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* Illinois State University is looking for a new president, and some are wondering if it’s a coincidence that Gov. Pat Quinn is now tinkering with ISU’s board of trustees…
Gov. Pat Quinn has taken steps to boot at least one Republican — and possibly a second — off the governing board at Illinois State University just weeks after triggering a political slugfest over Southern Illinois University trustees.
On Monday, the Democrat from Chicago nominated Barlett resident Bob Churney to replace Bloomington businessman Bob Dobski on the ISU board. The terms of Dobski and Joanne Maitland, the longest-serving trustee, officially ended in January.
Under a state law that took effect last year, their positions became vacant when Quinn took no action within 60 days of their term’s expiration. There was no indication Monday whether Maitland will be reappointed.
Joanne Maitland is former Sen. John Maitland’s wife. Not a good move by the governor. Quinn’s spokesman totally denies any ulterior motives, but…
State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, called the situation unfortunate and disappointing.
“I’m appalled at the fact he would do this and I’m appalled at how he’s done this,” said Brady, Quinn’s opponent in the 2010 gubernatorial battle. “It’s disappointing. I couldn’t thank Bob Dobski and Joanne Maitland more for their service to their ISU board.”
If he used half the energy he’s expended on university boards and applied it to something positive at the Statehouse, the governor might actually be able to get something done in the General Assembly.
* Meanwhile, the plaintiffs and the state have both asked the Illinois Supreme Court to hear a direct appeal of a county judge’s ruling on the constitutionality of cutting government health insurance benefits…
Illinois officials have agreed to ask the state Supreme Court to directly hear the appeal of cases challenging the state’s authority to begin charging retirees premiums for their state-subsidized health insurance.
If the Supreme Court agrees, it will lead to a quicker resolution of whether the state can begin charging the premiums.
Last month, Sangamon County Judge Steven Nardulli ruled that state-subsidized health insurance for retirees is not a pension benefit protected by the state Constitution. He dismissed four lawsuits that were filed seeking to stop the state from imposing insurance premiums on retirees.
Springfield attorneys Don Craven and John Myers, who filed one of the lawsuits, appealed the decision to the 4th District Appellate Court. However, they also filed a request to the Supreme Court to hear the appeal directly, bypassing the appellate court. Craven said Monday the case was likely going to end up with the Supreme Court at some point anyway.
Attorneys for the state agreed.
* And the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability projects state pension costs into the future…
The FY 14 certified contribution appropriation for the five retirement systems is a combined $6.8 billion. This is an increase of $965 million, or 16.4% compared to the current fiscal year. Under current law, estimated payments in fiscal years
2015 and 2016 are $7.0 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively. The FY 15 estimated payment is an increase of $200 million, or 3% over FY 14. The increase in FY 16 is an additional $204.7 million (3%).
The future amounts aren’t as huge as they have been, but that’s still a lot of cash.
* Roundup…
* Cahokia looking at teacher, athletics cuts: A southwestern Illinois school district is blaming cuts in state funding for its tentative plan to eliminate dozens of teaching jobs and go next school year without an athletics director, coaches or extracurricular activities.
* Editorial: A balancing act
* Editorial: Prisons becoming powder kegs
* State IOUs ripple through municipalities
* How Illinois’ gun manufacturers keep winning the regulations battle
* Gun Control Advocates Hold People’s Filibuster Against Concealed Carry
* New name emerges in Illinois Treasurer race: Carter describes himself as a “conservative media pundit and entrepreneur” who was raised in Chicago, went abroad and returned.
* Jackson Successor, Former Bear McMichael, Urlacher Brother On Ballot Today
* Illinois State University seeing fewer education students
* Community colleges see enrollment decline; LLCC up slightly
* Illinois fracking deal hits a snag
* SB 26 Medicaid expansion could cost taxpayers up to $16.0 billion more
* Paul La Schiazza: Broadband essential to Illinois consumers, businesses and jobs
* State IOUs ripple through municipalities
* IL cities, chasing revenue, go after online travel sites
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:33 pm
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=== If he used half the energy he’s expended on university boards and applied it to something positive at the Statehouse, the governor might actually be able to get something done in the General Assembly. ===
Given the firestorms at SIU and ISU, the Gov might, if it were possible, end up getting even less done in the GA by applying the same attention to statehouse matters
Comment by titan Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:46 pm
“I couldn’t thank Bob Dobski and Joanne Maitland more for their service to their ISU board.”
Interesting reaction. I don’t get the impression Brady is THAT upset his predecessor will no longer have a seat on the board.
Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:47 pm
If this meddling keeps up maybe we should start electing the trustees. The Governor picks some odd stuff to be inept about.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:51 pm
Should appointments be for life? Should the governor ignore this particular function?
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 12:56 pm
===Should appointments be for life?===
Calm down.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:00 pm
No wonder young people do not want to be teachers. The demonizing of public employees (and cuts in wages, benefits and pensions) will have a long term adverse impact on public sector employment.
Comment by wtf Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:01 pm
What’s he thinking?
Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:02 pm
In the roundup, it is amazing that SB26 is even being considered in Illinois since the cost could exceed $16B+ by placing all childless adults on Medicaid.
This is a brilliant move by the IL political class; doctors in Illinois are refusing to take Medicaid people since the state has such a poor record of paying, so let’s just jam a bunch of other people on Medicaid because it will get us more votes and besides, what could possibly go wrong?
Don’t know if this will go through or not, but it seems obvious the Illinois Democrat Party has a death wish.
Comment by qcexaminer Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:05 pm
He certainly picks some strange battles. It oft times looks as if he is totally incapable of governing.
Comment by Kerfuffle Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:17 pm
CHANGE THE LAW. or Stop complaining about Quinn or any future governor replacing Blago appointees, as it his right.
Comment by ANON Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:20 pm
===CHANGE THE LAW. or Stop complaining===
Um, dude, the CONSTITUTION says that Quinn gets to appoint, but the Senate has to then confirm. Picking needless fights with the Senate is stupid. That’s what I’m saying here. And it’s all I’m saying. These are needless battles when more important things have to be accomplished.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:22 pm
From the roundup:
Michael Scott Carter is running for State Treasurer and as a black conservative, is certain to make liberal heads explode. Look for those tolerant “progressives” to attack him as an “uncle tom” “oreo” or worse. As Al Sharpton famously said, it’s not enough to be black, you have to be the right kind of black. lol
****
So shocking to discover that in Illinois “fracking hits a snag”. Gaia Rules! Jobs Drool!
****
Why reliable QC Democrat leftwingers like Pat Verschoore and Rich’s pal Mike Jacobs have an A rating from the NRA: there are five QC area gun manufacturers in their districts accounting for hundreds of jobs.
Another great roundup Rich. So nice to have something to chew on rather than ssm, Rauner, pensions and the inevitability of Lisa.
Comment by qcexaminer Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:31 pm
@ANON:
Maitland was NOT a Blago appointee.
++++++++++++++++++++
I guess the one good thing is that Churney is an ISU grad. The bad thing is that the appearance is that: (a) Quinn is meddling in the affairs of the university by replacing members in the middle of a search for a president; and, (b) going to the Chicago area for a trustee while booting off a local from the Board. Boneheaded move.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:39 pm
Rich
Soooooooo
Every appointee that ANY governor appoints to ANY board is considered picking a fight with the senate?
Comment by ANON Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:46 pm
@ANON:
You have totally and completely missed the point. It’s all about appearances and for the Governor to do this right in the middle of the fiasco he has assisted in creating at SIU is just plain dumb. It adds more fuel to the fire. He’s put this appointee at ISU right in the middle of a hornets nest unnecessarily. It wasn’t necessary to do this right now.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:51 pm
The usual rigid scholarship from the Illinois Policy Institute — could cost between $6 billion and $16 billion more than estimated. That’s tight as a drum.
QC, what are you worried about? If physicians won’t take Medicaid patients, as you say, where’s that alleged $16 billion going? Faith-healers? Chiropractors? Witch-doctors?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:56 pm
Rich, the governor has done a great deal for ISU, and Brady is hardly an objective source.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:56 pm
Anon, stop arguing like a juvenile.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:17 pm
STL y’all go ahead and keep ignoring the Senate on this stuff and see where it gets you. Rod tried it as well. He got reined in hard.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:20 pm
And, Anon, in case you were wondering, I was referring to this comment of yours…
===Every appointee that ANY governor appoints to ANY board is considered picking a fight with the senate?===
You cannot possibly be that stupid to think this is what I meant. Maybe you think I’m that stupid.
Either way, it’s a ridiculous, childish argument. I had a teenager once, I don’t want another one. Grow up or go away.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:28 pm
Rich, what does Quinn get if he wins any of these university battles?
I mean, there’s got to be a good reason for taking hit after hit for these small prizes.
Comment by J Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:28 pm
===there’s got to be a good reason ===
Contracts, jobs, etc. immediately come to mind, as does “I’m Gumby, dammit!”
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:30 pm
It is a chance for Pat to be relevant, also by being active in things south of I-80 all be it in a dumb way it at least shows he is paying attention.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:35 pm
- qcexaminer - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 1:05 pm:
“… doctors in Illinois are refusing to take Medicaid people since the state has such a poor record of paying…”
Also the Doctor reimbursement rates from Medicaid are below the profitability level. Hey, we’re losing money on every patient, but we’ll make it up in volume!
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:41 pm
I am leaning towards “I’m Gumby,dammit!”
Of all the things to pick a fight with the legislature at this time, muddying up the trustees at university boards makes Quinn seems like like Dog in Toy Story whenever he noticed a squirrel
Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:41 pm
Illinois needs a total revamp of its public higher education governance.
Separate boards of trustees for each university and a multitude of competing campuses with divergent has only served to drive up the costs and inefficiencies of Illinois’ public universities.
We need a major consolidation into two systems like California - with a “University of Illinois” system and an “Illinois State University” system, with only TWO boards of trustees who do not keep our schools mired in overpriced parochial mediocrity.
Comment by Brendan Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:42 pm
Eh — If the Governor doesn’t do anything, he’s weak. If he does do something, he’s picking a fight. If he ignores some issues and focuses on others, he’s scattershot.
What’s a guy supposed to do?
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:44 pm
Cincinnatus, there are two basic ways of controlling Medicaid costs: 1) Kick people off the rolls/limit services; 2) Reduce payments to providers.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:45 pm
The timing of the actions are a little curious.
Could it be that the Gov is trying to demonstrate that it isn’t a personal thing with SIU trustees, Poshard, and SIU? Gov. “See it isn’t personal, I am a Equal Attacker of University boards.”
Could it be that he is in overdrive to fill appointments, that might become donors? In an upcoming election. If they are picked BEFORE they contribute is it as bad as if they donate then are picked?
I think the fumigation scenerio is a little late isn’t it? Like four or five years?
Maybe if he wins another term we can hope that at the end of that term he might begin to work on the issues facing the state today.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:48 pm
===If he does do something, he’s picking a fight.===
Wrong. Totally wrong. You’re taking a criticism and stretching it out into an extreme statement. Nobody ever said he shouldn’t do anything. “Advice and consent,” however, is in the Constitution. It cannot be ignored, even though he’s trying to.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:49 pm
==I mean, there’s got to be a good reason for taking hit after hit for these small prizes.==
“Academic politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.” (attributed to Henry Kissinger, although others said something virtually identical years before he came along).
Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:51 pm
–Also the Doctor reimbursement rates from Medicaid are below the profitability level.–
Sure. I’ve noticed a lot of doctors shaking tin cups on the way to the train.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:08 pm
The primary care Docs also just got a Medicaid fee increase.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:13 pm
Rich, I understand the point that you are trying to make regarding the University Board appointments and Governor picking unnecessary fights.
On the other hand I am not sure it is responsible for these appointments to automatically renew.
These appointments are a job duty of the Governor and if my memory is correct, Governor Edgar, during his time in office, led the change shifting these Boards from elected to appointed,
Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:15 pm
===These appointments are a job duty of the Governor ===
With the advice and consent of the Senate.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:26 pm
All of this turmoil with university board appointments is distracting from bigger issues faced right now with the GA.
I wonder if this issue has been handed to one senior staffer, with no sense of timing.
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:31 pm
Uhh…he is thinking he can do anything he wants and no one can stop him.
If a guy doesn’t kill a family in a minivan George Ryan never goes to prison. If Blago doesn’t try to sell a senate seat he is still Governor. The feds are not going after little political battles like this and the AG won’t prosecute anybody.
As long as he doesn’t kill someone or try to sell a Congressional seat on a wiretap, he can do whatever he wants.
This is who we are as a state. Time to vote for someone else, or quit complaining and wait for the crash. I say go for it Pat…you da Man.
Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:33 pm
Is it more politically prudent for the Governor to just reappoint long time appointments or does it make more sense for him to make appointments that support him?
It is my guess the appointments in question are probably not supporters of the Governor nor the GA leadership, so why are these re-appointments politically significant?
The fact that a former Senator’s wife holds one of the positions tells me these appointments were originally made for political reasons.
Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:43 pm
This isn’t completely snarky, but I’m wondering if PQ is trying to stack the deck at one of these Uni’s to give himself a career option in 2015.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 3:49 pm
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 2:45 pm:
“Cincinnatus, there are two basic ways of controlling Medicaid costs: 1) Kick people off the rolls/limit services; 2) Reduce payments to providers.”
Yup!
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:03 pm
EMS, the “former senator” was extremely well liked and thought of on both sides of the aisle
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:24 pm
BMAN, give that dinner conspiracy theory nonsense a rest. I’m no fan of Nekritz on pensions, but her integrity has never been at issue. Same with the Nardullis.
Do you believe everything you read on the website best known for posting mugshots and crash pics?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:26 pm
“Cincinnatus, there are two basic ways of controlling Medicaid costs: 1) Kick people off the rolls/limit services; 2) Reduce payments to providers.”
The sponsors of SB 26 must think there is a third way; - add people to the rolls.
Comment by capncrunch Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:32 pm
I got distracted by the wingnut earlier but came here to remind those who might have forgotten-Remember that the ISU Board Statute, and (iirc) all the other University laws, mandate that only so many members of the Board can be affiliated with the same political party. In the case of ISU, the number is four. For what it’s worth.
The ISU law also has the “elect officers in January” requirement that is part of the SIU debate.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 4:55 pm
I wonder if Quinn even knows that Maitland is the wife of a former Senator, let alone one respected by both sides of the aisle. It would be classic Quinn to be unaware of that fact.
Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 5:02 pm
AA He may want that but with the pension issue He will not be welcome
Comment by RNUG Fan Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 5:41 pm
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/09/us-usa-politics-newyork-corruption-idUSBRE9380U820130409
On corruption and conspiracy theory Well New York and Illinois never do disappoint
Comment by RNUG Fan Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 5:42 pm
I’m sure Pat Quinn must be UP at night worrying how he’s going to placate Bill Brady with appointments of spouses of FORmer state Senators–give me a break!
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 7:21 pm
He has specific a trend with regards to men’s swim outfits among the over 16. This style designer purses is very aimed at independent women. In my opinion, the Neverfull bag can not be updated. internet sites is a ardent put to an adult the LV bags and all bags for great deals. http://www.louisvuittongekiyasu.com/
Comment by ヴィトン 財布 Tuesday, Apr 9, 13 @ 11:07 pm
I agree that the Governor’s swimwear line is likely to be the deciding factor for many male voters, and I am heartened to hear that he is improving his outreach to independent women through the Neverfull bag.
Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Apr 10, 13 @ 7:58 am
Mom, lol!
“ardent put to an adult” may become one of my go-to lines here on the blog if you haven’t reserved it first.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 10, 13 @ 8:08 am