* The legislation now goes back to the Senate for concurrence…
Democrats voting “No” were Reps. Bristow, Carroll, Costa Howard, Kifowit, Morgan and Reitz. Rep. Walsh did not vote.
…Adding… The Senate Revenue Committee will take up the rates change bill tonight.
…Adding… Press release…
Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Thursday regarding House passage of a Fair Tax rate package that will provide relief for 97% of Illinois taxpayers:
“The completion of the Fair Tax package ensures the people of Illinois can evaluate the proposal on the basis of facts and hard numbers, not half truths and special interest spin. As we have advocated for several years, the rates passed today are a restatement of our commitment to middle-class families that they will receive a tax cut under this proposal. This vote is a critical step toward House Democrats’ pledge to balance the state budget while holding the line on middle-class taxes and stopping outrageous cuts to critical services like our schools, lifesaving breast cancer screenings, and Meals on Wheels for seniors. Critically, a Fair Tax allows us to accomplish this while also delivering relief for 97% of taxpayers statewide.
“There is more work to be done. While the Fair Tax takes steps to provide homeowners with property tax credits and expanded tax credits for families, House Democrats are going further by creating a Property Tax Relief Fund, because we recognize there is yet more we must do to ease the burden on middle-class families.
“House Democrats look forward to continuing our effort to build a stronger Illinois by building a stronger middle class. We will keep fighting to make taxes fairer for the middle class, strengthen our economy to make Illinois a center of high-wage job opportunities, and make health care more affordable.”
…Adding… Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement after the House passed fair tax legislation making the wealthy pay their fair share while 97 percent of taxpayers pay the same or less.
“With tonight’s House vote, tax fairness has achieved an extraordinary milestone, and Illinois’ middle class and those striving to get there are poised to benefit. I’m especially grateful to Rep. Mike Zalewski for shepherding this measure through the House, as well as all of those who have worked hard for years to deliver on the promise of a fair income tax. A fair tax will bring monumental change to this state by protecting working families. 97 percent of taxpayers will pay the same or less, and we will stabilize Illinois’ finances. Opponents should be honest that they offer bad options – either cutting schools and public safety to the bone, or raising taxes on everyone by 20 percent. Instead, I stand firmly on the side of working families and fairness.”
* The House is now debating this bill…
Creates the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. Provides that moneys in the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund shall be used to pay rebates to residential property taxpayers in the State. Provides that the Fund may accept moneys from any lawful source. Provides that the State Comptroller shall calculate a property tax rebate amount for the applicable property tax year by dividing the total amount appropriated from the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund by the total number of homestead exemptions granted for homestead property in the State. Provides that the property tax bills of non-delinquent taxpayers who received a general homestead exemption under the Property Tax Code shall be reduced by the property tax rebate amount.
The bill will take effect immediately, but won’t start happening until 2021, presumably after the graduated income tax takes effect (depending on voter approval).
…Adding… The bill passed 96-18-1. The House is now debating this bill…
Creates the Property Tax Relief Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall identify the causes of increasingly burdensome property taxes across Illinois, review best practices in public policy strategies that create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners, and make recommendations to assist in the development of short-term and long-term administrative, electoral, and legislative changes needed to create short-term and long-term property tax relief for homeowners.
The bill was taken out of the record after Republicans complained that the task force membership had no guarantee of bipartisanship.
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* Press release…
The Cook County Assessor’s Office was informed by House leadership that SB 1379, the Data Modernization Bill, would not move out of the Rules Committee for a vote during the current legislative session.
In response, Assessor Fritz Kaegi released the following statement:
Days spent crafting a property tax reform bill: 272
“Yes” votes in the Senate: 36
Co-sponsors in the House: 39
Number of Cook County’s Southern Suburbs waiting for more accurate assessments: 80+
Number of jurisdictions in the U.S. with a similar method of data collection: 17
Business leaders, school districts, organized labor groups, community organizations and elected officials throughout Cook County and Illinois who publicly support the bill: 73
Hours of meetings with those who oppose the bill: Limitless
Reasons why Illinois and Cook County don’t deserve a fair, equitable and transparent assessment system: 0
SB 1379 remains the best first legislative step toward reform of the property tax system. We’ll be back next session to get it passed.
Fritz
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Retail Merchants Association and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association have issued this statement in response to the Assessor’s statement:
“We are disappointed by the Assessor’s statement and the disrespect it shows to the various stakeholders who engaged in meaningful discussion and the legislators who expressed their concerns with the unknown impacts. Approaching such a significant change to a $14.5 billion system should be done with thorough consideration. Haste makes waste and Cook County property owners, residential and commercial alike, have certainly experienced enough waste.”
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* Sun-Times…
Ald. Edward M. Burke and his top political aide have been named as defendants in a pending federal bribery case involving a Lake Forest developer, court records show.
Burke and his aide, Peter J. Andrews, were named as new defendants in the federal bribery case against developer Charles Cui.
Cui is accused of allegedly using Burke’s law firm for property tax appeal work as Cui sought a sign permit that was critical to a redevelopment project on the Northwest Side. Burke was not originally charged in the case, which was brought earlier this year, but was implicated throughout the charges against Cui.
Details of the new charges against Burke and Andrews were not immediately available.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Tribune…
A 14-count indictment accused the alderman with half a century in office of corruption in connection with the redevelopment of the old main post office in downtown Chicago as well as two smaller projects in which prosecutors had previously alleged wrongdoing.
The charges also allege that Burke threatened to oppose an increase in the admission fee for a Chicago museum after the museum failed to respond to the alderman’s inquiry about an internship there for a child of a friend.
The indictment charges Burke with one count of racketeering, two counts of federal program bribery, two counts of attempted extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and eight counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.
Also charged for the first time was Peter J. Andrews, an employee in Burke’s 14th Ward office who is accused of assisting the alderman in attempting to shake down two businessmen seeking to renovate a Burger King restaurant in the ward.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Read the indictment by clicking here.
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Illinois Credit Unions: Focused On The Members We Serve
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Big…
The Illinois House has unanimously passed a bipartisan reform package that aims to improve a number of health care programs in the state, including its often griped about Medicaid managed care program.
Under the program, the state pays private insurers a set amount per member per month rather than paying for each medical service provided. It aims to improve people’s health and control costs by ensuring all care is appropriate and high quality. But hospitals say it’s costing them money, as medical claims denied for administrative reasons cause significant reimbursement delays.
S.B. 1321 aims to improve aspects of the program that seem to be causing hospitals the most grief, including requiring insurers to pay complete claims within 30 days or face a penalty. The bill now moves to the Senate.
It also requires the Department of Healthcare & Family Services, the agency that oversees Medicaid, to maintain a provider complaint portal, through which doctors can submit unresolved disputes with insurers. Hospitals have long requested more oversight from the agency.
* Press release…
The following can be attributed to Khadine Bennett, Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois:
“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that cell phone users have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding their historical cell site location data. Thank you to the Illinois Senate for passing House Bill 2134, which reconciles the Illinois Freedom from Location Surveillance Act (FLSA) with this ruling by requiring law enforcement agencies in Illinois to obtain a court order or warrant before obtaining historical location information from a location device.
“We appreciate the leadership of sponsors Representative Ann Williams and Senator Don Harmon and we look forward to its signature into law by Governor Pritzker.”
* Bloomberg…
Illinois is poised to update its privacy law to require businesses to swiftly report larger data breaches to the state attorney general.
The [House] voted 79-32 to approve Senate Bill 1624 amending the Personal Information Protection Act. The Senate unanimously approved the bill in April, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is expected to sign it into law, according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Suzy Glowiak (D).
PIPA doesn’t currently require data collectors to make disclosures to law enforcement,
* Related…
* Tougher regulations on door-to-door energy sales pass Illinois House
* Illinois lawmakers OK bill to remove legal obstacles for those who provide clean needles to heroin users
* Bill headed to Pritzker defines consent for sex ed instruction in Illinois
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* Mark Brown…
Voices were raised, tempers flared and accusations traded on the Illinois House floor Wednesday afternoon, nothing out of the ordinary in and of itself for this late stage of a legislative session.
“Welcome to the emotions of the last week in May,” said state Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, directing his remark to new lawmakers who might be unfamiliar with how testy things can get in the waning days.
The immediate cause of the tensions was an obscure piece of legislation by Chicago standards — a fight over whether Champaign County should split away from five more rural counties with which it shares a judicial district.
But in that debate, fought strictly along partisan lines because the change would give Democrats a better shot at electing local judges, I thought we could see an emerging theme of this year’s legislative session.
That is, Democrats are completely back in charge in Springfield, and when push comes to shove, and at some point it always does, they’re going to do things their way. […]
One day after slamming through an expansive abortion rights bill over Republican opposition as a way to fight back against southern states moving in the opposite direction, House Democrats pushed another conservative hot button by voting to require fingerprinting of individuals seeking a Firearm Owners Identification Card.
In recent days, both chambers approved a constitutional amendment to switch Illinois to a graduated income tax, moving away from the flat rate tax that has been in effect nearly 50 years. And before that, they approved an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
* From Hollywood Center Squares, or whatever it’s called now…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration has introduced legislation crafted by the State Board of Elections that Republicans say would legitimize a third party to play spoiler to the GOP’s chances of regaining seats in the General Assembly.
The bill that passed in a House committee Thursday morning would allow for the Conservative Party to field candidates for state representative or state senator in any district where Sam McCann, the Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate supported by unions to siphon votes from former Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018, got more than 5 percent of the vote.
State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, called the legislation a direct shot at the minority party.
“You come down with omnibus elections bills that screw the other party,” he told Majority Leader Greg Harris. “That’s what you’re doing.”
…Adding… From Matt Dietrich at the Illinois State Board of Elections…
I wanted to point out that the portion of the omnibus bill referenced in the story is not something we put in. Most of the bill comes from legislative changes we suggested but that part was not among them.
* The Question: Are the Democrats over-reaching this spring? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
polls
*** UPDATE *** House Majority Leader Greg Harris has introduced an amendment to the omnibus elections bill to delete the language about establishing third parties. The language had infuriated House Republicans, who threatened to pull votes off all upcoming bipartisan bills unless it was stripped.
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Rate the new anti parking tax radio ad
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Spot…
* Script…
Do you drive to work in Chicago or anywhere else in Cook County? Do you pay to park your car? Watch out for a nasty surprise.
Do you drive to shop, dine out or see a play? Do you drive to the airport? Watch out for a nasty surprise.
The new administration has proposed the first and only state parking tax in America. If this is voted into law, you will pay up to 40% in taxes just to park in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
Up to 40%!
Chicago parking taxes are already higher than New York, Washington and LA. Three times higher than Dallas or Houston.
Do you want to pay more than ever to work or shop, go out to dinner, see a show or visit a museum?
Every parking lot, garage and even airport parking will cost more!
Business owners? Your employees and your customers will suffer. That means your business will suffer.
Call your state representative and state senator. Tell them to vote no.
They’re ready to vote. So call them now. Or visit noparkingtaxhike.com for more information.
That’s noparkingtaxhike.com.
Paid for by Teamsters Local 727 and the Parking Industry Labor Management Committee.
The proposed state tax is actually 6 percent for daily and hourly parking and 9 percent for monthly. They’re adding in local taxes to the mix. Also notice that they don’t mention Pritzker’s name. It’s just “the new administration.”
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Give up the funk!
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From that Center Square thingy…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker threw an early birthday party for Secretary of State Jesse White, but the Chicago billionaire declined to comment about the cost of the celebration.
Amid stormy weather in the Springfield-area, the Wednesday night party took place under a massive tent with a raised platform on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion. The temporary structure took a week to construct.
Asked Thursday how much the party cost, the governor, who has an estimated net worth of more than $3 billion, wouldn’t say.
“[First Lady] M.K. [Pritzker] and I were thrilled to have a birthday party for Secretary of State Jesse White,” Pritzker said. “He’s one of the great public servants in the history of the state of Illinois. He’s revered, he’s a friend, he somebody I’ve known for 35 years.”
Funk superstar George Clinton performed at the birthday celebration.
“We obviously were interested in making sure we had entertainment that was appropriate to the evening and so we were glad to be able to get George Clinton to perform,” Pritzker said.
He noted that a number of Illinois distillers and craft brewers provided drinks for the evening.
“Everybody enjoyed themselves,” Pritzker said.
Everybody did, indeed, enjoy themselves. It was quite the bash, and it was privately funded, so I don’t really care about the cost. From the Danenberger Family Vineyards Facebook page, here’s an early pic of the inside of the tent…
* Sponsors…
* The band…
* The man himself…
Say whatever you want about the governor, but our state’s First Lady knocks it out of the park whenever she throws a party. She may very well be the best ever.
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* Good question, but not quite a complete answer…
Total McCormick Place attendance in 2017 was 2.5 million, compared with over 3 million in 2001. Use of the convention center as measured by square footage dropped by half.
So why does the center keep getting more money, and racking up new debt?
Part of the reason is that it’s in a highly competitive industry where other cities are making ill-considered investments in centers of their own. There’s a futile arms race at play.
The bigger reasons for expansion are political. Organized labor and private businesses collaborate to push expansion plans year after year. When they succeed, the mayor of Chicago and other officials then get to stand at ribbon-cuttings and take credit for tourism numbers.
Um, name me another place that brings in 2.5 million people mostly from out of state to Illinois every year for extended periods of time. That’s why those “private businesses,” which are actually hotels, restaurants, etc. aren’t totally opposed to new taxation. The restaurant association, I’m told, is so far neutral on this bill…
Dining out in certain parts of Chicago would get a little more costly under a measure approved Wednesday in the Illinois Senate to help pay for a construction project at McCormick Place.
By a 44-6 vote, the Senate passed a bill to expand the boundaries of the area in which the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the agency that oversees McCormick Place and Navy Pier, levies a 1% restaurant tax. The measure now moves to the House.
The tax currently is collected downtown, but the expanded area, which would include parts of the North, Northwest and South sides, was designed to bring in more money from trendy restaurants in areas such as Wrigleyville, Logan Square and Hyde Park, McPier CEO Lori Healey said during a committee hearing Wednesday. The agency expects to bring in an additional $10 million in annual revenue from the expanded boundaries, she said. […]
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday that she doesn’t know enough about McPier’s proposal to have a position.
No group filed a witness slip in opposition yesterday.
* But the proposed boundaries of what would be a much larger taxing district have some locals up in arms…
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), owner of Ann Sather restaurants, said he adamantly opposes the dramatic expansion of a restaurant tax that was supposed to be temporary.
“This tax was supposed to go away — not expand,” said Tunney, the new chairman of the City Council’s Zoning Committee.
“I’m not supportive of it. We already have the highest sales tax in the country, and we’re expanding it? I just feel that the cost of dining out is very expensive. It’s close to 12 percent. Consumers notice. I also think it hurts us on the competitiveness of the convention and tourism business.” […]
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) joined Tunney in opposing the expansion.
“The whole purpose of the original tax on restaurants for McCormick Place was to capture tourism dollars. We know they’re concentrated in the downtown area,” Hopkins said.
“The further you push that away [from downtown], the more you’re putting that burden on local residents who are going to their neighborhood restaurant. That’s not fair, and I don’t support it.”
That bill flew out of the Senate before any opposition could coalesce. There may not be enough time to stop it in the House. We’ll see. It’s been assigned to the House Executive Committee, where it should blow right through to the floor.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Greg Hinz…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has come out against a legislative plan to expand McCormick Place by hitting areas as much as 10 miles away from the convention center with a 1 percent tax on restaurants, bars, and take-out food items.
The move may well stall action on the proposal, at least for now, as lawmakers in Springfield race toward a scheduled adjournment of their spring session at midnight tomorrow.
In a statement, the mayor, who insisted at a press conference yesterday that she was just learning details of the plan, based her opposition in part on the fact that the proposed bill has a carve-out for sports stadiums with a capacity of at least 20,000 people—including Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field and the United Center.
“The mayor is committed to ensuring that Chicago’s convention industry remains vibrant, and supports making investments that will enhance McCormick Place and drive new economic growth for the city of Chicago,” the statement said. “However we are concerned about this proposal in its current form, specifically the exemption favoring large venue owners, whose customer base includes visitors and conventioneers, and the potential unintended consequences for small businesses in Chicago.
*** UPDATE 2 *** A source on the House Executive Committee says the plan is to strip the tax hike from the bill. The General Assembly will punt to the fall veto session.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Same source updates with info that the bill will not be called during tonight’s hearing.
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* WBEZ…
When he’s in Chicago, Michael Zalewski is a lawyer at the downtown offices of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.
At the same time, in Springfield, the Democratic state representative from Chicago’s Southwest Side has taken the lead role in the effort to legalize betting on sports in Illinois.
And it’s in Springfield where the Taft law firm has dozens of lobbying clients with interests in gambling, including sports betting. […]
“In the last week there’s been a concentrated effort by certain stakeholders to accuse me of being the problem when it comes to passing the sports-betting law,” Zalewski told WBEZ on Wednesday. […]
Springfield sources say the complaints about Zalewski’s side job at Taft came from executives of the company that owns Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. A spokeswoman for Rivers Casino declined to comment. […]
According to his bio on Taft’s website, Zalewski also is “of counsel” to the firm. That means he is employed by the firm but is not a partner with an equity stake in the firm. He said he does not work for any of the firm’s many clients who have interests in Springfield. […]
After the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for sports betting, Zaleswki said he made sure that there were no legal or ethical hurdles to his acting as the chairman at hearings on crafting a sports-gambling law for Illinois.
“I asked and received an ethical opinion from my chief ethics officer,” Zalewski said. “I’ve complied with all ethical and legal guidelines regarding this topic, and I’ve acted with integrity and honor.”
The Rivers people have, indeed, been trying to get Zalewski out of the picture with this story for several days. Rivers has been trying to box out the sports betting companies and temporarily blowing up the process would be a positive for the casino.
Zalewski showed me an opinion from the House Democrats’ ethics officer which had no objection to his law firm work, but outlined everything he needed to do to avoid a problem. He is beloved under the dome, but going to that law firm - even as an “of counsel” - was probably not the best decision he’s ever made.
* Meanwhile, here’s Hannah Meisel…
After weeks of fighting between billionaire Rivers Casino owner Neil Bluhm and the CEOs of the fantasy sports and sports betting tech companies FanDuel and DraftKings that threatened one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s top priorities, negotiators say an omnibus gaming bill will be heard in committee Thursday morning — a bill that includes a deal favorable for Bluhm.
State Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) told The Daily Line that while the specifics of the brick-and-mortar casino part of the bill have been solid for a week, deals with the video gaming industry and on sports betting were the last pieces of the puzzle. Deals on both on video gaming and sports betting have crystalized in the last few days, and Link said Wednesday that Bluhm will “be on board supporting this bill.” […]
State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), who had been helping to lead those negotiations, announced Wednesday that he would no longer participate in the talks amid criticism that his law firm represents clients with a stake in the bill, as first reported by WBEZ Wednesday afternoon.
In a series of tweets after the story published, Zalewski said he had never “worked on an issue as hard as I worked on sports betting.”
“In the last week, it became clear some thought I was the problem in the room, so I stepped back and let our gaming negotiator try to land the plane,” Zalewski wrote. “At no time did I put my thumb on the scale for anyone. You only have your integrity, the respect of your colleagues, and your word down here to get you by. I hold my head high that on sports betting, and any other issue I work on, I treat everyone with respect. I hope we get sports betting done. And I think we will. And I’ll have been a part of it. And that will be a cool thing.”
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Cannabis roundup
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jaclyn Driscoll…
Illinois state Senators approved a proposal on Wednesday to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older beginning on January 1, 2020.
With a roll call of 38-17, the measure received support from three of the Republicans in the chamber while two Democrats decided to vote “no.”
Rock Island state Sen. Neil Anderson is one of two Republican co-sponsors of the proposal. He said even though he was voting in favor, he personally is still against cannabis use.
“I will continue to tell my kids that they should not smoke tobacco, they should not smoke cannabis and that is my job as a responsible parent,” said Anderson. “But to those adults out there that want to use cannabis, as I’ve said before, freedom is freedom.”
* Tina Sfondeles…
During the Senate debate, state Sen. Dale Righter argued legalization will increase use and has led to more organized crime prosecutions in Colorado.
“More people are going to use and this is going to cause more hazards for the public, not less,” Righter, R-Mattoon, said. But his Republican colleague, state Sen. Jason Barickman, said he now supports the measure, in part because of additions protecting employers. He said it also gives people “more freedom of their choices.”
And bill sponsor state Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, said just one state that has legalized marijuana has seen an increase in teen use.
“It’s not something of course that we want teens to do … and the notion that you can prevent teens from doing this by simply ignoring that they currently are is what got us into this place,” Steans said. “This is where we are right now.”
“We can’t pretend that we don’t actually have cannabis smoking going on. We know we do. In Illinois, we estimate that about 800,000 people are using. Burying our heads in the sand about that does not improve the situation or the outcomes on this,” Steans said. “A different approach is going to have a much better outcome.”
The biggest reason arrests have risen in Colorado is the cannabis law gave the police more money than they ever had before to go after the bad guys. Part of the legalization process has to be eventually knocking out the criminal networks. First you weaken them with competition, then you take them out.
* Rick Pearson, Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks…
Steans said legalizing marijuana is expected to generate $57 million in general revenue in the coming budget year and $30 million for a cannabis business development fund. That’s far less than the $170 million Pritzker projected in his spending plan, but Steans said budget negotiators aren’t counting on any of that revenue.
After paying for regulatory expenses and costs related to the expungement process, marijuana revenue would be divided among a number of areas. The largest share, 35%, would go into the state’s general fund; 25% would go to community grants; 20% to mental health and substance abuse programs; 10% to pay down the state’s backlog of unpaid bills; 8% to support law enforcement; and 2% for public education.
Opponents to legalization are now gearing up for a fight in the House.
State Rep. Marty Moylan, a Democrat from Des Plaines who sponsored the resolution to slow the legalization process, said it should be delayed until the summer to allow lawmakers time to understand what’s in the bill.
“They’re trying to ram it down our throats at the last minute,” he said. “They’re presenting it real late so we have a hard time finding out what’s in it.”
All the opponents who claimed this was “really” about some desperate need to collect massive state revenues were wrong from the beginning.
And, Marty, people have been working on this bill for two years. The recent changes were in response to some of your own demands.
* And these folks will never be happy…
“The concern there still remains in terms of home grow. We don’t have access. We won’t be able to tell who’s doing what. The penalties associated with home grow, anything less than five plants is a civil citation, from $100 to a max of $200. That is a concern for us. We want to make sure that it is a strong deterrent for home grow,” said Jim Kaitschuk on behalf of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association.
“We won’t be able to tell who’s doing what.” *Sigh* Kaitschuk, I love you, but try easing up on the Orwell.
* Wut?…
It also gives preference in license applications to people who live in or have connections to neighborhoods characterized by high arrest rates for marijuana and other drug-related offenses.
Some opponents of the measure, however, said that provision was one of the reasons why they voted against the bill.
“There is a limited number of licenses and we’re going to give preference to vendors who are going to be in the poorest zip codes in Illinois,” said Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet. “We’re going to give preference to keeping poor people stoned.”
So, you’d rather grant official state preference to vendors in… wealthy areas?
* Tara Molina…
The bill would allow adults 21 and older to legally buy and possess marijuana — 30 grams of cannabis flower or five grams of cannabis concentrate.
According to the bill, cannabis products may not be transported over state lines, and tax revenue will cover needs and costs related to expungement or the clearing of marijuana related records before it’s broken out. Additionally, local towns can decide individually how cannabis-related businesses may fit into their communities and employers may still maintain zero tolerance workplaces. Landlords and business owners can have zero tolerance policies as well.
Even with the changes, some are still against the proposal.
“More people are going to use, and that’s going to create more hazards for the public, not less,” said Dale Righter (R-Matoon). “Our kids are watching this. Maybe this is OK for us for now, and for a couple years we’ll get tax revenue. But its meaning 10 or 15 years down the road? And that’s my concern, and that’s why I oppose the bill.”
I don’t even know what to say to that. I kinda doubt he even knows how to translate that word salad.
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* This flooding is getting real…
With urgent flooding situations along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, Governor JB Pritzker has activated approximately 200 Illinois National Guard soldiers for State Active Duty to assist with the state’s flood fight operations and urged all residents in affected communities to listen to the directions of first responders.
“As we face historic weather in this state, the safety of our communities will always be my top priority, and every relevant state agency is working in concert to protect communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This morning, I activated the two hundred members of the Illinois National Guard to regions along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to assist in sandbagging operations and levee monitoring and reinforcement, with another 200 on standby. We have deployed more than two million sandbags, hosted multi-agency resources centers in impacted communities, and I issued a disaster declaration impacting 34 counties. My administration will continue using every tool at our disposal to protect impacted Illinoisans.”
Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 123 Field Artillery Regiment were notified of the activation last night (Wednesday) and began reporting to their units in Milan, Galesburg and Springfield today (Thursday). The soldiers will help strengthen levees and construct protective barriers in flooded areas. The soldiers will be ready to deploy to affected areas by tomorrow (Friday). In addition, Governor Pritzker is activating a small team of Illinois National Guard planners to augment the Illinois Emergency Management Agency staff.
“The Illinois National Guard is a community-based organization, and when our communities need help we answer the call. As they do to answer they do when they deploy to fight their nations wars, they are leaving families and jobs behind to help their fellow citizens,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. “These guardsmen will assist the residents of impacted areas and help protect the communities from further damage.”
Alicia Tate-Nadeau, acting director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said she has been in contact with National Guard leaders throughout the state’s flood response. “The National Guard is an important part of the overall state emergency response team. As a retired National Guard general, I’m well aware of the great capability that the Guard brings to the fight. They are professionals in both their state and federal military missions.”
“The Illinois Department of Transportation takes great pride is assisting communities during natural disasters,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “By mobilizing the National Guard, the governor is helping to ensure residents get the relief they need during this critical time, and IDOT is ready to ensure that critical infrastructure is protected and safe for travel.”
* More…
IEMA has also told residents in several counties to prepare for potential evacuation.
*** UPDATE *** Whoa…
A Chicago alderman is calling on the governor to provide cash to save the city’s shoreline as Lake Michigan’s water levels rise to record highs.
Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, acknowledged the severity of the problem. He’s calling on Gov. JB Pritzker for the money needed to save Chicago’s shoreline.
“Right now we are in crisis mode,” he said.
Rogers park resident Tom Heineman is watching this shoreline dissolve more every day. The water level this year is the highest he’s seen since the 80s.
“There used to be a beach that went out a good 20 yards,” Heineman said. “The lake is so high that with the northeasterly storms this is what it did.”
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Yep, it’s false
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’ve already discussed this topic, so I was pleased to see PolitiFact take it on today…
Citing remarks made in February by the governor of New York, [Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield] claimed that when that state “implemented a program” to tax the wealthy at higher rates it saw a revenue shortfall “because of the outward migration of their top earners.”
Cuomo did raise the specter of out-migration among the state’s better-off taxpayers when personal income tax revenues came in below projections early this year. But he blamed the drop on fallout from the Republican federal tax overhaul of 2017 and other factors, not graduated income tax rates in New York which haven’t been raised in a decade.
What’s more, IRS data show the number of people filing with income greater than $200,000 in New York has increased every year since 2009 when New York raised rates on top earnings to levels similar to those currently under consideration in Illinois.
We rate Murphy’s claim False.
The piece also mentions that New York’s April personal income tax collections spiked 57 percent over last year.
* Related…
* Analysis Raises Doubts Higher Income People Will Leave If Illinois Adopts A Graduated Income Tax
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Senate votes to legalize cannabis 38-17-2
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senate Democrats voting “No” were Bertino-Tarrant and Crowe…
Republicans voting “Yes” were Anderson, Barickman and McClure.
Democratic Sen. Harris voted “Present” and Sens. Stadelman and Van Pelt didn’t vote.
The bill now moves to the House. Its fate in that chamber is still uncertain.
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House passes “Fix the FOID” bill 62-52
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ISRA…
Exercising Constitutional rights in America should not cost money, but under new legislation approved in the Illinois House today the cost of gun ownership in Illinois will dramatically increase.
The House approved Senate Bill 1966 62-52. The legislation would substantially the increase cost of a FOID card and complicate the process by mandating fingerprinting as a requirement to obtain/renew a FOID card with a maximum cost of $30 for the service. The legislation also raises the FOID card renewals to $20 every 5 years (currently $10 for a 10-year license). Finally, it also requires private firearm sales/transfers go through a licensed dealer.
“This legislation is an affront to every gun owner in this state,” said Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association. “You should not have to pay money to exercise your Constitutional rights. We have a guaranteed right to own a firearm under the Constitution, but here in Illinois to exercise that right, you must jump through all kinds of hoops and pay all kinds of money to the state. There are few things you can count on in life, but one of them is that Illinois State Rifle Association will keep fighting this in the Legislature and will be challenging this terrible legislation in court should it be signed into law.”
* GPAC…
Today, the Illinois House passed the Fix the FOID Act (SB 1966), that address loopholes in the state’s existing gun licensing system that were brought to light following the tragic shooting that took five lives on February 15, 2019 in Aurora, Illinois. With days to go before the end of the Illinois legislative session, the Senate must call for a vote before the bill can head to the Governor’s desk.
“We are grateful to chief sponsor Representative Kathleen Willis and proud of the Illinois House for working to close the gaps in our gun laws to ensure that those who are prohibited from gun possession, are not able to easily evade the law and arm themselves,” said Kathleen Sances, president and CEO of G-PAC. “We urge the Illinois Senate to take this critical legislation over the finish line by voting yes to fixing the FOID.”
“People are looking for action to prevent gun violence, and Springfield is listening,” said Tanja Radakovich Murray, a volunteer with the Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Closing deadly gaps in our gun laws is a matter of public safety, and the Senate should act quickly to send this important legislation to the Governor’s desk.”
“People prohibited from owning a gun shouldn’t be able to get their hands on one,” said Nico Bocour, state legislative director at Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly. “Gaps in Illinois’s strong laws have allowed dangerous individuals to use a firearm to cause devastating tragedies like the shooting in Aurora, Illinois. But state lawmakers didn’t just offer thoughts and prayers. They acted to make sure Illinoisans are safe from gun violence at work and in their communities. The Fix the FOID Act closes dangerous loopholes so only law-abiding citizens can buy a gun. We applaud Rep. Willis and Sen. Morrison for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation and look forward to Governor Pritzker signing the Fix the FOID Act into law.”
Under current Illinois law, individuals seeking to buy a gun must first obtain a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card from the Department of State Police. The Fix the FOID Act would make the following key provisions to the current FOID system:
Require a point-of-sale background check for all gun sales, including those by an unlicensed seller.
Require applicants for FOID Cards to submit fingerprints as part of their application.
Reduce the FOID Card duration from 10 years to five years.
Require action by the State Police to remove guns once a FOID Card is revoked.
An investigation by the Chicago Tribune published last week found that as many as 30,000 guns may still be in the possession of Illinois residents deemed too dangerous to have them, while the Chicago Sun-Times editoralized in favor of Fix the FOID. In the editorial, the Sun-Times writes: “none of the modest measures being proposed in this legislation would impose an undue burden on anybody’s Second Amendment rights. But they might have saved the lives of five people in Aurora on Feb. 15, 2010.”
Support for the bill is growing across district and party lines. A recently released poll finds that two-thirds of Illinois voters support the Fix the FOID Act including roughly three-quarters of voters in suburban Cook County and the “collar counties” of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will and almost half of voters in Downstate Illinois.
The measure passed out of the House by a margin of 62-52.
The roll call is here. Democratic Reps. Bristow, Greenwood, Halpin, Hoffman, Kifowit, Reitz, Scherer, Stuart and Yednock voted “No.”
Reps. DeLuca and Mayfield did not vote. Rep. Mason was excused.
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Sen. Hastings tables bill tied to ALEC
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background is here. The bill was amended and then passed the House, but has stalled in the Senate. Press release…
In response to Sen. Michael Hastings, sponsor of the Illinois critical infrastructure bill HB 1633, tabling his anti-protest bill, Greenpeace USA Executive Director Annie Leonard said:
“HB 1633 was a completely unnecessary attempt by the fossil fuel industry and secretive groups like ALEC to divide the progressive movement at the exact moment when we most need to mobilize quickly toward real solutions to climate change. Over 50 civil rights organizations, labor unions, and grassroots groups worked together to defeat this bill. Nearly 6,000 witness slips opposing the bill were submitted compared to a paltry 215 by the bill’s proponents. Our collective message was clear: Illinois does not need such a harmful and unnecessary law on the books. We are pleased Sen. Hastings listened to our concerns and wisely chose to table this bill.
“We need elected officials who are champions for people and the planet. We need our lawmakers fearless in the face of oil and gas money in politics. We need them believing the science, telling the truth, and speaking out for their constituents over corporations. Sen. Hastings did the right thing by tabling HB 1633, not just for the state, but as an example that shows that we the people need a healthy democracy to protect our planet.”
One of organized labor’s few defeats this year. But, hey, maybe it’ll pop up elsewhere. I asked Sen. Hastings why he tabled the bill and he didn’t respond.
…Adding… From Sen. Hastings…
Rich -
Given the text of the original House Bill 1633 & its sweeping passage in the Illinois House of Representatives (77 Yes, 28 No), I had serious concerns as to some of the provisions contained in the bill.
Understanding that, I proposed an amendment that would bring the legislation in compliance with the Senate Clear Committee. Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of time left in the legislative session, I chose to table the bill in order to bring all interested parties together over the summer.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m about 99 percent sure I know the answer to this question, but I ain’t talking…
* The Question: Your best guesses?
*** UPDATE *** She’s right…
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Money to support McCormick Place expansion would be raised by expanding a 1% tax on restaurant meals and drinks under legislation advancing Wednesday in the Illinois Senate.
The proposal, which has strong backing from trade unions, would enlarge the part of Chicago’s central business district in which the tax is collected. The Senate Executive Committee approved the measure 12-1, with one member voting present, during a hearing Wednesday. The bill could go to the full Senate later Wednesday.
The revenue would allow the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which runs McCormick Place, to borrow an additional $600 million, increasing its bonding limit to $3.45 billion. The agency plans to build a new convention hall over King Drive and tear down the above-ground portion of the Lakeside Center, widely viewed as outmoded convention space.
An earlier proposal to fund the expansion with a $1-a-ride tax on Uber and Lyft has been dropped amid opposition from those companies.
* The enviros were able to pass this bill partly by attracting the support of a union…
[Yesterday] the Illinois Legislature passed SB9, The Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act, which now heads to the Governor’s desk. The groundbreaking bill addresses the many waste pits filled with coal ash, the toxic byproduct of burning coal, located all over the state. Illinois is now the third state in the country to pass legislation providing significant coal ash protections above and beyond federal requirements.
The legislation creates a regulatory framework to ensure polluters, not taxpayers, pay for needed closure and cleanup, guarantees public participation and transparency around cleanups for affected communities, and provides Illinois EPA the funds it needs to properly oversee closure and cleanup. It also requires Illinois to put in place standards for coal ash impoundments that are at least as protective as federal coal ash rule requirements, with additional protections against dust and water pollution. […]
Illinois has the highest concentration of coal ash impoundments in the country. The Illinois EPA has found groundwater contamination from coal ash waste sites dating back to 2009. A 2018 report from environmental groups Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice, Prairie Rivers Network and Sierra Club analyzing data collected by ash dump owners under the federal coal ash rule found that 22 of 24 of Illinois’ reporting coal ash dumpsites have unsafe levels of toxic pollutants in the groundwater. Illinois joins Virginia and North Carolina in addressing coal ash through state level legislation.
* Jim Dey…
One of Champaign County’s most partisan elected officials has joined forces with Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan in a bid to elect more Democrats to judicial offices here.
On Monday, state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, proposed an amendment to a legislative shell bill — HB97 — to remove Champaign County from its current six-county judicial circuit and make it a circuit of its own.
The legislation was passed on an 8-5 party-line vote Tuesday by the House Executive Committee and sent to the House floor for further action. […]
Ammons declined to discuss the legislation but issued a brief statement.
“Judicial reform is needed in Champaign County to bring balance and access to the bench; ensuring diverse candidates by gender, race and party affiliation. Champaign County judges should be elected by the people of Champaign County,” she said.
That is not — and likely won’t ever be — the case. The county judiciary is staffed by six circuit judges — three of whom are resident judges and run only in Champaign County. In addition to the circuit judges, the county has five associate judges who are appointed by the circuit judges for a specific term in office.
Ammons told me yesterday there is only one woman circuit judge, no minorities and no Democrats.
* Greg Bishop…
Illinois House Republicans sporting buttons with fingerprints crossed out as they prepare to debate bill to mandate fingerprints for gun owners.
The button…
The House floor debate has begun. Check the live coverage post for updates.
* Other stuff…
* Illinois Lawmakers Tackle Teacher Shortage By Taking Aim At Licensing Test: In Illinois now, student teachers have to videotape themselves in the classroom as part of a mandatory test to become certified. But some educators say the edTPA test is too onerous, not an effective indicator of a quality teacher and discourages some would-be teachers.
* Illinois bill to stop some driver’s license suspensions put on hold [UPDATE: The bill passed committee and is now on short debate in the House.]
* Bill would ban e-cigs in public indoor places: The proposal was approved by the Senate Public Health Committee, but only after Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, D-Chicago, changed her vote to get the issue to the Senate floor. She did not pledge to support it during a floor vote, though.
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Today’s quotable
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Illinois AFL-CIO is misidentified here, but I’m more interested in Link’s quote…
One of the state’s largest labor unions urged lawmakers to pass an expanded gambling bill in the waning days of the 2019 session, saying it would not only create new jobs in Illinois but would provide needed funding for a multi-billion-dollar capital improvements plan.
“Illinois is recovering from the trauma of four years of budget impasse, starving out vital services, and a public works stagnation,” Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, said during a Statehouse news conference Tuesday. “An expansion of gaming will help fund much-needed infrastructure construction and be a shot in the arm for revenue for this state.”
The biggest obstacle to passing a gambling measure this year, however, is that with only three days left in the regular session, the bill still hasn’t been written.
“We have 80 hours to go. What are you worried about?” quipped Sen. Terry Link, D-Indian Creek, one of the lead supporters of expanded gambling in the Senate. “The bill is being drafted. It’s not like this is all new concepts. We’re working off of bills we’ve done in the past. We’re tweaking. We’re changing them around a lot.”
What, me worry?
* Related…
* Gambling expansion pieces still coming together, but supporters bet on passage
* Some Lawmakers and Union Members Advocate for Walker’s Bluff Resort
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* Jake Griffin…
Illinois residents making $1.5 million a year [currently] pay less in income taxes than their counterparts in all but eight of the 41 states with such a tax.
But for people making $60,000 a year, it’s a different story. In 24 of the states, those taxpayers pay less than in Illinois.
But that would change if the governor’s graduated income tax plan is approved, Griffin found…
• Illinois filers with incomes over $1.5 million would move from the ninth lowest income taxes among the 41 states to the 35th lowest, meaning their income taxes would become among the highest.
• Those with incomes of $500,000 would move from 11th lowest to 26th lowest.
• Residents with incomes of $150,000 would move in the other direction, from 15th lowest to 13th lowest.
• And those with incomes of $60,000 would move from 24th lowest to 21st lowest.
* Related…
* Property tax task force, relief fund bills pass House committee
* Mark Brown: When it comes to property taxes, Democrats can spell relief — but that’s about it
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* I’ve been trying to delete as many anonymous comments as I can lately because I’ve found that the people who won’t bother to take two seconds to come up with a screen name are usually (not always) trolls of the worst sort.
I received this e-mail last night…
Your deleting of anonymous postings has caused me to delete your web site from my book marks. Goodbye and good riddance!
I’d like to tell you what my response was, but I’d have to ban myself if I did.
Anyway, the deletions will continue unabated.
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It is time to #PasstheRHA
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The women of Illinois are waiting.
They’re waiting for lawmakers in Springfield to show that they fully support women’s reproductive rights, free of meddling interference from government.
They’re waiting, and watching, as conservative legislators elsewhere target Roe v. Wade with draconian anti-abortion laws passed by conservative lawmakers who hope to someday get rid of Roe v. Wade.
Some of those laws ban abortions even in cases of rape or incest. Others allow women or their doctors to be prosecuted for undergoing or performing abortions.
Illinois is solidly pro-choice, but we must ensure protections for future generations of women. Should one of those medieval laws land before a conservative Supreme Court that is eager to overturn Roe, it would threaten abortion rights here and elsewhere.
Lawmakers in Illinois need not allow that chance.
They can safeguard the reproductive rights of women in Illinois by moving quickly to pass … the Reproductive Health Act. The bill would keep abortion and reproductive care safe and accessible by repealing decades-old laws that restrict, and in some cases criminalize, abortion.
Chicago Sun Times editorial board
May 21, 2019
For more information on #PasstheRHA click here.
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* I’m told the Senate will recess for an Executive Committee hearing at around 2 o’clock this afternoon. The committee will take up the cannabis legalization bill (Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 1438) at that hearing.
The Senate will reconvene at about 5:30 this afternoon. The plan is to run the cannabis bill on the floor after a few warmup bills.
* Hannah Meisel…
Republicans on Tuesday said they will likely provide “a handful” of votes to legalize marijuana now that a new amendment to SB 7 establishes a different path to expunge the records of those convicted of cannabis-related offenses — the governor’s pardon power.
A week ago Republican leaders told The Daily Line no member of their caucus would vote for to the long-running effort to legalize marijuana.
State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) told The Daily Line that she backed the change to the bill’s original language of automatic expungement of records via legislation to gubernatorial action.
In Illinois, a governor has the ability to pardon with “permission to expunge.” If a person is granted a pardon, with permission to expunge, he or she can then file a petition to expunge the pardoned offense, according to state guidelines.
“The expungement piece…we boosted the constitutionality of what it is we’re attempting to do and that was a significant concern for the Republican caucus and that brings folks back on board,” Hutchinson said. “That was one of the biggest sticking points.”
The original language in SB 7 dropped on May 4, and the Republicans who had been negotiating the bill for months — including State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) — began saying both privately and in the media that they could no longer support the bill. […]
“This is about to be the single-biggest piece of criminal justice reform in one piece of legislation in the country, and I would daresay the world,” Hutchinson said. “This is big, this is big, and I didn’t think this was going to happen. And I’m really proud of it. And nothing would make me happier than to see — if we actually make it to a bipartisan roll call because we tried and because it worked, that’s a good thing.”
This thing has legs, campers.
…Adding… Press release…
Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) and the Reason Foundation issued a letter to lawmakers in support of the expungement reforms included in Senate Bill 7, which would allow for the legal cultivation, sale, and possession of cannabis in regulated amounts statewide. The groups also recommended needed reforms to the legislation in order for it the best achieve its goals. AFP-IL believes any effort to legalize recreational marijuana should enhance public safety, remove barriers to help individuals get a second chance, and be free of cronyism and overregulation.
The letter is here. There will be no amendments after Senate action barring a disastrous drafting error, however. The language is a Senate amendment to a House bill. Once the Senate passes it, the House has to either concur or non-concur.
…Adding… Some deets…
…Adding… Press release…
Legalize Illinois praised Clergy for a New Drug Policy today for a letter it issued calling on the Illinois General Assembly immediately to legalize recreational cannabis for adult use. The letter, signed by 58 members of the clergy, cites the social justice and public safety aspects of the bill currently under consideration as the most urgent to support it.
“As clergy, we care deeply about social justice. The criminalization of cannabis, even for simple possession, has crippled the lives of people of color disproportionately for more than four decades. This is why we – the undersigned – believe it is time to move to a system of legal, regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis in Illinois,” the letter states.
“Current cannabis laws, fines, and arrests are carried out with staggering racial bias. The illicit market, which prohibition makes inevitable, continues to breed violence in our poorest communities all across Illinois,” the clergy members wrote.
The letter also notes that “regulation would make Illinois a safer state. It would allow us to educate adults, informing them about what a product contains and enabling them to make informed decisions. Banning sales by law to those under 21 would help to limit access to our youth. Under prohibition, these measures are not possible.”
Clergy for a New Drug Policy, led by Executive Director Rev. Alexander Sharp, also cited the bill’s provisions that would provide expungement of past low-level cannabis arrests and convictions while allocating “funds to communities ravaged by the War on Drugs.”
“We cannot wait any longer to make this the law of the land in Illinois. We urge you to vote yes on a regulatory system that works for all of Illinois,” the letter concludes.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Good…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here we go…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Republican Sen. Jason Barickman…
I believe that the people of Illinois want our government to give individuals freedom over their life decisions. Cannabis use is largely a personal choice and the primary role of government should be to adopt appropriate safeguards to protect minors and the public when an individual’s use puts others in harm’s way. This legislation puts those safeguards in place.
Barickman and GOP Sen. Neil Anderson have signed on as hyphenated co-sponsors.
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*** UPDATED x2 *** RHA roundup
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
In response to Personal PAC President and CEO Terry Cosgrove’s comment during a recent press conference that Assistant House Republican Leader Avery Bourne was a used as a “prop” during the abortion bill debate on Tuesday, the women of the House Republican Caucus have issued this joint statement:
“At a time when Democrats talk about the importance of empowering women and acknowledging their value in leadership roles, Terry Cosgrove’s efforts to degrade Assistant Leader Avery Bourne’s importance as a spokesperson for our caucus is indefensible. Avery is one of our caucus’ most outspoken advocates on the protection of unborn life, and any attempts to diminish the credibility of her voice is appalling.”
Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro)
Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton)
Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb)
Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst)
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Havanna)
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena)
Rep. Lindsey Parkhurst (R-Kankakee)
*** UPDATE 2 *** Terry Cosgrove…
I want to apologize to Representative Avery Bourne publicly and completely. This morning, I cast an unfair and inappropriate aspersion on Representative Bourne’s passionate advocacy on the floor of the Illinois House, asserting that it was a “cheap political stunt.” That was just wrong. It not only was offensive to Representative Bourne personally, it also rudely ignored the heartfelt, passionate way in which Representative Bourne expressed herself in Committee on Sunday evening and yesterday in the full House. She may disagree with the position embraced by Personal PAC, but she did not deserve to be subjected to such an insult.
This was an unnecessary, harmful distraction to Representative Bourne as she attempts to complete her work in the waning days of session. She deserves this respect and recognition for her work, not the flippant response of someone who should know better. In the coming hours, my intent is to communicate this apology directly to Representative Bourne.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* Amanda Vinicky…
As other states, including neighboring Missouri, have passed laws that are tantamount to abortion bans, Illinois is moving in the opposite direction.
After an emotional, but by and large respectful debate, the Illinois House on Tuesday voted 64 to 50 to enshrine in state law a woman’s fundamental right to have an abortion.
“Since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, efforts to undermine reproductive rights have been constant. We have seen in recent days and weeks these attacks have increased dramatically. They are focused and strategic and aimed at undermining our right to bodily autonomy and self-determination,” sponsoring Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said. “Not on my watch.”
Cassidy repeatedly said the measure will merely codify in state statue what is already common practice.
The measure, Senate Bill 25, repeals the Illinois Abortion Law, which could punish doctors for performing abortions – law that has technically been on the books since the ‘70s but is not in practice due to court injunctions and decrees.
* Jamie Munks…
The bill, called the Reproductive Health Act, would also repeal the state’s partial birth abortion ban, which affects later-stage pregnancies. Partial-birth abortions are not allowed under federal law, unless it’s used as a means to save the mother’s life when it’s in jeopardy.
* Rebecca Anzel…
It designates access to contraception, pregnancy benefits, abortion procedures, diagnostic testing and other related health care as a fundamental right, banning government from impairing that access for women and men. […]
During floor debate Tuesday, Cassidy had a scripted back-and-forth with Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston. It covered topics ranging from whether the Reproductive Health Act would allow abortions to occur at any point during a pregnancy for any reason — in short, no, Cassidy answered — to who can perform an abortion — only doctors can carry out a surgical one, but physician assistants and advanced-practice registered nurses can prescribe medications. […]
[Cassidy] went on to answer questions from lawmakers from both parties for nearly two hours. There were two phrases she repeated frequently: The Reproductive Health Act “does not change the current standard of practice” and “doctors are required to adhere to accepted standards of clinical practice.” […]
In addition, the measure repeals several aspects of current law that courts have blocked, including criminal penalties for doctors and spousal consent.
* Dana Vollmer…
In an unusual move, Republicans deferred almost all their time to one colleague: state Rep. Avery Bourne, from Raymond, who’s pregnant. She went back and forth with the legislation‘s sponsor, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Democrat from Chicago.
“How broad do we intend for this to be?” Bourne asked.
“A doctor will make a decision based on the accepted standards of medical care,” Cassidy said.
“Could you give me any parameters that we’re asking this doctor to make?” Bourne asked.
“I am not a doctor,“ Cassidy replied. “Doctors decide. And doctors decide based on the accepted standards of clinical care.”
* Tina Sfondeles…
For about 45 minutes, Bourne questioned Cassidy on everything from the meaning of a “fundamental right” to parental notification to what an “extraordinary medical measure” is.
Bourne offered examples, such as whether a baby at 36-weeks could be terminated if an ultrasound shows a “hole in their heart.” She also described whether a sick baby being flown to a neo-natal intensive care unit would be considered an “extraordinary medical measure.”
“This broadens their ability to make that decision,” Bourne said.
Cassidy said legislators “can’t and should not be hearing hypotheticals.”
“Lawmakers are not doctors. Doctors need to use the accepted standard of clinical care and to make their decision to the best of their knowledge,” Cassidy said.
Putting Rep. Bourne out front helped give the Republicans a strong visual image since she’s so very pregnant. But it also kept their more, um, vocal members quiet and in the background.
* Cassie Buchman…
The debate became emotional at times, including when Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, asked Cassidy a series of questions about the language in the bill. Several Republican House members gave up their time to talk about the bill so Bourne could speak long beyond the five minutes allotted to each lawmaker.
Bourne’s voice cracked as she talked about what she said is the “most expansive” abortion bill in the state and country.
“This bill is not about keeping abortion legal in Illinois,” Bourne said. “This is about a massive expansion that will impact viable babies. And that is wrong.” […]
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, of the Diocese of Springfield, issued a statement condemning the “gravely immoral” action of the House in passing the bill.
“Christians have rejected the practice of abortion from the earliest days of the Church,” he said. “Children are a gift from God, no matter the circumstances of their conception. They not only have a right to life, but we as a society have a moral obligation to protect them from harm. Legislation that deprives children of legal protection before they are born, allowing for the murder of children at any stage in the womb, even up to the moment of birth, is evil.”
* Rachel Droze…
But Bourne said doing this is wrong.
“This is an expansion of abortion unlike states around us and I think it certainly makes us an outlier in the country,” Bourne said after the debate. “We are legislating for what is happening right now and in the state of Illinois. For them to use what other states are doing to justify their expansion of abortion, I think, is irresponsible legislating.”
Bourne led the opposition debate against SB25 on the House floor.
Each time she spoke, all Republican representatives stood to listen to the 33-weeks-pregnant mom-to-be.
“This bill will mean that for a person at my stage of pregnancy, where the baby responds to his dad’s voice as he reads him books at night, the woman could go to the facility — the baby is perfectly healthy — but if that woman says based on my familial health this is medically necessary, that is allowed,” Bourne said during the debate on the House floor.
* Greg Bishop…
Republican state Rep. Avery Bourne, who’s pregnant, took issue with several parts of the bill, which she said was too expansive.
“So you are taking out the prohibition on sex-selective abortions and you think that’s the appropriate thing for the state to do?” Bourne said.
“I think that it is appropriate to codify current practice,” Cassidy said.
Bourne also took issue with what she said was the measure’s language removing rights from an unborn fetus. She worried the law would not allow someone to be held accountable for an attack against a pregnant woman that harmed or kills a fetus in the womb. Cassidy said existing law on that issue would stand.
Bourne and other Republicans were also concerned about a lack of requirements to report to the state why an abortion was performed, and even restrictions they said would keep a coroner from investigating botched abortions.
The coroner thing was a bit interesting because the only medically related death that has to be reported to a county coroner is abortion. This legislation would treat abortion like every other death after a medical treatment or procedure.
* Jack Crowe…
The bill’s proponents have argued that the legislation codifies existing practice and is necessary in light of the recent passage of restrictive abortion laws in a number of Republican-controlled states, as well as the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which many pro-choice activists are concerned might overturn Roe v. Wade.
“RHA codifies our existing practices and — and this is critical — treats abortion care just like any other health care, because it is,” said the bill’s sponsor, state representative Kelly Cassidy (D., Chicago).
* Joe Bustos…
Passsage of the RHA in the House came on the same day as the Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis says it may lose its license to perform abortions. The St. Louis Planned Parenthood location is the only clinic in Missouri that provides abortions.
That news may lead to more women coming to Illinois for an abortion, officials at Hope Clinic in Granite City said.
About half of Hope Clinic’s patients are from Missouri, with 40 to 45 percent from Illinois, and 5 to 10 percent from elsewhere, said Alison Dreith, the clinic’s deputy director.
Dreith said after Missouri instituted a 72-hour mandatory waiting period for abortion in 2014, more and more people came to Hope Clinic, especially in the last two years.
* Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia)…
“All you have to do is look at the tally board to see where the votes came from…..from up north. I am looking forward to the days of truth and justice for the babies in the womb.”
* One more…
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* Background is here. This post came after a long and acrimonious Twitter exchange between Maxwell and the Illinois Policy Institute…
Looks like the purge didn’t work.
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