potential job losses, price increases, and harm to small businesses. The bill follows Chicago’s recent adoption of a $15.80 minimum wage for tipped workers, phasing in over five years.

*** Statewide ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Conservative groups file complaint against Illinois and Chicago over policies protecting LGBTQ students: In their complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies and the Liberty Justice Center allege that the state board and CPS are violating Title IX by “forcing students to share bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations with members of the opposite sex, based solely on self-declared ‘gender identity,’” according to a press release. The complaint names the Illinois State Board of Education’s guidance from 2020 and Chicago Public Schools’ interim guidance from 2024 and alleges that both documents misinterpret Title IX by arguing that the clause protects against discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity.

* WCIA | Illinois Attorney General warns against March Madness betting scams: March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month — and also happens to be the month when the NCAA Tournament for men and women’s college basketball is held. Raoul is encouraging fans who are filling out brackets and thinking about placing money on their favorite teams to be aware of the risks of unlicensed operators. […] Raoul said that certain betting apps and websites are allowed in Illinois. But operators must be licensed with the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and remain in compliance with state regulators. You can find the list of licensed sport betting organizations in Illinois here.

* JG-TC | IHSA makes sweeping changes to classification process to benefit smaller schools: After private school dominance in both football and basketball, the IHSA has made changes to its classification process at its March meeting in Champaign, according to an IHSA release. The changes are aimed at helping competitive balance for smaller public schools by adjusting its classification method and assessing enrollments annually beginning next school year. “Competitive equity and classifications are a topical issue here in Illinois and for state associations around the country,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a release. “No state has a perfect system, so it is important that we remain fluid as a Board and staff to be able to review and adapt our policies as new trends emerge and issues evolve.”

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson defends asking city contractors to take pay reductions: After pushing Chicago contractors to voluntarily reduce their prices, Mayor Brandon Johnson defended the request Tuesday as “standard procedure.” Johnson’s remarks came after Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts sent emails to prime contractors doing business with the city last Wednesday asking for “a price reduction of minimally 3% off all invoices sent to the city for the next twelve months off any contracts you currently hold.”

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Consultant lays out limited funding options for Chicago’s school board ahead of consequential vote: The five-page memo from consulting firm Baker Tilly outlines three options: cuts, including staff furloughs, debt refinancing, and more city money from special taxing districts. All of these potential solutions have already been floated by either Chicago Public Schools or Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. Baker Tilly’s analysis also revealed another challenge facing CPS: The school district must find $200 million in savings before June 30, when the current fiscal year ends. That’s because the district is expecting less tax revenue and spent more than planned on special education, transportation, and its buildings, according to the memo.

* ABC Chicago | Mayor Johnson again appeals CPS to make $175M pension payment ahead of budget vote: CPS is in the middle of a five-year plan to assume full responsibility for its employees pensions. During this time, the city is helping the cash-strapped district make those payments. On Thursday, the Board will vote on an amended budget that calls for paying for teacher and principal contracts, but not making the pension payment, because it doesn’t have the money to do both.

* CBS Chicago | Fireworks erupt at meeting on planned quantum computing campus at old South Chicago steel mill site: Other concerns brought up were jobs, housing costs, and displacement. Contractors say they plan to build some apartments. “180 units isn’t going to solve all the issues around housing. It’s not going to address potential displacement,” Anderson said, “but it is a big start.”

* Sun-Times | Chicago Sun-Times to lose 20% of staff after buyout offer: Thirty employees of the Chicago Sun-Times — around 1 in 5 on its payroll — have agreed to resign under buyout terms the paper’s nonprofit ownership offered in hopes of stanching persistent financial deficits. The departures consist mostly of writers and editors — many with decades of experience. The cuts are the most drastic the oft-imperiled Sun-Times has faced in several years and will bring about recognizable changes to its content, although top leaders said the buyouts ensure there will be no layoffs in the near future.

* Block Club | Chicago’s ‘Tomato Man’ Is Back — With 15,000 Plants For Sale: Air. Water. Tomatoes. For Bob Zeni, a suburban LaGrange Park man who has dedicated the past 11 years to cultivating and selling hundreds of varieties of tomato plants, these are the basic elements of life. is known for growing and selling thousands of tomato starters every spring, allowing Chicago gardeners to get a leg up on the growing season while trying out unique varieties of the plants.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WBEZ | Federal complaints lodged against Chicago, Deerfield for accommodating trans students: Trans advocates are pushing back against a north suburban mom who says her 13-year-old daughter was forced to change in front of a transgender classmate. The controversy at a middle school in the North Shore community of Deerfield comes at the same time as a federal complaint has been lodged against Chicago Public Schools and the state board of education for allegedly “forcing students” to share bathrooms and locker rooms with transgender classmates.

* CBS Chicago | Chicago area man wins nearly $400,000 on sports bet, only to have it all canceled by BetMGM: Military veteran Mark Aiello took a gamble on civilian life when he started a family and moved back to the Chicago suburbs. […] Aiello placed four $500 bets on rebounds and assists by certain players. Six aspects, or “legs,” of the game needed to go his way to win. […] That was because it was his lucky day. His winning bets banked $389,000 — enough for his daughter’s future college education. Aiello’s bets had been canceled just minutes before tipoff as if he had never gambled at all — no wager, no winnings.

* CBS Chicago | Harvey, Illinois mayor pays to have burned-out house torn down so displaced neighbor can go home: A senior from the south Chicago suburb of Harvey, Illinois is getting an unexpected financial boost to help her with home repairs after a fire. Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark decided to foot the bill to demolish a neighboring house so the work could get started. Alma West has been displaced from her block in Harvey since January. “It’s been extremely difficult these last few months,” Ms. West said.

* Daily Herald | Buffalo Grove hires Philadelphia firm to design The Clove park: The Buffalo Grove Village Board Monday voted to hire Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC for approximately $108,000. Community Development Director Nicole Woods said the firm will engage in a four-month process to gather community and stakeholder input before arriving at a final concept plan and public reveal. “The time is right. Momentum has been rising. There is a lot of development happening,” said Woods, alluding to the opening of The 250 Residences and the addition of new businesses.

* Shaw Local | Sterling approves purchase of new $2M firetruck with aerial ladder: The Sterling City Council approved the purchase of a new $2 million firetruck Monday. The decision to waive the bid process and accept a proposal from Jefferson Fire and Safety for the purchase of a customized Rosenbauer King Cobra firetruck with a 101-foot articulating aerial ladder came after a series of reports on the state of the Sterling Fire Department’s apparatus and vehicles.

*** Downstate ***

* Rockford Register Star | Rockford to buy $2M worth of police vehicles: The purchase from Rock River Ford of Rockford will cost about $2 million. Officials said the local dealership’s bid was a better deal and cost nearly $200,000 less than what the city would have been charged via a state joint purchasing cooperative. They will replace police vehicles that will either be shifted to a reserve status or sold at auction.

* WCIA | Some infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics, U of I study finds: New research with a “microfluidic device” indicates that some infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics as was previously thought. The device works to mimic the fluid flow in the body better than bacteria cultures. The U of I team, led by Joe Sanfilippo, biochemistry professor, tested the antibiotic agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (which is considered one of the most resistant bacteria). They introduced the drug at varying rates of fluid flow and found that bacteria thrived with low fluid flow, but was killed off at higher flow rates.

* WCIA | Decatur product makes top 16 of ‘Makers Madness’ contest: The TCCI Electric Compressor made by TCCI Manufacturing in Decatur has reached the top 16 of the sixth annual “Makers Madness.” Over 250,000 votes have been cast to narrow the field down to this point in the bracket-style tournament hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. More than 250 products across Illinois were nominated for this year’s title. After two weeks of voting, the field has been slimmed down to 16 products.

*** National ***

* The Telegraph | State of St. Louis? Missouri lawmaker suggests city, two counties as 51st state: Missouri state Rep. Michael Burton, a Democrat, suggests that St. Louis and two adjacent counties — St. Louis County and St. Charles County — break away from the Show-Me State, form its own borders and become America’s newest state; something that hasn’t been done since 1959 when Hawaii was added to the union. […] Putting a few things in perspective the city of St. Louis is 66 square miles in total area, St. Louis County is 523.366 and St. Charles is 593. That’s about 1,183 square miles; making the proposed state the second smallest by total area after Rhode Island.

* Harvest Public Media | Changes could be coming to the U.S. Postal Service and rural residents will be most affected: The U.S. Postal Service’s future remains a huge question mark, with rural service hanging in the balance. President Donald Trump has talked of privatizing the service, potentially bringing it under the Department of Commerce. Proponents cite the agency’s $87 billion in financial losses over the past 14 years, along with its performance issues. A task force that studied privatization during the president’s first term warned rural postal service would suffer.

* NYT | TEXT: From his perch on his new podcast, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California made the case for not only hearing out some of the most hard-line figures on the American right, but also welcoming them onto his show — a choice that prompted pushback from his latest guest, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the 2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Hours later, Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois took a different approach in a speech at the Center for American Progress, an influential liberal think tank. The Trump administration, he implied, had plunged the country into a “villainous cruelty” that must be fiercely opposed by a unified Democratic front.

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

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.

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