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Monday, Aug 22, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Campaign notebook
Friday, Aug 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune reported yesterday that Darren Bailey had confirmed he’d agreed to the two debates proposed by Gov. Pritzker. Bailey’s remarks yesterday indicated that he hadn’t agreed. So I checked last night with his campaign manager, who told me this..
We never agreed to those debates.
…Adding… I should’ve added this Bailey quote from August 9…
So, JB, if you can fit it into your presidential campaign schedule and want to talk about someone in this race for governor and about the people of Illinois who are struggling under your watch, well I’m here in Illinois. And I’ll be waiting when you fly back. I’ll debate you anyplace anytime.
* Press release…
In recognition of his monumental achievement of enacting the “Rebuild Illinois” capital plan which put billions of dollars into action supporting state transportation and infrastructure projects, technology, education, worker safety and job creation, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) has presented a special “Champion of Infrastructure” Award to Governor JB Pritzker.
“Rebuild Illinois” is Illinois’ first capital plan in nearly a decade, providing over $45 billion in investments in roads, bridges, railroads, universities, early childhood centers, and state facilities over six years, creating and supporting over 540,000 jobs and revitalizing the state’s economy. The historic, bipartisan legislation enacted a multimodal plan with over $33.2 billion in funding for various types of transportation infrastructure, including $10.4 billion for state roads and bridges. The recently passed federal Infrastructure investment and Jobs Act adds another $17.8 billion to the state’s infrastructure renewal resources.
A crowd of over one hundred, including the leadership of ACEC Illinois and members from across the state, gathered Friday to honor JB Pritzker’s singular dedication to passing a bipartisan capital plan in his first year in office, as well as his continued support of accelerated road, bridge and construction projects. Many member companies of ACEC Illinois are engaged in the design and planning of projects envisioned with this investment, and speakers credited the Governor with positioning Illinois ahead of other states in this regard.
“Real leaders bring people together, and that’s exactly what Governor Pritzker did when he developed the Rebuild Illinois program that was approved with significant bipartisan support. The reinvestment in Illinois under the Rebuild Illinois program has reinvigorated Illinois’ infrastructure industry and has created thousands of new jobs across the state,” said Kevin Artl, president and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “And now, because of Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois is one of the best-positioned states in the nation to take advantage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. With the investment at the state and federal level along with the commitment of the nation’s most talented and innovative engineers located right here in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln is well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.”
The historic $45 billion capital plan is expected to address decades-long problems with the state’s infrastructure, improve communities for the next generation, and create hundreds of thousands of new direct and ancillary jobs. Speaking to its importance and impact, its passage by the General Assembly was supported by a range of non-partisan organizations including the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Federation of Labor.
“I’m so honored to receive this year’s Champion of Infrastructure Award, particularly from a dedicated organization like the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois has some of the top infrastructure in the country—and I’m not saying that just because I’m biased. We’re consistently ranked among the best because of our commitment to improving the foundations of our state. Rebuild Illinois, our Multi-Year plan, and all the work we’ve done to build a resilient and responsible Illinois are possible because of the pride that people, like ACEC, have in our state.”
* Oof…
* The Rauner campaign did this sort of thing in one of his races. Politico…
State Rep. Tom Demmer, the GOP nominee for state treasurer, has launched a super-targeted paid digital program for the State Fair. The program has created a “geo fence” around the fairgrounds where everyone within its boundaries will be targeted with digital attack ads against incumbent Treasurer Mike Frerichs on the issue of taxing retirement income like pensions.
* Politico…
— Several Republican candidates for Cook County office booted or withdraw from November ballot: “Among those kicked off: Todd Thielmann, who until recently worked for Tammy Wendt, a Democratic commissioner on the Board of Review. Wendt and Thielmann are cousins — she eventually fired him after the county’s board of ethics sued and fined her for violating the county’s ban on nepotism,” by Tribune’s A.D. Quig
— Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is being added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Frontline incumbent-protection program, which provides support for vulnerable incumbents. Casten also has been endorsed by all 14 members of the Illinois Democratic Congressional delegation, including Rep. Marie Newman who he defeated in the June primary. Casten faces Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in November’s election.
* From earlier this week…
Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced four critical endorsements for Congress: … Eric Sorensen (IL-17) … These candidates are running to represent their respective districts in the U.S. House of Representatives.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“As we face the fight of our lives, electing leaders who we can count on to safeguard our fundamental rights has never been more important. With MAGA Republicans in Congress planning an outright ban on abortion should they win power, we are fighting seat by seat to ensure these extremists cannot enact their agenda.”
These candidates bring a wealth of experience and strong commitments to protect and advance reproductive freedom in Congress. Jevin Hodge, a long-time community advocate, is a staunch supporter of reproductive freedom and expanding abortion access for all Arizonans. Eric Sorensen, who would make history as the first LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Illinois, has worked to connect vulnerable communities to health services and is committed to protecting abortion rights. Monica Tranel, an attorney fighting for working Montanans, is an advocate for expanded abortion access and has vowed to protect reproductive freedom. Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, a former member of the Southampton Town Council and prosecutor of sex crimes, has pledged to ensure access to abortion and contraceptives. All four candidates have committed to protecting and expanding abortion access by supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act to lock the federal right to abortion into law.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—ending the constitutional right to abortion and opening the door for extremist state lawmakers to put total bans on abortion in place. This decision is already having a devastating impact throughout the country as 14 states have begun enforcing extreme bans on abortion. The people hurt most by these bans and restrictions are those who already face barriers to accessing abortion care—including women; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; those working to make ends meet; the LGBTQ+ community; immigrants; young people; those living in rural communities; and people with disabilities.
These endorsements come as NARAL Pro-Choice America is ramping up its work to elect candidates up and down the ballot during a critical moment in the fight for reproductive freedom. NARAL, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and EMILY’s List announced a partnership in May to collectively spend a historic $150 million on the 2022 midterms to elect reproductive freedom champions up and down the ballot across the country.
That’s quite a lot of money.
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Unemployment rate falls again in Illinois
Friday, Aug 19, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* NPR…
Unemployment fell slightly in Illinois last month. The July rate of 4.4 percent was down one tenth of a percent from June, which saw the lowest mark since the onset of the pandemic.
Compared to the rate a year ago — 6.2 percent — it shows the economy continues to rebound.
The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment include: Professional and Business Services (+10,000), Manufacturing (+6,300), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+5,700). The industry sectors that reported monthly payroll declines include: Construction (-1,400) and Educational and Health Services (-1,400).
Illinois’ unemployment rate still lags behind the national average of 3.5 percent by nearly a full percentage point.
* Press Release…
“As the statewide unemployment rate continues to drop and continued claims levels for unemployment benefits remain at historic lows, IDES encourages employers and jobseekers to utilize the Department’s robust employment services tools for reentry into the workforce,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Whether it be participating in or a hosting a job fair, training or skills building, IDES has the tools needed to assist in the growth of the expanding labor market.”
“After Illinois reached the lowest unemployment rate since the onset of the pandemic in June, it’s encouraging to see the state’s unemployment rate continue to drop while seeing continued growth in key industries,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Looking ahead, DCEO continues to focus on expanding equitable workforce training opportunities, providing incentives to companies who invest in Illinois’ workforce, and providing resources and training opportunities for job seekers.” […]
The number of unemployed workers was down from the prior month, a -1.1 percent decrease to 287,200 and was down -27.1 percent over the same month one year ago. The labor force was almost unchanged (0.0 percent) over-the-month and up +2.2 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
* On Thursday a new report from the Institute of Government and Public Affairs showed potential reasons why the unemployment trust fund in Illinois has a large deficit…
A new analysis explores the connection between Illinois’ high unemployment rate, market disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequences for Illinois’ unemployment trust fund. […]
Illinois’ pay-as-you-go financing practices have resulted in low trust fund balances, prevented the accumulation of additional reserves during good years, and increased the likelihood of deficits during economic downturns,” said Merriman, who co-leads IGPA’s Fiscal and Economic Working Group. “While dramatic increases in the unemployment rate brought about by a pandemic may be beyond state policymakers’ control, some actions could be taken to diminish the chances of large future UI trust fund deficits.”
Illinois policymakers should thoroughly evaluate the flow of revenues into the UI trust fund and payouts from the fund, especially during the pandemic, the IGPA analysis recommends. Further, they should determine the reasons for and extent of declines in revenues, and similarly, the reasons for and extent of increases in benefit payouts.
Illinois also should formally evaluate the benefits and costs of replacing its pay-as-you-go UI funding system with a forward-funding approach. Such an approach would require higher employer taxes during economic booms but would allow tax-rate stability or even tax cuts during economic downturns. Illinois still has federal relief funds, and these funds could be used to pay the UI debt accumulated in the past or be spent on current investments to make up for earlier deficits. The first option may largely benefit employers by avoiding increased federal payroll taxes. The second potentially distributes future benefits to more people in the form of better infrastructure or services.
…Adding… Hmm…
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Live coverage
Friday, Aug 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
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* Sun-Times op-ed by Harold Hirshman, the lead counsel in the Rasho v. Jeffreys mental health class action lawsuit against IDOC and lead trial counsel in the Lippert v. Jeffreys health care class action lawsuit…
The state committed itself to change by entering into a consent decree in the Lippert vs. Jeffreys class action lawsuit on prison medical care in 2018, but an acceptable plan to provide such care has never been submitted to the court. This plan was due three years ago, and a federal court has now held them in contempt for failing to create the plan. The IDOC can’t even begin to fix its health care system without it.
In Rasho vs. Jeffreys, the mental health class action lawsuit, the results are even more troubling. After years of operating under an approved settlement agreement, the IDOC’s lawyers have now repudiated the agreement. The parties are now preparing for a trial, because defendants never did what they committed to do under the settlement agreement. […]
Stewart , the mental health monitor, wrote report after report, year after year, detailing the deficiencies of care. These deficiencies have continued during Pritzker’s term. In February, a federal judge held that some of the patients most in need of mental health treatment —those housed at Pontiac Correctional Center’s residential treatment unit — were not getting intensive treatment detailed in IDOC’s own mental health manuals. Instead, they were confined to their cells for 23 to 24 hours a day.
Why did this happen? IDOC says they don’t have enough guards at Pontiac, so prisoners have to remain locked in their cells. But IDOC has known since 2014 that they didn’t have enough mental health or security staff. The problem persists eight years later. Wexford, the private company that provides the mental and physical health care, has never delivered the number of employees called for in its contract. Yet the contract, remarkably, calls for Wexford to be paid in advance for all workers, despite the company never having met the contractual staffing requirements.
There are other persistent problems, too. The IDOC health care system still does not have electronic medical records, a basic feature, in 2022, of a functioning medical care system. The IDOC promised in the Lippert settlement that they would have electronic records by now, but there is still no date for such a system to be implemented. […]
Pritzker has been a leader in many areas, but not on prison medical and mental health care. Nothing has changed in Illinois prisons in the last three and a half years — if anything, things have gotten worse.
There’s more.
…Adding… From the governor’s office…
The Department of Corrections has prevailed on numerous motions in the Rasho litigation, including findings that the Department’s efforts are appropriate and not a violation of its Constitutional obligations. Plaintiffs’ recent motions seeking a preliminary injunction and seeking contempt have all been denied and the prior injunction against the Department was vacated in full by the 7th Circuit. As a result of these rulings, the District Court denied Plaintiffs’ motion to extend the already multi-year consent decree, finding the agreement could no longer be enforced against the Department. The Department recently opened the first ever state of the art inpatient facility this summer and remains committed to ensuring appropriate mental health care and treatment for all individuals in its custody.
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All’s well that ends well, I suppose
Thursday, Aug 18, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Tina Sfondeles’ Governors Day story…
Bailey’s campaign flew a plane over the fair trailing the banner, “FIRE.JBPRITZKER.COM” — despite that website not being functional.
We talked about this yesterday as well. The Bailey campaign told me last night that their original order did, indeed, have the correct “FireJBPritzker.org” website address, but the advertising company created a banner that mistakenly contained a “.com” domain address. Oops…
As soon as they saw the photo I took yesterday, they ordered the plane to land. It only circled twice, I think. I wondered at the time why it suddenly disappeared.
Anyway, the plane will return to the skies over the fairgrounds during today’s Republican Day festivities with, hopefully, the proper signage.
…Adding… And here it is…
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Open thread
Thursday, Aug 18, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Every year, there’s a breakout food or drink at the Illinois State Fair. I hereby nominate the blackberry slushy from the Illinois wine outlet in the Village of Cultures…
What’s on your mind today?
…Adding… Sen. Duckworth has her own nomination…
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Live coverage
Thursday, Aug 18, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
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