THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All
April 4, 2022
Good morning. The House was in session yesterday for 23 minutes, so the final weekend before adjournment didn’t really blow the roof off the place.
Maybe, more importantly, I’m told the House Democrats had a tough reception to the Senate Democrat proposed $1.8 billion dollar tax proposal in their private caucus meeting yesterday evening.
From what I hear, House Democrats complaints range from their lack of input in the discussion, the number of moving parts introduced with less than a week to go before adjournment, and, of course, the large price tag when state revenues are expected to fall by around $2 billion next fiscal year.
So it looks like Senate Democrats have a lot of work to do on just their own side of the aisle if they’re going to get this done this week.
The House is IN today at noon. The Senate is IN at 3:00 P.M. The Governor doesn’t have anything on his public schedule.
Subscribers will be getting the inside story as we’re able to track it down as the week winds down to adjournment sometime Friday (or Saturday?). On a normal week, paid subscribers get exclusive subscriber only newsletters on Wednesdays and Fridays.
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As always, e-mail me anytime at patrick@theillinoize.com with your thoughts, questions, ideas, complaints, and adoring praise. It’ll be a wild week, for sure.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
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Crime and budget are top of mind for Illinois lawmakers as session wraps up Friday (Chicago Tribune)
As the session nears its scheduled conclusion, Democrats have seen divisions within their own ranks, most notably in the Senate’s rejection of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s choices for the Prisoner Review Board. Democrats with large law enforcement constituencies as well as those in potential suburban swing areas rejected nominees Republicans have painted as soft on crime.
That division between progressive and moderate Democrats could exacerbate traditional end-of-session tensions and spill over to a variety of issues, from attempts to take on crime without undoing landmark criminal justice laws to passage of a budget as progressives seek money for a variety of social causes.
Any significant infighting could play into Democratic election campaigns in the fall, particularly in newly gained suburban areas, if the party gives off an appearance of governmental dysfunction. But some Democrats have publicly downplayed those divisions.
For months, the Democratic legislators have floated the idea they would push through more traditional tough-on-crime policies — typical of those endorsed more by their Republican opponents — as the Chicago area and other parts of Illinois have seen some increases in violent crime since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republicans have used the violence uptick as one of the main issues going into the 2022 election, often pointing to landmark criminal justice reform legislation Pritzker signed last year in trying to paint the governor and his allies as weak on crime.
One of the toughest issues for budget negotiators will be dealing with Pritzker’s proposal for a $1 billion tax relief package, which Republican critics, outside observers and even some advocates normally aligned with the governor were quick to dismiss as election-year gimmickry.
Pritzker’s proposal included forgoing an inflation-based increase in the gas tax, slated to kick in July 1 and estimated at 2.2 cents per gallon; pausing the 1% state sales tax on groceries for a year; and giving homeowners a one-time rebate on their real estate taxes.
RELATED: Two children die after families contacted by DCFS (Capitol News Illinois)
State legislature OK’s bill to fight teacher shortage (Shaw Media)
Democrats look to address crime with youth investment programs, witness protection (Capitol News Illinois)
Opinion: Time for Springfield to make communities like yours whole (Crain’s Chicago Business)
COVID-19 leave for vaccinated teachers clears General Assembly (Capitol News Illinois)
One-on-one with U.S. Attorney Greg Harris: Protecting citizens from violent crime a priority (State Journal-Register)
The first African-American to serve as the U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois took the oath of office Friday.
Gregory K. Harris was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December and received investiture in a ceremony at the Old State Capitol Historic Site in Springfield.
Harris, a veteran attorney in central Illinois, served as an assistant U.S attorney for the Central District of Illinois for more than 30 years.
At the ceremony, Harris stressed his desire to build connections between the Black community of central Illinois and the police.
"I will do everything in my power to earn your trust and improve the relationships between the community and law enforcement," said Harris, shortly after being sworn in.
“Uppermost on my mind is to protect our citizens from violent crime, particularly illegal gun violence. I also want to address hate crimes, human trafficking, and drug dealing.”
RELATED: Editorial: ‘Ghost’ guns are a gift to criminals. It’s time to ban them (Chicago Sun-Times)
Schneider improperly claimed 2 homeowner exemptions but has rectified error, officials say (Daily Herald)
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider improperly claimed homeowner exemptions on two properties at the same time for one year, but he recently paid the balance of what he should have been billed, Lake County officials said Monday.
Schneider, a Democrat serving the 10th District, visited the Lake County treasurer's office Friday and settled a $510.25 debt that resulted from the recalculation of the 2021 tax bill for property he owns in Highland Park, Treasurer Holly Kim said Monday. County records acquired by the Daily Herald confirmed the payment.
Schneider, who is running for reelection this year, has said he's in the process of moving to that Highland Park property from Deerfield. A statement issued by his campaign called the situation an "inadvertent error."
Schneider immediately took action to correct the mistake after learning of it, the campaign said, "including paying the full amount of any mistaken benefit, interest, and penalties."
Lake Forest Republican Joe Severino, who's challenging Schneider for the 10th District seat, accused the congressman of "purposefully deceiving the county" by taking the erroneous exemption.
This is one of the easiest “controversies” for politicians to avoid and Schneider should have known better. That said, it isn’t some sign of rampant corruption.
SOME TOP LINKS FROM LAST WEEK (that you should definitely read)
Tough Challenges Remain to Reach Unemployment Fund Agreement
Senate Democrats Unveil $1.8 Billion Election Year Tax Package
Opinion: Pritzker Out of Line to Compare Senate GOP to QAnon
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