* Dean Olsen at the State Journal-Register about bickering between the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the foundation which shares a name and which is now persona non grata…
[Melissa Coultas, ALPLM acting executive director] said the [Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation] has a “parasitic” relationship with the ALPLM, adding that the ALPLM has “faced delay or outright rejection from the foundation when we’ve requested simple information on fundraising efforts and basic finances that purport to support the ALPLM. … I have never experienced anything close to this level of stonewalling and hostility.”
When comparing the foundation’s reported income to what ALPLM receives, Coultas said, “the amount is just over 7 cents on every dollar — a mere 7%.
“We concede some foundation spending, such as payment on its Taper Collection debt, indirectly benefits the ALPLM. But the details on that are hazy — and other spending is a complete mystery to us,” Coultas said.
On the other side, foundation CEO Mast said the ALPLM has issued “misleading narratives that aren’t supported by the facts.” She said the foundation has raised $42 million to benefit the ALPLM since the site’s inception, with half going toward paying for the Taper Collection.
And in the past year, about 70 cents out of every dollar raised or earned by the foundation — not 7 cents — was “put toward ALPLM expenses,” Mast said. She added that the foundation has “robust practices” to promote financial accountability as a nonprofit and posts financial documents that it files with the IRS on its website.
OK, I looked at the most recent 990 form and saw that the foundation raised $2.680 million between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
Of that, the foundation spent $823K on salaries and benefits, $407K on interest payments, $90K on office expenses, $65K on lobbying expenses and $61K for “other” expenses, among other things.
In support of the library, the foundation lists $502.5K in direct support, $240.5K for grant expenses, $217K for special events and $25.6K for investment expenses and $24K for investment expenses.
So, that’s neither 70 percent nor 7 percent.
* I reached out to ALPLM spokesperson Chris Wills…
When we talk about seven cents on the dollar, we are examining the Foundation’s claim that it provides about $2 million a year to the ALPLM. Most people hearing that would assume it means giving the ALPLM $2 million to spend on our needs — exhibits, equipment, marketing, etc. That may be the amount that flows through the Foundation’s accounts, but it is wrong to think they give us that amount to spend. In fact, if you look at their wording, the Foundation says the money merely “supported expenses for ALPLM.”
In the attached document, look at the section labeled “Foundation Average Expenditures by Function FY18-20.” That is our best estimate of how the Foundation spends its money.
First, 40 percent of that money goes to the Foundation’s own payroll. Another big chunk, about 19%, goes to interest on the Foundation’s debts. About 12 percent is grant money that comes from other institutions (and ALPLM staff, not the Foundation, are often the ones writing the grant requests and other administrative work). Another 12 percent goes to “special events” which we presume are costs associated with the Foundation’s fundraising events. The Foundation will not explain to us how that money is raised or where it goes. There are other spending categories we don’t fully understand. The amount we can verify that they actually raise and then make available to the ALPLM is about 7.5 percent of their claim.
So of the $2 million they claim, only about 7 cents of every dollar is actually the cash support most people would envision when talking about the Foundation assisting the ALPLM. As we said in the hearing, we think the ALPLM does benefit from some of the other Foundation spending. If they had met with us or even answered our written questions, we might have a clearer idea of the total impact.
I should also note that we put together the attached document because we kept getting questions from our board and from the administration about how the Foundation did or didn’t assist the ALPLM. We could not provide concrete answers from the Foundation, so we did our best to come up with an overview on our own. The Foundation says its financial picture is discussed at meetings that include ALPLM representatives. What they don’t mention is that the ALPLM representatives are NOT given copies of the financial reports their board discusses.
The attachment is here.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker today announced Gary Johnson will be the new Chair of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board (ALPLM). Johnson was appointed to the ALPLM Board of Directors in September 2019 after serving as President of the Chicago History Museum for 15 years. He previously spent 28 years as a lawyer and partner in international law at Mayer Brown and Jones Day.
“The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a treasured institution that pays homage to not only the country’s first president from Illinois but also our great state’s incredible history,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I am pleased to announce Gary Johnson will serve as Chair of the Museum’s Board, bringing years of prior, award-winning service with him. I am confident he will excel in the role and work to ensure the ALPLM remains a top destination for Illinoisans and visitors alike.”
Under Johnson’s leadership, the Chicago History Museum received the National Medal from the Institute for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest award for museums and libraries. He also served for 10 years as President of Museums in the Park. Additionally, he worked as Vice Chair on the Special Commission on the Administration of Justice in Cook County.
“It is an honor to become the chair of this board. This is an important time for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum,” said Gary Johnson. “It has accomplished so much for both Springfield and the nation. At the time of its anniversary, we look ahead to making it become even more relevant in our national dialogues.”
Gary Johnson is a member of the American Law Institute and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Illinois State Bar Association Foundation, and he served as president of the Chicago Council of Lawyers. Johnson earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, his Master of Arts from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and his Bachelor of Arts from Yale College. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Lake Forest College.
Johnson’s appointment to ALPLM Board Chair is effective immediately.
Johnson replaces Ray LaHood.
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* The Illinois Constitution requires that new legislative maps be enacted by June 30th, but the census data won’t be available until September or so. The National Conference of State Legislatures has suggested using the population estimates from the US Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey and Illinois Democrats have come up with a bit of spin to cast aspersions on the official numbers…
Democrats have said they intend to finish the legislative mapmaking process by June 30, ensuring they will be relying on alternative data to the actual federal 2020 census.
“That’s our constitutional responsibility and that’s our goal to be done by June 30,” said state Sen. Elgie Sims, the Chicago Democrat who is vice chair of the senate redistricting committee. […]
Illinois’ Constitution does not require the use of federal census data for legislative redistricting, and some leading Democrats question the accuracy of the final census data by pointing to efforts by former President Donald Trump’s administration to block the counting of undocumented immigrants.
“There’s nothing that says that this (census) data is going to be accurate anyway because there were significant steps made to impact and influence some of that data,” Sims said. […]
Kathay Feng, the national redistricting director for Common Cause, said to rely on survey data to draw maps “is a guaranteed malapportionment lawsuit.”
Every redistricting cycle involves lawsuits. You can bet your house there will be filings on this topic.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Speaking of redistricting and possibly getting dragged into lawsuits, here’s Lynn Sweet…
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the most prominent Republican in Illinois, said if Democrats carve up his congressional district in the pending remap, he would consider a statewide run for senator or governor in 2022.
Kinzinger made the comment Thursday on the Chicago Sun-Times political show “At the Virtual Table. On the show another guest, new Democratic Party of Illinois chairwoman Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., said freshman Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill. — not Kinzinger — should be the Democratic target if a district needs to be eliminated.
With Democrats having the upper hand in a remap and Illinois likely to lose at least one seat because of population declines, Kelly said, “If we have something to say about it, I don’t think that it’ll be Adam’s seat.” […]
It is “fine with me” if “her seat is no longer there,” [Kelly said about Miller].
*** UPDATE 2 *** Meanwhile…
Dear Governor Pritzker:
On Monday, April 12, 2021 we requested from the Chairs of the House and Senate redistricting committees that yourself or a high-level member of your office testify at the only scheduled joint House-Senate redistricting hearing. The hearing is scheduled for this next Monday, April 19, 5:00 p.m. in East St. Louis.
At a House Redistricting Committee the evening of Friday, April 16, 2021, the Chair of the Committee that evening stated House Democrats had yet to receive a response to our request.
As the Spokesmen on the respective Senate and House redistricting committees, we ask for your attendance at this hearing.
Comments from Members of the Democratic party during hearings on the 2021 redistricting process lead us to believe that the majority fully plans to enact new maps, without using decennial census data, for both the Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives through a process that includes your approval of new maps by June 30, 2021.
To date, with over 30 hearings being conducted, not a single House or Senate hearing has included testimony from your office.
Given your numerous stated positions in favor of fair mapping, as well as a commission process for redistricting, it is vital that both the people of Illinois and our Committees hear directly from your office in a public hearing as to your views and plans for redistricting.
Sincerely,
Senator Jason Barickman
Representative Tim Butler
The full interview is here.
* Related…
* A guide to political redistricting in Illinois
* How you can share your thoughts with lawmakers on Illinois’ new congressional districts
* Hearing in East St. Louis today ahead of state’s redistricting process
* U of I hosts redistricting talk Tuesday
* Maine redistricting thrown into confusion by census delay, constitutional Catch-22
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* From comments today…
To the question the other day about if they should threaten to send vaccines to Chicago as a ploy to get people vaccinated that are hesitating to get one. I decided to conduct a little experiment on a Facebook friend that is antivax and always ranting about Chicago. I sent him a message that I heard this might happen and this morning on facebook he posted that he got his first dose because he didn’t want someone else to get it. So the tactic worked and we got one more person in region 2 with their first dose. A victory!
* Well, it’s kinda/sorta happening. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
The federal government allocates vaccine doses to states based on population. The City of Chicago is treated as its own entity separate from the state and is also allocated doses based on its population. As the state entered phases 1A, 1B, 1B+ of the vaccine roll out doses were distributed to local health departments based on population. In addition, the state allocated doses to mass vaccine sites throughout the state, 12 of which are in suburban Cook County and the collar counties. Doses were also allocated to FQHCs, safety net hospitals and rural teams. On top of these various allocations the federal government is also supplying vaccine directly to pharmacy partners that are based in all regions of the state.
Over the past several weeks as demand has started to shift in various regions of the state, local health departments have begun requesting fewer doses or skipped ordering their allocation altogether. When that occurs, IDPH reassigns those doses mass vaccine sites in areas where demand is higher, like Cook and the collar counties. Beginning this week, the local health department first dose allocations distributed to local health departments will be based on demand identified by the local health department instead of population. This shift in policy aims to address remaining inventory some local health departments have, while also directing doses to areas where demand exceeds current allocations. You will see in the attached spreadsheet that if you look at the percent of population with first doses, DuPage County is actually number one, Cook County is number five, indicating that recent redirection of doses is making an impact in those communities with higher demand.
On Tuesday, IDPH announced it is transferring 100,000 doses of vaccine to City of Chicago (50,000 first and 50,000 second doses).
All redirected doses (doses the local health department didn’t order) either get put back in the overall state pot and are distributed the next week (benefitting the larger counties) or, in the last two weeks for example, we sent Moderna vaccine not ordered by the local health departments to Cook County. Last week, that was 11,000 doses, and the previous week it was 4,800.
Just looking at the Moderna vaccine allocation, the following are the number of doses from the listed counties that redirected doses to the state for reallocation, by week.
• 3/15 – 900 returned
o (Egyptian, Logan, Pike, Stickney)
• 3/22 – 2200 returned
o (Brown, East Side, Egyptian, Hamilton, Pike Scott, Wayne)
• 3/29 – 3400 returned
o (Bureau, Cass, East Side, Egyptian, Fulton, Hamilton, Henderson, Jefferson, Logan, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Scott, Shelby, Vermilion, Wayne)
• 4/5 – 7000 returned
o (Brown, Bureau, Clay, Cumberland, East Side, Egyptian, Ford, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Henderson, Jefferson, Marion, Marshall, McHenry, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Scott, Shelby, Skokie, Southern 7, Stickney, Wayne)
• 4/12 – 22,500 returned
o (Brown, Cass, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DuPage, East Side, Edwards, Egyptian, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Jackson, Jefferson, Logan, Macon, Madison, Marion, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Morgan, Moultrie, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Richland, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Vermilion, Wabash, Wayne
* Related…
* Unused Vaccines Are Piling Up Across U.S. as Some Regions Resist
*** UPDATE *** Clarification from the governor’s office…
DuPage County did not reject their dose allocation like other counties. The county requested they get their doses next week because they are second doses and will be due next week. We apologize for the misunderstanding. DuPage County has been administering doses at a quick pace and their mass vaccination site is incredibly efficient.
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* Sen. Darren Bailey, who is running for governor, speaking on Facebook today…
I don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t think most of America understands what’s going on in our news and with our headlines and with these police shootings. Friends, it’s very simple. If you’re pulled over, if you’re asked on the street for questions good grief why wouldn’t you cooperate? There’s one thing in common with every one of these shootings and that’s that these people decided not to comply, not to cooperate with law enforcement. The men and women of law enforcement of our police force are here for one purpose, that is to serve and protect. To keep us and our communities safe. Why would you run and not stop if you’re innocent? Why would you do that? We have got to start teaching our children the importance of right and wrong. I think that’s what we’re missing today, we’re living in some interesting times and we know that. […]
People in downtown Chicago, they’re not the churches, they don’t desire this nonsense. It’s just simply that they’ve heard a singular message for a long time and they’ve heard nothing else and they don’t know any different. That seems to be the case from many of our conversations. But they want the law enforcement, they want police officers, they want to be safe in their communities. Yet we have these instances and events where one person you know takes off running from law enforcement and bad things happen. […]
Every day brings a new story in the headlines and it’s amazing. But the one thing again that I see that we have this all of this has in common is from people who are concerned that they’re not innocent, they run from the law. When you do that, we’re gonna have problems. Don’t put these people in that kind of position. God help our Governor that stands up and speaks in agreement with this stuff, that’s our problem. When you have leaders in Springfield and in Washington who stand with this stuff then that’s a fair sign that we’ve got to get engaged and we’ve got to stop this.
* Gov. JB Pritzker at the conclusion of an unrelated event today to announce $1.6 billion in federal aid to expand access to early childhood education and child care…
Today I come to this event that is really about great joy about our future and our children’s future, but I come with a heavy heart and profound grief. And I hope I speak for all Illinoisans who are aching for Adam Toledo and his family. The video of Adam’s death is devastating, just devastating. It is unbearable to think of his family, seeing these last moments of his life. And it is searing to know that a 13 year old lost his life in this way. It’s abundantly clear that our entire system failed Adam. The appropriate authorities must move quickly to investigate and adjudicate what happened that night in Little Village in the interests of justice and accountability. For all of us, we also have much work to do. And I asked all of us to commit to this work and to pray for Adams’s Family, for his friends, and for his community. And to pray that all Illinoisans can be safe, especially our young people.
…Adding… From comments…
Interesting, so Bailey thinks we should comply with the law?
Tell me more about his anti-mask anti-quarantine actions and positions?
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* February…
Will County Republicans voted overwhelmingly Thursday night to censure Rep. Adam Kinzinger for his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump.
The 111 to 5 vote (and one abstention) for censure “is meant to remind the representative who he represents: the people who elected him, not his self-interests,” said Will County Republican Chairman George Pearson, adding that Kinzinger’s decision to start a PAC that “goes against other Republicans was a betrayal.” Pearson said his next task is to find a challenger for Kinzinger’s seat.
* An April 13 letter from Will County Republican Central Committee (WCRCC) Chair George Pearson to GOP township chairs in his county…
Fellow Chairs,
The WCRCC has received two (2) notices from our landlord and the Lockport Township Organization’s former chair. I entered the office today to find both notices on my desk.
The first, more pressing, is an eviction notice for rent in the rears of $6,000.00. Due to the Central Committee not having our first quarter fundraiser, we have not met our obligations. I have sent out multiple fundraising letters and have received promises but no checks as of yet. The question becomes, do we push to keep the space or vacate our location in Crest Hill?
Between our townships, can we raise the cash between us to cover? A committee has been formed to create a fundraiser on June 18th, the “Freedom Dinner” with possible guest speakers of Texas State Party Chair Col. Allen West (Ret.) or North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson. Both I know will draw big crowds.
I, for one, appreciate having an office to conduct our business and store signs for our candidates during races. Voters have enjoyed having a place to come in and learn about the issues. We have hosted several training classes and a few township organization meetings. I am asking for your assistance in keeping our location. What say you?
The second notice is more troubling than anything. Pete Delany (former Lockport Township Republican Chair) has reversed his original donation to the Central Committee of the office furniture in lieu of their rent. Pete Delany did a verbal deal with me for the work in the space like painting, striping, and waxing the floors as well as donating the furniture in lieu of rent contribution for LTRO utilizing the space for their meetings. The former chair of Lockport Republicans is displaying his anger over his slate lost during his December caucus. That slate also had a democrat elected at their caucus who neither side bothered to check his voting record. The Lockport Republican slate on the ballot (represented by Jim Louch - Lockport Township High Commissioner) had more people show up to the Lockport caucus and passed rules that favored the “visiting” team. That pushed Pete Delany (former chair), the new chair, Bill Passiglia, and their new vice-chair, Ed Piante, to promote the Democrat slate in Lockport Township. After multiple meetings with Pete, Jim, and Jessica Cannady, an offer was made to Pete’s wife, Barb Delany, to join Jim Louch’s slate, the Delanys refused. That caused some extremely tight races in Lockport, which gave the Democrats an advantage for most of the seats. The Delany’s, Bill Passaglia, and Ed Piante all displayed Democrat signs on their lawns. Now, I get a notice from Pete stating he is giving the furniture to LTRO, when two months ago, he was trying to give it away to Joel Johnston, the guy renting space in the back of our office.
If we are moving with keeping the office, I would like to make an offer to Pete to finalize a written agreement for the furniture issue with Pete.
What say you all?
What say you?
…Adding… Welp…
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* Ali Rasper with Quincy Media…
House Republicans said Thursday morning that Democrats constantly ignore the need for reforms in Illinois.
They claim more than 600 House bills have passed out of the committees since January. Of those proposals, Republicans say 82% have Democratic sponsors while only 18% came from their caucus.
Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) recalled when Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch took office with a pledge to keep his door open and have accessibility for members from both parties. She noted that the Hillside Democrat explained all lawmakers could work together to solve the issues facing Illinois. However, she feels Welch hasn’t lived up to that promise.
“Here we are, with 45 days until session adjournment and the Democrat-controlled legislature has failed to put forth any meaningful or substantive legislation dealing with fighting corruption, providing tax relief, and unfortunately no plan put forth to adopt a balanced budget,” said Elik.
Republicans argue ethics reform and property tax rates are the largest issues facing Illinois. Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) explained it’s been months since the Com-Ed scandal implicating former Speaker Mike Madigan.
* From Speaker Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll…
Bipartisanship has been an integral part of Speaker Welch’s legislative career, and it remains a top priority. Republicans should work across the aisle and come to the table to discuss bills that will help build a better future for the people of this state. Unfortunately, many of their bills are designed to eat up precious time during a pandemic on issues that voters have already rejected at the ballot box
*** UPDATE *** From Rep. Mark Batinick in response to Welch…
“From the Speaker’s statement, it is clear that the Democrats have no interest in addressing our state’s most pressing issues if bills on ethics reform, pension reform and property tax reform are considered a ‘waste of time’ to their caucus. The only issue Illinois voters have rejected at the ballot box is the Democratic-led graduated income tax that was resoundly dismissed by voters of all parties.
* Derek Cantù at NPR Illinois…
Tensions over the legislative process boiled over on the House floor on Thursday. State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) expressed cynicism with the upcoming discussion over the consent calendar — a list of bills and resolutions that are deemed non-controversial and do not warrant lengthy debate.
“There’s quite a bit of apprehension from many of us on this side of the aisle, and I think understandably so, after a letter came out taking off of the consent agenda close to a dozen bills of House Republicans with no explanation, no insight, no discussion from our side of the aisle that we’re aware of,” Brady said.
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) responded that his side of the aisle has been focusing on Democrats’ priority legislation and “working on a balanced budget.”
“We will be continuing to have meetings on rules in the future, and we will certainly notify you when those discussions happen,” he said.
Brady spoke up after the Democrats abruptly stopped debate on what was supposed to be an agreed bill because Rep. Sonia Harper (D-Chicago) had registered a complaint. The Republican-sponsored bill, designed to bring natural gas service to the impoverished mostly Black community of Pembroke Township, was eventually put back on the floor and passed 88-14.
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Adam Toledo videos released
Thursday, Apr 15, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WGN…
A key detail raised in court about the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo may have been wrong.
During a bond hearing for 21-year-old Ruben Roman, who was with Adam the night of the shooting, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy described the altercation in a proffer: “The officer tells [Toledo] to drop it as [Toledo] turns towards the officer. [Toledo] has a gun in his right hand.”
But now, in response to a WGN Investigates inquiry, the state’s attorney’s office says the detail about Adam having a gun in his hand the moment he was shot was inaccurate.
“An attorney who works in this office failed to fully inform himself before speaking in court,” Sarah Sinovic, a spokesperson for Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, told WGN Investigates Thursday. It comes just before the Civilian Office of Police Accountability releases several videos of the incident.
* This is really hard to watch…
* Related…
* Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says video of Adam Toledo’s fatal shooting by police ‘incredibly difficult to watch,’ calls for peace as city braces for its release
* Lightfoot says Chicago ‘failed’ Adam Toledo, vows to do more to save teens like him
…Adding… In case you do not want to watch the videos, here’s a description from Block Club Chicago…
Video released Thursday shows a Chicago police officer fatally shooting 13-year-old Adam Toledo as he raised his hands in a Little Village alley on March 29. […]
Video taken from the front door of a Little Village church shows Toledo and 21-year-old Ruben Roman walking down the street before stopping at the corner of 24th Street and Sawyer Avenue, where it appears Roman fired shots at a target that is out of view. Toledo and Roman leave, video footage shows.
Body-camera footage shows an officer chasing Toledo through an alley, with the officer yelling at Toledo to stop. The officer catches up to Toledo, who appears to have stopped running near a gap in a fence between the alley and a church parking lot.
The officer flashes a strobe flashlight at Toledo and says, “Hands! Show me your f***ing hands!” The body-camera footage appears to show Toledo standing near the fence with a gun in his hand, holding it behind his back.
Immediately after commanding Toledo to show his hands, the officer shot the boy at close distance. Toledo’s hands were raised when he was shot, the footage shows. […]
Footage released by police does not show Toledo point or raise a gun at the officer at the conclusion of the chase. Toledo does not appear to be holding the gun as an officer shot him, though video does not clearly show him dropping the gun.
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* SJ-R…
After firearms owners identification card and concealed carry license applications backed up over the last year, lawmakers are trying to address the delay and make the renewal process more efficient with support from Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly.
“The ISP is requesting legislation to consolidate the FOID and CCL card into a single card,” Kelly said at a Wednesday press conference.
If passed, House Bill 745 and Senate Bill 1165 would allow FOID and concealed carry cards to be renewed at the same time to make the process faster and easier for the state police. It would also provide a way for the card to be automatically renewed.
State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said this would “modernize the FOID card.” It would also allow for the card to be digital.
The bill would also allow gun owners to voluntarily submit their fingerprints to expedite renewal. Normally, this idea draws sharp criticism from Republicans. However, state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, said the voluntary nature of this bill can help the ISP deal with the backlog without forcing people to submit fingerprints for state record.
Other Republicans also voiced support for the ISP bill.
* However, G-PAC hates the legislation…
Today Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC) Illinois released the following statement in anticipation of Senator David Koehler’s press conference on SB 2889, a gun-lobby backed bill that guts critical background check provisions included in real gun safety legislation:
“Senator Koehler’s gun lobby-backed bill guts real universal background checks in exchange for nothing,” said Kathleen Sances, President of Gun Violence Prevention PAC Illinois. “24 Democrats in the Senate are cosponsoring our bill because of their commitment to a safer Illinois, unlike the NRA and ISRA who continue to push desperate legislation like this bill that does nothing to actually close dangerous loopholes in our gun laws.”
COMPARISON: SB568/HB3245 (The Block Illegal Ownership and Fix the FOID Bill) and SB2889/HB745 (The Gun Lobby-Backed Bill)
How do these two differences change the ability of these bills to block Illegal guns from entering the criminal market?
Without background checks on all gun sales and fingerprints to verify the criminal histories of FOID applicants, illegal guns can be sold to prohibited people when:
• A gun is sold by an unlicensed dealer without a background check
• A gun is sold to a prohibited person who has obtained a FOID card with an incomplete criminal history.
Why is Universal Background Checks for All Gun Sales in Illinois Important?
• Current law requires that unlicensed gun dealers see a valid FOID card, but does require them to run the background check to verify a potential gun buyer’s mental health and criminal history.
• Requiring a background check for every gun sale is the foundation of a strong and effective gun violence prevention policy and a valuable tool to help reduce illegal firearm trafficking. For example, a 2009 study found intrastate gun trafficking was 48% lower in cities in states that regulated unlicensed handgun sales.
• Polling shows that 81% of Illinois support expanding background checks to all gun sales.
Why are Fingerprints as Part of FOID Application Important?
• Fingerprinting is the only form of background check search that verifies the identity and criminal history of FOID card applicants. This would better protect the public through rapid completion of background checks and efficient processing of FOID applications. The live scan fingerprint vendor fee is capped at $30 in HB3245/SB568.
• Fingerprints as part of FOID applications would have prevented the Aurora, IL shooting because the shooter’s criminal history was not accurately verified when he applied for and received his FOID card. He was then able to buy and keep illegal guns.
• Polling shows that 88% of Illinoisans support requiring fingerprints to acquire a firearm.
SB2889 is now SB1165.
* Director Kelly was asked yesterday for the ISP’s position on universal background checks at the above-mentioned press conference…
So, after Aurora, the position of the administration has been clear and it continues to be clear and consistent that we support universal background checks. We absolutely do that. That is the position of the administration that we support universal background checks. I think the governor has been very clear that that is the policy of this administration to support legislation that has universal background checks.
But by eliminating and reducing waste in a government system, the background check process, is not one which is mutually exclusive from improving the requirements of the background check.
* Asked about negotiations on the bill, Kelly said…
We will provide information and give feedback and provide specific statistical analysis of the statute as they are based on how they are operating within the Illinois State Police and we provide that to legislators all the time. … We don’t do negotiate. That’s what these these folks do. And I’ll leave it in their capable hands. We will talk to anybody on any issue, whatever the perspective is, as it relates to information from the police, they can make informed decisions about about whatever legislation they’re discussing.
* The ISP later emphasized in a statement that it also supports the G-PAC bill…
The lessons of the Henry Pratt shooting clearly exposed gaps in the state and federal background check system. The FOID processing system and statutes desperately need amending and we support those legislative efforts, while the administration continues to advocate and strongly support stricter, universal background check legislation contained in the BIO bill.
* Sun-Times…
The Illinois State Rifle Association denied backing Koehler’s bill, saying that they were “neutral.”
But Pearson’s group is firing blanks, said a spokesperson for the gun control PAC.
“The gun lobby speaks pretty loudly on just about every piece of gun legislation under the sun, so their silence or claims of neutrality on this bill is deafening,” the spokesperson said.
*** UPDATE *** G-PAC…
“We appreciate the Illinois State Police clarifying yesterday that this administration supports universal background checks and the BIO Bill.”
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* Sen. Rob Martwick’s bill to create an elected Chicago school board passed the Senate Executive Committee yesterday, but its fate is still uncertain in the face of a completing plan (not yet introduced) from Mayor Lori Lightfoot that will be sponsored by Majority Leader Kim Lightford. Sun-Times…
Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford voted for the bill, but said it was important to continue negotiations to “come up with the absolute best process and the best model that we can” for students and families.
“There’s so much that goes into this huge change that we will be making, for the better is my hope, but we can’t do it because we’re siding with this group versus that group,” the Maywood Democrat said.
State Sen. Rob Martwick, sponsor of the bill, said he was open to amending it, but the Northwest Side Democrat said concerns mentioned Wednesday were already considered.
“Whether it does it adequately or not, I guess we can debate about that,” he said. “I am always open to hearing how we can improve it.”
* ChalkBeat…
Sybil Madison, Chicago’s deputy mayor for education and human services, testified against the elected school board bill, citing progress that public schools have made since 1995, when the state gave the mayor control over the board.
“In 2020, CPS had a record-high graduation rate at 83%. The University of Chicago research shows that CPS’ English language learners have equivalent gains and achievement from K through eighth grade as their peers who never classified as English language learners,” Madison said.
She mentioned that any version of the board should include parents’ voices because they have often felt left out of board decisions.
After public testimony during the committee hearing, Lightford said that while she supported the idea of an elected school board, the Senate proposal for 21 members would be hard to implement. She raised concerns about the number of members, the cost of the board, finances for each race, and how to draw voting districts to ensure that all sides of the city are represented. […]
Lightford has been instrumental in passing ambitious legislation. During the lame-duck session in fall, she pushed through a bill that created new graduation requirements for all Illinois students and more access to advanced courses.
* WTTW…
Adrian Segura, Chicago Public Schools’ deputy chief of family and community engagement, also testified, and cautioned that an elected board doesn’t necessarily come with guarantees.
“L.A. has the largest elected school board in the country and currently there are no parents on their board. An election does not guarantee equity among representation, as was seen in the elections in California. They cost millions of dollars, which for most of our parents – at least mine, I know – they don’t have, which brings up the question of special interests and who is funding school board elections and for what reason,” Segura said.
Many parents and community members testified in favor of the bill, saying it would give parents and community members a long-overdue seat at the table when deciding how students in Chicago should be educated. And while many parents want to see elected representatives on the school board, there are a variety of views as to how it should be structured.
* Politico…
Nonprofit leaders have written a letter to legislators asking that they make sure Chicago’s school board represents parents, especially from Chicago’s “disadvantaged and disenfranchised” communities.
*** UPDATE *** Meant to add this earlier…
* Related…
* School board politics, revisited - There are billions of reasons that have nothing to do with education to keep the schools under mayoral control.
* Why can’t my daughter return to high school? Three words: Chicago Teachers Union
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* From this past January…
The Pritzker administration has hired an outside firm to scrutinize Exelon’s claims that some of its Illinois nuclear plants are losing money.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency early this month finalized a $215,000 emergency contract with Cambridge, Mass.-based Synapse Energy Economics. The firm, which has done work in the past for consumer advocates like the Illinois attorney general’s office and the Citizens Utility Board, will report back on the financial condition of the nukes by April 1.
It’s tasked with auditing the company’s plants, assessing costs and revenues given now and projecting over the next five years, according to the emergency purchase statement. Among the qualifications the Pritzker administration specified for the role was that the firm chosen could not have done work for Exelon in the past. That disqualified a fair number of bidders.
The move comes as Exelon for the second time in four years has said it would shutter nukes in Illinois unless they’re subsidized by the state. In August, the company announced it would close the Dresden and Byron reactors this coming fall without government action.
* Click here for the completed audit. And here’s today’s Tribune story…
Synapse Energy Economics concluded that keeping Byron and Dresden open would cost dramatically less than the $235 million-a-year bailout negotiated in 2016 by former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner — a deal that prompted Exelon to back down from its plans to close two other nuclear plants outside the Quad Cities and downstate Clinton. […]
Unlike the Rauner bailout, which guaranteed Exelon subsidies for a decade, Synapse said the Pritzker administration could limit special payments for Bryon and Dresden to five years and provide them during each of those years only if the company opens its books and proves the power plants need the money. The program would cost $150 million a year at most, according to a redacted copy of the audit shared Wednesday with the Chicago Tribune.
It remains unclear if the findings will provide enough political cover to muscle another subsidy package through the Democratic-controlled General Assembly, which is still roiling from a multiyear bribery scheme involving jobs, contracts and payments from ComEd to allies of former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
But there are significant climate and labor ramifications if Byron and Dresden close.
* WBEZ…
The Pritzker administration’s study, released Thursday, found the plants “do face real risk of becoming uneconomic in the near term.
“This has implications for Illinois’ policy goals because the plants generate carbon-free electricity that is currently undervalued or even ignored within current wholesale electricity markets,” the report by Cambridge, Mass.-based Synapse Energy Economics concluded.
“In addition, the plants employ hundreds of workers directly and contribute to the economies of numerous Illinois communities,” the report continued. “Illinois could reasonably determine that it is in the public interest for the plants to remain in operation, warranting public support.” […]
But whether the company believes roughly a $70 million increase in annual ratepayer subsidies is enough, as Synapse recommends, is another question. Legislation pushed by labor unions aligned with Exelon recommends subsidy levels roughly quadruple what Synapse proposes for the two plants, administration sources said.
“To anyone who’s making a proposal on this that says these numbers are too low, we’re going to want to see their math,” said Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, the governor’s point person on utility legislation.
* Crain’s…
Pritzker is likely to advocate for setting Illinois’ first-ever price on carbon, which would be paid by generators whose plants emit the heat-trapping gas. A modest price, similar to what Northeastern states have imposed for years, would reduce the need for direct subsidies to Exelon. In that case, only Dresden would need support to remain open, the report said. […]
Synapse’s methodology for assessing the plants’ financial health differs from Exelon’s. The auditor questioned the large amount the Chicago-based company labels a “cost” when it in fact is a cushion for scenarios in which the plants don’t operate. […]
Asked whether the governor’s support for another bailout is, in effect, rewarding past bad behavior by the company, [Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell] said there are clear differences this time compared with four years ago, when the company demanded that policymakers take its word that plants were losing money. “There was a reason Gov. Pritzker called for an audit,” Mitchell said.
The state has more information than it’s ever had on plant financials. And the governor will support only the minimum amount needed by the plants to remain in the black, as well as annual audits. If the plants don’t need as much money in a given year, the subsidies should decline, Mitchell said.
The question will be if organized labor, which is supporting a much larger bailout, can agree.
* Related…
* Chicago biz figures exit ComEd board while CEO is paid like 2020 was a good year
…Adding… Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…
“We applaud Governor Pritzker for requiring this independent audit, and putting consumers and the goal of 100% clean energy ahead of utility profits. The Synapse study proves there are many different ways Illinois can keep producing carbon-free electricity from nuclear plants, without the giant subsidy Exelon and their allies are demanding. Putting Illinois on a path to a carbon-free power sector by 2030 by passing compressive energy policy as proposed in the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) is critical to combating climate change, creating equitable jobs, and ending excessive subsidies to fossil fuels.”
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