* As I told you the other day, the Democratic legislative leaders had not yet spoken with their respective caucuses about how best to address the terrorist attack on Israel and resulting war. Those conversations have now happened.
What I’m hearing today is that some Senators in both parties will rise to talk about the war’s impact on the people of their districts. Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) told me she plans to speak, for instance. At least one House Democrat will likely do the same (regarding the murder of Wadea Al-Fayoume). We’ll see what happens.
* Some Republicans spoke yesterday…
On the House floor, Minority Leader Tony McCombie made a statement on point of personal privilege condemning the attacks. Republican state Rep. Brad Halbrook discussed his bill, HR 449, in support of Israel, also on point of personal privilege.
And in a follow-up statement: Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin called it “completely shocking” that Democrats wouldn’t speak up on the issue.
Rep. McLaughlin is running against Democrat Maria Peterson, who is allied with Rep. Nabeela Syed, the first Muslim woman elected to the General Assembly. He’s made a campaign issue out of Rep. Syed signing the progressive legislators’ letter after the attack, hence his statement yesterday.
* The Democratic super-majority in the General Assembly has mostly avoided the trap that at least some Republicans appear eager to set by engaging in the same sort of divisive, over-the-top vitriol that has afflicted the Chicago city council, first on asylum-seekers and then on this topic. Yes, there was some back and forth online at first, but that seems to have faded away with time.
Not to say that there aren’t deep emotions on this. There most certainly are. But a choice has apparently been made by members to not let their emotions completely disrupt their ability to conduct actual state legislating going forward.
House debate is here. Senate debate is here. We’ll see what happens. The House has canceled Thursday’s session, by the way.
*** UPDATE *** The Senate’s process is beginning. Click here. Four members will be recognized to share points of information about “events and occurrences happening in their districts to reflect what’s going on in our larger world,” according to Senate President Harmon.
…Adding… Sen. Laura Fine is talking about how two Hamas kidnap victims live in her district. The two women have been released…
I have a responsibility to those constituents as well as the hundreds of others who have family in Israel to stand up today and speak. And so I stand before you today to say on behalf of my Jewish constituents and myself, never again. Never again will we allow this kind of hatred and anti-semitism that led to the murder of 6 million people in places like Auschwitz and Dachau. Our world has been shaken and forever changed, but we are resilient and we will go on. […]
As Illinois legislators we must recognize that this conflict has torn a rift between individuals and communities here at home and commit ourselves to fighting racism, Islamophobia, and anti-semitism here in our own state. I’ve spoken to parents of children who are afraid to go to school. There are Holocaust survivors who no longer feel safe out in the community. This state of fear and violence is not an inevitable outcome, and we must not accept it in Illinois. […]
I urge all of us to go forward as leaders in our community with love and hope in our hearts, and a lasting secure peace as our goal.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
…Adding… Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…
When we called our cousins in the Old City, our hearts were shattered. One cousin had gone to the Nova music festival and was unaccounted for. We didn’t know how he was but we prayed for his safe return. And we prayed day and night. Then on Monday, we got the call that every loved one dreads. This beautiful 23 year old innocent soul, who was just starting his life was brutally murdered, along with 260 other festival goers. I was shattered. My whole family was shattered at the news. […]
[Reading from a letter sent by a constituent] Last week, our family attended a peaceful Israel solidarity rally and prayer in Skokie, in a sweet little banquet hall in Skokie that’s often used for Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. And during this gathering, protesters who learned about the [event] on social media made sure that they shuttled from downtown to bring their violence and hatred of Jews to our neighborhood. And to be honest, I must tell you that I feel that this hatred is a different hatred. It’s a deeper and more violent, hatred, than I’ve ever felt in all of the chapters of my family’s history. No longer can I say that we are part of a big human family. We can no longer kid ourselves. There are monsters among us. This attack was an attack on all of us. It is here in America. […]
The hostility to Israel is palpable. First it was religion. Then it was race. And now that those prejudices are not popular, It’s about the land. The reasons seem to change over time, the hate stays the same. The common theme is Jews, that we are Jews. […]
Jewish constituents in their neighborhoods and across Illinois are scared. They need to know you and other leaders are working to make us safe. There must be consequences. against those who preach and encourage violence.
…Adding… Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…
I’d like to take a moment to recognize Wadea Al-Fayoume, the little six year old Palestinian American boy who was tragically killed in Plainfield during a senseless hate crime. I’m heartbroken by the loss of this young, innocent life. No person should ever have to bury their child. My heart breaks for this family and for his family and for the many people who fear for their life and safety solely because of their beliefs or the way they look. We have to respect and honor every faith race and religion. Let us never forget that hate has no home, in our community, in our state, or across our nation. We must stand together against any form of hate. So I ask for a moment of silence for Wadea Al-Fayoume.
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* Some background from the Tribune editorial board…
In Ameren’s downstate Illinois territory, more than $3.6 billion worth of new transmission lines is planned, Pritzker said in his veto message. The bill he vetoed would give Ameren “right of first refusal” over building and operating those, effectively elbowing out competitive bids that could lower costs for ratepayers.
A major national priority of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the measure is designed to ensure members of IBEW locals get all the work tied to the projects. It was an eleventh-hour push by Washington, D.C.-based IBEW President Kenneth Cooper, who called Illinois legislative leaders personally in the final days of the spring session, that got Springfield’s attention. Opponents were blindsided.
The bill passed the Senate with a comfortable veto-proof majority. The House sent it to the governor, but a large number of members choosing not to vote kept the margin short of the veto-proof threshold. […]
Of course, as is often the case in the utility business — dependent as it is on public officials, who must approve its rates — there’s no shortage of hypocrisy here. Ameren, whose parent company is based in St. Louis and operates throughout the Midwest, lobbied against a similar proposal seven years ago in Kansas when the incumbent utilities there wanted the monopoly and Ameren was interested in bidding on work. That was then, this is now, Ameren says.
The Trib’s editorial board has upped its game and it showed with that editorial.
* The bill only received 63 House votes, not nearly enough to override the governor. Today, the proponents acknowledged the obvious and threw in the towel. House sponsor Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr…
Rright of first refusal is basically allowing the state of Illinois to give the incumbent utility first crack at building the transmission lines that we’ve had in the state for over the last 100 years to maintain their systems. And we’re gonna have more talk about what this policy does. But in my viewpoint, the simple fact of the matter is transmission lines and the electric grid is a regulated monopoly. Has been and always will. If we allow private entities to come in to build these transmission lines, you’ll have a patchwork of these systems throughout the state. And it’d be just like the tollway, six different companies own different sets of mileage. It’s not integrated into the way we should be doing things. I think it’s bad policy.
And our purpose here today is first and foremost to announce that we’re not going to try to override the veto the amendatory veto on House Bill 3445. We’re going to go and educate members, legislators. There was an argument that this thing was done in the dark, which it wasn’t. But the process is the process. We’re going to open that door. We’re going to put subject matters out in the spring. We’re going to work with legislators, the governor’s office, the rate-payers, the community on what right of first refusal,actually is. And when they hear that they’re going, I believe, agree with us. This is the right step for Illinois.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Toward the end of the press conference, Rep. Walsh, who chairs the House Public Utilities Committee, said this…
We’re looking at doing a full education swing in the spring, introduce a bill that puts the state of Illinois as a right of first refusal state for the whole state with no sunset.
“The whole state” would include ComEd’s turf. One of the ways that legislators have defended their votes is to differentiate Ameren, which has no history of federal corruption probes here, from ComEd, which most certainly does have a history of federal corruption probes here. If you thought this has been a heavy lift for Ameren, adding in ComEd is gonna be 10 times as difficult.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Ann Williams chairs the House Energy & Environment Committee…
I agree that we must use skilled Illinois union labor for these energy-related infrastructure projects. I look forward to more conversations this spring with organized labor, Ameren and environmental advocates to consider transmission issues as part of a broader conversation about creating the infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future, build capacity, put consumers first, and address the climate crisis.
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* Illinois Action for Children press release…
[Yesterday], at the Carole Robertson Center for Early Learning, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the launch of a new, unified early childhood state agency-eliminating the need for multiple state agencies to administer the early childhood education and care system (ECEC) in Illinois. […]
The major programs that will be housed under the new agency will include the Early Childhood Block Grant at the Illinois State Board of Education, which funds the Preschool for All and the Prevention Initiative programs, the Child Care Assistance Program, Home Visiting, and Early Intervention programs at the Department of Human Services, and licensing for child care programs, which is currently administered by the Department of Children and Family Services.
Emphasis added because we talked about that topic last week. Some members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules were furious at the way DCFS was handling child care licensing and said they wanted to move that function to another agency.
Well, they’re getting their wish.
* Meanwhile, it turns out that one of the child care associations which has been complaining to JCAR members and other legislators about the problems with DCFS licensing rules was totally shut out of the process to create this new unified early childhood agency. And it claims others were as well. Excerpt from a press release by the Illinois Directors and Owners of Childcare Centers (ILDOCC)…
We agree wholeheartedly that new leadership and a fresh approach is critical to rebuilding and strengthening childcare access in Illinois. And creating a single agency focused exclusively on this issue is a positive step forward.
However, even with today’s announcement, it is important to note that the biggest trade organizations that represent providers of child care in every corner of the state were not involved, consulted or informed prior to this morning’s event. This is an example of what providers have faced far too often — where policy decisions are made without the input of the front line experts that provide these services which are relied upon by working families in Illinois. […]
As an organization that represents nearly 1,000 separate childcare facilities in Illinois, we look forward to the promise of our inclusion in this process. More importantly, we look forward to working with our legislative champions to ensure this process improves the industry, addresses the long-standing staffing crisis crippling the industry, and increases access to affordable childcare in every corner of the state.
In other words, if the administration keeps freezing them out, they’ll work with sympathetic legislators to make sure their voices are heard.
…Adding… I just received a call from the governor’s office. They point out that ILDOCC’s only major issue is allowing unqualified people to staff daycare centers and the administration refuses to allow this to ever happen. They also rightly note that this consolidation has been in the works for some time now.
…Adding… ILDOCC…
Yesterday, ILDOCC was happy to praise and state our gratitude to Governor Pritzker for his announcement on creating a new state agency for early childhood education. The change in licensing from the Department of Children and Family Services is something for which this organization has advocated for years.
We also shared our desire to work with the Governor’s office and other stakeholders as this moves forward. As an organization that represents nearly 1,000 licensed childcare centers in the state of Illinois, it is our hope that providers who are doing the work of caring for children will get to have a voice in these decisions being made, and we look forward to the opportunity to work together on this issue.
We are, however, disappointed with the statement from the Governor’s office this morning in response to our statement yesterday. While it is true that ILDOCC believes strongly that on the job experience should be given greater consideration in licensing standards, this is neither the only issue on which we advocate, nor does our organization support policies that are against the best interests of the children and families we serve.
It remains our hope that the Governor’s commitment yesterday to work with all stakeholders was an honest step toward a better system in Illinois where all voices are heard, and that this morning’s statement from his office was an unfortunate mistake.
We continue to look forward to working with the administration on an inclusive, transparent process toward passing legislation that genuinely improves the system in Illinois, and finally addresses the long-standing staffing crisis that has plagued this industry.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* In its ongoing series about anti-government extremists infiltrating law enforcement ranks, WBEZ, the Sun-Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published a story entitled “He was a rising football star — then he met this state trooper.” You should read the whole thing to see what happened to the kid, but let’s talk about this…
In a statement last week, state police said they knew Dumais had appeared on the Oath Keepers list, but officials determined that he had only “isolated involvement” with the group in 2009, before he joined the force in 2013. In the leaked data, Dumais appears on membership rolls dated as late as 2015.
“At some point in early 2009 I donated an amount of money which I cannot recall to the Oathkeepers Organization through their website,” Dumais wrote in an internal memo in January 2023. “I do not consider myself a member of this organization.”
Dumais did not return messages. A state police spokesperson defended him as a “decorated officer with no discipline” who was lauded for saving a woman from fatally overdosing and for being the lead investigator in three solved homicide cases.
The spokesperson for the state police said the allegations against Dumais in Mitchell’s lawsuit had been reviewed and it was decided there was “insufficient evidence to support discipline” against the state trooper. The spokesperson also said the settlement with Mitchell was smaller than his initial demand of $1.5 million.
And state police officials said Monday they recently added questions to their job applications to screen aspiring troopers who have been involved in anti-government groups.
The Oath Keepers list was made public in September of 2022.
* One issue not mentioned in the story is that the Illinois State Police Merit Board is specifically prohibited from investigating most actions that took place more than three years before a complaint is filed. So even if a complaint was filed against that trooper, the board couldn’t do anything about conduct in 2009 through 2015, when he was listed as an Oath Keepers member. Here’s the rule…
The Board will not consider any complaint based upon conduct which antedates by three years the date the complaint is filed, except in those instances where the conduct complained of is parallel to criminal conduct as provided by the laws of this state, the United States or any governmental subdivision thereof, in which case this shall conform with the applicable criminal statute of limitations when the applicable criminal statute of limitations is longer. On Petitions for Review, the Board will reverse the suspension based on conduct which antedates by three (3) years the date the suspension was given.
The State Police Merit Board proposed getting rid of this rule in May of 2022, with the support of the ISP. Click here and scroll down to see it. However, I’m told, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules asked the Merit Board to withdraw the proposed change due to lack of support among its bipartisan membership and opposition from police unions.
* The Question: Should this statute of limitations-style rule be rescinded, extended or left as-is? Make sure to explain your answer, please. Thanks.
…Adding… JCAR staff recalls this differently. They’re saying that JCAR took a pass because they learned an unfair labor practice charge was pending before the Illinois Labor Relations Board on this very issue, not on the policy per se.
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* CNBC…
A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general is suing Meta over addictive features aimed at kids and teens, the AGs announced Tuesday. The support from so many state AGs of different political backgrounds indicates a significant legal challenge to Meta’s business.
Meta is now facing multiple lawsuits on this issue in several districts. AGs from 33 states filed a federal suit against Meta in the Northern District of California, while 9 additional AGs are filing in their own states, according to a press release from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office. […]
Several of the practices the AGs focus on for Meta are similar to those exercised by other social media businesses, such as designing algorithms to keep users engaged.
“We share the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families,” Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. “We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path.”
The lawsuit is here.
* From AG Raoul…
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that his office filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. (Meta), the company that owns and operates Facebook and Instagram, for its harmful business practices targeting children.
The lawsuit, backed by a broad, bipartisan coalition of 33 states, was filed today in the federal district court for the Northern District of California. In their lawsuit, Raoul and the attorneys general allege that Meta’s business model, which seeks to capture as much user time and attention as possible to sell advertising, has targeted youth, including teenagers and even younger children, in ways that take advantage of them.
“Our children are in crisis, and we need to act,” Raoul said. “The addictive features on Meta’s social media platforms interfere with sleep and education, enable cyberbullying, and contribute to depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm. I believe the action we are taking today against Meta is one of – if not the most – important consumer protection actions my office will take. The consequences will affect an entire generation of young people. I am committed to holding Meta, and any other responsible actors, accountable for putting profits ahead of our children.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 14. During the decade since Instagram’s rise in popularity, the CDC reported that the number of high school students who experience feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and ideation increased by 40%. In that same time period, there was a 30% increase in the rate of high school girls who attempted suicide.
Raoul and the coalition allege that Meta designed its social media platforms to include features that exploit young users’ psychological vulnerabilities to keep them using the platforms longer, and that many of these product features are strongly linked to damaging psychological outcomes. The attorneys general allege that Meta is aware of the potential harms its products cause youth, including driving impulsive behavior; interfering with sleep and education; and exacerbating issues young people have with depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm. Meta’s own research confirmed that its social media platforms are among the worst in harming young users.
“Our son, Nate Bronstein, forever 15, is no longer with us because social media platforms have for far too long placed profits over children’s safety,” said Rose and Rob Bronstein, whose son, died in 2022. “Nate, a super-sharp, funny kid who loved making others laugh, was cyberbullied by fellow students at the Latin School of Chicago. These teens, blinded by the drive to get shares and views, and emboldened by features like self-deleting messages, relied on social media to send vile, threatening messages to Nate, leading to his tragic passing. Reasonable people everywhere have long realized the danger that social media poses to our children, yet the unsafe features remain, and the harm continues, while the profits grow. Thank you to our courageous elected leaders for holding the social media platforms accountable for this reprehensible behavior and protecting other families from having to endure the worst imaginable tragedy.”
“Smartphones and social media are almost universally in every young person’s hand and have the capacity to deeply harm and exacerbate mental health challenges for young people,” said NAMI Illinois CEO Alexa James. “This is a serious public health issue complicating a deeply serious mental health crisis our children and their families are already facing.”
According to the surgeon general, eighth and tenth graders now spend an average of three-and-a-half hours per day on social media. In Illinois, nearly a million Illinois teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 access Instagram every month. From 2020 to 2021 in Illinois alone, over half a million Illinois teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 accessed Instagram every day.
Raoul’s lawsuit alleges that Meta violated the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting the personal information of children under the age of 13 without obtaining parental permission as required by that statute. The coalition is asking the court to enter an injunction stopping Meta from continuing these unlawful practices.
Today’s lawsuit stems from a bipartisan nationwide investigation announced by Raoul in November 2021, and is part of the Attorney General’s efforts to protect children online and address the negative impacts of social media platforms on young Illinois residents. In May 2021, Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general urging Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. In March 2022, Raoul also announced a bipartisan nationwide investigation into TikTok for providing and promoting its social media platform to children and young adults despite its use being associated with physical and mental health harms.
…Adding… Sen. Rezin…
Illinois Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued the following statement in response to announcement that Illinois Attorney General has signed onto a multi-state lawsuit against Meta over the company’s use of addictive features aimed at kids and teens:
“I would like to thank Illinois Attorney General Raoul for his decision to join with 32 other state attorney generals to file a lawsuit to hold Meta accountable for the harmful and addictive algorithms they utilize to profit off of unsuspecting minors.
“I continue to remain committed to working with stakeholders to pass social media legislation during the General Assembly’s spring legislative session that will protect the well-being of our state’s children from every social media company that uses similar tactics that this lawsuit alleges.”
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