* So, we got this going for us…
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin bought a $238 million penthouse condo in New York City earlier this year and is expanding his Park Avenue offices, but Illinois’ richest man says he’s staying put in Chicago.
Earlier this week during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., the hedge fund leader sat for a wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg TV that touched on education, free trade, socialism versus capitalism and millennials. […]
On what it would take for him, his children and Citadel to move to another state:
I have three children and we were talking about tax policies. My 8-year-old is delightfully precocious and she says, “Dad, why won’t we just move?” And I said, “Because we are going to stand and fight. We’re going to stand and fight for the policies and changes that will make this state better.”
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[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.
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We Need Strong Unions. They Build The Middle Class.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Labor unions build more than roads and bridges. Unions build the middle class. Did you know:
● Unions increase individual incomes by lifting hourly wages—particularly for low-income workers.
● Unions increase consumer demand.
● Unions reduce socially inefficient levels of income inequality.
● Unions fight against all forms of discrimination. They believe in equal pay for equal work, no matter your gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
● Union workers receive less government assistance.
● Union workers contribute more in income taxes.
● Unions increase productivity in construction, manufacturing, and education.
● Unions reduce employee turnover rates.
● Unions fight against child labor and for public education.
Visit FightBackWithUs.com to learn more about why we need unions.
Illinois needs strong unions. Already, they’re making a big difference for working families in our state, where unions raise worker wages by an average of 10.1 percent.
Illinois’s union wage effect is the 17th-highest in the nation. The union wage differential is higher for the bottom 10 percent of workers (10.4 percent) than the richest 10 percent of workers (8.4 percent).
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Constitutional amendment clears Senate
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* All 40 Senate Democrats voted “Yes” on the constitutional amendment…
* But three SDems voted “No” and one skipped the vote on the rate bill…
The three “No” votes were Sens. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Tom Cullerton and Suzy Glowiak. Sen. Rachelle Crowe didn’t vote.
* Meanwhile…
…Adding… Democratic Sens. Aquino, Cunningham, Hutchinson, Murphy, Peters and Villivalam voted “No.” Sen. Munoz did not vote…
…Adding… React…
Today Think Big Illinois Executive Director Quentin Fulks released the following statement after the Senate passed the fair tax resolution:
“Today represents another important step toward ensuring Illinois voters have the opportunity to decide if they want a tax system that lifts the burden off the middle class and forces the wealthy to finally pay their share. Think Big Illinois applauds the members of the Senate who stood up for our middle and working-class families and voted to pass the fair tax resolution.
“Think Big Illinois looks forward to continued discussions in Springfield, and remains committed to being a staunch ally for Illinois families in the fight to implement a fair tax and create a tax system that works for everyone.”
* Americans for Prosperity-Illinois…
This vote is an affront to taxpayers and it is disheartening that the Senate voted to give themselves a blank check paid for by beleaguered Illinois taxpayers. When politicians get more tax power, Illinoisans get higher taxes. We thank those senators who voted against the bill and now urge the House of Representatives to stand up for Illinois taxpayers and reject it.
* Ideas Illinois Chairman Greg Baise…
Today, the insider politicians in Springfield took the first step toward a massive Jobs Tax to punish middle class families.
It is clear that Governor Pritzker and Speaker Madigan will not rest until they have a blank check signed by the hardworking people of Illinois.
* Sen. Don Harmon…
After a decade of work to update Illinois’ outdated tax structure, Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) today earned Senate approval of a constitutional amendment that would allow for a fair tax.
The proposed constitutional amendment would remove language requiring a flat tax and allow the General Assembly to set lower rates for those making less and higher rates for those earning the most.
“We’ve had the same tax structure in our state for nearly 50 years,” Harmon said. “Middle-class and working Illinoisans have been hurt by our inability to modernize our tax structure to reflect a changing economy.”
The proposed amendment does not include specific tax rates, but, under legislation sponsored by Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), 97 percent of Illinoisans would get tax relief. Hutchinson’s measure only takes effect if voters approve the constitutional amendment.
“We’ve made great progress in putting our state back on a path to stability after years of chaos,” Harmon said. “We still have work to do, and the only options we have besides the fair tax are to raise taxes dramatically on everyone or enact deep, punishing cuts to state services.”
I’ll post more on the live coverage post.
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ILGOP stirs up remap questions
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ILGOP press release from April 23rd…
“Supporters of fair maps should be concerned that they must now rely on Pritzker’s personal determination of what’s ‘fair’ rather than a concrete pledge to veto gerrymandered legislative maps and enact independent redistricting reform. Pritzker walking back his fair map pledge is unfortunate, yet unsurprising. Voters always knew Pritzker had the support of Speaker Madigan, but now we know why. Pritzker is flip-flopping on fair maps so he can protect Madigan’s grip on power for another decade, overriding the will of Illinois voters. What will Pritzker’s next flip-flop be?” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
In an interview yesterday with the State Journal-Register, Governor J.B. Pritzker seemed to walk back a pledge to veto legislative redistricting maps drawn with political considerations. Pritzker said, “I would veto a map that I thought was an unfair one.”
“Unfair” is a far cry from Pritzker’s concrete pledge in 2018 to veto gerrymandered maps drawn by elected officials with political considerations.
Last year, Pritzker told Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller he would veto a map that was drawn “in any way” by legislators, political leaders, or their staffs. At the time, Miller asked gubernatorial candidates:
“Will you pledge as governor to veto any state legislative redistricting map proposal that is in any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies? The exception, of course, would be the final official draft by LRB.”
Pritzker replied:
“Yes, I will pledge to veto. We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps, but in the meantime, I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map…”
A bipartisan, bicameral coalition of lawmakers in the General Assembly support fair maps. The only people standing in the way of redistricting reform are Mike Madigan, John Cullerton, and now, J.B. Pritzker. It only took Pritzker 100 days in office to flip-flop on fair maps and side with Speaker Madigan over the people of Illinois.
* An eerily similar SJ-R editorial from three days later…
Thumbs Down: To Gov. J.B. Pritzker for walking back his support for a fair legislative map drawing process.
The maps that determine districts for the General Assembly and Congress are redrawn every decade after the decennial census, which is next scheduled to happen in 2020. Many — including this editorial board — want an independent commission to draw the map, removing legislators from the process.
In March 2018, Rich Miller of the Capitol Fax political blog asked the gubernatorial candidates the following: “Will you pledge as governor to veto any state legislative redistricting map proposal that is in any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies? The exception, of course, would be the final official draft by LRB.”
Then-candidate Pritzker replied: “Yes, I will pledge to veto. We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps, but in the meantime, I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map. That designated body should reflect the gender, racial, and geographic diversity of the state and look to preserve the Voting Rights Act decisions to ensure racial and language minorities are fully represented in the electoral process.”
That was a strong answer. But as he marked 100 days as governor, Pritzker’s tune changed.
“Certainly I continue to believe that maps should be drawn fairly,” Pritzker told the SJ-R earlier this week. “I would veto a map that I thought was an unfair one.” But he said there are “a lot of priorities that I’ve moved forward with. … Suffice to say drawing the map fairly in congressional and legislative races is important.”
There is no doubt that the drawing of legislative maps needs to be done in a more fair manner. That only happens if lawmakers are removed from the process. Pritzker has said he wants to bring forth a different Illinois. Throwing his support behind a fair map-making process would be a good start.
* Change Illinois put out a press release today headlined “Is Pritzker back-tracking on fair maps?” The group excerpted the SJ-R editorial and ended with this…
Contact your state legislators and Gov. Pritzker to demand they support reform today and call a vote for the Fair Maps Amendment.
I didn’t post the ILGOP press release because I checked in with a Pritzker spokesperson who told me the governor has not changed his position at all from his answer to me last year. He was apparently just using shorthand.
Inquiries from the SJ-R editorial board and Change Illinois would likely have elicited the same response.
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Cash bail is a very complicated and emotional issue and Downstate law enforcement is up in arms about it…
Two years after passing a significant bail bond reform law, some Illinois lawmakers are now considering doing away with cash bail altogether.
Supporters of that idea say it would bring greater fairness to the system, especially for low-income people charged with relatively minor offenses.
But prosecutors and law enforcement officials warn that such a move could have far-reaching consequences, including putting victims of domestic violence at risk and taking away the ability of local courts to fund services for crime victims. […]
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who supports eliminating cash bail, said that before the 2017 reforms, the system of requiring people to post cash bonds was not keeping violent felons off the street.
“One of the costs of doing business in some of these violent enterprises is going to jail,” she said. […]
“In our county, we take in roughly about a half million dollars in bond a year, and that money fuels our criminal justice system,” [McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout] said. “Things like victims services, court appointed special advocates, teen court, diversion programs, the treasurer’s office, the circuit clerk’s office, the sheriff’s office.”
* This House bill passed the Senate Executive Committee yesterday on a partisan roll call and now heads to the floor for what’s likely to be final action…
A bill sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) would ban state agencies or units of local government from conducting business with privately owned civil detention centers.
The bill is an initiative of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee rights in response to a March vote by the Board of Trustees in Dwight approving plans to build a 1,200 bed privately owned detention facility. Once built, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency could potentially contract with this facility. The bill would prevent this from happening.
“Privately owned detention centers are run with a profit motive, which creates an incentive for people to become bad actors as a way to cut costs and save money at the expense of living conditions,” Peters said. “These cruel institutions have no place in our modern society.”
A civil detention center is an institution used to detain people for reasons other than having been charged with or convicted of a crime, including immigration detention centers, juvenile detention centers and mental health facilities. They differ from criminal detention centers in that they are neither a jail nor a prison.
* The 3rd Reading deadline was extended to tomorrow on this bill…
Under legislation expected to receive a vote this week, contractors on state capital projects would be forced to pay their suppliers and subcontractors on a tighter schedule.
“This is to help our small businesses grow,” state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, said during a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol.
Villivalam’s legislation, Senate Bill 104, shortens from 15 calendar days to seven business days the payment deadline for a construction project’s prime contractor to pay the smaller subcontractors and material suppliers of a project.
* Other bills…
* Sun-Times Editorial: Let the public, not a law, push corporate boards to be more diverse: If ever there were a case where public and shareholder pressure makes more sense than another law, this is it.
* Keep private, for-profit detention facilities for immigrants out of Illinois
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* A new report suggests that ramping up child abuse and neglect investigations and removing more children from their homes may not have the intended effect…
In 2017, Indiana had the third-highest rate of investigations for child abuse and neglect in the country, with at least one investigation for every 10 kids, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2019 Child Maltreatment report. The state also had the second-highest rate of victims of abuse and neglect, 18.6 out of every 1,000 kids, behind only Kentucky. […]
In Indiana, courts are involved in 75.4% of child abuse and neglect cases, which is more than twice the U.S. average of 29% and the most of the 41 states that reported that data for 2017. The state also removes kids at twice the national rate, with 12 children per 1,000 in foster care in 2016, the fourth most of states, according to data reported to the federal government. […]
Despite this aggressive approach, the number of deaths from abuse and neglect in Indiana grew from 34 in 2008 to 78 in 2017, when the state had the third-highest reported rate of child fatalities, the federal data shows.
Interesting.
Go read the rest if you have time. Lots of fascinating lessons to be learned.
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Rep. Chris Welch: “Gov. Pritzker let us down”
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WGN…
A suburban hospital’s closing was approved by a unanimous vote by the state review board.
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted 7 to 0 in favor of Westlake Hospital’s closure on Tuesday.
* ABC 7…
Last week, a judge let a temporary restraining order stand against Pipeline Health that prevented the 230-bed hospital in Melrose Park from closing.
The new hospital owners are accused of promising to keep the hospital open for two years, then after purchasing it, quickly moved to sell it.
Community outrage prompted the village of Melrose Park to file a lawsuit accusing Pipeline of acquiring the hospital under false pretenses. Several elected officials are now calling on the Illinois attorney general to get involved.
* Crain’s…
Though the board voted 4-3 to defer the matter until all related litigation is complete, five votes are needed to achieve a majority. The board is comprised of nine voting members; however, one member is absent and one seat is vacant.
Board members Deanna Demuzio, Barbara Hemme, Marianne Eterno Murphy and Ronald McNeil all voted to defer the matter. Two of the three members who voted not to defer, citing the need for “health care transformation,” were recently appointed to the board by Gov. J.B. Pritzker: Julie Hamos and Michael Gelder. John McGlasson also voted in favor of hearing Pipeline’s application today.
Following the decision, Democratic state Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch of Westchester, who is also a member of Westlake’s board of trustees, said: “Gov. Pritzker let us down. We went to bat for him, and his appointees went to bat for billionaires from California.”
* Tribune…
Board member Julie Hamos said Tuesday that losing hospitals is tough for communities, but she expects to see more hospitals closing in coming years as advances in medicine make inpatient care less necessary.
“We are really on the cusp of a very significant change in our health care system,” said Hamos, who was recently appointed to the board by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and is a former lawmaker. She said deferring the application would simply have shifted a decision on the matter to the courts.
* NBC 5…
Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico said the village will continue to fight the hospital’s planned closure.
“It’s a shame that the Health Facilities Review Board couldn’t find the courage to do the right thing for the most vulnerable people,” Serpico said in a statement. “It’s also puzzling that the board would so flagrantly disregard their own rules. As a result of their action we are calling today on Attorney General Kwame Raoul to investigate the Health Facilities Services and Review Board decision to approve Pipeline Health’s fraudulent purchase and closing of Westlake Hospital. Was there a nod and a wink between Pipeline and members of the Health Facilities Review Board? We call on the Attorney General to get to the bottom of this scandalous action.”
Discuss.
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Vertical construction backers make their case
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
At a press conference Wednesday, lawmakers and organization leaders unveiled Build Up Illinois, a coalition advocating for building projects, also known as “vertical construction”, as part of a comprehensive capital plan.
The coalition is composed of groups and associations representing P-20 education – including k-12 school districts and both private and public colleges – the Illinois hospital system and the Illinois AFL-CIO and affiliated building trades.
“Capital projects put thousands of people to work in every corner of our state while making much needed investments to our aging infrastructure,” said Michael Carrigan, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO. “The 900,000 union members across the state are willing partners in support of a capital plan that addresses needed repairs and upgrades as well as new construction. The coalition is ready to support both lawmakers and the administration in moving a comprehensive plan forward.”
The state is facing billions of dollars in repairs and new construction requests for schools, public universities, sewer and water systems, roads, bridges and state facilities. Illinois’ state facilities occupy over 8,700 buildings and 101 million square feet of floor space. They serve diverse needs, ranging from prisons to universities, mental health hospitals, and state parks.
The Capital Development Board estimates for repairs to state facilities are projected to be $7.8 billion, just under $6.7 billion for public universities and $9.4 billion for preK-12 schools.
“We know there has been a lot of discussion about the need to repair our roads and bridges,” said AJ Wilhelmi, President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. “But it is critical that the state invest in its healthcare infrastructure – specifically, the hospitals that are the economic anchors of our communities.”
IHA is proposing the Hospital Transformation Capital Program – to invest $500 million in state capital funds in hospitals that need to transform their aging facilities to build a coordinated, person-centered system of health and human services that will serve their communities for today and tomorrow.
“The healthcare landscape is changing dramatically from an inpatient-based system to an outpatient-focused system,” said Wilhelmi. “This means that hospital buildings constructed over the past century to provide inpatient care need to be modernized, and in some cases, repurposed to fit today’s healthcare model.”
With a rising backlog of deferred maintenance, the state’s public universities and community colleges are using money meant for their daily operations to pay for maintenance projects on buildings.
“Over the past five years, we have invested between $4 million and $6 million annually of our own resources in general revenue on construction of facilities to ensure that they remain safe and functioning,” ISU President Larry Dietz said. “Had capital funds been available, that money could have been used for scholarships, additional faculty and support staff or new technologies.”
“Illinois needs cranes on campuses and bulldozers at building sites. Construction projects signal that Illinois is open for business,” said State Senator Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat who is leading conversations in the Senate about statewide construction priorities. “Highway and bridge repairs are vitally important, but any statewide infrastructure plan has to balance those priorities with our need for new schools, modern hospitals and 21st century college facilities. There has to be a healthy mix.”
“The list of construction needs continues to grow by the day, which is why it is imperative that we get a capital bill done sooner rather than later,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville). “But any plan must balance the need for transportation-related projects with new building construction and repair, which is what this coalition is calling for.”
State colleges and universities have asked for around $2 billion in capital funds for the next fiscal year.
“Our needs are great. It’s been ten years since the state last approved a capital bill and during that time, our colleges and universities weathered a budget stalemate,” said Dr. Sam, President of Elgin Community College. “An infusion of capital funding for buildings and repairs will certainly help in our ability to attract students to our campuses.”.
Whew, that’s a lot of needs.
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* Let’s start with a relatively mild critique via the Illinois News Network…
Despite paying back the $331,000 he got in property tax breaks, Gov. J.B. Pritzker insisted his family did nothing wrong when it had toilets removed from a spare mansion to have it deemed uninhabitable.
When WBEZ radio broke the story last week that Pritzker and his wife were under federal criminal investigation for removing toilets from the Gold Coast mansion to get a tax break, the governor was asked whether he thought it was political, or if it would derail his push for a progressive income. He explained Tuesday in Springfield why he paid the money back last year even though he followed the rules.
“We simply wanted to avoid distraction during the course of the campaign,” Pritzker said in his office. “As I say, any review of this will show the rules were followed. During the campaign, it was clear that people were trying to make this a political issue, so we just wanted to get it out of the way.”
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, said the explanation didn’t make sense.
“I don’t know many people, even billionaires, that would write three-hundred-plus-thousand dollar checks if they felt like they didn’t do anything wrong,” Plummer said. […]
“You’re going to have people talking about ‘other folks need to pay their fair share, other folks need to carry and even heavier tax burden,’ but then there’s these various schemes to avoid taxes and I find that somewhat hypocritical and very concerning,” Plummer said.
* Here’s Plummer in the Metro East Sun, a Proft paper…
“I find the hypocrisy to be stunning,” he said. “I mean you have the governor, a multi-billionaire, under federal investigation in a case the inspector general has characterized as a scheme to skip out on tax payments at the same time he wants to preach about paying more taxes to everyone else.”
To the question of whether or not the ongoing scandal will impact Pritzker’s ability to govern, Plummer thinks it’s too early to know.
“I think everyone needs to wait and let the investigation play itself out, but I think the governor really needs to rethink his habit of preaching on taxes,” he said. “The hard-working people of Illinois are already paying more than their fair share. It’s people like him that are scheming to get out of paying at all.”
* From the same outlet…
Illinois State Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) sees the list of potential victims in the property tax scandal now dogging Gov. J.B. Pritzker as being endless.
“Everyone and their budgets, including our fire and policemen, are impacted by this because it’s our tax revenue that pays for everything,” Meier, the longtime representative for the 108th District, told Metro East Sun. “If it turns out that he’s been trying not to pay taxes of his own while trying to raise them on everyone else, it would really be sad.”
* Same network, different paper…
State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) fails to see how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can continue to have the nerve to ask Illinois voters for a blank check under the present circumstances.
“You would think his being under federal investigation would significantly reduce the trust of an already skeptical electorate,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “Anytime you have criminal liability hanging over your head, it can’t be seen as a good thing, even among the people that are your strongest supporters.” […]
“It just seems like justice doesn’t get meted out very often when it comes to people with money, power and prestige like the governor,” said Miller, elected last November to represent the 110th District. “Truthfully, I would be shocked if anything comes of this on a legal front. That’s why it’s so important that voters step up and be the checks and balances we need to protect the system.”
* Ramping it up a notch in the same publishing network…
“We knew about this a year ago and Democrats wanted to ignore it,” [Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur] said. “It speaks to the governor’s character that he would knowingly participate in something like that. I think it’s a very unseemly thing to do and further makes Illinois the laughingstock of the country.”
* A bit more fire from another Eastern Bloc member…
Newly elected Illinois State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) has a hard time believing some of the things that pass for normalcy in Springfield.
“This news should absolutely impact the way Gov. Pritzker governs,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News of reports that Gov. J.B. Pritzker and several family members including his wife remain under federal probe stemming from alleged acts taken in an attempt to lower their property tax bill. “Instead, you’ve got the whole Democratic party still supporting him as if nothing’s happened and this corruption is all part of the lifestyle they live.”
Hey, at least he said “Democratic” party, although I figure he was probably misquoted /s
* They even talked to former Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton)…
“The Cook County inspector general concluded this was a scheme to defraud,” Ives said. “You read the whole report, and it’s obvious that they falsified documents. People need to know when Gov. Pritzker cheated on his property taxes he didn’t just impact his neighbor. He cheated on everybody.”
Ives said she finds it ironic that news of Pritzker’s alleged transgressions comes at a time when he is pushing a tax hike in the form of a graduated income tax on some of the state’s most affluent residents.
“It definitely calls into question his wanting to raise taxes on everyone else when he cheats on his own tax bill,” she said. “I think this hurts his ability to get his graduated tax across and if he is prosecuted it will affect his ability to run the state.”
* But the pièce de résistance is from Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-McHenry)…
“I hope Gov. Pritzker and his wife get a pair of shiny, new handcuffs when this is done,” he said.
* Related…
* Rep. Ugaste wants Springfield to focus on state’s most immediate problems, despite distractions
* Rep. Grant weighs in on Pritzker probe
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Senate’s new graduated income tax plan roundup
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R...
Keith Staats of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce said the changed rates indicate what will happen under graduated tax system.
“There is no guarantee this legislation, if it is passed by the General Assembly this year, will ever go into effect and will not be modified,” he said. “In the few months since the governor made his proposal, there’s already been an increase in the rate as he originally proposed it. This illustrates what’s going to happen in a graduated income tax.”
Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, also said it will be easier for lawmakers to raise taxes under a graduated system because the increase can be focused on only a small group of big earners.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Toi Hutchinson, R-Olympia Fields, said that wasn’t the case.
“I don’t agree that it is ever easy to raise taxes,” she said.
* Illinois News Network…
Hutchinson said the measure is fair for her constituents.
“In my district, in particular, it’s literally like 98 percent of my tax filers won’t see a difference unless they see a decrease,” Hutchinson said.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Sponsor Toi Hutchinson, an Olympia Fields Democrat, said lowering the threshold for the top rate of single filers was an attempt to address the so-called “marriage penalty” without drastically decreasing anticipated revenues.
She said a Center for Government Forecasting and Accountability analysis shows the tax will bring in an added $3.57 billion in revenue from individual taxpayers and $350 million from raising the corporate tax rate. These estimates were based on 2016 figures, Hutchinson added.
* Tribune…
While the property tax and the estate tax proposals may blunt criticisms from some Democrats and some pro-business groups, changing the rates from Pritzker’s original plan will offer ammunition to opponents. Already, Republican lawmakers and other opponents are arguing that the Democrats who control the General Assembly will eventually try to apply higher tax rates to lower incomes if voters approve constitutional amendment.
“They’re already creeping down … which is something we’ve been warning members of the General Assembly and the public about,” Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO Mark Denzler said Tuesday.
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Property tax freeze roundup
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
The [Senate Executive Committee] also approved a bill that would freeze school property taxes in years that the state fully funds the new school aid formula and categorical spending. The new funding formula requires the state to increase education spending by $350 million a year for a decade to fully implement it. The state also hasn’t fully funded categorical programs for about a decade, said bill sponsor Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill.
Manar said the bill will not take effect until the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2021. He said the total cost when the bill takes effect will be about $650 million — $350 million for the formula and $300 million to fund categoricals. Taxes needed to pay debt service and pensions would be exempt from the freeze.
“This is not immediate, but I think this is a realistic way to severely limit the ability of school districts to raise funds locally,” he said.
* Tribune…
In closed-door negotiations, some Democratic lawmakers have criticized Pritzker’s plan for not doing more to address soaring property taxes. The proposal from Sen. Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat, would freeze local school districts’ property tax rates if the state lives up to its education funding obligations.
“The concept here is to put a credible proposal on the table to do what I think we all want to do, which is turn off the spigot of property taxes and make the state budget the predominant source of how we fund public schools,” Manar said.
* Illinois News Network…
State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, said that’s a gimmick that won’t attract Republicans to the plan.
“I think you’ll see Republicans standing up to oppose that. We don’t ever like to vote against a property tax freeze but this isn’t a property tax freeze, it’s just political nonsense,” Oberweis said.
While school districts are the main driver for property taxes at the local level, other taxing bodies could continue to raise tax levies on property owners.
“This is typical Springfield politics and it’s become so distasteful I just wish the voters of Illinois would rise up an scream and fire the people that are doing this,” Oberweis said.
State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hills, said his bill to freeze the property tax levy included exceptions for pension costs and debt.
“So if a school district wants to build a new building, they would have to have a referendum,” Manar said.
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Estate tax repeal roundup
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, also advanced Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 689, which would repeal the estate tax. This repeal is also contingent on passage of the graduated tax amendment, and would phase out about $300 million in revenue, according to a fiscal year 2020 estimate from COGFA.
* Tribune…
In another effort to broaden support for an income tax overhaul, and to counter arguments that the state’s tax structure drives residents to leave, Senate President John Cullerton introduced a second companion measure that would eliminate the state’s estate tax — a levy affecting family farms that Republicans have long decried as a death tax.
The measure would “send the message to the folks that are going to be paying more in Illinois income tax that we are at least willing to eliminate the estate tax because we’re told that’s one of the reasons why some people actually do leave” the state, the Chicago Democrat said.
* Politico…
The graduated income tax proposal passed its first hurdle on Tuesday, but the buzz is all about state Senate President John Cullerton’s proposal to eliminate Illinois’ estate tax. Still, the measure would only go into effect if voters approve the graduated income tax plan in 2020.
Potentially eliminating the estate tax emerged after conversations with high-net worth constituents, according to a Senate Democrat involved in the negotiations. “Higher income tax rates won’t drive them out of state. If they left Illinois, it would be because of the estate tax,” the lawmaker said.
The estate tax is something Republicans have tried to chisel away for years but here, it’s Democrats seeking to put the policy on the chopping block. On Tuesday, in the Senate Executive Committee, Republican members refused to support the measure, prompting Cullerton to laugh out loud at the irony. It indicates how reticent GOP lawmakers are about playing ball to get the graduated-income tax passed.
Your thoughts?
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Get it together, people
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* First the governor appointed a director who quit within two weeks. And now this. From WBEZ…
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spent almost his entire campaign last year denigrating former Gov. Bruce Rauner for his “fatal mismanagement” of multiple, fatal Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks at the state-run Quincy veterans’ home.
But on Tuesday, with Pritzker having inherited the problems at the Illinois Veterans Home, some of his key appointees struggled to tell a legislative panel exactly what they are doing after more than 100 days in power that is any different than under the former administration.
Acting Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia opened the hearing before the joint House-Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee by saying she would not be answering any questions about pending litigation or a criminal probe related to the state’s mishandling of the Quincy outbreaks.
But from there, the former House Democrat and chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee sidestepped a series of basic questions about a recent state audit, water-testing results at the Quincy facility or new notification protocols put in place by lawmakers to deal with future Legionnaires’ outbreaks there.
* SJ-R…
Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, said she found the website being used for notifications hard to use, saying family members of a resident trying to find out about an outbreak has to download a long series of individual PDF letters about it.
“While I think the department is instituting the letter of the law, I don’t think the department is instituting the spirit of the law,” she said.
Chapa LaVia said she will work on making the website more user-friendly.
Concerns regarding the agency’s email communications also came up during the hearing. Kifowit said the email correspondence from the previous administration seemed lackluster and loose.
Chapa LaVia confirmed some staff members in the department don’t have state email addresses, so they are using private accounts to communicate.
How does a state employee not have a state email address?
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* Media advisory…
Announcing Build UP Illinois – Coalition for Vertical Construction in Capital Bill
WHAT
Announcement of Build UP Illinois, a coalition to advocate and promote a vertical construction program as part of a comprehensive capital bill. Build UP Illinois is a consortium of groups representing P-20 education – including k-12 school districts and both private and public colleges – the Illinois hospital system and the AFL-CIO and affiliated building trades.
WHO
State Senator Andy Manar – Senate Appropriations II Chairman
Representative Jay Hoffman – Assistant Majority Leader
Michael Carrigan – President – Illinois AFL-CIO
Dr. Larry Dietz – President – Illinois State University
AJ Wilhelmi – President & CEO – Illinois Hospital Association
Dr. David Sam – President – Elgin Community College
Other Coalition Members
WHEN
Wednesday, May 1 at 9:00 AM
WHERE
Blue Room, Illinois State Capitol
Springfield, IL
It’s starting to come together.
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* The Hill…
Republican Ted Gradel, who is challenging freshman Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) for the Illinois House seat she flipped last year, has raised more than $150,000 in the six days since he announced his candidacy, his campaign said Tuesday.
The six-figure haul is the latest sign that Underwood is likely to face a tough reelection fight next year as she looks to hold on to a congressional district that flipped to Democrats in 2018 despite President Trump’s nearly 4-point win there in 2016.
Gradel, a former University of Notre Dame field goal kicker and first-time candidate for public office, announced his bid for the suburban and exurban Chicago district last week in a video narrated by former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz.
In declaring his candidacy, Gradel joined a growing field of Republicans targeting Underwood in 2020.
Among the other announced contenders are Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis, Danny Malouf and Anthony Catella.
Rep. Allen Skillicorn is also gearing up for a GOP primary bid.
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* Jacksonville Journal-Courier…
Marquis Energy has “shelved” plans for an ethanol plant in Scott County, the company announced Monday.
Citing state legislation and U.S. trade policy, the Hennepin-based company said it would let more than 800 acres in two-year land options in Scott County expire at the end of April. The plans are being canceled indefinitely, according to spokeswoman Danielle Anderson.
The company had plans to develop a $500 million ethanol plant — to be built near Bluffs, about 60 miles west of Springfield, by 2020. […]
Trade tariffs also were a factor in the decision. According to the company, tariffs have restricted international export markets for ethanol and distilled grains.
“These tariffs caused a reduction in corn value, leading to lower prices for U.S. farmers and adding to an already distressed agricultural economy,” Marquis said.
* From the company’s CEO…
“Illinois government’s anti-business and high tax policies will require us to pursue company expansions in surrounding states. [Senate] bill SB 1407 is an example of legislation that will negatively impact our company’s expansion plans — removing our company’s choice in construction contractors we hire and the agreed upon price between the two parties, reducing competition and inflating costs.”
We’ve talked about SB1407 before. It’s got employer groups up in arms, particularly the manufacturers and the Black Caucus has some reservations as well because of the bill’s strong support by the trade unions. Its passage is not assured, so making a major business decision based on a bill that hasn’t even been voted on yet in the originating chamber is a bit… odd.
* From the Illinois News Network…
Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois President Alicia Martin said Senate Bill 1407 could be a slippery slope.
“The one component that we feel is very egregious is the fact that prevailing wages will be required on private work in these refineries and then where would the overreach come next,” Martin said.
Supporters of the legislation have told lawmakers in committee that the measure is about ensuring safety at refineries, and prevailing wage jobs are the safest jobs. […]
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said if Illinois lawmakers could just get out of the way of businesses, Illinois’ economy could grow.
“If [majority Democrats] would stop doing political favors for their largest political donors I think that we could actually have an economy that thrives and we wouldn’t have to be talking about tax increases or fee increases or any of those things and we could just grow naturally,” Davidsmeyer said.
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* The Senate Democrats are being briefed today on the newly proposed graduated income tax rates.
The drafters have addressed the criticism of the “marriage penalty” by coming up with different rates for married people and single filers. The language is in Amendment 1 to SB687.
Remember that these rates only apply to income earned within the brackets. Here are the proposed rates for joint filers…
4.75% $0-10,000
4.85% $10,001-100,000
4.95% $100,001-250,000
7.75% $250,001-500,000
7.85% $500,001-1,000,000
7.99% $1,000,000+ (includes all income)
For taxpayers who do not file a joint return…
4.75% $0-10,000
4.85% $10,001-100,000
4.95% $100,001-250,000
7.75% $250,001-350,000
7.85% $350,001-750,000
7.99% $750,000+ (includes all income)
* Meanwhile, the state’s estate tax would be repealed on January 1, 2021 (Amendment 1 to SB689).
And I’m not quite sure yet what Amendment 1 to SB690 does to property taxes (it’s supposed to be a freeze of some kind), but click here and maybe some of you smart people can explain this in comments.
All three bills must move forward together, I’m told. One goes down, they all go down.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I’ve been advised to tell you that this is the Senate Democrats’ proposal. It’s not yet an agreed proposal. This is a step in the process. There’s still more negotiating to do, apparently.
*** UPDATE 2 *** House GOP spokesperson Eleni Demertzis…
We have said this since day one: A progressive tax is just a blank check for Democrats. They’ve already changed the rates from their initial proposal– without a care of the effects to middle class families and Illinois businesses. Democrats simply can’t be trusted with the ability to manipulate these rates anytime they want to spend more taxpayer dollars.
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the Senate Democrats…
Revenue:
Individual Income Tax Rates: $3.570 billion
Corporate Tax Rate: Increase from 7% to 7.99%: $350 million
Increased funding for programs/property tax relief:
Local Governments (LGDF) $100 million increase
Child Care: $130 million
Individuals receive a $100 income tax credit per child
Eligibility: Single filers ineligible if making over $80,000. Married filing jointly ineligible if making over $100,000
Property Tax Relief: $365 million
· School district tax freeze: $265 million. (SB690) If the state funds special education, transportation, free and reduced meal programs and other mandated categorical programs AND funds the Evidence Based Funding formula at a minimum increase of $350 million, then the local property tax rates for school districts are frozen for that year. It remains frozen so long as the state continues to meet those funding levels.
Illinois State Board of Education will certify funding levels, and if the levels aren’t met, districts can adjust rates as allowed under current law.
· Property tax credit: $100 million. (Contained in SB 687)Increases income tax credit for property taxes to 6 percent from 5 percent.
Total Estimated New Revenue (minus additional funding/property tax relief): $3.325 billion
SB 689 Repeal Death/Estate Tax
What it does:
Repeals what’s often referred to as the “death tax” in Illinois, the tax on the value of an estate that someone inherits. Of note, the agriculture community has been particularly critical of this tax. This provision is linked to voters approving the Fair Tax (SJRCA1).
Details:
SB 689 repeals the Illinois Estate and Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Act. It eliminates the Illinois Estate Tax on estates of persons dying on or after July 1, 2021, or for transfers made on or after July 1, 2021, only if Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 1 of the 101st General Assembly is approved by voters prior to that date.
Background:
Currently, the exclusion amount in Illinois is $4.0 million for persons dying on or after January 1, 2013. At the federal level, the exclusion amount is currently $22.4 million for deaths occurring between 2018 and 2025 for married couples aggregating their exemptions and $11.2 million for all other taxpayers.
If the amount of the estate exceeds ($4 million state, $22.4 million federal) either of these amounts for those affected taxpayers, it is subject to a 40% estate tax at the time of death. SB 689, as amended, eliminates the state tax imposed under this Act.
SB 690 Property Tax Relief
What it does:
As long as the state lives up to its responsibilities to fund school districts’ breakfast and lunch programs, student busing costs, etc., AND continue to invest an additional $350 million annually in overall school funding, then school districts tax rates are frozen. This provision is contingent on voters approving the Fair Tax (SJRCA1) Amendment.
This would be an annual process. The freeze would be contingent on the state meeting its obligations to fund education and thereby offset the need for local school boards to go to property taxpayers.
Note: All components would be effective Jan, 1, 2021, if and only if the Fair Tax Constitutional Amendment (SJRCA1) is put on the ballot by lawmakers and then approved by voters.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) just asked if the governor supports this specific rate structure. Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) who chairs the Revenue Committee, did not give a direct response, mentioning negotiations and saying the governor is supportive of the general principles of a graduated income tax.
*** UPDATE 5 *** No surprise here, but the Senate Executive Committee passed the rates bill and the estate tax bill. No debate yet on the property tax bill.
*** UPDATE 6 *** From the governor’s press office…
From day one, Governor Pritzker has made clear that he prioritizes negotiations with the General Assembly on the fair income tax. Today represents another important step in the negotiations, and we look forward to continuing those conversations with stakeholders in the House as well. Governor Pritzker’s focus on making our system more fair means that 97 percent of Illinois taxpayers will pay the same or less in income taxes, while only those making more than $250,000 will pay more.
*** UPDATE 7 *** The property tax freeze component just passed Senate Exec on a partisan roll call.
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* I told subscribers about this poll earlier today…
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) today released the State of Education report, a first of its kind, bipartisan poll asking Illinoisans about all aspects of public schools. The results show most of those polled give Illinois schools (not teachers) a poor grade, think the state should be spending more money on students and believe teachers are undervalued, underpaid and should have a voice in what happens in schools.
“The State of Education report tells us what Illinoisans believe our students deserve when it comes to public education,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said. “The people have spoken, and I hope are lawmakers are listening. We are in the middle of a teacher shortage, and this poll shows us exactly why. We need to improve, enhance and address the inadequacies of our schools now so we can continue to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality, equitable public education.”
The data show that on the whole, Illinoisans believe fixing our schools should be a top priority, although there was no clear consensus on how to fix them. However, we do know Illinoisans overwhelmingly believe teachers’ and parents’ perspective are the most important when it comes to determining how schools are run.
“We know everything that happens inside a classroom is governed by decisions made outside of it,” Griffin said. “From the school board to the Statehouse to Congress and the White House, elected officials are determining what our students are learning, how they’re learning it and what resources are available. We need to start listening to those who are on the front lines with our students. Our parents, our teachers and our support staff should have a louder voice when it comes to decisions that impact our children’s futures.”
When asked if funding for schools should increase, 71 percent of those surveyed said yes. Those polled were then told student spending in Illinois is $13,000 per student per year, and nearly two thirds of those surveyed still thought that funding should increase. When it comes to teachers’ pay, those polled were six times more likely to believe teachers were underpaid versus paid too much or just right. A whopping 75 percent of those surveyed believe teachers should keep their full pension.
“We need career sustainability for our teachers — proper salary to start and one that fairly compensates our teachers throughout the life of their careers. Our students deserve the best and brightest facilitating instruction in our classrooms, and we need to do a better job of attracting and retaining high-quality teacher candidates,” Griffin said. “We’re in the midst of a teacher shortage, and this poll proves that Illinoisans understand that pay and benefits are important to address this crisis.”
The poll, conducted by Normington Petts and We Ask America, surveyed 1,000 Illinoisans between March 14 and March 27. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent with 95 percent confidence.
“These data points are unique because, as far as we can tell, no one has done this before in Illinois,” Jill Normington of Normington Petts said. “It makes sense, as well, to ask the people that public education serves what they expect from their schools.”
“By creating a bipartisan process, the IEA has produced an unbiased look at views around public education in Illinois and we were proud to be a part of it,” Mike Zolnierowicz of We Ask America said.
* The IEA asked me not to link to the crosstabs, but I went through them and something stood out for me in the responses to this question…
Priority for proposals to change IL Schools - Spending more money on technology to help long distance learning in rural schools in Illinois?
Respondents were asked to assign a number between 0 and 10 to the priority level, with 10 being the most urgent.
According to the poll, 71 percent of Chicagoans gave the issue a top priority of between 8 and 10. Just 56 percent of Downstaters in the northern half of Illinois gave it an 8-10 and only 51 percent of Southern Illinoisans assigned the issue the same priority.
* The moral of this story is that while some Downstaters like to complain that Chicagoans don’t care about them, Chicagoans in this poll were far more likely to support spending their own tax dollars to help rural schools than were Downstaters.
Now, maybe Downstaters don’t like the idea of distant learning. I have no idea. I’m just saying…
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* Ana Espinosa…
A man’s girlfriend has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 8-year-old daughter earlier this year.
Cynthia Marie Baker (a.k.a. Cynthia Marie Clay), 41, was indicted by a McLean County Grand Jury on Wednesday for three counts of murder, one count of aggravated battery of a child and one count of aggravated domestic battery. […]
According to the indictment, Cynthia allegedly kicked the 8-year-old in the abdomen which resulted in peritonitis due to intestinal perforation from blunt force trauma. […]
Rica’s mother Antionetta Simmons, said she warned DCFS this would happen. She spoke with NewsChannel 20’s reporter Ana Espinosa on the case.
“I begged DCFS in January and I told them I didn’t care where Rica went, but somebody needs to go check on my daughter because they were going to kill her,” Simmons said. “I’m just so hurt that she’s not here. She didn’t even have a chance.”
* From the indictment…
A SEARCH WARRANT WAS EXECUTED ON THE ICLOUD BELONGING TO THE DEFENDANT’S PHONE WHICH REVEALED THE FOLLOWING IN VIDEO FORMAT WHILE R.R. WAS LIVING WITH THE DEFENDANT AT AN APARTMENT LOCATED AT 208 VALLEY VIEW CIRCLE IN BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS: MAY 26, 2018 - THE DEFENDANT SLAPPED R.R. WHILE R.R. IS STANDING BEHIND A RECLINER ATTEMPTING TO AVOID GOING INTO THE DEFENDANT’S ROOM FOR A PUNISHMENT. THE DEFENDANT SLAPS R.R. AS R.R. IS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE DEFENDANT IN ORDER TO AVOID GOING INTO THE DEFENDANT’S ROOM. AUGUST 23, 2018 - THE VIDEO DEPICTS THE DEFENDANT DRAGGING R.R. INTO THE BEDROOM BY HER NECK AS SHE YELLS AT R.R. TO STAND IN HER BEDROOM NAKED HOLDING CANS OUT TO HER SIDE DRIPPING WET AND SHIVERING. LATER R.R. IS STANDING NAKED IN THE DEFENDANT’S BEDROOM HOLDING CANS WHEN THE DEFENDANT COMES BACK INTO THE ROOM AND HITS R.R. ON THE BARE BUTTOCKS SAYING, “MAYBE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH.” SHE THEN ASKS R.R. “WHERE ARE THE CANS SUPPOSED TO BE?” THEN THE DEFENDANT HAS R.R. SHOW HER WITHOUT HOLDING THE CANS. AS R.R. IS DOING SO, THE DEFENDANT SAYS “COLD, AREN’T YA?” AS R.R. IS SHIVERING. LATER, THE DEFENDANT RE-ENTERS THE ROOM AND YELLS AT R.R. FOR NOT KEEPING HER ARMS STRAIGHT OUT. THE DEFENDANT HITS BOTH SIDES OF R.R.’S EARS/FACE ASKING, “DO I NEED A COLLAR FOR YOU?” THEN SHE PUTS HER HANDS AROUND R.R.’S NECK. WHEN R.R. CRIES, “NO” THE DEFENDANT FORCEFULLY PUTS R.R.’S ARMS BACK IN THE STRAIGHT POSITION TO CONTINUE HOLDING THE CANS. THIS GOES ON FOR OVER 23 MINUTES. SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
A VIDEO DEPICTS R.R. HOLDING THE CANS OUT TO HER SIDE IN THE CORNER WHEN THE DEFENDANT COMES UP BEHIND HER ON AND KNEES HER IN THE LOWER RIGHT BACK WITH THE DEFENDANT’S RIGHT KNEE SAYING, “THIS IS STRAIGHT” AS THE DEFENDANT STRAIGHTENS R.R.’S ARMS OUT. FURTHER INTO THE VIDEO, THE DEFENDANT COMES UP BEHIND HER AGAIN AND KNEES HER IN THE LOWER RIGHT BACK WITH THE DEFENDANT’S RIGHT KNEE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. ON THE FOURTH KNEE TO THE BACK, R.R. SCREAMS LIKE SHE IS IN PAIN. LATER IN THE VIDEO, THE DEFENDANT TAKES R.R.’S HEAD WITH BOTH OF HER HANDS AND BANGS IT OFF THE WALL.
I cannot come up with adequate language to describe how that makes me feel.
* DCFS’ sterile statement…
DCFS is deeply saddened by the loss of Rica Rountree. DCFS’ involvement with Rica began in 2014 while she was living with her biological mother and continued after she was removed from her mother’s home and placed with her biological father. During her time with her father, DCFS conducted multiple investigations into allegations of abuse and found these allegations to be unfounded. There is currently a pending investigation into this death and we are committed to understanding exactly what happened in this case and being fully transparent with the public. DCFS is working closely with the new administration to review our practices, policies, and procedures in order to fully live up to our mission to protect vulnerable children in Illinois.
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* I’m not sure that LaHood’s testimony convinced a single legislator to vote for doubling the Motor Fuel Tax, or that Barack Obama’s Secretary of Transportation cooled out any Republicans, but whatevs, he was in town so that’s news…
Former Republican congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday that Illinois lawmakers need to hike the state’s motor fuel tax, but they’ll also need to convince some residents that they will spend the new revenue wisely. […]
“Illinois is one big pothole right now,” he said. “If the General Assembly raised the gas tax and fixed up the roads and bridges, people would be very happy.”
While the state needs to raise the gas tax, LaHood said he worried that lawmakers would have to convince Illinois residents who already shoulder one of the nation’s highest motor fuel taxes to trust them with spending the new revenue responsibly.
“The money has to be spent on roads and bridges. You can’t defer this money to pay for state police salaries or to pay for other things related to road safety or whatever,” he said.
* Also, lemme know when Quincy Republicans Rep. Randy Frese and Sen. Jil Tracy are ready to double the MFT…
LaHood and Tom Oakley, a former newspaper publisher in Quincy, told the committee they would help lobby for an infrastructure bill when the legislature heads back to Springfield for the final legislative push Tuesday.
“What you have today, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, are two Republicans from downstate Illinois who are promoting to fix up our infrastructure and raise the gas tax to do it,” LaHood said.
LaHood’s testimony was followed by eight panels of speakers requesting added infrastructure spending that would benefit their varying organizations, businesses, agencies and boards. Those representatives were from transportation agencies, port authorities, higher education institutions, environmental organizations, pedestrian and bicycling advocates and other groups.
Mary Sue Barrett of the Metropolitan Planning Council — an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on regional growth — said those debating infrastructure spending often ask the wrong questions.
“First, we have to ask what’s the cost of inaction,” she said.
But, hey, so far it’s the only funding plan on the table and it’s strongly backed by Local 150 and has the support of the Illinois Chamber (albeit coupled with the phase-out of the sales tax on fuel). Even Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady wants to use MFT money. So, who the heck knows what will happen?
It would be helpful if the governor picked a lane, however.
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Cannabis legalization details emerge
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times on the cannabis legalization bill…
Under the legislation, which is being backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, misdemeanor pot convictions would be expunged, people with cannabis convictions would be allowed to work in the industry and diversity hiring goals would be set for firms in the industry.
Additionally, [sponsoring Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago] said, the legislation would provide support for minority-owned businesses by offering technical assistance, as well as access to capital, loans and relief from fees that have posed a barrier to entry for smaller businesses. To further crack that barrier, the measure would also create new cannabis licensing categories for “craft” grow operations and companies that process and transport the drug.
“I’ve said for a long time that other states that have tried this have tended to try with a solution, but that presumes there’s a singular barrier to minority engagement in the industry,” Cassidy said. “And that’s simply not the case. These conversations have been about the best way to set up sort of a buffet of responses to the array of problems.” […]
“The proposal that I’ve seen has some really good language in it and now it’s just the part of fine-tuning and making sure that advocates remain in support and removing as much opposition as you can,” said [Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, the chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus], who couldn’t say whether any members of the black caucus are opposed to the legalization plan.
* Politico…
Concerns center on ensuring that minority business owners have a stake in the industry and making sure new money generated is channeled to communities that have historically suffered from the impact of drug abuse. Another flashpoint in the process is potentially expunging criminal records for offenders found guilty of possessing or selling marijuana prior to legalization. These are largely the same issues that tanked New Jersey’s plan last month to approve recreational marijuana, and that New York lawmakers are still debating. […]
The Black Caucus is in regular discussions with the governor’s office and lawmakers carrying the measure. “We’d like to create model legislation for the nation,” [Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago] said. “We want the strongest social equity program in the country and to be the most progressive on criminal justice reform issues.”
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy tells POLITICO that the concerns of the Black Caucus “have been part of our discussion from day one.” The Chicago Democrat is pressing legalization in the Assembly while state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) pushes for it in other chamber. Cassidy says that nationwide, the recreational marijuana industry is only 4 percent minority-held. “No state has gotten this right so far. We want to get it right.”
* Jaclyn Driscoll…
As political negotiations on recreational marijuana continue, one prominent group, has not yet taken a stance: the Legislative Black Caucus. These are the African-American lawmakers in the Illinois House and Senate.
They are involved in the talks, though, according to state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, a Peoria Democrat and leader in the caucus.
“Any adult-use bill has to have specific consideration as it relates to restoring some of the harm that was done during the war on drugs to communities of color,” she said. “There should be ownership of people of color in this space.” […]
“We don’t want an adult-use program to look like the medical program which essentially is completely and wholly owned by rich people and none of them are people of color,” Gordon-Booth said.
True.
* More from Driscoll…
Reporter: I understand this is a massive piece of legislation, but if there was one goal in passing recreational cannabis, what is it?
Cassidy: I’ve said this before. I want to pass the gold standard for cannabis legislation that the rest of the country can follow. That means a model that taxes at a level that allows the industry to grow, that allows patients and users access in a way that gets them into the legal markets, that creates an industry and allows an industry to grow that looks like the state of Illinois, that looks like communties we come from.
Lots more in that interview, including home-grow info, so click here.
* Can it pass?…
“This is a nearly 300 page pieces of legislation,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who has been working on the issue for more than two years. “We want to make sure we’ve dotted all of the “I’s” and crossed all of the “t’s”.
There are potential hang-ups as the bill works its way through the legislature. Rep. Martin Moylan, D-Des Plaines, is sponsoring a resolution co-signed by 59 other House members of both parties to slow down the process of legalization. Cassidy scoffs at the need to slow down the process.
“This has been the most deliberative process I’ve seen on anything this big,” Cassidy said. “Sen. (Heather) Steans and I have been working on this for over two years. Dozens of town halls, multiple public hearings, hundreds of stakeholder meetings. There’s nothing rushed about this.” […]
“I think in the House, (legalization) is going to garner serious opposition,” [Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield] said. “I think it is going to be very difficult to get 60 votes in the House right now.”
* Leader Harris disagrees…
House Majority Leader Gregory Harris of Chicago said he thinks a legalization bill has enough support to pass.
“I’m told it does. I’m not counting votes on it, understanding this is a topic where there can be strong opinions on both sides,” he said. “I think members are going to be very carefully taking the temperature of their district. But if you look around the country, this is where the trend is going.”
* And Rep. Moylan’s blatant insult of his colleagues isn’t doing his cause any good…
“The proponents are trying to pull a con game on the state of Illinois,” [Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines] said Thursday. “I have almost more than 60 people who’ve signed on is because nobody else’s talking about what the harmful effects are.” Moylan said he’s been talking to nurses and law enforcement officials “on the ground” in states that have legalized recreational use to help gather information.
* Related…
* Analysis: How legal recreational marijuana works in other states
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What Is The Credit Union Difference?
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
It’s simple. Credit unions are member-owned, so any earnings are simply returned in the form of lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits and lower fees. Credit unions create a fair financial alternative for the taxpayers of Illinois. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that don’t focus on increasing revenue or paying dividends to outside stockholders. Illinois credit unions are focused on the member-owners we serve. Visit www.YourMoneyFurther.com to learn more about the benefits of credit union membership.
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* As I told subscribers earlier today, this letter was sent to several legislators. The Illinois State Police has been notified…
The above letter was postmarked in Champaign.
And people wonder why I’ve been urging a calming of the rhetoric on this topic for years.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Oy…
*** UPDATE 2 *** The IEA got one too The IEA president was only reacting to news of the letter. It didn’t receive one that we know about. The IEA did, indeed, receive one of those letters…
Kathi Griffin, president of the state’s largest teachers’ union, says she’s more concerned getting mental health services for the letter-writer than she is about her own safety.
“People who are well do not make threats like this. And I am hoping that nothing happens to anyone, and I’m hoping that we find whoever this person is, and I hope that we’re able to help them,” she says. “I feel confident that our police will find who is behind this, and I feel confident that this is someone who is acting solo, and I‘m going to be just fine.”
Earlier today, before learning about the letter, Griffin held a press conference to announce the results of a union-sponsored statewide survey. In an unplanned irony, the survey showed that 75 percent of Illinois residents want teachers to receive their full pension payment.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Finke…
The exact number of lawmakers who received the letter is unclear. Senate Democrats said they are aware of one member getting it. Senate Republicans said at least four members got it. Several House Republicans received it said spokesman Eleni Demertzis.
“Several of our members have received the letter, including Leader (Jim) Durkin,” she said. “We receive or are subject to numerous letters of a threatening nature. Unfortunately, it seems the rhetoric and intensity of these letter campaigns has increased in recent weeks.”
I know of two Senate Democrats who received the letter.
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Rauners put their Winnetka house on the market
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dennis Rodkin at Crain’s…
Former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana, on Monday listed a Winnetka home they’ve owned for more than two decades.
The Rauners are asking just under $3 million for the eight-bedroom, 6,800-square-foot house on Rosewood Avenue. They bought the half-acre site for $830,000 in May 1995, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. They finished construction of the house the following year, the listing from Jena Radnay of @properties indicates. […]
The Nantucket-style house has wood shingles, multiple high roof peaks and a white-pillared front porch. It was “designed to have total privacy while maximizing natural light throughout,” according to Radnay’s listing. Finishes inside include “finely crafted millwork, soaring ceilings and custom glass display cabinets,” it says. […]
The Rauners also have two downtown Chicago condominiums, both in a building on Randolph Street near Millennium Park. They have a 41st-floor unit that they bought for almost $1.23 million in 2008 and a 61st-floor penthouse that they bought the same year for a little more than $4 million, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Neither of these units was listed for sale as of Monday night.
* Tribune…
The Rauners built the Winnetka mansion in 1996 on land that they had bought the previous year for $830,000. It has six baths, four fireplaces, millwork, high ceilings, a living room with a library, a dining room with a butler’s pantry, a great room, a kitchen with a breakfast room, a roof deck, a master suite with a spa bath and a lower level with a rec room.
The house sits on a 0.51-acre property in a neighborhood just west of Green Bay Road. […]
The Rauners also own numerous other homes around the U.S., including a penthouse co-operative unit at 50 Central Park West in New York City, which they purchased in 2005 for $10 million, and a four-bedroom, 5,370-square-foot mansion on Card Sound in Key Largo, Fla., which they purchased in 2003 for $5.6 million.
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Caption contest!
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor is holding a press conference today about hemp cultivation…
…Adding… Apparently, people are wearing these shoes for cancer awareness. But we can still have a bit of fun.
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* WCIA TV…
[Senator Dale Righter, R-Mattoon] characterized the $15 minimum wage law as “economic loss” for his district and for the rest of the state. He also criticized several portions of Pritzker’s budget proposal, including a plan to legalize recreational marijuana.
Since the downstate Republican opposes nearly all of Pritzker’s budget proposals, Righter was asked if that conflict might complicate his ability to barter for capital projects in his district.
Righter says he was not in closed door negotiations about infrastructure projects in a capital spending plan, but the Senator claimed Pritzker administration staffers “have been quoted as saying, ‘You know what, if you don’t vote for some of these policies or if you don’t vote for the tax increases to fund this, then by golly, you can look forward to getting nothing in your district.’”
“I hope that’s just bluster,” Righter said. “I hope that’s just talk and it’s not actually the attitude of the administration. In the end, past administrations or elected officials who have taken that attitude, things wind up usually not working out well for them.”
I’ve never seen any quotes like that in public, nor have I heard any threats being delivered through private channels. Plus, that’s not how every other capital plan has been crafted, so I reached out to the governor’s office.
* Jordan Abudayyeh…
As the governor has said repeatedly, he is committed to passing a capital bill because our state is in dire need of better infrastructure. The governor won’t play political games with Illinois’ future, and he hopes all lawmakers come to the negotiating table in good faith to pass a statewide capital bill.
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Scheme
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Another Illinois governor has drawn the attention of the feds, according to WBEZ.
Four of the last 10 Illinois governors have gone to prison. But this probe is different, because it drives at the core of Pritzker’s policy agenda: making Illinoisans pay what he thinks is “fair.”
The governor’s family took outlandish steps to hide their wealth and lower their tax burden. This hypocrisy reveals reality: Illinois’ middle class will be tapped for future tax hikes when revenues don’t come in as expected under Pritzker’s “fair tax” plan.
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