*** UPDATE 3 *** Gov. Quinn talked to the media this afternoon about CME. Quinn said CME Executive Chairman Terry Duffy was a “good friend,” adding the two have had dinner together. “We’ll have an ongoing conversation and dialogue,” Quinn said.
The governor was asked if he now thought the corporate tax hike was a bad idea. “No, not at all,” he replied. Quinn once again called the income tax hike “temporary” to pay off the bills, provide good schools, etc.
Was he worried about a corporate shakedown? “We don’t believe in that kind of approach to life,” he said.
“I don’t think that anybody likes paying taxes,” the governor said “but that’s the price of democracy.”
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Texas, New York, New Jersey and Indiana are possible alternatives. A CME spokesman declined to comment.
New York? Way high state and local taxes. Same for New Jersey and Indiana. Texas? Have fun with the gross receipts tax.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Mayor Rahm Emanuel said today that he’s talked with top CME officials and is “confident” the business will stay in Chicago…
Mr. Emanuel said he talked both to Mr. Duffy, apparently this morning, and CME Chairman Emeritus Leo Melamed.
“CME has grown and been successful in Chicago. I believe they have many years ahead,” Mr. Emanuel said, adding that he’s “confident” the firm will stay here.
“I know their frustration,” added Mr. Emanuel, who served on the board of predecessor firm Chicago Mercantile Exchange about a decade ago. “I also know they believe they can continue to be here.”
Asked if changes in the state tax hike will be needed, Mr. Emanuel replied, “We’re not at that point.”
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* You would think that with the big and, as it turns out, almost totally fake uproar about Caterpillar leaving Illinois after the state raised its income tax rates that reporters might be a bit more circumspect the next time a corporate titan hinted at longing for greener pastures. You’d be wrong…
Chicago business is partly defined by its concentration of financial traders, but the boss of the city’s two dominant futures exchanges said Wednesday that he might pull jobs out of the region in response to a state tax hike on corporations.
Terrence Duffy, chairman of CME Group Inc., said he, Chief Financial Officer James Parisi and the company’s internal staff are evaluating a move to other states. […]
“I’m going to do what’s in the best interests of shareholders,” Duffy said, adding that “if that means opportunities are greater elsewhere, then we’re going to look at those opportunities.” […]
It accounts directly for about 2,000 jobs in the Chicago area, but its ripple impact goes much further. Trading firms set up shop here to be near the downtown trading floors, and banks and other institutions add staff to serve that business.
Some estimates place the job count from the trading industry here, which includes the Chicago Board Options Exchange, at more than 60,000.
The above story claims that Chief Financial Officer James Parisi said the tax hike will cost CME an extra $50 million a year. A CME spokesman said today that Parisi’s statement was accurate.
“We’re investigating what would be in the best interests of our shareholders,” Duffy said, noting that such a move would not mean CME would abandon its presence in Chicago, home to its markets for over a century.
So, the traders can calm down now. They won’t have to move to Alabama or some similarly awful place.
Duffy tells the Chicago Sun-Times he is upset by the state’s failure to close corporate tax loopholes. He says they favor some companies but leave others, including CME, to pay the full rate.
When Duffy talked about the problem with his stock’s subpar performance, the executive chairman identified only two factors. “A major overhang,” Duffy said during his prepared remarks, has been the “uncertainty” of federal regulations. The other problem, he said was the company’s “continued focus on new investments for future growth.”
* I called CME this morning to ask for a further clarification of Duffy’s comments about Illinois’ tax hike. I was told a further clarification wouldn’t be possible and was referred back to his quotes. I asked whether there was already a plan or at least a process in place to look for another CME headquarters site. I was told that the spokesperson couldn’t comment further.
The Q&A video with shareholders isn’t online, so I couldn’t find the complete context of Chairman Duffy’s comments.
* Former US House SpeakerDenny Hastert was elected to the board of directors at yesterday’s shareholder event, but he’s in meetings all day today and I couldn’t reach him to ask whether he would fight to keep the company in his home state.
In response to a shareholder who questioned the need for a 33-member board, Mr. Duffy said that the company will pare the size of the board over time because he realizes it’s costly for it to be so large. Contractual obligations will only allow cutting it by a couple of members starting next year, but there will be bigger decreases between 2013 and 2014, he said.
Executives also blamed uncertainty over regulatory changes for hampering the exchange operator’s shares, adding it would look to global partnerships — not acquisitions — for growth.
Shares of CME, the world’s largest futures exchange operator, are down 18% so far this year vs. a 4% drop in the Dow Jones Global Exchange index.
The company’s shares have dropped 8% so far this month as government data showed the U.S. economic recovery stumbled — making an interest rate rise less likely and hurting the outlook for CME’s treasury and eurodollar trading.
* Madigan has always been against this idea, going back to the Constitutional Convention, so this is no big shock…
A constitutional amendment to merge the offices of the state treasurer and comptroller is stalled in the Illinois House because of opposition by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
The amendment unanimously passed the Illinois Senate, but is stuck in the House Rules Committee, which is tightly controlled by the speaker.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said merger proponents, including the two current officeholders, have never sufficiently countered the reasons two offices were created at the 1970 constitutional convention.
“They’re radically different offices, as anybody who’s spent any time around them knows. They’re not similar in any way,” Brown said. “While the offices both deal with finance, in reality, they have hugely different activities. You can’t just say, well because they’re both about finance you can consolidate them and that makes sense.”
The state’s Bright Start College Savings Program has come under fire again after a promotion promising a $250 match for contributions made this month quickly ran through its budget, leaving families feeling they were duped into adding money to their accounts.
The Illinois treasurer’s office said Wednesday that it is investigating why a website touting the promotion was not updated for nearly 24 hours after it had paid its limit of 2,500 bonuses. Participants complain that they continued to put money into their Bright Start funds expecting the match even though the program was finished by 3 p.m. Friday. […]
Some said they didn’t even get notice of the promotion until Saturday — a day after the matching funds were gone. […]
“It’s sort of a crass move to dole out these funds as a publicity stunt, but what you’ve done is worse by inducing people to invest in exchange for a promise you knew (at least by Friday afternoon) you couldn’t keep,” he said in an email to Bright Start and copied to the Tribune.
*** UPDATE *** I forgot to add this story, since it’s semi-related…
The chief investment officer of the College Illinois prepaid tuition program has left that post for a newly created position within the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
Frank Bello, a former deputy treasurer for the city of Chicago who joined the Illinois Student Assistance Commission as chief investment officer three years ago, was named director and chief credit officer for the Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program last month without an announcement, an ISAC spokesman confirmed Wednesday. That program, administered by ISAC, services a $1.1-billion portfolio of student loans and counsels student loan recipients in danger of defaulting. It’s the primary source of revenue to fund ISAC’s operations.
Mr. Bello was ISAC Executive Director Andrew Davis’ key lieutenant in dramatically overhauling the $1.2-billion investment fund for the prepaid tuition program, which allows parents to purchase contracts at a fixed price for future tuition at state universities and colleges and acts as a potential hedge against tuition inflation.
In a bid to close a 31% gap between assets and future liabilities in College Illinois, Messrs. Davis and Bello moved to shift nearly half the fund’s assets from stocks and bonds to “alternative” assets like hedge funds and private equity—a level of exposure to exotic asset classes well above those of other state prepaid tuition plans or pension funds its size.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office has launched an investigation of the agency running the College Illinois prepaid tuition program, which has suffered steep losses.
“We’re looking into it,” said Natalie Bauer, a spokeswoman for the AG’s office.
The investigation of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission began early this spring, she said, declining to provide further details.
Over the last two years, the state of Illinois in order to pay its basic bills has seized more than $1.6 million from at least 15 different “charity” funds, to which Illinoisans voluntarily donate for causes like feeding the hungry and helping the homeless.
Each year, the Illinois Department of Revenue invites taxpayers to donate their tax refunds or other money to a handful of funds described as “charities” and avenues to “make a difference” and “make giving easy.” The “voluntary charitable donation funds,” of which there have been more than 50 different varieties over the years, are commonly called “check-off” funds and range in purpose from preserving wildlife and researching diseases to supporting military families and promoting healthy smiles.
For the 2008 tax year, Illinois workers donated a total of $1.4 million to 10 different funds. But, with the approval of the General Assembly, Gov. Pat Quinn authorized $434,300 in sweeps from seven of the funds in Fiscal Year 2010, when the 2008 tax year donations were first available for spending. Sweeps are transfers from special funds with specific purposes to the general revenue fund, the state’s largest pool of money, which pays for basic government operations.
For the 2009 tax year, Illinois taxpayers donated $1.37 million to 10 different funds, but during the current fiscal year, FY2011, Quinn has borrowed $1,176,100 from seven of those funds as well as five other check-off funds that are no longer listed on tax forms but were holding donated money from previous years.
While the state is required by law to repay the borrowed sums within 18 months, the state will not return any swept funds.
* As long as we’re updating, let’s do a quick roundup…
State Rep. Dan Reitz said Wednesday he’ll likely leave office before his current term expires, and that he thinks a good appointee to finish his term would be Jerry Costello II, son of U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello.
“I’m leaning now toward not finishing out the term,” said Reitz, a Democrat from Steeleville. […]
“I’ve definitely decided I’m not going to run again. Having made that decision, it’s just a matter of sitting down to figure out when it’s in everyone’s best interest when to retire,” Reitz said. “I thought long and hard about running the last time.” […]
Jerry Costello II, a Democrat, has been rumored to be a replacement for Reitz. When new legislative maps were released a couple of weeks ago, state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said he was told that one factor in deciding the legislative boundaries was having a district where Jerry Costello II could run. […]
“I think he’d do a good job,” Reitz said. “I’ve spoken with him on a number of occasions on different things, that being one of them. He was interested in running last time.”
Some have said Costello’s congressional district might not be winnable by a Democrat when he retires. But his son would have the same name, so if he gets his feet wet in the Illinois House, he could conceivably then move up the ladder to DC. I’m not saying this is the plan, but it sure looks that way.
Former Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), making a 2012 comeback bid in the new 11th congressional district, starts the contest in a much stronger position than potential Democratic rival John Atkinson, according to a poll Foster commissioned.
I was shown the entire Foster poll–by the Global Strategy Group–as Atkinson is weighing whether to run in the new 11th district–or stay with his original plan, to challenge Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) in the 3rd congressional district. Either way, Atkinson would face a Democratic primary.
The poll of 400 likely Democratic 2012 primary voters was taken between June 2 and June 5 and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.
Atkinson’s problem, the poll shows, is that he is virtually totally unknown, while Foster has a running start as a former House member. Just six percent of the voters in the new district are familiar with Atkinson, compared to 41 percent for Foster.
In a head-to-head, voters in the survey gave Foster a 30 point lead, 36 percent to Atkinson, 6 percent.
Atkinson, however, could decide to run against incumbent Democrat Dan Lipinski, the son of former Congressman Bill Lipinski. And Atkinson isn’t the only one looking at the 11th. From a press release…
Today, Aurora Alderman-At-Large, Richard Irvin, announced that he will form an exploratory committee to consider a bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress in Illinois’ new 11th Congressional District. Richard Irvin was first elected Alderman-At-Large in 2007 and was re-elected to a second term in April.
Richard Irvin is a life-long resident of Aurora. After graduating from East Aurora High School, he joined the United States Army where he served in the first Gulf War. Upon returning, he earned a law degree from Northern Illinois University. After serving for several years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Cook and Kane counties, Richard formed his own successful law firm.
* Republican Congresscritter Bobby Schilling has been hit with a round of Medicare robocalls…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched a round of robocalls targeting 13 Republicans. The calls, according to a sample script released by the DCCC, hammer away at Democrats’ message of criticizing the GOP’s budget plan to dramatically overhaul Medicare.
The calls hit Members for voting in favor of Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) budget blueprint, noting the GOP’s “plan to end Medicare actually increases the debt by almost $2 trillion because of more tax breaks for millionaires and corporations.”
Democrats believe their Medicare messaging was a key component of their win in New York’s 26th Congressional district, where now-Rep. Kathy Hochul beat Republican Jane Corwin.
The lawsuit, filed this week in Henry County Circuit Court, says [18 year old Thomas Reese] was at a birthday party for the Schillings’ son Levi in May of 2007.
That’s when Reese claims Levi Schilling along with Croegart, Dragolovich and Walters took gasoline from an unlocked area in the garage, filled the hopper part of a toy dump truck, and lit the gasoline on fire.
Then, according to the suit, one or more of the boys pushed the truck toward Reese, catching his shorts on fire.
Reese says as a result, he suffered severe burns on one third of his body and still deals with mental and physical pain.
The suit claims the four boys are at fault because they failed to warn Reese and the Schillings are responsible because they didn’t safeguard the dangerous substance. […]
Representative Bobby Schilling’s camp released a statement Wednesday saying “Some kids were over at the house, they were horsing around. An accident happened. The mom and dad are friends of ours. We see them at church every week. They donate to my campaign. They weren’t able to settle with the insurance company, so they have to do what they’ve got to do. That’s what happened. I just thank God Tom wasn’t hurt worse.”
* Is this the first step toward a state legislative campaign announcement? Perhaps…
Former state Rep. Jay Hoffman will have a news conference today to talk about the delays in the Illinois 159 road project.
The $54 million project to straighten and improve Illinois 159 was planned in three phases and is currently in its second phase through Main Street and the downtown district. The third phase widens the road from Johnson Street to Kinloch Avenue, but money so far is only for land acquisition, not actual construction.
Hoffman, 48, a Democrat, was defeated in November by state Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, after 20 years in the state legislature. Hoffman couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.
The runner-up in the 2010 gubernatorial race plans to seek another term in the Illinois Senate.
State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, announced Wednesday he will run in the reconfigured 44th Senate District in the 2012 election.
Brady, a 50-year-old real estate developer, will run in a district that includes most of Bloomington, none of Normal and a lot of new turf in Tazewell, Logan, Menard and Sangamon counties. […]
The district no longer contains the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, but does encompass the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield. He also would no longer represent Illinois State University. But, he would represent the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
I hadn’t noticed that his district went all the way down to the Springfield airport and the fairgrounds. Wow. Downstate Senate districts are all quite large, but that seems a tad strange.
* There was no mention of this story in the piece…
Three contractors have claimed Brady Homes and a related company owe more than $400,000 in unpaid bills — a cash-flow problem the family-owned firm says reveals the depth of the homebuilding industry’s struggles.
The contractors filed at least 19 mechanic’s liens, totaling $402,107, on 10 Twin City residential properties owned by Brady firms in the past month, according to documents in the McLean County Recorder’s office. The liens allege unpaid bills for concrete and electrical work completed this year and other homebuilding materials.
Bob Brady, who owns Bloomington-based Brady Homes with his brothers, Ed and Bill, said Friday the liens were “just a cash flow issue” that would be resolved as each property is sold. Brady said their relationships with contractors and vendors remains good and they are “working civilly with everyone” involved. […]
Bob Brady said the brothers are not considering bankruptcy for Brady Homes, which he noted has five closings scheduled in just the next three weeks. He also stressed that the family’s other companies are financially “solid,” such as Re/Max Choice.
“These are just some bumps in the road,” Brady said.
The homebuilding industry is most certainly hanging on by a thread these days. Brady can’t really be blamed for an international financial calamity. These things happen in business, so it’s best not to make too much of them.
* Senator Cultra ‘perplexed’ by Barickman’s decision to run against him: State Senator Shane Cultra says it “didn’t make my day” when Representative Jason Barickman told him that he plans to run against him for Cultra’s Senate seat next year… “I think I have a lot of experience and basically (Barickman) doesn’t have any,” Cultra said. Cultra says had Barickman decided to stay in the House, he would have had his choice of heavy Republican districts to run for in the next election.
* Hey, VanillaMan! Where the heck are you, dude? I really miss your song parodies, and with the Blagojevich case about to go to the jury, we could sure use some of your magic about now. Also, I’m sure Wordslinger would lighten up on you a little if you decided to come back. Right, Word? We need you, man. Come back, please.
* We had a bit of a problem earlier this week when I banned two commenters for life and had to shut down two different threads. The banned commenters were relative newbies who just couldn’t behave on some emotional topics. The closed threads were also about emotional topics and I was just tired of policing them. Everybody, try to take a deeeeeeep breath before commenting, please. It’s the summer. Let’s relax a little bit.
* I’m working on stories for the Fax and the blog right now, which explains the late postings today. I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, do you have anything you’d like to say to other commenters? Do it here…
*** UPDATE *** VanillaMan is back! I checked his IP address, and it’s really him. Read his latest comment here.
* The jury is expected to get the case today. So, soak it up while you can. BlackBerry users click here, everbody else can just chill right here and enjoy the show…
Proponents say newly drawn U.S. congressional districts give Rockford the opportunity to have two representatives pulling for the city’s interests.
Critics say it does the opposite. […]
“When you lump in 75 percent of Rockford in with Freeport, part of Peoria and the entire Illinois side of the Quad Cities … optimistically, I would hope that Rockford will still, so to speak, have a seat at the table, but practically speaking we’re lost in that district,” said Jim Thompson of the Winnebago County Republican Central Committee. “If there’s going to be any focus, it’s going to be the Quad Cities from a geographic standpoint and population standpoint.”
Can less equal more when it comes to the number of people speaking for Springfield residents in the U.S. House? Mayor Mike Houston says yes.
“I think, generally speaking, that we are better off having two congressmen representing the area as opposed to three,” Houston said, reacting to a congressional map passed by the Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly. […]
Johnson’s current district, the 15th, does not come into Sangamon County. But he lives in the proposed new 13th. If he were to run there and win, he would represent most of Springfield, including downtown.
“I think he could more than adequately represent Springfield,” said Johnson spokesman Phil Bloomer. “He’s familiar with the area.” Johnson spent 24 years in the General Assembly in Springfield.
* The Question: Do you think it’s better to have one congresscritter representing a Downstate or suburban town or more than one? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Thanks.
Although the capital program was approved in 2009, a reappropriation bill was used as the vehicle for adding $430 million in operational funds for education, human services and other budget add-ons. The Senate approved HB 2189, but the House rejected it — leaving ongoing construction projects in limbo.
Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, blames Quinn and the Senate Democrats for playing games with the budget.
“The way the budget was crafted in the House, was based on the amount of money that we thought we would have,” Watson said.
When the Senate wanted to boost spending, the capital program was used without identifying new revenue.
As subscribers already know, the Senate did, indeed, provide for $270 million in funding for their programs. And they’ve backed away from $150 million of the $430 million in add-ons. So, the “new spending” actually comes in under the House’s spending limit. I’m really not sure why the proponents of this spending have not bothered to explain their plan, and I’m still wondering why the media hasn’t bothered to figure this out yet. It’s really not all that complicated. All you gotta do is pick up the phone and ask. That’s what I did last week.
* However, the other problem here - and it’s a big one - is that the leaders all agreed two years ago not to mess with the capital plan. An attempt by Gov. Pat Quinn at the time to mix the budget negotiations with the capital bill was roundly shouted down by everyone, including the Senate Democrats. Leader agreements are supposed to be inviolate. Senate President John Cullerton has told me this move wasn’t a violation, but I can’t see how it isn’t. He’s opened the door to further games on the capital plan, and that should not be allowed to happen. So, I can’t disagree with this part of a Pantagraph editorial…
These projects aren’t a pie-in-the-sky proposal to put people to work; they are putting people to work.
An estimated 52,000 people would be out of work if these state-funded projects are shut down. Illinois doesn’t needs that now. […]
Topinka said in a statement, “My message to fellow leaders is simple: Do not play games with capital projects and the jobs they bring to Illinois.”
So let’s see some leadership — from all sides. Resolve these questions before June 17 — and don’t hold the construction program hostage in an attempt to get action on unrelated matters.
* Meanwhile, in other news, ComEd made its case before the Sun-Times editorial board yesterday and outlined how its bill had improved…
†ComEd will go before the Illinois Commerce Commission every year, instead of every two to four years, so that the ICC can review how ComEd is spending the money.
†If the average residential rate increase is more than 2.5 percent by 2014, the entire program, including infrastructure investments and smart-meter installations, is terminated. Critics argue that ComEd will never hit the rate cap because energy-generation prices are dropping, and utility profits will continue to increase regardless of the consumer rates.
†ComEd’s profit margin is set at 10.25 percent rather than the initial requested 10.75 percent. ComEd says the 10.25 percent is less than the 10-year national average.
The Sierra Club, Environment Illinois and the National Resources Defense Council say the changes will create up to 5,000 new jobs in renewable energy by allowing urban rooftop owners to install solar and wind power on their roofs and creating new markets for small renewable energy generators.
The Citizens Utility Board says the bill has improved significantly, but still includes worrisome items such as a rate-hike cap that’s taken away after the first two years.
As usual with big utilities, ComEd introduced legislation that was so out of line that it had no chance of passing. By the time it made its changes, the die had been cast in public and legislative opinion. The company thought the changes would net it big, veto-proof majorities in both chambers. Instead, it managed just minimal majorities, all but inviting a gubernatorial veto.
Gov. Pat Quinn has already publicly brandished his veto stamp, but the Sun-Times wants more changes instead…
If Quinn does reject the bill, which already reflects a good deal of last-minute compromise on ComEd’s part, we urge him to do so with an amendatory veto that resolves the remaining issues in dispute. Protecting ratepayers shouldn’t come at the cost of missing out on a digital-era upgrade that could benefit consumers and businesses by making the entire electrical grid more efficient […]
By the time the Legislature’s fall veto session rolls around, the results of a smart grid pilot project should be in, giving a clearer indication of just how much money such a modernization might save.
By then, perhaps, both sides will have found a way to end the gridlock over the grid.
The Smart Grid is a fantastic idea. I first suggested to company executives seven years ago that they consider updating their technology to provide cable and Internet services. That probably couldn’t pass, either, because the cable and phone companies are way too powerful. That’s really too bad, because they have the biggest pipes of anybody and would bring some much-needed competition to the market. Either way, though, I cannot disagree with their push to upgrade their delivery system, but the top brass should’ve introduced a much better bill to begin with.
* Related and a roundup…
* “Game of chicken” puts local road projects in jeopardy: Though Koehler initially supported linking the capital projects to increased spending for human services and education in the ordinary state budget, he acknowledges that because the House wouldn’t go along it’s now time to drop the gambit. “We played the game of chicken and now we have to blink because we don’t want to see these projects stop or see people thrown out of work,” he said.
* Editorial: ComEd smart grid bill isn’t a wise idea right now: In fact, there’s lots of evidence the ComEd plan is not ready for launch and would benefit from the inspection the ICC would give. A May 30 Crain’s Chicago Business report said ComEd’s test of the new technology in the Chicago area “did not connect very well with consumers.”
* Letter seeks suspension of new hospital approvals: Three Chicago-area hospitals say a state board should wait to approve any new hospitals until Illinois establishes a Center for Comprehensive Health Planning called for in legislation.
* District claims family lives out of town, sues for $30K in tuition: The Carters say it is frustrating because they pay property taxes — money that underwrites the local school system — on the Oak Park condo they continue to call home. They say they showed district officials the tax paperwork and phone bills to prove they live there. But their children were still shown the door. Property records show Terri Shaw Carter is listed as the owner of the Oak Park residence.
* Felon, fired cop land sweet school jobs in Cicero and Berwyn district
* The prosecution finished its cross-examination of Rod Blagojevich yesterday and the defense intends to put a couple witnesses on the stand today. The prosecution may also offer closing arguments today and jury deliberations may begin tomorrow. BlackBerry users click here, everybody else can just kick back and watch the festivities…
* The problem with finding a “middle ground” on hot-button issues is that both well-funded sides of those issues are usually so radicalized that any attempt at compromise is seen as a complete surrender of principles. So, I wouldn’t hold out too much hope for compromise here…
Jody Weis wasn’t the only ex-city official that new police chief Garry McCarthy attempted to distance himself from on Monday. He also signaled a distaste for the gun control policies of former Mayor Richard M. Daley.
“My goal is to bring the gun debate back to the center,” McCarthy told aldermen. “I think that we have abolitionists on one side and I think that we have NRA and those kind of folks on the other side, and frankly it’s too polarizing a debate, and 95 percent of the country is somewhere in between.”
That is not something that would have been uttered by a Chicago public official a month ago. Daley was a relentless advocate of tough gun control laws—one of the “abolitionists” McCarthy referred to—and he tolerated no open dissent in city government. […]
“I think that we can protect the Second Amendment rights of people to bear firearms while at the same time preventing the illegal flow of firearms into our urban centers and killing our children,” he said. “That’s a pretty wide gap, and there’s someplace in between that we can come as a country.”
McCarthy noted that he’s the chairman of a policy committee on gun control for the Major Cities Chiefs Association. “That’s one of the things I’m committed to. And with a platform like Chicago, Illinois, I think we can bring attention to the matter and get something done.”
* And with cutbacks in the 311 program, I’m not sure how successful this will be, either…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s choice to run Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications vowed Tuesday to usher in a “cultural change” in 911 dispatching to free police officers to respond to the most serious crimes.
At his City Council confirmation hearing, Gary Schenkel said it’s high time that Chicago alter an outdated dispatch policy that sends police officers to respond to 70 percent of 911 calls, compared to 30 percent in other major cities.
Schenkel acknowledged it won’t be easy to wean Chicagoans of the habit of dialing 911 at every turn, calling the emergency number even for minor matters. It will require a major public relations campaign to divert lower priority calls to 311 or convince crime victims to file their reports online, Schenkel said. […]
“If we start with the hard-fact data — the actual emergency responses that require a body, a car, an engine, an ambulance — that’s our starting point,” Schenkel said.
“Then, we look at the other end of the spectrum and say, `These are the types of calls we’re getting. Where’s my car? I think it was stolen. No, it was booted. No, it was hooked. I don’t know.’ Then, we start pushing those over gradually. We have to start that public information campaign.”
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration talked for years about altering dispatch policy but didn’t amid fears of a political backlash.
* Meanwhile, the fear of violence is increasing exponentially in the city…
* Mobs Attack on City Buses: Police - Gang of teens storm bus, attack victims and run off with their belongings, police say
* Editorial: Mag Mile mobs - Chicago police need to target violent flash mobs
* But these buried nuggets in a Sun-Times story suggest that at least some of the problems are not real…
Mary L. McCarthy, a Gold Coast resident who is not related to the new chief, said flash mobs are giving her second thoughts about venturing out at night for the first time in the 13 years she’s lived in a high-rise in the 1400 block of North State Parkway. On Friday night, a crowd of about 20 youths gathered outside her building, she said. She claimed the youths pulled people out of cars and taxicabs, leading the doorman to lock the doors to her building.
“We need a bigger police presence. I don’t know, maybe bringing horses back would help. A show of force would stop this nonsense. This does not portend well for the summer,” she said.
Police Near North District commander Kenneth Angarone, however, said police responded to the scene at North State Parkway but did not find a “bona fide incident.’’
Several officers have also told the Sun-Times they were recently warned by superiors to tell family members not to ride their bikes on the lakefront because of incidents of mobs pushing people off their bikes — and sometimes pushing cyclists into the lake.
But Angarone said police also investigated those claims and could not determine the incidents were bona fide.
* The Capitol Police report forwarded to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney includes a previously undisclosed written statement from Sen. John Sullivan (D-Rushville). Sullivan claims in his statement that he followed Sen. Mike Jacobs over to the Republican side because he knew Jacobs was angry. He said he stood about ten feet away from Sen. Kyle McCarter’s desk and watched. Sullivan said that after some arguing, the two poked fingers at each other, then began “poking each other in the chest.”
“Jacobs then pushed Mccarter in the chest - he did not make a fist,” Sullivan wrote in his statement. Senators Bivins and LaHood then “pushed Jacobs back.” Sullivan “pulled” Jacobs away from the area, he claimed.
* Sen. Jacobs said in his statement that he had attempted to contact Sen. McCarter to apologize, but claimed McCarter “failed to return my call.”
* You can read the full police report by clicking here. As you know by now, the local state’s attorney decided not to press charges against Jacobs. Sen. Sullivan’s statement could go a long way toward explaining why.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Sen. Jacobs…
Over the course of the past week, I have reflected on the events that took place during the final hours of the 2011 spring legislative session. It was during the debate of Senate Bill 1652 that Senator Kyle McCarter made remarks that I felt were far more direct and personal than is customary for the Illinois Senate.
While I remain disappointed of the direction of the debate, I also recognize that my emotions clouded my judgment as I approached Senator McCarter on the Senate floor following that debate. In hindsight, my actions in engaging Senator McCarter were inappropriate and have resulted in little more than lowering the respectful standards of the Illinois Senate. This event was, admittedly, an embarrassment to the institution in which I serve. For this, I apologize to each of my Senate colleagues and the people of the 36th Legislative District.
On two occasions, I have reached out to Senator McCarter’s office to extend a personal apology for my conduct. To date, I have yet to receive a response from him.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Senate President’s office…
Senate President John Cullerton released the following statement after Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser announced that criminal charges will not be filed from an incident on the floor of the Illinois Senate:
On May 31, Senator Kyle McCarter was admonished by the presiding officer for “invoking personalities” during debate on SB 1652. Following a vote
on the bill, Senator Mike Jacobs confronted Senator McCarter. The Senate Sargeant-At-Arms immediately approached Senator McCarter about formally reporting the incident to the Senate. He declined to pursue the matter with the Senate.
Senator McCarter elected to file a complaint with a Capitol Police who issued a report to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney. The State’s Attorney has recommended that this issue return to the Senate.
Personal attacks during debate and disorderly behavior should not be tolerated or condoned on the Senate floor. The conduct of both Senators Jacobs and McCarter is inconsistent with the Senate’s Rules governing decorum.
I am encouraging both Senators to reach an amicable solution among themselves. This will allow the Senate to move beyond this incident and focus on what matters to the People of Illinois.
Lawyers for Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Springfield, Peoria and Joliet are seeking an emergency injunction that would protect religious agencies who turn away unmarried couples who want to become foster parents — including couples in civil unions.
In a petition filed today in Sangamon County Circuit Court, the three Catholic Charities agencies sued the Illinois Attorney General and Department of Children and Family Services for threatening to enforce new policies that accommodate civil unions, which went into effect last week. The Attorney General’s office declined to comment until it could review the complaint.
In March, the attorney general’s office issued a letter stating that the office “received notice that Catholic Charities … discriminates against Illinois citizens based on race, marital status and sexual orientation” in the provision of foster care and adoption services and demanded that Catholic Charities turn over a wide range of documents in response.
The charities ask the court to declare that they are legally justified to preserve their current policy of exclusively granting licenses to married couples and single, non-cohabiting individuals and referring civil union couples to other child welfare agencies.
The charities ask the court to declare that they are legally justified to continue their current practices of working only with married couples and single, non-cohabiting individuals. Civil union couples are free to choose among dozens of other organizations for these services.
“Child welfare advocates know it is in the best interest of Illinois children for Catholic Charities to stay in this business,” said Steven Roach, Executive Director for Catholic Charities in the Springfield Diocese. “It’s tragic that there are people who believe unnecessarily disrupting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children is an acceptable outcome in this situation.”
All documents concerning complaints of discrimination against the Organization that were filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights or in any state or federal court, including but not limited to complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status or sexual orientation.
Everybody knew that Catholic Charities already “discriminated” based on marital status and sexual orientation. That’s been a longstanding practice. But race?
* Anyway, the Thomas More Society, which is handling the case, recently claimed that state law already protects Catholic Charities. Flashback…
“Catholic adoption agencies have no need to stop serving foster and adoption families,” said attorney Peter Breen of Chicago-based Thomas More Society. “In our view, Illinois law does not require sectarian agencies to abide by the same non-discrimination standard as non-sectarian agencies. We’re encouraging Catholic Charities adoption agencies to continue their work just as they have before.” […]
Thomas More Society attorneys argue the Illinois Human Rights Act currently does not force Illinois non-discrimination public accommodation laws on sectarian organizations, only non-sectarian groups. The Illinois Human Rights Act defines specifically where the non-discrimination laws apply, and sectarian adoption agencies are not listed. […]
Because “non-sectarian adoption agencies” are listed and sectarian are not, Breen argues that Catholic Charities may continue to operate without referring for fostering or adoption same sex or opposite sex couples whose partnerships are not considered marriage by the church’s definition.
If all goes according to plan, 22 gaming facilities would be within 90 minutes of downtown Chicago. That includes all existing casinos, new riverboats, the Chicago casino, the slot machines at racetracks and airports, as well as casinos in Milwaukee, Northwest Indiana and New Buffalo.
As noted in the piece, the station included Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan casinos in its total. The resulting map…
Gov. Quinn has repeatedly stated that he’s open to the idea of a Chicago casino yet feels the state legislature’s move to expand gambling in Illinois is too “top-heavy.” Quinn has been quoted as saying he doesn’t want to see Illinois become the “Las Vegas of the Midwest.” […]
Looks like Quinn wasn’t merely saying “the sky is falling” just to say it, eh?
* I did a Google Maps search of Las Vegas for “casinos.” This is what came back…
I’m thinking the governor’s rhetoric is just a bit hyperbolic.
…Adding… Steve Schnorf makes a good point in comments…
I’m glad I wasn’t riding with the WBEZ crew the day they made it to Danville in 90 minutes.
No criminal charges will be filed in connection with a scuffle between two state lawmakers on the Senate floor last week, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said this morning.
“This matter is best resolved internally by the Illinois Senate and not in the criminal courts,” Milhiser said in a news release.
* The Question: Do you agree or disagree with Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser not to prosecute Sen. Jacobs? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments.
*** UPDATE *** I asked the Senate President’s office about the state’s attorney’s decision. Now that Milhiser has decided that this Jacobs thing should be “resolved internally,” I wrote in an e-mail, what are the Senate’s plans to resolve it internally? The e-mailed response…
We still haven’t received a copy of the report. And since Sen. McCarter declined to pursue a report with the Sergeant At Arms, we don’t have our own. Once we review the report, we will proceed with the appropriate course of action.
* From an Illinois State Rifle Association member alert…
The ISRA is warning its members to think twice about selecting Chicago as a vacation destination this summer. This warning was issued in response to a recent dramatic upswing in violent crime in the windy city. Most notably is a spate of so-called “flash mob” attacks where as many as two dozen young men ambush and savagely beat their victims before robbing them of their valuables. One recent flash mob victim was a 68 year-old man.
The bulk of the flash mob attacks have taken place on Chicago’s near north side and Gold Coast areas to include North Avenue Beach and the Magnificent Mile. The attack locations are within the general vicinity of tourist attractions including Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Millennium Park.
Thus far, the Chicago Police Department has had little luck controlling these flash mobs with only 4 participants having been apprehended. This ability to confound the police stems from the very nature of flash mobbing. Participants either get a text message on their smart phone or receive a “tweet” on a social networking site telling them where to show up and how to behave – with the specified behavior usually involving larceny or assault. Flash mob participants arrive at the site at a particular time and, after committing the specified crimes, scatter before police can arrive. The sheer number of flash mob participants overpowers the victims – rendering them helpless against the mob.
As most of our readers know, the most effective defense a victim could muster against a flash mob would be for the victim to draw a concealed firearm. As most of our readers also know, Illinois is one of only two states in the nation that deny citizens the right to carry defensive firearms.
Suddenly surrounded by more than a dozen teens who snatched their possessions, the victims said they had no time to react.
“It was boom, like a swarm of insects,” said Krzysztof Wilkowski, a 34-year-old insurance agent from the northwest suburbs who was attacked by about 20 young men as he sat on his scooter in the 300 block of East Chicago.
“It just happened too quick. I didn’t even have time to be scared.”
Also, despite ISRA’s claims, this wasn’t a “flash mob” in the traditional sense. The coppers say this was a gang of roving teens, not coordinated via social media, etc.
* Also, the thugs did not have guns, so shooting them might not be allowed even with concealed carry…
And he “definitely” considers himself lucky in one respect — none of his attackers was armed with anything deadlier than a baseball.
◆Derodte Wright, 18, of the 3500 block of South State Street, a student at Perspectives Charter School, accused of attacking nursing student Ryan Dacumos and robbing him on the Lake Michigan bikepath near Chicago Ave. around 8.30 p.m. Described in court by his attorney as a good student with prospects of a college baseball scholarship, Wright was ordered held on bail of $200,000 by Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil.
◆Trovulus Pickett, 17, a Youth Connections Leadership Academy student who lives in the 8400 block of South Dorchester. Also charged with the robbery of Dacumos, Pickett allegedly teamed up with other youths to attack a 68-year-old Seattle physician Jack Singer in the 300 block of East Chicago Avenue minutes earlier, stealing his iPad and phone, and is also accused of robbing a Japanese doctor of his iPod in the 700 block of North Lake Shore Drive a few minutes later. Pickett’s bail was set at $300,000.
◆Dvonte Sykes, 17, of the 7500 block of South Normal, a student at Carver Vocational Career Academy, accused of robbing a Thai man who was taking photographs in the 700 block of North Lake Shore Drive and with taking part in a “mob action” in which northwest suburban insurance agent Krzysztof Wilkowski fought off robbers who tried to take his scooter in the 300 block of East Chicago. Sykes’ bail was set at $250,000.
* As you already know, Senate President John Cullerton filed a motion to reconsider on the gaming expansion bill. The motion keeps the legislation out of Gov. Pat Quinn’s hands until people can calm Quinn down a bit. Then, there’s the fight over the capital/road approp bill. But Cullerton also filed a motion to reconsider the ComEd/Ameren bill…
Senate President John Cullerton is employing a legislative tactic to keep the recently passed measure from reaching Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk. The governor has pledged to veto the bill, which would increase electricity rates over the next five years in return for $2.6 billion in power-grid upgrades, including installation of “smart meters” in homes and businesses.
Mr. Cullerton filed a motion to reconsider the bill, which could keep it out of the governor’s hands for up to 60 days. The bill didn’t garner sufficient enough majorities in the House or Senate to override a veto. But a delay would give ComEd and other supporters time to line up additional votes or negotiate changes that would win over Mr. Quinn.
“The motion to reconsider gives the governor and lawmakers more time to consider the legislation and possible future action,” a spokeswoman for Mr. Cullerton wrote in an email.
* Speaking of the ComEd/Ameren bill, Sen. Kyle McCarter continues to post links on his Facebook page about the scuffle with Sen. Mike Jacobs, including the caption to this photo…
with Little Miss Mowequa Pow Wow Days at parade this morning. Heard all kinds of comments about “the punch”. Keep fighting for us, thanks for standing up to that bully, etc.
Sen. Jacobs did more than vote on the matter. His vote may well have been immaterial. But he sponsored the bill and took the floor to urge his colleagues to support a bill that his dad has been paid to lobby through the Legislature.
I have always liked Denny Jacobs. And I don’t deny his right to act as a paid lobbyist. But if Denny Jacobs is going to lobby for passage of a bill, Sen. Mike Jacobs should abstain entirely on the matter. Otherwise there is an appearance that if you hire Denny you might also be getting the senator as well. If Mike Jacobs wants to be seen as having integrity, he must avoid the appearances of impropriety. He can’t do something which, in the words of The Dispatch/Argus editorial, is “a conflict by nearly everyone’s standards.” And if this is “a conflict by nearly everyone’s standards,” is it not time for the Illinois Legislature to pass a Code of Legislative Conduct comparable to the to the Code of Judicial Conduct, with comparable sanctions?
* Sen. McCarter, by the way, owns and operates a company called Custom Coating Innovations, which makes products for - wait for it - electric utility companies. McCarter voted against the ComEd/Ameren bill, of course. But there was a potential conflict of interest there as well.
An additional irony of this whole mess is that Sen. Jacobs was the only Democrat in the chamber to vote for McCarter’s workers’ compensation reform bill.
* A congressional bid and the likely loss of project funding in his district has provoked a major rethink by at least one state Senator about what happened at the end of session. As you’ll recall, the Senate Democrats tacked $430 million in additional spending onto the capital/road bill. That amendment was rejected by the House, but the Senate President has said he still wants that cash (well, much of it - you’ll apparently have to subscribe to get the full story). Sen. Koehler might not be the only one to back away. From what I’m hearing, you can expect some other Downstate Dems to follow suit…
Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said Senate Democrats were trying to send a message that they thought the state’s basic operations budget, which was prepared in the house, is inadequate.
“I think it was important politically for the Senate Democrats because we were forced to vote on a budget none of us agreed with,” Koehler said.
Now, though, he’s prepared to separate the operations money from the capital projects.
“I think we have to deal with it as two separate issues,” Koehler said. “The capital bill is essential for us to continue projects this summer. I don’t want to tie them together.”
* Gov. Quinn wants that extra budget money as well, and he’s using the possibility of holding up project funding to get it. But he’s hitting a brick wall on both sides of the aisle in the House…
A bill must get a three-fifths majority if it is to pass after May 31, which means at least some Republicans, seven in the House and one in the Senate, must sign on. And it sounds as if Quinn cannot even count on support from members of his own party.
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) says “it makes sense to call us back if there is a plan. I haven’t seen a plan come from the governor that is likely to win sufficient support in the legislature in both chambers to make a difference.”
House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) says, “Spending more is something we can’t afford to do right now, and I’m kind of amazed that not everyone gets that.”
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said the state won’t have the authority to spend money for any work done beginning July 1, when the state’s new fiscal year starts.
* But as a commenter noted yesterday, the administration might be able to cut contracts that pay in advance…
(30 ILCS 105/9.05) (from Ch. 127, par. 145f)
Sec. 9.05. In the event that a voucher is submitted for advance payment of goods or services, the certification prescribed by Section 9.04 shall be made. In addition, the voucher shall state on its face that the goods or services are being procured pursuant to a formal, written contract the terms of which require advance payment. If it is not possible to execute a written contract, the voucher shall so state. The voucher shall also state that the contract requires the goods or services to be delivered or received prior to the expiration of the lapse period of the fiscal year to which the expenditures are charged, provided however, that such a statement shall not be required on vouchers submitted for periodical subscriptions or organizational memberships.
(Source: P.A. 82‑790.)
* The Senate Dems may want to start explaining how paying for all of their desired spending is already built into the budget. Subscribers already know why, but nobody else is covering it, perhaps because they aren’t being properly spoon-fed…
Syverson said that calling lawmakers back to the Capitol during the summer for “political games” is dangerous.
“If (Democrats) want to hold out for additional spending that the state doesn’t have, and they want to kill the capital and road program for this year, then they have to go home and explain to their constituents and the taxpayers why they did that,” said Syverson.
* Kadner: Construction halt threatened, but state has road funds: I don’t know who is right about whether Quinn can actually spend the $16 billion, but I know what this looks like to the rest of the country. Illinois is a mess. Its government can’t even be counted on to finish road projects once they are started.
* Tribune: Senate Democrats try a maneuver that’s too cute by half: As for you, motorist, transit user and taxpayer: Bear in mind that House Democrats, House Republicans and Senate Republicans are willing to live within the spending limits that the $33.2 billion budget bill already sets in place. So if spending on construction projects comes to a halt this summer, you can thank Cullerton’s Senate Democrats and Gov. Quinn.
* Construction projects could halt if spending bill remains stalled
There’s pretty much no doubt that Illinois will be the focal point of national efforts by Democrats to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The new map of Illinois congressional districts puts five traditionally Republican-held congressional districts into play for the first time in a decade.
But if Democrats are going to make those gains, they will need help from the Illinois Democratic Party –and that is where things get sticky. In the 1980s, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, the state party’s chairman, began focusing that apparatus on raising cash to elect members of the Illinois House; not members of Congress. Today, that’s the party’s sole mission.
Political insiders have begun raising questions about the state party now that the remap is a done deal. Why? Because a better focused party may have made the difference in two recent unsuccessful, but close, races for Congress: Tammy Duckworth in the 6th Congressional District in 2006 and Lauren Beth Gash in the 10th Congressional District in 2000.
The answer to their original question is “Probably not.” Madigan does what he does and leaves the rest up to others.
* Meanwhile, Real Clear Politics’ Senior Elections Analyst doesn’t quite get an important aspect of how the new congressional districts were drawn. Democratic mapmakers factored in John Kerry’s 2004 presidential race as well as the 2006 gubernatorial contest when drawing up their maps. Looking at just the two landslide years of 2008 (Democratic) and 2010 (Republican) doesn’t give us enough data to make a solid judgement on their mapmaking abilities. And from what the Democrats are saying, some suburban districts are gradually shifting more Democratic over the years, mainly because of Latino migration. That is evidenced, they say, by comparing Bush ‘04 with Brady ‘10. Also, nowhere mentioned in the analysis is the statewide third party performance last year, which contributed to some of the lower Democratic numbers….
8th District (POTUS: 62 percent Dem) (Gov: 48 percent Dem) (Sen: 46 percent Dem) (Treas: 42 percent Dem). Joe Walsh, a political unknown who narrowly defeated Democrat Melissa Bean in 2010, no longer resides in this district, and about two-thirds of his old district has been moved to the 6th. Obama’s vote share increased from 56 percent to 62 percent, a substantial improvement. Overall, this is a pretty Democratic district, but remember that Republicans were able to hold the neighboring 10th in 2010, which gave Obama 61 percent of the vote. In addition, the Democratic ticket had some problems here in 2010. In a good enough Republican year, or if the suburbs swing back toward Republicans, a Republican would be competitive.
10th District (POTUS: 64 percent Dem) (Gov: 50.4 percent Dem) (Sen: 44 percent Dem) (Treas: 44 percent Dem). Bob Dold is probably going to see his congressional career cut short. The partisan makeup of this Northern Chicago district didn’t change that much, but the Democrats in his district now tend to be more reliable Democratic voters. Still, Alex Giannoulias ran poorly for the Senate here (in part because Mark Kirk represented much of this area), while Pat Quinn barely won. It would take a good GOP year and probably a general movement of the suburbs back toward Republicans, but a Republican candidate could win here.
11th District (POTUS: 62 percent Dem) (Gov: 49 percent Dem) (Sen: 48 percent Dem) (Treas: 45 percent Dem). Current 11th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger now resides in Jesse Jackson Jr.’s district. This Southwestern Chicago district is actually more of a new district, drawing about half of its voters from the old 13th District (the district that was technically eliminated), and a quarter each from old 11th and 14th. Once again, this will tend to elect a Democrat in most years, but the 2010 Democratic ticket’s performance was underwhelming. In a good GOP year, the Republicans should be competitive and, once again, if the suburbs shift a bit toward the Republicans in the next decade, the Democrats would find this a 50-50 district.
12th District (POTUS: 56 percent Dem) (Gov: 47 percent Dem) (Sen: 48 percent Dem) (Treas: 48 percent Dem). Jerry Costello will probably keep this Southwest Illinois district for as long as he wants it (although an obscure opponent held him below 60 percent in 2010). But at age 61, it is far from certain that his career will span this entire decade. Should the seat open up, it would be a competitive district.
13th District (POTUS: 56 percent Dem) (Gov: 40 percent Dem) (Sen: 41 percent Dem) (Treas: 40 percent Dem). Since the old 13th was technically eliminated, this is really John Shimkus’ renumbered 19th. But Shimkus will see a lot of new voters; only about 30 percent of his old constituents live in this district. Still, aside from Barack Obama, the Democratic ticket fared poorly here in 2010, and in all but the best Democratic years, the seat should still elect a Republican.
17th District (POTUS: 61 percent Dem) (Gov: 42 percent Dem) (Sen: 42 percent Dem) (Treas: 45 percent Dem). This is probably the biggest head-scratcher of the bunch, and it may be that some incomplete data are making the 2010 Democratic performance look weaker than it really was. Freshman GOP Rep Bobby Schilling’s district has been made much more compact. It’s also been made more Democratic; Obama’s vote share here was improved by about four points. But Obama ran unusually well in the northwest portion of the state, which is traditionally a GOP stronghold. As you see, the rest of the Democratic ticket apparently had a terrible showing here in 2010. To be sure, a Democrat can win this district, and Schilling, who came to Congress with little experience, could have a rough time in 2012 with Obama atop the ticket. But a GOP candidate could win here as well; the district is probably more of a tossup in a “normal” year.
* There’s no question that the Democrats did horribly Downstate last year. There’s also little doubt that Obama won’t do as well in the Metro East as he did in 2008. So, the Republicans may be simply attempting to gin up a little negative chatter with a low-cost Web video…
Costelllo is hit on Medicare–in a web ad that basically says he did not support a GOP Medicare overhaul plan. It’s a bit of table turning; Democrats are going after Republicans–(re the Democratic recent win in a New York House race) over the Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) Medicare proposal.
A GOP source told me they National Republican Congressional Committee did the spot because they think Costello left himself weaker in the new district he drew for himself to run from in 2012. Illinois Republicans asked Gov. Pat Quinn not to sign the map and signaled they will fight the Democratic plan in federal court.
* ’Burbs flex muscle in new congressional map: The new 8th Congressional District, drawn without any incumbent, creates an open seat that’s already attracted interest from two Democrats, both of Hoffman Estates — former state comptroller candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth, who lost to Roskam in 2006. The circular shaped district, which Roskam’s new Pac-Man shaped district is seemingly eating, contains some of the most independent voting portions of Northwest Cook and DuPage County — Addison, Hanover and Elk Grove townships, and parts of Wheeling Township.
* Representing the 17th District - Today a long time Quad Cities politician Mike Boland came to Rockford to express his interest in representing the 17th district.
* HERITAGE: ACTION — Heritage Action says it ’s spending $300,000 in 11 congressional districts thanking them for “an unflinching commitment to conservative principles on issues both large and small; including an adult-like and essential reform of Medicare.” They’re calling the lawmakers the Magnificent 11: Republican Reps. Justin Amash (Mich.), Bill Huizenga (Mich.), Dan Benishek (Mich.), Tim Walberg (Mich.), Steve Chabot (Ohio), Steve King (Iowa), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.), Steve Pearce (N.M.), Steve Southerland (Fla.), Joe Walsh (Ill.) and Alan West (Fla.). Just King was part of the 111th Congress. Pearce, Walberg and Chabot served in previous congresses.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Hospice Foundation of Northeastern Illinois, 405 Lake Zurich Rd., Barrington, IL 60010, www.hospiceanswers.org, or 224-770-2413 or the Illinois Conservation Foundation (for the benefit of youth hunting), 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702, www.ilcf.org, or 217-785-2003.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* From the House Republicans…
Visitation
Thursday, June 9, 2011, 1-9 p.m.
Davenport Family Funeral Home
419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. (Route 176)
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815-459-3411 www.davenportfamily.com
Mass
Friday, June 10, 2011, 10:30 a.m.
St. Anne Church
120 Ela St. (at the corner of Franklin St.)
Barrington, IL 60010
847-382-5300
Burial
Private
White Memorial Cemetery
Barrington
…Adding… Here is Rep. Beaubien’s official obituary…
Mark Beaubien
State Representative 52nd District
State Representative Mark Beaubien Jr., 68, of Barrington Hills, died suddenly on Sunday, June 5, 2011. He was born October 30, 1942 in Waukegan. He married Dee Prola Beaubien on August 15, 1964 in Springfield, Illinois. Together they raised two sons and have five grandchildren. Dee was his wife for 47 years, his best friend of over 50 and the source of much of his inspiration.
Rep. Beaubien was an Assistant Republican Leader, serving as State Representative since his appointment on October 22, 1996 to fill a vacancy. He was subsequently re-elected to six additional two-year terms.
Prior to becoming a lawmaker, Rep. Beaubien served as a member of the Lake County Board from 1992-96 during which time he also served as Cuba Township Supervisor. Rep. Beaubien enjoyed a successful career in both law and banking, quickly emerging as a community leader through his professional experience and civic involvement.
Rep. Beaubien’s expertise in law and finance proved a tremendous asset as the House Republicans’ chief budget negotiator. In this role, Rep. Beaubien became a leading advocate for fiscal responsibility.
In the General Assembly, Rep. Beaubien had many accomplishments, too many to list here, but some of his proudest moments included spearheading initiatives to make seatbelt enforcement a primary reason for law enforcement to stop a vehicle, voting with his convictions in support of the recent Civil Union Bill, passing a bill that provided Municipal Pension Reform, leading the charge to save Round Lake Schools and playing an active role in the Sportsman’s Caucus and issues related to hunting and other open space issues.
Rep. Beaubien was a confident man who refused to limit his ideals to those of his generation, embracing the timeless values of honor, respect, loyalty and integrity while rejecting its occasional intolerance and prejudice. He knew instinctively that these fundamental rights that he both cherished and demanded were meaningless unless they were enjoyed by all men and women. This principled leadership made it easy for him to support issues and causes that were unpopular within his party including the fundamental rights of women and the gay community. Rep. Beaubien’s easy wit, quick smile and unpretentious wisdom made him well liked by even those with whom he disagreed. His was an intelligence without narcissism and his popularity was enhanced by the fact that he did not seek it. If asked why he was one of the few Republican supporters of the Civil Union Bill, he would respond with humility and simplicity that it was simply time and we should all “live our own lives and speak our own truths.” His legacy is in his convictions and values.
Representative Beaubien was dedicated to community service throughout his life. His civic activities over the years included involvement with the Northwestern University Committee on Athletics and Recreation (1988-1992), the Board of Directors of Buehler YMCA in Palatine, (1971-1993), the Board of Directors at Northwest Community Hospital (1978-1991), a Member of the John Evans Club of Northwestern University (1988-Present), the Barrington Area Community Center Task Force (1993-1995), the Barrington Area Seniors Task Force (1994-1997), the Founders’ Committee of the Ela Area YMCA (1994-1997), and a member of the Lake County and Illinois State Bar Associations.
Rep. Beaubien received his B.A. degree from Northwestern University in 1964 and his Juris Doctorate from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1967.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 47 years, Dee, sons, Mark and Bob and spouses Kelly and Mary, grandchildren Annie, Bobby, Ella, Marco and Luciana.
In Greg Zaffke’s case, his mother Anita was riding her motorcycle through Lake Zurich two years ago when she was rear-ended and killed by a woman who was painting her nails.
Lora Hunt of Morris was found guilty of reckless homicide in the crash. She is serving 18 months in a work-release program and must pay nearly $15,500 in restitution to the Zaffke family — penalties Greg Zaffke says don’t go far enough to set an example.
“People hearing a distracted driver goes to prison and it goes a long way to deter other people from driving distracted,” Zaffke said. “When they hear that (Hunt) only gets a year-and-a-half work release … it’s kind of counterproductive when it comes to public deterrence.”
The Wauconda resident has formed a nonprofit group called Crash Coalition to raise awareness about distracted driving and support victims’ families in the courtroom. Zaffke also hopes to push for statewide legislation that would create a negligent vehicular homicide statute — a lesser charge to reckless homicide that would offer penalties beyond minor traffic fines that could follow a fatal accident. Wisconsin has a similar law on the books.
“If Lora Hunt was drunk the day she killed my mom, she would likely be in prison right now,” Zaffke said, “instead of being able to get a job.”
* The Question: Should penalties be increased for distracted driving? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
* Mike Smith was chairman of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee before his defeat last year. So, he knows the issues inside and out. Smith sponsored a constitutional amendment to institute a graduated income tax, so he’s no Johnny Come Lately to a tax hike. The media may try to make something out of this, but they’re barking up the wrong tree…
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has appointed another former Democratic legislator to a high-paying board.
Former Rep. Michael Smith of Canton was tapped for a $94,000 post on the Educational Labor Relations Board.
Smith lost election to a ninth term in November. He was chairman of the House’s Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and the education appropriations panel.
Smith told The Associated Press he believes he has the background necessary and still believes he can contribute to public service.
* Again, this is no Careen Gordon redux, no matter how hard some are trying to make it look that way. And I have no idea which “appearance of impropriety” this is supposed to be violating…
“It just doesn’t pass the smell test,” said [Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon], a former Lee County sheriff. “Maybe this appointment doesn’t violate any laws. Maybe this appointment doesn’t violate any ethics rules, but it certainly creates an appearance of impropriety, and I think as elected officials, we have a duty to avoid that appearance.”
Bivins compared the Smith appointment to Quinn’s appointment of Gordon and of Terry Cosgrove, who heads an abortion rights group called Personal PAC, which contributed heavily to the governor’s fall campaign. Cosgrove was appointed to the Human Rights Commission.
Even so, Sen. John Millner, a former Elmhurst police chief now living in Carol Stream, spoke favorably of Smith, saying, “Mike is a good man. He was a hard-working state representative.”
Smith was upfront with voters about where he stood on the tax issue, Millner said.
“From my estimation, he has the appropriate background as he was chair of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and on the education appropriations committee as well,” Millner said. “He has the necessary background.”
* As subscribers already know, it’s going to get lots more complicated than these reports reveal, but they’ll do for now…
Quinn announced Monday he would be talking to legislative leaders about a date to come back because he says there’s an outstanding issue with the state’s capital construction program.
The Chicago Democrat says lawmakers adjourned last week without approving an appropriations bill so the state can spend money on its ongoing capital construction program.
Quinn says he wants the lawmakers back to the state Capitol promptly so work doesn’t have to stop on projects around the state, including road, bridge and other construction projects.
Quinn says if work stops on the projects it will throw 52,000 people out of work.
[Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine] said it’s an “open question” whether the projects could be funded through the summer since lawmakers gave Quinn an extra six months to pay off bills. But Quinn’s administration contends it can’t spend money on bills racked up after June 30.
“This has the potential to sort of be a manufactured crisis, there is the potential that these projects could go on throughout the end of the year without a problem. But again, we’ve got to look at the motivation. The Senate Democrats and the governor can’t help but spend more money and this is an opportunity to spend an extra half billion dollars and they are trying to maximize the leverage to get it in the budget,” Murphy said. […]
A spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he agrees with Quinn that lawmakers must return to the Capitol, but the president’s focus isn’t just on construction programs but other issues as well.
“We need to come back this summer because our work is not done,” said spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon. “Without sufficient funding for education and human services, the budget is incomplete.”
The Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Assn. called Gov. Quinn’s announcement today to halt road construction projects a “grievous mistake,” that will have dangerous repercussions for countless families and businesses throughout the state.
“These road construction projects are exactly what will provide some stability to our economy,” said Michael J. Sturino, President and CEO of the IRTBA. “To ask our workers, our families, our citizens to pay for the inability of our elected officials to come to a budget agreement is, frankly, appalling.”
According to IRTBA, if the Illinois Department of Transportation is forced to shut its doors on all road construction projects in the state, due to the budget impasse, it will put about 31,000 people out of work and onto the unemployment rolls. The shutdown itself will cost approximately $30 million, and the daily cost to maintain the shutdown would be around $3 million. According to Mr. Sturino, the reverberations from a move like this would also negatively impact all Illinois motorists, too.
“State legislators need to understand that their bungling will be devastating to our businesses, thousands of workers and their families,” he said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask the legislature to halt their own pay if they can’t do their jobs and produce a budget.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** From a press release…
Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka on Monday released the following statement in response to Governor Pat Quinn’s intention to shut down state road and capital projects on June 17. Topinka has asked legal counsel to review the matter, and implored state leaders to work together to prevent a capital project shutdown:
“My message to fellow state leaders is simple: do not play games with capital projects and the jobs they bring to Illinois. These initiatives not only maintain our roads, bridges and transportation network, they also provide good jobs, and support tens of thousands of families across our state. It is one thing to limit state spending on construction, but quite another to stop payment on projects already underway.
“My office will continue to pay state contractors for as long as legally possible, but ultimately this question must be addressed by the General Assembly and Governor. If that means calling an immediate special session, so be it. One thing is certain: our families and businesses are already struggling and paying more than ever before to state government; they deserve better than to be subjected to a high-priced game of legislative chicken over the capital bill.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** From Statehouse lobbyist David Starrett in comments…
SB2172, as amended, specifically permits the obligation of funds until August 31, 2011. This is in addition to the lapse period extension provision everyone has been focusing on.
The bill passed both chambers and is ready to be sent to the Governor. If Quinn would sign this, it would largely prevent any near-term crisis during the construction season. Ahh, but he doesn’t to prevent the crisis, does he? –And once he receives SB2172, he still has 60 days to create one.
Provides that all outstanding liabilities as of June 30, 2011, payable from appropriations that would otherwise expire at the conclusion of the lapse period for fiscal year 2011, and interest penalties payable on those liabilities under the State Prompt Payment Act, may be paid out of the expiring appropriations until December 31, 2011, without regard to the fiscal year in which the payment is made, as long as vouchers for the liabilities are received by the Comptroller no later than August 31, 2011
That would seem to indicate that Quinn can keep making payments out of the capital projects program even though the projects haven’t yet been officially reappropriated.
*** UPDATE 4 *** From a commenter…
The analysis presented in Update #3 is wrong. All it says is that bills must still be in by the end of the lapse period, which is August 31. However, obligations must still be made by June 30. The normal procedure doesn’t change, just the time period the Comptroller has to pay the bills. You can check with the Comptroller’s office but that is the answer you will get.
I have, in fact, checked with the comptroller’s office and am awaiting a response.
*** UPDATE 5 *** From the governor’s office…
The state incurs costs for work that has been completed. The legislation does not gives us the legal authority to extend FY11 appropriations, it just allows us to pay for work done in FY11. The lapse period allows for a bill to be submitted by August 31 - but does not allow us to pay for work done after June 30.
We cannot pay for work done in FY12 without an FY12 appropriation. If we were able to continually pay for capital projects without an appropriation, we would not need to pass an annual authorization.
Short version:
(1) Work has to be done by 6/30 (you can only use FY11 approps to pay for FY11 work—they cannot be used for FY12 work; rather, there must be an FY12 reapprop for work to be done in FY12.)
(2) Invoice for work done in FY 11 has to be in by 8/31
(3) The State can make payment until 12/31 (after that, the vendor has to go to the Court of Claims)
*** UPDATE 6 *** House Speaker Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown gave the standard line this afternoon of:”We are prepared to work cooperatively with the governor.”
Asked if that meant the Speaker was OK with a special session, Brown said it wasn’t necessarily the case, adding that the Speaker believes “the lapse period will take care of the construction season.”
So, apparently, in this case, “work cooperatively with the governor” can mean: “Tell the governor he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”
At issue is the effort by majority Democrats in the Senate to add nearly a half a billion dollars to the state budget by filing a hostile amendment to HB 2189, the annual construction and road appropriation. In the House, Speaker Michael Madigan refused to accept the Senate add-ons and sent the measure back to the Senate asking that body to “recede” or withdraw from the hostile amendment.
Although the Speaker’s request was received in the Senate before that chamber adjourned, no motion to remove the add-on spending was filed and instead, the Senate adjourned without taking up the proposal. That left the state’s annual road and capital construction program without needed legal authority to proceed.
The construction program is the least controversial portion of the state budget and Senate Republicans will work with their House colleagues from both parties to get the unrelated spending removed so that a “clean” construction program can be approved.
* Related…
* Illinois legislative session hailed as productive
* Expect Quinn to tap Chico to head Illinois State Board of Education: Quinn was impressed by Chico’s education plan during the mayoral campaign, particularly the focus on early childhood education and expanding the pre-K network. Quinn is pushing to restore $17 million in state budget cuts to early childhood education.
* Lawmakers continue to cut despite major income tax increase - College students, the elderly and the mentally ill could be among those hit
An effort led by Southern Illinois legislators aimed at softening the blow delivered by devastating flooding will likely top the $100,000 mark.
The effort, Southern Illinois Together, had already far surpassed its $50,000 goal before the doors even opened to the fundraising event at Black Diamond Harley-Davidson warehouse in Marion on Saturday, state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion said.
“We’re up over $86,000 right now,” Bradley said just before the event. “We have some significant pledges that will be coming in the next few weeks. I anticipate we’ll raise an amount in the six figures.”
Money raised will be “efficiently and fairly” divvied up by a committee and delivered to those victims of flooding who need it most, Bradley said.
AT&T Illinois contributed $10,000 to the cause. Many thanks to them.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it. Family obligations. But I am sending a check, and you should too. Make it payable to the Poshard Foundation and put “Flood Victims” in the memo line. Here’s the mailing address…
Poshard Foundation
700 Logan College Dr.
Carterville, IL 62918
Is Chicago likely to reap big economic gains? Not in this lifetime. A new casino may attract more visitors and create new jobs serving drinks and dealing cards. But money lost at the blackjack table can’t be spent on other types of recreation and entertainment. Jobs that spring up in gambling-related businesses may be lost in other sectors.
Casinos have been useful in reviving depressed areas, according to the 1999 National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report. That may have little relevance to Chicago, which is not exactly a declining Rust Belt relic.
The best hope is that the city will draw players who now venture to northwest Indiana, which has made itself a local gambling destination. But any gain here would come at the expense of the people in and around Gary, if that counts for anything.
A big part of the idea behind the Chicago casino is to stop the outflow of cash across our border to Indiana. If it keeps gaming revenue local, it’s a plus. We shouldn’t worry too much about Hammond.
The Illinois State Fairgrounds Grandstand would have to be remodeled if Gov. Pat Quinn proceeds with legislation to install slot machines, according to the state Department of Agriculture.
“It (slots) would have to be at the track, and the only structure at the track is the Grandstand,” said Jeff Squibb, a spokesman for Agriculture.
The grandstand doesn’t have any room for slot machines now, Squibb said.
“I think it’s apparent to anyone who’s been to the facility that there would have to be modifications made,” he said.
The far end of the grandstand which houses the media room is practically empty. Also, I assume some slots would fit easily into the current betting window area.
If the bill had just focused on the Chicago casino, airport slot machines and additional gaming positions in existing venues, it would be easier to accept. But, in typical Illinois fashion — or, more fairly, typical political fashion — it attempts to offer something for everyone in its 400-page package.
A scaled-down version might make sense, but this monstrosity is a bad bet.
They’ve tried for the past 20 years to pass this bill. It ain’t easy politics. If it was, it would’ve passed two decades ago. Wishing it was easy doesn’t make it so.
Of course, governors still get the next-to-last-laugh if they either outright veto or make changes to legislation. Even then, there are people around the Statehouse who think the gaming bill never would have passed if lawmakers took the threat of a Quinn veto seriously.
We see a site that is close to the Loop but not too close, well served by public transportation, and close to struggling residential neighborhoods that need jobs — but, again, not too close. We envision conventioneers by the thousands flocking to a casino there after a full day of product shows, seminars and Power Point presentations.
And recall Michael Madigan’s insistence in 2007 that if Illinois is to have more casinos, it needs a more independent and muscular Gaming Board to combat corruption and mob influence? His plan had former federal judges and prosecutors nominating board members, plus insulation against pressure from governors (see Ryan, George, and Blagojevich, Rod) and legislators. A new bill triples casino capacity and orders the board to more rapidly roll out video gambling. This hurry-up risks corruption of an Illinois industry previously scarred by two scandals. Regulators already monitor 6,800 casino workers, execs and owners.
Quinn can raise this grade with a veto or an amendatory veto of the casino bill. We’re awarding an F+ instead of an F only because this bill, unlike an earlier version, doesn’t eliminate five Gaming Board members whose careful decisions had angered a pro-gambling legislator.
One reason for Madigan’s plan is because he believed at the time that we had a criminal in the governor’s office. He was right. But this bill is certainly on the light side on oversight.
* The editors of the Galesburg Register-Mail have an interesting debate in the paper between themselves over whether to expand gaming. This is Tom Martin’s opinion…
Supply and demand should settle the issue. If people want to gamble more and, for instance, are crossing state lines to do it, then why not expand the number of casinos and add thousands of wagering machines?
Opposing gambling for moral reasons is a legitimate stance, although I think it would be hypocritical for our state leaders to cry the horrors of more gambling while running a state lottery.
I don’t think we’ll become the Las Vegas of the Midwest, as some have said. Forty-eight states allow gambling these days, so it’s not like adding five more casinos is going to make Illinois unique. It’s the lure of easy money. And it means fewer tough choices for legislators — which is the only problem I have the expansion. It prevents the state from dealing with spending issues.
The gambling expansion conflict is more about the new casinos competing with existing casinos. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Grand Victoria Casino sent $2 million per month to the city of Elgin during boom times. The city now faces losing that revenue to new casinos.
Although I believe gambling should be regulated, I don’t think the government needs to protect one city against another. Demand will determine whether there’s more of a market out there. If there’s not, the revenue will be split among more entities. It happens all the time in business. If it’s not a money maker, casinos will close. Sign the bill.
With Republicans still firmly opposed, he and other backers focused on rounding up votes from six of seven Democrats who didn’t support the bill the first time around. Two lawmakers who voted for the bill on its first try would not be present for the final vote.
Bradley, Raoul, Madigan and state insurance director Michael McRaith approached them all, trying to allay concerns that had thwarted the bill in the first round.
Yes, they told one, workers would still be able to get a second opinion from doctors. Yes, they said, your constituents would still be allowed to choose their own doctors. Yes, they informed another, the bill thoroughly protects injured workers’ rights.
But Madigan’s power to persuade _ through his influence over the legislative process, political fundraising, and ultimately his members’ political fates _ proved critical. The speaker supported the workers’ comp bill at least partly as a helping hand to business in the wake of the state’s income tax increase, which Democrats had sponsored.
In all the years I’ve covered Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, he has never allowed his chamber’s Republican minority leader to best him. A minority leader might score a win here and there, but those victories are always short-lived. The wins are almost akin to a challenge to Madigan’s manhood itself, and they are never allowed to stand.
And so it was yet again with workers’ compensation reform. House Republican Leader Tom Cross locked his caucus into a position against the bill the Sunday before the spring session adjourned and the bill appeared to die.
Indeed, the House Republicans surprised many by making no attempt whatsoever to even try and hide their real motives for voting lockstep against the workers’ comp bill. Simply put, the proposal harmed the interests of the Illinois State Medical Society by mandating a 30 percent cut in medical reimbursement rates. Republican after Republican rose during debate to decry the proposed medical reimbursement cuts. The Medical Society has historically given a ton of campaign cash to the House Republicans. If the Democrats simply reduced the cuts down to the Medical Society-approved 20 percent level, the Republicans more than implied, there’d be a deal.
The Speaker was in no mood for a deal. Instead, he pulled out all the stops, as only he can. The legislation wound up passing with 62 votes on the last night of session, even though two of Madigan’s 64 members were out of town.
The bill also picked up a lone House Republican supporter. Rep. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) had wanted to vote for the bill on Sunday, but was browbeaten into submission the first time around.
The House Republicans might ultimately regret their political maneuver. While the Republican leadership managed to keep all their other members off the legislation, support for the bill by most Senate Republicans undercuts their “official” position that the reforms don’t go nearly far enough.
Illinois Chamber President Doug Whitley didn’t have many kind words for the bill in the days leading up to the vote, but he showered praise on the legislation after it cleared the House on the second try.
“I’m glad it passed,” Whitley said after the bill was finally approved, running through several positive aspects of the legislation. Whitley’s group has been pushing workers’ comp reform for more than two years, and the obviously exhausted business leader said he was relieved this phase was finally over.
Whitley said it would probably take two years for the reforms to work its way through the system. By the next gubernatorial election, he said, the results should be clear. If they work, then that’s great. If they don’t work, then he vowed to make workers’ comp reform an issue in the 2014 campaign.
Whitley singled out Senate President John Cullerton as the “hero” of the moment. Cullerton has been pushing to reform the system since last fall.
While Cullerton certainly deserves praise for his persistence, he wasn’t alone. Both sponsors, Rep. John Bradley and Kwame Raoul, guided the talks to a conclusion. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped flip some recalcitrant Democrats and Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration never let up the pressure.
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association CEO Greg Baise and Illinois Retail Merchants Association President Dave Vite rolled with the punches, never panicked and always stayed focused on reaching an agreement that could realistically pass both chambers, even when other business leaders abandoned the quest. Both Baise and Vite have a policy of creating majorities in both chambers which support their groups’ interests, rather than backing a single party over the other. It worked again.
It’s also difficult not to point out that if the House Republicans, doctors, unions and trial lawyers had agreed to a compromise proposed back in January, they would’ve taken a far lighter hit than they did last week.
That earlier proposed compromise cut medical reimbursement rates by just 15 percent (half the final total) and included few of the other reforms contained in the current bill. The groups thought they could fight off any changes at all if they held together.
The problem with their logic is they failed to consider that Madigan would make passing a reform bill a point of honor. His personal constitution does not allow him to be bested by the GOP. And in the end, he won again.
