Rauner on Dunkin’s loss
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Morris Herald…
Pointing out how critical it will be for Republicans to win seats in the upcoming election, Rauner referred to the contentious March primary race in which state Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, lost his seat.
He said Dunkin lost because he didn’t show up in Springfield for a potential veto override of a Madigan-backed bill designed to limit the governor’s control in negotiating with state employee unions.
“We were able to get one Democrat off of the override, so my veto stood,” Rauner said. “But the Democrat leadership got so cranky … they took him out of the primary. This is the Chicago machine power that we’re dealing with.”
Dunkin also missed another vote that day, to fund the state’s child care assistance program. In the end, nobody but Rauner stood up for him, which was telling.
* Related…
* Rauner ally Dunkin has $1.2M in campaign fund — what will he do with it?: Dunkin did not return phone messages Monday and was listed as an excused absence at the Capitol.
* In Defeat, State Rep. Ken Dunkin Kept A Million-dollar Consolation Prize: “It’s very unusual,” says Kent Redfield, a retired political science professor and a longtime observer of money in Illinois politics. “People are going to speculate as to exactly what was going on,” says Redfield. “Was there an arrangement? Is this a golden parachute?”
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Cleaning up Pat Quinn’s mess
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
A state audit has found that anti-violence programs administered by former Gov. Pat Quinn lost nearly $4 million in questionable expenses or unspent funds never collected.
The review released Tuesday by Auditor General Frank Mautino covered three programs designed to fight violence, including the “Neighborhood Recovery Initiative” that Quinn’s office developed in 2010 as he was running for election to a full term. Questions about program spending helped defeat his 2014 re-election bid.
The audit found problems with how grant recipients were chosen, how contracts were written, how spending was monitored and how unspent funds went uncollected.
Other than that it was fine.
/snark
The full report is here.
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* Pennsylvania has a wealthy Democratic governor and a conservative Republican-controlled legislature. Its long impasse finally ended recently when minority party Democrats aligned with the Republican legislative majority…
House Republicans had threatened an override attempt if [Gov. Tom Wolf] vetoed their budget closure package, emboldened by the fact that 13 Democrats had joined them to pass it last week, just hours after Wolf promised a full veto.
The GOP would have needed 16 Democratic votes to override a veto, and top House Republican staffers felt they were within reach of dealing Wolf a politically embarrassing defeat.
Wolf sidestepped questions about that threat Wednesday, saying only that his change of heart was in response to pressure “to do the right thing” by all the interested parties in the dispute.
Publicly, at least, House and Senate Democratic leaders voiced confidence that they could have sustained a veto. But they also readily admitted they didn’t want that fight, and appealed to Wolf to avoid it in recent days.
* And now in Kansas…
After he became Kansas governor in 2011, Sam Brownback slashed personal income taxes on the promise that the deep cuts would trigger a furious wave of hiring and expansion by businesses.
But the “shot of adrenaline” hasn’t worked as envisioned, and the state budget has been in crisis ever since. Now many of the same Republicans who helped pass Brownback’s plan are in open revolt, refusing to help the governor cut spending so he can avoid rolling back any of his signature tax measures.
If Brownback won’t reconsider any of the tax cuts, they say, he will have to figure out for himself how to balance the budget in the face of disappointing revenue.
“Let him own it,” Republican Rep. Mark Hutton said. “It’s his policy that put us there.”
We’ve seen the same thing happen here over and over again. Child care, local government funding, whatever. When our legislators in the same party as our governor rise up and say “Enough!” they get their way.
The movement we’ve seen the past week or so is due in significant part to them. Not all of it, but a lot of it.
Keep it up.
…Adding… The fact that two House Republicans have now signed on to a Democratic higher education funding plan probably guarantees that the bill will move forward. The Rauner folks say they have no problem with the HGOP co-sponsorship.
However, and this is a big however, Democratic Sen. Pat McGuire helped draft the plan sponsored in the House by Republican Rep. Fortner. Also, the Senator who represents the U of I is a Democrat, and he’s likely very unhappy that the House Democratic proposal doesn’t give a dime to his university.
In the end, the Republican plan may be the way to go. Not sure yet, though. They could amend the Democratic bill in the Senate to make it more like Fortner’s.
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Beware another criss-cross
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Keep in mind that the House is preparing to approve HJRCA 5, which does the same thing…
State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) told reporters in a press conference at the State Capitol Tuesday that he expected Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 29 to be heard on the Senate floor later this week. SJRCA 29 would abolish the office of lieutenant governor in Illinois, adding it to Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon and Wyoming, which do not have the office.
Cullerton was confident his measure would pass out of a Senate subcommittee Tuesday as well as Executive Committee Tuesday afternoon.
“As most people know, I have been successful regarding consolidation on local governments starting in 2013, when I ran SB 494 that looked to consolidate local governments within DuPage County. This is a followup on that effort. The savings we estimate will be $1.6 million a year.”
The measure will go to referendum on this November’s ballot if passed by the Senate and House.
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Lots of moving parts in proposed Lucas deal
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz lays out everything that will have to happen before George Lucas can build his museum at McCormick Place…
If not for the deal, McPier would have to finance more than $200 million in needed maintenance in the Lakeside Center, which is east of Lake Shore Drive—money the agency doesn’t have, they said. But to get that money, the city is cutting an unusual deal with museum patron George Lucas, a deal that will have to be approved not just in Chicago but in deadlocked Springfield.
Under the plan, Lucas would front the city the $743 million that construction of the museum was estimated to cost at its original lakefront site. McPier then would borrow about $1.17 billion, using the Lucas money as collateral of sorts.
Roughly $500 million would be spent for the new convention space at King Drive and $665 million to partially demolish and cap Lakeside Center and to build the museum and related green space on top.
The city would pay that and related debt service on the bonds. But eventually, more money would be needed; Koch and Healey said it would come from shifting to McPier a 2 percent hotel tax that originally was imposed to build U.S. Cellular Field for the White Sox. That levy, which now goes to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, would go to McPier after 2032, when it is due to expire, and be continued through 2066.
In addition, Emanuel wants to extend McPier’s tax authorization power to 2066. And, in exchange, the agency would give up after 2022 $15 million in state “incentive” funding it gets to lure conventions here.
All of that would have to be approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rauner.
* Mayor Emanuel is publicly optimistic…
Legislators who are up for re-election in November likely would fear being tarred as tax-and-spend politicians if they voted for the mayor’s museum plan, but Emanuel contended Tuesday that it’s visitors, not city residents, who are being taxed — even though many tourists come from the suburbs and downstate.
“There’s a hotel tax, which is visitors that come to the city of Chicago,” Emanuel said. “And so fees that already exist, it’s not new taxes.”
Emanuel also described the spending as a way to keep the city prosperous.
“I would say the right thing to do is invest in the future,” Emanuel said. “While Springfield has its challenges, those challenges do not inhibit the ability to grow the cultural, educational and business and economic future of the city in Chicago. One of the largest employers in the city is the convention and hospitality industry.”
* Hal Dardick at the Trib is not optimistic…
The mayor’s new plan got a noncommittal reception at the Capitol, where spokesmen for House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Chicago Democrats, said they’d have to look at the details before commenting. A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner declared the matter “under review.”
The list of unresolved issues in Springfield is long, with school funding, a CPS bailout, lack of a major construction program, the budget impasse and Rauner’s pro-business, union-weakening agenda at the top.
Given that, Laurence Msall, president of the nonpartisan Civic Federation budget watchdog group, questioned whether the mayor’s plan was coming at an appropriate time.
“In the midst of a state budget crisis that has prevented the legislature from addressing some of the most basic requests of the city of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools, it is difficult to see how this enormous request for state resources fits into the priorities of the city and the state of Illinois’ financial crisis,” Msall said.
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* Bernie Sanders also won the 13th Ward, but there’s been no word from Speaker Madigan about what he plans to do. Lynn Sweet…
Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., a “superdelegate” to the Democratic National Convention, said if there is a contested convention, he will be for Bernie Sanders because he won his congressional district in the Illinois primary.
Every Illinois House member is a superdelegate, a nickname given to the Democratic Party honchos who automatically are delegates to the convention, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia July 25-28. […]
“As a Democratic member of Congress, I have a vote at the Democratic National Convention as a superdelegate. Before the Illinois primary I told Democrats in the 3rd District that I decided that I would pledge my vote to whichever candidate won the district,” Lipinski told the Sun-Times in an email.
“When the votes were counted, Sen. Bernie Sanders received 54 percent and Secretary Hillary Clinton received 45 percent in my district. Therefore, if there is a contested vote at the Democratic National Convention in July, I will vote for Sen. Sanders.”
If that doesn’t make your head spin, I don’t know what will. I mean the logic is sound, but Lipinski isn’t otherwise a hipster Bernie dude.
* And speaking of the convention, here’s Lynn Sweet again…
Duckworth said she will attend the Democratic National Convention, which runs from July 25-28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. I’m expecting Duckworth to be assigned a prime-time speaking slot
* Meanwhile, Lynn Sweet looks at a Mark Kirk superpac…
The Independent Voice for Illinois has raised $868,100 since it was founded last year and has $663,204 cash on hand. Its main expense is payments to a firm run by Eric Elk, Kirk’s former chief of staff.
“The Independent Voice for Illinois PAC works to elect individuals who represent the common sense values of Prairie State citizens,” Elk told me in an email.
The biggest donation to the group, $100,000, came from the Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp., whose chairman, Robert Murray, donated to Kirk’s 2010 Senate campaign.
Sweet gets more political scoops per person-hour than anyone I know.
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Things really are getting better here
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Sarah Leiseca at the Pew Charitable Trusts…
Rich,
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ “Fiscal 50” interactive today updated its 50-state personal income data. The latest figures show that states have benefited unevenly from the nation’s long-running economic expansion. Personal income in all states is higher than before the Great Recession, even though a handful of state economies faltered at the end of 2015.
Adjusted for inflation, personal income in 21 states has expanded faster than in the nation as a whole since the start of the recession. Only in mid-2015 did the final state—Nevada—recover its personal-income losses and return to its pre-recession level.
In the latest year of this post-recession expansion, personal income in all but six states – Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming – continued to make gains.
Click here to see the charts.
* If you sort by growth rate since the Great Recession, Illinois finishes second to last, ahead of only Nevada.
However, if you sort by growth rate over the past year, Illinois is 16th best.
* Blue is growth rate since the recession, green is the 2015 growth rate…
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* That graduated income tax poll we talked about yesterday had some more responses which I didn’t have yesterday. For instance…
Now, I’m going to read a list of public figures and organizations. For each, I would like you to tell me if you have a generally favorable, neutral, or generally unfavorable opinion of that person or organization. If you’ve never heard of that person or group, please say so.
The responses…
Keep in mind the poll was taken in January. I wish it woulda asked specifically about Speaker Madigan, but the more generic “Democrats in the State Legislature” outpolled Rauner back then? And unions outpolled everything and everyone including President Obama? Interesting.
* More…
As you may know, Governor Bruce Rauner and the state legislature have not been able to agree on a budget. Who do you believe is more to blame for the lack of a state budget?
Responses…
These sorts of numbers may have been why Rauner came roaring back from the holiday break, blasting Democrats wherever he went in January (and February, and March…). It was a distinct contrast to December, when folks seemed to be trying to keep a lid on stuff.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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- CASEnergy Coalition
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Here comes the criss-cross?
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Kwame Raoul’s proposed constitutional amendment to change the remap process is up for a subject matter only hearing today. But he told me this morning that he intends to call it for a vote…
Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution concerning the decennial redistricting of Legislative and Representative Districts. Provides that the Senate, by resolution, instead of “the General Assembly by law”, shall divide the Legislative Districts into 3 groups for the determination of terms of office. Eliminates the requirement that Legislative Districts be divided into 2 Representative Districts. Provides criteria for creating districts. Provides for the General Assembly to redistrict Legislative and Representative Districts by law by June 20. If that fails, provides for the Senate to redistrict Legislative Districts and the House to redistrict Representative Districts, each by resolution adopted by three-fifths of the members elected. If no resolution is adopted by July 20, provides for a Senate or House Redistricting Commission to redistrict by August 20. If that fails, provides for a Special Master. If that fails or a bill, resolution, or plan is invalidated, the General Assembly may redistrict by law. Requires hearings and allows for the public to submit plans. Further proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution concerning the decennial redistricting of Congressional Districts. Provides criteria for creating districts. Provides for the General Assembly to redistrict Congressional Districts by law by June 20. If that fails, provides for a Special Master. If that fails or a bill or plan is invalidated, the General Assembly may redistrict by law. Requires hearings and allows for the public to submit plans. Effective upon being declared adopted.
The “criss-cross” is an age-old play. The House passes one version of a reform, while the Senate passes another. Members in both chambers claim they voted for a reform, but nothing ever gets done.
This isn’t the first time Sen. Raoul has pushed this particular remap reform idea. It failed in the House by a single vote a while back, mainly because of GOP opposition. Because of the Jack Franks proposal and the Independent Maps petition drive, I doubt the GOP will climb on board this time, either.
Raoul told me he “doesn’t like” Rep. Franks’ proposal. I’m hearing he wants to kill the Franks proposal, but this will all be up to Senate President John Cullerton, a big fan of partisan redistricting.
Ugh!
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React to Munger move publicly muted
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You’re not going to hear too many legislators gripe about Comptroller Leslie Munger’s decision to put legislative paychecks in the same pile as all other overdue state bills…
“I don’t think anybody’s fazed by it. What we have to do, we will do,” said Democratic Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie, an attorney. “She has a difficult re-election ahead of her and she’s looking for every chance she can get to get her name in the paper. It’s what we all do in the political world, but it should just be called what it is.” […]
“I’ll do what the families in my districts have done over the last year. Lean on the credit cards, lean on friends and family,” said Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago. “My girlfriend will have to take me out to dinner every once and a while. It’ll be tough, but it’s tough all over.”
Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, said his legislative salary is his family’s only source of income.
“At least I know I might get a check down the line, but I have residents who know they will never get a check,” Andrade said. “For me, this might be a difficult situation, but for others it’s worse.”
* Mark Brown explains…
As much as state lawmakers might be exasperated with Munger’s maneuver, some of them no doubt seething privately over the projected two-month delay in their paychecks, nobody running for election in November is going to want to challenge her populist decision. […]
As much as state lawmakers might be exasperated with Munger’s maneuver, some of them no doubt seething privately over the projected two-month delay in their paychecks, nobody running for election in November is going to want to challenge her populist decision.
I’ve talked to some legislators about this as well, and many expressed real private worry about their personal financial future. They also know that Munger has plenty of money, as does the governor, the House Speaker and the Senate President, along with the two top GOP leaders. Those folks won’t suffer a minute.
* This, however, is an interesting comment…
State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) supports her fellow Republican’s decision and said she hopes it brings lawmakers closer to a compromise.
“This is probably something that should have happened back in January,” Bryant said.
That’s pretty much what Munger’s Democratic opponent said about it on Sunday.
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* A mostly upbeat economic assessment from the Illinois Policy Institute? Yep…
Illinois gained a net 14,700 payroll jobs in March, putting Illinois in the black for jobs in 2016, according to March data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The state unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in March from 6.4 percent in February, driven by an increase of 9,600 Illinoisans who are unemployed.
Illinois’ March payroll jobs report revealed a second strong month in a row for the state. Illinois added 14,700 jobs on net, with significant gains in leisure and hospitality (+6,300); construction (+4,100); financial activities (+3,200); and trade, transportation and utilities (+2,800). Manufacturing was the only sector to show significant job losses (-3,100) with losses also coming from professional and business services (-1,400).
Illinois’ household survey data, which estimates the raw number of people employed and unemployed regardless of industry, showed Illinois’ workforce grew by 37,700 in March, with employment growing by 28,100 and unemployment growing by 9,600. The growth in the number of unemployed people is the reason the state’s unemployment rate ticked up in March to 6.5 percent from February’s 6.4 percent.
Given that Illinois’ workforce shrank consistently during the recession era, the recent expansion of the workforce is a positive sign, despite the fact that the growing workforce is contributing to Illinois’ rising unemployment rate
I almost choked.
* This may be why…
Illinois’ workforce contracted by over 225,000 from before the beginning of the Great Recession and shrank by 61,000 in 2014 alone. The state’s workforce bottomed out in January 2015, just as Gov. Bruce Rauner took office. But since January 2015, Illinois’ workforce has grown by an impressive 157,400. It’s not immediately clear whether there is a relationship between the expansion of the state’s labor force and Rauner’s tenure as governor. However, a change in workforce sentiment has occurred, and this warrants further investigation.
A commenter wondered whether this represented a “pivot” to the Rauner is great and wonderful for Illinois! rhetoric.
If not, that’s pretty much what it will look like when it happens.
* But it wasn’t all upbeat…
The manufacturing sector shed jobs in most states in the region, with Illinois having the second-worst loss of any state. Only Wisconsin had an especially strong showing on the manufacturing front, gaining more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs. […]
Illinois continues to have the weakest manufacturing recovery in the region. All states experienced a manufacturing jobs bottom in 2009 or 2010. Since each state’s respective bottom, though, Illinois has had the worst manufacturing jobs recovery.
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* One “benefit” of the impasse is everybody appears to be learning lots more about budget mechanics. This is a good idea…
Yesterday, the Illinois House of Representatives provided essential long-term assurance to community colleges in the state by passing HB 4675, which would ensure that all future federal dollars distributed to the State of Illinois for Adult Education and Career and Technical Education are timely appropriated to community colleges, even in lieu of a state budget. Currently, these funds are coded within the Comptroller’s Office as “special funds” rather than “federal funds,” which had previously compromised their ability to be distributed in lieu of a higher education budget. Other similar technicalities within the fund distribution process were addressed by previous bills, but did not include the funds outlined specifically by HB 4675.
“While achieving a full and comprehensive state budget remains my highest priority as a legislator, I am very much committed to doing what I am able in the meantime to alleviate the burden of this current impasse, such as sponsoring and promoting legislation like HB 4675 so that institutions and organizations can continue to acquire as many of the resources they are entitled to as possible. I am especially proud to have had this opportunity to assist our community colleges in this way, as I have always been a tireless advocate for higher education in Illinois. There should be no reason for the state to delay the delivery of these federal dollars to their rightful owners, even in the midst of our own financial dysfunction,” said Unes (R-East Peoria).
Community colleges in Illinois have been especially impacted by the now ten-month absence of a state budget. In Representative Unes’ District, these colleges include Illinois Central College (East Peoria) and Spoon River College (Canton).
“Having these federal funds not be held up by other budget discussions allows our community college to plan for future offerings of Adult Education and Literacy Programming. In addition, we are better able to budget for expansion and enhancement of our Career and Technical Education programs. Each of these programs has a direct impact on our regional economy and enhances Spoon River College’s ability to have an educated workforce available for our region’s employers. Not having a hold on these funds allows us to put those federal dollars to work immediately,” said Curt Oldfield, President of Spoon River College.
Currently, 45% of Spoon River College’s budget for its Adult Education programs is comprised of federal dollars, and amounts to about $65,000 annually. They also receive approximately $79,965 in federal Perkins funds, which support their Career and Technical Education programs.
According to Illinois Central College (ICC) Interim President Bruce Budde, ICC receives roughly $400,000 annually in federal subsidies for its own programs of this kind
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Madigan advances his constitutional amendment
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Public Radio…
The constitution currently says the state has the “primary responsibility” to fund early education through high school. However, the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled it’s a goal, not a mandate. Property taxes pay for most of the public school funding while the state covers about a third of the total.
Madigan said he wants to change the wording so it says education is a fundamental right and it’s the duty of the state to provide it.
“If approved by the voters, the state would be required to fund 51 percent of the cost of education,” he said. Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, said the state would have to come up with billions more to put into education.
Madigan said the legislature could manage how to make this change from relying on property taxes. But Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, said he thinks it would be a challenge to push up its share of state funding quickly if voters approved the amendment.
“Do you think it would be more difficult than the situation we’re in today,” Madigan said.
“If we were required to double the educational funding, I would argue that it would put us in a much more difficult situation,” Sosnowski replied.
The bill passed the committee on a partisan rollcall.
Reps. Ives and Sosnowski are both probably right. It’s hard to argue with the idea behind this. Illinois should’ve been doing it all along. But if the courts order the state to provide 50 percent plus a dollar of all school spending (without any way of reining in that spending), it’ll likely cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
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*** UPDATE *** From US Sen. Mark Kirk…
“As Senator for Illinois, I am working with some of the most conservative and liberal voices to do what is right. We are spending about $60,000 per prisoner every year in Illinois to incarcerate individuals who leave prison more dangerous than when they arrived - everyone knows this system is broken. Here at home, we cannot allow another generation of kids to be plagued by gang violence, so the new criminal justice reform bill directs more attention to fight gangs of national significance in Chicagoland.”
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Press release…
A new poll released today by the U.S. Justice Action Network, the largest bipartisan organization working on criminal justice reform, shows that registered Illinois voters overwhelmingly support reforms that would fix the state’s criminal justice system. Voters strongly believe that, as a result of mandatory minimum practices, Illinois’ current system imprisons too many people for too long and that judges should have greater discretion in determining sentences. The poll, conducted by Fako Research & Strategies, revealed strong support for reform among Republican and Democratic voters, in addition to bipartisan agreement that the goal of our criminal justice system should be rehabilitation.
“This poll reveals a mandate for criminal justice reform in Illinois,” said Holly Harris, Executive Director of the U.S. Justice Action Network. “The prison population has exploded over the last few decades, and yet we aren’t seeing the public safety return that we deserve. So it’s no surprise that an overwhelming number of voters from the far left to the far right support policies that would reduce prison sentences for low-risk, non-violent offenses and offer more rehabilitation programs for those leaving incarceration. In light of this polling data, we urge lawmakers to take action to support these needed changes to our broken system.”
Among the poll’s top findings include:
* 94% of Illinois voters agree that the justice system should offer more rehabilitation and job training for individuals convicted of low-level, non-violent offenses so that when they re-enter society, they can get jobs, turn away from crime, and get off the taxpayers’ dime.
* 92% of Illinois voters – including 92% of Democrats, 96% of Republicans and 93% of Independents – favor reducing prison time for individuals convicted of low-risk, non-violent offenses in Illinois prisons. They support reinvesting some of those savings to create a stronger probation and parole system that holds offenders accountable for their crimes.
* 87% of Illinois voters– including 89% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans and 86% of Independents – would support replacing mandatory minimum sentences with sentencing ranges so that judges can weigh the individual circumstances of each case, such as seriousness of the offense and the offender’s criminal history, when determining the penalty.
* 83% of Illinois voters – including 82% of Democrats, 88% of Republicans and 82% of Independents – support sending fewer individuals who commit low-risk, non-violent offenses to Illinois prisons so that state funding can be used to keep violent criminals in prison for their full sentence.
* 85% of Illinois voters support spending some of the money Illinois is spending on locking up non-violent offenders should be shifted to strengthening mandatory community supervision programs like probation and parole.
* 90% of Illinois voters – including 92% of Democrats, 90% of Republicans and 92% of Independents – agree that we should break down barriers for ex-offenders so they can get jobs, support their families, and stop being dependent on government services that cost Illinois taxpayers money.
“Criminal justice reform is an issue where Illinois voters recognize the problem that we spend too much tax money keeping non-violent criminals behind bars. Voters also strongly agree that the main goal of our criminal justice system should be rehabilitation,” said Dave Fako, of polling firm Fako Research Strategies.
This poll comes at a time when Illinois is weighing up significant changes to their justice system through recommendations from the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. With U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin leading the charge on federal reforms, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk recently announcing his support, and Gov. Rauner looking to cut the prison population by 25 percent, Illinois is emerging as a leader on justice reform.
“The results of this poll affirm what Gov. Rauner believed when he within the first days of his election worked with Sen. Raoul and others to create the commission,” said Rodger Heaton, Illinois Director of Public Safety, Chair of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. “This poll and its results will go a long way towards helping the Commissioners consider even more challenging reforms to our system and to stop what we think has been an over reliance on incarceration.”
“Illinois residents clearly recognize we need to rethink and rework who we put behind bars and why,” said State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13th). “Our current system has devastated our communities and not improved public safety. We should pass reforms that ensure our system provides hope and redirection for low-level offenders who do not need to be imprisoned or who should not return once they are released, and to ensure the violent, dangerous criminals are locked away where they cannot continue to wreak havoc on our streets.”
“This poll reinforces the ACLU’s own polling numbers – the public is ready for leaders to take bold steps to safely reduce our prison population and support programs that reduce the number of individuals who return to prison,” said Ben Ruddell, Criminal Justice Policy Attorney, ACLU of Illinois. “We look forward to working with the U.S. Justice Action Network and other bipartisan advocates to advance proposals that will keep us safe and refocuses our justice system on rehabilitation.”
“Illinois spent $1.4 billion in taxpayer money last year but this poll shows that voters realize their justice system is not spending this money wisely,” said Derek Cohen, Deputy Director, Right on Crime. “Voters in the state are urging lawmakers to pass policies that create alternatives to incarceration which are more cost effective and provide better results.”
This is a Fako & Associates poll, so it’s trustworthy.
* A few other noteworthy items I picked from the pollster’s memo…
Reform marijuana laws so that those who possess or use marijuana are provided alternatives to incarceration such as probation and treatment options. (83% Total Support, 62% Strongly Support)
People convicted of possessing a small amount of drugs shouldn’t automatically go to prison, but have the chance at participating in probation and drug treatment. (87% Agree, 69% Strongly Agree)
One‐quarter (26%) of voters believe the Illinois criminal justice system needs “A Complete Overhaul.” One‐third of voters (33%) believe that the Illinois criminal justice system needs “Major Reform” while another quarter of the electorate (26%) feels the system needs “Minor Reform.” One‐tenth of voters (9%) feel that the Illinois criminal justice system is “Working Pretty Well As It Is.”
Respondents were asked which of the following two statements came closest to their point of view regarding prison sentences
Illinois has some of the most overcrowded prisons in the country and that our system needs to be reformed. Other states have created more effective, less expensive alternatives to prison for non‐violent offenders, and Illinois should consider making those changes to our system to save money and lower our crime rate.
Or
People who commit any crime belong behind bars, end of story. It may cost a lot of money to run prisons, but it would cost society more in the long run if more criminals were out on the street.
A solid majority (70%) of Illinois voters agree with the first statement that Illinois prisons are overcrowded, requiring reform for non‐violent offenders. Less than a quarter (22%) of voters agree more closely with the second statement that all criminals should be behind bars, end of story.
Likewise, a strong majority of Democrats (72%), Independents (76%), and Republicans (63%) indicate that their opinion comes closes to the first statement, that Illinois prisons are overcrowded.
Discuss.
* Related…
* Mitchell: Removing stain of arrest a step toward justice reform: And Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart — who put a national spotlight on the injustice of warehousing mentally ill offenders in the Cook County Jail — now is backing a bill to remove a provision of the law blocking anyone with a previous conviction from applying for an expungement… The bill now in Springfield doesn’t allow ex-offenders to erase a conviction. What it does, though, is waive the $120 fee required to apply for an expungement for those who have been released from jail, with the charges against them dropped… Though the expungement bill made it out of committee, supporters are getting pushback from the Illinois State Police and the Clerk of the Circuit Court. These agencies share revenue from expungement applications.
* Editorial: Government shouldn’t seize assets without greater proof of crime
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* Politico…
HOPE FOR HIGHER ED? — “GOP proposes stopgap plan for higher ed,” Rich Miller: http://bit.ly/1WcwCnC
– Rauner’s office says it supports this effort, which would draw some $600 million from an existing fund and divert it to stopgap higher ed spending and provide one semester’s worth of MAP grant funding. It would also include changes in procurement code, something the governor’s office has sought.
GLIMMER OF HOPE — House GOP Leader Jim Durkin tells Illinois Playbook that it isn’t all doom and gloom in Springfield: “Contrary to what the press reported last week, I felt the meeting of the leaders produced some positive results. More so than I’ve seen in a long time. I felt better about the level of discussion, I felt better about last week’s meeting than I have in some time. There was some progress made.” Durkin could not get into specifics: “I will leave it at that.”
Subscribers know more, but the train is definitely starting to chug a bit. Keep your fingers crossed.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I’m told by a Rauner administration official that the budget office estimates that the Education Assistance Fund will have $600 million available to fund higher education by the end of Fiscal Year 2016. The Fortner plan and another pushed by House Black Caucus members both rely on the EAF for funding.
Here’s a comparison of what the two plans do…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Two House Republicans have now signed on as hyphenated co-sponsors of Rep. Mayfield’s bill, Reps. Norine Hammond and Reggie Phillips.
Things are moving.
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Man, I hope this works
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House Executive Committee unanimously approved Rep. Jack Franks’ remap reform proposal yesterday. Franks handed out this fact sheet comparing his plan to the Independent Map group’s proposed constitutional amendment…
Franks appears to have the best proposal out there right now.
* This is also good news…
Bray said the Independent Maps coalition does not have a position on Franks’ proposal.
That’s the best that can be hoped for at the moment. They should continue gathering signatures and raising money until it becomes crystal clear that the Franks proposal will be on the ballot. At that point, if Franks addresses the issues raised in committee yesterday by Republicans and good government groups, this scenario ought to be avoided…
What happens if both are put on the ballot?
Franks was asked that question at Monday’s hearing and said he’d “defer to counsel.”
What a nightmare that would be. What if they both passed? Worse, what if they both went down because of the confusion?
* This is also good news…
Five organizations filed witness slips with the Executive Committee in support of Franks’ amendment, including Common Cause, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and the state Chamber of Commerce.
If Todd Maisch is for it, then partisan sniping can be overcome…
Northern Illinois Republican state Rep. Ron Sandack says to really be fair, [House GOP Leader Jim Durkin’s remap reform] measure should also be considered by lawmakers.
“We ought to be debating something that’s been on file for a year — for a year — and let it have a full vetting and then compare and contrast,” Sandack said.
Sandack is the floor leader. He has to say stuff like that. But I think Franks is right that his is the better idea. Either way, work with Franks to amend his bill and let’s get this train moving now.
I supported a constitutional convention back in the day mainly because I believed we couldn’t get remap reform through the General Assembly. The possibility that the Independent Maps folks might succeed has prodded the House Democrats into action. I truly never thought I’d see this day, so nobody better mess it up. Seriously. Don’t mess this up!
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More like this soon, please
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Southern…
– Illinois Department of Corrections Acting Director John Baldwin said on Thursday that an overhaul of the corrections’ system is in order.
He noted the spike over the past four decades in the state’s prison population is largely because of an increase in the number of people locked up for substance abuse-related problems, and said new laws and policies should be enacted to reverse the trend. […]
Baldwin said the system is currently upside down, with more money being spent on returning inmates who are considered at a low-risk of re-offending, when research shows that these individuals do best when they are allowed to resume their lives with minimal required interaction with the system.
The opposite is true for medium- and high-risk offenders, he said, though securing service providers for these individuals can be more difficult because, by nature of their assessed risk level, their cases are generally more complex.
Baldwin said the commission continues to meet, and its next major focus will be tackling sentencing reform. A wide array of experts across the political spectrum contend that draconian drug laws have led to the explosion of the prison population by locking up addicts who would be better served by community sanctions, such as home arrest and probation, with a treatment component.
Looks like good government to me.
Now, if we could just convince his boss to stop dragging his feet on medical marijuana and back a real legalization bill, I’d be pretty happy.
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* Press release…
Speaker of the Illinois House Michael J. Madigan on Monday issued the following statement regarding a constitutional amendment to strengthen education throughout Illinois:
“Every student in Illinois deserves an excellent education. By helping our schools deliver a world-class education to our children, we are helping teachers mold the minds of the leaders of tomorrow who can take our state, our country and our world to new heights of achievement. But when it comes to improving our education system, conversations are not enough. We have to put our words into actions.
“Too many school districts from every region of the state struggle to provide the excellent education they want to give our students. Increasing the per-pupil foundation level was and continues to be a needed step in the right direction, but it is not enough. We need to do more for our students.
“In February, Governor Rauner stated his support for increasing funding for elementary schools and high schools through the foundation level. I, too, support increasing the level of funding for our schools, as Democrats in the General Assembly did last year and have done for many years. But we need to do more.
“We must resolve to strengthen our education system and increase needed funding for our schools in the long term. So I urge members of the General Assembly and Governor Rauner to join me in support of making an excellent education a right for our children. I also urge Governor Rauner to resist the temptation to follow the lead of former Governor Jim Edgar, who opposed a similar plan to strengthen education during his tenure as governor. I encourage Governor Rauner to reaffirm his commitment to education by using his extensive influence within the House and Senate Republican caucuses to help pass this measure in the House Elementary and Secondary Appropriations Committee today and through both chambers of the General Assembly. With the governor’s help, we can better provide local schools with the additional resources they need to give our children a world-class education.
“Under House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 57, the state constitution would declare that an excellent education is no longer simply a goal of the people of Illinois, but a fundamental right, and that the state has the preponderant responsibility to fund local schools. In November 1992, I urged passage of a similar effort via referendum. Though the measure received the support of 57 percent of voters, opponents of the proposal succeeded in preventing it from attaining the 60 percent of support needed to amend the state constitution.
“This amendment deserves another chance to succeed, and our children deserve greater support to help them make their dreams a reality.”
I dunno.
Madigan’s proposal is somewhat similar to the Illinois Constitution’s pension language in that it could end up costing the state an absolute fortune if the courts side with the schools and against the state.
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The fight begins over graduated tax
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg Hinz…
“There are only a handful of states—Illinois is one of them—that still have the flat tax,” [Rep. Lou Lang] said. “We haven’t seen people leave Silicon Valley” (California has a top tax rate of 13.3 percent) for Nevada, which has no state income tax, he added.
But business flight from a state that already suffers from economic woes is exactly what some business groups are predicting.
“The vast majority of small-business owners pay taxes not at the corporate rate but as individuals,” Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch said in a statement, “Any effort to ‘gouge the rich’ is actually putting a target squarely on the backs of small businesses, the very entities we count on to provide the majority of new jobs.”
Not so, retorted Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, who is sponsoring the graduated-tax package in the Senate. Any business owner who reports income of under roughly $750,000 a year would pay less than they pay now, he said. “If you earn more than $750,000 at the end of the year, put it in your pocket, perhaps you’re not so small anymore.”
* In other news, proponents have released the results of a poll taken in January…
If the election were held today, would you vote yes in favor of the following Constitutional amendment or no to oppose it?
“Upon approval of the voters, the proposed Constitutional amendment would allow the state to establish higher tax rates for higher income levels and lower tax rates for lower income levels.”
Total Yes 71%
Total No 27%
Don’t Know/No Answer 2%
Support – Oppose +44
* More…
A recent Tulchin Research survey of 700 likely November 2016 voters in Illinois finds encouraging news for supporters of the proposed “Fair Tax” amendment to the state constitution, which would allow Illinois to adopt a progressive income tax. If the election were held today, the “Fair Tax” amendment would receive the support of seven in ten (71 percent) Illinois voters.
Overwhelming, Broad-Based Support for Fair Tax State Constitutional Amendment
After being read a straightforward description of the proposed amendment to the state Constitution, Illinois voters back the measure by a margin of 44 points, with 71 percent of voters saying they would vote “Yes” on the measure to just 27 percent who would vote “No.” Nearly half of voters (48%) indicate they would definitely vote “Yes” on such a measure, far outpacing the intense opposition (18%) and only two percent of voters are undecided, leaving little room for the opposition to maneuver.
Notably, support for the amendment extends across all corners of the state, across the political spectrum, and across gender, ethnic, and generational lines.
• The amendment is supported by 79 percent of voters in Cook County, 70 percent of voters in the collar counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties), and by 64 percent of voters in Downstate Illinois.
• The amendment attracts support from 93 percent of liberals, 74 percent of moderates, and even 54 percent of conservatives.
• Strong majorities of women (74 percent) and men (68 percent) back the amendment.
• The amendment is supported by 68 percent of white voters, 86 percent of black voters, and 86 percent of Latino voters.
• The amendment attracts comparable support among voters age 18-54 (74 percent) and those ages 55 and over (69 percent).
In the current, highly polarized political environment, it is quite rare to see a policy initiative with support as wide and as deep as this proposed amendment, putting it in a very strong position to win if it is placed on the ballot this November.
In summary, our research finds that Illinois voters strongly support the concept of a progressive income tax. The Fair Tax amendment is very popular with voters across the board and well- positioned to win voter approval should it appear on the November 2016 general election ballot.
Survey Methodology: From January 14-19, 2016, Tulchin Research conducted a telephone survey in Illinois among 700 likely November 2016 voters. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 3.7 percentage points.
As Greg notes above, the Democrats will likely need a Republican vote or three in the House to pass the actual amendment, which will require a three-fifths supermajority. Ken Dunkin voted against the millionaire’s tax, as did Jack Franks and Scott Drury. This is a different animal, however, in that it would cut taxes for people outside the 1 percent.
Convincing Republicans to vote for it won’t be an easy task, to say the least, considering the governor is completely and unalterably opposed.
And, man, the 1 percent is gonna fight back hard if this does make it to the ballot. Maisch’s remarks probably foreshadow the fight, in that we’ll likely see overt threats to move businesses to other states.
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It’s just a bill…
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Illinois State Rifle Association…
HB 3160 would allow an individual’s family members, law enforcement or roommates to petition the court for an ex parte restraining order if they consider the individual to be a danger to themselves or others simply because the individual owns, possesses or purchases a firearm. According to the summary of the bill, an ex parte order would be issued by a judge based solely on a brief, unsubstantiated affidavit made by a petitioner and absent any input made by the individual on which the order is targeted. If enacted, this legislation would require the surrender of FOID cards, concealed carry licenses as well as the seizure of all firearms by law enforcement. This legislation is ripe for abuse by individuals that disagree with the Second Amendment, and the mere insinuation that gun ownership makes you a danger to yourself or others is offensive and insulting.
* Oh, c’mon.
This isn’t about targeting people “simply because the individual owns, possesses or purchases a firearm.” This bill appears to about troubled, even bad people who happen to own guns. It’s mainly aimed at domestic violence perpetrators, but could also give the cops a way to stop somebody from committing a mass shooting if family members have cause and, more importantly, evidence…
At the hearing, the petitioner shall have the burden of proving, by preponderance of the evidence, that the respondent poses a significant danger of personal injury to himself, herself, or another by having in his or her custody or control, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm.
* And this is what they have to demonstrate…
In determining whether to issue a lethal violence order of protection under this Section, the court shall consider evidence of:
(1) A recent threat of violence or act of violence by the respondent directed toward himself, herself, or another.
(2) A violation of an emergency order of protection issued under Section 217 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or Section 112A-17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or of an order of protection issued under Section 214 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or Section 112A-14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.
(3) A pattern of violent acts or violent threats, including, but not limited to, threats of violence or acts of violence by the respondent directed toward himself, herself, or another.
* Also, if somebody does try to “abuse” this law (if it becomes law), there’d be a steep price to pay…
Every person who files a petition for an emergency lethal violence order, knowing the information provided to the court at any hearing or in the affidavit or verified pleading to be false, is guilty of perjury under Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
Perjury is a Class 3 felony. That’s a prison sentence of 2-5 years.
* Look, I don’t know if this bill is exactly the right way to go. Maybe it could be narrowed here or there. But ridiculing a bill designed to take guns from people who violate orders of protection sure ain’t helping matters.
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Exelon still pushing hard for state help
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Joe Cahill at Crain’s takes a look at why Exelon’s stock has surged 25 percent this year to date…
Thanks to intervention by the bureaucrats who oversee the nation’s power grid, prices are firming up in key markets where Exelon’s nuclear plants sell juice to electric utilities. Crane has restored part of a dividend cut he was forced to impose in 2013. And after a 23-month struggle, he closed an acquisition last month that made Exelon the country’s largest electricity delivery company.
And then looks at the future…
Possibly more telling will be his decisions about the future of Exelon’s worst-performing nuclear plants. He has warned of possible plant closings in Illinois if state lawmakers don’t help out. Criticizing policies that favor other forms of energy over nuclear, [Exelon spokesman Paul Adams] says Exelon “may be forced to make the appropriate decision to retire at-risk plants” unless those policies change.
Shutting power plants would shift Exelon’s balance even further toward the regulated businesses Wall Street currently favors. But it also would limit Exelon’s upside if power prices recover over the long term.
* And speaking of possible nuke plant closures…
State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, has Exelon’s back.
“If you remove nuclear power, you are going to see you electric bills go sky high,” Mitchell said. “In the next six weeks, the Illinois General Assembly must get down to business and pass a bill to make sure Clinton power plant stays in business and thrives.” […]
The Clinton nuclear plant has about 600 employees. Mitchell said losing them would have the same economic impact as Chicago losing 105,000 jobs.
“If Madigan had to face the loss of over 100,000 jobs, can you imagine that (would) not be on the frontburner of Speaker Madigan’s plate?,” Mitchell said.
If they can’t do a budget, which is hurting far more than just 600 employees, how are they going to do an Exelon “bailout”? Particularly this year, which has been notable for its intense voter anger.
* Exelon itself says the Clinton plant will stay open until at least May of next year…
Exelon Corporation said Friday that its Clinton nuclear plant, 23 miles southeast of Bloomington, Ill., had cleared the 2016-2017 Mid-continent Independent System Operator (MISO) capacity auction, which meant that it would continue to operate through May 31, 2017, although its future after that would rely in an “urgent” policy fix. […]
Exelon said it would not wait indefinitely to make a decision on the future of the plant past the fifth month of 2017. It would make that decision sometime this year, the company said.
* The Quad City Times wants Exelon included in the “green” mix of subsidies…
Last year, Exelon threatened the closure of three cash-bleeding plants, major economic engines in Quad-Cities and Clinton, Ill., unless lawmakers OK’d a plan, which included a state-imposed surcharge on users. But the company’s continued profit margins and September’s $1.6 billion windfall in PJM market auction all but killed the already controversial legislation that critics called a “bailout” intended to help “only Exelon.” Holding a trio of major employers hostage didn’t sit well with the public. The U.S. Supreme Court’s temporary stay of federal emissions standards for coal-fired plants didn’t help, either.
But Exelon brass aren’t wrong when pointing to a government-backed deck stacked against them. Wind, solar and other “renewable” sources benefit from perks within Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard. Exelon, meanwhile, is left to makeup the shortfall when those less-consistent sources of electricity peter out.
Clouds and gentle breezes leave Exelon carrying the water. And yet, Exelon doesn’t benefit from the state subsidies that encourage wind and solar producers to flood the grid when conditions are favorable.
And that’s the problem.
* From the Union of Concerned Scientists…
The nuclear industry is only able to portray itself as a low-cost power supplier today because of past government subsidies and write- offs. First, the industry received massive subsidies at its inception, reducing both the capital costs it needed to recover from ratepayers (the “legacy” subsidies that underwrote reactor construction through the 1980s) and its operating costs (through ongoing subsidies to inputs, waste management, and accident risks). Second, the industry wrote down tens of billions of dollars in capital costs after its first generation of reactors experienced large cost overruns, cancellations, and plant abandonments, further reducing the industry’s capital-recovery requirements. Finally, when industry restructuring revealed that nuclear power costs were still too high to be competitive, so-called stranded costs were shifted to utility ratepayers, allowing the reactors to continue operating.
These legacy subsidies are estimated to exceed seven cents per kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh)—an amount equal to about 140 percent of the average wholesale price of power from 1960 to 2008, making the subsidies more valuable than the power produced by nuclear plants over that period. Without these subsidies, the industry would have faced a very different market reality—one in which many reactors would never have been built, and utilities that did build reactors would have been forced to charge consumers even higher rates.
* With all that being said…
An analysis conducted by the state of Illinois found that closing Clinton would cause wholesale energy prices to rise by $236 million to $341 million annually for families and businesses in the region. These cost increases do not include hundreds of millions of dollars that would need to be spent on new transmission lines. The report also found that allowing Clinton to shut down would result in the loss of almost 1,900 direct and indirect jobs and raise carbon emissions in Illinois by almost 8 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of putting more than 1.7 million cars on the road. The analysis concludes that the societal cost of the increased emissions would be almost $4 billion between 2020 and 2029.
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* While Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago) and I were chatting the other evening he mentioned that he and Sen. Pat McGuire (D-Joliet) had been talking about a stopgap funding plan for colleges and universities. I asked him to write it up and here it is…
Higher education in Illinois is in crisis. The state has not appropriated basic operations money to the state universities this year. As a result one institution is preparing to close on May 1 and others cannot guarantee that they will be open when students return in the fall. May 1 is also the day when students traditionally must decide where they will attend in the fall. If students are uncertain about the future of our state universities, they may not plan to attend. Waiting longer to fund our universities may come too late to get those students back. There are three things we can do now to help this crisis.
First I propose that we utilize the Educational Assistance Fund (EAF) as a stopgap to fund the universities through August. The EAF will have about $600 million left in it at the end of the fiscal year on June 30. August is an important time since that is when students return and revenue from tuition, room and board comes to the universities. In SB 2046 (J. Cullerton/Currie), the total appropriation for ordinary and contingent expenses for the state universities and the Illinois Math and Science Academy is $1,079,180,600. This represents a full year appropriation, but there was no identified revenue to pay for it. An equivalent expenditure for four months from May 1 to August 31 would be one third of that, $359,726,867.
Second I propose that we provide one semester of MAP grant funding to help keep Illinois students of limited means at college in Illinois. SB 2046 also appropriates $397,073,100 to provide the MAP grants. Half of that to fund one semester would be $198,536,550. Combining the four-month university appropriation along with one semester of MAP grant funds comes to $558,263,417. This can be funded entirely from the EAF this fiscal year.
Finally I propose we give the universities relief from some of the procurement code. This has been a request from the universities long before the current administration and would be expected to save many millions. Modifying HB 4644 (Brady) to affect just the universities would provide this kind of relief and help the universities better manage their budgets while the state seeks a full long-term solution.
Of course the best outcome would be a full budget for all agencies. But anyone following the budget impasse in Illinois reads about the lack of trust among the leaders. A full budget is difficult at best in this environment. The General Assembly successfully took a more limited approach in December, appropriating money for cities to take care of snow removal and pay the lottery winners along with a long list of other activities. The General Assembly can take that approach again and move past this crisis in higher education.
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* Oy…
* Sun-Times…
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said Monday that a report by an independent fact-finder on contract negotiations was “dead on arrival” since it was essentially the same offer that the Board of Education had made and that the union had rejected.
As to what she would tell parents about the possibility of strike, Lewis said: “Be prepared.”
The proposal that Lewis had once said was a “serious offer” from the Board of Education proposed net raises over four years, the phasing out of over two years of a 7 percent pension contribution CPS has been making for members, and a return to raises for continuing education and experience for teachers as soon as next school year.
But now, Lewis said that CPS negotiators has even told them that the broke school district can no longer even afford that offer. Lewis said CTU has bargained in good faith but argued CPS has not.
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It’s Rauner vs. Madigan everywhere you look
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Politico…
Democrats will paint Munger as being under Rauner’s control. Republicans will do the same with Mendoza and Madigan.
Democrats believe Munger’s Rauner problem is more politically dangerous than Mendoza’s ties to either Madigan or Emanuel.
“This will be the Democrats versus Rauner. Rauner has become the Republican party in that sense. He pretty much owns the Republican party,” said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “In order for her to hold the seat … Rauner’s going to have to put a ton of money in this and I think Mendoza won’t have any trouble raising money to match that. This is going to be another visible contest. The Democrats are going to try to portray this as manipulating things to benefit the governor.”
Redfield said that could be a damaging line of attack.
“Insofar as she’s portrayed, and people find it credible, that she is Rauner’s person, that she has her thumbs on the scales a little bit. That’s going to create vulnerabilities for her I think,” he said.
I seriously doubt that Mendoza will raise as much money as Munger if Rauner becomes fully involved.
But this is indeed a proxy war. Madigan helped clear the way for Mendoza and Rauner appointed Munger. It can’t get much clearer than that.
Rauner’s poll numbers are lousy, but nothing like Madigan’s, so we’ll see.
* Meanwhile…
(L)ocal candidates appear to be distancing themselves from any suggestion that they are tied to the leaders. That isn’t to say they don’t accuse their opponents of being so, the race for the 118th House seat being an example.
“My opponent is going to be 100 percent funded by the governor,” said incumbent state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg. He is running against challenger Jason Kasiar, a Republican businessman from Eldorado, in the Nov. 8 General Election.
“Look where it is coming from,” Kasiar said of campaign contributions to Phelps. “It’s coming from Washington, D.C., it’s coming from Chicago, it’s coming from the Mike Madigan fingers that are out there.”
* Related…
* Rauner-Madigan rivalry hamstrings Illinois budget talks
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Baricevic says he outraised Bost
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Demonstrating growing strength for his campaign, Democratic congressional candidate CJ Baricevic (Il-12) raised an impressive $279,669 between January 1 and March 31, according to pre-primary and first quarter reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Due to Illinois’ primary election, the first quarter is divided into these two reports.
Despite his advantage as an incumbent Republican Congressman, Mike Bost only raised $273,374.04.
“To out raise Mike Bost clearly shows our campaign is gaining momentum and that Southern Illinois hard working families are looking for a Congressman who represents them—not Wall Street, billionaires, or Washington special interests. This clearly shows voters are looking for a change from Mike Bost who has failed to fight for middle-class and working families,” said Baricevic.
Interesting, particularly since the DCCC wanted nothing to do with Baricevic last year. Maybe it’ll change its mind now. Then again, Bost doesn’t seem especially worried if he only hauled in that sort of cash. He also had about $870K in cash on hand.
* Other stuff…
* DCCC Internal Poll Shows Schneider Beating Dold in Tossup House Race
* Duckworth on Kirk: ‘A lot of attention for doing nothing’
* Playing politics with Israel and Iran in Illinois
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* I was asked about this last December after my City Club speech and pretty much predicted a “draft Jesse” push by top Democrats, including Speaker Madigan…
But White, who’s been in public office since 1975, says he’s been satisfied with being Secretary of State. And though he’s been on record saying he won’t seek re-election in 2018, White tells Jim and me that the Democratic Party may still draft him for one more run.
Steve Brown, a spokesman for the Illinois Democratic Party, says he’s not aware of a formal movement by the state party to draft White to run for Secretary of State again. But Brown says White’s name is “certainly in the conversation as people think about who should be candidates” in 2018.
“We’d be well-served if he considered to run again,” Brown says.
Good idea or not?
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Another green shoot
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Finke…
(A)t a House committee hearing… Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, Madigan’s top lieutenant, said that budget staff from all four legislative caucuses and Rauner’s office were meeting that morning on budget issues. It was the kind of meeting that used to go on regularly back in normal times when everyone was trying to come to some agreement on the budget.
It’s too early to say if anything positive will come out of that budget session. The point is the participants wouldn’t have gotten together if their respective leaders hadn’t signed off on it. And the meeting took place two days after Rauner and Madigan sounded like they were digging in even deeper than before.
What they say publicly does matter. A lot. But what they do privately at the Statehouse often matters even more.
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* Dan Petrella…
Illinois House Democrats are proposing their own plan for changing the way the state’s legislative districts are drawn.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has made redistricting reform a key component of his “turnaround agenda,” but Democrats say a Republican proposal and one being pushed by a group called Independent Maps wouldn’t adequately take into account minority populations when drawing boundaries, a claim supporters dispute.
Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he filed the new proposal because he doesn’t believe the other plan would pass constitutional muster due to its lack of protection for minority voters. […]
Jim Bray, a spokesman for Independent Maps, said Franks’ concerns about what his group’s proposed amendment would mean for minority voters are unfounded.
“The Independent Maps Amendment has strong minority voting rights protections and probably the strongest in the nation of any of these statutes or constitutional amendments,” Bray said.
Speaker Madigan “is prepared to support” Franks’ proposal, which you can see in full by clicking here.
* The Independent Maps folks spent a fortune on a failed effort to get their idea on the ballot in 2014, and are now spending even more to get a revised proposal on the ballot this November.
They ought to continue moving forward with their effort, but also be prepared to negotiate with Franks. If Madigan is serious about putting this on the ballot, that would be an historic “turnaround,” and could take us a step closer to ending the impasse and finally getting a much-needed reform in Illinois. We don’t need competing ballot measures on the same topic.
Get. This. Done.
*** UPDATE *** Brian Gladstein of Common Cause Illinois and Sarah Brune of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform have both signed on as proponents of the Franks measure. I’m told ICPR will ask for some changes, including an issue with the proposal’s meeting notice requirements - the same issue it had with the Independent Maps proposal.
But these witness slips in favor of the Franks proposal will definitely put pressure on everybody to keep partisan politics out of it. Make the needed changes and pass the darned thing.
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Dunkin came out pretty well after all
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Observer…
Most losing – and many winning – political campaigns exhaust their campaign cash and end a race broke. Not Ken Dunkin.
Dunkin, a Democratic state representative from Chicago who lost his reelection bid in the March Democratic primary to Juliana Stratton, made a profit.
Dunkin, an ally of Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, began the fourth quarter of 2015 with $221,143 in the bank; raised $1,309,500 ($1,300,000 from a Rauner ally); spent $294,462; and ended with $1,236,180 in the bank, according to state election board records. That’s a profit of $1 million. Not bad.
The Illinois Opportunity Project, which is operated by Rauner political lieutenant Dan Proft, donated $1.3 million to Dunkin’s campaign.
As a “dark money” group that need not disclose its source of funding, insiders have been left speculating who has that kind of money to spend and who had an overwhelming interest to reelect Dunkin. Who?
Whoever it is their money is now safely parked in Dunkin’s campaign account.
One over/under line on Dunkin I participated in was $400K. I picked the over. But even I figured Dunkin spent lots more than he actually did.
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Justice Laura Liu
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* She was an amazing person and will be terribly missed by her family and her many, many friends…
Laura C. Liu was the first Chinese-American judge in Illinois’ history and the first Asian-American to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court but she was less concerned with her own groundbreaking achievements than with the people affected by her rulings, her family and colleagues said.
“Judge Liu loved the law, she loved her family, and she loved serving others through ensuring justice for every resident of Illinois,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “As the first Asian-American justice to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court, Judge Liu broke barriers and blazed new trails of opportunity.”
Liu, 49, died of complications from breast cancer April 15, her family said. A longtime Chicago resident, she had battled cancer for five years.
Born Laura Cha-Yu Liu in Carbondale to parents who were foreign exchange students, Liu grew up in Austintown, Ohio, and started school speaking very little English. She was valedictorian of her high school, her family said.
Justice Liu was famed attorney Mike Kasper’s wife.
* Obituary sent by Kasper…
Laura Liu, in the company of her family, passed away on April 15, 2016, after a courageous five-year battle with breast cancer. A dedicated mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend, she blazed brightly across the firmament and left an indelible impression on all who knew and loved her. On behalf of myself, our darling Sophie and all of Laura’s family, thank you for all that you did to make hers a life full of beauty and grace.
Laura refused to be defined or constrained by her illness. After being diagnosed and while undergoing various treatments, Laura became the first Asian American justice to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court. Also after being diagnosed, Laura become the first Chinese-American elected to public office in Chicago and Cook County, and the first Chinese American woman judge in Illinois history. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, she chaired the Illinois Supreme Court’s Language Access Committee to ensure the court system was navigable to those whose first language was not English.
To honor her life and memory, the Justice Laura Liu Scholarship Fund has been established at St. Therese Chinese Catholic School for needy children active in community service. Donations may be made at www.StThereseChicago.org or mailed to 247 W. 23rd Street, Chicago, IL 60616.
Services will be held at Fourth Presbyterian Church, on Michigan Avenue at Delaware Place, in Chicago, on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 11:00 a.m
A more complete story of her life is here.
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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
“The governor has linked things together,” Senate President John Cullerton said during a speech to the City Club of Chicago back in January. “We don’t have a budget because he’s got his ‘turnaround agenda.’ So I can link things together, too.”
Cullerton was referring to his threat to not pass any funding for K-12 schools until school funding reform is addressed. Despite being repeatedly blasted by the governor and the Senate Republican leader for planning to take schools “hostage” in order to “bail out” Chicago’s school system with his funding reform plan, Cullerton has not publicly backed down from his statement.
And I happen to believe that his direct and deliberate threat, perhaps more than anything else, has pushed Statehouse types to try and reach a conclusion to this long, crazy impasse.
Gov. Bruce Rauner surprised many Democrats last year when he vetoed the entire budget except the K-12 appropriations bill. He made sure that schools would open on time last fall, taking the potential for an extreme crisis off the table. Rauner doesn’t seem all that outwardly concerned about the carnage caused by the months-long government impasse, but he made absolutely sure to keep a K-12 shutdown from happening.
Illinoisans are quite upset about this stalemate. Many are even downright furious. But imagine the outcry if schools hadn’t opened last year. The first-year governor would’ve been roasted over a spit, and he knew it.
Rauner told reporters not long before Cullerton made his threat that last year’s school funding bill was the greatest achievement of his first year in office—even though he told Republican legislators to vote against the K-12 appropriations bill (probably to throw the Democrats off the scent). He has said over and over since Cullerton’s City Club address that passing his school funding bill was his top priority, and he even demanded during his budget address that it be done right away.
Usually in battles like these, you try to prevent your opponent from achieving his main goal. And since the governor has let everyone know what his main goal is, it naturally became a target.
Cullerton faithfully reads newspaper editorials and other commentary and oftentimes lets the criticism get under his skin. So there’s naturally a whole bunch of suspicion out there that he won’t follow through or will eventually relent under extreme duress.
But the chance that Cullerton might not cave is most certainly helping to push this thing toward a conclusion. Rauner has essentially admitted multiple times with deeds and words that not passing the K-12 appropriations bill would lead to an utter catastrophe. And keep in mind that he has moved off the dime just about every time he’s been faced with a calamity that Republican legislators wanted to avoid.
So, while it may be downright wrong to threaten school kids, teachers and parents this way (and it is wrong, to the point of immorality), somebody had to do something to advance the ball.
The General Assembly almost always waits until things hit a crisis point before it resolves a controversial issue. Pension reforms, numerous tax hikes, medical malpractice reform, etc., etc., etc., all had to wait until the need for them was so great that legislators had no choice but to act.
Obviously, there would be no greater crisis than the absence of K-12 funding, and there has never been any greater controversy in this state than this standoff.
Frankly speaking, if threatening to close down the state’s entire public education system doesn’t work, then nothing will. They’ll be arguing over a burned-out hollow shell of a state.
Cullerton has taken a carrot-and-stick approach. The stick is his K-12 threat. The carrot is the encouragement and assistance he’s offered rank-and-file legislators who have been attempting to privately find an end to this insanity. While other caucuses and the governor’s office now have staff helping out and are even talking with each other, Cullerton has been generous with his staff for quite a while now, deploying them to help work out issues.
Speaker Madigan, meanwhile, was not at all encouraging of the rank-and-file talks. But allowing his staff to work with those members and to also talk with the other staffs is a hopeful sign to many.
Another encouraging sign is that Rauner’s chief of staff has participated in some of the rank-and-file meetings, as has Rauner’s chief legislative liaison and his budget director. That’s important because, obviously, nothing is going to get done without the governor’s agreement.
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History will not be kind
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
When Dennis Hastert eventually passes away, he won’t be remembered for being the longest-serving Republican U.S. speaker of the House as much as for his guilty plea to a financial crime in connection with allegations he sexually abused high school students.
When Rod Blagojevich finally assumes room temperature, his corruption conviction will far outweigh his laudable push to make sure all kids had health insurance coverage.
If you do something really bad, that’s what you’re going to be remembered for. History can be rough on people. For well over a hundred years, the rampant corruption in President Ulysses S. Grant’s White House has badly tainted his Civil War triumphs as our nation’s top general.
So, to all the politicians who have so far refused to find a way to compromise and end the longest-ever Illinois government stalemate
Click here to read the rest before commenting, please.
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Because… Madigan!
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jim Dey perfectly sums up what Speaker Madigan and most of those who support him simply do not understand about Gov. Rauner’s approach…
The long-serving Madigan, speaker for all but two years since 1983 and a 45-year veteran of the legislative process, casts himself as the great compromiser — a latter-day version of 18th-century Kentucky politician Henry Clay.
Madigan’s performance was both instructive and touching. To hear him laud his gentlemanly approach to civic life, one might almost forget that his nickname is, among other things, the Velvet Hammer.
But Madigan, who turns 74 Tuesday, has a point — he is willing to compromise.
Over the years, he has compromised on many issues with Republican and Democratic governors. That’s one of the reasons that blame for the sorry state of the state belongs to both Republicans and Democrats. […]
So Madigan clearly is willing to compromise. At the same time, it’s equally clear that Madigan’s past compromises have severely compromised the state of Illinois.
You may or may not disagree with Dey’s logic, but it is pretty much exactly what Rauner and his people have been saying for a very long time.
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