* From the dark money group supporting the governor’s graduated income tax…
Today, Think Big Illinois released a new television ad highlighting the allies of former Governor Bruce Rauner who are behind the campaign against a fair tax. The ad underscores how the same people who led an administration defined by holding the budget hostage for 793 days, slashing funding for our education system, and putting partisan politics over middle-class families are now fighting to keep our current unfair tax system in place. This is just the latest in their efforts to protect the wealthy at the expense of Illinois’ hardworking families.
The ad, “Behind,” will run on television in Springfield and across digital platforms. Think Big Illinois’ previous ads, “How Unfair,” “Affect You,” “Almost Every” and “Wealthy” will continue running in Springfield and in markets across the state.
* Westchester chief of police Steve Stelter spoke at an anti-cannabis legalization press conference today…
I’m here to address you today. I want to tell you that the people who are pushing this bill are feeding you a bunch of baloney is what they’re doing. They’re pulling the wool over your eyes.
This bill, the way it stands right now is absolutely terrible. I can’t understand and law enforcement can’t understand how they allow people to grow this stuff in their homes.
As Rep. Moylan said, how are we going to possibly regulate five plants? There is absolutely no way. These people will tell you that ‘Well, now that we can buy it legally, that’ll compete with the cartels and the black market.’
Wrong. The black market increases when legalized marijuana comes in. Not only do you have the Mexican drug cartels, the Jamaican drug cartels enter your world. You have the Chinese drug cartels enter your world.
They buy homes, dilapidated homes, foreclosed homes and they turn them into marijuana factories. And they sell this stuff in the neighborhoods. How can you possibly allow home grow? We don’t understand it.
Growing more than five plants would still be illegal. And if the neighbors and the Westchester police can’t figure out that a dilapidated, formerly vacant house has been turned into a marijuana factory with dozens of Chinese drug cartel employees working night and day, I just don’t know what to say, except those cartels could do all of that today if they wanted. It’s not like they follow the law.
…Adding… Press release…
In response to the recent press conference held by Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Legalize Illinois issued the following statement:
“Today’s distortions from our opponents are just more of the same from an organization that takes money from big tobacco and pretends to have the best interests of Illinoisans in mind. SAM would like to hold back progress on smart, sensible and equitable adult-use cannabis legalization even though the majority of the public supports legalization. Their false claims do not have the best interests of the public in mind. The truth is, the legislation that was just introduced is the most responsible and inclusive bill in the nation, developed by peer-reviewed research and input from stakeholders to create the most equitable and regulated industry in the nation.”
* A new income tax isn’t the only graduated tax Gov. Pritzker has proposed this year. From his budget book…
More than 30,000 video gaming terminals (VGTs) operate in almost 6,800 locations around the State of Illinois. Many of the video gaming operations are single site operations while others may be numerous separate LLCs underneath a larger parent entity. These larger entities may be operating hundreds of video gaming machines at scores of locations around the state, yet they pay the same tax rates as the smaller single-site operations. In riverboat gambling, the state accounts for differing market sizes through a progressive wagering tax. Video gaming should do the same. The new structure will require combined reporting of net terminal income at the parent entity level. The Governor proposes that marginal net terminal income that exceeds $2.5 million per year be taxable at a 50 percent rate rather than the current 30 percent rate.
On the surface, at least, that’s a good idea. The ubiquitous chain video gaming outlets and the “operators” who install the devices all over the state should pay a higher tax rate. The small places, however, should be protected from higher taxes.
One problem, though. The operators and the video gaming outlets split the after-tax proceeds down the middle. So, when the state raises taxes on high-earners, there’s a smaller pot to split and that will reduce the take for the mom and pop operations.
Barry Gregory owns Crehan’s Irish Pub and Banquet Facility in Belleville. Installing video gaming terminals in his business allowed him to make a number of investments that he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise do after the state’s smoking ban curtailed business.
“The very next day we gave our staff a pay raise, we’ve completely redone the outside of our building,” he said. “It’s been very helpful.”
He’s among the business owners who signed on in support of Bet on Main Street, a coalition opposed to the governor’s proposed tax hike on gambling operators that supply bars, VFWs and other establishments with terminals.
* Again, this is a graduated tax that’s supposed to hit the high-earners, but the lower-earners will also feel the pinch…
Randy Rehmer, owner of Waterloo’s Double R Bar just south of East St. Louis, says raising taxes on video gambling will eat at the $70,000 he makes each year off the machines alone.
Besides bringing more customers to his business, Rehmer says video gambling revenue has helped him remodel the building, hire an extra employee and give his staff pay raises.
“I’ve got nothing against raising the minimum wage,” Rehmer said. “But the state is telling me to pay people more at the same time that it takes money away.”
Rehmer joined several other small business owners at a news conference Wednesday morning. He was referring to a possible tax increase on video gambling terminals
My suggestion: Do the 50/50 split between operators and establishments before the graduated tax is imposed. The mom and pops shouldn’t be hurt by this tax.
* Gov. Pritzker was in Carbondale today to attend a ribbon cutting at the Centene and IlliniCare Health offices and posed with some regal-looking Salukis…
It’s finals week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and I want to remind every Saluki to get some fresh air and finish strong!
The numbers are clear, we now have the money to balance the budget with no new taxes.
He would do that with cuts to next fiscal year’s budget based on this fiscal year’s appropriations. As Speaker Madigan told reporters this week and as I’ve been telling subscribers, the House appropriations committees are working on cuts to the budget. Those cuts are averaging about 6 percent to each agency. Again, those are not cuts of Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed increases, those are cuts to existing FY 2019 appropriations. The Democrats described the meetings as “exercises” and “scenarios” because it’s doubtful that six percent across the board cuts will be accepted by rank and file Democrats.
* Rep. Dan Brady, the Republican spokesperson of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee, told reporters today that it can be done…
I’d just point to higher ed’s working group and what we did, and that was before yesterday’s news. What we did is we went ahead and we made the cuts in a bipartisan fashion. It can be done and we had in the higher ed working group that scenario played out and we can do it without raising taxes and that was about a six percent cut.
* From a Tribune report after this fiscal year’s budget passed last May…
State universities each will receive about 2 percent more for operations starting in July. […]
Overall, funding for public universities still lags about 8.2 percent behind what schools received in 2014-15, the last time the state approved a budget on schedule.
* Lawmakers, university officials warn of higher ed cuts without new revenue: Barbara Wilson, executive vice president of the University of Illinois system, said further cuts in higher education funding would have a big impact on the state’s largest university. “Across the U of I system we are educating 52 percent of the students who go to public institutions in this state,” Wilson said. “So I always say, if you hurt U of I, you’re hurting a big chunk of the students and families in the state.”
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
More than 800 solar energy projects are on hold because Illinois’ renewable energy program isn’t adequately funded to meet either current demand or the statutory renewable portfolio standard requirement of 25% by 2025.
The waitlisted, shovel-ready projects could create thousands of jobs, lower consumer electric bills and generate $220 million in property tax revenue for local governments. Funding for new commercial and community solar projects and wind farms will be depleted after 2019.
This morning, Senators Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) was joined by a bipartisan group of leaders from government, commerce, organized labor, and the construction industry to announce legislation that will produce approximately $2.4 billion in annual funding for transportation infrastructure throughout the state of Illinois.
Sandoval stated that this funding is necessary to boost the safety of Illinois’ roads, bridges, and transit systems. “We have been underfunding our transportation infrastructure for decades,” said Sen. Sandoval, “and the end result is that we now have pothole-ridden roads that we can’t afford to fix and more than 2,300 bridges rated as ‘structurally deficient.’ This problem has been left to worsen for too long, and now is the tie for leadership and decisive action.”
HB3233 will provide the additional funding through increases to Illinois’ motor fuel tax on gasoline and special fuels, vehicle registration fees, driver licensing fees and title certificate fees. The current state tax on gasoline – which has remained at 19 cents per gallon since 1990 – would increase to 44 cents on July 1, 2019. This increase alone would create more than $1.2 billion in additional annual revenue. To offset the increase in special fuel tax rates, the legislation will eliminate the current Commercial Distribution Fee, a tax on all trucks. (Click to view bill summary)
Fuel tax rates will also be indexed to inflation to keep pace with rising costs. Since Illinois last adjusted its fuel tax in 1990, the state’s infrastructure purchase power has been continually diminished by inflation and increased efficiency. A long-term funding solution will allow state agencies to plan projects well into the future.
Sen. Don DeWitte (R- West Dundee), who serves as the Minority Spokesman for the Senate Transportation Committee, attended the press conference as a show of Republican bipartisan support and discussed the need for an infrastructure plan that would be sustainable for years to come. “The proposal put forth today is a good starting point as we work toward a comprehensive infrastructure plan that addresses the critical needs facing our state’s transportation, education and public facilities,” said DeWitte.
The legislation also creates the Illinois Works job program that will help community-based organizations recruit and prepare the next generation of Illinois’ workforce for apprentice training programs. The legislation will encourage the use of apprentice training and provide incentives for contractors to utilize minority, female and veteran workers.
“Illinois has some of the most advanced career training programs in the world,” said Marc Poulos, executive director of the Indiana-Illinois-Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting. “Our ailing infrastructure demands repair and maintenance, and by addressing that problem, we can also put a generation of Illinois workers into good-paying careers with ongoing education, healthcare, and retirement benefits. Illinois’ workforce will see substantial benefits from this much-needed investment.”
“Almost 20 percent of Illinois’ public roads are in ‘poor’ condition,” said Mark Barkowski, senior vice president of F.H. Paschen and chairman of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association. “The safety of our infrastructure has suffered from the lack of investment, and the deficiencies are on display across the state. Much of the repair work that has been done is temporary, and the time for permanent fixes is now.”
“Infrastructure’s impact upon Illinois’ economy cannot be ignored,” said Tyler Power, director of government affairs for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “Illinois is the commercial hub of the nation, and our economic strength relies upon being able to transport goods safely and quickly through the state. This legislation would fund the kind of infrastructure investment that will pay massive dividends across all sectors of our economy.”
HB 3233 will offer flexible funding opportunities to the Regional Transit Authority and allow municipalities to generate infrastructure revenue. A new project selection process will prioritize the most needed transportation and transit infrastructure projects.
* Check out all the tax and fee hikes. The Motor Fuel Tax would rise by 25 cents per gallon, to 44 cents. Vehicle registration fees would be increased by $50 a year. Drivers’ license fees, title fees and electric car and all truck registration fees would be increased…
And that doesn’t include paying for “vertical” projects.
* WUIS reports on Senate President John Cullerton’s proposal to jack up the tax on cigarettes by a dollar a pack. The governor supports the idea…
The plan would also increase the taxes on other tobacco products at 64 percent of the wholesale price. In a statement, Victoria Vasconcellos, president of the Smoke Free Alternatives Coalition of Illinois, said this tax will make it harder for smokers to quit despite the added cost.
“We have seen that vapor products are a factor in the unprecedented decline in cigarette sales,” said Vasconcellos. “That’s why classifying vapor products in the same category as cigarettes is a backward step for public health, and adults should not be penalized for making healthier choices.”
Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for Gov. Pritzker, said he would support the steeper tax.
On its face, a presentation this week by lawmakers and community groups seeking funding for community-based legal services for the poor seemed straightforward enough.
The Illinois Access to Justice Program would create a $10 million fund to be split among groups that deal with the legal problems of undocumented immigrants and others that specialize in helping ex-offenders.
Yet in many ways the most significant aspect of their effort remained largely unspoken — an attempt at finding common ground and forging cooperation between African-American and Latino lawmakers and the communities they represent.
So often in politics, “black and brown communities”— to borrow the phrase currently in vogue — are pitted against each other to compete for scarce resources and opportunities.
That’s about to play out again in Illinois with the upcoming 2020 census—and the redistricting that will follow.
* Press release…
Last night, the Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee approved House Bill 1613, a measure that would make permanent the current practice of collecting data about every traffic stop conducted by police in the State of Illinois. The practice has been in place in Illinois since 2004 when then-State Senator Barack Obama championed the law.
The following can be attributed to Khadine Bennett, Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois:
“Today’s strong vote by the Senate Criminal Law Committee moves this important legislation one step closer to final passage. As the Committee heard today, collecting and analyzing data about traffic and pedestrian stops by police allows the public to provide appropriate transparency of law enforcement and serves as a critical tool for law enforcement supervisors to use in training and managing officers interacting with the public.
It is time to make this practice – which has been good policy for more than a decade – permanent. We look forward to passage of this measure by the full Senate. With the leadership of sponsor Senator Elgie Sims, we are confident that the measure will be on its way to the Governor.”
* Other stuff…
* Senators Rethink ISBE Property Tax Relief Plan: Education advocates who testified before the committee said if the tax relief measure isn’t changed, the legislature should increase the state’s school equity appropriation from the statutorily-required $350 million to at least $450 million. Lawmakers on the Senate education committee listened, but didn’t articulate a response.
* Senate Measure Would Protect Consumers Against ‘Deceptive’ Energy Suppliers: Under the Senate plan, suppliers can still provide their services as long as contracts don’t automatically rollover and consumers are informed about any rate increases before they happen. Suppliers would also need to report their rates to the Illinois Commerce Commission and attorney general. Attorney General Kwame Raoul said suppliers’ deceptive practices often hurt those who can’t afford to pay more.
ALD. WALTER BURNETT, who heads the 27th Ward Committee, is taking applications and preparing to interview candidates to replace state Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin. She’ll be sworn in May 20 as Chicago’s new city treasurer. Among those applying for her statehouse job: Burnett’s eldest son, Jawaharial “Omar” Williams, who has worked as a plumber for the city’s Water Department.
Another applicant: MAZE JACKSON, the lobbyist and WVON radio commentator who has consulted for former governors Bruce Rauner, Pat Quinn and Rod Blagojevich. “We’re getting a lot of applicants,” Burnett told Playbook.
Replacing Conyears-Ervin quickly is important to Democrats since so many big-ticket revenue bills will be up for consideration by May 31.
Burnett says he’s working to have a replacement named by May 18. On that day, the committee will have a so-called slate-making session “where we’ll allow folks to present their credentials.” During an executive session after that, committee members will decide on the new state representative.
Burnett said he will back his stepson Jawaharial “Omar” Williams to replace Conyears-Ervin over the more than a dozen other interested candidates.
Williams has been working precincts since he was a teenager alongside the alderman, who has been a member of Secretary of State Jesse White’s political organization for decades along with Ervin and Conyears-Ervin.
“I don’t know of any family business that don’t — I shouldn’t say family business — but if your kids work hard… that’s what I work for, to promote my kids, help my kids if they do well,” Burnett said. “If they’re not deserving of it, they’re not deserving of it. So we’ll see how all the other members look at it and we’ll take it from there. It’s no different than Jason pushing his wife for the state rep spot and pushing her for treasurer.” […]
WVON radio morning show host Maze Jackson told The Daily Line in an emailed statement he is also interested in replacing Conyears-Ervin and would strive “to bring economic resources back to the district, and to be an uncompromised vociferous advocate for self-interests of the Black community. I want to get an answer to ‘What’s in it for the Black People?’ in the state of Illinois.”
In addition to Williams and Jackson, Chavonne Carter, an assistant in White’s office; Dwight Lee, an executive in White’s office; Gerard Moorer in U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ office; and former state Rep. Eddie Winters are also interested in replacing Conyears-Ervin, Burnett said. […]
Conyears-Ervin replaced former state Rep. Pamela Reaves-Harris, who served one two-year term. Before her, former state Rep. Derrick Smith also served one term beginning in 2012. Smith was ousted by House colleagues after he was charged with accepting a bribe, and was convicted of bribery in June 2014.
Smith was replaced by Winters, a former Chicago Police officer.
Recently re-elected in the fall, the question locally now is how his replacement will be chosen. Randolph County Democratic Chair Kerry Johnson said with the likelihood of big votes coming this session, namely the governor’s tax plan and the legalizing recreational marijuana, he would like a replacement in before the session ends so the 116th has its say.
Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, pointed to state statute saying the county precinct committeemen have 30 days to name a successor.
“Each committeeperson of the appropriate legislative or representative committee shall be entitled to one vote for each vote that was received,” state statute says of the mechanism for replacing political appointees.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) will cast the third-highest weighted vote, at nearly 17.6 percent.
Waguespack said he has never met Williams, has no idea what qualifications he brings to the job and is troubled by the secretive nature of the process. […]
“The last time Walter [Burnett] chose somebody, we got Derrick Smith. That ended up pretty horribly,” Waguespack said.
Smith was expelled from the Illinois House after being indicted on bribery charges, but won re-election anyway. He was forced to step down from the Illinois House after his conviction.
Good point by Waguespack. Smith is a permanent stain on Ald. Burnett’s track record.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
If Roe is overturned, Illinois law could again require:
· Spousal consent
· Doctor consent committees
· Restrictions on some forms of birth control
· 24 hour waiting periods
· Misinformed consent
· Unnecessary regulation
· Bans on assisted reproductive techniques
· Criminal penalities
Illinois lawmakers on Tuesday took aim at the state’s Department of Children and Family Services, which has been haunted for decades by deaths wrought of abuse and neglect and is in the spotlight again following the beating death of a 5-year-old suburban Chicago boy with a long history of contact with the agency.
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz stood with more than a dozen House and Senate members of a new child welfare reform caucus to propose legislation that would bolster checks and balances in the child welfare agency.
On Monday, Feigenholtz filed legislation to establish a review process for cases involving abuse or neglect. The measure, which was filed as an amendment to an existing bill sitting in Feigenholtz’s committee, would require the deputy director of child protection to create a system for checking 5 percent of cases where allegations were not substantiated and the child is younger than school age, meaning they may not have come into contact with teachers, social workers or other mandated reporters.
The legislation also requires the review of cases where allegations were confirmed for older children, but the family has declined services or there are other reasons why the department is not taking protective custody. Moreover, the department would have to file semi-annual reports with the General Assembly summarizing the cases reviewed and providing recommendations for systemic reforms.
“It builds a review process that ensures that the administrative level of the department is aware and accountable for what’s going on in the field,” Feigenholtz said.
Additionally, the measure bans incentives, monetary or otherwise, from being offered to child investigators or private contractors deciding which services to offer a family or whether to close a case.
Feigenholtz said that the existing organizational structure of DCFS requires all problem reporting to go to the director of operations, a position that’s been vacant for what she said was “a very long time.”
* Report On DCFS: Overburdened Case Workers, Unresponsive Hotline: “50% of the hotline calls go into voicemail and need a callback. So for emergency cases where children are really in trouble, that’s a huge problem,” said Illinois State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago.)
Last week in testimony before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, I was pleased to announce that our April revenues were $1.5 billion higher than expected. However, I also sounded an important note of caution about those revenues. It is important to keep in mind that we still face a $6-to-$8 billion backlog of pending bills with no dedicated revenue stream to pay them. We have aggressively targeted the state’s highest-interest-accruing bills with those receipts, bringing the backlog lower than it would otherwise be, to $6.07 billion as of today.
While we cannot confirm or deny the Dept. of Revenue’s projection of $800 million more than expected for Fiscal Year 2020 at this time, we are hopeful and will continue to research this possibility thoroughly. My office has prioritized pension payments and debt service since I took office and that will be our policy going forward.
In April, base monthly receipts increased $1.502 billion. The jump in receipts reflected very strong performances of both personal and corporate income taxes, which in turn allowed reimbursable spending to surge, thereby generating a significant gain of federal sources. An extra receipting day assisted in the overall monthly gain.
While a precise component breakdown is not yet available for April’s income tax receipts, preliminary views point to very strong non-wage income tax performance [e.g. the more volatile capital gains and dividends components]. As a result, this significant one month over performance cannot safely be extrapolated into future underlying growth. Other states have begun to anecdotally report similar strong performance, with most urging caution of future expectations. In Illinois, historically the withholding component comprises approximately 80% of personal income tax receipts, with the remainder roughly split between estimated and final payments. Despite their much smaller percentage make-up, those non-wage components [fueled by capital gains, dividends, and sometimes shifts in tax payer behavior] are the most volatile, demonstrating significant swings in gains/losses. As such, they cannot be counted on to follow predictable trends, nor safely be expected to recur. Again, further analysis is required before any definitive conclusions are made.
With those caveats in mind, for the month, gross personal income tax receipts leapt $1.068 billion or $903 million on a net basis. In addition to an extra processing day, some of the increase is due simply to last year’s final payments reflecting a “blended” rate due to the tax year’s split tax rate; whereas this year’s final payments were all at the higher rate. As explained above, data is not yet available to offer other conclusive analysis for the month’s grand performance. Gross corporate income tax also grew impressively, rising $288 million or $237 million net. Sales tax also enjoyed a robust uptick, with gross receipts increasing $53 million, or $85 million on a net basis.
Other sources experiencing monthly improvement include interest income which grew $12 million, inheritance tax was up $6 million, and public utility, cigarette, and corporate franchise taxes each eked out a $1 million gain. Only insurance taxes and other sources experienced declines with both lines falling a modest $3 million.
Overall transfers into the general funds were down $1 million. Federal sources, fueled by reimbursable spending made possible by the influx of income tax receipts, finally reversed what up until now had been a very disappointing fiscal year, by growing $263 million. […]
Despite April’s performance, at an April 30th CGFA meeting held to discuss the State’s Group Insurance program, a representative from the Comptroller’s Office testified that their agency continues to operate in “triage’ mode given the State’s over $6.1 billion bill backlog.
A Melrose Park hospital must remain open while a court reviews the decision by a state board to allow it to close, a judge ruled Tuesday.
The village of Melrose Park had filed an emergency motion to stall the planned closing of Westlake Hospital while they appeal the decision by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to allow Pipeline Health to close the facility.
Cook County Judge Anna Loftus ruled in favor of the village, saying the hospital, at 1225 Lake St. in Melrose Park, must stay open — for now. The state board had unanimously approved Pipeline’s application last week.
That decision already has been slammed by residents and elected officials, who say the review board should have put off a decision until after a pending lawsuit against Pipeline is resolved.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker was the latest to weigh in; Monday night, he removed his two newly appointed board members, both of whom had voted against deferring the application.
* React…
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside and state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, are applauding a recent court ruling requiring Westlake Hospital to remain open until the judicial system can fully consider the critical services Westlake provides and review the Health Facilities and Services Review Board’s (HFSRB) recent regarding the future of the facility.
“This is a major victory for struggling families in our area whose health care was about to be taken away by an out-of-state corporation,” Welch said. “The Review Board’s vote to close Westlake was wrong. I am glad Governor J.B. Pritzker removed his appointees who supported the closure and I encourage him to appoint two new members who will side with our community and protect local access to care.”
Both Welch and Willis have been fighting to keep the Melrose Park-based facility open since Pipeline Health turned its back on Westlake Hospital after they promised to support it. The HFSRB was tasked with reviewing the closure, but voted to allow Pipeline’s plan to close the hospital. Recently, a Cook County judge issued a ruling mandating that Westlake remain open during the court’s review of the HFSRB’s decision to support Pipeline’s closure of the facility.
“We must continue fighting to keep Westlake open and serving our most vulnerable residents,” Willis said. “The communities I represent should not have their health care hanging by a thread because out-of-state billionaires are pushing for higher profits.”
* This session just took a big turn for the better…
May 7, 2019
Dear Leaders, Appropriations Chairpersons and Appropriations Spokespersons:
We write to share the good news that Illinois received significantly stronger-than-expected revenues in April.
More than $4.1 billion in individual and corporate income tax revenues were deposited into the General Funds in the month of April 2019, up $1.14 billion or 38% from April 2018 income tax deposits of $2.999 billion. This is also more than $1.5 billion more than internally projected for April 2019.
A number of factors likely contributed to this increase, including the performance of the stock market, better federal reimbursement for Medicaid, the elimination of the federal state and local tax deduction and additional changes in the federal tax law that meant many taxpayers didn’t withhold sufficient taxes through payroll deductions, backloading their end-of-year tax payments. Anecdotally, strong revenue collections occurred in many other states in April. Additional data and analysis are required to present a comprehensive explanation for the revenue shift, and our staffs are working to provide the General Assembly with a more detailed analysis.
As an immediate result of the strong April performance, coupled with revenue collections year-to-date, the State of Illinois will be able to address most of the $1.6 billion shortfall in the enacted FY19 budget because of the April revenues alone. GOMB and the Department of Revenue will be increasing the forecast of general funds individual income taxes by $1.249 billion and general funds corporate income taxes by $186 million, for a total revision of $1.435 billion, a revision of approximately 7% from February 2019 income tax estimates.
Additionally, based on this strong performance, the Department of Revenue has also re-evaluated its FY20 projections. DOR is also projecting that income tax revenue for the FY20 general funds budget will be roughly $800 million higher than initially projected, or nearly $22 billion instead of $21.18 billion. This represents income tax collections roughly 4% higher than the initial base projections.
Several, though not all, of the factors that contributed to the April revenue growth will continue into the coming fiscal year. These factors include continued strong employment, including in Illinois.
The Department has also taken a conservative approach to its revised revenue projection by considering several of the growth factors as likely one-time sources. These sources include the stock market’s performance and taxpayers’ adjustments in their withholdings because of the new federal tax law. These factors have limited the growth that can be expected.
Governor Pritzker remains committed to a financially responsible budget that addresses Illinois’ outstanding obligations, and recommends that these additional revenues can be dedicated to the state’s statutory FY20 pension payment. The certified payments to the retirement systems total $9.1 billion. With the additional revenues due to the forecast revision, the state will be able to meet the current funding commitment to the retirement systems without extending the ramp this year. The Governor remains committed to finding ways to fund our pension commitments in a sustainable manner.
Ensuring the state’s pensions are sustainably funded continues to require significant effort, and will not happen overnight. Over the coming months, the administration will continue to work on a responsible approach to the state’s unfunded pension liabilities, which continue to threaten to crowd out vital investments in education and public safety. Both the Pension Asset Value and Transfer Task Force and the Pension Consolidation Task Force are expected to provide comprehensive reports in the coming months. Our expectation is that the Legislature will be able to take their recommendations into account as we work together to finalize a long-term pension reform plan and continue to work with the Legislature to develop a long-term pension plan.
The State of Illinois has faced much financial uncertainty in the past, and while this revised revenue estimate is certainly welcome news for our residents, the state’s finances won’t be stable in the long-term until a fair tax system is put in place.
Sincerely,
David Harris
Director
Department of Revenue
Alexis Sturm
Director
Governor’s Office of Management & Budget [Emphasis added]
Because 97 percent of Illinois workers would see a tax cut as a result of the Fair Tax proposal, opponents have had to argue that that a graduated state income tax would make it more likely for Illinoisans to see tax increases at some unspecified point in the future.
This concern, however, is baseless. For one, Illinois’ flat tax has not prevented the state from enacting income tax increases in the last ten years. Instead, the flat tax has ensured that those tax increases have been borne by everyone, rather than targeted to the wealthiest who can most afford them.
This argument also relies on simply averaging together all changes in income taxes over the last century, rather than acknowledging that different time periods have seen radically different trends in income tax rates. In particular, it assumes that changes to the income tax more than 75 years ago are a more reliable predictor of what will happen in the 21st century than what has happened, well, in the 21st century — or even the second half of the 20th. Since 2003, states with graduated income taxes have cut taxes nearly two and a half times more often than they have raised them on the middle class. In any given year, a state with a graduated income tax had a roughly 13 percent likelihood of cutting taxes — versus just a five percent likelihood of increasing them on the middle class. […]
A better approach to understanding how a graduated state income tax is likely to change over time in Illinois in this century is to take a comprehensive look at the experience of other states during a more recent timeline. Helpfully, the Tax Foundation has a database of state personal income tax rates and brackets going back to 2002. […]
Using that database, CTBA recorded every instance of states with a “Fair Tax” raising or cutting taxes since 2003 (the first year in which we can do a year-over-year comparison with Tax Foundation data). […]
Our key finding: Since 2003, states with graduated income taxes have cut taxes nearly two and a half times more often than they have raised them on the middle class. In any given year, a state with a graduated income tax had a roughly 13 percent likelihood of cutting taxes — versus just a five percent likelihood of increasing them on the middle class.
Another way of looking at this is at the total change in averages rates — just to make sure that, for example, the smaller number of tax increases aren’t larger in size than the more numerous tax cuts. […]
The answer: No, they’re not. In fact, states with graduated income taxes have seen their average rates fall — both at the top and the bottom of their brackets — since 2002.
In short, only by ignoring the recent track record of all states with graduated income taxes, and cherry-picking one or two states or a particular, long-ago time period, can one support the claim that graduated income taxes tend towards ever-higher rates. The full picture shows that this argument simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
The full list of states which have cut or raised their graduated rates over the years is here. Just four states plus DC have raised rates on $250K+ income since 2003.
…Adding… Illinois Policy Institute…
Yet again, progressive income tax backers are reinforcing why Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” amendment would open the floodgates for massive tax hikes on Illinois’ middle class.
1) CTBA’s list of progressive income tax states that have cut taxes makes use of the same lie that earned Think Big a “mostly false” rating from PolitiFact. They include states that essentially have flat taxes because their top rate affects most income earners, e.g. Georgia ($7k), Idaho ($10,890), Arkansas ($35k) and Louisiana ($50k). It’s not reasonable to compare these states to Illinois, where politicians have run up huge deficits and the push for a progressive tax is motivated primarily by a desire for more revenue.
2) The CTBA’s own analysis shows that when progressive tax states raise income tax revenue, the middle class overwhelmingly pays the price (33 tax hikes on income below $250,000 vs. 10 increases on income above $250,000.) CTBA Executive Director Ralph Martire has repeatedly stated that Illinois should raise far more revenue than even Pritzker’s plan would bring in.
3) The CTBA research shows that in progressive tax states, tax cuts disproportionately go to the wealthy and tax hikes disproportionately hit the middle class.
4) The most reasonable apples-to-apples comparison in Illinois’ current debate on whether to adopt a progressive income tax is Connecticut, which is the only state to swap a flat tax for a progressive tax in the last 30 years, and did so in the face of similar fiscal circumstances. It is noticeably absent from the CTBA’s tax cut list.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to legalize sports betting in Illinois has sparked an all-out lobbying war over who will be the big winner—not only between proponents and opponents of the bill, but within the gambling industry itself.
Allies of casino operator Neil Bluhm and others that already have a brick-and-mortar presence in the state are battling with internet operators DraftKings and FanDuel, which are in the market with a form of betting on fantasy sports despite a 2015 advisory opinion from then-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan that the practice was illegal under current Illinois law.
Bluhm is pushing an amendment to disqualify DraftKings and FanDuel from being licensed under the sports betting bill. “They are free to team up with other entities that did not violate the law,” like Bluhm’s Rivers Casino, says Bluhm attorney Paul Gaynor, a former top official with Madigan’s office.
The internet gamers respond that Bluhm is just trying to parley the clout he’s built with millions of dollars in campaign contributions into anti-competitive legislation. In fact, New Jersey raised far more for their treasuries via gambling taxes than California, which excluded them, they contend.
A House subcommittee is scheduled to hold an initial hearing tomorrow on whether to adopt Bluhm’s “penalty box” amendment.
Poor Illinoisans with legal troubles would get $10 million to help them navigate court systems across the state under a bill pending in the state legislature.
Rep. Art Turner on Monday urged his fellow state lawmakers to pass his Access to Justice Act before the legislative session ends next month.
“We should not leave [Springield] without making sure this is funded in this budget,” Turner said at a press conference at the Westside Justice Center, a community organization that runs a Chicago-based version of what could be a statewide model for legal services. […]
Executive Director Tanya D. Woods said the $10 million would build organizations across the state similar to the Westside Justice Center. That Lawndale-based legal clinic helps poor residents battle in courtrooms over matters ranging from getting a car out of an impound yard to fighting city building code tickets that might end up forcing a low-income family out of their home.
In an email statement, Pritzker’s office said: “He believes creating an independent commission to draw legislative maps is the best way to accomplish redistricting reform, but it’s important that any plan to do so reflect the gender, racial, and geographic diversity of the state.”
That last part about diversity is essential to advancing the 2020 referendum vote — and it’s where previous remap efforts floundered because of opposition from influential African Americans, including former ComEd lobbyist John T. Hooker, Chicago businessman Elzie Higginbottom, former ComEd CEO Frank Clark, and the Reverend Leon Finney Jr., CEO of the Woodlawn Organization, a community activist group. They feared an independent commission would reduce the number of districts dominated by black residents, particularly within Chicago’s South and West Sides, thereby diluting those communities’ political power in Springfield.
Backers of the newest referendum assert the proposed law will comply with voters’ rights and antidiscrimination laws. But such assurances may not be enough to assuage critics. Hooker, for one, harbors doubts: “If it comes back the same way as the last two times, I would not be in agreement with where they’re going.”
Echoing that sentiment is Maze Jackson, host on WVON-AM 1690 and a political consultant, who argues that black districts might be better off with the politically astute Madigan at the mapping helm. “While I have not been the biggest Madigan fan in the past, we have a common interest here,” says Jackson. Madigan didn’t support early drafts of the 2010 map, which Jackson says would have watered down black representation.
* Coming to this a bit late. Sorry for that. Rick Pearson at the Tribune…
From his 1970 win of a state Senate seat as a political upstart, Thomas C. Hynes’ gentle but lawyerly public demeanor belied his role in becoming one of the most influential Democratic forces in Chicago, serving as Illinois Senate president, Cook County assessor and a top member of the Democratic National Committee.
But it was in his role as 19th Ward Democratic committeeman, a post he held for three decades until 2005, that Hynes demonstrated the basic power of politics and public service by understanding and meeting the bread-and-butter concerns of constituents and organizing them into a huge political force. […]
The son of Irish immigrants, Hynes spent three years studying to become a priest at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. But he abandoned the idea and enrolled at Loyola University. He graduated in 1959 and three years later he graduated first in his class from Loyola Law School.
His first job as a lawyer was at one of the city’s most prestigious law firms, Jenner & Block. He later taught law at John Marshall Law School.
Though neither his father, a foreman at a chemical factory, nor his mother, a telephone operator, was politically active, family dinners often concluded with a debate about public policy.
The courtly, soft-spoken Hynes was a product of the 19th Ward organization and had a meteoric rise similar to House Speaker Michael Madigan’s, becoming Senate president in 1977 before the age of 40. In the wake of Mayor Richard J. Daley’s death, Hynes’ coronation was chaotic: It followed a six-week deadlock and 186 ballots.
The following year, Hynes chose to abandon the Springfield life, saying it took too much time away from his family. He ran for Cook County assessor and was elected to the first of five terms before quitting midway through the last one to pave the way, in Chicago fashion, for an anointed successor, Jim Houlihan.
“He was a strong part of the machine and regarded as such, but he was a reasonable guy and supporter of progressive ideas that other cohorts in the machine ignored—a more-open guy,” said political consultant Don Rose.
His son Dan, a former state comptroller and gubernatorial candidate, said, “People just saw him as somebody who could forge relationships. People trusted him.”
As a senator, Hynes was chief sponsor of legislation to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and drafter of homeowner exemption legislation that granted property tax breaks, his son said.
But Hynes was also known as a very cautious politician, and he stayed put in the assessor’s job.
That changed in 1987 when he decided to run for mayor against Washington, who was seeking a second term after the racially-charged tumult of the Council Wars years.
Instead of competing in the Democratic primary, Hynes chose to run under the banner of the newly-created Chicago First Party.
The move was out of character for the risk-averse Hynes, and it ended badly.
Squeezed between Washington and former Ald. Edward R. Vrdolyak, who was running for mayor as the Solidarity Party candidate, Hynes’ campaign failed to catch fire, and he ended up dropping out less than two days before the election.
“I love Chicago enough not to be mayor,” he declared at the time, but his challenge to Washington created ill will in the African American community that lingered long afterward.
Dan Hynes, whose own defeat years later to Barack Obama for U.S. senator could be traced in part to that resentment, said it was a highlight of his father’s later years that he was able as a member of the DNC Rules Committee to support Obama in a fight over super delegates with Hillary Clinton.
Visitation will be held May 8, from noon to 8 p.m., at St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church. The funeral Mass will be held May 9, at 11:30 a.m., at St. John Fisher. McGann and Son Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. […]
Hynes is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judith; his children, Cecilia (Cheever) Griffin, Thomas (Carol), Daniel (Christina) and Matthew (Mari); his grandchildren, David, Clare, Matthew, Benjamin, Anna, Charlie, Liam, Finley, Trudie and Thomas Joseph; and his brothers, Timothy and Jack.
In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the Thomas and Judith Hynes Scholarship Fund at St. Ignatius College Prep at ignatius.org.
In Willowbrook, where the census tract most affected by ethylene oxide is 77 percent white and has an average per capita income of more than $71,000 a year, the EPA sent high-level officials last August to explain the risk locals faced from the chemical as soon as the federal report identifying it was made public. On the same day, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, or ATSDR, also released a report the EPA had requested about ethylene oxide in Willowbrook. In November, the EPA began monitoring the air there. And by February, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency closed the plant. The governor sent out a tweet celebrating the closure and committing to protect “the health and well-being of every Illinoisan.”
But in Waukegan, where the census tract most affected by the chemical is only 25 percent white and has a per capita income of just over $14,000, the same dangerous chemical is still in the air. Although the EPA and the state have known about the ethylene oxide in Lake County and other hotspots around the country since at least August, Burdette and the others residents learned of its presence in their air from the newspaper six months after Willowbrook residents were briefed about it. No high-level officials came to Waukegan or Gurnee to address the local risk.
And while Sterigenics was stopped from releasing ethylene oxide in Willowbrook, the Medline plant in Waukegan and the Vantage facility in Gurnee continue to emit the chemical. So far, the EPA has not done any air monitoring for ethylene oxide near either plant. Meanwhile, the federal agency has continued collecting air samples in Willowbrook even after that plant closed in February. […]
The lag in the federal and state response to their problem has left some Lake County residents feeling like second-class citizens. “We want what Willowbrook got,” Jolanta Pomiotlo, a Gurnee resident of 18 years and founding member of Stop EtO in Lake County, told me recently. “We’re being told by our government agencies that all of the resources are being dedicated to Sterigenics, and they can’t afford to pay for testing in Lake County. Apparently only wealthy communities are entitled to resources from the state.”
* Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed a 32 cents per pack increase on cigarettes and a 36 percent tax on the wholesale price of e-cigarettes, so once again Senate President John Cullerton is going his own way on taxation…
Today, Senate President John Cullerton joined health advocates from organizations across the state to announce new legislation that would increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The bill includes a $1-per-pack tax increase on cigarettes sold in Illinois, which would bring the statewide tax up to $2.98 per pack. To parallel that new amount, the legislation also increases taxes on other tobacco products, like cigars and smokeless tobacco, to 64% of the wholesale price.
“It’s rare that you can sponsor legislation and know that it will save lives. That’s exactly what this will do,” Cullerton said. “It will stop children from starting to smoke and cause many adult smokers to quit, sparing them from a lifetime of addiction and associated health problems. That’s why the public supports it.”
In addition to the legislation, advocates released poll results that indicated broad support for an increase in tobacco taxes. Approximately 66% of respondents were in favor of the $1-per-pack increase on cigarettes, and 75% were in favor of taxing other tobacco products, like cigars and smokeless tobacco, at the same rate as cigarettes. The poll was conducted by Fako Research and Strategies between April 27 and May 2, 2019.
Attending advocates expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for the new legislation. They included Dr. Douglas Carlson of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Shana Crews, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Kathy Drea, vice president of advocacy for the American Lung Association; Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health; Tom Hughes, executive director for the Illinois Public Health Association; Matt Maloney, director of health policy for Respiratory Health Association; Julie Mirostaw, government relations director for the American Heart Association; and A.J. Wilhelmi, president and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.
“Regular and significant tobacco tax increases are part of an effective, comprehensive tobacco control plan,” the group said in a statement. “Investing this tax revenue into the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs is crucial to preventing kids from starting to use tobacco and helping people already addicted to quit. We’re thankful for President Cullerton’s leadership on this issue and look forward to helping it become law.”
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in Illinois. Increasing the tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack is expected to prevent 28,700 Illinois kids under 18 from becoming adults who smoke and help 48,700 Illinois adults who currently smoke quit. It’s also anticipated to reduce the state’s long-term health care costs by $1.56 billion.
* Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) on legislation that will allow households to grow up to five cannabis plants in secured rooms…
“They’re going to be growing it on the back porch and selling it on the front porch,” Moylan said. “Listen, do you want this stuff in your neighborhood?” he asked.
Dude, I got news for you: Cannabis is already in your neighborhood. Your neighbors are consuming it, perhaps even right this moment. And most of your neighbors want it legalized.
All you’re doing is defending the economic interests of the often violent criminal network that grows and then distributes the product in your own neighborhood.
“Minorities have said to me we don’t want this stuff in our neighborhood,” state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, said at a news conference outside the Thompson Center in the Loop.
I…
I just…
Nevermind.
*** UPDATE *** I took a look at the totals from the 2016 countywide referendum on whether cannabis should be legalized. Moylan lives in Maine Township Precinct 14. The referendum passed 69-31 in his home precinct. That’s a better showing than the district-wide vote of 62-38.
• The hotline is unable to take calls as they are received, resulting in call backs. The number of call backs increased substantially during FY15-FY17, from 39.6 percent of total calls in FY15 to 55.7 percent in FY17.
• Investigator caseloads were not in compliance with the B.H. Consent Decree. For FY15-FY17, 78.7 percent of investigators (729 of 926) had at least 1 month during the audit period in which they received more than 15 new assignments. […]
• The overall timeliness of completion for investigations declined significantly over the three-year period FY15-FY17. In FY15, 7.6 percent of investigations were not completed within 60 days. For FY17, 12.4 percent of investigations were not completed within 60 days.
• Investigators did not always accurately document that they assessed the need for services by completing the Level of Intervention field in the Department’s information system known as SACWIS. Of indicated investigations sampled, 16 investigations (10.7%) had no Level of Intervention listed (services recommended). Further, 39 indicated investigations (26.0%) had “No Service Needed” as the Level of Intervention. Additionally, of the investigations sampled, for 64 (42.7%) we found that the Level of Intervention was inaccurate.
• For 65.3 percent of indicated investigations sampled, there was a lack of documentation regarding whether any services were received by the families involved and the duration of those services. The Department could not provide basic information for Intact Family Service cases, such as referral forms, to document that a formal referral for services was made. […]
According to data provided by the Department, for FY15-FY17 the number of abuse and neglect investigations increased significantly, going from 67,732 in FY15 to 75,037 in FY17 or 10.8 percent. Within the three-year timeframe, there was a notable spike in FY16 to 78,572 investigations. The increase in investigations between FY15 and FY16 represents an increase of 16.0 percent. As is shown in Digest Exhibit 1, indication rates (the percentage of cases where there was credible evidence that the incident occurred) decreased during FY15- FY17, from 28.3 percent in FY15 to 24.8 percent in FY17.
The Department also does not have written procedures regarding the process for calling back individuals who report allegations of abuse or neglect that do not complete the intake process at the time of their initial call.
“Two years ago we were at basically a crisis point. I had on my caseload 80 pending investigations. Some of my colleagues had up to 100 pending investigations,” said 24 year DCFS veteran Stephen Mittons.
Mittons has worked as an investigator his entire tenure with the agency. In March alone, he says DCFS investigators received 6800 reported abuse or neglect cases. Investigators have 60 days to close or outsource a case.
Right now, Mittons is working on 40 cases. Alishia Glover is also an investigator. Her service area is more than 130 square miles, from the South Side of Chicago to the southwest suburbs.
“Nine to 5 is almost non-existant as a child protection investigator and a typical day really isn’t typical,” Glover said.
* Other governors might have made Jerry wait until after the session so he could vote with the governor’s agenda. But Gov. Bruce Rauner did the same sort of thing by appointing legislators who didn’t love his policies to top agency jobs (pro-AFSCME folks like Raymond Poe) and then replacing them with people who would be more, um, amenable…
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker appointed state Rep. Jerry Costello II to serve as the Director of Law Enforcement at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
“After serving his country in the battlefields of Iraq and the people of Southern Illinois in the statehouse, I’m thrilled Jerry Costello is continuing his public service by leading law enforcement at the Department of Natural Resources,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “His wide-ranging experience brings much value to an important piece of state government.”
“It’s an honor to lead the dedicated group of men and women who keep Illinoisans safe while they enjoy our state’s natural resources,” said state Rep. Jerry Costello II. “I’m excited to start this new chapter, and I thank Gov. Pritzker for the opportunity to serve.”
Background
Jerry Costello II will serve as the Director of Law Enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Costello has represented the 116th district in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2011 and currently chairs the Agriculture and Conservation committee. A graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Costello decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Not long after signing up, he and his unit saw combat during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military service in Iraq, Costello returned to Illinois where he became a police officer and started a family. Initially a patrolman, he would rise through the ranks and become assistant chief of police. Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Costello lives in Smithton with his wife Lori and their three children.
Beginning his transition into the new role, Rep. Costello resigned from his House seat effective today.
* Yeah, I know. Lots of Madigan posts. But he rarely talks to reporters these days, so it’s kinda big when he does. Last one I think. From the SJ-R…
Something that isn’t contentious, according to the speaker, is his relationship with Pritzker, unlike the one Madigan had with the governor’s predecessor.
Madigan says he has been supportive of the governor’s programs “from the very beginning,” such as raising the compensation level for “key people in the government” and raising the minimum wage.
“So far, so good,” Madigan said. “My goal is to work with the governor and other people in the legislature to have a productive session.”
Define “productive,” Mr. Speaker and maybe everyone can breathe a little easier.
Of Republican lawmakers who have complained they are not being included in the legislative process, Madigan said they have a “pretty clear record of non-participation,” especially regarding the budget in recent years, but that he is “willing to work with them.”
Some of that cooperation could come on a comprehensive capital bill, to which House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has offered to lend some of his party’s votes, according to Madigan.
“I’d be interested to know what he thinks should be in the capital bill before he puts votes on it,” Madigan said.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
If Roe is overturned, Illinois law could again require:
· Spousal consent
· Doctor consent committees
· Restrictions on some forms of birth control
· 24 hour waiting periods
· Misinformed consent
· Unnecessary regulation
· Bans on assisted reproductive techniques
· Criminal penalities
“Minor violation of the Cannabis Control Act” means one or more arrest, charge not initiated by arrest, conviction, order of supervision, or order of qualified probation (as defined in subsection (a)(1)(J)) for a Class 4 felony or misdemeanor violation of Section 4, 5, or 8 of the Cannabis Control Act, provided that (i) the individual did not receive a penalty enhancement under Section 7 of the Cannabis Control Act and (ii) the minor violation of the Cannabis Control Act was the only offense associated with the arrest, charge not initiated by arrest, conviction, order of supervision, or order of qualified probation to be expunged.
* So, keep that in mind when reading this. The House Speaker admits he hasn’t yet been briefed on the bill and the author of this story apparently didn’t realize this goes beyond convictions…
Madigan said there are several issues regarding marijuana legalization that will be “very important” when trying to rack up the 60 votes needed in the House to pass the bill.
That includes expunging criminal records for those with lower-level marijuana-related convictions and who will be entitled to get licenses to grow and process marijuana in Illinois. […]
“The key on that (expungement) issue is how far do you go in terms of the expungement?” Madigan said. “If you’re talking about some teenager who’s doing drugs and who’s only guilty of possession, that’s one thing. If you’re talking about people who are actually in the business, that were dealers, and you want to expunge those records, that’s a different case.”
For his part, Madigan said he is attempting to work with all the participants to see how to resolve the issues.
A little bit of context is required here. If this proposal passes, companies will be legally selling thousands of pounds of cannabis a year. The bill’s expungement language would apply to up to 500 grams (with no additional charges), which is barely over a single pound. That could very well be changed if people get nervous, but it doesn’t seem right to keep people locked up for stuff that others are doing under cover of law.
Madigan said the decision process for which businesses will receive new licenses would affect the vote as well.
“Among the minorities in the Legislature, they would argue that there oughta be some leg up for minorities in terms of licenses to cultivate or be a dispenser. Here again, language will be important in terms of finding 60 people to vote for the bill,” Madigan said. […]
The governor budgeted for $170 million in new revenues next fiscal year from licensing fees associated with legalization.
…Adding… I forgot about this video…
Speaker Madigan outlined what he sees as "very controversial aspects" of the proposal to legalize marijuana in a closed press event with UIS PAR interns this morning. He also highlights opioid issue, which has actually improved since medical cannabis rollout. pic.twitter.com/muSJNOcP8i
At the end, he talks about opposition to the bill…
And then you’ll have many people who are concerned about the opioid crisis, who feel that in light of that this is not a good time to be legalizing the use of marijuana.
Um. What? Those sorts of red herring excuses could be dragged out at any time in history and he really should know better.
Madigan said, passing sports betting will require the cooperation of many interests, including gaming CEOs, racetracks, video poker representatives and more.
“It’s always been very contentious,” he said. “It’s no different this time than any prior legislative session.”
Madigan also said he’d be “prepared to support” a casino in Chicago, either city-owned or private.
When it comes to sports betting, Madigan said he’s not certain whether it will get tied up with other gaming legislation.
“You can go in one of two directions; you could have a sports betting bill that only deals with sports betting, or you can have one that deals with sports betting plus the other issues,” he said.
A lobbyist for the city of Chicago said at a recent hearing on the topic that outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration will support sports betting if a casino for the city is included.
While Madigan said he would be prepared to support a city-owned casino in Chicago, this is something else that could go two ways.
“It can be city-owned, or it can be like the other casinos,” he said. “That’s something that would be resolved here in the legislature.”
* Related…
* Gov. Pritzker optimistic he’ll get his legislative wish list: The idea of a casino to generate revenue is not new. Regional differences have slowed attempts to expand gaming in Illinois. Pritzker said he doesn’t want “regional disputes” to upend the process. When asked if he backs a Chicago casino, Pritzker said that what he is focused on is making sure lawmakers maximize the opportunity to balance the budget.
