* Press release…
The Illinois House Republican Caucus elected Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) as the House Republican Leader for the upcoming 103rd General Assembly. The vote took place this evening at an internal caucus meeting in Springfield.
Before becoming State Representative, McCombie served as the Mayor of Savanna, where she was known for balanced budgets and a solid administrative background. McCombie’s first election for State Representative in 2016 taught her what a tough campaign fight is, as she defeated an incumbent Democrat. McCombie has previously chaired the House Republican campaign organization and is the Republican Spokesperson on Restorative Justice Committee.
“The House Republican Caucus is focused on helping Illinois families by offering common sense solutions to the many problems our state faces,” said McCombie. “We will be a unified force that will grow our party by sticking to our core values and ending the corruption that has pervaded state government.”
Inauguration for the 103rd General Assembly will occur on January 11th, 2023.
…Adding…
The following statement is from Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza:
“I offer my heartiest congratulations to State Representative Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, on her historic achievement in becoming the first woman chosen to lead a caucus in the Illinois House of Representatives. Leader McCombie was a chief co-sponsor of my historic and transformational Debt Transparency Act in 2017. Risking the wrath of a vengeful governor from her own party after he vetoed the bill, Rep. McCombie assisted in marshaling the votes of Republicans to help us unanimously override the governor’s veto in the House. Rating agencies have regularly cited that very reform in their upgrades of Illinois’ creditworthiness. Leader-elect McCombie has shown real leadership when it matters. We won’t agree on every issue, but she has proven herself a bipartisan leader willing to work across the aisle for the betterment of Illinois without compromising her values. I look forward to working in the House with Speaker Welch and Leader-elect McCombie to move our state forward.”
18 Comments  
|
* Click here to see the projection at the New York Times. Press release…
Today, the Associated Press officially projected the Workers’ Rights Amendment was passed by voters in this year’s midterm election.
Current projections show the amendment earning support 53% of all voters casting a ballot in the election, exceeding the simple majority of all voters threshold needed to pass.
The amendment received support from an overwhelming number of Illinoisans, with 58% of Illinoisans casting a ballot on the question voting yes.
This historic amendment will protect the freedom for Illinois workers to organize and bargain collectively for better wages, stronger safety protections at work, and more.
The group also says it confirmed the projection with the AP.
30 Comments
|
* Nov 15…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced he has reached a settlement with Walmart to resolve allegations that the company contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores.
The settlement provides more than $3 billion nationally and requires significant improvements to how Walmart’s pharmacies handle opioids. Seventeen state attorneys general on the executive committee, attorneys representing local governments and Walmart have agreed to this settlement, which has been sent to other states for review and approval. The settlement is effective upon approval by 43 states and a population representing 85% of local government units.
* Nov 15…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a bipartisan coalition of 23 attorneys general filing an amicus brief in support of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) efforts to combat alleged illegal debt collection practices in the student loan industry.
The CFPB filed a lawsuit alleging that 15 trusts purchased student loan debt and then engaged in illegal debt collection practices in an attempt to collect on that debt. The CFPB’s complaint describes how collections agencies hired by the trusts submitted false and misleading affidavits and testimony in support of nearly 100,000 debt collection actions brought by the trusts. Additionally, the trusts are alleged to have filed hundreds of lawsuits against consumers for debt that was time-barred or missing critical supporting documentation. Raoul and the coalition argue that the trusts should be held liable for these misdeeds under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010. […]
Raoul’s office has discharged more than $14 million in fraudulent private student loans since 2019. Attorney General Raoul’s office also worked to pass a “Know Before You Owe” law, which aims to alert borrowers of their remaining federal student loan eligibility to help them steer clear of predatory private loans like those provided by Navient.
* Nov 14…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a more than $391 million bipartisan national settlement with Google after an investigation by Raoul and a coalition of attorneys general revealed Google misled consumers about its location tracking practices. Illinois will receive more than $19.5 million under the settlement. […]
Raoul and a coalition of 38 attorneys general opened an investigation into Google following a 2018 Associated Press article that revealed Google recorded movements “even when you explicitly tell it not to.” The article focused on two Google account settings: Location History and Web & App Activity. According to the article, the Location History default setting is “off” unless a user turns on the setting. However, Web & App Activity, a separate account setting, is automatically turned on when users set up a Google account, which includes all Android phone users. […]
Under the settlement, Google has agreed to a series of provisions designed to give consumers more transparency into Google’s practices, including showing additional information whenever users turn an account setting on or off; making key information about location tracking unavoidable for users (i.e., not hidden); and creating an enhanced “Location Technologies” webpage where users can get detailed information about the type(s) of location data Google collects and how it’s used.
The settlement also puts limits on Google’s use and storage of certain types of location information and requires Google account controls to be more user-friendly.
* Nov 14…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 13 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief challenging an Indiana statute that bans transgender female students from participating in girls’ school sports. The brief is filed in A.M. v. Indianapolis Public Schools, which arose after a 10-year-old student was barred from playing on her school’s girls’ softball team after the law was passed even though the student had been a part of the team with no issue in the past.
The brief argues that the court should affirm the preliminary injunction entered by the lower court, which allowed the Indiana student to continue participating on her team during the ongoing litigation. The court made its ruling on the basis that the Indiana statute, which banned her from the team, likely violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as it denies transgender girls access to the same athletic opportunities that other girls and boys have.
* Nov 11…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced national settlements with Experian relating to data breaches in 2010 and 2015 that compromised the personal information of millions of consumers nationwide, including hundreds of thousands in Illinois. Raoul and the coalition also obtained a separate settlement with T-Mobile in connection with the 2015 Experian breach, which impacted more than 15 million individuals who submitted credit applications with the telecommunications company.
Illinois was one of the states to lead an investigation into Experian’s 2015 data breach, which impacted more than 735,000 Illinois residents. Under the settlements Raoul announced, Experian and T-Mobile have agreed to improve their data security practices and pay states more than $16 million. Additionally, Illinois will receive a total of more than $1.2 million. […]
Raoul and the coalition obtained two separate settlements from Experian and T-Mobile in connection with the 2015 data breach. Under a $12.67 million national settlement, Experian has agreed to strengthen its due diligence and data security practices going forward, including by implementing a comprehensive information security program. Experian will also enact data minimization and disposal requirements, including specific efforts aimed at reducing the use of Social Security numbers as identifiers; and specific security requirements, including the use of intrusion detection, firewalls and risk assessments. Illinois will receive $1.04 million. The settlement also requires Experian to offer affected consumers five years of free credit monitoring services as well as two free copies of their credit reports annually during the timeframe. Affected consumers who were members of the 2019 class action settlement are also eligible to enroll in extended credit monitoring services. More information on eligibility can be found online.
Raoul and the coalition also obtained a $2.43 million settlement with T-Mobile. Under the settlement, T-Mobile has agreed to detailed vendor management provisions designed to strengthen its vendor oversight going forward. Illinois will receive around $204,000. The settlement does not involve an unrelated, massive data breach T-Mobile announced in August 2021, which is still under investigation by Attorney General Raoul and a multistate coalition of attorneys general.
* Nov 10…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a bipartisan coalition of 21 attorneys general filing an amicus brief challenging “no-poach” provisions — which restrict the rights of workers to move from one franchise to another in the same restaurant chain — used by McDonald’s in its franchise agreements.
The workers in this case contend that, until 2017, McDonald’s required all McDonald’s franchisees to sign agreements that contained a provision prohibiting them from hiring workers who worked for any McDonald’s restaurant currently or in the prior six months. Raoul and the collation argue that such agreements violate federal antitrust laws and interfere with workers’ ability to seek better employment opportunities, wages and benefits.
“No-poach agreements allow employers to take advantage of workers by trapping them in low-paying jobs and limiting their ability to seek better employment opportunities,” Raoul said. “I am committed to holding companies accountable when they engage in unlawful employment practices that prevent employees from seeking opportunities that allow them to better support themselves and provide for their families.”
10 Comments
|
It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Chicago Coalition for the Homeless…
A new, animated video released today by anti-poverty advocates starts with “You would think that child support goes toward supporting children, right? But families in Illinois who need the most help are getting just a fraction of child support payments.”
The video goes on to explain that families living in extreme poverty and who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) have child support collected from their non-custodial parents only to have most of that money go to the State of Illinois. In fact, only 14 cents of every dollar paid by non-custodial parents go to support their child. The policies disproportionately harm Black families in Illinois and make it harder for families to lift themselves out of poverty. The video can be found here: It is Time to Fix Our Broken Child Support System
House Bill 4423, which passed unanimously out of the Illinois House of Representatives last spring, can be passed this lame-duck session by the Illinois Senate and would fix this harmful policy. Passing HB4423 would help families living in extreme poverty meet their basic needs and ensure child support paid by non-custodial parents goes to support children receiving TANF. The bill would make the TANF grant amount equivalent to 50% of the Federal Poverty Level and direct the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to send funds collected from non-custodial parents directly to the custodial parent and their children.
“This video lays it out straightforwardly. This legislation isn’t about partisan politics; this is about righting a wrong that has been decades in the making,” said Niya Kelly, Director of State Legislative Policy, Equity and Transformation with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “It’s simple: This is about ensuring dollars that are collected on behalf of children who are living in extreme poverty actually get to those children.”
The legislation is sponsored by Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Speaker of the House Emanuel Chris Welch, Senator Adriane Johnson, and Senator Celina Villanueva, among others. The video was put out by Chicago Coalition for the Homeless in support of House Bill 4423.
* Sens. Sally Turner and Sue Rezin…
In their ongoing desire to combat the ongoing fentanyl epidemic that is running rampant throughout the state and nation, State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) held a press conference at the State Capitol with McLean County State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds to unveil legislation that creates two new offenses and penalties for individuals who intentionally sell scheduled drugs with fentanyl or use electronic communication devices to sell fentanyl.
“This epidemic grows more serious each year as the number of deaths continues to climb. No longer is this just something that is happening in a faraway land, it’s happening everywhere,” said Senator Sally Turner. “We, as legislators, have a responsibility to take action and to protect the people who are the targets of this awful poison. Each day that we do nothing, more lives are lost.”
Senate Bill 4221 would amend the manufacture and delivery offense within the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to create a new Class X felony requiring nine to 40 years in prison for unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug, like Adderall or Vicodin, that contains a detectable amount of fentanyl.
“Nationally, nearly 70,000 people 18 and older died in 2021 from synthetic opioid-related incidents, with 90 percent of those being fentanyl-related. That is equivalent to one plane crashing each and every day,” said Senator Sue Rezin. “In Illinois, we have seen the number of synthetic opioid deaths jump from 87 in 2013 to 2,672 in 2021. That means in less than one decade, the state of Illinois saw nearly a 3,000 percent increase in synthetic opioid overdose deaths. We cannot and should not continue to turn a blind eye to this staggering trend.”
Additionally, Senate Bill 4221 would expand the controlled substance trafficking offense to create a new Class 1 felony, which would come with a fine up to $100K for anyone using an electronic communications device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl.
“As the McLean County State’s Attorney, I am thankful that Senator Turner and Senator Rezin are taking steps to support communities victimized by the ongoing fentanyl problem. My office welcomes the opportunity to hold accountable the people who prey upon the weakest among us by pushing fentanyl for financial gain,” said McLean County State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds. “This poison is killing people in our communities, and those who knowingly spread that poison should face harsher penalties.”
Sen. Turner and Sen. Rezin hope to see this legislation move through the legislative process this veto session.
* Stand Up America…
Today, the Illinois General Assembly begins its veto session in Springfield. Lawmakers will work to pass Senate Bill 828, legislation to restore voting rights to nearly 30,000 individuals while they serve a felony sentence. If passed, Illinois would become the first state to restore voting rights to incarcerated citizens and join Maine, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. in allowing currently and formerly incarcerated citizens to vote.
Stand Up America members across the state will be advocating to make sure SB 828 is passed this veto session – joining a growing grassroots movement across the country for voting rights restoration. In recent years, the movement has made important strides to ensure no one has their right to vote taken away. Since 1997, 10 states have reformed their felony disenfranchisement laws—and in 2020, Washington, D.C. became the first jurisdiction in the country to restore full voting rights to people in prison.
During the 102nd General Assembly, state lawmakers worked to pass SB 828. However, the bill narrowly failed just days before the end of the regular session. During the session, Stand Up America members in Illinois sent nearly 2,400 constituent emails to their state legislators in support of voting rights restoration.
In addition to grassroots advocacy, Stand Up America and its partners recently released a poll revealing that 56% of Illinois voters believe voting should be a guaranteed right for all and the state should give full restoration of voting rights to all citizens over the age of 18. The polling also showed wide support for voting rights restoration in the state among younger voters, older voters, and voters of color – including the notion that all citizens should be eligible to vote – with 60%, 53%, and 65% support, respectively.
Voters in Illinois are ready for all citizens to be eligible to vote, no matter their relationship with the criminal legal system. Although many voters in Illinois aren’t aware of the laws in their state around voting rights, the majority of them believe that every citizen should have the right to vote.
8 Comments
|
* Press release…
Illinois Review (IR) announced on Tuesday a new ownership team that includes conservative radio show host and Newsmax columnist Mark Vargas and Chicago attorney and former US congressional candidate Scott Kaspar. The widely recognized and conservative publication on Illinois news was founded in 2005 by conservative leaders Fran Eaton and Dennis LaComb.
“After 17 years and 17,000 stories later, it was time to hand over Illinois Review to a trusted and capable new ownership team that could take the organization to the next level,” said IR co-founder Fran Eaton. “Now more than ever, we’re going to need leading conservative voices and perspectives to rebuild the Republican Party in Illinois – and I know Mark and Scott are the team that can do it.”
“I have known Fran and Dennis since 2005, and I am honored to leverage my resources and rolodex to help take IR to the next level,” said Mark Vargas. “The very first OpEd that I published many years ago was on IR – and so it brings me great joy to officially be a part of the team as co-owner.”
“For decades, IR has been a leading voice on conservative news and perspectives here in Illinois,” said Scott Kaspar. “The brand, our contributors, supporters and subscribers have made IR a total success over the last 17 years – and we can’t wait to build upon that and make IR an even bigger force not just here in Illinois, but across the country,” said Kaspar.
Vargas and Kaspar plan to roll out a new website design, a newspaper division that will bring IR to your doorstep, expand IR’s social media presence and subscriber list and compensate contributors for their work. Vargas will serve as Editor-in-Chief and Kaspar as Publisher.
* Vargas hosts a talk show on WIND 560 AM, the same station where Dan Proft has a show. Vargas’ first IR column doesn’t mention Proft by name, but it’s clearly aimed at him…
Now let’s talk about the Bailey Campaign. $42M in total to a Pro Bailey PAC and $10M directly to Bailey.
$100M this Election Cycle to support 2 men – Irvin and Bailey. While the rest of the Republican field struggled to raise any money at all.
Talk to any Republican who ran for office this General Election and they’ll tell you the same thing: we had no money to get our messages out or to defend ourselves from vicious lies and smears by the Democrats.
$50M for the governor’s race to be called at 7:06 pm – one of the fastest races to be called in modern Illinois election history. […]
It’s time for the Illinois Political Consulting Class to go. Just like a controlled burn removes old vegetation and makes room for new growth – we need this in Illinois if we are ever to be in a position to win again.
It’s time to hold these so-called “political experts” accountable.
They are not experts at winning races – they are experts at losing races. The records speak for themselves. And we are in the super minority because of it.
Think about this in terms of your doctor or a surgeon. If you or a loved one needed surgery, would you call a doctor whose patients all died? No! Of course not!
To be out there promoting a single poll that said Bailey was within “striking” distance and only 2 points behind – is Political Malpractice.
Proft’s “striking distance” quote is here.
…Adding… I’m told by someone at the Bailey campaign that Vargas tried to get hired as a consultant, but the campaign refused. Much of the conversation I had was unprintable.
36 Comments
|
Want a new job?
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is National Apprenticeship week…
* A do-gooder group is hiring…
* And Speaker Welch’s office is looking for employees…
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is hosting the second annual job fair at the Illinois State Capitol on Friday, November 18th from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in Room 114.
The Office of the Speaker is actively recruiting for legislative coordinators, policy analysts, communications specialists, attorneys, IT professionals, and more.
“After the success of last year’s event, I am looking forward to another job fair that allows us to attract the best and brightest Illinois has to offer,” said Speaker Welch. “I’m proud to be a leading voice for equity and diversity in the workplace, and I’m grateful I get to lead by example as the Speaker of the House.”
Nearly 100 applicants attended the in-person event in 2021 and more than 500 resumes were collected for open positions. Applicants ranged in age from college students to retirees looking to reenter the workforce. In addition to the in-person event, 100 people registered for the virtual option that was also offered due to COVID-19 concerns.
To register for this year’s event, please visit https://IL-House-2022-Job-Fair.eventbrite.com. To learn more about the opportunities available with the Office of the Speaker, visit https://ilhousedems.com/employment/.
Illinois House Democrats Job Fair
Friday, November 18, 2022 • 10 AM - 12PM
Illinois Capitol Building, Room 114 - 301 S. Second Street, Springfield
If you’re looking to make a difference, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and the House Democratic Caucus are looking for you! To learn more about the opportunities available with the Office of the Speaker, visit ilhousedems.com/employment/.
Do you like your current job?
…Adding… From Mike Ziri…
Hi Rich,
I saw your post today, “Want a new job?” Equality Illinois has an opening for Manager of Civic Engagement. The position description is linked at https://www.equalityillinois.us/17209-2/ and can be shared on your blog, if you’d like. Thanks.
Mike
–
Michael Ziri
Director of Public Policy
EQUALITY ILLINOIS
he/him/his
…Adding… Madison County Chief Judge William A. Mudge…
In accordance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 39, as Chief Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit of Illinois, I do hereby give notice to the members of the Bar that two vacancies exist for the position of Associate Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit. This vacancy exists due to the retirements of Associate Judge Philip B. Alfeld and Thomas William Chapman, effective July 5 and July 21, 2022, respectively.
Applications shall be taken from any United States citizen, who is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and a resident of the Third Judicial Circuit. Applicants shall have 30 days after this notice of vacancy within which to electronically file a signed application with the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts on the form prescribed and furnished by the Director.
11 Comments
|
The SAFE-T Act’s future
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WTAX…
With the Illinois General Assembly back at the Capitol Tuesday, House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) lays out his expectation for one of the big issues, the “Safe-T Act.”
A key provision of that package, which passed almost two years ago, is the end of cash bail Jan. 1. Police and prosecutors have said their ability to catch and keep criminals will be severely hampered. If they are expecting lawmakers to use the veto session to overhaul the legislation, they are in for a disappointment.
“Certainly it’s a hope that we get clarifications done before we leave here in the second week of veto session,” which ends Dec. 1, Welch said. “I don’t think there’s a need for a big overhaul. We have already done three trailer bills that have been signed into law.”
Welch, about to enter his second two-year term as speaker, says the big issues – abortion, Safe-T, gun control – are delegated first to “working groups.” Those groups are all Democrats and not open to the public.
“One of the ways I manage the caucus is making sure that there is a consensus among us first,” said Welch. “The committee process will allow Republicans to be involved in it. After that, we’ll take it to the floor. (That process) has produced a whole lot of solid results.”
* Center Square…
Jim Kaitschuck of the Illinois Sheriffs Association told The Center Square it could be a while before changes to the act are agreed upon even though lawmakers return this week.
“Our last conversation was last Wednesday, and we do not have a schedule to meet again, but that could change,” Kiatschuck said. “Lawmakers are only in session Tuesday and Wednesday, so in terms of something moving this week, I don’t think that’s remotely likely.”
Over the past few months, Republicans have called for a repeal of the measure, while Democrats have discussed further legislation. Kiatschuck said one idea is more realistic than the other.
“It’s a trailer bill is more likely,” Kaitschuck said. “Especially with the change of politics that has occurred, I do not see how a full repeal would occur.”
Many groups have spoken out against the measure, including the Illinois Sheriffs Association. Kaitschuck has been a part of the negotiations on the subject and said it’s all up to lawmakers now.
“We shed some light on the concerns we have, and states attorneys have and how we would address some of those things,” Kaitschuck said. “Ultimately, now the case has been presented now, it’s a matter of making a determination as to what the General Assembly is able to change or wants to change.”
7 Comments
|
Post-campaign notebook
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Chicago Crusader…
Voter turnout in Chicago’s Black wards dropped significantly in Tuesday’s midterm elections after a record high turnout in the 2018 midterm election, according to a Crusader analysis of data from the Chicago Board of Elections.
Overall voter turnout among Chicago’s 1.5 million registered voters on Tuesday was just 41.3 percent, compared to 60.67 percent in the 2018 midterm election. In Black wards that year, voter turnout was 57.51 percent.
But voter turnout Tuesday, November 8, in Chicago’s Black wards was even lower. Election data show that out of the city’s 17 Black wards, only 36 percent or 573,514 registered voters cast ballots on Tuesday. Voter turnout in Black wards was even lower than during the 2014 midterms election, where turnout was 49.56 percent, higher than the city’s overall turnout of 48.81 percent.
In Tuesday’s election, 11 Black wards experienced voter turnout that was within 30 percentage points. The 16th and 37th Wards had the lowest voter turnout with 25.13 percent and 27.45 percent, respectively. The 16th Ward, representing the neighborhoods of Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, New City and West Englewood, historically has the lowest turnout than any of Chicago’s Black wards.
In Tuesday’s election, none of the Black wards experienced a higher voter turnout than in 2018, when Democrats wrestled control of the U.S. House from the Republicans under President Donald Trump.
* WTTW…
Tom DeVore, who was defeated by incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul in the race to be Illinois attorney general, downplayed the influence of the former President Trump on the Republican’s poor electoral performance.
“Trump’s been gone a long time, so absent Trump would we have won any of these races? I don’t think so,” said DeVore. “There’s bigger issues at play from a structural perspective and an organizational perspective for the party in Illinois and I think that had a much larger impact on these races than any former president ever could have had.”
Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer agreed that the Republican Party in Illinois simply does not have the electoral infrastructure to compete effectively.
“We have an infrastructure problem here in Illinois regardless of the election cycle, regardless of names that people like to talk about,” said Plummer. “The fact of the matter is what we’ve done in Illinois Republican politics would be the equivalent of sending the Chicago Cubs out on the field without bats or gloves.”
Both DeVore and Plummer bemoaned in particular the lack of an early vote effort on the GOP side while noting the success of Democrats in turning out their vote.
“Structural” analysis coming from Tom DeVore? The guy who had no discernible campaign structure at all?
And the lack of an early and mail-in vote push by Republicans is precisely because of Donald Trump, who wants everyone to vote on election day. Republican voters would’ve revolted if the state party had gone against Trump and ran a mail and chase program. Maybe now, the rank and file will learn something. Or not.
But, more importantly, they lost on the issues that mattered most to actual voters. And abortion was at the top of that list. No amount of money and “infrastructure” improvements were gonna change that this year.
* From Heather Wier Vaught’s post-election analysis…
Democrats won two Illinois Supreme Court seats in the newly drawn Second and Third Districts, and Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis received the vote to be retained for a 10-year term. This gives Democrats a 5-2 majority for the first time since 2004. In a first for the Court, a majority of the justices will be female (5-2), there are three African American justices, and a majority are new to the Supreme Court.
The irony is Ken Griffin is the person who should receive the most credit for the changes to the Court and Democrats’ 5-2 majority. In 2020, Griffin and independent expenditure committees spent millions against Justice Kilbride with the goal of knocking him off the Court and electing a Republican to that seat to have a 4-3 Republican court. But Kilbride’s close defeat (he received 57% but needed 60% to be retained) and the retirement of Justice Thomas triggered two elections in 2022, and the General Assembly seized that opportunity to redistrict the Supreme Court districts for the first time since 1964. The Illinois Constitution’s requirement that the districts be of “substantial equal population” allowed the legislature to draw two districts that slightly favor Democrats. Had Kilbride won in 2020, the General Assembly likely wouldn’t have redistricted the Court, and the Republicans could have retained the now-lost seat in the Second District. That could have allowed Republican donors to redirect the tens of millions spent on Supreme Court races to executive and legislative races.
Griffin recently called former President Trump a three-time loser. Maybe look in the mirror, genius.
* The trend is most definitely not Rep. Mazzochi’s friend…
Although, as I told subscribers today, Mazzochi has filed a lawsuit.
…Adding… Interesting…
* Isabel’s roundup…
* State Journal-Register | Illinois General Assembly veto session begins. Here’s what to know: Expected to add up to five seats in the Illinois House, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced Monday that he would retain his position for a second term. “We have more work to do – and with a strong, diverse, and talented Democratic caucus alongside me, I am excited to continue the work Illinoisans have sent us to do,” he said in a released statement.
* Washington Post | Muslim Americans make historic gains in midterm elections: Nabeela Syed made history in this year’s midterms when she defeated a Republican incumbent in Illinois’s 51st District, making her the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly and among the first Muslims elected to the state legislature. […] Syed is among a cohort of candidates who made history this year by becoming the first Muslim Americans to be elected to the state legislature in states including Texas, Illinois, Georgia and Minnesota. All of them are Democrats, many are women and a rising number are Somali Americans.
* WSIL | Illinois comptroller helps hand out turkeys in Cairo: 150 turkeys were handed out in Cairo on Monday in an event that’s been going on for six years. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has been a part of the event that entire time. She joined with Arrowleaf Community Center and Laborers’ 773.
* Crain’s | Political players among Chicago’s young leaders to watch: 40 Under 40: From local to state offices, political consultants to nonprofit leaders, these are some of this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees leaving their marks in and around the public sector.
12 Comments
|
Another in the many Uihlein losses
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Conservative groups that sought to get hundreds of “parents’ rights” activists elected to local school boards largely fell short in last week’s midterm elections, notching notable wins in some Republican strongholds but failing to gain a groundswell of support among moderate voters.
Traditionally nonpartisan, local school boards have become fiercely political amid entrenched battles over the teaching of race, history and sexuality. Candidates opposing what they see as “woke” ideology in public schools have sought to gain control of school boards across the U.S. and overturn policies deemed too liberal.
The push has been boosted by Republican groups including the 1776 Project PAC, which steered millions of dollars into local school races this year amid predictions of a red wave. But on Tuesday, just a third of its roughly 50 candidates won..
A big 1776 Project PAC contributor is billionaire Illinoisan Richard Uihlein, via his Restoration PAC.
Uihlein backed the failed effort to flip the Illinois Supreme Court. He put big bucks into several losing congressional races here (and across the country). He supported Darren Bailey directly and also with $42 million to Dan Proft’s committee. He plunked down at least $2 million against the Workers Rights Amendment and appears to have lost there as well. And he was the primary funder of the Common Sense Reforms PAC, which wasted a bunch of money on a whole lot of failed state legislative races. Also, he contributed millions to the Illinois Senate Republican Leader, who did pick up a net seat but is now about to be forced out by his own members.
And that’s just this year. Uihlein’s losses here go back years.
He’s like the kiss of death, that guy.
33 Comments
|
* Something else I didn’t know. From the Citizens Utility Board…
For the tenth consecutive year, Illinois had the lowest average electricity bills in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Illinois, which at one point had the highest bills in the Midwest, has now had the lowest since 2012.
The EIA, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, reported that Illinois’ average monthly bill, $95.86 in 2021, fell well below the national average of $121.01. In fact, Illinois had the fifth lowest average bill in the country. Utah, the cheapest, is at $80.87, and Hawaii tops the list with $177.78. Here’s how Illinois stacks up against other Midwestern states:
• Illinois: $95.86
• Wisconsin: $100.18
• Minnesota: $104.76
• Ohio: $112.21
• Iowa: $109.63
• Michigan: $117.57
• Missouri: $118.55
• Indiana: $126.51
Here’s where Illinois ranks among the states (and the District of Columbia) that have the lowest average power bills:
• Utah: $80.87
• New Mexico: $87.31
• Colorado: $91.96
• District of Columbia: $92.42
• Illinois: $95.86
• Wyoming: $96.82
Despite a decade of relatively low electric bills in comparison to other parts of the country, there is still a lot of work to be done here in Illinois. In June, the electricity prices for ComEd and Ameren skyrocketed for a number of reasons, including an over-dependence on fossil fuels in the country.
Thanks to a provision in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act that CUB worked for, ComEd customers have actually been able to cut their electric bills by about $18-20 a month, on average. The problems are more complex in Central and Southern Illinois, and the consumer group has been seeking ways to give short-term and long-term relief to consumers there.
The report is here.
18 Comments
|
* Effingham Daily News…
Following the recent midterm election, some Illinoisans still feel as though the state is neglecting their interests.
The nonprofit Illinois organization, New Illinois, held its second constitution convention this weekend at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham. The organization has expressed its intention to break away from Chicago and some of its surrounding areas and establish a new state called New Illinois.
One of the convention’s main speakers was Ted Dabrowski, who is president of Wirepoints Incorporated, a nonprofit that independently researches Illinois’ economy and links it to certain political policies.
Throughout his speech, Dabrowski shared several of the organization’s statistics, most of which centered on educational funding and other educational statistics of public schools.
* Center Square…
“We don’t use the word secession because that’s not what this is, it’s legally something different,” said G.H. Merritt, chair of the nonpartisan organization New Illinois. “We are trying to form a new state, and we’re not trying to kick Chicago out of Illinois, we’re trying to kick ourselves out of Illinois.”
Only Congress has the power to create new states, but there has never been a formal agreement on how the process should take place.
Merritt said a driving force behind the expanding movement is that many southern Illinoisans want to be heard regarding issues that affect the state as a whole.
“You have this movement in Illinois, you have it in California, you have it in New York, you have it in Colorado, it’s because the people in the rural areas don’t have a meaningful voice in the government,” Merritt said.
She said a resolution is expected to be filed in January to begin the process.
109 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
Morning briefing
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Something less serious and plenty cute.
* Here’s a quick roundup to start your day…
* WTAX | Welch ready for veto session: “Certainly it’s a hope that we get clarifications done before we leave here in the second week of veto session,” which ends Dec. 1, Welch said. “I don’t think there’s a need for a big overhaul. We have already done three trailer bills that have been signed into law.”
* Sun-Times | Supporters declare victory in workers’ rights amendment battle — but other side not ready to concede: The Associated Press has not yet called the final results, but it reported that with an estimated 99% of the votes counted, support for the amendment was at 58.1%. That’s short of the 60% that would ensure passage. But the amendment has another pathway to success: winning a simple majority of all persons voting in the election.
* Country Herald | State Rep. Bennett hospitalized after Car Crash near Gibson City: “He was taken to the hospital where they’ve been observing him and running some tests. He’ll be resting for a few days, so he won’t be able to make it over to Springfield for the veto session which begins tomorrow.“ A Representative for Bennett posted Monday afternoon.
* WGN | Jim Durkin on the future of the GOP: “Donald Trump is toxic, everything he’s touched in the past year has been a failure.”- IL House Minority Leader Jim Durkin
* Capitol News | Theis, sworn in as chief justice, says partisanship has no role on state Supreme Court: Mary Jane Theis was sworn in as chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court on Monday in a public ceremony, becoming the fourth woman to hold the gavel since the court was created in 1818. By next month, the Democrat will find herself presiding over a new historic first for the court, as women take a 5-2 majority for the first time in Illinois’ history.
* WBEZ | Jill Biden touts ‘career-connected learning’ in Chicago, calling education a nonpartisan issue: The first lady urged Chicago employers to create “inclusive career opportunities” for students from all backgrounds. She touted the Biden administration’s commitment to “career-connected learning” programs that bridge the gap between what students learn and the careers they eventually find, calling it “the future of our workforce.”
* Block Club Chicago | 25 City Council Members Ditch Meeting About City’s Homelessness Crisis: Alderpeople who support the Bring Chicago Home ordinance said they’re “profoundly disappointed” by efforts to derail the meeting after Mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke out against the measure.
* Sun-Times | Biker war brewing in Chicago as Mongol Nation pushes onto Outlaws Motorcycle Club turf: Five people were shot last weekend at a Southwest Side bar amid escalating violence between the rival biker gangs. “There’s a lot of bad blood brewing,” one biker says.
* Sun-Times | Thanksgiving turkeys more expensive, harder to find: Turkeys are running 32 cents a pound more this year after avian flu culled flocks in the spring. The outbreak also means that some turkeys showing up at stores are younger and smaller.
* WCIA | First snowfall lands in Central Illinois, more to come : A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued as another round of snow is set to arrive Monday night. If you didn’t see snowfall on Saturday, expect to see some tonight, with the possibility of more than three inches in some areas.
More to come!
10 Comments
|
Open thread
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* It’s my first day covering session! Tell me about what you want to see happen during veto session, or whatever else is on your Illinois-centric mind.
15 Comments
|
Live coverage
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
