* We’re entering parody territory here, or Tobin’s just saying the quiet part out loud that others including the Tribune are too polite to utter…
As the U.S. Senate considers whether to pass a $1.9 billion stimulus package, an Illinois nonprofit is urging a no vote.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said despite a $120 million surplus in his proposed budget, the state needs an estimated $7.5 billion.
“This is a budget that is the result of a crisis that we had facing the state and the country,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker has also blamed the state’s dire fiscal condition on voters’ rejection of his progressive tax amendment and on Congress’ failure to provide unrestricted state bailouts earlier.
Jim Tobin, the founder of the Taxpayer Education Foundation, is opposed to any kind of federal bailout and said the Illinois state government needs to fail to change its irresponsible spending habits.
Kill it in order to save it. That worked so well for the Confederacy’s approach to the United States, and Tobin fancies himself an expert on that bit of history, believing the Civil War was fought over tax revenues.
First, both state and local governments should refill and reopen small-business grant programs that have to date only provided assistance to a fraction of the businesses that have been dealt a blow from COVID-19-related closures and restrictions. The highly touted Business Interruption Grant program, for example, awarded grants to just 20% of the businesses that applied. Many businesses are also struggling to pay their crushingly high property tax bills from a year in which they may have seen their property closed or restricted a majority of the time — a property tax relief program could go a long way in reducing that burden. And further mortgage and rental assistance to families who have seen their income drop because of COVID-19 closures would help reduce foreclosures and housing insecurity.
Second, the current state budget relies heavily on borrowing more than $3 billion from the Federal Reserve. All of that is due to be repaid within the next 2½ years. Carrying a short-term debt load like that will put further strain on the state budget, even after the pandemic. An influx of federal aid should be used to immediately pay off that short-term debt and avoid a repayment problem that is right around the corner.
Third, Illinois is notorious for carrying billions of dollars in unpaid bills. By paying our bills and reducing the current $5 billion backlog, we put cash in the pockets of Illinois service providers and vendors who are waiting to be paid — and we also reduce our overall debt load. As businesses fight to stay afloat during the pandemic, we shouldn’t add to their problems by making them wait and wait for the state to pay its bills. Further, when the state pays Medicaid bills — which is one of the largest programs in the state budget — we get matching funds from the federal government. During the pandemic, the matching rate has been temporarily enhanced for all states, meaning that Illinois can stretch every dollar even further.
The debt and backlog ideas are already on the table, as is more relief to businesses.
The most cynical actors in Washington have portrayed pleas for aid as an undeserved “bailout” for states that don’t share their politics. The opposite is true. States don’t seek funds for legacy costs. While both Illinois and Connecticut have been addressing long-standing fiscal challenges and legacy costs within our respective state budgets in recent years, both also act as donor states, contributing more in the form of federal taxes than we receive back in federal aid.
This year, we do this dutifully, to proudly support our fellow states as they face identical challenges of their own. This crisis has provided a clear example that we are one nation, meeting a common challenge together. The federal government’s response should reflect that, and not leave anyone behind. Our states, our residents and small businesses can’t wait.
Tuesday, Mar 2, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Representative democracy works best when people actively engage in policy discussions and elections, ensuring that communities of color, long disenfranchised, are prioritized. Historically, Illinois’ redistricting process favors incumbents and is dominated by partisan, rather than community, objectives.
In 2021, we can create a fair map for Illinoisans that puts their interests first with a process that:
● Invites broad, meaningful public input through at least 35 public hearings for community members
● Requires fairness standards that prioritize people of color through the Federal Voting Rights Act, the Illinois Voting Rights Act, and communities of interest
● Allows for the public to weigh in on a map proposal through a public hearing and responses to suggestions before a final vote
● Is transparent, with a centralized website including all remap records and discussions and a compliance report detailing how the map meets these standards
Spring is the new Christmas for marketers preparing to unleash media spending in anticipation of an explosive sales uptick as the weather warms and consumers rush to resume their everyday lives. From retailers to airlines and hospitality, special-occasion brands and media vendors, the marketing industry is looking to spring, typically a time of rebirth and renewal, to reconnect with customers eager to get out and spend as COVID-19 vaccines roll out and the threat of the coronavirus diminishes.
Consumer sentiment is switching from “hesitation to hope,” as Marriott International’s Brian Povinelli, senior VP, brand loyalty and portfolio marketing puts it. That’s fueling an anticipated spending surge from consumers releasing their pent-up shopping demand—which marketers are looking to help along. […]
The National Retail Federation is forecasting the highest growth in retail spending in 17 years—a jump between 6.5% and 8.2% to as much as $4.4 trillion this year. Much of the growth may come from high-income households. In a recent survey conducted late last month by Ad Age-Harris Poll, 30% of households making $100,000 or more a year said they’ll spend more this spring compared to last; the majority of this group said the vaccine rollout has influenced this decision.
And shopping will extend beyond ecommerce to brick-and-mortar stores as well as consumers get comfortable again with in-person experiences. Some 62% of consumers say they plan to shop in stores this spring at least once a week, the Ad Age-Harris Poll found.
* The Question: How will your life change when you are fully vaccinated?
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,577 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 47 additional deaths.
IDPH anticipates that the state of Illinois will receive 83,000 doses of the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine by Wednesday. Unlike the currently available Pfizer and Moderna doses, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one shot and can be stored at much higher temperatures. Like Pfizer and Moderna, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 100% effective in protecting recipients against death and hospitalization.
The vast majority of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – more than 90% – will be distributed to mass vaccination sites throughout the state. The remaining doses will be shipped to other providers across the state.
These doses are in addition to the approximate 288,000 doses the federal government allocated to Illinois this week. This total does not include doses for the city of Chicago, which will receive its own allocation.
“As Dr. Fauci and many medical experts have pointed out time and again, we are so fortunate to have three effective vaccines that are proven to fully protect against death and hospitalization,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “The new Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be distributed for use at mass vaccination sites across the state, so that we are maximizing their capacity and getting as many eligible Illinoisans vaccinated as possible so that we can win the race against the new virus variants and end this pandemic.”
The newly reported deaths include the following:
- Alexander County: 1 female 70s
- Clay County: 1 male 70s
- Cook County: 2 teens, 2 males 50s, 2 males 60s, 4 females 70s, 8 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 4 males 80s, 4 females 90s, 3 males 90s
- DuPage County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
- Jefferson County: 1 male 40s
- Jersey County: 1 male 60s
- Kane County: 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
- Lake County: 1 male 90s
- McLean County: 1 female 90s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 50s
- Union County: 1 male 70s
- Vermilion County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s
- Wayne County: 1 male 70s
- Will County: 1 female 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,189,416 cases, including 20,583 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 56,181 specimens for a total of 18,234,668. As of last night, 1,231 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 281 patients were in the ICU and 148 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 23–March 1, 2021 is 2.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 23–March 1, 2021 is 2.8%.
A total of doses of 3,186,385 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 443,700 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 3,630,085. A total of 2,817,892 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 324,827 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 80,416 doses; the highest 7-day rolling average to date. Yesterday, 61,061 doses were administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
State to get 83,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Chicago bars and restaurants can stay open until 1 a.m., boost capacity to 50%, Lightfoot announces
Parents tear into Naperville District 203 School Board for not reopening schools full time: ‘You will all be replaced’: Many in attendance Monday argued it’s now safe to return all students to full-time, in-person classes, and used the meeting to not only criticize the board but also to castigate district Superintendent Dan Bridges, the current return-to-learn plan and the social distancing restrictions that kept several people from being allowed into the meeting.
Indiana makes COVID-19 vaccine available to residents 55 and older
Merck will help produce rival Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, Biden official says
Brookfield Zoo reopens with new polar bear, Mexican gray wolves making their debut
Schools in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 to reopen schools for full-time in-person learning
Two big annual trade shows canceled — again — at McCormick Place
A new report underscores just how much small hospitals on Chicago’s South and West sides struggle financially, and what can be done to prevent them from closing.
These small so-called “safety net” hospitals tend to be staples in their communities. They typically treat low-income and elderly Black and Latino patients, and often don’t have enough money flowing in to make ends meet.
A new study commissioned by the Health Care Council of Chicago estimates that by 2024, a dozen of these hospitals could lose at least $1.8 billion combined. And that doesn’t even account for money hospitals lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they suspended money-generating surgeries and shifted patients to video and phone visits to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“We cannot do this for another three or four years and expect that we are not going to see the threat of more hospital closures, more job loss, while health does not get better,” said David Smith, CEO of Third Horizon Strategies and lead author of the paper. “This does not have to be our future.”
The report comes as one safety net, Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville on the Near South Side, recently filed for bankruptcy protection and has been preparing to close this spring.
* House Speaker Chris Welch was asked by Greg Hinz the other day what issue was personally important to him to address this session and he talked about hospital closures…
Welch: You and I have talked a number of times, because you personally witnessed my fight to save Westlake Hospital out here in my area, and to watch and see what’s going on with Mercy Hospital. I was warning people back then that this was just the tip of the iceberg. We really need to do something about hospitals closing, particularly in black and brown communities. The disparities already are so wide, you can drive a Mack truck through them. They’re only going to grow if we continue to allow hospitals to close in poor communities. How does a hospital like Mercy post 6$05 million profits in a quarter and then file bankruptcy? It’s crazy. Allowing these hospitals to close is something that we need to take a good long look at and protect communities like the one that I serve and like the one that Rep. Lamont Robinson serves out on the South Side where now Mercy Hospital is threatening to close his doors. This is something that I really want to take a look at. And we can address it this session that would be great.
Hinz: Is the problem that there was not adequate public help for these facilities to keep them open or is the problem that people who operate some of these hospitals are not acting in the public interest, or is it both?
Welch: I think there’s a combination. I certainly think government can do do better. As I told you earlier, our budget is a moral document. I think on the federal level on the state level, we can probably do more to help these these hospital systems. But I certainly think that the hospital industry has changed. Healthcare shouldn’t be a for-profit industry. Unfortunately, it’s become a for-profit industry. And it should be about care and compassionate, compassion, and healing. And unfortunately now it’s about dollars and cents. That’s really unfortunate. And to leave poor communities with gaping holes for access to healthcare has been the byproduct of the healthcare industry becoming a for-profit industry. We have to correct that. That’s a serious issue that has to be corrected.
Hinz: There’s already laws on the books as you know that says before you close a hospital facility have to go to a board, and the board has to sign off on it and the board usually goes along that way. What more should the state be doing?
Welch: I think we have to give that board some more teeth to the law. Because right now it’s more like a ratification a check the box type of process. You talk about an entire community, heartbreaking. That process that we went through at Westlake Hospital was demoralizing and heartbreaking. And people really loved that community hospital. It provided care to folks who otherwise otherwise aren’t getting it. There’s a hole now that they’re not getting that care. And so, watching, I was in Bolingbrook when the board met. And you know, it was more like checking the box because there was really nothing they can do other than grant the application. […] The last thing I want to see is another hospital closing in a low income community. I want to see them opening up, not closing.
* Some of the news coverage of yesterday’s developments wasn’t exactly clear on how big the news actually was. One headline…
Dueling Memos Raise Questions in Race for New Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, 2 Days Before Vote
Um, the memos actually say the exact same thing: If elected, Robin Kelly can’t be involved with raising or spending non-federal “soft money.” That’s huge. Beyond that, it’s just spin, some more clever than others.
The race for the reins of the Democratic Party of Illinois heated up on Monday with the release of a legal opinion contending that U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly may be ineligible to serve in the top state party post.
The congresswoman’s team called that “suggestion” both “false and offensive.”
Kelly released her own legal opinion conceding that, as a federal elected official, she would be barred from raising or spending money for state or local campaigns, something the Matteson Democrat suggested would empower other party leaders.
* Illinois Democrats always snipe at their party’s governors, so this is just another level added to the mix…
It’s unusual that Illinois Democrats are haggling like this. In many states and even for the national Democratic Party, the person at the top of the ticket gets to choose who leads the party operations. President Joe Biden, for example, gave the nod for Jaime Harrison to lead the Democratic National Committee.
With that in mind, Pritzker would be calling the shots on party leadership ahead of the 2022 election where he and Sen. Tammy Duckworth will be the Democrats’ marquee candidates. Duckworth also backs Harris.
Some Democrats, however, have a nagging concern about Pritzker’s control over the party’s checkbook. The billionaire governor’s deep pockets would allow him to dictate which races get more attention than others.
Yes, but isn’t that the case already?
* From Robin Kelly…
Dear Fellow Central Committee Members:
Change isn’t easy. And it’s clear some are resistant to opening up the party and being inclusive. From the beginning, I’ve been committed to a positive and transparent vision for Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. If you’re afraid, don’t be. Help is on the way at 6:00 pm this Wednesday.
What we have seen over the course of the last 48 hours should not be what our party is about. Democrats unite and come together. You know me. I have always told you the truth, I have always been inclusive, and we can do this as long as we keep working together. Stay with me.
Together, we will build a party apparatus that acts collaboratively, not unilaterally - that includes raising the funds and resources to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. We’re about to make history together. Thank you, Robin
I’ve known Robin Kelly for years and have always had a high regard for her, but she was not up front about her inability to raise and spend soft money if she was elected and has not yet explained how she intends to get around that and who would be making those major multi-million-dollar decisions in her stead.
Endorsement of Robin Kelly for Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois
- - - - -
We are about six months from the start of the 2022 election cycle, and the Democratic Party of Illinois needs to start rolling up its sleeves and getting to work on earning the vote of all Illinoisans. They say that it is the responsibility of Local Democratic Parties, but most local Democratic Parties don’t get all the resources that they need to be effective. They never have the funds they need because their economies do not even support small dollar donations. Let me see, “Do I put food on the table this week or donate $10 to the local Democratic Party or a local candidate who probably has no chance of winning?” Tough choice, right?
The Democratic Party needs to understand and value the needs of ALL of Illinois. This starts by finding and supporting good Democratic candidates for all offices across the entire state. We need to give all Illinois Democrats and independents a reason to vote.
From South Beloit to Cairo
From Quincy to Danville
From East Dubuque to Mt. Carmel
From Winthrop Harbor to East St. Louis
It is no secret that voters outside of Chicago feel that the Democratic Party of Illinois picks the winners and losers, only supporting Democratic candidates of their choosing. They won’t support candidates in a red district, claiming it would just be a waste of resources. Because of this, few Democrats step forward to run for office, leaving few or no local Democratic candidates on the ballot. Democratic voters stay home, and these districts stay red. It hurts statewide candidates on the ballot like the Governor and our two US Senators, but I am told not to worry; we have enough votes in the blue areas of Illinois.
This is our first opportunity in decades to break from underneath the thumb of the Chicago machine. We must avoid a continuation of the old. It is time for us to finally live up to what we say we are - The Democratic Party of ILLINOIS.
I believe Robin Kelly has the personal commitment and skills to lead us there.
Peter Janko
Democratic State Central Committeeman
14th Congressional District of Illinois
* Latest tally…
My chart of the race for Democratic Party of Illinois @demsforillinois chair is updated with 14th District Committeeman Peter Janko endorsing Robin Kelly (https://t.co/kXGUxp5FbQ)
Look, we as reform groups tried to pass redistricting reform. The Supreme Court led by Democrats threw that out. There was a pension reform bill passed, some years ago. Supreme Court threw that one out, led by Democrats.
The pension decision was unanimous, but I digress. Back to Andy…
So these things have been tried. I’ll tell you, the most interesting election in 2022 may not be for governor, or Attorney General or legislative seats, it may be for an open Supreme Court seat. You know, James Kilbride, he wasn’t retained, he lost his retention fight in November. And now, if the Republicans can win that seat, they take over the majority in the General Assembly [I think he meant Supreme Court]. And even though I’m nonpartisan, I’m not, I don’t want Republicans in just because they’re Republicans. But they would be in support of pension reform and term limits, and income tax reform, there’s a lot of reforms that they would approve of that the Democrats didn’t. And so that will be an interesting one to watch to see how that plays, a lot of money will be spent to either protect the seat for Democrats, or turn it over to Republicans. And that could be one of the most important things that happens in 2022, regardless of who the governor is.
STATE SENATOR MICHAEL E. HASTINGS TO ANNOUNCE RACE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
Elk Grove Village, IL — State Senator Michael E. Hastings to announce bid for Secretary of State. Hastings wins a major endorsement from the Carpenters union, which represents 30,000 Illinois working families.
WHO: Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-19) and Gary Perinar, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters
WHAT: Press conference to announce bid for Secretary of State
WHERE: The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentices and Training Program, 1256 Estes Ave, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Illinois House Democrats have introduced a resolution condemning state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, after a decal of a far-right wing militia group was displayed on the back of his pickup truck as it was parked near the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection.
The resolution, filed Monday, states that Miller “violated his oath to the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois by actively and publicly promoting the actions of an internationally recognized para-military hate group.”
The resolution, introduced by state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Highland Park, has already garnered more than two dozen co-sponsors, including House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and members of his leadership team. No Republicans have signed on so far. […]
“Supporting and participating in insurrection against the government is way beyond the pale and violates our oath of office,” Morgan wrote in an email. “The State of Illinois deserves to know what role Rep. Miller had in the riot of January 6 in Washington D.C., and that is why I referred this matter to the Legislative Inspector General for proper investigation.”
I reached out to Rep. Miller’s spokesperson yesterday and didn’t hear back. From Speaker Welch’s spokesperson…
The insurrection on January 6 at the U.S. Capitol was sickening. It was deliberately planned and orchestrated by white supremacists. The fact that Rep. Chris Miller was involved amounts to a violation of his oath of office. Speaker Welch strongly condemns his actions and wants accountability.
With the U.S. Senate preparing to take up a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, the Illinois Municipal League wants local governments, not the governor, to control dollars local governments are meant to get. […]
The federal spending plan the U.S. Senate could take up this week could include $7.5 billion for the Illinois state budget and an additional $5.7 billion for local budgets. [Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole] doesn’t want Gov. J.B. Pritzker to capture dollars meant for local governments as was done last year.
“If there is a federal relief package, we’re hoping the money will flow directly to communities and without additional restriction put on by the state which was the case with the federal CARES Act last year,” Cole said.
If federal funds are distributed directly to locals, Cole said the state shouldn’t use that as an excuse to cut state funding for local governments.
“That money can’t be in lieu of our regular state-shared resources that provide for the operations of the community just in regular times,” Cole said.
The governor’s proposed state budget has around $152 million in cuts for local governments statewide unless state lawmakers approve ending $930 million in tax incentive programs. Cole said even if those incentives were closed, there’s no guarantee the state would generate that much money.
