The leaders react
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Via Jak Tichenor’s most excellent public television program, House Speaker Michael Madigan reacts to the governor’s budget address…
Madigan talked extensively about pensions, the new AFSCME contract, gaming and other stuff. It’s a must-listen.
* Republican leaders Tom Cross and Christine Radogno react, part 1…
Part 2…
* Leaders Cross and Radogno also held a press conference. BlueRoomStream.com has the video.
* I may have audio of Senate President Cullerton later in the day. Check the live blog for that link.
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First med-mar hurdle cleared with GOP votes
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yes, it’s just a committee vote - and the first committee vote in the original chamber at that. But two House Republicans voted for the medical marijuana bill in committee today.
From a press release…
A bill to allow Illinois residents to use medical marijuana in the treatment of their debilitating medical conditions moved one step closer to becoming law Wednesday when it was approved 11-4 by the House Health and Human Services Committee. It will now be considered by the full 118-member House of Representatives.
House Bill 1, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie), would allow people suffering from specific medical conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. Qualified patients would be able to obtain marijuana from one of up to 60 dispensaries, which would acquire marijuana from up to 22 cultivation centers. The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Financial & Professional Regulation would regulate the cultivation, acquisition, and distribution of marijuana.
According to the MPP, Republicans voting “Yes” were Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch). “No” votes, all GOP, were Reps. Demmer, Hatcher, Hammond and Schmitz.
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Today’s history lesson
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ted McClelland has an interesting little timeline of what our governors of the past 100 years did before getting the state’s top job…
Pat Quinn: Cook County Board of Tax Appeals, state treasurer, lieutenant governor.
Rod Blagojevich: state representative, U.S. representative
George Ryan: Kankakee County Board, state representative, House speaker. lieutenant governor, secretary of state
Jim Edgar: state representative, secretary of state
Jim Thompson: U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois
Daniel Walker: Law clerk to Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, aide to Gov. Adlai Stevenson
Richard Ogilvie: Cook County Sheriff, Cook County Board President
Samuel Shapiro: Kankakee County state’s attorney, state representative, lieutenant governor
Otto Kerner: U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois, Cook County Circuit Court judge
William Stratton: U.S. representative, state treasurer
Adlai Stevenson: assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, U.S. delegate to the United Nations
Dwight H. Green: U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois
John H. Stelle: state treasurer, lieutenant governor
Henry Horner: probate judge
Louis L. Emmerson: secretary of state
Len Small: state senator, state treasurer
Frank Lowden: U.S. representative
Edward F. Dunne: mayor of Chicago
Thoughts?
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Other states
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m often asked if other states have websites like this one. Well, kinda. There are some good state blogs out there and the Washington Post has compiled a list of the best sites. Go check it out and report back.
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* From an op-ed written by US Sen. Mark Kirk…
I welcome the State Legislature’s move to begin this necessary debate by proposing tough [pension] reforms - now is the time to act before other government programs lay claim to scarce tax dollars. To reinforce the message that local programs need local funding, I will soon reintroduce the No States Bailouts Resolution in the U.S. Senate.
This legislation affirms that States, as sovereign entities, are responsible for their own debts and retain control over their spending and taxation. The resolution, citing the historic example from the 1842 financial crisis, declares that historic precedent opposes a bailout of the states and that the Federal Government should “take no action to redeem, assume, or guarantee State debt.”
* This isn’t the first time Kirk has proposed the idea. From a press release in May of 2011…
In a move aimed at protecting the nation’s federal credit rating, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) announced today that he and 14 Republican Senators have introduced the No State Bailouts Resolution, S. Res. 188, which bans federal bailouts of financially struggling states like Illinois.
His previous resolution is here.
Discuss.
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What, me worry?
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’m sure everything will go smoothly with this plan. Yeah. No foreseeable problems at all…
The maximum-security women’s prison in Dwight will close by month’s end in a complex shift of inmates that involves the conversion of a men’s prison to a penitentiary for women and the transfer of hundreds of overflow inmates to other lockups around the state, according to a timeline obtained by The Associated Press Tuesday.
Gymnasiums outfitted as temporary quarters at six prisons started receiving 600 inmates last week, according to the memo prepared by the Illinois Department of Corrections. A spokeswoman confirmed the itinerary but said it could change for any number of reasons, including weather. […]
Dwight’s closure means emptying the Logan Correctional Center, located in Lincoln, of its male inmates. It will become a women’s prison and combine the populations of Dwight and Lincoln Correctional Center, which is also located in the city of Lincoln, near the Logan lockup. The other women’s prison is in Decatur.
A “swap” of 1,000 men and 1,000 women between Logan and Lincoln is scheduled for March 12, IDOC spokeswoman Stacey Solano confirmed Tuesday night.
* And it’s not just Dwight…
Inmates at six Illinois prisons will be bunking in gyms in the coming weeks as part of the state’s ongoing struggle with overcrowding.
With more than 49,000 inmates packed into space built for about 33,000 prisoners, Illinois Department of Corrections Director S.A. Godinez notified the union representing prison employees on Wednesday of the pending changes.
Prisons in Vandalia, Danville, Centralia, Canton, Vienna and Hillsboro are affected.
* Related…
* Gym housing of inmates creates additional safety concerns
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HGOP refuseniks
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House voted on some gun control amendments yesterday…
In a series of test votes Tuesday, the Illinois House advanced legislation that would ban semi-automatic “assault” weapons in the state but did not provide enough support to pass the bill as law.
The series of legislative measures would ban popular “assault” rifles like the AR-15 and the AK-47 along with certain types of weapon attachments and large-capacity ammunition magazines.
The measure sparked heated dialogue between Chicago gun-control advocates seeking a solution to an unprecedented murder-rate in their city and Downstate pro-gun members looking to protect what they view as a constitutional right.
“What we have here today is just a full out attempt to ban every gun in this state,” said Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg), who sponsors concealed carry legislation backed by the National Rifle Association. “More than anything, we’re really going after the law-abiding gun-owner and going after the sportsman.
* The full House didn’t actually vote on the amendments. The House Republicans refused to cast any votes…
GOP Rep. Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst said Madigan’s procedure puts politics before public safety.
“Why do we continue to play these games of going amendment by amendment?” Reboletti said.
Republicans have strongly opposed Madigan’s new floor-debate style. He has also used his “weekly order of business” process to discuss concealed carry and pension proposals, and Republicans also refused to vote on pension amendments Thursday.
Halfway through Tuesday’s debate, someone on the Republican sided shouted, “Stop the circus!”
I can see why the HGOPs refused to vote on Madigan’s top-down, cartoonish pension amendments last week. It was a charade. But, as I told subscribers today, yesterday’s floor amendments, while very controversial, were legitimate proposals from rank-and-file members.
Reboletti asked: “Why do we continue to play these games of going amendment by amendment?” Well, that’s how bills are usually amended, dude. One by one.
Yes, the process is different here because the committee process is cut out, but the committee process is usually rigged anyway. And I’d much rather see an open rule in these special orders of business which allows everybody to offer up whatever they want, but, again, yesterday’s amendments were legit.
Participate or go home.
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True dat
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The SJ-R’s editorial today notes that the importance of Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address today will pale in comparison to another speech it hopes one day to hear…
That’s because the most important institution when crafting the budget is the legislature. And the most important legislator when it comes to crafting this budget and budgets in the decades to come is House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, D-Chicago.
Madigan’s role is more outsized this year than usual because he is the only member of the “five tops” (Statehouse nomenclature for the governor and the four legislative leaders) who has not made his position on pension restructuring known. […]
Yes, in the bizarre interpersonal relations Madigan maintains with his counterparts, even they don’t really know what he’s thinking or wants to do. […]
Better yet, Madigan could lead. He finally could say what he’s for and use his vaunted political skills to pass it. Everyone knows Madigan’s No. 1 priority — forever and always — is to keep the Democrats in the majority in the Illinois House so he can remain speaker. But what’s the point if you don’t try to solve the state’s biggest problem? Is being in Springfield during the winter and chowing down at Saputo’s really that much fun?
Yes, Gov. Pat Quinn will give a speech today. But the most important speech is the one Madigan has yet to give.
Not always, but usually Madigan tends to lead from behind. He makes sure not to take positions that his caucus won’t agree to. And that can be supremely frustrating with a difficult issue like pension reform. He refuses to tip his hand because he has yet to figure out where his members actually stand. So, we’re stuck with this game for several more months.
* Related…
* More pension proposals create less consensus
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Walsh inks talk radio deal
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Talk radio thrives during the day. Not so much in the evenings, when people are home and are watching TV or surfing the Internet. Just three of the top 16 talk radio programs air in the evening. So, a 7-9 pm time slot ain’t exactly ideal…
If Joe Walsh doesn’t become the next Rush Limbaugh, at least he’ll have fun trying.
Either way, the former congressman and tea party firebrand is about to embark on a new radio career that could lead to national syndication or to another bid for elective office. Even he’s not sure which.
As first tipped here in January, Walsh has agreed to sign on as a Monday-through-Friday talk show host on WIND-AM (560), the Salem Communications conservative news/talk station. If all goes as planned, his show will air from 7 to 9pm, starting March 18. […]
In the latest Arbitron survey, WIND ranks 34th in the market with a 0.6 percent share of listeners and a cumulative weekly audience of 178,400. The station, which recently rebranded itself “AM 560 The Answer,” has only two local shows on its weekday lineup — John Howell and Amy Jacobson in mornings and Cochran in late afternoons. Walsh’s will be the third. To accommodate the addition, WIND is expected to move syndicated host Hugh Hewitt to 9pm, with the rest of the nighttime lineup shifting two hours later.
Suggestions for the name of Walsh’s new show?
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Budget preview
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The BlueRoomStream.com video of the budget briefing for reporters last night by Gov. Pat Quinn’s chief of staff, budget director and chief flak is here. Make sure to keep a close eye on our live session post today for constant updates on this and other topics.
* The SJ-R has some info about how the new AFSCME contract impacts the budget…
While pension pressures continue and some programs face cuts, Quinn is expected to tout an estimated $900 million savings over three years in state employee health care costs, which the administration said will result from the tentative contract recently negotiated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The contract calls for higher insurance payments by active workers and also for retirees to begin paying premiums for their state-subsidized health insurance.
However, the administration will need $140 million this year to pay for back wage increases that must be paid under the contract and $72 million to pay for cost-of-living adjustments and step increases next year.
The state also expects to save about $10 million through a new provision allowing newly hired workers to be paid less than the current starting wage for their jobs.
* Meanwhile, serious conflict is coming with the House. Gov. Quinn’s budget calls for $35.6 billion in General Funds spending. That’s a half a billion dollars more than the House’s official revenue estimates…
Just a day before Gov. Pat Quinn is scheduled to deliver his budget speech, the Illinois House adopted its own estimate of state revenues and warned the governor not to exceed it.
On Tuesday, the House adopted resolutions saying they believe the state will collect just over $35 billion in revenue next year from state taxes and federal aid.
That’s the amount the House will use to craft its own spending plan over the coming weeks. Rep David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, the ranking Republican on the House Revenue Committee, said the House budget will not spend more than that amount.
“If the governor walks into this chamber (Wednesday) and proposes to spend more than $35 billion, then he puts himself at odds immediately with this chamber,” Harris said.
* The Tribune looks at increases…
Quinn budget chief Jerry Stermer said the governor wants to add more state police and prison guards to replace a growing number of retirees and to hold down overtime costs.
Spending on social services also would increase from $4.6 billion in the current budget to $5.3 billion in the new budget. Stermer said the extra money would be aimed at “ending gimmickry” that is now “kicking the cost” into other years.
* Big cuts outlined by the Daily Herald…
Quinn today will propose cutting about $400 million for schools, including a 5 percent cut to universities. He’ll also advocate ongoing reviews of cuts into what the state pays for health care for the poor.
And he’s also eyeing possible cuts to local communities’ share of state income taxes, an idea that has drawn loud protests from suburban mayors in recent years.
Quinn isn’t calling for a specific cut to that program, but aides said it could be an item in a larger menu of similar reductions the governor wants.
Keep in mind that those and all other cuts will have to be deeper if the House sticks to its revenue estimate, which it has in the past.
* The Sun-Times has the pension impact…
The budget proposal the governor will present to state lawmakers Wednesday represents a 3-percent increase in spending over current levels but contains no tax or fee increases or sweeping new programs that might be salted within a typical election-year budget.
Instead, the growth in spending goes toward covering $6 billion in pension obligations, up from $5.1 billion this year. Next year’s pension tab amounts to 19 percent of all state spending compared to just 6 percent of the state’s spending pie six years ago.
In fact, while the Quinn administration forecasts $817 million in new revenues coming into state coffers during the budget year beginning July 1, all of that money and more — $929 million — will go toward paying for added pension costs.
“This budget is a direct result of the inaction on stabilizing pensions,” said Jack Lavin, Quinn’s chief of staff.
* News-Gazette on the bill backlog…
The budget also calls for continued progress on the effort to reduce the state’s backlog of unpaid bills, now estimated at around $9 billion.
By the end of 2013, the backlog will be down to $7.5 billion, the budget outline says, and will be reduced to $6.8 billion by June 30, 2014.
* Lee Enterprises on facility closures…
Unlike a year ago when he announced the closure of dozens of state facilities, Gov. Pat Quinn has no plans to add to the list of shuttered properties when he unveils his fifth budget proposal Wednesday.
Although the Chicago Democrat still plans on moving forward with two closures left over from 2012 budget speech — the Dwight Correctional Center and the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia —aides say there will be no repeat of the controversy he stirred last year with the closure of facilities in Tamms, Murphysboro, Carbondale and elsewhere.
* And despite claims that there would be no tax hikes proposed, Sneed says there is one such item on the agenda…
Sneed has learned Quinn, who will release his state budget Wednesday, plans to roll out a proposal that may give major corporations doing business in the state agita — but could pay the state’s debt more quickly.
◆ Translation: Quinn wants to temporarily suspend a $100 million tax loophole enabling major corporations that produce good outside the state to shield a portion of their income from taxation under the Illinois tax code.
◆ The loophole lop: “The governor feels this is no time for ineffective loopholes, when the state has bills to pay,” said a Sneed source. “The suspension would only be temporary, but it will enable the governor, who inherited billions of dollars in unpaid bills from decades of fiscal mismanagement — compounded by the worst recession — to pay down the debt faster,” the source added.
* Some individual videos of last night’s presentation…
* Quinn admin on tax hike: Brooke Anderson with Gov Pat Quinn’s office answers around a question about how the governor will be able to allow Illinois’ 67% income tax increase expire in 2015, given the current budget constraints on the state.
* Lavin on IL AFSCME Contract 1: IL Gov. Pat Quinn;s Chief of Staff, Jack Lavin, briefs reporters on the details of the new contact with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees
* Lavin on IL AFSCME Contract 2: Jack Lavin with the Quinn administration answers more questions on the contract for IL AFSCME workers, including details about back pay, step increases, and how the contract will break down in the next IL budgets.
* Quinn admin on IL budget transfers: Jack Lavin, Brooke Anderson, and Jerry Stermertry to explain the Quinn administration’s view on taking money that would be transfered out of the state budget, and spending it on schools or pensions. The biggest transfer from the state budget is money collected by the state for local governments. Stermer would not say how much the Quinn budget expects to take from transfers. At about the 3:30 mark, reporters get frustrated with the lack of clarity from Stermer
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Playing it safe by playing it conservative
Wednesday, Mar 6, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A state Senator sent along a link to a new study with this note (redacted to conceal the legislator’s identity)…
It’s about a study of state legislators from throughout the country and finds that as a group, we tend to think our constituents are more conservative than they really are.
I can relate. Calls and emails to my office ran overwhelmingly against same sex marriage, but an actual poll of the district found plenty of support for SSM, (50-39 in favor in [one] side of my nest and 49-37 in favor on [the other] side.)
* From the Washington Post’s WonkBlog…
Last year, a group of political scientists took a random sample of state legislators and asked them a slew of questions, most of which boiled down to: “What do your constituents think about policy?” Do they support gay marriage? Do they support Obamacare? Do they support action to combat global warming?
Friend-of-the-blog David Broockman and Christopher Skovron, graduate students at Berkeley and Michigan, respectively, have released a working paper based on that research and the findings are rather astonishing.
Broockman and Skovron find that legislators consistently believe their constituents are more conservative than they actually are. This includes Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives. But conservative legislators generally overestimate the conservatism of their constituents by 20 points. “This difference is so large that nearly half of conservative politicians appear to believe that they represent a district that is more conservative on these issues than is the most conservative district in the entire country,” Broockman and Skovron write. This finding held up across a range of issues. Here, for example, are their findings for health care and same-sex marriage:
The graph for same sex marriage…
Back to the WonkBlog…
Is it just that legislators don’t talk to their constituents? Nope. Broockman and Skovron tried and failed to find any relationship between the amount of time legislators spend in their districts, going to community events, and so forth, and the accuracy of their reads on their districts. And this bias afflicts not just their view of their constituents, but their positions generally. […]
The research here is young and, as a general rule, reading too much into a single working paper is foolhardy. It’d be good, for one thing, to perform district-level surveys to confirm these findings. But the data holds against a battery of robustness checks the authors threw at it. The finding on conservative legislators in particular is so large that it’s hard to imagine any subsequent research would completely overturn it. But if the findings hold, they suggest both that epistemic closure on the right is real and affects state-level policymaking, and that there is a systematic bias against liberal policies at the state level.
Politicians, in general, tend to play it safe, so overestimating the conservative intensity in their districts is definitely a way of doing that. This working paper could give us an explanation of that older than dirt tradition.
Go read the rest. Interesting stuff.
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A bit of history
Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Kankakee Daily Journal columnist Phil Angelo…
Whatever happens next, Kankakee County will be represented in Congress, sometime later this spring, by an African-American.
That has never happened in the 160-year history of the county.
* Not only that, but City of Kankakee Democrats nominated Jarman Myron Porter as their mayoral candidate. Porter is black - another first. [Actually, a second, as I was just informed in comments.]
* I was born in Kankakee, as were most members of my dad’s family. Here’s a pic of my dad and me in my grandma’s front yard on Tanner Avenue, near the old Roeper factory, where my dad and at least one uncle worked…
Roeper’s closed in the 80s and moved to Florida, devastating Kankakee. It was a rough time for everybody back then - 19 percent unemployment in a town that had always been bursting with jobs.
* Back in the 60s, the local bank’s big electronic sign that advertised their interest rates and local charity events used “KKK” as shorthand for Kankakee. K3 wasn’t known as the most liberal town for race relations, to put it mildly.
White flight plagued the city of Kankakee for decades. Whites flooded into nearby bedroom communities in Kankakee County (or out of state when the jobs dried up in the early 1980s) when the schools were desegregated, and I heard lots of stories about street fights and protests during those times.
I don’t think I have a single relative who still lives in the city, but several live in the county.
* Anyway, I don’t know the real purpose of this except to say that I find Angelo’s column and Porter’s nomination fascinating, considering the history. And maybe we can convince my dad to tell a few stories in comments.
Also, I should stress here that I am not at all ashamed to be from Kankakee. Yeah, it had its problems, but what town didn’t? The challenge has always been overcoming those problems, and that’s where Kankakee hasn’t really measured up. We’ll see what the future holds.
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A couple of programming notes
Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor’s budget office will be briefing reporters tonight at 6 about tomorrow’s budget address. Keep a close eye on the live session coverage post for updates and delayed video.
In the meantime, the House is scheduled to debate some gun control bills this afternoon, so you should watch that live session coverage post for updates on that - and many other things - as well.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) has proposed a bill to help Springfield schools recover some of the lost property taxes from all the state buildings. The SJ-R likes it…
Manar’s bill would award a “tax-equivalent grant” to Springfield schools because the Capitol is here. The grant would equal 0.5 percent of the equalized assessed value of all the land owned by the state in the district.
Manar’s legislation would calculate the value of those buildings not by a traditional appraisal, but by multiplying the average value per taxable acre of the district by the total number of acres owned by the state.
“The bill would simply account for some of the revenue loss on a local level for the Springfield public school system in the general state aid formula,” Manar told reporters on Monday.
It’s not unprecedented, either. In Will County, the Stateville Correctional Center occupies a large amount of property, and the State Board of Education awards a similar grant to the school district there, Manar said. […]
If Manar’s legislation passes, it won’t be a windfall for Springfield schools, he said. Although Manar did not have a firm estimate, the grant would be under $1 million.
The bill is here.
* The Question: Should this bill be approved? Explain your answer in comments, please.
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* State Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) held a town hall meeting yesterday at the behest of gay marriage proponents. Lots of protesters showed up…
Emotions ran high during a townhall meeting Monday on a same-sex marriage bill now before the Illinois House.
Sponsored by state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, the meeting drew an estimated crowd of 150 people who crammed into a small room for a Q-and-A at the North Chicago Public Library. Many of those present arrived aboard a church bus that declared in big painted letters on its side: “Say no to same-sex marriage.”
* By looking at the coverage, it appears that Mayfield tried to maintain an evenhanded approach yesterday. She also announced this…
Mayfield said she received more than 200 calls opposing the measure after an ad, purchased by Illinois Unites for Marriage, and urging Mayfield to vote yes on SB10, appeared March 1 in the Lake County News-Sun. Mayfield said that a survey of her constituents, taken last spring, showed 70 percent opposed to legalizing same-sex unions. She said she will vote with the majority opinion in her district.
“I made a pledge that I would always listen to constituents,” Mayfield said. “Yes, I am the representative of the 60th District, but I believe in the will of the people. It’s not about what Rita wants. It’s about what the district wants.”
There’s no sin in voting one’s district, even though legislators are “state” lawmakers. But basing important votes solely on district calls and legislative surveys is probably not a great idea. If she wants to know what’s really going on, she’ll hire a pollster.
*** UPDATE *** A poll of 401 registered voters was actually taken Feb. 21-24 of the district by Fako & Associates for Illinois Unites for Marriage, a proponent of legalized gay marriage. From the pollster…
Among all voters, 41% support legalizing same-sex marriage while 43% oppose it. The opposition is centered in Republicans (77% Oppose).
A majority (54%) of Democrats in the 60th District support legalizing same-sex marriage, while 29% of Democrats oppose the proposed law. Democratic women (57% Support, 26% Oppose) are solidly in favor of the proposal, while Democratic men (49% Support, 36% Oppose) lean strongly in favor of it. Democrats under age 50 (60% Support) and those age fifty and older (52% Support) are in favor of the proposed law.
Other sub-groups in favor of the law include women (45% Support, 37% Oppose), voters under age fifty (49% Support, 37% Oppose), particularly women under fifty (53% Support), Independents (49% Support, 35% Oppose), liberals (69% Support), moderate women (45% Support, 33% Oppose), and Hispanics (46% Support, 33% Oppose). All minorities are initially divided (40% Support, 42% Oppose), as are white voters (43% Support / Oppose).
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile…
Four months after ranking gay marriage as his No. 3 legislative priority in Springfield, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday turned up the heat on state lawmakers in an effort to put the bill over the top in the Illinois House.
In an email to the vast network of supporters he created during the mayoral campaign, Emanuel created a vehicle for gay marriage proponents to pressure their state representatives with the click of a mouse.
Emanuel is asking people to click here.
* And the Illinois Family Institute is asking its supporters to click here and oppose gay marriage. They’re also asking supporters to request that their churches share this flier with their congregations.
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* From RollCall…
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel named 26 of his colleagues to the Frontline program, a committee program designed to protect their most vulnerable incumbents.
“We call this program Frontline for a reason – these Members are on the vanguard of protecting and expanding the middle class,” Israel said in a written statement released Tuesday morning.
“While the 2014 campaign will be dominated by a strong offense taking on the Tea Party Republican Congress, our success begins with our Members,” added Israel, a Democrat from New York. “These battle-tested men and women have proven time and again that they can win because no one better reflects the values of their districts.”
Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. will spearhead the program as its chairman. He’s a Frontline alumni as recently as the 2012 cycle.
* The Illinois list…
Rep. Cheri Bustos, Illinois’ 17th District
Rep. Bill Enyart, Illinois’ 12th District
Rep. Brad Schneider, Illinois’ 10th District
* The NRCC sent out a response for all the Illinoisans. Here’s the e-mail release about Enyart…
: “Nancy Pelosi isn’t being shy about Bill Enyart’s dismal chance at re-election in 2014. Her early indication that Enyart has an uphill battle is a very telling sign that House Democrats are expecting a disappointing election cycle.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Katie Prill
The NRCC is also running online ads to try and drive this point home.
* From the DCCC…
“Bill Enyart, Cheri Bustos and Brad Schneider were elected in 2012 because they are committed to fighting for the middle class and ending the dysfunction and extremism in Washington. They are focused on getting results for the people of the Illinois and we will partner with them to make sure they are re-elected.”
Blah, blah, blah.
Sheesh, man. Do these guys ever step out of DC-speak?
Privately, the Dems say that this list only means that the incumbents will likely be targeted by the Republicans, the first reelection is always the toughest and point out that the GOP has a similar “Patriot” program.
* But if 2014 is at all like 2010, Obama’s first midterm, then the next off-year election will probably be challenging for these freshman Dems. Here are the Bill Brady vs. Pat Quinn 2010 results by district…
* 17th (Bustos) 51-39
* 12th (Enyart) 50-40
* 10th (Schneider) 45-46
Discuss.
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* Eric Zorn is not impressed with a proposed ban on mobile phone calls while driving without using a handsfree device. As Zorn points out, the data shows that any calling while driving is dangerous, hands-free or not…
The available research indicates that cell phone use while driving, whether it is a hands-free or hand-held device, degrades a driver’s performance. The driver is more likely to miss key visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash. Hand-held devices may be slightly worse, but hands-free devices are not risk-free…..National Highway Traffic Safety Association
Even if you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, phone conversation results in a fourfold increase in crash risk and a level of impairment comparable to drunk driving. This leads researchers to conclude that the distraction of phones stems not from holding the device with one hand, but from having a conversation with someone not present in the car….Slate
A study of Australian drivers found that those using cellphones were four times as likely to be involved in a serious crash regardless of whether they used hands-free devices like earpieces or speaker phones that have been perceived as making talking while driving safer….(It is the first study) to conclude definitively outside of a laboratory setting that holding a phone to the ear or talking through a hands-free device pose the same risks….New York Times
Discuss.
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Rauner announces “exploratory committee”
Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Today, Illinois business and civic leader Bruce Rauner officially announced that he is actively considering a run for Governor in 2014. Rauner, a Republican, filed papers with the Illinois State Board of Elections creating an exploratory campaign committee that will allow him to begin fully exploring a candidacy.
Rauner’s initial effort will not be a formal or traditional campaign. After spending several months talking with local and national leaders in business, education reform, and politics, and crisscrossing the state attending Lincoln Day Dinners and other events, Rauner is now entering a more intense period of consideration of a potential candidacy. For the next 60 days, Rauner will significantly increase his events and meetings, while looking to make a final determination on a candidacy well in advance of the March, 2014 primary election.
Rauner commented: “I was born and raised in Illinois. I’ve raised my family and grown businesses here. And I love our state. That’s why it’s so heartbreaking to see the mess we’re in. Near the bottom in the nation in unemployment and tax rates. Worst in the country in debt and credit ratings. Rampant corruption in government. Failing schools and violent crime that destroy the future of too many of our children. We need major changes in the way we tax and spend, the way we treat businesses and workers, the way we deal with our state budget and pensions, and the way we run our schools. The political class in Springfield are either unwilling to, or incapable of, making the kind of changes we need. That’s why I’m considering running for Governor.”
Rauner continued: “I have a few ideas that I’m very passionate about, but I don’t have all the answers. I want to hear what’s on Illinoisans’ minds. For the next sixty days I’m going to do something folks in Springfield don’t do – listen. I want to listen to how our citizens think we should tackle our state’s problems. That’s the first step in reclaiming our state – engaging our people, listening to ideas, and hearing about things I don’t know. In the process, I hope to figure out whether our people might be interested in a candidate for Governor who is a self-made entrepreneur rather than a politician, who has a passion for education, and a track record of getting results in business and the economy.”
* Rauner also provided a couple of statements from exploratory committee members, including this one…
Exploratory Committee Member Jack Roeser, from Carpentersville, Republican Party leader, said, “Politicians come and go without making much of a change to the status quo. Illinois needs a major economic transformation, and that’s what we’d get with Bruce Rauner. He has the backbone to stand up to the status quo powerbrokers in Springfield. Rauner doesn’t need the job, and can’t be bribed, bought, or pushed around. That’s what our state needs now.”
Interesting, considering that Rauner is not an ultra-conservative and Roeser is helping lead the charge against a like-minded state party chairman.
* Rauner’s complete exploratory committee…
Chairman: J.M. “Jim” Schultz, Effingham, IL – Founder of Open Prairie Ventures, Former Chairman Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Founder/Past President Effingham County Community Foundation, and Board Member/Past Chairman Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation.
Co-Chair: Elizabeth Christie, Chicago, IL— Founder of Avent America, angel investor in small start-ups, Board Member of the Illinois Policy Institute.
Dr. Richard Chaifetz, Lake Forest, IL – Founder, Chairman and CEO of ComPsych Corporation, the world’s largest employer of employee assistance programs serving over 53 million individuals throughout the U.S. and 120 countries, Chairman of Chaifetz Group, member of The Economic Club of Chicago, and the Executive’s Club of Chicago.
Lula Ford, Chicago, IL – Former Chicago public school teacher, principal and administrator, and public school reform activist, was also first African American appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission in its 95-year history.
Ken Griffin, Chicago, IL – Founder and CEO of Citadel, Board of Directors of the Chicago Public Education Fund, member of the World Economic Forum, G100, the Economic Club of Chicago and Commercial Club of Chicago.
Greta Huzienga, Chicago, IL – Former Chicago public high school teacher and early childhood educator, Development Advisor to the Academy for Global Citizenship.
Warren Holtsberg, Wayne, IL – MVC Capital, Board member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Center, and Illinois Ventures, the venture capital arm for the University of Illinois.
Edgar “Ned” Jannotta, Sr., Winnetka, IL – Chairman Emeritus of William Blair, past President of the Economic Club of Chicago and The Commercial Club of Chicago.
James Kenny, Glenview, IL – Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, former owner of Kenny Construction, served on transition team for former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and President George W. Bush.
Robert E. King, Burr Ridge, IL – Chairman Rasmussen, Inc., Former Chairman and CEO of Deltak, Board Member of Benedictine University, The Academy of Urban School Leadership, the African Wildlife Foundation and Northwestern Wildcat Athletics Venture Enterprise Fund and Member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Peter Mason, Hinsdale, IL – Founding member of Freeborn & Peters and Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Ed McMillan, Greenville, IL – Former President & CEO Purina Mills, University of Illinois Board of Trustees, and Chairman University of Illinois Research Park LLC.
Jack Miller, Bannockburn, IL – Founder of Quill Office Supplies and The Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History.
Charles Potter, Lake Forest, IL – President and CEO of Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, Founder and Chairman Great Outdoors, LLC and former Vice President of the North American Wildlife Foundation and Chairman of the IL Nature Preserves Commission.
Jack Roeser, Carpentersville, IL – Founder of Otto Engineering, named Hi-Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, built 500 person hi-tech manufacturing business from a $5,000 start; public school reform activist.
E. Mitchell Roob, Jr. Indianapolis, IN – Native of Northbrook, IL and former Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Indiana Economic Development Corporation CEO who led bringing 55,000 new jobs and $8.1 billion in investments to Indiana in his term.
John Rowe, Chicago, IL – Former CEO of Exelon Corporation, Chairman of Illinois Institute of Technology.
William H. Strong – Co-Chief Executive for the Asia Pacific region of Morgan Stanley, led economic mission to Iraq in 2008 for the Department of Defense, past member of the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Illinois Finance Chairman for the Presidential campaign of Senator John McCain in 2008, and served as one of two National Co-Chairmen for the 2012 Presidential campaign of Governor Tim Pawlenty.
David Weinberg, Winnetka, IL – Chairman and CEO of Judd Enterprises.
Miles White, Lake Forest, IL – Chairman and CEO of Abbott Laboratories, Chairman of the Commercial Club of Chicago, serves as a Director for McDonalds, Caterpillar and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Lots of rich guys on that list.
Discuss.
…Adding… Notice that Lula Ford is on that list. She was Emil Jones’ person on the ICC who didn’t get reappointed by Gov. Quinn. Some history. Very interesting.
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AFSCME releases contract details
Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AFSCME Council 31 has posted its tentative contract deal online for its members. I was able to secure a copy from a member. The most interesting part I saw while scanning through the documents…
So, if there are no legislative appropriations for step increases, COLAs, etc., then the health insurance premium language will be null and void. Here are the wage hikes negotiated by AFSCME…
* The full document is here. Because of the way it was originally saved, you may have to use your “zoom” tool to read it.
If you see something interesting, make sure to make note of it in comments. Thanks.
Also, any media organizations which use the file should give credit to this website.
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*** UPDATED x13 *** Dawn Clark Netsch
Tuesday, Mar 5, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One of the “founding mothers” of Illinois’ modern constitution has passed away…
Former Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch, a longtime state senator and the first woman to win the Democratic nomination for governor, has died. She was 86.
Netsch died overnight, according to a family friend who answered the phone at Netsch’s home in Lincoln Park. Netsch had disclosed in January that she had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement. There is no known cure, and the disease can lead to near-total paralysis. The average life expectancy for patients is about three to five years from diagnosis, according to the ALS Association. […]
Netsch, an attorney, served as a delegate at the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention and was elected to the state Senate in 1972. She was elected Illinois comptroller in 1990, and she became the first woman to win a major party nomination when Democrats picked her to run for governor in 1994. Netsch was defeated in the general election by Republican Jim Edgar.
* She stomped on the terra…
She made a career of shattering a succession of glass ceilings in what was, not so long ago, a man’s world of law and politics.
She was one of the first female law professors in the United States. A liberal Democrat, she defeated the Machine-backed incumbent state Sen. Danny O’Brien to win a seat in the Illinois Senate in 1972 that she held for 18 years. Elected comptroller in 1990, she was the first woman elected to statewide office in Illinois and, four years later, the first to run with the backing of a major political party for governor, losing to incumbent Gov. Jim Edgar.
Netsch said she “never ran as a woman” but always argued, “More women are needed to make a difference in public policy.”
Wendy Cohen, her one-time chief of staff and dear friend, recalled that despite the onset of her illness, “Dawn thrived on political gossip and a bit of sherry.” And she was sending out donations to a variety of causes up until the end.
She “cared so deeply about civil rights, human rights, women’s rights,” Kerr said.
* Netsch was also a big White Sox fan…
And above all, she loved the White Sox.
We clashed more than once. Actually, pretty much all the time. But her importance to Illinois history cannot be understated. She’s one of our giants and I, for one, will miss her.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon…
”Dawn Clark Netsch was a hero of mine since the early 1980s and a friend and mentor ever since,” Simon said. “We served on the board of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform together and collaborated on reform issues for many years. She was straight forward, a straight shooter and great at explaining state issues. She was not just a public servant, but a teacher. She will be missed.”
…Adding… The Chicago History Museum did an oral history with Ms. Netsch last year. Part One is here.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Equality Illinois…
“Long before it was the politically safe thing to do, there was Dawn Clark Netsch fighting for LGBT rights and giving voice to those who would be silenced. She was never quiet when she felt her voice could make a difference. Her legacy will be our blessing. She will be sorely missed.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka…
“Illinois lost a true legend and trailblazer today with the passing of Dawn Clark Netsch. Dawn faithfully served Illinois and its residents for more than four decades, fighting for good, honest government that rises above politics. In fact, one of the highlights of my legislative career was partnering with her to co-sponsor the state’s Open Meetings Act. She continued her work as State Comptroller, establishing the office as an honest broker and credible source of information when it comes to state finances. And she continued her crusade into retirement, regularly speaking out on the need for government reform and accountability.
“Dawn always remembered that government exists to serve taxpayers, not the other way around. She was a leader who was ahead of her time and our state is better for her service. More than that, she was a consummate professional and a class act. It was my honor to call her a colleague and friend.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Attorney General Lisa Madigan…
“Dawn Clark Netsch set the standard for integrity in public service. She led by example with relentless honesty, fierce independence and a passionate belief in civil liberty for all. She blazed a trail for women and worked hard to make sure so many of us could follow her. She remained active and engaged in public policy up to the very end, and her unwavering dedication to the People of Illinois will be missed.”
*** UPDATE 5 *** U.S. Representative Mike Quigley…
“Illinois has lost a true trailblazer and political icon with the passing of Dawn Clark Netsch. Dawn leaves behind a long path paved with the shattered glass from the ceilings she broke for women in leadership, as well as a proud history of fighting for the gay community and standing up against public corruption. Dawn was a friend and professional mentor, whose fierce honesty and sharp wit I will deeply miss.”
*** UPDATE 6 *** Gov. Quinn…
“I join with everyone in Illinois to mourn the passing of a great public servant.
“Dawn Clark Netsch was a strong advocate for education and a pioneer for equal rights for all people. As the first woman elected to a statewide constitutional office in Illinois, Comptroller Netsch blazed a trail for women in public office.
“As an elected delegate to the Illinois constitutional convention in 1970, she spearheaded the movement to modernize our constitution. I witnessed firsthand her dedication to honest government when we served together as state treasurer and comptroller.
“Most importantly, Dawn was a straight shooter, and not just at playing pool. She always told the people of Illinois what they needed to know.
“Throughout her life, Dawn Clark Netsch taught us all about the right way to move forward in our democracy. We are all better off because of her purposeful life.”
*** UPDATE 7 *** Secretary of State Jesse White…
“Dawn Clark Netsch was a trailblazer for women, equality and justice,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Her legacy will live on through her incomparable career of helping others. In addition to being my friend, I had the added privilege of serving with Dawn in the General Assembly as her state representative while she served as my state senator. She will be missed, and the state of Illinois owes her a debt of gratitude.”
*** UPDATE 8 *** Senate President John J. Cullerton, who was appointed to the Senate to fill out Netsch’s term…
“Because of the success of Dawn Clark Netsch, I began my career in the Illinois Senate. Born on the same day and in the same year as my dear mother, Dawn Clark Netsch has been a mentor throughout my career. As the first woman to run for governor, she has been a motivator for an entire generation of public servants. That is her lasting legacy.
“In one of her final public appearances she received lifetime achievement award for her dedication and service for women and families in the state of Illinois. It was an honor to be among those giving Dawn the proud ovation that she had earned. She was a remarkable reformer with a tremendous career worthy of our recognition and praise.”
*** UPDATE 9 *** Sun-Times editorial…
Till the end, Netsch served on two government commissions, talked with reporters about the best ways to fix the state’s finances, and pushed for a state progressive income tax.
Dawn Clark Netsch, always humorous, whip smart and wonky, showed thousands of Illinois women the way.
*** UPDATE 10 *** House GOP Leader Tom Cross…
“Today we mourn the passing of former Illinois state senator and Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch; a trailblazer for women in state government and an honorable public servant who made substantial contributions to the people of Illinois throughout her long and distinguished career. Dawn will be remembered for her unparalleled passion, integrity and commitment to service both as a public official and a private citizen. She will be greatly missed.”
*** UPDATE 11 *** Congresswoman Cheri Bustos…
“I first met Dawn Clark Netsch when I was in college and she was still in the Illinois State Senate. She was a mentor to young women across Illinois, and I was among her many fans. I looked up to her for her candor and kindness and for speaking with boldness and always with clarity of thought and ideas.
“Dawn Clark Netsch will be sorely missed, especially by the Illinois women in public service like myself for whom she helped pave the way.”
*** UPDATE 12 *** Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno…
“I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of former senator and Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch. Her lifetime was distinguished by countless personal and professional accomplishments, but she will be most remembered for her lifelong commitment to public service and the residents of Illinois.”
*** UPDATE 13 *** Former Gov. Jim Edgar…
“Dawn Clark Netsch was one of our state’s most influential public officials, and she was likely the most influential woman in Illinois state government over the last 50 years. I had the greatest respect for Dawn. She was a brilliant and thoughtful trailblazer and an honest advocate for the best in our government.”
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Two more weekly orders of business announced
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was taking Oscar the puppy to the vet for his shots (he behaved like a real champ) and wasn’t able to post this e-mail from the House Democrats. I’ve made some spelling and punctuation corrections so it’s easier to read…
Requests have been filed for noon on Tuesday to discuss amendments to HB 1155, 1156, 1157. I expect these will be firearm safety measures dealing with assault weapons, and noon Thursday on amendments to HB 1154, 1165, 1166. These are pension measures.
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Question of the day
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon), on the House’s vote to ban hand-held mobile phone calls while driving…
“Our government needs to stop interfering with our day to day lives. What’s next, banning dogs and cats from riding in your vehicle since they can be distracting?”
I agree. Our government needs to stop banning two people of the same sex from being married and should also stop banning people from smoking a certain naturally growing weed.
That “nanny state” stuff can cut both ways, Rep. Kay.
Just sayin…
* The Question: What one state law do you consider to be the most personally intrusive? As always, explain your answer in comments, please. And no snark. Thanks.
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Jack Roeser wants Shaw to replace Brady
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald…
One of the seven Republican state central committeemen who signed a letter last week calling for a special meeting in the wake of the party chairman’s comments supporting same-sex marriage is being strongly considered for the top post.
Barrington businessman and influential Republican donor Jack Roeser told the Daily Herald Friday that he contacted party officials and suggested 10th District Committeeman Mark Shaw be named interim chair. […]
The socially conservative Roeser Friday said Brady’s “proposal about two men being in a family, it’s startling. When you look at what he did, he bolted and didn’t talk to anyone around him. He just, boom, went ahead and did it.”
But several top Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park and Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego, are backing Brady.
The bitter fight over the leadership of the Illinois Republican has been going on for almost two decades. It’s a mostly worthless argument over a mostly worthless job. Unlike the Democratic chairman, the state GOP chairman has zero actual power here. He’s a figurehead, nothing more.
So, the Democrats have to stifle a guffaw every time the GOP tears each others’ throats out over their chairman. It’s just one more example of how the party can’t get its act together.
* Carol Marin…
Please, Illinois GOP, don’t shoot yourself in the foot — again.
This state has a crying need for a formidable Republican Party. Without one, there’s no counterbalance to the unfettered power of Democratic leadership. No countervailing wind to trim the sails of Emperor of the House Mike Madigan.
But, sigh, if certain members of the Republican State Central Committee doggedly insist on proceeding with a lame-brained March 9 meeting to oust their current party chairman, Pat Brady — well — then Katy bar the door. The joke won’t just be on Illinois’ toothless GOP but on beleaguered citizens who suffer from a one-party General Assembly.
There’s nothing that the state party chairman can do about the Democratic legislative majorities now. The Republicans are in too deep of a hole. And there’s little the chairman - any chairman - can do about thinning the field in the upcoming Republican primary. The chairman - any chairman - just has no power.
But the chairman is often interviewed by Chicago media, so a media-friendly top GOP is desirable. The Chicago media loved Brady’s “Fire Madigan” campaign last year. It gave them something to write about, and it was a cause obviously backed by most of the city’s reporters and pundits.
And the chairman does have input into any coordinated campaigns that are run. So, the spoils of war are definitely part of the issue here.
* What we have here is a bunch of purists screaming for the ouster of a heathen and attempting to get a piece of the pie that they cannot get electorally, vs. regulars fending off the barbarians at the gate and protecting their pie. It has always been thus in Illinois. It will likely always be thus, as long as the chairmanship is so overly valued.
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SIU war intensifies
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SIU President Glenn Poshard said that SIU Trustee nominee Melvin Terrell had been lobbied to vote for Poshard’s enemy Roger Herrin for chairman by the governor’s office. That would be a direct violation of an agreement Poshard had with Gov. Quinn. The governor promised to stay out of it, but his alleged interference led partially to the Senate giving the governor’s three new nominees zero votes last week during a confirmation vote.
Terrell now denies that he was contacted directly…
Terrell contacted The Southern on Friday night and said he received calls from current board members concerning the possibility of serving as chairman but had no direct contact with Quinn or any members of the governor’s staff. […]
Poshard said he called Terrell to congratulate him, but in a later conversation, he said Terrell excused himself from the phone conversation because he had the governor’s office on the other line.
Poshard said a short time later Terrell called him back and told him he was going to support Herrin for the board chairmanship and that Terrell said he would become the vice chairman and become chairman later. The president said he was told that this was at the insistence of the governor’s office.
Paula Keith, administrative assistant in the president’s office, said she was present for the conversation. She backed Poshard’s account as accurate.
Hmm.
* Meanwhile…
Gov. Pat Quinn’s removal of three SIU board of trustees members has angered several African American groups in downstate Illinois.
A letter sent to Quinn Friday from the Alton, Edwardsville, East St. Louis and Springfield branches of the NAACP, along with the Madison County Urban League, expressed “disdain” over the governor’s removal earlier this week of John Simmons, Ed Hightower and Mark Hinrichs, three Metro East trustees, from the university’s governing board. Quinn nominated Sandra Cook of Collinsville, Lee Milner of Springfield and Melvin Terrell of Chicago to replace them, but the appointments were rejected by the Illinois Senate Wednesday.
The NAACP letter states specific concern over the treatment of Hightower and Quinn’s alleged push to make Harrisburg trustee Roger Herrin chairman of the board, a position he was removed from last year after other board members and SIU President Glenn Poshard claimed his leadership was divisive and bullying.
The letter also alleges Herrin told one of the ousted Metro East board members one of his goals for SIU was to reduce the minority population of the Carbondale campus.
That same allegation was made on the Senate floor by Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne. But Herrin denies it…
SIU trustee Roger Herrin denies ever making the statement he wanted to reduce the minority population of SIU Carbondale, a claim that was leveled on the floor of the Illinois Senate earlier this past week.
“I’m denying it, of course I am,” Herrin of Harrisburg said in a phone interview with The Southern Illinoisan on Saturday. “In all my 76 years that’s a card I’ve never played.”
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Retiree health insurance premiums outlined
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer outlines the newly negotiated health insurance premiums for retirees…
The tentative agreement that was reached with the Quinn Administration locks in much lower premiums for retirees than those the Administration wanted to impose.
Under the terms of the AFSCME tentative agreement, retiree premium costs would be limited as follows:
* Non-Medicare Individual Premium:
o 2% of pension annuity, effective 7/1/13
o An additional 2% of pension annuity effective 7/1/14
* Medicare-Eligible Retiree Individual Premium
o 1% of pension annuity, effective 7/1/13
o An additional 1% of pension annuity, effective 7/1/14
* Non-Medicare Retiree Dependent Premium
o Managed Care Premium (blended rate)/ One Dependent –$113/month (effective 7/1/13)
o Quality Care Premium/ One Dependent — $249/month (effective 7/1/13)
* Medicare-Eligible Retiree Dependent Premium – No increase over current cost
* In addition, if a non-Medicare retiree wishes to opt out of the state plan and join another health
care plan (e.g. a spouse’s plan), the state will provide that individual with a subsidy of $500
each month.
Under these provisions, a non-Medicare retiree with a pension annuity of $35,000 would pay $58/month toward premiums beginning on 7/1/13, then $117/month beginning 7/1/14.
A Medicare-eligible retiree in that pension range would pay $29/month in the first year and $58 month in the second year of the contract.
The premium for a Medicare eligible dependent would be $89/month in Managed Care and $142/month in QCHP, the same amount paid today.
The new AFSCME contract also includes increases in co-pays and deductibles for both active employees and retirees at well below the level that the Quinn Administration was seeking. We are preparing a chart to indicate all of these changes in plan design and will send it to you as soon as it is available. […]
I know very well that any increase in health care costs will be burdensome to retirees living on fixed
incomes, especially those with smaller pensions. That’s why the union fought so hard against efforts
to drastically increase retiree health care costs. And thanks to the long, tough battle waged by the
AFSCME Bargaining Committee, those costs will now be dramatically lower than the amounts that
the state was planning to impose.
* Also from AFSCME…
* Contract ratification vote begins
* Temporary reprieve on benefit cuts
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Quinn vetoes old gaming bill
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn has vetoed the gaming bill passed by the last General Assembly, but not sent to him until the lame duck session’s final day. The veto message is here. It’s the usual stuff. Ethics, too much expansion, etc. Quinn reiterates his demand that pension reform take priority over gaming expansion. Again, read it here.
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Voters behaving oddly
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sometimes, voters are strange…
Webb said he voted for Halvorson, but the gun issue wasn’t the dominant one for him.
“She graduated from Bloom High School, and so did I,” Webb said, chuckling.
Webb’s wife said, “He made me come out and vote, too.”
When I asked her why she felt it was important, the answer took me by surprise.
“Because I’m voting against (Illinois House Speaker) Michael Madigan. I want to toss all the Madigan people out of office,” Mrs. Webb said.
So who was the anti-Madigan person she supported in the congressional race?
“To tell you the truth, I don’t remember who I voted for,” she replied.
“Fire Madigan” fails again?
* And…
A man showed up at the Beckman Park polling place in Kankakee last Tuesday intending to vote in the primary election.
But he became irate upon learning he would have to choose either a Republican or Democratic party ballot, and he left without voting.
Understandable that he didn’t want to disclose his party affiliation, but that’s been the law of the land for 40 years or more here. Must’ve been his first rodeo. And it’s also a reason why some people won’t cross over to vote for another party’s candidate, even if they believe in that candidate’s agenda.
* Meanwhile, Robin Kelly’s pollster penned an op-ed…
In January, we discovered that only 17 percent of likely voters had a favorable impression of the NRA, while 63 percent had an unfavorable impression of the group. Negative feelings towards the NRA outweighed positive ones among practically every demographic and regional bloc. Even self-described conservatives gave the NRA bad marks.
For several weeks, we hounded our opponents to release their NRA questionnaires. We sent seven pieces of mail to likely voters establishing Kelly’s bona fides on fighting gun violence and contrasting her record with her opponents. The race began to change dramatically.
By early February, Kelly nearly doubled her vote share from four weeks earlier. She surged into first place, leaping from 15 percent of the vote to 26 percent. Among the voters in our mail universe, Kelly’s vote share was a commanding 40 percent. Independence PAC had only been on the air for less than a week at that point and their ad only mentioned former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, but Kelly’s favorability was quickly rising while Halvorson’s standing was in a free fall.
In the ensuing weeks, the debate over gun violence continued to dominate the campaign. Kelly’s message resonated with voters, leading to 52 percent of the vote in a 16-candidate field.
Discuss.
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Caption contest!
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was in Madison County Saturday night, but chose to attend Worden Mayor Frank Dickerson’s “Hillbilly Ball” at the Worden American Legion instead of the county Republicans’ Lincoln Day Dinner. I wore a tuxedo jacket and pants, with a camouflage Jim Beam t-shirt, a bright orange hunting vest and a camo cap with “headlights.” It was a lot of fun. Proceeds benefited the Worden Frisbee Golf Course, believe it or not.
I’m told that state Sen. Bill Brady said at the GOP event that he’ll be formally announcing his gubernatorial campaign in June.
Both Congressman Rodney Davis and failed congressional candidate Jason Plummer attended the Lincoln Day Dinner. Brady, who ran with Plummer in 2010, is in the background of this pic that was posted to Facebook…
* A longtime reader graciously donated two $25 gift certificates to Springfield’s legendary restaurant Magic Kitchen last week. Funniest comment wins one of those certificates.
Our previous winner is Arthur Andersen.
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Retiree wants his pension cut
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Retired suburban teacher John Allen penned a “Man Bites Dog” op-ed for the SJ-R entitled “Cut my pension, please”…
Yes, you read that right. I’m a former teacher who retired in 2002 from a Chicago suburban high school. Though most public employee retirees wouldn’t openly agree with my position, I think there is a growing minority coming to the same conclusion. I received substantial bonuses my last three years that boosted my average pay, and I received the full 75 percent of that inflated average.
Today, because of the automatic, yearly 3 percent cost-of-living increases, I’m getting more money than I ever did teaching. I thank the current Illinois public school teachers and the Illinois taxpayers who are helping to fund my retirement.
New hires have a far reduced pension and yet both they and others who haven’t retired are helping pay for my expensive pension. Plus the Illinois taxpayers are helping to pay at least two school staffs for the public schools of Illinois — the one that is currently teaching and the other one that is retired, a group that is far larger than the current staff. My retirement is over three times what the maximum Social Security beneficiary receives and this disparity is growing each year. Most pension studies show that government workers’ pensions are far higher than private sector employees.
The reason I want my pension cut some now is that drastic cuts in the future are very likely if nothing is done. Each year of delay multiplies the problem and increases the urgency. The facts are real, and yet the Illinois legislature and governor have failed to act responsibly, whereas other states with such problems have made substantial progress in addressing their public employee pension debt.
Thoughts?
* Meanwhile, the executive director of the Illinois State Board of Investment, William Atwood, provides some sobering stats for those who believe 401(k) accounts are the answer…
According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), as of Dec. 31, 2011, the average 401(k) account balance was $58,991. So while some participants enjoy a much larger balance, there are many other 401(k) investors with much smaller balances.
The median account balance, the mid-point for 401(k) accounts, was only $16,649. So half of all 401(k) participants had account balances at or below $16,649.
This is the structure upon which most Americans are expected to build their retirement, and to which some would suggest the state should transfer its teachers, police officers, college professors and highway workers. While defined contribution plans have worked well as tax efficient savings plans, they have failed as a mechanism for delivering retirement security.
There is a role for defined contribution plans to play. Their prudent function is to augment the retirement security provided by a reliable retirement plan, ideally a defined benefit plan.
The state offers its workers a 457 plan, structured like a typical defined contribution plan into which employees may make contributions pre-tax. Approximately 51,000 current and former employees participate in the plan and have over $3 billion in assets invested. However, the state’s defined contribution plan exists alongside its defined benefit plan.
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Classic Quinn
Monday, Mar 4, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The State Journal-Register editorializes on the new AFSCME contract deal…
* Employee health care premiums will increase by at least 1 percent of salary, and AFSCME members took a fiscal year 2013 pay freeze followed by 2 percent increases in the final two years. Step raises will continue. It seems like employees will come out a little bit ahead of where they were, but it’s unclear by how much.
* AFSCME gave ground on retiree health care, a key part of the governor’s plan to cut state expenses. Today, state retirees with 20 years of service pay no premiums for their coverage. But how much did AFSCME give up, and how much will the state save?
Without those details, it’s impossible to declare this a good or bad deal for Illinois taxpayers. But it does look like the best deal the 35,000-member union, with roughly 8,000 living in Sangamon, Menard, Logan and Christian counties, is going to get. […]
If Quinn’s tactic was to send a message that the state’s finances are in shambles and there would be no giveaways this time, it seems to have worked.
He may have “sent” a clear message at the start, but AFSCME members clearly did pretty well, considering the state’s budget problems, with this new contract. Yes, they give up a point for health insurance, but they get 4 percent raises, plus step increases, plus some back pay.
This is classic Quinn. Talk real tough without thinking things through, dig heels firmly in place when the other side pushes back, then give in.
* Finke asks the right question…
Which brings us to the wild card in this whole thing. The net cost of the contract isn’t known yet. The state still has severe financial problems, and it’s the legislature that has to put together a budget that somehow pays for everything.
So what happens if the legislature again essentially doesn’t allocate all of the money needed to pay for the contract? Hopefully, we won’t have to find out the hard way.
* A hint of the future…
A reminder of who is in charge of how much spending eventually will be approved came last month at a low-profile legislative hearing. The governor’s financial team suggested the Democratic chairman of the House Revenue & Finance Committee would have to wait for Quinn’s budget address to get the administration’s best estimate of how much money Illinois would take in during the next budget cycle.
“Well, it may be too late then,” said Rep. John Bradley, the Marion Democrat who chairs the panel.
* Related…
* Durbin, Quinn fire up Kane County Democrats at annual dinner: In his Sunday speech, it was clear both the pending union deal and Quinn’s push for a hike in the state’s minimum wage will be key talking points for Quinn in the near term. “We just finished a negotiation, 15 months long, at the bargaining table with our government AFSCME employees,” Quinn said. “We came to a tentative agreement that has to be voted on by the members. I’m very hopeful they will vote yes in favor of that agreement and have a contract.”
* Quinn, state workers union reach deal with raises
* Many challenges as Quinn prepares budget: So far this fiscal year Illinois has spent $5 billion to pay down bills from prior years, according to Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. The current backlog is more than $9 billion, and growing.
* Quinn to deliver budget speech amid ongoing state financial problems: The past two years, the House has gone its own path on developing a spending plan. “I think we will do a House-based budget process just like the last two years because, quite frankly, it worked,” said Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley. “We have paid down quite a few of the bills, and we have made the pension payments. The backlog of bills is not getting deeper. We’ve got things moving in the right direction.”
* Lawmakers predict gloomy budget plans from Quinn: State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, is among those concerned Quinn will try to close more facilities. “He said he was going to,” Luechtefeld said. “Hopefully he doesn’t.”
* Students squeezed as Illinois college costs rise, aid drops: Over the past 15 years, state aid for Illinois’ public universities has declined 27.6 percent when adjusted for inflation
* Deadbeat Illinois: Schoolchildren lose out with lack of state aid
* Erickson: State needs a plan for unused property
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* The NRA’s Todd Vandermyde wants his group’s supporters to retaliate against Chicago over concealed carry. Vandermyde made his demand in a column about last week’s House floor debate on the issue…
During the debate on the carry amendments we saw Colleges and others try to make it impossible to carry in public, but then, we also saw 68 (there were 67 votes with one of our good guys out for a medical reason) votes for our shall issue, preemptive carry amendment. That sent shock waves through the building as the City of Chicago has now gone into panic mode as we are now 3 votes shy of a super majority to pass a bill. And those votes are out there.
That vote was significant. The City is already trying to intimidate some of the votes that showed up on the bill. And now it is time for us to go into overdrive. Any bill that is a legislative initiative of the City of Chicago, we should oppose. And any downstate or suburban rep that supports us should vote “Present” on all the City bills going forward. They want more red light cameras? Vote “no.” They want special treatment to do X or Y? Vote “no” or “present” and leave them with their 35 votes that are not a majority in the House, nor enough to pass ANY bill.
*** UPDATE *** You may have noticed that the Illinois Review link is now broken. The cached version is here.
Vandermyde was upset that IR used a column he posted to another website as if it was its own. His e-mail to IL Review…
I wrote the update on the Carry bill for Illinis Carry. Not for Illinois review.
You make it appear as if I worte it for a column for You for your publication. I did not and ask that you take it down.
Further more I see no attribution to where I posted it, and I only posted it in what should be the members section of Illinois Carry.
Your copy and paste style of reporting is missleading and I ask that you take it down. it was not intended for your site nor is it fair use.
You stole my comments for use on your website, as if I am some participant in your efforts of Illinois review — I am not.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile, here’s my syndicated newspaper column…
Nobody ever really knows what’s going through Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s head except for Madigan himself.
So, the actual purpose of two highly choreographed gun control and pension reform debates last week ordered up by Madigan weren’t completely clear to anyone.
That’s by design, of course. Madigan (D-Chicago) prefers to keep people in the dark until he’s ready to make his final move.
But I did hear one theory from a Democrat last week that made quite a bit of sense, at least for a while.
Last Tuesday’s hours-long debate on numerous aspects of concealed carry that ended with far more discombobulated confusion than a clear resolution may have been intended to inject some chaos into the equation and convince members that what’s needed is some real leadership forward. And that leadership, of course, would come from Madigan.
If nothing else, that debate gave House members a good education about how far apart the two sides on gun control are regarding concealed carry.
In the most infamous example, state Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Pecatonica) used a way-over-the-top analogy to explain to Chicagoans why their gun violence problem shouldn’t cause them to “blame the rest of us” by forcing everyone to disarm.
Sacia’s analogy — “You folks in Chicago want me to get castrated because your families are having too many kids” — enraged several Chicago-area legislators but did serve a purpose.
Thanks to Sacia, Chicagoans discovered the intensity and breadth of the divide. And it even helped that Sacia inadvertently confirmed all those liberal pop psychology theories about how, um, “overly enthusiastic” gun owners associate their weapons with their private parts and aren’t all that fond of poor people.
And liberal proponents of super-tight restrictions on concealed carry made it shockingly clear to conservatives that some Chicagoans feel more in danger being around folks (like those very conservatives) who are vetted and licensed to carry concealed weapons in public than they are around dangerous criminals.
The only way to bridge this huge divide on gun control is through strong leadership from above, or at least that’s the theory.
But just two days after that long day of gun debates, the wheels seemed to fall off.
If anybody else’s proposal had been shot down in the House by a vote of 66-1, with only the sponsor voting for it and all Republicans taking a pass because it was so “out there,” the ridicule would have been piled high on the sponsor.
And if that same sponsor saw all of his other proposals die a similar fate on the same day — with one getting just two votes, another getting three and another getting five — well, the sponsor probably would have been considered a rank amateur.
But that’s exactly what happened Thursday to Madigan, the supposed master of three-dimensional political chess.
Apparently sending a political message, Madigan ran four pension reform amendments that were so radioactively harsh that nobody wanted to go near them. Instead of prompting a debate, few rose to speak. Instead of putting the Republicans on the spot, they refused to cast any votes.
Instead of getting members to think about the serious pension-funding problem, Madigan gave them an easy out via a cartoonish charade. Instead of convincing them that his leadership was needed, they rejected his ideas out of hand.
And the speaker’s heavy-handed, top-down management will undoubtedly continue.
Madigan’s spokesman told reporters last week that a request by state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) for a special committee to take testimony and openly debate pension reform was the “craziest idea” because the House has held numerous committee hearings, only to see the Republicans withdraw bills and duck votes.
Back in the day, before former House Speaker Lee Daniels changed the rules, members could file amendments that went straight to the floor without first having to be approved by a committee. The process was sometimes abused, but members had infinitely more input into issues than they do now.
Was state government somehow worse back then? Hardly. So, why not let ’em have their say?
It probably won’t work, though. Even back in the “good old days,” big, important and complicated issues were almost always worked out behind closed doors.
But if and when a real debate with truly open rules on amendments fails, then members will come running back to Daddy Madigan for instructions as they always do. And in the unlikely prospect that it works, then maybe Madigan could learn something as well.
* And NBC5 takes a look at Rep. Sacia’s “facts”…
In fact, the Chicago metropolitan area only has the sixth highest birth rate in Illinois, with 51 babies per 1,000 females between 15 and 50. Even if Sacia was trying to single out African-Americans, his analogy falls apart, because the nationwide black birthrate is 61.7 — lower than the whites of Southern Illinois.
Here are the top five:
Marion-Herrin 64
Danville 57
Decatur 56
Rockford 54
Galesburg 52
If we have an overpopulation problem in Illinois, it’s the men in the southern part of the state who need to regulated, not the men in Chicago.
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* Despite all the dire predictions of end times, business still appears to be aggressively expanding in Illinois, according to Site Selection Magazine. The state ranked fifth in the nation for new and expanded corporate facilities, up from from seventh last year.
The state rankings article is here. From a Gov. Pat Quinn press release…
In 2012, Illinois had 322 corporate facilities locate or expand in the state. […]
“More and more companies are choosing Illinois to invest and grow their business,” Governor Quinn said. “I’m committed to advancing Illinois’ competitiveness, and using every tool at my disposal to expand businesses headquartered in our state and encourage others to locate and do business here.”
Illinois joins Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia on the list of the top ten states with the most locations and expansions.
With 311 projects, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area ranked second on the list of cities in the tier one, top ten metropolitan areas list.
Illinois companies that have relocated or seen significant expansions this year include Walgreen, Nippon Sharyo, Chrysler, Woodward and LaFarge among others. Chicago maintained its #2 ranking among the metropolitan areas category for the second year in a row.
To be included in the rankings, new facilities and expansions had to meet at least one of three criteria: (1) involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, (2) create at least 50 new jobs or (3) add at least 20,000 sq. ft. (1,858 sq. m.) of new floor area.
“Illinois has the attributes that are most important to business,” said Adam Pollet, acting director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “We have a strong and diverse economy, premier logistics network, skilled workforce and an entrepreneurial spirit driven by innovation.”
The Governor’s Cup analyses, issued by Site Selection magazine, are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” Site Selection is the senior publication in the corporate real estate and economic development field and the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC, at www.iamc.org). The magazine’s circulation base consists of 44,000 executives involved in corporate site selection decisions, most at the CEO/President/COO level.
Keep in mind that, unlike other state rankings which use mainly subjective surveys, this one is based on actual data, so it’s quite important.
Also, notice that almost all of these new projects were in the Chicago metro region. Downstate just isn’t attracting businesses, and that’s a real problem.
* Related…
* ‘One Heck of An Advantage’ - How an Illinois county meets expanding businesses’ most critical requirements.
* What Makes a Business Climate Good?: Seventy-five percent said they work primarily with a state agency contact when conducting a site selection project.
* The hottest urban center in the U.S. — Chicago’s mega-Loop: The city is so hot that this expanded downtown is adding residents faster than any other urban core in America, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
* Griffin, Zell, Reyeses are top Chicagoans on Forbes billionaire list
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House approves handheld cellphone ban
Friday, Mar 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald…
The Illinois House Friday voted to make it illegal to talk on a handheld cellphone while driving.
Supporters argued reducing distractions for drivers could prevent wrecks and deaths behind the wheel. […]
The measure was approved by a 64-46 vote and now moves to the Senate. Using a hands-free device would remain legal.
But state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican, voted against the plan and protested that talking on a phone would become a primary reason for police to pull over a driver. […]
The issue wasn’t a partisan one. State Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican, said despite other distraction, lawmakers should ban the use of handheld phones anyway.
The bill is here…
Expands the prohibition on driving while using an electronic communication device to include uses beyond composing, sending, or reading an electronic message. Expands the exceptions to include the use of hands-free devices, two-way radios, and electronic devices capable of performing multiple functions as long as these devices are not used for a prohibited purpose. Establishes a graduated fine scale for repeat offenses.
This isn’t gonna go over too well with the libertarian types, but I figure, considering the makeup of the Senate, that it could be on its way to the governor’s desk relatively soon. We’ll see.
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Raw audio of Poshard argument
Friday, Mar 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told you yesterday about a major public dustup between SIU President Glenn Poshard and former SIU Trustee Chairman Roger Herrin, who was backed by Gov. Pat Quinn, but who then began attacking Poshard. Pres. Poshard eventually engineered Herrin’s ouster with the cooperation of several trustees, and then Quinn tried to replace three of those trustees, only to watch the Senate unanimously reject all three of the governor’s replacements earlier this week.
Anyway, WSIU has posted raw audio of the argument between the two men. Because of today’s session, I haven’t been able to listen to much of the recording, but it may contain profanity, so beware if you’re in an office that discourages such things…
You might need to give it a few seconds to load, and then help us document the exchange in comments. Don’t use profanity, however. That would be wrong. Thanks.
* Coverage roundup…
* SIU Board Fails to Meet
* Southern Illinois University feud cripples trustees
* Tempers Flare at SIU Board of Trustees Meeting
* The gloves come off Poshard: Herrin tangle at SIU board meeting
* SIU president feuds with former board chairman
* SIU dispute comes to Edwardsville campus
* Hightower, Simmons, Hinrichs out on SIU board of trustees
* Legislator wants to split SIU
* Senate Bill Would Rebuild SIU Board
* Press Release: New Haine bill restructures SIU board and ensures balance
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Question of the day
Friday, Mar 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde testifying at a committee hearing…
* The Question: Caption?
Funniest commenter wins a $20 gift certificate at Springfield’s Grab-A-Java.
But make absolutely sure to keep it clean! Thanks.
* By the way, our previous winner was BentheDem…
In light of our success of Squeezy, I’d like to present Randy the Revenue Rabbit. You’re welcome.
BentheDem should send me an e-mail and we’ll work out the details.
* Also, if you have a business and would like to provide a sweet prize for caption contests, you should definitely contact me.
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Shot down in flames
Friday, Mar 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’ve already discussed this topic…
Illinois lawmakers rejected a series of proposals Thursday that would have drastically reduced pension benefits for state employees.
But the exercise left little clarity in the overall push to overhaul the state’s under-funded retirement systems. […]
Republicans took no part in the voting, accusing House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, of playing politics with the state’s pension mess.
“Another day of games? This is anything but real,” said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. “We need to sit down.”
* Let’s get to the explanations from the HDems…
“Well, I don’t know that there were any expectations. But people always talk about that we need to have roll call because we’ve heard that debate, right? We’ve heard people complain about stifling bills, stifling amendments. So we’re trying to offer an alternative this year on several significant issues. That’ll continue,” he said.
And…
“The strategy is to test the gamut of ideas,” Brown said. “Test every idea that’s out there,” Brown said “We’re still trying to find the plan that will have 60 votes here, 30 votes in the Senate and the signature of the governor.”
* Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Jack Franks wants the House to hold a committee of the whole to discuss the issue. From a press release…
State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) blasted the ongoing delay of serious deliberation on Illinois’ public sector pension crisis and called for a committee-of-the-whole to hash out a solution that passes constitutional muster and ensures the long-term fiscal stability of the pension systems.
“Addressing our pension crisis is of paramount importance, and for the time being, we must suspend all other business before the House of Representatives until we have solved it,” said Franks. “All sides in the debate have succeeded in little besides prolonging the brinksmanship, and reaping the wrath of bond rating agencies while costing taxpayers $17 million a day in additional debt.”
House GOP Leader Tom Cross agreed. But Madigan’s guy threw cold water on the idea…
“The last thing I think the House of Representatives needs is another hearing. How many hearings have we had? How many bills have we offered? How many times have people withdrawn bills and ducked and bobbed and weaved? So a committee of the whole is really the craziest idea,” said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown.
Thoughts?
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Trib has some contract details
Friday, Mar 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune editorial board has some details on the tentative contract agreement between AFSCME and Gov. Pat Quinn…
State retirees would no longer get free health care coverage. About 90 percent of retired state employees, university workers, judges and lawmakers now pay nothing toward their insurance premiums. Instead, the state pays nearly $800 million a year for retiree coverage.
Lawmakers passed a bill last year ending the freebie, but Quinn’s lawyers insisted the issue of how much retirees would pay had to be bargained with AFSCME. Depending on how much retirees end up paying — if, for example, their contributions keep pace with the rising costs of health care — the state could see significant savings going forward. That would be good news.
Also good news: State workers who are not yet retired would pay more toward their current health care costs. Those workers pay roughly $300 a month in premiums for top-notch family coverage, a better deal than what most private-sector workers get.
So what did AFSCME get at the bargaining table? We’re told its members would receive no wage increase the first year. In 2014 and 2015, they would receive 2 percent each year for an average of 1.3 percent each year of the three-year contract.
Sounds like an austerity plan. But there’s a potentially costly catch. Unionized employees work under a “step” system that rewards them with automatic promotions based on years on the job. Not all state workers will be eligible for step increases during the life of the contract. The roughly 40 percent who are eligible would receive step increases, in addition to their wage hikes.
It’s unclear how the Gordon Maag lawsuit over a state law eliminating the 100 percent subsidy for insurance premiums will play into this, but I’ve contact Maag’s attorney and I’ll let you know.
Anyway, discuss.
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More of the same
Friday, Mar 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House Judiciary Committee debated an assault weapons ban yesterday with predictable results…
A two-hour House Judiciary Committee hearing on guns – its third in a week – produced virtually no common ground between the two sides in the decades-old debate over whether there is any reason for civilians to own semi-automatic guns capable of hosting high-capacity magazines.
“These weapons are designed for war, and these weapons are making their way underground to gangbangers and urban terrorists,” said Rep. Edward Acevedo, a Chicago Democrat sponsoring anti-assault-gun legislation. “Every one of us knows this isn’t going to happen any time soon. Don’t let the dysfunction in D.C. stop us from doing everything we can.”
The hearing produced familiar images, including Chicago Police Department photos of targeted guns. An NRA lobbyist argued “assault weapon” was a fear-mongering buzzword, created in the 1980s. And an FBI agent raised concerns the government would confiscate the assault weapon he uses to hunt deer should a statewide or national ban be approved, although key proposals both nationally and in Illinois would not round up existing weapons.
Republicans from suburban Chicago and suburban St. Louis blamed violence not on the guns, but on cuts in policing and laws too weak to scare law-breakers into compliance.
* More…
Homicides jumped 16 percent in Chicago in 2012, and the violence continued in January. Last year, police confiscated nearly 7,500 guns in Chicago, testified Alfonza Wysinger, the first deputy superintendent. Of those, he said, 277 were assault weapons. He drove home his concerns with more numbers: 45 assault weapons were among the 1,100 guns confiscated this year; since the federal ban was lifted in 2004, the city has seized 2,678 assault weapons. […]
Wysinger told lawmakers that an assault weapons ban “cannot come soon enough,” but he acknowledged that only a fraction of Chicago’s homicides are tied to the military-style, high-powered guns. For example, the 2011 Chicago Murder Analysis prepared by the Police Department reported that 361 of the city’s 433 homicide victims that year were shot, and “nearly all of those shootings involved handguns.”
Gun rights lawmakers countered that no prohibition is needed.
“We’re trying to pass a bill to make us feel good, and it isn’t going to do a thing,” said Republican Rep. Jim Sacia, a former FBI agent from Pecatonica. “I deer hunt with an assault weapon,” Sacia added.
* And…
Instead, the focus should be on upgrading mental health services in the state, said Greg Sullivan, executive director of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association.
Seventy-three of the state’s 102 county sheriffs agreed in February to oppose the proposed assault weapons ban, Sullivan said.
“Focusing on the inanimate factor versus the human factor in all these shootings and all these attacks doesn’t focus on the mental health issues we’re facing here in Illinois,” Sullivan said.
* Meanwhile…
Rep. Jim Sacia has become an Internet celebrity.
During Tuesday’s long House debate on concealed-carry legislation, the Republican from far northwestern Illinois made an analogy that tied together guns and castration in one fell swoop.
Now, a YouTube video of his floor speech has drawn more than 14,000 views, and one top black lawmaker condemned Sacia’s remarks as the “most offensive statement” he’d heard. […]
“Here’s an analogy folks. I ask you to think of this,” Sacia continued as he bellowed over the noisy House chamber. “You folks in Chicago want me to get castrated because your families are having too many kids. It spells out exactly what is happening here. You want us to get rid of guns.”
A leading black lawmaker Thursday, state Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood), condemned Sacia’s remarks as “one of the most offensive statements I’ve heard.”
“That epitomizes the view of … the Republicans or some Downstate Democrats, their view of African Americans, minorities or people from the city of Chicago, that all we do is lay around and make babies,” said Davis, joint chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.
Many of the comments on the YouTube video are just awful and unprintable. Here are some comments, with redactions where necessary…
* cfrait1968: Good for Jim! I’ve always said that it’s time for the rest of Illinois to secede from Chicago and declare it’s independence as the new free state of South Illinois. Chicago contributes nothing and only takes from the rest of us. I am tired of seeing my hard-earned tax dollars stolen to support black racists, homosexual perverts, crooks, communist/socialist tyrants, and the welfare bums that make up the population of the godless Sodom on the lake called Chicago. Take our freedom back!
* 88mrgoldsmith: *** off chicago and ur people… Ur a *** disgrace to mankind.
* cfrait1968: Yes, it is. It is an evil abomination and I look forward to the day it is wiped out by the wrath of God. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
* KBay84: They DON’T want to rehab OR work! They want a system that provides for them. We need to neuter/fix welfare moms & dads & gang bangers.
* Eric Terman: More evidence that angry paranoid gun nuts are insecure about their [male appendages].
* Zach C: Ah *** off buddy. The only ones with the [male appendage] problems are all the black males in Chicago leaving a trail of fatherless kids.
Unreal.
Sometimes, I really despise the Internet.
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