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* Those who worry about lame ducks getting too far out of control should look at the medical marijuana bill, which came up way short yesterday afternoon in the House. The bill needed 60 votes, but when all was said and done it got 53…
After nearly two hours of sometimes passionate debate, the measure fell just a handful of votes short of the 60 needed to advance to the Senate, which must approve changes made in the House before it can go to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.
Under the legislation, certain patients could obtain medical-grade marijuana from state-regulated dealers for use in their homes.
Patients would have to receive permission from a physician to apply for a license. The Illinois Department of Public Health would then authorize the person to obtain three marijuana plants per month.
All of you know where I stand on this issue. I’m not sure this is the greatest bill in the world, however. Three plants per month seems a bit much. Not that I would know anything about that, of course.
* Here’s the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang…
* And then there was the death penalty abolition bill, which wasn’t called for a floor vote yesterday for lack of support…
A House committee [yesterday] morning voted to abolish the state’s death penalty, after a contentious debate, with critics alleging the bill was being rushed through the Legislature for political reasons.
The measure could come to a House floor vote as early as [yesterday] afternoon. “I’m still counting votes. [Monday] night we had 58,'’ said the sponsor, state Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D-Broadview. It needs 60 for House passage, and then would move to the Senate.
The House is losing some members today, so it’s fate, as they say, remains uncertain.
* Some other big stuff did pass, however. The Tenaska folks won the House round, but they have a tough fight ahead in the Senate…
The $3.5-billion “clean coal” power plant that has been the subject of a fierce lobbying war in Springfield between labor and business interests was approved on a second vote late Tuesday in the Illinois state House of Representatives.
The bill, which would require Illinois ratepayers and business users of electricity to purchase the Downstate Taylorville power plant’s output for 30 years, initially was narrowly defeated Tuesday and then was held, allowing Speaker Michael Madigan to call it for another vote later.
The Tenaska bill passed 63-50 on the second vote, after having lost by two votes the first time around.
Some lawmakers said on the floor that the second vote for the clean coal plant Downstate was a trade for the vote earlier in the day in favor of a $3-billion synthetic gas plant on Chicago’s South Side.
Subscribers know the rest of that interesting little story.
* And some sweeping changes were approved for police and firefighter pension funds in the House yesterday without much debate…
— Changes the standard retirement age for police and firefighters from age 50 to age 55. Police and firefighters could retire early starting at age 50, but would lose 6 percent for each year before 55.
– Reduces benefits to a surviving spouse from 100 percent to 67 percent of the deceased police officer’s or firefighter’s pension.
– Cost of living increases — the lesser of 3 percent or one-half of the urban consumer price index — would not kick in until a public safety employee or surviving spouse reach age 60.
– Starting in 2015, pension funds could petition the state comptroller to subtract funds from tax money owed to the cities by the state if a city does not make complete payments to the system.
* The bill received a whopping 95 votes, even though it was hotly opposed by Mayor Daley, who sent his chief legislative liaison to town yesterday…
The bill established a steep yearly payment schedule for Chicago to restore the city’s underfunded police and fire retirement funds to financial health, but Daley warned the extra $548 million the city will have to pump into city police and fire pension funds by 2015 could leave homeowners stuck with higher property taxes.
“You cannot place the financial problems on the back of every homeowner in Chicago. Besides that, every business in Chicago. That will make our city basically a city that will have a financial disaster,” Daley said.
* Roundup…
* Bill to abolish death penalty passes House committee
* Police, fire pension reforms pass Illinois House - Benefits for future hires would be reduced
* House Okays Cop, Firefighter Pension Changes
* House OKs Taylorville coal plant
* Lawmakers Finally OK Taylorville Clean Coal Plant
* Medical marijuana, death penalty on hold
* State school panel backs Huntley funding fix idea
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 9:44 am
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Tough week to propose the elimination of the death penalty with the horrific murder of two in Chicago over a car radio.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 9:56 am
Minor point of journalism: why is it that state legislators are identified by the community where their constituent service office is instead of where they live.
Karen Yarbrough lives in Maywood. Her husband is the village president. Her office is in Broadview.
It seems most appropriate to ID legislators by where they live.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 9:57 am
A Commercial Club rep on Chicago Tonight last evening claimed that the police/ff reforms will have no effect on the pension funding crisis
Chicago will face in the short term.
Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:01 am
Yeah… that’s his job.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:11 am
Carl, reporters usually identify the town where they live. I’m not sure why the SLPD did it that way.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:12 am
“You cannot place the financial problems on the back of every homeowner in Chicago”
Although I am unfamiliar with the intricacies of this bill, the responsibility for funding municipalities must fall on the backs of its residents and businesses, right?
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:14 am
Rich -
Da mare’s head of IGA is Joan Coogan. Was she really at the capitol yesterday? If so, da mare must have told her to keep a real low profile.
Comment by Mares eat oats Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:20 am
I just heard death penalty (SB3935) will be voted upon in a few mintues. Apparantly supporters have found 2 yes votes needed. can you check this?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:24 am
I know nobody wants to hear or believe this, least of all the Chicago politicians, but property taxes in Chicago for homeowners are actually relatively low, in the neighborhood of 1% of fair market value. In many suburbs and other parts of the state, they are as high as 2, 3 or 4% of fair market value.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:32 am
Prison costs lots of money too….is that a reason to end prison? Police and Prosecutors, get your people on the phones. The death penalty should exist as an option.
Comment by amalia Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:34 am
My condolences to Rich whose CapFax advertising revenues are going to take a hit now that the Coal plant legislation has passed.
Condolences also go out to all electric customers who will be subsidizing not one but two more alternate energy boondoogles that cannot live on their own merits.
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 10:58 am
Don’t feel too bad for Rich, Cincinnatus, we won’t be holding any tag days for him anytime soon. There are plenty of issues and lots of money out there.
Besides, this issue hasn’t quite yet made it through the Senate. ComEd doesn’t have as much sway in the red chamber as they did when Emil ran it, but they are still pretty good over there.
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 11:10 am
Who is the mayor kidding, I know at least 2 people who have been placed in either a new or higher paying position on the backs of the taxpayers in the last few weeks, lets load up the payroll, we’ve already taken all the money from the long-term leases. His act is really getting old.
Comment by Jim Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 11:11 am
The Lame Duck argument is a Red Herring, to keep it in the animal world. They’re elected to serve for their full terms.
I saw Kirk was sworn in as Senator. Did I miss the collapse of The Republic that was bound to happen if he wasn’t seated earlier?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 11:26 am
wordslinger,
Couldn’t agree more. It is the voter’s responsibility to hold elected official’s feet to the fire. If politicians cannot read the tea leaves about the message being sent by voters prior to a lame duck session, then the voters should call and complain and then hold the politician’s responsible for his actions next election.
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 11:46 am
Further evidence that Daley’s influence is quickly waning.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 12:34 pm
anybody have an update on the Tenaska bill in Senate Executive?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 5:14 pm
At the beginning of senate executive committee, Sen. Silverstein announced there were two bills that would not be heard at the committee hearing, even though they were scheduled to be heard:
Tenaska & Leucadia.
He said people who were there to hear the bill could clear out to make room in the standing room only committee hearing in Rm. 212. About 100 people cleared out.
Sounds like both have hit a brick wall.
Oh, and ANOTHER private company has come to the GA with hat in hand - asking consumers to take a rate hike, so they can open up shop in IL — Power HOldings wants in.
Comment by dupage progressive Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 6:22 pm
Speaking of lame ducks…did Quinn’s sales tax holiday work or not? I’m guessing that if it had he would’ve talked about it all September and October long. Or, was it that its impact was neglible and therefore not worthy of him discussing? It would be nice to finally see the results of what he predicited was going to be a boon for Illinois’ economy.
Comment by Okay Then/Will County Woman Wednesday, Dec 1, 10 @ 8:13 pm