Question of the day
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I posted a Leftover Salmon video here late Friday afternoon. On Sunday, I realized that one of the group’s founding members Vince Herman was playing in a band later that day at a golf course just north of Springfield. The weather was great, the beer was cold and I saw a lot of friends and made some new ones…
* The Question: Are you hoping to experience any live music events this summer? Tell us about them.
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Welch to members: Keep it professional
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background on Rep. Carol Ammons’ removal from leadership is here and here if you need it. From Rep. Ammons’ Facebook page…
It was important to me to be reflective before I Issued this statement. I came to Springfield to fight to bring equity to a system that is failing many and I will not apologize for that. There is no title or amount of money that will take me off of that position. My family lives by this motto, “I will not compromise my dignity, and I will not violate the dignity of others!” So whatever my past, you can count on me to be who I am demanded to be, for the people I serve.
The year that I was born in 1972, Shirley Chisolm stated: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” In January 2021, my work ethic and diligence to represent the constituents of the 103rd and the people of the state of Illinois earned me an invite to bring my ‘folding chair’ to the “leadership” table.
This position was created to unite a vision for holistic democratic values that encompassed traditional, progressive, moderate, and the varying needs within the party. It was also established to ensure we, as a Democratic unit, were upholding and fighting for both the voices of the heard, but more critically the voices of the unheard.
I approached this role with the same fearlessness, fight, and ferocity that I have throughout my over 20-year career as an activist/organizer, as well as my 15 years in public service; 5 years on the Champaign County Board, 2 years as an Alderwoman in Urbana, and 7 years as a state legislator. I brought to the role the same tenacious fire I had when I Co-founded Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice, as a member of the NAACP, working to pass prison reform legislation, temporary workers rights, protection of the Mahomet Aquifer, repeal the criminalization of people living with HIV and access to affordable higher education. I had the same passion when I helped move the four Pillars to end systemic racism with the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and when I advocated with all my might to ensure the historic vote of the first African American Speaker of the House of Representatives in Illinois’ over 200-year history.
During the course of my journey, as a Black woman and leader, I have always been unapologetic in my fight for truth, justice, and equity. My work is steeped in authenticity and integrity. To be clear, my journey has borne witness to the reality that inequities and the need to demand respect exists on all levels. And while I know I have not compromised my dignity or violated anyone else’s, on May 29, 2021, I was asked to take my folding chair to another table. As an activist/organizer it has always been important to highlight the contradictions within the society, organizations, or relationships. In the seven years I’ve been In Springfield I have witnessed the exact same argument be received differently based on the gender and/or the hue of the skin of the person delivering it. That reality was never a deterrent for me prior to being given a seat at the table of “leadership” and it will not be a deterrent for me going forward. I was taught that leadership is honest work and correct thinking and therefore can come from anyone at any time.
As your Representative, I wanted you all to know that I remain committed to working honestly and being well prepared to offer the correct analysis of any bill I work on, or any relationship that develops while working on your behalf. In short, I will continue to offer leadership whether my folding chair has a space at the table, or if I have to pick it up and move it to another location!
In Service,
Rep. Carol Ammons
I ran that letter through a file-converter program, so please pardon any transcription errors.
When asked for a response, House Speaker Welch’s spokesperson referred me to his original comments.
* Welch was asked about Ammons by Mark Maxwell. Transcript…
Maxwell: I don’t know if it was the hands off approach that led to some of the fights from the Democratic caucus spilling over onto the floor debate. I saw that a couple times down the stretch, between Rep. Terra Costa Howard and Rep. Ammons and between Reps. Tarver and Rep. Slaughter. Are you happy to just let these fights take place on the open floor? Wouldn’t you rather keep that in caucus behind closed doors?
Welch: Listen, we’re a diverse caucus. Diversity is a strength of our state. When you have diversity you have diversity of thought and democracy. You have to let people have debates.
Maxwell: What’s the line between a diverse caucus and a divided caucus?
Welch: Well, we’re not divided. I think people can see that we’re not divided. We had a very successful session. You don’t accomplish the things that we did by being divided. This is a very united caucus, but we’re geographically diverse, racially diverse, culturally diverse. Diversity is a great thing within us, it’s one of our strengths. But with that comes differences, and we’re not going to stifle debate. I think that’s important. I think if you look back on previous general assemblies, we’ve had some nice spirited debates on the floor of the House of Representatives, that’s nothing new, and you’re not gonna step in and start with a baby, that’s just not my style. And all I ask our colleagues to do is keep it professional.
Maxwell: Was that a reference to Representative Ammons?
Welch: That was a reference to ‘in general.’ Just keep it professional.
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*** UPDATE 1 *** The Senate Democrats just told me the chamber is returning a week from today.
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois Senate will return to session on Tuesday, June 15 for the purpose of voting on clean energy legislation that Gov. JB Pritzker negotiated to set Illinois on a path to a nation-leading renewable energy plan.
“This is a landmark clean energy plan that both protects thousands of jobs and moves Illinois responsibly toward the future,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.
It is expected that the Senate session will be one day only.
Hearing the House will come the following day, but that’s not yet solid.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Speaker Welch…
“As I indicated before we adjourned on the final day of session, the House is expected to return next week on Wednesday, June 16 to take care of some final-action legislation. Items such as the energy proposal, unemployment insurance, and an elected school board for Chicago will be at the top of our list. We were able to accomplish big things this legislative session, and I’m eager to keep that spirit alive in a quick special session next week.”
* Steve Daniels at Crain’s…
Senate President Don Harmon said [Monday] that he expects a vote in his chamber as early as next week on the wide-ranging energy bill that was the subject of frenzied negotiation at the end of the session.
Harmon, D-Oak Park, said he didn’t expect there to be changes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s insistence that all coal-fired plants in Illinois shut down by 2035, despite the entreaties of municipally-owned utilities that are on the hook past that date to pay for the Prairie State plant built a little over a decade ago. Those utilities, and unions representing workers at the plant in Marissa, Ill., about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis, continue to lobby lawmakers to permit the plant to stay open longer. […]
“I think enough of the members that were concerned about (Prairie State) have come to terms with the 2035 date,” Harmon said in an interview. […]
Observers believe that enough support in the House is virtually assured, so the Senate remains the primary question mark. Harmon’s remarks today provide more assurance that the biggest state energy package since the deregulation of the generation industry in the late 1990s will pass.
* SJ-R…
A coalition of unions, utility officials and Democratic and Republican lawmakers from central and southern Illinois called on Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders Friday to exempt nonprofit coal-fired plants from mandated 2035 closures in an upcoming clean-energy bill.
“Springfield already is doing the right things to transition to a ‘zero-carbon’ future,” Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said at a news conference at the Steamfitters & Plumbers Local 137 hall in Springfield.
Doug Brown, chief utility officer of Springfield’s municipality-owned City Water, Light & Power, said it is “not feasible” for the utility to close all of its coal-fired units in 14 years without the potential for higher electricity bills for consumers and shortages of power downstate that could lead to “brown-outs” and electricity restrictions.
Stop with the scare tactics, already. This state has a glut of electricity…
Illinois is the third-largest net electricity exporter among the states, and typically sends about one-fifth of the power it generates to other states via the interstate transmission lines. […]
Coal-fired power plants have been the second-largest electricity providers in Illinois for the past decade. However, coal’s contribution to in-state generation has declined, dropping to 27% of generation in 2019 as more than a dozen older coal-fired generating plants have shut down. Others are being considered for closure, in response to stricter emissions regulations and economic pressures. Natural gas-fired generation provided slightly more than 10% of the state’s net generation in 2019, an all-time high and about four times more than in 2008. Wind energy accounts for almost all the rest of the state’s net generation.
The real issue is the mismanagement of the local electric power supply…
[Springfield] owes about $36.6 million annually on bond payments, Brown said.
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Postponement Of Care Leads To Public Health Risk
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
More than two-thirds of Americans surveyed in July 2020 by the Harris Poll on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies say they or someone in their household delayed or canceled healthcare services due to COVID-19. Delayed care is even more prevalent among communities of color. In fact, Black and Hispanic adults, people with disabilities, and those with two or more underlying conditions are putting off medical care at higher rates than others. That’s why Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies introduced My Health Can’t Wait Illinois, a public information effort and resource hub designed to help Illinois residents get the information they need to prioritize their health and seek needed care. Learn more at MyHealthCantWait.com/Illinois.
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* The governor’s office told me yesterday that hospitalizations are at the lowest level since they started reporting the number…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 365 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 11 additional deaths. In addition, more than 68% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 51% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Boone County: 1 male 60s
- Champaign County: 1 male 50s
- Cook County: 2 males 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
- DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
- Marion County: 1 male 60s
- Peoria County: 1 male 60s
- Will County: 1 male 50s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,385,854 cases, including 22,974 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 36,408 specimens for a total of 24,949,758. As of last night, 791 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 226 patients were in the ICU and 117 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 1-7, 2021 is 1.1%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from June 1-7, 2021 is 1.3%.
A total of 11,708,874 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 42,852 doses. Yesterday, 44,174 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Rodney gonna Rodney
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is the worst sort of spin…
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, Friday said throughout the pandemic, he also relied on guidance from Fauci. But that’s changed.
“When you look at some of the emails, you look at some of the recommendations, right now they clearly don’t follow science and data that we know about this disease now,” Davis told WMAY. “They follow feelings, they follow politics and we’ve got to change that in Washington and frankly all levels of government.”
In one email dated Feb. 5, 2020, Fauci responds to a question from a sender asking about whether to mask when traveling to a redacted location.
“Masks are really for infected people to prevent them from spreading infection to people who are not infected rather than protecting uninfected people from acquiring infection,” Fauci wrote. “The typical mask you buy in the drug store is not really effective in keeping out virus, which is small enough to pass through the material. It might, however, provide some slight benefit in keep out gross droplets if someone coughs or sneezes on you. I do not recommend that you wear a mask, particularly since you are going to a vey low risk location.”
Scientists weren’t certain about whether masks would work on this brand new virus back in early February of 2020. Illinois didn’t get a mask mandate until May, and it was one of the first. So, to judge this sort of thing in hindsight is to undermine legitimate public health efforts and enables the covidiots, many of whom have morphed into anti-vaxers. It’s also downright stupid politics outside of a Republican primary.
*** UPDATE *** Here’s a statement from far-right congressional candidate Esther Joy King. Rodney’s words are nicer, but they’re basically on the same page…
“These email releases clearly show Dr. Fauci—without reading into his intentions—was no more informed than anyone else on Covid-19. His only advantage was to use “science says” to back up his opinions, many of which turned out to be 100% wrong. There was no settled science in the mask debate, no settled science in the opening of schools debate, and there was just lies on the Covid-19 origins debate. And yet, Dr. Fauci hid behind “science says” each time to give credence to his opinions—many of which turned out to be flat wrong. The cult of Fauci was a media echo-chamber of fear-mongering journalists, and anti-Trump liberals. Frankly, this cover-up and misdirection to prop-up political agendas scares me, and every normal American should be wary of being lied to by media elites.”
Nuts.
* Pantagraph…
Get your shots or get tested. That’s Illinois State University’s message to students returning to campus this fall.
It’s part of the university’s plan for a more traditional college experience after the COVID-19 pandemic turned everything on its ear 15 months ago.
ISU does not plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations at this time. However, students taking courses on campus who do not provide evidence of vaccination for the coronavirus will be required to participate in an on-campus COVID-19 testing program.
* Gallup…
• About half of Republicans, 46%, compared with 31% of independents and 6% of Democrats, do not plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Americans without a college degree are much more likely than college graduates to be vaccine-hesitant, 31% to 12%.
• Vaccine hesitancy is more common among middle-aged Americans (33% of those between the ages of 35 and 54) than among younger (22%) and older Americans (20%).
* Related…
* There’s Now a White Vaccination Gap in 18 U.S. States
* COVID prolonged foster care stays for thousands
* As vaccine demand slows, Cook County changes its strategy
* ‘I can feel the clouds lifting.’ Many long-haul COVID patients report improvement post-vaccination, surprising medical experts.
* Door-knockers to go ‘block by block, house by house’ to boost vaccination rates in 13 Chicago neighborhoods
* What are the guidelines for phase 5 in Chicago and Illinois? No capacity limits, some masking, and possible limits from individual businesses or towns. Here’s our guide.
* By the numbers: How the 1,544-room Hilton Chicago hotel reopens this week after 15 months
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* Tribune, September 21, 2014…
Former Democratic state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias on Sunday endorsed Republican Tom Cross over Democrat Mike Frerichs for the job of managing Illinois’ money.
“While I’m not in politics anymore, and who I’m friends with and who I think would be a good leader is probably not important to a lot of people, I do appreciate the fact that Tom Cross has done his homework on the office of treasurer,” said Giannoulias, a senior director at BNY Mellon Wealth Management and chairman of the Illinois Community College Board.
Appearing on WGN radio, Giannoulias said Cross “understands the role (of treasurer) and when we talk about people willing to break with their party and do what’s right, I think he represents one of those people.”
* Sun-Times, September 21, 2014…
Former state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a Democrat, is throwing his support behind Republican Tom Cross in the current race for treasurer, opting to not support fellow Democrat Mike Frerichs.
I also wrote about the endorsement. It was big news.
* All three of the above links were sent out by Pat Dowell’s campaign for secretary of state along with a news release…
At a Secretary of State’s Forum held by the Cook County Democratic Party on Saturday, June 5, candidate Alexi Giannoulias was asked if he had ever endorsed a Republican. He said that he had not. In fact, in 2014 he endorsed Republican Tom Cross for statewide office against a Democrat. This was widely reported at the time by outlets including The Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, and Capitol Fax.
Alderman Scott Waguespack reacted, saying, “I am very troubled by Alexi Giannoulias’s statements at the forum over the weekend. He was asked a direct question from committeemen and lied about it. He tried to brush it off, claiming he only said ‘nice words’ about Cross. But when it was reported as an endorsement then, he didn’t say anything to the contrary. If he’s lying about something that can be so easily fact-checked, what else can we expect?
“I am endorsing Alderman Pat Dowell for Secretary of State because she embodies honesty and integrity and hard work. We need these qualities in Illinois public servants,” said Alderman Waguespack.
Alderman Pat Dowell said, “I promise the people of Illinois that I will work hard for them, innovate the Secretary of State’s office, and provide the best service to the public. And I will always be honest — that is who I am.”
* From about the one-hour mark…
Susan Sadlowski Garza: I just need to know a little bit about your, your past history. Is it true that you endorsed a Republican for statewide office?
Alexi Giannoulias: The answer is no, I didn’t. I did say good things about Tom Cross who was in the legislature [and running for] state treasurer. I think that no one should question my commitment to the Democratic party.
Tom Cross wasn’t just a legislator. He was the House Republican Leader.
And then Giannoulias went on to talk about Presidents Obama and Biden and skipped the Rauner era.
* Meanwhile, Greg Hinz…
One candidate to replace White, Chicago businessman and former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, announced endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and other Latino leaders. A second candidate, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, responded with support from influential labor groups, including the painter’s union and Local 1 of Unite Here, which represents workers in the hospitality industry.
Meanwhile Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, a few days earlier rolled out support from prominent Black officials, including U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago; Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough; and council colleague Jason Ervin, 28th, head of the City Council’s Black Caucus. […]
Some insiders clearly have noticed, with Giannoulias winning endorsements from Garcia and, notably, the Illinois Council of SEIU. “These early endorsements are big news, and, more importantly, they demonstrate the momentum that our campaign is experiencing and our success at building a broad-based coalition of support from across the state,” Giannoulias said in an email to backers. […]
The fourth Democrat known to be running, state Sen. Mike Hastings of Tinley Park, was not available to comment, but he has his own labor backing, from the Chicago region Carpenter’s Union. Hastings also has a somewhat different story to tell as an Iraq war veteran and Illinois Senate majority caucus whip.
The Carpenters recently moved over $933K into a campaign fund. Sure looks like they’re readying to make a big move.
* Rachel Hinton…
City Clerk Anna Valencia officially launched her bid to succeed outgoing Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on Monday, promising “everyone will have a seat at my table.”
Before White’s time leading the office, Valencia said it used to be a place where “people with special connections could land jobs” or a “campaign contribution could buy you special treatment or a permit.”
White changed that “pay-to-play” culture, Valencia said, pledging to build on the changes the longtime secretary of state made.
“Running an office that serves all people — Chicago, downstate, in the suburbs, everyday working class people of all races, just like my family — requires the highest standards of integrity and an honor,” the Granite City native said. “That has been the hallmark of my career, and it will be the hallmark of my service as secretary of state.”
She said her father, Joe, “proudly stripes … streets” currently as a member of Painters District Council 58, which endorsed Valencia Monday.
* Related…
* City Clerk Anna Valencia joins crowded Democratic field to replace Jesse White as secretary of state
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Honor An Illinois Statesperson
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Nominations are open now for the inaugural Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award. Inspired by the service of former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, a Democrat, and former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, a Republican, the award will affirm and celebrate the best traditions of Illinois politics and government.
The Simon-Edgar Award will be presented each year to an elected Illinois official at the state or local level who has demonstrated a pattern of public service characterized by vision, courage, compassion, effectiveness, civility, and bipartisanship.
We seek guidance from fellow Illinoisans and urge citizens from the Prairie State to nominate someone from local or state government who has displayed exceptional leadership. We are not seeking the perfect public servant, but a leader who has consistently endeavored to serve the public good and prepare their constituents for future challenges and opportunities.
Visit our website to submit your nomination by June 15.
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I know I should, but I just can’t yet
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I am in no way or fashion a picky eater, but I’ve seen Asian carp up close and personal and it’s gonna take more than a name change to get that vision outta my head. But, hey, if it works, more power to them. Here’s Paris Schutz…
At the end of this month, Illinoisans will no longer hear the words “Asian carp.” After several years and hundreds upon hundreds of millions spent trying to keep them from the Great Lakes, how can that possibly be?
And why does this news have environmentalists and the state’s commercial fishing industry swimming in, or leaping with optimism?
Dirk Fucik says he’s discovered seafood cuisine that could one day be more popular than tilapia: Asian carp.
“It’s healthier than tilapia. Tilapia is omega 6 instead of omega 3, so you get a lot less benefits of health from tilapia,” Fucik, the purveyor of the popular North Side seafood spot Dirk’s Fish and Gourmet Shop.
To prove his point, Fucik spent a recent Saturday afternoon grilling up some creative carp cuisine in the parking lot of his store, from carp Cuban burgers, to carp tacos, to regular old smoked carp. But despite the accoutrements, the Asian carp is not yet a bestseller.
The state is supposed to announce the new name in a few weeks. Any suggestions?
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Pritzker on Welch
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Most of the news media has centered its analysis of the new House Speaker almost solely on what the super-minority Republicans say about him. But that’s just a tiny part of the story. Ignored is what fellow Democrats say about the new speaker, including the governor. Here’s my weekly syndicated newspaper column…
I interviewed both Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch and Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week, so I thought I’d tell you about one of the overlaps.
Welch followed a man who had been in office for decades, so comparisons are unavoidable. When former House Speaker Michael Madigan was around, we were always playing guessing games.
What is he really up to? What does he really want? What’s he really trying to say?
I almost never got that sense with Welch this year. He was usually pretty upfront. He’d say he was going to do something and then, for the most part, he’d do it. There were no major guessing games. I wondered if that was a conscious decision and whether it would continue in the future.
“You know, Rich, I like to say I’ve been successful in politics for 20-plus years now because what you see is what you get. I try to be straight-up with people. They may not like the answer that I give them, but they like the fact that I give them the truth. And I think that’s been a successful recipe for me in politics, and I’m going to continue to be that way. I think it’s important that you just be straight-up and straightforward with people no matter what the position is.”
“A pretty transparent” guy
It’s one thing for Welch to pat himself on the back, but I was curious about what Gov. Pritzker thought. Pritzker dealt with Madigan during the 2018 campaign (when Madigan’s inner circle was battered by a series of sexual harassment scandals), and during his highly successful first spring session in 2019 (when Madigan was very helpful in getting loads of bills passed), then through the federal investigation of Madigan and his allies which ultimately resulted in Madigan’s ouster as House speaker this past January.
So I asked Pritzker about the biggest changes he’s experienced since the House elected a new speaker. He essentially confirmed what Welch said about himself.
“Look, these are two very different personalities,” Pritzker said. “I was friends with Chris Welch before he became speaker. He’s outgoing. He has a manner of addressing people and working with people that’s very different than Speaker Madigan.
“You know, everything’s close to the chest with former Speaker Madigan. Chris is a reasonable, I think pretty transparent and honest guy.
“And then the last thing I’ll say is that you understand who Chris Welch is on a policy level. You know his ideology, what he believes in. Obviously he’s got to make some tough decisions sometimes being speaker, but understanding that we share a commonality of direction on most issues just makes it easy to deal with him.
“Look, I’m not trying to denigrate the former speaker. I’m just telling you that Chris Welch is somebody that I regularly have the opportunity to speak with. I can text with Chris Welch or I can call Chris Welch and he will answer the phone. I mean, it took, I don’t know, two phone calls through whatever to get through to Speaker Madigan. [There’s] nothing wrong, he’s from a different era.”
I mentioned to Pritzker that every day was a different guessing game with Madigan. And, so far, we haven’t had to play that game with Welch. Senate President Don Harmon, I said, has been a different story.
Harmon unexpectedly tanked an agreement on a massive energy omnibus bill last week at literally the last minute, then appeared to play some parliamentary games with the new state budget. He’s gaining a reputation as someone who, like Madigan, keeps his cards close to his vest.
Harmon and Pritzker are not on the greatest of terms. In public, they refer to each other as friends, but Pritzker backed someone else for Senate president in 2019 and the tension has been evident ever since.
“I won’t even, I don’t know if I should even put you on the spot on that one,” I joked to Pritzker about my Harmon reference.
“I always enjoy hearing your views,” the governor said. And then his staff abruptly cut off the interview. Not totally because of the line of questioning, mind you, but also because we’d gone several minutes beyond our allotted time.
To be fair, the governor defended the Senate president earlier in the interview, saying, for instance, that Harmon was merely speaking up for members of his caucus when he temporarily tubed the Exelon deal and that Harmon has been a reliable environmentalist throughout his career.
“I know that he wants to do the right thing on energy legislation,” Pritzker said about Harmon.
That bit about Welch’s ideology and “what he believes in” is also important because Speaker Madigan didn’t believe in much at all except power.
I decided last week that I’ll soon be reaching out to various House Democrats who banded together to force Speaker Madigan into retirement to hear what they think of how the session went with their new leader. So, stay tuned.
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* As a reminder, 84 percent said Illinois was on the wrong track in an early 2018 poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Things are improving from the Rauner days and it shows, despite the best efforts of some. This poll is from Ogden & Fry…
* Methodology…
Ogden & Fry conducted a nine-question poll on Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5, 2021 with 752 respondents. Respondents were selected by random sampling of likely general election voters. The margin of error for this poll is +/- 3.65% at the 95% confidence interval.
There were several other questions, mostly related to the sex education bill, so click here for the rest.
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* Dispatch-Argus editorial on the ethics bill…
There is only a six-month bar on ex-lawmakers lobbying. Neighboring Iowa has a 2-year prohibition, and most states at least make lawmakers wait a year before they can cash in.
Illinois did the bare minimum.
* Illinois Policy Institute…
It also mandates lawmakers must wait six months before becoming lobbyists once leaving office
After checking around and reading this passage over and over, it’s clear that Illinois did much less than the bare minimum. Here’s the language…
Beginning the second Wednesday in January of 2023, no former member shall engage in activities at the State level that require registration under the Lobbyist Registration Act in a General Assembly of which he or she was a member until 6 months after leaving office.
I highlighted the controlling section.
* There are three clear implications:
1) Legislators who resign before the second Wednesday in January of 2023 can begin lobbying right away;
2) Legislators who resign on or after the second Wednesday in January of 2023 must wait six months before they can begin lobbying the same General Assembly of which they were a member. So, if they resign 2 months into the new GA, they have to wait until the GA is 8 months old before they can lobby. But if they resign 22 months into the GA, they only have to wait to lobby for two months, when a new GA is sworn into office;
3) Legislators who serve out their complete terms, or Senators who complete two full years of a four-year term, don’t have to wait to lobby because they are then no longer members of the same General Assembly.
Cute.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Jun 8, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s nice to attract tax dollars from other states for a change…
Anyway, what’s on your mind today?
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