* Six days out and she goes back up. Also, I have no info yet about the size of this buy. Press release…
Today, the campaign for Toni Preckwinkle released it’s next ad, “Troubling,” which will air on broadcast, cable and digital.
The ad exposes mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot’s role, then serving as Chief of Staff in the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, in the botched response to a tragic West Side fire that resulted in the death of four children, and the ensuing cover up.
A judge ordered sanctions against Lightfoot for her “shockingly lax” and “cavalier” handling of the case, in which evidence was either withheld or destroyed.
The judge in the case called Lightfoot’s actions troubling, and questioned Lightfoot’s honesty with the court, to the point that he advised her that she might want to retain legal counsel.
A tragic fire made worse when the 9-1-1 call center run by Lori Lightfoot, allegedly botched the response, costing lives.
To cover it up, Lightfoot allegedly lied, and became extremely evasive. That’s not “bringing in the light.”
“Lori Lightfoot says she wants to bring in the light, but her actions tell a different story,” said Jessey Neves, campaign manager. “This tragic story sheds light on the fact that when Lori Lightfoot had the opportunity to show accountability and transparency, she led a troubling cover up.”
* I told subscribers about these dark money group ads earlier today, so I’ll just leave it at this press release…
Today, Ideas Illinois launched a campaign targeting state legislators calling on them to oppose the Pritzker-Madigan Jobs Tax on middle class families.
“The politicians in Springfield can stop this massive Jobs Tax now by simply not putting it on the ballot in 2020,” Ideas Illinois Chairman Greg Baise said. “Ideas Illinois is calling on legislators to protect the interests of middle class families in their districts rather than handing a blank check to Springfield insiders.”
Democratic Reps. Monica Bristow, Jonathon Carroll, Terra Costa Howard and Mary Edly-Allen are being targeted. Here’s one of the spots…
The group’s online ads say Springfield politicians have hiked taxes in the past and promised those tax increases would fix the state’s problems.
“Pritzker and Madigan want to change the constitution to allow a permanent jobs tax on middle class families,” it says. “It won’t say how much you’ll pay: a blank check for Springfield. Pritzker and Madigan want you to trust them to do the right thing. But they broke their promise before … and they’ll do it again, if we trust them again.”
The ads are supposedly online and TV, but they’re not yet on Facebook (I’m told they start tomorrow) and the other side says they haven’t seen any TV buys as of yet (I’m told they’re coming). Think Big Illinois started its own campaign two weeks ago, but its Facebook ads have stopped running.
…Adding… Think Big Illinois…
This is the latest in a string of attacks by some of the wealthiest Illinoisans who will do or say anything to avoid being forced to pay their fair share.
But the facts are clear – irresponsible governance and financial mismanagement have left Illinois with a $3.2 billion deficit. A fair tax will address this crisis, while only raising taxes on people making more than $250,000 a year and bringing in $3.4 billion a year in much-needed revenue that will go toward funding critical programs, including our schools.
As evidence mounts that Illinoisans across the state support a fair tax, we expect efforts by opponents to only grow more desperate as they fight to keep in place a system that benefits them and their bottom line.
DCFS Interim Director Debra Dyer-Webster said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget request is intended to address many of the agency’s needs. It calls for total spending of $1.26 billion in the upcoming fiscal year, a $75 million increase over this year’s budget. That would be the largest single-year increase the agency has had in more than 20 years.
Much of the increase would be used to hire 126 additional investigators and case workers to ease the workloads on staff in local and regional offices around the state. […]
But Sen. Andy Manar, a Democrat from Bunker Hill, questioned whether the $75 million increase the administration wants would be enough to address the agency’s needs.
“The $75 million is the single biggest increase we’ve had in over 20 years, but it is only a first step,” said Royce Kirkpatrick, DCFS’s acting chief financial officer.
Lawmakers questioned why they didn’t ask for all the money that they needed.
“We recite the names of dead children in this committee hearing once a year,” Senator Andy Manar said. “So why didn’t the department walk in the door today with the request that is necessary to operate the department for the upcoming fiscal year?”
All agencies testify about the official budget request that comes directly from the governor. Manar knows this, of course, but he also has a valid point. Shouldn’t DCFS tell the General Assembly exactly what it needs? That might make the governor look bad for skimping, but the Illinois State Board of Education presents its own budget proposal every year. Yes, it’s a quasi independent body with its own board, but it’s still not a bad idea.
DCFS has huge problems. So, what do you really need?
* And we may know some answers to that question in six weeks or so. As I was writing all of that, this popped into my in-box…
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced that Marc D. Smith, the Executive Vice President of Foster Care and Intact Services at Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, will be his nominee to lead the Department of Children and Family Services.
Governor Pritzker has also expanded expert services that the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall already provides to DCFS, asking them to conduct an independent and comprehensive review of how the agency’s Intact Family Services unit functions, and has asked for initial actionable recommendations in the next six weeks. This will ensure that respected independent experts with a deep understanding of DCFS operations and challenges can provide immediate input to the new director and administration.
“The most vulnerable people in Illinois are the children served by DCFS, and we must provide them the best services that our state can offer, which means assessing and implementing the recommendations of child welfare experts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Within six weeks, Chapin Hall will deliver a report to the new DCFS director with strategic recommendations for improving children’s safety and the quality of the services the agency is providing.”
Following the initial recommendations, Chapin Hall will also provide a more comprehensive review of policies, practices and procedures in the Intact Family Services Unit in order to make additional concrete recommendations for action. Chapin Hall will apply a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary systems approach and will survey several areas, including infrastructure supports like technology to determine if there are better ways to detect increased risk and prevent harm to children. A copy of their scope of work is attached.
Background
Marc D. Smith will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Since 2009, Smith has served as the Executive Vice President of Foster Care and Intact Services at Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, Illinois’ largest provider of services to families in crisis. In the role, he collaborates with child welfare leaders, professionals, and other stakeholders to implement family-centered systems and practices that protect and support vulnerable children and families. Smith came to his most recent role after working for more than two decades as a social worker, trainer, and leader in child welfare. From 2004 to 2009, he served as a program administrator and recovery coach at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, where he managed the Child Welfare Division. Earlier in his career, Smith worked as a public service administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1993 to 2000. Smith has served on numerous boards, committees, and work groups, helping to shape policies and inform best practices in leadership and in the field. He has also led the development of program models that have increased the likelihood of family reunification, increased adoptions, and significantly improved the ability of workers and agencies to connect people with substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and other supportive services. A licensed clinical social worker and certified trainer, the Joliet resident received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter, is encouraged to hear that Governor J.B. Pritzker has selected Marc Smith, LCSW, for the role of director of the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). As a licensed clinical social worker and leader in foster care services, Mr. Smith brings a deep understanding of the system and how our contracted services work. DCFS has numerous challenges that need to be addressed, and we stand ready to work with the new appointment in improving the outcomes of youth in care and those who are now alumni.”
* ABATE withdrew its endorsement of Gov. Bruce Rauner last year after he issued an executive order allowing relatively easy access to roads by so-called “autonomous” cars and trucks. I received this ABATE release yesterday…
[Monday] at a press conference with the Illinois State Police raising awareness for Scott’s Law, Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to a question on driverless vehicles with remarks urging caution on the implementation and utilization of driverless vehicles. ABATE of Illinois agrees with Governor Pritzker’s remarks, especially with the admission that this technology is “not ready today”. A point so important that the Governor repeated it for emphasis. The Governor even went so far as to say “This is not something that we’re going to authorize sometime soon in the State of Illinois.”
Unfortunately, this unproven technology is currently allowed on Illinois roads with no oversight due to an executive order signed by former Governor Rauner in October of 2018. The order allows robot cars and semi-trucks on Illinois Roads simply by filing a letter with IDOT. ABATE of Illinois calls on Governor Pritzker to rescind that dangerous order, and return the issue of Autonomous Vehicles back to the General Assembly where stakeholders can work together to craft reasonable regulations that protect the safety of all road users in Illinois.
“We certainly need to be careful about the implementation, the utilization of driverless vehicles. They’re not ready today. They’re not ready today. And I know that the tests that I’ve seen have been imperfect at best. And so we’re going to have to wait and see. This is not something that we’re going to authorize sometime soon in the State of Illinois” - J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
* So, I checked in with the governor’s office. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
The governor was clear in his comments [Monday] and is always open to reviewing proposals brought forth by advocates.
…Adding…A resolution sponsored by Sen. Tom Cullerton to disapprove Rauner’s EO was adopted 18-0 by the Senate Transportation Committee on March 5th. It’s now awaiting floor action.
State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) was joined by members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday to unveil a proposal that would protect middle-class residents by giving them a voice in safeguarding their hard-earned money.
Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 12, sponsored by Sen. McConchie, proposes an amendment to Illinois’ Constitution to prohibit the Legislature from imposing or raising a state tax or fee except through legislation approved by a two-thirds super-majority vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Currently, legislators only need a simple majority to pass a tax increase or to implement a new tax.
In announcing their Constitutional Amendment, Republicans said taxpayers deserve the option to decide whether a supermajority should be required when the Legislature votes on legislation dealing with taxes, and noted that increasing taxes in Illinois is too easy and is often used as a first resort when dealing with financial issues.
“With all the new taxes being proposed by the super-majority in both chambers, we need to ensure adequate protections are in place to protect those middle-class families already feeling the burden imposed by years of government over-spending and fiscal mismanagement,” said McConchie.
Senate Republicans noted that 15 states impose some kind of super-majority requirement to raise or implement taxes. Also, similar proposals have been introduced by legislators in Illinois in the past.
“California, who is in a financial position similar to Illinois, has implemented this requirement,” said McConchie. “Wisconsin also has this provision in place. In fact, many states are moving toward empowering their residents by offering this protection.”
To put SJRCA 12 on the ballot in 2020, a 3/5 majority is required, and for the amendment to be adopted, voters must approve it on the ballot with a 3/5th of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election.
If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, any new state tax or any state tax increase would need 40 votes in the Senate and 79 votes in the House.
* Chaser…
Think Big Illinois Executive Director Quentin Fulks released the following statement in response to the Illinois Senate GOP’s proposed constitutional amendment to block the implementation of a fair tax:
“Republicans in Springfield are so desperate to keep our current unfair tax system that they are resorting to political stunts in an attempt to ensure a system that disproportionately places the burden on middle and lower-class families stays in place.
“It’s not surprising that Republicans are using every trick in the book to protect the wealthy donors they rely on to fund their campaigns, but Illinois needs a fair tax to modernize our tax code and bring in much-needed revenue, which will go toward helping solve our budget crisis and fund critical programs, including our schools.
“Under Governor Pritzker’s fair tax plan, 97% of Illinoisans will see no state income tax increase, with only those making above $250,000 paying more. That’s the kind of tax system Illinois’ working families deserve, and that’s what Think Big Illinois will continue to fight for.”
…Adding… One more…
The Senate GOP filed a resolution seeking a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority to raise or enact any new taxes. Speaker Madigan’s spokesman responds, “Typically, [Madigan] has not been a big backer of allowing the minority to exercise outsized control.”
