* Letter to the House Majority Leader from the House Republican Leader…
Majority Leader Greg Harris,
It has become abundantly clear that the House Democratic Caucus and their campaign arm use the concept of “cleaning up Springfield and fighting corruption” as the highlight of their agenda. Actions speak louder than words. There has been decidedly no action taken to match the words of Democratic members even though your caucus controls the legislative docket.
In your role as not only Majority Leader of the House Democratic Caucus, but also Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ethics Reform and the designated leader for the Special Investigating Committee II, I implore you to utilize your power in moving critical ethics reforms forward for the state of Illinois.
Again and again, we see endless delays instead of action: canceled hearings, using the pandemic as an excuse to not schedule hearings, hiding behind another task force instead of taking action. We have seen those tricks and tactics used by Speaker Madigan for decades to delay taking action on an issue when the status quo is beneficial to himself. Don’t follow that flawed model, Leader Harris.
The Special Investigating Committee II, charged with investigating Speaker Madigan’s bribery scheme with ComEd, was created in August and has only met twice. This is totally unacceptable and a disgrace to the residents of Illinois who deserve transparency.
The Joint Committee on Ethics having not met since March has left all of us wondering if there is any sincerity in the House Democratic caucus on addressing reforms. Did we forget the arrest of Rep. Arroyo and how it caused such a shockwave and hand-wringing through the Chamber?
I urge you in your role as a leader to use your considerable ability restart the process. Avoiding the issue is unacceptable. I hope the House Democrats will join their Republican colleagues in a quest for transparency and meaningful results. Let’s get this done.
Sincerely,
James Durkin
Illinois House Republican Leader
I’ve reached out to Leader Harris for comment.
*** UPDATE *** Leader Harris…
I thank Leader Durkin for his letter. It arrived while I was listening to Dr Ezike outline how many thousands more Illinoisans tested positive for COVID yesterday, and how many more thousands are hospitalized or in the ICU, and tragically how many more have died.
Also, listening to her warnings about the coming surge which could overwhelm our hospitals, and how we can all help reduce transmission. As I have said before I look forward to completing the work of the Commission when it is safe to gather in large groups again, and look forward to presenting legislation based on the Commission’s work.
A McHenry County judge denied a temporary restraining order Friday filed by 37 local bars and restaurants to remain open despite the governor’s mitigation rules set to take effect Saturday.
McHenry County’s top prosecutor announced Wednesday that his office will not enforce Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order to ban indoor dining at restaurants.
State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally issued a statement that the Illinois Emergency Management Act, which gives the governor authority to issue executive orders, does not require or empower the state’s attorney to enforce the orders.
Kenneally also wrote that there is “the legitimate question” being litigated in court over whether the governor’s repeated orders are authorized by law. So far, while two trial courts have ruled that the orders were not lawful, two McHenry County judges, as well as appellate and federal courts, have upheld the orders on at least a preliminary basis.
Kenneally said he would continue to enforce legitimate mask and distancing orders, but chided lawmakers for failing to clarify the law on “one of the most important issues this State has ever faced.”
Um, if he had bothered to read the recent binding appellate decision, he’d know that the General Assembly passed three bills in May which reiterated the governor’s right to issue successive executive orders. But, you know, that would get in the way of doing his job, so he chose to remain ignorant.
Through the Freedom of Information Act, CBS 2 obtained a list of dozens of McHenry County eateries that have violated rules.
Around the Clock allows indoor dining. At Niko’s Red Mill Tavern in Woodstock inspectors saw indoor dining, no social distancing, and employees and patrons not wearing face coverings. At DC Cobb’s in Woodstock some thing seen were patrons not wearing face masks, indoor dining and operation after 11 p.m.
These restaurants and eight more like them have been visited multiple times. Minimal improvements led to the cases being handed over to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
* Meanwhile, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder has finally seen the light…
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder is urging surrounding counties to enforce COVID-19 mitigations similar to what is in place in Springfield.
The Sangamon County Department of Public Health oversees Menard County’s public health department, as well, but they have announced Menard County will not enforce COVID-19 mitigations at this time.
Langfelder said the fight to slow down the spread of COVID-19 should be a community effort, and spikes in Menard County put stress on hospitals in Springfield. […]
Langfelder said he wants restrictions for all surrounding counties and admits this isn’t easy or popular, but believes it’s what is best for the local hospitals.
Three more Sangamon County restaurants were cited for violating COVID-19 mitigations.
According to the Sangamon County Department of Public Health, the three restaurants include:
Route 66 Motorheads in Springfield
Sky Lounge in Springfield
IHOP on Sunrise Drive in Springfield
* Speaking of restaurants, this is from a Facebook post by the proprietors of Effingham’s Firefly Grill…
Dear fireflies,
Here we are again, another crossroads, another terrible decision to face. Niall and I have had many sleepless nights these last few months as we try to find our way forward through this pandemic.
Bottom line is that firefly’s current model cannot stay solvent running only curbside. If we believed that the safety restrictions would be in place long-term, we would figure out how to adapt and reluctantly change our model.
I say reluctantly because serving people in person on our beautiful farm is what we truly love to do. Firefly isn’t a drive-through, it’s an experience. Our passion is connection, to each other, to our visitors, to our land and our community. Cooking food in an empty restaurant is demoralizing for our family and team.
If we believed these restrictions would be longer than the winter, we would find a different path, yet we believe that as soon as it is warm enough to serve outside, we will be able to open our doors once again. Until that time, we are forced to hibernate, and we will be closed.
This is a painful decision and very personal decision; our family is going through a lot right now.
Thanksgiving night, we received word that my stepfather, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 seven days previously, had taken a turn for the worse. This call informed us that hospice had begun to execute end of life protocols. We lost Greg this morning peacefully while my mother was holding his hand.
Whatever people’s personal beliefs are surrounding this disease, the pain and exhaustion our frontline workers and the families losing loved ones are experiencing cannot be denied. Right or wrong, out of respect for my mother, for all the families losing loved ones and for all of our heroes on the frontlines, we will continue to follow the protocols mandated to keep our communities safe.
We encourage everyone to do whatever they can to slow the spread of this disease.
Firefly and our team are grateful for the support of everyone buying gift cards online, we are using these funds to continue upgrades during our pause and literally CANNOT WAIT to serve you in person as soon as we can.
In support of the Huff, Campbell and Samuel Family dealing with the death of such a loving, kind and important member, in lieu of flowers, we have created a Greg Huff Memorial Scholarship for Buckeye Friends School. Donations can be made through the Buckeye website: http://buckeyefs.com/get-involved/donate/
We are grateful for your help, your patience, your understanding and support.
Our local officials overreach of power may be the cause of Fox Run closing, but rest assured, they will never silence me. This isn’t just about Fox Run; this is about every Restaurant and Bar in our area. There are five individuals directly involved in the attack on Restaurants and Bars in Sangamon County. Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, Mayor Jim Langfelder, Judge Raylene Grischow and Gail O’Neill of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health.
You ask why? What If the County Board Chairman were to have a pet project threatened by the Governor? The County Board Chairman controls the funds for the Sheriff’s Dept. and the Health Dept., that’s not hard to figure out, the Mayor acts like a puppet for the Governor and the Judge openly recognized that it was a valid argument that the Health Department was acting improperly, but she still let them get away with it.
Four of these five spineless individuals are elected by “We the People”. They do not deserve to be re-elected after trying to destroy Sangamon County’s economy. Let’s remember this on their election cycle. I will help remind you. And for Gail O’Neill, I hope you sleep well at night knowing that you are directly the cause of dozens of small business’s closing and hundreds of families going without a paycheck. But that’s alright, I’m sure there is a chair reserved for you at the head of the table in HELL.
He put up a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $100,000. It raised $485. Sounds about right. You’ll remember that he hosted Rep. Darren Bailey at his establishment in May.
City shuts down 300-person party in Wicker Park, other businesses for ‘egregiously’ violating COVID-19 restrictions
Fauci warns Pritzker of ‘post-Thanksgiving surge’ — says it’s ‘no time to pull back’ from COVID-19 restrictions
Weekend drop in COVID-19 cases attributed to low number of tests reported over the holiday weekend.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart tests positive for coronavirus.
Chicago R&B artist Jeremih was reportedly transferred to a regular hospital room Saturday after spending at least a week in intensive care undergoing treatment for COVID-19.
The World Health Organization has recorded 65 cases of the coronavirus among staff based at its headquarters, including five people who worked on the premises and were in contact with one another.
Making the case for standardized school tests, even during a pandemic
The University of Illinois Flash Index was slowly recovering after it had dropped steeply at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that progress stalled last month. The index remained at 95.6 in November — the same reading as October.
“November was a month of contrasts, with rising rates of COVID-19 infections accompanied by positive news about the likely early availability of a vaccine. It also appears the country has avoided a presidential election impasse,” said University of Illinois economist J. Fred Giertz, who compiles the monthly index for the University of Illinois System’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs. “This helps to explain the contrast between the equity markets experiencing the strongest month in over 30 years and the real economy showing little progress.”
Equity markets are forward-looking and incorporate the likely future benefits from the vaccine, while the Flash Index is based on current results that do not reflect these expectations, Giertz said. See the full Flash Index Archive.
The Illinois unemployment rate in October (latest available) provided positive news, falling from 10.4% the previous month to 6.8%. The Illinois rate fell slightly below the national rate. The November numbers are not likely to be as strong.
After adjusting for inflation, sales and income tax receipts were down slightly from the same month last year. Corporate tax receipts were significantly lower because of one-time, extremely large collections in November 2019.
The Flash Index is normally a weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income, individual income, and retail sales taxes. These are adjusted for inflation before growth rates are calculated. The growth rate for each component is then calculated for the 12-month period using data through November 30, 2020. Ad hoc adjustments have been made to deal with the timing of the tax receipts resulting from state and Federal changes in payment dates beginning in March.
Yes, she represents the suburbs, including part of DuPage. But she’s a member of leadership and has strong union ties. I’m pretty stunned by this development.
* The list…
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
Deb Conroy
Margaret Croke
Eva-Dina Delgado
Daniel Didech
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Will Guzzardi
Terra Costa Howard
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Anne Stava-Murray
Maurice West
Ann M. Williams
Kathleen Willis
Sam Yingling
…Adding… From Rep. Deb Conroy…
The idea that because after many nights of losing sleep you came to the decision that you can not support the current Speaker means you are not a loyal union supporter is ludicrous. I am from a union family and I will always support union families. We are the strongest union state in the 50 and we will continue to be going forward. Thank you Representative Willis for your leadership and bravery.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,542 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 125 additional deaths.
Adams County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Bureau County: 1 female 70s
Carroll County: 1 male 80s
Champaign County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
Clay County: 1 female 50s
Cook County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 2 females 60s, 3 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 3 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 3 females 90, 1 male 90s, 1 female over 100
DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 2 males 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 2 males 90s
Effingham County: 1 male 90s
Ford County: 1 female 60s
Franklin County: 1 female 80s
Fulton County: 1 male 80s
Grundy County: 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s
Hancock County: 1 female 90s
Iroquois County: 1 male 90s
Jo Daviess County: 1 female 70s
Kane County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
Kankakee County: 1 female 80s
Kendall County: 2 male 80s
Knox County: 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
Lake County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
LaSalle County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
Lee County: 1 female 80s
Livingston County: 1 male 90s
Macon County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Macoupin County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
Madison County: 2 males 70s, 1 female 90s
Marion County: 1 female 80s, 2 males 80
McHenry County: 1 female 70s, 2 females 90s
McLean County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 2 males 90s
Mercer County: 1 female 90s
Monroe County: 1 male 90s
Morgan County: 1 female 60s, 2 females 90s
Ogle County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Peoria County: 1 male 60s
Perry County: 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 3 females 90s
Rock Island County: 1 male 60s, 2 females 90s
Saline County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Sangamon County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s
St. Clair County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Stark County: 1 female 80s
Stephenson County: 1 male 50s
Tazewell County: 1 male 70s
Vermilion County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 90s
Warren County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
White County: 1 male 60s
Whiteside County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
Will County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
Winnebago County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 90s
Woodford County: 1 female 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 738,846 cases, including 12,403 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 116,081 specimens for a total 10,614,079. As of last night, 5,835 in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 1,195 patients were in the ICU and 721 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 24 – November 30, 2020 is 10.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 24 – November 30, 2020 is 12.2%.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for a death previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit hard in March, it prompted shutdowns of schools, businesses, sports venues, national parks and other sites. Legislatures across the country halted sessions, the Illinois General Assembly among them. The suspensions were a justified response to a grave public health emergency.
But a crisis of this severity is no time for lawmakers to stop doing the public’s business altogether. More than two dozen legislatures across the country quickly moved to let members vote or participate in floor deliberations or committee meetings by virtual means. In Vermont, legislators have used Zoom for most of their business since March. New York’s lawmakers approved a budget remotely. But the Illinois House voted down this approach.
In May, it met at a Springfield convention center to allow members to socially distance in the interests of safety. But it canceled its fall veto session rather than meet in person or figure out a way to meet virtually. Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Michael Madigan said face-to-face contact would be too hazardous at a moment when the pandemic is surging across the state.
So, Mazzochi has gone full Darren Bailey. Interesting.
Reps. Mazzochi and Bailey both voted against the remote legislating bill, but I assume they believe it’s safe to gather again, notwithstanding the coronavirus spike in the state and the likelihood of things worsening in the wake of Thanksgiving.
Count the state of Illinois’ plan to line up a buyer for the James R. Thompson Center by the end of 2020 as another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.
A little-noticed provision in legislation the General Assembly passed during its abbreviated, pandemic-focused special session in late May and early June pushed back the timeline for the state to find a buyer for its controversial Loop headquarters by more than a year.
The state now has until April 5, 2022, to reach an agreement with a buyer for the 1.2 million-square-foot glass-and-steel structure, though the legislature could grant another extension. […]
The agency plans to ask for proposals from developers in the first quarter of the new year. […]
When Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill in April 2019 to authorize the sale of the Helmut Jahn-designed building, Chicago was in the midst of a real estate boom. But COVID-19 has led to a significant slowdown in property sales, and the shaky U.S. economy is making developments difficult to finance.
Tuesday, Dec 1, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Clean energy is an essential part of Illinois’ economic recovery. It protects public health and creates good-paying jobs, while ensuring that the people most in need of good jobs and clean air are at the front of the line. It will save Illinoisans money.
We can make our recovery an equitable, sustainable one, and position Illinois as a national leader on clean energy. We can stop our energy systems from sickening and excluding people of color. We can bring good-paying clean energy jobs to Illinois while preserving a livable planet.
* Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and I have been talking since the election about what happened to the two parties in the Chicago suburbs. He’s made some very strong points during our discussions, so I asked him to put together his thoughts during the holiday and he sent me this last night…
Rich,
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. While ours was small it was actually nice to have a little down time. I used some of it to reflect on my race and others. House Republicans have a LOT to be thankful for. I thought I’d share some of my findings with you.
A “Blue Wave” definitely hit the suburbs. Republicans lost the two contested Congressional races. There isn’t a single Republican suburban Congressperson. The Illinois Senate [Republicans] lost a seat in their only contested suburban race.
But what’s most instructive is what happened at the county level.
Lake County Republicans lost every countywide race. So did Will County Republicans. Only one Republican countywide prevailed in Kane county. In DuPage County, Republicans won only one contested countywide race and the County Board flipped from 11-7 Republican to 11-7 Democratic.
The only outlier in the suburbs was the House Democrats.
We did lose two incumbents in the suburbs: Allen Skillicorn and Grant Wehrli. Allen raised about 10K and by most appearances he didn’t really run a campaign. It took $2.57M from Suzanne Ness to squeak out a 3-point win over Skilly.
While Wehrli lost, his fight was remarkably valiant. Janet Yang Rohr also spent over $2.5M to Wehrli’s $400k. But here’s the more amazing part. President Trump didn’t win a single precinct in the 41st. ZERO. I can’t think of a race where the fundamentals were so massively against a candidate and the candidate was still able to pull off a victory. Yet Grant nearly did. Forgive me for not being impressed by DPI’s two pickups.
Now, let’s look at our holds.
Remember all of the rumors of the House Dems picking up 5-8 seats? Well that’s because Stephens, Mazzochi, Morrison, Ugaste, A. Grant and I were all supposed to lose. The amount we were outspent by in those races was sickening. Yet we all won.
We picked up two seats in the suburbs: Chris Bos and Seth Lewis. Both were running against likable woman incumbents. Both were massively outspent. Seth wasn’t appointed to run until August, yet overcame roughly $2.6M in spending against him while spending about $400k.
It is clear that voters have had their fill of Madigan. The message worked well this election.
One of the best illustrations of this was in the 81st House, but it worked to our disadvantage. We had a terrific candidate running against Anne Stava-Murray — Laura Hois. She was one of our best walkers. This is the one race where we actually outspent the Dems. Yet we couldn’t make headway. A quick look at precinct totals show AS-M outperforming the Democratic countywides in overlapping precincts. Voters are tired of corruption. If they knew one thing about Stava-Murray it was that she opposed Madigan. Apparently, her opposition to Madigan was worth more than $1M.
Obviously the campaign team did a lot with the resources we had. They all deserve a lot of credit. Other than raising more money, we need to stay the course on our anti-corruption messaging. The people of Illinois are finally recognizing it!
…Adding… From comments…
Lets not forget that pre election talk was of the House GOP getting swamped and MJM getting into the range of 80 seats. And Madigan was spending every dollar he could get his hands on to make it happen. We have NEVER seen Madigan spend like this in a prior cycle.
Why? Because the more members he had, the better chance he had to stave off an insurrection. But instead of riding the anti-Trump suburban wave, he got left behind and lost seats instead.
If Madigan had gotten to 80, the 18 opponents would still be 2 short of depriving Madigan the votes to be Speaker, and the entire conversation about his future is far different today.
It’s the most impactful cycle the House GOP has had since 1994.
A 2011 state law created a “profit machine” for Commonwealth Edison and its corporate parent while saddling Illinoisans with higher electricity bills for the past decade, a new report by a top utility watchdog concludes.
The so-called smart-grid law that ComEd persuaded state lawmakers to enact is now a part of an ongoing federal bribery probe into the utility’s statehouse lobbying efforts that were directed heavily at Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Illinois PIRG says that 2011 law, which it and other consumer groups opposed, has ComEd poised to reap annual profits of $1 billion by 2023 with far less oversight from state utility regulators and needs to be gutted.
“The narrative they’ve pushed for years that this law was great for consumers, and they continue to push even though it’s tied up in this bribery scheme has to be questioned, and that’s what we are trying to do with this report,” said Abe Scarr, the group’s director.
The law in question was one former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed but was overridden on bipartisan legislative supermajorities.
The report is here.
‘
* From an Illinois PIRG press release…
The report found that concerning customer rates and ComEd profits:
• In 2019, ComEd customers paid 37 percent more for delivery service than they did in 2011;
• Since 2012, ComEd customers have paid $4.7 billion more than they would have had the formula created by EIMA not increased delivery rates over the level in 2012;
• Over the past six years, ComEd has earned more than $1 billion more in profits than it earned over either of the previous six-year periods while it has been an Exelon subsidiary.
In 2011, then-ComEd President and COO Anne Pramaggiore promised “a smart meter in every home opening a world of consumer information and pricing options that provide opportunities for customers to save money.” Regarding ComEd’s failure to deliver customer benefits, the report notes that:
• Time-of-use rates, a critical customer benefit from smart meters, will not be broadly available to ComEd customers until at least 2024;
• Highly touted programs that were supposed to drive customer value from smart meters, such as the smart grid “Test Bed” and “Green Button Connect,” have been outright failures;
• Even benefits that have arrived, including reliability improvements and increased operational efficiency, have not been properly evaluated or scrutinized, so that it is currently impossible to know whether those gains are worth the billions of dollars customers paid to achieve them.
“ComEd did not need formula rates to improve upon its chronically poor reliability performance, or to improve service through new smart grid technology,” said Jeff Orcutt of Chapman Energy Strategies and report co-author. “Instead, ComEd used misleading promises of a customer-centered vision to win itself guaranteed profits and less accountability.”
Over the course of 2020, Gov. JB Pritzker convened a series of stakeholder meetings geared towards crafting comprehensive energy legislation. The report makes a series of recommendations, some of which Gov. Pritzker put forward himself when he released his guiding energy principles in August. The Illinois PIRG report recommends:
• An immediate end to formula ratemaking
• A thorough and independent audit of ComEd’s investments over the past decade and of the current status of ComEd’s grid
• Integrated distribution planning, a public and transparent process for grid planning and investment decisions
• Forcing ComEd to immediately offer customer-friendly time-of-use rates
• Forcing Exelon to divest from ComEd, or, short of that, establishing better procedures to mitigate well-established risks posed by conflicts of interest inherent to Exelon’s ownership of both expensive nuclear power plants and ComEd
• Establishing more effective checks on utility political power by limiting utility political giving, making permanent the ethics changes included in the deferred prosecution agreement, and ending utilities’ ability to charge customers for charitable contributions, rather than making such contributions out of utility profits.
A mysterious group has spent more than a quarter million dollars promoting a vague agenda that’s critical of Illinois utilities’ clean energy transitions.
Dramatic music plays as a mother wakes a child and a graduate throws their cap. “Illinois was promised a clean future, clean energy, clean jobs. But all ComEd and Exelon gave us was dirty politics.”
So says a TV ad aired in Illinois last summer, the work of a group called the Clean Energy Transition Project that has spent more than a quarter million dollars on social media and TV advertising in Illinois in recent years, according to research by Capitol Fax and clean energy groups. […]
While the Clean Energy Transition Project claims to promote clean energy, it does not propose any specific policies, but rails against the scandal-plagued utility ComEd and its parent Exelon, owner of the state’s nuclear plants. CEJA backers see the campaign as a direct attack on their legislation, which includes proposed capacity market reforms that would benefit Exelon.
“They are definitely co-opting the messages of climate and clean energy,” said Illinois Environmental Council executive director Jen Walling. “They’re putting out negative and false information about our legislation. That’s terrible, and they’re doing it in such a way that it’s confusing and misleading the public. If the groups funding this want to get involved in the energy debate, this isn’t the way to do it.” […]
“If this is dark money from the fossil fuel industry, that seems the most likely scenario,” said Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club’s Illinois chapter. “You have to assume they think their policies and values are not supported by Illinoisans; otherwise they would be a lot more forthright about who they are and what outcomes they want.”
…Adding… Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…
Today’s report from Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition member Illinois PIRG demonstrates once again that utilities have run the game in Springfield for too long, and ratepayers got stuck with the tab. Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly have an opportunity to hold utilities accountable by increasing oversight and transparency, providing restitution for ratepayers, and ending the rubber stamping of rate hikes. The Clean Energy Jobs Act is the only bill in Springfield to do just that.
* A press release handed to you in advance is not really a “scoop,” but whatever…
SCOOP: Watch former Treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias make a run for the Illinois Secretary of State position that will open up with Jesse White’s retirement in 2022.
“Secretary White is one of the finest public servants I have ever known. His shoes will be near impossible to fill, but if I run, I would work very hard to try and continue his legacy of caring and principled leadership,” Giannoulias, a Democrat, said in a statement to Playbook. “If this [2020] election has shown us anything, it’s that democracy is under siege and Secretaries of State across the country are on the front lines, ensuring that everyone can participate freely and fairly in elections.” […]
Giannoulias hasn’t formally announced but he’s laying the groundwork by gathering support. A source close to him said he met with White recently to seek his endorsement. Giannoulias also has a head start in fundraising with $750,000 in his Citizens for Giannoulias account, and he’s lining up Democratic donors to commit to what could be an $8 million to $10 million campaign.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (2nd), who was Giannoulias’ chief of staff in the Treasurer’s office, is already nudging him to run. “I’m encouraged that he is thinking about running for statewide office,” she said in a statement. “I witnessed his leadership and commitment to public office firsthand. He is progressive, ethical and reform minded.”
Ariel Investments Co-CEO John Rogers Jr. and Tom Balanoff, the president of Service Employees International Union Illinois Council, are also supportive of Giannoulias, who was seen as a protege of Barack Obama. […]
Giannoulias left public office to work as a senior director at Bank of New York Mellon Corp. in Chicago. It was a nice landing spot given his family history. His late father founded Broadway Bank, a community bank that closed in 2010 in wake of the financial crisis.
It’s of course not noted in the story, but Illinois has long given most responsibility for running elections to the State Board of Elections. The SoS has a limited role, like Motor Voter and mailing out the explanation of constitutional amendments and vote by mail applications.
Just before I hit “publish” on this piece, one of Giannoulias’ people called to talk and said Alexi was referring to things like Motor Voter. Um, OK.
Also, I’m soooo looking forward to a reshash of all that Broadway Bank oppo.
…Adding… From comments…
Which Democratic constituency is pining for the return of the banking heir? Rep. Kelly and John Rogers notwithstanding, I think there are a lot of Democrats that would rather keep an African American on the statewide ticket.
* I’ve been to countless press conferences over the decades and quite a large number have ended before everyone has asked a question. To call this practice a “dictatorship” is kinda goofy…
Amy Jacobson: Last week an 86-year-old woman died from congenital heart failure. She was tested at the hospital on a daily basis, as always, coming back negative. Yet on her death certificate, she’s said to have died from COVID. Are hospitals getting PAID, in capital letters, as a COVID death?
Gov. Pritzker: Let me. I think I want to back up and just remind everybody, Amy, you’re always asking the same kind of a question, which is, ‘Let me take one exception that might have occurred somewhere, don’t put a name on it, but we’ll just talk about the one exception and see what you say.’
I don’t know who this person is or that it actually happened. Here’s what I will tell you. Medicare provides different rates to doctors for treating different kinds of diseases. So, whether you’ve got the flu and you’re in the hospital, whether you caught some other kind of disease, whether your caught COVID-19, they actually get paid at a different rate. Not the doctors, but the hospitals are actually who get paid. Not the doctors, the doctors typically are being paid by the hospitals.
So when you say, you know, is a doctor going to fake a death certificate and claim that someone had coronavirus when the doctor isn’t really benefitting directly by that? That seems kind of far fetched to me. But just recognize that Medicare does in fact pay a different rate for different types of diseases, because some are more serious than others. Obviously, coronavirus is more serious than the flu, although people can die from either one.
I thought that particular far-right social media outrage went out of fashion in May or June. Guess I was wrong.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 6,190 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 85 additional deaths.
Cook County: 1 female 30s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 5 females 60s, 6 males 60s, 12 females 70s, 11 males 70s, 10 females 80s, 13 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 2 males 90s
DeKalb County: 1 male 60s
DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
Kane County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
Lake County: 1 male 70s
LaSalle County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 90s
Madison County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 90s
Mason County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
McDonough County: 1 male 60s
Monroe County: 1 female 80s
Ogle County: 1 female 90s
Peoria County: 1 female 50s
Tazewell County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Will County: 2 females 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 726,304 cases, including 12,278 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 66,980 specimens for a total 10,497,998. As of last night, 5,849 in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 1,217 patients were in the ICU and 715 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 23 – November 29, 2020 is 10.2%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 23 – November 29, 2020 is 12.2%.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for a death previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
…Adding… Hannah…
The city of Chicago is closest to escaping Tier III mitigations. (If its average positivity rate stays under 12% for one more day and the number of COVID hospitalizations declines for one more day.)
Southern Illinois currently has the lowest availability of ICU beds: 14 of 88 avail in Region 5 (far southern Illinois) and 19 of 113 in Region 4 (Illinois side of St. Louis). Will & Kankakee counties improving with 34 of 162 ICU beds available.
*** UPDATE *** The governor just said that no region would be moved back to Tier II for the next few weeks because of all the Thanksgiving gatherings and travel. Pritzker said he talked to Dr. Fauci this morning, who said “the massive number of indoor gatherings by people visiting family and friends across the nation will very likely bring a post Thanksgiving surge, and he believes this is no time to pull back on mitigations.”
So far, 18 Democrats have announced they will not support reelecting Madigan as speaker in January. This presumably leaves him with 55 votes – five short – of the 60 needed to retain his leadership post.
No way does Madigan have 55 solid votes. And flipping five of the 18 who have so far publicly declared their opposition is gonna be next to impossible. Don’t live in a fantasy world. Show us the roll call from this list…
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
Deb Conroy
Margaret Croke
Eva-Dina Delgado
Daniel Didech
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Will Guzzardi
Terra Costa Howard
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Anne Stava-Murray
Maurice West
Ann M. Williams
Sam Yingling
Of those 18 legislators, who specifically can he flip and how specifically can he flip them (not to mention the others who haven’t publicly declared either way)? I’ve yet to see that list. Also, tell me why they would surrender when they clearly have the upper hand here.
* The 18+ House Democrats have laid siege to the House Speaker. They went into this knowing that Madigan would resist. And they know that if Madigan prolongs this battle during a worldwide pandemic when the state is facing so many problems, the heat on him will be the hottest it has ever been. The Rauner/Blagojevich script has flipped.
But if it becomes a prolonged battle to elect a speaker, some of those who defected from the Madigan camp may be lured back just to end the nightmare of a deadlocked House. For example, in 1975, it took three weeks and 93 votes of the Illinois House before Bill Redmond was elected speaker.
If such a marathon election were to happen again, some members might abandon their publicly stated positions just to bring the acrimony to an end.
Three weeks is nothing when nobody was expecting any action out of the General Assembly until April or May anyway.
Also, remember the massive negative press those two House Democrats received when they voted against Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment because they wanted jobs? I don’t think they ever got those jobs.
(a) At the first meeting of the House of each General Assembly, the Secretary of State shall convene the House at 12:00 noon, designate a Temporary Clerk of the House, and preside during the nomination and election of the Speaker. As the first item of business each day before the election of the Speaker, the Secretary of State shall order the Temporary Clerk to call the roll of the members to establish the presence of a quorum as required by the Constitution. If a majority of those elected are not present, the House shall stand adjourned until the next calendar day, excepting weekends, at the hour prescribed in Rule 29. If a quorum of members elected is present, the Secretary of State shall then call for nominations of members for the Office of Speaker. All nominations require a second. When the nominations are completed, the Secretary of State shall direct the Temporary Clerk to call the roll of the members to elect the Speaker.
(b) The election of the Speaker requires the affirmative vote of a majority of those elected. Debate is not in order following nominations and preceding or during the vote.
(c) No legislative measure may be considered and no committees may be appointed or meet before the election of the Speaker.
(d) When a vacancy in the Office of Speaker occurs, the foregoing procedure shall be employed to elect a new Speaker; when the Secretary of State is of a political party other than that of the majority caucus, however, the Majority Leader shall preside during the nomination and election of the successor Speaker. No legislative measures, other than for the nomination and election of a successor Speaker, may be considered by the House during a vacancy in the Office of Speaker.
* Again, look at this as if it’s a siege, because it is. Not all sieges work, of course, but Madigan likely can’t dispatch another “army” out to defeat them in the field because there is simply not enough of an incentive to surrender (and his most effective muscle, Tim Mapes and Mike McClain, have been tossed out of the kingdom). Who’s gonna give them jobs or contracts? ComEd? Anyone who touches them will be nuked in the media.
Madigan can try to wait them out, but he’s the one who will take almost all the heat for causing destruction, not them. He can even try to lock them in with a caucus position, but they can simply skip the meeting.
Also, the opposition doesn’t need a candidate to run against Madigan at the moment. They’re taking this one methodical step at a time: First, force him aside; then, work on a deal.
* The hard and fast rule for the past 30 years has been “Never bet against the Speaker.” But one should never say never. And in that spirit, I’m not predicting Madigan’s definite political demise.
Madigan’s best bet would probably be to lock in the majority of his members on a concrete position of “Madigan gets two more years or go fly a kite.” But, man, the damage he would risk causing the state and his party to preserve his own political power would be catastrophic.
* The virus has to come from somewhere, and considering the phenomenally high positivity rate in that area, it was bound to get into the veterans’ home…
Through letters, phone calls and social media, state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, weeks ago began raising alarm bells about a coronavirus outbreak at the veterans home in her district.
“All along I had been receiving phone calls, emails and anonymous letters from people who worked in the home or had family members there about serious breaches of protocol that they were concerned about,” Rezin told us. “I know the (Gov. J.B. Pritzker) administration believes (the outbreak) is because people aren’t enforcing his mitigation plan, and they brought it into the nursing home. But that does not compute with what is going on.”
* However, other veterans’ homes are in hotspots and have so far managed to prevent a massive outbreak. Once the virus got inside, it was the state’s responsibility to halt the spread. That clearly did not happen. The virus spread like wildfire and 20 percent (yes, 20 percent) of the residents have died so far…
Officials are investigating a coronavirus outbreak that has infected nearly 200 residents and staff, and killed 27 veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is attempting to determine what caused the outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home. The department has requested an independent probe into the facility, which was the focus of a state Senate committee virtual hearing on the outbreak.
The current outbreak was identified in late October when a staff member and a resident tested positive for the virus. Since the beginning of November, two-thirds of residents and employees have tested positive, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
Inspections revealed several issues at the home, including challenges with timely return of testing and breaks from protocol in coronavirus prevention and containment including wearing masks and social distancing. Issues of short staffing were also a concern, including clear procedures on whether staff was required to work even though they tested positive for COVID-19.
* And then there was the hand sanitizer that didn’t work on viruses…
And don't even tell me y'all care for veterans like you would your own family. Would you make your grandfather rely on a useless hand sanitizer in a congregate facility these days?
“Here I am by Day 11 practically screaming to whoever will listen to me,” Rezin said. “(The state) didn’t conduct a site visit until 11 days after the outbreak. When the Quincy Veterans’ Home experienced a Legionnaires outbreak, they did a site visit on Day 3, and they were crucified for waiting until Day 3.”
“This is what’s frustrating to me, Director (Chapa LaVia). Your legislative liaison sent an email to the senators on this committee and I appreciate the update. But that email talked about the sense of urgency in the sense of trying to do everything that could be done to ensure the safety. But the actions don’t seem to match the rhetoric,” Schimpf, R-Waterloo, said.
“So, the two questions are, when was Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker notified about this, did he give any guidance and then why again was it not until Nov. 12 that we had IDPH personnel on site?”
Chapa LaVia said she personally did not speak to Pritzker but he was aware of the outbreak.
Chapa LaVia, who served as a First Lieutenant in the Illinois Army National Guard, also pushed back against the charge that the IDVA officials should have moved more quickly to respond to the LaSalle outbreak.
She didn’t personally speak with the governor about this? And she thinks the response was just fine?
On Veterans Day alone, we lost seven veterans at this facility. Shouldn’t that have been enough to warrant a direct, person-to-person conversation between our governor and the director of the Department of Veterans Affairs? This is even more infuriating, considering that in the spring of 2018, then-candidate Pritzker made the Quincy Legionnaire’s outbreak a focal point of his gubernatorial campaign.
* The ongoing investigations will help prevent failures in the future. But heads need to roll and there’s ample precedent…
Pritzker ought to be furious about this down to his marrow, but that has not been communicated to the public.
* And perhaps the state finally needs to decide whether it can continue providing this care and whether the federal government might be better suited to do it…
I said this during the Rauner Administration and I'll say it again, if the state cannot handle caring for veterans it should not offer care to veterans in the first place. https://t.co/jnr4c91tHC
Monday, Nov 30, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
In light of the latest federal indictment, it has never been more clear that Springfield needs to act immediately and pass legislation to hold utilities like ComEd accountable and restore trust in our political system.
After it first came to light that ComEd’s illegal lobbying scheme allowed them to overcharge customers by at least $150 million, the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) was updated to include accountability and ethics reforms to make sure this can’t happen again. But our elected leaders have not taken action.
Until lawmakers and Governor Pritzker pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act, we are stuck with the status quo. That means continued automatic rate hikes and no true transparency or accountability for utilities. It’s time to take action. CEJA can’t wait. Visit ilcleanjobs.org to learn more.
The Community Foundation of Macon County has announced a new memorial fund in memory of the late Danielle “Dani” Kater, 30, of Bloomington, Ill. Dani died Nov. 3 of COVID-19 complications; she is McLean County’s youngest coronavirus victim. Dani had no pre-existing health conditions and was not affiliated with a long-term care facility.
The Dani Rubin Kater Memorial Fund for COVID Care will support and provide services and resources devoted to battling the coronavirus pandemic.
Dani’s parents, Tina and Bob Rubin, remember her as always being a kind, studious and passionate person. She was their only child.
You can click here to contribute. I will match DeVore’s $1,000 if he surprises the world by actually honoring his pledge.
State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch released the following statement Wednesday regarding the Special Investigating Committee:
“Today, the Special Investigating Committee received more than 100 documents from Commonwealth Edison which had been requested by both Democrats and Republicans – documents which underlie the deferred prosecution agreement and were previously obtained by federal investigators. In the interest of transparency, I have requested all documents be posted on the committee’s page on ilga.gov. It’s clear that a full, honest reading of these documents shows that associates of ComEd assisted with job recommendations for people from both parties, both chambers, and multiple branches of government.
“With this information, the committee plans to resume meeting in-person on Monday, December 14, giving members time to take necessary health and safety precautions following the Thanksgiving holiday and return prepared to safely continue the work of the committee.”
The documents are here. What’s abundantly clear is that the assistance to the GOP and to the Senate paled in comparison to what’s in there about the House Speaker.
“What sticks out is the number of times quote ‘our friend’ is mentioned having asked for something, responded somehow,” said state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon. “So that the Speaker’s letter saying he couldn’t answer questions about conversations he wasn’t a part of, these documents show he was part of quite a few conversations.”
In a June 2014 exchange, McClain wrote Marquez with an opaque question that again appeared to deal with property tax issues involving ComEd.
“Our Friend called,” McClain said.
He then said a former congressman, whose name was redacted by ComEd in the newly-released records, “was concerned about representing us in his usual property tax matters” and asked Marquez to inquire about the issue.
Marquez agreed and asked what motivated Madigan’s unspecified concern.
“Our Friend did not know but presumed someone was trying to hustle one of ‘his’ accounts,” McClain responded.
The full exchange as reflected in the email poses more questions than it answers. It’s not clear who the unidentified ex-congressman is or what precisely McClain was referring to when he apparently quoted Madigan speculating someone – possibly the ex-congressman – was “trying to hustle one of ‘his’ accounts.’”
But what is clear is that, according to McClain, Madigan had an interest in ComEd’s property tax obligations, which conceivably dovetails off the specialty of the speaker’s law firm.
The email trail buttresses federal allegations that ex-lobbyist Michael McClain pushed on Madigan’s behalf to have former McPier CEO Juan Ochoa put on ComEd’s board and highlights how 13th Ward loyalist Ed Moody, now the Cook County recorder of deeds, was shifted from one secretive contract with a lobbyist to another. […]
Ed Moody’s name came up in a June 5, 2013, email from McClain to Pramaggiore that asked if she would consider “moving Ed off my contract and onto Jay Dougherty’s or someone else’s? I know Hook and you have talked about it. You and I have casually talked about it but I wanted session to be over first.”
McClain concluded with a one-word reasoning for the request: “Optics.” […]
On Oct. 18, 2014, for example, McClain forwarded Marquez an email with the subject line “Mike, Attached are 3 resumes for a meter reading position/or appropriate with ComEd,” though the original sender is unclear.
Six days later, on Oct. 24, 2014, McClain wrote in the same email thread, “Fidel, this is what our Friend was talking about with you.”
McClain’s emails also provide new information about a lobbying contract former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo and his sons landed with ComEd as subcontractors to the law firm of Victor Reyes, whose business dealings with the utility are at issue in the indictment.
Acevedo apparently created problems for ComEd, according to an email McClain sent to Marquez on Jan. 11, 2017.
“His two boys are nice but need a firm monitor. They are lazy,” McClain wrote. “He has to show up at the meetings on time. Himself. Not his boys representing him. . . Watch the booze.”
A grand jury previously subpoenaed state lobbying reports filed by the Acevedos and their firm, Apex Strategy LLC.
Apex was reportedly paid $5,000 a month, first in a contract with Reyes’s firm and then to Shaw Decremer, a lobbyist who once worked for Madigan.
Acevedo hung up on a reporter, saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I have no comment.” Reyes could not be reached for co
On Page 9 of last week’s federal indictment of four people accused of conspiring to bribe House Speaker Michael Madigan with favors from ComEd is this heading: “Defendants and Relevant Individuals.”
But the first person listed is not one of the defendants. “Public Official A was the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the list begins.
The feds don’t just throw these things together like some college freshman who’s late with a term paper. Indictments, particularly in political cases, are often carefully crafted in order to send a message. So, it obviously ain’t good when you’re at the very top of the government’s defendant list and you’re not even a defendant.
It’s also not exactly great when your former consigliere and most trusted friend Mike McClain is indicted along with other once-powerful people in your orbit for conspiring to bribe you.
And that’s a big reason why we’ve seen so many House Democrats declare in the past several days that they will not vote to re-elect Speaker Madigan
Quite a few people, including attorneys I’ve spoken with, appear to agree with McClain’s lawyer that the feds are “attempting to rewrite the law on bribery and criminalize long-recognized legitimate, common, and normal lobbying activity into some new form of crime.”
They may have a valid legal point. McClain and the others might be able to beat this rap. I don’t know. I’ve seen others make that claim and fail.
But, c’mon, the stuff in the indictment isn’t “common” or “normal,” at least outside Madigan’s 13th Ward.
The amount of time spent obsessing over 10 summer internships for kids in Madigan’s ward (some of whom didn’t even qualify) bordered on farce. My “favorite” part of the indictment was when ComEd was essentially warned not to count those interns against the number of patronage jobs the company was doling out to the ward.
And how many political organizations successfully install precinct captains into no-show contract jobs in this day and age? Also, how many state legislators think they can install someone on a utility’s board of directors?
Like any unfettered, unquestioned bureaucracy, they took their mission to an absurd extreme. And, this time, it resulted in indictments.
Up until now, Madigan has been the most adaptive and adept politician I’ve ever seen. You don’t stick around for 48 years by remaining stagnant, I suppose.
He began his career as a typical tough-on-crime, socially conservative, Southwest Side Irish Catholic. He’s since become pro-choice, voted for both gay marriage and to abolish the death penalty and backed up the Black Caucus in its difficult years-long effort to block criminal penalty enhancement legislation. He spent years defending the rights of trial lawyers, then pushed through a medical malpractice reform bill when the issue started hurting his members. He went after the public employee unions over their pensions when he felt he had to, then united all unions like never before when the state elected an anti-union governor.
At his most recent low point, Madigan quickly committed to “change the culture” in the House during the 2018 sexual harassment scandals. He saved his own skin at a time when lots of folks thought he wouldn’t make it through.
But he has insisted since the ComEd scandal broke that he believes it’s not only his right to help people find jobs and contracts, it’s actually his duty. There would be no change to that particular culture he created. There’d be no “evolving” as he’d done on so many other issues. And for good reason.
Madigan’s machine is old school. It runs on patronage. And he needs a lot of patronage to keep his huge machine humming. He’s always on the hunt for opportunities, and his people love him for taking care of them, and are fiercely and forever loyal.
But patronage is supposed to be a means to an end of running successful political campaigns, and it unfortunately appeared to become an end in and of itself.
The favors culture Madigan created led to ComEd’s deferred prosecution agreement, and that DPA led to last week’s indictments of his close associates, and those indictments led to an even larger member revolt which appears, as I write this, to be about to remove the gavel from Madigan’s hands.
The old-timers said that Dan Rostenkowski, George Ryan and others got themselves in trouble because they didn’t change with the times. Madigan was supposed to be different. And he actually was for many years. Until now.
There was no column this week because I was on vacation.
“The decision on the next speaker of the Illinois House will be made at a caucus, after a full discussion of the issues facing our state and the qualifications of the candidates. I plan to be a candidate for speaker, and today I confirmed that I continue to have support from a significant number of House Democratic caucus members.”
“Significant” isn’t “60.” And it’ll be tough to debate another candidate when there probably won’t be one.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Democratic Rep. Jonathan Carroll…
If the Speaker wants to caucus, I hope it’s to discuss the 101st General Assembly. We still have two months left to meet the needs of our state. If it’s for any other reason, he’s putting his own personal needs ahead of everything else. Any conversations about the next Speaker should be secondary to the current state of things.
Assistant Majority Leader Rep. William Davis said he had a “very short” conversation with Madigan Friday. The speaker asked for the Homewood Democrat’s vote, and Davis told him he’d have it come January, when House members will pick their leader.
“I have told speaker Madigan that I would support him, and I would not back away from that support,” Davis said, though he’s also made clear he has his eye on the speaker’s gavel — once Madigan is ready to relinquish it.
“What I have said is that I would like to be the next speaker of the House, but, prior to what’s happened, that’s always been a ‘when-Madigan-leaves’ conversation,” Davis said. “And, right now, that hasn’t changed. As this plays out a little bit more, and if he comes to the conclusion that he doesn’t have the votes, I hope there will be another conversation about making a smooth transition of leadership.”
Asked if Madigan backs him as a potential successor, Davis said he has asked for Madigan’s support should the time come, and the powerful Southwest Side Democrat, who’s held onto the gavel for nearly 40 years, said simply, “OK, I understand.”
Just saying, but if I was in the nearly all-white opposition, I’d seriously consider whomever the post-Madigan Black Caucus chooses.
…Adding… Just to clarify, I’m not saying the BC has or even soon will have a candidate. I’m just saying.
I’ll post press releases or major news about the Madigan thing as we go along next week, but I’ll only reopen comments if something truly gigantic happens (you might guess what could qualify). But posting may not be as prompt as usual because it’s not like I’m going to be by my computer the entire time. It’ll work out, though.
While I’m gone, you’ll have the live coverage post and the site’s numerous news feeds to keep you up to date. You can also click here around mid-day to see the latest IDPH reports.
* I hope you have a great and healthy Thanksgiving. Please, wear your mask, wash your hands and keep your distance. You folks mean a lot to me, so stay well.
* During Gov. Pritzker’s news media briefing today, a reporter submitted a question prefaced by the fact that it has been 24 hours since Pritzker had called on Speaker Madigan to answer questions or resign. The question…
How long will you wait to make him resign?
Since this was a question submitted online, I double-checked with Pritzker’s press secretary to make sure she asked it accurately. She did.
…Adding… Another question today was based on a comment by Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), who said this week that the governor and the attorney general should consider filing state charges similar to the federal charges in the ComEd probe.
Um, the governor can’t do that. (Not blaming the reporter for that one, by the way, because the person was just following up on a legislator’s comment.)
Weird times.
…Adding… I’m told the reporter got it wrong about Mazzochi. She apparently said she hoped the governor was also talking to the AG to see if there was information in the federal documents that could support state charges.
* Confession: I’ve never watched The Wire. Yeah, I know I should. I’ve tried, but I’ve just never been able to get into it.
Anyway, a friend of mine brought up the show today when we were chatting about how so many people are just absolutely stunned about the strong likelihood that Speaker Madigan will lose the gavel. His text…
There is a good metaphor in there about a main boss character getting killed off in a kind of anticlimactic way by some no-name.
That’s what this feels like… This? THIS is how he goes?!?!
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 13,012 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 126 additional deaths.
- Adams County: 1 male 80s
- Bureau County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
- Champaign County: 1 female 80s
- Coles County: 1 female 90s
- Cook County: 1 male 30s, 1 male 40s, 2 females 50s, 2 males 50s, 4 females 60s, 7 males 60s, 6 females 70s, 11 males 70s, 9 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 2 males 90s, 1 female over 100, 1 male over 100
- DeKalb County: 1 female 40s
- DeWitt County: 1 female 80s
- Douglas County: 1 male 80s
- DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
- Effingham County: 1 female 60s
- Franklin County: 1 male 90s
- Grundy County: 1 female 70s
- Kane County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
- Kendall County: 1 male 90s
- Knox County: 1 female 80s
- Lake County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
- LaSalle County: 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 male 90s
- Macon County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s
- Madison County: 1 male 20s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s
- Mason County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 90s
- McDonough County: 1 male 60s
- McHenry County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s
- McLean County: 1 male 80s
- Mercer County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
- Monroe County: 1 female 80s
- Ogle County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
- Pike County: 1 male 80s
- Randolph County: 1 female 80s
- Rock Island County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Sangamon County: 1 female 80s
- Stephenson County: 1 female 70s
- Tazewell County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Whiteside County: 2 males 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
- Will County: 1 male 50s, 1 female over 100
- Winnebago County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
- Woodford County: 1 female over 100
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 634,395 cases, including 11,304 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 116,024 specimens for a total 9,588,698. As of last night, 6,111 in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 1,196 patients were in the ICU and 604 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 13 – November 19, 2020 is 11.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 13 – November 19, 2020 is 13.4%.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for deaths previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
*** UPDATE *** More bad news…
Also on Fridays, @IDPH updates a list of counties it considers to be at "warning level."
As elected officials, our job is to be accessible to our constituents - even when they vehemently disagree with us and criticize our actions. This criticism must not be allowed to fester into threats against members of our family.
In this unprecedented time of a pandemic and economic crisis, there are many in our communities that want us to take sweeping actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yet others that want us to scale back the mitigations even at the risk of their health, and the health of others.
This week, we were disgusted to learn that fake news on social media targeted one of Governor Pritzker’s children alleging COVID-19 violations, and the story was then magnified by other online outlets. This fake story was shared widely on social media, including by Republican elected officials, eventually leading to a $1,000 bounty being offered for a Thanksgiving picture of the Governor’s family.
We will continue to have a debate on the best ideas for moving Illinois forward, but we will never, ever, tolerate attacks on an elected official’s children. As we look towards a post-Trump future, we need to rebuild civility and compassion in Illinois - each of us must commit to leaving family members out of the debate.
Sincerely,
Carol Ammons
Jaime Andrade
Monica Bristow
Kam Buckner
Assistant Majority Leader Kelly Burke
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
John Connor
Deb Conroy
Majority Leader Greg Harris
Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman
Terra Costa Howard
Assistant Majority Leader Will Davis
Eva-Dina Delgado
Daniel Didech
Mary Edly-Allen
La Shawn Ford
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Deputy Majority Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth
LaToya Greenwood
Will Guzzardi
Mike Halpin
Barbara Hernandez
Yehiel Mark Kalish
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Camille Lilly
Theresa Mah
Assistant Majority Leader Natalie Manley
Joyce Mason
Rita Mayfield
Debbie Meyers-Martin
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Michelle Mussman
Diane Pappas
Yoni Pizer
Delia Ramirez
Nathan Reitz
Lamont Robinson
Justin Slaughter
Anne Stava-Murray
Katie Stuart
Curtis Tarver, II
Mark Walker
Larry Walsh, Jr.
Emanuel Chris Welch
Maurice West
Ann Williams
Kathy Willis
Sam Yingling
Michael Zalewski
Rep. Morgan circulated the letter and said he wanted to push this out quickly, so he wasn’t able to communicate with everyone. “I don’t think anyone in the caucus deliberately stayed off,” he said.
New parlor game: If not Madigan, who can get 60 Democratic votes to become speaker? Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, chairperson of the State Government Administration committee, has already put her hat in the ring. Other names: Majority Leader Greg Harris, Assistant Majority Leader Kelly Burke, Appropriations-Public Safety Chairperson Kelly Cassidy, Assistant Majority Leader Will Davis, Deputy Majority Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth, Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman, Executive Committee Chairperson Emanuel “Chris” Welch, and Energy and Environment Chairperson Ann Williams.
Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter on Thursday voiced unwavering support for embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, even though a new federal indictment plunges deeper into Madigan’s once impervious inner-circle.
Reiter reaffirmed the labor movement’s support for its Springfield champion one day after former lawmaker-turned-Commonwealth Edison lobbyist Michael McClain, one of the speaker’s closest confidants, was one of four people charged with participating in a bribery scheme.
“The people that you’ve worked with to help make everyday peoples’ lives better — you can’t just walk away from that situation. Especially in a situation like this where there’s this appearance that’s been created that may, in fact, be divorced from actual reality,” Reiter told the Sun-Times Thursday.
* I hear this a lot…
This is all fascinating to watch play out, but Madigan still has 55 votes and a very loyal base. No one else is remotely close. Madigan’s magic has been in uniting warring factions in the caucus, and I wouldn’t count him out until someone else can show they can do that too. https://t.co/EM7T7H4V8b
Others are out there, so saying he has 55 votes is incorrect. He needs 60 to win. And this ain’t no capital bill. The people he needs aren’t shrinking violets waiting for him to shower them with favors. They’ve made a very public commitment that will be almost impossible to break without losing all face.
Until Madigan can prove he can get to 60 by flipping five (and counting) members back into line, he cannot win. And the opposition so far isn’t a bunch of regular machine types who can be persuaded with jobs, or contracts or promotions to leadership. They also can’t be threatened with loss of committee assignments or whatever because if they stick together, he’s out and he can’t do anything to them and they can cut their own deal with the next person to help him or her get to 60.
As I detailed for subscribers this morning, Madigan could put the state through a very long and disastrous stalemate and declare war against a faction of his own members in an attempt to hold onto power. We’ll see whether he wants to go that far.
Until someone else announces they are running this just a fun party game.
This is not much different than Justice Kilbride’s retention race and his appointed replacement. The idea right now is to prevent the opposition from winning. Then, when that becomes clear, House Democrats can work on coalescing behind someone else.
“I would not count him out,” said one previous Madigan political nemesis, former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar. “He’s the smartest guy in the Capitol building and very determined, and he’s not going to go easily.”
“I don’t know,” Edgar said. “Maybe it is the end. We’ll see. But, again, my experience has been with Madigan is that he’s a smart guy.”
He is at that.
* I texted and emailed several House Democrats a question yesterday: “Howdy. Any comment on 16 House Democrats announcing they will not vote to reelect Speaker Madigan?” Here’s Rep. Jaime Andrade’s (D-Chicago) texted response. Don’t hold the typos against him because we all know the issues with texting (except for Speaker Madigan, of course)…
Hello Rich, there needs to be an immediate dem caucus meeting in order to move forward. We can not wait with redistricting around the corner. If the votes are not there they are not there. It is simple math.
So others can start making their moves but they can not wait too long because then it will look like they are asking for “permission”. We do not want the same thing happen when it took Hynes close or over 200 hundred times to be elected as president of the senate. The transition should not be done over night. And I suspect the 16 will grow in the next few days. And I suspect we will lose a few state reps that will leave the GA all together with change of leadership. One can never underestimate the speaker but I do not see where the 60 votes come from.
Who flips back to a yes. Are the unions actually going to make calls and ask members to vote for MM, I do not think so. One thing is to put out a letter but actively make phone calls…
At the end of the day what would the speaker expect of any member of his leadership to do?
*** UPDATE *** He’s been calling around for weeks, but it’s still notable…
Speaker Madigan is calling IL House members today checking to see if they still support him as the number increases to 18 Dems who do not. He’s currently 5 short of the 60 votes needed to remain Speaker #ILDems#Madigan
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State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado of Illinois’ 3rd District will not support Speaker Madigan for re- election.
Representative Delgado issued the following statement today:
“The ongoing allegations surrounding Speaker Madigan have become a distraction from the important work before us during these unprecedented times. Therefore, I will not be supporting Speaker Madigan in his run for reelection as the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Our state has some serious issues to address and now is the time for new leadership.”
You will recall that Speaker Madigan warned he would initiate proceedings to kick Delgado out of the House if she was appointed to the seat earlier this year. That effort went nowhere, and now Madigan himself is facing the same sort of process.
* Here’s the updated list of dissident House Democrats so far…
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
Deb Conroy
Margaret Croke
Eva-Dina Delgado
Daniel Didech
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Will Guzzardi
Terra Costa Howard
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Anne Stava-Murray
Maurice West
Ann M. Williams
Sam Yingling
State Rep. Daniel Didech Calls for New Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
State Rep. Daniel Didech (D – Buffalo Grove) issued the following statement today:
“Today I informed my colleagues that I believe now is the time, for the first time in four decades, for the House Democratic Caucus to choose a new Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. It is critical that our work to select a new leader begins today. Every candidate for this important office deserves a fair shot and each member deserves the opportunity for their voice to be heard and respected. I am fully confident that we can soon select a Speaker who will unite our caucus so we can continue our important work serving the people of Illinois.”
* Here’s the full list of dissident House Democrats so far…
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
Deb Conroy
Margaret Croke
Daniel Didech
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Will Guzzardi
Terra Costa Howard
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Anne Stava-Murray
Maurice West
Ann M. Williams
Sam Yingling
The House Democrats will have 73 seats in January. That means at least 14 are needed to deprive Madigan of the 60 he must have for reelection. With Didech, the opposition is +3 now.
