McCarter alleges deal for Clarke
Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* State Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) says he fears the fix is in for Jerry Clarke…
Johnson announced on April 5, about two weeks after he won the 13th Congressional District primary election, that he would not run for a seventh term in Congress. Clarke said that day that he was interested in replacing Johnson and that he had already begun calling the county chairmen who will make the appointment.
“It’s not right. This is not right,” said state Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, who told a Republican luncheon gathering in Bloomington that he is interested in the congressional seat. “You know what’s really insulting about this? It didn’t just happen. There was talk of this happening a year ago, and it’s a real insult to the people. Like I said, their vote was taken away from them.
“I think we’re used to politics as usual. The politics as usual is that you manipulate the system to put certain people in positions of power. That’s not the way it ought to be. The people should decide who is going to be speaking for them. Remember, this power that (politicians) have, they don’t own it. It’s only borrowed from the people who elect them. We forget that. But when you have people in back rooms who decide they are going to put in place who they want so that they can control them and they can control what happens in this country, that’s wrong.”
McCarter said the county chairmen should slow down the process to appoint Johnson’s replacement.
“We need to see who would represent the people best, not what person was decided in a back room deal who was going to get the job,” said the one-term state senator, who lives in the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis. “This heir-to-the-throne idea in politics, I don’t care what party you’re in, it’s wrong. It’s an injustice and it doesn’t work because ultimately, when you get that person in there, they don’t serve us well.”
* Meanwhile, the Trib has some campaign finance numbers for the primary…
Duckworth, whose allies include President Barack Obama’s top campaign adviser, David Axelrod, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, spent nearly $1.4 million last year and in 2012 to capture the nomination. Reporting nearly $97,000 in debts, Duckworth began April with $259,975 in her campaign fund, records showed, but she also has national fundraising reach.
Another $1.2 million was spent in the new north suburban 10th District, where the Democratic primary came down to Brad Schneider, of Deerfield, defeating activist Ilya Sheyman, of Waukegan.
As the Democrats battled, first-term Republican Rep. Robert Dold, of Kenilworth, raised nearly $400,000 in March and has a campaign war chest of more than $1.6 million. Schneider, who put $150,000 of his own money into his bid, began the month with $226,000 in his campaign bank account.
And $1 million was spent in the new South Side and southwest suburban 2nd District, where Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., of Chicago, easily survived a primary battle against former one-term Rep. Debbie Halvorson, of Crete,. Almost $850,000 was spent in March, records showed. […]
The state’s lone Republican incumbent-versus-incumbent battle between Kinzinger, of Manteno, and Manzullo, of Leaf River, was the second-most expensive campaign battle based on spending this year at almost $1.9 million.
* And Joe Walsh hit the Tea Party circuit…
On Saturday, Walsh participated in Huntley’s third annual Tax Day rally, and told supporters there that, when it comes to the fall election, “If we don’t get this right, we may lose this thing we call America,” Patch reports.
“We don’t have an election to win. We don’t have a few elections to win. We have a country to save,” Walsh said Saturday before a crowd of some 60 Tea Party supporters.
The colorful congressman went on to tout the white RV — emblazoned with the words “It’s Time! You Ready?” and “Let’s Take Back America — You In?” — as the vehicle he will use to travel during his 8th Congressional District campaign against Democrat Tammy Duckworth. NBC Chicago notes that the vehicle, a 1984 Fleetwood Pace Arrow, was purchased for $7,500 in Madison, Wis. Walsh unveiled the RV in a YouTube video that went live Saturday.
On Sunday, Walsh turned up at the Tax Day rally in Rockford where “dozens” of Tea Party members gathered at Sinnissippi Park to see Walsh and U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, who is being challenged in the 17th District downstate by Democratic challenger Cheri Bustos, speak, WIFR reports.
Attendance appeared pretty light, eh?
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Scott Walker caption contest!
Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A Gov. Scott Walker roundup…
* Our Opinion: Walker’s tactics not applicable to Illinois
* Our View: A stalking Walker
* Our View: Land of Lincoln has a lot going for it over Wisconsin
* IL Gov.: Don’t follow Walker’s ‘prescriptions‘
* Union members protest Walker appearance
* Scott Walker Visits Springfield, Compares Self to Lincoln
* Wisconsin Gov. Walker getting mixed reaction in visits here
* Walker talks unions, budgets in IL visit ahead of recall
*Hundreds of union workers protest Walker in IL
* Wisconsin governor uses Illinois as argument against recall
* ILGOP Chair: Wisconsin on right track
* Suburban business leaders impressed with Wisconsin governor
* Wisconsin Gov. Walker says Illinois should confront union issues
* And the caption contest photo…
I’ll purchase the winner a non-Wisconsin beer.
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Burying the lede
Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Speaker Madigan again voiced support yesterday for shifting employer pension payments away from the state and onto universities and suburban and Downstate schools…
“If you look at the current (state pension) payment, 78 percent of the payment goes to two systems where the members never worked for the state of Illinois,” Madigan said, referring to the Teachers Retirement System and State University Retirement System. “There’s got to be a sharing of the cost.”
Downstate school districts fear that shifting pension costs to them will force serious cutbacks in other areas, including education programs.
* But I’m pretty sure this part is new…
[Rep. Elaine Nekritz], Madigan’s representative on a working group trying to control pension costs, said that if overall pension costs can be reduced, the expense to school districts may be 1 percent to 1.5 percent of their payrolls. She said many districts should be able to absorb that cost.
Man, they’re going to have to make a whole lot of cuts to get costs down to such a low percentage of payroll.
…Adding… Speaking of pensions, Speaker Madigan’s constitutional amendment to require a three-fifths vote before pension benefits could be increased apparently wouldn’t have stopped any pension sweetener in the past…
Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31, says a review of pension votes over the years shows none of them were close.
“If this amendment had been in the (Illinois) Constitution, those benefits would have passed with those votes. Thankfully, it would not have prevented those benefits from taking effect.”
* Check out the last two sentences…
Local legislators and economic development officials agree enterprise zones are a valuable tool to attract and retain business.
The zones are in jeopardy of expiring unless the Illinois General Assembly acts.
State Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, said something dire concerning enterprise zones just may come up. LaHood said he is supportive, but hears Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan is not.
“In the Senate, I think, it will pass by a large majority,” LaHood said. “There could be a problem in the House. I’ve heard Madigan wants to let them all expire and then turn it into a lottery.”
I hadn’t heard that one, but interesting.
* And this is an SJ-R Tweet posted during Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Whitley’s introduction of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker yesterday…
Wow. Whitley just said Quinn has “socialist tendencies.”
But nobody actually covered the over the top quote except for Illinois Issues’ blog…
Even our governor, who as most all of you know, has had very liberal tendencies, very socialist tendencies for years. Even some might say radical tendencies.
Um, OK. Wow.
But Whitley did go on to say this…
A month ago [Quinn] stood up and gave a budget message that was not too much different than what you and I and the Illinois chamber would like to hear our chief executive officer talk about.”
…Adding… Chris Wetterich explains why the quote wasn’t used…
I asked Whitley about the “socialist tendencies” charge after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s speech, but it got whacked from the story I filed. He claimed he was trying to compliment Quinn, however backhandedly it may have been.
“What I was saying is that I think Governor Quinn has grown in this job,” Whitley said. “I think he’s saying things today that I did not anticipate or would not have anticipated him to say five or 10 years ago. He’s talking about jobs. He’s going to plant openings. He’s trying to change the fiscal and budgetary issues of the state, which I don’t think he was particularly conscious of in his prior roles. It’s not the same Pat Quinn that was in the peanut gallery for years.”
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* From WLS Radio…
Governor Pat Quinn plans to reveal recommendations for reforming Medicaid Wednesday, and it could contain some bitter medicine. A bi-partisan working group of lawmakers has been trying to find ways to cut $2.7 billion from the health care system for low-income individuals and families. Among the proposals under consideration are eliminating some benefits like chiropractor visits, and putting limits on things like glasses, dentures and even adult diapers.
Also being considered is dropping some people from coverage and cutting help for seniors in paying for prescriptions. Governor Quinn says something has to be done in this legislative session. He said, “Members of the legislature should be prepared to cancel their vacations in order to get this mission accomplished.”
As an alternative to some of those cuts, and to reducing reimbursement rates to doctors and hospitals, Quinn’s office has floated the idea of a new one-dollar-a-pack tax on cigarettes. The cigarette tax, though, is meeting resistance.
The governor threatened to call a summer session to deal with Medicaid during his budget address, and I don’t think he’s being too unreasonable, either (even though I’m really hoping to attend all three White Sox vs. Cardinals games in June). They can kick the pension can down the road until January, when the GA can use its huge pile of lame ducks to pad the roll calls. But a Medicaid fix really should be done this spring. Reducing the program’s costs and finding new funding for a total of $2.7 billion is gonna be horrific, but it’ll be a whole lot easier than doing it half way through the fiscal year.
* But whatever the governor proposes, he won’t have the last word…
State Rep. Patti Bellock, a Hinsdale Republican that’s part of the team of lawmakers trying to come up with Medicaid fixes, says it’s important to remember that Quinn’s proposals for fixes to both the Illinois Medicaid and pensions systems shouldn’t be considered final.
After all, she says, look at the budget Quinn proposed earlier this year. He puts out an outline. Then lawmakers do their own thing, tweaking - or overhauling - from there.
“I don’t think anything will be set in stone until May 31,” Bellock told us today.
That’s lawmakers’ budget deadline, and some skeptics wonder if even that’s too ambitious a date for such major changes in state policy.
*** UPDATE *** The task force won’t give up, but won’t make the deadine…
A bipartisan group tasked with finding ways to cut $2.7 billion from Illinois’ Medicaid budget hasn’t accomplished its mission.
Gov. Pat Quinn’s deadline required the two Democrats and two Republicans to come up with a plan this week, but they’ve only agreed on about $1.4 billion in cuts.
The committee worked for months on ways to reform the health insurance program for nearly 3 million poor and disabled Illinoisans. But they disagreed on potential ideas including rate cuts to providers and a potential $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase.
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Quote of the day
Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn, when asked about state financial help for the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field…
“Let’s be serious. We just talked about Medicaid and we have a budget we have to pass, we have to deal with pension stabilization, those issues are far, far higher on the priority list,” Quinn said Thursday.
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A few House members embrace indicted pol
Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As you already know, indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) was back on the job yesterday. Some colleagues gave him an initially warm welcome…
Smith — who was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on a bribery charge — spent part of Tuesday’s session in his seat, where a few colleagues approached with hands extended. Later, a smiling Smith worked the Democratic side of the aisle.
“I greeted him because he’s here to represent the people who elected him,” said Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago). “I just told him God bless him. He’s got some challenging days ahead of him.”
ABC7’s video is here.
* Rep. Will Davis is on the House Special Investigating Committee which is looking at whether there is enough evidence to begin disciplinary proceedings against Rep. Smith. So these comments are somewhat unusual…
Democratic Representative Will Davis, also from Cook County, says it’s a good thing Smith is back to work. He spoke with Smith on his first day back to session.
DAVIS “We didn’t talk about anything in particular, certainly asked him how he was doing considering everything that’s been going on with him, said he was doing fine. As far as him coming back, certainly I see no challenges with him coming back, he’s still a member of the General Assembly. He still has duties and responsibilities to the constituents.”
Yes, he’s their colleague, but it really sends a horrible message to the public at large when a guy caught on tape allegedly accepting a $7,000 bribe is embraced.
* You gotta wonder what’s going to happen when Smith presents a bill. He picked up sponsorship of SB3555, which is backed by Secretary State Jesse White, Smith’s political godfather and former employer. The bill passed the Senate 55-0, but that’s still gonna be one odd debate. The measure has been assigned to the House Executive Committee, but hasn’t yet been posted for a hearing.
* And subscribers knew about this demand by Rep. Jack Franks last week…
“I am going to make it very clear that Representative Smith is innocent until proven guilty,” said Rep. Jack Franks, (D) McHenry.
But Rep. Franks wants limits placed on Smith’s legislative duties.
“I’ve asked the speaker to suspend Rep. Smith from any committee work pending the outcome either of the federal indictment and trial, or whether he pleads or not pleads,” said Franks.
Your thoughts on suspending Smith from his committee assignments?
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WBEZ checked public records to see if any Chicago aldermen had been popped by a red light camera. They found some…
“I ran a red light at Diversey and California. I have never ran it again since I got the ticket,” Ald. Dick Mell of the 33rd Ward announced at City Hall.
Mell wasn’t shy about his “criminal” history. In general, though, there wasn’t an outpouring of confessions at City Hall when a committee debated speed cameras last week.
But thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, we got a list of red light camera tickets sent to people whose names match those of Chicago aldermen. The city refused to provide identifying information like home address of license plate number, so we can’t be sure which of the tickets belong to aldermen, or to someone with the same name.
Still, that list helped spur some admissions.
* The Question: Have you ever been ticketed as a result of a red light camera? Tell us your story.
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Fun with numbers
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the AP…
A state commission studying education spending says Illinois school districts can save hundreds of millions of dollars without being forced to consolidate.
The Classrooms First Commission claims districts could save up to $1 billion simply by studying each other’s budgets to find new ideas for cutting costs.
The study will be released today. I suppose one might say that if schools could save a billion dollars without consolidation, couldn’t they also save even more if several consolidated? Well, maybe not…
The commission found that mass consolidation would cost state taxpayers nearly $4 billion up front under current law. A more cost-effective approach would be to eliminate or modify state regulations that discourage districts from voluntarily consolidating. At least 40 districts were in the process of or considering such realignments in the past year, according to the report.
* From NBC5…
In 2011, the GA spent a total of 96 days in session. (And 22 were “perfunctory days,” during which little business was done.) Legislators also receive $132 a day stipend just for showing up in Springfield. That means our senators and representatives were paid $838.63 a week extra for doing their jobs. I’ve never had a part-time job that paid $838 a week.
Can somebody please help me with that math? Plus, nobody gets stipends for perfunctory days.
Also, the headline says it’s $838 a day.
* From the Tribune’s Medicaid story…
While Republicans look at the situation as a chance to finally rein in runaway costs, Democrats are looking to offset the need for some cuts through a cigarette tax hike. Lawmakers say the idea was first floated last week by Julie Hamos, Quinn’s director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which administers Medicaid.
It’s estimated the $1-a-pack increase would generate about $700 million for health care when federal matching dollars are added in, said Sen. Heather Steans, of Chicago, who is leading Medicaid negotiations for the Senate Democrats. The extra money would reduce the amount that needs to be cut to around $2 billion.
Steans acknowledged that raising taxes on cigarettes would be a difficult sell during an election year in which every House and Senate seat is on the November ballot. But she said the extra money might appeal to some lawmakers as an alternative to slashing reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals that provide services, with many already waiting up to six months to be paid by the state.
“More money means more spending,” said [Republican Sen. Dale Righter, of Mattoon], the Medicaid point person for Senate Republicans. “They’re going to use the new money to lessen the pressure to make cuts in the program and make the program more efficient.”
Righter said a higher tax on cigarettes will exacerbate a trend in which fewer cigarettes are being sold, a problem that would hurt Illinois in the long run because money to help pay Medicaid costs would come from a declining revenue source.
You could say that the Dems want to use the tax hike money to avoid making cuts, but you could also say the Dems want to use the cig tax hike cash to avoid doing real damage to the system as a whole. But an election year tax hike won’t be easy to do, to say the least.
* A mock strike vote and a real strike vote are entirely different animals, but this is quite fascinating…
Teachers at more than 200 Chicago schools overwhelmingly favor a plan to walk off the job in protest, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said Monday.
Lewis said a number of schools have taken “mock strike votes,” and the majority favor work stoppage.
Keep in mind that it now takes a 75 percent majority (of members, not just of those voting) to approve a Chicago school strike…
NBC Chicago has received the results from the following high schools, with the percentages indicating teachers in favor of a work stoppage:
Von Steuben: 94 percent
Steinmetz: 96 percent
Sullivan: 95 percent
Senn: 95 percent
Uplift: 89 percent
Mather: 96 percent
Northside Learning Center: 80 percent
Kelvyn Park: 86 percent
Chicago Academy: 85 percent
Northside College Prep: 96 percent
Lane: 93 percent
Juarez: 96 percent
Kelly: 94 percent
Curie: 86 percent
Yikes.
…Adding… From Crain’s…
With efforts to reach a compromise on the tax-exempt status of nonprofit hospitals at an apparent standstill, five downstate hospitals recently withdrew their administrative applications from the Illinois Department of Revenue, leaving 20 requests still pending.
The remaining applications included tax-exempt status requests for Children’s Memorial Hospital’s new Streeterville tower, NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Skokie campus, and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare’s new hospital in Elmhurst, according to a list provided by the Revenue Department.
Gov. Pat Quinn on March 1 directed the Revenue Department to resume issuing decisions on tax-exempt applications after efforts to reach a compromise stalled. Now the battle has shifted to the General Assembly, where the Illinois Hospital Association is conducting a lobbying campaign to expand what counts as charity to prevent hospitals from having to pay property taxes.
Among those medical centers withdrawing applications is Trinity Regional Health System, which was pursuing tax-exempt status for its hospital in Moline, about 165 miles west of Chicago, along the Mississippi River.
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Watson may be in, Brown is out
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Add Jim Watson to the list…
State Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, said Monday he’s interested in being appointed as the GOP candidate for the U.S. House in the new 13th Congressional District.
“I’m looking at it,” Watson said, although he called his review “strictly exploratory at this point.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, won the March 20 primary election, but then announced he wouldn’t run in November.
Watson’s home is not in the new 13th, but that would not preclude him running for the office. If he were to run and win, “I would move to Springfield for sure,” Watson said.
* Meanwhile, state Rep. Adam Brown (R-Decatur) has dropped out of contention, according to McLean County Republican Chairman John Parrott. Chairman Parrott hosted a luncheon yesterday and six potential candidates showed up…
Six Republicans seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson on the 13th Congressional District ballot this fall avoided criticizing each other in a forum Monday, but they were less kind to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi was the foil for the six men — state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington; former state Rep. Mike Tate of Springfield; state Sen. Kyle McCarter of Lebanon; Rodney Davis of Taylorville, an aide to U.S. Rep. John Shimkus; Jerry Clarke, a top aide to U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren; and Bloomington businessman David Blumenshine — who hope to be chosen by GOP county chairmen as the replacement for Johnson. He announced 10 days ago that he would not run for a seventh term.
“Dr. (David) Gill, who is the Democrat nominee in this district, I know him very well,” said Clarke, formerly the chief of staff for Johnson. “I ran Tim Johnson’s campaigns against him. He’s run against Tim three times so I know Dr. Gill and I know the district. I’d like to beat Dr. Gill a fourth time to make sure that Nancy Pelosi doesn’t become speaker again.”
“We know Nancy Pelosi and the national Democrats want to recover the House and they don’t care where they get the seats,” Brady said. “The Democratic National Committee will pour money into any district where a glimmer of hope exists and of course that includes the 13th.”
* In other news, political competition is a good thing, but I doubt they’re gonna find much of a competitor…
t’s not looking like the Democratic Party will find a candidate to run against Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger in the new 16th Congressional District.
So a group of concerned citizens, along with Democratic Party precinct committeeman Dan Kenney, says they’re looking for a qualified independent candidate.
“We are looking for someone who is able to represent the citizens who have battled with health issues and have had trouble funding insurance,” Kenney said.
The group will meet in DeKalb this weekend. The Citizen’s Convention will be held at the Unitarian Church on Fourth Street starting at 2 p.m. Saturday.
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*** LIVE SESSION COVERAGE ***
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House and Senate are both convening at noon today. BlackBerry users click here. Everyone else can just watch the day’s events in real time…
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*** UPDATE 2 *** He showed up and refused to answer questions…
In response to questions, Smith repeatedly declined to answer, instead telling reporters to talk with his lawyer.
He was asked: Were you pleased by your reception?
“No comments,” Smith said.
Do you believe you’re innocent?
“No comments,” he said.
Do you intend to be here every day through the end of the session?
“No comments,” he said.
What do you think about the House contemplating your expulsion?
“No comment,” he said.
Do you intend to testify at the committee if you’re asked?
“No comments,” he said.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Nope…
House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office Tuesday morning confirmed that indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) won’t be returning to the Illinois House anytime soon despite an assurance from Smith’s lawyer to the contrary.
“I don’t believe he’s going to come back this week,” Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said. “Let’s just leave it at that without me saying how I know.”
Brown would not divulge any other information except to say he was unaware of an illness or any other extenuating circumstance affecting Smith that might normally keep a state legislator from making the trip to Springfield.
Told of Brown’s comments, Smith lawyer Victor Henderson Tuesday stuck to his story from last week that his client, in fact, intends to return to work — though unlike last week, Henderson left himself wiggle room.
“That’s not my understanding,” Smith’s lawyer said when told of Brown’s prediction of a week-long absence by the lawmaker. “But I could be wrong.”
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* I checked with his Stratton Bldg. office and was told that Rep. Smith is expected to arrive in Springfield today, but that there is no hard confirmation as of yet. NBC5…
State Rep. Derrick Smith (D - Chicago) heads back to work Tuesday in Springfield after being indicted on a federal bribery charge
Smith has vowed to stay on the job despite accusations he allegedly accepted a $7,000 bribe from undercover officers.
Thoughts on this?
* Meanwhile, Rep. Smith’s lawyer reiterated his claim that Smith won’t resign…
State Rep. Derrick Smith, D-Chicago, charged with accepting a bribe, has no plans to resign his seat, his lawyer said Monday.
“We’re encouraging people to watch the information come out,” said Victor Henderson, the Chicago attorney who represents Smith. “The state and the Legislature would do well to wait and not rush to judgment.” […]
Henderson and Smith’s other lawyer, Samuel Adam, suggested federal investigators are using Smith’s case to investigate potential wrongdoing by other government officials, although Henderson wouldn’t identify anyone.
“All we know is that they asked him about other high-ranking public officials,” Henderson said. “He did not respond to those requests.”
* Smith’s arraignment hearing date was set yesterday…
State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) is set to formally answer his indictment on bribery charges later this month.
Smith’s arraignment in federal court is scheduled for April 30, according to the federal court docket.
Last week, a lawyer representing the lawmaker said Smith would not step down from his post despite calls to do so by leading Democratic officials. “He’s going to plead not guilty, there’s no vacillation about that,” defense lawyer Victor Henderson said.
Smith’s case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sharon Coleman.
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* Wisconsin was reportedly in the running to snag this corporate headquarters, but Illinois won out. More details as the story develops…
Paris-based building-materials giant Lafarge will relocate its North American headquarters from Virginia to Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn’s office confirmed early this morning.
The manufacturer, which employs 76,000 people worldwide, selected the state due to its transportation network, central location and skilled workforce, according to Quinn’s office.
The deal was sealed last month when Quinn traveled to Europe with Chicago’s NATO Summit host committee, his office said. The delegation visited NATO headquarters in Brussels, and Quinn held some business meetings as well.
Expect a press release soon.
*** UPDATE *** From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Lafarge North America is investing approximately $10 million to relocate its U.S. headquarters from Virginia to Illinois. Lafarge, one of the largest cement, aggregate and concrete manufacturers in the world, will create more than 90 jobs in Illinois in the first two years and likely more than 100 jobs over three to four years. By moving its U.S. headquarters to Illinois, Lafarge will gain access to Illinois’ pool of highly-skilled workers, world-class transportation infrastructure and central location. Governor Quinn personally recruited Lafarge and met with its senior leadership during a recent economic trade mission to Europe. […]
Lafarge is eligible for an Employer Training Investment Program grant to help increase the skills of its workforce and Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credits, which are based on job credits. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will administer the state’s targeted investment package.
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* Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s address to the Illinois Chamber begins at about 10 o’clock this morning. Via our good friends at BlueRoomStream.com, here’s the embed…
Live broadcast by Ustream
…ADDING… That stream conked out on us for a bit. It’s back up now, but here’s another one for backup…
* The coverage of the event has already started, so here’s a ScribbleLive feed for your enjoyment…
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* Michael Holewinski is the chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers Association and president of Ace Industries. He has a must-read op-ed in today’s Tribune…
A lot has been said over the last two years about the business climate in Illinois and, unfortunately, very little of it has been positive. In particular, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is speaking Tuesday in Springfield, seems to enjoy using us as a foil to detract from the challenges he faces in his own state. Does Illinois have problems? Of course. Our financial difficulties are serious and must be addressed.
A thoughtful analysis, however, shows that Illinois is a great place to do business because it is where the business is. This isn’t an attack on Wisconsin. While Wisconsin is a great place to vacation, Illinois is where you want to locate your company.
According to a comprehensive state-by-state analysis by the 2012 Competitiveness Redbook, our state has twice the population of the Badger State and our workers earn 12 percent more than their Wisconsin counterparts — that’s more consumers with more money to spend.
Our workers are more productive. Wisconsin ranks 46th nationally in worker productivity. We have twice the gross domestic product of Wisconsin and export twice as much. More businesses are started in Illinois and we rank higher in high-tech employment opportunities. As the nation recovers from the recession, Illinois is creating jobs at a rate 10 times greater than Wisconsin. We are spending more on research and development. We have five times the venture capital investment. We are producing more people with science and engineering advanced degrees. While the recession has been brutal, we are working our way out of it. We are investing in our people and our businesses.
Make extra sure to go read the whole thing.
I’ll have a live video feed of Walker’s speech, which is expected to start at 10 o’clock. The video will be on a separate post, so you can chew on this one until then.
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Your Money, Up In Smoke
Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The proposed Taylorville Energy Center coal plant would leave Illinois families and businesses paying nine times today’s market price for electricity every year for the next 30 years. That’s a cost increase to customers of $400 million every year, which would add up to $12 billion over the lifetime of this project.
Illinois already produces 30% more electricity than its residents use, meaning consumers would be forced to pay more for power we don’t even need.
In 2010 the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) concluded, “The TEC facility features high costs to ratepayers with uncertain future benefits, and uncertainties that potentially add to already-significant costs.” What’s more, natural gas and electricity prices have sharply decreased since the ICC’s study, meaning the Taylorville Energy Center has grown even more costly relative to alternatives.
As a result of the Taylorville Energy Center:
• Local governments and vital service providers would face huge new costs at a time when budgets are already strapped;
• Illinois employers and job-creators would be subject to nearly limitless financial risk from cost overruns and construction delays; and
• Illinois residents would battle more pollution due to the lax emissions limits project developer Tenaska has pursued.
The bottom line: the Taylorville Energy Center would send your hard earned money up in smoke for power that we don’t need. Tell your legislator to oppose SB 678 or any legislation that supports this unnecessary project.
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