Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

*** UPDATED x2 *** Harmon says energy bill vote could happen as early as next week

Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE 1 *** The Senate Democrats just told me the chamber is returning a week from today.

…Adding… Press release…

The Illinois Senate will return to session on Tuesday, June 15 for the purpose of voting on clean energy legislation that Gov. JB Pritzker negotiated to set Illinois on a path to a nation-leading renewable energy plan.

“This is a landmark clean energy plan that both protects thousands of jobs and moves Illinois responsibly toward the future,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.

It is expected that the Senate session will be one day only.

Hearing the House will come the following day, but that’s not yet solid.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Speaker Welch…

“As I indicated before we adjourned on the final day of session, the House is expected to return next week on Wednesday, June 16 to take care of some final-action legislation. Items such as the energy proposal, unemployment insurance, and an elected school board for Chicago will be at the top of our list. We were able to accomplish big things this legislative session, and I’m eager to keep that spirit alive in a quick special session next week.”

* Steve Daniels at Crain’s…

Senate President Don Harmon said [Monday] that he expects a vote in his chamber as early as next week on the wide-ranging energy bill that was the subject of frenzied negotiation at the end of the session.

Harmon, D-Oak Park, said he didn’t expect there to be changes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s insistence that all coal-fired plants in Illinois shut down by 2035, despite the entreaties of municipally-owned utilities that are on the hook past that date to pay for the Prairie State plant built a little over a decade ago. Those utilities, and unions representing workers at the plant in Marissa, Ill., about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis, continue to lobby lawmakers to permit the plant to stay open longer. […]

“I think enough of the members that were concerned about (Prairie State) have come to terms with the 2035 date,” Harmon said in an interview. […]

Observers believe that enough support in the House is virtually assured, so the Senate remains the primary question mark. Harmon’s remarks today provide more assurance that the biggest state energy package since the deregulation of the generation industry in the late 1990s will pass.

* SJ-R…

A coalition of unions, utility officials and Democratic and Republican lawmakers from central and southern Illinois called on Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders Friday to exempt nonprofit coal-fired plants from mandated 2035 closures in an upcoming clean-energy bill.

“Springfield already is doing the right things to transition to a ‘zero-carbon’ future,” Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said at a news conference at the Steamfitters & Plumbers Local 137 hall in Springfield.

Doug Brown, chief utility officer of Springfield’s municipality-owned City Water, Light & Power, said it is “not feasible” for the utility to close all of its coal-fired units in 14 years without the potential for higher electricity bills for consumers and shortages of power downstate that could lead to “brown-outs” and electricity restrictions.

Stop with the scare tactics, already. This state has a glut of electricity…

Illinois is the third-largest net electricity exporter among the states, and typically sends about one-fifth of the power it generates to other states via the interstate transmission lines. […]

Coal-fired power plants have been the second-largest electricity providers in Illinois for the past decade. However, coal’s contribution to in-state generation has declined, dropping to 27% of generation in 2019 as more than a dozen older coal-fired generating plants have shut down. Others are being considered for closure, in response to stricter emissions regulations and economic pressures. Natural gas-fired generation provided slightly more than 10% of the state’s net generation in 2019, an all-time high and about four times more than in 2008. Wind energy accounts for almost all the rest of the state’s net generation.

The real issue is the mismanagement of the local electric power supply…

[Springfield] owes about $36.6 million annually on bond payments, Brown said.

44 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Rodney gonna Rodney

Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This is the worst sort of spin…

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, Friday said throughout the pandemic, he also relied on guidance from Fauci. But that’s changed.

“When you look at some of the emails, you look at some of the recommendations, right now they clearly don’t follow science and data that we know about this disease now,” Davis told WMAY. “They follow feelings, they follow politics and we’ve got to change that in Washington and frankly all levels of government.”

In one email dated Feb. 5, 2020, Fauci responds to a question from a sender asking about whether to mask when traveling to a redacted location.

“Masks are really for infected people to prevent them from spreading infection to people who are not infected rather than protecting uninfected people from acquiring infection,” Fauci wrote. “The typical mask you buy in the drug store is not really effective in keeping out virus, which is small enough to pass through the material. It might, however, provide some slight benefit in keep out gross droplets if someone coughs or sneezes on you. I do not recommend that you wear a mask, particularly since you are going to a vey low risk location.”

Scientists weren’t certain about whether masks would work on this brand new virus back in early February of 2020. Illinois didn’t get a mask mandate until May, and it was one of the first. So, to judge this sort of thing in hindsight is to undermine legitimate public health efforts and enables the covidiots, many of whom have morphed into anti-vaxers. It’s also downright stupid politics outside of a Republican primary.

*** UPDATE *** Here’s a statement from far-right congressional candidate Esther Joy King. Rodney’s words are nicer, but they’re basically on the same page…

“These email releases clearly show Dr. Fauci—without reading into his intentions—was no more informed than anyone else on Covid-19. His only advantage was to use “science says” to back up his opinions, many of which turned out to be 100% wrong. There was no settled science in the mask debate, no settled science in the opening of schools debate, and there was just lies on the Covid-19 origins debate. And yet, Dr. Fauci hid behind “science says” each time to give credence to his opinions—many of which turned out to be flat wrong. The cult of Fauci was a media echo-chamber of fear-mongering journalists, and anti-Trump liberals. Frankly, this cover-up and misdirection to prop-up political agendas scares me, and every normal American should be wary of being lied to by media elites.”

Nuts.

* Pantagraph…

Get your shots or get tested. That’s Illinois State University’s message to students returning to campus this fall.

It’s part of the university’s plan for a more traditional college experience after the COVID-19 pandemic turned everything on its ear 15 months ago.

ISU does not plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations at this time. However, students taking courses on campus who do not provide evidence of vaccination for the coronavirus will be required to participate in an on-campus COVID-19 testing program.

* Gallup…

• About half of Republicans, 46%, compared with 31% of independents and 6% of Democrats, do not plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Americans without a college degree are much more likely than college graduates to be vaccine-hesitant, 31% to 12%.
• Vaccine hesitancy is more common among middle-aged Americans (33% of those between the ages of 35 and 54) than among younger (22%) and older Americans (20%).

* Related…

* There’s Now a White Vaccination Gap in 18 U.S. States

* COVID prolonged foster care stays for thousands

* As vaccine demand slows, Cook County changes its strategy

* ‘I can feel the clouds lifting.’ Many long-haul COVID patients report improvement post-vaccination, surprising medical experts.

* Door-knockers to go ‘block by block, house by house’ to boost vaccination rates in 13 Chicago neighborhoods

* What are the guidelines for phase 5 in Chicago and Illinois? No capacity limits, some masking, and possible limits from individual businesses or towns. Here’s our guide.

* By the numbers: How the 1,544-room Hilton Chicago hotel reopens this week after 15 months

52 Comments

*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

Comments Off

*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Monday, Jun 7, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* No blogging today, but here’s some interesting political news…

U.S. Representative Jesús “Chuy” García and the 22nd Ward Independent Political Organization (IPO) officially endorsed Democrat Alexi Giannoulias today as the party’s nominee for Illinois Secretary of State in 2022.

“Alexi represents a new generation of progressive leaders in the Democratic Party and has proven himself as someone who will stand up and fight for progressive values,” Congressman García said. “Having worked closely with Alexi on several issues that have been important to working families and our communities, I know he positions Democrats with the best chance to win this critical seat.”

In addition to García’s support, Giannoulias was also endorsed by 22nd Ward Alderperson and Committeeperson Michael D. Rodriguez, President of 22nd Ward IPO Vanessa Uribe and State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. (D-21st District). In addition, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Commissioner Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda also announced her support.

That’s very big.

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

Comments Off

Pritzker signs redistricting map bills

Friday, Jun 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

After reviewing the General Assembly’s proposed maps to ensure they align with the landmark Voting Rights Act, Governor JB Pritzker signed three new maps that reflect Illinois’ diversity. The maps outline new districts for the General Assembly, Illinois Supreme Court and Cook County Board of Review and preserve minority representation in Illinois’ government in accordance with the federal Voting Rights Act.

“Illinois’ strength is in our diversity, and these maps help to ensure that communities that have been left out and left behind have fair representation in our government,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These district boundaries align with both the federal and state Voting Rights Acts, which help to ensure our diverse communities have electoral power and fair representation.”

A landmark achievement of the civil rights movement, the Voting Rights Act prohibits practices and procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a protected language minority group. Building on and strengthening that consequential law, the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 ensures redistricting plans are crafted in a way that preserves clusters of minority voters if they are of size or cohesion to exert collective electoral power. The maps signed into law today meet those requirements to adequately preserve minority representation and reflect the diversity of our state.

The district boundaries also account for population changes in the state, particularly in the regions that saw the most population loss as recorded by U.S. Census’ American Community Survey. In addition, the General Assembly held more than 50 public hearings statewide.

Detailed summaries of each individual House and Senate district, including communities of interest, geographic descriptions, and demographic data were adopted by both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate and are contained in House Resolution 359 and Senate Resolution 326 respectively.

The General Assembly Redistricting Act of 2021 (HB 2777), the Judicial Districts Act of 2021 (SB 642) and the Cook County Board of Review Redistricting Act of 2021 (SB 2661) take effect immediately.

Pretty certain this post will be updated.

…Adding… Speaker Welch…

“Today was a win for the people of this great state. With Governor Pritzker’s signature, people of Illinois can be confident in a legislative map that is reflective of the diversity that we see in every corner of our state. Not only does this map adhere to state and federal laws, but it is a product of more than 50 public hearings where citizens came to tell us what their communities look like to them. We also have new Illinois Supreme Court boundaries for the first time in more than half a century that accounts for population change and demographic shifts, as well as a new map for the Cook County Board of Review ensuring more equal representation for taxpayers in those districts. I am so proud of Leader Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, and the rest of the Redistricting Committee, who worked tirelessly to make sure that Illinois remains a model for the nation for minority representation.”

* Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington)…

“When JB Pritzker was a candidate for Governor, he made a lot of promises. He told us he was different, that he was a reformer, and that he would veto any map drawn by lawmakers. Today he broke his promise to voters and joins the all-too-long list of Illinois politicians who promise one thing and then do another.”

“The people of Illinois deserve a fair, transparent process that allows them to choose their representatives in Government. Pritzker turned his back on them and chose instead to use his signature to further enshrine the broken status quo of politicians picking their voters.”

…Adding… I’m hearing this as well. Greg Hinz…

I’m told by a source close to him that Pritzker advanced his timetable because the maps had become entangled in another hot issue: the terms of an energy deal that will satisfy green groups while keeping open Exelon nuclear plants without socking taxpayers with the costs of excessive subsidies.

Somebody tried to play games, so he signed the map bill to get that off the table.

* SGOP Leader McConchie…

“Today, Gov. Pritzker affirmed to all Illinois families why they can’t trust him to run the state,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods).

“By signing this map, created using flawed data and drawn by political insiders, the governor broke the promise he made to the people of Illinois. He also proved that he cares more about keeping power for his political friends than fair elections where the people of Illinois can pick their elected officials, instead of politicians picking their voters. He proved today that he’s just another old-school, tax-raising politician who cannot be trusted.”

* Rep. Ryan Spain…

“As a member of the House Redistricting Committee, we repeatedly heard from government reform advocates to use US census data and that they would require two weeks to provide adequate public review of the new map to see if it meets Voting Rights Act compliance. This is why Governor Pritzker broke his promise after only one week; before Democrats’ lies could be exposed as the deception Democrats intended to perpetrate all along. Through bad data, fake transparency and false urgency, Pritzker, Welch, and other Democrats pulled the wool over voter eyes. They assume they can get away with it because this is Illinois. The next election must be a referendum on whether voters will openly permit their own politicians to lie to them.”

* ILGOP Chair Don Tracy…

Governor Pritzker lied to the people of Illinois when he pledged to veto a politician-drawn map. Governor Pritzker promised to take politicians out of the mapmaking process and hand it over to an independent commission that would be required to follow the Voting Rights Act and protect minority representation. Instead, he let politicians pick their own voters, split up numerous communities of interest, and use faulty data all in an effort to rig the system for those already in power. Pritzker didn’t keep his word and cannot be trusted.