* I just can’t even…
…Adding… I’m not sure what this proves, but OK…
Hi Rich,
My name’s Jim Minardi and I am the Communications Director for the Curran campaign.
I am responding to the post you did today on your website of a tweet THREAD the campaign put out in response to the change in IHSA sports schedules. Why did you leave out the rest of the thread? There were two other tweets in the reaction Mark wrote. Please correct immediately and provide your readers the full context of Mark’s thought, tweets 1-3. The other tweets were written by staff as the account is primarily staff managed which is clearly stated in the bio.
Screen shot of tweet two and three (the remaining context of Mark’s thoughts) are attached. Please update your post accordingly. And clarify with your readers.
Thank you.
Here it is…
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MJM calling around to his members
Thursday, Jul 30, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers know more…
…Adding… NBC 5…
Four Democratic Illinois lawmakers told NBC 5 Thursday that House Speaker Michael Madigan contacted them individually to ask if he should step down, as calls for him to resign continue to grow after he was implicated in a federal court filing alleging a bribery scheme with ComEd that lasted nearly a decade.
One of the legislators said Madigan called at around 9 a.m. Thursday. Another lawmaker who Madigan consulted said they told him he should not resign - saying that Democrats needed to focus on defeating President Donald Trump in November, and that a vacancy in party leadership less than 100 days before the election would harm that effort.
NBC 5 is not identifying the lawmakers, who requested anonymity to openly discuss the ongoing developments. A spokesman for Madigan did not immediately respond to request for comment.
…Adding… I told subscribers about this earlier…
The sources, two members of Madigan’s 73-member House majority, said the 78-year-old speaker was asking members of his caucus if they agreed with two Democrats, state Reps. Terra Costa Howard of Glen Ellyn and Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, who have asked Madigan to step down from his governmental post. Howard also said Madigan should resign as state Democratic chair.
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* Leader Durkin had previously issued one of those “if true” statements about Speaker Madigan. Gov. Pritzker mentioned Durkin’s comments yesterday to defend his own “if true” demand. Welp…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin released the following statement regarding the call for Speaker Madigan’s immediate resignation and will be filing a House resolution to call for another vote on Speaker for the Illinois House of Representatives:
“The federal charges outlined in the ComEd prosecution highlight a scheme solely for the benefit of Speaker Madigan. These facts are a disgrace of the highest level to the citizens of Illinois and to the institution of which we serve, the Illinois House of Representatives.
The House Rules for the 101st General Assembly provide great responsibilities and duties of the Speaker of the House. After reviewing the facts contained in the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement, it is abundantly clear that Michael J. Madigan is unable to execute his responsibilities as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and as state representative for the 22nd House District.
I call for the immediate resignation of Speaker Madigan from the Illinois House of Representatives, and will be filing a resolution to have the House Chamber vote on a new Speaker immediately.”
…Adding… HRO…
State Representative candidates Amy Elik, Lisa Ciampoli, and David Friess released the following statements regarding the ongoing corruption scandal surrounding House Speaker Michael Madigan and State Representatives Monica Bristow (IL-111), Katie Stuart (IL-112), Nathan Reitz’s (IL-116), continued silence on the matter as their Democratic legislative colleagues call for Madigan’s resignation.
“It’s impossible to reform Illinois as long as Speaker Madigan remains in power,” said Amy Elik, state representative candidate for the 111th district. “Speaker Madigan continues to block any chance of ethics reform, property tax reform, and term limits, and Monica Bristow is a willing conspirator by remaining silent.”
“The people are demanding change to how Springfield operates,” said Lisa Ciampoli, state representative candidate for the 112th district. “Speaker Madigan has a clear conflict of interest to continue serving as speaker. It’s time for him to step down, and for Katie Stuart to stop playing follow the leader by remaining silent on the matter.”
“Speaker Madigan cannot lead the House of Representatives, and must resign,” said David Friess, state representative candidate for the 116th district. “It’s time for Nathan Reitz to end his silence and let his constituents know if he’s with them or Speaker Madigan.”
This incident is not the first-time area state representatives failed to speak out. When WBEZ covered the story alleging a “powerful former Springfield lobbyist and close friend of House Speaker Madigan” covered up a rape in Champaign and ghost payrolling of government workers, State Representatives Bristow, Stuart, and Reitz failed to hold Madigan accountable.
Alaina Hampton, the individual who sued and settled with Madigan’s operation for sexual harassment, noted in a July 26, 2019 tweet to the Democratic Women’s Caucus, saying:
“I’ve now been waiting a year & a half for you to support me publicly, or even address me by name in a statement. Where are you? What is your stance? We all want to know.”
Why are Representatives Bristow, Reitz, and Stuart among the few House Democrats yet to speak out on Speaker Madigan?
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*** UPDATED x1 *** ComEd on the hot seat
Thursday, Jul 30, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Dan Mihalopoulos at WBEZ…
In his first public comments since Commonwealth Edison admitted a Springfield bribery scheme, CEO Joe Dominguez said Wednesday he was sorry for the power company’s conduct – but quickly added that he did not think the public suffered as a result of the scandal.
“I wanted to apologize on behalf of the entire company,” Dominguez told officials at a meeting of the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates ComEd and other public utilities in the state.
Dominguez quickly pivoted from that mea culpa to show the limits of his contrition. He focused largely on defending the company’s overall performance as excellent – and protecting the legislative gains ComEd achieved during the eight-year-long bribery scheme. […]
In an effort to add what he said was “context” for his company’s state regulators, Dominguez told the ICC that the “deferred prosecution agreement,” or DPA, with the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago “is not a criminal conviction of ComEd” and that “a few orchestrated the improper conduct” but most employees do a superb job.
Dominguez also said the state laws mentioned in the deal with federal law enforcement authorities actually had benefited the people of Illinois, even though lawmakers locked in electricity delivery rate hikes.
* ComEd is borrowing from its parent…
ComEd doesn’t have $200 million in cash flow to pay the fine, Dominguez told commissioners, so it would borrow the money from its parent company, Exelon. […]
“In order to pay the government, Exelon, like other large holding companies, has a cash balance, is able to use some of that cash. It goes down to ComEd so that it meets its obligation under the [deferred prosecution agreement] to make that payment. In the future, when we otherwise would have provided our profits to the shareholder, our profits are actually going to repay that $200 million. At the end of the day, the capital structure remains the same and shareholders, not customers, will pay all of the fine.”
* Iulia Gheorghiu at Utility Dive…
The utility is strengthening its compliance practices outside of the federal investigation, Gomez told Illinois regulators. Cost changes and percentages that will fall on ratepayers for the compliance function are not available, she added.
ICC commissioners insisted that ComEd’s ratepayers should not fund any changes the utility makes in reaction to the deferred prosecution agreement.
* The person leading that particular charge was the embattled ICC Chair…
Commission Chair Carrie Zalewski told Dominguez and Glockner that she wasn’t comfortable “with one penny” of ratepayer money going to an improved compliance system made necessary by actions over nearly a decade at ComEd that resulted in a criminal charge of bribery.
“I find it very hard to believe Exelon was going to enhance their policies regardless,” she said.
* Some legislators and other elected officials may be alarmed about this…
As part of the deal to defer prosecution of bribery charges against the company, ComEd and its parent company Exelon agreed to pay the fine, to cooperate with a continuing federal investigation, to adopt internal policies and controls regarding their dealings with public officials to prevent similar crimes from occurring again and to file reports with the U.S. Attorney’s office at least once every 12 months detailing how it is complying with the terms of the agreement.
“They create, among other things, a detailed tracking system to capture information about our interactions with public officials,” said David Glocker, Exelon’s executive vice president for compliance and audit. “Going forward, beginning when these policies went into effect on July 6, any request, recommendation or referral from a public official has to be reported, has to be tracked, and it can only be acted on with the concurrence of a series of people within the organization, including, importantly, the compliance function.”
Legislators and other electeds routinely forward constituent complaints to utility companies.
*** UPDATE *** From ComEd…
All requests, referrals and recommendations from public officials for things of value for themselves or others will be reported and tracked. The only exceptions are routine requests for constituent assistance or information.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* And, of course…
Here’s an opening sentence one might only get to write in an Illinois newspaper:
Nearly two weeks after admitting to a bombshell bribery charge, ComEd executives outlined their ethics reform plan to a panel of state regulators led by the relative of an alleged player in the criminal plot.
Illinois Commerce Commission Chairwoman Carrie Zalewski, whose agency oversees utility rates and safety practices, opened Wednesday’s meeting with demands for “transparency” and “accountability” in light of federal court records that allege ComEd engaged in a “yearslong bribery scheme” involving jobs, contracts and payments to allies of House Speaker Michael Madigan.
One of the Madigan associates that prosecutors say got such a job? Carrie Zalewski’s father-in-law, former 23rd Ward Ald. Michael Zalewski.
That connection was largely ignored during the hearing, however, even as Zalewski herself called the payments “unethical.”
* Steve Daniels…
“I have not done anything wrong,” Carrie Zalewski shot back, and added, “I take umbrage at the assumption.”
Oliva is a Republican appointee of former Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner’s ICC chairman, Brien Sheahan, was quickly replaced with Zalewski after Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. Zalewski since has reversed some of Sheahan’s policies and priorities.
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* Oy…
Gross domestic product from April to June plunged 32.9% on an annualized basis, according to the Commerce Department’s first reading on the data released Thursday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a drop of 34.7%.
Still, it was the worst drop ever, with the closest previously coming in mid-1921.
* And…
In yet another sign that the economic recovery is teetering in a resurgence of coronavirus cases, the number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row.
Some 1.4 million people filed for initial jobless claims last week, up 12,000 from the prior week’s revised level, which was the first increase in 16 weeks.
On an unadjusted basis, 1.2 million people filed first-time claims, down 171,000 from the week before. The seasonal adjustments are traditionally used to smooth out the data, but that has tended to have the opposite effect during the pandemic.
Continued claims, which count workers who have filed for at least two weeks in a row, stood at 17 million for the week ending July 18, up 867,000 from the prior week’s revised level. These seasonally adjusted claims peaked in May at nearly 25 million.
*** UPDATE 1 *** One Illinois…
The news was far better in Illinois, where new claims dropped 4,000 to 32,000 last week from 36,000 the week before. Claims for expanded federal benefits for independent contractors, freelancers, and so-called gig workers not eligible for conventional unemployment dropped precipitously, from a record 74,000 the week before to just 6,000 last week.
That PUA spike last week was really odd.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
“Today’s announcement of a 32.9 percent drop in U.S. GDP, the largest on record, reiterates what the Chamber has been saying all along - that the government must address both the economic and public health crises simultaneously,” said Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch.
“These dual crises necessitate that the administration weigh the priorities of job creators on equal footing with the dictates of scientists. While Illinois is releasing daily public health metrics, we cannot have state government considering economic metrics as an inconvenient afterthought. COVID-19 has created both crises, but we have to recognize that government decisions have contributed to the implosion of our economy.
That is why the Chamber is reiterating our call for four actions:
· Suspension of the minimum wage increase, that makes it even harder for small businesses to reopen;
· Immediate suspension of support for the progressive income tax amendment, that will put another burden on job creators forcing them across state lines;
· A complete repudiation of CEJA, a piece of legislation that threatens all Illinoisans with increased energy costs; and
· A rapid review of regulations to reduce red tape and administrative costs on employers.”
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* Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) defeated GOP Rep. Peter Breen in 2018…
After careful thought and deliberation, I am calling for Michael J. Madigan to resign as Speaker of the House and Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
The sworn statements in the U.S. Attorney’s agreement with Commonwealth Edison detail a years-long scheme of payoffs and bribery involving many of Speaker Madigan’s closest allies. Even if he was not directly involved in this scheme, these accusations clearly demonstrate that the Speaker’s leadership has failed.
Speaker Madigan has a duty to recognize that these allegations have cast a deep shadow on the reputation of our House. He must take action now to avoid inflicting further damage on the members of the House and the Democratic Party.
Speaker Madigan has not been charged with any crime, and he — like all of us — is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process. But the corruption and unethical behavior that have been revealed by this investigation make it impossible for Rep. Madigan to continue in his leadership roles. I hope he will do the honorable thing and step down.
*** UPDATE *** And another one…
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* Here you go…
…Adding… With all the stuff going on in DC, they still decided to weigh in here…
U.S. Representatives Rodney Davis (IL-13) and Darin LaHood (IL-18), and Illinois State Representative Tim Butler (HD-87) today criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker’s new restrictions on youth sports, which cancel competitive fall play for football, basketball, volleyball, and other sports.
“There should not be one-size-fits-all regulations for youth sports statewide,” said Rep. Davis. “As Governor Pritzker’s rules currently stand, competitive play for sports like football and basketball is cancelled statewide for as long as the Governor wants. That’s the wrong approach. As a former youth football and baseball coach, I believe local schools, in consultation with parents, athletes, coaches, and their conferences, should get the final say. The Governor’s Office has no business determining who can and cannot play youth sports. This is yet another overreach from Governor Pritzker.”
“As a father of three boys who play sports year round, I understand the integral role athletics play in the education of our children and their mental and physical health. A one-size-fits-all structure to regulating youth sports is not the right approach in a state as regionally diverse as Illinois. This is a clear overreach by Governor Pritzker, and there will be significant health consequences for our children because of these rules,” said Rep. LaHood.
“From day one of his executive orders, the Governor has said he relies solely upon science to make his decisions,” said Butler. “Well, where is his science on these decisions today? Why are sports like lacrosse or ultimate frisbee a higher risk level than basketball and soccer? What is the science on four different levels of play? Yet again, the Governor seems to be making these decisions completely on his own, and certainly with no input from any other elected official.”
Governor Pritzker’s new restrictions “pertains to all youth and adult recreational sports, including, but not limited to, school-based sports (IHSA & IESA), travel clubs, private leagues and clubs, recreational leagues and centers, and park district sports programs.”
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* Gov. Pritzker…
Today we’re going to discuss youth sports. As I’ve noted previously among incidents that lead to higher rates of community spread. The outbreaks tied to youth sports are particularly troubling.
During a previous update I noted that dozens of students and parents tested positive in a Lake Zurich outbreak that was worsened by sports camps and a teen softball league in Knox County was plagued by similar issues.
On its own, and for the safety of its players and families, the Central Illinois Youth Football League entirely canceled its youth season. On Sunday, the football program in Tuscola, Illinois cut off all activities until further notice.
Nationally over half of states have districts that have shut down training, due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
Whether they’re new to the game, or have been training since they could walk, kids want to play sports. Parents want to cheer from the stands and watch the kids succeed and offer some occasionally unsolicited advice for the next game.
Some young people are working toward a scholarship so that they can fund their college education. These are incredibly important moments in the lives of our children and our families and interrupting the season for our athletes and their fans is not a choice that anyone wants to make.
But when the multi million dollar, multi billion dollar sports leagues with multi million dollar athletes are struggling to protect their players, it’s obvious that there won’t be enough protection for kids on our school playing fields. The NBA has resorted to containing its players in aOrlando, to press on with its season, MLB is facing down a major outbreak just days into its abbreviated fan free season.
This virus is unrelenting, and it spreads so easily that no amount of restriction seems to keep it off the playing field or out of the locker room.
And it’s very painful, frankly, for all of us to make this realization. But with rising rates of spread of the virus, with rising positivity rates throughout Illinois, and the entire United States, this is a situation where the toughest choice is also the safest choice.
Therefore today, my administration is releasing new guidance restricting youth and adult recreational organized sports in Illinois. That Aincludes school based sports such as those governing governed by the IHSA and IES, travel clubs, private leagues, recreational leagues and sports centers and Park District sports programs, just to name a few. In the array of examples, we have worked in consultation with the governing bodies of many of these organized sports programs and collectively. We hope that when metrics and risks improve measurably, we will be able to restart the sports. I want to be clear that the restrictions issued today do not include professional sports leagues, or collegiate level sports.
I know our hearts break when we hear the word restrictions, especially when it comes to our children’s love for their sports, whether this year is their first time on the court, or it’s their senior year season.
This isn’t news that anyone wants to hear. But this virus remains dangerous to kids and parents and grandparents, teachers and coaches and for right now. This is the best thing that we can do for the health and safety of our families. Under the current circumstances, based upon their inherent risk level and based upon minimal contact between athletes and their proximity during play. There are certain sports whose seasons can move forward with more limited restrictions. Tennis and baseball as examples simply don’t carry the higher risk inherent in contact sports like wrestling and football. That differentiation is reflected in these guidelines which categorize each sport into three overarching risk levels, lower, medium, and higher.
Think of these guidelines like a grid. Three risk levels of sports and four tiers of levels of play, based on current public health conditions.
At each of the four tiers, different aspects of play are permitted, from no contact practices that include conditioning and training at level one to full scale tournaments in level four. Effective August 15, lower risk sports like tennis, and baseball and golf can be played at levels one, two and three, with activities like no contact practices, team scrimmages and certain competitive games allowed with IDPH safety guidelines.
Medium risk sports like basketball, soccer and volleyball can be played at levels one and two, with no contact practices and team scrimmages allowed.
And higher risk sports like football hockey and lacrosse can be played at level one with no contact practices and trainings and conditioning.
I won’t go through all the sports and what activities are allowed at each level for each sport, but you can read all about these in the guidelines on the state’s coronavirus website. I will also add that the IHSA, the independent body that regulates most school sports. is meeting now to determine how fall sports should move forward in a way that is safe.
Confusing enough?
That website is here. As I type this, the guidelines are not there.
…Adding… This is how it was quickly explained to me: Sports are categorized by risk level and then how they can play is in four levels depending on risk starting with just practice to full play. But basically high risk sports seasons are moved further out to spring. And sports like golf and tennis are low risk so can play with health guidance
*** UPDATE *** The guidance is here.
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* Bernie…
A lawyer representing former state historian Samuel Wheeler said Wheeler was never told of any problems with his job performance before being fired this month.
Chris Wills, spokesman for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, said Tuesday that Wheeler was “terminated for performance.” Wheeler’s last day was July 15.
“Dr. Wheeler was never informed of any performance issues, and from my understanding of the facts, what he did was what he was asked to do,” said Springfield attorney Carl Draper, who represents Wheeler. “He wrote the reports he was asked to report, and he tried to fulfill his obligations that relate to his job duties.”
Meanwhile, Ray LaHood, ALPLM chairman of the board – the state agency for which Wheeler worked – said Tuesday that the governor’s office wants a different role for the state historian. That is one of two titles Wheeler held in his $88,080-a-year job — the other being director of research.
“I think it was clear from the governor’s office that they wanted to go in a different direction with the position of historian and make it more like the poet laureate,” said LaHood, a former member of Congress and U.S. secretary of transportation. He said the position would be subject to a term appointment and the historian would travel the state giving speeches at schools and universities, and also lecture at the Lincoln library and museum in Springfield.
So, which is it? Or is it both?
…Adding… Good questions…
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