Afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former Rep. Dan Brady says he’s exploring a bid against freshman Democratic US Rep. Eric Sorensen…
I have been honored to serve the people as State Representative, first in the 88th legislative district, then the 105th legislative district. As I continue to explore running for re-election in the newly drawn 88th district, I have also been exploring a run for Congress in the 17th Illinois Congressional district.
Over the next few weeks, I will be meeting and discussing with voters, donors, and my family the options I have to serve the public once again.
I have been successful in my public career because I believe service to others, and not harsh partisan rhetoric, is what our State and Country need. As coroner, I helped to convict murderers, as State Representative I championed college M.A.P. Grants for working families, and as Deputy House Republican Leader I supported and was endorsed by labor and business. Being my own man has provided me the knowledge, experience and dedication needed to be an effective representative, whether in Springfield or Washington, DC.
I look forward to making my decision soon regarding where I can offer my service to do the greatest good.
The 17th is the swingiest of all Democratic districts here, but Biden won it by 7.6 points and Pritzker won it by 9 in 2018. Brady ran for secretary of state last year and lost to Alexi Giannoulias.
* You may recall that Toia has never registered as a Statehouse lobbyist…
More from Jason Meisner’s tweets on Toia’s sworn testimony today…
Toia says is ticking off the advocacy he’s done for the restaurant and food industry.
“We brought Happy Hour back here to the state of Illinois…we got Cocktails-To-Go,” he says. […]
Toia says he’s known Weiss since 2011 and consulted for his business, Collage LLC. “We were out there promoting electronic devices, and sweepstakes machines were electronic devices,” he says. “Sweepstakes are in a gray area but they do get a sticker from the state of Illinois.”
Toia says he was part of Weiss’ team of consultants and lobbyists working to move sweepstakes out of the gray area and get them regulated by the state. “I understand independent restaurants and I wanted to help them so they could pay their income taxes,” he says.
Toia appears to be waffling when asked when he stopped consulting with Weiss. He says it was 2019.
“I, I, I can’t remember the exact date, but I want to say mid-2019,” he says.
Franzblau asks him if he’s aware he’s under oath.
“I am under oath, I understand,” Toia says.
Toia asked about his testimony before the grand jury on Sept. 17, 2020, when he said he was not aware of any sweepstakes related lobbying going on at the city level after the fall of 2018.
That’s different than what he just said on the stand.
Toia’s group has said that Toia isn’t required to register as a Statehouse lobbyist, but they’ve never explained why.
* More proof that every accusation made by these people is a confession…
Real estate agent Libby Andrews contended that Chicago brokerage @properties ruined her business reputation by firing her after she posted pictures of herself at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington on social media.
The Illinois Appellate Court ruled today that Andrews’ own social media posts — not @properties’ actions — were the cause of any damage to her reputation.
From the opinion…
The company @properties next wrote, “Effective immediately, @properties is terminating this agent,
who acknowledged on social media, that she took part in ‘storming the Capitol.’” … Moreover, it was Andrews who first reported around 3:15 p.m. on her Facebook page that, “After storming the capital a good glass of champagne is needed!”, along with a photo depicting a glass of champagne on a patio
Her social media post is here.
* MidAmerica St. Louis Airport held a grand opening celebration of its expanded terminal today…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials to announce the grand opening of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport’s expanded terminal – a $31 million multi-year project bolstered by $7 million in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in addition to $24 million in federal dollars. The terminal expansion program supports passenger growth while giving airlines the opportunity to provide additional service.
* The governor seems all-in on increasing traffic, particularly truck traffic…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the departments of transportation in Illinois and Missouri to celebrate the start of construction on the new Interstate 270 Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River, part of a combined $531.6 million investment to improve one of the country’s critical freight corridors. The project, made possible by Gov. Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, will improve safety and mobility while creating good-paying jobs in an area experiencing strong industrial and commercial growth. […]
The I-270 loop connects many of the region’s warehouses and distribution parks, ports, airports, and rail yards on both sides of the Mississippi River. Nearly 70% of the region’s industrial tenants occupying large warehouse space in excess of 500,000 square feet are within ten minutes of the interstate. Built in 1966, the existing bridge over the river is two lanes in each direction with narrow, one-foot shoulders that pose safety concerns for vehicle breakdowns and first responders. The bridge accommodates 51,000 vehicles a day, about 20% of which are trucks, and the structure requires frequent maintenance and repairs due to its age.
A $496.2 million joint IDOT-MoDOT project will replace the bridge with two structures that have wider shoulders that can accommodate the eventual expansion of I-270 to three lanes in each direction. A companion $35.4 million Missouri Department of Transportation project will reconstruct the Riverview Drive interchange just west of the bridge.
* Hope ain’t a plan, and the plan clearly hasn’t worked so far…
As the weeds grow taller on the Belvidere Assembly Plant campus, Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris is hopeful that the Belvidere Assembly Plant won’t remain idle.
Not much after that except a lot of hopium.
* Teamsters are now out from under a federal consent decree. Scott Holland…
A federal judge has ended more than four decades of oversight of pension funds associated with The Teamsters by terminating a consent decree installed as a response to evidence that union leaders conspired with organized crime to access the money.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin issued an opinion in the matter June 9 over opposition from the U.S. Department of Labor, which argued the potential for organized crime leaders to influence pension fund investments — nearly $40 billion in assets — is not completely abated. […]
Even without the decrees, Durkin said, the DOL can still enforce ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility requirements through its broad investigatory and subpoena powers. The Internal Revenue Service can investigate plans it believes don’t meet minimum funding requirements and AROPA placed additional obligations on funds that got SFA allocations, such as requirements for annual compliance filings and being subject to PBGC audits.
The order is here.
* Legislative scorecards released…
Citizen Action/Illinois, the state’s largest progressive political coalition, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Legislative Scorecard. The comprehensive scorecard serves as a valuable resource for Illinoisans, shedding light on elected officials’ voting records on crucial issues in the areas of healthcare affordability, worker protections, consumer protections, gun safety, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights and the environment. […]
The following leigslators received scores less than 10%, earning an Abysmal rating from our organization: Representatives Adam Niemerg, Joe Sosnowski, Chris Miller, Blaine Wilhour, Randy Frese and Senator Jason Plummer.
Click here for the list.
…Adding… Press release…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, along with state and local officials at Maplewood School in Cahokia Heights to announce Illinois’ partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The recently signed FY24 budget allocates $1.6 million to the program, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children by inspiring a love of reading. The initiative includes a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter a family’s income. […]
The Dollywood Foundation, which supports the Imagination Library Program, is a nonprofit organization founded by Dolly Parton in 1988. The Imagination Library Program was launched in 1995, with books originally being distributed to children living in Sevier County, Tennessee where Dolly grew up. However, it became such a success that in 2000, it was replicated nationally and by 2003, one million books had been mailed to children all over the country.
Numerous studies have found that the first five years of life are critical for young children, with around 90% of brain developing occurring during that time. Through the Imagination Library Program, children have seen a 29% increase in kindergarten readiness.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Crain’s | GM, Samsung pick northern Indiana for EV battery plant: It’s unknown if the proposed plant was one Illinois officials were hoping to land. Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved a deal-closing fund, meant to help lure EV makers and other manufacturers to the state, that Gov. J.B. Pritzker had asked for.
* AP | Amtrak St. Louis-Chicago travel getting upgraded from current 90 mph to 110 mph: The higher speeds take effect June 26 and will reduce the duration of the trip from the current five hours and 13 minutes. Trips from St. Louis to Chicago are a few minutes shorter, according to Amtrak timetables.
* CNBC | Inflation rose at a 4% annual rate in May, the lowest in 2 years: The consumer price index increased just 0.1% for the month and 4% from a year ago, the latter being the lowest level in about two years.
* Daily Herald | DuPage County chair suggests stripping clerk of election commission control after budget fights: Board members continued to press for misdemeanor criminal charges against Kaczmarek if she goes over budget. Berlin, however, said that likely would not occur until the fall if she overspends on salaries. County officials have estimated the clerk’s office will be over budget on salaries due to increases, some as high as 30%, Kaczmarek gave to some employees.
* Crain’s | Johnson allies to push for phasing out tipped wages: “I look forward to being at the table with the powers that be when an ordinance is ready to be discussed,” Toia told Crain’s last week. “Businesses like to see a plan so they can work it into their business plan, which is usually a five year plan.”
* Crain’s | Climate change and homeowners’ insurance are on a collision course: American International Group Inc., which has already pulled back from new California business, is now set to curb home-insurance sales for affluent customers in around 200 ZIP codes across the US, including New York, Delaware, Florida, Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The decision was first reported in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, citing people familiar with the company’s plans.
* Sun-Times | FOP demands same 12 weeks of paid parental leave Johnson gave teachers: Chicago police officers already have a generous sick pay policy that allows them to take up to 365 days off every two years.
* Block Club | Feds Got Permission To Trace Ald. Jim Gardiner’s Phone Calls As Part Of FBI Investigation, Court Records Show : The 2021 wire tap order was part of the federal investigation into bribery allegations against the alderman, but the records don’t show the current status of the inquiry.
* Pioneer Press | Controversial church leader with Hinsdale ties featured in Amazon docuseries ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’: The Duggars’ reality TV show was canceled after the allegations against Josh Duggar surfaced that he sexually abused his younger sisters and a babysitter and he apologized. As a teen, Josh Duggar went to a Little Rock, Ark., facility operated by the IBLP following those incidents. The new documentary explores Gothard’s teachings and his connection to the Duggars. In a 2015 interview with the Tribune, Gothard defended the Duggars. “They did the right things.
* Fox Chicago | U.S. cancer centers grapple with severe drug shortage as over 90% report impact: Pharmaceutical companies say production shortfalls are to blame for the drug shortages that have plagued the nation for months. However, cancer treatments are among the hardest hit.
* Journal Courier | Illinois transportation agency hearing on proposed I-55/I-72 project is today: There will be a public hearing 4-7 p.m. today about the project at Northfield Inn Suites and Conference Center at 3280 Northfield Drive, Springfield.
* Bloomberg | Accenture to double AI workforce three months after massive layoffs: Accenture Plc announced plans to double its AI staff to 80,000, just three months after shedding 19,000 jobs in a cost-cutting effort. The professional-services company will invest $3 billion in its Data & AI practice over the next three years to help companies develop the new strategies they’ll need to capitalize on the boom in artificial intelligence, Accenture said in a statement on Tuesday.
* WICS | The Sangamon County Fair begins June 14: General admission is reduced this year to only $5. Children 4 and under are free.
* Daily Herald | IHSA discontinues tournaments for boys gymnastics, debate: Since 2000, boys gymnastics has averaged just over 50 schools participating, but that number shrank to 46 teams in 2022 and 40 teams in 2023, the news release said. The IHSA currently has 817 member high schools.
* Sun-Times | Residents want large festivals out of Douglass Park, say they pose a danger to patients at nearby hospitals: “Mount Sinai is a level-one trauma center, meaning that patients who have experienced acute trauma and may require timely surgical intervention are often brought by EMS crews to this hospital,” said Marcus Paulson, an emergency medical technician. “For these patients, mere minutes can determine their outcome. The obstruction of traffic around the park and stream of low-acuity patients from large festivals has and will clearly affect the capacity of surrounding hospitals.”
* WCIA | Central IL police arrest suspected serial, interstate pickpockets: Brandel said that in recent weeks, the department received multiple reports of a man, believed to be Pribegeanu, approaching women over the age of 50 at the city’s Walmarts and asking for directions to a hospital. The women later discovered after these interactions that their wallets, or items from their wallets like ID, credit and debit cards, or cash, were missing.
* Shaw Local | U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood’s office named finalist for Constituent Service Award : In 2023, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood’s office has helped return or saved constituents $863,989 and counting, according to a news release.
* Daily Herald | Once seized by the feds, Rosemont hotel undergoes $35 million transformation: The nine-story, 274-room hotel at the edge of O’Hare International Airport had been seized by the U.S. Marshals Service after the arrest of owner Xiao Hua “Edward” Gong on fraud and money laundering charges in Canada. “It was a bit eerie when we walked through the hotel,” Curto remembers. “In one of the back offices, we saw safes that the U.S. marshals had blown open. We saw lunches that were left. We saw coats that were there. The ballroom was already fitted out for a wedding with name tags. The U.S. marshals had shut down the hotel in 20 minutes and locked it up.”
* Shaw Local | As ticks expand throughout the state, experts say prevention remains key: “Ticks are pretty hardy. It’s difficult to control their population size,” said Alana Bartolai, the ecological services program coordinator at the Lake County Health Department. “We do the monitoring side to understand what is out there and to help our medical providers understand what’s out there as well. But a lot of our communication is geared toward how people can prevent it themselves.”
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* Gov. Pritzker was asked by a reporter today to comment on former President Donald Trump’s arrest in Florida on federal charges…
It looks to me like he committed espionage. We’ll have to see how the trial goes. But everybody should be held accountable to the law. it doesn’t matter what position you ever held. The fact is that the law is the law. if you broke the law, you ought to be held accountable.
I’ve tried to avoid this topic, but a comment from the governor puts it in the ballpark. Take two deep breaths before commenting, please. Maybe three.
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* ProPublica and Capitol News Illinois…
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law on Friday that strengthens the range of penalties that a state watchdog can mete out for health care employees who conspire to hide abuse or interfere with investigations by the state police or internal oversight bodies.
The legislation was introduced following an investigative series by Capitol News Illinois, Lee Enterprises Midwest and ProPublica into rampant abuses and cover-ups at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center, a state-run institution in southern Illinois that houses people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. The new law applies to employees at state-run institutions and at privately operated community agencies for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses that operate under the oversight of the Illinois Department of Human Services and its Office of the Inspector General.
The news organizations detailed how employees had lied to investigators, leaked sensitive investigative details, retaliated against people who reported abuse and sought to indoctrinate new workers into the cover-up culture. Employees who engaged in such actions made it difficult to pursue cases of patient abuse, yet they rarely faced serious consequences. IDHS Inspector General Peter Neumer suggested the change in law last year.
The new law allows the OIG to report workers who engage in such misconduct to Illinois’ existing Health Care Worker Registry, which would bar them from working in any health care setting in the state.
The registry identifies any health care worker who has been barred from working with vulnerable populations in any long-term care setting, such as state-operated developmental centers or group homes. Under prior law, workers could be barred because they had been found to have engaged in financial exploitation; neglect that is considered “egregious”; or physical or sexual abuse. The new law adds “material obstruction” of an investigation to the list of findings that can be reported to the registry, which is maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Pritzker signed the bill on the same day the IDHS inspector general released a 34-page report that recommended a “top to bottom analysis” of all processes related to the reporting of abuse and neglect at Choate “because at the present time there appear to be fundamental problems with all aspects of that system.”
* Scott Holland…
The report says nothing new about Choate: staff repeatedly and systematically covered up their own abuse and neglect of residents, state state is scrambling to try to make things marginally better and ultimately, per the report, “a fundamental overhaul of the system is needed to establish a new culture where the reporting of abuse is automatic and not an act of courage.”
Enacting a zero-tolerance policy for abusing residents shouldn’t be controversial, but apparently we must first clear lower bars.
Unfortunately, the takeaways from Friday are much more broad and less impactful on the people actually suffering in Anna. That DHS made the report so easily accessible is commendable but is more accurately another example of something that simply ought to be standard procedure. Not just at DHS, but at every state agency.
Pulling that thread yields another lesson: administrators in every corner of state government should read the Choate report to identify possible commonalities with their own agencies. What are the systemic vulnerabilities and potential solutions?
* While we’re on the topic of human services, let’s shift gears to to WGLT’s report…
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is trying a new approach to fill hundreds of jobs.
The child welfare agency hosted an on-the-spot job clinic Monday in Bloomington. It held a similar event in Rockford last week and might schedule additional job fairs in the future, depending on how many positions it can fill. […]
According to data provided by DCFS, the agency handled nearly 98,300 case investigations in 2022 and has managed nearly 47,400 cases so far this year. That marks a 14% increase over pre-pandemic levels (2019). […]
Despite the hiring needs, the agency’s staff levels are currently at a 15-year high with more than 3,100 workers.
Strokosch said the agency offered jobs to nearly 200 applicants at its event in Rockford. A DCFS official said the agency hopes to hire 50 new workers after Monday’s event in Bloomington.
The next hiring event will be in La Salle on Thursday.
* Block Club Chicago…
Migrants and volunteers who work on the front lines with them are sounding the alarm on conditions at some of the city’s temporary shelters, saying people are served moldy food, don’t have hot water and aren’t allowed to accept donations from neighbors. […]
Migrants told Block Club the conditions at Leone Beach House, 1222 W. Touhy Ave. in Rogers Park, and the Inn of Chicago Hotel, 162 E. Ohio St. in Streeterville, are concerning.
Two women who have stayed at both shelters said they were given visibly moldy food and insufficient amounts of food, which they photographed. They said they have to shower and bathe their kids with cold water and can’t bring anything given to them by volunteers or anything they’ve bought themselves inside the shelter.
While staying at Leone Beach, the women said they slept on the floor. At the Inn of Chicago, they said there are beds and bunks to fit three families in one hotel room.
People at Inn of Chicago are also restricted to only 20 pieces of clothes per family — meaning a family of four could have five pieces each — and can only have their clothes laundered once a week, the women said.
“The police stations treated us better,” one woman said, who asked to remain anonymous in fear of getting in trouble. “But at the shelters they wont let [volunteers] give us anything.”
* Sun-Times…
Even as City Hall has changed administrations, unhoused individuals continue to be locked out of O’Hare. In late May, four Chicago officers remained stationed outside of the Blue Line station.
A Chicago police officer was seen guiding a man wearing a coat and carrying a small duffel bag back to the train station where a worker for Haymarket Center — which provides services for unhoused individuals — handed out sandwiches to a group of men.
In a statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration said Friday that it was evaluating laws and security policies with other airports to guide what happens at O’Hare.
“Mayor Johnson is committed to the safety of all airport passengers and employees and he is working to identify solutions to the City’s housing crisis,” the statement read.
His office also said that Johnson still supports proposed policies like the financial assistance program Bring Chicago Home because he “believes it can deliver real solutions to supporting unsheltered people and reducing homelessness.”
* WTTW…
The Chicago Urban League released its 2023 “State of Black Chicago” report, which measures outcomes in health, education, income,and housing for Black Chicagoans as compared to other racial groups.
The findings indicate there is still a lot of work to be done in advancing equity for Black residents. Among the issues highlighted in the research is persistent and overwhelming residential segregation, poverty rates triple that of White Chicagoans, worse educational outcomes for Black Chicago Public Schools students and lower average life expectancy for Black residents. […]
While the nonprofit West Side United works to close the health gap in Chicago, Executive Director Ayesha Jaco said it’s a focus that ends up having much broader implications. […]
Jaco said she hopes the Johnson administration will continue to take cues from Black communities in deciding what solutions will work for improving health outcomes.
“COVID exacerbated what we already knew to be true,” Jaco said. “The same communities that had the higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, infant mortality are also the same communities that had the higher rates of COVID mortality and morbidity. And so COVID just blew that out of the water.”
* Journal Courier…
Almost 2 million people in Illinois receive SNAP food assistance, but several hundred thousand are expected to lose access to it at the end of October, after pandemic-related extensions expire.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated the debt ceiling agreement would put almost 750,000 adults ages 50 to 54 at risk of losing food assistance because they do not meet the SNAP work reporting requirements.
Steve Erickson, executive director of Feeding Illinois, said most people are not just taking advantage of the system to get food. They have real needs and are often already working. […]
Apart from SNAP changes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children will need an additional $615 million in the coming fiscal year to meet the program’s expanding caseload.
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* Sun-Times…
When the FBI confronted businessman James Weiss in October 2019 about $2,500 that had been passed along to then-state Sen. Terry Link, an agent told him bluntly, “This looks like a bribe.”
Weiss insisted that wasn’t his intention. He claimed he’d hired a consultant on behalf of his sweepstakes gaming business, Collage LLC, to help get legislation passed in Springfield. He said he had to hire her “to get Terry Link neutralized with the gaming guys.”
Trouble was, that consultant had been concocted by the FBI amid a bribery investigation that eventually led to charges against Weiss and then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo. […]
The jury also saw a text exchange between Link and Weiss, in which Link asked Weiss, “Did you send me the check?” Weiss allegedly texted Link a picture of a Post-it note featuring Link’s name, phone number and post-office box.
Weiss allegedly wrote, “This is where Lou [Arroyo] told me to send it.”
* Tribune…
At the direction of the FBI, Link had told Arroyo to have the checks made out to a purported associate named Katherine Hunter, who didn’t actually exist.
When Weiss was later questioned by agents, he lied and said Hunter was a lobbyist who lived in Winnetka and that he’d spoken to her on the phone, according to a recording of the interview also played for the jury Monday.
Weiss’ attorneys have argued Weiss was paying Arroyo as a legitimate consultant for his business, and that trying to enlist another politician’s help is not a crime.
Near the end of his direct examination Monday, however, Link was asked by prosecutors what he believed the $2,500-a-month offering was for.
“Passing legislation for sweepstakes games,” Link said.
* Jason Meisner…
* Jon Seidel…
* And…
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* From Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor…
June 12, 2023
Mr. Kevin Warren
President and Chief Executive Officer Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc.
1920 Football Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Dear Mr. Warren:
It has come to my attention that the Chicago Bears are no longer singularly focused on redeveloping Arlington Park as the franchise’s new home. With this knowledge, it is incumbent on me as Mayor of Waukegan to make you aware of the City of Waukegan’s opportunities, advantages, and history with the Bears organization.
The City of Waukegan, located along Lake Michigan, has multiple large parcels, including lakefront property within 20 minutes of the PNC Center at Halas Hall, that could be developed into both the state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment district the team has publicly expressed interest in building. In addition to the availability of land controlled by the City of Waukegan, the City also has excellent transportation infrastructure as Waukegan is located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 41, a major stop on Metra’s Union Pacific North Line, and is home to Waukegan National Airport.
The Bears have a rich history in Lake County. In addition to the current PNC Center at Halas Hall, the previous Halas Hall was also located in Lake County at Lake Forest College, a short trip down Sheridan Road. Furthermore, the City of Waukegan was home to the Bears’ winter training facility in the early 1990s. For generations, Bears players have called Lake County their home, including the neighboring towns of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Gurnee, Vernon Hills, Mettawa, and others. Some members of the Bears organization currently live in my neighborhood in Waukegan.
Home of NFL Hall of Famer Otta Graham, Jr., Waukegan is known as the City of Progress, and it is the full intention of my administration and our nine elected Alderpersons to ensure we live up to our motto. With over a half billion dollars of economic development projects underway, Waukegan is making unprecedented progress.
Our working class and diverse community is as tough as the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Bears, and our leadership team at Waukegan City Hall is as aggressive as Justin Fields running the ball downfield when it comes to creating economic opportunities for our City, our residents, and the region at large.
Our City’s staff and I invite you and your leadership team to come to Waukegan to learn about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity our City can offer the Bears. We believe that the Monsters of the Midway deserve the opportunity to continue the tradition of playing along the shores of Lake Michigan, with the market opportunity of having a year-round facility capable of hosting other major events, including the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and other events of an international scale.
Again, I would be pleased to host you and your leadership team to discuss a potential partnership between the Chicago Bears and the City of Waukegan. I can be reached directly by phone at xxx and by email at xxxx.
Thank you for your consideration. Go Bears!
Sincerely,
Mayor Ann B. Taylor
City of Waukegan
Thoughts?
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Today’s quotable
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The credit ratings agencies also prefer governors who don’t put their own personal crusades ahead of negotiating a reasonably balanced budget for their state. Just sayin…
Rauner also couldn’t stop himself from taking a dig at the Pritzker’s administration’s boasts about how the state has earned several credit rating upgrades in recent years.
“Credit agencies love tax hikes,” Rauner said. “And they love federal bailouts.”
…Adding… Here’s some context…
Back in April 2015, less than two months before the impasse started, Rauner suggested he could leverage a state budget crisis to win approval of his economic agenda.
“Crisis creates opportunity,” Rauner told the Chicago Tribune editorial board. “Crisis creates leverage to change … and we’ve got to use that leverage of the crisis to force structural change.”
The Springfield impasse did create a budget crisis, and for two years, Rauner kept Republicans unified.
* And after a bipartisan super-majority in both chambers finally voted to raise the income tax to just under where it had been before Rauner took office, and then Rauner vetoed that bill, we saw this…
With a $6.2 billion annual deficit and $14.7 billion in overdue bills, disaster is around the corner. The United Way predicts the demise of 36 percent of all human-services agencies in Illinois by year’s end. Billions of dollars in road construction work is shutting down. Public universities have been cut to the bone and face a loss of academic accreditation.
No other state has come close to Illinois when it comes to a budget impasse. The standoff entered a third straight year on July 1.
Credit-rating houses have threatened to downgrade the state’s creditworthiness to “junk,” signaling to investors that buying state debt is a highly speculative venture.
Rauner dismissed the possibility of another downgrade for Illinois, which already has the worst credit rating of any U.S. state.
“Don’t listen to Wall Street. Don’t listen to a bunch of politicians who want power,” he said after local business owners talked about rising property taxes and residents going to nearby Indiana to shop and fill up on gas. “Listen to the people of Illinois.”
And this…
The Ounce of Prevention Fund, an early childhood education foundation headed by Rauner’s wife Diana, issued a statement Wednesday calling for the House to override the governor’s veto.
“The governor vetoed the bills and the Senate has voted to override that veto,” the statement read. “We strongly urge the House of Representatives to now follow the Senate in voting to override the governor’s veto.”
The state currently has $14.7 billion in unpaid bills and has just entered its third consecutive fiscal year without a budget. Credit monitoring agencies have previously warned that without a budget, the state’s bond rating could fall to “junk” status, which would be a first for any state in the country.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Good morning! What’s goin’ on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Here you go…
* Tribune | ‘What’s in it for me, though?’ Ex-state Sen. Terry Link testifies about secret recordings in bribery trial of Chicago businessman: That conversation was one of a number of secret recordings made by Link that were played Monday in the trial of James Weiss, a politically connected businessman accused of agreeing to pay bribes to Link and Arroyo in order to advance legislation that would help Weiss’ sweepstakes gaming business.
* Capitol News Illinois | Health care workers who cover up patient abuse face stiffer penalties under new law: The registry identifies any health care worker who has been barred from working with vulnerable populations in any long-term care setting, such as state-operated developmental centers or group homes. Under prior law, workers could be barred because they had been found to have engaged in financial exploitation; neglect that is considered “egregious”; or physical or sexual abuse. The new law adds “material obstruction” of an investigation to the list of findings that can be reported to the registry, which is maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
* Tribune | Measure aimed at preventing book bans at public libraries signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker: “Book bans are about censorship, marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts,” Pritzker said before signing the legislation at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. “Regimes ban books, not democracies. Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, the Taliban’s Afghanistan. We refuse to let the vitriolic strain of white nationalism coursing through our country determine whose histories are told.”
* WTTW | Why Are There So Many Units of Local Government?: In the big ol’ U-S-of-A, Illinois may be 25th in size and sixth in population, but, when it comes to the number of units of local government? We’re No. 1. Depending on how you count, the Land of Lincoln is home to 7,000 to 9,000 units of local government.
* WCCU | Socially disadvantaged farmers await grant money going on 3 years: As for the hold up, the Department of Agriculture says the Governor’s office of Management and Budget needs to sign off before the money is released. We reached out to the governor’s office and they replied with a statement: “The $1 million in the FY24 budget actually can’t go to anyone before July 1st. The $2.5 million is from ARPA funds and the program and grantees have to meet strict requirements because it is federal money that has to be followed according to rules set up by the Treasury Department. The Department of Ag is working with DCEO to help them administer these grants in compliance with federal rules and we look forward to getting this money out soon.”
* Sun-Times | Planned Parenthood of Illinois reports spike in abortion patients since Roe v. Wade overturned: The amount of patients seeking both medication and procedure abortions rose 54% in the last year, Planned Parenthood reported on Monday. Patients needing financial and travel help also more than doubled in that period.
* Sun-Times | FOP demands same 12 weeks of paid parental leave Johnson gave teachers: “The teachers were granted parental leave — without bargaining. We certainly expect the same considerations for our membership,” John Catanzara, Fraternal Order of Police president, told members in a video posted late Friday.
* Tribune | LGBTQ workers are at the forefront of Chicago’s labor resurgence. ‘You have to learn to stick up for yourself.’: “If you grew up queer somewhere that it’s not accepted, you have to learn to stick up for yourself,” Parshall said. “That’s true for a lot of my queer co-workers. There’s just more of a willingness to speak up for yourself and defend yourself, and you know, advocate for changes if you’re working under unfair conditions.”
* The Trace | Violence Interruption Programs Are Receiving Millions. This Initiative Wants to Make Sure They’re Prepared: The biggest benefit of a community-based organization is access to a hard-to-reach population. They can reach individuals that other organizations can’t. The biggest knock is that it’s sometimes not evidence-based or they don’t have business acumen. They know how to do the work, but the business part has been lacking. And that’s why we have had trouble collecting data, doing evaluations, and procuring funding.
* Illinois Answers | Were New HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Paused over Patient Safety or Is It a Cook County Money Grab?: Cook County Health is spending millions of dollars creating its own medical research department while it continues a yearlong investigation into the nonprofit managing its clinical trials — a move drawing criticism from research staff members and advocates.
* WGLT | Illinois wants more EVs on the road, but the new budget just reduced funding for EV rebates: The new budget, signed into law last week, includes $12 million for the EV rebate program, officials said. That’s about $7.3 million less than was spent on the rebate program last year.
* WGLT | DCFS hosts on-the-spot hiring event in Bloomington to keep up with increase in investigations: Strokosch said the agency offered jobs to nearly 200 applicants at its event in Rockford. A DCFS official said the agency hopes to hire 50 new workers after Monday’s event in Bloomington.
* Tribune | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard isn’t a band, it’s a lifestyle. And a strange one at that.: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — which is cool to say, if nothing else — is fun. Like, capital F fun. The same fun once associated with rock. The kind of heady, indulgent fun that leaves me wondering if they’re idiots or geniuses. They are hard to pin down, and that’s the point of KGLW. They’re from Australia. They’ve made 24 albums in 13 years. They look like a bar band full of tech dads. Your friend who pines for the glory days of Rush is super into them. Your friend likes his bands virtuosic, but he’s also a loose canon. If that other fun Aussie import, AC/DC, traded in its caveman clubs for the complete Rush, Steely Dan and Metallica discography, they might approach the alchemy of KGLW. Or maybe KGLW is more like the live equivalent of vibing with friends on a bedroom floor with a stack of vinyl: Listen to this. No, listen to this. You’ve got to hear this part.
* Tribune | Former Gov. Bruce Rauner jokes as his Capitol portrait’s unveiled: ‘Most gentlemen hanging here did not go to prison’: ”It was difficult. We had many challenges. I lost 22 pounds and most of my hair,” Rauner said. “And it was very stressful. My hair has not come back. It’s continued to, like, run away. I’ve gained back most of the weight, so that’s good. I don’t have any stress in my life anymore, so it’s been a little easier.”
* Outdoor News | Feds awaiting Illinois’ signature on carp plan: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is on the cusp of construction on modification of the Brandon Road Lock in the Des Plaines River, 27 miles southwest of Chicago and Lake Michigan. But there’s been a glitch. The project, originally estimated to cost $275 million, is now projected to cost $1.1 billion. The main sticking point is that it requires Illinois to sign an agreement as the non-federal sponsor that the state has so far refused to sign.
* Tribune | Chicago White Sox’s ugly season could get uglier if Liam Hendriks is out for long: Without Liam Hendriks to close either game, Joe Kelly and Kendall Graveman took turns gagging on cue, turning a would-be sweep of the Marlins into a series loss and killing any momentum from an uplifting 5-1 stretch against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees.
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Jun 13, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Former Rep. Stoneback files defamation suit
Monday, Jun 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Former Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie) has filed a lawsuit against G-PAC and Rep. Kevin Olickal. Press release…
Former State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie), announced that she has filed a complaint including claims of defamation and false light, which can be downloaded at mlo.bz/stoneback. Stoneback stated:
“I have worked to reduce gun violence for the past decade. Since the Sandy Hook school shooting, I created a non-profit, a coalition, and a national working group to reduce gun violence. I also have passed gun safety legislation and stopped the largest gun shop and range in the Midwest from locating near schools in my community.
Unfortunately, my reputation as a well-known advocate and voice for gun violence prevention was severely damaged by statements in the 2022 primary election that intentionally described my record falsely, and portrayed me as an enemy to gun violence prevention.
Due to the harm these statements have done to my reputation, the distress the situation has caused me, the damages and harm I suffered, and the need to attempt to right a wrong and prevent it from occurring in the future, I felt compelled to file my lawsuit, pursue remedies available to me, and, at the same time, set the record straight.
The truth matters. The public deserves reliable facts as they make critical decisions about who will represent them. Prohibiting false statements in political campaigns in some manner is law in 27 states, but not in Illinois. In the fall of 2022, I introduced a bill to prohibit false statements, libel, and defamation in political advertising in campaigns and ensure that candidates commit to our state’s Code of Fair Campaign Practices. I encourage state legislators to pass this legislation, and I encourage all candidates for elected office to sign on and commit to observing the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
Undoubtedly many other candidates have faced situations similar to mine. By shedding light on the facts, I hope others will join me in calling for these changes. Together we can take an important step towards improving the way we conduct political campaigns in Illinois.
I will not allow the unfortunate occurrences of the 2022 election to get in the way of progress and the work that needs to be done. Despite what has happened, I remain committed to reducing gun violence, and hope to continue my work in this area.”
* Stoneback and G-PAC both supported a Fix the FOID bill which included mandatory submission of fingerprints. The bill passed the House, but stalled in the Senate. G-PAC eventually decided to support a compromise bill for voluntary fingerprint submissions. Stoneback refused to go along, conflict ensued, yada-yada-yada, G-PAC backed Kevin Olickal in the primary. It was quite a negative campaign. Stoneback lost, then introduced a “truth in campaigning” bill before leaving office and eventually filed suit. From that lawsuit…
Defendant [ Friends of Kevin Olickal], created and published a mailer flyer that included an excerpt quoting statements from Kathleen Sances, President and Chief Executive Officer of Defendant GPAC (“FOKO First Mailer Flyer”).
Specifically, the FOKO First Mailer Flyer stated that “… [Ms. Stoneback] turned her back on the people that elected her by not supporting life-saving universal background checks, fingerprinting for gun license applications, and mental health and trauma support funding for survivors.”
The FOKO First Mailer Flyer also stated that “Rep. Wang Stoneback failed to keep our children, families, and communities safe from illegal guns that have led to an increase in violence.” […]
These statements are false. […]
In June 2022, Defendant FOKO created and published another mailer flyer that falsely stated “Denyse Wang Stoneback Chose to Stand with the NRA” (“FOKO Second Mailer Flyer”).
In addition, the FOKO Second Mailer Flyer emphasized this false statement by including a photograph of Ms. Stoneback next to a photograph of the National Rifle Association (“NRA”) logo.
Additionally, the FOKO Second Mailer Flyer stated that, “[w]hile Mass Shootings Terrorized Ou[r] Country, Denyse Wang Stoneback Stood With the NRA And Ignored Victims of Gun Violence. […]
These statements are false. […]
The Defendant GPAC created and published a third mailer flyer that contained false statements about Ms. Stoneback (“Third GPAC Mailer Flyer”).
The Third GPAC Mailer Flyer stated: “Why did Denyse Wang Stoneback tell grieving mothers NO to supporting universal background checks on gun purchases? … because for politicians like Denyse Wang Stoneback it’s my way or the highway.” […]
These statements are false. […]
The Defendants knew their Defendants’ False Statements did not accurately reflect Ms. Stoneback’s record on gun safety legislation. […]
Additionally, the Defendants sought to destroy Ms. Stoneback’s reputation as a gun safety advocate. […]
As a result of the Defendants’ False Statements, Ms. Stoneback lost the primary election in June 2022. […]
As a result of the foregoing conduct of Defendants Kevin Olickal and FOKO through the publication of the FOKO Flyer Statements, Ms. Stoneback has suffered and continues to suffer damages including, but not limited to, harmed reputation, harmed standing in the community, and, loss of income.
In addition to the foregoing, Ms. Stoneback has suffered economic harm in the form of lost income as a state representative and the monies expended on her campaign.
It goes on, so go read the rest.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Afternoon roundup
Monday, Jun 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE *** I just now noticed that Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) has resigned from the Senate. Let the appointment games begin.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Crain’s…
Former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore could see ComEd parent Exelon seek recovery of legal costs the company has paid on her behalf, as well as past incentive compensation, if the expected appeal of her conviction on conspiracy and bribery charges fails.
That’s the recommendation of a special committee appointed by Exelon’s board to respond to shareholder lawsuits filed following the bribery scandal that led to jury convictions last month of Pramaggiore and three others. Exelon’s board last month endorsed the committee’s proposed settlement of a handful of such lawsuits, according to a court filing. […]
“If Ms. Pramaggiore and/or Mr. Hooker’s convictions were ultimately affirmed after all appeals are exhausted, the SLC (special litigation committee) believes that the Exelon board would have a strong basis to pursue any available civil claims against Ms. Pramaggiore and/or Mr. Hooker, including for recoupment of previously advanced legal fees, compensation subject to clawback pursuant to the Company’s clawback policies and/or other claims for damages,” according to the May 26 filing by the committee in federal court in Chicago. “Particularly in light of certain changes that have been made to the company’s leadership and board, and consistent with the corporate governance reforms already put in place and to be put in place in accordance with the settlement terms, the SLC believes the board will be well-positioned to determine whether the pursuit of such claims is in the best interest of the company at that time.”
* Crain’s…
Both Chicago and Illinois have been screaming hard in Washington trying to get the feds to come up with more to help care for the influx of refugees arriving here from the Southern border. They’re about to get their wish — but only in part.
A knowledgeable source says the next tranche of refugee aid to be announced early in the week will include $19.3 million for Illinois, with just over half of the aid — $10.5 million — allocated for Chicago.
Both surely wanted more; the Chicago City Council just appropriated more than $50 million to pay for food, shelter and other expenses through June. But it’s a lot better than the $8.5 million they had to split in the last award in May.
…Adding… Chicago’s $10.5 million is on top of the state’s $19.3 million, I’m told. So, almost $30 million. That ain’t too horrible.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, advocates, and lawmakers today at the Harold Washington Library to sign legislation outlawing book bans in Illinois. This nation-leading legislation comes in the wake of a nationwide rise in extremists targeting literature, libraries, and books in an effort to censor the material students need to thrive in the classroom. Targeted books cover a wide range of categories and predominantly consists of stories by and about People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community. […]
This legislation, HB2789, protects the freedom of libraries to acquire materials without external limitations. Prior to this, Illinois law did not provide such protections and according to Chicago-based American Library Association (ALA), there were 67 attempts to ban books in Illinois in 2022. Just this past year, PEN American reported 1,477 instances of books being banned nationwide during the first half of the 2022-23 school year, affecting 874 individual titles.
HB2789 tasks the Illinois State Librarian and the Illinois State Library with adopting the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, statewide. This bill of rights indicates that reading materials should not be proscribed, removed, or restricted because of partisan or personal disproval. Illinois libraries would only be eligible for state-funded grants if they adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.
Alternatively, the State Librarian and State Library can work together to develop their own written statement declaring that every library or library system must provide an adequate collection of books and other materials to satisfy the people of Illinois
DPI responds…
“I applaud the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pritzker for taking action to defend our schools and libraries from attacks on access to accurate information and diverse stories, and I’m grateful to Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, our State’s Librarian, who led this effort to defend Illinoisans’ freedom. Removing books from our shelves represents a dangerous backslide into a world where a small but loud minority can silence anyone who looks, loves, or believes differently than they do. As extreme right wing groups attempt to place candidates with their regressive values into local offices across Illinois and the nation, it’s as important as ever that we step up to defend our children, their freedoms, and their futures,” said DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez.
Earlier this year, the Democratic Party of Illinois took action to prevent extreme candidates who supported policies including book banning from taking over school and library boards. DPI successfully prevented 73% of the candidates it communicated against from winning their elections. Throughout this unprecedented program, DPI reached hundreds of thousands of individuals and households in Illinois via digital and mail communications as well as organizing support. This initiative was brought forth as part of the new party building directive under the leadership of Chair Hernandez to provide year round support to Democrats through grassroots organizing and continuous voter engagement. The legislation signed today will act as an additional safeguard against far-right efforts to limit access to diverse ideas and inclusive education.
* Press release…
With attacks on same-sex couples and marriages on the rise across the nation, State Senator Mike Simmons successfully sponsored a law signed Friday to strengthen marriage equality for same-sex couples in Illinois.
“As the first openly gay senator in Illinois, protecting and strengthening same-sex marriage laws in this state is significant to who I am and what I fight for,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I am proud to support legislation that protects same-sex marriages in Illinois and creates avenues for same-sex couples in other states coming to Illinois seeking those same protections.”
House Bill 1591 protects same sex marriages in Illinois by repealing the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act. This bill provides that same-sex couples can receive a marriage license in Illinois without requiring a signature from an official from their previous state. This will make it easier for same-sex couples who resided in other states to marry in Illinois.
“With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many are suspecting of the Supreme Court’s intentions regarding Obergefell v. Hodges, which protects marriage equality,” said Simmons. “This bill makes marriage equality stronger for Illinoisans and provides security to same-sex couples.”
* From Gov. Pritzker’s Northwestern University commencement address today…
Thank you to President Schill for your kind introduction. To the Class of 2023: congratulations on your graduation from one of the finest universities in the world.
Look, I know there were more than a few of you who may have groaned when you heard that the Governor was going to be your commencement speaker. Believe me, I too would rather be listening to Beyoncé give a speech today.
But rest assured, as a Northwestern Law School alum, I studied up before crafting my remarks, mostly by watching a whole bunch of YouTube videos of other people’s commencement addresses. And I’ve come to the conclusion that the best graduation speeches are a lot like your favorite sitcoms. They are short. They make you laugh. And they feature an oddball but lovable character.
Well, I’m your oddball character, folks.
Today, graduates, I want to invoke a seminal piece of twenty-first century culture to help send you forward on the right path in life.
I am, of course, talking about the Emmy award-winning sitcom known as “The Office” – which in its two-hundred episode run gave us all the wisdom you need to make your way in this world.
Now look, the younger members of my staff made it clear to me that your generation might consider “The Office” to be sort of “cheugy” – which I learned is a pejorative term meaning “uncool” or “you’re trying too hard.”
That’s fine. I don’t care. I’m a dad. By definition, dads are cheugy. We try too hard every day. Mostly to get our kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room. We don’t care if you don’t think we’re cool – we are determined to plunge ahead anyway.
Turns out, Steve Carell was in the audience, according to Tina Sfondeles…
But the Democratic governor didn’t know he’d be delivering a commencement address in front of Michael Scott himself, according to his office.
Actor Steve Carell, who played Scott on the show, along with his wife, Nancy, who also appeared on the sitcom, were at Ryan Field to celebrate their daughter’s graduation from the university. […]
Pritzker’s office said Carell and the governor met briefly after the address, with Carell telling him he liked his speech. Both Pritzker and his chief of staff, Anne Caprara, wrote the speech before learning Carell would be in the audience — and both are self-avowed die-hard “The Office” fans.
* Durbin endorses the Democratic primary opponent of Rep. Jonathan Carroll…
Hon. Tracy Katz Muhl, Democrat for Illinois State Representative in the 57th District, held her first campaign event on Saturday, June 10. The Northfield Township Committeeperson spoke to a packed room of supporters, including prominent politicians at Northbrook’s Techny Prairie Activity Center.
A former District 28 School Board President, Katz Muhl laid out how her experience, collaborative nature, and tenacity ensure her ability to raise the voices of constituents and make progress on issues most important to residents of the 57th District. A number of state leaders spoke at the event in support of Katz Muhl, including U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider, IL State Senator Laura Fine, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Cook County Board Commissioner Scott Britton.
“I am running for state representative to enact meaningful legislation that will make a genuine impact in people’s lives,” said Katz Muhl. “As your township Democratic Committeeperson, your school board president, a gun violence prevention advocate, and a grassroots organizer, I have listened to, coordinated and amplified the voices of our community to make real change. Now it’s time to scale that up to give the voters of the 57th District a stronger and more representative voice in Springfield. It’s time to get things done.”
While unable to attend the event in person, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, sent his endorsement in a statement that said, “Tracy is an effective leader who knows how to get things done. Her experience as a lawyer, school board president, and community organizer proves she has the skills to make a difference in Springfield. Tracy is a lifelong advocate for gun safety, reproductive freedom, and the LGBTQ+ community. We need her working for us in Springfield.”
* US Rep. Mike Bost announced he’s running again…
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) formally announced the launch of his reelection campaign at a meet-and-greet with supporters in White County on Saturday.
“Joe Biden and the crazy liberals in Congress are attempting to fundamentally change our way of life. Their woke, radical agenda is causing chaos with our economy, confusion in our schools, and a crisis at our southern border,” said Bost. “I’m honored to run for reelection because Southern Illinoisans deserve a fighter they know and trust to stand up for constitutional conservative values. We’ve got enough show horses in Washington as it is; that’s why I remain laser focused on serving the people and delivering real results for Southern Illinois, the place I’ve proudly called home my entire life.”
During his time in Congress, Bost has compiled a proven, conservative record, previously receiving endorsements from the NRA’s Political Victory Fund, Illinois Right to Life, and Illinois Farm Bureau. He was also endorsed by President Donald Trump the last three election cycles. Bost served as a state representative, small business owner, professional firefighter, and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
He will probably face former state Sen. Darren Bailey, a noted show horse.
* Up until this morning, the Will County Board’s June 15 agenda included this…
HONORARY RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
1. Recognizing the Juneteenth Holiday
2. Recognizing June as Pride Month
3. Recognizing MOMS for America
Those three oddly paired items have since been removed.
…Adding… The County Board Chair, not the Executive sets the legislative agenda, I’m told.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Shaw Local | Illinois hospital to close: The St. Margaret’s Health board of directors met recently and finalized the Spring Valley hospital will close 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 16. […] St. Margaret’s had announced in mid-May a June 16 closure was imminent without emergency state funding. A state budget passed without any assistance for the hospital. The closure - combined with January’s closure of the Peru hospital - will leave western La Salle and eastern Bureau counties without an emergency room throughout the summer.
* Crain’s | Paul Vallas’ new role might reveal something about his true political leanings: But, later In the interview, Vallas spun his hiring [by the Illinois Policy Institute] as a good thing of no ideological significance. “I’m a research wonk. They do research,” he said. “They know my Democratic credentials. That suggests they want a diverse staff.” Vallas declined to discuss whether his new job suggests he misled voters. “I’m not a candidate now,” said Vallas. “I’m not going to go into that. It is what it is… I’ve done research for a number of groups through the years.”
* Daily Herald | Why Illinois consumers will soon pay more for groceries: The yearlong suspension of the state’s 1% tax on groceries ends July 1. […] “It’s usually cheaper to cook it yourself than go out, so people will still shop for groceries and cut back elsewhere,” [Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association] said. “It would also be a big difference if it were a 10% tax coming back and not 1%. We don’t expect this will affect grocers much.”
* Tribune | Cook County says employees and pensioners can breathe a little easier with long-awaited fixes: Following years of consternation about whether Cook County’s two main pension funds would fulfill its obligations to its 39,000 employees and retirees, county leaders are saying they are on track to reform. A pair of moves within the past year has freed up access to more pools of cash to help shore up the county’s long-underfunded pensions, though fiscal experts say the county will have to be careful not to overcorrect and tie their hands on spending for other needs.
* Tribune | Ex-state Sen. Terry Link back on witness stand in bribery trial of Chicago businessman: Under questioning from Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Franzblau on Wednesday, Link spent about an hour and a half taking the jury through his role spearheading the state’s massive gambling overhaul legislation in 2019, as well as a shouting match he had with Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, about it on the Senate floor and a secretly recorded meeting at a Highland Park Wendy’s where prosecutors say the proposal to pay off Link was first made four years ago.
* Tribune | What makes a fair election? Recent redistricting the most politically balanced in years: The dissatisfaction once voiced most loudly by Democrats in states gerrymandered by Republicans is now also rising from Republicans in such places as rural Macoupin County, Illinois. A Republican represented the former coal mining county in Congress during the past decade. But a Democrat won the redrawn district in 2022 after it got transformed into a slender snake-like shape — with a head in the twin university cities of Champaign and Urbana and a new tail in the Democratic suburbs of St. Louis.
* SJ-R | Bill regulating cryptocurrency stalls, possibility remains for veto session: HB 3479 would create the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act and Digital Assets Regulation Act, where the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary would issue annual licenses and overall regulate digital asset business activity in the state.
* Tribune | Overcrowding, cold food and uncertain futures a way of life for migrants in Chicago’s shelters: The condition of the city’s 12 shelters cannot be assessed fully because the city has repeatedly denied a request from the Tribune and others for access to them. According to a letter in May from Chicago’s congressional delegation, the city has spent more than $75 million in the past nine months on over 10,000 new arrivals who have come to Chicago since August, and Chicago aldermen recently voted to spend an additional $51 million on migrant care through June.
* NBC | An Illinois hospital is the first health care facility to link its closing to a ransomware attack: Suzanne Stahl, the chair of SMP Health, the hospital’s parent organization, said last month that the hospital was planning to close this year. “Due to a number of factors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the cyberattack on the computer system of St. Margaret’s Health, and a shortage of staff, it has become impossible to sustain our ministry,” she said in a Facebook video.
* Crain’s | How Chicago companies are testing the potential — and peril — of ChatGPT and AI: JPMorgan’s approach reflects the mix of wariness and excitement ChatGPT has stirred up among local companies as they consider possible uses of a new technology that burst on the scene in a tsunami of hype. In recent months, Chicago-area businesses from United Airlines to Morningstar have started experimenting cautiously with ChatGPT and its artificial-intelligence siblings.
* Chicago Tribune Guild | UNEQUAL: A study of pay at the Chicago Tribune: There is an unconscionable pay gap between journalists of color and white journalists at the Chicago Tribune. The median wage for a full-time journalist of color is $10,000 less than a white full-time journalist. Comparing median pay for our full-time workers, for every dollar that a white journalist is paid, Alden values our journalists of color at 86 cents. From the data we can crunch, this gap can’t be attributed to differences in worker’s ages/ experience.
* Crain’s | Grubhub lays off 400 workers: “After much consideration and evaluation of our business, we have made the difficult decision to reduce Grubhub’s workforce by 15%, impacting approximately 400 of our corporate employees,” the company said in a written statement. “These changes will enable Grubhub to invest in the growth of our core business and better position the company for long-term success.”
* SJ-R | Celebrating Juneteenth in Springfield: here are some events to attend: From a parade and street fair to talent shows and an outdoor revival, there’s plenty to do to celebrate Juneteenth in Springfield.
* AP | GM to invest $632 million at Fort Wayne assembly plant: The investment in new conveyors and equipment in the body shop and assembly areas won’t create any new jobs. But GM said on Monday it will keep jobs for about 4,000 people who work at the plant.
* SJ-R | Sangamo Club to close doors Friday after 133 years: The Sangamo Club’s management cited a changing social environment and declining membership for the end of a Springfield institution. In a letter sent Saturday to club members, president James Ackerman said that the club had been losing money for some time, without the kinds of recreational activities that could keep a similar organization afloat.
* Daily Herald | Glen Ellyn’s Sean Hayes wins a Tony: Former Glen Ellyn resident Sean Hayes won the Tony Award for leading actor in a play Sunday night for his tour-de-force performance as pianist/raconteur Oscar Levant in “Good Night, Oscar.”
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* Background is here if you need it. Illinois Public Media is reporting that the site of an as-yet-unopened Danville abortion clinic has been vandalized a second time. You’ll recall that a man was arrested last month after he repeatedly slammed his car into the building that will eventually house the clinic. According to the police affidavit, the man brought several containers filled with gasoline with him.
Recently, “a new vandal tore down the temporary repairs from the last attack,” reports Farrah Anderson.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) has experienced a 54% increase in abortion patients, both medication and procedural, since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. PPIL data also show that more patients than ever are coming to one of our health centers at a higher gestational age that requires a procedural abortion. Abortions over 16 weeks gestational age now makes up 13% of all procedural abortions, compared to 8% pre-Dobbs decision. The number of patients needing financial assistance or travel support to get care at PPIL has more than doubled in the year since Dobbs. These trends demonstrate how bans and restrictions force patients to delay and travel farther for care. […]
PPIL data also indicates since the Dobbs decision:
• Over the course of the year, nearly a quarter (25%) of PPIL patients traveled from another state compared to 7% before Dobbs.
• Patients traveled from 34 different states.
• The number of patients needing financial assistance or travel support for care more than doubled, and the average amount increased from $250 to almost $500 because of expanded distances, time delays, and costs of travel.
• PPIL provided over $1.5 million in financial support to abortion patients through a combination of sources over the last year.
PPIL anticipated the surge in patients seeking abortion and gender-affirming care and took many steps to expand access. In July 2022, PPIL announced a partnership with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) for abortion care providers from PPWI to travel to Illinois several days a week, expanding access to care at our Waukegan Health Center and across the state. In September 2022, PPIL unveiled the expansion of the Champaign Health Center to offer procedural abortion services to meet the demand of patients in central Illinois and Indiana. Since June 2022, PPIL grew its abortion navigation team from one to four with the sole purpose of helping out-of-state patients overcome barriers in traveling to Illinois for care. The team is now expanding services to help out-of-state gender-affirming care patients.
PPIL’s volunteer base also grew by 700 new people. PPIL volunteers provided over 6,200 hours of assistance, compared to 2,000 hours the year prior. PPIL also has 300 volunteer escorts, who put in over 3,500 hours at health centers, more than double the hours from the previous year.
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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Back in February, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago proposed some sweeping revenue changes designed to significantly boost the state’s credit rating to “AA” over time and help accelerate the state’s pension payments to bring down its huge unfunded liabilities.
The group’s proposals were striking because their members are some of the wealthiest people in the state. In the country, even.
The Civic Committee led the charge several years ago to slash pension benefits for government employees and has long been known to be on the same side of the fence as the loud legions of Illinois government bashers. Heck, they helped build that fence. They also helped lead the fight against a graduated income tax proposal.
The committee surprised almost everyone by proposing a temporary, 10-year personal and corporate income tax “surcharge” to raise $2.9 billion per year, or, as an alternative, a tax on retirement income. The committee also proposed expanding the sales tax to services, which it said could bring in an additional $1.2 billion a year if the state adopted Iowa’s model. Much of the money would be used to pay off state pension debt.
In exchange, the committee proposed repealing the corporate franchise tax and the estate tax.
The franchise tax was lowered during the spring session. And lowering or even repealing the estate tax was also on the Senate’s discussion table this year. Senate Republicans at one point thought they might make some headway, even though the governor has long expressed reservations.
As a billionaire who inherited great family wealth, Gov. J.B. Pritzker wasn’t exactly eager to sign such a bill into law. But Republicans apparently saw some signals that the governor would be open to such a plan this year if the legislature decided to go ahead.
Senate President Don Harmon reminded me last week when we spoke that the Senate had already passed a repeal of the estate tax.
“I am more convinced than ever that the estate tax, more than the income tax, determines people’s residency,” Harmon claimed. He has said for a while that he believes many people move away from Illinois not because they want to lower their current tax rates but to assure their heirs inherit more of their money when they pass away than they would if they were still in Illinois.
Harmon said getting rid of the estate tax is “worth discussing but only in a broader tax reform package. It’s not something we can do as a one-off. It has to fit within a broader tax reform package.”
A top Senate Republican source suggested recently the state budget talks veered away from the estate tax issue because Harmon wanted a broader deal down the road. The source also said it sounded like the Civic Committee’s plan could be a blueprint, or at least a starting point.
Harmon confirmed that he was indeed looking at the recommendations.
“I think that the Civic Committee offers a very interesting blueprint,” Harmon said of the tax hike proposals the group proposed. “And if in fact the Civic Committee can generate broad support from the business community and from Republican lawmakers, it’s absolutely worth a longer conversation.”
That’s a big “if” at this point, but we’ll see.
The Civic Committee also recently announced that it plans to raise tens of millions of dollars for Chicago violence reduction programs, including finding meaningful jobs (with wrap-around services) for people who had gone through violence prevention training, many of whom have extensive criminal records.
Instead of a traditional “get-tough-on-crime” approach, the Civic Committee emphasized “constitutional policing” and other police reforms. The group also announced that it had hired Robert Boik to help spearhead that effort. Boik oversaw Chicago’s 2019 federal consent decree to overhaul policing until he was fired after criticizing his superiors.
Harmon seemed quite encouraged by the group’s proposals and its entire approach these days.
“From our research,” Harmon said, “there’s a dichotomy in the public perception. People want to be safer. But people understand that the root causes of crime are far more complicated.”
He said he believed people were moving away from the “locking up and throw away the key” types of people.
“I confess, it’s not what I expected” Harmon said of the Civic Committee, which has long had a conservative bent.
“I think that the Civic Committee is approaching major problems with a very different perspective,” Harmon said.
More on that topic next week.
* Meanwhile…
Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is joining the Illinois Policy Institute as an adviser. […]
Vallas reiterated themes from his campaign, saying, “The city of Chicago is at a breaking point. Our public agencies are about to fall off a fiscal cliff, the kids in our public schools are falling behind after Covid-19 lockdowns … our economy is lagging and businesses are unable to operate in a high-crime, high-tax and high-regulation environment.”
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It’s a law: Pritzker signed 90 bills Friday
Monday, Jun 12, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WJBD…
Governor JB Pritzker signed 90 bills into law on Friday.
The laws range from requiring large music venues to have Narcan on hand in case someone overdoses to eliminating any mention of the death penalty in state statutes. One, from Representative Amy Elik of Alton, makes September 17th Constitution Day at school.
“Constitution Day celebrates the US Constitution and also new US citizens. The US Department of Education states that schools that receive federal funds are required to provide education about the US Constitution each year, but we found it wasn’t in the school code.”
Another new law requires school administrators to let parents know if their child has been bullied within 24 hours of learning about the incident. There’s also a new law prohibiting utilities from shutting off a customer’s electricity or gas because of overdue bills if the temperature is over 90 degrees or there is a heath watch or advisory.
Here’s the full list
* Center Square…
Among the 43 House bills his office announced were signed, one prohibits insurance companies from increasing premiums if someone owns a certain breed of dog. Another makes Constitution Day a commemorative holiday. Music venues over certain sizes must have opioid antagonists starting June 1, 2024 with one measure.
House Bill 1596 “Replaces certain pronouns with the nouns to which the pronouns refer.” House Bill 2389 “Prevents stops and searches by the police if a driver has an object hanging from the rearview mirror.” House Bill 2907 “Prevents striking workers from being sued for unintentional property damage as a result of a strike.” House Bill 3396 “Provides that any person with the intent of obstructing, impeding, or otherwise interfering with a picket line commits a Class A misdemeanor and a minimum fine of $500.”
Of the 47 Senate bills Pritzker enacted Friday, Senate Bill 40 “Establishes requirements for electric vehicle capable parking spaces.” Senate Bill 201 “Provides that the court may seal any foreclosure action filed during the COVID-19 emergency and recovery period.” Senate Bill 1351 “Allows a retiring teacher to forgo an evaluation in their last evaluation cycle before they retire.” SB 1527 “Requires insurance coverage for medically necessary compression sleeves” beginning Jan. 1.
Illinois legislators approved 566 bills during spring session. Hundreds more have yet to be sent to the governor’s desk for his action.
* WAND…
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to ensure utility companies can’t shut off your power on the hottest days of the year.
This plan could help protect the state’s most vulnerable from losing their gas or electric if they can’t pay their utility bills.
The law will only apply when the temperature is 90 degrees or hotter and situations where the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat watch, advisory, or warning. […]
The Illinois Attorney General’s office led the effort for this change. However, some House Republicans argued that this plan would push the costs of power onto other customers.
* Jurist…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills on Friday safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights in the state.
HB 1591 amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The Act previously prohibited out of state couples from obtaining and Illinois marriage license. The language before amendment stated, “no marriage shall be contracted in this State by a party residing and intending to continue to reside in another state or jurisdiction.” The amendment will now allow couples from outside the state to receive a marriage license.
The amendment in HB 1591 works in conjunction with the federal Respect for Marriage Act passed in 2022. Under federal law, states are now required to recognize legal marriages performed in another state, including same-sex marriages. Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act due to concerns the Supreme Court could overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. A more conservative Supreme Court indicated in their decision eliminating a federal right to abortion that other rights extended under marriage and privacy, including Obergefell, may be reviewed.
Pritzker also signed HB 1596. The bill amends the Children and Family Services Act by removing gender specific pronouns. The removal of male and female pronouns is intended to make the statute more inclusive and representative.
* 25 News Now…
A measure sponsored by Sen. Dave Koehler and Reps. Travis Weaver and Bill Hauter to create a task force highlighting the history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois has been signed by Governor JB Pritzker.
The task force will develop a statewide plan to connect existing local and new projects to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois, according to a release from Sen. Koehler.
The task force will identify the location of historical sites, connections they may have to one another and will paint a picture to recognize the Underground Railroad’s history. […]
Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman initiated the bipartisan bill, in the hopes of bringing awareness to this part of Illinois’ history.
“Currently, there are many regional landmarks of the Underground Railroad throughout the state, but there is really no way of connecting them together,” said Ackerman. “This task force give us the ability to tie all of these regional pockets together to tell the story of just how long the path the Underground Rail Road was in Illinois, and the lengths that abolitionists and slaves took in search of freedom.”
* WJOL…
Illinois has a new law on the books to put a stop to misleading fake “final notices” sent in the mail, thanks to State Senator Rachel Ventura. […]
When someone buys a car or home in Illinois, “final notice” letters regarding warranties, protection plans and insurance are often mailed out by third parties to scam recipients into providing information or buying products under the guise of maintaining their home or vehicle.
Ventura’s legislation amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to require that senders clearly state that their mailing is not a bill but rather a solicitation of services. […]
Senate Bill 1440 was signed into law June 9th and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
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Open thread
Monday, Jun 12, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Howdy! Hope you all had a relaxing weekend. What’s going on?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Jun 12, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Here you go…
* Center for Illinois Politics | What is the status of the ever-complicated Illinois Assault Weapons Ban?: There are now four state court cases. Two were filed in Effingham County, one was filed in White County, and one was filed in Macon County. The Effingham and White County cases were filed by downstate attorney Tom DeVore, renowned for his pandemic work against mask mandates in Illinois schools. These three cases were later consolidated by the Illinois Supreme Court and are still pending in Effingham County.
* Tribune | Illinois government among victims of attack by global ransomware group, state IT agency says: The FBI and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have attributed the attack, which hit Illinois state government May 31, to a ransomware gang called CL0P, which exploited the popular MOVEit Transfer file-sharing software.
* Bond Buyer | Actuarial report puts $5.6B price tag on an Illinois pension fix: Pension experts have long warned the Tier 2 benefits for at least some of the workforce are likely violate rules that require publicly sponsored benefits for participants who don’t also receive Social Security to at least match Social Security in benefits.
* WMAY | Former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is finally back in Illinois: Rauner and his wife Diana moved to Florida shortly after he lost his bid for a second term to Democrat JB Pritzker. Rauner will visit the State Capitol Monday for the unveiling of his official portrait.
* Tribune | School choice or a drain on public education? Backers aim to save controversial private school tax credit left out of new Illinois budget: The program has become a linchpin issue for Republicans who have railed against the Democratic-led legislature and its recently enacted state budget. That budget did not include an extension of Invest in Kids beyond the next school year. But Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly left the door open to renewing the program, an indication that there’s a variety of interests at play. He’s said he would consider keeping it, in modified form, if lawmakers approve it in the fall legislative session.
* Sun-Times | Ban the ban, not the book? Giannoulias caps return with string of legislative wins, including anti-censorship law: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told the Sun-Times he was “blown away” after reading about book bans across the country. “To me, this is a slippery slope, and it goes against what education is about,” he said.
* Sun-Times | Arlington Heights still odds-on favorite to land Bears as team huddles ‘to squeeze out the best deal they possibly can’: It’s too early to tell whether the team was bluffing when it said Arlington Heights has competition and introduced Naperville to the stadium game. Were the Bears angling for an Arlington Heights tax break?
* Sun-Times | Parking meter deal keeps on giving — for private investors, not Chicago taxpayers: Results of the latest parking meter audit by accounting giant KPMG shows meter revenues reached a record $140.4 million last year, up from $136.2 million in 2021 and $91.6 million during the stay-at-home shutdown of 2020.
* Sun-Times | City again delays moving migrants from shuttered YMCA to Daley College: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration had planned the transfer for last week, then announced Friday it would occur on Sunday. But it put off the transfer for a second time after many of the people affected said they prefer not to be moved across town.
* Tribune | Chicago’s Walking Man wandered alone for decades. Loved ones say: ‘He observed everything. That was his adventure.’: Then came the attacks, the first in 2016 when a man beat him with a bat. Amid the resulting media attention, Kromelis’ given name was revealed, along with a few details about his life: He was a former street peddler who had lost his rented room to redevelopment a few years earlier. Strangers donated thousands to help the Walking Man get back on his feet. And then, one year ago, something even more serious happened.
* Tribune | Lion Electric’s new school bus factory in Joliet aims to rewrite the rules for manufacturing in Illinois: Pritzker convinced the Canadian company that in suburban Will County, electricity is not just cheap, reliable and abundant. It’s also — thanks to a statewide commitment Pritzker was then shepherding through the legislature — on its way to being carbon-free by 2050.
* Media Matters | 200+ Things that Fox News has labeled “woke”: Fox News host Jesse Watters said, “Silicon Valley Bank is a woke Biden bank. They were holding seminars on Lesbian Visibility Day and national Pride Month.” He added, “This was Biden’s Green New Deal bank. So if this bank fails, so does Biden’s green agenda. Biden can’t let a woke green bank blow up on his watch. He’s got an election to win.”
* Knowable | Dealing with rats, and their health, in America’s ‘rattiest’ city: We study how rats interact with people, wildlife and the environment to better understand public health risks from rats and improve their management. We do this using a holistic approach known as One Health, which looks at all aspects of health and the interconnections between the health of people, animals and the environment. Academic and public interest in One Health has increased dramatically since the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly because it can help to find win-win outcomes that protect both the environment and human well-being at the same time.
* SJ-R | It’s official: Anchors Away to return as Norb Andy’s: Now building owner Dave Ridenour has confirmed the tabarin, and its familiar menu line up, will be returning. “We’re reopening it as Norb Andy’s,” said Ridenour, who purchased the Hickox Building in 2010 and has been the face of Norb Andy’s on multiple occasions since then when other operators couldn’t be found.
* Tribune | How Chicago football players’ mental health journeys led them to focus on wellness for Black communities: Giving up football was traumatizing, White said. “It was tough for a while because I truly did feel lost … especially for a young Black man with golden aspirations of playing at the next level, which would have been professionally eventually,” he said. “I didn’t know exactly who I was or who I could be at that point.”
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