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* Rep. Dan Ugaste…
On Tuesday, State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) introduced a resolution urging a vote in the House of Representatives and Senate on legislation to make the Invest in Kids Program in Illinois permanent. House Resolution 412 urges the General Assembly to take a vote on removing the sunset provision currently in the Invest in Kids Act during the 2023 fall veto session.
“It’s common knowledge that when we invest in children and education, we reap the rewards for generations, and we need to take action when we are falling behind on these key statistics,” said Rep. Ugaste. “Currently, we are last in the nation for state economies with the most racial equality and we need to address and fix this problem. We need to make certain that we are providing equal opportunity for everybody in Illinois and that begins with action in the General Assembly. We need a straight up and down vote, not an amendment to another bill, on this critical issue. This sunset needs to be removed so we can provide more opportunities for education in Illinois.”
Rep. Ugaste referenced a 2023 study from WalletHub of the state economies with the most racial equality, where Illinois was ranked 50th out of 50 states. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, in 2021-2022, student reading proficiency rates were 30% and student math proficiency rates were 26%. Illinois public school enrollment made a nearly 7.5% drop from the 2018-2019 school year.
The Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program was enacted in 2017. It offers a 75% income tax credit to individuals and businesses that contribute to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). These SGOs then provide scholarships for families meeting income requirements to attend non-public schools and technical academies in Illinois. The Invest in Kids Act is scheduled to be repealed on January 1st, 2025.
Rep. Ugaste is a co-sponsor of two bills to extend the Invest in Kids repeal date or remove it altogether to make the program permanent. Rep. Ugaste is a member of the Opportunity Caucus, which is focused on multiple bills to enact real education reform, among other issues.
* Here’s the House Resolution from Rep. Ugaste…
Urges the General Assembly to take a vote on removing the sunset from the Invest in Kids Act during the upcoming Veto Session and make it possible for these students to continue their educations.
* WAND…
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois continues to advertise and sell health plans that fail to meet network adequacy standards in Central Illinois. Local lawmakers are furious that thousands of people still can’t see their Springfield Clinic doctors and specialists.
Eighteen months have gone by and patients are still facing the same issue. The Blue Cross directory continues to show 98 Springfield Clinic providers as in-network when they are not. […]
[Rep. Sue Scherer] has filed a bill to create transparency and harsher penalties for any insurance companies violating network adequacy standards. Her plan could require insurance groups to report any changes to their approved network plans within 15 days. Companies would face a $1,000 each day they fail to submit updated network plans.
House Bill 4126 also states that the agency’s director may prohibit network plans from being used or renewed within a county until the department determines the insurance network is adequate again. Insurers failing to update their network plan directories could face civil penalties of $5,000 per month. Scherer also believes insurance companies should audit their print and online directories for accuracy and make necessary corrections at least once every 90 days. […]
She explained the Pritzker administration and Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s Chief of Staff agree that the ghost networks must be stopped as soon as possible. Scherer would like to see her bill moved during veto session this fall rather than shelving the plan for the 2024 spring session.
* WAND…
Illinois Senate Republicans are pushing for new regulations to protect minors from harmful consequences of social media addiction. […]
“Repeated research demonstrates how social media platforms are intentionally crafted to foster addiction, promote detrimental habits, and aggravate issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and feelings of inadequacy,” said Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris). […]
Although, some are worried the plan could lead to unintended consequences for any business operating on the internet. TechNet, which represents nearly 100 innovative companies, argues that this bill contains vague requirements that provide little or no clarity on compliance with a broad impact.
“The bill does not define what a business or business entity is,” said Tyler Diers, Midwest Executive Director for TechNet. “So, think for a second about all of the websites that are likely to be accessed by a child and then think about how these websites must have the best interest of the child in mind. That would include all major news outlets, the websites of every major sports league, most online magazines and podcast channels.”
* Rep Nabeela Syed filed HB4142…
Amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Provides that an insurer may not seek information derived from genetic testing for use in connection with a policy of life insurance. Provides that an insurer may consider the results of genetic testing in connection with a policy of life insurance if the individual voluntarily submits the results and the results are favorable to the individual. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer must comply with the provisions of the Genetic Information Privacy Act in connection with the amendment, delivery, issuance, or renewal of a life insurance policy; claims for or denial of coverage under a life insurance policy; or the determination of premiums or rates under a life insurance policy.
* WTTW…
A new ordinance introduced to the Chicago City Council by Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) last Thursday would restrict sales of hemp products. Under Hopkins’ proposal, hemp products, like delta-8, could only be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries.[…]
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, is drafting alternate legislation that would create a regulatory structure similar to cannabis. It would limit sales to 21 and over, create rigorous testing and labeling requirements and impose a new tax on hemp products.
Unlike Hopkins’ ordinance, the state legislation would not mandate hemp products be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries. Ford prefers that the state create a separate hemp permit for businesses who want to sell hemp products, in addition to allowing hemp to be sold in marijuana dispensaries. […]
Ford doesn’t think banning delta-8 makes sense.
“We want to regulate it so it’s safe, clean and revenue can be generated from it. Baffles me that we would want to ban something we can’t get rid of, during a time when we need revenue,” Ford said. “Let’s put this under control of the government so our streets are safe and it’s taxed.”
* Rep. Dave Vella filed HB4143 yesterday…
Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for a period totaling and not to exceed 2 weeks (rather than an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for any week) with respect to which it is found that his total or partial unemployment is due to a stoppage of work which exists because of a labor dispute at the factory, establishment, or other premises at which he is or was last employed. Provides that, after the 2 week period, the individual will be eligible for benefits.
* HR409…
Mourns the passing of former Illinois State Representative and Assistant Minority Leader William B. “Bill” Black of Danville.
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 1:14 pm
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Ugaste Resolution….
” WHEREAS, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, someone directly involved in the quality of public education, has elected to send one of her children to a private institution”
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 1:24 pm
A $5,000 a month fine isn’t going to incentivize insurance companies to do anything. If you really want them to keep their databases updated, then a better approach would be to force them to cover listed providers as in network.
Comment by Henry Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 1:32 pm
===“It’s common knowledge that when we invest in children and education, we reap the rewards for generations, and we need to take action when we are falling behind on these key statistics,” said Rep. Ugaste. “Currently, we are last in the nation for state economies with the most racial equality and we need to address and fix this problem. We need to make certain that we are providing equal opportunity for everybody in Illinois and that begins with action in the General Assembly. We need a straight up and down vote, not an amendment to another bill, on this critical issue. This sunset needs to be removed so we can provide more opportunities for education in Illinois.”===
Now… make that about public education.
Not one thing is preventing altruistic donors to giving to kids to go to private schools. I’ve looked.
Invest in Kids is about propping up private education where they can discriminate to whom can attend and decide with testing who can continue to learn there. Invest in Kids is about the tax breaks first, the kids last, as the necessity of the tax break is so necessary… not one person has decided to fundraise away from the program to keep monies in these schools.
It’s utterly phony that “it isn’t about the money”… for the tax breaks, for the schools… and the students are the vessels to funnel tax break cash to schools needing that money.
It’s terrible policy masquerading as “altruistic educational freedom”
Let it end, let’s see the fundraising be the anger, not the carrot-ing tax breaks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 1:32 pm
I think OW made a similar observation last week, so pardon me if this is repetitive. But I have to wonder what is Ugaste’s goal? Is it to help the kids you claim to be concerned with and actually pass a bill? Or is it to get social media likes by “owning the libs?”
If it’s the latter, you’re doing great. If it’s the former, you are doing it wrong.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 1:49 pm
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a House Resolution that urges its own body to do something.
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 1:58 pm
“The Blue Cross directory continues to show 98 Springfield Clinic providers as in-network when they are not”
I am a very active detractor of Blue Cross. The database is always wrong. I had to walk into four clinics that were all supposedly part of the network to find one that actually was. The customer service was rude and generally horrible. And then they stopped taking credit cards for premium payments. I told the dude I was just going to cancel if they wouldn’t take my credit card. He wouldn’t, so I did. I’ve had so much better luck with Health Alliance and Aetna. I would never ever recommend Blue Cross to my worst enemy.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 2:18 pm
=“It’s common knowledge that when we invest in children and education, we reap the rewards for generations, and we need to take action when we are falling behind on these key statistics,” =
OW hits ths out of the park. GOVERNMENT invests in schools through public schools not private and parochial schools. That is a foundational American principle predating the revolution.
Some people just don’t seem to love America.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 2:32 pm
“GOVERNMENT invests in schools through public schools not private and parochial schools. That is a foundational American principle predating the revolution.”
SCOTUS decisions to the contrary…
Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn,
“Ultimately, the Supreme Court found that any damages or harm claimed by the taxpayers by virtue of simply being a taxpayer would be pure speculation because the issue at hand was a tax credit and not a government expenditure”
Zelman v. Simmons-Harris
“declared that the school voucher program was not in violation of the Establishment Clause…also deemed that government support for religion was constitutional if it did not occur de jure but de facto and also failed to specify or to encourage religious schools”
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 2:48 pm
===SCOTUS decisions ===
Illinois Constitution…
SECTION 3. PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES FORBIDDEN Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town, township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money, or other personal property ever be made by the State, or any such public corporation, to any church, or for any sectarian purpose.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 2:56 pm
Of the bills listed above, I’m guessing HR409 has the best chance of passage.
===But I have to wonder what is Ugaste’s goal?===
Constituent management/donor relations?
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 2:58 pm
- Roman -
There was talk to that, I too can’t remember to the specific thought I had. If you like, claim it.
The fundraising and donor list aspect of the resolution is par for the course where votes are more difficult to find. One angle, for sure.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 3:02 pm
OW & JS has it covered on my thoughts on Ugaste.
There are several things to say about the Senate MAGA GOP social media bill.
- The MAGA GOP wants to impose a regulatory, but refuses to pay for them when the bill comes.
- it’s interesting to see the hypocrisy of the MAGA GOP to be concerned about the social media impact on kids and want government intervention, while they don’t want any government involvement in correcting lies and misinformation that adversely impacts the health and wellbeing of all society.
- State level regulation of a multi-national media company doesn’t make sense. Especially when the MAGA GOP doesn’t like to pay for them.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 3:29 pm
As one who pays taxes, a deduction for charitable contributions is between 12% and 40% of a taxpayer’s income depending on the taxpayer’s income tax bracket. A SEVENTY-FIVE percent tax credit (of the final tax owed) comes off the total tax bill. Last I checked, 75% > 12% to 40%. Schooling, it’s basic math.
Comment by Huckleberry1926 Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 3:53 pm
@Norseman
The social media bill is essentially the exact same bill that California recently passed into law. Now, that law is facing a pretty steep legal battle and you can disagree with the idea of states trying to regulate multi-national media companies. But considering where the concept came from, you can’t really call it a “MAGA GOP social media bill,” unless you think California passed a MAGA social media bill and Gov. Newsom signed that into law.
Comment by Illiana Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 4:22 pm
Iliana, the MAGA GOP point goes primarily to their hypocrisy. I don’t care if they stole the bill verbatim, Newsom and California Dems are at least consistent on social media regulation.
I also don’t care about the CA origin I don’t agree with state regulation. Remembering my time on legislative staff, we used to joke that if the idea came from CA, we didn’t want it in IL.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 4:47 pm
=SCOTUS decisions to the contrary…=
To the contrary of history? That is odd, because it is a fact that public schools predate the revolution in New England going back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. I don’t think the court can negate history as much as some people are trying to rewrite it at times.
Decisions by an court that is inconsistent in following their own standards don’t really change the truth.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 21, 23 @ 5:23 pm
OW - You are very wrong on what Invest in Kids does. I would suggest you do some research on the impact that the programs has had for students on the south and west sides of Chicago.
Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Sep 22, 23 @ 10:10 am
=== You are very wrong on what Invest in Kids does. I would suggest you do some research on the impact that the programs has had for students on the south and west sides of Chicago.===
Nope. I’m spot on, thanks.
If your anecdotal is even remotely true, why o why is there a need for the tax break, who exactly is getting the monies through these kids (as vessels to funnel monies)… and the enrollment aspects and testing requirements to enter and stay entered versus open enrollment…
I’m sorry, “it’s about the money”… the tax breaks and schools reaping a windfall.
Prove me wrong by having all these altruistic donors merely donate without the program
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 22, 23 @ 10:14 am
OW - You specifically said that Invest in Kids is about discriminating against students and using testing to decide which students get to stay.
That is factually incorrect - Argue with facts.
Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Sep 22, 23 @ 11:45 am
=== You specifically said===
You are saying each of those schools have open enrollment for all students, and there’s no removal of students due to academics or other factors?
Is that your “fact”
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 22, 23 @ 11:52 am