Afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore’s testimony has concluded…
* Capitol News Illinois…
Faculty at Governors State University ended a strike on Monday after being on the picket line for five days. […]
Union members at Chicago State University ended their 10-day strike on Sunday and those at Eastern Illinois University ended their six-day strike last Thursday. […]
Bargaining is also ongoing between administrators and faculty at Northeastern Illinois University. The faculty union there voted to authorize a strike last week and has also requested mediation.
* Rep. Joe Sosnowski’s HR176…
Encourages the further development of Liberland and the efforts of its government and citizens to establish a new partner in guaranteeing the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Requests the President of the United States, the Secretary of the State, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to consider recognizing the Free Republic of Liberland.
Wikipedia…
Liberland, also known as the Free Republic of Liberland, is a micronation in Southeast Europe claiming an uninhabited parcel of disputed land on the western bank of the Danube, between Croatia and Serbia (locally known as Gornja Siga). It was proclaimed on 13 April 2015 by the Czech right-libertarian politician and activist Vít Jedlička. […]
Legal experts in both Serbia and Croatia have said that, under international law, Jedlička lacks the right to claim the area, which is currently the subject of a dispute between the two nations. Croatia and Serbia have dismissed Jedlička’s claims as frivolous, although the two countries have reacted in different ways.
* Press release…
Davis Family Asks for Privacy and Prayers After Medical Emergency and Car Accident
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On Tuesday, April 11th, after experiencing a medical emergency, State Representative William “Will” Davis of the 30th District was involved in a minor car accident.
The Davis family wishes to thank the first responders for their expeditious response as well as the medical staff for the excellent care he is receiving.
He and his family are very appreciative of the prayers, thoughts, support and well-wishes. During this time, as he focuses on making a full recovery, the family respectfully asks for privacy.
Representative Davis’ office will continue to serve the constituents of the 30th District.
* Press release…
Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin announced today she is forming a federal committee to explore a run for Congress in Illinois’ Seventh Congressional District.
“Today, I am taking steps to run for Congress to serve the people of Illinois’ Seventh Congressional District. I’ve lived in this district my entire life and I understand the bold leadership that is needed to breathe new life into our communities. We all deserve a quality education, economic opportunities, and a safe neighborhood — no matter where we are born. It’s been my mission to serve, and I am ready to put myself forward,” she said
Conyears-Ervin added:
“Unfortunately, congressional races are long, logistically complicated, and expensive. I am taking this step today in order to ensure that I have the proper infrastructure to hit the ground running when the right time comes. Congressman Danny Davis has ably served the people of the Seventh District for many years. Whenever he should choose to retire, I will be running to succeed him and continue his legacy of service.”
* Tribune…
New mayors have often entered office at a disadvantage when they discover a massive budget deficit their predecessor left behind.
When Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office in 2011, he pegged the city’s budget shortfall at $636 million, blaming predecessor Richard M. Daley for profligate spending. Mayor Lori Lightfoot faced similar circumstances in 2019, when she said Emanuel left her an $838 million gap.
But the outgoing mayor’s financial team said Tuesday the administration is leaving Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson with a projected budget gap of just $85 million for his first year.
That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the city’s overall $16.7 billion budget. That gap would remain “relatively low” in 2025 at $124 million and 2026 at $145 million if Johnson’s administration sticks to his predecessor’s recommended budget practices, city officials project.
Sponsored
* M3 Strategies released a number of polls during the mayoral campaign. Turns out, the Republican firm was also paid $363,731.74 by Paul Vallas during the first quarter for various services.
By the way, Paul Vallas made just one campaign contribution out of his political action committee during the entire first quarter: $65,000 to Ald. Roderick Sawyer’s 6th Ward. Brandon Johnson won that ward 82-18.
Also, the Vallas campaign paid Ikoro LLC $500,000 during the quarter. $20K of that was for consulting, and the other $480K has the notation “Disputed - not verified.” According to state records, Ikoro LLC is owned by Chima Enyia, the former executive director of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
The rather odd Keith Thornton, last seen disrupting a Brandon Johnson event, got $20K. Tyrone Muhammad also got in on the Vallas action. The founder of Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change is perhaps best known for disrupting a trans rights rally and for being paid $250,000 by Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC and for palling around with Tom DeVore. Muhammad received $12,000 for consulting.
* Press release…
Today, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office announced it has filed a lawsuit against the nation’s largest insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) demonstrating that the defendants had illegally conspired to artificially increase insulin prices in violation of the Illinois’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Over the past 25 years, the list price of certain insulins has greatly increased — in some cases by more than 1000%. This increase has vastly outpaced the consumer price index or the relevant rise in costs associated with manufacturing and research.
The lawsuit argues that manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, and PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, have leveraged their market power to increase profits at the expense of Lake County and the payors who need the lifesaving medication.
The filing is here.
* Isabel is on assignment, so you’re stuck with me…
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Chicago Tribune…
Shreya Nallamothu was scrolling through TikTok the summer before her freshman year of high school when she started to notice how much content featured children performing in professionally produced family videos, or “vlogs.”
The bill, which was passed unanimously by the Senate and is now before the House, would require that a minimum of half a video’s earnings, prorated based on the amount of time the person under 16 appears, be set aside in an account that is accessible only to the child when they turn 18. So, if a video made $100 and a minor was in half of the video, then that minor would be paid at least $25 for their work. If there are multiple children in the program, they would share the money evenly. […]
Jenny LeFlore, a full-time content creator in Chicago who provides online parenting recommendations, is supportive of the bill but sees flaws in some aspects of it.
She takes issue with the bill’s definition of “vlog” as “content shared on an online platform in exchange for compensation” and “vlogger” anyone who produces compensated video content, language she finds overly broad.
But LeFlore’s main problem is a requirement that channel owners closely document the time stamps for which their children are present on a vlog to ensure the children are allotted their proper payment.
* Brownfield Ag News…
Legislation in the Illinois General Assembly would allow students to participate in 4-H and FFA competitions and shows without being counted absent from school.
Pontiac FFA Advisor Jesse Faber chairs the Illinois Ag Education Legislative Committee. He tells Brownfield many schools start the academic year before the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair, which has caused conflict for 4-H and FFA members. […]
Faber says it is really no different than a student being excused to compete in a sporting event.
“That is exactly what we are asking for here, just the same recognition and treatment as if they were attending a music competition, a student council convention, or a track meet.” […]
Faber says the bill passed unanimously in the House and is expected to be picked up in the Senate once lawmakers return to session. He says the bill has strong bipartisan support and he is very optimistic that it will pass. Senator Doris Turner and Representative Sonya Harper are the lead sponsors.
* SB1896 is on First Reading in the House. Center Square…
A new Senate bill would allow Illinoisans to purchase a car without ever having to visit a dealership.
In a digital world, a person can buy just about anything from the comfort of home. In the Illinois Senate, state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, has Senate Bill 1896. If approved, car buyers in Illinois will be able to buy a car without ever having to visit a dealership.
SB1896 would change the Illinois Vehicle Code to clarify language pertaining to home delivery and electronic signatures. […]
Carvana, the national company that sells used cars online and delivers them directly to the customer’s driveway, is backing Joyce’s legislation because the company believes that it is not necessary to visit a dealer’s office in order to buy a car.
* Library Journal…
A bill that explicitly prohibits Illinois libraries from banning books is speeding its way toward passage by the General Assembly, and the Illinois Secretary of State said he wants “every librarian in the country to know we have their backs.” […]
HB 2789 passed the Illinois House 69–39 on March 22. Not a single Republican voted for the bill. “That’s insane, frankly,” said State Sen. Laura Murphy, a Democrat. In the past, she said, library-related bills in Illinois usually collected some GOP support. House Republicans who voted against the bill did not respond to LJ ’s request for comment.
The bill went to the Senate on March 23, had a first reading, and must now advance through committee before facing a full vote of the 59-member upper chamber. The spring legislative session ends on May 19. Democrats have a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly; they don’t require Republican votes to pass any legislation. In the state Senate, Dems hold a 40–19 advantage.
Murphy predicted HB 2789 would pass the Senate with at least a few GOP votes. She described herself as “pretty confident” Pritzker will sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. “He’s very supportive,” Giannoulis added of the governor.
* Illinois Health and Hospital Association…
Illinois hospital and health system leaders are calling on the General Assembly to pass several bills that will increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for hospitals, help deter violence against healthcare workers, and address staffing challenges to ensure hospitals can continue to provide access to quality healthcare for patients in all Illinois communities.
On Wednesday, April 19, nearly 100 leaders of hospital and health systems from across the state will meet with legislators from their respective districts during Hospital Advocacy Day organized by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA).
“We are grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Illinois General Assembly to outline the many challenges hospitals are still facing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including growing cost pressures, physical and verbal assault against healthcare workers, and staffing shortages,” said A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President and CEO. “We must work together to address these critical issues to advance health, ensure equity, keep our healthcare workforce strong and safe, and protect access to patient care in all Illinois communities.”
During Hospital Advocacy Day, hospital and health system leaders will urge members of the Illinois General Assembly to vote in support of the following healthcare bills:
-Senate Bill 1763, sponsored by Sen. Ann Gillespie (D – Arlington Heights) and Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), advances a 20% increase to hospital Medicaid reimbursement rates. Without additional state support, access to care will continue to suffer as hospitals are forced to close units, limit services or, in extreme cases, consider closure. The bipartisan legislation would provide the first General Revenue Fund (GRF) Medicaid base rate increase for hospitals in 28 years.
-To deter the increasingly vicious physical, emotional and verbal attacks, IHA introduced Senate Bill 1863 to make it clear that those who harm healthcare professionals will be held accountable under the law. The commonsense bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sen. John F. Curran (R-Lemont) and Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), includes violence against a healthcare worker in a healthcare setting as an aggravating factor a judge can consider during sentencing.
-House Bill 559, sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Highwood), allows providers holding temporary out-of-state licenses the opportunity to apply for a permanent Illinois license and to continue to work for up to an additional 12 months until the Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues the permanent license or denies the application. The legislation extends similar flexibilities to providers seeking reinstatement of their Illinois license. In light of the state’s well-documented healthcare worker shortage, this legislation offers a commonsense winding down period for healthcare professionals currently working in the state’s hospitals on a temporary COVID-19 out-of-state license. House Bill 559 supports hospital and health systems’ efforts to sustain and grow the state’s healthcare workforce.
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Get it together, people
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Crain’s on the weekend violence…
But the alderman who represents much of downtown, Brendan Reilly, 42nd, blamed police for letting the situation get out of hand.
“This feels a bit like Groundhog Day — every year, on our first warm weather weekend, it seems that (Chicago Police Department) leadership is caught flat-footed and overwhelmed by these large groups of juveniles on our beaches and in our parks,” Reilly said. “My colleagues and I will be demanding a briefing to ensure that CPD has drafted a plan and that it will be implemented immediately to prevent incidents like this from occurring again.” […]
Police sources emphasize that, after earlier events, steps were taken to secure Millennium Park and that there was a considerable police presence available to deter looting. But sources also report that the department needs to improve internal communication between units that monitor social media and patrol officers. In addition, the department is planning steps to ensure more command personnel are on hand to make quick decisions during future such incidents.
This happens pretty much every year and they’re only now fixing to get ready to do these things?
* Sun-Times…
Downtown Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said the gatherings fueled by social media devolved into three nights of “mayhem” because of a “total breakdown in command and control” at the Chicago Police Department.
“We’ve had more than our share of downtown mass arrest incidents going back over a decade. This is not new,” Hopkins said. “What is new is to have it happen three days in a row.” […]
Hopkins said interim police Supt. Eric Carter and Chief of Patrol Brian McDermott got into a shouting match Saturday night, and there was a heated disagreement between “Chicago police leadership and CTA management about who was in charge” of determining whether to cut off mass transit service to downtown.
“There should be all sorts of contingency plans in place for when these incidents occur,” Hopkins said. “Instead, we had an absolute meltdown of command and control. Nobody knew who was in charge.”
Unreal.
* Tribune…
“I don’t feel safe in my city anymore,” said Raul Montes, a Little Village activist who held a news conference Monday afternoon to demand Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson reinforce the city’s 10 p.m. curfew for teens enacted in May last year by City Council following a teen’s fatal shooting at The Bean in Millennium Park.
That curfew was an abject failure. WTTW…
Chicago’s extended and expanded teen curfew — touted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot as the way to put an end to a spate of downtown violence among young Chicagoans — was enforced by police only four times between May 17 and Aug. 18, according to data obtained by WTTW News.
* Back to the Tribune…
On Monday night, Chicago police issued a statement that it would be “actively and continuously” reviewing “open source social media” and that “additional resources will be available to protect those who are visiting, living or working in the areas of large gatherings. Resources include an increased police and command staff presence at these gatherings citywide.”
It said that the “Strategic Decision Support Centers (SDSCs) will also be monitoring all activity and police cameras to assist in the proactive reallocation of resources when necessary.”
“Additional security measures such as bag checks at beach entry points and the curfew for minors at Millennium Park” will be in place,” the statement said. “CPD is also working closely with youth and outreach workers for when these gatherings occur.”
The CPD needs to coordinate much more closely with outreach groups. The cops are clearly overwhelmed and it’s time they admit that. And these outreach groups need to step the heck up.
* WBEZ…
Chicago in recent years has invested more resources in non-policing solutions to violence.
[Norman Kerr, a local public safety expert] said the city could employ a team of anti-violence workers to patrol downtown hot spots on the weekend and help turn down the temperature when situations get heated.
“There has to be some sort of investment in a cadre of individuals who can [stop] some of the conflicts that are brewing. They can help to mitigate it,” Kerr said. He said those teams must be property funded and put in place before kids get downtown.
* Thanks for the news flash, Chicago Tribune editorial board…
Part of the issue here is that teens now use social media to organize very quickly. Those of previous generations are familiar with how kids used to spend hours just trying to find the right time and place to meet up. As an episode of the public radio show “This American Life” once explored, teenagers used to spend all their energy figuring out a plan.
Now huge numbers of teens are interconnected. One posts where to go and when, and hundreds, if not thousands, heed the call. Demonstrably, they move far faster than police.
Gee, you think? C’mon. Social media has been around longer than some of these kids have been alive. And it’s helped generate organized downtown violence for nearly that long. Where is that editorial board even from? Did they just drop in from Mars?
* CBS 2…
Chicago Loop Alliance responded to the crowds by saying, “Our Chicago Loop Alliance ambassadors and unarmed security remained vigilant of the situation throughout the night. While this is not a frequent occurrence in the Loop, we are prepared to work with all relevant partners and parties in response to when these trends are detected.”
We’ve seen social media posts encouraging teens to come into the Loop and fight.
CBS 2 reached out to the CPD to ask if they know how this started, and they said they have no clue how this was organized.
“No clue.”
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* Senate President Don Harmon…
I want to compliment Leader Curran on the amicable nature of our ongoing discussions. We’ve had encouraging talks with our Republican colleagues on how to work together toward shared goals that further the state’s economic success and stability. I look forward to reviewing their proposals and seeing where we can find common ground.
* SJ-R…
Minority Senate Leader John Curran and fellow Senate Republicans argued the state’s fiscal standing should be used to help businesses through legislation being pushed by its caucus and lowering taxes.
The virtually-held press conference centered on a handful of bills Republicans believe will keep businesses from leaving Illinois. Most of them, however, have been referred to the Senate Assignments Committee which likely means voting action will not happen before the end of the spring session on May 19.
While Democrats have argued that its policies are helping business and labor interests, state Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, says departures of companies such as Caterpillar and Boeing show the state is not being a welcoming environment to employers.
“We don’t just want businesses to locate here in Illinois, we should be incentivizing the ones that are already here to grow and thrive,” he said.
* Crain’s…
Clearly the biggest ask is to kill the state’s estate tax, which through the three quarters of this fiscal year had pulled in more than $400 million. Getting that through a body in which Democrats have super-majorities in both chambers will be very difficult, legislative sources said.
Possibly with better chances are bills that would remove a $100,000-a-year deduction cap on business loss carryforwards on Dec. 31, a year earlier than now planned; extend and enhance R&D credits, repeal the franchise tax, and implement new credits for headquarters locations and employment. The headquarters credit would net any company that qualifies, including small businesses, $100 for each year it was based in the state. The employment credit would create a new credit of $100 per worker.
Curran said Democrats have been receptive in private talks, but only to a point.
“We have begun conversations,” Curran said. “Generally, there’s been some willingness to do things for business” but no specific commitments.
* Full SGOP press release…
As Illinois’ unfriendly business climate has pushed large companies to leave the state or significantly reduce their corporate presence, members of the Senate Republican Caucus shared a package of business advocacy initiatives to help Illinois better compete, create jobs, and boost its economy.
“Illinois is rich with potential, an educated workforce, and a long history of innovation,” said Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grover). “Unfortunately, in 2021, in response to the defeat of the Progressive Income Tax Amendment, the Governor and the Democratic Majority passed a series of tax increases on Illinois businesses that continue to hold our job creators and job seekers back. Today we are here to advocate for policy solutions to help Illinois attract and retain businesses and investment in our communities.”
Leader Curran discussed Senate Bill 1810, which removes the $100,000 cap on the Net Operating Loss deductions on December 31, 2023, to help businesses invest and grow their organizations without revenue loss to the state.
Senator Win Stoller (R-Peoria), a business owner himself, introduced Senate Bill 1406 that makes good on the repeal of the franchise tax that the Governor and Democratic Majority stopped in 2021. The franchise tax includes three different taxes on money used to build a business as opposed to revenue or even net worth. Illinois is in the minority of states that impose such a tax.
“Our focus must be on enacting policies that attract and keep businesses in Illinois rather than discourage growth,” said Stoller. “Getting rid of the franchise tax removes a barrier that punishes employers for building their businesses in Illinois.”
Another measure that aims to attract and retain businesses in Illinois is Senate Bill 2140, proposed by Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport), which would reduce the filing fee for limited liability corporations by 50 percent. Chesney also cosponsored Senate Bill 140 that eliminates the Estate Tax for persons dying on or after the effective date, or for transfers made on or after the effective date.
“Illinois can and must do more to let businesses know that we value them and appreciate their decisions to locate and operate in the State of Illinois. Unfortunately, the policies coming out of Springfield convey just the opposite. We make our business owners jump through an inordinate number of hoops and we wrap them up in red tape,” said Chesney. “Rather than stifling the state’s job creators, let’s help them grow.”
The goal of Senate Bill 2075, proposed by Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett), is to support and retain the state’s legacy businesses. Lewis’ legislation would create a legacy tax credit for companies headquartered in Illinois, along with employee tax credits.
“We all live here because we either love Illinois, believe in its potential, or both. Our state has so much to offer. It is located in the heart of the nation, and it is a major transportation hub with state-of-the-art institutions and an educated citizenry that wants to work in a rewarding career. There is no reason why we cannot be a leader in the Midwest and nation for job creation and stability,” said Lewis. “This bill is one example of how we can make Illinois a place where people want to live, not leave.”
Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) has introduced several pieces of legislation poised to support job creators and spur innovation. His bills include Senate Bill 163, a tax credit to fund research and development, and Senate Bill 2084, which creates the Illinois Innovation Tax Credit.
“Rather than putting laws in place that push our job creators to take their business and jobs to other, more business-friendly states, we need to support them. We don’t just want businesses to locate in Illinois; we should incentivize them to grow and thrive here,” said DeWitte. “By unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit through R & D tax credits, we are encouraging individuals and corporations with great ideas to act, launch, and expand businesses right here in Illinois.”
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ComEd 4 trial coverage roundup
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Wrapping up this week?…
* Hannah Meisel | Former ComEd CEO testifies she was unaware of Madigan allies’ monthly checks for no work: Asked if Madigan had “taken good care of” her, Pramaggiore said “not in the legislative sense,” but did indicate that her teen son had gotten the opportunity to volunteer with the Democratic Party of Illinois during both the 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, which she’d suspected was because of Madigan. Pramaggiore faces cross-examination from prosecution on Tuesday, and the defense on Monday indicated it would wrap up its case by the end of the week.
* Amanda Vinicky | Former ComEd CEO Distances Herself From Michael Madigan During 2nd Day on the Stand: Pramaggiore told a federal jury that she was thankful to McClain, John Hooker — another co-defendant and ComEd executive — but, only added appreciation for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on that call because she was doing the CEO version of kissing up. “I always included the speaker when I’m talking to Mike McClain. He revered the speaker. The speaker loomed large in his life and I knew that,” she said. “It’s kind of like throwing in something about a family members, ‘I enjoyed meeting your spouse or your son or daughter.’”
* Tribune | ‘We weren’t bribing Speaker Madigan’: Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore back on witness stand in her own defense in ‘ComEd Four’ case: And the jobs given to 13th Ward acolytes? The summer internships doled out by ComEd to college kids recommended by the speaker? The utility’s hiring of a law firm headed by Democratic operative and longtime Madigan associated Vicor Reyes? None of it had anything to do with any illegal scheme, she said. “No, we weren’t bribing Speaker Madigan,” Pramaggiore said bluntly at one point Monday.
* Sun-Times | On witness stand, former ComEd CEO denies knowing contractors were tied to Madigan: Pramaggiore suggested in the call that Marquez tell Dominguez “it’s probably a good time to make a switch,” but she suggested he wait until after the end of the legislative session. She said they did not want someone to get “their nose out of joint,” forcing ComEd to give someone “a five-year contract because we’re in the middle of needing to get something done in Springfield.” She also mentioned turnover in the legislature. On Monday, Pramaggiore explained that she didn’t understand who the subcontractors would have been affiliated with in the legislature. She said she mentioned turnover because she was thinking “maybe those legislators are no longer in the legislature.”
* CBS Chicago | Former ComEd CEO denies she tried to bribe former Speaker Madigan: She went on to say ComEd didn’t view Madigan as a friend or ally, but a “classic Democrat” who was “very pro-consumer which made him not very supportive of businesses as a natural matter.” Prosecutors spent weeks detailing how they said ComEd got legislation passed by influencing and paying off Madigan’s people. That included payments ComEd made to allies of Madigan, brought on as subcontractors who prosecutors said were paid thousands of dollars a month, but never did any real work for the utility company.
* ABC Chicago | Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore returns to stand in bribery case: “Are you aware of anything that Speaker Madigan did to get these bills passed?” asked defense attorney Scott Lassar. “No,” replied Pramaggiore.
* Crain’s | Anne Pramaggiore explains what she meant when caught on those wiretaps: Another example was the May 2018 call in which Pramaggiore excitedly told McClain about her coming promotion to become CEO of all of Exelon’s utility subsidiaries, not just ComEd. Referring to McClain, Madigan and ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, she told McClain, “Never would have happened without you and John and the speaker. … ‘Cause the only reason I’m in this position is ‘cause ComEd has done so well, and you guys have been my spirit guides.” Asked to explain, she said she was referring to McClain and Hooker with the “spirit guides” comment. Not Madigan.
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* WBEZ…
Nearly half of all medical positions inside Illinois prisons are currently unfilled, according to a new report from a court-appointed monitor that found the staffing shortages are a “crisis” that “threatens the safety” of people locked up.
The monitor was assigned to evaluate prison conditions as part of a court settlement. Attorney Harold Hirshman who worked on the lawsuit over prison health care said the monitor’s report was “terrible, as usual” and undercuts the state’s positive rhetoric. […]
The damning monitor’s report comes more than a decade after a federal lawsuit alleged medical care in Illinois prisons was so poor it violated the constitution. The lawsuit settled in 2019, but the monitor says at least some aspects of the prison health care system are actually worse than they were then. Meanwhile, the private company in charge of providing medical care inside Illinois prisons recently saw its contract expire, and the state is now soliciting bids for a new health care contract.
The state generally declines to respond to questions related to litigation and neither the Illinois Department of Corrections nor Gov. JB Pritzker responded to requests for comment.
* From the report…
IDOC has made progress and improvements in several areas. But, IDOC is approaching the fourth year under the Consent Decree that is expected to last ten years. After nearly four years, few of the major deficiencies and fewer of the essential elements that resulted in the Consent Decree have been corrected and some have worsened. Though IDOC said it needs more than 300 additional staff, there are fewer health care staff working now than before the Consent Decree was signed. Fifty percent of physician positions are vacant. Forty six percent of total health care positions are currently vacant. There are significant vacancies of supervisory staff at all levels including facility Directors of Nursing, supervising registered nurses, Medical Directors, and Health Care Unit Administrators. The statewide Infection Control Coordinator and Quality Improvement Coordinator positions are both temporarily assigned and lack qualifications for the position. Neither of these programs are fully operational. This staffing shortage is critical and results in patients not receiving adequate care.
The electronic medical record is still not implemented, furthermore there is no contract for an electronic record vendor. If a contract were signed today, it will likely take an additional two or more years to effectively implement the electronic record. This would likely be in the seventh year of Consent Decree.
* WGLT…
Work on mandated policies and procedures is “sporadic and disorganized,” said the report. Among those reports is a required review of inmate deaths. The average number of inmate deaths for the past six years is about 90, the report noted, but has varied considerably due to the COVID pandemic.
All deaths should include an autopsy and be included in a comprehensive quarterly report, the monitor recommended, with an opportunity for staff to “provide anonymous information regarding events surrounding a death with an aim toward improving patient safety.”
Specific examples of alleged failures by IDOC to care for inmates who died in prison are cited in the report. A man identified as Mortality Patient 9 arrived at the state’s Northern Reception Center in Joliet on June 3, 2021 with three prescriptions for psychotropic medications. He refused to take the drugs on June 29 and 30 and accepted his final dose on July 2 before his transfer to Shawnee Correctional Center six days later.
The paperwork for the man’s transfer did not include the fact that his medication had expired six days earlier and that he had twice refused to see a psychiatrist the week before. A nurse noticed the lapsed prescription and another order was written but he did not receive the pills until July 15, a lapse of 13 days without the medications.
In December, Mortality Patient 9 was moved to Menard Correctional Center with paperwork that omitted major factors related to his medications and declining mental health, the report noted. Three months later, he committed suicide. A suicide review stated that the record sent to Menard “was missing documentation that would have indicated the need for crisis follow-up,” said the monitor’s summary.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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Open thread
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Here you go!…
* Cardinal Cupich | Lawmakers have the opportunity to improve education for all Illinois children: While I am a strong advocate for Catholic education, I am also an advocate for families who choose public school education. Everybody wins when parents, who know their children best, have the opportunity to pick the schools that meet their children’s needs. Lawmakers have three specific actions they can take this spring to strengthen quality educational opportunities for all children.
* Capitol News Illinois | Democratic Justices, citing Republican predecessor, won’t step aside from assault weapons case: According to campaign finance records, both judicial candidates received $500,000 each from the JB for Governor campaign and another $500,000 each from the Jay Robert Pritzker Revocable Trust. Both also received contributions from Welch’s campaign committee, $350,000 for O’Brien and $150,000 for Rochford.
* Tribune | Bears stadium development could on hinge on TIF money — a financial tool that’s had varying success in Arlington Heights: The Bears’ say they will pay to build a new stadium, but would only proceed with their planned $5 billion mixed-use development if they get tax “certainty” and public funding for infrastructure such as roads, utilities and stormwater management. Apartments, condominiums and other development planned for the site would be built by private developers — and could mean the added expense of more students for local schools.
* Tribune | Illinois Senate committee hears array of ideas on implementing an elected school board in Chicago: “An elected school board will provide our communities with greater accountability, a way to hold CPS leaders responsible for the decisions that impact our children and our neighborhoods,” state Sen. Omar Aquino, a Chicago Democrat who was educated in CPS, said during Monday’s virtual hearing.
* Center Square | Pritzker pitches Illinois bonds to investors in New York: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other state officials were in New York previewing $2.45 billion in bonds the state is selling. Illinois Director of Capital Markets Paul Chatalas said they’re looking to go to market Wednesday.
* Politico | America’s Looming Conflict: Red Judges vs. Blue Governors: Pritzker, 58, made plain in our conversation that he is not looking for war with the federal judiciary. Yet in many respects war has come to him and other blue state governors, as a cohort of conservative legal activists on the federal bench flex their new power with rulings that strain constitutional credibility.
* BGA | How a FOIA Loophole in Illinois Puts Kids at Risk: A BGA Policy analysis of the 16 county detention centers across Illinois has found that only three successfully have completed audits mandated by federal law to enforce protections against sexual assault. Analysis of those audits, policy manuals and other data provided to BGA Policy shows that in the wake of blowback at the Cook County facility over use of room confinement, that disciplinary action is still commonly used in many facilities, with some confining youth for over 24 hours at a time.
* Sun-Times | Alderman blasts fractious CPD leadership for flat-footed response to violent weekend gatherings: Officials fought amongst themselves and street cops were overwhelmed, Ald Brian Hopkins said, as groups of teens jumped on cars and set fires in the Loop — and at least three teens were shot. ‘Nobody knew who was in charge,’ Hopkins said.
* WBEZ | Can CTA get back on track? New data show a workforce still in flux.: At the monthly meeting of the Chicago Transit Board on Wednesday, President Dorval Carter expressed optimism that the agency has stopped the “hemorrhaging” of employees it experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and has started to fill the hundreds of vacancies on the bus and rail side.
* Sun-Times | Ed Burke Day proposed, then pulled — at Burke’s request: After a political uproar that dragged on for hours, 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez on Monday abandoned efforts to declare May 15 — inauguration day for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson — as “Ald. Edward M. Burke Day” in Chicago. Lopez said he pulled the plug at the request of Burke, the indicted and now retiring City Council member who apparently had no interest in ending his record 54-year tenure amid a political controversy to match the legal quagmire he is in.
* USA Today | Homeowner charged with shooting Missouri teen who went to the wrong house: An 85-year-old white man has been charged with armed assault after he shot and injured a Black teen who showed up at the wrong address. But charging documents neglect a “racial component” to the incident in which Andrew Lester twice shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl at his front door in Kansas City, prosecutors said.
* AP | Oklahoma officials accused of talk of killing journalists: Oklahoma’s governor is seeking the resignation of four county officials after a newspaper’s audio recording apparently captured some of them complaining about two of the paper’s journalists and knowing hit men and where two holes are dug. A portion of the recording was released by the paper, and it also appears to capture one of the four making racist comments about Black people.
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Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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