Fun with numbers?
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* If they had to hire extra staff, rent more jail space, etc., then I can see how this would be an actual cost. But the jail is there already. Staff is there. This seems to be a bit of fun with numbers…
Inmates not being transferred as expected to Illinois Department of Corrections’ facilities after being sentenced to prison has cost the taxpayers of Kankakee County $648,000 in seven months, says Sheriff Mike Downey.
Downey discussed the problem at a recent Kankakee County Board criminal justice committee meeting. He said the county is currently waiting for IDOC to take 33 inmates into state custody.
While they wait, the county is paying the tab for housing and medical, Downey said, adding that the state does not reimburse.
Using the $90 per diem the county receives for housing federal prisoners, Downey said that between Aug. 1, 2020, and March 3, the cost of housing state inmates was $648,000.
And if it does cost them some extra money, that’s exactly the sort of thing the federal relief programs were set up to pay for.
* Anyway, I checked with the governor’s office on this and was told…
IDOC is scheduling appointments to transfer people from county jails to corrections facilities in accordance with health and safety guidance. The department has implemented protocols with the goal of protecting those who are incarcerated, the staff inside the facilities and the communities where these facilities are located.
Transferred inmates have to be quarantined and single-celled for two weeks, per CDC guidance. From the relevant Pritzker EO…
The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) will resume accepting the transfer of individuals from Illinois county jails. The scheduling of the arrival of individuals from county jails and the intake process to ensure the health and safety of the transferring individuals, as well as all individuals and staff at IDOC, shall be within the sole discretion of the Director of IDOC. In determining the timing of the arrival of individuals from county jails and the specific process for transfers to IDOC, the Director shall take into account several health and safety factors including (a) the capacity and safety of IDOC reception centers, and (b) whether the individuals to be transferred have been quarantined for 14 days and, following that quarantine period, have tested negative for COVID-19 before their transfer to IDOC. All approved transfers to IDOC shall follow the protocol established by IDOC in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), available at https://www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/Covid19Response.aspx. The Director of IDOC will work closely with county sheriffs and other partners in the criminal justice system to determine whether transfer from specific county jails is feasible and to ensure that the guidelines will be implemented.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) on today’s House passage of a leadership term limits bill…
From the day I was elected in 2018, I have pledged to stand up for my constituents against political corruption and entrenched power. Over this past year, I have held firm to my principles, first by calling for Speaker Madigan to step down, then by joining my colleagues in ending an outdated political era and electing a new Speaker of the House.
Today, we reached another milestone in our journey to end the political status quo in Springfield with the unanimous passage of HB 642, which puts a 10-year term limit on the General Assembly’s top leadership posts, including Speaker of the House.
We still have a great deal of work ahead of us. But today, I am proud to stand as a co-sponsor of HB 642, and I look forward to the day when this bill is passed by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Pritzker.
* The Question: Do you think leadership term limits are enough, or should they go further and term limit all legislators, or do you oppose all term limits? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
survey solution
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* Press release…
Executive Order 2021-07 Paves the Way for Emergency Utility Bill Relief for Nearly 80,000 Families
Executive Order 2021-08 Starts Transition to Low-Emission and Zero-Emission State-owned Vehicles
SPRINGFIELD—Recognizing Earth Day, Governor JB Pritzker signed two Executive Orders that put consumers and climate first, further advancing the administration’s commitment to transition to clean energy economy and protect the health, safety, and well-being of Illinois communities and consumers. The orders pave the way for a new Utility Disconnection Avoidance Program to provide $80 million in assistance to households to avoid disconnections, and a State Fleet Working Group that will move the state towards low-emission and zero-emission vehicles for future purchases and leases.
As a member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, Illinois continues to work toward meeting Paris Climate Agreement targets by implementing policies and programing that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28 percent by 2025. Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, the administration is taking concrete steps to protect Illinois’ natural resources and prepare the state’s workers and economy for the transition to a clean energy economy.
“The urgent need to address climate change, revitalize our state, and create jobs means that now is the time to transition to a clean energy economy, and this Earth Day, I’m taking action to protect our residents and the environment,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By expanding assistance for Illinois utility customers, we’re making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of customers at risk for disconnection right now – and by redirecting Illinois’ fleet of vehicles to prioritize low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, we’re setting the next generation of residents up for a better future. My administration is committed to making Illinois a leader in a clean energy and an equitable economy, and I’m proud to take another step toward fulfilling that mission.”
Executive Order 2021-07
Governor JB Pritzker today signed Executive Order 2021-07, which temporarily suspends two provisions of the Illinois Energy Assistance Act, expanding the use of available emergency relief dollars for Illinois utility customers currently at risk of service disconnections following the end of the winter moratorium, and maximizing the number of households eligible for relief. The Governor’s Executive Order paves the way for a new Utility Disconnection Avoidance Program (UDAP), allocating an estimated $80 million to help households in crisis. The expanded assistance measures will grant billing relief for nearly 80,000 current and former Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) customers currently at risk for disconnection and prevent service shutoffs due to a consumer’s inability to pay.
Illinoisans eligible for UDAP may receive a one-time credit of at least $250 up to a maximum of $5,000 for each eligible utility account. Families eligible for UDAP benefits include those who are currently on a utility disconnection list based on arrearages, as well as those who have received state energy assistance through LIHEAP or PIPP between October 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021.
Upon the filing of UDAP Emergency Rules, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will move to immediately mobilize state and federal LIHEAP funding to help clients enrolled in the program be removed from the utilities’ shutoff lists. The Department will work with utility companies and local agencies to process invoices and credit customer accounts as soon as next month.
“While the State of Illinois has helped over 180,000 families with utility and other basic household costs since the pandemic first hit, we know that there are many more in need of our help,” said DCEO Acting Director Sylvia Garcia. “For Illinois customers still facing service shutoffs, expanded safety net measures brought forward by the State, local agencies, and our utility partners will ensure those who can least afford to pay their utility bills aren’t continuously penalized as a result of the current economic challenges. For residents who continue to face difficulty paying their bills, it’s not too late to enroll to receive LIHEAP benefits through our ongoing Help Illinois Families program.”
The expanded safety net measures are available for all residents qualifying based on prior LIHEAP enrollment, regardless of provider. To conduct outreach to eligible customers, the State of Illinois is working with the six largest regulated gas and electric utilities in the state: ComEd, Ameren, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, and MidAmerican Energy. To reach additional customers beyond these service areas, the State is working with local agencies who assist with distributing LIHEAP benefits on an annual basis.
Families interested in applying for the UDAP program should contact their local LIHEAP agency. To find your local agency, please call DCEO’s dedicated Help Illinois Families hotline at 1-833-711-0374 or visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com.
This program builds on the Help for Illinois Families program, created by the Governor last year to expand emergency utility assistance to help reach an unprecedented number of families who have fallen behind on bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since June 2020, Help for Illinois Families has provided support to over 180,000 families across the state. The program is currently offering assistance to new and returning customers. Additional information can be found online at www.helpillinoisfamilies.com.
Executive Order 2021-08
Governor Pritzker today signed Executive Order 2021-08 to ensure future vehicles purchased or leased by the State of Illinois, to the extent possible, will be low-emission and zero-emission vehicles. The order also establishes a State Fleet Working Group comprised of representatives from different agencies within the administration that will lead the effort and take steps to procure and encourage the use of electric vehicles for state employees and the general public.
The State Fleet Working Group will be led by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) and will include the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), and Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). In the coming months, the working group will begin efforts to reduce emissions from the transportation sector by establishing a plan to finance the purchase of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles for state use. The group will also develop a plan for the installation of electric vehicle chargers in support of State-owned electric vehicles and create a guide to ensure the vehicles receive proper maintenance and care.
“Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, IDOT is committed to supporting and expanding green transportation practices in all facets of the work we do,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “This initiative with our partner agencies will put us on the path toward using cleaner, more efficient vehicles for the services we provide the people of Illinois.”
“Illinois EPA looks forward to collaborating with fellow Agencies as we work to identify improvements in the State Fleet while prioritizing renewable and clean energy,” said Illinois EPA Director John Kim. “This effort further represents Governor Pritzker’s commitment to clean energy and a cleaner environment for the future of Illinois.”
“The transportation sector is the largest emitting sector in the state, and widespread adoption of electric vehicles is a necessary step to fight climate change. Illinois is poised to be a leader in expanding the growth of electric vehicles on our roads and highways, and today’s Executive Order shows Illinois’s commitment to decarbonizing the transportation sector,” said Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Carrie K. Zalewski.
In addition to leading the State Fleet Working Group, CMS will develop a plan to install electric vehicle chargers on State property for employees and public-use. CMS will utilize existing funds from Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan to facilitate the buildout of electric vehicle chargers at State-leased buildings.
“Illinois continues to be a leader in finding innovative ways to meet our transportation needs while protecting the environment,” said Janel L. Forde, Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS). “Expanding the use of electric vehicles recognizes the need to transition our fleet to high-quality, low-emission vehicles.”
To reduce local air pollutants, the Illinois State Board of Education will also work in coordination with IDOT and IEPA to provide information about low-emission and zero-emission school bus options for local school districts.
Governor Pritzker’s executive actions build on past efforts and reflect his commitments to address climate and environmental matters in Illinois. In February, Governor Pritzker called on the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) to create a $15 million low-interest loan program to assist municipalities across central and southern Illinois who were financially impacted by record high natural gas prices resulting from extreme cold in Texas. To date, IFA has closed 14 low-interest, three-year loans to Illinois local governments hurt by the Texas freeze.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
4,000 Illinois homeowners and businesses tried to go solar this year – instead, they got waitlisted. A map of the waitlisted projects in each legislative district is here.
Illinois approved more than 25,000 new wind and solar projects in a few years before the state’s program went over the funding cliff in 2020.
Now thousands of Illinois residents and businesses are lined up to invest in renewable energy, but our state policy has put everything on hold.
The Illinois Power Agency ran out of funding to approve new renewable energy projects in December. With state incentives in limbo, many solar businesses across the state haven’t sold a new system all year. That puts thousands of jobs at risk unless we pass legislation to fix this.
Customers are ready to invest, solar installers are desperate to get to work and our clean energy goals are slipping further out of reach. The General Assembly needs to act before it’s too late. Take action at www.pathto100.net
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Rhetoric heats up over remap
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Despite the past documented evidence of Illinois’ Democrat leaders, including Governor JB Pritzker and new House Speaker Chris Welch, stating support for a fair, transparent and non-partisan redistricting process, they continue to press on with the current partisan process. Today, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Assistant Minority Leader Tim Butler (R-Springfield) and Assistant Minority Leader Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) again laid bare the hollowness of Democrat leaders’ past promises and pointed to how it further exacerbates the cloud of corruption and public mistrust in the state.
“Democrats have claimed to be in support of fair maps for years, but when it comes to real action they always go back on their word,” Durkin said. “Every opportunity to implement fair maps has been met with rejection by the Democrats. Their record speaks for itself.”
In 2016, then State Representative Chris Welch, co-sponsored HJRCA 58 to create an independent redistricting commission, which later passed the House with 105 YES votes. He even published an op-ed supporting the measure and stated, “The redistricting, or ‘remap,’ of state legislative districts that’s mandated by law to occur after the U.S. Census every 10 years is very important. Unfortunately, the process has often been criticized as too political and one where voters are left without a voice.
“To address these issues, I’m supporting House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 58 (HJRCA 58), which is a comprehensive, bipartisan measure that will put an independent commission in charge of drawing state legislative district boundaries and protect minority representation.”
Before the current partisan redistricting process began this spring, Republicans filed the People’s Independent Maps Act, Senate Bill 1325, using identical language from SJRCA 4, a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) in 2019. That resolution garnered 37 co-sponsors in the Senate including 18 Democrats and was nearly identical to the 2016 HJRCA 58 that Welch co-sponsored.
* Tribune editorial…
In the Senate, numerous Democratic incumbents have signed onto or sponsored bills in recent years supporting remap reform, including Sens. Scott Bennett of Champaign, Melinda Bush of Grayslake, Rachelle Crowe of Glen Carbon, Bill Cunningham of Chicago, Laura Ellman of Naperville, Laura Fine of Glenview, Ann Gillespie of Arlington Heights, Suzy Glowiak Hilton of Western Springs, David Koehler of Peoria, Julie Morrison of Lake Forest, Laura Murphy of Des Plaines and Steve Stadelman of Rockford.
Their party holds a supermajority in the Senate. Don’t let them get away with more empty rhetoric on why there is no independent commission, and why their party leaders are now behind closed doors drawing a map with districts drawn to protect their incumbency.
“They are absolutely dead silent on this issue,” House GOP Leader Jim Durkin tells us. “This is an extension of the Madigan playbook.”
* Greg Hinz…
Springfield Republicans are turning up the heat on how Democrats are handling remap, calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to stand by his vow to veto an “unfair” map, and suggesting that new House Speaker Chris Welch is beginning to govern in the style of predecessor Mike Madigan. […]
At a news conference, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin and colleagues repeatedly accused Democrats of “hypocrisy” in how they’ve handling remap, the short-hand term for decennial reapportionment of congressional, legislative and local government districts.
“The hypocrisy is at the highest level I’ve ever observed. . . .It’s a continuation of the old business model which has put Illinois in peril, both financially and ethically,” said the Western Springs Republican, referring in part to the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal that brought down Madigan.
* The response from Speaker Welch’s spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll was truncated in the above piece, so I asked for the entire thing. It’s a doozy…
Speaker Welch has never suggested that maps will be drawn solely using ACS data. As he’s reiterated numerous times, it is one of the alternative sources of data suggested by the National Conference of State Legislatures. It is one of the aggregated data sets the committee is using, just like several other states, including Oklahoma and Colorado.
But, to suggest that we are not considering all voices throughout Illinois is a lie. House Democrats have held 27 public hearings to listen to people in every part of this state about what their communities look like to them. Republicans provided no witnesses for the hearings and are choosing to dismiss the public’s input because their only goal is to rig the process for their own political benefit – just like their right-wing allies are doing across the country with no regard to public input.
In fact, the top Republican on the state’s Redistricting Committee is on record saying his criteria for a fair map is one that elects more Republicans. This political posturing by Republicans is nothing more than an attempt to disregard constitutional deadlines in a desperate hope that a single Republican appointee, who is accountable to no one, can draw the map. That is not democracy and it’s a disservice to the people of this state.
Few people showed up to the hearings, which could lead some to think that maybe not many care about this despite the polling.
…Adding… Press release…
Illinois Senate Republican Redistricting Caucus Chair Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is calling on Senate leadership to stop blocking redistricting reform legislation from advancing and to hold a hearing on his independent redistricting legislation.
“Everyone from the Senate President to the Governor has repeatedly expressed their support for redistricting reform,” Barickman said. “We have a proposal that has had bipartisan support in both chambers. The only reason to block attempts at reform is to allow one party to produce a purely partisan map. Why else would they would be hiding from this legislation now?”
Senate Bill 1325, filed by Barickman, uses identical language from SJRCA 0004, a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission that was introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) in 2019. That resolution garnered 37 co-sponsors in the Senate including 18 Democrats. A similar independent commission amendment co-sponsored by Speaker of the House Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch (D-Hillside) passed the House in 2016 with 105 YES votes.
Unfortunately for the people of Illinois, the independent redistricting legislation is being held in the Senate assignments committee, blocking it from being heard in a public committee, despite the urgent timing of the issue.
On April 21, 2021, Barickman sent a formal request to Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) to extend the Third Reading Deadline on the legislation, along with a request to Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago) asking that the legislation be released from the Assignments Committee so that it can be heard and debated in the appropriate public committee.
“The people of Illinois have been demanding that the Legislature take the power away from politicians to draw their own maps,” said Barickman. “It’s time that Democratic leaders listen to the people of Illinois and follow their own campaign promises to fix the system.”
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*** UPDATED x1 *** It’s just a bill
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
…Adding… Times change…
* Center Square…
A bill that would lower criminal penalties for possession of drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl narrowly passed the Illinois House Wednesday.
State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, defended her House Bill 3447 that opponents like state Rep. Tony McCombie worried is too expansive.
“Would heroin be included?” McCombie asked.
“Yes,” Ammons acknowledged.
The measure drops the criminal charge from a felony to a misdemeanor for what proponents said is a low level of possession. […]
Ammons said the measure is about ensuring people get medical treatment for drug addiction, rather than a jail cell.
“And give them true opportunity to treatment as opposed to saddling them with felony convictions that unfortunately we have to unravel later,” Ammons said.
She also noted the issue impacts those who may be frozen out of housing, education and job opportunities.
State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, supported House Bill 3447 and said it corrects decades of wrongs by offering a path to treatment, rather than jail.
Whenever you see a story that doesn’t have numbers in it, beware. Here’s what the story doesn’t tell you: It’s currently a Class 1 felony to possess a single gram of heroin, cocaine or fentanyl. That’s less than 0.04 ounces. The legislation would impose a Class 4 felony on possession of 3-15 grams of heroin, 3-200 grams of fentanyl and 5-15 grams of cocaine. Below that is a Class A misdemeanor. Above that, the penalties increase. There are other penalty adjustments on other drugs as well, along with some expungement language.
*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…
Yesterday, without any Republicans, the Democrats voted to move the use of heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl from a FELONY to a class A misdemeanor. After a year of releasing prisoners into our communities and passing laws to make the job of law enforcement much more difficult, House Democrats continue to make our neighborhoods more dangerous.
Instead of dealing with the real issues that Illinoisans face every day, the Democrats have prioritized significantly reducing penalties for possession and use of drugs. We need legislators who will fight for us in Springfield, on REAL ISSUES, like fighting corruption, lowering property taxes, and growing our economy.
Rich, we want to hear from YOU! Will you take our quick poll and let the Democrats know which drugs you think should remain a felony? Take the poll >>>
Do you agree that these drugs should remain a felony?
Yes
No
Hurry, this survey link expires in 48 hours! Let the Democrats know what you think RIGHT NOW >>>>
Thank you,
ILGOP Team
* Sun-Times…
Another bill that passed Wednesday would allow married couples to change the gender designations on their marriage certificate or update them with non-gendered identifiers, creating “uniformity statewide” for county clerks, said state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, the bill’s sponsor.
It passed 41 to 18, and now moves to the House.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Illinois Republicans have added a new twist to their call for an independent redistricting commission in hopes of overcoming Democrats’ claims that their plan would likely be found unconstitutional.
The new twist, discussed Wednesday during a Statehouse news conference, would be to allow two different commissions – the one they are proposing in legislation, and the one mandated after a certain point under the Illinois Constitution – to work side-by-side to come up with new legislative and congressional district maps.
* Same source…
A bill that would prevent statements and actions made by participants in restorative justice programs from being used in court proceedings passed the Illinois Senate on Wednesday in partisan vote.
Senate Bill 64, introduced by Chicago Democrat Sen. Robert Peters, would make “anything said or done” in the course of a restorative justice practice “privileged,” meaning it cannot be used “in any civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding.”
Illinois first began using restorative justice courts in 2017. According to the Illinois State Bar Association, restorative justice is meant to bring together the offenders, victims and communities to “address and repair the harm.” […]
Following a short debate on the Senate floor, the bill passed along partisan lines in a 39-17 vote and advanced to the House floor.
* Sun-Times…
A bill sponsored by state Rep. Will Guzzardi would streamline a commutation process for those imprisoned within the Illinois Department of Corrections who are “medically incapacitated and terminally ill,” allowing the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to make a faster decision on whether or not the person can return home, Guzzardi said.
* Back to Center Square…
A new bill would make buying a gun safe less expensive, but a tax expert said carve-outs won’t address issues with the state’s sales tax.
State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, sponsored House Bill 316, which would lower the sales tax on gun safes to 1%. State Rep. Jeff Keicher is a co-sponsor of the bill.
“Republicans and Democrats need to work together more on common-sense measures to keep families safe and reduce the prevalence of tragic incidents when young children get ahold of firearms stored in the home and inadvertently harm themselves or others,” Keicher said in a statement. “I am very pleased to be working with Rep. Mason to pass legislation that will make it more affordable for individuals and families to purchase a gun safe by cutting the sales tax rate to 1%.”
Mason said the bill would encourage responsible gun storage.
* Other stuff…
* Lawmakers look for ways to prevent future natural gas price surges after winter spike
* Bill would change school consolidation process
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* More than half the deaths were people in their 60s or younger. Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 3,170 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 33 additional deaths.
- Cook County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 3 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s
- DuPage County: 1 female 80s
- Effingham County: 1 female 60s
- Kane County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s
- Lake County: 3 females 60s, 1 male 80s
- LaSalle County: 1 male 40s
- Macon County: 1 male 80s
- Massac County: 1 male 60s
- McHenry County: 1 female 70s
- McLean County: 1 female 80s
- Peoria County: 1 male 80s
- Stephenson County: 1 female 40s
- Vermilion County: 1 male 70s
- Whiteside County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s
- Woodford County: 1 female 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,312,722 cases, including 21,755 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 88,336 specimens for a total of 22,008,695. As of last night, 2,147 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 511 patients were in the ICU and 238 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from April 15-21, 2021 is 3.8%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from April 15-21, 2021 is 4.4%.
The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses for Illinois is 10,581,985. A total of 8,473,953 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 123,078 doses. Yesterday, 131,411 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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Lightfoot unveils RFP for Chicago casino
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
It took three decades for city leaders to elbow state lawmakers into authorizing a Chicago casino.
It’s been almost two years since Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office finally hit the jackpot in Springfield.
And it could be another four years before the long-sought big city gambling mecca finally opens — but state regulators better not let the process drag on longer than that, an “impatient” Lightfoot warned this week.
As the first-term mayor prepared to formally invite casino developers to the table on Thursday to submit proposals to build and run Chicago’s first legal gambling house, Lightfoot threw down an early gauntlet to the Illinois Gaming Board, which has the final say on who gets the coveted casino license. […]
“Once we present a proposal to them, we’ve got to move forward expeditiously. And again, I don’t want to prejudge it, but I’m looking at the time, like the time it takes for the Gaming Board to do its work — it’s got to speed up.”
Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?
…Adding… Looks like the Gaming Board may have prevented a real problem in Rockford…
Plans for a temporary casino in Rockford hit a roadblock.
The Illinois Gaming Board has denied Giovanni’s request for a casino suppliers license. The decision came after the restaurant requested to withdraw its application at the last minute. […]
The gaming board’s administrator explained why the application was turned down “based on conduct and associations that would jeopardize the integrity of gaming and discredit or attempt to discredit the state and Illinois gaming.”
The mayor’s new RFP is here.
* Tribune…
If all goes well, the new casino would open in 2025, though there would be slot machines at Chicago airports and likely a temporary casino somewhere in the city much earlier, as the mayor counts on gambling revenue to help close huge police and fire pension shortfalls.
Before then, Lightfoot promised in-depth engagement with “community stakeholders” around the site of a project that will transform whatever neighborhood it occupies.
That process won’t resemble the protracted, litigious fight among Protect Our Parks, Jackson Park residents and the Obama Foundation that has delayed the start of construction on the Obama Presidential Center, Lightfoot said before the casino request for proposal release.
I dunno. Everybody sues about everything in Chicago. We’ll see.
By the way, those airport slots, if she does it right, could generate $37 million a year in revenues.
* CDC Gaming Reports…
Chicago isn’t limiting operators to a location within the city’s jurisdiction, saying wants the developer to create an entertainment destination that will “enhance the urban fabric” of its surrounding neighborhood.
“I’m not going to put my finger on the location scale, everyone that is a serious bidder knows this inside and out,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a virtual media briefing Tuesday.
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Show Your Work
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
If lawmakers’ goal is to create a map that ensures representation for communities of color and driven by community input, then why not show the work?
Lawmakers should showcase their redistricting work so all Illinoisans, especially people of color, can see whether the maps are in their best interest.
Let’s start with more notice for public hearings, transparency for map proposals, prioritizing the Federal Voting Rights Act and Illinois Voting Rights Act, and ensuring the public can weigh in and hear back from lawmakers about the final maps before votes are cast.
A compliance report is necessary to show how map-makers used public input and met voting rights acts requirements.
These changes can ensure that constituents in communities across Illinois understand the process.
Learn more at changeil.org.
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* Press release excerpt…
In a recently released report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (https://itep.org/taxes-and-racial-equity/), Illinois was cited for “vast disparities in income across race and ethnicity” caused in part by “injustices” in the state’s revenue policies.
The Raise Up Illinois coalition will call for addressing these injustices by ending unfair state tax breaks and other advantages for big corporations and wealthy individuals so that Illinois can invest that revenue in housing, childcare, schools and other essential services crucial to an economic recovery from the pandemic that addresses the pre-existing problem of economic inequality in the state.
* So, I asked for their specific proposals…
Reduce Tax Exemptions and Advantages that Favor High-Wealth Individuals
1) Repeal the Estate Tax Exemption Increase - $98.7 million
IL increased the estate tax exemption from $2 million in 2011 to $4 million after 2013. Expanding a tax benefit to such a small group of the very wealthiest residents cost Illinois $98.7 million in FY 2020– lost revenue that cannot be justified on economic development or equity grounds. The state should repeal this expanded exemption and restore the $2 million exemption.
2) Close the Carried Interest Loophole - $1B
Illinois private equity partnerships and hedge funds earn an estimated $4.8 billion per year in income that is classified as “carried interest” and under-taxed. The Carried Interest Loophole is a federal tax loophole that benefits a small, but very wealthy and well-connected group of billionaires, who charge a fee for investing other peoples’ money – and call it “carried interest” to get a lower tax rate than kindergarten teachers and truck drivers. SB 2124/HB3476 establishes a “privilege tax” that recaptures the revenue lost through this loophole, providing an estimated $1 billion per year for for investment in schools, healthcare, housing, jobs and clean-energy infrastructure
3) Mark to Market (being determined)
Today, people pay taxes on stocks, bonds, and other assets only when they sell them. They do not pay annual taxes on the increased value of these assets, even as they may double or triple over time. The Mark to Market Tax would tax the increase in value of these holdings at the same rate as other income. The tax would apply only to Illinoisans with assets of over $50 million dollars in value. Stock and bond holders will pay it only when they see an increase in the value of their assets, as is currently likely since the stock market continues to rise even in the face of a historically deep recession.
Reduce Off-Shore and Domestic Tax Sheltering - Generates $250+ Million for FY22 Budget
1) Conform to federal GILTI provision and consider 50% of that income as really earned in the US.
The 2017 federal tax overhaul slashed the corporate income tax rate, but also enacted new anti-abuse provisions targeted at corporate tax planning that shifts reported profits to foreign tax havens or other foreign low-tax jurisdictions. One such provision is known as “GILTI,” which stands for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income. GILTI uses a formula to identify suspiciously high foreign returns, half of which is then subject to tax at the federal level because that income is deemed to have been shifted. 12 states have already conformed to GILTI.
2) Tax income deemed repatriated under the Trump Tax Cuts at taxed at low rates
The 2017 TCJA deemed foreign earnings of US Corporations, which income was supposed to be taxed at 35% when repatriated, at a much lower tax rate. Taxpayers were also permitted to defer payment of this lower tax using a backloaded interest-free payment schedule. And so 75% of the deemed repatriation has not yet been taxed. Since much of these nominally foreign profits were really earned in the United States and shifted abroad, Illinois should tax 50% of the deemed repatriation that is still outstanding.
3) Shift from the Joyce to Finnigan model of combined reporting to combat domestic income shifting
Illinois currently uses the Joyce method of combined reporting, where nexus is determined separately for each member of a corporate group for certain purposes. This means a corporate group that is actually operating as one business could choose to organize its affairs so as to artificially depress the amount of income apportioned to Illinois. The Finnigan method treats the corporate unitary group as a single taxpayer for all purposes, which closes this loophole. 16 states already have the Finnigan method, which is more than half of the states that have combined reporting.
Decouple from Trump Tax Cut Bill’s Federal Opportunity Zones Provision [Estimate pending]
The 2017 Federal Tax & Jobs bill gave individuals and corporations three types of tax breaks if they invest in opportunity zone funds: (1) deferral of any taxes on capital gains invested into OZs until 2026 (2) lower capital gains tax rates if invested for 5+ years, even lower rates for 7+ years (3) no taxes on any capital gains invested for 10+ years. Due to these tax breaks, Illinois uses the capital gain amount left over after these tax breaks for state taxes, so these investors benefit from two tax breaks and the state loses potential revenue.
IL should decouple its own individual and corporate income taxes from the opportunity zone capital gains breaks to avoid subsidizing investments in opportunity zone projects located outside the state. IL should not forgo vitally needed revenue to subsidize out-of-state investments that will provide no benefit to the state’s economy. Decoupling does not eliminate IL’s participation in the opportunity zone program - it just means that the federal government will subsidize investments in IL opportunity zones with capital gains tax breaks, not IL.
Several states, including Alabama, California, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, do not conform to the opportunity zone tax breaks because their personal or corporate income taxes do not automatically link to the federal provisions. Four states plus the District of Columbia have proactively decoupled, some partially. North Carolina and New York have fully decoupled for both the individual and corporate income tax.
Legislation has been filed dealing with all of these proposals. Bill numbers are in the links. A bit late in the session for this, but here are the groups behind the plan…
Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU HCII, Grassroots Collaborative, The People’s Lobby, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Workers’ Center for Racial Justice, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), ONE Northside, Illinois People’s Action, People’s Action, POWER-PAC IL, COFI, Indivisible Chicago, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA)
Thoughts?
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* CBS 2…
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 13,142 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of April 12 in Illinois, according to the DOL’s weekly claims report released Thursday. […]
There were 18,986 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of April 5 in Illinois.
There were 16,182 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of March 29 in Illinois.
There were 14,189 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of March 22 in Illinois.
There were 15,595 new unemployment claims were filed in Illinois during the week of March 15.
There were 71,175 new unemployment claims filed in Illinois during the week of March 8.
One year ago during the same period, 102,736 new unemployment claims were filed after reaching a high of 141,160 the week before.
Two years ago, for the week ending April 13, a total of 7,749 new claims were filed in Illinois, which was a drop from 8,876 claims filed the week before. So, we’re nearly back to “normal.”
* National…
The number of Americans filing for first-time jobless aid last week fell to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in 2020, a sign layoffs are easing as the economy recovers.
Some 547,000 people applied for unemployment benefits in the week ended April 17, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s 39,000 fewer than the previous week and the lowest weekly number since March 14, 2020. About 133,000 others applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federal program for self-employed and gig workers.
The latest jobless claims figure is far below the roughly 1 million weekly applications the nation saw in January. But it remains more than twice its pre-pandemic level of about 250,000, showing how much further the recovery has to go.
Illinois’ week-to-week reduction represented 15 percent of the national total. Even so, this trend is being almost completely ignored by major media outside of WBBM TV.
* Peoria Journal Star…
Kami Ferguson serves up fare Wednesday, April 21, 2021 to Michelle Johnson, left, Jeff Roth, right, and Tammy Smith at Maquet’s Rail House, 221 Court Street, in Pekin.
Some things are missing right now at Jonah’s Seafood House and Oyster Bar in East Peoria.
Perhaps the most obvious absent element might be the oyster bar. It forms one-third of the restaurant-market complex along the Illinois River.
The oyster bar is closed because of another missing link: There aren’t enough Jonah’s employees available to operate it.
Bartenders, servers and kitchen workers separate from Jonah’s main restaurant are required for the oyster bar, according to Dan Ralph, the facility’s general manager. Because of issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, Jonah’s is about one-third below its full complement of 90 to 100 employees. […]
Dickinson, Maquet and Ralph cited extended unemployment benefits as one source of the worker dearth. Additional weekly payments of $300 until early September might make it worthwhile for some lower-wage restaurant workers to remain unemployed.
I get the federal benefits angle, but add that to the fact that most restaurant employees, who tend to be younger, aren’t fully vaccinated, why would they venture forth?
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Telehealth Saves Lives: Read One Man’s Story
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Jack Crowe felt a little something in his neck. When symptoms of a chest cold followed, Crowe and his wife left their cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and started driving home to Chicago.
Was it COVID-19? Crowe made a telehealth appointment with Rush University Medical Center to find out. Still far from home, Crowe told an ABC News affiliate, he was connected to a virtual care provider in five minutes.
That provider, nurse practitioner Nicole Marks, told the ABC affiliate that Crowe’s chest pain and shortness of breath were “red flags.” Crowe needed to be seen by a doctor immediately. Taking Marks’ advice, Crowe sought emergency care at a Wisconsin hospital. There, he was diagnosed with aortic dissection, a rare and serious condition of a tear in the main artery that carries blood from the heart.
“I went against my own instincts, which was to keep driving to Chicago another four hours. And if I had done that, I would have died,” said Crowe, who underwent emergency open-heart surgery.
The lifesaving care Crowe received is just one example of the urgent need to pass House Bill 3498/HA1 and make telehealth coverage and payment permanent. Visit https://protectillinoistelehealth.org/ to learn more.
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Daily Herald argues against budget cut
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald editorial…
Most suburbs took it on the chin in this pandemic year, with income millions of dollars lower than usual from taxes on goods, food and beverages, hotel rooms, gasoline and more.
But you wouldn’t expect local leaders to turn around and ask their residents and business owners — who also are hurting — to cough up more.
By the same token, the state of Illinois shouldn’t try to cure its revenue shortfall by hitting up cities and villages.
Yet, that’s what Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget would do.
The state has its eye on the Local Government Distributive Fund, which is local governments’ share of income taxes collected by the state. The governor’s budget proposal included another 10 percent reduction in what towns get. […]
While Illinois’ flat income tax is in the state constitution, the amount of the local share unfortunately is not. […]
Lawmakers, when they ultimately vote on a state budget next month, should take further cuts to this local revenue source off the table.
Municipalities are usually very good at getting news coverage and editorial support for their Springfield agendas. Not mentioned, however, is that Illinois’ local governments and schools are receiving $5 billion via the new federal relief law. Also not mentioned is another way to pay for this proposed cut.
However, there is little doubt that cuts to local governments could lead to local tax hikes. And the governor has said more than once that property taxes are a major impediment to economic development here.
…Adding… As a commenter reminded us, the Daily Herald opposed the graduated income tax proposal last year.
* Related…
* Study: American Rescue Plan allocates $2 billion to counties that don’t exist or don’t have fiscal problems
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Employers in Illinois provide prescription drug coverage for nearly 6.7 million Illinoisans. In order to help keep care more affordable, employers work with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who deploy a variety of tools to reduce prescription drug costs and help improve health outcomes. In addition to helping employers, PBMs also work with the Illinois Medicaid program in the same way to help control costs. Over the last five years, PBMs have saved the state and taxpayers nearly $340 million.
Today, Illinois faces a multibillion budget shortfall as more Illinoisans are relying on Medicaid to help meet their health care coverage needs. As legislators work to address these challenges, one way to help ensure continued cost savings is by strengthening the PBM tools that the State and employers use, which are poised to save employers, consumers and the State $39 billion over the next 10 years. These are meaningful savings that will help continue to contain costs, ensure consumer access to medicines and drive savings in public health programs.
Amid a pandemic and economic challenges, now is the time to strengthen, not limit, the tools that employers, consumers and the State rely on to manage costs and ensure consumers can access the medicines they need.
Learn more
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