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Duckworth says state party, state House should “consider new leadership”

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bernie

Illinois Democrats and the Illinois House should consider replacing House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, said Wednesday.

“The ongoing investigation surrounding Speaker Madigan is an unnecessary distraction and makes it harder to carry out the work of helping the people of Illinois,” Duckworth, of Hoffman Estates, said in a statement exclusively to The State Journal-Register.

“As our nation hopefully embarks on a brighter path with a new president, the Illinois Democratic Party and the Illinois House of Representatives should consider new leadership to continue the progress we’ve made at the state level and build on it.”

Notice that Duckworth went further than either Durbin or Pritzker. Both of them focused solely on Madigan’s Democratic Party of Illinois chairmanship. Duckworth mentioned the Illinois House as well.

…Adding… The Cook County Assessor isn’t exactly on the same level as a US Senator, but Madigan’s firm does a lot of work in that field, so here you go…


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Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x2 *** Pritzker says he agrees with Durbin on need for new party leadership

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Gov. Pritzker was asked today: “To be clear, you agree with Sen. Durbin that we need new leadership at the party?”

“Yes,” the governor said.

I’ll update this in a bit.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Pritzker was asked to clarify something he said earlier when he was asked about Durbin’s comments regarding Speaker Madigan’s party chairmanship…

Look, I agree with Senator Durbin that opponents were able to tap into voters’ concerns about corruption and their lack of trust in government. There are real challenges there, and you know that I have proposed significant ethics reforms that I know that the legislature needs to take up. The Republicans and the billionaires that sided with them were effectively able to use the speaker as their foil. And that hurt our ability, our state’s ability to get things done.

And the truth is that Democrats are standing up for the middle class and getting important things done to support them. But it is clear that Senator Durbin is expressing something that I think is accurate.

…Adding… Press release…

Last night in a television interview, Senator Dick Durbin said about Speaker Michael Madigan: “All across our state – and the advertising told the story – we paid a heavy price for the Speaker’s chairmanship of the Democratic Party…I hope he takes that to heart and understands that his presence as chairman of our party has not helped.”

Today, during his daily COVID-19 briefing, Governor Pritzker was asked if he believed Madigan should step down as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. He responded with a “yes.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response:

“Let me be clear: a superficial and political demotion as Chairman of the DPI does nothing to end Madigan’s reign of corruption as Speaker of the House. His position at the heights of our state government is where he derives his power and where he still diligently gives Governor Pritzker his marching orders. Suggesting the Speaker step down as party chair is a cop out.”

*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…

Please see the following statement from Chairman Madigan:

“I am proud of my record electing Democrats who support workers and families and represent the diversity of our state. Together, we have successfully advanced progressive policies that have made Illinois a strong Democratic state with supermajorities in the legislature. Illinois is the anchor in the ‘blue wall’ that has been reconstructed in the Midwest, and I look forward to continuing our fight for working families as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.”

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Almost 10 percent of all new unemployment insurance claims were filed in Illinois last week

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bloomberg

More Americans than expected filed for state unemployment benefits last week, underscoring churn in a labor market that continues to recover only gradually.

Initial jobless claims in regular state programs totaled 751,000 in the week ended Oct. 31, down from an upwardly revised 758,000 in the prior week, Labor Department data showed Thursday. On an unadjusted basis, the number of applications was little changed.

Continuing claims — or the total number of Americans claiming ongoing state unemployment assistance — fell by 538,000 to 7.29 million in the week ended Oct. 24, the sixth straight decline. Still, the number of people claiming support in a federal program that offers extended assistance increased as more Americans exhausted their regular state benefits.

* CBS 2

A total of 73,515 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of Oct. 26 in Illinois, which had the second largest weekly increase (38%) in the nation, according to the latest report released Thursday.

According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) there were 10,705 new claims filed during the same week in 2019. That’s a 587% increase.

The latest claims reported by IDES are a 38% increase over the previous week of Oct. 19, when the state reported there were 53,138 claims filed in Illinois. The state’s rate of increase is second only behind Kentucky, which saw a 69% increase in unemployment claims. However, Illinois had by far the largest increase in overall claims, with 20,377 more than the previous week. No other state reported an increase of more than 4,000 claims.

  14 Comments      


COVID-19 roundup

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Text message from Rep. Deb Conroy…

I believe we have an epidemic of asymptomatic super spreaders of this virus. Two of my fours sons are positive and have no symptoms. That God for contact tracing. They are fine and are in quarantine. Now another of my sons and I are scrambling to get tested. He got a cancellation and is in a line that will be hours long. I’m still trying to get an appointment. We will also be in quarantine.

These long testing lines are starting to make me very nervous.

* And while we’re talking about asymptomatic spreaders

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike suggested Wednesday that poll workers, voters and others who participated in the election throughout the state be tested for the coronavirus. […]

She asked that even people who test negative for COVID-19 following a week of exposure to “be careful” as many develop symptoms up to two weeks after encountering the virus.

* WUIS

Individuals not wearing a face covering around their nose and mouth in grocery stores, gas stations and other retail businesses in Springfield can now be fined $50, and businesses can get hit with a $250 fine for not requiring customers to comply with the mask mandate.

A subsequent violation for a business would lead to a $500 fine. Face coverings are proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Springfield City Council approved the ordinance at an emergency meeting Wednesday night.

I’m told the Illinois Retail Merchants Association supported this ordinance and believes the state should follow suit.

…Adding… From IRMA…

IRMA is pleased the city of Springfield will begin fining individuals for not wearing face coverings in retail locations. This is exactly the approach the state should have been taking from the beginning instead of asking businesses to serve as law enforcement officials. Businesses should be held accountable for what they can control (e.g. one or more of the following: sign on door, using public address system to remind consumers, social distancing markers on the floor by point-of-sale, someone at the entrance to remind consumers). Individuals should be held responsible for wearing face coverings. The most common excuse is a consumer claiming they have a medical reason they cannot wear a face covering. At this point, retailers are prohibited by law from inquiring further or taking an additional action. Another common action is the consumer removes it the moment they are in the store or out sight of an employee. Likewise, retailers cannot physically restrain anyone. The most common refrain is “simply don’t sell to them”. That is neither simple nor realistic. Consumers are regularly claiming medical exemptions and retailers risk legal claims on denial of service. Finally, such confrontations put retailers in harm’s way and we’ve recently seen these tragedies become reality in Illinois.

* More from Springfield’s city council via the SJ-R

At the same time, the council passed on an opportunity to endorse a “phased” mitigation plan rolled out by Mayor Jim Langfelder and Sangamon County leaders Tuesday afternoon that directly defies Gov. JB Pritzker’s mitigation order by allowing indoor bar and dining service to continue at 25% capacity for at least two weeks. […]

A resolution affirming the approach to mitigations along with other measures — including the discouragement of private house parties and giving bars and restaurants a six-month credit on their annual liquor license renewal fees — was tabled after an hour of debate.

Some council members, such as Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 8. Ald. Erin Conley, said they were unwilling to buck Pritzker and sign off on lax mitigations. Others, like Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath and Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer, worried the 25% capacity might be too low for many bars and restaurants to stay afloat. […]

Langfelder acknowledged after the meeting that he does have the authority under his emergency powers to implement the contents of the resolution on his own. He said he plans to sign an emergency order in the coming days reflecting that.

“I thought it was better to have a discussion with everybody, and then move in that direction,” Langfelder said. “So we’ll probably be forthcoming with that resolution. But the most important part was the mask ordinance. And I appreciate the council passing that unanimously.”

Maybe just forget about that resolution, mayor.

* Center Square

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new report showing 61-thousand children nationwide tested positive for the virus last week. As of October 29, there have been over 850-thousand cases reported in children. Children have represented more than 11% of all cases of the virus in the country.

During the daily COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in the latest statewide report that children were the third-largest group in terms of the number of cases.

“They are involved in activities and group things as well,” Ezike said. “There are sports, there’s dance, there’s school, there’s trick-or-treating, there are birthday parties, so there is ample opportunity for our younger residents to get the infection as well.”

According to a CDC report in October, adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 were twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 than kids between 5 and 11 years old.

While cases of severe illness appear to be rare among children, most times it is in infants younger than 1.

I personally know of two infants with the illness. Not a good thing.

* From the Tribune’s live blog

Taste of Chicago, Air Show funding not in city 2021 budget

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces $10 million grant program for bars and restaurants struggling with COVID-19 shutdown

Chicago Bears send players and coaches home after Cody Whitehair reportedly tests positive for COVID-19

Sangamon County judge dismisses lawsuits challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s coronavirus orders and restrictions

Pilsen mural features residents, including essential workers: ‘It mirrors the community’s resilience’

Red Cross appeals for blood donations, plasma to fight coronavirus

State driver facilities in West Chicago, Aurora to reopen Thursday after closing because of coronavirus case

* Sun-Times live blog

Pies and PPE: Local pizza shop uses ovens to make face shields

91% of classrooms have adequate ventilation, CPS says as debate continues on return during the pandemic

How COVID has shaped this election

  15 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** McConchie will be next Senate Republican Leader, Rezin to be Deputy Leader

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This was not unanimous and subscribers know why. From a press release…

Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) issued the following statement after he was chosen as Leader-Elect of the Illinois State Senate Republican Caucus by its members this afternoon:

“I want to thank my colleagues for choosing me for this important role.

“There are exciting days ahead. Illinois voters sent a powerful message this week by overwhelmingly rejecting the constitutional tax hike amendment and sending the message that they do not trust state government with broader taxing powers.

“We Senate Republicans hear you loud and clear and are ready to act.

“During my tenure in the legislature, I have made meaningful reform my top priority. Our caucus will embrace a fundamentally new direction for Illinois. We need balanced budgets, smaller and smarter government, lower taxes, economic reforms, and a world-class education system that prepares our next generation to stay and succeed here, not flee to another state.

“We will work every day to rebuild voters’ trust, weed out corruption, grow our caucus, reform our spending and revive what makes Illinois such a great state.

“I look forward to partnering with my House Republican colleagues to give voice to the message voters sent us on Tuesday signaling their distrust of state government and to fight for the reforms they so clearly want.

“We have no time to waste. Let’s get to work.”

In his first act as Leader-Elect, Senator McConchie chose Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) as his Deputy Leader.

“There is no denying that we are at a crossroads as a party and a state,” said Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris). “I believe Dan is the person best equipped to guide us down a new and different path. He will put in the thoughtful action needed to recruit fresh, more diverse candidates and engage groups who have not previously seen a place for themselves in the GOP. It is a new day here in Illinois, and I am looking forward to working with Dan as his Deputy Leader to help rebuild our organization and our state.”

“I am proud to have supported Dan as the new leader of our caucus because he has the intelligence, work ethic and curiosity needed to build our Senate Republican Caucus,” said Illinois State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). “His passion for policy is unmatched, and we need that focus on real solutions to bring the people of Illinois the reforms they deserve. I am looking forward to working alongside him and our colleagues as we build a stronger, more effective Senate Republican Caucus.”

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

Democratic Illinois Senate President Don Harmon issued the following statement congratulating Sen. Dan McConchie on being elected the next Republican leader.

“I look forward to working with Senator McConchie as the Senate continues to lead by example and with a commitment to pragmatism and bipartisanship that was the hallmark of Leader Brady’s tenure in the post. Congratulations Senator McConchie.”

  13 Comments      


9,935 new cases, 97 additional deaths, 3,891 hospitalized, 772 in the ICU, case positivity rate 9.1 percent, test positivity rate 10.5 percent, state surpasses 10,000 deaths

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I feel like I’m going to throw up reading this…

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 9,935 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 97 additional deaths.

    Adams County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
    Carroll County: 1 female 80s
    Clinton County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
    Coles County: 1 female 70s, 2 female 90s, 1 male 90s
    Cook County: 1 male 20s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 60s, 5 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 4 males 70s, 3 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 7 females 90s, 1 male 90s
    DeWitt County: 1 female 90s
    Douglas County: 1 male 70s
    DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 80s
    Fayette County: 1 female 70s
    Franklin County: 1 female 80s
    Jackson County: 1 male 80s
    Jo Daviess County: 1 male 90s
    Kane County: 1 female 70s
    Kankakee County: 1 male 80s
    Knox County: 1 female 90s, 1 female 100+
    Lake County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
    LaSalle County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
    Macon County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 90s
    Madison County: 1 female 40s
    McDonough County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
    McLean County: 1 female 30s
    Monroe County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
    Morgan County: 1 female 60s
    Peoria County: 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s
    Pike County: 1 female 100+
    Randolph County: 1 female 90s
    Rock Island County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
    Saline County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
    Stephenson County: 1 female 90s
    Tazewell County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
    Vermilion County: 1 male 70s, 3 males 80s
    Wayne County: 1 female 80s
    Whiteside County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
    Will County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 80s
    Williamson County: 1 female 50s

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 447,491 cases, including 10,030 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 86,015 specimens for a total 8,116,728. As of last night, 3,891 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 772 patients were in the ICU and 343 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from October 29 – November 4 is 9.1%. This is the number that IDPH has been consistently reporting in its daily releases and is calculated using total cases over total tests. Similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH has been using test positivity for regional mitigation metrics on its website since mid-July. Test positivity is calculated using the number of COVID-19 positive tests over total tests. On October 29, 2020, IDPH began reporting the statewide test positivity in its daily releases. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from October 29, 2020 – November 4, 2020 is 10.5%.

Case positivity and test positivity rate are both relevant and offer insight into the bigger COVID-19 picture. Case positivity helps us understand whether changes in the number of confirmed cases is due to more testing or due to more infections. Whereas, test positivity accounts for repeated testing and helps us understand how the virus is spreading in the population over time.

*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.

  37 Comments      


Déjà vu all over again

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Hannah Meisel on December 3, 2018

The grounds of the Bolingbrook Golf Club melted from white with five-day-old snow back to its former green as day wore on Saturday during the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committeeman meeting, as those inside the Taylor ballroom pondered what went wrong for their party on Nov. 6. […]

After a lengthy executive session Saturday afternoon, one actionable step the party made public after the conclusion of meeting was to launch a Vision 2020 project, in which state central committeemen will travel their districts to speak with constituents in order to come up with party platform. The first phase of that vision has a late January deadline.

One issue that may not feature as prominently on that platform as in years past is longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago). Though Rauner had made the alleged “corruption” of Madigan and other Democrats central to his message, Schneider admitted it’s a line that may have played itself out.

“We realize that in 2014 and 2016, the anti-Madigan message did extremely well,” he said. “It lost its luster in 2018. It clearly was overplayed. People have heard enough. They agree with the Republican Party that Madigan is the party, but give me something else now.”

Thoughts?

  14 Comments      


Singing, “We’re gonna vent our frustration”

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Some folks always want to take their ball and go home if they don’t win. The folks leading this charge definitely fall into that category

Several counties in Illinois on Tuesday passed nonbinding resolutions by wide margins to create a new state, separate from Chicago and Cook County.

Questions posed to voters in various counties asked if they should join with others outside of Cook County to create a new state.

In Clay County, nearly 80 percent of voters approved the question. Nearly 73 percent of Shelby County voters approved, while 63 percent of Christian County voters did so and in Crawford County, nearly 76 percent of the voters said yes.

A group tracking the movement, called Red State Secession, counted 24 counties that approved it, with most votes being between 70 percent to 80 percent in favor.

Last month, the chairman of New Illinois, a nonprofit group organizing the efforts, said it’s about constitutional rights to representation.

“The guarantees clause of the U.S. Constitution, it guarantees us a republican form of government,” Merritt said. “What’s that? That’s where we have a voice, where we’re represented, but unfortunately our state government is very Chicago focused. Laws get passed, policies get put in place that may be in the best interest of a large urban area but they’re not in the best interest of a rural state like Illinois.”

[Headline explained here.]

  32 Comments      


Sun-Times Editorial Board: Save The Solar Industry In Veto Session

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

“Among all the states, Illinois jumped to the head of the pack when it comes to the environment in 2016 with its Future Energy Jobs Act, a law creating a welcoming market for installing solar energy. But because of delays in acting on a successor law to provide new funding, the solar energy industry is leaving the state in what is being called a falling off of the “solar cliff.”

Illinois is estimated to have lost close to 3,500 solar jobs already, and 1,000 more jobs could be gone by the end of the year…

Illinois has worked hard to become a leader in green energy, attracting jobs in the industry and improving the environment. The state has become an important home to businesses installing solar energy and making use of “community development” projects, in which property owners without good access to sunlight can share projects with other property owners.

Why let that industrial advantage slip away?”

Chicago Sun Times, 10/23/20 - Legislature should look at cleaner energy, criminal justice reform and pot laws in veto session

Learn more at https://www.pathto100.net/ Solar power is an affordable, local, and clean energy investment that benefits all Illinoisans.

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Yes, elections actually do have consequences

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Dan Johnson makes a good point about the graduated income tax defeat in comments

You know one of the *real* problems is that so many people think of the state as a separate, alien entity from themselves. As if state debt isn’t their debt as well. Or that state “spending” isn’t related to their families — not their kid who goes to a public school or their local hospital or their alma mater (public or private). That’s our real problem.

I think that’s true, but I also think people may have forgotten the lesson they learned during the Rauner years, when critical services were cut.

* Either way, the belief that the state government is a “separate, alien entity from themselves” is at the very core of the most recent Tribune screed

We don’t know what Pritzker will do, but his morning-after message suggests the fight for the soul of Illinois governance isn’t over yet.

Because there it was on Wednesday, a threat in writing to voters who rejected Pritzker’s wasted push. Quentin Fulks, who oversaw the governor’s failed effort, conceded defeat in a statement, warning the more than 2.7 million voters who rejected the governor’s cash grab that they would have to “answer for whatever comes next.”

The people will have to answer? Not Springfield? Interesting.

First, Fulks was more likely referring to those who led the opposition, not the people who voted against the proposal.

But, whatever the case, the people spoke. We can debate why they did what they did until the cows come home, but voters sent an unmistakable message that they opposed this particular plan to raise taxes on high-income earners.

And so now everyone will find out yet again what starving state government means. Illinois is not the federal government. The solutions are not as simple on the state and local levels as they are at the federal level because those governments cannot just print more money. Unlike in DC, shortfalls eventually have to be made up, which is why pension payments are so high. Magic beans are just not real here, no matter how much the Tribune and your uncle on Facebook want them to be.

So, the Tribune can say “Springfield” should shoulder the burden all it wants, but the reality is that “Springfield” is all of us in Illinois.

* Also, governors can’t just snap their fingers and make things happen. Pritzker found that out the hard way with the “Fair Tax.” Support has to be built for change among the public at large and among the ruling Democrats’ coalition. People can tell pollsters that they support “pension reform,” but they also told pollsters for decades that they supported a generic graduated income tax. We saw how that worked out on Tuesday.

Jerry Brown made deep cuts in his state budget which forced people to realize that California government really does matter. But he did that early in his term. He had time to fix it before he ran for reelection. Pritzker chose a different route and any forced budget carnage now will undoubtedly spill over into his 2022 reelection bid. And with Ken Griffin activated, a reelection won’t be the cakewalk that 2018 was.

* As we proceed, always keep in mind these three things that are regularly emphasized on this website …

    1) Elections have consequences;

    2) Simple solutions are usually neither; and

    3) Governors own

The adults need to get to work.

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Kilbride replacement process far from clear

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sarah Mansur at Capitol News Illinois explains the known replacement process for Justice Tom Kilbride. But there’s not much of a precedent for replacing a Supreme Court justice, and the court itself has opaque procedures (to say the least)

Under article 6, sections 3 and 12, of the Illinois Constitution, the state Supreme Court must appoint an interim justice to fill the vacant seat, by a vote of at least four justices, until the next election in 2022. […]

The constitution states that the “person appointed to fill a vacancy 60 or more days prior to the next primary election to nominate Judges shall serve until the vacancy is filled for a term at the next general or judicial election.”

Both Kilbride and Justice Lloyd Karmeier, who is retiring, have terms that end on Dec. 6.

If the court meets to appoint a justice before then, the two outgoing justices could be involved in selecting the temporary successor, said Ann Lousin, a constitutional law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago John Marshall Law School.

“If [Kilbride] does sit in on the meeting, he would have a say in his successor,” Lousin said. “He would be one vote out of seven.”

* Ray Long

Now that Kilbride has lost, the court could seek an interim appointment until a replacement is elected in 2022. It’s unclear to court watchers whether Kilbride would have a vote on an interim justice to take his spot. Kilbride’s term ends in December.

One scenario Republicans envisioned is that the six remaining justices ― three from each party ― deadlock on a temporary Kilbride replacement. That would keep the court evenly balanced until the next election in 2022, a race in a nonpresidential year that Republicans hope to win.

  25 Comments      


Not a good look, governor

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker yesterday

But the opponents of the Fair Tax lied about what would happen if it passed. And they left all of the working people holding the bag. It’s no surprise these are the same people who pushed for Bruce Rauner’s agenda and will resurrect his failed crusade any way they can.

So let me just say to the people of Illinois, you deserved a fairer tax system and you still do. But that didn’t happen. Republicans swore their allegiance to the wealthiest interests in the state, and they threw middle class families under the bus.

The governor has been talking about his graduated income tax proposal since 2017. The General Assembly voted to put it on the ballot in May of 2019. He’s had way more than enough time and money to explain this thing to the voters.

* As of now, the Fair Tax is losing statewide 2,243,840 to 2,753,526, but Joe Biden is carrying Illinois 2,898,728 to 2,261,096.

The tax proposal won in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Biden has so far tallied 761,601 votes in Chicago while the Fair Tax has totaled 612,730. In Cook, Biden has 503,765 votes, to the Fair Tax’s 414,360.

Biden is winning DuPage County 256K-183K, while the Fair Tax is losing 182K-247K.

Nobody would expect the governor’s tax proposal to equal Biden’s total, but Pritzker unmistakably missed a whole lot of people who should’ve been on his side.

Face it, man. You got outdone. There’s nobody to blame but yourself.

  91 Comments      


Open thread

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Please, keep it Illinois-centric and be kind to each other. Thanks.

  14 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

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*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


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