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* These two are talking about Democratic congressional gains in the suburbs, but the same applies to the Illinois General Assembly. The Democrats racked up significant suburban wins this year (and may have set themselves up for more gains in 2020) while continuing to lose ground in rural Downstate areas…
Very smart point. I'd also add public transportation. Burbs and cities being from same Party prioritize this spending. https://t.co/so3vFkTTCZ
— Thomas C. Bowen (@thomascbowen) November 11, 2018
Mass transit is gonna be a much bigger issue than it already is now that the suburbs are such a large part of the two Democratic caucuses and Downstate opposition will be more muted. Also, building true high-speed rail lines to Champaign, Rockford and maybe the Quad Cities while boosting MetroLink in the Metro East would take care of many Downstate Democrats’ concerns.
I was a bit puzzled why JB Pritzker didn’t weigh in during the summer’s Metra meltdowns. This issue may need a signal-boost with the Pritzker camp, which is why you’re seeing it here.
* As for guns, well, here’s the ISRA’s take…
Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) executive director Richard A. Pearson is imploring members to stand strong under the new administration of Democrat J.B. Pritzker.
“The fight is on and the ISRA will be there fighting for you,” Pearson wrote in the latest bulletin sent to members. “As Sir Winston Churchill pointed out, countries that fight, although they may get defeated from time to time, always rise again. That is also true of causes like ours.”
Pearson also sought to remind voters of how important it is to have their voices heard at the ballot box.
“There are those who tell me they did not bother to vote because they didn’t believe their vote counted,” he said. “As I write this, there is one pro-gun candidate who is ahead by exactly one vote. Helene Miller Walsh leads her opponent, in the 51st District, with 25,106 votes to her opponent’s 25,105 votes. Don’t tell me your vote does not count.”
Pritzker topped Gov. Bruce Rauner and is slated to take office in early 2019. “To all those people who didn’t vote, or would not vote, for Bruce Rauner because he was not the perfect candidate, if bad firearm legislation passes into law it is your fault, plain and simple,” Pearson added.
Rauner received about 100,000 fewer votes this year than he got in 2014. But his 2018 total would’ve still been enough to defeat Gov. Pat Quinn four years ago. Point being, it wasn’t specifically the lack of votes from gun-rights supporters that did him in. Lashing out at the public is never a good look.
* The Question: What other Illinois policy directions do you foresee after this year’s election?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:54 am
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It’s not an altogether pleasant task, but we need to get our human services infrastructure back on track.
Comment by Informed Mom Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 11:57 am
Increasing state education funding would probably play well with the new Democratic demographics, even if some of the wealthy suburbs may not benefit as much as others.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:00 pm
Eh, blaming anyone except Rauner for the loss isn’t helpful, but in general I agree that everyone should vote regardless of whether or not you think you’ll win.
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:03 pm
Criminal justice reform for sure. Maybe an overhaul of criminal code. Probably some type of gaming bill especially for sports betting. Maybe a casino for Chicago and slots for race tracks and Ohare
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:06 pm
On the point of seeing and increased point of view from the suburbs and less from downstate:
- Environmental issues and clean energy issues
- Child safety and consumer protections
- College funding
- and I agree on regional transit issues
Probably some symbolic stuff on guns and pro-choice issues, but nothing that gets the suburban swing voters riled up.
Comment by Ok Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Recreational marijuana sometime in the next two years. The barn door is wide open now with Michigan and Canada.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:12 pm
I believe funding for Higher Education is a must.
Comment by Maestro Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:16 pm
Health care. I know there are a lot of lower income rural white people who hate the idea of affordable publicly subsidized health care made widely available to them and their neighbors, but it’s probably going to happen anyway. Hopefully they’ll adapt to the new reality.
If not, more rural hospitals are going to keep closing and sick folks will need to drive a lot further to see a doctor.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:27 pm
The rebuilding of the human services delivery system and safety net have to be addressed.
Between HFS still dragging their heels on paying providers to DHS being so big it can’t ever seem have time to anything other than put our fires, attention is needed ASAP.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:27 pm
ISRA will have a field day making money demagoguing guns issues in Southern Illinois. The divide is so great down here people really think the “Chicago” liberals are coming for their guns.
Comment by Highland IL Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:29 pm
Sustainable funding for IDOT and IDNR
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:30 pm
Environmental and energy policy are welded together, and we need to figure out what’s going to replace the aging fleet of reactors that give us a major portion of our base load. For healthy industry int he state, we don’t want to switch from an energy exporter to an energy importer. There’s room for a mix of generation sources, but an organized approach would be helpful. This would include conservation measures and upgrading the grid with real smart grid/ advanced high tension transmission lines. You can see the potential there for a capital project that makes jobs.
I’d really like to see the state expand the Illinois Century Network and get more high speed connectivity out to the rural areas. I’d like to see legislation that enables municipalities to lay and operate their own fiber, give the telcos and ISP’s like ATT and Comcast some real price-dropping competition, and give more people net access. This is critical for making rural schools and businesses more competitive.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:38 pm
Anything on Meta that improves performance and accountability. If he can convince voters that he is making Metra care, instead of playing the funding victim, that would be huge.
Says the guy delayed by yet another switch failure.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Would like to see an independent council to draw up new, fair, voting district maps.
Comment by Generic Drone Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:44 pm
Revenue. Revenue. Revenue.
If you dont increase revenue Everything else is lip service.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:44 pm
It’s more of a Federal Gov. thing, but with Rep. Lipinski poised to take Chair of the Rail Committee, I expect things like today’s BNSF meltdown to get taken care of.
Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:44 pm
===Would like to see===
That’s not the question.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:45 pm
Gaming bill. No way was the GA going to give Rauner extra revenue, but they will give it to Pritzker. Especially with SCOTUS ruling on sports betting.
Capital bill and recreational marijuana look good too.
Comment by Can Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:46 pm
Infrastructure and Budget (e.g. revenue / pensions) are the only 2 items that matter.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:47 pm
I don’t want your guns, ISRA. I just want them treated the way we do cars, with licenses and tests to make sure only people who know what they’re doing get to use them.
And I want more money for downstate roads as well as for the CTA/Pace/Metra.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:49 pm
Health care definitely. Anything to expand access to health care. Could the state mandate that insurers cover preexisting conditions? I know it’s in federal law, but it may be good politics to be double covered so to speak.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:53 pm
With the expansion of Medicaid,Illinois should lead the way in implementing the Cadillac Tax, even if it only reflects 4.95%.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:57 pm
I wonder who’ll be on CMAP next year.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 12:58 pm
Cannabis regulation and taxation.
Budget.
Comment by Al Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:08 pm
I think transportation and infastructure will be the clear policy points, working with the budget and possibly legalizing marijuana for revenue.
So… “What other Illinois policy directions do you foresee after this year’s election?”
An honest discussion to the restructuring and reorganizing higher education in Illinois, with a four year window from beginning to end, and getting higher education back as a major plus for Illinois.
I can see that discussion be something to offset the “Chicago” transportation, as “downstate” will get some clear policy talk with these economic engines at the center.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:14 pm
That condescending attitude oozing from Pearson against those of us who wouldn’t hold our noses and vote against our conscience just lost my support of ISRA. I will make sure to let others know just how he feels.
Comment by Been there, done that Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 1:50 pm
I foresee marijuana legalization and more criminal justice reform.
“To all those people who didn’t vote, or would not vote, for Bruce Rauner because he was not the perfect candidate”
I can empathize, because of purity leftists. Thankfully they didn’t hurt Pritzker’s chances.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:16 pm
I see sticker shock when JB learns how much money is needed just to get State agencies stabilized. He will do things like minimum wage increases
There will be legalized marijuana. Associated revenues will be overestimated and spent.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 2:23 pm
I could see the new administration working with other states to explore options for reducing carbon emissions through market-based mechanisms.
Comment by Going nuclear Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 3:28 pm
Bond market stabilization.
Infastructure
A cooling-off period between Chicagoland and Illinois.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 3:54 pm
Madigan just said yes to marijuana legalization. Awesome and Godspeed.
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20181113/madigan-supports-pritzker-efforts-on-marijuana-income-tax
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:41 pm
The state budget, first and foremost, because it takes in tax and revenue policy issues. We can’t fix infrastructure, or pay the bill backlog, or do anything until we get a grip on the budget issues (how much do we have, how much do we owe, how much do we need to pay the bills off, etc.)
As to the anti-gun posters…remember that there are bills introduced every session to take guns and gun rights away from the law-abiding under various false pretenses and outright lies. In other words, the hyperbole cuts both ways in the debate.
Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 4:51 pm
Broad based clemency for nonviolent drug offenders;
Limitations on the use of criminal records and credit reports for hiring non-critical, non-managerial employees;
Reducing the state’s reliance on federal tax forms/policy for determining taxable income;
Addressing gang violence in Chicago while improving training, prestige and morale for the CPD.
Comment by Alternative Logic Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 6:28 pm
Ganja gets a green light but as Last Bull Moose mentioned the revenues just don’t go as far as predicted especially if the current MMJ businesses keep their foot on the throat of the market.
Minimum wage increase to $15 hour in lame duck of 2020
Lots of Anti Trump resolutions and feel good bills
Pension reform and graduated income tax go no where fast but get lots of chest thumping from supporters.
Higher Ed. gets its money and then some to make up for budget impasse.
Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 6:36 pm
Highland IL- “The divide is so great down here people really think the “Chicago” liberals are coming for their guns.” Actually some southern Illinoisans are the worst enemies for gun owners.
Former Rep. Brandon Phelps let former NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde place Duty to Inform in their concealed carry bill in 2013, at the request of anti-gun police unions. Valinda Rowe from Phelps’ district was at the meetings with the IL Chiefs of Police in 2010/2011 and signed off on the DTI. With all these NRA sellouts, Pritzker is the least of their worries.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 13, 18 @ 8:56 pm
All these gun groups need to see what ER doctors and trauma surgeons must deal with in their “lanes.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/13/telling-nra-thisisourlane-doctors-photos-show-blood-soaked-reality-americas-gun?fbclid=IwAR0fug8zb2q1B1kKPw5K1hOTgRDq7U1sy4DunSgWXmWor2d0KF5c3KBz9CU
We need sensible gun reform, now.
Comment by Anon v3 Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 5:45 am
They are going to have to do something that appears big in order to keep the progressive wing happy and motivated for 2020. That may well be something like allowing municipalities to impose rent control. It will be meaningless since few will do it, but it will feel like a win to that wing.
Recreational marijuana would be the smart move, but I don’t see it under the Speaker. He’s more conservative than the ILGOP will ever admit.
Instead, I expect incremental changes to expand gambling. That’s a way to increase revenue while not raising taxes as much. On that note, I don’t expect a Chicago casino. Both the restaurants and the convention-dependent places would strongly object. Instead, we will see them relatively far away from Chicago.
Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 6:25 am
Fire the embedded superstars
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 6:53 am
Again, reducing local property taxes by adequately funding education at the state level. No single issue hits the locals like property taxes.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 8:46 am
Racing has been a corrupt enterprise in Illinois for quite some time and the Department of Ag has wanted out of it for quite some time. If Florida can eliminate dog racing from their economy, I think we should do the same with horse racing. Seriously, outside of organized crime, it is hard to find anyone that still thinks it is a good idea.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Wednesday, Nov 14, 18 @ 9:05 am