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It’s just a bill

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In an 8-1 decision last week, Illinois House Transportation: Vehicles and Safety Committee members approved legislation that would stop requiring people age 79 and up to take driving tests when renewing their licenses.

“What we are trying to address is the discriminatory practice of requiring behind-the-wheel tests for seniors to renew their license,” said sponsor and state Rep. Jeff Keicher, a Sycamore Republican.

The next test is a vote in the House on Bill 4431. If that succeeds, the Senate would follow. […]

Democratic Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado of Chicago voted “present” and Democratic Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl of Northbrook was a “no,” but said “I want to keep the conversation going.”

* Capitol News Illinois…

An Illinois House committee advanced a measure that would end the state’s subminimum wage for tipped workers amid bipartisan opposition this week, but the bill’s sponsor said she’d seek further compromise before presenting it for a vote. […]

Hernandez made her comments during a lengthy hearing Wednesday in a packed committee room filled with advocates on both sides of the issue. She ultimately promised to not bring the bill to a vote in the full House without first negotiating amendments on it, but she also noted one of those changes would better address inequity within the industry and add punitive measures against “bad actors.”

Proponents of the bill said that not all employers follow the law and dependency on tips perpetuates inequalities. A 2014 report from the Economic Policy Institute think tank found at that time 66% of tipped workers were women and the poverty rate of tipped workers was almost double that of nontipped workers. […]

While the bill is intended to increase wages for tipped workers and address inequities within the industry, much of the roughly two-hour debate in the committee hearing focused on how the proposal will impact businesses and employees.

* Sun-Times Editorial Board…

Chicago is taking its time to fully phase out the subminimum wage for restaurant servers, bartenders and other tipped workers. It won’t be until 2028 when businesses will be required, under an ordinance passed by the City Council in October, to give all those employees a base pay of $15.80 per hour, the citywide minimum wage.

But already, some progressive Illinois lawmakers are pushing forward on a proposed bill that would eliminate the state’s subminimum wage for tipped workers across the state over a two-year period.

We support the end goal here, which is making sure that workers earn a decent living. But the restaurant business operates on notoriously thin profit margins, and it seems like every week we read or hear about another beloved eatery shutting down. Each closure is a blow to customers but most of all, to workers and restaurant owners. Something is lost every time a distinctive small neighborhood restaurant closes.

So we urge state lawmakers to follow the same take-it-slow approach. Let the proposal simmer a bit, continue negotiating with the industry, and most of all, first gauge how the city’s restaurants fare after Chicago implements its ordinance. That ordinance will add an 8% raise in July on the current $9.48 hourly wage for tipped workers.

* Tribune…

Following a report that revealed a number of shortcomings in the public defender system in Illinois, state lawmakers are considering a measure that would create a statewide office to provide public defenders with additional support in an effort to ensure indigent criminal defendants receive adequate legal representation. […]

But Senate President Don Harmon said in an interview that his goal for the legislation he filed on Thursday is to promote further negotiations with criminal justice reform advocates, resulting in a version that could be passed by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly before its spring session ends on May 24. […]

Under Harmon’s bill, the new office would provide unspecified support for public defenders and facilitate “a strategic planning process designed to enhance public defender services and ensure that effective assistance of counsel is rendered regardless of the jurisdiction in which charges are brought.” The bill also says the state Supreme Court “shall provide administrative and other support” through June 30, 2026. […]

The legislation is meant to address disparities in the resources allotted to county prosecutors and public defenders as well as the lack of public defense resources in rural areas — many of which don’t even have a public defender’s office — compared with larger counties, such as Cook County.

* Pantagraph…

Last week, another bill moved out of committee that would place a moratorium on carbon pipelines until a framework is in place. But that will not move forward while discussions continue on how to merge the different proposals. […]

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, this week moved several bills that would enhance the state’s Tier 2 pension system, which includes nearly all state employees hired after 2010.

While the measures are not expected to pass, they come amid robust discussion on reforms to that system. A bill that merges some of those proposals together could emerge either in the next few weeks or this fall. […]

House Bill 1168, sponsored by state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, would ensure that when a person’s DNA is collected after they’ve been a victim of a crime, it will not be entered into a DNA database.

* WGEM…

The House Judiciary-Criminal Committee passed the Nelson Mandela Act Tuesday. It would limit how long someone can spend in isolation without any time outside their cell.

“The conditions of solitary confinement are pretty horrible. It’s loud, it’s constantly bright, there’s screaming, there’s banging consistently, and all that time you’re in a cell by yourself or with one other person at any given time, usually by yourself,” said Eric Anderson, an apprentice at the Restore Justice Foundation. […]

If the bill becomes law, jails and prisons in Illinois could only hold an inmate in solitary confinement for 10 days in a 180-day period. After 10 days, the inmate could still be held in disciplinary segregation but must get at least four hours daily outside of their cell.

“Locking people in solitary does not work, it just destroys people’s minds, and that’s why we’re asking to limit it in Illinois. The bill does not eliminate it entirely, it just limits it,” said Uptown People’s Law Center Executive Director Alan Mills.

* WREX…

In 2019, students at Hononegah High School started a petition to change their mascot from the “Indians.” A dueling petition began thereafter to keep the school’s “tradition” – especially for those used to “Princess Hononegah” performing in Native dress at sporting halftimes.

Rep. Maurice West began his government career in 2019 with an eye on Hononegah. Since then, the local lawmaker sponsored a bill requiring Native American history to be taught in public schools.

And in February, Rep. West introduced HB5617 – banning Native American logos, mascots and names in Illinois K-12 schools. The act specifically targets schools using “any person, animal or object” with aspects of indigenous culture and tribes. […]

“I’ve been working on an amendment to clarify that we are not trying to change the name of Winnebago or Waukegan, for example,” says the Rockford lawmaker. “We’re not trying to change those names. Those are the names of towns. We are just focused on the imagery and the mascots themselves.”

* Farm Week…

Illinois Farm Bureau continues to communicate its opposition to the proposed “Wetlands and Small Streams Protection Act.”

The legislation, proposed by state Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, and state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish a state-level permitting program to regulate wetlands and small streams.

The reach of the proposed legislation concerns IFB as it could lead to essentially every stream and wetland in Illinois being regulated, regardless of size. […]

Sofat explained the proposed legislation allows DNR to charge a permit fee ranging from $260-$5,000. The legislation also allows DNR to charge an undisclosed amount in fees for wetland delineation.

* Here’s language from Rep. Anna Moeller’s wetland protection bill, HB5386…

Section 15. Exemptions.

(a) Consistent with Section 404(f) of the Clean Water Act, as long as they do not have as their purpose bringing a wetland or stream into a use to which it was not previously subject and do not entail discharge of toxic pollutants, the following are not prohibited by or otherwise subject to regulation under this Act:

(1) Normal farming, silviculture, and ranching activities, including plowing, seeding, cultivating, minor

SB3669 has similar language.

posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 9:28 am

Comments

Pandering is what legislators do. While I’m not looking forward to extra requirements as I age, I do recall the struggle my family had getting the keys from a very dangerous driver grandfather.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 9:43 am
What Norseman said, and thanks to Rep. Katz Muhl for expressing some reservations about eliminating tests for people much more likely to be losing their faculties

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 9:50 am
When pedestrian deaths from vehicle collisions are at a 40-year high, we are watering down precautions for drivers?

Comment by Incandenza Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 9:53 am
=trying to address is the discriminatory practice of requiring behind-the-wheel tests for seniors to renew their license,=

What Norseman said. The idea that is discriminatory is assinne. If it is discriminatory for my dad and people his age then it is for me too. Which is total nonsense. Everyone regardless of age should have to show they are competent drivers from time to time.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:10 am
==discriminatory practice of requiring behind-the-wheel tests for seniors==

How else do you propose finding out if someone over 65 is of reasonable health, has current vision/hearing, and has the reflexes and coordination necessary to operate a 4000lb. motor vehicle?

Comment by Jocko Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:11 am
===“What we are trying to address is the discriminatory practice of requiring behind-the-wheel tests for seniors to renew their license,”===

Why don’t we let 9 year-olds drive?

Is it discriminatory?

Why don’t we let toddlers drive?

Is it discriminatory?

If we have to give everyone a driving test every decade they have their license to keep this practice, I support that. This law doesn’t exist to discriminate. It exists in an effort to solve a policy problem. People continuing to drive when it is incredibly unsafe for them to do so.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:17 am
How about people continuing to govern when it is incredibly unsafe for them to do so?

Comment by Blanche Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:29 am
===How about people continuing to govern when it is incredibly unsafe for them to do so?===

I have seen no indication that age is the defining factor in what makes an elected official ‘unsafe’ at the helm of the Ship of State.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:51 am
=When pedestrian deaths from vehicle collisions are at a 40-year high, we are watering down precautions for drivers?=

Are those deaths up because 80 year olds are running them over or because average age people are staring at phones and ever more distracted?

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:13 am
Drivers 79 and up as a group are very good drivers. They should require tests if they have gotten recent tickets or chargeable accidents. Otherwise they should not be required to do so.

Comment by Dupage Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:13 am
As I get much closer to that age, I have 0 issues w/taking a driving test. I may tell myself that I’m doing great, however, I should be proving it thru the testing process. Norseman & many others commenting are correct.

Comment by Interim Retiree Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:17 am
Agree with Candy Dogood that everyone should have to get tested periodically, like maybe every second or third time they’re renewing their license. People need to be reminded of such things like a stop sign not just being a suggestion. Or it could just be that an amazing amount of cars out there have nonfunctional turn signals and barely functioning brakes.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:21 am
=Drivers 79 and up as a group are very good drivers. They should require tests if they have gotten recent tickets or chargeable accidents. Otherwise they should not be required to do so.=

Then this should apply to everyone that is a “very good driver”. Otherwise, everyone should take the test.

It is a medicala fact that as we age we experience physical and mental decline. Things like processing and reactions change. That isn’t discrimination, it is fact. What is wrong with insuring everyone stay sharp and up to standards? We must we constantly pander for votes?

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:24 am
==Drivers 65 and up as a group are very good drivers.==

And yet 2/3rds of them died in a MVA. It’s not discriminatory to say reaction time, situational awareness, vision, and motor skills decrease with age.

Comment by Jocko Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:34 am
Observation tells me that 99.9 % of the drivers that are driving dangerously at high speed , weaving in and out , not signaling , etc. ain’t the geezers/

Comment by Red Ketcher Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:49 am
===Observation tells me===

Anecdotes aren’t data.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 11:50 am
” Anecdotes aren’t data ”

Agreed

Comment by Red Ketcher Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Is Rep. Moeller trying to back-door federal EPA intrusiveness into the low spot on your property that gets a puddle when it rains?

Comment by Former ILSIP Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 12:00 pm
==federal EPA intrusiveness==

Not a fan of the environment I see.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 12:13 pm
The data actually does demonstrate that while accidents per mile traveled rise after age 70, they only get much worse over 80. Fatal crashes per mile driven are higher the 80+ crowd than for 16-17 year olds. But 70 to 79 year olds perform better than people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s on crashes.

I went into this thinking one way, but the data changed my mind today. Still need to test more for 79+, but maybe not before that. https://aaafoundation.org/rates-motor-vehicle-crashes-injuries-deaths-relation-driver-age-united-states-2014-2015/

Comment by Stormfield Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 12:22 pm
The issues with licenses are entwined with issues of public transportation. With robust light rail and bus options, seniors can give up their cars without losing their independence.

Heck, I might give up MY car if I could easily take a subway or whatever to work.

Comment by Suburban guy Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 12:46 pm
- trying to back-door federal EPA intrusiveness into the low spot on your property that gets a puddle when it rains? -

Since the SCOTUS ruled that the EPA doesn’t have the authority to regulate wetlands not connected to large bodies of water, I’d say she’s trying to re-establish what had been the status quo through state regulation. Nothing back door about it.

Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 12:51 pm
Suburban guy,
Yeah, I’m a big fan of bus/van service throughout the state. City of Chicago or near in burbs might not need it, but rural IL most definitely does. That population is aging faster than the citys’ and if you lose your license, you find yourself at the mercy of neighbors and families schedules.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 1:23 pm
My sister just had her DL renewed in Arizona. Not because she just turned 69, but because it was up for renewal after 20 (yes, Twenty) Years. Zero testing except for vision. She asked when she would have to take a road test, or rules of the road test. Answer: Never. So all of you who think it’s a good idea to have these tests, don’t ever go to Arizona because the drivers will not meet your standards for safety. Also, Illinois is the Only state that has the road test after age 79. So again, stay in Illinois at all times to enjoy the safety.

Comment by Blanche Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 1:33 pm
==don’t ever go to Arizona because the drivers will not meet your standards for safety.==

Which helps to explain why Arizona is one of the five highest states for car insurance.

Comment by Jocko Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 2:39 pm
I backed up most folks on the blog, yet my post is gone… hmmm.

Comment by Ron - In Texas Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 4:05 pm
==So again, stay in Illinois at all times to enjoy the safety==

You argue like an 8 year old

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 4:26 pm
“…as long as they do not have as their purpose bringing a wetland or stream into a use to which it was not previously subject and do not entail discharge of toxic pollutants…” So if cattle poop in the stream next to a pasture, is that a “toxic pollutant?”

The underlying premise here is that you don’t own your private property, the state does. Next it will be hoboes kayaking through your farm drainage ditch.

Comment by Payback Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 4:27 pm
Illinois has lost 90% of its original wetlands, according to the National Wetlands Inventory which is completed back in the 1980s. The US Supreme Court just eliminated protection for most wetlands. With increased flooding from climate change, reduced water quality from agricultural chemical run-off, drought, etc, now is the time to protect what’s left. No surprise IFB opposes.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 4:56 pm
===Next it will be hoboes kayaking through your farm drainage ditch===

Gotta be the most extreme slippery slope comment I’ve seen in a while.

Hoboes kayaking through the ditches!

wut

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 5:34 pm
===hoboes kayaking through your farm drainage ditch===

Grapes of raft?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 5:50 pm
- Next it will be hoboes kayaking through your farm drainage ditch. -

I think you’re onto something, not a day goes by I don’t see hoboes carrying their kayaks around looking for the right ditch that’s going to take them to the big rock candy mountain. Good luck out there.

Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 5:55 pm
=don’t ever go to Arizona =

My pleasure. Maybe you should do the same with Illinois.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 6:02 pm
Hoboken has free kayaking.

Comment by Biker Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:32 pm
I mean, that’s almost right up there with “Hippies are gonna make us kill all our dogs!!!” https://capitolfax.com/2018/05/09/hippies-are-gonna-make-us-kill-all-our-dogs

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 8, 24 @ 10:37 pm