Erika Harold would be dangerous for Illinois. If elected Attorney General, she will be an extension of Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership and Donald Trump’s bigotry.
Harold once said that she would place foster children in the home of child abusers rather than with a loving gay couple. This rhetoric is despicable. This kind of blatant hatred is not who we are as a state, and no one who believes it should represent Illinoisans in office.
Candidates like Erika Harold are why Blue Wave Illinois 2018 is so important. This November, voters are going to be faced with a choice. Will we elect people like Erika Harold and Donald Trump, who spew bigotry and seek to divide us, or will we elect those who honor the American values of inclusion, diversity, and justice?
The choice is clear. Chip in today to make sure we elect me and other leaders who represent our values.
Up and down the ballot, Democrats are running who will fight to make sure Illinois becomes a state that is on the side of hardworking Illinoisans. Candidates like Kwame Raoul, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General, will stand with our families and stand up to Donald Trump.
Candidates like Erika Harold do not represent our values. But this November, we have to elect candidates who do. Together, we can make Illinois a Democratic stronghold, and a place where all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or background feel welcome.
Support Blue Wave Illinois 2018 today and be on the right side of history this November.
In the race for governor, two very wealthy men are proposing two very different ideas for how to solve the single most elusive, expensive financial problem plaguing the state.
J.B. Pritzker, the Democratic challenger, is focused on how to pay the burden down; incumbent Republican Governor Bruce Rauner wants to change the way it piles up.
“What I have agreed with the Senate Democrats, Senate President Cullerton,” is to do what is called a consideration model,” Rauner said on Tuesday. “Basically, go to our hard working state employees and say ‘Let’s tie your salary increases to the type of pension that you choose to be in, either Tier One or Tier Two or Tier Three, and customize compensation to fit depending on what the employee would prefer for a pension and a pay structure.’ […]
While he has not yet said how high he would go in raising the annual pension payments, Pritzker says he would prefer a dramatic increase all at once instead of the continually upward sliding scale that puts increasing year-over-year pressure on the legislature to make spending cuts elsewhere.
“There is really only one good way to do it and that is to step up payments, Pritzker told Crain’s. “Think about the principal payments on your home. Step up principal payments earlier than they are due and try to flatten out the amortization schedule on an annual basis. Flatten it. The result of that will be that we can manage the budget of the state. Because that is really what is at stake here.”
By the way, Pritzker said he’d pay for it with a progressive income tax. He says that about a lot of things. But it’s all magic fairy dust until we see the actual plan, and maybe even then it’ll still be magic dust.
* In related news, here’s a small excerpt from Democratic congressional candidate Brendan Kelly’s “Save Southern Illinois” plan…
Put failing pension plans back on solid ground to ensure they can meet their commitments to retirees today and workers for decades to come, in part by setting up a Pension Rehabilitation Administration (PRA)
“If we as a country bailed out Wall Street, bailed out Detroit, we can take care of the American worker who did what they were supposed to do,” Kelly said, adding that, “They earned it. They deserve it.”
But I didn’t see anything in the article about whether this idea is for both public and private pension systems.
So, I checked with the campaign and was told that this is only about private pension plans. The Illinois pension system is Illinois’ responsibility, the spokesperson said.
On or before October 31, 2015 and on or before October 31 of each subsequent year, the State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare a report on student discipline in all school districts in this State, including State-authorized charter schools. This report shall include data from all public schools within school districts, including district-authorized charter schools. This report must be posted on the Internet website of the State Board of Education. The report shall include data on the issuance of out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, and removals to alternative settings in lieu of another disciplinary action, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, gender, age, grade level, limited English proficiency, incident type, and discipline duration. [Emphasis added.]
Last summer, several women gathered at Delia Barajas’ home. As part of the community group Ixchel, they tackle education issues like school discipline in the mostly Hispanic communities of Cicero and Berwyn.
But as the women searched the Illinois State Board of Education’s website for data about how students in their area had been disciplined, they hit a wall. They found the race and ethnicity of students who’d been disciplined in their local districts had been redacted. […]
State officials say they have to redact race and ethnicity data to comply with federal and state requirements about protecting student privacy. They’ve decided that to do that, they won’t reveal any student groups that are smaller than 10 — a common practice in government reports. But Illinois officials say they also have to remove data on student groups much larger than 10 to protect the identity of students in smaller groups. As a result, few school districts have any race or ethnicity data.
Here’s how that looks in practice: Say a school district gave out 309 suspensions and 100 went to black children, 100 went to Hispanic children, 100 went to white children and nine went to multiracial children. State officials have redacted all of the race and ethnicity data in their reports to protect the nine multiracial students. They say a “reasonable person” could look at the total, do the math and identify individual students.
The state refused to supply the data to the Chicago Reporter, but Loyola University Chicago clinical law professor Miranda Johnson “managed to pry loose some of the state’s discipline data for black, white and Hispanic students,” according to the article.
Four years ago, Illinois passed the first in a series of discipline reforms meant to reduce student suspensions and expulsions from public schools.
The law tasks state officials with two responsibilities: Make school discipline data available to the public, and require districts with the consistently highest suspension and expulsion rates to improve.
At the time, there was national momentum to address discipline disparities, especially for black students, who are suspended and expelled from school far more often than their white classmates. In 2014, the Obama administration issued guidance to reduce discipline that removes students from class and interrupts their learning. Advocates and lawmakers knew Illinois needed to make drastic changes after a 2012 report by The Civil Rights Project at UCLA found the state’s suspension rate for black students was the highest in the nation.
But the 2014 law hasn’t had the outcomes legislators intended. The Illinois State Board of Education redacts the race and ethnicity of nearly all students who’ve been suspended or expelled, so parents and school communities can’t see what’s happening in their local districts. On top of that, the state board hasn’t required districts with the consistently highest suspension and expulsion rates to make any changes. [Emphasis added.]
With respect to school discipline improvement plans, makes changes to how the State Board of Education determines the top 20% of school districts, when notification is given that a plan must be submitted, which school districts are required to submit a plan, the timeframe for school board approval of a plan and submission of that plan to the State Board, and when additional annual progress reports are required
Gov. Bruce Rauner has a new strategy for getting reelected this fall: Ask sitting lawmakers to sign a pledge agreeing to term-limits pledge and to getting rid of Mike Madigan.
The Republican governor appeared Wednesday in Ottawa for a campaign stop in which he and two House Republicans, Jerry Long of Streator and Tom Demmer of Rochelle, together signed “The People’s Pledge.”
The pledge is a two-pronged, non-binding resolution. First, to push a referendum for voters to impose term limits (suggested cap: eight years in office. Secondly, lawmakers must “vote for someone — anyone — other than Speaker Michael Madigan for Speaker of the House.”
“Don’t talk about it, don’t give it lip service, don’t pretend — sign it,” Rauner said, adding later, “Anyone who won’t sign this pledge isn’t working for their constituents.” […]
“The governor and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything,” Long said as Rauner nodded agreeably. “This particular issue we stand solid on.”
Once again, with feeling: “Madigan, taxes, corruption, toilets. Lather, rinse, repeat.”
Mike Barkau, of Ottawa, asked Long prior to the signing how he planned to “stop” Madigan and Rauner said the signing of the petition was the best way to do so.
Barkau explained to The Times after the meeting that he’s dealing with a “monster” property tax issue and voted for Long in 2016 because he wanted to tip the scales and see Madigan’s term in office end.
Barkau said he remains confident it can be done.
“I’m hoping we can keep chipping away at it,” Barkau said. “I’d like to see it move a little faster but as long as we keep chipping away.”
Republican candidate Patrick Windhorst recently joined Gov. Bruce Rauner and other state representatives in seeking the removal of House Speaker Mike Madigan by putting term limits on the ballot.
Windhorst, running against state Rep. Natalie Phelps-Finnie (D-Elizabethtown) in the 118th House District, recently joined Rauner and fellow GOP Reps. Dave Severin (R-Benton) and Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) in inking “The People’s Pledge” that vows to oust Madigan from power and to put the issue of term limits on the ballot.
“For far too long, Illinoisans have been forced to suffer the consequences of Speaker Madigan’s endless pursuit of consolidated power,” Windhorst wrote on Facebook. “By signing The People’s Pledge I am standing with the vast majority of Illinoisans, Democrats and Republicans, who know Illinois’ future has no room for entrenched special interests.”
“Politicians like Mike Madigan run for office year after year, accumulating more power and personally enriching themselves off public service,” David Friess of Red Bud said. “Madigan himself has been in power since 1971. That’s 47 years in office and that’s wrong.”
Rauner also expressed support for the pledge. […]
Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) said he does not plan to sign the pledge.
“I do not sign pledges of any sort,” he said. “I believe this whole pledge gimmick is designed to distract from the record.”
The most “equal” town in Illinois is Johnson, in the deep south. Its average income for the top 1 percent is $279,021, while the average for everyone else is $36,881, giving it a top-to-bottom ratio of 7.6.
Hat tip to Jake, who notes the obvious: In Illinois, the top 1% take home more than 21% of all the income in the state…but pay the same state income tax rate.
To the east, the Illinois gubernatorial contest appears increasingly uncompetitive. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R-IL) began the 2018 cycle as the most endangered incumbent Republican in the country and his position has really only worsened since then. Rauner only narrowly won renomination in the March primary against state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R), indicating the GOP base’s frustration with the incumbent.
Following the primary, the Crystal Ball shifted its rating in Illinois from Toss-up to Leans Democratic. Since the primary, every general election poll has found billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker (D) comfortably ahead of Rauner.
While Rauner has a great deal of personal wealth, Pritzker’s bank account has an extra zero in it, and the Democratic nominee outspent Rauner $20.1 million to $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2018. What’s more, because many Republicans are displeased with Rauner, political space has opened for the third-party bid by state Sen. Sam McCann (R). As the Conservative Party nominee, the state senator is running to the right of Rauner on fiscal and social issues, though McCann has a pro-union record. McCann seems likely to peel at least a few Republican votes away from the incumbent, making Rauner’s reelection path even more difficult.
The Crystal Ball typically gives incumbents the benefit of the doubt, but there has been no good news for Rauner in 2018. The Land of Lincoln contest is now rated as Likely Democratic.
With the three ratings changes in Arizona, Illinois, and Iowa, the Crystal Ball now rates nine gubernatorial races as Toss-ups, with 18 others favoring Republicans to some degree and nine more favoring Democrats to some extent. We now view Illinois as the likeliest party flip among the 36 gubernatorial contests in 2018.
* DGA…
“Bruce Rauner needed a turnaround this summer, but the most vulnerable incumbent is finding he cannot escape his three years of failed leadership,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “With no positive record to run on, Rauner has been reduced to running desperate negative ads and cozying up to Donald Trump.”
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent in June and nonfarm payrolls increased by +18,100 jobs over-the-month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The May job gain was revised down slightly from its initial report to show a smaller gain. (+7,700 jobs versus +8,600 jobs).
Job growth accelerated in the April to June period posting average monthly gains of +9,500 jobs over this three-month period, more than the 6-month average monthly gain of +7,500 jobs between January and June 2018.
“June’s payroll gain is the largest in 12 months and the third largest in 24 months,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “Illinois’ unemployment rate held steady in June and stands at its lowest point in 12 years.”
“This positive trend of 12-year lows and new job growth is encouraging,” said Illinois Department of Commerce Director Sean McCarthy. “Our commitment to the people of Illinois remains building a competitive economy that attracts opportunity and allows our hard-working citizens to thrive.”
In June, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Government (+7,400); Leisure and Hospitality (+6,300); and Professional and Business Services (+5,300). The industry sector with the largest payroll decline was: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-5,000).
Over-the-year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +58,300 jobs with the largest gains in these industry sectors in June: Government (+12,900); Leisure and Hospitality (+11,800); and Education and Health Services (+9,400). The industry sectors with the largest over-the-year declines were: Information Services (-3,800) and Mining (-200). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up +1.0 percent over-the-year in sharp contrast to the nation’s +1.6 percent over-the-year gain in June. This was the second consecutive month for an increase of this magnitude in Illinois.
The “education and healthcare” category was up 3,000 over the month and 9,400 over the past year.
It will be interesting when JB wins to watch how legislators who rely on leadership for money respond when JB and Speaker Madigan have a split on opinions. #Twillhttps://t.co/3u9ii2LAxy
As an example, Speaker Madigan pays a lot of lip service to raising the minimum wage, but more often than not defers to the business community (particularly IRMA) when it comes time to pass a real bill. Several of his more liberal members are not pleased with this and similar Madigan moves.
* The Question: Assuming for argument’s sake that the billionaire Pritzker is elected, what do you think rank and file House Democrats will do when he and MJM eventually have a significant difference of opinion on legislation?
* From the May 21st edition of the National Black Chamber of Commerce’s newsletter…
There is no elected official in our nation who is showing the commitment of Governor Bruce Rauner, Governor, State of Illinois. His recent Executive Order [to establish parity for African-American contractors] should be used as an example for all mayors, county executives and governors throughout our nation. We, the federation of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, should show our appreciation and recognize his wisdom. We are preparing a thank you letter and, hereby, ask for all NBCC chapters and other business associations to join in.
That item was forwarded to this publication the day that Gov. Rauner took heat for replying “Exactly” when asked “Hold on, Governor. You said you did more than any other governor for black folks?”
* So, today’s event could dredge that up all over again. From the governor’s public schedule…
What: Gov. Rauner receives Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award, addresses the National Black Chamber of Commerce 26th Annual Conference
Where: U.S. Senate Hart Office Building, Room SD-106, 120 Constitution Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.
Date: Thursday, July 19, 2018
Time: 10:45 a.m. CDT/11:45 a.m. EDT
Note: No additional media availability. Media should enter building on Constitution Avenue.
…Adding… Press release excerpt…
The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) today gave its prestigious Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award to Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner. The award is conferred on leaders who, in NBCC’s estimation, have demonstrated an undeniable commitment to diversity in the procurement sector.
The award was presented by Larry Ivory, a previous Fletcher Award winner and the CEO of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.
“In this decade, there has been no elected official who has done more for the development of Black-owned businesses than Gov. Bruce Rauner,” said Harry Alford, NBCC co-founder and CEO.
“His example is one for all elected officials to emulate,” added NBCC co-founder Kay DeBow. “His sheltered markets program and his recent executive order addressing procurement fairness for Black-owned businesses in Illinois demonstrate his dedication to diversity and the role that business plays in achieving enterprise and, ultimately, social objectives.”
* Meanwhile, you have probably seen the story this morning about how Chance the Rapper bought the assets of the defunct Chicagoist…
On Wednesday night, fans of Chance the Rapper were treated to a surprise release of four new singles.
The songs, available on all streaming platforms, include “Work Out,” “Wala Cam,” “65th and Ingleside” and “I Might Need Security.”
But within the NSFW lyrics of “I Might Need Security,” there was an even bigger surprise waiting to be discovered.
“I bought the Chicagoist/just to run you racist b—-es [rhymes with witches] out of business.”
I don’t get no paper I gotta sign at the bottom
Still in my bag like the fries at the bottom
And I can’t do nothing right, they gon’ always be at me
I missed a Crain’s interview, they tried leaking my addy
I donate to the schools next, they call me a deadbeat daddy
But Sun-Times get in that Rauner business
I got a hit-list so long I don’t know how to finish
I bought the Chicagoist just to run you racist [rhymes with witches] out of business
Speaking of racist, [rhymes with buck] your micro aggressions
I’ll make you fix your words like a typo suggestion
Pat me on the back too hard and Pat’ll ask for your job
And in unrelated news, someone’ll beat your [rhymes with sass] at your job
I’m the real deal
I think that he’s saying that the Chicago newspapers are going after him so he bought the Chicagoist. He’s telling the Sun-Times to focus on Rauner instead of him I think.
…Adding… Word is that Chance may believe that Rauner or his people planted an unfavorable Sun-Times story about his child support payments after the two men had their public spat.
* More lyrics…
And Rahm you done I’m expectin’ resignation
An open investigation on all of these paid vacations for murderers
Gov. Bruce Rauner, who initiated the lawsuit, hopes the Janus decision will reduce the enormous influence that public-employee labor unions have on government at all levels in this state.
That’s one of the reasons his administration immediately posted information online instructing employees how they could drop union membership.
So far, however, his administration is being quiet as to what steps employees are taking. AFSCME is similarly circumspect on that question.
Union spokesman Anders Lindall stated that “just a handful” of members have decided to drop out. But he did say “hundreds of former fee-payers” — non-union members required to pay agency fees to the union — “have joined the union as new members.” He said the ratio of those joining to those leaving is “more than 10 to 1.”
Just over two weeks since the decision, about a third of the affected states – most led by Democrats — have already taken actions meant to make it harder for people to leave unions and harder for anti-union advocates to persuade them to leave. […]
For example, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed two bills in early July to let police unions stop representing non-members in grievance cases. New York tucked a similar rule — for all state employees — into its 2019 budget, which was signed in March.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also signed an executive order — on the day the justices announced their Janus decision — to prevent state agencies from releasing employees’ personal data that could be used by anti-union groups to persuade members to pull out. He said he plans to advance follow-up legislation to expand these new rules to local entities as well. […]
Some states have passed legislation to help unions make their case for membership to new employees. California, Maryland and Washington state now guarantee unions full access to hiring orientation sessions so they can explain the advantages of membership. California and Washington, as well as New Jersey, also prohibit public employers from discouraging membership. In New Jersey, violating this law comes with a financial penalty: Employers have to reimburse unions for any lost dues that result from their actions.
Today, the Rauner campaign is launching a new statewide ad titled “Works For Madigan.”
The ad documents Madigan’s record of getting rich from a corrupt property tax system and shines a light on Pritzker as Madigan’s handpicked candidate for governor. Their relationship spans years, including a company owned by Pritzker utilizing Madigan’s firm to receive massive tax breaks.
If Madigan and Pritzker get their way, hardworking Illinois families will see more of the same high taxes and corruption they’ve faced for decades.
Mike Madigan: the most corrupt politician in all America. JB Pritzker: Madigan’s handpicked machine candidate for governor. Mike Madigan: he spent decades keeping Illinois property taxes high, and became a millionaire helping corrupt insiders dodge them. JB Prtizker: he hired Madigan, dodged thousands in property taxes, helped make Madigan rich, and stuck us with the bill.
* As you know, Gov. Rauner vetoed a bill that would’ve removed Illinois from the controversial Crosscheck program. Tribune…
Democrats have contended the database is being used to deny people the ability to vote, noting that some states have been sued for wiping out voter registrations based solely on the system’s findings without following procedures spelled out in federal voting rights laws. They also say the system has faulty security, including out-of-date encryption technology and instances in which usernames and passwords were routinely emailed to states across the country. […]
The governor Tuesday rejected security concerns about CrossCheck, saying they are being put forth for “political purposes.”
“I think that’s not true and I think that’s more politically motivated. I don’t think that’s based upon security issues,” Rauner said. “As I have indicated in the past, I think it’s good and worthwhile for Illinois to be a part of the CrossCheck system.”
Questions about the state’s enrollment in CrossCheck were brought to the fore by Indivisible Chicago, a progressive group formed following President Donald Trump’s election that found various security lapses.
The Illinois State Board of Elections said Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the plan to remove Illinois from the Interstate Voter Crosscheck Program won’t change much because Illinois isn’t using Crosscheck right now.
Matt Dietrich, a spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections, said the state of Illinois hasn’t sent any voter data to the Crosscheck program in over a year, and hasn’t used any information from Crosscheck in two years.
Dietrich said Crosscheck has been, essentially, dormant.
“Back in January, Crosscheck told us they were waiting on an assessment from the Department of Homeland Security on their security and data handling,” Dietrich said. “They said they would get back to us, and would not ask for any data or accept any data until they had a clean bill of health from DHS.” […]
Dietrich said the state board looked at dropping Crosscheck earlier this year, but the board couldn’t agree on whether it was a good idea or not.
“The real question now, for us, is what is the status of Crosscheck itself,” Dietrich said. “The ball is in their court now. They told us that when DHS says they’re good to go that we will hear from them. We never heard anything from them.”
The state board split 4-4 on partisan lines on whether to get out of Crosscheck.
Some Republicans say Rauner’s support helped revive the party and make it more competitive. Though Democrats have accused him of using this money to intimidate lawmakers to follow his agenda, which Rauner has denied. […]
For one thing, there’s not a power vacuum atop the Democratic Party — Speaker Madigan retains a firm grip. And Democrats have majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. This leaves less room for a wealthy donor to come in and assert influence.
Brendan O’Sullivan, a Democratic strategist and fundraiser in Illinois, remembers one particular donation, a $9 million check from Rauner to support a few House and Senate races in October of 2016.
“It was a deflating to say the least for me to see that,” he said. “It was on a Friday night. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I have to figure out how to bring in a new $9 million over the last weeks of this election.” […]
“I think there’s a sense of relief on the Democratic side that we have someone who can help us match what Gov. Rauner decides to spend,” he said.
I believe a lot of elected Illinois Democrats feel relieved that they won’t be outspent this time around.
[Reporter’s name was changed because of an error at the other end of the original lin, which was also changed.]
* Related…
* New Pritzker investment fund takes in $1.8 billion: Conscious of the conflicts that might seem to exist given J.B. Pritzker’s political run, Tony Pritzker said that the only Illinois investors in the second fund are family members. “J.B.’s not involved in PPC Partners and we didn’t solicit nor do we have any Illinois investors,” Tony Pritzker said. “J.B.’s very careful about this stuff.”
State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, on Monday was named deputy House minority leader, giving him the second highest ranking in the House Republican Caucus.
* Before we begin, this is a brief description of Aunt Martha’s…
Aunt Martha’s is a private, not-for-profit agency providing coordinated health care and social services for family members of all ages in underserved communities across Illinois. The agency serves more than 60,000 children and adults annually. It is state-licensed to provide child welfare, substance abuse treatment and childcare services
Established in 1982, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) is a nonprofit trade association of community health centers (CHCs) that proudly serves as Illinois’ sole primary care association. IPHCA represents 48 Organizational members—CHCs—that operate nearly 350 sites in the states of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri—serving 1.3 million patients annually.
* OK, now that you know who the players are and their importance to the state, check out this excerpt of a July 14th memo to members of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association sent by Aunt Martha’s CEO Raul Garza…
I am writing today to bring to your attention the behavior of and remarks directed toward me by Bruce Johnson, IPHCA’s President & CEO, at a meeting that took place at Aunt Martha’s on June 20, 2018. During our meeting, in front of six other members of Aunt Martha’s executive team (seven of us total), Mr. Johnson made multiple references to his ability influence our organization’s business and reputation. He went so far as to state that he has the ability to affect our business dealings and relationships with other organizations, including the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, managed care organizations, congressional leaders, and others with whom Aunt Martha’s is developing partnerships.
Mr. Johnson’s inappropriate remarks did not end with his insufficiently-veiled threats toward Aunt Martha’s. Instead, his behavior took a more disturbing turn. As we closed the meeting, Mr. Johnson asked me if Trump lets me back into the country when I travel to Mexico. When I told him I had been there three months ago and did not have a problem getting back home, he continued, asking, “Did you bring any family back with you?” I responded by telling him that I had not brought any family from Mexico when I returned to the United States. He chuckled to himself. My executive staff and I were at once stunned, angered, and hurt by these vile, bigoted remarks and behavior. [Emphasis added]
Um, OK.
Aunt Martha’s retained an attorney and he sent his report to the IPHCA’s board on June 29th. Click here to read it. Apparently, Johnson was tipped off by an executive committee member and quickly tried to apologize via voicemail, alleging saying he “really didn’t mean to be racist.” Ain’t that always the way?
Aunt Martha’s attorney claimed that IPHCA had gone against “the most basic principles of conducting an investigation as required under federal law.” More here. IPHCA also apparently claimed that they couldn’t move forward because Garza wouldn’t provide witness affidavits.
* Soon after Garza sent that e-mail to IPHCA members, the IPHCA’s chairman Gordon Eggers sent a defiant memo to those same members. Excerpt…
It has come to the attention of the Executive Committee that this past Saturday evening (July 14, 2018) you received email correspondence from Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness,Raul Garza and/or their attorney (collectively, “Aunt Martha’s”) complaining of purportedly offensive racial and ethnic comments allegedly made by Bruce Johnson, IPHCA’s President and CEO, on June 20, 2018. The Executive Committee regards any and all such complaints most seriously, as discrimination of any type is repugnant to IPHCA and contrary to its mission.
The Executive Committee was deliberately excluded from Aunt Martha’s email so has had no opportunity to respond until now. From first learning of Aunt Martha’s concerns on or about June 27, 2018, less than three weeks ago, the Executive Committee, among other action, met with Mr. Garza at his demand on less than two days’ notice; engaged IPHCA’s attorneys in the review and investigation process; caused interviews of material witnesses; determined insurance coverage issues; reviewed and determined applicable HR policies and procedures; had direct communications with Aunt Martha’s prior attorneys and current attorneys; and otherwise acted as quickly and responsibly as possible in the serious circumstances presented.
Aunt Martha’s in fact waited more than a week to even notify the Executive Committee as to any concerns it now expresses. While Aunt Martha’s latest email to membership apparently encourages an impassioned “rush to judgment”, due process and fundamental rights of all parties require otherwise.
* Aunt Martha’s Garza then upped the ante by sending a letter to the General Assembly’s Latino Caucus on Monday, July 16th. An excerpt…
The Association’s insistence that its investigation has stalled because it does not have affidavits [from witnesses] has no basis in reality. Our attorney, Mr. Ricardo Meza, a former executive inspector general for the state of Illinois, is not aware of any circumstance in which the Association would be prevented from investigating a complaint, regardless of its form or content. Making a request for affidavits even more absurd is that the fact that the Executive Committee has in its possession a transcript of a voicemail in which Mr. Johnson’s stated that he “really didn’t mean to be racist.” It seems the only thing preventing the Association from moving forward is a desire to first make public the same finger pointing and victim shaming already displayed in private.
While Bruce’s comments do not – in any way – reflect the opinions of our Committee or IPHCA staff, we know that he was acting as a representative of IPHCA at the time. More than that, we are committed to taking additional steps to ensure this never happens again.
The Executive Committee has approved the creation of a Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which will oversee the immediate hiring of a law firm with deep experience in personnel matters. They will be asked to conduct an independent investigation into IPHCA’s current work environment and personnel practices, while also helping us to implement additional employee training. Finally, we will ask them to help us to create a formal process that will ensure any future concerns raised by members or staff receive the prompt attention they deserve.
* In response, Garza sent a defiant memo to his own employees yesterday. Excerpt…
On Monday morning (July 16), IPHCA sent its first message to its members. Their defiant attitude, finger-pointing and victim-shaming - which we had described to all of the members almost 36 hours earlier - were all on full display. In IPHCA’s message, the other member organizations could now see for themselves the same anger and spite we’d experienced.
The first part of our plan had been to contact the IPHCA membership. The next step, which we followed through on yesterday, was to contact elected officials and leaders at all levels. Our message was the same. The President & CEO of IPHCA walked into a meeting with our executive team and made, stunningly offensive, racist remarks. We reported the matter to IPHCA’s Executive Committee, which has a responsibility to investigate and reach and unbiased conclusion. Instead, we were subjected to bullying, victim-shaming, and stall tactics. Once again, the response was nothing less than overwhelming. To judge by the outpouring of support, sympathy, and shared-indignation, it seems almost as if the only people in Illinois who don’t understand the ramifications of Mr. Johnson’s behavior are the same people whose roles require them to hold him accountable.
Then, last night, the Executive Committee sent an email to all members announcing Mr. Johnson’s resignation, effective immediately. The tone of their message was completely changed. Rather than saying their investigating was delayed because the victim was being uncooperative, they had concluded their investigation, having spoken to Mr. Johnson and other IPHCA staff. Rather than dismissing the seriousness of our complaint, they announced the formation of a Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
This may seem, on the surface, a victory; but it is not. The hateful tone we’ve heard repeatedly over the last several weeks was washed over in one message. The hateful tone we’ve heard is part of an underlying current of bigotry that flows directly from the top of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association. Mr. Johnson’s resignation, and the formation of a new committee, are like a Band-Aid on a festering wound. The people who, for three weeks sat across from me - from Aunt Martha’s - fuming with anger because we dared to ask them to do the right thing, those people are still there.
Whew.
I attempted to reach Johnson, but was unsuccessful. If he would like to comment, I’ll post it whenever I get it.
* NRA President Oliver North is hosting a state legislative campaign fundraiser tomorrow in Effingham, where the state’s “gun sanctuary” movement began. From a Facebook ad…
Illinois Republican state treasurer candidate Jim Dodge sent out a media advisory yesterday announcing he will be attending the event as well.
* By chance, Gov. Rauner was in Effingham yesterday on a campaign swing to promote his FireMikeMadigan.com website…
Joined Blaine Wilhour, Darren Bailey, Chris Miller, and Rob Arnold at the People’s Pledge event in Effingham today. Visit https://t.co/tVHBlGbmmV to learn more about putting the people back in charge of state government. pic.twitter.com/oFI2zgZuHQ
* Back in the day, Effingham was considered a swing county. Democrat Neil Hartigan won it in 1990 and Glenn Poshard took it in 1998. Comptroller Dan Hynes and Secretary of State Jesse White both won it in 2002. Attorney General Lisa Madigan prevailed in 2006. And Sen. Dick Durbin managed a win in 2008.
But Donald Trump won it by 60 points and the last statewide Democrat to win the county was Secretary White way back in 2010. It’s solidly GOP now. White lost the county by 17 points four years ago.
On Monday, Rauner had signed a law extending the waiting period in Illinois for all firearms to 72 hours. Previously, the limit was 72 hours for handguns and 24 hours for other firearms. Rauner called it a common-sense reform that respects the Second Amendment and improves public safety.
It runs directly counter to the Effingham County firearms sanctuary resolution.
“I respect the passion that those who defend the Second Amendment have,” Rauner said. “And I support the Second Amendment as well. I’m not familiar with all the resolutions that have been passed at the county level. I believe that, as a state, we should protect and defend the Constitution and the Second Amendment, while also finding thoughtful ways to help increase public safety.”
Effingham County Republican Chairman Rob Arnold was present at the stop. As an Effingham County Board member, he voted in favor of the sanctuary resolution. Arnold said it’s clear Rauner agrees with the county’s way of thinking, but differs in specifics.
Arnold isn’t just a gun sanctuary proponent. He wanted to put the sanctuary issue up for a popular vote this November, but his idea was recently rejected by his fellow county board members.
* Part of the idea behind the whole “Madigan, taxes, corruption, toilets - lather, rinse, repeat” is to try and convince Republicans to forget about his divisive primary fight with Jeanne Ives and get them to focus on unifying ahead of November.
Rauner lost Effingham County to Rep. Ives by 14 points, 57-43. But his post-primary tack is apparently working with people like Arnold.
* Gov. Rauner got some solid press pops yesterday. From KWQC TV…
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation that expands the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy and cuts the red tape on future construction projects, allowing the administration to move quickly to build a new state-of-the-art facility at the campus.
“We’re building a brand new facility and making sure our veterans have a safe place to call home,” Rauner said. “Building this new facility should not be caught up in the bureaucratic process. Our veterans deserve the best. They have fought to secure our freedom and we’re fighting to make sure they have the care they need for generations to come.”
Rauner’s administration has outlined a $230 million plan to update the 130-year-old campus, first replacing ancient, corroded plumbing that provides a breeding ground for Legionella bacteria that can sicken when it’s inhaled in water vapor. Lawmakers approved $53 million for the first of what officials expect to be a five-year plan, said Michael Hoffman, Rauner’s senior adviser.
“I’m glad to see the governor taking such swift action to begin construction on one of Quincy’s most important landmarks,” said Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy. “Securing the design-build contract is one of the final steps to kick-start the Quincy Veterans’ Home $52 million capital development plan.”
“There is no one who believed that the entire facility and the entire plumbing facility needed to be replaced,” Rauner said. “No one knew that; no one believed that.”
Rauner said it only became apparent over time that the entire plumbing system had to be replaced to make the buildings safe.
Rauner would not say what he plans to do with two other bills that lawmakers passed in response to the Quincy problems. One would require that family members, staff and others be notified within 24 hours of a Legionnaires’ outbreak at a facility. The other would raise the cap on damages people can get from the state if their relatives died of Legionnaires’ at Quincy.
The Democratic Governor’s Association says he’s trying to “wipe his hands” of the ordeal while Sen. Tom Cullerton said he doesn’t deserve a pat on the back for trying to govern at the 11th hour. JB Pritzker, Rauner’s opponent in November, says it’s too little, too late.
Rep. Randy Frese (R-Quincy) said they need the help, regardless of the timing. “The heroes that reside there deserve certainly deserve the very best care,” Frese said.
* But Greg Bishop of the Illinois News Network picked up on something that I think everybody else missed, including the Chicago types…
Touting bipartisan success on implementing fixes to the troubled Quincy Veterans Home, Rauner said taxpayers are going to have to eat the cost of an unfinished veterans home in Chicago.
That $70 million-plus project in Chicago began in September 2014 and still sits unfinished. Rauner took office in January 2015. After signing legislation Tuesday to speed up the Quincy project, Rauner said the Chicago project needs to be scrapped.
“There’s a classic Illinois government bureaucracy at work,” Rauner said. “That veterans home has been stumbling and struggling and over budget and restarted for years, years and years, long before I became governor.”
Rauner said the process involved in the Chicago home is a “nightmare” and he’s committed to finishing the project but said many millions of tax dollars have been wasted already.
* Transcript…
REPORTER: Governor, the Chicago area has a veterans’ home that has been in need for how long? And to Representative Chapa LaVia‘ s point, yes, Quincy is an issue and it’s beyond time to address that. What about a building that is maybe unfinished costing taxpayers now?
RAUNER: Yeah, and one that frankly probably has to be mostly pretty much started completely over. There is a classic Illinois, government bureaucracy at work. That veterans’ home has been stumbling and struggling and over budget and restarting for years. Years and years. Long before I became governor. It is part of the problem of our system of procurement, part of the problem of our system of development and construction when it’s handled by the government bureaucracy. It’s really a nightmare and we need to improve it. I am committed to making sure that that veterans’ home is completed and that we change the process so it’s done on time and on budget. Because right now it’s been, prior to my becoming governor, that project a complete mess. And really needs a complete redo.
REPORTER: Are you suggesting that we redo, I mean what about the millions of dollars that have been put into it already?
RAUNER: Oh boy. There have been many millions wasted on that facility.
* Yeah, well, the governor himself stopped construction on the Chicago facility during the impasse three years ago. Here’s Mark Brown in November of 2017…
A neglected five-story skeleton of a building on the city’s Northwest Side looks almost exactly like it did when I last visited two years ago, except for the weeds being taller and the temporary braces rustier.
By now, this was supposed to be a new Illinois Veterans Home, the first to be located in the Chicago area where the largest concentration of the state’s veterans reside.
Instead, it remains a sad brick-and-concrete symbol of the dysfunction in Illinois government.
Gov. Bruce Rauner halted construction on the project in July 2015 in the early stages of his state budget fight with Democratic legislators.
And that’s exactly how the abandoned structure remains 29 months later, open and exposed to the elements of what will soon be its third winter.
The Chicago area is home to more than half of the 764,000 veterans in the state, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, but the closest skilled nursing home with specialized care for veterans is more than an hour drive south of Chicago, in Kankakee County.
So, the governor forcefully pushes a $230 million plan to upgrade an ancient facility way out in western Illinois at a cost of almost a million dollars per resident, but grumbles about the cost of a Chicago facility where most of our veterans live?
And here I thought this was supposed to be campaign season. Oh, wait. “Chicago.” Right.
Gov. Bruce Rauner joined Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn and local officials today to mark the opening of the East Main Street underpass, a project that will enhance quality of life and promote commerce.
The underpass carries regular vehicle traffic beneath BNSF Railroad tracks, eliminating the delays caused by passing trains and improving safety, traffic flow and emergency response times in Galesburg’s central business district.
“Separating rail from regular traffic at this critical location will improve safety in Galesburg immediately,” Rauner said. “Drivers will no longer have to cross busy train tracks, and police, ambulance and fire personnel don’t have to worry about waiting for a passing train. The project also makes this area more attractive to business investors that are looking to grow and expand in this strategic location in Illinois.”
Construction of the underpass began in October 2016, routing U.S. 150 under the tracks and just north of a BNSF railyard. The total cost was $26.5 million, funded through a combination of federal, state, local and railroad funds.
The project is the final piece of a larger plan with the state to reduce the impact of train traffic in Galesburg, one of Illinois’ busiest rail hubs. The Donald L. Moffitt Overpass on West Main Street was finished in 2012 and the Bickerdyke Bridge opened in 2014, separating vehicle and train traffic at both locations. Upgrades were made at 13 other crossings, improving safety and helping to establish a quiet zone in which trains no longer needed to sound their horns through town.
“These projects have shown how teamwork can lead to solutions for problems that at one time might have seemed unfixable,” Blankenhorn said. “We look forward to working with more communities to advance their goals and make life better for residents and businesses.”
* JB Pritzker’s campaign has a ton of different TV ads running at the same time. One Republican operative told me he counted 8 different Pritzker spots last week. Pritzker can obviously afford to run multiple message tracks and he’s undoubtedly targeting various voters on cable. Here’s a new positive ad called “Make a Difference”…
I’m JB Pritzker, and throughout my life I’ve tried to make a difference. In Illinois, I founded the world’s #1 small business incubator that’s created over 7,000 jobs. I led the effort to build a museum dedicated to fighting bigotry and hatred. And I’ve been a national leader in early childhood education, advocating for universal preschool and quality childcare. We’ve got a lot of challenges in Illinois, but I know we can get big things done.
It’s something you don’t hear much about, but across Illinois, businesses like this one have good paying jobs waiting to be filled, but struggle to find trained workers needed to fill them. We need to do more to help high school students get vocational training, technical training for transitioning workers at community colleges, and connect businesses to the workers they are looking for. I know we can create the jobs Illinois needs now.
What could Illinois get with a billion dollars? Buy 6,000 books for every public school in the state, begin to fix our roads and bridges, or provide Meals on Wheels to 375,000 seniors. But what did Bruce Rauner get for a billion dollars? Nothing. That’s right, Rauner wasted a billion dollars and got nothing for it, because that’s how much Rauner lost on interest penalties by refusing to pass a budget. Bruce Rauner, four years of failure is enough.
* The Senate Transportation Committee will hold a hearing about some Illinois Tollway contract policies next week at the urging of Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines)...
Tollway spokesman Dan Rozek said the agency “would welcome the opportunity to set the record straight on our competitive bidding process, the safeguards we have in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest and the independent review our contracts are subject to in order to ensure maximum compliance, integrity and transparency.”
One case that drew concerns from legislators involved a $6.6 million subcontract with Morreale Communications that piggybacked onto a larger engineering contract and thus did not require a separate vote by the tollway board. The PR firm’s CEO, Kim Morreale, is married to Republican state Rep. Michael McAuliffe of Chicago. The tollway said the firm was chosen on its merits.
Another situation that raised questions was a $157 million contract with Omega and Associates for Tri-State Tollway management services in November.
Omega employs the grown children of tollway officials and has contributed to two board members’ charities.
* Marni Pyke has been all over this topic. From last November…
Illinois tollway directors on Wednesday approved a controversial $157 million, 10-year contract with engineers Omega & Associates that has sparked concerns about potential conflict of interest.
Three members of the board and a top executive have links to the Lisle firm that will supervise Central Tri-State Tollway reconstruction, but officials said the agency has followed all proper procedures.
Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, whose daughter is a marketing coordinator for Omega, left the boardroom during the vote.
Chief Engineer Paul Kovacs’ son is a civil engineer at the firm, and Directors Neli Vasquez Rowland and Corey Brooks run separate charities that have received donations from Omega.
A politically connected Illinois tollway employee hired last year for an important $80,016 engineering department job last worked in 2001 as an account executive selling office furniture.
Laura Durkin is the agency’s general manager of engineering and sister-in-law to Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. Tollway officials recently released Laura Durkin’s resume to the Daily Herald after withholding it for weeks.
Speaking in general terms, Republican state Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights said “the tollway has always been a hotbed of patronage. Both parties have taken advantage of the fact it is a relatively independent body and not subject to great legislative or General Assembly scrutiny.”
The Morreale Communications contract was reviewed for conflict of interest by the state Procurement Policy Board and Chief Procurement Office and approved, tollway officials said.
The agency is committed to diversity, including women-owned businesses, and “we have an obligation to judge these businesses based on the quality of their work, not their personal decisions,” a statement said.
The Illinois tollway contends its no-bid process that uses a selection committee to makes recommendations to the board on expensive engineering contracts is independent and transparent.
But when asked to provide meeting minutes, the agency blacked out the names of committee members in a majority of cases, making it impossible to see who is voting — a response criticized by attorney and public access expert Don Craven as improper under Illinois open records law.
When the names did surface they included tollway board Director Corey Brooks, who like all directors is appointed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, countering claims the selection process for contracts is independent.
Knowing who sits on the selection committee is important because unlike construction contracts that are competitively bid and go to the lowest bidder, professional firms are screened by tollway staff, then ranked by committee members who send a final recommendation to the board.
The Daily Herald has reported on potential conflicts of interests involving contracts where firms have political ties to Republicans or connections with tollway executives. The agency denies any patronage and said it follows state regulations on contracts.
Brendan Kelly’s campaign for Illinois’s 12th Congressional District today released its first television advertisement for broadcast, titled “Faith.”
In the ad, Brendan details his reasons for running. He affirms his commitment to overcoming divisions by rebuilding his home district and restoring faith in Southern Illinois. Brendan also restates his pledge to push for new leadership in BOTH parties.
