Concurrence, with reservations
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I agree with much of this Tribune editorial…
The solution to CPS’ crisis is the same as the solution to the state’s budget crisis: a deal among Madigan, Cullerton, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the man who would sign it into law: Gov. Bruce Rauner. What should be on the table? Deeper central-office spending cuts at CPS. The closing of half-empty schools. Teachers should agree to pay their share of pension contributions, so CPS no longer has to pay its share and most of the teachers’ share.
Rauner has offered to help. If the state is to somehow come up with more money for CPS, or extend the terrible practice of delaying pension contributions, Chicago Democrats have to start making concessions on his political and economic reform agenda. He’s determined to reduce the structural costs of government and boost the economic climate in this state. Rauner is ready to deal.
But he’s not ready to cave. On Monday, Rauner reminded Democrats that “misguided state policies” caused CPS’ plight. These are policies they championed, policies for which they voted.
Does that sound like a governor about to crack because Democrats in Chicago and Springfield refuse to cut a deal with him? We don’t think so either.
Democrats have to deal with Rauner. They have to — eek! — compromise with him if they hope state taxpayers will rescue CPS.
You want something? Give something. If you don’t like what the governor is offering, make another suggestion.
The Democrats do need to start making some politically doable counter proposals rather than just allowing the governor to constantly negotiate against himself. It’s the only way we’re ever going to find out if Gov. Rauner really does want to make a deal, as the Tribune believes, or whether, as many Democrats believe, he’s only interested in busting unions.
* On the other hand, the Democrats are right to be wary of what could happen to them if they start negotiating before the candidate filing period concludes at the end of this month. They could wind up with primary opponents and a union base that’s so angry at them for caving that they wouldn’t be able to adequately defend themselves.
I also highly doubt that very many legislators of either party would be willing to agree to a tax hike before that filing period ends - and make no mistake, a tax hike is almost assuredly at the end of this ugly highway.
We’re gonna be stuck in the muck for a while longer, campers.
37 Comments  
|
* Expect numerous updates to this press release…
Governor Bruce Rauner issued an amendatory veto today of House Bill 2482.
Similar to Senate Bill 570, the proposed legislation concerning the Child Care Assistance Program, HB 2482 would have unintended consequences that would negatively impact the state’s long-term ability to serve individuals in need.
“These bills may be well-intentioned, but they are ultimately harmful to the programs they are trying to help,” Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said. “The governor understands and shares the frustration of members who want to fund these programs, but the appropriate way to do so is in the context of a truly balanced budget. As drafted, both pieces of legislation would create serious problems that jeopardize the future of the Child Care Assistance Program as well as services for the elderly.”
House Bill 2482 would lock into statute that an individual who qualifies for assistance is entitled to institutional care. Additionally, the approach contemplated by this legislation puts the state’s compliance with Medicaid waiver regulations and ability to maximize federal match funds at serious risk.
As noted in the governor’s veto message House Bill 2482 “takes a step in the wrong direction… For too long, Illinois has over-prescribed institutional care to lower-need individuals when less expensive and more appropriate care options are available. In order to provide the best particular care for each individual, to ensure that our support services remain affordable, and to maximize the number of individuals served, we must rebalance the services being provided with greater precision. Prescribing institutional care for individuals who do not need it is wrong for the individual and wrong for taxpayers. Moreover, over-prescribing institutional care is inconsistent with the direction being taken across the country.”
Bill No.: HB 2482
An Act Concerning Public Aid
Action: Amendatory Veto
Note: Veto Message Below
Veto Message
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois Senate,
99th General Assembly:
Today I return House Bill 2482 with specific recommendations for change.
The State of Illinois provides important support services to elderly and disabled individuals through the Community Care Program, the Home Services Program, and State-funded nursing care. At a time when the State is struggling to afford its past promises, we have an obligation to make the economic and government reforms needed to continue providing these services to the neediest among us.
Unfortunately, while well-intentioned, House Bill 2482 takes a step in the wrong direction. The bill would lock into statute that an individual with a particular threshold score on the Determination of Need (DON) assessment tool would be eligible for both institutional and home and community-based long term care services. Instead, an individual with the threshold score should be entitled to institutional or home and community-based care. Retaining flexibility to determine whether an individual is eligible for institutional or home and community-based care – as opposed to both – will ensure that the State is compliant with Medicaid waiver regulations and protocols and maximize federal matching funds.
For too long, Illinois has over-prescribed institutional care to lower-need individuals when less expensive and more appropriate care options are available. In order to provide the best particular care for each individual, to ensure that our support services remain affordable, and to maximize the number of individuals served, we must rebalance the services being provided with greater precision. Prescribing institutional care for individuals who do not need it is wrong for the individual and wrong for taxpayers. Moreover, over-prescribing institutional care is inconsistent with the direction being taken across the country.
Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 2482, entitled “AN ACT concerning public aid”, with the following specific recommendations for change:
On page 10, line 17, by replacing “institutional and” with “institutional or”; and
On page 21, line 5, by replacing “institutional and” with “institutional or”; and
On page 50, line 21, by replacing “institutional and” with “institutional or”; and
On page 55, line 17, by replacing “institutional and” with “institutional or”.
With these changes, House Bill 2482 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.
Sincerely,
Bruce Rauner
GOVERNOR
…Adding… The bill received 74 votes in the House, including Republicans Batinick, Bryant, Hammond, Jesiel, McAuliffe and Unes.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rep. Batinick just said that in his opinion, an amendatory veto is better than a total veto, but he won’t make a decision until he talks with supporters about how far-reaching Rauner’s change of “and” to “or” will be.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Chief House sponsor Rep. Greg Harris via text…
The Rules Committee will first have to determine if the Amendatory Veto is compliant with constitutional requirements. I will carefully review the language to see if the changes protect the needs of all of our seniors and persons with disabilities in community based, supportive living, nursing homes and other care settings. It is critically important that fragile and vulnerable people are not put at risk.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From Denise Gaines, legislative director, SEIU Healthcare Illinois…
“Bruce Rauner’s own history of abuse and neglect when it comes to nursing homes under his control should strike fear in the hearts of anyone affected by these changes, which ultimately limit choice for Illinois seniors and preserve Rauner’s own power to arbitrarily kick people off the program.
“Once again, Rauner is taking vulnerable Illinoisans hostage in pursuit of his extreme, non-budgetary political agenda. Today, it’s nursing home residents. This amendatory veto is unacceptable and we call on legislators to override it when they convene on Nov. 10th.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Daniel Biss via text…
HB2482, which passed with strong support in both chambers, is provided needed protections to seniors and people with disabilities. While we are still reviewing Governor Rauner’s language, I will be watching closely to ensure that we protect the ability of those who most need long term care to choose the most appropriate services.
…Adding More… So, here is what the original bill said…
Individuals with a score of 29 or higher based on the determination of need (DON) assessment tool shall be eligible to receive institutional and home and community-based long term care services until such time that the State receives federal approval and implements an updated assessment tool.
So, under this AV, people would be eligible to receive institutional or home and community-based long term care services.
The trouble is, lots of seniors bounce around between those services. They’re receiving home care, they fall and break their hip, they go to the hospital and are released to a nursing home, then they eventually head back home.
How can you make this a purely “or” situation? Do they have to reapply? Do they just get one and not the other?
I have a call into the governor’s office to explain this. I’ll let you know what they’re saying.
*** UPDATE 5 *** So, according to the governor’s office, the example I used above wouldn’t be covered by their AV. This is for permanent care, not temporary bouncing around, I’m told. They also claim to have the support of several advocates for home and community-based care, which might explain the muted response so far from Democrats.
*** UPDATE 6 *** From the Health Care Council of Illinois (nursing home lobby)…
Governor Rauner’s Amendatory Veto of House Bill 2482 eliminates medical care for Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens. Rauner’s view of the future of long term care for people who cannot dress themselves or manage their own medication is to keep them isolated in an apartment with assistance of a part-time housekeeper.
Rauner’s amendatory veto strips away 24-hour skilled medical care and replaces it with a few hours a week of housekeeping chores. This move is strictly about money and politics, and not about the care needs of elderly people. With one pen stroke, elderly people and their families lost the right to choose the best health care setting based on their individual health care needs and family circumstances.
The Health Care Council of Illinois calls on members of the General Assembly to override this Amendatory Veto and uphold dignified medical care for our most vulnerable citizens.
Pat Comstock
Executive Director
Health Care Council of Illinois
47 Comments
|
Our childish, cartoon world
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* David Rutter…
(T)he original “GI Joe” was manufactured, a Faux Joe character designed to sell comic books and toys.
He was never real.
And neither was Joe Gliniewicz.
Too much about our society isn’t real. Our public discourse is too often based on way too little information and way too much ideology, all intensified by our too-quick reactions in an age when everybody has access to their own online megaphones.
Many of us in this Statehouse business got a close look at how this works when Barack Obama ran for President. He was quickly turned into a cartoon character that few of us recognized. Hero or villain, that just wasn’t the person we knew.
Cartoon versions of reality abound. Just read any newspaper comment section for two minutes (or more than a few newspaper opinion pages), or browse your Facebook feed. It’s not only disappointing, but downright dangerous that so many people choose to live in their own black and white fantasy worlds and forcefully believe that everyone else should, too.
* Greg Tejeda…
Now I’m not about to tag “crooked cop” all over Gliniewicz’s name. Personally, I think anybody who is obsessed with doing so is missing the point. They’re definitely wasting their time.
Although I do find some contempt for those people who got all bent out of shape by those who initially challenged the image of a “heroic cop” for Gliniewicz. Those were the people so eager to constantly deify police officers that they can’t accept the reality I came to a long time ago when it came to my dealings as a reporter-type person with law enforcement officials.
They’re human beings! Just like everybody else.
We are, indeed, all just human beings. We’re all a little different and strange in our own dark little corners. Even so, most of us try to do good things. For all his many faults, Gliniewicz was locally beloved for his good works before he killed himself because of his bad works.
Human beings are not gods. We shouldn’t declare our “faith” in them. We should recognize that, once we’ve grown into adulthood, everybody will occasionally disappoint, some much more than others. It’s simply the reality of being an adult and part of the oftentimes puzzling beauty of living on this planet.
/rant
33 Comments
|
All over the place
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP at 8:09 am on October 30th…
A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner says Illinois environmental officials are working to abide by new federal power plant limits that are being challenged by more than two dozen other states.
Rauner responded cautiously after the early August unveiling of President Barack Obama’s much-anticipated Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from domestic power plants.
Spokeswoman Catherine Kelly tells The Associated Press the Illinois EPA “is still reviewing the rule and determining potential compliance pathways.”
* Greg Hinz on October 30th…
After months of holding fire, Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Rep. Tammy Duckworth is ripping GOP incumbent Mark Kirk on what has been one of his traditional strengths in this left-leaning state: the environment.
In a statement, Duckworth spokesman Matt McGrath accused the incumbent of “gestures (that) do not get emptier than this” and charged Kirk with trying to kill a needed clean-power plan.
But Team Kirk suggested Duckworth is trying to curry favor with green groups that are helping finance her campaign and described the senator as an “aggressive” advocate of cleaning up the Great Lakes.
At issue is Kirk’s decision earlier in the week to formally oppose the limits on power plants proposed by President Barack Obama. The president says the limits are needed to curb greenhouse gases and carbon pollution, but conservatives say there would be a big economic cost, with Kirk citing the potential impact on Illinois’ coal industry.
* AP at 1:07 pm on October 30th…
A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner says Illinois officials are still reviewing their options regarding federal power plant limits being challenged by more than two dozen other states.
Rauner responded cautiously after the August unveiling of President Barack Obama’s much-anticipated Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from domestic power plants.
Spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the Illinois EPA “is still reviewing the rule and determining potential compliance pathways.”
The governor’s office says the AP made a mistake with its original report and the second story is the accurate one. An AP employee didn’t respond to an e-mail asking for clarification, but the quote remained the same, so I’m betting it was an error. Either way, the governor can take action without legislative authority here and he is one of just a tiny number of governors who won’t say where they stand.
* Hinz on November 4th…
Attorney General Lisa Madigan today joined attorneys general from 17 other states in seeking to intervene in a case pending before a U.S. Court of Appeals that could block proposed anti-carbon pollution rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The rules have been bitterly attacked as an over-reach by much of the power industry, with attorneys general from other states moving to overturn them in court.
* The usually staunchly pro-coal Southern Illinoisan on October 31st…
Thumbs up to the Rauner administration for its willingness to comply with new Environmental Protection Agency clean air standards.
More than two dozen states are suing the federal agency, looking to upend the limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Illinois, however, is researching ways to comply, according to Rauner’s staff.
Climate change is real. And policies such as the EPA’s are an appropriate response.
* Kurt Erickson today…
Lawmakers who represent Illinois coal country are bristling at Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s decision to support the Obama administration’s new clean energy rules.
With the rules expected to impact coal production and coal-burning power plants, members of the Illinois House and Senate say jobs in their downstate districts could be lost if the administration beats back a challenge from states that oppose the regulations.
“It does strike a chord with me. I don’t appreciate that,” state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said Thursday. “I want Lisa Madigan to be attorney general for the whole state. We are one big state. We cannot live without these coal jobs.”
Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in coal production, with nearly 5,000 miners earning an average salary of about $85,000 per year. The number of miners has been reduced by more than half over the past 20 years because of increased regulation and mechanization.
Phelps represents Saline County, one of the top coal producing counties in Illinois.
* Meanwhile, in a seemingly unrelated development…
Dynegy says it’s closing its Wood River [coal-fired] Power Station in southern Illinois because of economic reasons.
The company said in a news release Wednesday it’s closing the 465-megawatt facility in Alton because of its “uneconomic operation” in a “poorly designed wholesale capacity market” in central and southern Illinois. That system, the company said, doesn’t allow generators to recover costs.
The facility has to compete in capacity auctions, Dynegy said, with plants in other states with regulated markets and higher guaranteed compensation.
“Mixing these two regulatory regimes together in the same capacity auction puts all generating units in central and southern Illinois at financial risk regardless of fuel type, shifting jobs and the economic benefits of hosting generating plants from central and southern Illinois to neighboring states,” Dynegy said.
11 Comments
|
Paper makes exception to its impasse support
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Southern Illinoisan’s editorial board appears to be having an identity crisis.
This is from an October 30th editorial blasting former Gov. Jim Edgar for publicly advising Gov. Bruce Rauner to focus on a “doable” solution to the impasse…
But Illinois can’t continue running up massive debts and spending billions more than it brings in. Taxpayers need relief. Union power must be brought under control. Widespread inefficiency throughout state government must be streamlined.
Reimagining what’s “doable” will cause strife throughout Illinois in the short term. Any paradigm shift causes a tremor or two.
Edgar’s shot at his fellow Republican shows, yet again, just how pervasive the dogma that brought Illinois to its knees is within the old guard.
Rauner has no choice but ignore what Edgar considers “doable.” He’s instead operating with “what must be done.”
* Fast-forward to today and they’re no longer all-in on the impasse. They want local Republican state Rep. Terri Bryant to vote for the child care funding bill, regardless of the impact on the state’s fiscal position…
We’ve supported much of Rauner’s controversial “Turn Around Agenda.” Worker’s Compensation Insurance is too costly to businesses in Illinois. A freeze on property taxes would force constantly expanding local governments to right-size. But Rauner’s CCAP cuts, essentially locking out 90 percent of would-be participants, would drive single mothers out of the workforce. It would expand the welfare rolls. It would, ultimately, cost Illinois more than it saves. […]
(W)hen asked Thursday whether she’ll support the bill already approved by the Senate, Bryant tap-danced around an answer.
“If the state doesn’t have the money, how genuine is it to cast a vote to fund it?” Bryant queried, leaving us with the sense that she’s leaning against the Democratic legislation. […]
Growing pains are required. Illinois cannot continue to trod on as it has for decades, amassing debt and pumping cash into a failing pension system. We get it, governor.
But gutting CCAP is a master class in counterproductivity. Terri Bryant should do all she can to assure Illinois’s women get a fair shake.
43 Comments
|
* From the Daily Chronicle…
There are approximately 490 nonprofit organizations in DeKalb County, according to information Dawn Littlefield, executive director of Kishwaukee United Way, presented. Not only do some of them provide social services or other aid to thousands of residents, collectively, they employ about 7,000 people.
But Littlefield said many agencies are in financial distress. Her parent agency, United Way, reports that more than 60 percent of the county’s nonprofit organizations, which do such things as provide services to working families and battered women, aid seniors in independent living, and serve as resources for low-income individuals and families, have enough cash to last no more than three months. Another 20 percent have less than a month’s cash on hand. Program, service and staff cuts have been made at nearly half of the service agencies and at least 1 in 8 have closed programs altogether.
“I can’t stand here and say to you tonight that Safe Passage is going to be able to go on after January or February,” said Mary Ellen Schaid, executive director of the domestic and sexual abuse advocacy organization.
* From the Telegraph…
Francis Gonzales, an Alton senior, said he relies on SSP’s Meals on Wheels programs to deliver hot meals to his home. Since the budget impasse, SSP has had to cut drivers from the program and drop the meal deliveries from five days a week to only two. The organization currently serves 630 seniors in 22 townships and has a waiting list of 110 people.
…Adding… McDonough County Voice…
Delays in Medicaid payments due to the state budget impasse are negatively impacting access to mental health services, said Kenny Boyd, president and CEO of the McDonough District Hospital. Boyd said North Central Behavioral Health services in Macomb has had to cut back to “bare bones” due to Medicaid payment delays, so MDH is experiencing a large influx of new patients. The hospital has had 100 new clients apply for its Behavioral Health Services this month, and cannot take new ones for at least another month. He said the behavioral health unit is struggling to even handle its emergency services.
Boyd said MDH has worked with Macomb Police Chief Curt Barker and Sheriff Rick Van Brooker for the past six to eight months to try to manage an increasing number of people with mental health issues getting jailed. Boyd said the Medicaid payment problems have caused patients who need services to “ping-pong” between the mental health system, jail and the community.
44 Comments
|
The McCarter plot thickens
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Uh-oh…
In the months leading up to his announcement that he’s seeking a congressional seat, state Sen. Kyle McCarter spent more than $33,000 from his state campaign fund on a political consultant.
He used that state account to pay the consultant even though he wouldn’t be facing re-election as a state senator until 2016.
That same consultant — Elizabeth Van Holt, owner of Isaiah Consulting in Downers Grove — showed up with McCarter when he announced his congressional candidacy on Oct. 7 in Highland.
Here’s the rub: Money from a state campaign fund isn’t supposed to be used for a federal campaign. […]
“This is an attempt by those opposing me to make something of nothing,” said McCarter, a Republican from Lebanon. “If there was anything wrong, I wouldn’t have done it. This was an eight-month contract that I had with Isaiah, and it pertained to my position in the state.”
He’s challenging an incumbent (John Shimkus) in a primary, so things are gonna get brutal. And he doesn’t have a whole lot of friends in Illinois politics, so it’s not like allies will be streaming to his side.
34 Comments
|
Illinois’ “most unusual” ancestry
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I know quite a lot of Assyrians, so this popped out at me…
Based on Census data, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percentage of state residents who identify as one of 158 different ethnicities — the most common answers to the ancestry question. Survey respondents were not given a list of options. The largest percentage relative to the comparable national proportion is a state’s most unusual ancestry.
A state’s most unusual ethnic group is not necessarily the state’s largest demographic. In fact, the most unique heritage group in only three states made up more than 10% of that state’s population. In every other case, members of the most unusually concentrated demography accounted for less than 1% of state residents. However, that demographic accounts for an even — and often much smaller — share of the U.S. population. […]
Illinois
Most unique ancestry: Assyrian
> Percentage of state residents identifying as Assyrian: 0.1%
> Share of U.S. Assyrian population living in state: 27.8%
Although just 0.1% of Illinois residents identify as Assyrian, it is 10 times the 0.01% of Americans who do, making Assyrian the most unique heritage in the state. America is home to just 38,626 Assyrians, and 27.8% of them live in Illinois. Assyrian immigrants came to the United States in two large waves — the first concurrent with start of World War I and the second with turmoil in the Middle East during the 1970s. Assyrian refugees relocated mostly to Chicago, Detroit, and Northern California, where some Assyrian American settlers and sojourners had established communities before WWI. Today, Chicago is home to the largest Assyrian population in the country, and the second largest in the world after Iraq. Illinois is also home to high relative concentrations of residents with Luxemburger, Palestinian, and Jordanian ancestry.
I had no idea we had a lot of Luxemburgers here.
29 Comments
|
Today’s number: $2.05 billion
Friday, Nov 6, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* COGFA…
As Illinois continues operations without an enacted budget, the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) has built up significant claims to be paid out.
As of the end of October, approximately $2.05 billion in claims are being held by the state from various insurers, organizations, and companies.
Of this total, the largest portion is approximately $1.08 billion of Managed Care claims. The second largest line, Prescription, OAP, and Mental Health claims, totals $598 million. The third largest portion of the overall claims hold comes from CIGNA, which has $291 million in claims currently held by the state. Concurrently, the estimated time for claims to be held is 360 days for Managed Care, 293 days for CIGNA, and 271-357 days for Prescriptions/OAPs/Mental Health.
79 Comments
|
* Liz Goodwin…
I had been talking to Alexander Nix, the CEO of the data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, for only a few minutes before he noticed my leopard-print shoes, and complimented them.
“I’ll put it in your personality file,” Nix joked.
“Does this mean you can already predict my personality?” I asked warily.
“Oh, yes,” Nix said, brushing imaginary dust off his slacks. “We’ve modeled every personality of every voter in the United States.”
If one were to try to imagine the person who claims to know every single American personality, one would probably not think of Nix, an Eton-educated Englishman in a tweed coat who speaks in fluid, grammatically correct paragraphs of his company’s microtargeting strategy. But presidential candidates from Sen. Ted Cruz to Ben Carson are turning to Nix’s massive database and algorithm so they can reach voters likely to support them with specific messages tailored not to their age, race or gender — but to their fundamental natures.
Go read the rest.
35 Comments
|
Crime and punishment
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve become a big fan of AlderTrack this year for publishing stories that the other media is ignoring, like this fascinating piece…
Public testimony turned into a die-in and shouting match at Tuesday’s Cook County Board of Commissioners hearing on the proposed FY2016 budget, with an unusual heated exchange between Commissioners Robert Steele (2) and Deborah Sims(10), and a young woman advocating for $2 million in funding for restorative justice programs across the county. Roughly 20 activists, many in orange tees from Community Renewal Society, participated. The group also staged a vigil at a public hearing in Skokie.
Commissioners Steele and Sims’ exchanges with one protester, Victoria Crider, lasted more than 30 minutes.
“If you can come up with $7 million to lock people up, you can come up with $2 million to keep them away,” Crider, of FLY (Fearless Leading by the Youth) said, telling commissioners of color they should support a $2 million earmark for restorative justice programs. Steele, who hours before had committed to raising more funds for the program, told protesters, “Don’t depend on Cook County to bail everybody out. Ask foundations and corporations to invest in this.” He told protesters they should partner with commissioners, but was interrupted by Crider. The two, united on the issue a few hours earlier, spoke over each other about funding for the Cook County Jail.
Crider argued with Comm. Sims as well, insisting the County stop funding the jail, “those prisons aren’t stopping shootings from happening… And the police officers that you’ve got on the street, those are the ones that you need to see in prison,” she said, to applause from supporters.
After trying to explain why the County’s jails were necessary to lock up criminals like the shooter who killed a 9 year old boy the day before, Sims eventually lost her patience with Crider, who spoke over her repeatedly. She suggested Crider picked a poor target to argue with about gang violence, putting up her hand mid-sentence, “I live in Roseland, the Wild 100s, so you can’t talk to me.”
Finance Chairman Daley said Crider’s time at the podium was over, and Comm. Schneider spoke up, saying he supported Chicago police. A shouting match started up again, with one protester saying Chicago policemen had raped women in her community, and Crider continuing to argue with commissioners as she and other protesters left the Board room. Daley had the last word. “What are you going to tell the parents of that little baby? Don’t lock that individual up? Give me a break… Next speaker.”
The strong pockets of radicalism in Chicago never cease to fascinate me. Click here to subscribe to AlderTrack. It’s worth it.
* Meanwhile, this story appears to have disappeared from the Sun-Times website, but 2nd City Cop posted it…
Chicago Police officials are concerned the killing of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee could set off a spree of violence targeting gang members’ innocent relatives — who have been considered off limits in the past, a law enforcement source said Wednesday.
The development came as Chicago police said a person of interest in the killing had turned himself in to police for questioning with his attorney this afternoon. Police declined to comment further.
After Tyshawn’s shooting, Police Supt. Garry McCarthy hopes Chicago’s gang conflicts don’t “go to a different level,” the source said.
Officers monitoring social media have flagged discussions of gang members speaking of possible retaliation against other gang members’ families.
20 Comments
|
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
EXELON CEO CHRIS CRANE – “A PHENOMENAL YEAR FOR US”
Today, Exelon announced third quarter 2015 profits of $629 MILLION. Yes, you read that right. Exelon has made more than $2.0 BILLION in the first nine months of this year. And yet despite their good fortune, Exelon still demands a corporate bailout even as our state budget crisis goes from bad to horrendous. They have promised to return to the ILGA with a full court bailout push in 2016!
IN THE THIRD QUARTER, EXELON MADE NEARLY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS A DAY or $284,873 AN HOUR
On this morning’s earnings call, Exelon CEO Chris Crane described 2015 and said, “This is a phenomenal year for us.”
OTHER EXELON NEWS: ALL ILLINOIS PLANTS TO REMAIN OPEN
- Yesterday, Exelon announced that Clinton would remain open through at least 2017.
- Exelon previously announced that because Quad Cities and Byron cleared the PJM auctions, Quad will remain open through at least 2017 and Byron will remain open through at least 2018.
Struggling Illinois ratepayers have had enough.
Just say no to the Exelon Bailout.
www.noexelonbailout.com
s.
BEST Coalition is a 501C4 nonprofit group of dozens of business, consumer and government groups, as well as large and small businesses.
Comments Off
|
Plant Closures Show the Need for Action in Illinois
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
In the past month, two nuclear plants have announced their premature closure - the FitzPatrick plant outside Syracuse, NY and the Pilgrim plant outside Boston, MA - due to economic challenges stemming from a failure to properly value the plants for their reliable, carbon emissions –free energy.
These closures will be devastating to the economies of the communities in which they operate and efforts to reduce carbon emissions resulting in:
• Over 1,200 lost jobs;
• $600 million in lost economic activity; and
• Loss of a leading source of carbon emissions-free energy.
This comes on the heels of similar closures announced in Wisconsin and Vermont in recent years that have produced similar losses to those states.
According to a State of Illinois report, the premature closure of at-risk plants in Illinois would yield even more severe consequences here at home including:
• Nearly 8,000 lost jobs;
• $1.8 billion annually in lost economic activity;
• Up to $500 million in higher energy costs statewide; and
• Up to 38.7 million metric tons in increased carbon emissions at a cost of up to $1.1 billion per year.
Illinois cannot afford to let this happen.
We need policy reforms like the Low Carbon Portfolio Standard that properly recognize and value the significant amount of carbon-free electricity that comes from Illinois’ nuclear fleet to level the playing field for all forms of clean energy and best position our state to meet EPA’s new carbon reduction rules.
Learn more about the benefits of nuclear energy at www.NuclearPowersIllinois.com
Comments Off
|
Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a Feb. 25, 2015 Tribune story…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday convened what was billed as the first meeting of his Cabinet, telling agency leaders that they’ll be asked to do more with less, but that he’s willing to “take the arrows” along the way.
“I wish this year was going to be all happy, and you know, happy feet. This is not going to be a happy feet year,” Rauner told the group of about 50 officials gathered in a Capitol meeting room. “This is going to be pretty rough, but we’re going to get through it. And I tell you, in 24 months we’re going to be on a very different trajectory as a state.”
That means we only have to wait 478 more days until prosperity begins sprouting all over the place!
* The Question: What will Feb. 25, 2017 look like? Snark is heavily encouraged, of course.
103 Comments
|
Look past the heat and at the numbers
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SEIU Healthcare’s child care analyst Beth Berendsen issued a statement to reporters yesterday about the governor’s push against the child care assistance program funding bill. I didn’t post it because, frankly, I’m trying to tone things down a bit and the rhetoric was pretty darned incendiary.
However, the numbers in the release are important, so do your best to look past the foaming at the mouth and instead skim through to the highlighted numbers…
The Bruce Rauner administration’s cynical political screed released today regarding Senate Bill 570, which reverses his arbitrary rules changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), exposes a shocking truth: That his unprecedented eligibility requirements, which have made Illinois dead last in the nation in providing safe and affordable child care to working parents, truly are destroying the program.
The Rauner justification, released in advance of an expected vote Nov. 10 on SB570 and most certainly meant to influence wavering members of his caucus, states that more than 90,000 children currently are receiving CCAP subsidies. This number represents a reduction of 80,000 in the average number of children served in the previous eight years. The 90,000 figure also represents a decrease BY HALF of the children that were served in FY2015. This is devastating.
What Rauner did today is reveal a program deterioration so rapid that it is a drop of 70,000 children being served in just three months— down from the 160,000 figure provided by the former state CCAP administrator, Linda Saterfield, in her August 11th testimony to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a statement that led to her dismissal for openly admitting that the impact of Rauner’s cuts would be “devastating.” She was right.
Recent research has shown that more than 1 in 5 children in Illinois are living in poverty, meaning more than 600,000 children. In Illinois, a recent report from the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute showed that a full-time minimum-wage earner would have to spend 74% of their annual earnings on child care for an infant without assistance. And yet, under the rules justified in what Rauner released today, full-time minimum wage earners no longer qualify for CCAP. How can this be justified?
Work supports, including the Child Care Assistance Program, are vital to helping low-income parents continue to work and access high-quality child care which improve child outcomes and stability, goals to which Rauner has professed. But the number that Rauner now boasts about—90,000 children currently being served— represents a heartbreaking loss of opportunity for 90,000 others without his level of personal fortune. It also reminds us that he is interested exclusively in political power and has no concept or care in investing in real solutions to help the struggling families of Illinois.
Whether wittingly or not, what Rauner released today actually provides complete and compelling *justification* for passage of Senate Bill 570.
Rhetoric like that won’t help with Republican lawmakers, but if the House Democrats have all 71 members in town next week, it will probably help with that caucus.
Even so… whew.
53 Comments
|
Charters say they’re doing pretty well
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Other than the fear of competition by existing schools and the lack of automatic union enrollment, I don’t really get the virulent opposition to charter schools. Are there problems with some charters? Heck, yes. But, to me, there ought to be alternatives to the industrial model school system for people who can’t afford private schools. Charters aren’t for everybody, but that’s precisely the point.
Reboot…
Today, there are 145 charter schools in Illinois and 90 percent of them are in Chicago. A recent policy brief from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, “Achieving the Dream: Chicago Charter High Schools Improve Academic and Life Outcomes for Students,” compared the academic performance of Chicago’s 48 charter high schools to the rest of the city’s non-selective district high schools.
Charts…
Discuss.
…Adding… The IFT asks that you click here.
66 Comments
|
Yeah, this’ll work
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kerry Lester…
Rob Sherman, the Buffalo Grove-based atheist and activist, tells me he plans to call Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and demand that GOP state Rep. Jeannie Ives of Wheaton be removed from the House Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee for having taxpayer-funded kids activity books printed amid the state budget impasse and then sending some to her children’s Catholic school.
The Illinois Constitution forbids using public funds “in aid of any church or sectarian purpose,” but Sherman says his main concern is the books went to a school her children attend.
Ives calls Sherman’s complaint “complete and utter silliness” and says the books cost a total of $130 and have been distributed to children throughout the district. The ones given to the Catholic school, she says, were left over from a kids boot camp she sponsors each summer at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. She also noted she annually returns thousands in office funds to the state.
33 Comments
|
The true believers want this war
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Crain’s Chicago Business attracts several commenters who know how to write well, and I sometimes find them helpful because they say things that elected officials and others just won’t. For instance, this was posted to a column of mine by a frequent Crain’s commenter who goes by the name of Glenn Farkas…
Sally, I’m not missing the point at all. Rich’s article is a ruse. The state has been run like an organized crime syndicate for decades, so advising Rauner that if he would just stop leaning on the mobsters they might just come around and be altar boys. We elected him to shake up/break up Springfield, and it will probably get worse before it gets better. The single biggest factor in this state’s downfall is directly correlated to the Democratic politicians and their collusion with unions. The unions will never give up their golden goose w/o a fight and the Democrats can’t offend their primary donor base and election workforce. We have no other choice, and if you think the economy is bad now, keep heading down the road we’re on with none of Rauner’s reforms and the state will be in receivership within 5 years.
148 Comments
|
Dedication to People – The Credit Union Difference
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Exactly what is the ‘Credit Union Difference’? Just ask Mae Powley, Manager of Pontiac-Dwight Prison Employees Credit Union.
“We really enjoy getting to know our members personally. We consider them part of our extended family. Members are friends, not just account numbers.”
From those who consider their credit union as a trusted place to help meet daily budgetary needs to those who are on the other side of the counter helping fellow members build strong financial futures, credit unions are all about “People Helping People”. So when Mae talks about the credit union as an extended family, she lives it. That’s because she is a member herself along with 1,100 other current and retired Illinois Department of Corrections employees and their family members – and has served alongside them as manager for the past 42 years.
Credit unions are able to better serve their communities because of their not-for-profit cooperative structure and leadership of a volunteer board elected by and from the local membership. Illinois credit unions: putting the “people” behind their fundamental philosophy.
Comments Off
|
Unclear on the concept
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Illinois Policy Institute…
[Innovation Illinois’ Elizabeth Austin] also incorrectly described Illinois as having a “regressive flat income tax rate.” This is a contradiction in terms — a tax rate cannot be both regressive and flat. Since Illinois’ income tax rate is flat, everyone pays the same rate on all taxable income.
They can’t really be that clueless, can they?
Investopedia…
A regressive tax is generally a tax that is applied uniformly. This means that it hits lower-income individuals harder.
70 Comments
|
Today’s number: $175 million
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bloomberg…
When Illinois returns to the municipal market after its unprecedented 18-month borrowing drought, it may find its budget impasse will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in the coming decades.
On a $1 billion offering of 25-year tax-exempt bonds, it would cost about $175 million more now than if an equal amount was issued with spreads at 2014 levels, based on data compiled by Bloomberg that assumes the yield equals the interest rate paid. Now in its fifth month without a spending plan, signs are mounting that debt sales for cash-strapped Illinois are only going to get more expensive.
* But, really, this quote shows how this whole thing is a bit rigged…
Long-term, the budget situation is fixable, according to Ty Schoback, a senior analyst in Minneapolis at Columbia Threadneedle Investments LLC, which holds some Illinois debt among its $30 billion of municipal holdings.
“As long as there’s adequate compensation in price, in addition to us having a view that they will ultimately come to a fix and get past this political gridlock, we certainly would consider additional purchases,” said Schoback. “You need to be compensated for the headline risk and the political uncertainty and these BBB+ downgrades.”
“Headline risk”? C’mon. What is that about?
Illinois has some of the strongest bond payback legal requirements in the country. Right now, child care, higher education and other programs are being slashed at least partly so the state can afford to make its bond payments on time.
The only people who truly believe Illinois is about to default on its bonds are newspaper website commenters.
20 Comments
|
How can we miss you if you won’t go away?
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* If Hillary Clinton wins the White House, and history follows its usual pattern here,her first midterm will be pretty awful for Illinois Democrats. Knowing that, top tier Dems may take a pass on challenging the super-wealthy Republican Bruce Rauner. Maybe I’m wrong, though, and some do emerge because maybe Rauner is super unpopular by then (although the national political mood tends to influence state races more than the state mood). I could be mistaken. But whatever happens, I think that a Hillary win is Pat Quinn’s best hope to win the nomination again. The general election is quite another matter…
The former longtime gadfly-turned-governor is working behind the scenes to get support for what amounts to an “I told you so” re-election campaign, several Democratic sources say, making calls and setting up lunches and coffees to make his pitch. Quinn has also been more visible of late, including on Wednesday when he joined a group of stagehands protesting in Chicago. Sources say that Quinn asked for speaking roles at this year’s Illinois State Fair in Springfield and the county chairmen’s breakfast.
Quinn argues he should have a chance to go before voters again and tell them he was right all along in advocating to make his controversial “temporary” income tax hike permanent. The risky election-year tax proposal sucked up much oxygen in the last months of Quinn’s unsuccessful campaign against Rauner, a political rookie. Rauner, a wealthy private equity investor, asked lawmakers not to extend the tax before he took office. They obliged. […]
But Quinn’s dreams may be dead on arrival. As the operative who described Quinn’s pitch put it, “I haven’t heard anyone who’s taking it seriously. I think everyone is in agreement, our fundamental problem with our last election was our candidate.”
Another major Democratic insider pointed to the numbers, noting that in 2014, “650,000 people voted for the minimum wage referendum who didn’t vote for Pat Quinn. That tells you something.”
When Speaker Madigan said that Bruce Rauner didn’t really win last year, Pat Quinn lost, that was probably as much of a message to the former governor as it was to the current one. Or, at least, it should’ve been.
It’s no secret, by the way, that Quinn has been plotting this race almost since his 2014 defeat. He’s been popping up at events lately, including just this week at a union protest.
107 Comments
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
