* Pretty much expected…
November 13, 2015
Dear Speaker Madigan, Leader Durkin, President Cullerton and Leader Radogno:
I am writing to follow-up on our upcoming meeting scheduled for November 18th at 8:30 AM.
Each of us brings strong and passionate views to this meeting related to the structural reforms needed to turn around Illinois and the spending/revenue levels needed to balance the budget. The people of Illinois deserve to hear our negotiating positions in a dignified and respectful manner — uninterrupted and unfiltered. At the same time, I acknowledge the bipartisan concerns we’ve received about allowing this meeting to become political theater rather than constructive negotiation.
Therefore, I propose the following agenda and format:
• We convene the meeting in the Governor’s Office in Springfield. For approximately the first hour of the meeting, we will have a pool camera deliver a live feed to media outlets around the state. I will make brief opening remarks to welcome everyone and explain the format.
• At that point, we will allot 10 minutes for each leader to make his or her case to the people of Illinois — uninterrupted and unfiltered. While you can discuss any issues you’d like, I suggest it may be most productive for each leader to use their 10 minutes on the issues about which they feel most passionately: Speaker Madigan, balancing the budget with specific additional taxes/revenue details; Leader Durkin, the need for reform before revenue; President Cullerton, overall spending levels, pension reform and Chicago’s financial crisis; Leader Radogno, economic reforms to improve the jobs climate like workers’ compensation reform; and I will focus on term limits, redistricting reform and local control of costs and property taxes. Again, these are only suggested topics.
• After all of us have had the opportunity to deliver our 10 minutes of remarks to the people of Illinois, we will ask the pool camera to leave so we can continue with constructive negotiations in private.
• When the meeting has adjourned, the opportunity for media availability for any and all participants will take place outside the Governor’s Office.
I believe this plan is reasonable and equitable to all parties. It affords each of us the opportunity to address the people of Illinois without interruption or media filter — and it strikes a balance to ensure we maintain decorum and a constructive atmosphere for negotiations.
Please have your chiefs of staff follow up with Mike Z with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Bruce Rauner Governor
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Rush to retire?
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the inimitable…
Is U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush finally considering pulling the plug on a job he’s held since 1993?
Sneed hears Rush, the former Black Panther Party member who has held political sway in Illinois for decades despite recent bouts of bad health, has a challenger who is already circulating nominating petitions.
Again.
Sneed has learned Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st), who was elected to the City Council in 2003, has not only voiced interest in the past about running for Rush’s seat — but is once again initiating an opening bid for Rush’s seat.
“He is circulating nominating petitions in the 1st Congressional District,” said a top Sneed source. “I’ve seen them.”
If he does pull the plug, I’d expect more than just Brookins to run.
* Meanwhile, in other news, this is from the NRSC…
Duckworth Snubbed By Colleague
Rep. Danny Davis joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Michael Madigan, and the Cook County Democratic Party in refusing to endorse Tammy Duckworth
Good Afternoon,
The divide over Tammy Duckworth’s candidacy continues to grow as her own colleague just endorsed Andrea Zopp in the messy primary.
Chicago Magazine reports that nine-term Congressman Danny Davis is set to join the growing list of Zopp supporters.
The endorsement follows Duckworth’s brutal numbers in a recent poll. Only 25% of Illinois Democrats support Duckworth. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and state Democratic Party chairman Michael Madigan are both noticeably absent from that 25%.
Congressman Davis also expressed his disappointment with the DSCC’s “unfortunate” endorsement of Duckworth:
I thought that was unfortunate. I certainly was not contacted in terms of who I thought a good candidate might be for the Democrats to run. The DSCC can do what they want, but they’ve got to talk around to different entities. I would have felt much better had I been contacted in any shape, form, or fashion.
They really do seem to go out of their way to pump up Zopp. Ya think maybe they don’t want to run against Duckworth?
That poll was done by Mike McKeon, by the way.
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This just in… Poe gets Ag
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed life-long farmer and Illinois State Representative Raymond Poe the Director of the Department of Agriculture. Poe’s experience as a legislator, as a businessman and as a farmer makes him the ideal choice to lead the agency.
Poe has represented the citizens of Central Illinois for the past 20 years as a member of the General Assembly. He’s a member of the Agriculture & Conservation; Appropriations-Higher Education; Personnel & Pensions; and Business Occupational Licenses (Republican Spokesperson) committees. He has farmed in Sangamon County his entire life.
In addition to his legislative experience, he served on the Williamsville School Board, where he was president for three years. He is also the former president of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau and the former president of the Lincoln Land Farm Supply.
Poe is a graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago. He lives in rural Springfield.
…Adding… Lots of Republican names floating around as replacements, but this just landed in my inbox…
County Board member Anthony “Tony” DelGiorno will hold a press conference next week to announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 99th state legislative district.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 9am
WHERE: DelGiorno Home,1421 So. Lowell Street, Springfield, Ill. 62704
Born and raised in Springfield’s southeast Bunn Park neighborhood, DelGiorno has represented County Board District 22 since 2012, when he defeated 12-year incumbent Tim Moore. He is a graduate of Illinois College and American University’s Washington College of Law. DelGiorno is a partner at Jacksonville’s Rammelkamp Bradney law firm based in their Springfield office.
…Adding More… Leader Durkin…
“I consider Raymond Poe a very good friend and I am going to miss working with him in the Illinois House. I also want to thank him for everything he has done on behalf of the House Republican Caucus. For the past 21 years, Raymond has devoted himself to serving the residents and communities of central Illinois. He is well-liked and respected by everyone he meets. Raymond Poe’s experience as a lifelong family farmer and lawmaker make him uniquely qualified for the position of Agriculture Director – he will do an outstanding job.”
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Question of the day
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WBBM…
After helping the Chicago Shakespeare Theater announce a citywide year-long arts festival in 2016, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, [Mayor Rahm Emanuel] was asked what “The Bard” would call the ongoing state budget standoff in Springfield.
“I’d probably stick with my quote from this morning, ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ with the emphasis on the word nothing,” he said. “Whether you look at Lear, King Richard, about power and the use of power – not power, but authority, etc – Shakespeare talked about the frailties of the human spirit, but also not to confuse your position with who you are. That’s all I’ll say on that,” he said.
* The Question: Your own Shakespearean definition of the current morass?
Extra credit for iambic pentameter.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** National stuff
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One of the funniest stories of the cycle so far…
Enough Milton Township GOP Committeemen were not prepared to call for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk to resign from his re-election bid and join the Aurora Township GOP, who censured Kirk in October, but one GOP Committeeman stepped forward to voice her frustration with the senator, who is seeking re-election in 2016.
A single precinct committeeman sent a letter and that’s the most-commented story on IR’s front page?
Yikes.
I can feel the Big Mo now!
* AP…
Illinois superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention next summer appear to be lining up behind Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.
An Associated Press survey of the state’s 26 superdelegates found 13 are committed to the former secretary of state or plan to be in her primary battle against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Four are uncommitted, including Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and Michael Madigan, the House speaker who is chairman of the state Democratic Party. They have their own constituencies to consider before deciding. Nine did not respond to requests from the AP.
I can’t see MJM going for Sanders, but he supported Howard Dean for national party chairman, so I guess one never knows.
* WaPo published the second funniest story of the year…
According to other Republicans, some in the party establishment are so desperate to change the dynamic that they are talking anew about drafting Romney — despite his insistence that he will not run again. Friends have mapped out a strategy for a late entry to pick up delegates and vie for the nomination in a convention fight, according to the Republicans who were briefed on the talks, though Romney has shown no indication of reviving his interest. […]
Angst about Trump intensified this week after he made two comments that could prove damaging in a general election. First, he explained his opposition to raising the minimum wage by saying “wages are too high.”
Well, I dunno. Bruce Rauner once said he’d like to get rid of the minimum wage altogether and he was still elected governor of a Democratic-leaning state.
But, hey, instead of Mittuns, maybe the nationals can draft Rauner and end the Illinois impasse? Maybe that’s why Madigan hasn’t yet picked a Democratic candidate? Could a true grand bargain finally be in the works? [/snark]
*** UPDATE *** From a November 6th Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC statement…
This week, the US House of Representatives passed a multi-year transportation bill with bipartisan support. This follows the US Senate’s passage of similar legislation this summer. Every single American depends on the nation’s critical transportation infrastructure, which is rapidly deteriorating. Investments to repair and rebuild the system are also vitally important to the livelihoods of construction companies and construction workers across the United States. The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Pac applauds Congress for finally coming together to pass a comprehensive program after years of short-term extensions.
Over 100 amendments to the transportation bill were considered by Congress. One amendment, sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA), would have stripped the Davis-Bacon Act from the Bill, which for nearly 85 years has ensured the payment of local prevailing wages and benefits on federally-funded transportation construction projects. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 238-188, with 54 Republicans joining with 184 Democrats to block the measure.
Jim Sweeney, Chairman of the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor Management PAC stated “the bipartisan vote shows that congress understands the fact that prevailing wage laws should be embraced so that local wage and benefit standards are not undermined by “low road” contractors seeking an advantage by deploying a low-wage, low skill, easily exploitable workforce.”
Dave Snelten, co-chair of the Pac and President at Excavators, Inc stated “we are especially thankful that the votes cast against Rep. King’s misguided amendment included all 18 members of the Illinois congressional delegation urban and rural, Republican and Democrat, conservative and liberal.”
Unfortunately, some of our state leaders in Springfield have spent months attempting to push through a similar radical plan which would repeal the state prevailing wage law at the local level. It is passed time our state leaders scrap this radical plan to shrink the middle class, change the business model of many contractors, and learn the lesson that the entire Illinois congressional delegation clearly understands: repealing prevailing wage laws never results in taxpayer savings, but does result in a “race to the bottom.” This race to the bottom economic model undermines high-road construction companies, disrespects skilled construction workers, and diminishes one of the historic standards that helped give rise to the great American middle class and the contractors that employ them.
The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC is a coalition of the 23,000 member International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 and more than 2,100 affiliated contractors. Balancing the public policy interests of business and labor is a core value of our organization. We take pride in the fact that labor and management are equally represented on our board of directors. We believe in moderate, responsible public policies that create broad based prosperity.
Emphasis added.
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Today’s number: $3.50
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced a lawsuit against three underground employment agencies and two suburban Chinese buffet-style restaurants alleging numerous federal and state civil rights violations, as well as wage violations, in their treatment of immigrant Latino workers.
Madigan’s lawsuit alleges the employment agencies target Latino workers and act as central suppliers for Chinese buffet-style restaurants that seek to profit from illegal and exploitative wages and abysmal working conditions. The lawsuit alleges the restaurants consistently underpay these workers, discriminate against them based on their race and national origin, and house them in substandard conditions.
“My office fights to protect Illinois workers and their most basic rights,” said Madigan. “The employment agencies and restaurants in this lawsuit are exploiting workers through discrimination and inhumane conditions, violating both their civil rights and the state’s wage laws. Their conduct will not be tolerated in this state.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal court against three unlicensed employment agencies based in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood and their owners: Xing Ying, 2228 S. Archer Ave.; Jiao’s Employment Agency, 2276 S. Blue Island Ave.; and Chinatown Agencia de Empleo, 211 W. Alexander St.
Also named in the lawsuit as defendants are two restaurants that worked with the employment agencies to hire Latinoworkers: Hibachi Sushi Buffet, 3035 S. Cicero Ave., Cicero, and Hibachi Grill Buffet, 101 Busse Rd., Elk Grove Village.
Madigan alleges these employment agencies and their restaurant clients collectively set the wage rate as low as $3.50 an hour for each Latino worker referred, far below Illinois’s minimum wage of $8.25 an hour. For every referral of a worker, the agencies charge commissions and fees of $120 to $220, along with fees for lodging and transportation, which the restaurants then typically deducted from a worker’s paycheck ,which workers often wait months for, and then remitted to the agencies. The restaurants exclusively assigned Latino workers “back of the house” job duties, including washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen floor, cutting and preparing vegetables and meats, and maintaining the buffet.
Workers interviewed by Madigan’s office describe long workdays, poor wages, high-pressure work environments, crowded and substandard housing conditions, verbal abuse, discrimination and threats of violence. Employees typically work 12 to 14 hours per day, six days a week, with no official meal breaks. Workers are often housed by the restaurant owners in overcrowded, squalid conditions. In one instance, the lawsuit alleges the Hibachi Grill Buffet crowded as many as 15 employees into a three-bedroom apartment with only one bathroom and no furniture aside from soiled mattresses the workers found from a nearby dumpster.
Madigan’s complaint also alleges the three unlicensed employment agencies unlawfully market their ability to provide Latino workers in newspaper advertisements that make explicit references to workers’ race and national origin. For example, one agency advertised it could supply “a large number of Mexican workers,” and another claimed to be “the base camp for Mexican workers.”
The lawsuit is the result of Madigan’s ongoing investigation into wage violations and discriminatory practices against immigrant workers employed at Chinese buffet-style restaurants in Illinois. It alleges violations of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, Illinois Human Rights Act and the state’s minimum wage law. A copy of the complaint is attached.
Madigan urges any current and former workers of a Chinese buffet-style restaurant in Illinois to immediately contact her office to report wage abuse or discrimination in the workplace. Workers should contact Madigan’s Civil Rights Bureau at 1 (877) 581-3692.
Ugh.
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Chicago’s low property tax rates
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
The Tribune found that the residential tax rate in Chicago before Emanuel’s property tax increase —1.9 percent — was lower than in any Cook suburb and all but five collar county suburbs.
Apply the mayor’s record tax hike, and the rate in Chicago would have been 2.1 percent. Only 15 suburbs would have had lower rates. […]
The Tribune analysis found that if property taxes went up by another $500 million, the city’s effective tax rate for homeowners would rise to about 2.3 percent. Chicago still would be in the bottom 10 percent in regional residential property tax rates.
* But…
Had Emanuel’s tax hike been in place this year, the property tax rate on factories, office towers and retail buildings would have been 5.3 percent. That’s higher than all but seven collar county suburbs. […]
Inside Cook County, however, Chicago businesses will still be taxed at a comparatively low rate — only seven of 169 suburbs would have lower rates than the city, the same ones mentioned earlier that have lower residential rates.
Even so, the city has comparatively high sales tax rates.
Also, if Chicagoans are gonna pay higher taxes, they’re probably gonna demand much better services. And since all the tax hike money is already spoken for, services aren’t going to improve much.
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Credit Unions: Honoring Veterans
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
As not-for-profit financial cooperatives, America’s credit unions are dedicated to fulfilling many daily financial needs of their membership. Their principle of service to community is driven by a genuine, ingrained philosophy of “People Helping People” — and a big reason why credit unions are different from other financial institutions.
With Veterans Day on the minds of many people this week, NuMark Credit Union in Joliet is collecting financial donations to donate wreaths for the graves of soldiers from every branch of the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. While the laying of wreaths takes place once a year in December at Abraham Lincoln and national cemeteries across the country, NuMark continually draws attention to this important community service year-round.
NuMark has been supporting Wreaths Across America for several years. The credit union and its members raise funds via donations for flags, holding casual days, and accepting financial contributions, which are matched up to $350. As a result, so far this year NuMark will be able to donate more than 200 wreaths to pay personal tribute, remember, and honor our nation’s Veterans and their families.
With a mantra of “People Before Profits,” credit unions serve nearly three million Illinois consumers and their communities this Veterans Day holiday and every day.
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*** UPDATED x2 *** Rauner loan plan emerges
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
To help cover Illinois’ unpaid bills in the midst of a budget stalemate, Gov. Bruce Rauner is turning to an obscure state agency usually occupied with arranging loans to farms, towns and hospitals.
The Illinois Finance Authority board approved a plan Thursday to withdraw $12 million of its $17 million in investments and use it to provide zero-interest loans to 911 providers throughout the state and cover bills from state vendors for snowplow repair, food for inmates and other “essential government goods and services,” Executive Director Christopher Meister said.
The Finance Authority soon may cover still more state bills by issuing bonds. Board members could approve bonds of up to $115 million within the next few weeks, Meister said.
Rauner asked the Finance Authority to make money available as part of a broad request “that state agencies use whatever resources were within their control, within the limits of existing law, to manage through the budget impasse,” spokesman Lance Trover said.
* Reuters…
In the case of a debt service shortfall on the IFA bonds, the moral obligation pledge requires the governor to request an appropriation from the legislature, which is not legally obligated to act.
IFA Chairman R. Robert Funderburg noted the irony in the risk that money for the bonds might not be appropriated.
“An agency of the state of Illinois is discussing the relative risk of doing business with the state of Illinois,” he said at a board meeting.
Meister said that once structured, the bond deal would need final approval from the IFA board at or before its December meeting. The board approved Citigroup Capital Markets as the underwriter for the bonds, which could be sold in the U.S. municipal market or structured as a direct purchase or private placement.
Meanwhile, the IFA will tap in to its $12 million of available cash to immediately loan at no interest up to $3 million to local 911 call centers relying on a state pass through of revenue from a phone surcharge that has been held up due to the lack of an appropriation, according to Meister. Another allotment of up to $3 million would be made available to state vendors “at the end of their rope” in return for their state receivables and a 1 percent per month late payment penalty that kicks in after 90 days, he added.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Do you remember this from the governor’s memo the other day?…
While we continue to urge legislative leaders to enact a complete balanced budget rather than taking a piece-meal approach, Governor Rauner is comfortable with HB 4305 proceeding as an effort to build on the compromises announced yesterday regarding Unemployment Insurance, Child Care Assistance Program and DON Score. In addition, to further strengthen the progress made over the last few days, legislators can – and should - fund the public safety and critical services currently excluded from HB 4305, including salt for snow-covered roads, funds for veterans in state-run homes and debt service payments that would ensure Illinois avoids a debt default.
That highlighted text was so odd to me at the time because state debt payments are automatic. They don’t require an appropriation. But this new debt would require a specific appropriation.
So, maybe now we know why that phrase was in the memo.
*** UPDATE 2 *** There were some formatting problems in the above update because I accidentally hit the “Save” button on my end too soon. Oops. Anyway, the governor’s folks saw what I saved and told me…
The highlighted portion you reference is detailed in the memo. It refers to the civic center debt payment due next month. Like McPier debt payment, civic center debt payment is NOT a continuing appropriation. If the state defaults, it will be because this funding was held up. That’s the only intended reference in the memo.
Ok then.
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The Democrats’ millionaire
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Longtime Democratic donor Fred Eychaner has been writing a few checks to political funds controlled by Madigan this week. On Thursday, Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic organization reported $21,600 from Eychaner’s Newsweb Corp. and $10,800 from Eychaner himself. That followed paperwork filed Tuesday that showed the same giving to the Democratic Majority and Democratic Party of Illinois funds. All told, that’s more than $97,000 to Madigan funds this week. Eychaner also gave the maximum $5,400 each to a half-dozen House Democrats.
Eychaner can’t do it alone, however. The Dems are gonna need more rich folks to step up in the Age of Rauner. From the governor’s latest D-2…
Funds available at the close of the reporting period: $19,654,134.13
And there’s plenty more where that came from.
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Don’t get your hopes up
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This “unfunded mandate” stuff is something the Rauner folks have been saying on background since Wednesday…
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration says it is reviewing a bill lawmakers approved Tuesday that is aimed at reopening the Illinois State Museum to the public.
However, even if the governor signs the bill, some supporters of the measure aren’t sure that it will mean the museum and its satellite facilities can reopen soon.
“Obviously, we’ve got a budget issue,” Guerry Suggs, chairman of the museum board, said Thursday. “Even if the governor signs it, I think his answer’s going to be, ‘It’s an unfunded mandate, we don’t have a budget, so I’m not going to do anything.’ I don’t think anything’s going to happen until a budget passes.” […]
By itself, the bill would not force the museum to reopen to the public. “I think this bill will help us in the future,” Suggs said. “I don’t think it’s going to do anything for us right now because of the budget issue.”
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* That parliamentary hold is gonna cause Speaker Madigan significant problems if he doesn’t remove it soon. The lottery debacle is something everybody can understand…
Illinois Lottery sales dropped by tens of millions of dollars last month after officials stopped paying winners.
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Administration revealed the latest blow to state finances as new doubts arose about a deal that could clear the way for lottery winners to get their cash.
The House approved a bill allowing the Lottery to resume payouts by a big bipartisan majority. But then House Speaker Mike Madigan pulled a switcheroo, refusing to send it to the Senate. Some saw pure political grandstanding.
“There’s a willingness to compromise among almost everyone, except Mike Madigan. And now we have situations where he’s clearly standing in the way,” said State Senator Christine Radogno.
Oy.
* Background from the AP…
Illinois Lottery ticket sales dropped to the lowest point yet this year in October, the same month lottery officials announced they were delaying payouts over $600 because of the state budget impasse, according to data obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
Sales for most tickets, including instant games and Powerball, declined about $21 million — with October sales at roughly $215 million compared to September’s approximately $236 million. The high was about $260 million in March, according to data obtained in a freedom of information request.
The figures confirm what ticket vendors at gas stations, convenience marts and grocery stores have said anecdotally for weeks about people’s frustration with Illinois’ budget problems.
Lottery officials announced in mid-October that anyone winning over $600 wouldn’t get the money right away because the account used to pay those winnings was dwindling. That followed news in late August that payouts over $25,000 were on hold because there wasn’t the authority to cut checks that big.
*** UPDATE *** More from the AP…
An attorney representing Illinois Lottery winners who haven’t been paid their winnings has asked a federal judge to prevent 38 other state lotteries from sending money to the agency.
The winners represented by attorney Thomas Zimmerman Jr. in a lawsuit haven’t been paid because of Illinois’ lack of a budget. Zimmerman filed a motion for a temporary restraining order late Tuesday asking the judge to bar the other lotteries and the association overseeing Mega Millions and Powerball from giving the Illinois Lottery the money owed to Illinois winners of those games.
Zimmerman asked that the money instead be held in an interest-bearing, court-controlled account.
“If someone in Illinois wins (Powerball or Mega Millions), then other states that participate in the game have to kick in some of the prize money,” Zimmerman said. “Illinois is then holding the money and not paying the winner. All we’re asking is don’t send it (the money) to Illinois — send it to the court … so we can get these people paid or earn interest on the money until it can be paid.”
Thanks to a commenter for the linky.
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