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Campaign notebook

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Then again, he’s flip-flopped a lot since the primary…


* The IEA endorsed the Republican candidate for secretary of state…

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) Board of Directors recommended five candidates for the state’s constitutional offices.

The IEA board is made up of 93 IEA members from throughout the state of Illinois and the board made its decision at its monthly meeting Saturday in Springfield.

The candidates who have been recommended are:

    • Governor: JB Pritzker, Democrat
    • Secretary of State: Dan Brady, Republican
    • Attorney General: Kwame Raoul, Democrat
    • Treasurer: Mike Frerichs, Democrat
    • Comptroller: Susana Mendoza, Democrat

“The decision to recommend candidates is one made by IEA members,” said Kathi Griffin, IEA president. “We are an organization that is run by its members and our recommendation process is indicative of this. We have always been proud to be a bipartisan organization that makes its decisions based on what is best for public education in Illinois. We believe this slate of candidates reflects those beliefs.”

* Crain’s

Within an hour of becoming governor, Pritzker said [in a speech today to the Laborers’ Union] he issued an order mandating the use of PLAs. Now, Illinois has 800 of them, “more PLAs than the other 49 states combined.”

PLAs indeed raise wages but also raise costs on taxpayers who end up footing the bill, responded Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch. PLAs also can require workers to pay dues that end up going for political causes they may not support and drive up pension costs, Maisch said. “PLAs are not good for taxpayers.” […]

“The average Illinois family pays more than $2,000 in taxes and fees today than when Pritzker took office,” [Darren Bailey] said in a statement that did not break down that figure, but referenced in part gasoline and other hikes passed as part of the governor’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program. […]

Bailey notably did not attack PLAs. They mostly cover workers in the building trades unions, many of whom traditionally vote Republican.

* Bailey is now giving exclusive statements to Breitbart

Following Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s call to send Illinois Republican candidate Darren Bailey “back to the farm,” the Republican nominee fired back, calling on the Democrat mayor to get off her “elitist high horse” and “remember who puts food on your plate.”

In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News on Sunday, state senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, who is a third-generation farmer, stated his intention to “restore” the Prairie State in light of the “mess” created by Democrat leaders.

“Mayor Lightfoot, I’ll go back to my farm after I clean up the mess you and [Gov.] J. B. Pritzker made and restore Illinois,” he said.

“In the meantime, get off your elitist high horse and remember who puts food on your plate,” he added.

* Catalina Lauf is one of the Latina candidates here…


* Sneed

Sneed hears via a top source the likely site for the 2024 Democratic National Convention is becoming a battle between Chicago and New York.

And it’s looking more and more likely the event will come to Chicago, according to the Sneed source. […]

The Buckshot: The big problem overshadowing Chicago and New York: public safety and mayors who have been unable to tamp crime down!

“Crime may be increasing in New York; but Chicago’s crime has had the biggest national impact news-wise,” said the source with both feet in DNC doings in both cities. “It’s the proverbial fly in the ointment,” the source added.

* Crain’s

Already, nearly 50,000 voters in DuPage–a one-time GOP stronghold that has turned purple–have registered to vote by mail every election, Kaczmarek said. That’s almost one in 10.

Meanwhile, a new round of election skepticism has hit the state board. According to Dietrich, callers and emailers “believe we are selling their (registration) information to Rock the Vote,” a left-leaning group that appeals to young people. The board has neither sold nor given any information to Rock the Vote, Dietrich says.

  41 Comments      


Question of the day

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

The Illinois State Fair has released estimated attendance totals for 2022. Over 636,700 visitors walked through the gates this year making it the highest attended fair since industry attendance calculation were put into effect, beating previous records also set under the Pritzker administration. Weekend attendance during the fair saw an increase of nearly 95,000 people over 2021.

The high attendance numbers are also reflected by the over $6.4 million in estimated revenue. While the 2022 estimated revenue figures appear to have fallen just short of the 2019 record of $6.5 million, it is important to point out that these are estimated figures. Percentage-based vendors have yet to begin their payment. It should also be noted two Illinois State Fair events generally held during the fair, the Illinois State Fair Rodeo and the Bettenhausen 100 will be held at later dates in 2022, adding to the overall revenue numbers.

“Once again, the Illinois State Fair was a resounding success,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the leadership of Director Costello and Fair Manager Clark, thousands of Illinoisans and people throughout the nation descended upon Springfield for eleven days of exciting exhibits, delicious food, and community fun—all while honoring our state’s legacy of strong agricultural traditions. To every attendee: thank you for making the Illinois State Fair a part of your summer. Until next year!”

“The record attendance proves that the Illinois State Fair is more than an event, it’s also a reunion for residents from every region to gather and enjoy the businesses, exhibits, food and entertainment that make our state diverse and a great place to live,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “Thank you to all those who put in the work to make the Illinois State Fair amazing, and a must-do experience every year.”

A grandstand revenue record was set in 2022, with over $2.3 million coming in for the nine shows. 2022 eclipses the previous record of over $2.2 million set in 2019. Overall, tickets sold this year for the Illinois Lottery Grandstand came in fourth out of the last five years with 48,104.

“We were blessed with 11 days of great weather, which meant large crowds and even larger smiles for our fairgoers,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “While it is great to have these amazing numbers, it was even better seeing so many people enjoying the Illinois State Fair. We now get back to work planning for 2023 and we hope to see you all back again.”

The 2023 Illinois State Fair is set to run August 11-21.

* The Question: Who would you like to see the Illinois State Fair book at the Grandstand next year? Explain.

  17 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update and supplement to today’s edition

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Your feel-good story of the day

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Pantagraph

When Mexican immigrant Jesus Garza in 2021 became mayor of Arcola, a downstate Illinois city of just under 3,000 people, it caught the attention of more than just folks inside the heart of Illinois’ Amish country.

Garza’s triumph in the conservative community, which overwhelmingly voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020, was highlighted in an extensive Chicago Tribune profile last October.

Among those who read it was Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a Chicagoan who herself is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, not to mention the first Latina elected to her current office.

“The last person we ever thought would be mayor of the city of Arcola would be a Mexican immigrant,” Mendoza said. “So it was such an endearing story, and I’m like, ‘I have to meet this guy.’”

* WCIA

When Garza mentioned that brighter street lights in downtown Arcola could help deter crime, Mendoza connected him with Ameren President Richard Mark, who had his crews install new streetlights.

When Garza mentioned that his small police department could use an additional squad car, Mendoza started looking for one.

“They only have a very small police force and they don’t have a lot of vehicles, they have four vehicles for the police department,” Mendoza said. “If they had an extra vehicle, that might help be able to bring another police officer onto the streets.”

Mendoza’s search led her to call [Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico] to see if he had any squad cars the town was decommissioning. He didn’t have just one; he had two.

“She only told me once, but I remembered,” Serpico said. “We’ve been friends for 20 years. She was kind enough to walk the precincts of Melrose Park with me during my first mayoral campaign and I’ve never forgotten her generosity. The people of Melrose Park are happy to help the people of Arcola.”

* WAND

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza coordinated a donation, of a police car and city vehicle, from Melrose Park to Arcola.

“The town of Arcola is lucky to have such a hardworking and dedicated public servant in Mayor Garza,” Comptroller Mendoza explained. […]

Garza came from Mexico to the United States. He worked in a broom factory with his father, before an Arcola entrepreneur took a chance on him. The man sent Garza to college to learn business and how to open up his own auto mechanic shop.

Over the years, Garza became more involved in his community- first as a businessman, and then last year as mayor.

* Mendoza press release excerpt…

“How perfect that on Mexican Independence Day, we celebrate the first Mexican immigrant mayor of Arcola, not just because he’s Mexican but because he’s delivering great services, and he’s such a nice guy. Everyone loves him here,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “They didn’t elect him because he’s Mexican. We’re just proud – I am at least. I’m going to do everything I can, not just to help the mayor but to help all his constituents because they are my constituents. Whatever I can do to help people, whether it’s within the purview of my office or through the relationships I’ve built in 20 years of service, today, we get to see the fruits of those labors.”

Garza and Arcola’s police officers were very happy with the new squad cars, a 2009 white Ford Expedition SUV and a 2013 black Ford Taurus.

“We’re so happy to have these police cars,” Mayor Garza said. “The goal is to keep everybody safe, make sure there’s no vandalism. We work together on that. Getting these lights, these cars, are all helping with that.”

  23 Comments      


Sterigenics hit with massive damages award

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

Sterigenics, its parent company and a corporate predecessor should pay $363 million in damages for exposing a Willowbrook woman and thousands of others to cancer-causing ethylene oxide pollution, a Cook County jury decided Monday.

After a five-week trial and a day of deliberations, the jury decided breast-cancer survivor Sue Kamuda should get $38 million from the companies. Jurors imposed another $325 million in punitive damages as punishment for decades of toxic air pollution that drifted into neighborhoods near a former Willowbrook sterilization facility.

Sterigenics should pay $220 million, parent company Sotera Health $100 million and Griffith Foods $5 million, the jury decided. […]

Sterigenics closed the plant in 2019 under pressure from community groups, local officials, state lawmakers, members of Congress and Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who at one point that year banned the company from using ethylene oxide.

* Sun-Times

The company also neglected to install safeguards in the Willowbrook facility that could have captured the harmful gases, [plaintiff’s attorney Patrick Salvi II] said. He said the company had those safeguard controls in other facilities across the country but not in Willowbrook.

“If they wanted to protect the community, they would’ve acted on those warnings,” Salvi said. “They would’ve had those controls in place.”

Salvi shared documents dating to the 1980s that showed the defendant companies knew about the harms of ethylene oxide and their alleged attempts to hide those affects from regulators including the Illinois EPA.

He claimed Sterigenics released gas at levels thousands of times above the limits government scientists agreed were safe.

* ABC7

Kamuda has said she does not have any history of cancer in her family and didn’t know Sterigenics was releasing the chemical.

Lawyers for the company argued that there is no scientific evidence to support that.

However, the facility was permanently closed in 2019.

The company is facing hundreds of lawsuits.

* But this is from a couple of years ago

The plaintiffs and their attorneys said Sterigenics is trying to escape having to pay those alleged financial burdens.

They claim the company has funneled $1.3 billion to investors over the last three years. They say they then borrowed cash from banks using the company as collateral, which means if the plaintiffs win in court they would have to get in line behind the banks to get paid.

…Adding… Press release…

Below please find a statement from Sterigenics in response to the jury verdict in the Kamuda trial. This can be attributed to the company or a spokesperson for the company.

“We do not believe the jury verdict in this matter reflects the evidence presented in court. Sterigenics is evaluating the verdict and plans to challenge this decision through all appropriate process, including appeals. We will continue to vigorously defend against allegations about our ethylene oxide operations and emissions. We remain committed to our mission of Safeguarding Global Health. As we have consistently done throughout our history, we will continue to operate in compliance with applicable rules and regulations to ensure the safety of our employees, the communities in which we operate and patients around the world.”

…Adding… Sen. Curran…

Today a Cook County jury awarded a $363 million judgement to the first plaintiff who went to trial seeking damages from Sterigenics, its parent company, and corporate predecessor, for knowingly emitting lethal levels of ethylene oxide into the air near her home. In the ruling, jurors found that Sterigenics is responsible for the breast cancer developed by plaintiff Susan Kamuda, and the non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma developed by her child. In response to the large verdict, State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) issued the following statement:

“This is just the first of 762 cases that are currently pending against Sterigenics, and the size of this verdict validates the belief that the cancer cluster in the Willowbrook area is a direct result of toxins released into the atmosphere by Sterigenics. What we suspected all along, and what has now been found by a jury, is that Sterigenics was a bad actor that turned a blind eye to the fact that they were slowly poisoning the residents who lived in the vicinity of their facility.

“This is an astounding verdict that puts facilities that deal with potentially harmful chemicals on notice. Environmental protections must be sufficient to protect nearby property owners, and regular testing and responses to testing data must be prioritized. While no amount of money can truly compensate the victims who have suffered greatly, I applaud and thank Ms. Kamuda for the courage she displays in fighting to hold Sterigenics accountable for their reckless conduct.”

  15 Comments      


Caption contest!

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Now-deleted Facebook photo of 48th House District Republican candidate Jennifer Sanalitro on January 6, 2021…

From Sanalitro…

I visited Washington for the first time and did not participate in any violence at the Capitol. I only learned about the horrific acts that transpired later, on my way back to my hotel. I do not and will never condone violence for any reason. Any person who rioted that day deserves to be punished by the fullest extent of the law.

Subscribers know more.

  44 Comments      


Early poll has Lightfoot with very slight lead over Garcia

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Isabel Miller

…Adding… The full poll is here.

* Lynn Sweet

Nuestro PAC — a national political action committee focusing on Latino voters — is urging Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Ill., to jump into the Chicago mayoral race, commissioning a poll showing Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Garcia tied as the standouts in a big field and Lightfoot saddled with a high disapproval rating. […]

The polling firm Bendixen & Amandi talked to 400 likely voters on cell or land telephones between Sept. 1 and 5. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.9%. I’m writing about this poll because I was given the entire survey, not just a summary or a press release. […]

Favorability: Garcia, scores 56% as very or somewhat favorable to 49% for Wilson; 47% for Lightfoot; 46% for Quinn; 38% for Vallas. Everyone else is under 26%.

Unfavorability: Looking at the somewhat to very unfavorable front where a smaller number is better - Lightfoot, 47%; Wilson, 29%; Quinn, 28%; Garcia, 20%; Vallas, 17%.

* Politico

What the report doesn’t say: What the head-to-head numbers are between Lightfoot and Garcia. Not revealing those numbers has some wondering if Lightfoot has the edge in the race.

Breaking it down: The poll shows Lightfoot getting 25 percent to Garcia’s 24 percent. Businessman Willie Wilson: 13 percent. Former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas: 9 percent. And former Gov. Pat Quinn, who hasn’t officially jumped in the race, getting 6 percent.

The poll results show “the steep uphill battle” for the many candidates already in the mayor’s race with 67 percent of those surveyed saying they might change their minds, according to Sweet.

Interesting takeaway: The poll shows Lightfoot is winning with whites and Blacks and is second for the Latino vote.

[Note from Rich: Sweet said she was given the entire poll, so nothing was apparently withheld. Still, releasing a poll showing Garcia trailing Lightfoot, even within the MoE, with the hopes that it will push Garcia into the race without testing those one-on-one numbers is a bit odd.]

* More poll results from the Sun-Times

By race:

    Top three candidates by respondents who identified as white: Garcia, 23%; Lightfoot, 22%; Vallas, 16%.

    Top three, by respondents who said they were Black: Lightfoot, 33%; Wilson, 19%; Garcia, 14%.

    Top two, by respondents who said they were Hispanic: Garcia, 48%; Lightfoot 23%. All others below 5%.

    Top three, by respondents who said they identify as Asian: Lightfoot, 33%; Quinn and Wilson, 17%. Everyone else at 0%.

  22 Comments      


News media finally starts playing catch-up with SAFE-T Act

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* “Clearing the air amid confusion about the Illinois Safe-T Act,” read the CBS2 headline, so I clicked it. And then I laughed out loud because it was another “both sides” piece featuring Tom DeVore.

Still, there was some useful information in the piece. And, frankly, it was infinitely better than the stuff that’s been published and broadcast for the past several months, which have allowed critics of the law to go unchallenged.

* But, man, some of these stories are really long. The Tribune’s piece, albeit well-written, is 2,500 words. It’s tough to combat a simple meme with a novella, but it is what it is

[House Republican Leader Jim Durkin] warned at the Zoom-based news conference that “for the first time, a defendant will be able to compel a victim to appear at a detention hearing,” a proceeding that will replace a traditional bond hearing.

“I have no idea what, other than intimidation … that would be able to accomplish but to drag a victim, a woman who has been beaten close to death or a child who has been sexually assaulted … (into being) compelled through the defendant to appear at a detention hearing,” Durkin said.

After Durkin’s news conference, the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation alleged over Twitter that the Republicans used “gender-based violence victims to make false and repeated claims” about the law. CAASE cited an excerpt of the statute to argue that the Pretrial Fairness Act actually makes it more difficult for defense attorneys to call victims to the witness stand in court.

According to the statute, the defense “shall petition the court for permission” to call a “complaining witness,” or victim, in its favor. The defense’s request to compel a victim to testify would be granted only if the judge finds “by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant will be materially prejudiced” without the victim’s testimony.

The law also is supposed to make it easier for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking to file protective orders against suspects.

* Capitol News Illinois’ story is about 3,000 words and is also a must-read for the very interesting nuggets like this one

A nonpartisan task force formed under the Supreme Court, meanwhile, is working to assist with implementation in the justice system ahead of Jan. 1 and has identified unclear or contradictory sections of the bill that lawmakers should reconsider before Jan. 1.

“It is frustrating because many aspects of the statute are not clear,” retired Judge Robbin Stuckert, who chairs the Pretrial Implementation Task Force, said at a July town hall meeting. “They may be vague, gray areas. And again, we are charged by the Supreme Court to assist with implementation.”

The law’s sponsors in the General Assembly said they are working with the task force on legislation clarifying some of those matters – particularly when it comes to detainable offenses – for potential passage this fall. […]

Another problem, the task force and others have noted, is that the statute does not address what happens to those already held in lieu of bail when the calendar hits Jan. 1.

“There is nothing in the law that requires those suspected of crimes be let out of prison when it goes into effect,” Pritzker’s spokesperson, Jordan Abudayyeh, said in a statement, suggesting that jurisdictions begin considering what happens to those individuals and scheduling hearings.

Stuckert, however, said the law’s silence on the matter leaves it to interpretation in court.

“Every meeting that I go to… the first thing they say to me, ‘What happens January 1?’ and I say, ‘I don’t know,’” she said.

The General Assembly and proponents should’ve fixed this stuff in the spring session rather than wait until just weeks before implementation day to do something about it.

  26 Comments      


Dems, Pritzker fending off crime and immigration-related attacks

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column

Four distinct attacks have been launched against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic legislators in the past couple of weeks.

“The Scream:” If you watch Chicago TV, you likely saw a striking TV ad called “The Scream.” The ad featured surveillance camera video of a white woman being mugged in broad daylight by three men in hoodies while she screams. It’s a jarring spot, to say the least. The ad was paid for by Dan Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC, which is backing Darren Bailey for governor.

The ad stirred plenty of controversy, and an attorney for the victim eventually objected to her attack being used in a campaign ad. She’s trying to heal, lawyer Tom Leinenweber told me, “and the Scream ad isn’t helping.” Most Chicago stations had pulled down the ad by week’s end after viewers complained, but the damage was done.

Trespassing: Republicans have claimed the SAFE-T Act has essentially decriminalized trespassing. Bailey said on Facebook police officers could only “write a warning … They cannot forcefully remove these people.” Congressional candidate and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau went massively viral on TikTok and Twitter with a claim that, “Someone could decide to live in your shed, and all we could do is give them a ticket.” Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley recently told ABC7 that come Jan. 1, his deputies won’t be able to arrest anyone for trespassing.

SAFE-T Act proponents have called this argument a “lie.” And the Illinois Supreme Court’s Implementation Task Force decreed of the new statute: “Law enforcement do have discretion to remove the person from the location of the alleged criminal activity, and then cite and release the person from another location.”

The meme and the “newspapers:” An internet meme about the SAFE-T Act has been widely shared across all social media platforms. The graphic was produced by WFCN News, which, despite the use of authentic-looking call letters, is not a broadcast station but a website with a distinct attitude. It’s also been used by publications designed to look like newspapers that have been linked to Proft.

The meme and the Proft papers list several “non-detainable offenses beginning Jan. 1, 2023,” including second-degree murder, kidnapping, threatening a public official, drug-induced homicide, burglary etc.

SAFE-T Act proponents and the governor have repeatedly said the law’s abolishment of cash bail would mainly benefit non-violent offenders. While they are not actually “non-detainable,” those crimes would indeed qualify an accused person for release, as long as the person isn’t a flight risk, or if the accused is on release for another alleged crime or is on probation or parole.

Second-degree murder was added to the list because in the year prior to the SAFE-T Act’s passage, nobody was initially charged with the crime in Cook County. It’s almost always used as a fallback position for plea deals.

And burglary, according to a proponent of the new law, “is most often a charge used on the homeless who are sheltering in abandoned buildings,” and those folks end up languishing in jail because they cannot make bail.

Some state’s attorneys and sheriffs also claim they will have no choice but to release people from their jails when the law takes effect Jan. 1, but SAFE-T Act proponents say local authorities can make a case to a judge that it would be unsafe to release the accused.

Migrants: As with previous influxes of asylum seekers, the state, Chicago and Cook County are using hotels for temporary housing, including in the suburbs. Fox News has fearmongered about the migrants for months, and some worry they’re bringing guns and fentanyl with them. Two suburban mayors have complained that hotels in their towns are being used to house the migrants, and local TV news eagerly lapped up the story. One of those mayors, Craig Johnson of Elk Grove Village, demanded to know whether the migrants had been searched for guns, according to the governor’s office.

Individual Democrats and activists have tried to push back on all of this, but they’re swimming up Niagara Falls.

The governor didn’t help matters by admitting last week the SAFE-T Act may need to be tweaked and then wouldn’t say what he wanted changed.

The Democrats say crime isn’t moving any needles in their campaigns. But the Pritzker campaign finally launched a new TV ad on Sept. 16 that attacks Bailey’s legislative voting record on crime. It’s a start.

We’ll have more on the SAFE-T Act aspect in a bit.

  9 Comments      


Bailey’s family made big bucks off wetlands sale to state

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I seriously doubt there was some sort of conspiracy…


* From the story

Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey regularly rails against government spending while accusing Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker of trying to solve the state’s problems merely by tossing money into “the four winds.” […]

But absent from Bailey’s criticism is recognition that his father, mother and sister have benefited from two transactions over the last two decades worth more than $8 million in federal and state funds tied to a sprawling spread of property the trio owned in southern Illinois, including $4.32 million from, oddly enough, the Pritzker administration, according to records obtained by the Tribune.

In the little-noticed transaction in 2021, Pritzker’s Department of Natural Resources bought from the Baileys more than 2,290 acres of mostly wetland about 100 miles south of Urbana-Champaign. The land is slated to become a public recreation and hunting area, according to state officials and financial records.

Beyond the proceeds for selling the land, Bailey’s relatives also collected sizable federal government payments tied to most of that same property. They entered a contract to receive $3.74 million through a 2005 federal wetlands easement that required them to preserve the land as a natural habitat, according to local, state and federal records.

Go read the rest.

The real estate promotional flier is here.

…Adding… It should be noted that Darren Bailey himself made no money on the land sale.

  15 Comments      


Another day, another lawsuit

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Tribune

Democratic Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow filed a lawsuit Friday against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other top state Democrats alleging that they violated the state’s constitution when they pushed through sweeping criminal justice reforms last year. […]

Glasgow has been accused of spreading misinformation about the SAFE-T Act, particularly by claiming that murder suspects currently in custody will automatically be released when the no-cash bail policy goes into effect.

“Sadly, I have received veiled threats over my opposition to this legislation, but I must put the safety of my constituents first,” Glasgow said in his statement Friday. “On this issue, I’ll grab a line from (the late rock star) Tom Petty — ‘You can stand me up at the gates of Hell, and I won’t back down.’” […]

Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh on Friday called the lawsuit a “weak attempt” to protect an outdated system that lets murder suspects and others accused of violence pay their way out of jail.

The lawsuit is here.

* Patch

“The legislation violates Article 1, Section 9 of the Illinois Constitution which provides that ‘all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties ….” and Article 1, Section 8.1 which provides ‘the right to have the safety of the victim and the victim’s family considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail,” the State’s Attorney’s lawsuit declared.

Furthermore, Glasgow noted:

The legislation violates Article II, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution, the separation of powers clause, which prohibits one branch of government from exercising “powers properly belonging to another.”

The legislation violates Article IV, Section 8(d) of the Illinois Constitution which provides that “[a] bill shall be read by title on three different days in each house .…”

We talked about the bail aspect last week.

  19 Comments      


Rate the new People Who Play By The Rules PAC ad

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new ad, “Parental Notification.” It is available on YouTube, the PBR PAC Facebook Page and will run on statewide media this week.

:30 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0pTZoGx4_g

TV Script:

Bello: My name is Dr. Brook Bello, and I’m not a political figure, I’m a survivor. When I was a young girl I was trafficked, drugged and raped. The traffickers forced me to have multiple abortions. Last year I begged Governor Pritzker to preserve the right of parents to know if their daughters were about to undergo an abortion. Governor Pritzker didn’t listen to me, but I hope that you will.

PROTECT GIRLS. REPEAL PRITZKER.

-

About Brook Bello:
Dr. Brook Parker-Bello is an author, actress, ordained minister, and survivor champion against human trafficking. She is the author of several successful books and educational curriculums aimed at the prevention of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.

She was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama at the White House, the Advocate of the Year Award from Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi and Governor Rick Scott, named by United Way Worldwide as a Hero for her work, and most recently was named by Google as a Google Next-Gen Policy Leader 2017-2020.

For More on Brook Bello, visit: https://www.heroeffect.com/heroes/brook-bello/.

Brook Bello explains her opposition to Pritzker’s repeal of the parental notification law last year (May 2021): https://vimeo.com/535026088

* The spot…

  24 Comments      


Open thread

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I don’t like Mondays. OK, not every Monday. Just this one. So far. How was your weekend?

  20 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Monday, Sep 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive


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