* Richard Chapman is running to replace Rep. Tom Cross in the Illinois House. Chapman’s palm card shows a smiling face on one side…
* On the other side, however, Chapman rants about the state borrowing from the Chinese and then unveils his four-point plan. Pay special attention to number four…
I wasn’t aware that the imposition of Sharia Law was a big problem in Illinois.
Golly, I sure am glad we have “common sense” candidates like Mr. Chapman around to teach us.
*** UPDATE *** Mr. Chapman wrote a book called “2084-When God Blessed America Again.” From Amazon…
2084-When God Blessed America Again is a gripping story of a man and a woman who grew up under the iron fist of Islamic law in the United States of Islam, formerly known as the United States of America.
By sheer force of will and population redistribution, the Islamic faith has now become the controlling force that dominates approximately 80 percent of the world’s populations.
James and Gwen, the two main characters, are raised in separate parts of the country. Each suffer through horrible family events brought on by the oppressive society, and each has sworn revenge! By totally separate circumstances, they find themselves in Alaska, one of the few areas of the globe that a person can live in “relative” freedom. They eventually find each other in the wilderness along with a group of people who also cherish the idea of freedom.
2084 is filled with intrigue, war, and romance. Not a book for the weak of heart!
I’m gonna rush right out and buy it.
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Figure it out and pass a bill
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Mike Zalewski has introduced legislation to increase minimum sentencing for repeat offenders of the Unlawful Use of a Weapon statue and more prison time for those who violate the Aggravated Use of a Weapon statute The outline from Zalewski’s spokesperson…
* UUW Carry/possess (this section is not applicable to Concealed Carry Licensees)
1st offense remains a Class A misdemeanor
A second offense remains a Class 3 felony but now will be non-probationable and the person “shall be sentenced to no less than 3 years and no more than 10 years”.
* UUW by felons or people in DOC custody (Probationers, Parolees, Mandatory Supervised Release)
Currently a Class 3 felony for the 1st offense and mandatory imprisonment of 2-10 years. Subsequent offenses and violation by parolees are Class 2 felonies with mandatory sentences of 3-14 years
Will remain a Class 3 felony with mandatory imprisonment of 4-10 years. Subsequent offenses will remain Class 2 felonies with mandatory 5-14 year sentences
* Aggravated UUW (as amended under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act)
Currently, if the weapon is in close proximity, loaded, and the offender does not have a CCL, it is a Class 4 felony. A 2nd or subsequent offense is a Class 2 felony a mandatory 3-7 year imprisonment.
Will remain a Class 4 felony for the 1st offense with a mandatory 3-7 year imprisonment and Class 2 felony with a mandatory 4-10 year imprisonment for subsequent offenses
* Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Streetgang Member
Currently, a Class 2 felony with a mandatory prison sentence of 3-10 year
This is currently not probationable when the firearm is loaded
Will remain a Class 2 felony, but require a mandatory 4-10 years in prison
* Affirmative Defense
It will be an affirmative defense to the AUU/no FOID card offense if there are no prohibitors to their FOID card being renewed, and the card is simply hung up in processing. The same defense is acceptable for CCLs hung up in processing.
* The Department of Corrections estimates big costs for Zalewski’s proposal…
The concept, designed to crack down on gun violence in the state’s largest city, would add 3,860 inmates to the state’s already overcrowded prison system, the Illinois Department of Corrections estimates.
That surge would require more space for inmates than is currently available, as well as more than $700 million in additional operational costs, the agency says.
“Based on current inmate population, IDOC does not have sufficient capacity to take on another 3,860 inmates,” Corrections spokesman Tom Shaer noted Monday. “The state would need to build at least one prison.”
Shaer did not have an estimate on how many additional prison guards would be needed.
“Hundreds of new employees, to be sure,” he noted.
I’m with Zalewski in not being so sure those numbers are accurate.
First, a big chunk of that prison population increase is likely made up of inmates who are either already in prison or will be. So, there could be a lot of double-counting going on.
Secondly, Zalewski points out that IDOC’s figure includes the cost of incarcerating some AUUW violators who would normally get probation, but, he says, the folks they are pointing to shouldn’t have legally received probation in the first place.
* I am no fan of mandatory minimums. But it’s more than obvious that the justice system, particularly in Cook County, is allowing way too many people off for what ought to be serious illegal weapons crimes.
So, perhaps legislators could tweak the minimums in the bill a bit and then repeal some other mandatory minimums - particularly on drug possession crimes - which are currently crowding our prison system in exchange for passing some version of this bill.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former Gov. Jim Edgar, a Kirk Dillard supporter, weighed in on Bruce Rauner’s choice of Evelyn Sanguinetti as a running mate...
“With all of the Republican candidates for lieutenant governor now decided, it’s obvious who hit the home run. Kirk Dillard’s choice of Jil Tracy, an experienced state representative from Quincy, whose family business employs 1,000 Illinoisans in a food-distribution business, is clearly the most qualified to be governor if something were to happen to Kirk,” Edgar said.
Rauner chose a first-term Wheaton city council member and attorney. Brady chose a former mayor of a small, upscale suburb who has worked with Adam Andrzejewski. Rutherford chose a 2010 attorney general candidate.
* The Question: Do you agree with Jim Edgar’s claim that Kirk Dillard chose the “most qualified” running mate who could step into the top job? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey services
…Adding… From the Twitters…
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* Speaker Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have filed a response to Gov. Pat Quinn’s motion for direct appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court of the legislative pay case. The leaders want the court to take the case and then issue a summary judgement against Quinn…
1. The Governor’s constitutional argument in this case is contrived. He asks this Court to find that the drafters of the 1970 Constitution either did not know the meaning of the word “changes,” or intentionally misused that word when they prohibited mid-term “changes” in Article IV, Section I I , which provides that “changes in the salary of a member (of the General Assembly) shall not take effect during the term for which he has been elected.” Specifically, he claims that when the drafters prohibited mid-term changes in legislative salaries, they did not mean “any change”, they only meant to prohibit an “increase”.
2. His second argument (and perhaps his principal one) is that the case is not “ripe” for review. This argument will be shown to be a transparent attempt to avoid an adverse ruling on his actions, which were in violation of the Constitution.
3. The Plaintiffs are reluctant to impose this appeal on this Court (in denying a stay, the trial court found it “totally meritless” (see Exhibit A to this Response, the circuit court’s ruling denying Defendant’s Motion to Stay, at p.2l)). But, regardless of its lack of merit, because it is a controversy between two branches of State government which has attracted some notoriety, we urge the Court to exercise Rule 302(b) jurisdiction over this appeal.
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Lethal weapon
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Kankakee Daily Journal…
Bill Brady said he’s learned enough from the election of 2010 to win in 2014.
Brady was the Republican nominee for governor in 2010 in Illinois. He led in the polls most of the way, then was defeated on election night by Democrat Pat Quinn. Brady lost by 32,000 votes, less than one percent of the popular vote. He carried 98 of Illinois’ 103 counties, including all those in The Daily Journal circulation area.
“I learned how big the state is,” he told the Kiwanis Club of Kankakee on Monday. “I learned that I didn’t spend enough time in Cook and the collar counties. I know we need to reach out to blacks and Latinos more,” he said.
OK, it’s nice that he says he learned some lessons, particularly about Cook County.
* But then he said this…
He supports concealed carry and would strengthen it. He said the ban on carrying while on public transportation was unfair to some who needed public transportation and who needed to protect themselves.
The entire Chicago media freaks the heck out when anybody mentions concealed carry on mass transit. Here’s an example, from the Chicago Tribune. And no it’s not a column or editorial, it’s supposed to be a straight news piece…
Worried transit officials asked lawmakers to imagine a CTA train packed with inebriated, possibly irate fans after a Cubs night game, then consider the wisdom of adding gun-toting passengers to the potentially volatile mix.
Or what if a thief grabbed a bus rider’s iPhone — a not-uncommon crime — and an armed commuter tried to stop the criminal?
* From a Tribune editorial…
Self-defense? On the CTA, the most commonly reported crime is theft. Commuters carrying smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics are frequent targets. Those incidents continued to climb last year, even as batteries, robberies and assaults declined slightly.
Having your iPhone snatched from your hands might be infuriating, but it doesn’t call for a lethal response. Allowing commuters to carry guns, though, would invite that sort of overreaction. An armed commuter who tried to stop a purse-snatching could easily harm or even kill others in a crowded bus or train.
There is no need to get into a debate about the merits of this issue in comments. Yes, the gun folks like the idea, but there’s no doubt that it’s a killer general election issue in Cook County. It’s just the reality.
If Brady wins the primary, I guarantee you this will be used against him.
If you want Cook County votes next November, you have to at least try to not freak out Cook County voters.
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ADM considers high-tax Minnesota
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Just days after Gov. Pat Quinn announced he would veto any tax break for Archer Daniels Midland until pension reform is a done deal, the Decatur-based company sent emissaries to Minnesota…
A site selection team for Archer Daniels Midland was in St. Paul Monday, meeting with representatives of GreaterMSP, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named. The meeting is being held at GreaterMSP’s headquarters in St. Paul’s Securian Building.
By sending representatives to the Twin Cities, the agricultural giant is at least confirming the Twin Cities as a potential relocation choice. ADM said last month that it wanted to move its headquarters and some technology jobs out of Decatur, Ill.
ADM was founded in that state over 100 years ago.
* While it would not be good to lose the company’s new world headquarters and tech sites, it might also make me chuckle a bit. Why? Well, Minnesota just raised a bevy of tax rates. From a May 21st story...
The tax bill creates a new income tax rate for top earners at 9.85 percent, 2 percentage points above the prior top rate, to generate $1.1 billion for the fiscal 2014-2015 biennium that begins July 1, according to a bill summary from House Democrats.
The top income tax rate applies to income over $250,000 for married couples and $150,000 for single filers. It will give Minnesota the fourth highest top state tax rate in the nation and apply to about 54,400 residents. […]
Minnesota also is closing some corporate tax loopholes to gain $400 million for the new budget, and the sales tax base is expanding to some select non-consumer transactions.
Since ADM is looking to locate some high-paying exec and tech jobs, most if not all of those positions would most likely be impacted by that much higher income tax rate.
* Minnesota’s corporate income tax rate, by the way, is a whopping 9.8 percent.
The state ranked 45th on the Tax Foundation’s 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index. Illinois ranked 29th.
So if ADM does move to Minnesota, Illinois’ tax rates could not possibly be blamed, which would probably make the Illinois Policy Institute’s collective head explode, and that alone would be almost worth it.
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“Ban the Box” now in effect
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn has issued an order forbidding state agencies from asking on job applications whether they have a criminal past…
Promoting the decision to what he calls “Ban the Box,” State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) says the governor’s administrative order doesn’t mean private employers will be required to hire ex-cons. It simply means applications for state government jobs will no longer include a box indicating whether an applicant has pled guilty, or been convicted of a criminal offense, other than a minor traffic violation.
State agencies would still be allowed to conduct background checks, and request information on criminal convictions, but not until later in the process.
“I think that it’s important that employers hire the best qualified person that they feel comfortable with for the job,” Ford says. “Employers in private (business) or state agencies should never hire a person that appears to not be a fit for the job.”
Ford gives an example of someone he knows who would benefit: a retiree who had a pocket knife in his pocket 50 years ago. As for the really bad guys, Ford says they’re unlikely to apply for a legitimate job anyway.
As for himself, the lawmaker says he anticipates federal bank fraud charges against him –- unrelated to his service in the General Assembly -– being tossed out of court soon.
It’s important to note that the agencies can ask in subsequent interviews about a criminal record.
It’s also interesting that Ford actually thinks the federal bank fraud charges against him will be tossed out of court.
* Background…
According to the National Employment Law Project, one in four work-eligible adults—a total of 65 million people—has some type of criminal record. Many of these people have their job applications thrown away or at least discredited: In 2012, more than two-thirds of employers run criminal background checks on applicants, according to a Society of Human Resources Management survey.
The problem specifically impacts African Americans who have almost six times the incarceration rate of their white counterparts. At a community forum hosted by the Worker’s Center for Racial Justice at the Louis Farrakhan-owned Salaam restaurant in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood, several black men described their struggles to find a job after a brush with the law. […]
Quinn’s order makes Illinois part of a national trend. In recent years, armed with the catchy “Ban the Box” motto, advocates for the formerly incarcerated have persuaded states, counties and cities across the U.S. to remove the criminal-history question from their applications to the National Employment Law Project, 10 states have enacted some type of Ban the Box initiative, and eight of those did so within the past four years. All these initiatives prohibited criminal-background checks in public-sector job searches, and four also included private employers.
* More…
Sweig, founder of the Institute for People with Criminal Records, also said the term “Ban the Box” doesn’t accurately portray the meaning of the proposal.
“The term Move the Box is more accurate,” he said. “Ban the Box is an unfortunate misnomer nationwide, and in my view is at the root of mistaken legislator perceptions of the bill’s intent and operation.”
He said, “Now that it’s failed three times in the legislature, the only way for it to become a law is by executive order,” he said. “And I think the governor will be receptive to the bill.”
Thoughts?
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Caption contest!
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Until today’s announcement that she’d be Bruce Rauner’s running mate, Evelyn Sanguinetti called herself Evelyn Pacino Sanguinetti and featured Rauner opponent Kirk Dillard on her Facebook page…
Many thanks to Senator Dillard for his words of Republican encouragement at RNHA, DuPage, meet and greet prior to Lincoln Day Dinner.
* Let’s welcome her to the race with a photo she posted of herself with Dillard…
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* From a press release…
Bruce Rauner announced Evelyn Sanguinetti as his Lieutenant Governor selection today and they began a two-day tour of the state that will take them to Chicago, Rockford, Quad Cities, Marion, Quincy and Peoria.
“Evelyn is the perfect partner to shake up Springfield,” Bruce Rauner said. “She’s achieved the American Dream and will fight so more in Illinois can reach it too. She grew up in poverty, relying on public assistance, and worked hard to become an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, a City Councilmember, and a teacher at the very law school that gave her the opportunity to work for this state.”
“She has the talent and guts to take on the lobbyists, special interests, and career politicians that are destroying this state and eliminating opportunities for the next generation,” Rauner said.
“I’m proof that with hard work, a good education and an opportunity anyone from anywhere can make it,” Evelyn Sanguinetti said. “Unfortunately, too many in Illinois who have backgrounds that look a whole lot like mine aren’t being given access to a quality education or that opportunity to succeed. I understand firsthand how the policies pushed by the career politicians are failing us and that’s why I’m excited to run with Bruce Rauner to transform Illinois.”
“Vamos a sacudir a Springfield, y traer de vuelta a Illinois,” Sanguinetti concluded.
About Evelyn
Evelyn is the living embodiment of the American dream. A first-generation citizen, Evelyn’s been beating the odds her entire life.
Evelyn’s father legally immigrated to the United States from Ecuador, and her mother entered the country as a Cuban refugee. Her parents were still teenagers when she was born in Miami, Florida, and Evelyn grew up with Spanish as her first language.
Her parents often struggled to make ends meet, and her family moved frequently, whenever they could no longer afford rent. Evelyn found her way through her love of playing the piano and was able to attend a top public school for fine arts in Miami.
Through this opportunity, she developed a love of learning and decided to attend college and pursue a better life. Evelyn received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Florida International University. She soon moved to Chicago to attend The John Marshall Law School, fell in love with Illinois and plans to never leave.
Following law school, Evelyn worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office under Jim Ryan before transitioning to private practice. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at The John Marshall Law School.
In another turning point in her life, Evelyn suffered a slip and fall accident a few years ago and when being checked by doctors discovered that she has multiple sclerosis. Evelyn hasn’t let it slow her down. After being given the green light from her doctor, she ran for City Council of Wheaton, and won in 2011.
Evelyn currently lives in Wheaton with her husband, Raymond, and their three children. She has been involved in Franklin Middle School, Lowell Elementary School and Jefferson Preschool PTA’s. Evelyn is also a member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and the DuPage County Bar Association. Evelyn and her family are active in Cub Scouts, the Community School of the Arts, Wheaton Briarcliffe Youth Baseball, and sports within the Wheaton Park District.
Born into a family of immigrants with little means, Evelyn has combined talent, hard work and self-determination to achieve great things for herself and give back to the local community. She is committed to making sure all the people of Illinois have a similar opportunity to succeed.
* The intro video…
* In an e-mail to supporters, Rauner said he had “found the perfect partner to join me in shaking up Springfield.”
He also posted a Spanish language version of the intro video here.
Discuss.
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Quinn has $3 million cash on hand
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
Even as his sole Democratic primary foe, Bill Daley, was preparing to withdraw from the race, Mr. Quinn kept up some very solid fundraising in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, pulling in “just over $812,000,” according to his campaign spokeswoman. And since neither Mr. Daley nor any other major contender is known to be circulating nominating petitions, it looks like Mr. Quinn will be able to stash every penny in the bank for the November 2014 challenge from the GOP nominee.
The bottom line: The Democratic incumbent, who was considered in deep political trouble just a few months ago, has $3 million on hand in his political account, according to his campaign. And unless something unusual occurs — like an unexpected challenge from another Democrat — that figure only should grow in months to come.
…Adding… For context, I searched the State Board of Elections website and found that Quinn raised just under $560,000 in the same quarter four years ago.
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Schilling is in, and other stuff
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bobby Schilling is running again and he appears tea partier than ever, perhaps because he was repeatedly slammed for becoming “too DC” in the last election. His new campaign slogan: “Bring Bobby Back”…
The former Congressman said we were defeated by 7% due to redistricting. “We need to do a better job of getting people out to vote,” Schilling said. “I’m the pizza guy and a dad. It’s not fun being in Congress, but I only have to look into the eyes of my kids and look at all the liberals ruining our country and it’s pretty easy to step into the race again.”
“We have to engage this country. People have destroyed this state and I am not going to sit down and watch this happen!”
Schilling said people are escaping to Iowa. Paul Ryan called him to encourage him to run saying Obama has big issues including the national debt, but that or fixing the economy is not his priority. His number one priority is taking back the House in the next election.
Ryan told Schilling, “By the time he is through, you will not be ale to recognize this country.” Schilling said Americans have to get engaged and help get America back on track.
Considering how poorly the article was written, I’m not sure that Schilling’s priority is actually “taking back the House,” since the House remains in GOP hands.
* Off topic, but I’ve been saving this story for a few days and this seems like the right time to post it…
Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is out trying to make sure today’s students will have a better understand of mathematics with the new integrated math curriculum. Simon and the Illinois State Board of Education released the state’s first sixth- through twelfth-grade math curriculum in May and urged middle and high schools state wide to implement the new courses this fall.
Simon visited Pinck-neyville High School Thursday morning, which is one of the Illinois schools which have adopted the program.
Simon says the program is about the student’s future and helping have the tools to compete for college and beyond. […]
The program is outlined to include all facets of mathematics. The students would not take algebra one year and the geometry the next; instead the, the different mathematics are integrated.
Apparently, The Southern has no editors. They’re obviously cutting back at the paper because they’re using a “news service” that appears to be sponsored by the Illinois Policy Institute for numerous front page stories, including…
* Wealthy move money to avoid estate tax
* Obamacare program raises ID theft risk
* Legislative leaders often fly on state airplanes
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House Majority PAC has been running a version of this “crybaby” TV ad against other Republican incumbents, but it’s now targeting Rodney Davis…
* From the House Majority PAC…
House Majority PAC announced today that it would expand its television advertising campaign to include Rep. Rodney Davis due to Davis’s support for a government shutdown and the reckless games he’s playing with the economy.
House Majority PAC will begin airing today “No More Tantrums” today in Champaign.
The spot condemns Rodney Davis for throwing a temper tantrum after not getting his way, shutting down the government, and playing dangerous games with the economy. It ends with a call for Davis to end his wrongheaded approach.
* The Question: On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being most effective, how would you rate this TV ad? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
web polls
*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…
Davis spokesman Andrew Flach dismissed the ad as politics.
“While the Democrats resort to playing political games, the House will continue passing legislation to fund federal government operations and bring an end to the shutdown,” Flach said.
“Our hope is that the president and the Senate will stop trying to score political points and come to the table to negotiate a commonsense solution to our nation’s fiscal crisis.”
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Two regions, two messages
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn addressed the Illinois Environmental Council in Chicago late last month. From the IEC’s Facebook page…
The Governor spoke about new green water infrastructure efforts, recreation liability, and all the green work that the state is doing under his leadership.
* A tweet from an attendee…
* But the speech angered Will Reynolds, who pointed out that Quinn talks up green advances in the Chicago area, but just the opposite in southern Illinois….
Environmentalists celebrated when Quinn vetoed a bill to provide rate increases for a coal-to-gas plant Leucadia Corp proposed in a heavily polluted area of southeastern Chicago.
But for southern Illinois, Quinn signed a bill to subsidize a similar coal-to-gas plant proposed near Mt. Vernon. When signing the bill Quinn claimed, “This important project will help revive the coal industry in southern Illinois.” The project eventually failed after plunging natural gas prices made it difficult for the company to find investors. […]
At an event in Springfield, not long after becoming Governor, Quinn encouragingly called climate change the great challenge of our time.
Yet, earlier this year, Quinn bragged about setting a record for coal exports that made Illinois the fifth highest coal producing state. The release from Quinn’s office highlights efforts by his administration to build more coal export infrastructure and promote coal in foreign markets including, “supporting trade missions to the markets which represent the best prospects for Illinois coal, and potentially encouraging foreign investment in Illinois coal properties.” That will often mean nations with weak or non-existent pollution standards.
The Governor signed several bills to boost coal mining, including one to allow a surface mining operation in a state park, and another to ease the permitting process for strip mines. No, that’s not a joke. He actually leased 160 acres of a state park in southern Illinois for a strip mine. […]
A recent report on green job growth included a graphic showing that all clean energy jobs created so far this year were in the northern half of the state. That didn’t happen by accident. Illinois’ economic development agency, DCEO, does good work promoting clean energy jobs in some areas. But, their agenda in southern Illinois is dominated by the Office of Coal Development (OCD).
* Here’s that graphic mentioned above…
* None of this is new. Illinois politicians have talked up coal in southern Illinois and the environment in the Chicago media market for as long as I can remember. Quinn may have elevated it to an art form, however.
Discuss.
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More on ADM
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Phil Rosenthal has the best reality check column on ADM that I’ve yet seen…
Yep. A company with a $24 billion market cap is haggling over a $24 million, 20-year incentive from a state that’s teetering on the edge of insolvency. Then again, that’s how she got rich, dearie.
“ADM has been minding its pennies and nickels and dimes over the years in order to make sure we remain competitive, because in the commodity business, it is extremely, extremely competitive,” Ray Young, the former General Motors exec who has been ADM’s chief financial officer since 2011, told state legislators at a hearing in Chicago last week. “We’re talking about pennies and nickels per bushel in terms of being able to make money or lose money. So from our perspective we need to be competitive in every aspect of our business.
We’re talking about a company that had 2012 net income of $1.2 billion on sales/revenue of $88.92 billion. That’s a super-thin 1.3 percent. Then again, the net profit is a thousand times higher than one year of the proposed state tax break.
* More…
“It is essentially blackmailing the state,” Currie said. “It essentially is saying if you don’t jump to, if you don’t go do this for us, we might think about going somewhere else.”
Actually, that threat comes from the EDGE requirements themselves, which force companies seeking that particular tax credit to actively consider locating the new jobs in another state. It is the equivalent of a sign around your neck telling passersby you will only give them money if they put a gun to your head. It does tend to encourage such behavior.
Yep. But it can also be a decent tool to help companies expand. Ford is a prime example of that.
* More…
The numbers tossed around concerning Archer Daniels Midland’s relocation of its headquarters to Chicago have Decatur keeping 4,400 of the 4,500 ADM jobs it now has, with 100 moving to Chicago or wherever the new headquarters ends up and another 100 new jobs to staff the proposed accompanying tech center.
But ADM had 4,800 workers based in Decatur at the end of 2011, before the head count was reduced through a combination of retirements and layoffs. Across the state of Illinois, the number of ADM workers went from 6,400 then to a little more than 6,000 today.
The trend is most definitely not our friend.
* A bit of history from the Decatur paper…
It does seem unsettling, at first glance, that any company wants incentives to move jobs from one community in the state to another. However, Illinois would be the loser if ADM were to relocate its world headquarters to another state.
And the politicians complaining about ADM’s request really have no one but themselves to blame. The state gave massive tax incentives to Boeing to lure their world headquarters to Chicago, a move that created, at most, 500 jobs. The state also gave incentives to Tate & Lyle to keep executive jobs in the state. Those jobs were moved from Decatur to Hoffman Estates. The state also has awarded incentives to other major corporations to stay. ADM is merely following the trail others have paved.
Past incentives don’t excuse this one, but why single out ADM when other companies have been at the state trough much longer?
* On the other hand…
• In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, ADM gave a total compensation package to CEO Patricia Woertz worth $9.4 million — nearly eight times the size of the annual tax break it is seeking.
• In February, ADM’s board voted to increase the company’s dividend payout to shareholders by 8.6 percent to 19 cents per share. On an annual basis, that would equal about $500 million.
• ADM’s bottom line has remained in the black even though over the last decade it paid more than $500 million in fines and legal settlements in a price fixing scandal that sent three top executives to prison. One of them was a key government whistle-blower in the case whose bizarre exploits were chronicled in a best-selling book, “The Informant,” and a hit Hollywood movie by the same name starring Matt Damon.
* Even so, some Republican gubernatorial candidates have offered support. Bill Brady…
“We have to face reality. We can’t be populist in this. The reality is because the governor has raised taxes so high, there are other alternatives (for ADM to relocate) out there,” Brady said in an interview on WGN-AM 720.
Quinn also vetoed lawmakers’ paychecks pending a plan to deal with the unfunded pension liability. A Cook County judge ruled the governor’s action unconstitutional, a decision Quinn has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to review.
“You don’t tie ADM to another issue that the governor’s failed on,” Brady said of the pension issue. “We need a governor who will move away from the populist point of view and do the right thing in each instance.”
Actually, the tax rate doesn’t really have much of any impact on ADM here. As I’ve pointed out time and time again, ADM pays little to no state income tax.
* Kirk Dillard…
“The workers compensation costs for ADM or Caterpillar or Illinois companies is 3, 4, 5 times higher than it is in surrounding states,” Dillard said. […]
“The governor has been the governor for five years. He’s had a legislature that’s completely controlled by his political party. Pension reform should have been done a long time ago,” Dillard said.
“The governor is pretty good at playing the hostage game these days,” Dillard said, referring to his failed attempt to withhold lawmakers pay until they passed a pension bill.
* Dillard’s running mate Jil Tracy is also on board…
When asked about the possibility of Archer Daniels Midland Co. receiving tax credits to move its global headquarters from Decatur to Chicago, Tracy said if ADM qualifies for the tax breaks then there’s no reason to oppose it.
“I think it’s important to listen and see if help is needed,” she said. “We have to be engaged, especially if other states are offering tax breaks.”
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* State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D-Urbana) explains her ideas for a progressive income tax…
While the [Illinois Policy Institute] has been saying that a progressive income tax “would increase the tax rate on 85 percent of Illinois taxpayers,” Jakobsson said her plan would mean lower income tax bills for 83 percent of Illinoisans.
“The ‘tipping point’ at which the rate would go over the present 5 percent would be at $106,000 per year,” Jakobsson said in the news release. “At the high end the rate would rise to 7.2 percent for a family earning $500,000 per year and continue to 8.5 percent for a family earning $2 million per year.”
Her tax schedule also would yield about 15 percent more revenue for the state, which Jakobsson has said could go to education and social services that have been cut in recent years.
Those rates wouldn’t be in the actual constitutional amendment, however. Legislators would be free to raise and lower the amounts.
* And I still believe that there’s very little chance that sponsors can get three-fifths in both legislative chambers to put this on the ballot. The Republicans in both chambers are adamantly against it.
And then there’s HR 241, sponsored by Rep. David McSweeney. The proposal states the belief that the Constitution shouldn’t be amended to permit a graduated income tax.
Rep. McSweeney’s resolution has 47 co-sponsors, meaning the other side will have to get everybody to vote for the proposal who hasn’t already signed on to the McSweeney measure. And while Senate President John Cullerton likes the idea, House Speaker Michael Madigan has been cool to it.
I’m just not seeing it yet.
42 Comments
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Durkin goes neutral in governor’s race
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin told Bernie that he’s switching to neutral in the governor’s race…
He said he’s been for state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, for governor in the past, but got the message as he took on his new leadership role that different members of his caucus support all four Republican nominees for governor, so “I’m going to keep my nose out of that.” […]
“This is going to be a very interesting cycle,” Durkin said. “And we’re going to rely upon hard work, aggressive fundraising, good candidates, and each party’s going to need a little luck, also. So, anyone can win.
“Governor Quinn showed he could win four years ago,” Durkin said. “Never underestimate the incumbent. But we’ve got four fine men who are running in the primary, and whoever is successful… we’re planning to partner up with and get them across the finish line.”
* Durkin told the Kankakee Daily Journal pretty much the same thing…
Kirk Dillard has been a friend and a great leader for years, but I told him that the House leader has to be neutral. I’m not going to stick my nose in the governor’s race. I do have a good vibe about Republican chances.
My hope is that we’re unified behind any nominee — Kirk Dillard, Dan Rutherford, Bill Brady or Bruce Rauner.
My job is to be a voice for this caucus (of Republicans). We want to emerge without scars and without bad feelings.
16 Comments
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Shutdown politics
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* An October 2-3 survey of 685 IL-13 voters by Public Policy Polling shows that freshman Republican Congressman Rodney Davis could be hurt by the government shutdown…
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of the job Representative Rodney Davis is doing in Congress?
Approve …………………………………………………. 32%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%
Q2 If the election for Congress were held today, would you vote to re-elect Republican Rodney Davis, or would you vote for his Democratic opponent?
Rodney Davis …………………………………………. 43%
Democratic opponent……………………………….. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 38%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q4 Do you support or oppose Congress shutting down major activities of the federal government as a way to stop the health care law from being put into place?
Support ………………………………………………….. 34%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 59%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q5 Do you support or oppose Congress holding back on increasing the nation’s borrowing limit, which could result in a default, as a way to stop the health care law from being put into place?
Support ………………………………………………….. 35%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q6 Would you be less likely or more likely to support Congressman Davis if you knew he voted to support shutting down major activities of the federal government as a way to stop the health care law from being put into place, or does it not make a difference?
Less likely ………………………………………………. 48%
More likely………………………………………………. 33%
No difference ………………………………………….. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q7 Now that you know Congressman Davis supported the government shutdown, I’ll ask you one more time: If the election for Congress were held today, would you vote for re-elect Republican Rodney Davis, or would you vote for his Democratic opponent?
Rodney Davis …………………………………………. 42%
Democratic opponent……………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Crosstabs are here.
Obviously, the election is still far away, and this generic Democratic matchup doesn’t take into consideration any weaknesses his general election opponent would have, but it does show some real signs of weakness. It also indicates that a GOP candidate further to his right would likely have a tough time next fall.
* Meanwhile, from the AP…
A southwestern Illinois congressman who is seeking re-election says he had no choice but to be the only U.S. House member to vote against a resolution allowing military chaplains to still perform their duties during the federal government’s shutdown.
Belleville Democrat Bill Enyart was the lone “no” vote of 401 that were cast in the House on the weekend resolution relating to military chaplains who’ve been furloughed since the shutdown began. […]
Enyart calls Saturday’s action “phony” and says it “didn’t do anything.”
* From WSIL TV…
The legislation passed almost unanimously in a vote of 400 to one, leaving Congressman Bill Enyart the odd man out.
“Shocked and upset,” says Illinois Representative Mike Bost.
A candidate for Enyart’s congressional seat, Bost says he’s disappointed by Enyart’s decision, especially since the U.S. House Speaker even asked him to reconsider.
“He was one, the only one, the only one in the United States,” says Bost. “Either that’s not understanding the job or being totally out of touch with your constituents.” […]
“It is phony,” [Enyart] says. “It is designed to do nothing but make these people feel good and to give them a political point that they’re doing something. They didn’t do anything.”
A retired two-star general, Enyart insists he’s more concerned about putting the government back to work.
“You can pray anywhere,” he says. “You can’t just dump your kid anywhere; you can’t just not go to the commissaries to buy groceries to feed your family.”
* In related news…
Most of the roughly 3,500 civilian employees who were furloughed last week at a southwestern Illinois air base as part of the federal government shutdown are headed back to work.
Scott Air Force Base spokeswoman Karen Petitt says the affected workers were notified Sunday that they should be back on the job Monday.
That came after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered 350,000 furloughed military personnel back on the job.
Take a deep breath before you comment, folks. Thanks.
76 Comments
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The hostage schtick
Monday, Oct 7, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Gov. Pat Quinn refused to say for several days whether he’d support a $1.2 million a year tax break for Archer Daniels Midland to move 100 jobs out of Decatur and open up a world headquarters and new tech center in Chicago. But last week he made it clear that without pension reform, the ADM proposal would be a nonstarter and he would veto it.
“He won’t even consider the ADM bill much less get on board when pension reform has not been done,” said a Quinn spokesperson told me.
“The best way to help jobs in Illinois is to do pension reform,” Quinn himself told the Associated Press. “To distract legislators in any way from this issue of a lifetime is just plain wrong.”
Quinn didn’t say, probably because he wasn’t asked, whether he thought a vote on gay marriage during the upcoming fall veto session would also “distract legislators.” But a spokesperson later explained that pension reform was vital to the state’s economic interests, and gay marriage, while important, was not driving the state’s fiscal crisis.
And so the governor has seized yet another political hostage in his quest to ease Illinois’ enormous budget problems by reducing pension benefits for public employees and retirees.
Gaming expansion, including a new Chicago casino that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is practically slobbering over, was put on hold last spring because the governor threatened to veto it until pension reform was approved.
Then came his veto of state legislative salaries, which was recently struck down as unconstitutional by a Cook County judge. Quinn said he vetoed the salaries out of the state budget to prod legislators into passing a pension reform bill. It didn’t work. If coming up with a pension reform plan was that easy, it would’ve been accomplished long ago. Quinn is currently attempting to appeal the judge’s ruling directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.
And now comes ADM, one of the oldest companies in Illinois and one of the largest companies in the nation.
Quinn suggested to reporters last week that the company ought to help lobby for pension reform if it wanted its tax break.
Politically speaking, these are all no-brainers. Polls have shown that Illinoisans aren’t in love with the idea of more casinos. So, holding up gaming expansion has few political risks.
The General Assembly’s job approval rating is below Quinn’s, and that’s saying something because Quinn is one of the least liked governors in America. Vetoing legislators’ paychecks could rank right up there with the most popular thing Quinn has ever done, whether its constitutional or not.
And Republicans and Democrats alike have long had a strong distaste for “corporate welfare.” It just rubs people the wrong way to provide tax breaks to gigantic, profitable corporations while Illinois government has trouble paying its own bills.
The ADM tax break proposal hasn’t proved to be all that popular so far in the General Assembly, either. A company officer admitted to a House committee last week that it often pays less than $1.2 million a year in corporate income taxes, even though it made $1.2 billion in profits last year and $2 billion the year before. That was a startling admission, and didn’t please the committee’s liberal Democrats.
The subject was broached when some conservatives on the committee said they’d rather lower the corporate income tax rate than give out a special deal for one company. But lowering the tax rate - even eliminating it entirely - wouldn’t do the company any good. It wants that tax break.
However, ADM has hired some influential Statehouse lobbyists close to House Speaker Michael Madigan, Chicago Mayor Emanuel appears fully on board, and word is that an omnibus corporate tax break bill is being prepared. Despite the public resistance by legislators, the national embarrassment of losing ADM’s world headquarters to another state is probably enough to assume that this will eventually get done.
The political hostage phenomenon should be familiar if you watched the shutdown of the federal government over Republican opposition to Obamacare. The difference with Quinn is that the federal shutdown proved to be wildly unpopular with the American public, while the “hostages” Quinn is taking are prized mainly by people within the Illinois Statehouse, not by the public at large.
But, even if you don’t care, I’m here to tell you that this schtick of Quinn’s is really getting old. It’s juvenile when they do it in Washington, DC, and it’s juvenile when our own governor does it.
32 Comments
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