Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Chris Kennedy campaign…

“Governor Rauner promised a grand, unifying speech. Instead, all we got was a few minutes of empty remarks in an empty room. The only unifying thing Bruce Rauner is doing is bringing voters together to support radical change in Illinois. We have state leadership that has completely and utterly failed us. It doesn’t have to be this way. Compromise - real compromise - like the kind that happens before the session ends when lawmakers are debating the merits of their proposals, is not surrender.

“This speech is indicative of Rauner’s views on “unity”. He goes around our lawmakers, operates outside our legislative process, and talks into a camera in an empty room instead of bringing us a balanced budget.

“As he’s said before, if Chris Kennedy is elected as the next governor and he doesn’t balance the budget, he won’t run again. That’s the level of accountability and honesty that’s sorely missing in Springfield.”

* Sen. Daniel Biss…

“Illinoisans were just subjected to the worst infomercial in our state’s fiscal history—advertising more of the same hypocrisy out of Governor Rauner that we’ve seen over his entire term. While saying “failure to act is not an option” with regards to passing a budget, he doubles down on the very fecklessness that’s gotten us here in the first place.

I’ll remind the governor that he has chosen not to act for the last two years, putting himself, his wealthy friends, and his campaign first. It’s time he and Speaker Madigan sit down, take action, and end this pain.”

* JB Pritzker…

For nearly three years, Illinois families have seen and felt the impact of Governor Rauner’s disastrous and divisive leadership. Parents are struggling to pay the bills, schools are finding it harder to stay open, and vital social service agencies aren’t getting the funding they need.

The budget crisis has crippled our state while Bruce Rauner sat by and did nothing. Now today, on day 720 of the crisis he created, Rauner has decided he wants to make people think that he’d like to work together to get something done. But I don’t believe a word of it:

Click here to view video

Bruce Rauner calls his proposal a compromise budget, but that could not be further from the truth. There’s nothing about it that’s a compromise. There’s no unity in his call for unity. It’s a sham.

Our schools need funding. Our mental health facilities and our shelters need funding. Our social safety net needs rebuilding.

We need somebody who is going to stand up for Illinoisans. That’s not what Bruce Rauner is trying to do. What he’s proposing is a sham and I won’t stand for it.

Thank you –
JB

* Ameya Pawar…

“Gov. Rauner is a liar, a fraud and a flake. In his brief televised address tonight, he said he wants to work with all members of the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget during the special session, but he’s attacking Democrats with TV ads, mailers and flyers. He said he supports equitable funding for public education, but he has threatened to veto a bill which would increase funding to 270 school districts in our state, including Chicago’s. When he was campaigning for governor he said he was pro-choice, but now he’s against a bill that would expand health care coverage for women that would provide more access to abortion care.”

“This has gone on too long. The governor has been exploiting the divisions between Chicago and the rest of the state and using coded language to play off people’s fears. He would rather see our state divided to put more money in the pockets of his donors than do his job and improve the lives of people across all communities.”

“Illinoisans deserve a governor who will stay true to his word and lead our state out of financial crisis. It’s not enough to talk a good game–we have big challenges as a state and we need a governor who understands how to cut through the politics as usual and get things done that actually improve people’s lives. That’s what I’ve done as alderman, by securing funding for neighborhood schools and passing several pieces of progressive legislation that directly benefit working families. And that’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to the governor’s office if I am elected.”

* DGA…

“Tonight, Bruce Rauner tried to reset his failing tenure as Governor of Illinois by offering nothing new in terms of policy or message. Instead, he pretended he played no part in creating and exacerbating the state’s fiscal crisis. Bruce Rauner purposefully drove the state off the rails, leading to nation’s longest budget impasse in history, skyrocketing debt, a crippling blow to our higher education system, and a ruined social safety net. That is not the record of someone interested in unity or governing, but someone who is willing to sacrifice Illinois’ future for political points. Illinois, under Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership, is moving backwards.”

* Team Rauner…

Governor Rauner addressed the people of Illinois tonight from the Old State Capitol in Springfield on the eve of the legislators’ 10-day special session, stressing the need for unity and compromise.

This special session provides the opportunity for legislators to make lasting change for our state. We need a balanced budget with spending caps, long-lasting property tax relief, term limits, and reforms to grow jobs.

You can watch the Governor’s full address here, or read the quick recap below:

QUICK RECAP
Gov. Bruce Rauner on compromise:

“We’ve asked the General Assembly to come together in a special session for the next 10 days – not as Democrats and Republicans – but as leaders who share bipartisan concern for our state’s future.”
“To do what those who came before us did that changed the course of history: have the courage to dare to do what is right … to act for the people.”

Gov. Bruce Rauner on a balanced budget:

“Last week, we reviewed a compromise budget plan that I can sign… It is truly balanced. It funds schools, higher education, and human services. It provides a real path to property tax reduction.”
“We must agree on a balanced budget plan, and get it to my desk before the end of the state’s fiscal year – one week from Friday.”

Gov. Bruce Rauner on real reform:

“The plan also stands tall for fundamentals. Spending reductions. Limits on expenses. Debt reduction. And term limits on legislative leaders and statewide officeholders, including the Governor.”
“Failure to act is not an option. Failure to act may cause permanent damage to our state that will take years to overcome.”

The text of the address is here.

…Adding… Not a campaign release, but this is Rep. Greg Harris, who spoke for the House Democrats…

“Democrats are returning to Springfield in hopes that the governor is finally ready to compromise on a budget. But, even now, the governor is talking out of both sides of his mouth: As he holds a campaign speech ostensibly calling for unity, he’s also bankrolling negative attack ads and mailers against House Democrats and the very people he is calling on to work with.

“House Democrats have said for two years that we believe a resolution to Governor Rauner’s manufactured budget crisis must be our top priority. We have continually looked for ways to compromise with the governor without hurting middle-class families, and have worked to find common ground so the governor will finally focus on a budget.

“At the governor’s request, House Democrats have voted to cut property taxes, reform workers’ compensation, improve the business climate, sell the Thompson Center and reform the state procurement code. With each attempt to meet Governor Rauner half way, we urged him to return to the table to negotiate a budget. Sadly, the governor refused each time.

“The budget supported by Governor Rauner and legislative Republicans is not balanced. It’s not the honest budget Illinois taxpayers deserve. It’s clear that real negotiations and real compromise are needed.

“Despite the repeated campaign attacks against House Democrats, we have continued to prioritize a balanced budget. In the weeks since the spring session adjourned, we’ve held a series of budget hearings where we’ve heard directly from the victims of Governor Rauner’s budget crisis. From the parents of children with developmental disabilities, to survivors of sexual assault, the men and women speaking out are in agreement: the governor needs to put aside his extreme agenda and compromise. The governor dismissed these people as ‘props’ instead of recognizing who they are – victims of his budget crisis.

“Governor Rauner, your actions speak louder than your rhetoric. After more than 700 days of blocking compromise, it’s up to you to prove that you are finally ready to put the needs of Illinois families ahead of political games and start working in good faith on a budget.”

* And one more…

“Unity doesn’t come from a speech and it certainly doesn’t come from campaign attack ads aimed at your negotiating partners,” Cullerton said in a statement Tuesday. “It comes from a willingness for practical compromise with others and exerting the effort to round up the votes needed to make that compromise law. To date, we haven’t seen that from Gov. Rauner. I hope this signifies is a step in a new direction.”

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*** LIVE COVERAGE *** Gov. Rauner’s “unity” address

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The governor will speak live tonight from the Old State Capitol starting at around 6:03 pm. The address is scheduled to last three or four minutes (apparently it’s designed to fit into local TV news broadcasts). I’ll post a ScribbleLive thingy before then and we’ll also use that for reactions. Background on the speech is here.

The governor’s campaign Twitter account tweeted about the speech this afternoon and he posted a notice on his campaign’s Facebook page. The tweet and Facebook post directed folks to a page on Rauner’s campaign site where people can sign up for an e-mail “recap” of the address after it’s over So, he appears to be using his address tonight to beef up his campaign e-mailing list, which is often used for fundraising. There’s also a “donate” button on that campaign page. That’s the same campaign, by the way, which is currently running ads sharply critical of Speaker Madigan and his “puppets” for blocking a budget when he, himself repeatedly blocked a Senate budget.

Anyway, check back around 6 o’clock. You can watch the speech on the governor’s Facebook page (click here) or his campaign site (click here). Also, check your local TV stations because some will be carrying it live via a special satellite feed.

* And away we go…

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*** UPDATED x4 - Berrios’ assessor’s office responds - Berrios campaign responds - Biss responds - Kennedy responds *** Biss unveils property tax assessment reforms

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Daniel Biss unveiled his HOME plan for property tax fairness and relief, a comprehensive approach to fix Illinois’ broken property tax valuation, assessment, and appeals system.

“Our property tax system is completely broken, but perfectly reflects the fundamental problem with Illinois right now – the middle class pays more than they should, and we still can’t meet our obligations or fund our priorities because the very rich game the system to pay less than their fair share,” said Biss.

The Biss HOME plan will make property tax valuation in Illinois fairer, end the property tax appeals racket that lines the pockets of attorneys and politicians at the expense of ordinary homeowners, and ultimately provide property tax relief for working and middle-class families.

“For too long the millionaires and machine politicians have been able to manipulate the corrupt property tax system to benefit themselves, leaving ordinary homeowners to pay more. It’s time for a property tax system that’s fair to the rest of us,” Biss added as he laid out his plan before the Melrose Park home of Barbara Garner. Mrs. Garner was recently featured in the Tribune’s bombshell report exposing how the valuation system set up by the Cook County Assessor’s office “harmed the poor and helped the rich.”

“You’ll hear a lot in this campaign decrying our broken property tax system. What you won’t hear are admissions from millionaires and billionaires that they used their wealth and connections to secure six-figure pay days from a system they now decry as candidates. What you also won’t hear are solutions. We need to be honest about our problems. But, the people of Illinois know what’s wrong with Illinois. What they also deserve are honest solutions.”

Biss also announced that he will introduce the Honesty, Openness, Modernization, and Ethics (HOME) in Assessments Act in the state senate along with Sen. Jacqueline Collins later this week.

The Biss HOME Property Tax Fairness and Relief Plan includes:

Honesty and Openness

End the secret and confusing valuation process by requiring county assessors to make it clear to homeowners how they determine our tax bills and prevent assessors from keeping their actions secret.

• Require assessors to publicly disclose the models they use to estimate and validate the value of homes and business.

• Require state oversight and reporting on local officials, conduct audits, provide data, and remove authority from officials who repeatedly fail to do their jobs.

Modernization

• Require assessors to modernize their broken valuation systems, which unfairly make low and middle-income homeowners pay more and rich ones pay less, and fairly value our homes.

• Require detailed statistical analysis by the Department of Revenue to reveal whether properties are being assessed properly, uniformly, and equitably. With modern and fair valuation methods, wealthier residents will pay their fair share, and our over-reliance on property tax appeals to provide relief for low and middle-income homeowners will be reduced.

Ethics

End the racket that lines the pockets of machine politicians and property tax lawyers at the expense of ordinary homeowners.

• Subject property tax lawyers to pay-for-play rules that curb conflicts of interest. Limit contributions from property tax lawyers to assessors, candidates for assessor, and others involved in processing appeals to $750 a year. Any contributions above that cap would result in prohibiting the violating property tax attorney from practicing law.

Nothing too over the top radical there, which is one reason why Chris Kennedy is currently dominating this particular lane with his own “radical” proposals.

* Biss also went after JB Pritzker this week on a different issue, closing the carried interest loophole. Click here for the video. A related story is here.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Chris Kennedy campaign…

We’re pleased to see that Chris Kennedy’s push to reform our broken property tax system is gaining interest. All the other Democratic primary candidates should take this issue further by letting voters know if they would embrace the reforms that Chris Kennedy laid out weeks back. We need a leader who is going to restore voters’ faith in our government and our property tax system.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From Abby Witt on Sen. Daniel Biss’ campaign…

“Decrying how broken our property tax system is for ordinary people after landing a six-figure payday for yourself with the help of Mike Madigan isn’t radical, it’s ridiculous. Daniel is doing what other politicians aren’t doing: stating the problem, clearly defining a real, immediate solution that addresses the actual problem, and advocating for the passage of bills to help everyday Illinoisans. If the last two and a half years have taught us anything, it’s that the ultra-wealthy think government service is about hearing themselves talk rather than rolling up their sleeves to get the job done.”

*** UPDATE 3 *** From Jacob Kaplan of the Joe Berrios campaign committee…

“Assessor Berrios strictly follows all campaign finance laws; indeed, all laws. Were a law or laws to change, he would follow any new regulations.”

*** UPDATE 4 *** From the assessor’s office…

The Cook County Assessor’s Office stands by its previous statements that it assesses property fairly and accurately.

We remind Candidate Biss of this basic fact: an Assessor does not set property tax rates or levies. School districts, municipalities and other taxing bodies do that. The Assessor does not decide the dollar amount of property tax bills.

Property assessment is completely separate from local revenue determinations made to meet local budgets. In fact, budgets for schools, police, fire protection and other community needs are forecast a year in advance and are set long before properties are even assessed.

There is equity in assessment in Cook County because Assessor Joseph Berrios and his staff long ago adapted -and always adhere to- the high Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). These USPAP standards are practiced across the nation. We are no different.

Part of Candidate Biss’ proposal would usurp the rightful authority of every county assessor in the state. This makes no sense and reflects his lack of knowledge of how property assessment works.

Because this office does not engage in political discussions, we referred your inquiry’s facet about political contributions to the Cook County Democratic Party.

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