Today’s quotable
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m posting this press release because I do not ever recall a Republican legislator saying “Illinois is a great place to do business”…
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the launch of the Blue Collar Jobs Act (BCJA) Tax Credit application for eligible companies. BCJA is a bipartisan legislative package designed to promote economic expansion and growth in Illinois by incentivizing construction projects. The legislation makes $20 million in tax credits available per year for eligible companies. […]
The BCJA amended legislation for Illinois’ premier incentive programs to provide tax credits attributable to the wages paid to construction workers on eligible projects. Eligible companies include those who are located in an Enterprise Zone (EZ) or a River Edge Redevelopment Zone (RERZ), companies designated a High Impact Business (HIB), or companies with an agreement under the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Program. Companies that completed construction projects in 2021 (the effective date of the legislation) or later are eligible to apply for credits. […]
Eligible companies can receive tax credits equal to 75 percent of the income tax attributable to construction workers on eligible projects located in an underserved area, or 50 percent for projects located in other areas. The BCJA is designed to further incentivize major capital investments in communities across Illinois and create good-paying construction jobs. […]
“Illinois is a great place to do business, and the tax credits provided by the Blue Collar Jobs Act will encourage capital investments across Illinois,” said Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford). “Incentivizing major construction projects while supporting manufacturers will have a long lasting, positive economic impact on Illinois communities.”
…Adding… On-topic update…
Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement on DCEO’s announcement that the Blue Collar Jobs Act will be coming back online.
“We have consistently requested that the governor implement the long-stalled Blue Collar Jobs Act that was a part of the 2019 Rebuild Illinois bipartisan agreement. Manufacturers and businesses throughout the state can now begin applying for these jobs and development tax credits. This is a step in the right direction for rebuilding our economy and providing more job opportunities to Illinois workers.”
* Senate President Don Harmon…
“This is the result of a bipartisan effort to foster economic development in Illinois. These tax incentives are an excellent way to create good-paying jobs and continue our growth as a business leader in the Midwest.”
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Afternoon roundup
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This proposal from the Action Center on Race & The Economy and the People’s Unity Platform is not serious…
The first is a move to impose a city income tax of 3.5% on any household with income above $100,000 a year. This tax would apply to both Chicago residents and money made by suburbanites employed in the city, and would yield an estimated $2.1 billion a year. […]
[Report co-author Saqib Bhatti, who serves on a 45-member Johnson transition subcommittee] said many of the bigger ideas contained in the proposal would require approval from Springfield.
They claim that this wouldn’t be a graduated tax, but I cannot see how this gets around the state constitutional prohibition: “A tax on or measured by income shall be at a non-graduated rate.” The state has a low income exemption to avoid triggering that provision. So, “approval from Springfield” would likely only be one step. Illinois voters would then have to adopt a constitutional amendment, and that didn’t go too well last time. Even if you buy into their constitutional argument, this is just more typical hocus pocus so the far-left can avoid talking about devising real-life solutions and blame others when it doesn’t happen.
* Define “lacking”…
But in Chicago, the new [asylum-seeking] arrivals are finding an increasingly fraying safety net as the city is expected to run out of funds for migrant assistance by the end of June, while assistance from state and federal governments has been lacking. […]
Pritzker’s administration has said the state has spent $260 million on shelter and care for asylum-seekers.
* The same publication might want to define “bloated”…
* Comptroller Mendoza…
Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza announced a $150 million transfer to the Rainy Day Fund on Wednesday, bringing the fund’s balance to a record-high level of $1.73 billion.
This week’s transfer into the Rainy Day Fund is part of an $850 million supplemental appropriation the legislature and Gov. Pritzker adopted in January.
* ATRA…
This week, Illinois General Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman filed a last-minute amendment to Illinois House Bill 219, which aims to allow recovery of punitive damages in wrongful death cases.
“This amendment is a clear attempt by the trial bar to line their pockets at the expense of Illinois families,” American Tort Reform Association President Tiger Joyce said. “This ill-conceived amendment not only threatens to escalate costs but will further exacerbate Illinois’s reputation as a Judicial Hellhole®. We urge Illinois’s government leaders to reject this measure and protect the state’s economic vitality.”
H.B. 219, initially titled the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, is essentially a shell bill that has become a vehicle for the proposed amendments. Amendment 1 would allow punitive damages to be recovered in wrongful death cases, except in cases against the state or a state employee acting in the person’s official capacity. Amendment 2 would further carve out healing art malpractice or legal malpractice.
“This amendment is arbitrary and imbalanced,” Joyce said. “It exempts state government, local government, and medical malpractice cases. If this amendment was truly about punishing defendants for certain behavior and protecting victims, then why would they create exemptions? The answer is simple: this amendment is nothing more than a power grab by the trial bar.”
Just two years ago, the trial bar snuck a pre-judgment interest rate amendment through the back door in the middle of the night during a lame duck session. This amendment, filed at the eleventh hour, echoes the trial bar’s past efforts to push through unfavorable legislation.
“This is, unfortunately, the exact sort of tactic we’ve come to expect from the Illinois trial bar and is a page straight from the trial lawyers’ playbook,” Joyce said.
The bill is moving quickly through the legislative process and, in a matter of days, has passed the House and now is awaiting committee assignments in the Senate. Leader Hoffman has said the bill is a top priority of the trial lawyers.
Cook County’s status as a perennial Judicial Hellhole®, currently ranked fifth-worst in the nation by the American Tort Reform Foundation, underscores the urgent need for fair and balanced legislation.
“Rather than burdening Illinois businesses with punitive damages, lawmakers should focus on creating an environment that promotes growth and prosperity,” Joyce said. “This amendment threatens to exacerbate the challenges faced by businesses and further dampen Illinois’ competitiveness.”
* Self-appointed morality police call the real police about a book option…
Sarah Bonner has been an Illinois middle school teacher for 20 years, and she has always tried to offer her students a diverse collection of books.
This year, a parent called the police over her book choice.
It started on Monday, March 13, 2023, when [the Heyworth Community Unit School District 4 teacher] held what she calls a “book tasting” for students.
“I wanted to give them a smattering of fiction and nonfiction to choose from on a day that we call ‘Reading Monday,” Bonner, 42, tells TODAY.com. “We just read and celebrate books.”
One of those books was Juno Dawson’s “This Book is Gay.” It’s a bestselling nonfiction book that’s billed by its publisher as an entertaining and informative “instruction manual” for anyone coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.
“By Wednesday, I received notice that parents had gotten a hold of pictures from that book that their child had taken in class,” Bonner says. “By Friday, I was told that parents had filed a police report against me for child endangerment.” […]
The day after Bonner learned about the police report, she received a letter from her school district — she had been placed on paid administrative leave. […]
The following Thursday, the school district held a special board meeting and voted unanimously to accept Bonner’s resignation.
* Well-earned…
On Wednesday, House Assistant Minority Leader Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) was awarded the Vince Demuzio Legislator of the Year Award from the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies for 2023. The president of IACAA, Arturo Puckerin, visited Leader Haas’ Springfield office to present the award to her.
“Poverty affects too many communities in the 79th District and across Illinois, and it is imperative we work hard to combat it and help our low income neighbors,” said Leader Haas. “I’m honored to receive this award and am committed to improving the lives of low income Illinoisans so every Illinoisan has the opportunity to succeed and live happy, fulfilling lives. As a social worker for over 30 years, I understand the issues people affected by poverty face. I will continue supporting legislation to also assist these individuals and help them overcome challenges presented by poverty.”
The Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies is a membership organization and serves as the backbone for training, technical assistance, and advocacy efforts. It was founded in 1971 in Springfield and former State Senate Majority Leader Vince Demuzio served as the first executive director of IACAA prior to his first Senate term in 1975.
Leader Haas has fought for low income residents of the 79th District since she began her service in the House of Representatives in 2021. One of her most significant accomplishments was backing bipartisan legislation to bring natural gas to Pembroke Township, an area in the 79th District that has been historically underserved. Residents in Pembroke had been forced to heat their homes and cook with wood, propane gas, or electricity, causing a significant financial burden for many. Leader Haas also leads the House Republican Supporting Women & Families working group, which tackles issues such as the cost of living, child care, and retaining Illinois teachers and medical professionals.
Community Action Agencies were first established in Title II of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to provide stimulation and incentives for rural and urban communities to mobilize their resources in order to combat poverty. The concept then evolved into the board structure of Community Action Agencies for equal representation by people with low income, public interests, and private entities.
* Harmon press release…
Today, Democratic Oak Park Township Committeeman Don Harmon announced details of the process to be used by a committee of the Cook County Democratic Party to fill the vacancy in the 1st District of the Cook County Board of Commissioners created by the resignation of Mayor Brandon Johnson. Mayor Johnson announced his resignation from the Cook County Board on May 13th, 2023 thus creating a vacancy to be filled by the elected Committee members of the Cook County Townships and Chicago Wards that comprise the 1st District. As the Committeeman with the highest number of “weighted votes,” Harmon will serve as the Chair of the proceedings.
“We welcome all applicants from the 1st District to serve the people of Cook County,” said Chair Don Harmon. “Anyone interested in applying to our committee for the appointment should submit a resume and a short cover letter signifying their interest and qualifications,” he concluded.
As described by Illinois statute and Cook County Ordinance, the election committee is comprised of elected party officials in the district who share the same political party as the last member to hold the district’s County Board seat. Weighted votes in each ward and township that make up the 1st County Board District, for the purpose of this appointment, are calculated by the number of votes Mayor Johnson received in the November 2022 election. Committee members elected to represent Chicago wards are based on the ward maps drawn previous to this redistricting cycle as those members have not faced an election under the newly drawn ward maps.
The members of the 1st District’s election committee include Alderperson Daniel LaSpata (1st Ward), Tim Egan (2nd Ward), Angie Gonzalez-Rodriguez (26th Ward), Alderperson Walter Burnett (27th Ward), Alderperson Jason Ervin (28th Ward), Alderperson Chris Taliaferro (29th Ward), Alderperson Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), Alderperson Emma Mitts (37th), Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (Oak Park Township), and Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough (Proviso Township).
All registered voters residing in the district are eligible to submit an application via email at firstdistrictvacancy@gmail.com. Applications may be submitted until May 31st, 2023.
Once the application period is closed on May 31st, 2023, the election committee may narrow the field of applicants and set a date and time for in-person interviews. Upon completion of interviews and deliberation, the committee will vote on the appointment of the new commissioner. A vote of the majority of the weighted votes will determine the appointee.
Additional details of the committee’s meeting will be announced once the committee has chosen the time and place to meet.
* I’ve never heard of this outfit, but it just ranked Illinois as the second happiest state in the nation…
Scholaroo has identified the Happiest States in the US by comparing all 50 states across 54 relevant metrics distributed in 7 key categories (Personal Finance, Leisure Activities, Mental Health, Physical Health, Employment, Personal Relationships, and Social Policies).
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Chicago Reader | ’Inmates are extremely manipulative‘: Hundreds of lawsuits against Wexford Health Sources, a for-profit medical corporation operating inside Illinois prisons, allege substandard care. An employee handbook describes how clinicians were trained to be skeptical of incarcerated patients.
* WBEZ | Cook County has been giving felony records to people who should not have them: The error in Malcolm’s record was not an anomaly. Cook County has been wrongly putting felonies on the records of people in some diversion programs for at least three years. With the erroneous felony on his record, Malcolm’s life quickly unraveled. Without work he could not afford housing and began sleeping on the street, tucked into the doorways of buildings. He’d built his identity around being a provider for his family, and now he was having trouble even feeding himself. He slipped into a deep depression. “I wouldn’t wish that on nobody,” he said.
* Crain’s | U of C to share in $150 million for quantum computing research: The University of Chicago, along with the University of Tokyo, are getting $150 million from IBM and Google for quantum computing research in an effort to keep the U.S. and Japan in front of China, The Wall Street Journal reported.
* Sun-Times | Ex-Washington Federal bank employee cuts deal with feds, expected to testify: The failure of Washington Federal Bank for Savings has led to criminal charges against 16 people. Among them: former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, who was convicted last year of lying to regulators and filing false income-tax returns.
* Sun-Times | Couple from Quincy gets two years probation in U.S. Capitol riot: In a Facebook message, Jason Gerding confirmed for someone that “lots” of tear gas had been deployed during the riot, federal prosecutors say. He also allegedly sent someone a message at 5:14 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021 that read, “this is f—ing epic.”
* Tribune | Man, 28, fatally shot outside Roseland outreach center founded by Arne Duncan: An outreach center is located at the 95th Street address and Duncan is the founder of Chicago CRED. Duncan was CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2008 and U.S. secretary of education from 2009 to 2015.
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson offers empathy but no immediate solutions as he visits migrant shelters: “It’s wicked. It’s unconscionable. But as you all know, the city of Chicago is coming together to make sure that people who wish to find real comfort here in the city of Chicago, that we provide that,” Johnson said. “Now I’m here today because I needed to see it firsthand.”
* Sun-Times | Colleagues of slain Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston rise to their feet during funeral to ‘show her how much we loved her.’: Preston’s mother, Dionne Mhoon, told those gathered that her daughter was a “kid full of life, dreams, big goals and wanted to make major changes.” “In this tragic situation, my family and I feel triumph,” she said. “We feel grace. We feel the love. We feel the hugs. And most importantly, we feel God’s presence over us. There is a presence of Aréanah’s presence saying, keep going, momma. You always wanted to be like me.”
* NYT | Heat Will Likely Soar to Record Levels in Next 5 Years, New Analysis Says: The record for Earth’s hottest year was set in 2016. There is a 98 percent chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed that, the forecasters said, while the average from 2023 to ’27 will almost certainly be the warmest for a five-year period ever recorded.
* Sun-Times | Suburbs in Chicago and elsewhere are aspiring to out-city the city: It’s a fascinating moment when suburbs are staking claim to the ‘‘new urbanism’ in development. But new suburban communities must be intentional about bringing together people of different backgrounds and income levels, a DePaul University sociologist writes.
* LA Times | How TikTok changed the way people migrate to the U.S.: Another TikTok video, which has been viewed 17 million times, falsely claimed in big, bold letters that, starting May 11, migrants “cannot be deported.” Soon, thousands of people began to leave poignant comments.
* Courier-News | No clear reason why vandals are damaging books in the Big Red Little Library, Elgin couple says: “We haven’t had any trouble until the last couple of months. Twice now there have been multiple books removed, ripped apart and the pages thrown on the ground for a span of about two blocks,” she said.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** It’s almost a law
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
*** UPDATE *** Heading to the governor…
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Brenden Moore…
* Chicago Tribune…
A measure aimed at keeping anti-abortion pregnancy centers from employing deceptive practices in an effort to dissuade women from seeking the procedure has been sent by Illinois legislators to Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who already has indicated his support.
Sometimes referred to as “limited practice facilities,” the nonprofit clinics operate nationwide and often open near or even adjacent to clinics where abortions are performed. The bill, passed by the House last week after earlier clearing the Senate, empowers the Illinois attorney general to investigate claims that a limited practice facility engaged in fraud, deception or false pretense. Violations could lead to fines of up to $50,000.
“This is literally giving and clarifying the authority of the attorney general in order to prosecute these cases where people are using misleading and deceptive practices in order to take women away from being able to actually get the abortion care that they are looking for,” Democratic state Sen. Celina Villanueva of Chicago said in an interview.
Opponents say the bill violates the First Amendment, discriminates against certain organizations and gives too much leeway to the attorney general’s office to decide what facilities should be penalized.
* Sen. Loughran Cappel…
In an effort to recognize and honor Illinois veterans, State Senator Loughran Cappel led a measure that would allow the Secretary of State to issue United States Submarine Veterans special license plates
“After hearing from a number of constituents, I saw the reason this was important to submarine veterans,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We have to honor the sacrifices all our veterans have made and this is one way we can show our support.”
House Bill 1581 would allow the Secretary of State to issue United States Submarine Veteran license plates to Illinois residents who served in the United States Navy as a submariner. New York and Connecticut offer similar submarine service license plates.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office offers a number of different specialty license plates. Requests for these license plates can be accepted at Driver Services Facilities.
“Our armed forces uproot their lives, leave their families and head off to fight for our country and we can’t thank them enough for that,” Loughran Cappel said.
* Ben Szalinski…
* WAND…
Illinois could be the first state in the country to ensure children featured in social media videos with their families are compensated for their work. […]
The bill states children under 16 could be entitled to a share of the revenue from videos if they are featured in at least 30% of a vlogger’s content within a 30-day period. Minors would receive access to the money once they turn 18 or become legally independent from their parents or guardians. […]
Senate Bill 1782 passed out of the House Tuesday on a 98-17 vote. Some House Republicans opposed the plan as they feel government should not impede on family relationships.
The legislation now heads back to the Senate on concurrence. This measure previously gained unanimous support in the Senate on March 29.
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* Senate President Don Harmon’s Senate Amendment 1 to HB3062…
Sec. 2-101.5. Venue in actions asserting constitutional claims against the State.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, if an action is brought against the State on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly asserting a cause of action for a violation of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, venue in that action is proper only in the County of Sangamon and the County of Cook.
(b) The doctrine of forum non conveniens does not apply to actions subject to this Section.
Remember how the attorney general’s office was forced to rush from county to county last December to respond to identical SAFE-T Act lawsuits? Remember how a certain lawyer would venue shop his COVID and gun law constitutional challenges to get in front of friendly county judges? The Supreme Court eventually stepped in and consolidated the cases. But it was a chaotic mess.
Well, those days would be over if this bill passes (and the courts uphold its constitutionality).
The Senate Executive Committee will take up the amendment today, so I’ll likely update this post.
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* Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter Jr. has been repeatedly criticized for refusing to show up for city council meetings and to an Illinois Senate hearing in March. But he took the time for a brief Politico interview now that his future is uncertain. Notably absent from the questions was this topic…
Keep in mind that the CTA has reduced services and it still can’t keep up with that schedule.
* Also not addressed in the interview was cleanliness…
* Nor was this topic broached…
Embattled CTA President Dorval Carter has repeatedly vowed to fix a transit system Chicagoans have called unsafe, unsanitary and unreliable as ridership has fallen.
But Carter hardly used his work card for the system in 2021 and 2022, CTA records show. And the agency wouldn’t say exactly how often its leader takes public transit.
* He was, however, asked about crime…
Q: There’s a lot of talk about crime on CTA, though Chicago Police data shows it’s down.
Carter: “When you’re in the news every day, or almost every day, for some criminal activity that happens on CTA, it creates a perception that it’s not safe. But the vast majority of customers who ride CTA every day experience a ride that is relatively drama free. … What makes you feel safe is seeing more security, seeing more police, seeing the type of activities that let you know that there are people who are watching out for you and they’re trying to keep you safe.”
There is definitely an overwhelming perception that the CTA is not safe. And performative security measures have some impact. But the private security guards don’t necessarily make people feel safe…
* From 2018…
If there is one issue which shows genuine friction between the motormen and CTA management, it’s the decision in the late nineties to eliminate conductors from the trains. The agency argued at the time, that in addition to cost savings, safety was actually increased, because the motormen became more engaged with full operation of the trains.
But the men and women who drive the trains note the elimination of the conductors led to an inescapable truth: on a train which can be longer than a football field, they are usually the only authority figure on board-one CTA employee for a thousand passengers.
The security issue has been a long time coming. And the CTA has flat-out refused to entertain the notion of trying to replicate the success of “transit ambassadors” in San Francisco and other cities.
* Back to the interview…
Q: How is CTA doing financially? When will it reach a fiscal cliff?
Carter: “We’re not struggling financially because we have Covid relief money to fill our deficit every month as we calculate the gap between our expenses and our revenues. We believe that we will probably run out of money around 2026. But we still have a little bit of time, and that’s one reason why we’ve started our conversations with Springfield around funding and changes to the funding system for transit in the region.”
More reliable, cleaner and safer service is gonna have to happen before they can convince legislators to shell out more money.
Also, the General Assembly has put the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning in charge of a “Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) with recommendations that can help the region invest in a stronger and more financially secure transit system.” The CTA only reluctantly accepted the idea and is expected to try and water down the final report, which is due in January.
* From a legislator involved with transit issues…
They are going to be asking the state to help with their deficit to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in 2026.
That conversation won’t go well if they don’t eliminate transit barriers, go to zero emissions, create safer transit, invest their capital projects equitably, etc.
More to come.
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* New York Times…
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block two Illinois laws prohibiting the sale of high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines while challenges to them move forward.
The court’s brief order gave no reasons, which is typical when the court acts on requests for emergency relief. There were no noted dissents.
Several other states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Washington, along with many municipalities, have enacted similar laws in the wake of mass shootings around the nation. Recent shootings, including one at a Texas mall that left eight people dead, have prompted calls for further efforts to address gun violence.
The case that reached the Supreme Court was a challenge to a city ordinance in Naperville, Ill., enacted in August and a state law enacted in January. The ordinance prohibited “the commercial sale of assault rifles,” listing 26 categories of weapons, including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles. The state law covered similar weapons along with high-capacity magazines.
The order is here.
…Adding… Annie Thompson at the attorney general’s office…
We are pleased the Supreme Court has denied the emergency application for injunction pending appeal, and that communities in Illinois will continue to benefit from this important public safety measure. The Attorney General’s office remains committed to defending the Protect Illinois Communities Act’s constitutionality.
* Rep. Morgan…
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, is commenting publicly following news that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt enforcement of the statewide assault weapons ban while cases against it are decided. Those cases are currently before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Justice Coney Barrett’s decision reinforces what we already knew–that the Protect Illinois Communities Act is, by design, constitutional, and that it comports with legal precedent,” Morgan said. “That this ruling comes from a member of the Court’s conservative majority without noted dissents is the clearest indication yet of the strength of this lifesaving law.”
“The Protect Illinois Communities Act has already prevented the sale of thousands of assault weapons and high capacity magazines in our state. This ruling is a victory in the fight to keep these weapons of war from creating more carnage in communities like mine and countless others across this state.”
* Sen. Morrison…
State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after the nation’s top court refused to block two Illinois laws prohibiting the sale of high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines:
“The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a positive step toward further ensuring military-style weapons – designed for war and not for sport – do not decimate our communities.
“I remain hopeful that this is a positive sign for the Protect Illinois Communities Act and trust in Attorney General Kwame Raoul to work diligently to defend its constitutionality.”
* G-PAC…
Today, the Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC) released the following statement from John Schmidt, a former U.S. Associate Attorney General and member of the Executive Board of G-PAC, in support of the denial from the United States Supreme Court to halt the state’s ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
“The Supreme Court today rejected the last-ditch effort by a Naperville gun dealer to stop continued enforcement of the Illinois ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines passed in January.
The Court issued a one word order: Denied.
As a strong supporter of the new law, we welcome the Court’s action. The dealer had previously lost in the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. He now has nowhere left to go.
The Illinois law will now remain fully in effect while the dealer appeals to the Court of Appeals from District Judge Virginia Kendall’s decision to deny a preliminary injunction because, she said, the statute is “constitutionally sound”. The Court of Appeals will hear oral argument in the case on June 29. It will also hear arguments in a second case in which District Judge Lindsay Jenkins denied relief against the statute in an action brought by a Chicago gun owner, and in a third case in which Judge Steven McGlynn in East St. Louis issued an injunction against the statute that was immediately stated by the Court of Appeals.
We applaud the Illinois Attorney General and the superb lawyers in his office for their effective representation of the public interest in these cases. Stopping enforcement of the law would allow resumption of a continuing flow of new assault weapons and large capacity magazines into our communities. Sale of those dangerous weapons has now stopped and it should never be resumed.”
* IFC…
The IL Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on the US Supreme Court decision to allow enforcement of Illinois’ weapons ban law to continue.
“The US Supreme Court is being consistent with a similar decision in January to allow a New York gun ban to remain in effect while the legal challenges move forward. It is our belief the United States Supreme Court will ultimately decide the constitutionality of the New York law, the Illinois state law as well as the Naperville, IL gun ban. We don’t believe unconstitutional laws should ever be allowed to be enforced, but we remain confident the High Court will rule to uphold the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and prevent state and local governments from enforcing laws that blatantly violate our constitutional rights.”
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Work your bills, people
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Freshman Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora) spent much of his interview with the Pontiac Daily Leader complaining about how woke ideology has infected the legislature, Chicago’s dominance, and even mentioned the counties topic…
“But it’s just frustrating that we, as the Republican Party with only our 40 members, have constituents in every one of our 102 counties. We, as Republicans, touch every county in this state. Democrats can’t say that.”
* Anyway…
Tipsword’s frustrations include his bills not getting a chance to be read. One such bill involved monitoring those with Alzheimer’s or with other dementia or brain-injury issues. This is bill was based on something employed by Woodford County. […]
He pointed out that this program in Woodford County began three years ago. It involves a monitoring bracelet to allow for easier location of the individual when such a situation arises. Tipsword said that there have already been 12 successful finds. […]
He said he wanted to do a test through a few counties but could not get it off the ground. Tipsword found this to be very frustrating and couldn’t understand why there was no momentum.
It got sent to sub-committee, which is an abyss, a place where bills go to die, he said.
The statewide pilot project seems like a decent enough bill. It would even be privately funded.
But Rep. Tipsword only convinced a single member to co-sponsor his bill, and that wasn’t until more than two weeks after the committee passage deadline had passed, and that co-sponsor was a Republican. Only one person filed a witness slip in support.
* Contrast that with fellow Downstate Republican freshman Rep. Bradley Fritts, who passed a bill removing the testing requirement for motorcycle operators who are under the age of 18. Fritts worked that bill hard with ABATE, and they signed up lots of Democratic and Republican co-sponsors (including Speaker Welch) and more than 100 witness slips in support. It passed with a unanimous vote. Rep. Fritts also passed a bill allowing one of his local park districts to buy solar panels and signed up Majority Leader Robyn Gabel as his chief co-sponsor. It cleared the chamber 112-1.
Freshman Republican Rep. William Hauter passed a medical licensure bill with bipartisan support and medical institutional backing.
Republican freshman Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro passed a bill that expanded the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to include some mortgage marketing materials and a bill mandating insurance companies cover medically necessary home saliva cancer screening every 24 months. Both had bipartisan support.
* Do the House and Senate Republicans get the shaft? Heck yes, they do. And some of it, probably more than some, is not of their own making.
But don’t put in minimal visible effort and then complain you can’t get anything done.
…Adding… Even this guy got a bill to the governor’s desk…
The Illinois Senate has given final approval to a measure State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) sponsored to enable abuse victims under 13 years of age to avoid appearing in open court when providing their testimony.
House Bill 2607 passed both the House and the Senate without any opposition. The measure establishes a presumption that the testimony of a victim who is a child under 13 years of age shall testify outside the courtroom, and the child’s testimony shall be shown in the courtroom using a closed-circuit television. The presumption could only be removed if the defendant proves the child will not suffer emotional distress by providing testimony in the courtroom.
“This bipartisan legislation is a common-sense solution to prevent kids in abuse cases from facing their abuser in open court,” Niemerg said. “It sets the practice of closed-circuit TV testimony as the norm. Nothing is more important than protecting our kids, and that’s exactly what this legislation does. I hope the Governor will sign this bipartisan legislation into law.”
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WQAD…
In February, a bill was introduced to the Illinois General Assembly that would allow Illinois breweries to be able to directly ship their products to their customers.
“The idea behind that bill is that maybe we can hit a person in another state or downstate where we don’t currently have distribution,” said Nick Bowes, general manager at Bent River Brewing Company. “It’s just a way that we can add maybe a little bit more to our sales as breweries and get our product to people who otherwise don’t really have an easy way to access it,” […]
“This can help us increase our sales,” Bowes said. “We want to be able to deliver a quality product while keeping our lights on. A move like this would definitely be a step into the right direction.”
The bill currently stands in the Senate with the liquor subcommittee. Illinois Legislation Session ends this week.
* Insurance Business Mag…
An Illinois bill that would allow for punitive damages in wrongful death cases has raised concerns among industry groups, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and the Illinois Insurance Association (IIA).
A joint statement from the two associations warned of the detrimental impact that the bill could have on the state’s public policy and various stakeholders.
Introduced by Representative La Shawn Ford, House Bill 219 seeks to reverse the current prohibition on insurers paying punitive damages.
This would make Illinois an outlier state in terms of the damages allowed in wrongful death cases, according to the APCIA-IIA statement. While some states that permit punitive damages also place caps or limitations on both punitive and non-economic damages, Illinois does not.
* WAND…
Police chiefs at universities across Illinois are asking state lawmakers to pass a plan to help them recruit officers from out of state.
House Republicans filed a bill earlier this spring to allow higher education institutions to hire law enforcement without a residency requirement during the application process. Their proposal could exclude university police applicants from the civil service testing and residency requirements.
“Western Illinois University has applicants from Iowa and possibly Missouri who apply for positions with the campus police and under current statutes they’re not authorized to apply for those jobs as out-of-state residents,” said Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha). “This would give them an opportunity to apply for these positions also.” […]
House Bill 1767 passed unanimously out of the House Higher Education Committee Tuesday morning and now moves to the House floor. The measure gained unanimous support in the Senate last week.
* Cook County Public Defender’s Office…
* WAND…
Illinois could make a popular merit-based grant pilot program permanent to help more students go to state public universities.
The AIM HIGH grant pilot program was launched in 2019 after state leaders saw several years of declining enrollment at Illinois public colleges.
Lawmakers and advocates felt the state’s higher education institutions were out-recruited by colleges in other states offering merit-based scholarships. Families frequently told lawmakers that their students could receive scholarships and grants for $10,00-$20,000 if they had high ACT or SAT scores. […]
House Bill 301 passed unanimously out of the House Higher Education Committee Tuesday morning. The plan now heads to the House floor for further consideration. Sponsors hope the proposal can pass out of both chambers before session is scheduled to end on Friday.
* Scott Holland…
On Monday, state Reps. Dagmara Avelar, D-Barrington, and Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, published a guest column titled “State tax credit a bipartisan approach to easing Illinois’ affordable housing deficit.” The lawmakers advocated for passage of the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit. When I first wrote about that proposal in April 2021, the bipartisan backers were state Reps. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, who now sits in Congress, and Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, out of the General Assembly after a failed bid to become treasurer.
No matter the advocates, the hearts seem in the right place. The federal Low-Income Housing Tax credit has indeed been a successful means of encouraging private development of lower-cost housing options and House Bill 2044 would add a state credit, following nearly half of other states trying to solve similar problems.
“The Build Illinois Homes State Tax Credit calls for creating an estimated 3,500 homes or apartments each year, generating nearly $1 billion in economic activity and $300 million in state and local taxes paid over the next decade, and more than 17,000 jobs supported during that time,” Avelar and Spain wrote. “Each annual round of tax credits will cost the state $350 million spread over 10 years, but the economic returns generated from the program will more than offset the cost.” […]
The numbers aren’t spin, but they require context and an understanding the housing shortage demands multiple solutions. Avelar and Spain are pushing one direction, which should help, but much heavy lifting remains.
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Open thread
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Here you go…
* Tribune | Advocates push for bill to expand state-funded health insurance to adults 19 and over, regardless of immigration status: John Bouman, director of Legal Action Chicago, who is leading the policy work for Healthy Illinois, said that the new programs are no different than the expansion to All Kids or The Affordable Care Act. Those two programs “drastically expanded Medicaid eligibility” and are now running fully implemented, he said.
* WTTW | Despite Uber’s Campaign Against Tougher Safety Standards, ‘Common Carrier’ Bill Moves Ahead in Springfield: Lyft previously opposed the bill but has since moved to a neutral position. That shift reportedly came after an amendment that delayed when the rule would take effect and would let rideshare companies operate for at least an additional five years in Illinois.
* Crain’s | Bills bolstering firefighter, Cook County pension benefits gain traction: Each of the funds is billions of dollars short of the assets needed to pay promised benefits. Despite that, as well as opposition from former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s financial team and expressions of concern from the Civic Federation, one of the firemen’s bills cleared the House yesterday by a wide 88-24 vote.
* Capitol News Illinois | State Supreme Court weighs assault weapons ban: Plaintiffs’ attorney Jerry Stocks argued that because the law allows some people to continue owning the banned weapons – law enforcement officers, certain security guards, active-duty military personnel, and people who already owned those weapons before the law took effect, among others – it violates the state constitution’s equal protection clause. He also argued it violates a ban on “special legislation,” or legislation written for the benefit of one person or group of people.
* Chalkbeat | Will Illinois tax credit scholarship end? Four things you should know about Invest In Kids: Over 9,000 Illinois students received the tax credit scholarship during the 2021-22 school year, according to a report from the state’s Department of Revenue obtained by Chalkbeat Chicago. In prior school years, enrollment numbers remained around 7,000 students.
* Sun-Times Editorial Board | Keep Illinois law strong on protecting personal biometric information: The point of the law is not to crush companies with burdensome penalties. But the answer should not be to toss out the law or weaken the penalties to the point that companies can safely ignore BIPA.
* Cheri Bustos and Reid Ribble | To protect our children and democracy, we need a commonsense approach to social media reform: A recent poll undertaken by the nonpartisan democracy-focused group Citizen Data found strong bipartisan evidence of this sentiment. Regardless of political party, the vast majority of Americans believe social media are toxic to our children and our democracy. A scant 7 in 100 respondents believe that social media’s benefits outweigh its harms.
* Block Club | On Visits To Migrant Shelters, Mayor Brandon Johnson Vows To Support New Arrivals — And Existing Residents: Johnson said he has been briefed regularly during the transition and recently spoke with federal leaders about how every level of government needs to help. In one of her final acts in office, Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared a state of emergency to make it easier for city agencies to respond.
* Tribune | Southeast Side activists celebrate city’s environmental justice agreement: ‘We get a victory — but the war is still on’: The city of Chicago reached the historic agreement with HUD Friday after Southeast Side activists initiated a yearslong federal civil rights investigation into local laws that allowed polluters to be concentrated in certain communities, many of which are on the Southeast Side.
* CNA | Chicago’s Bishop Joseph N. Perry to lead U.S. bishops’ anti-racism committee: Longtime Black Catholic leader Bishop Joseph N. Perry, an auxiliary bishop of Chicago, is the new chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
* Crain’s | Emanuel welcomes Chicago tech firm for Tokyo office opening: Rahm Emanuel welcomed a couple of familiar faces to Tokyo today for the opening of a new office of Chicago-based software company Keeper Security. Emanuel is the U.S. ambassador to Japan. On hand for Keeper’s Tokyo opening were CEO Darren Guccione and board members Howard Tullman and Harper Reed, two tech founders who were familiar faces during Emanuel’s tenure as Chicago mayor.
* Sun-Times | No honeymoon for Brandon Johnson — at least not with Fulton Market Association: Besides demanding 5,000 more surveillance cameras to stop violent crime, the leaders said they would oppose any new or increased taxes until existing tax increment finance funds are raided and the TIF system is reformed.
* Sun-Times | Bulls are without a draft pick after losing first-rounder to Magic in lottery: Karnisovas’ focus now should be on looking to make a deal to get back into the draft or, more likely, start preparing for free agency.
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Live coverage
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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