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* Tribune…
Measures for statewide rent relief — which would include help for tenants, landlords and homeowners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic — could hit Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk in a matter of days.
If signed into law, the COVID-19 Emergency and Economic Recovery Renter and Homeowner Protection Act, which Chicago Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez introduced Friday, would cancel rent debt and suspend mortgage payments for those experiencing hardships related to COVID-19.
“We have to make housing an absolute top priority during this special session in Springfield,” Ramirez said during a livestreamed press conference Tuesday. “If we want our families to be able to get through this pandemic, they have to have a roof over their head and not have to decide if they’re going to purchase food — or pay rent.” […]
Rep. Tim Butler, a Springfield Republican, has introduced a separate bill in the General Assembly. His would provide rent assistance for coronavirus-impacted households if their landlord agrees to participate in the program.
The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act would require landlords to not increase rental rates or charge late fees, and in return, they would receive at least 80% of the owed rent, which they would have to accept as full payment, for up to seven months of rent between April 1 and Oct. 31.
HB5574 is on First Reading in the originating chamber. The same goes for Rep. Butler’s bill.
In other words, unless this legislation is attached to different and viable vehicle bills, it is constitutionally impossible to pass those measures through both chambers by Friday.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
As the State of Illinois faces a $7 billion to $8 billion revenue shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, State Representative Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) believes lawmakers need to take steps to be part of the fiscal solution. On May 20, Rep. Grant signed on as a Chief Co-sponsor of HB 5777, which would reduce legislator pay to 2019 levels for the next fiscal year.
“While I disagree with it, enshrined in the statutes is a provision that mandates lawmakers receive an automatic cost of living adjustment (COLA) each year unless we take steps to reject the COLA,” said Grant. “Through this new bill that was filed on Monday, we would reject next year’s pay increase and also eliminate the increase we received in 2019. Honestly, I’d like to see this bill go further and include all state employees so we could make a real dent in the deficit.”
Specifically, through HB 5777, the automatic 2.6% pay raise scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2020 and the 2.4% pay raise legislators received last year would be eliminated from their pay for the next fiscal year.
From the legislative article of the Illinois Constitution…
SECTION 11. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES
A member shall receive a salary and allowances as provided by law, but changes in the salary of a member shall not take effect during the term for which he has been elected.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 9:41 am
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Not to mention the contracts clause. Don’t think they can “cancel” rent debt or suspend anyone’s mortgage payment.
Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 9:58 am
== Not to mention the contracts clause. Don’t think they can “cancel” rent debt or suspend anyone’s mortgage payment.==
That would be a huge issue to clear in one of the bills. At the very least it could spur some long court battles. Is that what we really need right now?
The other bill seems to be a voluntary acceptance of money in exchange for agreeing not to evict. That definitely seems less controversial. If both bills get us to the same point, a version closer to that might make sense.
Comment by fs Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:07 am
Rent and/or mortgage payment assistance would be a more equitable way to address the problem. The problem with cancelling any payment obligation is the impact that it has on the recipient of the payment. There’s a built in assumption that these are all banks and corporations who can absorb the expense.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:14 am
The Trib didn’t quite capture Butler’s bill accurately, I read it as renters would get a 20% break in the rent if their landlord participated in the program but still be on the hook for 80% of thier rent.
Actually the state is paying the 80% which I think landlords would actually go for if the alternative to get the full 100% is eviction and court costs for slim chance of back rent.
Aside from my general dislike of bailouts of the “haves”, this isn’t too bad of a plan.
Comment by JSS Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:18 am
Well, since the Constitution says “he” then they can rescind the raises of “shes”. /s
Comment by MidState Anon Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:21 am
There are a lot of small landlords out there with 1-5 units. It is often their entire retirement savings / income. They often don’t accept Section 8 vouchers. The second alternative, rent support payments to the landlord in place of owed rent, would be the better alternative. Otherwise you may bankrupt those landlords if this goes on a long time, and then will just have more people homeless and the small landlords on welfare … not the desired outcome.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:24 am
Butler’s bill is the better of the 2 bills & likely a good idea that the new fund would prioritize having federal funds go to it over state funds.
Comment by Blake Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:24 am
For Grant’s bill, just add a new fund with a catchy acronym and allow legislators to voluntarily contribute to the fund. Salary remains the same but deductions from the salary increase. As a fun added measure, make the contributions public information and shame your colleagues for not contributing.
Comment by JSS Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:25 am
Mom and Pop Landlords are being roasted during these times when people can’t\don’t pay rent. Many people playing the system instead of keeping up with their obligations. Not all landlords are big corporations. Deep 6 both of these garbage bills.
Comment by I come to collect the rent Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:29 am
Amy Grant and the Republicans have been reduced to showmanship rather than leadership.. they have all become Skillicorned
Comment by NotRich Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:32 am
Reducing legislator and state employee pay will make “a real dent” in the state deficit?
It’s more like a drop of rain in Lake Michigan.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:33 am
== Mom and Pop Landlords are being roasted during these times when people can’t\don’t pay rent. Many people playing the system instead of keeping up with their obligations. Not all landlords are big corporations. Deep 6 both of these garbage bills.==
Mom and pop are going to hurt a lot more if they end up with nothing plus having to spend money on evictions. That’s why something similar to Butler’s bill makes sense, and something a lot of landlords would probably jump at.
Comment by fs Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:34 am
== Honestly, I’d like to see this bill go further and include all state employees so we could make a real dent in the deficit. ==
How generous of you to offer to give my pay away, even though I’m still working full time for a fraction of what I’d get in the private sector for my level of experience.
Comment by State Attorney Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 10:43 am
I’m not sure about either of those bills. I’d like to see the landlords who actually accept section 8 come out ahead because they actually accept it. Most landlords I suspect are going to work out agreements if they like their tenants and banks are definitely incented to adjust the terms of their contracts. I’m not sure the state can afford to get involved in this matter right now.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:05 am
Rose Twitter wants to use the pandemic to implement rent control, which will actually be more harmful to price points and access in gentrifying neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, they’re all advocating that people vote Green in the Fall, thereby giving Trump another victory.
Time to kick these bozos out of the Party.
Carls Rosa, Byron Sigcho Lopez, Will Guzzardi…bunch of grandstanding buffoons.
Comment by Blue Beard Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 11:22 am
Blue Beard
None of the people you cited are calling for people to vote for the Green Party.
Comment by PeoriaDem Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:00 pm
==There are a lot of small landlords out there with 1-5 units. It is often their entire retirement savings / income==
No one said *their* retirement could not be diminished or impaired.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:51 pm
PeoriaDem: At least one of the alderman’s wives is throwing a hissy fit on Twitter and telling people to vote Green. They’re all friends and lovers under the same tent of being anti-DNC because Bernie couldn’t get elected.
Do some research.
Comment by Blue Beard Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 12:52 pm
- At least one of the alderman’s wives is throwing a hissy fit on Twitter and telling people to vote Green. They’re all friends and lovers under the same tent of being anti-DNC because Bernie couldn’t get elected. -
Seems airtight to me, throw the bums out, let’s take the democratic out of Democratic Party.
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:08 pm
== No one said *their* retirement could not be diminished or impaired ==
Assuming the landlords have leases, US Contract Law protects them. And if government takes that income from them by interfering in that contractual relationship, there might be a case against the government under the 5th Amendment Takings Clause (which originally only applied to Federal government) which was extended to State and Local governments by the 14th Amendment.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 1:40 pm
- -At least one of the alderman’s wives is throwing a hissy fit on Twitter and telling people to vote Green.- -
That’s not an argument, that’s a red herring.
Comment by Fly like an eagle Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 2:19 pm
Ramirez’s HB 5574 is on the move. HA1 filed to it, now with 24 co-sponsors:
http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5574&GAID=15&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=126252&SessionID=108&GA=101
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 4:38 pm
The Government can’t force landlords to forgive rent as it would be a taking without due process.
Comment by burbanite Wednesday, May 20, 20 @ 7:10 pm