* Fran Spielman…
It started late Saturday night with sweating, shivering, teeth-chattering and feet that felt like they were on fire. That was followed by a cough that wouldn’t quit and a sore throat Kwame Raoul described as “out of this world.”
Raoul, Illinois attorney general, said Thursday he’s now “stuck in solitary confinement in my bedroom” as the highest-ranking Illinois politician known to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
He’s feeling “a little bit better” since he was tested late Monday. The results came Tuesday morning. His fever, which spiked at 101.4 degrees, has come down. But after a “meeting or two” on Zoom, he feels “exhausted afterwards, as if I played a football game.”
“I tire very easily. But overall, I have not had any breathing difficulties, which is a plus because I’ve heard of others having such breathing difficulties. Just feeling beat down, though,” he said. […]
The attorney general said he has no idea where he might have contracted the virus. He noted having “stopped by to support a couple of restaurants” in recent weeks. But, he refused to identify them for fear of discouraging sorely-needed business at a time when restaurants are fighting for survival and have reopened to outdoor dining.
Lots more in there, so you know what to do.
* I listened to this interview he did today and he sounded pretty good, so let’s hope the progress continues…
It’s just such a weird virus, though. It can do some crazy things to bodies.
Get well soon, general.
26 Comments  
|
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 593 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 55 additional confirmed deaths.
- Cook County: 1 female 20s, 1 male 30s, 2 males 40s, 1 female 50s, 3 females 50s, 2 males 60s, 3 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 6 females 80s, 4 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 1 male 90s, 1 unknown 90s, 1 female 100+
- DeKalb County; 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
- DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
- Grundy County: 1 male 90s
- Kane County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 2 females 80s, 2 females 90s
- Kankakee County: 1 female 90s
- Lake County: 1 female 70s, 2 males 80s
- McHenry County: 1 male 50s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 70s
- Will County: 1 female 60s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 134,778 cases, including 6,537 deaths, in 101 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 25,504 specimens for a total of 1,283,832. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 11–June 17 is 3%.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. See CDC definition of a probable case on its website. IDPH will update these data once a week.
11 Comments
|
Deloitte sued over Illinois data “glitch”
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background is here if you need it. Illinois Policy Institute…
A data breach that exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of 32,483 Illinois unemployment applicants resulted in at least one case of identity theft, according to a class-action federal lawsuit.
Briana Julius is suing Deloitte Consulting, alleging the contractor failed to secure personally identifying information which led to fraudulent charges on her bank account and her debit card being shut off. Deloitte was paid $22 million to build and manage the system for the Illinois Department of Employment Security to handle claims from self-employed and gig workers, but soon after the system went online May 11 it was found to be publicly exposing private applicant information.
Julius is from St. Clair County. She is suing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, with St. Louis attorney Tiffany Yiatras representing her, according to the Madison-St. Clair Record. The class-action suit on behalf of Julius is the third lawsuit against Deloitte for the May data breach. Two groups of Ohio residents also filed lawsuits.
Colorado also experienced a data breach, officials there said.
All three breaches happened around the same time. Click here for more on the Ohio lawsuits.
* More…
Julius alleges Deloitte failed to properly secure and safeguard personally identifying information. As a result of the data breach, her bank notified her of fraudulent charges on her bank account that she did not make.
There’s no proof offered in the suit that the two things were related. The state maintains that the only person who saw the data was the person who reported the problem. I guess we’ll find out.
9 Comments
|
Meanwhile, in Opposite Land
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WalletHub…
May’s jobs report should be encouraging to American workers, as it shows that the U.S. actually gained 2.5 million nonfarm payroll jobs. This demonstrates that the process of beginning to reopen states has gone smoothly, and businesses are rehiring employees that they temporarily laid off while their buildings remained closed. There are still 21 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though, which hopefully will be reduced as states proceed to open more in the coming months. Last week, there were 1.5 million new unemployment claims nationwide, compared to 6.9 million during the peak of the pandemic (a 78% reduction).
To identify which states’ workforces are experiencing the quickest recovery from COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three metrics based on changes in unemployment claims.
Illinois was the 9th most-recovered state since the start of the crisis. Georgia, which reopened before just about every other state, finished dead last.
I’ll have more on this topic tomorrow.
* KTAR TV…
The Arizona health department reported a new single-day high of 2,519 coronavirus cases and 32 additional deaths Thursday morning. […]
Of the PCR samples collected this week that have been processed, 15% have come back positive, matching last week’s mark, which was a pandemic high.
The weekly PCR positive rate has risen every week since the week starting May 10, when it was 5%. […]
Overall hospital bed usage remained at a pandemic high of 85% on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, and the percentage of ICU beds in use reached a high point of 84%.
On May 15, inpatient bed usage was at 74% and ICU bed usage was at 72%.
By comparison, Illinois’ total (COVID and non-COVID) hospital bed usage is 59 percent and total ICU bed usage is at 55 percent. Occupancy has been falling for weeks. The protests started almost three weeks ago, so you’d think we’d be seeing an overall uptick in hospitalization numbers by now. So far, that’s not the case.
Also, Illinois’ positivity rate for June 10–16 is 3 percent.
* Omaha World-Herald…
At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.
But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.
In Illinois, the governor caught heat when he threatened to withhold CARES Act funding from local governments if they defied his stay at home/reopening orders.
14 Comments
|
* Press release…
A new coalition of health, labor, aging and public interest organizations launched “Open Safe Illinois” on Thursday to amplify the voices of Illinois residents, the majority of whom support public health-driven decision making by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and local leaders.
While a small, vocal minority has pushed to rapidly reopen businesses and recreational activities across the state, polls show that the majority of the public remain very concerned about the coronavirus, are taking precautions, and support policy informed by the most up-to-date and relevant medical science. While many states are experiencing surges in new infections, Illinois recently had the greatest two-week decline in new cases across the country. According to data compiled by ProPublica, Illinois is the first state to meet all five of the metrics the White House suggested should be required to safely reopen.
“Gov. Pritzker’s measured, public health-driven approach has slowed the spread of COVID-19 and saved lives,” said Tom Hughes, Illinois Public Health Association executive director. “It’s critical that we stay the course and continue to make decisions based on the best available data and public health analysis.”
Illinois can look to other states, many of which just now are reaching their highest rates of infections and deaths, to see what happens if we don’t remain vigilant. Illinoisans, especially frontline workers, older adults, people with existing health conditions, and Latino and African American communities who face disproportionate risks, can’t afford a surge of infection.
The coalition boasts 25 members, including AgeOptions, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Alzheimer’s Association - Illinois Chapter, Business and Professional People in the Public Interest, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Jobs Council, Citizen Action Illinois, Coalition for the Homeless, Common Cause Illinois, Elevate Energy, Everthrive Illinois, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Heartland Alliance, Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois PIRG, Illinois Public Health Association, Prairie Rivers Network, Rainbow Push Coalition, Respiratory Health Association, SEIU HealthCare, Sierra Club Illinois, and United Food and Commercial Workers 881.
“We have not defeated the coronavirus, only slowed its spread,” said Abe Scarr, Illinois PIRG director and coalition coordinator. “Until we have an effective vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, which could take years, it’s critical that decision makers stay the course to protect the health and well-being of Illinoisans.”
The referenced poll is here. The group’s website is here.
* Meanwhile…
Chicagoans won’t be willing to return to the office until they feel it’s safe, something that will require not only widespread, subsidized testing for COVID-19 but also flexible hours, discounted parking, investments in public transit and “clear guidelines” from the government.
Limits on corporate liability, extra help for emerging minority-owned businesses, buying local and “fair property tax reform” would help, too.
That’s the formula for reopening Chicago’s economy that the city’s largest business group laid out today in a report that has its share of flowery verbiage but also is surprisingly provocative in some ways.
The Chicagoland Chamber’s report is here.
* Related…
* Hotel group leans on Pritzker to allow bigger meetings
* Arlington, horsemen strike deal to reopen racetrack
* Thinking of returning to the office? EPA flap here underlines the issues - The leader of 850 downtown workers says they’re being pressured to return to the Metcalfe Federal Building. “We’re going to fight. . . .We’re risking our lives.”
* University Of Illinois Creates Saliva COVID-19 Test With A Plan To Use It On Thousands Of Students This Fall
21 Comments
|
Because… Madigan!
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jim Dey
As new Gov. J.B Pritzker prepared to take office in January 2019, there was a feeding frenzy among aspiring politicos for jobs in his administration.
Many of them were looking for an inside track to get on Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s list of “recommendations for the new administration.”
An examination of that list by Chicago public radio station WBEZ shows that 37 people of the all-powerful Madigan’s list of 76 choices were accepted by Pritzker. […]
The record shows that Cullerton, Brady and Durkin made little effort to influence Pritzker’s personnel choices and had even less success.
Of Cullerton’s three recommendations, just one was appointed to a nonpaying post. Two of Brady’s 11 recommendations were accepted. Durkin’s sole recommendation was rejected. Meanwhile, nearly half of Madigan’s recommendations were accepted.
1) If he’s so “all-powerful,” then how come he batted below .500?
2) If you believe that John Cullerton only asked for three jobs, I have a bridge to sell you.
The original story generated a ton of social media push-back from the administration. Click here for Jordan Abudayyeh’s take.
* The ILGOP’s response…
Yesterday, it was revealed that upon winning the gubernatorial election in 2017 [sic], Speaker Madigan sent Governor Pritzker a list of individuals he wanted hired in state government. Pritzker complied with the Speaker’s wishes and hired 35 of them.
WBEZ: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Hired 35 People From House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Clout List - “Despite repeatedly promising to be “independent” of longtime Democratic boss Michael Madigan, first-term Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker filled many prominent roles in his administration with people recommended by the state House speaker and party chairman, a WBEZ investigation has revealed.
As Pritzker won the election in 2018 and was sworn into office last year, Madigan’s office sent him the names of scores of job seekers and the positions in state government they desired. Madigan’s successful recommendations far outnumbered those from other legislative leaders, with records showing the new governor made nearly three dozen hires and board appointments off the speaker’s clout list.
Illinois taxpayers are paying those Madigan-endorsed public officials a total of more than $2.5 million a year, WBEZ’s investigation found.”
ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider responded to the news by releasing the following statement:
“It was obvious long before Governor Pritzker was elected that he would do Speaker Madigan’s bidding. Now we have proof. When Madigan asked, Governor Pritzker delivered for him. Just as they have been for decades, the taxpayers of Illinois were left out of that equation.
The only appropriate response for when Madigan’s chief emailed his clout list was for Pritzker’s chief to email back, ‘no thanks.’ Instead, the Governor hired half of them, gave them cushy jobs as department heads and board commissioners, and is paying them $2.5 million in taxpayer funds annually. All 35 Madigan Patronage hires should resign immediately.”
Click here to read the list.
To my eyes, most of these folks were no-brainers. Jim Edgar, Shirley Madigan and David Harris stand out in that regard. And quite a few were actually supported by Madigan’s members. Also, Tiffany Newbern-Johnson spent two years on Madigan’s legal staff, but she really made her name at Mayor Emanuel’s office.
* But Pritzker was super reluctant to appoint Local 150’s Jim Sweeney to the Toll Highway Authority. The governor wanted more diversity at the tollway. Madigan had to intervene…
Chairman Evans and Davis are African-Americans. But except for Santoy, the rest are Anglos. Also, two women, seven men.
Normally, I wouldn’t do a count like that, and I don’t have a problem with any of these members, but the governor is the one who made such a big deal about diversity. Also too, Local 150 wins again.
So, yeah, there’s some fire with all that smoke. And I would assume there’s more.
By the way, Cesar Santoy, who was backed by then-Sen. Marty Sandoval and others, eventually had to step down. The tollway board is more white now than it was back then.
23 Comments
|
* Tuesday…
In the midst of an almost deafening national and local outcry over police abuses, the Illinois Supreme Court may order the city of Chicago to destroy all records of complaints against police officers that are more than five years old, potentially undermining attempts to identify problematic officers
A decision is scheduled to be issued Thursday in a legal challenge brought by the union representing Chicago police officers, asserting that their contract with the city requires the destruction of old complaints.
University of Chicago Law Professor Craig Futterman said the case is fundamentally about a question being asked all over the country, whether police unions and city governments should be able to bargain away the rights of the public to have effective oversight of police officers.
“If the Fraternal Order of Police has its way, hundreds of thousands of Chicago police misconduct records will go up in smoke like a great bonfire, destroying the very information that’s needed to identify and stop police officers who’ve been engaged in patterns of abuse,” Futterman said. “And this reality should be particularly unthinkable and appalling to everyone in this moment where we have people in Chicago and around the world raising their voices to affirm that Black Lives Matter. … What’s at stake is the reality that the very records that we need right now to … prevent more black pain and deaths at the hands of the police could disappear.”
* Today…
* More from the opinion…
While parties are generally free to make their own contracts, this court has long held that when a conflict exists between a contract provision and state law, as it clearly does in this case, state law prevails.
42 Comments
|
* CBS 2…
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 44,639 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of June 8 in Illinois, according to the DOL’s weekly claims report released Thursday.
While this number is based on advanced estimates, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will be releasing a final number later Thursday.
There were 1,508,000 new claims filed across the country last week, a decrease of 58,000from the previous week.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 44,814 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of June 1 in Illinois.
5 Comments
|
*** UPDATED x2 *** Frerichs steps on third rail
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Chamber CEO Todd Maisch and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs spoke at the Mid-Year Economic Summit hosted by the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce yesterday. From the Daily Herald’s coverage…
Both Maisch and Frerichs talked about the progressive tax referendum that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Maisch said the state chamber is against the change from the current flat tax because the top 20% of taxpayers already pay two-thirds of all taxes. In addition, he noted the current system provides “treatments,” such as the earned income tax credit, that favor low- and middle-income earners.
“Even though the rate is flat, you can actually graduate your system if you give some people tax treatments and not give others those treatments,” he said.
Frerichs added one argument for the progressive tax is the consideration of taxing retirement income of those who can afford it. He said he knows people who receive 6-figure yearly pensions and do not pay income taxes, but the current system doesn’t differentiate between them and retirees who barely get by on their savings or pensions.
“One thing a progressive tax would do is make clear you can have graduated rates when you are taxing retirement income,” he said. “And, I think that’s something that’s worth discussion.”
That’ll wind up in an ad.
* His suggestion plays right into the opposition’s rhetoric. Illinois Policy Institute…
The “fair tax” is being sold as a tax on the wealthy, but if voters on Nov. 3 remove the Illinois constitution’s flat tax protection they will be granting state lawmakers broad new taxing power that would make it easier to go after seniors and their retirement income.
Illinois lawmakers in 2019 approved a defining feature of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s policy agenda by agreeing to ask voters to amend the Illinois Constitution and remove its flat tax protection. They also set introductory rates that start hiking taxes on residents making over $250,000.
Among several other negative policy outcomes, the adoption of a progressive income tax would make it significantly more likely that Illinois will adopt a retirement income tax in the future. That’s because removing the flat income tax protection also removes a key political barrier to imposing a tax on retirement income. […]
Public opposition has historically killed proposals to tax retirement income in the Prairie State. A 2019 poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found 73% of Illinoisans somewhat or strongly opposed eliminating the retirement exemption, while only 23% somewhat or strongly supported the change.
That poll is here.
* There was, however, this somewhat odd response…
Would you favor or oppose applying the state income tax to retirement income if it exempted from taxes the first $100,000 earned per year?
Favor 36%
Oppose 34%
Other/don’t know 3%
That adds up to only 73 percent.
…Adding… From comments…
Rich, the Paul Simon poll only added up to 73% because it was only asked of the 73% of respondents “who had indicated they were opposed to taxing retirement income in the previous question.” So the poll assumed that 59% of Illinois adults supported taxing retirement income over $100,000: the 36% yes to the specific question plus the 23% who were in favor of taxing all retirement income. Totals on that question are 59% in favor vs. 34% oppose vs. 7% other/don’t know.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Quentin Fulks, Chairman of Vote Yes For Fairness…
Vote Yes For Fairness believes all seniors should have the opportunity to retire with dignity after years of hard work, and opposes any tax on retirement income. That’s why we are dedicated to passing the Fair Tax, which does not tax retirement income or make it any easier to implement a tax on retirement income. The Fair Tax is about fixing our broken tax system that allows millionaires and billionaires to pay the same rate as our working families, while updating it to the one used by a majority of states and the federal government that works for all Illinoisans.
*** UPDATE 2 *** AARP Illinois…
AARP Illinois supports the current graduated income tax proposal which, in no way, taxes retirement income or makes it any easier to implement a tax on retirement income.
Illinois state law continues to protect retirement income from taxation , including Social Security, pensions, 401(k)s, and IRAs.
In AARP Illinois surveys, 89 percent of older adults said they opposed taxing retirement income, and 71 percent of voters 25 and older were also against it.
With this in mind, AARP Illinois supports a graduated income tax as a step in the right direction toward addressing our state’s budget crisis.
A graduated income tax protects lower and moderate income taxpayers and their families by giving them a tax break. It also ensures that only those who can afford it – the wealthiest 3% — will pay more under this plan.
AARP Illinois continues to oppose taxing retirement income and will fight any efforts to do so.
.
60 Comments
|
* I took issue with this tweet last night…
* The mayor upped the ante today…
According to Chalkbeat, more than half of Chicago public school teachers are white. The CTU’s president is a wealthy white man.
*** UPDATE *** Let all your allies get all worked up and defensive and then pull the rug right out from underneath them. Classic error…
56 Comments
|
State agrees to pandemic pay bump for nurses
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Nurses Association and the State of Illinois have agreed on a series of COVID-19 related compensation and safety measures for registered nurses who work in state mental health facilities, correctional centers, Illinois Youth Centers, veteran’s administration homes, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and Department of Public Health.
“These are incredibly challenging times for nurses and INA’s negotiating team has been working hard to win safety measures and other benefits to address working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic,“ said Victorian Dameron, RN, one of the lead nurse negotiators.
The team was able to successfully negotiate important safety provisions for all nurses, as well as premium pandemic pay for nurses not covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, she said.
INA and the State agreed on a 12% increase to an employee’s base salary for days worked between April 16th, 2020, and June 30th, 2020.
In addition to the pandemic pay, nurses excluded from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act who worked the full time from May 1st through May 31st, 2020 will be granted an additional personal business day; this will be added to their accrued benefit time January 1st, 2021. To be eligible for this benefit, nurses must have worked the full time and not taken days off during this period.
This is the second group of nurses for which INA has negotiated enhanced pandemic pay. In early April, INA and the University of Illinois Hospital agreed on a premium pay scale to reward nurses who were working through the pandemic at the hospital.
More than 100 nurses have tested positive for COVID-19 and two have died since the pandemic began earlier this year.
5 Comments
|
More charges against Arroyo?
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I forgot to get to this Jon Seidel story yesterday…
New criminal charges related to the bribery case against former state Rep. Luis Arroyo are expected “in the near future,” lawyers told a federal judge Tuesday.
That brief disclosure appeared in a one-page status report filed jointly by prosecutors and Arroyo’s defense attorney. Chicago’s federal court is trying to get back to business after months of delays during the coronavirus pandemic, and U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger asked for the report earlier this month.
The report offers no hint at who might be charged — or what accusations might be made. But the lawyers told the judge they hoped for a status hearing around August 10.
“The parties anticipate that additional, related charges will be brought in the near future and request a status hearing on or after August 10, 2020, with defendant’s presence waived,” it said.
10 Comments
|
Open thread
Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Please keep it Illinois-centric and polite. Thanks.
6 Comments
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|
