* You may remember that our late commenter Wordslinger wrote a story here about when he and his family met Sen. Bob Dole…
Late in his much-too-short life, my old man developed a highly unlikely and completely accidental friendship with Bob Dole.
If you haven’t read it yet, you really should. It was a touching tale and one of his best comments ever on this blog, which is really saying something.
* Two readers, Elizabeth Austin and John Patterson, independently sent the story to Sen. Dole after Wordslinger passed away. Dole then wrote a letter to his widow…
What a nice thing to do.
Karl never told his family about commenting here. They were all absolutely stunned by the outpouring of grief and tributes after he passed. And they were so very grateful to Elizabeth and John for contacting Sen. Dole.
* I told you Wednesday I was having lunch that day with Karl’s brother. He later texted me a copy of Dole’s letter. He also asked me to thank all of you from the family for the kind words and for donating to a college fund for Wordslinger’s daughter Emma Oxnevad, a journalism student at DePaul who did an internship with the Sun-Times last summer. I emailed Emma a couple of days ago to tell her about meeting her Uncle Bing and this is some of what she wrote back…
I hope you’re doing well and the blog hasn’t suffered too much from his loss. The last thing he would’ve wanted was for people to have gotten less sharp in his absence.
* Wordslinger regularly sent me late-night emails with YouTube links to songs he loved and which he figured I’d love, too. Here’s his last such email to me…
He intentionally left an incredibly key element of this story (Cal and the person who asked for the “no stalking” order are getting sued by McClellan) out.
Fake blood, a beheaded duck and a looming defamation lawsuit are at the center of a peculiar spat between a McHenry County judicial candidate and a group of anonymous blog commenters.
In a petition for an order of protection filed Friday, McHenry County Risk Management Coordinator Lisa Shamhart lodged a pair of bizarre accusations against former McHenry County Clerk Mary McClellan. Shamhart said that McClellan and her husband, Ed Gil, are responsible for throwing fake blood at Shamhart’s door and leaving a beheaded duck on the woman’s doorstep.
* In this Sun-Times story about how Mayor Lightfoot’s security team barred CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates from participating in the final negotiations over a return to work agreement is this from CTU President Jesse Sharkey…
“One thing we learned is that Lori Lightfoot is prone to saying sort of unwise, provocative things in public, which then put her in a corner in negotiations she’s subsequently required to back out of,” Sharkey said.
“She said that class size and staffing didn’t belong in a labor contract. Class size and staffing are in a labor contract. She said that she wouldn’t put any more money into the labor contract. Well, she put a lot more money into the labor contract. She said she wouldn’t make up any school days. This is a pattern.”
And what exactly is that pattern?
“She approaches policy debates the way a prosecutor would. She makes a very strong advocacy argument. She states it in absolutist terms. And doesn’t leave herself … room to maneuver. … Experienced politicians or deal-landers don’t talk like that.”
I believe those public statements are what prompted Tribune editorial board members and their followers to swoon like teenage fans at a Taylor Swift concert. She was saying all the “right” things, but then she eventually had to cut a deal. There comes a time when strikes have to end. And she’s the mayor of Chicago, not Effingham. What might go over well there, wouldn’t go over so well in the big city.
Even before she agreed to provide five paid make-up days for striking Chicago teachers, Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared her proposed contract with the Chicago Teachers Union was “the best ever.”
Now that financial details of the pact are starting to trickle out, it’s clear that the mayor was telling the truth—that is, for the teachers. And that truth raises a very significant question of whether the unprecedented, potentially $1.5 billion mayoral bet will be worth the cost to already struggling Chicago taxpayers.
That $1.5 billion figure comes from the Chicago Public Schools’ budget office. It’s at the high-range of what officials say the new CTU deal will cost over the next five years cumulatively.
Adding up salary hikes and staff additions, a slight reduction in employee contributions to their health insurance as a percentage of salary, new services to aid the homeless, a pay bump for veteran teachers and other items, the promises in the contract collectively amount to $1.5 billion, according to CPS.
Man, the Tribsters’ heads are gonna explode at that $1.5 billion number over 5 years.
Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall not provide facial recognition search services or photographs obtained in the process of issuing an identification card or a driver’s license or permit to any federal, State, or local law enforcement agency or other governmental entity for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. Effective immediately.
The Senate does not post bill introductions until the chamber has a perfunctory session or a regular session day. So, the bill could’ve been put in the hopper months ago.
Still, do you have any suggestions for future Sandoval legislation?
As thousands of Illinoisans continue to exit the state in an exodus of biblical proportions, one of the reasons cited for leaving, usually after high taxes, is corruption.
The latest effort to root out that corruption, an ongoing federal probe, allegedly involves Lake County’s longtime state senator, Terry Link.
With Democrat Link identified as a friendly asset for federal investigators, according to Chicago Tribune stories earlier this week, it is disheartening, to say the least. It also adds to the state’s continuing reputation as a hornet’s nest of corrupt pols. […]
And why might Link wear the FBI “wire” to record state Rep. Luis Arroyo of Chicago, one of House Speaker Michael Madigan’s assistant majority leaders? Allegedly, according to the Tribune, because he had hopes of getting a reduced sentence after he filed false income tax returns.
In an effort to begin restoring public confidence, Senator Terry Link needs to step down immediately from his position on the Legislative Ethics Commission while this widespread federal investigation continues.
Link has denied being the mole. Then again, federal informants generally have to swear never to reveal that they’re informants.
It seems strange that the GOP would want someone removed from the Ethics Committee because they are allegedly helping the FBI.
* The Question: Should Sen. Link resign from the Senate, step down from the Legislative Ethics Commission or stay right where he is? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, 79, who was first elected to his seat on the state’s high court in 2004, will retire next December, according to the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts.
His notice means that candidates interested in filling the open seat may begin circulating nomination papers to appear on the March 17 primary ballot, with winners going on to the general election on Nov. 3, 2020.
Voters from the Fifth Judicial District - comprised of the state’s 37 southernmost counties - elected Karmeier, a Republican, over Gordon Maag, a Democrat who was a sitting Fifth District appellate court justice at the time, by a 10 point margin, 55-45 percent.
That election, essentially pitting business interests against the trial bar, was the nation’s costliest at the time, topping $9 million. A major issue in the election that resonated with voters was the high cost of medical malpractice insurance that providers said was driving doctors away from the Metro-East.
The district has since become even more Republican. I just don’t see it flipping back to the Democrats.
Four out of seven Supreme Court districts will be in play next year. In addition to Karmeier, appointed Justice P. Scott Neville of Chicago is up against numerous opponents, and Justices Bob Thomas and Tom Kilbride are both facing retention.
Trick or treat? Luxury private jet facilities didn't pay their taxes for four years, so the Illinois House voted to forgive that debt, and to give them tax breaks through 2024.
West Star Aviation in East Alton employs 507 employees in Bristow’s district, and the company benefits directly from this handout. According to Bristow, the company has used a portion of its tax savings to invest $32 million into its facilities, increase payroll by 400 percent, and pay workers a median income of $82,000 per year.
State lawmakers carved out the tax break specifically for West Star and 13 other private jet facilities in Illinois. It does not apply to commercial airliners.
In 2010, lawmakers approved a tax incentive for the private jet makers and repair shops. In 2014, while the state was entering a period of record fiscal pressure, a separate law automatically ended all permanent tax breaks that did not sunset or expire on their own.
The private jet facilities did not collect or pay any sales tax from 2015 through 2019, even though the law required them to. During the Rauner administration, the Department of Revenue conducted audits at some of the private luxury jet shops but failed to identify the missing tax revenue. The Illinois Aviation Trades Association tallied up the total estimated cost of the outstanding tax bill as roughly $50 million.
Private jets fly into Illinois for special repairs, Bristow says, sometimes from other countries. Without the tax break, she argues those customers would land their plane and take their business to any one of the 35 other states who have similar tax breaks.
Indeed, a lobbyist for one such Champaign company wrote a letter to the Senate President saying the company could lose up to half its business if the tax break isn’t restored because so many other states have this same tax break.
If Congress and the White House were responsible and functional, I’d say they ought to ban these state and local tax breaks designed to poach businesses from elsewhere. But they’re obviously neither responsible nor functional so I won’t.
* I told subscribers to expect this earlier today and the reasons for it…
Hearing from House sources that Rep Luis Arroyo has now officially resigned, and this afternoon’s Special Investigating Committee hearing to expel him from the chamber is officially cancelled.
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Friday:
“Representative Arroyo’s resignation shouldn’t distract from the fact that the allegations contained in this criminal complaint go beyond anything that could be considered a lapse of judgment or minor indiscretion. These allegations are beyond extraordinary, which is why it called for the creation of the Special Investigative Committee and possible disciplinary action. While every circumstance will not require this process, the egregiousness of these particular allegations and the evidence demanded that every effort be taken to restore the public’s trust. Although the disciplinary process will no longer proceed, there is still a focus on strengthening our laws to prevent this unacceptable conduct. I look forward to working with the governor and other legislative leaders to look for ways in which we can continue to improve the safeguards we have today.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here’s the resignation letter. Click the pic for a better version if need be…
Man, is that ever self-serving. I’m betting lots of his colleagues would have loved to vote to expel him as they gear up for reelection.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release…
State Representative Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) released the following statement in response to the resignation of State Rep. Luis Arroyo:
“The criminal complaint against Rep. Arroyo has shaken any trust the public had left in the General Assembly. In an effort to begin restoring public confidence, Senator Terry Link needs to step down immediately from his position on the Legislative Ethics Commission while this widespread federal investigation continues.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Press release…
The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement responding to state Rep. Luis Arroyo’s resignation:
“The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus holds at our core the values of integrity, transparency, and ethics. We condemn any lawmaker who goes against those values and violates the public trust. As a caucus, we’ll continue to champion those values and ensure the necessary changes are implemented to safeguard the legislative process and restore public trust.”
State Rep. Luis Arroyo’s foray into the shady world of sweepstakes machines is at the center of the federal bribery case alleging he agreed to pay off a state senator in exchange for support on legislation that would benefit the largely unregulated industry.
Now other players linked to the alleged scheme are emerging, including businessman James Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County assessor and county Democratic Party boss Joseph Berrios, and an ex-Chicago cop who was fired for consorting with a drug trafficker, the Chicago Tribune has confirmed through state records and a source with knowledge of the probe.
The FBI raided Weiss’ business offices Friday after the charges were filed against Arroyo under seal, the source told the Tribune.
State business records show Weiss is connected to the former cop, John Adreani, through a complex web of corporations, many of which list the same address in a south suburban strip mall as their headquarters.
Alexander S. Pissios, president of Chicago’s largest movie studio, had gone bankrupt but was still more than $1 million in debt when federal agents showed up three years ago.
They gave him a choice: He could go to prison for bankruptcy fraud, or he could help bring down one of the city’s top labor bosses, John Coli Sr. of the Teamsters union. Pissios, the head of Cinespace Chicago Film Studio, grabbed the deal.
Nearly five years after his 2011 bankruptcy, Pissios began giving authorities a rundown of the $1 million-plus he owed to a mortgage company, a scrap-metal dealer and a trucking magnate — debts that somehow have been erased now that he has become a cooperating witness, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
Pissios hadn’t made any payments on his mortgage for eight years while fighting Citibank’s lawsuit to foreclose on his family’s palatial home in Hawthorn Woods to collect more than $850,000.
He also owed $75,000 to a South Side scrap dealer who had put up $400,000 to convert the former Ryerson Steel plant into Cinespace.
On top of that, the movie mogul had a $70,000 gambling tab — a debt he said he’d been unable to cut into even after making monthly payments for more than four years to the owner of a trucking company who was on the board of directors of Evergreen Bank in Oak Brook.
President Donald Trump has again broached the idea of freeing former Illinois governor and one-time “Celebrity Apprentice” contestant Rod Blagojevich from a Colorado federal prison, where he is in his seventh year of a 14-year prison term for political corruption.
Trump asked for a show of hands at a fundraiser at Chicago’s Trump International Hotel of those who supported clemency for the 62-year-old Democrat. Most of the 200 to 300 attendees raised their hands, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing several people at Monday’s event.
On the same day, Trump told Chicago’s WLS-TV that — despite bringing up the possibility of freeing Blagojevich in August and then appearing to back away from the idea — Blagojevich shouldn’t abandon hope of an early release.
“No, he should not at all give up hope, at all,” Trump said. “We are looking at it.”
A trio of Republican congressmen at the back of the room was firmly opposed, the people said. […]
“He made the statement, and I looked at him and went, ‘No,’” Rep. Mike Bost said in an interview Wednesday. “And then he asked the crowd, ‘Well, who thinks we should?’” Mr. Bost said, prompting the show of hands. […]
At the Chicago event, however, nearly all of the 200 to 300 people present raised their hands in support of clemency, said Michael Alfaro, a Trump fundraiser who sold tickets to and attended the event. About 15 hands went up in opposition, he said, mainly from lawmakers and their aides.
Within a week of his arrest on bribery charges and subsequent not guilty plea, state Rep. Luis Arroyo’s colleagues in the Illinois House will meet to discuss if he should be removed from office.
Members of an Illinois House Special Investigating Committee will meet for the first time Friday in Chicago to review Arroyo’s federal bribery charges.
Arroyo, D-Chicago, was arrested last week and has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege Arroyo bribed an unnamed state senator who was wearing a wire for federal investigators. After Arroyo’s indictment, House leaders from both parties called on him to resign. Because he hasn’t resigned, they launched a special investigating committee.
University of Illinois at Springfield politics professor Kent Redfield said he expected lawmakers to act swiftly. […]
Redfield said Arroyo could resign, which would make the committee moot. If that doesn’t happen, Redfield said he expected lawmakers to move quickly to expel Arroyo with a resolution that could be voted on by the full House.
Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told a joint congressional task force last year the FBI asked him in January 2017 to wear a wire to secretly record Joseph Mifsud, the man who told Papadopoulos the Russians had “dirt” on former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. […]
His first meeting was on Jan. 27, 2017, with FBI agent Curtis Heide. It was during this meeting that the special counsel would later accuse him of lying to the FBI. He was convicted of providing false statements later that year.
A federal measure that would allow marijuana business access to banks could mean a boom in investment, but it could put a dent in Illinois’ budding cannabis revenue projections.
For years, the business of medical and recreational cannabis has been “cash-only” due to federal banking laws forbidding access to banks. The SAFE Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday using a parliamentary procedure but with bipartisan support nonetheless. It would remove the federal prohibition on FDIC-insured banking institutions doing business with a company that sells medical or recreational cannabis.
The nonprofit Tax Foundation said the purveyors of pot are likely jumping for joy over the prospect, but states who charge an excise tax on the monetary value of the product could see tax revenues fall short.
“With the access to financial services, greater competition could occur because a lot more startups who can then get access to startup loans to finance can get into the market to make it more competitive and drive down prices,” said Ulrik Boesen, senior policy analyst.
But, because the state maintains the ability to constrict the market by only releasing a number of recreational cannabis licenses to locations, the effect could be stifled.
Could be stifled? No. Will be. Illinois law strictly limits the total number of dispensaries. Boesen should stop commenting on Illinois until he does some actual research and Illinois media outlets should not use that uninformed commentary for click-bait headlines that are refuted near the end of the stories.
The thought about somebody wearing a wire saddens me to no length because for so long as a legislator, I’ve been in office for 14 years, my effort, my strong effort has always to build trust among the public. And, um, when you hear of this this is what kind of takes us back. Because for those who try and work in such a way to build that trust among the public, the unfortunate actions of a few really impact all.
Labor provisions in the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act highlight our state’s belief that organized labor can and should represent workers within the industry, if they so choose.
Illinois Cannabis Unions is a coalition of some of the largest and most forward-thinking labor unions in Illinois who already represent workers in the cannabis industry or will seek to represent new employees.
Local 881 UFCW, SEIU Local 1, Local 399 IUOE, and Teamsters Joint Council 25 will help grow this new industry, advocate for its success, and support the thousands of workers across all racial lines and backgrounds throughout our state who will help staff and service legal cannabis. No matter the background or where we they come from, all workers deserve a better future for their families, and that starts with joining in union.
The law awards up to five points, out of a possible 250, for applicants entering into a “labor peace agreement” with a labor organization recognized under the National Labor Relations act.
If you plan to apply for a license, are a current operator or investor, or are generally interested in learning more, boost your application by partnering with us today.
We are pleased to have reached a deal with the Chicago Teachers Union to resolve the strike, and enable our students to return to school tomorrow. This five-year overall agreement is historic. It provides significant benefits to our teachers, our school support staff, our families, and most importantly, to our students. The entire city will ultimately benefit.
That’s because it reflects the values of this administration and CPS, and is rooted in our shared vision for equity. It delivers tangible gains where they are most needed, and where they will have the greatest impact.
It includes a commitment to increase staffing for wraparound services - a nurse and a social worker in every school within five years, beginning with the highest-need schools. It includes investments in additional support staff and smaller class sizes for the schools where the need is greatest. And it includes new supports for students experiencing homelessness - something I’ve long advocated for. All of this is in the contract, in writing. It will get done.
The key objectives for Dr. Jackson and I were accomplished in reaching this agreement. And more importantly, our students and families will reap great benefits from it. The agreement has a five-year term. It is financially responsible. It honors our teachers and school staff - all of whom will see a 16 percent raise over the course of the contract. And it is true to our values.
CTU has also accomplished a great deal for their membership with this agreement. They raised a number of important issues that impact our students and families – from increased funding for sports and athletics, better supports for our diverse learners, highlighting the importance of restorative justice, and more. And on these and many others, I am confident in saying that our teams were able to come to agreement in a way that will deliver tangible improvements, and make a real difference for our students.
These past 11 days have not been easy on our CPS family. To all those who stepped up to ensure our students and families had the support and resources they needed during this strike, we as a city thank you.
I would be remiss if I did not address what has been lost over the course of this strike. Seniors’ efforts at early college admissions were compromised; athletes missed out on competitions; students were not able to take the PSAT; and more. We will do everything in our power to mitigate the harms and keep our students moving forward to fulfill their destinies. Now is the time to come back together, and get back to school. I am confident that we will heal together–as a city and a school community.
Bottom line, we are proud of this agreement. And we are excited about what CPS students will accomplish for the remainder of this school year, and in the years to come. Let’s keep moving forward together, in the best interest of our students.
In five years, that 16% pay raise will result in an average teacher’s salary of almost $98,000. Nobody should begrudge a good paycheck for a good teacher. But we believe the mayor’s negotiating team agreed to that 16% far too early, losing leverage. Teachers were free to push harder on more extraneous demands.
Teachers will pay only 0.75% more for their health insurance, though the city initially asked for an increase of 1.5% over five years. Again, our sense is that the mayor’s team caved early.
The contract includes $35 million per year for lower class sizes. The money will be distributed via a new CPS-CTU council that will assess overcrowding issues on a case-by-case basis. That’s a smart approach, given that overcrowding is spread unevenly among schools and the best research shows that smaller classes matter most in the primary grades. But this was an expensive concession.
The city agreed to hire a full-time nurse and social worker for every school by July 2023. The district will also hire more librarians and other staff. These are undeniable wins for schools and kids — but again, expensive for taxpayers.
* For some odd reason, the folks on the Chicago Tribune editorial board expected Lightfoot to be the second coming of Bruce Rauner…
The Chicago teachers strike of 2019 was rough on Mayor Lori Lightfoot. She drew lines in the sand, tried to enforce them and got trampled. […]
Our advice to Lightfoot is to protect and enhance her credibility by learning from the CTU strike: When you say something, stick to it. That didn’t happen during these negotiations. Lightfoot said there’d be no reason for teachers to strike, yet Chicago’s children missed two weeks of school. The mayor spent October insisting there was no money to be found in CPS’ budget to sweeten the teachers contract, then she found more money. She said she’d never offer pay to strikers for days out of the classroom, but she did.
* But the World Socialist Website, which is published by the International Committee of the Fourth International, calls it a “sellout contract”…
In coordination with the administration of Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the CTU orchestrated a cynical ploy Thursday morning over make-up days for those lost due to the strike. Lightfoot announced at a press conference that there will be five additional school days added to the end of the year.
Since teachers were strung out on the picket lines without any strike pay, this will mean that most will lose more than $2,000 in pay this year, entirely swallowing up the meager pay raise included in the contract for next year. In fact, not only will teachers have to work the additional days, but this will only compensate for less than half of the lost pay during the strike.
CTU is now launching a media campaign to portray its betrayal as a “victory” in order to justify the shutdown of the strike and compel teachers to believe the propaganda and not their own eyes.
In light of Monday’s retirement announcement of Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden, I have been asked to reconsider my own retirement plans.
I have heard from fellow House members in Washington, as well as from constituents in my district and supporters throughout Illinois, who believe I can make a real difference if I get the opportunity to be a committee leader. I am currently weighing the pros and cons of the situation. I know that time is of the essence, so I expect to discuss the matter with my family when I return to the district this weekend and announce my decision immediately thereafter.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the death of a third Illinois resident who had recently vaped and been hospitalized with a severe lung injury. At this time, a total of 166 people in Illinois, ranging in age from 13 to 75 years old, with a median age of 22, have experienced lung injuries after using e-cigarettes or vaping. IDPH continues to work with local health departments to investigate another 42 possible cases in Illinois.
“The unfortunate death of a third Illinois resident underscores the seriousness of these lung injuries,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “New cases continue to be reported in Illinois and across the country. IDPH is urging Illinoisans not to vape or use e-cigarettes products, especially illicit THC based products, while we continue to investigate this outbreak.”
At this time, no single compound or ingredient used in e-cigarette, or vaping products has been identified as the cause of this outbreak. The latest national and state findings suggest products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), particularly those obtained off the street or from other informal sources (e.g. friends, family members, illicit dealers), are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak. More than 80% of the cases in Illinois report recent use of THC-containing products, primarily obtaining them from informal sources. Additionally, almost half of the cases in Illinois have also used nicotine-based products.
Affected individuals have experienced respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Many have also experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Some patients reported that their symptoms developed over a few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several weeks.
To date, IDPH has received 46 preliminary laboratory results on vaping products and devices submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Almost half of the test results were positive for THC, and of those, approximately 40% had evidence of vitamin E acetate. The FDA continues to perform additional testing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) arrived in Illinois on August 20 to assist with the investigation. IDPH is also working with local health departments, other state health departments, and the FDA to investigate the names and types of e-cigarettes, vaping products, and devices, as well as where they were obtained.
At this time, health officials have not identified the cause or causes of the lung injuries with the only commonality among all cases being patients report the use of vaping products, including e-cigarettes. No one device, compound, or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date; and it may be that there is more than one cause of this lung injury.
Cases have been reported in 32 counties statewide. In order to protect the identity of the affected individuals, additional information is not being provided. The investigation is ongoing, and more information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
People who experience any type of chest pain or difficulty breathing after using e-cigarettes or vaping should seek immediate medical attention. When seeking medical attention, be sure to tell the provider you have vaped in recent weeks or months. Health care providers caring for patients with unexpected serious respiratory illness should ask about a history of vaping or e-cigarette use. [Emphasis added.]
[Rep. Will Guzzardi’s] idea, first pitched at a Springfield press conference, is to look at New York, which has a much lower threshold for a relatively high rate, with any sale of more than $500,000 hit with a levy of 1.425 percent. That would provide both Lightfoot’s budget figure and a significant stream of new money to spur low-income housing, he said.
“It’s obvious (Lightfoot’s) bill isn’t going to pass as it is,” Guzzardi told me in a phone interview. “We can reach a deal with transfer tax that lives up to the mayor’s promise.”
Guzzardi said Lightfoot’s office has indicated it may be interested in a compromise—not necessarily his idea but different from what’s now being pitched. But raising the rate on lower-priced sales would work because it would provide more money for both sets of needs, he argued. “I’m optimistic we’ll find a way.” […]
“We’re open to having conversations,” said a mayoral spokeswoman. “We are not aware of his proposal nor have we reviewed it. But we certainly welcome the conversation.”
You’ll recall that 13 Chicago House Democrats, including Guzzardi, said this week they won’t vote for Mayor Lightfoot’s plan as-is because it doesn’t provide funds for homeless prevention and affordable housing. The mayor had pledged during the campaign to hold a referendum to pass a graduated real estate transfer tax and use the money for those two items.
The revelation in the federal indictment of state Rep. Luis Arroyo that an unnamed state Senator had been wearing a wire and cooperating with federal investigators since 2016 elicited a mix of reactions from lawmakers in Springfield this week. […]
State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, said the disclosure regarding a cooperating witness hasn’t changed the way he operates.
“Well I think you should always be cautious what you say to anybody, you know, and not do anything criminal,” Moylan said.
State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, said the idea that one of her colleagues had been wearing a wire was disappointing.
“Because for those who try and work in such a way to build that trust among the public, the unfortunate actions of a few really impact all,” she said.
Add the Securities & Exchange Commission to the list of those wanting to learn more about Exelon and Commonwealth Edison’s lobbying.
Exelon disclosed that the agency notified the company on Oct. 22 of an investigation it had opened into Exelon and ComEd’s “lobbying activities,” according to the company’s quarterly filing today with the SEC. […]
Interestingly, the SEC probe may not be confined to lobbying in just Illinois, given that Exelon didn’t specify that in the latest disclosure. Exelon owns utilities in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., as well as ComEd in Chicago.
On the company’s quarterly earnings call today, Exelon CEO Chris Crane was asked specifically whether the investigations into Exelon and ComEd’s practices were confined to Illinois. He declined to answer that, saying the company wasn’t in a position to talk in any detail about the probes other than to say it’s cooperating with all of them.
Yeah, but keep threatening to shut down those nuke plants.
…Adding… National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter…
We want to thank and congratulate the members of the Chicago Teachers Union on their historic gains achieved in today’s announcement. Contractural gains that will have a meaningful impact in Chicago schools. The contract includes (in writing) enforceable commitments for more school nurses, and more school social workers. It includes additional case managers and workforce development funds so social workers can do the work they were trained to do and the city can recruit a diverse pool of future clinicians.
This was a great win for Chicago, but the advocacy work isn’t done.
Even with the historic five year commitments on social workers, CPS will still be understaffed to effectively address the volume of trauma our kids face. We will keep advocating for new funds not only for CPS but the entire state until mental health services for schools in Illinois reach a safe level. We ask the State of Illinois and our federal legislators to find creative ways to tackle this issue head on, to help speed up the contractural timeline and expand services to schools throughout the state. Schools should not have to go on strike to fund elementary mental health. Illinois can do better, Illinois will do better.
“Enforceable” staffing: 209 additional social workers; 250 additional nursing positions, 180 additional case managers; 120 new counselors, restorative justice coordinators and librarians, and a social worker and case manager assigned to every school by the end of the contract in 2023.
Recruitment: $2.5 million to recruit and train clinicians, $2 million for nurse tuition and licensure, and a 50% tuition reimbursement for English language and bilingual endorsement programs.
Class sizes: A $35 million annual allocation to reduce oversized K-12 classrooms in “schools serving the most vulnerable students.”
Coaches: A $4 million investment in a Sports Committee to hike coaching stipends and buy new equipment.
Health care: No plan changes to health insurance benefits, a cut in co-pays for mental health and physical therapy services. Teachers can now bank sick days earned after July 1, 2012, from 40 to 244 days.
Springfield will have to swallow hard and agree to legislation next spring to rescue Exelon’s financially ailing Illinois nuclear fleet despite the legal cloud enveloping the company, or the company will move to close plants. That was the message CEO Chris Crane delivered on a Halloween earnings call with analysts.
For good measure, he added a fourth plant to the three the company already has said are at risk of early closure.
Now in the crosshairs: Exelon’s LaSalle power station in addition to the previously identified Byron, Braidwood and Dresden plants. Two other Illinois nukes, Clinton and Quad Cities, already are benefiting from more than $200 million a year in ratepayer subsidies, enacted in the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act.
Go read the rest. That company has the strongest sense of entitlement of any company in this state.
*** UPDATE *** From Gov. Pritzker’s communications director Emily Bittner…
If companies under a federal microscope believe it’s appropriate to make threats to get their way, they need to recalibrate their thinking and how they deal with this administration. The governor’s priority is to work with principled stakeholders on clean energy legislation that is above reproach.
Reeling from a federal investigation into Commonwealth Edison’s lobbying practices, a top Exelon official on Thursday downplayed the impact of the corruption probe and any possible fallout on Wall Street.
“We’re not passing judgment on [whether there] is anything legal or illegal in some of our past practices with contract lobbyists or consultants,” Exelon CEO Chris Crane told analysts during the company’s quarterly earnings call Thursday morning. “I don’t expect [the investigation] will impede our business at all going forward.” […]
Referring to “a lot of speculation in news articles” about the investigation, Crane said Thursday, “There’s things out there that people are speculating on that — they’re guessing, to say that the best.”
It’s unclear what Crane was referring to, and he did not offer any details or clarification.
With questions of ethics swirling in and around the Statehouse, can anything get done?
It depends who you ask. And while both political parties can have ethical lapses, those caught in binds for the moment are Democrats — and their party-mates are more optimistic about being able to go on with business as usual than their GOP counterparts.
“I think that this is going to give people in the chamber pause to do anything of a significant nature,” said House GOP Leader JIM DURKIN of Western Springs. […]
But state Sen. ANDY MANAR, D-Bunker Hill, said, “It doesn’t have an impact on me.”
He noted that a bill he’s sponsoring to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin has been pushed since May — and it passed out the Senate this week shortly after we spoke.
* Yesterday, Gov. Pritzker seemed to say that alleged corruption was impeding progress…
You know we have challenges in the state of Illinois. I’m disgusted by all of what’s going on in this regard, and I also view it as they’re throwing obstacles in the way of us accomplishing pension consolidation and lowering taxes, property taxes and other things in the state.
* The Question: Will the federal probe impede legislative progress? Make sure to explain your answer.
Nationally, the best selling candy are @Skittles that are made by the Wrigley Co (a division of @MarsGlobal) in Yorkville. I toured it recently and every Skittle has 44 layers and they make enough skittles every day to line a path from Wisconsin to the southern Illinois border.
In a possible attempt to help end the teachers strike, both Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton on Wednesday showed their support for an elected school board — a priority of the Chicago Teachers Union.
The CTU had pushed for Mayor Lori Lightfoot to publicly back the bill as a condition of a new teachers contract. But Lightfoot had resisted the call, saying it had no place in a contract. After the show of support for the measure by the legislative leaders Wednesday, the union dropped the demand.
Madigan was the first to release a statement on the legislation, reminding the public that the House has made efforts to try to pass an elected school board and to give the CTU more bargaining power — another bill the union wanted Lightfoot to support. The speaker said he will “again give full consideration to these proposals in the upcoming spring session.” […]
“The Governor has long expressed his support for an elected school board and changes to the collective bargaining process. He looks forward to reviewing the specifics when these bills reach his desk.”
After some Democratic Senators issued a similar pledge yesterday to take up the bills next spring, the Senate President also committed to working with his members on these issues.
Reporter: [CTU Political and Legislative Director] Stacy Davis Gates has said that the CTU has been meeting with the governor, Senate President Cullerton and Madigan about an elected school board and changing the negotiations, their ability for collective bargaining rights, and that they are supportive. Have you been part of those conversations?
Mayor Lightfoot: I’ve had contact with all three of those individuals, the governor, the president and the speaker. That’s not my understanding.
…Adding… I mean, they all put out statements yesterday. It was an attempt to placate the CTU and help ease the path to the end of the strike. The mayor should’ve probably just taken the path.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Text from the governor’s comms director…
To clarify: The governor has not been meeting w the CTU.
*** UPDATE 2 *** I missed this thread until a few minutes ago about Lightfoot’s news conference…
And if they were lying to CTU and the public - why would you disclose this? If the three leaders speaking to the media about these critical legislative bills is what it took for the delegates to feel comfortable voting for the TA - your statement completely undercuts it.
Having watched that disaster from a front row seat, I can tell you - you don’t win. Nobody does. The kids of Chicago will carry the real pain…and for what? 10 days? The #CTUstrike needs to come to an end. It is time to move on Mayor.
On October 25th, County Risk Manager Lisa Shamhart filed documents asking for an emergency “Stalking No Contact Order” against former McHenry County Clerk Mary McClellan, now a second time candidate for Circuit Court Judge.
The petition was signed by Associate Judge Jennifer Johnson with a hearing set for 9 AM on November 15th.
Shamhart says the following occurred, including fake blood on her daughter’s front door and a beheaded duck on the front porch. Shamhart notes, “Mary and her husband Ed Gil are well known bird hunters.”
More than 116,000 McHenry County residents voted in Tuesday’s midterm election – but unofficial election results showed about 21 percent of them did not pick candidates in statewide races.
Anne Pramaggiore has resigned from her position as chairwoman of the board of directors overseeing the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the bank confirmed Wednesday.
The Chicago Fed said that Ms. Pramaggiore stepped down from her position on Oct. 25. The resignation wasn’t made public by the Chicago Fed until it was confirmed by a bank spokesperson in response to a question from The Wall Street Journal. The U.S. Federal Reserve referred questions about Ms. Pramaggiore to the Chicago Fed.
The Exelon Utilities CEO who retired abruptly two weeks ago amid a wide-ranging federal investigation of lobbyist activities now has stepped down as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Anne Pramaggiore’s latest move follows Exelon and ComEd receiving two federal grand jury subpoenas in the probe. A source with knowledge of the case has told the Tribune that Pramaggiore is one focus of the ongoing federal investigation.
Pramaggiore released a statement on Wednesday that did not address the federal investigation, saying the Chicago Fed is “well-positioned to execute on its important mission.” A Pramaggiore spokesman said her Oct. 25 departure was voluntary. Her term as chair was scheduled to end at year’s end.
Even so, she’s leaving as federal authorities are looking into two companies where she had been a top executive.
The Chicago Teachers Union has called in its House of Delegates to vote on a tentative contract, but says the deal hinges on Mayor Lori Lightfoot agreeing to allow lost school days to be made up.
It’s unclear how Lightfoot and CPS will respond on making up school days. Lightfoot has repeatedly said the school district would not make up school days lost to the strike. Last week, Lightfoot was emphatically against the idea, saying: “I’ve been very clear from the beginning: We are not extending the school year. I typically don’t say things in public that I don’t mean.”
Chicago Teachers Union delegates have voted to accept a new contract deal – but won’t end the strike yet because they’re still squabbling with the city over making up the days lost to the walkout.
The union says it will be at City Hall at 10 a.m. Thursday to “demand the mayor return our days.”
CPS responded a short time later by formally canceling classes again Thursday, which will be the 11th day of the walkout.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The end may be very near…
Stand corrected. Adding instructional days so teachers are paid for strike days. Debate over whether after June 15th those days are valuable #CTUstrike
* House Bill 2267, which mandates an elected school board in Chicago, passed the House 110-2 during the spring session. The bill’s chief sponsor was Rep. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago). Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) picked up sponsorship when the bill arrived in his chamber in early April.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot then persuaded Senate President John Cullerton to shelve the bill and it never made it out of the Assignments Committee.
Rep. Martwick was appointed to the Senate after Sen. John Mulroe left to become a judge.
So, we now have a bill that was sponsored in the House by Rep. Martwick and is currently sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Martwick.
Martwick and Lightfoot got into a bit of a dustup during the campaign, but he has since tried to mend fences. Lindsey LaPointe, a Lightfoot ally, was appointed to fill out the remainder of Martwick’s House term.
* I’m leaving in a few minutes to have lunch with Wordslinger’s brother. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but I’m taking my laptop just in case someone else gets raided. Please be nice to each other while I’m gone.
* The Question: Is there anything you’d like to convey to Wordslinger’s family about what he meant to you, or this website or this state?
After short debate (~25 minutes) HB 3888, Rita Mayfield’s bill to phase out ethylene oxide in Illinois passes with 60 votes — bare minimum after Mayfield changed the effective date on her bill yesterday to July 1 instead of immediate. (since it’s post-May31, would’ve needed 71) pic.twitter.com/mChRBZNeXG
Democrats killed Leader Durkin’s bill in committee this week, so he and others went “Present” on this bill.
Rep. Dave McSweeney, who has often done battle with Leader Durkin, was the only Republican to vote “Yes,” so he put it over the top.
* Illinois Chamber…
“The ability to safely sterilize medical devices and materials is vital to the health and safety of our community and to employers paying for high-quality health care in Illinois,” said Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Maisch. “This legislation will have significant ramifications for the health care material supply chain, and could result in shortages of sterilized devices and materials, despite the fact that Illinois passed the most stringent regulatory scheme in the nation earlier this year. Last week, the FDA sent out a statement on their concerns with medical device availability due to certain sterilization facility closures, as a result of potential actions in Illinois and Georgia to limit ethylene oxide sterilization processes. Passing this legislation without a plan for how Illinois will support our health care system’s demand for life-saving medical equipment or make up for years of wasted research and development on new technologies dependent on this form of sterilization, is recklessly endangering the health and welfare of millions of people in Illinois and around the country.”
* Medline…
While we are disappointed in today’s action, we look forward to continuing conversations with legislators in the Senate regarding Medline’s exemplary safety record and the importance of ethylene oxide sterilization to Illinois hospitals.
Medline’s top priority is the safety of our employees and the communities that we operate in. We are proud that our Waukegan facility has always operated at or below federal and state emission standards.
Further, Medline is in the process of installing a series of new controls approved by the Illinois EPA that will capture more than 99.9% of all ethylene oxide used, emitting cleaner air from our facility than the surrounding ambient air.
It’s important to also emphasize what’s at stake: Medline’s 700 team members in Waukegan produce and sterilize more than 16,000 sterile surgical packs per day used by 135 hospitals in Illinois – nearly 80% of the state’s hospitals. And as the FDA stated on October 25, banning EtO for medical device sterilization could create a shortage of life-saving sterile surgical kits to treat patients. Contrary to what anti-EtO advocates suggest, EtO is the only globally accepted, FDA-approved method to sterilize many medical products that are essential to public health.
I’ll add more when I can.
…Adding… IMA…
Because the number of ethylene oxide contract sterilization facilities in the U.S. is limited, we are very concerned that additional facility closures could severely impact the supply of sterile medical devices to health care delivery organizations that depend on those devices to take care of patients. The impact resulting from closure… will be difficult to reverse, and ultimately could result in years of spot or nationwide shortages of critical medical devices, which could compromise patient care.
At a City Hall press conference, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the union’s bargaining team “continues to move the goalposts and bring in more issues that do not belong in any collective bargaining contract” by introducing issues that don’t belong in a contract and demanding a reduction in class time for students.
The union wants her to support a bill for an elected school board in Springfield that she opposed and changes to the state law that restricts what issues CTU can strike over, Lightfoot said.
As a mayoral candidate, Lightfoot promised to support an elected school board but she has opposed a bill supported by the union that would create a board that’s too large.“
Are we really keeping our kids out of class unless I agree to support the CTU’s full political agenda wholesale?” Lightfoot said. “If the CTU wants a deal, there’s a deal to be had, right now, on the table.”
* Today…
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Wednesday:
“The Illinois House of Representatives has long demonstrated its commitment to improving public schools throughout the state of Illinois, including reforming Illinois’ school funding formula to provide more money, equitably distributed, to schools across the state. Another part of our commitment has been our effort to support the Chicago Public Schools and ensure that Chicago’s voters, as well as Chicago’s teachers and school staffs, are treated equitably. To that end, I have supported—and the House has passed three times—a bill to bring an elected school board to the city of Chicago. Moreover, I have supported—and the House has twice passed—a bill to ensure that Chicago’s school personnel can negotiate over the same issues that educators in every other school district in Illinois can negotiate. The House of Representatives will continue to advocate for equitable treatment for all schools in Illinois, and will again give full consideration to these proposals in the upcoming spring session.”
Translation: “We ain’t passing those bills during the strike, CTU.”
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Every student in Chicago deserves a high-quality neighborhood public school and every voter in the city deserves a direct say in school governance. In the upcoming spring session, the General Assembly will fully consider two bills to align school governance in Chicago with all other school districts in the state.
The first bill, House Bill 2267, sponsored by Sen. Robert Martwick and Sen. Omar Aquino, creates an elected representative school board in Chicago. The second, House Bill 2275, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cunningham, restores contract bargaining processes, including class size and staffing provisions, that were eliminated from Chicago in 1995.
“Chicago’s voters have spoken - they want an elected school board. And bringing an elected school board to Chicago has been a legislative goal of mine since 2015. I’m excited about taking the next step in making this bill into law,” Martwick said.
“Effective schools require real input from students and parents. Chicago’s families have not had that opportunity, and I’m determined to bring about an elected school board that includes representatives from across Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods,” Aquino said. “I thank the Senate President for allowing the bill’s full consideration.”
“Funding equity and evidence-based student supports like appropriate class sizes and staffing ratios are at the core of the State’s school funding formula. Ensuring that school personnel in Chicago can negotiate over those issues will help ensure students get what they need,” Cunningham said “I look forward to working on House Bill 2275 in the upcoming spring session.”
Sen. Omar Aquino represents the 2nd Senate District. Sen. Rob Martwick represents the 10th Senate District. Sen. Bill Cunningham represents the 18th Senate District.
* From the Senate President’s office…
The Senate President has committed to working with these members on this issue in the spring session.
Been an interesting floor debate so far on @RepChrisWelch's bill that'd allow college athletes to profit from endorsement deals. A range of concerns, including just now from Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights), who says it'll "put a dagger in the heart of amateur athletics"
After nearly an hour, the bill that would allow college athletes to profit from endorsement deals passes with 86 votes, and moves to Senate where it should pass in second week of Veto Session. pic.twitter.com/WMZrftsSA9
Indoor vaping would be prohibited in public indoor areas, along with tobacco smoking, under legislation approved Tuesday by the Senate.
The Senate voted 41-11 to add e-cigarettes to the Smoke Free Illinois law that outlawed tobacco smoking in indoor public places. Senate Bill 1864 now moves to the House.
As currently written, the bill would even prohibit the use of vaping products inside a store that sells them. Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, noted the Smoke Free Illinois law allows smoking inside a tobacco store. Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills, said that he wanted the Senate to act on the bill Tuesday, but if the House later changed it to allow e-cigarettes to be used inside vape shops, he would support the change.
Illinois senators Tuesday approved legislation that would cap out-of-pocket payments for insulin for some diabetics.
The Senate approved Senate Bill 667 on a vote of 48-7. It must still be approved by the House.
The legislation caps out-of-pocket insulin payments at $100 for a 30-day supply. Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said the idea came to him after a constituent called his office and said she and her family had to choose between making their house payment or paying for insulin for their diabetic daughters.
“That’s a position no one in the state of Illinois should be in,” Manar said.
Meanwhile, a bill to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products still hasn’t moved forward. The Senate Executive Committee took testimony on the pros and cons of the bill, but took no action on it.
The sticking point here is the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes.
Illinois state senators failed to override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s veto of a measure that would have restricted the Illinois governor’s ability to unilaterally request waivers from the federal government for things like Medicaid.
Lawmakers are in Springfield for fall veto session to consider not just new legislation but also bills the governor vetoed. He didn’t veto many, but one would have put restrictions on the governor’s ability to ask the federal government for the ability to change how it administers certain programs.
State Sen. Sue Rezin’s bill, Senate Bill 2026, passed the Senate in April unanimously. It passed the House in May, 75-41. Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed it in July.
“While this legislation was well intended, unfortunately it does not afford the state enough flexibility to operate these programs,” Pritzker’s veto message said. “I do not anticipate any circumstances in which my administration would pursue waivers to limit Illinoisans’ access to federal programs or benefits. Nonetheless, it’s critical to retain our flexibility to innovate and be responsive to the evolving healthcare needs of the people of Illinois.”
*** UPDATE *** Excerpt from Sen. Rezin’s press release…
“To say I am disappointed in the outcome of today’s vote would be an understatement,” said Sen. Rezin. “For far too long, those with pre-existing conditions have been on defense in a healthcare battle that has been playing out politically. Today, we had the chance to give those individuals the peace of mind they deserve, but instead, they will continue to worry about their healthcare coverage.” […]
“Why would we leave this decision up to the Second Floor, when we have the ability, today, to ensure that those with pre-existing conditions get the coverage they deserve and desperately need,” asked Sen. Rezin during her floor remarks. “Applying for these waivers could have a detrimental effect on people with pre-existing conditions, causing them to be denied coverage, be charged higher premiums, or worst-case scenario, lose access to health care services.”
When Governor J.B. Pritzker appointed former state Senator Bill Haine to serve on the State Board of Elections in May, the former downstate Democratic Senator had to surrender control of his campaign fund and the $286,786 in it. But now, months later, Haine controls the same money, just under a different name. […]
State election law prohibits board members, who are tasked with regulating other political committees, from controlling campaign committees of their own while they adjudicate other potential campaign finance violations. […]
In paperwork submitted to the state board in June, Haine relinquished control of the account, signing it over to his wife, Anna Haine, and effectively removing himself as chairman. The same document also changed the name of his campaign committee to the Illinois Metro East Improvement Committee with a newly defined purpose “to advance the progress of the Metro-East.” […]
Haine was sworn in as a new member at the State Board of Elections on July 1st. Two weeks later, Haine retook control of his old campaign fund, but under a new name and with a new purpose. Now, state records list Haine as the chairman of a newly formed political action committee, the “William Haine Fund to Promote Progress of Citizens of the Metro-East.” […]
Haine said he believes the law would allow him to spend money in his son’s race [for state’s attorney], or any race, if he chooses.
That’s not all. His latest D-2 filing shows his fund paid $2,588.16 to lease a car. Haine then partially reimbursed the fund $1,050 for that lease on October 24th.
Bill Haine was one of the most respected state Senators of the past quarter century. He shouldn’t taint that image now. He ought to reimburse the fund for all auto lease payments and empty the fund’s account by giving it to charity before this gets out of hand.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I just got off the phone with former Sen. Haine. He said the committee won’t have any fundraisers.
“My intent” he said, “was to give it away over time,” but added “I’m going to accelerate the depletion of the fund” and give the money to local charities. And even though he’s allowed to take some money out for personal use, he won’t do that, either.
He said he’d consulted with the Senate Democrats’ lawyer and was told to move the money into a non-candidate fund. He also said he took some of the comments here to heart.
However, he did say that if his son, a Republican, asks for a contribution, he will give him some of the money.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Matt Dietrich at the Illinois State Board of Elections…
Bill Haine also consulted with our staff before joining the board about the disposition of his candidate committee. His conversion of the committee to a political action committee puts him in compliance with board rules.
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the [Legislative Ethics] Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission’s advance approval before commencing any investigation or issuing a subpoena. Provides that any existing rule, as of the effective date of the amendatory Act, requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission’s advance approval before commencing any investigation or issuing a subpoena is void. Removes language providing that the Legislative Inspector General needs the advance approval of the Commission to issue subpoenas.
* Press release…
The Senate Republican Caucus took action today to restore public trust in an honest and ethical state government.
At a press conference in the Capitol’s blue room, members unveiled a legislative proposal to ensure independent investigations of members of the General Assembly.
State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) filed Senate Bill 2297, which gives the Legislative Inspector General (LIG) the appropriate tools, which the current LIG has suggested, to conduct independent investigations of legislators.
“There is a cloud hanging over the capitol. Recent events have reminded the public that the Illinois legislature is incapable of policing itself,” said Barickman. “Under current law, the Office of the Legislative Inspector General isn’t allowed to have the independence necessary to do its job. It looks like the fox is guarding the hen house. Today we’re acting to change that.”
Currently, except in cases alleging sexual harassment, the LIG must get advance approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) before opening an investigation, or issuing subpoenas. Additionally, if, during the investigation, the LIG discovers wrongdoing that is beyond the scope of, or unrelated to the initial complaint, they have to go back to the LEC to get approval to investigate further.
“What we have currently is a system where politicians are being trusted to police politicians,” said State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy). “Our proposal takes politicians out of the equation and allows the Legislative Inspector General the independence necessary to do their job.”
* Sen. Tracy is a member of the Legislative Ethics Commission. She struggled with a reporter’s question today about another problem with the process. Former Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter wrote an op-ed earlier this year which complained about the item addressed in the Senate Republican bill and something else…
When I agreed to serve as acting legislative inspector general in 2017, I knew that there were structural problems, but never for a minute did I believe that the commission would take any action to thwart my independence. I certainly did not think that the commission would refuse to publish one of my founded summary reports.
Sen. Tracy was on the commission when it decided to forbid Porter from publishing that report.
Thoughts?
…Adding… Senate President John Cullerton…
I welcome their ideas and look forward to working with them and others to get effective results.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) introduced an almost identical bill (the bill does not include subpoena powers) way back in January…
Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Legislative Ethics Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission’s advance approval before commencing any investigation authorized under specified provisions. Provides that any existing rule, as of the effective date of the amendatory Act, requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission’s advance approval before commencing any investigation is void. Effective immediately.
She picked up just one sponsor, a fellow Democrat.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here you go…
Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope tells me she has had constructive conversations with several chiefs of staff, and she’s optimistic reform-minded lawmakers will take up her recommendations in the spring session.
* We talked yesterday about the Illinois Policy Institute’s revelation that a large number of people in the tony suburb of Wilmette will pay higher income taxes if voters approve the graduated income tax next year. One Illinois had a bit of fun with the post…
(W)e’ve had the tech monkeys at One Illinois devise the Sense-Us Illinois Income Hair-Splitter (trademark), a hypermegawatt intuitive AI device that breaks down income for various demographic groups, no matter how unlikely.
For instance, an astounding 99.7 percent of people buying a Lamborghini with cash in Illinois will pay more taxes, but just 5.3 percent of those visiting a Lamborghini showroom will pay more.
An amazing 29.8 percent of Chicago Cubs full-season-ticket holders will pay more, but just 3.7 percent of those who bought one single ticket to a White Sox game this year will.
A jaw-dropping 64.8 percent of those picking up a dinner tab at Alinea in Chicago will pay more, but just 0.9 percent of those dining at Marko’s Fish House in Madison will.
A knee-knocking 94.5 percent of those openly identifying as “fat cats” will pay more, but not a single Illinois fat dog will pay any taxes at all — this year or any year.
And a not-at-all-surprising 100 percent of Richard and Elizabeth Uihleins in Lake Forest and John Tillmans who just happen to be chief executive officer at the IPI will pay more if voters endorse a change in the state constitution and a graduated income tax next year.
Which is really what the IPI’s deep dive into residential income is all about.
* Gov. Pritzker participated in a public policy conference today hosted by Axios. One of the questions was about the corruption probe…
Let me be clear with you and everyone else. I’m angry, frankly, and I’m disgusted by these people who take advantage of the public, who take public office and think that this is OK. That stealing, that lying, that doing business that’s taking away from the public trough. The taxpayers and voters put elected officials in office to safeguard them, to safeguard your resources to make sure that we’re doing the right things so that you have an opportunity to succeed.
And so these people who are taking advantage as if this is all about them and not all about the people that they’re elected by… We are going to make changes in the state of Illinois. We are going to make changes in our ethics laws. We are going to root these people out.
And I’m glad, frankly, that people are being caught and sent away. It is time.
We really have to fix the system in the state. We have too many things to accomplish. You know we have challenges in the state of Illinois. I’m disgusted by all of what’s going on in this regard, and I also view it as they’re throwing obstacles in the way of us accomplishing pension consolidation and lowering taxes, property taxes and other things in the state. There is a corruption tax that sits on top of everyone in the state. We need to get rid of it.
Could be. I mean, certainly it seems like some sprawling investigation here. I mean, I’m wearing the wire you gave me, but [laughter] everyone can hear that.
*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…
At an event organized by Axios, Governor Pritzker, commenting on the recent spate of federal investigations into Democrat politicians, had this to say: “I’m angry, frankly, and I’m disgusted by these people who take advantage of the public, who take public office and think that this is OK, that the stealing, the lying, that doing businesses that’s taking away from the public trough.”
The hypocrisy from the Governor is stunning and should be addressed.
Given that the Governor is disgusted by corruption and those under federal investigation in his own party, how does he feel about himself? He is currently under federal investigation for possible tax fraud.
The Governor recently said he doesn’t believe Madigan should step down as either Speaker or Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois despite the Speaker being named in FBI subpoenas and his close allies having their offices raided by federal investigators. If Pritzker finds the Madigan Machine’s public corruption “disgusting”, why would he not call on Madigan to step aside? Is the Governor trying to have his cake and eat it too?
“The Governor’s words ring hollow. He can’t pretend to clutch his pearls about those under federal investigation when he is currently the center of a federal probe himself. Pritzker should cut the act until he calls on the Mike Madigan, leader of the Illinois Democrat Crime Ring, to step down.” - Joe Hackler, ILGOP Spokesman
* Let’s go back to the end of my Crain’s column from earlier this month, which compared and contrasted the leadership styles of House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, particularly as it relates to the ongoing corruption probe…
When Sen. Ira Silverstein resigned his Senate Democratic leadership after allegations were made of sexual misconduct, and when Cullerton’s cousin was moved out of his Labor Committee chairmanship, the actions were portrayed as a “mutual decision.”
No way would a guy like Sandoval agree to such a “mutual decision.” And no way would Cullerton push him out under these circumstances.
Madigan’s top-down approach has caused him endless grief and even some federal lawsuits, but, for better or worse, I doubt he would have behaved like Cullerton in this [Sandoval] instance.
We saw that clearly play out this week when Madigan quickly started the process of kicking Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) out of office.
State Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said there are intricacies to each case, including the charges filed against Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park.
“There are issues dealing with whether or not the activity alleged directly relates to the legislature – like taking a bribe to pass a bill, something like that – as opposed to something that’s not related,” John Cullerton said.
Tom Cullerton was removed from his position the chairman of the Senate Labor Committee after he was charged with embezzling from the Teamsters union. He was made the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, a move that allowed him to keep a leadership stipend that comes on top of his base salary.
I think an argument could be made that the charges against Tom Cullerton did relate to the legislature. Would he have allegedly obtained that allegedly ghost-payroll job if he wasn’t a state Senator?
Look, I have always liked Tom. I thought he was a decent blue-collar legislator and I was pretty shocked at his indictment, as were plenty of others. But it is what it is. The Senate is the legislative branch, not the judicial branch, so things like due process don’t always translate from one to the other.
State Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park — who has been accused in a federal indictment of being a ghost payroller for the Teamsters — has been in attendance for veto session this week. But state Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, has not shown up for session. Sandoval’s offices and home were raided last month as FBI agents sought evidence of kickbacks in exchange for official actions — as well as information related to five Illinois Department of Transportation employees and several lobbyists. Sandoval, who was a key figure in passing the capital bill, has not been charged.
As part of his bail, Rep. Arroyo was ordered not to have any contact with anyone involved with his case, including the unnamed Senator he allegedly attempted to bribe. As long as that Senator is in Springfield, Arroyo can’t show up without risking a violation. Like he would show up anyway, but you get the idea.
If this were a normal state with reasonable expectations and standards for the ethical conduct of public officials, the first reaction to the news of state Rep. Luis Arroyo’s arrest might have been: What do you mean the state legislator was acting as a lobbyist on the side? How could that be legal?
“This is just a large loophole here,” said Jay Young, executive director of Common Cause Illinois. “It’s the quintessential backroom deal where people with power are making deals to benefit themselves.”
On Tuesday, Republican state Rep. Tom Demmer of Dixon introduced legislation that would ban state lawmakers from getting paid to lobby local governments. Demmer would extend the prohibition to spouses and immediate family members.
“There is a clear conflict of interest for sitting lawmakers to perform paid lobbying work while in office,” Demmer said.
Demmer should consider amending his legislation to also bar local officials from being hired by private entities to lobby state government.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is suggesting a joint House-Senate review of state ethics laws following allegations of bribery against a House member.
The Chicago Democrat said Tuesday the two chambers should consider repeating their combined review of ethics and campaign finance laws following the 2009 impeachment and expulsion of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
House Speaker Michael Madigan said Monday he would appoint a committee to review ethics laws after Rep. Luis Arroyo was accused in a federal complaint of trying to bribe a state senator to support legalization of gambling machines. Arroyo is registered to lobby the Chicago City Council on the same issue.
Arroyo faces expulsion from the House after Madigan started the process Tuesday to investigate Arroyo. He named three House Democrats. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin later tabbed GOP Reps. Margo McDermed of Mokena, Grant Wehrli (WUR’-lee) of Naperville and Dan Ugaste of Geneva.
* We already knew that the feds had interviewed Crestwood’s mayor, but we hadn’t yet seen this subpoena. Here’s Joe Mahr in the Tribune…
Federal authorities sought information related to $27,000 worth of expense reimbursements to Crestwood’s mayor as part of a government corruption investigation that stretches from the southwest suburbs to the statehouse.
The subpoena to Crestwood, obtained by the Tribune through an open records request, resulted in records that touch on some of the same people and same towns that have arisen in the federal probe.
While that wide-ranging effort remains undefined for the public, the Crestwood subpoena was dated Sept. 26, around the same time authorities conducted raids at village halls in McCook and Lyons, as well as the Capitol office of Democratic state Sen. Martin Sandoval.
Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta’s mileage reimbursements show he frequently reported traveling to McCook, including for meetings with Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty. And Presta’s calendar lists a meeting with “Mr. Madigan,” though both the mayor and House Speaker Michael Madigan maintain it never took place.
