* Not much of a surprise since he had to choose between a statewide bid or sure reelection to the Senate…
State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) today issued the following statement on his decision to suspend his bid for Secretary of State:
“On March 3rd, I announced my intention to run for the office of the Secretary of State. Since the beginning of this year I have traveled to more than 35 counties and met with voters from every corner of the state. I have been overwhelmed by the enormous outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from so many.
After much thoughtful reflection, however, it is with a heavy heart I am announcing the suspension of our campaign today.
For everyone who supported my campaign these past four months – many of whom have supported me for longer – there are no words to do justice to the sincere depths of my appreciation and gratitude. Know that I do not make this decision lightly, nor do I make it without each of you, and all of your time and sacrifice on my behalf, in the forefront of my mind.”
…Adding… From Senate President Don Harmon…
Though I am saddened the people of Illinois won’t benefit from the leadership and dedication to working families Senator Mike Hastings would bring to the office of Secretary of State, I’m happy that the people of the 19th District and our colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus will continue to have him fighting for Democratic values in the General Assembly.
* Looks like the governor got outflanked by the president…
Today @POTUS will sign the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing June 19th as a federal holiday. As the 19th falls on a Saturday, most federal employees will observe the holiday tomorrow, June 18th.
— U.S. Office of Personnel Management (@USOPM) June 17, 2021
* It is my company policy to take off all state and federal holidays…
With President Joe Biden signing legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, Governor JB Pritzker announced that state government offices will be closed Friday, June 18 in accordance with the new federal law recognizing the importance of emancipating enslaved Americans.
On Wednesday, Gov. Pritzker signed Illinois’ law to make Juneteenth a state holiday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in the shadow of the Emancipation Proclamation.
“I’m pleased to see the federal government join Illinois in recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday, offering all Americans a day to reflect on the national shame of slavery and the work we must do to dismantle systemic racism,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Most importantly, let us stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Black Americans who will celebrate Juneteenth as a milestone in their fight for every ounce of the freedom that is their God-given right – and continue with them in that fight.”
When Gov. Pritzker signed Illinois’ Juneteenth legislation earlier this week with the bill sponsors, he reiterated his commitment to leading the nation in dismantling structural racism.
In addition to closing state offices on Friday, June 18, Illinois will continue the recognition of Juneteenth throughout the state, lowering all flags covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act to half-staff on Saturday. In addition, a Juneteenth flag will fly proudly over the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield on every Juneteenth, starting this year.
…Adding… In addition, the comptroller’s office is giving everyone a floating holiday because some folks need to come in to the office to get the bills paid. From SoS White…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices and facilities will be closed Friday, June 18 in observance of Juneteenth, as declared by Governor JB Pritzker following President Biden’s signing of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
All Tuesday through Saturday Driver Services facilities will be open for business on Saturday, June 19.
Monday through Friday Driver Services facilities and offices will be open for business on Monday, June 21.
Individuals can visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com, to locate the nearest Driver Services facility and the hours of operation.
As a reminder, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has extended all expiration dates to August 1, 2021, for driver’s licenses/ID cards. White encourages people to conduct business online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com for services such as renewing license plate stickers, obtaining replacement driver’s licenses/ID cards and if eligible renewing driver’s licenses.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday is set to announce a new promotion to encourage Illinois residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19: a vaccine lottery.
Pritzker will detail the promotion during a news conference at 1:30 p.m. at Access Community Health Network in Chicago, according to his public schedule.
You can watch it live at NBC 5’s site. I’ll likely update this post later.
…Adding… A big one…
First drawing is July 8.
As long as you got a vaccine within the state lines, you're eligible. You don't have to do anything to register.
Illinois state lottery will draw names for prizes ranging between $100K and $1 million.
As Illinois continues to lead the Midwest in vaccinating our residents, Governor Pritzker announced a new $10 million ‘All In for the Win’ promotion that will reward vaccinated Illinoisans by automatically entering them into a series of cash and scholarship lotteries with prizes up to $1 million.
More than 70% of Illinois adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC, making Illinois the first state in the Midwest to reach President Biden’s goal.
“All In For The Win is yet another way we’re working to ensure every single resident is protected from COVID-19, and especially, this virus’ more dangerous variants,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Vaccines are incredibly effective and keep you protected – and they also make your community safer. Getting the shot is how we truly end this thing, so vax up, Illinois. If you do, you might even hit the jackpot.”
“While our vaccination numbers in Illinois are good, in fact the best in the Midwest, we still need more people – as many people as possible – to get vaccinated,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “The pandemic is not over and as long as the virus is allowed to circulate, it can mutate and form new variants. We need to slow the virus’ activity – and the best way to do that is through vaccination.”
All In for the Win offers $7 million in cash prizes to vaccinated adults, ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and $3 million in scholarship awards to vaccinated youth, held in Bright Start 529 College Savings Plan. Residents who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Illinois are automatically entered into the lotteries. There are no sign ups, no forms, and no lines to wait in.
Residents are encouraged to get vaccinated before July 1st to ensure they’re entered into every draw and have the most chances to win a prize, including the first million-dollar top prize on July 8th. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will continue to check their records before each drawing. Once entered, residents remain eligible in all future drawings, unless they win.
The first drawing will take place on Thursday, July 8, 2021, and the promotion will run until Thursday, August 26, 2021, with a series of drawings for 43 cash prizes — including three million-dollar jackpots — and 20 scholarship awards.
One million-dollar cash winner and three $150K scholarship winners will be drawn on July 8th, and weekly drawings will continue throughout the summer. Drawings include weekly $100K cash prizes and regional lotteries to ensure people from every part of the state are among the lucky winners. The grand finale — which includes two million-dollar cash prizes and seventeen scholarship awards – will be drawn on August 26. To view the complete drawing schedule, visit allin.illinois.gov.
After each draw, IDPH will reach out to the winners to ask for authorization to share their name and contact information with the Illinois Lottery. At no time will any state entity other than IDPH have information about a participant or winner without their consent. The Illinois Lottery will then help the winner through the claim process to receive their prize.
The fate of a $1.3 billion natural gas plant under construction in Grundy County is mainly what kept the Senate from acting yesterday on the most ambitious state energy bill in 25 years.
Competitive Power Ventures, a Silver Spring, Md.-based power generator, threatened to pull the plug on a massive gas-fired facility it’s building in Morris if the bill as drafted yesterday was passed, the company confirmed today.
That was what Senate President Don Harmon was referring to yesterday after the Senate’s adjournment when he said somewhat cryptically: “There are significant investments and significant jobs associated with those (gas) plants. People could be out of a job Monday if we passed that bill today.”
The issue for CPV is provisions environmentalists have championed that not only would set a firm “decarbonization” date for the burning of natural gas to generate electricity, but also would require steady declines in emissions over the years leading up to that.
* The governor’s office believed, however, that they had found a way to address the issue. This is from the testimony that Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell was prepared to deliver to a Senate committee on Tuesday morning, several hours before the plug was pulled…
We also clarified that declining caps on natural gas would be in the aggregate and would both allow the potential build of new plants like JPower and CPV Three Rivers, and then advantage them to stay open the longest.
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
• The language in the Governor’s bill never had individual plant declining caps. There is an aggregate cap on the total of emissions from gas plants that goes down 20% every five years. So, if for example, there are 1,000 tons of GHG emissions, they would have to be at 800 in five years—not that Plant A would have to reduce by 20 percent.
• The language was clarified after this issue arose in the legislators’ meeting Saturday morning, and labor had both a walk-through of the language Monday evening, as well as bullet points that we gave them which reiterated this point. So, I’m not sure where Mr. Rumsey got his information, but it was wrong.
• In addition, because we specifically didn’t want to discourage the construction of the plant referenced in the article, as well as two other gas plants that are in permitting stages, we clarified that under the EPA rulemaking that will determine which plants needed to close sooner rather than others, that the newest plants would have the advantage because of the environmental technology that’s installed on the newer plants.
• So, while other gas plants may rightfully be thought of to be in danger of closing in 5 years or ten, it isn’t likely that any of the new plants would be in the early closure mix.
