* In case you were wondering, the shout-out this morning was for Jack Kelly. He says the surgery went well and will be 100 percent in a week or so. Good news.
* The BGA has a very good story about the Rauner administration’s push to privatize some state services. Pros and cons are discussed, so I’d recommend a look at the whole thing…
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Privatizing the business recruitment agency is a top priority for Rauner. This year, House Democrats largely gave Rauner what he wanted in a bill, but the governor said he couldn’t support a sunset provision to review the private contract in three years.
The Department of Corrections. State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) says Illinois can save substantially by setting up a private nursing home for aging inmates. While corrections reform advocates say elderly prisoners should be housed in a central facility, neither they nor Democratic lawmakers interviewed support a private operator.
The Department of Central Management Services. Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Lisle) thinks the state’s central management services can be reformed to hand over functions to the private sector. Among the areas: property management, which can be better handled by a private company, he said. Sen. Syverson agrees, saying everything from landscaping to fleet vehicles should be examined.
State buildings. Durkin introduced legislation to help speed Rauner’s proposed sale of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. Assessing the value of state-owned properties is prudent and the Thompson Center is “the whitest of white elephants of state government,” Durkin said.
* Statehouse legend Jerry Shea has passed away. The former Illinois House Majority Leader and longtime lobbyist has been ill for some time.
The wake will be Monday afternoon and services will be held Tuesday morning. I’ll pass along details when I get them.
On a personal level, Jerry was always a decent gentleman to me. He took the time to talk with me even in the days when few would. He was also a walking Illinois politics encyclopedia. I learned something every time I spoke with him and will be forever grateful.
When he entered public life 18 years ago, Gerald Shea was, in his own words, “a brash young guy who wanted one of the best jobs in the Cook County Democratic organization.” Now, near the close of an eventful 10-year legislative career, his accomplishments and close relationship with Mayor Richard J. Daley have earned him the title of “Mr. Powerful” among State House observers.
A “temporary” high school dropout, Shea became a garbage collector in his hometown of Oak Park after his father, a printer for the Chicago Tribune was involved in a lengthy strike. He later pumped gas, tended bar and had a variety of other jobs to help subsidize his economics and finance degree from the University of Illinois and diploma from DePaul Law School. Two years of Army service interrupted his education.
Shea’s political career began in 1958. After failing to receive the recommendation of Oak Park Committeeman John S. Boyle for a deputy sheriff slot in the village courthouse, Shea did get his sponsorship for a caseworker position in the Cook County Department of Public Aid. He kept that job for a year and later became a department investigator and worked in its legal office. Boyle, who was then chief judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, was impressed by Shea’s drive and talents. This led to subsequent jobs as an assistant state’s attorney, Boyle’s administrative assistant, and director of research, planning and development for the circuit court. He was elected to the House from the 7th legislative district in 1966. He quickly assumed an informal leadership position by lobbying for Boyle’s legislative programs in the 1965-66 session.
His first formal leadership role emerged during the 1971-72 and 1973-74 sessions when he was an assistant to then Minority Leader Clyde Choate of Anna. Shea has never left the spotlight during the last six years, leading his party both during its majority and minority days.
Like most of Daley’s other confidants, Shea is Irish, a Catholic, a graduate of the mayor’s alma mater (DePaul) and has powerful political sponsorship. He differs from the others primarily in the use of quiet clout in place of partisan backslapping to see that the party’s needs are met. His suburban Riverside residence and marriage to the niece of a Republican representative (Joseph G. Sevcik, Berwyn) from the same district also make him somewhat unique in. the Daley organizational structure.
Now, at 44, Shea looks forward to a retirement, which will afford him more time to be with his wife, Joanne, and daughter, Courtney Claire; pursue his law practice; read more than his usual three novels per week; “tinker with cars,” and complete a thesis. When he finishes his thesis, he is expected to receive a master’s degree in taxes from John Marshall Law School, Chicago.
* The 2015 Judy Baar Topinka Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statewide Officeholder had a crowd favorite with strong nominations…
Jesse White: Only because he reengineered and cleaned up an office that was infamous before him, for bad service to the public and corruption. Even now, I actually enjoy going to one of his facilities because it renews my faith in government. He is the best example of “government turnaround” we have.
I can’t be certain, of course, but I think JBT would’ve approved.
* On to today’s categories…
* The Mark Beaubien Lifetime Service award for the Illinois House
* The John Millner Lifetime Service award for the Illinois Senate
As always, please explain your nominations or they won’t count. Thanks!
Friday, Dec 11, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Throughout the holidays, credit unions around Illinois place a special focus on community involvement and assisting those in need. Take, for example, Central Credit Union of Illinois, with locations in Bellwood and Orland Park. Central Credit Union works with local schools in their area to identify children in need during the holiday season. It is a true team effort, as teachers and social workers collaborate with families to identify items that would benefit children in need. Often times these lists include necessities such as winter coats and clothing, but credit union employees ensure that the children receive toys as well. Credit Union staff members fulfill the wish lists, wrap gifts, and deliver them to the schools for distribution.
The giving doesn’t end there. Central Credit Union collects items for their local food pantry throughout the year, and their members are especially generous during the holidays, bringing in loads of groceries to assist the pantry during the holiday season.
Holiday giving is just one way that Central Credit Union remains focused on providing a positive impact in the communities they serve.
Central Credit Union and the Illinois Credit Union League wish you and yours a very happy holiday season!
State Sen. Mike Noland’s campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District has added another endorsement from organized labor.
Noland, of Elgin, announced the backing of Teamsters Joint Council 25.
“Mike Noland has developed a strong relationship with the Teamsters union over the years,” said Teamsters Joint Council President John Coli.
Other unions backing Noland include the Bricklayers Administrative District Council of Illinois, Sheet Metal Workers State Council, SMART Transportation Division (formerly United Transportation Union), Fox Valley Building Trades, Elgin Trades Council, IFT Local 1211 (Northwest Suburban Teachers Union), Operating Engineers Local 399 and Painters District Council 30.
Noland is seeking the open congressional seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s decision to run for the U.S. Senate. Also seeking the Democratic nomination in the west and northwest suburban district are Schaumburg businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Villa Park Village President Deb Bullwinkel.
I don’t think many people took Noland seriously at the beginning, but that labor support is impressing me.
After a meeting of Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state’s top legislative leaders this week, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said, “All of us did agree that the school aid formula is something that needs to be changed. It needs to be addressed. We’re not gonna handle it until after we resolve this budget impasse.”
“I’m not sure that’s something that’ll be on the agenda this year because of the complexity of it,” Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno said.
Cullerton’s office responded. “I’d like them to go to any public school auditorium or gymnasium and stand in front of the teachers and the students and tell them that their issues are too complex and too hard for state leaders to lean into,” said Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon.
Phelon said Cullerton is recommending education advocates with Advance Illinois and Rauner’s administration, like Secretary of Education Beth Purvis and state Superintendent Tony Smith, attend future meetings between legislative leaders and the governor. Legislative leaders have said they hope to have another meeting next week.
Cullerton won’t, however, hold anything else hostage if talks don’t progress.
State pension contributions will increase by $291 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, a much smaller increase than the state faced in its current fiscal year.
The figure was reported Thursday by the General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which annually reviews the certified contributions Illinois’ five state-funded pension systems say are required. […]
The commission said the contributions to the pension systems in fiscal year 2017 will total $7.9 billion. That’s an increase of $291 million from the current year.
The increase is substantially less than the $681 million increase in pension contributions that were required this year. It is also substantially lower than the nearly $1 billion annual increases seen in 2013 and 2014.
A state legislative report says Illinois’ unfunded pension liability is $111 billion.
The General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability listed the figure in a Thursday report. It covers five pension systems for the fiscal year that ended June 30.
The report comes as legislative leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner have agreed to take another look at overhauling pensions. The Illinois Supreme Court rejected a previous plan lawmakers said would save the state billions in contributions.
The rally’s numbers quickly grew to about 200 who marched though streets in the Loop, chanting “How many shots? Sixteen shots!” in reference to the McDonald case.
And yet cable news went wall-to-wall.
Look, all of the protesters are angry and they have a constitutional right to vent. But we seem to be seeing many of the same people at these marches. It may be fun for some to imagine that this is a grassroots outpouring which will morph into something much larger, and I suppose it might. Who knows?
* But the city has a long tradition of small, well-organized protest groups making life difficult for those in power. It was the University of Chicago’s Saul Alinsky, after all, who wrote the book on some of this stuff.
* And as I pointed out the other day, the protesters want the mayor to resign but aren’t considering what happens when he goes. Steinberg fills in his readers…
First, the protests. I would bet none of them have the foggiest idea who would be mayor if Emanuel quit, which he won’t. Do you? It would be the city’s vice mayor, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd). Sure, he’s the man to fix everything. Just last month, while black aldermen were condemning Garry McCarthy, Reilly was most prominent among the white aldermen genuflecting before the doomed police superintendent, singing his praises.
“Yours is one of the most difficult jobs in the city of Chicago, and we just want to make sure that you’ve got the resources that you need to complete the mission,” Reilly warbled.
So that’s the guy who’ll fix the police department when Rahm resigns? Which he won’t. Reilly would soon be replaced by the Chicago City Council, and we all know what kind of geniuses they’ve made mayor in living memory: puppet Eugene Sawyer and nice-guy-but-not-rocking-any-boats David Orr.
Yet the mob calls for Emanuel’s head. Long-term strategic planning is not the strong suit of mobs.
Again, I wouldn’t say the protesters are part of a “mob.” Many of them are trained people and some are affiliated with groups that are politically allied with larger entities like the CTU. Nothing wrong with that at all, but it’s important to know.
* An excerpt from a Donna More campaign e-mail to her Cook County state’s attorney campaign supporters…
Lately people supporting other candidates in the race for State’s Attorney have attacked me, not for my qualifications, my ideas, or the reforms I’ve been pushing. What they want to talk about are political labels.
So let’s set the record straight. Two years ago, like many people, I was concerned about the direction of our state. We were in fiscal peril and the power structure in Springfield was simply unable to function. I felt we needed change, and needed it badly. Even though I’m a proud, registered Democrat, I made a contribution to Bruce Rauner’s campaign because of his representations that he would bring a business-like pragmatism to a badly broken system. Today I regret that contribution, not because my political opponents have seized on it, but because Governor Rauner has fallen far short of my expectations.
I am a lifelong, independent-minded Democrat. I take a backseat to no one when it comes to championing progressive values. I give my support to candidates who I believe can do the job and people with ideas that can make a difference.
The fact is, my family and I have contributed to many Democrats, including County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
It is unfortunate that politics today is so polarized that a single contribution to someone from the other party is considered intolerable by the political class. But that’s the very reason I’m running for State’s Attorney. Because it should be obvious by now that this office, perhaps above all others, must be held by someone who thinks first about justice and the law, not about party or politics.
So that’s what you will get from me. I am a progressive Democrat. But I’m also an independent thinker and I know that will not always be popular with the political crowd.
Um, OK, but she made her $2500 Rauner contribution in September of 2014, which is most definitely not “two years ago.”
And More’s “family” may have made a lot of contributions to Democrats, but More has contributed just nine times in the last 14 years. And she only gave one person more money than she gave Rauner.
…Adding… A commenter checked the Federal Elections Commission site and discovered that Ms. More contributed to former Republican Congressman Eric Cantor in 2006.
…Adding, um, More… Another commenter points out that Ms. More contributed to Republican US Senators Peter Fitzgerald and the disgraced John Ensign.
State records show More contributed $2,500 to Rauner’s campaign in September 2014. She offers no apologies for it.
“I’m bipartisan,” she says. “I don’t view the state’s attorney as being Democrat or Republican. I’m not beholden to anybody on either side of the aisle.”
A new Ogden & Fry poll looking at the Cook County state’s attorney race shows conflicting numbers over support for Anita Alvarez. Of those surveyed, 61 percent approved of her job performance. But when asked whether she should resign because of her handling of the Laquan McDonald case, 61 percent said yes. Since those two answers seem at odds, the poll, commissioned by the Illinois Observer, was “double-checked for accuracy,” and here’s how pollster Tom Swiss explains the results: “It appears the Laquan McDonald case is so emotionally charged that nearly 40% of respondents who initially approved of State’s Attorney Alvarez’ performance thought she should resign in light of her handling of the McDonald case.” Find poll results here: http://bit.ly/1Y7MlCj
OK, first of all, a pretty important fact not mentioned above is that the firm polled Democrats…
Respondents were selected by random sampling of likely 2016 Democratic Primary voters.
Either way, that more than “seems” like a very odd result. I don’t think I would’ve run it if that was my poll.
* But there’s another poll out today from a more established firm. Public Policy Polling released its results of a poll of likely Cook County Democratic primary voters…
If the primary election for Cook County State Attorney were today, and the candidates were Anita Alvarez, Kim Foxx, and Donna More, who would you vote for?
Anita Alvarez 33%
Kim Foxx 24%
Donna More 11%
Not sure 32%
Do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Cook County State Attorney Anita Alvarez is doing?
So, she’s above water in Ogden & Fry among Democrats, but underwater in the PPP poll. Considering the O&F resignation result, I think PPP is probably far more likely to be true, but we’ll obviously need more polling.
The PPP poll was conducted for WGN Radio, Aldertrack and DNA Info Chicago.
* Also, the latest Ogden & Fry poll of likely 2016 Chicago primary voters trumped by Politico had Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s approval rating at a microscopic 18 percent while his disapproval rating was a whopping 67 percent.
PPP has very different results for likely 2016 Chicago Democratic primary voters: 40 percent approve while 56 percent disapprove. That’s still not good for Rahm, but it’s way different than the widely reported Ogden & Fry survey. And, frankly, considering everything that’s going on in the city, 40 percent ain’t really all that bad.
SPIN CITY — CBS/2’s Jay Levine last night gave five reasons why Mayor Rahm Emanuel will survive the CPD crisis. “Reason #2″ struck us as odd. Levine pointed to a recent poll showing just 18 percent approval rating for the mayor and 51 percent of those surveyed said they thought the mayor should resign. “Those polls are misleading. The real drop in his approval rating came after he pushed through a tax increase to balance the city budget. Not as a result of the police scandal,” Levine insisted. He failed to give a basis for that statement, however. It was something Emanuel operatives were pushing earlier in the week. The budget, and massive property tax hike was approved in late October. The poll was conducted on Dec. 2 — a week after the release of the explosive video and after Emanuel canned McCarthy. http://cbsloc.al/1mdRywt
The “basis for that statement’ is pretty clear. Ogden & Fry’s poll from September had Emanuel’s approval rating at 25 percent (not far from Ogden & Fry’s December poll) and a disapproval of 51.
And does it really matter that the tax hikes were approved in October when it was pretty clear to pretty much everyone that tax and fee hikes were coming and that the CTU was extremely angry?
Either way, there is zero doubt that Ogden & Fry was showing lousy Emanuel numbers back in September - long before that video came out. To ignore that is kinda goofy. And to claim that Jay Levine is somehow a shill for Emanuel because he simply pointed out some easily discernible facts is uncalled for.
* From the Howard Brookins campaign regarding their challenge of Congressman Bobby Rush’s petitions…
The Congressman filed 3070 signatures and has 742 remaining valid on his filing, an error rate of 76%. To qualify for the ballot, he needs to have 1,314. Therefore, he must rehabilitate at least 572 signatures.
Those 572 come out of a pool of 2,328 that were challenged for various reasons such as signature not genuine, signer resides outside the district, signer not registered, signer signed in multiple locations and signer address incomplete.
* But here’s the problem for Rush: The rules have changed. When the Rush campaign asks people to sign sworn affidavits attesting to the fact that they actually signed the petition the campaign will need a notary present during that signing. From the rules…
Evidence in the form of an affidavit must be sworn to, signed, and notarized before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths in the State of Illinois.
From state statutes…
5 ILCS 312/7-105) (from Ch. 102, par. 207-105)
Sec. 7-105. Official Misconduct. (a) A notary public who knowingly and willfully commits any official misconduct is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) A notary public who recklessly or negligently commits any official misconduct is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 84-322.)
Rush may need to get hundreds of affidavits signed, and that won’t be easy if the rules are followed.
…Adding… Ronnie Woo-Woo and Willie Wilson’s former spokesman. Such a combo…
Ronnie “Woo-Woo” Wickers has two words for Mayor Rahm Emanuel: “You’re out!”
The Cubs’ resident rooter, known for his “Woo-Woo” chants across Wrigleyville, joined a City Hall news conference Thursday urging the recall of the mayor.
“When you’re right you’re right, and when you’re wrong you’re wrong,” Wickers said. “Get him out.”
Wickers was the last speaker in a demonstration led by Gregory Seal Livingston, former spokesman for mayoral candidate Willie Wilson and now head of the Coalition for a New Chicago.
* The 2015 Golden Horseshoe Awards for Best State Senator - Democrat, and Best State Senator - Republican go to…
Senator Toi Hutchinson and Senators Karen McConnaughay and Pam Althoff (yes, I know naming two is cheating) for the role each played as bill sponsor and JCAR members, respectively, in securing an end to the Governor’s child care cuts.
While no one has been able to get lawmakers and the Governor to publicly acknowledge and move to solve our revenue problem, there have been a few few instances where lawmakers have come together to reverse unilateral and reckless changes in policy made by the Governor. Chalk Rauner’s child care cuts up to whatever you choose. Lawmakers of both parties saw the value of the program, and realized that the cuts were devastating for both families and businesses in their districts.
None of these women crowed about their involvement, and none took the bait presented in the form of Ken Dunkin.
Bravo to these women who chose to disregard politics to stand up for other women– especially because they had to stand up to powerful men who would rather they had stood down.
They didn’t get the most votes, but that nomination by Emily Miller was so strong that I couldn’t pass it up.
* OK, on to our next category. We’re going to skip ahead for a bit because today is the anniversary of Judy Baar Topinka’s untimely death. I’ve made an executive decision to rename this category in her honor…
* The Judy Baar Topinka Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statewide Officeholder
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan declared Wednesday that the state income tax rate should be raised back to at least 5 percent to help balance the state’s out-of-whack finances.
In doing so, Madigan potentially gave new life to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s argument that Democrats are to blame for the stalemate in Springfield because they’re intent on only raising taxes to dig out of the state budget deficit. That’s likely to be a GOP attack point in next year’s House and Senate campaigns as Republicans try to cut into significant Democratic majorities.
The comments came as Madigan, following a rare public speech, answered a question at a City Club of Chicago luncheon posed by a Republican strategist who wanted to know how high taxes should go. A famously disciplined and veteran politician, Madigan seemed aware of the risks of his response even as the words came out of his mouth.
“Let me avoid creating a headline for tomorrow’s newspaper,” he joked, then proceeded to create one.
That second paragraph is kinda puzzling because Madigan said yesterday (as he has said many times before) that he wants a mixed approach, some revenues some cuts.
But, hey, the Speaker walked right into that mess. If he didn’t want to talk about tax hike specifics, he shouldn’t have talked about tax hike specifics. Blaming the media for reporting the only real “news” out of yesterday’s otherwise boring event didn’t do him much good, either.
* The AP has my favorite line of the day, however…
Although Madigan has made no secret of his support for higher taxes during the monthslong fiscal standoff, his response to an audience question after a luncheon speech to a packed City Club of Chicago gathering represented his first mention of a specific number.
“Let me avoid creating a headline for tomorrow’s newspaper and say that a good place to begin … would be the level we were at before the income tax expired,” the speaker said. “Starting there, you can go in whatever direction you want to go.”
Then again, Madigan himself could’ve sought to clarify what he said at the scrum, but didn’t for whatever reason. He apparently didn’t realize what was going on while he was talking…
Please focus on "start" word from Speaker. Suggests he'd go higher, which is so wrong. Will chase more ppl out of IL https://t.co/tcj9QaMC2m
Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, who also serves as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, has lost another round in court in his attempt to avoid turning over documents demanded by the county’s Inspector General as part of the IG’s investigation of allegations Berrios’ office improperly granted an assessor’s office employee a special property tax exemption.
A state appellate panel ruled Dec. 8 that the ordinances enacted by the Cook County Board granting the office of the Cook County Inspector General powers to subpoena documents from all county officials, including separately elected constitutional officers, such as the county assessor, during misconduct investigations.
The Illinois First District Appellate Court opinion was authored by Justice Neville, with justices Simon and Hyman concurring.
“We find that the (County) Board has the power to investigate allegations that county officials have abused their powers or committed fraud in their official capacities, as the corruption of county officials pertains to the county’s government and affairs within the meaning of the Illinois Constitution,” the justices wrote.
It’s not been a great couple of years for Berrios.
The mayor was at his most emotional when he discussed the need for respect between officers and young black men, and when he mentioned parents who have lost children to violence and people who get out of jail with few options.
He talked about a recent lunch with young men who had been in trouble with the law.
“So I asked them, tell me the one thing I need to know,” Emanuel said. “And rather than tell me something, one young man asked me a simple question that gets to the core of what we’re talking about. He said, ‘Do you think the police would ever treat you the way they treat me?’ And the answer is no, and that’s wrong,” Emanuel said, his voice rising before he began to pound the lectern. “And that has to change in this city. That has to come to an end and end now. No citizen is a second-class citizen in the city of Chicago. If my children are treated one way, every child is treated the same way.”
Aldermen applauded the mayor when he noted that double standard.
“Tell me the one thing I need to know.” That’s classic Emanuel, which makes this story so believable for me. The mayor teared up, and, to me at least, he clearly showed that he “gets it.”
* But it’s legit to ask what took him so long. Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and I had almost this exact same conversation last night…
Ford said Emanuel’s remarks on Wednesday showed a deep disconnect between the mayor and the black community.
“His speech to me was his recapping what we already know is going on,” he said. “The speech should have been: ‘We have diagnosed the problem. Here’s how we’re fixing it.’ Instead, you’re telling us what we already know? It’s like he’s having a revelation. That’s not good. … For this to be a surprise to the mayor, how the black community is treated, is pretty alarming.”
Ford told me that, while he most definitely welcomed the comments, he now wants the mayor to demonstrate with deeds that newfound understanding.
He’s right, of course. It’s going to take a lot more than heartfelt words to fix this mess.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was asked following his address Wednesday at the City Club of Chicago about the state income tax rate. Given misleading headlines and mischaracterization of the Speaker’s comments, the following clarifies his long-held position:
As I have stated for several months, and as I stated in my address to the City Club today, when it comes to solving the state’s budget deficit, I believe we need to take a balanced approach that includes a combination of new revenue and reductions in state spending. A cuts-only budget, as the governor proposed earlier this year, would severely cut medical care services for the elderly, the disabled and struggling families, would hurt middle-class families and would do more harm than good. That’s why we need a balanced approach.
We have no plans to advance legislation to change the income tax rate, and I am committed to working with the governor to develop a budget that provides for a balanced approach to solving our budget deficit.
“The breakdown in the system was real, and it was the direct result of decades of racism and neglect of communities of color,” said Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer (6), Black Caucus chair. “These are just the first steps, but we will remain committed to delivering full justice and making our Chicago the best that it can be for all of its citizens.”
Sawyer also noted that members of the Black Caucus have worked with the City’s Corporation Counsel to amend the way police misconduct settlements are handled.
“We are instituting protocol wherein the full City Council will receive a full briefing on these matters that will include all of the evidence, full discussion of the underlying case and a recommendation from Corporation Counsel,” said Sawyer. “To ensure we receive the full story, the plaintiff’s counsel will be on hand as well. Finally the video, if one exists, will be made available to the full Council at the briefing.”
* Their seven ideas…
1) CPD must stop shooting people in the back.
2) CPD employees who file false reports must be prosecuted. So far, the Cook County State’s Attorney has not pressed charges against the officers who filed false reports in the Laquan McDonald case. It has been more than 400 days, and still, no charges. This is unacceptable.
3) City Council and the Emanuel Administration must engage directly with the FOP to reform the disciplinary sections of the contract which at times have hindered proper action against officers who use excessive force or engage in other inappropriate behavior.
4) A special prosecutor is needed to pursue justice in all police involved shooting cases.
5) City Hall must support full integration with federal agencies to bring the resources necessary to tackle the systemic economic issues that have caused the conditions in our community.
6) The Blue Ribbon Task Force must be broadened to include community members, representation from the City Council, clinicians and members of the Defense Bar.
7) Due to the fractured nature of the relationship between the African American community and the CPD, we need full and serious consideration of an African American police superintendent to replace Supt. Garry McCarthy.
* Keep in mind that the two sponsors of HB 4356, Reps. LaShawn Ford and Mary Flowers, are Chicagoans who currently have Democratic primary opposition…
Establishes a procedure for an election to recall the Mayor of Chicago. Effective immediately.
Oof.
That’ll get some TV play (by design).
* As we discussed earlier today, Chicagoans are mad as heck right now. Tax hikes, crime spikes, police shooting videos, coverups, lies, you name it, they are mad about it.
And several state legislators are now at the mercy of those very same angry city voters.
So, under the bus goes Rahm, although not literally because I doubt this thing ever sees the light of day. It’ll be interesting to watch whether any more jump on as co-sponsors, however. The days of cowering before the mighty mayor appear to be over for now. He’s got no campaign money in the bank, no troops, and the voters hate him.
Nothing personal. Just business.
…Adding… I’m not even sure this bill would be legal since Emanuel was elected under the current rules (which do not provide for recall). Perhaps our legal type commenters can clue us in.
* At today’s City Club luncheon, House Speaker Michael Madigan was asked, “How high do you think taxes need to go?”
Here’s Madigan’s response, which is at about the 1:08:37 mark on the video…
“OK, let me avoid creating a headline for tomorrow’s newspaper. [Laughter]
“I’d say that a good place to begin - good place to begin - would be the level we were at before the income tax [increase] expired. Starting there you can go in whatever direction you want to go.” [More laughter]
House Speaker Michael Madigan says the state’s income tax should be restored to the 5 percent level it was at until January.
The Chicago Democrat told a City Club of Chicago crowd that the state’s multibillion-dollar deficit demands a tax hike.
A four-year, temporary increase from 3 percent to 5 percent expired last winter with the blessing of incoming Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. It dropped to 3.75 percent.
Madigan says the 5 percent level would be a “good place to begin.”
Sheesh.
*** UPDATE 1 *** More headlines…
* Tribune: Madigan: Raise income tax rate back to 5 percent, for starters
* Reuters: Illinois House speaker eyes return of 5 pct income tax rate
* WCIA tweet: BREAKING: IL Speaker Michael Madigan said he would support raising the state income tax back to 5 percent
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
In response to Speaker Madigan’s call for a 33% income tax increase “as a good place to begin,” Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno:
“It’s a busy time of year for most families, but taxpayers need to pay close attention. The powerful Democrat leadership is proposing a whopping 33% income tax increase – with no reforms to change the way we do business in Illinois. It’s outrageous and shows what we Republican legislators and Governor Rauner are up against in the state budget negotiations.
The citizens of Illinois want structural reforms that will lead to a more competitive Illinois economy and middle class economic growth, while protecting the taxpayers.”
* But that’s about to change. Remember the story from Monday about a group calling itself The Humanity Fund which sent a letter to Secretary of State Jesse White asking that its gay pride Festivus Pole be, um, “erected” in the rotunda?…
The 2015 Gay Pride Festivus Pole is approximately 6’6” tall, painted with purple-glitter, covered in the rainbow colors of diversity, and topped with an 8” disco ball.
And while Quinn was governor, the state entered into a contract with SEIU to contribute money for each hour worked by home care workers represented by the union toward health insurance.
The state is paying $1.11 an hour.
But here is the rub: Fewer than one-fifth of the home care workers actually accepted the insurance offered by the health care fund administered by SEIU.
So instead of the state just contributing toward the 5,000 employees accepting the insurance, taxpayers are paying for those employees and an extra 20,000 workers who said they didn’t want it.
Wouldn’t it be better if workers declining the insurance got a pay raise instead?
Why would Quinn negotiate a contract like that?
At least on the surface, it would appear the contract has the state paying 80 percent more than it should.
Messages were left with SEIU and Quinn, but neither responded.
There is no ‘surcharge,’ on everyone and certainly nobody is being compelled to pay for benefits that are not provided (which IPI is dishonestly trying to suggest).
The state’s preferred method of accounting is to work that amount into the hourly rate as opposed to paying a lump sum per individual, hence why, by their accounting, it looks like everyone is being charged for health insurance. Again, the rate is based on the cost of up to the capped level of 5,250 workers taking advantage of the SEIU health insurance.
The union, by the way, claims it has no record of being contacted about this story.
* Full statement from James Muhammad, SEIU Healthcare Illinois vice president…
“In its latest attack against our workers, the Illinois Policy Institute, the political right hand of Bruce Rauner’s pocketbook which dutifully serves as his policy mouthpiece, is making totally inaccurate assertions about health insurance benefits for home healthcare providers.
“The IPI is making the outrageous claim that the state is contributing funds towards unwanted and unclaimed benefits. This is simply inaccurate. The state ONLY contributes funding sufficient to provide health insurance for a portion of the workforce that works full-time, or close to full-time, and has set a maximum number of workers that it will fund to cap spending. And what the state DOES contribute to our health fund is efficient and cost-effective by any measure. What a coincidence that IPI has decided to attack benefits that Rauner wants to deny at the bargaining table, and for which a St. Clair County judge recently ordered him to restore funding. (The Rauner attack group also incorrectly asserted that the administrator of the fund isn’t a full-time worker.)
“We have countless and moving stories of low-wage workers, for whom the health fund has been a life-saver. But we don’t think this, or facts, matter to the IPI, which is pursuing a coordinated political agenda with Rauner and his billionaire friends to harm workers, strip them of their voice and ensure that employers can lower wages, benefits and protections throughout Illinois.”
Top Illinois Republicans Tuesday denounced presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s recent call to block all Muslims from entering the U.S. […]
“Banning any race or religion, as Donald Trump has suggested, is anathema to American values and should be rejected,” [Sen. Mark Kirk] said in a statement. “Instead, the American people need both parties to develop a clear and concise strategy to destroy the Islamic state and prove that our security transcends political rhetoric.”
* The folks at EMILY’s List are apparently too busy reading DC-based publications to notice some mere local reporting. Here’s their press release from late this morning…
EMILY’s List Exposes Trump-Kirk Agenda
Today EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, denounced Illinois Senator Mark Kirk for aligning himself with the extreme and dangerous policies espoused by Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Earlier this year, EMILY’s List put Senator Kirk “On Notice” for his radical anti-woman and anti-family agenda, making his seat a top target for Democratic takeover in 2016.
On the heels of Donald Trump’s outrageous and unconstitutional proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, the Washington Post reported that Kirk “simply denied that Trump’s antics would have any impact on his contest.” Trump holds a commanding lead in all national polls of the Republican presidential primary.
“Senator Kirk has a long record of supporting dangerous and discriminatory policies that are in lockstep with Donald Trump’s offensive and incendiary rhetoric,” said EMILY’s List Communications Director Marcy Stech. “The people of Illinois don’t want an extreme Trump-Kirk agenda that demonizes entire segments of our population and puts American women and families in danger.
“As headlines predicting Trump-related losses down ticket start to pile up, maybe Senator Kirk should do some soul-searching about why he’s so tied to someone so toxic.”
They take an off-hand, brief comment about Trump’s impact on his own race and inflate that into a grand, unholy alliance with Donald Trump?
Sheesh.
EMILY’s List needs to apologize for this one.
Also, what “radical anti-woman agenda”? He’s one of the only pro-choice Republicans in that entire town.
Kirk agrees with other Republicans that what Trump has been saying on immigration since he began his presidential campaign, like claiming many undocumented immigrants coming from Mexico are “killers” and “rapists”, are reflecting poorly on the rest of the party.
“I would say that Trump is probably hurting the Republican Party with his over-the-top comments on the spirit and character of Mexicans, which is not correct,” Kirk said. “I went to school in Mexico. It’s not a country of rapists and criminals.”
And his “radical anti-woman agenda” apparently includes voting against a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy will hold a news conference Thursday to announce that she will introduce new legislation for 2016 that would replace criminal penalties with a civil fine for possession of a personal amount of marijuana in Illinois.
The news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT in the Blue Room of the James R. Thompson Center. Rep. Cassidy will be joined by Rev. Alexander Sharp of Clergy for a New Drug Policy and other members of the Illinois faith community who believe the state’s current criminal penalties for marijuana possession are causing harm to their communities.
The new proposal will include provisions Gov. Bruce Rauner and a majority of the members of the General Assembly agreed to earlier this year. It will largely mirror legislation previously introduced by Rep. Cassidy that was approved in the Senate (37-19) on May 21 and in the House (62-53) on April 23, as well the amendments proposed by the governor when he vetoed the bill and returned it to the legislature on August 14.
OK, fine, but I’m still peeved that Rep. Cassidy didn’t simply accept the governor’s amendatory veto that even Illinois NORML said would be fine with them.
Hopefully, the new bill goes enough beyond Rauner’s amendatory veto to make it worth the wait.
But, really, decriminalization means people would still be buying an untaxed, illegal product from unlicensed, unlawful dealers. Cut out the criminal element and legalize it, fer cryin’ out loud. Plus, the state is a bit short these days and could use the bucks.
* Nominations for the 2015 Golden Horeshoe Award for Best Illinois State Representative - Republican were neck and neck. Rep. David Harris just barely pulled it out…
There is no one member more deserving of praise than David Harris. He is a voice of sound reason that both sides should spend more time listening to.
Rep. Dave McSweeney is awarded a very close runner-up for strong nominations like this one…
I think that everyone in Springfield was afraid of what he might be when he first got to Springfield. And, yes, he has definitely still ruffled feathers, especially in his own caucus. But he has really established himself as an independent thinker, who, while very conservative, is also interested in getting things done and doing what he thinks is right. In a year that has seen so little independence on either side of the aisle, McSweeney has actually stood out.
* The 2015 Golden Horeshoe Award for Best Illinois State Representative - Democrat…
It may be moot given that he was just sworn-in as Auditor General, but my vote for best House Dem goes to Frank Mautino. Never mugging for the cameras, always willing to spare some time for you, always willing to give it to you straight. What more can you ask for?
Also, an intellectual and political grasp of the budget not seen in most mortals, let alone mere legislators. This guy ate, drank and slept with budget books. He’s forgotten more about budgets than most people will ever learn. He’s going to be missed by a lot of people who’ve too often taken him for granted. They don’t make them like Mautino anymore.
No, they don’t.
Congratulations!
* On to today’s categories…
* Best Illinois State Senator - Republican
* Best Illinois State Senator - Democrat
As always, make sure to explain your nominations or your vote won’t count. Thanks!
* House Speaker Michael Madigan will be speaking to the City Club today at 12:30. He hasn’t done this gig in years, but I kinda doubt he’ll break any new ground. The post-speech questions could be interesting, however. Watch it live right here…
I’ll have a ScribbleLive feed when the time comes.
Wednesday, Dec 9, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Profit. We generally think of profit as good. We all like to profit from our decisions.
However, when you become profit for someone else, it takes on a whole new meaning.
Credit unions are different. They are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that return earnings to their members. Services are based on member needs, not profit margins.
It’s time your money profited YOU. If you are a credit union member, you already know the credit union difference. If you are not a member, go to ASmarterChoice.org to discover all the advantages credit union membership holds.
Rauner described Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. as “an extreme action.”
“What he’s proposing is just fundamentally counter to American values,” Rauner said Tuesday in response to reporters’ questions. “I strongly, strongly disagree with candidate Trump.”
I think most agree that Trump’s proposal to halt almost all Muslim travel to the USA runs counter to American values.
But the governor wants a temporary ban on resettling vetted refugees here. The Donald wants a temporary ban on travel to this country by mostly unvetted tourists, etc.
“What we are trying to do is communicate with President Obama’s administration. What we’ve asked is that we share information with the federal and state government.” […]
“We have a duty to work together to try to block terrorists while allowing honest folks, immigrants and tourists to come to the United States,” Rauner said. “Right now the information-sharing is inadequate. The officials in Paris have acknowledged that their coordination and communication efforts among the different levels were not adequate.”
Wait.
The governor hasn’t called for blocking mostly unvetted Syrian tourists from coming to Illinois. He hasn’t talked about home-grown terrorists, either. He’s solely focused instead on vetted war refugees…
Critics say governors don’t have the legal authority to block refugees, and it’s discrimination to block out any one group.
But this time, Rauner didn’t just single out Syrians.
“I have asked the Obama administration to take a pause - it’s not a long-term action but a pause - in our acceptance, our welcoming, of refugees from Syria and Iraq,” Rauner said.
In written statements outlining his refugee policy, Rauner didn’t include Iraqis.
Apparently, Rauner didn’t read an open letter written by former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Schultz, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former National Security Directors Brent Scowcroft and Gen. Michael Hayden, among others…
Given the stringent measures in place, we are especially concerned by proposals that would derail or further delay the resettlement of Iraqis who risked their lives to work with the U.S. military and other U.S. organizations. These refugees were given priority access to U.S. resettlement under the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act. The United States has a moral obligation to protect them.
* Gov. Rauner forgot to mention Libya, by the way. I guess his crack anti-terrorism unit didn’t brief him on the loyal Iraqi workers or that God-forsaken country…
“We have an anti-terrorism group in our state government. They are not being informed by the federal government on what’s going on, who’s coming, what the backgrounds are,” Rauner said. “We can treat it all with highly classified folks, and what I’m advocating is just an increased level of communication so we can battle against terrorists together.”
I asked the governor’s office this morning how many people are in the state’s “anti-terrorism group.” I’ll let you know if they respond.
…Adding… Soccermom in comments…
I spent some time this year trying to help an Iraqi refugee who had fled an abusive husband (leaving her young son behind) to start a new life in America. She came here just about penniless, with two suitcases. And she proceeded to become a horrible burden on Illinois taxpayers (If you call working two jobs, graduating Harold Washington College as valedictorian and getting a scholarship to complete her degree at an Ivy League school being a horrible burden.)
What a jerk.
*** UPDATE *** So, do we ban Illinois National Guard members from coming to Illinois?…
An Illinois man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to plotting with his cousin, a National Guard member, to attack an Illinois military installation as part of a conspiracy to support Islamic State, a U.S. prosecutor’s spokesman said.
Jonas Edmonds was charged with his cousin, Army National Guard Specialist Hasan Edmonds, of planning to carry out an armed attack on the military facility where Hasan Edmonds had been training in Joliet, 34 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.
Today, area native, Harvard graduate, and innovation consultant, Jason Gonzales, announced his candidacy for the democratic nomination for state representative of Illinois’ 22nd district.
“I’m running to make the needs of the 22nd district first priority. Our community is suffering from a major lack of economic development, quality middle class jobs, and too many families are now having to pay property taxes that they just cannot afford,” Gonzales said. “From my early experience in the service industry as an SEIU member, as a former small business owner, and currently as an innovation consultant; I’m ready to bring new ideas and leadership to solve Illinois’ and the 22nd district’s toughest problems.”
Jason Gonzales, 41, spent his early years on the Southwest Side of Chicago, the son of a Mexican-American union electrician father and a dental hygienist mother. He describes himself as a “troubled teenager” who attended an alternative high school. Despite these challenges, he changed his life and graduated with honors from Duke University, where he was a student-athlete.
Jason began as a union worker with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) before starting and owning a catering and food service business for 13 years. His ambitions drove him to earn a Master’s in Business Administration at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was a top student and served as an advisor and confidant to L. Rafael Reif, MIT’s 17th President. After MIT, Gonzales earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where David Gergen, the CNN Senior Political Analyst and advisor to five US presidents mentored him.
He moved back to Chicago, where he founded an international nonprofit training entrepreneurs and bringing clean water to the developing world. He has worked in business and real estate, managing multi-million dollar development bids and contracts. Gonzales is currently an innovation consultant, who has worked with companies in both public and private sectors.
Jason received awards from the City of Los Angeles for innovative community development in Chicago, the Durham Companions for his work with at-risk youth and has been nominated to the World Economic Forum and Council on Foreign Relations for innovation and global leadership. He serves as a trustee for both the Garfield Ridge Civic League and MIT Sloan Club of Chicago. He is also a member of the City Club of Chicago, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Spertus Institute of Leadership.
“I love this state and my community; I refuse to believe that we cannot bring impactful and positive change to Illinois,” Gonzales said. After 45 years of Speaker Madigan, it’s time for a change.”
I’m assuming his bio will be fact-checked.
Speaking of checked, Gonzales’ petitions weren’t challenged. However, both of the two suspected “put-up” (by Madigan) primary candidates were hit by challenges.
Gonzales, 41, says Madigan allies observing candidate filings at the Illinois State Board of Elections just before the close of business on Nov. 30 acted swiftly when he filed his nominating petitions challenging Madigan for the Democratic nominations in the 22nd Illinois House District. Within minutes of Gonzales’ filing, nominating petitions for two other candidates were filed. […]
“I specifically timed it so I had a shot at just me and Speaker Madigan on the ballot. Evidently I didn’t time it late enough. I didn’t want to time it too close because I was afraid there might be a line or something could have gone wrong where I couldn’t have filed. So I was waiting for the last minute and honestly they were not expecting me. I watched the whole thing go down,” says Gonzales. “I filed and … one of Mr. Madigan’s lobbyists or assistants… saw me because they thought I wasn’t running. There were rumors that I had dropped out of the race and I guess they had sort of staked their belief on that. When he saw me, he jumped up, grabbed a file box, went out into the hallway and I watched him pull two candidates’ petitions out of the box. Another assistant prepared them and as soon as I filed, they walked in with other people and filed those candidates right behind me.”
The MJM peeps likely didn’t stake their belief on anything since they apparently had petitions ready to go.
“Many of the signatures it’s our belief that they are bogus or they’re not valid in one way, shape or form. So the community members have filed objections to these two candidates which are very clearly Madigan plants. ” Gonzales said. “I don’t know anything about them. They appear just to be people from the neighborhood. I will find out more. I’ll be stopping by their homes at some point to introduce myself.”
His campaign committee as of Dec. 8 had filed no financial information, though Gonzales said he would be logging about $20,000 in donations in a few days.
* Michael Sneed says CPS CEO Forrest Claypool is looking at cutting administrative positions by a third…
Insiders tell Sneed to look out for the massive cuts as a down payment on bridging this year’s $500 million budget gap — and an effort to avert the worst impacts on classrooms.
Sneed is told about 450 CPS administrative jobs could be chopped to the tune of $50 million. The CPS Central Office, which has 1,400 administrative positions, has a $150 million budget. […]
Backshot: Claypool has been hustling to persuade Springfield to step up and do its part with a new campaign called “20 for 20” — arguing that CPS students are 20 percent of the state’s enrollment, but only get 15 percent of the funding.
Claypool and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have asked the state for a $480 million bailout, which includes $200 million for the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund.
* Senate President John Cullerton is also on the “20 for 20″ bandwagon. From his Tribune op-ed…
We estimate that Chicago schoolchildren, among the state’s most disadvantaged, will receive $4,037 per student in fiscal year 2016 while all other districts will receive, on average, $5,461 per student. That’s less than $3 in state funding to Chicago schools for every $4 suburban and downstate schools receive, on average. […]
The state’s unequal provision of classroom funding is even more abhorrent because 86 percent of Chicago public schoolchildren are low-income. Studies have shown it takes more money, not less, to educate children living in poverty. […]
Schools with high levels of children in poverty should get more than average funding if we are to demand the same results as in other schools. But if Chicago schools simply received average funding — 20 percent of funding for the 20 percent of state enrollment the city represents — Chicago Public Schools would receive upward of $500 million more, enough to avoid classroom cuts this year while the district fights its way out of an unprecedented $1.1 billion budget hole.
State funding is based partly on the local property tax base, and Chicago’s is growing. While Cullerton’s point about low-income families is spot-on, if we want to start basing state school funding on population, a whole lot of wealthy suburban districts will make out like bandits.
Cullerton also mentions the $3.8 billion given by the state to suburban and Downstate schools for their pension fund. Chicago receives very little for its own fund. On that topic, he makes a good point.
Radogno and Durkin also said lawmakers agreed [during yesterday’s leaders’ meeting] to shelve talk of changing the formula Illinois uses to fund public education, saying they will take it up after a budget deal is reached. Lawmakers have long agreed that the system should be more equitable, but not on how to fix it.
Emanuel’s remarks come amid poll results released Tuesday that show 51 percent of Chicagoans surveyed believe he should resign over his handling of the Laquan McDonald case. Perhaps more difficult in the long run for the mayor, though, is that his job approval rating has dropped to 18 percent from 35 percent a year ago.
Ouch.
The robopoll, which is here, was conducted Saturday by Ogden & Fry. The same outfit did a poll for the same publication back in September which found his approval rating at 25 percent.
No doubt that Emanuel’s poll numbers are horrible, but his approval rating isn’t that much lower post-LaQuan McDonald than it was before the horrible snuff video was released. Why? Tax hikes, teachers’ union troubles, junk bond rating, etc., etc., etc. Chicagoans are a mighty grumpy bunch.
64 percent, by the way, say they don’t believe the mayor when he says he never watched the McDonald video.
Remember that “credibility gap” phrase from the old days?
* Even so, I’ve said before that I don’t see Emanuel ever stepping down. One poll certainly ain’t gonna push him out the door. Besides, what aldercreature are they gonna replace him with? Not happening.
It’s also been fairly clear since the election that Emanuel isn’t going to run for another term (a big tipoff is that he’s barely raised any money since the campaign ended). So, while the poll may drive the media narrative for a bit (at least until we get another poll), it likely won’t matter in the end.
* But when half the populace thinks their mayor ought to resign… Whew.
The council is definitely gonna run for cover. And that’ll make it far more difficult to do the things necessary to turn that city around. He can’t go big if aldermen are constantly watching their backs because of him.
* Subscribers were tipped that these petitions were probably bad enough to get him kicked. So he apparently dropped out instead. Tribune…
Flynn Rush, the son of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, withdrew as a candidate Tuesday in challenging state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie for the March 15 Democratic nomination on Chicago’s South Side.
Currie, who has served in the legislature since 1979, is the House majority leader, the top deputy role for veteran Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Flynn Rush’s bid to get on the ballot already had faced a candidacy petition challenge. The State Board of Elections said Flynn Rush withdrew his candidacy on Tuesday afternoon.
The candidacy petitions of Bobby Rush also are facing an intensive challenge from Ald. Howard Brookins, 21st, one of three Democrats challenging the veteran congressman.
