* Press release…
Monday, January 30, 2023
Joint Statement on DuPage County Public Safety
Statement attributable to DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, and DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin:
“DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, Sheriff James Mendrick, and State’s Attorney Robert Berlin engaged in a meaningful conversation during which they discussed their shared commitment to the safety of DuPage County residents. The conversation also included discussion of Illinois’ new assault weapons ban, known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act. Enforcement of this law does not demand that deputies go door to door seeking to remove weapons from those licensed to own them. With this understanding, Sheriff Mendrick is committed to enforcing all state and local laws. Chair Conroy is committed to supporting the Sheriff’s Office in maintaining safe communities within DuPage County and sees no reason to pursue a censure resolution at this time. All parties look forward to positive, productive collaboration on important initiatives that will keep DuPage residents safe and ensure the security of our communities moving forward.”
…Adding… Daily Herald…
While the DuPage County Board posted the joint statement on social media Monday afternoon, Mendrick had not yet shared the statement on the sheriff’s social media page as of 3:30 p.m. Monday. Mendrick’s original Jan. 13 statement also remained posted on the DuPage County sheriff’s Facebook page.
County board member Liz Chaplin, a Downers Grove Democrat, said the joint statement was “a good start” but expressed some reservation.
“When I see the sheriff post on social media, I will feel much better about this,” she said. “He has unnecessarily caused a lot of confusion, fear and anger. He needs to publicly set the record straight that he will enforce the law and all laws.”
As of 5 o’clock, it’s still not there.
* Meanwhile, from the Conversation…
A gun control law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois in January 2023 immediately faced opposition from a group key to the law’s enforcement: sheriffs. They are county-level, locally elected public officials who run jails, provide courthouse security, and, in many counties, are the primary providers of law enforcement services.
In Illinois, and around the nation, some sheriffs also view themselves as the ultimate defenders of the U.S. Constitution and its rights – even though there’s no law and no history giving them that position. […]
In our research surveying sheriffs, in 2012 and again in 2021, we have found that sheriffs are far more likely to support looser gun laws than the public at large. And we have also found that that perspective is linked to some sheriffs’ views that they are the highest level of defenders of the U.S. Constitution and Americans’ constitutional rights.
From that poll…
Gun laws should be MORE strict than they are today
19% (Sheriffs)
53% (Americans in general)
Gun laws should be LESS strict than they are today
75% (Sheriffs)
14% (Americans in general)
Current gun laws are about right / No answer / unsure
6% (Sheriffs)
32% (Americans in general)
* Back to the story…
We traced sheriffs’ views of themselves as ultimate protectors of the Constitution to the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a political organization founded in 2009 by Richard Mack, a former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona. […]
Mack and his organization have spent more than a decade actively recruiting and training sheriffs to believe that their office is more powerful than the president, and that they can reject laws they believe to be unconstitutional. Mack told NPR in 2019 that sheriffs “have the responsibility to interpose – it’s the ‘doctrine of interposition’ – whenever anybody is trying to diminish or violate the individual rights of our counties.”
Counties have individual rights?
* Interposition…
In Cooper v. Aaron, 358 U.S. 1 (1958), the Supreme Court of the United States rejected interposition explicitly. The Supreme Court and the lower federal courts have consistently held that the power to declare federal laws unconstitutional lies with the federal judiciary, not with the states. The courts have held that interposition is not a valid constitutional doctrine when invoked to block enforcement of federal law.
* In other news, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association is awarding more than $58,000 in college scholarships throughout the state. Individual sheriffs are offering $500 scholarships. For instance…
La Salle County Sheriff Adam Diss will award one $500 scholarship. There will be no restriction on any applicant by reason of race, age, creed, color, sex or national origin. The only limitations are as follows:
Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents
Scholarships must be utilized at institutions of higher learning within the state of Illinois
Students must be enrolled as a full-time student during the 2023-24 school year (excluding summer session).
Not mentioned is this essay question…
What are your thoughts about the elimination of cash bail in Illinois? Do you think this is a good policy decision? What are the effects? Please explain your rationale for position.
*** UPDATE *** US Rep. Casten…
U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the joint statement from DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, Sheriff James Mendrick, and States Attorney Robert Berlin on public safety in DuPage County:
“Public trust in our institutions depends, in part, on the principle that laws, once passed, will apply equally to all. I’m grateful and relieved to hear that Sheriff Mendrick understands this and is committed to fairly and impartially enforcing the laws of Illinois.
“The Protect Illinois Communities Act is an important law passed by our state legislature to prevent future tragedies like the shooting in Highland Park. I would like to thank Chair Deb Conroy for her leadership in DuPage County, as well as all those who stood with me on January 23rd in steadfast commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
On January 19th, Representatives Sean Casten, Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Bill Foster (IL-11) sent a letter to DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick expressing concern over his January 13th statement that he will not enforce the Protect Illinois Communities Act. Rep. Casten then held a press conference on January 23rd to reiterate the importance of enforcing the laws of Illinois.
* Related…
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Afternoon roundup
Monday, Jan 30, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Legislative Black Caucus statement on the release of video documenting the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police…
“The release of police body camera footage makes clear what we already knew: the murder of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols was brutal and unjustified. Our deepest condolences are with his family and all those who knew and loved him. The police officers who beat this young man to death have no place in law enforcement, and were rightly dismissed. Still, this is not enough. These officers callously and viciously killed another human being, and Mr. Nichols’ family deserves justice. We know very clearly this is about more than a few bad apples.
“For the people who are angry, for the people who are sick of living in fear, we will always stand with you in the fight for justice. We are proud of the steps we have taken in Illinois, including restrictions on dangerous policing methods and closing prosecution loopholes in officer-involved killings, but we know there is still much more work to do.”
More react here.
* Daily Herald…
As a draft of legislation that would give the Chicago Bears a massive property tax break at Arlington Park emerges in Springfield, the NFL franchise has a major backer in its corner.
Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch’s lobbying pitch to legislators is practically a version of the “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” fight song, which famously proclaims the team as the “pride and joy of Illinois.”
“They deserve their place in front of the legislature. They’re a huge economic driver and a source of pride for the state. So they deserve everything they can get,” said Maisch, whose organization is pushing a bill that would create a new economic incentive program that the Bears and big developers could tap to pay less than the regular amount of property taxes on a given site. […]
The state’s leading business advocacy organization and the Bears are leading a coalition in support of the so-called PILOT financing tool that would allow developers of “mega projects” — those worth at least $500 million — to make negotiated payments to local taxing bodies instead of the full amount of property taxes. Others who have signed onto the plan are the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association and Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
* Also from the Daily Herald…
Although wrong-way crashes are relatively rare, the results can be catastrophic mainly because they typically occur head-on and at high speeds, experts with the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Highway Administration and AAA have found.
Six in 10 wrong-way collisions involve alcohol impairment, AAA reported. To that point, the McHenry County coroner concluded in November that the driver who crashed into the Dobosz family’s van was intoxicated.
In Illinois, “this is still largely a behavioral driving issue,” IDOT spokeswoman Maria Castaneda explained.
“About two out of three (wrong-way) occurrences involve an impaired driver. Roughly a third of all traffic fatalities involve an impaired driver in Illinois. Drivers are urged to pay close attention and remain focused and alert when driving.”
* As subscribers know, Vallas also received $50,000 from one of Tom DeVore’s top contributors…
* Speaking of money…
An outside group hoping to elect City Council candidates it sees as pragmatists geared up its campaign over the weekend, launching ads in five wards. So far, its focus is on helping three appointees of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and going after two candidates who are members of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America.
The Get Stuff Done PAC — an independent expenditure committee chaired by Michael Ruemmler, an advisor to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel — has raised $1.2 million since its official formation in early December, according to the state board of elections. The group is launching a series of digital ads and sending out mailers supporting 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee, 12th Ward Ald. Anabel Abarca, and 24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott. All are appointees of Lightfoot that were selected to fill City Council vacancies. […]
Another former Emanuel donor and confidant, Michael Sacks of Grosvenor Capital Management, contributed $500,000 to Get Stuff Done PAC, while $200,000 came from the political action committee for the laborer’s union, LiUNA (a group that backed Susana Mendoza for mayor in 2019, then Lightfoot in the runoff).
Henry Crown & Co. heir Lester Crown and his son James Crown each donated $100,000, and Sterling Bay’s Keating Crown, Lester Crown’s grandson, gave $25,000. Duchossois Group CEO Craig Duchossois and the Illinois Restaurant Association PAC both gave $50,000.
Not sure how a committee funded by Sacks, LiUNA, Lester Crown, the Duchossois family and the restaurant association can be described as an “outside group,” but OK.
* Press release…
Following its announcement by city and county officials on Friday, state Rep. Robert “Bob” Rita, D-Blue Island, is promoting awareness of the new 211 social services hotline now available to all residents of Cook County. The hotline is available via phone, text and web chat. Residents can use 211 to be connected with a local Resource Navigator who can assist with finding and accessing assistance and other programs in a wide variety of categories.
“Helping individuals and families to obtain the services they need to live, work and care for their loved ones is one of the most important things government does,” Rita said. “Having all that under one roof, where people can do it all easily and efficiently, just makes sense.”
Categories covered by 211 include Housing, Senior Services, Legal Assistance, Immigration, Veteran Services, Health Care and Utility Assistance. A full list of resource categories as well as additional information can be found at https://211metrochicago.org. To connect with 211 via text message, residents should text their ZIP code to 898211.
“211 is a game-changer,” Rita said. “I hope that, once more people are aware of it, that it helps them and their families to live safer, healthier, better lives.”
* Media advisory…
CHICAGO NATIVE TO BECOME HIGHEST-RANKING MINORITY OFFICER IN ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY
WHO:
Illinois National Guard
Brig. Gen. Rodney Boyd, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton
WHAT:
Brigadier General Rodney Boyd, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard and the Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, will be promoted to Major General making him the highest-ranking minority officer in the nearly 300-year history of the Illinois National Guard. Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton will officiate the ceremony. General Boyd is a native of the South Side of Chicago.
WHEN/WHERE:
11:00 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 4
Carver Military Academy Auditorium
13100 South Doty Ave.
Chicago, IL 60827
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Appointed Assistant Adjutant General-Army and Commander, Illinois Army National Guard on July 1, 2021
Graduated from ILNG Officer Candidate School in August, 1990.
Served as Assistant Chief of Staff J4 (Joint Logistics Wartime) for U.S. Forces Korea
Has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait
…Adding… Politico…
Christian Mitchell, a deputy governor, is leaving the Pritzker administration. No word yet on his next move. But the announcement sparked talk that Mitchell could move to a political position to help Pritzker in a potential presidential run. “Absolutely not,” said a person familiar with Mitchell’s exit.
Literally everything “sparks” that sort of talk these days.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Sun-Times | Facing pressure to ban books, suburban libraries ‘becoming a battlefield for the First Amendment’: According to the library association, which is based in Chicago, there were 67 attempts to ban books last year in Illinois, up from 41 such efforts in 2021. It says the number of book ban attempts has been on the rise in recent years, with 681 such moves involving more than 1,600 titles throughout the United States in 2021.
* BGA | Illinois Legislative Oversight is Weak Compared to Other States: Because of this, Illinois’ commission is more easily subject to gridlock, as well as ineffectual oversight, than the commissions in other states. This situation is compounded by having a weak Legislative Inspector General. The commission, being made up of the very people they should be holding accountable, has little incentive to allow the Legislative Inspector General full rein to investigate wrongdoing, and instead is able to keep the legislative watchdog on a short leash.
* Illinois Newsroom | University of Illinois students caught in financial scams, prompting police outreach: Scammers often target international students and pose as government agencies – threatening to deport students if they don’t send money. University of Illinois Police Department’s Sergeant Robert Murphy says scam cases are difficult to solve, because they often require expensive equipment and technology training.
* Robin Bertram | Chicago needs to offer homeowners assistance with repairs: Last year, the Pritzker administration set aside $309 million to Illinois homeowners to help pay mortgages and other expenses. In 2023, the administration should offer a different kind of assistance for homeowners: home repairs.
* ProPublica | Can Community Programs Help Slow the Rise in Violence?: For years, these programs competed with one another for whatever scarce funding was available, passing from one short-lived pilot project to another. Now they are being showered with unprecedented resources: Louisville is getting $24 million; Baltimore will receive $50 million.
* Daily Beast | The Liberal Case Against Public Unions: Instead of pride, unions enforce a culture of entitlement in many schools and agencies. Employees are ostracized if they strive to do more than the bare minimum. A study by Johns Hopkins University of Providence, Rhode Island, schools found peer pressure against “‘going the extra mile’” which “makes everyone look bad.” The study’s authors also wrote: “Specifically, we heard, ‘Unions discriminate against hard work. They put pressure on those who go above the bare minimum and ask ‘why?’ if you want to do more. This is not only teachers, but secretaries and custodians.”
* SJ-R | Langfelder, Buscher draw crowd for mayoral forum; tackle Wyndham, partisanship questions: Who Trump was as a candidate compared to his four years as president were not equivalent, she said. “I voted for the candidate who I thought was going to bring new jobs, job creation, corporations back to our states,” Buscher said. “That person did not govern the way I thought they did with that vote.”
* Fox News | Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape makes chilling call to TV station: ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t get more of them’: Despite saying he didn’t want to jeopardize his case, DePape told KTVU he attacked Pelosi because “liberty isn’t dying, it’s being killed systematically and deliberately.” The “people killing it have names and addresses, so I got their names and addresses so I could pay them a little visit … have a heart-to-heart chat about their bad behavior,” he asserted.
* WaPo | What if the crisis of democracy is (mostly) in our heads?: To summarize and simplify: Democracy, at least liberal democracy, means both that the winning side must be allowed to govern and that the losing side’s rights must be respected. Sometimes, the two are in tension. When citizens support the party in power, Bryan found, their definition of democracy focuses on that party’s right to govern — or “obeying authority.” When citizens oppose the party in power, their definition of democracy focuses more on the protection of their own rights as a political minority.
* Sun-Times | Nykia Wright departs as Sun-Times CEO: Nykia Wright, who has had leading executive roles at the Chicago Sun-Times since 2017, managing ownership changes and a shift toward digital operations, is leaving the newspaper. Chicago Public Media, which owns the Sun-Times, announced her departure Monday. Wright issued a message to staff members saying she will announce future plans soon.
* Crain’s | Drug discovery startup spun out of Northwestern acquired for $50 million: Samdi Tech, a Northwestern University biotech spinout that provides automated screening for early-stage drug invention, has been acquired by pharma services giant Charles River Laboratories.
* The Atlantic | The narcissism of the angry young men: Some years ago, I got a call from an analyst at the National Counterterrorism Center. After yet another gruesome mass shooting (this time, it was Dylann Roof’s attack on a Bible-study group at a Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, that killed nine and wounded one), I had written an article about the young men who perpetrate such crimes. I suggested that an overview of these killers showed them, in general, to be young losers who failed to mature, and whose lives revolved around various grievances, insecurities, and heroic fantasies. I called them “Lost Boys” as a nod to their arrested adolescence.
* Journal & Topics | Des Plaines Woman Faces Felony Charges After Allegedly Striking State Police Vehicle: At approximately 6:22 p.m., ISP reported that Des Plaines resident Jasmine Solano, 27, was driving a blue 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan westbound. An ISP officer was tending to an existing crash on the left shoulder of the road. Solano allegedly failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the squad car’s rear.
* Kaiser Health News | A baby spent 36 days at an in-network hospital. Why did her parents get a huge bill?: It took Kearney months of calls to Blue Cross and the two hospitals to find out why Lurie billed more than $14,000 for physician services: The physicians treating her daughter at Prentice Women’s — an in-network hospital under her health plan— actually worked for a separate, out-of-network hospital. Illinois law bars insurers from charging patients out-of-network rates for neonatal care at in-network hospitals.
* Sun-Times | Two Chicago universities receive millions in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access: St. Augustine College and Dominican University received federal grants to expand access to high-speed internet on their campuses. The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, under the U.S. Department of Commerce, awarded $2.6 million to St. Augustine and $2.5 million to Dominican, the department announced Monday.
* Illinois News Bureau | Site of integrated Illinois town founded by former slave is newest national park: Frank McWorter, known as “Free Frank,” platted and registered the town of New Philadelphia in 1836. McWorter hired out for extra work on neighboring plantations while enslaved, and he and his wife, Lucy, bought freedom for themselves and 14 other family members. They acquired land in Pike County, and after platting and registering space for the town, Frank and Lucy sold lots to free African American families and European American families attracted to their vision of a community dedicated to freedom. New Philadelphia – just 25 miles from the slave markets in Hannibal, Missouri, – helped people escaping slavery along the Underground Railroad.
* KHQA | Documentary about the Old State Capitol to air on TV: The documentary features interviews with two of the original architects who were in charge of dismantling and rebuilding the Old State Capitol.
* NBC Chicago | Chicago ‘Dibs’ Scene Sparks Big Social Media Debate: “I don’t mind dibs when my neighbor spent time clearing dibspot ( I have a cool neighbor that clears 2-3 spots but claims only 1), but in the weather it’s just petty. May as well start dibs in the summer too,” one commenter wrote.
* CNN | Puppy Bowl XIX: How to watch the other big game: There will be more puppies playing - 122 from 67 shelters and rescues across 34 states - and, for the first-time, the competition will feature a Native American animal organization and a puppy player from Dominica, West Indies.
* Block Club | In Englewood, Thousands Of Tulips Are Blooming — During The Winter: Southside Blooms, the flower shop of Englewood-based nonprofit Chicago Eco House, 6250 S. Morgan St., is growing 18,000 tulips indoors for a good cause. The program — which has been featured on TV — is known for creating jobs for at-risk youth and converting vacant lots into community assets.
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It’s just a bill
Monday, Jan 30, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Patrick Keck…
As of Friday, there were 1,690 bills introduced from both chambers - 156 in the state Senate and 1,534 in the House. A common thread in the bills was income tax credits applying to a wide spectrum of eligible taxpayers, state agencies. and departments. […]
Under House Bill 1250, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity would be permitted to award up to $50 million in the fiscal year to eligible taxpayers. […]
House Bill 1343 pertains to an individual selling or renting an agricultural asset to a beginning farmer. The bill defines a beginning farmer as someone who “has not received income from agricultural production for more than the 10 most recent taxable years” and has received certification from the state Department of Agriculture identifying them as a beginning farmer. […]
Caregivers of veterans would receive up to a $1,000 credit under legislation from state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville introduced last week.
* Daily Herald…
With some finesse, nuclear reactors can be placed on retiring coal plant sites to take advantage of existing transmission, water and transportation infrastructure. This would preserve jobs and revenue in Illinois’s existing energy communities. It would also make certain that the replacement energy is reliable in addition to being carbon-free. A rare win-win.
However, this option is not available to the coal communities of the state. Illinois has a decades-old moratorium on nuclear power, meaning there are restrictions on the construction of new nuclear plants.
The moratorium was introduced under the premise that Illinois had no solution to nuclear waste, which is simply the used nuclear fuel. In actuality, Illinois has a perfect record for managing and storing waste. The used fuel is stored at the power plant in steel and concrete “casks,” requiring less space than a parking lot. In the future, this fuel can be recycled to produce even more power for the reactors!
Back in 1987 when Illinois’s nuclear moratorium was passed, carbon was irrelevant to environmentalists. Nearly 40 years later, we understand the need for clean and reliable nuclear powering our state regardless of time of day or season.
Fortunately, action is already being taken to change this. Rep. Mark Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat, has introduced a bill to repeal the ban. Sen. Sue Rezin, a Morris Republican, has filed a similar bill in the Senate, one of numerous indications that the proposal will enjoy bipartisan support. These bills require no allocation of funding or commitment to building future nuclear power plants — they simply put the option for new nuclear investment back on the table in Illinois.
* Sun-Times…
State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez and state Sen. Robert Peters, both Chicago Democrats, said Monday they will introduce a bill to protect temporary workers’ rights.
The Temp Worker and Fairness Safety Act would make it easier for workers to sue temp agencies, unionize and strike, attorney Chris Williams said.
It would also make it harder for temp agencies to use noncompete clauses and other tactics to discourage workers from moving to permanent employment with a client.
“By passing this bill into law, we will set the standard for temp worker protections with the rights of workers and create meaningful pathways to union membership for every worker everywhere,” Gonzalez said.
* The Telegraph…
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, has introduced the Beginning Agriculturist Lifetime Employment (BALE) Act to help ensure agricultural producers – especially those just getting started – have access to credit to expand or diversify their operations.
The act builds on a provision sponsored by Bost in the 2018 Farm Bill to increase caps on conservation, ownership, and operator loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Guaranteed and Direct Loan Programs.
“Sky-high inflation and supply chain challenges have made it even more expensive for our Southern Illinois farmers to build their businesses, especially those just starting out,” said Bost. “I was proud to lead this effort in the 2018 Farm Bill and will continue fighting to help ensure that the farmers who feed our nation can access the financing they need.”
…Adding… Another one…
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ChatGPT takes on the governor’s verbal tics
Monday, Jan 30, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A friend came up with this ChatGPT query…
Please write a short story of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker going through an ordinary day and telling people “As you know…”
He does that a lot. The response…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker woke up early on a typical weekday morning. As he got ready for his day, he couldn’t help but think about all the important tasks ahead of him. “As you know,” he thought to himself, “there’s never a dull moment in this job.”
He arrived at the state capitol building and immediately went to work. “As you know,” he told his staff, “we have to address the budget deficit and find ways to fund our schools and infrastructure projects.”
He then met with business leaders to discuss ways to improve the state’s economy. “As you know.” he told them, “Illinois has some of the best companies and most talented workforce in the country, but we need to do more to attract new businesses and create jobs.”
Later in the day, he visited a school in a low-income neighborhood to talk to students about the importance of education. “As you know,” he said, “your education is the key to your future success and the success of our state.”
As the day came to a close, Governor Pritzker reflected on all that he had accomplished. “As you know.’ ” he thought, “there’s still much work to be done, but I’m committed to making Illinois a better place for all its residents.”
With that, he headed home, ready to tackle another day as governor.
Clever.
* My own query today…
Suggest a conversation between Gov. JB Pritzker and a communications staffer over the governor’s repeated and problematic use of the phrase “you know” when answering reporters’ questions.
My father’s greatest pet peeve is people who say “you know” all the time. It has rubbed off on me. The other day, in fact, I told you I’d edited out several uses of that phrase to make the governor’s remarks more readable.
The response…
Gov. JB Pritzker: Hey, how’s it going?
Communications Staffer: Good morning, Governor. I wanted to talk to you about your recent press conferences.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Sure, what’s on your mind?
Communications Staffer: You’ve been using the phrase “you know” quite a bit when answering questions from reporters. It’s starting to become a bit of a distraction.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Oh, is it? I hadn’t noticed.
Communications Staffer: Yes, it is. It can come across as uncertain or unprepared. It’s important to present a confident and professional image, especially in front of the media.
Gov. JB Pritzker: I see what you mean. So, what do you suggest I do instead?
Communications Staffer: Instead of using “you know,” try taking a pause or using filler words like “um” or “ah” to buy yourself some time to think about your answer. It will give you a moment to gather your thoughts and present a clearer, more concise response.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Alright, I’ll give it a try. Thank you for the advice.
Communications Staffer: You’re welcome. And if you need any more help or tips, just let me know. We want to make sure you’re always putting your best foot forward.
Thoughts?
….Adding… While answering reporters’ questions today, Gov. Pritzker did not say either “As you know” or “you know” one time.
…Adding… From that same friend above…
Please write a short story about Illinois Governor B Pritzker celebrating after making it through a press conference without saying “as you know”
—
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stood in front of the podium, sweat beading on his forehead as he gazed out at the sea of reporters gathered in the room. He had a reputation for frequently using the phrase “as you know” in his speeches and press conferences, and today was a particularly important day. He was determined to break that habit and deliver a clear, concise message to the public.
As the questions began to fly, Governor Pritzker kept his cool and answered each one with confidence and clarity, never once resorting to his infamous phrase. The reporters were taken aback by his newfound composure, and when the press conference finally ended, Governor Pritzker let out a huge sigh of relief.
He made his way back to his office, where his staff was waiting with applause and cheers.
They all knew how hard he had worked to break this habit, and they were proud of their boss for finally doing it. Governor Pritzker beamed with pride, knowing that he had accomplished something that had eluded him for so long.
As the day went on, Governor Pritzker received calls and messages of congratulations from all over the state, congratulating him on his impressive performance at the press conference. He was elated, feeling a sense of accomplishment that he had never experienced before.
That night, as he sat in his office reflecting on the day’s events, Governor Pritzker couldn’t help but smile as he realized that he had truly made it through a press conference without saying “as you know.” It was a small victory, but it meant the world to him. He was ready to tackle any challenges that lay ahead, confident in his ability to communicate effectively with the people of Illinois.
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Afternoon roundup
Friday, Jan 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release excerpt…
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today awarded $13 million to 30 recipients to expand the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program, which creates a qualified talent pipeline of diverse candidates in construction and the building trades. The program’s second year expands access to the program across the state and will serve up to 1,400 pre-apprentices – a 40 percent increase from the program’s inaugural year.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked today at the press conference to announce the Pre-apprenticeship Program expansion about the Chicago mayor’s race and his 22 aldermanic race endorsements…
As I said, first of all, I’m pleased to have endorsed people who are doing a good job. They’ve asked me to endorse them. I could have done it sort of one at a time. I just decided to release it all at once.
And with regard to the mayor’s race for the city of Chicago. You know, it’s very important to me that the mayor of the city, whoever that is, and the governor of the state, whoever that is at the time, work closely together. We saw what happened in previous years when we had a Gov. Rauner who couldn’t work with the Mayor of the City of Chicago, and that was not good for the city. It was not good for the state of Illinois. And so I want to make sure that a good working relationship exists. There is one now with the current mayor, but whoever wins the election, I intend to have a good relationship with them, too. And so I’m staying out of the mayor’s race, but I’m glad to support local officials who are running for public office.
* Vallas press release…
Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is continuing to build significant momentum behind his surging campaign, and he is announcing today that he has now raised more than $2 Million since January 1. The massive fundraising effort has allowed Vallas to outpace all other candidates in television advertising spending, while also building robust communications, voter outreach and organizing programs.
* Back to Gov. Pritzker. When responding to a question, he had this to say about MAP grant funding changes…
Community colleges play such a critical and important role. And when I came into office, what was happening was we had MAP grants that were available that we were funding and they’re available to community college students as well as university students. But because of the fiscal year and the run of the fiscal year, university students were the first ones to apply and then we would run out of money each year. Everybody else applying later than that would be out of luck. So it turns out many community college students don’t apply in the same semester that the high school students or people who are seeking to go to university apply. So we changed the way we allocated those funds. So the community colleges would benefit to a much greater degree because we need people to get engaged in the trades to learn, to earn a certificate to earn an associate degree for example. And so, again, community colleges being just as important as full four year universities.
Interesting.
* AG Raoul…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced he charged a former assistant Coles County state’s attorney with 32 counts of misconduct over interactions he had in his official capacity with three Coles County women between the ages of 18 and 35.
Formerly from Charleston, Illinois, Brady Allen, 33, now resides in Missouri but turned himself in to the Coles County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 26 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Raoul’s office charged Allen with nine counts of bribery, all Class 2 felonies; one count of witness harassment, a Class 2 felony; 21 counts of official misconduct, all Class 3 felonies; and one count of witness intimidation, a Class 3 felony. If convicted, Allen could face up to 7 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. […]
From December 2018 until he resigned in August 2020, Allen served as an assistant state’s attorney in Coles County. Raoul’s office alleges that within that time frame, Allen had inappropriate text, email, phone and social media communications that were sexual in nature with female defendants he was currently or had previously prosecuted. According to Raoul, Allen solicited sexual contact, photos and videos with an understanding that in exchange, the female defendants would receive preferential treatment in their pending criminal cases.
Even after Allen was assigned to another courtroom, Raoul alleges Allen continued to solicit sexual contact, photos and videos, suggesting to the women that he could influence his colleagues at the Coles County State’s Attorney’s office. Raoul is further alleging that once Allen’s behavior was discovered, he offered to pay one female defendant’s fines and court costs if she could convince another female defendant to not pursue claims against Allen.
* Press release…
The Park District of Tinley Park [yesterday] announced it has received support from 14 additional members of the Illinois House and Senate for its proposed plan for the site of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center and Howe Development Center to transform the long-vacant property into a hub of athletic fields, track and field facilities, a domed sports complex and open recreational space.
This week, the 14 legislators, who represent communities surrounding the Tinley Park area, sent a letter of support, including: Reps. Dagmara Avelar, Kelly Burke, Will Davis, Anthony DeLuca, Marcus Evans, Fran Hurley, Thaddeus Jones, Natalie Manley, Nick Smith, Larry Walsh, and Sens. Napoleon Harris, Patrick Joyce, Elgie Sims, and Rachel Ventura.
The Park District has also previously received the support of three legislators who represent Tinley Park: Reps. Debbie Meyers-Martin, Bob Rita, and Justin Slaughter.
Last November, the Park District formally bid on the property located at 7400-7600 W. 183rd St. and laid out its vision to meet the needs of the Tinley Park residents and expand opportunities for neighboring communities.
The Park District’s Phase 1 of development for the property includes playground and sports facilities fully accessible for people living with special needs, multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting, ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space.
In their letter this week to the Park District, the group of 14 legislators said the Park District’s Phase 1 plans would create an opportunity for people across the Midwest to attend tournaments, games and events at the site.
“Additionally, transforming this site into a place for all to enjoy addresses a critical need for many of our communities that could benefit greatly from access to more recreation opportunities,” the legislators wrote.
* Leader McCombie…
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (89th District- Savanna) announced the House Republican’s budget team on Friday, naming Deputy Leader Norine Hammond (94th District- Macomb) as Chief Budgeteer for the caucus for the 103rd General Assembly as well as announcing that Representative Amy Elik (111th District- Alton) will be elevated to Deputy Budgeteer.
“I am pleased that Deputy Leader Norine Hammond has accepted my appointment as Chief Budgeteer. Her in-depth experience in appropriations and policy makes her the perfect candidate for this important role,” said Leader Tony McCombie. “I have no doubt that she will work tirelessly to ensure that the budget benefits all citizens of Illinois and I look forward to the positive impact her input will have on the state. Furthermore, her dedication to serving the people of Illinois ensures that their needs and concerns will be considered in the budgeting process.”
As a member of the Higher Education Committee, Hammond has worked for increased funding for universities and community colleges throughout Illinois. She has successfully passed legislation to tackle the teacher shortage; keep Illinois students attending Illinois colleges and universities; and fairly fund public K-12 education. She has also been a strong advocate for procurement reform and other cost-cutting measures which keep dollars focused on strategic goals instead of overhead and administrative costs.
“Representative Amy Elik has spent the past twenty-eight years working as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor for businesses and government bodies. She is a valuable voice for sensible fiscal management and good government budgeting practices within our caucus. Representative Elik will provide critical support to the process and to Deputy Leader Hammond in improving the most important piece of legislation to come out of the State House annually,” Leader McCombie continued.
Rep. Elik has previously served on the House Republican budget team, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and other relevant financial committees which have prepared her to take on this role in the budget process.
* Press release…
To recognize the most outstanding engineering achievements and celebrate the exceptional work engineers provided to their clients in the past year, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) today launched its 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards competition titled “Engineering Works.” The award is designed to honor the best infrastructure projects in Illinois and the engineering companies behind their design and construction. The competitive process to select a winner is now open to the public to learn about the projects and vote to pick a winner to be honored at the ACEC Illinois Awards gala in February.
Vote here.
* A fun Friday fact from the Pantagraph…
What is a Kellogg’s Frosted Flake shaped like the State of Illinois worth?
On eBay, a Virginia woman sold just that in 2008, originally found in her morning breakfast bowl … for $1,350.
…Adding… Fascinating…
…Adding… Press release…
On Saturday, State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview) will be joined by friends and community at a district swearing-in ceremony and reception. The oath of office will be administered by The Honorable Judge Rouhy Shalabi.
“I’m eager to reaffirm my oath of office before family, friends, elected leaders, and the communities that make up the 21st District as I begin my first term,” said Rep. Rashid. “As the first Palestinian-American legislator in Illinois, it is especially meaningful that Judge Shalabi will be presiding over the oath.” Judge Shalabi joined the bench in 2020, becoming the first Palestinian-American judge in Illinois.
What: District Swearing-in Ceremony for State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid
Who: U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, State Representative Dagmara Avelar, State Representative Mary Flowers, State Representative Norma Hernandez, State Senator Mike Porfirio, State Senator Celina Villanueva, MWRD Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda, Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele, Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty, Cicero Trustee Blanca Vargas, Riverside President Joseph Ballerine, Riverside Trustee Cristin Evans, Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero, Berwyn City Council Members Marybeth Arenella, Joe Carmichael, Richard Leja, Scott Lennon, Robert Pabon and Alicia Ruiz, North Riverside President Joseph Mengoni, Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, Countryside Mayor Sean McDermott, Summit Trustee Mayra Ortiz, Hodgkins President Ernest Millsap
When: Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at 12pm
Where: SeatGeek Stadium, 7000 S Harlem Avenue, 3rd Floor, Bridgeview, IL.
That’s quite a list.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* WCIA | State treasurers, comptrollers call on House Speaker, Congressional lawmakers to take action on debt ceiling: State treasurers and comptrollers across the nation including Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs are calling on U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers on Capitol Hill to take action to reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling. Otherwise, they warned in a letter to him sent Tuesday, it could have major consequences for their states, including Illinois.
* Tribune | 3 Chicago-area oil refineries that dump toxic chemicals into Lake Michigan and other waterways are among worst polluters in US, study shows: Even when limits are in place, oil companies often pay minimal fines for violating the law. Some aren’t penalized at all. The Joliet refinery, on the Des Plaines River southwest of the city, exceeded its permitted levels of pollution 40 times between 2019 and 2021, federal records show. Neither federal nor state officials have sued ExxonMobil or fined the company for its repeated infractions.
* Crain’s | Here are the committee assignments for freshmen of Illinois’ congressional delegation: Three of the Illinois congressional delegation’s four freshman Democrats are joining the House Agriculture Committee, including two from downstate and one from less rural environs—Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Chicago.The assignments were announced Thursday by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
* Sun-Times | Walking with the victims of Chicago’s gun violence: Gunshot victims in Chicago are regularly sent home from hospitals without the supplies they need to properly care for their injuries. So Mannion travels around with her mobile medical supply cabinet, a sad symbol of the city’s inability to deal with violence and its aftermath. […] Mannion is part of a growing army of former gang members in Chicago working to prevent violence. Some try to intervene in gang conflicts to stop retaliation. Others, like Mannion, seek to stop the cycle by tending to the physical, mental and emotional needs of victims and their families.
* WICS | IDOC responds to lawmaker concerns over Graham Correctional Facility incident: Senator Jason Plummer sent a letter to IDOC earlier this week asking them to be more open about what happened when 25 people got sick inside Graham Correctional Facility last week.
* WaPo | Data shows student debt relief applicants in each state as auditors question cost: The most populous states had the highest numbers of applicants and automatically eligible people, with California leading the pack with 2.3 million people, followed by Texas with 2.1 million, the data shows. Wyoming and Alaska had the fewest, with 30,000 and 38,000 respectively. Locally, 685,000 Virginians, 522,000 people from Maryland and 72,000 D.C. residents have tried to take advantage of the program, according to the data.
* WTTW | Chicago’s Plan to Make Crosswalks Accessible for Blind Pedestrians Moving at a Crawl: Last March, the Chicago Department of Transportation said it was planning to install about 150 accessible pedestrian signals in 2022 and 2023. So far, only nine of those signals are actually up and running – and only eight of them are new, since one of those installations was an upgrade to an older signal.
* ABC | New US race, ethnicity standards proposed; first since ‘97: A Middle Eastern and North African category could be added to U.S. federal surveys and censuses, and changes could be made to how Hispanics are able to self-identify, under preliminary recommendations released Thursday by the Biden administration in what would be the first update to race and ethnicity standards in a quarter century.
* Herald-Advocate | Superintendent’s exit sparks parent fears in Park Ridge-Niles D64: ‘We are not stable… possibly not even civil’: Many parents and community members who addressed the board during public comment said they feared that Olson’s resignation would damage the reputation of the district, particularly on the heels of a rocky year that included conflicts over masking and vaccination requirements and changes to school traditions.
* The Atlantic | ‘We Used to Be Called Moderate. We Are Not Moderate.’: Early this summer, the federal government will, in all likelihood, exhaust the “extraordinary measures” it is now employing to keep paying the nation’s bills. As the country careens toward that fiscal abyss, Congress will face a now-familiar stalemate: Republicans will refuse to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to cut spending. Democrats will balk. Markets will slide—perhaps precipitously—and the economy will swiftly turn south.
* Sun-Times | The quest to visit all Illinois’ state parks and fully enjoy it: Stephanie Swieca and Emma Magrady are on a quest to visit all of Illinois’ state parks, then share their experiences, including the tangential visits around the parks.
* Journal Courier | Springfield museum debuting exhibit on Generation X this weekend: The museum’s “Growing Up X” exhibit will open Saturday at the museum’s downtown Springfield location. The exhibit will feature cultural touchstones for those who grew up in the 1970s and ’80s, such as Apple IIe computers, telephones with cords and Teddy Ruxpin toys. Visitors also will learn how Gen X was shaped by events such as the Vietnam War, the AIDS crisis and the War on Drugs.
* Sun-Times | Billy Packer, college sports broadcaster who covered 34 Final Fours, dies at 82: Packer’s broadcasting career coincided with the growth of college basketball. He worked as analyst or color commentator on every Final Four from 1975 to 2008. He received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Analyst in 1993.
* David McGrath | How teachers can defeat ChatGPT-using students: If you’re a student, beware: 9 out of 10 who cheat with ChatGPT would likely be caught, earning an F for their trouble or outright expulsion. And the 10th student, smart enough to evade detection, is probably smart enough that they don’t need ChatGPT in the first place.
* AP | FDA eases rules again for gay men seeking to donate blood: The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced draft guidelines that would do away with the current three-month abstinence requirement for donations from men who have sex with men. Instead, potential donors would be screened with a questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors.
* Tribune | ‘I didn’t have a Plan B.’ How Leila Rahimi became one of Chicago’s favorite sportscasters.: Long before Leila Rahimi was named 2022 Illinois Sportscaster of the Year, she was a teenage girl calling in to her local sports radio station. But she wasn’t just calling in as a fan and avid listener, she was creating the lane to her future. “I had been calling in to the Dallas Cowboys postgame show on KVIL-FM 103.7 starting when I was a freshman because I loved watching the Cowboys, and then I started recording using a cassette,” Rahimi told the Tribune. “Once I had a body of work together, I submitted it to try to get a sports broadcasting scholarship in the name of Mark Holtz, the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers broadcaster.”
* Crain’s | Chicago Cut Steakhouse expanding: The steakhouse will add 4,500 square feet on the floor above its restaurant in the glassy 300 N. LaSalle St. building, said Managing Partner David Flom. That second floor will be all private dining.
* WaPo | The military draft ended 50 years ago, dividing a generation: The announcement, 50 years ago Friday, brought immediate relief to American men ages 19 to 25, who were eligible to be drafted during the war. It also created an arbitrary but lasting divide between the nearly 2 million men who had been drafted and those who would avoid conscription by celebrating their 19th birthdays after January 1973.
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* The former state Representative has been with the administration from the beginning. Back in a minute with an update.
…Adding… Rough transcript of the governor’s remarks…
The progress that we’re here to celebrate today is progress that’s being replicated all around the state in East St. Louis, in Springfield, and Peoria, in Chicago, in Waukegan and elsewhere, Rebuild Illinois has rebuilt nearly 5000 miles of road and hundreds of bridges, cleared congestion and made communities safer and commutes safer, all while creating thousands of jobs and opening doors for a more diverse array of Illinoisans to build skills in this field through programs like Illinois works it’s the largest infrastructure investment in state history. And so much of it is still to come.
For a public servant, that alone could be the policy achievement of a lifetime. It would not have been possible without the leadership of a person that I have leaned on and relied upon, since day one of my administration, whose work on a bipartisan basis leaves a legacy that we all should admire.
Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell was my administration’s lead negotiator for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. He dedicated every day and night for months on end to making sure that Illinois took nation-leading climate action with equity and workforce development at its heart. And when we announced this accomplishment, he asked me not to praise him. But instead, each and every one of his team members who slogged through pages of text, crunched every number and pursued every innovation possible to get it done. He wanted to ensure that their dedicated service behind the scenes got the credit that it deserved.
That spirit, that spirit of teamwork, of camaraderie of a fierce pursuit of progress, and justice and safety is evident in every policy initiative that he’s been a part of. From providing prompt relief for Illinoisans impacted by tornadoes and floods to ensuring that Illinois was a leader in gun safety. It’s evident even when the task at hand is unlike any ever seen before in government, like finding PPE anywhere in the world during the shortages in the spring of 2020, so that we could keep Illinois and safe from the virus. And of course, in negotiating and implementing our Rebuild Illinois capital plan, which we’re all here talking about, and Illinois Works as a fundamental part of it.
At every turn, Christian Mitchell has delivered. In my first inaugural address, I read a Franciscan prayer shared by Sister Barbara Centner of Mercy Hospital at a vigil for people who had passed away as a result of a terrible attack that occurred there. And I have pledged that my administration would do everything in our power to make a positive difference that would lift up the people of our state. Over the last five years, Christian Mitchell has proven himself a fierce believer in that creed over and over again. Integrity, loyalty, and passion have been the hallmarks of his time in state government. Of course, the greatest hallmark of public service is that if you do the job, right, we can provide support and relief and upward trajectory for the families and people that we serve that far outlasts our tenure in office.
In March, Christian will step down from his role as deputy governor and we will miss him immensely. Christian, thank you. Thank you for your dedication, for your hard work. You’ve been a tremendous friend and ally and have been committed to really doing the best that you could for the people of Illinois at every turn. I thank you for the leadership that you’ve shown. Illinois is stronger because of you.
…Adding… Press release excerpt…
Deputy Governor Mitchell played a pivotal role in negotiating landmark legislation during Governor Pritzker’s first term. He led efforts to pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021. Mitchell also oversaw the development and implementation of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, a $45 billion plan that reimagines and revamps Illinois infrastructure, mass transit, public universities, and more. Mitchell was also point person for Governor Pritzker on the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act of 2019, advocating for policies that addressed historic criminal justice inequity and disinvestment through the legalization of cannabis. Mitchell was also lead strategist for the Governor’s office on the assault weapons ban, criminal justice reform, and vote-by-mail expansion, and led the state’s procurement of a personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile during the COVID-19 pandemic. He oversaw a broad swath of state agencies during his tenure, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections, State Police, Emergency Management, National Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Capital Development Board, and Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office.
Mitchell has held consulting and advising roles throughout Chicago, Illinois, and national Democratic campaigns and offices. A Chicago native, he holds a Bachelor’s in public policy from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago.
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The trick bag is real
Friday, Jan 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Fox 32…
A downstate Republican is joining area sheriffs in pushing back against Illinois’ new assault weapons ban.
Sheriffs in Crawford, Jasper and Lawrence counties are among many law enforcement agencies that have refused to enforce the new law, claiming it is unconstitutional.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg said the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is an attack on Second Amendment rights and an attempt to avoid the larger issue: lack of mental health support in Illinois.
“You’re talking about gun violence, and the solution is we are going to strip these folks in this room of their Second Amendment rights. We have some of the most stringent gun control laws in the nation but still, crime is out of control in the city of Chicago as I alluded to earlier, so if the Democrats want to come to me and talk about mental health, completely open to that,” said Niemerg.
* Gov. Pritzker addressed this during his CBS News interview earlier this week…
We also by the way, have invested in mental health and substance abuse treatment significantly during my term in office. I’ve been in office for four years and I’m proud of that fact. And there is a great deal of investment that we’ve made over the last two years, made in crime prevention that is in in violence prevention on the streets, lots of programs to put kids to work, during the summers and so on. So we’re doing quite a lot what makes me think that we’re going to have a diminution of crime in our state because we’re doing all of those things. You can’t just do one, you know, assault weapons ban, all by itself. It doesn’t have the desired effect of truly reducing gun violence by a significant amount. It’s important, it’s one component, but you’ve got to do all these things.
Now, Republicans talk an awful lot about mental health and say what we really need to do is not pass assault weapons bans, but really we need mental health treatment. But they voted against it every time in our state, and we’ve made significant strides in mental health treatment. So you know, they’re hypocrites.
* But Rep. Niemerg did make a decent point at that press conference…
So, if the Democrats want to come to me and say, ‘Let’s talk about mental health,’ let’s run a standalone bill. Let’s actually approach this as we rightfully should. I am completely open to that. But all too often, you might get a little bit of funding, some crumbs for funding that fall in some huge budget bill, that we don’t know what’s in it. I sit on Appropriations, General Services. I see the budget at 11:55 on an evening and it just dropped at 11:50.
* To that larger point, Capitol News Illinois has a story about the omnibus health care bill that passed the House on the final day of the lame duck session…
A law recently signed by Gov. JB Pritzker will extend the deadline for the state to transfer criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial from jail to a mental hospital.
That same bill, House Bill 240, also gives nursing homes in Illinois two more years to comply with minimum staffing levels implemented in 2022 before getting fined by the Department of Public Health. […]
And even though parts of the bill received criticism, many lawmakers who opposed those elements said they felt compelled to vote for it anyway because other parts of the bill were too important. Those necessary provisions included enabling certain rural hospitals to draw upon more federal funds, distributing federal disaster aid to ambulance services impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and extending the deadline for a shuttered hospital in Chicago’s west suburbs to reopen under new ownership.
“I think that there are some important changes in this bill, and I certainly disagree with the process of putting things together where some I really support and some I don’t,” said then-Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, during a committee hearing on the bill.
Bourne ended up voting against the bill, but quite a quite a few Republicans set aside the opposition from the county sheriffs and voted for it. The bill passed 85-24. Rep. Niemerg, unsurprisingly, also voted “No.”
In the old, old days, omnibus bills were fairly rare and appropriations bills were numerous. Agencies often had their own approp bills. But so many inter- and intra-chamber games can be played with appropriations bills that the practice ended. It also makes for an easy gotcha opportunity by the majority party: “Yeah, they talk a good game, but they won’t vote for the spending bills.”
Your thoughts?
…Adding… Good counterpoint in comments…
Perhaps Mr. Niemerg should come to the Democrats and talk to them about mental health. Perhaps his party should proffer a bill addressing mental health solutions to crime. While he is at it, he could also coordinate a Republican plan for addressing the social causes of many mental health issues, like poverty, underfunded rural schools, inadequate labor market opportunities.
Perhaps instead of waiting for the Democrats to address mental health, the Republicans should take up that issue. It is not as if the Democrats would avoid that discussion.
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Live coverage
Friday, Jan 27, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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