Joint Statement from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and State Representative Tony McCombie, Rep. McCombie will not seek the position of caucus leader:
“The House Republican caucus will remain united in fighting for critical reforms to bring our state fiscal stability and rid it of the corruption it has been under for decades of Democrat control. We share the same goals and will work together as a caucus to help the people of Illinois.”
* Enjoy your day off, but please take some time to remember our veterans on their day. The late Bill Withers will play us out…
…Adding… Press release…
Gibson Gives–the charitable arm of Gibson guitars, the iconic American instrument brand–and Guitars For Vets today announce the inaugural ROCK TO REMEMBER, a virtual concert featuring all original content on Wednesday, November 11, Veteran’s Day.
ROCK TO REMEMBER will be hosted by Jared James Nichols and feature performances from 20 plus artists across the U.S. These artists join Gibson Gives and Guitars4Vets to raise funds to provide music programs for returning U.S. military veterans afflicted with PTSD. ROCK TO REMEMBER will livestream in its entirety on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:30pm CT simultaneously on Gibson Facebook and LiveXLive, a global music and entertainment platform. Fans can donate directly to the Guitars4Vets music program or text “G4V” 707070 to donate.
ROCK TO REMEMBER, will feature original performances and content from a diverse group of artists including Don Felder, Big & Rich, Joe Bonamassa, Phil X and The Drills, Travis Denning, Lee Roy Parnell, Orianthi, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger (Halestorm), Meghan Patrick, Frank Hannon (Tesla) with JT Loux Band, Jimmy Vivino and Friends, Meghan Linsey and Tyler Cain, Honey County, Bones Owens, Nick Perri and The Underground Thieves, Laine Hardy and many more. Additionally, a handful of U.S. veteran graduates of the Guitars For Vets programs will be featured performing their original songs.
Guitars For Vets (G4V) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that directly supports veterans struggling with the challenges of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) by providing them with free guitars of their own and guitar lessons in both a one-on-one, and a group setting. Thousands of U.S. veterans are afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggling with physical injuries. In fact, more soldiers have committed suicide since the Vietnam War than have died in actual battle. Many are now finding hope in an unlikely place: behind the wood and strings of a guitar. The healing power of music helps soldiers cope and Guitars For Vets provides veterans with the guitars and a forum to learn how to play to relieve stress. Guitars For Vets pursues its mission to share the healing power of music by providing free guitar instruction, a new acoustic guitar and a guitar accessory kit in a structured program run by volunteers, primarily through the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and community-based medical centers. Guitars For Vets’ mission is to help those who served our country rediscover their joy through the power of music.
Gibson Gives, the 501(c)3 charitable arm of Gibson guitars–believes in the power of music, and that getting instruments into the hands of those with a desire to make music is a truly life-changing event. Headquartered in the heart of downtown Nashville, the iconic, American-made instrument brand Gibson, has been creating, inspiring, and contributing to the ‘share of sound’ for 126 years. After more than a century, Gibson artists, players and fans continue to experience the #1 guitar brand rejuvenated. Gibson is played by the best and brightest artists, across generations and genres and has emerged as the most relevant, most played, and most loved guitar brand around the world.
Thank you for providing staff with your input concerning the upcoming session schedule. There is a strong majority of members who would prefer the House delay convening to a later date; this is primarily motivated by concerns about the rising COVID-19 rates and proximity to upcoming holidays. I’m advised that there are similar concerns among Senate members, who were also surveyed over the weekend.
Therefore, House and Senate leadership will be announcing the cancellation of the veto session (currently scheduled for November 17-19 and December 1-3). We will continue to monitor the evolving conditions relative to the pandemic and keep members apprised of future session dates. As a reminder, the end of the term for the 101st General Assembly is January 13, 2021, on which date the 102nd General Assembly will be inaugurated.
Take care and stay safe,
Jessica
Jessica Basham, Chief of Staff
Office of the Speaker
Illinois House of Representatives
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Official press release…
A renewed surge in COVID-19 infections forced the postponement of the upcoming General Assembly veto session at the Capitol, legislative leaders announced Tuesday.
“The front page in today’s Springfield paper warns of a COVID ‘tsunami’ sweeping the region and its health care system. This is not the time to physically bring together hundreds of people from all around the state. Given what’s happening, it was an obvious decision. It’s not safe or responsible to have a legislative session under these circumstances,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.
The Springfield area’s rolling average positivity rate for confirmed COVID infections had skyrocketed to 14.4 percent in recent days, prompting concerns about hospital capacity in the capital city, which is the medical provider for the downstate region.
The veto session was scheduled for Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3 to bracket the Thanksgiving holiday.
“The health and safety of the people who work for and serve in the Illinois General Assembly, and their respective families, is paramount. We will continue to monitor the situation, consult medical experts and do intend to schedule additional session days so we can finish our important work,” said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The current 101st General Assembly wraps up business in January when the members of the 102nd General Assembly will be sworn in and the legislative process starts anew. The 102nd General Assembly begins Jan. 13, 2021.
The brief fall session of the General Assembly is known as the “veto session” and is when lawmakers traditionally resolve conflicts with the governor. However, there are no vetoes to address this year. Instead, the legislative agenda is dominated by a comprehensive effort to address systematic racism and social justice.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, leads that effort. She said legislation will be ready when it is safe to return.
“We are still in the midst of a pandemic, and COVID-19 cases are surging across the state, making the risk too high for the General Assembly to gather at this time,” said Lightford. “While we will not be able to pass legislation as soon as we hoped, the urgency to bring an end to systemic racism remains. The moment to put forth this critical agenda is now, and I know President Harmon and Speaker Madigan share our concerns and our commitment to making a difference.”
Q: We just received a tip from two lawmakers saying there might not be a veto session. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there should be one despite a second wave of COVID?
A: Well that would be disappointing. We have so much work to do in Springfield. There’s no doubt. I know why people are concerned about gathering. I am discouraging gathering across the state. But I must say I would be disappointed. There are so we just have so many things we need to accomplish. With regard to the budget in particular, we have major eforts underway that will require the Legislature’s engagement, indeed I’m already working with members of the Legislature. I do not know whether they’re going to not have a session, but again, it would be disappointing.
Two Springfield legislators are, indeed, saying that the House has canceled its reservation with the BOS Center. I called the convention center earlier today and was told that while the House had asked to hold the dates, they hadn’t yet heard anything today either way. The rumor mill is strong, however, that session will be canceled and they’ll return in January for an extended lame duck session. Veto session is scheduled to begin a week from today.
We’ve talked about this before, but things have changed considerably.
* The Question: Cancel veto session or go ahead with it? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
The Illinois AFL-CIO is comprised of more than 1,500 affiliated unions representing nearly 900,000 workers in Illinois. Union members and their families can be found from Antioch to Cairo and from Danville to Quincy. They work in thousands of occupations, including electricians, laborers, teachers, first responders, health care workers, transit workers and more.
Although we are many, the bedrock principle of the labor movement is solidarity: We are stronger together.
The value of this conviction has been proven time and again throughout the years. All that we have achieved for working families—including higher wages, better benefits, expanded protections and more opportunities for all to thrive—was gained through unity. All the challenges we have overcome—Bruce Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, cuts to wages and health care, assaults on retirement security and even on our fundamental right to bargain collectively—were defeated when we stood as one.
The foes of working families have a different approach. They thrive on discord. Because they know that our power rests in remaining united, they want to divide and turn us against each other.
In this election we maintained pro-worker supermajorities in the Illinois Senate and House, elected a pro-worker President of the United States, defended the U.S. House majority and may yet win a majority in the U.S. Senate. Moreover, we helped to elect growing numbers of women and people of color at both the national and state level who will amplify the voices of those too long marginalized in the halls of power. We did all this, despite our opponents’ millions of dollars of attacks, by standing together.
These victories present a moment of opportunity, but we know the hard work that lies ahead to protect and build upon our progress. The deep pain of the coronavirus pandemic compounds and complicates the policy choices we will face.
At such a critical juncture, we cannot allow political infighting to distract from the task at hand: To build back better for the working people of Illinois and all the United States. Now is the time for unity, not division. Through all the challenges and threats that working families in Illinois have faced over the past years, Speaker Michael Madigan has been a firm ally in defense of our rights, our economic security, and the well-being of our families and our communities. That’s why the Illinois AFL-CIO strongly supports Michael Madigan’s continued leadership as Illinois House Speaker and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Q: Have you or will you encourage House Democrats to vote against Speaker Madigan for speaker? If reelected, isn’t he a major distraction to your agenda in the spring?
A: That’s a decision that members of the House will make in January. They’ll be taking a vote on speaker and that’s their business.
…Adding… Press release…
Illinois House Republican caucus members held a Zoom press conference on Tuesday to demand their Democrat counterparts in the House stand up and speak out against the continued reign of long-time House Speaker Mike Madigan. The Republicans agree with top Democrats that Speaker Madigan’s time in leadership is up.
“When people think of Illinois, they think of corruption. This culture developed over decades while Mike Madigan ruled as Speaker of the House,” said State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield). “The General Assembly simply cannot function with him as Speaker. Every decision, every vote, every committee hearing is stained with mistrust. If last Tuesday taught us anything, it is that Illinoisans have lost all trust and faith in their government. Trust in state government does not improve until we have a new Speaker of the House. Mike Madigan must go.”
State Rep. and Assistant Minority Leader Avery Bourne argued that continued silence by members of the Democrat party is a tacit endorsement of continued corruption.
“It’s time for House Democrats to show some political courage and leadership,” said State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville). “House Republicans are united against Mike Madigan as Speaker, and as of today eight House Democrats have stated publicly that they too will not support him. If five additional Democrats are willing to say enough is enough and it’s time for a change, Mike Madigan’s days as Speaker of the House are over. I’m calling on Illinoisans to contact their representatives and ask that they vote no on Mike Madigan serving as Speaker of the House. Silence in this case, is an endorsement of a continuation of the culture of corruption Mike Madigan has overseen.”
Rep. Mike Marron says his short time in Springfield has illuminated the number one problem facing the state.
“When the entire State’s legislative priorities are dependent on gaining favor from one single individual, in this case Mike Madigan, we’ve got a problem,” Marron said. “This democracy that we all love and fight for and rely on is constantly thwarted because Mike Madigan has consolidated so much power that he can single handedly decide if important legislation moves forward. He’s been in state government since before I was born! Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, and JB Pritzker have all called his leadership at the top of their party problematic. I don’t care about whether it’s a problem for Democrats politically. Mike Madigan’s continued leadership of the House of Representatives needs to end as soon as possible so a democratic process can be restored and followed.”
* Jim Nowlan said he hoped that denying Justice Kilbride’s retention would leave the Illinois Supreme Court deadlocked in partisan rancor over his replacement and then all sorts of magical things would happen.
Um, no. From the Illinois Supreme Court…
Justice Robert L. Carter of the 3rd District Appellate Court has been selected to join the Illinois Supreme Court next month, pending the Illinois State Board of Elections proclaiming the results of the November 3 election.
The appointment of Justice Carter is effective December 8, 2020, and terminates December 5, 2022, when the seat will be filled by the November 2022 General Election. The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill all judicial vacancies.
“Justice Carter’s appointment came via a unanimous 6-0 vote,” Chief Justice Anne M. Burke said.
Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, whose vacancy Carter is scheduled to fill, did not participate in the vote.
“I am humbled by the confidence and trust the Court has placed in me as it is the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court,” Justice Carter said. “It is a place where I first started my career as a law clerk to Justice Howard Ryan and it is where I will retire after this two-year appointment as I won’t seek to run for this seat in 2022.”
Justice Carter, 74, of Ottawa, has been a judge since 1979 and was assigned to the 3rd District Appellate Court on September 1, 2006. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1988 and became Chief Judge in 1993. In December 2002, Justice Carter was elected Chair of the Conference of Chief Judges and re-elected in 2003 and 2005. He holds A.B. (1968) and J.D. (1974) degrees from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a Master of Arts (1974) in Administration from Sangamon State University. He completed a one-week course in mediation at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, in the summer of 2001.
In 1969-70, Justice Carter served in the United States Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. He was a law clerk to Justice Howard C. Ryan of the Illinois Supreme Court in 1974-1975 and engaged in the general private practice of law from 1975-1979.
Since 1980, Justice Carter has been a frequent lecturer at judicial education programs for Illinois judges on such topic areas as jury trials, evidence, contempt, and domestic relations. In 2005, he taught and chaired a seminar on Judicial Administration and Management. In 1998, Justice
Justice Carter is hugely respected in judicial circles. And a spokesman for the Supreme Court says he was first elected as a Democrat.
*** UPDATE *** From the ILGOP’s Joe Hackler…
We look forward to an independent and reform-minded Republican winning the open contest in 2022 for the 3rd Judicial District against whatever Madigan-Kilbride pawn Democrats select to run for the seat.
Twelve Springfield Fire Department personnel, including Chief Allen Reyne, have tested positive for COVID-19.
Thirty-seven Springfield firefighters in all are currently quarantined because of the virus.
Reyne has been Mayor Jim Langfelder’s point person for the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Meanwhile…
The University of Illinois Springfield is suspending all campus activities through at least Wednesday after 15 people on the campus tested positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/zeWe582fST
* I have tried very, very hard over the years to stay as far away from covering local Springfield politics as I possibly can. It was a lesson I learned from reading trial lawyer Gerry Spence’s autobiography. When he bought his ranch, he refused to get involved in any local lawsuits. It seemed like a pretty darned smart idea.
But the locals are now making my vow more and more difficult every day, especially since the city’s response to the virus is weighing heavily on legislators’ minds as they’re asked to decide whether to return to Springfield for veto session. The bet is they’re not coming back, but we’ll know more soon.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked by Dave Dahl yesterday what he thought about Springfield’s mayor wanting to loosen restaurant restrictions while the county sheriff won’t enforce the judge’s order as the city’s COVID-19 point person has come down with the disease. His response…
I’ve been saying for some time now that we really need local officials to take this more seriously, to take some responsibility on their own shoulders. The idea that you’re not going to enforce the mitigations, and then the idea that when it does get enforced with a citation, let’s say, that the state’s attorneys not gonna follow through on that…
I know that locally they think that’s immediately good politics, but it’s good politics for a very small, very loud minority. The vast majority of people want us to take strong action with regard to mitigations and that takes responsibility at all levels of government.
* One of the things I was most concerned about back in March was that the coronavirus could potentially cripple essential services like power generating stations, water and other utility plants as well as first responders. If we as a people do not start taking this resurgence more seriously, we are in for a world of hurt…
Thirty-seven Springfield firefighters are currently quarantined due to COVID-19 and from this number, 12 firefighters have tested positive. Among those who have tested positive is Springfield Fire Chief Allen Reyne.
The majority of firefighters came in to contact with an individual who was asymptomatic at an outside gathering, not on work time. The individual was not a Springfield firefighter. Since receiving test results, any employee who was in direct contact with patient zero or any firefighter who has tested positive, have been sent to have a COVID-19 test and asked to follow the guidance provided by the testing facility including quarantining.
The outbreak has had no impact on their operations other than an increase in overtime. There is a total of 214 sworn Springfield firefighters with the department.
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said today that he will defy the governor’s order and allow his city’s restaurants and bars to stay open with 25 percent indoor capacity. State mitigations forbid indoor dining and drinking because the IDPH region has surpassed an 8 percent positivity rate.
This same 25 percent strategy failed miserably in the Metro East when it was tried earlier this year, by the way. The mayor and county board chairman said they’ll be trying this policy out for a couple of weeks and then will reassess. It the county’s positivity rate is above 12 percent at that time, then the city and Sangamon County will drop its “phased approach.” Sangamon County’s average positivity rate is currently 9.8 percent.
In less than a week, the county’s seven-day positivity rate has jumped from 9.8 percent to 13.4 percent.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker today is expected to announce tighter restrictions on DuPage, Kane, Will and Kankakee counties because of escalating coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, a source confirmed this morning.
That will mean outdoor dining will be limited to six people per table instead of 10, and maximum allowable gatherings will be limited to 10 people instead of 25 in those areas.
In Region 8, which covers DuPage and Kane counties, positivity rates have been climbing for 10 straight days, and COVID-related hospitalizations have risen for eight straight days, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.
The rolling positivity rate over seven days is now at 13.3% in those collar counties, the state is reporting.
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are announcing additional COVID-19 mitigation efforts that will be implemented in Region 5 (Southern Illinois), Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties), and Region 8 (Kane and DuPage counties), beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. These regions are seeing a test positivity rate that remains above 8 percent and continues to rise after more than 14-days under Tier 1 mitigations, which exceeds the threshold set for establishing additional mitigation measures under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan.
Region 5 has been under Tier 1 of the state’s resurgence mitigation plan since October 22 and Regions 7 and 8 since October 23, after seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days. However, the positivity rate has continued to significantly increase in these regions. Beginning November 11, Regions 5, 7, and 8 will face additional mitigations, such as a tighter gathering cap of 10 individuals rather than 25 and new table caps of six rather than 10 when eating out.
“The situation has worsened considerably in certain areas of the state, with massive increases in the rates of community transmission specifically in three regions. As a result, Regions 5, 7 and 8 – that’s Southern Illinois, and Chicago’s South and Western Suburbs – will join Region 1, Northwestern Illinois, in Tier 2 of our resurgence mitigations starting Wednesday,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Mitigations are only effective if they are followed. The end goal of mitigating the damage the virus is doing to people’s lives is this: keep as much of our economy and our schools as open as possible in a safe manner, and when risk rates in the community surge up, take meaningful action to bring things back down in order to protect ourselves and the people we love.”
“We continue to see COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths increase,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Science tells us that when you are in close contact with someone, there is an increased risk for virus transmission. We must reduce the opportunities for the virus to spread. Only when the virus can no longer sustainably spread can we end this pandemic. It will take all of us working together, so please, be part of the solution and not the problem and help us reduce the risk of spread.”
For Regions 5, 7, and 8, additional mitigation measures taking effect November 11 include the following:
Bars and Restaurants
Reduce party size from 10 to six individuals
Meetings, Social Events and Gatherings
Maximum indoor/outdoor gathering size of 10 individuals
Applicable to professional, cultural and social group gatherings
This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general business guidance, such as office, retail, etc.
Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning
Not applicable to sports, see sports guidance
Organized Group Recreational Activities
Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity both indoors and outdoors
Groups limited to 10 individuals or fewer
Does not apply to fitness centers
While votes are still being tallied, let’s be clear, whomever is elected or re-elected president does not absolve any one of us from taking personal responsibility to curb the transmission of COVID-19.
Again, regardless of the occupants of 600 Pennsylvania Ave., our role is unchanged. So please, let’s do our part. And let’s encourage one another to do the right thing. […]
I’d also like to encourage people who participated in recent campaign rallies, worked in polling places, stood in line to vote where maybe they couldn’t maintain the 6-foot of distance, anyone who participated in a recent protest or any other recent events, please get tested. Wait approximately one week after the high-risk exposure because it takes several days after exposure for a test to be positive if in fact you’ve contracted the virus. But if at that 7-day mark the test is negative, remember that it can take up to 14 days to have a positive test. […]
So, if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, please get tested and quarantine so that you don’t spread the virus to others. The virus is spreading rapidly. We are fully into the second wave or second surge and the cases are increasing exponentially.
The Governor’s Office was notified this afternoon of a recent exposure to COVID-19 and as result of that possible exposure is currently conducting contact tracing and following all necessary health protocols from IDPH. The exposure was the result of an external meeting with the Governor that took place on Monday in a large conference room in the Governor’s Office. The Governor was tested today and his results will be made public when available. The Governor is currently isolating pending his test results.
Governor Pritzker and staff who attended the meeting Monday where they were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 have tested negative. The PCR tests were conducted Friday afternoon. This is the second negative test result for the Governor and staff after they underwent their weekly test on Wednesday.
Per the CDC, the Governor and staff who attended the meeting, are not considered close contacts because they met with the individual prior to 48 hours before symptom onset. Following CDC guidance, the Governor and staff will not be required to quarantine for 14 days
Close contact is defined by CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
It’s a close contact if you were in contact with someone 48 hours prior to symptoms. Gov met with this person outside that window. So he only had to isolate pending a negative test. And he had two negative tests. We asked Ezike what we needed to do and she told us. You know we always listen to her
* So, the governor was following the fine print of CDC guidelines. But that’s a lot of nuance and people don’t do nuance. So it looked to many like he was flouting the rules on Saturday, particularly his adversaries who probably did not like what he was celebrating…
We hope the small businesses he has put out of business and the high school seniors whose sports seasons have been ruined see this.
But at a time when the virus is spreading at a very dangerous rate and when the governor refuses to completely rule out another stay at home order, he should probably be setting an example by staying out of sight. And now that he’s been out and about, he ought to consider taking Dr. Ezike’s advice about what to do next.
I’ve actually been stricter in cases, just to be overly cautious, I’ve probably put him on quarantine when we probably didn’t have to.
Just to be abundantly cautious in this case, there was an exposure on Monday. The person develops symptoms on Thursday, and got tested, found out, on Friday. So, per CDC guidelines if someone is identified, you go back two days from when symptoms began. And so, from Thursday when the symptoms began if you go back Wednesday and Tuesday. Anyone that that person was around on Tuesday and Wednesday, if they had more than 15 minutes of contact within six feet. Those people would be the identified contacts. The meeting on Monday was outside of that period.
