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Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Dropkick Murphys are playing in Urbana tonight. Wish I had tickets. But check out their brand new tune

I wear it just for you

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Caption contest!

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Kyle Hillman tweets

Just spotted, Sen. Dillard working the crowd at #Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Conference - he reads @CapitolFax

* From the photo

I’ll convince commenter “Cincinnatus” - a noted Dillard supporter - to buy the winner an adult beverage.

  41 Comments      


America’s natural gas producers are committed to protecting America’s air, land, and water

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Although all energy development comes with risks, Americaís natural gas producers are committed to protecting America’s air, land, and water. Across the country, advance in technology:

    * Protect air, by reducing emissions and monitoring air quality near drilling sites;

    * Protect land, by reducing our production footprint and helping to create thousands of acres of wildlife preserves; and

    * Protect water, through conservation and recycling technologies, and the use of reinforced cement and steel-encased drilling systems that go thousands of feet below fresh-water tables.

That’s smarter power today. Go to ANGA.US to learn more about our safe and responsible development practices.

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Question of the day

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Eric Zorn

Equality Illinois is also trying to sway and count votes in the General Assembly. Since Gov. Pat Quinn has already announced his support for gay marriage, all that’s needed are simple majorities in both legislative chambers, where Democrats hold the upper hand.

A tough vote? Perhaps. But 25 members of the House and 16 members of the Senate are lame ducks, free to vote their consciences or to listen to voices from the future congratulating them on their timely abandonment of ancient prejudices.

Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, a chief sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, told me Thursday that he’s not sure, given the magnitude of other issues facing lawmakers, that there’ll be time to revive the bill before the next General Assembly is sworn in Jan. 9. And if there is time, he said, he’s not yet sure he has the votes to pass it.

“We still have some education to do,” he said. “My strategy for this is the same as my strategy was for civil unions,” which passed in the lame-duck session two years ago. “I’m not going to rush things unless I’m sure I’m going to win.”

He will win. For sure.

* The Question: Should the Illinois General Assembly legalize same-sex marriage? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.


  58 Comments      


Today’s graph

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois gubernatorial and presidential election results, excluding independent and third-party candidates. Click for a larger image

Discuss.

  20 Comments      


STOP THE SATELLITE TV TAX!

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

The cable industry is asking lawmakers to place a NEW 5% tax on satellite TV service. HB 5440 is not about fairness, equity or parity – it’s a tax increase on the 1.3 million Illinois families and businesses who subscribe to satellite TV. They cannot afford another NEW tax – not now and not in this economy!

HB 5440 Will Hurt Illinois Families and Small Businesses

    • Satellite TV subscribers will see their monthly bills go up 5%.
    • This tax will impact every bar, restaurant and hotel that subscribes to satellite TV service, which will translate into higher prices, decreased revenues, and fewer jobs.
    • Rural Illinois has no choice: In many parts of Illinois, cable refuses to provide TV service to rural communities. Satellite TV is their only option.

HB 5440 Is Not About Parity or Fairness

    • Cable’s claim that this discriminatory tax is justified because satellite TV doesn’t pay local franchise fees could not be further from the truth. Cable pays those fees to local towns and cities in exchange for the right to bury cables in the public rights of way—a right that Comcast and Charter value in the tens of billions of dollars in their SEC filings.
    • Satellite companies don’t pay franchise fees for one simple reason: We use satellites—unlike cable, we don’t need to dig up streets and sidewalks to deliver our TV service.
    • Making satellite subscribers pay franchise fees—or, in this case, an equivalent amount in taxes—would be like taxing the air It’s no different than making airline passengers pay a fee for laying railroad tracks.

Tell Your Lawmakers to Stop The Satellite TV Tax

Vote NO on HB 5440

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Unbelievable histrionics

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Either the Tribune editorial board is ignorant or it is lying. Heck, maybe both

Quinn’s budget director, Jerry Stermer, told a legislative committee Thursday that Illinois entered this fiscal year with $8 billion in unpaid bills — and will exit this fiscal year with $8 billion in unpaid bills. That’s almost as troubling as Stermer’s implication that the state with the nation’s worst credit rating ought to pay those bills by borrowing more billions:

“The governor’s interested in working with the General Assembly on a structured refinancing of this huge amount of unpaid bills, payables, and we plan to come to the General Assembly with a proposal in the next number of weeks to consider a refinancing of some of that.”

Quinn’s office later stepped that back, saying the governor has no borrowing plan now, has always seen more borrowing as a possibility and is focused on pension reform. Too late: Several House members had nodded appreciatively when Stermer evoked the spirit of new borrowing — a spirit we hoped had died in 2011 when Quinn last floated the idea. Somewhere in his makeup, though, lies a diabolical gene that makes him see bonded debt as an acceptable way to pay for operating expenses, old bills included. As if it’s OK to take out a mortgage to cover groceries. […]

Never forget what Democratic leaders promised the night of 1/11/11, when they jammed that temporary, 2-percentage-point income tax increase through the General Assembly: The point, they assured, was to pay for pensions without borrowing, to pay down debt, to pay old bills.

A “diabolical gene.” Sheesh. These guys are the biggest drama queens in the entire state. Take a breath, already.

* But, let’s get to the lies/ignorance…

    1) Borrowing to pay old bills is not akin to taking out a mortgage “to cover groceries.” Illinois is so far behind on its bills that it’ll take years to pay off vendors. Bonding will do three things: Pay off those much-needed vendors; Inject a ton of cash into the economy; Force legitimate state spending cuts of about a billion dollars a year to pay for the bonds.

    2) The tax hike law includes language that sets aside a portion of the proceeds to help fund bonding for old bills. That’s what the legislative leaders were talking about. The Tribune should read its own archives, for crying out loud.

Bonding is not an ideal solution. No doubt about it. I don’t even expect the Tribune to support it. But they ought to at least be honest about their opposition.

We as a state are already borrowing from vendors. And those vendors - which are mainly small businesses and not-for-profits - shouldn’t be used as banks. Unless the Tribune can come up with $7-9 billion in real state budget cuts to free up the money to pay off all the vendors next fiscal year, it ought to shut the heck up.

* Other stuff…

* Fiscal cliff could cost Illinois more than $1 billion: But it’s possible the backlog could grow even larger if the fiscal cliff is reached, according to revenue officials, who say the state could lose $1 billion. That’s because federal tax increases that would automatically go into effect would send a ripple through the state’s economy, leaving less money for people to spend and resulting in less tax revenue for the state.

* Lawmakers consider state employee wage cap: Bayer said the average pay for a state worker in Illinois is $60,292, less than that in Iowa or Minnesota.

* Illinois takes another step toward health exchange: The exchange, which will be run by the federal government in 2014, is an electronic marketplace to buy insurance. Gelder describes one example of how he saw it work recently in Massachusetts. “An individual knowing her zip code, whether she was a smoker or not, and what sort of health insurance she was interested in could actually go through the options available to her and select the one she could afford and be enrolled with insurance in 20 minutes,” he said.

* Editorial: A last straw? Billboards to balance budget

* Charters not immune from closings, CPS says - Chicago Public Schools officials say they plan to get tough with privately run charter schools that are failing academically this year and could shut down those that aren’t making the grade.

  34 Comments      


Today’s assignment: New Lincoln website

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This looks pretty cool

In the latest sign of Americans’ obsession with Abraham Lincoln, AT&T has awarded a $97,500 grant to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to digitize part of its collection.

On Thursday, representatives from both organizations announced the project at AT&T’s flagship store on Michigan Avenue. A Lincoln impersonator greeted shoppers as they peered at a collection of original artifacts — the president’s quill pen, inaugural inkwell and a telegram to his wife — sealed in a glass case.

Visitors to the online database, “Under His Hat,” http://www.underhishat.org, can view three-dimensional photographs of some of the 16th president’s most iconic possessions. About 60 of the collection’s 52,000 historical materials are viewable online, including Lincoln’s stovepipe hat and the bloodstained gloves he carried the night he was assassinated. A homework assignment provides a glimpse of his childhood while campaign memorabilia retraces his life as a budding politician.

James Cornelius, the collection’s curator, said the digital portal was designed as an educational tool for teachers. The website includes suggested lesson plans under five different themes. Cornelius said it would eventually feature three more.

Go have a look and tell us what you think.

  10 Comments      


Feds “going down every rat hole”

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times

Federal authorities investigating U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. continue to “peel back layers of the onion” in the case, according to a source close to the financial probe who described it as an ongoing investigation.

The source said Thursday that federal investigators are “going down every rat hole,” and that the FBI crew investigating “is not yet finished digging.”

The federal probe, which began before Jackson took medical leave from Congress on June 10, first looked at activity in the congressman’s campaign fund. But it has since gone into other areas, said the source, who would not elaborate.

Broad, sweeping subpoenas were issued in the Jackson investigation, including on financial institutions that controlled Jackson accounts both in and out of Washington, D.C., the source said.

Once they start, they never stop. It’s darned near impossible to beat a federal rap.

* Another interesting nugget from the Sun-Times

Jackson’s most recent federal election disclosures show that his campaign committee paid $3,000 to Whitney Burns, a consultant sometimes described as a “political campaign bean counter” who specializes in federal election campaign compliance.

Reached Wednesday, Burns refused to talk about Jackson.

“The work I do is confidential. I just generally don’t discuss my work with reporters unless my client asks me to discuss (something),” Burns told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I have a policy going back 30 years not to discuss my clients.”

* Related…

* Sandi Jackson standing tough despite report of fed scrutiny, source says: Sneed is told that Sandi Jackson was surprised when informed by a TV reporter that her husband had left the clinic

* Editorial: A deadline for Jackson

* Ald. Sandi Jackson misses budget vote

* Mayo: Congressman Jackson leaves clinic, continues medical treatment for bipolar disorder

  24 Comments      


Report: Downstate child abuse reports rise

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a DCFS press release…

A new report from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services shows a 5.4 percent increase in reports of abused and neglected children across downstate Illinois. According to the Child Abuse and Neglect Statistical Report, the state’s Child Abuse Hotline received 25,348 reports of suspected abuse or neglect involving downstate children from July through October of this year, compared to 24,053 children during the same period last year.

According to data compiled by Northwestern University from DCFS and the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 91 indicated cases of abuse or neglect statewide last year for every 10,000 Illinois children. 35 downstate counties showed abuse and neglect rates more than double the statewide average:

    Northern Illinois: Winnebago
    Quad Cities Region: Henderson, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, Warren
    Central Illinois: Adams, Clark, Edgar, Fulton, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, Morgan, Shelby, Vermilion;
    Southern Illinois: Clay, Crawford, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marion, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White.

Cook County had an abuse and neglect rate of 69 indicated child victims per 10,000 children during the same time period, slightly below the state’s average.

The increasing number of abused and neglected children in downstate Illinois follows a decade long trend. Ten years ago (FY 2003), the department received reports of suspected abuse of 61,930 kids across downstate. Last year’s total (FY 2012) of 74,102 represents a 20 percent increase. During the same period, reports of suspected child abuse declined in Cook County by 9 percent.

* Here’s a startling map from DCFS. Click for a larger version

Discuss.

  33 Comments      


A Republican dilemma: Govern or harangue?

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My Sun-Times column

The challenges facing the Republican Party in this state are simply enormous.

For the first time in 20 years, more Illinoisans identified themselves to exit pollsters as independents than Republicans. Latinos made up 12 percent of the Election Day voting population this year, a 50 percent increase from 2010, and 81 percent of Latinos voted for President Barack Obama. Just 35 percent of Illinois women voted for Mitt Romney.

The new district maps played a significant role in the defeat of Republicans, but the party’s perceived hostility to women and minorities and the less fortunate is just killing them. They are so inept that they couldn’t elect a governor or gain majorities in either legislative chamber two years ago during the greatest Republican landslide since maybe 1946.

There’s a real temptation to just write off the GOP and be done with it. But politics can change. Illinois had a Republican governor for 26 years. The party didn’t used to scare suburban women by screaming about abortion and rape, nor did it completely alienate minorities and the poor by deeming them subhuman parasites.

Aside from class, gender and race, the GOP also faces a real dilemma of what to do about governing.

Do they boycott the Illinois legislative process, as the Tea Party-friendly Illinois Policy Institute is demanding? Or do they join in and try to make the best of a very bad situation?

The recent warning issued to Republican legislative leaders by John Tillman, who runs the IL Policy Institute, was clear: “If leaders continue the pattern of seeking a seat at the table rather than providing a clear party-in-exile alternative, the rank-and-file members, investors and grass-roots activists must demand changes.”

But the Senate Republicans did just that when they unveiled what they called a “Reality Check” budget plan. The proposal included unrealistically steep cuts in state spending on education and many other areas. The Senate Democrats took that plan and bashed the Republicans repeatedly during the recent campaign. It turns out, voters were far more upset about proposed budget cuts than actual tax hikes and the Democrats now have a historic 40-seat super-majority in that chamber. It’ll take just 10 votes to elect the next Senate minority leader.

Tillman has proposed a budget every year for the past several years, and I’ve commended him for it. He does have some good ideas. But not once has a state legislator ever introduced Tillman’s plan as an actual piece of legislation. Even the most hardcore conservative knows it’s political death.

So, I was heartened to see House Republican Leader Tom Cross hold a joint press conference with Gov. Pat Quinn the week after the election. The two talked about the importance of cooperation as the government moves forward.

Bending Democratic policy even a little by participating in the process is far more responsible and politically sensible than just sitting on the sidelines and screaming about suicidal position papers.

Republicans need to show that they can help govern Illinois before voters will hand them the keys to the governor’s mansion.

* Sen. Kyle McCarter and Tillman disagree

Some say the party’s problem is messaging. Sen. Kyle McCarter, who is considering challenging Radogno for her leadership seat, said his caucus should have taken a stronger stand on controversial issues such as budget cuts and pension reform. “As Republicans, we can’t just say, ‘No.’ We’ve got to put some detailed plans on the table that really show how we as a state can get out of this fiscal mess.” Senate Republicans have come together to back a budget plan that they put down on paper, but McCarter said they should have introduced the plan as legislation. “I think it’s something that we should have done in this last session. We should have put that in bill form on the table,” he said. “Since I’ve been here, the leadership of the Republican Party has been much too risk-averse.” […]

“The Republican caucuses have been too focused on trying to make bad Democrat policies marginally better rather than having a clear brand-distinguishing alternative vision that they promote vigorously.” He was critical of Republican legislative leaders for their compromises with Democrats. “In terms of the Republican caucuses, with the Democrats having a supermajority, if leaders continue the pattern of seeking a seat at the table rather than providing a clear party-in-exile alternative, the rank and file members, investors and grassroots activists must demand changes. Regardless, the status quo is untenable,” Tillman wrote in his opinion piece.

As I wrote above, the Senate GOP did propose an alternative, and it proved toxic to voters.

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

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Friday, Nov 16, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Today’s number: 61.66%

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Indicted and ousted state Representative-elect Derrick Smith received almost 62 percent of the vote in Secretary of State Jesse White’s 27th Ward. White had Smith appointed to the House, but has since turned completely against him and backed third party candidate Lance Tyson in the general election. White is the 27th Ward’s Democratic Committeeman, but he failed miserably.

Here are the ward-by-ward results for the Smith-Tyson race

Smith, by the way, won every single precinct in Secretary White’s ward.

Thoughts?

  46 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Veto session update

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I was at the Prairietown “World’s Fair” over the summer and ran into Republican congressional candidate Rodney Davis and Democratic state Senate candidate Andy Manar. I’ve known both men for years and asked them to pose together for a bipartisan photo, on the condition that it not be published until after the election…

Both went on to win their respective elections.

* The Question: Caption?

  61 Comments      


Credit Union (noun) – not-for-profit, consumer-focused cooperative

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives. They were first exempted from federal income taxes in 1917 to fulfill a special mission as valuable and affordable cooperative alternatives to for-profit banks. Even though credit unions are exempt from income tax, they still are subject to, and pay, property, payroll, and sales taxes, and a host of governmental regulatory supervision fees. Since their inception, credit unions have more than fulfilled their mission, as evidenced by Congressional codification of the credit union tax exemption in 1951 and 1998.

Though the range of services has evolved to effectively serve their members in an increasingly competitive financial marketplace, the cooperative structure, which is the reason for their tax exempt status, has remained constant. Nationally, consumers benefit to the tune of $10 billion annually because credit unions are tax-exempt.

In Illinois, by most recent estimates credit unions annually provide more than $198 million in direct financial benefits to almost three million members.

In an era that continuously poses economic and financial challenges, credit unions remain true to one principle - people before profits - and represent a highly valued resource by consumers during these uncertain economic times.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Quinn to push borrowing for old bills again

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Monique Garcia’s Twitter feed

Quinn budget head Jerry Stermer said governor will soon present another”refinancing” plan to pay down $8 billion bill backlog.

That’s not a surprise, considering that both chambers now have Democratic super-majorities. The Republicans in both chambers have been dead-set against a borrowing proposal and it requires a three-fifths vote to borrow money, so nothing has been done.

The Senate came one vote shy of passing a borrowing bill when it had 37 members, so it’s probably a good bet that the chamber will be able to pass it if it comes up again. The House may be a different story. Lots of conservative Dems oppose borrowing, so even with 71 votes they’ll probably need at least a small handful of Republicans.

By the way, a bill has already been introduced by Rep. Esther Golar to borrow $4 billion for old bills.

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

We are focused on comprehensive pension reform to rescue the system, ensure public employees have access to benefits and prevent out of control pension costs from eating up core services like education and healthcare.

While the governor has always been interested in refinancing as an option to help pay down old bills, there is no new plan on this issue right now. The budget director today reiterated our interest in working with the General Assembly on this issue, which is not new.

  25 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 - Cullerton responds to Fahner *** Report: Unfunded liabilities rise by $11 billion

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE *** Senate President John Cullerton’s response to the Civic Committee’s over the top rant from yesterday…

Democratic leaders were poised to pass Civic Committee approved pension fixes in May. In fact the Senate passed significant reforms to the State Employees’ Retirement System and their own pensions. And while the Civic Committee endorsed reforms that included asking local school districts and universities to pay their fair share of pension costs, Republican leaders still haven’t offered their support. The Civic Committee’s post election condemnation on political courage would be more appropriate if it were directed to those leaders.

Bipartisan pension reform is still my top priority. I invite the Civic Committee to work with me to encourage rather than discourage reform.

Cullerton’s chief legal counsel also sent a letter to Ty Fahner saying the Civic Committee’s statements yesterday “generated more heat than light.” Read it here.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* From the Bond Buyer

The health of Illinois’ pension system continued its downward spiral in the last fiscal year when unfunded liabilities rose by more than $11 billion and the funded ratio deteriorated to 40.4% from 43.4%, according to a review conducted by the Civic Federation of Chicago.

The state’s unfunded liabilities rose to $94.6 billion in fiscal 2012 which ended June 30, 2012 from $82.9 billion in fiscal 2011, according to the federation which tracks local government and state tax and spending policies. […]

The figures are based on a smoothing of assets over a five-year period. The state shifted to the method in fiscal 2009 to ease the impact of extreme market fluctuations on investment gains and losses in any given year. […]

Applying a market-based review, the state’s unfunded obligations rose to $96.8 billion in fiscal 2012 from $83.1 billion a year earlier while the funded ratio declined to 39% from 43.3%.

Quinn’s budget spokesman Abdon Pallasch said the latest pension figures “further illustrates the need for reforms called for by the governor.”

Please, don’t confuse the Civic Federation with the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, which went wildly over the top yesterday in its projections of imminent demise without revealing its actual data. Despite that refusal, its angry howls of doom were taken quite seriously by the AP

Illinois’ public-employee pensions system is so far in debt that it is “unfixable,” an influential business group said Wednesday.

The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago told its members in a memo that even current retirees’ benefits must be cut and other drastic action taken to prevent pension-program bankruptcy, the memo said.

“The pension crisis has grown so severe that it is now unfixable,” former state attorney general Tyrone Fahner, the committee’s president, wrote. “We do not make that statement lightly. It is an honest statement that no one — not our legislators, nor our governor, nor labor leaders — is willing to say publicly.”

The memo said workers putting money into the retirement accounts will never see the payback they were promised.

“It’s not melodrama, it’s fraud,” Fahner said in an interview with The Associated Press. “They’re paying under false pretenses.”

I’m not saying they’re wrong. I’m just saying I’d like to see their homework first.

  46 Comments      


STOP THE SATELLITE TV TAX!

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

The cable industry is asking lawmakers to place a NEW 5% tax on satellite TV service. HB 5440 is not about fairness, equity or parity – it’s a tax increase on the 1.3 million Illinois families and businesses who subscribe to satellite TV. They cannot afford another NEW tax – not now and not in this economy!

HB 5440 Will Hurt Illinois Families and Small Businesses

    • Satellite TV subscribers will see their monthly bills go up 5%.
    • This tax will impact every bar, restaurant and hotel that subscribes to satellite TV service, which will translate into higher prices, decreased revenues, and fewer jobs.
    • Rural Illinois has no choice: In many parts of Illinois, cable refuses to provide TV service to rural communities. Satellite TV is their only option.

HB 5440 Is Not About Parity or Fairness

    • Cable’s claim that this discriminatory tax is justified because satellite TV doesn’t pay local franchise fees could not be further from the truth. Cable pays those fees to local towns and cities in exchange for the right to bury cables in the public rights of way—a right that Comcast and Charter value in the tens of billions of dollars in their SEC filings.
    • Satellite companies don’t pay franchise fees for one simple reason: We use satellites—unlike cable, we don’t need to dig up streets and sidewalks to deliver our TV service.
    • Making satellite subscribers pay franchise fees—or, in this case, an equivalent amount in taxes—would be like taxing the air It’s no different than making airline passengers pay a fee for laying railroad tracks.

Tell Your Lawmakers to Stop The Satellite TV Tax

Vote NO on HB 5440

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The JJJ saga gets weirder by the day

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* It just gets weirder

Sources tell FOX 32 News that Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is willing to give up his 2nd Congressional District seat if he’s given disability when he steps down.

Jackson Jr. was re-elected to his tenth term but last month, sources say, he applied for a disability package–what could be his only income if he resigns. It is expected to take a couple of weeks for Congress to approve or deny the request.

* And weirder

His house on 72nd Street in Chicago is part of the federal government’s investigation into allegations that Jackson Jr. misused campaign funds. Sources say Jackson allegedly spent $20,000 to renovate and buy furniture for the family’s home in Chicago, not their 5-bedroom Victorian home in Washington D.C.

The basement in the Chicago home has five televisions and a number of printers and copying machines, sources say. Most of the equipment was purchased in the mid-90’s when Jackson was first elected, but because of flooding a couple of years ago, most, if not all, was replaced.

Sources close to the family tell FOX 32’s Darlene Hill that the congressman may be reporting the use of the space in the basement as his campaign headquarters.

FOX 32 called the House Ethics Committee in D.C. and while they would not comment specifically on Jackson’s case, the federal campaign finance law states, “a campaign committee may not rent space in the candidate’s home.”

* Related…

* Mark Brown: Jesse Jackson Jr. needs a deadline to fish or cut bait

* Durbin: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. needs to surface, speak to public

* Quinn: Congressman Jackson should address public about his condition, now that election over

  65 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** *** LIVE *** House committee takes up Madigan’s proposal to cap union contract wages

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE *** The committee has recessed to the call of the chair without taking a vote. They’ll return Monday, November 26.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* We’re coming a little late to this, but the House Revenue Committee is holding a hearing this morning on HJR 45

Declares that the State shall appropriate for no more than an X% increase for wage increases associated with any and all collectively bargained contracts throughout State government. States the policy of the State of Illinois that the size of, or a reduction in, the State employee workforce shall not be a topic of collective bargaining.

The measure is sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan.

* Archived video is here.

* And here’s a ScribbleLive thingy

  16 Comments      


Caption contest!

Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sorry, kids. I’ve been a bit under the weather this morning. Have fun with this while I get myself together. Former Gov. Jim Edgar and my former intern Barton Lorimor posed for a pic at my election night party last week…

Be kind to Barton, please.

  51 Comments      


Derrick Smith trial set for October of 2013

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* These things usually get pushed back even more, so I wouldn’t bet on this happening so, um, soon

Newly elected state Rep. Derrick Smith could serve nearly a year in office before he has to face trial on federal bribery charges.

A federal judge today set the trial for next Oct. 21, according to Smith’s attorney. […]

The trial was set for 11 months from now by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman because of her schedule.

  28 Comments      


Protected: *** UPDATED x1 *** SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: This just in…

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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HB 5440: Close the Loophole and Support Our Students

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

The State of Illinois is in a budget crisis. Yet, satellite TV operators – who represent a third of the video provider market – pay no franchise or video service fees to support our communities and state. By exploiting this corporate tax loophole, satellite operators are taking their profits out of Illinois instead of paying the industry standard in franchise or video service fees.

When customers watch television through a satellite or cable provider, what they get is largely the same experience. There is no reason why satellite providers should be permitted to exploit this corporate loophole.

Twelve other states have successfully closed similar tax loopholes on satellite companies and in turn have worked towards more balanced government budgets. Here in Illinois, closing this loophole would bring much needed funding to Illinois education, including support for early childhood education, local K-12 school districts, and financial assistance for Illinois college students.

Let’s ensure that everyone pays a fair share. There should be a level playing field for everybody to compete fairly – particularly when closing such loopholes will directly help Illinois students.

Now is the Time to Support our Students and Communities. Vote Yes on HB 5440!

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*** UPDATED x1 - AFSCME responds *** Fahner claims pension problem is now “unfixable,” but won’t release data to back it up

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Ty Fahner and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago have sent a memo to their members claiming that the pension funding problem is “unfixable”

The magnitude of the unfunded obligations, combined with a total lack of political courage to rectify the situation, leads us to believe that our pensions systems can no longer be salvaged sufficiently to meet their current obligations

* The big business types at the Civic Committee were clearly upset with last Tuesday’s election results

It was the Commercial Club’s hope that the November elections would bring much-needed change to our legislature and remove those from office who have been roadblocks to pension reform. Instead, it appears we will soon have even more legislators who aren’t prepared, or willing, to make the tough decisions necessary to save our state.

* Greg Hinz rounds up the Civic Committee’s reform demands

Eliminate all cost-of-living increases for retirees or future retirees, cap pensions to a maximum salary, increase the retirement age to 67 and shift the cost of teacher pensions to local school districts over a 12-year period. The state now pays all teacher pensions except in Chicago, where city taxpayers pick up the tab. […]

Implementing the four changes the committee wants would buy the pension systems about 10 to 12 years more of viable life, he said. But the State Employee Retirement System, now projected to run out of cash in 2029, still would be insolvent by around 2040, he said. The same would apply to the State University Retirement System and the Teacher Retirement System, now projected to be unable to pay full benefits in 2030 and 2033, respectively.

Why then should lawmakers take a tough vote that won’t solve the problem?

Because if they don’t, the state will have to boost the share of its operating budget that goes toward pensions from roughly 20 percent now to 30 percent, and/or raise taxes again by a huge amount, Mr. Fahner said. That would crowd out money needed for schools, roads, public safety, health care and other needs.

But, according to Hinz, the Civic Committee refuses to release its actuarial numbers that this scenario is based on until legislative leaders disclose theirs.

Discuss.

*** UPDATE *** AFSCME…

Millionaire CEOs want to slash the modest retirement savings earned by middle-class public servants like teachers, police, nurses and caregivers. Regrettably, that’s not news. But it is disappointing that the Civic Committee’s letter to the governor is alarmingly fact-free: No mention that the pension debt was mostly caused by politicians who skipped required payments even as public employees always paid their share. No mention that retirees rely on an average pension of just $32,000 a year, with nearly 80% not eligible for Social Security.

But Illinois residents reject these false attacks. Last week they defeated a change to the Illinois Constitution meant to pin the blame for the pension problem on workers and retirees. And a recent statewide newspaper poll found that voters rightly fault politicians, not workers, by a margin of 51 to 2.

Like all public employees, AFSCME members are helpers and problem solvers by trade, and we remain ready to help solve the pension funding problem. But that’s going to require everyone to work together.

Along with our partners in the We Are One Illinois coalition of unions that represent public employees, we have proposed a pension funding framework that would guarantee politicians pay their share going forward, never repeating the mistakes of the past. It would protect retirees from changes while offering that active employees would make increased contributions to help pay down the debt. And crucially, it would end tax giveaways for big, profitable corporations, helping Illinois to end its practice of using public retirement systems as a credit card to fund vital public services. This last imperative explains the agenda of the CEO crowd: They want to protect their special treatment in the tax code at all costs—even if that means picking the pockets of retired teachers, fire fighters, child protection workers and other public servants.

  91 Comments      


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Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department

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  Comments Off      


Question of the day

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Jim Edgar on the future of the GOP

But Edgar does see a possible bright spot in the future for the party. “The governor’s race in Illinois in two years is huge for the Republican Party. If we can win the governor’s office back, then we have a viable two party system in Illinois,” he said. “But we’ve got to make sure that we have a candidate who not only appeals to Republicans but who also appeals to independents and thoughtful Democrats because you’ve got to have those. There [are] not enough Republicans in the state to get elected dog catcher. You’ve got to go out and get people who don’t view themselves as Republican. That means that you’re going to have to make sure the candidate appeals to the center.”

Edgar warned that Republicans should not look at Quinn’s low public approval ratings and assume they have the governor’s race in the bag. “I think we have an opportunity, but it’s only an opportunity — no guarantee. We’ve got to get our act together.”

* The Question: Keeping in mind that the next gubernatorial campaign will be during President Obama’s second midterm election, which is generally not favorable to the party in power, how do you rate the Republican Party’s chances in 2014? Explain.

  103 Comments      


Fanning urges U of I Chancellor Phyllis Wise and Trustees not to eliminate Civic Leadership Program

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My former intern Kevin Fanning fervently asked that I post this. So, here you go…

Last week I was informed that the university plans to eliminate the Civic Leadership Program. If not for this program I would never have had the opportunity to intern at Capitol Fax or had the multitude of experiences that came with it.

The Civic Leadership Program is a unique two-and-a-half-year undergraduate and graduate program for students interested in working in the public sector that culminates in an intensive internship. It is open to students of all majors, and was modeled off of the highly successful Illinois Legislative Studies Internship Program at UIS which boasts alumni such as Governor Jim Edgar, Sen. Kirk Dillard, and U.S. Judge Wayne R. Andersen.

The program has placed students in the General Assembly, Governor’s Office, Federal Reserve, Chicago Tribune, and even at the White House. The program has a budget of $150,000, a mere drop in the bucket of Illinois’ $1.5 billion budget. Approximately 90% of this budget is used to fund these internships. The time spent at these positions is invaluable, and provides a kind of education unparalleled by the classroom. While interning at Cap Fax I was able to learn how legislation actually gets passed, what role the media plays in the governing process, and how labor, lobbyists, and constituents influence their lawmakers. You simply can’t learn that sitting at a desk.

The University of Illinois’ mission statement aims to “transform lives and serve society by educating, creating knowledge and putting knowledge to work on a large scale and with excellence.” It’s time for the administration to put their money where their mouth is, and support students who are looking to make a difference in their communities, the state of Illinois, and our country. Please urge Chancellor Phyllis Wise and the Board of Trustees not to eliminate the Civic Leadership Program.

Kevin Fanning

Former Capitol Fax Intern
Civic Leadership Fellow, Class of 2009

I had a lot of very quality interns from that program. Budget cuts are what they are, but it would be a shame to see that one go. People actually got jobs when they left that program. Good jobs. It has been by any measure a rousing success.

  Comments Off      


Mayor refuses to take the bait

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* According to the Sun-Times, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was asked yesterday “whether he intends to go around Gov. Pat Quinn — by cutting deals with Democratic legislative leaders — now that both houses have veto-proof Democratic majorities.” Hizzoner sounded almost conciliatory toward his chief Democratic rival

The mayor responded that it was time for Springfield to focus on “a number of subjects — and the governor has to be a part of that.”

There were loud rumblings from within Emanuel’s circle that the mayor was gonna tee off on Quinn yesterday. Didn’t happen. That’s kind of a relief. Illinois really needs to move forward, but it can’t if the mayor is constantly undercutting the governor.

* Instead, Emanuel simply laid out his legislative agenda, which included pension reform

“My number one issue in the legislature is getting pension reform, we must get this done in a bi-partisan way,” Quinn said Tuesday. “I really feel that all the legislators who are in the General Assembly now have more work to do before their term is up. And we want to make sure the entire term is used in order to get big things done for the public, for the people.”

A Chicago casino

“I was advocating — as have other people for 25 years — a casino for the city of Chicago, but one in which I committed all the resources will go into school modernization, building new schools and modernizing our schools so our kids will have the best facilities to learn in,” Emanuel said while discussing his wish list for Springfield.

And gay marriage

“Third, I will continue to advocate that we also pass marriage equality and end the discrimination on the books,” the mayor said.

“Although the state of Illinois now has civil unions, the time for marriage equality is now. The time is right, and the time is here.”

* The answer to that last question prompted questions of some openly gay House members about what they intend to do

On Tuesday, Harris and Mell held open the possibility of trying again in January during a lame-duck session that will be the last for 35 lawmakers who either lost, are retiring or did not seek re-election.

“We’ll try when we have the votes. Hopefully, that will be sooner than later. But, we’re not gonna run a bill if we’re not gonna pass it,” Mell said.

Harris added, “We’re roll-calling folks to see where folks stand. If we have 60 votes in the House and 30 in the Senate and there’s time when the budgetary issues are resolved,” then they will push for a vote.

Discuss.

  16 Comments      


Did Quinn just back away from the cost shift?

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* For about a year now, the standard mantra from Chicago Democratic leaders has been that the “cost-shift” must happen. The idea is to move billions of dollars in employer pension payments from the state down to local school districts and colleges and universities. Senate President John Cullerton came up with the idea, but Gov. Pat Quinn jumped on board shortly thereafter.

Quinn kinda sorta backed away a bit in April, but his aides say he didn’t actually do that. Since then, he’s been gung ho.

* Yesterday, Quinn was asked whether the cost-shift was still a major component of his pension reform plan. His response…

* Transcript…

“I don’t think we should let one particular segment of a reform bill hold up progress. So, uh, what we want to do is negotiate and figure out a good plan that saves taxpayers money and still maintains and rescues the pension system.”

Sounds like he’s backing away a bit to me.

  23 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** The GOP “media cocoon”

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A high-level Republican responds to a post here yesterday…

I think your post on the Tribune mirrors the larger debate going on nationally for Republicans and that is that we tend to exist in a media cocoon. Nationally, too much emphasis/belief on Fox news and conservative commenters.

In Illinois, perhaps too much emphasis on the Trib. We, GoPers, do a rally cheer every time we get a positive editorial, not realizing we are probably the only ones focused on it.

Plus it gives us affirmation to our messaging, “fire Madigan,” etc and we think that since it exists in the mainstream media, it must be “catching on”. Brady says Fire Madigan, Trib writes Fire Madigan, therefore the message has cracked through to the mainstream media. Not quite, not even close.

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** * Kristen McQueary of the Tribune editorial board tweets

@capitolfax Uncle! Uncle! We’ve focused all on fiscal/pensions, like many edit brds. We’re not birthers. We’re social mods. FOXNews? C’mon.

All due respect, but that completely misses the point, which is that the GOP/Tribune relationship is a closed circle which doesn’t resonate much at all outside that circle. It also misses the point made above that the Republicans spend an inordinate amount of time and energy with the Tribune and get little if anything for it.

And the focus hasn’t solely been on “fiscal/pension” issues. It’s been on personalities. For the Tribune it’s constantly: Fire Madigan + ??? = Prosperity!!! They’ve never really explained how 71 loose House Democratic cannons will somehow make this state great again.

They’re overly simplistic, myopic and downright partisan, as their refusal to endorse Rep. Elaine Nekritz clearly showed. Here was a candidate with everything the Tribune wants in a legislator, except for the “D” behind her name. I don’t think you would be out of line if you posited that the “D” did her in with them.

…Adding… As pointed out yesterday, there’s also a tiring “Message from God” quality to far too many of the Tribune’s editorials about state government. They’re 100 percent right all the time and anyone who differs even slightly is a heretic. That’s very “Foxish.”

  72 Comments      


Fun with numbers

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Southern Illinoisan reports that 147,318 presidential votes were cast in the state’s 15 “southern” counties. Those counties exclude the Metro East.

The totals from those 15 southern counties was about the same number of presidential votes cast in McHenry County alone, which is not exactly a huge population center. The southern Illinois total was about half the presidential votes cast in Will and Lake counties. It was 37 percent of the number of votes cast in DuPage County. And it was just 15 percent of the number of votes cast in suburban Cook County.

For whatever reason, some people still insist that counties matter during statewide elections. We’ve all seen it before. “Pat Quinn won only four counties!” But voters, not counties, matter in elections. Fifteen counties doesn’t mean a whole lot when very few people actually live there.

  36 Comments      


Caption contest!

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From WalMart, a “Personalized Pocket Knife with Wood Handle”

While the photo seems to invite it, try very, very hard to avoid violent imagery. I’m serious about that. Thanks.

  64 Comments      


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* No end in sight
* RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois
* Isabel’s morning briefing
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