Rauner is Rauner to the end
Friday, Jan 11, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* HB 4637 was reportedly sent to Gov. Rauner by mistake. It was supposed to be held until JB Pritzker took over. Oops…
Today, I return House Bill 4637 of the 100th General Assembly with specific recommendations for change.
This legislation amends the process by which townships in McHenry County may be dissolved in an effort to consolidate and reduce Illinois’ excessive layers of local government.
While I applaud the effort to create a clear process that aligns with the Illinois Constitution’s vision that townships may be dissolved if approved by referendum, this is a process that should be available with equal clarity across the state.
This legislation also mandates the abolition of certain road districts in Lake and McHenry County. This question of consolidating services should also go to the voters through a referendum, a process that Lake and McHenry County—and all other counties—can already pursue under state law.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 4637, entitled “AN ACT concerning local government,” with the following specific recommendations for change:
He goes out the way he came in: Refusing to accept incremental change.
* From the bill’s sponsor, Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills)…
Failed Governor and hypocrite Bruce Rauner showed his true colors again by vetoing my bill that would consolidate unnecessary levels of government and cut property taxes. The people of Illinois rejected phony, incompetent Raunerism in a landslide. Bruce Rauner leaves office with zero accomplishments and is widely regarded as the worst Governor in the history of Illinois. Good riddance to Rauner and his endless stream of lies! I look forward to passing my bill again during this General Assembly.
* This bill passed both chambers without a single “No” vote…
Today, I veto House Bill 982 from the 100th General Assembly, which would amend the process for filling a vacancy in the office of the President of the Cook County Board.
The legislation creates and amends a special set of conditions if the office of Cook County Board President is vacated, specifically during or after the period for filing nomination papers for the primary election. This process differs from that in place for any other elective county offices in the rest of the state. This is another example of special rules being legislated for certain parts of the state without compelling justification, while not applying those same rules to the rest of the state. We should seek more consistency in how state law regulates local governments, and less special legislation that addresses local concerns on an ad hoc, case-by-case basis.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 982, entitled “AN ACT concerning government,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.
He also vetoed HB200, HB5769 and SB938, which all passed both chambers on unanimous rollcalls. SB426 passed the Senate unanimously and just four House members voted against it, but he vetoed it.
All these vetoed bills are now dead because the 101st GA can’t override vetoes of bills passed by the 100th GA.
…Adding… In an apparent last-minute resume sweetener, the governor just appointed DCEO’s Chief Operating Office Travis March to be Acting Director of the agency.
…Adding… He also just appointed Jessica Baer, Director of the Division of Professional Regulation, to Acting Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Her appointment is official come Monday, just before Pritzker is sworn in. She replaces Secretary Bryan Schneider.
14 Comments  
|
* I watched the first two episodes of this series and it was a nauseating, shocking experience. Sun-Times editorial…
If there’s a radio station in Chicago still playing R. Kelly’s music, shame on them.
If there’s a concert venue still willing to book him, shame on them, too.
They are turning a blind eye to the abundant evidence of Kelly’s sexual pursuit and abuse of underage girls.
“Surviving R. Kelly,” the 3-part documentary seen last week by an estimated 1.9 million viewers, laid it all out in explicit, harrowing details recounted by some of the survivors of Kelly’s abuse, including his ex-wife.
* Today…
Chicago’s 95.1 FM Clubsteppin station will no longer play any music by R.Kelly because of the controversy that resurfaced after Lifetime’s “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary series.
* Other stories if you’re not up to speed…
* Eye-opening R. Kelly documentary on Lifetime an ‘uneasy’ must-watch: “I want my story to be heard so people can take the situation seriously,” says Lisa Van Allen, one of Kelly’s former love interests, who first hooked up with him when she was 17. The series does just that, presenting credible, firsthand accounts of years of alleged abuse against young girls and women by Kelly, a Chicago native. According to several subjects, the singer and his entourage purposefully scoped out Kenwood Academy High School girls at a Hyde Park McDonald’s.
* The timeline of the R. Kelly child pornography case
* At least 2 women contact Cook County prosecutors with new R. Kelly allegations: One woman, who’s originally from Georgia, said that Kelly engaged in inappropriate conduct with her at his rented warehouse/studio space in 2002. She said she ran away from home in Georgia, met Kelly in Florida and eventually came back to Chicago with him.
* R. Kelly ordered to allow inspectors inside rented warehouse
* After ‘Surviving R Kelly,’ the #MuteRKelly movement gains momentum
* Lady Gaga apologizes for ‘poor judgment’ over R. Kelly song; stands with victims
* Chance the Rapper apologizes for ‘taking this long to speak out’ about R. Kelly
* Georgia prosecutor seeking info about R. Kelly, lawyer says
* Instagram post linked to R. Kelly’s daughter blasts performer: In the IG post, Buku Abi says she is “devastated” over “everything that is going on right now” and offered support to alleged victims. “I pray for all the families … that have been affected by my father’s actions.”
* ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ leads to spike in sales, streams for the singer
* And now this from WICS TV…
An organizer is selling tickets for Springfield Spring Break Jam, hosted by R. Kelly at the expo center on April 6, 2019.
But after allegations have come up against the R&B singer R. Kelly, it is unclear if the concert will go on as planned.
The Department of Agriculture confirmed organizers submitted an application for the Springfield Spring Break Jam, but said the application is still under review.
Officials said there are 13 factors they consider when reviewing an application for a concert.
That is the same State Fair Exposition Center where JB Pritzker’s inaugural ball will be held.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture needs to find a way to cancel this show. Period.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The person who runs Kity Promotions, which is putting on the show just told me via Facebook messenger that R Kelly “will not be performing,” at the concert.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Department of Ag…
Hey Rich! Just want to make a couple clarifications on the R. Kelly story – the event organizers submitted an application to lease space on the Illinois State Fairgrounds to host a concert featuring R. Kelly. However, that application was under review until yesterday, at which point IDOA staff contacted the organizer to let them know their application would not be approved. IDOA’s Administrative Code outlines 13 criteria that applicants must meet to lease space (ftp://www.ilga.gov/JCAR/AdminCode/008/008002700J04950R.html) and in this case, the event did not meet criteria C, E, and G.
Unfortunately, we cannot control when organizers start promoting an event – in this case, there was never a signed agreement to host the event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, only an application.
17 Comments
|
* I told subscribers about this earlier today. Tribune…
Billionaire Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker, who pumped more than $171 million of his own wealth into his campaign to defeat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in November, now will use his own money to bolster his top government aides’ salaries, his transition team reported Friday.
Pritzker’s incoming Chief of Staff Anne Caprara will be paid a salary of $298,000 — $148,000 in state money and $150,000 more from East Jackson Street LLC, an organization Pritzker set up to “enable the governor-elect to personally compensate some staff in addition to their government salary,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
Rauner’s chief, by comparison, made $180,000 in 2018, according to state records. […]
Pritzker’s transition pointed to former New York City mayor and fellow billionaire Michael Bloomberg supplementing his staff’s pay with his own money. The transition says Pritzker’s move means some aides will have lower taxpayer-funded salaries than Rauner’s, and they’ll have to report the supplemental income on ethics forms.
* Sun-Times…
The double salary will be apply to Pritzker’s chief of staff Anne Caprara, his three deputy governors Dan Hynes, Christian Mitchell and Jesse Ruiz and their special assistants, deputy chiefs of staff and other high-level employees. It will apply to 20 positions, including some that have not been filled. […]
The deputy governors will make $278,000: $139,000 each from the state and the LLC. Senior adviser Nikki Budzinski will make the same.
His deputy chiefs of staff, including Emily Bittner, who will run his communications staff, will make $174,000 and Abudayyeh, his press secretary, will have her state salary of $75,000 doubled to $150,000. […]
Staff who receive the additional pay will be required to publicly report it in line with other public disclosures.
* Press release…
The Governor-Elect is committed to recruiting top talent to state government to best address the challenges Illinois faces. As a result, an LLC has been created that will enable the Governor-Elect to personally compensate some staff in addition to their government salary, reducing the cost to taxpayers. This process will take place in a transparent manner with requirements that information be reported publicly.
Subscribers know more, but the Pritzker transition claims he will not take any tax deductions on the supplemental payments.
* Two former Raunerites told me the same thing earlier today…
*** UPDATE *** AFSCME…
115 Comments
|
* Press release…
Lake County State’s Attorney, Michael G. Nerheim announced that on January 10, 2019 Nicholas Sauer surrendered to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and appeared before the Honorable Judge Paul Novak. Mr. Sauer posted 10% of the $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on February 6, 2018 at 9am in courtroom T510 before the Honorable Patricia Fix. Mr. Sauer is to follow the following bond conditions:
No contact with the victims
No use of social media
State’s Attorney Nerheim would like to remind the public that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Meanwhile, the indictment has been released. Click here, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The reason he’s been charged with twelve felony accounts is because he allegedly posted twelve “intimate parts” photos of two women online.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
My name is Mrs. Melissa Kreithen and I am a victim of non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images committed by former Illinois representative Nick Sauer. I started dating Nick Sauer in mid 2016 after he friend requested me on social media while I was single. At first, Nick seemed like a nice guy and as our relationship progressed, intimate and private images were exchanged with him in confidence. However, after a few months, I broke up with him due to his unusual and erratic behavior.
On August 2nd, 2018 I saw the news story about Nick’s ex-girlfriend who filed a complaint with the Chicago Office of the Legislative Inspector General, accusing Mr. Sauer of sharing private naked photos and personal details on a fake Instagram account to lure men into “graphic conversations of a sexual nature.”
Based on these allegations, I felt it was very possible that Nick was using my photos in a similar way. It has been extremely frustrating trying to find out how to proceed with the proper legal avenue. After many phone calls, we contacted Illinois State Senator Melinda Bush’s office and was referred to contact the Chicago Police, without success. We also contacted the FBI cyber division and left a complaint, without a response.
Fortunately, we finally connected with Illinois resident and victim’s advocate Denise Rotheimer who was interviewed on TV about the Nick Sauer story. She was able to contact State Attorney Michael Nerheim’s office about the potential crimes by Nick, and we were then referred to the Lake County Special Investigator Jim Magna. I was asked to make a voluntary statement and eventually confirmed evidence that Nick was using my intimate photos when the investigators subpoenaed Instagram and found a fake page that Nick had created using my images to solicit men.
As a victim of this deplorable crime committed by Nick Sauer, I wish that he be brought to justice to the full extent of the law as well as make a full, formal pubic apology to me and any other individuals he has committed crimes against. There’s no excuse for someone using private intimate photos of someone without their consent in this matter, especially a politician who was part of a sexual harassment task force in his home state.
I am also concerned there might be other victims of his crimes, and want to reach out and empower others to have the courage to come forward. If you suspect you were also a victim of Nick Sauer, please contact the Lake County Special Investigator at the Illinois State Attorney’s Office at JMagna@lakecountyil.gov
Also, if you feel that you are a victim of revenge pornography, or non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images, there are concerned people and organizations that can help you. You can contact the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative at 844-878-2274. Their website is www.cybercivilrights.org Another resource is HeartMob at www.iheartmob.org where you can report and document online harassment.
Due to my frustration in seeking justice, I found out that not all states have laws about these types of deviant and predatory crimes that were committed by former representative Sauer. Thankfully, there is a Federal Bill that was introduced by Senators Kamala Harris, Richard Burr and Amy Klobuchar called the ENOUGH Act. This legislation, if passed, will make it illegal everywhere to “knowingly distribute private, visual depictions of an individual’s intimate parts or of an individual engaging in sexually explicit conduct” without their consent. Please contact your local representatives to support this much needed legislation.
I realize that coming forward jeopardizes my personal and family’s privacy and puts me in the public eye, for better or worse. For additional information on this unfortunate situation, I will be updating periodically on my Instagram page Missy_kreithen
Sent to me with permission to send out to media
All my best, Denise Rotheimer
5 Comments
|
* This has been expected…
Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Thursday announcing his appointment of state Rep. Greg Harris as House majority leader:
“At my request, Representative Greg Harris will serve as House majority leader. This is the first in a series of leadership appointments that will be announced in the coming days reflecting the diversity of our state, and reflecting our caucus’ approach to the coming legislative session.
“Throughout his tenure, Representative Harris has shown a dedication to meeting our state’s biggest challenges head on. Throughout his career, he has worked to advance progressive ideals, while also building bipartisan consensus. He led a historic effort to make Illinois one of the first states to pass legislation ensuring equal rights for same-sex couples; he has spearheaded complicated Medicaid reforms with an eye toward compassion and expanded access to health care; and his leadership was most critical during the budget crisis, when Representative Harris was instrumental in bringing together Democrats and Republicans to enact a bipartisan budget that protects lifesaving services like breast cancer screenings, child care, health care for the elderly and much more.
“In 1997, I asked Barbara Flynn Currie to serve as the state’s first female majority leader. Following in her historic tenure, today’s appointment again represents House Democrats’ commitment to building an inclusive, welcoming Legislature where all are represented. As the first openly gay majority leader, Representative Harris will also continue to reflect our caucus’ commitment to working across the aisle and making the tough decisions.”
…Adding… Statement from Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois…
We are excited by Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s appointment today of State Representative Greg Harris to be the next Illinois House Majority Leader. This is a historic appointment. Leader Harris is the first openly gay person to hold the important role of Illinois House Majority Leader.
We know Leader Harris as a true champion of advancing justice and equality for LGBTQ people and all historically marginalized communities. We look forward to working with him in this significant leadership role to continue advancing justice in Illinois.
We thank Speaker Madigan for his significant leadership in advancing LGBTQ equality in Illinois. Just yesterday, we heard in nominating speeches of the Speaker’s critical role in passing marriage equality legislation in Illinois. Today, his appointment of Leader Harris further demonstrates the Speaker’s commitment to LGBTQ equality and representation.
…Adding… Terry Cosgrove at Personal PAC…
State Representative Greg Harris has been a pro-choice leader in the Illinois House since the day he took office. Personal PAC is extremely pleased with Harris’s appointment to the position of Illinois House Majority Leader. Thank you Speaker Madigan and Representative Harris for your continued leadership to protect reproductive rights for all women in Illinois. States must now do more than ever to protect Illinois from right-wing attacks and your commitment as valued allies in our work is greatly appreciated.
22 Comments
|
* From Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee)…
“I want to thank the people of the 66th District for again entrusting me to represent you in Springfield,” said Skillicorn. “Illinois government is broken, but when we the people work together we can affect change. Our recent success to defeat a massive motor fuel tax hike in the waning moments of the 100th General Assembly that appeared to be a sure thing just a month again is proof of that.”
A sure thing? I told subscribers this on November 15th: “Tentative plans are afoot to move forward with some sort of tax increase to fund a capital bill by the end of the lame duck session on January 9th.” And then on November 27th I told subscribers that from everything I was hearing the plans to do a capital bill in lame duck had been scrapped.
The “horizontal” (roads, bridges, transit) infrastructure project list would’ve likely been ready to go by this week, but the “vertical” (building construction and repair) list would not have been. That lack of a list, I was told in late November, was a big reason for the delay. They couldn’t do the tax hikes for both at once because it’s tough to pass a tax increase for vertical projects when nobody knows what the projects are. They also didn’t want to do one tax hike for horizontal and then another just weeks later for vertical. Too many headlines.
Also, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin said this earlier in the week…
“I don’t see anything else coming,” Durkin said. “I’m seeing some posters here about a gas tax. There’s nothing about an infrastructure bill or anything regarding a gas tax or anything that’s going to be considered this week.”
Make no mistake, however: A capital bill is coming, along with revenue streams to pay for it.
*** UPDATE *** It’s not just Skillicorn. Check out this over-heated Taxpayers United press release…
Illinois taxpayers defeated the plan of downstate and Cook County Democrats to give the state of Illinois the highest gasoline tax in the country during the Illinois 100th General Assembly lame duck session.
The Democrat mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel, showing how out-of-touch he was with taxpayers, had called for a 30 cent-per-gallon increase on the state gasoline tax. In response, taxpayers protested inside the Illinois Capitol Building against this two billion dollar tax hike. The January 7 protest featured many prominent anti-gasoline-tax speakers, including St. Rep. Allen Skillicorn, St. Rep. Jeanne Ives, and Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America.
When the protesters went to confront their state representatives over this proposed gasoline tax increase, the tax raisers gaveled out and fled to caucus. They refused to leave their rooms until protesters and their signs were thrown out!
“It must have been two minutes,” commented Val, a concerned taxpayer who was waiting in line to speak to his state representative about the gas tax. “They were in session for two minutes and ran. It’s like they didn’t want to talk to us.”
Illinois lawmakers were so shaken by the outpouring of opposition they did not amend any bills to include a tax increase.
“I bet those tax-raising cowards have never seen so many taxpayers gathered together in one place before,” said Tobin. “It’s too bad we taxpayers need to work for a living. Otherwise we could protest and stop every tax increase in its tracks.”
When asked about the possibility of the new general assembly passing a gas tax increase, Tobin responded, “I think they will try to pass it again. But now Springfield Democrats and the newly elected Governor Pritzker will have to take responsibility for any tax increase. They own it now. They wanted to pass it in the 100th so they could blame Gov. Rauner, and not look like hypocrites when they throw poor and middle class taxpayers under the bus.”
Hilarious.
Some background on Mr. Tobin is here.
21 Comments
|
* House Speaker Michael Madigan was unsurprisingly reelected today, with, as expected, Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) voting “Present.”
He began his remarks by asking for prayers for former House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, who checked herself into the hospital on the way home to Chicago yesterday with a bad case of pneumonia.
Madigan then launched into a litany of complaints about Gov. Rauner’s one term in office. The following are individual tweets from the House Democrats’ account which excerpted his speech…
On Jan. 14, 2015, I stood before you and pledged to work cooperatively and professionally w/ Gov. Rauner. That was four long years ago.
Four long years of character assassination, personal vilification and strident negotiation positions which hurt our state government and led to inaction for the people of Illinois.
Since then, Illinois suffered through a three year budget impasse. Some may say “We made it through the budget impasse” or “our organization got its money,” but others were not so fortunate.
If you were an Illinoisan depending on funding for Autism services, breast cancer screenings, child abuse prevention or services for survivors of sexual assault, you became a victim of the budget
In America and in Illinois, government is people working with people. Sometimes they agree and other times they disagree.
Where people disagree, if they are reasonable, they talk to each other, exchange ideas, negotiate in good faith, and attempt to find common ground. For the last four years, this didn’t happen. Instead we simply got a series of ultimatums.
Illinois has serious problems. A significant budget imbalance and a debt load that is far too high. This impairs our ability to properly support areas such as education, infrastructure maintenance and improvement, and many others.
To solve these problems people need to work with people. Some may say to just ‘put an end to the last four years’ or ‘close the book.’
But, let me suggest we move beyond these last four years and not just close the book. Rather, let’s close one chapter and take lessons, so we can move on to a new chapter where people work with people.
Speaker Madigan did not announce his new leadership team.
* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s speech was mostly upbeat. From the HGOP’s Twitter account…
Following the oaths of office… each one of us will be charged with representing the interests and welfare of 108,000 Illinoisans.
That oath is solemn and has meaning. Deep meaning.
I implore you to embrace this historic moment with the best you can offer.
Durkin quotes his friend, the late US Senator John McCain. …there is “much more than unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other.”
The same can be said about us, my fellow Illinoisans
Today is a day for celebrating and unifying.
This is our state’s 5th year in a row of population loss and will once again lead to diminished influence and a loss of congressional representation.
It also means a loss of taxpayers.
With this new General Assembly, and a new Governor I am optimistic that for once for many, many years, we can put politics aside.
Leader Durkin is outlining what the House Republicans stand for… reform of our state’s regressive property tax system… creating efficiency in our pension systems, by reducing costs and making the systems sustainable for members and taxpayers… balancing the budget by weighing spending demands with fiscal realities… enhancing our weak business climate to bring real sustainable jobs back to our state… getting career gun criminals off our streets.
I have never let the R or D next to a representative’s name impact what I think about their district or constituents and I hope you do the same.
The time for a new direction starts today.
…as former Governor Thompson implored, we can be a “Great” Assembly… that works through the many challenges we face to take Illinois in a new direction.
Durkin ended by saying, “My door is always open. My hope is yours will be, too.”
…Adding… She’s gonna get a lot of press coverage…
33 Comments
|
* Gov. Rauner was told by a reporter today that some Republicans blamed the party’s woes last November on the governor’s aggressive stance against unions. For the umpteenth time, Rauner denied that he was anti-union and said he wanted to create more union jobs, then made a case for his local “right to work” proposal. Former Sen. Daniel Biss was not amused…
* Speaking of politics, Rauner refused to comment on who should run for governor next, but said he hoped “reform-minded leaders” would step forward, saying he would “encourage them” and perhaps help them. He appeared to wave off a direct return to politics for himself, but said it’s “yet to be determined” what he would do. “We live in such volatile times. I can’t predict yet what makes sense.”
When asked about former Gov. Jim Edgar’s admonition that the party choose a moderate and Rep. Jeanne Ives’ warning that the party needs to choose someone who will adhere to the party’s conservative platform, Rauner said the two “are both right [and] they’re both partly wrong, and unfortunately I think they’re both part of the problem”…
Republicans won’t win unless we’re moderate in many ways on many things. And I certainly consider myself a moderate on many things. If you look at my record, and the things I’ve advocated and the bills I’ve signed, most people would say I’m a moderate.
That said, if you’re gonna be a moderate to win elections, but you’re not going to be a reformer and fix the problems, what’s the point of winning? And, in Illinois, Republicans have won, in the 80s and 90s, but then they did the same bad stuff that the Democrats did. Kick the can on pension payments, don’t reform the system, raise taxes with no reforms, over-regulate businesses. If you’re gonna moderate to win and then do the same thing that the guy or gal that you were running against would do, what’s the point?
And I think Rep. Ives is correct that you got to have some principles, and you’ve got to be fiscally responsible/conservative… balance budgets. To me, I hope the Republican Party rallies around a unifying message of being pro-taxpayer and pro-job-creator. I think that can be a unifying message and that should define the party. The other things, we’re going to have some vehement disagreements on. Obviously, some of my fellow party members disagree with me on some of my more moderate views. OK, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t all be Republicans and push for responsible things for taxpayers and for job-creators.
* And he had a few words about the president…
…Adding… Raw audio from CMS is here.
28 Comments
|
Question of the day
Tuesday, Jan 8, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Rauner was asked today what he would do differently if he could turn the clock back four years.
“That’s such a long topic,” the governor said after sighing, “I’ll go have a beer with you one of these nights and we’ll talk about it,” he said to the reporter.
* The Question: What should he have said?
…Adding… Raw audio from CMS is here.
39 Comments
|
* Gov. Rauner told reporters today he’s “scared” that out-migration from Illinois will “get a lot worse, the exodus is going to accelerate” under the Pritzker administration…
There’s so much talk about raising taxes. Raise the income tax, raise the gas tax, raise the whatever. Goodness, if you’re a working family struggling to make ends meet and your company’s not growing, they’re not adding people, they’re not raising your salary very fast, but things are booming in Tennessee, or Georgia, or Florida or Texas, you say ‘Hey, spouse, maybe we ought to head out.
I’m very scared about this. This is a problem. The exodus could accelerate.
One of my strongest recommendations in the report you all have is stop the discussion about tax hikes. Don’t go to tax hikes. Get the reforms. We don’t have to cut. And this is where I’ve agreed with the Democrats. I’m a social services, human services guy. I don’t want to cut human services. Cut the cost of the government bureaucracy and grow the economy faster. Billions and billions of dollars can be made available for more human services, more education funding. That’s the answer.
* Rauner said he hopes the new administration will “see the light” and change positions on taxes and other things…
I’ve blocked so many bills that would cause more bad regulations, and I’m worried that if I’m not there blocking them, boy, they’re going to pass a whole lot of bad regulations. That’ll push more employers out, and then you’ve got that death spiral going. And then with the corruption, self-dealing, and that’s what’s been hurting us, that’s what we’ve fought against. Again, we’ve made progress, but we’re encouraging the new administration to keep fighting.
* When asked what he thought about Gov.-elect JB Pritzker’s legislation to allow for a 15 percent increase in salaries for top agency administrators, Rauner said, “I do believe we underpay directors for the role they do,” adding that he tried to address the issue early on his term by attempting to create a foundation “where donors could contribute so taxpayers didn’t have to pay more,” but was rejected by the “powers that be” in the General Assembly.
However, he prefaced his remarks by saying, “I hope this isn’t the tip of the iceberg on new spending proposals,” and claimed later that Illinois has the “highest paid government employees… not at the director level, but up and down the levels of bureaucracy.” The governor said it would “fundamentally wrong” and send “absolutely the wrong message” to spend more on the government bureaucracy.
More on the governor’s presser in a bit.
…Adding… Raw audio from CMS is here.
61 Comments
|
* From Chicago mayoral candidate and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s “Future Now” plan…
Susana will work with Assessor Fritz Kaegi to make our property tax system more progressive by advocating in Springfield for a tiered approach to property tax assessments, similar to what is in place in a number of other states. Under this approach, properties with lower assessments are taxed at a lower rate than more expensive properties. As mayor, Susana will support making the necessary changes in state law to allow Assessor Kaegi to make these changes in Cook County.
* Greg Hinz followed up…
In an interview, Mendoza said she envisions “maybe three or four tiers,” with the assessment rate rising with the value of the property. Mendoza, now the Illinois comptroller, said she doesn’t yet know what those rates should be, but confirmed that she’s “especially focused on residential rates” because of recent reporting that the current system resulted in homes in poor, minority neighborhoods tending to be valued at relatively higher figures than in many wealthier sections of the city.
Kaegi, who just took office, has vowed to change that practice over time, effectively shifting more of the property tax burden to higher-priced areas. But Mendoza’s change would be on top of that—meaning residents of areas with higher-than-average home prices (be it Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Jefferson Park, the South Loop or Beverly) would pay the higher property tax pushed through by outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel as well as the higher assessments Kaegi wants and Mendoza’s new tiers.
Asked if that’s fair to residents of those neighborhoods, Mendoza said, “I don’t look at it that way.” The way she looks at it, she says, is that some areas of the city were devastated by a property tax system “rigged” to favor the more well-off, so now the latter may have to pay “a little bit more” to make amends. “This would create more fairness in the system.”
Mendoza said she’s also open to another idea that’s been circulating, to impose an extra real estate tax on the sale of properties worth more than $1 million. But the idea would have to be enacted by referendum, and advocates for the homeless and other groups have been debating who would get the proceeds.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** Mendoza now as an op-ed up on the Crain’s website backing away from her idea…
One of the most important aspects of effective, elective leadership is to listen. I recognize my fellow Chicagoans want us to focus on creating a fair and transparent assessment system. Altering or tiering rates, as my plan suggested, may not be the best way to get there. I’m not afraid to propose bold ideas. And at times I might miss the mark, as I did on this proposal. But when I do miss the mark, I won’t be afraid to consider alternative points of view and amend those ideas.
To be clear: Chicago already has a rigged two-tiered system that leaves the wealthy and well-connected paying less, while working class families pick up the tab. This was a serious proposal on a complex issue to help fix our deeply broken property tax system. Right now, many high value properties are assessed at rates that are lower than they should be, while low value properties are assessed at rates that are far too high, creating a regressive tax on our neighborhoods.
I support the work Assessor Fritz Kaegi is doing to collect better data and build an assessment model that works for all families in every corner of Chicago. The best plan for this moment would be to build on his work, create a system that is fully transparent and fair without altering rates, and continue finding further ways the city of Chicago can work with the Assessor’s Office to fix our broken property tax system.
60 Comments
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
