Reform and renewal
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Way back in the early 1990s, I worked for Hannah Information Service. It was essentially a private LIS with “modern” features and additions.
In those days, the General Assembly’s LIS was a dial-up bulletin board system open 8 hours a day, five days a week. You had to consult a thick book and then enter long “libsynch” codes to pull up any information. It was truly a pain in the posterior and very inconvenient.
Hannah, a Michigan company, created a menu-driven system and kept it “live” 24/7. The company downloaded all of the info from LIS, made it much easier to read and resold it. I can still remember the day when we finally convinced LIS to install a 9600 baud modem, which we paid for.
This was pre “mouse,” so while there were no libsynch codes, you had to enter digits helpfully displayed on your screen to navigate to what you needed. For those days, it was easy-peasy.
I wrote the daily “Hannah Report” back then and also managed our team of committee reporters.
The committee reporters would take notes on all debates and record the roll calls. Committee roll calls were not publicly available in those days and lots of legislators were very upset that we were recording their votes. Actually, “upset” is not he word. They were furious, and there were multiple attempts to shut us down, particularly after my column got a whole lot more pointed.
* Anyway, I told you that story to give you some background about how important this seemingly innocuous development is…
The Illinois House Clerk is making committee roll call votes available soon to folks who visit the Illinois General Assembly’s website.
“This is a positive step toward greater transparency,” said longtime Statehouse observer Mike Lawrence. “It will help shift the focus of political discourse from rhetoric to records.”
I can’t believe it’s taken this long to get those official records online. The Senate has not yet followed suit…
Senate Secretary Tim Anderson said his chamber is not yet ready to begin publishing committee roll calls online. He added the chamber is experimenting with transmitting more committee data electronically and may post online committee roll calls in the future.
It should be done.
Back when I was at Hannah, I was once threatened with arrest for grabbing a paper copy of a Senate amendment which had not yet been voted on by a committee. The amendments were supposed to be “secret.” But they were only secret to the non-insider public. They’re now all online.
About a dozen years ago I came up with a business idea of transmitting House and Senate floor debate live on the Internet. I was blocked from doing that. But now you can even get House committee live streams online.
Progress here is slow. And not always sure.
* I always try to maintain a healthy skepticism on ethics reform attempts because so many have not produced the intended results. Other reporters often treat reformers like gods. But those alleged gods often don’t know the first thing about what they’re trying to reform.
But this doesn’t look like a bad idea at all. From a press release…
Lt. Governor Sheila Simon joined State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) [last week] to introduce ethics reform legislation that will overhaul the much-maligned financial disclosure forms filed by tens of thousands of public servants each year.
The bill proposes a new disclosure form – known as a Statement of Economic Interests – that would require filers to list outside sources of income, lobbyist relationships and loans made or accepted on terms not available to the general public, for the first time. It also closes loopholes that allowed filers to answer “not applicable” to almost all of the questions on the current version of the form introduced 40 years ago.
Simon said the goal of the new form is to help Illinois residents determine if elected officials, high-ranking employees and candidates hold any conflicts of interest. The new form will also be easier for filers to complete thanks to the plain-language questions, definitions of terms and obvious connections to information found on tax returns and investment statements.
“At over 40-years-old, it’s time our financial disclosure forms get a facelift,” Simon said. “This legislation is about making our Statement of Economic Interests more understandable for the people who fill them out, and making them more transparent for those who want to get information from them.”
* From the News-Gazette…
In a stunning statistic released by Simon’s office, it was revealed “none” or “not applicable” was the response to 75 percent of the answers to the questions on state forms. Simon said that the same answers were given 85 percent of the time in Cook County.
In other words, the disclosure forms don’t disclose much, if anything, either because the questions are so vague as to be easily avoided or people filling the forms out do not fear being held accountable for their misstatements.
That’s not unlike judicial disclosure forms. Judges are required to fill out reports detailing their outside income and reveal any possible conflicts of interest or violations of rules of judicial conduct. But no one checks the forms.
What Simon and Kotowski propose is a much more thorough set of questions that would seek information on officials’ outside employment, relationships with lobbyists and more exact details about the type and size of investments people hold.
It’s hard to determine possible conflicts of interest if you don’t know what interests could be in conflict. More complete disclosure would make a huge difference.
The bill is here.
* And a southern Illinois hiring scandal comes to an end with a small fine…
A former top state transportation employee has been fined $4,000 in connection with a summer job hiring scandal at the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Danny Clayton, who was removed from his $102,000 post as assistant regional engineer in the agency’s District 9 Carbondale office nearly two years ago, was found by the state’s executive ethics commission to have violated state ethics law.
At issue were allegations that Clayton tampered with tests used to grade potential employees of a 2009 summer jobs program. Investigators suggested Clayton may have altered scores or asked applicants to take tests a second time to boost their results.
Clayton also was found to have attempted to convince a co-worker to lie about the scandal to investigators.
That employee, Michael Bigler, blew the whistle on Clayton and told investigators he was being pressured by Clayton to cover up the tampering.
One can only now wonder if the executive commission will go after Gov. Pat Quinn for that ridiculous youth “jobs” program up north.
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Poll: Durbin doing well
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The latest from Public Policy Polling…
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Dick
Durbin’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 51%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q2 Generally speaking, in 2014, if the Democratic
candidate for Senate was Dick Durbin, would
you vote for him or his Republican opponent?
Dick Durbin …………………………………………….. 52%
Republican opponent ……………………………….. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
* From the pollster…
Durbin is in such good shape because 20% of Republicans support his work in the Senate, and 13% of them say they will probably vote for him in two years. Independents are split right down the middle on both fronts, including 42-42 on the re-elect.
Faced with actual opponents, Durbin does even better, though slightly more Republicans and independents are undecided than Democrats. Outgoing Rep. Bob Dold comes closest to matching the ideal Republican’s standing, with a 21-point deficit (54-33). Failed 2010 Tea Party contender Patrick Hughes is down 22 (53-31), and retiring Rep. Joe Walsh lags by 25 (54-29).
In all three actual head-to-heads, Durbin maintains the same 13% of the GOP’s support, and outdoes his 82% level with his own party by two or three points. The main difference is with independents. He jumps up two to five points with them for leads of nine points over Dold and Hughes and 18 over Walsh.
Granted, Hughes is a complete unknown—88% have no opinion of him, so he is truly generic. Still only 46% have an opinion on Walsh (14% favorable and 32% unfavorable), and 49% on Dold (21-28). So they stand more to gain than Durbin does. But when name recognition is equalized at this point, Durbin’s advantage actually increases to leads of 25 to 35 points, so combined with his strength and the Republicans’ relative unpopularity, he is unlikely to get much if any more vulnerable.
Barring unforeseen circumstances and/or a solid candidate, agreed.
* More results…
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bob Dold?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 21%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 52%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Patrick Hughes?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 4%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 88%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Joe Walsh?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 14%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 55%
Q6 If the candidates for Senate in 2014 were
Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Bob
Dold, who would you vote for?
Dick Durbin …………………………………………….. 54%
Bob Dold………………………………………………… 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q7 If the candidates for Senate in 2014 were
Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Patrick
Hughes, who would you vote for?
Dick Durbin …………………………………………….. 53%
Patrick Hughes ……………………………………….. 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q8 If the candidates for Senate in 2014 were
Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Joe
Walsh, who would you vote for?
Dick Durbin …………………………………………….. 54%
Joe Walsh………………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
* Methodology…
PPP surveyed 500 Illinois voters from November 26th to 28th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Crosstabs are here.
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STOP THE SATELLITE TV TAX!
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The cable industry is asking lawmakers to place a NEW 5% tax on satellite TV service. HB 5440 is not about fairness, equity or parity – it’s a tax increase on the 1.3 million Illinois families and businesses who subscribe to satellite TV. They cannot afford another NEW tax – not now and not in this economy!
HB 5440 Will Hurt Illinois Families and Small Businesses
• Satellite TV subscribers will see their monthly bills go up 5%.
• This tax will impact every bar, restaurant and hotel that subscribes to satellite TV service, which will translate into higher prices, decreased revenues, and fewer jobs.
• Rural Illinois has no choice: In many parts of Illinois, cable refuses to provide TV service to rural communities. Satellite TV is their only option.
HB 5440 Is Not About Parity or Fairness
• Cable’s claim that this discriminatory tax is justified because satellite TV doesn’t pay local franchise fees could not be further from the truth. Cable pays those fees to local towns and cities in exchange for the right to bury cables in the public rights of way—a right that Comcast and Charter value in the tens of billions of dollars in their SEC filings.
• Satellite companies don’t pay franchise fees for one simple reason: We use satellites—unlike cable, we don’t need to dig up streets and sidewalks to deliver our TV service.
• Making satellite subscribers pay franchise fees—or, in this case, an equivalent amount in taxes—would be like taxing the air It’s no different than making airline passengers pay a fee for laying railroad tracks.
Tell Your Lawmakers to Stop The Satellite TV Tax
Vote NO on HB 5440
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HB 5440: Close the Loophole and Update Illinois
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
In Illinois, we all can see the budget outlook is bleak. Among many shortages, our state is facing a crisis in education that is threatening to leave a $200 million shortfall for Illinois students and educators.
Yet, a serious regulatory imbalance exists in Illinois: satellite TV operators – who represent a third of the video provider market – pay no service fees to support our communities or state. House Bill 5440 targets this loophole to provide much needed revenue for where we need it the most: education. Twelve other states have modernized their laws and successfully closed similar tax loopholes on satellite providers. In turn, they have worked towards more balanced government budgets.
By closing off this loophole, HB 5440 would generate up to $75 million in additional revenue for education in Illinois.
Springfield: Close the satellite loophole and support our students. Vote YES on HB 5440! To learn more and make your voice heard, visit www.YesOn5440.com.
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Alvarez questions
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Near the end of Mark Brown’s excellent column on the indictment of Mayor Daley’s nephew Richard Vanecko in the 2004 death of David Koschman is this…
Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez — who was a top deputy to her predecessor, Dick Devine, when the original decision was made to give Vanecko a pass — fought to prevent the appointment of a special prosecutor by denigrating the evidence against him. That was a mistake.
Alvarez was Devine’s chief of staff.
* Here’s what Alvarez said when she fought an appointment of a special prosecutor…
“I don’t see any evidence — despite the theories of the journalists who are writing about this case — of a grand conspiracy here either by the police or any prosecutor.”
But Cook County Circuit Judge Michael P. Toomin cited missing records in both the police and prosecutors’ files and the “fiction of self-defense… conjured up by police and prosecutors” when he decided to appoint a special prosecutor. For example…
Questions remain as to how the file for the Koschman case, in which David Koschman was killed by a punch thrown by Daley relative Richerd “R.J.” Vanecko seven years ago, disappeared from the State’s Attorney’s office when it was headed by Alvarez’s former boss and mentor, Dick Devine.
* This is Alvarez’s current explanation for blocking an inspector general’s investigation of her office…
The Sun-Times reported back in March that Alvarez blocked a county inspector from investigating how her office handled the case and why paperwork in the case went missing. Her press secretary cited “protocol” as the reason the request was blocked.
Alvarez now says she commissioned Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson. “Now I’m free to say, which I was not able to say eight months ago, was that we opened up a grand jury investigating this case.”
* But that wasn’t what she said when she sent the case to the Illinois State Police…
[Alvarez] said her office can’t examine the police investigation because her staff has been involved from the start, determining in 2004 there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Vanecko.
* The timing of her State Police decision looked suspect from the start…
Days before Alvarez sought the State Police investigation, City of Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson had begun a separate probe of Koschman’s death and the way police handled it.
The day after Alvarez asked the State Police to investigate, her chief deputy, Hiram Grau, was appointed State Police director, effective April 11. Grau had been a Chicago Police deputy superintendent who supervised detectives at the time Koschman died.
The state cops eventually said they wouldn’t investigate.
* And then there was this…
A Cook County judge ruled Wednesday that State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez must turn over transcripts of six witness interviews related to the investigation of the 2004 death of David Koschman to attorneys representing Koschman’s mother, Nanci.
Alvarez has long contended turning over the interview transcripts would “would disrupt the ongoing criminal investigation” by her office and the office of City Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, “and further undermine an already-dim prospect of any future criminal prosecution.”
In his ruling, Judge Michael P. Toomin, said since Alvarez quoted the interviews in a court filing where she objected to having a special prosecutor in the Koschman case, he disagreed with her position. The Sun-Times reports Alvarez has turned over those transcripts to Ferguson’s office. Nanci Koschman’s lawyers said they need to review the transcripts to respond to Alvarez’s objections to a special prosecutor.
* But this is the same Anita Alvarez who went way overboard when she prosecuted a defense lawyer for a common act…
A lawyer on trial on charges she let a suspect in the slaying of a Chicago police officer use her cell phone in an interrogation room testified today she had no intention of obstructing the investigation and didn’t know it was against the law to bring the phone with her. […]
Vuckovic’s attorney, Leonard Goodman, told jurors no signs were posted at the headquarters prohibiting cellphones in the interrogation room.
The charges sparked controversy among criminal-defense lawyers who said they routinely bring their cellphones into police interview rooms and sometimes let clients make calls. Some veteran attorneys said they could not remember a similar case ever being pursued by police.
Vuckovic was eventually found not guilty.
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Is this all you got?
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Carol Marin writes about state Rep. LaShawn Ford, who was indicted last week on 17 counts of bank fraud and submitting false information to a bank. Each count carries a maximum 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Marin thinks this is a bit much…
The charge against Ford, according to one former fed I spoke to, is a relatively ordinary case that might not have made it into the top drawer of a prosecutor except that it involved a politician. […]
Moreover, can we talk just a second about the Department of Justice’s sense of proportionality?
President Barack Obama’s Department of Justice has done virtually nothing to hold Big Banks or Wall Street’s feet to the fire for the crash they caused. Too big to fail, DOJ hasn’t had the cojones to send them to jail.
But if Ford, whose own business foundered in the crash, is found guilty, he’s not looking at fines or penalties like some lucky billionaire bankers. He’s looking at prison time.
The assistant U.S. attorneys prosecuting Ford, Greg Deis and William Ridgway, have reputations for excellence and honor, but the decision to prosecute Ford was made at a higher pay grade than theirs.
And, by the way, did no executive at the failed ShoreBank have any knowledge of what Ford now stands accused?
So let me ask this again.
Is this the best the feds can do?
I agree. Repackage utterly worthless mortgages into AAA-rated securities and crash the entire world’s economy and smugly walk around free as a bird. Allegedly lie to a bank to get a bigger loan to rehab properties in a lousy West Side neighborhood and you’re looking at 510 years behind bars and $17 million in fines.
* To be clear, if Ford broke the law he broke the law. Tough luck for him. But it’s difficult these days not to think that we have two versions of criminal justice in this country: One for the super-wealthy untouchables who ruined the world’s financial system, and one for everybody else.
It’s not that Ford shouldn’t have been indicted. It’s just that I’d like to see the US Department of Justice use the same hardball tactics to round up some of the truly dangerous people in New York.
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Tamms has more guards than prisoners
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* What the heck?…
Tamms has 208 guards and supervisors in its maximum-security unit, or C-max, to handle 138 prisoners, for a security-staff-to-inmate ratio of 1.5-to-1. At Alcatraz in the 1940s, the ratio was 1-to-3, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tamms security staff also clocked at least $884,000 in overtime since about this time last year, according to state payroll records for a one-year period ending Nov. 12. Overtime was accrued despite the fact that inmates in the solitary confinement supermax unit are held in their cells 23 hours a day and have no contact with other prisoners. […]
At the current 138 C-max inmate population level, it costs aproximately $85,000 just to guard one maximum-security prisoner per year excluding overtime… Most Illinois prisons have a per-inmate annual cost of between $15,000 and $24,000. It costs about $26.3 million per year to operate both units at Tamms, according to IDOC.
Sheesh.
They can’t move any more inmates out and close the prison because a southern Illinois judge has halted the transfers after AFSCME sued. So, we have 208 people guarding 138 inmates, and yet they’re still getting lots of overtime pay.
* And get a load of this…
In addition, there are 16 food supervisors earning an average of $71,600 a year working at Tamms. That’s the same number of food supervisors as at the Pontiac Correctional Center, which houses around 1,700 maximum- and medium-security inmates. […]
Meal preparation at Tamms consists mostly of food that is not cooked on the premises but comes in cans or packages from a Florida wholesaler, according to surveys by a prisoner advocacy group.
Laurie Jo Reynolds, head of the Tamms Year Ten Committee that has long opposed the solitary-only prison on humanitarian grounds, criticized the isolation that extends even to education at Tamms, where instructors conduct GED classes through the mail.
“Welcome to the AFSCME prison state: 16 food supervisors microwave packaged meals, two full-time GED instructors see no students, and 13 nurses” monitor men on suicide watch due to sensory deprivation,” she said. “Meanwhile, the full security staff guards a two-thirds empty prison.”
Unreal.
Just unreal.
The Senate overrode Gov. Pat Quinn’s budgetary vetoes last week, including cuts that would’ve led to the closure of Tamms. These new numbers ought to be seriously considered by House members this week before they take up the issue.
Look, Alexander County needs those prison jobs. No doubt about it. The place is one of the poorest regions of the state. Area legislators have done a commendable job to keep it open and I wish some sort of compromise could’ve been found. Maybe something still might be done. But, for now anyway, this has become a huge waste of money.
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Question of the day - Golden Horseshoes
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s time once again to start handing out awards, which have become highly coveted over the years.
Remember to always keep in mind that I judge your entries based on the intensity of your comments, not necessarily on the number of votes. So, if you don’t explain your vote, you’re actually hurting your nominee.
* First up, social staff…
* Best Statehouse-area bartender
* Best Statehouse-area waiter/waitress
Again, remember to explain your nominations and please try to nominate in both categories. Thanks.
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Start thinking!
Monday, Dec 3, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Golden Horseshoe Awards are coming soon, so start thinking about nominees. Here is last year’s list to get your mental juices flowing…
* The Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter: Steve Schnorf (Oswego Willy and Michelle Flaherty)
* The Mike McClain Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statehouse Insider: Mike Kasper (Dave Sullivan)
* Best Contract Lobbyist: Neil Flynn (Todd Vandermyde)
* Best In-House Lobbyist: Scott Humbard (Rob Karr)
* Best “Do-Gooder” Lobbyist: Jeremy Schroeder (Mary Dixon)
* Best Statewide Officeholder: Secretary of State Jesse White (Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka)
* Best Illinois Congresscritter: US Sen. Dick Durbin (US Rep. Peter Roskam)
* Best State Agency Director: Catherine Shannon (Malcolm Weems)
* Best chief of staff: Tim Mapes (Andy Manar)
* The Platinum Lifetime Service award for the General Assembly: Rep. Mark Beaubien
* Best Illinois State Senator - Republican: Sen. John Millner (Sen. Matt Murphy)
* Best Illinois State Senator - Democrat: Sen. John Sullivan (Sen. Kimberly Lightford)
* Best Illinois State Representative - Republican: Rep. Skip Saviano (Rep. Ed Sullivan)
* Best Illinois State Representative - Democrat: Rep. John Bradley and Rep. Frank Mautino (tie)
* The Steve Brown Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Government Spokesperson: Mica Matsoff (Kelly Kraft)
* Best legislative campaign staff director: Will Cousineau (All other staff directors tied for runner-up)
* Best campaign staffer - Illinois House Democrats: Tom Wogan (Kristen Bauer)
* Best campaign staffer - Illinois House Republicans: Nick Bellini (Mike Mahoney)
* Best campaign staffer - Senate Democrats: Noe Chaimongkol (Bryen Johnson)
* Best campaign staffer - Senate Republicans: Jo Johnson (Ryan Cudney)
* Best State Legislative Staffer - Non Political: Adam Margolin and Matt Paprocki (tie)
* The Beth Hamilton Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Secretary/Admin. Assistant: Kristin Milligan (Sally Smith)
* Best Senate Secretary/Admin. Assistant: Bunny Fourez (Selena Gorman)
* Best Local Government Official - Chicago/Cook County: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (Mayor Rahm Emanuel)
* Best Local Government Official - Collar Counties: Will County Executive Larry Walsh (DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin)
* Best Local Government Official - Downstate: Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten (Savanna Police Chief Michael Moon)
* Best political bar in Springfield: Sangamo Club (JP Kelly’s)
* Best political restaurant in Springfield: Ross Isaac’s (Sebastian’s Hideout)
* Best Springfield hotel: The State House Inn (Abe Lincoln)
* Best place for lunch near the Statehouse: Cafe Moxo (Holy Land Diner)
* Best bartender: Kathleen at the Globe (Adam at the No Name Bar)
* Best waiter/waitress: Rhonda Merritt at Sportsman’s (Carl at Augie’s)
Should we add any categories? Maybe delete some? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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Question of the day
Monday, Dec 3, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The AP reports that Leader Cross isn’t yet ready to take action against indicted state Rep. LaShawn Ford…
The top Republican in the Illinois House says it’s too early to make a recommendation on whether the Legislature should take action on the indictment of a state representative on federal bank fraud charges.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross calls the charges “very serious and very troubling” but says lawmakers need more information.
* And neither is Rep. Sacia…
Derrick Smith, who maintains his innocence, was arrested earlier for allegedly taking a bribe and kicked out of the House.
“I see them as two very, very different issues,” said Republican State Rep. Jim Sacia, who helped lead the charge to oust Smith because the alleged bribe had to do with his official duties as a representative.
But Sacia said Ford’s accusations do not involve his official office responsibilities, so he’s not calling for his resignation.
Sacia, a former FBI agent, filed the original House charges against then-Rep. Smith.
* The Question: Do you agree with Rep. Sacia that since Rep. Ford’s indictment didn’t include his official responsibilities that the House should not vote to expel Ford? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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Today’s number: $80 billion
Monday, Dec 3, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the New York Times…
A Times investigation has examined and tallied thousands of local incentives granted nationwide and has found that states, counties and cities are giving up more than $80 billion each year to companies. The beneficiaries come from virtually every corner of the corporate world, encompassing oil and coal conglomerates, technology and entertainment companies, banks and big-box retail chains.
The cost of the awards is certainly far higher. A full accounting, The Times discovered, is not possible because the incentives are granted by thousands of government agencies and officials, and many do not know the value of all their awards. Nor do they know if the money was worth it because they rarely track how many jobs are created. Even where officials do track incentives, they acknowledge that it is impossible to know whether the jobs would have been created without the aid.
Oy.
* More…
Caterpillar has received more than $196 million in local aid nationwide since 2007, though it has chastised states, particularly its home base, Illinois, for not being business-friendly. This year, Caterpillar announced a new plant in Georgia, which offered $44 million in incentives. Local counties chipped in free land and other aid, including $15 million in tax breaks and $8.2 million in road, water and sewer repairs.
The company, whose profits are soaring, recently froze workers’ pay for six years at several locations, arguing that it needed to remain competitive. A spokesman for the company, Jim Dugan, said it employed more than 50,000 people and invested billions of dollars nationwide.
Yes, the company has invested lots of money. But now maybe some of you understand why Senate President John Cullerton wants publicly traded corporations to disclose their state income tax payments.
* And if you still don’t, there’s this from the NYT’s database…
Notice that almost a quarter of those incentives go to agriculture. Farmers can’t exactly leave.
Also notice that the incentives are higher than the amount of revenue generated by last year’s corporate income tax hike.
* But as much money as we’re paying, check out the far higher per capita rate in Indiana…
Wisconsin’s is even higher…
It’s a function of the game. When your neighbors are doing it, you have to try and keep up.
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* From Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s campaign website…
* The Tribune noticed…
Rutherford, 57, of Chenoa, said the use of his web site, Facebook and Twitter was not a formal announcement.
“I’ve had a lot of people say you ought to be in. And if people want to sign up and show their support, that would help me evaluate,” Rutherford said. “It was posted on a Sunday morning, but within nine minutes on a Sunday morning, 40 people signed up.”
Rutherford said that after hard-fought contests for president, Congress and the state legislature last month, he believed Illinois citizens aren’t ready for another campaign to begin. Instead, he indicated any formal announcement would occur after the Jan. 21 presidential inaugural festivities in Washington.
* As always, Rutherford is actively participating in the online discussion. For example, under a Facebook photo he posted of the Naperville Area Republican Women Organization holiday party we see this comment…
Who was the one person to “like” the comment? Well, of course you already know…
* And he’s been retweeting positive messages…
* Also, I just can’t help myself. I have to post this recent Rutherford Facebook photo…
The Treasurer’s caption…
Tide Stick got me through the spot on the tie today, but later that night I knew the spot was still there. I had to go at it again. Have you ever spotted and needed to Tide?
Your caption?
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A ridiculous waste of precious money
Monday, Dec 3, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I spent part of my teens living on a military base in Germany. My mom joined the US Department of Defense Civil Service when I was 13 and my dad joined later.
Back then, the military created a bunch of make-work summer jobs for teenagers. We were paid a couple of bucks an hour to do whatever we were told. Sometimes that wasn’t very much. Sometimes it was a bit dangerous.
One summer, we spent a week unloading truckloads of ammunition boxes, punching holes in them to drain the water, flattening them and then putting them back on trucks to be hauled away. My best friend at the time, Ralph Armenta, was hurt when somebody hit his hand with a hammer as he was passing an ammo box down a table.
But, usually, we were detailed to do mindless office work or other stuff they made up to keep us at least somewhat busy and put a few dollars into our pockets.
The idea was to make sure there weren’t roving groups of bored, unemployed teenagers on the bases. Most of us either didn’t qualify for jobs “on the economy” (in German businesses) so we literally had nothing else to do.
I learned some valuable lessons from that experience. First, it’s a good idea to make sure that teens are given something to do. Second, never, EVER work for the Department of Defense.
* So, I get the premise of this initiative by Gov. Pat Quinn, perhaps too well…
On a chilly afternoon this fall, teenagers across Chicago’s South Side were busy at work, earning $8.75 an hour to hand out fliers with a message of non-violence.
“Our message that we’re giving out today is about being healthy,” said 18-year-old Lucia Eloisa. “One of the key pointers is about taking time to reflect and seek inner peace.”
Eloisa’s part-time job was paid for by an ambitious state-funded program to keep at-risk teenagers out of trouble. It pumped nearly $55 million into Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods and three of its suburbs to stem unrelenting gang violence.
A four-month CNN investigation found that not only did the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI) pay teens to hand out fliers promoting inner peace, it also paid these at-risk teens to take field trips to museums, march in a parade with the governor, and even attend a yoga class to learn how to handle stress.
Wait. Kids got paid to attend a yoga class?
Look, yoga might actually help kids in crime-ridden areas. They could learn to relax and deal with stress. Setting up a yoga program could be a good idea. But paying the kids to take the class? What?
* The parade bothers me the most, however…
The NRI also paid teens from the Better Boys Foundation to march in the 82nd Annual Bud Billiken Parade on August 13, 2011, with Quinn, according to records and video of the parade.
“Their job was promoting positive messages, etc., which is what the parade is about,” a spokesman for Quinn said.
Sheesh.
* Apparently, too much money was simply spent too fast without giving anything much thought…
Examples of the apparent misuse of the program’s money don’t surprise Mike Shaver, whose organization, Chicago Children’s Home and Aid, received $2.1 million for its role as a lead agency for the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.
He and others say the initiative was just too big, and providers were not equipped to evaluate which programs were working and which were not.
“We weren’t able to get enough information about what was going on in our own program to understand whether we were having the desired impact,” said Shaver.
* And the timing was questionable…
In October 2010 — less than a month before the gubernatorial election — Quinn announced his Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, which he said would “take on the root causes of violence” in Chicago and across Illinois by creating “about 3,000 part time and permanent jobs for young people so they have a positive way to go.”
“And we mean business,” Quinn said at the October 6 news conference. “We really understand how important this is.”
Quinn’s political opponents have questioned the timing of his announcement.
“I mean, we’re in a budget crisis,” said Illinois state Sen. Matt Murphy, spokesman for the Republican state appropriations committee. “We were back then. We have since been in a violence crisis in Chicago, and you look at this, and you say for political purposes, you’re taking precious and limited taxpayer dollars and spending them on political purposes rather than solving the violence problem in the city of Chicago. And it was wrong.”
* So far, $55 million has been spent on the governor’s “initiative,” which is about the same amount of money Quinn vetoed from the Department of Corrections’ budget. Quinn said he wanted to use that cash to fund DCFS programs. But maybe he could’ve used that anti-violence money instead.
I mean, which is more important, funding much-needed DCFS programs or paying kids to take yoga classes and march with the governor in a parade?
Priorities, please.
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A “down payment” on the future
Monday, Dec 3, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Five years ago, most Illinois House Republicans, including House GOP Leader Tom Cross, of Oswego, voted against a bill which would’ve allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain state driver’s licenses.
The conservative rhetoric against the legislation was very harsh. Even so, it was approved by the House but was never called for a floor vote in the state Senate.
Back then, the legislation was seen as political suicide by many Republicans fearful of a backlash within their own party. But since November’s election results showed a heavy Latino turnout which may have swayed several races in favor of the Democrats, Republicans have suddenly become far more interested. Leader Cross, for instance, called the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights the day after the election, offering to work with the group. The ICIRR now considers the drivers license bill will be a “down payment” on whether the parties want to make a “good faith effort” to work with it in the future. And Cross is supporting it.
The ICIRR used a not-for-profit group and a political action committee to play in several districts. It claims it hired 18 field coordinators, registered over 26,000 immigrants to vote, raised almost three quarters of a million dollars and fielded over 1,800 election day volunteers, many of them concentrated in the suburbs
One of the ICIRR’s top priorities this year was defeating state Sen. Carole Pankau (R-Itasca). Pankau has been demanding for years that the children of undocumented immigrants be removed from the state’s All Kids health insurance program. The ICIRR claims it contacted 3,600 immigrants in her district and had staff assigned to defeat her. She lost by less than 2,000 votes.
Another target was the 55th Illinois House District, a suburban Cook County district which has been in Republican hands forever. Voter registration, door-to-door canvassing, direct mail and phone calls helped Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) defeat conservative Republican Susan Sweeney.
Yet another target was state Rep. Sandy Cole (R-Grayslake). The ICIRR contacted over 6,000 voters in her district, which has over 9,000 Latinos. Democrat Sam Yingling won by a little over 4,000 votes.
Not every race won by Democrats was due to the Latino vote. President Obama’s big win in his home state most certainly propelled several Democratic candidates to victory. The House and Senate Democrats also outspent the Republicans and generally outmaneuvered them. In some cases, the Democrats simply had better candidates than the Republicans did.
But the importance of that Latino vote cannot be underestimated because it was so large and so unexpected by just about everybody, except maybe the folks at ICIRR.
Latino turnout, as measured by a percentage of election day voters, jumped by 50 percent in the past four years, from 8 percent of turnout to 12 percent, according to exit polling data. The national climate most certainly inspired some of that turnout boost, with Latinos and other immigrants (including Asian-Americans) feeling besieged by the Republican Party.
But ICIRR believes the turnout numbers are sustainable over the long term, and points to explosive growth in the Latino population to buttress its case.
Just in Illinois, 70,000 Latinos are expected to turn 18 every year for the foreseeable future. “We are past the tipping point,” crowed one ICIRR official yesterday. According to the group, 350,000 legal permanent residents have become US citizens in Illinois in the past ten years. ICIRR has helped over 70,000 of them with the paperwork and filings.
The group has been working closely with Senate President John Cullerton on its drivers license bill and it has received assistance from some unlikely corners, including Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who has in the past been vilified by immigration activists for his hardline stance against illegal immigrants. Curran recently came out in favor of the drivers license bill because, he said, it’s a public safety matter that would mean training and insurance for drivers who don’t currently get either. Lake County is now over 20 percent Latino. Even hard-liners can read a Census report.
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno supported the bill last time around, and members of her caucus worked with the Senate Democrats last week to amend it. Sen. Bill Brady, a conservative Republican who ran for governor in 2010, now supports the bill. As I write this, the proposal appears to be heading for passage.
Your thoughts?
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The labor beat
Friday, Nov 30, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Illinois Federation of Teachers’ website…
Rumor Mill: Lame Duck Lawmakers Could Vote to Remove Workers from Union Rolls in January
For the past couple of years, Governor Quinn has pushed for the legislature to pass legislation ending the hard-fought rights of many state employees to join a union. Quinn’s battle with public employee unions has boiled over in the past few weeks with the governor announcing an end to extensions to collective bargaining agreements during a drawn-out contract negotiations process. But, it seems the governor is rekindling his effort to pass SB1556, which removes potentially thousands of workers from their unions.
The measure impacts hundreds of the IFT public employees who work throughout state government – including the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office and other executive-level agencies.
It is rumored that Illinois Senate leaders will put SB1556 up for a vote during the lame duck session in January, before new lawmakers are sworn into office. The IFT is joining our union allies to fight against this anti-worker power grab. Be watchful for more to come on this issue.
* From AFSCME’s website…
IEA president Cinda Klickna “called for Gov. Quinn to end his assault on the 40,000 state employees represented by AFSCME”:
Governor Quinn’s decision to terminate the state’s contract with its largest employee union, AFSCME, is an attack on both the collective bargaining process and on all unionized public employees in Illinois.
The AFSCME employees provide health services to the sick, the elderly and to children. These hard-working men and women help ensure public safety and enhance the quality of life for all Illinoisans and deserve better than this assault from the state’s chief executive.
On behalf of the 133,000 IEA members, we urge Governor Quinn to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract with AFSCME.
IFT president Dan Montgomery also “urged Quinn to return to the bargaining table”:
Governor Quinn’s actions to terminate Illinois’ contract with tens of thousands of unionized state employees is not only offensive to those of us in organized labor, it is also a sign of disrespect for middle class, working families throughout the state.
The fact is, public service professionals – whether they be teachers, police officers, social workers or correctional officers – dutifully perform their jobs to ensure that government works for the citizens. Discarding the collective bargaining process, especially in the manner that the governor has, is offensive and unnecessary.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, I urge Governor Quinn to reconsider his decision – a decision that inflicts unnecessary harm to thousands of Illinois workers and their families. Furthermore, I encourage the governor to quickly return to the collective bargaining table with a reasoned set of ideas to finish one of the tasks his job requires – a fair contract for AFSCME and the citizens of Illinois.
The Chicago Teachers Union has issued the following statement in support of AFSCME members in state government:
The Chicago Teachers Union stands in solidarity with AFSCME Council 31 in its effort to bargain a fair contract. Although Governor Quinn has recently supported Chicago teachers in opposing the overemphasis on standardized tests in our classrooms and the proliferation of non-union charter schools, we cannot abide his treatment of our brothers and sisters in AFSCME.
The Governor’s unprecedented action to terminate its contract with AFSCME was unnecessary and damaging to the bargaining process. We encourage Governor Quinn to avoid the potential disruption that termination might bring, reinstitute the current agreement, get back to the table and come to a fair settlement.
* Sun-Times…
Two of organized labor’s biggest guns in Illinois took aim at Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday, calling on him to rescind his decision to terminate the contract that applies to about 40,000 state employees.
“We cannot understand why our governor, who has stood with organized labor in the past, would be so eager to undermine our brothers and sisters,” said Jorge Ramirez, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor.
Ramirez was joined in calling out Quinn by Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan.
“State employees are on the frontlines every day preserving public safety, safeguarding children and assisting families, caring for aging veterans, responding to disasters, and protecting our environment,” Carrigan said in a prepared statement.
“Gov. Quinn’s effort to undermine their collective bargaining rights is unwarranted and virtually unprecedented in Illinois government,” Carrigan said.
* And the Sun-Times editorialized on the matter…
AFSCME argues that state workers aren’t to blame for the state’s fiscal woes, that long-term answers lie in a more fair and progressive tax structure. We don’t disagree. But there is a budget crisis that must be dealt with today.
We agree with AFSCME that Quinn’s office should lay off portraying state workers as overpaid compared to those in other states. If the comparison bears out, it’s something to be proud of — that Illinois historically has treated its public workers well.
The real question is whether Illinois can continue that tradition. Sadly, the answer today is no.
* Other stuff…
* CTU rips charters: ‘privatization schemes masquerading as education policy’
* Hinz: Teachers union charges CPS with ‘educational apartheid’
* Emanuel’s Birthday Gift: A Protest Outside His Home - O’Hare employees say new contractor doesn’t pay a living wage
* Owner of firm with O’Hare deal has links to reputed mob figure
* Ken Griffin buyer of Chicago’s most expensive condo
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Question of the day
Friday, Nov 30, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Zorn posted some results from “The Best & Worst of Mobile Connectivity” survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project…
44% of cell owners have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls, text messages, or other updates during the night. …
12% of cell owners say that people they know tell them that they are spending too much time using their phone…
9% of cell owners say that their phone makes it “a lot” harder to disconnect from work life. This concern is particularly acute among cell owners in high-income households. 7% of cell owners say that their phone makes it “a lot” harder to give people their undivided attention. 7% of cell owners say that their phone makes it “a lot” harder to focus on a single task without being distracted….
Two groups consistently stand out when it comes to their usage patterns and attitudes relating to their mobile phones — the 45% of American adults who own a smartphone and the 17% of cell owners who do most of their online browsing within the context of their mobile phone (referred to throughout this report as “cell-mostly internet users”). Compared with other cell owners, these individuals are more likely to sleep next to their phones; to check their phone frequently for messages or alerts even though they didn’t hear a notification; and to engage in a wide range of mobile activities such as accessing social networking sites or doing online banking.
* The Question: How often do you access Capitol Fax.com on your mobile phone or device? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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2nd District roundup
Friday, Nov 30, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Just in case you’re wondering, here is the weighted vote for the 2nd Congressional District. Refer to this whenever you see a news story about an endorsement…
* 5th Ward - Leslie Hairston - 2,981
* 7th Ward - Sandi Jackson - 6,298
* 8th Ward - Michele Harris - 2,372
* 9th Ward - Anthony Beale - 5,478
* 10th Ward - John Pope - 1,430
* 34th Ward - Carrie Austin - 1,625
* Bloom Township - Terry Matthews - 8,929
* Bremen Township - Maggie Crotty - 4,140
* Calumet Township - Bob Rita - 161
* Rich Township - Tim Bradford - 11,393
* Thornton Township - Frank Zuccarelli - 20,158
* TOTAL WEIGHTED VOTE: 64,966
* TOTAL NEEDED TO SLATE: 32,484
By my count, state Sen. Donne Trotter is currently at 29,651 (5, 8, Bremen, Thornton).
* Meanwhile, none of these announcements are a surprise, but the race sure is getting crowded…
Three more Chicago politicians have jumped into an increasingly crowded race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in the 2nd Congressional District: Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields), Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), and Robin Kelly — a top aide to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
Hutchinson formally announced in an email Thursday that she would run for the seat Jackson vacated last week.
“Families in the South Suburbs and the [South Side] deserve a representative who understands their concerns and who will work alongside President Obama to create new jobs, rebuild our roads and schools, and protect the gains we’ve made on equal pay, health care and civil rights,” Hutchinson said.
Beale also announced Thursday he’s joining the race for Jackson’s seat. He told the Chicago Sun-Times he’s the only candidate in the field who’s created thousands of jobs, referring to his successful work to bring a Wal-Mart store to Pullman Park, at 111th and Doty Avenue. That store, set to open next spring, will be the third Wal-Mart supercenter in Chicago.
Meantime, CBS 2 Political Producer Ed Marshall has confirmed Kelly also is joining the race and will formally announce her candidacy on Sunday at an event in south suburban Matteson.
* More…
Already in the contest are former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson of Crete, who lost a primary challenge to Jackson in March, and state Sen.-elect Napoleon Harris, a former Northwestern and NFL player who won his first office this month.
Also announced as a candidate is disgraced former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, who gave up the 2nd District seat in 1995 after his conviction on sex-related charges, including having sex with an underage campaign worker.
* Harris can self fund and is a former football star with lots of charisma and a great life story. That makes him particularly dangerous…
“I’m running,” Harris told the Sun-Times. “The primary reason I chose to run for the state Senate is the heartbeat and the pulse of my constituents. But over the last few months, we’ve gotten overwhelming support to put my name in the ring for the congressional seat.”
A native of Dixmoor, Harris starred at Thornton Township High School then at Northwestern University. A first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2002, he played seven NFL seasons, most notably starting in Super Bowl XXXVII. The owner of two Beggars Pizza franchises in the area, Harris wanted to return to his community, where many of his relatives still live.
Harris’ field director James Jones said the inquiries about his interest in the congressional seat started coming since Thanksgiving and ramped up Monday, when he estimated that there were 500 phone calls to their office. Late Monday, just before 5 p.m., retired real estate agent Erick Hawthorne called to volunteer to help Harris.
* Halvorson is one of the only white people who will run, which could be advantageous, but many of the district’s whites tend to be Republicans. Sen. Hutchinson replaced Halvorson in the Senate, so the two will likely fight over the same regional vote and the women vote. Still, Hutchinson is a rising star and can’t be underestimated.
Kelly ran statewide, so she has a legit shot. Not mentioned above is former Rep. David Miller, who may get into the race and is from the same region as Kelly.
* Beale might be backed by Ald. Sandi Jackson. He’s already supported by Carrie Austin…
Asked how he plans to raise the $500,000 it’s likely to take to win the abbreviated campaign, Beale said, “The old-fashioned way. We’re gonna make phone calls and get people to buy into my vision.”
Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), powerful chairman of the City Council’s Budget Committee, said she pledged her support to Beale two years ago and plans to keep her word to him.
“He understands the hardships of the 2nd Congressional District because he has lived in it and worked in it. Those hardships that we have that we have not been able to see addressed by the former congressman, he has more of the ground part of what needs to be done,” Austin said.
As you can see above, however, Austin has only a relative handful of weighted votes in the district.
* I’m not sure what this means…
Sneed hears former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is now singing with the voice of an anxious canary. Sneed also hears rumbles the feds are very interested in a powerful dem femme, who is not an alderman. Stay tuned.
The Jackson File…
All in the family: Although former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s brother, Jonathan, has confided to pals he wants a political career — a future mayoral bid on his supposed wish list — it is another Jackson brother, Yusef, a lawyer, who is described by political watchers as “smart as whip” and “the real deal” who could be the next to enter the political fray.
Yusef is the Budweiser distributor…
Twice last year, Chicago businessman Yusef Jackson — a son of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and brother-in-law of Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) — went to City Hall seeking taxpayer money for a new home for his Budweiser beer distributorship west of downtown, records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times and interviews show.
At first, Jackson asked for a $4.2 million city subsidy in the form of tax-increment financing. That’s according to the application he submitted to City Hall in March 2011, shortly before Mayor Richard M. Daley left office.
On his second application, filed in August 2011, three months after Mayor Rahm Emanuel was sworn in, Jackson slashed the amount of taxpayer money he wanted. This time, he said he needed only $1 million from City Hall to help pay for the $5.1 million renovation of a vacant, two-story building he owns at 401 N. Ogden.
* And check out this story about Mel Reynolds…
“I live at 221…my address is 221…I’m renting. South 138th Street. In Dolton,” Reynolds stammered.
That address doesn’t exist, but there is a 221 East 138th Street. When FOX 32’s Dane Placko showed Reynolds’ picture to neighbors, they didn’t seem to recognize him. […]
His driver’s license is registered to a UPS store in Bronzeville and he says he drives two cars: an SUV with retired congressional plates and a Jaguar.
But, the Secretary of State’s office says that could be a problem.
“The driver’s license, Dane, has been canceled,” Dave Druker of the Secretary of State’s office explains. “He had written a check to the Secretary of State’s office that bounced.”
Druker says Reynolds should not be driving at all.
That bad check is just the start of Reynolds’ financial problems. Cook County records show he’s been sued by several creditors and was kicked out of this property on King Drive.
The lawyer who represented him on that case then turned around and sued Reynolds for non-payment. He won a judgment for more than $12,000, which Reynolds still hasn’t paid.
Oy.
* Related…
* House Passes Filing Deadline Extension
* James Taylor Sr. running for Jackson’s seat as Republican
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*** UPDATE *** Beavers can talk about his repayment if he testifies…
A federal judge today ruled that Cook County Commissioner William Beavers can tell a jury that he amended his taxes and repaid a campaign fund after he learned of a federal investigation against him. […]
But U.S. District Court James Zagel said Beavers has a right to explain his reasons for amending the taxes to jurors so they can decide why he did it.
“The state of mind is crucial to the (jurors),” Zagel said.
But the judge gave careful instructions to Beavers attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, saying that the only way the jury can hear specifics about the repaid money and amended taxes is directly from Beavers if he takes the witness stand.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* When the feds go after you, they tend to go all out. Even if you pay the money back before you’re indicted, it won’t matter. For instance…
In the months after learning from federal agents that he was the focus of a tax evasion probe, Cook County Commissioner William Beavers amended his income taxes and repaid a sizable amount of money he had taken from his campaign fund, according to prosecutors.
After his indictment in February, Beavers released bank records showing the repayment and contended the records showed he had done nothing wrong.
But on Tuesday, days before the start of Beavers’ trial, federal prosecutors asked a judge to bar his legal team from presenting any of that evidence — a strike seemingly at the heart of the defense case.
In the court filing, the government outlined how Beavers paid thousands of dollars in additional taxes on the amended returns and repaid his campaign only after he learned of the investigation when federal agents approached him in April 2009.
Judge Zagel hasn’t yet ruled on that prosecutorial motion.
* And even if the feds admit they tried to get you to flip on powerful people and you refuse, that evidence can’t be used by your defense team…
Cook County Commissioner William Beavers is alleging that a letter sent to his attorneys from federal prosecutors corroborates what he has said from the day he was charged – that the government wanted him to cooperate against other high-ranking elected officials and then indicted him when he refused .
Beavers, who faces trial Monday on income tax charges, accused the U.S. Attorney’s office of a “vindictive prosecution” for filing the tax charges after his refusal to cooperate, according to a filing late Wednesday by Beavers’ legal team. […]
According to the defense filing, federal agents told Beavers about their criminal probe of him on April 21, 2009, and sought his cooperation. The filing suggested that the names of then-County Board President Todd Stroger and Commissioner John Daley were mentioned during the interview.
“I am not a stool pigeon,” one agent recalled Beavers declaring during the meeting.
Beavers’ attorneys also criticized the government for not revealing the contents of the interview until the eve of trial and accused them of withholding the information.
“Government agents approached him and asked him to cooperate against other public officials,” the filing reads. “When Beavers refused, in retribution, the government empanelled a grand jury and indicted him. The message from the government is clear: had Beavers cooperated, the charges would not have been brought. … The impropriety of the government is exacerbated by the late disclosure of the cooperation request via letter to the defense four days prior to trial.”
Judge Zagel ruled that Beavers might be able to talk about how he was approached if he takes the stand. Other than that, no way.
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* From the AP earlier this week…
Illinois State Rep. Lou Lang has decided not to call his medical marijuana legislation until next week.
The Skokie Democrat told The Associated Press Wednesday he’s still not certain he has the 60 votes he needs for passage.
He says he has most of the necessary votes but there are “a whole bunch of people who are wavering.” He will continue talking to them over the weekend and try again in the Legislature’s second week of its fall session.
* I did a bit more checking and found something quite unusual had happened. Fox Chicago then followed up…
Supporters of medical marijuana are blaming their latest setback in the State Capitol on two North Suburban businessmen. The pair plans to become Illinois’ largest suppliers of medical marijuana and some claim their quiet backroom maneuvering has blocked passage of a bill to legalize it. […]
Libertyville businessman Jim Merlo told FOX 32 News that his company, “Medponics,” has hired powerful lobbyists in Springfield only because he wants to ensure that when it’s legalized here, medical marijuana is grown and delivered safely to those who need it. Others fear Medponics wants to corner the market. […]
House Republican Leader Tom Cross is a supporter of medical marijuana. He wants to rewrite the current bill after hearing from two top lobbyists about the Medponic system.
“If somebody got stopped by the police, and said, ‘Oh, I’m using — this is medical marijuana,’ you could actually test it and find out whether it was true medical marijuana grown here at one of the facilities, or whether it was not in fact medical marijuana,” explains Cross.
The current legislation sponsored by Skokie Democrat Lou Lang would grant licenses to as many as 59 marijuana growers across the state. Supporters claim that having dozens of small growers, instead of one or a handful of very large pot producers, would avoid the clashes with federal agents that have occurred in other states.
“Every time that somebody has tried to do one of these large growing operations, the federal government has come in and has threatened either the landlords and the property owners with not only arrest but also asset forfeiture,” says Dann Linn, the Executive Director for Illinois NORML.
One of those two top lobbyists used to be Cross’ chief of staff. And I have no idea what Cross is talking about when he says you could “actually test” the weed to see if it was grown at one of Medponic’s facilities.
And considering that US Attorneys throughout the nation have been busting far smaller growing operations, I can’t see how the heck Medponics thinks it can get away with doing this. And if it’s shut down, the entire medical marijuana infrastructure in the state would go down with it.
Life in Springfield.
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Deja vu all over again
Friday, Nov 30, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The reporting on yesterday’s PPP poll has been somewhat breathless…
Reports are coming out that Pat Quinn is the least popular governor in the country.
according to a survey that came out Thursday, only one in four Illinois voters approves of Quinn’s job performance.
The liberal-leaning Public Policy Polling firm found that 64 percent of voters disapprove of the work Quinn is doing, making him “the most unpopular governor [it] has polled on anywhere in the country this year.”
The firm reports that, if the general election were held today, Quinn would lose to state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R) by a margin of 44 to 37 percent, and to state Treasurer Dan Rutherford (R) by 43 to 39 percent.
* More…
“Quinn’s unpopularity puts the Republicans in a position where they could win despite the fact that none of them are very well-known,” said Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling.
An aide to Quinn defended his tenure and acknowledged that his efforts to deal with difficult subjects, such as Medicaid reform, facility closures and tax increases, have not been popular — but are in the best interests of state government.
* OK, here’s Real Clear Politics’ poll tracker for the 2010 general. As you can see, the average had him losing to Bill Brady by almost five points…
In October, the Tribune had Quinn trailing by four points and Rasmussen and PPP had him down by five.
On October 12th, 2010 - just a few weeks before the election - Quinn’s job approval was measured at 26 percent by the Tribune’s pollster. That’s just a point higher than PPP’s latest poll.
In other words, we’ve seen this movie before.
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* Whatever you may think of the charges, these town hall meetings are a pretty gutsy move by indicted state Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago). From an e-mail sent to his constituents yesterday afternoon…
* ABC7…
Indicted State Representative LaShawn Ford met with constituents to defend himself in his West Side office Thursday night and offered his side of the story.
He said he has yet to read the federal indictment, but he fully intends to fight it.
The feds say he defrauded Shore Bank by misusing more than half a million dollars in loans. Ford says he did nothing wrong.
“What we have is a failed bank and there were problems with that bank and the federal justice department, they’re doing their job. They want to make sure that everything was done right,” he said.
The allegations date back to 2006, before Ford was elected to the state house. And they concern his real estate business, not his work as a state representative, which supporters say has been stellar.
“Me personally, I don’t believe he did anything wrong,” said Roy Flowers.
“LaShawn has been a pillar of the community for years, from his real estate company all the way to as a state rep,” said Marlon Ryals.
* Ford also talked to several reporters yesterday, and attempted to refute the charges one by one…
He vehemently denied the charges and insisted he had committed no bank fraud in the years before he was elected to office and while he was actively buying and rehabbing homes on the West Side.
“An indictment is an accusation and a theory of what those people believed happened as far as the life I live,” Ford said, adding that he plans to continue to serve as state representative while he fights the charges. […]
Speaking by phone to Austin Weekly News shortly after the news of the indictment broke, Ford responded nearly point-by-point to the lengthy indictment.
As for the charge that he needed the money to support a lavish lifestyle, Ford insisted that he has been successful in real estate through legitimate means and didn’t need to commit any crimes.
“This is a case of the feds not knowing how real estate is done in the community,” Ford said. “I respect their job, but I also have a job to do and that’s to defend myself.”
* And…
The lawmaker said his business failed when the real estate market collapsed, falling particularly hard on the city’s underdeveloped West Side.
“My business failed. ShoreBank failed. The problem is the owners of the bank, they’re gone. And little ol’ me is right here, being indicted.”
Ford also dismissed the federal allegations about using money for gambling payments, saying he was making enough money to “do what I wanted to do.”
“I gamble when I can,” he said. “If I can afford to gamble, I gamble.” Asked if he had a gambling problem, Ford said “no” and said he had no gambling debts. Ford said he did not divert any of the bank money to gamble.
“The jury will decide on my guilt or innocence,” he said. “I know me. I know I didn’t lie to the bank.”
* More…
In August, the legislative chamber voted to oust state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) for allegedly accepting a $7,000 bribe from an undercover FBI informant who was acting on behalf of a purported daycare center operator seeking Smith’s assistance in obtaining a $50,000 state grant. Smith went on to win election in November despite being under federal indictment and will be seated in the House in January.
Ford voted present on the resolution to expel Smith, one of only three lawmakers to do so. Six voted no.
“It’s up to the speaker of the House and the members,” Ford said, when asked whether he thinks he too could face possible expulsion.
“I want to serve in the House of Representatives. I want a place where people understand this is America and in America, we believe in justice. We say the Pledge of Allegiance every day when we convene [in Springfield].
“An indictment is no more than an accusation, no more than a hypothesis, their theory of what they believe happened back in 2006 of 2007. This is 2012,” Ford continued. “There’s no damn way.”
As I told subscribers earlier this morning about my own interview with the man, Ford is either the most brazen liar I’ve ever seen or there’s something really lacking in that indictment.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Credit unions were first exempted from federal income tax in 1917 because of their unique structure as not-for-profit financial cooperatives. Contrary to what some banks may suggest, credit unions pay property, payroll, and sales taxes. Yet while banks decry the credit union tax exemption, almost one out of three banks elect Subchapter S status under the Internal Revenue Code to avoid federal income taxation. In Illinois, that’s $38 million in diverted tax dollars. These for-profit Sub-S banks also pay dividends and fees — not to customers, but to directors/investors/stockholders who may or may not be depositors — to the tune of $1 billion. This is far in excess of the estimated federal income tax credit unions would pay. In contrast, credit unions return net revenue to their members. The banker argument against the credit union tax exemption is simply disingenuous. If banks really believed that credit unions operate with an unfair competitive advantage, they would restructure their institutions to credit union charters. None would, however, because doing so would expose them to becoming democratically controlled, locally-owned financial cooperatives governed by their very own volunteer members that put people before profits — all the virtues that define the credit union difference.
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This just in… Rep. Ford indicted for bank fraud
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:22 pm - From the US Attorney’s office…
LaShawn K. Ford, an Illinois State Representative who also invested in real estate in Chicago, was indicted today on federal bank fraud and related charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining a $500,000 increase and a two-year extension on a line of credit from the failed ShoreBank and obtaining multiple advances by making false statements about his intended use of the funds.
Ford, 40, of Chicago, who operated Ford Desired Real Estate, Inc., and also invested personally in real estate, purportedly obtained bank funds to rehabilitate specific investment properties in the city, but instead used the funds to pay unrelated expenses, including, car loans, credit cards, other mortgages held at ShoreBank, payments to a casino in Hammond, Ind., and for his 2006 campaign for Illinois State Representative, the indictment alleges. The charges do not involve Ford’s position as a state legislator after he was first elected in 2006. Ford represents Illinois’ 8th House District, which includes portions of Chicago’s west side and several western suburbs in Cook County.
Ford was charged with eight counts of bank fraud and nine counts of submitting false information to the bank in a 17-count indictment returned today by a federal grand jury. Chicago-based ShoreBank failed in August 2010 and now operates as Urban Partnership Bank.
Ford will be arraigned on a later date to be determined in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The indictment was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and William C. Monroe, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the indictment, Ford had multiple loans with ShoreBank, including a $1 million line of credit, which he was permitted to use solely to purchase and rehabilitate investment properties. On May 22, 2006, he obtained a $500,000 increase — to $1.5 million, and a two-year extension of the credit line, allegedly by submitting false tax return documents that inflated his personal and business income.
On seven different occasions between April 2006 and March 2007, Ford applied for and obtained a total of $373,500 in advances from the credit line, allegedly by making false statements that he intended to use the funds to rehabilitate six different investment properties on the city’s west side. In each instance, however, Ford allegedly knew that he intended to use the funds, in part, for expenses unrelated to the specific rehabilitation projects.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of approximately $832,000.
Each count of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, and restitution is mandatory. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Deis and William Ridgway.
The investigation falls under the umbrella of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit: www.StopFraud.gov.
An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
* 2:27 pm - The indictment is here.
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* We successfully “freeped” Public Policy Polling’s website a couple weeks ago and convinced them to do an Illinois poll. I’m not sure how valuable the numbers are because it’s so very early in the gubernatorial process, but let’s get to it.
The poll was taken November 26-28 of 500 Illinois voters.
* Gov. Pat Quinn’s job approval rating continues to be super dismal…
Quinn disagrees with voters, however…
“I think I’m doing a good job under the circumstances and want to continue.”
* Except for Lisa Madigan, most people really don’t know much about the other candidates tested here…
* Quinn only does well against Aaron Schock, who is a Downstate congressman and not yet very well known statewide…
Keep in mind that Quinn was trailing Bill Brady for months before he finally won. Party love generally kicks in late.
* Same goes for Bill Daley…
* Lisa Madigan is a different story, but she’s not killing it like I thought she would…
Madigan is barely outperforming the generic party ID test…
I’ve been saying for a while that I didn’t think Attorney General Madigan would run for governor in 2014. But I had a long off the record talk with her on election night (she attended my Google party), and let’s just say I’m no longer 100 percent sure about anything. She probably won’t, but I can’t say that for sure right now.
* PPP also polled for the primaries, but the sample sizes were so small that they have to be taken with a grain of salt. Of just 303 GOP primary voters…
And…
* But check out the Democratic poll of 319 primary voters. Quinn is in a world of trouble…
If Lisa runs, she could crush Quinn. But we already knew that.
* Links…
* 2014 Governor Toplines
* 2014 Republican Primary Toplines
* 2014 Democratic Primary Toplines
* Crosstabs
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Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* State Rep.-elect Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) told Bernie that freshman orientation included a section on “things that you need to know but nobody will tell you”…
“I remember the first one — you’re going to gain 60 pounds, and so take the stairs,” she said. “And your heels don’t have any give on marble floors.”
“So I have not even ridden the elevator, and maybe never will,” she said. “Because when there’s food out, it’s not like apples and bananas. It’s always like brownies.”
There was some serious advice as well, I’m sure.
* The Question: Your advice for incoming freshmen?
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*** UPDATE *** This will happen tomorrow, not today, but it’s happening…
The huge field of candidates running for Jesse Jackson Jr.’s former seat in Congress is about to get slightly less huge.
A source who would know says that Ald. Will Burns, 4th, will announce this afternoon that he’s changed his mind and won’t be running. Mr. Burns didn’t do very well in a poll recently commissioned by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and, given the short nature of the special-election campaign, decided to hold his fire for now. But don’t be surprised to see the former staffer for then-state Sen. Barack Obama pitch himself for statewide office down the road, perhaps comptroller or treasurer.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* As subscribers already know, Cook County Democrats will meet in December to see if they can slate a candidate for resigned Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.’s old seat. Thornton Township Supervisor and Democratic Committeeman Frank Zuccarelli will be chairing the slatemaking committee and he already has a preferred candidate…
While Zuccarelli is encouraging candidates to contact him to be part of the December slating session so they can make their pitch, he’s not exactly walking in to this with an open mind. He said he already knows that if state Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), who has expressed interest in the job, is running, that’s who he’s backing. Trotter’s legislative district, which stretches from the South Side to the suburbs, covers some of the same territory as the 2nd Congressional District, helping him understand the issues facing residents there, Zuccarelli said.
“Even though some people who’ve been mentioned (as candidates) might do a decent job — nobody comes close” to Trotter, Zuccarelli said. “I’m going to conduct inteviews and I’ll listen to what people say — but the only way my mind would change is if Donne dropped out.”
Sen. Trotter appears to be in the race to stay, and that endorsement by Zuccarelli is huge. He’s already lined up other wards and townships, but Zuccarelli has just about the best organization in all of Cook County, and an absolute ton of the weighted vote.
* Ted McClelland interviewed Trotter back when Trotter ran for Congress against Bobby Rush and Barack Obama...
Trotter, who has thrown his hat into the ring for Jesse Jackson Jr.’s congressional seat, is a member of one of the biggest, oldest clans on the South Side, a family that beat everyone else to Chicago by a generation or two. Trotter’s roots in this town go all the way back to 1900, when his great-grandfather, a Choctaw Indian named Granville Trotter, arrived here from Oklahoma. The senator says Granville and his wife had “13 kids who begat another 13 kids who begat another 13 kids.”
Trotter’s grandfather, Walter Trotter, was a prominent minister in Hyde Park, and his cousin Larry was a bishop at Sweet Holy Spirit Full Gospel Baptist Church. Combing through the voter rolls, the senator’s staff decided to invite all the Trotters they found to a fund-raiser. (Another time, he held a “Trottin’ with Trotter” event at the harness races at Hawthorne Race Course.)
Trotter lives in South Shore, at 84th and Yates, but he grew up in Grand Crossing, around the corner from Ralph Metcalfe, the Olympic sprinter who represented the First District for many years. He was a Boy Scout with Metcalfe’s son, Ralph Jr., who later ran for alderman. He remembers when the Palm Tavern was the hangout for “Billy Eckstine and all the jazz greats,” and when the Rosenwald Building, now a flophouse, was home to the black middle class. His campaign was “Chicago’s Native Son” — as opposed to Rush, who’d grown up in Georgia, and Obama, who was from Hawaii.
Trotter, who was and still is the best-dressed man in Illinois, embodied South Side urbanity, with tailored suits, bow ties, soul food lunches, and smooth jazz oozing from the speakers of his Jeep. He held his campaign kick-off luncheon at Army and Lou’s. When we sat down for an interview, he took me to a vegetarian soul food restaurant on 87th Street.
If he can raise the money, Trotter could very well be the one to beat.
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* If you’re watching our live veto session coverage, you already know that the Senate Executive Committee approved a Republican-backed amendment that helps ensure passage of a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain special drivers licenses. From the amendment…
A temporary visitor’s driver’s license is invalid if the holder is unable to provide proof of liability insurance as required by Section 7-601 of this Code upon the request of a law enforcement officer, in which case the holder commits a violation of Section 6-101 of this Code.
* From the Senate Republicans’ Twitter feed…
Radogno on SB 957: This is a tough issue but not a new issue. We are placed in this situation because of inaction from Fed Gov.
Radogno: We have taken steps to ensure there is as little fraud as possible. Important to monitor this & see how we can make better if abuse
* Yesterday afternoon, conservative Republican state Sen. Bill Brady announced he was supporting the legislation. From a press release…
Senator Bill Brady said today he will support legislation to improve traffic safety and lower insurance costs for Illinois motorists by permitting undocumented immigrants to obtain temporary visitors drivers licenses already allowed for many other foreign-born individuals.
At Brady’s urging, language is included in the bill to stipulate that the temporary visitors driver’s licenses cannot be used for purposes of identification, such as registering to vote, boarding an airplane or purchasing a firearm.
“I am pleased that the sponsors of the legislation and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights addressed my concerns and agreed that the temporary visitors licenses should include notification in bold type that they cannot be used for identification purposes,” said Brady, an Assistant Senate Republican Leader from Bloomington.
Brady said he decided to support and co-sponsor the legislation because of valid economic arguments for licensing an estimated 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois. Other states which have implemented similar provisions, such as Utah, have seen dramatic numbers of their undocumented immigrants become licensed and purchase the required auto insurance.
“Without licenses, our law enforcement officers cannot check their driving records, and without licenses, Illinois motorists are footing the bill for their uninsured motor vehicle accidents,” Brady said.
“This isn’t just an issue in the City of Chicago. It’s also an issue in the suburbs and Downstate areas where the Latino population is growing.”
Brady is no stranger to the illegal immigration issue. He strongly supported in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants.
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14 Republicans stand with AFSCME
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* House Speaker Michael Madigan’s proposal to limit state employee contractual wage increases to zero passed the House yesterday 84-29. Several Republicans voted with the union, including Springfield’s Raymond Poe and Rich Brauer…
“There should be a contract negotiated,” Poe said. “If Quinn wants to tell them there’s zero (money for raises) in the negotiation, that’s the way it should be done, rather than forcing it on them.”
Brauer said the state needs to cut entitlement programs before it eliminates pay raises.
“They’ve made promises to workers, and now they’re taking it away to keep entitlements,” he said.
In all, 14 HGOPs sided with AFSCME: Bost, Brauer, Brown, Cavaletto, Hammond, Mathias, Bill Mitchell, Jerry Mitchell, Moffitt, Poe, Reis, Rosenthal, Saviano and Watson.
* The Speaker’s statement…
“We’re telling the negotiators, ‘Don’t be sending us a bill for (wage) increases when we are in the process of reducing every other area of state government,’” Madigan said.
* Background…
AFSCME and Quinn’s office are still negotiating a contract, with the next meeting set for December. AFSCME officials have said they are willing to consider a one-year freeze on wages, but Quinn wants the union to OK a freeze for the duration of their next contact.
Last weekend, Quinn ruffled feathers by ending the union’s contract with the state, which expired this past June, but was extended during the ongoing negotiations.
* Meanwhile, in another development, check out the new proposal introduced by Sen. John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon)…
Authorizes the Senate Appropriations Committees to jointly: (1) review the misconduct and mismanagement in the Illinois Department of Corrections; (2) review the physical condition, the size and composition of the inmate population, and any specific and immediate needs of each correctional facility managed or operated by the State; (3) hold public hearings, take testimony, and request detailed and specific information relating to the inmate population and staff of any individual correctional facility managed or operated by the State, as well as the State’s prison system at large; and (4) issue their findings and recommendations in a final report outlining a long-term objective plan for the State’s correctional facilities, the populations they hold, and the workforce needed to best protect the citizens of Illinois, by September 1, 2013.
Urges the Governor to seek the immediate resignations of the Director, Executive Chief, Deputy Chief of Operations and Southern Illinois Deputy Director, then begin an immediate internal investigation into the negligence and corruption within the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Urges the Governor not to close any prison facilities proposed to be closed.
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Currie hints at higher corporate taxes
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This sort of talk is freaking out business lobbyists in a major way and is a big reason why so many of them are paranoid and up in arms about Senate President John Cullerton’s proposal to force publicly traded corporations to disclose their Illinois income tax payments. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie is also sponsoring the measure and had this to say earlier in the week…
“Maybe if we were to find out that there are some very profitable corporations operating in the state of Illinois, we might want to say that maybe they should pay a little more.”
Um, maybe if we find out that there are some very profitable corporations in Illinois, we might look to see how we can make other businesses just as profitable.
I mean, I know what she’s probably getting at here, but, seriously, c’mon. That’s no way to calm the waters.
* In light of Currie’s comments, the Taxpayers Federation’s warnings should be listened to…
An equally scathing review came from the Taxpayers Federation of Illinois, which is known more as a watchdog than an ideological group.
If lawmakers need more information, they can get it from the Revenue Department instead of demanding specific figures on each company, which will “undermine” taxpayer privacy, the federation said in a statement. Passage would make Illinois “an even less attractive state to invest and create jobs” in, and give other states a leg up by pointing to Illinois’ “taxpayer climate.”
* Despite Cullerton’s sponsorship, the bill just barely passed yesterday…
The Senate voted 30-27 Wednesday to OK a proposal Cullerton says would help lawmakers plan tax policy.
The Chicago Democrat says legislators don’t know whether their tax incentives and credits are working. He says two-thirds of businesses doing work in Illinois pay no corporate income tax.
Republicans criticized the measure as “anti-business (and) anti-employment.” Others questioned whether it would be legal to post the information. Cullerton amended the bill to prevent posting of federally prohibited tax information.
There are those who believe that Cullerton’s bill is somehow politically motivated. It wouldn’t surprise me. He has grumbled about Caterpillar’s constant complaints about high state taxes. Cat is suspected of paying little to no income taxes. But Cat’s CEO was mostly complaining early on about the increased personal income tax rate and its potential impact on its executives and future recruitment.
* Other stuff…
* Quinn Expected to Hike License Sticker Fees
* Editorial: Pension problem is no cartoon
* Editorial: Pensions more than python problem - Action, not gimmicks, please
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STOP THE SATELLITE TV TAX!
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The cable industry is asking lawmakers to place a NEW 5% tax on satellite TV service. HB 5440 is not about fairness, equity or parity – it’s a tax increase on the 1.3 million Illinois families and businesses who subscribe to satellite TV. They cannot afford another NEW tax – not now and not in this economy!
HB 5440 Will Hurt Illinois Families and Small Businesses
• Satellite TV subscribers will see their monthly bills go up 5%.
• This tax will impact every bar, restaurant and hotel that subscribes to satellite TV service, which will translate into higher prices, decreased revenues, and fewer jobs.
• Rural Illinois has no choice: In many parts of Illinois, cable refuses to provide TV service to rural communities. Satellite TV is their only option.
HB 5440 Is Not About Parity or Fairness
• Cable’s claim that this discriminatory tax is justified because satellite TV doesn’t pay local franchise fees could not be further from the truth. Cable pays those fees to local towns and cities in exchange for the right to bury cables in the public rights of way—a right that Comcast and Charter value in the tens of billions of dollars in their SEC filings.
• Satellite companies don’t pay franchise fees for one simple reason: We use satellites—unlike cable, we don’t need to dig up streets and sidewalks to deliver our TV service.
• Making satellite subscribers pay franchise fees—or, in this case, an equivalent amount in taxes—would be like taxing the air It’s no different than making airline passengers pay a fee for laying railroad tracks.
Tell Your Lawmakers to Stop The Satellite TV Tax
Vote NO on HB 5440
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Quinn thoroughly thumped on assault weapons ban
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This was as much about gun rights as about legislative rights. Gov. Quinn drastically rewrote a bill to turn it into an assault weapons ban, but the Senate buried him yesterday…
An aide says Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will “vigorously pursue” a ban on assault weapons even though the Senate rebuffed his attempt on Wednesday.
The Senate voted 49-4 Wednesday to override Quinn’s rewritten legislation to prohibit the sale or possession of semi-automatic rifles, high-capacity magazines and .50-caliber guns.
Spokeswoman Brooke Anderson says the Democratic governor will continue seeking a statewide assault-weapons ban to enhance public safety. She would not elaborate on his strategy.
Maybe they can use Squeezy in the new “strategy” to pass an assault weapons bill.
“No” votes were Clayborne, Jackie Collins, Maloney and Silverstein, all Democrats. A whole lot of other liberals voted for the override.
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Jacksonville facility emptied out
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the remaining residents at the Jacksonville Developmental Center (JDC) have transitioned to community care. The moves are part of the governor’s rebalancing initiative to increase community care options for people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges while reducing the number of outdated institutions in Illinois.
“Today is a historic step forward in our effort to improve the quality of life for citizens with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges in Illinois,” Governor Quinn said. “I thank all of the family members and committed advocates who worked together to make this transition safe and responsible. I am committed to strengthening community care in Illinois and helping to ensure that all people have an opportunity to reach their full potential.”
I’ll post AFSCME’s response as soon as it arrives, but the union has bitterly fought this facility closure, saying that private community care homes are ill-equipped to deal with many of JDC’s residents.
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Today’s quote
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* David E. Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, speaking about the push for gay marriage…
Smith, of the Illinois Family Institute, alleged that the real motive for some activists is “more sinister” and that “the goal, for some, is the eradication of marriage altogether.”
Um, huh?
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STOP ComEd Rate Hikes – Vote NO on SR 821!
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
ComEd is pushing Senate Resolution 821 in an attempt to reverse the ICC’s $133 million rate reduction decision – which will mean more rate hikes for struggling Illinois consumers and businesses.
ComEd says: We expected higher rates when it wrote the law (PA97-0616).
FACT: ICC applied the law (PA97-0616) as it was written.
ComEd says: The law “meant” that the ICC should throw accounting to the wind, charge consumers for unreasonably high costs, and impose the highest possible financing charges on consumers.
FACT: The law has the ICC set rates based on ComEd’s actual costs and standard accounting principles, and that is what the ICC did.
FACT: If the General Assembly adopts Senate Resolution 821 and attempts to rewrite the law to suit ComEd, consumer rates will rise not just this year, but in every year over the 10 years the formula rates will be in effect.
Haven’t we had enough of ComEd’s games? Vote NO on SR 821!
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* Sun-Times…
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) fended off a challenge to her leadership slot Wednesday, winning re-election as the top Senate Republican by a convincing margin.
The closed-door vote of 19 incoming Senate Republicans swung 12-6 in favor of Radogno, with one member voting present, according to a source.
* Tribune…
A lone vote went to Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, but Dillard was not a candidate for the leadership post. The senators then voted for Radogno by acclamation, several lawmakers said.
Radogno emerged from the closed-door meeting, saying “it was a challenging process, but it was a good one.”
“We need to pull together after that process,” Radogno said.
Dillard says he didn’t vote for himself, by the way. But that was certainly a weird ballot choice.
* And despite the vote of acclamation, there were some sour grapes by the loser. From Sen. Kyle McCarter’s Twitter page…
Ouch. I’ll be curious to see what Radogno does to McCarter now. Any suggestions?
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EIMA Creates More Than 700 Jobs Through Third Quarter
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
ComEd’s grid modernization work directly related to the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA) enacted last year created more than 700 jobs from January through September 2012, with more than 100 jobs created in the third quarter alone. These include jobs at ComEd and contractor and supplier positions involving a broad range of functions required to build a 21st century electric grid.
With passage of EIMA, ComEd embarked on a 10-year, $2.6 billion program to modernize the power system in northern Illinois. The EIMA investments also have provided an important boost to local manufacturers with the expertise needed to support the electrical system upgrade. Through October 2012, ComEd has awarded $80 million in contracts to companies providing services and products ranging from engineering to cable to smart switches.
While grid modernization work continues, the pace is slowing from earlier this year as the first rate case under EIMA has jeopardized funding available for the program. ComEd has appealed the decision in court. In the meantime, it is proceeding with about 75 percent of the core grid modernization programs as planned. ComEd is postponing the deployment of additional smart meters until 2015. ComEd hopes to reach a positive outcome soon so that it can deliver the promised reliability improvements, cost-savings and customer service benefits while creating the 2,000 jobs as required by the legislation and further boost the Illinois economy.
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Quinn loses budget vote, won’t change outcome
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor’s people were predicting earlier in the week that this would be a close vote. It wasn’t…
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is going to the House of Representatives with a simple message: Spend money on children, not outdated prisons.
The Democratic governor’s office said Wednesday it will continue to fight to divert money from prisons to child-protection services after the Senate rebuffed the attempt there.
The Senate voted 35-16 to reject Quinn’s cuts of $57 million that lawmakers want to restore to keep open the Tamms high-security prison, the Dwight women’s lockup and juvenile detention centers.
A simple majority was required to override Quinn’s reductions. But the vote was mainly symbolic. Even if the House concurs, it won’t stop Quinn from closing state facilities.
* Quite a few Democrats voted to override the governor, but Republicans have been clamoring for budget cuts for years now, yet most of them voted to override. Here are a few quotes from memory lane…
* “Everything that can be cut should be cut.”
- Senate President Christine Radogno, New York Times March 19, 2009
* “We can’t spend more money than we did last year. We need to see cuts in the budget. The families of Illinois have made sacrifices and the state of Illinois needs to do the same with their budget.”
- Sen. Bill Brady,, Bloomington Pantagraph Feb. 13, 2011
* “No one wants to be cut. Everyone points the finger and says: ‘Cut them, not me.’”
- Sen. Kirk Dillard, Daily Herald, April 27, 2012
* “It is time that we stop this abuse of tax dollars and make the real spending cuts needed to balance the budget.”
Sen. Kirk Dillard, campaign release, March 16, 2012
* “Yeah, we’re on course, but we’re on a collision course if we don’t get our spending under control.”
- Sen. Sam McCann, State Journal-Register, Feb. 1, 2012
* “I think it’s time to have the governor realize that we’re going to have to do with less state government, and it’s time to make some cuts.”
- Sen. Shane Cultra, Quad City Times Feb. 13, 2011
Food for thought.
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Don’t Shortchange Our Students: Support HB 5440!
Thursday, Nov 29, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
The State of Illinois faces another budget crisis and severe cuts are on their way. The currently proposed budget would leave a $200 million shortfall for Illinois students and educations. Outside experts agree that Illinois is falling behind. Illinois already ranks dead last in the nation in the amount of school funding provided by state revenues according to a recent NEA study.
The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability finds that states provide an average of 51% of the funds for education. Illinois provides only 30%.
In these harsh economic times for the state, we cannot afford to lose a dime. Still, satellite companies are currently exploiting a corporate tax loophole and taking their profits out of Illinois. House Bill 5440 will close this loophole and ensure everybody pays a fair share to support our students and communities. Twelve other states have successfully closed similar tax loopholes on satellite providers and in turn have worked towards more balanced government budgets.
HB 5440 would generate up to $75 million in additional revenue for Illinois’ education system.
The status quo isn’t working. Close the loophole and support our students. Vote YES on HB 5440!
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