THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...Democrat opposition to Pritzker tax hikes...The plan to close Logan prison...Judge slaps fake newspapers
May 13, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
You may have seen now-former Rep. Mark Walker was appointed to replace former Sen. Ann Gillespie Saturday night. He was one of five Democrats seeking the appointment, including Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights). Walker will be in the Senate today. We weren’t able to connect this weekend other than a quick congratulatory text, but hopefully I’ll talk to him this morning and get some comments to subscribers today. Here’s the Daily Herald story, but it’s essentially regurgitating his campaign Facebook post.
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The House is in at 3pm. The Senate is back tomorrow. The Governor discusses Medicaid at the Lawndale Christian Health Center on the southwest side at 9:30.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts (Capitol News Illinois)
When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code.
Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring cap on losses that corporations can claim on taxes, and $200 million by increasing the tax on sportsbooks’ revenues from 15 percent to 35 percent.
But one of his lead lieutenants this week sent a letter to the head of the state’s agencies instructing them to identify $800 million in collective budget cuts if lawmakers don’t deliver on Pritzker's tax requests.
“As we continue to work with our General Assembly partners to pass our sixth consecutive balanced budget, it has become clear that opposition to proposed revenue is significant enough to direct agencies to prepare for the possibility of reductions to proposed spending,” Deputy Gov. Andy Manar wrote in the letter to agency directors dated May 7.
While Manar’s letter was addressed to “Agency Directors,” it was just as much a message to rank-and-file lawmakers – particularly those within the supermajority Democratic party. While ideologically aligned on the major points, Democrats have not been immune to intraparty squabbles throughout Pritzker’s tenure.
The letter comes at a time when lawmakers are entering the final two-week negotiating stretch for the budget before their scheduled May 24 adjournment. (It’s a self-imposed deadline, and that date could be extended a week without changing the number of votes needed to pass a budget).
Manar’s letter came on the heels of positive news – the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget increased its base General Revenue Fund estimate for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 by $295 million, to $53.3 billion.
Normally, that type of revision, at this time of year – coupled with the GOMB’s $250 million increase for the current fiscal year that ends June 30 – would have lawmakers thinking about new spending.
Officials lay out ambitious timeline for closing, rebuilding Stateville, Logan prisons (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois prison officials Friday indicated Stateville Correctional Center could close as early as September under a plan to dismantle the sprawling facility as well as a downstate women’s prison before rebuilding both in a nearly $1 billion project that could take as long as five years to complete.
It’s been only about two months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the plans to rebuild Stateville and Logan correctional centers, citing the age and deteriorating condition of the facilities, and the timeline presented at a hearing Friday depends on a number of factors.
Funding to start the project still has to be approved as part of Pritzker’s proposed $52.7 billion budget, which legislators are attempting to complete negotiations on before a scheduled May 24 adjournment. The Illinois Department of Corrections is asking for $161 million for the upcoming budget year that begins July 1 for the project at Stateville and nearly $80 million for Logan.
The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which has an advisory role in the process, won’t make its recommendations for the project until some time in mid-June. At some point before then, two community-based meetings need to be scheduled to solicit public input on the proposal.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, a Republican from downstate Jacksonville who co-chairs COGFA, expressed concerns about the timing of the plan to IDOC officials during a Friday hearing. He also accused the agency of being “less than transparent” about plans for Logan.
Related: State 'intends' to keep Logan Correctional Center open during proposed rebuild (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan (Capitol News Illinois)
A Lake County judge orders a chain of websites to remove voters’ personal information (WBEZ)
The publisher of a chain of Republican-favoring websites derided as “pink slime” has agreed to remove specific street addresses and birthdates for “hundreds of thousands” of Illinois voters after being sued by Democratic Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Both Raoul’s office and Lake Forest-based Local Government Information Services agreed to an order from a Lake County judge that the sensitive information be removed from the company’s nearly three dozen online platforms by 5 p.m. Monday.
The order signed by Lake County Circuit Judge Daniel L. Jasica also bars the company from publishing that material while Raoul’s newly filed lawsuit wends its way through court.
Raoul’s legal move against LGIS accuses the company of publishing sensitive personal data that could subject voters across Illinois to identity theft.
LGIS was incorporated in Illinois in 2016 and was at least partly owned then by Dan Proft, a Florida-based political strategist who once ran as a Republican candidate for Illinois governor, the filing said.
Proft is now the subject of a complaint before the state election board that alleges he illegally colluded with 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey. Proft chairs the independent expenditure committee, “People Who Play By The Rules PAC,” and is accused of coordinating its activities with Bailey in violation of state election law.
If you’ve never heard about these looney bin pretend news sites, they Dan Proft and Brian Timpone basically explained their corruption on Proft’s low-rated radio show last year.
Related: Judge orders ‘pink slime’ publications to remove voters’ personal information (Chicago Tribune)
TOP STORIES LAST WEEK ON THEILLINOIZE.COM
Pritzker Administration Asks Agencies to Prepare for $800 Million in Cuts
McCombie on End of Session: Lawmakers "Going Through the Motions"
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Springfield woman charged with making false bomb threat targeting 2 state buildings last month (Chicago Tribune)
Lawmakers, organizations express frustration over continued licensing delays in Illinois (State Journal-Register)
Measure to create new state agency for childhood services now on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois State Police officers accused of PPP loan fraud (Chicago Sun-Times)
Illinois could be the next state to curb ‘captive audience meetings’ on labor issues at work (Chicago Tribune)
Raja Krishnamoorthi clocked out TikTok. Can he dominate a Senate run? (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Pritzker Downplays Protest Risks for DNC Convention in Chicago (Bloomberg)
Editorial: Democrats are nervous about the city and its mayor. Will the DNC really be ‘live from Chicago’? (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: The debilitating effects of advanced age can't be wished away (Champaign News-Gazette)
Editorial: Stop asking amateurs to oversee public transit (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Opinion: Bears pitch for a lakefront stadium fizzled. Here’s how they can move forward. (Chicago Tribune)
Martire: Illinois better have bigger priorities than new stadiums (Champaign News-Gazette)
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