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Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Earlier this week, Sen. Terry Link said the Senate Democratic staff was working with the governor’s office to devise legislation that reflected Gov. Pat Quinn’s wishes on the gaming expansion bill…

“Our staff has been working with (Quinn’s) staff to put together his ideas into real form. And all of his concepts will be put exactly into a bill form, exactly the way he wants it so it will be his bill that I will be presenting,” Link said.

That bill surfaced earlier today. Click here to read it.

* Despite Link’s claims, Gov. Quinn derided any effort to bring his ideas to the floor for a vote…

“We don’t need any charades. What we need is the Senate, which passed the bill on the 31st of May, to send the bill to the governor. Stop the game-playing, stop the delays or whatever else they’re doing over there.

“They passed their masterpiece on May 31. Bring it on. Make my day. And I’ll be happy to examine that bill and use the power of the governor’s office and the executive branch to send them how I feel about their bill.”

Video…

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the governor’s press office…

Hi Rich,

The bill that was introduced today is not a serious effort to address the Governor’s concerns about Senate Bill 744.

This is not “the Governor’s bill.” Instead of improving their current bill and having good faith discussions within the Governor’s framework amongst the House, the City of Chicago, the racing industry, the Gaming Board, and the Governor’s Office, some have chosen to put on a charade.

The Governor announced a framework – not a bill- for any gambling expansion last week. He will support a smaller, more moderate gambling expansion that prevents corruption and provides adequate revenue for education.

Governor Quinn looks forward to moving past the political games and towards sincere negotiations to reach a legitimate proposal that meets the framework he laid out to protect the interests of the people of Illinois.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From Senate President Cullerton’s spokesperson…

What part of 747 inaccurately reflects the Governor’s framework? Staff took care to consult with the Governors staff to ensure that the draft was an accurate interpretation of the Governor’s press packet.

The failure of the Governor to appropriately engage the legislature by submitting an actual bill for consideration brings us to the point we are today.

Oof.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Sen. Terry Link responds…

“The governor was making phone calls trying to get people supporting this before we even had a bill written, so he was already making phone calls and I think he already felt that there was a lot of people out there who didn’t have the willingness to vote for his concept,” Link said. “The governor probably knows the roll call already, and that’s why he’s denouncing it and saying ‘this is not my bill.’ Well, governor, if you really want something, sit down with us and work on it.”

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* The Question: As long as the Senate bill accurately reflects the governor’s wishes, do you think it’s proper to bring this gaming legislation to the floor for a vote? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Thanks.

Online Surveys & Market Research

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*** UPDATED x3 - Houses passes trailer bill *** Senate finds the votes for ComEd bill despite Quinn threats

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE 1 *** HB3036, the “Smart Grid” trailer bill just passed the House 91-24 without debate. The bill now goes to the governor.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Apparently, some House members didn’t realize what they were voting on because several have risen in the past few minutes to ask that the journal be changed to reflect a “No” vote.

Sheesh.

*** UPDATE 3 *** From Nicole Wilson…

Senator Jacobs holds off on calling Smart Grid Bill for override despite the fact that he says he has the votes to restore.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* The Sun-Times editorialized against the “Smart Grid” trailer bill today…

Quinn, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Citizens Utility Board, AARP and other critics say the bill would set ComEd profits at about 10 percent and could go higher.

But there is no comparable guarantee for ratepayers. A provision that their total bills won’t go up more than 2.5 percent lasts only two years.

ComEd and its Downstate counterpart, Ameren, have been fighting hard for this bill. ComEd argues that the new system outlined in the legislation would encourage the utility to invest in a better electrical system instead of just trying to keep its existing system running. And ComEd officials emphasize that they will be required to meet performance measures to get their full profits, though critics say the measures will be so easy to meet they are virtually worthless.

* The Tribune editorialized for it…

We viewed this legislation with skepticism, and only now embrace it. We thought the formula for return on equity was too rich in favor of the utilities. With Tuesday’s trailer bill, it’s whittled down to a more reasonable level. We thought the requirements for hardening the grid against future storm outages were inadequate. The trailer bill addresses that too. ComEd even revived a good idea for a fund to cushion the impact of higher rates on the elderly and poor. As the legislation underwent a rigorous review, it got better. That’s how the legislative process is supposed to work.

If ComEd and Ameren do manage to pass this legislation, they take on a very significant commitment. The bill requires them to bring the state’s power system into the 21st century. But like all bills, it provides only a framework. The success or failure of the new law will come down to how the utilities implement it. They need to maximize the benefit to their customers. They need to deliver on the many important promises they’ve made. All of us will need to hold them accountable.

* My own opinion is the governor should’ve been far more involved in the process and tried to cut the best deal possible for consumers, without all the demagoguery…

The Illinois Senate torpedoed what had been the governor’s No. 1 priority in the fall veto session, voting 37-10 to approve legislation sought by Commonwealth Edison that was part of a $2.6 billion rate-increase package.

The margin signals that senators have the votes to override Quinn’s veto of the main package.Shortly before Tuesday’s vote, the governor appeared before reporters, churning out sound bite after sound bite in a furious tirade against the utility company and rank-and-file legislators who pocketed its campaign contributions.

“There’s no way to put perfume on this skunk, and that’s what it is,” the governor said, referring to the legislation sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) that won Senate backing a short time later.

The governor derided ComEd’s so-called “smart-grid” legislation as a “smart-greed” bill and condemned “legislators with three loaves of bread under each arm, all the campaign donations they’ve gotten from the utility companies.”

“It’s harmful to the public and the public interest,” the governor said.

* More…

The governor said Illinois utility companies including ComEd are trying to ram the so-called Smart Grid Bill down the throats of rate payers. He accused the companies of using lobbyists and money to convince a majority of state lawmakers to vote yes.

“We have some legislators who have three loaves of bread under each arm, all the campaign donations they’ve got the public interest,” Gov. Quinn said.

* The House sponsor of the original ComEd bill was not amused…

State Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orlando Park, who is shepherding SmartGrid through the House, said Quinn is coming close to insulting lawmakers with his talk of loaves and campaign donations.

“Trying to imply that because a person got a contribution that that’s going to stop and make them (change their vote), that shouldn’t be in the discourse,” said McCarthy.

* Neither was the trailer bill’s Senate sponsor…

“There is nothing in this trailer bill that is controversial or bad for consumers,” countered Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, who sponsored the measure.

* Gov. Quinn’s presser…

* Related…

* VIDEO: AARP rally

* VIDEO: AFL-CIO to lawmakers: Grid Modernization all about jobs

* Lawmakers look for ways around Quinn’s opposition

* Marin: ‘99 percent’ out of luck in Springfield

* Illinois State Senate Approves New Smart Grid Bill

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Speed cam bill has some stunning consequences

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Wow…

Nearly half the city would fall into so-called safety zones where speed cameras sought by Mayor Rahm Emanuel could flag fast drivers for $100 tickets, according to a Tribune analysis of camera legislation in Springfield. […]

The measures, one sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and the other by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, would render about 47 percent of the city eligible for speed camera surveillance, the analysis found. As originally introduced last week, Madigan’s bill would have covered about 75 percent of the city, but he promised Tuesday to scale it back.

* But the Sun-Times says the original proposal would cover 99 percent of the city…

* As mentioned above, Madigan wants it scaled back…

But Madigan, saying he was responding to complaints aired by Republicans on that Senate panel, said he would revise his bill to restrict camera use to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. around schools. Near parks, speed cameras could be flicked on one hour before the park opens and stay on until one hour after it closes, Madigan said.

* Rationale…

Last spring, the Chicago Department of Transportation collected speed information at seven existing red-light camera intersections within one-eighth of a mile of schools and parks and found that 25.7 percent of the 1.5 million vehicles — 360,000 drivers — were traveling above the 30 mph speed limit, officials said.

“This is about deterrence. I want our kids to get to school and be in schools safely,” the mayor said.

“I have a set of policies already put in place on the curfew, more cameras in schools, raising the fines for those who have guns near schools. And I want to make sure that people driving near a school or a park have a deterrence.”

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said that pedestrian deaths in Chicago are 68 percent higher than in New York City, with the overwhelming cause being a failure to yield.

* Gov. Pat Quinn was asked about the legislation yesterday and said he wanted to make sure the proposal wasn’t being used merely as a revenue generator…

* And, of course…

State records show Redflex has hired the influential lobbying firm of Fletcher, O’Brien, Kasper and Nottage, P.C., to push its interests in Springfield. One of the firm’s named members, attorney Michael Kasper, is the general counsel and treasurer of the state Democratic Party that Madigan runs. Kasper was also hired by Emanuel to beat back several residency challenges that threatened his mayoral run.

37 Comments

Madigan takes jabs at Quinn, AFSCME

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

* House Speaker Michael Madigan unveiled a joint resolution yesterday which attempts to inject the General Assembly into upcoming state labor negotiations…

Madigan introduced a resolution that would empower the Legislature to have input into raises that may be part of upcoming collective-bargaining talks between Quinn’s administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

In a jab at Quinn, Madigan’s measure also states that no-layoff pledges, like the governor’s “side agreement with AFSCME,” can’t be part of collective-bargaining discussions.

“Gov. Quinn gave that away. I don’t think he should do that, and that’s why we recite in this resolution that should not be done,” said Madigan, chairman of the state Democratic Party.

* The Speaker’s rationale…

Madigan said the state faces tough budgets for years to come, and much of the spending in those budgets will be employee salaries. The resolution states that payroll for AFSCME members alone in the current budget year would have been more than $2.76 billion had lawmakers not cut personnel expenses.

The resolution also states that cost of living increases for AFSCME members have averaged 4.25 percent a year over the past five years. From 2007 to 2010, the resolution says, the consumer price index has increased an average of 1.95 percent a year.

“We have a choice. We can stand on the sidelines and let those people go off and do what they do and send us a bill,” Madigan said. “Or, we can interject ourselves now and be present through the negotiations.”

AFSCME’s contract expires June 30.

* With many thanks to our friends at BlueRoomStream.com, here’s raw video of Madigan’s remarks on the House floor…

* From Madigan’s resolution…

[Resolved…] the State shall appropriate for no more than an X% increase for wage increases associated with any and all collectively bargained contracts throughout State government; and be it further

RESOLVED, That it shall be the policy of the State of Illinois that the size of, or a reduction in, the State employee workforce shall not be a topic of collective bargaining.

* More…

Madigan implied Quinn and his aides — or “those people” — can’t be trusted to negotiate financially realistic contracts. Instead, lawmakers should play a role so that they don’t get any nasty surprises.

“We can stand on the sidelines, let those people go off and do what they do and send us a bill, or we can interject ourselves now and be present through the negotiations so that our position is known and understood as those people are bargaining,” Madigan said told fellow lawmakers.

Madigan said a House committee will determine an acceptable percentage for union raises in the next contract and then vote on the resolution before the Legislature adjourns its fall session next month. Senate President John Cullerton, D- Chicago, said he wants the two chambers to work together on the issue and he would review Madigan’s plan.

Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson called Madigan’s resolution “an interesting suggestion.”

* AFSCME’s response…

“Instead of stirring resentment toward working people and weakening their rights to bargain collectively, Illinois politicians should focus on fixing a tax structure that has never made rich people and big corporations pay their fair share,” said AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall. “It’s wrong to shift blame from the tax-ducking 1% and the recession they caused to the middle class wages of average working people who care for veterans and the disabled, protect children and keep prisons safe.”

* Coincidentally, organized labor is holding a major Statehouse rally today.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and a campaign roundup

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

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