* I told subscribers about this development earlier today…
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office has instructed state agencies to begin diverting “fair share” fees from nonunion members’ paychecks away from unions.
A memo obtained by The Associated Press directs departments to create two sets of books to do it. […]
The money now will go to agency accounts rather than unions. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union calls it a “legally questionable scheme.”
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the administration is “confident in the process laid out.”
The governor issued the executive order to seize the fair share fees more than two months ago.
Unless the AP or another outlet fleshes this out a bit, you’ll have to subscribe to learn more.
*** UPDATE *** The AP has now posted a longer story. From that piece…
The [Rauner legal] memo said Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger, who earlier refused to go along with Rauner’s proposed escrow account, “provided the method” for the plan, which a Munger spokesman said is not correct.
* Just one Senator voted against the confirmation of former state Sen. James Meeks today. Equality Illinois isn’t happy…
Equality Illinois today denounced Rev. James Meeks’ confirmation as Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, expressing frustration at his refusal to repudiate his discriminatory positions prior to his confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
Meeks has a long record of making hateful public comments about the LGBT community, and his active attempts to deny our families the freedom to marry are well known, as are his demeaning comments about women and members of the Latino, Asian and Jewish communities.
“We had hoped and expected Rev. Meeks to use the more than two months since his appointment to reflect on and make amends with the LGBT community and other groups for his hurtful and destructive actions,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest advocacy organization representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Illinoisans.
“Instead, we’ve seen nothing tangible from him. We are obligated by our responsibility to LGBT Illinoisans, the other groups whom he offended and our allies to denounce his statements and his unwillingness and refusal to recognize them for the hate language that they are.
“Without a pledge from Meeks that he would abide by the state’s nondiscrimination and anti-bullying laws or a commitment to affirmatively challenge discriminatory actions in the schools, we are not assured that he will look out for all of Illinois’ school children,” Cherkasov said. “It is now up to the Rauner Administration, the General Assembly and the other members of the State Board of Education to ensure that Meeks’ wrong-headed views about the diversity of Illinois do not seep into education policy. Equality Illinois and our partners will remain vigilant, and we will work with our allies to ensure equal treatment for all Illinoisans.”
* AT&T has a big Telecom Act rewrite in the hopper, Exelon has its hands out to keep its nuke plants open, the alt energy folks have a bill and now ComEd is getting into the act…
ComEd’s bill, to be introduced by Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, and Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, is designed to foster growth in clean energy like solar power for households and micro-grids providing greater reliability and resiliency to sensitive facilities like the Federal Aviation Administration’s air-traffic control center in Aurora.
ComEd also proposes a $100 million program to build 5,000 Chicago-area charging stations to increase demand for electric vehicles.
The bill would boost ComEd’s bottom line in the future as decreased customer demand for power hits its revenues by permitting the utility to profit on its state-authorized energy efficiency program. Currently, ComEd only charges ratepayers to reimburse it for its costs in running the program. […]
In addition, the bill would overhaul how ComEd’s power-delivery rates are set. Currently, customers pay delivery rates mainly based on how much power they consume in a month. Beginning in 2018, they would pay based on how much electricity they consume during the highest-demand days of the year. Some customers would benefit and some would pay more under the new system, but ComEd hasn’t yet determined how it would affect individual types of households. But it would help ComEd by making its cash flow more predictable, executives said.
As Dave Kolata at Cub said, that’s a whole lot of asks.
* From the Environmental Law & Policy Center…
“Illinois consumers are poised to gain the job creation, environmental quality and economic benefits of competing new clean energy technologies and suppliers.
“Unfortunately, Exelon’s and ComEd’s legislative proposals would raise utility bills for most consumers, create barriers to competition, and constrain energy efficiency and diverse solar energy development for the future. ComEd’s legislative proposal forecloses flexibility that Illinois needs to transition to a cleaner energy future and locks out competitors.”
“The Illinois Clean Jobs Bill brings Illinois into a more positive energy future. Illinois policymakers should move forward promoting new innovative technologies, instead of Exelon’s and ComEd’s old monopoly approach that raises consumer’s electricity bills and imposes regulatory barriers that create more problems than positive solutions.”
* From ComEd’s lengthy press release…
The legislative package features a proposal to construct microgrids, which are small power grids that can connect to the main grid or operate independently, reinforcing reliability and resiliency during extreme weather or other events. HB3328/SB1879 would enable ComEd to invest $300 million in six microgrids that will service public facilities and infrastructure that are integral to healthcare, homeland security, transportation and water services. The microgrid program would also create at least 300 full-time equivalent jobs. […]
While current Illinois law allows homeowners to generate their own solar power and sell excess power back to the grid, apartment dwellers and others without suitable space or those who can’t afford the investment cannot enjoy the benefits of owning renewable generation. ComEd’s legislative proposal would expand access to solar power to all types of homeowners from all income levels by encouraging development of community solar projects. It would require utilities to offer Meter Aggregation, which makes use of digital smart meter technology to create a “pool” of community-based solar power that can be shared by multiple customers. To ensure the equitable sharing of grid costs, utilities would recover residential delivery costs through a combination of charges, including a demand charge, that better reflect how the grid is used and makes sure low-income customers aren’t subsidizing those who can more easily afford solar energy and other new grid uses.
Etc.
* The problem for all these bills is that the legislative system is very top-down. Leaders and staff can only do so much, and they aren’t willing to farm out important stuff like these to committee chairmen. And since the budget crisis will consume much of their time, they’re going to be spread pretty thin.
But, hey, who knows? Exelon doesn’t have anywhere near the political juice possessed by ComEd, so its alt energy ideas might start winning the day over the other one currently on the table.
Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative organization with an Illinois arm, plans an “aggressive” advertising and mail push this spring to try to influence suburban Democrats, in particular.
Illinois Director David From says the campaign will likely focus on budget and tax issues largely in support of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposals. The ads likely will urge voters to contact their representatives to push those views.
“We want to really be kind of aggressive,” From said. […]
The effort will be statewide, but From said he thinks about 75 percent of resources will focus on the Chicago area. That’s because the suburbs are home to the state’s largest number of swing legislative districts, where Republicans need to make inroads in 2016 if they want to cut Democrats’ majorities in Springfield.
We’ll see how aggressive they get, but keep in mind that Gov. Rauner won a lot of suburban and Downstate Democratic districts last year.
Thursday, Mar 19, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Recently, ads on Capitol Fax have distorted the facts about the Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard (LCPS) (HB 3293/SB 1585). Let’s set the record straight.
Myth: “This LCPS will cost consumers $1.5 billion over five years. Just let the plants close.”
Fact: The cost to Illinois consumers will be TWELVE TIMES as expensive if Illinois’ nuclear plants close.
The closure of three of Illinois’ six nuclear facilities could cost the state:
• $1.8 billion every year in lost economic activity
• Nearly 8,000 highly skilled jobs.
• More than $300 million every year in higher energy costs statewide
• $1.1 billion per year due to increases in carbon and other pollutants
• Hundreds of millions of dollars to construct new transmission lines
Illinois consumers and communities cannot afford these catastrophic losses and added costs. The Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard (HB 3293 / SB 1585) is a market-based “all of the above” energy plan for our state that would help preserve Illinois’ nuclear facilities.
Illinois nuclear energy facilities are essential low-carbon, economic engines for our state, providing the following benefits:
• 90 percent of Illinois’ carbon free power
• 28,000 jobs across the state (directly and indirectly)
• Nearly $9 billion into the Illinois economy annually
The Low Carbon Portfolio Standard is good for Illinois consumers, our economy and our environment. Members of the Illinois General Assembly:
VOTE YES ON HB 3293 / SB 1585
Not so long ago, Exelon…was extolling the merits of an open market for power as its profits rolled in. Now, with power prices plunging, Exelon has lost enthusiasm for the open markets it championed in the 1990s and wants the Legislature to devise a new formula that will protect its profits, quite likely driving up utility bills for homeowners and businesses.
If Exelon is hard up, they can show us. The company should open its books to show how its nuclear fleet is performing.
What’s good for Exelon doesn’t much matter if it’s bad for the rest of Illinois.
Good old Exelon. The company has come up with legislation to subsidize its nuclear reactors, get electric users throughout the state to pay for it and claim it’s in the interest of clean energy.
State lawmakers need to see this bill for the dirty trick it is and kill it.
* I stopped by House Speaker Michael Madigan spokesman Steve Brown’s office yesterday and he asked if I would promote his annual SIU sports party, which has been renamed to honor the late Gene Callahan…
I wasn’t sure if I could, but said I’d think about it.
* We changed the subject to Aaron Schock’s political demise. Brown related a funny story about how he’d approached Sen. Darin LaHood in the Rotunda and told the congressional hopeful that he also lived in Schock’s district, has voted Republican in the last two primaries (there are no Dems to vote for in his local primaries) so he was thinking about running - as a Republican.
What did LaHood do? I asked.
He got a funny look on his face.
* And then a friend of Brownie’s, former House staffer and current lobster extraordinaire Liz Brown, sent me this today…
They’re not really cousins, but it’s a funny inside joke.
* The Question: Are you down for Brown? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
Thursday, Mar 19, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Two recent studies published by NPR/Pro Publica and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) show that nationwide, insurance companies have kept any cost savings from recent workers’ compensation “reforms” for themselves, with profits climbing to 18 percent in 2013 – while middle and lower-income families and taxpayers are paying the price.
In 2011 Illinois enacted its own workers’ compensation “reform” package aimed at lowering costs for businesses. Workers gave up longstanding rights and in return, insurance companies were to be transparent with pricing and pass savings along to employers. As it turns out, only the workers kept up their end of the bargain.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is an independent, non-partisan agency comprised of insurance professionals licensed by the Illinois Department of Insurance to assess workers’ compensation in Illinois and make premium rate recommendations to insurers. Since 2011, NCCI has recommended insurance premium reductions totaling nearly 20 percent.
The 2011 reforms were projected to save insured employers nearly $1 billion assuming the insurance industry would fully adopt the NCCI recommendations.
The insurance industry’s failure to fully implement NCCI recommended rate reductions has prevented Illinois insured employers from realizing any meaningful savings.
No matter how many benefits are cut, medical reimbursements are lowered, and claims are denied, the state’s businesses won’t see corresponding savings without our leaders addressing the promises previously broken by the insurance industry.
Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock’s father says the facts will “convict or exonerate” his son.
Richard Schock is a Peoria doctor. He told The Associated Press Wednesday that recent investigative reports on the 33-year-old congressman’s lavish spending and improper expense reporting were “untrue” and “absolutely ridiculous.”
You can also watch ABC7’s complete interview with Schock’s father by clicking here. And make sure to watch the whole thing. It’s very raw and occasionally heartbreaking. I feel bad for the guy. The son? He’s on his own now.
At the close of the last reporting period on Dec. 31, the Peoria Republican, whose district includes part of Springfield, had more than $3 million in the various funds he controls, from his actual campaign account to his political action committees.
The majority of that, nearly $3.3 million, is in his official Schock for Congress campaign fund. Far smaller amounts adding up to about $60,000 are in his GOP Generation Y and Schock Victory Fund accounts. […]
If Schock chooses to continue the inquiry into any of his campaign spending and whether past reports need to be adjusted to account for some of the expenditures on trips or other matters that have come up in the last six weeks, he can continue to pay the individuals he hired with his campaign cash to work on that as well.
* Farnham asked to die peacefully at home. That won’t happen. From a US Attorney’s office press release…
FORMER ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEITH FARNHAM SENTENCED TO NINETY SIX MONTHS FOR TRANSPORTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Former Illinois State Rep. KEITH FARNHAM was sentenced to ninety six months in prison today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmond E. Chang as a result of his conviction of transporting child pornography via computers in his office and residence in Elgin last year. Farnham resigned his seat in the Illinois General Assembly in March 2014, less than a week after federal agents seized computers from his home and office.
Farnham, 67, of Elgin, was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine. Farnham was ordered by Judge Chang to report to prison on May 19, 2015. Farnham will remain on a bond that restricts him to his home and requires around-the-clock electronic monitoring. “This is a despicable crime.” said District Court Judge Chang while imposing sentence. “The sex assaults of children in each of the 2700 images represent their own nightmare.”
Farnham pled guilty in December 2014, admitting that on November 25, 2013, he sent an email from a computer in his Elgin office with the following message: “do you trade. This is what I lik.” Farnham attached two files to the email that he knew contained child pornography. In addition, he possessed images and videos depicting child pornography on computers and electronic storage devices in his residence, car, and offices.
During the course of the investigation, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed federal search warrants at Farnham’s state office and residence in Elgin and seized computers and electronic storage devices. On the day the warrant was executed in March 2014, Farnham possessed no fewer than 2,765 images of real minors engaged in sexually explicit acts, including sexual intercourse, with prepubescent children. Some of the images involved sadistic or masochistic conduct and depictions of violence, according to Farnham’s guilty plea. According to the court documents, HSI agents were investigating information received from the HSI Cyber Crimes Center that an email address, later linked to Farnham, was being used to trade child pornography on the Internet.
“The defendant’s criminal conduct extends far beyond simply viewing sexually explicit photographs online. The defendant actively traded and bartered images and videos depicting child pornography, bragged to others about his own hands-on sexual abuse and exploitation of a six-year-old girl, and actively hid his tracks from law enforcement in order to continue his criminal conduct,” the government stated in its sentencing memorandum. “As an elected official, the defendant held himself out as being concerned about ‘protecting your children on the internet’ at the same time, however, he led another life, surfing the internet and message boards for sexually explicit images and further victimizing children of sexual abuse and exploitation.”
The sentence was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Gary Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI in Chicago.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Storino and Michelle Petersen.
The Illinois Policy Institute, a non-partisan and well-respected organization, recently completed an exhaustive study about the five major public employees unions in Illinois. It’s titled: “Anatomy of Influence: Government Unions in Illinois.” The numbers are eye-opening to say the least.
Since 2002, public employee unions in Illinois have contributed $46 million in direct political contributions. Obviously, unions are not dropping that kind of cash on politicians because they have a pleasant personality. Clearly, it’s an investment and when you consider that Illinois taxpayers have made millionaires out of many, many public union employees, it was a good investment. Bad for taxpayers, but good for unions.
Interestingly, during that same time frame, from 2002 through 2014, Democrats controlled the House, the Senate and the governor’s mansion and, according to the report, 85 percent of that $46 million went to … you guessed it … Democrats.
Let me say again, I’m pro-union. But the system I’ve detailed today has nothing to do with anti-union or anti-labor. It has to do with a system that is badly broken and borders on veiled corruption. It’s a system that has to be fixed, period.
Discuss.
*** UPDATE *** From our old pal Kent Redfield…
Hi Rich,
A little perspective on the IPI Public Sector Union Contributions story.
Since 1/1/2002 Rauner ($40 million) Griffin ($17.1 million) and Uihlein ($7.8 million) have made $64.9 million contributions (not all to statewide and legislative races, but most of it, and most of it to Republicans).
It has been a couple of cycles since I looked at an overall break down of money coming into Illinois politics by source, but historically for contributions you can classify the split has been 60% business, 25% unions and 15 professional (doctor, lawyers, CPA, etc.). These are broad categories, but they give you a sense of what is going on. Because of the large amount of money from Rauner, Griffin and Uihlein in 2013-2014, the overall percentage from business is probably up, even with the counter surge from labor in independent expenditures.
* The acute fearful paranoia of some concealed carry enthusiasts has always troubled me…
Gun proponents convened for their annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day and cited personal protection as a reason for expanding concealed carry.
“Predators look for places people are unarmed,” said Dawn Waters, a Lombard resident.
If there are signs outlawing concealed weapons in certain areas, residents without guns become open targets for predators, said Waters, who said she is a firearms instructor.
“Everyone there using public transportation, going to forest preserves, they’re in trouble. They are sitting ducks,” Waters said.
I’ve reported in Iraq and Kosovo and occasionally felt like a sitting duck. But never in Lombard.
* And the over the top “Sky is falling!” rhetoric by the anti-gun crowd is almost as silly…
“They’re not going to stop until they have virtually everyone carrying guns virtually everywhere in the United States,” said Brian Malte, National Policy Director for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Oh, for crying out loud. What a goofy thing to say.
We want to express our staunch opposition to any attempt to tap into the Motor Fuel Tax Fund or the Road Fund as part of your plan to inter-fund borrow $1 billion to cover state operating expenses. As you recall, we opposed SB 3660, the legislation that grants you the authority to transfer funds out of dedicated funds to pay for normal government operations. We continue to believe that the diversion of road funds from their intended purposes is not good public policy and is, in fact, counterproductive.
To release a portion of the local road component funding from the capital bill, and then subsequently sweep a similar amount of cash from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund or the Road Fund, would seem to negate the benefits of the capital bill funding.
As you know, we worked cooperatively with all members of the legislature and your Administration in a bipartisan fashion to pass the capital bill in order to enhance Illinois’ infrastructure, to create jobs and foster economic development. Maintaining and improving this state’s roads and bridges is a vital component of achieving those goals.
The Motor Fuel Tax Fund has not been swept since FY 04 and to restart this practice during these challenging economic times does not make for good policy. There was a strong understanding as part of the creation of the capital bill to stop the practice of diverting road funds for other purposes. We believe that sweeping the Road Fund or the Motor Fuel Tax Fund would violate that commitment.
We believe that road funds should be used to patch holes on roads and bridges, not to patch holes in the state’s operating budget.
* At the time, the Road Fund contained nearly $480 million - which is about the projection for the fiscal year ending fund balance this year. The governor’s office back then said Quinn had no plans to raid it. Mainly because Downstaters were particularly concerned…
Tapping into the road fund is particularly controversial downstate because a majority of the money has gone to communities outside the six-county Chicago area. From 1999 to 2007, road fund expenditures downstate ranged between 56 percent and 68 percent, according to a May 2009 Legislative Research Unit report. […]
State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, said if the funds were raided to shore up the general revenue fund, downstate would lose.
“The bulk of that money (the general revenue fund) is going to support things in the upper part of the state,” Bomke said. “Most people believe when they buy a gallon of gas they know so much of it is going to federal or state road fund, and they expect that money to be used for roads, not general purposes.”
And, keep in mind that Quinn only wanted to borrow from the Road Fund, not permanently sweep the cash.
* OK, let’s fast-forward to today. I also told subscribers this morning about this part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2015 fix (plus other stuff). Kurt Erickson…
Under one provision of a still-developing package to fix the current state budget, lawmakers would give Gov. Bruce Rauner the power to use as much as $250 million of the road fund for general state purposes.
The Republican leaders now support that permanent sweep.
“I think people realize we’ve got to do something and we’ve got to do it quickly. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures,” Radogno said. “We are in unprecedented times and we’ve got to do something to stem the bleeding.”
Asked what has changed in five years, Radogno suggested that a Republican victory in the governor’s race last November is playing a big factor.
“What’s different now is that there is confidence now that we’re going to do a really tough but a one-time fix here and get on the road to solvency,” Radogno said.
Just as a reminder, five years ago the state’s coffers were in absolutely horrible shape. Those were pre tax hike times and pension payments were rising fast.
* Ogden & Fry, conducted a 1-question poll this past Friday, March 13. “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bruce Rauner is handling his job as Governor?”…
* From the pollster…
Between 30 and 60 days, Rauner’s combined approval rating only dropped three points, but his combined disapproval rating increased from 26% to 37%.
* This is just an upbeat way of saying, as I told subscribers earlier today, that no Fiscal Year 15 solution will likely be found this week…
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that a plan to fix this year’s state budget could be introduced in the next few days. […]
A child care program for low-income parents needs $300 million to make it through the end of the year. The Illinois Department of Corrections says it will begin running out of money to pay guards in mid-April. And, funds to pay court reporters are running dry, potentially resulting in a stoppage of court activity.
Although Senate Democrats said the school cuts are a “sticking point,” Rauner said he thinks the stalemate may be nearing an end.
“We’ve been very close to a resolution for about five weeks,” Rauner said. “I’m hopeful in the coming few days we’re actually going to have a bill introduced.”
The House and Senate are both leaving town tomorrow, so unless a solution is found today or early morning at the latest, nothing will be done until next week. But it might be helpful if the governor was at the Statehouse today instead of heading up north to bash unions for the umpteenth time this week…
Daily Public Schedule: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
What: Governor Discusses Turnaround Agenda with Illinois Chamber of Commerce & Springfield Area Chambers of Commerce
Where: Hoogland Center for the Arts – Club Room
420 S. 6th St., Springfield
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 10:30 a.m.
What: Governor Attends National Ag Day in Illinois
Where: Brandt Consolidated
2935 South Koke Mill Road, Springfield
Date: Wednesday March 18, 2015
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Note: No Additional Media Availability.
What: Governor Discusses Turnaround Agenda with National Federation of Independent Business
Where: Kegel Harley-Davidson
7125 Harrison Ave., Rockford
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 3:45 p.m.
What: Governor Attends African-American Contractors Association Reception
Where: South Shore Cultural Center
7059 South Shore Dr., Chicago
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Note: No Additional Media Availability.
* And since next week is the last week of legislative activity before the two-week spring break, there will be no more mulligans.
As we’ve all seen many times before, legislators work best when their backs are against a wall. But this is the same governor who promised during the campaign that he’d be attending committee hearings and haunting the House and Senate floors. He also told the Chamber this morning that he had dinner every night with up to a dozen legislators during session days. That obviously won’t happen tonight.
Constant speechifyin’ on session days ain’t governin’.
* The news broke about Aaron Schock resigning at around 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It wasn’t until 7 o’clock last night that US Sen. Mark Kirk finally commented, and it was via Twitter…
I wish my friend Aaron Schock all the best. During this process, #IL's 18th district should be confident in their representation in D.C.
Schock’s departure also means there will be one less Republican in Congress who openly backs comprehensive immigration reform.
“I am so sad that he is resigning,” said Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), a vocal proponent of immigration reform and a fellow Illinoisan. “I am very grateful to him for his wonderful warm friendship, and his support for a bipartisan way to fix our broken immigration system.”
* There was some debate in comments yesterday about whether politicians should be wishing Schock well right now. As one commenter wrote (paraphrasing), if they really were his friends they should’ve applied a little tough love before his life fell apart.
But, hey, he is at least their political friend and it’s understandable that they don’t want to kick a man when he’s down.
Then again, shouldn’t they be denouncing this guy?
On the other hand, he hasn’t been convicted of anything, or even charged.
The Illinois Tollway wants its customers to have their say on safety by suggesting eye-catching messages for electronic roadway signs that discourage dangerous driving.
Beginning today, customers will have a chance to see their message up in lights by submitting concise, creative slogans that warn against impaired driving, distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts.
* The Question: What message(s) would you put on electronic roadside signs at Illinois’ borders?
A union lobbyist who qualified for a teacher pension windfall by subbing at a school for one day is now suing a state retirement board because his benefits were scaled back once his sweet deal was exposed.
Retired Illinois Federation of Teachers lobbyist David Piccioli, 65, is arguing that lawmakers violated the state constitutional provision that says a pension cannot be “diminished or impaired” once it is set.
Piccioli is already collecting $31,485 from the Teachers Retirement System. If he wins his case, his teacher pension could increase by more than $36,000, the Tribune estimated — more than doubling what he gets now.
Piccioli also gets a second state pension worth just over $30,000 that covers time he served as a legislative aide. Both pensions are based on an average of his six-figure salaries as a union lobbyist. […]
If Piccioli’s lawsuit succeeds, the outcome may suggest to lawmakers that they cannot reduce pension benefits under any circumstances.
Since the 1980s, the IFT has been one of 800 authorized employers for TRS, enabling its staff to earn teacher pension credits for their work on behalf of public education. Employees are required to pay all TRS contributions, both individual employee and employer shares so there is no taxpayer cost to the system.
In 2007, Mr. Piccioli obeyed all laws to enroll in TRS on his first day as a classroom instructor. His enrollment was identical to 300,000 other members who joined the teacher retirement system after their first day of teaching. He earned TRS service credits going forward for IFT employment from 2007 until retirement Dec. 31, 2012. He paid all contributions with personal funds from an IFT retirement annuity.
Separate from his lawful enrollment in TRS, the General Assembly adopted PA 94-1111 in 2007. The law offered an opportunity for scores of people to upgrade their service credit in public pension systems. Piccioli joined them in upgrading his service with nine years of credits for IFT employment from December, 1997 through May, 2007. He paid all TRS contributions with personal funds out of pocket.
In total, Piccioli contributed $365,000 out-of-pocket to TRS to cover the full “normal costs” of his pension. As required by law, he paid all contributions for both the individual employee and employer. Those contributions, including interest compounded at 8.5%, equaled 20% of his salary.
Because he paid both sides of pension contributions–both employee and employer shares—plus compounded interest, a legislative fiscal analysis for PA 94-1111 said taxpayer costs for his pension are “expected to be minor.”
Pension language in PA 94-1111 (SB 36) was not controversial at the time. It passed the Illinois House 109-6-0 and the state Senate 55-0-1.
Pension upgrades with past service credit are a common practice in the Illinois pension code. Statutes have enabled thousands of individuals to purchase pension credit in all public systems for work in military service, private school teaching, education-related associations and other employment.
* Here’s my problem, though. The IFT endorsed Rod Blagojevich in 2006 after obtaining from him a solemn oath that he would not rule out an income tax hike. He flip-flopped on them within a day or so. Instead of dumping him for lying, the union continued backing Blagojevich, giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars. RRB signed that above pension bill into law in February, 2007.
That timeline has never been adjudicated, however, so proving any sort of quid pro quo will be very difficult if not impossible. Therefore, Pitch probably has a decent case.
On Friday, March 20, State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) will formally present his House Bill 298, which would allow Illinois municipal governments to seek bankruptcy protections under Article 9 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. The hearing will be “subject matter only,” and take place before the House Judiciary-Civil Law Committee. The media is invited and encouraged to attend.
The southern California city of San Bernardino has defaulted on nearly $10 million in payments on its privately placed pension bond debt since it declared bankruptcy in 2012, according to documents seen by Reuters.
In addition, the city has not negotiated with its bondholders since September, according to a person familiar with the stalled negotiations.
The missed payments illustrate the trend among cities in bankruptcy to favor payments to pension funds over bondholder obligations, which has increased the hostility between creditors and municipalities.
San Bernardino declared last year that it intends under its bankruptcy exit plan to fully pay Calpers, its biggest creditor and America’s largest public pension fund with assets of $300 billion.
The city continues to pay its monthly dues to Calpers in full, but has paid nothing to its bondholders for nearly three years, according to the interest payment schedule on roughly $50 million of pension obligation bonds issued by San Bernardino in 2005.
If Sandack’s bill passes, there’s a very good chance that municipal bond ratings will plummet throughout the state.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rep. Sandack disputes my analysis…
Like other states, I’m proposing a statutory lien for bond holders. In sum they get secured creditor status.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Wordslinger makes a valid point in comments…
Sandack’s “statutory lien” means oogats to a federal bankruptcy judge.
* I posted much of this same info yesterday, but it may have been lost in the commotion…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner must call a special [election] within five days after Schock’s resignation becomes official on March 31, according to state law, and [the general election] must be held no later than 115 days from the call.
Rauner has leeway to decide the dates of the election within that time frame. In the last House special in Illinois, to replace Democrat Jesse Jackson Jr., the congressman resigned Nov. 21, 2012, the primaries were held three months later on Feb. 26 and Democrat Robin Kelly won the seat on April 9.
There are also federal laws about providing enough time for military mail-in ballots. I think that’s 45 days. So, they can’t piggyback the primary on the municipal elections. Both the primary and the general will be stand-alone, very low-turnout elections.
The special election to replace the Peoria Republican in the state’s 18th Congressional District could exceed $150,000, election officials said.
Peoria County Steve Sonnemaker estimated the cost for a primary and general election to be between $75,000 and $80,000.
“If Steve said it was $75,000 to $80,000 for the county’s part, I would say that the total cost is probably double that for both elections,” Tom Bride, the executive director of the Peoria Election Commission, told the Peoria Journal Star.
Romney won this Downstate Illinois seat, which includes Quincy and parts of Peoria and Springfield, by a 61-37 margin, so all the action will be in the GOP primary.
Yep. And keep in mind that was a presidential year. Bruce Rauner undoubtedly won it by a whole lot more in his off-year race. And turnout will be even lower in a special. It’ll be a race to the right in the primary and a hopeless task for a Democrat.
Any talk or even idle speculation of an established Democrat running for this seat is just nuts. Either that, or the wannabe is nuts. Only a miracle could elect a Democrat in a special election in the strongest Republican district in the entire state. An established Democrat would lose a whole lot of credibility by being wiped out in the general.
* Getting back to the GOP primary, Sen. Darin LaHood appears to be gaining quite a bit of strength as others bow out. LaHood has reportedly been quietly plotting this move for a while now, figuring that Schock wouldn’t survive. He may need to raise a bunch of money in a big hurry to scare everyone else off, particularly former state Rep. and 2014 lt. governor candidate Jil Tracy of Quincy.
Tracy has serious family money that she can tap. She also has family in other parts of that district, including Springfield. And her 2014 statewide primary bid helped her develop contacts with party leaders.
If Tracy decides to take the plunge, she could give LaHood a real contest.
Am I the only one who thinks, if played correctly by the right candidate, that the LaHood family connection to President Obama could be a factor in this race?
I’m guessing that to the kind of Republicans who will be voting in this race, Ray LaHood’s Cabinet duty for the Obama White House sticks much more prominently in their mind than his years of honorable service in Congress.
That commenter could well be right. If Tracy or whomever successfully somehow “reminds” hardcore Republican primary voters about the father’s close ties to Obama, it could definitely hurt the son.
* Politico reports that Schock will reimburse the government… again…
On Monday evening, POLITICO began asking questions about tens of thousands of dollars of reimbursements he received from his campaign and federal government for mileage put on his personal car. Records show that Schock personally claimed reimbursement for roughly 170,000 miles driven from January 2010 to July 2014. But the only vehicle he owned during that time was sold with just 80,000 miles on the odometer.
Asked for his response to those findings, Schock announced his resignation. […]
Later that day, Schock’s office said he would pay back all of the mileage reimbursements he has received since coming to Congress in 2009. That would amount to tens of thousands of dollars — on top of the tens of thousands he’s already had to reimburse for a private flight and the cost of redecorating his office.
Schock’s associates — many of whom are afraid to speak for attribution, fearing potential legal action — say a combination of immaturity, sloppiness and an oversized ego led to his downfall. He came to Congress as an eager 27-year-old, raised a lot of money and spent it at a rapid clip.
Scrupulous accounting, it appeared, was not a priority. On one election filing, Schock labeled a private flight as a software purchase. He failed to disclose trips abroad, as well as the use of a private golf course for a fundraiser in 2014.
* Sloppiness and a lack of “scrupulous accounting” is one way to look at this. Deliberately hiding potential criminal conduct is another. And if he’s paying back tens of thousands of dollars, he may be all but admitting that he over-billed the taxpayers, even if he said the reimbursement decision was taken out of an “abundance of caution.”
If his lawyers didn’t negotiate some kind of deal with the G in exchange for his resignation, Schock could be in some very serious hot water…
Meredith McGehee, the policy director at the Campaign Legal Center, said Schock could face criminal charges if it’s proved that he filed a false reimbursement voucher.
Washington lawyer Kenneth Gross, formerly the associate general counsel at the Federal Election Commission, which handles civil enforcement of campaign-finance rules, said Tuesday that “a number of issues have been raised regarding (Schock’s) handling of campaign funds and office expenditures, but it’s hard to know what constituted a critical mass to cause him to resign.”
One campaign-finance lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that as a general rule, the Justice Department, should it be taking a look at a lawmaker, would not be swayed one way or another by a resignation.
Schock had been under scrutiny in 2012 for allegedly soliciting a $25,000 contribution from a political action committee in excess of legal limits. But that case, before the House Ethics Committee, will go away once Schock’s resignation becomes official.
* Greg Hinz and I were both given a heads up about this interesting new development yesterday. Subscribers have my take, here’s his…
A new Democratic business group is trying to muscle its way into the Springfield budget war, and it claims to be carrying a really big club: $20 million in promised contributions from donors interested in reaching a truce with Gov. Bruce Rauner.
In an announcement this morning, Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity says that even though its founders are Democrats, the party has “lacked strong executive leadership.” As a result, it asserts, “special interests have had far too much influence in setting public policy. We’re organizing this effort to provide Democrats with the support they need to make the tough, but responsible, decisions to correct our state’s financial course, better serve our most vulnerable residents, and grow our economy.”
The new group is headed by Anthony K. Anderson, the former managing partner of Ernst & Young’s Midwest office, a member of the Exelon board of directors and, as he put it “a lifelong Democrat.” Also on the board are former Corn Products CEO Samuel C. Scott III and communications company owner Pat Pulido Sanchez. She’s married to Manuel “Manny” Sanchez, a top Democratic fund-raiser who broke with the party last year to endorse Rauner for governor.
In an interview, Anderson said the group will function as a 501 (c)4 issue advocacy organization. But it also will have an independent expenditure affiliate that can take positions for and against specific candidates. That affiliate is designed to help Democratic lawmakers who are under pressure from organized labor and other “special interests.”
“There are a bunch of Democrats who are fed up with the way things are going. We have a state that’s been run by Democrats for a long time. They put us in this mess,” Anderson said. The group wants to help those who “are not swayed by special interests. We want them to know we’ve got their backs.”
Progressive Donors Launch Effort to Save Illinois
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity Launches with Millions on Hand to Support Budget Compromise
CHICAGO—Progressive donors launched an issue advocacy organization, Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity (ILGO), Wednesday with more than $20 million in commitments from more than two dozen donors, to encourage legislative leaders and legislators to make the tough, but necessary, decisions to save Illinois from the financial crisis the state is currently facing.
ILGO’s Board of Directors includes life-long Democrats Anthony K. Anderson, Samuel C. Scott III and Pat Pulido-Sanchez. ILGO will work to support solutions to the massive budget shortfall in the current, FY2015 budget and begin to advocate for solutions to the structural budget deficits for fiscal year 2016 and beyond. As legislative leaders negotiate budget plans with the Governor, ILGO will work to defend lawmakers who support effective budget solutions.
“Illinois’ dire financial state is a result of the majority party’s failed leadership and we need to come together to protect progressive values and save our state,” said Anthony K. Anderson, chair, Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity. “We believe government has a critical role to play in society, but it is only effective at achieving our goals if it is functioning properly. Illinois has lacked strong executive leadership and special interests have had far too much influence with legislative majorities in setting public policy. We’re organizing this effort to provide them with the support they need to make the tough, but responsible, decisions to correct our state’s financial course, better serve our most vulnerable residents, and grow our economy.”
The State of Illinois is facing a financial catastrophe:
· $1.5 billion in shortfall in the current budget year
· $6 billion projected budget shortfall in fiscal year 2016
· $111 billion pension deficit
These massive fiscal challenges are a drag on our economy and have negative consequences for working families:
· Only 9.8% of employment is based in Illinois manufacturing, while neighboring states average more than 13% and Indiana is nearly 17%1
Illinois was awarded the worst credit rating and worse government and fiscal policy2
· Bottom 1/2 of states for business climate3
· Bottom 1/3 of states for small businesses4
· 6.1% unemployment rate5
· As a result of slow growth in Illinois, a Chicago child raised in a family earning in the bottom fifth of all earners only has a 6.1% chance of ever earning an income in the top fifth6
Governor Quinn and the General Assembly passed a disastrous FY15 budget that is forcing dramatic cuts in important services and undermining public trust in the ability of our government to function. The Democratic-authored and passed budget did not fund critical programs for the entire year and effectively spent a full year’s worth of revenue in the first six to nine months, knowingly creating a crisis in 2015.
Democratic leaders passed a FY 2015 budget that they knew would create a financial crisis:
Pat Quinn: “The General Assembly didn’t get the job done on the budget…The General Assembly sent me an incomplete budget that does not pay down the bills but instead postpones the tough decisions.” (Governor’s Office Budget Statement, May 30, 2014)
Senate President John Cullerton: “However, the effect of budget is to delay doomsday by borrowing and increasing our backlog of bills,” Rikeesha Phelon, a spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton, said. “Admittedly, this budget reverses some of the progress that we have made in recent years.” (Reuters, 5/27/14)
Speaker Michael Madigan: “Speaker Michael Madigan acknowledged the budget proposal would leave unfinished business and vowed to spend the summer and fall working to get the income tax hike made permanent to provide more money to run state government.” (Chicago Tribune, 5/27/14)
State Sen. Heather Steans: “We are kicking the can down the road.” (Crain’s Chicago Business, 5/28/14)
This type of irresponsible leadership has resulted in many of the programs and initiatives progressive leaders advocate for everyday being either unfunded or underfunded, including:
· Eliminating child care for thousands of families
· Removing in-home caretakers for our seniors
· Leaving people with mental illnesses without the assistance they need
· Evicting hundreds of veterans from housing
· Imposing severe cuts to nursing home regulators
In the coming weeks and months, Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity will be actively engaging and educating the public and supporting lawmakers who take the tough but necessary decisions to address our state’s dire financial situation.
Resolute Consulting has been engaged to manage the organization and Resolute CEO Greg Goldner will be leading the effort. KO Public Affairs will also serve in a general strategy and management role. Siegel Strategies will provide paid communications strategy. Stones Phones will provide voter outreach and phone solutions and Global Strategy Group will provide polling and research.
To join Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity’s effort to change the dynamic in Springfield, visit IllinoisGO.org.
About Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity (ILGO) is as a 501(c)(4) organization that conducts education, issue advocacy and public policy analysis to identify and promote effective solutions to some of the most challenging issues confronting Illinois residents and taxpayers. Its purpose is to increase public awareness and engagement in critical public policy debates facing the state. ILGO is driven by a fundamental belief, grounded in progressive principals, that if government is to be an agent for change and equal opportunity, it must operate effectively and efficiently to maintain public trust and confidence. In Illinois, that trust and confidence has been eroded over the last 12 years.
ILGO will also establish an independent expenditure committee which will directly engage in political activity, including supporting or opposing candidates, legislation or ballot questions in the state of Illinois. The committee will defend Democratic lawmakers who have demonstrated support for the difficult, yet responsible, choices our state government needs and protect lawmakers from special interest attacks that may result. It will not engage in General Election contests.
* I’ve been telling subscribers about this across the board 2.25 percent cut since March 4th…
Under a framework designed to help Gov. Bruce Rauner manage the state through the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, state spending would undergo a 2.25 percent reduction.
The cut would free up money for the Republican governor to keep a child care program afloat, as well as pay prison guards and court reporters.
But the concept, floated by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, would mean less money for school districts as they head into the final months of the school year.
“Yes, that is a sticking point,” state Sen. Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat, said Tuesday. “An across-the-board cut will have a disproportionate effect on the poorer districts of the state.”
There is, indeed, a sticking point over the school funding idea. And there’s more to this not-yet-deal than that cut. Subscribers know more.
* The Rauner administration’s response to the above story…
We don’t believe in negotiating through the press.
You will recall that Rauner blasted Pat Quinn most of last year for allegedly cutting state funding for education, even though Quinn didn’t actually cut state school dollars. But there could be a loophole here if the 2.25 percent cut still leaves schools with more money than they received last fiscal year.
* Even if that’s true (and I think it is), cutting school budgets this late in their fiscal year is going to cause some real pain. Back to Erickson’s story…
“Obviously, you can’t make staffing adjustments now,” said Maroa-Forsyth Superintendent Michael Williams.
Statewide school organizations fear the state will simply not send out a final reimbursement check to districts for special education and transportation programs.
[This post has been updated and bumped up for visibility.]
* The News-Gazette leads with the former hometown guy, but the ones to really watch on this list are the two with by far the most name ID: Darin LaHood and Bill Brady…
State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said he is interested in succeeding U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, who abruptly resigned Tuesday from his 18th Congressional District seat.
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, also said this afternoon that he’s “looking at” the seat. And a spokesman for state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said the former Republican gubernatorial candidate also is considering running for the west central Illinois congressional seat.
Also mentioned as potential Republican candidates in the overwhelmingly Republican district are state Sen. Darin LaHood of Dunlap and former state Rep. Jil Tracy of Quincy.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Sen. Bill Brady…
“I’m very flattered that many supporters and residents of Central Illinois have suggested I seek the seat in Congress representing the 18th Congressional District. I have decided, however, to remain in the Illinois Senate at the current time because of my business interests and my wish to help Governor Rauner resolve the many challenges Illinois faces.
“There may be other opportunities in which I could better serve the citizens of Illinois in the future. For now, I look forward to working with our Republican governor to forge meaningful solutions that will set Illinois right and encourage greater business investment in our state.
“I have several longtime friends who also have expressed interest in the seat – my colleagues in the Senate, Darin LaHood and Jason Barickman who both helped me in my campaign four years ago, my brother Ed Brady , and my Bloomington colleague in the House, Dan Brady. They, along with others, have great potential for serving Central and Western Illinois well in Washington. “
*** UPDATE 2 *** Sen. Darin LaHood…
STATE SENATOR DARIN LAHOOD ANNOUNCES RUN FOR CONGRESS
Forming Federal Campaign Committee Today
LaHood is a former 10-year state and federal prosecutor
State Senator Darin LaHood announced today his intent to run for Congress in the 18th District and will be forming a federal campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) today.
LaHood will soon make a formal announcement in locales throughout the 18th Congressional District. The 18th District includes 19 counties in Central and Western Illinois.
LaHood is currently serving in his fifth year as a Republican State Senator, elected without opposition in his last election. He has served on the following committees: Judiciary, Criminal Law, Executive Appointments, Public Health, Human Services, Pensions & License Activities, Environment, Insurance, and Transportation.
Since taking office, Senator LaHood has achieved a strong record as a leading fiscal conservative in Springfield. He has been an outspoken advocate for creating a better business climate in Illinois to boost the state’s economy and create jobs for Illinoisans.
From 2001-2006 LaHood served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was the lead prosecutor for the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program and then the Chief Terrorism prosecutor. Additionally, he has worked in both the Cook County and Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Offices. LaHood has also previously worked in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant and then an Appropriations Committee Associate. He graduated from The John Marshall Law School and currently practices law with the Peoria law firm of Miller, Hall & Triggs.
Darin LaHood has been married to Kristen for 13 years and together they have three sons: McKay 12,Lucas 10, and Teddy who is 8 years old. The LaHood family resides in Dunlap which is in Peoria County.
Governor Rauner has until April 5th to set a date for a special election which must occur within 115 days.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Sen. Jason Barickman…
“I am grateful to hear from so many people across Central Illinois urging me to consider a candidacy in the 18th Congressional District. Yesterday, I spoke with many supporters, and discussed this potential opportunity to serve with my family. However, the needs of my young family and the desperate fiscal situation in Illinois state government are paramount. These issues demand my full attention and present significant opportunities for me to serve my community and make a difference for our great state.
After careful consideration, I have decided not to run for Congress in the 18th Congressional District.”
* Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke to the United Counties Council of Illinois earlier today. From his speech…
“Everybody says ‘Bruce stop talking about unions and start talking about the budget’… Let me tell you something, balancing the budget is not hard. It’s not hard.”
He then rambled on for another 35 minutes without ever once explaining why it’s so easy peasy to balance a budget. I suppose he implied that the solutions are self evident. And, if you “balance” your budget with phony things like a magically nonexistent $2.2 billion pension “savings,” then it is kinda easy, except it isn’t balanced, so it isn’t actually easy.
* Then he admitted this about his weeks-long struggle to patch this fiscal year’s budget hole…
“We’ve got a Legislature that’s 177 members. And, you know, you raise an issue and you’ll get 292 opinions out of 177 people. So, so, you know, this is the process, this is politics, it’s sausage being made… I’m one person. I’ve got a lot of influence, but I’m one person and the Legislature has to approve this process.”
OK, so now you admit that it ain’t so easy. Sheesh. Perhaps a little less blathering on about “right to work” and a little more actual, you know, work is in order here? The advice isn’t wrong, governor.
* And since he chooses not to listen to that advice, he went on and on ad nauseum today about how private sector unions are dying on the vine and how bad public employee unions are, including their work rules…
“You can’t go to the bathroom on your own without getting ten approvals.”
* Meanwhile, from the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
Illinois’ new governor faced a combative crowd in Normal where he presented some of his ideas to turn the state around. During his stop at the Normal City Council chambers for a town hall-style meeting, Governor Bruce Rauner heard from union labor and higher education protesters. The event featured some of Rauner’s ideas he shared with other groups, including right-to-work zones, lifting restrictions on prevailing wage and project labor agreements and other issues.
But, the format of the event allowed for feedback from the crowd. Previous visits around the state had the Governor presenting his ideas without the crowd offering questions or suggestions.
The governor was greeted by several audience members carrying signs that read, “Don’t Balance the Budget on My Back.” Rauner dismissed the protestors as A “special interest” seeking to derail his efforts to restructure state government.
But Local Catholic Priest Father Gregg Petri says concern over the governor’s proposals is widespread. “We are the people who make up this state. Ordinary people. We’re not a ‘block.’ We’re just people who care for those who are less fortunate and we want to make sure that they’re taken care of.”
Audience members also challenged Rauner’s proposal to cut some spending for higher education and permit counties to decide whether their teachers and other public employees are required to join unions.
* Rauner also got “mic checked” by an organized group of protesters. The silliness starts about the 45-second mark…
On Monday afternoon, POLITICO posed a lengthy set of questions about charging the government and his campaign tens of thousands of dollars in questionable mileage reimbursements.
“Today, I am announcing my resignation as a Member of the United States House of Representatives effective March 31,” Schock said in a statement. “I do this with a heavy heart. Serving the people of the 18th District is the highest and greatest honor I have had in my life. I thank them for their faith in electing me and letting me represent their interests in Washington. I have given them my all over the last six years. I have traveled to all corners of the District to meet with the people I’ve been fortunate to be able to call my friends and neighbors.”
“But the constant questions over the last six weeks have proven a great distraction that has made it too difficult for me to serve the people of the 18th District with the high standards that they deserve and which I have set for myself. I have always sought to do what’s best for my constituents and I thank them for the opportunity to serve,” he said in a statement.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Politico appears to have had him busted cold…
When Schock transferred the SUV to an Illinois dealership in 2014, it had 81,860 miles on the odometer, the documents show. However, between January 2010 and the end of July 2014, he billed the federal government for 123,131 miles driven in his personal vehicle. During the same time period, the Republican billed his “Schock for Congress” campaign account and GOP Generation Y Fund, his leadership political action committee, for another 49,388 miles.
Altogether, Schock sought reimbursement for 172,520 miles on his car, despite the fact that he signed documents that certified the vehicle traveled less than half that distance.
Schock had no other vehicles registered in his name at the time, according to state public records. Multiple sources familiar with his office operations say he only drove the Tahoe during this period.
In November 2009, less than a year after Schock took his seat in Congress, the lawmaker bought the 2010 Tahoe from Green Chevrolet in Peoria. The dealership is owned by Jeff Green, a contributor to Schock who has flown the congressman around his district in his airplane and helicopter.
…Adding… The next step is the governor sets a special election date. Recent specials via our friend Aviva Bowen…
IL-14 (Foster to replace Hastert); IL-Sen (Kirk to replace Obama, er, Burris); IL-5 (Quigley to replace Rahm); IL-2 (Kelly to replace Jackson Jr)
MORE: The governor has five days from the date of the vacancy to choose an election date. The general election has to be held within 115 days from the day the governor makes his decision. The primary can be held at any point in between. That’s up to the governor.
“With this decision, Rep. Schock has put the best interests of his constituents and the House first. I appreciate Aaron’s years of service, and I wish him well in the future,” Boehner said in a statement issued by his office.
Sen. Durbin…
“The allegations against Congressman Schock are serious, raising questions about his expenditure of official funds and campaign funds. His resignation came as a surprise and reflects the gravity of his situation.”
*** UPDATE 5 *** IL GOP Chairman Tim Schneider…
“Honesty and integrity are of utmost importance when serving the public. Today is an unfortunate day for the people of the 18th Congressional District, the State of Illinois, and the Illinois Republican Party.”
Schock did not inform any House leaders before making his decision.
The Office of Congressional Ethics is an outside panel that reviews ethics complaints against House members and makes recommendations to the House Ethics Committee.
A person who received a letter from the panel said the OCE was interested in conducting an interview and reviewing any relevant documents. At least two other Schock associates received similar letters, the person said. The Schock associate asked not to be identified because the ethics panel’s actions are confidential.
*** UPDATE 7 *** Senator Darin LaHood (R-Peoria)…
“It is a sudden development. It is clear to me Congressman Schock believes he is doing what is best for the people of the 18thDistrict at this time. We appreciate his efforts on behalf of our constituents and our communities.
“I will be evaluating the full impact of this decision in the next few days.”
*** UPDATE 8 *** U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis …
“Aaron is a friend and this is a sad day for the Illinois delegation but I know Congressman Schock is doing what he thinks is best for his constituents and I support his decision.” said Davis. “I have enjoyed serving with Aaron in Congress and will miss working with him on legislative issues important to Illinois.”
*** UPDATE 9 *** Congressman Adam Kinzinger…
“During my time in Congress, I have come to know and respect Aaron Schock’s dedication to serving his constituents, his tireless advocacy for our country’s future and the people in the 18th District. Aaron was constantly looking for ways to end partisan gridlock, never afraid to reach across the aisle to find real solutions for American families. I was saddened to learn of his resignation and wish him the best.”
The annual ritual of gauging casino prospects in Waukegan has taken on a different context with a new occupant in the Governor’s Mansion, and Mayor Wayne Motley told the City Council on Monday that he recently fielded an optimistic report from Bruce Rauner himself.
“I met with the governor on Friday,” Motley said, “and he’s not opposed to a casino in Waukegan.
“I suspect that if (a bill) doesn’t come out of the House this spring, it will come out in the veto session in November,” added Motley, expressing confidence the plan would include a Lake County location. […]
During the 2014 election cycle, Rauner offered mixed sentiments on gaming expansion, telling the Associated Press in a campaign interview that “I don’t gamble. I don’t like gambling. (It) can be an addictive thing and it can hurt families that can’t afford to be hurt.”
However, he added that “if voters and municipalities would like to see more gaming, I will be supportive of that. There’s a point at which you’re maximizing the revenue. … If you have a slot machine on every corner pretty soon there’s not as much revenue and the casinos aren’t making money, nobody’s profitable anymore and the system shrinks back down.”
The last time I checked, there had been zero behind the scenes movement on a casino. They have other big things on their plate right now.
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
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(T)he “public access counselor” in the attorney general’s office has yet to respond to more than 2,800 appeals of Freedom of Information Act requests for information that a government agency deemed secret, according to an analysis of records obtained by The Associated Press. That’s about one in five of all FOIA appeals submitted to the office since the law took effect in 2010.
While it means the office can claim more than 80 percent of its cases closed, the AP found that nearly 1,200 of the open cases have gone unanswered for at least two years.
Over 80 percent of the backlogged appeals were filed by private citizens, who might possibly be unwilling to settle. The AG’s office is being swamped with 349 appeals a month, way over the numbers from two years ago.
The bureau has 10 lawyers and is interviewing to hire as many as five more, but turnover is constant, [Ann Spillane, chief of staff to Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan] said. And because of the budget crisis, even with a growing backlog, Spillane said the attorney general will focus on preserving the current budget instead of asking for more. […]
When asked about it Friday, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner bemoaned the “inefficiency, lack of productivity, lack of effectiveness, high costs” he says envelop state government.
“We’ve got to change that culture and be more responsive,” Rauner said. “I look forward to investigating that and seeing what I can do to help fix that.”
One reason why the AG’s office has always had a high turnover rate is they don’t pay very well and they work their lawyers pretty hard. They recruit a lot of people out of law school and then they move on to better paying gigs.
I suppose the AG could try outsourcing this, but private attorneys ain’t cheap.
A shell company linked to embattled U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, paid a political donor $300,000 last year for a commercial property in Peoria then took out a $600,000 mortgage for the property from a local bank run by other donors, Illinois state and county records show. […]
According to tax and county land records obtained by the Peoria Journal Star and reviewed by the AP, a company managed by Schock paid $300,000 last May to buy a commercial property owned by Jeff Green, a wealthy Peoria car dealer who has contributed at least $12,000 to the Illinois Republican’s congressional campaigns and who still owns a larger land tract next to Schock’s. The lawmaker then signed a mortgage application with a local Peoria bank for $600,000 - twice the listed price of the property now owned by his Illinois company, Menards Peoria LLC. Its headquarters was listed as Schock’s home in Peoria.
Banks typically limit mortgage loans to less than the full value of a property. It was not immediately clear why Schock sought such a large loan, whether there were other components of the deal or how he was awarded a mortgage loan twice the size of his purchase price. Local records did not show the bank’s appraisal value for the property. […]
Schock has created several shell companies as vehicles for his real estate moves, but it was unclear why he used the name “Menard” in his purchase of the Peoria property from Green.
A commenter offered a possible reason for the shell company’s name yesterday…
A recorder search shows a $600,000 dollar mortgage in the Menards Peoria LLC name for the old lumber yard building behind the old Menards on Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. That building is owned by Jeff Green.
* And that isn’t the only connection to the car dealer. Green is the person who flew Schock around in his private plane. According to the Sun-Times, Schock paid Green’s dealership $73,896.96 for a new Chevy Tahoe last July and traded in his 2010 Chevrolet at the same time, which was a couple months after buying the land from Green.
I went to Chevy’s website today to “build my own” 2015 Tahoe. I added every option I could find and came up with an MSRP of $64,849.
Maybe I did something wrong. Maybe I skipped over an option. Maybe there were options available last July that aren’t available this year. Maybe there was a big price change. Maybe there were some extra dealer add-ons. Maybe I didn’t figure nearly enough state and local sales taxes. Maybe there was a separate payment for the trade-in. I dunno. You can try it yourself. It could very well be nothing at all…
Reached by telephone at his Peoria office, Green said: “Ninety percent of the stuff out there is just a lie.”
Either way, we’re not talking big bucks here. Obviously, the more interesting story is the original land price compared to the subsequent mortgage. It’s just an odd little thing.
As Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner tries to win approval for a state budget with severe spending cuts, Senate Democrats have emerged as the loudest opponents, holding news conferences and committee hearings to denounce the governor’s proposals as “unworkable” and “unconscionable.”
The latest front in that effort unfolded Monday, when lawmakers grilled Rauner’s newly appointed social services chief at a Chicago hearing packed with low-income parents, people with disabilities and senior citizens who said they rely on the services that Rauner plans to cut back.
One by one, the Democratic senators questioned Gregory Bassi, acting secretary of the Department of Human Services, which under Rauner’s proposed budget would lose an estimated $424 million come July 1.
“When you decide to cut a program (or) you decide to reduce funding, it’s one thing when you see it on paper,” Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park, said as he capped off a tense back-and-forth with Bassi. “But when you look behind you and you come to the suburbs and you see what it’s like on the ground, you may think differently about these cuts.”
There is indeed, quite a bit of tension between Cullerton and Rauner behind the scenes.
* But that’s not the only tension. Check out this angle from the organization run by the governor’s wife…
Ireta Gasner, assistant director of Illinois policy for the Ounce of Prevention Fund, said Rauner’s budget “includes harmful and short-sighted changes.”
“The Early Intervention Toddlers program will continue to receive funding, but eligibility will be adjusted to prioritize the most vulnerable children.” [said a spokesperson for Gov. Rauner] […]
Gasner argued Monday the cuts to Early Intervention would affect 10,000 children — more than half of those in the program.
“And yet, these are the very children who actually can benefit the most when they get these services early,” Gasner said.
State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) took the opportunity to blast former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for spending “all of the money that the legislature appropriated before he left office,” adding that Quinn “spent a year’s worth of money the General Assembly gave him for child care in half the year.”
He stressed that Rauner has been working to resolve [the childcare program’s] funding shortfall, noting that, “To be perfectly clear, everybody in this room understands why this problem hasn’t been solved yet is because the Senate Democratic Caucus wants to leverage this issue and push this debt into next year — and they’re using you as political pawns in the process.”
“Somebody’s got to speak the truth in this room,” Murphy said, prompting the audience to boo him.
After the hearing, Appropriations Committee Chairwoman state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) told reporters that it would likely be very difficult for Rauner’s budget, as proposed, to garner enough votes in both the House and Senate for passage.
Rauner’s fiscal blueprint, she said, does not “demonstrate that level of compassion that I know the governor has expressed concern about, and I suspect we’ll also want to try to achieve. I do think there is going to have to be a lot of working together to try to get to a budget that’s more reasonable.” […]
“I’m hoping that we’re actually going to have a fiscal year ‘15 fix … this week to actually look at so we can actually start having conversations about next year’s budget,” the senator said. “Right now, we’re really in the phase of meeting with every agency director to understand the consequences of the proposed budget. We haven’t even started those negotiations until we really finish the current fiscal year.”
State Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-Saint Charles) said Rauner inherited a tough financial situation, and cuts of some kind will be needed.
“At the end of the day we all care about the people that we represent, and want to make sure that the people who need our help the most are the ones that we prioritize, so I’m optimistic. A difficult process, for sure; but I’m optimistic that we’re going to come together, and come up with some solutions,” she said.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering is jumping in the 10th Congressional District race for Congress, triggering a major 2016 Democratic primary brawl with former Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill.
“I’m definitely running,” Rotering told me in a phone interview on Monday. […]
Looking ahead to her congressional bid, Rotering said, “I believe that people will be excited when a woman runs.” […]
When it comes to name ID, Schneider is at 88 percent [according to a poll conducted for Schneider’s campaign], compared with Rotering at 25 percent. In a head-to-head, Schneider overwhelms Rotering at 56 percent to 12 percent.
Among the Democrats most likely to vote in a primary, Schneider gets 60 percent. The survey was of 430 likely Democratic voters in the 10th, conducted on March 11-12, with a margin of error of 4.7 percentage points.
In her announcement, Rotering seemed unmoved by the prospect of a primary.
“Exploring this Congressional run proved that my background, experience and energy are what the residents of the 10th District want and need,” Rotering said in a release. “I am running because of the strong support I have received within and outside of the District.”
But a primary could be problematic for Democrats.
This district, located in the Chicago media market, is one of the state’s most expensive. A contested primary could force Democrats to spend vital resources on each other, rather than on beating Dold, a top target in 2016.
Though the Republican won in 2014, this district historically leans Democratic in presidential years.
The primary also has the potential to pit two major Democratic groups against one another. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has been in talks with Schneider and often backs former members of Congress who are making comebacks, while Rotering has the type of profile that the deep-pocketed EMILY’s List looks for in a candidate.
* The NRCC reacts…
Hi There,
Pull up a chair and grab some popcorn. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering just announced that she will be challenging DCCC favorite Brad Schneider for the Democratic nomination in IL-10 in what is sure to be a bloody primary.
Only minutes into the process, both sides are already sniping at each other, with Rotering dismissing “Washington friends of Brad” and Schneider releasing a poll showing him far ahead, for now.
The press is already outlining how this development hurts Democrats’ chances in the district, saying that a messy primary will “force Democrats to spend vital resources on each other” instead of the general election in the expensive Chicago media market. Rotering has gone so far as to dump $200k of her own money into the race, ensuring that this fight goes into the final rounds.
Rotering is also signaling that she will make gender an issue, saying she believes “that people will be excited when a woman runs.”
NRCC Comment: “Democrats are gearing up for a bloody primary in the 10th District, which will waste resources and undoubtedly hurt their chances in the general election. It’s time to sit back and grab some popcorn, because this primary is about to get ugly.” –NRCC Spokesman Zach Hunter
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The cable industry is asking lawmakers to place a NEW 5% tax on satellite TV service. The satellite tax is not about fairness, equity or parity – it’s a tax increase on the 1.3 million Illinois families and businesses who subscribe to satellite TV.
Satellite Tax Will Hurt Illinois Families and Small Businesses
• Satellite TV subscribers will see their monthly bills go up 5%.
• This tax will impact every bar, restaurant and hotel that subscribes to satellite TV service, which will translate into higher prices, decreased revenues, and fewer jobs.
• Rural Illinois has no choice: In many parts of Illinois, cable refuses to provide TV service to rural communities. Satellite TV is their only option.
Satellite Tax Is Not About Parity or Fairness
• Cable’s claim that this discriminatory tax is justified because satellite TV doesn’t pay local franchise fees could not be further from the truth. Cable pays those fees to local towns and cities in exchange for the right to bury cables in the public rights of way—a right that cable companies value in the tens of billions of dollars in their SEC filings.
• Satellite companies don’t pay franchise fees for one simple reason: We use satellites—unlike cable, we don’t need to dig up streets and sidewalks to deliver our TV service.
• Making satellite subscribers pay franchise fees—or, in this case, an equivalent amount in taxes—would be like taxing the air. It’s no different than making airline passengers pay a fee for laying railroad tracks. They don’t use; they shouldn’t have to pay for it.
It’s time for state lawmakers to put together another construction program, says Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago). He says it’s needed, but won’t be easy to accomplish.
“It’s really important, I’m supportive of it. It does require, though some tough votes. It’s not just spending money, it’s not just borrowing money without providing a way to pay off (the bonds), but it does create jobs and it keeps the money here in Illinois,” he said.
A revenue source other than the motor fuel tax must be found to pay for the program, because that tax is a per-gallon tax, and cars are more fuel efficient than they were decades ago, so the tax is producing less revenue, but the need for roads is the same, Cullerton said. […]
Cullerton says if there’s to be another construction program, it’ll require bipartisan votes, and it probably won’t be considered in Springfield until the state budget for this year and next is in clearer focus.
One of the options under consideration is using the sales tax on motorfuel to fund the capital program. The problem with that idea, of course, is that it blows yet another big hole in the state budget.
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
We depend on reliable, clean-air energy from nuclear facilities to power Illinois and drive our economy. But some of Illinois’ nuclear energy facilities are at risk of closing prematurely. Their closure could cost the state $1.8 billion in lost economic activity, nearly 8,000 highly skilled jobs, wholesale price increases of almost 10 percent, or $437 million, for ComEd customers, and significant increases in carbon and other pollutants, according to a State of Illinois report from January 2015. In fact, the cost to Illinois of allowing nuclear plants to prematurely retire are as much as 12 times greater than the actual cost of the LCPS, when fully considering increased wholesale power prices, transmission costs, adverse economic impacts, and adverse environmental impacts, according to the report.
The Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard (LCPS) is a market-based approach that would preserve the state’s existing low carbon energy sources (including nuclear power), incent the addition of more renewables, and advance Illinois’ position as the nation’s clean-air energy leader.
Currently, not all low-carbon sources of energy in Illinois are valued for the clean air benefits they provide. In particular, Illinois’ nuclear facilities have been overlooked, despite providing 90 percent of our state’s carbon-free power. The LCPS would correct this flaw in Illinois’ energy policy.
Members of the General Assembly: Support the Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard and Include Zero Carbon, Reliable Nuclear Energy In Illinois’ Energy Future.
Rep. Aaron Schock owns what appears to be a fairly accurate replica of “The Falcon” — the internal White House nickname for one of President Obama’s official podiums — and based on photos, uses it at times when speaking in his Peoria, Illinois, district.
USA Today reported last month that Schock spent $79,061 in federal money on furniture in 2009, and $5,123 of that went to Mulnix Industries, a firm that makes custom furniture for public speaking in a town 40 miles outside of Jefferson City, Missouri. Page 2563 of the 2010 Statement of Disbursements of the House of Representatives shows the outlay to Mulnix, but it doesn’t say exactly what the money purchased.
Schock’s office did not respond to USA Today about the expenditures. But multiple photos of Schock back home in his district — including this one taken March 6 by an AP photographer — show him standing behind The Presidential, a discontinued Mulnix model still listed in the company’s online catalog of “Standing Podiums.”
In an interview, Mulnix General Manager Phil Crane said it was “very likely” he sold a Presidential to Schock, though he said he’d have to laboriously go through old records to be sure. The model was pretty popular when Mulnix made it — the company sent four to the U.S. Consulate in Pretoria, South Africa — and Crane said it sold for “somewhere around” $5,000 a piece.
After Rep. Aaron Schock R-Ill., dipped into a campaign fund to pay $73,896.96 for a Chevrolet Tahoe and put the SUV in his name, he later charged taxpayers for mileage, the Sun-Times has learned.
According to the latest House disbursement records, Schock was reimbursed $1,218 for what is listed in House records as “private mileage” between last Sept. 1 and Oct. 1. The money came from Schock’s taxpayer-funded House member allowance.
The car is registered to the Peoria lawmaker, according to Illinois Secretary of State vehicle records, obtained by the Sun-Times through a Freedom of Information Act request. […]
The House Ethics Manual does not appear to address the issue of charging taxpayers for mileage when a campaign-purchased vehicle registered in the name of the lawmaker is used for official House purposes.
As long as those expenses were legit, no likely problem.
However, when a member drives a vehicle paid for from campaign funds for personal purposes, the House Ethics Manual notes that Federal Election Commission regulations call for reimbursement to be made within 30 days from personal funds.
In the wake of stories raising questions about Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., spending of taxpayer and campaign money, the Office of Congressional Ethics has begun to make inquiries, the Sun-Times has learned.
A spokesman for the OCE told the Sun-Times on Monday morning the organization will decline to comment on any Schock probe. The OCE can independently open investigations and does not need to be asked by a person or any entity to launch a probe.
A Schock spokesman so far has not responded to questions about the OCE. Under OCE rules, a subject of an investigation does get notified.
The OCE is an independent, non-partisan organization which reviews allegations of misconduct against House members. The OCE has no power to sanction a member and after its investigations refers matters to the House Committee on Ethics, which then continues with its own probe.
Ogden & Fry conducted two polls for the Chicago Mayoral runoff contest. A 1-question poll with 920 respondents was run on Friday, March 13, 2015 without “undecided” as an option. The usual weekly 1-question poll was conducted on Saturday, March 14, 2015 with 957 respondents. Respondents were selected by random sampling of likely voters.
Despite an impressive roll-out of high-profile endorsements for Garcia, Emanuel has opened a lead on Garcia. Emanuel’s financial advantage is starting to have an effect with his TV commercials.
Conventional wisdom is that undecideds usually do not break for a well-known incumbent. Garcia seems to hold around a 6% (53%-47%) advantage with the undecided voters at this point.
Garcia got a nice bounce out of the first round. He was a fresh face and Emanuel clearly underperformed. But Garcia needed to sustain that bounce and build on it. So far, at least, he appears to be stalling out.
Illinois requires doctors, lawyers, beauticians, teachers and judges to keep their occupational knowledge up to date. But the men and women who make our laws and ordinances aren’t required to know anything at all.
State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, wants to do something about that by requiring state legislators, aldermen and county board members to take economics courses after they win elections.
* The Question: If you had your druthers, what other areas of study would be required of newly elected legislators? Please explain your response. Thanks.
Illinois is on track to join nearly two dozen other states that forgo citations for underage drinkers who call 911 to get medical help for those who have had too much to drink.
Proponents say the measure, which passed the Illinois House this month and was recently introduced in the Senate, would help remove the fear of legal trouble that prevents teens from calling for help for a friend who has passed out after drinking too much. The state enacted similar legislation several years ago for drug overdoses after a spate of heroin-related deaths.
State Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, said the law would not give all underage drinkers a pass but would help minors in dire need of medical attention get help. Drury relayed a story about parents in his district who said their teenager needed medical attention after drinking too much.
“People were reluctant to call for help, but someone did. And then both the teenager and the friend who called ended up getting a citation for the situation,” Drury said. “The parents felt that was wrong, because we ought to be trying to protect kids rather than deter them from seeking medical help.”
* In other “It’s just a bill” news, this Illinois Policy Institute story leaves out a key fact…
A suburban legislator has softened his proposal to end a partial tuition waiver for the children of state university personnel, but influential unions remain opposed.
State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Oswego, is the sponsor of House Bill 403, which would end the 50-percent tuition waiver for children of university employees with seven or more years of service.
Franks this week amended his bill to delay elimination of the waiver until after the 2015-16 academic year and to allow students who now have a waiver to keep it until they graduate or have received the waiver for four years.
University Professionals of Illinois and the Illinois Federation of Teachers are among those who oppose the measure, and Franks said he understands their position.
“They’re opinion is that this this is something they bargained for, this is something they worked for, and this is something they should be able to keep,” Franks said.
“And they make a strong argument, certainly, but it’s a different world than what we had just a few years ago, with the governor now talking about cutting almost $400 million from higher education.”
One difference between Franks and the UPI is whether the estimated $10 million cost is a “real” expense or “hard” cost, as the state does not reimburse the universities for the waivers.
Unions aren’t the only opponents. The U of I and other universities are also opposed, believing the benefit helps recruitment and retention efforts. With budget cuts, pension reforms, etc. all being bandied about, the schools will struggle to attract and hold people.
The powers of an Illinois governor aren’t unlimited, but they’re pretty darned strong.
The governor can use a veto to rewrite legislation and reduce or eliminate individual legislative appropriations. The governor can issue executive orders, although that power is somewhat limited.
The governor also has more than 2,000 jobs and untold numbers of contracts that can be handed out to friendlies, and he or she can refuse to spend money on many grants, programs and projects to put pressure on unfriendlies.
It doesn’t take a political science degree to comprehend that all those jobs, contracts and spending powers can be a real boon to the governor’s political party. Just look at what happened to the Illinois Republican Party after the Democrats took over in 2003.
After controlling the governor’s office for 22 straight years, the once-mighty Republican Party’s infrastructure collapsed when George Ryan’s single term ended. The GOP built its power in Illinois almost solely with state resources, and when those dried up, the party’s organization imploded.
Because of rich patronage and contracting opportunities in Chicago and Cook County, the Democrats aren’t solely reliant on the state to fuel their organization. So the party’s recent descent into opposition won’t be as disastrous for them as it was to the Republicans.
Even so, the Democrats have reason to worry. They won’t soon lose their legislative majorities, but a Republican governor can help make their lives much more difficult.
For the first time ever, Cook County is sending a bill to the State of Illinois for the cost of holding state wards left waiting at the juvenile jail by the Department of Children and Family Services. […]
It comes after a recent WBEZ investigation found that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) routinely leaves hundreds of kids stuck behind bars for weeks, or even months, after a judge has said they can go home. Because they are wards of the state, the kids can’t leave the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center until the department finds them proper placement. […]
The invoice being sent to DCFS covers just two months—December and January—and it comes to $232,750.
The invoice is for 41 DCFS wards who spent a combined 665 days in jail after a judge told them they were free to go. […]
Let’s hope Gov. Rauner’s new director can fix this inherited mess. His predecessors should be ashamed of themselves.
* Speaking of incarceration and impacts on the state budget, this is from a Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities press release sent a few weeks ago…
Governor Bruce Rauner’s $27 million cuts to drug treatment services undermine the very criminal justice reforms that he has been publicly championing.
Criminal justice reforms and cost savings simply cannot happen without drug treatment and coordinated case management upon which Illinois courts rely.
Last year alone, working with judges and community-based treatment providers, TASC diverted 2,080 people from prison and immediately saved Illinois $35 million. Under the governor’s proposed budget for next year, millions of those savings would be wiped out.
* I followed up and asked for more details, but my e-mail has been a bit screwy lately. I finally found the source of the problem yesterday, so a ton of unsent e-mails were finally released from purgatory. Turns out, a whole lot of Mac users are having the same problem.
Anyway, TASC responded today…
Rich,
Thanks for reaching out. For the cost savings, we calculate the cost of TASC and treatment (both funded by DASA) vs. the cost of incarceration in IDOC. In FY14, 2,080 people were mandated to TASC as an alternative to prison — these were individuals with non-violent felony offenses that otherwise would result in a sentence to IDOC (usually about 12-18 months).
Cost of one year of prison for 2,080 people: 2,080 x 21,000 (IDOC average annual incarceration cost) = $43,680,000
Alternatively, average cost of TASC plus DASA-funded treatment: 2,080 x $4,200 (DASA average cost of treatment plus TASC internal average of client served) = $8,736,000
Difference to the state: $43,680,000 - $8,736,000 = $34,944,000
Our cost savings estimate is conservative. We used the IDOC average per capita cost from the IDOC FY13 annual report (p. 64), which is the most recent available.. If we calculate the cost of IDOC at $22,655, as per IDOC’s Financial Impact Statement, the cost savings of alternatives to incarceration are even greater.
*** UPDATE *** Steve Schnorf makes a very valid point in comments…
So each time the IDOC prisoner census increases by one, the GA convenes and approps an additional $21,000, and each time a prisoner is released or dies, the approp goes down by $21,000. Those sorts of analyses are worth about the cost of the paper they’re written on. Unfortunately, they are frequently used to justify this program or that.
When one future incarceree is diverted the savings are so infinitesimal as to be calculable. When several or many are diverted the savings are still quite small. Only when you reduce the census enough to close a unit (if we are fortunate enough that they all are of the same approximate classification, etc) would you begin to see savings of close to half of $21,000 per avoided inmate, and only when you have the right number and mix that you can close a whole prison if you can get rid of the prison) do you get up closer to $20,000.
These sorts of programs should be justified primarily on their intrinsic programmatic values, not on some cooked up savings numbers.
A budget shortfall in the program that helps juvenile offenders re-enter the community is the latest addition to Illinois’ list of urgent financial troubles.
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office says the money the state needs to run the Department of Juvenile Justice’s Aftercare program will run out at the end of March. The program helps youth find jobs and housing after being released from a facility.
The agency’s spokeswoman, Veronica Vera, says layoffs at youth centers including the ones in St. Charles and Warrenville aren’t in the works and Rauner’s administration hopes to shift money around to avoid an interruption in the program. […]
Rauner and top Democrats are working on a plan that would let the new governor move money around to try to plug some of those holes. A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan said a vote could come [this] week, but nothing is finalized.
It’s possible that we’ll see a vote this week. Subscribers know more about the why and the what.
Rauner said he is frustrated by how slowly Springfield is moving to address the deficit.
“I went to the legislature and said we better reallocate immediately money from non-essential buckets into essential buckets like court reporting and day care,” Rauner said. “The legislature agreed with me but the process has taken five or six weeks.” […]
“What I’m saying is, ‘Guys, let’s get it done,’” Rauner said. “If we sat in a room, we would have had it done in a few days. But I think they are close, they are in their caucuses arguing it through, and I am pushing them to get it done as fast as they can.”
“Many state programs are running out of money because majority party legislators knowingly voted for a budget that intentionally left our state with a $1.6 billion hole. The child care assistance program is already out of state money and state prisons soon won’t have funds to make payroll,” the statement said.
“As a result, the governor’s budget office is taking actions necessary to address the fiscal crisis that the governor inherited. GOMB (Governor’s Office of Management and Budget) has asked all affected communities to hold on construction and stop incurring costs if construction has started.”
Buried deep within Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget plan for next fiscal year is yet another claimed “savings” which may not actually save any money, and could easily wind up costing the state more.
The governor proposes to save a whopping $108 million by discontinuing child care services provided by relatives in the child’s or relative’s home.
At first glance, that cut might look prudent. Why should the state pay grandma to baby-sit her own grandkid? Is that some sort of scam? Go to any right-wing blog and you’ll occasionally see stories bashing this whole idea.
But, in reality, by pulling those payments, which are designed to help low-income parents go to school and work their way out of poverty, “grandma” could lose her income and may very well have to find a different part-time job, meaning the parent then has to search for another provider and the state saves no money.
And because relatives who provide child care are exempt from all state licensing requirements, that child could end up at a licensed day care provider, which costs the state a whole lot more money.
It’s simple math. The rate the state pays for relative care, care in the child’s home and for license exempt day care homes is $16.22 per day.
But the rates paid for licensed day care centers varies from $33.53 per day in parts of Downstate to $46.49 per day in Chicago and the collar counties. So, we’re talking about the potential of almost tripling the price per child in the region where most people live.
Licensed exempt day care centers and licensed day care homes are cheaper, but they’re still substantially more expensive than relative care, ranging from $29.20 per day in parts of Downstate all the way up to $40.50 in Chicago and the suburbs.
And even if the state ends up paying for non-relative care in the kids’ own homes or at a license-exempt home day care provider, it costs the state the exact same money as it’s paying now. So why even bother with this?
“Simply by eliminating one class of care, we don’t necessarily eliminate those children from the system,” explained Megan Meyer, spokesperson for the Ounce of Prevention Fund, which just happens to be run by the governor’s wife. “Some families certainly may opt out, but others may choose licensed home or center-based care, all of which are more expensive.”
Emily Miller with Voices For Illinois Children was far more blunt. “Obviously I can’t speak for the governor, but perhaps the governor thinks that someone else – like a child care [provider] – won’t care for the kid, and the current child care provider will just continue to do it and not get paid. I don’t see why that would happen. But there are a lot of magic assumptions in this budget.”
Yes, there are a whole lot of “magic assumptions” in the governor’s budget proposal. The thing is chock full of wishful thinking, like the $2.2 billion savings from a pension reform plan which must be implemented by this coming July 1st, but also can’t be halted by a lawsuit, which is so unlikely there aren’t enough decimal point zeroes in the world to give you the percentages of success. It’s simply an impossible fairy tale.
Now, it’s true that some relatives might very well volunteer to take care of the kids for free. That would be a great thing for the state, which wouldn’t have to pick up the tab. But we’re talking about economically distressed parents here, and they tend to come from poor families. So, while some money could be saved, it most certainly won’t be $108 million.
The governor’s proposal, by the way, would also phase out child care subsidies for kids six and older.
“Over time, the total number of children who would lose access is about 65,000,” said Miller of Voices for Children. “That’s how many kids there are age 6-12 who are currently enrolled. It’s over time because children over 5 who are already enrolled will continue to be as long as they remain enrolled.”
Whatever you think about that proposed cut, at least that will produce the savings intended, as well as more future savings as it’s phased in. So kudos for accuracy. Maybe not so much for humanity.
I asked the governor’s press office for comment on all of these issues, but never heard back.
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) will appear on a millennial panel at SXSW in Austin this weekend. It’s called: “Millennials: The Unstoppable Force.” […]
Generation Opportunity is proud to have him on board.
“GenOpp is proud to facilitate a meaningful conversation with Millennial leaders on both sides of the aisle at this year’s South by Southwest Festival,” said GenOpp President Evan Feinberg in a statement released Friday. “Whether it’s jobs, healthcare, or criminal justice, our generation is interested in solving issues – and we’re excited to engage in a discussion with members of both parties on the policies that set us up for the best future possible.”
“Representative Schock’s office has informed us that he will no longer be participating in the panel,” David Pasch, a spokesman for Generation Opportunity, whose president is moderating the panel, told The Hill.
Schock’s staff has refused to respond to, or even acknowledge, days of repeated inquiries from NBC5 Investigates, about an entity known as Menards Peoria LLC, which was organized last April.
Incorporation papers filed with the Illinois Secretary of State list Schock as the “manager” of the company, which is headquartered in his Peoria home.
In those documents, the company’s purpose is listed simply as, “The transaction of any or all lawful business for which Limited Liability Companies may be organized under this act.”
Repeated calls to Schock’s Capitol office, and each of his district offices in Springfield, Peoria, and Jacksonville, yielded no answers. Staffers refused to divulge the Peoria Republican’s public schedule, referring all inquiries to his press spokesman, who did not reply to calls or emails seeking information.
* Kurt Erickson writes about a meeting between some Downstate lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner last week…
According to accounts from Democratic lawmakers who met privately with the Republican businessman, the governor suggested that if his policies are adopted by the Legislature, union membership will be eliminated in Illinois within the next four years. […]
During last week’s meeting with lawmakers, Rauner was told that he is wasting a lot of time and energy on an issue that likely isn’t going to go anywhere. Democrats, after all, still control the General Assembly. […]
“We ought to be talking more about the budget. Instead of traveling around, he ought to be meeting with people about the budget,” said state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville.
State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, also was in the meeting when Rauner predicted the eventual eradication of union membership in Illinois. He also said Rauner needs to focus on the state’s budget problems. […]
“Actions speak louder than words. His actions have indicated that he’s not pro-union,” Sullivan said. “I came away from the meeting believing that he believes in what he’s saying.”
*** UPDATE *** An administration source with knowledge of the meeting pushed back hard…
He never said that. It is 100% false.
I talked to a Senator who was at the meeting. “Did Rauner really say union membership would be eliminated in four years?” His response, via text…
SENATOR: Not exactly, he said it has gone from a high of 30 to 40% down to 6% currently and soon it will be zero. At least that’s how I recall the conversation going.
ME: Ok.
SENATOR: We came to talk about the budget, he spent 90% of the time talking to someone who has a 100% labor voting record about how bad labor is.
ME: So he was saying u were on the wrong side of history?
SENATOR: Lol. Yes. This is what’s amazing about this to me: there is nothing he’s going to say to me or do to me that is going to change my mind about collective bargaining and the rights of workers.
Somebody in that shop has to start realizing that’s the sentiment of a whole lot of legislators. D’s and R’s both.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* It’s little wonder why he he was booed at the South Side Irish Parade yesterday…
Union ties are strong in the Morgan Park and Beverly neighborhoods, where the parade ran down Western Avenue — and this year, it featured at least eight union floats and the Irish-American Labor Council, a committee of the AFL-CIO, as its grand marshal.
Rauner, who has made creation of union-weakening “right to work” zones in specific parts of the state a priority in his first few months in office, waved with a smile as people standing on the curb shouted, “No right to work!” and “You’re no good!”
At one point, Rauner picked up the pace to a jog — and yells of “Keep running!” followed.
Brendan Nolan, a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, clapped as people nearby booed the governor.
Asked about the booing, Catherine Kelly, a spokeswoman for Rauner said in an emailed statement: “While the protectors of the failed status quo will always make noise, Bruce heard from more people this weekend expressing support for his empowerment agenda.”
…Adding… A friend who was at the parade (I didn’t make it this year) sent me an e-mail today with the subject line “Rauner booed”…
Was he ever - sometimes it was union guys following him around shouting “No right to work!” Other times it was just spontaneous booing — near constant the two times I passed him. It was painful watching him walk up to groups of people trying to get them to shake hands. People are polite so sometimes they would, but so many people just looked away and tried to avoid eye contact.
There was most definitely an organized response to Rauner, but that part of the world has a whole lot of union members in it. So, much of the booing was quite spontaneous, according to other friends who were there.
