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*** UPDATED x2 *** Pritzker sidesteps tax hike question, says he’s still waiting on legislative leaders to suggest cuts

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. From the governor’s press conference yesterday…

Q: Speaker Madigan was quoted over the weekend saying something about helping you get an income tax increase in light of the failure of the graduated tax proposal. What is he talking about?

A: Well, what I can say is that I’m focused on the cuts that need to be made in state government, making sure that we’re paring back as best we can, making efficiencies in state government, looking to Republican and Democratic leaders as I already have and asking them for their best ideas about what it is that we need to cut in state government. So that’s what I’ve been focused on. And I will say that I have not yet heard back from the leaders about what their best proposals are for what cuts need to be made. And so I’m awaiting their responses.

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE 1 *** Letter from Leader Durkin to Gov. Pritzker…

After the rejection of the progressive tax amendment by voters, the four legislative leaders and yourself spoke on November 12th to discuss the myriad of issues relating to the unbalanced budget passed by the General Assembly in May that you eventually signed into law.

For much of that call, you and I discussed options for reductions in spending. To further our discussion, I asked for a list of spending reductions your agencies proposed in response to your September 2019 order to reduce spending by 6.5 percent. As of today, I have not received that document, and I am now asking again for the list of spending reductions by agency.

Even though Veto Session was canceled against our wishes, I hope you will once again call us together to discuss your proposals for balancing the state’s budget as January fast approaches. Speaker Madigan has stated he will work with you on another tax increase, but I hope that you will respect the will of the voters and instead look to live within our means.

Background to info in that letter is here.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Senate President Don Harmon’s spokesman John Patterson…

Republicans made it clear deep budget cuts were a better alternative to a Fair Tax. The voters have spoken. We now look forward to our colleagues across the aisle offering up the Republican cuts for public review.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Chicago FOP to licensing proponents: “Bring it on”

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Craig Wall…

“I think in the wake of what we’ve seen in the murder of George Floyd and the concerns in the city that relates to the consent decree, people want to make sure there’s police accountability, so our top priority is working with the attorney general on police licensing,” [Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx] said.

The head of FOP Lodge 7 said with murders skyrocketing this year, Foxx should focus her attention there. He called the licensing effort retaliation for the union’s support of her opponent Pat O’Brien.

“Since she wants to pick that fight, along with some other people in this state, and she wants to join that chorus, bring it on,” said FOP President John Catanzara, Jr. “You know, we’ve been very clear that licensing is not acceptable in any way, shape or form.”

The FOP claims there has been more accountability, but vowed to work against any lawmaker that supports policing licensing.

“They want blood. They don’t want fairness. They want blood and they’re not going to get it,” Catanzara vowed.

The state’s attorney can only act on murderers after the cops catch them. Just sayin…

*** UPDATE *** With a big hat tip to a commenter…

A federal judge told Chicago’s main police union on Monday that it needs to ensure its member officers are wearing face masks and maintaining safe social distances while on the job, in keeping with public health guidelines around COVID-19.

The pointed reminder from U.S. District Court Judge Robert Dow Jr., who is overseeing sweeping mandated department reforms, came after the Fraternal Order of Police filed a motion alleging the city was violating its own health guidelines. Officers have been put at risk when the Chicago Police Department conducted training sessions that included up to 50 people, the union alleged. […]

“(T)he Court reiterates the importance of the moving party continuing to monitor and insist upon compliance with the guidelines by its own membership, which is a concern given the number of photographs and videos that the Court and the Independent Monitor (overseeing the reforms) have seen during the pandemic showing CPD patrol officers out of compliance with masking and social distancing requirements,” Dow wrote. […]

“Litigants who invoke equity ‘must come with clean hands,’” the judge wrote, referencing language from a noted case, “and during this pandemic, with masked faces as well.”

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*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

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*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Monday, Dec 7, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Madigan touts his “strong leadership” to Black Caucus, says will work to pass tax hike if Pritzker wants it

Saturday, Dec 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Comments are now open.]

* Rachel Hinton…

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Saturday he’s prepared to vote for an increase in the state’s income tax rate and said he’s working with “building blocks” to get to 60 votes in his fight to secure another term in the leadership post he’s held for nearly four decades.

“My pledge to the caucus, on state finances and also on redistricting, is to provide the same type of strong leadership that I provided to our caucus when we were fighting against Gov. [Bruce] Rauner,” Madigan said while making his case before the House Black Caucus to remain speaker. […]

A showing of that strong leadership may come if Gov. J.B. Pritzker asks the legislature to raise the state’s flat income-tax rate, which Madigan said is “very possible,” according to a recording of the closed candidate forum reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times.

“I’m prepared to vote for that, presuming it’s the governor’s request,” Madigan said.

He acknowledged that could be a “very difficult issue for the caucus” as it tries to maintain services — and insisted a strong leader is needed to persuade others to vote for an increase.

There’s lots more, so go read the whole thing.

* Meanwhile, on the Republican side…

IL GOP Chair Tim Schneider stepping down:
“after 6+ years, and a very successful cycle, and with the ILGOP positioned well, I believe it’s a good time for me to transition out(average length of State Chairmanship in US in less than 2 years)”

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) December 5, 2020

…Adding… ILGOP press release excerpt…

Chairman Schneider has selected the following State Central Committee members to serve on a committee that will recommend a process and timeline for choosing a successor Chairman at the party’s next meeting on January 9, 2021.

Mike Bigger - 18th Congressional District (Chairman)
Char Foss-Eggemann - 9th Congressional District
Fred Floreth - 13th Congressional District
Judy Diekelman - 2nd Congressional District

Schneider will serve as Chairman until the full State Central Committee chooses a successor Chairman.

*** UPDATE *** No endorsement…

Statement from Rep. Camille Lilly Regarding the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus House Forum Today

“Today the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus House met with the two candidates who expressed interest in presenting to the Caucus. Both Speaker Mike Madigan and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit addressed the caucus on how they would work with members and the collective body as whole to address the challenges facing our State. The discussion provided an opportunity for the caucus to ask questions expounding on the candidates vision, goals and experiences. This is the first time in decades that a process of this nature has been formed to engage the candidates seeking to become Speaker. The steps in our process are about democracy and fairness. We will continue to dialogue amongst ourselves and other members of the House as we approach the upcoming session. We are committed to working through this process in an open and transparent manner.”

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Former Sen. Martin Sandoval has died

Saturday, Dec 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Comments are now open.]

* Sources close to the former legislator said he had a very bad case of COVID-19 and had been hospitalized.

His attorney Dylan Smith at Freeborn & Peters spoke with me today about his former client…

I was very proud to have represented Marty Sandoval. He was someone who had considerable talents and had accomplished a lot of good in his life. He obviously had made mistakes and strayed from his own standards and from the time I spent with Marty, what I saw was that he was sincerely remorseful for the mistakes he had made.

He was going through a process of genuinely trying to make amends for those mistakes through his cooperation with the government. And in his own way trying to contribute to the US Attorney’s efforts to clean things up in Springfield. I hope that the larger public and his former colleagues will remember him not only for his mistake but for the larger good that he did in his life. I will remember him as someone with a big heart who had a very deep love for his family. I would ask that everyone keep his family in his thoughts and prayers right now and give them the space to mourn with the degree of privacy that they deserve.

* The US Attorneys office recently praised Sandoval for his cooperation…

From the feds this morning on former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who pleaded guilty early this year. He "has provided valuable cooperation that is expected to last at least several more months." pic.twitter.com/DUobzAoX0w

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) November 24, 2020

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