Irrelevant?
Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
As expected, hardly anybody showed up for Saturday’s special session called by the governor to take up the idea of a one-month budget…
About one-quarter of state senators showed up for Saturday’s session. Less than half of House members made an appearance. Neither chamber devoted even a second of discussion to a temporary budget.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said he wouldn’t call the response disrespectful to Blagojevich. “I think it indicates that there’s a majority of the House that simply is not responsive to the governor’s desires,” he said.
Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said the indifference to Blagojevich’s special session and his exclusion from budget talks demonstrate his shrinking role in Springfield.
“There are signs of irrelevance,” Brady said.
Blagojevich issued a statement saying he was disappointed.
Brady is almost certainly running for governor, so his comments should always be taken with a grain of salt. Still, he has a point.
The governor called another special for Monday, when legislators were planning to be back in town anyway. Calling a Sunday special session would have meant yet another story about his alleged irrelevance and demonstrated even more weakness.
More…
“We’ve had two productive meetings, we directed our appropriation directors to work through the weekend to prepare a 12-month budget, which is precisely what we’re going to do,” Madigan said. “When we return to Springfield next week, I presume that they’ll be another meeting of the four legislative leaders, and we will continue to discuss and negotiate the remaining issues, which largely revolve around the funding level for education.”
In the Senate, Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) further supported efforts for a 12-month budget, saying she hoped it could be completed by Friday. To make the governor’s special session on Saturday official, she gaveled the Senate in and out in less than five minutes, including the prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
Even leadership expected little action in Springfield over the weekend. Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) was in Chicago getting treated for a sciatic nerve problem, and Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville) was on a long-planned family vacation in Aruba, a spokeswoman said.
On the spur of the moment, Halvorson, at the invitation of Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), went to the governor’s Capitol office after the brief session to seek an audience.
“You know what? If I could speak for what’s in the governor’s mind, I would be a millionaire,” Halvorson said.
“Why do you think that?” Brady asked. “What’s in his mind that’s so valuable?”
The governor was not at his office, where a spokeswoman said he was at the Executive Mansion at that time.
Oy.
[Comments are open on this post, but they won’t be visibile until Monday. I’m taking a break. You should, too.]
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READER COMMENTS CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND
Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
This weekend’s leaders meetings were cancelled and the special sessions will most likely be gavel in/out, so except for a post later today with audio from the postgame show, there will be no Capitol Fax and no blogging until Monday. I think I’ll monitor the budgeteers meetings from the boat.
You can keep up with events at Illinoize…
See ya.
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This just in…
Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
[Bumped to the top for obvious reasons.]
* 9:17 am - The governor has called a special session for tomorrow at 9 am to take up the matter of a one-month budget. House Speaker Michael Madigan just told his members to plan to be in session throughout the weekend, as well as next Monday and Tuesday.
…Adding… The current one-month budget expires next Tuesday.
* 9:29 am - I just asked Senate President Emil Jones’ spokesperson about the special session proclamation. She talked to Jones and issued this statement from him: “We are working on a twelve-month budget.”
* 9:33 am - That looming deadline of July 31st was specifically cited by the governor’s office as reason for the special session proclamation, which apparently hasn’t yet reached the House, according to Speaker Madigan.
The “bright rumor” had been for days that the leaders would stay in town this weekend and members would go home. But Senate President Jones was coy with some of his members yesterday, and reportedly wouldn’t indicate one way or another what the schedule might be.
* 10:05 am - The governor’s special session proclamation (number 9, if you’re keeping track) can be downloaded here.
* 10:16 am - Thanks to a commenter for reminding me about this memo, sent by Secretary of State Jesse White to all of his employees this week…
“Recent news reports of an Illinois government shutdown have raised questions regarding the impact of the office of the Illinois Secretary of State.
“If a shutdown does occur, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office will remain open and employees will be required to work their normal schedules. Employees will be compensated, as always, for this time.”
* 10:47 am - Rep. John Fritchey has announced that he will run for 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeman. Read the press release here.
* 10:49 am - My intern Paul, who is “retiring,” just got a nice round of applause from the entire state Senate.
* 11:17 am - I’ll post the audio of the availability in the subscribers only section, but the AP has this…
Senate President Emil Jones says he’s not interested in another temporary budget. He wants to come up with a real budget.
*** 12:00 pm *** WLS reporter Ryan Hermes has posted excerpts from interviews with three legislative leaders.
* President Jones…
“Myself and the other two leaders, Cross & Watson & the speaker sat down to talk about the budget.”
- “The governor let his views be known, but we’re the legislative leaders.”
- “It’s up to us to make that decision as to what we should do and where we should compromise.”
- “We should fashion a budget to were we don’t have a government shutdown.”
- “We’re taking about education, healthcare, capitol program, mass transit funding.” […]
- “I intend to try to get it (budget) done around the first week in August - no later than the first week in August . I’m working towards a budget for a full year, not just a one month extension.”
* Speaker Madigan…
- “I think we could do a 12 month budget before Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.”
On yesterday’s leadership meeting:
- “I found it to be a very productive meeting. We identified the areas of difference and had some very productive discussions as to how we can find sufficient revenue to pay for - say - an increase in education.”
- “Our plan is to meet again today.”
- “I’m very hopeful that this process (meeting without the governor present) will give us a 12 month budget some time next week.”
* Leader Cross…
“I still think we’ve got a long way to go.”
- “One side (Senate) wants to spend into the billions and the other side (House) says they can get it done with existing revenues.”
- “You have to look to the Democratic party and the Democratic administration and say ‘why can’t you get this done?’”
* 1:12 pm - From Ryan Hermes’ WLS updates…
I just saw Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) come strolling out of the governor’s office.
He told me he met with Governor Rod Blagojevich for about 30 minutes.
The two talked about “building a relationship.”
A little late for that.
* 3:38 pm - FYI, the four legislative leaders have been meeting in Senate President Emil Jones’ office since about 2 pm. The governor, as before, was not invited. There was hope throughout the Statehouse that Jones might try to convince the governor to rescind his special session proclamation. But his spokesperson said a while ago that the Senate planned to meet tomorrow, as per the proclamation.
*** 4:15 pm *** Paul reports that it was just announced that there will be no further leaders meetings this weekend. This afternoon’s leaders meeting concluded a few minutes ago. Cross and Watson talked to the press. Madigan refused. Jones is still in his office. Audio later in the subscriber section.
* 4:20 pm - The budgeteers will meet this weekend. That often means there was progress on an outline. Special session will continue as planned, but don’t expect a big turnout.
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Question of the day
Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
Predict the final adjournment date for this overtime session.
*** UPDATE *** I took this photo weeks ago, and have been mulling over how (and if) to use it ever since. I think it might be appropriate for today’s QOTD…
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Time for a change?
Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My Sun-Times column today is entitled “Gov needs compromise or new plan”…
What’s more evil: The absence of universal health insurance in Illinois or a modest state income tax increase?
I asked Gov. Blagojevich that question the other day.
Blagojevich has been pushing a universal health insurance bill all year. He’s claimed it’s the greatest moral issue of our times and even said it’s “God’s will” that all people should have access to health care. So far, however, he hasn’t had a lot of luck, or demonstrated much skill in making his dream a reality.
His initial plan was grand and sweeping, funded partly by a 3 percent payroll tax on employers. The rest of the multibillion-dollar plan was paid for with the doomed - and gigantic - gross receipts tax on business. Both ideas died.
Through it all, Blagojevich has steadfastly vowed to veto any increase in either the state income tax or the sales tax. He’s even said that if the General Assembly overrides those vetoes he would call special legislative sessions until they changed their minds.
The governor’s obstinacy has greatly complicated his quest. Legislative pressure has built for decades to finally “solve” education funding. The most widely accepted solution was an income tax hike coupled with significant property tax relief. This was supposed to be “the year” to get it done. Nothing has happened, mainly because of the governor’s threats.
Mass transit is experiencing a serious funding crisis, and legislators and advocates have come up with a plan for a minuscule 0.25 percent sales tax increase in the RTA service area. Blagojevich has said he will veto that.
Horse trading is the usual way out of sticky legislative situations. I agree to most of your ideas, you agree to most of mine and then let’s all go home. That hasn’t happened yet this year because of the governor’s intransigence.
Please read the whole thing before commenting. Thanks.
* Meanwhile, the impatience grows at the Peoria Journal-Star’s editorial board…
If the state’s needs are that dire, then its leaders should be making the case to average Illinoisans - all of them, not just some - to open their wallets. When they can’t bring themselves to do that, it only communicates that the situation isn’t that serious, after all. That’s unfortunate, because in fact many of Illinois’ challenges are very daunting, with long-range implications that will not be pretty.
Make no mistake, we’re not advocating a tax increase, not this late or this knee-jerk in a humiliating legislative session in which so few have done anything to elevate the public’s trust in them. There’s precious little talk of living within the state’s means, which ought to be on the table, as well. Some Republicans mouth that recognition, though it’s fair to question their motivation: Do they really believe it, or are they just content to reap the political gain of watching ruling Democrats spontaneously combust?
Allow us to let you in on one other dirty little secret, in answer to this question: Why the now-or-never tax hike urgency? It’s simple: 2008 is an election year, and heaven forbid that anyone should make any hard or controversial decisions before voters go to the polls. Well, there’s an election every other year, which means that half the time, the Legislature doesn’t allow itself to do anything of significance. Maybe its members should be paid half as much, then. Bet that’s one proposal we won’t see in bill form.
Again, cowardice and dishonesty are getting government exactly where they always do: Nowhere.
* Property tax relief has dropped off the Statehouse radar, and the Daily Southtown wants it put back…
So once again, we remind lawmakers and the governor that the region’s high property taxes are their fault. That is, local property taxes go primarily to schools, and school taxes continue to increase every year because the state refuses to pay its fair share for education. The state constitution mandates that the state should be the primary funding source for public schools. But the Legislature, with the tacit support of a succession of governors, has declined to be the primary funding source. Schools only have one alternative when the state ducks its duty, and that is to raise property taxes.
* And then there’s this topic, which I’d like to forget…
Gov. Blagojevich’s office Thursday wrongly suggested it had enlisted Cardinal George to persuade recalcitrant lawmakers to support the governor’s languishing health-care plan.
* More end of session stuff, compiled by a slightly tired and surprisingly non-hungover Paul…
* Tribune Editorial: A decent transit deal
* $613, 824, and we’re counting
* Williams-Harris: 12-month budget buzz
* Editorial: Capital needs, transit still priorities
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A bit of the back-story
Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We talked about the newly revised cigarette tax yesterday. As you know, a new amendment was introduced in the Senate to up the proposed tax hike from 75 cents per pack to 90 cents. A Senate committee approved the amendment yesterday. Check this out…
No opponents were allowed to testify during Thursday’s hearing.
* The Daily Herald breaks through the clutter of the partisan committee debate yesterday and gives us this…
With Democratic support possibly wavering on the plan, Senate leaders reached out to DuPage County in hopes of gaining support from that county’s Republican senators. The latest version would let DuPage and every other county in Illinois impose up to a $2-per-pack tax. Currently only Cook County can do that.
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom has spent months lobbying for this, saying a $1 tax there would raise $25 million annually, enough to restore jobs and social service programs cut from the county budget. […]
Although all Republicans voted against the plan in a Senate committee Thursday, the strategy is likely to work with the full Senate. State Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican, said he supports it, and sponsors said at least two other DuPage senators are also supportive.
“On balance, I think it’s the best a guy in the suburbs, a minority Republican, could hope for,” Cronin said.
* A bit more from Michael Sneed on the amendment’s sponsor, Sen. John Cullerton…
Cullerton, who was raised in DuPage County, has promised to help Schillerstrom ease DuPage budget pressures by cutting him cash for the county.
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* I had this on the blog yesterday, but it was late in the afternoon so many of you didn’t get a chance to comment…
U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, who earned a reputation for civility in the harsh world of politics, will retire after seven terms in Congress, an aide said Thursday. The Peoria Republican will formally announce his retirement during news conferences today in Peoria, Jacksonville and Springfield, spokesman Tim Butler said. LaHood, 61, said in an interview Thursday that the prospect of leading an ordinary life after 30 years in politics ‘’is pretty appealing.'’
* Why announce now?…
LaHood said he is announcing his retirement early to give prospective candidates time to consider a run for the seat, which has been held for nearly a half-century by LaHood and his predecessor, Bob Michel, a Peoria Republican who served as House minority leader.
“There’s no heir apparent. … This will be a wide-open race,” LaHood said.
* When?…
We’re told by his spokesperson that Congressman LaHood will finish out this term — his seventh
* The past…
LaHood considered leaving the House twice in recent years, first to run for governor, then to apply for the presidency of his alma mater, Bradley University. He passed both times, but some Capitol Hill Republicans quietly questioned whether his heart had already left Congress — speculation that LaHood dismissed on Thursday
* And the future…
GOP leaders have said in the past they aren’t worried about losing LaHood’s seat. Democrats say they’ll compete seriously to capture it; Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) called the district “Republican-leaning, but not a Republican lock.”
Two Peoria Republicans said they would consider running to replace LaHood: state Reps. Aaron Schock and David Leitch.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** More potential candidates from The Politico…
State senator John Sullivan would be a likely Democratic candidate, and he has already spoken with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Republicans also have a number of potential candidates in the wings. Tazewell County Attorney Stu Umholtz, who ran for attorney general last year, and 25-year-old state Rep. Aaron Schock — a protege of LaHood’s — are two of the better-known GOP prospects within the district.
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Morning Shorts
Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Questions raised on enforcing smoking ban
The practical question of how the smoking ban will be enforced was raised by Craig Riggins, an environmental health officer in the county department.
“I know if people are not obeying that, (others) are going to be calling the Health Department (with complaints),” he said.
Working on the law’s enforcement and other ramifications “will be the next big thing on our plate,” said Whitaker.
“Hopefully, we’ll see this get implemented and go well,” he said. “There will be some conflict because people will feel their rights are being infringed upon.”
* Legislature approves electric rate relief
* Electric rebate plan goes to Governor
* $1 billion electric rate deal sent to Governor
* Illinois utility rate relief passes
* Electric rate relief OK’d
* State lawmakers pass electric rate relief
* Utility rate relief bill goes to Governor
* Electric relief bill wins approval
* Animal Farm: How suburban lawmakers voted on power deal
* Judge: Fighter jets must leave Illinois
* Illinois lawmakers OK FutureGen incentives
* Blagojevich will sign FutureGen legislation
* Oberweis fined $21,000 over TV ad
* Sun-Times Editorial: Don’t add to tax misery; how ‘7% solution’ works
* Stroger tells plan for old hospital
* Stroger says deal on wage hikes ‘close’
* Neil Steinberg: Raise the bar on lawyer pay
* Is Daley setting stage for tax hike?
* $6 million in cuts planned for the city
* Secretary of Hired Truck boss charged with perjury; more here
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This just in, Part 2…
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 5:34 pm - Senators are trickling into the chamber, so let’s open up a new thread. It could be an interesting evening as the Democrats may attempt to move a budget, the governor’s health care bill, a 90 cents per pack increase in the cigarette tax and the rate relief legislation. We can probably expect a long wait while the two parties caucus, however.
Also, if you’re just joining us, or missed part of the old thread, there’s been an update on the Cardinal George story. Despite the repeated insistence by the governor’s office that the Cardinal was calling Senate Democrats on behalf of the Illinois Covered plan, and other sources reporting the same thing, a lobbyist for the Catholic Conference said several minutes ago that to his knowledge, the Cardinal “has had no direct communication on this issue at this time” and it was “unknown” if he would.
Some other big news in the old thread which kinda got buried is that Congressman Ray LaHood is planning to announce his retirement tomorrow. Word is that Rep. Aaron Schock is giving the race a close look, which would be very bad for the Illinois House GOP since Schock’s district is so heavily Democratic.
* 5:45 pm - Sen. Rickey Hendon is in the chair and just said that the Senate would be taking votes very soon. The Rules Committee is about to meet.
Listen to the Senate debate here.
* 5:48 pm - I’ve told Paul to abandon his post and head to Boone’s. No sense in making him wait around. So, the party will start soon. Get over there and buy the guy a beer if you can.
* 5:51 pm - The Senate is now taking up the rate relief bill.
Rep. Schock, by the way, was one of 33 House members who voted against the rate relief bill. The roll call can be downloaded here.
* 5:56 pm - Interesting news from the Daily Herald…
Suburban lawmakers are on the verge of cutting a deal to raise the sales tax by a half-cent to bail out the CTA, Metra, Pace and build more roads.
A quarter-cent would go to keep trains and buses running, while the other quarter cent would go to suburban counties to build new roads and widen existing ones. […]
Initial suburban opposition was quelled Wednesday as the RTA cut the amount of cash going to the CTA, raised the amount going to Metra and Pace and required Chicago taxpayers to pony up much more in the form of a real estate transfer tax.
* 6:06 pm - House Republicans voting “Yes” on the electric rate relief bill: Bost, Cole, Coulson, Cultra, Durkin, Hassert, Bill Mitchell, Moffitt, Munson, Myers, Pritchard, Reboletti, Sommer, Tracy, Watson.
* 6:18 pm - The AP has a story up about LaHood…
U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood says he will retire next year after seven terms in Congress.
The Peoria Republican said in an interview Thursday with Peoria radio station WCBU that he decided to move on after 30 years in politics.
*** 6:38 pm *** The Senate has approved the electric rate relief bill 40-13-1. You can find the roll call here. It now goes to the governor.
*** 7:10 pm *** The Senate has adjourned for the evening without taking up the budget bills or the health insurance bill - or anything else beyond several resolutions. That’s it for me. Time to head to the party.
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* 12:13 pm - My buddy Ryan Hermes has been back in Springfield and blogging for WLS Radio the past couple of days. His latest update…
A proposal to crack down on predatory lending just passed out of the Illinois House.
Up next, the Senate.
The bill, SB 1167, can be found here.
* 12:41 pm - As if it didn’t have enough trouble, AFSCME is now lobbying against Senate President Emil Jones’ budget bill.
* 12:47 pm - Another update from Ryan Hermes…
It looks like a vote on the electric rate relief package will be coming this afternoon. […]
A source tells me that [problems] should be ironed out soon and the relief plan should pass both the House AND Senate today.
*** 2:11 pm *** It looks like the Senate has a new amendment that increases the proposed cigarette tax increase from 75 cents a pack to 90 cents a pack. The old amendment imposed a 37.5 mills per cigarette tax increase, while the new amendment proposes a 45 mills increase. It also has this language…
The county board of any county may, by ordinance or resolution, impose a county cigarette tax upon any person engaged in business as a retailer of cigarettes in a county located in this State. If imposed, the tax may not exceed the rate of 100 mills per cigarette sold or otherwise disposed of in the course of such business in this State.
[Adding… 100 mills would be $2 a pack.]
Meanwhile, Health care providers have been asking for an increase in their reimbursement rates as part of any agreement to support the governor’s health insurance plan. (The Illinois State Medical Society filed in opposition to the insurance bill this week, however.) That same Senate amendment would create a new “Healthcare Provider Relief Fund.” According to the amendment, 17 percent of the cigarette tax money raised will go into that fund.
* 2:27 pm - An amendment to be taken up in Senate Executive Committee at 3 pm will raise the state’s borrowing authority to $34,348,149,369 from $27,658,149,369 - if you’re having trouble reading those big numbers, the increase is about $6.7 billion.
* 2:29 pm - The Illinois House is debating the electric relief bill. Listen here.
* 2:37 pm - The Senate plans to runs its budget proposal through the Approriations 2 Committee today at 3:30 pm. Download the proposal here and here.
*** 3:11 pm *** Bringing out the big guns. The governor’s office confirms that Cardinal Francis George is telephoning some Senate Democrats (Catholics, of course) to urge them to change their minds and vote for the governor’s health insurance bill. He appears to be making progress.
The governor asked the Cardinal earlier today to make the calls.
******************
5:18 pm UPDATE: The governor’s office has insisted, and did so yet again a few minutes ago, that the Cardinal made the calls, and other good sources backed that up. But I got through to the Catholic Conference a bit ago and was given this statement by one of their lobbyists:
“To my knowledge, he has had no direct communication on this issue at this time.”
The lobbyist added that it was “Undetermined” whether the Cardinal will make calls on this bill.
Contacts were apparently made by the Cardinal’s staff, however. Sorry about that.
******************
* 3:49 pm - The president of Dominick’s Finer Foods has released a letter praising the governor’s health insurance plan, but offering some additional suggestions. It’s not the Cardinal, but it’s something.
* 4:01 pm - The Daily Herald has a story up about the new cigarette tax hike…
Told Thursday that their 75-cent cigarette tax increase likely won’t bring in as many millions as first predicted, Senate Democrats responded by adding another 15 cents to make it a 90-cent per pack hike. […]
As proposed, all other counties in the state would gain the same authority to impose up to a $2 per pack tax as well. DuPage County has been lobbying lawmakers for this in an effort to try to fill its budget shortfalls. […]
Raising the tax another 15 cents would bring in nearly $50 million more.
*** 4:48 pm *** Rumors have been circulating in Washington, DC that Congressman Ray LaHood will announce his retirement tomorrow. A very top source with close access to LaHood says that will, indeed, happen. More later, perhaps.
*** 4:49 pm *** The House has approved the electri rate relief bill 80-33.
Adding… The roll call can be found here.
* 4:59 pm - The House has adjourned until tomorrow morning.
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Jerk of the month *** Updated x3 ***
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
[I’ve changed the title and format to give this one it’s own post.]
Jerk of the Month: Peoria County juvenile court judge, Albert Purham, Jr.
A Peoria County juvenile court judge, Albert Purham, Jr., would not allow a blogger, Elaine Hopkins for Peoriastory.com, to observe and cover a July 25 juvenile court hearing. He ruled that a blogger is not a journalist under Illinois law.
Juvenile court is closed to the public in Illinois, but by law is open to journalists.
Operating a a “so-called blog” doesn’t make the person a journalist, Purham said.
Before the ruling he consulted the lawyers in the courtroom. A lawyer for the parent in this child welfare case had no objection, and her client, Lorraine Singleton who lost her children in 2003 and is trying to get them back, also had no objection.
But assistant state’s attorney Susan Lucas objected, as did an unidentified female lawyer apparently representing the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
An explanation that Peoriastory.com has operated since February 2007, has business cards, and is run by Hopkins, a former newspaper reporter known to court personnel, did not sway the judge.
Peoria Pundit adds his two cents…
One wonders what Judge Purham would have done were he a judge decades ago when the first radio journalists began doing their jobs. Most early broadcast reporters were, like Elaine, veterans of the print world who were trying their hand at a new exciting way to distribute the news. Would Purham have turned away young Walter Cronkite, a United Press reporter before he became Uncle Walter?
What makes a person a journalist isn’t the particular media he or she uses to disseminate the news. It’s the fact that they are disseminating the news to a mass audience.
My own advice to all bloggers who are doing legit journalism and want to avoid problems with jerks like Purham: Join the National Writers Union. Dues are relatively inexpensive and they have a vetting process for issuing press passes, so their approval adds substantial weight when dealing with those unfortunate souls who are still living in the 20th Century. There are other benefits as well. I’m a member.
*** UPDATE 1 *** YDD makes an excellent point in comments about this issue by citing state law [705 ILCS 405/1-5(6)]
The general public except for the news media and the crime victim, as defined in Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, shall be excluded from any hearing
Which YDD points out means…
I don’t think you’ll find anyone on the street today who would disagree that the Internet is a medium for news. Whether a blogger fits the definition of “journalist” is another question, but a completely irrelevant one under the law.
[Emphasis added]
And then there’s this…
This Act shall be liberally construed to carry out the foregoing purpose and policy.
YDD…
In other words, when in doubt, use the most liberal interpretation.
*** UPDATE 2 *** This was no run of the mill hearing. The grandmother of the girl in question claims she was abused in a foster home and has criticized a local judge. Elaine Hopkins, the blogger who was banned from the courtroom, is a former journalist and has covered the story on her blog…
Crystal Clark has settled down in front of the Peoria County courthouse, on the corner of Main and Jefferson, to protest the treatment of her grandchildren in foster care, and the refusal of Chief Judge Rick Grawey to meet with her group to discuss child welfare issues. […]
She said her grandchildren had been found to be dehydrated at the hands of foster parents, and she plans to refuse both food and water to call attention to their treatment. […]
Clark’s daughter lost the children when she was sent to prison for petty theft, but the children remained in the home they all were sharing with Clark. Then the children were removed from Clark’s care by a Catholic Social Service caseworker and placed in foster care. […]
While in foster care the children were abused, she said, and placed in several homes including one condemned by the the city of Peoria, before landing in foster care in a rural Peoria home. They have not been taken to their own church, she said, adding religious discrimination to the list of problems.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Google News is not 100 percent comprehensive, but it appears that the story about the foster care case is not being covered by the local media. I also have found no mention of the main players on the Peoria Journal-Star’s website.
Elaine Hopkins appears to be the only media person in the area who’s expressed any interest in this case. Without her reporting, nobody is gonna know anything. Maybe that’s how the Peoria judges like it.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
Instead of the standard question today, I’d like to ask you a favor.
My intern Paul Richardson’s last day is tomorrow. He may be sticking around to do Morning Shorts for a while, but he’s leaving town on Saturday. Here’s what I wrote about him in this morning’s Capitol Fax…
My faithful and trusted intern, Paul Richardson, is leaving us tomorrow. Paul is going back to UIUC to finish his master’s degree and then perhaps to law school. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without that young man. He’s been a real treasure. Dependable, smart, honest, you name it. If you’re in Springfield this evening, head to Boone’s after session and help us send Paul off with gusto.
First, please try to make it to Boone’s tonight if you can.
Second, let’s all wish Paul well in comments. Thanks.
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More on the rate deal
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jack Darin of the Sierra Club describes a completely overlooked aspect of the electric rate deal…
…the General Assemlby is poised to approve a mandate that 25% of our electricity come from clean, renewable sources like wind by 2025; and to require that utilities plan for helping us customers use less energy.
The environmental benefits of the clean energy pieces of the rate deal are as significant as the shift in the politics of environmental protection in Illinois.
* Meanwhile, the Republicans are still complaining about the proposal, which cleared a House committee yesterday on partisan lines…
Republicans opposed the deal during Wednesday’s hearing, saying that the $1 billion wasn’t enough and that the state’s attorney general shouldn’t drop lawsuits against the utility companies.
Republicans also complained that Democrats kept them out of the negotiating process.
“It was my understanding that the door was open,” state Rep George Scully, D-Flossmoor, said.
Even though Democrats control the state House and Senate, Republican opposition could block the deal’s approval in the House.
* More…
Republican votes are needed to pass the plan if the [House] chamber votes, as planned, on Thursday. Republicans complained in committee that ComEd is helping to underwrite relief for Downstate consumers served by Ameren Corp. and they questioned how much the package would help individual consumers.
* And still more…
“It’s chump change,” said Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria. “I get to tell all these constituents whose bills have doubled and tripled and quadrupled that they get eight bucks a month in relief?”
* And even more…
One controversial portion of the deal that’s unsettling to some is that the state would dismiss six lawsuits brought against the utilities and power companies as a result of the September power auction. That includes the case filed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office that alleged the power companies colluded to set electricity prices that robbed customers of an extra $4.3 million.
Rep. Jim Durkin, a Western Springs Republican, was one of the skeptics. “How’s the public protected by not following through and getting to the bottom of each one of these lawsuits instead of just dismissing them with the signing of this letter of understanding and the passage of this legislation? How in good faith can the state of Illinois settle those two cases when you have made serious allegations of manipulation and fraud upon the public?” He was the lone Republican to vote “present” in committee because he said he supported offering rate relief but didn’t like the process of coming to this deal.
Susan Hedman, senior assistant attorney general, justified the dismissal of the lawsuits by saying her office believed rate relief was needed now and that the procurement of power needed to be reformed for the future. “There’s a tradeoff between getting relief up front and waiting. If we do not get reforms in the procurement process now, it would mean that every year that we’re litigating that case, there could be another reverse auction with the danger of the same problems that we observed last time.” She later cut someone off and said, rather bluntly, that without dismissal of the lawsuits, “the deal falls apart.”
* But Speaker Madigan had a warning…
“I am told that there are some Republicans that plan not to vote for the rate relief for electric ratepayers,” said Madigan, who supports the deal. “And if there are Republicans, especially from the Ameren service territory, that are going to vote against rate relief, why, I welcome them to do it.”
Thoughts?
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The tax cycle
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* John Patterson has an excellent story on the cigarette tax today. As you already know, the bill passed a Senate committee yesterday…
There’s a cycle that’s developed with state cigarette tax policy. The state raises the tax, rakes in the added millions, watches it begin to drop off after a couple years and then pushes another tax increase.
This cycle has played out at least three times since the early 1990s.
The last state cigarette tax increase was 40 cents per pack, approved in 2002. It increased the state’s tax take by 33 percent. But by 2005, cigarette tax revenue plunged 14 percent, followed by a 2.7 percent drop in the 2006 budget year.
The result? The latest push for a cigarette tax increase, this time on the heels of a statewide ban on smoking in public places such as restaurants and bars.
Critics said the volatility shows why the tax is a bad idea. Supporters said it’s still better than raising other taxes.
* I’m probably quoting too much, but I just had to add this tidbit from Patterson’s piece…
However, later that same year [2002], Blagojevich’s campaign waylaid Republican nominee Jim Ryan when Ryan suggested he’d consider raising sin taxes to balance the budget if elected.
“Name a kind of tax (increase), Rod is opposed to it,” Blagojevich’s campaign spokesman told the Daily Herald in October 2002.
* Meanwhile…
Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, has previously opposed cigarette tax hikes, including in 2005 when Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed an identical increase.
“President Jones is behind it,” said Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, a member of Jones’ leadership team. “He wants it moved, and he wants it passed.”
Asked why Jones has had a change of heart, Link said, “It’s July 25th, and there’s a lot of change of hearts around here.”
* Meanwhile…
The Illinois Department of Revenue said it supports the proposed cigarette tax, straying away from the governor’s campaign pledge not to sign any legislation that would increase sales tax. “This is different than the sales tax,” said Larry Doll, spokesman for the department. “It’s an excise item. It’s different than a general sales tax. A sales tax is applied to all items included necessities. People need food, clothing, what have you, whereas I don’t think you can make the same argument for cigarettes.” Doll also said it’s his understanding that the governor would sign the legislation if it wins approval.
* More stories, compiled by Paul…
* State Senators fight for new cigarette tax hike
* Lawmakers consider tax hike on cigarettes
* Senate committee votes to raise cig tax by 75 cents
* Budget put on the packs of smokers
* Illinois Senate committee OKs cigarette tax
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Another one-chamber budget?
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Senate Democrats are talking about passing a budget of their own this week…
Meanwhile, a key budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats said his caucus is crafting its own full-year budget that they hope to pass by the end of the week and send to the House. Even some Democrats said the proposed spending plan is unrealistic, though, since it is balanced using revenue from a massive expansion of gambling that is stalled in the House. […]
“Something will be done before the end of the week,” pledged Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, a key budget negotiator for the Democrats. “It will be a balanced budget based on revenue streams that have already been passed or will be passed.”
That includes more than $2 billion from a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois. The Senate approved the expansion — which adds new casinos and allows existing casinos to expand — but the House has not taken up the bill. Madigan has said he doesn’t think the House will pass an expansion bill that includes new casinos.
Trotter said the Senate Democrats’ plan will increase school spending by $900 million, fully fund pensions and pay raises and provide additional money for Medicaid payments.
“We do not anticipate needing Republican votes (to pass it),” Trotter said.
* But the Sun-Times has the real story on its chances, as well as the prospects for the governor’s health insurance plan, which aren’t exactly great…
But Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) indicated he likely would not support the Jones-crafted spending plan as configured if it was “not a compromise budget that we can send to the governor.”
Sen. Louis Viverito (D-Burbank), an ally of Madigan whom Jones kicked out of leadership meetings, said he would be another no vote on a Jones budget.
“The budget he’s proposing is unrealistic. It’s a fairy tale,” said Viverito, who was angrily confronted on the Senate floor by Jones after Viverito made his views known during the private Democratic meeting.
The votes also appear well short of what is needed in the Senate for Blagojevich’s less-expensive, health-care plan. Legislative sources said the $1.2 billion plan has only about 25 votes in the Senate. Thirty are needed to pass it to the House.
Capitol Fax reported on that 25 figure yesterday, but the governor’s people insist they’re getting closer to passage. We’ll see.
* And speaking of that health insurance plan…
Meanwhile, a stripped-down version of the governor’s health care expansion plan won approval in a Senate committee. It would cost about $1.2 billion, down from its original $3 billion.
The plan would levy a 3 percent tax on businesses that spend less than 4 percent of their payroll on health insurance.
Opponents said it would hurt small-business owners whose margins may be too small to pay for the program.
State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, scolded supporters for not offering enough details about how the plan would work.
“You can’t even tell me how many businesses you’re going to tax?” he asked.
Oy.
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Morning Shorts
Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* New Clout Street: Oberweis Dairy ad results in fine
* New Spontaneous Solutions: Why do editorial boards want us to suffer?
* State hires firm to erase data from computers
Under a 2003 law, state agencies were responsible for running software programs designed to clean hard drives 10 times on each machine they were sending to CMS for disposal or resale.
But in 2005, Auditor General William Holland’s office examined 50 computers ready for resale and found 15 still had sensitive state data on them. Holland would not reveal what was found but said it would be “publiclyembarrassing” and could cause a security breach.
The memo from CMS Acting Director Maureen O’Donnell said during the fiscal year that ended in June 2006 — more than a year after the audit — 4 percent of the 10,000 computers that CMS processed contained data that
violated the law. Another 900 could not be turned on to see if they were clean, so they were not resold.
* Editorial: In praise of IL smoking ban
* Editorial: Huffing and puffing over smoking ban will pass
* Editorial: Don’t water down statewide smoking ban
State Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Milan, is proposing that the ban not take effect in casinos for five years or until smoking is banned in casinos in neighboring states.
Verschoore’s Quad City-area district includes Casino Rock Island. Iowa does not have a statewide smoking ban.
Harrah’s Metropolis Casino, located across the Ohio River from Kentucky - which also does not have a smoking ban - is planning to offer a smoking area that would not be affected by the Illinois ban but would be protected from the weather and “temperature controlled.”
* House vote hits Indiana for BP plan
* Rep. Kirk faces war on many fronts
The North Shore, once heavily Republican, has changed politically since 2000, when Kirk succeeded his former boss, longtime Republican Rep. John Porter. A majority of the area’s state legislative districts are held by Democrats, and presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry carried the 10th District in 2004.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of Democrats in the House, has taken notice and put a bull’s-eye on Kirk.
* Prosecutors: Stroger stabbed us in the back
* DuPage judge slows O’Hare expansion plan; more here
* Daley spent $89K on war chest study
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