* Richard Chapman is running to replace Rep. Tom Cross in the Illinois House. Chapman’s palm card shows a smiling face on one side…
* On the other side, however, Chapman rants about the state borrowing from the Chinese and then unveils his four-point plan. Pay special attention to number four…
I wasn’t aware that the imposition of Sharia Law was a big problem in Illinois.
Golly, I sure am glad we have “common sense” candidates like Mr. Chapman around to teach us.
*** UPDATE *** Mr. Chapman wrote a book called “2084-When God Blessed America Again.” From Amazon…
2084-When God Blessed America Again is a gripping story of a man and a woman who grew up under the iron fist of Islamic law in the United States of Islam, formerly known as the United States of America.
By sheer force of will and population redistribution, the Islamic faith has now become the controlling force that dominates approximately 80 percent of the world’s populations.
James and Gwen, the two main characters, are raised in separate parts of the country. Each suffer through horrible family events brought on by the oppressive society, and each has sworn revenge! By totally separate circumstances, they find themselves in Alaska, one of the few areas of the globe that a person can live in “relative” freedom. They eventually find each other in the wilderness along with a group of people who also cherish the idea of freedom.
2084 is filled with intrigue, war, and romance. Not a book for the weak of heart!
I’m gonna rush right out and buy it.
105 Comments  
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Figure it out and pass a bill
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Mike Zalewski has introduced legislation to increase minimum sentencing for repeat offenders of the Unlawful Use of a Weapon statue and more prison time for those who violate the Aggravated Use of a Weapon statute The outline from Zalewski’s spokesperson…
* UUW Carry/possess (this section is not applicable to Concealed Carry Licensees)
1st offense remains a Class A misdemeanor
A second offense remains a Class 3 felony but now will be non-probationable and the person “shall be sentenced to no less than 3 years and no more than 10 years”.
* UUW by felons or people in DOC custody (Probationers, Parolees, Mandatory Supervised Release)
Currently a Class 3 felony for the 1st offense and mandatory imprisonment of 2-10 years. Subsequent offenses and violation by parolees are Class 2 felonies with mandatory sentences of 3-14 years
Will remain a Class 3 felony with mandatory imprisonment of 4-10 years. Subsequent offenses will remain Class 2 felonies with mandatory 5-14 year sentences
* Aggravated UUW (as amended under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act)
Currently, if the weapon is in close proximity, loaded, and the offender does not have a CCL, it is a Class 4 felony. A 2nd or subsequent offense is a Class 2 felony a mandatory 3-7 year imprisonment.
Will remain a Class 4 felony for the 1st offense with a mandatory 3-7 year imprisonment and Class 2 felony with a mandatory 4-10 year imprisonment for subsequent offenses
* Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Streetgang Member
Currently, a Class 2 felony with a mandatory prison sentence of 3-10 year
This is currently not probationable when the firearm is loaded
Will remain a Class 2 felony, but require a mandatory 4-10 years in prison
* Affirmative Defense
It will be an affirmative defense to the AUU/no FOID card offense if there are no prohibitors to their FOID card being renewed, and the card is simply hung up in processing. The same defense is acceptable for CCLs hung up in processing.
* The Department of Corrections estimates big costs for Zalewski’s proposal…
The concept, designed to crack down on gun violence in the state’s largest city, would add 3,860 inmates to the state’s already overcrowded prison system, the Illinois Department of Corrections estimates.
That surge would require more space for inmates than is currently available, as well as more than $700 million in additional operational costs, the agency says.
“Based on current inmate population, IDOC does not have sufficient capacity to take on another 3,860 inmates,” Corrections spokesman Tom Shaer noted Monday. “The state would need to build at least one prison.”
Shaer did not have an estimate on how many additional prison guards would be needed.
“Hundreds of new employees, to be sure,” he noted.
I’m with Zalewski in not being so sure those numbers are accurate.
First, a big chunk of that prison population increase is likely made up of inmates who are either already in prison or will be. So, there could be a lot of double-counting going on.
Secondly, Zalewski points out that IDOC’s figure includes the cost of incarcerating some AUUW violators who would normally get probation, but, he says, the folks they are pointing to shouldn’t have legally received probation in the first place.
* I am no fan of mandatory minimums. But it’s more than obvious that the justice system, particularly in Cook County, is allowing way too many people off for what ought to be serious illegal weapons crimes.
So, perhaps legislators could tweak the minimums in the bill a bit and then repeal some other mandatory minimums - particularly on drug possession crimes - which are currently crowding our prison system in exchange for passing some version of this bill.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former Gov. Jim Edgar, a Kirk Dillard supporter, weighed in on Bruce Rauner’s choice of Evelyn Sanguinetti as a running mate...
“With all of the Republican candidates for lieutenant governor now decided, it’s obvious who hit the home run. Kirk Dillard’s choice of Jil Tracy, an experienced state representative from Quincy, whose family business employs 1,000 Illinoisans in a food-distribution business, is clearly the most qualified to be governor if something were to happen to Kirk,” Edgar said.
Rauner chose a first-term Wheaton city council member and attorney. Brady chose a former mayor of a small, upscale suburb who has worked with Adam Andrzejewski. Rutherford chose a 2010 attorney general candidate.
* The Question: Do you agree with Jim Edgar’s claim that Kirk Dillard chose the “most qualified” running mate who could step into the top job? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey services
…Adding… From the Twitters…
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* Speaker Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have filed a response to Gov. Pat Quinn’s motion for direct appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court of the legislative pay case. The leaders want the court to take the case and then issue a summary judgement against Quinn…
1. The Governor’s constitutional argument in this case is contrived. He asks this Court to find that the drafters of the 1970 Constitution either did not know the meaning of the word “changes,” or intentionally misused that word when they prohibited mid-term “changes” in Article IV, Section I I , which provides that “changes in the salary of a member (of the General Assembly) shall not take effect during the term for which he has been elected.” Specifically, he claims that when the drafters prohibited mid-term changes in legislative salaries, they did not mean “any change”, they only meant to prohibit an “increase”.
2. His second argument (and perhaps his principal one) is that the case is not “ripe” for review. This argument will be shown to be a transparent attempt to avoid an adverse ruling on his actions, which were in violation of the Constitution.
3. The Plaintiffs are reluctant to impose this appeal on this Court (in denying a stay, the trial court found it “totally meritless” (see Exhibit A to this Response, the circuit court’s ruling denying Defendant’s Motion to Stay, at p.2l)). But, regardless of its lack of merit, because it is a controversy between two branches of State government which has attracted some notoriety, we urge the Court to exercise Rule 302(b) jurisdiction over this appeal.
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Lethal weapon
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Kankakee Daily Journal…
Bill Brady said he’s learned enough from the election of 2010 to win in 2014.
Brady was the Republican nominee for governor in 2010 in Illinois. He led in the polls most of the way, then was defeated on election night by Democrat Pat Quinn. Brady lost by 32,000 votes, less than one percent of the popular vote. He carried 98 of Illinois’ 103 counties, including all those in The Daily Journal circulation area.
“I learned how big the state is,” he told the Kiwanis Club of Kankakee on Monday. “I learned that I didn’t spend enough time in Cook and the collar counties. I know we need to reach out to blacks and Latinos more,” he said.
OK, it’s nice that he says he learned some lessons, particularly about Cook County.
* But then he said this…
He supports concealed carry and would strengthen it. He said the ban on carrying while on public transportation was unfair to some who needed public transportation and who needed to protect themselves.
The entire Chicago media freaks the heck out when anybody mentions concealed carry on mass transit. Here’s an example, from the Chicago Tribune. And no it’s not a column or editorial, it’s supposed to be a straight news piece…
Worried transit officials asked lawmakers to imagine a CTA train packed with inebriated, possibly irate fans after a Cubs night game, then consider the wisdom of adding gun-toting passengers to the potentially volatile mix.
Or what if a thief grabbed a bus rider’s iPhone — a not-uncommon crime — and an armed commuter tried to stop the criminal?
* From a Tribune editorial…
Self-defense? On the CTA, the most commonly reported crime is theft. Commuters carrying smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics are frequent targets. Those incidents continued to climb last year, even as batteries, robberies and assaults declined slightly.
Having your iPhone snatched from your hands might be infuriating, but it doesn’t call for a lethal response. Allowing commuters to carry guns, though, would invite that sort of overreaction. An armed commuter who tried to stop a purse-snatching could easily harm or even kill others in a crowded bus or train.
There is no need to get into a debate about the merits of this issue in comments. Yes, the gun folks like the idea, but there’s no doubt that it’s a killer general election issue in Cook County. It’s just the reality.
If Brady wins the primary, I guarantee you this will be used against him.
If you want Cook County votes next November, you have to at least try to not freak out Cook County voters.
38 Comments
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ADM considers high-tax Minnesota
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Just days after Gov. Pat Quinn announced he would veto any tax break for Archer Daniels Midland until pension reform is a done deal, the Decatur-based company sent emissaries to Minnesota…
A site selection team for Archer Daniels Midland was in St. Paul Monday, meeting with representatives of GreaterMSP, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named. The meeting is being held at GreaterMSP’s headquarters in St. Paul’s Securian Building.
By sending representatives to the Twin Cities, the agricultural giant is at least confirming the Twin Cities as a potential relocation choice. ADM said last month that it wanted to move its headquarters and some technology jobs out of Decatur, Ill.
ADM was founded in that state over 100 years ago.
* While it would not be good to lose the company’s new world headquarters and tech sites, it might also make me chuckle a bit. Why? Well, Minnesota just raised a bevy of tax rates. From a May 21st story...
The tax bill creates a new income tax rate for top earners at 9.85 percent, 2 percentage points above the prior top rate, to generate $1.1 billion for the fiscal 2014-2015 biennium that begins July 1, according to a bill summary from House Democrats.
The top income tax rate applies to income over $250,000 for married couples and $150,000 for single filers. It will give Minnesota the fourth highest top state tax rate in the nation and apply to about 54,400 residents. […]
Minnesota also is closing some corporate tax loopholes to gain $400 million for the new budget, and the sales tax base is expanding to some select non-consumer transactions.
Since ADM is looking to locate some high-paying exec and tech jobs, most if not all of those positions would most likely be impacted by that much higher income tax rate.
* Minnesota’s corporate income tax rate, by the way, is a whopping 9.8 percent.
The state ranked 45th on the Tax Foundation’s 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index. Illinois ranked 29th.
So if ADM does move to Minnesota, Illinois’ tax rates could not possibly be blamed, which would probably make the Illinois Policy Institute’s collective head explode, and that alone would be almost worth it.
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“Ban the Box” now in effect
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn has issued an order forbidding state agencies from asking on job applications whether they have a criminal past…
Promoting the decision to what he calls “Ban the Box,” State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) says the governor’s administrative order doesn’t mean private employers will be required to hire ex-cons. It simply means applications for state government jobs will no longer include a box indicating whether an applicant has pled guilty, or been convicted of a criminal offense, other than a minor traffic violation.
State agencies would still be allowed to conduct background checks, and request information on criminal convictions, but not until later in the process.
“I think that it’s important that employers hire the best qualified person that they feel comfortable with for the job,” Ford says. “Employers in private (business) or state agencies should never hire a person that appears to not be a fit for the job.”
Ford gives an example of someone he knows who would benefit: a retiree who had a pocket knife in his pocket 50 years ago. As for the really bad guys, Ford says they’re unlikely to apply for a legitimate job anyway.
As for himself, the lawmaker says he anticipates federal bank fraud charges against him –- unrelated to his service in the General Assembly -– being tossed out of court soon.
It’s important to note that the agencies can ask in subsequent interviews about a criminal record.
It’s also interesting that Ford actually thinks the federal bank fraud charges against him will be tossed out of court.
* Background…
According to the National Employment Law Project, one in four work-eligible adults—a total of 65 million people—has some type of criminal record. Many of these people have their job applications thrown away or at least discredited: In 2012, more than two-thirds of employers run criminal background checks on applicants, according to a Society of Human Resources Management survey.
The problem specifically impacts African Americans who have almost six times the incarceration rate of their white counterparts. At a community forum hosted by the Worker’s Center for Racial Justice at the Louis Farrakhan-owned Salaam restaurant in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood, several black men described their struggles to find a job after a brush with the law. […]
Quinn’s order makes Illinois part of a national trend. In recent years, armed with the catchy “Ban the Box” motto, advocates for the formerly incarcerated have persuaded states, counties and cities across the U.S. to remove the criminal-history question from their applications to the National Employment Law Project, 10 states have enacted some type of Ban the Box initiative, and eight of those did so within the past four years. All these initiatives prohibited criminal-background checks in public-sector job searches, and four also included private employers.
* More…
Sweig, founder of the Institute for People with Criminal Records, also said the term “Ban the Box” doesn’t accurately portray the meaning of the proposal.
“The term Move the Box is more accurate,” he said. “Ban the Box is an unfortunate misnomer nationwide, and in my view is at the root of mistaken legislator perceptions of the bill’s intent and operation.”
He said, “Now that it’s failed three times in the legislature, the only way for it to become a law is by executive order,” he said. “And I think the governor will be receptive to the bill.”
Thoughts?
37 Comments
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Caption contest!
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Until today’s announcement that she’d be Bruce Rauner’s running mate, Evelyn Sanguinetti called herself Evelyn Pacino Sanguinetti and featured Rauner opponent Kirk Dillard on her Facebook page…
Many thanks to Senator Dillard for his words of Republican encouragement at RNHA, DuPage, meet and greet prior to Lincoln Day Dinner.
* Let’s welcome her to the race with a photo she posted of herself with Dillard…
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* From a press release…
Bruce Rauner announced Evelyn Sanguinetti as his Lieutenant Governor selection today and they began a two-day tour of the state that will take them to Chicago, Rockford, Quad Cities, Marion, Quincy and Peoria.
“Evelyn is the perfect partner to shake up Springfield,” Bruce Rauner said. “She’s achieved the American Dream and will fight so more in Illinois can reach it too. She grew up in poverty, relying on public assistance, and worked hard to become an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, a City Councilmember, and a teacher at the very law school that gave her the opportunity to work for this state.”
“She has the talent and guts to take on the lobbyists, special interests, and career politicians that are destroying this state and eliminating opportunities for the next generation,” Rauner said.
“I’m proof that with hard work, a good education and an opportunity anyone from anywhere can make it,” Evelyn Sanguinetti said. “Unfortunately, too many in Illinois who have backgrounds that look a whole lot like mine aren’t being given access to a quality education or that opportunity to succeed. I understand firsthand how the policies pushed by the career politicians are failing us and that’s why I’m excited to run with Bruce Rauner to transform Illinois.”
“Vamos a sacudir a Springfield, y traer de vuelta a Illinois,” Sanguinetti concluded.
About Evelyn
Evelyn is the living embodiment of the American dream. A first-generation citizen, Evelyn’s been beating the odds her entire life.
Evelyn’s father legally immigrated to the United States from Ecuador, and her mother entered the country as a Cuban refugee. Her parents were still teenagers when she was born in Miami, Florida, and Evelyn grew up with Spanish as her first language.
Her parents often struggled to make ends meet, and her family moved frequently, whenever they could no longer afford rent. Evelyn found her way through her love of playing the piano and was able to attend a top public school for fine arts in Miami.
Through this opportunity, she developed a love of learning and decided to attend college and pursue a better life. Evelyn received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Florida International University. She soon moved to Chicago to attend The John Marshall Law School, fell in love with Illinois and plans to never leave.
Following law school, Evelyn worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office under Jim Ryan before transitioning to private practice. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at The John Marshall Law School.
In another turning point in her life, Evelyn suffered a slip and fall accident a few years ago and when being checked by doctors discovered that she has multiple sclerosis. Evelyn hasn’t let it slow her down. After being given the green light from her doctor, she ran for City Council of Wheaton, and won in 2011.
Evelyn currently lives in Wheaton with her husband, Raymond, and their three children. She has been involved in Franklin Middle School, Lowell Elementary School and Jefferson Preschool PTA’s. Evelyn is also a member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and the DuPage County Bar Association. Evelyn and her family are active in Cub Scouts, the Community School of the Arts, Wheaton Briarcliffe Youth Baseball, and sports within the Wheaton Park District.
Born into a family of immigrants with little means, Evelyn has combined talent, hard work and self-determination to achieve great things for herself and give back to the local community. She is committed to making sure all the people of Illinois have a similar opportunity to succeed.
* The intro video…
* In an e-mail to supporters, Rauner said he had “found the perfect partner to join me in shaking up Springfield.”
He also posted a Spanish language version of the intro video here.
Discuss.
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