* Freshman Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) switched from voting “Yes” on two previous rollcalls, to “No” today…
After the unexpectedly massive House override vote of Gov. Rauner’s veto of Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Illinois Student Loan Bill of Rights today (98-16) the House Republican Leader helped the governor avoid a totally horrible veto session by stopping this right to work zone bill.
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Rotheimer: “Of course it wasn’t mutual”
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Denise Rotheimer, who has accused Sen. Ira Silverstein of sexual harassment, has been reading some comments here and sent me a Facebook message that she said I could post…
Rich how can people think “it was mutual ” when Silverstein was the sponsor of my bill? If it was mutual I would have just had an affair with him but it was not mutual! That’s why I went into a crisis. I had to figure out how to best handle the situation he put me in because it could have gotten worse- not just for my bill but my psyche.
I told Silverstein repeatedly just call the bill for a vote. He refused! We had two hearings and he wouldn’t let it go to a vote. Once the bill was voted on I could free myself from him but he would not let that happen.
I shouldn’t read these comments because they set off triggers and this is hard enough to go through. If not for that bill there would not have been this communications — he abused his position of power as the sponsor of my bill! Of course it wasn’t mutual. I never should have been put in that situation and I tried to find ways out! I wish they would just investigate this and get it over with.
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* Gov. Rauner talked to reporters today about his recent trade mission to Israel…
“Their focus has been on California and New York,” said Rauner. “Many of them weren’t aware of Illinois. I spent a great deal of time educating them on the attractiveness of Illinois.”
The governor has remained a persistent critic of an Illinois tax and regulatory structure he contends hold the state back in competition for jobs. Even as Rauner toured Israel, his re-election campaign aired an ad featuring governors of surrounding states thanking Illinois for driving jobs across the border.
“We have the people, we have the workforce, the location, the transportation network and the education system. On fundamentals, we should be the fastest growing state in America,” said Rauner. “We have a very hostile regulatory environment in Illinois. Many companies are leaving because of our regulations and our taxes.”
Rauner said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed pro-business reforms won by Netanyahu, including reducing regulations, cutting taxes and balancing the budget. The Israeli economy is booming as a result, said Rauner.
“He made Israel much more pro-growth and pro-free enterprise,” said Rauner. “He understands what we’re dealing with here in Illinois.”
The full teleconference is here. Rauner told reporters he met with Netanyahu for about an hour and a half. Do you think he could go on and on about Illinois’ “attractiveness” for that long?
…Adding… He tweeted about the teleconference as well…
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* I told subscribers about these developments earlier today, but it’s now getting out into the twittersphere, so let’s talk about it…
JB Pritzker’s campaign told me yesterday that the candidate believes Silverstein should resign.
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* He took a lot of heat for voting for the pop tax, but this is still pretty surprising…
Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody, D-Chicago Ridge, said Tuesday he will not run for election next year.
Moody — a longtime top precinct captain for Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan — was appointed to fill a vacancy on the county board a year ago and had said he would seek election to a full term.
But Moody told the Chicago Sun-Times he decided not to run after all because of a serious illness to a member of his family. […]
For decades, Moody and his twin brother Fred have been among the most effective campaign operatives in Madigan’s organization, doing door-to-door election work for candidates endorsed by the speaker in state legislative and municipal races across Illinois.
The stories I’ve heard about those two guys. They could talk a Jeanne Ives supporter into putting up a yard sign for Carol Ammons. OK, maybe they’re not that good, but almost.
Best wishes to his family.
…Adding… Former state Rep. David Miller’s wife Donna announced a few months ago that she’s running for that county board seat. She’s backed by US Rep. Robin Kelly and Sen. Toi Hutchinson.
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Addressing the state’s teacher shortage
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Illinois Policy Institute’s news service…
One of the main focuses of the Illinois State Board of Education in the coming year is going to be accounting for the shortage of teachers. A reform advocate says the state needs to change how they qualify a hirable teacher.
In a call about the state’s latest update to their school district data, State Superintendent Tony Smith said that Illinois needs to address the state’s shortage of educators in the coming year.
“In the Midwest in particular, there is a significant teacher shortage,” he said. “We have to take good care of the teachers we have and really be looking at how we get others in the profession.”
Illinois requires not only a four-year degree but also a separate teacher training program and then a number of additional exams to be a teacher. It is also difficult for a teacher to use out-of-state experience to qualify for a position in a local school in Illinois.
Jeanne Allen, founder of the Center for Education Reform, said the additional steps that a teacher here has to take creates an artificial shortage.
“You constrain the supply by requiring traditional bureaucratic certification that doesn’t necessarily mean a teacher is a quality person or quality educator in the classroom,” she said. “You’re heavily reliant on union contracts that dictate who can teach, how long they can stay there, and how they’re evaluated.”
A list of unfilled teaching positions is here.
* WAND TV…
The Decatur School District has 39 unfilled teacher positions, the district’s superintendent told the State Senate’s Education Committee at a hearing Monday.
Superintendent Paul Fregeau told the committee the district has hired a full-time recruiter to find new teachers, but he said many teachers from other states are deterred by Illinois’ teacher certification process.
“Once people find out the steps they have to take to get certified here … they choose not to come,” Fregeau told the senators. Fregeau said he filled out one form to move professionally from Illinois to Missouri, but he said moving from Missouri to Illinois took eight steps.
Fregeau also told the senators that his last district in Missouri often received 150 applications for jobs, while jobs in the Decatur district often receive two or three applications.
* WCIA TV…
Teachers, superintendents and ISBE officials told lawmakers the shortage could be addressed by lowering scores for the basic skills test, making it easier for out-of-state teachers to transfer and possibly even a universal teaching license.
Another factor preventing many from entering the field is pay. […]
The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools conducted a survey last year and found 75% of districts saw fewer qualified candidates than previous years.
Also, 16% of schools canceled programs or classes because of a lack of teachers. The most needed positions are in special education and PE.
* Sen. Andy Manar was also at the hearing…
“It’s hard to go to a college or university and spend $150,000, walk out and make $30,000 (as a new teacher) and not be valued by your community,” said Susie Niesman, vice president of the Decatur Education Association. “All of you had teachers that got you where you are today.”
Manar said some of the “low-hanging fruit” that could be dealt with immediately would not require extensive study to correct.
The layers of regulation surrounding licensing, for example, could be quickly streamlined if legislators work together to draft a bill and get it passed, and that alone could make a significant difference.
Alternative pathways to teaching include helping paraprofessionals complete the requirements to become teachers, “grow your own” programs that mentor middle and high school students and restoring funding to mentoring programs would help, Manar said. Funding to raise teacher salaries and training to help teachers who work with high-needs students, could all make a difference in the shortages, he added.
* Related…
* State allows educators to bypass some exams, courses for teacher licensing
* Programs for visually impaired students face teacher shortage
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Sleeping judge let off the hook
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
If a judge falls asleep during a murder trial, should the defendant automatically get a new trial?
A divided Illinois Appellate Court panel recently said no; so long as the judge was not dozing through crucial evidence or motions, an inadvertent nap is harmless. “We find that a judge falling asleep during a trial does not constitute … reversible error,” Judge Daniel Schmidt wrote in the majority opinion.
The decision builds on more than a century of Illinois bench nap law dating to a five-minute judicial snooze in 1899. But some critics say the latest ruling should come as a wake-up call for the standard to change.
“Of course it should be automatic reversal if the judge falls asleep,” said longtime criminal defense attorney Steve Greenberg. “It sends an awful message to the jurors that whatever is going on is just not important.”
The appellate decision is tied to the case of spree killer Nicholas Sheley, who was on trial for four murders in Judge Jeffrey O’Connor’s western Illinois courtroom in 2014 when the lights were dimmed so the jury could watch security camera footage on a monitor. When the presentation ended, an assistant attorney general asked that the lights be turned back on, according to the ruling. The judge didn’t reply.
* The appellate opinion has the transcript of what happened…
“MR. ELWARDS [sic] [Assistant Attorney General]: Judge, we can have the lights back up.
MR. KARLIN [defense counsel]: Judge?
(Counsel Karlin approached the bench.)
MR. KARLIN: Judge O’Connor?
(Counsel Elward approached the bench.)
MR. ELWARD: Judge, could we get the lights back on?
THE COURT: Hmm.
MR. ELWARD: We need the lights back on. (The Court complies.)
MR. ELWARD: Thank you. Judge, I’ve got some chain exhibits that I need to do with Detective Cirimotich, perhaps this might be a good time for us to break for lunch and bring the jury back after that.
THE COURT: Excellent time.
* Both the defense counsel and the prosecutor then had a chat with the judge, who said…
I will speak to the record that I have no physical inabilities at this point, that I’m aware of and, if the record shows no objections that I was required to respond to, while the videos were going on, and I don’t think there were any or I would have been aware of them. Your observation is noted for the record.
He later denied that he fell asleep “multiple” times during the trial and said the video had “No evidentiary value of that at all.”
* The court cited some precedent…
We find support for our holding in the decisions of other jurisdictions, which held that a judge falling asleep during trial did not constituted reversible error unless the defendant could establish prejudice. Lampitok v. State, 817 N.E.2d 630, 641 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004); United States v. White, 589 F.2d 1283, 1289 (5th Cir. 1979).
* Rejected another…
In reaching our holding, we reject defendant’s reliance on People v. Vargas, 174 Ill. 2d 355 (1996). In Vargas, the judge left the bench during a jury trial to take a phone call while a witness continued testifying. Id. at 358-60. The Vargas court held that “the nature of the error— total judicial absence for a portion of a felony trial—is per se reversible because such error is inherently prejudicial, not only to defendant’s right to a fair trial but also to the integrity of the judicial process.”
* And then ruled…
Having found that the issue of a judge falling asleep during trial is subject to harmless error analysis, we determine that the judge’s falling asleep in the instant case was harmless. It is undisputed that neither party called upon the judge to make any evidentiary rulings during that time. Additionally, the evidence of defendant’s guilt was overwhelming. […]
Additionally, a judge falling asleep during trial is far less likely to send a message to the jury that that portion of the trial is unimportant than a judge that physically leaves the bench. Jurors are more likely to attribute a judge falling asleep to the judge’s health or other physical factors. In the instant case, for example, the judge fell asleep while the lights were turned off and a video was playing. Assuming that the jury was even aware that the judge fell asleep, it likely attributed it to the darkness of the room and fatigue rather than to lack of interest in the proceedings. There is nothing in the record to indicate that the jury was aware of the incident.
* From the dissent…
I believe that the judge falling asleep in the instant case was tantamount to the judge physically leaving the bench in Vargas. When a judge is asleep—just as when a judge is physically absent—the judge is unable “to supervise the courtroom, rule on objections as they arise during the course of the proceedings, and deter any objectionable conduct to the detriment of the defendant.” Without the “essential safeguard” of the “judge’s active presence,” a defendant’s right to a fair trial is threatened. A judge cannot be actively present on the bench when he is asleep.
Additionally, like when a judge is physically absent, a judge falling asleep during a witness’s testimony “may create a negative impression in the minds of the jury to the detriment of the defendant.” Contrary to the majority’s assertion, I believe that it is highly unlikely that the jury did not notice the judge falling asleep during Officer Cirimotich’s testimony. Counsel called for the judge several times with no response. Defense counsel indicated that the judge was not roused until his clerk poked him. The judge falling asleep could have given the jurors the impression that the trial was unimportant or that they did not need to pay close attention to the testimony of the witness.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WTTW…
About two years ago, Shamoun opened BlowDry Boutique in Winnetka, which provides blow-dry and blowout services, among others. Every stylist Shamoun employs at the boutique must be a licensed cosmetologist with the state of Illinois—even if they’re just styling hair.
In order to graduate from cosmetology school and get licensed in Illinois, students must complete 1,500 hours of study and pass a state exam, among other requirements.
“No one wants to go to school for 1,500 hours,” Shamoun said. “No one has the time and money to invest in it.”
Instead, Shamoun proposes the creation of a special license in Illinois that would allow recipients to blow-dry and style hair only. Unlike the cosmetology license, which also allows for cutting and coloring hair, among other services, the one Shamoun proposes would require just 350 hours of training. […]
The Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools also opposes the creation of a special blow-dry license.
“The official position of IACS is that they are opposed to any effort that separates part of the discipline from underneath the cosmetology statute as it presently stands,” said IACS Executive Director Michael Lane. “We are opposed to the basically deconstructing of the cosmetology license into a variety of different licenses. We are opposed to that regardless of the [proposed] training because it’s already covered under being a cosmetologist.”
1,500 hours? Just for some perspective, California requires 1,600 hours of cosmetology training, Texas requires the same 1,500 hours as Illinois, but Florida only requires 1,200 and New York requires just 1,000 hours. None of those states appear to offer a separate blow-dry and style license.
* The Question: Should the state pass a law to offer separate licenses for blow-dry and styling? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey services
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* Decatur Herald & Review…
Democrat Chris Kennedy, during a campaign stop Monday in Decatur, promoted himself as an anti-establishment candidate for Illinois governor.
“Kennedys have always been oppositional to the entrenched interest,” said Kennedy, noting his father, Sen. Robert Kennedy, ran against sitting President Lyndon B. Johnson, and his uncle, Ted Kennedy, had a primary challenge against President Jimmy Carter. “We love the Democratic Party, but we love America more.” […]
Kennedy on Monday said he expects his message of change will resonate with voters. He plans to start running television ads by January.
I asked him about this yesterday and he seemed confident that he could raise the money to go on TV in January. I just don’t see it yet. That would be an expensive proposition.
* Speaking of money…
“The last 2½ years have been a disaster without a budget and all the problems it caused,” [former Gov. Jim Edgar] said. “I think most people would like to see government function, and he’s the governor, so he’s kind of the one responsible.” […]
If [Rep. Jeanne Ives] overcomes the first hurdle, observers said the three-term representative faces an immensely difficult task against Rauner, whose re-election campaign committee had $72 million on hand Thursday. Ives had $22,488 on hand in her House re-election campaign committee.
“You can buy yourself a primary victory,” Edgar said of Rauner’s advantage.
* On to the GOP’s secretary of state candidate…
“Justice is not being served on the taxpayers of Illinois,” [Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Hellend] said. Entrenched Democratic politicians are serving their own interests, he asserted.
Hellend particularly noted House Speaker Mike Madigan, who has been in the state House since 1971. That leaves Madigan and White as the two state office holders with the longest terms, he noted.
Helland pointed out that White said he would not run for reelection ahead of both the 2010 and 2014 elections.
“Why can’t Jesse retire?” asked Hellend.
He said White’s decision was because he was “Madigan’s patronage officer-in-chief,” controlling the numerous state jobs associated with the secretary of state’s office.
* Other campaign stuff…
* Dems vying for governor outline views on college funding at UI forum
* Democratic Governor Hopefuls Back More Help For Higher Education
* Jim Dey: Rauner ad stars thankful governors of neighboring states
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* The AP interviews new interim Legislative Inspector General and former federal prosecutor Julie Porter…
The first person in two years to hold the post of inspector general for the Illinois General Assembly said Monday she took the temporary position amid Statehouse disarray over sexual-harassment complaints because “I can make a difference here.” […]
“I can make a difference here. This is very important. When we look at our public officials, it’s so important that people have trust in them,” Porter said. “In a perfect world, our public officials would be beyond reproach and always conduct themselves ethically and legally, but when someone puts up a hand and says, ‘I see a problem,’ we should investigate promptly and thoroughly and impartially.
“That is not to say that I prejudge complaints to be founded or believe ahead of time that an investigation should lead anywhere in particular,” Porter said. “But it’s important that people who have complaints are listened to and their complaints are investigated and adjudicated.” […]
Porter said, “I wouldn’t have accepted this appointment if I thought there was nothing I could do to get the state and the citizens out of this current situation.” […]
“There’s no one playbook for how commence an investigation,” Porter said. “You have to use the tools available to you, which may be more limited to me than what I had a federal prosecutor, but I still believe I’ll be able to do work that is meaningful.”
…Adding… Porter was also on Chicago Tonight last night. She’s quite impressive, but she said she is not interested in being appointed the permanent Inspector General.
* Related…
* State Lawmakers Scramble to Tackle Charges of Sexual Harassment: As then-director of the Illinois campaign for Political Reform, Canary was instrumental in 2003 and 2004 with the law that established the legislative inspector general’s office. Canary says it was never intended or equipped to deal with sexual harassment. The office was formed to deal with and investigate other forms of unethical behavior, following scandals involving former Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. “When we dove into all of this we were really worried about people who were working for the state one day, lobbying the next; who were essentially paying to get bills done, and you know passing money on the statehouse floor. So we were looking at those kinds of governmental issues,” she said Monday. “Sexual harassment existed then. It absolutely did. But we were not talking about the legislative or the executive inspector general as the means to address it.”
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* From Dan Proft’s SW Illinois News…
Bryant opponent let down by Rauner but calls for broader changes
Dr. Paul Jacobs wants to know why Gov. Bruce Rauner thinks Christians should have to pay for abortions.
“They’re always hollering about the separation of church and state,” Jacobs told the Southwst Illinois News. “People are going to look at (Rauner’s stance) very seriously.” […]
Jacobs, who is running against Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) in the 115th District, hasn’t given up on Rauner, since he says the governor has rejected some spending initiatives Jacobs deemed irresponsible. […]
Rauner faces a possible primary challenge from Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), who has initiated collecting nominating signatures. Jacobs said the challenge could be a good thing, since Rauner also allowed this summer’s record-breaking 32 percent income tax increase, which has angered many Illinoisans. […]
“She’s a conservative leader,” Jacobs said, noting that Ives aligns with him on many major issues. “Also, she’s not a billionaire.”
* From Dan Proft’s McHenry County Times…
Rauner vs. Ives seen as strengthening, not weakening, GOP
Dan Ugaste knows whom he will vote for in next year’s governor’s race: a Republican.
Runnng to replace retiring Rep. Steve Andersson (R-Geneva) in the 65th District, Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter that he sees a possible Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) run against Gov. Bruce Rauner as being to the betterment of the entire party. […]
“She’s shown herself to have the right principles and clearly wants what’s best for the state,” he said. “I definitely want to know more about her.”
* From Dan Proft’s DuPage Policy Journal…
Dr. Jay Kinzler says he is committed to working with whomever sits in the governor’s chair after next year’s election, but he has been impressed by Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton).
“I think Jeanne is a very hardworking woman,” Kinzler told the DuPage Policy Journal. “I think she has done a great job in Springfield. She doesn’t just follow the crowd. She really uses common sense to help guide her judgment.”
Ives is currently collecting nominating signatures in anticipation of a run for governor. For his part, Kinzler is running to represent District 46 in the House. The district is within DuPage County, covering Carol Stream, Glendale Heights and Villa Park.
The 46th is currently held by Democratic state Rep. Deb Conroy.
* From Dan Proft’s East Central Reporter…
Ives described as ‘champion’ who could truly lead GOP
Darren Bailey says Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is waging her war on Gov. Bruce Rauner for all the right reasons.
“Jeanne Ives has been a champion of conservative ideas,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “She is passionate about making our state a better place to live. She genuinely cares about the welfare of our state and its citizens, not advancing an agenda or her bank account.” […]
After supporting Rauner in 2014, Bailey, who has launched his own campaign against Rep. Dave Reis (R-Willow Hill) in the 109th District primary, now views Rauner as having gone back on his word by enacting legislation that allows anyone on Medicaid or state insurance to get an abortion at any time and for any reason.
* From Dan Proft’s Metro East Sun…
Edwardsville mayor stays course with Rauner
Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton says Gov. Bruce Rauner has been doing a good overall job of tackling Illinois’ problems.
“I do definitely support the approach the governor has taken in trying to fight bad legislation and decades of deficits and overspending in Springfield,” Patton told the Metro East Sun. “I still support Gov. Rauner and what he has done overall to stand up for conservative government in the state of Illinois and trying to avoid the overspending that we have seen continue to come out of Springfield.” […]
Patton is running against Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) in the 56th district, which covers O’Fallon, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Wood River, Alton and Godfrey.
Sen. Haine is retiring.
* From Dan Proft’s McHenry Times…
Althoff opponent looks forward to 2018 gubernatorial primary
Ret. Air Force Col. Craig Wilcox wants Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) in the gubernatorial primary in March 2018.
The McHenry County Board member running to replace Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) in the 32nd District told the Lake County Gazette that Ives could be exactly what the GOP needs.
“I trust that her integrity and commitment to service are placed at the forefront of her desire to represent the overtaxed voters and over-regulated businesses of Illinois,” Wilcox said. “Her outspoken support of property tax reform, opposition to taxpayer-subsidized abortions,and outrage at the signing of the Trust Act place her at the apex of leading the conservative movement for reform.”
The headline is in error because Althoff isn’t running again. ADDING: They’ve corrected the headline to read: Senate hopeful looks forward to 2018 gubernatorial primary.
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Allen Skillicorn unveiled this proposal with all of his usual understated subtlety…
As bills go to die in Rules Committee, so too apparently complaints went to an empty office for years never to be seen. As a freshman legislator I am continually shocked by the unbelievable malfeasance in the operation of our government, from bloated budgets and a burgeoning backlog of bills, to the unchecked abuse of power without oversight. The lack of a Legislative Inspector General (LIG) for years is further evidence of an out of control bureaucracy lead by a Democratic Majority that is incapable of recognizing any limit to its power.
Not only did the Ethics Commission neglect to appoint an acting LIG for years in accordance with 5 ILCS 430/25-10 (b)– “If the Office is vacant, or if a Legislative Inspector General resigns, the Commission shall designate an Acting Legislative Inspector General who shall serve until the vacancy is filled.” (Emphasis added)–according to the Daily Line, “A total of $1,875,000 million has been appropriated for an office which has not been occupied and to pay for a staff which doesn’t exist.” While I am pleased that a Special LIG was appointed over the weekend, I would go further and call for a Special Prosecutor to investigate the current complaints.
And speaking of empty offices, where has the Attorney General been? From the AG’s website, “The first female Attorney General of Illinois, Lisa Madigan has long advocated in state government for women’s safety.” Apparently that doesn’t include the shenanigans at the Capitol just up the street. Since the AG has not seen fit to do something tangible about this unacceptable behavior, I have introduced HB4149 which creates a dedicated phone line maintained by the Attorney General through which persons may report instances of sexual harassment.
It is utterly absurd to have the Office of LIG which is supposed to “police” the General Assembly structured as a part-time position with little to no staff appointed with the approval of those same legislators. Further, the Office of LIG must be invested with the power necessary to bring charges forward for prosecution without the approval of legislators. Sexual harassment can take many forms, the most egregious, where power is abused by legislators to intimidate or coerce others, should result in a perp walk where those convicted follow in the footsteps of a few former Governors in “stamping out license plates” at the local prison.
* Press release…
State Representative Lindsay Parkhurst (R – Kankakee) this week filed legislation to strengthen individual property rights in Illinois. The goal is to curb the practice of using eminent domain for private gain. The legislation, HB 4150, amends the eminent domain act to strengthen eminent domain laws to make sure property acquisition is for a necessary public purpose and removes languages referring to freight railroads.
“Eminent Domain should be used only in appropriate circumstances truly necessary for public use. We must not allow our government to take private property for private gain. This bill is intended to strengthen private property rights and prevent the taking of private land for private gain such as the attempt by the Great Lakes Basin Railway,” Rep. Parkhurst said about the bill.
Parkhurst introduced HB 4150 on Monday, November 6 and it awaits committee assignment.
* From Rep. Kelly Cassidy…
We have introduced a resolution and a companion bill requiring a measure of common sense in our State’s pursuit of Amazon.com, Inc.’s new headquarters.
Just recently, the State of Illinois in conjunction with the City of Chicago responded to Amazon’s “request for proposals” with an offer of tax and land incentives. Though the full details of this offer have not been released to the public responsible for subsidizing it, initial reports place the total at several billion dollars.
HR655 urges caution and requests public hearings before any final deal is struck, complete with expert testimony demonstrating to the public whether this is an economically effective use of their money. The multi-billion dollar tax break recently awarded to Foxconn by the state of Wisconsin was widely panned by economists as a massive transfer of wealth from Wisconsin taxpayers to corporate shareholders. This is not an example Illinois wants to follow. The Foxconn deal equates to over $230,000 in tax breaks for each new job promised; HB4131 caps tax incentives offered to Amazon at $50,000 per new job.
“Job growth and retention is crucial”, Rep. Cassidy said. “But fighting with taxpayer money to win a bid from a corporation that has absolutely no financial need for subsidization is a dangerous path to tread.”
Illinois has been burned in deals like this before. In 2011, Illinois gave Sears $275 million to keep its corporate headquarters in the state. Only a few months later, it laid off 100 workers. Illinois taxpayers filled the corporate coffers and actually lost jobs in the process.
New jobs are extremely important, but the true economic impact of trading massive taxpayer subsidies to corporations for promised jobs is poorly understood, and the supposed benefits are the subject of controversy among economists and policy experts.
Capping subsidies at $50,000 ensures at the very least that Illinois won’t get stuck in a deal it regrets for decades. But even so, public hearings should be required before any final deal so Illinoisans know exactly what we’re signing up for.
…Adding… Press release…
Today, State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Freeport) filed House Bill 4147 to make attacking a DCFS workers in performance of their duties an aggravated battery and a Class 1 felony.
House Bill 4147, filed this week, would make battering a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in the performance of his/her official duties or in response to their official duties an aggravated battery and a Class 1 felony. Aggravated battery subject perpetrators to more severe penalties when facing prosecution and sentencing.
“My deepest sympathies and get well-wishes go out to the victim of this horrible attack, her family and everyone in her DCFS family. Everyday DCFS workers put themselves at risk to protect the most vulnerable children in our communities,” said Rep. Stewart. “This legislation will give DCFS workers the same protections as policemen, firemen, and peace officers who also put themselves in harm’s way.”
This legislation is in response to the September 29th tragedy where a 59-year-old DCFS worker in Milledgeville was checking on a child when she was viciously assaulted by the child’s father.
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It’s ribbon-cutting season
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner joined area officials at a ribbon cutting today to open a new 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center for General Mills. The facility, located at the rapidly developing RidgePort Logistics Center in Wilmington, could employ up to 150 people when it is fully operational.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, General Mills is a worldwide company that is home to such well-known brands as Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Haagen-Dazs, Annie’s, and Cascadian Farm. Its new distribution center in Illinois will ship General Mills products to destinations across the U.S.
“Illinois is the nation’s logistics and distribution hub,” Rauner said. “As a business person, I can see why General Mills has chosen our central location, our unmatched transportation systems and, most important, our pool of highly skilled Illinois workers. Seeing this facility open is testimony to our state’s central role in the distribution of goods to every part of the nation.”
“The Wilmington customer service facility will be a key addition and a critical location for the General Mills distribution network,” said Mike Nordstrom, General Mills vice president for Global Workplace Solutions. “From this location, we will deliver top-selling cereals, snacks and other products to customers across America.
“We’re also proud that this facility will continue our company’s strong commitment to treating the world with care, as we anticipate that the building will achieve LEED Silver certification,” Nordstrom said.
“What a tremendous boost this will be for the Will and Grundy county areas both for jobs and the local economies,” said state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, who invited Gov. Rauner to Wilmington. “Our area has some of the most talented and knowledgeable people in the world when it comes to logistics. I hope we can build off this momentum and other companies see the great things that are happening in the area and choose to locate here as well.”
The new General Mills center is part of the sprawling 2,500-acre RidgePort Logistics Center that is being developed by Elion Partners about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is providing $113 million in multimodal improvements involving highway (I-55) and rail infrastructure.
“An additional feature of RidgePort Logistics Center, apart from its infrastructure and logistical location, is servicing the trucking profession,” said Michael Stellino, managing director of development for Elion Partners. “By having a mixed-use logistics park, we are responding to the needs of the truck drivers, employees and tenants of the park such as General Mills.”
Located in Will County, RidgePort Logistics Center is the largest planned, rail-served industrial park in the Chicago market with 30.6 million square feet of potential development. About 5.4 million square feet have been developed to date, and 810,000 additional square feet are under construction.
* Meanwhile, the Tribune takes a look at Gov. Rauner’s new TV ad, which touts his battle with Speaker Madigan and the thousands of jobs created under his watch…
Its release comes as Rauner has been running an ad featuring the GOP governors of the neighboring states of Wisconsin, Missouri and Indiana trashing Illinois’ job climate and their ability to benefit from it. Now, Rauner is claiming credit for bringing in “thousands of new jobs, and unemployment is down for the first time in years.”
The group Illinois Working Together, which represents a coalition of unions opposed to Rauner, called the ad “full of distortions” in a thread of Twitter messages.
It said Rauner’s claim of unemployment being down “for the first time in years” was “just bizarre” and “only true if you compare early 2017 to the beginning of Rauner’s term.” The group also said Illinois was one of the “worst performers” in the Midwest in terms of job growth since January 2015, when Rauner took office.
“Rauner desperately needs to pivot to a positive economic message ahead of ’18 election. But the data simply doesn’t support his claims,” the group said. (Rick Pearson)
The full thread is here.
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