* This Tribune story got lost in the shuffle yesterday with all the Tim Mapes coverage…
House Speaker Michael Madigan’s legal team on Tuesday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a former campaign worker who alleged she lost a chance to move up in the powerful Democratic leader’s political organization because she reported that a top aide sexually harassed her.
The request was made as part of a court filing in which the Madigan-chaired Democratic Party of Illinois denied a series of allegations brought by Alaina Hampton. She contends she was retaliated against after she lodged complaints that Madigan lieutenant Kevin Quinn harassed her through phone calls and inappropriate texts. […]
In the Tuesday response to the suit, Madigan’s legal team contended Hampton had failed to establish that an “employment relationship existed” between her and the party during the “relevant time period.” Hampton has said she was harassed by Kevin Quinn during the 2016 campaign season and up through the time she spoke to Ald. Quinn in February 2017.
The speaker’s lawyers said Hampton was paid for limited time periods in 2012 from a political fund controlled by Madigan’s House Democrats, for a time in 2014 from the speaker’s own political fund, and again in 2016 from both of the funds.
* I asked Hampton for a response…
“Speaker Madigan’s legal team has been searching for ways to undermine and discredit me and my story since day one–so their motion to dismiss should come as no surprise.
“So much for the Speaker’s empty words praising my courage in coming forward. For all of his talk about taking responsibility and demanding accountability for those around him, it’s clear that their primary goal is to protect their own grip on power–at all costs.
“The Speaker’s legal strategy is a clear effort to send a message to me and other women. They want us to be afraid to come forward. They want us to continue to fear that people will think our experiences are invalid. But the fact is, it is now clear to everyone that harassment in the Speaker’s organization is pervasive and systemic.
“To other victims–don’t let this motion to dismiss discourage you. Now is the time for women to say we won’t tolerate it any longer.”
* Related…
* Madigan opposes release of 2014 IG report discussing clout, says not relevant to suit over ’sham candidates’
A faction of Southern Illinois University’s board of trustees may move to oust the system’s embattled president this week, an extraordinary move that came about without the president’s knowledge and intensifies weeks of tension at the schools.
Two members of the SIU board’s executive committee have convened a meeting for Friday to consider two items: “administrative leave of president” and “appointment of acting president,” according to the meeting notice. […]
[Executive committee member Joel Sambursky], in an emailed statement, alluded to some new information trustees received since their regular meeting last week that necessitated the unplanned meeting. But he would not be specific. […]
“I think it’s an attempt by a couple of board members to control the entire board, and I find that to be distasteful,” [board chairwoman, Amy Sholar] said. “It is extremely frustrating, and it’s not the way to govern.”
SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook said in an interview that he thinks removing the university president “seems to go beyond” what the executive committee was created to do.
“If this is an outcome of asking the allocation question, I just don’t think it is a just use of the bylaws,” Pembrook said. He acknowledged that Dunn’s use of the term “bitchers” in the email “ratcheted up the heat” in the conversation about how the university system distributes its state cash.
But Pembrook said Dunn and Sholar have “provided good leadership” in the last year. He is concerned that the conversation might not continue if Dunn is gone.
“He has been a champion of that question in a way that previous presidents have not,” Pembrook said.
According to the meeting notice sent out Wednesday afternoon, the special executive session meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Ballroom A of the SIU Carbondale Student Center.
Dunn came under fire in May after a guest opinion column in The Southern Illinoisan questioned the system president’s handling of a recent state funding reallocation proposal. […]
State Reps. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, and Natalie Phelps Finnie, D-Elizabethtown, have both called for Dunn’s resignation.
Dunn’s contract was renewed in 2017 and extends through June 30, 2022. He makes an annual salary of $430,000. The meeting notice suggests a temporary change of leadership, but if the board terminates his contract without cause, the university will have to pay Dunn the equivalent of three years’ annual base salary, or $1.3 million.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
SIU Board Chair Amy Sholar Declares Executive Committee Does Not Have Authority to Remove Dunn or Appoint Replacement
Following the announcement by SIU Board Trustees J. Phil Gilbert and Joel Sambursky to call an emergency meeting of the Board’s executive committee to oust President Dunn and appoint an unnamed replacement, Board Chair Amy Sholar declared the executive committee does not have any such authority given the circumstances.
Sholar stated “I’ve reviewed the Bylaws for the SIU Board of Trustees and, under these circumstances, I am not convinced the executive committee has the authority to remove President Dunn or appoint anyone as a replacement. Also, I do not believe that the matter is so urgent that an executive committee meeting is permissible for the purposes stated by these trustees. Further, I do not believe the executive committee has the authority to remove President Dunn and effectively undo an action previously taken by the full Board in hiring him. Lastly, as the Chair has the authority to interpret and apply the bylaws between meetings, it is my decision that the executive committee cannot meet for the purposes stated in the call for the meeting for the above reasons.”
As to whether the executive committee can unilaterally hire or fire a President, Sholar referred to the bylaws. “Article IV, Section 1 clearly states ‘At least one-half of the total membership of the Board shall be required for the initial selection of the President or the termination of the President’s services.’ While these two trustees are attempting to get around this rule by merely placing President Dunn on leave rather than an outright termination, the executive committee clearly does not have the ability to make the selection of a President, which I contend includes any interim President holding such powers. Our rules clearly contemplate that the full Board should make such an important decision, rather than a small faction thereof,” said Sholar.
Sholar further cited Article III, which states ‘The Executive Committee functions as an instrument of the Board and shall possess all the powers of the Board when in session, provided that it shall not overrule, revise, or change the previous acts of the Board…’ Sholar affirmed, “As it was the full Board that hired President Dunn, for the executive committee to relieve him and appoint a replacement would effectively undo a previous action of the Board, which is beyond the limited powers of this committee and would not proper in my judgment.”
Sholar also questioned the urgency of the meeting, which was abruptly announced less than one week after a special meeting of the full Board. “The bylaws, at Article III, provide for only urgent matters to be taken up by the executive committee. While Trustee Gilbert and Sambursky are attempting to satisfy the urgency standard by citing new evidence, they certainly have not shared it with me. Further, they did not consult with me on the need for a meeting, the subject matter, the location, or the date before calling it on their own. If this issue truly cannot wait until the next regular meeting I would gladly call a special meeting to occur in the very near future so the full Board can vote on whether President Dunn should be relieved. I find it contrary to both the letter and spirit of our bylaws for these two trustees to attempt to remove the President unilaterally without the votes or discussion of the full Board,” said Sholar.
Sholar asserted that she, as Chair, has the authority to decide the meaning and application of the bylaws between meetings. She stated “Article II, Section 3 states ‘The Chair shall have authority to decide any disputes as to the application or meaning of the Bylaws …, but any such decision shall be referred to the next regular or special meeting of the Board for final judgment and adjudication by the Board.’ Therefore, it is my decision that the executive committee does not have the authority to appoint an interim President or even to relieve the current President of his duties as such powers are reserved to the full Board per Article IV and would undo a prior action of the Board. I also do not believe that this matter, which was discussed at the special meeting last week, is now so urgent that we must call an emergency meeting even if the executive committee had the authority to make these decisions. If Trustees J. Phil Gilbert and Joel Sambursky disagree with me then we should have a special meeting at which not only this decision but the underlying issue itself can be discussed and voted on by the full Board. Until then, it is my decision as Chair that the bylaws do not permit the executive committee to take the proposed actions for the reasons stated, and if a meeting is held and a vote taken any such action would be invalid,” said Sholar.
Sholar added, “It truly baffles me that these two trustees, both representing the Carbondale campus, would attempt to exclude the full Board from participating in this important issue after we approved a policy just last week that we would advocate for keeping the SIU system together. The power play by these two trustees is not only improper but also serves to further drive a wedge between our campuses at a time when all of us should be working together to ease tensions. If a decision is to be made on President Dunn’s future at SIU it should be made by the full Board and not by two trustees representing one campus attempting to push through an action they suspect would not pass if presented to the full Board.”
The governor needs to step in here. These are mostly his trustees, after all.
* The New York Times becomes the latest in a long line of national publications to profile Republican moneybags Dick Uihlein…
The Uihlein forces drew sharp criticism for a recent television ad from the campaign of Jeanne Ives, the conservative challenger they backed in a primary against Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois. The ad featured a cartoonish depiction of a transgender woman, highlighting Mr. Rauner’s support for a bill permitting people to change the gender on their birth certificates.
“It was probably the most offensive thing I’ve seen in a state race,” said Pat Brady, the former Illinois Republican chairman.
Mr. Uihlein said he “had no involvement with the ad,” and the couple said, “We value diversity in our community and at Uline.” […]
Mr. Uihlein is the largest donor to Mr. Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC, which supports hard-right candidates and funded more than a dozen publications resembling newspapers, with names like North Cook News and East Central Reporter. […]
Mr. Brady, the former Illinois Republican Party leader, suggested that Mr. Uihlein was an easy mark for political operatives; he also criticized Mr. Proft and his associates for spending Mr. Uihlein’s money wildly on long shots.
“They’ve just given him such bad advice that it makes him look kind of goofy, and he’s not: He’s a serious guy,” Mr. Brady said. “These guys are making hundreds of thousands of dollars off him.” […]
In his responses, Mr. Uihlein said he had long worked with Mr. Proft and [John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute] “advancing conservative principles” and believed “they have both done so admirably.”
* From Democratic state Reps. Kelly Burke, Deb Conroy and Ann Williams…
Yesterday, we heard from longtime statehouse employee Sherri Garrett about the inappropriate behavior she faced as an employee of the Illinois House – the latest in a series of allegations about harassment, retaliation and bullying behavior in and around Illinois government and politics.
The resignation of Speaker Madigan’s Chief of Staff Tim Mapes was the right decision in the wake of yesterday’s allegations, and we commend Ms. Garrett and all the others who shared their stories in an effort to bring positive change to our work environment. But the problem is much bigger than any one individual, regardless of what position they hold. Each allegation, each story shared publicly or privately, add up to one conclusion: the culture surrounding Illinois government and politics must change.
As members of the Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus, we recommend an independent investigation to review all operations of the House of Representatives, including the Office of the Speaker. We have a responsibility to ensure not only an impartial, fair and transparent process for the adjudication of complaints, but also to change the culture that has permitted inappropriate behavior to flourish.
Additionally, the House Democratic Women’s Caucus will launch a powerful new program, called “Representing Respect” – developed to create change and impact the workplace culture in a much different way than a typical harassment training.
• This interactive program, which was developed by law firm Seyfarth Shaw and called “Seyfarth Shaw at Work,” is results- and data-driven. It has been utilized by many Fortune 500 companies to establish core values and educate team members as to how interpersonal interactions should reflect these values. (See link, below.)
• The Illinois Legislature would be first in the country to adopt this sort of dynamic training, and the program will be tailored to reflect the realities of working in a non-traditional environment like the Capitol. We thank Asst. Majority Leader Sara Feigenholtz for leading the effort to facilitate the development of this program for our own Caucus and for spearheading efforts to move forward with this project, and Majority Leader Barbara Currie for her strong leadership of the Sexual Harassment Task Force.
• Several House members have participated in an abbreviated version of the program, and we plan to pilot the complete program later this summer with our Democratic colleagues in the House and recommend it be provided to all staff in the fall.
We are committed to working to improve our workplace environment for all women – and men - who work in and around the Capitol in any capacity. We believe we can make a real difference and hope our colleagues in all other caucuses will consider participating.
Former Gov. Pat Quinn has launched a petition drive to impose a term limit for Chicago mayors and create an elected consumer advocate position.
The Chicago Democrat announced efforts Sunday, tipping his hat to his past signature drives.
If he gets enough signatures, the two referendums could be on ballots as early as November. However, Quinn says getting nearly 53,000 valid signatures before an Aug. 8 [2016] deadline would be challenging.
The petition calls for a two-term maximum. If approved in time, Mayor Rahm Emanuel wouldn’t be eligible to seek a third term in 2019.
“We need 100,000 signatures by the filing deadline August 6 to get the referendum on the November 6 ballot — and we are halfway there already with 50,000 signatures,” [Pat Quinn] said.
So, he’s managed to collect 50,000 signatures in two years and now he wants to double that number in the next two months?
* Media advisory…
UPDATED: ADVISORY: PAT QUINN: Grassroots Petition Drive for Nov. 6 Binding Referendum to Term Limit Chicago’s Mayor Passes Halfway Mark in Signatures
WHEN: Thursday, June 7, 11 am
WHERE: Methodist Temple – 2nd Floor
77 W. Washington, Chicago
RE: Grassroots Petition Drive for Nov. 6 Binding Referendum to Term Limit Chicago’s Mayor Passes Halfway Mark in Signatures
Mighty Volunteer Effort Needed to Meet 100,000 Signature Goal by August 6 Filing Deadline for the November 6 Election
Of the 10 largest cities in the United States, only Chicago does not have a term limit on its mayor.
Mayoral term limits are the best way to achieve true campaign finance reform and open up City Hall for more democracy.
The term limit referendum will spark a citywide debate on the structure and fairness of politics and government in Chicago.
The November 6 voter referendum to impose term limits on the mayor would be the first initiative and binding referendum in Chicago’s 181-year history.
If mayoral term limits are approved by the voters on November 6, the incumbent mayor would be ineligible to run in the February 26, 2019 mayoral election.
The Take Charge Chicago referendum on mayoral term limits reads as follows: “Shall Chicago adopt the following term limit for the office of Mayor effective for the mayoral election in 2019 and thereafter: No person may hold the office of Mayor for more than two consecutive elected 4-year terms (with all prior consecutive terms of the current officeholder counted in determining the term limit for that officeholder)?”
Voters in 21 Illinois communities have used binding referendums to impose term limits on their mayors, including Springfield, Naperville, Oak Lawn, Des Plaines, and Lombard.
* Today is the first Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board meeting since former Rep. Ken Dunkin was appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner called on Dunkin to resign yesterday after Tim Mapes whistleblower Sherri Garrett said Dunkin told her and another woman “I want to take both of you home and see which one will be the naughtiest.” Dunkin had quite the reputation in the House, and not exactly a pristine one, either. From yesterday…
Actually, I think your question is more important now.
FYI Ken Dunkin just walked into the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board meeting. Gov. Rauner on Wednesday asked him to resign from board. Hearing he’s fighting it.
Word is that he’s throwing a party for himself after the meeting.
*** UPDATE *** Dunkin talked to reporters today and called Sherri Garrett’s allegations “100 percent baseless.” He said he had talked to Gov. Rauner and that Rauner had asked him to resign, but said “I’m not resigning”…
Ken Dunkin says he talked to Rauner and the governor asked him to resign. He repeatedly called Sherri Garrett's accusations "baseless." pic.twitter.com/FqTfvOgPpV
…Adding… Statement from Dr. Shundar Lin, at-large candidate for MWRD…
Mr. Dunkin’s refusal to resign in the face of these grave accusations is an insult to his accusers, taxpayers, and those he claims to represent. It is troubling Mr. Dunkin was even considered for this position. No matter the position, board or elected office, we should aspire to the highest standards and that is what I will bring as a member of the MWRD.
While both Lang and Mapes’ resignation shows Madigan is taking swift action in response to the claims, some still questioned the tactic. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who criticized Madigan’s response to harassment allegations in February and last month detailed allegations of retaliation from Mapes and a key Democratic Madigan ally, said the response is nothing new.
“This is the lather, rinse, repeat that I talked about in February. We now need the real change that follows,” Cassidy said. “We need to see what leadership looks like. When he keeps saying he’s committed to make change and bringing an end to this culture, it goes beyond firing people. Because we’ve seen this before and here we are again.”
Cassidy said Madigan’s response of forcing people out is “the same play.”
“I think in each case he hopes it goes away,” Cassidy said. “It’s not that simple.”
Within hours, Madigan asked for Mapes’ resignation. Here’s part of a statement Madigan released:
“I intend to appoint an individual with extensive experience conducting investigations to review all operations of the House of Representatives, including but not limited to the Clerk’s Office where Ms. Garrett works.”
Notice anything? “I intend to appoint …”
Madigan continues to press his thumb into the process of investigating complaints of harassment in his own operation. It’s a pattern of control we and others repeatedly have called out. This situation requires an outside investigation. Outside. Madigan can’t be appointing, permitting or supervising. When will the speaker get it?
[ON SCREEN: LOWEST CREDIT RATING]
Anchor 6: The lowest credit rating of any state in American history
Bruce Rauner: “I am not in charge, I’m trying to get to be in charge ”
Anchor 7: Governor Bruce Rauner has been named the worst governor in America
…Adding… Rauner campaign…
Governor Rauner worked with the General Assembly to achieve a bipartisan budget compromise that funds critical priorities like education and reconstruction of the Quincy Veterans Home, working to get things done for the state of Illinois while Pritzker has been following Madigan’s lead, standing for higher taxes and more corruption at all costs.
…Adding… A response to the response…
FIXED Response: @BruceRauner was sidelined by the General Assembly to achieve a compromise to help fund priorities he decimated, like fatal mismanagement in Quincy. Bruce "I'm not in charge" Rauner is desperately attacking since he has no accomplishments to run on. #ilgov#twillhttps://t.co/rqyWnPQgYG
How much longer can Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan survive?
After months of slowly building charges involving sexual harassment and his organization’s alleged failure to deal with it, the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back may have arrived today in the form of charges from one Madigan staffer aimed at the speaker’s top aide and longtime confidant, chief of staff Tim Mapes.
How many more times can Madigan say he knew nothing about an incident, or pattern of incidents, in his political or government organizations and not be held accountable?
“I think he’s more vulnerable than he’s ever been before. The #MeToo movement has brought down many more powerful men than him,” said ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington.
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has got trouble.
Lordy, does he have trouble.
Not so much that he’ll break a sweat in public.
But Madigan will at least purse his lips, because he just lost his second right-hand man within a week to another in a series of sexual-harassment allegations that continues to dog his political organization in Chicago and the speaker’s office in Springfield.
So far, none of his members are calling for his head and neither are his major funders. They’re the ones with the real power to decide. Until that happens, I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
* The significance of Tim Mapes’ ouster as Speaker Madigan’s chief of staff cannot be easily overstated. He dominated just about every aspect of Statehouse life. A few telling tidbits from today’s coverage. Tribune…
One longtime political operative recalled Wednesday that Mapes had a sign on the wall of his statehouse office referencing a line from the “Wizard of Oz”: “Nobody gets in to see the wizard. Not nobody, not no how.”
The diminutive Mapes played an outsized role in controlling the flow of legislation on the House floor as he stood at the side of Madigan and top Democratic leaders when they presided over the ornate chamber from the speaker’s podium. Mapes accumulated power over the years as other key Madigan confidantes left state government and lawmakers and staff privately grumbled of Mapes’ condescending and abrasive style.
State Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, tweeted out a simple “Noted,” in response to Mapes’ resignation.
Lawmakers said that was Mapes standard reply to hundreds of emails he received. Wallace — who penned an op-ed in November describing a culture of sexual harassment towards women in government — said “there was nothing comical about that” tweet.
“That was me noting the resignation,” Wallace said, adding she wasn’t surprised to hear of the resignation.
People would write a ten-page analysis that they’d labored on for days and he’d reply “Noted.” It was, to many, a passive aggressive trait.
Timothy Mapes, Madigan’s chief of staff since 1992, has been a state employee for 40 years and until his firing was paid at a rate of $17,332 per month, state records show. That equates to an annual salary of nearly $208,000.
Mapes is 63. Because of his age, long tenure in state government, and his high rate of pay, he qualifies for a state pension exceeding $125,000 annually based on calculations by WBEZ.
Today, the Rauner campaign is launching a new paid digital ad as part of a series shining light on the corrupt relationship between disgraced ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich and JB Pritzker.
This ad includes audio from FBI wiretaps of Pritzker and Blagojevich discussing who would be the “least offensive” African-American to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat.
Following is a statement from Sherri Garrett following the news that her sexual harasser, Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s Chief of Staff Tim Mapes, has resigned:
“I am relieved that Mr. Mapes has resigned. I know victims of harassment throughout our state government and political sphere share that relief. I am hopeful that more individuals will now feel safe coming forward, knowing that their words can make a difference and force change.
“While Mr. Mapes resignation is an important symbolic and substantive change, however, the conditions that led to my harassment and the mistreatment of so many others have not changed. I remain steadfast that we need effective and independent mechanisms to ensure accountability to fix the culture of sexism and abuse that I have endured.”
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Wednesday:
“At my direction, Tim Mapes has resigned as my Chief of Staff and Clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives. Jessica Basham has been named Chief of Staff for the Office of the Speaker effective immediately. Further, Mr. Mapes has resigned as the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois and all other roles with my political committees.
“Regarding Ms. Garrett’s concerns shared earlier today, neither I or the House Democratic Ethics Officer had been made aware of Ms. Garrett’s complaints against Tim Mapes. My office was aware of the comments made by then Representative Dunkin and took action to handle the matter. That issue had been disclosed publicly earlier this year by my office along with all other known allegations of harassment. It is clear that the culture needs to change and we need to ensure all issues are dealt with quickly and appropriately.
“I have stated my commitment to eliminating harassment of any kind in the Capitol, as well as all political committees, and my desire to ensure we create a culture where individuals feel secure in making a complaint. I intend to appoint an individual with extensive experience conducting investigations to review all operations of the House of Representatives, including but not limited to the Clerk’s Office where Ms. Garrett works.”
Jessica will be a breath of fresh air over there.
…Adding… Comptroller Susana Mendoza…
The resignation of Tim Mapes was the right thing to do and frankly the only option. If we truly want to change the behavior and culture in government and politics, we have to hold everyone to the highest standards, especially those in positions of leadership.
June 6, 2018
SENT VIA EMAIL
The Honorable Bill Brady
Illinois State Senate Minority Leader 309G Capitol Building
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Dear Leader Brady:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that I have decided to not seek re-election this fall and will instead be pursuing other opportunities. Rest assured that as long as I remain a State Senator I will be doing my utmost to represent the taxpayers of the 33rd District and the State of Illinois—including continuing the work we’ve started in reforming this state’s ethics regulations.
Sincerely,
Karen McConnaughay
Sen. McConnaughay (R-St. Charles) was first elected in 2012. She is a member of the Legislative Ethics Commission and has fought this year to improve the General Assembly’s sexual harassment policies. She also unsuccessfully sought the minority leadership job after Christine Radogno announced she was resigning last summer.
Karen is good people. I’ll miss her.
*** UPDATE *** Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady…
Throughout her tenure in the Illinois Senate, Karen McConnaughay has been an outspoken advocate for the families of Illinois. Her leadership in helping raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, her support for our transportation infrastructure and her dedication to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois will leave a lasting legacy.
Most importantly, the work and leadership she demonstrated this past spring to bring about needed ethics’s reform will never be forgotten.
I have valued Karen’s insight as a member of Senate Republican Leadership and I have no doubt that she will be successful as she writes the next chapter in what’s already been an inspiring and successful career.
* Sen. Jason Barickman…
Karen is a great legislator who will be missed in our caucus and in the Illinois General Assembly. She’s played an important role on the Legislative Ethics Commission and by being a vocal proponent of much-needed sexual harassment and ethics reforms in our state. I’m glad that she will continue that work in her time left in the State Senate. She’s also been a leader on transportation issues since her first day in the legislature. On any given issue, Karen was effective because of her ability to build bridges with colleagues across the aisle. I wish her well.
* From Sherri Garrett’s press release about Tim Mapes…
In Spring 2013, former State Rep. Ken Dunkin approached the House Well and said to Ms. Garrett and another woman–“I want to take both of you home and see which one will be the naughtiest.” Ms. Garrett reported the incident. Ms. Garrett later heard that when Mr. Mapes was told about the incident, his response was that it would blow over. While the incident was appropriately addressed by other members of Ms. Garrett’s team ultimately, it later became clear to Ms. Garrett that Mr. Mapes did not take appropriate action to address Rep. Dunkin’s comment, and if it had been left up to Mr. Mapes, the entire incident would have been swept under the rug.
* Rauner administration press release…
For too long, a culture of abuse has been permitted within state government – we must not tolerate it. Our Administration has acted decisively to change it in the executive branch through administrative action and Executive Order. We have also called on Ken Dunkin to resign from the MWRD.
In recent months, women have stepped forward to share their stories involving the legislature – we applaud their bravery. To the women who haven’t stepped forward, who have their own stories to tell, know that we plan to act swiftly to ensure an independent process is in place to investigate future allegations and the culture Speaker Madigan has created.
Rachel Bold
Press Secretary
Office of Governor Bruce Rauner
* Sun-Times: Woman says top Madigan aide harassed her: ‘Speaker’s office is a locker room’: “Over the course of the last several years, I have endured and have personally witnessed bullying and repeated harassment that was often sexual and sexist in nature In my workplace,” she said, noting Mapes had made “repeated inappropriate comments to me, both in the office and on the House floor.” Her voice faltering at times, Garrett described how difficult it has been to come forward. “I’m loyal to (Madigan). This is very hard for me, but I’ve just suffered one disappointment after another with how things are handled,” she said.
* Tribune: Aide accuses Madigan’s chief of staff of making sexually inappropriate comments: Garrett said in September 2015, a colleague complained of being sexually harassed by a member of the House Democratic caucus. Garrett said she raised the issue with Mapes, who responded, “Are you reporting this situation because you are upset the representative isn’t paying attention to you?” Garrett said she and the other person who heard the comment were “totally taken aback,” and that she told Mapes it was his responsibility to look into the issue. She cited an example from December 2014, as staff was in the midst of planning inauguration logistics. Mapes said “completely out of nowhere that I needed to make sure that I was not showing my pink bra,” because, “girls on the second floor like to leave little to the imagination,” Garrett said.
* NBC 5: Statehouse Employee Accuses Madigan’s Chief of Staff of Harassment: Beginning in spring 2013, Garrett said she reported former state Rep. Ken Dunkin for making inappropriate comments after he told her and another woman, “I want to take both of you home and see which one will be the naughtiest.” After reporting the incident, Garrett said she heard that Mapes’ response was that it would “blow over,” leading her to believe he would not take appropriate action.
* AP: House Speaker’s top aide accused of mishandling harassment: Sherri Garrett is a $42,000-a-year account technician for the House. She said Wednesday that Madigan chief of staff Timothy Mapes was dismissive of harassment complaints on two occasions and made untoward comments to her and others in incidents from 2013 to just a few weeks ago.
Garrett says she doesn’t know if her case was one of those in the list that Madigan released, but says it had a “chilling” effect on everyone, as if tacitly warning them to stay quiet https://t.co/Qcc8q9L1sU
JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton are calling on Tim Mapes to be suspended without pay from all roles within the Democratic Party of Illinois and the Speaker’s Office as an immediate and thorough independent investigation takes place.
Upon completion of the investigation, JB and Juliana believe Tim Mapes should be fired from the Speaker’s Office and step down from any roles within the Democratic Party. It’s clear our state government needs to take concrete steps to make women feel safe when coming forward with stories of sexual harassment and without fear of retaliation.
…Adding… I received an early, texted version of the campaign statement ahead of everyone else. The formal statement has been revised to say this…
Upon completion of the investigation, if the allegations are proven true, JB and Juliana believe Tim Mapes should be fired from the Speaker’s Office and step down from any roles within the Democratic Party.
That makes more sense.
* Also…
Representative Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) issued the following statement:
“I am calling on Tim Mapes to step down while an independent investigation takes place. I believe Sherri Garrett and have great respect for the courage it took for her to come forward to report the harassment and bullying she has experienced.”
…Adding… This was mentioned in comments earlier. Since Pritzker is a big contributor, he will therefore have a lot of say in this matter…
Pritzker just gave Madigan’s Democratic Majority fund $1M a few days ago. Mapes is the Treasurer of that committee. https://t.co/VOF7hMz8ax
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT DRURY’S STATEMENT REGARDING SHERRI GARRETT’S ALLEGATIONS
I commend Ms. Garrett for having the courage to come forward with her detailed allegations against Mr. Mapes. While repeated calls for a truly independent investigation into the steady-flow of sexual harassment/abuse allegations continue to be made, they are met with relative silence. On November 8, 2017, I filed legislation (HB 4156) that provides for an independent – Bob Mueller-type – special counsel to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations. Speaker Madigan killed the legislation. Had Speaker Madigan allowed the legislation to move forward - and had an investigation begun in 2017 - instead of learning of new allegations on a weekly basis, we already could be addressing them and implementing real ways change the culture of harassment and abuse long-condoned in Springfield. If Speaker Madigan will not allow HB 4156 or similar legislation proposed by others to move forward, I call on him to step down so we can elect a House Speaker who shows through actions that he or she truly values all people within our State.
Today, State Representative Jeanne Ives called for House Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s Chief of Staff Tim Mapes to step down over allegations of sexual harassment. Ives additionally advocates for a transparent reporting process in Springfield.
“The office of House Speaker is powerful and carries with it a great deal of responsibility. Tim Mapes, like Kevin Quinn, abused that power,” said Ives.
“And it is because of Speaker Madigan’s failure to carry out the responsibility of his leadership position that we’re at this point. He failed to do his job and ensure that a Legislative Inspector General was in place and that complaints were handled in a timely manner.”
…Adding… Illinois Say No More…
First and foremost, we want to acknowledge Ms. Garrett’s bravery in coming forward. Her experience further underscores the deep pervasiveness of sexual harassment throughout our collective political systems. There is no arguing that we are long overdue for systemic change so that women can do their job in safe and supportive environments.
Eight months ago more than 300 women and allies signed the Illinois Say No More letter in a show of solidarity to shine a bright light on sexual harassment in Illinois politics. And while some progress has been made since then, much, much more needs to be done. Culture and behavior cannot change unless the masses rise up and demand better from everyone in the system. That means more women having a seat at the table. And it means that these kinds of behaviors can no longer be tolerated.
To all the women who have spoken up publicly or have endured these experiences in silence, we hear you, we see you and we stand with you.
* Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) just called me after I asked her if she had any comments on Sherri Garrett’s press conference accusing Speaker Madigan’s chief of staff Tim Mapes of harassment and bullying.
Rep. Cassidy was at Garrett’s event today because Garrett had come to her about what was going on weeks ago. “I told her to get legal counsel and make her decision,” Cassidy said. “And with each thing that happened over the weeks that followed, she just grew more resolved.”
What sort of things? “Responses she saw and things continuing to happen. She just became more resolved,” Cassidy said. Garrett finally came to the conclusion that “the only way to make change was to act on it.”
So, what should happen now?
“This sends a solid signal that folks should feel safer coming forward and demanding the change in our culture that will allow us to work without fear,” Cassidy said. “This is a woman that we work with every single day and I suspect that most people don’t even know her name, and she has put up with this for several years, quietly making sure that our lives run smoothly. And that’s sickening.”
But what about Tim Mapes? What should happen to him?
“I’m not Mapes’ employer, the Speaker is. He needs to act like it.”
Madigan staff member comes forward about harassment by Chief of Staff Tim Mapes
Long-time State House employee cites repeated incidents of bullying, harassment in Springfield
CHICAGO (June 6, 2018)–A long-time member of Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s Office came forward on Wednesday to detail multiple instances of bullying and harassment in the workplace by Madigan’s Chief of Staff, Tim Mapes.
Sherri Garrett, who is an Account Technician and Minutes Clerk for the Speaker’s Office, said she decided to speak out after many years of harassment and bullying.
“I have decided to come forward because we have a serious and pervasive problem in our state government, and I could no longer remain silent about my own mistreatment,” said Garrett, who resides in Springfield. “My hope is that by coming forward, I can help to create space for others to do the same.”
“I want to make sure that the workplace environment is better in the future for our daughters, and our sons,” she said. “We need to force fundamental change–not just lip service, not a quick hit solution, but real cultural transformation.”
Garrett detailed several incidents:
In Spring 2013, former State Rep. Ken Dunkin approached the House Well and said to Ms. Garrett and another woman–“I want to take both of you home and see which one will be the naughtiest.” Ms. Garrett reported the incident. Ms. Garrett later heard that when Mr. Mapes was told about the incident, his response was that it would blow over. While the incident was appropriately addressed by other members of Ms. Garrett’s team ultimately, it later became clear to Ms. Garrett that Mr. Mapes did not take appropriate action to address Rep. Dunkin’s comment, and if it had been left up to Mr. Mapes, the entire incident would have been swept under the rug.
In December 2014, Ms. Garrett was participating in a conversation with several of her colleagues in the Speaker’s Office, planning inauguration logistics. They were discussing the proper drop-off location for a judge at inauguration. In the middle of the conversation, Tim Mapes said that Ms. Garrett needed to make sure she was not showing her “pink bra” to the judge on Inauguration Day, because he “knows how us girls on the second floor like to leave little to the imagination,” Ms. Garrett said. Ms. Garrett said there was no context for this comment, which she found entirely inappropriate. “As anyone can tell you, I never dress provocatively. But even if I did, this would have been a completely inappropriate comment,” said Ms. Garrett.
In September 2015, Ms. Garrett had been approached by a young woman who had previously worked with her in the Clerk’s office. The woman was being sexually harassed by a member of the House Democratic Caucus and had come to talk to Ms. Garrett because she was afraid. Ms. Garrett spoke to Mr. Mapes about the details of the situation, told him she was concerned and asked him to talk to the Representative and tell him to stop. Mr. Mapes then said to Ms. Garrett: “Are you reporting the situation because you are upset the Representative isn’t paying attention to you?” Ms. Garrett was astounded at the comment, and continued to advocate for the young women’s safety. Another colleague was present, and that person was also taken aback by the comment.
A fourth incident took place just a few weeks ago. Ms. Garrett was in the House Well preparing for the start of session. Mr. Mapes approached her and another colleague and started a conversation about another individual. He discussed how the individual “wouldn’t do something because the person was married.” Without full context, Ms. Garrett did not understand what Mr. Mapes was saying. He then looked at Ms. Garrett and said “We know that doesn’t matter around here, does it, Sherri?” Ms. Garrett said something to the effect of, “Yes, this place does have a reputation.” Mr. Mapes then said, “Now, I am not implying that you are running around on Jim [Ms. Garrett’s husband].” Ms. Garrett was again stunned, confused and uncomfortable. Ms. Garrett’s colleague, standing next to her, said something to try to defuse the conversation. Mr. Mapes said to Ms. Garrett’s colleague, “So you’re implying that Sherri is running around on Jim?” Ms. Garrett’s colleague was also stunned. He said no. Later, Ms. Garrett turned to her colleague and said, “Why did that conversation take place?” Ms. Garrett’s colleague said he found the conversation “very awkward and uncomfortable, but not unusual.” Ms. Garrett’s colleague also noted that he did not understand why Mr. Mapes continued to stare at her throughout the interaction.
In April of this year, Mr. Mapes came on the floor. Ms. Garrett heard him say to a colleague: “Are you going to sex training today?,” jokingly referring to sexual harassment training. The Chief of Staff was apparently making light of the training, even in this moment, in which this training is so critical.
On the day of the State of the State Address, many people in Springfield were wearing black in solidarity with the #TimesUp movement. Mr. Mapes wore navy blue. Ms. Garrett noted Mr. Mapes stated: “I’m wearing blue today because there’s not a woman on the House floor that would want me to tell them what to wear.” It was clear that he viewed this as a way for him to thumb his nose at the entire #TimesUp movement.
Mr. Mapes is the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House. He is also the Clerk of the House and the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
“[Mapes] has an inordinate amount of power in this state,” said Ms. Garrett. “And the Speaker’s Office, which he helms, is charged with leading the effort to reform the system to address concerns like mine. They should be held to the highest standard.”
Ms. Garrett plans to file a complaint detailing her harassment with the Legislative Inspector General following the press conference.
*** UPDATE 1 *** A few quotes from Ms. Garrett’s press conference today…
I’m loyal to him. This is very hard for me. But I’ve just suffered one disappointment after another with how things were handled. I feel it’s time to do better. I feel it’s time for him to pay attention to us.
There are all kinds of people who are behind me right now that you can’t see because they’re too afraid to come forward.
Please step up for the victims. In reality, we are Democrats. We’re supposed to protect the people who can’t protect themselves.
I would just ask him to help the victims, to believe that we really are victims.
It’s just time for this to stop. I would just challenge him to come forward and take a different path than he’s taken for the last six or seven months.
He has the power to do something for us and make it better for us.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Ms. Garrett’s written statement at the beginning of her presser…
I have not felt that I have had a safe path to report my experiences. I’m speaking out because victims of harassment like me, men and women alike, just want to go to work, just want to do our jobs with dignity and we want to go home at the end of our day. But, instead, we have a culture of sexism, harassment and bullying that creates an incredibly difficult work environment.
I feel strongly that if we had a human resources office that represents the interests of employees and not the people in power. I wish I would’ve had someone that I could have trusted and to whom I could’ve said, ‘Hey. This happened to me. Is this supposed to happen?’
If there had been a true professional human resources team, they could have said ‘No’ and perhaps we could have nipped it in the bud right then and there.
Mr. Mapes is the chief of staff for the Speaker of the House. He is also the Clerk of the House and the executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois. He has an inordinate amount of power in the state. And the Speaker’s office which he helms is charged with leading the effort to reform the system to address allegations like mine. They should be held to the highest standard.
Instead they behave like they’re above reproach and like the Speaker’s office is a locker room.
It is scary to come forward and speak out about his behavior. But I feel strongly that employees do not have any protection.
The legislative reforms that have been passed thus far are a good step forward, but they don’t go nearly far enough. And until we see a meaningful commitment to culture change in our state from those at the very top, I fear nothing will improve.
Today, the JB Pritzker campaign launched “Sham Ribbon Cutting Alerts” to highlight Bruce Rauner’s election year stunts after spending years failing to invest in Illinois’ crumbling infrastructure.
In 2014, Rauner criticized election year ribbon cutting and promises saying, “what I won’t do… is fail to invest in our infrastructure for years and run around at the last-minute making promises.” Now, with a record lacking any accomplishments and a reelection campaign in shambles, Rauner is doing just that — running around at the last-minute and making promises.
In today’s sham ribbon cutting, the failed governor “unveiled” a train project started in 2012 using money from a Department of Transportation Rauner decimated during his budget crisis, stalling $3.3 billion worth of projects and laying off 20,000 workers.
“As our failed governor runs around making last-minute promises and taking credit for other people’s accomplishments, Illinois’ infrastructure crumbles,” said Pritzker campaign spokesman Jason Rubin. “Bruce Rauner stood by as our state’s roads, rails, and waterways fell into disrepair, and a sham election year ribbon cutting tour won’t change that fact.”
RAUNER: “Right now he’s running around the state right now committing hundreds of millions of dollars to projects to buy votes with taxpayer money. He’s going to, I think it’s Southern Illinois. Just promised a project down there cause he’s going for an endorsement in a local paper. Went to Quincy, promised money for a project there cause he wants the endorsement of the paper. He’s running around making promises with taxpayer money to try to buy votes and influence folks. That’s what he does, that’s what these politicians do, use taxpayer money to buy votes.”
REPORTER: “So you’re not gonna have any projects to announce when you’re governor? You’re not gonna do an infrastructure plan? Every governor does in infrastructure plan.”
RAUNER: “I will have a detailed infrastructure plan, it will grow our infrastructure. What I won’t do with Pat Quinn, like Pat Quinn is, is fail to invest in our infrastructure for years and run around at the last minute making promises where he doesn’t have the money to keep them.”
Quinn did that because it usually works. Same for Rauner. Rauner criticized Quinn four years ago, and now he’s getting it in return. Standard campaign operating procedure.
Our recent analysis of CDC cause of death data shows that Illinois’s overall child death rate masks disparities across groups and across the state. Our state’s overall child death rate puts us at about the national average, but we have among the highest Black-White gaps in the entire country. Additionally, the county-level rates span a large range. For example, the child death rate is four times higher in Marion County than in DuPage County. Child death rates are highest in Illinois’s large central metro counties and rural counties and are lowest in the suburban counties.
Causes of Death Vary by Age and Race/Ethnicity. Across age groups, the top causes of death differ. Infants are most likely to die from disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, children are most likely to die from diseases, and teens are most likely to die from accidents (including motor vehicle accidents). There are also large racial disparities in certain causes of death:
* Black infants are over three times more likely than White infants to die from disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight.
* Black children are over three times more likely than White and Hispanic/Latino children to die from diseases.
* The homicide death rate for Black teen boys is more than six times the suicide rate of White teen boys, which is a leading cause of death for that group.
Trends. From 2000 to 2015, the overall death rate for children ages 19 and under in Illinois decreased from 74.5 to 52.2 per 100,000 children, so we have made significant progress as a state. But that progress has been uneven. Encouragingly, from 2005 to 2015, the infant mortality rate decreased for all groups, and the Black-White infant mortality rate gap narrowed. In that same time period, the overall teen death rate decreased, as did the rate for White and Hispanic/Latino teens. Alarmingly, though, the rate increased for Black teens.
One man has started a petition to have the state of Illinois secede from the city of Chicago, allowing every county eligibility to join except for Cook County.
Collin Cliburn proposed this because he said he feels those who are in more rural areas of the state are being given higher taxes they can’t afford and are unequally represented. […]
“Myself, I’m a White Sox fan and I hate giving up that territory. But when it comes down to it, this state is a sinking ship,” Cliburn said.
Yep. Just an ordinary citizen concerned about his beloved state. More…
“We don’t want $578 sticker for our car and we don’t want a new progressive income tax and we don’t want a recommended one percent property tax,” Cliburn said. […]
While he has an attorney, Cliburn said all he needs is for one county to vote this into effect with a majority on their Illinois county ballot before he would take it to the federal level.
The far-right is screaming online about this mythical “one percent property tax.” You’d think they could find something real to hate. It’s Illinois, after all.
For far too long has the Illinois government disgraced our citizens land and its now time to demand change. Let the people of southern Illinois enjoy their constitutional liberties without the northern liberal oppression we must deal with. Any law to regulate guns is treason and our officers should protect us from this tyrannical government. Let us stand together and make change. Ask your representives to split the state. Its the only hope for southern Illinois to escape the inevitable collapse of our once great state. What politician should be able to make laws against the people they have governed right into the dirt.
We the people of ———— County ask the board of commissioners to provide a referendum to lobby US congress to allow Menard county to leave and form a new state with other county’s that wish to follow federal law. Chicago and it’s politicians have total control over Illinois law while not following their own laws in our Illinois Constitution. Gun control laws have been implemented since the 1970s that infringe American rights in Illinois. More and more bills are being passed to guard Illegal aliens along with take care of them better than the average citizen. With new Chicago ID card available for voting privledges we will never have a chance to provide an opinion again. Our 4th amendment has been violated in multiple ways with support from both isles. This petition for a referendum granting departure from Illinois is still only a statement, if we win we will wait for the federal government to acknowledge it. We the people of Illinois and ———- county seek legal departure as we are law abiding concerned citizens.
That Chicago ID card is also a big topic among the far right, including Ives. They’re convinced the city is going to register kabillions of undocumented immigrants to vote and (white) people on the right will be drowned out.
It’s time to draw the line with Chicago area politics. Sign this petition and demand the separation of Illinois from Cook, Lake, Dupage, and North Will counties.
For quite some time our Illinois Government has been bossed around by a tiny piece of land far far away from most of Illinois in miles and ideas. I cannot stand for our bill of rights to be trampled any more. The city of Chicago takes better care of those here illegally than their own citizens. When so many districts are packed up there it’s hard for the rest of Illinois to voice their opinion. When researching the separations in the past both West Virginia and Maine are nearly alike with the reasons of the 98 counties with less districts than the 4 mentioned. With the current gun control including the foid program I deem it mutiny against the federal government and ask to be separated from this treacherous city and area that rules over us like lords. An Illinois without this super city can make better decisions that are likable by the people living here.
* More coverage…
* ABC 7: Group pushes for state of Illinois to secede from Chicago
* KTVZ Odd News: Man wants Illinois to secede from Chicago
Rauner Campaign Launches Updated Pritzker-Blagojevich Ad: “That’s The One I Would Want”
Today, the Rauner Campaign is launching the latest in the Pritzker-Blagojevich wiretap series: “That’s The One I Would Want.”
This new version of an earlier Pritzker-Blagojevich ad focuses on Pritzker’s prior donations to Blagojevich before asking for an appointment to the State Treasurer’s position. This wiretap clearly shows the corrupt relationship that Pritzker had developed with the now imprisoned, ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich.
This ad will join the one released yesterday, “Hilarious,” in a television rotation airing across the state.
WEDS, 11AM: State House employee to come forward about repeated sexual harassment in Springfield
WHO: State House of Representatives employee who has repeatedly experienced sexual harassment and bullying at work
WHAT: Press conference in which State House employee will detail her experience with sexual harassment in the workplace, and will call for changes to improve accountability and change the culture of sexism in Springfield
WHERE: 50 E Washington St., 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2018, 11AM
As always, speculation will not be tolerated in comments. Don’t get yourself banned for life.
* Related…
* Madigan asks for dismissal of sexual harassment lawsuit: In Tuesday’s filing, Madigan’s legal team contended Hampton fails to establish an “employment relationship existed” between her and the party during the “relevant time period.”
At issue, in a mistake that I think Casten is making worse by refusing to talk about it, is a blog post he wrote almost six years ago provocatively titled, “Thoughts on Economic Growth and Energy Slaves.” I was pointed to the post by a political operative working for an independent group that supports Roskam’s re-election. It’s buried if you do a broad search, but pops up on Google (and Bing) if you put in the right search terms.
In the post on Grist, Casten makes the argument that American prosperity and living standards have grown dramatically as we’ve boosted our use of fuels as opposed to “coercive labor.” I don’t disagree with his point. But the way he expresses it is tone-deaf, to put it mildly.
“How much energy was available to the (free) population of the antebellum South? In 1860, the U.S. had just 4 million slaves, working for about 8.5 million free residents of the South and border states,” Casten writes. “Adding 3.4 million horses, mules and oxen in the South as of 1860,” and assuming that the average pack animal can do the work of about seven people, “an average slaveholder had . . . 4.2 energy slave equivalents per free person,” and the South, as a whole, 3.27 “energy slaves” apiece.
By today, the nation’s “energy use amounts to 100 energy slaves per capita,” he concludes. “That is the extraordinary legacy of industrialization and fossil fuel extraction. We get 30 times the energy access of an 1860s plantation owner . . . and human rights, too.”
* Check out the Rauner campaign’s new Facebook ads…
According to Facebook, the ads (I counted six slightly different versions) started running today.
Blagojevich, you will recall, made the exact same demand to release all the tapes during and after his trials.
The tapes were ordered sealed by a federal judge. I can’t see how an online petition will do much of anything besides gather names for a campaign database.
* Gov. Rauner did another softball interview with WGN’s Steve Cochran and was asked about his new TV ads…
The truth about Pritzker has got to be known by the people of Illinois. Pritzker is a corrupt insider. He’s been part of the problem in Springfield for many, many years. He was tight with Blagojevich, he’s tight with Madigan. He funded each of them in their political shenanigans. And Pritzker, unfortunately is a tax dodger, to use a nice term for it. Inherited billions, hides the money in the Bahamas so he doesn’t pay his proper income taxes. Has used Madigan’s law firm to cheat his property taxes in Chicago. Ripped the toilets out of his mansion so he doesn’t pay the proper property taxes on his homes in Chicago. He’s a corrupt, self-dealing insider. He’s part of the problem and we’ve got to get the truth about him known.
REPORTER: “You just signed a budget that spends the money from the tax increase that you opposed. Over the summer we’re moving into a campaign season. Are you going to out there on the campaign trail and tell people that you object to this tax increase that you’re approving the spending on?”
RAUNER: “Absolutely.”
REPORTER: “Isn’t that disingenuous?”
RAUNER: “Not at all. If we introduced – if we passed a budget that I introduced, the spending plan that I introduced we could begin to rollback that tax hike and we would be running a $1.5 billion surplus in this coming year and we could – “
REPORTER: [INAUDIBLE]
RAUNER: “This is bipartisan compromise, this is a compromise. It’s not perfect, none of us got everything that we were looking for. This budget does not pay down bills so I was very frustrated. It did not pass the comprehensive pension reform that the Senate Democrats passed last year, we need to do that. It did not get regulatory relief for businesses, and workers comp and other regulations so we can grow more jobs. And most importantly, or I should say maybe very importantly it did not get the mandate relief on our schools, our schools need mandate relief and we need mandate relief on our local government so we can consolidate governments more effectively and efficiently and bring down our tax burden. These are the changes we will continue to strive to make, but this budget for the first time in many years even prior to me being Governor is balanced, through some hard work and some great efforts we will have it balanced and it stops some excessive spending that would have otherwise happened. And it’s a good step in the right direction.”
I’ll add one other point that I think is salient, if we had passed the budget that I had introduced in February – that I had proposed in February – and then just used the rest of the assumptions and programs that are in this budget we would be running about a $1.5 billion surplus in the coming fiscal year. We could use that for a tax reduction, we could use that to invest more in infrastructure, and we could use that to pay down bills.
OK, now that’s disingenuous. He talks like $1.5 billion is a huge amount of money that can easily be divvied up for a tax cut, infrastructure and paying off bills. The bill backlog alone will be more than $7 billion at the end of the fiscal year.
A $1.5 billion tax cut would reduce the income rate by 0.375 percentage points. So, instead of a 4.95 personal rate, we’d have a 4.575 rate. Great news! The exodus will surely end! But since much of what they used to “balance” the budget are one-time revenue sources, including borrowing $800 million from special funds for two years and selling the Thompson Center, we’d be in an even worse hole.
Divide it up three ways and you’d trim the backlog by a mere $500 million, reduce the income tax rate by 0.125 points to 4.825 and have a half a bil left over for capital - and you’d still have a $6.6 billion backlog with even less state money to address it.
The incumbent Republican, who is running for re-election in November, calls the $38.5 billion spending plan a true bipartisan compromise and a “good day for the people of Illinois.” But one thing noticeably left off the negotiation table this year was his “turn around agenda,” a list of business and economic reforms he once campaigned on.
When asked why he dropped his prior demands for lower property taxes, worker compensation rates and pension reforms at Monday’s budget signing, he echoed lawmakers saying, “Not everyone got what they wanted.” […]
Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch says he’s disappointed Governor Rauner let business reforms fall to the wayside but understands why he did.
“Unfortunately, this is a short-term solution that addresses no new revenues this year, somewhat spending restraint, but only compared to General Assemblies in the past,” Maisch said. “I think he made the right political choice to go ahead and say, ‘Let’s get as close to a balanced budget this year as we can and take those others issues to the people.’ Voters are going to go to the polls in November and voters will decide where they want to go.”
Agreed. If Rauner is reelected, he’ll have a true mandate. Everybody now clearly knows what he wants to accomplish.
Yesterday, Politico reported that the Pritzker campaign will spend double whatever the Rauner campaign spends. They quote a Pritzker source saying, “For every dollar he spends, we’re ready to spend two.”
Who says that?
The Pritzker campaign is claiming that their budget won’t be built around what’s most effective. Instead, they just want to arrogantly brag about their wealth.
“Based off his conversations with Blagojevich, Pritzker has already shown a willingness to try to buy political office.” -Will Allison, Rauner campaign spokesman
The Pritzker campaign’s messaging machine is usually tight as a drum, but that one somehow got through. It’s not a good look. I assume someone was just doing some tough-guy, hyperbolic bragging.
Partisans may cheer it on (and since his new ad leaves much to be desired, he could use that), but as Will alludes to, the vow is impractical. I mean, if Rauner puts 10,000 points on Chicago TV then Pritzker is gonna push 20,000 just because he’s got the dough? Ridiculous. Not to mention that such selfish spending could drown out or even potentially crowd out other Democratic candidates - particularly must-win Democratic congressional candidates.
But, hey, if this means that if Rauner spends $4 million on Erika Harold then Pritzker will spend $8 million on Kwame Raoul, I’m sure there won’t be any loud objections from the Raoul campaign.
Also, it is a bit rich that the Rauner campaign is upset about somebody else trying to buy an election.
* I asked Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign for a response and this is what she sent…
Our campaign is focused on doing what is necessary to communicate that JB will bring real change to Illinois, beat Bruce Rauner and end his failed time as governor, while also helping turn out Democrats up and down the ballot. If this failed governor wants to ask “who says that,” we suggest taking a look at these:
• On his role as governor: “I’m not in charge, I’m trying to get to be in charge.”
• On his leadership style: “Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change.”
• On if he voted for Donald Trump: “We need to focus. Focus, Amanda, is a good thing.”
• On Quincy: “Our team did exactly what they should have done, exactly when they should have done it” and “these things happen.”
• “Not every job should be in America.”
• On the budget crisis he created: “Well one of the challenges is for our human services and it’s intolerable that they have been hurt, it’s not right.”
• On spending the tax increase he opposed: “Isn’t that disingenuous?” Rauner: “Not at all…”
• Before firing his whole staff… again: “So, we’re, we have a lot of folks in the administration, we’re building the Best Team in America to turn the government around.”
• On not denouncing David Duke as a racist: “But you won’t call him racist?” Rauner: “No place.”
• On the right to choose: “I am the strongest supporter of candidates for office who are pro-life. Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have.”
• On letting voters know where he stands: “I have no obligation to comment on every possible policy change in Washington, DC. I never have and never will.”
• On gay marriage: “So gay marriage, I have not supported it, I will not advocate for it.”
• On lowering the minimum wage: “I will advocate moving the Illinois minimum wage back to the national minimum wage.”
• On proudly shutting down the government: “I may have to take a strike and shut down the government for a few weeks and kind of regroup with these contracts. That’s a possibility. I don’t know any politicians who’d be willing to do that. I won’t be happy to do that, but I will do it proudly.”
• On calling Ives: Rauner said they spoke “right after the election,” but Ives spokeswoman said that Rauner “is not telling the truth” and “what he is saying happened did not happen.”
• On chocolate milk: “I’ll drink it, I’ll be proud to…it’s really really good, to it. Diversity!”
*** UPDATE *** The latest Comcast cable TV buy report shows Rauner spending $241,380 on ads over 11 days while Pritzker is dropping $177,719 over five days.
Not long ago, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said he wouldn’t have done anything differently when it came to the state’s response to deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks at the Quincy veterans’ home.
But since those February comments, the Republican governor has, in fact, adopted a dramatically different approach to the public health crisis that has contributed to the deaths of 13 Illinois Veterans Home residents since 2015. And Rauner now has an entire legislative portfolio about to be delivered to his doorstep aimed at fixing the problem that’s beset his re-election campaign.
Before lawmakers ended their spring session Thursday, eight different measures won final legislative approval, headlined by a $53.1 million appropriation in the state budget to begin rebuilding the state’s largest and oldest veterans’ facility in Quincy. That’s where there have been outbreaks of Legionnaires’ — a form of waterborne pneumonia — in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Lawmakers also voted to require residents and families be notified within one day of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ or other infectious diseases. And they voted to give families who lost loved ones at the home to Legionnaires’ a potential legal windfall, raising the state’s legal liability in those cases from $100,000 to $2 million.
* Pritzker campaign…
“While Bruce Rauner puts press stunts before our Veterans’ wellbeing, lawmakers passed a stack of bills to crack down on his fatal mismanagement,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Thirteen of our nation’s heroes and their spouses died on Rauner’s watch, and it’s time for this failed governor to do his job and protect our Veterans.”
* Other bills…
* Can medical marijuana help combat Illinois’ opioid crisis?: The plan also eliminates some barriers to access of the state’s restrictive medical marijuana program. It would remove requirements that patients undergo background checks and fingerprint scans, which critics argue disproportionately prevents lower-income and minority communities from obtaining the drug.
* Legislature passes bill to improve insurance coverage for mental health, addiction: Among other things, it would prohibit private insurers from requiring prior authorization for medications to treat addiction, and bar them from requiring patients try less expensive medications for addiction before stepping up to more expensive ones. Those requirements already apply to Medicaid managed care organizations. … The Kennedy Forum Illinois and several other groups released the results of a survey last year showing disparities in coverage in Illinois. According to that report, about 59 percent of hospitals, psychiatrists and other providers surveyed said Medicaid managed care organizations “always” or “often” denied coverage for inpatient treatment for addiction and mental health issues. Medicaid managed care organizations are insurers that administer benefits for Medicaid, a state- and federally funded insurance program for the poor.
* Governor to consider hundreds of bills passed this session: Budget aside, for the first year of the 100th General Assembly, which was the 2017 legislative year, the House passed 380 bills while the Senate passed 235 bills for a combined total of 615 bills. For both 2017 and so far in 2018, 1,226 pieces of legislation passed. All together, the House and Senate combined filed 12,812 bills and resolutions for consideration.
* On the verge of big advances in political ethics in scandal-plagued Springfield: But now, if House Bill 138 is signed into law as it was approved, any findings of questionable behavior by Madigan or the other legislative leaders will bypass them and go to the commission. The leaders can respond only as any other subject of an investigation would. That’s big progress.
* Illinois tamps down ‘pension spiking’ for teachers; educators fear disincentive for hiring: But teachers unions and others say the new system will not only force down pension rates — depriving districts of a big selling point in attracting new teachers who might not be enticed by the modest salaries alone — but also could have an impact on things such as extracurricular activities. For example, they say, districts might be hesitant to let teachers coach school teams or take substantial promotions near the ends of their careers, because it could put the district on the hook for pension penalties if the extra pay equals more than 3 percent of the original salary.
* Lake County waterway dredging, flood mitigation efforts get boost from General Assembly: The latest legislative session in Springfield delivered a few benefits to Lake County, including a new law that will help the Fox Waterway Agency become more independent, while new funding approved this week by the General Assembly includes flood-damage grants for several areas around the county.
* Press Release: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today called on Governor Bruce Rauner to sign House Bill 4922 into law to put a stop to companies that issue rebate cards that charge dormancy or inactivity fees and avoid unclaimed property laws. … House Bill 4922 recently passed the Illinois House and Senate with bipartisan support. The legislation amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to prohibit the sale or issuance of a rebate card that charges dormancy fees and almost all other post-issuance fees. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) and Representative Theresa Mah (D-Chicago).
* No downgrade by S&P, but no real praise, either…
Timely enactment of a fiscal 2019 budget in Illinois is consistent with the stable outlook S&P Global Ratings currently maintains on the state’s credit rating. At ‘BBB-’, however, the general obligation rating incorporates our view of the state’s longer-term vulnerabilities and remains the lowest possible rating within the investment grade categories. Among the state’s leading credits risks are its fiscal structure, which in our view, remains out of balance, a still-elevated unpaid bill backlog, absence of a budget reserve, and distressed pension funding levels. While the emergence of a more collaborative budget process has potentially constructive credit implications, the substance of the package largely represents an extension of the status quo. […]
Timely passage of a fiscal 2019 budget in Illinois underscores the near-term stability of the state’s credit outlook that emerged in July 2017. Our stable outlook reflected that following its 2017 tax increases, Illinois approached fiscal 2019 with a significantly smaller fiscal gap and much diminished liquidity-related concerns.
The benefits from the tax hike are mentioned several times in the full report.
* Past-due bills are still a problem…
Crucially, proceeds from the state’s November 2017 bond issuance enabled the comptroller to pay delinquent Medicaid bills and, in the process, ameliorate the threat of federal court intervention over the state’s cash management. Apart from the bonding strategy, however, which in our view amounts to financing state operations with long-term debt, policymakers have made little headway against the bill backlog. Additional progress would almost certainly require the politically unpalatable combination of lower spending and more revenue (higher taxes). Even after the backlog borrowing, which leveraged federal Medicaid matching funds, the comptroller reports a current backlog balance of $7.1 billion at the end of fiscal 2018. This, along with the state’s long-term liabilities, precariously balanced operating budget, and lack of budget reserve, continue to weigh on the state’s prospects for a higher rating.
Eventually, those bills will have to be paid.
* The budget holes…
The budget identifies $38.5 billion in general funds resources to support a like amount of corresponding expenditures, ending with a negligible $15 million balance. In our view, however, the budget falls short of achieving structural balance, relying on $800 million in interfund borrowing and $270 million of net proceeds from the sale of the state-owned Thompson Center. The state is also liable for up to $400 million in previously unaccounted-for costs related to prior step increases the courts have ruled are due to state employees. Furthermore, it’s possible, in our view, that strong tax receipt trends, $200 million above the prior forecast in fiscal 2018 and $160 million in 2019, partly reflect a nonrecurring windfall generated by taxpayers accelerating income into 2017 in response to provisions of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Assuming this begins to dissipate in 2019 and beyond, the state’s fiscal condition is susceptible to erosion. The economy itself is also a risk. According to our forecast, which is in line with the consensus view, GDP growth will peak this year and then begin to decelerate with any such slowdown now potentially accentuated in Illinois by the effects of retaliatory tariffs placed on state exports by U.S. trading partners.
* And not good news for the longer term…
On its present trajectory, the margin by which the state’s fiscal capacity will fall short of accommodating the scheduled increases in payment obligations will continue to widen. State fixed costs—including debt service, pension contributions, and outlays for employee health benefits (e.g., OPEB)—already consume 31% of general fund expenditures, more than twice the median for states. As a share of expenditures funded by state resources (excluding federal aid), Illinois’ fixed cost burden is even higher, at 34% of general funds outlays. Based on projections from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, we estimate that by fiscal 2025, pension contributions from the state’s general funds will increase by $1.7 billion, or 24%..
* This ProPublica story produced with the Atlantic is a must-read…
Here’s how the system is supposed to work: After children are admitted to a psychiatric hospital, staff psychiatrists assess them and try to stabilize them, develop treatment plans that usually involve managing their medications, and then initiate a course of treatment to be followed with an outside doctor. After that, they’re typically released. Psychiatric hospitals are designed for short-term stays—days or a couple weeks—and staff often start planning for a discharge the day a child arrives.
Any long-term treatment is supposed to occur elsewhere, during appointments with outside doctors or at residential treatment centers, where psychiatrists and therapists have time to develop relationships with the child and address the deeper issues that led to the hospitalization and DCFS’s involvement
I analyzed thousands of pages of confidential records and obtained data from DCFS under the Freedom of Information Act covering all of the nearly 6,000 psychiatric hospitalizations of children in DCFS’s care between 2015 and 2017. In that period, nearly 30 percent of all children in DCFS care who were hospitalized were held beyond medical necessity, for a collective total of more than 27,000 days—that’s nearly 75 years—waiting and watching the outside world from behind the thick panes of hospital safety windows because DCFS has too few beds in other facilities where they could be more appropriately treated. On average, more than one in five days spent in a psychiatric hospital, the records indicated, were not medically necessary.
In the vast majority of those cases, children were held long past when they were cleared for release, not just a day or two beyond. Eighty percent of the more than 800 children whose stays became medically unnecessary between 2015 and 2017 were held for 10 days or more beyond when they should have been released. More than 40 percent were confined for a month or longer; 15 percent had to wait two months or longer.
In 2014, 88 psychiatric hospital admissions went beyond medical necessity, but that figure jumped to 246 the following year—a surge DCFS has struggled to explain, but that officials at the agency suggested could be due to the cases becoming more complex. Since then, the number of those admissions has continued to rise, though more gradually—from 292 in 2016 to 301 last year, according to DCFS statistics.
The result: Every day since July 2015 through the end of December 2017, at least nine children—and sometimes dozens—were unnecessarily held in psychiatric hospitals. There was a girl who spent so much time in one that hospital staff were asked to bring her a winter coat. She had been admitted in the summer.
Trump is considering commuting former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's 14-year prison sentence.
This @ChicagoMag piece reminded us: Blagojevich denied 93 percent of pardon or clemency requests during his six years as governor:https://t.co/ZwFALBuMKl
— ProPublica Illinois (@ProPublicaIL) May 31, 2018
In the past, Blagojevich was accused of having unbridled optimism that at times blinded him to inconvenient truths. That doesn’t seem to have faded. Even though he’s now down to a long-shot appeal to the Supreme Court, he is convinced that he will be vindicated: “I still believe, ultimately, we’ll prevail.”
If that attempt fails, Blagojevich’s only hope would be a presidential pardon or clemency. I point out the irony: In the six years he was governor, Blagojevich denied 93 percent of the 1,024 such requests he considered and let 2,800 pile up without action, causing a massive backlog. (By comparison, Pat Quinn acted on nearly 5,000 and granted more than one-third.) “You’re right,” Blagojevich says. “I didn’t do nearly enough. I regret that very much. I wish I knew what I know now. The sentences are extremely merciless. I’ve learned there’s a lot of oversentencing.”
In my opinion, he denied and ignored those requests because he feared the political consequences. He was a former assistant state’s attorney and wanted to look “tough on crime.” And now he begs for mercy while proclaiming his innocence.
I just can’t with this guy.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Gov. Rauner was asked about possible presidential clemency for Blagojevich today. His response…
Blagojevich’s case and behavior has been reviewed by judges, many judges, including the Supreme Court, by many legal experts, many attorneys.
They’ve all come to the conclusion that Blagojevich is where he belongs and he should stay where he’s at. So, I’ll leave it at that.
Rauner and Democrat J.B. Pritzker may have one thing in common: they don’t believe President Donald Trump should grant imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich a commutation.
Pritzker’s campaign said he believes “the former governor is where he belongs.” […]
The Pritzker campaign also told the Sun-Times on Tuesday that “JB thinks there’s plenty of other things that Donald Trump should be focusing on,” while acknowledging that it’s up to Trump whether to pardon or commute his sentence.
Imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich filed official paperwork Tuesday asking President Donald Trump to commute his 14-year prison sentence on sweeping corruption charges.
Every day my dad rolled up his sleeves and went to work. 35 years pouring concrete, driving a snowplow, operating a backhoe. He helped shape who I am and how I serve.
As Macoupin County Board Chairman, I balanced the budget by cutting pay and pensions for elected officials.
In the Senate, I’ve refused a pension; said no budget, no pay; and I’m working to freeze property taxes.
Families here work hard. They deserve someone who rolls up their sleeves and goes to work for them.
Manar is up against Christian County GOP Chairman Seth McMillan. The race is expected to see 7-figure spending by both sides, so getting an early start is probably a good idea. Also, I don’t expect Manar will stay on an exclusively positive track for very long.
Most of the supposed savings come from two completely voluntary “pension buyouts.” First, vested but inactive Tier 1 pensioners – meaning employees hired before 2011 – are given the option of receiving 60 percent of the net present value of their pension annuity in a lump sum payment. Lawmakers claim this will save $41 million.
Second, the largest portion of the expected savings – $381.9 million – comes from an optional cost of living adjustment, or COLA, buyout. This would give Tier 1 members the option to trade their 3 percent compounding increases for a 1.5 percent simple annual increase, in exchange for an immediate payment of 70 percent of the net value of their future increases under the higher formula.
Lawmakers plan to issue up to $1 billion in bonds to pay for those buyouts now, since they don’t have the money on hand. The state previously borrowed $17.2 billion to make pension payments, which will cost $25.8 billion to pay off in the long run.
The problem? Lawmakers are essentially counting on state workers to voluntarily cut their own pensions.
According to state Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, the savings are calculated using a 22 percent uptake rate on the pension buyouts, which is the same uptake rate as a similar plan passed in Missouri. Unfortunately, the situation in Missouri is very different from the situation in Illinois. Illinois’ Supreme Court has declared that the pension protection clause protects not only earned benefits, but future increases in those benefits as well. Missouri does not operate under this restriction.
Some pensioners may see the writing on the wall and decide that they want to take their retirement security out of the hands of politicians, in case the pension system goes insolvent. However, many state workers may also be unwilling to give up a constitutionally guaranteed benefit increase for a much smaller guaranteed payment now. That makes the Missouri uptake rate unrealistic for Illinois.
If significantly fewer Illinois workers accept the buyout options than expected, lawmakers will have a hole in the budget that could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
* Rep. Mark Batinick responds…
The same IPI that has stated our pension costs are unsustainable, won’t be paid, and has talked about bankruptcy is now arguing that Illinois employees won’t want to take up a buyout at the same rate as Missouri employees? That’s a stretch.
In the 2nd year of the program in Missouri, the take up rate has actually increased to 25%
The bulk of our savings comes from the COLA reduction buyout. That buyout is at 70% compared to Missouri’s 60%. Again, this should increase the take-up rate.
The COLA reduction is a partial buyout, not an all or nothing scenario. Because our benefits are generous the buyouts will be too. A large amount of our employees will be able to keep their base annuity and get a six figure check simply for taking a reduced COLA. It is a “have your cake and eat it too situation.” Plus, because of the nature of the compound COLA retirees currently get their greatest benefits at the very end of their lives when they are less likely to be able to enjoy it. Pulling some of that money forward will make sense to a whole lot of people.
This program essentially takes part of our defined benefit pension liability and turns it into a defined contribution. That is the exact type of program IPI has advocated for four years. I’ve spent almost 3 years running real world examples with real people. Once fully implemented, I expect the take up rate to exceed projections. My biggest concern is simply getting the systems to execute the program quickly and efficiently.
* Gov. Rauner is kicking off the festivities by taking the Blagojevich route, which is mighty interesting since President Trump is considering letting the man out of prison and Rauner’s Blagojevich TV ads during the primary didn’t really hurt Pritzker all that much. I mean, the dude won by 20 points after Rauner spent millions.
Then again, general election audiences are very different than Democratic primary audiences, and it’s well known that the Rauner folks have been polling and focus-grouping the heck out of this topic. And the spot most definitely takes a wicked shot at Pritzker, which his GOP base will appreciate. Press release…
Today, the Rauner campaign is launching the first TV ad of the general election, and latest in a series highlighting JB Pritzker’s conversations with corrupt ex-governor Rod Blagojevich, federal inmate #40892-424, caught on FBI wiretaps.
The ad features Pritzker and Blagojevich talking about potentially appointing Barack Obama’s controversial spiritual leader Reverend Jeremiah Wright to the former president’s open Senate seat.
Pritzker quipped how “hilarious” it would be, followed by both of them rounding out their conversation with a rousing “God D@mn America!”
Not a lot of context there. But the patriotic theme could take hold. Again, this is a sop to the base, which is absolutely fine for this point in the campaign.
* Background text from a GOP operative…
Only 16% of people in the state blame Bruce Rauner solely for our problems. An overwhelming majority blame Mike Madigan — to whom Pritzker has solidly hitched his wagon.
* On to the next one. Press release…
Today, the JB Pritzker campaign released the first in a new series of TV ads that will document how Bruce Rauner has failed Illinoisans across the state as governor.
The first ad in the series, “Brent,” highlights how Bruce Rauner’s failure to pass a budget led to the halt of road construction and 20,000 workers being laid off at the height of construction season. Learn more about the Rauner Failed Me campaign at www.RaunerFailedMe.com.
“Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership has had a real and lasting impact on hardworking people across our state and after three and a half years in office, it’s clear this governor has nothing positive to talk about,” said JB Pritzker. “Working families have been lied to, let down, and failed by Rauner for nearly four years — and it’s time their stories are heard.”
* If you wanted Pritzker to draw serious blood with his first ad, this definitely ain’t it. They’re trying to build a narrative, though, so we’ll see. Actual general election voters may not want this thing to start out as an 11 on a scale of 1-10 and the ad does tell a story about how a real person was hurt by the governor’s choices.
Even so, it looks to my eyes like an overreaction to Hillary Clinton’s unexpected blue-collar losses in the “Rust Belt” states. Illinois isn’t Wisconsin, or Michigan, or Pennsylvania or Ohio, however. Hillary won Illinois by 17 points.
The spot seems like a too-careful-by-half, overpaid consultant’s ad and not what the relatively small number of people who are actually paying attention right now really want (which is what the Rauner ad most definitely is - a vicious assault). Instead of kicking it all off with some nasty red meat for a few days, they’ve taken the safely bland route from the get-go. They may live to regret that choice. If you’re gonna say you’ll “protect” the state from President Trump and Gov. Rauner then you need to show you’re up to the task. This ad most definitely falls short. I’ve been warning for months that Pritzker may not be tough enough to win this thing, and his inaugural ad, in my opinion, only bolsters that prediction. But, hey, they’ve got reams of polling data and endless focus group experience and I don’t.
My name is Brent Williams, and I’m a proud union laborer. I’m one of the guys that works construction out there on the highways you drive by. Last summer, in the middle of our busy season, because of Bruce Rauner not passing a budget, I was told my job was being shut down. We just bought a house. I need to be working. When I’m not working, I’m not making money, and roads and bridges aren’t being fixed. Along with me, there were 20,000 other workers that were laid off. I don’t know that Bruce Rauner does think of me. Why would we do it for four more years?
Anthem Names Felicia Norwood Executive Vice President and President, Government Business Division
INDIANAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jun. 4, 2018– Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) announced today Felicia Norwood has been named Executive Vice President and President, Government Business Division, effective June 18, 2018. In this role, Ms. Norwood will be responsible for the company’s Medicaid, Medicare and Federal Government Solutions businesses. Ms. Norwood will also serve as member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team and report directly to Gail K. Boudreaux, President and Chief Executive Officer, Anthem.
“Felicia is a proven leader with extensive experience in both the healthcare industry and government,” said Boudreaux. “She shares Anthem’s vision of creating a better healthcare experience for our consumers and all Americans. Her deep understanding of our business and the unique needs of our consumers will be of tremendous benefit as we work to continue to lead our industry by developing strategic partnerships and innovative integrated clinical care solutions across our Government business that will improve quality of care and drive better health outcomes.”
Ms. Norwood has more than 25 years of healthcare operations, policy and strategy experience. Most recently, she served as the director of Illinois’ Department of Healthcare and Family Services, leading a $22 billion agency with responsibility for serving the state’s 3.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries and 500,000 families receiving child support services. Prior to her current role, Felicia spent nearly 20 years at Aetna, where she served in a number of leadership roles including President, Mid-America Region; CEO, President and Chief Operating Officer of Aetna’s population health management subsidiary ActiveHealth Management Inc.; Head of Aetna Medicaid; National Head of Aetna’s Small Group and Individual Market Segments; and President, Aetna Government Health Plans, LLC.
…Adding… Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced today that Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Felicia Norwood has accepted a position in the private sector.
“Director Norwood has been steadfast in her efforts to ensure the state’s most vulnerable citizens have access to quality healthcare. She led Illinois’ Medicaid reboot that will deliver better services at a better price.
Her leadership was critical to restructuring our managed care network into a more effective and efficient delivery model while integrating mental health into the delivery of services.
Her dedication and commitment led to one of the most significant developments in the history of our health programs, securing a $2 billion federal 1115 waiver — “Better Care Illinois” — a multi-agency effort to create a nation-leading approach to behavioral health.
She also led the department through a series of incredibly complex IT modernizations.
We are tremendously grateful for Director Norwood’s talent and service to the people of Illinois. We truly wish her all the success in her new endeavor.”
The search for a replacement is currently underway. Director Norwood remains on with the Administration until June 15.
I’m currently working on getting the ad from the Rauner campaign. But if past is prologue, I assume he’ll be playing up the budget agreement like he did with his tax cut plan after he delivered his budget address. I don’t know that for a fact, however. Stay tuned.
…Adding…. The Pritzker campaign is tight-lipped, but if history is any guide they’ll go up right after Rauner does. And then…
…Adding… More info…
.@GovRauner has placed new ad flights totaling at least $1 million from 6/5-6/17, according to Advertising Analytics. So far: $586k placed across Chicago, Champaign, Davenport, Paducah, and Rockford. Cable: $329k Satellite: $82,460 statewide.#twill
I would personally like to thank Speaker Madigan, and President Cullerton, Leader Brady, Leader Durkin, members of the General Assembly gathered here today and also throughout the state of Illinois. This was a great team effort. A great bipartisan effort.
* From the Rauner campaign this afternoon…
Without Gov. Rauner and Republicans at the negotiating table, Mike Madigan and Democrats would have raised taxes once again. […]
Join us to defeat JB Pritzker in November and prevent him from pushing tax hikes and out of control spending on Illinois.
* The Question: How would you rate the Rauner campaign’s framing of the budget deal? Don’t forget to explain your answer. Thanks.
Sen. Dick Durbin said Tuesday that incarcerated former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence was excessive.
“I think 14 years was an outrageously long sentence. I’ll be honest with you,” Durbin told WGN Radio. “I think it should’ve been a shorter sentence.”
* So, today’s comment should probably come as no surprise…
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Monday that he would support reducing the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“I think that the sentence imposed on Rod Blagojevich was definitely way too long. Fourteen years, it didn’t make sense,” Durbin said at a Chicago press conference.
“And so I’m not commenting on whether he was culpable of guilt. That was decided by the courts, but I thought the sentence was outrageous, and if there’s a way to reduce the sentence for him and his family, I would support it,” Durbin added.
Durbin’s comments come after President Trump said last week that he is considering reducing Blagojevich’s sentence.
Trump told reporters Thursday on Air Force One that he thought the former governor’s prison sentence was overly harsh for what he described as “a foolish statement.” The president made the comments about Blagojevich while discussing his plans to pardon conservative pundit Dinesh D’Souza.
“I’ll tell you another one … there’s another one that I’m thinking about. Rod Blagojevich,” Trump said, according to a pool report. “Eighteen (sic) years in jail for being stupid and saying things that every other politician, you know that many other politicians say.”
“And if you look at what he said, he said something to the effect like, ‘What do I get?’ … Stupid thing to say. But he’s sort of saying … he’s gonna make a U.S. senator, which is a very big deal,” Trump said. “If you read his statement, it was a foolish statement. There was a lot of bravado. … Plenty of other politicians have said a lot worse. He shouldn’t have been put in jail.”
Trump also referred to Blagojevich’s stint on his reality show, “The Celebrity Apprentice,” but downplayed any relationship between them, saying, “I don’t know him other than that he was on (the show) for a short period of time.”
As we’ve discussed many times before, Blagojevich didn’t just try to trade the US Senate appointment. He also held up state money for children’s healthcare until he got a large campaign contribution from a hospital executive.
It’s not the first time Durbin offered his support for a commutation of a former Illinois governor’s prison sentence. In 2008 he urged then President George W. Bush to commute the sentence of George Ryan, who was serving a six and half year sentence on corruption charges. Bush never acted on the request. […]
Blagojevich, 61, is not due out of prison until May 2024. Though an appellate court tossed five of his convictions in 2015, federal prosecutors say he remains convicted “of the same three charged shakedowns” for which he was first sentenced in 2011.
Those include his attempt to sell then-President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat, to shake down the CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital for $25,000 in campaign contributions, and to hold up a bill to benefit the racetrack industry for $100,000 in campaign contributions.
A jury also convicted Blagojevich of lying to the FBI.
Monday, Jun 4, 2018 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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* Higher education will receive a two percent increase with next fiscal year’s budget. It’s not enough to make up for the beating the schools took during the impasse, but it’s the start of stability…
Overall, funding for public universities still lags about 8.2 percent behind what schools received in 2014-15, the last time the state approved a budget on schedule. University presidents unsuccessfully pushed the higher education board earlier this year to lobby Springfield to restore 2015-era funding. […]
But given recent instability, officials said predictable and consistent funding is more critical at this stage.
“I think there has been an awareness that the two years of the budget impasse were really very difficult for higher education to get through,” Southern Illinois President Randy Dunn said. “This increase in funding speaks to a growing understanding that public education in the state of Illinois is an investment as much as it is a cost, and something that is going to be integral in terms of job creation and economic development.”
University of Illinois leaders said in a statement Thursday: “The state’s second straight, full-year budget reflects a much-needed return of stability and reinvestment in higher education after a two-year impasse that cut sharply into funding and hampered our ability to plan our future.”
Illinois sent more than $1.2 billion to the state’s 12 public universities in 2015, the last spending plan before the impasse. In the budgetless years, two stopgap bills in 2016 provided just $996 million in state support for public colleges over two years. [Emphasis added.]
* As with everything else, the problems were already bad before Gov. Rauner took office and his administration then made it much worse…
The state’s 12 public universities and 48 community colleges have been tightening their belts since before the drastic cuts. State funding, which typically makes up one-third of a school’s budget, had already decreased 41% from 2002 to 2015.
* Just about everyone who has surfed YouTube or Facebook has seen this ad countless times since it debuted in early December…
You knew I was running for governor to get Illinois back on track, but you didn't know the best advice I've ever received or my favorite TV show – until now. Check it out! pic.twitter.com/37Q9wkYPeW
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday signed into law a $38.5 billion spending plan for state government, approving a full budget on time for the first time since he took office in 2015.
Flanked by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, Rauner touted the legislation as the product of “a great team effort, a great bipartisan effort.” […]
Rauner also noted that lawmakers had found $1.5 billion in spending cuts as well.
“It’s not easy to make cuts, but the reductions in spending were made and I’d like to thank everyone for the discipline to achieve that,” Rauner said.
* From the governor’s press release…
· Blocked New Spending. Rauner and the Republican leaders staved off $1 billion in spending increases by aggressively managing agency budgets and tabling $500 million in spending increase proposals. That’s a billion and a half dollars in much-needed spending restraint.
Managing agency budgets is the governor’s top job. Good for him. But rejecting $500 million in spending increase requests is not a cut.
* Back to the governor’s release…
Education Funding. The budget fully funds the new evidence-based formula the administration introduced in 2015 and signed into law last summer. There’s $350 million in new K-12 dollars, which is up $1.4 billion since 2015, and $50 million for Early Childhood Education, which is up $200 million since 2015. AIM HIGH scholarships get $50 million to encourage Illinois high grads to attend Illinois universities. The MAP grant program is funded for four years. Colleges get $25 million of new money and the tuition tax credit program stays intact.
Guaranteeing MAP grants for four years, instead of just one, is perhaps the greatest single accomplishment of this budget. Bar none.
* Back to the release…
Pension Reform. The legislature addressed pension costs by making some modest reforms that will reduce long-term liabilities and save $445 million this year.
They’re spending long-term savings in just one year, which is not a good idea.
* Again, to the release…
· Adoption Tax Credit. Rauner said he was “particularly proud” of the work on his measure to create tax credits to encourage more adoptions by Illinois parents. Parents who can provide stable, loving homes for needy children can qualify for tax credits up to $5000 per child.
· Illinois Innovation Network. The budget gives the University of Illinois System $500 million to fund the Governor’s signature economic development program. The initial step is to get the Discovery Partners Institute up and running. DPI envisions a research and business public-private partnership that involves the entire Illinois university system and business innovators. U of I System estimates that the effort could spark $4 billion in annual invested capital for Illinois and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Quincy Veterans’ Home. There is $53 million in FY19 budget to get underway with the administration’s plan to construct a new veteran’s home in Quincy.
The Discovery Partners Institute could easily wind up being Rauner’s greatest positive legacy if he only serves one term.
* From Senate President John Cullerton’s press release last week…
A more than $1 billion budget hole wiped out through savings, reforms and utilizing other available revenues.
The state is authorized to tap into up to $800 million sitting available in various state accounts. This allows the state to utilize that money now to fund programs and services and pay it back over the next two years.
So, that’ll create a $400+ million hole in each of the next two fiscal years.
Illinois state workers represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, currently do not have a contract with the state. The last contract expired on June 30, 2015. Gov. Bruce Rauner and AFSCME have not been able to agree on a number of costly requests the union is making.
Despite being without a contract, courts have ordered the Rauner administration to pay the raises union workers would have received under the last contract. According to Wirepoints, this could cost as much as $400 million.
The state did not account for these costs in its recent spending plan. That means the state has as much as a $400 million liability, that it should be fully aware it needs to pay, not accounted for in the budget.
…Adding… Anders Lindall at AFSCME Council 31 disputes some of the Illinois Policy Institute’s story…
In the first sentence, it’s wrong that there’s no contract. The previous contract remains in effect.
In the third sentence, it’s wrong that the parties “have not been able to agree on a number of costly requests the union is making”. We proposed zero wage increase and higher employee health costs. Rauner walked away and refused to negotiate. A case is now in the courts.
In the fourth sentence, again, there is a contract. And it’s not that Rauner was ordered to pay raises under the previous contract. It’s that he was ordered to continue the progression of recent hires through the pay plan (which exists in statute, not the contract).
Ninety percent of guns used in criminal acts can be traced to just 5 percent of gun dealers. These so-called, “Bad Apple” dealers enable criminals to circumvent gun laws created to keep firearms out of dangerous hands, putting communities at risk for violence. […]
When a gun buyer gets somebody else to fill out his or her paperwork, that’s called a “straw purchase.” This can put guns in the hands of people who are legally prohibited from owning them. Police say penalties for violating Illinois’ “lost and stolen” law, which helps address straw purchases, are too weak.
Last year, Chicago police took 8,952 illegal guns off the street, and this year so far the police have recovered more than 3,400 guns. We would like to believe it has made a difference. Chicago this year has suffered 52 fewer murders and 229 fewer shootings when compared to the same time last year. […]
A bill approved by the Legislature on Tuesday — with bipartisan support — and now headed to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk holds the promise of being a small but important part of the solution. The bill goes after the scourge of “bad apple” gun dealers by requiring state certification of gun shops.
* But, you say, the feds already regulate gun dealers. Well, kinda…
As they inspect the nation’s gun stores, federal investigators regularly find violations of the law, ranging from minor record-keeping errors to illegal sales of firearms. In the most serious cases, like a sale of a gun to a prohibited buyer, inspectors often recommend that gun dealers lose their licenses.
But that rarely happens. Senior officials at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regularly overrule their own inspectors, allowing gun dealers who fail inspections to keep their licenses even after they were previously warned to follow the rules, according to interviews with more than half a dozen current and former law enforcement officials and a review of more than 100 inspection reports.
One store was cited for failing to conduct background checks before selling a gun. Another store owner told investigators he actively tried to circumvent gun laws. One threatened an A.T.F. officer, and another sold a gun to a customer who identified as a felon. All were previously cited by the A.T.F. In each instance, supervisors downgraded recommendations that the stores’ licenses be revoked and instead let them stay open.
Of about 11,000 inspections of licensed firearm dealers in the year starting in October 2016, more than half were cited for violations. Less than 1 percent of all inspections resulted in the loss of a license.
* Before Gov. Rauner signed the budget this morning…
Three Years Later, Rauner Sidelined to Get the Job Done
Chicago, IL – As Bruce Rauner sits down to sign the first budget of his governorship, let’s take a look back at the crisis-drive agenda, stubborn demands, and failed leadership that brought us to this point:
2015: A CRISIS-DRIVEN AGENDA
Rauner makes his motives abundantly clear with the now infamous, “Crisis creates opportunity. Crisis creates leverage to change … and we’ve got to use that leverage of the crisis to force structural change.” He proceeds to veto a budget passed by the General Assembly while presenting no realistic alternative.
2016: CHANGING DEMANDS, DELAYED NEGOTIATIONS
After waiting six months into the budget crisis to meet with Democrats in 2015, Rauner waits four months into 2016 to sit down with legislative leaders. The failed governor brings to the table an ever-growing and ever-changing list of demands with columnists saying, “Rauner has made one politically unrealistic demand after another” and “Gov. Bruce Rauner is holding up critical state budget negotiations over his desire for term limits? Unbelievably, yes.”
2017: THE BIPARTISAN OVERRIDE
Bruce Rauner drives the state into a 736-day budget crisis, decimating the state economy, forcing social services to cut programs or close their doors, and jeopardizing public education across the state. After Rauner derails one budget and vetoes another, bipartisan legislators come together to override the failed governor’s veto and finally bringing Rauner’s crisis to an end.
2018: RAUNER SIDELINED
Having learned their lesson, leaders in the General Assembly sidelined Bruce Rauner from the budget process, ignoring the unbalanced budget he presented. The Chicago Tribune writes, “Rauner’s top priorities sidelined in final budget talks of his first term.” With the General Assembly getting the job done as Bruce Rauner faces re-election this year, the failed governor will sign a budget for his first time in office.
“Bruce Rauner finally agreeing to sign his name on a budget crafted by the General Assembly, three years into his time in office, won’t change the massive amounts of damage this failed governor has done to this state,” said Pritzker campaign communications director Galia Slayen. “It shouldn’t take legislative leaders sidelining the governor and the threat of re-election to get a budget done. It’s abundantly clear Illinois can’t afford another four years of Bruce Rauner.”
After Three Years of Rauner Budget Chaos, What Changed?
Illinois Working Together Campaign Director Jake Lewis released the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s approval of the state budget:
“For three years, Gov. Bruce Rauner has refused to sign a state budget unless it included his own personal agenda. The governor spent much of that time holding the budget hostage while the students, seniors, and economy of the Illinois suffered catastrophic damage.
“Now it seems like the governor has had a radical change of heart, signing the Fiscal Year 2019 budget that includes none of his personal agenda and none of his own major budget proposals. So the question must be asked: what changed? And why did the students, seniors, and economy have to suffer for years before Rauner’s sudden shift?
“Bruce Rauner put the people of Illinois through crisis after crisis in pursuit of his own personal agenda. Today we find out that all of that chaos, all of the devastation was for nothing. So, governor, what changed? The people of Illinois deserve answers.”
* DGA…
What Was the Point of Rauner’s Three Year Budget Crisis?
The Democratic Governors Association releases the following statement through spokesperson Sam Salustro regarding news that Governor Bruce Rauner signed the first budget of his term after forcing the state to endure three years of crises:
“Bruce Rauner’s budget signature is three years too late. Thanks to Rauner’s failed leadership, Illinois’ debt soared, credit rating dropped, and services were slashed while jobs and people continued to leave the state. Rauner failed the people of Illinois and the state is worse off because of it.
“Rauner’s decision to wait for an election year before finally signing a budget is just one more insult to the people of this state. Bruce Rauner forced Illinois to endure three years of budget crises and voters want to know, what was the point?”
* Pritzker campaign…
A Moment Three and a Half Years in the Making
Chicago, IL – It’s a moment three and a half years in the making: Bruce Rauner finally learned how to pick up a pen and sign his name.
Three downstate lawmakers want the US Congress to take up an initiative to make Chicago the 51st state. After all, the state and city have been fighting for 200 years.
In a resolution introduced May 25, GOP State Reps. Reginald Phillips - Brad Halbrook and Joe Sosnowski voiced their dismay with the city’s politics, its weight to the state’s finances and its disagreement with the rest of the state on major social issues.
The dissension between the state’s most populated city and the rest of the state has been an issue for 200 years, the resolution says, with previous attempts to sever the state and city’s ties.
He’s not a household name like Mike Madigan or Bruce Rauner, but House Republican leader Jim Durkin played an outsize role in delivering the first on-time budget in four years.
Durkin claims to this day that he was able to convince, cajole and drag other legislative leaders and the governor 90 percent of the way to a budget agreement last year until it all blew up in July. Ten of his GOP members broke ranks and voted to override Rauner’s vetoes of the state’s first full-year budget since before Rauner took office and an income tax hike to pay for it.
When the smoke cleared, Durkin had a problem. Some of his conservative members blamed him for not being tough enough on the members who bolted. And the insurgents were furious about all the pressure that Rauner had put on them about their votes. Mutiny was in the air.
Durkin had to pull his caucus back together quickly because a vote on a massive education funding reform bill would happen a month after the budget blowup.
Pointing out the holes in Maryann Loncar’s allegations against Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, is like shooting fish in a barrel. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that absolutely everything she said was untrue.
Loncar, a longtime medical marijuana activist, made her allegations last week during a much-anticipated press conference on the final day of the General Assembly’s spring session.
Let’s start with her alleged $170 million “bribery” scheme by a medical marijuana company, which Loncar claimed she helped expose. She claimed her “meddling” caused Lang to retaliate against her. This is not a new allegation. Loncar e-mailed me in 2015 to allege a $168 million “pay to play” scheme involving the company. The “bribe” turned out to be an alleged offer of a state payment by a company named Medponics for all medical marijuana licenses during a stakeholder meeting.
Loncar said she had an eyewitness at the 2012 meeting, who has worked with her on medical marijuana issues for years. But he told me the Medponics proposal was immediately shouted down by everyone in the room, including Lang. A former lobbyist for the company flatly denied that any such offer was ever made.
In 2014, Loncar and her business partners told the Tribune that their Plainfield company wanted to open three for-profit grow centers and five dispensaries. They claimed credit for convincing then-House Republican Leader Tom Cross to support medical marijuana. Cross’ district included Plainfield. But the medical marijuana bill written by Lang and others in 2013 barred for-profit companies like Loncar’s from the industry.
She also told me in 2015 she was “being bullied” by Lang and a female medical marijuana activist. Lang did indeed tell several people last year that he wouldn’t support the bill to legalize hemp if Loncar was involved. But Loncar also claimed that Lang killed the hemp bill last year because of her involvement. Lobbyists involved with the hemp bill flatly denied that to me, and said the same to the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.
Loncar claimed that Lang had contacted her ex-husband and allegedly said he could “help you bury her if you want.” She said that conversation led her to fear for her life. But her ex told the Tribune that Lang never reached out to him.
Denise Rotheimer, a Loncar surrogate who accused Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, of sexual harassment last year, told the Sun-Times last Tuesday that Loncar was not going to allege sexual harassment against a legislator.
But then Loncar appeared on conservative activist Dan Proft’s Chicago radio show the Thursday morning before her press conference. Proft asked her whether the still-unnamed legislator had said if she wouldn’t “play ball, and play ball means of a sexual nature, then you’re not going to get what you want.”
“In every nature,” Loncar replied. “It all starts in Springfield of a sexual nature if you’re female. All of it.”
However, when her statement to Proft was read back to her later that day by my associate Hannah Meisel, Loncar admitted Lang had made no such demand.
So, what do we make of Loncar’s other claims, including that Lang inappropriately touched her once and made some suggestive comments?
I think we should leave that for the inspector general to decide, not us.
Lang’s resignation of his deputy majority leader post as well as from two important committees after “consulting” with Madigan clearly means he has been punished. Whether he’s been punished enough will, again, be up to the inspector general.
Buy Illinois bonds in May and sell when the budget crisis goes away.
It’s almost as catchy as the stock market adage, and that simple advice is turning a nice profit recently. While many other fixed-income assets sputtered along, Illinois debt returned 1.56 percent in the last month, according to Bloomberg Barclays index data. On an annualized basis, that’s a 20 percent profit.
That monthly return is better than other U.S. states 1 and ranks ahead of just about any major bond market out there. For reference, here’s how some broad indexes fared last month.
* Global High-Yield: -1.51%
* Global Aggregate: -0.76%
* EM USD Aggregate: -0.73%
* U.S. Aggregate: 0.71%
* U.S. Treasury: 0.90%
And all investors had to do to lock in that return was bet that Illinois lawmakers would pass an acceptable budget. That’s what they did on Thursday, sending it to Republican Governor Bruce Rauner for his signature. […]
Investors clearly liked the news, with the yield on 10-year Illinois bonds tumbling on Thursday by the most in 10 months to 4.1 percent. The debt rallied for 10 consecutive days after the yield peaked in mid-May at 4.6 percent. At the time, that rate was higher than the one on 10-year securities from Greece, which, as everyone agrees, is junk.
