* In my own opinion, the claim about “impact on academic achievement” is only true if you think the pre-pandemic testing program is relevant in or applicable to a very changed world during a pandemic this past spring…
Illinois families from low-income communities and those living in some of the wealthiest enclaves in the state found common ground this week, with school district results from the state’s 2021 student assessments showing declines in academic proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic across all demographics.
The data from roughly 90% of Illinois school districts that delivered the mandated Illinois Assessment of Readiness to students in spring in third through eighth grades and the SAT to high school juniors were unveiled this week, revealing a stark yet not unexpected snapshot of the pandemic’s impact on academic achievement. […]
At Crow Island School in Winnetka — a North Shore village that is among the most affluent communities in Illinois — 55% of third graders met or exceeded state proficiency standards on the IAR English language arts assessment.
In 2019, districtwide about 72% of students met or exceeded English language arts proficiency standards, according to the ISBE website.
Right from the start, the tech titans at Twitter and Facebook argued that they were not so much a publisher in the sense that the owner of this newspaper is a publisher but more of a public utility: closer to ComEd than the Chicago Tribune, you might say. This has proved to be a con.
By hiding behind a federal law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the social networks claimed broad immunity from liability for content created by their users; a protection not afforded this newspaper which always has stood behind the content it chooses to publish on these pages, printed or online.
Um, this is about “content created by their users,” not content created or chosen by the Tribune itself. For the Tribune, and myself, “users” would be commenters. I can be sued for writing something defamatory, but I can’t be sued if a commenter does it or if somebody in one of my live news feeds does it. And neither can my internet provider.
People can be sued for posting defamatory videos or Facebook posts, but YouTube and Facebook currently can’t. The Tribune got rid of its comment section because it was a raging dumpster fire and they couldn’t police it effectively and it was giving the entire publication a bad name. But now they want to make others do what they couldn’t and add the constant threat of civil liability to the mix?
Not only did Pritzker and his Democratic puppets take off to a climate change summit in London while blatantly ignoring the problems at home (what does the Governor of Illinois have to do with the U.N. anyway?) — now it’s come out that he described himself as “the governor of Chicago.”
Check it out:
First of all, if Pritzker had to describe himself to the people at this conference, we would like to reiterate our question: What does the governor of Illinois have to do with the U.N.?
Secondly, we’re not sure if Pritzker is aware, but there is much more to Illinois than just Chicago!
Send Pritzker a Reminder
Maybe if our governor spent more time addressing our lagging economic recovery ALL ACROSS OUR STATE, he wouldn’t forget about the rest of Illinois.
If you’re as tired as we are of Pritzker’s political games, we’re asking you and 54 other patriots in your zip code to step up and PROVE to him there’s more to Illinois than just Chicago!
Thank you,
Illinois Republican Party
Contribute
* The governor was asked about his comment earlier today…
Reporter: Could your rivals have kind of hopped on that that to say ‘See? He doesn’t really represent the entire state’? Would you like to comment on that?
Pritzker: Apparently they don’t have much to complain about. It was a joke. I was pointing out, though, that people know the great global city of Chicago and the name of Chicago everywhere in the world. They may be less frequently aware of what state Chicago is in. You couldn’t tell me, I couldn’t tell you what’s what county Glasgow is in. But people know Glasgow. So I was just pointing out that sometimes when people wondered where Illinois was, it was easiest just to say ‘Chicago.’
When I moved out of Chicago to Springfield, I would still say I was from there or a few hours from there when I traveled abroad. I get it, but maybe the governor shouldn’t say it out loud. Too late now, though.
* On a related note, the leader of the GOP’s donor class, Ron Gidwitz, is hard at work trying to find an opponent for Pritzker who is also acceptable to the state’s wealthiest resident, according to Greg Hinz…
But at the same time, none of the declared candidates have exactly set the world on fire. That’s why some top party insiders, such as former Ambassador Ron Gidwitz, are said to be shaking the trees pretty hard in search of a reform-minded business type who could move voters—and get mega party donor Ken Griffin to follow through on his pledge and actually bankroll a credible challenger to his fellow billionaire Pritzker.
Gidwitz and Kirk Dillard are old pals, so that doesn’t bode well for Dillard’s chances.
Illinois’ $400 million municipal bond sale Wednesday is the first in a string of sales from issuers in the Land of Lincoln this month as the state’s cost to tap the $4 trillion market has shrunk following an improved outlook on increased revenue and billions in federal aid.
“Illinois was able to get much improved spreads in rates compared to where they were a year ago based upon their more positive outlook and the strong demand for incremental yield in the market right now,” said Dan Solender, director of tax free fixed income investments for Lord, Abbett & Co., which holds $36 billion in muni assets including Illinois debt. Deals this week also are benefiting from a drop in Treasuries, he said.
The state sold $400 million in tax-exempt bonds through a competitive deal and saw the penalties over benchmark municipal securities drop sharply from a year ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Morgan Stanley purchased one $200 million series with spreads ranging from 17 basis points for debt maturing next year to 52 basis points for bonds due in 2031 with 5% coupons. Barclays bought the remaining bonds with spreads ranging from 54 basis points for debt with a 5% coupon maturing in 2032 to 116 basis points for bond due in 2041 with a 3% coupon.
Around this time last year Illinois paid much more to borrow from the muni market. In October 2020, a competitive tax-exempt sale by the state drew spreads ranging from 97 to 294 basis points. At that time, Illinois was feeling pressures from the pandemic layered on top of years of self-inflicted financial woes.
* Paul Chatalas, Director of Capital Markets for the State of Illinois…
Our credit spreads were less than half of those on our last GO sale, which were the strongest in many years, and this provides a lower cost of borrowing to the State and its taxpayers.
The spreads on the last sale were the lowest since 2014, just before the Rauner impasse began.
* So I asked for an updated historical comparison on this sale. Carol Knowles at GOMB…
(P)ricing was the lowest relative to rest of the market in at least a decade (back to 2012) and at very low overall interest costs as the whole market is at historically low levels.
* Background…
[Yesterday] the State of Illinois sold $400 million of tax-exempt General Obligation bonds in two series via competitive bid.
The Series of December 2021A bonds, maturing in 2022 through 2031, received 12 bids and the bonds were awarded to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC with a true interest cost of 1.299 percent.
The Series of December 2021B bonds, maturing in 2032-2041, received 10 bids and the bonds were awarded to Barclays Capital Inc. with a true interest cost of 2.495 percent.
In the 10-year maturity, the winning bid has a credit spread of +54 basis points to the tax-exempt benchmark with a 5 percent coupon, a 66 basis point improvement from the State’s GO March 2021 sale and a 214 basis point improvement from the State’s GO October 2020 sale. The State’s continued improving credit and strong investor demand allowed the State to lock in an extremely attractive overall borrowing rate of 2.15% on a bond issue that has a 20-year final maturity. […]
Approximately $175 million of the bonds will help finance the state’s ongoing accelerated pension benefit buyout program. The remaining proceeds, after cost of issuance, will fund ongoing construction projects, largely for Rebuild Illinois, the state’s $45 billion capital program.
* The guy behind 217 Problems is a business hero of mine. He built something from scratch that gets people talking. And now he’s making a new move courtesy of the Jesse Sullivan gubernatorial campaign. Here’s Mark Maxwell…
In some instances, campaigns are paying for the extra [online] visibility as a way to boost their profiles. Sullivan’s nascent campaign recently paid $1,000 to a popular Central Illinois Facebook page called ‘217 Problems’ to sponsor a series of posts promoting small businesses. In exchange, each post featured a link to Sullivan’s page at the top.
Brian Berns operates the Facebook page and Twitter account as a part-time hobby from his home in Springfield. While he doesn’t necessarily aspire to the term “influencer,” he reluctantly says he probably is one. He describes his page as a “a multi-content platform that touches upon Midwest stereotypes, memes, and community support stuff.”
More than 124,000 people like the Facebook page, and another 42,000 accounts follow his Twitter handle. A few years ago, he realized his audience had grown large enough, he could start to monetize it and supplement his income working for a health insurance company and as a part-time Uber driver.
“Let’s be honest: there’s [TV] news, radio, and then there’s me,” Berns said, describing his view of a fracturing traditional media landscape. “The reality is if I reach four or five million people a month, that’s something.” […]
The Sullivan campaign’s use of social media messaging appears to be reaching its target audience. One business owner who recently launched a watch shop in downtown Springfield said he learned about the first-time political candidate online and the engagement drew him to attend an event for small businesses.
And a Tribune analysis shows this surge is predominantly felt by the unvaccinated, more so than at any point since mass vaccination began. In the most recent week ending Wednesday, those who weren’t fully vaccinated were being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 at a rate of 38 per 100,000 residents. That’s higher than the peak of the fall 2020 surge, when no one was vaccinated, and the weekly admittance rate topped out at 35 per 100,000 residents.
For those fully vaccinated, the weekly admittance rate has hovered between 1 and 4 people per 100,000 residents during both surges since this summer.
* On November 25th of last year, before vaccines were available, the hospitalization rate was 35.2 per 100,000 people. Now, it’s 38 per 100,000 among the unvaxed…
This really isn’t hard to figure out: Get your shots, people.
Without that vaccine, hospitals everywhere would be overflowing with patients again.
A powerful former Springfield lobbyist and close friend of House Speaker Michael Madigan once sought leniency for a state worker in a disciplinary case by arguing that the worker “kept his mouth shut” about an unspecified rape downstate.
In the previously undisclosed, 2012 email, ex-lobbyist Michael McClain urged two top aides to then-Gov. Pat Quinn to avoid firing the worker, also telling them the man was politically “loyal” to Quinn and stayed silent about “ghost workers.” […]
The disclosure of the 2012 email — which WBEZ obtained recently through an open-records request — immediately prompted calls for an investigation from Gov. JB Pritzker and the top Republican in the Illinois House, who called the email’s contents “horrific.” […]
Newly obtained emails plainly demonstrate McClain’s unique level of access and influence. McClain urged Quinn’s aides not to let pending disciplinary action against the state worker “get out of hand.” A day later he thanked them for what he said was the abrupt postponement of a hearing in the case, saying, “Nothing happens accidentally.”
The former employee McClain lobbied for was Forrest Ashby. Like McClain, Ashby lives in downstate Quincy.
* Almost two years later, Ashby is finally talking and he said McClain made up the whole thing…
In an interview, Ashby told WBEZ he knew nothing at all about the alleged rape or what it entailed, said he was “shocked” to learn of McClain’s reference to it and only learned about the assertion when McClain himself reached out as WBEZ was making the email public.
“I didn’t know anything about a rape in Champaign prior to that email coming out. Not in Champaign, but anywhere,” Ashby said. […]
“It’s been devastating to me,” he said.
Any friendship Ashby had with McClain has dissolved as a result.
“I don’t consider him a friend for doing something like that after he wrote it. I mean, it was not true what he wrote. I didn’t know about it,” Ashby said.
Fearing he’d be fired, he asked McClain for help, prompting the email to Quinn’s office. Ashby said when asked about the email, McClain had no explanation for it. He said it’s possible McClain didn’t remember writing the email, adding that “he meant well but there was some stupidity as he typed it.”
“I think he stretched it,” Ashby told the AP. “I think that he tried to make it seem like I was over there preventing stuff from happening, don’t fire him.” […]
But if the inspector general ever investigated, Ashby said no one has interviewed him. Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudeyyah confirmed that a referral was made to “the OEIG and law enforcement” and directed questions to “the proper authorities.” […]
FBI agents, however, did approach Ashby for answers. He later had several interviews with investigators from the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago. Questions focused on potential state government corruption and whether Ashby had any ties to utility company ComEd, which he said he doesn’t.
One theory I’ve heard that seems somewhate plausible is that McClain sent the email as a warning shot to the Quinn administration in order to get his guy out of trouble. The administration knew that the email could be found through FOIA, so if they didn’t protect McClain’s guy, McClain could tell a reporter how to easily obtain a juicy story about a potential rape coverup. Whether the story was true or not, Quinn would have to defend it, and that wouldn’t be pretty. Ashby received a one-day suspension.
* But if the story really is untrue, then John Sullivan got caught up in some needless controversy. WBEZ in 2020…
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sought and received the resignation of a top cabinet official for not reporting a former lobbyist’s 2012 email defending a state worker facing disciplinary action who allegedly kept quiet about an unspecified “rape in Champaign.”
The surprise departure of state Agriculture Secretary John Sullivan was announced Monday by the governor’s office. […]
“This past weekend, Governor Pritzker’s General Counsel notified me that an August 2012 email from Mike McClain to Governor Quinn’s staff referenced my name as state senator and McClain’s advocacy on behalf of my constituent, Forrest Ashby,” Sullivan said. Ashby, who lives in Quincy, is the state employee for whom McClain was advocating.
“That information led me to conduct a review of my own personal emails from that same period of time. My search discovered a forwarded copy of McClain’s July 31, 2012 email reported by WBEZ. I shared this information with Governor Pritzker’s general counsel.”
“The summer of 2012 was a stressful time for me. I was in the middle of a state Senate reelection campaign, as well as preparing for and undergoing cancer surgery in Baltimore, MD. I was already well aware of McClain’s efforts to keep me informed of his advocacy on behalf of Ashby, and l simply did not read the entire forwarded email.”
McClain always told people to never put anything in writing and we’ve since discovered through FOIA and the feds that he violated his own advice numerous times.
It would’ve been helpful, though, if Ashby had spoken up at the time the stuff hit the fan.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held by the Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Quad Cities communities on Wednesday, Dec. 1, to celebrate opening the new I-74 Mississippi River Bridge.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (who had a previous family commitment) provided an official statement and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was joined by federal, state and local officials in making public remarks celebrating the opening of the iconic structure, as well as the future of the QC region.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker paid a visit to Quad Cities International Airport to announce capital funding that will improve airports across Illinois, starting with the Quad Cities International Airport itself.
Pritzker says the state will be investing $94 million in doing work on airports across the state, with over $5 million going to the Quad Cities International Airport. The money will fund an entrance road realignment and expanded aircraft parking at the airport.
“Starting right here in the Quad Cities, we’re launching the largest statewide airport investment program in state history,” said Pritzker.
• Quad Cities International Airport, $3.3 million for entrance road realignment, $2.3 million for aircraft parking expansion.
• Taylorville Municipal Airport, $1.4 million for runway rehabilitation.
• Bolingbrook’s Clow International Airport, $2.4 million for taxiway replacement, $75,000 for replacement of rotating beacon.
• Vermilion Regional Airport, $500,000 for perimeter fence, $350,000 for entrance road rehabilitation.
• Shelby County Airport, $460,000 toward hangar construction.
• Effingham County Memorial Airport, $3.5 million for runway extension, $1.5 million for taxiway extension.
• Crawford County Airport, $4.9 million for new taxiway.
• Kewanee Municipal Airport, $1.1 million for hangar access taxi lane reconstruction, $700,000 to replace fuel system.
• Quincy Regional Airport, $3.5 million to build aircraft apron and road, $2.4 million for T-hangar and taxiway.
• Schaumburg Regional, $105,000 for fuel system installation, $70,000 for security gate modifications.
• Pekin Municipal Airport, $1.05 million for T-hangar pavement and access road construction, $800,000 to replace fuel system.
• St. Louis Downtown Airport, $5 million for ramp and taxiway access from airfield as well as noise and jet blast mitigation.
• Southern Illinois Airport, $835,000 for apron expansion, $280,000 for road relocation.
The full list is here. Springfield’s airport will receive $3 million from the state for parking lot and roadway improvements.
* And then there was this…
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband today announced a new planning and capacity building program to help Illinois communities leverage historic broadband infrastructure funding for community-driven broadband expansion. The Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program – a collaborative effort by the Illinois Office of Broadband, Illinois-based Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and University of Illinois Extension – will help local governments throughout Illinois receive expert support as they prepare to leverage new dollars that will be made available by the state as well as through the historic passage of the federal infrastructure program. The collaboration opportunity is made possible through the financial support of Heartland Forward and its Connecting the Heartland Initiative.
The Illinois Office of Broadband is calling on local units of government – particularly cities, counties, and multi-county regions – to apply to receive expert support offered as part of an intensive 14-week community engagement program designed to turn available public broadband funding into sustainable broadband access.
“Access to high speed, reliable internet is not a luxury – it’s a necessity for healthcare, success in school, and to compete in a 21st century economy,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Keeping our communities connected has never been more important than it is today and this pilot will help communities play a direct role in delivering broadband infrastructure improvements to close the gaps on service. With an historic amount of funding available thanks to our own Connect Illinois initiative and with new federal infrastructure dollars coming from Washington we are committed to reaching our goal of delivering universal broadband access across our state.”
A Chicago man charged Wednesday for storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6th is also heavily involved in the campaign to elect state Senator Darren Bailey governor. […]
Gary Rabine, who is running against Bailey in the Republican primary contest, reacted to the news of Ligas’ arrest in an emailed statement.
“What happened on January 6th is not acceptable. Anyone convicted beyond a reasonable doubt of a crime on January 6th should be prosecuted,” Rabine said through a spokesman. “Standing up for law and order should unify – not divide – Democrats and Republicans.”
The campaigns for Republican primary hopefuls Jesse Sullivan and Paul Schimpf did not respond to requests for comment about Ligas’ involvement in the January 6 riot.
Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who has said he’s considering a potential run for governor, condemned the rioters and suggested Bailey is not fit to lead the state.
“The angry mob that stormed the United States Capitol on January 6 attacked our democracy and they deserve to be held accountable,” Kinzinger said. “Those who would encourage these perpetrators and continue to embrace the Big Lie are not equipped to serve as serious leaders.”
The morning after the insurrection, Bailey told his Facebook followers in a livestream video that he didn’t know who was behind the raid, despite overwhelming video evidence the rioters were Trump supporters.
…Adding… And yes, Rabine seems a bit unclear on this whole prosecution before conviction concept.
Bailey campaign spokesman Joe DeBose said in a statement the campaign is “shocked by this news and we do not condone any illegal activities.”
“[Ligas] has never been a member of our campaign staff,” DeBose said. “We support law and order and trust the court system to ensure anyone breaking the law is held accountable for their actions.”
…Adding… DPI…
Yesterday, news broke that Lawrence Ligas, a Chicago man arrested for his actions at the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection, was also on the campaign team of Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey. New reporting now shows Ligas was also paid by the Illinois Republican Party for campaign work in 2014.
None of the Republican candidates for governor have forcefully condemned the events that took place on January 6 and several of them refused to weigh in on Ligas’ traitorous, anti-democratic actions at all. The Illinois Republican Party, which previously employed Ligas for campaign work, has cowardly decided to not take a stand, calling into question whether they condone Ligas’ dangerous behavior in their party.
“Why is it so difficult for Illinois Republicans to say that the January 6 attack on our democracy was wrong?” said Democratic Party of Illinois Deputy Director Jake Lewis. “Instead of speaking out against those who attacked the U.S. Capitol Police and attempted to overthrow a free and fair election, Illinois Republicans seem to have gone into hiding. Again, we call on the Illinois Republican Party and all Republican candidates for governor to condemn Mr. Ligas’ actions and say that the failed coup on January 6 was wrong. This shouldn’t be that hard.”
…Adding… The ILGOP responded to the DPI release by pointing to its January 6 statement…
ILGOP Chairman Schneider: “Republicans stand for law and order. To support what is happening in DC today is to violate that principle. Supporting violence and rioting is Anti-American. The ILGOP condemns any and all violence towards our government officials and law enforcement.”
A Logan Square community activist has been arrested for allegedly storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Lawrence Ligas, 62, was charged with four counts in a criminal complaint released by federal authorities Wednesday. Charges include entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building and parading in a capitol building.
According to an FBI affidavit, someone who used to know Ligas saw him quoted in an NPR article titled “Trump Supporters Storm U.S. Capitol, Clash with Police.” In the article, Ligas says, “We’re not moving on … We are not Republicans. We are the MAGA party. We are patriots.”
Authorities were later able to identify Ligas based on YouTube videos and surveillance footage of him inside the capitol. The FBI also interviewed Ligas in 2017 about a separate matter, and the special agent who conducted the interview confirmed his identity, as well, the affidavit states.
Ligas was also spotted by a couple of people I know at the Illinois State Fair this past summer as a Bailey supporter.
I’ve reached out to Bailey’s campaign and Ligas for comment. I’ll post whatever I get as soon as I hear back.
…Adding… Hmm…
This guy was aggressively stalking me at the Illinois State Fair’s Republican Day event while I was working. He kept interrupting interviews & conversations to make menacing threats about what he perceived as biased media and “dirty tricks.” He was with Darren Bailey’s campaign. https://t.co/vc450UqEsa
Today, Lawrence Ligas of Chicago was arrested and charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. As reported on CapitolFax.com, Ligas has been working with and representing the campaign of Darren Bailey, Republican candidate for governor. Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Abby Witt released the following statement:
“The January 6 attack on our democracy was one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. Now, we find out that one of the attackers has since been working with and representing the campaign of Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor. When it comes to the traitors of January 6, there must be no equivocation: Darren Bailey must immediately denounce Mr. Ligas and revoke any and all association with him at once. The governor’s office is no place for associates of traitors to this great nation.”
The University of Illinois Flash Index in November rose slightly to 105.5 from its 105.4 level last month. However, the reading from November does not reflect the economic impact of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.
“This suggests the economy may remain in a twilight world for some time in which concerns about the virus remain unresolved,” said University of Illinois economist J. Fred Giertz, who compiles the monthly index for the Institute of Government and Public Affairs.
But, Giertz said that longer-term prospects for the economy remain positive. “There is strong pent-up consumer demand, although the picture is clouded by supply chain problems, the threat of inflation and, now, the new virus concern,” he said.
All the components of the Flash Index (individual income tax, sales tax, and corporate tax receipts) were up slightly compared to the same month last year after adjusting for inflation. The Illinois unemployment rate fell to a post-recession low of 6.0% compared to the 8.1% rate a year ago. The Illinois rate is still well above the national level of 4.6%.
The Flash Index is a weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income, individual income, and retail sales taxes. These are adjusted for inflation before growth rates are calculated. The growth rate for each component is then calculated for the 12-month period using data through November 30, 2021.
Even though more than a year has passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, ad hoc adjustments will still be needed for some time because of the timing of the tax receipts resulting from state and Federal changes in payment dates both this and last year.
* Meanwhile, I found this piece interesting because it upends so much conventional “wisdom.” From Matthew Boesler, Joe Deaux and Katia Dmitrieva…
Fattest Profits Since 1950 Debunk Wage-Inflation Story of CEOs
In the past two quarters, U.S. corporations outside of the finance industry posted their fattest margins since 1950 — one reason why stock markets keep hitting all-time highs.
On earnings calls, plenty of executives complained about the squeeze from rising costs of labor as well as materials. But overall, profits were up 37% from a year earlier, according to data out last week from the Commerce Department.
Businesses have been paying out more cash to their employees too, with total compensation up 12% in the last quarter from a year earlier. That’s partly because millions of Americans went back to work — but also because many got a raise when they did so. Hourly earnings broadly kept up with the fast-rising cost of living, and in some low-pay industries like leisure and hospitality they comfortably outpaced it. […]
U.S. consumer prices rose 6.2% in the 12 months through October, the most since 1990. The new data on corporate earnings suggest business can comfortably pass on all its higher costs, which means there may be more inflationary pressure to come.
That seeming willingness by businesses to pass along higher costs rather than try to keep prices low and, therefore, eat into their record profits is likely gonna trigger action by the Federal Reserve.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, said Monday that Illinois is “reprogramming” money that could possibly be used to fund construction of the I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River.
Rep. Schilling, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon, state Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, and state Rep. Rich Morthland, R-Cordova, appeared at a joint news conference to urge the Illinois Department of Transportation to fund the project.
“Give us our money,” Rep. Schilling said.
That’s back when LaHood was concerned about transportation needs.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has instructed the state Department of Transportation to devote $72 million to the Interstate-74 bridge, a surprising development given the agency had only a small amount of funding for the project in the six-year plan it announced last week.
It’s not clear whether the new financial commitment will convince the state of Iowa to maintain construction funding in the state’s long-range transportation plan, which the Iowa DOT’s staff recommended earlier this week be moved out of the plan.
It won’t be voted on for another couple of months, but Iowa’s long-range transportation plan is expected to include construction money for the Interstate-74 bridge, restoring funding that was removed last year in the midst of doubts over the project. […]
That’s a big change from last year at this time, when Illinois was balking at devoting funding for construction of a new span, a development that prompted Iowa to remove the money it had programmed for construction.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, after pressure from local officials, reversed the state’s course and ordered that last year’s plan include $72 million for the construction.
Illinois upped the ante last week, when the governor unveiled a six-year plan that included $175 million through 2019 for I-74.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn unveiled his six-year, $8.6 billion infrastructure plan to improve roads and bridges throughout the state on Wednesday. […]
This includes building a $308.6 million new I-74/US 6 bridge crossing the Mississippi River in Moline.
The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce is heading to Washington D.C. on Thursday, April 30, 2015 to lobby for more funding for economic development projects in the area.
One of those projects is the I-74 Bridge. In February, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce CEO Tara Barney said the area still needs $400 million more in Illinois, Iowa, and federal funding for the project. Thursday, City of Moline Planning and Development Director Ray Forsythe said, the Illinois Department of Transportation is still buying up properties where the bridge and interstate will go in Moline. Barney also said Illinois’ fiscal problems will not affect construction of the bridge.
The Interstate 74 bridge and John Deere Road projects look likely to be the latest local casualties of the Illinois budget impasse.
Both projects are among many in the state expected to grind to a halt July 1 unless state lawmakers agree on a new budget.
Moline Mayor Scott Raes said he received assurances in May from Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randall Blankenhorn that work on the Illinois side of I-74 bridge and John Deere Road would continue this summer.
“So I was a little surprised to see the notice of the shutdown,” the mayor said.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds were in the Quad Cities Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the I-74 bridge.
The new bridge is the biggest traffic need in the Quad City area.
It’s expected to take the next three years to build which will be four lanes going in both directions, but Governor Rauner took some heat for making the trip while Illinois struggles without a budget.
“He needs to know that there are people everywhere who are going to resist and who are upset about the budget,” Collin West said. “Currently I live in East Moline and right now the East Moline school district is owed millions of dollars and there’s a chance that they won’t even open for the fall,” West said. “That all goes back to the budget and right now he’s down here in Iowa for a photo op and he’s not passing a budget,” said West.
I-74 Mississippi River Bridge, Bettendorf/Davenport, Iowa, and Moline, Ill.: This $1.2 billion project has now begun, and the project timeline looks to make major progress before the weather turns icy at year’s end. Within the river, all 279 drilled shafts will be completed and the westbound bridge piers and roadway will take shape. In Bettendorf, steel will be set across the piers, forming the WB roadway and exit ramp. Fourteenth Street, along with the existing ramp to WB I-74, will be reconstructed and thus reduced to one lane through summer’s end.
Current and former workers on the new Interstate 74 bridge say the primary contractor intentionally kept bridge construction off schedule over the summer in a clash with the [Iowa state government] over funding.
As of Thursday, the Iowa DOT was acknowledging for the first time that construction is likely to lag about a year behind schedule. The westbound (Iowa-bound) span was to be finished this season. Bad weather and other delays pushed the schedule to the middle of next year. But that target may be missed too. […]
While Lunda has maintained the design for the bridge is “not constructible,” the project manager for the Iowa DOT said the state disagrees.
All of the steel beams for the new bike and pedestrian path are installed, connecting both sides of the river. A scenic overlook with a glass floor will provide an amazing view of the sunset as well as the boats and barges traveling under the bridge. Lighting crews are also finishing installing the colorful new LED lights that will ensure you see the beautiful new arches for miles.
Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation today joined with the Federal Highway Administration, community leaders and residents of the Quad Cities to celebrate the upcoming completion of the new Interstate 74 Mississippi River Bridge, one of the biggest projects in state history and a transformational investment in infrastructure for the region. The new bridge is the latest project delivered under Gov. Pritzker to improve safety and mobility, enhance quality of life, and position an important region of the state for economic opportunity for future generations.
“The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge has long been a critical east-west link in the nation’s transportation network. Alongside our Iowan and federal partners, we’re taking a critical piece of infrastructure that has been mainly untouched since 1960 and turning it into the centerpiece residents deserve,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This is one of the largest projects in state history – and proof that Illinois is laying the foundation for safer and shorter commutes, while creating and sustaining hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. It’s a win for the businesses and people of Illinois, a win for the businesses and people of Iowa, and a win for the entire Midwest.”
After more than four years of construction, the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge is anticipated to open to traffic in early December, delivering four lanes in each direction and providing improved safety for all travelers. The bridge includes a 14-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path, with a scenic overlook and connections to existing paths in Bettendorf and Moline.
A Belvidere Republican who thinks schools should leave sex ed to parents and teach students more respect for the founding fathers of the United States wants to represent the 68th District in the Illinois General Assembly.
A former Marine, retired disabled truck driver and former children’s behavioral health counselor, Keith Brodhacker, 51, describes himself as deeply conservative. Although he said he is a newcomer, Brodhacker says his politics are a mix of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.
“They are trying to take our past away from us,” Brodhacker said of progressive politicians and educators. “They are trying to change history. They are trying to change who we are as a nation.”
[…]
Brodhacker said he would like to see taxes and spending on new programs reined in, that he supports police and favors gun rights. Although he has no children or grandchildren, Brodhacker said education reform is one of the big reasons he is running for office.
“The way the schools are leaning left wing and indoctrinating children into left wing ideology has got to stop,” Brodhacker said.
A whole lot to unpack there, but I’ll leave it up to y’all in comments. Expect to hear many of these themes often from now until the election.
Surveys conducted before the election showed that Democrats were vulnerable to attacks over the way public schools treated race. In July, shortly after Youngkin began to raise CRT in speeches, the American Principles Project, a conservative organization, commissioned a poll to test the issue. It found that when CRT was framed in Youngkin’s terms—teaching “white children that they are oppressors” and teaching “minority children that they are victims”—a two-to-one majority of likely Virginia voters, 58 percent to 26 percent, said it shouldn’t be taught in schools. When the poll described Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe as soft on CRT, he lost support. When the poll informed respondents that Youngkin had promised to ban CRT, he gained support. These shifts—measured by how many respondents said the information made them more or less likely to vote for each candidate—were about 10 percentage points.
In August, the APP poll was backed up by another survey, this time from the left. This survey of likely voters in Virginia, conducted by Change Research for Crooked Media, found that 68 percent of independents and 52 percent of undecided voters said the teaching of CRT in schools posed a threat to the state. A narrow majority of undecided voters, when presented with Youngkin’s anti-CRT message, said it was a convincing reason to support him. The pollster’s report concluded: “Messaging about Youngkin never allowing critical race theory to be taught in Virginia schools was the most effective pro-Youngkin message among all voters and undecided voters.” […]
The exit poll didn’t ask voters about CRT, but it did ask about Confederate monuments on government property. Sixty percent of white voters said the monuments should be left in place, not removed, and 87 percent of those voters went to Youngkin. That was 25 points higher than his overall share of white voters. The election had become demonstrably polarized, not just by race but by attitudes toward the history of racism. All the evidence indicates that Youngkin’s attacks on CRT played a role in this polarization.
So, yes, there was a backlash against “critical race theory” in Virginia. And, yes, it helped Republicans win. Their strategy of hyping, distorting, and attacking CRT worked. But it didn’t work by appealing to parents. It worked by appealing to race.
* Speaking of the next election…
Cindy and I had a wonderful time at the dedication of the Nativity Scene in Springfield.
Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki Tuesday railed against a number of Illinois governors on issues like same-sex marriage and taxpayer funding of abortion and decried satanic public displays.
Paprocki’s remarks came as the featured speaker at a dedication of a Springfield nativity scene in the Illinois Statehouse rotunda in Springfield. […]
State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, thanked the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee for making sure that “Christ is honored in such a beautiful place.” […]
Bailey is running for governor, but nativity scene committee chairwoman Julie Zanoza said Bailey was speaking as “a private citizen.”
Paprocki blessed the manger with holy water and said a prayer that a Springfield priest described as “a supplication against the power of evil.”
Event by Palatine Township Republican Organization
Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
Cook County Republican Organization Presents the “Guardians of the Vote” Election Integrity Seminar From the Illinois Conservative Union
Wednesday, December 1 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm
PTRO headquarters, 765 North Quentin Road, Palatine
Members and friends of Cook County Republican Townships are cordially invited to attend this timely and free seminar as we gear up for the 2022 primary and general election cycles.
A recount of the fall 2020 DuPage County Auditor election still has Democrat Bill White with more votes than former auditor Republican Bob Grogan, according to a county clerk report released Monday, and Grogan maintains the race still isn’t over.
The report showed that White has 232,710 votes and Grogan has 232,652 following the recount — a 58-vote difference, according to unofficial recount returns. The original difference following the 2020 election was 75 votes.
Even if about a dozen disputed, uninitialed ballots all went Grogan’s way, it wouldn’t be enough to overturn the results, the report said. White was sworn in and has been serving as auditor since late 2020.
The governor got a big laugh when he described being at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow and meeting people from other countries who didn’t understand what it meant to be “the governor of Illinois.” He found it was easier to describe himself as “the governor of Chicago
“I think many of you would agree that he would fit that role quite well,” Bailey said. “He doesn’t seem to get throughout and about the state and doesn’t seem to represent the entire state very often. He seems to hibernate in Chicago instead of Springfield where he should be working. Anyway, we’re gonna change that.”
The ad writes itself.
* One more GOP theme…
Rob Cruz, candidate for Congress (R-6th), blasted news from the Cook county Medical Examiner that the county has passed over 1,000 homicides so far this year. As of Tuesday stands at 1,009, more than 75% of which occurred in Chicago, according to the Medical Examiner.
“This is a 40% increase from the pre-Covid numbers, in 2019 and a direct consequence of our elected officials setting the wrong course for our communities “, stated Cruz. “Voters in Cook County must now acknowledge, it is time to elect new representatives, at all levels, particularly our States Attorney, Board President and the Mayor of Chicago”, he continued.
Nationally renowned law enforcement expert and commentator, Sheriff David Clarke will join other community leaders and be the keynote speaker at a fundraising event kicking off the campaign for Rob Cruz, Candidate for Illinois 6th Congressional district on December 3rd at Cork & Kerry, 10614 s. Western av. At 7pm.
Cruz is a successful small businessman from Oak Lawn who is Frustrated with the direction and overreach of current elected officials, Rob seeks office only to find better solutions for public safety, education, and support of small businesses.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in DC through Friday, kicking off her visit on Tuesday night with a dinner Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., hosted for the delegation in his Capitol office, and – to my surprise – since usually only Democrats show up at this sort of thing – in walked GOP Rep. Rodney Davis. […]
Before he left, Davis made a bold political prediction […]
Not so fast on that 14-3 outcome Democrats are claiming they will have [with the new congressional district map], Davis told me. […]
Some of those 14 districts have Democratic supermajorities; the Democratic edge in two or three other districts outside of Chicago is much thinner, and I asked Davis – we were out of earshot from the others - about their potential as swing districts.
“I’ll be happy to say very loudly here, we are going to compete in a lot more districts then what the Democrats in Springfield who drew this map thought we would,” he said.
The only people who are publicly saying this is a 14-3 map are some discredited DC “experts” who have said all sorts of weird and flat-out false things since the remap process began.
It’s probably 14-3 in an optimal Democratic cycle, but I don’t know anyone who believes that the Democrats will reverse the overwhelming historical trend and actually gain seats nationally next year.
* Look at the off-year numbers on this chart…
Here is the past electoral performance for the 4th newly proposed congressional district map released by the ILGA. If you'd like to compare them to the current map you can find that here:https://t.co/D8IGJjgQIhpic.twitter.com/GhVjFoRkS4
Remember, 2018 was a great year for Democrats in Illinois because it was an off-year for an unpopular Republican president and the Republican governor up for reelection here was a walking dumpster fire.
I tend to look at the AG results, the closest of the bunch. There are three “Democratic” congressional districts on this chart where Kwame Raoul won by about 3 points. That’s the best place to start: Casten/Newman, Foster and the new 17th (formerly Bustos). And then go from there, perhaps even to the 2016 comptroller’s special election. Factor in a likely Democratic slump, and you can see that anyone who claims this is definitely a 14-3 map might wanna lay off the weed.
* Here’s what Rodney Davis told Dave Dahl when asked about that purported 14-3 split…
I certainly hope the Democrats thinks that. I certainly hope that the Illinois Democrats believe that that Republicans are only going to have three members of Congress after this next election. Because I think they’re going to be shocked, just like many in the media might be shocked.
We’re going to win. We’re gonna win more seats than the three that they’ve planned. Esther Joy King will be a member of Congress in the 17th district. We will have candidates in all of the districts that we see that are competitive, be it the new 13th district, we will have Republican candidates there that will be able to compete and win that district. And then the suburban districts. We saw in Virginia, we saw in New Jersey that even safe Democratic districts are no longer safe in a year where the American people are very frustrated with the Democrats lack of willingness to address the violent crime that’s plaguing our major cities in our country right now.
On Monday, Cook Political Report with Amy Walter issued its initial ratings for the 2022 congressional elections for Illinois’ 17 congressional districts.
Based on Cook‘s estimated partisan voting index (PVI) of the new districts, the following ratings were assigned:
IL-17 (open): Tossup, estimated PVI of Democrat +3
IL-13 (open): Leans Democrat, estimated PVI of Democrat +4
IL-14 (Underwood): Leans Democrat, estimated PVI of Democrat +4
IL-06 (Casten & Newman): Leans Democrat, estimated PVI of Democrat +5
IL-11 (Foster): Likely Democrat, estimated PVI of Democrat +5
All 12 other districts are rated “safe” district, based on the Democrat or Republican incumbent representing them currently or who’ve declared their reelection.
Cook’s famous PVI is based on presidential election years, however.
A new house bill (HB4230) would allegedly help solve the bus driver shortage in Illinois.
Currently, the law says anyone applying for a bus driver’s permit must have a driver’s license uninterrupted for three years prior.
Bill sponsor Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said this bill changes that and allows for people who lost their licenses for circumstances unrelated to driving can still get their bus drivers permit.
“You know, with the bus driver shortage I think we need to do everything that we can to keep safe and friendly drivers in our school busses,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said.
I reached out to the secretary of state’s office to ask what sort of non-driving offenses could result in the loss of a license. Some of the examples I was given included failure to pay child support and fraud involving a driver’s license (like being caught with a fake ID or applying for a driver’s license in someone else’s name). There are also medical reasons, like suffering seizures, but licenses can be restored by obtaining a physician’s consent.
* No doubt this is needed. But maybe we as a state could help schools get to the recommended ratio of 1 counselor for every 250 students before moving to 1 for 150…
A newly filed House bill hopes to get more counselors into Illinois’ schools.
Right now, state law says that districts may employ enough counselors to meet the recommended ratio of 1 counselor for every 250 students.
The new bill would mandate a counselor for every 150 students, and counselors would be required to meet with their students every month.
In the 2019-2020 school year, the statewide ratio was 1 counselor for every 592 students, according to the Illinois School Counselor Association.
This costs money, and the Illinois School Counselor Association’s executive director made that clear in his response to WICS…
The ASCA national model recommends a 250:1 school counselor to student ratio. In 2019-2020, the school counselor to student ratio in Illinois was 592:1. We hope to engage Rep. Cyril Nichols, sponsor of HB 4208 to advocate for an increase in school counselors with the funding to support such a mandate.
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