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Good for the goose…

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Illinois

* Heh…

The Illinois House today gave final passage to a bill that will prevent schools from conducting those brief first and last school days of the year and counting them as full days.

A short time later, the House adjourned for the week, having met for less than an hour. […]

Current Illinois law allows schools on first and last days of the year to ignore the standard rule that students must have at least five hours of class time to call it a school day, for purposes of state aid to the schools. […]

There’s no word on whether legislators will address a similar tradition in the General Assembly, in which they meet briefly on the first or last working day of the week, just long enough to qualify for their per diem payments. For example, the House convened at 11 a.m. today, and adjourned for the week before noon.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 12:58 pm

Comments

What is the per diem these days?

Comment by Stones Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:02 pm
Wow! I can already see the test scores increasing.

Comment by Blago's Hare Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:02 pm
How about we do away with all legislative pay but allow them all the bribes they can collect as long as they fully disclose them?

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:05 pm
Quite an ironic vote.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:07 pm
Perhaps this author is the wrong person to be taking someone to task for the number of hours they’re in the office.
Just saying …

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:09 pm
Wouldn’t you think that one of them would have said, “Ahhh… wait a minute….didn’t we just vote on……????….mmmmm this isn’t going to look good.”

I am wondering how many will read this blog after the fact and go, “Oops.”

Question is will it make any difference. My answer to the poll would be “No, none at all.”

Comment by Irish Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:19 pm
Hipocracy(sp) and stupidity all rolled into one legislative body.

Comment by Springfield Skeptic Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:25 pm
We could have a thread a mile long with rules, regulations, and requirements that the GA foists upon others but doesn’t apply to itself. The Open Meetings Act for starters. It’s the Golden Rule…no not that one. This one - he who has the gold makes the rules.

Comment by Foxfire Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:25 pm
And what do they expect teachers to accomplish by keeping them longer than a few minutes to get their report cards? Grades have already been finalized. So we keep the kids around longer for a play day because nothing that would be done that day would be used for their semester grade.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:41 pm
Maybe Governor Quinn could write an amendatory veto message pointing out the GA’s hypocricy, and recommend tacking on a provision that denies GA per diems for session days that last less than 5 hours. That might be the single best way to kill this bill!

Comment by cover Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:52 pm
and who is surprised????? can’t believe that the forensic audit team isn’t all over this!!

Comment by ponder this Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:55 pm
==And what do they expect teachers to accomplish by keeping them longer than a few minutes to get their report cards? Grades have already been finalized. So we keep the kids around longer for a play day because nothing that would be done that day would be used for their semester grade.==

What’s accomplished by busing thousands of kids to their schools and back again after fifteen minutes when you could have handed out their report cards the day before? Some schools don’t even allow the kids off the bus; they’ll hand out the cards on the bus. What an incredible waste of fuel.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 1:57 pm
That’s hilarious and all but, to be fair, if they held committee hearings today, many legislators put in a solid 2 or 3 hours today. (And when they start working 12 hour days and long weekends next month, I don’t think we’ll hear anybody talking about paying them overtime).

Comment by SAP Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 2:02 pm
===(And when they start working 12 hour days and long weekends next month, I don’t think we’ll hear anybody talking about paying them overtime).===

I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for them…. Maybe they could avoid those 12 hour days if they put in more full days now.

Comment by TCB Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 2:12 pm
I like it when they adjourn early. If they’re not there they can’t hurt anybody.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 2:15 pm
===What is the per diem these days?===

It’s about the same as a round of golf …Cross made sure it covered his Green fees for Golf in Springfield.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 2:55 pm
People: the word is hypocrisy. After reading the posts, I had to look it up. The last time I had this much trouble was after listening to the guys on Car Talk working on a grammar test.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 3:10 pm
it should also be noted that the bill is designed to stop school district from holding first and last day of classes in the bus turn around lane and bill taxpayers for two extra days of state aid and bus far too.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 3:13 pm
Im glad they solved that. I thought they would have waited till after the election with this hot button issue..What a joke !!

Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 3:44 pm
Pompous, artistocratic arrogance. And what can we do about it?

Comment by Repulsed at this Whole Thing Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 4:10 pm
Perfect example for the teachers and kids!

Comment by BelleAire Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 4:22 pm
Just like they dealt with the excesses of legislators’ pensions before worrying about other state pensions - not.

Comment by girlawyer Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 4:24 pm
Rich Miller….oh, snap!!!!! hilarious.

Comment by amalia Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 6:34 pm
The abnormal has become the normal….. Sad

Comment by Tired of it.... Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 7:00 pm
As Big Daddy said in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, “There’s a powerful odor of mendacity in the room!”

Comment by One of the 35 Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 9:24 pm
As a Chicago based lobbyist the earlier they leave the better

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 26, 12 @ 11:48 pm
HB 5665 also came up for debate, but evidently did not have the votes, as it was placed on postponed consideration.
http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/human-interest/31046-naacp-chicago-far-south-suburban-branch-gets-anti-fraudulent-foreclosure-bill-introduced-in-the-illinois-legislature.html

Comment by Das Man Friday, Apr 27, 12 @ 8:15 am