Rauner contended Tuesday that backers of the new initiative had learned from that experience, and hence joined the term-limit proposal with the other proposed reforms. While cutting the size of the Senate from 59 members to 41, it would expand the House to 123 from 118 members, which Rauner argued would make races more competitive.
Rauner also proposes changing the number of votes needed to override a governor’s veto to two-thirds from three-fifths. He said that would give the governor a stronger role and bring Illinois in line with Congress’ checks on the presidency.
Voters are disgusted with entrenched politics here. The Paul Simon poll found 79 percent favored term limits, a number consistent with previous polls.
Asked what they believed would be the best way to curb corruption in state government, voters responding to a Tribune poll in 2010 put term limits at the top of the list.
They do want to take back their state. First step: Find a petition. Second step: Sign it.
Illinois already has one of the more powerful chief executives thanks primarily to the amendatory veto. Critics have suggested this would make the Governor even more powerful. They may easily be right. Also…
University of Illinois Professor Chris Mooney says Bruce Rauner’s petition drive to limit lawmakers to eight years in office is savvy in its three-pronged approach. The Winnetka venture capitalist’s proposal would not only limit the length of terms but also cut the size of the Senate and make it harder to override a governor’s veto.
I’ll let you discuss in comments whether that is the correct way to go or not.
Last month, Rauner launched the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits, a ballot initiative PAC that operates differently from a campaign committee in that it has no limit on contributions. Rauner has not yet put any of his own money into the endeavor, but already secured more than $200,000 from investors — including $100,000 from Howard Rich and another $100,000 from former Tribune Co. CEO Sam Zell. Rauner said the initiative would operate completely independently from his campaign with its own staff. Asked whether he would appear in commercials promoting it: “We’ve never even discussed that,” he said, adding that he believes there’s so much public support that ads may not even be needed.
And that just might put opponents Bill Brady, Dan Rutherford, and Kirk Dillard in a tough spot given their tenures in the Legislature exceed the 8-year limit in Rauner’s proposal.It also makes the situation interesting for Gov. Quinn…
Brady says he would support 10-year term limits and has proposed term limits previously. He suggests that Madigan might be more inclined to support the measure now given that the 71-year-old Madigan won’t likely serve more than 10 more years.
Brady has been serving in the legislature for 20 years, the last 11 in the Senate.
Candidate Bruce Rauner’s political action committee plans to ask voters to impose term limits in a November 2014 referendum. Governor Quinn pushed for term limits when he was state treasurer, until the Illinois Supreme Court stopped a ballot initiative.
Gov. Pat Quinn appointed the 15-member group after weeks of controversy at Metra over the $871,000 severance package awarded to ousted CEO Alex Clifford and the allegations Clifford raised of political interference at the agency….Quinn asked the group to develop ways to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse at the CTA, Metra and Pace, as well as the oversight agency, the Regional Transportation Authority, and to streamline overall system operations.
The meeting was awkward because the elephant in the room was not in the room at all. Metra officials were not invited to attend, and Acting Executive Director Don Orseno spent most of the session standing in a hallway outside. When he finally entered and took a seat in the back, no one on the commission took public note that anyone from Metra was even in attendance.
I find the best parties are the ones where the guest of honor isn’t included, too.
The task force’s deadline for initial recommendations is before the Oct. 22 fall Legislature’ session , with a final report due Jan. 31. Finding a politically viable solution that’s eluded us until now is tall order for a panel just beginning its work.
However, the board is encouraged by a reform proposal that would combine Metra with the RTA, CTA, and Pace into one entity. The theory is doing so would save administrative costs and improve the intergovernmental cooperation to address capital needs. There’s also this…
Quinn said Tuesday during the task force’s first meeting that the four agencies use 16 different appointing authorities to name 47 board members who are paid $10,000 to $50,000 each.
Task force background materials go even further, saying “the rationale for payments to multiple board members should be examined.’’
The materials also note that transit board members are not required to have “background checks, experience or knowledge of transit systems.’’ Once appointed, “it can be difficult to remove a board member even when there is just cause,’’ the informational packet for task force members says.
* Meanwhile, Greg Hinz was on the ball when it came to a ruling in the RTA’s lawsuit against businesses opening satellite offices in an attempt to dodge paying sales taxes…
A Cook County Circuit Court judge dismissed large portions of a suit by the Regional Transportation Authority against exurban Channahon and Kankakee Aug. 30 in a dispute over sales tax collection. But other counts in the $100-million damage suit remain alive, pending a decision in a related case before the Illinois Supreme Court.
In hjs decision, Judge Peter Flynn said the suit, which also includes Chicago and Cook County as plaintiffs, is incorrect as a matter of law in some instances, but said other charges can be refiled with more substantiation of specific incidents.
A former top aide to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has accepted the role of campaign manager to Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Bill Daley.
Thomas Bowen said in an exclusive interview with Capitol Fax he officially took the reigns of the Daley campaign on Tuesday after meeting with the candidate on multiple occasions in the previous weeks. Bowen, who left the Mayor’s Office in January to accept a partnership at Mac Strategies Group, previously served as deputy campaign manager to Emanuel’s mayoral bid. He has also served as campaign manager to CTA director Forrest Claypoole’s independent campaign against Democrat Joe Berrios for Cook County Assessor, former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’s bid for a vacant U.S. Senate seat in 2010, and Mike Quigley’s successful attempt to fill Emanuel’s Congressional seat by special election in 2009. He has also held positions within President Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate and White House campaigns.
“Illinois needs a strong leader to solve our state’s chronic problems. Bill Daley is someone who will make the tough decisions we need to get our economy moving, reform our government, and educate our children. I’m thrilled to be joining his campaign,” Bowen said.
Bowen would not immediately say if the move means Emanuel intends to put his weight behind the former Commerce Secretary and his White House Chief of Staff successor in the 2014 Democratic primary. However the Mayor and incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn have been at odds over many issues, primarily the development of a casino in Chicago, which Emanuel has said would raise the city millions of new dollars. All Bowen would say at the time of the interview was that he and Daley have already begun mapping a fundraising strategy that would hopefully involve many people.
More to come as it’s available.
…Adding… Ryan McLaughlin at Mac Strategies said Bowen would be taking a leave of absence to accept the position.
The Dillard campaign did a media swing yesterday to formally announce state Rep. Jil Tracy as their lieutenant governor nominee. Part of that roll out included a video to introduce the Quincy-based legislator. Rate it in comments below…
For those of you just joining us after the long weekend, the master of the house is taking some time off in order to, according to commenter “Calhoun Native…”
He is following the state fair food vendors home.
He should be relieving you of my company on Tuesday.
* After nearly 5 years in office Gov. Quinn has no long-term plan for Illinois prisons On the Afternoon Shift, Quinn said he couldn’t remember the last time he was in an Illinois prison but nonetheless insisted the facilities are not overcrowded despite complaints of overcrowding from inmates, correctional officers and the non-partisan prison watchdog John Howard Association.
* Chicago’s top cop: Slight drop in homicides ‘progress’ but ‘not success’ And through the first eight months of the year, there were 85 fewer murders, 374 fewer shooting incidents and approximately 500 fewer victims of gun violence than during the same period last year, McCarthy said.
* Union president to cops: Sorry for errors that may cost you back pay The Chicago Police contract expired on June 30, 2012. Shields missed an earlier deadline to notify the city he intended to terminate the old contract and negotiate a new one. So the contract automatically rolled over for another year — and unionized officers won’t automatically receive a retroactive pay raise for the first year after the contract expired.
* Emanuel Opponents Want CTU’s Lewis To Run For Mayor Newsradio reached out to the creators of the Facebook page, and was told the founders are people who are “sick, angry, and ****ed off about the way things are in Chicago, and have been for a long time.
The proposed rule changes, for example, would require day care providers to offer children at least two occasions per day of age-appropriate outdoor time, depending on the weather.
Children would be prevented from remaining still for more than 30 minutes, outside of scheduled nap times.
The rules would ban children younger than 2 from watching television and limit children age 2 and older to watching one hour per day of TV.
The new nutrition rules include a prohibition on serving snacks with high sugar or fat content and on using trans fats or saturated fats as butter substitutes.
Current rules forbid serving desserts with high sugar and fat content but don’t mention serving those items as snacks.
In addition, infants may not have bottles in their cribs, and older children may not carry no-spill cups throughout the day or night unless the cups contain only water.
All of this, according to the Erickson report, is being done to circumvent childhood obesity.
QUESTION: Should these proposed restrictions on unhealthy snacks and amount of down time be enacted? Please answer in comments below and explain your answer. For example, if “Yes,” then should there be other items on this list? If “No, then would you approve of any of these recommendations?
Rank-and-file members emerged from Thursday’s king-making session saying they want to gain seats and become more relevant under the Statehouse dome.
But that leads to another one of Durkin’s problems. He inherits a campaign warchest that is lagging behind the money House Speaker Michael Madigan has at his disposal.
It probably was smart of Durkin to not make any pronouncements about how many seats Republicans might have a shot at picking up in the 2014 election.
On pension reform, Durkin has voted for a sweeping package of benefit cuts backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, while Rep. Raymond Poe of Springfield, a downstate favorite for House GOP leader, voted against each of the pension reform bills that came to the House floor this year.
Durkin is like Cross in that respect and might be expected to follow the same path on an issue that has not only split the two parties but also has caused internal fights among both Republicans and Democrats.
Cross, the current leader, is also a strong supporter of SB 1. So what happened when the bill got a vote in the House in May? It passed, but only 22 Republicans voted for it, despite the leader’s support. Another 24 voted against it. Cross’ position was no guarantee the rest of his members were in lock step.
Moreover, if the business community wants to retaliate against Republicans they think are on the wrong side of pension reform, they already have their list of targets. Threatening Poe supporters seemed rather pointless.
The Champaign News-Gazette in an editorial said Durkin was “clearly the best choice.” But given the information here, which shows division among Republicans on pension reform, does that statement still hold up?
Last session, the House Republican Organization, a fund-raising arm for members, closed out with a paltry $21,000. Though now there’s fund-raising hope with the Reform PAC that’s called on big-name donors, including gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, to pump money into Republicans running for the Illinois House. There’s $100,000 and counting since the PAC’s Monday filing. Durkin officially takes the helm on Sept. 20.
* A Political Action Committee chaired by Bruce Rauner is also planning to put legislative term limits on the November 2014 ballot. As Kerry Lester says in her report, this is not the first time this issue has come up, and it’s generally a populist issue. Gov. Pat Quinn has also said he favor term limits.
But history shows that it will be an uphill battle in Illinois, the biggest hurdle being a 1994 state Supreme Court ruling that stopped the initiative by Quinn, now the Democratic governor Rauner is aiming to unseat.
“How are you going to get around that decision?” asked Charlie Wheeler, who teaches public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “A precedent is a precedent.”
…
To get the term-limits question on the 2014 ballot, proponents would need to gather signatures totaling 8 percent of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, in this case roughly 288,000.
Rauner campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf would not reveal details of the new campaign or what maximum term it would seek to impose. If elected, Rauner pledges to serve a maximum of two terms in the governor’s mansion, but the state constitution would restrict any term-limit initiatives to legislators.
* Bill Daley whacked Gov. Quinn this weekend for his amendatory veto of legislative salaries from the fiscal year 2014 budget…
“It’s an abuse of power and a disgrace that any governor and a democratic governor albeit will take such an outrageous step. Obviously it hasn’t produced anything,” Daley said.
Lawmakers have now missed two pay periods. You’ll recall the Governor vetoed the legislative salary appropriation from the budget until they pass pension reform. The Governor stood by prior statements that lawmakers should override his veto instead of filing a civil suit claiming the move was unconstitutional.
* Speaking of that lawsuit, attorneys for the Governor filed a motion to dismiss…
In a motion filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday, Quinn’s lawyers acknowledge such an override could be unpopular with Illinois voters. But they say as long as the option exists, the lawsuit filed by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton seeking to restore legislators’ pay is premature.
“When a veto rankles the General Assembly, the usual and constitutionally sanctioned response is to seek to override it,” the attorneys state. “They have declined to exercise that power.”
Quinn’s lawyers also argue he has the constitutional authority to veto money for lawmaker salaries.
* Rich reported on a list of items being discussed by a bi-partisan committee of House and Senate legislators a couple weeks ago. The AP picked up on the list a day later. This weekend a Lee Enterprises editorial board said the items are “a good start,” but that they lack in some areas…
First, it does not address increasing the retirement age of public sector employees. Many public sector employees can retire as early as age 55, a benefit that is unheard of in the private sector. Taxpayers are weary of footing the bill for early retirement of public sector employees.
The second area that the plan doesn’t address is relieving the pressure the pension system places on the rest of the state budget. From the years between 2020 and 2038, 20 percent of the state budget would go toward the pension system. That means that other state services — education, health, public safety and others — would continue to struggle for the funds that remain.
Last week, calls went out to voters elsewhere in the state inquiring about the support for Rep. Adam Kinzinger possibly making a bid for the governor’s mansion.
The Channahon Republican’s camp has been quiet about the calls — which, we’d stress, do not definitely come from them. In fact, a spokesperson with his campaign operation didn’t even return a phone call from us.
But, closed lips or not, it got us thinking here. The prospects of a Kinzinger bid would seem to be good just based on the evidence.
For those of you who got an early start to the weekend, rest assured I am not here because Rich was part of the White Sox rebuilding efforts. In fact, I’m told no other teams were biting when he was put on waivers. Rich is taking some time off and should be back this time next week. I’m filling in by tossing up a few posts and keeping the comments section up to code while Rich is, according to commenter “uncle sam…”
Training Oscar in one of two ways: (a) to be a ninja so that Oscar can secretly spy on legislators and lobbyists; or (b) how to go from “lightweight” to “super heavyweight” before veto session begins.
We’ve always hoped that the lawmakers who fill their pockets with gambling industry contributions, and who want the independent Gaming Board to be anything but the independent law enforcement agency it is, would make a frontal assault on nominees such as these three. We cannot wait to see which senators would speak or vote against Jaffe, Holewinski or Gould and their stellar record of insulating the Illinois gambling industry.
We’re hard-pressed to think of another agency in Illinois’ often dysfunctional state government that has kept its head so far above political pressure, bureaucratic inertia and threats of criminal influence. Four times in its history the Gaming Board, its investigators and regulators have confronted the sorts of wrongdoing or inappropriate associations that in other states have erupted into devastating scandals. Four times the Gaming Board acted firmly, without regard for politics, and as a result this industry hasn’t suffered long-term embarrassments.
The editorial implies that anyone against Jaffe’s appointment wants the mob to takeover gaming in Illinois and zero government oversight. But Jaffe has been criticized in the Statehouse by legislators for his position on the gaming bill…
During the most recent legislative session Jaffe opposed a measure to add five casinos in the state, saying it didn’t give the board enough regulatory authority. That led to heated exchanges, including one hearing where Jaffe called a state senator “atrocious” and the senator returned the jab.
Quinn on Friday appointed Joel Sambursky of Carbondale to a 5-year term at Southern Illinois University. The former quarterback was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame in 2012. Sambursky’s selection comes after the state Senate rejected previous Quinn appointments to the university board. That happened after a power struggle at SIU and a fight over the way the Senate provides advice and consent on appointments.
Former DFPR director Nikki Zollar was appointed to the Chicago State University Board of Trustees.
* This being Labor Day weekend, opinion pages were filled with commentary on organized labor issues. The AFL-CIO opined on the challenges immigrant and public sector workers face in today’s climate…
More than 11 million aspiring Americans attend school, work in our neighborhoods, raise families, own homes and dream of a better life. But their dreams will never be realized with the threat of deportation hanging over their heads and a path to citizenship so far out of reach.
While immigrant workers struggle to become part of a country that benefits from their labor but doesn’t protect their rights, unscrupulous employers abuse the system by exploiting workers with little to no protections — and pay them less.
The state raised personal and corporate income taxes just as other states moved to cut the tax burden.
Illinois borrowed and spent its way into massive government debt.
Think any employer doesn’t know Illinois has worst-in-the-nation credit ratings and unfunded pension obligations? Even as states from California to Rhode Island have dealt with similar financial crises, Illinois has stalled.
Many of our political leaders don’t welcome employers, they try to dictate terms to those who have the temerity to set up shop here. (Hello, Wal-Mart and Ford Motor Co.)
At the end, the editorial restates a campaign slogan the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago used in the mid-2000s.
* Other items for your review…
* Probe of contacts between Metra Board member and ex-CEO sought: Email and phone exchanges between Metra Board member Jack Schaffer and ex-CEO Alex Clifford should be investigated to see if Schaffer leaked confidential information that could have affected Clifford’s buyout, a Cook County commissioner has urged in a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn.
* Cicero state rep allegedly complained to Clifford about ‘mistreating’ of husband at Metra job
* West suburban fire board pumped up chiefs’ pensions, promoted trustee’s partner: State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), whose legislative district includes the fire protection district, calls the pay-hikes-for-“pension spikes” deals “outrageous” and says they “should not be tolerated.”
* Reporter ordered to reveal source: Will County Circuit Court Judge Gerald Kinney on Friday ruled that patch.com reporter Joseph Hosey must hand over all of his documents relating to the January stranglings of Eric Glover and Terrance Rankins. If the documents do not reveal his source, then Hosey must provide Kinney with an affidavit telling him who provided him with the records, when and how, according to the ruling.
* Gay marriage push looking to unions, immigrants: “The immigration advocates, they really know how to get it done,” said Jim Bennett, a director for Lambda Legal, a gay rights group that’s part of the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign. “We have a lot to learn from them.”
* Will County officials prepare for possible strike: A year of labor negotiations has failed to produce a contract for members of Local 1028 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 1,260 of the county’s 2,300 union and non-union employees. | Union members are concerned because the county is asking employees to pay more for health insurance while offering small pay raises, said Dave Delrose, president of Local 1028.
* SIU president: Lobbyists crucial to protect school interests: “I know it’s probably hard for the public to understand, but it’s like anything else: We have to keep the legislature alerted to the bills that are passing through, and how they affect us. If we don’t do that, and we miss a very important bill that adversely affects our university, I’m to blame for that,” Poshard said.
The Pontiac Republican made the announcement via Twitter, adding that a news conference is planned for Thursday morning in Chicago. Kim is an attorney from Northbrook, who ran for attorney general in 2010, losing to incumbent Lisa Madigan.
Rutherford added that the lieutenant governor would have a unique and substantive role in the Rutherford administration.
“(Kim) is someone that the public would feel comfortable with being governor if I was incapacitated,” Rutherford tweeted in an earlier hint of his runing mate choice.
Subscribers know more about some of the other candidates the Rutherford camp considered. Over the last 24 hours, Rutherford’s “clues” had been more direct…
Lt Gov Selection Clue: Received almost 1.2 million votes statewide in IL in 2010 as the GOP candidate for Attorney General #twill
4:46 p.m. - Not two minutes after comments were closed for the weekend, the Governor’s Office announced the reappointment of Aaron Jaffe as chairman of the Gaming Board…
Judge Aaron Jaffe of Evanston, who has chaired the Illinois Gaming Board since 2005, has been reappointed to Chairman of the Board. Under Judge Jaffe’s leadership, the board has increased openness and transparency in the gaming industry, notably revoking the 10th casino gaming license in order to rebid the license through a fair and open process. He has consistently led efforts to hold entities that violate gaming regulations accountable. Judge Jaffe holds a J.D. from DePaul University.
The board’s vice-chair and former Rep. Michael Holewinski was also reappointed.
* Shirley Madigan, the Speaker’s wife, will also retain her role at the Arts Council…
Shirley Madigan of Chicago has served on the Illinois Arts Council since 1976 and has been Chairman for more than 20 years. Ms. Madigan actively represents the Council to arts organizations, individual artists, government officials, educators and the business and philanthropy communities. Ms. Madigan has a B.A. from Gonzaga University and a master’s degree in education from Loyola University.
* And the last open seat on the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees has a new candidate…
Joel Sambursky of Carbondale is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and a president of Liberty Wealth Management, LLC. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Carbondale Community Arts and is a former president and executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Sambursky - Southern Illinois University’s quarterback from 2002-2005 - was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame in 2012 for having led the Salukis to three straight football conference championships and appearances at the NCAA National Playoffs. Mr. Sambursky holds a MBA and B.S. from Southern Illinois University.
That’s especially interesting given the fight between the Governor, SIU President Glenn Poshard, and a coalition from Metro-east that were frustrated by the lack of trustees with an SIUE background. So bad was that spat that Senate Democratic leadership helped knock down all of the Governor’s BOT appointments without a single “Yay” vote. As you know, that fight also lead to the ouster of board chairman Roger Herrin, a friend of Gov. Quinn. One has to wonder how that area’s legislators will feel about this Carbondale appointment.
* The Governor also acted on the Chicago State University BOT…
Chicago State University Board of Trustees:
Nikki Zollar of Chicago is the president and CEO of Triad Consulting Services, Inc. and also the president of SafeSpeed, LLC. Ms. Zollar is a former Director of the Illinois Department of Financial Regulation and holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from The John Hopkins University.
* Also…
Lottery Control Board:
Paul Schaefer (reappointment) of Edwardsville is a field director for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 and holds a B.A. from the University of Evansville.
Pollution Control Board:
Deanna Glosser (reappointment) of Riverton is the former president of Environmental Planning Solutions, Inc. and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. Ms. Glosser holds a B.S. from Illinois State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.
Prisoner Review Board:
Vonetta Rush of Swansea is a program coordinator for East St. Louis School District 189 and holds a M.A. from Lindenwood University a M.A. from Webster University, a M.P.A. and a B.S. from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville.
Gotta love the Friday evening news dump.
5:05 p.m. - COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RE-ACTIVATED FOR THE TIME BEING.
There are plenty of happenings scheduled for this weekend. A commenter pointed out that the Chicago Jazz Festival started yesterday. That goes on through Sunday in Millennium Park.
For the capital city dwellers, stop by Brewhaus on Sunday night. Local music legend Tom Irwin, a friend of the blog, will be playing his weekly set. Joining him this time will be the CapFax Intern Caucus’s very own Owen Irwin. Come on out and hear them Irwin boys play. (It’s not like you have to work on Monday
Also, if you are in the 618: Kansas will be playing the grandstand show at the Du Quoin State Fair along with The Fabulous Thunderbirds Saturday night.
I received quite a few song suggestions for this week’s post. However just before he left you and I to keep the state afloat, Rich sent this video my direction. I’m not quite sure what they are saying, but they have a decent sound…
Possible translation:
Wishing everyone a fun and safe three-day weekend.
We’ll see you back here on Tuesday.
As subscribers already know, (Oh man, it feels good to say that again.) the master of the house is taking some time off over the next couple of weeks and has left the blog in the hands of his intern emeritus.
Blogging will be lighter than usual, but by no means non-existent. I hope you will keep checking in with us to get the latest information and read Oswego Willy’s most recent zinger. Rich is still receiving emails, though I doubt he will be replying as quickly as he would on a normal day. If the subject is more urgent, about the blog, or a potential news item, you can send an email to my personal account: barton.lorimor@gmail.com.
As many of you know, I am at the service of the state these days, which means I am limited to checking in and blogging during the lunch hour and before and after work. That said, I do remember how to make use of the comment section’s banishment hammer of death. Please don’t give me a reason to use it.
Question: What is Miller REALLY doing with his time off? I mean, seriously folks. Many of you have known him longer than me, so your predictions have more background than mine. Snark strongly encouraged. The best answers will be used later on.
Back in 1981, Illinois reported $164 million in debt service “interest” expense. By 2012, Illinois’ accumulating debt led to a reported $1.6 billion in interest expense — about 900% higher than in 1981, despite a 95% decline in general interest rates! To boot, Illinois has had a longstanding ‘balanced budget’ requirement in the state constitution, which theoretically constrained state borrowing.
In 1981, Illinois reported $8.4 billion in total liabilities. By 2012, that amount had risen to over $100 billion. And that is just the amount reported by the state under current government accounting standards. These standards have long allowed states to accumulate massive off-balance sheet liabilities for retirement programs for government employees. Truth in Accounting estimates these obligations totaled over $120 billion in Illinois as of fiscal year-end 2011 – an amount about equal to the state’s total reported liabilities.
$164 million in interest expenses in 1981 would be equal to $421 million in today’s dollars, and $8.4 billion in total liabilities in 1981 is equal to $22 billion in 2013 money, so the percentage increases aren’t quite as dramatic as claimed.
* SJ-R columnist Dave Bakke heard a persistent rumor that a single door at the newly remodeled Statehouse cost $240,000, so he decided to check it out…
I was directed to several offices that might know the answer: the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office or the Illinois comptroller’s office. I eventually checked with all three. […]
While waiting for a reply [from the House Architect], I went on to Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Madigan. He answered my question by saying it couldn’t be answered, not just yet.
“I’m not sure those numbers actually exist,” he said, “because the itemization isn’t available. Suppliers haven’t turned in those numbers yet. When they do, they will be available.”
* Bakke didn’t think that sounded right, and he eventually got to the bottom of it when Capitol Architect Richard Alsop finally responded…
The total for the doors is $669,608. But, technically, it’s six doors, two for each of three doorways on the west end of the Capitol. So it’s more like $223,000 each for three doorways, not three doors. Just the cost of installation is $78,000, which is included in the total.
“We must remember,” Alsop wrote in his email, “that these are custom doors with carvings that do not exist on a shelf at the local home improvement store. Like many other materials in the building, it takes craftsmen to perform the work necessary to give us the desired and appropriate historic fabric.”
Those are also huge doorways.
* While noting that the money comes from a special bond fund for capital projects, Bakke has serious reservations about the cost…
On the other hand, this is a time of high emotion regarding the state budget. State employees are suffering, retirees are probably going to suffer, Illinois institutions are cutting services because the state can’t pay what it owes them, Illinois’ bond rating is in the toilet, and we are regarded as a leading candidate for the most corrupt, financially irresponsible state in the country.
That’s why it seems disrespectful and even arrogant for state governmental leaders to decide at such a time in the state’s history to spend more on one doorway than my entire house is worth.
* Rep. Durkin wrapped this up faster than just about anyone figured only a few weeks ago…
Durkin said he had 32 votes going into a closed-door caucus. He only needed 24 to win the job.
Poe, conceding his candidacy fell short of support, said he nominated Durkin and declared, like many of his peers emerging from the meeting, that the House GOP troops now are united.
(W)hen Durkin walked out of it the victor — beaming — Poe was by his side. Poe joked that he’s Durkin’s bodyguard; but he had, in a sense, protected him.
When it became clear Poe didn’t have the votes to clinch a win, he not only took his name out of the running, he was the one to nominate Durkin, for a vote by acclimation. “I think the whole message of the day is: we’re coming out of that room as we’re 47 strong,” Poe says. “And Jim’s our new leader and we’re going to elect more representatives and we’re going to elect a Republican governor. And guess what? The things that are important to Republicans, we’re going to be able to carry those out under Jim’s leadership.”
Durkin — still unable to stop smiling — and was equally complimentary of Poe: “Without getting into specifics, Raymond, uh, his point was that we’re a unified party today,” Leader-Elect Durkin says. “We are more unified today than we have been in a long time. And I can thank Raymond for that. We have a lot of … we have a very diverse caucus, but we’re going to use that diversity to our advantage .”
Durkin, 52, replaces outgoing caucus leader Tom Cross, who told members last week he is planning to run for treasurer. Cross held the leadership position for a decade, and came under recent fire from members following a loss of seats last November and a caucus campaign fund that stood at $21,030 in June fundraising reports.
“The positive thing that comes out of here today is that it was a unanimous vote,” Durkin said, following his election as leader. “We’re going to use that energy to move forward and win races.”
* And he’s taking a wait and see attitude on pension reform…
He wouldn’t endorse any particular proposal Thursday.
“I want to see what the product is first,” Durkin said. “This is one of many extremely important issues this caucus is going to have to discuss.”
* Rep. Durkin represents half of Senate Republican Christine Radogno’s district, and her public statement was laudatory…
“I have offered my congratulations to Rep. Durkin. I look forward to continuing our work together. We have proven to be an effective team for our constituents. Jim is thoughtful, pragmatic and extremely well versed in the issues of importance to Illinois citizens. I know he is particularly interested in working together with our Caucus to improve the state’s fiscal condition and jobs climate. He shares my view that a comprehensive solution to our pension crisis is critical to those efforts. I congratulate the House Republican Caucus on their choice and warmly welcome Jim.”
There’s no set deadline for when [Leader Cross will] step down, though the transition is expected to take a few weeks. Even then, the full House will have to take a formal vote when it next convenes in order to make it official. As that happens, Durkin will take on the perks of leadership: higher pay, extra staff, a bigger office
* The first real bright spot for Kirk Dillard in a while…
In next year’s governor primary, Durkin backs Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican who lost the 2010 primary by 193 votes.
Discuss.
…Adding… This was my advice to Durkin in comments yesterday…
First, heal the wounds. Cross’ search for another office has opened up some deep divisions in your caucus. Those divisions need to be repaired.
No need for retaliation. You won a majority in a matter of a few days and balloting lasted less than an hour. It’s obvious you have the support of a majority, so throw a bone or two to some folks in the opposition.
You have some good, dedicated staffers, but some new blood is absolutely necessary, at the top and at the bottom. Prune the tree carefully, but do prune it.
Before this election, you had a reputation among some members as being aloof and a bit of a jerk. You overcame that today. Don’t go back to that behavior. Keep an open mind and an open door. You don’t have to agree with a member, but be respectful.
Your caucus is obviously deeply split on the pension issue. Urge compromise. Don’t be bullied by Ty Fahner or the Tribune.
Speaking of Fahner, he’s toxic. Put some distance between him and you.
And speaking of the Trib, try to understand that getting a favorable Tribune editorial is the end, not a means. That paper’s influence is declining rapidly.
Remember that if you want any sort of Republican stamp on a bill, you have to work with the majority. Those who want to boycott and abdicate shouldn’t be listened to. Obviously, capitulation is out of the question, but be firm with Madigan and develop a close relationship with Cullerton, which can help you in your dealings with His Royal Highness (something that Cross never understood, but Daniels did with Rock).
Work harder than you ever have and expect the same from your leaders and your staff.
And, whatever you do, never put bananas in the refrigerator.
Quinn, seeking a second elected term as governor after replacing the impeached and imprisoned Rod Blagojevich in 2009, traditionally has gotten his strongest support from African-American voters, though Daley maintains that backing is flagging.
Raoul, in an interview with the Tribune outside a downtown fundraising event, said he was not backing either Quinn or Daley but imagines he’ll eventually make an endorsement. “Just right now, I want to turn off (the politics) and focus on getting this job done,” he said.
“This job” refers to his role as chairman of a special legislative conference committee charged with recommending a plan to resolve the state’s $100 billion government worker pension debt. He said negotiators, who met again Thursday, are moving forward and that “it’s a very critical time” in efforts to come up with a plan.
As most of you observed yesterday, Raoul’s statement announcing he wouldn’t run for governor was a classy move.
The guy looks like he has a real future, but the stars don’t always line up as well as they seemed to be this time around. Maybe Lisa Madigan figures that her only way up the ladder is a 2016 US Senate bid, since she says she can’t run for governor as long as her father is the House Speaker. Lots of things can happen.
* Mike Riopell talked to former Congressman Joe Walsh, who says he may run for US Senate…
“I’m still considering a run in 2014,” said Walsh, now a WIND-AM talk show host who hinted at a run for governor days after his 2012 loss.
The McHenry Tea Party favorite says he’s keeping his options open, but the only race he named Thursday was U.S. Senate.
“It’s probably the race that I’m most seriously considering,” Walsh said, adding he’ll decide within a month.
Three’s a crowd?
So far, Republicans Doug Truax of Downers Grove and Chad Koppie of Gilberts have talked about a 2014 bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Springfield.
Truax has been a fairly active candidate so far and is in the race “no matter who enters the Republican primary,” said his spokesman, Dan Curry.
