THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...More scrutiny for IDES...The fake tax referendum...Pritzker loses two top staffers
September 30, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
We’re 36 days to the November election and the presidential race is as dumb as you ever could have imagined and almost nobody (outside of this newsletter) is paying attention to legislative races. Alas, welcome to 2024.
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Governor Pritzker will be in Zion at the Illinois Beach State Park this afternoon.
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)
State agency lacks data to back $6 million in unemployment claims, audit finds (Chicago Tribune)
The state agency charged with distributing unemployment benefits continued to fall short in administering claims filed during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving auditors unable to determine if more than $6 million wound up in the proper hands, according to a report released Thursday.
The report from Auditor General Frank Mautino’s office marked the latest criticism of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which has come under scrutiny over the last few years for how it administered the distribution of unemployment benefits throughout the pandemic.
The auditor general’s office found that IDES failed to “maintain accurate and complete” data on more than 2,800 people who claimed $6.2 million in pandemic assistance money for the year ending June 30, 2023.
This money was provided to the state through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, signed into law in March 2020 by then-President Donald Trump, a Republican, as the pandemic began to take shape. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker initiated stay-at-home orders as a protective measure as the virus spread, and many businesses were forced to shut down or cut back on their operations.
The auditor general’s office requested IDES data to review whether the payments were going to the appropriate people. State law requires IDES to put in place “internal fiscal and administrative controls” to distribute its money and ensure that its resources are “safeguarded against waste, loss, unauthorized use and misappropriation,” Mautino’s office noted in its roughly 50-page report.
Illinois voters will consider whether millionaires should be taxed more to fund property tax relief (WBEZ)
A 3% tax on individual income over $1 million would flood Illinois’ coffers with at least $4.5 billion in new revenues annually, a new state estimate shows weeks ahead of an advisory referendum on earmarking that money for property tax relief.
The estimate, obtained by WBEZ through a state open-records request, marks the first time Gov. JB Pritzker’s Revenue Department has weighed in on the effects of imposing that new proposed tax on the state’s wealthiest citizens to ease what is a leading financial issue daunting the middle class.
Voters are being asked this question now because lawmakers in May voted to bring it forward as part of a broader election package that Pritzker signed.
The exact wording of the ballot question reads: “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?”
And while the results on the referendum won’t be binding, the outcome could arm policymakers in the General Assembly with new ammunition to seek a constitutional amendment in 2026 — the year Pritzker himself may be on the ballot — to impose the millionaires tax for property tax relief.
“There’s a huge hue and cry for the reduction of property taxes in Illinois. It’s the most regressive type of tax. And I think what we want to make sure of is that if we’re going to do something regarding property tax relief and utilizing the surcharge for individuals who make more than $1 million, the general public supports it,” said state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, chief House sponsor of the May legislation that put this question to voters.
“I’m hopeful that they will,” he said.
Just a reminder this is an advisory referendum and means absolutely nothing in the nitty gritty of public policy. It would require actual change to the constitution, and the last time voters were asked to do that, they said ‘heck no.’
Two top Pritzker communications staffers are leaving (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Two of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s longtime senior communications staffers are leaving the administration after more than six years.
Jordan Abudayyeh, who oversaw the external communications team as a deputy chief of staff, was press secretary on Pritzker’s first campaign for governor in 2018. She departs next week.
Jason Rubin, a deputy communications director on the 2018 campaign, oversaw internal and agency communications.
They’ll be replaced by Matt Hill and Emily Bolton.
Hill recently was senior director of communications for the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee in Chicago. He was a senior communications staffer for President Joe Biden after serving as a national spokesman for his campaign.
Bolton has led communications at the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. She previously worked at Chicago Public Schools.
Mama, God rest her soul, told me if I don’t have anything nice to say, I shouldn’t say it at all.
Related: Top members of Gov. JB Pritzker’s communications team exiting (Chicago Tribune)
Pritzker picks Stevenson graduate to lead communications team (Daily Herald)
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Editorial: Trump’s salvo against Deere was misplaced. But corporate chieftains now must anticipate political attacks. (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Early voting offers options; not voting shouldn’t be one of them (Daily Herald)
Editorial: Illinois students' reading scores continue to be major concern (Champaign News-Gazette)
Editorial: Gov. Pritzker needs to speak forcefully against Mayor Johnson’s CPS machinations (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: Americans, take a stand against efforts to tilt the election with threats, violence (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: Brandon Johnson's push to oust CPS chief Martinez speaks volumes (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Opinion: Suburbs shouldn’t impose their own grocery taxes (Daily Herald)
Opinion: Never a better time to get involved in future of public higher education (Shaw Media)
Opinion: Stacy Davis Gates’ attacks on Pedro Martinez aren’t what’s best for CPS (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Black Chicago would benefit from a manufacturing revival (Chicago Sun-Times)
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