* Background is here if you need it…
…Adding… Last week, Bailey was making fun of Richard Irvin for not answering questions and abruptly ending an interview…
Now, friends, you’ve got to scroll down and watch the last post that we posted last night with this Democrat Mayor Irvin that the Republican establishment has propped up to to run for governor. You’re going to love this. He’s had that, for the first time and two weeks since they’ve announced he’s been starting to having interviews. He is bombing them bad. Last night, you know, he said he was no one’s pushover. And yesterday in my live I mentioned that well, you know, you don’t push puppets you pull puppets. And in an interview last night he was asked about the abortion issue. And you could hear someone in the background saying this interview is over. And then he looked at them, he paused and he said well, I think this interview is over. Watch the one and a half minute clip that we posted. It was on Fox 32 last night.
He will not answer the Trump question. He won’t talk about who he voted for in the past. And it just seems like we’re living in some crazy days here in Illinois.
Indeed, Senator. Indeed.
…Adding… More…
…Adding… Does the candidate have a hearing problem?…
…Adding… From the campaign…
IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT MANDATES Senator Bailey was asked “do you believe President Trump when he said it was unvaccinated people driving hospitalizations and deaths…” He replied that he didn’t agree Trump said that in regard to mandates. He then stated his opposition to mandates. Senator Bailey believes vaccines have helped save lives, but believes it should be a personal choice.
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* Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association…
“We are encouraged by the Governor’s decision to end the mask mandate in Illinois as Covid-19 cases have dropped to their lowest levels in more than two months. Restaurants continue to do their part to keep their diners and team members safe, and are eager to take this next step toward normalcy and recovery. This is a sure sign of hope for many restaurants throughout our state still struggling to rebuild their businesses.”
* Gary Rabine…
Illinois kids and parents go into day five of JB Pritzker’s mask mandate mess. Today, he will compound the chaos by beginning to lift the mandate for the general public but keep it in place for schools. Other states, including those with Democratic Governors, have figured this out. But when politics, not people, are your main concern as Governor, this is what happens. COVID chaos and a crime epidemic are Pritzker’s legacy. It’s time to take our state back.
* Center Square…
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, criticized the governor’s go-it-alone dictates that supermajority Democrats have left untouched. He said he has not been briefed by the governor on the plan.
“This is the typical approach of the governor over the past two years,” Durkin said during an unrelated news conference Wednesday. “I don’t know what he plans to say today, but I hope he does what other Democratic governors throughout the nation are doing saying that the masks are done. Let’s get back to business as usual. Let’s let business operators finally get back to work. Let’s let parents and children go back to schools without having to deal with this mask situation.” […]
The campaign of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who’s seeking the Republican nomination for governor for the right to challenge Pritzker in the November election, sent a statement before the governor’s announcement.
“A few short days ago, this Governor refused to end mandates saying we needed to ‘follow the science’ but today says everyone can remove their masks except the lowest risk population,” Irvin said in a statement. “Illinois is being led by a Governor who puts politics and special interests ahead of parents and their children. Enough is enough.”
* SGOP…
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie released the following statement in regard to the Governor’s new partial mask mandate, in which he failed to provide the specific data used to make his decision that schools must remain masked while lifting the mandate for everyone in most other places.
“One has to wonder if this is just about winning a lawsuit and maintaining his ability to exercise power over the people of this state.
“The Governor’s continued piecemeal approach isn’t working and leads to confusion and frustration. It’s time to get back to living in a sense of normalcy and that begins with empowering individuals to be responsible for themselves. Learning to live with COVID-19 means getting to the point where we trust individuals and families to make the best decisions for their own health and safety.”
* Sullivan…
Gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan issued the following statement:
“Under J.B. Pritzker’s new round of orders, Illinois kids don’t have to wear masks in restaurants, stores, museums or church - but they do in schools.
Mandates in schools won’t be lifted for weeks and he is already talking about reinstating them in the future.
This isn’t real science. It’s political science.
That’s unacceptable. It’s time to return parental control to our kids’ education.”
This post will likely be updated.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** That dog won’t hunt
Wednesday, Feb 9, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* When Gov. Pritzker announced the reinstatement of the mask mandate on August 26, 2021, hospitalizations were at 2,240, not 1,700 as claimed below. The mandate didn’t take effect until August 30, when 2,266 people were in the hospital, so Illinois was on an upswing, eventually peaking at 7,380 hospitalizations on January 12.
Illinois is currently at 2,496 hospitalizations, that’s 10 percent more than were in the hospital when the mandate went back into effect in August. During the past three weeks, hospitalizations have fallen 60 percent. It is not a stretch to believe that Illinois will be below, even well below, 2,266 hospitalizations by February 28th. Heck, they could even be below the mythical 1,700 at this rate.
From today’s press conference…
Q: Despite all that’s been said just now, and I’m not gonna surprise you, there are people who are still questioning this decision and say, ‘Is it really about the science or is it about your reelection?’ On Monday you said ‘hospitalizations’ three times.
A: Yes
Q: Well, when you put the mask mandate in place, hospitalizations were at 1,700. We’re not at 1,700 now.
A: No, we’re not.
Q: So why pick February 28?
A: Because we’re seeing a trajectory of those hospitalizations. We’ve come from 7,300, more than that, down to under 2,500 just in the last couple weeks. And over the next couple of weeks before we get to February 28 I think we all expect to see a continuation of that trend.
If you’re gonna claim politics are involved in this mask decision, find a better argument.
*** UPDATE *** I didn’t notice this before, but the state is projecting that just 500 people will be hospitalized with covid ten days from now, on February 19th. We haven’t been to that level since mid-July of last year. Click the pic for the full document…
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* Background is here (scroll down) for Leader Durkin’s letter to Gov. Pritzker if you need it…
February 9, 2022
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin
316 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Leader Durkin:
Thank you for your thoughtful letter. I’m sure it’s been as difficult for you as it has been for me to see the terrible toll this deadly pandemic has taken on our state. In Cook, DuPage and Will counties, excluding the City of Chicago, 9,628 Illinois residents lost their lives and 31,570 Illinoisans across the state had their lives cut short. I know we both agree that every life lost is a tragedy.
Throughout this pandemic it is the strength of the people of Illinois that has reminded me that together we can overcome the obstacles this disease continues to throw at us. Unlike at the beginning of this pandemic, we now have mitigation tools that help us prevent the spread of Covid-19, including vaccines and boosters, masks and testing. Many people have embraced the call to do all we can to keep each other safe, and it’s worked. Here in Illinois almost 70% of people 5 years and older are fully vaccinated, and for people 65+ —those who are most vulnerable to the debilitating impacts of this disease—over 85% are fully vaccinated. And Illinois has fared better than its neighbors because of mitigation efforts we’ve all undertaken. For instance, on August 30th, in the face of a growing threat from the Delta variant, Illinoisans put their masks back on – and we closed out 2021 with fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations per capita than anywhere else in the Midwest.
However, it’s unfortunate and disheartening that at the same you’re requesting that members of your caucus be more involved in decision-making about mitigation strategies, your members are spreading misinformation campaigns intended to confuse and plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the public. It’s shameful and harmful. Members of your caucus and of your party are riling up the most extreme activists against science and mitigation efforts. In recent social media posts, these fringe activists, fueled by elected Republican officeholders, threw in references evoking images of Nazis and concentration camps to appeal to the lowest forms of fear and hate humans possess. It would be helpful if you, as the leader of the House Republican caucus, would join me in both condemning their actions and standing up for science. I’m disappointed that that seems to be something you’re unwilling to do.
Despite your caucus’ attempts to undermine science-backed mitigation, I’m pleased to tell you that masks and other mitigation efforts have been so successful that, assuming hospitalization trends remain the same as they are today, I am able to lift the statewide mask mandate as of February 28th 2022.
Again, I want to emphasize that our state’s progress has been in spite of the best efforts of your members to undermine the hard work of scientists and perseverance of the people of Illinois. For your reference, I’ve attached a few examples of the shameful behavior members of your caucus have engaged in.
My team is briefing your caucus on elimination of the statewide mask mandate as you read this letter. It is my understanding that some local governments or businesses may wish to continue requiring masking. I support those efforts on the local level, and I hope you will support them as well.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if you decide it’s time to collaborate in our science-based fight against this deadly disease.
Sincerely,
Governor JB Pritzker
* Attachment…
Mazzochi: Conroy Bill Permits Cynical, Backdoor Approach to Vaccine Registry (repmazzochi.com)
By Deanne Mazzochi
Feb. 1, 2022
- Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst issued the following statement regarding HB 4060…Now Deb Conroy wants to move HB 4640, which will have the effect of doing covertly and dishonestly, what Rep. Morgan tried to do overtly and honestly–expand the power of IDPH, and any local public health authority, to attain peoples’ private medical records to create the registry, without patient knowledge or consent, so long as it created under the guise of “research.” After the people of Illinois spoke so strongly on this issue, it is an insult to try to achieve the same results through a sneaky back door approach. I call on Rep. Conroy to table the bill, and for Illinois residents to yet again explain to Rep. Conroy that they do not appreciate this cynical effort to have their private medical records targeted in this way, and for this purpose.”
Halbrook ‘adamantly opposed’ to latest Illinois COVID-19 bill | Chambana Sun
By Chambana Sun
Feb 6th, 2022
- Rep. Halbrook is quoted attacked Rep. Conroy’s bill and the article in general contains multiple false claims including that natural immunity is better than the vaccine.
Death threats and disunity- POLITICO
By Shia Kapos
Feb 2, 2022
- Conroy told Playbook she has closed down her office and is being escorted by police while investigators try to track down the origin of the threats, including a phone message that said, “I’ll take you by gunpoint.”
Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » The attacks on Rep. Deb Conroy are some of the most vile and revolting things I have ever heard and read in my entire life
By Rich Miller
Feb. 4, 2022
- …but I feel strongly that at least some of the voicemails left for Rep. Deb Conroy about her innocuous bill ought to be shared. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like this in all my years. They are profanity-laden, disgusting, misogynistic messages from hateful and violent-sounding people.
‘No thank you’: McLaughlin pans ‘any means necessary’ in Illinois COVID-19 laws | Lake County Gazette
Lake County Gazette
Feb. 3, 2022
- Conroy’s bill would allow the state to “isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments.” “Former Illinoisan Ronald Reagan said it best, ‘The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help,’” McLaughlin said. “ Uh ….no thank you on HB 4640 Rep. Conroy.”
Illinois House Republican wants to make discrimination over COVID-19 vaccines illegal
By Mike Miletich
Dec. 8, 2021
WIFR23
• Niemerg claims state leaders have used the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to “strip away rights” guaranteed in the United States constitution. He says his legislation is necessary to restore the right of conscience for Illinoisans.
Republicans predict hospitality industry will be challenged by mandates, not COVID
By Greg Bishop
Jan 4, 2022
The Center Square
• “I find it reprehensible that you need less information to vote or enter the country, it seems, than to go to a local pancake restaurant in Cook County,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve had enough frankly of elected officials acting as part-time epidemiologist telling us ‘it’s either vaccine or ventilator.’”
A collection of social media posts from House GOP members and County GOP Committees
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Politics makes strange bedfellows
Wednesday, Feb 9, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Synopsis of SB4053…
Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2023, the minimum widow’s annuity shall be no less than 150% (rather than 125%) of the Federal Poverty Level for all persons receiving widow’s annuities on or after that date, without regard to whether the deceased policeman or fireman is in service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.
An unfunded state-mandated pension sweetener supported by both the Chicago FOP’s John Catanzara and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot which is sponsored by Rep. Rob Martwick, and the Republicans on the committee all voted for it today.
If you’re at all confused by the references, just click those links.
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Pritzker previews mask mandate announcement
Wednesday, Feb 9, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor will have a press conference at 2 pm today to talk about the mask mandate issue, but he was asked a question about the reports about him partially lifting the mandate at his morning event…
People are tired of wearing masks, that’s for sure. But I have to say, I mean, an enormous compliment to the people of Illinois. We have done such a good job, you have done such a good job of keeping each other safe. We have lots of people who are vulnerable, or seniors who are immunocompromised, and lots of people who don’t know that they’ve got an underlying condition that when they’ve been hit with COVID-19 it devastates them and, and unfortunately, we’ve seen many, many people die.
But Illinois has done better than almost every state in the Midwest. In fact, we’re better than all of the states around us at keeping people healthy and safe and certainly out of the hospital during this last omicron wave, in part because people wear their masks.
So my intention is as we’ve seen these numbers peak at about 7400 hospitalizations, and heading downward significantly. We’re now I think, under 2500 hospitalizations, so that’s almost a third of where we were at the peak and heading even further downward. The intention is to lift the mask mandate in indoor locations by February 28.
Of course, we still have the sensitive locations of K-12 schools, where we have lots of people who are joined together in smaller spaces, thousands of people interacting in one location at a time. And so that’s something that will come weeks hence.
But very importantly, things are getting better across the state of Illinois. And that’s really a credit to leaders across the state, but really to the people of Illinois.
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* This has popped up on my feed a few times…
* So, I finally clicked the link…
Just six months ago while signing into law critical domestic violence legislation, the Governor spoke of being on a journey to end domestic violence. Yet domestic violence was the only essential service that lacked a significant investment in the Governor’s proposed budget. The minimal proposed increase will lead to a further depleted community of advocates and more survivors without access to services. The gender-based violence community maintains its request for an allocation of $50 million to address survivor needs.
The majority of Domestic Violence Advocates earn less than $40k annually while providing critical crisis intervention services with more hours and higher caseloads. As a result, Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline staff worked over 2,024 hours of overtime in the last two years.
Domestic violence programs remained open throughout the pandemic-providing a critical safety net for survivors. With limited funding, service providers are unable to provide the necessary wage to maintain an adequate and equipped staff. Investing in service providers means sustaining and increasing the capacity of domestic violence organizations to continue providing essential, quality services.
In 2021, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline received contacts from more than 32,000 individuals seeking assistance. This is over an eight percent increase in contacts from 2020, which was already a record-breaking year. Hotline texts saw a drastic increase of 42% from 2020 to 2021.
Throughout the pandemic, over 50% of surveyed providers reported receiving increased requests for services. Between pre-pandemic 2019 and 2021 service needs increased: shelter (4%), legal advocacy (123%), and counseling (26%). Regions in the state experienced over 2 months without domestic violence shelter beds, cribs, or bed and cribs in 2021.
Every year thousands of survivors are turned away from services as providers do not have the capacity to meet the need. Service providers have substantial waitlists that continue to grow. Programs are unable to provide critical legal and counseling services due to increased need and loss of staff capacity. With a lack of substantial investment in services and continuing increase in needs, more survivors will continue to be turned away or added to waitlists. One survivor was even murdered by the person causing them harm while on a service provider waitlist.
Survivors are also experiencing increased forms of violence as reflected by the drastically increasing rates of domestic violence homicides and shootings[8]. The number of these homicides and shootings in Chicago is already on track to outpace 2021 rates which were already 29% and 130% higher than pre-pandemic 2019, respectively. Law enforcement officials have said on record that the only way to reduce domestic violence shootings and violence is to increase services.
From what I could gather, nobody came forward during the governor’s budget drafting process to request significantly more money, so it wasn’t included. But that could change.
* I asked the governor’s office for a response. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
The Governor supports the critical work of addressing domestic violence and we look forward to working with advocates and legislators to continue supporting their efforts to keep families safe and healthy.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Feb 9, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The replies to this tweet were amusing…
* The Question: Do you have problems with open tabs? Please explain how you deal with them or why you don’t have any such problems.
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* Sun-Times…
A Cook County grand jury has declined to indict a man on a first-degree murder charge in connection with a December shooting that left a woman dead when she was struck by a stray bullet in Austin.
The case appears to be the first of it’s kind brought in the county since the state’s felony murder statute was changed as part of the SAFE-T Act — a landmark criminal justice reform bill that became state law last year.
The rewritten felony murder law was designed to narrow who could be charged with the state’s most serious offense — which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison — to a person alleged to be directly responsible for committing the murder. […]
Andrews faces a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. None of the current charges are eligible for probation. […]
“For decades, the legal system has relied on the practice of overcharging to coerce guilty pleas. Specifically, the felony murder rule has enabled the state to prosecute people for someone else’s actions, and sometimes even the state’s own actions,” the [Cook County Public Defender’s] office said. “As a result, far too many people in Illinois have served or are serving decades-long sentences for murders they did not commit and did not intend for anyone else to commit.”
* Richard Irvin campaign…
In response to the news that a man responsible for the shooting death of an innocent bystander will escape charges for her death due to JB Pritzker’s pro-criminal law, Mayor Richard Irvin released the following statement:
“An innocent life was lost, and the violent criminal will not be held accountable for her death because of the dangerous policies in JB Pritzker’s pro-criminal law. Unfortunately this is just the beginning of increases in crime and violence as more parts of this law take effect. Illinoisans deserve to feel safe in their communities, and need a Governor who will protect the working class over the criminal class.”
Just yesterday, Irvin launched a petition to repeal the dangerous anti-police policies that have empowered criminals and crippled law enforcement throughout Illinois.
I’ve asked the governor’s campaign for a response.
* Media advisory…
MEDIA ADVISORY: HGOP Calls for Repeal of SAFE-T Act After Pritzker Law Lets Criminal Evade Justice
WHO: House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Representatives Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva).
WHAT: House Republican legislators will discuss the devastating real life consequences of abolishing Illinois’ felony murder rule, a critical component of the SAFE-T Act.
WHEN: 11 AM on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell, Jr…
Hey Rich, the SAFE-T Act did not abolish the felony murder rule, it just changed it.
Now to be charged with felony murder, you or another participant in the underlying felony have to be the cause of the death.
So if people A, B and C were accused of robbing a bank together and either A, B or C killed D; A, B and C can still all be charged with felony murder no matter who pulled the trigger.
The change basically says to be charged with felony murder, you or someone in your group has to be accused of murdering someone.
The rule was routinely abused; cops chasing someone in a car, the cops runs into someone in a chase, they charge the guy being chased with murder.
…Adding… Restore Justice Illinois…
In 2021, Illinois narrowly tailored its felony-murder rule. The necessary change only ensures someone is culpable for first-degree murder before they face our state’s harshest possible punishment.
Today, Illinois House Republican members are holding a press conference to call for repeal of the SAFE-T Act and to mislead the public about the scope of the Act’s changes to the felony-murder rule.
FACTS
• The SAFE-T Act did not abolish the felony-murder rule.
• The change brought Illinois into line with the majority of other states.
• Under the current law, prosecutors may still charge people with felony murder in a variety of scenarios.
• The SAFE-T Act only narrowed the scope of the felony-murder rule. It removes the possibility of charging a person with first-degree murder when the killing was committed by a third party (i.e. a store owner or a police officer).
• Felony-murder is still a viable charge, and prosecutors can continue to use it to hold people accountable for deaths caused by themselves or other participants in the underlying felony.
• Lesser - but still severe - charges are always available in cases where felony murder is not appropriate. Many of these charges include long prison sentences with no possibility of parole or early release due to rehabilitation.
Before the SAFE-T Act, Illinois had one of the broadest felony murder laws in the country. People were charged with first-degree murder when a police officer, store owner, or other third party killed someone. Some states don’t have felony-murder laws, and in the majority of those that do, people can only be held accountable for deaths they or their co-defendants cause. The SAFE-T Act moved Illinois into that category.
Under the current law, a person can be charged with murder when they or their co-defendant directly cause the death but not when a third party kills someone.
Charging people with felony-murder, which is first-degree murder and carries a minimum sentence of 20 years (45 years if a gun is used), is an overreach in cases in which a third party kills a co-defendant. People convicted of first-degree murder today must serve their entire sentences; Illinois does not offer time off for rehabilitation nor does it offer parole-for-release opportunities to people 21 and over convicted of murder.
Long sentences do not deter crime. They continue to cause pain in the communities already torn apart by violence and over-incarceration. We need evidence-based responses to violence in Illinois’s communities.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Pritzker campaign…
Travis Andrews is facing a serious sentence, which will result in him going to prison for a long time if he is found guilty. Additionally, prosecutors still have a host of other charges available to them. The fearmongering from Republicans continues to know no bounds. Richard Irvin knows better than anyone the severity of felony charges without the possibility of parole, considering his marketing materials and how much money he’s made freeing criminals from accountability. The GOP’s near-constant exploitation of crime for their personal, political gain is disappointing, but not at all surprising.
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* Lynn Sweet…
What happened: On Friday, the RNC on a voice vote approved a resolution to censure Kinzinger, of Illinois, and Cheney, of Wyoming, and “no longer support them as members of the Republican party.”
Illinois National Committeeman Richard Porter and Illinois National Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte, members of the RNC, supported the measure.
Backfire: The censure resolution has backfire potential for Republicans because it said that Kinzinger and Cheney, the only two Republicans on the Jan. 6 panel, are participating in “a Democratic-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse, and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes.”
The problem: This “ordinary citizens” statement. Obviously, the Democrats can exploit this — the ad writes itself about violent rioters being “ordinary citizens.” On the other side of the coin, Republicans in primaries trying to out-Trump their competition — and make heroes out of the Jan. 6 mob — got a gift. […]
“It will be used against hundreds of elected Republicans who were not consulted in its drafting and do not endorse its sentiment. To the extent that the party did not intend this as the meaning — and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, already doing damage control, says it was not meant that way — its wording is political malpractice of the highest order coming from people whose entire job is politics.” [wrote the National Review editorial board]
* Greg Hinz…
Here in Illinois, as I recently wrote, the GOP is in the early stages of rebuilding itself. It has a nice slate of candidates for statewide office, a financier in Citadel’s Ken Griffin, and issues like crime and taxes with the power to attract votes.
But because Trump tried to do what no American president ever has done—retain power by any means necessary, be it misreading the Constitution, encouraging a riot or indicating he may well pardon the rioters if he regains the White House—Trump has set up a new threshold issue for every Republican running everywhere. And that is: Where do you stand? With Trump or against him?
Ergo a few days ago, barely had I mentioned the name “Trump” in an interview with GOP gubernatorial hopeful Richard Irvin when Irvin declared without prompting that Joe Biden is the president of the United States. But Irvin wouldn’t answer when I asked him three different times who he actually voted for in 2020. He’s between a GOP primary rock and a general election hard place.
Irvin has good reason to be skittish. In recent weeks, even as we’ve become numbed to the latest Trump revelations, just as we’ve become sick and tired of anything COVID, the threat that Trump posed and poses has become clearer than ever.
* Crain’s…
But it was Kinzinger himself who basically argued Monday in a pair of cable-news appearances that the response to the RNC’s censure should be considered a political litmus test for the GOP. On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” he called it “a defining moment for the party and I think it’s a defining moment for every member of the House or the Senate or any Republican leader.”
Kinzinger called for the media and for voters to “pin down every Republican and say, ‘Do you side with what the RNC did or do you condemn what they did?’” He added, “Trust me, politicians are really good at kind of skirting around that answer. Don’t let them on this one. I think it’s so defining.”
He said of the RNC: “Those that are driving the train have lost any sense of democracy mattering,” and went on to paint a stark picture of where the nation stands. “The RNC deserves every aspect of backlash that is going to come down on it,” Kinzinger said. “This is a defining moment in American politics and in the RNC’s future. Are you for authoritarianism? Are you against democracy? Or are you going to wake up to that slide and get back to actual democracy again?”
…Adding… DPI…
The fallout continues from the RNC’s disgraceful decision to call the violent January 6 insurrection “legitimate political discourse.” Yesterday. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell split with the national party and correctly described the day as “violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.” His counterpart in the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, refused to state the obvious, instead running from reporters when asked his opinion of the RNC’s description. Meanwhile, Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger called on the media to question members of his own party, saying reporters should “pin down every Republican and say, ‘Do you side with what the RNC did or do you condemn what they did?’”
Where does that leave Illinois Republicans? We do know that RNC Committeeman and recent Irvin/Bourne backer Richard Porter supported the shameful language last week, along with RNC Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte. But to date, the Illinois Republican Party has been silent about the “legitimate political discourse” flap, while Republican Congressional candidates across the state continue to hide from the question.
The question is simple: do Illinois Republicans agree with Mitch McConnell or Kevin McCarthy? Do they acknowledge Jan. 6 was a violent insurrection intended to undermine our democracy or are they willing to gaslight Illinoisans with “legitimate political discourse” spin? The voters deserve to know.
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* Sun-Times…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker will lay out a plan on Wednesday to phase out his mask mandate for Illinois residents in most indoor settings, sources said.
Pritzker teased the rollback earlier Tuesday, telling residents to “stay tuned” for an update on the masking policy that has been back in effect for about six months — and which has faced pushback over the past week as Illinois’ COVID-19 metrics sink to the lowest levels seen since the onset of the Omicron variant.
While Pritzker is expected to wind down the mandate for the public at large, state officials plan to continue waging a legal battle to keep masks on in schools, which present a different ongoing challenge in the pandemic, according to the Democratic governor.
“We’re very close,” Pritzker said at an unrelated Springfield news conference Tuesday afternoon. “The challenge in schools … is because it’s such a central focus of communities, and literally sometimes thousands of people are interacting in a school in a single day in one location.”
* NBC 5…
It is not known when the mandate will be fully removed, but sources tell NBC 5 that the plan is to have the mandate dropped before March 1.
* ABC 7…
The source said the changes will impact malls, restaurants, bars and places of business, but not schools. Schools are governed by a separate mandate, and will be addressed separately.
“Because it’s such a central focus of communities, and literally sometimes thousands of people are interacting in a school, we’ve got to be very careful about how we remove those mask mandates,” Pritzker said previously. […]
The changes will also not impact prisons or nursing homes, the source said, or healthcare facilities or public transit, which are under a federal mask mandate.
…Adding… Richard Irvin campaign…
Based on initial news reports of JB Pritzker’s upcoming announcement, Richard Irvin released the following statement in response to Pritzker’s refusal to end the indoor mask mandates for all:
“A few short days ago, this Governor refused to end mandates saying we needed to ‘follow the science’ but today says everyone can remove their masks except the lowest risk population. Illinois is being led by a Governor who puts politics and special interests ahead of parents and their children. Enough is enough.”
*** UPDATE *** Excerpt from the announcement…
With statewide COVID-19 hospitalization rates declining faster than any other point in the pandemic, Illinois is on track to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement on Monday, February 28, 2022. Mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transit and in high-risk settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care. Masking requirements will also continue to apply in all daycare settings. The state intends to continue masking requirements in P-12 schools subject to pending litigation which impacts a number of schools. As the CDC reaffirmed just today, masks remain a critical tool to keep schools safe and open.
The state reaches this point with more than 21.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to Illinois residents. Per the CDC, Illinois continues to lead the Midwest in people who have received at least one shot, with 75.7% of people having received their first dose. Illinois also has the most fully vaccinated 17-and-under population in the region, though across the nation, youth vaccination rates continue to trail adult rates.
“We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization metrics since the pandemic began. If these trends continue — and we expect them to —then on Monday, February 28th, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the State of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I want to be clear: Many local jurisdictions, businesses and organizations have their own mask requirements and other mitigations that must be respected. Throughout this pandemic, we’ve deployed the tools available to us as needed. Our approach has saved lives and kept our economy open and growing.”
Today the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting 4,742 new confirmed and probable cases and 2,496 people in the hospital with COVID-19. IDPH is also reporting 449 people with COVID-19 in the ICU and 243 people on ventilators. With 20% of ICU beds now available statewide, this marks the fastest rate of decline in the hospital metrics since the pandemic began.
“While masks will no longer be required in most indoor locations beginning February 28, they are still recommended,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Masks offer a layer of protection and for people who have an underlying health condition or who are around those who do, you may choose to continue wearing a mask. Similarly, if you find yourself in a crowded, indoor setting, a mask can still help protect you. We will continue to recommend masks.”
…Adding… Press release…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin offered the following response to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s announcement Wednesday regarding COVID mitigations, noting that Pritzker has no plan for schools.
“Governor Pritzker’s failure to have a clear plan in place for schools to give parents and children hope of returning to a normal life is astounding. It is year three of this pandemic, and continuing to leave these families in the dark, with no data or metrics presented, is unconscionable and a clear sign the Governor should not be trusted to get us out of this pandemic.”
The governor publicly advised schools that weren’t part of the case to continue doing what they had been doing. Not sure what the beef is there.
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* ABC 7…
Charges were filed Tuesday against a man accused of heading a crew that pulled off at least nine smash-and-grab burglaries in recent months, targeting a range of stores and in one case leaving stolen cash registers strewn across Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s tony Gold Coast street.
Tacarre Harper, 27, from South Austin, was charged with nine felony counts of burglary, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. He had several outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.
An internal Chicago police memo says Harper was identified as a member of “an organized group” that carried out nine overnight burglaries between last November and last month.
Harper used “blunt objects to break windows or applied force on the entry” and removed merchandise or cash, according to a police report. The total estimated loss was $175,000, according to the memo.
Much of that - $150,000 - came from two burglaries at the high-end Burberry store on the Magnificent Mile on Jan. 4 and Jan. 6. The day of the second burglary at Burberry, the crew left cash registers and “burglary proceeds” near Pritzker’s doorstep after earlier hitting two markets in Lake View, the police documents show.
* Normally, I wouldn’t do a post on a local crime like this, but IRMA sent out a release…
In response to reports that the alleged ringleader of nine smash-and-grab retail crimes in recent months was arrested by law enforcement officials, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association released the following statement:
“On behalf of retailers across Illinois, we would like to thank law enforcement officials including the Chicago Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force for identifying and apprehending the alleged ringleader of nine smash-and-grab schemes across Chicago, which resulted in losses totaling $175,000. Organized retail crime has plagued neighborhoods throughout Chicago and communities across Illinois. We hope this is one of many actions demonstrating these crimes will not be tolerated and those who organize and carry them out will be pursued and aggressively prosecuted,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO, IRMA. “This case also underlines what is required to address these crimes. That’s why we have partnered with Attorney General Kwame Raoul to introduce one of the most comprehensive legislative proposals in the nation to address organized retail crime, providing additional resources to investigate and prosecute these criminal rings, prevent illicit trade and keep employees and customers safe. We look forward to working with legislators in a bipartisan manner to implement these safeguards and curb these malicious crimes.”
More information about this proposal is available at www.irma.org.
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* Tom DeVore was on WMAY this morning with Greg Bishop…
Q: So what does this mean, though, when it comes to those districts that are still going to have mask mandates in place, because we do have those districts including the Chicago school districts and several others, who’ve said that they’re going to still require masks? Are they violating the the judge’s order here?
DeVore: Technically, they are not. Again, this is an interlocutory order, it’s a temporary order. Her language is very strong. And I think that’s why a lot of them relied upon that language in making their decision. So they’re not violating her order as it exists today. But what they are doing, Greg, and what their lawyers have been telling them all weekend, which is why you’ve got 200 school districts give or take that have went fully mask optional, no vaccine, testing program. What they’re telling them is that Judge Grischow’s order, if it carries the day, and it remains the law through the appellate court, that what they’re doing right now, even though it doesn’t violate her order, it could end up being illegal and a violation of people’s civil rights because [they] are knowingly doing something that she says is a due process violation. And if they continue to do that, and that remains to be the law, they could be exposing themselves to pretty significant civil rights claims. And so that’s why a lot of these school districts are switching to mask optional and they probably think that’s the best policy for their district anyway.
In other words, the school districts named in the suit are the only ones truly bound by the judge’s order. But, if her decision is upheld down the road, then it could be considered persuasive authority that the school districts should’ve known that imposing mask/vax/test mandates could result in civil rights claims. I checked in with an experienced attorney and he said that, as much he hated to admit it, he agreed with the DeVore analysis, but stressed that it wasn’t a slam dunk and doubted DeVore will prevail on appeal.
The governor said firmly yesterday that schools not named as defendants “should continue to follow the prescribed public health protocols,” but every district has their own lawyers, and lawyers often disagree with each other because it’s the nature of the profession and nobody really knows how a judge, particularly a county judge, will rule on big cases like this one.
* Tribune…
The Tribune spoke with Nancy Fredman Krent, who teaches education law as an adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, about what the decision means for schools as the pandemic continues.
“The judge didn’t certify the class, so technically only the plaintiffs would be covered. But if you read the order, the judge enjoined the defendants (including both the state defendants and individual school boards) from requiring the school districts to mandate use of masks by students or staff,” Krent said. “So you can read the order as covering only the plaintiffs or read it as covering the defendants in their actions generally.”
She continued: “The judge refers in the footnotes to non-named plaintiffs without holding directly they are specifically covered, but she implies they are or, at a minimum, she believes that if they sue, they will get the same result as this decision.”
* Let’s go back to yesterday, via WCIA…
“Judge Raylene Grischow’s ruling is out of step with the vast majority of legal analysis in Illinois and across the nation,” Pritzker said, claiming her ruling “cultivates chaos.” […]
“The judge has created a tremendous amount of confusion even in the way she wrote her decision,” Pritzker said.
Judge Grischow temporarily halted the statewide mask mandate and wrote in her ruling that local school districts were free to “govern themselves accordingly.”
* WGN…
Widespread confusion in school districts across the state continues after a judge downstate ruled against the mask mandate.
Two school districts cover Hinsdale – and the two districts took two different approaches.
Elementary and middle schools switched to remote learning over concern the mask confusion would create disruptions in the classroom. But Hinsdale Central and South high schools were open, requiring students to wear masks. When some students didn’t comply, administrators moved them to a separate part of the building.
* WTTW…
Meanwhile, Mateo Farzaneh sent his third-grader to school Monday morning in Lincolnwood, worried that she wouldn’t keep her mask on.
Farzaneh said his family has been particularly cautious about the coronavirus given that he has a concerning health condition; he’s likewise mindful of teachers’ safety, and believes that masks should be mandatory as long as health experts say there’s a need.
Lincolnwood District 74 is not a plaintiff in the suit, and Grischow did not certify the case as a class action, but the Lincolnwood district wrote parents that the “court order is in effect and Governor Pritzker’s Executive Orders regarding facial masking are not” so at this point masks are recommended, not required.
Farzaneh said he had a careful conversation with his daughter about the need to keep her nose and mouth covered with a mask, even if other kids take off their masks.
* Fox News…
A group of high school students in the Chicago area walked out of class Monday after being told they had to wear masks to attend class.
The walkout came after Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s requirement that masks be worn in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Video shared on Twitter by Jon J. Kerr, publisher of The Kerr Report on Substack, shows a throng of maskless Vernon Hills High School students trickling out of the school.
* Daily Herald…
Wheaton Warrenville Unit School District 200, one of the defendants, opted for voluntary masking because of the ruling.
Some parents protested the decision outside the district’s offices Monday.
“I do think we’re in a period of confusion and disruption, and that’s why I think District 200’s decision was outrageous,” said Shannon Limjuco, a Wheaton parent who helped organize the demonstration. ” … Other school districts around us are staying the course with masking and other COVID mitigation, knowing that things are still in flux.”
* Sun-Times…
“This chaos is the sole responsibility of failed Governor, J.B. Pritzker,” Bull Valley businessman Gary Rabine said in a statement. “Illinois kids are paying for J.B.’s failed leadership.”
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and running mate state Rep. Avery Bourne, tweeted, “It’s long past time for Governor Pritzker to stop ruling this state under the guise of emergency executive authority. We need to end these mandates and restore the rights of parents and local communities.”
Petersburg venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan tweeted, “Despite countless other governors — including many democrats — following logic and science, Pritzker refuses to give up control of your kids or your community schools.”
State Sen. Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia tweeted, “As your next Governor, I will repeal all of Pritzker’s mandates. You should make these decisions, not government.”
* Letter from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…
February 8, 2022
Governor J.B. Pritzker
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Governor Pritzker,
Two years ago, when this pandemic started, we all knew, including myself, that swift action was needed. As the months and years went on, you made the decision to continually go it alone. Your play was backed by the Democrat leaders in the General Assembly, who happily gave you free rein to impose restrictions and mandates across the state.
I disagreed with this approach and have often urged you to work collaboratively with the General Assembly, to no avail. You refused to listen to anyone who disagreed with your decisions. Parents, legislators, business owners and people across the state deserved a voice. You personally denied my request to have your Director of Public Health appear before my caucus to answer our questions about the science on which these decisions were based.
Now we are entering year three of this top-down strategy, and we see the chaos that it has caused. Today I am dealing with irate parents scrambling for childcare to make it to work, students being separated in school buildings, and no answers from your administration. Your lack of a plan has forced people to give up hope that they can ever have a normal life in Illinois.
Just this week, California Governor Gavin Newsome announced that his state would lift its indoor mask mandate. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Delaware Governor John Carney, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont have also announced some rollback of indoor masking requirements.
Governor, it has been a long two years, and the people of this state deserve to know what you are doing. Will you follow the lead of your democratic colleagues across the nation, or will you continue to force your will on the people of Illinois, depriving them of any optimism for their future and the future of this state?
Sincerely,
Jim Durkin
*** UPDATE *** IEA…
The following is attributable to Illinois Education Association Vice President Al Llorens regarding the ruling by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prohibit enforcement of face masks, vaccination, and Covid testing mandates:
“Our students thrive on consistency and the last two years have been anything, but consistent. We do not want another disruption to our students’ learning while we are still working to bridge the learning gap created by the pandemic. That’s why we believe our school districts should not make any rash decisions changing COVID safety requirements until after this process plays out in our court system. Our educators should be focused on their students - not worrying about health and safety. We’ve been able to keep our schools open with these safety measures in place. We know that in person learning is the best way for our students to learn and we should be doing everything we can to continue to meet in person. While we wait for the appellate court’s decision, we think it’s important to focus on working with parents to provide our students the best education possible. The only way we got through the last two years was by working together, and we need to continue to do so. Our students deserve a team of parents, community members, educators and other stakeholders behind them.”
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Campaign notebook
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former Democratic state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen has been taking heat from the Legislative Black Caucus for missing votes on the Black Caucus’ “Pillars” during the January, 2021 session, particularly the SAFE-T Act. Members have been announcing support for Rep. Sam Yingling in his state Senate primary race against MEA. She wrote this and sent it to at least one BC member…
I was not able to attend the last few days of session in January 2021 because I immediately needed to go back to work teaching on January 4, 2021. Perhaps members aren’t aware, but while I was expected to serve until January 17, 2021 all of my benefits stopped December 31, 2020 including my medical insurance for myself as well as my sons. (I cover my under 26 year old children as a single mother) I was also not receiving a salary for January 2021. I wasn’t made aware of the cancellation of medical benefits and loss of income until the last week in December 2021.
Rep Slaughter called me around January 10, 2021 and asked if I could drive to Springfield to vote for the Black Caucus pillars. I explained the difficult position this put me in since I just started back to teaching, but I told him if he needed my vote I would arrange to come down. I requested the time off from my principal and attended session on January 12, 2021 with the sole intention of voting for the Black Caucus pillars. As I walked in, I was stopped by a reporter and asked why I was there. My response is recorded on Twitter saying, “It’s time for us white people to show up for our Black friends.” I stayed until 3am when Craig Willert came to me and said they had the votes and if I needed to, I could leave to go back to work. Only after I knew the bill would pass did I leave so I could get back to my new job.
* Irvin campaign…
As crime escalates throughout the state, Richard Irvin is reinforcing his commitment to both law enforcement and Illinois families by launching a petition to repeal JB Pritzker’s dangerous anti-police policies that have empowered criminals and crippled law enforcement.
Just yesterday, JB Pritzker was giving lip service at a press conference about making expressways safer as a shooting took place on the Dan Ryan at the very same time. It’s clear criminals are running rampant throughout Illinois knowing there will be no accountability for their actions. The threats to public safety will worsen as more parts of this law take effect.
“From this disastrous anti-police bill to letting child killers back into our communities, it’s clear that criminals know they will not be held accountable for their actions in JB Pritzker’s Illinois,” said Irvin. “We need to repeal cashless bail, stop anonymous complaints against officers, and make sure we are protecting law enforcement and victims of crime.”
Irvin has been a strong advocate for police, standing with them in Aurora to defeat the local Defund the Police movement and hiring more cops to effectively reduce crime. He brings a record of proven success compared to JB Pritzker’s record of high crime. Irvin is calling for residents to join him in supporting police and encourage repealing these dangerous policies.
* Sullivan…
Gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan issued the following statement:
“Today we stand with families throughout the state who are letting their voices be known, demanding that J.B. Pritzker follows the science and lifts statewide mask mandates,” Republican candidate for governor Jesse Sullivan said.
“The images from schools across the state are deeply concerning: administrators locking kids in gyms and preventing entry for those exercising their right to come to school without a mask. The Pritzker administration and local districts must respect the TRO ruling, and Pritzker should be clear in ending his mask mandate once and for all.”
* “I’m a fiscal-social-constitutional conservative,” Jesse Sullivan told Brenden Moore. But he then clammed up when asked an insurrection question…
Sullivan, however, was mum when asked about a resolution passed last week by the Republican National Committee that declared the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol “legitimate political discourse.”
That day, supporters of former President Donald Trump violently stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. About 140 police officers were injured and one was killed in the attack. More than 750 have been charged in connection with the riot.
“I do not pay attention to national politics at all,” Sullivan said. “I genuinely have no interest right now in fixing D.C., I have every interest in fixing Illinois. And my entire attention and focus is on my neighbors here in Illinois…”
Sorry, but no sentient, involved American adult can possibly be that ignorant of national politics.
* Politico…
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Attorney ShawnTe Raines-Welch, who’s married to Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, is throwing her hat in the ring for a Cook County judge seat. She’s so far self-funding, writing her campaign a check for $100,100, according to the State Board of Elections. Raines-Welch is a partner at the Ancel Glink law firm in Chicago. Her husband also is of counsel there, according to the company’s web site.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Alexi Giannoulias picked up the endorsement of elected leaders from across Illinois. State Rep. LaToya Greenwood and state Sen. Chris Belt, both of whom represent East St. Louis. State Rep. Marcus Evans Jr., who chairs the labor committee in the State House, Chicago. Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson.
— Rep. Marie Newman has won endorsements from state Sen. Emil Jones III, state Rep. Mike Zalewski, Bremen Township Supervisor Kathryn Straniero, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, in her bid for the 6th Congressional District. Here’s the full list
— Sam Yingling, a state representative running for the state Senate’s 31st District, has been endorsed by state Sen. Robert Peters, Senate Chair of the Illinois Black Caucus.
I told subscribers on January 24th that Ms. Raines-Welch was running for a current judicial vacancy.
* The 53rd District is represented by Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights). From the HGOPs…
Today, Jack Vrett launched his campaign for state representative in the 53rd District, encompassing portions of Elk Grove, Maine, Palatine, and Wheeling townships in Cook County.
“Illinois is on the wrong track, and I am running for state representative to restore sensible policies and push back against the extreme agenda that has led to rising crime, closed schools, and higher taxes,” said Vrett. “I support a balanced, common-sense approach that builds on core values we all share, whether it is fighting on behalf of victims and the police, parents and students, or the middle and working class families who have been left behind.”
From 2009-2014, he served in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps, including nearly four years with the storied 101st Airborne Division. In December of 2010, Jack deployed as a Captain to eastern Afghanistan where he contributed to U.S. counterinsurgency operations as an international and operational law attorney.
Following his return from Afghanistan in May of 2011, Jack served as adjunct faculty to the U.S. Defense Institute for International Legal Studies and was sent on missions to Ukraine and Slovenia where he helped train U.S. allies on the laws of war and international human rights law. He also served as an instructor at the Pentagon where he taught operational law to deploying J.A.G. officers. He was a contributing author to U.S. Military Operations: Law, Policy, and Practice, published by the Oxford University Press in 2015.
After his service in Afghanistan, Jack was assigned as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting crimes committed by civilians in and around Fort Campbell, Kentucky, including domestic violence, shoplifting, and driving under the influence. He received additional training in criminal advocacy and counter-espionage prosecution.
Jack left the U.S. Army in 2014 and accepted a position as a civilian attorney with the U.S. Department of Defense. The following year, he accepted a position as Deputy General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Jack left public service in 2017 and joined the Arlington Heights-based law firm, Hodges Loizzi. Jack is now a Partner at Honigman LLP.
Jack graduated from Northwestern University and earned his law degree at Marquette University Law School. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and Wisconsin and various federal courts, including the Trial Bar for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and has been recruited by the federal court to represent a prisoner’s civil rights case on a pro bono basis.
Jack resides in Arlington Heights with his wife Rose Marie and their rescue puppy Coco. He was born in nearby Woodstock and has two children from a previous marriage. Jack and Rose Marie are active members of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where they first met, and serve on its Parish Council.
…Adding… Press release…
Today, community leader, small business owner and south side native, Jonathan T. Swain, launched his campaign for Illinois’ 1st Congressional District. Serving in leadership roles throughout the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including his most recent role as President and CEO of LINK Unlimited Scholars, Swain has sought to solve the unique problems facing Chicago’s underrepresented families and communities. He intends to bring that same ethic and commitment to Congress.
Swain launched his candidacy via a video that chronicles his life as a proven leader with unique experience across government, business and community sectors while lifting up Chicago’s Black youth through his non-profit work. Watch the video here.
“More is at stake for our community, our country and our democracy than perhaps ever before. I’m running for Congress to bring a nonprofit, business and civic lens to this position and provide the kind of proven leadership that our district needs today,” said Jonathan T. Swain. “As a lifelong Chicagoan and South Sider, I understand the life experiences and values of the 1st District – I grew up here, I lead a business here, I have served here and I am raising my children here. I hope to earn the opportunity to continue my life’s work of expanding opportunity and uplifting the community I call home as its Congressman.”
Since filing for his candidacy two weeks ago, Swain has raised just over $200,000, demonstrating confidence and hope that has inspired donors to support the first-time candidate for elected office.
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* The Illinois Municipal League laid out its 2022 legislative agenda…
Restoration of Local Government Distributive Fund Revenues
HB 315 (Rep. DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights)
LGDF distributions play a role in funding critical municipal services and keeping the local tax burden low. Without LGDF, communities across Illinois would need to explore increases to other fees or taxes – including property taxes. When originally enacted, 10% of total income taxes in the state were dedicated to LGDF. Now, the state dedicates only 6.06% of individual income tax collections and 6.845% of corporate income tax collections to the fund. This proposal would incrementally increase amounts transferred from the State of Illinois’ General Revenue Fund to LGDF to 10% of net revenue realized from income taxes imposed on individuals, trusts, estates and corporations. IML is also supportive of SB 3010 (Sen. Murphy, D-Des Plaines) and HB 4169 (Rep. DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights), alternative proposals that would each increase LGDF to 8% beginning in SFY 2023.
Authority to Conduct Remote Meetings
SB 482 (Sen. Castro, D-Elgin)
This proposal would permit public officials to conduct a remote meeting without the issuance of a gubernatorial disaster declaration. Specifically, this proposal would allow the head of a public body to determine if an in-person meeting is not practical or prudent or if conducting an audio or video conference is in the best interest of the public or the public body.
Authority to Fulfill Public Notice Mandates Online
SB 3620 (Sen. Castro, D-Elgin)
Public notice requirements are an important and beneficial service provided to citizens. These requirements also add costs to local governments and their taxpayers, particularly for mandates to place notices in newspapers. This proposal would grant municipal governments the option to fulfill public notice mandates on a publicly available and searchable website. This is a shift to be more current with modern technology and to recognize how residents increasingly find and view public notices.
Reamortization of Downstate Public Safety Pension Funds
HB 308 (Rep. West, D-Rockford)/SB 3623 (Sen. DeWitte, R-St. Charles)
The current amortization schedule for downstate police and firefighter pension funds is significantly shorter than other statewide, state-administered and Chicago-based pension systems despite downstate public safety pension funds having better funding ratios (excluding the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund). These proposals would extend the amortization date for downstate public safety pension funds to the end of Municipal Fiscal Year (MFY) 2050 or later or decrease the required funding ratio to 80% of total actuarial liabilities in order to provide immediate financial relief to affected communities.
* The Pritzker administration pointed me to page 52 of the budget book…
A critical part of the state financial infrastructure is the operations of local governments. When possible, the State has provided additional funding mechanisms to help local governments through a myriad of ways, including one-time and permanent revenue supports to minimize the need for local property taxes. Examples of on-going support, totaling over $1.1 billion annually, enacted since Governor Pritzker took office include:
• An additional $200 million a year in sales taxes from the passage of internet sales tax language following the Wayfair decision, including the Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act, to help ensure compliance with state tax laws on internet sales.
• Over $600 million annually in additional motor fuel taxes directed to local governments and transit districts to support needed transportation projects through the passage of Rebuild Illinois.
• Granting $1.5 billion in state transportation bond funds directly to local governments for road and highway project expenditures, saving local governments $110 million annually in debt service costs from not issuing local bonds.
• Authorization of adult-use cannabis, generating an estimated $91 million in additional revenues for local governments.
• Increased allocations through the Local Government Distributive Fund process totaling $46 million annually from business loophole closures included in Public Act 102-16.
• Increased tax rates and positions for video gaming operations is expected to generate an additional $70 million a year for local governments.
• Anticipated additional local revenues from the opening of new casinos authorized under the Rebuild Illinois plan.
Illinois allocated to smaller local governments $250 million from its Coronavirus Relief Fund allocation and established the infrastructure necessary to allocate and distribute the $740 million Local Fiscal Recovery Fund payment received pursuant to ARPA. These key sources of funding will help small local governments maintain services during uncertain fiscal times.
As noted above, Public Act 101-0610 consolidated the assets of local police and fire pension funds into two statewide funds to increase investment returns and lower management costs. Helping lower the pressure on local property taxes, the consolidation is estimated to produce additional returns worth billions of dollars over the next 20 years. The higher investment returns from consolidation will translate into fiscal relief for local taxpayers supporting these pension costs.
Finally, in the last few years, local governments have seen an increase in the percentage of income and sales taxes that state government shares with towns, counties and transit districts due to removal of the distribution proration that was put into place during the budget impasse. In fiscal year 2018, these allocations totaled $1.7 billion, but are expected to total $2.5 billion in the fiscal year 2023 budget proposal – an $800 million, or 47 percent increase - in state support in the last five years.
Also, local newspapers will mobilize against the loss of revenue from official public notices, and I kinda doubt the IML will get its kick the can wish on pension funds. But, hey, you can’t get something if you don’t ask.
…Adding… I adjusted the headline to reflect the projected $1 billion cost of the group’s LGDF ask.
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Illinois ranked low in pet-friendliness
Tuesday, Feb 8, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I regularly consult the BringFido.com website whenever I want to take Oscar someplace. It’s especially handy in towns I’m unfamiliar with, but it’s also useful even when I think I know where I can take him. If this sounds like a blatant plug, well, it kinda is. The site has been invaluable for me. So, I paid attention when I received an email touting this story…
The Most (and Least) Dog-Friendly States in the USA
Think your home state is great for the canine set? Wonder if there are greener pastures for your dogs to roam across America? Using the latest census data and our directory of pet-friendly places, the BringFido editorial team compiled per capita stats on the number of dog-friendly restaurants, outdoor activities, and pet-friendly hotels in all 50 states
That’s not a be-all, end-all sort of analysis, but, like I said, I swear by that site.
* And that’s why I was sad when I saw Illinois ranked a very unfriendly 42nd…
42. Illinois
The Land of Lincoln welcomes all with its eclectic mix of big cities, quaint river towns, and natural beauty. Illinois may not have a national park, but the 270,000-acre Shawnee National Forest will have Fido hiking to his heart’s content. Picturesque Starved Rock State Park and Fox Ridge State Park are also must-visits for outbound hounds. If you prefer city living, spend a weekend in dog-friendly Chicago and bring your furry first mate on Mercury’s Canine Cruise to see Chi-Town’s sights from the water. Get a splash of culture in Monticello at Allerton Park & Retreat Center, and play together, whatever the weather, at one of the country’s best indoor dog parks - Wag ‘N Paddle in Naperville.
* Oscar and I slip away to Florida on occasion when it’s cold. Say what you want about that state, but it has very dog-friendly attitudes…
9. Florida
Whether you’re driving down the A1A or along the Gulf Coast, “paws” to enjoy miles of pet-friendly beaches, tropical grills and dog-friendly vacation rentals in the Sunshine State. Your furry friend will enjoy splashing off leash at some of the best stretches of sand in the country, including Fort De Soto Dog Beach Park in St. Petersburg and Jupiter Beach in Jupiter. Bring the whole family to meet Goofy and Pluto at Disney World. For a tropical playground year-round, head to the Florida Keys and kayak through mangrove creeks with Lazy Dog Adventures. Before you jet off, spend an awesome weekend together in the “Magic City” of Miami. Check out our Ruff Guide to Florida for more travel advice.
* And here’s an Oscar pic to help you through the day…
Any ideas for making Illinois more pet-friendly?
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* Let’s go back to yesterday’s press conference when Gov. Pritzker was asked what metric was he using to gauge whether to lift the mask mandate: Hospitalizations, hospitalizations, hospitalizations,” he said. Pritzker also said this…
We’ve already seen northeastern states where omicron hit first, like New Jersey see the signs that they need to lift these protocols, namely decreased hospitalizations.
* OK, this was published by a New Jersey newspaper on January 18…
The latest and most precipitous spike of the COVID-19 pandemic clearly appears to be abating in New Jersey, as the number of people hospitalized dropped again overnight Monday, down to 5,251, the sixth consecutive day with declining numbers.
That’s a drop of 60 from Sunday and a 14% decline since the peak number of hospitalizations on Jan. 11.
Click here to see the hospitalization timeline for New Jersey.
Illinois’ hospitalization peak was a day later, on January 12. Seven days later, hospitalizations had dropped 12 percent. Not quite the pace of New Jersey, but close.
* New Jersey’s latest numbers show hospitalizations have fallen 67.9 percent since the state’s peak. Illinois’ latest numbers show hospitalizations have dropped 62.8 percent from our peak.
Yesterday…
Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, a Democrat who has imposed some of the nation’s most stringent pandemic-related mandates, will no longer require students and school employees to wear masks, signaling a deliberate shift toward treating the coronavirus as a part of daily life.
“This is not a declaration of victory as much as an acknowledgment that we can responsibly live with this thing,” Mr. Murphy, the vice chairman of the National Governors Association, said Monday in announcing the elimination of the mandate.
More…
He said Monday that he’s waiting until March 7 to lift the mandate so local school districts have time to decide whether they want to keep the requirement or eliminate it. The March date will also likely provide some warmer temperatures, allowing schools to open more windows and provide better ventilation than in the heart of winter. […]
State government buildings are the only facilities now that still impose a Murphy-controlled mask mandate in New Jersey. Murphy said his health team has been discussing lifting those mandates but has not yet made a decision.
Masks must still be worn at transportation facilities such as airports and train stations as well as all health care facilities under a federal mandate.
* Big caveat: New Jersey’s vaccination rate is 17 percent higher than Illinois’, 73.3 percent vs. 62.6 percent.
Also, New Jersey’s vax rate for kids 5-11 is 29.4 percent vs. Illinois’ 36.8 percent. The vax rate for kids 12-17 in NJ is 68.6 percent vs. Illinois’ 61.2 percent.
There are other differences between the states. And I only used New Jersey because Gov. Pritzker mentioned it yesterday.
Thoughts?
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* More illiterate and dangerous nonsense about Rep. Deb Conroy’s bill from a quasi news outlet…
Illinois could indefinitely quarantine anyone who refuses vaccination, examination, or observation, under a bill pending in the House.
Cats and dogs would fare worse than people, as the bill would allow the public health department to kill any animal. The state would compensate animal owners, if they cooperate. […]
It would allow the department to examine, test, disinfect, seize, or destroy animals.
An owner would receive notice, and the department might agree with the owner on the value of an animal.
If they didn’t agree, each side would pick an appraiser and the appraisers would pick a third appraiser.
Destruction would follow appraisal immediately.
The Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act would apply to dogs and cats, and the Humane Care for Animals Act would apply to other animals.
As always, this language is already in state law. It is beyond ridiculous that such a report would ever be published. Also, you might wanna ask farmers and ranchers trying to protect their herds from hoof and mouth disease how valuable this state law is.
* Also too, there are also plenty of safeguards…
When the Department determines that any animal or related property is infected with or has been exposed to a dangerously contagious or infectious disease, it may agree with the owner upon the value of the animal or of any related property that it may be found necessary to destroy, and in case such an agreement cannot be made, the animals or related property shall be appraised by 3 competent and disinterested appraisers, one to be selected by the Department, one by the claimant, and one by the 2 appraisers thus selected. The appraisers shall subscribe to an oath made in writing to fairly value the animals or related property in accordance with the requirements of this Act. The oath, together with the valuation fixed by the appraisers, shall be filed with the Department and preserved by it.
* As we’ve discussed, DuPage County Board member and GOP candidate for board chair Greg Hart has slammed the Conroy bill. He now refuses to withdraw his unfounded criticism…
A spokesman told Playbook last night that Hart stands by his statement.
You really gotta wonder if these stories are part of a campaign of harassment to push Rep. Conroy out of the DuPage chair’s race. And if it didn’t start that way, it sure is morphing into it now. Conroy thinks it’s deliberate…
Conroy told Playbook she has closed down her office and is being escorted by police while investigators try to track down the origin of the threats, including a phone message that said, “I’ll take you by gunpoint.”
She sees the threats as an organized effort to scare her out of the race for the DuPage County Board chair seat she’s seeking. “I’ve taken on a lot of fights in my career, and I’m proud of them. I’m struggling with the realization that people will actually stoop that low for political gain.”
*** UPDATE *** Another politician who doesn’t have the first clue of how to read a bill and yet feels comfortable asserting that an Illinois legislator wants to round people up…
Northfield Township Committeeman TJ Brown is on high alert after a Democrat-sponsored bill would grant state and local government extraordinary powers during times of public health crises.
The bill – HB 4640 – is sponsored by State Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park). It has been roundly criticized for its authoritarian tone.
Conroy’s bill would allow the state to “isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments.”
“When I first heard about this bill from a member of our organization in Northfield Township, I initially thought that it was an overwrought exaggeration. But then I read the text of the bill. If anything, my concerned member understated the extent of this bill. I don’t know how it could pass Constitutional muster, compelling people to either submit to a physical examination (including but not limited to a COVID test) or be forced to isolate from their family, friends and associates,” Brown told North Cook News. […]
“This bill would not pass a General Assembly comprised of serious people who eschew a dystopian police state,” Brown said. “However, I expect it to pass the Illinois General Assembly, and I expect yes votes from the lawmakers who represent Northfield Township: Bob Morgan (who is sponsoring a vaccine registry bill), Jonathan Carroll (who proposed a heinous bill depriving unvaccinated people of health care), Laura Fine, Julie Morrison, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, and Robyn Gabel (who gutted the health care right of conscience act). I also expect yes votes from Marty Moylan and Laura Murphy, who will represent a small corner of our township starting next year. I beg each of them to surprise me, to show some respect for individual rights.”
What a crock.
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* Sun-Times…
Hoping to curb rising crime on Chicago expressways, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the director of Illinois State Police held a news conference Monday to spotlight arrests that have occurred since patrols were increased and more surveillance cameras were installed.
But as they spoke, a person was shot on the Dan Ryan Expressway at Canalport near downtown — the 14th person shot on an expressway in Cook County this year. No arrests were reported.
The governor and State Police Director Brendan Kelly insisted their efforts since last fall have made expressways less attractive for committing crime. They said 20 people were charged with violent crimes after more troopers were deployed in October and nearly 100 cameras were placed on the Dan Ryan.
“Anyone even thinking of committing violent crimes on our expressways ought to be on notice that they are more likely today than ever before to get caught,” Pritzker said. “If we want to reduce crime, we have to solve crime.”
Neither he nor State Police Director Brendan Kelly provided examples of crimes being solved by the 99 new license plate reading cameras on the Dan Ryan. State police said they installed them last year, and have plans to install 200 more on other expressways with $12.5 million in state funding.
So, are the license plate readers helping or no?
…Adding… Director Kelly at the press conference…
The installation of these ALPRs has already begun to aid the ISP with intelligence and evidence leading to arrests related to these expressway shootings and aggravated fleeing and eluding violations tied to aggravated vehicular hijackings and other violent crimes in nearby communities.
* Tribune…
As Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker tries to fend off Republican rivals who accuse him of being soft on crime, his office is announcing the arrests of about a dozen people in the last several months for crimes on Chicago-area expressways.
The rise in violent crime afflicting parts of the state has not spared the city’s expressways, which are patrolled by Illinois State Police. There were roughly 260 shootings on Chicago-area expressways in 2021, about double the number on those roadways the previous year, according to the state police. […]
“The crime scene itself is moving at 70, 80, 90 miles an hour down the expressway,” said Kelly, who was tapped by Pritzker in 2019 to lead the state police. “The evidence is more like a debris field than it is at a typical crime scene on a street corner or in a parking lot, wherever the case may be, within a home or within a business, it is spread out all over the place.”
“And then you have people literally driving through the crime scene repeatedly until law enforcement is able to get there and secure the scene,” Kelly said. “People that are the victims of these cases may not be able to identify what they saw. So, all that is moving very quickly.”
* Patch…
Monday’s announcement came after the Illinois State Police reported 273 expressway shootings in 2021. State Police officials recently released data on an interactive map that tracks expressway shootings back to 2019. Kelly said Monday that 24 homicides took place on the state’s expressways in 2021.
Pritzker has announced he will deploy more state troopers on local expressways and that more state police helicopters will monitor expressway activity from the air. Pritzker said that the charges against the 20 people are proof that the extra measures by police are working as officials look to crack down on “heinous shootings that spill over from neighborhoods and onto the expressway,” the governor said in a news release on Monday.
Kelly said in a news release that 99 license plate readers were recently installed on the Dan Ryan and said that police officials are working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to install another 200 license plate readers within the next year.
* ILGOP…
Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Joe Hackler released the following statement in response to Pritzker’s failed attempt to mislead Illinois voters on crime:
“JB Pritzker must accept responsibility for skyrocketing crime in this state. He signed the most pro-criminal, anti-police legislation in Illinois history. He sided with Kim Foxx. His Prisoner Review Board let out violent criminals early, including cop-killers. There’s simply no media stunt or campaign ad that can change the reality of crime in Illinois.”
* From the Richard Irvin campaign…
From the disastrous crime bill to letting child killers back into our communities, it’s clear that criminals know they will not be held accountable for their actions in JB Pritzker’s Illinois. Our families need and deserve a governor who will back our police and stand up to the criminals that are terrorizing our streets.
…Adding… DPI…
One week after Richard Irvin finally made himself available to reporters, Illinois voters are left with far more questions than answers. A closer look at Irvin’s background reveals he enjoyed a 15-year career as a criminal defense attorney where he made big money off keeping violent abusers, sex offenders, and gang members out of prison. As reported by multiple outlets, Irvin’s first law firm, the Law Office of Richard C. Irvin and Associates, brazenly advertised its services defending clients accused of domestic violence, violent felonies, and more. Irvin even advertised his five years as a prosecutor as the reason he can construct “effective defense strategies.”
“No wonder Richard Irvin would rather avoid tough questions and instead communicate through consultant-crafted videos: he’s not being honest about his record,” said Democratic Party of Illinois Deputy Director Jake Lewis. “Irvin would rather dodge reporters and hide from voters than explain why he ‘zealously defended’ the very criminals he purported to prosecute. Actions speak louder than words, and Richard Irvin’s 15-year career making big money off defending criminals says more than any tough-talking TV ad ever could.”
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