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* Environmental Defense Fund’s senior attorney Christie Hicks…
New legislation introduced today in Illinois would bring in billions of dollars in clean energy investments, while providing quality jobs and economic opportunities for communities throughout the state. An alliance of environmental, healthcare, consumer, business and faith leaders, known as the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, gathered today to introduce the bold clean energy legislation. The Clean Energy Jobs Act would move Illinois to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, eliminate carbon pollution from the state’s power sector by 2030 and create steps to electrify the transportation sector. The bill also includes provisions to advance equity, such as preferences for companies that implement actions to ensure equitable representation in Illinois’ clean energy workforce.
“These ambitious clean energy initiatives will help Illinois drastically cut carbon pollution and improve air quality. Moreover, the Clean Energy Jobs Act places an unprecedented focus on equity. It will spur economic development and create solid jobs in the communities that are often left out of the conversation, especially those impacted by coal-plant closures.”
The bill is here.
* Greg Bishop…
State lawmakers could continue to require law enforcement agencies to track data on the race of people they pull over and pedestrians they stop.
For the past 15 years, the state has been collecting data about police traffic and pedestrian stops. The ACLU of Illinois has compiled similar statistics in reports that show in some areas of the state, police stop a disproportionate number of minorities, raising questions of police bias and racial profiling.
Springfield resident Ken Page, who once served as president of the Springfield NAACP and now serves as the president of the Springfield ACLU, said he had been targeted because of the color of his skin.
“When I asked why I was being stopped, the officer commented on the fact that I had a nice car and he said that the light over my license plate was out,” Page said. “I didn’t even bother to look at the light. I knew from friends that this is just how it worked in Springfield.”
State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, sponsored House Bill 1613 to remove a July 1, 2019, sunset of the traffic and pedestrian stop statistical study. He said collecting such data is important for police to fine-tune best practices.
* WBEZ…
The Oregon Legislature passed this week the first statewide rent control law in the country.
“It is phenomenal what is happening in Oregon. We’re looking forward to having a similar celebration very, very soon,” said Jawanza Malone, a rent control organizer in Chicago.
Chicago doesn’t have rent control. No municipality in Illinois has it. Since 1997, Illinois law has forbidden rent control.
On Tuesday, voters in several Chicago precincts approved a nonbinding measure to lift a state ban on rent control. Voters gave overwhelming support to the ballot question in precincts from the 1st, 26th, 45th and 50th wards. A similar measure was on the ballot last year and received support.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 10:59 am
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Previous Post: Calculate your ‘fair share’ under a progressive income tax
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Before the General Assembly and City Council gets involved in what a property owner can charge in rent, maybe they should get their own house in order first.
Comment by Not It Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:05 am
More left turns than a NASCAR race.
Comment by Unpopular Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:05 am
“The Clean Energy Jobs Act would move Illinois to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050″
Will there be a green ramp and how many times are we allowed to re-amortize carbon pollution?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:09 am
Will rent control include property tax control? If property taxes go up, but the rent is controlled, that would certainly be bad for rental owners.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:28 am
Rent control is great if you want dilapidated housing and less of it. It doesn’t work.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:28 am
Carbonless and no nukes is really, really hard to do.
Comment by Fav human Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:29 am
Backgrounders on energy production and sites in Illinois, along with some other tools…
https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=IL#tabs-1
I agree with the energy efficiency intro in the bill. That and local/small scale renewables would be a big job creator for Illinois.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 11:48 am
Was it discussed at the press event how much the Clean Jobs Energy Act will cost consumers?
Comment by anon Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 12:03 pm
How about price controls for health care? Price controls for college books? Price controls for university tuition? Price controls for dental procedures? Or for hearing aids? If people can’t afford all these things, maybe we need to look at the root cause, which could be an income problem not a rental market problem. Instead of finding out how to make sure people have a living wage, we will ask landlords to make up the gap instead?
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 12:07 pm
I read up on the Oregon rent control bill yesterday. I was surprised to learn that the Oregon bill allows annual increases of 7% plus inflation. In Illinois, there is mostly a discussion for or against rent control. Less of a discussion of the specifics.
Comment by My Button is Broke... Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 12:12 pm
“I read up on the Oregon rent control bill yesterday. I was surprised to learn that the Oregon bill allows annual increases of 7% plus inflation. In Illinois, there is mostly a discussion for or against rent control. Less of a discussion of the specifics.”
It is similar to the progressive tax discussion. Right now rent control cannot be done period, regardless of the structure. The advocates have rightly been focused on lifting the prohibition as opposed to the specifics (though there is that regional board thing floating out there). Lift the ban, then figure out the right structure for it.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 1:07 pm
==Lift the ban, then figure out the right structure for it.==
So we have to pass it to see what’s in it?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 1:34 pm
City Zen, 2 things. One, legislators have already said they are going to propose rates in separate legislation when they introduce/vote on the constitutional amendment. So you don’t have a leg to stand on in that complaint.
And 2, yes, we should treat different things differently. Rates have changed and will change. Brackets will change. You don’t fight rates you don’t like by stopping the progressive income tax, you fight rates you don’t like by fighting the rates you don’t like.
Comment by Perrid Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 1:59 pm
The Clean Energy Jobs Act would move Illinois to cut carbon pollution, improve air quality, spur economic development and create jobs. This is an excellent investment in the future of our state and the future of our children.
Comment by Enviro Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 3:55 pm
Unless you maintain nuclear energy this plan won’t work. It can’t provide adequate baseload. Electrical generation is a very complex balancing act and if it isn’t done correctly the system fails. Not only is “green” generation in consistent there is no method for adequate storage of “green” energy currently available. If we push this too much we can put the electrical distribution system at risk.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 4:38 pm
- Carbonless and no nukes is really, really hard to do -
Is that you Jen Walling? I know hard work is a distant concept for you but it’s not the same as impossible.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 28, 19 @ 8:21 pm