*** UPDATED x1 *** Hey, Illinois Senate!
Tuesday, Apr 27, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the new CDC guidelines…
Fully vaccinated people can: […]
• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
• Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible
Look, I don’t mind the saliva tests. But it would help if the Senate finally moved into April and recognized that many of us are fully vaccinated and adjusted its very strict lockdown accordingly.
*** UPDATE *** Tribune…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker will revise his statewide mask mandate to align with new federal guidelines that say it’s safe for fully vaccinated people to go outdoors without face coverings in many situations, the governor’s office said Tuesday. […]
Illinois’ current rules require masks outdoors in situations where people aren’t able to maintain at least 6 feet of distance, including at places like farmers markets, baseball stadiums and amusement parks.
It wasn’t immediately clear exactly what changes Pritzker will make to the state’s mask rules, which have been in effect since last May. But the new CDC guidelines say fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks when attending small outdoor gatherings, even if unvaccinated people also are present. Masks are still recommended for most indoor activities, including small gatherings where unvaccinated people are present, and for crowded outdoor events like concerts or sporting events, according to the CDC. […]
[Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady] hinted that there could be further loosening on gathering restrictions in the city, possibly within days, but only for people who are vaccinated.
15 Comments  
|
* The Chicago Tribune and the “Illinois Exodus”…
* 2021 John Kass column: Illinois has lost close to a quarter-million taxpayers in the past 10 years in the great Illinois Exodus.
* 2020 Tribune editorial: In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau calculates, our population fell by about 51,250 people. That’s the equivalent of everyone in Hoffman Estates packing up and heading out.
* 2020 Tribune editorial: Several recent Chicago Tribune stories on tax hikes and population losses may have caught your eye. Against the backdrop of rising taxes in Chicago for 2020, U.S. Census Bureau numbers released Dec. 30 showed Illinois losing population for a sixth straight year.
* 2020 Kristen McQueary column: You’ve seen the numbers. U.S. census data released in December showed Illinois’ net population since 2013 has dropped by more than 223,000 residents, roughly the equivalent of Naperville and Bolingbrook wiped off the map. That number includes births, deaths, domestic and international migration.
* 2019 Kristen McQueary column: Reality check: The number of residents fleeing Illinois for other states jumped to 93,704 in 2014 from 68,204 the previous year. It increased in 2015 to 106,544, and in 2016 to 109,941. More exodus in 2017 of 114,779 and last year, another 114,154.
* 2019 Tribune editorial: Who wants to be the last ones at the party? It only means you’ll have to clean up the mess. That’s what we mean by the Illinois Exodus.
* 2019 Tribune editorial: If [Mayor Lightfoot] keeps talking truth around her fellow Illinois Democrats, Chicago’s next mayor will make them squirm. She must be ignoring the memos instructing her to “Shush up about the ‘Illinois Exodus.’ Bad for our brand.” Lightfoot offered her comment to the Tribune’s Lisa Donovan about U.S. census data showing that the Chicago metro area lost another 22,000 residents from 2017 to 2018.
* 2019 Tribune editorial: Last year’s estimated net reduction of residents hit 45,116, the worst of five straight years of population decline.
* 2019 Tribune editorial: The early numbers show Illinois’ net population dropped from July 2018 to July 2019 by 51,250, down slightly from last year’s net loss of 55,757 residents, an updated number. The figures continue to confirm a sorry trend.
* 2018 Tribune Editorial: People are fleeing. Last year’s net loss: 33,703.
* 2018 Tribune editorial: By the tens of thousands each year, Illinoisans are fleeing this state’s rising taxes and mediocre jobs climate.
* 2018 Tribune editorial: In the big picture, Illinois is shrinking. It lost a net 33,703 people in 2017, and was 1 of 8 states to see a decline. This was Illinois’ fourth year in a row of population decline.
* 2018 Tribune editorial: The release on Wednesday of new census data about Illinois was alarming: Not only has the flight of citizens continued for a fifth straight year, but the population loss is intensifying. This year’s estimated net reduction of 45,116 residents is the worst of these five losing years.
* 2017 Tribune editorial: People are fleeing Illinois in record numbers. For four years running, this state has bled population. In 2017, Illinois lost a net 33,703 residents
* Actual net Illinois population loss according to the official US Census: 18,124. [And subtract 10,289 from that to account for Illinois residents living overseas and it’s a net decline of 7,835.]
It’s not that the Tribune was wrong. The census estimates were way off. But the Tribune did everything it could to hype those numbers and propose solutions to a problem that, while still quite real, was never as bad as was claimed. I’m not sure I’d hold your breath waiting for a clarification.
53 Comments
|
* Press release…
In a major step forward in the work to expand health equity across Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker today signed the Health Care and Human Services Reform Act into law.
The legislation, which represents the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ healthcare pillar, takes sweeping action to address health inequities and obstacles while establishing new programs, increasing oversight and trainings, building out a Community Health Worker certification and training program and improving transparency.
“Today, it’s my privilege to sign the fourth and final pillar from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus into law, the Illinois Health Care and Human Services Reform Act,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This legislation advances a key belief of mine that I know is shared by everyone standing with me, and millions of residents across Illinois: healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Thanks to the Black Caucus’ four pillars, now law, Illinois is a few steps closer to the justice our residents deserve.”
This legislation builds upon significant administration efforts toward health equity including expanding telehealth coverage in order to increase healthcare access to vulnerable and rural populations, including mental health services; eliminating the Medicaid backlog; bringing an additional $250 million in federal healthcare funding to Illinois; signing the Healthcare and Hospital Transformation bill into law; and working with the General Assembly to make Illinois the first state in the nation to offer healthcare access assistance to undocumented seniors.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the systemic economic, educational and health disparities that have historically plagued African Americans across our country. For centuries, Black people have been disrespected, abused and misused in the name of health care, starting with the abuse of the enslaved,” said Senate Majority Caucus Chair Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). “To prevent future harm to one of our most vulnerable populations, we have enacted this informed policy, with the goal of deep, intense reform.”
“The four pillars of the ILBC Black Policy Agenda to address systemic racism and will provide justice while improving the lives of underserved families across Illinois,” said State Representative Camille Y. Lilly (D-Chicago). “The Illinois Health Care and Human Services Reform Act will improve the quality of healthcare, ensure dignity for our seniors as they age, increase the availability of mental health services, improve hospital access and combat medical racism and implicit bias in order build trust between Black, Brown and poor communities and health care providers.”
“People in the Black community have lost faith in Illinois’ health care system because of unequal access to care. Quality health is a necessity and should be available to everyone, regardless of race or income,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood). “The Black community’s health and our care has been devalued for far too long. With this law, we are taking the first steps to reshape the direction of our state’s health care, leading with diversity, inclusion, and justice at the center.”
“The Healthcare pillar for the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is about equity and access to quality healthcare,” said State Representative LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis). “The importance of implicit bias training for hospital staff and perinatal doula services and evidence-based home visiting services to be covered under the medical assistance program for persons who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance will be critical to all Illinoisans. We have more work to do to address black maternal mortality which is a health crisis in our state, but this is another step in the right direction,”
“This legislation takes a wide range of steps to address the inequities that exist in health care for too many people across our state, particularly for people of color, but also for people in rural communities and working families across the state,” said Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson. “Removing barriers and making sure all Illinoisans can reach the services they need is critical to achieving better health outcomes for children, adults, and families, and will make for a healthier Illinois.”
The Health Care and Human Services Reform Act will:
Expand Health Care Access and Equity
• Creates a Community Health Workers program which will include training and certification, ensuring Illinoisans are better able to access help from trained health workers.
• Adds implicit bias training to the required training for interns, residents and physicians so that they are better prepared to serve all of Illinois’ residents.
• Creates the Underlying Causes of Crime and Violence Study Act, which will study how to create a process to identify high violence communities, also known as R3 (Restore, Reinvest, and Renew) areas, and prioritize state dollars to address underlying health issues and underlying causes of violence.
• Reduces taxes on all blood sugar testing products to 1%.
• Amends the Employee Paid Sick Leave Act to include care of children, parents, step-parents, in-laws, and grandparents.
• Requires the Health Facilities and Services Review Board conduct a racial equity impact assessment for all future hospital closure applications that is publicly viewable.
• Creates the Health and Human Services Taskforce which will review health and human service departments and programs with the goal of improving health and human service outcomes for Illinois residents.
• Creates the Anti-Racism Commission to identify and propose statewide policies to eliminate systemic racism.
• Creates the Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission within HFS to develop a program to support and grow minority, women, and persons with disability owned businesses.
Improve Children’s Health, Women’s Health, Mental Health and Addresses Substance Abuse
• Requires day care providers to be trained in childhood emotional learning, trauma, and adverse experiences.
• Creates the Special Commission on Gynecologic Cancer to study issues relating to gynecologic cancer and present a report to reduce disparities and promote best practices.
• Prevents a person who seeks or obtains emergency medical assistance for an overdose or someone experiencing an overdose from being arrested or charged.
• Expands coverage of doula services and home visiting services for pregnant women.
• Increases payment rates for psychiatric treatment at hospitals serving primarily low-income patients.
Improve Quality of Care for All Illinois Residents
• Requires that any intern, resident, or physician providing services at a hospital have proper credentials and any required certificates for ongoing training.
• Instructs hospitals to provide N95 masks to all physicians and nurses free of charge.
• Increases dementia training and requires continuing annual trainings.
HB 158 takes effect immediately.
*** UPDATE *** Eleni Demertzis of the House Republicans…
Today, the governor signed a bill that will cost billions of dollars of fantasy money we just don’t have. Anyone who believes his inaccurate rhetoric on costs of this bill should refer to his false statements on independent redistricting.
5 Comments
|
* Let’s once again go back to March 5, 2018 and my question to all gubernatorial candidates…
Will you pledge as governor to veto any state legislative redistricting map proposal that is in any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies? The exception, of course, would be the final official draft by LRB.
* JB Pritzker’s response…
Yes, I will pledge to veto. We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps, but in the meantime, I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map. That designated body should reflect the gender, racial, and geographic diversity of the state and look to preserve the Voting Rights Act decisions to ensure racial and language minorities are fully represented in the electoral process.
* Gov. Pritzker today…
Well as I said I will veto an unfair map. I have also said that in order for us to have an independent commission, we needed to have a constitutional amendment, something that would actually change the way the process operates today in the Constitution. That did not happen. So now, as we reach the end of this session and I look to the legislature for their proposal for a redistricting map, I’ll be looking to it for its fairness. And that’s something that’s vitally important for our state, as an effect on the next 10 years and representation throughout the state.
The Illinois Constitution does not need to be changed to create a fair map process. It can be done by statute or even a joint resolution of both chambers. And while Pritzker preferred a constitutional amendment in 2018, he clearly didn’t predicate an independent commission on an amendment.
* More Pritzker today…
Well, I do believe that Democrats and Republicans should get together to adopt this map. I hope that Republicans will choose to work with Democrats on the map. Right now it looks like they’re just saying ‘no,’ they’re not really engaging and all they’re doing is fighting in these redistricting hearings, which I think have been so important for hearing what people across the state really want in a redistricting map.
Hardly anybody went to those hearings.
* More…
Well actually I would say that the map that was put together for the last 10 years started out with a very strong leaning toward fairness, which was the Supreme Court rulings of the past, dictated the drawing of minority districts in the state. To start with, that map, and then you have to draw from there. As you know Dave, there are parts of the state that are overwhelmingly one party or another party, and it’s very difficult to draw competitive districts in those areas. But I do believe that once you put these Supreme Court rulings onto the map face, then you can begin to put this fair map and something that is inclusive of all of our diversity across the state into that map.
Your thoughts?
…Adding… House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…
“The Governor seems to suffer from retrograde amnesia on this important topic. The Governor needs to lead and ensure that an independent body draw the maps as he promised.”
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy…
“The people of Illinois fundamentally do not trust our leadership in Springfield to spend their money wisely, to do the right thing, or to reform our system. Absolutely nothing fuels that fire more than politicians who say one thing to get elected and then do another once in power. Governor Pritzker lied to the people of Illinois and promised to turn our partisan and corrupt system of redistricting over to an independent commission.
The Governor should come to his senses and keep his word by vetoing the politician’s map. A man is nothing without his word. Pritzker still has the chance to keep his.”
US Rep. Rodney Davis…
“Governor Pritzker lied to people of Illinois, plain and simple. When he was a candidate for Governor in 2018, Pritzker made an ironclad promise to voters that he would veto any redistricting proposal that was drawn by legislators. That turned out to be a lie. Now that he’s in power and the Democrats have maintained their supermajority control of the General Assembly, Pritzker is enabling a partisan redistricting process that will be used to tighten his party’s grip on power for another decade. That’s wrong, and it’s not what the people of Illinois want. Governor Pritzker has turned out to be the latest failed, self-serving, Illinois politician who lied his way into office by saying one thing to voters and doing another once in office.”
36 Comments
|
Abby Witt named new DPI executive director
Tuesday, Apr 27, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers had a heads-up about this today…
The Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) today named Abby Witt as its new Executive Director. An Evanston native, Witt has spent nearly two decades working with progressive campaigns and causes, building programs that successfully bring more people into the political process to advance Democratic values.
“Abby has a proven track record of building inclusive organizations, has established solid relationships throughout the state, and has the vision to lead our party as its Executive Director,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly, DPI Chairwoman. “As DPI looks to the future, especially the 2022 election, Abby’s ability to work with Democratic elected officials, candidates, donors, stakeholders and the grassroots community will be a valuable asset.”
Witt comes to DPI from Arena, a national organization dedicated to training and supporting the next generation of candidates and campaign staff. As a partner at Arena, Witt helped create and scale the organization’s ability to train more than 1,200 aspiring campaign staffers, place more than 500 of them in campaign roles, and support 130 candidates at the congressional, statewide, and state legislative levels, the majority of which were women and people of color.
“Chairwoman Kelly has never shied away from a challenge, and I’m honored to join her in this one: to build a new, inclusive Democratic Party of Illinois,” said Witt. “We have a generational opportunity to transform our Party, to rebuild trust with voters, and to elect Democratic candidates, beginning with re-electing Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth in 2022. I’m excited to get to work.”
Witt also played several key roles in the Obama presidential campaigns and administration, including as the Associate Director for the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, and as the Director of Political Operations for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Following the President’s re-election, Witt was a founding member and Managing Director of Organization for Action, a national organization dedicated to advancing a progressive agenda through grassroots mobilization and training. At OFA, Abby was part of the core team who harnessed the power of the grassroots movement that twice elected Barack Obama as president, and converted it into 154 trained, active, and empowered volunteer chapters across the country, which exist as lasting grassroots muscle to make an impact in their communities and in D.C.
“In 2018, I was a first-time candidate trying to unseat a four-term Republican in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District,” said Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14). “When others wouldn’t, Arena supported me and was instrumental in my victory by providing training and strategic support throughout my campaign. Abby helped Arena expand on that work to provide the same game-changing support to candidates across the country. I’m thrilled that Abby is bringing her experience home to Illinois, and joining my friend, Chairwoman Robin Kelly, to lead our Party.”
“We are all committed to a new direction for the Democratic Party of Illinois, one that is inclusive and uses the experience and expertise of the state central committee and elected officials, candidates, and activists across the state,” said Democratic State Central Committeewoman and DPI Transition Co-Chair Iris Martinez. “I’m so excited to have Chairwoman Robin Kelly and now Abby Witt as Executive Director leading our work. Abby is the right choice to build a party that doesn’t just keep our state blue, but does the work to grow our party, and elect more Democrats up and down the ticket.”
“In all of her roles, Abby played a key role in making President Obama’s goals a reality,” said Michael Strautmanis, a longtime Obama senior aide and advisor. “A trusted colleague and leader, Abby was always placed in the middle of the action. Whether it was in the field or at the White House, she embodied the President’s organizing values to navigate a wide variety of stakeholders and deliver. With Chairwoman Kelly and Abby, the Democratic Party of Illinois couldn’t be in better hands.”
“Working for Abby, I saw firsthand her ability to lead and bring people together,” said state Sen. Robert Peters. “Abby has the talent and values to lead the work needed to build a Party that will be progressive, inclusive and win. We need true transformational change to bring about true safety and justice for all, and Abby is a perfect fit to build a Party that can bring about that change.”
Witt has also served multiple roles on campaigns up and down the ballot, including leading Daniel Biss’ 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign. In addition, she’s also helped drive political engagement at organizations like the Center for American Progress, the Common Purpose Project, and the Chicago Public Schools.
Witt replaces Mary Morrissey, who has served as Executive Director of DPI since February 2019.
“Mary has led the party through some tough challenges, including running our victorious 2020 coordinated operation during the pandemic, and she has been a valuable partner to me since I became chair in early March,” Kelly said. “This has been a smooth transition, due in large part to Mary’s hard work and professionalism. I cannot thank her enough.”
She’ll be paid with federal funds. [This sentence was based on a conversation with Witt earlier this morning. It appears, however, that the funds to pay her will be split with state funds.]
Arena is an interesting organization and her experience there should help her now.
12 Comments
|
* This has been a trend for many decades, so it’s not unexpected…
Coulda been worse. Gloom and doomers were projecting a two-seat loss.
…Adding… Sun-Times…
Illinois will lose one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Census Bureau said Monday in its announcement of the redistribution of the 435 congressional seats based on population shifts in the 2020 Census.
For the past 50 years, Illinois, reflecting the results of each new census, has been allocated fewer members in Congress, as other states increased in population but Illinois either held steady or declined.
Illinois at present sends 18 members to Congress; under the new reapportionment, the delegation will drop to 17 members. Of Illinois’ current House members, 13 are Democrats and five are Republicans.
Reapportionment is the step that takes place before a remap — that is, drawing new congressional district lines based on the latest census data. Each state gets at least one seat; after that the remaining 385 seats are distributed according to population, with the aim to have about the same number of people in each district. This system has been in place since the first census in 1790.
…Adding… A commenter rightly notes that Pennsylvania has now surpassed Illinois’ population. Click here for the list.
…Adding… Gov. Pritzker’s office…
Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, the Census Office coordinated a robust, statewide effort to reach millions of Illinois residents, particularly those in hard-to-count communities. This effort included a network of 400 organizations, coordinated by 31 Regional Intermediaries that received grants directly from the state. These boots on the ground conducted direct census outreach and education through an array of channels and in multiple languages. Through canvassing, community events, press and social media events, food and masks distribution, and phone calls the state was able to conduct one of the most significant census efforts in the nation and achieved the top self-response rate of the 10 most populous states.”
Leader McConchie…
“The 2020 Census numbers show that Americans continue to vote with their feet,” said Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). “People are leaving states where they can’t find economic opportunity and heading to states where they can. If we want to keep our talent and our tax base, our top priority should be passing pro-growth policies that will make Illinois more attractive to students, employers and families.”
73 Comments
|
It’s good to be the king
Monday, Apr 26, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Steve Daniels at Crain’s…
Just how good has Springfield been to local utilities since Commonwealth Edison first won the right in 2011 to set its delivery rates each year via a formula? It’s a good question as state lawmakers embark on their third crack at comprehensive energy legislation in the last decade.
Since the beginning of the “formula-rate era,” yearly earnings growth at ComEd, suburban natural gas utility Nicor and Chicago’s Peoples Gas have topped all but a handful of Chicago’s 20 largest publicly traded companies, according to a Crain’s analysis. […]
ComEd has watched its earnings grow to $638 million in 2020—adding back the $200 million fine for the company’s admissions of bribery in a federal probe of former House Speaker Michael Madigan—from $379 million in 2012, the year it first was allowed to set its delivery rates annually via a formula. ComEd’s profits grew 6.7 percent on average annually over those nine years. […]
As he seeks legislation to put Illinois on a path to a 100 percent carbon-free power industry, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has called for an end to formula rates, the annual rate-setting process that took away most of the ICC’s authority to push back on ComEd’s requests. But that hasn’t stopped utilities—and particularly their union allies whose members benefit from the unprecedented levels of capital spending—from continuing to propose provisions that would continue elements of the formula-rate era such as guaranteed returns for utilities.
* Related…
* Exelon, ComEd execs can’t convince judge to cancel investor fraud lawsuit over alleged Madigan bribery scheme
7 Comments
|
* Again, more than half the deaths are people in their 60s or younger. Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 3,369 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 22 additional deaths.
- Bureau County: 1 male 70s
- Champaign County: 1 male 40s
- Cook County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 40s, 2 females 50s, 2 males 50s, 1 male 60s, 2 males 80s
- DuPage County: 1 female 80s
- Kane County: 1 female 50s
- Peoria County: 1 male 60s
- Sangamon County: 1 female 30s
- Tazewell County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 80s
- Vermilion County: 2 females 80s
- Will County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
- Woodford County: 1 female 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,316,091 cases, including 21,777 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 104,795 specimens for a total of 22,113,490. As of last night, 2,112 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 506 patients were in the ICU and 230 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from April 16-22, 2021 is 3.6%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from April 16-22, 2021 is 4.3%.
The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses for Illinois is 10,802,075. A total of 8,610,478 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 118,741 doses. Yesterday, 136,525 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
…Adding… Way to go, Sangamon…
Alexander County is still badly lagging, however.
20 Comments
|
It’s just a bill
Friday, Apr 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi on Twitter…
I’m opposed to Illinois House Bill 1356, which would require anyone who runs for the Board of Review to be a lawyer.
Our property tax system needs ongoing reform. But this bill would discourage reformers and real estate professionals from running for public office.
Right now, all three Cook County Board of Review commissioners are lawyers. We don’t need a law to make this possible. This bill would not apply to any other counties in Illinois. We should ask ourselves why this bill needs to be passed and who will benefit from it.
No other office in Cook County’s property tax system has a law like this.
Appeals from the Board of Review go to the Property Tax Appeals Board. There is no requirement to have a law degree to serve on the Property Tax Appeals Board.
This bill is also not the standard elsewhere in the country. In other large jurisdictions around the country, including New York City, Dallas, Seattle, Miami, D.C. and Los Angeles, there is no requirement that board members must be attorneys.
In many other property tax jurisdictions, real estate professionals outnumber lawyers on the boards that hear assessment appeals.
Finally, in the suburbs of Cook County, Township Assessors serve as ex-officio deputies of our office. This bill would prevent many of them from putting their knowledge to work at the Board of Review in service of taxpayers.
Township Assessors are some of the most knowledgeable people in the county when it comes to property assessments and appeals thanks to decades of skills and training. It’s a mistake to block them from running for this office if they aren’t a lawyer.
It’s a step backward if we don’t continue to allow real estate professionals and others from the private sector to serve in this capacity merely because they are not lawyers.
HB 1356 won’t serve the goal of a more fair and accurate property tax system. I urge @HouseDemsIL and @ilhousegop legislators to vote no.
I talked with some Cook County Democratic House members yesterday who were up in arms about the bill. Stay tuned.
…Adding… Press release…
The following is a statement from Commissioners of the Cook County Board of Review, Larry Rogers, Jr. and Michael Cabonargi on why they are championing HB1356, a good government bill in Springfield that would require Commissioners of the Cook County Board of Review to be licensed attorneys:
“This is a good government bill that will further professionalize the Board of Review. As a quasi-judicial body that sits as an appellate tribunal, the courts have established that filing a complaint with the Board is the practice of law. It is only appropriate that the Commissioners who lead the Board and all its work be licensed attorneys.
“As licensed attorneys, Commissioners are held to a higher ethical standard and subject to discipline by the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, another safeguard that voters clearly value since they’ve now elected three licensed attorneys as Commissioners of the Board.
“While others have contended that this bill will close the door to real estate professionals becoming Commissioners, it’s fundamental that the Board is an independent legal review of the Assessor’s work, as explicitly defined in the Illinois Property Tax Code and relevant case law.
“Finally, the notion that licensed attorneys can’t be reformers is patently ridiculous. Please see the ACLU.”
…Adding… Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Tammy Wendt says she’s opposed to the bill.
…Adding… The bill was not called for a vote today, which is the Third Reading deadline.
..Adding… The Sun-Times…
Late on Friday, we heard there’s talk now of rewriting the bill, which did not meet a deadline for third readings but is far from dead. It can be revived. The rewrite would allow at least some non-lawyers with good assessment credentials to run for the board, which would beat the current bad proposal.
But better yet, there should be no such restrictions.
Not unless somebody can come up with better arguments than we’ve heard so far.
* WCIA’s Mark Maxwell…
On the same day a Minnesota jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd, a push to end qualified immunity stalled in the Illinois House.
Democrats narrowly reached a deal on police reform during a “lame duck” session in January. The original provision would have ended qualified immunity, the legal shield that often protects police officers from liability in civil courts; however, that controversial proposal was removed in order to calm the nerves of some legislators who were uncomfortable with the idea.
“I was someone who, internally and publicly, was very adamant that qualified immunity should stay in the criminal justice pillars,” Rep. Curtis Tarver said Thursday. “I think that to not have it in there is somewhat of a disservice to the overall purpose of the pillar.”
“Individuals who either don’t come in contact with law enforcement in the same way that a lot of Black and Brown individuals do, or don’t know anyone who’s had those same type of interactions, I think it could be difficult for them,” Tarver said.
* Daily Herald…
For police trying to crack a tough case, one tool in the arsenal is deception — letting suspects think there’s strong evidence against them, even when there’s none, in hopes of getting a confession.
But an effort in Springfield this month aims to ban that kind of trickery when it comes to juveniles.
Senate Bill 2122, which has been working its way through the upper house of the General Assembly this week, would prohibit police from lying to a juvenile suspect about evidence in a case, or making unauthorized statements about any leniency that might come with an admission of guilt.
* WCIA…
A growing number of state senators are advocating for a ranked choice voting system where voters could rank their candidates in order of preference. Advocates say it would result in electing politicians who appeal to a broader portion of the electorate.
Public polling data from Gallup and Pew Research have shown an increasing drift towards polarization and away from a moderate consensus in recent years. Several legislative districts in Illinois are very non-competitive, and often see candidates who wind up running unopposed in the general election. But in a crowded primary field, the most polarizing or controversial candidate can sometimes win the most attention, and coast through to an easy seat in the legislature without facing a challenge from across the aisle, or without winning wide support from the voters in their district.
“The problem that we see is that the primary becomes the entire election,” state Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) said.
Reforming elections to include a ranked choice format would require county clerks to tabulate votes for each race and determine if any candidate had reached a 50% threshold. If no one reached a simple majority, the candidate with the least votes would be eliminated from contention, and the clerk would count up all of the second preferences of that candidate’s voters, adding those second alternative choices to the total vote counts for candidates still remaining in the field. The process would continue until one candidate had won at least half of the total votes.
Barring a miracle, the bill is dead for the year.
…Adding… Greg Hinz…
A bill that would add some interesting new strings to tax-increment financing projects has picked up a surprisingly big head of steam in Springfield and is nearing final approval by the General Assembly.
Under the measure, sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook at the request of Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, TIF developers would have to begin reporting annually to Mendoza how well their projects are doing in terms of creating jobs and new property tax revenue, or increment. That way, voters would know whether a project in line for TIF subsidies is as productive as developers promised.
* Other stuff…
* Senate passes state and local tax deduction bill
* Senate passes bill outlawing restraints on children in state custody
17 Comments
|
* Background is here if you need it. I’ve talked to a Black legislator this week who said he isn’t using his legislative plates in Springfield because of this case. I can’t say I blame him…
A New Berlin man pleaded not guilty yesterday to criminal charges that allege he pointed a loaded handgun at a state senator to threaten the Chicago-based lawmaker as the two were driving cars March 15 in Springfield.
Michael L. Hoyle, 54, who is free after posting $15,000 bail the day after the alleged incident, entered the plea in front of Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin. A trial was scheduled for July.
Hoyle, the president and owner of Kwik-Wall Co. of Springfield, was arrested the night of the incident involving Sen. Elgie Sims Jr., D-Chicago. […]
In March, Sims told The State Journal-Register that he feared for his life when he was threatened by Hoyle, someone he didn’t know, as Sims drove alone from the Capitol Complex to his home on Springfield’s west side, where he lives during legislative sessions.
Sims, 50, has said he thinks the legislative license plates on his car may have played a role in sparking the apparent incident of road rage. But Springfield Police Deputy Chief Joshua Stuenkel said police haven’t found evidence to support that theory and were unaware of a motive behind Hoyle’s alleged behavior.
*** UPDATE *** Hoyle attempted to change his bond conditions during a hearing today. He wanted to be able to travel freely in the continental United States. Instead, he got limited travel privileges, a psych evaluation, was ordered to turn over his guns to the sheriff and can have no contact with Sen. Sims…
Cause comes on for hearing on Defendant’s Motion to Modify Conditions of Bond and the People’s Motion to Modify Conditions of Bond and the Court having reviewed the pleading and considered the arguments of counsel, ORDERS as follows:
A. Defendant is ordered to comply with all standard Conditions of Bond Release set forth on Exhibit A;
B. Defendant shall surrender all firearms and ammunition to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on or before April 26, 2021;
C. Defendant shall not possess firearms or ammunition; Defendant shall complete a psychiatric evaluation by a provider designated by Pretrial Services and comply with any treatment recommendations made by Pretrial Services;
D. Defendant shall have no contact with Elgie Sims or any of the following addresses [redacted by me]
E. Defendant is not permitted to leave the State of Illinois absent further order of the Court, with the following exceptions:
a. Defendant shall be permitted to travel to his residence in the State of Florida; and
b. Defendant is permitted to attend a military graduation ceremony for his son in the State of Kentucky and return to Springfield.
Several of Sen. Sims’ colleagues joined Sims at the hearing, including Senate President Harmon and Sens. Murphy, Gillespie, Villivalam, Feigenholtz, Villenuava, Peters, Aquino, Hunter, Johnson, Morrison, Bush, Fine, Belt and Simmons, among others. It was a nice touch.
26 Comments
|
Well, that’s one way to do it
Friday, Apr 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tanking for labor when you’re about to run statewide is a good idea. But positioning yourself as the sponsor of a more generous than perhaps needed Exelon/ComEd bailout? I suppose we’re gonna find out…
State lawmakers sponsoring a union-backed proposal that could raise ComEd customers’ bills sought to poke holes Thursday in a study commissioned by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office that argues for smaller subsidies for two nuclear plants owned by the utility’s parent company.
During a Senate committee hearing Thursday, Democratic Sen. Michael Hastings of Frankfort and Republican Sen. Sue Rezin of Morris, both sponsors of the labor-backed energy bill, questioned the assumptions in the governor’s audit and the credibility of the outside experts hired to prepare it. […]
Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, who is leading energy talks for the governor’s office, told lawmakers that Pritzker fully supports releasing the full report and has asked Exelon for permission to do so. Pritzker also supports taking steps to keep nuclear plants in operation, Mitchell said. […]
But Mitchell said customers should “pay no more than is necessary to keep the fleet viable.” The audit recommends only providing subsidies in years Exelon demonstrates the financial need.
“For those who would want to pay more than that, I would simply ask, ‘Why?’ ” he said.
Good question, although knocking heads with a pretty powerful Democratic Senator also has distinct disadvantages in the short term.
Hastings wants to run for secretary of state. His top Democratic opponent so far is Alexi Giannoulias, who has raised $1.5 million since the beginning of the year, including a $100K A-1 filed just this week. At this rate, he’ll have more than enough money to dirty Hastings up. Hastings has raised $264K so far this year, but had $604K in the bank.
Rezin has nuke plants in her district, so her position is strictly local.
…Adding… IL Chamber…
Following [yesterday’s] Senate Energy and Public Utilities subject matter hearing on the Exelon audit prepared by Synapse Energy Economics at the direction of the Pritzker Administration, Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch provides the following statement:
Today’s hearing provided a very important opportunity to shed light on some of the questions legislators must consider as Exelon comes back to the General Assembly with hat in hand asking for a second massive bailout in only five years. As Illinois’ citizens and businesses only begin to recover from the harsh economic realities brought on by the Covid19 pandemic, the last thing ratepayers need is to fund a bailout totalling hundreds of millions of dollars for a profitable company through higher electricity prices. The Illinois Chamber encourages a release of the redacted audit, and urges legislators to continue asking the important questions, which the Exelon audit and today’s hearing only began to address. Those questions include:
· Will Exelon acquiesce to legislators’ concerns about transparency and release Illinois EPA and the report’s authors from the non-disclosure agreement, allowing the General Assembly and taxpayers access to the full report?
· Before the State agrees to a second massive subsidy, shouldn’t it request and obtain a financial audit of Exelon’s currently subsidized plants that already cost ratepayers $235 million a year? Shouldn’t we first determine whether or not that first subsidy is greater than what is necessary to maintain their economic viability?
· Are legislators committed to the notion that there should be no subsidy if there is no financial need? And would they support an “annual true-up” of costs with refund provisions to protect Illinois ratepayers?
· Why would legislators support any energy proposal that contains an Exelon subsidy that has not been subjected to an independent third-party audit to determine the true impact to ratepayers?
10 Comments
|
Rhetoric heats up over remap
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Despite the past documented evidence of Illinois’ Democrat leaders, including Governor JB Pritzker and new House Speaker Chris Welch, stating support for a fair, transparent and non-partisan redistricting process, they continue to press on with the current partisan process. Today, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Assistant Minority Leader Tim Butler (R-Springfield) and Assistant Minority Leader Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) again laid bare the hollowness of Democrat leaders’ past promises and pointed to how it further exacerbates the cloud of corruption and public mistrust in the state.
“Democrats have claimed to be in support of fair maps for years, but when it comes to real action they always go back on their word,” Durkin said. “Every opportunity to implement fair maps has been met with rejection by the Democrats. Their record speaks for itself.”
In 2016, then State Representative Chris Welch, co-sponsored HJRCA 58 to create an independent redistricting commission, which later passed the House with 105 YES votes. He even published an op-ed supporting the measure and stated, “The redistricting, or ‘remap,’ of state legislative districts that’s mandated by law to occur after the U.S. Census every 10 years is very important. Unfortunately, the process has often been criticized as too political and one where voters are left without a voice.
“To address these issues, I’m supporting House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 58 (HJRCA 58), which is a comprehensive, bipartisan measure that will put an independent commission in charge of drawing state legislative district boundaries and protect minority representation.”
Before the current partisan redistricting process began this spring, Republicans filed the People’s Independent Maps Act, Senate Bill 1325, using identical language from SJRCA 4, a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) in 2019. That resolution garnered 37 co-sponsors in the Senate including 18 Democrats and was nearly identical to the 2016 HJRCA 58 that Welch co-sponsored.
* Tribune editorial…
In the Senate, numerous Democratic incumbents have signed onto or sponsored bills in recent years supporting remap reform, including Sens. Scott Bennett of Champaign, Melinda Bush of Grayslake, Rachelle Crowe of Glen Carbon, Bill Cunningham of Chicago, Laura Ellman of Naperville, Laura Fine of Glenview, Ann Gillespie of Arlington Heights, Suzy Glowiak Hilton of Western Springs, David Koehler of Peoria, Julie Morrison of Lake Forest, Laura Murphy of Des Plaines and Steve Stadelman of Rockford.
Their party holds a supermajority in the Senate. Don’t let them get away with more empty rhetoric on why there is no independent commission, and why their party leaders are now behind closed doors drawing a map with districts drawn to protect their incumbency.
“They are absolutely dead silent on this issue,” House GOP Leader Jim Durkin tells us. “This is an extension of the Madigan playbook.”
* Greg Hinz…
Springfield Republicans are turning up the heat on how Democrats are handling remap, calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to stand by his vow to veto an “unfair” map, and suggesting that new House Speaker Chris Welch is beginning to govern in the style of predecessor Mike Madigan. […]
At a news conference, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin and colleagues repeatedly accused Democrats of “hypocrisy” in how they’ve handling remap, the short-hand term for decennial reapportionment of congressional, legislative and local government districts.
“The hypocrisy is at the highest level I’ve ever observed. . . .It’s a continuation of the old business model which has put Illinois in peril, both financially and ethically,” said the Western Springs Republican, referring in part to the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal that brought down Madigan.
* The response from Speaker Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll was truncated in the above piece, so I asked for the entire thing. It’s a doozy…
Speaker Welch has never suggested that maps will be drawn solely using ACS data. As he’s reiterated numerous times, it is one of the alternative sources of data suggested by the National Conference of State Legislatures. It is one of the aggregated data sets the committee is using, just like several other states, including Oklahoma and Colorado.
But, to suggest that we are not considering all voices throughout Illinois is a lie. House Democrats have held 27 public hearings to listen to people in every part of this state about what their communities look like to them. Republicans provided no witnesses for the hearings and are choosing to dismiss the public’s input because their only goal is to rig the process for their own political benefit – just like their right-wing allies are doing across the country with no regard to public input.
In fact, the top Republican on the state’s Redistricting Committee is on record saying his criteria for a fair map is one that elects more Republicans. This political posturing by Republicans is nothing more than an attempt to disregard constitutional deadlines in a desperate hope that a single Republican appointee, who is accountable to no one, can draw the map. That is not democracy and it’s a disservice to the people of this state.
Few people showed up to the hearings, which could lead some to think that maybe not many care about this despite the polling.
…Adding… Press release…
Illinois Senate Republican Redistricting Caucus Chair Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is calling on Senate leadership to stop blocking redistricting reform legislation from advancing and to hold a hearing on his independent redistricting legislation.
“Everyone from the Senate President to the Governor has repeatedly expressed their support for redistricting reform,” Barickman said. “We have a proposal that has had bipartisan support in both chambers. The only reason to block attempts at reform is to allow one party to produce a purely partisan map. Why else would they would be hiding from this legislation now?”
Senate Bill 1325, filed by Barickman, uses identical language from SJRCA 0004, a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission that was introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) in 2019. That resolution garnered 37 co-sponsors in the Senate including 18 Democrats. A similar independent commission amendment co-sponsored by Speaker of the House Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch (D-Hillside) passed the House in 2016 with 105 YES votes.
Unfortunately for the people of Illinois, the independent redistricting legislation is being held in the Senate assignments committee, blocking it from being heard in a public committee, despite the urgent timing of the issue.
On April 21, 2021, Barickman sent a formal request to Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) to extend the Third Reading Deadline on the legislation, along with a request to Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago) asking that the legislation be released from the Assignments Committee so that it can be heard and debated in the appropriate public committee.
“The people of Illinois have been demanding that the Legislature take the power away from politicians to draw their own maps,” said Barickman. “It’s time that Democratic leaders listen to the people of Illinois and follow their own campaign promises to fix the system.”
15 Comments
|
*** UPDATED x1 *** It’s just a bill
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
…Adding… Times change…
* Center Square…
A bill that would lower criminal penalties for possession of drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl narrowly passed the Illinois House Wednesday.
State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, defended her House Bill 3447 that opponents like state Rep. Tony McCombie worried is too expansive.
“Would heroin be included?” McCombie asked.
“Yes,” Ammons acknowledged.
The measure drops the criminal charge from a felony to a misdemeanor for what proponents said is a low level of possession. […]
Ammons said the measure is about ensuring people get medical treatment for drug addiction, rather than a jail cell.
“And give them true opportunity to treatment as opposed to saddling them with felony convictions that unfortunately we have to unravel later,” Ammons said.
She also noted the issue impacts those who may be frozen out of housing, education and job opportunities.
State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, supported House Bill 3447 and said it corrects decades of wrongs by offering a path to treatment, rather than jail.
Whenever you see a story that doesn’t have numbers in it, beware. Here’s what the story doesn’t tell you: It’s currently a Class 1 felony to possess a single gram of heroin, cocaine or fentanyl. That’s less than 0.04 ounces. The legislation would impose a Class 4 felony on possession of 3-15 grams of heroin, 3-200 grams of fentanyl and 5-15 grams of cocaine. Below that is a Class A misdemeanor. Above that, the penalties increase. There are other penalty adjustments on other drugs as well, along with some expungement language.
*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…
Yesterday, without any Republicans, the Democrats voted to move the use of heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl from a FELONY to a class A misdemeanor. After a year of releasing prisoners into our communities and passing laws to make the job of law enforcement much more difficult, House Democrats continue to make our neighborhoods more dangerous.
Instead of dealing with the real issues that Illinoisans face every day, the Democrats have prioritized significantly reducing penalties for possession and use of drugs. We need legislators who will fight for us in Springfield, on REAL ISSUES, like fighting corruption, lowering property taxes, and growing our economy.
Rich, we want to hear from YOU! Will you take our quick poll and let the Democrats know which drugs you think should remain a felony? Take the poll >>>
Do you agree that these drugs should remain a felony?
Yes
No
Hurry, this survey link expires in 48 hours! Let the Democrats know what you think RIGHT NOW >>>>
Thank you,
ILGOP Team
* Sun-Times…
Another bill that passed Wednesday would allow married couples to change the gender designations on their marriage certificate or update them with non-gendered identifiers, creating “uniformity statewide” for county clerks, said state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, the bill’s sponsor.
It passed 41 to 18, and now moves to the House.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Illinois Republicans have added a new twist to their call for an independent redistricting commission in hopes of overcoming Democrats’ claims that their plan would likely be found unconstitutional.
The new twist, discussed Wednesday during a Statehouse news conference, would be to allow two different commissions – the one they are proposing in legislation, and the one mandated after a certain point under the Illinois Constitution – to work side-by-side to come up with new legislative and congressional district maps.
* Same source…
A bill that would prevent statements and actions made by participants in restorative justice programs from being used in court proceedings passed the Illinois Senate on Wednesday in partisan vote.
Senate Bill 64, introduced by Chicago Democrat Sen. Robert Peters, would make “anything said or done” in the course of a restorative justice practice “privileged,” meaning it cannot be used “in any civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding.”
Illinois first began using restorative justice courts in 2017. According to the Illinois State Bar Association, restorative justice is meant to bring together the offenders, victims and communities to “address and repair the harm.” […]
Following a short debate on the Senate floor, the bill passed along partisan lines in a 39-17 vote and advanced to the House floor.
* Sun-Times…
A bill sponsored by state Rep. Will Guzzardi would streamline a commutation process for those imprisoned within the Illinois Department of Corrections who are “medically incapacitated and terminally ill,” allowing the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to make a faster decision on whether or not the person can return home, Guzzardi said.
* Back to Center Square…
A new bill would make buying a gun safe less expensive, but a tax expert said carve-outs won’t address issues with the state’s sales tax.
State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, sponsored House Bill 316, which would lower the sales tax on gun safes to 1%. State Rep. Jeff Keicher is a co-sponsor of the bill.
“Republicans and Democrats need to work together more on common-sense measures to keep families safe and reduce the prevalence of tragic incidents when young children get ahold of firearms stored in the home and inadvertently harm themselves or others,” Keicher said in a statement. “I am very pleased to be working with Rep. Mason to pass legislation that will make it more affordable for individuals and families to purchase a gun safe by cutting the sales tax rate to 1%.”
Mason said the bill would encourage responsible gun storage.
* Other stuff…
* Lawmakers look for ways to prevent future natural gas price surges after winter spike
* Bill would change school consolidation process
35 Comments
|
Lightfoot unveils RFP for Chicago casino
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
It took three decades for city leaders to elbow state lawmakers into authorizing a Chicago casino.
It’s been almost two years since Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office finally hit the jackpot in Springfield.
And it could be another four years before the long-sought big city gambling mecca finally opens — but state regulators better not let the process drag on longer than that, an “impatient” Lightfoot warned this week.
As the first-term mayor prepared to formally invite casino developers to the table on Thursday to submit proposals to build and run Chicago’s first legal gambling house, Lightfoot threw down an early gauntlet to the Illinois Gaming Board, which has the final say on who gets the coveted casino license. […]
“Once we present a proposal to them, we’ve got to move forward expeditiously. And again, I don’t want to prejudge it, but I’m looking at the time, like the time it takes for the Gaming Board to do its work — it’s got to speed up.”
Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?
…Adding… Looks like the Gaming Board may have prevented a real problem in Rockford…
Plans for a temporary casino in Rockford hit a roadblock.
The Illinois Gaming Board has denied Giovanni’s request for a casino suppliers license. The decision came after the restaurant requested to withdraw its application at the last minute. […]
The gaming board’s administrator explained why the application was turned down “based on conduct and associations that would jeopardize the integrity of gaming and discredit or attempt to discredit the state and Illinois gaming.”
The mayor’s new RFP is here.
* Tribune…
If all goes well, the new casino would open in 2025, though there would be slot machines at Chicago airports and likely a temporary casino somewhere in the city much earlier, as the mayor counts on gambling revenue to help close huge police and fire pension shortfalls.
Before then, Lightfoot promised in-depth engagement with “community stakeholders” around the site of a project that will transform whatever neighborhood it occupies.
That process won’t resemble the protracted, litigious fight among Protect Our Parks, Jackson Park residents and the Obama Foundation that has delayed the start of construction on the Obama Presidential Center, Lightfoot said before the casino request for proposal release.
I dunno. Everybody sues about everything in Chicago. We’ll see.
By the way, those airport slots, if she does it right, could generate $37 million a year in revenues.
* CDC Gaming Reports…
Chicago isn’t limiting operators to a location within the city’s jurisdiction, saying wants the developer to create an entertainment destination that will “enhance the urban fabric” of its surrounding neighborhood.
“I’m not going to put my finger on the location scale, everyone that is a serious bidder knows this inside and out,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a virtual media briefing Tuesday.
11 Comments
|
Daily Herald argues against budget cut
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald editorial…
Most suburbs took it on the chin in this pandemic year, with income millions of dollars lower than usual from taxes on goods, food and beverages, hotel rooms, gasoline and more.
But you wouldn’t expect local leaders to turn around and ask their residents and business owners — who also are hurting — to cough up more.
By the same token, the state of Illinois shouldn’t try to cure its revenue shortfall by hitting up cities and villages.
Yet, that’s what Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget would do.
The state has its eye on the Local Government Distributive Fund, which is local governments’ share of income taxes collected by the state. The governor’s budget proposal included another 10 percent reduction in what towns get. […]
While Illinois’ flat income tax is in the state constitution, the amount of the local share unfortunately is not. […]
Lawmakers, when they ultimately vote on a state budget next month, should take further cuts to this local revenue source off the table.
Municipalities are usually very good at getting news coverage and editorial support for their Springfield agendas. Not mentioned, however, is that Illinois’ local governments and schools are receiving $5 billion via the new federal relief law. Also not mentioned is another way to pay for this proposed cut.
However, there is little doubt that cuts to local governments could lead to local tax hikes. And the governor has said more than once that property taxes are a major impediment to economic development here.
…Adding… As a commenter reminded us, the Daily Herald opposed the graduated income tax proposal last year.
* Related…
* Study: American Rescue Plan allocates $2 billion to counties that don’t exist or don’t have fiscal problems
28 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
