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* Tribune…
Illinois consumers will only be able to use controversial, short-term health insurance plans for about six months at a time now that the state legislature has voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that sets that limit.
Dozens of Illinois consumer advocacy groups had supported the original bill, which took aim at a recent Trump administration change to the rules surrounding short-term plans. Such plans are generally cheaper than traditional health insurance but cover fewer services.
The plans were meant to serve as a stopgap for consumers between health insurance plans. But new federal rules allow them to be used for a year and be renewed for as long as three years. The Trump administration has said the rule change was meant to help more people get affordable coverage.
Consumer advocates, however, sought to limit the use of those plans in Illinois to just six months at a time through the bill.
* Greg Hinz…
Rahm Emanuel soon will leave as Chicago’s mayor, but that isn’t stopping him from quietly pushing through legislation in Springfield to extend the life of four city tax-increment financing districts—including one in the Goose Island area that’s part of the huge proposed Lincoln Yards development.
Approved late yesterday in the Illinois House was a measure adding another 13 years each to the lives of the Bryn Mawr-Broadway, Goose Island, 95th/Western and 71st/Stony Island TIF districts. The Illinois Senate is expected to concur as soon as today, meaning that districts would continue to get to spend much of the growth in property taxes within their borders until 2032 to 2034, depending on the districts.
Each of the four TIFs has accomplished some of what was intended in the past two decades—TIF districts sunset after 23 years, unless their life is extended—but still have more things that the city wants to accomplish, said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, chief sponsor of the legislation. “They’ve completed phase one and two, but still have phases three and four,” Currie said.
The city Department of Planning and Development confirmed that the legislation was introduced at the city’s request and cited a few specifics for each location. But a spokesman yesterday afternoon was unable to say how much money will be involved over the next 13 years.
The bill is here.
* Press release…
More than half a century since the Civil Rights Act became law, workers in the United States continue to earn different wages based on their race.
Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is fighting for legislation that would prohibit wage discrimination against African-Americans under the Equal Pay Act.
“Governor Rauner ignored the wage gap for African-Americans and decided he wanted to ‘All Lives Matter’ this proposal,” Lightford said. “Today, we made sure that wage equity continues to be a priority in Illinois.”
According to a 2017 Federal Reserve study, black men and women earn persistently lower wages compared to their white counterparts and this wage gap cannot be adequately explained by differences in education, age, job type or location.
That gap appears to be expanding rather than contracting. In 1979, the average lack man in the United States earned about 80 percent compared to the average white man, by 2016 that gap had grown to 70 percent. The same is true for black women, who in 1979 earned about 95 percent compared to white women, but by 2016 earned only 82 percent of wages paid to white women on average.
House Bill 4743 prohibits employers from paying wages to an African-American employee at a rate less than the rate paid to an employee who is not African-American for the same or substantially similar work.
Governor Rauner’s veto was overridden in the Senate with a vote of 49-01.
The House had already overridden the veto so it’s now law. The lone Senate “No” vote was Sen. Kyle McCarter.
* Other stuff…
* Our View: Bet on it: Video gaming fuels increase in Illinois gaming revenue
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 1:36 pm
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I have an unofficial rule that I don’t post new stuff until somebody comments on the latest post. So, somebody please comment. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:13 pm
To appease Rich, limiting those short term health plans is good policy whether you like ACA or not. They are all over the place with what they cover and don’t cover.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:16 pm
===Governor Rauner’s veto was overridden in the Senate with a vote of 49-01.===
These type of lopsided overrides on legislation that has a real purpose to them to help a greater societal ill… it’s good to see.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:18 pm
Ok Rich, but that Lincoln Yards story made me too nauseous to type.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:20 pm
1) Why are people without insurance? Fix that problem.
2) you can buy “non-insurance” yay to “cover” you
3) you can buy a new policy every 6 months yay?
4) it was a big deal to get rid of “non insurance” policies.
Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:45 pm
I have lived right off of Bryn Mawr and Broadway for more then 50 years. I do not know why it has a TIF. I was surprised to see this today.
Of course, I am against all TIFs believing themto be misused and harmful to taxpayers as a whole
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:53 pm
===I do not know why it has a TIF===
Google is your friend.
“The Bryn Mawr/Broadway TIF district was created to support an economically diverse mix of area residents and to revitalize the Broadway and Bryn Mawr Avenue commercial corridors as a cohesive neighborhood mixed-use district. Early priorities included the conversion of the Belle Shore and Bryn Mawr hotels for affordable housing. Ongoing efforts involve the assembly of land for new retail and restaurant projects. The 15-block district is also intended to enhance a common identity in Edgewater by establishing streetscape and common design guidelines, by improving local transit facilities, and through infrastructure upgrades involving street surfaces and utilities.”
https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/tif/bryn_mawr_broadwaytif.html
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 2:59 pm
There’s nothing like limiting competition to drive up prices.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 3:03 pm
TIFs were supposed to be a way to stimulate the economy of blighted, impoverished areas by giving companies a little push or incentive to invest there.
The area that Lincoln Yards is in was any thing but blighted or impoverished,
instead it was an economic hotspot.
People were making good wages, making steel, fixing firetrucks, scrapping and recycling metal things. Now it’s all rubble. (except General Iron who is being forced out.)
If Sterling Bay can make a profit buying out these businesses and selling townhomes why do they need a gift from the taxpayers?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 3:05 pm