* The Senate just overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of the MAP grant funding bill. Responses are rolling in ahead of an anticipated House vote today. From Catherine Kelly, Press Secretary for Governor Rauner…
“SB 2043 can only become law if Representative Franks or Representative Drury succumb to pressure from Speaker Madigan and flip their votes to force a massive tax hike on the people of Illinois. These members sided with taxpayers the first time around because this is a sham bill and an empty promise to students. We believe these members will do the right thing to ensure taxpayers are not left holding the bag. All of us want to fund higher education and MAP, and we stand ready to work with the General Assembly to find ways to do so without adding to the deficit or forcing a massive tax increase.”
* Senate President John Cullerton…
“The governor has repeatedly let these students down, students who were promised financial aid by his administration. Today’s vote is an attempt to give the governor the opportunity to honor his administration’s commitments and prove that education is the priority he says it is.”
* Sen. Gary Forby…
As John A. Logan College sends out letters to faculty announcing they will be laying off roughly 55 employees due to the budget impasse, the Illinois Senate voted to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of a measure that would free up funds to help prevent this from happening.
State Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) who represents the part of Southern Illinois where the college is located, said he is glad to see that his colleagues in the Senate took a stand on Wednesday to show Gov. Rauner that he can’t get in the way of Illinois students.
“Today we had a win,” said Forby. “We showed the governor that we will not allow him to take away important opportunities for Southern Illinois college students. If we want our citizens to be prepared to enter the workforce, one important step is making sure they have access to education.”
Senate Bill 2043 would give the governor the spending authority to honor his administration’s commitments to the student financial aid program known as the Monetary Award Program.
The Senate overrode the veto on Wednesday and it will now go to the House for a vote.
* Sen. Jacqueline Collins…
At the heart of competitiveness is opportunity. When Illinois provides qualified, motivated students with genuine opportunities, our entire state reaps the benefits.
It is infuriatingly unnecessary that in order to improve their prospects and make the most of their talents, many of our state’s young people find they must leave Illinois – if they have the resources to do so. Too many do not. They live with the disappointment of a dream deferred, and meanwhile, our economic vitality, our quest for equality and our struggle for stronger communities wither on the vine.
The House and Senate have repeatedly voted to release funds for MAP grants so that qualified, low-income students can continue to receive a college education. Yet the governor has ignored the pleas of countless students who want nothing more than to better themselves and our state. He has vetoed this legislation, jeopardizing not only the prospects of MAP grant recipients, but the continued survival of one of Illinois’ greatest assets – its public institutions of higher learning. Already, more than a thousand MAP grant recipients have been forced to stop going to class. They simply cannot afford to foot the bill while the state fails them.
I was proud to vote with my colleagues today to override the governor’s irresponsible veto, which has the effect of consigning to poverty and underemployment a generation of young people who hold the future of Illinois in their hands. I urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead as soon as possible.
* IFT…
Today, in response to the Illinois Senate’s override of Governor Rauner’s veto of SB 2043 — a bill that would fund Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for low-income students and provide funding for community colleges — Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement:
“We applaud the leadership shown by Senators who voted to reverse the Governor’s irresponsible veto and provide a lifeline to low-income students and community colleges who are suffering at the hand of Rauner’s misplaced priorities. More than 100,000 Illinois students are now one step closer to receiving the tuition assistance they need to fulfill their college dreams and prepare for a career.
The Governor blames others for his own failure to lead, but it was Governor Rauner alone who vetoed this bill. It was Governor Rauner alone who claimed education was his priority yet proposed a 25% across-the-board cut to our colleges and universities. And it is Governor Rauner alone who is starving our schools and social services to the brink of collapse before he would ask the very wealthy to pay a dime more. We commend the State Senate for doing the right thing, and urge House Republicans to choose students over partisan politics.”
Wednesday, Mar 2, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Scott Credit Union, headquartered in Edwardsville, was recently recognized for its partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA) to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in area schools.
“The American Heart Association designed the CPR training program for schools that include scientifically advanced CPR kits,” said SCU Community Relations Supervisor Jennifer Hess. Scott Credit Union signed on with the AHA to fully fund 15 CPR kits for 12 schools in the Illinois counties of Madison, Monroe and St. Clair. The local credit union funded the initiative, which started in January of 2015, at a cost of $35,000 over 3 years, Hess noted.
“An Illinois bill passed in May of 2014 mandates that students receive CPR education before they graduate high school,” Hess said. “With funding becoming increasingly scarce for Illinois schools, this was an excellent opportunity for Scott Credit Union to step in to help fulfill the mission of a community partner while also benefitting local students and schools.”
Scott Credit Union has made giving back to its communities a major priority, contributing significant funding and over 2,400 volunteer hours to a variety of local civic efforts throughout the region in 2015.
Tribune Publishing’s transformation under new Chairman Michael Ferro picked up pace Wednesday with the announcement of sweeping leadership changes across the Chicago-based media company.
Ferro, a technology entrepreneur who became the largest shareholder and chairman of Tribune Publishing last month, also announced he was donating his ownership stake in the Chicago Sun-Times to a charitable trust to avoid perceived conflicts of interest.
The core organizational changes at Tribune Publishing combine the roles of publisher and editor-in-chief, leaving one less name atop the mastheads of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the chain’s other major daily newspapers.
Bruce Dold, who succeeded Gerould Kern as editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune two weeks ago, also will serve as publisher. Tony Hunter, publisher of the Chicago Tribune since 2008, was promoted to president of national revenue and strategic initiatives at Tribune Publishing, a new position.
I wrote a few days ago to share my opposition to a proposed bailout of the Chicago public schools.
On Thursday morning, I read a response by state Rep. Ron Sandack, who defended his bailout legislation. I will again repeat my opposition to bailing out Chicago Public Schools and putting at risk taxpayer dollars. These attempts to draw attention and resources away from the classrooms in our area are simply wrong. We send millions of our tax dollars to Chicago schools every year, and I believe less of our money needs to be going to Chicago, not more.
Rep. Sandack has never spoken to the taxpayers I represent, so I can excuse him for not realizing that when we hear politicians promise that their proposals “won’t cost taxpayers a dime,” we instinctively guard our wallets.
The truth is, the approach Rauner and his allies are proposing would put state officials in charge of the Chicago Public Schools while offering no legal assurance that taxpayers in our area will not be on the hook for the Chicago Public Schools’ billion dollar deficit. We cannot afford to bail out Chicago, and I am going to make our voices heard.
Since Rep. Sandack says he shares my belief that local taxpayers should not be forced to bail out Chicago, I invite him to join me and the people I represent by signing my petition at www.nochicagobailout.com/Cloonen.
John Adams once said “facts are stubborn things.” And so they are with state Rep. Kate Cloonen who is entitled to her own opinions … but not her own facts.
Fact: Representative Cloonen voted to put House Speaker Mike Madigan in charge – and now he and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton are publicly rejecting the governor’s call to protect taxpayers from a Chicago bailout.
Fact: Cloonen’s leaders – Madigan and Cullerton – are actually demanding a bailout for Chicago, to the tune of about $500 million, while Governor Rauner and Republican leaders refuse to support one.
Fact: Cullerton has threatened to hold up money for your local school districts until Springfield changes the school funding formula to take money away from suburban schools and give it to Chicago.
Those are the inconvenient facts; the very facts Rep. Cloonen has been silent about it while her political bosses demand a $500 million Chicago bailout, oppose giving CPS the ability to go bankrupt and threaten to hijack funding for your local schools.
So I would ask Rep. Cloonen to answer two simple questions if she truly stands with Governor Rauner and Republican leaders in opposing a Chicago bailout:
1) Will you support legislation to give Chicago Public Schools the authority to declare bankruptcy and restructure its finances, to ensure no one outside Chicago pays for Chicago’s mistakes?
2) Will you support and urge your leaders to swiftly approve Governor Rauner’s K-12 school funding proposal with no strings attached, ensuring we keep schools open in the fall and don’t hold them hostage to Chicago’s financial schemes?
If Rep. Cloonen answers yes to both questions, we look forward to joining in her in a bipartisan effort to prevent a Chicago bailout. If she dodges either of these questions, we will know what she’s really up to.
Ron Sandack
R-Downers Grove, state representative, 81st District
Governor Rauner and members of the General Assembly today discussed bipartisan legislation to reform Illinois’ criminal justice system. The three bills came from recommendations by the Governor’s Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform Commission.
“Today we are taking action to reform the criminal justice system in Illinois,” Governor Rauner said. “This package of bills takes the first steps to break the cycle of recidivism, by aiming to reduce both prison admissions and the length of someone’s prison stay. I thank the legislative sponsors for their work on these important pieces of legislation.”
The three bills deal with judicial sentencing, electronic monitoring and providing offenders ID cards when leaving prison. The proposed legislation includes:
· SB 3164 requires review of a pre-sentencing report, as well as an explanation of why incarceration is appropriate for offenders with no prior probation sentences or prison convictions prior to sentencing. Last year, nearly 60 percent of new prison admissions for Class 3 or 4 felonies had no prior convictions for violent crimes. Sending low-level offenders with no prior probation or other convictions inefficiently uses prison resources and potentially makes low-level offenders more susceptible to reoffending. This legislation is sponsored by Sen. Michael Connelly and Rep. Brian Stewart.
· SB 3294 expands the use of electronic monitoring to help transition offenders back into society. This will increase public safety by more effectively focusing IDOC’s supervision and programming resources to reduce recidivism. This legislation is sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul and Rep. Elgie Sims.
· SB 3368 requires the Secretary of State and the Illinois Department of Corrections work together to provide state identification so offenders can transition into society more easily. This legislation is sponsored by Sen. Karen McConnaughay and Rep. John Cabello.
“Criminal justice reform is an essential step towards reducing the number of people incarcerated in the Illinois,” State Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton) said. “Governor Rauner’s administration is following the lead that has been put into place by several southern Republican governors; including Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina and former Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Rick Perry of Texas were the leaders of this movement, who reformed their criminal justice systems.”
“I am committed to reforming Illinois’ criminal justice system and applaud Governor Rauner for his support in this historic endeavor,” State Rep Brian W. Stewart (R-Freeport) said. “As a former law enforcement officer I have witnessed many needed changes to the current system. The bipartisan bills we have developed will hopefully set the standard for other states to follow as we work towards meaningful reform.”
“The work of the Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform Commission is furthering shared goals of reducing recidivism, strengthening communities ravaged by both crime and the effects of excessive incarceration, using resources efficiently and expanding best practices backed by solid data,” State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) said. “The legislative package we are putting on the table today is another encouraging step forward, but there is much work left to be done, and these collaborative efforts must continue.”
“The introduction of these first few measures mark the beginning of our long journey to reform our failing criminal justice system,” State Rep. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said. “These are excellent ideas that we’ve worked on in a bipartisan way to correct the problem of an out-of-date justice system in Illinois. I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to install even more recommendations from the Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform Commission in order to move Illinois closer to a more fair and responsible system.”
“Ensuring public safety remains a top legislative priority for me, which is why I am supporting Gov. Rauner’s criminal justice reform proposal that will help keep violent offenders off the streets, reduce recidivism, and assist offenders in successful re-entry,” said State Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles). “As a sponsor of Senate Bill 3368, I believe it is extremely important that former offenders are issued a state identification card that will help them successfully transition back into society.”
Really good stuff in there and I’m glad to see the governor is finally trumpeting these proposals.
“Here’s what I see,” Dunkin said recently at a Chicago campaign event, “after we’re successful March 15, you’re going to see other Democratic members standing up for their constituents by doing what’s right for citizens across the state and in their district. They’re going to say, ‘Oh, wow, Dunkin survived the Mike Madigan wrath.’”
Or, I suppose, they could say, “Oh, wow, did you see how they roughed up Dunkin?”
* The Question: Assuming, for a moment, that Rep. Dunkin wins, do you think that will cause a significant number of Democrats to break with Speaker Madigan? a href=”http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=56d72bb7e4b04a434be4fd16″>Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
The lowest state jobless rate for black workers in the country matches the highest rate for white workers in a new analysis.
At 6.7%, Virginia’s black unemployment rate was the lowest in the nation in the fourth quarter. That rate happens to be the same as the jobless rate for white workers in West Virginia, the worst in the country, according to a report from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. […]
In January, black workers faced a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.8%, compared with 4.3% for whites and 4.9% overall.
The worst state for black Americans looking for work? That was Illinois, where the jobless rate was 13.1% in the fourth quarter.
Predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Chicago have seen poverty rise and services diminish even as the nation’s third largest city has become less racially segregated, according to a study released on Wednesday.
While Chicago has become more racially balanced over the decades with more neighborhoods showing no majority populations, black areas are seeing economic stagnation or decline, according to the study by the Chicago Urban League, which promotes progress for blacks.
“This is not a situation that’s getting better. This is a situation that’s getting worse,” said Stephanie Bechteler, director of research and evaluation for the Chicago Urban League. “We must put forth time and effort to make a change.”
Despite the progress on racial integration, Bechteler said the city has a long way to go. She noted that the Brookings Institution late last year found that Chicago remained the third most segregated city in the United States behind Milwaukee and New York City.
At the 2016 Illinois Pork Expo in Springfield Feb. 16, Gov. Bruce Rauner praised the state’s pork producers for being “business builders.”
* And, of course, he has said time and time again that education funding was his highest priority, even without the money to pay for it. From yesterday…
Rauner told reporters that other parts of the state’s budget are important, but none more so than schools.
“No matter what, we should make sure our schools open and they have more money. No matter what else,” he said.
Zero. That’s the funding amount Governor Bruce Rauner has proposed for agriculture education.
More than 1,000 FFA members were at the statehouse Tuesday meeting with legislators and fighting for funding. Without that funding, Ag education leaders say, important programs will be eliminated.
Some of our state’s future farmers, engineers, biologists, and more have been put on a path towards agriculture by what they’ve learned in school. [..]
In recent years, state funding has been whittled down to just $1.8 million from the board of education’s recommended $3 million.
Now Governor Rauner wants to eliminate funding altogether.
This is the second year in a row that Rauner has proposed killing off that program.
The video is worth a look, even though the reverend’s statement is nonsense. It ends with the governor’s office asking Jackson to come to the table and discuss the budget in detail. “Dollar, dime detail,” a spokesman said.
* Speaker Madigan is this year’s grand marshal for the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. From his parade committee bio…
Speaker Michael J. Madigan has throughout his time in the Legislature pursued a mandate to implement policies that benefit the working people of Illinois. A Democrat, Madigan is the longest serving speaker in state history, having held the position continuously since 1983, except for the years 1995-1996.
Madigan has worked to build bipartisan consensus on difficult issues and is keenly conscious of his responsibility to ensure equitable treatment for all regions of the state. During his time leading the House, he has worked with governors and legislators to shape policies that have fundamentally altered the state’s course for the better. Madigan has been a driving force behind laws to: expand health care access, improve education funding and standards, increase wages and benefits, strengthen civil rights, reduce crime, preserve the environment, strengthen the state’s economy, build critical transportation infrastructure, reform government ethics and election campaign practices, and protect consumers. Above all, he has endeavored to make government’s daily workings and the legislative process more transparent and accountable to the citizens of the state.
* From Emily Miller at Voices for Illinois Children…
Hi Rich-
With Illinois’ higher ed system on the brink of collapse due to the lack of a budget, it’s natural that a higher ed fix is at top of mind for the governor, lawmakers and the media. But it’s worth remembering that for every high profile budget hostage (like MAP grant recipients and higher ed institutions) there are thousands of individual untold stories of lives impacted, and in some cases ruined, by the lack of a fully funded state budget.
Today, Voices for Illinois Children released an update to our September report outlining the devastating human impact the budget impasse continues to have on children, families and communities. It provides a useful closer look at some of the pain the ongoing budget stand-off is causing in relation to 60 line items across the state, particularly for seniors, children and underserved families.
By all accounts (that I’ve heard, anyway) it seems likely that this year’s budget stand-off will creep well in to the next fiscal year, leaving these programs, and the families they serve, unfunded for an indefinite amount of time. That’s unconscionable.
The crisis of the day is the destruction of our higher education system, but we shouldn’t forget the other foreseeable and preventable results of not having a fully-funded budget, including:
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Services: The Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, a program that works with medical providers statewide to ensure that pregnant women who are HIV-positive deliver HIV-negative babies, will close its doors in October of 2016 unless funding is restored. The program saves the state about $35 million each year, and without it, there will be babies who could have been born HIV-negative that will be born HIV-positive.
The Autism Project of Illinois: Nearly 1,800 families across the state have either lost services or are at risk of losing critical autism services after TAP closed its doors on September 30, 2015. Previously, TAP was a national leader in providing services and supports to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One in 68 children has been identified as having ASD by the Centers for Disease Control.
Home-delivered Meals for Seniors: Roughly 3,200 seniors have lost home-delivered meal services statewide. In DuPage County, the DuPage Senior Citizens Council has cut program staff by 55% and has closed its community dining program. In Rockford, 250 meal slots have been eliminated, bringing the number of seniors on the wait list for meals to 400. A Rockford provider, Lifescape Community Services, reports serving 17,000 fewer meals in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015.
Sexual Assault Services and Prevention: All 29 agencies serving survivors of sexual assault have instituted furloughs and left staff vacancies unfilled. Agencies across the state have instituted waitlists for counseling services. One center reports 65 survivors are on a waiting list for critical trauma-centered sexual assault counseling services in Chicago alone.
Substance Abuse and Prevention Programs: Approximately 47,000 individuals across the state have been denied services or have had reduced service delivery, and most providers have a waiting list of 3 months or longer. That leaves many adults with substance abuse disorders at risk of entering the criminal justice system—a much more costly outcome for the state.
Centers for Independent Living: In FY14, Centers for Independent Living (CIL) served 95 of Illinois’ 102 counties, equipping people with disabilities with resources, supports, and skills to live independently. CILs across the state, including Chicago, Swansea, Joliet, and Alton, have instituted furloughs and layoffs, jeopardizing the roughly 63,430 direct services and information and referrals that were provided in FY14.
Support Services for Seniors: Home Care and Adult Day Care have been especially hard hit. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois closed 7 home care and adult day care centers, eliminating services for 2,355 seniors in Canton, Chicago, DeKalb, Freeport, Moline, Peoria and Rockford. LSSI also cut case management and adult protective services programs for 2,713 seniors in Sterling, IL. The lack of state investment in home care services leaves more than 25,000 seniors at risk of losing services across Cook and Lake Counties.
When words have failed to break the state budget impasse, social services providers and young artists are turning to another tactic – art. On behalf of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY), a statewide network of organizations delivering programs, services and advocacy for at-risk youth and families, I wanted to let you know that artists from Chicago will take to the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, March 2, with tapestries and paintings that illustrate the damage from the ongoing deadlock. We’d love for you to take a look and speak to provider organizations, advocates for youth programs that are being cut, and artists themselves: all will be in the Rotunda from 8am-11am.
I’ve attached a release, along with images of some of the work that will be on display. By way of background, the art protest was organized by ICOY and the Beverly Area Arts Alliance to illustrate the damage from the ongoing deadlock. The centerpiece of the artists’ work is a six by sixteen foot tapestry tying together 4,000 torn strips of fabric, each one representing 10 of the 40,000 youth served by programs in the ICOY network affected by the absence of a state budget. Additional smaller tapestries and a work in progress demonstrate the continued expansion of those affected under the impasse. The project has been created with help from Chicago youth residents of a homeless shelter, a girl scout troop, Southside artists and numerous community members, many of whom brought pieces of fabric salvaged from significant personal items, adding weight to the expression of human lives being torn apart. Additional fabrics were donated by The Quilter’s Trunk. Several artists of the Alliance will also exhibit paintings inspired by the suffering the budget impasse creates.
I very much hope you can stop by – and, of course, post an item.
With this latest independent expenditure disclosure Illinois United for Change has now spent more than $100,000 in the 22nd House race supporting Jason Gonzales/opposing Mike Madigan thereby exceeding the threshold needed to lift the campaign contribution limits for all candidates in this race for the remainder of the primary election cycle. This means that the Speaker’s candidate committee, Friends of Michael J. Madigan, can now raise unlimited funds, an advantage not shared by the candidate committees of any of the other three legislative leaders.
The affected timeframe may be brief, the primary election cycle ends in two weeks, but the impact of this may be significant. Candidate committees can make unlimited transfers to party committees and during the general election party committees can make unlimited transfers to candidate committees. For the next two weeks the Speaker can raise unlimited funds into his candidate committee, he can then transfer as much of that as he’d like to the State Party (which he also controls) and come fall he can then use those State Party funds to either make expenditures on behalf of his candidates in targeted races or make unlimited transfers to those candidate committees.
* A Cook County judge tossed a lawsuit that claimed Ted Cruz isn’t eligible to run for President and so he shouldn’t be on the ballot…
Lawrence J. Joyce, of far northwest suburban Poplar Grove, petitioned the Illinois State Board of Elections in January to have Cruz’s name removed from the March 15 primary ballot, arguing Cruz is not eligible to run for president because he is not a “natural-born citizen,” as required by the U.S. Constitution. Cruz was born in Canada to an American mother and a Cuban father.
Cruz’s lawyer, Sharee Langenstein, countered that the senator indeed is a “natural-born citizen” because American citizenship was conferred upon him at birth by his mother. Langenstein said it is customary for children born to Americans outside the country to receive American citizenship, citing the examples of Arizona Sen. John McCain and late Michigan Gov. George Romney. McCain was born to American parents in Panama and Romney was born to American parents in Mexico.
* But this being Illinois, with our complicated election law procedures, the judge’s ruling had nothing to do with the merits…
Specifically, [Circuit Court Judge Maureen Ward Kirby] said Joyce did not properly serve Cruz or the members of the election board with copies of his petition before the court. Ward Kirby said failing to satisfy any of the Illinois Election Code requirements meant she had no legal standing to review his complaint.
Legislative analysts predict that Illinois revenue will grow only by $200 million this year — less than 1 percent.
The bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s figure released Tuesday is significantly lower than Gov. Bruce Rauner’s prediction. A commission report says the Republican governor counts $925 million in revenue which “can be described in varying degrees from being unlikely to uncertain.” […]
The report says the administration counts on $500 million in federal Medicaid reimbursement under an obsolete formula, $200 million from a possibly complex sale of the Thompson Center state office building in Chicago; and sweeping the state’s “rainy day” fund of $275 million.
GOMB assumes $500 million from the old “spend and reimburse” methodology of Medicare premiums rather than the “off-set” method which has been in effect for a number of fiscal years. At this time, it seems unlikely the old method will be applied again. It should be noted that on a budgetary basis the two methods impact the same—while we get less back under the “off-set” method, we also spend less in a similar amount.
GOMB assumes the receipt of $200 million from the sale of the Thompson Center. History may be a guide in terms of counting on the sale of this property. It may take some time for such a transaction to occur, if at all.
GOMB assumes a one-time non-repayable sweep of the balance in the Budget Stabilization Fund, valued at $275 million. Statutory changes would be required to eliminate repayment provisions.
GOMB assumes in their estimate of “other sources” a change in the distribution of the hotel tax whereby approximately $50 million that normally gets deposited into GRF, instead is directed to the Tourism Promotion Fund. Statutory changes are necessary to enact that proposed change.
* The Question: How should Illinois spend this projected $200 million in shiny, new revenues?
Centerstone officials today announced that the state budget crisis in Illinois has forced the non-profit organization to take measures to consolidate its operations to preserve core behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services essential to its 16,000 clients in Southern Illinois and the Metro-East region.
These measures follow an eight-month budget impasse, during which the State of Illinois has amassed approximately $4.5 million owed to Centerstone for services provided under contracts and other funding agreements.
“Centerstone’s board of directors and executive leadership have been forced to make program, staffing and facility decisions that are painful to our organization and the communities we serve,” said John G. Markley, chief executive officer of Centerstone’s Illinois operations. “We have warned our lawmakers for months that we could not sustain our operations and ensure our most vulnerable citizens have access to the services and support they need while providing millions of dollars in state services without payment. Unfortunately, our concerns have not been heeded, and we have no options left but consolidation that will help us ensure the continued viability of our organization.”
Centerstone is consolidating its operations to focus most of its resources on critical, life-saving services. Measures taken include:
· A strategic consolidation of offices. An office in Jerseyville, Illinois, will be closed, effective April 1, 2016, and its services relocated to Alton. A transition plan to support impacted clients is in place. Centerstone will continue to provide residential, crisis, community and school-based services in Jersey, Calhoun and Greene Counties.
· The closure of Centerstone’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Illinois, impacting youth, volunteers and supporters in Jackson, Franklin, Union, Perry and Williamson Counties.
· The elimination of several open administrative positions; and
· Reviewing the sale of under-utilized facilities.
Staff in impacted programs will be offered other open positions in the organization.
“These were difficult decisions for our board to make,” said Sally Sheahan, president of Centerstone’s Illinois board of directors. “For the long-term sustainability of Centerstone’s operations, we cannot continue to mount losses related to state contracts any longer. This consolidation will protect jobs and the most essential, life-saving services we offer, but even these measures will not sustain us if this budget impasse is not resolved. We urge our lawmakers to take action now to halt the damage occurring to the fragile behavioral health system in Illinois.”
Centerstone provides comprehensive behavioral healthcare, serving communities in the Metro East region and in Southern Illinois. Centerstone’s compassionate professionals work with children, adults and families to inspire hope and personal growth. Last year, over 16,000 people sought to change their lives for the better through Centerstone’s mental health counseling, substance abuse services, life enrichment programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities. Visit www.centerstone.org for more information.
About Centerstone
Centerstone, a nonprofit organization, is one of the nation’s largest behavioral healthcare providers. It offers a range of treatment, support and educational programs and services to individuals who have mental health and addiction disorders and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each year, the organization serves more than 142,000 people of all ages across Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee. It also operates the Centerstone Foundation, Centerstone Research Institute, Advantage Behavioral Health, Centerstone Military Services and Centerstone Health Partners. For more information about Centerstone, please visit www.centerstone.org.
With the budget impasse approaching nine months, Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas announced today (March 1) that mandatory furloughs and voluntary pay reduction programs will be implemented for all non-negotiated personnel (administrative/non-academic and civil service personnel not covered by unions). While the mandatory program will take place June 1-30, employees may voluntarily elect to spread out their furlough days or participate in the voluntary pay reduction program beginning April 2.
The furlough schedule, which is based on base salary, follows:
Over $150,000: 15 days
$125,000-$149,999: 14 days
$100,000-$124,999: 13 days
$75,000-$99,999: 12 days
$50,000-$74,999: 10 days
$40,000-$49,999: 6 days
Less than $39,999: No furloughs
* Meanwhile, from a senior Republican official close to the process…
Speaker Madigan has agreed to consider not calling the override on the governor’s veto of SB 2043 and will consider negotiating a new bipartisan plan that both Democrats and Republicans can support.
That is why the GOP press conference scheduled for 3 has been postponed.
SB 2043 is the MAP grant bill. The GOP press conference was about alternative funding proposals for higher education.
*** UPDATE *** Steve Brown…
The plan is to override the bumbled veto of the community college/MAP grants appropriation. Talks have been going on for a long time. If you want to portray that as recent progress you’re getting ahead of yourself.
If you’re a candidate angling for a win in the upcoming Democratic primary, you have to put Rauner’s head on your opponent’s torso, whether it’s a fair fit or not.
After all, Rauner is the most unpopular politician in Chicago not named Rahm.
But apparently, not all candidates appreciate this rather obvious campaign strategy—especially Juliana Stratton, who’s running against Ken Dunkin in the fiercely contested, highly expensive, mother-of-all primary battles for the Fifth District seat, on the south side.
Joravsky is upset that Stratton apparently hasn’t yet paired Rauner with Dunkin in her advertising.
* But the 42nd Ward has…
* Meanwhile, from a reader…
You should know the Stratton campaign’s got some nice video footage of a very honest Dunkin campaigner explaining how Dunkin’s Campaign is giving out a “free pack of cigarettes for every 5 people” they get on the early voting bus…
“They” would be the organizers, not the actual voters…
* Meanwhile, Maze Jackson interviewed ABC 7’s Charles Thomas yesterday about Rep. Ken Dunkin’s higher education appropriations bill and the Black Caucus…
FACEBOOK LIVE BROADCAST: The Maze Said Radio Show and Podcast featuring Charles Thomas fromABC 7…Tune in we are going to break it down!#mazesaid
Posted by Maze Jackson on Monday, February 29, 2016
Thomas makes some valid points. But a much longer, and, to me, more interesting part of the interview is here. He has, for instance, a very interesting take on Madigan’s opponent Jason Gonzales after hanging out with him much of Friday. Thomas claims Gonzales has real trouble “connecting” with Latino voters in the district, partly because he grew up in the suburbs and partly because he doesn’t speak very fluent Spanish.
Rauner said Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Mike Madigan and the “Chicago Machine” plan to block additional school funding unless Chicago Public Schools receive a significant increase, a plan that Rauner said is unfair to the rest of the state’s districts.
“We can’t let school funding be held hostage for the political games that are going on in our state legislature,” Rauner said. “We can’t allow Rockford schools, which are much better run, to be held hostage to the problems in Chicago.”
Steve Brown, a spokesman for Madigan, called Rauner’s claims “irrational” and that there is no basis for what the governor is saying. Brown attributed the hard stance to Cullerton, but said the Senate president made the statement in broad terms — that the entire state school funding system needs to be overhauled.
“We are concerned about how critical the Governor is of the Chicago Public Schools,” said Brown in a phone interview. “But we are going to work with him to help all students and better fund all schools.”
Found a message from Liberty Principles PAC on my answering machine last night. The gist of it: Sam McCann is bad for State employees because he wants to trash our pensions. They played a garbled, mostly inaudible (at least on my phone) recording of him in a noisy room to support this, repeating one of the few audible parts several times, which I think was “Why wouldn’t we?”
I asked him if he could work up a transcript
…Adding… Mr. Proft has kindly sent along an official transcript…
Here’s Senator Sam McCann on state union workers:
“Is there any reasons we shouldn’t cut their pensions?”
“I don’t see any reason why, no. I know that’s very direct and blunt and to the point answer. But yea, why wouldn’t we?”
Sam McCann. Telling state employees he has their back…then stabbing them there when they aren’t looking.
Do we cut state pensions in Sam McCann’s eyes?
“But yea, why wouldn’t we?”
Paid for by Liberty Principles PAC (708) 568-1493
…Adding… Listen to it Proft’s official audio for yourself…
* From the Chicago Tribune’s endorsement in the 66th House District Republican primary…
But in this race, our nod goes to Skillicorn, a marketing professional who is the most outspoken about the need to blow up the status quo in Springfield.
I happen to like Skillicorn and think he’s running a solid campaign. This isn’t about him. It’s about this bizarre belief that if we only had more chaos in Springfield things would be perfect and everything would turn out well. Politicians say what politicians say, but editorial boards ought to be more thoughtful.
Along those lines, it seems to me that the rhetorical flourishes are getting way out of control these days. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this and I’m really starting to worry that somebody’s gonna get physically hurt - or worse - because our “betters” keep ginning up their bases well beyond the usual political crankiness.
…Adding… MrJM in comments…
This is the shared faith of all aggrieved fundamentalists of any political stripe. They know that their political beliefs — and their political beliefs alone — are Right and Universal. Whether it’s based in Marxist dialectical materialism or Randian free-market fundamentalism is irrelevant; theirs is the political viewpoint of Nature itself.
And yet, somehow, their perfect world view has not been universally accepted as The Truth, i.e. the one solution to every political and economic ill. But they have a ready explanation for that: They believe that the only reason their political philosophy hasn’t been recognized as the Truth is the corruption in the current political system.
If only the status quo were “blown up” — or blown away by a hurricane — then The Truth would be unshackled and, at long last, assume its natural position as the universally accepted pure and perfect political point of view, as Nature intended.
Peace, justice and prosperity would inevitably follow — how could it be otherwise? — and we’d all live happily ever after.
It’s an absurd and childish way to look at the world, of course, but it does go a long way towards explaining the political nihilism by which we now find ourselves surrounded.
(A) Springfield PAC launched a scurrilous assault on — of all people — Katelyn Hotle in the 72nd house district race.
She was accused of funneling “thousands of taxpayers dollars to her private employer.” You will look in vain for a vote to back up that charge, unless they are referring to approving payments for the city’s continuing relationship with Mediacom, where Katie works; a relationship established before she was elected to the council.
I’m assuming that state Democrats are backing Mike Halpin, if one may judge from the cluster of flyers from what appears to be a related source. Another candidate, Jeff Jacobs, has solid local support. So, why pick on Katie? Go figure. That’s politics these days: subterfuge, smear, and heavy-handed attempts to steer the vote. Why bother with facts when innuendo will serve?
The mailers, paid for by Speaker Madigan’s Democratic Majority PAC, have kept coming since that column was written in mid February. Another one was disclosed yesterday. And I agree with Wooten that the mailers have zero basis in reality.
* KWQC TV asked Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown why his boss was targeting her…
“The point of the mailing was to identify Rauner plants in these legislative races so that voters can be informed that’s all,” said Brown.
We asked Brown how is it known that Hotle might be planted by the Rauner administration.
“How do we not know, because there’s no real record and I’m told she has a strong support from the Republican county chairman,” said Brown. “She has contributors from the suburbs who I’m not sure have any reason, so it appears that she had been supportive of some of the things the Rauner administration is supporting.”
The Rauner stuff is bogus, as far as I can tell. And as I recall, she told me she’s related to that “mysterious” suburban contributor. I can’t find any other direct or even indirect links between Hotle and the Republicans. They certainly aren’t flooding her campaign with money if they are secretly backing her.
* One of her Democratic primary opponents, Jeff Jacobs, was so upset about Madigan’s attacks that he issued a press release…
“I received a disturbing piece of mail yesterday attacking one of my opponents Katelyn Hotle. This mailing came from outside of the 72nd District. These old fashioned attacks are deplorable and they are the reason why so many people shy away from the political process. My campaign has always been about the people of Rock Island County and how we can work together to make the place I was born and raised grow. That message is working and it is why over 80% of the money I have raised is from the Quad Cities. When Rep. Verschoore endorsed me I was committed to running my campaign with the same principles that he has used to serve the 72nd so honorably. If I am elected I am committed to fight against these types of attacks. And I know our message of future growth of Rock Island County will prevail on March 15th.”
From her bio, it appears she is a Governor Edgar Fellows Program member. Not many Raunerites are in the Edgar Fellows Program. Just sayin…
* Maybe her anger at the state of the state’s economy is the tipoff that she’s not a Madigan Democrat?…
State Representative candidate Kate Hotle (D-Rock Island) called for a unified, focused and urgent plan to grow the Illinois Quad Cities in light of recent U.S. Census data showing stagnant population and income growth in Rock Island County.
“The recent Census report should serve as a wake-up call to all leaders that we need new leadership and a sense of urgency in addressing the continuing stagnation of our local population and economy.”
“Rock Island County has never fully recovered from the Reagan recession of the 1980s. While both Rock Island and Scott County fell in population from 1980 to 1990, Rock Island County has dipped slightly since 1990 while Scott increased by 14%. Incomes have also increased in Scott by 6% since 2010 and Rock Island County incomes dropped by 2%.”
$21,391.49 on attack ads… What good could that money have gone to instead?
Posted by Katelyn Hotle on Tuesday, February 23, 2016
* Or maybe it’s because she’s the only woman in the race and the Madigan folks are worried she might win without much money.
Whatever is going on, the women members of the House Democratic Caucus need to have a chat with Speaker Madigan about what he’s doing to this person. He’s deliberately sabotaging what could have been a bright future. That ain’t party building. It’s eating your seed corn.
* Rep. Mark Batinick asked if he could respond to yesterday’s post about his pension proposal…
Rich,
Thanks for covering the recent pension proposals yesterday. The one thing missing in the discussion were reasons the plan would be good for the employee. I thought I’d outline a few:
1. The lump sum can be (and probably should be) rolled into an IRA creating a tax shelter. A large annuity can have a fairly large federal tax hit. Leaving your savings in an IRA allows it to grow tax deferred. Retirees generally don’t have very many tax write-offs. This situation would be especially helpful for dual pensioners who will likely have a large federal tax bill. Also,with an IRA payments can be structured so that you still qualify for the senior property tax freeze.
2. You can’t will a pension, but you can will an IRA. Maybe an employee wants to leave some money to a child, a grandchild, or even an unmarried significant other. You can’t do that with a pension. You can with my plan. I recently was notified of a retiree with a special-needs child who wishes they had this choice. Why shouldn’t we give it to them? Maybe people want to donate to a charity when they pass.
3. Frankly, it gives employees control over their future. I take exception to the idea that the people we trust to educate our children are unable to manage their retirement. They may actually do a better job of it than us.
4. It provides peace of mind. Yes the constitution protects state pensions. However, that is this constitution. It is up for negotiation by the voters every 20 years. Any General Assembly can put it on the ballot during any general election. I’ve been approached by people who just want to cash out so that they can stop being a political football. Can you blame them?
5. My proposal allows you to take a partial pension buyout. You can give up a small portion of your monthly payment in exchange for the lump sum. I believe this would be the most popular option.
I was surprised how many people thought there would not be many takers. When GM offered its accelerated buyout approximately 30% of retirees and 50% of current employees chose the lump sum. One of the advisers working with GM employees stated that while the lump sum wasn’t right for everyone, he recommended it to 40% of his clients. Lastly, nearly 20% of new SURS employees are choosing to manage their own retirement. That is certainly riskier that taking a guaranteed lump sum at the end of your career. If just 20% of the aggregate dollars are paid out as a lump sum at retirement the savings to the state are very significant.
And as mentioned in committee yesterday, there are many ways to expand the idea. For example, a lump sum can be offered to inactives, to buyout employees COLA’s, etc.
Turnaround Illinois’ only reported contribution so far was the $1.18 million it gave Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC in January. Most, but not all, of that money has been used to defeat Sen. Sam McCann.
*** UPDATE *** And speaking of McCann…
Congressman John Shimkus has announced his endorsement of Bryce Benton, Republican candidate for State Senate in the 50th district.
“I’ve represented most of the 50th Senate District in Congress, and I know the citizens of Central Illinois will be well served with Bryce Benton in the State Senate,” said Shimkus. “As an Army veteran and graduate of the US Military Academy, I recognize the importance of electing public servants who will sacrifice for the common good and make the tough decisions to get our nation and state back on track. Bryce Benton has demonstrated the utmost integrity as a law enforcement officer and has not fallen victim to the allure of self promotion over honest public service. I wholeheartedly endorse Bryce Benton because he is a man voters can trust.”
Congressman Shimkus currently represents Illinois’ 15th Congressional district, and has previously represented both Illinois’ 19th and 20th Congressional districts (2000 and 1990 Census, respectively). Shimkus is a lifelong resident of Collinsville, a suburb of St. Louis.
“I’m proud and honored to receive the endorsement of Congressman John Shimkus,” said Benton. “Congressman Shimkus has devoted his life to public service. As a US Army veteran and dedicated statesman, he exemplifies honest public service over cynical self promotion. Our records of service to the people of Illinois are clear - we won’t say and do anything to get elected.”
* The Pew Charitable Trusts’ “Fiscal 50” interactive has updated its 50-state employment data…
Employment Rates Inch Closer to Prerecession Levels
The U.S. employment rate for adults of prime working age has been rising for four years, and the number of states with lower employment rates than before the Great Recession has been shrinking. Despite these signs of improvement, however, the labor market had not completely recovered from the economic downturn by mid-2015.
Tuesday, Mar 1, 2016 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
As Police Chief in Clinton, I know firsthand of the significant impact the Clinton Power Station has on my community. It employs nearly 700 of our friends and neighbors and funds local government services including schools, fire and emergency response through the $12.6 million it pays in taxes every year.
Outdated energy policies are forcing nuclear energy plants nationwide to close down and Clinton could be next. These closures devastate local communities. Jobs are lost. Services are cut. In 2014, a Vermont town eliminated its entire police department after its local plant closed down.
A State of Illinois report found that if some of the plants in Illinois close, it could cost us $1.8 billion in lost economic activity and 8,000 jobs. Clinton cannot afford this and neither can Illinois.
I encourage our state legislators to adopt energy policy reform legislation the would help preserve our state’s nuclear plants. Taking action is necessary for our state’s economic health and would help prevent plants like Clinton Power Station from closing.
Learn the facts about Illinois’ nuclear plants at www.NuclearPowersIllinois.com
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is backing Ald. Howard Brookins against veteran U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in the March 15 Democratic primary.
The powerful speaker — who also is chairman of the state Democratic Party — customarily supports the party’s incumbents. But Brookins is listed as the preferred candidate of Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic Organization on the newly printed “sample ballots” sent to voters in the speaker’s Southwest Side power base. […]
Rush said he did not know why Madigan would support a challenger against him.
“In 23 years, we haven’t had any reason to have any major differences,” Rush said.
As explained in the story, Brookins asked Madigan for help with his petitions and Madigan complied. Madigan’s 13th Ward has just two precincts worth about a hundred votes two years ago in that district, so it won’t mean much, anyway.
Preliminary/unofficial numbers suggest the best Early Voting start yet for a Presidential Primary with more than 11,000 ballots cast in Chicago. That’s a number more in line with a first day before a November Election.
Unofficial ward-by-ward data are below.
Regards,
Jim
On the first day of early voting, 1,003 people voted in the 13th Ward, by far the most of any ward and almost ten percent of the citywide total. Second place went to the 19th Ward, with 419.
* Here’s a roundup of stories about yesterday’s epic Bruce Rauner press conference…
* Rauner: Madigan manipulating university leaders in funding crisis: Rauner charged the president of beleaguered Chicago State and those of Northeastern Illinois and Eastern Illinois universities are playing puppet to Madigan. “Folks at Northeastern said they had been instructed never to step out and support any legislation that hadn’t been proposed by Madigan, not to support any other solutions to a problem unless the Speaker blessed it,” Rauner said.
* Universities And Their Funding Caught In Rauner, Madigan Vitriol: “You know what the Speaker has told them? I haven’t verified this directly, but I have good sources. What Speaker Madigan has gone to each of the universities and said: “If you step out and support anything that the governor’s proposin’, I will cut you out of the final budget solution.’” “Governor sounding a little more irrational than usual today,” said Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown, in response. “The only one who has cut higher ed, or threatened cuts to higher ed, is himself.”
* Rauner Accuses Madigan Of Blocking Higher Education Spending Bill: “Speaker Madigan and his folks in the legislature are trying to create a crisis and create headlines around the crisis to impact the primary voting that’s going on right now,” Rauner said. “Political games are being put ahead of students’ lives and we’ve got to stop this.” A spokesman for Speaker Madigan said the bill is being studied but it doesn’t guarantee money to the schools and it eliminates $180 million in school construction money. He said the governor has been trying to cut money for higher education for a year-and-a-half.
* Rauner tries to pin blame on Madigan for university funding crisis: Rauner said Madigan is holding up a compromise to score points ahead of the March 15 legislative primaries. The powerful speaker is running “a dictatorship of one individual who cares about politics over people,” said the governor, who called Madigan’s veto override attempt “a sham vote.”
* Gov. Bruce Rauner is accusing House Speaker Michael Madigan of prolonging Illinois’ higher education funding crisis for political gain: “Political games are being put ahead of student lives and we’ve got to stop this,” the Republican said, adding that Madigan is trying to “spin” the issue ahead of the March 15 primary. The comments prompted some laughter and a sharp response from Madigan spokesman Steve Brown, who noted Rauner last year proposed cutting the higher education budget by 30 percent then vetoed a budget bill to fund colleges and universities. More recently Rauner vetoed a measure to fund grants to help students pay tuition, saying it would “explode the state budget.” Representatives from two of the three universities that Rauner claimed had been threatened also denied that Madigan or his office had done so. “Sounds like the governor’s getting a little wobbly on us,” Brown said. “He’s under a lot of pressure because he’s wrecking higher education.”
* Rauner tweaks Cullerton with ‘Madigan’s shadow’ quip: “You know what President Cullerton said to me in private?” Rauner said, as he was making his case that Madigan is the cause of Springfield’s problems. “He said, ‘Bruce, I lived in Mike Madigan’s shadow for 37 years. I’m not gonna step out now.’ Can you believe that? Can you believe that? You wonder why Illinois is in such deep yogurt, ladies and gentlemen. We’ve got a dictatorship of one individual who cares about politics over people.” Cullerton said he was “not going to dignify that with a comment.” “Could we please get back to governing?” Cullerton’s statement said. Rauner has alternately wooed and tweaked Cullerton since taking office in January 2015, but the governor’s disdain for Madigan has been consistent.
* But you really should listen to the whole thing to get the full flavor. First, his opening remarks, when he makes his initial allegations about Madigan and reveals contents of an alleged private conversation with Senate President John Cullerton [fixed link]…
For as long as I can remember, Shimkus has mistaken the Chicago Tribune’s Rick Pearson for me. We both have beards and are about the same height, but he’s much skinnier than me now because he’s a big TV star.
Years ago, Shimkus was in the Tribune Tower riding the elevator up to an editorial board meeting and Pearson was in the same compartment. Shimkus once again thought Pearson was me and started talking to him about what he’d read in that day’s Capitol Fax. Pearson, the story goes, got off the elevator and said something like: “Congressman, this is the Tribune. Why would Rich Miller be in this building?”
Two years ago, Shimkus once again mistook Pearson for me at the Illinois State Fair.
I feel bad for Rick. Really, I do, particularly since he trimmed himself up. One day, we’re going to have to approach Shimkus together to see if he can figure out who we are.
But, knowing Shimkus, I’m betting he’ll think we’re Zach Galifianakis and his twin brother… or something.
Campaigns cannot legally offer inducements to vote.
* And from a reader…
Hi Mr. Miller,
I’ve been a fan of Cap fax for a while now. I don’t really post in the comments, but do enjoy reading the snark in the comments.
Though I think you might be interested in this.
I had a meeting in Chinatown today at 10am. So I decided I would go vote before the meeting. I arrived a little after the polling place opened at 9am. While I was waiting for the poll workers to finish assisting some elderly voters I saw people there handing out campaign lit for a candidate inside the polling place. It was literally being done right before people voted on the machines.
The number of homicides so far this year in Chicago climbed past 100 over the weekend, the deadliest start to a year in the city in nearly two decades, according to statistics kept by the Police Department and the Tribune. […]
Since [1997], there have been three years that the city saw more than 70 murders over January and February: 1999 (95), 2000 (85) and 2002 (77). In the last decade, there haven’t been more than 66 murders during the first two months.
Murders began rising sharply in Chicago in the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in 1992 with 943 murders before gradually declining. In 1997, the number was 796. Last year, it was 468, by the department’s measurement.
Chicago Public Schools announced $85 million in cuts on Monday, saying that in all, 62 employees — including 17 teachers — are being laid off.
In a statement, the district said its hand was forced by the lack of a funding solution from state government.
“The reductions will come through layoffs, closing vacant positions, reallocating funds held in reserve, and changing programs,” CPS said in the statement. “Next year, the reductions will amount to $120 million on an annualized basis.”
A lawsuit against the city of Chicago pertaining to red-light cameras will continue following a Cook County judge’s decision to deny the municipality’s request to dismiss the case.
The lawsuit alleges that the city failed to provide motorists with due process in their failure to issue second notices of violation prior to sending out final determinations of liability for red-light camera tickets. A win for the plaintiffs, who have requested that the case be turned into a class-action suit, means the cash-strapped city would be on the hook for refunding millions of dollars to drivers who have been ticketed since 2003. Chicago Law Department spokesman Bill McCaffery argues that the plaintiffs are not owed “any recovery, let alone any refunds.”
* And yet he’s wasting a whole lot of political capital on this…
Some Chicago aldermen, small business owners and retail lobbyists want Mayor Rahm Emanuel to reconsider his tobacco tax proposal, saying the plan would adversely affect local businesses and neighborhoods, including those already impacted by black-market sales of “loosie” cigarettes. […]
Debate rages on over Emanuel’s proposal to increase the smoking age in Chicago from 18 to 21 and impose a $6 million tax on non-cigarette tobacco products, with the revenue going in part toward Chicago Public Schools orientation programs. The plan is aimed at preventing “young people from picking up smoking, while investing in their education,” according to the administration.
The proposed ordinance encountered aldermanic opposition at the monthly city council meeting held on February 10. Some opposing aldermen used a procedural move to delay consideration of the proposal for one month. They did so even after the Emanuel administration made changes to the ordinance to appease aldermanic critics.
Alds. Leslie Hairston (5th), Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th), David Moore (17th), Jason Ervin (28th) and Nicholas Sposato (38th) joined business owners and representatives from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association during a Tuesday morning press conference at City Hall to speak out against the mayor’s tobacco plan.
After my little health issue last year, I’ve done a big about-face on tobacco. The industry is run by vultures. And I hate the argument that government can’t do more than one thing at a time. It most certainly can.
But Emanuel is so badly damaged right now and his city is in such dire straits that it boggles my mind that he is picking fights with aldermen he’s gonna need if he ever hopes to solve some of these problems.
The 102nd [House] District race already is up to more than $335,000 in funds raised either by or on behalf of the candidates — Jim Acklin of Ogden, Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville and Randy Peterson of Paris.
Halbrook, who is backed by Gov. Bruce Rauner and has the money to show it, is tops with more than $190,000 raised. Among his donations: $10,800 from the governor and his wife; $53,000 from Citizens for Rauner, Inc.; and about $86,000 from the Liberty Principles PAC, which is funded by Rauner and his allies. […]
Meanwhile, Peterson last week reported another $15,000 into his campaign fund from the campaign fund of retiring Rep. Adam Brown, R-Champaign. Brown is almost singlehandedly subsidizing Peterson’s campaign; $40,000 of the $40,450 in contributions to Peterson’s campaign have come from Brown, who currently represents the 102nd District.
Acklin, the third candidate in the race last week reported $69,000 in new contributions, including $50,000 from the Illinois Education Association and $15,000 from the Associated Firefighters of Illinois. He also got $2,000 from the State Universities Annuitants Association. Acklin’s fundraising total is up to almost $105,000.
Acklin is backed by former Gov. Jim Edgar. He reported another $60K or so today, most of it from the Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC.
Chicago State University is a public institution, and as such, does not take sides in partisan disagreements. Currently, several varying proposals to address the funding crisis in higher education exist in the General Assembly. The official position of the Administration and Board of Trustees of Chicago State University is that University officials will not participate in news conferences regarding any of these proposals in the middle of an election.
At no point have any CSU officials had conversations with any of the four legislative leaders that included direction about which bills to support or not support. We support any legislation that will provide direct, adequate funding so that we can continue providing our students with the affordable, quality education they deserve.
*** UPDATE 2 *** More…
Statement: "Northeastern Illinois University has received no instructions on any topic from Speaker Michael Madigan or his office"
*** UPDATE 3 *** From the CSU press release above…
The official position of the Administration and Board of Trustees of Chicago State University is that University officials will not participate in news conferences regarding any of these proposals in the middle of an election.
News conferences and rallies must be different things…
A rally was held Sunday at Chicago State University to urge state lawmakers to take action so that public universities can receive their funding.
The rally, which was attended by former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, comes one day after CSU sent notices to all of its 900 employees that layoffs would happen if the South Side university doesn’t receive its state funding. […]
“We will never allow Gov. Rauner, or others, to take this great university from Chicago State University,” said Sen. Monique Davis, D-Chicago. […]
“The word commencement means beginning so we are going to be celebrating the beginning of the new Chicago State University, this crisis notwithstanding, we’re going to be here,” CSU President Thomas Calhoun told the crowd.
* From House Speaker Michael Madigan’s primary opponent Jason Gonzales…
rich –
Our campaign just received its biggest endorsement yet!
The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Jason as their pick for State Representative of the 22nd District.
We add the Tribune to our growing list of endorsements which includes U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton, Alderman Dick Simpson, State Senator Robert Meza, and Democracy for American - Southside.
Early voting has already begun. Will you stand with us in the final stretch?
Click below to donate or sign up to volunteer!
Jason for Illinois
Moulton is a Massachusetts congresscritter. Meza is from Arizona. Simpson hasn’t been an alderman since 1979. DFA Southside has 38 members. But, hey, any port in a storm I suppose.
* The Tribune, to its credit, actually admits that Gonzales is a Rauner guy…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and his allies are backing a few Democrats — yes, Democrats — who they believe will be more independent of Madigan. They’re funneling resources to the campaign of Jason Gonzales, a management consultant who is running against Madigan in the 22nd House District. It’s a Hail Mary from anti-Madigan forces hoping Gonzales can oust the longtime speaker.
* And here’s the paper’s completely unpredictable endorsement…
Who in his or her right mind would go head-to-head against Speaker Michael Madigan? Many people have asked Jason Gonzales that very question. The 42-year-old management consultant is challenging Madigan for his Southwest Side House seat. Other daredevils have tried to unseat the longtime speaker but crashed and burned on Election Day. Gonzales says his campaign is different. He has resources and money — some from reform-minded donors who support redistricting and term limits, and some from supporters of Gov. Bruce Rauner who are tired of Madigan’s iron grip on state government.
Gonzales has only lived in the district since 2013, but he has family there — and counters that Madigan is rarely there at all. “People want someone accessible and present in the community doing what’s right rather than playing power politics in Springfield,” Gonzales says.
He also is transparent about his past. In his late teens, he was arrested and jailed for using stolen credit cards. He eventually graduated from an alternative high school and went on to earn degrees from several prestigious universities, including Harvard. Gonzales is endorsed.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m betting the Speaker is practically living in his district office these days.
*** UPDATE *** Somehow, I doubt this was part of the Tribune editorial board meeting…
Democrat Jason Gonzales today announced his support for a progressive income tax in Illinois as a centerpiece of his candidacy.
“Under the current system, people living in poverty are asked to pay the same as wealthy, corporate CEO’s. We need a more equitable system that looks at ability to pay, so we can take the burden off Illinois families by lowering taxes for the working and middle class and ask the wealthy to pay their fair share.” Gonzales said.
Gonzales, 42, a consultant and former small business owner has master’s degrees from MIT and Harvard. He grew up in a working class union household and became the first member of his family to graduate college. Gonzales is challenging Speaker Michael Madigan in the upcoming Democratic Primary.
“Illinois is just one of a handful of states that still uses a flat income tax. In a time where so many people are struggling and are already paying some of the highest taxes in the nation, our outdated income tax system is an impediment preventing families from having the ability to get ahead,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales’ stance on this issue and other progressive policies like a minimum wage increase and elected school board earned him the endorsement of Democracy for America-Southside, former Alderman Dick Simpson and Congressman Seth Molton.
* I’m excerpting way too much of this David Brooks column, but for good reason…
We live in a big, diverse society. There are essentially two ways to maintain order and get things done in such a society — politics or some form of dictatorship. Either through compromise or brute force. Our founding fathers chose politics.
Politics is an activity in which you recognize the simultaneous existence of different groups, interests and opinions. You try to find some way to balance or reconcile or compromise those interests, or at least a majority of them. You follow a set of rules, enshrined in a constitution or in custom, to help you reach these compromises in a way everybody considers legitimate.
The downside of politics is that people never really get everything they want. It’s messy, limited and no issue is ever really settled. Politics is a muddled activity in which people have to recognize restraints and settle for less than they want. Disappointment is normal.
But that’s sort of the beauty of politics, too. It involves an endless conversation in which we learn about other people and see things from their vantage point and try to balance their needs against our own. Plus, it’s better than the alternative: rule by some authoritarian tyrant who tries to govern by clobbering everyone in his way.
As Bernard Crick wrote in his book, “In Defence of Politics,” “Politics is a way of ruling divided societies without undue violence.”
Over the past generation we have seen the rise of a group of people who are against politics. These groups — best exemplified by the Tea Party but not exclusive to the right — want to elect people who have no political experience. They want “outsiders.” They delegitimize compromise and deal-making. They’re willing to trample the customs and rules that give legitimacy to legislative decision-making if it helps them gain power.
Ultimately, they don’t recognize other people. They suffer from a form of political narcissism, in which they don’t accept the legitimacy of other interests and opinions. They don’t recognize restraints. They want total victories for themselves and their doctrine.
This antipolitics tendency has had a wretched effect on our democracy. It has led to a series of overlapping downward spirals:
The antipolitics people elect legislators who have no political skills or experience. That incompetence leads to dysfunctional government, which leads to more disgust with government, which leads to a demand for even more outsiders.
Several Illinoisans sent me that column over the weekend, and it wasn’t because of Donald Trump.
Actually, that headline is misleading and apparently designed as click bait. Here’s what Greg wrote…
Given such realities, it’s not hard to explain why people will turn to crisp, simple answers and tough-talking, self-financed, little-understood Type A business titans who declare they know the formula to restore past glory.
No, I’m not talking about Gov. Bruce Rauner, though some similarities definitely exist. Rather, my target is Trump, and to a lesser degree Vermont’s Bernie “I’ll make everything free” Sanders.
* For the record, I just want to make it super clear that in no way do I believe that our governor is a racist or a misogynist. I do not believe that the two men are peas in a pod. Rauner went out of his way to court African-Americans and Latinos. He did very well with suburban soccer moms, partly as a result of his eagerness to attract minority support, partly because he’s pro-choice. I’m betting that Trump won’t do nearly as well in a general election here as Rauner did.
But, despite their very real and very important differences, the comparison between the wealthy Republican men is just too easy to make for many folks and it’s starting to pick up a little bit of steam on social media as the presidential candidates begin converging on Illinois.
…Adding… It’s not just coming from Trump/Rauner critics. From Talk of the County…
Team Trump, Rauner
The people making negative comments about Donald Trump and Gov. Bruce Rauner need to wake up. It’s our chance to straighten out this country and this state. Rauner is holding back because every year the Democrats have raised taxes so they can run the state any way they want. They work for us and it’s our tax money but unfortunately our state representatives are doing whatever they please.
And…
Hated by progressives billionaire Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois is making tough choices to save the state. Reminds me of Trump
No email for Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner. KMOX’s Michael Calhoun tells us that Rauner’s given up the habit and turned in his email address.
Rauner chuckled when asked about his email habits, before telling KMOX that he doesn’t have any – personal or business – and it’s improved the quality of his life.
“My life is very different as governor than it was as a private business person,” Rauner says. “My life is actually way better because I don’t use email.” […]
“I have not sent an email as governor of Illinois,” he says.
None of us tethered to our smartphones should doubt for a second that Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was absolutely correct when he said this week that giving up email has “improved the quality of my life dramatically.”
It’s also something that practically only the boss can do.
You have to be awfully powerful and/or wealthy — or poor and/or cloistered — to unplug like that in this day and age.
This may come as a surprise to him, but the little bit of nirvana he’s discovered is a luxury beyond the reach of most people.
Rauner didn’t have much political experience when he took office, but he apparently learned quickly the value of not leaving a trail.
Last week, a reporter asked Rauner about his email usage after unsuccessfully trying to get information about it.
“I have no email, none whatsoever,” the governor said. […]
“Email causes all kinds of troubles, as you’ve seen,” he said. “People send out spams. People send out emails, they copy emails, they forward emails. Nothing good comes from that. I’ll talk to somebody. I want to look somebody in the eye.”
* Not using e-mail may have also improved the “quality of life” of the governor’s many friends and associates.
Rauner had a large e-mail list before he was governor, and he was infamous among that group for constantly bombarding his recipients with rants on a myriad of topics, from the economy to education policy minutiae. At one point, Rahm Emanuel reportedly begged to be taken off the list.
I, for one, wish he’d kept his little side project going. Just imagine the possibilities of a governor with his very own newsletter.
But a guy with such a strong e-mail habit probably figured it would be best to go “cold turkey” so he didn’t get himself in trouble. Smart move.
* Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez wasn’t happy that former Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed her Democratic Party primary rival Kim Foxx…
Alvarez’s campaign quickly issued a statement ripping Quinn as a “career politician” and noting that he had previously received campaign donations from Foxx’s political patron and former boss, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Preckwinkle sent $52,500 to Quinn in 2014, state records show. Foxx served as Preckwinkle’s chief of staff until jumping into the state’s attorney’s race.
“To the surprise of no one, career politician Pat Quinn, who has been the beneficiary of hundreds of thousands in campaign spending by Toni Preckwinkle, is now backing her political puppet Kim Foxx,” Mike Carson, campaign manager for Alvarez, said in the statement.
The Alvarez campaign also made it clear they didn’t expect support from Quinn, given that two years ago Alvarez announced a criminal investigation into an anti-violence program run by his administration.
But while she fires away at Foxx’s support from insiders, Alvarez enjoys the backing of two of the state’s most powerful political operators: House Speaker Michael Madigan and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke. Both have donated to her past campaigns and are backing her again.
“She’s been independent,” said Carson. “She has some folks who endorse her despite that.”
Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez says her most prominent challenger Kim Foxx showed a “lack of decency” by using some footage of the now-infamous Laquan McDonald shooting video in a new TV campaign ad.
“It is a lack of decency that someone is trying to … gain cheap political points on a death of a young man in the video that shows someone being shot. I don’t find that to be decent. I think it’s appalling,” Alvarez told reporters Wednesday morning after delivering a speech at the City Club of Chicago.
The Illinois State Board of Elections is reviewing campaign finance reports filed by auditor general Frank Mautino while he was in the General Assembly.
The board probe was sparked by a complaint filed by Dave Cooke, a retired nuclear plant worker who lives in Streator. Cooke says that he filed his complaint earlier this month after reading media reports about campaign spending by Mautino, who reported spending more than $200,000 at a single service station, Happy’s Super Service, in less than 11 years for gas and car repairs while he was a state representative.
Many payments were made in round figures of $1,000 or more. Disclosure reports also show more than $250,000 paid to Spring Valley City Bank for poll watchers, parking, gasoline, travel expenses and other purposes that have nothing to do with banking. Most of the bank payments were in round figures, with the bank often receiving between $100 and $300 for purposes typically described as “Chicago meeting” sometimes accompanied by the words “gas” or “parking.”
Records also show that Patty Maunu, Mautino’s campaign treasurer, received $23,800 in a series of 16 payments, all in round figures, since 2013 for meeting expenses, without any details on how the money was spent aside from notations that no one vendor got more than $150. If a campaign gives more than $150 to an individual or entity in a quarterly reporting period, the name and address of the recipient must be disclosed.
“This is a gentleman who’s the auditor general of Illinois who’s going to be looking at accounting issues,” said Cooke, a Republican who once served on his local school board. “Frank’s been in office for 25 years. He didn’t know how to do this (file proper disclosure reports)? I don’t believe any of that. … He shouldn’t be just throwing money down the toilet and giving it to whoever.”
Tom Newman, director of the division of campaign disclosure at the State Board of Elections, said that he isn’t at liberty to discuss details of the board’s review.
“Based on the reporting that’s been done, you can guess the content of the complaint,” Newman said.
An Illinois House committee Monday will begin hearings on a new approach for dealing with the state’s crushing pension debt.
Under consideration will be plans that would allow workers at retirement to take pension benefits as a lump-sum cash payment and give up guaranteed pension payments for life.
For some workers, this could mean a payout of hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the same time, proponents say, it would help reduce Illinois’ crushing pension debt that now stands at $111 billion.
“I’m trying to find a constitutional way to save the state a whole bunch of money,” said Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, sponsor of one of the pension bills. “I call it a win-win scenario.”
But it’s also a scenario that needs some scrutiny and raises a lot of questions that lawmakers want to see answered.
The article is about two bills: HB4427, sponsored by Rep. Mark Batinick, with bipartisan co-sponsors; and HB5625, sponsored by Rep. Mike Fortner.
* Our resident pension expert RNUG took a look at both proposals…
Rich,
After reading Doug Finke’s very good Sunday SJ-R pension article, I made the time to read both bills. They are similar but also different.
HB4427 - Batinick
HB5625 - Fortner
Similarities:
Both only apply to NEW retirees.
Both require an irrevocable decision
Both eliminate survivor’s benefit completely (with one exception)
Both can’t be chosen if a QILDRO is in place (which protects a divorced spouse’s interest in a pension)
Both can’t be chosen if using the Reciprocal Act
Both retain any earned rights to Group Health insurance (apparent acknowledgement to Kanerva)
Both do NOT include the value of survivor’s benefits in calculating current value of the earned pension
Can’t repay if you go back to work later
Both let you fully cash out but …
Differences:
Where the cash comes from:
Fortner - either private partnership money (think something like JG Wentworth’s structured settlement buyouts) or possible state bond offering
Batinick - state money
How much you might get:
Fortner - whatever the private partner offers for the (unspecified formula) current value
Batinick - 75% of current value including expected AAI, reminder - in either case, survivor’s benefits are not figured into current value
Financial counseling:
Fortner - required
Batinick - none
Distribution options:
Fortner - “full” only
Batinick - “full” is 75% or you can choose less than “full” by percentage and get part cash-out and part pension (apparently with only a simple interest AAI) but the cash-out has to be a minimum of$50,000. Partial pension may include a survivor’s benefit on the reduced amount (language isn’t specific enough for me to be absolutely positive but I read it as including)
Return to work:
Fortner - silent presume start over from zero
Batinick - start over from zero but if partial reduction, said reduction also applies to any newly earned benefits
Summary:
Both aim to reduce the State’s Pension liability by paying the retiree less than the full current value and eliminating paying survivor’s benefits. Fortner farms the payout off on the private sector which could short the retiree more than the State may be shorting them, so expect less “savings” to the State, Batinick retains all the “savings” for the State.
My Opinion:
For 98% of retirees, these options will be a bad deal, especially if you have a spouse you want to provide a pension to should you die early.
There are some cases I can think of where a retiree MIGHT consider it. If both spouses work for the State, I could see the one with the smaller pension possibly cashing out but remember there are tax implications if the cash is not rolled into a traditional IRA. Or a deathly ill currently single person with very short life expectancy who wanted to leave something to their kids. But even both of those scenarios have some risk of outliving the cash.
Either bill could be amended before passage, which might change things. If either bill is passed and you were to consider it, get the best PAID financial advice you can BEFORE you sign anything.
McCann’s family moved out of a home in Carlinville, in the old 48th Senate District, and into one in Plainview, in the new 50th, where he won a four-year term in 2012. But there was still a homestead exemption being claimed on the home in Carlinville. That tax break, which takes $6,000 off the assessed value of the home for property tax purposes, is supposed to be for the taxpayer’s “principal dwelling place.”
John Bresnan, supervisor of assessments in Macoupin, said that tax rate last year was 7.7 percent. That would have meant savings of about $460 for the year in property taxes.
“The exemption issue was taken care of the minute that it came to my attention,” McCann said. “My Carlinville property is an investment and has been vacant for a full four years.”
Speaking for McCann’s campaign, spokesman GLENN HODAS said McCann “will be certain to pay any amounts due” because of the change.
The McCanns are not listed as owners of the house where they live, and there is no homestead exemption claimed there.
His property is an investment, but it’s been vacant for four years?
A name from the past has been leading the charge for Jason Gonzales’ Democratic primary campaign against Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Blair Hull, the hugely wealthy but unsuccessful 2004 Democratic candidate for US Senate, directly accounts for $100,000 of the $300,000 which the Illinois United for Change PAC has raised since late January (and maybe double that, because it’s unclear who controls a company responsible for another $100K). The independent expenditure committee has so far reported spending money only on Gonzales.
I was able to reach Hull through an intermediary to ask him why he decided to get involved against his fellow Democrat Madigan in the primary. He would only communicate by e-mail, and didn’t respond to a follow-up question.
Hull said he believes Gonzales gives the state “an opportunity for a fresh start,” and predicted his candidate, an entrepreneur who received an MBA from MIT, would be a “true statesmen” in the General Assembly.
Speaker Madigan, Hull said, “is not a team player.” Madigan “does not cooperate well with others,” and gave as an example Madigan’s lone refusal out of all 50 state party chairmen to work with the national party on sharing voter information. Madigan, Hull said, “wanted to control the voter file because he wanted to control who was elected in the state of Illinois.” He said his view was “amplified” when he discovered that Madigan opposed same day voter registration (although that is now state law with Madigan’s backing).
“This lack of cooperation and team work has led to the dismal condition of our state today,” Hull claimed. “I believe the state of Illinois and the legislature would be improved significantly without Michael Madigan.”
And with that, he politely signed off, saying he hoped what he said was helpful and looked forward to “speaking with you after March 16th.” So, that’s that until after the March 15th primary, I suppose.
So far, Illinois United for Change has sent three mailers which have all said positive stuff about Gonzales. It’s widely expected that the group will go negative on Madigan soon, perhaps even by the time you read this.
Is it possible that Madigan could actually lose? Well, the Speaker appears to be working his district like that very thing could happen, which means he’s leaving no stone unturned. His own polling reportedly shows him ahead by a 6-1 margin, but everybody is operating under the assumption that respondents may not be telling the truth.
Madigan has unleashed the hounds on Gonzales, dredging up some long ago arrests and a felony conviction and even finding a letter from Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez that strongly argued against a gubernatorial pardon, which Gonzales eventually received. Gonzales’ campaign originally claimed Madigan had “lied” and the Alvarez quote was “faked,” but relented when I showed them the actual letter.
Four years ago, Madigan was challenged by another Latino candidate who was trumpeted by some in the media as a possible winner because his district is dominated by Latino-Americans. Madigan ended up winning that race by a huge margin. Gonzales is different, though, because the Latino candidate has far more money than anybody has ever had against Madigan.
Madigan received 9,860 votes in his contested 2012 Democratic primary out of 13,021 votes cast. His own 13th Ward accounted for 6,464 of those Madigan votes, out of 7,870 cast.
Madigan’s massive political organization backed Mayor Rahm Emanuel last year, and in the runoff Emanuel received 56 percent in Madigan’s 13th Ward to Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia’s 44 percent, which clearly shows that the ward’s Latino voters can be convinced to vote for a white incumbent against a credible Latino opponent. And the liberal Garcia is now supporting Madigan, which should help.
Much of Gonzales’ money is coming from folks who backed Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign, including Hull, who told the Sun-Times in 2014 that he contributed to Rauner because “I admire wealthy people who want to serve… People who are wealthy can really do what they believe, they can push for the right reforms.”
Gov. Rauner is horribly unpopular in Chicago and among suburban Democrats, so it’s difficult to see how Gonzales can pull this off if Madigan continues the attack by tying Gonzales to the Republican governor. It’s not a huge stretch to suggest, for some Democrats, that’s almost as bad as a felony conviction – and maybe worse in some households.
I suppose stranger things have happened, though, which is what is pushing Madigan so hard.
