Get it together, man
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mark Maxwell at WCIA…
One week before a presidential primary election, Secretary of State Jesse White’s office sent a letter to the State Board of Elections acknowledging a third “programming error” that, left undetected, could have created confusion at polling places and could have denied valid voters from casting their ballots.
Instead, local election officials are scrambling to update their voter rolls with the names of more than a thousand valid voters who were denied their registration through the state’s new automatic voter registration program, which is facilitated at DMV sites and other state locations throughout the state.
In a letter to county clerks, the State Board of Elections said White’s office, “had identified a batch of records for REAL ID applicants which were erroneously categorized as having opted out of registration, due to a programming error. The records that were identified should have been categorized as valid AVR applications.” […]
According to a spokesman at the State Board of Elections, the error resulted in errant denials of 1,152 valid voter registrations in 87 of the state’s 108 election jurisdictions. However, in Sangamon County, where the state only counted 20 affected voters, the local clerk found 102.
“They also had an error in displaying the application date,” Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said. “We identified 19 that were wrongly categorized as ‘opted out’ and 83 that displayed the wrong application date.”
Thank goodness they caught this error, so all’s well that ends well. But, man, they really need to get their act together over there.
Secretary White is famous for giving people second chances. This is strike three.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Hannah Meisel at the Daily Line…
Companies who do business with the state risk having their $50,000 or larger contracts automatically voided and be barred from bidding on state projects if a firm makes three or more campaign contributions to Illinois’ executive officers within a 36-month period.
But the specific language of Illinois’ procurement code does not prevent a company from getting around the statute — either by donating money from a company official’s personal account or having their spouse make the contribution rather than the business itself, Illinois’ Chief Procurement Officer for General Services Ellen Daley told members of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform.
The commission has three weeks to deliver a report containing suggested changes to Illinois’ laws in response to the newest crisis of confidence in Illinois politics.
Daley told the commission that her effort to cancel a state contract because of what she determined were improper campaign contributions was thwarted. Daley said she relied on a clause of the Illinois’ procurement code to make the decision.
“Last year I relied on this clause and attempted to bar a vendor from having a state contract since affiliated persons and affiliated entities of the company had made prohibited political contributions,” Daley said. “However, the enforcement clause is specifically worded so that a business’ entity contracts are voidable only when the business entity violates the prohibition on making contributions.”
* Center Square…
A bill that would give a state tax credit of up to $1,000 a year to foster families has bipartisan support in Illinois, but the cost of such a credit isn’t yet known.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, filed House Bill 5119 and members of both parties signed up in support.
State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainview, signed on to the bill and said such an incentive could help encourage more people to become foster parents.
“When you look at all the issues going on at the state level, we’ve heard about the deaths of people that are in state care, we need more good people doing this and so we need to incentivize good practice, good behavior,” Batinick said.
* Press release…
State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) advanced a bill that would help youth in foster care apply for college financial aid.
“The state needs to be proactive at helping foster kids build a strong future during their final years of care,” Peters said. “We need to do all we can to ensure that they have access to education or job training before they have to live on their own.”
Senator Peters’ measure requires the Department of Child and Family Services to assist all youth in their care with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during their final year of high school. The legislation is an initiative of the National Association of Social Workers.
In addition, Senator Peters pledges to support legislation that would make college more accessible to Illinois students.
“Education should lead people to prosperity, not inescapable debt to student loan sharks,” Peters said. “We should not be punishing people with fines and fees for wanting to expand their education and contribute more to society.”
Senate Bill 3718 awaits consideration before the Senate Human Services Committee.
…Adding… Another from Hannah…
As the number of local law enforcement agencies joining forces with video doorbell company Ring grows, two Illinois Democrats urged lawmakers to act to prevent what they called “warrantless searches.”
State Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and State Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) on Monday touted SB 3414 as a way to keep companies like Ring, which is owned by tech giant Amazon, and other smart device manufacturers in check and to preserve civil liberties. The legislation, mirrored in HB 5495, is also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union Illinois chapter.
The bill, dubbed the Protecting Household Privacy Act, would ensure law enforcement agencies don’t skirt the existing requirement that they get a search warrant signed by a judge in order to access audio or video recordings without the permission of the device’s owner. In addition, the measure would order any data obtained by law enforcement to be destroyed within 30 days, unless it was being used for an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial.
Manufacturers of devices like the Ring Doorbell would have to disclose the law enforcement agencies with whom they have entered into agreements. The city of Chicago, for example, entered into an agreement with Ring in September. The best available data pegs the number of municipalities in Illinois that have entered into agreements with Ring in the dozens, according to an independent data project tallying such agreements.
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* The governor is holding a press conference on the COVID-19 topic right now. Click here to watch it. This post will be updated.
*** UPDATE 1 *** IDPH director says the state response “may include cancelling large events.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Gov. Pritzker said he’s been in close communications with the mayor about St. Patrick’s Day and the mayor is talking with parade organizers. Pritzker said they may be making announcements tomorrow “about any decision that could be made.” Full text…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Pritzker: “I am very frustrated with the federal government. We have not received enough tests.” Complained about how the federal government “passed up the opportunity that was already developed” overseas, where countries are testing. “We could have been using that weeks ago in the United States.”
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Kane County Health Department (KCHD), and the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) today announced the first Illinois residents outside of Chicago and Cook County to test positive at the IDPH laboratory for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The cases include a Kane County woman in her 60s and a McHenry County teen, neither of whom had a history of travel to an affected area and no connection to a known case of COVID-19. Public health officials are identifying and contacting all close contacts.
“As we anticipated, the number of cases in Illinois is increasing and now includes the first cases outside of Chicago and Cook County,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “The State of Illinois continues to take action to reduce spread of COVID-19 in Illinois and we again want to encourage people to start thinking and preparing now in the event they are not able to go to work, if schools are closed, if public transportation is not available, and how else their lives will be disrupted by this outbreak.”
Currently, there are 19 individuals in Illinois who have tested positive for COVID-19. At least one case acquired the virus in the community, but probably more. As IDPH continues to conduct surveillance testing, additional cases will be identified, and we will have a better understanding about the amount of virus circulating in Illinois communities.
In addition to the cases in Kane and McHenry counties, new cases include individuals in:
Cook County:
• 70s – male
• 60s – female
• 40s – female
• 40s – male
Chicago:
• 40s – male
• 40s – male
Public health officials are still investigating the travel history of these individuals and any potential contact with a known COVID-19 case. These most recent cases are in isolation and are doing well.
…Adding… Press release…
The Health Care Council of Illinois and nursing homes throughout the state are working in close coordination with Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health to follow all coronavirus guidelines to protect the health and safety of skilled nursing facility residents and staff.
Since our residents are at heightened risk for complications because of their age and underlying health conditions, nursing homes in Illinois are always vigilant in protecting our residents from communicable diseases.
Following the IDPH recommendations, our nursing home employees are being monitored for potential symptoms prior to starting their shifts and encouraged to stay home if they are sick. We have put in place visitor restrictions, with few exceptions, and those allowed to entered will be screened. Finally, we are reinforcing already stringent standards of hand hygiene.
Our residents and staff our always our highest priority and we are steadfast in our commitment to their health and safety.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinois residents to be on alert for possible email and social media scams tied to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Raoul’s office is cautioning Illinois residents about products that are marketed as cures or total preventatives to COVID-19. According to Raoul’s office, individuals should be cautious of any advice or claims being made that certain products can “cure” COVID-19 or prevent the contraction of COVID-19. Products such as chlorine dioxide, hydroxycholroquine, essential oils, silver, elderberry and garlic are being advertised as “cures” for COVID-19. Raoul urges Illinoisans to not purchase any product promoted online on social media or via email that is being touted as a cure to COVID-19.
Raoul also is urging people to be wary of emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other entities claiming to have information about COVID-19, or offering treatments or cures. According to the CDC, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. Attorney General Raoul encourages Illinoisans to delete emails promoting treatments or cures and report the correspondence to the Attorney General’s office.
“According to the CDC, there is currently no known treatment for COVID-19. People should be aware that any email or website offering a ‘cure’ is a scam that should be avoided,” Raoul said. “I encourage Illinois residents to delete any email offer, and do not pay for any alleged COVID-19 ‘cure’ or ‘treatment.’ People should instead follow the guidance of expert agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the World Health Organization, and report COVID-19 scams to the Attorney General’s office.” […]
Attorney General Raoul is also encouraging people to exercise caution when donating to charitable causes connected to the COVID-19 outbreak.
* The Question: Have you seen any of these scams online or had to talk a friend or family member out of falling for them? If so, tell us about it.
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* Press release…
Attached is a summary of the results of a statewide poll CHANGE Illinois commissioned which found that an overwhelming 75 percent of voters support the creation of an independent commission to draw political maps.
The poll of 603 likely Illinois voters was conducted by Fako Research and Margin of Era Opinion Research.
The poll also found voters strongly agree — 74 percent — that Gov. J.B. Pritzker should work to help push for getting a question about the creation of such a commission on the November general election ballot.
Additionally, survey results show that in our current polarized political environment, a third of likely voters would have a more favorable view of the Governor if he were to actively engage in pushing for the question to be placed on the November ballot.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.99 percent.
CHANGE Illinois leads a coalition of 30 diverse organizations statewide that support the Fair Maps Amendment.
Please also find attached a collection of some of the governor’s actions and statements supporting an independent redistricting commission during his campaign and since taking office.
The poll results have been shared with the Governor’s office. We have asked to meet with the Governor to persuade him to fulfill his previous pledges and statements and to help us actively advocate for votes on the Fair Maps Amendment.
The executive summary is here. And click here for collected Pritzker statements on the topic.
The poll was conducted over a month ago, February 4-6. Mobile phone users accounted for 67 percent of weighted respondents.
* Fako is the goods, so I give his results some credence. According to this poll, Pritzker could use the boost that would come from backing Fair Maps…
JB Pritzker
Substantive Recognition: 95%
Rated Positively: 39% (14% Very Positive)
Rated Neutral: 19%
Rated Negatively: 36% (25% Very Negative)
The Governor is universally known. His most favorable ratings arrive out of Chicago (58% Total Positive, 22% Very Positive) and Suburban Cook County (46%, 11%). Pritzker is rated more critically in Southern Illinois (54% Total Negative, 43% Very Negative) and Northern Illinois (47%, 34%).
The State’s Independent voters are net negative about Pritzker (29% Total Positive to 39% Total Negative), with Independent men being more critical of the Governor than Independent Women.
Donald Trump
Substantive Recognition: 99%
Rated Positively: 38% (29% Very Positive)
Rated Neutral: 5%
Rated Negatively: 56% (51% Very Negative)
Donald Trump is universally recognized . His ratings are significantly more positive in Southern (56% Total Positive) and Northern (52%) Illinois. His most negative ratings arrive from Chicago (83% Total Negative) and Suburban Cook County (64%).
Trump’s ratings diverge by gender, with men being more positive about him (46% Total Positive, 37% Very Positive) and women more negative about him (66% Total Negative, 60% Very Negative).
The State’s Independent voters are net negative on Trump (31% Total Positive to 57% Total Negative).
Whew, those southern Illinois numbers are bad for the governor.
* Greg Hinz…
The amendment plan recently introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Melissa Bush, D-Grayslake, has picked up 31 sponsors, enough to pass if it’s called for a vote. Identical language has been introduced in the House.
But Doubek conceded that the Senate’s new president, Don Harmon, has not promised to bring the matter up for a vote and has not yet agreed to meet with her group.
Harmon’s spokesman said the request is “under review.” […]
Doubek said she’s been seeking a meeting with the governor since last fall but has heard nothing. Pritzker “isn’t living up to his promises and pledges,” she said, a remark that may not help her secure that meeting.
Um, 31 is not 36, which is the actual number required to pass the Senate.
And Greg’s probably right about that meeting. As I wrote recently in Crain’s, the activists need to remember they’re trying to pass legislation, not agitating on a street corner.
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* Gov. Pritzker yesterday…
“I am very concerned about many people who either have to self-isolate, or have become ill and who have to take lots of time off work. Fourteen days is a long time for many people who live paycheck-to-paycheck,” he said.
* Employee memo today from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which is overseeing the state’s COVID-19 response. Click the pic for a larger image…
That’s gonna do wonders for employee morale. /s
*** UPDATE *** Governor’s office responding to HR director’s email…
That email is not an appropriate, correct version of policies and it will be clarified for employees today.
I’m told the actual policies were outlined in a memo last week where employees who were experiencing symptoms or are quarantined can take advance sick time. “We’ve been working with the unions and various state agencies,” on setting up policies.
…Adding… Advance sick leave currently only applies to employees with two years of continuous service “whose personnel records warrant it.”
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* Fox News…
The plaintiff whose 2018 case led to a Supreme Court ruling that mandatory public union agency fees for nonmembers were unconstitutional is now asking the high court to force the union that represented him to return a portion of the money it collected before that decision.
In this most recent case, Janus v. AFSCME III, plaintiff Mark Janus is asking for the union to pay back fees it took from his paycheck before the landmark ruling in his 2018 case. He claims that the Supreme Court’s ruling should be retroactive, echoing other claims that have been made in federal court, including a sweeping class action that was filed in California last year. […]
“Mark Janus is just one of many public employees whose money was illegally taken by government unions,” said Patrick Hughes, Liberty Justice Center president and co-founder. Liberty Justice Center is the other group working on Janus’ case. […]
“The Supreme Court agreed that the union taking money from nonmembers was wrong but the union still has the money it illegally garnished from my paycheck,” Janus said in a press release through the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, one of the organizations handling his case. […]
“Until [the Janus decision] said otherwise, AFSCME had a legal right to receive and spend fair-share fees collected from nonmembers as long as it complied with state law … It did not demonstrate bad faith when it followed these rules,” the Seventh Circuit said in its opinion.
* Response…
AFSCME General Counsel Judith Rivlin: “Working people have won every single case thrown at them by these special interest groups, and if judges continue to weigh these cases on the facts and merits, the corporate interests behind them will continue to fail in their efforts to further rig the system in their favor.”
AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch: “Courts have repeatedly ruled in this and similar cases that in setting fees for representation provided to non-members, the unions involved acted in good faith based on a US Supreme Court ruling in place since 1977 and repeatedly affirmed in the ensuing decades. Mark Janus received wage increases, health insurance coverage, vacation time and other benefits that AFSCME negotiated during his tenure in state government. He never once failed to accept such improvements in his working conditions, nor did he ever object to paying the related fees—until he became the plaintiff in Bruce Rauner’s court case against AFSCME. This prolonged litigation is nothing but another political attack on working people, and on Janus’s part, a greedy grab for more.”
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From Sears, to Willis to… ?
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* David Roeder at the Sun-Times…
In a $30 billion deal, Aon is buying Willis Towers Watson, a rival in business insurance and risk consulting, but it raises one question in the mind of most Chicagoans: What will happen to the Willis Tower name now that we’ve gotten used to calling it that?
The deal between the two London-based companies was announced Monday. Executives said the combined operation will use the Aon name, not Willis.
As for the name on Chicago’s 110-story tower, Aon wouldn’t comment. A Willis Tower Watson spokesman did not reply to an email. An executive at Willis Tower — that’s the building, not the insurance company — wouldn’t comment, said a spokesman.
The former Sears Tower was rechristened in 2009 in a move that outraged some Chicagoans and even tenants of the building. The naming rights deal, arranged by what was then called Willis Group Holdings, reportedly expires in 2025.
Roeder goes on to speculate that tenant United Airlines might bid for naming rights.
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Adventures in polling
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Victory Research (Rod McCulloch) poll of 1,000 likely voters in the Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court. Sun-Times…
Statistically tied for first place were Appellate Court Justice Sheldon “Shelly” Harris, with 15.2%, lawyer Daniel Epstein — whose campaign commissioned the poll —with 12.9% and Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes with 12.1%.
Harris and Epstein are white. If he is elected, Reyes would the first Hispanic justice on the state’s top court.
Appellate Court Justice Margaret Stanton McBride, who is also white, came next with 11.2%, followed by state Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., an African American jurist who was appointed to Freeman’s seat, with 9.5%. Both McBride and Neville were also within the margin of error for first place.
Just a few percentage points behind were the other two African American candidates —Appellate Court Justices Nathaniel Howse Jr. and Cynthia Cobbs, with 8.1% and 6.1%, respectively.
MoE of +/- 3.1 percent. No disclosure in the story if this was a robocall to landlines or if it included mobile phones. 25 percent were undecided.
* This was a poll I tweeted out Sunday and posted on the blog Monday morning. Politico…
Two polls conducted this past weekend show Illinois Democratic voters are all-in for Joe Biden and that if “undecided isn’t an option” for voters in the Cook County State’s Attorney race, they’d stick with incumbent Kim Foxx, who still falls short of a majority. […]
Ogden & Fry surveyed 466 voters for the state’s attorney poll, which has a margin of error of plus of 4.63 percent.
Primary candidates with multiple opponents don’t need a majority to win. Also, as with the other poll, there is no disclosure about whether this was conducted on ancient and increasingly rare landlines or whether it included mobile phone responses.
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* Boston Herald…
Boston’s historic and beloved St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the political breakfast that precedes it have both been canceled due to fears of spreading coronavirus at mass events.
“In collaboration with Congressman (Stephen) Lynch, Councilors (Michael) Flaherty and (Ed) Flynn, Senator (Nick) Collins, Representative (David) Biele, and David Falvey from the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is being canceled,” Mayor Martin Walsh announced in a statement Monday, just six days before the parade was due to step off on Sunday. “This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy.”
Both Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker — who is cutting short a Utah ski trip to return to the state — had resisted canceling events for weeks, and there was no word Monday on whether the Boston Marathon set for mid-April will go ahead. Several other major races worldwide have been scaled back or canceled.
The St. Pat’s decision came as the number of presumptive coronavirus cases in Massachusetts jumped to 41 cases on Monday, essentially doubling over Saturday night and then again Sunday night. The virus has sickened more than 100,000 worldwide and killed thousands prompting cancellations of the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland’s two biggest cities of Dublin and Cork, according to reports.
* Same newspaper…
Students will be asked not to return to Harvard University after spring break and instead continue classes remotely, according to an announcement Tuesday morning.
The decision was announced in an email this morning by Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow.
* One more…
The coronavirus toll linked to a Biogen management meeting in Boston has now jumped to 32 people infected in Massachusetts — with an investment bank in New York City alerting hundreds more about the viral risk.
Cambridge-based Biogen confirmed Monday they have warned both Manhattan investment bank Cowen & Co. and Boston’s State Room venue about company managers who have COVID-19 who may have come in contact with others.
About 175 Biogen managers coming from all over the world — “Yes, from Italy,” a company spokesman confirmed — gathered for a major meeting of the biotech giant held at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel Feb. 26-27. Italy, at that time, was beginning to see the virus spread.
Chicago is also known for its conventions, its numerous institutions of higher learning and its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
* Chicago Tribune…
Even as Boston canceled its St. Patrick’s Day parade, Ireland announced festivities across the island would be halted to try to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus and Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Illinois because of the disease, Chicago officials said Monday they currently have no plans to call off the two major mid-March parades that draw massive crowds of revelers downtown and to the Southwest Side.
The city’s official parade is set to kick off at noon Saturday. The South Side Irish Parade takes place on Sunday along Western Avenue in the Far Southwest Side Beverly neighborhood. Each can draw crowds well into the hundreds of thousands if the weather’s nice. […]
“While there are currently no plans to cancel St. Patrick’s Day activities or other large events planned at this time, the City of Chicago is actively monitoring conditions and will recommend additional strategies as needed to prevent the spread of the virus,” Stratton said in a statement. “We continue to refine our citywide COVID-19 response plan in consultation with partners at the CDC, IDPH, CDPH as well as the parade organizers to ensure an operational plan is in place to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors.”
Asked whether there’s talk of halting the South Side parade, Ald. Matt O’Shea, 19th, responded: “Absolutely not! The 42nd annual South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off on Sunday March 15th at 12 p.m. #WashYourHands.”
* From the Illinois statute books…
The Department of Public Health shall investigate the causes of dangerously contagious or infectious diseases, especially when existing in epidemic form, and take means to restrict and suppress the same, and whenever such disease becomes, or threatens to become epidemic, in any locality and the local board of health or local authorities neglect or refuse to enforce efficient measures for its restriction or suppression or to act with sufficient promptness or efficiency, or whenever the local board of health or local authorities neglect or refuse to promptly enforce efficient measures for the restriction or suppression of dangerously contagious or infectious diseases, the Department of Public Health may enforce such measures as it deems necessary to protect the public health, and all necessary expenses so incurred shall be paid by the locality for which services are rendered.
I didn’t realize until last night that Illinois had such strong epidemic laws. IDPH could shut down the parades if Mayor Lightfoot refuses to pull their permits.
* Atlantic…
When the influenza epidemic of 1918 infected a quarter of the U.S. population, killing tens of millions of people, seemingly small choices made the difference between life and death.
As the disease was spreading, Wilmer Krusen, Philadelphia’s health commissioner, allowed a huge parade to take place on September 28th; some 200,000 people marched. In the following days and weeks, the bodies piled up in the city’s morgues. By the end of the season, 12,000 residents had died.
In St. Louis, a public health commissioner named Max Starkloff decided to shut the city down. Ignoring the objections of influential businessmen, he closed the city’s schools, bars, cinemas, and sporting events. Thanks to his bold and unpopular actions, the per capita fatality rate in St. Louis was half that of Philadelphia. (In total roughly 1,700 people died from influenza in St Louis.)
In the coming days, thousands of people across the country will face the choice between becoming a Wilmer Krusen or a Max Starkloff.
Your thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** Hmm…
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Open thread
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois-centric and nice, please. Thanks.
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