In addition to any other transfers that may be provided for by law, at a time or times during Fiscal Year 2023 as directed by the Governor, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer up to a total of $400,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Large Business Attraction Fund.
But with Illinois not yet luring big facilities such as those recently announced in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and other states, Illinois could use a big deal-closing fund, Pritzker said—essentially a pot of money the governor is empowered to dip into to sweeten economic development deals when the competition with other states is tight. “Michigan has, I believe, a $1 billion fund. They can just write a check,” he said. “It would be great if we had a closing fund in Illinois.”
Pritzker’s apparent reference was to Michigan’s Strategic Outreach & Attraction Reserve Fund, which can provide grants or loans for “infrastructure improvements, capital investments, acquisition of machinery and job training.” Officials there say the fund has been a major success.
The fund, proposed by the Governor, would allow the state of Illinois to be competitive with other states in attracting large businesses with many employees to the state of Illinois, especially in emerging technologies such as electronic vehicles, batteries, semiconductors, those kinds of things
I think there’ll be some enabling legislation coming along in which this is defined, in which there will be some guardrails and reporting on how this would be [implemented]. It’s a program that does not exist yet.
Asked when the House will see that enabling legislation, Harris said, “Hopefully, before the sun rises tomorrow.” House Exec then passed the bill on a partisan roll call.
The Dobbs Working Group has filed HAM1 to SB3799, the Patient & Provider Protection Act (PAPPA) to protect patients, providers, families & supporters who access reproductive or gender affirming care from criminal & civil penalties from hostile states. https://t.co/CoLSVdLQkQ
Reproductive Health & Dobbs Working Group Agenda
Patients and Providers Protection Act
January 5, 2023
Article 1 - Plan B Vending Machines at Colleges: Requires public colleges, community colleges, and universities to each make emergency contraception accessible for purchase in at least one vending machine on each campus at a cost no greater than $40. This is similar to HB 4247 (B. Hernandez) of the 102nd, but adds community colleges back into the bill.
Article 2 - Insurance Coverage For Abortifacients, Gender-affirming health care medications, And PEP/PrEP and Advance Provision: Requires abortifacients (i.e., medications administered to terminate a pregnancy), gender-affirming health care medications, and PEP/PrEP medication (i.e., HIV treatment) to be covered by insurers at no-cost. This applies to health insurance governed by the Accident and Health Insurance Article of the Insurance Code, State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Municipal Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the School Code, and the Voluntary Health Services Act. Additionally, this requires abortion care coverage to include medications prescribed for the purpose of producing an abortion without proof of pregnancy. This is effective January 1, 2024.
Article 3 - Birth Center Expansion for Reproductive Health Care: Expands access to reproductive health care by permitting birth centers in Illinois to provide full spectrum reproductive health care and sexual health care, instead of only childbirth-related needs of pregnant persons and their newborns. This is accomplished by stating that nothing in the Act prohibits birth centers from providing sexual health care and reproductive health care in accordance with applicable rules, regulations and licensing requirements.
Article 5 - Hormonal Birth Control Standing Order: Allows patients to receive hormonal birth control over the counter from a pharmacist pursuant to a standing order from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Currently, a patient may only receive hormonal birth control from a pharmacist pursuant to a valid prescription or a standing order by a licensed physician or local health department, not IDPH. This also limits an employee of IDPH issuing a standing order from liability for merely issuing the standing order.
Article 6 - Fetal Homicide Laws: Clarifies that no person is subject to civil liability for receiving an abortion under the Wrongful Death Act, clarifies that no hospital personnel shall report an abortion to law enforcement agencies; and clarifies that the statute of limitations under the RHA is 2 years
Article 7 - Parentage Act Amendments: Amends the Parentage Act to:
1. Allow intended parents or parents to dispose of any cryopreserved fertilized ovum to be governed by the intended parent’s or parent’s most recent informed consent or under a marital settlement agreement;
2. Allow for the establishment of a parent-child relationship in the event of gestational surrogacy in the event that an intended parent dies; and
3. Clarify that a certifying physician in the event of gestational surrogacy may be licensed in the state that the transfer or insemination took place, not just in Illinois.
The statutes collectively referred to as the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 apply to the establishment of a parent-child relationship in Illinois.
Article 8 - Clarifying that Assisted Reproduction is Protected under the Reproductive Health Ac (RHA) and Permitting Advanced Practice Clinicians To Provide Abortions: Adds “assisted reproduction” to the definition of reproductive health care in the Reproductive Health Act. “Assisted Reproduction” means a method of achieving a pregnancy through the handling of human oocytes, sperm, zygotes, or embryos for the purpose of establishing a pregnancy. Amends the RHA to allow advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform aspiration abortions that do not require general anesthesia. This language is agreed between ISMS, the Nurses Association and abortion providers.
Article 9 - Disciplinary Protections For Professional Licenses: Prevents the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) from taking disciplinary action against any health care professional licensed under the Division of Professional Regulation Acts governed by DFPR based solely upon the license of the professional being disciplined by any state for providing or participating in any health care that is legal in Illinois, regardless of whether it is legal in the other state. This is an expansion of HB 1464 (Hirschauer) from the 102nd which applied only protected physicians, physician assistants (PAs), nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. This bill protects, physicians, PAs, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers and social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed certified professional midwives, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, pharmacists, professional counselors and clinical professional counselors, genetic counselors, and registered surgical assistants and registered surgical technologists. Provides the department with rulemaking authority.
Article 10 - Two-Year Temporary Licenses for Out-of-State Medical Professionals: Allows the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to grant out-of-state physicians, physicians assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses a 2-year temporary license to authorize the practice of health care in Illinois under certain circumstances. Also makes a technical change to address the consolidation of the Medical Licensing Board and the Medical Disciplinary Board into one board, the Illinois State Medical Board. The intent behind this provision is to create an expedited process for health care providers to obtain a license in Illinois on a temporary basis. This would help Illinois continue to meet the needs of Illinois residents and out-of-state patients given the increased demand for abortion care services post Dobbs. This is modeled after the IDFPR Proclamation during COVID granting temporary licensure for licensed out-of-state professionals to meet COVID demands in Illinois.
Article 11 - Protections for Patients and Providers (“Shield Laws”): Intends to protect patients, providers, and those assisting patients and providers, from aggressive litigation from states targeting abortion and other lawful health care activity intended to impact lawful health care activity in Illinois. The bill does the following:
1. Protects information about lawful health care activity in Illinois from becoming subject to subpoenas issued from other states;
2. Protects witnesses from being compelled to testify in criminal proceedings in another state in a charge related to lawful health care activity in Illinois;
3. Creates the Lawful Health Care Activity Act to prohibit state courts from applying another state’s law in Illinois cases related to lawful health care activity and prohibits courts from enforcing foreign judgments issued in connection with litigation concerning lawful health care activity; and
4. Cabins the Governor’s discretion in complying with an extradition order from another state stemming from a charge based on conduct that involves lawful health care activity.
Article 13 - Parental Notice Of Abortion Act Repeal Clean-Up: As of June 2022, the Parental Notice of Abortion Act (PNA) was repealed and minors are no longer required to notify an adult family member in order to access an abortion in Illinois. However, the bill did not strike references to PNA throughout different Illinois laws. This bill would strike references to PNA in all other Illinois laws.
…Adding… I’m told an amendment filed earlier today by Senate President Don Harmon, and which is taking some heat from advocates, was designed to further discussions. A new amendment is pending.
…Adding… When asked about a competing Senate bill, Rep. Cassidy just said in committee that her intention was to run her bill and wouldn’t comment or commit to the Senate bill.
…Adding… As expected, the House Exec Committee sent the bill to the floor on a partisan roll call.
*** UPDATE 1 *** OK, let’s back up for a second…
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon filed an abortion expansion bill as an amendment to House Bill 4664. It would allow nurses to perform in-clinic abortions in addition to medication abortions, and grant temp licenses to out-of-state providers. https://t.co/28FvSVUld5
Brigid Leahy, the Vice President of Public Policy at Planned Parenthood of Illinois said during a press conference tonight that she didn’t see Harmon’s bill until about 11 o’clock last night. Leahy continued…
We’ve had a preliminary conversation with the Senate sponsor [Sen. Celina Villanueva]. There are some differences, and we believe that this [House] bill may be stronger in some areas. We are still looking at the Senate version. I hope that we can come to an agreement so that we can get legislation that, as Rep. Cassidy said, does what the stakeholders needed to do. […]
We did months ago provide some language to staff over in the Senate, but we had not seen the language until it was filed last night. So we are we are kind of still digging through it and figuring out. There are many parts of the bills that are exactly the same. And then there are parts that are different and that’s what we’re trying to figure out right now.
Leahy also said the House version “actually does accomplish a lot of what we need,” but also said proponents “will be coming back with certain issues that were very complex and need some more work.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Large majority…
Democratic Reps. Mary Flowers, Thaddeus Jones, Stephanie Kifowit, Joyce Mason and Lamont Robinson all did not vote. Jones, Kifowit and Mason all had excused absences today. Robinson was recorded as absent on another roll call today.
…Adding… The governor went to the floor after the vote…
* House Speaker Chris Welch has filed an amendment to SB2226 containing the assault weapons ban, etc. language. The bill is now on 2nd Reading. Working on getting you a one-pager, but take a look for yourself in the meantime.
[Deleted some excerpts because the one-pager below explains it better than I did on the fly.]
…Adding… As I told subscribers earlier this week, this provision was doomed…
Gun control advocates had hoped to increase the age a person can purchase a gun/obtain a FOID card to 21 (with exceptions for active duty military/National Guard). But this provision made many moderate Dems uneasy. So it's out. #twillhttps://t.co/MXDG67lUtS
…Adding… The House Executive Committee will take up the amendment soon. Click here to watch.
*** UPDATE 1 *** One-pager…
• Assault Weapons Ban (prohibits manufacture, possession, delivery, sales, and purchase)
o Immediately ends the manufacture, sale, and purchase of assault weapons (unless exempted below)
o Allows possession and legal use of existing assault weapons by a person who possessed them before the effective date, so long as the weapon is endorsed with ISP within 300 days of the law taking effect
o Exemptions: The following are not affected by the endorsement affidavit requirement:
• Active-duty and retired peace officers (ISP, sheriff’s deputies, municipal police)
• 10 or more years of service
• Retired or separated in good standing
• Local law enforcement acquiring and possessing for the purpose of equipping peace officers
• Wardens, superintendents, and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails, etc.
• U.S. military and Illinois National Guard and Reserve Forces
• Manufacture, transportation, or sale of weapons, attachments, or ammunition to the persons listed above (manufacture, transportation, or sale is only allowed in state in this circumstance, except that existing contracts may be performed)
• Nonresidents transporting a banned weapon through this State within 24 hours if the weapon is broken down and unloaded.
• Possession and travel of a weapon while at an event held at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta. The weapon must be broken down and unloaded during transport
• Blank-firing versions possessed by authorized or permitted individuals
• Large Capacity Magazines Ban (immediately prohibits delivery, sales, purchases)
o Immediately bans devices with a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more 12 rounds of ammunition; or any combination of parts from which such a device can be assembled
o 90-day grace period for modification, personal destruction, or surrender to law enforcement
o Does not affect the same people/entities as the AWB
Rapid-fire Devices Ban (prohibits manufacture, possession, sale; offers to purchase, import, transfer)
o Immediately bans devices that increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm
FRO
• Increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order (“FRO”) from 6 months to up to 1 year, including renewed FROs
• Includes a representative from an association of court circuit clerks to be appointed to the FRO Commission
ISP Firearms Anti-Trafficking Unit: Establishes within the duties and powers of ISP that the Criminal Division shall also investigate illegal firearm trafficking
…Adding… Press release…
Today, mayors and village presidents from across the state are calling on legislators to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act, as they conclude the current legislative session. In a new letter signed by 27 mayors and village presidents who are encouraging swift passage of common sense legislation that includes bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and other steps to protect residents of their communities.
Mayors are often on the front lines of working with local law enforcement to combat gun violence and coordinating with health care officials in the aftermath of shootings that leave families and communities shattered by their impact.
Among the mayors who signed on to today’s letter are:
“We need urgent action to reduce gun violence that tears entire communities apart. It’s our obligation as mayors to fight and advocate to pass laws to keep guns out of the wrong hands so no other city experiences the pain that we know all too well. I urge lawmakers to safeguard our communities by voting yes on the Protect Illinois Communities Act,” said Matteson Mayor Sheila Y. Chalmers-Currin.
“I am proud to join fellow mayors and leaders across Illinois in urging the General Assembly to pass this critically needed, common-sense, and lifesaving legislation,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “The flow of illegal guns is an inherently cross-jurisdictional challenge that requires collaboration and decisive action from both the State and Federal government to alleviate the scourge of senseless gun violence which threatens our communities. The Protect Illinois Communities Act will absolutely make a marked, positive difference when it comes to safeguarding Illinois residents and families.”
“Gun violence poses a pervasive threat to each of our communities, and now is the time to step up and take action to prevent more senseless deaths. We need to get weapons of war off of our streets so that each of our cities is a safe place for all. Our legislators must pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act now,” said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara.
“I have long advocated for gun reform and hope to see lawmakers pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act as the next step in making our state safer,” said Urbana Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin. “Assault weapons and high capacity magazines are too deadly to serve any purpose but to injure and kill. Lawmakers must stand up to the NRA and pass this commonsense legislation as soon as possible.”
…Adding… The bill was sent to the House floor on a partisan roll call.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The bill was amended to take out criminal penalties that were inadvertently left in the bill…
Sentence. A person who knowingly delivers, sells purchases, or causes to be delivered, sold, or purchased in violation of this Section a large capacity ammunition feeding device capable of holding more than 12 rounds of ammunition commits a petty offense with a fine of $1,000 for each violation.
Durkin has been open to these sorts of bills in the past…
Outgoing House GOP Leader Jim Durkin quoted the late conservative Republican US Rep. Henry Hyde, who voted for an assault weapons ban, by saying "Enough is Enough." So, the bill could get at least one Republican vote.
…Adding… From Rep. Cassidy: “This language reflects the work of the advocates on these issues who spent 6 months researching and drafting language.” The Senate has not yet signed on…
The Dobbs Working Group has filed HAM1 to SB3799, the Patient & Provider Protection Act (PAPPA) to protect patients, providers, families & supporters who access reproductive or gender affirming care from criminal & civil penalties from hostile states. https://t.co/CoLSVdLQkQ
* Walgreen’s helped drive the crime theme last year, but now the company says “Nevermind”…
A top Walgreens
executive on Thursday acknowledged the company may have overblown concerns about thefts in their stores after shrinkage stabilized over the last year.
During an earnings call, the company’s chief financial officer, James Kehoe, said shrinkage was about 3.5% of sales last year but that number is now closer to the “mid twos.” He also said the company would consider moving away from hiring private security guards.
“Maybe we cried too much last year,” Kehoe said. “We’re stabilized,” he added, saying the company is “quite happy with where we are.”
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus elected state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, to become the next Joint Chairwoman.
“I am honored to be chosen by my fellow colleagues to lead the Illinois Black Caucus into the future,” Ammons said. “Our Caucus’ mandate is to make the lives, livelihoods, and opportunities for the African-American community better. I’m confident that under my leadership, we will make more progress in undoing the unjust and institutional racism black Illinoisans often find themselves facing.”
An analysis by Pew Charitable Trusts shows that Illinois is one of only two states in the country with total tax revenue shortfalls exceeding 5% of total expenses, and the only ones with annual deficits in each of the past 15 years. The other state is New Jersey.
Pew state fiscal health manager Joanna Biernacka-Lievestro said Illinois is in select company.
“Nine states failed to collect enough revenue to cover their long-term expenses over the 15 years ending in fiscal 2020,” Biernacka-Lievestro said.
Also not mentioned in the story, but which is mentioned in the Pew analysis, is that Illinois is still on a pension payment ramp, which is what drives a lot of those “expense” numbers.
* Delia Ramirez is supporting Brandon Johnson for mayor instead of Chuy Garcia. Others formerly allied with Garcia, including Rep. Lilian Jimenez, who used to work for Garcia and replaced Ramirez in the Illinois House, are also with Johnson. Nevertheless…
Neighboring districts, neighboring offices.
When we organize in Chicago, we bring change to DC!
A proud day to stand alongside Representative Delia Ramirez — the first Latina to represent the Midwest in Congress. pic.twitter.com/B43HOXDFCd
Secretary of State Jesse White announced today that the state’s organ/tissue donor registry reached 7.5 million registrants.
“I am so proud that Illinoisans have shown their giving and caring spirit by signing up for this lifesaving program,” said White. “Our mission over the past 24 years has been to strengthen the Organ/Tissue Donor Program through outreach and registration initiatives. We have worked to end the waiting for the approximately 4,000 people statewide. Each year, unfortunately, about 300 people die waiting for a transplant in Illinois.”
Of the more than 12.8 million people living in Illinois, 10,146,583 qualify to become organ/tissue donors. Of those, 74% have registered as organ/tissue donors.
In addition, more than 270,000 16- and 17-year-olds have registered with the program since 2018, when Secretary White initiated a law allowing them to register as organ and tissue donors.
“I believe our public awareness campaign, including television, radio and social media ads have helped encourage people to register,” said White. “It takes less than a minute to register and one person can improve the quality of life for up to 25 people.”
Secretary White has headed the state’s Organ/Tissue Donor Registry since 1999. He has visited countless hospitals, schools, libraries, Driver Service facilities as well as other venues to promote and register Illinoisans for the donor program. Secretary White has a personal connection to organ donation because his sister, Doris Ivy, received a kidney transplant from an anonymous donor that extended her life for 28 years.
Illinoisans can register with the Secretary of State’s Organ/Tissue Donor Registry at www.LifeGoesOn.com or by calling 800-210-2106.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Crain’s | Illinois car dealers lose lawsuit to halt Rivian direct sales: Rivian Automotive, which assembles its high-end electric vehicles in central Illinois, can continue to sell directly to consumers in the state after a judge dismissed a lawsuit by the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association that also challenged sales by EV startup Lucid Group.
* Journal & Topics | Transition Plans In Place To Move Venezuelan Asylum Seekers To Chicago By Month’s End: State Sen. Laura Murphy (D-28th) of Des Plaines, the deputy state senate majority leader, representing parts of both Elk Grove Village and Des Plaines, said she attended a meeting late Tuesday with heads of the Illinois Dept. of Homeland Security, Illinois Dept. of Human Services, deputy governor, members of the Latino Caucus of the Illinois General Assembly, and other “interested parties” to discuss plans for longer-term housing for the Venezuelan asylum seekers.
* Daily Herald | Nicor takes first step toward rate hike that could add $9 a month to average bill: The request, filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, comes on the heels of a $240 million rate increase Nicor implemented in late 2021. The Naperville-based utility is the largest natural gas distribution company in Illinois, serving more than two million customers and encompassing most of suburban Chicago.
* Crain’s | A call for commonsense gun legislation: Health care providers see the devastating and far-reaching impact of gun violence every day. Beyond the horrors of shootings themselves, we see survivors, their families and the families of fatal victims devastated as they begin their journey down the long road to recovery—physically and emotionally.
* Daily Herald | Kane County poised to ease campaign contribution limits: The ordinance arose as board members, at that time, decried the possible influence of campaign contributions on the awarding of valuable county contracts. A Daily Herald investigation that year showed more than $17.5 million in county funds went to 43 companies and firms that donated nearly $43,000 to former county board Chairman Karen McConnaughay’s political war chest in 2009.
* Crain’s | Former federal judge joins Latham & Watkins’ Chicago office: Before joining the firm, Feinerman served 12 years on the bench in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, leaving his post Dec. 31. He also served five years as solicitor general for the state of Illinois.
* The Atlantic | Biden’s Blue-Collar Bet: Biden also touched on another theme that will likely become an even more central component of his economic and political strategy over the next two years: He repeatedly noted how many of the jobs created by his economic agenda are not expected to require a four-year college degree.
Our downward [Illinois population] trajectory has often been demoralizing, but even more so during the past decade as professional naysayers trumpeted annual Census estimates that showed huge, six-figure population losses.
By December 2020, those annual Census estimates showed Illinois had lost about 240,000 people, or 2% of its population.
“Illinois is a deepening population sinkhole flanked by states that are adding people, businesses, jobs,” the Chicago Tribune editorial board opined. “The estimated Illinois population is 12,587,530, down more than 240,000 since the 2010 census. That’s more than Waukegan and Naperville, combined.” […]
When the official 2020 Census count showed those previous estimates were wildly wrong and Illinois’ net population loss was “only” 18,000 people, those same folks either changed the subject or harrumphed that, whatever the case, Illinois was still a net loser and had fallen to the rank of sixth-largest state behind Pennsylvania. […]
As you probably know by now, the Census Bureau admitted last week that it had screwed up Illinois’ decennial headcount, and the state actually grew by about 250,000 people – that’s almost a 500,000-person swing from the December 2020 estimate.
* Those wildly wrong annual estimates in the past should’ve injected some skepticism into the Census Bureau’s latest numbers dump. But some news media outlets are buying the recently released annual numbers hook line and sinker. SJ-R…
New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Illinois lost a population the near equivalent of Springfield in 2022, continuing a nine-year population slide in the Land of Lincoln.
The report found Illinois subtracted more than 104,000 from its ranks this year going from 12.6 million to 12.5 million residents. The population loss of 0.8% was the third-highest behind New York and California and was among the 18 states that lost population this year. Driving that loss primarily was the 141,656 people migrating out of the state.
Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski joins the Steve Cochran Show to talk about what caused 104,000 people to leave Illinois in 2021, how the “Workers’ Right Amendment” may deter businesses from coming to Illinois, and what will make people stay in Illinois.
Illinois’ population shrunk for the 9th year in a row from 2021 to 2022, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The report said that the Land of Lincoln lost more than 104,000 residents this year, according to the Journal Star. That brought the state’s population from 12.6 million to 12.5 million, the third-highest drop behind New York and California. Illinois was one of only 18 states that lost population this year.
Just dumb.
* US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has repeatedly called on the US Census Bureau to reexamine its methodology and get its act together. Raja did it again today…
Robert Santos
Director
U.S. Census Bureau
4600 Silver Hill Road
Washington, DC 20233
Dear Director Santos:
In light of last month’s Census Bureau announcement concerning population estimates, I’m writing to express my ongoing concerns surrounding the repeated undercounting of the population of Illinois in the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2020 Census, as assessed by the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES). Fundamentally, this latest release’s claim that Illinois lost a substantial number of residents in 2022 appears to closely echo the previous ACS and Census results that fueled misleading rhetoric surrounding purported population losses in Illinois which were later revealed to be unfounded by the PES.
In my repeated letters sent last year, I requested information on the ACS and Census data which showed Illinois population losses of substantially different orders, only for the May PES to conclude that 14 states had an undercount or overcount in the Census and that Illinois was among them with an undercount of hundreds of thousands of people. Beyond discrediting years of false rhetoric about Illinois population losses driven by Census Bureau products, these findings also raise serious public questions in my state over the credibility of the Census Bureau’s results more broadly because of the substantially different conclusions of its recent releases regarding our state. Census Bureau undercounting of our state poses potentially enormous financial consequences for Illinois because over the next decade, Census Bureau data will be utilized to allocate roughly $1.5 trillion through approximately 100 programs, including Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare, Highway Planning and Construction, and Pell grants.
In your June response to my letters with colleagues on this matter, you wrote that regarding incorporating PES findings into data products that inform funding allocations that, “the Census Bureau has established a team of experts tasked with researching the feasibility of taking coverage measures from the Demographic Analysis and Post-Enumeration Survey into account in the development of the official population estimates.” Additionally, in response to the question of whether the Bureau would commit to utilizing the PES in deriving Population Estimates from the Decennial Census, you wrote, “While too early to commit to incorporating PES into the population estimates, the Census Bureau is researching the feasibility of taking coverage measures from both the Demographic Analysis and Post-Enumeration Survey into account in the development of the official population estimates.”
Last month, I wrote to request clarity on the implementation of PES findings into population estimates, the timeline for doing so, and related efforts to address the repeated undercounting of Illinois. In addition to renewing my request for that information, I request answers to these additional questions by January 20th:
1. Were coverage measures from the May 2022 Demographic Analysis and Post-Enumeration Survey results which showed Illinois’ population growth accounted for in the December 2022 population estimates, or did the methodology omit these considerations while following the previous ACS and Census approaches. which led to the undercounting of Illinois’ population?
2. If coverage measures from last year’s Demographic Analysis and Post-Enumeration Survey have not yet been incorporated into annual population estimates, when will they be?
3. Were any other new efforts undertaken to address the consistent undercounting of the population of Illinois in producing the December 2022 population estimates?
4. Have any new factors been identified as contributing to the repeated undercounting of Illinois?
…Adding… From the governor’s office…
For the last decade, the narrative that Illinois is losing population was fed, by what turned out to be, inaccurate annual preliminary estimates. As the last official census count proved, Illinois’ population remained stable. When the official census results were studied further and corrected, Illinois’ population actually grew. While we will study these preliminary numbers, the context regarding their accuracy is important.
Illinois remains one of the most populous states in the nation and long term trends remain encouraging. In 2022, Illinois’ international migration nearly tripled from 2021 and the state also experienced growth due to natural changes. Illinois is on a positive trajectory by reaching $1 trillion GDP for the first time, creating more business start-ups than any other populous state. Looking ahead the state remains focused on providing long-term, meaningful support for residents and communities through unparalleled infrastructure investments, support for our workforce, and businesses that call Illinois home.
* The Question: Illinois went through its own House leadership drama a couple of years ago, so I wonder if y’all have any advice for US Rep. Kevin McCarthy and the House GOP caucus? Snark is not particularly encouraged, but allowed.
Black Caucus legislators Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) and Leader Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) together with Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago), Local 150 and Pastor Scott Onque of Faith in Place called for the passage of Rust Belt to Green Belt legislation to jumpstart offshore wind in Lake Michigan.
“Bringing offshore wind to Illinois is an economic issue just as much as it is an environmental issue,” said Sen. Peters, Chair of the Senate Black Caucus. “The green economy hasn’t reached the Southeast Side of Chicago, where the ruins of abandoned steel mills cast long shadows. This pilot project alone would create thousands of jobs during the building phase and 50-100 long-term jobs. And that’s from only a handful of turbines.”
Leader Marcus Evans (D-Chicago), House Sponsor of the bill was absent due to a family emergency, but issued the following statement: “Illinois will miss out on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take advantage of federal dollars available from the Biden administration to jumpstart offshore wind projects. Other states are competing for this fundings, and if Illinois doesn’t pass this legislation now, it sends the wrong message both to the Black and Brown communities that are looking to Democrats to create the jobs they need, as well as to D.C.”
HB4543 allows Illinois to begin the process of making offshore wind in Lake Michigan a reality. Specifically, the legislation:
• Allows the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to seek federal funding to build an offshore wind port
• Directs the Illinois Power Agency to procure power from an offshore wind pilot project. Legislative action must happen for these initial steps to take place.
• Once passed, DCEO would be able to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to find private companies capable of building the necessary wind infrastructure.
Crucially, the legislation contains provisions to ensure that the jobs generated from the project go towards the Black and Brown communities that need them the most.
• In order to win the RFP, wind developers will need to submit a rigorous proposal that will be scored in three categories: price, overall viability of the applicant, and equity & inclusion.
• The developer’s equity plan, which must detail how they will create opportunities and invest in underrepresented communities, is given the most weight when scoring each proposal.
• Learn more at rustbelttogreenbelt.com
“Offshore wind is a huge opportunity for Illinois,” said Marc Poulus, Executive Director of the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting. “The passage of this legislation means a green light for unions to start creating pipelines of diverse laborers to do the work specifically required to equip the port and build the turbines. Not only will there be a class of laborers trained to do this work, but wind represents an entry point to the trades for a new generation of skilled workers.”
“Environmental justice and economic justice go hand in hand for our communities,” said Pastor Scott Onque, Faith in Place. “Offshore wind will diversify Illinois’ renewable energy sources and make us less reliant on fossil fuels, which have created a disproportionate amount of pollution in predominantly Black and Brown communities. At the same time, environmental justice is incomplete without economic justice. The jobs offshore wind creates will help right historical wrongs and support communities that battle chronic disinvestment.”
“Offshore wind has a coalition of support, from labor, to environmental advocates, to the Chicago Chamber of Commerce,” said State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago). “This is a diverse coalition because offshore wind accomplishes so much for so many. During these times of inflation and an unstable energy market, creating stability and economic security for families is essential, especially when we can do it while protecting the planet at the same time.”
“My colleagues and I helped pass the most comprehensive clean energy legislation in the country, but that cannot be the ceiling for Illinois,” said State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “Environmental justice and sustainability is an existential issue that needs a dedicated plan, innovative thinking, and bold solutions – like offshore wind.”
But key details are not yet available, such as the total cost of the project. And one top environmental leader immediately raised significant concerns about the proposal, among them whether state ratepayers would end up footing the bill, whether the development would violate the “public use” doctrine that generally limits Lake Michigan uses for public purposes and whether such a project even would be feasible given that the lake regularly freezes and thaws.
“These questions have not been fully addressed,” said Environmental Law & Policy Center Executive Director Howard Learner, who nonetheless stopped short of opposing the bill. […]
According to Learner, the state subsidy for the wind farm would be considerable. As now drafted, he says, the bill would require the Illinois Power Agency to spend $34 million in taxpayer money for 20 years purchasing the development’s output. That’s $680 million over term, and Learner believes the eventual subsidy could be much larger.
Except, won’t the IPA then turn around and sell the electricity? Not sure I get this ELPC analysis.
Anyway, your thoughts?
…Adding… From the Illinois Power Agency…
Hi Rich, hope you’re well.
Quick clarification on the offshore wind bill: under HB 4543, neither the IPA nor any Illinois electric utility would be taking title to the power from the project; instead, Illinois electric utilities would take title to the renewable energy credits(RECs) generated by the offshore wind project through a procurement process developed and administered by the IPA, with the sale of those RECs providing financial support back to that offshore wind project at an aggregate value capped at approximately $34 million annually (for a contract term of 20 years after project energization).
OK, now I get it.
…Adding… Also, this is ratepayer money, not taxpayer money.
Giffords, the gun violence prevention group founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, says its polling shows views on assault weapons fall along party lines, with Democrats supporting a ban and many Republicans opposing it. Some questions in the poll might indicate the challenges lawmakers are facing as they consider the legislation.
Dozens of faith community leaders came together Wednesday morning to share their support and perspectives on proposed state legislation aimed at addressing one of the biggest problems to plague Chicago — gun violence.
Pastors, reverends, rabbis and imams, including the Rev. Michael Pfleger and Pastor Cornelius Parks, filled the stage of Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church in East Garfield Park — just blocks from where a deadly mass shooting took place on Halloween — to voice their concerns on gun violence across the city. They used the rally as a call for action to support House Bill 5855, or the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
The legislation would ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, help to further implement Illinois’ Firearm Restraining Order law and address illegal gun trafficking in the state and is a response to the mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, where seven people were killed and dozens of others injured by a shooter using an assault-style rifle and high-capacity magazines.
Rep. Bob Morgan, a Democrat from Deerfield who was marching in the parade when the shooting occurred, introduced the bill in December after months of work by the Illinois House Firearm Safety and Reform working group, which he chairs. The group was formed in July with a goal of creating legislation that the General Assembly could pass to reduce gun violence in Illinois, he said.
The act would do a number of things, including banning the sale or purchase of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. It would also raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21.
It would even extend the duration of a firearm restraining order from six months to one year. […]
The bill had two committee hearings last month. Legislators are returning to the Capitol Wednesday for a lame-duck session.
Currently, no hearing is scheduled in the session for this bill.
As of midday Wednesday, 35 state representatives, all Democrats, had signed on to Morgan’s bill as co-sponsors. It will still need to win approval in the state Senate, where similar measures have stalled in the past.
Democrats have supermajorities in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, which rewrote the state’s gun laws in 2013, but they have never called a floor vote on the issue of an assault weapons ban and it remains to be seen if it will called for a vote this time.
Gun owner advocacy groups have opposed the bill and pledged to fight it in court if it passes. The National Rifle Association, Guns Save Life and the Illinois State Rifle Association have called for their members to lobby lawmakers to vote against the bill.
Rallies in support of the bill are planned for Thursday in Springfield.
Gun-rights advocate Todd Vandermyde says they won’t negotiate despite hearing there could be amendments.
“They’re looking to modify the magazine limits,” Vandermyde told WMAY Wednesday. “We hear the number they’re kicking around now is 12. Not a big jump from 10 to 12. And we think that they’re having some discussions about the age limit stuff. I think reality is setting in with some people that they have constitutional issues with what they’re proposing.”
Vandermyde and others promise lawsuits will be filed challenging the various aspects of the proposed bill if it were to be approved and enacted.
Opposition continues to mount. Before the Christmas holiday, the Madison County Board voted to denounce House Bill 5855.
Data obtained by NBC 5 Investigates shows that more than 73,000 residents filed applications for FOID cards in Illinois during the five months after the Highland Park shooting, marking a 19% increase over the months prior to the attack.
Those individuals who currently own weapons that are deemed “assault weapons” under the proposed legislation would have the option of registering those guns with the Illinois State Police, according to bill sponsors.
* Three buses filled with gun violence survivors and advocates will be arriving in Springfield to rally and meet with legislators. ABC 7…
This grassroots effort is being led mostly by moms, as some call it a personal crusade. […]
Ashley Beasley is a parade survivor.
She will be on the buses with other moms Thursday morning to rally and meet with legislators in Springfield.
“For me, activism has been a huge part of therapy. Getting involved in trying to make change has been something that has helped me to take control,” Beasley said.
Legislators held a hearing on the bill in mid-December, when critics questioned its cost and constitutionality and supporters recounted the trauma of the year’s mass shootings.
There are enough Democrats in both state chambers to pass the bill without Republican support, but conservative, downstate Democrats have been wary of supporting similar bills in the past
In 2018, after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 people, Illinois tried to increase the age minimum to buy an assault weapon to 21. But the bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, who had called for the bill to expand the purchase wait period for all guns to 72 hours and to institute a death penalty for cop killers.
In 2005, after a federal ban on assault weapons ended a year earlier, state Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago, sponsored a bill to ban semiautomatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50-caliber rifles and cap magazines at 10 rounds, similar to this year’s bill. But the bill failed after getting only 57 of the 60 votes needed.
* Capitol News | Bills target pawnbrokers for tighter rate limits: Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus are pushing legislation to put pawnbrokers under the same interest rate caps as payday lenders and other small-dollar, short-term lenders, but the pawn shop industry says the proposed caps would effectively put them out of business.
* Tribune | Gen Z in the House: Two young lawmakers joining Illinois General Assembly: Syed, a Democrat from Chicago’s suburbs, and Fritts, a Republican from Dixon, don’t share the same positions on many issues. She’s for abortion access; he opposes it. He stands against gun rights restrictions; she supports a ban on high-capacity guns and new regulations.
* Illinois Times | Mike Coffey to fill Butler’s House seat: “Saputo’s is a special place. It’s the only place where you could have the speaker of the House, the president of the Senate, the minority leader, the majority leader and every statewide official, all in the same building at the same time,” he said. “So, we’ve been very fortunate to have all different kinds of politicians and every walk of life come in. That’s always been our forte, to welcome anybody that wants to come into the restaurant.”
* WCIA | Legislators, union push for house visit reform on anniversary of fatal DCFS caseworker stabbing: In the past year, the Illinois General Assembly has pushed for more protections for DCFS workers. They passed a law allowing caseworkers to carry pepper spray while on duty and offered continuing insurance coverage for the families of seven case workers who died while on the job. But many Illinois lawmakers don’t think those steps are enough.
* Crain’s | A wind farm in Lake Michigan? A bill in Springfield proposes it.: Under the measure sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, the state would authorize construction of a pilot wind farm several miles from shore that would be capable of producing 150 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 75,000 homes. The House sponsor of the bill is Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago.
* WREX | Illinois Supreme Court won’t have final ruling on Pretrial Fairness Act until March at the earliest: Here are the dates that were laid out in the filing: Record on appeal: Friday, January 20, 2023. Defendants-appellants’ opening brief: Thursday, January 26, 2023. Plaintiffs-appellees’ response brief: Friday, February 17, 2023. Defendants-appellants’ reply brief: Monday, February 27, 2023. Oral argument: In the March 2023 calendar.
* Shaw Local | Voters lose say in General Assembly appointments: Not all legislative vacancies are created equally. Wednesday’s column examined the process of replacing state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, who won reelection but then announced a retirement, opening his 53rd District seat for two years. There’s a chance his replacement is a sitting House member, potentially triggering another appointment process.
* Triibe | The Chicago lien system is freezing my mother out of her home: Liens are like getting parking tickets from the city and not being able to renew your registration. The difference is, instead of not being able to renew her registration, she cannot get a loan to fix her house — specifically, the heat. There are some old fines for things like uncut weeds on a vacant lot she owns and other repairs on her current house that have long since been fixed.
* Crain’s | How will Illinois spend its opioid settlement windfall?: Illinois is set to collect about $760 million from some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors over their role in the devastating opioid crisis, an influx of cash that will likely spark debates over how and where to spend it in years to come.
Champaign County Democratic Party Chair Mike Ingram said his desire to be appointed to a vacant Illinois Senate seat is his “dream.”
But the wife-and-husband political team of Carol and Aaron Ammons contend that he and others are trying to deny a “strong Black woman” what she’s due.
That’s the latest in the increasingly incendiary back-and-forth among the people who are seeking to fill the vacancy for the 52nd District seat created by the recent death of Democratic Sen. Scott Bennett. […]
In a statement issued Monday night, Carol Ammons said denying her the post would be an insult to “African-American women” who “are the base of the Democratic Party and are disrespected and disregarded by the Democratic Party on a regular basis.”
Meanwhile, Aaron Ammons, Champaign County’s clerk and recorder, issued a separate statement Tuesday that contends that the appointment issue is a matter of race. He said the community will “find out soon if we have real allies in our movements” or whether “we have to battle this new generation of whites for the same reasons our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents battled before us.”
Dey also mentioned that Rep. Ammons filed paperwork with the state converting her House campaign committee to a Senate committee, which I told subscribers about earlier today.
Ahead of tonight’s meeting to discuss her late husband’s successor, Stacy Bennett today weighed in on the field of 10.
While making clear she’s not endorsing a single candidate, Bennett mentioned four candidates that her late husband would have liked for the “integrity, and valuable experience and perspectives” they’d bring to the senate “while also listening to and representing the entire district.”
Rep. Carol Ammons was not on the list. Two, however, were Black women, but only one of those was an applicant: Gianina Baker.
For the first time, retail pharmacies, from corner drugstores to major chains like CVS and Walgreens, will be allowed to offer abortion pills in the United States under a regulatory change made Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration. The action could significantly expand access to abortion through medication.
Until now, mifepristone — the first pill used in the two-drug medication abortion regimen — could be dispensed only by a few mail-order pharmacies or by specially certified doctors or clinics. Under the new F.D.A. rules, patients will still need a prescription from a certified health care provider, but any pharmacy that agrees to accept those prescriptions and abide by certain other criteria can dispense the pills in its stores and by mail order.
The Food and Drug Administration just broadened access to abortion pills, but a patchwork of state laws after Roe v. Wade was overturned could limit its availability to some women.
A limited availability of the medication isn’t an issue in Illinois, however, where abortion remains legal even after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer. Illinois lawmakers – including Gov. J.B. Pritzker have vowed to protect reproductive rights for women intact. In 2019, state lawmakers enacted abortion rights legislation and the Illinois State Supreme Court recognized a woman’s right to have an abortion as a constitutional right under state guidelines. […]
Planned Parenthood of Illinois began offering the abortion pill by mail last May, which means women can now access the care they need. The Planned Parenthood of Illinois website says that the abortion pill is a safe and effective way of ending an early pregnancy up to 10 weeks.
To qualify for the abortion pill-by-mail, patients must be 10 weeks pregnant or less. Patients must also have an Illinois address and be physically in Illinois at the time of their telehealth appointment.
CVS Health and Walgreens are determining how to navigate the FDA’s rule change.
“We’re reviewing the FDA’s updated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program for mifepristone to determine the requirements to dispense in states that do not restrict the dispensing of medications prescribed for elective termination of pregnancy,” a CVS spokesperson said.
Walgreens also emphasized it would align with state and federal laws.
Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
* Related…
* Illinois News Bureau | Implicit bias prevents women from obtaining prompt treatment for health problems: Those in the study described prolonged struggles to obtain emotional support, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of serious, often-painful health conditions – including cancer, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease, as well as mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety that were exacerbated by others’ negative reactions, said Charee Thompson, the first author of the study and a professor of communication at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
* NPR | Many ERs offer minimal care for miscarriage. One group wants that to change: In many emergency departments, expectant management has long been the only option made available. But now, amid the legal uncertainty unleashed by the fall of Roe, Prager and colleagues say they’ve been inundated with inquiries from emergency departments across the country. Doctors in states that have since criminalized abortion face stiff penalties, including felony charges, prison time, and the loss of their medical license and livelihoods.
* WaPo | Corporate America Thrives Where Abortion Is Protected: “Healthy workers are more productive,” Raimondo said during a Zoom interview after accompanying President Joe Biden to the building site in Phoenix last week for a new computer chip plant for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. “They show up every day, on time, ready to work - so I think states that provide better access to health care enable a more productive workforce.”
* Six months to the day after the Highland Park massacre, the Daily Herald reports at length on some of the shooting victims. Here’s a very small excerpt…
Liz Turnipseed and her husband, Ian, had been hyping the Highland Park parade for weeks to their 3-year-old daughter, Sonia, who’d spent much of her life in lockdown because of the pandemic.
Their excitement, though, quickly turned to horror on the parade route.
In a moment that “felt like a sonic boom,” Liz Turnipseed, 41, was spun around and thrown to the ground as a bullet struck her in the pelvis.
“I wasn’t knocked out, but I was on the ground and trying to get up,” she said. “And then there was unbearable, sharp, burning pain.”
She immediately looked for her daughter but saw only an overturned stroller. It’s an image that still haunts her.
Her panic eased when she saw her husband holding Sonia. Unable to walk, and with gunfire still raging, Turnipseed told her husband to leave her behind and get Sonia to safety.
…Adding… Protect Illinois Communities has a new TV ad on the assault weapons ban…
Script…
We can save lives right now. But to make a real difference, a new gun safety law must include three things. First, ban the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Second, require assault weapons to be certified to reduce gun violence. And third, reduce the number of high-capacity magazines in circulation to prevent mass shootings. Tell your legislators: it’s time to take a stand. Pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act now.
* Giannoulias release…
CHICAGO,IL - Illinois Secretary of State-Elect Alexi Giannoulias today announced several senior staff members who will assist in leading his administration.
“I’m proud to announce an executive team that brings immense talent, strong experience and diverse perspectives from both the public and private sectors,” Giannoulias said. “These individuals represent an exemplary group of leaders who will assist in implementing an ambitious agenda that Illinoisans elected me to accomplish.”
In December, Giannoulias announced that Hanah Jubeh and Scott Burnham will both hold the title of Deputy Secretary of State when he takes office on January 9.
The latest appointments include:
Kathleen Nelson, Chief of Staff
Kathleen has spent her career in senior level private industry and public sector positions in law, finance, real estate and government. Most recently, she was employed at Cushman & Wakefield representing clients on industrial, office and retail assignments. Prior to joining Cushman, Kathleen served as the Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Ziegler Capital Management. The bulk of Kathleen’s career was spent with the City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development where she held mayoral appointed positions, including First Deputy Commissioner and Managing Deputy Commissioner. Prior to working with the City, Kathleen worked as a litigation attorney specializing in tort and contract law.
Sheleda Doss, Chief Deputy/Downstate Operations
Sheleda serves as chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) where she develops the agency’s long- and short-term plans and goals and acts as an advisor to the Secretary. Previously, Sheleda was the Chief Operating Officer for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and acted as the principal agency-wide policy advisor and provided oversight for the operations and strategy integration. She also held the title of Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs under State Treasurer Mike Frerichs from 2015 to 2019. A Springfield native, Sheleda began her public service career as legislative liaison in the office of then State Treasurer Giannoulias in 2008.
Aileen Kim, Chief Deputy/Public Programs
Aileen most recently served as a Special Advisor to the Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education, where she oversaw the execution of priority projects and initiatives that advanced the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration. Prior to her work at the Department, Aileen worked at Tusk Philanthropies/Tusk Strategies and Civitas Public Affairs Group where she developed and managed advocacy and electoral campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, early-stage tech startups, foundations and philanthropists, and non-profit organizations in states across the country. She returns to public service in Illinois after having begun her career as District Director for State Representative John D’Amico.
Aimee Pine, Chief Deputy/Administrative Operations
Aimee is an executive level human resources and operations professional with over 20 years of experience in government, political and non-profit sectors. From 2014 through 2022, Aimee served as the Chief Operating Officer for Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Prior to that, she worked as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff for Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon. Aimee also worked as the Director of External Affairs, Scheduling and Special Projects when Giannoulias served as Treasurer from 2007 to 2011. She is skilled in strategic planning, and can integrate policy positions involving employee, operational, community, and political issues.
Lashaunna D. Sims-Davis (Shaunna), Chief Deputy/External Affairs
Shaunna previously held the role of Director of Community Development Initiatives for the University of Chicago where she was responsible for community economic development efforts near campus. Shaunna was also the Deputy Procurement Officer at the City of Chicago, developing relationships through targeted outreach and increasing awareness of various incentives and programs. In addition, she served as the Political Director to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, worked in the Mayor’s Office of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs, serving as a primary contact between the City Council and the administration, assisting in legislative affairs and working with the elected officials.
Vanessa Uribe, Chief Deputy/Driver’s-Vehicles Services
Vanessa most recently served as Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the state’s lead economic development agency, playing an integral role in the execution of pandemic- relief small business grants and the inaugural launch of the state’s cannabis social equity loan program. As Deputy Director of the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment, she led efforts to increase access to resources and opportunities for an inclusive and equitable business ecosystem. Prior to DCEO, Vanessa managed strategic initiatives for Cook County’s Bureau of Economic Development, including nationally recognized public-private partnerships and special programs like the 2020 Census, and oversaw the national affiliate network for Unidos US.
A measure that Illinois winemakers are looking to get passed in the lame-duck session of the Illinois General Assembly is designed to reduce the annual wine manufacturers’ fee back to the pre-COVID amount.
Senate Bill 1001 would reduce the wine manufacturers’ fee from $1,250 to its previous amount of $750 annually, which was in place before the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure passed the Illinois Senate last year but has yet to pass the House. Lame duck session begins Wednesday and ends Jan. 10.
State Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, told The Center Square that lawmakers are working to provide winemakers some relief.
“The winegrowers got swept up in something they did not mean to get swept up in,” Zalewski said. “This is meant to ease the burden on them a little bit. I think we increased fees for a broad range of alcohol growers, and we did not mean for that to be the case.”
* Press release…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker visited the Carole Robertson Center for Learning in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago to highlight historic investments in early childhood education under his administration. The Governor was joined by Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Senator Celina Villanueva, and Representative Camille Lilly.
“Since day one of my administration, one of my top priorities has been making Illinois the best place to live and raise a family,” said Governor Pritzker. “The expansion of our childhood care and education programs is honoring that pledge and setting up our youngest Illinoisans for a successful lifetime of learning. One of the most fiscally responsible investments that we can make is to focus our dollars on our youngest children. This leads to higher graduation rates, higher college attendance rates, greater lifetime earnings, and greater overall wellbeing.”
During his administration, Governor Pritzker has committed the largest amount in Illinois history to expanding and improving early childhood education across Illinois. Throughout the last year, Illinois has expanded its continued investments in the state’s early childhood care and education system in the following ways:
• Extending and expanding the Strengthen and Grow Child Care (SGCC) grant program through July 2023. These grants provide funding for eligible childcare centers and homes.
• Extending the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility for job seekers through June 2023.
• Enabling more families to access Child Care Assistance Program Benefits than ever before by lowering income thresholds and expanding benefits.
• Launching the “I Got Love/¡Siento Amor!”—a statewide enrollment campaign for childcare and early education services.
• Increasing access to healthy food options in schools across the state, providing Illinois children with the well-rounded, nutritious meals vital to a healthy learning environment.
• Enacting the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to evaluate and redesign the delivery of behavioral health services for children and adolescents throughout Illinois.
Increasing access to healthy food options in schools across the state, providing Illinois children with the well-rounded, nutritious meals vital to a healthy learning environment.
Enacting the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to evaluate and redesign the delivery of behavioral health services for children and adolescents throughout Illinois.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that he is “comfortable and confident” a state law ending cash bail that was set to take effect New Year’s Day is constitutional despite a court ruling to the contrary, but that supporters will “come back at it” if the lower court ruling stands. […]
Pritzker on Wednesday said he anticipates a decision “sometime in the next few months.”
While the governor said he and the lawmakers who voted for the law believe it is constitutional, they will “come back at it” if the high court rules otherwise.
* Crain’s | Chicago, suburbs will combine economic development pitch: In an unusual display of regional unity, top elected officials from the metropolitan area today are scheduled to announce a new, joint effort to spur economic development in the Chicago metro area. Officials including Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy are unveiling what’s being billed as an initiative to improve the region’s global competitiveness by presenting a common pitch to the outside world, rather than competing with each other.
* Daily Herald opinion | If only there were more like Jesse White in Illinois government: To refer to Jesse White as Illinois’ longest-running secretary of state feels like a disservice to a man who has lived more lives and done more things than many of us could dream of. His 24 years as secretary of state is but the latest chapter in a remarkable life — but certainly not the last.
* Tribune | Twitter says it will relax ban on political advertising: “We also plan to expand the political advertising we permit in the coming weeks,” the company said from its Twitter Safety account. Twitter banned all political advertising in 2019, reacting to growing concern about misinformation spreading on social media.
* Vox | The ultrarich are getting cozy in America’s tax havens at everyone else’s expense: Illinois’ flat income tax is one example of a regressive state tax system, in which the tax burden decreases the richer someone is. They are designed for the benefit of the wealthy — and sometimes by the wealthy — at the expense of low- and middle-income taxpayers.
* Tribune | Former mayor candidate Ray Lopez throws support behind Willie Wilson for Chicago’s top job: “He will be a mayor that respects and unites ethnic neighborhoods all across Chicago,” Lopez said. Lopez had announced his own bid for mayor but was unable to match some of his rivals in fundraising and ended up filing to run for reelection to the Southwest Side 15th Ward seat he’s held for two terms. Lopez is a loud supporter of Chicago Police and has been criticized for harsh rhetoric on crime.
* Daily Herald | Bears subsidy critic tossed from Arlington Heights ballot: An Arlington Heights village board candidate who is a critic of possible public subsidies for the Chicago Bears was tossed from the ballot Tuesday, making the April 4 trustee race uncontested. Martin Bauer didn’t have the required number of signatures on his nominating petitions to run in the spring election, the village’s electoral board ruled, after three separate but similar objections to Bauer’s candidacy were filed.
* Daily Journal | Daily Journal alters daily service: Beginning the week of Jan. 9, the Journal will publish and provide a printed newspaper for its readers on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, meaning the newspaper will provide an e-edition-only newspaper on Tuesday and Thursday.
* Patch | At Least 6 Tornadoes Hit Central Illinois Tuesday: The National Weather Service on Tuesday evening issued tornado warnings throughout Central Illinois, where winds reached speeds of more than 40 mph and produced penny-sized hail in some areas. Reports indicated that tornadoes started moving through the Decatur area shortly after 5 p.m. and several nearby communities were expected to be affected in rapid succession.
* Crain’s | This brash real estate investor helped convict Tony Rezko. Now, he’s in bankruptcy.: The filing represents a new low in the roller-coaster life of a fast-talking dealmaker who bragged last year that he had amassed a net worth of $150 million since his 2017 release from federal prison. But some of his real estate investments have soured over the past year or so, including a former hospital in Elgin and an apartment development in St. Paul, Minn.
* Chicago Tribune story earlier this year about a University of Chicago Crime Lab analysis done for the Chicago Police Department…
Patrol officer counts included a table that showed how many patrol officers in each district responded to 15 or more calls in one month that was examined. A response was counted when an officer reported that they were answering a 911 call or other dispatched events, such as a ShotSpotter alert.
For all districts combined, the number of officers responding to 15 or more calls per month was 3,000. There are 11,500 sworn officers in the department, with most assigned to patrol.
So, if that’s accurate, about 74 percent of all CPD officers are responding to 14 or fewer 911 calls per month.
Citywide, the wait for an officer to be dispatched topped an hour for more than 21,000 calls [in 2022], according to the city’s data. That was roughly 1 of every 24 high-priority calls.
So, that means there were 504,000 priority 911 calls in 2022, which works out to roughly 44 for each Chicago police officer, on average. And yet, there were massive wait times for some high-priority 911 calls.
The basic premise of both Tribune stories is that CPD isn’t properly allocating personnel, an argument echoed elsewhere…
The interim commission that oversees the Chicago Police Department released an analysis [in November] that found the department is not using its $1.94 billion budget “effectively or equitably” because it lacks “a long-term, data-driven strategy to reduce violence.”
The 16-page report was the first action of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability after it finally launched at the end of August, more than eight months behind schedule. […]
“Our spending on public safety is not delivering the results our communities need,” wrote commission President Anthony Driver in a letter to the City Council. “We need to spend better and more strategically. Workforce allocation problems also create untenable and unacceptable work conditions for Chicago police officers. They deserve better.”
Busloads of people were getting ready Tuesday night to head to the Illinois State Capitol this week.
They want to urge lawmakers to take action on a bill that would ban semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. But those fighting against that bill are already promising legal action.
As CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov reported, this is the latest version of a bill that went nowhere for years. Another bill banning so-called assault-style weapons languished in the Rules Committee for a year.
But the Highland Park July 4th parade massacre renewed a push to pass the law. And now, hundreds of doctors from hospitals, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, are involved in the fight.
“We don’t want to see this anymore,” said Dr. Selwyn Rogers.
Dr. Rogers is the leading trauma surgeon at the University of Chicago Medical Center emergency room. He is one of more than 300 Chicago area doctors who have signed a letter urging state lawmakers to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act. […]
“I think the fact that physicians are actually willing to sign this letter is a strong testament to the fact that we’ve had enough as physicians,” Rogers said.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Physicians and faith leaders are calling on Illinois legislators to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which would ban assault weapons. “We have witnessed firsthand the trauma that gun violence inflicts on communities and families across our state,” some 350 doctors said in a signed letter to lawmakers who are meeting this week in Springfield for a lame duck session addressing the assault weapons legislation. “We do not have to live like this,” the letter continues.
Sigh.
* Anyway, from a press release…
Today, dozens of multi-denominational faith leaders congregated at the Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church to express their support for a ban on both assault weapons and high capacity magazines and urge legislators to vote yes on the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church, located in East Garfield Park, is just a few blocks from where a mass shooting took place in October 2022, when 14 people were wounded and one died.
“Bright futures and innocent lives are continuously being gunned down,” said Reverend Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church in Austin. “Rifles, AK-47s and combat weapons should not be in the hands of ordinary citizens.”
At the press conference, Pastor Cornelius Parks of the Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church, Reverend Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church, Reverend Marshall Hatch of New Mount Pilgrim Church, Reverend Janette Wilson of Rainbow PUSH, Rabbi Ike Serotta of Lakeside Congregation of Reform Judaism, Pastor John Edgerton of the First United Church of Oak Park, Bishop Simon Gordon of the Triedstone Church of Chicago, Imam Abdullah Madhyun of Masjid Al Ihsan, and Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church all spoke about the urgency of passing the Protect Illinois Communities Act to save lives.
“High capacity magazines have no use but as weapons of war—they make our streets a battleground and have no place in our state,” stated Pastor John Edgerton, the president of the Community of Congregation and Pastor of First United Church of Oak Park.
Additionally today, over 75 faith leaders released a letter calling on legislators to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act. In the letter, they write, “While we may practice different faiths, we are united in keeping our communities free and safe from weapons of war that have no place in our schools, houses of worship, movie theaters, playgrounds, or streets.” […]
A poll released by Everytown for Gun Safety last month demonstrated that these gun safety measures have widespread support across the state. Overall, 52% of Illinoisans believe gun laws in Illinois should be stronger, including nearly three quarters of Black voters and 56% of Hispanic voters. A ban on assault weapons has the support of 58% of Illinoisans.
Todd Vandermyde, a long time gun-owner rights advocate, said on his YouTube channel opponents of the measure don’t plan to negotiate on what kinds of guns to ban.
“You’re just educating them on how to build a better mousetrap,” Vandermyde said. “The broader it is, the more heinous it is, the more all-encompassing it is, the easier it’s going to be to kill in court.”
In the fight against climate change, national goals are facing local resistance. [Piatt County, Illinois] scheduled 19 nights of meetings to debate one wind farm [in Monticello]. […]
In the fight against global warming, the federal government is pumping a record $370 billion into clean energy, President Biden wants the nation’s electricity to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2035, and many states and utilities plan to ramp up wind and solar power.
But while policymakers may set lofty goals, the future of the American power grid is in fact being determined in town halls, county courthouses and community buildings across the country. […]
In Piatt County, population 16,000, the project at issue is Goose Creek Wind, which has been proposed by Apex Clean Energy, a developer of wind and solar farms based in Virginia. Apex spent years negotiating leases with 151 local landowners and trying to win over the community, donating to the 4-H Club and a mental health center. […]
The website of a group called Save Piatt County!, which opposes the project, is rife with fallacies about renewable energy and inaccuracies about climate science. On Facebook pages, residents opposed to the project shared negative stories about wind power, following a playbook that has been honed in recent years by anti-wind activists, some of whom have ties to the fossil fuel industry. The organizers of the website and Facebook groups did not reply to requests for comment. […]
A few miles down the road is Gallagher Farms, another multigenerational operation. Like Mr. Bragg, Ms. Gallagher, 34, believes in climate change. She has invested in cover crops, which absorb carbon and lock it away in the soil, and other regenerative agriculture practices.
But Ms. Gallagher is opposed to the project. The aerial seeding of cover crops will cost more with wind turbines nearby and make it harder for her to sustainably farm. The use of heavy equipment to install turbines can disrupt drainage patterns in agricultural land, and Ms. Gallagher believes her farm will suffer.
The General Assembly must take swift legislative action to defend CEJA and stop these bad-faith attack campaigns before it’s too late. There is a bill before the legislature during this “lame duck” session, which starts today.
Please help us build support to end these bans by asking your legislators to support legislation that does the following:
• removes overburdensome local bans and siting regulations
• keeps intact and prioritizes protections for endangered species and natural areas
• encourages good conservation practices at utility-scale clean energy sites
At Least 15 Counties have Effectively Banned or Significantly Hindered Renwables
This ordinance adopted by the Moultrie County Board on May 12, 2022 killed at least two wind projects in the planning stages and prevents others from even being contemplated.
A letter from a Moultrie County farm owner in support is here.
* The Question: Regardless of this particular bill, should there be statewide siting standards for wind and solar farms?
“Crime is out of control, and combative leadership is failing us.”
Paul Vallas will put crime and your safety first.
“I’ll work with every community in every part of our city to confront our crime problem. Hold department leadership accountable, put more police on our streets and public transportation, open schools after hours to ensure young Chicagoans have safe alternatives to gangs and violence. And I’ll bring people together to get it done.”
Paul Vallas, crime and your safety is his top priority.
Crime is Chicago’s biggest problem, and Paul Vallas is a lifelong Democrat who puts crime and your safety first. As city budget director he made public safety a priority, helping grow the police department to record levels. Crime came down. Later, Vallas advised President Obama’s Department of Justice on needed criminal justice reforms. And when Mayor Lightfoot and our police were at odds, Vallas led negotiations that got an agreement no one thought possible. Paul Vallas. The difference? He puts crime and you’re safety first.
Brandon Johnson has a plan to make Chicago safer. Grow Chicago businesses and create jobs. Brandon’s plan will improve public schools for all of our kids. For mayor, Brandon Johnson is better for Chicago.
What do we really know about Chuy Garcia? Chuy secretly talked with this crypto crook who stole his customer’s life savings. Then spent a fortune to reelect Garcia. Chuy cut deals to help himself with the since-indicted Mike Madigan. Even while the disgraced speaker faced a federal corruption investigation. And Chuy took money from a red light camera company just hours before he delivered the deciding vote that made the company millions. Crypto crooks, indicted pals and pay to play profiteers. The more you know, the worse it gets.
* Crain’s | Here’s who gets more than $300 million in local congressional earmarks: The biggest chunk of funding was secured by the state’s two senators, Democrats Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, who released a joint list of accomplishments. “This appropriations package makes significant investments in the future of Illinois,” Durbin said in a statement. “Our state and nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s what this bipartisan funding agreement does.”
* WTAX | Raoul v fake reviews: If we’re talking about fake product reviews, the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says, “Zero Stars – Would Not Recommend.” Raoul says the Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general around the country are taking some online sellers to court. One would be Roomster, a web site which charges a fee for access to rentals and other housing-related listings. Raoul says people rely on such reviews to make online buying decisions.
* Crain’s | Reilly to run unopposed, again, after challenger withdraws: Reilly’s lone opponent in the race, Chris Cleary, withdrew from the ballot amid a petition challenge in late December, according to the Chicago Board of Ethics. Cleary did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
* WCIA | Life expectancy rate in Illinois ranks in middle among other states : Illinois’s life expectancy rate is 76.8 years in 2020, down from 79 years in 2019 and 78.8 in 2018. The state falls in a similar range to a few other states, including Texas, Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
