Bond Set at $100,000 for Chicago Man Charged with Threatening State Representative Deb Conroy
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly announced today that a Chicago man has been charged with posting threatening Facebook messages directed at Illinois State Representative Deb Conroy. Cort Chubko, 59 (d.o.b. 7/15/1962) of the 6200 block of S. Whipple Street, appeared in Bond Court this morning where Judge Joshua Dieden set bond at $100,000 with 10% to apply. Chubko has been charged with one count of Threatening a Public Official, a Class 3 Felony and one count of Intimidation, also a Class 3 Felony.
It is alleged that on February 4, 2022, and again on February 12, 2022, Chubko commented on and replied to comments on Representative Conroy’s Facebook page in a threatening manner. It is alleged that some of the comments left by Chubko included “heavy arms are being moved into and distributed across Dupage County. PEOPLE ARE PAST PISSED and READY TO FIGHT.”, “(expletive) is GOING TO get ugly in Dupage County.”, “This woman and all like her is the reason I own AND CARRY guns.”, “You know how I respond to fear Conroy? I move a little lever from SAFE to FIRE.” and “But know this Conroy and I couldnt be more serious… ALL HELL will come down on you, your staff and your office and your PRotection Detail isn’t going to be nearly enough to stop it.”. Through the course of their investigation authorities identified Chubko as the individual who allegedly made the posts. He was taken into custody yesterday afternoon from his residence without incident.
“For government to function properly, public officials must be allowed to perform their jobs without having to worry about retribution or fear for their personal safety,” Berlin said. “My office stands ready to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone who threatens a public official, their staff or their family. I thank the Illinois State Police for their outstanding work on this case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Ken Tatarelis and Michael Pingaj for their efforts in preparing a strong case against Mr. Chubko.”
“Anyone contemplating this type of criminal conduct should be forewarned the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation takes threats to public officials of all kinds very seriously,” said ISP Director Brendan Kelly. “The outstanding, professional work of ISP special agents, ISP criminal intelligence analysts and DuPage County prosecutors moved this investigation forward to a swift apprehension of the defendant.”
Chubko’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2022, for arraignment in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARDSMAN HELPS FELLOW VETERANS BATTLE SUICIDE THROUGH MUSIC
David Allen Stone of Robinson, Illinois, brings attention to Mental Health
Story by Mike Chrisman, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office
ROBINSON, ILLINOIS – As a kid, David Allen Stone of Robinson, Illinois always wanted to be in the military and serve his country. Enlisting in a post-9/11 era, Stone knew he would be deployed overseas. However, he never envisioned the internal struggles he would endure during his military service.
For many, depression and suicide are taboo topics no one wants to talk about. However, Stone has turned his pain into music, with hopes of helping others struggling with mental illness.
Stone, an Illinois Army National Guard sergeant first class, is part of the 123rd Engineer Battalion in Murphysboro, Illinois. He has served in the Illinois Army National Guard since 2004, when he enlisted at the age of 18. Deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq gave him a unique perspective on the ‘personal demons’ many Veterans face. Like many Veterans, Stone turned to alcohol to cope with his depression. It was those personal struggles that enabled the 35-year-old Veteran to hone in on his passion, finding an outlet that helped him cope. Now he’s helping others struggling with depression and suicidal ideations.
“I wrote the song ‘Bury These Burdens’ when I was in a pretty dark spot in my life and thought I could fix my problems at the bottom of the bottle,” Stone recalls. “I thought ending my life would be best for everyone, until a conversation with my aunt, Angie Watson, helped me use my passion for music to focus on my pain.”
Stone said he wrote ‘Bury These Burdens’ simply to unleash his sadness and anger in a way where no one would get hurt. However, when a high school friend and fellow Illinois Army National Guard Soldier died by suicide in January 2020, Stone knew it was time to act.
“I had the song started, but after Tyler Zellers passed away, I really focused my mentality on getting the message out,” Stone said. ‘I wanted others to know that it’s okay to talk about your feelings. For me, it helped talking about what I was going through. You can’t hold it in. I want others to know they’re not alone. You can talk about it. There are many others going through similar struggles just like you.”
Zellers’ sister, Chrissi (Zellers) Arvin of Hutsonville, Illinois, said she doesn’t want to see others endure what they’ve gone through as a family.
“Because of what happened, so many people have opened up about things,” Arvin said. “If it changes one mind not to make the final decision Tyler did, then it’s absolutely worth it. Tyler didn’t die in battle, but he lost his life for this country.”
Stone’s biggest advice to people struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide is to find something you love and you’re passionate about and surround yourself with positivity. Stone said embracing his passion for music helped save his life and now he wants to help others with similar struggles.
Emanuel “Chris” Welch
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
300 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Dear Speaker Welch,
I’m writing with regard to the four capital projects that several House members requested we freeze pending another layer of review. At the request of your members, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity conducted an additional review of the released projects to ensure that all steps of our established process were followed. Attached, you will find summary memos from each of the departments, providing additional information on the steps that were taken. As you know, these projects were appropriated by a bipartisan majority of the General Assembly in 2019 and underwent our normal extensive review process before funds were released.
After I froze the projects at the request of your members, I received numerous communications indicating broad community support to move those projects forward. In particular, members of the Latino Caucus reached out to highlight that these vital projects provide significant community benefits, urging the state to continue making progress in their communities. As a result of the reviews from IDOT and DCEO confirming that all required processes were followed, funding for these projects will be released.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Governor JB Pritzker
…Adding… Links to and excerpts from attached documentation…
* Bedford Park Noise Abatement Project: IDOT performed a Pre-Mitigation Noise Study that determined that inert retarders in BRC’s East Clearing Yard are the primary source of reported noise complaints summarized by the Village and the Weglarz Hotel group and that the noise is caused during train assembly operations. After evaluating several options for abatement, including construction of noise barriers, soundproofing improvements to the hotels, and track improvements, IDOT and BRC decided upon replacement of track components within the yard that eliminate noise from the train assembly operation at its source. The 30% engineering estimate to replace the track components within the BRC East Class Yard is approximately $22 million.
* Lewis University Airport Air Traffic Control Tower: The tower construction project was locally let utilizing applicable IDOT policy and procedures that are in place to ensure all federal or state mandated requirements are met. After notification of intent to award to the lowest responsive bidder and contract execution by Joliet Regional Port District, IDOT initiated the grant agreement process. The intergovernmental grant agreement process for airport improvement programs is competed in compliance with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) and through the Bureau of Business Services, who are the experts in the various requirements based on policy, statute, and administrative rules
* Academy for Global Citizenship: The appropriation language was clarified by Rep. Ortìz on March 29, 2021, who wrote that a technical drafting error was made and that the grant funds were intended to be awarded to the “Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School” specifically for “capital improvements.” The grant agreement was executed May 11, 2021, and the funds are to be used to support the design, site preparation, and construction of the Academy for Global Citizenship’s new facility at 2942 W. 44th Street in Chicago. The following memorandum outlines the pre- award steps taken to ensure the grant complies with applicable requirements and summarizes our post-award administration of this grant.
The fourth project at Hancock High School is already complete.
Illinois State Medical Society Statement on Insurance Co. “Ghost Networks”
Statement Attributable to Regan Thomas, MD, President, Illinois State Medical Society
The doctors of Illinois are concerned about recent reports of “ghost networks” perpetrated by state-regulated private health plans in Illinois. Insurance company provider directories often list doctors who are unavailable, not taking new patients, are located far away or who don’t work at the listed medical facility. This isn’t happening in just one part of Illinois, it’s a statewide problem.
We call on the Illinois Department of Insurance to enhance its enforcement of the ISMS-initiated Network Adequacy and Transparency Act, signed into law in 2017, including putting forth strict enforcement guidelines and penalties for non-compliance. This law provides important protections for patients, including continuity of care for those with ongoing and urgent medical care needs, such as cancer patients and expectant mothers.
ISMS also strongly calls for the insurance companies do a better job of keeping their published physician network information up-to-date as required by law. The inattention to this important task is impeding access to and continuity of healthcare, as well as the patient-physician relationship.
Illinois doctors urge patients to file complaints with the Illinois Department of Insurance whenever they experience these ghost network issues. Complaints can be filed online at https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/Insurance/Consumers/Pages/File-a-complaint.aspx.
Cancer patients, pregnant mothers, and other patients in dire search of medical attention face higher costs, longer wait times, farther distances, and have to navigate a dead-end directory of doctors that, in many cases, do not exist before they can schedule their first appointment with a specialist in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network.
Experts in the insurance industry often refer to an insurance company’s inflated patient directory as a “ghost network” that over-promises and under-delivers on the number of providers who are actually available to see patients within a reasonable distance.
A spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois said the “assertion of a ghost network is inaccurate and may be based on misplaced assumptions,” but a thorough review of the company’s directory, including hours of phone calls placed to the providers offices, yielded pages of evidence that the doctors they advertise are often not available, not taking new patients, located too far away, or in some cases don’t work there at all.
Online directories often include an occasional error or oversight, but in this case, the complications in coverage grew drastically worse after the largest insurance company in Illinois escalated a contract dispute with Springfield Clinic and kicked all 650 of its providers “out-of-network” in mid-November.
Blue Cross is my health insurance company and most of my medical stuff is handled through Springfield Clinic, so I’ll refrain from commenting except to post this excerpt…
Executives at Springfield Clinic say the dispute began when Blue Cross started steering a higher volume of patients onto a much cheaper insurance plan that was initially set up to provide barebones coverage for the previously uninsured.
“That plan was intended for the [Affordable Care Act],” Zach Kerker, a vice president at Springfield Clinic, explained. “It was intended for people who had purchased plans through the exchange online.”
The Blue Choice plan covered roughly 10,000 patients at Springfield Clinic, according to Kerker. When Blue Cross started selling that cheaper, lower-paying plan to a broader pool of patients, the clinic stopped accepting it.
“Ultimately, we canceled that plan, because there were other options for patients at that time to get their insurance through the exchange,” Kerker said.
The clinic’s executives didn’t expect Blue Cross Blue Shield to retaliate. When the state’s largest insurer escalated the dispute and kicked Springfield Clinic’s 650 providers out of its network, it told reporters it did so to start a broader discussion about affordable health care.
“That’s not what it felt like,” Kerker said flatly.
“The case to be made for me … would be some very clear and actionable plans about how we move the city forward … from a public safety standpoint. How do we create public safety where everybody in each of our 77 communities feels safe because, right now, people don’t.”
Asked why Lightfoot deserves to be a one-termer, Buckner homed in on the mayor’s inability to play well with others. He said it hamstrings her ability to be a “triangulating force” who brings disparate interests together to solve problems.
“There’s no secret that the mayor has a personality that a lot of folks don’t like. … We have spent way too much time bogged down in the politics of personality instead of the politics of getting stuff done,” he said.
“There were folks who weren’t fans of Rahm. There were folks who weren’t fans of Rich Daley. But, at the end of the day, it was about getting stuff done. That has to be the hallmark of how we operate in this city. I don’t need to agree with you in order to get to a solution.”
The entire interview is good, so click here. He talks about his arrest as well.
* The Question: Do you think Rep. Buckner should run for mayor? Make sure to explain your answer and keep in mind that I’m not asking if he will run for mayor, but whether he should do it.
* Related…
* IL Rep, Kam Buckner says Republican Gubernatorial Candidate’s “All Lives Matter” Campaign Opportunistic: What if, when your house was on fire, the fire department responded, “but all houses matter”? What if, when your town suffers a tragedy, the response is, “but all towns matter”? Black Lives Matter is not exclusionary. It is an acknowledgment that is necessary because historically, our lives have not mattered to those who would rather we didn’t exist as anything more than a commodity. This is upsetting to hear from anyone, let alone a Black man and a candidate for governor. It is patently unacceptable, cold, and timid to try to stand on both sides of one of the most consequential issues of our time. But movements built on and sustained by the unforgiving fight for equality, won’t be cheapened even, by those who try to make us doubt our own realities. All Lives Matter is a statement that ignores those realities and serves to negate the story of where we have been, in hopes of impeding the road to where we are going.
* Lynn Sweet on a Celinda Lake poll taken for a progressive group supporting Delia Ramirez in CD3…
If the vote was taking place now, 66% said they were undecided; 19% said they were for Ramirez; 11% for Villegas and 1% for Chehade. […]
Putting together the “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable” responses showed “Medicare for all” with a 83% favorable; Sanders, the Vermont Independent and two-time Democratic presidential candidate with a 74% favorable; Gov. J.B. Pritzker, at 73%; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., 71%; Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Ill., at 59%; the “Green New Deal” at 49%; Chicago Police Department, 45%; former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 39%; Lightfoot, 37%; Fraternal Order of Police, 26%; and Lincoln Yards, the North Side real estate development at 13%. […]
For Ramirez, an endorsement from Sanders — the progressive champion — could be game changing in a district where voters — for now — seem interested in progressive issues. Garcia, who is close to Sanders, endorsed Ramirez last month, telling me, “Certainly there’s the potential for a Bernie endorsement as well. I will be exploring that with Bernie.”
Villegas was once Lightfoot’s floor leader, resigning the post on Feb. 2, 2021. Still, since there is no statute of limitations in politics, Villegas could be saddled with an association with the relatively unpopular Lightfoot and Emanuel and votes he has taken dealing with the Chicago police and Lincoln Yards.
It’s just one poll, but I do think this could show that the district’s Democrats may not be quite as “moderate” as Team Villegas has been claiming. Also, the governor essentially polling even with Sanders in that district is notable, as is the CPD out-polling Lightfoot, who is out-polling the FOP.
* Press release…
Joint Statement from the Democratic Party of Illinois and Cook County Democratic Party on GOP Hate Crime Candidate
Yesterday, news broke that Republican Kevin Ake has filed petitions to run for Cook County Commissioner. According to the Chicago Tribune, Ake was found guilty of a felony hate crime in 2002 after he left more than 100 phone calls harassing a lesbian YMCA director about her sexual orientation. Ake is running against Kevin Morrison, the first openly gay Cook County Commissioner in history.
Ake currently serves as treasurer of the Elk Grove Township Republicans. Elk Grove Township Republican committeeman Russell Nowak dismissed Ake’s hate crime, telling the Tribune, “What they did years ago shouldn’t matter…People have done stupid stuff when you were younger, you know?”
Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Abby Witt and Cook County Democratic Party Executive Director Jacob Kaplan released the following joint statement:
“Hate and homophobia have absolutely no place in the politics of Cook County or the State of Illinois. It is extremely disturbing to learn of Mr. Ake’s background and candidacy, as well as the Elk Grove Township Republican Party’s dismissive attitude towards his hateful past. This is especially troubling after we saw a neo-Nazi win the Republican nomination for the 3rd Congressional District in 2018 and run again in 2020. Not only must must Mr. Ake withdraw his candidacy immediately, but he should be removed from his Republican leadership position and unequivocally denounced by the Cook County Republican Party and Illinois Republican Party at once.”
I’ve asked the ILGOP for comment.
*** UPDATE *** From the ILGOP…
Joint statement from Republican Party leaders in the 15th Cook County Commissioner District:
“The Republican Party does not condone the reprehensible behavior of Kevin Ake - whether it was yesterday or years ago. We have endorsed Ake’s opponent in the Republican primary, Chuck Cerniglia. We look forward to supporting Chuck in the general election.”
Sean Morrison - Cook County GOP Chairman
Joe Folisi - Schaumburg Township Republican Committeeman
Mike Baumer - Hanover Township Republican Committeeman
James Stinson - Maine Township Republican Committeeman
Aaron Del Mar - Palatine Township Committeeman
Russ Nowak - Elk Grove Township Committeeman
Peter Kopsaftis - Barrington Township Republican Committeeman
At their Tuesday, March 8th Executive meeting, the Winnebago County Republican Central Committee (WCRCC) condemned a fraudulent letter of no confidence to Chairman Eli Nicolosi that was circulated to the public and the media on February 9th. The unsigned letter was a blatant effort to undermine his bid for election to the Illinois Senate’s 35th district.
A resolution by the party states that the claims contained in the anonymous letter directed at Chairman Nicolosi were “a blatant smear against the Republican Party, its members, and its Chairman.” The media seized on the narrative of a rift within the party that was clearly an attempt by a political opponent to use the WCRCC to further his political position.
The WCRCC Executive Committee further condemned the distribution of such a letter as an effort to spread lies about the members of the WCRCC and its Chairman. Chairman Nicolosi stated that he is happy that he has the full support of the executive committee and county voters and denounces the letter as a political attack.
“The people of Illinois deserve change and not smear tactics to stay in office another decade. The state has grown tired of these old tricks being used by career politicians who can’t seem to find anything new up their sleeve when it comes down to actual work, so instead, they rely on manipulation and shameful rumor-mongering about their opponents.” said Nicolosi.
* Eventually, even a blind person should be able to see that the folks who run the far-right agitprop Dupage Policy Journal are firmly behind Greg Hart’s campaign for county board chair…
DuPage County Board Chairman Pete DiCianni is throwing his support behind opponent Democrat Rep. Deb Conroy in the face of harsh criticism and alleged death threats after she filed a bill that would allow for the detainment of the unvaccinated.
“You know what? (Deb Conroy) is my friend,” DiCianni said on WBBM. “I mean, we may be opponents in the general (election), but she’s still my friend and I don’t agree with every bill she sponsors. She’s helped me sponsor other bills with Medicaid and autism and epinephrine, and we’ve gotten a lot done together. But nobody deserves what she went through. It’s embarrassing, and I called Greg (Hart) out.”
Conroy’s bill, HB 4640, would give local health departments and state politicians formal legal authority to fully control the behavior of any individuals who don’t follow COVID-19 restrictions and rules, including keeping people isolated and under police guard.
Local health departments can “adopt any rules” necessary, according to the bill synopsis.
We’ve been over this a number of times before, but that’s just a stupid and, by now apparently deliberate misreading of the bill’s language. Also, DiCianni is a Republican candidate for board chair who’s running against Hart. Sheesh, these people. Hart really ought to disavow all this crud.
* Press release…
Today, Elect Democratic Women (EDW), the only member-led political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of women in Congress, announced their support for Delia Ramirez in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional district. additional candidate endorsements for U.S. House of Representatives in midterm elections in 2022.
“Elect Democratic Women is proud to endorse Delia Ramirez for Congress. With women’s rights under attack across the country, it has never been more important to elect more pro-choice champions to Congress. Delia is a proven fighter for women and working families, and we are looking forward to having her in Congress,” said Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), EDW Chair.
“I am beyond proud to receive the endorsement of Elect Democratic Women. I look forward to working side by side with the brilliant women who lead this caucus to foster and support more women leaders.,” said Delia Ramirez.
Elect Democratic Women is the latest to endorse Representative Ramirez who has also received the endorsements of Emily’s List, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the United Working Families and Working Families Party.
WMBD’s Matt Sheehan spoke exclusively with State Rep. candidate Travis Weaver before Weaver filed petitions at the State Board of Elections in Springfield. […]
Weaver will be challenging Rep. Mark Luft in the Republican Primary.
Weaver is the son of former State Senator Chuck Weaver.
And Rep. Luft is the son of former state Sen. Dick Luft. They’ve got a real legacy primary going in that area.
* A new Republican slate filed petitions this week. It’s just a weee bit to the right of the Grif slate. That is, if the word “bit” could be translated as “light years”…
* Press Release: Maine Ethics Commission Votes to Subpoena ALEC Over Its Campaign Software Scheme
…Adding… I posted the press release yesterday, but here’s the Daily Herald…
Republican congressional candidate James Marter on Friday touted an endorsement from a downstate congresswoman who quoted Adolf Hitler in a speech last year and denied Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, a first-term lawmaker from Oakland, is backing Marter in his bid for the 14th District seat, according to a news release from Marter’s campaign. Miller’s team confirmed the endorsement.
In the release, Marter said he’s “excited and grateful” to have Miller’s endorsement. […]
Marter is an Oswego Public Library Board member who chairs the Kendall County Republican Party. He ran for the 16th Congressional District seat in 2018 and for U.S. Senate in 2016.
* We’ve seen a 19.8 percent reduction in hospitalizations since last Friday, a 29.4 percent drop in ICU usage, a 33.8 percent fall in ventilator patients and a 45.2 percent decrease in deaths, exactly as it should be as this spike continues to peter out…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 8,519 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 149 deaths since March 4, 2022.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,045,718 cases, including 33,075 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since March 4, 2022, laboratories have reported 642,494 specimens for a total of 55,731,994. As of last night, 676 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 108 patients were in the ICU and 51 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from March 4-10, 2022 is 1.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 4-10, 2022 is 1.5%.
A total of 21,217,198 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 9,522 doses. Since March 4, 2022, 66,654 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 76% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 67% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and more than 49% boosted according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
* Press release…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits are being extended until July 31, 2022. The previous extension was set to end on March 31, 2022. As a result, expired driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits will remain valid until July 31, 2022, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, especially during inclement weather. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.
White’s office has expanded online renewals for expired driver’s licenses and ID cards and continues to mail letters to eligible customers. The letter provides driver’s license and ID card holders with a unique PIN needed to renew online instead of visiting a facility and waiting in line. Customers may call 217-785-1424 to confirm their eligibility for online renewal or to obtain their PIN.
Customers who must visit a facility include first-time driver’s license or ID card applicants, first-time REAL ID applicants and drivers ages 75 and older who are required by state law to visit a facility when renewing their license.
White continues to encourage people to conduct other business online at ilsos.gov. In addition to driver’s license and ID card renewals for those who qualify, online services include obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, ordering a driver record and purchasing license plate stickers.
White noted his office is also extending the expiration dates of Restricted Driving Permits (RDPs) to July 31, 2022 for those that expired on or after December 1, 2021 through July 30, 2022.
As a reminder, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.
* More…
* COVID pandemic death toll may be 3 times higher than official tally, new study finds: Two years after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, new research suggests around 18.2 million people have died worldwide as a result. That toll is more than three times higher than the WHO’s tally of nearly 6 million officially reported COVID-19 deaths through the end of 2021. Some 1.13 million Americans have died due to the pandemic, the researchers estimate. By comparison, the current total of reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. stands at around 960,000.
* How the Pandemic Has Shaped Babies’ Development: Researchers are particularly worried about the effects of prenatal parental stress in the earlier stages of pregnancy, which is known to cause lower birth weights and other problems. A study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that babies born during the pandemic scored lower on tests of gross-motor, fine-motor, and social skills at six months compared with babies born earlier. The largest effects were found in mothers in New York City who were in their first trimester early in the pandemic—when case rates were rising precipitously and uncertainty was at its highest. (In utero COVID infections had no effects.) Of course, only so much can be gleaned when babies are so young, and increased risk doesn’t tell us what will happen in the future; delays caught early can be headed off with intervention.
* Our Brains Want the Story of the Pandemic to Be Something It Isn’t: From the beginning, a narrative that many people latched on to was, as Fletcher described it to me, one of interruption. “What if you were watching a movie [at a theater] and someone got up in front of you and started having an argument with his partner on his cellphone? I think that’s really what’s happened—the virus is [that] guy,” he said. “I think we’re impatient and angry with it because it’s disrupting what we think is our real story.” Fletcher said that this idea—that we’ve been deprived of the life story we wanted to be living—stresses us out because it implies a loss of authorship over our personal narrative.
* Solis apparently had witting accomplices, but he did set up some apparently real-world deals that were crooked enough to get other people indicted…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday she finds it “unconscionable” that former Zoning Committee chairman-turned-FBI mole Danny Solis was “walking around on a wire for years … continuing to wheel and deal” and is deeply offended his deal with the feds will keep Solis out of prison. […]
“The fact that you had a sitting alderman walking around on a wire for years is unconscionable, as far as I’m concerned. Unconscionable. And while he was continuing, it looks like, to wheel and deal as chair of a very important Zoning Committee. It gives me great, great pause,” Lightfoot told the Sun-Times editorial board.
“He has gotten a deal where he’s not going to be looking at any jail time, as I understand it. … I’m deeply offended by that. This is a man who exploited his position … to enrich himself, attempting to enrich others. There’s got to be consequences and accountability for that. It’s not enough for him to simply walk away. Sail off into the sunset. That sends the wrong message.” […]
“You take into consideration the value that they’ve added in aiding other investigations. Absolutely. … But where’s the accountability? … There has got to be something other than a complete pass for the crimes that he’s committed.” Lightfoot said, adding: “And, of course, he shouldn’t get his pension.”
Lightfoot, of course, is a former federal prosecutor.
Madigan over time amassed tens of millions of dollars in the various campaign accounts he controlled as speaker and as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
“And he used that money to maintain and enforce loyalty around him. He would give it to candidates and officials who were loyal to him and use it fund their opponents if they weren’t. And so that was really one of the major sources of his power,” Kaplan said. “If we’re going to talk about really changing the system to make sure that someone like this doesn’t happen again we need to look at all those sources of power that led to one man having this amount of control over his party.”
Illinois in 2009, while Madigan was speaker, set caps on campaign contributions, but Kaplan says the system is weak and rife with loopholes that allow the legislatures’ top leaders to effectively skirt limits.
That allows them to exercise a level of control over other lawmakers that she said is “unusual and dangerous.” […]
Meanwhile, state Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) is sponsoring a measure (HB5046) that would make state lawmakers ineligible to serve again if they’re convicted of a felony while in office. […]
The measure is currently stalled in Springfield.
* More stuff…
* The Madigan indictment puts a new focus on how Chicago aldermen govern: “You cannot read that indictment, and not have pause about the way in which Danny Solis ran the zoning committee for his own profit and the profit of others in a way that wasn’t just unethical, it was illegal,” Lightfoot said in that interview.
Legislators in Springfield are moving toward setting up a state task force to investigate racial bias in home appraisals, an issue that has gained currency in recent years as Black homeowners and industry groups have documented widespread examples of the problem.
HB 4410, which passed the Illinois House on March 4 and will now go before the Senate, would create a “real estate evaluation task force” that should investigate whether there is a pattern of racial bias in appraisals and recommend ways to correct it. It would also try to determine whether there are barriers to entry for people of color in the appraisal industry, which would be helping to perpetuate unconscious bias among appraisers.
Lowball appraisals of Black-owned homes are “directly connected to the disinvestment, the poverty and the lack of interest” in majority-Black communities, said Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-5th, one of five House sponsors of the bill.
“We need to figure out how we can have parity of appraisals in communities like Chatham, Englewood, Washington Park and Woodlawn,” said Robinson, whose district cuts through a broad swath of the South Side to 79th Street.
Illinois lawmakers could soon cast a final vote on $1 billion of additional borrowing to extend existing pension buyout programs as they eye action on two of the state’s fiscal sore spots — pensions and the rainy day fund.
The Senate Pensions Committee advanced the legislation laid out in HB4292 in a bipartisan vote Wednesday, setting the stage for a floor vote later this month, according to committee Chairman Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago. The measure passed the House Feb. 24 and has Gov. J.P. Pritzker’s support.
“What this bill does is simply authorize the administration to issue another billion of bonds and extend this buyout program in an attempt to capture further savings,” Martwick said. “By using bonds to pay for the buyouts we are leveraging those returns even further because we are getting low cost bonds and we are leaving assets in the pension system.”
llinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is pushing legislation that would require the state to make automatic deposits into its so-called “rainy day fund” whenever certain financial conditions are met.
Officially known as the Budget Stabilization Fund, it was created in 2001 as a reserve so the state could pay its bills in a timely manner, especially during regular months of the year when revenues are lower than other months. The goal was to maintain a reserve fund equal to 5 percent of the state’s annual revenues.
Current law, however, requires deposits into the fund only when the state’s general revenue estimates increase by 4 percent or more over the prior year, something Mendoza said has not happened since the fund was created.
Instead, transfers into the fund have been made only when the General Assembly makes a one-time appropriation in the budget.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly told a state violence prevention task force this week that expressway shootings, gun trafficking, trooper staffing levels and officer wellness are some of the biggest challenges facing the agency.
According to the ISP expressway shootings dashboard, in 2021 there were 310 reported expressway shootings in Illinois, 273 of which were reported in Cook County. Capitol News Illinois reported earlier this week on Kelly’s suggestions for addressing expressway shootings, including expanding an automated license plate reader program, giving tech companies a short window in which they must comply with warrants in investigations of expressway shootings, and updating statutes to reflect the danger of such shootings.
But Kelly also said easy access to firearms plays a role in expressway shootings, and many of the weapons used in criminal activity have previously been stolen.
Over the past two years, Kelly said the agency has gone through criminal records to identify people who should not have firearms and revoked about 17,000 Firearm Owners Identification cards and prevented about 25,000 attempts of people illegally obtaining a firearm in 2021.
Kelly suggested lawmakers update the state’s stolen firearm statute to reflect a recently-passed “Fix the FOID Act” that requires ISP to create a public database to provide information on guns that have been reported stolen.
Proposed legislation at the Illinois capitol could increase the number of wineries that would be allowed to self-distribute their products in the state.
Senate Bill 2976 would increase the amount of wine in-state and out-of-state wineries could self distribute in Illinois without using a wholesaler.
The legislation was submitted by state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Maryville, and its intent is to bring relief to wineries across the state.
The National Association of Wine Retailers, an organization that represents the interests of wine sellers nationwide, has been in support of the bill.
Illinois state lawmakers are discussing legislation that would enable school districts to be reimbursed for out-of-state placement for special needs students.
House Bill 4365 would allow school districts to provide funding for a student’s placement if their Individual Education Program (IEP) determines their current district is unfit to meet the student’s needs.
The program would be funded by school districts, with funds from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act grant. The IDEA grant focuses on improving the education of children with disabilities.
* Press release, which is as far as this bill is ever going…
In light of the controversy surrounding Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, State Representative Tim Butler (R-Springfield) has introduced House Bill 5712, which would allow citizens the ability to recall the Cook County State’s Attorney.
“State’s Attorney Foxx has created a crisis of confidence in the Cook County judicial system,” said Butler. “Giving preferential treatment to some defendants like Jussie Smollett and totally ignoring the victims of crime has caused the public to lose faith in her ability to execute the duties she was elected to do.”
Foxx has created controversy on many prosecutorial decisions while crime rates continue to soar in Cook County. Last year she refused to file charges in a case where five gang members exchanged over 70 shots that fatally wounded one of the shooters, citing mutual combat. Just this last week, she also refused to file charges on a felon who was illegally in possession of a firearm he used to kill another man.
Most controversial was Foxx’s decision to drop charges against Jussie Smollett on his faked hate crime. An independent investigation found that Foxx’s office had committed “substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures” in her office’s handling of the initial prosecution.
“The numerous issues surrounding Kim Foxx, and the complete lack of confidence the people have in her abilities as State’s Attorney, underscore the need for citizens to have the ability to recall someone in this vitally important position,” said Butler. “This will give Cook County residents the ability to take back their justice system and stop the cycle of violent criminals not being charged and released back onto the streets.”
HB 5712 sets up a process for voters to initiate a recall election within 60 days of petitions being certified by the Cook County Clerk. The petitions must be signed by registered voters from Cook County, equaling at least five percent of total votes cast in the preceding Cook County State’s Attorney election.
“J.B. Pritzker tried to propose the largest tax hike on the residents of the state of Illinois in the history of our state and he failed in that,” Irvin said. “He’s going to have to do it again because he has raised our expenses to a level to match this income of cash that we got, which was a one-time influx of cash for bail out from the federal government. When that money goes away, our expenses are still going to be at a higher level, our revenues will drop lower, so he’s going to have to raise taxes again.”
* Irvin was also on Tom Miller’s program this week…
Tom Miller: The Mayor of Carterville., Brad Robinson, who says is Mayor EIrvin in favor of increasing the LGDF, the Local Government Distributive Fund on taxes back to the original 10 percent?…
Mayor Irvin: Absolutely. And, listen, as the mayor of a city, and, Mayor, you know this, that when that money was taken away from the city, that affected our budget, that was a huge hit on our budget. These are budgets that pay for our police officers, that pay for our firemen, that pay for water, that pay for our streets to be fixed and cleaned that pay for the services that we give our residents every single day to make their lives better and when that money is taken from us, ripped from us to use to balance a budget that these Democrats have disregarded and wasted and spent, you know, use our money, that people we work hard for, to balance a budget? That’s terrible.
* So, how’s Irvin gonna close that massive hole? Well, he’ll probably resort to magic beans…
Irvin’s solution would be to use the formula he used in Aurora to entice businesses to expand and which, ultimately, led to lower taxes, he said.
“In Aurora, what I’ve done is expanded our tax base, brought more businesses, more residents living in the city, which draws down what each individual person has to pay in taxes,” he said. “In Illinois, we’re losing businesses and people by the droves and because of it, it’s shrinking the number of people that pay taxes and we that are still here (are) having to pay higher taxes.”
* Try to keep it Illinois-centric and don’t let this tweet get you off-track. Thanks. Just attempting to help spread the word and calm some anger. After all, even if they were actually Russian-Americans, they’re still Americans. I know plenty of Russian-Americans who emigrated from the Soviet Union for darned good reasons (met another one just a few weeks ago) and they sure as heck don’t want to go back now and most definitely don’t approve of the country’s current regime…
Russian Tea Time restaurant in downtown Chicago was founded by Ukrainians. Now it faces misplaced backlash. Story by @angie_leventishttps://t.co/hEKSzk6URn
In a largely symbolic declaration issued two weeks after the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter on Thursday banned the state’s sportsbooks from laying odds on Russian contests, calling it “contrary to public policy.”
Fruchter’s edict means casinos can’t take bets on “any sports event, league or competition” in Russia or Belarus, the eastern European nation that has aided Russian President Vladimir Putin in his violent assault on Ukraine.
“I have determined that wagering in Illinois on such sports poses a significant likelihood of serious risks to the integrity of the Illinois sports wagering industry,” Fruchter said during a virtual Gaming Board meeting. “We hope that peace will soon prevail.”
…Adding… Found this one in an older browser tab…
Inbox: Asst. Majority Leader Jay Hoffman, a state Rep from Swansea, says Illinois should "review and divest all funds invested by any state or local unit of government" related to Russia. pic.twitter.com/tKWmxROlxh
Everyone knows that Billionaire Bully JB Pritzker is best buddies with former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. He even donated millions of dollars to Madigan’s campaign.
Chip in to stop corruption in Springfield!
Now that Madigan has been indicted for his decades of corruption, JB Pritzker is hiding and avoiding questions.
But we know better.
Pritzker and Madigan are birds of a feather: two corrupt politicians who will do anything and everything to hold onto power. In fact, the investigation into Madigan’s bribery, racketeering and corruption might also implicate Pritzker.
Rich, if Madigan can face justice after nearly four decades of corruption, then justice can come for anyone – even JB Pritzker.
Can you chip in $22 so we can hold Pritzker accountable?
Thanks for helping us hold corrupt Chicago politicians accountable.
Sincerely,
Illinois Republican Party
* Brenden Moore takes a long look at the Madigan operation. Excerpt…
Though much of this could be described as “Campaigning 101,” Madigan’s program stood out for its meticulous and relentless nature. Candidates would often be required to knock on a certain amount of doors in their district every day. And staffers would ultimately report back to Madigan on the candidate’s progress.
“They were meticulous about record-keeping, about setting goals and hitting them,” said an Illinois Democratic operative. “And that’s what Madigan did really well.”
A Republican political operative who has run campaigns against Democratic House candidates added that Madigan’s operation “was organized, it was methodical, it was thoughtful.”
And it extended beyond door-knocking. It also meant protecting members from difficult votes in the House, whether that be blocking unfavorable bills from being considered, allowing targeted members to vote against Democratic bills if it went against their district or temporarily replacing them on a committee to avoid a politically tough vote.
All in all, I agree with state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who broke from Madigan before other Democrats dared. On my podcast, I asked Cassidy about Madigan’s legacy, and she said it’s not one way or the other: “all the best and worst things that have occurred in this state have his fingers on them.”
By the way, I’d like to thank Cassidy and her 18 Democratic legislative allies who forced Madigan to retire last year by refusing to vote for his re-election as speaker.
If he was still the speaker when the feds indicted him? Ouch. MAGA’s Griffin-funded commercials would be using Madigan as a hammer to pound every Democrat in the state. They’ll still try to do that—just might not be as effective with him out of office.
Madigan had to go. He’d overreached. But when I watch the Rauner/Griffin crowd chortle and cavort over his indictment, well, I definitely don’t feel like joining that celebration.
* Collin Corbett, the founder of Cor Strategies, does quite a bit of polling and other Republican campaign work in Illinois. His conclusion…
Finally, Mike Madigan isn’t on the ballot in 2022. I’m afraid Republican operatives will use this as an excuse to fall back on the mostly failed “Madigan! Madigan! Madigan!” strategy. This tactic works in specific instances where the Democratic candidate has low name recognition and direct dots can be connected showing they’ve worked with Madigan to make people’s lives worse: a prime example being Justice Thomas Kilbride in 2020. But the vast majority of the time, “your state rep is bad because Mike Madigan is bad” has failed miserably—voters would gladly vote against Madigan if given the chance, but guilt by association doesn’t stick.
A red wave is coming in November of 2022 because, for the first time in memory, Republicans dominate on every issue voters care about right now.
In poll after poll over the past year, the top issues to Illinoisans have been crime, the economy, and inflation, three issues on which voters strongly favor Republicans. That’s where our focus needs to be. (Additionally, while voters have extremely short attention spans on national security issues, if Russian aggression continues as we approach November, that’ll be yet another top issue for voters that favors Republicans.)
With suburban voters and key demographics softening towards Republicans, the stars are aligning for Republicans in this election…as long as we don’t screw it up. And thinking the indictment of Mike Madigan last Wednesday was the key to us winning in November is exactly how we can screw it up.
* Baseball is coming back and we’ll get a full season of games…
In a startling turnabout after more than three months of largely stagnant negotiations, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association have reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a new collective bargaining agreement that will significantly impact the game, capping a five-day stretch of lengthy bartering that resulted in the chance to salvage a full, 162-game season.
The proposed five-year agreement came 99 days after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred imposed a lockout following expiration of the last CBA, and one week after the clubs concluded eight days of bargaining in Florida with no deal, prompting MLB to cancel one week of games.
And it came one day after Manfred announced that “another two series are being removed from the schedule,” pushing Opening Day from March 31 to April 14, a potentially massive black eye for a sport that largely avoided labor fisticuffs since a strike and lockout canceled the 1994 World Series and the first 18 games of the 1995 season.
Instead, the delay will be one week: April 7 is expected to serve as most teams’ Opening Day, with the first week of games to be made up via doubleheaders throughout the course of the season.
A path to a deal seemed to be coming into focus on Thursday morning when the sides resolved how to navigate the question of what to do about direct draft-pick compensation, otherwise known as the qualifying offer. The parties will keep talking about the international amateur system and direct draft pick compensation until July 25. At that point, if the players want to get rid of the qualifying offer, they have to take the international draft. Otherwise, there’s no change to the qualifying offer, and the owners don’t get the international draft.
…Adding… I was looking for some coverage of yesterday’s presser and finally found some. Taylor Vidmar…
Wives of fallen police officers gathered at the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday to advocate for increased police funding and crackdowns on crime.
The group asked lawmakers to pass Senate Bills 4152-4158, some of which would increase criminal penalties for certain crimes. Senate Bill 4155 would create the “Fund the Police Act” and increase funding to police departments.
All seven bills were read once and referred to the Senate Assignments Committee, where they’ve remained since. The bills are unlikely to be revived after failing to pass the Senate before the chamber’s Feb. 25 third reading deadline, but Amber Oberheim said she won’t stop until action is taken.
“Enough is enough,” said Oberheim, the widow of Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim.
“We urged you to do something to ensure the safety of the residents of Illinois who elected you to make those important decisions,” she said, directing her comments at senators who have failed to support the legislation. “You did not. We are here again today to hold you accountable.”
Senate Bills 4152, 4153, 4154, 4155, 4156, 4157 and 4158 haven’t seen much movement since they were introduced in early February by Republicans. The bills would primarily focus on funding police, specifically for hiring, retention, body cameras and community outreach. State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), sponsor of the bills, introduced the women and let them take the podium.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, nine Illinois officers died in the line of duty. Of those nine, five died by gunfire and three by felonious assault. Widows of U of I Police Lieutenant Aaron Landers, Champaign officer Chris Oberheim, Pontoon Beach officer Tyler Timmins, and Bradley Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic shared their concern for police safety in the state and their push for legislators to do more. […]
Dee Landers, widow of Lt. Aaron Landers, shared she is also a daughter and daughter-in-law of police officers. She shared she won’t be silent and will continue to push for support to protect law enforcement officers in the state.
“It is time we stand in support,” she said. “It’s high time that our legislators are accountable for protecting them.”
* Illinois Restaurant Association…
Today, Sam Toia, President & CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, testified before the Illinois Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee on the state of the industry. Mr. Toia, who represents the largest private sector industry in the state, renewed the urgency to support restaurants after the federal government did not include the replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund in the latest government spending package this week.
Below is his statement:
“The restaurant community was dealt a blow this week when we learned that the door has all but shut for the federal government to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. More than 110,000 restaurants jobs in Illinois are currently at risk without additional aid. We are calling on the state of Illinois to provide $125 million in grants to struggling restaurants to hire and retain team members and invest back in their businesses despite rising costs and mounting debts.”
Meanwhile, the state is running a multi-billion-dollar deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The Senate passed an approp bill today to pay off $2 billion of the debt with federal aid, but it’s mainly a placeholder bill while agreed-bill negotiations continue. Something has to pass by the end of this month, which is why the Senate is taking the unusual move of sending a potential approp vehicle to the House a month before the end of session.
Also, Mr. Toia still has not registered as a lobbyist.
* Press release excerpt…
With gasoline prices at the pump topping well over $4 per gallon and expected to continue to climb with projections of over $5 per gallon, State Senators Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) and Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) say Illinois legislators must act immediately to provide relief to consumers.
The legislators joined stakeholders during a press conference at the Capitol on Thursday to call on the General Assembly and the Pritzker Administration to immediately cap the state’s sales tax on motor fuel at 18 cents per gallon, which is what consumers were paying last fall before prices started to climb dramatically. […]
Under the Senators’ proposal, Illinois consumers could expect to save nearly $1 billion over the next fiscal year, or 16 cents per gallon, assuming gas prices are at $5.50 per gallon. Additionally, the measure would continue to provide adequate funding for Illinois’ infrastructure projects.
I caught the mention on your blog about legislators proposing to lower the MFT. On the topic of the impact of gas taxes on prices at the pump, I wanted to bring this report to your attention. As you will note from this exhaustive study, gas taxes have little to do with gas prices and when legislators reduce the MFT, only a fraction is passed on to consumers.
Mike Sturino
President & CEO
Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association
We aren’t touching MFT, and we have never proposed to lower MFT. Our plan caps the sales tax on gas at 18 cents.
* Press release…
Leaders from the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), the Black Contractors Owners Executives (BCOE), and the Federation of Women Contractors (FWC) are at the state capitol today urging legislators to protect minority and women-owned firms and oppose House Bill 5412.
“HB 5412 will make construction more expensive for everyone and locks out future entrepreneurs from the construction industry. Punishing good companies for a few bad apples is a bad idea,” said Jacqueline Gomez, HACIA’s executive director. “This bill will only create additional obstacles for small, minority and women-owned businesses. The State of Illinois should be reinforcing its diversity and equity bridge - not tearing it down.”
HB 5412 shifts the responsibility for paying wage theft claims from subcontractors who engage in the practice to the primary contractor. A coalition led by HACIA opposes this legislation because of the harm it will inflict on up-and-coming construction firms in Illinois and the employees who become victims of wage theft. By stripping Illinois law of a major disincentive for bad actors, this bill shifts liability for wage theft and encourages bad businesses to continue stealing from their employees because they know that someone else will be held accountable.
More workers will be impacted because there are no repercussions on the bad actor. Meanwhile, contractors operating with integrity will be on the hook. Making all contractors responsible for stolen wages – even if they already compensated the fraudulent subcontractor to pay their employees - will force additional workers to file claims with the Illinois Dept. of Labor. These claims already have a history of taking more than a year to settle, which forces claimants to make do without pay rightfully owed to them. More incidents of wage theft mean more claims from working families – a contradiction to the bill’s intent. […]
“On behalf of BCOE, I am extremely disappointed that special interest groups continue to take priority among our legislators instead of what benefits or protects the people of the State of Illinois,” said Angela Drexel, BCOE’s vice president. “There is better legislation, such as HB 5088, that address the wage theft concern and mitigates adverse impacts to minority contractors. We are disappointed the House decided instead to move forward with HB 5412.”
House Bill 5412 has already passed the Illinois House of Representatives. If the bill is allowed to proceed, a vote in the Illinois State Senate may come within the next couple of weeks. The coalition is calling on members and supporters to contact their state senator to voice their opposition to House Bill 5412 so wage thieves are held accountable.
Nearing the end of the legislative session, Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R – Morris) renewed her call today to pass a series of legislative bills she introduced last year in response to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. The legislation would address Governor Pritzker’s failure to implement critical recommendations from the Illinois Auditor General’s Performance Audit of the Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home, a report the Governor received three years ago this month.
The 2019 audit called for a timely response for on-site assistance by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), improved communications between IDPH and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) personnel, and the implementation of all CDC recommendations following a confirmed outbreak (Audit Report Pages IX and X). The Tetra Tech report received two months after the performance audit identified similar issues across our veterans’ homes. Yet, the Pritzker Administration ignored both reports which led to fatal consequences at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home in November 2020 when thirty-six veterans died, making it the deadliest outbreak at a state-run facility in Illinois history.
Last year, an IDPH contractor admitted the agency’s delayed on-site arrival hurt efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19, which was later reiterated by the Department of Human Services’ Inspector General when he stated, “If these (Quincy) recommendations had been in place at the time of the outbreak, the outcome would have been better.” Deputy Governor Sol Flores’ testimony also provided conflicting accounts of who was responsible for IDPH waiting nearly two weeks from the outbreak’s start to get on-site, even though she claimed to be coordinating the multi-agency response.
“How many reports must land on Governor Pritzker’s desk before he takes the safety of our veterans seriously,” stated Senator Rezin. “It took the Pritzker Administration 11-days to arrive on-site in LaSalle, and it could still take the same number of days today. The Governor’s lax approach toward improving the state’s outbreak response time and care for our veterans is not the type of leadership he pledged as a candidate.”
Two of Senator Rezin’s bills address how Illinois prepares for and responds to outbreaks, while the third one strengthens the powers of the Inspector General when conducting state investigations.
• Senate Bill 3170: Sets a timetable for when IDPH should conduct an on-site visit after being notified of an outbreak.
• Senate Bill 1471: Requires facilities licensed and operated by the State to conduct outbreak preparedness drills.
• Senate Bill 1445: Provides the Inspector General subpoena powers to ensure cooperation with state investigations after former Pritzker political appointee and IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia refused to cooperate with the Inspector General’s investigation at IDVA.
“While IDVA Acting Director Terry Prince has been addressing the internal problems existing within the agency, we cannot ignore the fact the state’s mismanagement of the outbreak spanned across multiple state agencies to the Governor’s Office,” continued Senator Rezin. “Therefore, we must put these policies and procedures into state law, ensuring a proper response is undertaken, no matter the people in charge. I am asking Governor Pritzker to publicly support these bills and call for their passage before the end of the session. Doing so will honor the obligation we have to our veterans and their families by solidifying into law the state’s responsibility to show up when veterans need them the most.”
Under HR 62, the Illinois Auditor General is currently conducting a performance audit of the State’s response to the management of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home.
Urging mitigation compliance by veterans’ home workers would be helpful as well. Just sayin’.
Well, what I say is we definitely should work to make sure that we do two things that I think are important for gun safety. Make sure that we don’t have more criminals having access to guns, and we don’t have folks with mental illnesses having access to guns. So I will agree that the FOID system in Illinois has to be reworked and come up with a new way to ensure we get less guns in criminals’ hands and less folks with mental illnesses getting guns.
A short answer and directly to the point. I could get used to that. But I’m not sure how strengthening restrictions on gun ownership will fly in a GOP primary when I think most if not all other candidates want to get rid of the FOID law. He also said this…
Irvin: The more laws we create, gun laws, just inhibits and prevents law abiding citizens from protecting themselves.
Q: And it creates criminals out of law-abiding citizens…
Irvin: And it can, in many cases, create criminals out of law-abiding citizens
He also said his FOID card had expired during the pandemic and he’s still waiting on a new one.
* Rodney Davis campaign…
Mary Miller has flip-flopped on the issue of military funding and is attempting to hide from her past votes with the Squad to defund our military and block a pay raise for our troops.
“Carpet-bagging politician Mary Miller voted with AOC and the Squad to defund our military two times. She bragged about being the only Republican from Illinois to vote that way. Miller even attacked Republicans like Rodney Davis, Mike Bost, Jim Jordan, and others who voted for the defense funding legislation in December. Now facing intense pressure for her terrible votes to defund our military, Miller is trying to have it both ways, but we won’t let her get away with it. Mary Miller is a flip-flopper who can’t be trusted.” - Aaron DeGroot, Davis campaign spokesperson
Mary Miller twice voted in September and December against defense funding legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides the Department of Defense (DOD) with the legal authority to spend taxpayer dollars in support of our military. Miller teamed up with AOC and other far-left members of the Squad in opposing the NDAA. In December, Miller bragged about being the only Republican from Illinois to vote against the NDAA and called Republicans who voted for it RINOs.
WCIA 3’s Mark Maxwell previously reported on Miller’s vote against the NDAA in December:
Just yesterday, Miller voted for defense spending legislation which appropriates taxpayer dollars for our military. Even though she voted for defense spending, the effect of her vote against the NDAA which is now law would have limited the military’s ability to spend that money, including their ability to provide pay raises for our troops.
What changed for Miller? Perhaps she realized how terrible her votes are and decided to change course, but that doesn’t change the fact that she bragged about it at the time and attacked Republicans for supporting the NDAA. Mary Miller has pulled a John Kerry and flip-flopped. She can’t be trusted to support our troops.
* Irvin campaign…
Being complicit with corruption is nothing new for JB Pritzker, but a devastating new investigative report unveiled even more fraud at his embattled state agency, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which has failed to stop scammers from stealing the unemployment benefits of nearly 4,000 Illinois residents.
The state of Illinois has knowingly put money into fraudulent bank accounts–money that was intended to go to unemployed residents who applied for assistance. Instead, scammers hacked accounts and redirected those unemployment funds. The worst part? IDES officials and JB Pritzker knew it was happening, and did nothing to stop it. The problem is ongoing.
While issues at this agency aren’t new, what is new are the extensive lengths the agency under Pritzker’s rule will go to avoid accountability and transparency–even for those residents owed thousands of dollars.
According to IDES through this CBS News Report, it would be ‘unduly burdensome’ to release documents that could show the scope of the problem. The Pritzker Administration also refused questions, including the total number of dollars lost to unemployment fraud.
“As thousands of people across Illinois were desperate to receive their unemployment benefits during the pandemic, the Pritzker administration knowingly sent taxpayer money to scammers,” said Irvin for Illinois campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “Pritzker’s clear indifference to the needs of the families and businesses struggling through the pandemic continues on.”
* ILGOP…
The picture that’s becoming clear to the people of Illinois is this: JB Pritzker remained a close partner to Mike Madigan until the day before he was indicted for corruption - from giving Madigan’s criminal enterprise $10 million, hiring Madigan’s cronies into his administration, refusing to call on him to resign as Speaker for months, lauding Madigan when he finally left the House and even calling him the week of his indictment.
In January, when the Better Government Association first revealed a massive investigation into millions of dollars of infrastructure projects requested by Mike Madigan that were approved and coordinated by Governor JB Pritzker and his key budget staff, the ILGOP called on Pritzker to answer questions about his role in authorizing taxpayer money be spent on secret infrastructure projects at Mike Madigan’s request. Today, we renew those calls.
Specifically, we demand no money for Madigan-connected projected be allowed to move forward until Governor Pritzker:
1. Releases all communications between the Office of the Speaker of the House and the Governor’s office, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and/or the Illinois Department of Transportation since 2019; and
2. Releases all communications between the Governor’s Office and both the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Transportation regarding Rebuild Illinois projects.
* DPI…
After two months of hiding from the public, the Ken Griffin-funded Rauner Reboot slate emerged again this week to dodge tough questions and repeat outright lies in a short press conference. Led by Richard Irvin’s long-winded diatribes and evasive non-answers, the Griffin slate has resorted to spouting claims that are easily proven as false instead of answering simple questions. Just like Griffin, Irvin and the slate simply refuse to answer the basic questions they don’t like, instead resorting to pivots, dodges, and filibusters to keep the questions at bay.
Try as they might, the Rauner Reboot slate cannot avoid answering questions forever. From who they voted for in past elections to dubious claims about their record, Illinois voters deserve the truth from Griffin and his slate about their real plans for Illinois.
This Women’s History Month, I want to highlight the life and legacy of Grace Scipio. Mrs. Scipio was a longtime Chicago Public Schools teacher who passed away in August of 2019 at the age of 94.
When she passed, Mrs. Scipio had bequeathed $250,000 in her savings account to her alma mater, Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, this wish was overlooked by her bank — who instead surrendered these funds to my office as unclaimed property.
In my role as treasurer, I was honored to facilitate the return of these funds to Spelman college and honor the final wishes of this woman who dedicated her life to educating Illinois children.
Ms. Scipio began her teaching career in 1948 at Doolittle Elementary, later teaching at Burke Elementary and Tanner Elementary. She eventually retired after 39 years and joined the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago, where she volunteered until her death.
Now that her gift has been rightfully reunited with Spelman College, it can be used to further inspire and support our nation’s next leaders of change.
It was my honor to play a small role in ensuring Mrs. Scipio’s legacy is carried forward through my office’s Unclaimed Property program. If you’d like to check if you have any property owed to you, please visit our iCash website.
Thank you for taking a moment to read Mrs. Scipio’s story this Women’s History Month.
A Chicago family said they almost walked away from more than $6,500 in unclaimed funds, left behind by their late father, after years of failed attempts to obtain it from the Illinois State Treasurer’s office.
Three decades after their late father’s death, the family had found his name on a long list of Illinois unclaimed property owners.
Some two years after starting the process of re-claiming their father’s money, his daughter says it was the hardest she ever had to work for any money, and she found the process riddled with unnecessary obstacles.
The Illinois Treasurer’s Office is defending its requirements, saying it has to employ rigorous standards to combat fraud.
Are those standards too complicated when it comes to heirs of a long-deceased relative?
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Jim Marter for Congress Announces Major Endorsement: Freedom Caucus Congresswoman, Illinois’ Mary Miller
Oswego, IL (March 10, 2022) – “I’m excited and grateful to have Congresswoman Mary Miller’s endorsement. She’s one of the shining stars representing Illinois because of her leadership, intelligence and courage. I’m grateful for both her public service and her endorsement,” said Jim Marter, running to unseat Lauren Underwood in IL-14.
“Mary is a fighter for protecting the vote and protecting our freedoms. We share a passion for securing the border, lowering inflation, defending workers against government overreach and defending children against indoctrination. That’s just scratching the surface. My campaign has been about shared values with the Freedom Caucus and I can assure you, the people of Illinois’ 14th District will be sending her reinforcements to battle the Biden agenda, when they send me to Congress.”
“Elections have consequences and if we increase the number of America First conservatives in Congress, we can return to energy independence, functional supply chains, increased opportunity and a thriving economy. We just need to replace people with radical leftist ideas like Lauren Underwood, with people of courage and principle. Mary Miller has inspired me with her leadership and I will keep my word to the people of my district and ‘do what I said’ which is the Freedom Caucus motto.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** I missed this one…
Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) announced he has been endorsed by Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, in his re-election campaign. This endorsement comes on the heels of endorsements from 14 other Members of Congress, including Illinois Reps. Bill Foster and Brad Schneider, as well as Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Blue Dog Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Since Sean and I came to Congress in 2019, we’ve fought hand-in-hand to lower costs for families, hold corporations accountable, and combat the climate crisis,” said Rep. Katie Porter. “Sean brings a wealth of real-world experience into policy-making in a way that is desperately needed in Congress. I’m proud to endorse him.”
“Rep. Porter and I share a common goal in Congress—to do everything we can to deliver real results for our constituents,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “I’m honored to have her support and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the 6th District.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has tapped a dozen challengers for the initial roster of its “Red to Blue” program for top-tier candidates, offering an early look at how it views the House battlefield with redistricting nearly complete.
Republicans only need to flip five seats to undo Democrats’ razor-thin majority and capture the House in November — but Democrats can stretch that number by flipping GOP-held seats the other way, and capitalizing on those opportunities will be a key part of any path to keeping the House during President Joe Biden’s first midterm.
The majority of the program’s roster is running for seats that became much more favorable for Democrats under new redistricting maps. Biden carried 10 of the 12 target districts in 2020.
“I think it’s going to be mostly about defense,” DCCC Executive Director Tim Persico said, speaking about Democrats’ midterm strategy. “But,” he added, “it’s important to play offense.”
* Nikki Budzinski…
Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced it was adding Nikki Budzinski to its first list of “Red to Blue” candidates - one of only 12 in the country to be added. Budzinski’s addition to the coveted list signals the growing momentum building behind her campaign and that she’s well-positioned to flip this open seat in November.
Red to Blue is a highly competitive battle-tested DCCC program that arms top-tier candidates, who have the best chance to flip seats from Republican to Democrat, with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue to develop strong campaigns. Through the Red to Blue program, the DCCC also provides strategic guidance, staff resources, candidate trainings and more.
Budzinski made the following statement: “I am proud of the grassroots, issues-focused campaign that we have built. The path to holding our house majority runs through winning IL13, and I am thrilled to have the DCCC’s support in that effort. I look forward to continuing to work hard, meet voters, and be a tireless champion for working families in Congress.”
This will also likely help in her primary race, which she’s the overwhelming favorite to win.
* NRCC…
Hi there –
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee just added IL-13 Candidate Nikki Budzinski to its “Red to Blue” frontline list.
Politico noted President Biden carried this district previously by 11 points.
This move signals Democrats know what we do: Nikki Budzinski is extremely vulnerable and will need all the help she can get.
NRCC Comment: “Democrats realize their unending crises and failing socialist agenda are putting previously safe congressional seats in jeopardy, and vulnerable candidate Nikki Budzinski should be worried.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Courtney Parella
Democrats had a 13 to 5 advantage in the congressional delegation coming into the cycle, with Illinois losing one seat through reapportionment. If all the races go as planned by Democrats, they’ll start the next Congress with 14 members, compared to three Republicans. That would be a small step to helping Democrats maintain their slim majority nationwide, since Republicans need a net gain of just five seats for a majority.
Competitive races in the 6th, 13th, 14th, and 17th districts will decide whether Democrats drew a successful gerrymander, or a so-called dummymander, a map that benefits the party it was intended to hurt. In a great GOP cycle, Republicans could end up with one more seat from Illinois than they started with. […]
13th District (Open; Rodney Davis, R)
Democrats redrew this district to be significantly more Democratic, pushing Davis to run in the 15th District. Considering Biden would have won the seat with 54 percent, the Democratic primary is critical because the nominee will start the general election with the advantage.
The Democratic front-runner is Nikki Budzinski. The labor activist and former executive in the Office of Management and Budget had $730,000 in the bank on Dec. 31. On the Republican side, candidates include Jesse Reising, a former DOJ prosecutor and current partner at Kirkland & Ellis, philanthropist Regan Deering and others. The 13th was designed to be a Democratic pickup, but Republicans could hold it under the right conditions. Initial rating: Lean Democratic.
Rodney Davis wasn’t pushed to another district. The Democrats drew a district for him. Mary Miller shifted to the district where Davis already lived. The whole idea that a district’s assigned number has anything to do with anything is not exactly deep thinking. “I must stay within the boundaries of 13 even though I no longer live in 13 because that’s always been my district’s number!” said nobody, ever. Sorry, but I’ve seen this so many times from DC types that it’s starting to bug me.
…Adding… As a subscriber just pointed out, before the last redistricting, the 13th District was represented by Judy Biggert. Nobody thought Rodney was running in the suburbs in 2012.
Nine House reps backpedaled on their request to freeze projects that Madigan had added as line items in the 2019 Rebuild Illinois budget.
In a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker, and obtained by Playbook, the lawmakers said they “now have a better understanding” of the process, are confident the budget items were vetted, and realize that the projects benefit communities of Latino Caucus members. “We stand behind their need to get these projects finished,” according to the letter headed by Rep. Ann Williams.
Questions about the budget arose when the Better Government Association referred to the budget process as being “largely shrouded in secrecy.” Line items are a regular part of the budget with each lawmaker, Democrat and Republican alike, including line-item projects. Leadership can include line-items, too, often to the benefit of members of their caucus.[…]
Amid concerns about the items, Williams and the eight other lawmakersdashed a letter to Pritzker on Monday calling on him to freeze the four development projects that Madigan had listed.
The governor responded in kind and stopped the projects, which made for a good headline — but the line items were programs important to Latino communities.
The backlash was fierce. Some Latino Caucus members sent letters to Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, saying their communities depended on those projects.
The two sides spent much of Wednesday in meetings trying to resolve their concerns before emerging after 10 p.m. Williams’ team then asked Pritzker to take back the freeze.
We would first like to thank you for your quick response to the letter sent on March 7, 2022, regarding the release of funding for capital projects.
In the past few days, we have learned additional information about the process by which capital projects are released after being authorized and appropriated by the General Assembly. We now have a better understanding of how each project is scoped for viability to ensure that a funding recipient is ready and able to deliver a project in a way that complies with applicable statutory standards. We have confirmed that the projects referenced in our recent letter were run through this vetting process.
Most importantly, we have also had conversations with our colleagues, including those in the Latino Caucus who represent the areas impacted by these projects. They and other community leaders have been vocal advocates for these projects, and they remain vital investments in their communities. We stand behind their need to get these projects finished for their communities and we don’t want to place undue burdens on them.
As these projects were considered with the same scrutiny as any other capital project appropriated and authorized by the General Assembly, and remain of critical importance to the legislators who originally advocated for them as well as their communities, we would ask the Governor’s Office to release the remaining funds necessary to complete the projects.
Again, we appreciate your commitment to ensuring accountability and integrity in state government and we look forward to continuing to rebuild the trust Illinoisans have in their elected officials.
Thank you,
Rep. Ann M. Williams
Rep. Terra Costa Howard
Rep. Deb Conroy
Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
Rep. Kelly Cassidy
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Rep. Jonathan Carroll
Rep. Kathy Willis
Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
*** UPDATE *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
The Governor appreciates that after sending their original letter, the lawmakers who requested the freeze worked to educate themselves on the extensive review process that precedes the release appropriated funds and rescinded their request. It is encouraging to hear that they are now comfortable with all the projects moving forward. Out of an abundance of caution, DCEO and IDOT are currently confirming that the funding process for these projects followed all requirements. It’s clear from community leaders’ feedback that these projects have broad support. The administration hopes to conclude that review and have a decision regarding next steps as soon as possible.
Increased state funding has helped Sparc bump up hourly pay rates for direct service providers (DSPs), those who care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Springfield nonprofit’s group homes and in other settings.
But the increases in this chronically underfunded segment of Illinois’ human services industry “don’t go far enough yet,” said Douglas McDonald, chief executive officer of Sparc. […]
The coalition is calling for a $151 million boost in the $94.8 million Pritzker has proposed in new funding for reimbursement rates to disability service organizations.
The boost would bring the total rate increase to $246.8 million, an amount that would make up for the state not meeting the full Guidehouse recommendation in the current fiscal year and fully funding the increase suggested for fiscal 2023, Evans said. […]
Pritzker’s budget also includes $1 billion in one-time tax cuts for everyday citizens.
“Before we necessarily propose $1 billion in tax breaks, can we try to live up to and meet the commitments that have been outlined for social services?” Evans asked. “Now we’re in a budget situation where it seems we can.”
The additional appropriation is most definitely needed to comply with the Ligas federal consent decree, which the state has been out of compliance with pretty much since it entered into the consent decree eleven years ago. Let’s hope something can be worked out for these folks because their problem is all too real and the state can’t keep treating providers of critical services this way.
But using one-time “extra” money for a permanent fix would risk blowing a hole in the following year’s budget and put the state on a track to the bad old days.
Illinois didn’t get into this deep hole overnight. We’ve seen years and years and years of mismanagement, including doing things like making the structural deficit worse by using temporary revenue streams for permanent programs.
…Adding… Related…
* Advocates want $246M for developmental disability services in Illinois: Providers say direct support professionals should receive 150% of the state’s minimum wage. The decision could affect more than 30,000 direct support professionals and any future workers in the field. “If we do not recruit and hire DSPs, train them, we will no longer have the supports needed to continue to support intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state of Illinois,” said Helen Blackburn, VRS executive director of Centerstone. Blackburn started as a DSP in Southern Illinois 20 years ago. She said there was never a question of whether or not that could be a career. But with wages so low in 2022, Blackburn said it’s difficult for anyone to make ends meet.
[Alderman Danny Solis] assured MADIGAN that “there’s a lot of good stuff happening in my ward” and that he would help MADIGAN obtain legal business for his private law firm; and (d) MADIGAN in return assured Alderman A that he would help him obtain a State board appointment by telling Alderman A, “Just leave it in my hands,” and asked that Alderman A also help a relative of MADIGAN and the relative’s employer obtain business from Organization B.
The relative and the organization are unnamed in the indictment. But the Sun-Times has identified the family member as Andrew R. Madigan, the speaker’s son, and the community-based organization as The Resurrection Project, a Pilsen social service provider that has become an important low-income housing developer on the Southwest Side.
The indictment accuses neither Andrew Madigan nor The Resurrection Project of any wrongdoing, but it suggests that the speaker’s request to Solis to help his son was part of a corrupt exchange of favors between the two politicians. […]
Andrew Madigan works for Alliant/Mesirow Insurance Services, helping the company develop business. For many years, his work included soliciting insurance work from suburban municipal governments, including Alsip, Lyons, McCook, Schiller Park and Summit.
All of those suburbs have been under investigation by federal authorities. McCook’s former mayor Jeffrey Tobolski, who also served as a commissioner on the Cook County Board, has pleaded guilty to taking more than $250,000 in bribes and extortion payments. He is cooperating with investigators and has yet to be sentenced for his crime. […]
“At no point were we pressured about doing business with anybody,” [Raul Raymundo, longtime chief executive officer for The Resurrection Project] emphasized.
State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) joined the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association to urge the General Assembly to pass the Hotel Jobs Recovery Program, which would allocate funds toward rehiring workers after a two year record low occupancy rate caused by the pandemic.
“Nationally and right here in Illinois, the tourism industry took the hardest hit throughout the pandemic,” said Feigenholtz. “Unlike other industries, hotels and lodging were not given federal relief and need an infusion of 250 million in order to keep larger hotels that are destinations for convention visitors afloat. Without this funding, hotels and lodging businesses could be forced to close and many jobs will be lost.”
The Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program would provide funds to operators of hotels in an amount equal to $1,500 per hotel room. Eighty percent of the funds would be used for payroll costs and the remaining 20% must be used on public safety upgrades, property taxes, mortgage payments, or debts incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hotels nationally have seen $111.8 billion in losses tied to room reservations and major declines in event rentals and convention scheduling. Senate Bill 4184 calls for $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to be allocated to provide grants of $1,500 per room in hotels in the city of Chicago.
The pandemic’s impact on the industry has been startling, as hotels have sustained a large decline in occupancy for more than two years now, with occupancy in Chicago hotels hitting 14.6%in December 2020 and never fully recovering. On average last year, Chicago’s hotel occupancy rate hovered around 44%.
“With this federal funding, our state would begin recovery efforts by adding more jobs and enhance the tourism industry within the city of Chicago and all across the state,” said Feigenholtz.
SB 4184 awaits action in the Senate.
* Press release…
Illinois lawmakers today introduced a resolution that would support Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s efforts to build on its history as an original part of the DeKalb County community.
After the U.S. Government in the late 1840s illegally sold more than 1,280 acres of the Nation’s land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County, the Nation has been working tirelessly to reclaim its Reservation.
“We simply want to reclaim the land that was taken from us and we want to do so in the most community-focused, least disruptive way,” Prairie Band Chairman Joseph Rupnick said. “We’re rooted in the northern Illinois community and after 170 years, we just want this issue resolved.”
Senate Resolution 896 sponsored by state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) and House Resolution 504 sponsored by state Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) encourage the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would allow the Nation to secure 1,151 acres of land near Shabbona State Park in the southern part of DeKalb County. HR 504 unanimously passed out of the House State Government Administration Committee this afternoon.
“We have a chance to correct this injustice and it’s our responsibility to do so,” Pacione-Zayas said. “I’m proud to sponsor this resolution in the state Senate and I implore our Congressional leaders to do the same with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation Settlement Act of 2021 that’s currently in the United States Senate.”
In the late 1840s when Chief Shab-eh-nay traveled from his home Reservation in DeKalb to visit his family in Kansas, the U.S. government illegally auctioned off more than 1,280 acres of his land near the village of Shabbona in southern DeKalb County.
In 2001, the U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the history and legal status of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation as federally recognized Indian Country because the U.S. Government never received the required Congressional approval to auction off land that rightfully belonged to Chief Shab-eh-nay.
The U.S. Congress is the only governing body that has the authority to designate land titles for native nations.
Currently, deeds for homeowners within the Reservation are subject to “all rights, claims, or title to the descendants of a Potawatomi Indian Chieftain named Shabbona and his Band.” The federal legislation would wipe those deeds clean of that clause in favor of assuring current homeowners that their property is theirs without condition. It would also provide clean title to the State and DeKalb County governments who also own land within the current Reservation.
“The U.S. Government made a mistake 170 years ago by illegally selling the Nation’s land,” Demmer said. “Now we as lawmakers here in Illinois and our counterparts in Congress have a chance to correct it.”
* Press release…
To offer support to workers, a group of pro-business Democratic lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday to advocate for an initiative to require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to expedite complete professional license applications.
“Health care workers, accountants, speech pathologists and a variety of others are eager, qualified and ready to enter their respective industries but are waiting months for professional licenses to be issued by the state,” said State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs), chief Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 670. “Improving convenience, timeliness and accessibility for working people is a necessary step to building our economy and focusing efforts on recovery.”
Under the legislation, IDFPR is required to process applications within four weeks as long as there were no deficiencies submitted.
“We have a shortage of trained experts right now—especially in the real estate, financial and health care fields, which the DFPR regulates,” said State Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), chief House sponsor. “Eliminating gratuitous licensing wait times will help fill that gap while cutting down on red tape. I’m happy to join my distinguished colleagues in helping make this legislation law.”
The proposal supports an effort to benefit workers and support economic development throughout the state for an array of industries.
“If you have all the qualifications and there are no discrepancies in your license, then this process shouldn’t keep you waiting months in order to practice your profession,” said State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).
Senate Bill 670 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and awaits further consideration by the House Health Care Licenses Committee.
* Media advisory…
The families of the victims who were killed in the March 10, 2019 plane crash of a Boeing 737 MAX in Ethiopia will gather Thursday in two countries to try to continue to hold Boeing responsible for the deaths of all 157 on board and to bring attention to a bill recently introduced in the Illinois legislature. Below are the details of the protests that will take place in Toronto, Canada, and in front of the Boeing headquarters in Chicago this Thursday.
WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 11:00 am CST to 11:30 am CST and Thursday, March, 10, 2022, at 10 a.m.EST (9 am CST) in Toronto, Canada
WHERE: Boeing Headquarters, 100 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago (in front of office building). Among those who will be holding enlarged photos of the victims is Nadia Milleron, mother of Samya Rose Stumo, 24, whose daughter who was killed in the crash. Another protest will be held across the street from the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, 360 University Ave. Among the Canadian family members will be Chris Moore, father of Danielle Moore, 24, who was killed in the March 10, 2019 crash of a Boeing MAX jet in Ethiopia. Families, friends and their supporters there will be carrying various signs including, “We are the Victims’ Voice.”
Editor’s Note: After the in-person Chicago event concludes at 11:30 am CST, a Zoom Press Conference will begin with families from around the world sharing their stories and concerns about the Boeing 737 Max that is currently flying in the skies.
WHAT: Illinois needs to pass HB 4968, which would hold companies, including Boeing, responsible for punitive damages when they cause people to die. Boeing must be held responsible for the deaths aboard the 737 Max
Legislation designed to allow tax dollars to pay for public service announcements about proper gun storage practices is now up to the Illinois Senate.
House Bill 4729 would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop and implement a two-year statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign.
State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, is one of the sponsors of the legislation and explained what this bill would do.
“It is a public service campaign so that we can have gun owners understand the importance of safely storing their weapons or their guns,” Willis said.
Longtime lobbyist and Democratic political adviser Dan Shomon has severed his contract with the city of Aurora due to Mayor Richard Irvin’s Republican bid for governor.
“I’m really proud of all that our team at Dan Shomon Inc. has accomplished for the City of Aurora and its citizens on many fronts,” Shomon said in a statement to Playbook. “Our team worked with the excellent group of local legislators and Governor Pritzker last year to extend the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. During our service to Aurora over many years, we have also helped bring tens of millions of dollars in projects to the city.”
Shomon’s firm has lobbied for Aurora for more than 15 years and in December saw his contract renewed to the tune of $9,300 per month.
Wondered if that was gonna happen.
* Seems a bit chaotic over there…
Is there anyone in the Effingham area that can grab some petitions from a friend and then drive through Greenville and…
* This line by Rep. Tom Demmer about his Democratic opponent for state treasurer’s mention of taxing retirement income prompted some very loud boos in the audience on Monday…
My opponent, Mike Frerichs, sponsored every tax increase he ever came across in Springfield. And he took it a step further in 2020 when he called for a discussion of taxing retirement income in Illinois. Do we want to lose more people to other states?
Then again, there were a lot of retirement-aged folks in that audience.
* If he’s telling the truth, Republican US Senate candidate Bobby Piton is apparently trying to be last on the ballot because he hasn’t yet filed…
We the People provided my campaign over 6,990 signatures, signed and notarized!
Your partnership in this race for a U.S. Senate Seat is crucial to the fight for election integrity, battling government overreach and protecting freedom in Illinois and in the nation. I want to encourage you to get even more involved.
Rest assured, my loyalty is to We the People of Illinois, not the corrupt political parties, the lobbyists or the donor-class, snake oil salesmen.
We the People can disrupt the corruption here in Illinois and lead the way for the rest of the nation to follow. Are you in?
If you still have petitions to turn in, please get them in before March 10th. If you can help financially, here’s the link:
THANK YOU for all your support during this important phase of OUR campaign! We’re in this together, for Illinois and our freedom.
Illinois Sen. John Connor, a Lockport Democrat, is not seeking reelection in the 43rd District, leaving the seat open. Rachel Ventura, a Joliet Democrat and Will County Board member, and Eric Matteson, a Joliet firefighter, seek their party’s nomination in the primary. Republican Michelle Lee of Shorewood also has filed for the open seat.
In House District 97, Michelle Smith of Plainfield and Thomas McCullagh of Shorewood are seeking a seat left open by Rep. Mark Batinick, a Plainfield Republican, who is not seeking reelection. Democrat Harry Benton of Plainfield also has filed for House District 97.
In House District 77, incumbent Rep. Kathleen Willis of Addison is being challenged in the Democrat primary by Norma Hernandez of Melrose Park.
In Senate District 21, Naperville Democrat Sen. Laura Ellman, who was elected in 2018, filed for reelection. Republican Kathleen Murray of Lombard also filed for the same seat.
Norma Hernandez is backed by US Rep. Chuy Garcia.
* More in a seemingly endless list of dueling endorsements in a Democratic primary race for the right to run in a Republican House district…
Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, a Democratic candidate for Illinois State Representative in District 51, announces that she is being endorsed by U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (D- 10). After collecting 1,100 signatures, Laliberte Barnes officially filed as a candidate Monday in Springfield. Since announcing her run in August 2021, Chelsea has recruited 50 volunteers, raised $75,000, and knocked on over 5,000 doors, all while raising a toddler, running a small business, serving as the Board Chair for two nonprofits, and supporting families as a clinical social worker
And…
Rolling Meadows Mayor Joe Gallo announced his support for Nabeela Syed, candidate for State Representative in Illinois’s 51st House District.
“We need passionate advocates that will fight for our community in Springfield, bringing vital resources back to Rolling Meadows and the working families that live here,” Gallo stated in his endorsement of Syed. “Nabeela is clearly someone who cares deeply about local issues and the concerns of area residents, including property taxes and public safety concerns.”
I just don’t get it, but it’s a free country.
* More…
* Billionaire-Backed Group Enlists Trump-Supporting Citizens to Hunt for Voter Fraud Using Discredited Techniques: VoteRef, records show, is an initiative of the conservative nonprofit group Restoration Action and its related political action committee, both led by Doug Truax, an Illinois insurance broker and podcaster who ran unsuccessfully in the state’s GOP primary for the U.S. Senate in 2014. A ProPublica review found that VoteRef’s origins and funders are closely linked to a super PAC predominantly funded by billionaire Richard Uihlein, founder of the mammoth Wisconsin-based packaging supply company Uline.
* IL-14: So who is Jaime Milton of Fox River Grove who filed for Congress Monday?
* Former Speaker Madigan entered a “Not Guilty” plea today…
Madigan's appearance will likely be waived for the status hearing, and probably every hearing for the foreseeable future. They're now talking about bond, which was prearranged.. Madigan does not have to put up any money.
* Former Gov. Pat Quinn is asking the courts to impose electronic petition circulation so he can more easily get his reform proposal on the ballot. Madigan is mentioned (which is why I put it here) and Quinn is suing Gov. JB Pritzker. Not sure if I’ve ever seen a former governor sue a sitting governor, but PQ gonna PQ…
FROM: Pat Quinn, Former Illinois Governor and Attorney for 9 Illinois voters who are circulating an initiative petition for a statewide binding November voter referendum to clean up Illinois political corruption.
RE: Initial Court Hearing on a voting rights lawsuit filed by 9 Illinois voters against Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Board of Elections seeking the right to use electronic petition circulation to qualify an ethics reform referendum in the wake of last week’s bombshell 22-count racketeering conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion indictment against former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 10am Before Judge Sophia Hall
Article XIV, Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution gives Illinois voters the initiative petition right to bypass the General Assembly to enact a legislative reform amendment by direct voter referendum. In 1980, Illinois voters collected 475,811 initiative petition signatures to win the passage by referendum of the Cutback Amendment, which reduced the number of Illinois House members from 177 to 118.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul is representing Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Elections in Wednesday’s voting rights case.
In 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued two executive orders allowing for the submission of initiative and referendum petitions electronically in order to “facilitate full participation in the electoral process which is essential to a strong democracy” and consistent with “social distancing and other public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
In 2021, the Attorney General of Virginia and the Virginia State Board of Elections negotiated a consent agreement to allow for a “safe and contactless” electronic method of petition circulation that was in “the best interests of health, safety, and constitutional rights of Virginia citizens and protect the public from exposure to COVID-19 during the pandemic.”
In 2021 and 2022, Illinois General Assembly members have accommodated themselves with a safe and contactless electronic voting option where members have been debating and voting on bills from sidewalks, cars, and their offices, rather than in the State Capitol. The current state budget was approved by electronic remote voting.
The nine plaintiffs in Wednesday’s hearing include a cancer survivor who is immunocompromised, a disabled person who is totally blind, four elderly persons including one who is 92 years old, a person who has recovered from COVID-19, and persons from communities of color who have suffered disparate impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois voters must file 363,868 initiative petition signatures in one book with the Secretary of State by May 8, 2022 to place the Illinois Democracy Amendment on the November 8 ballot.
The Illinois Democracy Amendment reads as follows: “The purpose of the Amendment is to give Illinois voters the power by petition to require the General Assembly to take mandatory roll call votes on bills which propose stronger ethical standards for Illinois public officials.”
The online petition can be viewed at IllinoisDemocracy.org.
Setting aside the lawsuit, the ballot language seems pretty darned vague.
* House Republicans…
A week ago, federal prosecutors dropped a 22-count indictment against former Speaker Michael Madigan, following a string of investigations, indictments, arrests, and cover-ups. Madigan’s arraignment today begins a new chapter in Illinois’ story of political corruption, but House Democrats haven’t received the message that voters desire real change.
“After taking millions in campaign contributions, House Democrats have not only failed to pass meaningful ethics reform, many have not publicly denounced their former leader,” said Jayme Siemer, Executive Director of the House Republican Majority. “Keeping these tainted funds means Madigan’s influence will remain as their number one donor.”
Among some top races, House Democrats have a Madigan problem.
Mark Walker:
Accepted $1.9 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
Terra Costa Howard:
Accepted $1.6 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Katie Stuart:
Accepted $1.5 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
After a week, has not issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Suzanne Ness:
Accepted $1.2 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
After 24 hours and a public shaming, issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Janet Yang Rohr:
Accepted $1.03 million in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
Maura Hirschauer:
Accepted $523,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
Has not communicated directly with constituents regarding Madigan’s indictment.
Jay Hoffman:
Accepted $459,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Helped pay for Madigan’s legal defense.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
After a week, has not issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Dave Vella:
Accepted $325,000 in campaign contributions from Madigan.
Supported Madigan for Speaker.
After a week, has not issued a public statement on Madigan’s indictment.
Democrats have been silent on these tainted funds, with no indication members will donate these funds to charity, a practice often used by politicians to dispose of funds taken from undesirable sources.
* Richard Irvin campaign…
As former House Speaker Mike Madigan faces arraignment on a 22 count-federal indictment citing years-long bribery and extortion schemes, the criminal enterprise continues to expand with another company being named earlier this week. As the scope of corruption under Mike Madigan continues to grow, so do the questions facing JB Pritzker and his administration’s deafening silence on the matter.
“JB Pritzker was complicit by enabling Madigan’s criminal enterprise that resulted in one of the largest and longest corruption schemes in our state’s history,” Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said. “We need leaders throughout Illinois government who will actually root out corrupt politicians, not sit silently while they take advantage of hard-working taxpayers across the state.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, “the indictment also alleged that Madigan met with then Gov-elect J.B. Pritzker in December 2018 in part to discuss a lucrative state board position for Solis, ostensibly as a reward for helping Madigan win law business.”
* ILGOP…
Former House Speaker and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, Michael J. Madigan, has been indicted on 22 counts of racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and extortion. Today, he is set to make his first court appearance after the charges were announced.
From WGN…
Democrats are trying desperately to move past Madigan.
“It’s important to focus on the work that this legislature is doing under new leadership,” House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said.
Hilarious.
Given that the vast majority of House Democrats were elected because Mike Madigan showered them with campaign cash and they returned the favor by voting to make him Speaker, the idea that they can just “move past” him is top tier wishful thinking. They own Madigan just like he owned them for decades.
But as we know, one man - Governor JB Pritzker - went above and beyond in his fealty to Madigan.
Most of the time in politics, power is fueled by the ability to take out your opponents come election time. And one cannot do that unless they have a sizable warchest. Governor JB Pritzker is still avoiding accountability for giving Mike Madigan more corrupt power with his massive $10 million dollars in contributions to the Ex-Speaker over the years.
When will Pritzker answer for his personal support of Madigan’s corrupt enterprise?
Jennifer Lin should catch much of the blame for Evanston’s mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints from teenage girls and young women who worked at the city’s beaches, according to an investigative report released last month from a law firm hired by the town’s city council.
When she was the city’s top human resources manager, the lawyers say, Lin was primarily at fault for Evanston’s yearlong delay in looking into the “pervasive” harassment and abuse suffered by lifeguards and other beach workers.
And the investigators found Lin initially was skeptical of the female lakefront workers who first stepped forward in 2020, suggesting they also “behaved badly” and commenting to another Evanston official that “these millennials hold onto things.”
But long before she came in for that heavy criticism in the independent counsel’s report, Lin already had landed a new, six-figure job in local government.
Records show Lin got interviewed and picked last August to become the director of compliance for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez – even after Evanston’s city manager punished Lin for allegedly failing to tell her about the severity of the beach workers’ complaints.
So, Lin was hired to oversee compliance under the federal hiring monitor. But the vacant position “did not require applicants to disclose whether they had faced any disciplinary action in a previous or current job.” That is just ridiculous. And the federal monitor who oversaw Lin’s hiring said: “I have nothing to say. Not a word,” when pressed by WBEZ. Such transparency.
One young woman – who says she was raped by a manager when she was a lifeguard in Evanston a few years ago – sent a scathing message to Lin’s county email address last month, hours after the independent counsel’s report was released publicly on Feb. 25.
The woman and more than 50 other current and former beach workers signed a petition to Evanston officials in July 2020. In it, they alleged “blatant sexism, sexual harassment, assault, racism and discrimination” at the lakefront.
The girls and young women called on city officials to “apologize directly to survivors, their families and all lakefront employees for consistently placing underaged employees in oppressive, uncomfortable and dangerous situations and in close proximity with sexual predators.”
“I was truly appalled by the utter mishandling of the Evanston petition and allegations of sexual assault,” the woman wrote to Lin last month. “I would like you to know that people like yourself are the reason why sexual assault so often goes unreported.”
Before going to work for the county in October, Lin also worked for a couple months for state Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback, D-Skokie. State records show Lin was paid a total of $12,500, at a rate of $38.50 an hour, for being a “contractual worker” with Stoneback from Aug. 1 until Oct. 11.
Stoneback did not return messages.
* I was able to get a response of sorts from Rep. Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie)…
Jennifer Lin worked for me briefly last year, but is no longer affiliated with my office. The findings of the recently released report are troubling and I hope changes are made to prevent this from happening again.
I followed up to ask if the legislator was aware that Lin had issues in Evanston, but did not hear back.
As mayor of Aurora, we eliminated wasteful spending. We balanced budgets every year and made government more efficient by doing more with less. We fought for property tax relief and worked hard to spark economic growth. He wants to raise your taxes, JB Pritzker, and he’s tried to enact the largest tax hike in our state’s history on every resident of Illinois. And he wants to continue to do it. If he’s elected, he will try again.
* In response, Eleni Demertzis at the Irvin campaign sent this along…
Richard Irvin’s record fighting to cut wasteful spending and deliver property tax relief is a stark contrast to a governor fighting for the largest tax hike in Illinois history while evading paying taxes of his own.
On background:
You’ll see that Aurora’s property tax extension for the general fund - which is the portion of the budget where the Mayor and city council have a high degree of control - has gone down under Irvin.
You’ll also see that Aurora’s property tax base has increased by 25%, and the taxes per $100 of EAV have gone down.
Irvin Has Reduced Aurora’s General Fund Property Tax Levy
Since Irvin Became Mayor, Aurora’s Property Tax Extensions For The City General Fund Have Decreased. (Aurora 2021 Budget, Accessed 3/8/22)
The graph below presents the trend of the city’s property tax extensions for General Fund purposes since 2010 (2009 property tax levy).
Since 2016, Aurora’s General Fund Levy Has Fallen From $42,338,000 To $41,778,000. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Since 2016, Aurora General Fund Extension Has Fallen From $42,544,553 To $41,831,003. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Aurora’s Property Tax Base Has Grown 25 Percent Under Irvin
Since 2016, Aurora’s Property Tax Base Has Grown From $3,470,093,810 To $4,368,434,612, An Increase Of More Than 25 Percent. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Since 2016, Aurora’s Tax Rate Per $100 Of EAV Has Fallen From 2.3938 To 1.9444. (Aurora Tax Levies & Extensions, 2016-2021)
Irvin Supported Eliminating The Aurora Election Commission And Using The Savings To Reduce Property Taxes
* I was awash in information and needed some help. So, I turned to a good friend who is an up and coming property tax lawyer and asked him to sort it out for me. Here you go…
Both the Irvin and Pritzker camps are talking past one another. There are various factors at play, the levy (both general revenue and the overall levy), the total assessed value of Aurora’s tax base, and all of the individual tax rates of the various taxing bodies. All of these contribute to a taxpayer’s overall property tax liability. The fact sheets that were sent to you highlight the strengths of each side and downplay the weaknesses (unsurprisingly). The end result is that you are left to compare apples to oranges. I will try to streamline these below:
Levy
The levy is incredibly important because it’s probably the one instrument that the administration can control the most. It’s the overall number of dollars that they are requesting from their taxpayers on an annual basis. Irvin’s people highlight that the general fund levy and the general extension decreased from 2017-2018. This is technically true but it leaves out the other funds that the city controls. Pritzker’s numbers are more reliable in that it takes into account the overall levy of each budgetary line item under the purview of the administration/ city council. As they correctly note, the overall levy increased every year other than from 2019 to 2020. (As Pritzker’s people correctly note, in 2020 the Aurora Library became its own taxing district and was separated from the general operating fund (see p. 61 of the Aurora budget document)). If you count the funds allocated towards the library the overall levy actually increased every year from 2017-2020.
Tax base
The tax base plays an important part because if you grow your tax base it lessens the individual burden for each taxpayer. Irvin’s document correctly points out that the total assessed values for his tax base grew from 2016 through 2020. Whether that is from new businesses locating to Aurora, an increase in property values, an increase in assessments, or all three I do not know.
Individual taxing districts
Attached are tax bills from an average Aurora home for tax years 2016-2020. They have been redacted to maintain this homeowner’s privacy. I’ve also compiled a spreadsheet that accounts for the various Aurora taxing district rates for these pertinent years. Despite Pritzker’s point about the library, they have actually had an individual line item for their tax rate since before Irvin became Mayor, so parsing that out isn’t very difficult.
As you can see from the attached spreadsheet, the Aurora City tax rate and the overall tax rate ( which accounts for Aurora, Aurora’s pensions, and the library) all decreased from 2016 to 2017 and then again from 2019 to 2020. As noted above, this is not due to a decrease in the overall levy but rather from additional assessed values greater spreading out the tax burden. Regardless, Irvin can correctly point to a decrease in these actual tax rates and the subsequent decreased tax dollars for individual taxpayers. However, the City did not request less in total taxes for these particular years.
Overall Conclusion
You asked me to answer whether or not Irvin lowered property taxes. As you can see from above, this isn’t an easy question to answer. However, if I was PolitiFact and I was asked to rate the statement “Richard Irvin lowered property taxes” for accuracy, I would rate the statement as “somewhat true.” He did not “cut” property taxes by decreasing the overall Aurora levy but he did decrease individual property tax liability for Aurora taxpayers by increasing the assessed value of his tax base.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Bicameral group of lawmakers speak out on anti-Semitic packages received around Glenview
SPRINGFIELD – Many residents across the community State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) represents received packages of anti-Semitic flyers on their front lawns last week.
Today, Wednesday, March 9, Senator Fine will hold a press conference to condemn the despicable acts of antisemitism and call for support.
WHO: Senators Laura Fine, Sarah Feigenholtz, Ram Villivalam and Julie Morrison, alongside Representative Bob Morgan, and Alison Slovin with the Wiesenthal Center
WHAT: Press conference on anti-Semitic packages sent to members of the community
WHEN: Wednesday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Room, Illinois State Capitol and live on BlueRoomStream.com
* Literature…
The package came in a plastic storage bag and left on porches. I’m told that the beans in the package apparently weighted them down to prevent them from blowing away.
…Adding… Press release…
Members of the General Assembly stood together in solidarity during a press conference Wednesday to condemn the anti-Semitic literature anonymously distributed recently in the district State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) represents, and to provide members of the community actionable ways they can stand up against antisemitism and hate speech.
“This incident is disturbing and intolerable,” Senator Fine said. “As an individual, and as a Jewish woman, I am disgusted by these displays of hate. However, we will not cower from these threatening messages. Instead, I am asking my colleagues and members of my community to stand up against antisemitism to prevent situations like this, or more dangerous incidents, from ever happening again.”
Over the last few weeks, anti-Semitic flyers in plastic bags were left on driveways in Niles, Glenview, and Park Ridge. The flyers included images of prominent Jewish politicians—including Senator Fine—and businesspeople from Illinois and across the country.
“The meteoric rise of antisemitism both in Illinois and globally is breathtaking,” said State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “The Jewish community and its allies cannot ignore or dismiss the historical parallel of what occurred before World War II and the Holocaust where six million Jews were murdered across Europe and the antisemitism we are experiencing globally, domestically and in Illinois.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents increased by 84% in the Midwest between 2016 and 2020.
“As antisemitism rises across the nation, we must continue to call our hate speech and hate crimes when they happen in our own backyard,” said Representative Bob Morgan (D-Highwood). “The governor’s budget addition for $20 million for security funding for religious and cultural institutions is urgently needed and will help our at-risk communities.”
Members of the General Assembly and advocates are further encouraging everyone to help combat hate speech and stop the spread of violent acts by holding people accountable, raising awareness, and supporting people who are targets of hate speech and notifying authorities and the office of the attorney general when hate crimes take place.
“We need to take bigots at their word and ensure our elected officials are safe and to investigate the sources of these serial attacks,” said Alison Pure-Slovin, director of the Midwest region for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “The Simon Wiesenthal Center calls for a special Illinois taskforce on anti-Semitism and reiterates its call to FBI Director Wray to establish a special FBI National Taskforce on anti-Semitism to help us beat back the scourge of hate.”
Pritzker’s Hyatt Corporation on Short List of American Companies Refusing to Stand with Ukraine
AURORA - As Russia’s war on Ukraine rages on and companies across the globe sever ties with Russia, JB Pritzker remains radio silent on if his billion dollar hotel chain will do the same. With economic pressure mounting, over 100 American and international corporations have stopped doing business in Russia, condemning the country’s aggression while Pritzker’s Hyatt hotel chain looks the other way.
“While Americans are looking for ways to hamper Russia’s efforts in this unprovoked war on Ukraine, Pritzker needs to answer if he believes his family should pull out of their hotels in Russia,”said Irvin for Illinois campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “Pritzker talks about standing with Ukraine but when it comes to something he can actually do, his silence is deafening.”
As if staying silent isn’t bad enough, a Crain’s Chicago Business story notes that “the Pritzker family-backed Hyatt and its competitors are downplaying the impact of the Russian invasion on their business” and that they haven’t seen any “material impacts” of the war on their company.
Pritzker’s financial interests continue to be a headache for the governor. Just weeks ago, an investigation uncovered that Pritzker has personally profited off an investment with one of the state’s largest Medicaid vendors. He continues to dishonestly claim that he had no knowledge of the investment even though he signed a document attesting to it.
* Response from Natalie Edelstein at the Pritzker campaign…
No American companies should continue doing business with Russia, Hyatt included. The governor has no leadership or management role in Hyatt, nor does he own stock. He believes that we must stand firm against Vladimir Putin’s senseless aggression, which is why he directed Illinois’ employee pension systems to review potential divestment in Russian assets and why he will continue taking action to support the people of Ukraine and democracy worldwide.
* OK, but what about CIBC Trust Co. (Bahamas) Ltd., which is an offshore Pritzker family trust that holds lots of Hyatt stock? In 2013, JB Pritzker held 6 million shares of Hyatt stock through that trust, according to an SEC 13D filing.
JB unequivocally is not the beneficiary of any trust that holds Hyatt stock-foreign or domestic, with CIBC as the Trustee or with any other Trustee. He has zero interest directly or as a beneficiary in any Hyatt stock.
The listing of CIBC as Trustee for Hyatt stock on the 13D does not include JB.
In an only-in-Illinois kind of way, Ashley Gott, treasurer of Williamson County in southern Illinois, faces a primary from… Ashley Gott.
Yes, that’s right. Treasurer Gott, a Republican man who was appointed to the office before winning it outright in 2020, is being challenged by someone with the same name.
But get this. Challenger Ashley Gott was known as Erin Perry until she changed her name on Jan. 6, according to the Williamson County Clerk’s office. What a move!
* This used to happen fairly regularly (particularly in Cook County judicial races when people would adopt Irish surnames), but then state law was changed way back in 2003…
If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition or certificate for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate’s name on the petition or certificate must be followed by “formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)” and (ii) the petition or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate’s affidavit stating the candidate’s previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate’s name for the ballot or removing the candidate’s name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent’s or parents’ surname, marriage to assume a spouse’s surname, or dissolution of marriage or declaration of invalidity of marriage to assume a former surname.
I called the county clerk and Gott/Perry initially filed petitions without noting her name change. She withdrew those petitions and filed another set with the required information. But “formerly known as” will be clearly labeled on her ballot line.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker yanked the appointment of two appointees to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on Tuesday, the same morning a Senate committee was scheduled to consider them. It was the second time Pritzker pulled the appointments of Aurthur Mae Perkins, 83, of Peoria, and Joseph Ruggiero, 62, of Wheaton, for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
The two, both appointees originally made by Republican former Gov. Bruce Rauner, have served on the Prisoner Review Board without Senate confirmation for nearly three years each. “Between the two of them, I think they have served a combined six years on the Prisoner Review Board, raking in approximately a half-million dollars in taxpayer funded salary,” said Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville. […]
Senate rules allow the governor to withdraw an appointment and reappoint an individual if the Senate fails to vote on a nominee within 60 session days of the governor’s filing of the appointment. This practice has been used by previous governors. Plummer filed a bill, Senate Bill 3670, that would require the Senate to confirm or deny PRB members within 30 session days or 90 calendar days after appointment, whichever comes first. The bill would also prohibit reappointing a person to the PRB for two years after their appointment is withdrawn.
* Basically what’s happening here is the Senate Democrats are spooked because the Republicans are using Prisoner Review Board release decisions to make political hay. For instance, this is from Richard Irvin’s Monday night speech…
Under JB Pritzker, crime has exploded on his watch. Every day there’s violent crime and kids are murdered but JB Pritzker does nothing. Police officers are murdered, and JB Pritzker does nothing. He let seven convicted murderers out of prison early, including a woman who shot her own two month old, two year old child in the head and killed him. A man a murderer, got out of prison early and beat his five month old baby to death. JB Pritzker, he supports no cash bond to let these same violent criminals out of jail and back into the streets. He has a handpicked parole board vote to let cop killers out of jail and back into our communities.
Irvin made it sound like the man beat his baby to death after he was released from prison and there was an audible gasp in the audience, but that’s not the case. Irvin got it backwards.
* So, it should be no surprise that some SDems have no desire whatsoever to touch any of these PRB appointments. The governor doesn’t want to reappoint either of the two Rauner appointees mentioned above, but his only option at the moment is to continue withdrawing and reappointing, although the two PRB members have not yet been reappointed. So, there are now technically five vacancies on the board.
* And the issue with Ruggiero and Perkins is not new. This is from a press release sent to me almost a year ago…
For the Prisoner Review Board to be able to undertake its difficult and complex mission, members must be able to make parole determinations entirely independently. Subjecting members to political grandstanding sets a new and dangerous precedent for this constitutional function.
The members’ appointments and votes are transparent, and their meetings are open to the public. Additionally, the Senate Executive Appointments Committee sets the schedule for confirming gubernatorial appointees, and it is routine practice for appointees to be withdrawn so that the Senate has more time to consider the appointments.
BACKGROUND
The Prisoner Review Board considers the age and length of time served when making parole determinations.
Appointments
• Joe Ruggiero was appointed by Governor Rauner in July of 2018, but was not confirmed prior to his term’s expiration in early 2021, at which point Governor Pritzker re-appointed him to a new term, similarly only a few days prior to the March hearing.
• Aurthur Mae Perkins was confirmed unanimously by the Senate after her appointment by Rauner in March of 2015, and had a term expire at the start of 2021, which resulted in a re-appointment by Governor Pritzker a few days prior to the originally-scheduled hearing in March of this year.
*** UPDATE *** The governor was asked today why the PRB appointments have been withdrawn…
Because they don’t get taken up by the committee that’s supposed to take those up. So, you know, we’re at the whim of the Senate and their decision about whether to take up and when to take up proposed members.
Under the longstanding definition of money laundering and current federal law that categorizes cannabis as an illegal substance, there is virtually no reason that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker—as well as his fellow governors across the country—should not be arrested on federal charges. Consider that on an annual basis, the governors of any state that allow regulated and taxed cannabis markets to break more federal money laundering laws than Al Capone could ever imagine. The FBI should be knocking down the doors of the governors’ mansions in every state with a regulated market. And if that sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is—but not for the reason you might be thinking.
At its most basic, the crime of money laundering occurs when illegally obtained money is combined with “clean,” legally obtained cash in order to disguise its origins and allow it to be integrated into the legal economy. If there is a more precise definition of what happens when tax revenue from federally illegal cannabis sales is combined with state coffers, I’d love to hear it. Cannabis sales are taxed approximately 30% in many regulated markets. Those taxes are collected and used by states to fund an array of state services, from education to transportation to public safety. So while the cannabis industry is hamstrung due to IRS tax code 280E and the lack of access to federal banking services, traditional debt vehicles or U.S. equity markets, state governors are essentially laundering money from regulated cannabis sales. How can this be possible?
When you consider the current law, the state governments taxing these regulated markets are no different than a cartel conducting money laundering on a scale that has never been seen—much less endorsed—by a government entity in this country. This is what is patently ridiculous about the current system and why very little of it makes sense.
