A collection of budget responses
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senate President Don Harmon…
“I’m not accustomed to good news in a budget speech. This is a budget proposal unlike any I’ve seen in my time in the Senate. It speaks to the work we’ve done, together, to bring stability to our state finances. That stability allows us to invest back in our state and provide relief to those hit hardest by the pandemic and associated economic downturn. There’s a lot to like with this plan, and I look forward to working with the governor to produce a final product.”
* Speaker Chris Welch…
The governor’s budget address lays out a clear path to continue moving our state toward financial stability and surety while prioritizing hardworking Illinoisans. I could not be more proud of this state and the significant progress we’ve made in such a short amount of time.
It’s hard to imagine, but just a few years ago under the previous Republican administration we had a bill backlog of $17 billion, human service programs were decimated, our credit rating reached near junk status and Illinoisans were suffering because of it. It is thanks to hard work and responsible fiscal management that we are now in the position to discuss property tax relief, tax cuts for everyday necessities, millions in new spending for education, major investments in public safety and nearly eliminating our bill-payment backlog.
Our future is much brighter and our fiscal outlook is strong. This proposal by Governor Pritzker is an excellent starting point for our legislative budget negotiations. We cannot lose sight of the fact that we are still very much in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic and we must continue providing relief to people who are struggling. I have full confidence in Leader Greg Harris, his budget team, our appropriations committees and our Democratic Caucus to produce a final product that continues to build a better Illinois for all.
* Economic Security for Illinois…
In his State of the State budget address, Gov. Pritzker failed to include a popular proposal now up for debate in the General Assembly, which would provide 4.5 million low-income Illinoisans tax relief via an expansion to the Earned Income Credit. Shortly before the speech, the independent Center for Tax and Budget Accountability released a new report from finding the proposal would bring $1 billion in economic benefits to local economies, more than double the cost of the proposal and an overall net benefit of $600 million to the state.
“We are disappointed that the Governor’s ‘Family Relief Plan’ left low-income families behind. We are still in a pandemic, where families—particularly low-income families—continue to struggle. An expanded Earned Income Credit and new Child Tax Credit would directly benefit Illinoisans by putting cash in their hands and indirectly drive local economic investment for Illinois to build back better, ” said Harish I. Patel, Director of Economic Security for Illinois, a group which leads the Cost-of-Living Refund Coalition. “Our coalition will continue to fight alongside our partners in the General Assembly to provide permanent tax relief to Illinoisans who need it most.”
* A.J. Wilhelmi, President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association…
“The Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) echoes Gov. Pritzker’s heartfelt recognition of the extraordinary efforts undertaken by hospitals and healthcare workers around the state in the collective fight against COVID-19 over the last two years.
“The Governor’s budget proposal importantly allocates resources to begin addressing healthcare staffing shortages, which have been worsened by the pandemic. We support the Governor’s proposed funding for programs designed to help bring more workers into healthcare professions, and to help recruit and retain healthcare workers.
“Continuing to fully support our heroic, but fatigued, hospitals and healthcare workers will ensure that the Illinois hospital community remains viable and strong as they care for their patients in their time of need.
“IHA and the hospital community stand ready to work with the Governor and the General Assembly to enact a budget that ensures Illinois will emerge from this pandemic with its robust and innovative healthcare delivery system intact—and with hospitals having the necessary support to continue providing high-quality services to all Illinoisans.”
* Chicagoland Chamber…
“Between the commitment to further allocate funds to our state’s pensions, invest in workforce and economic development, increase funding for public safety, and pay down Illinois’ debt, we commend the Governor for the fiscal approach taken in this year’s proposed budget. Chicago’s business community has endured great hardship over the past several years, from an ongoing pandemic to rising property tax assessments and bills as well as violent crime that threatens every neighborhood throughout the city. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce stands ready to work with elected officials to ensure these proposed policies are enacted as well as to provide needed resources to our business community to both further economic growth and recovery and foster job creation and opportunity across Chicago and the state of Illinois,” said Jack Lavin, president & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
* Illinois State Medical Society…
Illinois doctors are grateful that this budget commits to eliminating the reimbursement backlog for people covered under the state’s health plan. For many years medical practices serving state employees and retirees struggled as they waited months and months for reimbursement. The length of delayed reimbursement has improved in recent years and with this budget, if approved, should go away. This is good news.
In addition, ISMS appreciates the Governor’s acknowledgement of the Illinois medical community during this pandemic and his proposal to eliminate licensure fees for healthcare professionals. And we support funding the loan forgiveness programs that will help more doctors get into rural and underserved areas.
We also back the Governor’s ongoing efforts to continue to support the public health measures needed to mitigate COVID-19.
* IEC…
“The Illinois Environmental Council applauds Gov. JB Pritzker for proposing a state budget that prioritizes resources for combatting climate change, a first in Illinois history. Never before has an Illinois governor outlined such a strong budgetary commitment to climate solutions, including enactment of the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act, significant investments in electric vehicle infrastructure and support for clean energy and clean transportation manufacturing. Today’s proposal includes important first steps to rebuilding and adequately resourcing Illinois’ environmental and conservation state agencies, including increased staffing, something IEC has repeatedly called for. Finally, we are also thrilled to see the $113 million investment in replacing toxic lead service lines across the state.
“While more still needs to be done to safeguard our state’s natural resources the public health of all Illinoisans, these investments and those in the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act mark a turning point for our state, and we look forward to working with Gov. Prizkter and his administration to continue building Illinois’ nationally recognized climate leadership.”
* INA…
The Illinois Nurses Association supports Governor J.B. Pritzker’s plans to provide relief and financial support for important elements of the Illinois nursing work force. The Governor laid out his plans for Illinois in a combined State of the State and budget address today.
Nurses in Illinois have been serving patients in a pandemic that now enters its third year—nurses are stressed out, burned out, underpaid and underappreciated. We welcome the Governor’s support and are looking forward to working with him to help build the nursing workforce of the future.
INA officials also support the Governor’s efforts to ease the costs of obtaining a nursing license and his administration’s investment in nurses through the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program and the Nursing Scholarship Education Program.
These programs can play an important role in recruiting new nurses to the health care workforce to help treat patients in the future.
* Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association…
“The hospitality and tourism industry, which has historically served as an anchor for Illinois’ economy, has been devastated by the pandemic – losing more than $111.8 billion in room revenue alone nationally. These losses have contributed to widespread layoffs, with many workers unable to return as recreational and business travel continues to be disrupted. Despite these struggles, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal neglected to offer any relief to the industry, which prior to the pandemic brought in $4 billion a year in state and local taxes and supported more than 290,000 jobs. As the governor looks for ways to support working families, we call on him to embrace our Hotel Jobs Recovery Plan, which would allocate $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to hotels across the state. We urge the legislature and the Governor to support this initiative. This plan is an essential part of getting the industry, and our tourism and hospitality economy, back on stable footing and we look forward to working with the governor to make it a reality,” said Michael Jacobson, president & CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association.
* Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery…
“From the start of the pandemic, Governor Pritzker has steadfastly followed the science to protect our communities and move our state forward. We thank him for establishing mask and vaccine mandates that are helping keep our schools open and students and staff safe.
“The budget Governor Pritzker proposed today prioritizes the needs of students and educators and the delivery of public services to our most vulnerable Illinoisans. His proposed $350 million increase is a step toward adequately funding K-12 schools, especially in our neediest communities. But preK-12 funding is still billions of dollars short of the Evidence Based-Model funding target, which would provide the resources to educate every Illinois child well, no matter their zip code. We urge Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to work toward fully funding the Evidence Based-Model.
“Critically, the state’s higher education system is suffering from decades of disinvestment. We are encouraged by the supplemental FY22 increase in funding for community colleges and universities that carries over to FY23. We urge the legislature to include this vital increase in higher education funding in the final budget.
“We also welcome the long-overdue recognition that the state must pay its bills – including the unfunded pension liability. The governor has proposed $500 million in pension funding over and above the required payment. This saves the state money in the long term and it’s the right thing to do.
“The pandemic will have lasting economic effects on students, educators, school staff, and communities of color. We applaud the governor for taking the necessary steps to assist in their recovery by providing some tax relief. The cuts to grocery and gas taxes and doubling the state property tax rebate will help provide the support that Illinois families need right now.
“The IFT looks forward to continuing to work with Governor Pritzker as he focuses on the state’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”
* SEIU Healthcare…
“As a union of the frontline home care, child care and healthcare workers who have experienced the direct impact of underfunded public services greatly exacerbated by a pandemic, we applaud the Governor’s continued commitment to responsible fiscal management.
“The Governor’s proposed budget is a step in the right direction, drawing upon the state’s strong economic performance and available Federal funding to pay for desperately needed rate increases for home care and child care workers as well as investment in schools, early childhood education, nursing home rate reform, mental health care, and the healthcare workforce in general.
“While the budget released today will provide crucial help to the workers and communities hardest hit by the pandemic, additional investment is still needed. We look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly to address the need for additional investment in crucial care services and infrastructure in communities across the state.
* Responsible Budget Coalition…
As a coalition of the state’s leading advocacy, human service, community and labor organizations, we judge any budget by these principles: It must contain adequate revenue, fairly raised, and it must avoid cuts to vital programs and services.
Sound fiscal management has put our state in a position to continue funding for many public services despite the COVID pandemic. With the state’s strong economic performance and important assistance from the federal government, we have more funds available to help all Illinoisans thrive, including those hardest hit by the ongoing pandemic.
The budget released today is a step in that direction. We are pleased with the funding increases for education as well as the focus on a number of other one time investments. However, Illinois must do more to focus on budget policies that would provide adequate revenue to support critical programs along with long-term tax relief to the lowest income people, by requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share.
We look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly to pass a budget that meets our moral obligation to fully fund education, health care, and human services. RBC will continue to further our mission to ensure that Illinois stays on sound financial footing as well as meeting the needs of its’ people. Working together, we can do both.
* Illinois Partners for Human Service…
Illinois Partners for Human Service, a coalition of more than 850 health and human service providers across the state of Illinois, is encouraged by Governor Pritzker’s FY23 budget proposal. We appreciate the priorities outlined in this budget for the health and human service sector and commend the significant investments proposed. Specifically, we are glad to see rate increases for many health and human services programs, including Behavioral Health, Developmental Disability Services, Childcare, the Community Care Program, and other key investments that will strengthen our sector and our communities.
Our health and human service coalition partners have been on the frontlines navigating this pandemic from the onset, and have tirelessly shouldered the burden of care for our communities. While state and federal relief dollars have been directed to our sector over the past two years, very little of this funding has addressed the systemic challenges facing the health and human services workforce. This budget is definitely a step in the right direction. At the same time, more work needs to be done to rectify the consequences of twenty years of disinvestment in the health and human service workforce in our state.
We look forward to working with the administration and our legislators to do everything possible to reduce administrative burden and ensure funding is directed to community providers. These organizations are trusted by those hardest hit by this pandemic, and their work is essential to the well-being of all Illinoisans.
* IMA…
“Facing record inflation, supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages, manufacturers across Illinois need support from policymakers to continue investing in our communities, growing our economy, and ensuring consumers receive the medicines, food and important goods they rely on. While we are encouraged by some of the priorities outlined by the Governor, including a significant investment in job training and workforce development programs, a focus on manufacturing careers, enhanced pension payment and the extension of the critical EDGE tax incentive, we must not lose sight of long-term challenges. These include policies that increase operating costs on employers and threaten job growth, such as $4.5 billion in debt plaguing the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturers have time and again demonstrated our willingness to take on tough challenges and solve problems, and we remain prepared to work with the Governor and lawmakers to find solutions.”
…Adding… By Amdor’s request…
…Adding… Community colleges…
The Illinois Community College Trustees Association and the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents applaud Governor Pritzker and his administration for their planned investment in higher education through the FY 2023 budget, and support the proposed funding increases to operationalize strategies outlined in the collectively developed plan A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability and Growth.
An unprecedented increase of $122 million in MAP funding will ensure more equitable access to higher education for all Illinois residents. This increase will also enable MAP grants to cover a greater portion of students’ tuition costs and expand funding eligibility to students pursuing short-term certificates or credentials in fields that meet essential workforce needs in our local communities, such as commercial driver’s license (CDL) and certified nursing assistant (CNA) credentials.
Illinois community colleges stand ready to partner with the Governor’s Office in the new and innovative Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare (PATH) workforce program to support and expand opportunities for growing the nursing and healthcare worker pipeline. The $25 million in funding will assist community colleges with enhancing programming and wrap-around services to recruit future healthcare workers, remove barriers to entry into healthcare fields for low-income, first generation and minority students, and develop career advancement pathways for incumbent healthcare workers. These steps are essential to addressing unprecedented healthcare worker shortages and provide a ready supply of future workers.
The ongoing pandemic combined with years of near stagnant funding have strained higher education budgets, programming and services. A five percent increase to community college operational funding, and the addition of supplemental funding opportunities, will further strengthen our local institutions while easing the financial burden on local taxpayers and students.
Collectively, the proposed investments in higher education will assist the state in closing historic equity gaps and improve student outcomes for underrepresented students group, while retaining Illinois residents and creating pathways for development of a skilled workforce in key areas of the labor force to support the state’s business and industry.
Illinois community colleges are proud to work collaboratively with Governor Pritzker’s administration and our legislative leaders to maintain Illinois’ leadership as one of the most respected and progressive higher education systems in the nation, and we strongly support the proposed FY 2023 budget.
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Republicans angry!
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ILGOP…
There is an adage in politics that says the worse the internal poll numbers are, the more gimmicky a candidate’s campaign proposals become. For Governor JB Pritzker, 2022 is shaping up to be a bad year for his electoral hopes as crime, corruption, and high taxes continue running roughshod over Illinois families.
He needs a pick-me-up and this year’s joint budget and State of the State address is his latest attempt at distracting Illinoisans from his disastrous leadership and well documented record of asking us to pay more for a state government that doesn’t work.
Despite today’s election year gimmicks, Pritzker has a consistent record of supporting tax hikes. Sometimes he was successful in enacting them, and sometimes he was not. Let’s check the tape:
• Pritzker spent $58 million of his own money to try and convince Illinoisans to change the state constitution allowing for a massive income tax hike and the ability for Springfield lawmakers to increase middle class taxes whenever they want. Luckily, Illinois families said no to the largest tax hike in state history.
• Failing to pass the largest tax hike in Illinois history, Pritzker then turned to small businesses, increasing taxes by over $600 million on job creators across the state.
• When the federal bailout disappears and Pritzker’s out-of-control spending sends us even deeper into debt, Pritzker’s already telegraphed what he will do next: raise the income tax by 20%.
“Pritzker has never once pursued true property tax relief for Illinois families despite billions of dollars in federal bailout money flowing to our state, complete Democrat control at the capitol, and three years to get it done,” said ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy. “And now he has the audacity to trot out these campaign gimmicks that pale in comparison to the $5.2 billion in tax and fee hikes he has already imposed on us? Pritzker is a proven tax-hiker, and that’s why we need a Governor who will provide permanent property tax relief, spend within our means, and lower taxes.”
Most of those tax and fee hikes were approved in 2019 and included Republican votes. He didn’t impose anything.
…Adding… Gary Rabine sent out this press release 18 minutes before the governor was set to start speaking…
“Today we witnessed how out of touch our billionaire Governor, JB Pritzker, is with the people of Illinois. In his State of the State/Budget address, he described the State of Illinois in terms that only someone who spends his days in the cocoon of a North-side mansion or private jet could use.”
“JB Pritzker has not done one thing to improve the fundamental fiscal trajectory of the state. Biden paid off JB’s Illinois credit cards last year, but we are still in a fiscal death spiral. A one-time bailout from the federal government does not equate with sound fiscal management. Millions of dollars spent on TV and digital ads doesn’t turn fantasy into reality either.”
“The truth is that Illinois, outside of the Astor Street Mansion, is far different than what JB described. Chicago and its suburbs are the crime capitols of the country. Our unfunded public pension liability is at $130 billion – the worst in the nation. Our state has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs due to JB’s heavy handed, unilateral decision to shut down the state’s economy. We are the highest taxed state in the country and more people left Illinois in the last decade than any other state.”
“All might be well with the wine and cheese crowd but for the rest of us, it’s time for a new direction in Illinois.”
…Adding… Richard Irvin…
“It is no surprise that the Tax-Hiker-In-Chief is attempting to rewrite history today to mislead Illinois voters in an election year with gimmicks that rely on a disappearing federal bailout. This is the same governor who pushed for the largest tax hike in our state’s history on Illinois families and businesses, and we know he plans to raise billions more in taxes when the federal money runs out. The only way to stop Pritzker’s permanent tax hike campaign is at the ballot box in November.”
…Adding… House GOP Leader Durkin…
“The governor’s budget address is always a wish-list, and this year it’s clear that the governor wishes to be reelected. The budget laid out by Governor Pritzker today is packed with gimmicks and one-time tricks, but no structural reforms. The people of Illinois deserve a governor who will be honest and work to actually fix things like property taxes and out-of-control crime.”
* Politico…
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch will be listening for comments on Covid relief: “The surge we had in December and January reminds us that we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic and there’s more relief needed, and so I’m looking forward to hearing the governor’s ideas on that,” Welch said in an interview.
Senate President Don Harmon hopes to hear Pritzker “make a serious investment in public safety. in building up the ranks of our state police, and ensuring local governments have the resources to add and train local police officers and give them the equipment that they need.”
Republicans aren’t wowed by Pritzker’s plan for temporary tax cuts and property tax rebates, seeing it as an election-year gimmick.
State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, who represents part of southern Illinois, hopes the governor might defend what rights parents have to make decisions about their child’s health and having their kids vaccinated. “Parents need more rights and respect than what they get,” he told Playbook.
And in a statement, Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie said instead of “short-term, one-time relief,” what Illinois families “really need are long-lasting solutions that make it affordable to live here.”
* Speaking of the budget…
Snow storm stiff arm: Pritzker to deliver State of State from Old State Capitol after House cancels session
[…] Pritzker’s closest aides scrambled to find a backup venue after a severe snow storm forecast forced the House and Senate to send their members home and cancel the week of scheduled legislative session. Without an invitation from the House, the governor had no grand stage to deliver his speech, and state law required him to deliver his budget address on the first Wednesday in February this year.
Um, no. Almost immediately after the decision to cancel session was made by the three Democratic leaders (including the governor) Monday evening, the governor’s people were telling me they wanted Pritzker to give his State of the State/budget address at the Old State Capitol. They only “scrambled” because they were unsure at first if the venue would be available. But the place was ideal for them because, unlike the House chamber, the Old State Capitol has a smallish chamber and they envisioned a smallish audience in attendance (including, as it now turns out, GOMB staffers who’ve never personally witnessed a budget address before, which is pretty cool). Also, state law only requires the governor to submit his budget plan to the General Assembly. He could’ve just sent them the text of his speech and his proposed legislation.
* But, just to be on the safe side, I reached out to House Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll for comment…
We never disinvited the governor. And I am confident in saying we would have worked with him if he wanted to deliver the speech in the chamber. There were so many ideas discussed [Monday], but it came down to what the Governor wanted to do. The Speaker is fairly close with the Governor and he’s not trying to ’stiff arm’ him.
Driscoll added later that the House has no rules which would’ve prohibited the governor from using the House chamber for his address.
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* Background is here and here if you need it. Darren Bailey talking on Facebook…
I’ve been blessed to be able to do these lives with you. I think I’ve been very consistent in my messaging and my purpose. Yesterday, fake liberal news somehow or another assumed that I was calling one of my opponents the devil. [laughs] Just go back and watch it and you make your own decision. I am honored and blessed that that fake liberal media is actually listening. Maybe some of this truth of God’s word will penetrate to their hearts and change change their lives and they’ll start reporting on truth. And wouldn’t that be awesome?
Lying is a sin.
* Speaking of which, before we get into the rest of his remarks, let’s do a bit of basic education…
What is a levy?
The amount of money a school district and/or local government (taxing districts) certifies to be raised from property tax.
* Back to Bailey…
I’m just going to share a little bit of this with you because there’s a lot of it. I ran for state Representative for the 2018 election, I ran against a tax hiker. And I was met with the full force and fury of my own people, my own party who wanted to keep me away because they wanted to keep a yes person. They wanted to keep people in that would raise taxes, would raise gas taxes. And we’ve got some of those people are running, actually, as in Lieutenant Governor positions, people who have raised your gas taxes by 20%. Do your education on these people.
But anyway, just a little bit of what’s going on. Many of your social media outlets were flooded yesterday with posts that Darren Bailey taxed elderly people out of their homes. And as a matter of fact, one of the most egregious fake news outlets and fake news reporters even came down and, and reported such a story. And I would appreciate if you just listen, if you see that story, just listen to it and dig deep into it and really listen to what you’re hearing, because what you’re hearing is not what this person is saying.
How many school board members do we have out there how many people who have served on an on a township board and and on a local community board and from time to time have have passed levies to keep your schools open, to keep certain particular interest open? You know that when you deal with a levy, that you’re not creating a burden, some tax that taxes people out of their homes ,that taxes the elderly, many of you know this and if you don’t go to your go to your county assessor and go and start talking about this, start getting yourself educated on how this works.
Many times the purpose of a levy is to fulfill what has not been promised temporarily and that’s what happened many times on the North Clay School Board. And and I was so honored and blessed by serving with the boards that I serve, we did an amazing job of communicating to the people and let giving them the option. And not just once, not trying to hide it, not trying to hide a tax increase or a levy to say that, you know, the next day people wake up and see this. Now we literally many times every time let people know how much exactly per household, you know, per 100 on your on your assessed value that this was going to cost during my term as they on those days. You can also look back and you will see the real reason why property taxes escalated all over the state. When I got on the North Clay School Board. We were one of the lowest taxed school districts in the state. When I got off, we were still well in the bottom third, but we were doing some amazing things that we were up to the 50% pay range on paying where we paid our teachers and what we were doing. We had an amazing school district but sadly enough, my state representative at the time and state government were failing to give the schools their money, you know, they have the education budgets and and many times at the end of the year, you realize that you didn’t get 200,000, 400,000 and on and there were delays. So the purpose of the levy is to fill that void.
So here’s what I went through, the 2018 election and here’s why, some of the same players are at play. And a little bit later I’m going to begin you know, letting you know who those are because they are players that are sitting in positions of power in the Illinois House of Representatives on the Republican side and they’re doing the exact same thing that they did five years ago and four years ago to try to keep me off.
Our mailboxes were full, I don’t even know which one to start with. [Holds up mailer.] ‘Darren Bailey taxed seniors out of their house 14 times when he was on the school board ,brought to you by the Illinois Republican Party.’ That’s where your money is going. [Holds up mailer.] Gosh, ‘Cash King farm subsidy Darrin Bailey, corporate welfare king.’ Think about these messages that we’ve just heard with the PPP money, with the the USDA assistance from for what you know for farms with and now that we’re taxing people. I mean, it’s endless. I got, here’s another one. Millions of dollars were spent on fliers when I was serving as, as running for this position [Holds up mailer] ‘Bought and paid for by Chicago.’ Gosh, friends, this is what we’re up against. And I asked you to get yourself educated, get yourself informed, please share these messages, push this out. This is how we’re going to do this to where, you know, until this is how we’re going to grow this movement.
Lots of words.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
…Adding… Funny and accurate…
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Budget briefing live coverage
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
…Adding… Very handy links…
* Full budget briefing [Fixed file]
* Operating budget proposal
* Capital budget proposal
* The governor’s office has taken the embargo off of this morning’s budget briefing. They’ve revised the surplus upward for this fiscal year and next…
* As I told subscribers earlier, this is huge. An extra $500 million will be put into the pension systems…
* More…
* There was a problem with the screen earlier, so these are from yesterday’s briefing that I shared with subscribers…
* Revenues and spending…
* Education…
* DCFS…
* DHS…
* Public safety and violence prevention…
* DCEO…
* IDNR and IEPA…
* Covid money…
* Capital…
I missed some stuff, but hopefully I’ll be able to link to a briefing book.
* Question about surpluses…
The surplus that we’re on track for in FY 22 is $1.7 billion, that is what is going to then be directed into some of our debt pay-down or Budget Stabilization Fund, and then a part of the tax relief proposal. The the surplus that’s left is the number that’s going into the accounts payable reduction.
* Any change in income tax revenue sharing with local governments? No.
* What about the unemployment insurance trust fund? Negotiations still ongoing through agreed bill process. Planning legislation by April adjournment.
* What percent of homeowners would see property tax relief? About 2 million people claim the income tax credit.
* Can you point to something that repairs a structural budget imbalance? Key part is aligning revenues with expenditures. The $500 million extra pension infusion will get the state funds to the “tread water” point, so that funding is actually paying down the debt. The massive state employee/retiree group health insurance backlog of nearly $900 million that has been around for years will be paid off if the budget is enacted.
* Do you have a Plan B for how to give drivers relief if Local 150 ends up killing your gas tax proposal? Long answer short: Not that I could discern.
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* Some background is here if you need it. Mark Maxwell…
Maxwell: You can learn an awful lot about a politician combing through their voting record, especially when what they say on the campaign trail and what they do in office doesn’t quite add up.
Darren Bailey: I got ticked off at the tax increases that came in 2018.
Maxwell: Long before Darren Bailey arrived in Springfield in 2019, he was voting on issues that impacted his neighbor’s budgets,
Bailey: Serving on the school board.
Maxwell: From 1996 to 2012, Clay County’s tax records show every time a property tax hike was on the table in the North Clay school district, Darren Bailey voted for it.
Bailey: I believe that’s a much different scenario. You know, taxing bodies have the ability to levy a certain amount.
Maxwell: When reporters pressed Bailey to explain his tax hikes, he downplayed the incremental cost increases.
Bailey: Many times it was $5 a household. I think the one time at the maximum was $19 a household.
Helen Joan-Cook: It could be a little better, especially for senior citizens.
Maxwell: 87-year-old Helen Joan-Cook lives in Bailey’s hometown on a fixed income.
Joan-Cook: Don’t go too far, when you make your house payment and everything else.
Maxwell: Over 17 years, Bailey voted to raise the property tax levy 13 times, adding up to an 81 percent increase, far higher than the rate of property tax growth in Chicago over that same span.
Joan-Cook: I just think that the taxes should be lowered, really.
Maxwell: What would it mean for you if you had a lower property tax bill?
Joan-Cook: It would mean I’d have a few dollars left over for food when I have to really cut corners.
Maxwell: Bailey blamed his votes on the state’s record low levels of state education funding.
Bailey: Many times in a small school district, state government would short school districts ,they still do it today. Sometimes we got the money a year, two years later, sometimes we didn’t.
Maxwell: On that point, Bailey is right. Illinois spent so little money on education for so long, local school districts often had to make up the difference with property tax increases. But here’s the key, when Bailey finally arrived in Springfield and had the power to do something about it, the House and Senate voted to increase state education funding three times. And three times, Bailey voted against it.
I mean… Ouch.
* Included graph…
* Ms. Joan-Cook…
Right out of central casting.
* From the Internet version…
When Grain Systems, Inc. (GSI) closed its Flora manufacturing site in Bailey’s district in 2019, the newly inaugurated state representative blamed the job losses on “tax hikers” who “keep raising taxes and increasing fees on families and businesses.”
However, long before he was taking votes in the General Assembly, Bailey was voting to extend and raise property tax levies at the North Clay School District.
Tax records at the Clay County Treasurer’s office and the Illinois Department of Revenue show that from 1996 to 2012, Bailey voted to raise the property tax levy by a combined 81%. Chicago Public Schools showed more fiscal restraint, raising its property tax levy by 57.1% over the same period.
That would be almost double the rate of inflation for the time period.
* Meanwhile, Bailey was on WGN Radio’s Lisa Dent show today. Here he is talking about Richard Irvin…
This situation with Irvin is an absolute farce and I think it’s going to fall flat on its face. Irvin is a Democrat in disguise. I think the Republicans across Illinois have already figured that out. And I think he’s probably spent what he’s got.
* On Ken Griffin backing Irvin…
We have absolutely no facts or proof that Ken Griffin is backing this. This is rumor. I’ll believe it when I see it. And and I will wait, I’ll wait expectantly for his call when he realizes that the candidates, I’m the candidate who will get Illinois back on track.
That’s the second time Bailey has made a pitch for Grif money. But just a few weeks ago, he was calling Irvin and the rest of the slate “bought and paid for candidates.” I dunno, maybe pick a lane?
* On the governor’s proposed one-year elimination of the grocery tax and freezing the Motor Fuel Tax for a year…
Well, again, I’ll believe it when I see it. It doesn’t surprise me. We’ve received over $21 billion of COVID relief that the governor has taken and unfortunately refused to get the state fiscally sound again. And yeah, I expect him to toss money to the four winds to people, and I expect him to hope that they forget the devastation and the destruction that Illinois has gone through in the last two years.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The Irvin/Bourne campaign is pushing this video made by Darren Bailey on February 17, 2021…
* Transcript…
I think many people have become disgusted with politics. I was that way 10 years ago, I checked out. Friends we can’t check out right now because we’ve got to get ourselves educated, we’ve got to get ourselves informed. And then we’ve got to get to work and do something about it.
Get involved locally, the decisions that are made locally, they affect the property taxes that are affecting us so adversely.
As usual with Bailey, when somebody else does it - COVID loans, tax hikes, etc. - it’s bad. When he does it, well, friends, it’s good.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Irvin campaign email…
Friend,
“Over 17 years Bailey voted to raise the property tax levy 13 times, adding up to an 81 percent increase, far higher than the rate of property tax growth in Chicago”
We wanted to make sure you got to see this local news report about Darren Bailey. He may say he’s against tax increases, but as a member of his local school board he voted to increase taxes THIRTEEN TIMES by more than EIGHTY PERCENT!!
Darren Bailey Voted for 81% Property Tax Hikes
But that shouldn’t surprise you about a career politician who’s been in office for 20 years, and now running for his 4th different elected office.
87 year-old Helen Joan Cook, who lives in Bailey’s hometown, says property tax hikes like Bailey’s make it hard to afford food and thinks they should be lowered. If you agree with Helen that property taxes should be lowered, SHARE THIS VIDEO AND HOLD CAREER POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE.
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Transportation is warning the public that a major winter storm is expected to create treacherous conditions starting tonight and lasting for several days, with the potential for extremely dangerous and, at times, life-threatening travel across much of the state. Throughout Illinois, periods of heavy snow, rain, ice, high winds and bitter cold should be anticipated, leading to a likelihood of whiteout conditions and roads that will be impassable in the hardest-hit regions.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation spends the entire year preparing for snow-and-ice season and is ready to respond around the clock to this significant weather event, but clearly the public needs to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and postpone all unnecessary travel,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Always remember, during extreme weather, the safest option is to stay home. If you must be on the roads, please be prepared for the real possibility of becoming stranded if you are unable to make it to your destination. Your cooperation and patience will be essential to keeping everyone safe the next several days.”
The National Weather Service is forecasting a winter storm warning starting later today, with mixed precipitation shifting to snow this afternoon and evening, extending into the overnight hours.
In central Illinois, along the Interstate 55, 57, 70 and 72 corridors, snow totals are expected to range between 6 and 20 inches, with the highest amounts in the Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign areas and as far north as Kankakee. Because of the intensity and amounts of snow, travel is expected to be dangerous and strongly discouraged.
Across the Chicago area, trace accumulations to more than a foot of snow are predicted. Significant ice and sleet accumulations are possible in much of southern Illinois, creating extremely slippery surfaces and slick conditions. The far northwest region of the state, Rockford and the Quad Cities, are expected to miss much of the storm.
Blowing and drifting snow will create hazardous conditions Wednesday night and Thursday, with winds gusting to 30 mph. Colder air will bring subzero temperatures by Friday morning.
Due to the long duration of the storm, sustained high winds, severe cold reducing the effectiveness of materials to treat the roads, as well as the challenges of staffing a prolonged winter weather event, IDOT is advising the public to remain patient and prepare for longer travel times to persist, with snow-and-ice response and cleanup efforts potentially lasting several days.
Statewide, IDOT has available more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your driving distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it.
“The Illinois State Police, along with our state and local partners, are tracking this storm and stand constantly ready to meet the challenges presented by these types of weather events,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “While we are helping motorists out of ditches and handling crashes related to this snow-and-ice storm, we want to remind the public of the Move Over Law. By slowing down and moving over, drivers are helping all first responders and stranded motorists get back home to their families safely.”
If travel is absolutely necessary:
• Drastically reduce speeds and take it slow, especially when approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shaded areas that are prone to icing.
• Make sure your gas tank is full.
• Keep a cell phone, warm clothes, blankets, food, water, a first-aid kit, washer fluid and an ice scraper in your vehicle. Dial *999 in the Chicago area for assistance in case of emergency.
• Check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your route and schedule.
• Reminder: Using handheld phones while driving is illegal in Illinois, unless it is an emergency.
• If you are involved in a crash or break down, remain inside your vehicle, which is your safest form of shelter. Exiting your vehicle into live traffic can have fatal consequences.
• Always wear a seat belt, whether you’re sitting in the front seat or back seat. It’s the law. Never get behind the wheel impaired.
For regular updates on statewide road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.
That reminds me that my truck is almost on empty. I think I’ll be taking a pause to go fill it up after I put up another post. Stay safe out there.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
In advance of the anticipated severe winter storm expected to hit the entire state, Governor JB Pritzker today issued a disaster declaration and activated approximately 130 members of the Illinois National Guard to ensure all state resources are available to deal with the heavy snow, ice, and blizzard conditions expected over the coming days. The Governor is directing IEMA to coordinate a robust, statewide response which will include more than 1,800 IDOT trucks and equipment, ISP patrols to help stranded motorists, and approximately 130 members of the Illinois National Guard.
“I’m authorizing a disaster proclamation for Winter Storm Landon, effective immediately, to support local government disaster response and recovery operations wherever necessary. I want to assure county and local officials and everyone in the path of the storm that my administration will provide resources every step of the way,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “On the ground, all state assets stand ready to assist. I encourage everyone to do what you can to stay safe: listen to local authorities to stay up to date with the latest conditions in your community and make sure your household has essentials.”
IEMA’s State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield will be activated to coordinate the state’s response to the storm. Representatives from relevant state agencies will staff the SEOC 24 hours a day throughout the storm and quickly deploy resources to impacted communities.
“We’re working closely with local emergency management officials throughout the state to monitor conditions and be ready to provide assistance they may need,” said Scott Swinford, Deputy Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). “But it’s also important that people prepare themselves for this storm with food, water, working flashlights, weather radios, and other necessities.”
In response to the storm, the Governor is activating approximately 130 members of the Illinois National Guard to support winter weather operations in central Illinois. The soldiers and airmen will be assigned as winter weather platoons with each platoon consisting of approximately 18 soldiers equipped with six High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) and one Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck Wrecker. The Airmen, from the 182nd Airlift Wing, based in Peoria, will also be equipped with six HMMWVs.
“While most people will be watching this week’s weather event unfold from the comfort of their home, the Illinois National Guard will be braving the cold weather and snow alongside local and state first responders as they assist to protect life and property, and alleviate suffering in the communities where they will be assigned,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard.
The Illinois National Guard will serve as a critical force multiplier for the ISP, who will be deploying teams of troopers to assist stranded motorists across the state. Guard units will initially be deployed to ISP Districts 9 - Springfield, 10 - Pesotum, 18 - Litchfield, 20 - Pittsfield and 21 – Ashkum, helping reduce response times and capacity to reach motorists. From the SEOC, ISP will be monitoring conditions on the ground and shifting personnel based on the trajectory of the storm.
“The men and women of the ISP stand ready to face the challenges mother nature has in store and, like we always do, will rise to the occasion,” stated Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The Illinois National Guard will also be standing with us as a force multiplier. With their assistance, service to the public will be greatly augmented, reducing first responder response times to stranded motorists.”
Statewide, IDOT will deploy more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your driving distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it. Because of the storm’s potential, non-essential travel is strongly discouraged.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Campaign notebook
Tuesday, Feb 1, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE *** I forgot to post this, so I’m putting it at the top…
Today, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) expressed their support for State Representative Sam Yingling’s bid for State Senate.
“Sam’s legislative career has focused on property tax relief, reform, and promoting affordability and access to housing for all Illinoisans. His work on local government consolidation and homeowner rights, combined with his leadership on reducing the property tax burden on property owners, make him worthy of our support,” said Michael Oldenettel of Jacksonville, Chair of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee Board.
“That is why the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) is ‘all-in’ for Sam’s Senate bid and recently increased its financial support of his campaign so that he can continue to champion policies that enable all Illinoisians the opportunity to achieve the American Dream of homeownership,” continued Oldenettel.
State Rep and candidate for Illinois State Senate, Sam Yingling, said, “I am very proud to have the support of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) in my race for State Senate. REALTORS® are one of the backbones of small business in our communities. As a REALTOR®, I have seen their commitment to helping people pursue their dream of homeownership. This has inspired my career of public service, which I will carry to the Illinois State Senate.”
* Politico…
Republican Rep. Rodney Davis and Democratic Rep. Sean Casten are outpacing their intra-party opponents in fundraising, though no one can keep up with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
The 8th Congressional District Democrat has banked $11 million — double what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has on hand at $5.4 million — after raking in $1.1M in the fourth quarter of 2021.
In the race to represent the newly shaped 15th District, Davis raised $420,699 in the fourth quarter, according to FEC reports, and has $1 million on hand. His GOP opponent, Rep. Mary Miller, raised $164,262 in the same period and has $414,795 in the bank.
In the 6th Congressional District, Casten raised $699,384 and has nearly $1.6 million on hand. His Democratic opponent, Rep. Marie Newman, raised $337,876 and has $573,120 cash on hand.
And in the newly created 3rd Congressional District, Democrat Gilbert Villegas, a Chicago alderman, raised $386,473 and has $377,055 in the bank in his race to best Democratic state Rep. Delia Ramirez, who raised $113,2018 and has $110,443 cash on hand.
In other races: Rep. Lauren Underwood in the 14th District said she raised $752,011 during the fourth quarterly FEC filing period and reported nearly $2.1 million cash on hand. And in the 17th District’s open seat, Republican Esther Joy King raised $639,970 and has $655,957 in the bank.
* Coming a bit late to this…
* Apparently, this clownish appellate court candidate didn’t get the word that session is canceled…
* From a Richard Irvin campaign fundraising email authored by Jeffrey R. Brincat, who was forced to resign from the Illinois Racing Board by Gov. Pritzker after allegedly making an illegal campaign contribution…
Corruption here is simply the norm and places a tax on the head of all Illinoisans. Let’s make this the “old” Illinois.
* Some guy named Chase Thrasher is running for governor…
My name is Chase Thrasher. I’m from Olney, a little town in southern Illinois. I am 34 years old and a single father to an amazing 4-year-old son. I have been a Correctional Officer for the last 7-and-a-half years and have lived in Illinois for the past 25 years.
I am running for Illinois Governor in 2022 as I have long been dedicated to serving Illinois and want to make this state a great place to live, for you, for myself, and for generations to come.
And, yes, that’s his real name. There are four people named Thrasher on the state payroll.
I gather that he is a Republican, but that word appears nowhere on his website. Then again, Richard Irvin’s first campaign ad didn’t use the word, either.
* Speaking of Richard Irvin, the Bears hired head coach Matt Eberflus last Thursday. Yesterday, just four days later, Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles held a free-wheeling, 90-minute press conference. It’s now been more than two weeks since Irvin formally kicked off his campaign and he has yet to grant a single interview that I’m aware of.
…Adding… From a member of Rep. Bob Rita’s (D-Blue Island) political organization…
News From the Actual Front: Rita’s organization started circulating last week. 6 days they got 1000 signatures door to door. No cocktail parties. No social media meetups. Just good old fashioned field work. Didn’t get one complaint about people not answering doors for covid or any other reason.
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* Last year, Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) predicted to me that the state budget he and others were crafting was going to lead to the first credit upgrade for Illinois in more than two decades. He was right. So, when I asked the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair this morning about the governor’s proposed budget, he reminded me of his prediction and made another prediction…
You and I talked last year before we passed the 2022 budget, and I was sure, I was very confident that it was going to lead to a credit rating upgrade. I think this budget will do the same. This is going to show taxpayers that we are good fiscal stewards, that we’re taking care of their money they entrust us with. And it’s going to show the rating agencies that Illinois knows how to govern.
Discuss.
…Adding… A comment below made me think that I probably should’ve put this here. Greg Hinz …
The Pritzker administration is promising to inject “substantial” amounts of federal COVID relief cash into the state’s cash-short unemployment insurance program, an action that will reduce and perhaps virtually eliminate the need for sharp tax hikes on employers and/or benefit cuts for workers.
In the first public comments after weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said “very productive” talks have advanced enough that Gov. J.B. Pritzker will dangle a big carrot during his speech tomorrow on what will be in his proposed fiscal 2023 budget.
The carrot: allotting a chunk and maybe most of the $3.5 billion the state still has left over from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to begin paying off the roughly $4.5 billion in loans from the U.S. Treasury that kept the unemployment insurance system operational. […]
But Manar did give a tantalizing hint, saying states like Illinois that borrowed from the U.S. Treasury at the height of the pandemic have typically used one quarter to one third of their ARPA funds for such a purpose.
…Adding… Might as well put this here, too…
U of I Flash Index up again in January
URBANA — The resurgence of the University of Illinois Flash Index continued in January, rising to 105.9 from its 105.7 level last month. This reading approaches the post-recession high of 106 from June and September of 2021.
Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 5.3% from its 5.7% level the previous month and 8% a year ago. Fourth-quarter national gross domestic product rose by 6.9% in real terms. Similarly, the components of the Flash Index (individual income tax, sales tax, and corporate tax receipts) were all up in real terms compared with the same month last year, with especially large percentage increases in corporate and individual income tax collections.
“These strong indicators of economic performance pose a perplexing picture since the emergence of the omicron COVID-19 variant, supply chain disruptions, weakness in financial markets, and the emergence of serious inflation paint a darker image,” said University of Illinois economist J. Fred Giertz, who compiles the monthly index for the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. “There are unanswered questions about whether the relationship of Illinois tax revenues and state economic performance have become untethered; only time will tell.”
Most observers do expect a cooling of the national economy in 2022, in part, because of a paring of expansionary fiscal and monetary policy.
“The strong performance of Illinois revenues has apparently not escaped the notice of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The governor reportedly plans to call for a one-year, one-billion-dollar tax cut, only 15 months after the failure of a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the state to bring in more revenue through a graduated income tax structure,” Giertz said.
The Flash Index is a weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income, individual income, and retail sales taxes. These are adjusted for inflation before growth rates are calculated. The growth rate for each component is then calculated for the 12-month period using data through January 31, 2022. Nearing two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, ad hoc adjustments are still needed because of the timing of the tax receipts resulting from state and Federal changes in payment dates.
…Adding… Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker today announced the State of Illinois has acquired nearly 10 acres of land in the Dirksen Business Park located at 2900 Dotmar for a purchase price of $1.55 million, to construct a new Central Computing Facility (CCF) for the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology.
“As governor, I’ve sought to bring efficiency and modernization to state government, and this new data center is a key asset in that endeavor,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through this new facility, we’re enhancing the State of Illinois’ digital infrastructure and doing so while bringing hundreds of new jobs to the east side of Springfield. I want to recognize Senator Doris Turner for her leadership in bringing this development to the region.”
DoIT’s current central computing facility in Springfield is inefficient and dated. DoIT is working with the Illinois Capital Development Board and the Illinois Department of Central Management Services to build the new CCF in the Springfield area.
“With the evolution of technology and DoIT’s continuing modernization of digital assets, the current data center has grown less suitable for our needs,” said Jennifer Ricker, Acting Secretary for DoIT. “A modern, efficient, and secure data center will allow Illinois to continue to be a leader in technology and innovation.”
Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, the first in nearly a decade, appropriated nearly $80.5 million to CDB, who will oversee the project’s design and construction with Exp U.S. Services, serving as the architect of record. The new facility will be programmed to achieve, at a minimum, LEED Silver Certification for data centers.
CMS, who will serve as the owner and property manager of the facility, researched property in the area and subsequently issued a Request for Information (RFI) on June 9, 2021 for the purchase of vacant land within the City of Springfield to construct a CCF. The selected 9.4 acre site is located within an Enterprise Zone and offers access to a fiber network, synergies to nearby State offices, and close proximity to transportation options.
“This investment is further evidence the State of Illinois is striving to deliver the best, most cutting-edge infrastructure to support our operations,” said Janel L. Forde, Director for the Department of Central Management Services. “The new state-of-the-art facility will be built with the most advanced infrastructure technology, and designed with the highest standards of redundancy, resiliency, and reliability.”
“The relocation of the Central Computing Facility is a game changer for the East Side of Springfield – an area I was proud to represent on the Springfield City Council,” said State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield). “The new data center will spur additional economic development to the area and expand our technological opportunities. I am proud and thankful that Governor Pritzker is prioritizing Springfield in the ambitious Rebuild Illinois Project.”
The relocation of the CCF to the East Side of the City will also bring hundreds of State jobs to the area, spur economic development, and ensure the State’s technology infrastructure keeps pace as technologies advance.
The historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan passed with bipartisan super-majorities will invest $45 billion in roads, bridges, railways, universities, early childhood centers, and state facilities that will create and support an estimated 540,000 jobs over the life of the six-year plan and revitalize local economies across the State.
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* Senate President Don Harmon just told his caucus members to stay put in their districts if they aren’t down in Springfield right now. The National Weather Service in Lincoln is predicting snow “in excess of 12 inches with locally higher amounts possible” for the Springfield area Tuesday night through Thursday. I’ve seen one model that predicted 27 inches. But, who really knows? Snow is difficult to predict.
Anyway, Harmon said he may have to send members back home tomorrow morning so nobody is forced to drive home in the storm.
Harmon told his members that he, Speaker Welch and Gov. Pritzker are connecting on a final plan about what to do with the budget address and the State of the State address scheduled for Wednesday. The budget address date is in state law (click here), so it’s not clear what will happen.
Because of COVID, the Senate wasn’t even invited to the House chambers to watch the address, so no big deal if they don’t show. But the House Speaker’s office hasn’t yet responded to questions about whether they expect to have a quorum in town, although several folks are already here.
This post will likely be updated.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the House Democrats’ chief of staff…
URGENT update on scheduling
Members:
Please be advised that due to the winter storm heading toward Central Illinois, we will be canceling session this week (all three days). Staff will be following up with you shortly to ensure that everyone is notified as soon as possible.
Additional information on scheduling will be forthcoming, but virtual committees will continue as planned this week.
Stay safe, and I’ll be in touch,
Tiffany
*** UPDATE 2 *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
The governor plans to deliver a State of the State and budget address on Wednesday. Details will be forthcoming.
*** UPDATE 3 *** A tippity-top Senate Dem says the chamber will be sending members home in the morning, but will not be changing its deadline schedule. So, February 10 will remain as the Senate’s deadline for substantive bills out of committee.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Formal news media announcement…
“Difficult if not impossible” travel conditions force session cancelation
SPRINGFIELD – With the National Weather Service warning motorists that travel across the central portion of Illinois this week could be “difficult if not impossible,” the leaders of the Illinois General Assembly have canceled the House and Senate sessions scheduled this week.
The forecast calls for several inches of snow combined with icy conditions and 30 mph wind gusts in Central Illinois. Similarly treacherous conditions are expected elsewhere in the state. Weather and safety officials urge drivers not to travel, and legislative leaders opted to cancel session to keep safe the staff, lawmakers and hundreds of others who travel to the Capitol for session days.
“With the National Weather Service forecasting a winter storm for Central Illinois that could produce up to two feet of snow, it is in our best interest to cancel session for this week,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “The winter storm warning says travel will be dangerous and we do not want to put people’s lives at risk while they’re on the road to and from Springfield.”
Senate President Harmon said the Senate would be in session at noon on Tuesday but the rest of the week is canceled.
“Across the state people are being told to avoid unnecessary travel and to not put themselves at risk. We will turn to our remote committee process to get the work of the people done and look forward to a break in the weather and a safe return to the Capitol hopefully next week,” Harmon said.
The House and Senate will continue remote committee work for the remainder of the week.
*** UPDATE 5 *** I’m told that House Republican Leader Jim Durkin plans to stay in town for the governor’s live address. Should be fun.
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It’s just a bill
Monday, Jan 31, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
With heating bills skyrocketing across Illinois, a coalition of consumer advocates joined with key legislators on Monday to urge the Illinois General Assembly to eliminate a natural gas surcharge that has helped major utilities rapidly increase bills, plunging many families into crisis this winter.
At a news conference, AARP Illinois, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC), Illinois PIRG and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) called on the General Assembly to pass the Heating Affordability & Utility Accountability Act (House Bill 3941/Senate Bill 570). Sponsored by state Rep. Joyce Mason and state Sen. Cristina Castro, the bill would end the “Qualifying Infrastructure Plant” (QIP) surcharge on Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois bills in 2022.
“The legislation passed in 2013 was intended to address safety issues for consumers, not to serve as a blank check for utility companies,” Rep. Mason said. “For too long, gas companies have been allowed to indiscriminately raise their prices with little to no oversight from state regulators. We need to hold these companies accountable for their actions and put an end to out-of-control heating costs.”
“The passing of the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was an important step in holding natural gas companies accountable. Now, this legislation will go even further to end unnecessary surcharges on our residents’ utility bills,” state Sen. Castro said. “We’re doubling down on our state’s commitment to protecting ratepayers and demanding transparency from natural gas companies.”
Illinois’ major utilities have launched expensive and aggressive infrastructure projects, which they fund through delivery charges on gas bills. In 2013, the General Assembly allowed them to add the QIP charge to bills. This regulatory shortcut allows utilities to recover certain costs more quickly and with less oversight from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
The utilities claim the surcharge is a necessity to pay for pipe-replacement and other work. While everyone agrees old pipes should be replaced, consumer advocates argue the utilities should do it in a responsible way that doesn’t cause hardship for their customers. Utilities are already legally obligated to replace pipes, and they did it for decades without hitting customers with a special surcharge.
On Monday, consumer advocates showed how the utilities have abused the QIP charge, using it to rake in revenue more quickly and increase bills in the most expensive winter since 2008-09.
Peoples Gas: Supporters of the 2013 legislation claimed the QIP would only cost Peoples Gas customers about $13 a year, but they are now paying more than $13 a month, on track to pay $150 a year. Projected costs for the gas utility’s aggressive capital program have skyrocketed from about $2 billion to $11 billion, and an analysis by the Illinois Attorney General’s office estimated that gas bills could double over the next 20 years. The program has already begun to take its toll on customers: In December, 17 percent of Peoples Gas customers were behind on their bills, by a total of $77 million.
Nicor Gas: Even though the state’s biggest gas utility has already replaced its old cast iron pipes, it continues to spend at a breakneck pace, spending over a billion dollars since it replaced its last cast iron pipe in 2018. Nicor has raised delivery rates by more than $500 million, or 77 percent, since 2018. That includes this past November, when it won a $240 million increase—the largest gas hike in Illinois history.
Ameren Illinois: Even though Ameren has finished replacing cast iron pipes, the utility last year won a $76 million increase.
“We cannot afford these charges,” said Donna Carpenter, of Englewood, a parent leader with COFI/POWER-PAC IL. “Greedy gas companies have passed these ridiculous charges onto customers time and time again, harming low-income Black and Brown communities who either have to be cold or can’t afford to cook meals for their families because of sky-high gas prices. We need the Illinois Legislature to take action now!”
* From a publication called Politico Morning Tech…
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to mark up the Open App Markets Act, S. 2710 (117), next week, spurring a new burst of lobbying by the bill’s supporters. But the real action on app store bills is still in the states, where several legislatures are poised to move bills aimed at paring back Apple and Google’s holds over their respective app ecosystems this year.
Here are the states to watch, according to lobbyists and advocates:
— Illinois: Democratic Illinois state legislators in both chambers earlier this month introduced the Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act, legislation that would give app developers the legal right to do business directly with their customers rather than having to work through Apple and Google’s payment systems. State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, a Democrat who represents Chicago, told MT she believes the legislation could help build out Illinois’ tech sector.
Illinois is an important state for app store regulation — it’s both the home state of Basecamp co-founder David Heinemeier-Hansson, one of the strongest advocates for state and federal legislation, and Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, who is a co-sponsor of the federal app store bill. Feigenholtz told MT she is in communication with Durbin and his staff, and has a meeting set up to discuss the issue next week. “My sense would be that he would love to see Illinois move forward on this and possibly be the first state to have it,” Feigenholtz said. Durbin’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
* Press release…
In an effort to support single working parents, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) initiated a measure that will allow them to claim unpaid time off from work to support their child’s needs.
“Single parents deserve the same rights and protections as parents who have partners,” said Simmons. “When I had the opportunity to meet with a group of these parents, many of them talked about the need for time off from work to meet with their children’s teachers or tend to other well-being needs of their kids.”
Senate Bill 4040 would allow employees who are single parents to take either five days or up to 40 hours of unpaid time off to care for a child’s needs- provided that the employees give their employers a sufficient period of notice. Needs include education, child care, or any duty a single parent may reasonably be responsible for.
Additionally, the measure would prevent an employer from discriminating in any way against an employee because they happen to be a single parent.
“One out of three households in my district are headed by single parents,” said Simmons. “I feel it is critical that my legislative work this spring should address their concerns about how to balance parental responsibilities with their work.”
The measure originated from a people’s legislative council that Simmons held with a group of single parents in 2021. The measure awaits a committee hearing.
…Adding… Press release…
Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39), introduced House Bill 5300 the Insulin for All Act, on Friday, January 28th. The legislation aims to make insulin more affordable and accessible for all Illinoisans.
The Act creates an Urgent Need Program, which would allow diabetics to access an emergency 30-day supply of insulin at a minimal cost from their local pharmacy. It also requires manufacturers to create patient assistance programs that offer low-cost insulin to eligible patients. The Act will leverage the state’s bargaining power to offer a negotiated price on insulin for any person with diabetes who can’t get it cheaper elsewhere. Lastly, it lowers the insulin copay cap to $35 a month.
In 2019, Rep. Guzzardi passed a law capping copays for insulin at $100 a month. As state laws can only cover certain types of insurance, the cap only affected around 15% of Illinoisans, and $100 a month remains unaffordable for many families and individuals who need insulin on a daily basis. There is a great need to lower that copay and provide alternatives for the 85% of people who aren’t covered by the current $100 a month cap, which this bill strives to accomplish.
“The past two years have been a vivid reminder that pharmaceutical research can produce incredible results. But no matter how great they are, drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them,” said Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39).
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Inept oppo dump
Monday, Jan 31, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the end of a press conference last week…
Amy Jacobson: Governor, I wanted to ask you about Jennifer Thornley. Did you or did someone else direct CMS to put her, she’s your former campaign aide, on state disability payroll after she was fired for theft?
Gov. Pritzker: No.
State disability payroll? What the heck is that? I asked the governor’s office what that was about and they had no idea.
* It became slightly more clear when ILGOP Chair Don Tracy had an op-ed published in Real Clear Politics…
The more we learn about the Jenny Thornley affair, the more it appears that senior members of the Pritzker administration, including potentially the governor and his wife, may have facilitated a fraud on the state by a now-indicted former campaign aide to enrich her and then obstructed efforts to bring her to justice.
This is a tangled web, so stay with me as I set forth a timeline of events and characters, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Tangled is a word.
* I’m not gonna go through the whole Thornley thing again today. But here’s the heart of the Tracy story…
However, after Thornley was fired, someone with clout in the Pritzker administration somehow granted her disability payments reserved for people that are actually state employees. These payments (amounting to some $71,000) went on for more than a year, ending days before she was indicted for theft and fraud. These extensive payments were for “injuries'’ sustained from an “assault” that Egan determined had not occurred.
I asked a GOP spokesperson over the weekend what the heck disability payments they were talking about. Workers’ compensation was the reply.
So, the Republicans are saying she apparently got workers’ comp for an alleged injury she sustained on a job she no longer had and it turned out she apparently wasn’t even injured. But look at how they phrased it: “Someone with clout in the Pritzker administration somehow granted her disability payments.”
Huh?
* Back to Tracy’s op-ed…
Who effectuated Thornley’s enrollment in the disability program over the objections of the merit board — and on whose orders did that person or persons act?
Don Tracy has been a business owner in Illinois for a very long time. He surely knows what workers’ comp is and how workers - even former workers - can receive compensation over the objections of their employer. He also certainly knows that some workers have committed fraud in order to obtain WC benefits.
Now, if there were attempts by the administration to sway the Workers Compensation Commission or the appeals process or whatever, then it’s a story. But what they are peddling here so far is a bunch of inept, dressed-up oppo.
…Adding… From comments…
Very weird attack and roll-out. I almost wonder if someone influential has been obsessing on this story and Tracy stuck an op-ed in a friendly DC outlet no one really reads just to say it’s out there. Can’t imagine this string-and-corkboard stuff is in anyone’s top 5 negative messages this year.
I got the very same feeling as I was trying to obtain answers over the weekend.
…Adding… This passage in the Tracy op-ed might explain how this dressed-up oppo became a thing…
The former executive director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board, Jack Garcia, discovered evidence that one of the employees under his direction, Jenny Thornley, was stealing money from the people of the state
Garcia is a well-known, skilled investigator who previously supervised the divisions of internal investigations and forensic services, before becoming the first deputy director of the Illinois State Police.
Jack Garcia is a member of Richard Irvin’s “Law Enforcement Advisory Council.”
* Also, if Pritzker did try to help her, he sure is not acting that way. From early December…
The former Illinois State Police Merit Board official at the center of a politically-fraught case that began when she was accused of falsifying overtime reports is under renewed scrutiny after collecting more than $71,000 in workers’ compensation and disability benefits tied to her unsubstantiated allegations of sexual assault.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration confirmed it is working with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office to investigate benefits claims made by Jenny Thornley, who was fired last year from her $86,400-per-year job as financial officer for the merit board.
…Adding… CMS…
The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) takes seriously its statutory responsibility to administer the Workers’ Compensation Program for State agencies, boards, and commissions. CMS is working with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to further investigate the merits of Ms. Thornley’s claim.
The Governor’s Office has not had any involvement with this claim.
On Background:
• Ms. Thornley filed a Sexual Harassment claim in January 2020
• She contacted TriStar, the State’s third party claims administrator, to inform them the listed employer was the Governor’s Office. This action was intended to prevent the Executive Director of the State Police Merit Board from discovering the claim was against him.
• The only record CMS has of a conversation with the Governor’s Office on this case was the confirmation that Ms. Thornley was not their employee, and that CMS should proceed as it normally would.
• In February 2020, an incident report was signed by Ms. Thornley and presented to TriStar.
• The Executive Director and Ms. Thornley were both placed on administrative leave pending an independent investigation conducted by McGuireWoods.
• Illinois Workers Compensation paid Ms. Thornley 66.6% of her salary and the State Employee Retirement System paid 8.3%. Temporary Total Disability benefits were paid from July 21, 2020 to August 31, 2021.
• CMS is working with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, which is an initial step prior to presenting a fraud case to the Illinois Department of Insurance.
• Illinois Workers Comp Act
o An employee’s employment status is independent of the status of a workers’ compensation claim
o An employee can be terminated, laid-off, etc. from their employment while they have a pending workers’ compensation claim as long as the change in employment status is not related to retaliation
o If the State accepted workers compensation claim and remain restricted off of work by the treating physician, claimant will continue to received Temporary Total Disability benefits under the act even if fired for cause for an unrelated incident because you are restricted from the job market based on your work related injuries
An ILGOP spokesperson claimed today that “CMS enrolled her when there was no process.” That’s odd, considering there’s an actual case file.
…Adding… From Cathy Kwiatkowski at CMS…
Rich,
Regarding your inquiry, CMS conducted an independent and unbiased investigation to make a determination regarding the claim. Temporary Disability Payments (TTD) were approved while the investigation was conducted, as failure to do so could result in potential penalties assessed by the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
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* AP…
The Illinois governor plans to tackle inflation by sparing consumers nearly $1 billion in taxes in the coming year, including freezing taxes on groceries and gasoline and offering a rebate to homeowners.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker will include the plan in his budget proposal set for Wednesday.
The Democratic governor’s plan was outlined by Deputy Gov. Andy Manar in an interview with The Associated Press.
With inflation at 7%, it would suspend for a year the 1% sales tax on groceries, freeze the motor fuel tax on gasoline at 39 cents per gallon and provide a property tax rebate of up to $300.
You’ll remember these ideas from the poll questions I recently shared.
* Sun-Times…
The relief includes a suspension of the 1% state tax on groceries during the fiscal year starting July 1, which would save residents an estimated $360 million, Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said Friday.
Grocery tax revenue is earmarked for local municipalities, which will still be “made whole” by other state revenue, Manar said.
Pritzker’s proposal would also suspend a 2-cent-per-gallon increase to the gas tax that was scheduled to kick in this summer, keeping about $135 million in residents’ pockets.
The gas tax hike was a key funding component of Pritzker’s signature $45 billion capital infrastructure improvement plan that was implemented in 2019. Manar said the one-year freeze “will not have an impact on the overall program” and won’t interrupt work already underway on many of the state’s aging roads and bridges.
* WBEZ…
And the property tax rebate component would apply to individuals making $250,000 annually or less or to couples making $500,000 or less. That provision would be the priciest of Pritzker’s proposed tax cuts, coming in at $475 million.
Rebates would be capped at $300. The governor’s office did not make clear whether payments would go out in the form of paper checks or direct deposits or whether they would be received ahead of the Nov. 8 general election date.
“In total, this is nearly $1 billion in relief to Illinois families,” Manar said. “And the governor believes at this moment – because we have the ability to do this with our budget stabilized and our state finances are in good shape – that we should focus on the cost of groceries, the cost of gasoline and the cost of property taxes and bring relief to families across the state.”
The state’s financial picture has been on an upswing under Pritzker with state income and sales taxes surging ahead of projections. In November, in a presentation to bond investors, Pritzker’s administration disclosed year-to-date state revenues were $1.3 billion ahead of previous-year levels.
* Tribune…
In a combined budget speech and State of the State address, Pritzker will face a dual task: outlining his spending plan to kick off negotiations in the Democratic-controlled legislature, and making the case to voters that his handling of the state’s chronically shaky finances, his pandemic public health policies and his efforts to reach out to long-neglected minority communities have earned him another four years in office. […]
And even with Democrats in full control of the legislature, there’s no guarantee of full support for everything Pritzker proposes.
In an interview last week on Illinois Public Media’s “The 21st Show,” Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, was asked about the possibility of providing some relief to taxpayers, such as suspending the sales tax on groceries, as Pritzker will propose.
“We could do it, but we wouldn’t provide a lot of relief for struggling families. … We don’t want to do something that is flashy showbiz but doesn’t provide real relief to people” Harmon said.
A transcript of that interview is here.
* Crain’s…
Pritzker has plenty of company in cutting taxes now. Not only Republicans in states such as Indiana but newly installed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, have proposed reductions in their levies, too.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Legislators, advocates and community members urged Gov. Pritzker to offer a tax cut for low-income Illinoisans in the State’s FY2022 budget, ahead of his Feb. 2 budget address. Advocates urged the inclusion of a bill (SB3774 Aquino/ HB4920 Ammons) that would expand Earned Income Credit (EIC) eligibility, include a new state Child Tax Credit, and increase the amount of credit available to each low-income filer.
“I am proud to be the chief sponsor of HB4290, a bill that would expand the Earned Income Credit and lift millions of Illinoisans out of poverty by providing low-income people with much-needed tax relief. Illinois’ current tax system is one of the most regressive in the country, blocking over a million of our neighbors from their basic needs in favor of the wealthy few,” said Representative Carol Ammons (D-Urbana). “As Gov. Pritzker prepares the annual budget address, I urge him to put Illinois on the path toward a more equitable tax system by expanding the Earned Income Credit.”
The bill to expand Illinois’ Earned Income Credit (EIC) would offer 4.5 million low-income Illinoisans a tax break. The bill uses the popular and effective tax credit as a vehicle to get more dollars directly into households around the state. For most families, it would mean, on average, $600 in a refund at tax time. The bill proposes expanding eligibility to nearly one million low-income residents who are currently barred from the credit, and then increasing the available credit amount for all recipients.
Similar to the federal EITC, the current state EIC offers income tax relief to most workers earning less than $56,000 per year and would total up to $1,200 in a tax return. The newly filed state bill would expand Illinois’ Earned Income Credit to include groups currently ineligible for the refund—namely, childless workers aged 18-24 and over 65 and immigrants who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). It would also create a statewide Child Tax Credit of at least $600 for parents or legal guardians of children under 17. Finally, over three years, it would increase the credit amount from the current 18% match of the federal EITC to 25%, offering hundreds of dollars more each year to families who need it.
Gov. Pritzker released a statement on Friday praising current state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits and calling on taxpayers to take advantage of existing programs. The Pritzker administration has also spent recent years promoting a joint outreach initiative with the Ilinois Department of Revenue to increase taxpayer participation in the state credit. In 2021, 74,800 Illinoisans claimed a federal EITC credit but did not claim the state EIC, leaving $29.8 million on the table.
“The Earned Income Tax Credit is a huge benefit and puts thousands of dollars in the pockets of low to moderate income families each year,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in the statement Friday. “Even if an individual does not owe any taxes, they may still be eligible for the credit and receive critical funding that can be used for bills and necessities.”
Advocates for SB3774/HB4920 are hopeful that Pritzker signaling support of the existing EITC will translate to him including support for the tax credit’s expansion in next week’s budget address.
“An expanded Earned Income Credit would provide a lot of help for my family, especially as the pandemic has surged again. At this moment, we really don’t have economic security. Food, rent, and utility costs have gone way up this year, and it’s harder to support our children,” said Susana Salgado, a Chicago parent of three and a community leader with Community Organizing and Family Issues’ POWER-PAC. “The governor should make our tax system more fair, particularly for undocumented and mixed status families who are excluded from many government programs. An extra few hundred dollars at tax time would help us to get out of a hole of debt and alleviate our stress.”
The Coalition to Make EIC Work, a project of the Illinois Cost-Of-Living Refund Coalition, is leading the advocacy effort. The coalition includes more than 30 nonprofit, labor, consumer advocate, immigrant rights, and grassroots, community-based organizations across the state.
This bill comes at a time when the state is seeking ways to support communities most impacted by COVID-19. An expansion of the EIC to immigrant families, seniors, and childless young workers would help to strengthen the safety net for the groups left out of federal coronavirus relief programs.
To learn more about the bill, visit the fact sheet at bit.ly/expandEIC22.
Expanding EITC was included in that aforementioned poll.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
As JB Pritzker will surely try to rewrite history in this week’s State of the State and Budget Address and announce election-year gimmicks to cover up his record of out-of-control crime and higher taxes, here is a quick reminder of the sad and scary reality of his Administration over the last three years and why he simply can’t be trusted:
• Pritzker spent $58 million in an attempt to enact the largest tax hike in Illinois history on families, small businesses and farmers. This tax plan would have given politicians in Springfield unlimited power to raise taxes at their discretion on every family in Illinois. Despite his failure, he is committed to pursuing this endeavor again.
• Pritzker signed into law new policies that prohibit the police from doing their jobs and will put more criminals onto the street with cashless bail.
• Pritzker has let some of society’s worst criminals back onto the streets early, including multiple convicted murderers. They include a woman who shot her 21-month-old child and a man who beat his baby to death.
• Pritzker continuously attempts to abolish the tax credit scholarship program that provides low income families better educational opportunities for their children.
• Pritzker punished Illinoisans for the failure of his massive tax hike by raising taxes on Illinois businesses.
“Governor Pritzker’s actions over the last three years have proven that he simply can’t be trusted to lead our state,” Richard Irvin campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis said. “Election year gimmicks aren’t going to take back our state from out-of-control crime, higher taxes and corruption. To do that, we need a new governor.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** While not identical to the governor’s proposal, the SGOPS appear to be dancing to the same sort of tune. Or, perhaps more likely, they’ve come up with an excuse to not vote for the governor’s plan…
Illinois Senate Republicans are seeking to deliver Illinois families much-needed tax relief through their recently announced package of tax reform proposals. They say these measures will provide the citizens of Illinois with permanent, substantive relief, instead of the temporary relief that is expected to be proposed by Gov. JB Pritzker during his upcoming Budget Address.
“It’s encouraging to hear that the Governor has finally recognized the need to provide tax relief for struggling Illinois families, but they need more than just one-time, election year gimmicks. What they need is true, long-lasting tax relief that gets our state on the right track,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). “People continue to be taxed out of this state. Short-term solutions will not fix that.”
As part of the proposed tax relief package, Senate Republicans are calling for reforms that help address the growing concerns of inflation and skyrocketing consumer prices. These changes include the elimination of the state’s one percent sales tax on food and prescription drugs.
“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans have experienced the largest 12-month increase in inflation since June 1982,” said State Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-St Charles). “This includes a 6.3 percent increase in total food prices, and a staggering 16 percent increase in just meat prices. There are far too many Illinoisans worried about how they will be able to put food on their tables and pay for their family’s medicine for the state legislature to sit idly by and do nothing.”
Another section of the Senate Republicans’ tax proposal is aimed at addressing the climbing price of gas. They support a proposal that lowers the overall amount consumers pay at the pump, but also ensure that critical funding necessary for road improvements remains the same. This proposal includes lowering the 6.25 percent sales tax on gas/gasohol to 5.25 percent, while also increasing the Road Fund disbursement from 32 percent to 53 percent.
“This plan will not only provide relief for Illinoisans filling up their gas tanks, but will also ensure that we continue to fund construction projects desperately needed throughout the state,” said State Sen. Win Stoller (R-Germantown Hills). “In fact, our proposal will increase the state’s road fund by $80 million. This is a common-sense approach to alleviating the burden that our constituents are currently experiencing while at the gas pump.”
Additionally, the tax relief package being put forward would further help Illinois senior citizens by increasing the income tax exemption that they can receive on their Illinois income tax from $1,000 to $2,000.
“While there have been some state officials who have suggested the idea of placing additional taxes on our seniors, we are advancing ideas that actually save them even more of their hard-earned money,” said State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). “It is our goal to make Illinois a friendly tax state for both our seniors and retirees.”
Finally, Senate Republicans seek to take on the issue of property taxes that has plagued the state for far too long, by calling for an increase in the state’s property tax income tax credit. Under this initiative, the tax credit would rise from 5 percent to 10 percent. The plan also allows voters who are subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), the ability to go to referendum to lower their property taxes.
“It is no secret to anyone that property taxes have been a serious, long-standing issue that many Illinoisans continue to face,” said State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry). “For years, Illinois politicians have promised to provide property tax relief, and we intend to keep that promise.”
You can view the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus’ entire tax relief package here.
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*** UPDATED x2 *** Open thread
Monday, Jan 31, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Session weather…
How’s your Monday?
*** UPDATE 1 *** Yikes…
*** UPDATE 2 *** National Weather Service…
Peoria-Woodford-Fulton-Tazewell-McLean-Schuyler-Mason-Logan-
De Witt-Piatt-Champaign-Vermilion-Cass-Menard-Scott-Morgan-
Sangamon-Christian-Macon-Moultrie-Douglas-
Including the cities of Peoria, Eureka, Canton, Pekin,
Bloomington, Normal, Rushville, Havana, Lincoln, Clinton,
Monticello, Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Beardstown, Petersburg,
Winchester, Jacksonville, Springfield, Taylorville, Decatur,
Sullivan, and Tuscola
318 PM CST Mon Jan 31 2022
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM CST
THURSDAY…
* WHAT…Significant snow likely with a brief period of mixed
precipitation. Total snow accumulations in excess of 12 inches
with locally higher amounts possible. Ice accumulations up to one
tenth of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph will create
blowing and drifting snow Wednesday night into Thursday.
* WHERE…Portions of central, east central and west central
Illinois.
* WHEN…From 9 PM Tuesday to 6 PM CST Thursday.
* IMPACTS…Travel will be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions will impact the morning or evening
commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means
severe winter weather conditions are expected. Significant
amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
The latest road conditions for Illinois can be obtained on the
Internet at www.gettingaroundillinois.com
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Richard Duchossois
Friday, Jan 28, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Thom Serafin…
Richard L. Duchossois, a native of Chicago, a decorated war hero, renowned businessman and horseracing icon, passed away peacefully at his home in Barrington Hills, Illinois on January 28, 2022.
Duchossois was known for his top-down management style, his exacting business principles, his customer service-oriented philosophies and his commitment to quality as evidenced in every workplace with his oft-repeated admonition, “Don’t expect what you didn’t inspect.” His meticulous attention to detail was applied with military precision across all aspects of his life, down to his double-breasted suits and pocket scarves. Sightings of an impeccably dressed “Mr. D,” as he was affectionately called, walking the halls of his businesses were a common occurrence.
Duchossois was the embodiment of perseverance. Of the many organizations in Duchossois’ business portfolio over the period of his professional career, many would come to associate him most with Arlington Park, the thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. After an electrical fire destroyed the entire facility in 1985, the rebuild Duchossois championed set Arlington apart from other racetracks globally, with its striking cantilevered roof, world-class facilities and international stakes races. While a typical response to the complete devastation of the fire would have been to walk away, in a tour-de-force, Duchossois galvanized his employees to hold the famed Arlington Million race just days after the fire. This feat would go down in horseracing legends as the “Miracle Million” and it marked the first time a racetrack was ever awarded racing’s highest honor, the Eclipse Special Award.
Born Oct. 7, 1921, to Ernestine and Alphonse Duchossois in the south Chicago neighborhood of Beverly, Richard Louis Duchossois was destined to lead a life that personified what Americans define as “The Greatest Generation.” In his 100 years of life, Duchossois left an indelible impression on the world as a veteran, entrepreneur, philanthropist, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
The second of four siblings, Duchossois attended Morgan Park Military Academy during his formative years.
“I learned (at Morgan Park) discipline of the mind and that you have to try to win,” Duchossois explained in a family business retrospective book, Riding the Rails, published in 2016. “We had a professor of military science and tactics. He always said if we’re going to get ahead, we must be second to none.”
Duchossois credited this philosophy, combined with the leadership, honor and integrity that he learned in his year and a half at Washington and Lee University, as having laid the foundation for his ability to not only survive, but thrive under pressure. These moments would be far from few in his century-long life.
Duchossois was just 20 years old when he was called to service with the U.S. Army following the United States’ entry into World War II. He was assigned to the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion and served as commander of a Tank Destroyer Company throughout five European campaigns under General George S. Patton.
Although once feared for dead from a gunshot wound, Duchossois survived, recovered and returned to the front, leading his company through famed operations such as The Battle of the Bulge. Duchossois was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his sacrifice and, decades later, continued to garner recognition for his service. He received the Order of St. Maurice medallion, an honor that acknowledges both wartime distinction and ongoing character standards and accomplishments, as well as the distinction of the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest award, presented to him by the French government in Normandy on the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014. As a trustee, Duchossois participated in several oral history projects for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
In July of 1943, Duchossois married his sweetheart Beverly (nee Thrall), who gave birth to their first son Craig in 1944 while Duchossois was on the frontline in Europe. The couple went on to have three more children, Dayle, Bruce, and Kimberly. They settled in Flossmoor, a southwest suburb of Chicago.
Upon his return home from the war, Duchossois was invited to join Beverly’s family’s business, Thrall Car Manufacturing Company - a modest railcar parts and repair company with 35 employees, and a rudimentary yard, based in Chicago Heights, Ill. Despite lacking in business experience, it was at Thrall Car that Duchossois honed his intuitive business instincts: He relentlessly strived for growth and improvement.
By 2001, when it was acquired by Trinity Rail Group, Thrall Car Manufacturing Company had a production capacity of 16,000 rail cars per year and 3,000 employees. Duchossois diversified his company over the years with the purchase of Chamberlain Manufacturing Group, broadcast outlets, Arlington Park and a number of other businesses.
Duchossois lost his wife Beverly to cancer in 1980. Her care and treatment received at The University of Chicago served as the catalyst for Duchossois’ first major philanthropic gift to UCMC in 1978. This gift supported world-renowned experts in lymphoma, Dr. John Ultmann as the first director of the cancer research center at the University of Chicago. The establishment of The Duchossois Family Foundation soon followed. Beverly’s death became the vehicle for the family to support cancer research in partnership with the University of Chicago, as well as initiatives such as Patient Navigation Services with the American Cancer Society, among others.
During his tenure in horseracing, Duchossois brought the 2002 Breeders Cup to Arlington Park, owned one of the leading breeding farms in Illinois, and actively worked to influence and shape the racing industry and its legislation. In 2019, Duchossois was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 2000, Arlington Park merged with Churchill Downs Incorporated.
“Dick sets a personal standard to which we should all aspire,” said Washington and Lee President Will Dudley in 2018. “His leadership, humility, generosity and dedication to the service of others are an inspiration to all those who know him. We are indebted to him for his ongoing commitment to W&L.”
Among his survivors is wife Mary Judith (nee McKeage) of Barrington, Ill., who he married in 2000 and who has lovingly stood by his side for all business, philanthropic and family endeavors. He is also survived by his son Craig J. Duchossois (Janet) of Chicago, daughter Dayle Duchossois-Fortino (Ed) of Chicago, daughter Kimberly Duchossois of Barrington, Ill., and step-sons Steve Marchi (Sherrie) of Palatine, Ill., and Paul Marchi (Judy) of Palatine, Ill. Duchossois had seven grandchildren (and spouses), two step-grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Duchossois’ first wife, Beverly, and their beloved son, R. Bruce Duchossois, predeceased him in 1980 and 2014, respectively.
Up to his final days, Duchossois could be found at his desk planning his next venture, legal pad and pen in hand. To use the Miracle Million team’s motto - which Duchossois loved and had printed on post-cards - “Quit? Hell No!”
No doubt Duchossois is marching on to his next tour. We salute you, soldier.
As a result of COVID-19, to ensure the health and safety of others, there will be no visitation. The funeral and burial services will be immediate family only. In memory of Dick, and in lieu of flowers, you may want to consider a donation to a favorite organization of your choice, the National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/give), or Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, 450 West Highway 22, Barrington, IL 60010 (https://advocategiving.org/).
…Adding… Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association…
On behalf of Illinois thoroughbred owners and trainers, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dick Duchossois.
Mr. D served our nation with distinction and thereafter brought his enduring tenacity and exceptional work ethic to the helm of Arlington Park — a track he worked to build into a world-class destination for thoroughbred horse racing.
As we mourn his loss, we are reminded of his immense contributions to thoroughbred racing in North America, most especially here in Illinois. His imprint on the sport and industry was vast and will not be forgotten.
…Adding… Leader McConchie…
State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) released the following statement following the death of Richard L. Duchossois:
“My thoughts and condolences are with the Duchossois family. Richard lived his 100 years of life to the fullest and will be remembered for his many accomplishments. The 26th Senate District was fortunate to have Richard as a constituent. His dedication to his country and community should forever be honored.”
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COVID-19 roundup
Friday, Jan 28, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Hospitalizations are down 25.12 percent in the past week. Good stuff. The lagging indicators will eventually catch up. Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 123,812 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 843 deaths since January 21, 2022.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 2,897,174 cases, including 30,688 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since January 21, 2022, laboratories have reported 1,310,730 specimens for a total of 50,798,837. As of last night, 4,533 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 800 patients were in the ICU and 460 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from January 21 – 27, 2022 is 9.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 21 – 27, 2022 is 12.0%.
A total of 20,423,100 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 36,787 doses. Since January 21, 2022, 257,512 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 75% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, 66% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and more than 46% boosted according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
* More on the stealth omicron subvariant…
Why is it called stealth omicron? You cannot identify the type of variant through a PCR test like you can with omicron. Genomic sequencing has to be conducted in a specialized lab to identify the variant, which takes longer.
In Denmark, where stealth omicron cases are rapidly increasing, it went from 20% of cases in December, to 45% of cases two weeks ago, and now it’s about 65% of cases. […]
Early studies in Denmark indicate stealth omicron doesn’t create a higher risk of hospitalization compared with omicron.
Denmark recently found that stealth omicron is as much as 1.5 times more transmissible than omicron.
* The federal government really needs to step up, and not just for restaurants. Omicron has been devastating. Just because there are no government shutdowns does not mean there haven’t been business problems. Wall Street may have done well, but this president has repeatedly said he was more concerned with Main Street. Well, it’s bad…
In Illinois, 4,524 restaurants received federal grants totaling more than $1.4 billion. But 15,674 applied for nearly $3.5 billion, meaning more than 71% of Illinois restaurants did not receive funds, according to SBA data. […]
The Independent Restaurant Coalition, a grassroots group that sprung up as the pandemic took its toll on the industry, found 42% of businesses that did not receive a restaurant grant are in or on the verge of bankruptcy, according to a nationwide survey conducted this month. […]
The coalition has been pushing for Congress to replenish the restaurant fund. Such a measure was not included in President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act, which was approved by the House in November but stalled in the Senate. Several other stand-alone proposals, however, are gaining traction.
The clear front-runner is the $48 billion Cardin-Wicker bill, Polmar said. The bipartisan proposal, introduced in the Senate in August, would provide funding to the nearly 180,000 applicants that did not receive grants during the initial Restaurant Revitalization Fund awards last year.
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is announcing the availability of 225,000 free, rapid COVID-19 self-administered test kits through Project Access Covid Tests (Project ACT) to residents in certain zip codes in 14 Illinois counties. Project ACT is a new direct-to-consumer mail order program in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, health care technology company CareEvolation, test manufacture iHealth Labs, Inc., and logistics provider and distribution leader Amazon.com.
IDPH encourages eligible residents in vulnerable communities in 14 counties to order these free COVID-19 tests. Counties include Cook, DuPage, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Kankakee, Lake, Macon, Madison, Marion, Peoria, St. Clair, Will, and Winnebago counties. Residents living in specific zip codes [click here] can go to AccessCovidTests.org to sign up for a free home delivery. These tests are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Each household will receive five tests within one to two weeks after ordering. In this initial phase, there is a limit of one kit per household and each kit will include five tests. The tests and shipping are free to eligible residents.
* From The Atlantic…
Though many clergy are pro-vaccine, they often feel paralyzed or confused talking with congregants about their own stances, according to Curtis Chang, a consulting professor at Duke Divinity School. Chang also runs Christians and the Vaccine, a project dedicated to helping pastors use biblical principles to encourage congregants to get their COVID shots. While about 90 percent of evangelical faith leaders say they would encourage others to get inoculated, less than half of evangelical congregants are in favor of it. “What’s happening is that the base is actually taking their cues on social and political issues not from their pastors primarily,” Chang told me, “but from Fox News.” He believes that as some conservative politicians continue to push the idea that vaccine mandates strip the populace of its civil liberties, faith leaders are losing their influence over their congregation.
* Daily Herald…
On Thursday, 37,652 more COVID-19 shots were administered. The seven-day average is 36,787.
The state’s positivity rate for COVID-19 cases is 9.4% based on a seven-day average.
So far, 8,357,859 people have been fully vaccinated or 66% of Illinois’ 12.7 million population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The CDC defines fully vaccinated as two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s.
Of those people who are fully vaccinated, 46.5% have received a booster shot.
* House media rules for next week were just distributed. No real surprises. But it was mentioned that Senators will not be allowed onto the House floor for what is usually a joint session. They can watch from the gallery or elsewhere. House members are being allowed to watch from their offices and there will be no committee of escorts.
…Adding… Meant to post this and forgot…
Centenarian Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlaender urged the young generation on Thursday to always remember the Nazi genocide and denounced the use by some anti-COVID vaccination protesters of the yellow star Jews were forced to wear.
“Today, I see the memory of what happened being abused for political reasons, sometimes even derided and trampled all over,” she told EU lawmakers in Brussels at a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
“Incredulous, I had to watch at the age of 100 years how symbols of our exclusion by the Nazis, such as the so-called ‘Judenstern’, are shamelessly used on the open street by the new enemies of democracy, to present themselves - whilst living in the middle of a democracy - as victims,” Friedlaender added.
She was referring to some demonstrators at anti-vaccination protests who have pinned yellow star badges to their clothes, reminiscent of the cloth badges the Nazis forced Jews to wear to mark them as outsiders.
People who do such things are beneath contempt.
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Pause for the cause
Friday, Jan 28, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I am in dire need of a haircut and I made an appointment for lunchtime. But, when I did, I forgot that Sangamon County Judge Reylene Grischow could issue an order or decision today on the Tom DeVore case(s). Too late to back out now, so if something breaks while I’m gone, you can use this post to discuss. Keep a close eye on the live coverage post. Otherwise, it’s just another open thread.
…Adding… MD 2020 is called “Mad Dog” for good reason. Stay away from that stuff…
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Campaign notebook
Friday, Jan 28, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
He’s in.
Chicago businessman Jonathan Jackson has filed federal paperwork to run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, almost certainly a sign that the son of civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the brother of former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. will enter the race. […]
An official announcement is expected next week.
Several other candidates already are in the race, including Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd; state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago; and county workforce development official Karin Norington-Reaves.
* Press release about the same district…
Pat Dowell, Alderman and Committeeman of Chicago’s Third Ward, and candidate for Democratic Nomination for Congress in the First District of Illinois, this week announced endorsements from major political players supporting her campaign.
“I am very humbled by the growing support for our campaign. There is a lot of work to be done on this campaign and in Congress. I am so grateful to have the help of so many folks,” said Pat Dowell.
Dowell announced endorsements from:
Former Ambassador and Senator Carol Moseley Braun
State Senator and Committeeperson Mattie Hunter
State Representative and Committeeperson Bob Rita
State Representative Lamont Robinson
State Representative Kam Buckner
Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry
Alderman and Committeeperson Howard Brookins
Alderman Carrie Austin
Alderman and Committeeperson Sue Sadlowski Garza
Alderman Maria Hadden
Alderman Brian Hopkins
Alderman Michele Smith
Alderman and Committeeperson Tom Tunney
Alderman and Committeeperson Scott Waguespack
* Fundraising appeal…
Friend,
I have a big announcement to share.
I’ve mentioned before that Illinois Policy plans to take on government union bosses this year. And we’ve finalized our strategy, the Full Slate Strategy.
What does the Full Slate Strategy look like?
Recruit pro-free-market candidates who will fight for taxpayers.
Illinois Policy will identify and support candidates who care about their neighbors and community, not special interests and government union bosses.
Give voters real choices.
Voters deserve candidates who aren’t tied in with the corrupt establishment. On average over 50% of house seats are uncontested. Incumbents run unopposed and voters’ voices go unheard. We’ll give voters options in 2022.
The 2022 elections are pivotal - Inflation is the highest it’s been in 30 years, emergency powers are slowing economic progress, and government union bosses continue to fight parents on public education.
In order to successfully launch the Full Slate Strategy, I’ve set a goal to raise $625,000. I am personally asking for your support to take on government union bosses and the special interests.
Will you donate $25, $50, $100, or any generous amount to recruit pro-free-market candidates? Click here to donate >>>
We are recruiting, thoroughly vetting, and training pro-free-market candidates to run for office where the current incumbent lawmaker faced no opponent in 2020.
To date, our team has interviewed and vetted qualified candidates to run in 37 of these districts.
Once completed, we are then asking potential candidates to sign a commitment form.
This shows that they are steadfast in ending “business as usual” in Springfield and Chicago.
Donate $25 >>>
Donate $50 >>>
Donate $100 >>>
Donate $250 >>>
Donate $500 >>>
Donate $1,000 >>>
Donate $2,500 >>>
Donate Any Amount>>>
In less than a year, Illinoisans have seen two tremendous victories that many believed were politically impossible:
The decisive defeat of the progressive tax.
The long-awaited end to Mike Madigan’s tenure as the nation’s longest-serving legislative leader.
These are major wins, but this is only the beginning. With your continued support, we will recruit better legislators and local leaders who will continue Illinois’ comeback story.
Thank you,
Matt Paprocki
President
Illinois Policy
* Politico…
Democratic Rep. Marie Newman, who’s also running in the IL-06 congressional primary, has been endorsed by the Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600, an AFT/IFT local. Newman also won the support of the National Organization for Women PAC, Feminist Majority, and the National Women’s Political Caucus.
* More…
* Kaegi botched COVID tax relief: The Cook County assessor cut values based on jobs he thought neighborhoods would lose due to the pandemic. It was a wild miscalculation that worked out well for some, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot, not so well for residents of a poor South Side neighborhood
* ADDED: Kaegi responds
…Adding… Press release…
Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council have endorsed Sam Kukadia for Cook County Board in the 9th District. Mr. Kukadia is a business owner and member of IUOE Local 150 seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the Cook County Board. These endorsements, coupled with Mr. Kukadia’s raising more than $50,000 in one week, shows he is gaining early momentum in a race that could get crowded in the coming weeks.
“Brother Kukadia as a member and Local 150 contractor, not just talks the talk but walks the walk when it comes to protecting working families. He understands workers deserve fair wages and benefits for an honest day’s work. He will ensure that the men and women in Organized Labor have a seat at the table while serving as a Cook County Board Member,” said President Business Manager James Sweeney of IUOE Local 150.
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* From the OEIG…
An OEIG investigation relating to the administration of Employee Benefit Funds (EBFs) at the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) was recently released. EBFs exist at all of the IDOC Correctional Centers and at its central administrative office in Springfield. Although EBFs serve a purpose in boosting employee morale, the EBFs at each facility operated independently, with little to no oversight, whether through audits, implementation of clear policies and procedures, training, or otherwise.
The investigation revealed that although IDOC’s Administrative Directives limited the primary source of the EBFs’ revenues to profits from vending machines and employee commissaries, most of the EBFs had expanded their revenue streams by generating large sums of money from fundraising. These expansive fundraising efforts, in turn, led to various problematic practices, such as soliciting donations from local businesses without ensuring that they were not State vendors, improperly holding raffles, selling merchandise in a way that evaded statutory and IDOC limitations, and devoting large amounts of State time to EBF activities. In addition, the investigation discovered that the EBFs spent much of the funds they raised on employee entertainment; in some cases they spent their funds in ways that benefitted only a select few employees. The EBFs also improperly used inmate labor for their fundraisers.
In response to the report, and at the direction of the prior and current gubernatorial administrations, IDOC undertook an extensive review and overhaul of EBF procedures. A senior IDOC employee was also suspended for 15 days. A copy of the report, In re: John Baldwin and Edwin Bowen (OEIG Case #17- 01266), is available on the OEIG website.
* From that report…
The investigation also revealed that many EBFs use inmate labor for fundraising events such as car washes and shoe shining events [contrary to state law.] […]
IDOC [Identifying Information Redacted] [IDOC Senior Staff Employee] told investigators that previously, the EBFs kept all profits from the fundraisers they held that used inmate labor, but 12 to 18 months ago there was a policy decision with IDOC Chief of Staff Edwin Bowen that required the EBFs to split the profits from such fundraisers equally with the Inmate Benefit Fund and the institution’s 523 fund. Nevertheless, [IDOC Senior Staff Employee 1] said he felt that using inmate labor to raise funds for the EBFs is “bad optics,” “bad ethically,” and “bad morally.” He added: “It’s really hard for me to just honestly stomach the idea that … employees benefit from offender labor.”
Sheesh. Using inmates for a shoe-shining event to pay for staff parties and gifts. That goes beyond “optics.” What is this, Mississippi?
*** UPDATE *** The governor’s office insists that doing things like using inmates to raise money is no longer happening under their watch. Gov. Rauner’s administration agreed to implement the OEIG’s recommendations.
* Meanwhile…
An Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) employee has pleaded guilty to two of the charges against him.
Michael S. Williams, 52, of Auburn, was facing 25 counts of custodial sexual misconduct and eight counts of official misconduct.
Williams served as an IDOC Correctional Food Service Manager before he was charged in 2019.
Allegations first came to light in April 2019. He was arrested by Illinois State Police in September of 2019 at the Decatur Correctional Center.
* On to WICS…
In Illinois, 34 prisons are on lockdown because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
These lockdowns come just two weeks after the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) stopped taking inmates from county jails due to outbreaks.
This has impacted Sangamon County Jail.
The number of inmates Sangamon County Jail has to transfer to Department of Corrections has doubled in just two weeks.
* Capitol News Illinois…
In mid-January, 3,300 incarcerated people and nearly 1,100 staff members at Illinois prisons were infected with the disease. While hospitalizations have been rare during the latest wave, according to the state, one person in custody and two staff members have died.
With the pandemic fast approaching its third year, state prison officials are facing difficulties containing the virus once again because of the lagging vaccine rate of prison staff, the main conduit of COVID-19 into the prisons.
In August, Gov. JB Pritzker ordered all guards to be vaccinated, but their union protested the mandate and took it to arbitration. The governor prevailed in late December. Now, all prison workers must have their first shot by the end of January.
By the end of December, 65% of prison staff had been vaccinated, according to department officials who nevertheless remain confident that nearly all staff will meet the January deadline, citing markedly improving vaccination rates since the end of October, when only 49% were vaccinated.
But the slow rollout means very few of them — only 12% — have had booster shots, which are administered six months after the first round of vaccines but are crucial to warding off the omicron variant. By comparison, 44% of Illinois prisoners had received boosters by the end of the 2021.
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