Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Feb 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Despite saying earlier this week that the new labor-financed TV ad against Bruce Rauner was “ineffective,” the Rauner campaign has sent cease and desist letters to TV stations demanding they pull the spots down…
I am counsel to gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, and in that capacity request that you cease and desist from any broadcast of Illinois Freedom PAC’s false, misleading, deceptive and unsubstantiated new advertisement against Mr. Rauner (“the Advertisement”).
The Illinois Freedom PAC responded with a long legal brief that you can read by clicking here. So far, no stations have pulled the ad and WLS TV has sent Rauner’s lawyer a formal rejection of its request, the PAC says.
* Also…
Documents obtained by The Associated Press show Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford spent nearly $27,000 on an investigation into allegations of political coercion and sexual harassment against him. […]
Rutherford spent more than $18,000 on the investigation by Ron Braver & Associates. Another $8,800 was paid to the law firm of the Brown, Hay & Stephens.
* Trombone Shorty will play us out…
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Question of the day
Friday, Feb 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We do this occasionally, and I think now would be a good time to try it again. Who will win the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary race? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
customer survey
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* AP…
Same-sex couples in Illinois’ largest county can begin applying for marriage licenses immediately, according to a federal judge’s ruling Friday that some attorneys said could give county clerks across the state reason to also issue marriage certificates right away.
Illinois has legalized same-sex marriage, but the new law doesn’t take effect until June 1. However, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ruled Friday that same-sex marriages can begin in Cook County, where Chicago is located.
“There is no reason to delay further when no opposition has been presented to this Court and committed gay and lesbian couples have already suffered from the denial of their fundamental right to marry,” she wrote in the order.
The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed against Cook County Clerk David Orr, who supports gay marriage. Coleman already ruled in December that same-sex couples did not have to wait until June to marry if one or both partners has a life-threatening illness. Several same-sex couples married after that ruling.
The ruling is here.
* The Tribune has Cook County Clerk David Orr’s plan…
Orr said he will keep the downtown Bureau of Vital Records, in the lower level of the Daley Center, open an extra two hours tonight – until 7 p.m. – to accommodate any couples who want to get a license after work.
Only the downtown office will issue same-sex marriage licenses on Friday. All offices will begin issuing licenses on Monday, he said.
Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days. “Don’t rush to get your license if you have a summer wedding planned because you don’t want the license to expire before your big day,” Orr said.
The $60 license fee will be waived for any couple who already has an Illinois civil union license. Couples who wish to convert their prior civil union date to a marriage will have to wait until June 1 because it was not addressed in Coleman’s order, Orr said.
* From Governor Pat Quinn…
“Many couples in Illinois have waited long enough for marriage equality, and today’s ruling means thousands of Illinois couples no longer have to wait.
“Our law is a victory for equal rights in America, and shows that citizens and lawmakers can come together on issues of fairness and human rights.
“I applaud U.S. District Court Judge Sharon J. Coleman for her stance in recognizing that ‘there is no reason to delay further’ giving all couples the right to marry in Cook County.
“Every county across the state should enjoy the same freedom without having to wait until June.”
Governor Quinn pushed for marriage equality throughout the 2013 legislative session. In 2011, the Governor signed into law historic civil union legislation. Since then, more than 6,000 couples from across Illinois have joined in a civil union. Prior to the Governor’s efforts, same-sex couples in Illinois had been denied many rights enjoyed by couples who are married.
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A closer look at the Arizona pension case
Friday, Feb 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Crain’s takes a look at the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling striking down a state law that cut pension benefits…
The Arizona case has been on the local radar because Arizona and Illinois are, along with New York, the only three states with constitutionally mandated protections for state pensions.
“My one-word comment is ‘predictable,’ ” said Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, on today’s ruling. “All the Arizona Supreme Court did is read the plain language and said there’s no need for legal construction here: The language is plain on its face. Hence, it’s unconstitutional.”
At the same time, noting that Illinois Supreme Court justices are elected officials themselves, Laurence Msall, president of the watchdog group Civic Federation of Chicago, said, “Illinois’ financial situation by any measure is far more precarious than Arizona’s, and it is against that backdrop that the courts will eventually rule.”
* What Msall said is true, but check out this lede in the Arizona Capitol Times…
State lawmakers cannot balance the budget by limiting pension benefit increases for retired judges, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The justices said a voter-approved section of the state constitution makes public pension plans a contractual relationship. More to the point, that provision says benefits “shall not be diminished or impaired.”
* Our resident pension expert RNUG read the decision yesterday and weighed in…
With a few changes in case names and citations, the [Illinois Supreme Court] could use most of it pretty much as it stands.
The parallels with Illinois are amazing. Couple of things jumped out. They referenced contract law, which is what I expect most of the IL decision to turn on. They also noted that, like IL, benefits vest at hiring. In declaring the benefit formula protected, they even cited the IL Miller case as part of their reasoning.
* The full opinion is here. As RNUG notes, there are some quite interesting passages. The unanimous opinion notes that while there is strong legal precedent for allowing the impairment of contracts under certain conditions, the state’s Constitution expressly forbids any impairment or diminishment of this particular contractual obligation.
The opinion also declares that the meaning of the term “benefit” includes benefit increases and references an Illinois decision…
This definition of “benefit” also comports with the use of the term in other states that have similar constitutional provisions protecting public pension benefits. For example, construing a similar definition of “benefit,” New York and Illinois have also determined that benefit calculation formulas are entitled to constitutional protection.5 See Kleinfeldt v. New York City Emps.’ Ret. Sys., 324 N.E.2d 865, 868–69 (N.Y. 1975) (including the formula utilized in calculating an annual retirement allowance under the Pension Clause); Miller v. Ret. Bd. of Policemen’s Annuity, 771 N.E.2d 431, 444 (Ill. App. 2001) holding benefit increases to be constitutionally protected).
* Eric Zorn took a look at Arizona’s pension reform history late last year…
That state, like Illinois, is one of the handful in which public pension rights are enshrined in the state constitution as a “contractual relationship,” the benefits of which “shall not be diminished or impaired.”
Nevertheless, citing the looming burden of underfunded pensions, the Arizona legislature in April 2011 passed a series of reforms to state retirement systems that included hikes in employee contribution levels and decreases in cost-of-living adjustments.
It was different in some ways yet similar in thrust to the reforms passed this week in Springfield, and the public employees went to court.
In February 2012, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Eileen Willett issued a stinging rebuke to the legislature, declaring a key reform element unconstitutional in an action that had been filed by a group of schoolteachers.
“When the plaintiffs were hired as teachers, they entered a contractual relationship with the state regarding the public retirement system of which they became members,” said Willett’s written opinion. “Their retirement benefits were a valuable part of the consideration offered by their employers upon which the teachers relied when accepting employment.”
The ruling neatly seconded the argument that lawyers for public employees are certain to make in Illinois: We had a deal. Our side kept up its end of the bargain and relied on your side to do the same. The constitution compels your side to keep its word.
Willett’s ruling ended up forcing the Arizona legislature not only to rescind the increase in payroll contributions, but also to reimburse employees the amounts they lost.
In May 2012, the state lost again in court, this time when Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Buttrick used a similar constitutional rationale when ruling in favor of judicial retirees who had challenged changes in the cost-of-living formula that was part of the pension reform effort.
That case was fast-tracked to the Arizona Supreme Court on appeal, and three other legal challenges to the reforms were put on hold pending the outcome.
Discuss.
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More trouble at DNR
Friday, Feb 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Uh-oh…
A state mine safety officer running for the Illinois House is on unpaid leave from his job after revelations arose that he accepted coal company contributions.
Tony Mayville, of Du Bois, went on unpaid leave Feb. 10 from his position as supervisor of mine safety enforcement at the state’s Office of Mines and Minerals, spokesperson Chris McCloud said Thursday.
The Mines and Minerals Office is a branch of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The move came after IDNR Director Marc Miller became aware of possible misconduct and initiated disciplinary actions against Mayville, McCloud said. The matter has been referred to the Office of the Executive Inspector General.
“The (IDNR) has zero tolerance for misconduct. After learning that Mr. Mayville may have violated agency policy, we immediately launched an investigation,” the state agency said in a written response.
* Will Reynolds first broke the story earlier this month…
Tony Mayville is a candidate for State Representative in southern Illinois and Chairman of the Washington County Democratic Party. He has also supervised the Mine Safety division and served as acting director of Mines & Minerals at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Over several years, including time while Mayville was responsible for regulating Illinois coal mines, he collected thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from companies owned by billionaire coal mine operator Chris Cline. In November 2013 a fatal accident occurred at a coal mine owned by Chris Cline and regulated by Tony Mayville.
Mayville chairs the political fund of the Washington County Democratic Party Central Committee. Their campaign finance reports show the committee raising thousands of dollars from multiple companies owned by the Cline Group at least since 2008 through 2013.
Several contributions were from Cline subsidiary Hillsboro Energy. They gave Mayville’s Washington County Democratic fund $1,000 in 2008, $500 in 2010, and another $1,000 in 2011. During that time, the company was seeking a permit from the Department of Natural Resources for the Deer Run longwall mine. Mayville was already collecting coal industry campaign contributions when Governor Pat Quinn made him acting director of the Office of Mines and Minerals, where he would oversee the mine permitting process.
Similarly, Mayville’s Washington county committee took $500 from Macoupin Energy LLC, another Cline subsidiary seeking a new mine permit.
More recently, Cline-owned Foresight Energy donated $1,000 in 2012 to the party committee, and another $2,000 to Mayville’s state representative campaign fund in March of 2013. Foresight Energy’s donation to Mayville’s campaign attracted negative attention, so last week his campaign sent a letter to the state board of elections claiming it was accepted by accident. He transferred the contribution to the Washington county party committee he chairs. The distinction may be legally significant, but regardless of which of his committees he used, Mayville accepted campaign contributions from coal mine owners while overseeing mine safety at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
* From the Illinois Times…
Andy Boner, Mayville’s campaign manager in his bid for state representative, said he could not discuss the situation because of ongoing legal matters. Gov. Pat Quinn and Foresight Energy could not be reached for comment.
Jim Tenuto, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections, says a state law on official misconduct may make the contributions a criminal act, though that’s up to a state’s attorney or the attorney general to decide. Under the state law, if Mayville solicited the contributions, it would be a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
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Today’s numbers
Friday, Feb 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kurt Erickson has a story about the cost for Illinois universities of raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour…
At Southern Illinois University, for example, President Glenn Poshard said an increase could cost his institution $3.2 million in additional wages at a time when the General Assembly may be considering further cuts in aid to higher education.
“We need an increase in funding in higher education,” Poshard told members of a House appropriations panel Thursday. “We don’t have any extra to run our university.” […]
Illinois State University officials say the change could affect nearly 4,200 student workers currently earning the minimum wage at jobs ranging from campus food services to the student recreation center.
In all, the cost at ISU of an increase would be about $1.6 million, officials said.
Eastern Illinois University predicts an increase will cost about $940,000. And, because the university has committed to no tuition increase next year, a minimum wage hike likely would trigger a reduction in the number of student workers, said Derek Markley, chief of staff to President Bill Perry.
By the way, Senate minimum wage hike sponsor Kimberly Lightford told Kurt she’s at least two votes shy of passing the bill in the Senate. The real test, though, will be in the House.
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* Sen. Kirk Dillard has offered up several explanations for why he voted against a pension reform bill last year after voting for a very similar bill just months earlier.
But he has now offered up another reason via a quote used by the Illinois Education Association in its first mailer to members on Dillard’s behalf…
The full mailer is here.
* From earlier this week…
Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady lashed out at competitor Kirk Dillard, accusing him of allowing politics to guide his “no” vote last December on a landmark — but controversial — pension bill.
Dillard responded by saying essentially that Brady was envious.
“It’s sour grapes on the part of Mr. Brady, I have a long, long history in interest in public education,” Dillard responded Tuesday. “The IEA support is much much more than my pension vote.” […]
“He sold out on pension reform,” Brady told the Sun-Times.” There’s no question. His campaign wasn’t going anywhere. His Lt. Gov. (Jil Tracy of Quincy) voted for it. He’s used every excuse in the book. He was trying to throw life support to make a political decision which amongst Republican primary voters is really hurting him when you talk to them.”
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This is a new one on me
Friday, Feb 21, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the always interesting Big Debbie’s House blog about Champaign-area politics…
There is no doubt that George Gollin is running an unconventional campaign, but unconventional may have just veered into screwball.
According to an Ann Callis volunteer, Gollin himself spent this Saturday afternoon (2/15) outside the Callis Campaign Headquarters, located at 1922 Edwardsville Club Plaza in Edwardsville, putting flyers on Callis volunteers’ cars and putting up Gollin yard signs in front of the Callis HQ. Oh, and our tipster also got photos of Gollin doing this
Gollin and Callis are Democrats hoping to challenge freshman GOP Rep. Rodney Davis.
* One of the pics…
What an absolutely bizarre thing to do.
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* Carol Marin took a look at the allegations against Bruce Rauner of nursing home resident abuse…
Arlene Townsend’s family said she fell 18 times over 6 years at the same nursing home, the last time in 2007 resulting in her death.
92-year-old Elvira Nunziata died after falling down the stairs in her wheelchair at another nursing facility in 2004. A Florida newspaper reported no one knew she was missing for almost an hour.
In January, Rauner was asked about the deaths and financial judgments. “The attacks, we will have plenty of time to talk about them, there’s no there, there,” he said. When asked if his firm was culpable for the jury verdicts, Rauner replied no.
At the time of the deaths of Elvira Nunziata and Arlene Townsend, Rauner’s company, THI, had ended its relationship with the nursing homes.
But attorneys representing the three families contend in this lawsuit filed in January that not only THI, but GTCR should have to pay the financial judgments regardless of the timing of the deaths.
The family’s attorney Isaac Ruiz-Carus.
“It was an enterprise, a conglomerate of companies that,” said attorney Isaac Ruiz-Carus, who represents the three families, adding the companies, “Short-staffed it. Under-budgeted it. As a result the nursing home residents were suffering.
In a statement the Rauner campaign called the allegations completely false and said “Pat Quinn, the Democratic Governor’s Association and the government union bosses behind this ad should be ashamed.”
Rauner declined to speak to NBC 5 on camera.
In the end Rauner’s GTCR lost $60 million in the nursing home business according to a court document.
Video is here.
…Adding… Here’s the more easily embeddable YouTube version…
* Rauner’s campaign already has a new ad up responding to the latest union-backed nursing home TV spot. Rate it…
* But Sen. Bill Brady’s campaign is demanding answers. Press release…
BRADY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM RAUNER ON NURSING HOMES ABUSE AND NEGLIGENCE
Senator Bill Brady, Republican candidate for Governor, tonight demanded that Bruce Rauner come clean on questions about his role in nursing homes where patients allegedly suffered abuse and neglect that led to their death.
“Tonight we again saw more of the same from Mr. Rauner in declining to answer questions about the tragic circumstances in nursing homes owned by companies in which he had a substantial financial interest. It’s more of a pattern, whether it’s nursing homes, Arne Duncan, Stuart Levine, Ed Rendell, or accounting fraud at a Michigan firm, and it’s time for him to answer the questions, “ Brady said.
“He’s trying to earn the support of Illinois voters in the primary less than four weeks from now, and his not me, don’t remember, didn’t know, didn’t have anything to do with it brush-offs are a disservice to all Illinois citizens.”
“The voters deserve transparency from people who want to be their governor, and they certainly deserve the truth,” Brady said.
“What’s the truth, Bruce?”
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Arizona Supremes shoot down pension benefit cut
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Arizona Supreme Court ruled today that the state legislature cannot cut state retiree COLAs…
The ruling released Thursday comes in a case brought after the Legislature cut the increases in 2011 for retirees in the state plan for judges and elected officials. […]
The Legislature cut the cost-of-living increases after the judges’ retirement system lost money in the Great Recession and became badly underfunded. The retired judges argued the increases were a promised benefit and lower courts agreed.
The high court agreed the increases are part of a promised retirement benefit and are protected by the pension clause of the state Constitution. That clause bars “diminishing or impairing” public retirement benefits.
The Arizona Constitution is very similar to ours in that regard. But, of course, the ruling has no direct impact here. It could be used by the plaintiffs to buttress their case, however. Our high court often looks at what other state courts have done.
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Dillard wants clear shot at Rauner
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WLS AM…
In the race for governor, State Senator Kirk Dillard thinks it’s time for party leaders to prevail upon Dan Rutherford or Bill Brady - or both - to quit the race for the sake of preventing Bruce Rauner from getting the GOP nomination.
Rauner’s 20-point lead in the Tribune poll has Dillard is saying party leaders ought to lean on Brady or Rutherford to drop out.
“Well, I really would hope the Republican County Chairmen’s Association would be the group that would try to galvanize our party,” Dillard said. “It is very clear, unfortunately, that the state treasurer who has had allegations of sexual harassment and political dealings on state time is now unelectable. And Bill Brady proved in 2010 that even with a tailwind where we elected a number of Republican congressmen, he was unelectable.”
It’s not a horrible point, and Dillard is obviously trying to show that he’s the challenger with the momentum, but I doubt anyone else is going to get forced or talked out of this race.
Brady was completely counted out last time and he won. If Rutherford gets out, he’s all but admitting wrongdoing.
And what Republican has any real power in this state to make something like this happen? Mark Kirk, maybe, but despite his public claims of neutrality he has two staffers on Rauner’s campaign.
And Rauner is most likely a believer in a “the more the merrier” theory right now. If he’s reached his peak because of the union TV ads, he wants those lost votes split up, not concentrated with one opponent. And since he has some support within that county chairman’s association, his folks will not be involved with this.
Raising a ton of money back when Dillard still had Ron Gidwitz in his corner would’ve done more to bolster his cause now. But all three candidates are financially challenged. Dillard has some endorsements and a little bit of cash, but he has yet to outline a clear path to victory, particularly if Rauner turns the guns on him with “He supported Obama!” TV ads, or whatnot.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here’s a question I’ve seen debated in comments here and that I’ve debated with my Statehouse pals and my mom: Do you feel sorry for Treasurer Dan Rutherford? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey solutions
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Interesting bills
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You don’t see bills like this one every day. Rep. Elaine Nekritz and Sen. Michael Hastings want to provide a path back to driving privileges for those who have been convicted four times for DUI. From the synopsis…
Provides that certain persons ineligible to re-apply for a license may instead apply for a restricted driving permit after the expiration of 5 years from the effective date of the most recent revocation, provided the person proves by clear and convincing evidence a minimum 3 years of uninterrupted sobriety from alcohol and other drugs and the successful completion of all rehabilitative activity recommended by a properly licensed service provider. Provides that the Secretary of State shall cancel a restricted driving permit issued under the conditions if the holder fails to comply with ignition interlock device requirements and that the person shall be ineligible to re-apply for restricted driving privileges.
* Sun-Times coverage…
Michael Geever, one of the 5,000 people Nekritz estimates her bill affects, testified in favor of her legislation.
Geever, now a deacon at Lamplighter Bible Church in Roselle, said he’s been a changed man ever since his spiritual awakening lifted his obsession to drink and do drugs. Nevertheless, Geever must adjust to a life without driving privileges. […]
Lt. Donnie Pridemore, of the Fulton Police Department, testified in support of the bill, saying he’s seen people—including his own alcoholic brother—turn their lives around. […]
Rita Kreslin, executive director of the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, said she supported the legislation in light of the permit eligibility requirements listed in the bill.
Interesting as well that AAIM is for it.
* Speaking of Sen. Hastings, his “revenge porn” bill has been getting a lot of publicity. From the Tribune…
The idea is to curb the major embarrassment people suffer when their scorned ex-boyfriends or girlfriends post raunchy photos and videos of their former partners as a way to get back at them.
A new proposal filed at the Capitol would make it illegal for people to take to the Internet with such content without consent. Sponsoring Sen. Michael Hastings likened the posting of such pictures after bad breakups to “harassment and the worst type of cyberbullying.”
The legislation is needed because Illinois statutes fail to protect people who posed for racy pictures and videos while in a private relationship, only to have their “trust broken,” said Hastings, D-Orland Hills.
Under the measure, it would become a felony to post nude and sexually explicit pictures of another person without his or her permission. The bill also would make it a crime to require a fee to get pictures removed from a website. The maximum penalty would be up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine, though judges would have discretion to impose lesser punishments.
* But…
Mary Dixon, from the American Civil Liberties Union in Illinois, said the wording of the bill might not stand up to the protection of free speech guaranteed in the First Amendment.
Dixon said laws could regulate free speech, but they must be “carefully and narrowly tailored,” something she said Hastings’ bill could work on by including language on malicious intent and emotional harm.
Despite the concerns voiced by the ACLU, Hastings disagreed and defended the wording of the bill, saying it’s hard to prove malicious intent.
“I happen to agree with the senator that it is difficult to prove intent,” said John Carroll, from the state’s attorney’s office. “I do think that there is a drastic need for this bill.”
OK, this is a real problem that needs to be addressed, but why call it “revenge porn” if intent has nothing to do with it? Isn’t revenge a clear intent?
* Sen. Don Harmon has a bill that would provide a permanent funding stream for the state’s chronically underfunded Poison Control Center…
Harmon’s plan would tap into a fund filled by fees that cell phone companies charge users to pay for 911 services. At first, the cell companies used the money to build out 911 technology so that it patched cell phones into the closest emergency dispatch centers, but most of that work has been done and money has been piling up in the fund. Harmon would use 2 cents per user (the total fee is 6 to 8 cents) to pay for the Poison Control Center.
Of course, Harmon isn’t the only one who has noticed that money quietly amassing. Some of it already has been used to help pay administrative expenses of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Now, 911 centers would like some of that money to make their own improvements.
But for panicked parents making that 2 a.m. call, the Poison Control Center is probably the place that would get their votes.
Those parents would probably call 911 first, so shouldn’t we make sure those call centers are adequately funded with all that money piling up as well?
* And finally…
Legislation sponsored by State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington that makes it clear sex offenders must report to law enforcement when they lose a job, cleared the Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee Wednesday.
Barickman says Pontiac Police and the McLean County State’s Attorney’s office brought a quirk in the current law to Barickman’s attention.
Currently although state law requires sex offenders to report a “change” in employment, there was a recent appellate court ruling that said losing a job is not the same as a change in employment. This bill aims to clarify an ambiguity in the existing law.
We really do have a bizarre appellate bench in this state.
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Rauner is living in a fantasy world
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* “This is the reason I am running,” Bruce Rauner told a Springfield business crowd last year…
“The government union bosses, they take our tax dollars, they go to the politicians and say, ‘Mr. Governor or Mr. Speaker, give me a big pension for my workers and I’ll give you ten million dollars for your reelection. Give me more pay for my workers, I’ll give you $20 million for your reelection. Give me free healthcare for my workers off the backs of the taxpayers, I’ll give you another $10 million for your reelection, I’ll give you free campaign workers for your reelection.’ […]
“You won’t hear the politicians talk about this. You won’t. The Democrats don’t talk about it because that’s where Madigan gets all his money or his power. He’ll never talk about it. And you’ll never hear the Republicans talk about it either because a lot of them get that money, too.”
* Madigan gets “all his money” from government union bosses? Let’s take a quick look…
* Madigan controls three campaign committees. Democratic Majority has received just one AFSCME contribution of $15K, but that was over three years ago.
* The last time Madigan’s Democratic Party of Illinois committee received AFSCME money was October of 2011, and that was only $5,000.
* And the last time Friends of Michael J Madigan received any AFSCME money was December of 2009 - more than four years ago.
Madigan has received a grand total of $821,200 from AFSCME, but that was since August of 1994, which works out to about $42K a year. Madigan raised more than that this month, including $21,100 from Stand for Children Illinois, which is not exactly a favorite of the teachers unions.
* And the Republicans? As I’ve said here many times before, Republican legislators who vote with AFSCME and the teachers don’t do that because they’ve sold their souls. They vote their districts, or their ideology. Rauner has a different ideology, which includes assuming the worst of anyone who disagrees with him.
He’s gonna be a dangerous governor, that one.
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Translation: When heck freezes over
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Senate Republicans said they won’t work cooperatively with the Democrats on the budget without some preconditions being met…
Answering a challenge from Democrats to present a counter plan, the GOP lawmakers announced their list of demands Wednesday at a Capitol news conference. Earlier this week, Democratic Senate President John Cullerton warned of a $3 billion budget hole next year. That includes a $1.6 billion revenue dip if the state’s temporary income tax increase expires as scheduled in January 2015, as well as about $1.3 billion in increased costs to required programs and services.
“If they want us to work with them, there are (several) things they’re going to have to recognize and commit to,” Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont said, noting numerous GOP budget proposals have been “mocked” and “buried in committee” in past years.
* And here’s what they want…
* The temporary income tax increase to be allowed to phase out, as is called for under current law.
* A proposal to amend the state’s Constitution to allow for a graduated income tax to be taken off the table.
* The approval of a workers’ compensation reform bill that includes a requirement that employees prove they were hurt on the job.
* A prohibition on new programs and the expansion of existing programs in the FY 15 budget.
* Attorney General Lisa Madigan to request that the Illinois Supreme Court speed up its ruling on the pension changes that were recently passed into law.
* More aggressive implementation of the cost-saving Medicaid reforms approved in 2012.
What, no kitchen sink?
* Oh, wait. Here it is…
Republicans said school aid needs to be changed to eliminate a block grant for Chicago that takes millions of dollars away from suburban and downstate schools
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Uphill climb for pop tax
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Backers of a proposed tax on sugared pop to fund health initiatives are busily lowering expectations…
One of the measure’s sponsors, state Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, said the proposal will be “very difficult to pass” due to resistance from consumers and the state’s business community. […]
American Heart Association spokesman Mark Peysakhovich said the legislation is just the first step in what likely will be a very lengthy fight.
“We’re not kidding ourselves,” he said. “This is the first year of a significant campaign. I compare this quite a bit to our work on tobacco taxes. The industry has the dream team.
“It’s going to take time to get the message across, but we feel that the public will finally support us. Anybody playing defense on this issue has already lost.”
* Background…
The tax on the sugary drinks, including sports drinks, soda, fruit juices and some coffees, to name a few, is estimated to raise $600 million annually. Half of the money would go to Medicaid to reinstate dental care and other cuts. The other half would go to a wellness fund to promote community health and awareness. The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity said in a written statement that the tax targets sugar-sweetened drinks because strong evidence links them to obesity and other chronic illnesses.
* But opponents are focusing on the tax itself…
While sugary drinks are linked to obesity and other medical issues, some question whether a tax is the best way to get people to cut back on consumption. “The soft drink industry has done a good job at making consumers know calories — not that it wasn’t on there before, but by putting it on the front of the can and from minimizing the ounces in cans,” said Tanya Triche, vice president and general counsel of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Triche said merchants are already working on ways to promote better choices by having healthy foods at the entrance of the stores to help consumers think of better choices as they arrive. “It is already happening without the government getting involved by taxing.” She said the organization wants consumers to spend money buying more produce and food, rather than on taxes.
The Taxpayers Federation of Illinois has not taken a stance on the bill, but President Carol Portman said, “If you want to fight obesity, taxing isn’t the way to do it.”
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The home front and political aspirations
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Statehouse demonstrators who oppose pension reform called on CTU President Karen Lewis to run for Chicago mayor...
During the CTU president’s call for unity in the looming pension fight on Wednesday, loud chants of “Run for Mayor!” filled the Capitol rotunda, where unionized city workers gathered to hear her speak.
Afterward, Lewis seemed to suggest she’s staying put in 2015, when Emanuel faces re-election, but she also didn’t close any doors.
“I have a job that I was elected to. I am not a politician. I clearly am not a politician,” Lewis told reporters when asked about the calls for her to run against Emanuel.
When one reporter pointed out that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner takes pride in saying he, too, isn’t a politician, Lewis cracked, “But I’m not egotistical or rich.”
Then, she said her husband, John Lewis, had already weighed in on the question.
“My husband has said ‘no,’ ” she said.
Asked if that meant she had ruled out a mayoral run, Lewis then repeated herself and ended questions.
“My husband has said ‘no.’ ”
* Three things can happen when a potential candidate’s spouse says “No.”
1) The candidate heeds the advice and doesn’t run.
2) The candidate doesn’t listen and forges ahead with a difficult campaign and ends up dealing with major trouble at home, which nobody wants.
3) The spouse changes his or her mind.
Right now, anyway, I’m thinking “1″ likely applies, particularly since she’s talking about it so openly.
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Can’t get his story straight
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After telling Bernie Schoenburg last September that he never called then-Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan about getting his daughter into Payton Prep, this is what Bruce Rauner said about the clouting controversy during Tuesday night’s debate…
“Frankly, my wife and I, we have some disagreement about who talked to who when,” Rauner said. “I don’t really recall. I talked to Arne all the time. I don’t really recall talking to him about this much.”
* But this is what Rauner told WLS back in January…
On January 14th of this year, Rauner appeared on 89 WLS with Roe Conn and Richard Roeper, and said that not only did he definitely call Duncan, he remembered Duncan’s response when he told him his daughter might not get into Payton because she missed so much time in grade school because of an illness:
“So I called Arne and I said, ‘Hey Arne, she’d really like to go to Walter Payton, but I saw the criteria, she may or may not get in. Um, what do you think, should she even apply?’ And he said, ‘Bruce, if she’s as good academically as you say and it was pneumonia, she’s a great candidate because we have something called the principal’s discretionary pool.’”
* So, to sum up. In September, Rauner said he never called Arne Duncan. In January, he remembered lots of details from that phone conversation. This week, he says his memory is hazy and doesn’t recall talking to him much about this issue.
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Credit Union (noun) – an essential financial cooperative
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Cooperatives can be formed to support producers such as farmers, purchasers such as independent business owners, and consumers such as electric coops and credit unions. Their primary purpose is to meet members’ needs through affordable goods and services of high quality. Cooperatives such as credit unions may look like other businesses in their operations and, like other businesses, can range in size. However, the cooperative structure is distinctively different regardless of size. As not-for-profit financial cooperatives, credit unions serve individuals with a common goal or interest. They are owned and democratically controlled by the people who use their services. Their board of directors consists of unpaid volunteers, elected by and from the membership. Members are owners who pool funds to help other members. After expenses and reserve requirements are met, net revenue is returned to members via lower loan and higher savings rates, lower costs and fees for services. It is the structure of credit unions, not their size or range of services that is the reason for their tax exempt status - and the reason why almost three million Illinois residents are among nearly 99 million Americans who count on their local credit union everyday to reach their financial goals.
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