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5:20 pm - Cindi Canary of the IL Campaign for Political Reform is now testifying against the governor’s ethics language, which was put on SB780 (FA 1). The language was initially the guv’s amendatory veto of the ethics bill that was overridden today
BTW, the GOP members of the committee aren’t here yet.
Canary: In ongoing negotiations with guv on this bill. “It’s not ready for prime time yet.”. Could invite lawsuits from contractors. Discriminates against some public employees and not others.
Sponsor DeLeo: let’s pass this and work on other problems later.
Sen Clayborne: This bill still needs work.
Sen Hendon grills Canary: “You don’t really believe that they’re [those arguing the bill needs work] going to come up with another bill, do you?”
Hendon also said he thought Canary’s opposition was about this: “You just want to slap the governor.”
VOTE: 10-0
4:30 pm - The Senate overrode the guv’s ethics AV 55-0.
UPDATE: Speaker Madigan shot back at Blagojevich over Ali Ata & Tony Rezko…
“I would think what motivates him not to give the money back is that he probably needs the money to pay his criminal defense costs. That’s what drives him,” Madigan said. “His method for quite a while has been to attempt to tie me into anything he can think of. And most of it is up in the outer reaches of his mind. I don’t think he’s going to change. What are you going to do?”
3:45 pm - The Governor said this morning that he had no idea his campaign fund has been holding onto $65,000 given by a former Ali Ata:
“I learned about that today,” Blagojevich said, referring to a Chicago Sun-Times story about the contributions from Ali D. Ata, former chief of the Illinois Finance Authority. “I was told about that. We’re going to look into that.”
Pressed by reporters during a Chicago news conference, Blagojevich replied, “I didn’t pay attention. . . . We’re going to work through the process and sort it out.”
3:14 pm - Blagojevich/Jones move afoot to strip CTA $ out of the supplemental approp in the wake of the guv/CTA/Daley “cuckoo” spat. Lobsters are scrambling.
UPDATE: Guv’s office denies involvement in any attempt to take $ away from CTA and it may be dropped. Stay tuned.
Also, the Senate Exec chairman is refusing to move the guv’s “ethics bill” until after the ethics AV is overridden.
* 1:40 pm - Speaker Madigan just proposed talks with the Senate over appropriations - including state parks and alcohol/drug abuse programs. MJM also told House members to prepare to be in session Tuesday.
Meanwhile in the Senate, the plan at this time is reportedly to override the thics veto then run the guv’s AV language to a stand-alone bill. The Senate will run the House-passed sweeps bill as-is and do another for Medicaid. The talks will be over how to spend the money from sweeps.
By the way, President Jones was at the Speaker’s podium while MJM made the announcement of a probable Tuesday session and the desire for negotiations.
* 11:40 am - The governor has called another special session for today. The subject is mandating autism coverage by insurance companies. More in a bit.
* 11:44 am - From the governor’s press release…
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich called a second
special session of the General Assembly for today to
discuss and act on a bill to expand health insurance
coverage for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Thousands of children in Illinois have been diagnosed
with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and families often
have to cover the cost of treatment for children with
autism using personal funds because their insurance
won’t cover it. […]This special session marks the Governor’s third
attempt since the spring session to pass language to
ensure healthcare coverage for children with autism.
The language stalled multiple times in the Illinois
House when legislators put process before people. The
original bill, Senate Bill 1900, did not pass the
General Assembly despite broad bipartisan support.
When that bill failed, the Governor used his
amendatory veto power to add this language to two
pieces of legislation; both amendatory vetoes died in
the House. […]In order to move legislation forward, the Governor
today urged the House and Senate to amend this
language into an existing bill and pass the bill to
the other chamber today. One bill that could be
amended is Senate Bill 871, which is currently
awaiting third reading in the Senate. The House also
has the option of passing House Bill 415, sponsored
by State Senator James DeLeo (D-Chicago), which was
amended in August to add the autism language and is
already sitting in the Illinois House
* 11:48 am - The autism special session is today at 2 o’clock. The other special session starts at 1 o’clock. There are no bills numbers specified in the official proclamation.
pp
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 11:41 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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so, how many special sessions are we on?
Comment by bored on 1 Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 11:54 am
Has this clown. . er, excuse me, the Honorable Governor. . . ever given even a brief thought to working within the system. As is set forth in the Illinois Constituion (he does have someone on his staff who has read it, doesn’t he?) sets forth pretty clearly when the House and Senate convene for the Spring session. They’re there–in regular session–most of February, March, April and May. Bills are introduced, sent for review to committees, some sent to the floor (amended or not). . there’s a whole PROCESS to making laws. It involves working together, public input, hearing pro and con on the issues, evaluating costs, etc. The Honorable Governor (a/k/a this clown) just doesn’t GET IT! Gee, Governor, did you ever think trying something DIFFERENT might improve your poll numbers? It all leads me to believe–I am being absolutely serious now–he doesn’t WANT to ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING except getting some publicity. If I’m being “excessively rabid” or making “gratuitous insults” I’m sorry, but this guy just doesn’t understand playing nice!
Comment by Ivote Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 11:57 am
Is there some sort of legal requirement mandating a certain amount of advance notice that the governor is supposed to give in calling these special sessions? Otherwise, it just appears to me that Gov. sleazy is trying to goad the Illinois House into voting an article of Impeachment against him for Abuse of Power.
Comment by fedup dem Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:05 pm
I am curious as to how many members of the House are actually in Springfield?
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:12 pm
Though not entirely on point, I feel compelled to mention that a local (DeKalb County) resource for adults with developmental disabilities–including autism–is awaiting $775,000 owed to it by the state and will be in real trouble real soon. Bet it’s not the only one.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/09/19/news/local/doc48d342ef60885966939037.txt
Shouldn’t attention be paid to existing obligations first?
Comment by yinn Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:13 pm
Ivote - you are right on target. Preach it brother!
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:15 pm
I still detect a whiff of the George Ryan “Humanitarianism in the Face of Indictment” technique.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:18 pm
Perhaps he is simply trying to fill up the daily schedule so they can’t do any other business, like over ride his AVs.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:25 pm
So, I guess that means no coverage for children with autism because the Speaker doesn’t like Rod. Nice.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:34 pm
Seriously, is there a strategy to the subject chosen for these special sessions? If the special sessions are designed to approve the governor’s “ethics reforms,” why is he calling a special session for health insurance coverage of autism?
Maybe I’m missing something (and maybe I need to subscribe to CapFax, but I can’t afford it!). But it seems to me that there’s a real break with reality going on in the Governor’s office.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:34 pm
Ivote, there was a bill that moved through the system; SB 1900 that was possibly the most sponsored bill in the session. It became a casualty of the “rules amendment” that was tacked on at the very last minute. I was sitting with the House sponsor in committee when a staffer told him, “adopt the amendment or your bill never sees the floor for a vote”. So the question is if the rules amendment was so necessary, why was it not added to other insurance mandates that were allowed to pass this session? HB 415 was amended in the Senate this summer, sent to the House, where once again it was not acted upon. Yeah, maybe Blagojevich has other reasons but ultimately these families and kids are truly suffering and it seems people are playing games with their lives. Please look beyond the politics and show compassion for the children. Autism is an unbelievably devastating disorder. Parents worked extremely hard this session at every stage of the process, look up the vote to see how well we did.
Comment by Laura Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:39 pm
Both chambers have worked on ins. for autism all year. The Senate refused to pass SB 1900 as amended because HA 1 gives the Gov no rulemaking authority. Now the Gov wants to be autism champion?
Comment by AsAMom Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:42 pm
Bill,
I agree with you that this isn’t a bad idea, but I don’t think calling a special on it is the answer.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:43 pm
Bill - I also agree that covering children with autism is critical - but the Gov is just using it for a stunt - and that should be unacceptable by anyone’s standards.
Comment by fed up dem too (II) Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:50 pm
AsAMom,
That is exactly my point. HA1 is a poison pill written and added to every bill to usurp the governor’s constitutional authority.HA1 made the bill bad public policy at the very least and unconstitutional at worst. Without this ridiculous feud HA1 would not have been added and this bill would be law.
OneMan is right. Calling a special is not the answer but for this to get done now it is the only hope.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:50 pm
Like he is doing with ethics, the Governor is AGAIN trying to be the hero on the autism issue, when HE is the sole reason it hasn’t passed.
SB1900 stalled because of the rulemaking amendment. An amendment that only came into creation because of the Governor’s refusal to work with JCAR, a bipartisan body that has overseen the rulemaking process for decades.
Once again, if he wants to point a finger, he should look in the mirror.
Comment by Wigand Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:52 pm
Claiming that opponents to a bill are not movivated by logic but are mean, immoral, stupid, ignorant, racist, sexist, or lemmings are the kind of comments that are wrecking public dialog.
Government shouldn’t consider itself so important that politicians believe they are our saviors when they propose legislation and attack opponents of their bills.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:53 pm
===An amendment that only came into creation because of the Governor’s refusal to work with JCAR,===
Actually, it “came into creation” because of the Speaker’s vindictive vendetta against the governor.
After all, he plays chess while the rest of us…
oh well… you know
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:57 pm
yinn, Rumor has it that SAVE in Belleville is closing one of their facilities and in financial trouble at the other because of the long wait to get their allotted state funding. The clients at Save are adults, many without family. While I agree that insuring children with autism is important, the gov has totally lost sight of the harm he’s doing to people who have noone to care for them.
Comment by eek Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:58 pm
Huh? Wasn’t autism funding cut from the budget? I guess you need your insurance to pay for it since TAP (The Autism Project) will no longer have the reources to help you.
Comment by Anon Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 12:59 pm
“The
original bill, Senate Bill 1900, did not pass the
General Assembly despite broad bipartisan support”
Huh? If it had broad bi-partisan support it would have passed. I know the argument; other items in the bill made it fail (amendment), but hear we go again, the Gov legislating from the executive branch because he didn’t do the work to get it done in regular session.
Regardless of how “good” the bill is (and you can call me what you want, the definition of autism in the original bill was out of scope, in other words it would have insured kids that are not clinically autistic), you can’t just go against the GAs wishes and pull out your pen and tack whole bills onto an AV. It boggles my mind how he still just doesn’t get it. Its almost like he thinks the only time he can work is when we are in special session. Will someone please let him know he can work the GA during regualr session too? Maybe its taht simple.
To the Bill, if you want socialized health Care then go for it, just let the people know they are going to pay for it. If you want to mandate this of insurance companies, that’s fine, but let “the people” know that they are going to pay for it though higher premiums, co pays, salary, jobs, taxes, whatever. I mean who wouldn’t want to give health care to autistic children? But why stop there? How about those who get Cancer? Or have any debilitating disease what so ever? Then tell me how you are going to pay for it.
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:02 pm
All right, since you asked.
First of all, all Americans deserve the same quality of health insurance that the taxpayers provide for their elected officials. Health insurance should be made affordable to most Americans. For those that cannnot afford it, a government subsidized plan should be made available.
Regulating insurance companies would be a start. Do you think it is a coincidence that the highest skyscrapers on the most valuable real estate in most major American cities are owned by insurance companies. Did you know that insurance company executives, even those who work for “non-profits” are some of the highest paid CEOs in the U.S.? A little more for us and a little less for them would be a start.
For the subsidy, part of the money we don’t spend in the Middle East could be used to pay for that.
Since we can expect no action from Washington for a few more months we really should try to make life better for our citizens right here in Illinois. That is what this bill would have done before the poison pill ammendment.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:14 pm
“How about those who get Cancer”
Already do mandate that
Comment by jj Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:14 pm
If the governor is looking for good PR on these special sessions, I doubt if he’s getting it. I don’t think the public is paying attention. Lot of stuff going on in he world right now.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:16 pm
I have an autistic child myself and certainly appreciate anything that can be done to help. But the governor’s stunts (and that’s what they are) are doing more harm than good.
Simply requiring insurance companies to cover everything will, over time, have the effect of making insurance unaffordable for most people, and thereby pretty much worthless. Just as All Kids coverage is, or soon will be, pretty much worthless because no providers will take it.
The no-rulemaking amendment existed for a reason: because Blago insists upon circumventing the rulemaking process. While Madigan may have gone a bit overboard by attaching this amendment to every bill he could get his hands on, he did have a valid point.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:17 pm
Those of us with insurance will never have the coverage that our elected officials have. Now why would that be? The very ones who pass the laws always take care of themselves first. It’s always been that way and never will change. The most we can hope for is some kind of basic coverage for the uninsured. In politics, only benefits for politicians are equal. The rest of us must fend for ourselves.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:24 pm
The Autism Program (TAP)/Hope School has already received millions of our tax dollars every year (that means at least $12.5 million so far) and I have yet to hear from anyone who has actually been helped by them. They are also poised to receive another $10.2 million every year if the Senate concurs with the House’s override of the Governor’s reduction veto. It is shameful. Parents have been going to their legislators for years complaining about the lack of accountability through TAP, yet our legislators have been strongly discouraged from asking too many questions. Now TAP/Hope School just got awarded an additional $900K Federal Grant to do what they were charged with doing years ago when they got their first $2.5mil from the IL legislature. I wonder what they spent the money on instead…maybe their director’s salary, which, for living in central Illinois, was almost half a million dollars in 2006. It seems egregious that a not-for-profit in Springfield would pay a director for this when families of children with autism are losing their homes in order to pay for the basic services that TAP won’t provide (such as speech). Our kids deserve better.
-Christina Saracino Blakey
Comment by Christina Saracino Blakey Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:25 pm
Bill,
I think it is inaccurate to state that the rulemaking “usurps” the Governor’s “constitutional authority.” The rulemaking in question deals with the Governor’s authority under statute NOT under the constitution. It’s the General Assembly’s prerogative, when enacting a statute, to determine whether and to what extent the Governor should be given administrative discretion in implementing the command of the legislature. Given that we are discussing BILLS THAT HAVE NOT YET BECOME LAW, it is simply false to state that the rulemaking amendment usurps the Governor’s authority. You can’t usurp something that doesn’t yet exist. Please, in your ideological fervor, constrain yourself to making factual statements.
Comment by Lou Holtz Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:27 pm
Bill - I agree it is something we should do (ins. autism disorders) we disagree on the method. The end does NOT justify the means.
Comment by AsAMom Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:28 pm
First of all, all Americans deserve the same quality of health insurance that the taxpayers provide for their elected officials.
Really? Where in the constitution does it say that? This is America, live the dream and work for it.
Health insurance should be made affordable to most Americans. For those that cannot afford it, a government subsidized plan should be made available.
Ok I agree, our citizens who are not capable of taking care of themselves should be subsidized. Wait a minute, what are the largest percentages of state budget going to? Health care, What is growing at the largest rate? Health Care. I agree with the inch, not the mile. Why? Because no one has been able to do it without sacrificing care, and I am not ready to do that.
Regulating insurance companies would be a start.
Are you kidding me? Insurance is one of the most regulated industries period. Do you know an insurance company can not raise a products rate without the states approval? Do you know how long it takes to get it and how many hoops you have to jump through to get one? So that means every rate increase, every drop in coverage, is approved by the state. Not only are they one of the most regulated, they pay 100% of their regulation (the dept of insurance is run on fees charged to insurance companies, and of course our Gov has raided it for 10s of millions since he has been here).
Do you think it is a coincidence that the highest skyscrapers on the most valuable real estate in most major American cities are owned by insurance companies. Did you know that insurance company executives, even those who work for “non-profits” are some of the highest paid CEOs in the U.S.?
Sure, but for every stat you show me about “executives” I can show you stats that have clearly stated that Insurance companies operate on some of the smallest profit margins of any industry (between 3% and 4%).
While I agree Insurance companies are not free from problems however, they don’t have any more than most industry that is regulated. For every liberal, anti business “stat” you want to quote, I can quote the opposite (and have just as credible sources), and I am sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Insurance companies are not the only problem in the health care game; in fact I would say there are several other entities that play a much larger role in these problems.
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:32 pm
Anonymous - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:17 pm:
I have an autistic child myself and certainly appreciate anything that can be done to help. But the governor’s stunts (and that’s what they are) are doing more harm than good.
Simply requiring insurance companies to cover everything will, over time, have the effect of making insurance unaffordable for most people, and thereby pretty much worthless. Just as All Kids coverage is, or soon will be, pretty much worthless because no providers will take it.
The no-rulemaking amendment existed for a reason: because Blago insists upon circumventing the rulemaking process. While Madigan may have gone a bit overboard by attaching this amendment to every bill he could get his hands on, he did have a valid point.
Thank you for bringing me back to the point of the blog. I could not agree with you comments more.
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:35 pm
“we disagree on the method. ”
What, that the House vote on a bill that has passed the Senate and is on concurrence?
The humanity!!
Comment by jj Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:41 pm
Moderate Repub the definition for children in SB 1900 was “diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders according to the most recent DSM IV” that is a very clinical definition. Regarding the “broad bi-partisan support” please look at the voting record on SB 1900, it should be evident. As far as estimated costs associated with this benefit - the increase in premiums, if passed on to the consumers is estimated at less than 1%. The cap at $36,000 is relatively low when you consider a 3 day hospital stay could easily incur that amount and many families spend quite a bit more. The cost of residential placement in IL is around $120,000 - $150,000 per year. Treating the children now saves money.
The Rules amendment arguement would be a sound one had it been required on all bills addressing insurance mandates this session but that is simply not the case.
Anon, as far as TAP is concerned their “cuts” actually just kept them at previous years funding levels and it won’t impact the families as they don’t provide direct services to the kids other than diagnosis and even that service seems sparse relative to the need and funding level.
Comment by Laura Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:43 pm
Gang…first off, I think this would be Special Session 26 of the 95th General Assembly; a record. Secondly, nobody is saying that treatment for autistic kids isn’t necessary, it is and it’s been going on for eons. What’s at stake here is the administration’s penchant to mandate that employers pick up the $350 million tab for the costs associated with the treatment (the administration’s number, not mine). According to the CDC, 6.7 children out of 1,000 have some identifiable condition related to autism. Not a huge number, unless one of those 6.7 happens to be your kid. But once again, the Governor makes great television by trotting out unfortunate kids with a solution that in the long run will cost $350 million in payroll cuts. Like his health care proposals…too big, too expensive and tragically too little results to show for the price tag.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:47 pm
Payroll cuts???
I guess it is just unthinkable to some of you that the corporations just make a little less profit and provide for the people who do the real work that actually makes the profits, its employees. I doubt that any upper level management types have to worry about their health insurance and what it covers.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:55 pm
Laura, I said introduced version, and I already acknowledged that it died because of a hostile amendment. I was trying to make the point that the Gov didn’t work it hard enough during regular session and has taken an arguably unconstitional action to get his bidding done. I know the bill; it was not opposed by the industry or small business in its final form (or I guess before the rule making language). However, in its introductory form, they all had objections. As far as the cost of the FINAL bill I agree it was minimal (hence no objection from small business or Insurance Companies). My point, to sum it up in a few words, is that the Gov is going about this process in the wrong manner (to put it lightly) and the slippery slope argument on covering ONLY certain populations such as autistic children. I apologize if you took it to mean otherwise (admittedly I am not the best writer in the world but I like to think I know what goes on around the dome).
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:57 pm
This is Rod trying to save us from some trap the Republicans have set for Obama, I’m sure.
I’m disgusted that the governor is using these families as one of his pawns, especially since he sacrifices pawns all the time. Blago set this up with a heart-tugging “victim” in the families with autistics to try and pin it on the heartless and cruel Speaker. If he would only try to do things right from the start, perhaps he wouldn’t need to be playing this sick game with people’s lives.
Blago cares nothing for those families, or their issue.
Comment by ex-Chicagoan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:58 pm
Moderate Repub. Arn’t utilities also government regulated. Look what happened there…
Comment by eek Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:58 pm
eek - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:58 pm:
Moderate Repub. Arn’t utilities also government regulated. Look what happened there…
Ummm, no they were deregulated. And yes, look what happened there (in Illinois) deregulation in other states has been successful. IT depends on the market in individual states. But this is a discussion for another day.
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:00 pm
If you know what goes on around the dome, then you know that what killed this bill was HA1 and you know that HA1 was tacked on to every bill possible as part of the feud between Madigan and Blagojevich. Everybody worked hard on this bill, even the governor’s staff, believe it or not. Madigan killed it.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:02 pm
Moderate Repub - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:00 pm:
eek - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 1:58 pm:
Moderate Repub. Arn’t utilities also government regulated. Look what happened there…
Sorry, i think you mean is there over sight of utilities. Yes there is. But in Illinois Utilities were deregulated in the market sense. I think we are talking apples and oranges with utilities and insurance companies
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:03 pm
Instead of forcing insurance companies to cover the cost of autism (or any other exploitable misfortune), why not mandate that doctors and hospitals treat the victims for free? Why use insurance companies as whipping boys? Put the cost squarely on the people and institutions who create the bill to begin with.
Comment by Captain Flume Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:05 pm
ex
There is no personal “upside” for the governor. He could have done nothing and let the issue fester. He called the special because this issue is important for people and providing coverage is essential to their quality of life.
It is the right thing to do.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:06 pm
Bill - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:02 pm:
If you know what goes on around the dome, then you know that what killed this bill was HA1 and you know that HA1 was tacked on to every bill possible as part of the feud between Madigan and Blagojevich. Everybody worked hard on this bill, even the governor’s staff, believe it or not. Madigan killed it.
Yeah I know, it was everywhere. I acknowledged the fact it was the amendment that killed it in the two previous posts. Rich wrote about it incessantly (the rules language), didn’t think I had to say any thing more than “the amendment killed it”. I am sure there were Gov staff that worked this bill, but they didn’t draft it. My point is that the Gov is using an arguably unconstitutional action to get his bidding done. He doesn’t have the power to do it.
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:10 pm
The hifalutin constitutional talk is a bunch of hooey. Other insurance mandates got through the house without HA1. Sure, Blago sucks. But is that the reason for Madigan to pick this bill for a supposed constitutional stand? And now that the new bill (HB415?) is being passed from Senate to House without an AV, what’s the constitutional issue now?
Comment by Hogwash Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:15 pm
- Bill - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:06 pm:
ex
There is no personal “upside” for the governor. He could have done nothing and let the issue fester. He called the special because this issue is important for people and providing coverage is essential to their quality of life.
It is the right thing to do.
LOL! Hes doing it to get a press pop so he can stand on his soap box.
You say To-mat-o I say Tomat-oe
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:15 pm
Moderate Repub - sorry, point taken, yeah, as originally introduced, I too would have opposed but luckily we worked out those issues. I understand the slipperly slope issue too but we do mandate coverage for select diseases and/or treatments and since autism is explicitly excluded in most policies and has unique challenges, we felt it necessary. This year many other states have also mandated this type of coverage. I think as far as the families are concerned they don’t care how it gets done or who does it, they are just in very desperate circumstances and need help.
Comment by Laura Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:17 pm
As a parent of two children with Autism, someone who served on the advisory board for TAP, someone who’s children particpated in some model programs for TAP, and as a special education attendent, I really feel obligated to say that while some of the programs TAP says they offer are nice, there is very little to help families with the problems they face day to day having children with autism. Both of our children were diagnosed by TAP after being on a 6-9 month waiting list, which you would think would be shorter considering the money they already have. Yoga, music, therapy, and potty training classes are nice, but does it help our children to talk, or help with their meltdowns, or do what an RDI or ABA consultant could do for them in school or help with the myriad of medical conditions that go along with autism? An insurance bill would help individual families get what they need for their specific child to deal with what they think their child needs. As someone who’s been doing this for a while, I would much rather see money go to the Children’s Waiver, so that money goes directly to the families for their needs and an insurance bill would take out the stress of worrying that everytime we go the doctor or therapist, that something might be coded autism and not be paid for. We have done a lot on our own to this point, and our children probably will not need everything that is covered under the insurance bill, but many families do and if you think TAP can do the same things as this bill, I’m afraid you are mistaken. We are all in the same boat and a bill impacting insurance will have an impact on many, many families and not just the few that recieve benefits from TAP. When we want to help our children it is sometime hard to see the broader picture and promote change for all of our children instead of just a few. Increasing funding for TAP would not make the larger change needed for all kids in our state. Things like the children’s waiver and the insurance bill can.
Comment by Nicholeparent Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:26 pm
===Meanwhile in the Senate, the plan at this time is reportedly to override the thics veto then run the guv’s AV language to a stand-alone bill. The Senate will run the House-passed sweeps bill as-is and do another for Medicaid===
I’ll believe it when I see it, but is anyone else pleasantly suprised?
Comment by The Doc Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:28 pm
If there is a Constitutional Convention, who wants to bet that the calling of special sessions will be addressed?
Comment by Squideshi Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:30 pm
…and why is it again that Rod wants a “press pop”? At this point there is no upside no matter what he does. I think he has decided to continue to fight for people, to get things done for people, without regard for the press, the naysayers in the GA, or anyone else.
He certainly has the constitutional power to call a special which is exactly what he did. If the GA wants to, again, ignore the special needs of autistic children to continue the game of gotcha (chess?)between the Speaker and Governor, well, they have the constitutional power to do that, too. I just think that it is all really sad.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:31 pm
Good Lord, Bill is certain back in classic form.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:55 pm
If I ever decide to swim with the sharks, I want Bill as my Wingman !
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:57 pm
The Governor seems to have ignored the needs of autistic children and their families until recently. Why wasn’t this issue on his legislative agenda from the outset, or part of his campaign back in ‘02? The really sad part is that he has no interest in process, only in self-image. He acts autocratically and he and his sycophants whine when his will is questioned or opposed. Legislators are the elected officials authorized to make the laws. They need to be cajoled, flattered, and even reasoned with to get them on the side of a bill you want passed. And that process needs to be repeated many times over a period of time. Abusing the amendatory veto and the special session decree hardly cajoles, flatters, or reasons with a legislator.
Comment by Captain Flume Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:03 pm
Any updates from the chambers?
Comment by Anonish Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:03 pm
===They need to be cajoled, flattered, and even reasoned with to get them on the side of a bill you want passed.===
Maybe they should try voting on the merits of the bill instead.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:05 pm
I apologize but my computer feed didn’t come through to listen to the House but did I hear correctly that Rep. Black asked that SB 1900 be discharged from Rules and Currie said, “no”?
Comment by Laura Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:09 pm
Captain Flume, it’s my recollection that we did not have any “no” votes on SB 1900 in either chamber. We may have had a few voting present.
Comment by Laura Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:11 pm
== Maybe they should try voting on the merits of the bill instead. ==
If THAT was the legislative m.o., the spring session could be wrapped up in March.
Comment by Captain Flume Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:12 pm
When we label children in order to get financial assistance, we often see them remain labeled. No prgress is made. As we assist families with needs, we often see these needs continually unfilled. No progress is made.
We have seen this trend for over 50 years. Questioning this trend often resulted in accusations over emotional heartlessness and blemished reputations. An entire political party rolled out a welcome mat to the latest greivances and victims in return for their political support. Bureaucracies and organizations were established to justify, process, collect tax monies, and distribute them. Charities which were once the focus on a specific need, discovered government competition driving them away and reducing their non-partisan roles.
It is good to help people. But it doesn’t have to be done through government mandates and force-funded through taxation. There are better ways to do this, but there appears to be too many political benefits to those who clamor, those who claim their status of victimhood to be greater than their neighbor’s, and few left to defend the rest of us. We continually watch a society based on entitlement replacing a society based on reality.
There is only so much money that can be taken away from citizens to fund these social programs. We see that some governments have gone too far and are seeing economic difficulties being suffered by those taxpayers not receiving a portion of redistributed wealth from their neighbors.
Blagojevich is untouchable when he hides behind autistic children and their families. Anyone who questions him will suffer name calling and accusations of being a heartless Scrooge. Regardless of the actual merits of this program, it’s costs, it’s lifecycle, and how it intends to solve this societal challenge, intelligent debate is stiffled by those seeking political gains at everyone else’s expense. As long as we run from real world solutions and instead allow politicians to justify parasitic Band-Aids, we lose.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:21 pm
===3:14 pm - Blagojevicj/Jpnes move afoot to strip CTA $ out of the supplemental approp in the wake of the guv/CTA/Daley “cuckoo” spat. Lobsters are scrambling.==
That’s mature….
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 3:22 pm
It’s not a program VM and sorry but I pay a fortune in insurance premiums so why do our kids not deserve to be treated for a medical condition, it’s neurobiologically based not developmental. There is no tax premiums at issue for this. The insurance companies took their opposition off the bill. Actuarial figures anticipated approximately a $2.00 increase in premiums if passed on to consumers.
Comment by Laura Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:00 pm
heh - our distinguished colleagues in the Senate give NO DEBATE to a bill to help homeowners in this time of crisis?
Comment by jj Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:01 pm
As I typed the other post quickly on the way out the door, I just want to elaborate quickly that though I think our governor is one of the worst we’ve seen, it seems like the speaker is the one pulling stunts for his own agenda on this autism insurance bill and though I find TAP to be ineffective in dealing with autism in our state, families who are getting something from them shouldn’t need to worry as it’s my understanding that their funding will not be cut, only that it will not be increased. I’m sure there are some good people working at TAP and maybe someday they will get it together enough to really have an impact, but in the meantime, it comes down to what works and what is a good fiscal decision for our state. Increasing funding for the children’s waiver makes fiscal sense, as we get federal matching dollars that can increase and can help more children. Passing an insurance bill makes sense as it costs the state zero dollars. If the goal here is to help individuals and families dealing with autism, at a minimum, the speaker could at least go a route that is more effective and more fiscally responsible for the state. It’s not going to be a huge milestone for these families, but it does help and seems like a step in the right direction.
Comment by Nicholeparent Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:03 pm
The bottom line is that these Democrats cannot govern. They have the House, Senate, and Governor’s Office and they can’t get anything done. This is a total embarrassment for Illinois. All this finger-pointing and nothing is getting accomplished. Our budget is a mess, our state parks are closing, we pay more for less services, our politicians are more corrupt, and our politicians want raises for running our state into the ground. Democrats have total control your party deserves all the blame - no excuses.
Comment by Holdingontomywallet Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:19 pm
“I would think what motivates him not to give the money back is that he probably needs the money to pay his criminal defense costs. That’s what drives him,” Madigan said.
So much for the Denver hugs…
Comment by Bill Baar Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:20 pm
Agree “Holding…”, these Dems can’t govern. Put Cross in charge.
Now, what was Madigan’s excuse for not returning his Rezko money? Criminal defense costs, too?
Or did that Rezko money get distributed to Dem House candidates across the State?
Comment by jj Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:28 pm
Bill says, “…and why is it again that Rod wants a “press pop”? At this point there is no upside no matter what he does.”
So Bill, then why does he continue to search out press opportunities for things that he knows will never pass the legislature? And why does he come up with these things during a Special Session? Wouldn’t this whole autism subject have been better addressed in the past session during his State of the State speech and make that one of the major points of legislation he wanted to see passed (in addition to an ethics bill)? If autism is so important to him now, why wait until a Special Session to unveil it?
I believe he is the most inept governor we have ever had. The press can work hugely in favor of a politician. Look at how Obama made his VP announcement - text messages. But Blago thinks he can govern using his method, whatever that is. His Friday 5 p.m. press releases don’t hardly warrant any attention at all. You’re right, there is no upside to anything he does, period. This whole mess at the statehouse will continue until January 2011 when Blago gets out of the way.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:31 pm
Obama has to be cringing as the childishness starts to escalate in Springfield again. Don’t know how much it will hurt him, but is certainly won’t help any.
Comment by BigDog Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:37 pm
==“I would think what motivates him not to give the money back is that he probably needs the money to pay his criminal defense costs. That’s what drives him,” Madigan said.==
Since when does Michael Madigan know what drives Rod Blagojevich?
He doesn’t know, yet he felt obligated to make a comment like this?
Are we living in some kind of new era where what passes for political discourse is emotional ridiculous over-the-top statements over things we haven’t a clue? It is one thing to jest over a public misstatement or snicker over an opponent’s attempts at grandiosity, but it looks like we are heading to a new low each week, doesn’t it?
Rod Blagojevich isn’t a good governor, but to just make statements like this one without any evidence shows how low even our elected officials are becoming.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:37 pm
It’s been an “up” day for the Governor, so far. From what I can tell, all but one of his amendatory vetoes - one dealing with fees for county law libraries - has been overrriden in the Senate.
Comment by Springfield Alum Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:46 pm
==The Senate overrode the guv’s ethics AV 55-0==
Hooray! Maybe there is hope in this state after all!!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:50 pm
Words — at least words of the kind that are printable in a family blog — fail me about this governor. Evidently, they fail even the Illinois State Senate too.
Perhaps if the governor is going to rule or at least reign over the state by stunt, press release and special session, they ought to just install electronic voting devices in the district offices of all the state legislators, so that they can spend as much time in their home towns as the governor spends in his.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:52 pm
I suppose that hug at the DNC in Denver was just a temporary thing?
Comment by Levois Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 4:53 pm
Contrary to Bill’s rant, the Gov. is just pursuing his usual strategy here. But, mixed in this particular issue is the ONLY point Blago has right - the Speaker and the President have way too much power over the actual passage of legislation. It will be interesting to see if the “mushrooms” ever get fed up and take that power away.
Comment by Mr. Wizard Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:02 pm
Several comments have suggested that the blame for the failure of SB1900 rests with Madigan because the House added the “no-rules” amendment. The implication being that Madigan cares more about the spat with the Governor than he does about sick kids. This isn’t entirely fair.
The reason that SB1900 is not law is because the Senate refused to concur with Ham01. The Senate could have concurred with the amendment, and the bill would now be law (or at least would be enrolled). But it is not law…
Jones (and most likely Blago by proxy) decided that the rule language was more important than sick kids–and the bill died.
Now, this is not necessarily the wrong argument. It may be that the issues concerning the administrative rules are more important that insurance coverage for autism. That is valid political argument. But it is not valid to charge only one side with deciding that the rules amendment is more important that autism coverage. Both chambers took that position,
Comment by duck duck goose Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:11 pm
What happened with the mandatory autism coverage bill? I can’t believe I’m saying it, but for ONCE (and ONLY once!!!) I have to agree with Elvis. I don’t care who or where it came from, but autistic children should be availed of treatment when their families have medical insurance. Period. And no, I don’t mind personally paying a few extra bucks a month so that thousands of kids can get the treatment they deserve.
Now, Rod, about those thousands of developmentally disabled children whose funding you and YOU ALONE cut …
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:13 pm
VM-the operative words in Madigan’s statement were ‘think’ and ‘probably’. The guy is entitled to his thoughts and opinions and in my opinion I think Madigan has been more than paitent with Rod. Afterall, Rod started out a number of years ago calling the House a bunch of drunken sailors, geez, so the sailor hic-ups back once in a while. Rod’s excuse for not disposing of the money? He didn’t pay attention.
Comment by Princess Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:13 pm
Regarding Hugs: To paraphrase an old saying - Hugs don’t count, Good Cook’n Do ! They need to cook up some sane legislation on approps and capital and proceed with it and the subsequent AV over rides. And the necessary controls over guv’s “discretion”. The Ethics bill process seems to be the new map to success with the gridlock environment. End run the guv’s petty and punitive M.O.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:15 pm
Laura - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:17 pm:
Moderate Repub - sorry, point taken, yeah, as originally introduced, I too would have opposed but luckily we worked out those issues. I understand the slipperly slope issue too but we do mandate coverage for select diseases and/or treatments and since autism is explicitly excluded in most policies and has unique challenges, we felt it necessary. This year many other states have also mandated this type of coverage. I think as far as the families are concerned they don’t care how it gets done or who does it, they are just in very desperate circumstances and need help.
Sorry, I had to go away from the computer . To your comment, yes, I hear you, its a philosophical disagreement, what is your point?
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:18 pm
It’s all enough to give politicians a bad name.
Comment by Ahem Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:19 pm
Bill - Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 2:31 pm:
…and why is it again that Rod wants a “press pop”? At this point there is no upside no matter what he does.
Why? Because that is all he knows how to do, govern by press release.
I think he has decided to continue to fight for people, to get things done for people, without regard for the press, the naysayers in the GA, or anyone else.
I disagree, I think he has only selfish concerns.
He certainly has the constitutional power to call a special which is exactly what he did. If the GA wants to, again, ignore the special needs of autistic children to continue the game of gotcha (chess?)between the Speaker and Governor, well, they have the constitutional power to do that, too. I just think that it is all really sad.
You don’t think he has abused his power when it comes to special sessions? However, I agree it is sad, but nothing new hear.
Comment by Moderate Repub Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:23 pm
Christina Saracino Blakey gets it wrong on several levels…
1. The moneys received by The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) have been used to build the largest statewide autism resource network in the nation. It is a model which other states are seeking to emulate.
2. TAP’s 12 statewide centers have trained more than 16,000 physicians to screen for and manage autism spectrum disorders. Further, more than 16,000 families of children with an autism spectrum disorder have received FREE services from TAP.
3. TAP’s community resource rooms are available to families, teachers, health care professionals and others working with a child or adult with an ASD. All materials are free.
4. Yes, TAP did recently receive a three-year grant for $300,000 annually. As one of only six model programs in the nation, the federal government awarded the funding to TAP to advance the “medical home” model – making sure that MORE children had access to coordinated, comprehensive care.
5. The annual salary of the president and CEO of The Hope Institute (TAP’s administrator) is nowhere near a half million dollars annually. In 2006, the salary level was higher than normal because it included a student loan repayment provision which The Hope Institute board decided to undertake in a single year rather than over the course of a number of years.
6. For FY 2008, the president’s salary was below the national and state averages for nonprofit executive compensation for similar organizations of a similar size and function. Moreover, the president turned down pay raises over several years while building the Hope Institute and serving so many Illinois children and their families.
Mark Schmidt
Chief Communication Officer
The Hope Institute
Comment by Mark Schmidt Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:40 pm
Kudos to Madigan.
Comment by Can't Use My Nickname Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:49 pm
Anyone who questions the value of The Autism Program hasn’t been talking to the parents or grandparents I know. Potty training isn’t “nice” — it’s necessary! Social skills groups help my grandson relate better to his siblings and might allow him to have friends. Yes, there is a waiting list for some TAP services, but it’s no worse than the waiting list to see a fee-for-service health care professional. And TAP’s services are FREE.
Maybe I’m greedy, but I want it all. We need TAP. We need insurance. We need it all. What we DON’T need is the squabbling — both in government and in the autism community.
Comment by Concerned Grandad Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 5:58 pm
Welfare is a “social program.” Job training for the disadvantaged is a “social program.” Comprehensive treatment for autistic children and their families is medical treatment. The families have to be counseled on how to best help their child on a daily basis and cope with the stress involved. Again, medical treatment. Some of the comments just seem rather insensitive to me, and I don’t even know anyone with an autistic child. But, it can certainly happen to anyone, and those of us who are blessed to have healthy children should be thankful for that and sensitive to those whose living hell we can’t even begin to imagine.
You know what? You’re about to be foreclosed on and the devil (or Hitler or Saddam Hussein, you get the picture) hands you 10 grand to get you out of it, no strings or soul-selling attached. You’re gonna turn him down?
It just seems like some folks are more interested in preventing Elvis from getting a press pop than in getting what’s fair for disabled children and their families. Trust me, all the press pops in the world ain’t enough to save Elvis at this point.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 6:12 pm
Hendon sounding like he’s already got Emil’s job and trying it on for size with those remarks, nothing new there. Please, less egomania and more bipartisan give and take, “Hollywood”.
Comment by Gregor Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 6:37 pm
All that Dems care about is money. How and when can I get more. They don’t care about children with or without disabilities. Michael Madigan should walk in the shoes of parents with children with disabilities and see how much TAP would be useful. But then again all he cares about is himself. When is up for reelection? We need to clean up house.
Comment by Boscobud Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 6:45 pm
John D’Amico must laugh all the way to the bank!
Comment by Deep Water Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 6:49 pm
To “Moderate” Repub: “This is America, live the dream and work for it.” That is an incredibly offensive statement. People who work really hard in America don’t get insurance, can’t afford insurance, risk their health without insurance. Please don’t give us that baloney about working hard. That is really, really offensive to lots and lots of people who struggle without insurance. This is America, buddy. Get with the program and love your brothers and sisters.
Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 6:51 pm
I don’t have a child with autism, but I’ve heard about TAP from parents who do. They tell me that the program has done great things for their kids. I’ve met teachers who have used the TAP resource center, free of charge. It seems to me that this program is providing valuable services and materials that doctors simply can’t. Does it have to be “either-or”? Why can’t we have TAP and insurance?
Comment by Churchmom Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 7:13 pm
Cindi testifying AGAINST ethics. That’s a laugh. I used to think that she was above the fray. I guess not. I wonder what her price was. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 7:45 pm
Apparently not. Elvis is only doing this to deflect all the negative press and political heat he’s getting for cutting all the funds to agencies that provide services to the mentally disabled and their families. It’s much easier for him to slash their funds with both hands, while using his mouth to pontificate how private entities spend THEIR money. But, it is the right thing to do …
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 7:53 pm
Churchmom,
REALLY? I am a parent and I run a support group of more than 350 families throughout the State of Illinois and NOT ONE has received any meaningful help. And I’m not an anonymous poster. I’d be happy to go on the record about my experience.
Comment by Christina Saracino Blakey Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 8:18 pm
To set the record straight…
1. The moneys received by TAP have been used to build the largest statewide autism resource network in the nation. It is a model which other states are seeking to emulate.
2. TAP’s 12 statewide centers have trained more than 16,000 physicians to screen for and manage autism spectrum disorders. Further, more than 16,000 families of children with an autism spectrum disorder have received FREE services from TAP.
3. TAP’s community resource rooms are available to families, teachers, health care professionals and others working with a child or adult with an ASD. All materials are free.
4. Yes, TAP did recently receive a three-year grant for $300,000 annually. As one of only six model programs in the nation, the federal government awarded the funding to TAP to advance the “medical home” model – making sure that MORE children had access to coordinated, comprehensive care.
5. The annual salary of the president and CEO of The Hope Institute (TAP’s administrator) is nowhere near a half million dollars annually. In 2006, the salary level was higher than normal because it included a student loan repayment provision which The Hope Institute board decided to undertake in a single year rather than over the course of a number of years.
6. For FY 2008, the president’s salary was below the national and state averages for nonprofit executive compensation for similar organizations of a similar size and function. Moreover, the president turned down pay raises over several years while building the Hope Institute and serving so many Illinois children and their families.
Mark Schmidt
Chief Communication Officer
The Hope Institute
The Autism Program of Illinois
Comment by Mark Schmidt Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 8:22 pm
Bill, is your point that Madigan wants to stick it to Rod so badly that he’ll screw Autistic families? I guess sophistry would be the generous description of that
It’s the Constitution — process, precedent and law. We weren’t all waiting for this cheap hustler to come around to make things better in his half-assed way. If we were looking for a hero to circumvent checks and balances and save us, do you really think it would be him?
For the record, I did fundraising work for Easter Seals of Metro Chicago to build the Autism Day School and Therapeutic Center in the Illinois Medical District. It’s awesome, one of the best faciliities of it’s kind in the world. It’s a credit to the State of Illinois and the people who made it happen.
One of them was Mike Madigan, who was there from Day One, and used his considerable clout to put real, early state money behind the project to make it viable. And I don’t recall any big press releases or certainly no press conferences announcing that or his role in it.
Rod was there today — in front of theTV cameras.
Dont’ take my word for it — look it up.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 8:34 pm
Mark Schmidt,
Thanks for the clarification because, boy, when I read about that salary, I was shocked. But what about your lobbying activity with that money? It’s frustrating for families when clearly your director of operations is lobbying and has for years. We can only assume her salary is covered by some of that grant money, but, granted, I may be mistaken.
Also, TAP developed materials that argued against providing direct services to the families, giving the impression that providing direct services was a waste of time and money. That feels like a slap in the face to families.
Mark, the real issue for all of us families is that our children require the intensive services that can be provided only through insurance and the Medicaid Waiver. As consumers and tax-payers, we should have a choice and our children should have a chance. It’s not about who has political connections.
Comment by Christina Saracino Blakey Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 9:06 pm
While TAP is an important part of Hope, Hope is much more then just TAP. I visited the Hope campus this weekend during their Fall Festival, and was impressed by the great things happening there. In addition to their residential programs, they are also creating one-stop-shopping for health care for children with mental illnes or developmental disabilities. Not only does Hope seem to be able to get things done, but they seem to know how to get the best value for a dollar. There should be more forward-thinking non-profits life Hope.
Comment by Grandadofthree Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 10:09 pm
Bill, you tarnish your reputation further by the untrue and cheap shot on Cindi Canary. Testifing against Rod’s mishmash mess of a bill is no more being “against ethics” than say, the IFT testifying against sentence enhancements for teachers who engaged in inappropriate conduct with students, being labeled as “pro-pedophile.”
BTW, what’s your price? It’s clearly beem paid.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 10:27 pm
Bill, you tarnish your reputation further by the untrue and cheap shot on Cindi Canary. Testifing against Rod’s mishmash mess of a bill is no more being “against ethics” than say, the IFT testifying against sentence enhancements for teachers who engaged in inappropriate conduct with students, being labeled as “pro-pedophile.”
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 10:28 pm
pardon the dupilcate post.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 10:29 pm
actually it’s triplicate with the apology
Comment by freelance editor Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 11:09 pm
I wonder how long it will take before Rods Checks to his lawfirm will start bouncing once he cant raise funds from people doing business with the state.
Comment by Speaking At Will Monday, Sep 22, 08 @ 11:10 pm
Christina Saracino Blakey–
You are trying to argue contradictory positions. At 1:25 yesterday, you chided TAP for lack of accountability, saying that we weren’t providing information to legislators. Then, at 9:06 last evening, you accuse us of “lobbying”. The fact is, we’ve always tried to be available to answer questions about autism — and our program — from members of the General Assembly. That means visiting legislators in their offices and testifying at hearings — the very accountability you were talking about.
Over the years, we have also been active seeking MORE direct services for families. That’s why we have partnered with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to train physicians. That’s why we sought a federal grant to develop new and better means of providing coordinated, comprehensive care. And, most importantly, that’s why we SUPPORT sustainable legislation to provide health insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders.
As you know first-hand, this is a huge and complex issue. Living in the Chicago area, you have access to a wide array of resources. Not all families in Illinois had such access. Children DO need services. Teachers require support. First responders need awareness and skills. Physicians need to know how to screen. Dentists need to know how to best treat patients that can be very uncooperative and whose sensitivities won’t allow a dental instrument near their mouths. Parents, educators and teachers need new tools. Families in remote areas of rural Illinois need access to services without driving to Chicago or Springfield. Insurance is critical, but insurance alone can’t provide training, infrastructure, awareness, or a host of other things needed to address this problem.
Let’s focus on the one major agreement we have: the need to pass insurance legislation now.
Mark Schmidt
Comment by Mark Schmidt Tuesday, Sep 23, 08 @ 6:15 am
My price is good government which we seem unable to accomplish here in Ilinois with all of the obstructionism and obfuscation taking place. I guess in your view ethics legislation should only apply to the governor and NOT legislators who, of course, are always above reproach.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Sep 23, 08 @ 7:59 am
The legislature should all go home, nothing is ever going to be solved with Blagojevich as governor of this sinking state.
An old-fashioned way out!
Have a nice time in Springfield Rod watching cartoons in the mansion.
Comment by Who's steering the boat then ROD? Tuesday, Sep 23, 08 @ 8:11 am
Mark,
Thanks so much for the clarifications on what you do. It just seems like it’s one thing to inform and educate. We appreciate that. But it would seem to observers that using employees who we can only assume are payed with state grant funding to lobby for more money, even if the cause is a good one, would be an unethical use of funds that should benefit children with autism and their families.
It seems the practice of giving grants to politically-connected entities has resulted in our ranking dead last in services for individuals with disabilities (that’s after Alabama and Mississippi). It should be a consumer-directed system with more accountability. Policies such as insurance and the Medicaid Waiver, which brings in a 50% federal match, directly impact the children and their families. So, for example, if we put 10.2 million dollars in the waiver as opposed to giving it to TAP, which skims 20% off the top for administrative costs, then the next year the state of Illinois would receive 5.1 million back from the federal government. And, by reinvesting our federal match every year, the State’s ability to serve this population primarily with federal funds grows exponentially. It’s just better fiscal policy. And Mark, if people then choose to take their waiver money to go to TAP, they can. And we all win.
One more question, Mark, none of that grant money went to pay for the new building, did it? Just curious.
Comment by Christina Saracino Blakey Tuesday, Sep 23, 08 @ 9:19 am
Mark,
Also, I never mentioned where I live.
Comment by Christina Saracino Blakey Tuesday, Sep 23, 08 @ 10:03 am