* He’s been there since Monday waiting on the US Supreme Court’s Janus decision…
Daily Public Schedule: Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Gov. Rauner continues his visit to Washington, D.C. on official business.
* Meanwhile…
Get this: as fate would have it, @GovRauner and Champaign's Mayor @DebFrankfeinen are both in Washington D.C. tonight. I'm hearing they are scheduled to meet tonight with some business/economy wonks. Will the mayor ask the Governor for a public apology?
Four Illinois governors have gone to prison in recent decades, after they won the office.
But one new candidate who filed Monday already faces a six-month jail sentence and could be locked up in a few weeks.
Born Benjamin Winderweedle, he served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, retired, then changed his name last year to Kash Jackson. He’s just filed for governor on the Libertarian Party ticket. But he’s already famous for failing to pay his ex-wife thousands of dollars he owes for child support and education.
“This is why they try and paint me as a ‘deadbeat father.’ Because I’m speaking about it. Anytime that they reduce a parent down to a visitor to their children, that justifies the state putting in support orders. And in Illinois grotesquely inflated support orders,” Jackson said. […]
A Lake County judge ordered Libertarian Kash Jackson to pay the overdue child support to his ex-wife by Aug. 6th — or go to jail for six months. That means he could be locked up on Election Day, apparently a first for a candidate for governor of Illinois, several of whom got locked up after Election Day.
Second local Republican, @SenChapinRose, says he spoke to @GovRauner this morning and asked him to apologize to Champaign-Urbana for "not much of a workforce" diss. Will he? The gov not exactly known for his retractions. https://t.co/lUrPyyH9Vi
* The Question: Your prediction of what happens next?
…Adding… From Sen. Rose…
“I’ve asked the Governor to apologize. Cook County could only dream of having consistently lower unemployment rates like Champaign County has seen over the past several years. In fact, over the last decade, as Chicago’s jobs climate has struggled, Champaign has maintained some pretty awesome employment statistics. And, it’s easy to see why: three interstate highways, a conveniently located airport, and the University of Illinois make it a great place to live and work, not to mention that our local workforce powers some pretty serious manufacturing too. Oh, and did I mention that we have no traffic. The people in the Champaign area work hard, and we are open to all businesses - which is why we are growing.”
*** UPDATE *** The Champaign County Chamber is out in DC and the governor paid them a visit today…
The @CCountyChamber Facebook post says “Governor Rauner visit (sic) us at our hotel and addressed recent comments made and apologized. We are proud of our growing community, diverse workforce and fierce loyalty our our entire community.” https://t.co/vNQEU5u1a4
* Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady talked about legislative redistricting on WJPF today…
If you look at the last two gubernatorial elections, Bruce Rauner and Bill Brady, it is in a map drawn by the Democrats. In both cases, Bruce Rauner and Bill Brady beat Pat Quinn in the majority of the House and Senate seats. As smartly gerrymandered by them - and believe me, they are really good at this - as smartly as they could do it, they still couldn’t draw a map that the gubernatorial candidates didn’t win a majority. So, under a fair map, that is representative of the communities of this state, there’s no question in my mind, we would be, legislatively a Republican state.
Brady lost the popular vote to Quinn by 31,834 votes, and yet he won the majority of legislative districts. I’m not sure that’s such a great argument about how horribly gerrymandered the districts are. Just the opposite.
You’d think he would’ve lost a lot of districts because Dems advantaged themselves as much as possible to concentrate Republican legislative support in a handful of districts while diluting the rest over multiple Democratic districts (”packing and cracking”).
Then again, maybe it means nothing at all. We do have lots of ticket-splitters in this state and Quinn was a weak governor.
* Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association press release…
The annual IDCCA County Chairs’ Brunch held in mid-August has become a traditional rallying point shifting Democratic Party activism into high gear. IDCCA President Doug House is confident that this year’s keynote guest and speaker, Former Vice President Joe Biden, will build unprecedented enthusiasm and help boost attendance well beyond last year’s record turnout.
“Over the last three years, our Democratic County Chairs have invested in training, recruitment, coalition development and party building,” said House. “Illinois Democrats are fighting like never before to stop the dangerous Republican agenda to dismantle 70 years of American working and middle-class prosperity. Without question, Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and J.B. Pritzker will rally, motivate and inspire Illinois Democrats to execute the battle plan to ensure a ‘Blue Wave’ in every county of our state.”
With a keen understanding of the hardships that Bruce Rauner and Illinois Republicans have forced on working and middle-class families, Senator Durbin delivered the party’s pitch and secured the confirmation of Biden as the 2018 keynote guest.
“Joe Biden was my Senate colleague and remains my good friend,” Durbin said. “When I asked him to headline the largest gathering of the year of Illinois Democrats, he didn’t hesitate to say yes. Vice President Biden was President Obama’s strong partner – we welcome him back to Illinois.”
Biden’s visit will reinforce the enthusiastic momentum that gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker has built among Democrats and working families all over Illinois.
“Bruce Rauner is a failed governor who has spent four years lurching our state from crisis to crisis, doing untold damage to our state,” said Pritzker. “We can’t afford another four years of his failures and that’s why we’re uniting Illinoisans in every corner of our state to defeat him. We are running a statewide, grassroots campaign to put Springfield back on the side of working families and there is no one who fights harder for working families than Vice President Joe Biden. I’m thrilled that the Vice President is joining us at the IDCCA brunch as we come together as Democrats to move our state forward.”
The 2018 IDCCA Brunch will be held within days of the ten-year anniversary of then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s Old State Capitol announcement of Biden as his running mate. Biden’s return to Springfield is anticipated to draw the largest, most enthusiastic crowd of Democrats to ever attend the IDCCA County Chairs’ Brunch.
The IDCCA County Chairs’ Brunch will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield on Thursday, August 16, 2018. The event begins at 8:00 a.m. Event details and methods of purchasing tickets is available on the IDCCA webpage at www.ILDCCA.org and via social media at www.facebook.com/ILDCCA and www.twitter.com/ILDCCA
I heard yesterday he will also be at the fairgrounds, but I’m not certain of that yet. Last year, you’ll recall, Speaker Madigan canceled the annual fairgrounds rally.
Met today with Illinois governor Bruce Rauner The “Janus” SCOTUS Case was at the start —AFSCME vs Rauner. Rauner will soon have changed the world for the better more than most governors in US history ever have pic.twitter.com/1VTQRSUjKa
The Supreme Court effectively put an end Tuesday to a California law that forces anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers to provide information about abortion.
The 5-4 ruling also casts doubts on similar laws in Hawaii and Illinois.
* Press release…
State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) issued the following statement in response the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against a California state law that would have required crisis pregnancy centers to provide women with information about state-provided abortion. Similar legislation was signed into law in 2016 in Illinois.
“This is a victory for the unborn, and I would want to thank for the U.S. Supreme Court for recognizing what is right and the faith based rights of those who wish to not to contribute to abortions. With today’s ruling, Illinois’ similar law, which requires crisis pregnancy centers to provide information on abortion, will be now be unenforceable.”
* I sent Righter’s release to the ACLU for comment. This is from Lorie Chaiten, director of the Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project of the ACLU of Illinois…
Today’s decision involved a very different law than the one NIFLA is challenging in Illinois. Illinois’ law simply ensures that when patients go to the doctor, they can expect to be given the information they need to understand their medical circumstances and treatment options. These are protections that apply across the board, requiring all medical professionals to comply with their ethical obligation to provide standard of care information to patients.
We are confident that the judges hearing the Illinois cases will understand these distinctions and will conclude that the patient protections as issue in Illinois are in full accord with state and federal law
The lawsuit, filed against state officials including Gov. Bruce Rauner, claims their constitutional free-speech rights are violated by the changes to the law because they have to offer advice they find morally wrong. The clinics also allege the new law violates federal laws banning discrimination against doctors and other health care workers who do not provide or refer patients for abortions.
Supporters of the law say the changes only require health care providers to inform patients of all their options — a standard practice of care in the medical field.
The law was originally passed — after the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion — to shield physicians opposed to performing the procedure. Modifications to that law, designed to protect patients who didn’t know all their options, were signed into law by Rauner last year after an emotional Illinois Senate subcommittee hearing that drew testimony from patients.
The California Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency Act (FACT Act) was enacted to regulate crisis pregnancy centers—pro-life centers that offer pregnancy-related services. The FACT Act requires clinics that primarily serve pregnant women to provide certain notices. Clinics that are licensed must notify women that California provides free or low-cost services, including abortions, and give them a phone number to call. Its stated purpose is to make sure that state residents know their rights and what health care services are available to them. Unlicensed clinics must notify women that California has not licensed the clinics to provide medical services. Its stated purpose is to ensure that pregnant women know when they are receiving health care from licensed professionals. Petitioners—two crisis pregnancy centers, one licensed and one unlicensed, and an organization of crisis pregnancy centers— filed suit. They alleged that both the licensed and the unlicensed notices abridge the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment. The District Court denied their motion for a preliminary injunction, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed. Holding that petitioners could not show a likelihood of success on the merits, the court concluded that the licensed notice survived a lower level of scrutiny applicable to regulations of “professional speech,” and that the unlicensed notice satisfied any level of scrutiny.
Held:
1. The licensed notice likely violates the First Amendment.
(a) Content-based laws “target speech based on its communicative content” and “are presumptively unconstitutional and may be justified only if the government proves that they are narrowly tailored to serve compelling state interests.” Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U. S. ___, ___. The licensed notice is a content-based regulation. By compelling petitioners to speak a particular message, it “alters the content of [their] speech.” Riley v. National Federation of Blind of N. C., Inc., 487 U. S. 781, 795. For example, one of the state- sponsored services that the licensed notice requires petitioners to advertise is abortion—the very practice that petitioners are devoted to opposing.
(b) Although the licensed notice is content-based, the Ninth Circuit did not apply strict scrutiny because it concluded that the notice regulates “professional speech.” But this Court has never recognized “professional speech” as a separate category of speech subject to different rules. Speech is not unprotected merely because it is uttered by professionals. The Court has afforded less protection for professional speech in two circumstances—where a law requires professionals to disclose factual, noncontroversial information in their “commercial speech,”
…Adding… Sen. Kwame Raoul…
The NIFLA decision, which sides with entities seeking to mislead women, is part of a troubling erosion of a woman’s freedom to make personal decisions about her life, body and family. Protecting a woman’s right to choose means protecting her access to affordable healthcare and accurate information. Illinois recognizes this by requiring medical professionals who object to abortions to provide information about where and how patients can access the care they choose. As attorney general, I will defend this law and all aspects of women’s rights.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the attorney general’s spokesperson…
The Illinois law is different in a significant way from the California law at issue in today’s Supreme Court decision. As a result, it’s speculation to declare how the courts will ultimately rule on the Illinois law. The cases concerning the Illinois law will continue and the courts will judge the impact of today’s decision on those cases.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Excerpt from the Thomas More Society’s press release…
Unlike California pregnancy centers, those in Illinois have been under court protection from the law that forces them to make referrals for abortion, even if they have sincerely held religious convictions against doing so. The preliminary injunction order was issued in July 2017 by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Rauner.
“The Illinois district court’s injunction is based on the Supreme Court’s well-established Free Speech principles, which were largely disregarded in the California case” added Olp. “We are pleased that the high court has chosen to protect pro-life medical professionals from California’s Reproductive FACT Act. This unconstitutional and unethical mandate to promote the so called ‘benefits’ of abortion and to refer women to abortion vendors has been a clear violation of the right of conscience of pro-life doctors, nurses and pregnancy help centers.”
Nonprofit pro-life pregnancy centers are established to support and assist women by providing life-affirming alternatives to abortion and the Thomas More Society brief argued that a woman has a right to choose life for her unborn child.
“Under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment these centers cannot be required to agree with or be compelled to promote any state’s message concerning abortion,” said Olp. “They have the right to offer charitable services and proclaim an exclusively pro-life message to those in need. The Supreme Court has now shut down laws like California’s Reproductive FACT Act and the amended Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act that deny women their ability to receive free pregnancy support and their right to choose life for their child.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** From Jennifer Welch, President and CEO Planned Parenthood of Illinois…
With today’s decision, the Supreme Court has made it legal to withhold vital healthcare information from women. Fake women’s health centers are deceptive and harmful. Patients seeking health care or counseling during pregnancy require and deserve accurate information. Fake women’s health centers are lying to women, withholding medical information, and cutting off access to care. Planned Parenthood of Illinois will continue to fight for every person’s right to access high-quality care and accurate information, despite this disappointing decision.
The difficulties that Kash endured in family court led him to found the organization Restoring Freedom, through which he has become a leading advocate for judicial and family court reform. His activism expanded his understanding of Constitutional rights infringement in our state.
* His oppo file may very well be the most brutal I’ve ever read. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart…
2014 ORDER OF PROTECTION
Kash Jackson’s Ex-Wife Obtained An Emergency Order Of Protection Against Him In 2014
Kash Jackson’s Ex-Wife Obtained An Emergency Order Of Protection Against Him In July Of 2014, Which Barred Him From Contacting Her Or Their Children (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14)
· The Order Barred Jackson From His Home And His Children’s Daycare. (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14)
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Claimed Repeated Acts Of Violence Against Her And Their Children
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Claimed He Punched A Picture Frame Next To Her Head. “I tried to speak to Ben about continued issues in our marriage. He got upset. I left with the children because I was scared he would get more angry due to his history of violent behavior. I returned later to find him still upset and we argued and he cursed at me to get the [expletive deleted] out. Then he punched the picture frame next to where I was standing, shattering glass everywhere. I got scared that he would get more physical and I ran.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14, p 33)
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Claimed He Attempted To Choke Her During Sex. “I was with Ben in Seattle when I was trying to work on our relationship. During intercourse he put his hands around my neck until I pushed him away.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14, p 33)
Jackson Allegedly Punished His Six-Year-Old Son By Forcing Him To Move Bricks In Cold Weather For Nearly An Hour. “As way to punish our 6 yr old son he made him move bricks in cold weather for 45 mins to 1 hr. When I tried to intervene he got very angry.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14, p 33)
After His Ex-Wife Stopped Him From Punishing The Six-Year-Old Again, Jackson Allegedly Punched The Door Next To Her Head And Then Threw Furniture At Her. “The next morning he got up early to finish punishment again to intervene grabbing my son when was crying. I put them in a room and stood in front of the door and told him he could not touch them. He continued to get angry, yell, swear, insult and I was scared, did not reply. He punched the door I was standing directly next to. Punched the door denting it right next to my head. He continued to break other furniture and throw them around me.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14, p 33)
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Accused Him Of Repeatedly Hitting Their Children. “On 2 different occasions Ben physically disciplined our children by slapping in the face or leaving marks or spanking leaving bruises on bottom and backs of the legs.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14, p 33)
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Accused Him Of Forcing Himself On Her. “Throughout our relationship he wanted sex when I was ill and after I had our son. I told him I did not want to and he forced himself on me.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2014 Emergency Order Of Protection, 7/16/14, p 33)
2015 ORDER OF PROTECTION
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Obtained Another Emergency Order Of Protection Against Him In 2015
Kash Jackson’s Ex-Wife Obtained An Emergency Order Of Protection Against Him In March Of 2015, Which Barred Him From Contacting Her Or Their Children. (Benjamin Winderweedle 2015 Emergency Order Of Protection, 3/25/15)
· The Order Also Required Jackson To Surrender His Guns. (Benjamin Winderweedle 2015 Emergency Order Of Protection, 3/25/15)
Jackson’s Ex-Wife Asserted Again That He Had A History Of Violence Towards Her And Their Children
In Her Petition, Jackson’s Ex-Wife Said That He Had A History Of Violent Behavior Towards Her And Their Children. “He has a hx of violent behavior towards me & the children…During our relationship he has shoved me, verbally threatened me, and has taken spanking the children and other forms of punishment to extremes (i.e. moving pile of bricks in winter for over 45 minutes when son was 6 yrs. old). He has punched a door & wall within a foot of my head damaging the wall & door & broken items & thrown them around me causing additional damage to home.” (Benjamin Winderweedle 2015 Emergency Order Of Protection, 3/25/15, p 32)
Jackson Allegedly Attempted To Kill Himself Twice
Jackson Allegedly Attempted Suicide Twice. “I fear for safety of myself & my children due to his attempted suicide in Nov. 20, 2014 and recently on March 20, 2015. (Benjamin Winderweedle 2015 Emergency Order Of Protection, 3/25/15, p 32)
CHILD SUPPORT
Jackson Owes His Ex-Wife At Least $15,989.50 In Unpaid Child Support. (STEVERSON VS WINDERWEEDLE, Lake County Circuit Court, 17F 00000733)
These were all allegations that were investigated by the United States Navy and were unfounded. Mrs. Winderweedle has a history of not only purjuring herself but also of being investigated for child abuse. In a 2014 letter delivered to myself from the United States Navy she claimed that I was not financially providing for her and our two minor children and that due to her limited work as a contractor (occupational therapist) she could not provide adequately. For the two years we were separated leading up to that letter, I paid all of the bills in the home while she hid her nearly $180k. Our tax returns also reflect she was giving in excess of $1,000 a month to her church. I did struggle with depression and did attempt suicide and was treated for. I have lost many veteran friends to suicide which is why I am a advocate and activist to raise awareness. False allegations derailed a very successful navy career and I have been an activist since that time to reform it. My ex wife plays victim very well but the well documented history of her lies shows otherwise. Regarding the excessive support order. The judge ordered me to turn over more than 40% of my income and when my pay dropped almost $1,000 a month he said it wasn’t substantial enough to warrant a modification. I have paid over $100k in child support. Illinois also refuses to give me credit for over $7k in support that I paid and have proof of. The entire system is built on using false allegations to gain an upperhand in custody proceedings, extended littigation to maximize profits for attorneys and a defunct system that does nothing but destroy lives. I have not hidden the issues and have been very outspoken about it. As a result, I continue to suffer reprisals and defamation of character. I will remind you that I was never charged much less convicted of any crime. I was never given a right to an attorney, trial by jury, or read any rights. In short, allegations due not equate to truth. If I was an abuser the navy would have court martialed me and given me a dishonorable discharge. That is not what occurred. If you get the opportunity please ask my ex why she spanked our children with wooden spoons and other objects. Ask her why she had complaints filed against her as a therapist for locking autistic children in closets. She is a religious fanatic and adept at manipulation and lies.
A Chicago federal judge has refused to allow attorneys for a failed primary challenger to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan the chance to obtain a copy of a 2014 inspector general’s report detailing the ways Madigan wields clout and influence in Illinois, saying the contents of the report would be of no value to the ex-candidate’s lawsuit accusing Madigan of pulling strings and using underhanded tactics to undercut his candidacy.
On June 14, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly granted motions from Julie Porter, the state’s Special Legislative Inspector General, to quash subpoenas issued by attorneys for Jason Gonzales, to secure a selection of documents, including a copy of the so-called Homer Report.
That report had been published by former LIG Thomas Homer, purportedly addressing allegations concerning Madigan’s influence over hiring decisions at Metra, the Chicago regional commuter rail agency.
“Even if one assumes, for purposes of discussion, that this material contains information tending to show that Madigan used influence derived from his official position to influence Metra’s personnel decisions, that would not tend to make it more likely … that he also used influence derived from his office in connection with the primary election,” Kennelly wrote.
“And even if it did, the proposition that because Madigan used influence gained from his official position vis-à-vis Metra, it is more likely that he also did so in connection with the primary election likely would involve an inference prohibited under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b).”
Cicero Town President Larry Dominick is alleging the attorney for a failed primary challenger to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is claiming in federal court Madigan pulled strings to undercut his candidacy, is playing to the media and engaging in other dirty tricks to force Dominick to answer questions in a deposition about Madigan’s power.
On June 21, Dominick’s attorneys filed papers in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, contesting a subpoena from Jason Gonzales to depose Dominick. Gonzales lost to Madigan in the 2016 Democratic Primary Election, and has a suit going against Madigan and Madigan’s allies alleging Madigan used “political favors, control of campaign funds and precinct captains to discredit Gonzales.” […]
Gonzales’ attorney, Anthony Peraica, is claiming Dominick can shed light on the 76-year-old Madigan’s influence and methods. Attempted service of the subpoena on Dominick has met with controversy, as the process server was arrested by Cicero police on charges of theft and impersonation of a police officer.
Peraica, of Chicago, called the charges against the process server “false” and then filed a motion asking the U.S. Marshal’s Service to serve the subpoena. […]
The “grudge” to which [Dominick attorney Sean Sullivan] alluded concerns Peraica’s unsuccessful reelection bid in 2010 against Jeffrey Tobolski for the post of Cook County commissioner. Dominick endorsed Tobolski, a Democrat and criticized the Republican Peraica during the campaign. Sullivan noted Peraica was convicted of vandalizing Tobolski’s campaign signs during the election season.
Peraica also pursued two suits – both eventually dismissed – against Cicero on behalf of a person politically opposed to Dominick, according to Sullivan.
* From Gonzales’ attorney…
Madigan and Dominick are partners in a criminal enterprise called Illinois “government” https://t.co/gcLTCNEnMa
* Gov. Rauner was on the Roe Conn show the other day and talked about how the state needs to “invest in the technology and information sector.” He wants us to be more like California, Massachusetts and other giant tech hubs. He rightly pointed out that “the driver of that sector is the university systems,” and Roe asked what was holding Illinois back. After talking a bit about state regulations, Rauner launched into this soliloquy….
Rauner: The tragedy for us in Illinois is, the University of Illinois is here, one of the great research universities in the world. Their students have started some of the greatest companies in the world. Oracle, PayPal, Tesla Motors, iTunes. It’s stunning. None of them are in Illinois. There’s several reasons, but part of the reason is, Champaign-Urbana is wonderful, but it’s very hard to keep a company of more than six people there. There’s no convenient transportation, not much of a workforce. It’s very hard. We can start some companies there, but what we need to do is help the University of Illinois expand in Chicago, expand in Rockford and Peoria that have large economic systems and great companies already.
Conn: Airports and rail and all that.
Rauner: Exactly. And a diverse, large workforce. And then use their technology innovation and ability, get their students integrated in the local economy and we can boom.
I have watched Gov. Rauner’s contempt for Downstate the last 3 yrs as he wears different costumes & his speech changes when he leaves Chicago. But his disdain was in full display on WGN.
* But is he right? Maybe not on some of the specifics (and negatively comparing Champaign to Rockford and Peoria ain’t gonna go over well), but he’s certainly right that we have trouble keeping these genius tech gurus in Champaign. Yes, there are some exceptions. And, yes, much of the reason was that until recently Illinois didn’t have the same sort of startup-funding infrastructure as Silicon Valley.
But there’s no denying that nurturing the tech boom in Chicago means UIUC needs to have a city presence.
He shoulda just stuck with that instead of bashing Champaign. “Not much of a workforce”? Sheesh, man.
*** UPDATE *** You’ll recall that Pritzker has a new TV ad criticizing Rauner for constantly bad-mouthing Illinois…
“Bruce Rauner is Illinois’ bad-mouther-in-chief and communities across our state are fed up and fighting back,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “This governor railed against Champaign-Urbana, belittling their workers, disregarding their transportation system, and leaving local leaders to defend their communities from baseless attacks.”
…Adding… Erika Harold kinda responds…
As someone who was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana and is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I could not be prouder of our educational institutions, workforce and vibrantly diverse community. We should be doing more to invest in infrastructure and economic opportunities for all Illinoisans, and that is why I am running for Attorney General - to ensure all of our communities are well represented.
…Adding… Sen. Kwame Raoul…
While discussing Champaign-Urbana on a Chicago radio station last week, Bruce Rauner told a Chicago radio station, “it’s very hard to keep the company of more than six people there. There’s no convenient transportation, not much a workforce. It’s very hard.”
Democratic candidate for Attorney General Kwame Raoul responded:
“Whether it’s Donald Trump calling my ancestors’ home of Haiti a ’shithole,’ or Bruce Rauner badmouthing his own state, it is long past time for our leaders to stop tearing people down.
Champaign-Urbana is one of the most important regions in our great state, and the people who call it home don’t deserve to be insulted. I’m proud of where I come from, and if someone attacks any of Illinois’ vibrant communities, voters can count on me to stand up and fight back.”
Rauner’s handpicked candidate for Attorney General, Republican Erika Harold, was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana and attended the University of Illinois. Her response failed to mention the Governor’s harsh words for her hometown.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on public employee unions did not happen again on Tuesday.
Meeting for the second day this week, the court on Tuesday issued opinions in two more cases — including upholding President Donald Trump’s travel ban — but the highly anticipated Janus vs. AFSCME case was not among them. A final day of opinion releases is expected Wednesday. This is the final week of the Supreme Court’s current term.
No word yet on whether Gov. Rauner will stay in DC.
It’s fitting that Mark Janus, the plaintiff behind a highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week, works for Illinois government. The union he sued is particularly influential in politics and policy here — with perilous outcomes for taxpayers.
The 200-page American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 contract exemplifies how the demands of public employee unions have grown extreme in Illinois government and why Janus got fed up. Overtime costs, seniority rules, a hyperactive grievance process, pay raises and step increases that far outpace the consumer price index, health care plans heavily subsidized by taxpayers, costly pensions and worker protections that keep bad employees on the job have soured the image of public employee unions. They’ve gone too far.
Several years ago, a supervisor at the Illinois Department of Revenue made the mistake of working extra hours to reduce a backlog of tax returns. AFSCME filed a grievance. Why? She had violated a clause in the union’s contract by doing “bargaining unit” work. The union also filed complaints against volunteers at veterans homes who were giving their time, for free, to answer phones and welcome visitors. They were intruding on union workers’ turf.
The grievances were upheld through an arbitration process in Illinois that favors unions, not management. Embedded in public employee union psyche, that process codifies inefficiency in government. It’s coveted.
And taxpayers are on the hook. The union advocates for tax hikes and government growth — last year’s 32 percent income tax hike and now a proposed graduated income tax — to shore up its strength to the detriment of Illinoisans en masse. All those years of unbalanced state budgets and shortchanged pension funds? AFSCME, an ally of the Democratic majority, was an enabler.
As the government unions keep Boss Madigan in power, the Democrats with their clout have repaid the government unions many times over, with luxurious pension benefits and raises unheard of in the private sector.
The symbiosis has had an impact on public policy for decades, from those debilitating budget fights in Springfield, to the collapse of the state’s credit rating, to the giant multibillion-dollar hole in the government union pension fund.
Businesses flee to surrounding states, to Wisconsin, Indiana and elsewhere in the Midwest, and those businesses take good jobs with them.
And homeowners see property tax increases devour the equity of their homes, the tax increases going to pay for amazingly generous retirement benefits for teachers and administrators.
All of this is fiscally untenable and ethically corrupt, because the public is being played and the rules are stacked against them.
Women, African Americans, and Latinos are much more likely to work in the public sector (apart from the police and corrections) than are white men, and are therefore much more likely to belong to public-sector unions. This is largely due to the large share of caring, teaching, and clerical jobs in the public sector—all jobs disproportionately held by women and by racial and ethnic minorities. Nearly 16% of all women are employed in the public sector, as are almost 12% of African-American workers and 8% of Hispanics, compared with barely 7% of white men. This concentration of women and minority workers means that the Janus case is particularly important to these workers.
Shaun Richman, a veteran union organizer, warned in the Washington Post that a ruling against agency fees could require public employers to allow multiple unions to compete for workers, instead of dealing with just one. That could lead to greater union militancy and power as unions fall over each other to show they’re the most committed worker advocates.
I don’t think there’s any First Amendment problem with compelled payments of union agency fees at all. The government can constitutionally require people to pay money to the government (in taxes), money that the government can then use for ideological purposes (e.g., supporting a war, opposing racism, promoting environmentalism, and so on). Likewise, the government can constitutionally require people to pay money to unions, money that the unions can then use for ideological purposes.
JB Pritzker disconnected the toilets in his Gold Coast mansion in order to receive a massive tax break after having the home reclassified as “uninhabitable.”
The question remains: where in Illinois are Pritzker’s toilets?
One of them made an appearance last night at the Northfield Township Democrats general election kick off party, where JB Pritzker was making an appearance.
Stay tuned as the toilets continue to pop up across Illinois.
* The accompanying pic…
Pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve posted a photo of a toilet on this website. Doubt it’ll be the last, though.
Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff and co-founder of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, is taking on a key role in Illinois’ #MeToo movement, organizers tell POLITICO.
Tchen will act as legal counsel to an anti-harassment panel in Illinois that’s about to launch six sessions across the state to engage women on their political workplace experiences. The sessions are private, intended to give women a protected outlet to share their experiences. The sessions are targeted to those who have worked on campaigns and political committees. The Anti-Harassment, Equality and Access panel is now a 501 (c) (4), nonpartisan and one of the committee’s goals is to draw women across party lines.
Tchen, a partner with Buckley Sandler LLP, helped launch the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which has raised more than $21 million from more than 20,000 people since January. The fund aims to help subsidize legal costs to victims of harassment or workplace retaliation who cannot afford a lawyer. […]
Given the lack of chumminess between most Obama alums and the Chicago machine, Tchen provides the committee some distance from Democratic Party Chair and Speaker Mike Madigan, whose powerful reach is always in question.
* Press release…
Today, the non-partisan Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel (AHEA) announced its plans to host six listening sessions throughout Illinois.
These sessions are designed for women who have worked on campaigns at all levels, in any party in Illinois, to provide guidance for the Panel’s final report on guidelines to improve workplace culture. For those women who can’t participate in these panels, a website has been created where feedback can be provided either by name or anonymously at www.aheapanel.org.
The Panel schedule is:
Champaign: Sunday, July 1
Chicago and Rockford: Sunday, July 8
Metro East: Sunday, July 15
Springfield: Monday, July 23
Carbondale: Thursday, July 26
The Panel is led by Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, State Senator Melinda Bush (Grayslake) and State Representative Carol Ammons (Urbana).
“We are thrilled to start engaging women across the state around this incredibly important work,” said Illinois State Comptroller, Susana Mendoza. “It’s a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Illinois politics and the kind of culture we want to build that ultimately gives everyone the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
State Representative Carol Ammons says the Panel is being very intentional to ensure listening sessions include the voices of all women. “As part of our work, it’s critical that women of color, who have been traditionally disenfranchised, are heard,” she said. “It is crucial the Panel is considering the intersection of race and gender and how it impacts the overall landscape of politics in Illinois. Women of color are missing from the discussion, from the table, and from our elected offices.”
“It’s important that we visit every corner of the state and engage multiple partners in this work so that all voices are heard regardless of where they serve,” said State Senator Melinda Bush. “We want to engage women from all parties, across all levels of experience working on campaigns and within party organizations so we can build recommendations that can create the strongest and most supportive environments where women can succeed.”
The goals of the AHEA Panel are as follows:
* Promote and support a culture of equality, safety, and respect in Illinois politics and government free of sexual harassment.
* Improve the process for combating and reporting sexual harassment in Illinois political campaigns.
* Increase the number of women in leadership positions and those on track to leadership positions at all levels of Illinois politics and government by expanding access and tools for professional and leadership development.
* Facilitate more women running for office in Illinois by identifying and reducing structural obstacles that prevent them from doing so.
Supporting the work of the Panel is Tina Tchen, Partner, Buckley Sandler LLP; Becky Carroll, President, C-Strategies, and co-founder of Illinois Say No More; Katelynd Duncan, President of KJD Strategies and co-founder of Illinois Say No More; and Christie Lacey, Panel Coordinator.
The AHEA is a 501(c)(4) non-partisan organization. This Panel does not have investigatory authority or oversight around sexual harassment allegations. The Panel plans to complete its report by August 16.
As co-founders of the Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel, we are working together to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines that can be adopted by any campaign in any political party, so women can work in safe and supportive working environments where they can thrive. However, developing guidelines is only one part of the work. To ensure lasting and effective change, more women must be given a seat at the table. We will facilitate conversations on how parties and campaigns can support the professional development of women and elevate them into positions of leadership throughout Illinois.
After Libertarian and Conservative Party candidates submitted nominating petitions to challenge him in the upcoming election, Governor Rauner has mobilized his paid staff in an attempt to invalidate the candidates’ petitions and block them from getting on the ballot. Conservative Party candidate Sam McCann, who turned in more than 60,000 signatures on Monday, issued the following statement:
“Governor Rauner knows he cannot be reelected based on his record or on his principles, so he must resort to shady political gamesmanship. Conservatives and Republicans spoke loudly in the primary, nearly dropping Bruce Rauner from the contest completely. Now he is trying to silence the conservative movement that came in the wake of his failed leadership. The truth is that it should come as no surprise that we were able to collect so many valid signatures, and that our work was made easier with every action Governor Rauner took to divert Illinois from traditional conservative values. He’s isolated himself from his party and he has only himself to blame.”
All they’ve done so far is file requests to review or copy the petitions.
McCann on Monday again criticized Rauner for signing legislation that expanded taxpayer funding of abortion. McCann said it was clear from “day one” that Rauner “wasn’t a conservative, wasn’t a real Republican. He was looking to buy a party.”
“He said he was going to turn the state around, that he needed all the Republicans to be in lockstep with him. Well here we are four years later, we have a tax increase, (and) the only thing he’s done is institute a social agenda,” McCann said. “I don’t even know why the Democrats are running J.B. Pritzker or anybody else, no one has been better for the Chicago Democratic machine than Bruce Rauner.”
On taxes, McCann said it should be up to the voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow for a graduated income tax instead of the current flat rate structure — an area of sharp disagreement with Rauner, who contends a graduated tax rate would result in a tax hike for many Illinoisans.
Even so, McCann said he agreed with Rauner that the income tax hike put in place last year should be rolled back. McCann said he believed a reduction could be put in place immediately, saying he will talk about his spending plans in the coming weeks.
I cannot wait to see this spending plan that supposedly immediately rolls back the tax hike.
Republican state Sen. Sam McCann says he filed more than 60,000 signatures Monday to secure a spot on the November ballot against Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrat J.B. Pritzker. McCann needs 25,000 valid signatures to qualify, and a ballot challenge is expected. […]
The Plainview lawmaker says Rauner has “abandoned” core GOP values. Rauner recently signed laws expanding public funding for abortions and limiting law enforcement interactions with immigrants.
* It’s gonna be tough to effectively challenge those petitions. There are so many of them and the people running the show put a lot of planning and effort into the project…
Republican Senator Sam McCann officially enters governor’s race as third party Conservative candidate. His nominating petition- 65,000 signatures and more than 4,500 pages long pic.twitter.com/bFO2qbR4uD
McCann has the support of the Operating Engineers Union Local 150, who will likely play a big role in his campaign. And union spokesman Ed Maher on Monday said the union was “very clear” about telling those circulating petitions that they would not eligible if they had circulated for major party candidates in the primary.
“They had to be very conscious of anyone who had passed petitions for a major party,” Maher said. “That said, the campaign has put a great deal of effort in reviewing the petitions and are extremely confident that they’ll be well above the threshold.” […]
McCann is hoping to continue the momentum conservative voters found in state Rep. Jeanne Ives’ candidacy. Ives lost to Rauner by just 3 percentage points even though she was vastly outspent. The goal is to speak to Ives’ supporters who were angered by the governor’s support of a bill to expand taxpayer funding of abortion; a measure that allows transgender people to change the sex listed on their birth certificates and another that limits law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
While McCann may be seeking Ives’ supporters, the Wheaton lawmaker isn’t actively campaigning for McCann.
“My efforts will be focused on taking Mike Madigan out as Speaker and helping to elect conservative reform House members aligned with my policy principles,” Ives told the Sun-Times on Monday.
* Democratic Governors Association…
“Just when he needs to turn to the general election, Bruce Rauner will have to keep refighting the battles of the primary,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner divided the Republican Party with his lies, and now Jeanne Ives voters will have another opportunity to express their displeasure with Rauner’s failed leadership.”
* Related…
* Four more IL gubernatorial candidates could be on November ballot: Voters could see several gubernatorial candidates on the 2018 General Election ballot in November - including Libertarian Party candidate, a Conservative Party candidate and two independents - if they’re allowed to stay on the ballot.
So we aren’t shocked that the unemployment rate for African-Americans in Illinois is 10 percent. That’s the highest of any state, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
The highest African American unemployment rate [for the first quarter of 2018] is in the District of Columbia (12.9 percent), followed by Illinois (9.1 percent) and New Jersey (9.0 percent).
As we marked Juneteenth, Gov. Bruce Rauner boldly stated he has “done more for black business, for black economic opportunity and black education opportunity than anybody.”
According to whom?
Because I will tell you, it certainly wasn’t according to black workers, dealing with the highest black unemployment rate of any state in the country under his failed leadership.
Google any variation of the phrase “Illinois has the highest African-American unemployment rate” and you’ll get a ton of results.
*Alaska 12.9%
District of Columbia 12.9%
*Kansas 11.7%
Michigan 9.5%
Ohio 9.1%
*Wisconsin 9.1%
*Arizona 9.0%
Illinois 8.9%
Louisiana 8.9%
Black unemployment rates in the “starred” states aren’t tracked by the Economic Policy Institute. The EPI tracks 23 states plus DC for this topic, while the BLS tracks 37 states plus DC.
And keep in mind that the EPI numbers are quarterly, while the federal BLS numbers are annual averages. Since these rates often tend to be revised, an annual average might be the better way of looking at things.
* But there’s no getting away from the fact that Illinois isn’t great for black employment. Here are the EPI numbers for the first quarter of the year for the states which had higher or the same unemployment rates as Illinois in the 2017 BLS report…
Even after the Illinois General Assembly approved legislation meant to tackle the backlog of discrimination cases before the Illinois Human Rights Commission, Gov. Bruce Rauner is putting forth his own plan.
In an Executive Order filed last week, the governor calls for the commission to develop a plan within 60 days to reduce the backlog and achieve more transparency. But critics say it lacks specifics on how to get through the more than 1,000 cases pending that deal with claims of discrimination on the basis of race, religion and other factors.
Carl Draper, an employment and civil rights attorney with the Law Office of FeldmanWasser in Springfield, said the executive order only adds more planning and no action. “It spends two pages talking about the problem and giving it the attention that it needs. And then it has one page that simply results in another study. Public officials can study things to death, but concrete steps need to be taken.” […]
The General Assembly approved a plan this year to restructure how the commission works — including turning some part-time staff into full-time to streamline caseloads. The commission currently has 13 part-time staff members; the changes would turn that to 7 full-time. Critics say they hope Rauner considers this a part of his executive order and signs it into law. Rauner’s office has yet to say if he would go along with that approach, noting that the measure has not been sent to his desk for his review.
Could the EO be political cover for a veto?
* Media advisory…
Illinois’ top utility watchdog will join with suburban Chicago leaders to urge Gov. Bruce Rauner to stand up for consumers and veto House Bill 4508, legislation that favors two powerful private water companies and opens the door for higher water bills across the state. […]
HB 4508, which passed the General Assembly this spring, renews earlier legislation that allows Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water to automatically raise their existing customers’ rates to fund municipal acquisitions. This bill also repeals a 7,500-connection limit on the size of systems that the water companies can buy.
Consumer advocates fear the legislation will allow Illinois’ two biggest private water companies to march across the state buying up municipal water systems and raising customer rates. The parent companies of Aqua and Illinois American made a combined profit of $150 million in the first quarter alone, and past reviews have shown that the two companies charge up to 70 percent more than public systems in the region.
State Sen. Sue Rezin and Bryan McDaniel, director of governmental affairs for the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), will lead the news conference. The event will also feature Homer Glen Mayor George Yukich, who can speak about his constituents’ history of skyrocketing bills under Illinois American Water.
* Other stuff…
* SJ-R Editorial: Hearing should focus on solutions for DCFS children: Lawmakers are rightfully livid about the report, and have demanded hearings be held so officials with the child welfare agency can explain these numbers. And hearings should be held — but not just to bash DCFS officials. The hearings, likely to be held in August, must focus on solutions too.
* Editorial: Don’t subject kids to more tumult. Give Walker time to fix DCFS: Are there problems that plague this agency? Yes. Walker acknowledges difficulties with older children, especially a lack of suitable treatment centers and group homes, a lack of foster families willing to take teens with mental health issues, and kids spending too much time hospitalized in psychiatric wards, which a ProPublica Illinois investigation recently exposed. But one year on the job is not enough time to revolutionize an agency with the toughest mission in state government.
* DuPage mayors: Fight against state funding cuts not over: The newly appointed leaders of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference say municipalities must continue working together to prevent the state from taking local tax revenue to fill gaps in its budget.
* Tribune Editorial: Another whack at Illinois pension spiking. Good: Remember that, taxpayers, the next time your district cries poor. How much money flew out the door in penalties? How much of that could have been used to hire more teachers or aides or social workers?
* Gov. Rauner and JB Pritzker both attended Equality Illinois’ Pride Parade reception on Sunday. A pal of mine was there and snapped these pics. If you look closely, you’ll see the governor is in the back of the room and Pritzker is near the camera…
* Rauner starts working the room in the direction of the camera…
* They get close…
* And then, according to my buddy, they walk right by each other without so much as a howdy-do…
* If you go to the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website, you’ll see this entry for the Libertarian Party’s new gubernatorial candidate…
JACKSON, GRAYSON KASH formerly known as BENJAMIN ADAM WINDERWEEDLE until name changed on Aug 29, 2017
* I asked ISBE spokesperson Matt Dietrich if that’s how Jackson/Winderweedle’s name will appear on the ballot. His response…
Yes, that’s how it will be on the ballot. Here’s the statute:
10 ILCS 5/16-3(e):
…If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition for nomination, nomination papers, or certificate of nomination for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate’s name on the ballot must be followed by “formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)”
…Adding… Former state Rep. John Fritchey in comments…
I actually wrote and passed that law in response to a guy who openly acknowledged changing his name in order to better his chances to be elected as a Judge. I thought I had limited it to judicial races but apparently not.
“There’s been a lot of negative consequences,” Rauner said [about legalizing marijuana in Colorado]. “Addiction is up. Substance abuse is up, absenteeism is up, DUIs are up, traffic accidents are up, workforce productivity is down. There are a lot of consequences and I don’t want to experiment on the people of Illinois.”
* Georgette Braun fact-checked Gov. Rauner’s claims with Abbey Borchers, marijuana policy adviser to Colorado Gov. John W. Hickenlooper. The results were entirely predictable…
• On substance abuse, Borchers said the most reliable way to measure substance abuse is treatment admissions with marijuana reported as the primary drug of dependency. She said the most recent data show that “at least up until 2015, the number of people entering treatment for marijuana is stable post-legalization.”
• On absenteeism in schools, she said the state does not have statistics that directly tie marijuana to absenteeism. The 2016-2017 school year was the first full year in which marijuana was reported separately from other drugs by schools in discipline-related data, “so we don’t have a baseline to compare it to.” […]
• On workforce productivity, she said: “We don’t have data tying marijuana use directly to workforce productivity.”
Notice how she focused solely on comparing Rauner’s factual claims with the actual facts?
A recent Pritzker campaign ad says Rauner “wasted” $1 billion “with his budget crisis.”
Pritzker’s ad seeks to blame Rauner for the entirety of a huge tab the state ran up last year on interest penalties for late payment of bills. The problem was significantly aggravated by a two-year budget standoff in Springfield that left many state services running on autopilot but with insufficient revenues to cover the costs.
Rauner clearly played a key role in that logjam and it may be smart politics on Pritzker’s part to try to blame the mess entirely on the incumbent. But Rauner hardly acted alone.
What’s more, running up an expensive late payment tab isn’t unique to the Rauner era. Chronic fiscal mismanagement over many administrations has made it harder for the state to pay bills in a timely fashion—even when the income tax rate was higher and more revenue was flowing in.
Pritzker’s ad has its number straight, but uses it to blame Rauner alone for an unfortunate legacy that is shared by many. We rate it Mostly False.
When Rauner appeared before the Tribune Editorial Board just months into his first term in April 2015, he promoted the idea that “Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change.” It became a precursor to a historic 736-day budget impasse, a test of wills between his pro-business, union-weakening agenda and labor-backed Democrats who control the legislature.
If you’re a strong union supporter, the Democrats have no blame at all. If you’re a union hater, the governor cannot possibly be blamed. If you’re in the muddled middle, you may tend to believe both sides share some blame, perhaps some actors more than others depending on your respective viewpoints. But, those are opinions, not facts.
The fact is that Rauner can’t be blamed for 100 percent of what went wrong (even though the only time he signed a budget into law was when he completely dropped his Turnaround Agenda demands). Opinions will vastly differ on what percentage should be assigned to him, however.
So, in absolute terms, the BGA is justified, but its opinion that a governor shouldn’t be blamed for a problem by a partisan political opponent in an advertisement unless the ad also includes some sort of disclaimer noting that some members of the opponent’s own party may also share in the blame is a little… odd. But, hey, goo-goos are gonna goo-goo and it’s their shop.
* Charles McBarron takes a look back at the summer of 1988, when Big Jim Thompson muscled a bill through both chambers to keep the White Sox in Chicago…
In the late afternoon on June 30, based on Senate President Phillip’s opposition, Lt. Gov. George Ryan pronounced the Sox stadium bill “dead.”
Phillip had a vice-like grip on his members, so there was no reason to doubt Ryan as the bill awaited a Senate vote. But, Gov. Thompson wasn’t giving up.
“I said, ‘Pate, this is personal. I want this stadium and you have to help me,’” Thompson said.
In a surprise, Phillip dropped his opposition, allowing his members to vote as they wished. The Senate Minority Leader smirked as Thompson prowled the Senate floor, looking for Republicans willing to support the bill.
Shockingly, Thompson convinced three Republicans to go along, giving the bill the minimum 30 votes needed. As soon as the votes were tallied, Thompson and his lobbying team literally sprinted into the House chamber to try to get the bill passed before the midnight deadline.
What happened next was as dramatic as anything that happened at Comiskey Park in the during the 80 years it hosted ballgames.
You can hear WMAQ’s tone that clearly signaled midnight before the vote was taken. But Charlie couldn’t hear anything on the other end because it was so loud in the chamber. Back in those days, the three-fifths vote requirement for bills with an immediate effective date didn’t kick in until July 1. It was most definitely July 1 when that bill passed.
Illinois Board of Higher Education Executive Director Al Bowman said that 29 percent of Illinois high school seniors left the state to go to college in 2002. Now, he said, that figure is just more than 46 percent.
“That’s something we need to do something about,” Bowman said on WGN AM-720. “Fortunately for Illinois, two-thirds of those kids who get degrees out of the state come back. But among Illinois residents who earn degrees in the state, 92 percent of them remain in the state after graduation,” he said.
Bowman said there are more than 80 schools outside the state that have full-time offices in the Chicago area to recruit Illinois students.
“We not only produce a lot of students, we produce very good students and they’re in demand. States around us like Indiana and Iowa don’t produce enough high school graduates to fill their enrollment targets. They need Illinois residents,” he said.
The full program, hosted by Rick Pearson, is here. Rick’s show is always a must-listen.
* IBHE Chairman Tom Cross told the Trib that the constant bad-mouthing of Illinois by its leaders and its residents isn’t helping, either…
“We all fall into that trap and when people repeat it time and time again and you read it in the paper and you hear it on the news, if you’re a student and you’re thinking about where you want to go to school and all you’ve heard about is how bad Illinois is on all of the issues, then I think that perpetuates the problem even more,” he said.
Illinois last set a minimum salary for school teachers in 1980.
In the 38 years since, those salary levels have never been adjusted.
That could change if Gov. Bruce Rauner signs legislation approved by lawmakers in May that would set a minimum salary for teachers at $40,000 a year.
For proponents, the legislation is long overdue and could help attract more people into the teaching profession at a time when there is a shortage of teachers.
Chris Roegge said the legislative fixes are a good solution for the short-term, but they don’t address long-term needs. Roegge serves as the director of the University of Illinois’s Council on Teacher Education, and he’s seen a decline in the number of students enrolling in teacher preparation programs. A report from the non-profit Learning Policy Institute cites a 35 percent decrease nation-wide in teacher education enrollments between 2009 and 2014. Roegge attributes that in part to the narrative around the field.
“There’s been this swirl of negative press going back for more than five years around teaching, the conditions of teaching, the status of the job, the difficulty of the job – all of these things,” he said. “I think we’re starting to reap what’s been sown by that.”
Roegge points to the report from the Learning Policy Institute that identifies what attracts people to the field and what improves retention once they’re there. He said the four key ingredients are: compensation, preparation, induction and mentoring, and teaching conditions.
In many cases, improving these four areas requires more resources – whether that’s more money for teacher salaries and classroom materials or grants and scholarships for college students interested in the field.
Obviously, we need to entice more students into the pipeline.
They work as private tutors and soccer coaches, as waiters, grocery clerks and ride-share drivers.
Across the country, 18 percent of teachers earn income outside the classroom, according to a National Center for Education Statistics report released Wednesday. […]
According to a report by the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teacher union, the average teacher salary fell by 3 percent between 2006 and 2016 after inflation was taken into account. Teachers in the United States earn on average just 60 percent of what other professionals with similar education levels make, according to a 2017 education report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The United States had the lowest relative teacher salaries among the 28 member nations that participated in the report.
Spend a fortune on tuition and wind up driving an Uber just to make ends meet.
Downstate state Sen. Sam McCann is expected to file paperwork on Monday to run as the Conservative Party’s candidate for governor, creating an obstacle to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s re-election bid if McCann can stay on the ballot.
McCann, a Republican of Plainview in central Illinois, is a supporter of organized labor and often has been at odds with Rauner. He survived a primary re-election challenge backed by the governor two years ago. Now, McCann’s spokesman said he will file his petitions with the State Board of Elections to run for governor ahead of Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline.
His bid could capitalize on fissures within the state’s Republican Party that were on display in March, when Rauner defeated GOP primary challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton by only 3 percentage points. Ives’ bid was motivated by anger from social conservatives over Rauner’s signature on laws expanding abortion, immigrant and transgender rights.
McCann could combine backing from social conservatives as well as supporters of President Donald Trump, in addition to union members who the governor has angered through his so-far-unsuccessful efforts to weaken organized labor.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Minimum is 25,000…
Third party candidates file petitions to get on the November ballot. @KashJackson2018 and other Libertarian candidates turned in some 47,000 signatures. pic.twitter.com/fOjXcCuAQq
*** UPDATE 2 *** I told subscribers about this petition number earlier today…
Sam McCann, the Conservative Party candidate for governor of Illinois, will deliver more than 60,000 nominating petition signatures this afternoon to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Seeking a spot on the November ballot, McCann and running mate Aaron Merreighn collected more than twice the requirement of 25,000 signatures from across the state.
“I’ve been inspired by the enthusiasm that we’ve seen from voters as we’ve gathered petitions,” said McCann. “I’ve had a chance to talk to folks from all over Illinois, and they are crying out for a change from Governor Rauner’s failed leadership. I am the candidate who can deliver that change, and I am excited to formally enter the race.”
McCann has served in the Illinois Senate since 2010 and is running against Governor Bruce Rauner and Democratic nominee J.B. Pritzker to halt Illinois’ departure from law and order, economic liberty, and traditional conservative policies.
As we celebrate Pride Month, Kwame Raoul’s campaign for Attorney General has released a new video, “Republican Erika Harold: Wrong for Illinois,” highlighting her shocking views on the safety of children and same-sex couples who wish to care for them.
“As both a father and public servant, it’s unconscionable to me that the safety of a child would ever be up for debate,” said Kwame Raoul. “When I was a county prosecutor, I took children out of abusive homes and helped place them with loving families without prejudice. Discrimination has no place in our laws, and my focus as attorney general will be on protecting at-risk children and defending the equal rights we’ve fought so hard to secure.”
Republican Attorney General candidate Erika Harold … was being hit from both the right and the left for something she is quoted as saying at a beauty pageant.
Harold was asked… “If you had to place a child in foster care, and the choices were either A) a loving gay couple, or B) a heterosexual couple who were known child abusers, who would you choose?”
Harold reportedly stated she would choose to place a child in an abusive heterosexual home.
One of the pageant officials tells us, “Her answer stopped the room.”
* Back to the Raoul campaign…
Harold has repeatedly supported policies that discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. During her 2014 congressional campaign, Harold supported a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and protection for employers who fire employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“Erika Harold’s disturbing opinion that even an abusive home is better than the nurturing family a same-sex couple can provide is an insult to all parents, but for me, as both a mom and a member of the LGBTQ community, she’s doubled down on the disgusting here,” said State Representative Kelly Cassidy. “The shortage of options for abused and neglected children is at a crisis point, exacerbated in other states by discrimination against gay foster and adoptive parents. We can’t afford to elect an attorney general whose commitment to at-risk kids’ safety is in question. I’m proud to stand with Kwame.”
“As an adult adoptee and someone who has fought for years to assure every child in care is placed in a loving home, I am gravely concerned about Erika Harold’s unconscionable position which threatens the progress we have made in building families through adoption,” said State Representative Sara Feigenholtz. “We need an attorney general dedicated beyond question to protecting children, and if Erika Harold continues to sit back while Trump tears families apart and refuses to stand up to harmful policies, she has no place in the AG’s office. I’m proud to support Kwame Raoul, who quarterbacked life-changing adoption legislation and whose profound ability to listen and lead is beyond reproach.”
“We fought for decades to make marriage equality the law in Illinois, and passed laws to protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. It’s important that our next attorney general enforces those laws and defends Illinois families against blatant discrimination, but if it were up to Erika Harold, these important protections could easily be rolled back,” Assistant House Majority Leader Greg Harris said. “I support Kwame Raoul, because he has always stood up for our rights.”
The video is currently running on digital platforms.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will be on the ballot in just one of Illinois’ 118 House districts this November, but his name and reputation will be featured in electoral battles throughout the state.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Republican Party will use Madigan against every Democrat from J.B. Pritzker on down to maybe even mosquito abatement district races.
Can Madigan’s lousy statewide image be used to defeat his fellow Democrats?
On the surface anyway, Madigan is less popular in Democratic Illinois than are unpopular Republicans Rauner and President Donald Trump. Sixty percent of Illinoisans polled in a recent Capitol Fax/We Ask America survey said they had an unfavorable view of Madigan, compared to 56 percent for President Donald Trump and 55 percent for Rauner.
They’re all doing pretty poorly, but Trump “wins” this category if you look at people with “very unfavorable” opinions. Forty-nine percent of 600 likely Illinois voters who were polled June 9-11 hold a very unfavorable view of the president, while 46 say they have a very unfavorable opinion of the Illinois speaker and 39 percent say that about the Republican governor. In contrast, 27 percent say that about J.B. Pritzker. The poll’s margin of error was +/-3.99 percent.
Overall, the poll found that Pritzker led Rauner by nine points, 36-27, with 26 percent choosing an unnamed third-party candidate and 11 percent undecided.
Just 31 percent of Democrats have a favorable view of Speaker Madigan, while 41 percent of Democrats have an unfavorable view, according to the poll. And lots of folks within what’s considered the “base” of the Democratic Party’s statewide strength don’t like Madigan, either. African-Americans are split 43-43. Women turn thumbs down 27-56 fave/unfave, as do Chicagoans (30-58), suburban Cook County residents (34-53) and labor union households (36-54).
Rauner has his own troubles with his party’s base. The only important GOP demographic he’s not underwater with outside of self-declared Republicans is senior citizens, and they just barely tolerate him. The Democrats are sure to use Rauner’s name and reputation against Republican candidates throughout the state.
So, my pollster came up with a question to try to see who was more popular (or unpopular, as the case may be) with voters in actual down-ballot races: “If the election for state legislator were being held today, are you more likely to vote for a candidate supported by Bruce Rauner, or a candidate supported by Michael Madigan?”
Forty-one percent said they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate backed by Rauner, while 32 percent said the same about Madigan. Another 27 percent said it wouldn’t make any difference either way.
While majorities or pluralities of Democratic base elements chose Madigan, significant minorities chose Rauner. For instance, 11 percent of Democrats chose a legislative candidate backed by Rauner, compared to 59 percent for Madigan (among Republicans, those numbers were 6 percent Madigan and 79 percent Rauner).
Among African-Americans, a significant 23 percent would choose a Rauner-backed candidate and 54 percent would choose a Madigan-backed legislative contender. Chicagoans were 19 percent for a Rauner candidate and 43 for a Madigan person; the Cook County suburbs went 32 for a Rauner candidate and 41 for a Madigan candidate, and union households broke 30 percent for the Rauner candidate to 43 percent for the Madigan candidate.
Another way of looking at it is that Rauner out-performs his personal favorable/unfavorable ratings across the board when we stack him up against the image of Speaker Madigan.
Just 36 percent of whites viewed Rauner favorably, but 44 percent would vote for a Rauner candidate over a Madigan candidate. Thirty-six percent of collar county voters like Rauner, but 49 percent would pick a Rauner candidate over the 29 percent who’d choose a Madigan candidate. Forty-four percent of Downstaters said they had a favorable impression of Rauner, and 51 percent would vote for a Rauner-backed candidate over a Madigan-backed candidate. I could go on, but you get the idea.
So, what does this tell us? Well, first of all, neither state politician is beloved (duh). Indeed, they’re so disliked that candidates should avoid any association with the both of them. But hotly contested campaigns are often won on the edges, and the anti-Madigan message might have an edge over the anti-Rauner message.
We didn’t do this test with President Trump, who will certainly be used by the Democrats against the Republicans in many areas. And there are other issues out there that will decide various races. Plus, as always, this is just one poll in June.
* One of the comments I heard the most from working-class people in the San Francisco area during my vacation was how they couldn’t afford to live in the region without rent-controlled leases. Their comments were all unprompted, by the way. With that in mind…
Rent control initiatives in Springfield were stranded when the 2018 regular legislative session ended on May 31, but landlords and property managers in Illinois anticipate a more aggressive push when the General Assembly convenes in January 2019.
“Housing Action Illinois and the other groups pushing for this will continue to work hard all summer and into the fall in preparation for next year,” Paul Arena, legislative director for the Illinois Rental Property Owners Association, told Prairie State Wire.
Three of the four bills left hanging would have repealed the Rent Control Preemption Act of 1997, which prohibits municipalities in Illinois from enacting rent control ordinances. A fourth bill would have established rent control boards on the county level.
State Rep. William Guzzardi (D-Chicago), introduced the repeal act in the House (HB 2430), arguing that rapid gentrification of some Chicago neighborhoods has made them unaffordable for many long-time residents. A majority of voters in some Chicago wards likewise favor repealing the ban, according to the results of a non-binding question that appeared on the March 20 primary ballot in those wards. And Democratic gubernatorial nominee J.B. Pritzker, who leads incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner in the polls, has said he supports repealing the ban.
* The Question: Should the state’s anti-rent control law be abolished? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
* The decision by the principal and the local state’ attorney to charge this kid with a felony is simply egregious…
Paul Boron is 13 years old. He’s facing a felony eavesdropping charge that could change the course of the rest of his life.
Boron’s story stands as another chapter of controversy surrounding an eavesdropping law ripe for abuse, and state lawmakers should take action to fix it.
On Feb. 16, 2018, Boron was called to the principal’s office at Manteno Middle School after failing to attend a number of detentions. Before meeting Principal David Conrad and Assistant Principal Nathan Short, he began recording audio on his cellphone.
Boron said he argued with Conrad and Short for approximately 10 minutes in the reception area of the school secretary’s office, with the door open to the hallway. When Boron told Conrad and Short he was recording, Conrad told Boron he was committing a felony and promptly ended the conversation, Boron says.
Two months later, in April, Boron was charged with one count of eavesdropping – a class 4 felony in Illinois.
Specifically, the new law made it a felony to surreptitiously record any “private conversation,” defined as “oral communication between [two] or more persons” where at least one person has a “reasonable expectation” of privacy.
But when does someone have a “reasonable” expectation of privacy? And is it fair to expect Illinoisans to know where to draw that line in their everyday lives? […]
Given the tenacity with which Illinois prosecutors have enforced the state’s eavesdropping law, reform from the Statehouse may be Boron’s best hope.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan, along with 10 other attorneys general, today announced she will file a lawsuit challenging the federal administration’s policy of forced family separation on the U.S. southern border. The lawsuit will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
“The new federal executive order does not bring back together the thousands of families that were torn apart by the federal government’s policy, and it does not prevent families from being separated in the future,” Madigan said. “I will join with my colleagues across the country to bring action against the federal government for this inhumane and unAmerican policy.”
The lawsuit will allege that the administration’s family separation policy violates the fundamental due process rights of parents to be with their children, as well as other constitutional and statutory claims. The states will ask the court to order the federal administration to immediately comply with the law beginning with correcting the egregious flaws in his executive order and creating a process to reunify the thousands of families torn apart by his cruel and unconstitutional policy.
Following a close review of the President’s executive order, Madigan and the coalition of state attorneys general see two main problems. First, the order does nothing to reunify families already torn apart by the federal administration’s policy. Second, the order is riddled with so many caveats that it is rendered meaningless. Specifically, the order requires appropriations, although the total amount is unknown, and the timeline for when or if such an appropriation would happen. It also relies on a federal judge approving a plan to indefinitely detain children, which is an unlikely scenario, and, in any event, would also raise serious legal issues.
On April 6, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new so-called “zero tolerance” policy on the U.S. southern border. The federal administration has been clear that the purpose of the forced separation policy is not to protect children, but rather to deter potential immigrants from coming to the U.S. In practice, this meant that instead of making case-specific evaluations of individual cases, respecting due process rights and family integrity, the federal administration began prosecuting all possible immigration crimes, accusing and detaining all adults, even those with a legitimate asylum claim. The intended and acknowledged effect of this policy has been the separation of parents and children at the border.
Notably, there is no such “zero tolerance” policy at the northern border, and recent reporting indicates that the Border Patrol only tracks “family unit apprehensions” for immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.
The effects of this policy have been stark. In March and April of 2018, the number of families from Latin America apprehended at the southern border increased dramatically, from 5,475 in February to 8,873 in March (a 62 percent increase) and 9,653 in April (a 76 percent increase from February). That’s nearly nine times as many compared to March 2017, and more than nine times as many compared to April 2017. Children have been brought to Illinois who were separated from their families under the current policy.
Joining Madigan in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.
A Chicago nonprofit said Friday it is housing 66 migrant children who have been separated from their parents under the “zero tolerance” policy in the last six weeks.
Evelyn Diaz, president of Heartland Alliance, welcomed Sen. Dick Durbin for a visit to one of the organization’s nine shelters that is accommodating the children — two-thirds of whom are younger than 13. Heartland provides housing and legal assistance to immigrants.
After the tour, Diaz and Durbin condemned the practice of separating children from their parents at the United States’ southern border.
“These children are scared when they arrive at our doors,” Diaz said at a news conference in Edgewater. “And I can tell you my staff —who are clinicians, teachers and family reunification specialists — are doing everything in their power to make a horrible situation less scary, to provide comfort and support to the children, and to reunite them with their families as quickly as possible.”
* I told subscribers about this before I left for vacation. Rep. Steve Andersson (R-Geneva) voted for the budget and tax hike and the veto overrides last year. He decided to retire from the House, but his district’s Senate seat became available when GOP Sen. Karen McConnaughay decided not to run again. McConnaughay’s retirement could very well put this district into play, particularly if the county party chairs appoint someone far to the right. The Kane County party chairman has the weighted vote to make the appointment on his own. Subscribers know more. From a press release…
Since announcing my intention to forego running for re-election after solving the 2015-2017 budget crisis, I have been overwhelmed by bipartisan support and the call for me to run again in another capacity.
After much consideration about how I can best serve the people in the great State of Illinois, I have put my name into consideration with the Kane County Republican organization for retiring Senator Karen McConnaughay’s position on the ballot for the 33rd Senate seat, because I believe that my voice represents a view that is being increasingly silenced in the Republican Party.
It was my intention not to overly publicize my application, because the appointment is decided on by two Republican party county chairs (McHenry and Kane) and not by a public participation process. Then, on Wednesday of this week, Steve Schmidt a longtime Republican Strategist (serving President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain and many others) announced via twitter that he was joining an increasingly long list of former Republicans and was leaving the Republican Party. Schmidt called out our party as “corrupt, indecent and immoral.” After reading that, I realized I could not stand and be silent.
I believe that departures, like Mr. Schmidt, George Will, and many others signal a fatal flaw that will lead to the destruction of the Republican Party. While some may think that the Republican Party is strong (controlling 67 of 99 state legislative chambers, 33 of 50 governorships, Congress and the Whitehouse), we have abandoned the majority and the middle of the political spectrum, in favor of focusing only on the angry shouts of the far-right base. This needs to stop. Now.
Our party can only survive with a return to the aspirational goals that until recently defined the Republican Party. We have always believed in fiscal conservatism and a more moderate social position that is reflective of the views of most Americans. This is a return to our Republican roots. We are a party of the big tent that welcomes instead of excludes, and reflects the values of giants like Lincoln, Reagan and Rockefeller. We must stop being the party of “no” and offer real solutions that reflect our Republican values to the complex problems we face.
This means rebuilding a party that reflects the social values of the 21st century, such as all people have rights - women, LGTBQ, the mentally ill, the poor, and the immigrant. Our party needs to recognize and embrace the fact of global climate change, science, and evolution. We need to embrace the views of the religious (in all varieties) but also recognize the non-religious. We must be engaged with the rest of our world as a partner and not as isolationists who think only we have the correct answer. We must encourage and support innovation and growth in business. We must control spending and find ways to improve how we spend our tax dollars. However, we also must acknowledge that government has and does bring value to our world. It’s not about big government or small government, it’s about right sized government. Government needs to exist to do the things that individuals and small groups can’t.
One of the things government can do well is addressing and rebalancing historical social wrongs. Schools need to educate against bias (explicit and implicit) and educate our children on all of our various community histories such as those of minorities and LGBTQ. As President Jefferson famously (and somewhat ironically given his status as slaveholder) said, we dream to build an “aristocracy of achievement by a democracy of opportunity.” This sentiment applies today to all of us. Without social change, there is no democracy of opportunity. We need to work to build that opportunity. You can’t pull yourself up by your own bootstraps when you don’t have boots. Poverty and crime filled communities simply do not have the same opportunities to achieve that wealthy communities do. Effective government programs can make that happen and are a necessary party to real change.
I am seeking this appointment to help turn my party away from becoming the “corrupt, indecent and immoral” party that Mr. Schmidt claims we have become. That is not who we are, but if we keep mindlessly following demagogues who live the Machiavellian motto of “the ends justify the means” without adhering to real principles, that is who we will be. In the end, I cannot sit silently by and allow that to happen.
I am proud to be a moderate Republican. I offer my services to the people of the 33rd Senate District of Illinois. Thank you.
* Her top deputies are further to the left than she is, so times will get interesting…
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis says she has submitted her retirement papers, effective today.
"I want my members to know first that I’m not abandoning them, I just will be an emerita," she said. "I will be around to help do things, I’m not disappearing anywhere."
* Meanwhile, this didn’t get covered much, but it’s CTU’s only response to the Tribune’s investigation of sexual predators in the Chicago Public Schools, many of whom were CTU members…
The following statement can be attributed to Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey.
“We support common sense changes to CPS’s policies, just as we support our members’ rights to due process. Student safety and due process are mutually affirming – because workers with due process rights and protections on the job are better empowered to advocate for and protect our students.”
“Our union has been advised of CPS’ plans to re-run background checks of our members, as part of their effort to respond to their appalling failures to protect students from child abuse. CPS has reported that about 30% of our members – those who were not fingerprinted by Accurate Biometrics – will need to be re-fingerprinted as part of this policy. CPS has assured us that this new round of background checks is designed explicitly to identify issues related to child safety concerns, and we will be on the alert for any effort to target members outside of the scope of this review.”
No word yet about how vigorously the union fought to keep some of those employees on the job.
* Gov. Rauner was asked on KMOX earlier this month about what he’s done so far as governor. Here’s an excerpt…
Number two, we’re transforming Medicaid in Illinois. Medicaid has been broken and corrupt. It has been ripping off taxpayers and not providing high quality health services. We’ve reduced enrollment dramatically and we’ve increased the efficiency in Medicaid and saved many hundreds of millions of dollars transforming Medicaid. That’s historic.
* Some additional background is here. From the Alliance for Community Services…
280,000 Medical cards being sent out, due to glitches, backlog
The Rauner administration is mass mailing as many as 280,000 notices of temporary medical cards to persons whose applications are stuck in a backlog due to computer glitches and understaffing. The notices are called HFS2350 “Notice of Possible Entitlement to Temporary Medical Assistance.”
The federal government fines states for taking more than 45 days to process Medicaid and SNAP applications.
Some Human Services caseworkers report they are currently processing Medicaid applications filed in January of 2018. Caseworkers report that they were told as many as 280,000 cases are overdue.
The Alliance for Community Services considers these temporary medical cards to be a helpful step for those languishing in the IES-caused backlog, but also a tacit admission that the expensive new IES computer system is failing.
The Rauner administration needs to admit there are continuing glitches and fix them. In addition, the attempt to get a computer program, IES, to make policy and eligibility decisions, rather than trained caseworkers, is misguided.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I should’ve checked the governor’s claims before posting. My bad. According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, there were 3,247,722 full and partial enrollees during Fiscal Year 2015, when Rauner took office. At the end of FY2017, there were 3,159,553. That’s a 2.7 percent decrease. Hardly dramatic and maybe even temporary if they were wrongly kicked off.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Heating up…
If by "dramatic" you mean audit findings that you can't account for $7 billion, or an enrollment backlog of 280,000 people caused by the failure of your $300 million new IT system, or losing 14,000 nursing home resident claims? Yep that's "Historic" failure #twill#ilgovhttps://t.co/PxmzaKG5aU
A decision last week by the Illinois Labor Relations Board (ILRB) could open up a $400 million hole in Illinois’ fiscal 2019 budget, highlighting the implementation risks in a budget reliant on one-time items and policy measures with uncertain fiscal benefits, according to Fitch Ratings. While the state avoided immediate political stalemate, the on-time budget fails to make material progress in addressing the state’s sizable accounts payable backlog. Given the potential that budget performance will fall short of expectations, Fitch anticipates the governor and legislature may need to revisit the 2019 plan as soon as this fall.
For the first time in four years, Illinois enacted an on-time budget for the coming fiscal year when the governor signed the $38.5 billion (general funds) budget and accompanying legislation into law on June 4th. Despite the implementation risks, enacting an on-time budget with bipartisan support allowed the state to enter the new year with a clear fiscal plan, and provided clarity for the state’s key fiscal partners, including municipal governments, school districts, and public higher education institutions.
Illinois’ ‘BBB’ Issuer Default Rating (IDR) reflects many years of weak operating performance and fiscal decision making. The state continues to benefit from a solid economic base and still substantial independent legal ability to control its budget. The Negative Outlook reflects Fitch’s assessment that fiscal pressures may accelerate in the near term. The state avoided a budget impasse, but the enacted budget entails significant implementation risk. Fitch’s rating on the state will be lowered if the state returns to a pattern of deferring payments for near-term budget balancing and materially increases the accounts payable balance; while stabilization of the rating is contingent on the state’s ability to maintain budgetary balance over multiple years, indicating more sustainable fiscal management. Upward rating momentum is unlikely until the state more comprehensively addresses its accumulated liabilities.
STEP PAY DECISION ADDS TO BUDGETARY UNCERTAINTY
The state could face an unbudgeted spending increase of roughly 1% in fiscal 2019 due to the recent litigation and ILRB’s resulting actions. In 2015, the governor halted step pay increases under an expired labor contract. The AFSCME union challenged the suspension on the grounds that state law required current work conditions to continue in the event of contract expiration. Illinois’ Supreme Court ruled in March 2018 in favour of AFSCME. Last week, the ILRB rejected the governor’s request to send the issue to an administrative law judge for a hearing. Fitch anticipates a final remedy to be determined as soon as early this fall by the ILRB. Based on the Supreme Court ruling, it will likely require the state to provide for unpaid step-pay increases going back to 2015. Based on estimates provided by the administration to the ILRB, the state could face an additional $412 million in expenses in fiscal 2019 if AFSCME’s recommended ‘make-whole’ remedy is implemented immediately.
ONE-TIME MEASURES AND UNADDRESSED ISSUES
The fiscal 2019 budget relies on $800 million in interfund borrowings, which under current law must eventually be repaid. This is more than, and in addition to, the approximately $400 million in interfund borrowings included in the budget for the current fiscal year (ending June 30) that are still outstanding.
Illinois also did not make material progress in addressing its sizable accounts payable backlog with the enacted fiscal 2019 budget. As of April 30, the state comptroller reported a general funds bill backlog of $7.2 billion, or nearly 20% of the fiscal 2019 enacted general funds budget. With only a very narrow budgeted $14 million general funds surplus for fiscal 2019, Fitch anticipates no material progress in reducing the backlog, absent robust and unanticipated revenue growth. The recent favourable decision in Wayfair v. South Dakota provides some potential upside for state revenues in Illinois and elsewhere. But the state reports that its enacted budget already assumes benefits from a favorable Wayfair decision.
The bills backlog and interfund borrowings could total between $8 billion to $9 billion by the end of fiscal 2019. These liabilities are in addition to the state’s approximately $200 billion long-term liability burden for debt and unfunded pension obligations as estimated by Fitch (roughly 30% of state personal income).
BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS CREATE RISK
Fitch remains concerned that several elements of the enacted fiscal 2019 budget may be delayed beyond the fiscal year or could fall short of estimates. For the second year in a row, the budget assumes approximately $300 million in one-time revenues from the sale of the Thompson Center office building in downtown Chicago - the governor also included the sale as part of his fiscal 2017 executive budget. The facility sits atop several lines of the Chicago Transit Authority’s subway system and a final sale requires close negotiation and coordination with the city of Chicago. The administration notes that the timing of a sale is also somewhat contingent on legislative approval of a change in the state’s procedures around surplus property sales; absent that approval the sale process would likely extend beyond the fiscal year.
Uncertain pension savings are also a key component of the enacted budget, accounting for approximately $400 million in expenditure reductions or 1% of the enacted general funds budget. The budget includes three pension proposals; two to buy out some portion of current members’ future benefits at a reduced long-term cost, and one to shift a limited amount of costs to school districts and public universities. The buyout proposals account for the bulk of the savings.
The two buyout proposals will require significant administrative work by the pension systems. Based on initial reports from the state and the systems, the buyouts may not be fully implemented for several months and potentially well into the new fiscal year which could limit the savings the state is able to accrue. The savings estimates also rely on assumptions of the portion of eligible members that will opt into the buyouts which adds to the unpredictability of actual savings. While the state intends to use general obligation bonds to fund the buyouts, Fitch does not consider that a material concern as the new debt will essentially replace reduced net pension liabilities.
The third pension change will require employers in the state university retirement system and teachers retirement system (public universities and school districts, respectively) to assume a portion of the pension contribution for retiring employees if they grant salary increases in excess of 3% during the period used to determine the employee’s final average salary in pension benefit calculations. This anti-spiking measure is expected to generate a modest $20 million in savings in fiscal 2019.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE AID
State aid for school districts will increase roughly 5% year-over-year, with a $350 million increase tied to the state’s evidence-based funding formula that was first implemented last year. K-12 spending overall is up nearly 6% with a sizable $300 million increase in state pension payments to the Teachers Retirement System. For municipal governments, the enacted budget rolls back a portion of cuts to various shared tax revenues that were first implemented in fiscal 2018. The budget reduces the state’s withholding of the local share of income and sales tax revenues to 5% from 10%, providing an additional $66 million and $31 million respectively for municipalities. The state also reduced its administrative fee for collections to 1.5% from 2% on various local taxes, providing an additional $15 million for local governments.
Higher education appropriations increase as well, by 2%, or roughly $60 million in fiscal 2019. The pension cost shift noted above will somewhat reduce the benefits of these aid increases for school districts and public universities. The estimated $20 million in savings are well short of the nearly $600 million in pension cost shifts that were proposed in the governor’s executive budget.
* Background is here. Joey McLaughlin of WTAX talked with Gov. Bruce Rauner today…
Governor Rauner fires back at black lawmakers. “The black legislators really have not been serving their community very well, they’ve been too loyal to Mike Madigan,” Rauner tells radio show. https://t.co/FVAenvY2fs
McLaughlin: You recently did an interview on WVON in Chicago and you said no one’s done more for the black community than you have. Some members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus have taken issue. What are your thoughts there?
Rauner: [Laughs] Not surprised they’re sensitive because the black legislators really have not been serving their community very well. They’ve been too loyal to Mike Madigan and his machine. The reality that the black community has been suffering in Illinois under the policies of Madigan’s majority for decades. High unemployment, high taxes, lack of economic opportunity and lack of educational opportunity. And in my administration, I’ve tried to blow up that system and transform it. We’ve created more academic educational equality and excellence than any other governor and we’ve achieved it with our new education funding formula. More equity, more money from low income schools and poor school districts to increase their school quality. Historic change there and record funding for K-12 schools. We’ve also transformed the criminal justice system that too often has been biased against African-Americans. We’ve increased criminal justice and brought fairness back into the system. Historic change, Illinois is a national leader thanks to our administration. And then on economic opportunity, we’ve done more to grow the economy by cuttin’ red tape, cutting regulations, reducing LLC fees, and making sure that state contracting has a level playing field and African-American businesses have a real shot to get state contracts. We haven’t just talked about it, we’ve done it. So, I’m very proud of what our administration has accomplished.
…Adding… So, why is the governor so intent on bashing black lawmakers this week? Well, he doesn’t have very thick skin, and he may truly believe he’s done some good things for black people (and he has). But he also has a real problem with his Republican base since barely winning the primary. And one sure-fire way of uniting the hardcore GOP base is to bash minorities. Just sayin…
*** UPDATE 1 *** Media advisory…
Juliana Stratton Responds to Rauner’s Racist Comments
Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton and members of the Black Caucus to hold press conference in response to Bruce Rauner’s racist comments today, where he stated that he’s “not surprised they’re sensitive because the black legislators really have not been serving their community very well.”
Let’s not be overly harsh. Mayhaps Governor Kipling is just reminding us to “take up the white man’s burden” - we dare not stoop to less. Clearly the failed governor rated worst in the US knows better than black lawmakers what’s best for black folks. #twill#checktherecordhttps://t.co/a2QaDtq7dA
Tune in as we respond to Bruce Rauner’s comments today that he’s “not surprised they’re sensitive because the black legislators really have not been serving their community very well.”
* Juliana Stratton: Black community wants more than just proclamations from leaders: Together, we’re putting forward real plans to reverse the divestment in our communities. J.B. and I will increase funding for our schools, especially the ones our governor once called “prisons.” We’ll support our small businesses by making sure entrepreneurs of color have equal opportunity to compete. And we will be steadfast advocates for a criminal justice system that recognizes the potential of every person in all of our communities. The Rauner playbook pits one community against another. It qualifies lip service as leadership. It accepts the status quo as good enough. So while I’m outraged that Bruce Rauner thinks he’s doing enough for the black community, I’m sadly not surprised. Three years of inaction suggests he is unable or unwilling to recognize reality.
* I really hate to lose this guy. But he was retiring anyway and he apparently got a new job, so good for him…
State Representative Chad Hays (R-Catlin) announced today that he will be stepping down from his seat in the Illinois House of Representatives early so he can take a job in the private sector.
Hays, who has served in the General Assembly since December of 2010 and as Assistant Minority Leader since 2013, said he will leave his post in late August or early September, to become the Executive Director of Crosspoint Human Services in Danville. “While my service in the Illinois General Assembly has been the honor of a lifetime and a tremendous privilege, I have decided the timing is right to return to the private sector where my background and expertise in healthcare administration can be put to good use,” said Hays. “I look forward to this next chapter, but will always look back fondly on my time as the legislative voice of the 104th District.”
Prior to taking his seat in in the Illinois House, Hays served as the Vice President of Provena United Samaritan Medical Center in Danville, as the administrator for the Family Medical Center in Paris, and as the Director of Planning & Development at the Danville Polyclinic. Hays also served as the Mayor of his hometown of Catlin for two terms and as a member of the Board of Directors for many community based organizations including Danville Area Economic Development Corporation (Vermilion Advantage), Danville Rotary Club, and the Vermilion Area Community Health Center.
During his tenure in the General Assembly, Hays has been a leader in supporting job creation and economic growth, not just in Central Illinois, but across the state. As Assistant Minority Leader under House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Hays has also had a key role in helping to set the Republican agenda for each session year. Since 2015, Hays has also served on the powerful House Executive Committee, which considers the State’s most important and often contentious bills. Hays is known for his unrelenting advocacy on behalf of the East Central Illinois region and his no-nonsense approach to problem solving.
While Hays has passed dozens of bills during his time in the General Assembly, he points to landmark insurance network adequacy legislation from last year as one of his greatest achievements as a lawmaker. Hays was the leading Republican sponsor of Public Act 100-0502, which offers significant protections and remedies for Illinoisans who rely on increasingly-narrow preferred provider networks for their health insurance.
Hays said the details for his transition back to the private sector are being finalized, and he anticipates leaving the General Assembly in early September.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday it is time to invest more in maintaining and creating “world-class facilities” at the state’s universities.
His comments came at Illinois State University, where he met with school President Larry Dietz and other top administrators and toured three buildings scheduled to be torn down or extensively renovated as part of a fine arts complex included in the recently passed state budget.
Speaking to a group of faculty and students in the ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Rauner said, “I want significant new investment” in higher education facilities and “updating our technologies.”
I’ve pledged, and I’m gonna work my tail off, sometime within the next six to nine months, I’m giving myself nine months, I want a massive new capital bill, new capital program for the state of Illinois. And I want significant new investments all in our education, higher education institutions. And I want world-class facilities, world-class support for our programs and capital bills will be very heavily focused. We’re gonna do a lot of transportation, roads, bridges, locks, dams, canals, railroads. But it’s gonna be very focused on higher education, world-class facilities, updating our technology so we can have the best education for our young people anywhere in America, anywhere in the world here in our institutions of higher education led by ISU. Go Redbirds!
Dude just finally learned how to crawl by signing his first budget after three and a half years and now he thinks he can leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Also… Canals? Wut?
* And he’s gonna pay for these new canals how, exactly? He’s been promising a massive capital plan since the 2014 campaign and never said how he’d pay for it. Reporters don’t even ask him about it any longer.
A massive capital plan costs money. Lots of money. And Illinois’ government doesn’t have that kind of money on hand, so it’ll have to be new money. Until the governor finally identifies a revenue source, you can completely dismiss this grandiose verbosity.
Also, the inclusion of obsolete 19th Century transportation technology in the governor’s list may be an accidental “tell” that there was no real thought put into this concept. He looks to me like he’s just pulling stuff out of thin (and very old) air and flinging it at the locals for applause lines and fluffy headlines.
Also too, nine months from yesterday is March 21, 2019. Just to be on the safe side, he might wanna give himself less than nine months to pass a capital bill. Maybe focus on the fall veto session, which begins November 13th.
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 1910 on Thursday, permitting the town of Normal to extend its uptown tax increment financing district for 12 more years.
A TIF district allows officials to divert increases in property tax revenue generated by improvements within the district from taxing bodies to a fund for development incentives and infrastructure improvements. The uptown TIF was set to expire in 2026 and couldn’t be extended without legislative approval.
“You have a great tax increment financing district here,” Rauner said. “We don’t want it to expire.”
* Last August, the governor amendatorially vetoed the education funding reform bill (SB1) to, among other things, take out this provision…
Eliminates the PTELL and TIF equalized assessed value subsidies that allow districts to continue under-reporting property wealth.
And Rauner justified calling TIF districts “slush funds” this way…
Rauner spokeswoman Laurel Patrick pretty much said the governor has made up his mind.
“While TIFs stimulate economic growth in some areas, they do so by depriving economic growth in other areas. They also put government in the position of choosing winners and losers,” she said in an email.
Many, many thanks to Barton Lorimor and Hannah Meisel for filling in while I was away. You can use this post to express your appreciation, too, if you’d like.
For years, Illinois lawmakers have tried to pass legislation that would allow farmers to grow industrial hemp as an alternative crop, but those efforts failed to earn enough support in the legislature. But this push might finally be bringing the issue near a finish line. This spring, legislation passed through both chambers with overwhelming support and will soon head to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk. However, the measure still has critics. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police opposes legislation.
“We’re opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana,” said Executive Director Ed Wojcicki. “We just see this bill as creeping into that issue so we’ve decided we’re taking a firm position against any bills that would move the needle toward the legalization of marijuana.”
Is the drug-related property seizure business really that lucrative for cop shops?
OK, maybe I’m being too cynical. But I was just in the San Francisco area and I didn’t notice it was collapsing from the perils of legalized pot. Just the opposite.
Indeed, during a fact-finding visit to a local dispensary, I asked the “bud-tender” what the consequences were for smoking the vile weed in public. The bud-tender noted that even though he is an African-American, he is never hassled by the cops for puffing the green stuff.
The Pritzker campaign… released a new TV ad today called “Thank You,” highlighting the residents of neighboring states thanking Rauner for igniting their job markets by driving Illinois into the ground. Under Rauner’s failed leadership, Illinois has higher unemployment.
“Under Bruce Rauner, Illinois has higher unemployment than nearby states, and residents of neighboring states are benefiting from this governor’s failed leadership,” said JB Pritzker. “Enough with the bad mouthing — it’s time Illinois had a governor that creates jobs right here in our state, and works tirelessly to help businesses thrive. When I’m governor, I’ll put our economy back on track and put Springfield back on the side of working families.”
* The ad is an obvious play on Rauner’s “Thanks Mike” TV ad which featured Republican governors thanking Speaker Madigan for sending jobs to their states. That ad is no longer around because Missouri’s governor resigned under pressure after a sex scandal. Anyway, rate it…
* Transcript…
We want to say thank you. Thank you Bruce Rauner. Thanks governor. For helping create jobs here, in Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana. Because when Bruce Rauner calls Illinois a horrible place to do business, guess where the jobs go… to us… and what governor talks trash about his own state…We all have lower unemployment than Illinois. Thanks to Bruce Rauner. Hoosiers love you Bruce! Big fans here in Missouri! Cheeseheads too. Thanks Bruce Rauner. Thanks governor. Thanks gov.
*** UPDATE *** Rauner campaign…
Pritzker won’t admit the damage that’s been done to Illinois by decades of corrupt politicians because he’s used his wealth and influence to benefit from a broken political system. Governor Rauner is working every day to clean up state government and build a better future for the hardworking people of this state.
