That’s not our property tax freeze bill - more games just like they did a couple weeks ago in the House. More phony reforms from Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Jack Franks explains the differences between his proposal and the governor’s via text…
Mine starts in 2015, Rauner’s starts in 2016. The governor’s has prevailing wage, mine does not. Mine does not allow for an increase in the debt extension where his does
A new state-by-state analysis from the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that Wisconsin experienced the biggest decline in middle-class households in the country between the years 2000 and 2013.
The study found that the percentage of households in the middle class dropped in all 50 states, with Wisconsin’s drop from 54.6 percent to 48.9 percent being the most significant. Moreover, Wisconsin saw a 14 percent decline in median household income.
GUIDELINES FOR PROCEEDINGS 15 CR 315 U.S.A. v. HASTERT
The following procedures will apply in connection with the arraignment in U.S.A. v. Hastert, scheduled to commence at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 in Courtroom 1441.
• The U.S. Marshals Service will be in charge of providing security and may limit seating as necessary to ensure the safety of all present.
• All cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices must be turned off while in courtroom 1441.
• Seats will be reserved for news organizations with reporters assigned to the courthouse on a full-time basis: Associated Press, Bloomberg News, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown and WBBM-AM. Each organization is allowed one reserved seat in this row, and must be present at 1:40 p.m. in the hallway outside the courtroom.
• Sketch artists will be provided a seat and must be present at 1:40 p.m. in the hallway outside the courtroom.
• All other media and public will line up in the public corridor outside courtroom 1441. Admission to the courtroom will be on a first come, first served basis. Once all seats are occupied, the courtroom will be closed and those without seats will be directed to the overflow courtroom, 1425.
• Due to other court proceedings, media and spectators may not line up prior to 11:30 a.m.
• Courtroom 1425 will be an audio overflow courtroom only. The media may use laptops and smart phones, etc. to work on their stories in courtroom 1425, but may not record, stream, or photograph while in the courtroom pursuant to Local Rule 83.1. The audio feed will also be streamed to the media office on the second floor.
• Photographing and video or audio recording or transmission of court proceedings is prohibited.
• No beverages or food (other than water at counsel table or the witness stand) are allowed in the courtroom.
• No conversations or disruptive gestures are permitted in the courtroom.
• No interviews or interview requests are permitted on the 14th floor or any other floor of the E.M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse other than in the lobby, pursuant to General Order 07-001.
• Pursuant to General Order 07-001, found at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov, Clerk’s Office Page/Media Information, interviews may occur only in the media area of the lobby. Filming of any security equipment or uniformed security personnel is prohibited.
• Media personnel will have lobby access until 6:00 p.m.
• The recording, streaming, or use of cameras is not allowed in the courthouse, except in the
media area in the lobby.
• Cameras are prohibited in all areas of the courthouse except in the media area of the lobby.
• The U.S. Marshals Service is allowed to restrict the entrance to the media area in the lobby should there arise a life safety issue with occupancy.
• The media is reminded that public safety must be considered, and any action that may cause an unsafe environment will be addressed by the U.S. Marshals Service.
• Failure to comply with these rules will result in removal from the courtroom. Any violation of a court order will be addressed appropriately.
* My absolute favorite line from the session so far is Richard Goldberg’s response to a member’s question during a House approp hearing last week…
“I’m sorry, but your question falls outside the purview of this sham hearing.”
I’ve actually used that line on somebody else since then (substituting “conversation” for “hearing”)
* The quote by the governor’s top legislative liaison perfectly illustrates what Kurt Erickson calls the Rauner administration’s “full-blown snark attack” on Democrats.
My own take about the escalating Raunerite snark, posted earlier today…
Other governors may have prostrated themselves humbly before you [Democrats], but Rauner is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Yeah, the administration’s response was hugely over the top. But that’s the way they roll. Have you forgotten the 2014 campaign already? These folks are stone cold killers. And they ain’t changing. Plus, it’s just show business. Don’t take it personally.
* Some worry that the attacks by Goldberg, et al will hinder a budget/Turnaround Agenda solution.
Meh.
Rank and file Democrats won’t be in the room if this thing is ever settled. So, in the end (if there is an end) their opinion of Goldberg and the other Raunerites probably won’t matter.
* The author of my favorite quote, who, believe it or not, is also one of my favorite people in the Rauner administration…
A bill sponsored by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, that could allow significant savings for Belleville taxpayers by allowing for the dissolution of Belleville Township has passed through the Illinois House and Senate and will now be sent to the governor. […]
Current law only permits townships to be dissolved if there is a county-wide vote approving the dissolution of all townships within the county. Hoffman’s bill, House Bill 3693, allows the members of the Belleville Township Board and Belleville City Council to approve a dissolution ordinance without requiring a countywide vote.
Belleville Township’s lone task is providing temporary general welfare assistance to families who are waiting to receive state aid. The township uses an operating cost of $288,000 and only provides $177,000 in assistance to local families.
That’s some pretty darned low hanging fruit right there.
* I bring this up because Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti’s task force on reducing the number of local governments has been bogged down over her apparent insistence on a handful of anti-union proposals…
The panel met May 20 at the offices of the Illinois Municipal League in Springfield. That meeting came after two previous meetings in April and in May had to be canceled.
But, not enough members showed up May 20 to have a quorum, leaving the committee unable to vote on recommendations designed to jump-start the consolidation process.
Some of the absences were by design. Labor unions, for example, opposed recommendations affecting the prevailing wage, privatization and relief from unfunded state mandates.
The unions then called union-friendly members of the committee and asked them to simply stay away from the meeting.
Afterward, Sanguinetti pledged to work hard to ensure enough members show up at a late June meeting to have an official vote.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says a fundraising e-mail isn’t the same as him making an official endorsement in next year’s Senate race. Durbin sent out a fundraising request on behalf of the Senate bid of U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Hoffman Estates), calling her “a friend” and “a champion,” but he says that’s not a formal endorsement. He says he’s helping with fundraising since the campaign is heating up earlier than he’d hoped.
“The interesting thing about this Senate race is it’s starting so darn early,” Durbin said. “You know, the incumbent senator has started television ads. There’s discussion about primary opponents, and so that’s the reason the e-mail was sent.”
Durbin has said he will endorse and campaign for the Democratic nominee in the race. His fundraising e-mail mentioned how he encouraged Duckworth to run for Congress, but he dismisses the notion that he “discovered her.”
Expect an Illinois GOP press release explaining how this is just horrible for Duckworth in five… four… three…
Domestic-violence organizations also are facing severe funding issues. It is considered one of the “non-critical” social services on the chopping block under Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget cuts.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget cuts would drop funding to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to a level last received in 1986. SIUE faces $19.6 million in cutbacks. That scenario would have devastating effects.
Also on the chopping block is a program that provides funding for low-income renters and homeowners who can’t afford to pay their energy bill.
Catholic Charities, which serves Grundy, Will and other counties in the region, said they often refer clients to the Will County Center for Community Concerns, which administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
“There’s quite a few,” said Pam Terrell, community services division director. “It’s a resource that’s very much needed in our area.”
Worst-case scenario, she said, people will be evicted from their homes and wind up in homeless shelters if they can’t pay the electricity bill.
“I hate to see something like this happen. People who require this program are likely already behind in bills. If this program is all of the sudden not there, you have people living paycheck-to-paycheck who could become homeless,” she said.
For the most part, governors own budget decisions.
* But there are those who are hoping to spread the blame. And they do have a point…
We get letters over the Internet machine aimed at persuading Gov. Bruce Rauner to not be such a meanie and to stop making budget cuts that will damage poor people, children, road contractors, universities and, well, just about everybody who relies on the state’s tax receipts for one thing or another.
One I read came from Kris Kieper, head of the YWCA Rockford. The YWCA is administering the state-funded day care assistance program. The letter explains that the governor intends to increase co-pays for parents, freeze intakes, create waiting lists and begin background checks for day care providers based on the clients they serve, to save money. […]
Outrage should be directed to people like former Gov. Pat Quinn, who went on a $405 million spending spree AFTER he was defeated in the Nov. 4 general election. Quinn doled out grants like crazy, putting our state deeper in debt.
Pleas for mercy should go to Democrats who control the General Assembly; they have passed two unbalanced budgets in a row.
Chuck’s not wrong, although I wouldn’t completely absolve Rauner here. It’s just that for many voters (and reporters) that’s a bit too complicated. Hence the Rauner plan to spend big money on TV if this thing goes to war and the government starts to really shut down. He’s gonna have to redirect that anger at the Democrats.
* Every policymaker in this state should read these two Tribune articles. The first one’s from last month…
Alarming levels of brain-damaging lead are poisoning more than a fifth of the children tested from some of the poorest parts of Chicago, even as the hazard has been largely eliminated in more prosperous neighborhoods, a Tribune investigation has found.
The toxic legacy of lead — added to paint and gasoline for nearly a century — once threatened kids throughout the nation’s third largest city. As Chicago’s overall rate of lead poisoning steadily dropped during the past two decades, the disparities between rich and poor grew wider.
Some census tracts, smaller geographic areas within neighborhoods, haven’t seen a case of lead poisoning in years. But children ages 5 and younger continue to be harmed at rates up to six times the city average in corners of predominantly African-American neighborhoods ravaged by extreme poverty, chronic violence and struggling schools, according to a Tribune analysis of city records.
In more than a fifth of the city’s census tracts, the rate of lead poisoning was higher in 2013 than it was five years earlier, the analysis showed. […]
In the upscale Lincoln Park neighborhood around DePaul University, more than 80 percent of kids tested in 1995 had elevated lead levels — about the same rate as the southeast corner of Austin, one of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods.
By 2013 the rate for the DePaul neighborhood had plummeted to zero. But in the same part of Austin, testing found dangerous lead levels in nearly 24 percent of kids tested.
“People in neighborhoods like Englewood have faced multiple assaults over different periods of time — job losses, segregation, housing discrimination,” said Robert J. Sampson, a Harvard University researcher who has been studying Chicago for more than two decades. “Yet through all of that there is this persistent lead poisoning. It creates a social context where kids are at a clear disadvantage.”
Sampson recently added lead data to his existing research on poverty, education and crime in Englewood and other neighborhoods. The results, he said, were shocking. A map of lead poisoning rates among children younger than 6 in 1995, for instance, looks very similar to a map of aggravated assault rates in 2012, when those kids were 17 to 22 years old.
A former chief of lead poisoning prevention at the Chicago Department of Public Health, [Anne Evens] obtained the lead tests of more than 58,000 children born in the city from 1994 to 1998 and compared the results with how they performed on standardized tests in third grade.
Her peer-reviewed study, published in April in the scientific journal Environmental Health, found that exposure to lead during early childhood significantly increased the chance that a student would fail reading and math tests, even when controlling for other factors such as poverty, race, birth weight and the mother’s education level. […]
Jessica Wolpaw Reyes, an economist at Amherst College, studied what happened during the 1990s when Massachusetts embarked on an effort to eliminate lead paint hazards in homes with young children. She found the $5 million-a-year program helped reduce the number of students who performed poorly on standardized tests by 1 to 2 percentage points, with most of the benefits seen among children from low-income communities.
While that might not sound like much of an improvement, Reyes said, it was equivalent to what the state could have expected if it had closed the income gap between poor and middle-income communities by 22 percent.
Emphasis added for obvious reasons.
If there ever is a capital bill, lawmakers and the governor ought to make lead removal a serious priority.
It’s hard to argue with the growing body of research, but even if abatement doesn’t lower crime and increase learning abilities, lead is a nasty, nasty poison and removing it from the environment ought to be on our agenda.
* These three will be very high-level targets next year. From the IL GOP…
A Time for Choosing
It’s time for Sen. Forby, Rep. Bradley, and Rep. Phelps to stand up for taxpayers instead of President Cullerton and Speaker Madigan
Last week, Democrats in Springfield passed a budget with a $4 billion hole. Last year, they passed a budget that was unbalanced by $1.6 billion. The Democrats controlled by House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton reject reform and pass unbalanced budgets.
After more than 80 years in power, Mike Madigan and John Cullerton wield unmatched power over their House and Senate members. Sen.Gary Forby, Rep. John Bradley, and Rep. Brandon Phelps claim to represent Southern Illinois, but they are controlled by the heavy hand of John Cullerton and Mike Madigan.
It’s time for Forby, Bradley, and Phelps to stand up for Southern Illinois taxpayers instead of their Chicago bosses Madigan & Cullerton.
Sen. Gary Forby
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Forby Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Forby Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills.(Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Forby Has Taken $695,131 From Madigan, Cullerton And Committees They Control. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Rep. John Bradley
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Bradley Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Bradley Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills.(Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Bradley Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s 67% Tax Increase. (SB2505, 1/11/2011)
Bradley Has Taken $71,979 From Madigan And Committees He Controls. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Rep. Brandon Phelps
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Phelps Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Phelps Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills.(Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Phelps Has Taken $74,815 From Madigan And Committees He Controls. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor will speak in that area today…
Daily Public Schedule: June 8, 2015
What: Governor Discusses the Turnaround Agenda’s Impact on Williamson County
Where: Black Diamond Harley Davidson
2400 Williamson County Pkwy., Marion
Date: Monday, June 8, 2015
Time: 12:00 p.m.
What: Governor Discusses the Turnaround Agenda’s Impact on St. Clair County
Where: Eckert’s Belleville County Store & Farm
951 S. Green Mount Rd., Belleville
Date: Monday, June 8, 2015
Time: 2:45 p.m.
*** UPDATE 2 *** As noted in the above update, the governor also plans to be in the Metro East today…
A Time for Choosing
It’s time for Metro East Democrats to stand up for taxpayers instead of President Cullerton and Speaker Madigan
Last week, Democrats in Springfield passed a budget with a $4 billion hole. Last year, they passed a budget that was unbalanced by $1.6 billion. The Democrats controlled by House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton reject reform and pass unbalanced budgets.
After more than 80 years in power, Mike Madigan and John Cullerton wield unmatched power over their House and Senate members. Sen. Bill Haine, Sen. James Claybourne, Rep. Jay Hoffman, Rep. Jerry Costello, and Rep. Daniel Beiser claim to represent Southern Illinois, but they are controlled by the heavy hand of John Cullerton and Mike Madigan.
It’s time for Haine, Claybourne, Hoffman, Costello, and Beiser to stand up for Southern Illinois taxpayers instead of their Chicago bosses Madigan & Cullerton.
Sen. Bill Haine
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Haine Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Haine Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Haine Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s 67% Tax Increase. (SB2505, 1/11/2011)
Haine Has Taken $295,821 From Madigan, Cullerton And Committees They Control. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Sen. James Clayborne
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Clayborne Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Clayborne Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Clayborne Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s 67% Tax Increase. (SB2505, 1/11/2011)
Clayborne Has Taken $63,194 From Madigan And Committees He Controls. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Rep. Jay Hoffman
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Hoffman Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Hoffman Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Hoffman Has Taken $351,178 From Madigan And Committees He Controls. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Rep. Jerry Costello
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Costello Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Costello Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Costello Has Taken $192,851 From Madigan And Committees He Controls. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Rep. Daniel Beiser
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2015 Was Unbalanced By $1.6 Billion. “Illinois lawmakers moved Monday to plug a gaping $1.6 billion hole in this year’s state budget after weeks of tense negotiations between a Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature over authority to transfer funds as money runs out for social programs such as subsidized day care. (”Illinois House Passes Plan To Fill State’s $1.6 Billion Budget Hole,” The Associated Press, 3/24/2015)
Beiser Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2015 Budget. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
The Budget Constructed By Madigan And Cullerton For FY2016 Is Unbalanced By More Than $3 Billion. “House Democrats worked into the evening Tuesday to push through major parts of a new budget they acknowledge is at least $3 billion short in an effort to force new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to eventually go along with a tax increase to fill the deficit.” (Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger, “Illinois Democrats Push Ahead With Budget That’s $3 Billion Short,” Chicago Tribune, 5/26/2015)
Beiser Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s Unbalanced FY2016 Budget Bills. (Illinois General Assembly Records, Accessed 6/7/2015)
Beiser Voted To Pass Madigan And Cullerton’s 67% Tax Increase. (SB2505, 1/11/2011)
Beiser Has Taken $242,997 From Madigan And Committees He Controls. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 6/7/2015)
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the twitters…
.@GovRauner to legislators: are you loyal to Madigan or are you going to vote for taxpayers and homeowners?
* Tom Kasich writes about a former House Republican candidate’s trials and tribulations on the campaign trail as he attempted to keep his restaurant afloat…
“For me it always comes back to that I need to take care of my (restaurant) staff and to be honest, one of the things that was tough the last time is that I’m a very, very easy target,” [Rob Meister] said. “All it takes is someone to come in here or call or email or whatever and they can say they’d like to make a reservation for 40 people at 7 o’clock next Friday night. I take down their name and phone number and ask if they want me to do a private menu or anything. And then 20 minutes after they were supposed to show up I call them and they call me everything besides a nice person and slam the phone in my ear, and then I’m out money that I had booked for that space.“
Meister said the dirty tricks happened “weekly” when he ran against former state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson three years ago, a race he lost 69 percent to 31 percent.
“There were one-star reviews of the restaurant popping up (online) every other week where people wouldn’t even give the right information. They’d write about a dish that we don’t even serve that supposedly was super-cold,” he said. “Honestly, my Number One worry is it’s just so easy when you meticulously try to plan your week-to-week business. It’s easy for someone to throw a wrench into that.”
When things can get that mean in a lopsided district like former Rep. Jakobsson’s, just imagine how rough it gets during a hotly contested race in a much more equally drawn district.
My name is Maddie Murray, and I am a junior at New Trier High School. For my semester project, my partner Casi Radulovic and I wanted to advocate for special needs families regarding Rauner’s FY16 budget plan. As you may or may not know, this budget plan could harm thousands of special needs families throughout Illinois, particularly those that receive services through organizations like Glenkirk. In response, we created a video in which we interviewed four special needs families that use respite services from Glenkirk to highlight some of the impacts these cuts will have on families.
I had been referred to you through Josh Evans from IARF, who helped us a lot with our project. He suggested that we ask you to post our video on your blog to help inform the public and the representatives about these cuts.
Gov. Bruce Rauner says he wants [Rob Meister] to consider running for Senate, and is willing to bankroll his campaign to the tune of about a million dollars.
“He told me very specifically that he has 20 million dollars and that he’s working to do a million for 20 races that he thinks are the most winnable,” said Meister, the 32-year-old owner of Minneci’s Ristorante in southwest Champaign, and an unsuccessful candidate for state representative in 2012. […]
Meister said he has met with Rauner a few times, the most recent being last month at the Executive Mansion. […]
Meister knows he’s not the only potential candidate on Rauner’s radar. The governor has talked to Urbana attorney Erika Harold as well.
If he runs, he’d be up against appointed state Sen. Scott Bennett, who took Mike Frerichs’ seat when Frerichs was elected treasurer.
After five months, you’d think that the warring parties at the Illinois Statehouse would have learned something about each other. Instead, last week’s bitter and divisive House overtime session showed that they still fundamentally misunderstand one another.
What follows are some questions I’m hearing and my own responses.
Republicans: Why would the House Democrats propose such a weak workers’ compensation reform plan last week when they knew Gov. Bruce Rauner wants so much more?
The Democrats’ plan didn’t contain much real-world progress and actually regressed in part. Unless you read between the lines. Workers’ comp insurance essentially is a no-fault system designed to keep disputes out of the courts. For years, Republicans have attempted to insert “causation” into the system in order to weed out employees whose injuries are mostly not the fault of employers.
But House Speaker Michael Madigan’s bill used the term “causal” in relation to a certain kind of injury. This was a pretty good indication that after more than 30 years as speaker, Madigan is moving away from his complete opposition to causation standards.
He appears willing to deal on this topic because he attached his language to a House bill that now can be amended by the Senate. If he had used a Senate bill, it would have been “take it or leave it.”
So build on the causation issue and ignore his other items that set the negotiations back. It’s not rocket science.
Democrats: Why won’t the Republicans accept the fact that we’re moving in their direction but can only go so far? We’re not Republicans.
The governor believes Republican legislators were far too content in the past to accept any crumbs the Democrats offered. Those days are over. We have a Republican governor who is demanding significant change. And with the session in overtime, he’s not going to want to look like he’s caving to Madigan, as so many of his predecessors did. The Democrats must keep moving toward the governor’s position or this thing ain’t ever gonna end.
Republicans: Madigan hasn’t moved an inch all spring. We’ve retreated on dozens of issues, so why won’t he give up a single priority?
He has. If you look at his floor actions as a negotiating process, Madigan has eliminated several of Rauner’s proposals from consideration by defeating them during floor votes. He did the very same thing to his millionaires’ tax proposal. The Republicans interpreted the floor vote as an insult to the wealthy governor. Well, yeah, but its defeat also effectively took the issue off the table. Ignore the show business and look for progress.
Democrats: Why did the Republicans go nuclear on Democrats in committee last week by claiming we were conducting a “sexist smear campaign” against one of their appointees who is drawing her $250,000 salary from a mostly unrelated state agency? We’ve held plenty of similar hearings about Democratic governors. It’s part of our budgetary oversight process.
Y’all were preparing to zing the governor with an over the top claim that he was stealing money from poor people in the Department of Human Services budget and giving it to his education czar. Other governors may have prostrated themselves humbly before you, but Rauner is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Yeah, the administration’s response was hugely over the top. But that’s the way they roll. Have you forgotten the 2014 campaign already? These folks are stone cold killers. And they ain’t changing. Plus, it’s just show business. Don’t take it personally.
Republicans: Madigan negotiated privately and in good faith on the fiscal 2015 budget problem without all these silly floor votes and side shows. Why won’t he just sit down with us now and hash out the new budget and the governor’s turnaround agenda?
There was some initial anger over the “Good Friday Massacre,” when the governor unilaterally cut programs that Madigan had inserted, including autism assistance funding. But Madigan got over that because he had unilaterally put that money into the appropriations bill, so he figured he should have cleared it with Rauner. The tide changed in April. Why? Well, one reason is that that’s when local governments around the state began voting on the governor’s draft resolution in support of Rauner’s anti-union agenda. That freaked out labor to no end. Eventually, I think, Madigan decided that Rauner was more interested in campaigning than governing and sided with his fired-up base.
Plus, Madigan is, um . . . odd. He ain’t changing, either. You gotta figure him out if you really want a deal. If you don’t want a deal, fine. Otherwise, start learning.
The subscriber version of this included several additional points of possible compromise.
It seems to be an article of faith on the right that if Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner declares war and spends millions of dollars on TV attack ads targeting Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, Rauner will “win” and Madigan will “lose” and the speaker will be forced to negotiate with Rauner in good faith.
But I don’t think Madigan is going to cave any time soon.
When Senate President John Cullerton wanted to send the governor a separate education budget bill that exactly matched the governor’s own proposal, Madigan shot down the idea, reportedly because he didn’t want to take the chance that Rauner might sign it and schools would open on schedule this August.
In other words, the man appears serious about crashing the government if the governor declares all-out war.
In 2007 and 2008, when the world’s economy started to tank, Madigan ignored the growing economic and state fiscal disasters because he was determined to continue his fight with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Madigan’s unwillingness to make peace is one reason the state was so ill-prepared to deal with the global crash.
Rauner has far more resources at his disposal than Blagojevich ever did, so the right’s firm belief in victory over Madigan seems unshakable. We’ve seen it in editorials, columns and press releases over the past several days, and we’re sure to see more.
But after talking with some top Rauner people, I don’t think…
Why does it have to be a war? Because the entrenched power brokers that have run Illinois for so long do not wish to release their power … despite running the State into the ground! They’d rather remain in charge than fix this State (think on that, please). So this will be the summer of our political discontent. Some of the battles will be conspicuous and well known, but most will not. But just know this, there is a war happening right now for the future of Illinois. And Illinois is worth fighting for. PLEASE read the link http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-madigan-rauner-cullerton-illinois-afscme-edit-20150605-story.html
* Moving on to Twitter…
.@GovRauner actually pays tax dollars for @LTrover to behave like a juvenile on Twitter? What a colossal was waste of state funds. #twill
— State Rep. Lou Lang (@StateRepLouLang) June 5, 2015
Committee of the Whole on Property Tax System in Illinois Announced
What: Testimony on Property Tax System in Illinois
Who: President Cullerton Announces Committee of the Whole
Where: Senate Floor, Springfield
When: Tuesday, June 9th at Noon
House Democrats on Thursday passed their own workers’ compensation reform bill despite warnings from their Republican colleagues that it faces a certain veto.
Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, said Democrats were making a sincere effort to improve the administration of the workers’ comp law and deliver savings to employers.
“We believe that, for the first time, this is us trying to extend an olive branch to the governor,” Hoffman said. “We are trying to move this issue forward.”
House Republicans were not buying in, especially when it came to changes in the definition of causation, or what makes an injury a workers’ comp-eligible injury.
Rauner rejected the proposal labeling it as “phony” and warned that it could potentially cost businesses more. “This makes us less competitive,” he said. The legislation, which passed along party lines. The measure simply codifies existing interpretation of the law for legal purposes, critics say.
Rauner bashed Madigan, saying he believed some Democrats might embrace his proposals if not for their fear of angering the head of the state Democratic Party, who controls the party’s purse strings.
One of the amendments added to the legislation addresses how compensation is paid if an injury is repetitive. Another would allow insurers to sue a previous employer for some of the costs incurred with injuries.
Another item makes it difficult for a company’s employees to obtain compensation if they injure themselves while traveling.
But it wasn’t workers’ compensation that sparked a scorching verbal volley at day’s end. It was a Rauner aide’s comments to lawmakers who earlier in the day questioned him about how Rauner is paying his $250,000-a-year education secretary.
Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Goldberg labeled the appropriations committee’s proceedings as a “sham” when asked why school czar Beth Purvis is on the payroll of the Department of Human Services – an agency Rauner has targeted for spending cuts to deal with the deficit. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the arrangement last week.
Goldberg said previous governors had done the same thing and said, “There’s no reason to subject a great leader like Beth Purvis to a sham hearing.”
* I posted the governor’s stuff yesterday, so let’s take a look at the response…
Democrats say they are not concerned about Dr. Purvis’ qualifications or salary, but that her pay is coming out of a department facing significant cuts which will affect the elderly and children. They argue Dr. Purvis’ salary should come out of the education department or the governor’s office.
“This is not anything other than us being worried about precious dollars being diverted from the programs we are struggling to maintain,” said Representative Natalie Manley (D) Joliet.
“It really looks bad when we’re taking poor people off of child care and kicking them off of community care and paying somebody out of this budget,” said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago. […]
“Her gender should have absolutely nothing to do with this conversation,” said Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison. “That is not what we’re questioning. We’re questioning why is her salary coming out of our budget.”
Purvis herself did not appear before the committee, though numerous members said they wanted to question her personally.
Later in the day, state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, blasted Rauner’s aide on the House floor.
“You used that committee time as an opportunity to be insulting and to be degrading and to say things that are beneath the dignity of this chamber,” Lang shouted. “I stand against those comments. I stand against that press release. . . . Those comments were degrading to the process, and they should stop.”
When Lang sat down after his remarks, Democrats gave him a standing ovation, including Madigan — who inched toward Lang while applauding and smiling.
State Rep. Lou Lang took to the House floor on Thursday to denounce Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration for accusing Democrats of launching a “sexual smear campaign” against education czar Beth Purvis.
A key Rauner aide answered back.
On Twitter.
“Seriously, Lou. Give it up. It is a sexist smear campaign you and your colleagues continue to engage in,” Rauner’s communication director Lance Trover (@ltrover) tweeted.
Trover also tweeted: “Lou Lang – another politician Madigan controls,” and “Speaker Madigan to Gov: please, please just raise taxes so we can all go home!!”
As House Speaker Mike Madigan took questions from reporters after the House session, Trover tweeted: “The Speaker is the best spokesman for everything that is wrong in this state.”
* An e-mail sent to state employees by the administration…
The many important issues facing the State of Illinois require that all of us make every effort to be thoroughly informed.
The ongoing collective bargaining process is of particular interest - understandably so - given the contracts’ expiration date of June 30, 2015.
To provide a forum for all employees to raise questions and seek answers is one way that we can be better informed with timely and accurate information.
A new website will be available today and will be at http://www.illinois.gov/EmployeeFAQs.
The site will provide you the detail regarding how to submit questions and will be periodically updated with questions and their associated answers. We urge you to visit this site every few days to inform yourself and raise any concerns that you might have.
Welcome to the Illinois state employee Frequently Asked Questions website. The state recognizes that its employees may have concerns about a variety of issues. This website provides a forum for employees to raise questions and find answers about a variety of subjects, including labor issues, the state’s finances, and new policies that may have an impact on state employees.
All questions submitted by employees through this website will remain anonymous. In fact, employees can and should submit questions without providing their names. Thank you for your interest in the state.
State Finances & Economics
Q: Is the state truly facing a financial crisis?
A. Yes. Years of mismanagement have caused a financial crisis. When Governor Rauner took office, the state had nearly $6 billion in unpaid bills, a mid-year budget deficit of $1.5 billion, and over $100 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. Moreover, the state is now facing an over $3 billion hole in the budget the General Assembly recently passed for the upcoming fiscal year.
Contract Expiration – 6/30/15
Q: Will managers have to perform the jobs of union employees if those union employees strike?
A. The administration is negotiating with the unions in good faith and hopes all employees remain active and productive. That said, the state is developing plans to ensure continuity of services for any number of contingencies.
Q: Who makes the decision to strike? Can I abstain?
A. Most unions follow some process by which they request the union membership to vote to authorize their bargaining representatives to initiate a strike. You should familiarize yourself with the process your union follows. If the union initiates a strike, you still have the absolute right to remain at work or return to work.
Ten years ago, I invited a wounded warrior from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to join me in the Capitol for the State of the Union address. Her name was Tammy Duckworth.
Now, my friend, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth is running to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate in an amazing journey from the battlefields of Iraq to the campaign battleground in Illinois.
Tammy is no stranger to tough challenges, but to win this race, she is going to need our full support. Join me in backing Tammy’s campaign for U.S. Senate by contributing today. […]
From the beginning, Tammy impressed me with her determination to overcome adversity and her commitment to her brothers and sisters in uniform.
It wasn’t long after I met her that she was calling me about problems facing other wounded soldiers and combat veterans at Walter Reed. So eventually, I encouraged her to run for Congress so that she could better advocate for veterans and for working families.
She’s already doing a terrific job, working to help veterans find jobs and access mental health care, and standing up for working families on issues like protecting Medicare and making college more affordable.
The incumbent in this race is already running television ads — 18 months before the election! Tammy needs our help to catch up.
Illinois families deserve a champion like Tammy Duckworth fighting for them in the U.S. Senate. Contribute $5 now to support her campaign.
The timing of Durbin’s endorsement is an extra boost. At the end of March, Duckworth announced her bid to replace Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill. Since then, competition in the March 2016 Democratic primary surfaced.
Andrea Zopp, who is leaving as Urban League chief and Chicago Board of Education member, also is running, with a formal announcement coming in July or August, her campaign said.
I asked Zopp for her reaction to the Durbin move, and she noted that his endorsement was no surprise.
* Remember when Sen. Mark Kirk refused to endorse Durbin’s Republican opponent last year? Well…
Kevin Artl, Kirk’s campaign manager, said in statement that Durbin “is once again choosing political party over Illinois. By hand-picking Sen. Kirk’s opponent, he abandons the bipartisan partnership that they have cultivated on behalf of our state and has delivered a real blow to Illinois.”
* The ILGOP piles on…
“It is clear that Dick Durbin’s endorsement of Tammy Duckworth’s fledgling campaign is a reflection of growing concern among Washington powerbrokers about her candidacy. Duckworth is not an independent voice because she is beholden to insiders in Chicago and the nation’s capital. Senator Mark Kirk is a thoughtful, reform-minded leader who speaks for all Illinois citizens,” said Nick Klitzing, Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party.
The Republicans are attempting to cause as much trouble for Duckworth as they can because they apparently fear her more than Zopp.
“I don’t know of any bill that actually passed that’s more important to the business community,” says Illinois Chamber of Commerce chief Todd Maisch, whose group was one of several business and labor organizations that backed the measure. “We’ve been pushing this for 10 years.”
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, deals with something known as Prevention of Significant Deterioration permits. According to the chamber, 41 other states, including all of those around Illinois, now have state-run PSD programs. The bill allows Illinois to do the same, “putting the state on a level playing field with other states,” by adopting federal regulations as state rules.
There were some changes in wording during the legislative process, and those were enough to get green groups to drop their opposition, says the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s Howard Learner. For instance, the state rules can be more stringent than the federal standards, and those who object to proposed rules will more easily be able to intervene in court or appeals process.
Nekritz notes that Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office also was actively involved in developing the bill. “Everyone negotiated,” she puts it—despite the “bigger picture” battles over the budget, pensions and other matters.
Several fronts saw significant progress this year. This is only one.
In Steve Reinboldt’s 1970 high school yearbook, wrestling coach Dennis Hastert wrote that Steve was his “great, right hand man” as the student equipment manager of the Yorkville, Illinois wrestling team.
But Steve was also a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Hastert, Steve’s sister said today in an interview with ABC News. It is the first time an alleged Hastert victim has been identified by name since his indictment for lying to the FBI and violating federal banking laws to cover-up past misconduct. Hastert, due in court next week, has not responded to the allegations.
In an emotional interview, Steve Reinboldt’s sister Jolene said she first learned of her late brother’s purported years-long sexual abuse at the hands of the future Speaker of the House back in 1979 when her brother revealed to her that he was gay and had been out of high school for eight years.
“I asked him, when was your first same sex experience. He looked at me and said, ‘It was with Dennis Hastert,’” Jolene said. “I was stunned.”
Jolene said she asked her brother why he never told anyone. “And he just turned around and kind of looked at me and said, ‘Who is ever going to believe me?’” […]
“He took his belief in himself and his kind of right to be a normal person,” Jolene said. “Here was the mentor, the man who was, you know, basically his friend and stepped into that parental role, who was the one who was abusing him… He damaged Steve I think more than any of us will ever know.”
There’s so much more. Click here if you can stomach it.
He was a manager of the wrestling team that Hastert coached, the AP found. He was also manager of the football team, student council president and a member of the pep club, letterman’s club, the French club and the yearbook staff. […]
Burdge said her brother told her about his past with Hastert in 1979, after she graduated high school, but never brought his story out into the open because he feared “nobody would believe him.” […]
Burdge considered telling her brother’s story in 2006, as a scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley unfolded. Foley, a Florida Republican, was discovered sending inappropriate emails and sexually explicit instant messages to former House pages while Hastert was speaker. Burdge spoke briefly with news outlets, including the AP, but she ultimately decided against coming forward with a statement at that time. Hastert stepped down in 2007.
By the end of 2006, the House Ethics Committee put out a 200-plus page report indicating that Hastert, his aides and others had failed to take sufficient steps to put a stop to Foley’s long-standing overtures to current and former House pages.
Hastert was singled out for not acting on warnings about Foley’s emails — cautions delivered separately to him by two GOP officials in spring 2006. That was months before media attention on the sexually charged electronic communications Foley sent to former pages led to Foley’s resignation. The warnings came after top Hastert aides were told Foley was behaving inappropriately with male pages, the report said. […]
The committee, in a 200-page report issued in December 2006, found the “weight of the evidence” supported the conclusion that Hastert was told, at least in passing, by both Boehner and Reynolds about Foley’s worrisome emails.
“In all, a pattern of conduct was exhibited among many individuals to remain willfully ignorant of the potential consequences” of Foley’s conduct with pages, the report said.
In the worst of his personal scenarios, Rauner does not run for a second term.
He goes back to one of his seven homes and two ranches. He pops open one of those exclusive bottles of California wine as his friends pat him on the back for giving it his all.
That sounds like a damn good alternative for a man with little to lose.
Rauner knows that.
So does Madigan.
Yeah, and what folks are failing to realize is that Madigan may be willing to “help along” that very scenario: Make Rauner’s life so miserable that he leaves office after a single term.
Something to think about while everyone seems to be cheerleading for war.
Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill. is donating $10,000 former House Speaker Dennis Hastert R-Ill. contributed to his 2010 Senate fund to a Waukegan charity. […]
Hastert sent the $10,000 to Kirk through his political action fund, “Keep Our Mission PAC.” Kirk’s Senate campaign fund will send the money to Family First.
The DSCC turned up the heat on Kirk and two other senators who took Hastert contributions, Sen. John Boozeman R-Ar. and Sen. Roy Blunt R-Mo. and were aiming to play hardball over the Hastert donation.
“Mark Kirk should return or donate Denny Hastert’s money immediately,” said Sadie Weiner, DSCC National Press Secretary in a statement. “Kirk has taken $10,000 from Denny Hastert who is just the latest Republican Speaker of the House to face serious charges about corruption and misconduct, and until Kirk returns the funds he is giving his tacit approval to these bad actions.”
* That action has prompted the DCCC to demand that GOP Congressman Rodney Davis jettison his Hastert money…
“After refusing to donate money from Aaron Schock’s shady coffers, as well as refusing to cooperate with ongoing ethics investigations, with Hastert’s contributions Congressman Davis now is the recipient of funds from two disgraced former members of the House Republican caucus,” said DCCC spokeswoman Sacha Haworth. “How long will it take for Rodney Davis to come out of the Washington shadows and return these dirty donations?”
Davis received a mere $2,000, but that money could make more problems than it’s worth for him.
* I met Emma not long ago and found her to be very intelligent, bright and quite politically aware for someone her age (or any age, for that matter). She’s also a regular reader of the blog, so go check this out…
Emma Todd, then a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Tulsa, found herself seriously contemplating suicide, again. This time, the Springfield native had made her way to the top of a building. She wanted to jump, but someone stopped her. “I have been extremely lucky. A lot of people aren’t; a lot of people kill themselves,” she says.
Todd struggles with depression, and for much of her young life, body dysmorphic disorder has been a part of that. It’s a mental disorder in which an individual sees his or her body as defective, and at times some people dissociate from their bodies completely. Todd is transgender, and she’s not alone in her feelings.
In 2011, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality published a first-of-its-kind report on discrimination and challenges faced by transgender people. It found that 41 percent of respondents had attempted suicide at some point in their lives. Discrimination is seen in nearly every facet of life — from education to health care to work and relationships. The same study found that of the respondents who had come out as trans in K-12 school, 78 percent reported having been harassed. Respondents dealt with extreme poverty — the sample was four times more likely to live on $10,000 or less per year than the overall population, and they faced double the rate of unemployment. Transgender people face higher risk of physical and sexual abuse. Nineteen percent of respondents reported domestic violence as a direct result of their gender identity. Respondents were more likely to turn to drugs and prostitution than the overall population. For trans people of color, the situation is even grimmer.
In Illinois, transgender individuals have more protections than many other states. According to the Transgender Law & Policy Institute, Illinois is one of 19 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have laws prohibiting discrimination based on someone’s gender identity or expression. But there’s still a push by activists and legislators to enact policies they say would better the quality of life for transgender people.
Todd, now 20, says about her gender: “I was uncomfortable since about the time I was probably 4 or 5 or so. I suppose that’s the earliest I remember it at least … I had felt extremely uncomfortable with my body.” By the time she was 15, Todd knew there was a word for what she was feeling. She had found a forum online for transgender people to share experiences. “For the first time, I felt like there was someone who understood what I was going through.”
This is not a usual topic for this blog, but we should all remember the human faces on the abstract issues we often discuss. So, go read the whole thing and please be respectful in comments. Thanks.
House Democrats engage in sexist smear campaign
to deflect from own failures
Ignore Democrat Legislative Staff Compensation topping $300k Taking a pay raise, while trying to raise taxes on hardworking Illinoisans Fail to explain why budget doesn’t cut General Assembly
SPRINGFIELD - In an effort to distract from their own pay raises, refusal to cut their own budget or that of other Democratic officeholders and passage of a phony state budget with a $4 billion hole, Illinois Democrats today sought to smear the reputation of one of Illinois’ leading educators before a House committee.
“It is clear that politicians controlled by Mike Madigan will stop at nothing to distract from what they’re doing in Springfield,” Governor Rauner Spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “Instead of stopping their own pay increase, instead of cutting their own General Assembly budget and instead of passing an honest, balanced state budget, they are engaging in a sexist smear campaign to tarnish the reputation of a woman who has dedicated her life to improving education for children in this state and makes less in total compensation than the men who lead the offices of the House Speaker and Senate President.”
House Democrats recently passed an out of balance budget that keeps level funding for the General Assembly, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State while cutting the Governor and the Comptroller by 10 percent.
Furthermore, the committee refuses to address some of the highest paid staff of the General Assembly - some topping the $300,000 mark.
* The accompanying chart…
* More…
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Gov. Rauner Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Goldberg House Appropriations Committee on Human Services June 4, 2015
Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee -
Beth Purvis is the one of the most accomplished women I have ever met. A Doctorate in early childhood special education, Beth has devoted her life to bettering the world for future generations. Across Illinois, across America, around the world - Beth is a respected education and cradle-to-career expert who is sought after for her wisdom, leadership and counsel.
Put simply, Governor Rauner recruited a superstar to be in his cabinet. To bring a new approach to how the state treats education and child development. Beth’s philosophy is simple: every agency, every program, every taxpayer dollar that touches a child’s life should be coordinated to support a cradle-to-career approach for each new generation.
As this committee knows well, early childhood education and a range of other programs that touch child development are housed at the Department of Human Services. The Board of Education, Board of Higher Ed, Community College Board and Student Assistance Commission play critical roles as well.
It’s no secret that Governor Rauner puts the issue of education at the top of his priority list. It’s also no secret that, for too many years, Illinois has been failing kids when it comes to education.
So it should be no surprise that a new governor dedicated to turning around education would recruit a superstar like Beth Purvis for his cabinet.
Now I want to make a couple of points that everyone on this committee knows to be true.
First - paying top administration personnel out of agencies is not new. This is a standard practice of every administration. And when you compare this administration’s IGA personnel costs to the previous administration, Governor Rauner comes in more than $500,000 under Governor Quinn on spending.
Second - and I think in the 21st century when we think the days of double standards are behind us - I am deeply troubled by a hearing targeting a highly successful, highly respected woman in our administration when the male staff of the Democratic leadership makes as much or more in compensation. I want to be clear - I am not here to criticize their pay or their professionalism - I’ve worked with them and find them to be utmost professionals. But I will not sit by and watch you berate and belittle an incredibly successful woman like Beth, when those who control this Committee refuse to look in the mirror.
Third, I would point out the deep hypocrisy in attacking the pay of administration personnel when the career politicians who run the General Assembly refuse to cut their own budget or stop their own pay increases.
The out of balance budget you passed keeps level funding for the GA, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State while cutting the Governor and the Comptroller by 10 percent. We are willing to do our part - why won’t you?
Separately, as you know, legislation is required to stop the automatic pay increases legislators receive every year. Leader Durkin and Leader Radogno have introduced legislation to stop this pay increase but the majority refuses to pass that. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee - if this hearing was anything more than a charade to distract the public from your phony $4 billion out of balance budget, you’d have already passed that bill and sent it to the governor’s desk
Let’s call this hearing what it is. A desperate attempt to distract the public from your phony unbalanced budget and your demand to raise taxes without reform — all at the expense of a talented woman who has earned her pay and position.
Let’s end this hearing now and use the time to get back to the negotiating table to deliver a balanced budget and real reform for the people of Illinois.
Illinois House members will return to Springfield on Thursday and are scheduled to take up a workers’ compensation reform bill.
But even before lawmakers arrive in town, Gov. Bruce Rauner said the bill doesn’t go far enough.
“Our team has very quickly reviewed it,” Rauner said. “I’m sad to say that based upon that review, it’s not real reform. It’s more of the same, more of a phony reform, more of an insignificant reform. We’ve seen this movie before.”
Rather than being an attempt at compromise, Rauner said, the proposed bill will actually cost businesses more in some cases.
* From Lance Trover…
“Unsurprisingly, Speaker Madigan has proposed phony reforms in any effort to protect his special interest allies. His proposal ignores the most important reforms we need for our worker’s compensation system, and in another instance, could actually undermine previous reform efforts. Sadly, this is exactly the type of unserious, political posturing Illinoisans have now come to expect from the Speaker and the politicians he controls. Illinois needs real reform.”
* From the business lobby…
Illinois job creators have consistently called for comprehensive and meaningful reform of the Workers’ Compensation Act that will significantly reduce costs for employers – private and public sector - while protecting the rights of legitimately injured workers and ensuring their access to quality health care. Despite the 2011 reforms, Illinois still has the 7th highest cost of workers’ compensation in the United States and it is consistently cited as one of the primary reasons that companies move out of state or choose not to invest capital and grow jobs in Illinois.
“For House amendments 5, 6, and 7 to HB 1287, we are asking all House lawmakers to vote “No” since these amendments will result in zero savings for employers and likely increase the cost of workers’ compensation.
Amendment 5 simply codifies current law and doubles down on the bad ideas that have been thrust upon Illinois employers by our Courts. Amendment 6 will dramatically increase litigation for employers. Amendment 7 does nothing to decrease workers’ compensation costs, it only duplicates and adds additional regulation on employers.
Illinois employers stand ready to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle.”
Associated Builders & Contractors
Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Home Builders Association of Illinois
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Coal Association
Illinois Construction Industry Committee
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Illinois Municipal League
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Illinois Self-Insurers Association
Illinois Trucking Association
Midwest Equipment Dealers Association
Mid-West Truckers Association
National Federation of Independent Business
Technology & Manufacturing Association
* The Illinois Manufacturers Association was more pointed. Here’s it’s analysis…
1) Codify Venture-Newberg – travel must be required or directed by employer or the course or method of travel must be determined by the employer.
Agree but the Democrat language does not fully codify the court case. Since 2007, Illinois Appellate Courts have made seven major rulings dramatically expanding the scope of a “traveling employee.” In the December 2013 in the Venture-Newberg case, the Illinois Supreme Court stepped in and restricted some of the Appellate Court expansion. Employers should not be held responsible for actions of employees engaged in activities out of their scope of employment.
2) Prohibit insurers from using repetitive injuries that occurred within 3 months of the start of employment to determine premiums.
This is part of a discussion that Democrats used in the working group. It seeks to address the issue that an employer is on the hook for repetitive motion injuries when first hiring an employee. However, rather than relieving the employer from paying the medical costs or award, this simply says that an insurer cannot use that information when calculating premiums. This does not address the fact that a hotel should not have to pay for a $100,000 cost of carpal tunnel injury for a maid that worked for only six weeks.
3) Provide greater transparency and oversight of workers’ compensation rates
• Provide for rate review and pre-approval of rates
• Require insurers to justify deviations from advisory rates
• Make information concerning self-insureds available to the public
• Create a task force to look at the issue of premiums not reflecting NCCI recommended decreases (HJR 49)
This is the standard boiler plate talking points from trial lawyers and labor unions that seeks to shift blame rather than looking at why the cost of workers’ compensation is significantly higher in Illinois. Self-insured companies and governments do not use insurance companies so there is no reason why their information would need to be made public. Illinois has a competitive insurance market (health care, workers’ compensation, property & casualty) with generally low rates except for WC. It’s not because of insurance companies – it’s because of the law and court system. If it were truly the case that insurance companies were “gouging” businesses, then you would see a significant difference in WC costs between insured and self-insured companies.
4) Allow the last employer responsible for providing workers’ compensation to seek contributions from prior employers to the extent they contributed to an employer’s injury
Again, this proposal does not help the last employer who still has to pay 100 percent of all medical and indemnity payments to the injured worker. It actually hurts the employer, especially small and mid sized companies who not only have to pay the WC award, they have to hire an attorney to chase previous employers for potential reimbursement.
Democrats led by House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have said the budget can be balanced with a tax increase, but Rauner wants a property tax freeze, worker compensation reform, terms limits and other business-friendly changes designed to promote job growth.
“It’s devastating to know that he is trying to do this to working families,” Phelps said. “His budget was out of whack, as well. We had to do something so government wouldn’t shut down. I am hoping he doesn’t want government to shut down, because I don’t.”
Rauner spokesman Lance Trover fired back that it was Democrats who have put the state in a fiscal crisis, forcing the governor to take drastic action to balance spending.
“Rep. Phelps continues to empower Speaker Madigan and vote for his unbalanced budgets, which have plunged Illinois into a $10 billion hole,” Trover said in an emailed response. “Gov. Rauner is working to shake up Springfield while protecting the middle class, not the political class of special interests supported by Rep. Phelps and Speaker Madigan.”
Remember when Rod Blagojevich called Phelps’ neighboring Democratic legislator John Bradley a Madigan-loving “wall flower?” Rep. Bradley used it to his advantage. But Blagojevich didn’t put 3,000 gross ratings points a week behind that message.
* And speaking of Madigan and RRB, read this by News-Gazette columnist Jim Dey, which was shared with reporters by the Rauner press office today…
Madigan said that Rauner’s reluctance to do things the Speaker’s way bears a resemblance to the governance style of the now-imprisoned Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor.
But Blago was a Democrat Madigan supported twice (2002 and 2006) for election as governor, while Rauner is a Republican Madigan tried to defeat. And didn’t Madigan serve as an honorary re-election committee co-chairman for Blago in 2006, when it was clear to anyone paying attention that Blago was a serial felon begging to be indicted? […]
Power is divided, so compromise will be required. Madigan is trying to shove his “let’s-compromise-and do-it-my-way” approach down Rauner’s throat. Rauner isn’t swallowing it […]
Those who are happy with the way things are now in Illinois should be pulling for Madigan. Those who think the state has lost its way and must change need to get behind Rauner.
* The Rauner team also sent around this Sun-Times editorial, which asks “Who’s the real middle class champion?” and then answers…
Who is the real champion of the middle class? A Legislature seemingly bent on playing the same old game that has driven Illinois into the ground? Or a governor… who understands that Illinois is in desperate need of more fundamental reform?
If the Legislature does not work with Gov. Rauner, our state is in for nothing but further decline.
That goes both ways, of course, but having lived through the Blagojevich wars, I really don’t want to see another knock-down, drag-out fight.
* The Rauner folks haven’t yet sent out this editorial from the SJ-R, however…
Understandably, Rauner doesn’t want to walk away from his first legislative session looking like a failure. But his leadership skills in a government setting need some work. Months of tough talk, calling lawmakers corrupt and threatening them with his hefty war chest did nothing to help him advance his agenda.
Likewise, Democrats, who hold a super majority in the legislature, should have given serious consideration to at least a few of his proposed reforms long before now. Instead they drew a line in the sand and dug in their heels, even though a majority of voters sent Rauner to Springfield.
Illinoisans now are left to watch both sides volley blame via media interviews and hostile press releases instead of getting in a room together and identifying issues where they can help each other.
* This gaming bill gets heavier by the week. Two smallish “satellite” casinos with 400-600 gaming positions each are apparently in play…
The site being looked at in Southern Illinois is the Walker’s Bluff entertainment development in Carterville. It features a restaurant, winery, gift store and music venue. The first sign that Walker’s Bluff wanted to be a player in the casino talks came earlier this year when the company hired former state Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Steelville, in early April to serve as its lobbyist in the Capitol.
I’ve been to Walker’s Bluff. Wow, what a place. The owners have put a fortune into it. The grounds are definitely large enough to expand.
* The other spot they’re looking at is Decatur, but the mayor is dubious…
Decatur Mayor Mike McElroy said the city isn’t actively pursuing a casino. He said he only learned of the idea last week during a short telephone conversation.
“This call just comes to me out of the blue,” McElroy said. “We don’t say `no’ to anything. But I don’t think there is a snowball’s chance in hell.”
Illinois Democrats have scheduled a hearing on why Gov. Bruce Rauner’s education secretary is being paid from the state’s human services budget.
Lawmakers are expected to discuss Beth Purvis’ $250,000-per-year salary at a hearing Thursday in Springfield.
Documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times showed the money comes from human services, even though Purvis reports to Rauner’s office.
The Republican governor has recommended cutting millions from the agency’s budget for programs that deal with autism and burials for the indigent.
* From a press release…
State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, announced the House Human Services Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing Thursday at the State Capitol on the $250,000 salary Gov. Bruce Rauner is paying his education secretary and why the money is paid from a state agency where the governor proposed deep funding reductions for the elderly and autistic children.
“This lucrative salary for the state’s head of education is paid by an agency where Governor Rauner recently eliminated funding for autistic children and after-school tutoring and wants to make further reductions that would drastically impact services for the frail, the elderly, children with disabilities and our most vulnerable citizens,” said Harris, who chairs the House Human Services Appropriations Committee. “Taxpayers and the families who stand to be seriously harmed by the governor’s slash-and-burn budget plan deserve an explanation. This six-figure salary buried within the Department of Human Services could go a long way toward helping to fund medical care services for the elderly, persons with disabilities, struggling families, autistic children or any number of other services provided through the department.”
Reports in March revealed Beth Purvis, tapped to be Rauner’s education secretary, would receive a $250,000 taxpayer-funded salary, more than double what her predecessors received. Then last week, following a Freedom of Information Act request, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Purvis’ salary was coming not from the governor’s office allotment or from the State Board of Education, but from the Department of Human Services.
Three weeks after Purvis’ contract was signed in March, Rauner announced $26 million in cuts to human services programs, including funding for autistic children. In unveiling his budget in February, Rauner proposed massive cuts to in-home care for senior citizens, homeless children, and breast and cervical cancer screening for women, while completely eliminating funding for after-school programs, homelessness prevention and services for children with developmental disabilities.
The House hearing follows a letter from Harris, delivered to the governor last week, in which Harris pointed out the human services budget cuts Rauner proposed. Rauner’s office, the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education have been invited to testify at the hearing.
“We understand cuts will have to be a part of a balanced budget, but for the governor to pay someone a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary at the same time he’s planning to devastate critical services to vulnerable residents is unacceptable and completely out of touch,” Harris said. “What’s more, this game of hide-and-seek with his education secretary’s salary shows that the governor is not the change he promised. It’s more of the same business as usual that people are fed up with.”
The House Human Services Appropriations Committee will meet Thursday at 11 a.m. in Room 118 of the Capitol.
This is exactly the sort of thing we can look forward to for the foreseeable future as the overtime session drags on.
* John Kass wants Gov. Bruce Rauner to wage an all-out war against House Speaker Michael Madigan beyond some TV ads. For instance, Kass notes that Joe Berrios will have to win his ward committeeman’s race to remain the county’s party chairman…
Berrios belongs to Boss Madigan, and the boss doesn’t like it when people see a chink in his armor. Madigan needs Berrios. And that’s where Rauner and company could make a play. They could quietly drop some cash on Democrat candidates to challenge Berrios.
And later, with commercials, they can make the low-key but vitally important post of Cook County assessor into a high-profile race. Republicans could turn that assessor’s race into a referendum of taxpayers against the Boss Madigan and his cronies.
Berrios is gonna have big problems with legit party members unhappy with his reign, but there’s no reason those folks couldn’t receive a bit of help from Team Rauner.
* Kass also wants Rauner to go nuclear on Madigan’s property tax law business. Madigan, as we all know, represents a sizable portion of the city’s downtown real estate owners…
I wonder how Madigan would feel if those wealthy Republican landowners changed lawyers? I don’t know if they have the guts to defy him. And you run risks when you cross the Rubicon.
But no one ever said that Illinois politics was a game.
Chicago’s future as a growing center for film and TV production could quickly fade to black unless Springfield’s budget war eases and crucial state tax credits are restored, industry sources are warning.
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced [Tuesday] that he will “defer application approvals” for any new film credits, which entitle a producer to receive up to 30 percent of qualified in-state expenditures. The freeze won’t be lifted until the GOP governor and majority Springfield Democrats resolve budget and related matters.
The freeze apparently won’t apply to continuing TV shows that are headed into new seasons, including “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Empire.” But a rumored medical show from “Fire” and “P.D.” producer Dick Wolf may be on the block. And it’s not clear if Spike Lee’s much-discussed new film “Chiraq” will be caught in the freeze. […]
“Hollywood and the film industry are a pretty skittish lot,” one that had to be lured here even though the industry was partially founded here a century ago, [Matthew Irvine, director of the School of Cinematic Arts at DePaul University] added. “It won’t take much to scare them off.”
To set your mind at ease, Illinois Film Office director Christine Dudley has made it known that all existing approved applications will continue to be processed, issued and transferred and that the statue is still in full effect.
New applications will not be processed, however, until this issue is resolved. Dudley encourages filmmakers to continue to file applications, although their approval will be deferred, reports Mark Androw, AICP/Midwest chapter president
The application process applies to all film genres that are eligible to receive a 30% Illinois tax credit on their projects. TV shows “Empire,” “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire” are safely set for the new seasons. However, funders of two entertainment projects backed out and left Illinois upon hearing the news.
* I had a couple of things to do this morning, so I’m kinda getting a late start on the blog. Let’s begin with some righteous music. This one’s for my grandma, who passed away a year ago…
* A group of Protestant and Jewish religious leaders called Clergy for a New Drug Policy is lobbying for marijuana legalization in Illinois and several other states…
“It’s a primary change if something is decriminalized,” said the Rev. Al Sharp, the Chicago pastor who launched the group this spring. “The goal is to change the culture of punishment in this country, which the war on drugs has contributed so thoroughly and so devastatingly to.”
Sharp considers himself just as much a policy wonk as he is a pastor. As the former head of nonprofit agencies such as Protestants for the Common Good and the Community Renewal Society, groups founded as alternatives to the religious right, he has made lobbying for public policies such as more education funding and better housing his ministry. […]
When legislators in Springfield recently approved a bill to remove criminal penalties for simple marijuana possession, replacing the threat of jail time and a criminal record with a sanction similar to a traffic ticket, Sharp and his fellow clergy claimed victory.
If the bill is signed into law, Illinois will join 17 other states in decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, a group that advocates the legal use of marijuana. Nearly half the country, including Illinois, already allows for the use of medical marijuana.
But without the support from groups on the Right, like the Illinois Policy Institute, this stuff was going nowhere.
The Hastert indictment raises questions even more gut-wrenching: about the proper use of the criminal law; the degree to which technical statutes should be employed to punish alleged conduct that is offensive but uncharged; and the role that celebrity and prominence should play in making prosecutorial decisions. […]
The Hastert indictment strikes me as a significantly more questionable call. If Hastert sexually abused a student when he was a teacher and wrestling coach, that conduct is repugnant; it should have been reported and prosecuted decades ago.
Now, it is too late for that. Instead, Hastert was tripped up by bank reporting requirements intended to catch drug kingpins and organized crime bosses. His alleged crime is that he structured his hush money withdrawals to avoid triggering reporting rules and then — seemingly on a single occasion — lied to FBI agents about why he was making the withdrawals. […]
Hastert did, it seems, a terrible thing. He is, or was, paying for it — literally. He shelled out $1.7 million “to compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct,” the indictment says. He is at once alleged perpetrator and victim of a shake-down scheme; his alleged victim is both prey and blackmailer.
* Let’s focus on the currency issue. From the indictment…
Title 31, United States Code, Section 5313(a) and Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1010.310-313 required domestic financial institutions to prepare and file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network a Currency Transaction Report (Form 104) for any transaction or series of transactions involving currency of more than $10,000.
Federal law also makes it a crime to attempt to evade this reporting requirement. So, if you consciously don’t want to deal with that reporting hassle and instead withdraw just $9,500 from your bank account, you can actually be charged with a felony.
First of all, that’s your money in your bank account. This is so invasive.
We’re eventually going to reach a point through the magic of inflation when $10K is a normal withdrawal for anybody in the middle class. [Adding: I withdrew cash before my extended trip to New Orleans and the bank flagged it for the IRS. I couldn’t believe my bank did it because it was nowhere near $10K.]
These sorts of drug prohibition-era penalities need to be repealed. Maybe Hastert’s indictment will finally wake up Congress.
Four years after a strident confrontation with organized labor he later regretted laid the groundwork for a more cooperative relationship, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will strike a dramatically different tone on Wednesday.
The mayor has summoned leaders of virtually every union representing city workers—with the exception of the Fraternal Order of Police—to an unprecedented meeting at the plumbers’ union hall.
The conversation is certain to include the $30 billion pension crisis that has dropped the bond rating of the city, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Park District to junk status and threatens the on-time opening of schools this fall. […]
Asked about the meeting with Emanuel, [Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez] compared it to the highly strained relationship between organized labor and rookie Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“Sitting down and having a constructive and collaborative dialogue stands in stark contrast to what’s happening at the state level, with the governor,” Ramirez said.
Rahm learned the hard way. But the governor most likely just figures that his old pal has sold out.
* Meanwhile, the Effingham City Council heard from dozens of union members Tuesday evening about “right to work,” even though it doesn’t appear the governor’s resolution was up for formal council debate…
Dexter Sloan spoke about what his life was like before he joined a union four years ago. “I started from the bottom,” he told the council. “I started at $5 an hour. I busted my butt every day — eight to 10 hours a day — and getting nowhere.”
Sloan was working two jobs just to get by. And getting by, he said, was all he could do. “Almost five years ago, my firstborn son had a brain aneurysm and died in my arms — because I didn’t have insurance,” Sloan said. “That’s when I left and went union.”
Since joining, he’s gotten better wages, better training, and benefits he never had before. “I can provide for my family now,” Sloan said.
Upon finishing his address to the council, a thunderous applause came from other union workers at the meeting. A handful of others would also officially address the council.
Under state law, the move toward closure would trigger a two-month review process to let local workers, community members and others weigh in. It’s a process that has been seen downstate several times in recent years as governors have targeted prisons.
The process typically peaks with a lengthy public hearing that can turn emotional.
“It can be a difficult process,” said state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat and member of the commission that would hold the hearing. “But it’s very important.”
In the end, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability issues an opinion about whether a facility should close, but a governor can proceed either way, no matter the opinion.
* In other news, AARP responded today to the governor’s cuts…
“Governor Rauner’s decision to file emergency rules creating a means test for the Department on Aging’s Community Care Program (CCP) is in effect a harsh cut that endangers the lives of thousands of older Illinoisans, and the communities in which they live.
Nearly 39,000 older Illinoisans who receive CCP services in their own homes and communities are at great risk of losing those services and have no alternative other than costly and often unnecessary institutional care.
The cuts affect not just the individuals receiving the programs and services – the community agencies providing those services will also be gravely hit. They may have to lay workers off or shut down altogether, creating a negative ripple effect in countless local economies across Illinois.
Additionally, those individuals who are caregivers for CCP clients will also be hurt – many will have to cut hours from work or leave their jobs altogether to care for Mom and Dad, further compounding the drastic effect on local economies.
These cuts are not the right way to proceed in order to fix a budget gap.
The Community Care Program saves taxpayers’ money. National and state studies have consistently demonstrated that caring for an individual in a nursing home environment costs triple to taxpayers what it costs to care for the same individual at home and in the community.
Cutting CCP does not correct the budget imbalance – actually, it makes it even worse down the road. Any immediate savings will be eliminated in the future and taxpayers will have to foot a significantly larger bill.
On behalf of our 1.7 million Illinois members, we strongly oppose the Governor’s decision and we urge him to cancel the emergency rule and protect a service that is critical to thousands of older citizens and to the communities where they live.”
Speaker Mike Madigan’s House is scheduled to take up [the workers’ comp] issue tomorrow. I don’t know whether this will be a serious effort at compromise or another extended middle finger back at the governor. But, in earlier conversations, some progress has been made. I’m not going to relate all the details, but there are ways to cut costs that both sides should be able to agree on because, compared with other industrial states, Illinois remains an outlier. And there are ways to further lean on insurance companies to pass on the savings to employers in the form of reduced premiums.
Another issue on which there is surprising agreement on both sides of the aisle is the need for an at least temporary property tax freeze, primarily for public school districts. The teachers unions won’t like it and will seek a big hike in state aid. But such a property tax freeze plan fared very well in an earlier test vote in Madigan’s House. That tells me suburban Democrats want something done. So does Rauner. So do it, and declare victory.
Tort reform is on a lot of people’s lists. That’s a tougher issue, but not impossible if both sides focus on things such as venue shopping. As Illinois Chamber of Commerce chief Todd Maisch puts it, there’s no reason that half of the asbestos cases in America should be filed in Madison County in Illinois.
* The asbestos thing is a bit overblown because plaintiffs and defendants have established a sort of specialty court in Madison County. That’s happened elsewhere with other types of cases. Subscribers know more about the workers’ comp stuff, but that property tax freeze on school districts would be vigorously opposed by the City, for obvious reasons. Tribune…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday declined to say whether Chicago Public Schools will be able to make a $634 million teacher pension payment due at the end of the month. […]
While CPS officials have declined to offer specifics, the district could be in a cash-flow crunch. The budget the Chicago Board of Education cobbled together last year relied on counting 14 months of revenue for its 12-month spending plan. Those two additional months are July and August. Historically, CPS has made the payment in a lump sum at the very last minute: June 30, the last day of the financial year.
CPS owes $634 million to the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund by month’s end. It’s unclear what would happen if the cash-strapped school district did not make that deadline, however, because state law does not specify.
“If they don’t follow the letter of the law, we have the option to sue,” said Charles Burbridge, executive director of the teachers’ pension fund, who noted the district had included the payment in its annual budget. “We are expecting to get that payment. We have not had any sign from anyone that that payment is not coming.”
The sooner every voter understands not only who broke Illinois but who’s now refusing to accept real reforms, the sooner Madigan and Cullerton will have to accept a simple truth:
Their party lost the governorship because the people of Illinois were fed up with the status quo. That hasn’t changed. The people want to fix how this sorry state does business.
Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s management steps in preparation for the out-of-balance state budget passed by Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan:
“The Democrats continue to want to spend more money than Illinois has in hard-earned tax dollars. Their budget plan is $4 billion out-of-balance. At the same time, President Cullerton and Speaker Madigan refuse to structurally change state government policies and practices, having rejected a comprehensive package of reforms negotiated in good faith.
Gov. Rauner seems to be the only adult in the room and he is making tough but necessary decisions. The alternative to a bloated budget and getting us to a balanced budget is passing reforms that grow the economy and eliminating wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse. It is up to the Democrat super-majority to decide whether the political class will cease oppressing the working class. Gov. Rauner simply wants to empower the people and restore freedom to the citizens of Illinois.”
* I dunno if this really means anything, but I’ll take it. From U-Haul…
There is nothing wrong with being runner-up in this countdown when you’ve jumped two spots and resurfaced as the Midwest magnet for do-it-yourself movers.
Chicago comes in at No. 2 on the U-Haul Top 10 U.S. Destination Cities for 2014. These rankings reflect the top destinations of one-way U-Haul truck rentals for the past calendar year.
The Windy City moved up from its No. 4 ranking a year ago and has climbed five sports since dipping to No. 7 back in 2008. Chicago was last as high as No. 2 in 2007.
While migration trends don’t correlate directly to a city’s population or economic growth, they are a strong gauge as to how well cities are attracting new residents. […]
“One of the fastest growing neighborhoods is the Wicker Park/Bucktown area, at least on the north side. A lot of people are still downsizing and it’s such a hugely dense area, so storage is in high demand. The job and housing markets have improved. A few years ago, people were trying to leave because it was too costly to live here. Now they’re coming back. Unemployment has dropped and Chicago seems to be more of a destination. There is still rebuilding. The city is knocking down buildings and creating huge skyscrapers for condos. There is definitely opportunity for people to move here.”
* A super-wealthy anti-tax man spends $40 million on campaigns and lobbying expenses in Missouri to get what he wants. It’s today’s must-read…
Republicans are in firm control of the Missouri House of Representatives, and they run a good whip operation. If they can’t get a bill passed with a solid GOP majority, they don’t bring it to the floor. They’d rather not advertise dissension within party ranks. A couple of years ago, however, the leadership made a big exception to that rule. They knew they lacked the Republican support to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of an $800 million state income tax cut, but they still called the package up for a vote, forcing all legislators to go on record, including 15 Republicans who ended up bucking the party majority and opposing the cut.
Rank-and-file members are convinced this all took place to please one man. A decade after returning to the state with a fortune he earned managing money in California, 70-year-old Rex Sinquefield has become a powerful presence in Missouri politics. Unlike most people who disagree with the positions politicians take, Sinquefield has the resources to make them pay. Last year, he and campaign committees he funded helped recruit candidates to run in primary contests against several of the Republicans who had broken party ranks on the tax cut vote. Each of the challengers was offered six-figure support. “He came after me with a lot of money and a very, very negative campaign,” says Nate Walker, one of the targeted House members. “I had to go and mortgage my house so I could at least fight back a little bit.”
The issues that concern “Rex,” as he is universally referred to in political circles, have become central to the state’s agenda in recent years. In addition to his campaign contributions, Sinquefield has spent millions on lobbying efforts and on the Show-Me Institute, a free-market think tank he established in St. Louis. Last year, he estimated his lobbying operation employed about 1,000 people “the last time I looked at my checkbook.” It’s hard to tell to what extent he was kidding, but he didn’t seem to be joking when at the same event he twice referred to Nixon as an “idiot.” (Sinquefield declined requests to be interviewed for this story.) […]
Win or lose, the ongoing Sinquefield saga in Missouri sheds light on the central role money plays in contemporary American politics, as well as its limits. While many megadonors, such as billionaires Charles and David Koch, continue to be cash machines for federal candidates, others are finding they can get more for their money by focusing on a single state. Not every state has a Sinquefield, but quite a few do. And some of these state moneybrokers, such as Republicans Art Pope in North Carolina and Bruce Rastetter in Iowa, and Democrats Tim Gill and Pat Stryker in Colorado, threaten to amass the kind of clout in individual legislatures that was held more than a century ago by railroads and mining companies, and triggered Progressive Era campaign finance limits in the first place. “It costs less currying favor with state lawmakers,” says Kenneth Vogel, author of Big Money, a book detailing donations in the current super PAC era, “and bills are actually moving. They don’t have the same level of gridlock as Washington.” […]
While many legislators have balked at parts of Sinquefield’s agenda, Sinquefield can take some satisfaction in the fact that many of his critics won’t be around all that long. House and Senate members in Missouri are limited to eight years in office; if the current cohort is hard to persuade, the next generation of legislators may feel it’s not worth the aggravation of standing up to him and enduring thousands of dollars in attack ads as their reward. And Sinquefield doesn’t intend to stop writing checks until he can succeed in reshaping Missouri more to his liking. He once grandiosely declared that he refused to die until his favored tax and education policies had been adopted. “There’s more coming down the pike,” says Travis Brown, Sinquefield’s lobbyist. “He’s got a very ambitious agenda.”
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity, a business-backed group formed to support Democrats who take tough votes on the state budget, has raised more than $14 million in two political funds. But it will not be joining Rauner in a media campaign for legislative term limits, workers’ compensation reform and other changes the governor is pushing to be packaged with a 2016 state budget agreement.
Instead, says Greg Goldner, a longtime Chicago political operative who is the organization’s consultant, the group will engage only in limited activities for now, and only positive ones.
“Our primary goal is to defend Democratic legislators who are willing to take tough votes, not to push them,” Goldner told me. “Legislators who made good votes (this session) deserve a little pat on the back instead of always being criticized.” […]
Goldner hinted in recent weeks that it was about to open its wallet soon, seemingly preparing for a two-pronged attack on lawmakers alongside Rauner, who has gathered an even bigger war chest that he says soon will target legislative foes, especially House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
But in the interview, Goldner seemed to suggest there is little role for IllinoisGO in what is starting to look like a personal battle between the governor and the speaker. “We will be most effective if we can articulate a positive alternative,” he said.
Raoul, colleagues unveil ambitious economic plan
College access, paid sick leave, living wage will help Illinoisans get ahead
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois students could have the opportunity to attend community college for up to two years tuition-free, workers would be guaranteed paid sick time and a gradual increase in the minimum wage would help working families get a foothold in tough times under a legislative agenda many Senate Democrats are rallying behind as negotiations with Governor Rauner have stalled.
“I’m concerned that the priorities of the middle class and families struggling to get by have been neglected as the rhetoric at the Capitol has heated up,” Raoul said. “These initiatives are basic ingredients of a more competitive, compassionate Illinois: education access, workplace protections, a living wage and tax reforms so working families aren’t forced to shoulder more than their share.”
The agenda contains five key provisions:
· Illinois College Promise Program (SB 2146): Covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to two years at any of the state’s 48 community colleges as long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements.
· Healthy Workplace Act (SB 2147): Guarantees up to seven paid days of sick time to full and part time employees. Sick time would accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employees would not be able to take sick time for the first 120 days of employment.
· Tuition Tax Credit (SB 2149): Qualifying parents or students who are Illinois residents can claim a tax credit for higher education expenses incurred at any eligible public or private university, community college, vocational school or other postsecondary educational institution located in Illinois.
· Corporate loopholes (SB 2148): Ends a variety of corporate tax loopholes, including automatic tax breaks for production outside Illinois. Ending these corporate giveaways will bring the state $334 million in additional revenue.
· Minimum wage (SB 2145): Increases the state minimum wage to $9 per hour on July 1, 2015 and by $0.50 each subsequent year until the minimum wage reaches $11 on July 1, 2019. Provides a three-year tax credit for employers with fewer than 50 employees.
“This is an ambitious agenda but one that is profoundly commonsense, extending opportunities to our hard-working residents trying to improve their standard of living and give back to their communities,” Raoul said. “Illinois’ most successful reforms rarely come about without a commitment to cooperation — something our law enforcement reform package shows we can still muster — and I hope we can join together to help the people we represent get ahead and stay ahead.”
The introduction of this agenda, embodying longtime core concerns of many Senate Democrats, comes as Gov. Rauner threatens to shut down state government unless lawmakers erode legal protections for workers and their families and slash billions of dollars in essential services to seniors, at-risk youth and the state’s most vulnerable residents.
The economic plan, which Raoul will co-sponsor, was filed at the Capitol today and could be in final form for possible votes should lawmakers be called back into session this summer.
So, now we know at least part of the Senate’s agenda for next Tuesday’s session.
* The budget may be messed up. The Turnaround Agenda may be in shambles, but there has been historic progress on the criminal justice front this spring. Tribune…
Illinois’ latest effort toward criminal justice reform has been heralded as a return to the state’s roots as a pioneer in the treatment of juvenile offenders.
State lawmakers on Sunday passed a bill that would reduce the number of juveniles automatically transferred to adult court. At issue was not whether juveniles can be tried as adults. Rather, it’s whether a juvenile defendant should be allowed a hearing in front of a juvenile court judge who would consider factors such as background, mental capacity and culpability before deciding whether to send the youth to adult court.
The bill, now awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature, eliminates the automatic transfer to adult court of 15-year-olds accused of any crime, no matter how serious. For 16- and 17-year-olds, only those charged with murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated battery with a firearm would automatically be sent to adult court.
If signed into law, the measure would reduce by more than half the number of juvenile offenders in Cook County who are automatically sent to adult court, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a news release. She championed the new legislation and decried the current law’s “disproportionate impact” on minorities.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
ILLINOIS HOUSE, SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASS BAIL BOND REFORM MEASURE
HB 1119 headed to Gov. Rauner’s desk for signature
CHICAGO - Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey (D-12th) today announced that House Bill 1119, legislation that eliminates excessive charges in bail bond processing fees in Cook County, has unanimously passed both chambers of the Illinois legislature and is headed to Governor Bruce Rauner for signature and final passage.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming bi-partisan support that this common-sense measure received in Springfield, and I am hopeful that Governor Rauner signs it into law,” Commissioner Fritchey said. “I am grateful to State Representatives LaShawn Ford and Ron Sandack, as well as State Senator Kwame Raoul, for their leadership on this issue. Together we’ve recognized that our over-reliance on a money-based bail system isn’t working, and if we’re holding even one person in jail who shouldn’t be there but simply can’t afford to pay their way out, we’re operating at a loss both financially and morally. While there is more to be done, passing HB1119 is a positive step in making our criminal justice system more fair.”
Currently, state law authorizes court clerks to retain 10% of posted bail as ‘bail bond costs’ regardless of the size of the bond. Pursuant to the current law, in 2013, a staggering $5.6 million was kept by the Clerk of the Court of Cook County as bail bond costs. HB1119 caps the amount of bail bond money that can be retained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County at $100, regardless of the amount of the bond.
If passed, the law will go into effect January 1, 2016.
* And…
ATTORNEY GENERAL APPLAUDS LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE OF MEASURES TO SUPPORT WOMEN, CONSUMERS, SENIORS
Chicago — Attorney General Lisa Madigan today highlighted legislation initiated by her office that will be heading to the governor’s desk for final approval. […]
Improving Response to Campus Sexual Violence
Attorney Madigan spearheaded House Bill 821 to address sexual violence on college campuses. Madigan convened summits around the state to discuss the legislation, which will set standards to prevent and respond to sexual violence at higher education institutions throughout Illinois.
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act will ensure that Illinois colleges and universities take steps to develop clear, comprehensive campus sexual violence policies. Some of the requirements include notifying student survivors about their rights; providing a confidential advisor to survivors to help them understand their options to report the crime and seek medical and legal assistance; adopting a fair, balanced process for adjudicating allegations of sexual violence; and training students and campus employees to prevent sexual violence and improve awareness. The legislation, which was sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), passed the House and Senate almost unanimously.
Greater Protections for Nursing Home Residents
Attorney General Madigan initiated House Bill 2462 in response to complaints from nursing home residents and families concerned for their relatives’ care and security. Madigan’s proposal would allow residents of nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities or their family members to purchase and install video or audio monitoring devices in their rooms. Some provisions include requiring resident and roommate consent before devices can be installed, making residents or their families responsible for purchasing and maintaining the devices, and prohibiting facilities from retaliating against residents who use the devices.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) passed both chambers of the General Assembly with strong legislative support. If enacted, Illinois would become the fourth state to explicitly allow electronic monitoring devices to be installed in resident rooms in nursing homes.
* Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children takes a look at Gov. Rauner’s announced budget cuts from yesterday. Her analysis is in italics when discussing specific actions by the governor…
Not sure if you already have folks who have sent you this data, but just in case, the attached spreadsheet is an analysis we (Voices for Illinois Children, as part of the Responsible Budget Coalition) did of CCP cuts in Rauner’s budget. We, at this point, assume that the cuts he suggested yesterday mirror those of his original proposal. We have no indication that it would be anything other than that.
We don’t have numbers on a good number of items cut yesterday because they have never been mentioned before to advocates as being potentially on the chopping block. If you’re looking at this from a policy perspective, the fact that we’ve not discussed these cuts before (when SO many other cuts have been contemplated) makes me ask why the Governor considers the cuts to be a good idea to enact immediately when they were not included in the initial budget proposal or Good Friday Massacre. But of course, this decision was not made while looking at this from a policy perspective. This is like a sick game of chess where the pawns are seniors, children, and low-income families.
• Prepare and provide notice for the July 1 suspension of the State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (SLIHEAP). The federal portion of the program, funded at about $170 million, will continue. [According to the Governor’s budget book, 155,000 families would lose heating assistance, while 60,000 families would lose cooling assistance.]
Department on Aging
• File emergency rules to enact means testing to Aging’s Community Care Program. No income limit currently exists.
• Increase the Determination of Need (DON) Score required to obtain services through Aging’s Community Care Program [Combined effect of above two items (assuming same DON score increase as in his budget) would be about 39,000 seniors losing access to the program. (The attached document has estimates by area of state for CCP.)]
Department of Human Services
• DHS will pursue cost control strategies through emergency rules to the Childcare Program:
• Increase copays for parents using the programs [increases costs to parents by $10 million annually (if the copayment increase is the same as envisioned in his budget)]
• Freeze intake and create waiting lists. [This is somewhat ambiguous. Does he mean freeze all intake? Intake for school aged children? As we’ve discussed before, freezing intake for school-aged kids could eventually mean that tens of thousands of kids could lose access.]
* Meanwhile, SEIU Healthcare points out that some of these things probably aren’t legal…
Gov. Bruce Rauner late Tuesday announced unilateral cuts to a wide array of vital services and programs that working families and seniors depend upon–without waiting for a budget deal to be finalized.
The package of cuts Rauner announced included eligibility restrictions for the Community Care Program that likely contradict Illinois law, as well as cuts to the state Child Care Assistance Program.
Following is the response of SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Keith Kelleher:
“Bruce Rauner’s unilateral cuts announced [yesterday] likely will not pass muster in court and they certainly do not pass muster with the values of the people of Illinois. They will inflict pain on countless struggling families and seniors–all in the name of ‘reform.’
“The bottom line is that Bruce Rauner refuses true budgetary reform–generating much-needed revenue by making the wealthy of the state pay their fair share.
“Denying child care for kids; home care for seniors; and the crucial resources that thousands of working families rely upon to meet their most basic needs shows a warped set of priorities, especially when Gov. Rauner is doing everything he can to protect those at the very top.
“We will pursue all the options at our disposal to protect seniors, as well as children and working families, from these immoral and unilateral moves.”
The union says it currently estimates 5,000 families, 10,000 kids and 40,000 seniors would be immediately impacted by the cuts.
Downstate, Rauner initiated the closing of the Hardin County work camp, a Department of Corrections facility based in southern Illinois. About 180 inmates will be moved to other facilities and 60 workers affected, the governor’s office said.
“I’m a big believer in working in a bipartisan manner, a big believer in compromise,” said Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, who represents the area. “But I can’t compromise when he’s going after families I represent. I’m going to fight harder than I ever had to make sure this doesn’t close.”
Closer to home, Maria Whelan, president and CEO of Illinois Action for Children, which administers the child care subsidy program for low-income parents in Cook County, said the announcement of larger copayments and a freeze on new entrants came as a surprise.
“What that means is that when you get a job working nights and weekends at a Target or a McDonald’s or a Wal-Mart … that you have no access to child care,” Whelan said. “I find it absolutely stunning that we can talk in the same sentence about turning around a state in terms of our economy and pulling out from under working families one of the most important and essential work supports that they must have to do their jobs.”
Madigan: House to Vote on Reforms to Assistance for Injured Workers
CHICAGO – House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced the House will take up legislation Thursday to reform the system of assistance received by workers injured while on the job.
“As we have said previously, we’re willing to work with and compromise with Governor Rauner on any number of issues, and this proposal to reform the system of assistance for workers injured on the job will show that,” Madigan said. “The governor stated he believes this is one of the top issues, so we want to help him address it. We believe workers assistance can be reformed without hurting middle-class families. Our reform legislation will ensure savings for employers while protecting the livelihoods of injured workers.”
The House will convene at 1 p.m. Thursday.
*** UPDATE *** Lance Trover…
“Unsurprisingly, Speaker Madigan has proposed phony reforms in any effort to protect his special interest allies. His proposal ignores the most important reforms we need for our worker’s compensation system, and in another instance, could actually undermine previous reform efforts. Sadly, this is exactly the type of unserious, political posturing Illinoisans have now come to expect from the Speaker and the politicians he controls. Illinois needs real reform.”
Senator David Luechtefeld has announced he will not move from Okawville to the 58th district to seek reelection in the district he has served for 20 years. The deadline of moving into the district to file as a candidate for the November 2016 election was June 1, 2015.
Through redistricting after the 2010 census, Okawville was put in 54th district. Luechtefeld was able to run one more time in the 58th district, in 2012.
The Senator said that he intends to serve the remainder of his term that ends in January 2017. […]
At age 74, Luechtefeld said that it “is time” to leave office when the term ends.
Darin LaHood’s campaign today released its first television ad for the 2015 special primary election that takes place on Tuesday, July 7th.
The ad, titled “Conservative Leader”, outlines Darin LaHood’s proven conservative record of fighting for transparency, higher ethical standards for government and special interests, term limits, and Pat Quinn’s sixty-seven percent income tax hike. Darin will continue to push for these same conservative principles in Washington.
On transparency, higher ethical standards for government and special interests…Darin has authored and supported numerous pieces of ethics reform legislation for government officials and lobbyists. He introduced SB 3649, legislation that prohibits a sitting member of the Illinois legislation to become a lobbyist within one year of leaving office. Additional pieces of legislation supporting higher ethical standards are: SB 2263, SB 2265, SB 3646.
On term limits…Darin has been a long-time advocate for term limits in order to prevent career politicians on both sides of the aisle. He has introduced and/or supported SJRCA 41, SJRCA 19, SJRCA 69, all pieces of legislation that push for term limits in the Illinois General Assembly and the Executive Branch.
On Pat Quinn’s sixty-seven percent income tax hike…Darin has stood up to Pat Quinn’s income tax hike, not once but twice. Most recently, he was a sponsor of SR 1265, legislation that would prohibit a vote on taxes during a veto or lame duck session.
