* You can continue commenting on the Golden Horseshoe Awards post throughout the weekend. I can still see what you write.
We did some good this week, campers. We raised $22,400 as of this writing to help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for foster kids. I’d hug each and every one of you if I could. Thanks!
Jesse Sullivan: Yeah, yeah, let me share. It’s almost laughable because because because I feel like…people in Illinois, these political operative types, they know, they’re scared, because I’m not beholden to them. So I’m not a politician. I know that Illinois is corrupt, and this den of vipers. And so you know what? One of those high and mighty types of this political machine, they showed up at my door before I even decided to run. This political backroom dealing class, they wanted me to be a part of this. And I’m not here to line their pockets. And so you know what? They decided they’re going to come after me. And they’re going to go and try to find, create all these lies. That’s what they do. That’s how these people work, and they’re going to keep at it. And you know what? Donald Trump, he didn’t pay them off, he didn’t bend his knee to the establishment. And I’m not going to either. And so I’m here to fight corruption, not to be a part of it. But I’ll share what I was doing in college…
Dan Proft: Just before we get to that, who was the high and mighty type that showed up at your doorstep?
Jesse Sullivan: So all of this I’m going to share. It’s all going to come out because we need sunshine and bleach on the whole system. And so I am…I’m going to be sharing everything with everybody along the way. And I don’t think you’ll be surprised by it.
Dan Proft/Amy Jacobson: Can you share with us now? Who is it?
Jesse Sullivan: And I don’t think you’ll be surprised by it.
Dan Proft: I’m sure I wont be but I still want a name.
Jesse Sullivan: Well, I’m preparing it with my whole team. And we’re going to share with the people of Illinois what this whole system is like.
Dan Proft: Alright, I want to get to St. Louis University and this, this paper you started, but I would just say this, I would just say this, and I’ll take you to word, and we’ll see what happens. But if if you’re unwilling to name names, and this goes for anybody, if you’re unwilling to name names, including within the Republican ranks, then that tells me it’s going to be more of the same that tells me this is…
Jesse Sullivan: Oh, I will, I will. I promise. Trust me. I will. I’m going to.
Not sure what the holdup is. Spilling to Proft would’ve been a big get for the show.
* OK, now some additional background on that magazine Sullivan started at SLU. This is from the university’s student paper back in 2006…
A group of socially conscious Saint Louis University students will launch a new campus publication early next month. Dubbed One World, the magazine will focus on global issues and promote social justice. Organizers hope that One World will inspire students to take action and to fight poverty and oppression throughout the world.
“[The magazine] is a call to action. It is centered on the notion that every person, regardless of national boundaries or cultural or religious differences, is linked together by our common humanity,” said Jesse Sullivan, the founder of One World.
Sullivan, a junior majoring in theology and international studies, first thought of starting a social justice magazine after returning from a semester abroad in El Salvador last year. Sullivan said that the poverty he witnessed there inspired him to raise awareness about social justice issues once he returned to SLU. […]
“Based on the Jesuit ideal of ‘men and women for others,’ we must take a stand and side with the suffering and the oppressed. We have a responsibility to hear the cries [of the suffering], to let them resonate with us and echo in our lives. Raising awareness on international issues is a necessary first step in taking action to help,” Sullivan said.
Jesse Sullivan: Yeah, so here, here’s what I was doing at St. Louis University. I was working in campus ministry, I was traveling out to Washington, DC to go on right to life marches. And I created an organization and a magazine, largely driven by my faith to focus on global poverty. So I can’t tell you what the magazine has done since then, and what articles they’ve published or haven’t published, because I’ve been living my life since then past college. And so, so if they want to go, that’s the most they can find to try to ruin my good name is that they’re going to say, Oh, this, this magazine that he got started back when he was a college student, has since then wrote articles where I have no oversight or control over what’s said. And, you know, from what the reporting, I would disagree with many of those articles, obviously. And so if that’s the best they can do, it’s pretty sad. And they see me as a threat to this system. And so that’s why they’re coming after me.
Dan Proft: That’s fair. But I want to be a little bit more clear on this then. So you didn’t found this magazine as a social justice outlet?
Jesse Sullivan: Yeah
Dan Proft: You did not?
Jesse Sullivan: So I, No, no, I did not. So social justice. Listen to me on this, I say the Pledge of Allegiance in the morning, and I talk about justice. And for me, this notion of justice, for me was talking about people living in poverty, and how we can use our faith to help them that we have an obligation to remove obstacles to opportunity. And so that’s what I’ve always meant in my life and how I’ve always tried to approach things.
In context, that’s actually a fairly decent explanation, although a bit too earnest. Thoughts?
Sullivan, a political neophyte who ran a San Francisco-based nonprofit before launching his gubernatorial bid in early September, founded the magazine One World in 2006 while a student at St. Louis University. The publication had financial support from left-wing groups like the Center for American Progress, whose Goal Was To “counter the growing influence of right-wing groups on campus.”
If you look at page two of this issue of his magazine, it says it’s funded by Center for American Progress’ campus arm. And click here and scroll down and you’ll see that his magazine was listed as one of the 51 progressive journalism outlets funded by Campus Progress while he was still on the masthead.
Reporter: Do you have any plans to institute any kind of further mitigations [and] if I can double up the question, Dr. Arwady said yesterday that Chicago was looking at maybe requiring COVID vaccination proof for restaurants or other large gatherings. Is the state looking at further mitigations and perhaps any kind of vaccine passport?
Pritzker: Well, throughout this pandemic I’ve said that local governments county governments should certainly look at stricter mitigations if they feel that in their area that is warranted.
Let me say specifically about Winnebago County in Rockford. This morning, I spoke with the mayor of Rockford and our IDPH has been in regular contact with the hospitals and the local public health department to make sure that we’re providing what they need. That means help with staffing. For example, they have access to our staff in contract at the state level. And then add to that monoclonal antibodies that we’ve been distributing across the state but now specifically focused on Winnebago County where this morning they declared a disaster in the county.
Reporter: [off mic, so no transcript]
Pritzker: Again, we’re looking at everything that has been done, you know, over the last two years, always. But what we’re really focused on is making sure that people are following the masking requirements indoors. Thank you to all of you who are doing that here. And making sure that we’re providing vaccines everywhere in the state. Please, if you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated and get your booster. It gives you multiple times the protection than even the first two shots did, so I want everybody to listen and go immediately to their pharmacy or their doctor if they can
Please pardon any transcription errors.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Meanwhile, the current Republican frontrunner is holding an event in Rockford, the site of a local disaster declaration…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Might as well put this here…
.@GovPritzker has extended the Illinois COVID-19 public health emergency through January 8. You can see his latest executive order here. #twillhttps://t.co/ZgPYegvY7Z
* Lobbyist extraordinaire Dave Sullivan was elected Speaker of the Third House at the group’s annual luncheon yesterday. Let’s welcome him with a caption contest, shall we?…
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Republican Campaign Staffer goes to Ryan Tozer…
He is a behind-the-scenes staffer whose fingerprints are on everything that comes out of the HGOP shop. The dude learned from the tutelage of Nick Bellini. Which means he can win races without plutocrat money.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Republican Campaign Staffer goes to Roxanne Owens…
(P)rofessional, upbeat, and able to do the work and do it well. That’s not easy when you’re in the super minority, and is harder still when you’re responsible for the reporting and organizing.
Congrats!
* On to today’s categories…
* Best Senate Democratic Non-Campaign Staffer
* Best House Democratic Non-Campaign Staffer
As always, make sure to explain your votes or they won’t count and please do your utmost to nominate in both categories. Thanks!
Also, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is getting an offline contribution of $1,000 from a buddy of mine. Our total is now above $22,000 to help LSSI buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Please, click here to contribute (also a shout-out to my mom and dad for donating 50 bucks). Thanks.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 49,668 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 266 deaths since December 3, 2021.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,884,744 cases, including 26,801 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since Friday, December 3, 2021, laboratories have reported 1,160,624 specimens for a total of 40,810,633. As of last night, 3,257 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 662 patients were in the ICU and 299 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from December 3-9, 2021 is 4.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from December 3-9, 2021 is 5.8%.
A total of 18,007,906 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 72,775 doses. Since Friday, December 3, 2021, 509,428 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, approximately 70% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 62% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 41% of Illinois’ eligible adults have received a booster dose of vaccine.
Monoclonal antibodies therapy is a prevention as well as treatment option for COVID-19 illness for non-hospitalized people and is a way to lower the chance of progression to severe illness or hospitalization. An estimated 235 or more hospitalizations were avoided over a 4-week time period due to monoclonal antibody treatment. IDPH continues to encourage health care providers, including primary care offices, outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, infusion centers, dialysis centers, home health services, and hospitals to assess their capabilities to provide this treatment to their patients quickly after they have been identified as having COVID-19 and are determined to be at risk for severe illness or hospitalization.
All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
Pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 3(b)(8)(A), and Committee Rules 17A(b)(1)(A) and 17A(c)(1), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics have jointly decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Marie Newman, which was transmitted to the Committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics on October 25, 2021.
The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.
The Committee will announce its course of action in this matter on or before Monday, January 24, 2022.
Rep. Marie Newman has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging she bribed a potential primary opponent not to run against her, putting to rest a bizarre episode in Illinois Democratic politics.
Iymen Chehade had alleged that he and Newman entered into an employment contract in December 2018 that said if Newman won the congressional race in Illinois’ 3rd District in 2020, Chehade would be hired in her office and paid between $135,000 and $140,000 annually.
“In an effort to induce Chehade not to run against her in the primary, Newman offered Chehade employment as Foreign Policy Advisor and Legislative or District Director,” the lawsuit said. […]
In a May filing, Newman’s lawyer in her official capacity as a member of Congress, House General Counsel Douglas Letter, acknowledged that the contract was signed by Newman but she did so as a private citizen, not as a member of Congress. The reasoning that follows is that Newman in her private capacity could not bind Newman in her public capacity.
“Although the agreement was signed by Congresswoman Newman in her personal capacity (because she had no official capacity in which to act before her election), it purports to bind her in her official capacity to hire Mr. Chehade in her Congressional office,” Letter said in the filing.
Click here to see the lawsuit, and click here to see the Federal Election Commission disclosure by Marie Newman for Congress of about $29K in payments to Chehade this year.
* Meanwhile, in other news, I told subscribers about this the other day…
Springfield Republican seeks House appointment as springboard to Senate
Springfield resident Kelly Thompson, a project manager for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce-affiliated Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, confirmed Wednesday that she plans to seek appointment to [former Rep. Mike] Murphy’s seat. […]
Though she did not address a possible Senate bid, the Herald & Review has confirmed that Thompson plans to run against [appointed Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield] in 2022. In that contest, she will have the backing of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus’ campaign arm.
Regardless of Thompson’s campaign plans, her appointment to the House seat is not a certainty. In a Tuesday email to committeepersons, county party chair Dianne Barghouti Hardwick said there would be an open application process.
— Jonathan Logemann has been endorsed by Democrats Serve PAC in his run for the 17th Congressional District. The political action committee supports Democrats running for office with public service backgrounds. In making the endorsement Brett Broesder, the PAC’s executive director, highlighted Logemann’s experience as a teacher, veteran, and alderman.
— Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) has been endorsed by all the Republican state senators and representatives in the newly redrawn 16th District. “Coming together as a party is critical in the 2022 election cycle,” LaHood said in a statement. List of endorsements
— Congresswoman Marie Newman has received an endorsement from the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, which represents more than 44,000 active and retired members across the country, including Metra and Amtrak employees in Illinois.
— Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has been endorsed by six Chicago aldermen and state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz in his reelection campaign. Along with Feigenholtz, the council members endorsing are Alds. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Rosanna Rodríguez Sanchez (33rd), Nicholas Sposato (38th), Andre Vasquez (40th), James Cappleman (46th), and Maria Hadden (49th).
After months of warnings that vaccinations would ward off a COVID-19 disaster, the U.S. is sailing toward a holiday crisis.
Cases and hospital admissions are rising amid a season of family gatherings. Most victims have shunned inoculations. The situation is especially dire in the chilly Northeastern states, but doctors in many places report a grimly repetitive cycle of admission, intensive care and death. There are shortages of beds and staff to care for the suffering.
“We’re in desperate shape,” said Brian Weis, chief medical officer at Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, the state’s worst hot spot.
In 12 states and the nation’s capital, the seven-day average of admissions with confirmed Covid-19 has climbed at least 50% from two weeks earlier, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data. The areas with the largest percentage upticks were Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Vermont and Rhode Island. […]
Illinois had 3,178 Covid hospitalizations as of Wednesday, the highest since January, according to the state health department. Six of the state’s 11 regions had 20 or fewer intensive-care beds available.
All 102 counties in the state of Illinois are currently experiencing “high transmission” levels of COVID-19, while many are also experiencing dramatic growth in other metrics designed to illustrate how rapidly the virus is spreading.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a county to have a “high transmission” rate of COVID if 100 or more residents per 100,000 individuals have contracted the virus in a given week.
Currently, all 102 of Illinois’ counties have hit that threshold, according to the latest data from IDPH and the CDC, and no state is currently lower than 208 cases per 100,000 residents.
Piatt County, located just to the west of Champaign County, is reporting one of the state’s highest totals, with 881.06 cases per 100,000 residents in the last week. That is nearly nine times more than the CDC’s “high transmission” threshold, and the county’s positivity rate is also above 10%, according to IDPH data. […]
Cook County has one of the lowest positivity rates in the state, currently sitting at 4.15% in the last week. The county has reported 14,878 new COVID cases in the last week, averaging 288.88 new cases per 100,000 residents. That mark is nearly three times higher than the “high transmission” threshold from the CDC, but is also one of the lowest rates in the state.
* Via the BN-D, our southwestern neighbor has gone plum crazy…
Although COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in the St. Louis area and in the metro-east, St. Louis County rescinded its mask mandate on Thursday based on a judge’s ruling.
The Illinois mask mandate remains in effect in the metro-east. Herb Simmons, director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, said he “can’t say for sure” whether St. Louis County’s decision would affect infection rates in the metro-east but he noted “that’s a possibility.” […]
The St. Louis Pandemic Task Force, which has 24 hospitals, including three in the metro-east, said the seven-day average of COVID patients has doubled over the past month. This number stood at 440 on Wednesday and 454 on Thursday.
Hospitals in central Illinois are filling up as a post-Thanksgiving surge leaves many with severe cases of COVID-19.
In Region 6, which includes Macon and Champaign counties, there are just 20 ICU beds available.
“A lot of patients are dying. We are not in good shape nowadays, it’s really bad,” said Dr. Imtiaz Bangash, who has been working in the COVID-19 unit of St. Mary’s Hospital throughout the pandemic.
He’s treated hundreds of patients over the past 20 months, but some faces he’ll never forget.
“The patient was young, and he died actually, and I took care of that patient for almost 7 to 10 days,” Bangash said as he described a COVID-19 patient that passed away just a few days ago.
In the past two weeks, Bangash said he’s started treating more young COVID-19 patients with more severe symptoms.
Though [St. John’s registered nurse Ashley Rodrick] said she tried to tell one patient that there was no need to fear COVID-19 vaccines, which has been proven more than 90% effective at preventing severe illness and death, the patient told her, “I don’t want it messing with my DNA.”
Rodrick said she witnessed one COVID-19 patient argue with a doctor over whether St. John’s medical equipment confirming the patient’s reduced blood-oxygen level related to COVID-19 was accurate.
The patient asked the doctor, “How do you know the machine’s not lying?” according to Rodrick.
Some unvaccinated patients have refused antiviral medicines such as remdesivir, which are accepted treatments to help COVID-19 patients recover, she said.
The patients viewed the treatment as a conspiracy by the medical establishment, Rodrick said. “They really want to believe there’s someone to blame,” she said.
Chicago officials are considering requiring those who gather in “high-risk settings” where masks cannot be worn to offer proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have tested negative for the virus, Chicago’s top doctor said Thursday.
Several members of the Chicago City Council’s Health and Human Relations Committee urged Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, to put those requirements in place quickly as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Chicago reached the highest level since January 2021, according to city data.
“We have to do more if we want to get past this economically,” said Ald. Michele Smith (43rd Ward).
Arwady said “preliminary conversations” were taking place with representatives of business groups about requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test for diners or revelers, but no decision had been made.
The rules may be necessary “while we are in a big surge like this,” especially in places where people cannot keep their masks on, Arwady said, telling alderpeople that there was no timeline for a decision to be made.
The Chicago Bulls are down to 11 players as they travel to Florida for Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat after Derrick Jones Jr. on Thursday became the fifth player to enter the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol in the last nine days.
The Bulls have not gone more than two days in nearly two weeks without a player entering the COVID-19 protocol — Coby White (Dec. 1), Javonte Green (Friday), DeMar DeRozan (Sunday), Matt Thomas (Tuesday) and now Jones.
“What we see is lines drawn where Latinos and Anglos are moved in and out … in a way that makes it so two incumbents are prevented from a Latino challenge,” said MALDEF attorney Ernest Herrera.
Civil rights attorney Ami Gandhi, on behalf of the NAACP, said Black voters in a House district in East St. Louis that has been represented by a Black legislator since 1975 have been dispersed into adjoining districts in an effort to shore up white Democratic incumbents by “using Black population to offset Republican rural voters.”
The challengers also argued that the large numbers of minority officeholders in the General Assembly was largely due to appointments to fill vacancies, rather than the will of the voters. Of the legislature’s 16 Latino members, nine gained office through appointment.
Democrats sought to discount those arguments by noting that appointments are made by local party leaders who reflect the areas where they serve, and that most appointees are subsequently elected and reelected.
The law does not require that districts be created with a majority of minority voters, they said, but only that minorities are allowed to elect a candidate of their choice.
As local hospitals are overwhelmed with the highest number of Covid-19 patients they’ve seen since the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare professionals say suiting up is like walking through the five stages of grief.
“I say you go through those cycles probably 20 times in a shift,” says UW Health SwedishAmerican critical care unit nurse Emily O’Brien, “It hits you in different ways.”
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance becoming all too common feelings amongst nurses and doctors as they continue to fight Covid-19.
“I think there will be a lot that have PTSD after this,” says O’Brien. “I know a lot of people are seeking counseling, we’ve lost a lot of nurses. I don’t think anyone is emotional equipped to watch so many people suffer day in and day out.”
According to UW Health SwedishAmerican surgeon in chief Dr. James Cole, the health system has seen a 30% increase in need, but a reduction in staff. He says this has set up the system to operate in crisis mode.
“We have people quitting because they just can’t do this anymore,” says Dr. Cole, “they’re tired of all these sick patients with Covid, some are burned out, some truly have PTSD because of Covid and it’s lead to a massive staffing crisis.”
Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli is seeking to have the county declared a disaster in response to a rising rate of people being admitted into area hospitals with COVID-19.
The disaster would be over a seven-day period, effective Dec. 8.
The declaration is pending county board approval.
According to the Winnebago County Health Department, the County is now seeing 620 cases of the virus per 100,000 people and a test-positivity rate of 10.4%, an indication of another winter surge.
Chiarelli said declaring a disaster supports the efforts of the county health department and the local Emergency Management Agencies for the county and the City of Rockford to coordinate resources and activates the Emergency Operations Center. It will also make state and federal resources available to the county.
Chiarelli tested positive for the life-threatening virus on Nov. 3 and a week later he was hospitalized before being released on Nov. 13.
Just one day after the 16-team bracket was released, the annual Forreston holiday boys basketball tournament was canceled when the high school went to remote learning following a COVID-19 outbreak.
According to Forreston athletic director Kyle Zick, there were 19 positive COVID-19 cases traced back to the high school, and they were looking at quarantining 105 students, which was more than 40% of the school’s population. So instead, in conjunction with health department protocol, the school went into an adaptive pause expected to last from Dec. 7-17.
* Great news! Our fundraiser to help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for foster kids hit $20,000 this morning. Thanks! If you haven’t donated yet, please click here.
* If you’ve contributed to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois during our December fundraising drive, thanks. If not, please click here. Follow along with ScribbleLive…
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot privately called an official a “dumb, dumb person of color.”
Ald. Jason Ervin, she texted, was “full of crap.” She told Ald. Brendan Reilly he was “bush league,” and referred to Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez as a “jackass” in a text to another council member.
Lightfoot’s brusque style is no secret. But a trove of text messages, recently obtained by the Tribune, further reveals the extent to which the mayor — who campaigned as a reformer aiming to unite the city — at times resorts to name-calling and shaming of her perceived enemies as she governs the city.
The Tribune obtained more than 2½ years of Lightfoot’s text messages with aldermen through a series of Freedom of Information Act requests with which her staff failed to comply until the state attorney general admonished them and the Tribune threatened a lawsuit.
Latest data show exhaust from cars, trucks and planes has overtaken coal plants as Illinois’ single-biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions, the largest contributing factor to climate change.
* With that in mind…
Two tweets hours apart that show why electing Democrats is not enough to fight climate change. pic.twitter.com/lXvU67UHgE
* Rob Karr, like his predecessor, is about the chillest person in this business. He’s got the skills and demeanor of a seasoned diplomat. So, seeing these quotes was a surprise and should be a wake-up call for everyone. Here’s Fran Spielman…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot was accused Thursday of abdicating responsibility for the retail crime wave sweeping Chicago and, instead, pressuring merchants to implement their own costly and unworkable security measures.
Twice in the last month — and as recently as this week — Lightfoot urged Magnificent Mile merchants victimized repeatedly by smash-and-grab robberies to follow the lead of their counterparts in Milan, London, Paris, Rome and along Hollywood’s Rodeo Drive.
She specifically mentioned security guards at the door, entrance cameras, merchandise “either chained and roped or put behind glass” and customers being “buzzed into” stores.
On Thursday, Illinois Retail Merchants Association President Rob Karr flatly rejected all of the mayor’s ideas.
He branded the suggestions “extraordinarily disheartening,” “misinformed” and “false”—yet another example of how Lightfoot “continues to point fingers and play the blame game.”
…Adding… Ken Griffin has been complaining loudly about the city’s crime…
The head of President Joe Biden’s security detail is retiring and taking a job with Citadel, billionaire Ken Griffin’s hedge fund.
David Cho has been with the United States Secret Service for more than 25 years and is the first Korean American to become special agent in charge of the service’s Presidential Protective Division. He’ll start at $43 billion Citadel on Jan. 3 as deputy head of security, according to a spokesman for the firm.
Due to the unintended divisive nature of HB4259, I’ve decided not to pursue this legislation. Based on feedback and further reflection, we need to heal as a country and work together on common-sense solutions to put the pandemic behind us. Since taking office, I’ve always tried to have civil discourse with those who’ve disagreed with me. However, violent threats made against me, my family and my staff are reprehensible. I hope we can return to a more positive discourse on public health, especially when it comes to this pandemic that has tired us all.
Carroll said they received “several” threats. As we have discussed before, the bill would’ve violated federal law.
…Adding… Rep. Carroll is saying now that he didn’t intend to be divisive, but here’s what he told the Sun-Times…
(I)t all boils down to frustration between those who have “been following the science and … trying to do the right thing” and those who are “choosing not to get vaccinated, who are able to, for whatever they choose.”
“I think it’s time that we say ‘You choose not to get vaccinated, then you’re also going to assume the risk that if you do catch COVID, and you get sick, the responsibility is on you,’” Carroll said.
* We had nearly unanimous winners this year. The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Democratic Campaign Staffer goes to Jon Maxson…
He is a tireless worker and an excellent example of a legislative staffer. This year Jon not only was the leader for the House redistricting effort, but also was one of the people who helped transition the House Dem political operation to Speaker Welch. No matter what you think of redistricting, an honest person will admit that it is a difficult, complex process that involves high stakes and a lot of competing personalities and interests. Jon, with a calm but direct demeanor, managed the incredibly difficult task of getting not one, but two legislative maps passed in the midst of a pandemic in which the Census itself was mismanaged and delayed by the previous administration in Washington. Let’s not forget that this cycle is just the second time in the modern era that the legislature has passed a legislative redistricting map that has been enacted by a governor. That’s no small feat.
Prior to redistricting, Jon led the House Dem communications team, helping shape not only talking points and issue messaging, but also helping newer staffers develop and improve their writing skills and better understand the members they work with. On the campaign side, Jon has led opposition research and direct mail. Campaigns are zero sum and Jon is not afraid to throw the punches necessary for a point to make an impact with voters. He also worked with lots of candidates, many of them first time candidates, to develop their skills talking to the media and talking to voters.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Senate Democratic Campaign Staffer goes to Magen Ryan…
Magen Ryan is the rockstar of the Senate’s campaign operation. She guided them through a very difficult redistricting and oversaw the efforts to begin preparations for 2022. Her year may not have been as traumatic as Mary’s, but a redistricting year is never easy for the campaign people who have to deal with the legislative side of the shop.
Congrats to both.
* On to today’s categories…
* Best House Republican Campaign Staffer
* Best Senate Republican Campaign Staffer
Make sure to explain your votes or they won’t count. And, please, do your best to nominate in both categories. Thanks.
Also, the good folks at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois told me that they’re trying to raise $60,000 to buy Christmas presents for foster kids plus gift cards for the urgent needs of foster families. We’re at about $19,000 right now, and I think it would be great if we could push that to $20K and account for a third of LSSI’s fundraising goal. So, if you haven’t yet, please click here and donate. Thanks!
* Dan Petrella has a long and quite good story about the new state law banning dark and out of state money from judicial campaigns…
While he isn’t aware of other states having attempted an outright ban on dark money contributions to judicial candidates, [Douglas Keith, counsel for the Brennan Center’s democracy program] said some recent court decisions have cast doubt on a state’s ability to limit campaign contributions from outside its borders.
For example, a federal appeals court earlier this year struck down a prohibition on candidates in Alaska accepting more than $3,000 in out-of-state contributions in a year.
But the U.S. Supreme Court appears to have left some room for states to treat those seeking a seat on the bench differently than candidates for other offices.
In 2015, the court upheld a Florida law prohibiting judges and judicial candidates from soliciting campaign contributions.
When dealing with campaign finance laws, the court generally weighs First Amendment rights against a state’s interest in combating corruption, Keith said.
As an example of that alleged corruption, the article points to the lawsuit charging State Farm with funneling money to Lloyd Karmeier’s Supreme Court bid ahead of the company’s appeal of a $1 billion judgment. It’s a good read.
Alexi Giannoulias, in a four-way Democratic primary for secretary of state, picked up the endorsement of Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., on Wednesday, the second member of the House delegation to support his bid. […]
Earlier, Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Ill., and former Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., announced endorsements for Giannoulias. […]
“This election is critically important as Republican Secretaries of States across the country are implementing extreme right-wing policies that amount to the worst voter suppression effort since Jim Crow,” Schakowsky said in a statement.
“These underhanded tactics are solely aimed at suppressing the vote, particularly among voters of color, and restricting access to the ballot box.”
The only connection the SoS has to voting is the motor voter program.
— Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced the endorsements of 40-plus Illinois elected officials and community leaders for his re-election campaign. This slate of endorsements includes state senators, state representatives, county elected officials, school board members, village trustees, mayors, and community activists. […]
— Anna Valencia has been endorsed by the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 1 in her bid for secretary of state.
Cook County sheriff’s official Becky Levin plans to kick off her campaign to seek the Illinois House seat of outgoing Majority Leader Greg Harris on Thursday, calling herself “a crime fighter and a public health expert, who has a proven record of results.”
The first candidate to officially enter next year’s race to fill the North Side Democrat’s House seat, Levin grew up in northwest suburban Des Plaines and has lived in Uptown for the last 10 years, describing herself as a “proud” policy wonk and nerd.
After more than two decades in health care, she has served as the executive director of public policy for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart since January 2020. Levin pointed to her background and “breadth of experience” as the main reasons why she should succeed Harris.
This person as well…
Apparently word is getting out there that my dear friend Mike Ziri is considering a run for the IL House! All I can say at this point is there is no one I know in IL politics who is kinder, harder working, and has a bigger heart than Mike Ziri. Plus, he's damn smart. pic.twitter.com/jYYUxYdfhD
Candidate for State Representative in Illinois’s 51st House District, Nabeela Syed, announced this morning she has been endorsed by State Representative Theresa Mah.
Rep. Mah shared the following statement with her endorsement: “Nabeela is a driven community organizer who has helped shape winning movements for progressive issues on local and national scales. She has a track record of mobilizing voters, especially young voters and voters of color, which will be critical for our party in 2022. I am proud to give her my endorsement.”
“Representative Mah is a tireless advocate for Illinois families in Springfield and has been a champion on issues including education, economic opportunity, and immigrant rights,” said Syed. “I’m proud and honored to have her support.”
Rep. Mah joins Sen. Ram Villivalam in endorsing Nabeela Syed’s campaign for State House.
*** UPDATE *** Not unexpected…
The Illinois AFL-CIO, representing nearly 900,000 workers and their families across the state, today has thrown its political support behind Nikki Budzinski for Congress in the 2022 election.
The AFL-CIO’s Executive Board voted today to strongly support Budzinski, who has announced her intention to run for the Democratic nomination for the 13th District seat in Congress stretching across central and southern Illinois earlier this summer.
Budzinski, a native of Peoria, has devoted her professional life to fighting for working families and the middle class since graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her grandfather was a union painter, and her grandmother was a public school teacher. She interned for former Congressman Dick Gephardt, former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, and for Planned Parenthood.
Budzinski has served as Political Representative for the International Association of Fire Fighters, Associate Director for Legislative and Political Action for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and as senior advisor to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on labor issues. She left her role as chief of staff to President Joe Biden’s budget office earlier this year to run for Congress.
She has lined up an impressive list of endorsements for the 13th District seat in short order, from unions representing electrical and communications workers, transit workers and firefighters to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, and a number of Illinois federal and state elected officials.
Budzinski promises to put working families first in Congress, through a $15 an hour federal minimum wage, a federal tax credit for families with children, and stronger health care, prescription drug and job training programs.
The new 13th District, reconstructed after the 2020 Census and recently approved by the state Legislature, is expected to stretch from the Metro East near St. Louis along Interstate 55 through parts of Springfield, then east through Decatur and to Champaign in central Illinois.
“This was an easy decision for our board because Nikki Budzinski is a true, proven champion for working families,” said Tim Drea, Illinois AFL-CIO President. “At a time when our nation’s politics are so polarized, we know Nikki will put working and middle-class families first and always be a voice for investing in the workforce that drives our country’s success. We look forward to supporting her candidacy in 2022 and working closely with her to put Illinois on the right track in Washington.”
Budzinski said the AFL-CIO endorsement is a major boost to her efforts to put working families first in Congress.
“I am truly honored to be endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO in my campaign for Illinois’ 13th Congressional district. I am proud to have spent my career working on behalf of working people; fighting for a $15 minimum wage, paid sick time, safe working conditions and retirement security. The labor movement built the middle class and that is why in Congress I will proudly support the Pro Act, to strengthen a worker’s right to have a voice in the workplace. I look forward to partnering with the Illinois AFL-CIO to deliver results for working families when I am elected to Congress,” Budzinski said.
(A) significant drop in unfunded liability was recorded in FY 2021, largely thanks to exceptionally strong investment performances by all the five systems. This allowed the combined unfunded liability to decrease by $14.3 billion, a 9.9% decline from the previous year, to $130.0 billion. During the recent 15- year period, there were only three times that the unfunded liability decreased from the previous year: in FY 2011 (-2.9%), FY 2017 (-0.5%) and FY 2021.
One, the COGFA figures are based on the market value of pension-fund assets. In other words, they’re not blended or otherwise averaged over five years, as often is the case with such reporting.
Caveat two is that, just like almost any other investor with half a brain, the state funds enjoyed “exceptional” returns on invested capital in fiscal 2021, earning 22.9% to 25.2%. That’s way, way above their assumed rate or return of 6.5% to 7%.
Beyond that, some years in the recent past had unusual bumps, making the new figures look relatively good in comparison. And even with the booming return on investment, the state still is contributing roughly $2 billion a year less than the amount it is actuarially required to reach its eventual full funding.
Ergo, concludes Civic Federation President Lauarence Msall, the new COGFA figures “are not a trend. It’s a data point in the market.”
He continues, “It’s not bad news. But it’s only one data point.”
It may not be a trend, it may be just one data point, it may be a complete fluke, but you gotta take what you can get in this world, so I’ll take it.
* Publications like the Free Beacon are known for taking oppo that others probably don’t want. But considering the claims made by Darren Bailey this week more than just implying that Jesse Sullivan is a Democratic plant, well, it’s at least worth a look before it becomes a regular primary campaign talking point…
A venture capitalist running in Illinois’s Republican gubernatorial primary is a relative newcomer to the right. Fifteen years ago, Jesse Sullivan founded a self-described “social justice” magazine that has defended riots and abortion.
Sullivan, a political neophyte who ran a San Francisco-based nonprofit before launching his gubernatorial bid in early September, founded the magazine One World in 2006 while a student at St. Louis University. The publication had financial support from left-wing groups like the Center for American Progress, whose Goal Was To “counter the growing influence of right-wing groups on campus.” In the years that followed, One World published articles Dismissing riots in Ferguson, Mo., as the work of “a few troublemakers” amid “an entire crowd.” Four years later, in 2018, the magazine Expressed Support for the “legal right to choose” to have an abortion. […]
A Sullivan campaign spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon that the Illinois Republican founded the publication “when he was in college doing humanitarian work,” though Sullivan remained on One World‘s masthead as the magazine’s “visionary” long after his graduation. His campaign says that role came with “zero involvement or editorial oversight.” At the same time, Sullivan appears to have remained involved with the magazine, headlining its 10-year anniversary celebration in 2016. A campaign spokesman said he spoke at the event “as a courtesy.”
“The suggestion that Jesse agrees with the viewpoints of a magazine he has had nothing to do with, is laughable,” Sullivan’s campaign said in a statement. “Let’s get back to the issues at hand and leave the cancel culture to the liberals and political hacks.”
His problem is he’s an unknown quantity who kicked off his campaign by fudging his “military” background. I dunno what to believe now. Also, there’s this from Sullivan’s LinkedIn page…
So, he claims to have been the CEO for five years. Yeah, OK, but he was in college when he founded it and it’s been ten years since he left the group. I dunno.
Who is Jesse Sullivan? A guy I went to college with wants to become Governor of Illinois. He’s got the look. He’s got money from the tech bros. But what he doesn’t have is a pedigree in being a Republican.
It’s like he was kidnapped and transformed into a GOP Manchurian candidate out of central casting in Ripon, Wisconsin.
Thankfully, those of us who knew him back when aren’t alone. Jesse Sullivan, social justice warrior king of St. Louis U. as a Republican? I would have known him if he were a Republican. I helped run the College Republicans on campus and in the state. This transformation is about as legitimate if Shoeless Joe Jackson walked out of a [expletive deleted] cornfield wearing a Red Sox uniform.
Maybe tech money does corrupt. Ask JD Vance.
Perhaps somebody in Illinois should ask him about his views on Donald Trump? Or Mitt Romney? Or John McCain?
Beware of posers. Jesse Sullivan is a poser.
…Adding… Gary Rabine…
Republican Governor candidate Jesse Sullivan needs to answer the growing number of questions about his Republican credentials as he seeks to be head of the Illinois Republican Party. In the last several days it has surfaced that until recently he has been aligned a with far-left publication, politically active in Democratic campaigns and has not voted or supported the Party’s presidential nominee since at least 2004. (voted for Obama, but not Trump). Crashing your parent’s car is something you can blame on youth–aligning with the socialist elements of the Democratic Party until right before you decide to run for the Republican nomination for Governor is something else. We don’t need a fake Republican as our nominee.
* If you’ve contributed to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois during our December fundraising drive, thanks. If not, please click here. Follow along with ScribbleLive…
As bidders for a proposed Chicago casino prepare to showcase their plans to the public next week, one is taking an argument by bidder Neil Bluhm and turning it against Bluhm himself.
Bally’s, which has proposed to open a casino either on truck marshaling yards west of McCormick Place or on the Tribune printing plant property at Halsted and Chicago, is arguing it is the only bidder without a conflict of interest that could drive down gambling revenue and the tax take at the Chicago facility.
That’s a reference to the fact that Bluhm’s Rush Street Gaming operates the Rivers Casino just west of Chicago in suburban Des Plaines, and that bidder Hard Rock has a casino just over the border in Indiana. […]
One prominent gaming consultant Bally’s referred me to, Matt Landry, the principal in New Hampshire-based Strategic Market Advisors, said that with tax rates in Chicago, Des Plaines and Indiana all at different levels, it will be tempting for a company to use marketing, incentive programs and the like to drive customers to where the tax rate is lowest.
State regulators on Wednesday named their chosen developers to break ground on a new casino in Waukegan and another straddling the border of south suburban Homewood and East Hazel Crest, ending a selection process that dragged on for more than two years due to COVID-19 shutdowns and other delays.
While the location of the north suburban gambling emporium was never in doubt, the Illinois Gaming Board picked Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts Inc. to set up its high-stakes shop at the shuttered Fountain Square shopping center in Waukegan — though a legal challenge from a spurned competitor could still be looming.
The field was much wider for the south suburban casino license. The state gambling law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2019 that paved the way for the new casinos pitted a handful of suburbs against each other to bid for what is expected to be a cash cow for south suburban communities that have been economically neglected for generations.
Homewood/East Hazel Crest beat out Matteson with a proposal to build the casino just off Interstate 80 near 175th and Halsted streets. Calumet City and Lynwood were culled from the bidding process in October.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to lift the Chicago ban on sports betting — and impose a 2% tax on gross revenues from it — got stuck in a joint City Council committee Tuesday after a surprise buzz-saw of opposition from mayoral allies.
The trouble started when Connor Brashear, chief of staff to Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang-Bennett, pegged the city’s annual take from a 2% tax on sports betting in and around Chicago stadiums at $400,000 to $500,000.
That’s based on an estimated $25 million in annual revenue from sports betting in Chicago.
“I just think $400,000-to-$500,000-a-year to the city of Chicago is really paltry—even when you add in the licensing fee that these guys are gonna have to pay. It seems like peanuts for an industry that is growing,” said Budget Committee Chairwoman Pat Dowell (3rd). […]
Even Ald. George Cardenas (12th), Lightfoot’s deputy floor leader, complained 2% was “not enough” and the city was “rushing” a sports betting ordinance with no minority participation — one that threatens to undermine the casino revenue needed to shore up police and fire pensions.
* A related media advisory…
A group of Black Economic Development Activists led by retired State Senator Rickey Hendon fight for Minority Ownership in Sports Betting. They are seeking a change in State Law which is needed to help the effort which failed yesterday to bring Sports Betting to Chicago. “Our hope is to help Mayor Lightfoot in her efforts and to give people of color a chance to get minority participation within ten blocks of the stadiums”, Hendon said. The Senator was Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Gaming and a Member of the Gaming Committee when he served in the Illinois Senate.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker today joined elected officials, stakeholders, and labor leaders to break ground on the new Walker’s Bluff Resort and Casino. Made possible after the Illinois Gaming Board’s June 9, 2021 determination that Walker’s Bluff is preliminarily suitable for licensure, the new resort is slated to include a 116-room hotel along with a gaming floor, event center, and multiple restaurants, among other attractions.
“I was proud to work with the General Assembly to expand gaming and bring jobs and economic opportunity to Southern Illinois. Walker’s Bluff was already a popular attraction, bringing in tourists and business meetings from across the region. Now with the addition of hundreds of slot machines and game tables, and an on-site hotel, this expansion will bring in even more visitors to take advantage of the beauty and hospitality of Southern Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That also means more opportunity for working families across the region – creating 1,100 construction jobs and 330 permanent roles at the resort.”
Since 2008, Walker’s Bluff has served as an entertainment and tourist destination for Southern Illinois, offering jobs and opportunities to hundreds of local residents and bringing thousands of visitors face to face with Southern Illinois’ natural beauty. Thanks to the gaming bill that Governor Pritzker signed during his first year in office, the Walker’s Bluff Resort and Casino will open the door to even more economic development.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Democrats goes to Mavilen Silva, the clear crowd favorite…
Mavilen has jumped into her new role as the Chief of Staff for Senator Cristina Castro after working for the House Dems for 9 years. Mavilen had big shoes to fill but she stepped into her new role without missing a beat. She’s diligently worked at addressing every constituent need, working with various organizations on issues related to legislation, budget, etc. that the senator is working on. She’s hard working, very organized and is great at follow-up, and straight forward like her boss, which I really appreciate. After her 10 years of service, Mavilen is very deserving of the recognition here.
Honorable mention to Katie Holmes in Sen. Bush’s office. I freely admit to being partial to Sen. Bush’s entire team, so I was happy to see one of her peeps supported here.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Republicans goes to Tracy Weiters, another crowd favorite…
Tracy is one of the few people who hasn’t let the activities under the dome or her job change who she is. Just Sayin is correct: “She has always been kind (to everyone including the janitors), passionate and a perfectionist. She always gives credit to everyone else before herself.”
Tracy is KIND, HUMBLE, and has the historical knowledge/relationships to address constituent issues. She doesn’t have a personal agenda and isn’t here for the popularity contest. You’ll never (sigh) when working with Tracy. In this crazy cut throat world under the dome & the negativity in the world fueled by the pandemic.. the world needs us to be a little more like Tracy.
Congrats to everyone!
* On to our next category…
* Best House Democratic Campaign Staffer
* Best Senate Democratic Campaign Staffer
Please try your best to nominate in both categories and make sure to explain your votes or they won’t count.
Also, don’t forget to contribute to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to help buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Click here. Thanks! After a slow and worrisome start, we’re now outpacing last year and part of the reason is a very generous $5,000 contribution from former state Sen. Susan Garrett. Wow. But you can give any amount you want. Again, please click here. Every little bit helps.
Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s not planning to institute a new COVID-19 vaccine mandate like the one in New York City.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is enacting a mandate for private sector workers. Pritzker was asked if that’s something we could see in Illinois.
“That again is not something that we’ve been looking at,” said Pritzker. “We have people that are getting vaccinated every day in Illinois. We want more people to get vaccinated. I think you can see as more people get sick and go into the hospital nearly all of them are unvaccinated and that is causing a real problem.”
Mayor Lightfoot is also not interested in doing that.
Denying someone their job because of their vaccination status is discrimination, according to State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) and the “Freedom Act” that he is pushing for would outlaw this practice. […]
When asked if people should have the peace of mind to go to work with the assurance everyone around them is vaccinated, Niemerg responded by saying “Well, shouldn’t everybody that has the right to go to work understand that they are not going to be discriminated upon as a condition of employment?”
He only appears to care about people who are willing and even eager to spread disease.
Within Illinois, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Calhoun County with 1,203 cases per 100,000 per week; Vermilion County with 994; and Clay County with 925. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.
Is it time to start calling these people pro-covid legislators?
Public health officials on Tuesday announced 78 more COVID-19 deaths across Illinois, the state’s highest one-day toll in 10 months.
That’s almost four times as high as Illinois’ daily coronavirus death rate over the past month, and it’s the most fatalities reported in a day since 102 lives were lost statewide Feb. 11, at the tail end of the state’s worst surge of the pandemic.
The state is now averaging 41 deaths per day over the past week, up from about 23 per day during the first week of November, according to figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
One day can be an anomaly, but yikes. Tuesday’s numbers haven’t been released as of this writing.
As of Monday, 4,404 people were admitted to Michigan hospitals with confirmed cases of the virus. Of them, 40 were children, according to Michigan Medicine, which supplies the state health department with hospitalization data.
That breaks a pandemic record set on April 8, 2020, when 4,365 people were hospitalized with the virus during an initial surge that had the nation reeling as so little was known about the virus, how it spread and how to treat it.
According to IDPH data, only 0.05% of fully vaccinated Illinoisans have ended up hospitalized for a COVID infection, and even fewer — 0.014% — have died from the virus.
To Illinois prisoners, commissary is more than candy bars, shaving cream and socks. It represents normalcy and choice.
“It’s everything to them,” said Melly Rios, whose husband is in Stateville Correctional Center serving 45 years for murder.
A recent report from the John Howard Association, a prison watchdog group, detailed widespread supply shortages at Illinois Department of Corrections prison commissaries around the state. Soap, deodorant, detergent, writing materials, thermal shirts, socks, underwear and canned meat and noodles are all in short supply.
“It’s not like luxury items like candy bars or the hot new Christmas gift. These commissaries provide items that are basic necessities,” said Alan Mills, Executive Director of the Uptown People’s Law Center. Mills has litigated prisoner civil rights cases for more than 40 years.
A decade after Illinois Department of Corrections inmate Anthony Rodesky began developing the blisters that would eventually lead to a below-the-knee leg amputation, a federal jury in Peoria last week awarded him $400,000, finding the state violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in its treatment of Rodesky’s type 1 diabetes.
The jury did not, however, side with Rodesky in his Eighth Amendment claims of “deliberate indifference to serious medical need” — a long-held interpretation of constitutionally prohibited “cruel and unusual punishment — against the warden of Pontiac Correctional Center, where Rodesky’s condition deteriorated, culminating in his 2015 leg amputation.
Alan Mills of the Uptown People’s Law Center, which represented Rodeksy in the case, called the jury award “extraordinarily satisfying…quite the vindication of what he’s been through for really a decade.”
But Mills said Rodesky’s path to a $400,000 jury award is emblematic of longstanding issues in the Department of Corrections, which is under a three-year-old consent decree for inadequate medical treatment for prisoners — a consent decree for which a federal monitor has repeatedly said isn’t being followed — along with a handful of settlements in other massive suits requiring institutional change within the department.
“The outcome [in Rodesky’s case] was particularly egregious but…unfortunately, the care is also typical,” Mills said. “People shouldn’t lose their legs because of a blister. And that’s what happened here. And it shows not only, I think, the poverty of medical care that’s being provided, but also it shows just how little the Department of Corrections does to deal with people who have a disability.”
Illinois courts are taking steps toward better understanding mental illness and its growing impact on the judicial system, which state Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke said Tuesday too often lacks compassion, treats mental disorders as a crime and skirts alternatives to jail.
Burke told reporters that her “call to action” came in response to a report her committee issued last year after months of study. It’s part of a national effort to review courts’ interactions with defendants or litigants who deal with mental health issues and so-called co-occurring disorders such as substance abuse.
“The prevalence of mental illness and co-occurring disorders has been greatly impacting our nation, our states and our communities and has had a disproportionate effect on our courts,” said Burke, adding that the courtroom’s approach to mental illness should be one of “compassion and hope.”
Research by the National Center for State Courts-led initiative found that defendants with a serious mental illness remain longer in jail than others facing similar charges, that access to appropriate health care is rare or often unavailable, and that courts rely too heavily on competency to stand trial, which leaves too many defendants waiting in jail for “restoration.”
* Gov. Pritzker is making several stops in southern Illinois today…
Daily Public Schedule: Wednesday, December 8, 2021
What: Gov. Pritzker to announce the widening of Interstate 57 through Southern Illinois, funded by the historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan.
Where: Benton Municipal Airport, 1 Airport Road, Benton
When: 9:30 a.m.
Watch live: https://www.Illinois.gov/LiveVideo
Note: Parking is available in the lot south of the Benton Municipal Airport Terminal at the end of Airport Road. See map below.*
What: Gov. Pritzker to announce funding for new wastewater infrastructure in the Village of Alto Pass.
Where: Alto Pass Community Center and Village Hall, 23 Elm Street, Alto Pass
When: 11:30 a.m.
Watch live: https://www.Illinois.gov/LiveVideo
What: Gov. Pritzker to join labor leaders to tour the Carbondale Warming Center and help unload donations ahead of the holidays.
Where: Carbondale Warming Center, 608 East College Street, Carbondale
When: 12:30 p.m.
Note: No additional media availability.
What: Gov. Pritzker to attend the groundbreaking of the new Walker’s Bluff Resort and gaming expansion in Southern Illinois.
Where: Lot southeast of Tasting Room at Walker’s Bluff, 14250 Meridian Road, Carterville
When: 1:45 p.m.
Watch live: https://www.Illinois.gov/LiveVideo
The Rev. Michael Pfleger on Tuesday called on Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to make several changes to combat violent crime.
Pfleger called for residents who are scared to testify in gun cases to be able to do so anonymously.
* Darren Bailey was asked recently how he would counter Jesse Sullivan’s huge campaign finance advantage in the GOP primary…
I’m not a bit worried about that because every bit of his $10 million is Democrat-controlled money. If people will check Jesse Sullivan out they’ll see that his number one supporter that dumped in $5 million. All these people are from the Silicon Valley, from California and Colorado. Chris Larsen, his number one supporter, $5 million. He was on Joe Biden shortlist for vice president March of 2020. February of 2021, he donated $250,000 to Nancy Pelosi. This is nonsense. Go to Illinoissunshine.org. Look at all of his donors, click on his donors and you will see who else they have been donating money to. This is a Democrat ploy to put someone to make them look like a Republican and it’s nonsense. So the more people get educated about this, the more that they will see this, the more that they will understand this. Yes, that is, so that’s what’s going on. There is no doubt about this.
We’ve got almost 15,000 individual donors from $5 all the way to $200,000. Money is not going to win this election. Anyone in the state of Illinois from the primary all the way to Pritzker that’s going to sit here and tell us that money is going to win they are wrong. Grass roots is going to win the day. We’ve got people who have never been involved in the political process. Every one of these events that we’ve put on, people are showing up they’ve never been to a political meeting before. They’re getting engaged. They’re learning. That’s what we’re doing. That’s how we’re going to get Illinois back on track.
The most dangerous thing for Illinois to do is to elect the wrong Republican for the wrong reasons.
I’m not saying, I’m just sayin’ this is a line of attack that could prove to be successful. Make him deny it. “I am not a plant!” The Republican Party’s conspiracy theorist wing is Bailey’s core constituency, after all. If they can believe there’s a microchip in every vaccine, or that you can “de-vaccinate,” they’ll probably buy into this.
* Moving right along, a press release…
Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC endorsed Congresswoman Marie Newman for re-election in Illinois’ 6th congressional district.
Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC Co-Chairs Mark Pocan, Pramila Jayapal, and Jamie Raskin released the following statement:
“The Progressive Caucus has delivered for working families this year thanks to dedicated champions like Congresswoman Marie Newman who consistently put the needs of their community before corporations and special interests. Since the moment she came to Congress, Representative Newman has been delivering for her constituents, fighting to close the gender pay gap by making it easier for women to access capital, tackling the climate crisis, and creating good paying jobs by supporting investments in the future of our transportation systems. Her leadership has helped pass legislation that will strengthen organized labor and move America one important step closer to finally establishing health care as a human right. We are proud to endorse Congresswoman Newman for re-election.”
Congresswoman Marie Newman released the following statement:
“We are at a pivotal moment in this country and the Progressive Caucus is leading the charge to create an economy that works for all of us, championing policies that will uplift every single American. I’m honored to receive an endorsement from the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and I look forward to the opportunity to continue working with my colleagues in the caucus to rebuild our economy so that it is stronger, more equitable, and rooted in worker and climate justice.”
In 2020, the PAC raised $4.4 million and launched its first-ever independent expenditure arm, helping elect eight new candidates to Congress.
Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia on Wednesday garnered the backing of the Illinois Nurses Association in her bid to succeed Jesse White as Illinois secretary of state.
Tori Dameron, the president of the union, said in a statement nurses “need the support of strong union allies in office now more than ever” as the pandemic continues to “strain” frontline workers and others in health care.
“Anna Valencia understands that more than any other candidate in this race,” Dameron said. “We know she will always fight for us the same way we fight for our patients every day. The INA is proud to endorse her.”
Valencia wrote that she is “committed to using the Secretary of State’s Office to advocate for all working families and make sure that our nurses, who are a critical part of the community, are supported in every effort.”
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) is touting Republican victories in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that authorizes military spending and enacts Department of Defense policies for FY22. Rep. Davis proudly voted in support of the FY22 NDAA last night.
The legislation passed the House last night by a vote of 363-70. Republicans were crucial to bringing the bill across the finish line, providing a majority of the Yes votes. 51 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted against the legislation. You can find the roll call of the House NDAA vote here.
“We must never allow our military to be defunded, which is what voting No on the NDAA would have done.”
US Rep. Mary Miller, who may challenge Davis in a primary, voted “No,” along with Danny Davis, Chuy Garcia, Jan Schakowsky and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
…Adding… From Miller’s statement…
The NDAA still creates a federal vaccine mandate that allows President Biden to discharge healthy active duty service members from my district. The bill also includes leftist Critical Race Theory “equity” training requirements for the military that my constituents strongly oppose.
I am proud that as a result of hard work by conservatives, the gun confiscation and draft for teenage girls provisions were removed from the bill. I will always oppose radical leftwing policies being rammed through Congress by President Biden, and I will never vote for policies opposed so strongly by the constituents I represent.
It was so radical and left-wing that AOC and Jan Schakowsky voted against it. Right. She’s caught on this one.
“What’s going on at the tollway?” seems to be a perennial concern in Illinois politics. Perhaps a Senate hearing scheduled for Dec. 7 will help provide some new insights into management of the agency.
It was natural to hope in 2019 that a sweeping shakeup of the tollway Board of Directors following years of questionable spending and contracts would produce a settling of affairs at the agency. But we have not exactly seen anything like what one might call “a new era” in tollway management.
Although the then-new board quickly went to work revising the tollway’s ethics rules, things got off to a rocky start when it was discovered that freshly appointed Chairman Will Evans voted on a proposed contract involving a previous employer. Evans called the lapse an “inadvertent” mistake and promised to do better in the future.
Certainly, no similar controversies have erupted as his tenure continued, but there have been opportunities to question leadership at the tollway. The most recent, and the one prompting the Dec. 7 hearing, is an Oct. 21 management directive in which the tollway board gave Evans authority to reorganize the agency’s leadership structure. Evans promptly brought the chief financial officer directly under his wing, instead of reporting solely to Executive Director Jose Alvarez, and he shifted supervision of two key offices from Alvarez to the CFO.
* Marni Pyke has two stories today. Here’s part of one…
Illinois tollway Chairman Will Evans’ assertion during a Senate hearing Tuesday that he’s the top dog at the agency has some lawmakers wondering if that aligns with state law and where it leaves Executive Director José Alvarez. […]
The executive director is paid more than $220,000 a year to run the day-to-day operations of the agency, but Evans made the chief financial officer report to him as well as Alvarez. Evans also shifted the procurement department from Alvarez to the CFO and fired two of Alvarez’s top executives, giving rise to concerns about a power struggle.
As chairman, “my responsibility is to have general supervision over all power, duties, obligations and functions of the authority,” Evans testified, referring to the Tollway Highway Act.
He also said tollway bylaws state the chairman shall be the chief executive officer, allowing him to combine both roles. Such combinations aren’t that unusual in corporate America, Evans said, referencing his credentials as a former president of People’s Gas.
Democratic Sen. Celina Villanueva of Chicago disagreed. She said the situation “has left some of us scratching our heads to understand exactly what happened.”
A letter from two former tollway executives warns of what they describe as a power grab at the agency by Chairman Will Evans that is undermining Executive Director José Alvarez and raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
The letter obtained by the Daily Herald Monday was sent to tollway board directors from former Chief Administrative Officer Kimberly Ross and former Chief Procurement Compliance Officer Dee Brookens in November after they were dismissed in late October. It describes “continuous inappropriate conduct, overreaching authority and abuse of power” by Evans.
On Tuesday, the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee met to ask Evans about his reorganization of tollway leadership that removed certain responsibilities from Alvarez, including the procurement department. The changes were approved by the tollway board.
The shift creates conflicts of interest because Evans “gave himself the authority to direct procurements, then vote on and approve those same procurements as the chairman of the board,” Ross and Brookens wrote.
Evans, when asked by senators about the letter, testified that there were no conflicts of interest and that state law gives him supervisory authority over “all powers, duties, obligations and functions” of the tollway authority.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by McHenry and Kankakee county officials, clearing the way to end detention of federal immigration detainees at their county jails.
McHenry County officials said they would appeal the ruling and continue in their efforts to overturn the Illinois Way Forward Act, which prohibits county jails from being used to detain those accused of being in the country illegally.
On average, about 180 federal detainees had been held at the McHenry jail in Woodstock this year. In the past, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement paid the county about $8 million a year to imprison the detainees while they waited for court hearings on their immigration cases.
Likewise, Kankakee made about $4 million a year from jailing about 120 immigrants.
“States are sovereigns. Counties are not,” Reinhard wrote in his decision granting the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. “The State of Illinois, by legislative act, has decided that its political subdivisions may not enter or remain in such agreements.”
McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said in a statement Tuesday that the counties intend to appeal Reinhard’s ruling to the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
“The Illinois Way Forward Act is another example of how the current legislative assembly is likely one of the most partisan and dogmatically rigid in Illinois history,” said Kenneally, a Republican who was first elected in 2016. “As such and when legally tenable, we at the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office will continue to push back against the obscurity and futility that the Chicago bulwark in Springfield wishes to consign us to.” […]
“This ruling is a victory for the state of Illinois and for immigrant communities and anyone else across the country who cares about fairness and dignity for immigrants,” said Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
“[B]oth the Federal Government and the States wield sovereign powers, and that is why our system of government is said to be one of ‘dual sovereignty’”. In contrast, “[p]olitical subdivisions of States—counties, cities, or whatever—never were and never have been considered as sovereign entities. They are instead subordinate governmental instrumentalities created by the State to assist in the carrying out of state governmental functions.” States are sovereigns. Counties are not.
As plaintiffs concede, generally the “Illinois legislature is vested with the power to make laws prohibiting intergovernmental cooperation by units of local government,”
* As I’ve been telling you, this argument is at the core of the Democratic defense of its state legislative redistricting law and it was prominently featured during oral arguments yesterday. From the Capitol News Illinois report…
“Illinois in 2020 is not your grandfather’s Illinois,” Sean Berkowitz, an attorney defending the maps passed by the General Assembly in August and signed by Pritzker in September, told the judges.
Berkowitz pointed to the fact that there are a number of Black lawmakers in the Statehouse who do not come from predominantly Black communities. He also pointed to the fact that even though whites make up the largest racial group in Illinois, the current lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state are all Black while one U.S. senator, Tammy Duckworth, is Asian American.
“Crossover voting in Illinois is the norm, not the exception,” he said, adding that Illinois today “is not Mississippi in 1965 or Illinois in 1980.” […]
[Plaintiffs] attorneys spent the morning trying to convince the judges that racially polarized voting does continue to exist in Illinois and that if the maps approved by the legislature are allowed to stand, Latino and Black voters will lose political influence in state government.
In particular, they argued that many of the minority members of the General Assembly were first appointed to their seats after their predecessors stepped down in the middle of their. That gave the appointed lawmakers a significant advantage by allowing them to run as incumbents.
There was also a dispute about how any problems should be remedied, either through court action or sending it back to the GA, so click here to read the rest.
*** UPDATE *** Related press release…
The Illinois Supreme Court today announced the lifting of the pause order regarding the judicial redistricting in Public Act 102-0011 (Act), which will change the judicial district boundaries for the first time since they were established in 1964. Effective January 1, 2022, the Court’s order pausing the implementation of redistricting pursuant to the Act will be vacated.
The new order is available on the court website by clicking here.
On June 7, 2021, the Court entered the order which paused the transition to a new judicial redistricting statute. That order directed that appeals and other matters shall continue to be filed in the judicial districts as they existed on June 3, 2021, the day before Gov. Pritzker signed the Act into law on June 4, 2021. The Act was paused to give the courts sufficient time to plan and implement the significant changes it required.
Beginning on January 1, a notice of appeal initiating an appeal to the appellate court or a direct appeal to the Supreme Court pursuant to Rule 302(b) shall be transmitted by the clerk of the circuit court to the appropriate appellate district as established by the Act. Additionally, a petition or application or motion under Rule 303(d), Rule 303A, Rule 306, Rule 307(d), Rule 308, Rule 335, Rule 604(c), or Rule 606(c) will be filed in the appropriate appellate district as established by the Act. These provisions will apply regardless of the date of the judgment appealed or sought to be appealed.
Circuit courts will remain subject to the rule that states that when conflicts arise among the districts the circuit court is bound by the decisions of the appellate court of the district in which it sits. In a redistricted circuit, the appropriate appellate district will be the district in which the circuit was located at the time that the circuit court action was initiated.
If a case is heard by one appellate district on appeal and if a subsequent appeal in that case is heard by a new appellate district pursuant to this order, the new district will treat the decision of the prior district as the law of the case. That the decision of the prior district applied the law of the prior district that is contrary to the law of the new district will not be a basis for departing from the decision of the prior district.
* Sen. Darren Bailey was at the Palmer House this week for an Illinois Farm Bureau event. He used the opportunity to stage a TikTok video that reminds me of another politician who rode down an escalator to launch his campaign…
So far, omicron is only news because it's new. Try to ignore the screaming, speculative click-bait headlines while we wait for actual news https://t.co/mjHSeAZYVg
* If you’ve contributed to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois during our December fundraising drive, thanks. If not, please click here. Follow along with ScribbleLive…
Tomorrow morning, State Rep. Delia Ramirez will launch her historic bid to be the first Latina Congresswoman in the Midwest running to represent Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District. Rep. Ramirez currently serves the 4th house district in the Illinois General Assembly, a position she’s held since 2018. In the legislature, she successfully passed legislation expanding affordable housing, Medicaid coverage to senior citizens regardless of immigration status, and the creation of an elected school board in the City of Chicago. She now serves as Assistant Majority Leader and is running for Congress to elevate her working people’s agenda in Washington.
“I am running for Congress because the people of the new 3rd congressional district deserve a Congresswoman that is rooted in our communities and ready to champion working families in Washington. I plan to bring the neighborhood first agenda I delivered on in the General Assembly to Congress. I have a proven track record of building strong and diverse coalitions and this campaign will reflect the people and priorities of the communities in the 3rd district. As I have done in the state legislature, in Congress I will fight for legislative and policy changes to make sure every community in my district and beyond have a thriving and empowered local economy, health care for all, accessible and affordable housing, and high-quality public education from pre-k to college.” said Leader Ramirez.
“In a time where our families are struggling to recover from the pandemic, and we have attacks on people of color, women’s rights, and our voting rights, we need someone who is not afraid to take on these difficult fights on behalf of our communities. I am confident that I am the candidate uniquely qualified to do this because I have spent my entire career fighting these fights. I will bring this unique perspective to the halls of Congress and will work harder than anyone to get results for our communities, just as I have in Springfield.”
Senator Omar Aquino, Delia’s partner in the Senate is a key member of her team and will announce her official candidacy and his endorsement at a launch event Wednesday evening. Sen. Aquino notes “During our time at the state legislature, Delia has been a trusted collaborator and fighter for our communities. She shares my deep commitments to progressive values, building power for working families, and growing Latino representation. I am proud to endorse such a trusted partner to represent our communities as the first Latina congresswoman in the Midwest.”
Leader Ramirez will host listening sessions throughout the 3rd district in Portage Park, West Chicago, Addison, and Humboldt Park. She will join her supporters and announce her candidacy at a kick-off celebration in Avondale tomorrow night.
Senator Karina Villa, from West Chicago will help lead a conversation with community leaders and seniors tomorrow as part of Rep. Ramirez’s listening tour. She says “I strongly endorse Rep. Delia Ramirez for Congresswomen in the Illinois 3rd district. We’ve worked together in Springfield, and she’s proven she is a legislator who gets results. Delia will work to build consensus and is the best person to balance the interests of all constituents and fiercely represent our suburban community. Delia will listen, lead and deliver on her campaign promises. I know she will work tirelessly to build a better government that works for all of us.”
Delia Ramirez is endorsed by: Senators Omar Aquino, Karina Villa, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Robert Peters, Representatives Will Guzzardi, Kelly Cassidy, Lindsey LaPointe, Kam Buckner, Maura Hirshauer, Anna Moeller, Deb Conroy, Lakesia Collins, Theresa Mah, Robyn Gabel, Mark Walker, Nick Smith, Kelly Cassidy, Carol Ammons, Lamont Robinson, Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, Maria Hadden, Daniel LaSpata, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Jeanette B. Taylor, Andre Vasquez, Mayor of Evanston Daniel Biss, County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Josina Morita, Commiteeperson Anthony Quezada, Triton School Board Member Norma Hernandez, and The Honorable Barbara Flynn Currie.
[The endorsement list has been updated to include Rep. Dagmara Avelar, who was unintentionally left off the original list.]
State health officials today reported 3,029 COVID-19 patients were being treated in hospitals throughout Illinois.
That’s up 187 patients from the day before and the largest single-day surge in patients since November of 2020, according to Illinois Department of Public Health records.
Of those hospitalized, 610 are in intensive care.
IDPH officials also reported another 78 COVID-19 deaths, while 7,068 new cases were diagnosed.
That’s the highest single-day death toll from the virus since Feb. 11.
* Our commenter Candy DoGood summed this task up best…
Given all of the challenges that have been faced by staff throughout I think all of the legislative assistants/district office managers deserve a shout out. 2020 was a tough year and 2021 has also been a tough year and part of their job involves keeping some of the challenges they’ve faced or that they’ve helped others face to themselves.
They all most certainly deserve praise. What crazy times to have to do what they do.
* With that in mind, the 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - House Democrats goes to Mika Baugher…
Mika Baugher has been spectacular in the Speaker’s Office, She has most definitely kept the trains coming on time. We all know how Energetic the Speaker can be. Mika has kept him grounded and always on target in terms of meetings and the like. She is most deserving of this award.
Mika was the crowd favorite. She’s awesome. Honorable mention goes to Lea Negron.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - House Republicans goes to Cheri Hermes…
Cheri does all the normal stuff so well but in addition brings some fun and flavor to the capitol with many skills that aren’t easily seen by the public.
She deftly handles putting up with certain lobbyists who think they have dibs on the chair by her desk on a daily basis. She always keeps the office stocked with supplies you didn’t even know you needed till 9pm on a session night rolls around. She has an unnatural ability to know just about everyone in the greater Sangamon County area and can quickly secure anything from seamstress services to after-hours restaurant delivers in mere moments. She also can trim your hair if you are a bit shaggy.
Another awesome person. Didn’t know about the haircuts, though. Hmm.
* On to today’s categories…
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Democrats
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Republicans
As always, make sure to explain your nominations and do your very best to nominate in both categories. Thanks.
Ever wonder how Illinois got its name? The word Illinois is said to have been derived from the Native American word ‘Illiniwek, which means ‘tribe of superior men’.
In 2017, National Day Calendar® began celebrating each state in the order they entered the union starting the week of Independence Day and ending with Hawaii. We highlight a small part of each states’ history, foods and the people who make up the state. Many states have their own state celebrations, and National Day Calendar’s observances in no way replace them.
…Adding… Abdon’s boss…
Did you know it’s “National Illinois Day?” From Cairo to Chicago, Illinois is a great state to travel around for work and play. We have tons of nature and history to explore. That’s part of why I love to call Illinois home. Happy #NationalIllinoisDay! #twillpic.twitter.com/rrRNIdbipv
From Kane County Circuit Court Judge John Noverini comes this announcement of his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Supreme Court Justice.
Noverini served on the Kane County Board as a Republican from Dundee Township. He served as Chairman of the Dundee Township Republican Central Committee. Then, to the surprise of pretty much everybody, Noverini ran for Judge as a Democrat.
That was thirteen years ago.
I’m told Noverini attempted to get Democratic Party support, but was rebuffed. So, he switched back to the GOP.
* Keep in mind that Martinez is backing Kari Steele over Assessor Fritz Kaegi and Carmen Navarro Gercone over Sheriff Tom Dart…
The Cook County Democratic Party is demanding that candidates slated next week for the upcoming primary sign an “agreement, promise and pledge” that they won’t endorse anyone who is not backed by the party.
“We want to show that the slate is a team. We are stronger together in that regard,” Jacob Kaplan, executive director of Cook County Dems, said in an interview.
The new party directive made in an executive committee meeting without discussion from the 80 committee persons that make up the party leadership is drawing criticism.
“I’m absolutely upset with this especially after what I went through with the party,” Clerk of the Court Iris Martinez told Playbook. She was referring to party leaders backing county Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi over her run for clerk in 2020. Martinez, however, emerged the victor.
Now she and others are concerned the party is trying to control the democratic process by preventing individuals from backing anyone they want. It’s one thing for the party to endorse incumbents — in this case that’s Assessor Fritz Kaegi and Sheriff Tom Dart. But left in the cold by the decision are the women of color who are running for their seats: Kari Steele for assessor and Carmen Navarro Gercone for sheriff.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Comptroller Susana Mendoza endorsed Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s campaign for re-election in the June 28, 2022 Democratic primary.
“I am grateful to Comptroller Mendoza and Treasurer Frerichs for joining the broad coalition of support for our campaign,” said Assessor Kaegi. “I am proud to have them standing with us as we continue to fight to ensure a fairer and more equitable property tax system in Cook County.”
“Our communities must be able to rely on Assessor Kaegi to continue his steadfast work to fix Cook County’s broken property tax system,” said Comptroller Mendoza. “These challenges were created over the course of decades, and they won’t be fixed overnight. But every day, Fritz Kaegi and his team are working hard to ensure the very wealthy and big corporations are paying their fair share, and that we are lessening the undue burden on working families.”
A broad coalition of other officials have endorsed Assessor Kaegi, including Illinois Congressional delegation members Cheri Bustos, Sean Casten, Danny K. Davis, Tammy Duckworth, Bill Foster, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Marie Newman, Mike Quigley and Brad Schneider.
* Press release…
Assistant Senate Minority Leader Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) has announced he will seek re-election to the 33rd District Senate Seat of Illinois. Senator DeWitte was initially appointed to the seat in September of 2018, before winning election to the seat in November of that same year.
“It is an honor and privilege to represent the hard-working people of Kane and McHenry Counties in Springfield, and I look forward to continuing to work diligently on behalf of the families and business owners in the region,” said Senator DeWitte. “I have worked hard to develop beneficial and respectful working relationships with both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, and have always taken a collaborative approach to passing legislation.”
Shortly after taking office, Senator DeWitte assumed the role of chief Republican negotiator of the $45 billion “ReBuild Illinois” infrastructure bill, which addresses the state’s most pressing road and bridge needs, as well as the capital investment needs for health care facilities, education, and municipal infrastructure. Through a lengthy negotiated process, the legislation was signed in 2019. Of the $45 billion capital outlay, close to $200 million was channeled to the 33rd Senate District for road and bridge improvements in northern Kane County and southern McHenry County. It was the most significant capital investment in the region in decades.
* I asked the good folks at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to send me some photos of foster kids who received Christmas presents last year. We are well behind last year’s fundraising pace, so I wanted to show you where your donations go. Please, click here and help these kids…
* Wordslinger was a champion of LSSI, particularly during the long impasse. The Tribune published a letter from his sister today…
In the spring of 1977, my parents and my 13-year-old brother, Karl, made a much anticipated trip to Washington. Enthusiastic but unsophisticated travelers, they spent a lot of time wandering around the Capitol, no doubt on occasion looking a bit lost. After encountering U.S. Sen. Bob Dole several times, he laughingly said, “We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” and proceeded to take them under his wing.
Dole shepherded my family for several hours, giving them a VIP experience, which included sitting in on a committee meeting and being introduced to my parents’ idol, Hubert Humphrey. They were not the senator’s constituents, and as their strong accents conveyed in their conversation, my parents were Norwegian immigrants who were unable to vote, as well as die-hard Democrats!
My brother’s interest in politics and public affairs intensified and grew. As an adult, he was a regular and much respected contributor, known as “wordslinger,” to the Illinois political blog Capitol Fax, where he once recounted his memorable trip to Washington and encounter with Dole. Tragically, Karl died two years ago from injuries he suffered when he was hit by a car on his nightly walk home from the train station. As a tribute, Capitol Fax republished Karl’s account — it can be found at capitolfax.com/2019/07/02/one-of-wordslingers-best-stories. When this was brought to Dole’s attention, he took the time to find out Karl’s name and his address, and he sent a personal note of condolence to Karl’s wife, Sue, and their children.
With the death of Sen. Dole, America has lost a brave patriot, a dedicated public servant, and a kind and decent man. His life holds many lessons from which we can all learn. Thank you, sir.
Poll shows a mistrust of mainstream media on vaccination information
Read the story, though, and you’ll see that the main source of mistrust is among unvaccinated people who are also parents. From the polling memo…
● 75 percent of unvaccinated parents distrust mainstream media sources and get most of their information from social media. In contrast, 58 percent of vaccinated parents prefer to get most of their COVID-19 information from mainstream media.
● About half of American parents who are worried about catching or spreading the Delta variant blame social media for the spread of this variant.
● Two out of three of all parents agree that health misinformation is a problem in social media
The Police Department is no longer the least-compliant city agency when it comes to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s vaccine mandate.
As of Monday, 89.37 percent of Police Department workers have reported their vaccination status, according to city data. The department had trailed in complying with the mandate for months, and one of its unions has fought the requirement in court, though its compliance rate has slowly ticked up.
Now, City Council staffers — employees who work with aldermen’s offices, though aldermen themselves are not required to report their status — have the lowest compliance rate. Just 84.27 percent of City Council workers — or 300 out of 356 workers — have reported their vaccination status.
I am devastated to report the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the unexpected death of one of our own. Corrections Officer Camron “Cam” Passie, 25, passed away (died) earlier today (Sunday, December 5, 2021) from complications related to COVID-19. Officer Passie had been an employee of the Sheriff’s Office since Dec. 31, 2018. He last worked on Thursday, Dec. 2 when he was sent home after testing positive for the virus.
The jail was placed on outbreak status last week due to multiple detainees and employees testing positive for the virus.
* Meanwhile,Rep. Carroll got his headlines. Here are some of them along with the number of paragraphs you have to read through before finding out that federal law actually prohibits his legislation…
* Patch: Unvaccinated To Pay Out-Of-Pocket Under IL Rep’s New Bill (5)
* WGN: State representative files legislation that would force unvaccinated residents to pay for own COVID-19 bills (6)
* WCIA: Unvaccinated patients would pay their own hospital bills under new proposal (Last paragraph)
* Sun-Times: Proposal puts unvaccinated people on the hook for COVID-19 health care costs (11)
* Fox TV: Unvaccinated Illinois residents to pay own COVID-19 hospital bill, state lawmaker proposes (Federal prohibition not mentioned)
* WICS: Bill would make unvaccinated pay all their COVID-19 expenses (Federal prohibition not mentioned)
* NBC 5: Illinois State Rep. Introduces Bill Requiring Unvaccinated Residents to Pay For Their Own COVID Care (Federal prohibition not mentioned)
* ABC 7: Bill proposes unvaccinated Illinois COVID patients pay out of pocket for treatment (Federal prohibition not mentioned)
* Newsweek: Unvaccinated Illinoisans Would Pay COVID Hospital Bills Under New Proposals (Federal prohibition not mentioned)
* Only one outlet, WUIS, put the steak ahead of the sizzle…
Republican Catalina Lauf, a Trump supporter who has billed herself as the anti-AOC, is running for Congress in Illinois’ 11th District against Democratic Rep. Bill Foster.
Key context: Lauf, a conservative Latina, was a Trump appointee to the Commerce Department and spoke at the GOP convention in 2020. Earlier this year, she set out to challenge Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an ardent Trump foe, in the 16th District. When the Illinois remap eliminated Kinzinger’s district, Kinzinger announced he’d retire instead of challenge GOP Rep. Darin LaHood. […]
Lauf ran unsuccessfully in the 2020 GOP primary in IL-14, losing the nomination to former state Sen. Jim Oberweis, who lost to Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood in November. That district has been redrawn to give Underwood a little more breathing room in 2022.
The Trump factor: This time around, Lauf is better funded, thanks in part to her association with Trump. In an interview, she said her campaign has raised $1 million so far. Lauf is also hoping for Trump’s backing, though an endorsement is not easily won. “The endorsement process is a long one,” she said.
The 11th District: The seat has new boundaries as a result of the remap. It still includes Naperville, where Foster lives, and it now extends farther north into Lake County to include the towns of Volo and Wauconda. Lauf’s home in suburban Woodstock is also in the district. The seat got a little more competitive in redistricting: Now-President Joe Biden carried Foster’s old district by 26 points last year, but his margin was about 16 points under the new lines.
You gotta do something pretty wild to warrant that treatment. But Lauf did hire a consultant who spoke at a “Stop the Steal” rally in DC.
…Adding… DPI…
Today, Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Abby Witt released a statement following the announcement that Catalina Lauf is running for Congress in the 11th District:
“Catalina Lauf is a zealot and an extremist, full stop. Her campaign seems to exist only to demonstrate her loyalty to Donald Trump and satisfy her desire to appear on Fox News. Illinois families deserve better than someone who downplays the January 6 insurrection or peddles dangerous conspiracy theories about life-saving vaccines.”
