THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Pensions...Taxes...Madigan
November 14, 2024
Good morning, Illinois.
Both the House and Senate scrapped the third day of veto session today, so they’ll be back next week.
Governor Pritzker tours the Wedge Innovation Center in Alton at 4. Unless the Governor declares war on Indiana today, there probably won’t be a newsletter tomorrow.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR THURSDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets, because good journalism isn’t free)
Lawmakers confront costly choices as state workers rally for better pension benefits (Chicago Tribune)
As a nurse in her 30s, Kristen Perez cringes at the prospect of working until she’s almost 70.
But because of changes made to the state’s massively underfunded pension system 13 years ago, employees like Perez, who were hired by the state after the changes took effect, don’t qualify for the same retirement benefits as her longer-tenured colleagues with the Illinois Nurses Association.
“This creates a second class of state workers that sows division,” Perez said Wednesday during a rally at the Illinois State Capitol of thousands of unionized teachers, first responders and other public employees seeking changes to the state’s pension system. “Investing in state workers and delivering a fair and equitable pension for all the state workers, this is essential to meet the needs of the state and all the communities we all serve.”
At issue are concerns over reforms made to Illinois’ beleaguered pension system in 2011. Workers hired after that date were placed into a “Tier 2” system that offered reduced benefits. The overall goal of creating the “Tier 2” plan was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to $141 billion.
But at some point, benefits paid out under the system won’t equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal “safe harbor” law. That would require the state to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility.
This week, bills were introduced in both the Illinois House and Senate that are intended to address the “Tier 2” issue. Advocates caution without meaningful changes, there will be a continued shortage of public service employees because of difficulty in hiring and retention.
With the state projecting a budget deficit next year that could exceed $3 billion, however, the cost of making those changes presents a significant challenge.
“The fact is that what we need to do is make sure that we’re meeting the Social Security ‘safe harbor’ minimum. So that’s something that hasn’t been fully calculated,” Gov. JB Pritzker said at an unrelated event in Springfield on Wednesday. “But it’s clear that it needs to be dealt with because otherwise you created a whole other liability for the state.”
With a deficit looming, Illinois Republicans ask Pritzker to pledge no new taxes (Bloomington Pantagraph)
With the state facing a projected $3.2 billion deficit in the next fiscal year, Illinois Senate Republicans are asking Gov. JB Pritzker to pledge that he won't raise taxes — and to bring their party to the table during budget negotiations.
The Republicans' request came as lawmakers kicked off their annual fall session in Springfield. The two-week session is when lawmakers typically consider bills that were vetoed by the governor along with legislative items not addressed earlier in the year.
Since Pritzker did not veto any bills passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature this spring, this year's session features a less formal agenda.
"I'm calling on Gov. Pritzker to pledge to not increase taxes on Illinois families and businesses in this upcoming budget year," said Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, during a news conference on Tuesday. "Illinois has real problems right here that need to be dealt with. It is time for Gov. Pritzker to take a break from the national campaigns and to start to think Illinois."
Despite state legislative Republicans not gaining any seats this cycle, a result the Republicans chalked up to districts gerrymandered to favor Democrats, Curran said that the results were a signal for Pritzker and Democrats to "course correct" and work in a bipartisan manner, especially with a "distressing outlook" on the budget.
"Unlike other Democratic governors in other states, like Pennsylvania, that have approached the election results with calls for collaboration and working in a more bipartisan manner, Gov. Pritzker recently, with his press conference, has doubled down on his anti-Republican rhetoric, bashing Donald Trump and telling Illinoisans he was going to be protecting them from the incoming administration," Curran said.
Related: Lawmakers return to Springfield as projected budget deficit looms (Capitol News Illinois)
With state facing $3B deficit, GOP senators call on Gov. JB Pritzker to promise no tax hikes (Chicago Tribune)
Defense hammers star Madigan witness on gun form gaffe, divorce, memory, motive: 'Did you really believe that?' (Chicago Sun-Times)
Michael J. Madigan’s longtime friend wrote a seemingly thoughtful email to ComEd executive Fidel Marquez in 2014, sharing details of a dinner conversation where Madigan had allegedly pondered Marquez’s allegiance and wondered out loud, “Are there two Fidels?”
But Wednesday — 10 years to the day after Michael McClain fired off that email — Marquez found himself on a witness stand in a federal courtroom. That’s where Madigan’s defense attorney asked Marquez incredulously, in front of a jury, “Did you really believe that?”
“Did you really believe that Michael Madigan, at dinner, was telling Michael McClain — kind of doing a psychological evaluation of you that there’s ‘two Fidels’ — do you really believe that conversation took place?” attorney Tom Breen demanded.
Marquez assured him that he did, but Breen had sent his own message. He and a colleague spent their day trying to plant doubt in jurors’ minds about the weeklong testimony from Marquez, who hopes to avoid prison by working with the FBI. His testimony against McClain and Madigan, Illinois’ once-powerful House speaker who resigned in 2021, has spanned five days.
The defense attorneys asked Marquez Wednesday about a false answer he gave while trying to buy a gun, about legal trouble in his divorce, and about his deal with prosecutors that led him to secretly record McClain and three other colleagues. Marquez testified he couldn’t “recollect” whether the FBI had offered him anything when they first approached him.
“You’re telling us that the FBI did not give you any consideration — any inducement — to set up your four friends?” Breen pressed at one point, raising his voice and gesturing toward Marquez.
“What I said was, ‘I don’t recall,’” Marquez insisted.
Madigan’s legal team also seemed to break with McClain in a strategy anticipated since the trial began. Breen questioned Marquez’s claim that McClain spoke on Madigan’s behalf. Breen even referred to McClain being a “pain in the butt,” particularly as McClain recommended people for jobs at ComEd.
Related: ‘This is the way things are done in Illinois’: Defense attorneys begin cross-examining star witness (Capitol News Illinois)
Madigan defense pushes away from co-defendant, attacks credibility of key witness (Chicago Tribune)
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Officials aim to bolster Illinois protections as trans Midwesterners consider moving before 2nd Trump term (Chicago Sun-Times)
Should terminally ill patients be able to get help in ending their own lives? The Illinois legislature is grappling with that question. (Chicago Magazine)
Pritzker, Colorado governor launch coalition to fight 'threats of autocracy' (Chicago Sun-Times)
How Illinois will decide on spending $40M opioid settlement with Kroger (Capitol News Illinois)
Illinois AG Raoul warns Mayor Johnson to reconsider police reform budget cuts or risk being held in contempt (Chicago Sun-Times)
Amid flurry of gun ban challenges, federal appeals court considers Cook County assault weapon law (Capitol News Illinois)
US Sen. Dick Durbin says Democrats’ minority status a consideration as he mulls reelection bid (Chicago Tribune)
Durbin, Duckworth, House Democrats demand feds fix Legionella problem at Loop buildings (Chicago Sun-Times)
Trump's results in deep blue Illinois signal hope for Republicans (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Intersect Illinois says new corporate projects rose 15% last year (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Bears pulling a double reverse? Team reconsiders Michael Reese site for new lakefront stadium (Chicago Sun-Times)
Panel advises Illinois commemorate its role in helping slaves escape the South (Associated Press)
Opinion: A problem to be solved, or a person to be helped? (Shaw Media)
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