Caption contest!
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Funniest commenter wins a free beverage at the Illinois State Fair….
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Rauner talks a bit about Rendell
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner was in Decatur this week and the Herald & Review’s Ryan Voyles was there…
Rauner took a variety of questions, from his stance on gay marriage to why a self-labeled political outsider has made political donations to Democratic candidates.
He has contributed $200,000 to the campaigns of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and has supported current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He has also supported former Philadelphia mayor and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Randell when he ran for the Democratic National Committee and Forrest Claypoolol, who previously ran for Cook County Board president.
“I will never apologize for those four,” Rauner said, adding he supported the Chicago mayors because they control the schools and little can be done without their support.
He’ll never apologize, eh?
* I reached out to Voyles to see if he had any audio of Rauner talking about former Gov. Rendell. Why? Well, you may remember this story…
As friends and foes assess Ed Rendell’s tenure as governor, few events better illustrate his record in one contentious arena - campaign fund-raising - than his 2001 trip to see a Chicago businessman.
Rendell was in the early stages of the governor’s race. Aides had dispatched him to the Windy City with what they thought was a reasonable goal - a $50,000 check, according to one who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Rendell left the meeting buoyant, but confessed to aides he never asked the would-be donor for a set amount. Rendell “just had a feeling,” he told them.
A week or so later, the Chicagoan, Bruce Rauner, sent a check for $200,000. Another check, for $100,000, came just before the election.
At the time, Rauner’s private-equity firm had business with the state of Pennsylvania. GTCR L.L.C. was managing $110 million in pension funds for the State Employee Retirement System, records show.
After Rendell became governor, the state doubled its stake in GTCR funds, to $226 million. That meant at least $4 million more in management fees to the firm.
* So far, this is pretty much all the Rauner campaign has said about the money to Rendell. Greg Hinz…
As Rauner spokesman Chip Englander emailed me when I asked him for comment on the Philadelphia story, “The vast majority of (Mr. Rauner’s) donations have been to Republicans and conservative and government reform causes, but Bruce is an independent guy, and he has supported some Democrats who he knows personally, or who have pursued education reform or pro-business policies.”
Mr. Englander adds, “Pennsylvania invested in GTCR funds starting in 1997, four years before Bruce ever contributed (to Mr. Rendell). Pennsylvania invested in them, under Republican and Democratic governors alike, because of GTCR’s strong returns and great reputation.”
* My e-mail to the Herald & Review reporter bounced back, so I checked in with managing editor Dave Dawson and received this…
Ryan started vacation today. I texted him to confirm my interpretation of what Rauner said, It boils down to — and this is not a direct quote — we both wanted school reform and I donated because I wanted to start a relationship with him.
I’m sure he did want a relationship. How convenient.
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Question of the day
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Gov. Pat Quinn says if lawmakers don’t like his decision to halt their pay they should take a vote instead of going to the courts.
The Chicago Democrat spoke to reporters Wednesday a day after House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton sued over Quinn’s decision to cut pay. Quinn says his authority is constitutional. He has said he took action because of lawmakers’ inaction on pension reform.
* Greg Hinz agrees there should be an override vote…
Mr. Quinn didn’t grab all of the money and stick it in his sock drawer. Rather, he used his line-item veto to block the appropriation for legislative salaries.
If lawmakers don’t like that, they have a solution well within the traditional separation of powers. It’s called a veto override. If they don’t like how Mr. Quinn used his amendatory veto, they can get together and override him by the required 60 percent vote of both legislative chambers.
From what I’m hearing, the votes are there to do just that. But neither the House nor the Senate has scheduled such a vote. […]
So call a vote, Mr. Speaker and Mr. President. If it passes, you get your money. If it doesn’t, maybe then you have something worth taking to the judge.
* Eric Zorn disagrees with the governor…
[An override vote] would legitimize the salary squeeze as a parliamentary trick, putting the power of precedent behind governors of the future who want to shake down the General Assembly on matters of less importance than pension reform, and to legislators who want to try to use the budget process to starve the governor financially into submission.
Imagine, say, a Republican governor refusing to pay members of a General Assembly narrowly controlled by Democrats until they OK his tax plan or abortion restriction. Or imagine that same General Assembly threatening not to appropriate a dime to a Republican governor’s salary until she signs off on gay marriage or gun-rights restrictions.
There would be no logical end to the nonsense. And Tuesday’s lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, is the best way to put a stop to it
The suit envisions several of the above scenarios and complains, quite rightly, of Quinn’s brazen violation of the principle of separation of powers.
* The Question: Should the General Assembly’s leaders withdraw their lawsuit and attempt to override the governor’s veto of legislative pay? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
survey solution
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* From the Twitters…
* This has been a huge issue in Chicago…
Chicago residents vehemently voiced objections to the state fire marshal’s proposal to require all residential high-rise buildings to install fire sprinkler systems within the next 12 years at a town hall meeting Wednesday night.
The costs associated with implementing the water sprinklers are just too much to bear, far North Side residents said at the fire code meeting, hosted by State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) at Loyola University’s Cueno Hall.
State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis is pushing for the rule change, which would require high-rises in Illinois built before 1975 to install sprinklers. Currently, high-rises in Chicago built prior to 1975 are exempt from the requirement to install sprinklers. The buildings without sprinklers have, instead, undergone a rigorous life safety evaluation, according to Asif Rahman, deputy commissioner of the city’s buildings department. The fire marshal’s proposed rule would also mandate sprinklers in all new homes.
* The last straw was probably when Senate President John Cullerton voiced his opposition this week…
In his role as senate president, Cullerton appointed three of the JCAR members.
“If you insist on filing this rule with JCAR, I will have no choice but to intercede and request that the three members of the Senate Democratic caucus who serve on JCAR reject this rule and will ask my fellow legislative leaders to do the same,” Cullerton’s letter continued.
* But the fire marshal is also in hot water with some downstaters…
he Illinois State Fire Marshal wants to mandate fire sprinkler systems be installed in all new residential home construction and existing places of assembly, and time is running out to stop his efforts. State Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) is sounding an alarm about the proposal and Monday, he called on fellow Illinoisans to speak out before it’s too late to stop the effort.
“Right now families are working hard to save enough money to purchase or build a home, and with this mandate, they will be required to pay thousands of dollars more,” Reis said in a statement. “Additionally, many homes downstate rely on wells for fresh water which cannot accommodate these increased demands, which will lead to additional well drilling costs.”
The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) proposed the new regulation on June 28, 2013, requiring the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new one-and-two family homes. Previous OSFM sprinkler mandate covered multi-family housing buildings, and single-family housing was carved out from the mandate. Existing churches and other places of public worship are also affected by this rulemaking.
*** UPDATE *** Statement from the Fire Marshal…
“After months of study into how we can better protect the lives and property of Illinois residents, I directed my office to draft Illinois’ first fire code update in 11 years.
“As the brave first responders alongside whom I have served during four decades in fire protection know, Illinois needs 21st century fire safety standards.
“Since we began this process, we conducted numerous meetings with local officials, legislators, fire safety professionals, community leaders and residents who have all expressed a desire to strengthen Illinois’ fire safety.
“We have received an unprecedented amount of public input and suggestions through emails, letters and public meetings.
“In the course of this process, it’s become clear that any proposed state rule needs additional refinement.
“Therefore today I am officially withdrawing the proposed rule before the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to take into account substantial public comment and carefully re-examine this issue.”
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Dan Walker redux?
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Long-ago Statehouse political reporter Mike Lawrence compares Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of legislative salaries to Quinn’s old boss Dan Walker…
For a governor facing a steep re-election climb and taunted as inept and irrelevant by lawmakers, it was both a payback and a ploy to build his sagging poll numbers.
He cast the move as policy driven, arguing it would jolt lawmakers into helping him fix what Quinn rightly portrays as a grave threat to the state’s viability. However, petty revenge rarely begets positive results, as Walker and constant cycles of vengeance dramatically illustrated four decades ago.
“The free ride is over.” That 1973 quote is from Walker’s inaugural after he won the office by casting himself as a white knight and verbally lancing primary foe Paul Simon as a puppet of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley despite the downstater’s good-government record. Few, if any, phrases uttered by a new governor have been so long remembered. When his administration strayed from the righteous ride he had promised, his credibility suffered. At the same time, most Democratic and Republican lawmakers took the rhetorical flourish as a call to war.
They rejected key gubernatorial appointments. He often flew to media markets throughout the state to denounce what he colorfully painted as their profligate and corrupt ways. They slashed funding for his staff to deplete it. He responded by sneaking aides, including Quinn, onto the payrolls of state agencies to which they had little or no accountability as the aides did his bidding.
Walker nixed funding for pet causes of uncooperative lawmakers. They responded by shooting down his high-flying infrastructure initiative amid a chorus of dive-bomber whistles that reached a surreal crescendo when one of the legislation’s chief sponsors urged colleagues to join him in voting against it.
* A 1980 Illinois Issues story explained the above mention of Quinn’s ghost payrolling for Walker…
During 1975, Quinn was considered one of the infamous “ghost payrollers” of the Walker administration. The former governor placed dozens of assistants on agency payrolls where the employee did little or no work and did not report to supervisors there. Walker was accused of attempting to disguise how he had expanded the number of employees in the governor’s office because of his campaign pledge not to do so.
Quinn was one of those employees. He was hired in January 1973 as an $18,000 a year assistant and was given a title indicating he would be a liaison to the public. The following year, he was given a pay raise to $20,000. The next year, he was shifted to the payroll of the Illinois Industrial Commission and received a raise to $23,000. At that point, Quinn became the target of legislative inquiry. Legislators, many in open confrontation with Walker, grilled agency directors about their payrolls when they appeared before appropriations committees. The chairman of the Industrial Commission, during one question session, admitted Quinn did not work full time for the agency. The lawmakers also accused Quinn of being “in conflict of interest” because he telephoned legislators seeking support for proposed constitutional amendments while on the commission payroll.
Just prior to that charge, however, Quinn resigned from state government, returned to law school and remained politically active by forming a group known as the Coalition for Political Honesty in Oak Park. The coalition has been fueled by individual contributions and money from Quinn’s pocket and kept alive by the help of several dozen volunteers.
“It’s so ironic,” said Rep. Anne Wilier (D., Western Springs). “Here’s a guy who not only was a double-dipper himself, had conflicts of interest and received pay for a job some people say he didn’t do - he has turned around to stir up the public a few years later to get them to oust legislators who are double-dippers, have conflicts of interest and who vote themselves pay raises. I think Pat is very intelligent. But I’d say he is nothing short of a hypocrite. What I resent most about him is he knows better. He knows because he’s been here himself.”
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* I’m not sure Rep. Monique Davis did herself any good by going on Fox News last night, but it’s been my experience that state legislators cannot resist the siren call of the national spotlight, so whatever…
Bill O’Reilly [last night] faced off with Illinois state representative Monique Davis, who said on a radio show this week that many of her constituents have “suspicions” that Chicago police are gunning down black children. O’Reilly told Davis that she unfairly legitimized a “destructive” rumor, and that she had a responsibility in her role as an elected official not to say such garbage in the public eye.
Davis insisted to O’Reilly that she wasn’t alleging anything, just repeating what constituents told her. O’Reilly pressed her on why she didn’t dismiss it as “crazy,” explaining that she has “credibility as an elected official” and she should know better than to say police are killing black kids. Davis suggested that given how such a high number (70 percent) of murders in Chicago remain unsolved, “people are wondering what the heck is going on.”
O’Reilly still insisted she was being “irresponsible,” and switched to overall problems in the black community. Davis told O’Reilly he was “terribly wrong” about the majority of black problems originating in the collapse of the family unit, pointing to poor education and a lack of “resources to help these kids to anything.” O’Reilly brought up the out-of-wedlock pregnancy rate, to which Davis shot back that unmarried actresses get pregnant all the time. O’Reilly said, “Actresses aren’t living in the ghetto.”
* Video…
* More…
“I didn’t say it, Bill. I repeated what members of my community have said to me,” Davis said. “It is crucially important that people realize that was not Monique Davis’s statement.”
“Do I have to say that?” Davids asked when O’Reilly prompted her to refute such statements as falsehoods.
“Yeah, you do,” O’Reilly shot back. “Here’s why you have to say it, two reasons: Number one, you have credibility as an elected official, alight? And number two, people don’t know where you stand…That is destructive to the discourse. Chicago police as you know are not gunning down black children. You know that, right?”
Bill O’Reilly complaining that somebody who doesn’t have a nationally televised cable TV show is being “destructive to the discourse” is more than a tad bit ironic. Just sayin…
The full transcript is here.
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Unintended consequences
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From David Ormsby…
Because of an oversight in the [federal] Obamacare law, those who require a residential stay to power their recovery are unable to use the vast majority of Illinois drug-treatment residential programs with 17 beds or more because they are prohibited from being Medicaid certified due to an older Medicaid law.
So, what does this mean?…
An unemployed, homeless man who was living in a Chicago homeless shelter managed, through the help of friend, to present himself at a suburban Cook County drug treatment agency, pleading for help to overcome his alcohol abuse. The assessment revealed he needed residential treatment due to severity of his condition.
The response from CountyCare’s HMO provider? Denied.
The individual was denied both because the residential program was not — and could not be — Medicaid certified and because the man, struggling on his own to overcome his alcoholism, had taken no alcoholic drink in two days. The agency was told that the client needed to fail first in outpatient care — he had to resume drinking — before residential treatment became a viable option. Just what the doctor ordered.
What happened?
The man finally reported to the CountyCare HMO that he began drinking again, leading the HMO to hospitalize him in medical detox — a vastly more expensive option than residential treatment. And Obamacare picked up the bill.
Before CountyCare, this man would have received the less costly clinical detox in the agency’s residential program for men under its contract with Illinois Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. But for those now enrolled CountyCare, the state option is no longer available. The state, which is looking to save money, is no longer willing to expend its own precious tax dollars because the promise of Obamacare was to save states money by having the feds picking up the tab.
Oy.
And, of course, we can’t expect any congressional trailer bills to fix problems like this because the US House is bound and determined to repeal the law.
In the meantime, though, the state needs to revisit its policies here.
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Kirk: No state bailouts
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I think this is the third time that Sen. Kirk has filed this resolution. From a press release…
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), along with Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today introduced the No State Bailouts Resolution, S. Res. 215, which expresses opposition to the Federal bailout of financially struggling states like Illinois.
“This resolution expresses our support for blocking potential state bailouts and reducing states’ spending - restoring confidence to lenders and lowering borrowing costs,” Sen Kirk said. “Encouraging fiscal responsibility will help protect the Federal Government’s credit rating.”
The No State Bailouts Resolution declares that the States, as sovereign entities, retain control over their spending and taxation, and are therefore responsible for their own debts. The resolution also states that historic precedent opposes a bailout of the states, citing the historic example from the financial crisis of 1842. In the 1840s, several states faced funding crises, having spent so much that they could not repay their creditors. In 1842, the Senate requested then-Secretary of State Daniel Webster report any negotiations with state creditors to the Senate, in order to ensure no promises of Federal Government support were offered. As such, the cosponsors agree that the Federal Government should “take no action to redeem, assume, or guarantee State debt.” States should see this resolution and recognize that the Federal Government is not going to bail them out of a fiscal insolvency and that the elected leaders in these states should take responsibility, and adopt measures to become fiscally responsible— balancing their budgets the way that every American household does.
* No bailouts for states and local governments, but oodles of money for foreign aid…
Detroit may be bankrupt, but more federal aid dollars are set to go to the country of Colombia than to America’s 18th-largest city next year, according to a report from Bloomberg News.
Bloomberg reports that the South American nation will receive almost $323 million through President Barack Obama’s new proposal to fight drug trafficking and violence. A State Department memo cited by the report says three-quarters of the money will be used to maintain “peace and security” in Colombia.
Conversely, Detroit, which filed for bankruptcy almost two weeks ago with at least $18 billion in long-term debt, will receive just $108.2 million in funds from the U.S. government in 2014, according to Bloomberg. Some $33 million of that total award is funded by a Community Block Grant distributed each year to urban cities and counties.
Detroit’s murder rate is nearly twice as high as Colombia’s, increasing 10 percent in 2012 to 53 murders for every 100,000 residents — second only to New Orleans among U.S. cities. Despite that sobering fact, the Detroit Police Department is currently eligible to receive just $2 million in funds next year from the feds.
Discuss.
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O’Halloran doesn’t go quietly
Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Embattled Metra Chairman Brad O’Halloran has resigned…
In his two-page letter, O’Halloran repeated his claims that he referred all Clifford’s allegations — which O’Halloran dubbed “non-specific”— about political pressure to the inspector general and tried to get “the pre-eminent anti-corruption watchdog” attorney Patrick Collins involved.
“My reaction was not to ‘hush’ anything up, but rather to direct the matter immediately to the inspector general, so that he could get to the bottom of it,” he wrote.
In answering Clifford’s charges, O’Halloran maintained that Clifford “misrepresented or outright invented supposed conversations he claims to have had with me.” And writing in a defiant tone, he continued to stand by what he called a “business decision” to avoid costly litigation with Clifford, calling it the “lesser of two bad choices in order for the agency to move forward.”
“While I have been taking the heat, it seems the powerful politicians Mr. Clifford accused escaped the same level of criticism,” he wrote at the end of his letter.
There goes Madigan, right under the bus.
And Bobby Rush.
O’Halloran’s full resignation letter is here.
* Another Metra board member, Mike McCoy, resigned recently, but his reasonings weren’t given much play anywhere…
Prior to the April 3 memo, McCoy said he thought Clifford’s contract would be renewed, despite recognizing that O’Halloran had serious differences with the CEO, who was paid $252,000 a year.
“I think if he’d just gone forward with the contract process he would have gotten a contract extension,” McCoy noted.
But comments in the April 3 letter changed McCoy’s view of Clifford’s career at Metra.
Clifford wrote that his lawyer (patronage expert Michael Shakman) was communicating with Metra attorneys “concerning claims I may have against Metra arising from the facts described in this memo.”
That to McCoy was a threat and, from then on, he felt there was no way to deal in good faith with Clifford.
“After he threatened to sue it was very hard going forward. For example, if he didn’t like my review, would he say that I was retaliating? If we disagree on policy issues, is that retaliating? I became convinced unless we offered him another contract there was going to be a lawsuit.”
Clifford charged that a committee led by O’Halloran and Huggins would evaluate him, making a “sham” of the entire performance review.
McCoy thinks Clifford “implied two people controlled the evaluation process and that was never true. It had to be a board decision and he resisted the process.”
McCoy is a Republican. More…
McCoy said he voted to support the Clifford severance package, strictly on the basis of the numbers.
“I felt the financial risk of litigating and possibly losing the Clifford threatened lawsuit far outweighed the cost of the settlement,” he wrote. “I believe this even more strongly today.”
* Shouldn’t Schaffer also resign if he wants everybody gone?…
Metra Board member Jack Schaffer has denounced the severance package as “hush money.”
On Wednesday, Schaffer stood with GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Brady as Brady called for the entire board to be dumped. Brady had harsh words for O’Halloran, saying his behavior “lies in question” and that he should answer questions and be held accountable.
More Schaffer…
“I’ve said for weeks that in order to fix this mess, the first thing we needed was a change in the chairman’s position,” Schaffer said. “Brad O’Halloran had to go.”
Not mentioned is that Schaffer was never happy with O’Halloran’s election. From last year…
Director Jack Schaeffer of Cary poked the so-called appointing authorities, thanking them “for the long, long, long deliberations and giving us advice. I wish them well as they tackle their other great issues … and express the hope they let us now run the railroad. It could have been done better.”
* And then there was this…
A South Side reverend, who was ordered in January to pay back a $91,000 state grant after he couldn’t account for how it was spent, resigned Wednesday from the Regional Transportation Authority.
The Rev. Tyrone Crider’s resignation comes about six months after he was reappointed to the RTA board by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Feb. 27. The RTA is the agency that oversees city and suburban transportation, including the scandal-plagued Metra commuter rail system.
Preckwinkle was unaware at the time she reappointed him that Crider had been sued by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office and had been ordered by a Cook County Circuit Court judge on Jan. 11 to repay the state grant, said Kristen Mack, a spokeswoman for the County Board president.
Carnage.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Aug 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As we all know, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon announced her campaign for comptroller yesterday. A photo from an event…
Let’s all have a little lighthearted fun and welcome her to the campaign. Yesterday’s post got a bit nasty (some of it for good reason, but you should’ve gotten it outta your systems by now), so try to keep it light today.
* The Question: Caption?
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Reform stuff
Thursday, Aug 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ted McClelland shows us why much of the negative media hoopla and reformer complaints about the congressional district maps are off base…
However, Madigan may have cut it too close in a few districts. Congressional incumbents win re-election 90 percent of the time, due to fundraising advantages and gerrymandering. But according the Cook Political Report, Illinois has some of the most competitive congressional races in the nation.
The 10th District, where former Rep. Bob Dold will try to reclaim the seat Brad Schneider took from him 2012, is one of only seven of 435 congressional elections rated in the “Toss-Up” category.
In western Illinois, two districts are rated as “Lean Democratic,” meaning the incumbents have a slight advantage. In the 12th District, freshman Rep. Bill Enyart is running against state Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro, a well-known legislator who has served in the General Assembly since 1995. In the 17th District, Rep. Cheri Bustos will have a rematch with Bobby Schilling, whom she defeated in 2012. (Schilling’s website asks voters to “help re-elect Bobby Schilling.”)
If Schneider, Enyart and Bustos win, they may solidify the Democrats’ holds on those districts. But for now, Illinois will be one of the most exciting states to watch on Election Night 2014.
Not to mention the Rodney Davis race.
Yes, Democrats kicked Republican tail last year, but that had a lot to do with it being a presidential year and the home-state guy on the top of the ballot.
Bill Foster won by 17 points last year, but his district, as currently drawn, gave wins to both Bill Brady and Mark Kirk in 2010.
The editorial boards which constantly harp on this topic never actually look at the reality. Some are just lazily repeating talking points, others ought to know better.
Also, it was Senate President Cullerton, not Speaker Madigan, who drew most of the congressional district maps. Madigan was heavily involved in Jerry Costello’s district and Dan Lipinski’s district. Other than that, it was pretty much all Cullerton.
* In other news, many suburban Cook municipalities require candidate petitioners to gather 5 percent of votes cast in the last election, so I really don’t think this is such a huge deal. Also, petitions are only a tiny part of the campaign process. Doubling the number doesn’t mean doubling the entire campaign effort…
Do you know that a new law will make it twice as hard to run for alderman in 2015 as it was in the last election?
If you didn’t — and almost no one does — welcome to the world of sneaky Springfield politics, in which what some call the new “aldermanic protection plan” gets enacted without anyone really noticing.
The measure involved will double the number of petition signatures from qualified voters that will be needed to run from alderman from 2 percent of the votes cast in the last election to 4 percent. In other words, it’ll be twice as hard to dump turkey incumbents.
In most cases, that means a candidate will need something like 300 to 600 signatures, up from roughly 150 to 300 now, according to Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen. (The figures vary because voter turnout rates sharply vary from ward to ward.) But since election lawyers tend to pick apart petitions on all sorts of teeny technicalities — i.e. someone signed “Dick” rather than “Richard” — the wise candidate will secure at least twice the minimum number of signatures needed. That means that under the new law a candidate really will need 600 to 1,200 signatures, and getting them is no easy task.
There are some real reforms the General Assembly should make regarding the petition process. In most counties, you gotta staple your petitions together. If you use paperclips in those counties, you’re off the ballot. Other counties allow paperclips.
That’s just one example. There are many, many more.
* I’m not sure why this was needed, and nobody wants to admit to inserting it into the bill, so maybe they oughtta just repeal it during the veto session…
Calling the measure illegal and unconstitutional, Lake County officials are seeking an injunction to stop a new state law that strips away the county clerk’s election oversight.
Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Waukegan to halt the change, which Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law as part of a wide-reaching piece of election-related legislation.
The law orders Lake County’s chief judge to create a five-member commission that will manage future elections, starting with the spring primary.
Lawlor is represented in the matter by Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim, and the duo held a news conference Tuesday to announce the move.
* Hilarious…
Rep. Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago, one of the co-sponsors of the bill in the House, said he didn’t know how the clause was added.
Republican lawmakers from Lake County have speculated that the provision was politically motivated by Democrats. The county clerk, Willard Helander, is a Republican.
State Sen. Terry Link, a Democrat from Lake County and a longtime Helander adversary, said Tuesday that he supported the idea but again denied he was behind the clause.
“And I have zero idea who it was,” he said.
* Gov. Pat Quinn was asked about it yesterday…
Online voter registration was a bigger priority to Gov. Pat Quinn than not expanding the size of government in a state that leads the nation in units of government.
That’s why Quinn didn’t use his amendatory veto power to pull the plug on the controversial creation of a Lake County election commission in a sweeping election bill he signed Saturday.
“I looked at the whole bill. It included the opportunity to have online voter registration. I thought that was a good thing,” Quinn said Wednesday. “The legislature, in its wisdom on this particular bill, voted for a board of election commissioners in Lake County. I thought it was appropriate to move forward as quickly as we can with the election bill itself, especially online voter registration. We’ve got to get that ready for next year, so I acted.”
If Quinn had cut the Lake County election board provision out of the bill, it would have been sent back to lawmakers to either accept or reject his changes. The move would have at least delayed the plan becoming law. And if lawmakers disagreed about how to proceed, Quinn and lawmakers who support online voter registration could have been left with nothing, he said.
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The day has finally arrived
Thursday, Aug 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Gov. Pat Quinn will make Illinois the 20th state to legalize the use of marijuana to treat dozens of incapacitating and life-threatening illnesses by signing legislation authorizing the drug’s use, his office confirmed Wednesday evening.
Quinn has scheduled a Thursday bill-signing ceremony at the University of Chicago’s Center for Care and Discovery to enact a law his office said would “ease pain for those who suffer from debilitating medical conditions.”
The governor’s action comes on legislation that took repeated efforts over several years to pass the General Assembly amid worries that using marijuana as a legal drug might serve as a gateway for some to embark on more serious drug use.
The legislation Quinn will sign establishes a four-year pilot program in which those suffering from one of 42 named ailments or diseases, including cancer, HIV/AIDS and ALS, could obtain the drug with a doctor’s prescription.
This will be the most restrictive law in the nation. I don’t particularly like that, but the idea is to get something passed to show the citizenry that society won’t collapse. Once that happens, the General Assembly can move forward with other bills.
I have advocated for medical marijuana for years and I have watched as comments opposed to the idea have faded away. Yes, there is still opposition, quite a bit of it nursed and ginned up by people and companies with a vested interest in the completely failed “War on Drugs.”
But this law is simple common sense. We have plenty of legal drugs in this country that kill people, addict them, give them horrific side effects. Marijuana doesn’t do that.
So, I for one am a very happy man today.
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Oh, c’mon
Thursday, Aug 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sheila Simon went after Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka with a pretty bogus charge yesterday…
Simon contended Topinka, a veteran politician who is in her first term as comptroller, has failed to serve a watchdog role over local government accounting. Simon specifically cited the looting of Dixon’s coffers by city Comptroller Rita Crundwell of nearly $54 million over 22 years. Crundwell was sentenced earlier this year to almost 20 years in prison.
“Where was the (state) comptroller’s office?” Simon asked. “Their office said they didn’t review the information, they’re just a repository and that’s it. Well that’s not good enough.”
There are something like 8,000 units of local government in this state. They’re all required to conduct outside independent audits, which cost anywhere between $10,000 to $100,000, and then the state comptroller makes sure the firms are on the up and up.
But Dixon’s comptroller completely bamboozled its outside auditor. So what’s the state supposed to do then? Should the state actually pay to conduct its own outside audits on all of those local units after they conduct outside audits, too? That’d be a heckuva lot of money, Sheila.
One idea might be to have the Illinois Auditor General do some random audits of local governments just to gauge how things are going. Or maybe the state comptroller could do that. But I’m not sure what those audits would find that independent audits hadn’t already turned up.
Either way, JBT is definitely not to blame for Dixon. That’s all on Dixon. Simon was just trying to score a cheap political point.
You also gotta wonder what Dan Hynes thinks about this, since the Democrat Hynes was state comptroller during the vast majority of Dixon’s looting.
* This, on the other hand, is what the state comptroller is supposed to do. From late June…
Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka on Thursday announced that she has asked the state Attorney General to investigate the Village of Washington Park after it failed to submit required financial reports for seven years.
Local governments are required to file certain Annual Financial Reports, Audits and TIF reports with the Office of the Comptroller, which serves as a repository for the records. Washington Park is mandated to file AFRs, Audits and a financial report for its TIF District. The municipality, however, has not filed its AFR and Audit reports in seven years, and has never filed a report for its TIF, which was created in 2004.
After repeated attempts to bring the Village into compliance, the Comptroller retained an independent auditing firm to examine the municipality’s financial records. Washington Park, however, either did not or was not able to provide adequate documentation to complete the audit.
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The fix is in
Thursday, Aug 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Maybe Illinois should offer S&P some more business and they’d rate our state bonds higher, too. From the New York Times…
The Wall Street ratings game is back.
Five years after inflated credit ratings helped touch off the financial crisis, the nation’s largest ratings agency, Standard & Poor’s, is winning business again by offering more favorable ratings.
S.& P. has been giving higher grades than its big rivals to certain mortgage-backed securities just as Wall Street is eagerly trying to revive the market for these investments, according to an analysis conducted for The New York Times by Commercial Mortgage Alert, which collects data on the industry. S.& P.’s chase for business is notable because it is fighting a government lawsuit accusing it of similar action before the financial crisis.
As the company battles those accusations, industry participants say it has once again been moving to capture business by offering Wall Street underwriters higher ratings than other agencies will offer. And it has apparently worked. Banks have shown a new willingness to hire S.& P. to rate their bonds, tripling its market share in the first half of 2013. Its biggest rivals have been much less likely to give higher ratings.
Sheesh.
* Meanwhile, I asked the governor’s budget office for comment the other day about something our commenter “Reality Check” noted on the site.
Check out this Illinois Procurement Bulletin for a 2011 Illinois bond sale. Then go check out the Civic Committee’s membership list.
As you know, Ty Fahner brought some heat on the Civic Committee when he revealed that he and some members of the prominent business group had met with bond rating agencies to complain that their Illinois ratings were too high, in order to create a climate for pension reform.
So far, the media has pretty much ignored the story.
Below, you’ll see the overlap between the state list of qualified firms for that 2011 bond sale and the Civic Committee membership list. The state’s list only has company names. I added Civic Committee members names to that list. Keep that in mind when reading this. The personal names listed below aren’t on the state’s site. Also, we don’t yet know if any of these folks were among the group that met with the rating agencies.
Crystal clear? OK…
Please find below a list of respondents qualified to provide senior banking/book running services to the State of Illinois through the July 12, 2011 Request for Qualifications:
ELLEN COSTELLO
CEO and US Countryhead - BMO Financial Corp.
JOHN R. ETTELSON
President and Chief Executive Officer - William Blair & Company
MATTHEW R. GIBSON
Partner, Head of Investment Banking, Midwest Region - Goldman, Sachs & Co.
JAMES T. GLERUM, JR.
Managing Director and Chairman, Regional Banking for North America - Citigroup, Corporate and Investment Banking
JOSEPH A. GREGOIRE
State Chairman for Illinois Banking - PNC Bank
TIMOTHY P. MALONEY
Illinois President - Bank of America
RICHARD S. PRICE
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Mesirow Financial
GLENN TILTON
Chairman of the Midwest Region - JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Please find below a list of respondents qualified to provide co-senior bank services to the State of Illinois through the July 12, 2011 Request for Qualifications:
Maybe Abdon Pallasch will finally return my messages so I can let you know what our government thinks about all this.
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* From a few days ago…
Local political leaders have signed an open letter urging Cardinal Francis George not to halt church funding for immigrant-rights groups that support same-sex marriage.
Last month, Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown reported the Catholic Church was upset over a statement the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights issued in May supporting “marriage equality” for same-sex partners. Cardinal George has opposed legislation in Springfield that would legalize gay marriage.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the anti-poverty arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has provided grants to several members of the immigrant-rights coalition. Their funding agreements prohibit them from pursuing an agenda contrary to Roman Catholic teaching. The archdiocese has the final say on approving the grants.
When church officials learned of the immigrant-rights coalition’s position on gay marriage, they contacted the grant recipients and told them to forget about future funding unless they withdrew from the coalition and renounced its gay-marriage position.
* From their letter…
We note that the Church has insisted that these organizations disassociate from the ICIRR because of its support for civil marriage for gays and lesbians in Illinois.
In essence, Church leaders have decided to use immigrants and those who seek to help them as pawns in a political battle about an issue that is entirely unrelated to the care and welfare of those who seek refuge in our country.
There were several signatories, but here are the politicos…
James Cappleman, Alderman, 46th Ward
John Fritchey, Cook County Commissioner, 12th District
Susana Mendoza, Clerk, City of Chicago
Proco Joe Moreno, Alderman, 1st Ward
Patrick J. O’Connor, Alderman, 40th Ward
Danny Solís, Alderman, 25th Ward
Larry Suffredin, Cook County Commissioner, 13th District
* The Cardinal’s response indicated he was not amused…
It is intellectually and morally dishonest to use the witness of the Church’s concern for the poor as an excuse to attack the Church’s teaching on the nature of marriage. Four weeks ago, Pope Francis wrote: “…marriage should be a stable union of man and woman…this union is born of their love, as a sign and presence of God’s own love, and of the acknowledgement and acceptance of the goodness of sexual differentiation, whereby spouses can become one flesh and are enabled to give birth to a new life.” In other words, when it comes to marriage and family life, men and women are not interchangeable. The whole civilized world knows that.
Those who signed the open letter in the Tribune proclaimed their adherence to the Catholic faith even as they cynically called upon others to reject the Church’s bishops. The Church is no one’s private club; she is the Body of Christ, who tells us he is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Because the signers of the letters are Catholic, they know that in a few years, like each of us, they will stand before this same Christ to give an account of their stewardship.
Jesus is merciful, but he is not stupid; he knows the difference between right and wrong. Manipulating both immigrants and the Church for political advantage is wrong.
* Mark Brown…
Cook County Commissioner Lawrence Suffredin said he thought the letter was “beneath the office of the cardinal.”
On the cardinal’s not so subtle suggestion that signers of the letter prepare to account for their actions in the afterlife, Suffredin said he’s ready.
“I think theologically a clear conscience is important for all of us. I have a clear conscience,” Suffredin said.
More…
Alie Kabba, the UAO’s executive director, told me his group was among those informed earlier this month that it could continue to receive a CCHD grant — if it agreed drop its association with the immigrant coalition.
Kabba said his board politely declined.
“We did not think it was for them to decide,” Kabba said. “We were not attacking the church. We cannot allow marginalization of any group in society.”
Kabba quoted an African proverb that seemed very appropriate: “The elephants are fighting, and the grass suffers.”
* And the Sun-Times reports today that Bill Daley has also weighed in…
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful William Daley called Wednesday on Cardinal Francis George to back off his threat to cut off funding to an immigrant-rights coalition because of its support for same-sex marriage legislation at the Statehouse.
“My view on marriage equality and those of immigrant-aid groups who have similar views really are irrelevant to our collective duty to help those who are less fortunate,” Daley wrote in a letter to George. […’
As a lifelong Roman Catholic, Daley said he was “proud our church has been such a leader on the issue of comprehensive immigration reform.
“But for the church to turn its back on its long-standing work with groups that aid the poor over a completely unrelated issue is an injustice, plain and simple,” Daley wrote in his letter.
“The path of justice should lead the Archdiocese to leave these two issues separate and continue to seek justice through charitable works,” Daley said.
Daley’s full letter, which is actually dated July 11th, can be read by clicking here.
* While I support gay marriage, I also believe that groups have the right to only give money and support to others who are with them on an issue. If a member of a union-backed coalition suddenly signed on to a “right to work” legislative push, I don’t think anybody would say much if that group’s funding was pulled.
Then again, this appears to be a fight between people who believe that their church should be going in far different directions. So, while the Cardinal may agree with that “right to work” analogy, I seriously doubt people on the other side view themselves that way.
The bottom line here is that there doesn’t seem to be any reachable solution. The Cardinal’s position is obviously rock solid. He apparently believes he has church doctrine behind him, so that leaves little to actually debate.
* So, Maybe Daley and the other politicos could just go and help those groups raise some money. They all have plenty of rich friends.
I totally get the anger and the political angle, but how about solving the immediate problem at hand?
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Afternoon tweet
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A little too Rutherfordesque, perhaps?…
I didn’t realize that deer sausage was a substitute for ice cream.
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No hearing this week?
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Twitters…
* Let’s look at some stuff in the major media reporting that we didn’t have here yesterday. The Tribune writes about something that was first suggested here by a commenter on the day of the veto…
Beyond the legal rhetoric, Madigan and Cullerton allege that while Quinn vetoed out specific budget lines for the base salary of each lawmaker, he left intact in the budget bill the lump sum of $11.7 million for individual salaries. They also contend that while Quinn vetoed out individual budget lines for additional pay for party leaders and ranking committee members, he left untouched another line for the lump sum of $2.1 million in spending for those titles.
Because budget items that Quinn did not reduce or veto automatically become law, Madigan and Cullerton argue the $13.8 million in lump sums provide the spending authority for the court to order Republican Comptroller Topinka to issue legislative paychecks. Last week, Topinka said Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office advised her not to process lawmakers’ pay.
I doubt that’ll work. There’s a long history and an attorney general opinion on how the “total” lines don’t mean anything substantive. But one never knows.
* Sun-Times…
Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is reviewing the newly-filed lawsuit and has not yet determined whether she personally will represent the governor and comptroller in the case brought by her father and Cullerton, an aide to the three-term attorney general told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Obviously, it’s just been filed. We’re reviewing it right now, and we’ll work out the legal representation between the governor and comptroller’s office,” Madigan spokeswoman Natalie Bauer said.
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Cross said any involvement by the attorney general could pose a conflict of interest given that her father is a plaintiff in the case.
“You can’t continue to have issues where there’s a conflict, and this could be – and I’m not saying it is – one of those where she’s not able to handle this because of the alleged conflict. And that’s not good,” said Cross, who at one point was mulling a 2014 run for attorney general but no longer is interested.
Another manufactured controversy. She’ll do what she’ll do, and it won’t be because of her father. Move on already.
* ABC7…
“When you get into the weeds about the law and constitution you lose people. Voters are going to remember that they went into court to sue to get their money when they weren’t getting anything done in Springfield,” said Laura Washington, ABC7 political analyst.
That’s quite true. But it doesn’t mean the media has to abdicate its responsibility and settle for those sorts of explanations.
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Treasurer candidate has unusual campaign issue
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* State Sen. Mike Frerichs is busily campaigning for Illinois treasurer. And he’s having quite a bit of success on the ground…
* He’s obviously traveling to Cook County a lot…
* But in a rather unusual move to generate publicity, Frerichs has lately taken up the banner of climate change…
* More…
Champaign State Senator Mike Frerichs says central Illinois and McLean County in particular, should be extra mindful of how climate change impacts two key business sectors, agriculture and insurance.
“A lot of people in the insurance industry or agriculture, who might traditionally be Republicans, are going to see that if we don’t do something to affect this, it’s going to have adverse effects on their livelihood and our economy.”
Frerichs says recent wild swings in weather patterns have made it hard for farmers, and insurance companies wind up paying high claim amounts. The only farmer in attendance at the news conference was U of I research engineer Eric Thorsland, a Democrat who chairs the Champaign County Zoning Board. Renner says there is now broad support among conservatives to do something about climate change and cites remarks made by United Kingdom Conservative Party Foreign Secretary William Hague. Illinois’ State Climatologist Jim Angel, who also attended, says it’s likely the last two extreme weather patterns–last year’s drought and this year’s wet spring–were both due to human causes and natural variables.
Alexi Giannoulias campaigned on abortion rights in his primary bid for treasurer, warning that his pro-life Democratic opponent might somehow hold up state checks to Planned Parenthood, etc. At least that had a tangential connection.
But, whatever. It’s early. All positive publicity is good publicity, I suppose.
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* Our regular commenter OneMan is at Sheila Simon’s big campaign announcement today. He just sent me an e-mail with the subject line: “Well the mystery is answered.” Attached was a photo of Simon’s backdrop…
And this info…
I may be the only member of the public here.
* He followed up by saying there were only ten chairs set up at the event. I asked for a crowd pic. From the back of the room…
From the front of the room…
Discuss.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Twitters…
Not going well.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Also via OneMan, some not-so-stirring opening remarks…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Simon’s announcement e-mail seems to address the “Accounting 101″ question…
We need a comptroller that brings accountability to Illinois - not just accounting.
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Tribune comes full circle
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* On March 8th, 2007, the Chicago Tribune editorial board compared Gov. Rod Blagojevich to a Venezuelan dictator…
This constant quest for new hills to climb conveys the governor’s eagerness to solve problems and be noticed. Unfortunately, at a moment when he wanted to sell his state on some controversial concepts, he delivered a divisive populist rant (”middle-class families,” good–”corporations,” bad, bad, bad) that only confirms the perception of him in some quarters as a lightweight. Illinois citizens might have been swayed Wednesday by the bring-us-together touch of Barack Obama.
Instead they got Hugo Chavez.
That was a way over the top comparison, even for the Tribune. But what the paper was attempting to do was ratchet down the governor’s rhetoric, so it was at least somewhat understandable in hindsight.
* On October 28, 2007, the Chicago Tribune editorial board suggested that Blagojevich be removed from office…
Should Rod Blagojevich remain as governor of Illinois?
He shows no inclination to resign from office. And while the state constitution does allow for his impeachment by the Illinois House and trial by the Senate, it’s doubtful legislators could bring themselves to such drastic action. So the realistic question becomes this: Given the multiple ineptitudes of Rod Blagojevich — his reckless financial stewardship, his dictatorial antics, his penchant for creating political enemies — should citizens create a new way to terminate a chief executive who won’t, or can’t, do his job? [Emphasis added.]
* But the Tribune has long forgotten its diatribes against Blagojevich. The proof is today’s editorial, which reads like it could’ve been drafted by Rod himself…
Turns out, to get lawmakers to sense an emergency, you have to suspend … their … pay. Quinn pulled out his red veto pen and suddenly Madigan and Cullerton sprang to action, demanding an injunction to force the state to pay the 177 members of the General Assembly. Payday is Thursday. Pony up!
Madigan’s and Cullerton’s lawsuit against Quinn and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka claims Quinn violated the separation of powers in the Illinois Constitution by stripping lawmakers of their salaries. Quinn, remember, made his move to compel action on pension reform, the single biggest issue strangling this state’s finances.
Oh, how the Constitution becomes the beacon of justice for our state’s Democratic leaders when it serves their interests. On other matters outlined in the Constitution — fair redistricting (Article 4, Section 3), bill introductions, passage and single subject (Article 4, Sections 7 and  , special legislation (Article 4, Section 13), state finances (Article 8, Sections 1 and 2) and primary funding of education (Article 10, Section 1) — the General Assembly often takes a more relaxed approach toward constitutional obligations. Yes, when it comes to the document’s language on balanced budgets, education funding, compact and contiguous districts — well, they try their best.
How dishonest can they possibly get? They skirt the real constitutional question of the Quinn veto by insinuating that other legislative actions are unconstitutional, even though every single one of those actions have been upheld by the courts, some of them repeatedly.
The editorial board appears to desire a banana republic. So, who’s Hugo Chavez now?
…Adding… From a commenter…
I love the line “Oh, how the Constitution becomes a beacon of justice…when it serves their interests.”
But notably absent in the Trib’s listing of items in the Illinois Constitution is the pension protection clause. Probably just an oversight.
Like I said, they appear to desire a banana republic.
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Dems botch Bost hit
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The DCCC sent out a press release yesterday morning with this subject line…
Meltdown Mike Bost Botches His Rollout
* From the e-mail…
Meltdown Mike Bost’s rollout went so badly that Bost is probably yelling right now – but this time he’s got no one to yell at but himself. The headlines tell the tale of the Springfield lifer’s botched rollout:
“Paper-flinging Illinois state Rep. Bost running for Congress”
“Congress may get quite a bit rant-ier in 2015″
“Congress Could Get Angrier”
“Mike Bost’s Greatest Hits”
Actually, there wasn’t much to the stories. Just cute headlines. No serious botching there.
* What was really botched, however, was the “greatest hits” video that was distributed by southern Illinois Democrats and pushed by the DCCC which ostensibly bashed the Republican legislator who has tossed his hat in the ring for Congress.
I told you about the video on Monday. What you may not know is that since then, it was removed from YouTube due to an alleged copyright violation…
Oops.
* Advanced Digital Media runs BlueRoomStream.com, which broadcasts legislative debate over the Internet.
From Tony Yuscius at Advanced Digital Media…
Our HD Mike Bost footage that was part of the “Bost is Bad” compilation cannot be used for campaign commercials as part of our licensing. The additional ILGA session footage is not ours and is subject to ILGA rules. The objection was only for our footage that was not licensed by the campaign using it.
Oops.
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Behind the grandstanding
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Missed in all the hoopla over the lawsuit filed to stop Gov. Pat Quinn’s legislative salary veto was this report from WUIS’ Brian Mackey…
The 10-members of the bipartisan conference committee have been meeting for more than a month. A good chunk of that time has been waiting for actuaries to analyze the various proposals — seeing how much of Illinois’ nearly $100 billion in unfunded pension liabilities might be eliminated.
“We sent a — hopefully — a final round of scoring back to the actuaries to come up with some solution,” says Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.
He says there’s been “a great deal of compromise” among his fellow pension committee members.
“I’m hopeful that our work and effort will bring the conference committee to a consensus resolution, and then we can employ the legislative leaders to help us pass a bill,” he says.
So, they’ve been compromising and they may be on their final draft.
* And maybe the governor ought to be asked about this salient point at the Chicago presser he’s holding today to cut yet another ribbon…
Like other members of the committee, Brady says he hasn’t heard from Gov. Pat Quinn — or anyone on the governor’s staff — since Quinn vetoed lawmakers’ salaries as punishment for not passing pension legislation.
Quinn has not changed a single legislative mind on pension reform. They’re making progress despite his grandstanding, not because of him.
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* 2:39 pm - From the Senate Democrats…
Speaker Michael J. Madigan and President John J. Cullerton today filed a lawsuit challenging Governor Pat Quinn’s unconstitutional action to suspend lawmaker pay. Their letter to members of the General Assembly and the official legal complaint is attached.
As the joint letter states, “the purpose of this lawsuit is to protect the independence of the legislature and preserve the separation of powers. It is our hope that the court will remedy this constitutional violation and that future governors will not feel empowered to use such coercive tactics.”
More in a minute.
* The lawsuit is here. It was filed in Cook County.
* The Cullerton/Madigan letter to legislators…
Dear Fellow Legislator:
As you know, Governor Quinn took unprecedented action when he used the line item veto to eliminate General Assembly members’ salaries for the entire year. This action was purely political and an unconstitutional attempt to coerce the legislature to comply with his demands. We write to inform you that later today we will file a lawsuit challenging Governor Quinn’s unconstitutional action.
This matter is of fundamental constitutional importance, as Governor Quinn’s action threatens the independence of each branch of government. The Illinois Constitution protects the salaries of members of the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive branch. These provisions were added to safeguard the people from a weakened judiciary, to ensure the legislature could not diminish the power of the executive, and to prohibit the governor from running roughshod over the legislature.
By eliminating General Assembly member’s salaries, the Governor has chosen to disregard separation of powers and its necessity if our government is to work properly and efficiently.
For us to ignore the Governor’s actions, or override the veto, would severely and irrevocably compromise the independence of the legislature and set a very dangerous precedent. Just as it would be inappropriate for the General Assembly to refuse to appropriate a constitutional officer’s salary simply because we disagree with his or her philosophy, it is no less offensive for the Governor to attempt to withhold legislators’ salaries because they have not complied with his demand for action on a particular issue. If unchecked, any governor could attempt to employ the same tactic to threaten the legislature, the judiciary, or another constitutional officer to accomplish his or her own personal agenda. In this case, the Governor is seeking changes to the pension system, but next time it could be tax policy, gun control, or education reform. The possibilities are endless.
The purpose of this lawsuit is to protect the independence of the legislature and preserve the separation of powers. It is our hope that the court will remedy this constitutional violation and that future governors will not feel empowered to use such coercive tactics.
* From the suit…
* Statutory reasoning…
* Constitutional reasoning…
The suit asks for pay plus any back interest.
* The lawyers…
* From the Twitters…
…Adding… From the Senate Democrats in response to that Tweet…
It comes out of the General Assembly existing appropriations.
* Gov. Pat Quinn’s response…
“Today’s lawsuit filed by two members of the Illinois General Assembly is just plain wrong.
“If legislators had put forth the same effort to draw up a pension reform agreement that they did in crafting this lawsuit, pension reform could have been done by now.
“Instead of focusing on resolving the state’s pension crisis – which is costing taxpayers millions of dollars a day – legislators have chosen to focus on their own paychecks and waste taxpayer time and money on this lawsuit.
“My action to suspend the appropriation for legislative pay is clearly within the express provisions of the Illinois Constitution.
“Legislators should not be rewarded for an endless cycle of promises, excuses, delay and inertia on the pension problem.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with working people across Illinois who understand the importance of this issue. They work hard for their paychecks and they do what’s hard to support their families.
“They don’t get paid if they don’t do their jobs. And neither should members of the General Assembly.
“I will defend the interest of Illinois taxpayers in the courts. Nobody should be paid until the pension reform job gets done for taxpayers.”
Man, some of that is extremely childish. The same effort into the lawsuit as pension reform? Is he kidding?
Roddish.
And speaking of Roddish, from the lawsuit…
Oof.
* From Comptroller Topinka’s spokesperson…
We’re reviewing the suit and will hold off on further comment. But as she noted last week, the Comptroller welcomes additional guidance from the Court.
* Sun-Times…
At mid-afternoon Tuesday, Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said the case had not been assigned to a judge, leaving it unclear how quickly — or if — an injunction may be issued to set aside the governor’s action while its legality is vetted in court.
* From the We Are One Illinois coalition…
“Today, legislative leaders sued over the constitutionality of Governor Pat Quinn’s line item veto of legislators’ salaries.
“We remind lawmakers that the entirety of the Illinois Constitution must be upheld for all citizens, including public employees and retirees — teachers, police, nurses, caregivers, and others — whose modest pensions are protected in Article XIII, Section 5.
“Legislators take an oath to support this constitutional provision — just as they promise to support all constitutional provisions equally.
“Lawmakers must not cherry-pick or apply a double standard in determining what parts of the constitution should be defended. They shouldn’t adhere to the constitution only when it’s convenient.
“To this end, we continue to urge adoption of the constitutional pension reform plan embodied in Senate Bill 2404, unchanged, and the closure of wasteful corporate tax loopholes to fund vital services.”
* From Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno…
“A lawsuit now will unfortunately take the focus off pension reform, which must be accomplished. However, there are legitimate issues concerning a governor’s use of power to intimidate a General Assembly. If those issues are not resolved now, this practice could become more widespread and misused.”
* Bill Daley’s response…
Governor Quinn’s governing by side show is doing nothing to end the pension mess that is hurting our school kids and stands in the way of creating jobs. The Governor’s action is likely unconstitutional and has not gotten us any closer to fixing the pension problem.
* With a hat tip to a commenter, the Tribune may wanna rewrite this false headline…
…Adding… Ask and ye shall receive. Headline fixed.
* AP…
But the 10 members of the bipartisan pension committee have repeatedly said that pressure from Quinn won’t rush their work. They say they are making progress on developing a plan to present to the Legislature but are waiting for actuarial numbers to come in.
State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a committee member and House point person on pension reform, called the suit and the pension committee’s work “apples and oranges.”
“I think the basis for the lawsuit is the separation of powers which had nothing to do with pension reform,” she said.
Nekritz said she knew the two leaders were considering filing the suit, but was not consulted about it.
“I do share the view that this is a very dangerous place for us to tread,” Nekritz said. “And it doesn’t mix with good government.”
* From House GOP Leader Tom Cross…
“While there may be a legitimate separation of power issue, we need to make sure that we remain focused on what must be our top priority – finding a solution to our pension crisis.”
* Bruce Rauner…
“Springfield has never looked more dysfunctional, and the people of Illinois deserve better. Instead of showing leadership and solving the pension crisis, the politicians running Springfield are once again pointing fingers at each other and are afraid to take on the government union bosses. This is why we need to shake Springfield to its core.”
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*** UPDATE *** Bill Daley just called about an unrelated matter, so I asked him about the Will Burns name float. Daley said he hadn’t spoken to Burns yet, but joked that maybe he should now that his name is out there. He said you could put Burns’ name on a list with at least ten other people, and had a nice chuckle about the whole thing.
In other words, it didn’t sound to me like Burns - who Daley clearly respects - is necessarily on a short list.
*** UPDATE 2 *** A credible, knowledgeable source just informed me that the selection process is pretty much just beginning, there is no real list yet, but that Ald. Burns is being considered.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* Greg Hinz…
…(Former state Rep. and current Chicago Alderman) Will Burns, a well-respected former state lawmaker, and he is among those that Mr. Daley is believed to be considering asking to serve as his running mate.
More specifically, I’m told that Mr. Daley — who overnight made it official that he’s not just exploring running but actually will do so — really would like to find someone in the private sector but appreciates that Mr. Burns has deep experience and would help Mr. Daley attract votes from African-Americans.
I called, texted and e-mailed Ald. Burns an hour or so ago seeking comment. No word yet.
Thoughts on this name float?
* Meanwhile, Rick Pearson takes a look at how the new running mate law is playing out…
Democratic challenger Bill Daley said he doesn’t feel bound to get his nominating petitions circulated on opening day, affording a bit more leeway in the timing of his choice. […]
State Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, who lost the GOP nomination to Brady by a razor-slim margin in 2010, said he has begun forming a review process that includes questionnaires and the formation of a panel to examine potential running mates. The vetting effort includes Bill Roberts, a former federal prosecutor from central Illinois.
“Sure, it comes down to the standard kind of things,” Dillard said of the political considerations, “but compatibility on a personal basis is also very important.” […]
Rutherford said he wants a lieutenant governor qualified to take over the job if he becomes incapacitated. “I’m not interested in an exact replica of me,” said Rutherford, who added that he is interested in diversity and the unique abilities a candidate can bring to the ticket. Still, the treasurer said, there must be a “comfort zone” that exists between him and a running mate.
Bruce Rauner, a wealthy equity investor from Winnetka, has started a lieutenant governor screening process that he has begun working through, campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf said.
“The most important factor is compatibility with Bruce, especially in terms of sharing his commitment of shaking up Springfield and not being afraid of taking on the union bosses,” Schrimpf said. While Rauner is a Capitol outsider, having someone from within state government is not a priority, the spokesman said.
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Chiraq
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* HBO’s “Vice” program did something last month that I haven’t seen much in any local reporting. Instead of just interviewing Chicago crime victims, social and violence experts and the police, the documentarians also interviewed teenage gangsters.
I watched the documentary, entitled “Chiraq,” when it first came out and was quite disturbed, but also incredibly fascinated. You just don’t see stuff like this.
* Fair warning, there is a lot of profanity in this video. Don’t play the video at work if you’ll get in trouble for that sort of thing. There’s also a lot of hyperbole, as we’ll discuss in a minute. Keeping all that in mind, make sure to watch it…
* From Chicagoist…
Toward the end of VICE’s segment on Chicago, the narrator says “younger kids in Chicago … have so internalized their situation by proudly calling their city Chiraq and themselves soldiers or savages.”
The narrator goes on to say “the South Side of Chicago is basically a failed state within the borders of the U.S.”
We’re not sure what it is about “Chiraq” that bothers us. Perhaps it’s that it implies there are two sides to the war, both suffering fatalities. The last time we checked the innocent bystanders are not armed soldiers fighting a war, but neither are the civilians in Iraq. Perhaps “Chiraq” is oversimplifying the problem. There aren’t two sides, and this isn’t a war with a definitive end.
There are plenty of disturbingly dramatic and chilling moments in the documentary.
But one thing that stuck out for me was the lack of trauma centers on the South Side to deal with the shootings. As a result, victims are dying because they can’t get treatment in a timely manner.
* So far, the Sun-Times has ignored the documentary. The Tribune made passing reference the other day…
The term has been tossed around on social media and even has its own Twitter handle. It has been uttered in an HBO documentary series that explored urban violence. The Urban Dictionary added it as an entry last year, defining the word as a way to summarize Chicago’s violent history. There are even T-shirts that boast the label.
“Why we make that comparison, is because very, very unfortunately, the term is true,” said Malcolm London, a 20-year-old spoken-word artist from Austin. London said he heard the moniker used in everyday language, but it didn’t really strike him until he saw it printed on shirts.
“It’s a scary term, but it’s a true term. Coming from the West Side, it’s not a joke. The sad part is, people who may not be here, or live here, may use the term to glorify the violence. But no one enjoys living in a war zone.”
This isn’t the first time Chicago has been compared to a war zone. In the 1980s, the Wall Street Journal dubbed the city “Beirut on the Lake” because of political infighting.
Once again, missing from that article were the voices of the combatants. You may not care about those people, and maybe they shouldn’t be glorified by giving them coverage. But how else are we gonna find out what they’re thinking and how they live and why they do what they do? “Chiraq” is a somewhat flawed start, but at least it’s a start.
Maybe some media outlets should send some experienced war reporters into the hot zones and tell us what’s really going on.
* On the other hand, Eric Zorn did a good job in a recent column quelling the hype on the city’s murder rate…
Chicago had the most murders of any city in America last year, 506, and was the site in late January of a heartbreaking killing that made international news — when Hadiya Pendleton, 15, a King College Prep honor student, was mistakenly gunned down in an attempted gang hit just days after she’d returned from performing in Washington, D.C., at presidential inaugural festivities.
But even with its 17 percent spike in murders in 2012, Chicago was far from the deadliest city in America. Our murder rate, 18.5 per 100,000 residents according to preliminary FBI data, was 21st in the nation, better than Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, New Orleans and Detroit, to name a few.
Chicago also wasn’t even close to the most dangerous city in America last year, ranking 43rd in overall per capita violent crime in preliminary data.
Further, we’re not experiencing an “epidemic” of murder, per the talking heads. Nor is the city’s homicide rate “spiral(ing) out of control,” as a guest essayist on these pages put it Wednesday.
He also listed per capita crime rates for dozens of cities that were higher than Chicago’s last year. Included on that list: Rockford and Springfield. Rockford’s media appears to get it. I’m not sure there’s much of a recognition in Springfield, however.
* Related…
* King L Explains The Term “Chiraq”: “Iraq, people like you go over, things blowing up, like that’s natural,” he added. “It ain’t natural to see [something] just blow up in the middle of the street. That’s not natural in Chicago, you don’t get used to that.”
* Black Caucus discusses urban violence at Chicago State
* Emergency Summit On Urban Violence Opens In Chicago
33 Comments
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Our monied overlords
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Associated Press…
U.S. energy regulators are accusing JPMorgan Chase & Co. of manipulating electricity prices in California and the Midwest in 2010 and 2011.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in an enforcement notice Monday that the bank used improper bidding strategies to squeeze excessive payments from the agencies that run the power grids in California and the Midwest. […]
FERC’s enforcement staff said its investigation had found improper trading practices were used at the company’s Houston-based subsidiary, JPMorgan Ventures Energy Corp.
The energy unit used five “manipulative bidding strategies” in California between September 2010 and June 2011, and three in the Midwest from October 2010 to May 2011, FERC said. The agency that runs the Midwestern power grid, now called the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, covers all or parts of 15 states and the Canadian province of Manitoba.
* From Bill Daley’s BusinessWeek bio…
Mr. Daley served as Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. from June 28, 2007 to 2010 and served as its Chairman of Midwest Region since May 2004.
I can’t help but wonder if the duties of the bank’s “Corporate Social Responsibility” unit would include making sure that its traders weren’t manipulating energy markets.
* In other news…
A former employee of SAC Capital Advisors’ Chicago office was once part of an “insider trading group” at a rival hedge fund, according to an indictment filed on Thursday against SAC.
A source familiar with the matter said the hedge fund was Citadel. A Citadel spokeswoman said there was no such “insider trading group” at the firm.
Charges filed in U.S. District Court in New York on Thursday against prominent hedge fund manger Steven A. Cohen’s SAC Capital said his former employee, Richard Lee, moved from a firm, identified only as “Hedge Fund A” to SAC, despite a warning that Lee “was known for being part of Hedge Fund A’s ‘insider trading group.’”
The source familiar with the matter said “Hedge Fund A” is Citadel, the Chicago-based firm founded by Kenneth Griffin. Citadel managed roughly $13.3 billion at the end of 2012, according to a regulatory filing. Citadel was one of several hedge funds subpoenaed by federal authorities in 2010 as part of the government’s broader insider trading investigation.
Lee worked at Citadel from 2006 until he was fired in 2008, according to a spokeswoman for the firm.
* More response from Ken Griffin’s Citadel…
Citadel, which has not been accused of any wrongdoing, defended itself against the allegation.
“Citadel does not have, and never has had, an ‘insider trading group,’” it said. “Citadel has strict rules against, and oversight designed to prevent, insider trading. Any suggestion to the contrary is baseless and without merit.”
Citadel elaborated on its reasons for firing Lee, which it said had nothing to do with insider-trading. Instead, the hedge fund said, Lee had violated its policies on internal transfers of positions.
“Mr. Lee’s actions would have impacted only his potential future compensation,” Citadel said. “Within hours, Mr. Lee’s misconduct was reported to Citadel management. Mr. Lee was immediately terminated.”
* And now for some good news. I sent this e-mail yesterday to Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s spokesman. Rauner, as you may know, sits on the Civic Committee’s board…
Did Bruce ever contact any bond credit rating agency to ask them, suggest to them, etc. to downgrade Illinois’ bond rating? Did he ever contact any credit rating agency even to speak with them about Illinois’ bond ratings?
The response…
No.
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So, what’s with this Roskam stuff?
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You may have seen this story…
The House Ethics Committee announced Friday it was probing Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) without detailing what was at issue. Roskam’s office disclosed that at issue was a trip he took with his wife to Taiwan in October, 2011–at a time his daughter was living in Taiwan.
At issue is whether the $25,652 costs for the trip were paid for by the Chinese Culture University–a permitted funder — or as the independent Office of Congressional Ethics asserts, the Roskam visit was “organized and conducted by the government of Taiwan, with little to no involvement by the University,” which would make it an impermissible funding source.
Roskam is the Chief Deputy Whip, a top member of the House GOP leadership team. Roskam’s office released documents associated with the investigation and said Roskam has done nothing wrong and got advance permission for the trip. Roskam has retained the law firm of Patton Boggs to represent him and has been paying the firm through his campaign fund.
Interesting that he retained one of the top DC lobbying firms to represent him in this matter.
Also, isn’t 25 grand a whole lot of cash for a single week in Taiwan? Living large.
* More…
According to the OCE report on Roskam, the Illinois Republican’s office was contacted in May 2011 by an official for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, which is Taiwan’s “de facto” embassy in the United States.
The TECRO official, Gordon Yang, asked whether Roskam was interested in taking part in a congressional delegation traveling to the Asian nation in late June 2011. Under the Mutual Educations and Cultural Exchange Act, foreign governments are allowed to pay for such trips. However, a lawmaker cannot accept travel expenses for a spouse or family member.
According to the OCE report, a Roskam aide told Yang that the Illinois Republican wanted to take his wife to Taiwan with him. Since the Taiwanese government could not cover the cost of Elizabeth Roskam’s expenses, a private sponsor for the trip needed to be found.
On July 19, 2o12, Yang sent Roskam’s office an itinerary for the trip saying it would be sponsored by the Chinese Culture University, located in Taipei. Yang even said he would forward documents saying CCU was the sponsor that could be filed with the Ethics Committee. Yang provided a copy of an official invitation to Roskam from CCU as well, the OCE report states. […]
OCE’s report asserts that “While the Chinese University was identified as the private sponsor of Representative Roskam’s trip, the travel arrangements and itinerary continued to be planned by Taiwanese government officials.”
* This isn’t the first time that the Chinese Culture University has been implicated in a congressional travel scandal…
Two days after Christmas last year, Rep. Bill Owens (D-N.Y.) and his wife, Jane, boarded a first-class flight to Taiwan for a four-day tour of the island. Owens and his wife roomed at $500-a-night luxury hotels and enjoyed fine meals between meetings with Taiwanese officials and a day trip to Taipei’s famed National Palace Museum.
The Chinese Culture University in Taiwan had ostensibly invited the congressman and his wife “to promote international cultural exchange.” In fact, lobbyists for Taiwan’s government had organized the trip. Congressional ethics rules prohibit members from participating in most trips arranged by lobbyists.
Although Owens filed a travel disclosure with the House Ethics Committee that identifies the trip’s sponsor as the Culture University, email messages and other documents reviewed by ProPublica show that lobbyists from the New York firm Park Strategies, founded by former New York Sen. Al D’Amato, had invited Owens on the trip and spent four months organizing it.
A rule passed by Congress after the Jack Abramoff scandal states: “Member and staff participation in officially-connected travel that is in any way planned, organized, requested, or arranged by a lobbyist is prohibited.” […]
The Constitution bars gifts from foreign governments to U.S. officials unless Congress specifically authorizes them. But under the MECEA law, the State Department can approve programs to promote culture exchange that are proposed by other countries. Once a program is approved — Taiwan’s was OK’d in 2006 — members of Congress can take a qualifying trip paid by that government.
But Owens’ trip was not paid under MECEA, which strictly applies to programs funded by foreign governments. Instead, a private entity — the Chinese Culture University — was brought in to pay for it. Spouses and other family members are not allowed to go on MECEA trips, and Owens’s wife was to accompany him, emails show.
Like with Roskam, Congressman Owens’ trip was also approved ahead of time. He paid back the cash.
But unlike Roskam, Owens’ trip was apparently arranged by a lobbying firm. The difference here is that Roskam’s trip may have been funded by the Taiwanese government.
* Roskam heatedly denied any wrongdoing…
“The trip was vetted and approved by the House Ethics Committee, the body legally authorized to make determinations on Congressional conduct,” Roskam spokesperson Stephanie Kittredge said in a statement. “The OCE is wrong to take issue with the involvement of the Government of Taiwan in planning and conducting the trip, a matter that is routine, allowed under the law, and was known to the House Ethics Committee as they thoroughly vetted and approved the trip.”.
* Important to keep in mind…
In a brief statement, the committee said the members “have jointly decided to extend the matter regarding Representative Peter Roskam, which was transmitted to the Committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics on June 13, 2013.”
That office is an independent non-partisan investigative body which works out of public view.The office, established by the House of Representatives, is, “charged with receiving and reviewing allegations of misconduct concerning House Members and staff and, when appropriate, referring matters to the Committeeon Ethics.
The ethics panel statement added, “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee.
* And he still has Speaker Boehner’s confidence…
When asked if Speaker Boehner was comfortable with Congressman Roskam continuing as Chief Deputy Whip while under investigation, Boehner’s spokeman, Michael Steel replied “of course.”
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Quinn setbacks
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kurt Erickson reports…
Gov. Pat Quinn’s push to close the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center in Centralia took another step back Monday.
Clinton County Judge Dennis Middendorff ruled that no wards of the state currently housed at the center can be transferred to other facilities or smaller, group homes until further hearings are held.
The ruling comes after a separate federal court ruling earlier this month barred the administration from transferring residents with private guardians while the matter is being litigated.
The Friends of Murray Center, consisting of parents of residents at the facility, is suing to stop the governor from moving forward with the closure of Murray and the dispersal of 270-plus residents.
Quinn announced last year he wanted to close Murray in October 2013. He was successful in shuttering the Jacksonville Developmental Center earlier this year.
* Meanwhile…
The biggest plank in a 2012 law designed to save the state $1.6 billion a year and help shore up Illinois’ Medicaid program was a strengthened effort to remove ineligible people from the rolls.
The future and effectiveness of that effort, however, remain in doubt after an arbitrator’s ruling that orders the state to cancel its contract with the governmental consulting company Maximus by the end of December.
The administration of Gov. Pat Quinn hasn’t decided yet whether to appeal arbitrator Edwin Benn’s ruling or hire the estimated 100 additional state workers who would be needed to completely take over the work Maximus has done since January.
Um, y’all might want to make a decision soon. Just sayin…
* Other stuff…
* South Loop land deals at the corner of business and politics: The company and its executives have been regular supporters of Quinn, who appoints members to McPier’s board. The company has contributed more than $35,000 to the governor’s campaign fund, including twice picking up the tab for food and beverage expenses likely tied to fundraisers.
* OfficeMax tax debate so far not like Sears: State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago Democrat and House Speaker Michael Madigan’s No. 2, said there’s no agreed-to way to move forward. “There is no clear plan at this point,” she said.
* A Chicago privatization deal that doesn’t suck
* Lawmakers, Advocacy Groups To Hold Hearings On Sexual Abuse in IL Juvenile Detention Centers
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Now, hey you, mister, can’t you read?
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A recent Tribune photo…
Cutline…
Diners pass a NO WEAPONS sign at Keefer’s Restaurant on the Near North Side. “I just don’t think alcohol and guns go together,” said Glenn Keefer, managing partner of the restaurant and a supporter of the Second Amendment.
* Wait a second. Didn’t Glenn Keefer say a few days ago that signs won’t work? Why, yes, he did…
Glenn Keefer, managing partner of Keefer’s Restaurant at 20 W. Kinzie in the River North neighborhood, said a provision in the current law for restaurants to post signs that guns are unwelcome won’t work.
The existing bill’s language, which Quinn said comes straight from the National Rifle Association-endorsed concealed carry law in Texas, allows concealed-carry weapons in bars and restaurants whose alcohol sales are less than 50 percent of their gross receipts. The existing bill lets those restaurants put up signs saying guns are unwelcome, while establishments with greater than 50-percent alcohol sales are required to post such signs.
“After more than 40 years in the bar and restaurant business, I can tell you that signs do not work,” Keefer said, noting that he took down his own restaurant’s sign asking men to take off their hats while dining because it was ignored.
Signs definitely don’t work, Keefer says, but even though the concealed carry law hasn’t even kicked in yet and no official signs have yet been issued, Keefer is already posting signs?
Huh?
* Along these same lines, the Senate Democrats have posted a handy concealed carry FAQ. From the list…
8. Where am I not allowed to carry a firearm?
• Schools
• Preschools and child care facilities
• Government buildings
• Courts
• Correctional facilities
• Hospitals, mental health facilities and nursing homes
• Public transportation
• Establishments where more than 50 percent of sales come from alcohol
• Public gatherings and other special events open to the public
• Any building that has received a Special Event Retailer’s license
• Public playgrounds
• Public parks or athletic facilities
• The Cook County Forest Preserve District
• Colleges and universities
• Gaming facilities
• Stadiums
• Libraries
• Airports
• Amusement parks, zoos and museums
• Nuclear energy facilities
• Places where guns are already prohibited by federal law
• Businesses where a sign is posted indicating that the owner does not allow guns on the property
• Someone else’s private residence, unless you have the owner’s permission
The “50 percent” rule on liquor sales has always been a curiosity to me. Here’s the statutory language…
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of an establishment that serves alcohol on its premises, if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts within the prior 3 months is from the sale of alcohol. The owner of an establishment who knowingly fails to prohibit concealed firearms on its premises as provided in this paragraph or who knowingly makes a false statement or record to avoid the prohibition on concealed firearms under this paragraph is subject to the penalty under subsection (c-5) of Section 10-1 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.
Notice anything missing? Who’s auditing these percentages? It appears nobody.
* And punishment is not exactly intense. Subsection (c-5) of Section 10-1 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934…
Any owner of an establishment that serves alcohol on its premises, if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts within the prior 3 months is from the sale of alcohol, who knowingly fails to prohibit concealed firearms on its premises or who knowingly makes a false statement or record to avoid the prohibition of concealed firearms on its premises under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act shall be guilty of a business offense with a fine up to $5,000.
Discuss.
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“Exploratory” bid now a “real” bid
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Bill Daley says he is finished exploring.
His campaign tells the Chicago Sun-Times that on Tuesday morning it will file papers with the Illinois State Board of Elections that “tears the exploratory label” off his committee.
Of course, he’s the one who put it there in the first place.
Nonetheless, Daley wants to convey that he’s not waffling; he’s committed to running for governor. That’s an important signal to send now after many donors are still reeling over Lisa Madigan’s flirtation with a run that ended up going nowhere. And Daley has a reputation for teasing about public office but never pulling the trigger.
Gov. Pat Quinn has said he will run for reelection. But the withdrawal of Madigan — whom Daley considered his biggest threat — gives the former White House Chief of Staff a much greater edge.
Yes, he has a better shot since Madigan dropped out, but I’m still not totally clear on his path to victory here.
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*** UPDATE *** From Simon’s campaign manager…
I just wanted to clarify that Sheila won’t be flying around the state tomorrow. She’ll be driving, in her own car, at her own expense.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* It’ll be interesting to see if she attracts much of a crowd at these stops…
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will announce her plans for the 2014 campaign season Wednesday during a day-long fly-around starting in Chicago and ending in her hometown of Carbondale.
The Democrat hasn’t confirmed she’s looking at a bid for comptroller, but a campaign aide earlier said she has expressed interest in the office currently held by Republican Judy Baar Topinka. […]
Topinka has a wide fundraising edge, with $805,000 in her campaign account as of July 1. Simon had $272,000.
* Her campaign website at this moment is just a splash page.
* From a campaign e-mail…
I will be announcing some very exciting news about the next step in my campaign on Wednesday, July 31. We will be visiting Chicago, Springfield, and ending the day in my hometown of Carbondale. If you would like to come out and show your support at one of these events it would be great to see you! Here are the details:
Chicago – 10:00AM
Hotel Allegro
Cinema Room 1, 3rd Floor
171 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL
Springfield – 3:00PM
Cafe Moxo
411 E. Adams St.
Springfield, IL
Carbondale – 8:00PM
Carbondale Civic Center
200 S. Illinois Ave.
Carbondale, IL
* From a May 6th Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll…
Topinka leads Democratic Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon 45-38.
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