Former President Barack Obama, free of a job that forced him to move to Washington for eight years, showed up to a downtown Chicago courthouse for jury duty on Wednesday morning.
The 44th president’s motorcade - considerably shorter than the one he had when he lived in the White House - left his home in the Kenwood neighborhood on the city’s South Side and arrived at the Richard J. Daley Center shortly after 10 a.m.
Obama - wearing a dark sport coat, dress shirt, but without a tie - waved to people who gathered outside after hearing reports that he would be reporting for jury duty.
Whether he will be selected to sit on a jury, and presumably be selected jury foreman, was not known. But if he is like other would-be jurors, Obama will have to watch a decades-old video in which a much younger Lester Holt, who was a local news anchor before he became a national news anchor, explains the ins-and-outs of jury duty.
Former President Barack Obama has been dismissed from jury duty.
The former president arrived at the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago for jury duty shortly after 10 a.m. on Wednesday. By noon, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans was telling reporters that Obama won’t be serving.
* The Question: Have you ever been called for jury duty? If so, did you actually end up serving? Either way, tell us about your experience.
Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza moved quickly today to use proceeds from Illinois’ recent General Obligation bond sale to begin paying down a major portion of the state’s current $16.7 billion backlog and, critically, stop the clock on a mountain of interest payments accruing on Illinois’ late bills, some dating back to 2015.
Comptroller Mendoza said she will initially prioritize those bills eligible for federal matching funds to maximize the revenues available from the $6 billion bond sale. The action will significantly reduce the state’s record bill backlog and, importantly, end the accrual of interest penalties as high as 12% annually on many of the state’s oldest obligations.
The state owes an estimated $900 million in late payment interest penalties on its bill backlog. The bond sale effectively refinances future interest costs on the state’s existing debt, saving taxpayers billions of dollars over the next decade.
“As the state’s chief fiscal and accountability officer, I’m laser focused on maximizing this opportunity for taxpayers,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “These payments will effectively stop the bleeding of late payment interest penalties on this portion of the backlog. There is still a long, hard road ahead of us, but this is a vital first step toward smart planning for FY2019 and beyond.”
In total, the Office of the Comptroller expects to receive about $6.48 billion in bond proceeds, including a $480 million premium from the sale on top of the $6 billion initially offered, an indicator of the strong market demand for the bonds.
About $2.5 billion will be spent immediately on unpaid medical bills. Close to $4 billion will be used to pay down unpaid state health insurance claims owed to medical providers in the coming days. Over the next several weeks, an additional $2 billion in federal matching funds will be applied to state medical bills.
“Through the use of federal matching funds, we expect to turn a $6.48 billion bond offering into a nearly $9 billion investment which initially targets our state’s struggling healthcare system and medical providers, many of whom have had to turn to third parties for loans just to stay afloat,” Comptroller Mendoza said.
After the Senate voted 52-3 to override Bruce Rauner’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act, JB Pritzker released the following statement:
“With our bill backlog reaching another record-high, I’m relieved that the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to override Bruce Rauner’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act,” said JB Pritzker. “This override is a sign that bipartisan members of the General Assembly are ready to bring transparency to the damage this failed governor has done to our state. I applaud Comptroller Susana Mendoza for standing up for taxpayers and being a true fiscal watchdog as Bruce Rauner drives our state’s finances into the ground. I look forward to standing with Susana as governor to get our fiscal house in order and bring stability back to Illinois.”
WATCH: J.B. Pritzker AGAIN Dodges on Releasing His Tax Returns
208 days since Pritzker first pledged to make his tax returns public
“While his sister was just caught parking assets offshore, J.B. Pritzker continues to hide his tax returns from the public. We already know he schemed with crooked Democrat insiders to slash the property tax bill on his Chicago mansion by over $230,000. It’s time for him to come clean.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
After receiving the endorsement from yet another career politician who’s loyal to Madigan, J.B. Pritzker was again asked when he will be releasing his tax returns.
Watch Pritzker continue to dodge on releasing his tax returns HERE.
Pritzker’s response? “It’s somewhat complex… We’re working on it… We’ll get it done soon.”
That’s the same response Pritzker gave nearly a month ago around when tax returns were due to the federal government.
208 days have passed since J.B. Pritzker first pledged to release his taxes returns.
Other Democrats have already challenged Pritzker on his obfuscation, and Illinois voters are demanding to see what Pritzker is hiding.
We already know that Pritzker has gamed the system to receive a $230,000 tax break on his Chicago mansion thanks to the help of his fellow crooked Democrat insider Joe Berrios.
When asked by ICPR about the role they think an attorney general should play in promoting or obstructing President Trump’s agenda, Democratic campaigns responded with a common trend: they believe they are on the “front lines” in blocking the President’s actions.
Senator Raoul highlighted the need to hold the President accountable in areas of voting rights, healthcare reform, and education policy. Pat Quinn’s campaign said the Illinois Attorney General “must resist” the President’s agenda. Jesse Ruiz commented, “it is absolutely the Attorney General’s responsibility to block” many aspects of Trump’s agenda, and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering vowed to act as a “watchdog.”
Sharon Fairley and Renato Mariotti both employed battlefield metaphors to describe the relationship between the Attorney General’s office and President Trump. These campaigns described the Attorney General as “on the front lines,” acting as “a first line of defense” against components of the President’s agenda, which they labeled as “radical,” “an unrelenting attack on our rights,” and “unconstitutional and regressive.”
The campaigns specifically cited immigration policy, minority rights, and environmental and consumer protections as primary areas of disagreement with President Trump.
Notably, Scott Drury’s response was more muted, saying, “To the extent any person’s policies or agenda – including the President’s – threatens [Constitutional] rights and liberties, I will fight to ensure [Illinois residents] are protected.”
Campaigns for Erika Harold (R) and Aaron Goldstein (D) did not provide a comment in response to ICPR’s request.
While Democratic candidates are mostly unified in their perceived role on the “battlefield,” the sources they have tapped to fund their campaigns vary widely.
Self-funding has emerged as a trend in this race. Although Jesse Ruiz has raised the most money since announcing his candidacy, without the $100,000 loan he made to his campaign in October, Ruiz would fall to the sixth spot in that ranking. Sharon Fairley has contributed $120,000 tor her campaign, representing a majority of her $180,000 in contributions. The table below shows fundraising by all candidates since announcing their candidacy.
Additionally, Chicago Committeeman Aaron Goldstein has loaned his campaign a total of $75,000, collecting only $7,500 from outside sources. Attorney Renato Mariotti also donated $10,000 to his campaign.
Erika Harold’s campaign has relied heavily on support from the Illinois Republican Party. The state party’s in-kind contributions account for 30% of Harold’s funding, mainly by providing consultants and media production for the campaign. An assortment of businesses, political committees, and individuals contributed the rest of Harold’s campaign funds.
Similarly, Senator Raoul has collected most of his campaign contributions from political committees representing a host of interests including labor groups, trade associations, and specific businesses. Raoul also received his largest contribution ($25,000) from Citizens for Antonio Munoz, the campaign committee of Democratic State Senator Tony Munoz.
In contrast, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering leads the field in fundraising from individual donors - every contribution since she announced her run for Attorney General was from an individual. The profile of Rotering’s donors is wide-ranging, including individuals from various professions, although most of them live in Highland Park.
Jesse Ruiz and Sharon Fairley have also been successful in soliciting individual donations, albeit not on the same scale as Rotering. Besides the loan he made to his campaign, Ruiz’s remaining $85,000 came largely from attorneys, executives, and investment bankers, along with a $1,000 donation from State Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman. However, Fairley’s contributors are mainly listed as self-employed or retired in her filings.
Democratic State Representative Scott Drury and former Governor Pat Quinn sit at the bottom of the fundraising list. Despite his lackluster fundraising since announcing his candidacy, Drury remains comfortably in second place for total funds raised this year. This is due to his more aggressive fundraising during his run for governor earlier in the year, which he ended to join the attorney general’s race. Since he garnered contributions earlier in the year, he could not collect more money from the same donors due to contribution limits.
Quinn, who joined the race on October 27, retains $289,000 in his campaign committee from his unsuccessful 2014 re-election campaign. Quinn has not reported any donations since announcing his run for Illinois Attorney General.
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[Ron Larson] started the company after several years struggling to make ends meet as a mobile DJ and karoake host. He says his bar bingo company operates within the confines of the law because it’s actually a sweepstakes game, not a traditional bingo game.
Illinois state law prohibits bingo players from paying any amount of money to enter a bingo game to win prizes. Instead, Larson’s company collects a flat rate of roughly $200 from the participating bar in exchange for organizing, promoting and hosting the bingo game. Larson’s company markets the event on social media, draws people to weekly bingo games, and sets aside a portion of the revenue into a prize fund.
With each new bar that signs up, the prize fund - and the prizes - get bigger. The company has paid out at least one jackpot of $10,000 and is now promoting a monthly giveaway of a Harley Davidson motorcyle. Bars can benefit from the increased foot traffic and all the extra food and drink sales accrued during a two-hour bingo game.
[Sen. Terry Link] and his Republican counterparts on the Senate Gaming Committee want the Attorney General and the Illinois Gaming Board to investigate small businesses who host bar bingo games.
“Somebody said we can’t do anything to these bars,” Link said. “Oh yes we can, we can take their liquor license away from them and put them out of business if they want to do this kind of stuff that’s illegal.”
“It’s something that has to be looked into both by the Attorney General’s office and the Gaming Board,” said Senator Dave Syverson, a Rockford Republican. “If it’s considered bingo, right now bingo is limited to not-for-profits in Illinois.”
* The Pritzker campaign’s announcement of this endorsement was the usual stuff. But Sen. Andy Manar sent this out to his e-mail list today, and I thought you might like to see it…
Illinois needs a new direction, the people of the 48th Senate district need a new direction, Downstate Illinois needs a new direction.
And right now more than ever, Illinois needs a steady hand at the wheel, someone that can reform state government and build the trust and leadership that are required to make state government work for working people. And I believe JB Pritzker is the right man for this job and I wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy for Governor.
JB Pritzker is committed to building the downstate economy in places that have been forgotten by Bruce Rauner. Bruce Rauner pays nothing but lip service to middle-class families living in Downstate Illinois while his economic policies are punishing their pocketbooks. Bruce Rauner takes Downstate voters for granted as evidenced by his attire. I know that JB Pritzker is committed to creating jobs in small towns and rural counties. In Gillespie, I watched JB listen to a constituent that has struggled to find employment. JB will remember him when decisions have to be made. I’ve heard him listen to workers in Decatur and commit to protecting their right to collectively bargain. He is committed to building the Downstate economy and he has laid out very specific plans to do so.
Speaking of building, JB Pritzker is committed to building the democratic party in Downstate Illinois. Why is that important? Because his strategy for governing I believe will be reflective of the statewide strategy that he has set into motion in his campaign from day one. He will be a Governor for all of the State and won’t be a governor that uses the office to divide the state to advance a political agenda. That is something that I welcome and that’s a very big reason why I’m standing here today. He is committed to all 102 counties in the State of Illinois.
JB Pritzker is a listener. And for me that would be a welcome change in the Governor’s office—someone that actually listens, someone that seeks to understand, someone that wakes up every day to work with others to set into motion positive change, someone that builds consensus, someone that can bring Illinois together—that’s what we need today in our State.
And finally, perhaps the issue that he and I have discussed the most is the importance of continuing our public investment in public education, FIRST in the least funded schools in Illinois. I’ve pushed JB, I’ve pushed him hard in our conversations not because I’m pushy but because I didn’t spend five years of my life fighting for reform only to watch it be pushed aside or dismantled a year or two from now. JB views the issue of equity in public education the same way that I do. And I’ve come to appreciate that it is a deeply held opinion that he has. We share many common interests, but there is no greater common interest than our shared desire to give every child in Illinois an equal shot at life and that starts by attacking poverty in the public-school classroom. Yes, it took five years to successfully indict the system that stacked the deck against children living in poverty. Yes, that system today has now been erased. Yes, a whole lot of folks are taking credit for things that they opposed for years. But what I’m most interested in is this: Governor JB Pritzker will be a partner to me to make sure we stay true to our promise of educational equity for all kids in the smallest of towns, in the toughest of neighborhoods, JB Prtizker will be fighting that fight with me when he’s in the Governor’s office.
We’ve got so many challenges in the State of Illinois. JB and I are ready to unite Illinois and finally move our state forward.
JB Pritzker is going to fix Illinois. And I’m going help him win this election and get the job done.
* Meanwhile, I neglected to post this endorsement the other day, so here it is…
Today, Daniel Biss announced the endorsement of State Senator Don Harmon.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Daniel is ready on day one to be governor and to lead our state in the years ahead,” said Don Harmon. “We need a governor who is committed to reforming our government at its core—someone who will change the way we raise revenue and run elections to ensure our state supports middle-class families like his own. We need a transformational leader, and that’s Daniel.
“As we’ve worked together in the Senate, from introducing a constitutional amendment to allow for a fair income tax to creating a small donor matching plan to get big money out of politics, I’ve always admired Daniel’s commitment to organizing. He’s not introducing bills for the headline, or to wrap up a quick accomplishment for the next election cycle—he’s in this for the long haul and understands how to mobilize the support necessary to win meaningful reforms for working families. It’s been a pleasure to work with Daniel in the Senate, and I know our state will benefit immensely from his passion, expertise, and long-term vision when he’s governor.”
“It’s an honor to receive Don’s endorsement,” said Daniel Biss. “For years, Don has been a trusted friend and mentor as well as a crucial partner in building campaign finance, criminal justice, and tax systems that support middle-class and working families. Don’s leadership and dedication is especially evident in his long-standing advocacy for a progressive income tax. Don has shown me the importance of pushing the envelope on what is politically possible and has modeled the persistence necessary to build a system that works for the rest of us. It’s been an honor to work with Don in the legislature, and I look forward to his leadership, friendship, and guidance on the campaign trail and when I’m governor.”
A Springfield musician was killed in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in Bloomington Monday night, authorities said.
John M. Brillhart, 44, was the lone occupant of the sport-utility vehicle involved in the wreck, McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis said Tuesday afternoon. […]
Mike Naylor, an owner’s of Abe’s Old Hat Antiques and Country Store, 111 N. Sixth St., said Brillhart played at several of his open mike nights. Brillhart hosted last week’s event at Abe’s, and his name was still on a sign Tuesday that advertised the event.
“I haven’t erased it. I’m so glad I didn’t. I’m looking at it right now. It says, ’Open pick tonight. Host John Brillhart,” Naylor said.
Naylor said Brillhart was a great guy who was well-liked.
“He was a good performer, a good songwriter and a good friend to everyone,” Naylor said. “I never heard him ever say a harsh word about anyone. He was always jovial.”
John was a good friend to everyone, and he was more than just a talented local musician and songwriter. He was one of the most active supporters of the Springfield music scene in this town. He was pretty much everywhere you could find decent music. The last time I saw him was Friday night during Larry Stevens’ gig at George Rank’s. John left early to go see another show downtown, mainly to make sure that people were in the audience to support the musicians. He was that kind of guy. Sweet, humble, accessible to all and not an enemy in the world.
John’s friends, and he had so many, threw a heck of a party for him last night at Rank’s. He did an open mic there every Tuesday and last night the place was jam packed with people. We cried and laughed and danced and hugged each other. He would’ve loved it.
The family will meet friends for a memorial gathering from 3:00pm-7:00pm on Friday, November 10, 2017, at Bisch Funeral Home West, 2931 Koke Mill Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to www.grammy.com/musicares. Please visit John’s online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com.
* There are a few language issues with this video, so be forewarned. But here’s John…
As sometimes happens with these waves, the prevailing party did better than the polls predicted. RCP’s polling average from 10/29-11/5 had the Democrat up by 3.3 percent.
Virginia Democrats are poised to claim at least a share of control of the House of Delegates after erasing a 32-seat Republican advantage in a “tsunami election,” with control of the chamber likely to be ultimately decided by vote recounts.
Northern Virginia journalist Danica Roem made history by becoming the first openly transgender candidate elected to the Virginia legislature, while her party appeared to make a epochal gain in power in a legislative chamber that has been under an iron Republican grip.
Democrats picked up three open seats — including one in Henrico County — and knocked off at least 13 Republican incumbents on Tuesday to draw even in power in the House, pending recounts that could still swing in either direction.
For whatever reason, when some folks look at off-year elections, they insist on talking only about 2010 and 2014. They forget about 2006.
Illinois is definitely not Virginia (nobody else has the “Mike Madigan issue,” for instance) and there’s a very long way to go before November, 2018. But the current trend is not the Republican Party’s friend.
* Mike Murphy formally announced his House candidacy yesterday…
Murphy is the Sangamon County GOP’s choice to replace state Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, who is not seeking another term. Precinct Committeeman Steven Westerfield also is running for the nomination in the March primary. Two Democrats – Jenica Myers-Hopkins of Pleasant Plains and Marc Bell of Chatham are seeking their party’s nomination.
Murphy, 64, said he has no “personal political agenda” to seek higher office. He said that gives him independence to tell the governor or his caucus leader when he disagrees with them.
“And lastly, I will be willing to go on the floor of the Illinois House and stand up and shout and say, ‘Speaker, what you’re doing is bad for Illinois,’” he added. “I can’t wait to do that.” […]
He said he isn’t backing anyone yet in the primary for governor – where state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Naperville recently announced her candidacy.
“I have my hands full,” he said, with his own race for the House.
Murphy used to own Charlie Parker’s restaurant, and the governor raved about the place for years.
* Leader Durkin doesn’t get the credit he deserves in this piece. He held his caucus together despite a very strong push by the other side…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday narrowly fended off a major loss for the second time in as many weeks when the Illinois House failed to override his veto of union-backed legislation to prevent local governments from establishing right-to-work zones.
The override attempt again fell short by just one vote, despite efforts by Democrats to try to take advantage of a split between Rauner and Republican lawmakers following months of infighting that’s led one conservative House member to pursue a primary challenge against the governor. […]
The right-to-work legislation was put forward by Democrats in response to an attempt by north suburban Lincolnshire to establish a right-to-work ordinance in 2015. A federal court struck down the village’s ordinance, ruling that only states have the power to enact such laws.
“In a victory for the people, the House of Representatives today kept the door open to stronger job growth in Illinois,” Rauner said in a statement Tuesday.
“Courageous House lawmakers joined together to make Illinois more competitive so local communities can continue to decide how to make their economies stronger, help their businesses grow and give individual workers the freedom to support a union as they choose.
“Thanks to their action, Illinois is better positioned to be a national and global competitor.
“Now we need to buckle down and continue the work of creating economic opportunity for all of the people of Illinois.”
State Representative Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, says even though some Republicans reportedly promised unions they’d be with them, “I got a sneaking suspicion we may only end up with 70 votes.”
He was right. The legislation failed on a vote of 70-39 — just one short of the number needed to override a gubernatorial veto.
Rep. Jerry Lee Long, R-Streator, says Illinois is in no danger of becoming a right-to-work state.
“We don’t have enough votes in this House to vote for right-to-work,” he says. “There’s no way that we could make the state of Illinois right to work. All this is is political theater.”
Long says he’s a third-generation union member, but for unions to survive, Illinois has become more business-friendly.
Long gave an impassioned speech about unions on the House floor Tuesday. He told his colleagues he was third-generation union and that he had worked hard for the Teamsters. […]
His speech came a day after the Teamsters ran a full-page advertisement in The Times urging him to vote to override Rauner’s veto. That same day, a Teamster semi-truck appeared outside his Streator legislative office carrying the same message.
Steve Conrad, president of the Illinois Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, said Wednesday he continued to be confused about Long’s position on Moylan’s bill.
“Whoever he speaks to, he tells a different story. That’s the confusing part. Tell us what you really want. Quit trying to kowtow to everyone,” Conrad said. “When you keep moving the finish line, you’ll never get to the finish line.”
“I sound like a high school boy,” says state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, in a moment of blinding clarity on the 437th page of what I’m calling “The Silverstein-Rotheimer Papers,” a printout of 17 months’ worth of Facebook messages between Silverstein and victim rights advocate Denise Rotheimer.
Rotheimer released this tome to certain members of the media last week as evidence, she said, of the “torment” she suffered due to Silverstein’s “unconscionable” sexual harassment of her while he was sponsoring a bill that she was backing in Springfield.
Rotheimer’s accusations were magnified by the current focus in the news on predatory behavior, from inappropriate to illegal, which was touched off by widespread allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. And they resulted in Silverstein losing a seat in party leadership that paid him $20,649 a year.
Fair enough, I suppose. “The Silverstein-Rotheimer Papers” show that the veteran North Side lawmaker engaged in an inappropriately personal relationship with a woman who personal and political propriety demanded he keep at arm’s length. It was an ethical failure.
Notably, though, there’s little to no evidence in the 444-page record of Silverstein, 57 and married, threatening, harassing, intimidating or propositioning Rotheimer, 45 and single. Rather, as Silverstein says, he sounds in this to me like a high school boy — goofy, smitten and awkward as he flirts with a woman who, it seems to me, coyly leads him along.
Rotheimer tried to put this into context yesterday, so click here if you missed it. She adamantly denies that the relationship was mutual.
I don’t know anyone who believes that Sen. Silverstein is the perfect poster child for sexual harassment. He’s not on anybody’s top ten list. But I also believe that, at minimum, he behaved unprofessionally with Rotheimer. Also keep in mind that there are no perfect victims in this world.
Of course there are plenty of men here, doubtless in positions of authority, who read this as flirting. That’s gross, guys. She isn’t flirting, and all the women in subordinate positions to you who respond similarly aren’t flirting with you — they’re trying to get you to stop without you screaming at them or hitting them. The 20-year-old waitress does not find your 50-year-old flirting charming, she finds it creepy. The secretary you’re engaging in “flirtatious banter” with is not amused, she’s trying not to get fired and hating you like fire.
Reached on Tuesday, Rotheimer urged the new legislative inspector general to move quickly to resolve her complaint, which she filed nearly a year ago.
As for Silverstein, she said he has no one to blame but himself.
“I’m not going to apologize for how things are coming out on him,” Rotheimer said. “That’s on him. That’s on the people in Springfield who decided to sweep my complaint under the rug. That’s on them, not me.”
* And Senate President Cullerton has a suggestion…
But Illinois Senate President John Cullerton’s office noted the Legislative Ethics Commission should be responsible for notifying victims since the panel has the responsibility to take in complaints and follow through with victims.
“One of the problems we’ve identified is the lack of follow through in notifying victims that their complaints were received, who they can contact and where they can send additional information if they have any,” Cullerton spokesman John Patterson said in a statement. “There needs to be a clear line of notification and communication. It’s an issue that would be best handled by the ethics commission and its executive director.”
Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, said there is a “disconnect” in Springfield in which people call for an end to the culture of sexual harassment but “there are enough folks walking around who still don’t know what it is they are not supposed to be doing.”
Hutchinson told a story of when she started lobbying and was trying to land her first contract. She was at a luncheon, and the “head person on this bill told me that the only reason I was there was so that we could put my beautiful black breasts on sale,” she said.
“Now, I was just starting out. I hadn’t gone to law school yet. I had absolutely no power to speak out. I had just one client in my pocket I was trying to work. That is an example of a conversation that crosses three things: it was generational, it was racist and it was sexist.
“I didn’t know there was any place that I could have gone to say anything about it at the time,” Hutchinson said.
…Adding… I’ve been telling subscribers about these two folks since Monday morning…
Ram Villivalam, SEIU Healthcare’s legislative coordinator and former political director to U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider’s campaign, tells us he’s challenging embattled state Sen. Ira Silverstein in the Democratic primary. Silverstein last week resigned from his leadership post amid sexual harassment allegations leveled by a victims’ rights activist, which he has denied.
Villivalam told POLITICO on Monday he expects to formally file campaign papers today and he set a goal of raising $25,000 in the first week. “I think we need a new and young generation with more diversity in our government. The 8th district has the highest concentration of Asian Americans in the state of Illinois. As an Asian American, it’s time we elect the first Asian American state senator,” said Villivalam, whose parents immigrated to the United States from India. “I want to be a part of the new generation of leaders that we elect who want to listen to everyday people, who want to change the culture in Springfield.”
Villivalam worked as a legislative coordinator for SEIU Healthcare for three years, including combating right to work efforts by Gov. Bruce Rauner, advancing wage issues for home health care workers and child care assistance programs for working parents. “It’s the organization that’s been on the frontline of fighting Bruce Rauner’s disastrous policies,” Villivalam said.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration had arranged to pay a new deputy governor out of an employee health care account that is more than $4 billion behind on its bills due to the state’s budget crisis, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
After the AP reported Thursday that half of Leslie Munger’s $138,000 salary was scheduled to come from a pool of insurance premiums, a spokeswoman for the governor said an agency “mistakenly” designated the wrong fund and that Munger’s pay would come from elsewhere.
Munger, Rauner’s hand-picked choice to fill a vacancy in the comptroller’s office in 2015, landed the position with her political ally after losing a special election.
A state legislator is taking issue with Gov. BRUCE RAUNER hiring a “digital director” for $125,000 a year, with the salary, according to state records, coming from the mental health budget.
But PATTY SCHUH, spokeswoman for the governor, said this week that while governor’s employees’ works benefits all agencies, it was not intended that JAMES VETRANO be coded under a mental health line in the Department of Human Services, and he would be moved to a more appropriate designation, possibly outside that agency budget. […]
State Rep. GREG HARRIS, D-Chicago, chairs the appropriations committee that oversees human services spending, and noted that the Rauner administration recently announced cuts to human services.
“And now, they found hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay a guy to post pictures on his social media?” Harris said. “How many pictures to we need to see of him riding around on his motorcycle? … We should be investing more into community services and less on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram.”
The governor’s previous director of digital communications, BRIDGET SHANAHAN DAVIDSON, who is now director of media relations for the Illinois Education Association, was paid $80,000 annually and worked for the state from October 2016 to July. Her Linked In profile says she “produced social media campaigns and created content to engage followers and grow reach while successfully generating several earned media stories.” She produced Facebook Live events, managed a graphic designer, video editor and production crew, a still photographer and web redesign team – as well as managing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, “expanding engagement on all platforms.”
WATCH: Illinois House once again falls one vote short in attempt to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of bill barring local “right-to-work zones.” pic.twitter.com/mM3BecxKjo
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.
* 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.
“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…
Need to follow Israel’s model. Unleash Illinois' spirit of innovation. Balance budget. Cut taxes & red tape. Partner on R&D. (2/3)
President Cullerton introduces HB137 to address the 27 complaints in Illinois government. The bill passes unanimously 55-0. Sen. Silverstein, accused of sexual harassment votes yes for the bills passage. pic.twitter.com/t5hmIsS9Md
* 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.
* 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.”
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.
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.
“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.
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.”
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).
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
* 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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
* 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.
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.
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.
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)
