What I said is students should not be indoctrinated and that parents should have a voice in their education in the state of Illinois. We should make sure that we give parents the opportunity to to participate in their youth’s education.
Hannah Meisel followed up to ask if he thought kids were being indoctrinated here. Irvin ignored her question.
— Lobbyist reform: Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) has 15 aldermen on board for an ordinance that would clamp down on lobbying in city government. As we mentioned yesterday, the move was prompted by reports that City Clerk Anna Valencia failed to disclose her husband’s income as a lobbyist.
Valencia called the ordinance “a political stunt” since Tabares has endorsed her opponent for the secretary of state race, Alexi Giannoulias. Hanah Jubeh, Giannoulias’ campaign manager, responded that Valencia is “finger-pointing” instead of “taking responsibility.” NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern has more
It’s clever. You gotta give ‘em that.
* US Rep. Mary Miller has been endorsed by the Club For Growth. Here’s the Rodney Davis campaign’s response…
Carpet-bagging politician Mary Miller is touting the endorsement from a Washington, DC, group opposed to the Farm Bill, even as her family businesses have raked in over $1 million in government subsidies from Farm Bill programs over the years. The Club for Growth is the most prominent advocate for defeating the Farm Bill, calling it in 2018 “…nothing less than socialism with a Republican seal of approval on it.” Why would Mary Miller tout an endorsement from a group so hostile to her own constituents? Does Mary Miller agree that the Farm Bill is nothing less than Socialism?
“Like a true politician, Mary Miller has mastered the art of saying one thing and doing another. She has personally profited off Farm Bill programs to the tune of $1 million even as she touts the endorsement of a group who opposes the Farm Bill. By bragging about receiving the endorsement of Club for Growth, Miller is telling Illinois farmers that she wants to go back to Washington and work with a group who is actively opposed to the interests of the Illinois agriculture community. Miller should be ashamed for aligning herself with a group so outwardly hostile to our way of life. She should renounce her endorsement from Club and publicly reject any financial support they may be willing to offer.” - Davis campaign spokesperson Aaron DeGroot
Club for Growth, a DC based dark money organization, has been one of the leading opponents of the Farm Bill, federal legislation with vital programs that support the American farmer, agribusiness, and rural America as a whole. Club for Growth opposed the Farm Bill in 2018 and 2014 and is expected to oppose it again next year.
Club for Growth also runs a DC-based Super PAC that will be one of Miller’s biggest backers in her campaign for Congress. Miller said she was “honored” to be endorsed by Club for Growth. They are opposing Rodney in part because of his support for legislation like the Farm Bill, which delivers for Illinois Farmers.
Meanwhile, Mary Miller’s family business has received over $1 million in government subsidies from Farm Bill programs over the years. Mary Miller and her husband Chris are officers and co-owners of Miller Bros Farms, which is incorporated in the state of Delaware, a domestic tax shelter.
Chris Miller, has received $942,419 in USDA subsidies. Mary’s businesses Miller Bros. Farms, Inc. and Miller Bros Inc, have received $104,742 and $34,871 in USDA subsidies, respectively.
Rodney Davis is a strong supporter of the Farm Bill and the benefits it provides to Illinois farmers. As a member of the House Ag Committee, Rodney served as a Farm Bill conferee in 2013 and 2018, negotiating a successful Farm Bill and improving its programs twice. Rodney regularly meets and talks with Illinois farmers and members of the Illinois Farm Bureau and advocates for their concerns in Congress. He knows how vital Farm Bill programs are to farmers in Illinois and across the country. He is a proud recipient of the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR endorsement for the 2022 Primary election.
Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois violated a federal conflicts-of-interest law by disclosing two personal stock trades about two months past a federal deadline, according to financial records reviewed by Insider. […]
“Representative Schneider inadvertently did not hit the ’submit’ button when entering a stock transaction in December,” spokesperson Maggie Harden told Insider in a statement. “He discovered the error last week and immediately submitted the data and paid the associated late fee. The mistake has now been fully resolved.”
* I told you yesterday that it looked like US Rep. Mike Quigley is testing the waters for the 2023 mayor’s race with a new poll. From Greg Hinz’s subsequent report…
Lightfoot shrugged off news of the polling by Quigley. “What I focus on every day is doing my job. The politics will take care of itself,” she said when asked about the polling at a press conference. “I’ll make my case to the people. The voters will be the ultimate decision makers.”
Today, Alderman Gilbert Villegas announced the endorsements of four new members of Congress from across the country. U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA 24), Joe Neguse (D-CO 4), Kai Kahele (D-HI 2), and Richie Torres (D- NY 15) released the following statement in support of his campaign.
“In an uncertain world with ordinary people facing tremendous economic challenges, voters need a proven fighter like Gilbert Villegas in Congress. Gilbert’s service in the Marine Corps, leadership in the Teamsters union, and service to the people of Chicago in the City Council give us confidence he’ll focus on the right priorities and get things done for the people of Illinois. We’re proud to support his campaign,” said U.S. Representatives Carbajal, Neguse, Kahele, and Torres.
Villegas released a response in reaction to the endorsements.
“It’s incredibly humbling to receive the support from so many incredible public servants from across this great country.” said Alderman Gilbert Villegas.”Our campaign is gaining momentum every day because we’re staying focused on the issues that matter most to the voters.”
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate fell -0.2 percentage point to 4.8 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased by +19,600 in February, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The January monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report from +8,600 to +10,800 jobs. The January unemployment rate was unchanged from the preliminary report, remaining at 5.0 percent. The February payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflects activity for the week including the 12th.
In February, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+8,300), Manufacturing (+4,800), Leisure and Hospitality (+4,800) and Educational and Health Services (+4,300). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines were: Professional and Business Services (-3,400) and Financial Activities (-400).
“Illinois’ economic outlook remains positive,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “The Pritzker Administration and IDES are dedicated to helping employers and workers connect across any industry and in every corner of the state. To find the latest opportunities and resources, businesses and job seekers can visit Get Hired Illinois or IllinoisJobLink.com today.”
“Illinois continues on a positive economic trajectory, with unemployment rates going down and job numbers going up in key industries, such as transportation, manufacturing, and hospitality,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, DCEO will continue to make economic recovery our highest priority with a focus on workforce development and attracting and supporting businesses that create good-paying jobs.”
The state’s unemployment rate was +1.0 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for February, which was 3.8 percent, down -0.2 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -2.1 percentage points from a year ago when it was at 6.9 percent.
Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +244,800 jobs, with gains across all major industries. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases were: Leisure and Hospitality (+96,600), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+41,400), and Professional and Business Services (+41,300). In February, total nonfarm payrolls were up +4.3 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +4.6 percent in the nation.
The number of unemployed workers was down from the prior month, a -2.8 percent decrease to 308,600, and was down -28.8 percent over the same month for one year ago. The labor force was up +0.4 percent over-the-month and up +2.0 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
* Press release…
In a report released today, the Civic Federation offered its support for Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed FY2023 budget. The budget benefits from extraordinary revenue growth as the State has recovered strongly from the pandemic, with surpluses projected for FY2022 and FY2023. As detailed in the analysis, Governor Pritzker has prioritized the use of much of the surpluses to pay down debt, increase reserves, make supplemental payments and advance other priorities that the Civic Federation supports. The State is in a much stronger position than it has been for many years, as recognized by two recent credit rating upgrades, and the backlog of unpaid bills is the smallest it has been in many years. The full report is available at civicfed.org/FY23ILRecommendedBudget.
“The Civic Federation is pleased to support Governor Pritzker’s budget recommendation for the coming fiscal year, including responsible allocation of billions of dollars in federal aid and the prudent use of surplus funds to begin to chip away at some of Illinois’ staggering longtime financial burdens,” said Civic Federation President Laurence Msall. “Before the window of opportunity opened by this stability slams closed, the Governor, Illinois General Assembly and all leaders in Springfield must develop a comprehensive plan that will stabilize the State of Illinois’ finances in the long-term and prepare for future unexpected economic adversity.”
The Federation strongly supports Governor Pritzker’s proposal to use higher-than-expected State revenues to make supplemental pension payments beyond the statutory minimum, a step which has never been taken since implementation of the 50-year statutory funding plan in the 1990s.
“The Governor’s proposal is in stark contrast to gimmicks and dubious accounting changes that have historically been implemented to make or reduce already insufficient statutory payments,” said Msall.
In addition to the aforementioned supplemental payments and proposed rainy day fund contributions, the Civic Federation can support three of the four tax relief proposals included in the budget recommendation. Proposals for suspension of the sales tax on food and drugs, a property tax rebate and some license-fee waivers are narrowly targeted, have limited revenue impact and will sunset after one-year. The fourth proposal—a freeze in the scheduled cost of living increase in the motor fuel tax—provides minimal benefit to consumers and risks significant loss of current and future revenue while potentially setting a negative precedent for further tax freezes or even reductions at the expense of critical transportation improvements.
Civic Federation recommendations for the State of Illinois, all of which align closely with the primary recommendation to establish a long-term financial plan, include eliminating Prompt Payment Act interest penalties in favor of more market-based rates, using a portion of American Rescue Plan funding to pay down outstanding Unemployment Trust Fund liabilities, establishing a rainy day fund equal to 10% of General Funds revenues and various transparency and modernization initiatives.
“At the risk of sounding like a broken fiscal record, everything comes back to long-term planning for the State of Illinois and its local governments,” said Msall. “The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, there are significant disruptions in the international economy right now and we cannot be certain when another disruption will emerge. These would cause uncertainty for even the most fiscally stable of governments. Accordingly, it is vitally important that State leaders make plans and investments to ensure that Illinois is in a strong position to weather whatever storm comes next.”
JUSTICE OVERSTREET delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Garman, Michael J. Burke, and Carter concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Chief Justice Anne M. Burke and Justices Theis and Neville took no part in the decision.
Byron Sigcho-Lopez, the alderman for Chicago’s 25th Ward, filed a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections (Board), alleging that his predecessor’s campaign committee, the 25th Ward Regular Democratic Organization (Committee), unlawfully paid personal legal fees from campaign funds. The Board dismissed Sigcho-Lopez’s complaint, and Sigcho-Lopez filed for administrative review in the appellate court. On administrative review, the appellate court affirmed the Board’s dismissal. 2021 IL App (1st) 200561. This court allowed Sigcho- Lopez’s petition for leave to appeal (Ill. S. Ct. R. 315 (eff. Oct. 1, 2020)), and for reasons other than those set forth by the Board and the appellate court, we affirm the appellate court’s judgment and the Board’s dismissal. […]
Until the General Assembly amends the statute to, for example, specifically prohibit payment from campaign funds for legal fees incurred in defense of criminal allegations against a public official or candidate, the issue requires the Board’s consideration on a case-by-case basis, applying the plain language of the applicable statutory provisions. In this case, despite the parties’ arguments regarding legal defense fees incurred as a result of public corruption allegations, the record here reveals that Solis had not been indicted on criminal charges but only that he had worked with federal investigators using his official capacity to expose public corruption. Considering the evidence before the Board, we find that the Board’s conclusion—that Solis’s legal fees amounted to a proper expenditure not prohibited as “satisfaction or repayment” of a personal debt (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(3) (West 2018)) but incurred “to defray the customary and reasonable expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance of governmental and public service functions” (id. § 9-8.10(c))—was not clearly erroneous. Thus, we affirm the Board’s decision, finding that the complaint was not factually and legally justified.
There was no dissent.
…Adding… I was scheduled to appear on Jak Tichenor’s Illinois Lawmakers show earlier, so I didn’t have much of a chance to read through this carefully worded opinion before posting it. The justices focused primarily on what the campaign finance statute forbids. For example…
Whether legal defense fees amount to a personal debt that does not defray the customary and reasonable expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance of governmental and public service functions must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
In the case sub judice, the parties ostensibly agree that campaign fund payments expended for personal use are prohibited by the Election Code. Sigcho-Lopez argues that legal fees expended for the criminal defense of public corruption charges amount to personal debt prohibited as a campaign fund expenditure, and the [25th Ward Regular Democratic Organization] argues that legal fees expended for the criminal defense of public corruption charges are not personal in nature because the public corruption charges would not exist irrespective of the public official’s position.
* The justices chose to “apply the plain language of the relevant campaign disclosure and regulation provisions of Illinois’s Election Code”…
In doing so, we reject the Committee’s argument that legal fees incurred as a result of public corruption and criminal activity, resulting in conviction even, may be subsidized by campaign funds because they are not personal debt incurred irrespective of the officeholder’s position. We cannot ignore that a public official’s actions that result, for example, in convictions of official misconduct or corruption are “clearly committed for their own interests.” … The essence of a conviction for official misconduct, conflict of interest, or public corruption is that the public official has attempted “to personally enrich himself or another by an act exceeding his lawful authority as a public servant.” […]
(W)e also reject the contention that, because an officeholder could not engage in public corruption absent his position as officeholder, his personal legal defense fees for proven official misconduct or public corruption may be subsidized by campaign funds as an expenditure “to defray the customary and reasonable expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance of governmental and public service functions.”
* The court then noted a New Jersey Supreme Court decision which ruled that using campaign funds to defend against corruption charges was not an ordinary and necessary expense: “A grand jury indictment is not a customary, or usual, or normal incident of holding public office, nor does it occur in the regular course of events,” that court decreed…
This court agrees. Allowing campaign monies to subsidize public corruption amounts to an unreasonable interpretation of the Election Code.
* But…
On the other hand, we also reject Sigcho-Lopez’s contention that legal fees incurred to pay for a public official’s criminal defense against investigations or charges of public corruption amount to a per se prohibited personal debt pursuant to the plain language and spirit of section 9-8.10(a)(3) of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a)(3) (West 2018). We cannot ignore that not all allegations by political rivals are sound and that baseless allegations are at times asserted against public officials because of their very capacity as public officials. […]
Therefore, in limited circumstances, pursuant to the plain language of the campaign disclosure and regulation provisions of the Election Code, the Board may appropriately allow the use of campaign funds to pay for legal expenses in defending such allegations. See Wright, 174 Ill. 2d at 404 (holding ordinance invalid to the extent it attempted to indemnify officials convicted of crimes for their attorney fees and costs incurred in their unsuccessful criminal defense but making no express determination regarding the authority of any municipality or home rule unit to indemnify its officers and employees for legal expenses incurred in a successful defense); see also State v. Ferguson, 709 N.E.2d 887 (Ohio 1998) (although public officeholder may generally not use campaign funds to pay for legal defense against criminal charges, use of campaign funds to pay attorney fees incurred in connection with dismissed indictment that failed to state prosecutable violation was not prohibited attorney fees).
Clear as mud?
…Adding… Press release…
The following is a statement from Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) in response to today’s Illinois Supreme Court ruling in Byron Sigcho-Lopez v. Illinois State Board of Elections, 2022 IL 127253:
“If the law allows corrupt politicians to use campaign funds for legal defense fees, then it’s time to change the law.”
…Adding… Press release…
In response to the Illinois State Supreme Court’s decision today to dismiss cases in which campaign funds are used for criminal defense fees until specific legislation prohibiting the practice is put into law, State Representative Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), issued the following statement:
“With this decision, the Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that the General Assembly needs to act immediately. We have seen millions in campaign funds expended by Mike Madigan on his own legal defense for his corruption indictment. Madigan may be the most prominent, but he is certainly not the only politician to selfishly do so. The people of Illinois deserve better.
Officials using their campaign funds for their own defense after they are tangled up in public corruption scandals is yet another example of how insider power and privilege in Illinois protect their own. I filed legislation, HB 2929 because we cannot allow campaign donations to finance corrupt politicians’ efforts to keep themselves out of jail.
Unfortunately for the people of Illinois, like numerous other pieces of legislation filed by myself and my colleagues to tackle out of control corruption in Illinois, Democrats have refused to allow these bills to be heard and voted on. Democrats have stifled every attempt made this spring to restore public trust.”
* This bill is still on First Reading in the originating chamber. Long way to go. But it’ll get some local attention…
In an effort to improve consumer protections in health care and hold health insurance companies accountable, the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) worked closely with Representative Sue Scherer and Senator Doris Turner on legislation to further enhance consumer protections within the state’s Network Adequacy Transparency Act (NATA). The landmark law ensures consumers have access to a network of health insurance providers that meets proper time and distance standards.
HB5729 will give IDOI the authority to put in place more stringent time/distance standards than current federal requirements for many specialties to ensure consumers can access in-network providers close to home. Under the bill, the Department will pursue emergency rules to update time/distance network adequacy standards to help protect consumers’ access to care. The bill also provides for greater transparency in IDOI’s enforcement efforts, removing a confidentiality requirement for market conduct exams to allow the Department to inform consumers that an insurance company is undergoing an exam, while keeping details confidential until exams are finalized. Market conduct exams are the Department’s primary enforcement tool to review the practices of insurance companies regulated by the Department.
“Sen. Turner and Rep. Scherer have worked tirelessly to make sure that their constituents get the care they deserve, and I appreciate their willingness to work with my Department of Insurance to ensure that our laws are strong enough to protect consumers’ care,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This legislation will make our system operate more transparently and give people and regulators more tools to hold health care insurers accountable.”
“I care deeply about improving and expanding access to healthcare for my constituents. I’m glad to partner with the Department to help protect and inform Illinois insurance consumers. This legislation enhances penalties to ensure compliance with state laws,” said Representative Sue Scherer. “Also, it creates more generous provider-to-patient ratios for network adequacy than are currently recommended under federal regulations for many specialties.”
“The new law will provide necessary oversight with the creation of a Network Adequacy Advisory Council, comprised of consumer, provider, and insurer representation,” said Senator Doris Turner. “The council will regularly update network adequacy requirements, including reviewing time and distance standards, and ratios to apply to all provider networks. This is what health insurance consumers need, and our state leaders will deliver.”
Earlier this week, the Department issued fines totaling $339,000 for Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois for violating the material change notice requirement in the state’s Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. The Department found that the company did not properly file updated network adequacy filings following the termination of its contract with Springfield Clinic.
“The new law provides for additional consumer protections when a provider contract ends, and it strengthens network adequacy requirements with robust penalties for noncompliance” said IDOI Director Dana Popish Severinghaus. “We want to protect patients from having to travel far from their homes or wait too long to receive care. The Department can now establish strict wait times, and if the wait time to see a particular provider is excessive, the insurer must pay for the patient to see an out of network provider at an in-network rate. Current statutory requirements are also improved upon for both issuers and providers to update their provider network directories with accurate information.”
[US Rep. Rodney Davis] has signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation that would require providers to follow notification laws in a minor’s resident state when the minor travels to another state for an abortion.
Illinois recently repealed its notification law, which required the parents of a minor be informed their child was seeking an abortion. Notification will not be required after June 1.
About 1,180 of the 46,243 abortions performed in Illinois in 2020 were for girls 17 and under — 1,092 age 15 to 17 and 88 under 15 years old, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. That number was down from 1,343 for the same age group the year prior. […]
“The extreme abortion expansion laws pushed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Democrats are a disgrace,” Davis said. “I am proudly pro-life and strongly support the rights of parents to be involved in their children’s lives. This legislation I’m supporting would make sure that when a minor crosses state lines into Illinois to receive an abortion, their home state’s parental involvement in abortion laws are upheld.”
That’s how many children in Illinois sank back into poverty after monthly federal child tax credit payments ended in December, according to one estimate. Another estimate pegged the number at 150,000. Nationwide, 3.7 million children are in families that lost these payments of $250 to $300 a month depending on the age of the child.
“Giving families that extra boost each month works,” as Joanna A. Ain, associate director of policy for Washington, D.C.-based Prosperity Now, told us. Her group and others have been pushing Congress to resurrect the monthly payments and make them permanent, a move we endorse. They aren’t hopeful Congress will act anytime soon, nor are we.
Reinstating this vital lifeline for some of the country’s neediest people is unlikely because it’s tied up with President Joe Biden’s massive Build Back Better initiative, which is all but dead.
There is something state lawmakers can do, however: Pass a state child tax credit. This was a key component of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s platform when he was running for governor and later when he tried unsuccessfully to get the income tax referendum on the ballot.
* Press release…
A measure by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) to offer nutritional, plant-based lunch options to students across the state advanced out of the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.
“Students may require plant-based meal options for religious, health-based or other, personal reasons,” Koehler said. “Our schools should be prepared to offer nutritional options for students with dietary restrictions.”
House Bill 4089 requires school districts to provide a plant-based school lunch option that complies with federal nutritional standards to any student who submits a prior request.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals, and offers a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to grant access to students at least twice a week at times during the school day other than meal periods. The USDA encourages schools to develop innovative and varied methods to offer the fruits and vegetables to students, and a plant-based lunch option would be one way of doing so.
Plant-based school lunch options would also suffice as Halal options for Muslim students so long as there are no alcohol or alcohol byproducts, such as vanilla extract or other extracts, used in the preparation of the meal.
“All students deserve the opportunity to have a well-rounded, nutritional meal at school that meets their dietary needs,” Koehler said. “For some kids it may be the only substantial meal they get that day, and they need to be able to make the most of it.”
The legislation now awaits further consideration.
*** UPDATE *** Likely about to become a law…
A plan will be presented this fall to replace dismantled vehicle emissions inspection stations in Chicago after a measure spearheaded by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) passed the House Wednesday.
“This legislation will help restore a much-needed service to the residents of Chicago and the near suburbs,” Martwick said. “People shouldn’t have to drive for miles and wait in long lines to test their vehicles.”
Senate Bill 1234 would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to submit a written report to the General Assembly by Oct. 1 2022, which would include a plan to replace the dismantled emissions inspection stations within the city of Chicago. The plan would help establish a pilot program or permanent replacement program as well as a timeline to implement the plan.
The measure is designed to address the lack of available vehicle emissions testing stations in Chicago following the closure of four stations in 2016. Test sites in Bucktown and Harwood Heights were closed leaving the city of Chicago without a testing station. Two suburban facilities in Elk Grove Village and Tinley Park were also closed.
“The closure of these stations in 2016 created a burden for our residents, and I’m glad that we are one step closer to creating a plan that will make emissions testing more convenient for the residents of Chicago and the near suburbs,” Martwick said.
Senate Bill 1234 passed the House Wednesday with bipartisan support. It now heads to the governor’s desk.
* Suburban House Democrat proposes lifting ban on nuclear expansion to build microreactors: Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) sponsored a measure that would allow data centers, factories, or other large energy consumers to install smaller nuclear microreactors on site to help lighten the load on the rest of the energy grid that is becoming increasingly reliant on wind and solar energy.
As you likely know, on Wednesday, March 16, members of IBEW Local 1220 called a strike against Window to the World (“WTTW”) Communications, the Chicagoland PBS affiliate. IBEW represents over two dozen workers responsible for various productions and shows on the channel, including the nightly local affairs program Chicago Tonight.
WTTW is currently inviting Democratic candidates in the 2022 primary elections to participate in their “2022 Primary Election Voter Guide.” We have been informed by the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Illinois AFL-CIO that participating in WTTW programming while the strike is ongoing would be considered crossing a picket line.
DPI Chair Rep. Robin Kelly has sent a letter expressing our support for IBEW Local 1220 and requesting Democratic candidates be given an opportunity to participate in programming, including the “2022 Primary Election Voter Guide,” after the strike is resolved. Until then, while the Democratic Party of Illinois supports the general mission of public television and understands the need for campaigns to communicate with voters this election cycle, we hope that you consider the seriousness of crossing a picket line before choosing to participate.
Workers are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we will continue to stand with labor unions in the fight for fairness for all working people.
* Chair Kelly’s letter to WTTW…
March 24, 2022
Sandra Cordova Micek
President and Chief Executive Officer Window To The World Communications
Dear Ms. Micek:
As you know, on Wednesday, March 16, members of IBEW Local 1220 called a strike against Window to the World (“WTTW”) Communications. IBEW represents over two dozen workers responsible for various productions and shows on the channel, including the nightly local affairs program Chicago Tonight.
In recent days, we have become aware that WTTW is inviting Democratic candidates running in the 2022 primary elections to participate in their “2022 Primary Election Voter Guide” programming. We have been informed by the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Illinois AFL-CIO that participating in WTTW programming while the strike is ongoing would be considered crossing a picket line, and we have in turn notified Illinois Democratic campaigns.
While we support the general mission of public television, the Democratic Party of Illinois stands in solidarity with IBEW Local 1220 in their fight for a fair contract. Our hope is that a fair contract agreement can be reached soon, and that Democratic candidates who would like to participate in WTTW programming, including the “2022 Primary Election Voter Guide,” without crossing the picket line will be given an opportunity to do so once the situation is resolved.
Sincerely,
Rep. Robin Kelly
Chair, Democratic Party of Illinois
As the first strike in WTTW-Channel 11’s history enters its second week, politicians are being urged to honor the picket lines — both real and virtual. In an email to political candidates Wednesday, the Chicago Federation of Labor asked them not to participate in remotely recorded Zoom interviews on the public television station while the strike goes on. Local Union 1220 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, representing more than two dozen technicians, graphic artists and floor crew members, walked out March 16 over work jurisdiction and job protection issues. Among those who declined to appear on the “2022 Primary Election Voter Guide” was Chicago Alderman Pat Dowell, who’s running to succeed U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in Congress. “Whether in person or online I will not cross a picket line at WTTW,” Dowell said. “I encourage other candidates not to be a part of the WTTW Voter Guide until the workers’ demands are met.” On-air employees and producers at the station, represented by Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, continue to do their jobs under contracts that bar sympathy strikes. A Window to the World Communications spokesperson said: “The company stands ready to return to good faith negotiations with the bargaining team’s representatives as soon as possible.” The last work stoppage at a Chicago station resulted in an 11-week lockout for camera operators, news writers and other technical workers represented by the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 in 1998. It was part of a nationwide labor dispute at the ABC Television Network.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Speaker Welch’s office…
In response to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1220 members striking against WTTW-Channel 11, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch and the Democrats for the Illinois House released the following statement:
“IBEW represents over two dozen workers responsible for many of the stories and television productions that help to inform and shape our communities. These workers, and union workers everywhere, are the backbone of our state and our party. We stand in solidarity as they advocate for fair collective bargaining. We ask all Democratic Candidates running for the House to stand with us and not cross the picket lines. We will continue to stand with unions and the men and women of IBEW Local 1220 in their fight for fairness for working people.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Gov. Pritzker’s campaign…
In response to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1220 members striking against WTTW-Channel 11, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement:
“I’ve always supported the right for workers to organize and bargain collectively. Until WTTW-Channel 11 can come to an agreement on a fair contract, I stand in solidarity with the men and women of IBEW Local 1220 and will honor their strike.”
…Adding… Comptroller Mendoza…
I stand in strong solidarity with members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1220 in their fight for a fair contract. I encourage WTTW to settle this dispute fairly and quickly. In support of our working men and women on the picket line at WTTW, I will respect the picket line and will not cross it.
In response to Tuesday’s vote in the Illinois Senate to reject Jeff Mears’ appointment to the Prisoner Review Board, Illinois Prison Project Executive Director Jennifer Soble released the following statement:
“With Tuesday’s vote, some lawmakers made clear their intention to eviscerate the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. It’s the latest in a constant drumbeat of vitriol and hyperbole meant merely to incite fear and scrounge up election-year favor. Human lives are not political bargaining chips.
“An unencumbered Prisoner Review Board is vital to a functioning legal system. Among its many duties, the PRB processes and makes recommendations on requests for clemency — a mechanism enshrined in the Illinois Constitution and intended by our state’s framers as an important check on the legal system. It’s meant to bring justice to people sentenced to unjustly long prison terms, and to recognize growth and transformation in a system that does neither. It works in concert with the legal system, not in opposition to it.
“Before lawmakers began dismantling it, the PRB was the most diverse in Illinois’ history. For the first time, it truly reflects the lived experiences of people across our state and was composed of people with varied and important experience from all aspects of the criminal legal system. The recent attacks on the PRB not only leaves it too small to carry out some of its most crucial functions, but is also an attack on diversity and equality in government.
“I urge lawmakers to fully empower the PRB to carry out its duties as generations of lawmakers intended, not to cripple it for political gain.”
* Press release…
Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois responded the recent debate and inaction in the Illinois Senate regarding the confirmation of members to the Illinois Prison Review Board. The following can be attributed to Ben Ruddell, Criminal Justice Policy Director for the ACLU of Illinois:
The Prison Review Board (PRB) plays a critical role in our state’s criminal legal system and in the lives of thousands of Illinoisans each year. It offers individuals who have already served significant time in prison a meaningful opportunity for consideration of release and a chance to make a positive contribution to their families and communities upon release. That system should not grind to a halt because of a recitation of offenses of those who stood before the PRB versus the life changes and proof of rehabilitation that led to grants of clemency (and parole). Illinois should not permit Willie Horton era fear mongering to be advanced over the need for justice and compassion in our system. Illinois must take the action needed to prevent the suspension of the meaningful work that the PRB does to foster justice and equity in case outcomes and right size our state’s prison population. Doing harm to individuals across Illinois in a vain attempt to look tough on crime has failed for years. It must end.
We encourage the Senate to vote – up or down – on the members of the PRB by assessing the qualities and traits that each candidate brings to the work – not on mischaracterizations of their voting records. We need a functioning PRB.
* The governor was asked about the PRB issue yesterday and he mostly blamed the Republicans, who hold a mere 18 seats in a 59-seat chamber…
I think what the Republicans are trying to do now is to essentially break down a function, an important function of government. They want to do away with it, just like during the Rauner years. So much was done to break down the functions of government, agencies of government. This is not right. And as you may know, if we don’t appoint enough members to the PRB, if they’re not approved, the PRB will not be able to have a quorum. And that quorum wouldn’t therefore be able that lack of a quorum wouldn’t therefore be able to keep people in prison, who are brought back when they violate their parole conditions. So this is a huge problem. And I think that it’s something that the Senate has to take into account as they look at the rest of the appointees
But Pritzker was then asked if it bothered him that “even some Democrats in the Senate are a little concerned about some of your nominees”…
It does. It bothers me that they’re listening to the Republican rhetoric, which is, once again, false. They’re telling false stories. It’s a lot of Facebook fakery about these folks who are nominated. These are people who have served well and honorably in their positions as we’ve appointed them, and deserve to be approved. […]
The stories that they’re telling are false about the people that are being brought up before the Prisoner Review Board. It’s easy to say this person did something wrong, we ought to keep them in prison, why would you offer parole to somebody? But the reality is that that’s exactly the function. Every person that gets brought up before the Prisoner Review Board is somebody who’s done something wrong in their lives. Sometimes they committed a violent crime, sometimes a non-violent crime. But whatever, they get brought up before the parole board when it’s appropriate, the Prisoner Review Board. And they have to make decisions, and they can’t always make the decision that the Republicans would like to have made. They should make rational decisions based upon the facts.
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, serves on the Executive Appointments Committee and said Republicans are not spreading fake news. They’re highlighting high leniency rates of the nominees serving on the board leading to convicted criminals being let free.
“The governor has been playing games with this for over a year and the games have caught up with him,” Plummer told The Center Square. “The fact of the matter is he’s been skirting the constitutional process because he’s not comfortable that the Senate Democrats will even support his nominees because they’re so troubling.”
Republicans have highlighted for months how the governor has appointed members to the PRB, withdrawn them after the Senate doesn’t take them up, and then reappoints them, starting the clock over for when they must be approved.
Plummer said that wouldn’t be a problem if the governor put his ego aside and filled vacancies with appointees that get bipartisan support.
“And to sit down and work with the legislative branch to put forward people who represent mainstream values of Illinoisans,” Plummer said. “This isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue. This is just a common sense issue and the governor is failing this common sense issue.”
…Adding… Press release…
Restore Justice Illinois urges members of the Illinois State Senate to approve Governor JB Pritzker’s nominees to the Prisoner Review Board (PRB). The PRB is a vital component of state government, performing functions authorized by law and demanded by the Illinois Constitution. These duties include consideration of parole for people convicted before 1978 and vetting of clemency petitions in order to make recommendations to the Governor.
Earlier this week, state senators failed to confirm one Prisoner Review Board appointee, Jeff Mears, who had served in the role for one year. Now, five more of the Governor’s appointees await confirmation and could come before the Senate Executive Appointments committee on Monday, March 28 at 3:30 p.m. To perform their core functions, the PRB needs a quorum of eight members out of the total 15. If the Senate fails to approve the five members, it will only have three; each of the five remaining appointees must be confirmed for the Board to function.
At stake in the coming hearing are the fates of hundreds of individuals who await their last chance at early release. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many incarcerated people and their families are desperate to reduce the final years of lengthy sentences to prevent what was a term-of-years sentence from becoming a death sentence due to inadequate access to health care and the risks inherent in congregate living situations.
Concerns voiced by some members of the State Senate are focused on votes taken by individual members in high-profile parole cases from the 1970s. Members are not being challenged on grounds relevant to their performance of the constitutionally mandated functions of parole and clemency reviews.
“No one is alleging Mears or others are corrupt. No one is saying they are not doing their jobs. This is not a ‘me too’ moment, nor is it an attack on member qualifications. No. These attacks are being made by politicians playing a game of arm-chair quarterback with real people’s lives,” Restore Justice Founder and Executive Director Jobi Cates said. “PRB members have a grave, even sacred duty to review the individual in front of them, weighing their rehabilitation and potential for redemption against the severity of their offense and likelihood of re-offense. To second guess decisions made after deep and serious review and debate to score political points is simply reckless.”
In addition to examining clemency applications and making recommendations to the Governor based on an intensive review of these applications, PRB members assess and vote on parole opportunities for people sentenced before 1978. In 1978, Illinois joined a minority of states that abolished discretionary parole. After abolishing discretionary parole, the Illinois prison population skyrocketed from roughly 6,000 incarcerated people in the 1970s to more than 48,000 at the peak in 2014. Since 2015, leaders in both parties, including Governor Bruce Rauner, Governor Pritzker, and members of the Illinois General Assembly have all prioritized reducing the prison population.
To make decisions, the PRB studies, considers, and debates all aspects of a person’s case and criminal history, and they consult with mental health experts. They seek input from victims, examine the person’s prison behavioral record, identify the likelihood of the person reoffending, and consider the person’s release plan. Victims are allowed to support or oppose release, and an opponent of the release is allowed to participate in the hearing.
There are currently 27,500 people in Illinois prisons, fewer than 50 of whom are parole-eligible. Those individuals have a legal right to a fair, thorough, and timely review. And, 20% of the people incarcerated in Illinois state prisons are elderly, some rehabilitated simply through the process of aging. It is not in Illinois’ interest to deny these people a chance to make a case for sentence reduction. People who serve long sentences for serious crimes rarely re-offend, and imprisoning eldelry people costs the state millions of dollars a year. Let’s instead allow the PRB to assess whether someone is capable of returning home and rejoining their community.
In a crowded race, candidates vie for any advantage they hope will mean the difference on Election Day — such as being listed first on the ballot.
Whether that coveted position will turn the tide for Darren Bailey remains to be seen, but the state senator from southern Illinois was celebrating Wednesday after he won the lottery for the top spot on the June primary ballot for governor.
“GOOD NEWS: we’re first on the Republican Primary ballot to fire JB Pritzker,” the Xenia Republican shared on Facebook and Twitter following the lottery. […]
“It’s tradition. It’s part of the summer camp aspect of campaigning,” [Christopher Mooney, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago] said. “But does it have an impact on average? No, it doesn’t. But again, in an individual case, who’s to say? We don’t know.”
Jesse Sullivan got the last spot on the ballot.
* Kina Collins fundraising email…
With the help of over 100 volunteer petition circulators, our campaign submitted six times the minimum number of petitions required to get on the ballot. But to be first on the ballot in Illinois, you have to win a lottery. Literally.
Well, guess what? We WON the lottery. Yesterday, we found out that my name will be listed first on the ballot on June 28th. Above the incumbent! This is a huge opportunity for our campaign. Studies suggest that being first on the ballot can add as much as 10% to a candidate’s vote share.
Texas primary and runoff elections provide an ideal test of the ballot order hypothesis, because ballot order is randomized within each county and there are many counties and contests to analyze. Doing so for all statewide offices contested in the 2014 Democratic and Republican primaries and runoffs yields precise estimates of the ballot order effect across twenty-four different contests. Except for a few high-profile, high-information races, the ballot order effect is large, especially in down-ballot races and judicial positions. In these, going from last to first on the ballot raises a candidate’s vote share by nearly ten percentage points.
Governor’s races are high-profile, high-information contests and Collins is running against a legendary political figure. The study found a big impact on down-ballot races with “high rates of voter abstention.” This is mainly due to voter fatigue as they move down the ballot. Local judges are often at the bottom, so that’s where the biggest voter abstentions are and where ballot position is most important.
…Adding… Alexi Giannoulias fundraising email…
This month has been a defining moment for our campaign for Secretary of State. We filed our petitions and are now officially on the ballot, winning the FIRST position on the ballot. I’m immensely grateful for all the overwhelming support we’ve received as we head into the final 100 days of the primary campaign. We could not have achieved this momentum without your early support of our campaig
This is, of course, another high profile, up-ballot race.
The Illinois House has approved legislation to fill most of a huge hole in the state’s unemployment trust fund with leftover money from the last federal COVID relief bill, the American Recovery Plan Act.
But Springfield Republicans say the figure agreed to in the bill is too stingy and would force a “back-door tax increase.” And with negotiations between labor and business groups over how to refill the remaining $1.7 billion hole at least temporarily stalled, the money will have to come from a combination of tax hikes on employers and benefit cuts for workers, they contend.
The legislative action came Wednesday night on a largely party-line 68-43 roll call, when the House voted to allot $2.7 billion of the state’s remaining $3.5 billion in ARPA funds to fill a $4.5 billion gap in the trust fund that covers unemployment claims within the state. The Senate had passed $2 billion earlier, but called that a placeholder.
A spokesman for Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed that he supports the $2.7 billion figure allocated in the legislation, but House GOP leaders and gubernatorial hopeful Richard Irvin charged that the state should allot all $3.5 billion in available ARPA money.
Pritzker and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly previously allocated about $4.6 billion from the federal relief plan for a variety of purposes such as grants for hospitals, violence prevention programs and infrastructure projects.
But Republicans, who since last spring have repeatedly criticized the majority party for not addressing the unemployment fund debt in the current year’s $42 billion operating budget, maintained that only about $1.2 billion of the federal relief money has actually been spent, leaving enough money to cover the full debt in the unemployment fund.
[…]
Illinois and a host of other states borrowed from the federal government in the early phase of the pandemic to keep unemployment checks going out to out-of-work residents as businesses shut down, in large part due to Pritzker’s executive orders.
Lawmakers are up against an April 1 deadline to allocate the federal relief dollars to the unemployment fund. If they don’t act by then, rules from the U.S. Treasury Department would prohibit Illinois from reducing the amount or length of unemployment benefits until 2025.
As of Wednesday, the state had already accrued $41 million of interest on the debt at a rate of 1.59 percent. That interest was due to be paid by Sept. 30, according to the U.S. Treasury.
By November, without action, that interest was expected to grow to $80 million, Hoffman said. Interest can’t be paid through ARPA, so it would require a General Revenue Fund allotment, he added. Taking action by November would diminish that amount, he said.
The measure also allocated $898 million to pay off old group health insurance bills, an added $300 million to pension payments beyond statutory levels and $230 million to pay off the unfunded liabilities of the College Illinois savings program – all cornerstones of Gov. JB Pritzker’s debt retirement initiatives put forth in his budget proposal. Those allotments will come from the state’s General Revenue Funds from an anticipated Fiscal Year 2022 surplus.
The pension spending would create $1 billion in savings to the state’s pension system over its life, while the group health insurance payments would save over $100 million in interest and the College Illinois payment would create a $75 million savings, according to estimates from House Democrats.
* Gov. Pritzker…
Illinois is putting our fiscal house in order and paying off our debt. I applaud House Democrats for prioritizing legislation that will use our resources in the most fiscally responsible way: SB2803 will pay down more than $4.1 billion in debt. I especially appreciate the tireless work to dedicate additional revenues to one-time efforts that will produce a stronger budget for years to come, and I extend my gratitude in particular to Leaders Greg Harris, Marcus Evans and Jay Hoffman and Reps. Will Davis, Robyn Gabel, Lisa Hernandez and Michael Zalewski for advancing this priority.
I’m disappointed that Republicans are putting their politics ahead of fiscal responsibility while Democrats in the General Assembly are taking the lead to put our fiscal house in order.
SB 2803 Key Facts
• As amended in the House, SB 2803 accomplishes several key goals the Governor laid out in his State of the State and budget proposal, paying off $4.1 billion in debt:
• Dedicates a substantial amount of remaining ARPA recovery fund dollars to ($2.7 billion) to stabilize the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, helping small businesses
• Eradicates unfunded liabilities in the College Illinois! program, which has been on the brink of insolvency
• Pays of nearly $900 million in legacy debt for employee health insurance
• Makes an extra payment of $300 million to the state’s pension funds, reducing liabilities over $1 billion
* Rep. Mark Batinick…
In response to the Illinois House’s passage of Senate Bill 2803 on Wednesday night, State Representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) released the following statement:
“House Republicans have had a plan for a year: plug the $4.5 billion hole in our Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and solve the problem. The plan passed tonight was rushed and only fixes a little over half the problem and spends the rest on Democrat pork projects.
“The reality of the situation is there is still a $1.8 billion shortfall in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund that will need to be plugged. How will it be plugged? Either through tax increases on jobs or benefit cuts on people who receive unemployment insurance.
“The fiscally responsible route we could have taken would have been to pass legislation paying off our debt in full to avoid these two consequences. This would have also avoided unnecessary interest penalties and prepared us financially in case there’s another emergency. The legislation passed out of our chamber tonight instead will help fulfill Governor Pritzker’s spending wish list and leave taxpayers on the hook for the remaining balance in the fund.”
* Richard Irvin…
Aurora Mayor and candidate for Governor Richard Irvin released the following statement after the House voted to pass JB Pritzker’s latest tax hike on Illinois families:
“After trying to pass the largest tax hike in our state’s history, the Tax-Hiker-In-Chief is trying once more to tax Illinois families and businesses out of this state. Thanks to his reckless disregard for shoring up the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, Illinois employers and workers will have to make up the difference, resulting in billions of dollars in tax increases and benefit cuts. Tonight’s vote is yet another example as to why voters don’t trust Pritzker and Springfield politicians to do anything right, and exactly why we must take our state back.”
Illinois workers will see cuts to their unemployment benefits, and the fund will continue to accrue millions in interest charges. Many other states across the country used federal stimulus funds to repay loans to their unemployment systems, but under Pritzker’s lead, Illinois spent those dollars elsewhere. Despite warnings and urging from lawmakers to utilize federal ARPA money to replenish the fund, he instead willfully chose to use the money for election-year gimmickry and increased state spending that will now result in raising taxes on the residents of Illinois.
If we don’t pass a law regarding ARPA funds use for unemployment insurance by the end of the month, the ability to reduce benefits – and use ARPA dollars – comes off the table.
Labor doesn’t want to reduce benefits. But Democrats are advancing legislation to try to make sure the traditional balance used to solve these problems remains viable.
The GOP is going to all vote no, which would have the effect of stringing out the process and likely, ironically, reduce options and put far more dire consequences on business.
…Adding… This is how Speaker Chris Welch is framing the issue for his constituents back home…
House Democrats vote to pay off over $4 billion in debts
On party lines, the Illinois House approved a measure to get the state’s fiscal house in order and pay off over $4 billion in debt. This proposal includes:
• $2.7 billion in the unemployment trust fund that took a serious hit during the coronavirus pandemic
• $300 million in extra pension payments which will yield more than $1 billion in savings
• $900 million toward the group health bill backlog likely saving taxpayers $100 million in interest payments
• $230 million toward the College Illinois program to ensure 25 thousand families have funding for education
“This is exactly what fiscal responsibility looks like,” said Speaker Welch. “It’s disappointing that every Republican voted against paying off our debt, but I’m incredibly proud Democrats are united in building a strong financial future for Illinois.”
…Adding… Sullivan campaign…
Jesse Sullivan, Republican candidate for governor, released the following statement in response to the House passage of SB 2803:
“J.B. Pritzker has never met a tax hike he doesn’t like. And his failure to pursue commonsense budgeting is now costing Illinois families and businesses millions of dollars. The governor could have fixed this problem more than a year ago by using federal aid money to replenish our unemployment insurance trust fund, as more than 30 states have done. Instead, he went on a corrupt spending spree, including $1 billion in capital projects controlled by Democrats. Taxpayers and small businesses deserve better.”
…Adding… The Senate just passed the bill 39-16. From Leader McConchie…
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) issued the following statement after the Illinois Senate passed legislation that failed to fully fund the Unemployment Trust Fund:
“Illinois has long been known for its financial issues, and today’s decision to leave a large hole in the unemployment trust fund is just another example of how Democrats continue to mismanage this state. Despite this payment, Illinois still has the fourth largest deficit in the country and is left with the second largest shortfall in state history. The impact this will have on employers across the state will be devastating. To no fault of their own, they were forced to lay off workers and close their doors, and will now be on the hook to pay for the unemployment costs ensued by the pandemic and the fraud that engulfed the Department of Employment Security. These industries and their workers deserve better, but they were failed today.”
Republican candidate for Treasurer Tom Demmer today launched a new digital ad taking Democrat Mike Frerichs to task for supporting a tax in retirement income in the run-up to the 2020 election. Frerichs was supporting Gov. JB Pritzker’s radical graduated tax amendment that would have increased taxes on Illinois families and then Frerichs took it a step further by saying it could ultimately be used to tax retirement income.
Demmer’s new ad, titled “Taxing”, outlines Frerichs past tax increase history along with his most recent support of considering taxing retirement income.
“Our State Treasurer is supposed to protect your retirement—not tax it. As Treasurer, I’ll be on your side,” said Demmer.
In addition to the new digital ad, Demmer also launched a new online petition where voters can demonstrate their opposition to the Frerichs plan of taxing retirement income. The online petition can be viewed here.
Former Illinois House Rep. Edward Acevedo today was sentenced to serve six months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion in a case tied to the sprawling investigation of former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly brushed aside arguments from Acevedo’s lawyer that probation would be an adequate penalty. He also included restitution in his sentence, requiring Acevedo to pay more than $37,000 in taxes that would have been owed on income he failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service, mainly in 2017 and 2018.
“It just seems to me that there is a particular responsibility, as a person who makes laws, as a person who enforces laws … to comply to those laws,” Kennelly said. “And Mr. Acevedo didn’t do that.”
Before he was sentenced, Acevedo, 58, apologized in a brief statement to his family and his former constituents.
“It’s not the way I wanted to be, it’s not the way I brought my boys up to be,” Acevedo said, appearing before Kennelly via a video link. “I let them down, and I let my community down, and I’m sorry for that, your honor.”
Court records tie the Acevedo indictments to the cases against Madigan, members of his inner circle and ComEd. Edward Acevedo’s name appeared in a subpoena sent to Madigan’s office in July 2020, the same day prosecutors accused ComEd of a bribery scheme that sent $1.3 million to Madigan’s associates as it sought Madigan’s support for legislation in Springfield.
But filings in the case against Alex Acevedo have shed the most light on the Acevedo prosecutions. Alex Acevedo’s defense attorney, Ricardo Meza, wrote that all three Acevedos were served in 2019 with grand jury subpoenas that sought information about “work-related activities” as well as “Mr. Madigan and his associates.”
Then, during a February 2020 meeting with prosecutors, more than 75% of the questions asked of Alex Acevedo were related to Madigan, Meza wrote. He alleged that, when Alex Acevedo’s answers didn’t “align with what the government sought to hear,” an IRS agent began asking him about his tax returns.
“The only fishermen in this case are those men and women who have spent the last seven years of their lives and continue devoting endless amounts of time and resources to catch the now former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives,” Meza wrote.
More on Elise Malary here. And click here for background on the bill Rep. Morrison introduced years ago to stop a transgender high school student from using the female locker room. According to Rep. Cassidy, that former student now lives in her district.
Broadcast technicians employed by WTTW in Chicago have gone on strike after nearly a year of collective bargaining negotiations and concerns over protecting union jobs.
Local Union 1220 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers called the strike March 16. IBEW represents around two dozen workers at WTTW, including technicians, graphic artists and floor crew members.
Workers allege that station management has threatened their work jurisdiction in an attempt to hire nonunion labor. Over the last four years, the union has filed four grievances that advanced to arbitration. In all cases, arbitrators ruled in favor of the union.
“The last decision was awarded just days before collective bargaining began on May 7, 2021,” according to an IBEW statement. “The night after bargaining had begun, WTTW’s counsel gave intent to terminate the entire agreement, setting the tone going forward.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other politicians turned out in support Monday of striking workers at WTTW-Channel 11, calling on the station to negotiate a fair contract that preserves union jobs.
“There can be no question that Chicago is a union town,” Lightfoot told pickets outside WTTW’s studios, 5400 N. St. Louis Ave. “And as we’ve seen over and over again, there’s immense power in people coming together and working and making sure that workers’ rights are affirmed.”
The WTTW proposals under Micek are “directly attacking the jurisdiction” of the technicians and a prelude to phasing out the union, Rizzo said.
“That assertion is false,” Julia Maish, a WTTW spokeswoman, said in an email Monday. “WTTW President & CEO Sandra Cordova Micek has never said this and in fact she makes clear that she supports and respects the work of our IBEW Local 1220 union employees. The work we do in service of the public depends on the experience, skills, and work of every employee on our team, including IBEW members.”
The station said it was the union that chose to strike after receiving the company’s latest proposal March 16, and that WTTW stands ready to resume negotiations.
When the strike was called at 6 p.m. Wednesday, WTTW scrapped that evening’s planned live broadcast of “Chicago Tonight,” opting instead for a taped “best of” episode. But Thursday night, WTTW resumed production of the nightly 7 p.m. newscast, with executive producer Jay Smith and other management personnel handling the technical aspects of the live broadcast.
* From the CFL…
On Wednesday, March 16, members of IBEW Local 1220 called a strike against Window to the World (”WTTW”) Communications, the Chicagoland PBS affiliate. IBEW represents over two dozen technicians, graphic artists and floor crew members, responsible for various productions and shows on the channel, including the nightly local affairs program Chicago Tonight.
We understand that WTTW is inviting candidates to appear for a virtual filming, which will become part of their “2022 Primary Election Voter Guide.” However we trust that candidates, especially those seeking an endorsement from the Chicago Federation of Labor, will honor IBEW’s strike.
In Solidarity,
Andrea Kluger
Deputy Chief of Staff—Government Affairs
Chicago Federation of Labor
That’ll give some candidates heartburn, especially those with constituents who watch a lot of Public Television. As I’ve already told you, Ald. Pat Dowell’s congressional campaign won’t be participating in the station’s virtual voter guide.
* The Question: Should candidates refuse to participate in the WTTW voter guide project as long as the strike continues? Explain.
…Adding… Press release…
Litesa Wallace, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 17th district, on Wednesday announced that she will honor IBEW’s strike against WTTW Communications and will not participate in candidate interviews with the Chicago PBS affiliate while the strike is ongoing.
“As the daughter of two union members, I stand with organized labor,” Wallace said. “Although I believe that WTTW serves an important role in our democracy by offering candidates the opportunity to make their case directly to voters, I cannot in good conscience violate IBEW’s strike by participating in the 2022 Primary Election Voter Guide at this time. For the sake of all concerned, I hope this strike will be resolved quickly, and I look forward to participating in this important project in the future.”
Independent expenditure committees can raise and spend unlimited funds. However, contribution limits are already off in the Governor's race, so that's somewhat less relevant in this instance.https://t.co/qG2dCesRdu
That’s a good point about no contribution caps in the governor’s race. So what might actually be going on here?
* Let’s first go back to Monday and Jesse Sullivan’s appearance on WMAY radio…
We need an outsider, you know, someone who actually has experience in the areas that matter most and that’s really what I want to bring to this candidacy rather than tearing down others which is the old school way of doing politics. I want to do politics differently. A new type of politics which is really a positive-focused campaign
So, while Jesse Sullivan won’t be doing politics the “old school way,” his consultant apparently will be handling all the, um, non-positive-focused campaign duties when it comes to attacking Richard Irvin.
I love our state, I want to make it better for our neighbors. And so areas that matter most, you know, corruption, meaning somebody who’s rooted in a set of values, mine are rooted in my Christian faith. And I want to bring that person who’s actually going to do what they said they were going to do and be a person of their word, honesty and character.
* Early voting begins September 29. From Jon Seidel at the Sun-Times…
Three weeks after the indictment of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, federal prosecutors told a judge they want to keep their Sept. 12 trial date in a related bribery case that involves Madigan co-defendant Michael McClain.
But in a surprise move during a status hearing Wednesday, McClain defense attorney Patrick Cotter told U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber the defendants in that case would prefer to have it go forward as a bench trial — decided by the judge — rather than as a jury trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu told Leinenweber it was the first he’d been made aware of the defendants’ preference. Leinenweber set another hearing for April 26 to give the feds time to consider the request. All sides would have to agree to it, a requirement that makes bench trials rare in federal court.
The day a 22-count federal corruption indictment came down against former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, those controlling Illinois’ state government quickly reacted to the horrors of the racketeering and bribery allegations. […]
Despite all of those still-fresh superlatives of shock and outrage, the chances of Democrats pushing through a new round of post-Madigan indictment ethics reforms appear bleak at the moment, with less than three weeks left before the scheduled end of the Legislature’s spring calendar.
Irvin campaign…
“Even with one of the largest corruption investigations in our state’s history coming to light, J.B. Pritzker is silent on pushing for meaningful ethics reforms, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise given he funded Mike Madigan’s Criminal Enterprise to the tune of $10 million,” said Irvin for Illinois Spokesperson Eleni Demertzis.
…Adding… Natalie Edelstein at the Pritzker campaign…
“The governor passed comprehensive ethics reform last September and stands ready to work with the general assembly to do even more to restore the public’s trust in government, as he has frequently said. It is laughable that a mayor who has repeatedly doled out city contracts to his top campaign donors would try to throw stones when he lives in an ethical glass house.”
* A Democratic candidate fundraiser co-hosted by Mrs. Rauner…
Um.
…Adding… Dowell campaign…
Diana Rauner is a long-time supporter and a Democrat who as President of Start Early has done great work in the City Of Chicago. Pat Dowell has worked with her for years and has seen the positive impact Ms. Rauner has made in the community. Alderman Dowell has a long history of building coalitions to solve problems.
* Several people I know received a text poll earlier this week and it sure looked like US Rep. Mike Quigley is testing the waters for the 2023 mayor’s race. Click here, here, here, here, here, and here, here for just some of the screen shots.
* Pritzker campaign…
On the 12th anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act, one of the most transformative pieces of health care legislation in American history, into law, Illinois Republicans have shown they’re more determined than ever to strip away critical health care protections from working families. The GOP candidates for governor would waste no time kicking Illinois families off of their insurance, rolling back protections for pre-existing conditions, and increasing the costs of health care if given the chance.
Extreme conservative Darren Bailey, who was an ardent supporter of the GOP’s 2017 tax scam that would have stripped ACA coverage from 13 million Americans, has proven that this field of GOP candidates will not stand up for working families. Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker knows health care is a right, not a privilege.
As Governor he has been fighting to expand access to care, improve the quality of care available, and make it more affordable. He reduced the Medicaid backlog left by the previous administration, providing health care to over 130,000 Illinoisans and enshrined reproductive rights in state law, protecting the freedom of choice from the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. From capping the price of insulin to strengthening critical access hospitals in rural communities, Governor Pritzker is committed to ensuring that everyone in Illinois can access quality care they can afford, whenever they need it.
Monday, Michelle Smith, a GOP candidate in the Illinois House 97th district was called upon to withdraw from the June 28th GOP primary ballot by her opponent Thomas McCullagh.
Smith told Illinois Review this week that she’s not reacting to her opponent’s challenge.
“I don’t take moral cues from someone who does fundraisers with Rod Blagojevich. Like many typical politicians, Mr. McCullagh believes voters aren’t smart enough to see through his lies,” Smith said in a written statement. “Unfortunately, he’s going to find out that childish political games won’t work and he has to actually earn their vote. These types of games are exactly what makes good people not run for office.”
Questions about U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider’s residency could knock him off the ballot this year.
In an objection filed Monday with the Illinois State Board of Elections, two Lake Forest residents claim Schneider doesn’t live at the Highland Park address he listed as his home on nominating petition sheets and a statement of candidacy. […]
Objectors Alan R. Palmer and Laura La Barbera also claim in their complaint that Highland Park hasn’t issued an occupancy certificate for the house, which is newly built. A city building department employee on Tuesday said a temporary certificate had been issued for the house, but she didn’t recall when. […]
The house at that address, however, doesn’t appear lived in. The driveway isn’t finished, there’s no grass where the front lawn should be, a large trash container sits on the driveway blocking the garage doors and construction debris is visible outside.
* OK, wanna really get into the weeds of petition requirements? Let’s start here…
• According to Section 7-10 (h) of the Illinois Election Code, nomination papers for the vacancy in the 2nd Supreme Court District “must contain the number of signatures equal to 0.4% of the number of votes cast in that district for the candidate for his or her political party for the office of Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected, but in no event less than 500 signatures.” Section 2A-1.1b(b) of the Illinois Election Code then reduced that requirement by one-third.
• 296,552 votes were cast in the five counties of the 2nd District for Governor JB Pritzker in 2018. By completing the formula outlined in the Illinois Election Code, you get 791 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
• While the 2022 Candidate’s Guide from the State Board of Elections said only 394 signatures were needed, the guide also makes clear that it should not be taken as law or relied on for legal advice. The State Board of Elections miscalculated in this case.
o “Legal information contained in this guide is not binding and should not be construed as legal advice or sufficient argument in response to an objection to any candidate’s nominating papers. The State Board of Elections recommends that all prospective candidates consult with competent legal counsel when preparing their nomination papers.”
• Nancy Rotering only filed 669 petitions, significantly below the threshold needed.
• Judge Rochford submitted more than 1,700 signatures.
* Counter-point from an attorney who is not involved with this petition objection issue…
The statute requires signatures equal to at least 0.4% (.004) of the number of votes cast in that district for the candidate for their political party for the office of Governor at the last General Election at which a Governor was elected, but in no event less than 500 signatures. The judicial districts were redistricted in 2021 and there hasn’t been an election for Governor in “that district.” Even though you could technically determine the number of votes in the new districts since they encompass full counties, the plain text requires the number of signatures in “that district.” Since no Governor has been voted for in that district, the Board relied on the 500 signature minimum. Since the signature requirement was reduced by 1/3 for 2022, the number of required signatures is 334. That’s what the Board included in the candidate’s guide.
The Chicago United plan has a valuable supporter in retiring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Two- thirds of voters (66%) say they approve of the job that White is doing as Secretary of State, to just 17% who disapprove of White’s job performance.
* Hope none of these House members needed to use their cars…
…Adding… I forgot to post this…
Pat Dowell, IL 1st CD Candidate Announces Support for Striking Workers at WTTW Channel 11 - Will Not Cross Picket Line for WTTW Election Guide
“I support the men and women of Local 1220 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who are on strike against WTTW Channel 11. Management of WTTW needs to return to the bargaining table and negatoate a fair contract.”
“Yesterday, WTTW reached out to me, asking me to participate in their 2022 Primary Election Voter Guide. While I appreciate every opportunity to communicate with voters, I have told WTTW that I will not participate in this project. Whether in person or online I will not cross a picket line at WTTW. I encourage other candidates not to be a part of the WTTW voter guide until the workers’ demands are met,” said Ald. Pat Dowell, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ 1st Congressional District.
*** UPDATE *** The Board of Elections spokesperson explained the ballot position lottery results: “Since there are eight GOP gubernatorial candidates, you throw out 9th alphabetical and move 8,7,5,3 up.” Here you go…
State Board Lottery for ballot position
Using last name in Alpha order - Ballot position
1st alpha …………… 1st
4th alpha …………… 2nd
2nd alpha …………… 3rd
6th alpha …………… 4th
9th alpha …………… 5th
8th alpha …………… 6th
7th alpha …………… 7th
5th alpha …………… 8th
3rd alpha …………… 9th
* I went over this with subscribers earlier today, but here’s DPI’s partisan take…
A shocking new letter obtained by the Chicago Tribune exposes Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s criticisms of the SAFE-T Act to be nothing more than campaign bluster and lies — a pattern for Ken Griffin’s handpicked candidate.
Irvin’s letter from the day the SAFE-T Act was signed not only praised the bill itself, but also lauded the work that went into getting the legislation across the finish line.
“It has been a pleasure working with you at the State level and I commend you for your leadership in connection with the passage of HB 3653,” Irvin wrote in a letter on Feb. 22, 2021.
When given the opportunity to provide feedback on the legislation, Irvin lauded the bill and its passage but did not mention any of the provisions he suddenly seems to find objectionable. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Irvin did an about-face as soon as Griffin started bankrolling his campaign for governor — he continues to get caught dodging or flip flopping on key issues. See highlights from the story below:
“Irvin’s letter threatens to undermine the key positioning he has taken in his bid for the GOP nomination in June and the right to take on Pritzker in the Nov. 8 general election. It also represents the latest dichotomy in positions taken by Irvin as Aurora mayor versus Irvin the Republican candidate for governor.
“As mayor, Irvin hailed Pritzker’s leadership on COVID-19 mitigation efforts and pushed for uniform endorsement of them across municipal lines while he also backed masking requirements for local businesses. But as a candidate for governor, Irvin said he opposes coronavirus mandates and supports more local control of pandemic restrictions…”
“In seeking reelection last year as Aurora’s first Black mayor, Irvin said in a candidate questionnaire that he supported ‘Black Lives Matter strongly and passionately.’ But in his campaign announcement, on TV commercials and in the Newsmax interview, Irvin has repeatedly said, ‘all lives matter’ — a phrase associated with conservatives supporting police and attacking the Black Lives Matter movement that grew out of incidents of police violence…”
“Irvin’s campaign comments about the criminal justice package are in sharp contrast to those in his letter to Sims where he stated, ‘I commend you for your leadership in connection with the passage” of the measure.’”
But on the day Pritzker signed the package’s initial and overarching piece into law on Feb. 22 of last year, Irvin sent one of the bill’s Democratic sponsors a letter commending state Sen. Elgie Sims Jr. of Chicago on his leadership in its passage, lauding the measure’s goals and saying he thought his police department had already met or exceeded the new law’s requirements.
He also suggested to Sims some minor changes to make the new law better.
It has been a pleasure working with you at the State level and I commend you for your leadership in connection with the passage of HB 3653. After reviewing the bill, I am proud to note that our police department already meets, and I believe exceeds, a number of the new requirements. Specifically, our overall training program (including new recruits), our policies regarding use of force and equipping our officers with body cameras, which we committed to doing back in June as a complement to our dash cam program. It has been my experience that having well-trained officers working hand in hand with community members is the only way to create a safe community, and I strongly support the bill’s goal to help move other departments in that direction as well.
That narrow praise was an infinity from broad, laudatory applause.
* What Irvin’s letter to the Senate sponsor showed me was that Irvin is a savvy guy. He heaped praise on the Senator probably because he wanted his city’s lobbyist (a Black woman) into the talks on a trailer bill. She was, indeed, invited into those talks and wound up being one of the only municipal lobsters who worked on the bill with the sponsors to make a few changes that Irvin and others wanted. I mean, that’s how you get things done.
“Making suggestions for changes to a bill does not indicate support,” an Irvin campaign person said on background. “Several groups asked for revisions and changes as well, and that does not constitute an endorsement of the bill.”
* With all that being said, I do have a bone to pick with Mayor Irvin. The gubernatorial candidate has repeatedly railed at the new law’s provision that allows for anonymous complaints against police officers, even though police regularly and actively seek anonymous crime tips from the public. For example…
(T)hey can go make an anonymous complaint against a police officer without any repercussion, ruining a police officers life, which makes it hard for us to recruit good people that want to be the police.
Aurora has been at the forefront of increasing civilian involvement in reporting potential police misconduct. We recently created and adopted a comprehensive ordinance establishing a Civilian Review Board (CRB), which provides residents a venue to bring their concerns to the attention of the CRB without having to identify themselves. We support the removal of the affidavit requirement because it will encourage individuals to come forward who may not otherwise do so. However, we are concerned that the amendment to Section 3.8(b) in its current form may inadvertently hamper management’s ability to appropriately discipline police officers, and may not provide adequate due process to the officer. To that end, I would like to propose the following clarifying language to Sec. 3.8(b). The proposed language is underlined:
He said himself that the change he wanted to make was designed in part to make it easier to discipline police officers, while still protecting due process. Irvin’s proposed language is underlined…
It shall not be a requirement for a person filing a complaint against a sworn police officer to have the complaint supported by a sworn affidavit or any other legal documentation, unless the employer reasonably determines that the person filing the complaint may be a witness in a subsequent disciplinary proceeding against a sworn peace officer.
* Earlier this month, Lynn Sweet reported on a poll conducted in CD3 from Feb. 28 through March 3…
66% said they were undecided; 19% said they were for [state Rep. Delia] Ramirez; 11% for [Ald. Gil] Villegas and 1% for Chehade.
That poll was conducted by Celinda Lake’s firm for the Working Families Party.
* Rep. Delia Ramirez has a newer poll out which shows even better results than the previous survey. From the memo…
Delia Ramirez leads the Congressional race by 15-point margin and grows her support as voters learn more about her. Currently, Ramirez is leading the field with 25% of the vote in the four-way race and maintains her double-digit lead in a head-to- head matchup with Gilbert Villegas (28% Ramirez / 12% Villegas / 60% undecided.
Ramirez starts with a higher favorability rating than Alderman Villegas because more people who know her like her. Ramirez (28% name ID) and Villegas (27% name ID) are known to a similar share of the electorate. But almost everyone who knows Delia likes her (24% favorable / 4% unfavorable), while many people who know Villegas dislike him (16% favorable / 11% unfavorable).
Ramirez is polling even with her favorability rating, while Villegas is polling below his faves. It’s still early yet. Just look at all those undecideds. Obviously, money is gonna be key for both Ramirez and Villegas. Click here to see the memo and the messaging which the pollster claims boosts her numbers much higher.
* Also, Lynn Sweet told us that the earlier poll had Bernie Sanders with a 74 percent favorable rating. The Ramirez poll has Sanders’ faves at 82 percent. And when asked about the most important issue that Congress should make a top priority, the economy was first at 15 percent and “climate” was second at 14 percent. Crime was sixth at 9 percent.
This tends to show again that the district’s Democrats may not be as conservative as portrayed by some. I suppose we’ll see.
By the way, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s fave/unfave was 36/58 in the Ramirez poll, which is right about where she was in the Celinda Lake poll. Ald. Villegas was Mayor Lightfoot’s floor leader for a time.
These findings are based on the results of a multi-modal telephone and text-to-web survey conducted by Impact Research from March 14-17, 2022 among N=400 likely 2022 Democratic primary voters in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and 75% of all interviews were conducted over cell phone. These results are subject to a margin of sampling error of +4.9 percentage points.
The Illinois Senate on Tuesday took the rare step of rejecting one of Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s nominees to a state agency, in this case the Prisoner Review Board.
The Democratic-controlled Senate’s 22-19 vote fell short of the 30 votes needed to confirm Jeffrey Mears’ nomination to the board, which has duties that include deciding whether prisoners should be released early on parole.
All 18 Senate Republicans voted against Mears’ confirmation as did one Democrat, Patrick Joyce of Essex. But 18 Democrats sat out the vote. […]
State Sen. Bill Cunningham, a Chicago Democrat who voted Tuesday in favor of Mears’ appointment, said he intends next week to vote against the nominations of Oreal James and Eleanor Wilson to the board. The two were appointed by Pritzker and voted last year to grant parole for Hurst and Veal [two men accused of killing police officers more than 50 years ago].
“I’m, personally, of the belief that individuals who kill police officers should serve a life sentence without any possibility of parole,” Cunningham, whose district is inhabited by a lot of Chicago police officers, said Tuesday after the Senate adjourned.
Cunningham is not just any state Senator, he’s the Senate President Pro Tempore. And Ms. Wilson is not just any ordinary PRB member. She’s the godmother to former President Barack Obama’s kids.
Pritzker spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh in an email blamed Republicans for the denial Tuesday and touted Mears’ resume.
“Republicans have set out on a mission to dismantle a constitutional function of government, just like the previous governor,” she said in a statement. “We remain committed to ensuring that highly qualified nominees fill these roles, especially because we must fulfill our constitutional obligations for justice and cannot jeopardize key public safety functions of the board like revoking parole for those who violate the terms of their release.”
The statement was referring to the approximately 4,500 parole revocation hearings held by the PRB each year at locations around the state about 15 to 20 times per month. Three board members must be present at each hearing to render a decision on whether to terminate an offender’s parole, otherwise the offender would be released and deemed not in violation of parole.
Pritzker had sent a letter to Executive Appointments Chair Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, and Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, on March 15 urging them to act on appointments to address the potential of not having enough board members for the revocation hearings.
…Adding… Ellie Leonard with the Senate Republicans…
In regard to Jordan’s statement about Rauner…all of his appointees (12) to PRB were confirmed in a timely manner without any “no” votes. Only one member has been confirmed the entire time Pritzker has been in office. That was Lisa Daniels on 5/31/19 and she was a Rauner appointee. Therefore, Rauner has more confirmed PRB members during Pritzker’s term in office than Pritzker himself. Not a great statistic for someone who wants to blame Republicans and Rauner for the issues within PRB. 🙃
* This normally might not be much of a story. But with Gov. Pritzker trying to freeze the Motor Fuel Tax rate over labor’s opposition, Pritzker’s past opposition to putting this amendment on the ballot in 2020, plus the governor’s backing of some state central committee candidates that could be hostile to the Democratic Party of Illinois’ new chair Robin Kelly, and her attempt at a rebuild after Chairman Madigan’s exit, you can read more into it. Press release…
Last night, the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Illinois voted unanimously to endorse the Workers’ Rights Amendment ballot initiative, which will appear before voters this November. The Workers’ Rights Amendment will protect Illinois workers’ pathway to the middle class, ensuring that working people have access to stable family-sustaining jobs as well as safe and secure workplaces.
“The Democratic Party is the party of working people and we are proud to join labor and worker advocates in supporting the Workers’ Rights Amendment,” said Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Rep. Robin Kelly. “This amendment means enshrining worker protections into the Illinois Constitution, protecting workers from potential attacks on their livelihoods by anti-worker Republican legislators who have driven down wages, benefits, and workplace protections in other states. Passing the Workers’ Rights Amendment is a top priority for the Democratic Party of Illinois this November.”
“The Workers’ Rights Amendment means stronger protections for working people at a time when they need it most,” said Illinois AFL-CIO President and Vote Yes for Workers’ Rights Co-Chair Tim Drea. “All workers will benefit from these protections, ensuring that Illinois will never join the race to the bottom on wages and workplace safety protections. We applaud the Democratic Party of Illinois for joining us in this important fight, and we look forward to communicating with all voters about the importance of voting yes on the Workers’ Rights Amendment this fall.”
“As the pandemic has impacted working people, we need to make sure workers have the pay, resources, benefits, and protections they deserve,” said Chicago Federation of Labor President and Vote Yes for Workers’ Rights Co-Chair Bob Reiter. “The Workers’ Rights Amendment is a significant step toward ensuring Illinois workers will always have the freedom to join together to fight for better pay, safety at work, and access to the training they need. The labor movement welcomes the support of the Democratic Party of Illinois, and together we will pass this amendment in November.”
The Workers’ Rights Amendment would prevent Illinois from ever passing a state law or local ordinance “that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety.” This amendment would ensure that workers across the state have the freedom to collectively bargain so their voices are more powerful.
* Letters: Illinois Policy Institute knocks Madigan and unions, but it isn’t a sincere advocate for working class: So what of this amendment? Is it the “radical rewriting of the state constitution” that IPI claims? The amendment, which would protect workers’ rights to better pay, benefits and working conditions through union organizing, uses much of the same wording that is already in the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRA is federal law, has been on the books for 87 years and has survived many court challenges. It’s is hardly “radical” at this point in time.
* I gave my first speech since pre-COVID times today and I’ve spent the past half an hour looking for stuff to ask you about and I’m finding a whole bunch of nothing. So…
* The Question: What would you like to see the General Assembly do before the April adjournment? Explain.
* For decades, business and labor have sat down to negotiate how to solve any issues related to the state’s unemployment insurance program. The resulting compromises were then taken to the leadership in both parties and bills would be passed on a bipartisan basis because the leaders all give their word to stick to the deal. But negotiations apparently aren’t going well and a deadline is looming, so this letter from the House GOP Leader appears to break from the past in a major way…
Governor Pritzker,
Before the pandemic, our state’s unemployment insurance trust fund had a positive balance of more than $2.2 billion. The historic surge of unemployment benefit applications that began with the stay-at-home order quickly drained that balance and has now put the trust fund over $4.5 billion in debt—a debt that continues to grow as interest charges accrue daily. On top of the legitimate unemployment claims, Illinois also experienced a historic level of fraud—the total dollar amount of which your administration still refuses to estimate or release. These claims worsened the fund’s financial condition through no fault of employers or workers.
More than a year ago, my colleagues and I called attention to this debt and warned of the consequences of inaction, specifically that failing to pay off the debt would require a massive tax increase on businesses and a reduction in unemployment benefits for Illinois workers.
Unlike many of the other structural problems Illinois faces, this one-time COVID-related debt also came with a one-time COVID-related solution: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Many other states faced the same challenge we do, and they responsibly used these federal relief dollars to pay off their unemployment insurance debt and avoid tax increases or benefit reductions.
Unfortunately, the current fiscal year budget passed by Democrats in the House and Senate did not dedicate a single dime to paying off this pandemic-era debt. When the budget came to your desk, you used your amendatory veto authority to make changes to certain enactment dates in the poorly drafted and hastily enacted budget. You had an opportunity to address the unemployment insurance trust fund debt at this point in time, but you instead chose to ignore the problem, just like you ignored the roughly $1.5 billion in ARPA “pet project” spending that was added in by democrat legislators in the final hours of the spring legislative session.
While Illinois cannot recover the $40 million paid in interest due to ignoring this problem so far, it’s not too late to stem the bleeding now. Of the more than $11.5 billion in CARES and ARPA funding the State of Illinois has received from the federal government, it appears that nearly $6.94 billion has not yet been spent. That means we still have sufficient funding to eliminate the unemployment insurance debt entirely and still have almost $2.5 billion remaining to pay for real COVID-related costs.
This problem could have been solved a year ago, and we could have avoided tens of millions of dollars in interest charges. But instead, Springfield is doing what it so often does: playing a game of brinkmanship with an April 1 federal deadline looming.
Let’s not raise taxes on Illinois businesses as they fight to emerge from the pandemic. Let’s not cut benefits for Illinois workers who may soon need the protection that unemployment insurance offers. Instead, let’s use the federal funds we have available to solve this problem once and for all.
Sincerely,
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin
Deputy Republican Leader Tom Demmer
I asked for their breakdown of available ARPA money…
Notice that the chart says “spent” appropriations. According to the governor’s office, another $3 billion or so has already been appropriated by the legislature and is awaiting approval from the US Treasury. This unspent money is mainly capital projects, but there are also several one-time items like violence prevention programs.
What’s actually left, the governor’s office says, is $3.5 billion.
Bottom line is the Republicans don’t want to vote for any election-year employer tax hikes at all even if unions agree to benefit cuts. The agreed bill process may be on its last legs.
…Adding… Similar or coordinated message from the Richard Irvin campaign earlier today…
While JB Pritzker continues to push his election year gimmicks, his failure to lead will result in higher taxes and lower wages across Illinois as the gaping hole in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund continues to grow. Pritzker has thus far refused to use federal ARPA funds to replenish the shortfall and create a reserve balance in this crucial social safety net program. His lack of action results in $2 million in interest charges a week.
Instead of using the federal funds to fill this hole, Pritzker chose to pledge them towards one-time election year gimmicks of fake tax relief. If Pritzker continues to withhold the federal bailout funds, employers could see their unemployment taxes go up and employees could see their benefits cut.
The state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund currently has a deficit of over $4 billion – plus interest. That number would just cover the deficit; much more will be needed to replenish the fund’s reserves. Even worse, a recent news investigation found the Department of Employment Security knowingly gave money to scammers and the Pritzker Administration refuses to disclose how much the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund has lost due to fraud.
“JB Pritzker has never seen a tax increase he didn’t like, so it’s no surprise he’s angling to pull the wool over the eyes of Illinoisans once again,” said Irvin for Illinois spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “This is his failure that taxpayers are now on the hook for, something that could have and should have been prevented.”
According to IRMA, state law has ‘speed bumps’ written into it that are expected to trigger $500 million in tax increases for employers and $500 million in benefit cuts for employees. Despite lawmakers pushing for Pritzker to use federal funds to replenish the debt, he has continued to stall as an April 1st federal deadline looms. Without action, higher taxes on employers and reduced benefits for workers are inevitable.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
At a time when working families across the state need assistance, we need to be honest about what Richard Irvin is objecting to in the governor’s budget proposal: tax relief for Illinoisans. Ken Griffin’s hold on Irvin remains so tight that even Bruce Rauner would blush at his rejection of policies that would help working families. Voters can see this candidacy and these embarrassing objections for exactly what they are and no amount of spin from Irvin’s team of Rauner rejects can change the truth.
…Adding… Jordan Abudayyeh…
Following the established agreed bill process, that for years has resulted in compromise, there have been 13 formal meetings and countless discussions since January 11th between business and labor along with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Earlier this year, Rep. Demmer asked the Governor’s Office what it means to have a seat at the grown-ups table. We would tell the Representative it means not abandoning a bipartisan and sincere effort to follow a decades long agreed bill process in favor of scoring cheap political points at a critical moment in the negotiations. The Pritzker administration will continue to convene all parties and negotiate in good faith for a compromise that is fair to both businesses and workers.
There was a scared-straight incident in a private House Democratic Caucus meeting the other day.
A poll was floated showing Gov. JB Pritzker facing suburban headwinds — even trailing Republican governor candidates Richard Irvin and Darren Bailey.
Problem is there was no explanation about which suburb was polled. A source familiar with the data tells Playbook that the burb wasn’t Cook County but conservative and swing-district areas where House Dems are trying to gain traction. That didn’t prevent the gulp some lawmakers had.
The poll, which was first reported by Capitol Fax blog, was conducted by Tulchin Research — the same group that has polled for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and New York Mayor Eric Adams. The poll also addressed issues of concern — the top item being crime, surprising anyone.
Others familiar with the poll say House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch was trying to light a fire under Democrats to get them on the campaign trail by showing that no contest can be taken for granted. He asked his caucus to keep the numbers private, which didn’t go so well. (Hey, they were scared.) A House Democrats spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The poll’s data created such a kerfuffle that a separate, unrelated survey was made public to show folks that Pritzker is doing just fine in the northern suburbs.
In that poll conducted by Personal PAC, respondents from Lake, Kendall, Kane, DeKalb, McHenry counties were asked a range of questions, including whether they approved of President Joe Biden — 47 percent said yes and 45 percent said no; and whether they approved of Pritzker — 48 percent said yes and 42 percent said no. It’s polling that might offer Dems some momentary relief. Though don’t count on it.
The top item was not crime. The crime and violence issue was tied for 4th place with the price of gas and the cost of living, and 6th place if you look at those who were “extremely concerned,” similar to that Senate poll we talked about a while ago. The crime numbers were still very high, however. But, again, this poll was designed to frighten members, not to enlighten them about what’s actually going on in most of their districts.
I also went over Personal PAC’s poll with subscribers yesterday. The poll was sent to me not long after I started poking around over the weekend. It’s worth a read.
* Clare Spaulding at the Tribune has a comprehensive story about the ongoing disaster that is DCFS. I chose to focus on these excerpts, but the whole thing is worth a read for context…
“DCFS is in the worst shape it’s been in 30 years,” said Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose office legally represents more than 7,000 children involved in the child welfare system. “At some point, everybody involved in child welfare — judges, providers, lawyers — has to say, ‘Enough is enough. Drastic times call for drastic measures.’” […]
It was during that time that one of Rauner’s appointed DCFS directors, George Sheldon, set out to reform the system by moving children out of residential treatment centers and instead prioritizing specialized foster care, an idea most advocates support, said Golbert, the Cook County public guardian. But success would require a “robust system of community-based services,” Golbert said — something that didn’t exist when Sheldon dissolved contracts with residential centers, and still doesn’t exist today.
“A lot of the problems we’re seeing today really go back to that horrible decision to get rid of 500 beds before we had beds to replace them,” Golbert said. “DCFS already had a shortage of beds, and then it got 500 beds worse.” […]
Children being kept in psychiatric hospitals beyond what was medically necessary was part of the impetus for the consent decree. By the end of the 1990s, instances of this did still happen, but they were “pretty unusual,” Golbert said.
Now, it’s “widespread and common again,” Golbert said, noting there were 356 children under DCFS care kept beyond medical necessity in the 2021 fiscal year. The department is “on track for another very sad record this year,” Golbert said.
I am honored to receive the endorsement of Lt. General Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former National Security Advisor, decorated war hero and patriot. General Flynn recognizes that we need to elect a principled, life-long conservative who has the experience to fix the mess in Illinois created by Mike Madigan and JB Pritzker. His statement in support of my campaign is below.
“Today, I proudly endorse and pledge my full support to Gary Rabine for Governor of Illinois. Our nation needs more leaders like Gary to step forward and serve. Gary is a self-made business success story. A man of principle, integrity and passion for public service. He believes that the power of government is derived from the citizens and that individual freedoms are sacrosanct. Gary’s contributions to the conservative movement are unequaled by any other candidate this election cycle - he does not just talk conservative, he takes action.
For example, Gary filed the lawsuit against Biden’s unconstitutional employer vaccine mandate. He refused to fire any of his employees over their personal decision to receive or not receive a Covid vaccine. Gary pursued the case and fought all the way to the United States Supreme Court and won. That ruling was one of most significant victories for personal freedom in decades and created a ripple effect easing overreaching government mandates nationwide. Gary helped protect over 80 million American workers and will always put the citizens of Illinois and America first.
Gary Rabine is a good and decent man, a family man and a man of faith. And in Illinois, it must start there. With good people willing to take on difficult battles and willing to bear personal risk to serve and protect the freedoms that we as citizens hold so dear.”
After leaving the military, in October 2014 he established Flynn Intel Group, which provided intelligence services for businesses and governments, including in Turkey. In December 2015, Flynn was paid $45,000 to deliver a Moscow speech at the ten-year anniversary celebration of RT, a state-controlled Russian international television network, where he sat next to Russian president Vladimir Putin at his banquet table.
In February 2016, Flynn became a national security advisor to Trump for his 2016 presidential campaign. In March 2017, Flynn retroactively registered as a foreign agent, acknowledging that in 2016 he had conducted paid lobbying work that may have benefited Turkey’s government. On January 22, 2017, Flynn was sworn in as the National Security Advisor. On February 13, 2017, he resigned after information surfaced that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about the nature and content of his communications with Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak. Flynn’s tenure as the National Security Advisor is the shortest in the history of the position.
In December 2017, Flynn formalized a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to plead guilty to a felony count of “willfully and knowingly” making false statements to the FBI about the Kislyak communications, and agreed to cooperate with the Special Counsel’s investigation. In June 2019, Flynn dismissed his attorneys and retained Sidney Powell, who on the same day wrote to attorney general Bill Barr seeking his assistance in exonerating Flynn. Powell had discussed the case on Fox News and spoken to President Trump about it on several occasions. Two weeks before his scheduled sentencing, in January 2020 Flynn moved to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming government vindictiveness and breach of the plea agreement. At Barr’s direction, the Justice Department filed a court motion to drop all charges against Flynn on May 7, 2020. Presiding federal judge Emmet Sullivan ruled the matter to be placed on hold to solicit amicus curiae briefs from third parties. Powell then asked the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to compel Sullivan to drop the case, but her request was denied. On November 25, 2020, Flynn was issued a presidential pardon by Trump. On December 8, 2020, Judge Sullivan dismissed the criminal case against Flynn, stating he probably would have denied the Justice Department motion to drop the case.
On July 4, 2020, Flynn pledged an oath to the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, and as Trump sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in which he was defeated, Flynn suggested the president should suspend the Constitution, silence the press, and hold a new election under military authority. Flynn later met with Trump and their attorney Powell in the Oval Office to discuss the president’s options. Trump denied reports that Flynn’s martial law idea had been discussed. On January 8, 2021, Twitter permanently banned Flynn, Powell and others who promoted QAnon.
* A little history from the Illinois Policy Institute…
As of right now, 78 House races have contested primaries and/or general elections: 65 incumbents have challengers and 13 open-seat House districts have more than one candidate. That means 66 percent of districts have contested races and 34 percent are uncontested. The contested number will undoubtedly decrease after petition challenges are heard, but may go back up if local committeepersons and county parties eventually fill empty slots with appointed candidates, which Republicans may actually do because 2022 is shaping up to be a good year for them.
So, there is some progress. But acknowledging even a little progress means setting aside or down-playing the well-established talking points about how low candidate activity is just another symptom of Illinois’ serious problems.
* Tina Sfondeles left the Sun-Times for more challenges and better money in DC. But she loves Chicago, so she came back home and the Sun-Times eventually made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Tina is more than a respected colleague and one heckuva reporter, she’s also a friend and I just could not be happier for her and for the Sun-Times and its readers. Here’s Robert Feder…
It’s back to the Sun-Times for Tina Sfondeles as chief political reporter following a whirlwind of reporting jobs in Washington, D.C., and public relations work in Chicago. Sfondeles will rejoin the paper Monday, according to interim editor in chief Steve Warmbir. “With her excellent sourcing on local, state and national levels, she will only add to the Sun-Times tradition of political coverage that’s second to none,” Warmbir wrote in an email to staff. “She’s a phenomenal addition to our great roster of first-rate political journalists here at the Sun-Times and our new colleagues at WBEZ.” In her first run at the Sun-Times, Sfondeles rose from preps sports writer and wire reporter to chief political reporter. She resigned in 2020 to join the Washington-based political team of Business Insider, and she later covered the White House for Politico. Since January she’s been vice president of public and media relations for Mac Strategies Group, a strategic communications and government relations firm.
Tina told me yesterday she won’t be covering Springfield this session to avoid any potential conflicts due to her brief stint at Mac’s shop.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is endorsing Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) for reelection in Illinois’ 15th district, highlighting her devotion to securing the border and protecting both life and the Second Amendment, Breitbart News has learned.
Rep. Miller is facing off against fellow Republican Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) due to redistricting in the state, with portions of both of their districts (31 percent for Miller and 27 percent for Rodney) comprising the new 15th district. […]
“I’m proud to endorse Mary Miller for Congress in Illinois’ 15th Congressional District, and I ask my fellow patriots to support her,” Cruz said in a statement, describing Miler as “the kind of fighter we need in Congress who works every day to secure our border, protect life, and protect the Second Amendment.”
Notably, Miller has also earned the endorsement of former President Donald Trump who won the 15th district in 2020 with nearly 70 percent of the vote. He deemed her a “champion of our American First Agenda” […]
“Grassroots conservatives across the country follow Senator Cruz’s lead because he is an unapologetic conservative, and he is not afraid to take on the corrupt DC establishment of both parties to save America from the radical left,” Miller added.
They have been dubbed “The Griffin Slate,” based on the expectation that the Republicans running together for some of the state’s top offices will enjoy the financial backing of Ken Griffin, the richest person in Illinois.
But other than GOP candidate for governor Richard Irvin, none of the others on the slate has reported receiving any contributions from the hedge-fund billionaire — or many large donations from anyone else in the two months they’ve been running for statewide office. […]
Milhiser is the only one who has reported receiving any individual contributions of $1,000 or more since kicking off his campaign. He reported nine donations ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 made on two days in early March, totaling $28,654.48.
Kim, in his second bid for attorney general, hasn’t reported a contribution of $1,000 or more since 2013. At the end of last year, the Deerfield attorney reported a campaign fund balance of just $41.93.
Comptroller candidate Teresi had even less than that in her campaign account, with $35.40 on hand at the end of 2021. Records show her committee has never reported receiving a contribution of $1,000.
Former Congressman Dan Lipinski is getting involved in the competitive 1st Congressional District race to replace Rep. Bobby Rush.
Lipinski, an anti-abortion rights Democrat who was defeated by Rep. Marie Newman in 2020 in the 3rd District Democratic primary, is backing Chris Butler, a little-known South Side pastor who is campaigning as an anti-abortion rights Democrat. It’s Lipinski’s first foray “so far” into the 2022 contests, a spokeswoman told Playbook.
“I have not endorsed anyone else this year,” Lipinski said in a statement to Playbook. He said he’s backing Butler because of his “core commitment to families and working class values. He believes there is too much bickering and division today and he wants to bring people together to improve everyone’s everyday lives.”
After his 2020 Democratic primary loss, Lipinski said he was “pilloried in millions of dollars of TV ads and mailers” because of his anti-abortion views. Now the former congressman sees Butler as “part of a new generation of leaders in the Democratic Party.” […]
Lipinski is headlining a fundraiser Thursday for Butler [who has just $18,000 cash on hand]. Also on the invite: Benjamin Watson, a former NFL player who has become an anti-abortion advocate, Catholic women’s advocate Mary FioRito, anti-abortion Democrats Kristen Day and Nic Costello, and Illinois pastor Charlie Dates.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs will stand with workers and employers who participate in Secure Choice, the innovative plan that created a mobile retirement savings account that travels with the worker.
Frerichs spearheaded the Secure Choice retirement savings program to combat the retirement savings crisis in Illinois and across the country. Illinois is a national leader in offering an auto‑enroll IRA program.
WHO: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Central Illinois workers and employers.
WHAT: Employees, employers and advocates will explain how Secure Choice works, how it combats the retirement savings crisis gripping the nation, and why it can save taxpayers money.
More than 100,000 workers and 6,400 employers participate in Secure Choice, with $82 million already saved.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 21, 2022.
WHERE: Capitol Blue Room in Springfield.
Chef Michael Higgins from Maldaner’s was one of the press conference participants and he talked about how he wishes he’d had something like this available when he was younger and about the benefits for his workers.
* About a half an hour before the press conference…
Republican State Representative Tom Demmer issued the following statement in advance of Treasurer Frerichs’ press conference on Illinois’ Secure Choice Retirement Program.
“Two years ago, Treasurer Frerichs joined with Governor Pritzker to support a radical tax increase plan on Illinois families. Frerichs even took the measure a step further by saying it could be ultimately used to tax retirement income—including pensions and 401ks—like Secure Choice. Thankfully voters rejected Frerichs’ call for taxing retirement income. However, with Frerichs continuously advocating for tax increases—even taxing retirement income—Illinois families and retirees have anything but secure choices for their hard-earned income and savings.”
In addition, over the last 8 years Frerichs has accepted over $275,000 from former indicted Speaker Michael Madigan’s run political action committees. To date, Frerichs has not returned any of these questionable contributions.
My first thought was that Demmer wants Frerichs to help pay Madigan’s legal expenses by refunding contributions.
* Frerichs was asked about both topics in his press conference. First up, taxing retirement income…
Q: Right around the time I sat down in this chair, I got an email from your opponent’s campaign saying ‘Retirement savings? Well, retirement income is just what Treasurer Frerichs wants to tax.’ What is it you want to do? And how are you going to drive away from this, I don’t know if you want to call it an albatross or some other sort of winged or assorted animal, is this going to continue?
A: This is only gonna continue because my opponent continues to talk about something that’s not an issue. I have stated clearly, time and time again in front of the media that I don’t support a retirement tax, I’ve proposed no retirement tax, I’m not going to propose any sort of retirement tax. My opponent keeps talking about this because he doesn’t want to talk about the real issues of retirement. His numerous votes to reduce retirement benefits. His vote against creation of Illinois Secure Choice, something that’s going to give people a better retirement.
Q: Your opponent also in the email he sent out before your news conference talked about 275,000 you got from Madigan-linked political campaign funds. Do you just plan on giving that back somehow? What’s your reaction to this?
A: My opponent’s not reached out, I’ve not seen this. I don’t know what he’s referring to or how many [crosstalk, restating the question]
A: I think the justice system is working right now. Indictments have been filed. There’ll be a trial. And I think that we need to do, especially root out corruption in the state of Illinois. We need to have greater transparency and greater ethics to make sure that we don’t have corruption in our state.
Q: What about the campaign funds that you may have gotten from DPI under Madigan’s control? What should happen with those dollars?
A: I’m not aware of the funds he’s talking about.
* ILGOP press release after the press conference…
Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs was a deer in headlights today when asked if he would return over $275,000 in tainted campaign contributions from the former Madigan-run Democratic Party of Illinois over his tenure, claiming he now doesn’t recall one of his largest campaign donors.
Frerichs said he was unclear what the sources of campaign cash were, so let’s look at the most recent Madigan contributions to Frerichs’ campaigns for Treasurer:
• On October 17, 2014 Frerichs reported $38,712.96 from Madigan’s DPI Committee.
• On October 24, 2014 Frerichs reported $37,363.40 from Madigan’s DPI Committee.
• On October 27, 2014 Frerichs reported $73,632.24 from Madigan’s DPI Committee
• On November 24, 2014 Frerichs reported $40,000 from Madigan’s DPI Committee
• On October 31, 2018 Frerichs reported $55,400 from Madigan’s DPI Committee
• On November 15, 2018 Frerichs reported $30,000 from Madigan’s DPI Committee.
During his 15 years in Springfield, Frerichs has accepted over $275,000 in contributions from former indicted Speaker Michael Madigan’s run political action committees. To date, Frerichs has not returned any of these questionable contributions.
“It’s incredibly clear that Mike Frerichs has a Mike Madigan problem. Madigan was one of Frerichs’ largest donors in his campaigns for Treasurer, but now Frerichs says he doesn’t remember those contributions. Unbelievable, but true,” said Shaun McCabe, Executive Director of the ILGOP. “Frerichs needs to own up to his past support for and from Madigan and tell taxpayers what he intends to do with the over quarter of a million dollars in tainted contributions.”
DPI contributions are often pass-throughs from other sources so the candidates can obtain postage discounts. More than half of the above-mentioned DPI contributions were in-kinds for mailers.
…Adding… From Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego)…
My son who is in the Navy currently participates in an auto enroll type IRA. He has quite the nest egg already at 20 years old. I wish the military would have had that when I was in.
…Adding… Frerichs press release…
The innovative plan to create a mobile retirement savings account that travels with the worker topped the 100,000 enrollment milestone, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today.
Frerichs set up the Secure Choice retirement savings program to combat the retirement savings crisis in Illinois and across the country. Illinois is a national leader in offering an auto enroll IRA program. Workers in Illinois began saving in July, 2018.
“A retirement savings tool that can travel from job-to-job with the worker makes it easier to save, allows a worker to retire with dignity, and saves taxpayer money by reducing the need for publicly funded safety net programs,” Frerichs said.
Today, more than 100,000 workers and 6,400 employers participate in Secure Choice, with $82 million already saved. None of this was possible without Secure Choice. The 100,000 milestone was surpassed in the first quarter of this year.
“I chose to enroll in Illinois Secure Choice to increase my retirement options,” said Sam Hall, a father of three children who works as the program director for DREAAM in Champaign, the Rantoul Division, a social services organization helping boys and young men between the ages of 5 and 24. “The enrollment process was easy, and I feel more secure knowing I have a plan for retirement.”
DREAAM stands for Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males. Tracy D. Dace is the Founder. “As a CEO, I was impressed with the ongoing support from the Illinois Secure Choice team to establish an account, enroll employees, and manage the administration of the deductions,” Dace said. “The built-in support indicated a commitment to excellent customer service and overall program quality.”
The General Assembly required employers to either offer a retirement savings plan or participate in Secure Choice, which is overseen by a seven-person board chaired by Frerichs. Secure Choice investments are managed by a private-sector financial services firm and kept in a trust outside of state government and its finances.
Key to passing legislation that created Secure Choice was the assurance that employers would not be financially liable for plan administration and would not be legally liable for investment changes. Employees can opt-out of the program at any time.
“I supported the expansion of Secure Choice as a state legislators because we need to be able to do more for our workers and small businesses,” said Mike Murphy, a former Republican lawmaker from Springfield and current President and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Enrollment began in 2018 with companies at least two years old and with 500 or more employees. Smaller companies enrolled in phases thereafter to ensure a smooth transition. The success was so strong that most business groups initially neutral or opposed to Secure Choice did not oppose the legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2021 to expand the program. That legislation requires employers with at least five employees to provide a retirement vehicle, or access to Secure Choice, by November, 2023.
The access is critical:
• Nearly half of all working-age families have nothing saved for retirement.
• Although Social Security is not intended to be the sole source of retirement income, 23 percent of Illinois retirees rely on Social Security for at least 90 percent of their retirement income.
• Workers are 15 times more likely to save for retirement if they can do so at work.
• However, 40 percent of Illinois private-sector employees work for a business that does not offer a retirement savings plan.
About Illinois Secure Choice
Illinois Secure Choice is managed by Ascensus, a private-sector financial services firm responsible for all recordkeeping and day-to-day aspects. Fund options include BlackRock, Charles Schwab, and State Street Global Advisors. Participants are enrolled in a default target-date Roth IRA with a five percent contribution rate. Participants can choose to change their contribution level or fund option at any time. More information can be found at www.ilsecurechoice.com.
* Gov. Pritzker’s prepared remarks at an unrelated press conference today…
Before I take questions, I want to address the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, which is 30-50% more transmissible than the original Omicron and is causing surges in COVID caseloads in some places around the world. BA.2 was first detected in Illinois in January.
To be clear up front: Illinois is currently in a good place. The number of admissions and COVID patients in hospitals continues to stabilize and drop across the state – that is what I look at most closely.
That said, IDPH is watching the trend of this subvariant very closely. The virus is very much still here, and it isn’t going away. But with vaccines, the existing variants are manageable. However we’ve seen other countries impose new mitigations because of their experiences with this more transmissible subvariant.
With cases and hospitalizations low here, and with COVID threats seemingly off in the distance, the last few weeks has given us time to make sure we are prepared for a potentialnext wave – whether it’s BA.2 or any other variant.
Our state stockpile is nearly fully replenished. We have more 1.5 million rapid tests on hand, with a half a million more on the way in the coming weeks. I’m also calling on all schools to consider their current testing capacity and make sure they are prepared with a strong testing plan in place if we experience another surge. Testing allows you to monitor the prevalence of infection, which will help keep children in classrooms and keep educators and staff safe.
We are also talking to pharmacies and healthcare providers about increasing their inventory of the various FDA-approved oral BA.2 treatments in case you test positive. These COVID-19 medications are available with a prescription at most Walgreens and Walmarts in Illinois. However, for the pills to work, you must use them within 5 days of getting sick. Talk to your healthcare provider now to make sure they can get you the medication in a timely manner if you DO test positive.
It’s estimated that about 25% of current cases in Illinois are from the BA.2 variant, and although that percentage has been steadily rising, we have not seen a commensurate rise in cases or hospitalizations. In other countries, we’ve seen greater challenges from BA.2, which is why we are closely monitoring it. The world seems smaller and more connected because of COVID, so what’s happening elsewhere could possibly affect us here. For now though, things in Illinois are improving. If conditions here change, I’ll address the people of Illinois with needed actions. If you want to know about the current COVID-19 risk level in your community, the CDC produces a county-by-county transmission map for the public to stay informed. Just go to CDC.gov and you can enter your county to get more information. If you or your loved ones are considered “high risk” for Covid-19,protect them and yourself with masks and social distancing in public places, no matter what the community transmission level may be.
And of course: if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, this is a great time to do so. That includes staying up-to-date with your booster.
We also know that boosters work for this Omicron subvariant to reduce the likelihood of hospitalizations and deaths, particularly for seniors. The key is: actually getting vaccinated and boosted. So go to vaccines.gov to find a first shot, a second shot, or a booster shot near you.
The most maddening thing about the last omicron surge was not being able to find rapid tests. Hopefully, that won’t happen again.
At local, state and federal levels, the nation has been relaxing restrictions and trying to restore a semblance of normalcy. Encouraging Americans to return to prepandemic routines, officials are lifting mask and vaccine mandates and showing no inclination of closing down offices, restaurants or theaters.
But scientists are warning that the United States isn’t doing enough to prevent a new surge from endangering vulnerable Americans and potentially upending life again.
New pills can treat infections, but federal efforts to buy more of them are in limbo. An aid package in Congress is stalled, even as agencies run out of money for tests and therapeutics. Though less than one-third of the population has the booster shots needed for high levels of protection, the daily vaccination rate has fallen to a low.
Always bet on Congress to do stupid things like blocking that funding package.
Key COVID metrics such as cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to drop almost every day, and are hovering around levels last seen in July before the delta variant surge.
Daily reported deaths have ranged from 1,685 to 2,076 daily in March after deaths of 3,000 or more daily for much of January and February.
The plummeting metrics have led to the lifting of state mask mandates—in schools and public buildings—in what officials consider a return to normalcy.
On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he expects cases to rise in the state due to surges seen in parts of Asia and Europe. But he said he doesn’t expect to reinstate “universal statewide mandated protective measures.”
Republican candidate for governor Paul Schimpf says it’s time to shift the balance of power away from politicians and bureaucrats and back into the hands of individuals and working families. Today, Schimpf released his “A New Start for Illinois” plan which will put Illinois back on a path for economic success after failed leadership has led to higher taxes, slower wage growth, and increased overreach on our businesses and families.
“If the disease is powerful and corrupt politicians, then the cure is to limit the politicians and empower the people of Illinois,” Schimpf said. “My ‘New Start for Illinois’ plan begins with the premise that politicians are often the problem, not the solution. We have a state constitution that includes a bill of rights, but politicians have eroded those rights. Legislation that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago is now passing the Illinois General Assembly. I’m focused on limiting the government overreach that is hurting Illinois families and businesses.”
Schimpf’s “A New Start for Illinois” plan calls for:
• “No Tax On Tax” Constitutional Amendment that would prohibit governments from charging sales tax (or any percentage-based tax) on taxes and fees.
• A constitutional amendment clarifying that parents, not the government, determine their children’s education and healthcare.
• Make “Curriculum Transparency” is a requirement for any receipt of state P-12 education funding.
• Law enforcement (including corrections officers) and first responders are a protected class under Illinois Hate Crimes Law.
• Emergency administrative regulations and any administrative regulations that increase or create fees and penalties require an affirmative 7-member approval vote from JCAR in order to become effective.
• Assessors may only increase property value assessments upon legal transfer of the property or a change in the property’s zoning.
“This all comes back to fixing and regrowing Illinois’ economy to the powerhouse it can, and should, be,” Schimpf said. “Safer communities mean people will be more willing to go out and spend money without the fear of crime, eliminating Illinois’ excessive tax increases—from adding tax to taxes or the never ending property tax fight—means businesses, recent graduates, and families will want to stay here long-term, and weeding out corruption and government overreach will put trust back in our state leadership again.”
“A New Start for Illinois” also calls for additional first responders as a protected class to the Illinois Hate Crimes law and guaranteeing parental rights in determining education and healthcare decisions for their own children. “We need curriculum transparency because parents deserve to know what material is being presented to their children,” Schimpf said.
A group of Illinois congressmen is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to focus on such things as racial equity, climate change and maintaining existing roads, rather than building new ones, in spending the tens of billions of new transportation dollars the state will get under the big federal infrastructure plan that was enacted this year.
In a letter, the eight reps—all Democrats, and all but one whose districts include part of the city of Chicago—assert that the state must do business in a different way if it is to thrive.
But while the call for change has the support of groups, such as the Active Transportation Alliance, which favor more money for bike paths and bus lanes, it may not receive much applause in downstate and suburban areas. And some Democratic congressmen whose districts are wholly suburban did not sign. […]
In the letter, the eight reps contend that Illinois’ transportation system now produces “the most greenhouse gasses of any sector in the state” and subjects Latino and Black communities to excess pollution.
“These challenges are why the U.S. Department of Transportation encourages state and local governments to invest the funds…..in ways that mitigate climate change, improve safety—especially for disadvantaged communities—address racial equity and remake our transportation system so it is accessible to all users,” the letter states.
Invest in Maintenance and Modernization - Not Expansion: Years of experience in the Chicago region and metro areas across the country shows highway expansion fails to achieve long-term congestion relief but instead, increases pollution and further isolates people who can’t afford or aren’t physically able to drive. The policy framework from the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) for implementing the BIL calls for states to prioritize projects that fix existing infrastructure and improve our transportation corridors so they safely move more people - not vehicles -above projects that expand road capacity. It’s critical Illinois take this guidance to heart and reevaluate planned road expansion projects in IDOT’s Multi-Year Plan (MYP), transparently analyze the costs and benefits, and shift investment towards more efficient and effective projects.
Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bill Foster, Lauren Underwood and Cheri Bustos did not sign.
* From a Daily Herald interview with new Illinois Tollway chair Dorothy Abreu…
Q: Which construction project has caught your interest?
A: The most exciting one is the tollway (I-490) that we’re building that’s just going to wrap itself around O’Hare International Airport and create access from the western point that will relieve a ton of congestion.
Illinois is among the states considering lowering the State Gas Tax. Right now, drivers in the Land of Lincoln pay about 39 cents on a gallon after the tax doubled in 2019.
Earlier Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker signaled that he’s willing to make a change.
“We are looking at ways we can reduce the gas tax across the State of Illinois, because we recognize, even since I introduced my budget, that war has broken out and the result of that war is that oil prices have gone through the roof,” he said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed freezes on raising the gas tax and grocery tax in his budget for the next year. However, Reps. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), Mark Luft (R-Pekin), and Amy Elik (R-Alton) argue more should be done sooner.
Even since the governor’s address in January, gas prices have risen. The average price a month ago was $3.68 per gallon; now it’s nearly a dollar more at $4.54 a gallon, according to AAA. Inflation is at the highest rate it’s been in 40 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
They argue these policies would help relieve struggling Illinois residents from rising costs. Representatives on border districts say it’s no secret that residents cross state lines to get fuel and food in a state where the taxes are cheaper.
“Across the river from my district is St Louis. It is not uncommon to see gas prices in Missouri anywhere from 50 cents to 70 cents a gallon cheaper than Illinois on a given day,” Elik said.
In terms of exploring other ways to ease financially struggling families, such as raising the minimum wage, Demmer said they wanted to focus on tax relief.
A crude oil spill from a broken pipeline has triggered a cleanup in and along a Madison County waterway for more than a week, with thousands of barrels of oil discharged next to a Mississippi River tributary.
A cause of the spill is still under investigation. Recent history, though, shows pipeline incidents in Missouri and Illinois are most often caused by the failure of their own materials and equipment, according to government records.
Hundreds of such issues have arisen over the past two decades amid the web of pipelines that crisscross the St. Louis region.
“Those can be preventable, within reason,” said Richard Kuprewicz, president of a business called Accufacts Inc., and a specialist in pipeline investigations, auditing, risk management and other related matters.
In almost 50 years of investigative work, he has “never seen a failure by a true accident,” he said. Many pipeline spills happen, he said, because of something going wrong with their operation, maintenance, or even the quality of the pipe.
Illinois’ attorney general filed a lawsuit against Marathon Pipe Line LLC, alleging the company created a substantial danger to the environment and public health during a crude oil spill near Edwardsville last week.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed the suit Friday in Madison County. An estimated 165,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from the pipeline, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the oil reached the nearby Cahokia Creek.
Raoul alleges Marathon violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act by causing or allowing the oil to leak in an area that includes residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, agricultural properties, forested areas, and a wetland.
When Illinois lawmakers decided last year to ban most coal-burning power plants by 2030, it was because their harmful effects are well known.
The emissions they spew into the air are a leading cause of death, illness and climate change.
For now, though, the new law hasn’t slowed the plants at all. Last year, Illinois’ coal-burning power plants burned more coal than the year before, stepping up production by 39% — the biggest percentage increase among the top 10 coal-burning states, according to federal data.
Faced with the coming deadline that will require most of them to shut down, 10 of the state’s 13 coal-burning electric plants boosted production in 2021.
Part of that 2021 increase may have been due to the availability of vaccines and more people returning to work.
For the first time ever, the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) announced today fines totaling $339,000 for Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, for violating the material change notice requirement in the state’s Network Adequacy and Transparency Act.
Network adequacy filings are an important tool to help ensure that consumers have access to a network of providers that meets proper time and distance standards. This is critical to ensuring that patients have access to care that they need.
The Department found that the company did not properly file updated network adequacy filings following the termination of its contract with Springfield Clinic which serves approximately 100,000 consumers in Central Illinois. After months of delay, the Department finally received BCBS’s final filing for its network adequacy review on Thursday. The Department determined that the filings were 244 days late and 95 days late, accumulating a total fine of $339,000. Late fees are $1,000 per day.
“Insurance companies must be able to show that they have adequate provider networks, so that Illinois consumers have access to the medical care and providers that they pay for,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This fine should serve as notice that we will require insurers to maintain adequate provider networks and uphold all consumer protections under the law.”
Although the Department reviews every plan’s network for adequacy when the plan is filed, the law recognizes that a plan’s network may change mid-plan year. In anticipation of these potential changes, there is a provision that if there is a “material change” in the network, the company must submit updated network adequacy filings to demonstrate that the change has not rendered the network inadequate. Under state law, insurers are required to report to the Director any material change to an approved network plan within 15 days after the change occurs.
“This is the first time the Department has issued a fine for the material change filing requirement in the Network Adequacy Transparency Act,” said IDOI Director Dana Popish Severinghaus. “We’re disappointed that the company continues to evade acknowledging this material change. Under Illinois law, the removal of a major health system, like Springfield Clinic, is a material change that could render a network, or parts of a network, inadequate. We are committed to exercising the Department’s full authority to protect consumers from being harmed in a corporate contract dispute.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield must pay the fine immediately, and the company has 10 days to contest the fine. The Department will continue its review of the network adequacy filing for compliance with applicable state and federal laws.
The Notice of Apparent Liability for late filing of Network Adequacy can be found here.
* Last week, Richard Irvin’s campaign suggested imposing those daily fines, among other things…
• Swiftly investigate Blue Cross Blue Shield’s compliance with the state’s network adequacy requirements, and impose fines for every day it is in violation.
• Order Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide true continuity of care coverage as required by state law and re-adjudicate previous claims that should have been considered in-network.
• Consider capping Blue Cross Blue Shield’s enrollment if the company does not swiftly come into compliance with provider network adequacy requirements.
Now that the government has network adequacy requirement data, it can take a look at what’s actually going on. But the Department of Insurance dropped the ball here. No way should it have allowed BCBSI to not file those reports for so long, particularly since this impacts a hundred thousand people in central Illinois.
And though I doubt BCBSI would even notice a grand a day, the company is taking increasing Statehouse heat, including a recent call to strip its state tax-exempt status. Big Blue has stayed relatively mum so far, but they’re now starting to engage.
…Adding… A top official in the Pritzker administration says BCBSI is not a not for profit corporation, despite reporting to the contrary. “There is no tax exemption for BCBS in IL,” the official texted.
* From Harmony Harrington, Vice President, Government, Communications and Community Engagement at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois…
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has been working closely with the Illinois Department of Insurance since contract negotiations first began with Springfield Clinic last May. Though we had a reasonable and well-informed opinion that Springfield Clinic’s decision to leave our network did not trigger any network change filing, when the Department requested one within the past few weeks, we promptly complied. As we evaluate the Department’s decision, we will continue to work collaboratively and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations while ensuring access, affordability and quality in health care for the more than 8 million Illinoisans we cover.”
The insurance company has claimed that Springfield Clinic is demanding a 75 percent increase in what they claim is an already high reimbursement rate. As a Blue Cross policyholder and a Springfield Clinic patient, I want this to end now. I don’t know what the state can do if the clinic is indeed making outrageous demands, but if BCBSI is to be believed, they’re not totally at fault here and Springfield Clinic needs to get to the table with reasonable expectations. /rant
* A Republican operative joked last week that they should probably be required to report Foxx as an in-kind contribution. From the Richard Irvin campaign…
In yet another example of his pro-criminal, anti- police positioning, J.B. Pritzker last year signed a law allowing far-left State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to petition for sentence reductions for violent criminals. Naturally, despite skyrocketing crime in Chicago and Cook County, Foxx announced that this week she will begin petitioning the courts to release violent criminals from prison early.
Thanks to Pritzker’s enabling, Foxx’s resentencing initiative will potentially grant early release to criminals serving long sentences for violent crimes. Foxx will present three resentencing motions as early as this week with more planned for later this month. In total, Foxx’s office anticipates the early release of as many as 25 people by the end of the year. This is the latest affront to crime victims, in addition to her support for ending cash bail and her call to allow Jussie Smollet to escape paying for his crimes.
“Whether via pardon or commutation, signing his anti-police crime bill or enabling Kim Foxx to push for lighter sentencing for criminals, J.B. Pritzker always sides with criminals over police and community safety,” said Irvin for Illinois Spokesperson Eleni Demertzis.
Three men are slated for possible resentencing next week, the first to potentially benefit from a new state law allowing prosecutors to petition for shorter sentences ”if the original sentence no longer advances the interests of justice.” […]
The office is first reviewing cases of people who have served at least 10 years for a drug, theft, robbery or burglary conviction; people 65 or older who have served at least 20 years for a case not related to a sex crime or homicide; and people who have served at least 15 years for a case other than a sex crime or homicide and who were younger than 21 when they committed the offense. […]
Victims in each case will be notified “at different steps of the resentencing process,” and will have a chance to submit statements to the judge to consider at sentencing, the office stated.
Foxx did not offer an estimate of how many cases may be eligible for resentencing under those criteria. But prosecutors are scheduled to present their first three resentencing requests in court [this] week, according to Foxx’s office.
Larry Frazier, 63, is one of the men hoping to shave significant time off his sentence when his case goes back before a judge Wednesday.
Frazier was 40 when he was given 60 years in prison for a home invasion that took place in Calumet Park when he was 36, according to court records.
At the time he was sentenced in 1999, Frazier was given an extended sentence because the victim was 62 — only a year younger than Frazier is now, documents show. Details of the case were not immediately available, but other charges Frazier faced included weapons offenses and unlawful restraint.
By that time, Frazier had already amassed a significant criminal record of charges, including theft and armed robbery, going back to the early 1980s, state records show.
In their motion, prosecutors noted the victim wasn’t hurt physically in the home invasion and argued that since being locked up, Frazier “has taken substantial steps toward rehabilitation,” though no details were provided. […]
Ed Wojcicki, executive director of the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association, said he finds the idea of resentencing inmates for the crimes they were convicted of fundamentally unfair.
“The rules are what they were when they were sentenced,” he said when reached by phone Friday. Wojcicki said he worries about the impact the resentencing hearings will have on crime victims.
The small number of cases means the initial impact could be small, but the effort carries significant political risks for Foxx because it turns the conventional understanding of America’s adversarial court system on its head, putting prosecutors and defense attorneys on the same side, pushing for leniency and forgiveness.
Foxx said they are embarking with caution, seeking to prove to the people of Cook County that the early releases will not endanger public safety before expanding the effort. Ultimately, it will be up to judges whether they will grant the motions and what kinds of sentences will be handed out.
Still, the county’s controversial top prosecutor is taking up the initiative at a time when her office is already under fire because of a perception that Foxx is going easy on criminals during a surge in violence.
“I think we have to show people that it works … There are segments of our population who believe, ‘you’ve done the crime you do the time, even if you wouldn’t get that same time today,’ ” Foxx said. “So I think the initial foray into this is to show people what it looks like, to de-stigmatize what the process looks like, to demonstrate that this is actually good public policy and it’s actually good for us as a community.” […]
“I’m always expecting backlash because it’s different than what we’ve normally done,” Foxx said. “Here in Cook County, we have been very much entrenched in a culture with our justice system that had been very punitive, that … the way to fight crime was to just lock everybody up.”
Foxx is firing back: “As a former and longtime defense attorney, Mayor Irvin knows all too well, of the evolution in sentencing laws, which he has used to advocate for the criminal defendants whom he represented,” her office said in a statement. “The resentencing initiative recognizes that the sentences previously imposed would be less if imposed today. The purpose of the law is to address that discrepancy.”
The Pritzker folks took aim at both Foxx and Irvin.
“The governor had hoped prosecutors would’ve first prioritized those who committed non-violent offenses,” they said in a statement. “This decision sends the wrong message at this moment in time.”
Still, they added, “As we continue to put forth good-faith solutions to both reduce crime and reform our criminal justice system, we will not be lectured by Republicans who see crime as yet another issue to exploit for cheap political shots. Richard Irvin can’t seem to decide what side of his mouth he wants to talk out of today and while he continues to ignore his long career profiting off of keeping violent criminals out of jail and free from accountability.”
The state’s most powerful politician once explained that while mulling a tough decision, he’d often glance across his desk at a photo of the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley “and just ask myself, ‘What would he do?’ It’s very helpful.”
Michael Madigan’s fealty to the man both lauded and lambasted as “the Boss,” who died nearly a half-century ago, is understandable. Madigan, who made a hobby of collecting and consolidating power in nearly four decades as speaker of the Illinois House, owed his career to Daley, who halfway into his 21-year iron rule of Chicago took the young law school graduate under his wing.
But the anecdote in “The House that Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer,” by Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, due for release Tuesday by the University of Illinois Press, hints at the 79-year-old Madigan’s undoing. His endurance flowed from his agility to change with attitudes and times — a young Catholic conservative who came to embrace abortion rights, same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana. But the attitudes and times ultimately outlasted his allegiance to the old ways. […]
To Madigan, who declined Long’s request to be interviewed, democracy and its institutions are a fulcrum to elevate the working class. An added bonus was fueling his power “by helping people through the government maze, and particularly the people who helped him with elections,” said Long, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist.
“I cannot imagine seeing a plea deal in this case,” said Nancy DePodesta, a former federal prosecutor and current white-collar criminal defense lawyer at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr. “I also think that you’re going to see a significant delay before this case goes to trial.” […]
In defending himself, Madigan could argue, DePodesta said, that much of what the government describes as racketeering isn’t that far beyond the parameters of what would be expected from anyone in a powerful office such as speaker of the House.
“So I think that if I’m the defense, I certainly want to try to minimize some of the statements, point to some of the things that perhaps the speaker did not say,” she said. “Certainly, explain what it means to be the speaker of the House, and what are some of the functions that are expected in in that capacity.” […]
“The government is not limited to the evidence that it has on the date of indictment,” she said. “In fact, it is very common for the government’s case to improve and become an even stronger case, as they continue to investigate and prepare for trial.”
* St. Patrick’s day fundraising email from the ILGOP…
Friend,
From Madigan’s indictment to Pritzker’s corrupt administration falling apart, corrupt Illinois Democrats have had a very UNLUCKY month. Perhaps that’s why Pritzker has dumped a whole pot of gold into his Facebook ad campaign.
Give some gold to our FIRE PRITZKER fund
Pritzker and his corrupt Democrat allies are ready to dump even more gold into clearing their names and deflecting from answering for their deeds. That’s why we’re asking you to chip in $17 to make sure Democrats’ luck RUNS DRY!
This St. Patrick’s Day, Illinoisans can raise a glass to the wheels of justice finally beginning to spin, but we can’t get complacent. There’s still lots of Springfield corruption that needs to be cleaned out.
We know we can count on you to take back Illinois. A truly LUCKY campaign season starts with your generous contribution.
Sincerely,
Illinois Republican Party
CONTRIBUTE
* Former one-term Democratic state Rep. Diane Pappas was recently appointed to the vacancy created when Sen. Tom Cullerton resigned. Maria Gardner at the Daily Herald caught up with her…
Pappas said her background as a Poland-born immigrant who moved to the United States with her family at the age of 10 has affected her point of view on a key question facing Democrats — the future influence of former House Speaker Michael Madigan,
Madigan, who resigned from the House after failing to win the speakership last year, was charged in federal court last week with 22 counts of corruption. He remains state central committeeman for the 3rd Congressional District, and party leaders have called for him to resign. Pappas, however, said she sees that decision as a personal choice for the former House speaker, who she said should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
In communist Poland where she grew up, “the presumption of innocence, if it even existed, was in name only,” she said
“You shouldn’t have to give up the things you’ve worked hard for just because you’ve been accused of something,” she said. “We have a judicial system because we thought that would be a fair way to determine these kinds of outcomes.”
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police’s top campaign priority this spring is defeating Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) in the Democratic primary. The police group is backing Chicago police detective Erin Jones, who not long ago was described as a “loyal member” of the Northwest Side GOP Club.
The previous practice in that area of fielding Republican candidates against Democrats in the general election has simply not worked. In 2018, then-Rep. Martwick defeated Republican Ammie Kessem, a Chicago police sergeant and the current 41st Ward Republican committeeperson, by 21 points. Lindsey LaPointe was appointed to Martwick’s seat when Martwick was appointed to the Senate in 2019, and she buried Republican police detective Jeff Muehlfelder by 20 points in the 2020 general election. The failed Republican push in both years, and even long before that, was a project of GOP operative Dan Proft and folks affiliated with the Illinois Policy Institute.
Republicans have also run in Democratic primaries in that part of the world with disastrous results, but they’re going to try again with Detective Jones.
In addition to the Martwick vs. Jones race, LaPointe faces famed 911 dispatch operator Keith Thornton, who managed the radio response to Officer Ella French’s fatal shooting, and realtor Tina Wallace in the June 28 primary. Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) is up against Carolynn Crump, a cop with a PhD in business administration, as well as Steven Williams.
As noted above, Martwick is at the very tippity top of the FOP’s hit list. FOP President John Catanzara made it clear to his members last week that any politician who endorses or helps Martwick will feel the fiery wrath of his union.
Martwick, LaPointe and Harper all voted for the SAFE-T Act, the police and criminal justice reform bill that Catanzara said on a Facebook video last week was backed by the “Black Caucus and a ridiculously left-leaning agenda, radical Democrats in Springfield.” The Chicago FOP, Catanzara said, “has been very clear none of those members who voted for that [bill] will get any support from the FOP. Period.” Harper chairs the Legislative Black Caucus.
Catanzara also said in the video message that he told three Northwest Side alderpersons, who are loyal to the Chicago Firefighters Union, that if they back Martwick in the primary there will be consequences when they run for reelection next year. They and any others could introduce or even pass all the police-friendly ordinances they wanted, but it wouldn’t matter if they stood with Martwick over the cops, he warned.
Martwick himself has taken tremendous media heat for sponsoring a pension sweetener bill for the Chicago police, but the police union doesn’t care. They want that man gone, end of story.
Martwick is also absolutely despised by the charter school lobby, and those folks may wind up spending significantly more against him than the FOP, which recently boosted dues for its political push against its enemies.
I think LaPointe could be viewed as collateral damage. The cops definitely don’t like her, yet they don’t hate her with the intensity that they hate Martwick. But she represents half of Martwick’s district, so they might as well take both shots while they’re mucking around in Martwick’s neighborhood. Same goes for the charter schools.
One issue for the FOP is that LaPointe’s other opponent Tina Wallace will likely not bow out in favor of 911 dispatcher Thornton, who reportedly has district residency issues and has an opposition research file that’s like five miles deep. The general rule of thumb for incumbents when it comes to primary opponents is ‘The more the merrier,’ because multiple opponents can split the opposing vote into smaller fragments. But Wallace will undoubtedly want a clear shot at a majority-wins, two-way primary and will likely try to kick Thornton off the ballot.
The Illinois Association of Realtors is almost always supportive of any member, like Wallace, who runs for office. Coincidentally, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools hired the Realtors’ top political person away from them not long ago, so the two groups now have a lot in common.
Meanwhile, Crump will be “fully supported” by the FOP against Harper, who had real trouble gathering candidate petitions.
A gigantic question remains whether the FOP, INCS and the Realtors can convince enough conservative Chicagoans to take Democratic ballots to vote against liberal Democratic incumbents in liberal districts, instead of voting Republican. It’s not an easy ask and it almost never works, despite all the money that’s about to be dumped into these races.
It pretty much goes without saying that if the FOP loses these primaries, it’ll be tough to make the case to city council members that they need to be obeyed.
