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* Appointed House member involved in a super-hot Democratic primary race…
Due to pervasive gun violence coupled with schools lacking comprehensive programming to support students whom have experienced trauma, state Rep. Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that would fund such programs through a tax on ammunition sales.
“With growing concern that local schools do not have the funds needed to address the mental health needs of students, we must look at all funding options to empower them with the necessary resources,” Pizer said. “By working with education professionals on the ground, we’re putting forward legislation that will ensure schools develop trauma-informed support systems by taxing the root of the trauma.”
Pizer’s House Bill 5651 would add a $0.02 surcharge on each bullet sold and the revenue will go to the Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Grant. This grant program enables schools to develop restorative interventions and resolution strategies that emotionally, psychologically and socially support the needs of students, rather focusing solely on disciplinary measures. This bill is supported by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), a group who represents social workers located in many setting, including schools.
“Our members are seeing an increase in trauma-related issues, particularly when it comes to youth in school settings,” Kyle Hillman of NASW said. “Gun violence is too prevalent in our communities yet mental health assistance for children exposed to this violence is not adequate. We cannot expect our children to learn when we are not taking the steps to address their emotional and psychological needs. Rep. Pizer’s bill which would bring more social workers into our schools, increase restorative justice programs and positive interventions as a much needed step toward acquiring funding to support and heal our youth.”
* Seems well-intentioned, but the issues are beyond a task force…
State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is taking action to ensure that local journalism survives in Illinois’ small towns and mid-sized cities.
“As a former journalist and news anchor, I know how important it is to have access to truly local news,” Stadelman said. “People deserve to know what’s happening in their communities, regardless of where they live.”
Senate Bill 3457 would create the Local Journalism Task Force, which would be made up of 10 individuals representing print and broadcast media, journalism schools, and state and local government. They would be charged with conducting a study on communities underserved by local journalism and making recommendations on how to preserve and restore news coverage in these areas.
“Your address should not dictate the quality and type of information you have access to,” Stadelman said. “This measure is meant to start a conversation and provide new ideas to help address shrinking press coverage in local communities.”
Declines in advertising revenue and circulation have meant that nearly half of the newsroom jobs at newspapers that existed in 2004 have since disappeared—and more than 2,000 thousand papers around the country have closed over the past 15 years.
If passed, the task force would be required to submit the findings from its study to the governor’s office, as well as the General Assembly, no later than January 1, 2022.
* Brian Mackey…
Illinois politicians would be allowed to use campaign money to pay for child care under legislation being considered in the General Assembly.
The proposal would apply to candidates, officeholders, campaign staff, and volunteers, and would allow campaign money to be spent on child care, as long as the care is necessary for the official to do political, governmental or public policy work.
The legislation came out of the Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel, which was formed in the wake of #MeToo revelations in and around Illinois government.
State Sen. Melinda Bush, a Democrat from Grayslake, said people told the panel that childcare expenses were preventing them from getting involved in politics.
“Women didn’t run for office many times because they have childcare expenses and were not able to cover those expenses,” Bush said when the measure was debated in the Senate late last month.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:52 pm
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One, sometimes insidious, thing that is growing in local papers is the “advertorial” as a means of “news”. We’ve even seen “edvertorials” in our local paper (editor column written by a major advertiser). This was headed or footed as such initially, and when it happened there was strong negative feedback from the some of the community. These just create more imbalance in local journalism and cheapen the entire paper except for the paper’s owner’s pocket book.
https://blog.nativeadvertisinginstitute.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-advertorials
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:03 pm
Correction- This was not headed or footed as such initially, and when it happened there was strong negative feedback from the some of the community.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:04 pm
I’d like to see the numbers for the childcare that’s preventing women from taking a job with base pay of $67,000. Maybe candidates. As for campaign staff, why not simply pay them more? Why divert funds in this specific way?
Campaign finance and reporting is very much not my area of expertise, what reporting would there be to monitor how much this proposal was being used?
Comment by Perrid Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:14 pm
Men and women sometimes don’t run for office because they are the sole provider for their family. Are they allowed to pay household expenses from their campaign funds because campaigning may take away time at their jobs and reduce their wages?
Not trying to start an argument but it’s a real question.
Also you can already pay for childcare now, if you pay yourself a salary from your campaign while you work on the campaign. That would allow you to pay for childcare. Just because it looks bad politically, that you give yourself a paycheck, doesn’t mean a solution isn’t there to provide for childcare.
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:16 pm
A task force is perfect. After a year of consideration, they can issue a report that recommends a commission be formed.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:19 pm
=== I’d like to see the numbers for the childcare that’s preventing women from taking a job with base pay of $67,000.===
Take 67,000 deduct a third for all taxes. (Federal, state property, sales, Medicare and payroll) Now you have $44,667 divided by 52 weeks is $859 a week. Childcare for one child at Kindercare is $420 a week. That leaves you $439 a week for everything else. Oh and at tax time you get back from the IRS $600 for childcare. So add $11.54 to that $439 to get $451.
Comment by All This Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:30 pm
The .02 cent tax on ammunition for mental health professionals is certainly thinking outside the box. Good luck with that. But, if CPC cared enough about mental health of the students we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Glad to see Rep Pizer team up with Mr. Hillman who certainly is advocating for the kids.
Comment by St. Patty's Ghost Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:31 pm
@Allthis- so why can’t the legislators who want to just collect a salary from their campaign fund? Literally campaigning never ends anymore in this state. So even though they’re in session or whatever, they are always campaigning. They can be paid a salary from their campaign.
I get that it’ll be a nice political win for the Senator but it’s a law looking for a remedy to problem that already has a solution.
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 3:23 pm
I suggest that Rep. Pizer sponsor a bill that levies a percentage of the salaries and/or pensions of police who are convicted of crimes, and use that money to address his mental health concerns for schools.
Chicago police detective Jon Burge was able to keep his entire pension after a career of torture and frameups. Then he moved to Florida, which has a homestead law that protects the primary residence from lawsuits. That’s why so many police criminals move to Florida after retirement, it’s not just for the sunny weather.
Comment by Elmer Keith Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 9:56 pm
I’m neither for nor against this new bill. Someone asked for numbers so I helped out.
Comment by All This Friday, Mar 13, 20 @ 6:12 am