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Please post your own updates in comments. Thanks.
* The House has passed a bill to bring some sanity to the recently changed lobbyist fees law. The law was struck down as unconstitutional. It imposed $1,000 annual fees for both individual lobbyists and the entities they work for. That can add up quick for small not-for-profit groups. The annual fee in this bill would be $300 and it passed 116-1 (Rep. Mell was the lone “No” vote). [UPDATE: Somebody else voted Mell’s switch and voted wrong. Oops. She corrected the record right away.] The legislation now moves to the Senate. The proposal is SB 1526.
* The “slots at tracks” language has finally surfaced. Click here to read it. This could start moving quickly. We’ll see.
* Senate committee approved the AT&T dereg bill today and it’s heading to the floor for certain passage. My intern Dan Weber talked to a representative from CUB about what they believe is still wrong with the legislation that zoomed out of the House unanimously yesterday. Take a look…
* The House approved the governor’s back to school sales tax holiday 65-51. It now moves to the Senate, where Senate President Cullerton has expressed reservations. Republican Rep. Chapin Rose has co-sponsored similar bills in the past, but he said with the budget crisis engulfing the state this is the wrong time to be taking money out of the till. He debated sponsoring Rep. Keith Farnham, a Tier One target. Watch…
* A House committee has approved the cigarette tax hike with a new change…
A House committee today narrowly approved raising cigarette taxes to provide aid for health care and schools in the cash-strapped state budget.
The 4-3 vote for Senate Bill 44, which would raise the cigarette tax by a $1 a pack, means the measure now heads to the full House.
The tax would increase from 98 cents a pack, to $1.98 cents per pack. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, said the money from the tax increase would go into the Medicaid program first and would be matched by federal dollars.
A tweak to the bill would allow the money to go into the Education Assistance Fund after the federal match. The money would be spent on special education and transportation costs.
*** UPDATE 1 - 1:43 pm *** The so-called “7 percent solution” property tax measure just passed 107-10. It now moves to the Senate.
*** UPDATE 2 - 1:59 pm *** The Senate just passed the AT&T bill 59-0. End.
*** UPDATE 3 - 2:15 pm *** Old news, but here you go…
Lawmakers might decide to simply delay making billions of dollars in state worker pension payments until January as a way of dealing with a massive budget gap, leading House and Senate Democrats said today.
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie and Sen. Donne Trotter, both Chicago Democrats, acknowledged the possibility of skipping the pension payment. The option arose after Republicans showed little support for borrowing money to balance this year’s budget.
*** UPDATE 4 - 2:33 pm *** Commenter “George” made an excellent point…
At this time, it is always most beneficial to look at what will be heard in Executive Committee hearings (today’s House Exec Committee hearing is at 4 pm).
Looks like 2 bills:
SB28 McCormick Place
SB3660 Emergency Budget Act
*** UPDATE 5 - 2:44 pm *** Rep. Randy Ramey has been getting razzed on the House floor today for his jacket. It’s much-deserved…
* Other stuff…
* State shuffling agency offices - Dropping some leases managed by Cellini-founded firm
* Rep. Rose ‘hijacks‘ Frerichs’ campus voting bill
* McCormick show of force - Exhibitors fight to shape bill they say will keep their business in the city
* Daley Not Sold on Renaming Navy Pier
* Now Or Never For Chicago’s Convention Industry
* Zorn: How does Illinois rank?
Please post your own updates in comments. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:09 pm
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Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:20 pm
It’s still early…don’t pop the champagne just yet. There’s a long, long way to go before we’re done.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:26 pm
As for the campus voting bill…
It wasn’t rocket science to get registered or vote in DeKalb. Heck my polling place was in my dorm. And if a college student doesn’t have time to vote over the 12 hours the polling places are open I will show you a kid who spends too much time at the bar.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:30 pm
The House also passed the university borrowing bill - SB640 - didn’t they?
Comment by Deep South Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:42 pm
Did your intern catch Cullerton ask (via Lightford) Bond in committee if he would be willing to amend the telecomm. bill to not let AT&T off the hook for broadband deployment in central, southern & rural areas in illinois???
It’s something they are required to do right now & this bill gets them off the hook.
Cullerton (and the rest of the senate executive committee) seemed surprised that AT&T wasn’t willing to do this. Could it be that something could be done where EVERYONE wins?
Comment by AT&T owns us all Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:44 pm
Deep South, that’s true. Keep the updates coming.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 1:46 pm
The 7% property tax “solution” has real problems. That’s why it hasn’t passed before this.
The media is too lazy and ignorant to explain the shortcomings of Houlihan’s proposal.
In some cases it does shift the tax burden from affluent homeowners to distressed businesses or to homeowners in less affluent communities.
And it’s much less effective in communities that are smaller (e.g. suburbs).
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:04 pm
Stop digging the hole! Thank you Rep. Rose -
Farnham needed some undressing on this one.
Farnham, your constituents want to see some responsible legislating - you have a few hours left before you hit the campaign trail full-time. Good luck with that.
Comment by collar observer Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:05 pm
At this time, it is always most beneficial to look at what will be heard in Executive Committee hearings (today’s House Exec Committee hearing is at 4 pm).
Looks like 2 bills:
SB28 McCormick Place
SB3660 Emergency Budget Act
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:29 pm
Good point, George. Was just going to look at that. Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:31 pm
The Capfax now has two catchphrases for usage:
Oh look, a kitty!
And
Stop digging the hole!
Comment by unclesam Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:33 pm
Hadn’t heard about the furloughs, yet. That’s a good move.
Plus, I really like the borrowing from the special funds. There is a ton of unallocated balance there that could be borrowed interest-free, and would not require the State to go out to the markets.
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:34 pm
I guess deer season is in at the capitol building.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:51 pm
If the only thing 117 House members can find to razz Randy Ramey about is his coat then we’re clearly in need of new leadership in Illinois.
Comment by Siriusly Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:53 pm
Siriusly,
Seriously? A lighthearted moment is sometimes necessary on the House floor. don’t be a killjoy
Comment by heet101 Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 2:55 pm
So, if the state legislature’s work is compressed into the last two days of the legislative session, what do they do during the other ninety days?
Then again, maybe we really don’t want to know that.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:07 pm
What bothers me about the entire Rose/Frerichs episode is that, while I agree that a college student could more than likely make their way to the voting polls on their own, neither gentlemen see that in their own area there are so many terrible nursing homes that do not allow their residents to vote and the residents cannot get out to voice their opinion. When they need their assistance the legislators refer them to agencies like mine that are poorly funded because they can’t come up with a budget. While Rose may have merit in questioning the bill, I, and about 600 nursing home residents in his area, think his reference to nursing homes was ridiculous!
Comment by Advocate Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:40 pm
Heet101 - please reread what I wrote. In case you still don’t get it, I was saying there is more there to make fun of there besides his coat. If you need me to explain it again I can use 14 point type for you.
Don’t lecture me about funny I knew funny. You’re no funny young man.
Comment by Siriusly Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:48 pm
Republicans just went to caucus. Committee meetings begin at 5pm. House is in recess until 6pm.
Comment by Nikoli Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:05 pm
I’m so glad I quit smoking. I am saving over $700 per year in just in state cigarette taxes.
Comment by Taxmandan Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:08 pm
The budget bill just popped up to be heard in the House exec committee at 5 pm now.
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:09 pm
Sorry - the bill is SB1211, House Amendment 1 (currently)
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:10 pm
regarding the cigarette tax hike: ==A tweak to the bill would allow the money to go into the Education Assistance Fund after the federal match. The money would be spent on special education and transportation costs.== was this money that was spent last year from another source, or is this new spending that increases the deficit? I’d been hoping that a sensible tax hike wouldn’t be earmarked to new spending.
Comment by Robert Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:15 pm
The House Revenue and Finance Committee is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. to discuss SB 377, the tax amnesty bill, and SB 2093, the STAR Bonds bill for Southern Illinois.
State Rep. John Bradley’s introduced another amendment (House Floor Amendment #4) which amends the one filed yesterday. Not sure what the changes are yet.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:16 pm
George at 2:34. What do you mean by “furloughs”? Thank you.
Comment by LINK Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:40 pm
LINK - The Emergency Budget Act includes furlough days for the General Assembly plus furlough days for Statewide electeds and Department Directors.
Small, but meaningful.
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:44 pm
Robert - the cig tax hike is a deficit closer, not new spending.
Comment by George Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:45 pm
Any movement on SB 3146, slots/video at the racetracks?
Comment by DE Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:52 pm
It is my recollection that Ramey’s jacket is very similar (identical?) to the ones the entire Illinois delegation wore to a national convention not that long ago.
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 4:58 pm
Aldyth - Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 3:07 pm:
So, if the state legislature’s work is compressed into the last two days of the legislative session, what do they do during the other ninety days?
Preparing for the last 2 days.
Comment by Moderate REpub Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 7:22 pm
Schnorf those jackets were awesome. Wasn’t that a Pate deal of some kind?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 10:18 pm
WS, he thought the delegation should be able to show off the Orange and Blue and be easily seen on tv. In fact they almost glowed in the dark. My recollection is of orange and blue ties too, I think i still have one somewhere. I have a picture of Edgar in his jacket with my kids. JE wasn’t too big on the polyester. I think it was the Houston convention.
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, May 6, 10 @ 11:11 pm