* Background here and here. From the twitters…
Pretty overwhelming.
*** UPDATE *** Comments are now open. And here’s some more from the Tribune…
A floor debate over the platform language on marriage grew raucous, when opponents successfully reinstated the 2012 wording to define marriage instead of the recommendation that “non-traditional families are worthy of the same respect and legal protections as traditional families.”
Ryan Higgins of the west and northwest suburban 8th Congressional District faced shouts of “Go Home!” as he spoke in favor of the new language and the “diversity of views” on same-sex marriage. Higgins noted the new wording also specifically supported “religious liberty,” which was not addressed in the 2012 language.
But state Reps. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro and Peter Breen of Lombard, and state Sen. Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods spoke in favor of reinstating the one-man, one-woman marriage language to help conservative Republican legislative candidates.
“In the last several decades, our pickups (of legislative seats from Democrats) in the state have been in the south,” Bryant said. By returning the definition of marriage language, she said, “Our platform distinguishes us from the Democrats.”
* Peoria Journal Star…
State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, also told the audience that there was little support among rank-and-file Republicans for adjusting the language in the platform.
“There’s no groundswell out there amongst Republicans to change the definition of marriage,” he said.
“It’s a core Republican principle across the country.”
Party chairman Tim Schneider had to twice call for calm and a respectful exchange of ideas as proponents of newer language were interrupted by jeers, boos and shouts of “Go home!”
* Daily Herald…
On the other side, Ryan Higgins, leader of the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization, defended the change recommended by a Republican committee as one that strengthened religious liberty principles in the platform.
As Higgins finished his speech, some delegates at the large convention gathering booed and shouted “go home.”
“Are you prepared to remove the notion that … Republicans may have a diversity of views on this issue?” Higgins said in part. “And if so, are you prepared to defend that exclusion to fellow Republicans?”
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Chicago cops conduct major gang raid
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* They’ll never be able to arrest their way out of this mess, but I’ll take it…
Sneed hears police just concluded a major gang raid, which rounded up 140 offenders, including 95 documented gang members in an effort to thwart the start of a summer of violence. […]
The round-up, which began early Thursday morning, was conducted on the city’s South and West sides by Chicago Police Department narcotic and gun units targeting the 11th and 15th police districts. Approximately 170 offenders were sought.
“Nearly 80 percent were on our Strategic Subject list of offenders with known gang history,’ said the source. “Those arrested were charged with drug dealing, possession and illegal gun possession,” he added. Sneed is told 23 guns were confiscated.
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Exelon, How Dumb Do You Think We Are?
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Last year, Exelon claimed they needed a $300 million bailout spread across six plants. This year, their new bailout plan calls for…wait for it…$250 million for only two plants (Crain’s: Ratepayers could be on hook for $250 Million for Exelon’s nukes).
Wait. What?
As Crain’s said this morning: “That’s total revenue of $250 million, not far from the $290 million last year’s bill would have generated for all of Exelon’s nukes.”
Last year they said Clinton and Quad Cities’ share of the bailout (about $70 million), would keep those plants running for at least five years. Now, instead of $70 million, those two plants need $250 million. Are you kidding me?
So let’s review. In just three weeks, Exelon is caught deceiving lawmakers - pleading poverty as they bragged to Wall Street. Then they’re caught again – zeroing out RPS funding even as they claimed to be fixing RPS funding. And now, their ask for just these two plants has more than quadrupled.
But wait, there’s more. This bill guarantees that ratepayers will pay Exelon – a company that made more than $2 billion last year - huge profits (estimated at $110 million by Crain’s).
The company defended this by saying “Exelon is a business, and like any business, it must sufficiently cover its costs and provide a return on capital investment that fully reflects business risks,”
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
JUST SAY NO TO THE EXELON BAILOUT.
BEST Coalition is a 501C4 nonprofit group of dozens of business, consumer and government groups, as well as large and small businesses. Visit www.noexelonbailout.com.
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* Riopell…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday said he is “not a fan” of collecting taxes on Illinoisans’ retirement income, an idea that’s seen pushback in a stream of radio spots, print ads and robocalls in recent days.
AARP started railing against the idea in ads across the state this week as Rauner and Democrats try to work out a long overdue budget.
“I’m personally not a fan of taxing retirement income,” Rauner said.
But also: “The legislature is talking about a lot of different tax reform ideas,” he said. “I don’t want to jump in early. Some of the things they’re recommending, I’ll be maybe OK with. Other things I won’t be.”
Despite his all too usual qualification, I’ve heard for quite some time that Rauner doesn’t want a retirement tax.
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The Credit Union Difference
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Credit unions exist as member owned cooperative financial institutions. Cooperatives are most often formed to support producers such as farmers, purchasers such as independent business owners, and consumers such as electric coops and credit unions. Their primary purpose is to meet members’ needs through affordable goods and services of high quality.
As not-for-profit financial cooperatives, credit unions serve individuals with a common goal or interest. They are owned and democratically controlled by the people who use their services. Their board of directors consists of unpaid volunteers, elected by and from the membership.
One of the unique benefits that sets credit unions apart is their ability to provide members with bonus dividends. As member-owned financial cooperatives, credit unions are able to share exceptional profits with their members.
To share in the credit union experience, visit ASmarterChoice.org and locate a credit union near you!
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Finding a workable messaging frame
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was somehow included in a group e-mail message about human services funding. But a very interesting e-mail was included in the back and forth and I asked permission to post an edited version here. It was granted…
The ongoing coverage of the human toll has not generated the kind of response from the general public that we would have liked to have seen, such as empathy, outrage, and the sense that we are all in this together.
I think that is wishful thinking on our part, meaning on the part of those of us who work in human services. We are not swaying the general public with our horrifying stories of human suffering. We are met, largely, with indifference or even harsh judgement (remember the debate last fall about why we should be providing child care support for low-income parents - Why should we take care of their children? They should not have had kids in the first place, etc. etc.).
The Frameworks research on this is pretty clear, and I am sorry to see it confirmed here in Illinois in such a stark way. The National Human Services Assembly has commissioned this research and is disseminating it.
We are having far more success with our messaging about honoring contracts, and that paying people for the work they have done under legal contracts is just good business. I get media calls every single day now, from print, broadcast, radio, local, statewide, even national media.
The message that people should be paid for work done under legal contracts is a sticky message, and a non-controversial one. It is even a conservative one, if you think about it. And it resonates with people.
More info about that national reframing research is here.
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*** UPDATE *** ”This is not a reversal,” I’m told. The administration has always had a plan to somehow repurpose the facility, I was informed in no uncertain terms.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* As we’ve discussed many times before, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s main weak spot is Republican legislators. Whenever they rise up and forcefully demand something, Rauner complies.
It apparently happened again, even though this compromise also helps out a Tier One Democratic target…
After an “all hands on deck” approach to solving what would have been a potential setback for Henry County, legislators and local leaders applauded a new beginning for the Illinois Youth Center at Kewanee on May 20. State Rep. Don Moffitt (R-Gilson), State Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria), State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Rock Island), and State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Port Byron) were joined by employees, county officials, city and economic leaders to show unity for the people of Henry County.
“Senator Weaver and I are pleased to announce we have a letter of commitment from Governor Rauner that IDOC will re-utilize IYC-Kewanee as a correctional facility. This announcement only became a reality with the combined legislative and Kewanee area community effort. This is good for the community, good for jobs, and good for the taxpayers,” said Rep. Moffitt. “I want to thank Governor Rauner for making this commitment.”
“We look forward to helping ensure the Illinois Department of Corrections realize its goals to help rehabilitate our state’s inmate population and provide the justice that our courts seek. I know the addition of the Kewanee Youth Center into IDOC’s inventory will be an asset,” Weaver said. “I want to thank the Governor’s Office and the Department of Corrections for a continuing commitment to Kewanee, Henry County and criminal justice reform.”
Senator Anderson added, “I am pleased with the announcement and commitment that the Governor has given. Although Kewanee is not in my district, a large number of the employees reside in the 36th Senate District. The facility will aide the Department’s mission serving justice for Illinois’ citizens.”
Representative Smiddy also added, “This has been a strong bipartisan effort to ensure this facility continued to stay open and offer economic viability to Henry County.”
The Illinois Youth Center-Kewanee is the newest facility for Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice and will be one of the most modern for IDOC, with it’s opening in 2001. It will be a safe addition for both employees and inmates, and an efficient use of taxpayer dollars. The Illinois Department of Corrections currently has more than 45,000 inmates in custody, while only maintaining actual bed space for about 31,000.
Re-purposing the Kewanee IYC facility will help take a small step towards resolving some of the inmate overcrowding issues as the Rauner Administration and Illinois General Assembly work collaboratively to reform the criminal justice system. It is expected that the re-purposing will help relieve some under-staffing and overtimes hours within the Department of Corrections.
The exact mission for the IYC facility has yet to be determined.
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Good news, bad news
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WSIL TV…
A survey of more than a thousand small cities in America names Carbondale as one of the top towns to start a small business.
A 2016 national study by financial adviser Wallet Hub of best small cities to start a small business ranks Carbondale 22nd out of 1,268.
The survey considered factors like access to resources and average revenue per business.
Cool news, and North Chicago actually scored as the 2nd best small city in the nation. Wilmette is listed as the small city with the fourth most educated workforce.
* But it’s not quite that straight forward…
Where Carbondale doesn’t do well is business environment. According to the survey, the city scores close to last place on specific items like average business growth and revenues.
* And there are some real rough spots here. For instance, Carbondale was ranked as having the lowest median annual income in the nation, one notch ahead of East St. Louis, of all places.
While Carbondale ranked 2nd in highest average growth in number of small businesses, Galesburg was two slots away from the very bottom of that national category.
And Danville was very near the bottom in the number of startups per capita national category.
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* The candidate claims she made a mistake and didn’t mean to say she supported the actual bill. But, despite Sen. Andy Manar’s hold harmless clause that would prevent any schools from losing money, the Republicans still maintain schools in the district will lose $10 million under Manar’s funding reform bill. So, right or wrong, you better believe this’ll be in GOP Rep. Dwight Kay’s direct mail program…
[Katie Stuart], an Edwardsville Democrat who is running for state representative in the Illinois House District 112, posted to Facebook a photo of herself Monday at a rally with other supporters of Senate Bill 231, which would change the school funding formula.
Her post mentioned the bill by number, and she wrote, “I sincerely hope the bill passes in the House with enough votes to protect it against a veto by the governor.”
A few hours later, she revised the post — removing any mention of the bill and instead stating, “I sincerely hope the House recognizes the need to fix our funding formula for school districts.” […]
“I’d say it’s a flip-flop, and a pretty serious one,” Kay said. “It’s a huge flip-flop. This is a catastrophic mistake.” […]
“I think somebody, probably (House Speaker) Mike Madigan or one of his handlers, called her and said you better flip-flop because you’re going to cost the school districts in Madison and St. Clair counties millions of dollars in revenues, which are going to be sent to Chicago to cover pension costs,” Kay said. “That’s not going to happen under my watch.”
His logic is flawed, his Chicago-bashing is expected (albeit counter-productive if he does want to get a deal) and Kay has his own problems, but that was not a smart move by Stuart.
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* Illinois Review is reporting on a proposed Illinois Republican Party compromise over its platform plank on gay marriage. The existing plank…
* The proposed compromise…
*** UPDATE *** Discuss.
IR…
Friday, Congressman John Shimkus (IL-15) stepped up to voice his support for maintaining the Illinois Republican Party’s platform support for one-man, one-woman marriage definition.
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The mayor’s playbook
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not only does Ben Joravsky provide us with a sound argument that Friends of the Parks is far from an “elitist” or “white” organization, we are also treated to this spot-on analysis about the Lucas Museum push…
In many ways, the mayor and his allies are following a script written by Emanuel’s predecessor—Mayor You-Know-Who—when he tried to cram the Children’s Museum into Grant Park or turn Chicago’s parks into construction zones for the 2016 Olympics.
Call it a four-step process.
Step one: The mayor announces, Great news, Chicago! You’re getting something you didn’t know you wanted.
In this case, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, assembled by Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Step two: The mayor pressures his oversight boards and bodies to approve the deal without anything resembling serious oversight.
In this case, that means Emanuel got the Plan Commission, the City Council, and the Park District board to enthusiastically approve putting the Lucas Museum on the lakefront.
Step three: The mayor gets scions of civic and corporate Chicago—always willing to oblige—to praise the plan. Usually they quote Daniel Burnham, who’s not around to defend himself since he’s been dead for more than a century.
Finally, if there’s any resistance, the mayor brings out the heavy artillery—often Father Pfleger—to denounce the opposition as elitists.
Thus Father Pfleger wrote on his Facebook page May 3: “How dare this Elitist Group of Unknowns decide they control Chicago. . . They are friends of NOBODY, especially not of JOBS AND CHILDREN!!!!”
Yep. It’s definitely the playbook. And it’s used by far more people than whoever happens to be the mayor. Regulated utilities often do the same thing at the Statehouse.
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We need some growth
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Not good at all…
Chicago, the only city among the nation’s 20 largest to see population loss in 2015, could be overtaken in a decade by Houston as the third-most-populous city if the trend continues, experts said.
The city of Chicago lost about 2,890 residents between 2014 and 2015, bringing the city’s population down to 2,720,546, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Numbers made available in March showed the greater Chicago area, which includes the city and suburbs and extends into Wisconsin and Indiana, lost an estimated 6,263 residents — the greatest loss of any metropolitan area in the country… Rockford and Joliet lost residents, about 876 and 73 people, respectively, according to census data. […]
Experts say the main factors in Chicago’s population dip are the exodus of African-Americans and the aging of the Mexican immigrant population. More than any other city, Chicago has depended on Mexican immigrants to balance the sluggish growth of its native-born population, said Paral, the Chicago demographer. During the 1990s, immigration accounted for most of Chicago’s population growth.
But after 2007, falling Mexican-born populations became a trend across the country’s major metropolitan areas. Most of those cities were able to make up for the loss with the growth of their native populations, but Chicago couldn’t.
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Columnist announces retirement, candidacy
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Longtime columnist Jim Muir is leaving the Southern Illinoisan to run for countywide office…
A couple months ago I was approached by the Franklin County Republican Party about running for circuit clerk in the November election. After looking the situation over from top to bottom, seeking the counsel of wise friends and much, much prayer I decided it was the right thing to do at the exact right time in my life. From the moment I said ‘yes’ I have been totally at peace with the decision.
I want to stress that while I am running as a republican, I will continue to be an independent voice and thinker. I learned many years ago that neither party – Democrats or Republicans – have the market cornered on good people and fresh, new ideas. Admittedly, I am not a politician, and while I might be perceived as naïve in some people’s eyes, I still believe that one person and one voice can be a difference-maker. My goal is to be that person and that voice.
I understand that going up against an incumbent Democrat in Franklin County is a big challenge and an uphill battle. The only guarantee that I can give is that nobody will outwork me … nobody.
When making a life-changing decision like this at age 62 I immediately thought of an old adage that I’ve used often. It says: ‘I’d rather have a life of ‘oh-wells’ than a life of ‘what-ifs.’
Good luck, Jim!
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Rauner: Meh
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday said he’d “probably be comfortable” with a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The bill, approved by a 64-50 vote by the Illinois House on Wednesday, would ensure no one in Illinois could be criminally charged for possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. The Senate passed the measure in April with a 40-14 vote. […]
Steans’ bill could save taxpayers as much as $24 million a year.
On Thursday, Rauner said he’s still reviewing the bill but would likely support it if the language fits his recommendations.
* Tribune…
“We get caught up in what our state pie is going to be, and how much marijuana is going to get sold,” Rauner said Thursday as he was pushing for passage of his “turnaround” legislative agenda at a Springfield steel fabrication plant. He noted that the General Assembly last year passed more than 500 bills, including one that designated pumpkin as the official state pie.
“You know, it’s lovely topics,” Rauner said. “We got a budget crisis, we need more jobs, we need higher wages, we need more money for our schools. Let’s focus on what matters.”
This topic matters, governor. Prohibition has ruined more lives than we can imagine.
And, keep in mind, the reason it’s about to become law is because it was a do-able, bipartisan reform - which you, yourself suggested. C’mon, man.
* While we’re at it, how about loosening up the medical marijuana laws? I was told yesterday that a growing facility in southern Illinois that invested millions of dollars is laying off a bunch of workers because of a lack of demand. Adding more treatable maladies would certainly help.
We also need to look at possibly scaling back the tight restrictions on which doctors can participate. Right now, patients need to have an “established relationship” with their docs. But it turns out that lots of physicians are refusing to participate, either out of fear of federal problems or for personal reasons.
There’s jobs in them thar bushes.
…Adding… Reboot…
Illinois HB 4276 proposes a tax structure [on legalized marijuana] where the general sales tax rate along with a 10 percent excise tax would be applied. The sales tax would be applied to the retail price while the excise tax would be on the wholesale price. Note that this proposed taxing structure would put less of a tax burden on marijuana in Illinois compared with the four states that have currently legalized marijuana. The above estimates for the Illinois marijuana market size based on other states’ recent experiences vary widely, ranging from $536.2 million to $1,152.3 million. Applying the tax structure proposed in HB 4276 (5 percent state sales tax rate along with 10 percent excise tax rate) to our estimates of Illinois market size (assuming a 100 percent retail mark-up, so the excise tax base—the wholesale price—is one-half the retail market amount) yields an annual state revenue estimate ranging between $53.6 million and $115.2 million.
…Adding More… This is the very sort of thing I was talking about yesterday when I said that Rauner needs to more clearly own up to the need for higher state taxation. He vetoed the med-mar bill last year, but provided a detailed roadmap for legislators. They gave him what he wanted and yet he still won’t own it. Very disappointing.
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Today’s quotable
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Riopell…
Elgin Area School District U-46 CEO Tony Sanders stood with a few other suburban officials this week in Springfield to push for a school funding plan that would send more state money to less wealthy schools.
He said he was recently asked how much money would be enough.
“It’ll be enough whenever our statistics mirror that of the Department of Corrections,” Sanders said.
His district spends about $10,600 per student at a time when the state spends more than $22,000 per prisoner, he said.
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* Click here and read the whole thing. Interesting stuff and, as usual, a well-written piece by Pearson.
*** UPDATE *** From the Democratic Party of Illinois…
This weekend, Republican Mark Kirk will join his fellow Illinois Republicans — and a motley crew of Trump delegates — at the state GOP convention in Peoria. Who are these Trump delegates? According to a must-read story from the Chicago Tribune, one of them uses a social media handle, “whitepride,” while another is “all for not allowing Muslims in this country.” In response, Democratic Party of Illinois spokesperson Sean Savett released the follow statement:
“Republican Mark Kirk has offered up himself to be Donald Trump’s ‘steady conservative hand,’ and is apparently angling for influence in a Trump administration. If this would-be Secretary of State doesn’t agree with musings of @whitepride or Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims, he must immediately and forcefully denounce these Trump delegates in Peoria. Silence is acquiescence.” — Sean Savett, DPI spokesman
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* When it rains…
Chicago’s pension-fund shortfall just got $11.5 billion bigger.
Thanks to the defeat of the city’s retirement-fund overhaul by the Illinois Supreme Court and new accounting rules, Chicago’s so-called net pension liability to its Municipal Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund soared to $18.6 billion by the end of 2015 from $7.1 billion a year earlier, according to an annual report presented to the fund’s board on Thursday. The fund serves some 70,000 workers and retirees.
The new figure, a result of actuaries’ revised estimates for the value in today’s dollars of benefits due as long as decades from now, doesn’t change how much Chicago needs to contribute each year to make sure the promised checks arrive. But it highlights the long-term pressure on the city from shortchanging its retirement funds year after year — decisions that are now adding hundreds of millions of dollars to its annual bills and have left it with a lower credit rating than any big U.S. city but once-bankrupt Detroit.
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Feds looking at Mautino
Friday, May 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rushton…
Campaign workers for Illinois auditor general Frank Mautino while he was a state legislator have received federal grand jury subpoenas, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
The source who confirmed the federal investigation spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to publicly discuss the situation. He said subpoenas were sent more than a month ago.
The status of the investigation isn’t clear, nor is the number of subpoenas issued. The U.S. attorney’s office as a matter of policy does not comment on pending investigations or confirm their existence. […]
Mautino’s campaign disclosure reports show that he spent more than $200,000 at Happy’s Super Service, a Spring Valley service station, in the space of 11 years. Much of the money was paid in round figures. The expenses are described as auto repairs and gasoline in campaign disclosure reports. Mautino also reported paying tens of thousands of dollars to Spring Valley City Bank for parking, travel and other expenses that have nothing to do with banking.
* It’s not just his campaign workers, however…
Illinois’ auditor general on Thursday acknowledged a federal investigation into his campaign spending when he was a state lawmaker.
A spokesman for Auditor General Frank Mautino said that the former House deputy majority leader “is cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s office in its investigation.”
Oy.
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Question of the day
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Busy as heck and basically got nothing. So, I’m declaring an open thread. Talk amongst yourselves. Try to keep it Illinois-centric. Thanks!
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Duckworth case gets trial date
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You gotta wonder why she didn’t try to make this go away years ago…
Two former employees at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs claiming to be the victims of workplace retaliation while Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth was the department’s director will get their day in court, nearly a decade after first leveling charges.
The case, which names Duckworth – the candidate facing the Senate’s most vulnerable Republican, Mark Kirk, will be heard on Aug. 15, an Illinois court announced Wednesday.
The Kirk campaign, which has tried to make the trial an issue in the race, took a victory lap in a statement to reporters.
“After seven years of stalling and excuses, Rep. Duckworth is now finally scheduled to go to trial where she will have to face the whistleblowers she sought to silence and address the abuse and neglect veterans endured during her term as Director of Veterans’ Affairs,” said Kevin Artl, Kirk’s campaign manager. “Unfortunately for Illinois citizens, the legacy of Rod Blagojevich continues as yet another Chicago Democrat goes to trial.”
* Then again, maybe she really things this is politically motivated and wouldn’t settle…
Duckworth’s supporters call the case a politically motivated nuisance lawsuit. They note it was dismissed twice before the current lawsuit was refiled in Union County.
Kirk’s campaign has highlighted the case in TV ads accusing Duckworth of mistreating veterans and trying to silence whistleblowers.
Union County Judge Mark Boie says he’ll hear the case August 15 and 16.
* But whether it’s legit or not, it’s gonna be part of the campaign for the foreseeable future…
The suit has made Duckworth the subject of frequent criticism from Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk’s campaign for re-election. Kirk aides have accused her of trying to “silence” whistleblowers and has noted her appointment to the state Veterans’ Affairs post was made by now-imprisoned and disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“Unfortunately for Illinois citizens, the legacy of Rod Blagojevich continues as yet another Chicago Democrat goes to trial,” Kirk campaign manager Kevin Artl said in a statement.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Daily fantasy sports is not gambling, it is my passion and a hobby.
I find myself entering a few contests a week. I honestly do not do it for the money. Instead, I enjoy the competition and challenge. I enjoy the camaraderie of playing against friends. The contests are fun and exciting! Furthermore, I enjoy daily fantasy sports because I love the skill involved. I love it so much I now write articles helping others who do not have time to do the research. I ask lawmakers to think about their constituents. Please, pass a bill to legalize and regulate the contests, but do not take away our right to continue to play.
Rob Schwarz, Jr., Willowbrook
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Unemployment rate ticks up, but so do jobs
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate in April rose 0.1 percentage points to 6.6 percent and nonfarm payrolls increased by +5,400 jobs, based on preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and IDES. Illinois remains -43,000 jobs short of its peak employment level reached in September 2000.
“April saw modest job growth but more than half of this growth was experienced in temporary jobs or employment agencies,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “Additionally, though Illinois jobs saw a moderate increase over the last four months, the portion of full-time jobs in Illinois remains lower than it was before the recession began in 2007.”
“Illinois’ growth continues to lag the rest of the country, and is one of only three states that have not regained its peak employment,” Illinois Department of Commerce Director Sean McCarthy said. “If Illinois had kept pace with national growth, our state would have added another quarter million jobs for hardworking Illinois families. Instead, unemployment in Illinois rose for the sixth month in a row. We need structural reforms that get the Illinois economy growing in order to create jobs and catch up with the rest of the country.”
In April, the three industry sectors with the largest gains in employment were: Professional and Business Services (+7,600); Educational and Health Services (+2,600) and Government (+1,400). The two industry sectors with the largest declines in employment were: Other Services (-2,300); and Financial Activities (-2,200).
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +67,500jobs with the largest gains in Leisure and Hospitality (+20,800); Educational and Health Services (+20,800); and Professional and Business Services (+14,000). Industry sectors with over-the-year declines in April include: Manufacturing (-5,900); Information Services (-2,600) and Financial Activities (-2,200). The 1.1 percent over-the-year gain in Illinois is less than the 1.9 percent gain posted by the nation in April.
The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national unemployment rate reported for April 2016, which held at 5.0 percent. The Illinois unemployment rate stood 0.7 percentage points above the unemployment rate a year ago when it was 5.9 percent. According to IDES analysts, the unemployment rate is increasing in Illinois because of lagging job growth and more workers entering the labor force who are not immediately able to find work.
The number of unemployed workers increased +2.3 percent from the prior month to 439,400, up +14.7 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force grew by +2.7 percent in April over the prior year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and are seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
It’s a good thing we added 5,400 jobs because we could be about to lose 5,000.
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Exelon, How Dumb Do You Think We Are?
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Last year, Exelon claimed they needed a $300 million bailout spread across six plants. This year, their new bailout plan calls for…wait for it…$250 million for only two plants (Crain’s: Ratepayers could be on hook for $250 Million for Exelon’s nukes).
Wait. What?
As Crain’s said this morning: “That’s total revenue of $250 million, not far from the $290 million last year’s bill would have generated for all of Exelon’s nukes.”
Last year they said Clinton and Quad Cities’ share of the bailout (about $70 million), would keep those plants running for at least five years. Now, instead of $70 million, those two plants need $250 million. Are you kidding me?
So let’s review. In just three weeks, Exelon is caught deceiving lawmakers - pleading poverty as they bragged to Wall Street. Then they’re caught again – zeroing out RPS funding even as they claimed to be fixing RPS funding. And now, their ask for just these two plants has more than quadrupled.
But wait, there’s more. This bill guarantees that ratepayers will pay Exelon – a company that made more than $2 billion last year - huge profits (estimated at $110 million by Crain’s).
The company defended this by saying “Exelon is a business, and like any business, it must sufficiently cover its costs and provide a return on capital investment that fully reflects business risks,”
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
JUST SAY NO TO THE EXELON BAILOUT.
BEST Coalition is a 501C4 nonprofit group of dozens of business, consumer and government groups, as well as large and small businesses. Visit www.noexelonbailout.com.
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* Greg Hinz…
We now know more about one of the oddest but most meaningful events in the 2014 race for Illinois governor: allegations of sexual harassment that torpedoed the candidacy of then-Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford for governor against then-businessman Bruce Rauner.
Results of an outside investigation into whether Rutherford harassed male subordinates and coerced them to do political work have been made public after an agreement among lawyers in two lawsuits ended a protective order that had kept it secret. I have obtained a copy.
The report, by investigator Ron Braver, concludes there is “no evidence” that former top Rutherford aide Edmund Michalowski was retaliated against for failing to acquiesce to alleged sexual advances, “no supporting evidence” that he actually was sexually harassed and “no evidence” that he was forced to do political work.
In a statement, Rutherford’s attorney, Daniel Fahner, who was assigned the case by the attorney general’s office, said the Braver report “finds conclusively that Michalowski’s allegations were unfounded, and also suggests that the allegations were driven by political agendas and personal desperation.”
But the report, which was prepared for Neil Olson, then-general counsel for the treasurer’s office, contains allegations from unnamed office workers that Rutherford made “uncomfortable comments or suggestions” about a staffer, though no formal complaints ever were filed.
The full report is here.
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Controversy over state GOP’s marriage plank
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday, Illinois Review reported that the state GOP was planning to dump the “one-man, one-woman marriage” plank from its platform. That piece apparently kicked up some dust because party leaders might now be edging away…
After hearing from GOP constituents on proposed changes, the 2016 Illinois Republican Party Platform and Resolutions Committee agreed on Wednesday night’s conference call to continue working on platform language that would be acceptable to more members.
This year’s hot button issue - removing the term “one-man, one-woman” from the platform’s section on families - opened the floodgates of discussion between the IL GOP’s differing sides on social issues. The division is between those Republicans that want a party platform that upholds traditional values and those that prefer the platform not focus on social values. […]
After leaks about the proposals being discussed emerged Wednesday on Illinois Review, committee members began hearing from the Republican rank and file - a sore spot with several of the committee members upset about their contact information being made public.
The Platform and Resolution committee members - who are each appointed by their state central committeeman - will present the proposed platform that a majority of the members support Friday morning at 10 am. Saturday, the state’s delegates will be asked to give a thumbs up or down to the finalized platform on the convention floor.
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*** UPDATE *** I was on my way out the door for a speech when I posted this and didn’t realize I’d closed comments. Oops.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Oy…
Two-thirds of Americans would have difficulty coming up with the money to cover a $1,000 emergency, according to an exclusive poll released Thursday, a signal that despite years of recovery from the Great Recession, Americans’ financial conditions remain precarious as ever.
These financial difficulties span all income levels, according to the poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Seventy-five percent of people in households making less than $50,000 a year would have difficulty coming up with $1,000 to cover an unexpected bill. But when income rose to between $50,000 and $100,000, the difficulty decreased only modestly to 67 percent. […]
Yet when faced with an unexpected $1,000 bill, a majority of Americans said they wouldn’t be especially likely to pay with money on hand, the AP-NORC survey found. A third said they would have to borrow from a bank or from friends and family, or put the bill on a credit card. Thirteen percent would skip paying other bills, and 11 percent said they would likely not pay the bill at all. […]
When AP-NORC asked if they will have enough savings to retire when they want to, 54 percent of working Americans say they are not very or not at all confident they will have enough. Only 14 percent say they are confident they can retire on time.
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Motion, not movement
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
State Sen. Kwame Raoul plans to hold public hearings across Chicago this summer in an effort to bolster support for a bill to replace the Chicago Board of Education — appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel — with one that’s elected.
The Illinois House overwhelmingly passed a bill in March that would create an elected school board — replacing the seven the mayor chooses with 21 democratically elected members. But the bill has been stuck in the Illinois Senate since then.
But on Wednesday, Raoul became a co-sponsor of the bill and the Chicago Democrat announced he’d hold hearings to gather input from parents and other community members to ensure fair representations in the transition to elections, which would be held in 2018 if the bill becomes law.
“Chicago’s children deserve nothing less than full equality with the rest of the state – parity in funding and in democratic governance of their school district,” Raoul said in a statement. “It’s time to get this right, and I look forward to working with our parents and advocates to give CPS the government our schools so desperately need.”
The bill is stuck in the Senate because the Senate President is Mayor Emanuel’s top legislative ally.
* Groups pushing for the reform are seeing through it…
Parent and community protestors are not letting up on Sen. President John Cullerton, whose stalling tactics are blocking the elected school board bill from advancing in the Illinois Senate. Groups are in their second week of daily protests and will hit Cullerton’s Loop law office Thursday.
The senator’s staff last week told parents he prefers to meet with constituents downtown instead of at his district office in Lakeview. So, parents and community members are heading to the offices of Thompson Coburn, Cullerton’s law practice, Thursday to send a message to the senator: protests will not let up until he moves HB 0557, the elected school board bill, and supports it on the floor of the Senate.
WHAT: Rally and picket against Cullerton stalling tactics on elected school board
WHEN: Noon, Wednesday, May 19
WHERE: Offices of Thompson Coburn, 55 E. Monroe, Cullerton’s law office
WHY: Cullerton is blocking HB 0557, the elected school board bill, even though he promised constituents he would allow the bill to proceed in the senate. Parents and community members demand that he keep his word.
VISUALS: Parents marching, chanting, carrying signs and disrupting the noon lunch hour in the Loop. Speakers begin at noon.
The elected school board bill sailed out of the Illinois House earlier this year by a vote of 110 - 4, but is now stuck in the Senate because Cullerton refuses to even assign it to a committee. At a meeting with parents last month, he pledged to advance the measure but has not kept that promise.
In response to three days of protests at his Lakeview office last week, Cullerton’s spokesperson said the senator’s not calling the bill because he’s got other, more pressing education bills on his plate.
That didn’t sit well with parents and community members who hold the unelected CPS school board accountable for the chaos and financial catastrophe the district now faces.
On Wednesday, Sen. Kwame Raoul replaced Cullerton as chief sponsor of the bill, a sign that the community protests are working. But as Senate president, Cullerton controls how and when legislation advances and he still needs to assign the bill to committee for it to advance.
The elected school board bill passed out of the house on March 3. Even though the measure has widespread support among Chicagoans and Cullerton’s own constituents, he has blocked the bill in the Senate for the last two months.
A non-binding referendum last February passed by nearly 90 percent in the 35 wards where it appeared on the ballot, including Cullerton’s own 33rd ward. But the Senate President continues to side with Mayor Rahm Emanuel over his constituents and other Chicagoans who are demanding more democracy and accountability in Chicago Public Schools.
The Cullerton protests are being coordinated by the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM), a coalition of labor, parent and community groups working for an elected school board for Chicago.
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Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor should’ve signed the decrim bill last year. Instead, he made some minor changes with an amendatory veto. But even though his changes were acceptable to the pro-pot groups, the House Speaker rarely allows AV’s to come to the floor. So, it died and we had to wait a year for another bill to make it to Rauner’s desk…
House lawmakers sent Gov. Bruce Rauner legislation on Wednesday to decriminalize marijuana across Illinois, meaning people caught with small amounts of marijuana would be fined instead of receiving jail time.
The legislation incorporates changes the Republican governor suggested when he used his amendatory veto powers to rewrite similar legislation last year. Rauner said the old version would have let people carry too much marijuana and set fines too low.
The new edition drops the number of grams allowed from 15 to 10 and raises the range of fines from $55 to $125 to between $100 and $200. Municipalities could add to the fines and implement other penalties, such as a requirement for drug treatment. Citations would be automatically expunged twice a year, on Jan. 1 and July 1.
Under current Illinois law, possession of up to 10 grams is a class B misdemeanor that could result in up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,500.
* From the Illinois Policy Institute…
Moving to civil penalties for low-level marijuana possession should result in at least two positive outcomes:
Not burdening people with a debilitating criminal record: With good cause, employers and landlords conduct background checks before making hires and bringing on new tenants. But for someone who committed a nonviolent, low-level drug offense in the past, a criminal record becomes a red flag that prevents him from getting a job, applying for student loans and finding a place to live – in essence, keeping him from being a productive, independent citizen. For a person with a criminal record for minor possession charges, one small mistake can lead to a stunted future.
Saving the state money: Illinois spends over $38,000 a year per prisoner, far more than any of its neighboring states. Its prisons are operating at 150 percent capacity. Illinois Department of Corrections data show that in 2013, the state’s prisons housed 8,946 people for violations of the Controlled Substances Act and Cannabis Control Act out of a total 48,877 prisoners. Jailing people for low-level possession offenses is an expensive prospect. Illinois spent $127 million on police, $72 million in judicial and legal costs, and $22 million in corrections costs to enforce marijuana possession laws in 2010, according to data from the American Civil Liberties Union. In 2012, the Chicago Tribune reported that then-Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said marijuana arrests take police up to four hours each. Spending this time and money on nonviolent offenses takes away the manpower needed to respond to violent crimes, and it also crowds out money for core government services.
Now, let’s get on to legalization. Illinois could use the tax money.
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Rep. Smiddy mocked in online ads
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Illinois GOP…
Last week, WCIA reported that Rep. Mike Smiddy was caught playing video games during budget debate on the House Floor. When pressed on the matter, WCIA’s Matt Porter said Smiddy told him he “didn’t need to listen and had no apologies for his actions.”
Illinois hasn’t had a budget in 11 months, but Smiddy apparently thinks that he doesn’t need to listen to, let alone participate in, budget negotiations. Today, the House Republican Organization launched digital ads highlighting Smiddy’s disdainful attitude towards taxpayers. The ads will be pushed on social media networks with a substantial advertising buy.
“Mike Smiddy’s condescending attitude towards the taxpayers funding his salary is not befitting of a state representative,” said GOP spokesman Steven Yaffe. “His attitude, though, is unsurprising. In Mike Madigan’s Illinois, House Democrats have no need to think for themselves – they simply collect their paychecks and take their orders.”
“Mike Smiddy is playing games with the future of Illinois,” Yaffe added. “It’s time to tell him game over.”
* One of the ads…
The other two are here.
Thoughts?
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Governor, you’re not helping
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One of the real fears by Democrats is that Gov. Rauner will immediately disassociate himself from a tax hike if they do ever make a deal. These remarks aren’t helping ease those fears, to say the least…
News 4 asked Rauner about the proposed soda tax idea as a way to generate revenue and help balance the budget.
“I don’t want to comment on any specific tax proposal. There are a lot of ideas, all about tax reform to taxing different things on different levels. I want to stay above that discussion for now, I want to say open minded. I’m not a tax, I’d rather cut taxes I don’t want to increase any taxes,” Rauner said.
I think the governor has done a mostly good job this month of avoiding his usual public attacks on the other party. That’s to be commended.
But he needs to start being straight with people. His own budget director (who ain’t a liberal, by any means) sent him a package that includes $5.4 billion in new revenues. You want to calm some nerves? Own it.
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Today’s number: 5,000+ jobs
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ralph Martire…
(I)f Illinois decision makers ultimately fail to enact a General Fund budget for FY2016 — which ends in just about two months — state spending on social services will end up anywhere from $400 million to $500 million less in FY2016 than last year.
Meanwhile, the harm caused by Illinois’ disinvestment in social services won’t end with denying vulnerable populations the support they need to lead better, healthier lives. The state’s economy will suffer too. Here’s why. Consumer spending represents 67 to 70 percent of all economic activity. The best consumers are low- and middle-income families, who generally spend most or all of their earnings.
But when state government cuts spending, what’s really getting cut is either the jobs or the wages paid to the workers who actually provide services to the public. For the most part, those workers are middle-income. When they lose jobs or have their wages cut, they spend less in the consumer economy, generating private sector job loss. Based on multipliers developed by Mark Zandi of Moody’s, the bond rating agency, the $400 million to $500 million in estimated social service spending cuts for FY2016 will cause the loss of some 5,000-plus jobs statewide.
Ugh.
Way to create jobs, governor.
* But here’s something else to pay attention to…
And while low-income families of all races suffer when Illinois’ poor fiscal policy forces spending cuts, African Americans are hurt disproportionately. Sure, most — 54 percent — poor people in Illinois are white, but that’s just because most of the state’s population, 77.5 percent, is white. However, as a group, only 11 percent of Illinois whites are poor. Meanwhile African Americans, who represent just 14.5 percent of the state’s total population, nonetheless account for 29 percent of its poor folks. Indeed, almost one-third of Illinois’ African Americans live in poverty.
Which is why it’s so incredible — as in, lacks credibility — when some politicians and talking heads claim that Illinois’ fiscal problems won’t be fixed until some “crisis” forces a resolution. Apparently, it isn’t a crisis when lousy fiscal policy just harms poor folks generally and African Americans specifically.
The House Black Caucus was instrumental in passing the higher education stopgap funding bill. It needs to stand up again and push Speaker Madigan to the negotiating table so we can get a real budget for this state.
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Fantasy Sports Is Internet Gaming
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The daily fantasy sports gambling industry is pressuring officials to pass a bailout that actually costs taxpayers. According to COGFA these Internet gaming giants would each pay just $900,000 in state taxes, but they could afford $500 million in television ads last year.
Taxpayers may actually have to subsidize regulating online sports wagering. The Illinois Gaming Board doesn’t know how much it will cost to oversee this new form of online gaming.
The state is facing an unprecedented budget crisis, but two out-of-state companies, which the Attorney General said broke law, want you to give them valuable Internet gaming licenses.
Everyone but paid fantasy sports operators agree, it’s gambling:
Proponents are telling elected officials a fantasy, but the budget crisis is real. Don’t make it worse and pass a fantasy sports bailout that actually costs the state money.
Click here to read the COGFA revenue estimate.
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*** UPDATE *** From the comptroller’s office…
According to CMS there is $613 million in loans from the Vendor Assistance Program. Of that $613 million, Blue Cross has $316 million, Health Alliance has $219 million and Coventry Health has $9.9 million for a total of $544.9 million. These numbers are already included in the backlog in with the $3.3 billion that we have for Group Insurance at CMS so it would be double counting to add them to the backlog again. If you need any more info let me know.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Sarah Mueller discovered that the comptroller’s tabulation of backlogged state bills doesn’t include money owed via a vendor assistance program…
Documents obtained by Illinois Public Radio show that since November, the state owes businesses in the Vendor Support Initiative program more than $600 million. That doesn’t include the 1 percent interest fee applied per month to bills over 90 days old under the Prompt Payment Act.
The program allows companies to buy invoices of others who have done business with the state, and are awaiting payment. The companies pay the bills, then make a profit by collecting both the overdue money and the interest on it when the state eventually pays up. […]
A spokesman for the state agency that administers the program says the comptroller won’t have the voucher information until the bill is presented for payment. It’s unclear what vendors are being paid through this program and which have not been approved.
The governor’s office said the state is not a party to those transactions, it’s strictly between the vendor and qualified purchaser. But it said it is aware of who is participating.
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Hostages plead for mercy
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children…
Hi Rich,
Attached you’ll find two letters-one to the Governor and one to members of the General assembly-signed by well over 150 service providers and advocacy organizations for Illinois children, families and communities.
The letter to the Governor urges him to immediately sign SB2038, which is now on his desk, and to continue working toward a complete, fully funded budget for FY16 and FY17.
The letter to members of the General Assembly urges them not to construe SB2038 as a substitute for passing a fully-funded budget for FY16 and FY17. It is not. Only a complete, fully-funded budget for both FY16 and FY17 will be considered an acceptable solution to our current budget crisis by the organizations who signed this letter.
You’ll notice that all parties are cc’ed on both letters, and that is intentional. The Governor, legislative leaders and rank and file members of the general assembly need to understand that we hold them all accountable and expect them to reach a budget agreement for FY16 and FY17 before they leave Springfield.
Thanks.
Emily Miller
* The letter to legislators…
The undersigned organizations are imploring you to end the FY16 budget impasse and to adopt a fully funded FY16 and FY17 budget before May 31. Ending one fiscal year and beginning another one without budgets will hasten the collapse of our education, public safety, and human service infrastructure. Without a budget with new revenue, thousands of people across Illinois will have no place to turn for help when they need it most, children and youth will go without opportunities to get ahead, and thousands of working parents will lose their jobs.
While we are heartened by the bipartisan cooperation that led to passage of SB2038, which would provide emergency funds for human services and public safety items, we oppose any effort to construe the passage of SB2038 as any type of budget solution. While measures like SB2038 may keep some of us open for today, the overwhelming and immediate threats to our organizations and the entire human services sector will remain until the budget impasse is ended. Layoffs and services cuts are inevitable despite SB2038 without the stability and certainty of final budgets for FY16 and FY17.
Indeed, after a year of receiving partial or no payments on state contracts, many organizations simply cannot continue to provide services in FY17 without a budget. Reserves are exhausted, lines of credit are running dry, and our boards are unwilling to let us deficit spend any longer. Decisions about leases, supply purchases, and staffing must be made. Providers throughout the state have learned the hard way that we cannot trust our leaders to end this impasse and ensure payment if we do not see a signed budget supported by adequate revenue. Even with the needed emergency cash that SB2038 may supply, many providers will still be owed for months and months of work. Services will continue to be terminated, coupled with layoffs. It is a virtual certainty that many non-profits will close their doors in the weeks and months to come if we do not find a budget solution now.
While we appreciate SB2038 and have urged the Governor to sign it, SB2038 is simply not enough and it will not prevent the human services infrastructure from continuing to be dismantled. We urge you to come together and pass a budget with adequate revenue that works for the people of Illinois before any more permanent damage is done.
Click here to see which groups signed the letter, including one run by a certain governor’s spouse.
* And here’s the letter to the governor…
We, the undersigned organizations, write to implore you to sign SB2038 as soon as it reaches your desk.
While the bill is nowhere near a final budget solution for FY16 for human services, further layoffs, services cuts and provider closures are inevitable without it. SB2038 is a lifeline that will provide temporary relief to cash-starved providers to help them continue to weather the impasse in the near future until a comprehensive budget solution for both FY16 and FY17 is found.
While measures like SB2038 will keep some of us open for today, the overwhelming and immediate threats to our organizations and the entire health and human services sector will remain until the budget impasse is ended. We need a FY17 budget and to be made whole for FY16 for the services we have provided without compensation.
We implore you to continue to work with lawmakers toward a long term responsible budget and revenue package to end Illinois’ budget crisis before May 31st, and to sign SB2038 to provide public health and human service providers the emergency cash they need today in order to save the these sectors from complete collapse.
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