* Five sources say Senate President John Cullerton just told his caucus that he is retiring. He told them he’ll be stepping down sometime in January.
More later.
…Adding… The plan now is to come back during the second week of January to vote in a new Senate President.
I’m told he said his wife asked him to retire. He said he’s over 70 and wants to spend more time with her and his family. He said it was perfect timing with the end of veto session.
…Adding… Tribune…
Cullerton’s retirement has been “heavily negotiated” with his wife, and will allow him to spend more time with his family and practicing law in Chicago, he said Thursday in an interview with the Tribune.
“Now’s the time,” Cullerton said.
Cullerton told the members of his caucus Thursday evening, after the Senate adjourned for 2019.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Senate President Cullerton…
Eleven years ago I was honored to be chosen as the leader of the Illinois Senate. I came to the job with great optimism and enthusiasm, ready to tackle the challenges confronting Illinois, and with great expectations for moving forward to solve some of the crises our state faced.
I’ve had the pleasure to work with a body of Senate members who were equally resolute in moving Illinois forward and making the changes necessary to grow our economy and build a better future for our children and our communities.
With great accomplishments, and yes, some setbacks, for the last 11 years I can humbly brag that we have made great strides. Our list of accomplishments includes:
Two capital bills
Marriage equality
Abolished the death penalty
School funding reform
Pension reform
Immigration reform
During a time when our efforts were challenged on many fronts, we found ways to reach across the aisle, and through compromise we worked together to get our job done. One of the highlights of my career was working with Republican Leader Christine Radogno to try to bring to an end the state budget impasse.
During my tenure as State Representative and Senator, my focus was on the local district. But once I became Senate President, my primary focus was redirected to the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Our meetings were fun, inspiring, challenging, heart- wrenching, primal and revealing. Finding ways to keep my team united have been some of my proudest and most interesting moments.
I’m ready to embark on a new course. I’ve been promising my wife, Pam that I would retire:
- after 39 years of duty …
- when I turn 70 …
- when we had a Democratic governor …
So now, after 41 years in the legislature and 40 years of marriage, I’m finally going to live up to my promise to retire.
In counting our years of marriage, Pam deducts for the days I spend in Springfield, so she will claim we’ve only been married 30 years. Now all that will come to an end and she will have to give due credit to each day together.
I look forward to watching this august chamber and all you will accomplish. As we all know, there will be bumps in the road, but they will be paved over with new ideas and solutions, and a constantly changing body of members who are eager to bring their own vision and signature to our illustrious Illinois Senate.
Thank you to my family, my friends, and my constituents, whose support and encouragement will always be the backbone of my efforts.
And thank you to my wonderful staff who have kept me on track for the last 11 years. I owe much of my success to their constant vigilance, their professionalism and their humor throughout it all.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady…
“Senate President John Cullerton has led the Illinois Senate with honor and distinction, and our Chamber will forever be better as a result. I have known John for many years, but it has been during the last two years in my role as Senate Republican Leader that I have seen first-hand the integrity, honesty, and humor that he brought to the responsibilities his office entailed.
“We may not have always agreed on how best to address the issues facing the state, but there can be no denying John always put the people of Illinois first. I wish the Senate President and his family well as he begins this next chapter in his life. I am grateful to have had him as a colleague, and I will forever be grateful to call him my friend.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Pritzker…
“In the past decade as Senate President, John Cullerton has been a passionate advocate for improving Illinois — whether it was his focus on ending the scourge of youth smoking, dedication to fully funding education or efforts to advance critically needed infrastructure throughout the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Over the years, I came to know John as my state senator, and this past year I have truly appreciated his work to advance our common agenda to stand with working families. I wish him all the best in the years to come, and I know that Pam and his children will be glad to start their next chapter as a family.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) represents half of Cullerton’s district along with Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). I asked her if she was interested in the Senate seat…
President Cullerton’s announcement came as a surprise to all of us. He has been a great partner advocating for our community for many years. I’ll be meeting with Sara Feigenholtz and other local leaders over the next few days to talk about next steps.
And …I will be filing petitions for re-election to the House.
*** UPDATE 5 *** Sun-Times…
Steve Brown, spokesman for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, said the speaker on Thursday congratulated the Senate President “for an extraordinary career and a great working partnership they’ve had over a long, long time.”
* House GOP Leader Jim Durkin…
It has been an honor to serve with President Cullerton in the General Assembly and I wish him and his family the very best moving forward.
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* The city has apparently pulled the plug…
…Adding… HFA 3 to SB 222 looks to be the last major item on the House’s agenda today. It’s a “cleanup” measure backed by the Illinois Gaming Board. The proposal allows the FBI to conducted fingerprinting on gaming background checks. And it addresses some confidentiality issues in the sports betting law. Without this bill, the gaming expansion rollout would be delayed.
…Adding… The city has apparently put a down arrow on the cleanup bill in retaliation for not getting its casino legislation. The bill has an immediate effective date, so it will require 71 votes. Stay tuned.
*** UPDATE 1 *** After several Chicago legislators rose in outrage that the Chicago casino bill wasn’t brought to the floor for a vote, the House approved the cleanup bill 72-7-3 with 35 not voting. Many of those who didn’t vote were Chicagoans or suburban women.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Mayor Lightfoot…
While we are disappointed that a much-needed fix to the gaming bill won’t be made during this compressed veto session, the Chicago casino is still very much in the sightline thanks to the progress we’ve made with our state partners. While this delay does not impact the City’s FY 2020 budget, this fiscal challenge looms large for FY 2021 and thereafter. Thus, the heightened sense of urgency remains. A substantial percentage of the state’s vertical capital bill depends on the revenue from a Chicago casino.
After 30 years of only being talked about, our proposal has moved Chicago closer than ever to bringing much-needed relief for our police and fire pension funds, while unlocking significant economic opportunity for our communities and capital funding for our entire state. From the beginning, the city’s proposal for the gaming bill has always been about finding a workable tax structure for a casino development that is projected to fuel thousands of new jobs, create hundreds of millions in new gaming revenues for the City as well as the state, all while redirecting $260 million in additional funds annually that have otherwise been lost out to gambling across the border.
I want to thank Governor Pritzker, Speaker Madigan, Senate President Cullerton, Representative Rita and members of the Chicago Federation of Labor, as well as other members of the General Assembly for their partnership this veto session, and I look forward to continuing our conversations about advancing the casino starting in January. With so much potential on the line, our city and state deserve to get this done and get this done right.
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Mid-afternoon session updates (updated)
Thursday, Nov 14, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mayor Lightfoot on the gaming bill…
Earlier Thursday, Lightfoot held out hope she could land an eleventh-hour deal on the casino.
“We continue to work hard, particularly in the House, because the bill’s going to originate in the House,” she said during an unrelated event at a Logan Square school. “It’s my expectation that something will have been dropped, maybe even while we’ve been here, and will move forward. But we’ve been working hard, really, literally all night to make sure that we can get something to the floor of the House today and then move it over to the Senate.”
But she also sought to lower expectations by pointing out how hard it is to accomplish things in the veto session.
“But you know this as well as I do, in a veto session it’s a narrow window of time, and realistically we’ve had a day-and-a-half of work this week. It’s like going through the eye of a needle,” Lightfoot said. “We’re trying to do that as best we can, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the day.”
* The House passed the Democrats’ ethics reform bill this afternoon by a vote of 110-5. Members of the Eastern Bloc were the “No” votes plus Rep. Skillicorn…
* Rep. Wehrli had objections, but he voted for it…
Republican Rep. Steve Reick said he was voting for the bill because he doesn’t want to get hit by a mailer next year saying he opposes ethics reform.
* But this is from the Senate Republicans…
Today, the Senate Republicans Caucus is united in support of real ethics reform, which is why we stand in opposition to HJR 93. Despite assurances from Democrat leaders that this would be a balanced, bipartisan task force, what was filed is a nothing but a Democrat-controlled commission that will not bring about the changes this state needs to restore the people’s trust in their state legislature.
With the cloud of scandal hanging over the dome we need to be taking up serious ethics reforms not punting to another partisan task force.
So, there’s that.
* From IRMA’s PR person Monique Garcia…
Lawmakers sent a measure to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk today that will require online remote and marketplace sellers to remit the full sales tax (state + any locally imposed tax) on purchases made by Illinois residents. This change is conservatively estimated to bring in an additional $380 million a year – $295 million to the state and $85 million to local governments, schools, law enforcement and public safety agencies and the Regional Transportation Authority – without raising or imposing new taxes on Illinois residents. This estimate does not include any locally-imposed sales tax. This measure levels the playing field between Illinois retailers and remote and marketplace sellers. Indeed, this modernization represents the most significant shift in Illinois sales tax policy since a rewrite in the early 1990s.
While initially passed during the spring legislative session, the original bill language contained substantial errors that have been fixed in the legislation that won approval today. This effort was led by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair.
* Next stop, governor’s desk…
…Adding… Press release on cannabis bill…
“As Illinois prepares to launch legal adult-use cannabis, this legislation will strengthen the most equity- cannabis law in the nation, especially with stronger provisions to prevent conflicts of interest among elected officials and provide more information to people whose records will be expunged,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois has done more to put justice and equity at the forefront than any other state in the nation, and we’re ensuring that communities that have been hurt by the war on drugs have the opportunity to participate.”
* As we’ve already discussed, the ethylene oxide phase-out bill was killed by the Senate Executive Committee yesterday. House GOP Leader Jim Durkin had his own veto session bill, HB3885, that would’ve allowed home-rule units of government to ban EtO use, but that was killed in a House committee after Durkin wouldn’t commit to putting votes on Rep. Rita Mayfield’s bill. Durkin gave a statement to Hannah Meisel at the Daily Line…
Efforts to curb the chemical’s use in Lake County and other places in Illinois have sprung up in the year since the issue first drew significant media attention. [Rep. Rita Mayfield] faces a [Democratic] primary opponent in March who is hyper-focused on ethylene oxide.
Durkin, who voted present on Mayfield’s bill during the first week of Veto Session, said Wednesday that he could have predicted HB 3888’s failure “from day one.”
“House Bill 3885 was the strongest piece of legislation and would have essentially shut down polluters that are poisoning our communities,” Durkin said. “Instead of allowing my bill to move forward, we saw the Democrats kill my legislation in committee two weeks ago in favor of legislation that they knew wouldn’t become law. Fortunately, we have the Haller Act that places the strongest restrictions on the use of ethylene oxide across the country.”
Community group Stop EtO in Lake County said Wednesday it was “disappointed and afraid” for families.
“But we’re heartened that the Senators took the issue seriously and made it clear that they expect to be voting on this again in the spring,” according to a statement from the group. “Stop EtO will not stop fighting until our children are safe.”
The Haller Act was Durkin’s bill that passed last spring.
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Early afternoon veto session roundup (updated)
Thursday, Nov 14, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Finke…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker secured his top veto session priority Thursday when the Illinois Senate gave final approval to a bill consolidating downstate police and fire pension systems.
The Senate voted 42-12 on Senate Bill 1300, which has been touted by supporters as a way to improve investment returns for hundreds of systems which would in turn help take pressure off of local property taxes that help pay for them.
In a victory lap after the vote, Pritzker, backed by supporters of the bill and talking to reporters in his office, noted the bill was passed on a bipartisan basis and helped deal with a decades-old problem.
“We have put hundreds of cities in Illinois on a path toward alleviating their massive property tax burden,” he said. He also said it indicates that Illinois “can tackle its most intractable problems.”
* He said this tongue-in-cheek, but still…
Make sure to watch the video. He suggested taking a look at who funds “news organizations” in order to combat “fake news”…
* Finke…
A bill capping out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 a month is up for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.
The Senate voted 43-1 to give final approval to the bill. The chamber had to approve a couple of minor changes made to the legislation in the House.
The House added a provision to have the cap increase as inflation increases. It also called for the Department of Insurance to conduct an investigation into why insulin prices here are so much higher than in other countries. The original bill called for the Attorney General’s office to conduct the review.
The bill was initiated by Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, after a constituent came to him and said her family couldn’t afford insulin for their diabetic daughters and make her house payments. Insulin prices have soared in recent years and diabetics have seen out-of-packet expenses also soar to hundreds of dollars a month.
Gov. Pritzker’s react…
“Skyrocketing prescription drug prices are an enormous burden for too many Illinois families, and this legislation will significantly lower out-of-pocket costs for the 1.3 million Illinoisans that rely on insulin,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It’s fitting that on World Diabetes Day, Illinois has taken bold action to protect our residents’ health, rather than force them to use lower quality medication or even ration their supply. We are proud that Illinois continues to be a national leader in ensuring health care is a right and not a privilege. This important step forward for lowering health care costs is the result of the tireless advocacy of Sen. Andy Manar, Rep. Will Guzzardi and so many other champions. I look forward to signing this legislation and continuing my commitment to ensuring Illinois residents have access to comprehensive, high-quality and affordable health care coverage.”
* Always read the fine print…
Illinois lawmakers are one step closer to approving permanent daylight saving time, but the change would require federal approval, something that’s only been granted twice. […]
Only Arizona and Hawaii residents are free from the biannual clock tinkering that comes with daylight saving time.
Manar said that the state measure alone would not make the change.
“The only two ways that it can change in Illinois, ultimately, even with this bill becoming law, is either Congress gives us an exemption as a state or Congress implements a uniform standard presumably different than what we have nationwide,” he said.
* Rebecca Anzel…
Bills aimed at curbing where Illinoisans can use electronic smoking devices and with what flavorings appear halted until the spring session of the General Assembly.
One bill would loop electronic cigarettes into the Smoke Free Illinois Act. The other would ban flavored cartridges and pods used in such devices.
Thursday is the last scheduled day of the fall veto session, which lawmakers are using this year to clean up new laws and pass new bills before they return to Springfield in January.
* Yes, there’s a bill, but I’m not exactly sure this has 60 votes yet. Still a crapshoot…
…Adding… Cannabis legalization cleanup bill just passed the House with 90 votes. On to the Senate.
…Adding… This turned out to be true…
House Majority Leader Greg Harris just said they removed the language because the issue needs more study.
…Adding… After some stinging remarks, Rep. Wehrli says he will vote for the bill.
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Lightfoot starts another backtrack
Thursday, Nov 14, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Substituting the word “payoff” for “investments,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried Thursday to clarify the political bombshell she dropped this week about a publicly-traded company: that Uber offered black ministers a $54 million “pay off” to kill her $40 million congestion fee. […]
“My understanding, as I said yesterday, was that they offered up $54 million in — I’ll put in air quotes — ‘investments.’ What they’re trying to do … is divide and conquer and pit one group against another. We’ve seen that happen historically in Chicago. We’re not gonna tolerate that,” Lightfoot said. […]
In shooting down what Uber called the mayor’s “categorically false” charge, Uber’s director of public policy Josh Gold accused the mayor of “confusing the $54 million in revenue that one of our proposals would have raised for her own budget.”
For the first time, Lightfoot seemed to acknowledge as much.
No proposal by Uber, Lightfoot said, “whether it’s the $54 million or a more recent counter-proposal,” allows the ride-hailing giant “to be regulated and deal with the congestion. They offer nothing to deal with congestion.”
I don’t think that’s much of an acknowledgement. She also blamed the media, but this is some of what she said yesterday…
Asked about a different tax structure for ride-share companies that Uber is publicizing as an alternative to her own proposal, the mayor responded: “Is this the one where they’re paying off black ministers by offering them $54 million, or is this a new one?”
The mayor later doubled down on her allegation. “They offered up black ministers $54 million, a one-time deal, if they would convince the mayor to do away with any other kind of regulation,” she said.
Look, we all know that companies often pay ministers and others to help them generate some astroturf pressure on politicians. That’s been going on in Chicago and at the Statehouse for a very long time and I’m glad the mayor is taking on this topic. But claiming that Uber offered black ministers a $54 million payoff is just way out of line.
…Adding… Doubles down…
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* Gov. Pritzker has vowed to veto this bill, with a spokesperson saying “We’re not going to bail out a business that didn’t pay the taxes they were supposed to”…
Sen. Scott Bennett said during floor debate that the vast majority of the planes worked on in his district come from out of state and without the tax break the owners would go somewhere else.
* Roll call…
…Adding… From the Senate Democrats…
Hey Rich,
Just wanted to reach out and say that we corrected the record to reflect that Sen. Koehler voted in favor of HB 3902.
Pritzker really had no choice on this. He’s very wealthy and is known for using a fleet of private jets, so supporting this bill would’ve put him in an awkward political spot.
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Wednesday roundup
Thursday, Nov 14, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
[This post has been bumped up from last night for visibility.]
* Tribune…
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to consolidate nearly 650 local pension funds for suburban and downstate police officers and firefighters.
The measure, which was approved on a bipartisan vote of 96-14, now goes to the Senate. If that chamber approves the bill before adjourning Thursday, it would hand another victory to Pritzker after he accomplished nearly all of his legislative priorities in the spring. […]
The version passed by the House differs from Pritzker’s original proposal by giving active and retired police firefighters majority representation on the board that will oversee the funds. That change was key to winning the support of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, which had opposed the initial proposal.
* Gov. Pritzker’s office…
The House has taken a huge bipartisan step toward a commonsense solution for alleviating the enormous property tax burden in downstate and suburban communities that are struggling to meet their pension obligations,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Consolidating these small funds means that they could improve their investment returns by as much as $2.5 billion over the next five years. While this effort has been more than a half century the making, today’s progress would not have been possible without Rep. Jay Hoffman’s guidance in the House, and I look forward to the Senate moving forward on a measure that has earned the support of local municipalities, firefighters and police officers. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation so we can continue improving our state’s fiscal health and secure the retirements of the workers who earned them.
* Tribune…
Legislation to strengthen regulation of ethylene oxide sterilization operations around a “densely populated location” like Gurnee or Waukegan was blocked Wednesday by an Illinois Senate committee.
Late last month, the Illinois House voted 60-47 to send the House Bill 3888 to the Senate. The measure would require Northfield-based Medline Industries to move an assembly plant away from Lake County neighborhoods or switch to safer alternatives for sterilizing medical equipment by the end of next year. […]
On Wednesday, a late amendment to the bill in the Senate’s Executive Committee changed the length of the phaseout period and excluded several geographic areas, among other changes.
The bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said the amendment fulfilled promises made by the House sponsor, Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, but he had not taken part in those negotiations.
* Stop EtO…
We’re disappointed and afraid for our children and families, but we’re heartened that the Senators took the issue seriously and made it clear that they expect to be voting on this again in the spring. Stop EtO will not stop fighting until our children are safe.
* Tribune…
Legislation that would reduce both city and state taxes on a Chicago casino was introduced in the state Senate on Wednesday, but it remained unclear whether lawmakers will come through this week on Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s request for a tax structure that would be more appealing to potential investors.
Senate President John Cullerton put forth a compromise proposal Wednesday, but Lightfoot still needs to win more support from House Democrats if a bill is going to make it out of the General Assembly before its scheduled adjournment Thursday.
Democratic Rep. Bob Rita of Blue Island, the lead negotiator on gambling issues in the House, said he’s still working to see whether there are enough votes to move forward before lawmakers leave town.
While most House Democrats want the Chicago casino to succeed, Rita said, there are concerns that it could steal business from both proposed and existing casinos in surrounding suburbs. And some Democrats have raised questions about how revenue from the casino would be allocated to building projects under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s $45 billion “Rebuild Illinois” infrastructure plan.
* ABC 7…
Late in the afternoon the gaming bill sponsor, State Representative Bob Rita, was joined by members of Lightfoot’s Springfield lobbying team for a meeting in the office of House Speaker Mike Madigan.
The meeting comes after a day long effort to win enough votes in the House to pass a revised bill.
The original bill contained a 72 percent tax rate on a Chicago casino, which a consultant said was too onerous to attract investors.
Senate President John Cullerton also emerged from a meeting with Speaker Madigan Wednesday, but he declined to comment on discussions.
* Sun-Times…
The clock is ticking for Mayor Lori Lightfoot to convince enough lawmakers that lowering the state tax rate on a Chicago casino would still make a winning bet for Illinois.
Changes in the language of the state’s new gambling law have mostly been agreed upon to lighten the tax burden on the big city casino to make it viable, in light of a consultant’s report that high taxes would prevent any developer from securing financing.
But sources say Lightfoot is struggling to gain support, even after deploying labor union forces to try to seal the deal in the waning hours of the fall veto session.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton had hoped to bring a negotiated compromise to the Senate floor Wednesday, but the vote was delayed as the city continues to negotiate with lawmakers. That gives Lightfoot a couple extra hours to try to work her roll calls in both chambers.
* Dave Dahl…
A senator who represents a city which is getting a new casino is unhappy with the new deal. “The state’s capital plan is going to be losing $140 million a year,” said State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). “A lot of capital projects throughout the state are not going to get done now, because we are giving Chicago a better deal” than other – struggling – casino cities will get.
To that, State Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) told Syverson, at least Rockford’s getting a casino, but Chicago may not.
* Bond Buyer…
Lightfoot said after the city council meeting that, based on her conversations with leaders, she was not ready to give up hope that consideration would have to wait for the next session in January.
“The situation is fluid but we continue to be optimistic,” she said after a city council meeting. “It’s critically important for the city because the revenues generated by a Chicago casino are designated for our police and fire pensions and it’s obviously a top priority for us to have a structural sustainable revenue solution to help address our long-term fiscal needs.”
* NBC 5…
The Illinois House has approved legislation to cap the amount diabetes patients must pay for insulin to $100 a month.
The vote Wednesday to answer skyrocketing prescription insulin costs was 100-13. The Senate has approved the idea but a change in the House requires another Senate vote.
* SJ-R…
State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, is once again hoping that the General Assembly passes legislation that will abolish a provision in state law that has all the voters in Sangamon County elect some officials who oversee functions of Capital Township, which generally shares boundaries with the city of Springfield.
But just like when the issue arose near the end of the spring legislative session, the three members of the General Assembly — all Republicans — who live in Capital Township said Wednesday they were caught unaware of action on the issue.
“If he wants to change how Capital Township is governed, he should talk to the three members of the General Assembly who live in Capital Township,” said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield. “This is a personal issue for us. We believe that the county does a very good job with the township in running an effective … government. Secondly, he doesn’t live here. It’s as easy as that.”
* Capitol News Illinois…
Bills aimed at curbing where Illinoisans can use electronic smoking devices and with what flavorings appear halted until the spring session of the General Assembly.
One bill would loop electronic cigarettes into the Smoke Free Illinois Act. The other would ban flavored cartridges and pods used in such devices.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Meanwhile, lawmakers were also still negotiating a marijuana bill Wednesday that would address some unresolved issues left behind by the massive legalization bill that passed through the General Assembly in the spring.
Sen. Heather Steans, a lead sponsor of the original bill, explained to a committee that the so-called “trailer” bill is intended to clarify several aspects of the original bill. […]
It also clarifies a “revolving door” provision of the law by saying members of the General Assembly and their families would be prohibited from having a direct financial interest in a cannabis business until two years after that lawmaker leaves public office.
It also provides that marijuana-related paraphernalia would no longer be illegal in Illinois. But it would remain illegal to operate a snowmobile or any kind of watercraft while under the influence of marijuana.
* WCIA…
A plan to forgive private jet repair shops for unpaid sales tax debt and restore an expired tax exemption cleared a hurdle in the Senate Revenue Committee on Wednesday.
A 2010 sales tax exemption for private jet repair parts expired in 2014, and the industry says it was caught off guard until an audit in March flagged the issue at one Illinois facility. They quickly pushed a bill through the House during the first week of veto session to restore the exemption and forgive the tax debt.
The measure appears headed for Governor J.B. Pritzker’s desk, despite his threat to veto it.
* Center Square…
While the number of ethics reforms filed by Republicans in the Illinois statehouse continue to stack up, the clock is running out for anything to pass by the end of the week.
Thursday is the last day of session this year. While Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said it’s possible for some reforms to pass in one day, he wants more time to review the proposals.
“I’ve mentioned before we should have some kind of a joint committee or something at a minimum and see if we can pass any low hanging fruit, but that’s something that hasn’t been negotiated yet,” Cullerton said Wednesday.
He said something will pass this week, but didn’t elaborate.
* Illinois Gaming Board…
On August 8, 2019, the IGB approved a video gaming emergency rule that would allow for a sixth machine to be installed and connected to the central communications system without sworn IGB agents present on-site, allow for large licensed truck stops to have up to ten Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) and add language about progressive jackpots. The Gaming Board approved this rule at the first Board meeting after Governor Pritzker signed P.A. 101-0031 (the gaming expansion act) into law on June 28, 2019. The emergency rule became effective on August 13 when the IGB filed it with the Secretary of State. This rule was in effect until JCAR suspended the emergency rule at its September 17, 2019 meeting. No one from the IGB was allowed to speak at the September 17 hearing and JCAR made no inquiries to the Board about the rule. The suspension by JCAR ended the ability of the IGB to expeditiously allow for the addition of a sixth video gaming terminal at locations throughout the State because the IGB had no rules to safely and securely govern terminal handler access or any ability to monitor the integrity of these installs without an agent’s presence. That is because the IGB rules that would have allowed for safe and secure installs at locations without the presence of on-site IGB agents are the very rules JCAR suspended two months ago.
At the time of the suspension, licensed terminal operators had already begun operating under the emergency rules. Many had placed orders for the secure components, which are needed to access critical areas of a video gaming terminal so it may be powered up and connected to the central communications system. This meant that terminal operators could add a sixth machine in licensed locations without waiting for an IGB agent to oversee the installation. JCAR asserted that the suspension of the emergency rule at the September 17th meeting was based on the IGB’s lack of specific statutory authority for the emergency rule, despite the unqualified statutory authority the IGB reasonably relied upon. At the time, the IGB disagreed with this legal interpretation by JCAR Staff — but that could not have been known to JCAR as no one contacted the IGB regarding the potential delays caused by suspension of the rule. The gaming expansion law did not delete the emergency rulemaking authority granted to the Board under the Video Gaming Act; thus, the IGB reasonably referenced and relied upon that section of law granting emergency rulemaking powers to the Board.
The IGB proceeded with the regular permanent rulemaking process on this new video gaming rule. This process causes a natural delay as the rule is not in effect as it works itself through the JCAR process, which can take many months. Yesterday, November 12, JCAR delayed consideration of the regular (permanent) rule for up to an additional 45 days. Apparently, JCAR was contacted by one or more interested parties or industry trade groups before the meeting concerning the VGT surveillance provisions. JCAR staff told the IGB minutes before the hearing yesterday, outside the hearing room, that the Board must agree to the 45 day extension or receive a filing prohibition, which would erase the entire rule within 180 days. JCAR’s action will again cause further delays for gaming expansion.
Below is the status of the 6th machine:
41 Locations with a live 6th machine approved by IGB;
309 Total locations with a 6th machine (disabled machines as a result of the Sept 17 JCAR suspension);
1549 Terminal Operator requests received by IGB for the 6th machine.
* IEA…
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked alongside several unions to pass Senate Bill 1784 (SB 1784) to help protect the privacy of public employees, affirm collective bargaining rights and to clarify dues deduction procedures. SB 1784 passed both legislative chambers and now heads to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk for his signature. This legislation is a victory for all union members and public employees in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in the Janus v. AFSCME case, which overturned 40 years of settled collective bargaining law.
“This is about protecting union members’ rights in Illinois. We have the right to organize. We have the right to use our collective voice to advocate for our students, our schools and our communities. Thank you to our lawmakers for recognizing our seat at the table should be protected,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said.
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