DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek announces “Vote Anywhere” Election Day voting for 2022. DuPage will be the first county in Illinois to launch the option for voters to cast a ballot in any one of its 263 polling places, instead of limiting the choice to a voter’s precinct polling place or vote center.
“Now voters may cast their ballot conveniently at a polling place near their job or school, instead of rushing to or from their home precinct,” County Clerk Kaczmarek says. “Best of all, DuPage voters will no longer be turned away on Election Day for being in the wrong polling place in the county.” […]
“Two developments late in 2021 combined to create “Vote Anywhere” Election Day. In October, our office purchased the new Hart Verity complete print-on-demand voting system, so we no longer need to stockpile pre-printed ballots at polling places for just three or four precincts. After check-in, each voter now receives their freshly printed ballot on site. In November, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation allowing each county to set up multiple vote centers where residents from all over the county can vote outside their home polling places on Election Day,” County Clerk Kaczmarek says.
Following a primary where problems popped up at polling places citywide, Chicago election officials are preparing to shrink the number of voting precincts by nearly 40% and are squeezing the cuts in just months before the contentious midterm election in November. […]
Officials with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said the recalibration is expected to save as much as $2 million because the board will have fewer supply costs and won’t need to hire as many election judges to work the polls on Election Day. A spokesman for the board also said the cuts will help election officials focus on ensuring that more precinct polling locations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, work the city has been slow to address. […]
[Ami Gandhi, a senior counsel for voting rights with the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights] noted that in the June primary some voters were turned away from voting on Election Day after the city announced weeks earlier that 73 precincts would be without polling places and 56 polling places opened late primarily due to election judge shortages. […]
Diana Thomas, 59, has lived on the same block in the 34th Ward for decades and prefers to vote in person. But when she showed up this past June shortly before the polls closed, she found herself in the wrong place. Her polling place had changed in 2020, and she said the security guard at the Wentworth Commons apartment building, where she voted for years prior, couldn’t help her. Without time or a way to find the right polling place, Thomas wasn’t able to cast a ballot in the primary. […]
Since 2012, there have been 2,069 precincts. Under the cuts that are about to occur, the number of precincts citywide will drop to 1,290, officials say.
* The Question: Should Chicago and other Illinois jurisdictions adopt DuPage-style “Vote Anywhere” election day procedures? Make sure to explain your answer. Thanks.
Illinois’ Republican National Committeewoman, Demetra Demonte, called the FBI retrieval of classified documents from President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate an “unprecedented weaponization of law enforcement against its political opponents.”
“This is not the first time President Trump, Republicans and conservatives have been unfairly targeted by the D.O.J. and the F.B.I. We need to know why this unprecedented action was taken, we need facts, we need the affidavit, we need transparency, we need accountability and we need it now,” she said.
Demonte said she’s encouraged about Republicans’ prospects in the fall, because support and campaign contributions have increased since the raid.
* First it was John Catanzara of the Chicago FOP, and now SDG…
Stacy Davis Gates at the City Club today confirms she is NOT running for mayor. "Everybody in this room know y'all need a new mayor… but it won't be me. I really love my job. I am really honored to serve this city, because this union serves more than just its core membership."
Sometimes people send me questions about voting machines, election protection and/or election security. Here's an opportunity to learn more about what the IL SBE is doing:https://t.co/UenJELjet5
Today, Senator Tom Cotton is endorsing Chris Dargis for Congress in Illinois’s 8th District. Cotton cited Dargis’ record of public service, success in business, and commitment to his community in the endorsement.
Senator Cotton released the following statement endorsing Dargis:
Chris Dargis is a man of action who will tackle the challenges in Washington head on. A Navy veteran, a business leader, and a family man, he exemplifies everything we want our Congressional representatives to be. I’m proud to endorse Chris Dargis, and ask the voters of the 8th district to send a problem solver to Washington.
Chris Dargis thanks Senator Cotton with the following statement:
I’m humbled by Senator Cotton’s support in my campaign. He is a fighter for our nation and I know that working together in Washington, we can fix the mess Washington Democrats have created. We will bring down the outrageous cost of living, make our streets safe again, and enact energy policy that will make us energy independent once again.
* Press release…
Going back to school has never been more challenging. From inflation to shortages, nothing about getting kids ready and dropped off at the classroom is simple – and Joe Biden and Lauren Underwood are doing nothing to change that.
Scott Gryder, Kendall County Board Chairman and Republican nominee for IL-14, knows that families deserve better. As your next U.S. Representative, Scott Gryder will deliver positive change for students and families:
“Sending kids back to school this year brings new worries and anxieties – thanks to Lauren Underwood and Joe Biden.
Democrats’ tax-and-spend agenda has caused the price of school supplies to skyrocket, costing families, on average, an additional $168. The increase in gas prices is forcing parents to pay $2,200 more at the pump, and with school bus driver shortages, driving to school is the only option for many families across our state.
Instead of focusing on relief, the Underwood-Biden agenda is digging in on higher costs and higher taxes. Earlier this month, Lauren Underwood voted in support of the Inflation Reduction Act – a massive spending bill that will raise taxes on working families, hurt our already-weak economy, and do absolutely nothing to reduce inflation.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden and his Education Department are on a mission to eliminate options for families and force every student to receive a government-issued education. Last month, Biden signed a final rule that makes it more challenging for new charter schools to form and existing ones to receive grant money – not surprisingly, it also gives the federal government greater authority over them.
I believe that every family deserves their choice of an affordable, top-notch school that will provide students with a quality education and prepare them for whatever life path they aspire to – regardless of their zip code. That’s why as your representative, I will fight to end the reckless tax-and-spend agenda Lauren Underwood has spent her time in Congress championing. And when it comes to school choice, I will work to give power back to charter schools, and I will fight for increased tax credits for families wanting to send their children to private schools.
Lauren Underwood has voted with Joe Biden 100% of the time. She’s not in Congress to work for you, she serves at Joe Biden’s beck and call. And while Underwood thinks she can dupe you with empty promises and take more of your tax dollars just to shove your kids into understaffed and failing public schools, I will always fight for you and your family. Enough is enough – it’s time to take our district back and restore the hope and promise that every first day should bring.”
* Sen. Napoleon Harris unifies rivals in new role for Thornton Township Democrats: The standing room only crowd in the penthouse of a U.S. Bank building off Sibley Boulevard felt like a friendly reunion of the feuding Hatfield and McCoy families. Attendees included Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark and former Mayor Eric Kellogg, whom Clark replaced when Kellogg was forced from office because of term limits. Calumet City Mayor and state Rep. Thaddeus Jones mingled with guests and shared space with two of his political adversaries, city Clerk Nyota Figgs and Ald. Monet Wilson, who challenged Jones in the recent primary for the 29th District House seat. Former Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers attended, as did five Dolton Village Board members who are battling Mayor Tiffany Henyard in brutal legal and political fights. Henyard. who replaced Zuccarelli as Thornton Township supervisor, looked like a no-show but made an appearance just as Harris concluded his public remarks, 90 minutes after the event’s scheduled start. Harris delivered a clear message that even if people do not like each other, they will be expected to work together for the betterment of communities in Thornton Township.
* Frerichs trying to talk way out of pension tax hike remarks: Here’s how The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported what Frerichs now says he never said. “Frerichs added an argument for the progressive income tax is taxing retirement income of those who can afford it. He said he knows people who receive six-figure yearly pensions and do not pay (state) income tax, but the current system doesn’t differentiate between them and retirees who barely get by on their savings and pensions.
* Historically a place to observe Illinois’ diversity, the state fairgrounds this year became a showcase of divisive politics: A couple miles away at the fairgrounds sat the Mobile Museum of Tolerance, sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Midwest Region. Contained in a bus, the museum offers background and learning experiences about the expanse of civil and human rights amid a culture of growing bullying and intolerance. It gears its efforts to Illinois middle and high school students, government officials and business groups. Bailey’s visit to the Awake Illinois event gave the mobile museum added traction after the revelation of a 2017 Facebook video from the GOP candidate in which he said the Nazis’ attempted extermination of Jews in the World War II Holocaust paled in comparison to lives lost from abortion. Bailey later said no apology was needed because unnamed Jewish leaders “have told me that I’m right.”
* Gun Sense Rally in Lake Zurich: The time is ripe for reform, advocates say: “Increasing numbers of not just Democrats, but independents and moderate Republicans, want to see common sense gun reform. And that’s exactly what they’re going to get,” said U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schaumburg. … Krishnamoorthi called for a ban on the sale of what he described as assault weapons and raising the minimum age to purchase of any firearm from 18 to “much higher than 18 years old.”
* A Madison County official has split the GOP. Is he St. Louis’ Trump?: Prenzler’s critics point out that, since he was elected, the county has gone through at least 10 department heads, not counting interim hires. At least four employees appointed by Prenzler ended up suing the county, leading to $2.2 million in settlements and fees so far, with more lawsuits pending. Relationships with fellow Republicans got so bad that a bipartisan group of board members voted last month to remove most of Prenzler’s power to hire and fire people.
In Illinois, meanwhile, there are two competitive judicial races this year after the state redrew its district boundaries for the seven-member Supreme Court. While Democrats have held a four-seat majority for nearly two decades, the state Supreme Court could flip with the new map in place this year, Faleschini said.
The Illinois Supreme Court has recognized the right to an abortion under the state constitution, but a change in its makeup could lead to a court fight that abortion rights advocates fear could jeopardize access. Such a step, Faleschini said, would not only have ramifications for Illinois patients, but also those in neighboring states who turn to Illinois for abortion services due to limits where they live.
“Illinois has an outsized role in the Midwest of continuing to keep abortion access somewhat accessible for the Midwest,” he said.
If primary voting is any indication, Democrats face an uphill battle. The two districts encompass 12 Illinois counties, only two of which pulled a majority of Democratic ballots in the state’s June 28 primary.
“The Illinois Supreme Court districts are trending Republican now,” said political consultant Frank Calabrese. “Republicans can win both Supreme Court elections given that 53 percent of the total votes for Supreme Court candidates during the June primary were for the Republican candidates.” That’s even though the two districts were redrawn in the most recent remap process to favor Democrats. […]
Supreme Court Justice Michael Burke, a Republican running for a 10-year term in the 3rd District (after his current 2nd District was redrawn) faces Democratic Appellate Court Judge Mary O’Brien.
Former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who opposes abortion, faces Democratic Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Rochford. Republicans would need to win both races to shift the court right. Democrats need to win one of the races to keep their 4-3 majority.
Judicial elections don’t often grab the same national attention as other political races in which voter turnout is often much higher, but observers say the Supreme Court races in Illinois could foreshadow similar battles in other states over reproductive rights with sweeping consequences.
“If we lose this election, there is absolutely no guarantee that abortion will be legal past 2023,” said Terry Cosgrove, president and CEO of Personal PAC, an abortion rights advocacy group. […]
Still, Illinois anti-abortion groups are keen on electing judges they view as sympathetic.
Justice Michael Burke, a Republican representing the state Supreme Court’s second district who is running for a 10-year term in the third district after district maps were redrawn, as well as former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who declared victory Friday over three other GOP candidates vying to be the justice in the second district, were “found qualified” by Illinois Right to Life Action in its latest voter guide. None of their Democratic rivals made the group’s cut.
* After the Dobbs decision, interest in the Illinois Supreme Court race “skyrocketed.” Via the Washington Post…
Democratic Appellate Judge Mary Kay O’Brien had been working for a year to drum up interest in her campaign for Illinois Supreme Court, struggling to convince voters that it would affect them as a presidential or gubernatorial race would.
But “within 24 hours” of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end federal protections for abortions, levels of interest in judicial races like hers skyrocketed, said O’Brien, a Democratic appellate judge.
“There’s no question that it energized and mobilized, especially young people and women,” she said. “It’s something that I think was just a complete alarm bell to some people.” […]
In Illinois, a group of progressive political operatives launched an organization last month dedicated to increasing awareness of the state Supreme Court race, according to co-founder Terry Cosgrove.
The two days of partisan political events during the Illinois State Fair are like miniature, stripped-down, informal versions of national political conventions. They serve as a sort of kickoff to our fall campaign season, so they are usually closely watched by reporters who cover campaigns and by insiders.
The speeches and organized theater are usually allowed to dominate coverage. Last week, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey was driven to the Republican Day event on a large John Deere tractor, a tailor-made image for TV and print reporters alike. He then capably delivered his well-written speech, which mainly attempted to paint the incumbent Democratic governor as an out-of-touch billionaire with soft hands who lives in a bubble and has no clue what average folks are going through.
The “hands” image was at the core of Bailey’s speech. “With our hands, and our sweat, we nurture life, we strengthen our families, and we feed the world,” he said. “Take a look at your hands. They’re probably like mine, a little swollen, a little calloused, got scars on ‘em,” he said before relating the life of a farmer.
“Companies are leaving, families are leaving. Some people are just throwing their hands up and giving up,” he said later in his address. “But I mentioned your hands earlier. Look at them again. You and I are hands-on people. We fix problems all day long. Now, we’ve got to turn our attention to fixing this great state,” he continued.
And then he contrasted “our” hands with the wealthy governor’s. “On Tuesday, I milked a cow,” Bailey said, which, of course, involves his hands. “Last week with J.B. Pritzker, he took a picture with the butter cow. Now don’t get me wrong. The butter cow is amazing. … But J.B. and his soft billionaire hands was safely on the other side of that protective glass, far from the work. Kind of like in his billionaire bubble. I say he doesn’t care. But I want to tell you something. Maybe he just doesn’t know.”
The hands metaphor was also used as a means of political action: “You can’t clear a field of weeds if you don’t pull them out by the roots, friends, and the only way to fix Illinois is to fire J.B. Pritzker and get the problem out by the roots.”
Clever.
But images and speeches rarely make an impact with news media coverage alone. A candidate needs money to put those images and zingers in TV ads and to amplify them throughout the online world.
And Bailey still has no money to do that. His principal backer, billionaire Richard Uihlein, came in relatively late but big during the primary. So, maybe he’ll eventually do that again. Bailey has not yet shown any ability to raise substantial money on his own, either before the primary or since. Bailey’s only reported contribution last week was just $1,000.
Since the primary, Uihlein has contributed $20 million to Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC. Proft, a talk-radio host and political activist, aired some super-solid TV ads on Bailey’s behalf during the primary, so at first, I didn’t think it was a huge deal. Instead, Proft has reverted back to running the type of ads that didn’t win many elections when he was involving himself in legislative races (mainly with Uihlein’s money). His past few ads, costing $1.8 million at the time of this writing, simply feature unknown people who appear to be talking to an unseen interviewer just off-camera.
None of Proft’s independent expenditure ads mention Bailey by name. Pritzker isn’t even featured. If, as I suspect, Uihlein ultimately wants Proft to take the helm of Bailey’s campaign, then Proft isn’t auditioning well. Bailey’s own Uihlein-funded primary ads were infinitely superior to what’s on TV now. The GOP ticket situation is currently in near-disaster mode, with Bailey under siege, but it’s gonna be the apocalypse if somebody doesn’t do something soon.
Individual candidate speeches usually matter far less after the state fair fades to black. And Bailey showed last week that he is not quite capable of taking reporters’ questions.
Asked about his specific plan to address gun violence, for instance, Bailey said, “it would be nice if we would start obeying and following the laws that we have.”
Bailey’s speech and his Q&A were filled with divisive, unsubtle code words about hard-working people being victimized by their leaders who must now rise up as one and smite their abuser.
But it’s still much more effective than the stuff Uihlein is paying good money for right now.
* Republican attorney general nominee Tom DeVore on Darren Bailey’s regular use of the term “hellhole” to describe Chicago…
Reducing crime and public corruption was a key takeaway from our conversations and many of our candidates messages. Sadly this messaging was overshadowed by the medias desire to write provocative news about the city of Chicago being once more called a hellhole. That narrative consumed the airwaves of all the good things talked about during Republican Day. […]
Such a generic off the cuff comment does little to add to the conversation of how to improve life in the city and is for all intents and purposes a slight towards its millions of residents.
My campaign understands and appreciates the value the city of Chicago and its residents bring to our state. What happens in Chicago ripples across our state. The people of Chicago love their city just as other residents in other cities across our state. None of them want their city being ridiculed. Once I’m elected Attorney General, I’ll work tirelessly to rid the city of Chicago of the crime and corruption that’s causing her harm. We can and will restore the city to the beacon it once was. Until that time comes, and while Chicago might be suffering a little under the weight of its incompetent leadership, she’s far from a hellhole.
…Adding… I should’ve added this Bailey quote from August 9…
So, JB, if you can fit it into your presidential campaign schedule and want to talk about someone in this race for governor and about the people of Illinois who are struggling under your watch, well I’m here in Illinois. And I’ll be waiting when you fly back. I’ll debate you anyplace anytime.
* Press release…
In recognition of his monumental achievement of enacting the “Rebuild Illinois” capital plan which put billions of dollars into action supporting state transportation and infrastructure projects, technology, education, worker safety and job creation, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) has presented a special “Champion of Infrastructure” Award to Governor JB Pritzker.
“Rebuild Illinois” is Illinois’ first capital plan in nearly a decade, providing over $45 billion in investments in roads, bridges, railroads, universities, early childhood centers, and state facilities over six years, creating and supporting over 540,000 jobs and revitalizing the state’s economy. The historic, bipartisan legislation enacted a multimodal plan with over $33.2 billion in funding for various types of transportation infrastructure, including $10.4 billion for state roads and bridges. The recently passed federal Infrastructure investment and Jobs Act adds another $17.8 billion to the state’s infrastructure renewal resources.
A crowd of over one hundred, including the leadership of ACEC Illinois and members from across the state, gathered Friday to honor JB Pritzker’s singular dedication to passing a bipartisan capital plan in his first year in office, as well as his continued support of accelerated road, bridge and construction projects. Many member companies of ACEC Illinois are engaged in the design and planning of projects envisioned with this investment, and speakers credited the Governor with positioning Illinois ahead of other states in this regard.
“Real leaders bring people together, and that’s exactly what Governor Pritzker did when he developed the Rebuild Illinois program that was approved with significant bipartisan support. The reinvestment in Illinois under the Rebuild Illinois program has reinvigorated Illinois’ infrastructure industry and has created thousands of new jobs across the state,” said Kevin Artl, president and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “And now, because of Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois is one of the best-positioned states in the nation to take advantage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. With the investment at the state and federal level along with the commitment of the nation’s most talented and innovative engineers located right here in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln is well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.”
The historic $45 billion capital plan is expected to address decades-long problems with the state’s infrastructure, improve communities for the next generation, and create hundreds of thousands of new direct and ancillary jobs. Speaking to its importance and impact, its passage by the General Assembly was supported by a range of non-partisan organizations including the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Federation of Labor.
“I’m so honored to receive this year’s Champion of Infrastructure Award, particularly from a dedicated organization like the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois has some of the top infrastructure in the country—and I’m not saying that just because I’m biased. We’re consistently ranked among the best because of our commitment to improving the foundations of our state. Rebuild Illinois, our Multi-Year plan, and all the work we’ve done to build a resilient and responsible Illinois are possible because of the pride that people, like ACEC, have in our state.”
* Oof…
I asked Dan Brady, “Do you want Darren Bailey to lead this state?”
He said, “I want the best choice of the people of Illinois to lead this state, and that’s up to the people of Illinois.”
* The Rauner campaign did this sort of thing in one of his races. Politico…
State Rep. Tom Demmer, the GOP nominee for state treasurer, has launched a super-targeted paid digital program for the State Fair. The program has created a “geo fence” around the fairgrounds where everyone within its boundaries will be targeted with digital attack ads against incumbent Treasurer Mike Frerichs on the issue of taxing retirement income like pensions.
— Several Republican candidates for Cook County office booted or withdraw from November ballot: “Among those kicked off: Todd Thielmann, who until recently worked for Tammy Wendt, a Democratic commissioner on the Board of Review. Wendt and Thielmann are cousins — she eventually fired him after the county’s board of ethics sued and fined her for violating the county’s ban on nepotism,” by Tribune’s A.D. Quig
— Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is being added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Frontline incumbent-protection program, which provides support for vulnerable incumbents. Casten also has been endorsed by all 14 members of the Illinois Democratic Congressional delegation, including Rep. Marie Newman who he defeated in the June primary. Casten faces Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in November’s election.
* From earlier this week…
Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced four critical endorsements for Congress: … Eric Sorensen (IL-17) … These candidates are running to represent their respective districts in the U.S. House of Representatives.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“As we face the fight of our lives, electing leaders who we can count on to safeguard our fundamental rights has never been more important. With MAGA Republicans in Congress planning an outright ban on abortion should they win power, we are fighting seat by seat to ensure these extremists cannot enact their agenda.”
These candidates bring a wealth of experience and strong commitments to protect and advance reproductive freedom in Congress. Jevin Hodge, a long-time community advocate, is a staunch supporter of reproductive freedom and expanding abortion access for all Arizonans. Eric Sorensen, who would make history as the first LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Illinois, has worked to connect vulnerable communities to health services and is committed to protecting abortion rights. Monica Tranel, an attorney fighting for working Montanans, is an advocate for expanded abortion access and has vowed to protect reproductive freedom. Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, a former member of the Southampton Town Council and prosecutor of sex crimes, has pledged to ensure access to abortion and contraceptives. All four candidates have committed to protecting and expanding abortion access by supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act to lock the federal right to abortion into law.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—ending the constitutional right to abortion and opening the door for extremist state lawmakers to put total bans on abortion in place. This decision is already having a devastating impact throughout the country as 14 states have begun enforcing extreme bans on abortion. The people hurt most by these bans and restrictions are those who already face barriers to accessing abortion care—including women; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; those working to make ends meet; the LGBTQ+ community; immigrants; young people; those living in rural communities; and people with disabilities.
These endorsements come as NARAL Pro-Choice America is ramping up its work to elect candidates up and down the ballot during a critical moment in the fight for reproductive freedom. NARAL, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and EMILY’s List announced a partnership in May to collectively spend a historic $150 million on the 2022 midterms to elect reproductive freedom champions up and down the ballot across the country.
Supporters of the state’s plan to eliminate cash bail have started attending bond hearings in DuPage and Kane counties, gathering information about how cases are being handled before the new law takes effect Jan. 1.
On Tuesday, state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago and state Rep. Anna Stava-Murray of Naperville joined the group for a bond call at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton. Villa and Stava-Murray, both Democrats, voted in favor in 2020 of the SAFE-T Act, which is eliminating cash bail come Jan. 1. […]
Stava-Murray watched three cases: a man accused of stealing four books of lottery scratch-off tickets from his employer, a man accused of burglary and a woman accused of misdemeanor domestic battery.
The woman was released on personal recognizance. The burglary suspect was ordered held on $3,000 bail. The woman had no criminal history, but the burglary suspect had felony convictions, Stava-Murray said.
The man accused of stealing the lottery tickets had just started a job, and coming up with the $1,000 to be released will be a hardship, Stava-Murray said. She said statistics show that people who are held in jail on bail are at higher risk of being arrested again when they are out.
“What is going to happen Jan. 1 is simple. The people who don’t pose a risk will be out in the community” at their jobs and with their families, she said.
State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Downers Grove, said the current cash bail system is unfair.
“No one should be able to buy their way out of jail for the same charge for someone who can afford to do the same,” Stava-Murray said. “That is not a system that keeps us safe.” […]
Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weiss said judges will have the option to hold people for certain serious crimes, but ending cash bail will lead to a lot of no-shows in court.
“The General Assembly has dictated only certain crimes that meet certain criteria and of certain severity, are even allowed to be considered to be held,” Weis said. “So you can fail to appear multiple times, as long as your crime doesn’t count, they have to release you.”
A resolution encouraging state legislators to work with law enforcement and judicial leaders to address what some say are problems in the Illinois SAFE-T Act was approved Tuesday by a divided Naperville City Council.
The measure, which passed with a 5-3 vote, cites public safety concerns caused by “unreasonably limiting the imposition of cash bail for violent offenders, unreasonably limiting police officer discretion to make arrests, imposing unreasonable police certification and decertification standards, and mandating unreasonable custodial accommodations.” […]
The city is not asking to eliminate or overturn the SAFE-T Act, which was designed to overhaul criminal justice practices, Bruzan Taylor stressed. “We’re just asking for a discussion of some changes,” she said.
During comments from the public, state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, told the council she voted for the original bill as well as trailer legislation.
“We have fine-tuned and continue to consider fine-tuning alongside all major stakeholders, including multiple groups with relevant experiences, such as the chiefs of police,” she said.
In its latest ad, the People Who Play By The Rules PAC initially included a video clip of Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow criticizing the end of the cash bail system. Then the link stopped working, and the PAC offered a new one with Glasgow’s words and no image. Playbook hears it’s because Glasgow complained, but PAC’s spokesman Michael Koolidge says “it was purely an aesthetic reason for the change.”
A Glasgow aide told me earlier this week that Glasgow did complain to the committee. But, Glasgow described the law this way: “It’s going to be literally the end of days.” He said it, he should either own it or retract it and not run away. You’ll recall the governor’s office pointed out some major errors in Glasgow’s reasoning.
Unemployment fell slightly in Illinois last month. The July rate of 4.4 percent was down one tenth of a percent from June, which saw the lowest mark since the onset of the pandemic.
Compared to the rate a year ago — 6.2 percent — it shows the economy continues to rebound.
The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment include: Professional and Business Services (+10,000), Manufacturing (+6,300), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+5,700). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines include: Construction (-1,400) and Educational and Health Services (-1,400).
Illinois’ unemployment rate still lags behind the national average of 3.5 percent by nearly a full percentage point.
“As the statewide unemployment rate continues to drop and continued claims levels for unemployment benefits remain at historic lows, IDES encourages employers and jobseekers to utilize the Department’s robust employment services tools for reentry into the workforce,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Whether it be participating in or a hosting a job fair, training or skills building, IDES has the tools needed to assist in the growth of the expanding labor market.”
“After Illinois reached the lowest unemployment rate since the onset of the pandemic in June, it’s encouraging to see the state’s unemployment rate continue to drop while seeing continued growth in key industries,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Looking ahead, DCEO continues to focus on expanding equitable workforce training opportunities, providing incentives to companies who invest in Illinois’ workforce, and providing resources and training opportunities for job seekers.” […]
The number of unemployed workers was down from the prior month, a -1.1 percent decrease to 287,200 and was down -27.1 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force was almost unchanged (0.0 percent) over-the-month and up +2.2 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
A new analysis explores the connection between Illinois’ high unemployment rate, market disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequences for Illinois’ unemployment trust fund. […]
Illinois’ pay-as-you-go financing practices have resulted in low trust fund balances, prevented the accumulation of additional reserves during good years, and increased the likelihood of deficits during economic downturns,” said Merriman, who co-leads IGPA’s Fiscal and Economic Working Group. “While dramatic increases in the unemployment rate brought about by a pandemic may be beyond state policymakers’ control, some actions could be taken to diminish the chances of large future UI trust fund deficits.”
Illinois policymakers should thoroughly evaluate the flow of revenues into the UI trust fund and payouts from the fund, especially during the pandemic, the IGPA analysis recommends. Further, they should determine the reasons for and extent of declines in revenues, and similarly, the reasons for and extent of increases in benefit payouts.
Illinois also should formally evaluate the benefits and costs of replacing its pay-as-you-go UI funding system with a forward-funding approach. Such an approach would require higher employer taxes during economic booms but would allow tax-rate stability or even tax cuts during economic downturns. Illinois still has federal relief funds, and these funds could be used to pay the UI debt accumulated in the past or be spent on current investments to make up for earlier deficits. The first option may largely benefit employers by avoiding increased federal payroll taxes. The second potentially distributes future benefits to more people in the form of better infrastructure or services.
…Adding… Hmm…
We have a higher Labor Force participation rate than MI & IN but also higher unemployment than both. No idea what that means. Seems weird. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/URiqbTPD6nhttps://t.co/DzkAtrgS17
Under a blazing sun and in front of hundreds of Republican Party faithful on the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey stayed away from any explicit mention of the types of social issues that are classic red meat for his ultra-conservative voter base.
Instead of invoking abortion, critical race theory, the LGBT community’s influence on the wider culture or even gun rights, Bailey steered clear of the word “woke” while sticking to core “kitchen table” themes like public safety and inflation during his Republican Day speech. […]
Bailey made his grand entrance to the Director’s Lawn on a tractor, though the farm equipment joy ride was mostly for the benefit of reporters and photographers while the majority of the crowd remained in line for their lunch of barbecue and beer.
Bailey’s speech was toned down compared with what he told a much more stratified group of “parental rights” activists two days earlier, when he said he’d prioritize eliminating “critical race theory” and “egregious” sex education standards from Illinois schools at a small rally organized by a group that called Pritzker a “groomer” earlier this summer.
“I say he [Pritzker] doesn’t care. But I want to tell you something. Maybe he just doesn’t know. He’s never woken up in the middle of the night, worrying about keeping a job or managing payroll,” Bailey said.
“He’s never had to choose between filling his car up with gas or putting food on the table. He’s surrounded by security guards in the ritzy Gold Coast, and he’s never had to worry if his family is safe.”
Bailey — who is actually a millionaire from his family business, which includes a farm, trucking firm and excavation company — routinely portrays himself as the everyman on the campaign trail. And Thursday was no different.
“You may have already figured this out,” Bailey told the crowd with a chuckle. “I may be a little bit rough around the edges. But I will work for you, because I’m just like you. And friends, I promise you this: No one will work harder for you.”
* Republicans made clear their distaste for the speculation that Pritzker may be eyeing a run for president. Capitol News Illinois…
The rhetoric at the GOP rally was in stark contrast to that used by Democrats the day before, when Pritzker referred to Republicans as “the lunatic fringe.” Republicans fired back on Thursday by casting the Pritzker administration and Democrats in the Statehouse as extreme leftists and accusing Pritzker of having higher ambitions.
“I have traveled all around our state to help our fellow Republicans rescue Illinois from the leftist Gov. Pritzker,” State party chairman Don Tracy, of Springfield said. “He now wants to run for president. Are you kidding me? What a disaster he’s been for Illinois. Gov. Pritzker has done nothing to address public corruption, crime, the rising cost of gas and groceries.”
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie charged the crowd of committed Republicans with helping.
“This is what you have to do over the next 80 days,” he said. “J.B. Pritzker’s going to dump millions of dollars into TV ads and stuff in the mailboxes and so forth. There is one surefire way to defeat his money. And that is to invite your neighbors, your friends from church, the moderates — even some of those moderate Democrats who used to be Regan Democrats and they left the party — bring them back.”
But there’s a sense among some Republicans that Bailey at the top of the ticket will make winning over moderate, swing voters impossible because, as Pritzker’s campaign puts it, Bailey’s “too extreme” for Illinois, with his anti-abortion views and a long history of controversial social media posts.
While they didn’t say anything publicly that was explicitly negative, several prominent Republicans refused to outright endorse Bailey.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin - who supported Richard Irvin in the primary - did not mention Bailey by name during his speech. Instead, he focused on attacking Democrats.
“Republicans are here to serve people, to make your life better, your children’s life better, your grandchildren’s life better and to safeguard your future,” Durkin said. “Democrats, well, let’s talk about them. It’s all about enriching themselves and feeding from the public trough.”
Republicans said that despite all the Democrats’ talk about abortion, the Supreme Court’s ruling won’t impact Illinois.
“The top issues are crime and the economy and the inflationary policies of the Democrats,” former candidate for governor Jeanne Ives said. “So that is where people are looking to make their vote. The abortion issue is way down on the list of concerns.”
* With Chicago home to more than 20% of Illinois’ people, Bailey’s “hellhole” comments have not gone over well in the Windy City. Block Club Chicago…
Darren Bailey, the Republican candidate for Illinois governor, called Chicago — the state’s largest city — a “hellhole” twice Thursday speaking at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
The line didn’t land well with Chicagoans.
“Chicagoans are notorious for NOT obsessively loving their city… so this should work out well for him,” one person sarcastically tweeted.
Other Chicagoans responded by sharing photos that show the beauty in the city, making fun of Bailey for not knowing about Chicago or encouraging the politician to visit and help people impacted by problems in the city.
Earlier in the day, Bailey revealed potential campaign problems when he asked county Republican chairmen who gathered for a joint meeting with state central committee members for their contact information — data a well-oiled political operation already would have in hand by this stage of the race.
At that meeting Tracy also acknowledged difficulty in party fundraising.
“Used to be the Democrats were the party of the people and the Republicans were the party of the fat cat donors, the big money. My how times have changed,” Tracy said.
“Now Democrats represent woke corporations, other elites and special interests that have the money that dominates in places like Illinois, and we have become the party of working families,” he said, sidestepping the fact that Pritzker’s predecessor, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, was a wealthy private equity executive who during his single term bankrolled the state party organization.
* Fair happenings via Twitter…
“We are going to restore Illinois to like it’s never been before,” Republican candidate for Governor Darren Bailey riles up a crowd of GOP workers. He said he’ll make the state more affordable by lowering taxes & called public safety Illinois’s number one problem. pic.twitter.com/oIozzIve0J
Such a fun time at The Illinois State Fair “Illinois Chopped Challenge”!! Kelly Turner and I chopped it up for charity. Kelly’s team edged me and Adam White, but Adam and I made those “secret ingredients” tasty!!!!! pic.twitter.com/4vLcA2sQln
* John Amdor has been playing around with a new AI image generator this week…
If you're like me, you've often wondered what it would look like if you asked an AI art generator to create "an oil painting of dragons flying around the Illinois State Capitol." The wait is over. pic.twitter.com/HIoFSbHNuE
* From attorney general candidate Tom DeVore’s Republican Day speech…
“You make me attorney general and if Kim Foxx won’t prosecute [arrestees], I will,” DeVore said to cheers from the crowd. “And she better get to prosecuting or we’ll figure out a way to prosecute her.”
Pretty bold statement right there. And prosecute her for what?
David Paul Blumenshine tried to recruit poll watchers as people waited in line for their lunch. Blumenshine led a bus of people to Washington DC for the Trump rally on January 6, 2021. He is also the election integrity coordinator for Bailey’s campaign. The conservative talk show host on Cities 92.9 in Bloomington has lost several campaigns against Brady.
Pic…
David Paul Blumenshine is actively trying to recruit poll watchers as people wait in line for lunch. He participated in the Trump rally on January 6 and is in charge of “election integrity” for the @DarrenBaileyIL campaign. #twillpic.twitter.com/YU2yQRE3zW
Sen. Darren Bailey’s gubernatorial campaign spokesperson confirmed over the weekend that David Paul Blumenshine is the campaign’s State Election Integrity Coordinator.
The spokesperson did not offer a comment, however, when asked if the campaign was aware that Blumenshine organized a “Stop the Steal” bus trip to Washington, DC for the now-infamous January 6, 2021 demonstration designed to delay or halt the counting of electoral votes for president. […]
“Darren Bailey’s agenda is dangerous for Illinois,” said Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign press secretary Eliza Glezer when asked for comment. “It’s disturbing but not at all surprising to see him aligned with those who rioted on January 6th. He has perpetuated the Big Lie, cozied up to insurrectionists, and proudly embraced Trump’s endorsement. He does not stand for free and fair elections, and before he has a chance to make baseless claims regarding a ‘stolen’ election, Darren Bailey must vow to accept the results of the election in November, regardless of which candidate wins.”
According to a WMBD TV story on January 7th of last year, Blumenshine’s bus trip transported 49 people to the “Stop the Steal” rally. Blumenshine told the station’s reporter that the march after the rally was “reminiscent of Dr. Martin Luther King.” And despite the rally’s name, Blumenshine claimed that the whole thing was merely “a day to celebrate what our president has done.” He claimed the group didn’t participate in the breach of the US Capitol. On December 29, about a week ahead of the rally, a post on Blumenshine’s Facebook campaign page called it “The ultimate ‘Trump 2021 Rally.’”
Volunteers with Bailey’s campaign told police to kick one person out of the rally before the event started. Bailey supporter Lawrence Ligas clearly wasn’t welcome to participate in the rally after he was charged for participating in the January 6 insurrection. Ligas is no longer part of the Bailey campaign team and tried to tell police he was actually a member of the media covering the event on the fairgrounds before he was escorted out.
The Pritzker campaign said Bailey and his party are on a MAGA crusade to plunge Illinois into the past.
“As Governor Pritzker and Illinois Democrats continue to protect and build on critical rights and freedoms, Darren Bailey and Illinois Republicans are an active threat to equality and democracy,” said Pritzker’s campaign press secretary Eliza Glezer. “Any person who repeatedly disparages the economic engine of the state, while spewing racist, sexist, homophobic, and hateful views, doesn’t deserve to hold a position of leadership here or anywhere.”
Illinois now requires every elementary and high school teach a unit on Black History, ranging from African civilizations to U.S. slavery to the Civil Rights movement.
This week, Illinois Family Action (IFA), a conservative, Christian group, based in suburban Chicago, held a meeting with about 35 attendees, discussing those changes and attacking the city’s public school system.
The keynote speaker was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Stephanie Trussell, who’s also an Illinois Family Action board member. Trussell’s running mate, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, was endorsed by IFA in April. […]
“There’s a group of us inside of Illinois Family Institute, who our entire focus is on Public School Exit. And trying to get children to leave Illinois public schools for safer, better options,” [Tom Burrows, a field director for Illinois Family Institute] argued.
Trussell is an Illinois Family Action board member? Oh, man. The oppo on that group. Whew.
* Sen. Bailey’s responses on the debate topic are here. Please pardon all transcription errors. What follows is not in order, but is grouped by topic. First up, party unity…
Q: Did you ask Jim Durkin for an endorsement?
A: Nope. I haven’t talked to Jim recently. […]
Q: Several of the leading Republicans, Dan Brady and Jim Durkin as well, when asked if they are supporting you, they’re deferring, saying ‘We’re supporting the ticket.’ Do you feel that you still have some work to do to really unify the party around you?
A: The Illinois Republican Party needs leadership. I’m bringing that leadership. We will unify the party. That doesn’t bother me one bit. I will support them. I love them all the same. So everything’s good. We’re going to take back Illinois. We’re going to fire JB Pritzker and we’re going to restore Illinois.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin was standing just a few feet away from Bailey for several minutes before Durkin spoke. So, he had ample opportunities. Here’s a clip of Durkin walking up to the stage and then another of him leaving after he finished his speech…
* Crime and Chicago…
Q: What’s your plan to address gun violence in the state? I know you’ve talked about a lot, but what is your concrete plan?
A: Well, it would be nice if we would start obeying and following the laws that we have. Illinois all ready has the most extensive gun laws in the nation. So when we don’t follow them, and we don’t obey them, then there’s certainly no need for more laws. […]
Q: Do you think most Chicagoans feel like they live in hell?
A: Pardon?
Q: Do you think most Chicagoans feel like they live in a hellhole?
A: Actually, I believe they do. Because it’s an unsafe. It’s going to change. Chicagoans deserve better. I call it out, friends. And you know that. You realize the first time that I made that statement on the debate stage, that very night, the homeless man, the Walking Man in the loop, he was set on fire. When’s the last time? When is the last time? When is the last time that Chicago experienced a night without a shooting? Do you know it’s been a while. It’s been a long time. And it’s time to restore sanity and common sense and integrity and safety on the streets. That’s what that’s all about.
Yeah, it would be great if people followed the laws. Many don’t. So, what’s the plan?
The hellhole question was likely prompted by what he said during his speech…
Q: Your spokesman said Pence did his job, Biden is the duly elected president. Now, what do you say? In your words.
A: The constitutional process was followed. And that’s exactly what happened. So President Biden is president because the constitutional process was followed. Other than that, I’m not a constitutional scholar. I trust in this constitutional republic and this free land in this document that we have, and it was followed.
Yeah. Major pivot.
* Capital construction projects…
Q: Senator just last week, Gov. Pritzker was Downstate and said if you get your plan to cancel or repeal his gas tax through, it would kill the capital bill, kill jobs, freeze construction projects Downstate on roads and bridges. Have you considered what that would do if you remove that funding from all of those projects that are already underway?
A: Have you considered the fact for the last six months that if the legislator would have met and we would have addressed just the sales tax? I think a lot of people in Illinois forget that gas is taxed twice. We have the price of gas, we have the gas tax, and then we have sales tax. I think the people of Illinois need to know that in the first half of 2022 that all of the gas tax was collected that was anticipated on being collected because the price of gasoline was doubled. So if we would have cut the price of the sales tax in half, then we would have saved Illinoisans 25 cents, and still the anticipated tax would have been collected. Our governor is not telling people the truth. Our governor is ripping people off. Our governor is pushing small business and the people out of the state and that’s got to change.
* His faith…
Q: how do you reach out to people with your faith based campaigning? How do you reach out to people or voters who don’t believe in Jesus Christ?
A: The same as I do all of my life. We get along with everyone, we’re seeking unity amongst the diversity here in Illinois, and I’m not pushing anything on anyone. I’m a devout Christian. I’m a conservative American. And I look to appeal to everyone.
Q: What if people are offended by what they view as proselytizing?
A: Now I don’t think that [reporters interrupt with their own questions]
* His Holocaust comments…
listen, the Holocaust is no doubt an atrocity beyond parallel. No doubt about it. I have issued a statement and if anyone out here hasn’t seen or received that statement, talk to my comms director, Joe DeBose. And we will get that statement to you again.
Trouble is, after he released the statement, he complained more than once that reporters had taken his remarks out of context.
Chicago police officers responded to a Monday night fire in state Rep. La Shawn Ford’s residence that damaged his garage and two cars, including a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette, according to a police report. No injuries were reported.
“I don’t think I was a target,” Ford told the Tribune Thursday. “It’s just another episode of violence and crime in Chicago, and I just happened to be a victim of it.”
The fire began near Ford’s garage in the 900 block of South Mayfield Avenue, damaging the two cars inside, and extended to a garage in the 900 block of South Mason Avenue around 10:45 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found a vehicle in the middle of an alley engulfed in flames. An Illinois license plate was found near the car, but officers couldn’t determine whether it belonged to the car because the vehicle was completely burned, according to a police report.
Today the JB for Governor campaign announced that Governor Pritzker will participate in two statewide debates.
WMBD, AARP Illinois, and Illinois State University
When: October 4, 2022
Where: Normal, IL
WGN-TV
When: October 18, 2022
Where: Chicago, IL
Illinois State University and AARP will provide a unique, intergenerational forum to discuss a broad range of topics important to voters. As non-profit, non-partisan organizations, AARP and ISU are committed to encouraging informed civic participation. The debate will be free and open to the public and will be broadcast statewide.
WGN’s statewide debate will offer voters another opportunity to hear the candidates for governor articulate their vision for the state. The debate will be broadcast statewide and available online.
* NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern asked Darren Bailey if he is agreeing to the debates…
Bailey: I don’t know. Is one of those one of yours?
MAA: It is not.
Bailey: Okay, well, we’re gonna have to talk about that then. [Cross talk] I’m gonna debate the man. The people of Illinois need to know that he is responsible for the failures of safety, law enforcement, he has destroyed our schools. He’s destroyed our families. He’s destroyed our businesses. So I look forward to debating him and making him answer for that.
* Sun-Times op-ed by Harold Hirshman, the lead counsel in the Rasho v. Jeffreys mental health class action lawsuit against IDOC and lead trial counsel in the Lippert v. Jeffreys health care class action lawsuit…
The state committed itself to change by entering into a consent decree in the Lippert vs. Jeffreys class action lawsuit on prison medical care in 2018, but an acceptable plan to provide such care has never been submitted to the court. This plan was due three years ago, and a federal court has now held them in contempt for failing to create the plan. The IDOC can’t even begin to fix its health care system without it.
In Rasho vs. Jeffreys, the mental health class action lawsuit, the results are even more troubling. After years of operating under an approved settlement agreement, the IDOC’s lawyers have now repudiated the agreement. The parties are now preparing for a trial, because defendants never did what they committed to do under the settlement agreement. […]
Stewart , the mental health monitor, wrote report after report, year after year, detailing the deficiencies of care. These deficiencies have continued during Pritzker’s term. In February, a federal judge held that some of the patients most in need of mental health treatment —those housed at Pontiac Correctional Center’s residential treatment unit — were not getting intensive treatment detailed in IDOC’s own mental health manuals. Instead, they were confined to their cells for 23 to 24 hours a day.
Why did this happen? IDOC says they don’t have enough guards at Pontiac, so prisoners have to remain locked in their cells. But IDOC has known since 2014 that they didn’t have enough mental health or security staff. The problem persists eight years later. Wexford, the private company that provides the mental and physical health care, has never delivered the number of employees called for in its contract. Yet the contract, remarkably, calls for Wexford to be paid in advance for all workers, despite the company never having met the contractual staffing requirements.
There are other persistent problems, too. The IDOC health care system still does not have electronic medical records, a basic feature, in 2022, of a functioning medical care system. The IDOC promised in the Lippert settlement that they would have electronic records by now, but there is still no date for such a system to be implemented. […]
Pritzker has been a leader in many areas, but not on prison medical and mental health care. Nothing has changed in Illinois prisons in the last three and a half years — if anything, things have gotten worse.
The Department of Corrections has prevailed on numerous motions in the Rasho litigation, including findings that the Department’s efforts are appropriate and not a violation of its Constitutional obligations. Plaintiffs’ recent motions seeking a preliminary injunction and seeking contempt have all been denied and the prior injunction against the Department was vacated in full by the 7th Circuit. As a result of these rulings, the District Court denied Plaintiffs’ motion to extend the already multi-year consent decree, finding the agreement could no longer be enforced against the Department. The Department recently opened the first ever state of the art inpatient facility this summer and remains committed to ensuring appropriate mental health care and treatment for all individuals in its custody.
Officials from the Illinois State Police faced questioning Wednesday from Republican lawmakers who said the agency had authority to reject a gun permit application from a man who later allegedly carried out a mass shooting at a July 4 parade in Highland Park.
The alleged gunman, Robert Crimo III, is being held without bond on a 117-count indictment for the mass shooting that left seven dead and dozens more injured.
State Sen. John Curran, R-Downers Grove, criticized ISP for claiming that it had no authority to deny Crimo a Firearms Owners Identification, or FOID card, when he applied for one in December 2019, just three months after he had been the subject of a “clear and present danger” report filed by an individual who alleged Crimo had threatened to “kill everyone.”
“This report clearly, by any independent review, would meet the level of preponderance of the evidence,” Curran said. “It is clearly above the 50 percent threshold, more likely than not, that there (was) a threat of violence in that home.”
The questioning came during a meeting of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a legislative panel that has oversight of the administrative rulemaking process.
According to state Sen. John Curran, what’s unclear, based on public statements by state police, is whether the agency, which is charged with overseeing firearm licensing, reviewed the Highland Park report or just discarded it when it was determined Crimo didn’t have a FOID card or pending application.
Curran, a Downers Grove Republican, raised the issue with state police officials Wednesday in his role as a member of the legislature’s bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
The panel was reviewing an emergency rule change state police announced in the wake of the Highland Park shooting that seeks to clarify the agency’s ability to retain such reports even if the subject doesn’t have a FOID card or a pending application. The agency would be able to use the reports in evaluating future applications.
State police also are drafting a permanent rule to address the issue, but Curran said lawmakers can’t consider whether such a change is adequate unless they fully understand what happened in the Highland Park case.
* Sen. Rezin…
Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) released the following statement after the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved an administrative rule that makes changes to the FOID card system’s review process:
“Today’s rule change makes it clear to everyone that the Pritzker Administration accepts the fact that it had the authority and ability to enforce and strengthen our state’s existing laws and rules, which the Governor himself promised to do over three years ago.
“We all recognize the vital importance of keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals, and it is infuriating to learn that our state had the ability to prevent the Highland Park shooter from obtaining a FOID card if it wasn’t for the Administration tying its hands with its own rules.
“The fact of matter is it took a horrific act of senseless violence for the Governor’s Administration to acknowledge this reality and keep the promise he made to the people of Illinois.”
* Sen. DeWitte…
On Wednesday, a new administrative rule was brought before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) that strengthens the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card system and its use of clear-and-present-danger reports. In response to the promulgation of the new rule, State Senator and JCAR member Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) issued the following statement:
“Today, I supported the new rule that strengthens the FOID card review process to prevent dangerous individuals from legally purchasing or possessing firearms. The Pritzker Administration’s purported review of the FOID card process following the Aurora shooting in 2019 failed to recognize this gap in the interpretation and application of clear-and-present-danger reports submitted to the ISP. Had the Pritzker Administration done what they said they were going to do, which was to review and make sure laws already on the books were being implemented more effectively, the tragedy in Highland Park might never have occurred. Local police in Highland Park did their due diligence to alert the State Police of this individual, but because of the gap, which was overlooked in the Pritzker Administration, the report was discarded.”
* ISP today…
The Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a firearms enforcement blitz with details in all 102 counties across the state from June 16 through July 31, 2022. The enforcement details are designed to ensure those who have had their firearm rights revoked are in compliance with the Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) Act.
“Once again, our ISP officers are making Illinois safer by getting dangerous firearms out of the wrong hands,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Since 2019, ISP has executed hundreds of details—placing thousands of individuals in compliance with the FOID Act. Last month’s firearm enforcement blitz is another example of the ways that ISP is preventing gun violence and protecting our communities. I want to thank Director Kelly for his leadership and the rest of the ISP team for their hard work.”
“The ISP continues to aggressively enforce our laws to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those posing a significant threat to themselves or others,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Through these enforcement details, our impact on this key factor in gun violence continues to strengthen.”
During the enforcement blitz, ISP completed 201 details statewide consisting of 1,716 compliance checks. As a result of these efforts, 1,014 individuals were placed into compliance by surrendering their FOID Cards, transferring all firearms out of their possession, and completing a Firearm Disposition Record. ISP completed 63 details in northern Illinois (Zones 1, 2, and 3) consisting of 421 compliance checks resulting in 223 individuals placed into compliance.
“We commend the Illinois State Police for working to ensure that individuals whose FOID cards have been revoked are following the law and transferring their firearms,” said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. “I dedicated a unit to this important work nearly a decade ago, and we are committed to working with ISP to help to keep our communities safe.”
ISP began conducting enforcement details in May 2019.
ComEd today issued the following statement on behalf of CEO Gil Quiniones after the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved the company’s voluntary customer refund:
“Today’s approval of ComEd’s voluntary $38 million customer refund resolves any question of whether customer funds were used in connection with the unacceptable conduct detailed in the July 2020 deferred prosecution agreement (DPA).
The quality and value of ComEd’s service to our customers is arguably the best in the nation, but we recognize that delivering excellent performance and value for the dollar is not enough and we are equally dedicated to earning and maintaining our customers’ trust. We’re committed to maintaining high standards of ethical behavior for our business, our leaders and every employee, and we continue to build on the significant new policies, oversight and rigorous employee training that we’ve enacted since 2020 to make sure that the past conduct that drove this refund can never happen again.”
Commonwealth Edison customers are in line for a roughly $38 million refund — or about, on average, a little less than $5 per residential customer — to address what the utility giant acknowledged was its “unacceptable conduct” in the bribery-related scandal that has swept across Illinois and helped end Michael Madigan’s historic run as the Illinois House speaker.
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Tuesday approved the refund plan on a 3-0 vote, with the ICC’s chairwoman abstaining from the vote because her father-in-law has been embroiled in the scandal.
The $38 million refund was an amount ComEd offered after a previous $21 million proposal in December drew criticism for being too small. […]
The ICC order is designed to resolve two investigations — one the ICC initiated and one required by a sweeping energy law approved last year — that called for examining whether ComEd improperly charged ratepayers costs tied to the Madigan scandal.
The customer refund follows ComEd’s separately negotiated $200 million federal fine that was part of the deal with U.S. Attorney John Lausch that disrupted Madigan’s political career and roiled Illinois politics.
Commissioners determined that ComEd’s deferred-prosecution agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago allowed for the $200 million equity infusion and so it shouldn’t be included.
ICC Chair Carrie Zalewski recused herself because her father-in-law, former Ald. Michael Zalewski, was among Madigan’s closest allies whom ComEd put on its lobbying payroll in return for little or no work. The vote was 3-0.
“The item before us is the result of Commonwealth Edison’s unacceptable actions to influence legislators and legislation from 2011 to 2019. Under (the 2021 Climate & Equitable Jobs Act) and this docket, the commission has narrow authority to review ComEd’s actions,” ICC Commissioner Ann McCabe said from the bench. “The scope includes whether ratepayer funds were used to pay the $200 million criminal penalty—no—and whether ratepayer funds were expended in connection with the conduct detailed in the DPA.”
* Press release from Illinois PIRG…
The Illinois Commerce Commission approved on Wednesday a $31 million rebate for ComEd customers for costs directly associated with the utility’s bribery scheme. ComEd customers will receive an additional $7 million rebate through a federal regulatory process, for a total $38 million refund.
The Commission investigation was dictated by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The law gave the investigation a narrow scope: to only consider costs ComEd customers paid directly attributable to ComEd’s execution of the scheme, not to the significantly higher rates customers paid and profits ComEd reaped because of legislation, such as the 2011 “formula rate” law, passed over the course of the scheme.
The Commission rejected an argument made by the Illinois Attorney General, City of Chicago and Citizens Utility Board that would have refunded customers an additional $7 million. Those parties argued that ComEd boosted its profit rate through the manner the utility paid its $200 million fine to the federal government through its deferred prosecution agreement.
You can read Illinois PIRG’s report on the 2011 Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act here.
In response, Illinois PIRG Education Fund Director Abe Scarr released the following statement:
“While $38 million is welcome relief for ComEd customers, it’s chump change compared to the more than $6 billion in additional revenue ComEd has earned since the outset of its bribery scheme.
“Not only have policy makers failed to hold ComEd accountable, they rewarded ComEd with a new rate structure maintaining key ‘formula rate’ profit guarantee policies that could be even more profitable for the utility
“ComEd customers should prepare for big rate hikes that will dwarf this less than $5 refund for the average customer.
“ComEd even found a way to boost its profits by paying its fine. It’s hard to imagine a better symbol of the failure of Illinois policymakers to hold ComEd accountable.”
* CUB…
We are disappointed in today’s Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) ruling, and we plan to file a petition for rehearing. A $36 million refund falls short of the refund recommended by CUB, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the City of Chicago. Further, this case was limited to direct costs and only partially compensates customers for ComEd’s misconduct—people deserve better in the wake of Illinois’ most significant utility scandal ever. CUB continues to work on behalf of consumers for full restitution, as well as the most pro-consumer implementation of the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) to protect customers from unjustified rate increases.
Background:
• On August 17, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted 3-0 to order ComEd to give its customers a $31,296,338 refund in connection with the company’s bribery scandal that erupted two years before. The refund, about a $4.80 bill credit on average, will be delivered to customers on their April 2023 bills. [Another $5,019,312, plus interest, will be added to the refund, upon Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval, making the total refund at least $36.3 million.]
• In July 2020, ComEd was fined $200 million by federal authorities, after admitting to a bribery scheme to pass legislation in 2011 that implemented a “formula rate” system. That rate-setting system left electric customers vulnerable to hundreds of millions of dollars in rate hikes over the last decade. (Note: In 2013, ComEd went back to the General Assembly to adjust the formula rate because the utility did not approve of how the ICC was interpreting the law. CUB opposed the 2013 bill for the same reasons it opposed the 2011 law.)
• In October of 2020, in a federal lawsuit, CUB alleged ComEd enriched itself “at the expense of Illinois utility customers.” The consumer watchdog joined a similar state class action.
• In September 2021, a judge dismissed the federal class action lawsuit. In December 2021, a judge threw out the state lawsuit.
• The Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which passed in September of 2021, will replace the unfair formula rate system. CEJA also called for an ICC investigation into a refund. During this investigation, which the ICC ruled on Wednesday, CUB, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the City of Chicago argued for a $45 million refund for ComEd customers. The ICC probe was narrow in scope, only focusing on direct costs—not damage done to consumers by paying higher electric rates.
At a shortened rally later on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Pritzker, standing alongside Hernandez and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, once again downplayed the intraparty tension, especially around Durbin.
“Oh, that’s something that you guys in the press are doing,” Pritzker said. “Dick Durbin and I are friends. We’ve worked together on many issues. Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, [Lt. Gov.] Juliana Stratton, our statewide elected officials all work together for the good of Illinois.”
The media isn’t making anything up. The vitriol is real.
Asked about her absence, [ousted state party chair Robin] Kelly vowed to work with Democrats “whether or not we are unified.”
“Whether or not we are unified, I will work with leaders I trust and respect to ensure that Democrats win in my district, this state and our country on November 8th. The stakes are too high,” Kelly said, calling it “the most important election of our lifetime.”
But on a day traditionally reserved for unbridled partisanship, [Pritzker] and other leading Democrats speaking at the brunch exuberantly assailed Republicans, who have their State Fair rally Thursday.
“The lunatic fringe has taken over their party and they’ll say anything, do anything, destroy anything to get elected,” Pritzker said. “You see, the Donald Trumps and the Darren Baileys of this world want us to feel alone in the struggles that we’re all facing together. They want to distract us into believing that marriage equality, Black history, Disney World, and library books are more of a threat to our children than AR-15s. They’re attempting to divide America with hateful words and a radical agenda.”
Targets for Democrats included Rauner’s tumultuous term as governor, marked by a historic two-year budget stalemate; Bailey’s controversial statements, including his contention that the Holocaust pales in comparison to lives lost through abortion; and Trump’s continued hold over the GOP. […]
The attacks on Republicans overshadowed lingering internal strife among Democrats over the choice of Hernandez as chair of the state party. Hernandez ousted U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson who held the post since March of last year following the resignation of scandal-plagued former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Former Gov. Rauner, an Evanston Republican, and former President Donald Trump were mentioned as frequently as Pritzker’s 2022 challenger, state Sen. Darren Bailey.
“I was never worried about the finances of this state even during the darkest days of the pandemic,” Comptroller Susana Mendoza said. “When my colleagues in other states would ask, ‘How do you seem so calm?’ I would say, ‘Well, it’s easy – the worst virus to ever hit Illinois’ finances wasn’t COVID, it was Bruce Rauner.’ And thank God we now have JB Pritzker.”
Mendoza, who took office halfway through Rauner’s term as governor, frequently sparred with the ex-governor. She looked back on that, saying she would fight every day to “save our state,” and “metaphorically speaking, kick him in the groin with much joy and pleasure.”
A short video presented at the brunch event showed a montage of clips from Rauner’s four years in office before cutting to images of Bailey with the text “he’s worse.”
Happening jointly with the brunch was a press conference at the state fair, advocating for passage of the “Keep Illinois Home” Tenant Protection Act.
House Bill 5390, also being brought up in the Senate with Senate Bill 3992, would prevent landlords from increasing the rent more than once every 12 months – this sole increase not being allowed to exceed the inflation rate for the same time period
The Lift the Ban Coalition combines more two dozen groups statewide to advocate for renter’s rights. Organizer Helena Duncan said the need for this legislation comes as many are facing sudden rent increases of substantial amounts.
“What we’re seeing is landlords, particularly corporate landlords, are raising the rents above the rate of inflation,” she said. “They’re not just keeping of with price, they’re using this an opportunity to price gouge their tenants.”
Though Illinois is a reliably blue state, Gov. JB Pritzker and other Democrats told the hundreds of local party leaders at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association brunch that the next 83 days were crucial for increasing voter turnout and energy before the Nov. 8 election. Though voters in reliably blue Illinois won’t determine whether the U.S. House and Senate are returned to Republican hands, they still framed this election season through the lens of national issues, including abortion, voting rights and civil rights for people of color and the LGBT community.
“The lunatic fringe has taken over their party and they’ll say anything, do anything, destroy anything to get elected,” Pritzker told the crowd on Wednesday. “You see, the Donald Trumps and the Darren Baileys of this world want us to feel alone in the struggles that we’re all facing together. They want to distract us into believing that marriage equality, Black history, Disney World and library books are more of a threat to our children than AR-15s.”
Pritzker’s comments came one day after his Republican challenger, State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) spoke to a small rally organized by a “parental rights” activist group that earlier this summer called the governor a “groomer” for signing new sex education standards into law. Also on Tuesday, a contentious school board meeting in the wealthy Chicago suburb of Barrington ended with the approval of LGBT-themed books in District 220’s libraries — a loss for activist group Moms 4 Liberty, which had mobilized opponents by likening the literature to pornography.
The governor said he believed in reaching across the aisle “to build a better, less rancorous political climate.” However, Pritzker said, the stakes are too high to not prioritize scoring political victories.
Abortion remains a key focal point, as Democrats in Illinois and nationally try to further protect women’s reproductive rights after the reversal of Roe v. Wade — and help boost November voter turnout.
“Roe Roe Roe Your Vote” T-shirts were for sale for $25 at the Democrats’ annual brunch at the Bank of Springfield Center.
“Our work honestly is far from over. To protect our fundamental freedoms and fight for working families, we have to elect pro-labor, pro-choice, pro-voting rights, pro-civil rights candidates up and down the Democratic ballot,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. […]
Bailey and the state’s Republicans have their turn Thursday to poke Democrats at the Illinois State Fair’s Republican Day. The GOP nominee’s campaign has been drawing daily $100 gas cards at the fair, which it has dubbed the “Repeal the Pritzker Gas Tax Hike” giveaway.
Pritzker spoke about a unified party but was asked about possible strife inside the party due to Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, being named the new chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, replacing U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson.
Pritzker said if anyone had any problems, they could come talk to him.
“I do not think there is strife. I think we are all working pretty well together,” Pritzker told media at an event on the fairgrounds. “If people feel that way, they should stand up and come see any of us if they want to talk.” […]
What they’re saying: “We have one message and that’s that Democrats deliver,” Gov. JB Pritzker said at the rally. “We’ve delivered so much over the last four years I had to bring a cheat sheet.”
“Don’t let anyone tell you differently: the Democratic party is the party of fiscal responsibility, the party of individual rights, the party of infrastructure and of public safety.”
By the numbers: The two biggest issues searched online in Illinois, according to Google Trends, are jobs and taxes.
So Democrats may be onto something preaching fiscal responsibility.
Yes, but: The party hasn’t had a smooth election year. The election for the state party chairman was controversial, with accusations of racism.
Pritzker rallied with party leaders on Governor’s Day with a focus on getting out the vote and getting Democrats elected up and down the ticket.
“The last thing we’re gonna do, that I’m motivated about is, we’re gonna beat that Trump-supported MAGA extremist Darren Bailey on November 8th. Let’s do this,” Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton, said to rousing applause.
The governor spoke about the urgency of this election, attacking Republicans over abortion rights and gun control. [..]
Democrats used Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican nominee Darren Bailey as a rallying cry to motivate supporters to get out the vote. With Democrats outnumbering Republicans in Illinois, they are optimistic.
Rick Pearson, chief political reporter for the Chicago Tribune:
“It was two decades ago at Democrat Day at the fair, but the memory still lingers as do the personalities.
“It had only been a few days earlier that Rod Blagojevich, then the Democratic nominee for governor and likely next chief executive after the George Ryan scandal, had criticized veteran Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan for steering $1.6 million in state funds to a college classmate who ran a private livestock show at the fairgrounds.
“Blagojevich termed it an act of arrogance by Madigan at a time when funding for social services and education were being scrutinized and slashed and he vowed to veto a similar grant if he was elected.
“On Democrat Day, Madigan did something unusual. He went out of his way to speak to the media because he wanted to leave a mark.
* A volunteer created this for SoS candidate Dan Brady…
* Other fair happenings over on Twitter…
The @ILStateFair has had an exciting first few days and there’s still more to come. We’re celebrating our great state’s agriculture and people. Make sure to pay us a visit. https://t.co/kAYfnuYzDt
Such a blast meeting so many people who love our Chicago and want to see it return to the city we all know it can be, alongside many of my fellow Chicagoans coming down to enjoy all the Illinois State Fair has to offer! pic.twitter.com/t4mfccIjRs
Dems Day at the State Fair. We brought the energy and the fire 💪🏾. Great to see so many amazing leaders and advocates ready to get to work for the people of Illinois. pic.twitter.com/DfkiTYB40D
Not sure what do on your visit to the Illinois State Fair? Illinois Ag Director Jerry Costello and @LtGovStratton will show you their favorite fair activities to help you plan your trip! #ILStateFair2022pic.twitter.com/TUfiXlj7ZV
Bailey’s campaign flew a plane over the fair trailing the banner, “FIRE.JBPRITZKER.COM” — despite that website not being functional.
We talked about this yesterday as well. The Bailey campaign told me last night that their original order did, indeed, have the correct “FireJBPritzker.org” website address, but the advertising company created a banner that mistakenly contained a “.com” domain address. Oops…
As soon as they saw the photo I took yesterday, they ordered the plane to land. It only circled twice, I think. I wondered at the time why it suddenly disappeared.
Anyway, the plane will return to the skies over the fairgrounds during today’s Republican Day festivities with, hopefully, the proper signage.
And elsewhere during Wednesday’s brunch, a three-minute video played a literal hit, underlying Billie Eilish’s breakout 2019 song “Bad Guy” underneath a highlight — or lowlight — reel of Rauner’s time in office.
The video featured a National Review article from 2017 wherein the conservative magazine named him the “worst Republican governor in America” and said “This much is clear: Illinois hardly could do worse.” At that point, the video pans to black and white photos of Bailey overlaid with text that reads, “Meet Darren Bailey. He’s worse,” synching with the part of the chorus in Eilish’s song when she sings, “I’m the bad guy…duh.”
Bailey, his wife Cindy, and his running mate, Stephanie Trussell, have all come under fire this month for recently unearthed social media posts, including homophobic, racist and Islamophobic rhetoric from Cindy Bailey and Trussell. The Pritzker campaign quickly turned a 2017 Facebook Live video from Bailey into an ad featuring the then-legislative candidate’s comparison of abortion to the Holocaust.
The video featured that footage, plus a Facebook Live gaffe from earlier this summer when Bailey said “let’s move on and celebrate freedom” in the hour after a mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade, when details about the shooting and its victims were scarce.
* Every year, there’s a breakout food or drink at the Illinois State Fair. I hereby nominate the blackberry slushy from the Illinois wine outlet in the Village of Cultures…
What’s on your mind today?
…Adding… Sen. Duckworth has her own nomination…
New food at the .@StateofIllinois State Fair. Apples sticks fried in a crunchy coating with a caramel dipping sauce and whipped cream. Tastes like apple pie! pic.twitter.com/dIx3Op4lwr
Governor JB and First Lady MK Pritzker reprised their routine as the two final bidders for the grand champion steer at the Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair.
The first lady again prevailed, tying her own 2021 record with a $105,000 bid.
It’s a prize that will partly go toward the college education of the steer’s shower.
21-year-old Ashtin Guyer of Robinson, Ill. will be a senior at Western Illinois University. She raised King, the steer who received the winning bid.
It was a fitting cap for Guyer’s showing career. She started at the age of 6 and worked her way up to winning a Grand Championship at 21. The Western Illinois University student said the experience was something that went beyond simple words or feelings.
“It’s unexplainable,” Guyer said. “You can’t tell anyone how it feels and the emotions that you have going through you. I’m so proud and so blessed.”
At more than 1,300 pounds, King brings a little bit of an attitude to the show ring. Ashtin said the attitude died down somewhat as he aged, maturing into an impressive-enough specimen to be named Grand Champion at the state fair.
“When we first got him, he had a little bit of a fire under him,” she said. “The older he’s gotten, he’s mellowed.”
You can find pictures from SJ-R’s Thomas Turney here.
These accomplished young exhibitors represent the future of our state’s number one industry and they have dedicated their young lives to this work,” Gov. Pritzker said.
“About 5:00 every morning they come in and go into a cooler room that stays at 47 degrees, and they don’t get turned out until midnight, 1:00,” said Ashtin Geyer, 21, of Robinson, Ill. “That cooler room helps grow their hair. That’s his routine, and his routine’s pretty laid-back. He gets to hang out in the cool while it’s hot outside.”
Geyer, who will be a senior at Western Illinois University, showed King – whose posh life leads to an ignominious end.
There’s a historic number of Asian American candidates on the ballot in Illinois this November. Several of them pose for a picture this morning. @SenDuckworth in the center. #twillpic.twitter.com/6poiNUP2VP
Bruce Rauner’s been out of office for nearly four years, but you wouldn’t know it based on the speeches at this morning’s @ILDCCA brunch. Pretty sure the former governor has been name-checked more than current GOP nominee Darren Bailey thus far. #twill
.@DonHarmonIL tells the large crowd that he has seen a trend in national and state politics. “There’s a party that wines and a party that works.” Harmon stressed that Democrats continue to work for a better Illinois. @ILDCCA#twill
.@RepChrisWelch brings up some old boogeymen, namely Bruce Rauner and the Illinois Policy Institute, to set up the stakes for the upcoming election. He leads room in chant of “We won’t go back.” #twill@ILDCCA@illinoispolicy
.@susanamendoza10 doesn’t mince words when talking about Rauner, saying that she would, when necessary, “metaphorically-speaking kick him in the groin with much joy and pleasure.” Also refers to him as Lord Voldemort. #twillhttps://t.co/riUAwqhvvD
.@MikeForIllinois on his Republican opponent @TomDemmer: “For four years he stood as Bruce Rauner’s floor leader carrying his water in Springfield.” #twill
.@GovPritzker celebrates success of @illinoisdems over the past four years. He recognizes work of the General Assembly and county boards across the state. Pritzker says Illinois must elect Democrats to protect families and avoid the “lunatic fringe” GOP. #twillpic.twitter.com/h77BqvieMA
State Sen. Michael Hastings is suing Frankfort’s Police Department and alleges that unnamed employees of the department or Will County released “a fabricated police report with false claims” of domestic violence against him alleged by his wife, who he said he is divorcing.
A petition for discovery, filed last month, seeks records from Frankfort and Will County regarding who may have accessed the June 20, 2021, police report in which his wife alleged that Hastings was verbally abusive toward her and had, several months earlier, battered her at the Frankfort home they shared.
State Sen. Michael Hastings lost a round in court Thursday when a Will County judge ruled that potential sworn testimony by a Tinley Park police officer and Mayor Michael Glotz were irrelevant to the senator’s divorce case at this time.
Judge Dinah Archambeault quashed subpoenas that sought to depose Glotz and a police officer who took a report from Hastings’ estranged wife on Father’s Day 2021 at the Tinley Park Police Department.
Attorneys for Hastings argued the prospective witnesses might shed light on alleged efforts to damage the senator’s political career.
An ethics investigation launched last year at the behest of state Sen. Michael Hastings found his former chief of staff engaged in prohibited political activity and misappropriated state resources by using her official email account to conduct personal business.
The legislative inspector general concluded that allegations Hastings made against Cassandra Matz, who worked for him from 2013 until he fired her in 2018, were “factually well-founded” and that her termination was “supported by the facts,” according to an investigative summary report.
In a letter dated August 12, 2022, to Secretary of the Senate Tim Anderson, Senate President Don Harmon wrote:
“Senator Michael E. Hastings has stepped down from his role on Senate Democrat Majority Caucus Whip. I have accepted this resignation and it is effective immediately. If you have any questions, please contact Jake Butcher, Chief of Staff.”
In 2019, Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings and the Illinois State Senate were sued by Cassandra Matz, who was Hastings’ former Chief of Staff (See Chicago Tribune article).
The Cook County Case Number was: 2019-L-6369 and alleged she was paid less than her predecessor and was treated differently than his other employees, which constituted harassment. Count I complained of Violations of State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. […]
On December 8, 2021, the court docket shows a “Stipulation to Dismiss” was filed.
According to the Stipulation to Dismiss, “Each party shall bear their own attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses.” This Stipulation was signed by both party’s attorneys. […]
* And Sen. Hastings posted this on his Facebook page earlier today…
#perspective
Life can be like that. It kicks us around. The stuff we expected to be simple turns out to be tough. The people we thought were friends let us down. A couple storms or unexpected weather patterns just add a whole bunch of difficulty on top of whatever we’ve been doing.
How could that possibly be seen as a good thing? You have to squint a bit to see it, but there is one way: if you see what’s been happening as practice, as training.
Seneca wrote that only the prize fighter who has been bloodied and bruised—in training and in previous matches—can go into the ring confident of his chances of winning. The one who has never been touched before, never had a hard fight? That’s a fighter who is scared. And if they aren’t, they should be. Because they have no actual idea how they’re going to hold up.
His point was that the boxer who has, “seen his own blood, who has felt his teeth rattle beneath his opponent’s fist…who has been downed in body but not in spirit…”—they know what they can take. They know what the darkness before the proverbial dawn feels like. Only they have a true and accurate sense of rhythms of a fight and what winning is going to require them to do. That sense comes from getting knocked around. That sense is only possible because of the hard times—the hard knocks—they’ve experienced before.
So yeah, things might not be great right now. Obviously it’d be nice if they were better. But if they were, you’d also be weaker for it. Less informed. Less in touch with yourself and the fight you’re in.
So squint and see that.
*** UPDATE *** Sen. Hastings’ resignation letter indicates that his resignation was requested by Senate President Harmon…
While the governor quickly announced he would call a special session after the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade was overturned in June, lawmakers have thus far not scheduled any return to the Capitol.
Last week, Pritzker wasn’t any clearer as to when he expected lawmakers to return to address issues such as abortion rights and gun violence.
“As you know, the working groups are hard at work in the House of Representatives, working on various aspects of legislation, working with advocates, listening to them,” he said. “And so we’re cautiously optimistic that they’ll be able to come up with ideas for us to be able to bring forward in a special session, or in veto session, or some of it may even be in the new year.”
On Tuesday, Pritzker was asked about session again, noting he was in favor of banning high-capacity magazines and assault-style weapons like the ones used in the Highland Park July 4 shooting.
Well, let me be clear, I am in favor of banning assault style weapons in the state of Illinois. I’m in favor of gun safety measures like banning high capacity magazines, like the ones that we saw used in Highland Park, for example, in that terrible tragedy. So I have told this to legislators. I know that they’re in working groups now to try to figure out what they can get done. As you know, in the current time period, it requires to get something done, you really have to get a supermajority of legislators voting for something. And in the new session in January, fewer. So the question is, can they come up with a compromise or bills that will meet my requirements that could get done before the new session, and that’s what I’m looking for.
Q: Do you plan on debating your opponent? Where do you stand?
A: We’re definitely going to debate. And, you know, we’ll be making decisions about that sometime over the next several weeks. And by the way, welcome to Springfield. Glad to have you at the state fair.
Q: It is the tradition that the incumbent usually gets to pick. I mean, that’s how it goes, whether that’s fair. The challenger always wants more. Do you see yourself doing 2, 3, 4?
A: I don’t know. Decisions haven’t been made yet about that. But we surely will debate. There’s no doubt about that. I’m looking forward to that. I am I look forward to debating.
Q: Why do you think that’s important?
A: Why is it important to debate? Well, I mean, there are clear differences between Darren Bailey and me. I’m standing up for working families, making sure that we’re protecting women’s rights, reproductive rights, fighting to make sure that we have gun safety, but also that we’re actually supporting our police and public safety. And that’s something that I’ve done throughout my term in office. Darren Bailey has not, so there’s a lot that we’re going to be debating about, no doubt about it. And I look forward to demonstrating that when we’re together. But I will point out, I stand up in front of the press, I don’t know, virtually every day, certainly on average, once a day, answer any questions that come. I don’t tell you, I’m not going to answer questions. And the fact is that Darren Bailey doesn’t want to answer questions from members of the media, walks away, tells you that he’s not going to answer questions. It seems to me that he ought to answer the questions that you put forward. And certainly a debate will be one opportunity. But I think it ought to be every day on the campaign trail. If you’re out there, and you’re open to having people attend your events. You ought to be open to having the press ask you questions.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey on Tuesday said he’d prioritize eliminating “critical race theory” and “egregious” sex education standards from Illinois schools if elected to replace Gov. JB Pritzker in November, courting a relatively new coalition of voters radicalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bailey made those comments to a small rally outside the state Capitol building in Springfield organized by activist group Awake IL, which in recent weeks has come under fire for its social media posts, including a tweet in June that called Pritzker a “groomer” for signing new sex education standards into law.
Awake IL also took credit for “blast[ing]” a planned drag show targeted at families at a bakery in Chicago’s far north suburban Lake in the Hills in July, calling it “perverted,” and warning, “they’re coming for your kids, McHenry County.” But after UpRising Bakery was vandalized the night before the scheduled event — including broken windows and graffiti that said “f*gs rape kids” — the group distanced itself from Joseph Collins, the alleged perpetrator with ties to the Proud Boys.
Awake IL founder Shannon Adcock on Tuesday reiterated to NPR Illinois that her group “had nothing to do” with the vandalism and doesn’t condone violence. The day before the scheduled show, Awake IL’s Twitter account praised the pressure campaign that forced UpRising to make ticket information harder to find. […]
Bailey declined to speak to reporters while departing from the rally
This messaging emphasis and associating himself with that group won’t ever get him close to 50 percent plus one in Illinois. Maybe, I dunno, in Mississippi, but not in Illinois. I mean, it’s mid-August and he’s still publicly pandering to the micro-base of the base of the base. The object is to depress the other side’s base and appeal to the middle. All he’s going to do with stuff like this is further fire up the other side’s base, which is considerably larger than his, and frighten the middle.
Under signs that read “GENDER IS NOT INTERCHANGEABLE! GOD CREATED MALE/FEMALE,” and “dad /dad/ noun a human male who protects his kids from gender ideology,” Bailey on Tuesday stressed the importance of fighting for “these freedoms that are being taken away from us.”
“Children are our most valuable asset but our children and our rights as parents, they’re being stripped from us,” he said during an eight-minute speech.
He acknowledged the small size of the crowd, which he blamed on economic conditions that prevented some from traveling to Springfield.
“Some of you had to make the decisions today, and some of you had to sacrifice whether or not you even come here,” said Bailey, a state senator from Xenia. “And I’m going to contend that may be one of the very reasons why this crowd size is smaller than we know it ought to be because people in this state are now making decisions whether we put food on our table or whether we fill our gas tanks up.”
C’mon. The gathering was small because the real-life crowds generated by that social media group are, as far as I can tell, pretty much always small. This isn’t a presidential race. Counties don’t vote.
The campaign for Darren Bailey, the GOP nominee for Illinois governor, is once again publicly distancing itself from a suspect charged in the attack on the U.S. Capitol after new video emerged showing the man campaigning alongside a paid Bailey campaign staffer.
So far, the FBI has charged 28 people from Illinois for alleged crimes at the Capitol on Jan. 6. One of them is Lawrence Ligas, who was charged last December with three criminal counts for storming the Capitol. Ligas has signaled he intends to face the charges at trial. He’s scheduled to appear in court again next month. […]
Bailey’s campaign lists Corrigan’s name in campaign finance documents under the category “staff salaries.” On Tuesday, Bailey campaign officials downplayed Corrigan’s role in the campaign, describing him as a 17-year-old paid intern who was not authorized to speak on behalf of the campaign.
Still, if Bailey intended to put distance between his campaign and Ligas, it’s clear Ligas never got the message.
“I believe in Darren Bailey so strongly that I’m out here trying to wake up the people that don’t get it,” Ligas said into the camera.
“He does not represent the campaign and anyone who breaks the law should be held accountable for their actions,” DeBose reiterated on Tuesday. […]
Ligas is not the only avid Darren Bailey supporter who was seen at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
5 On Your Side has also confirmed the identities of an Illinois couple seen in a video outside the Capitol on January 6th. Because they’re private citizens, not listed on campaign payroll, and have not been charged with a crime, we are not publishing their identities. But the comments they broadcasted on Jan. 6 reveal how strongly they felt when the crowd of rioters learned Mike Pence certified the election results:
“Do your (expletive) job or swing!” the man shouted, an apparent reference to the common chant from Trump supporters on that day, “Hang Mike Pence.” […]
“Darren does not condone this kind of language,” the Bailey campaign responded.
Does Bailey believe Mike Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6?
“Mike Pence followed the constitutional process,” DeBose said. “Joe Biden is the duly elected president, and he and JB Pritzker are failing Illinoisans.”
It’s one thing for a spokesperson to say something like that. But Bailey has a very bad habit of quickly and forcefully backtracking after his campaign issues official statements. Put the candidate himself in front of reporters on a regular basis and let him speak to all of this. Politico…
Darren Bailey has made a major pivot. His team told reporter Mark Maxwell that “Mike Pence followed the constitutional process” and “Joe Biden is the duly elected president.”
Patting Bailey on the head because his spokesperson (not the candidate himself) admitted the bare minimum is what used to be known as the soft bigotry of low expectations. If Bailey himself had made those remarks during his speech to that tiny right-wing group, then that would’ve been a “major pivot.”
