The Chicago Teachers Union’s “Big Bargaining Team” voted unanimously on Monday to reject a four-year contract offer, a source has told the Chicago Sun-Times.
That team of 40 union members is scheduled to hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. Monday to formally announce their vote on what the union had termed a “serious offer.”
With the team — made up of teachers, social workers and other school staffers — voting unanimously against that latest proposal, that contract agreement will not go before the House of Delegates, as the union’s governing body is known.
The rejection means that CPS and the CTU will enter a final legal stage of negotiations that starts a 105-day clock ticking toward a strike.
* Hinz has some background on what the rejected deal entailed…
The deal effectively swaps some non-economic things that the union has wanted for a long time — like changes in work rules and a cap on new charter schools — for economic pain. Specifically, teachers would have to pay more toward their own pensions, with the 7 percent of salary that CPS now pays on their behalf vanishing immediately for new hires and over the course of two years for those already on the payroll.
The “step-and-lane” experience hikes for current teachers would be frozen for a year. And while teachers would get an across-the-board pay hike, it only would cover the give-back on the pension side, raising base pay just 1 percent over four years, knowledgeable sources tell me. That’s a cost-savings package of almost $500 million.
It’s amazing to me that Karen Lewis, of all people, was deemed insufficiently tough with Emanuel by her own bargaining team.
We’re in La-La Land now, campers. No union deal will probably mean no more borrowing and most assuredly no state money.
February 1, 2016 - The Illinois Opportunity Project (IOP) announced today that it is making a $500,000 donation to the campaign of State Representative Ken Dunkin, a Chicago Democrat.
IOP promotes public policy solutions rooted in economic liberty and the leaders who advance such solutions. We are policy-focused and thus post-partisan.
As such, IOP decided that a substantial financial commitment is warranted to support State Rep. Ken Dunkin against the onslaught he is facing from House Speaker Mike Madigan and his public sector union allies in the March primary election.
Rep. Dunkin has consistently shown independent thinking and provided support in policy areas of critical importance including: (1) protecting honest, adversarial collective bargaining between the governor and public sector unions representing state employees, and (2) ending the discrimination against children based on their household income and address when it comes to the primary and secondary schools they may attend. Dunkin’s support for certain structural reforms well predate the election of Gov. Bruce Rauner. For example, in 2010, Dunkin voted for the school choice legislation (SB 2494) sponsored by then State Sen. James Meeks.
We hope Rep. Dunkin’s example of acting in furtherance of his constituents rather than toeing the party line established by Speaker Madigan will be followed by more of his colleagues in the House.
Cullerton provides cooling-off period for Rauner to rethink student aid veto
CHICAGO - Senate President John Cullerton issued the following statement regarding the status of SB2043:
“Thousands of students across Illinois rely on the Monetary Award Program to be able to attend college and pursue degrees. This year, the state isn’t honoring its commitment to them. The governor already vetoed funding once and now is threatening to do it again even before we’ve sent the proposal to his desk.
I would urge the governor to rethink his position, reconsider his priorities and not act rashly but rather in the best interests of these students, their futures and the future of Illinois.
We’re going to give him time to do just that. The Senate will send Senate Bill 2043 to the governor on Tuesday, Feb. 16. That gives him two weeks to ponder whether another veto is the best approach.
I hope the governor uses the time to rethink his veto announcement. And I hope those who understand the importance of the state’s student aid program will use the time to help convince the governor to do the right thing.”
* Meanwhile, I told subscribers about this last week…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner wants lawmakers to address Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis “right away.” But despite a rare agreement between Rauner and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, it’s unlikely a bill will advance anytime soon.
Cullerton says it’s tougher than usual to pass a pension bill this year. That’s because of upcoming elections, union opposition, an Illinois Supreme Court ruling that declared a previous law unconstitutional and the ongoing state budget saga.
Cullerton says a pension bill could be part of a broader deal between Rauner and majority Democrats on a budget and other issues. […]
Rauner’s spokesman said Monday there’s “no good policy reason to delay.” He says the legislature could be “putting politics ahead of good policy.”
Subscribers know more.
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Hi, Rich –
Mike asked me to send this to you:
“The Governor made clear he will veto SB 2043 because there is no way to pay for it – but he has offered a path toward compromise by agreeing to sign legislation that funds MAP, community colleges and universities tied to ways to pay for these important programs. Rather than playing politics with a dead piece of legislation, we urge the Senate to focus on finding real solutions and vote next week on legislation that would fund MAP grants with a fiscally responsible way to pay for them.”
“President Obama has come out strongly in favor of both term limits and redistricting reform,” Rauner said [during his State of the State Address]. “I agree, and the people of Illinois agree. The only reasons not to do this are pure partisan politics, and a desire to cling to power.”
Obama said in his State of the Union address that the country should “end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around.” He expressed broad support for the idea of term limits during a July trip to Africa, saying “nobody should be president for life.”While Republicans are hoping that Obama’s visit will inspire his allies to back Rauner on term limits and redistricting, Democrats said they have other priorities.
“It’s nice of him to return and grace us with his honorable self,” said Sen. Kim Lightford, D-Maywood. “But the better politics, better selves sounds like a peace offering in trying to help a real negotiation process or a real compromise to begin taking shape to get us past the budget impasse. And with all the challenges with police brutality in the state, it’s nice that he would come home for the ninth anniversary, but also in my hope, be the peace offering that we need to help us with many of the challenges that we’re facing.”
Senate President John Cullerton recently wrote the president, saying now would be a good time for a visit.
“Well, he’s had some problems, himself, in Washington, so he’s certainly aware what the conflict is like,” Cullerton said. “He’s had to fight that. Hopefully he’ll have an effect on all of us.”
* The visit was a well-guarded secret, but somebody knew…
For the upcoming visit, the Springfield Police Department has had “several days” of notice, and the initial planning has begun, Deputy Chief Dan Mounce said.
The Secret Service is in charge of the detail, he said, and city police, and typically Illinois State Police and the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, assist them.
The level of security-related planning for an event of this magnitude depends on a number of factors, Mounce said.
“Rest assured that there is a significant amount of planning and manpower that’s needed for a visit by a president,” he said.
President Barack Obama has been to Springfield before and actually worked there as a state senator several years ago. Now, Gov. Bruce Rauner hopes when Obama returns next month, nine years after announcing his presidential candidacy, the two will have time for a beer together.
Springfield sources tell NBC 5 Rauner’s office has reached out to the White House to see if the president has time for a beer at Obed and Isaac’s when he visits Illinois Feb.10.
Obed and Isaac’s, steps from what’s known as the Lincoln neighborhood, is known for its craft beers – from the Backporch Farmhouse Ale to the Ditzy Blonde — and is quite popular among residents. […]
Details on how long Obama’s visit will be and what he will do during the trip weren’t immediately known. As for whether or not he and Rauner will toast a Backporch Farmhouse Ale, we’ll have to wait and see.
* The Question: Do you think President Obama should accept Gov. Rauner’s invitation? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
One of the theories floating around the state is that there won’t be a budget for fiscal year 2017 (which begins July 1) until after the November general election when, the thinking goes, Republicans will have made inroads into the big majorities Democrats have in the Illinois House and Senate.
But former Gov. Jim Edgar suggested last week that Republicans might not make any gains in the 39-20 advantage Democrats have in the Senate and 71-47 margin they have in the House.
“I don’t think there’s going to be enough change in the Legislature, one way or another. The top of the ticket is going to have an impact. If it’s Trump or Cruz (for the Republican Party), I don’t seem them playing well in Illinois,” said Edgar, who is running as a delegate committed to Jeb Bush. “I don’t see the Republicans making enough gains to control either house and I think there’s a better chance the Democrats might pick up a vote or two. That’s all based on the top of the ticket.
“And if we’re still in this (state budget) mess you can beat up (House Speaker Michael) Madigan all you want but most people think the governor is the governor. That was always my philosophy, that at the end of the day I was going to be the guy who would be responsible no matter what the Legislature did. So I don’t think the November election will have that much of an impact.”
I disagree with the premise. The reason for waiting until after November is more about finding votes than which party does better. But that’s an important consideration, too. If MJM is knocked out of his super majority, then might he be more amenable? Maybe. But what if holds on?
* As far as Edgar’s headlined comment goes, that’s true. But for right now Gov. Rauner is able to blame Madigan because MJM is undoubtedly the least popular figure in Illinois politics. It’s a relatively easy sale: Because… Madigan!
One wonders how long he can continue to do this, but he’s not totally wrong. It does, after all, take two to tango.
Rauner’s beef with public unions was echoed during a recent Supreme Court session. A number of justices were troubled that a California teachers’ union requires non-members to pay a portion of members dues. Doesn’t that mean that non-members are forced to pay for political causes that the union supports but that they may not? The union answered that it wasn’t an infringement of the teachers’ right of free speech. Nothing prevented them from expressing their political convictions as individuals.
Some justices seemed skeptical — leading court observers to think the union will lose the argument.
Yet five years ago, the Supreme Court bought it. At issue in the famed “Citizens United” case was whether corporate funds could finance political campaigns. The government argued “that corporate independent expenditures can be limited because of its interest in protecting dissenting shareholders from being compelled to fund corporate political speech.”
The court rejected that argument, saying dissenting stockholders could find other ways to express their views. Should it now turn around and say dissenting teachers have no alternatives would mean that good for the goose is not good for the gander. There would be one rule for corporations, another for unions. And that won’t be good for any of us, whatever our politics. We will be on our way to a semi-noisy, half-muffled democracy.
The state owes $2 million to Ashley’s Quality Care in Chicago, which provides in-home care workers to keep seniors out of nursing homes, according to chief accountant Michael Robinson. The company has not met its payroll for 14 weeks, forcing the departure of 40 percent of its previous 1,000 employees; clientele has dipped by one-third, to 800, slicing revenue.
So, think about this. They keep seniors out of nursing homes. That saves the state big bucks.
Ugh… Just… Ugh.
…Adding… As a commenter notes, this is a feature, not a bug…
Rauner was among panelists at a 2012 tax policy conference in Chicago, sponsored by the George W. Bush Institute. Moderator MARGARET SPELLINGS, former U.S. secretary of education, asked him how people could build a “political constituency for change.” […]
“We will crush our economy if we try to spend money on both high-cost, inefficient, bureaucratic, heavily unionized government and a social safety net to help the disadvantaged,” Rauner said.
“We can’t afford both,” he said, and “wealth creators,” like JIMMY JOHN LIAUTAUD, founder of Jimmy John’s sandwich shops and another panelist, would be forced to leave the state.
“I think we can drive a wedge issue in the Democratic Party on that topic and bring the folks who say, ‘You know what, for our tax dollars, I’d rather help the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the elderly, the children in poverty,’ ” Rauner said, instead of directing tax dollars to the Service Employees International Union or “AF-Scammy,” an apparent reference to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, known as AFSCME for short.
* Another commenter pointed to this, which is also from Bernie…
Radogno also said that, while many social service agencies are struggling without state funding, and “seeing the bigger agencies have problems is very scary,” there “needed to be a shakeout.”
“Most legislators I talk to agree with that,” Radogno said. “I mean I actually met with an agency that had 36 clients. … Some of these very small, very weak agencies, where their clients were being taken over by larger agencies. … I think not all of that was a horrible thing.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** IMPACT CIL, which serves disabled people in six Metro East counties is now furloughing staff one day a week. The organization is owed $100,000 by the state. Click here for more info.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From a reader…
Rich, here are a couple things to think about. One is this article from the Quad Cities, LSSI’s adult daycare is being taken over by a multi-state company backed by a wall street firm. This happened really quickly.
Then there is the email all of us got from DHS last week. Add in Radogno’s comments after the SoS, and Bernie’s column on Sunday. Maybe I am paranoid, but we just might be seeing a major move by this administration to consolidate human services from locally controlled non-profits to multi-state, for-profit firms, and the Illinois-based groups that are large enough to survive some time without being paid. Just some food for thought.
The e-mail from Khari Hunt, Chief Operating Officer at DHS…
Good Morning-
A while back in WSCI we discussed encouraging strategic mergers among service providers that were struggling financially and/or did not have the back office expertise to support their business.
I met with Jim Lewis at Chicago Community Trust who some of you may know has been working with their resources to support non-profits interested in these strategic merger opportunities. He has funding and available time but he does not have client non-profit service providers.
Do we have service providers that do good work which we would like to tee-up for this opportunity? Are we interested in meeting with Jim to discuss further?
State Rep. Ken Dunkin wants House Speaker Mike Madigan to let legislators vote on a bill that would eliminate red-light cameras and speed cameras in Illinois, pointing to the recent federal bribery conviction of a former Chicago official who helped establish the city’s red-light camera program.
“All I’m asking today is for Speaker Mike Madigan to call House Bill 141 that’s been held hostage in the Rules Committee since last spring,” Dunkin, a South Side Democrat, said at a news conference Sunday at the corner of 76th and Stony Island in the shadow of a red-light camera. […]
Dunkin claimed the cameras are a money-making scheme, do not improve safety and were born of corruption that was evidenced by the recent conviction of former Chicago Transportation Department official John Bills, who accepted bribes to steer business to the company that established red-light cameras in Chicago. […]
“There’s no (legislative) member in their right mind who would not support this legislation,” said Dunkin, who noted the highly unpopular red-light and speed camera programs allow for residents “to be gouged and to be played by the scam of the century.”
That’s a smart move. Obviously, red light and speed cams are hugely unpopular. Whenever former West Side state Sen. Rickey Hendon had a tough race (or was doing ads for someone who did) he’d always highlight his (or his candidate’s) opposition to red light cams. It’s a great issue.
* However, there are two glaring omissions in the above story.
1) During the 2011 veto session, the General Assembly took up this issue…
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is lobbying hard for a bill that would allow the city to use red light cameras to catch speeders near school zones and parks.
The measure quickly passed the Senate two weeks ago, but some representatives say it could face stiffer opposition in the House, which is expected to vote this week.
The House passed that bill, SB 965, by a vote of 64-50. Wanna guess who one of those “Yes” votes was in that relatively close roll call? Yep. You’re right.
2) The vast majority of spending in Dunkin’s primary has been done by a group called IllinoisGO. That group is run by Greg Goldner, who was hired early on by RedFlex…
The O’Malley commissions also went to pay for an Arizona condominium, a speedboat, a Mercedes-Benz, even Bills’ June 2011 retirement party when he left the city and soon took a job on Redflex’s payroll working with Resolute Consulting. The consulting firm, owned by longtime Chicago political power broker Greg Goldner, was hired by Redflex around the same time the company was pushing to expand its red light cameras to include speed cameras.
Just to be super clear here, nobody has ever suggested that Goldner did anything unethical or illegal. I’m not making that suggestion either, and neither should you.
But at least we now know that IllinoisGO is most definitely not coordinating with Dunkin’s campaign messaging.
As I prepare to return to work on Monday, I realize how lucky I am to have had a maternity leave. I will miss our little rituals, which include reading him Rich Miller’s Cap Fax in the morning and watching Friends in the afternoon. Like every other working parent, the guilt is awful. One day I will explain to him what I do and why it is important to me. And maybe, just maybe, he will be better off because of it.
Heather is House Speaker Michael Madigan’s chief legal counsel. She’s been missed.
* And here’s little Thomas, who is, apparently, a future subscriber…
* The BGA’s Andy Shaw writes about the retirement of U.S. Rep. Steve Israel…
Israel explains that he’ll “be leaving Congress at the end of this term…liberated from a fundraising regime that’s never been more dangerous to our democracy.”
He estimates he spent 4,200 hours “dialing for dollars,” held 1,600 fundraisers and collected nearly $20 million in donations.
He calls the fundraisers “panhandling with hors d’oeuvres.”
Ouch.
Shaw uses the column to push for reforms like matching small contributions with public funds.
OK, that’s not a bad idea.
* But he’s missing something important. The reason Israel and others have to spend so much time raising money is because of campaign contribution caps.
Reformers love caps and even pushed hard for their imposition in Illinois. But caps mean politicians have to raise the same amount of money that they need to remain competitive from lots more people. That’s one reason Illinois’ state caps are higher than the federal caps. It perverts the process by putting way too much emphasis on fundraising.
Caps haven’t worked. If they had, don’t you think we’d notice a move away from monied interests since caps were imposed? It’s been just the opposite.
Also keep in mind that Democrats here are now fighting with one hand tied behind their back because Gov. Rauner and a couple of his pals can flood the zone with unlimited money (and they’ve already started), while Democrats not immediately targeted are forced to live within the caps.
The city since 2009 has settled seven lawsuits against Campbell, a 17-year veteran officer. He ties for second among officers named in the most lawsuits settled by the city during those past six years, the Tribune’s analysis of available data shows. His partner during the Guzman arrest, Sautkus, was named in four settled cases.
Both are part of a small group of officers — just 124 of the city’s police force of roughly 12,000 — who were identified in nearly a third of the misconduct lawsuits settled since 2009, suggesting that officers who engaged in questionable behavior did it over and over. The Tribune’s investigation also found that 82 percent of the department’s officers were not named in any settlements. Still, the conduct of those 124 officers cost the city $34 million, the Tribune investigation found.
The Tribune also found that while many officers as well as police union officials attribute claims of misconduct to the rough and tumble of working in crime-ridden neighborhoods, complaints against Campbell, Sautkus and their colleagues have often occurred while the group patrolled relatively low-crime areas, focused on quality-of-life issues.
* Street cops say ‘ACLU effect’ drives spike in gun violence: But the ACLU rejects any correlation between declining street stops and rising violence, said Karen Sheley, director of police practices for the ACLU of Illinois. Other cities have scaled back their street stops without an explosion of shootings, she said.
* Nancy Ronquillo of Children’s Home & Aid in Chicago writing in Crain’s…
Seven months into the fiscal year, with no end to the state budget stalemate in sight, my organization, Children’s Home & Aid, announced the suspension of a program that has been working: our Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services program. The decision was a direct result of the budget impasse: The state has not paid nonprofits for contracted services since July.
Let me tell you about the CCBYS program. A few months ago, like most every day, we received a call about a teen living in a foreclosed building with another homeless friend. Her mom was very ill and was struggling to provide even the most minimal care for her child. After the police investigated, we were called to work with the teen and her family to remedy their issues. Because we had been redirecting funds from other programs to keep CCBYS afloat, we were able to take the call and help her find a safe place to stay with another family member. After working with her for a few days, it was clear that while she was now safe and off the streets, she would need a long-term plan if she was going to have a brighter future. We helped her enroll in Job Corps, a federal education and jobs training program, where she has spent the past few months completing her GED and training to work in a medical office.
Now that our program is suspended, when the police reach out for help, options are limited. Rather than reaching a trained social worker who is on call 24/7 to work one-on-one, the police will be referred to a hotline.
CCBYS costs about $200 per month for each youth—that’s right, less than $10 a day—and it pays for our dedicated staff to be on call 24/7 to help kids who flee dangerous homes. We find a way to reconnect kids with their families. In over 90 percent of the cases, our staff members help kids to be safe at home and in school.
When this happens, we prevent kids from entering juvenile detention or the foster care system—alternatives that cost much more. CCBYS costs, on average, $1,883 a year per youth. The cost of incarceration for a youth totals roughly $111,000 a year. Homelessness risks a youth’s entire future and, in the worst cases, their very life.
* Last week’s legislative votes on funding MAP grants and other higher ed items was not met with open arms by some editorial boards…
This is how far circumstances have degenerated in the General Assembly. Legislators pass a ghost spending authorization — a promise to spend with no real money to back up the promise — and characterize it as “real action.”
Here’s the problem with the legislation.
Gov. Rauner has promised to veto the bill. But assuming it becomes law, the $721 million that the state is authorizing would go on top of the huge pile of unpaid bills, which last week stood at $7,034,014,415.
One of the lead sponsors of the legislation, state Rep. Kelly Burke, a Chicago-area Democrat, dismissed concerns about the adding to the state’s unpaid bills. She suggested that Comptroller Leslie Munger can deal with an extra $721 million just as she’s dealing with the current $7 billion in unpaid bills.
Democrats “could have tied in spending reductions or attached a revenue plan (to the bill), but instead they simply made another unfunded political promise that the state can’t actually pay,” [Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford] said in a statement.
The governor is likely to veto this bill, and that sets up the scenario the Democrats wanted. Not only is Rauner against Mom, apple pie and the Fourth of July, he’s pro-ignorance!
So let the printing presses roll. Fire up the websites. Start the negative campaigns now!
What Illinois needs desperately is a budget. We haven’t had one in seven months. Yet there’s no sense of urgency in either party to pass one.
College students across Illinois may face an academic halt if Gov. Bruce Rauner refuses to pass the education bill that would allow students who rely on state-funded aid to continue their education. Columbia students, along with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, President of the Illinois Senate John J. Cullerton, and Illinois State representatives Ken Dunkin and Mary Flowers, held a press conference Jan. 29 at Rainbow Push, located at 930 E. 50th St., to call for Rauner to pass for a full education budget.
“There are high school counselors in Illinois today telling students don’t go to school in Illinois,’” Cullerton said. “That is not good for our future and that’s not good for business and that’s not business-friendly because there’s uncertainty whether or not universities are going to get their money.”
Cullerton said Rauner could not spend money unless the senate authorizes him to do so. Cullerton also said Rauner has been authorized to spend money on MAP grants and scholarships in the past but he chose to veto it. However, Cullerton said a new education budget bill is in place authorizing Rauner to spend money on these educational issues and he hopes the governor reconsiders his decision.
I talked to Cullerton about this over the weekend. To his mind, these are “allocations.” The General Assembly can’t force the governor to spend any or all the money it appropriates (the courts can, but that’s a different story). So, Cullerton said, by signing the bill, Rauner, in conjunction with the comptroller, could prioritize all spending and only release as much money as the state can afford.
Heckuva way to run a railroad, I know, but it’s an argument that isn’t being heard right now.
Every time Gov. Bruce Rauner gives a major speech, social media (and even mass media) lights him up over the way he drops his Gs at the end of words.
He’s workin’ and doin’ his best and shakin’ up Springfield, or whatever.
Last year, after his first State of the State Address, Illinois Public Radio even interviewed a language expert about whether he was doin’ this on purpose.
It does seem contrived. Rauner was educated at Ivy League schools, after all, and worked in some of the highest echelons in business. If you listen to any of his speeches in the years before he ran for governor, you’ll notice that he talked back then like an educated Midwesterner.
Anyway, Gov. Rauner asked me over to the Executive Mansion for a chat after last Wednesday’s State of the State Address.
It wasn’t exactly an honor. He wanted me to come by so he and I could have it out after he said something false about me at a press conference.
He held the presser to unveil an executive order consolidating information technology services into a single state agency. It was a fairly non-controversial announcement about a much-needed governmental upgrade.
I was actually kinda bored listening on the Internet until the governor was asked about some state revenue projections that he sent to legislators several months ago and shared with me earlier this month. Rauner’s own projections were based on what would happen if the governor got his economic agenda passed. The memo to legislators was designed to build support for (or at least, defend) his controversial pro-business agenda.
I published Rauner’s projection of a $510 million revenue increase, which I thought insufficient to justify all this impasse-related carnage. As I pointed out, the governor’s numbers meant he was aiming for a mere 1.4 percent revenue increase over Fiscal Year 2015.
“The author of the Capitol Fax has his numbers way, way wrong and we will be discussin’ that in our budget address,” Rauner told reporters, even though I simply used Rauner’s own numbers.
“I will also point out,” Rauner continued, “that the author of that blog used to work for Speaker Madigan, so I don’t want to put too much credence in the commentary.”
What an absolute, total crock.
I was a House page for two or three weeks way back in 1985. My tenure may not have even been that long because the House wasn’t in session while I was a page, and I quit before they came back to town for a job on my college campus.
I wish I could tell you what happened at my subsequent meeting with Rauner, but I can’t because it was completely off the record. As he told reporters, Rauner will be issuing revised projections. Total increased revenue and state and local government savings, he believes, are about $6 billion.
I can, however, tell you a story because I cleared it with the governor the next day.
At one point during our discussion, I decided to lighten the mood a little and asked him what the deal was with all those dropped Gs, teasing him that he sounded like somebody attempting to imitate a hillbilly. That got a big laugh, particularly from Mrs. Rauner.
The governor said he now feels “free” to be himself since he was elected. Mrs. Rauner agreed that his public wardrobe has drastically deteriorated since election day, as has his grammar.
Rauner told me he couldn’t talk like he wanted and wear what he wanted when he was a businessman because nobody would want to do business with him. At one point, he said, his business partners even asked him not to drive his lousy old car to company outings because it was an embarrassment to them.
Rauner said he was the only partner at his firm who didn’t own a private jet and fancy cars. He said he’s “proud” to still have the first tie he ever bought.
So all of that video and audio of him speaking years ago was actually the contrived Rauner, the governor said. Now, he just wants to be himself, and that means droppin’ his Gs and doin’ other stuff like wearin’ the clothes he likes, not the clothes others expect him to don.
Anyway, it’s not exactly earth-shattering stuff, but I thought you’d be interested because this does give us some insight into how the governor thinks.
First, if you really get him angry he will throw you under the bus with Madigan. And second, he will happily and un-self-consciously drop his Gs while he does it.
Many Americans have a way of adapting new speech patterns and verbal ticks, linguists say, that might reflect the democratic notion that people can be what they want to be. It can be social climbing — the Eliza Doolittle in a lot of us. Or a need to fit in. Or sincere affinity.
Point bein’, it ain’t necessarily contrived.
In a classic 1963 radio interview, Studs Terkel asked Bob Dylan why a “highly literate, educated man” such as himself would talk “mountain talk.” Dylan, who grew up in Minnesota, laughed off the question, so Terkel supplied an answer of his own.
“It’s probably easier for you,” Terkel said to Dylan, to “express the feelings” you have in this way. Studs pointed out that their mutual hero, Woody Guthrie, never stopped talking like a dust-bowl Oakie though at some point he briefly went to college. […]
But if Rauner insists on talkin’ like regular folks, he might want to do a better job of standin’ up for regular folks.
* Not too surprising, considering all the problems he’s had. The one bright spot is that 51 percent overall think Mayor Emanuel should not resign. But that’s pretty cold comfort…
Only 27 percent of Chicagoans approve of his job performance, while a record 63 percent disapprove. The poll was conducted by Research America Inc., featuring live landline and cellphone interviews with 985 registered city voters from Jan. 20-28. It has an error margin of 3.2 percentage points. […]
Overall, 59 percent of city voters said they viewed Emanuel as not honest and trustworthy, including 64 percent of Hispanics, 63 percent of African Americans and 51 percent of whites. Only 27 percent of city voters said they considered the mayor to be honest and trustworthy. […]
Only 21 percent of voters agreed with Emanuel’s decision to fight the McDonald shooting video release, while 68 percent said the mayor’s actions to delay the release were not justified. […]
(O)nly 17 percent of voters said they believed Emanuel’s explanation of how he learned the details of the case. An additional 74 percent said they did not believe Emanuel’s version of how the events unfolded, including 83 percent of African-Americans, 76 percent of Hispanics and 67 percent of whites. The poll’s margin of error among racial and ethnic subgroups was 5.7 percentage points. […]
Asked if the mayor should resign from office, 51 percent said Emanuel should not resign, while 41 percent said he should step down. That finding is largely due to support from white voters.
* I know he doesn’t like marijuana, but, c’mon, man…
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has again rejected expanding the list of diseases that can be treated with marijuana in Illinois.
The Department of Public Health announced the decision Friday, spurning eight recommendations from an expert advisory board.
The panel had recommended post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects many military veterans. Also recommended and rejected Friday were autism, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis and four pain syndromes.
It’s the second such sweeping rejection from the Republican governor. Rauner in September vetoed legislation that would have added PTSD, and his health chief at that time rejected nearly a dozen conditions the expert panel had recommended.
* Oscar didn’t get to go to the governor’s mansion this week because I couldn’t get home from the Statehouse and still get back on time. Plus, I don’t like to yell around him.
Both of the governor’s dogs were there, so he would’ve had great fun. He loves those dogs. Actually, he loves pretty much everyone and everything. I’ve never seen an animal with such a big heart.
* Maze was referring to an Operation PUSH press conference today featuring Senate President John Cullerton, Rep. Mary Flowers and Rep. Dunkin…
So, what’s going on?
It looks like a classic sandbag.
* Cullerton, according to his press secretary, absolutely did not know Dunkin would be there. “This was not our event,” he said.
Cullerton went and subsequently went through with the event because Rev. Jesse Jackson asked him to.
Rep. Flowers apparently didn’t know about Dunkin’s attendance, either. She didn’t seem too pleased.
But at least we now know that Rev. Jackson isn’t going to be a bystander.
…Adding… Rep. Flowers says she was completely surprised by Dunkin’s presence. She did say, however, that she was pleasantly surprised when Dunkin called on Gov. Rauner to sign the MAP grant bill passed yesterday.
That bill, by the way, has not yet been sent to the governor, even though Senate President Cullerton was at PUSH today demanding that Rauner sign it.
Friday, Jan 29, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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Haymarket Center is closing its social setting detoxification program. This was Haymarket’s first program, the start of our mission 40 years ago.
In FY 2015, this program had 1,047 admissions of 903 unique individuals.
As a social setting detoxification program, it is not eligible for a Medicaid certification, and relied on State funding. With the end of our federal portion of our DASA contract growing near, the 22% cut in our contract, and other programs such as Recovery Homes also relying on State funding, we believe we had no choice but to close this program.
We will be announcing further reductions within the next few days.
Founded in 1975 by the late Monsignor Ignatius McDermott and Dr. James West, McDermott Center dba Haymarket Center is the largest not-for-profit community-based adult detoxification, residential, and outpatient substance abuse treatment facility in Chicago. Haymarket Center has continued to grow into a comprehensive alcohol and other drug treatment organization, licensed by the state of Illinois, which receives funding from the private sector, as well as city, county, state and federal agencies. The treatment programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF).
Msgr. McDermotts and Dr. West’s understanding of addiction as a disease provided the motivation for their call for treatment in lieu of criminalization. This fundamental perspective continues to guide Haymarket Center in pioneering innovative, high quality, community-based, social setting behavioral health programs that are gender responsive, culturally appropriate and population specific. Although Haymarket serves primarily homeless, indigent and ex-offenders from the south and west side communities of Chicago, it extends its services to the entirety of Illinois.
President Barack Obama will return to his old stomping grounds Feb. 10 and deliver an address to the Illinois General Assembly.
Obama will talk about “what we can do, together, to build a better politics — one that reflects our better selves,” according to a travel advisory from the White House.
The visit will come nine years after Obama announced his candidacy for president, and amid a historic budget impasse between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly.
*** UPDATE *** Gov. Bruce Rauner…
“I look forward to welcoming President Obama to the State Capitol and hearing him speak about finding common ground between Republicans and Democrats. Despite our political differences, the President and I share a passion for improving education, especially for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, a belief in the benefits of term limits and redistricting reform for restoring good government, and a strong desire to see more economic opportunity for all Illinoisans. I know we can achieve great things for Illinois by having mutual respect for one another and focusing on bipartisan compromise to achieve what’s best for the long-term future of our great state.”
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, D-Chicago, issued the following statement Friday, mourning the passing of former Senate President Phil Rock:
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Senate President Phil Rock. He was a great friend, mentor and member of the General Assembly for many, many years. His accomplishments, especially in the area of bettering the lives of children, are legion. Shirley and I join with his many friends and colleagues in offering sympathy and prayers to Sheila and their children for comfort and strength in these difficult times.”
“The way I look at it is: Could Ted Cruz win a Senate race in Illinois? I don’t think so,” says Josh Holmes, a former senior adviser to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He notes that the state’s Republican senator, Mark Kirk, has “outperformed” the ticket in the past. […]
While waiting to figure out who will become their nominee, Law says that the most effective Senate GOP candidates, like Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, are “hugging the ground,” focusing on state issues like the heroin epidemic. That, and remembering the first rule of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
“The first habit is to focus your energy on your circle of influence versus your circle of concern, which basically means you focus your attention on things you can affect rather than the things you worry about,” said Law.
It appears the candidates agree.
“For me, you could drive yourself crazy, in a targeted race like mine, of what will happen,” Kirk told National Journal. “And I’m just focused on the people of Illinois.”
* Part of that local focus is pinning his probable Democratic opponent to Speaker Madigan, who has lower poll numbers than just about anybody in the country. It started when Duckworth visited Chicago State University this week and blasted Gov. Rauner…
“Because of the stubbornness of the governor, it’s a month away from shutting its doors to these kids,” Duckworth said, according to remarks released by her campaign. “We can’t punish kids like this.” […]
“By attacking Gov. Rauner, it is clear that Rep. Duckworth is siding with Speaker Michael Madigan and his agenda of higher taxes and no reform,” Kirk campaign manager Kevin Artl said in a statement. […]
“The problem is, Duckworth’s record on higher education is just as bad as Kirk’s,” a statement released by Zopp’s campaign manager Bryce Colquitt read. […]
In debating who supported federal efforts to make college more affordable, Duckworth compared Kirk to Rauner. Kirk compared Duckworth to Madigan. And Zopp compared Duckworth to Kirk.
Illinois’ junior Senator, Mark Kirk, like fellow Republican Rep. Rodney Davis, was a strong supporter of the “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA),” which replaced the “No Child Left Behind Act.” In addition, though it was not included in the final bill, Kirk and Davis fought hard to get the NEA-backed “Accountability Dashboard” included in ESSA.
Shhhh. Don’t tell Rauner.
* Also, here’s some Kirk campaign oppo on Duckworth for your perusal…
In 2012, Tammy Duckworth Attended A Caterpillar Worker’s Strike Rally. “Tammy Duckworth and Bill Foster also joined the strikers, Democrats running for US Congress in two of the national battleground congressional races to regain a Democratic majority.” (John Bachtell, “Strikers blast Caterpillar greed, reject concessions,” People’s World, 5/14/12)
· “Among the guests and speakers at the rally were Tom Buffenbarger, International President; Robert Roach, Jr., General Secretary-Treasurer; Phil Gruber, Midwest Territory GVP; Tom Giarrante, Mayor, Joliet Illinois; Pat McGuire, Illinois State Senator 43rd Legislative District; Larry Walsh, Will County Executive; Tammy Duckworth, Candidate for Illinois’ 8th U.S. Congressional District; Bill Foster, Candidate for Illinois’ 11th U.S. Congressional District and Tim Drea, Secretary Treasurer, Illinois AFL-CIO.” (“Solidarity Rally for Machinists at Caterpillar,” International Association Of Machinists And Aerospace Workers, 5/15/12)
Duckworth Used The Rally To “Voice Her Disdain For Caterpillar the Company.” Back at the stage, Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth used the opportunity to voice her disdain for Caterpillar the company. (Pat Barcas, “Fighting Machinists,” IAM Leadership, 5/11/12)
At The Rally Duckworth Admitted She Was A Stockholder But That She Did Not Like What The Company Was Doing At The Time Of The Rally. “She explained how she and her husband had invested in Caterpillar stock years ago when she received a payment from the government over her military injuries. ‘I’m a stockholder. We believed in the company back then and what it stood for. Now, this is not OK. I don’t like this,’ she said.” (Pat Barcas, “Fighting Machinists,” IAM Leadership, 5/11/12)
A Couple Months After The Rally On July 26th 2012, Tammy Duckworth Purchased Between $1,001-$15,000 In Caterpillar Stock According To Her Personal Financial Disclosure. (Rep. Tammy Duckworth Financial Disclosure Report, Accessed 1/25/16)
Tammy Duckworth Still Owns 2 Sets Of Stocks In Caterpillar Inc. Both Worth Between $1,001 And $15,000 That Each Earned Her Dividends Worth Between $1 And $200 In 2013. (Rep. Tammy Duckworth Financial Disclosure Report, Accessed 7/22/15)
* The Tribune quotes Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Gov. Rauner’s abrupt shift in tone this week…
“I welcome a more congenial tone of cooperation, because the state has lost a year based on name-calling,” Emanuel said at a Near North Side event to promote an education program. “And we can see by the results, I don’t think name-calling is a way to get people to cooperate and work together.
“Calling people from the Supreme Court to others names has led to the most unproductive first year of any governor in recent memory,” the mayor said.
“And so I welcome the tone of openness. I welcome the tone of trying to hit the restart button, given the last year. Illinois students, schools, teachers, people providing basic social services, investments in our future, have been put on hold in an acrimonious environment because of name-calling,” he added.
I agree that the governor’s tonal shift is welcomed news, as long as it lasts longer than a few days.
But the real problems are the numerous stark, gargantuan policy differences. The name-calling (on both sides) has only made those policy positions more intransigent.
So, we need more than just a more measured rhetorical approach, which, again, is nonetheless encouraging to me. We need a far more moderate policy approach - by both sides.
* Yesterday, Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) said he was voting “No” on a bill to appropriate over $700 million for MAP grants, community colleges and adult education programs because appropriating the money would take pressure off the General Assembly to get a budget deal with the governor.
That’s a fine theory. And he may even be right. And even if he’s wrong, and even if the governor flip-flops and signs the bill, there is no funding source to pay for it.
Decatur school board members expressed aloud their reluctance to approve the suspension of adult education classes until funding is restored by the state but did approve the decision at the Tuesday meeting.
“We never talk about adult education, probably because it runs so well,” board member Fred Spannaus said. “They serve a population that might never get into the work force without their help. The money’s there, but it’s caught up in this incredibly stupid political dispute.”
Adult education, with the exception of the current certified nurse assistant class that will end March 2, will be discontinued indefinitely.
Many of the adult students are taking the classes in order to better themselves. For example, as reported by Herald & Review reporter Valerie Wells, Robert Brown comes to class even though he works an overnight shift that end at 6 a.m. He is working on improving his reading skills and hopes to enroll in a nurse assistant class and eventually study to become a nurse practitioner.
“You’re taking away from people who are trying to learn,” he said. Brown said he was more than a little angry that the state government can’t come up with a budget.
Courageous Lawmakers Fight for Student Privacy
Written By Laurie Higgins
State Representative Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) introduced the bi-partisan Pupil Physical Privacy Act (HB 4474), which if passed would require the following:
[A] school board to designate each pupil restroom, changing room, or overnight facility accessible by multiple pupils simultaneously, whether located in a public school building or located in a facility utilized by the school for a school-sponsored activity, for the exclusive use of pupils of only one sex. Defines “sex” as the physical condition of being male or female, as determined by an individual’s chromosomes and identified at birth by that individual’s anatomy.
Signing on as co-sponsors are John D. Anthony (R-Morris), Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), John M. Cabello (R-Loves Park), C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville), Mary E. Flowers (D-Chicago), Jeanne M. Ives (R-Wheaton), Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon), Sherry L. Jesiel (R-Gurnee), Bill Mitchell (R-Decatur), Reginald Phillips (R-Charleston), David Reis (R-Olney), Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake), and Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora). Who knew Illinois had this many wise and courageous leaders willing to endure the deceitful epithets hurled at anyone who dares to dissent from the foolish views espoused by “progressives”?
If we lived in a rational society committed to sexual sanity, such a bill would be wholly unnecessary, and anyone who sponsored such a bill would be thought of as daft. But we don’t, and therefore the bill is necessary. These lawmakers deserve many thanks for their courage and wisdom.
* From Equality Illinois…
Joint Statement on Stopping Discrimination Against Transgender Students
January 22, 2016
We stand with transgender and gender nonconforming students in Illinois and denounce the blatantly discriminatory bill recently introduced in the Illinois House by Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine). HB-4474 would force transgender and gender nonconforming students to use separate bathrooms and locker rooms and that’s plain wrong.
Not only does this bill promote fear mongering, but its sponsor appears to be out of touch with what is happening in education. More schools across Illinois, and across the nation, are adopting humane policies that respect and affirm all students, including students who are transgender and gender non-conforming. This practice has been endorsed and encouraged by noted researchers and leading authorities on education and student development, all of whom encourage the recognition and support of transgender students and how they wish to express their gender identity in a safe, responsible, and dignified manner.
HB-4474 would compel many schools who are dealing with this issue in a sensitive way, educating their schools and the public about what it means to be transgender, and fostering a sense of community and acceptance on their campuses to reverse those policies and create unnecessary division and segregation.
The Department of Education recently issued a set of very strong findings, in a complaint brought against suburban Chicago District 211, which found that denying a student who is transgender access to an appropriate restroom or changing area is in violation of federal law, specifically Title IX. Rep. Morrison’s bill would force schools to operate in conflict with that finding, at the risk of losing critical federal funding. With these factors in mind, this does not result in sound and responsible public policy, especially considering the budget challenges facing the state.
The real harm is not just for transgender students but all students regardless of their gender identity. It promotes bullying, gender policing and body shaming – all practices that hurt all students and can be devastating for transgender students trying solely to get the good quality education they deserve.
This bill also feeds into the false narrative that sex and gender fit neatly into a binary model and it should not see the light of day. As organizations that work exclusively or significantly with LGBTQ communities, we encourage the State of Illinois to use its resources to advance supportive and inclusive work that moves all Illinois residents toward full equality.
Sign-On Organizations
Affinity Community Services
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
Association of Latino/as Motivating Action (ALMA)
Center on Halsted
Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus
Chicago House and Social Service Agency
Chicago Youth Storage Initiative
Equality Illinois
Howard Brown Health Center
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
La Casa Norte
Lambda Legal
Pride Action Tank
Whatever your position, this is mainly just lots of heat over a bill going nowhere. Democratic super-majorities and a governor who has shied away from traditional social issues mean it’s doomed.
Both sides will raise money on it, but in the end this bill is DOA.
Competitive Power Ventures announced Thursday its intention to open a state-of-the-art electric generating facility in the Three Rivers area of unincorporated Grundy County.
The CPV Three Rivers Energy Center is a nearly $1 billion privately funded project designed to meet the future electricity demands of Illinois. The 1,100-megawatt natural gas-powered 2-by-1 combined cycle facility will provide enough electricity to power about 1.1 million homes.
With a lengthy permit process ahead for the facility, Three Rivers project director Michael Bruno said the company has set a goal of beginning construction in 2018 and supplying electricity by 2021. The 21⁄2-year construction process is expected to create 300 to 500 locally sourced union jobs.
“Grundy County has an amazing, ready-made union workforce,” Bruno said. “That’s huge for us. We see unions as an essential partner.” […]
Norton Ammer said the tax base enhancement will be huge. Seven taxing bodies would receive funds, including Coal City schools and protection agencies, Goose Lake Township and Grundy County.
I’m thinking we won’t see a triumphant press release from DCEO on this anytime soon.
“This is the home of the first police torture reparations fund in the country, and no one’s been prosecuted for police torture,” said [Democratic Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Kim Foxx], a former assistant state’s attorney and onetime chief of staff to County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who backs her candidacy. “So the lack of prosecutions, or what’s happened in the Laquan McDonald case, is an indicator or a pattern of a lack of prosecutions for this type of misconduct by the state’s attorney’s office and particularly this state’s attorney.”
Alvarez, the two-term incumbent, hit back with a defense of the thoroughness of her investigation into McDonald’s death and her record on police prosecutions. She said she remains focused on helping the victims of crime in the county, many of whom are minorities.
“I take great insult to the implication that I’m not open to the community,” Alvarez said. “I meet regularly with community members, and I think what we have to keep coming back to is what neither of my opponents want to talk about, and that is the victims, the victims of crime. That’s who we serve.”
A day after Gov. Bruce Rauner called on Springfield to come together, the same old Capitol infighting resumed, as Democrats ran a bill to restore some funding to state colleges and student scholarships, and the GOP governor promptly promised to veto it. […]
The Republican version would have appropriated $1.6 billion. The figure is higher because money would have been restored not only to community colleges, but also to state universities, such as the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University. Those institutions tend to be located in downstate areas often represented by Republicans.
The GOP version also included a controversial funding mechanism: It would have given Rauner extensive and unilateral authority to move money from one portion of the state budget to another, something Republicans say is fiscally responsible but Democrats argue he cannot be trusted to do.
“He’s just like (ex-Gov.) Rod Blagojevich: He wants all the power,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, suggesting that Rauner would use such power to “go after” working-class families and others.
Speaker Madigan repeated his pledge Wednesday to “work cooperatively” with Gov. Rauner. Apparently, that pledge doesn’t include comparing Rauner to an imprisoned former governor.
After a period of intense and difficult bargaining, the Chicago Teachers Union has received a serious offer from CPS. The CTU requires that any Tentative Agreements be made by its Big Bargaining Team—a 40-member committee of teachers, PSRPs and clinicians—which will convene, deliberate and vote on Monday.
While the Union will not release details of the offer without Big Bargaining Team approval, the basic framework calls for economic concessions in exchange for enforceable protections of education quality and job security. If the Union is able to reach a Tentative Agreement, delegates will be apprised of details shortly.
As the CTU leadership said, CPS has put a serious offer on the table that would prevent midyear teacher layoffs. This offer is a true compromise that requires sacrifices from both sides so that we can protect what is most important: the gains our students are making in their classrooms. We will continue to work around the clock to reach consensus on an agreement that is the best interests of our students, educators and parents.
Speaking on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” on Thursday, Mayor Emanuel declined to talk about the specifics of the offer, but he called the talks “honest.”
“I think it’s better for me to characterize it as very good discussion with a lot of respect on both sides for the challenges. . . . But to try to create a win-win situation for both teachers, taxpayers and most importantly for our students, I don’t want to go farther than that in trying to characterize it. Because it’s been a very honest and I think healthy working relationship over a number of weeks to get to a place where I think that we would see what the teachers need to see and the type of protections, but also the type of things that are necessary for taxpayers and students to see. I think that kind of mutual respect, I want to maintain.”
Any deal would have to be approved by the union’s House of Delegates before a contract could be finalized. That body meets Wednesday.
The union’s announcement came a day after CPS put off an offer to borrow up to $875 million. District CEO Forrest Claypool said earlier Thursday that the district expects to complete the deal by early next week at the latest.
In recent days, negotiators on both sides of the table have said that talks have gained steam following Republican proposals that would allow the state to take over the cash-strapped district, and also allow the district to declare bankruptcy. […]
Last week, Lewis voiced optimism about the progress of contract negotiations and acknowledged that her members could be in line to “lose certain things.”
* Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon is in town the for the team’s 30th anniversary of its Super Bowl win. He talked to the Tribune about how medical marijuana helped him get off pills and ease his pain from multiple injuries…
Now 56, McMahon has been plagued by debilitating health problems following his 15-year career and multiple concussions in the National Football League. He has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and has severe headaches, depression, memory loss, and vision and speech problems. He also said he suffered a broken neck. […]
McMahon got his medical marijuana card in Arizona, where he lives, after it was approved by a voter referendum in 2010. Before that, he said, he’d been taking 100 Percocet pills a month for pain in his shoulders, neck and arms.
“They were doing more harm than good,” he said. “This medical marijuana has been a godsend. It relieves me of the pain — or thinking about it, anyway.” […]
His comments come as Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner considers whether to approve eight more medical conditions to add to the list of about 40 that qualify for medical marijuana here. A state advisory board recommended adding the new conditions, including pain that doesn’t respond to conventional treatment.
The majority of patients in some other states that have legalized medical marijuana, like California and Colorado, qualify to use it to treat pain. But Illinois, which has perhaps the strictest law allowing medical marijuana in the nation, does not allow it for pain, as lawmakers have expressed concerns that the category is too broad and vague and would allow for abuse.
They should just legalize it, but an expansion to include pain in the interim would be a positive step forward.
Veterans gathered at the Capitol this morning to ask the Governor Rauner to add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to the list of illnesses that could be treated by medical marijuana.
They had hoped to deliver those signatures to the Governor in person but things didn’t go as planned.
After repeated requests to deliver their signatures, they were told the boxes were going into storage.
Despite their frustration the group went ahead with their rally as planned.
There’s no sense arguing with the facts, although we might interpret them differently. Keeping and attracting jobs underlies most of Illinois’ problems.
“To bring good jobs to Illinois, we have to make Illinois a place where it is good to do business.”
True. To which I would add, it also helps to create a perception that this is a good place to do business, which hasn’t been Rauner’s approach.
I even agree with the governor that we should make a priority of doing something about fixing our workers compensation system to reduce costs to employers, although not in the manner Rauner insists.
Employers continue to cite workers comp costs as a major impediment to doing business here, despite changes to the law in 2011 that brought improvements. This requires a balancing act with the rights of workers, but if the jobs are leaving, something is out of balance.
* I could hear them from the gallery yesterday, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Here’s the SJ-R…
Protests and rallies at the Statehouse are usual during legislative sessions, and a big gathering in the rotunda Wednesday included hundreds of people chanting things like “budget first” even as Gov. BRUCE RAUNER delivered his State of the State address in the House chamber.
At least in the House gallery, some of the chants — muffled by the chamber’s closed doors — could be heard as the governor spoke.
Why that tactic?
“I think it was necessary so the governor understands and all the lawmakers understand that families and communities need a budget right now, and they need one that chooses revenue over cuts to veterans, seniors, those with disabilities,” said NEAL WALTMIRE, spokesman for the Responsible Budget Coalition.
The coalition includes about 250 groups, from statewide teacher unions to Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries and the Hope Institute for Children and Families.
“We were respectful of the instructions,” Waltmire said. “We just wanted to make sure that the governor heard our concerns. It was hard to ignore us.”
Thursday, Jan 28, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Land of Lincoln Credit Union, based in Decatur and serving citizens out of 12 central Illinois locations, has recently delivered a donation to the Decatur Macon County Senior Center. Credit union staff members worked throughout the year to raise funds for its annual Charity of the Year, and fundraising coordinators were proud to announce the Senior Center as the beneficiary of their 2015 efforts.
The Decatur Macon County Senior Center serves the senior citizens of Decatur and Macon County through various activities, programs and services that help promote independence, safety, mental and physical health. DMCSC serves over 6,500 seniors annually and 52% of their budget must be raised with community contributions.
“We are so thrilled and honored that LLCU employees chose the Senior Center to raise money for this past year,” stated DMCSC Executive Director Leslie Stanberry. “LLCU put in so much work on behalf of the community that it speaks well for LLCU and the employees to have such civic pride.”
Land of Lincoln Credit Union looks forward to providing another year of exceptional community support!
• In 2014, for 16 to 19 year olds in Chicago, 12.4 percent of Blacks, 15.0 percent of Hispanic or Latinos, and 24.4 percent of Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) were employed. This compared to the national figure of 28.8 percent suggests that youth in Chicago are less likely to be employed.
• In Chicago, the jobless rate for Black 16 to 19 year olds was 88 percent. For Hispanic or Latinos 16 to 19 year olds, 85 percent were jobless in 2014.
• In Chicago, the percentage of Hispanic or Latino 16 to 19 year olds that was employed declined from 25.5 percent in 2005 to 15 percent in 2014, (reflecting a 42 percent drop). Employment for White (non-Hispanic or Latino) 16 to 19 year olds, although higher than either Black or Latino youth, also dropped during this period.
• The biggest decline of employment rates among 16 to 19 year olds in the U.S., Illinois and Chicago was among female Latinas in Chicago, with a 44 percent drop.
• In Illinois in 2014, 84 percent of Black 16 to 19 year olds and 72 percent of Hispanic or Latino 16 to 19 year olds were jobless. Employment rates decreased by 13 percent for Blacks and 20 percent for Hispanic or Latinos from 2005 to 2014.
• In the U.S. in 2014, 79 percent of Black 16 to 19 year olds and 74 percent of Hispanic or Latino 16 to 19 year olds were jobless. Employment rates decreased 14 percent for Blacks and 21 percent for Hispanic or Latinos from 2005 to 2014.
• Across all groups in Chicago, Illinois and the U.S., the percentages of 16 to 19 year olds employed have dropped from 2005 to 2014, suggesting a long-term downward trend for employment of teens.
• For 20 to 24 year olds in Chicago, joblessness in 2014 was 59 percent for Blacks, 37 percent for Hispanic or Latinos, and 27 percent for Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos).
• Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) were the only group that had an increased employment rate in 2014 from 2005 for 20 to 24 year olds.
• Among 20 to 24 year olds, Chicago had a higher percentage of Blacks that were out of work than the U.S. and Illinois. 41 percent of Blacks in Chicago, 19 percent of Hispanic or Latinos and 7 percent of Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) were out of school and out of work in 2014.
• In Chicago among 20 to 24 year olds, a higher percent of Hispanic or Latino were out of work and out of school than in Illinois by 2.7 percentage points and was 1.0 percentage point lower than the U.S.
• The largest gaps in out of school and out of work 20 to 24 populations between race/ethnic groups were in Chicago where there was 22.2 percentage points between Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) and Hispanic or Latinos and 34.2 percentage points between Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) and Blacks.
• In Chicago, the jobless and out of school rate for Black 20 to 24 year olds is more than 6 times higher than for White (non-Hispanic or Latino) 20 to 24 year olds.
• Among 20 to 24 year olds, Chicago had a higher percentage of Blacks and Hispanic or Latinos that were out of work than the U.S. and Illinois.
• Among 20 to 24 year olds, 59.2 percent of Blacks, 37 percent of Hispanic or Latinos and 26 percent of Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) were out of work in Chicago in 2014.
• For 20 to 24 year olds, Illinois, compared to the U.S., had a higher percentage of Blacks out of work and a lower percent of Whites (non-Hispanic or Latino) and Hispanics out of work.
• Among 20 to 24 year olds, the largest gaps in out of work between race/ethnic groups was in Chicago where there was 10.9 percentage points between Blacks and Hispanic or Latinos and 33.5 percentage points between Whites (non-Hispanic or Latinos) and Blacks.
• In 2014, jobless rates for 20 to 24 year olds were highest on the South and West Sides of the city and were lowest on the North, Northwest and Southwest sides of the City.
• Areas with 40 percent to 60 percent and 60 percent to 80 percent of jobless individuals are consistent with the areas with the highest concentration of Black Individuals age 18 to 24 with over 90 percent Black populations.
• Higher percentages of 16 to 19 year olds were out of • work in 2014 compared to 20 to 24 year olds for all groups and geographies.
• In 2014, the rate of 18 percent of 16 to 24 year olds
in Chicago who are out of school and out of work is higher than the U.S., Illinois, New York City and Los • Angeles rates.
• The rate of Black 16 to 24 year olds that were out of school and out of work rate in 2014 in Chicago (31 percent) was higher than the rate for Blacks in the U.S., Illinois, New York City, and Los Angeles.
• 23.2 percentage points separate the out of school and out of work rates for Black and White (non- Hispanic or Latino) 16 to 24 year olds in 2014.
• In comparison to the U.S., Illinois, New York City and Los Angeles, Chicago had the highest percent of Black 16 to 19 year olds (14.3 percent) and 20 to 24 year olds (41 percent) that were out of work and out of school in 2014.
• A higher proportion of Black 16 to 19 year olds and 20 to 24 year olds were out of school and out of work in Illinois than in the U.S. Illinois had 3.3 percentage points more Black 16 to 19 year olds and 9.8 percentage points more 20 to 24 year olds that were out of work and out of school than the U.S.
* I told subscribers about this earlier in the week…
The Chicago lawmaker whose defection effectively cost Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan his ability to override gubernatorial vetoes has suddenly received some six-figure re-election help from a political action committee that some consider to be a front group for Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Reports filed yesterday show that IllinoisGo, a group run by Chicago political operative Greg Goldner, so far has spent $240,000 promoting the re-election of Rep. Ken Dunkin, a Near North Side Democrat. […]
According to the new disclosure, IllinoisGo has committed $140,705 for fieldwork on behalf of Dunkin and more than $72,000 for mail, the latter handled by Goldner’s firm, Resolute Consulting. Another $26,000-plus went for “media production,” presumably ads.
The money technically is an independent expenditure not coordinated with Dunkin. But it certainly will come in handy as he faces a union-backed candidate, Juliana Stratton.
The sky’s the limit for spending in the 50th Senate District primary between state Sen. SAM McCANN, R-Plainview, and challenger BRYCE BENTON of Springfield.
That’s because Liberty Principles PAC, the group that’s been running TV ads promoting Benton in and around Springfield, has already thrown more than $325,000 into trying to get Benton nominated. […]
Similarly, big spending by an independent expenditure committee on a particular race can remove caps — with $100,000 the threshold for a legislative seat. And that’s what’s happened in the 50th.
Liberty Principles PAC, run by WIND-AM radio host DAN PROFT of Chicago, reported spending $316,960 on Jan. 20 with Strategic Media Services, Arlington, Virginia, for the Benton campaign. Another $8,753 was reported on Jan. 21 as spent with Targeted Creative Communications, Alexandria, Virginia, for direct mail to help Benton. […]
Meanwhile, Benton’s campaign manager is JAMES ZENN, 26, who recently moved to Springfield from Chicago for the race. He’s a Park Ridge native who got a political science degree in 2011 from the University of Illinois at Urbana. He worked on Rauner’s campaign, and then got a $60,000-a-year job with the Illinois Department of Transportation. Zenn said the job was with the bureau of organization and management. He left that post this summer to join the Illinois Opportunity Project, which is “an independent research and public policy enterprise that promotes legislative solutions in advance of free markets and free minds,” according to its website. Proft is co-founder and a consultant to the Opportunity group, and is also a fellow at the Illinois Policy Institute.
Yeah, no Rauner ties at all. Benton’s campaign manager and the huge $1.818 million Turnaround Illinois contribution to Proft’s PAC the other day have left a very obvious trail.
Thursday, Jan 28, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
As a Capitol Fax subscriber, you already know almost everything that’s happening in Springfield. But when you add TrackBill to the mix, you’ll know everything all the time.
Simply select the bills important to you, and TrackBill alerts you of any changes as they happen. And with their keyword alerts and mobile app, you’ll know the minute bills are introduced or amended.
One of our biggest taxpayer protection initiatives is to take on the compensation costs of our state government. Most of our state employees are terrific, hardworking public servants. They deserve to be well paid, and receive higher compensation in the future. But it should be based in part upon higher productivity, and shared benefits in taxpayer savings, rather than just seniority.
Unfortunately, the compensation demands being made by AFSCME leaders are out-of-touch with reality. Adjusted for the cost of living, we already have the highest paid state employees in America. Undeterred and unashamed, AFSCME is demanding $3 billion more in overall compensation. That $3 billion should go into our schools and human services, not into government bureaucracy.
Our state employees are paid almost 30% more than Illinois taxpayers are in their own jobs for the same work. That is just not fair – and it’s time we restore balance between taxpayers and state government.
It’s not just the eye-popping price tag on these easy-to-see costs that’s hurting us, taxpayers are also losing from the hidden costs of work rules buried in previous contracts.
Because of these work rules, state government has seen AFSCME file grievances against volunteer campground hosts for educating visitors about a state park; against volunteers at a Veterans home who answered calls in the reception area; against a supervisor who pitched in to eliminate a backlog of tax returns. That’s not right.
And unfair work rules have allowed state workers to manipulate overtime policies to boost their pay, costing taxpayers tens of millions.
We’ve paid $22 million in overtime for the 15-minute roll call that occurs at the beginning of shifts. Our former Auditor General also highlighted, as ripe for abuse, the practice of so-called shift-swapping, where workers use sick time for a regular shift, but then get paid overtime to work a later shift that same day.
We need to install common-sense into our union contracts!
Some of the union’s grievances are pretty silly. And while I think corrections workers ought to get paid for attending a roll call (it’s part of the job, after all), paying them overtime for it seems a bit much.
* AFSCME Council 31 executive director Roberta Lynch rebutted some, but not all of the governor’s arguments…
“Once again, Gov. Rauner falsely attacked public-service workers in state government and mischaracterized our union contract negotiations.
“The state employees Governor Rauner is obsessed with attacking keep communities safe, protect kids, care for veterans and more. Like all working people, they deserve affordable health care and wages that sustain a family, but the governor is trying to double their health care costs while freezing their pay for four years.
“His claims about state employee compensation and our union’s proposals at the bargaining table are simply false.
· Contrary to Rauner’s untrue claim that state employees are paid more than private-sector workers, the University of Illinois revealed that Illinois state workers are paid 13.5% percent less than their private-sector counterparts.
· With respect to the union’s proposals in contract negotiations—which don’t come close to the governor’s fictional $3 billion figure—AFSCME has modified our initial positions, including on wages, and we’ve made clear we’re prepared to negotiate further on wages, benefits and all other topics.
“AFSCME has consistently sought to find common ground, but the governor relentlessly seeks conflict. The people of Illinois need stability and solutions, but the governor has terminated contract negotiations and walked away from the table, trying to force confrontation and disruption.
“It’s past time for Governor Rauner to stop making blatantly false claims, return to bargaining and work with us to reach an agreement that is fair to all.”
Unfortunately, Illinois’ economy has been split in two, one part with modest growth, the other in decline. There are areas within 90 minutes of O’Hare Airport that compete with other expensive mega-cities around the world. Thanks to access to global transportation infrastructure, first class universities, and world class cultural amenities, white-collar communities in the Chicago area have mostly been able to overcome the financial mismanagement that is now strangling Chicago and Cook County.
But it’s difficult in the rest of the state: Harvey, Blue Island, Kankakee, Rockford, East Moline, Peoria, Decatur, Danville, Mt. Vernon, and Marion. Those communities have to compete with other states like Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina. And too often, we’ve been losing.
In recent years, we’ve lost more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs.
Many of you have argued that we shouldn’t try to compete with other states, because that would be a race to the bottom.
Well, the numbers prove otherwise.
Factory workers in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, and South Carolina, when you adjust for the cost of living, now make more than workers in Illinois. That’s unacceptable!
Factory workers in Texas are now making more than Illinois folks, even without adjusting for the cost of living.
That’s outrageous! We should be kicking Texas’ tail!
But the numbers don’t lie. We are losing the race for good paying jobs.
…Adding… The governor’s office sent along this chart, which it says is based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - “Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates” and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis…
*** UPDATE *** The Tribune fact checked his numbers…
Rauner: “Our average working family is making less than they were eight years ago.”
Fact check: Rauner bases this claim on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, but that’s 2 years old: He’s actually comparing 2014 with 2006. In 2014 dollars, the average Illinois household income did fall from $57,150 in 2006 to $54,916 in 2014. But take that drop with a healthy pinch of salt — it’s well within the large margin of error built into the Census Bureau’s calculations. It’s entirely possible the average family made more in 2014 than it made in 2006 and that it’s making more now than it made in 2008.
According to slightly more recent data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the state’s average salary in early 2015 was $54,531, up from $45,961 in early 2007. Even allowing for total inflation of 15 percent over that period, that’s a 3 percent increase in the average Illinois wage over the last eight years. […]
Rauner: “In many cases, people are paying more in property taxes over the course of living in their home than the original purchase price.”
The right-leaning Illinois Policy Institute came up with this calculation. It adds up, if you assume the 2.32 percent effective property tax rate and, perhaps a little unrealistically in most cases, that a homebuyer will live in a home for at least 43 years
* We’re going to go through Gov. Rauner’s State of the State Address in a bit more detail today. Let’s start here…
We have ten long-term goals. This legislative session we will begin to:
1. Work closely with President Cullerton to significantly increase state support for education, focusing our additional resources more on low income and rural school districts so we can provide high quality classrooms in every community, without taking money away from any other districts.
2. Provide proper funding for early childhood education while setting rigorous benchmarks for program performance, so we can continue to be national leaders in this important work.
3. Give school districts more flexibility when it comes to bargaining, contracting, and bidding, to save taxpayers money, while enabling districts to pay higher teacher salaries.
4. Empower our universities and community colleges to reduce their administrative costs, work rules, pension liabilities and unfunded mandates, and then offer additional financial support to those schools that show real progress in putting more resources in the classroom.
5. Support more partnerships between high schools, community colleges, and local employers so that our young people who are not going to university, can receive the training to step into good paying careers beginning in their teenage years.
6. Develop a comprehensive, consistent, objective student growth measure, not necessarily based on the PARCC system, so we can track our students’ progress in each grade towards college or career, holding our schools accountable for results while eliminating unnecessary testing and bureaucratic mandates.
7. Support programs that create more quality school choice options for low income children stuck in failing schools.
8. Create new quality schools of choice for our disconnected youth as a way to get them back in school.
9. Consolidate the majority of our councils and task forces under the P20 and Early Learning Councils, in order to decrease bureaucracy, increase high-quality outcomes for our learners, and improve the coordination of these working groups.
10. Create a Cabinet on Children and Youth so we can better align our health and human services with our cradle to career education initiatives, in order to provide higher quality, fully integrated services for our young people.
* The Democrats started moving a MAP grant bill yesterday. The governor’s office doesn’t like it and is proposing an alternative, as well as calling out legislators who voted against the original appropriation last year…
From: Director Tim Nuding, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget
To: Members of the General Assembly
Date: January 28, 2016
Re: GOMB Analysis of SB 2043 and HB 4539/SB 2349
House Amendment 2 to SB 2043 would make appropriations of $721 million for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and community colleges programs. The funding levels for these programs are the same as those contained in last year’s General Assembly-passed unbalanced budget, which was opposed by Representatives Drury, Franks, Nekritz and Yingling along with all Republican legislators and which was vetoed by the Governor.
House Amendment 2 to SB 2043 provides no funding source to pay for the additional spending as it is not tied to spending reductions, revenue or cost-saving reforms. The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget concludes that House Amendment 2 to SB 2043 would add $721 million to the deficit, increase the state’s bill backlog by the same and delay state payments to providers, vendors and contractors. Therefore, GOMB would recommend the Governor veto this legislation if it came to his desk.
HB 4539/SB 2349, on the other hand, would appropriate $1.6 billion dollars for all programs included in SB 2043 and Illinois’ public universities. The legislation is tied to another bill, HB 4521/SB 2338, which would grant the Governor authority to respond to an unbalanced budget by reallocating funds and reducing spending in various ways.
HB 4539/SB 2349’s approach is far more fiscally responsible than SB 2043 as it would help MAP students, community colleges and universities without exploding the deficit, skyrocketing the bill backlog or exacerbating the state’s cash flow crisis. Therefore, GOMB would recommend the Governor sign this legislation if it came to his desk with HB 4521/SB 2338.
Creates the Unbalanced Budget Response Act. Provides authority and procedures for the Governor to establish contingency reserves of previously appropriated funds, and to transfer balances between special funds in the State treasury and the General Revenue Fund. Describes the agencies and programs subject to this authority. Provides that designated agencies may adopt emergency rules to carry out the purposes of the Act. Defines terms. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2017. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Adds actions taken under the Unbalanced Budget Response Act to a Section relating to applicability. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.
The state’s Road Fund and some others would be exempt from the sweeps provision.
That bill gives the governor a whole lot of control, which the GA may not be inclined to do since the majority doesn’t actually trust him, but it would help him avoid a complete budgetary meltdown.
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said the governor will veto the bill when it reached his desk. Ahead of the vote, Rauner’s budget chief sent a memo to lawmakers warning that if the measure became law, it would force the comptroller to put off payments for other services.
Democrats were not deterred, quickly passing the bill in both the House and Senate. Two Democrats voted against the bill, Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood and Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo. Eight Republicans voted “present,” a way to avoid looking like they voted against funding for schools without bucking Rauner. […]
While Democrats were able to pass the legislation, it’ll be a tougher battle to override a Rauner veto. On Wednesday, Madigan acknowledged he does not have a “working” supermajority, a reference to the difficulties he’s had in wrangling all 71 of his Democratic members to remain united to override vetoes.
