Let My People Go
I think we could all use a little levity.
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Just Let Them Go Already
I think we could all use a little levity.
Let My People Go
I think we could all use a little levity.
Squirrel Duty
I'm busy with the General for a few hours; meanwhile, Jim Broadway has the best updates for what happened in Springfield today. I wish I had seen the bullying stuff--- I missed it entirely. Go read. The General
Daniel Biss and Poverty Plus®
Here's the delightful and charming Daniel Biss, Democrat of Evanston, during today's committee meeting. I forgot to point the yellow arrow of identification at him; he's sitting on the far left, I think. Anyway, Biss also voted for the amendment, creating a tax increase not only for the people he represents now, but also the people he hopes to represent in the future, as the future senator from the 9th District. Someone from that vast tract needs to pin him down and ask him if about the cost of moving from Tiers I and II to his program, *Poverty Plus, *also known as a "cash balan... more »
Elaine Nekritz, Speaking For The Bill
This is fascinating. First of all, as I've blogged before, I respect Elaine Nekritz--- she's one of the few people in the House to respond to my questions in a timely manner. However, she's carrying Madigan's water here, and I think she has to answer for that. Watch this clip-- and by watch, I mean listen. She totally doesn't understand the coerced choice concept, and her deployment of platitudes rivals that of Arne Duncan. I always get nervous when someone relies on platitudes. You know there's not a lot of critical thinking going on under the hood. The groovy part is at th... more »
Madigan Vs. Morrison, In Committee
Here's another "video" clip from the House Committee on Pensions and Personnel. It's toward the end of the commentary. You'll hear Speaker Madigan give the strangest lecture about responsibility, which is ironically *not* followed by his resignation. But it gets good at 4:26, where Republican Tom Morrison nervously explains his "no" vote. Morrison has to vote no because the stupid cost-shifting provision would be a tax-hike on Palatine, like it would be everywhere else in the state. I've met this representative, and he has my respect because he's a true believer in the things he ... more »
This Is Awesome
Just happened on the floor of the House. Mike Bost, Republican of Carbondale, got a little mad at the Speaker today. There's about three levels of chess going on in the pension strategy, causing Bost to go cuckoo for cocoa puffs; I'll try to explain later. Meanwhile, enjoy. *Update*: So, this is what's going on. Speaker Madigan feels he can ram through the pension COLA reduction with Democrats alone, or close to it. He's keeping the COLA thing attached to the cost-shift thing, so that Republicans are basically *effed *no matter how they vote, because they'll be doing a *local tax hi... more »
Henry Bayer, In Opposition
Henry Bayer, during today's committee meeting. *Update:* The pension attack passed out of Committee, 6-3. I'll post the roll call when I see it. Opposition is from Republicans, who don't like the cost-shifting portion, which will make it very hard for local districts. I didn't hear any opposition based on the idea that it's unconstitutional or unfair to employees. Good advice right here. Call those senators! Remember, I don't control the camera! Yes, I realize that these are basically audio files.
Dan Montgomery, In Opposition
Here's IFT-AFT President Dan Montgomery at today's committee meeting on SB 1673. This is a sub-clip from the long clip posted below. *Update:* The pension attack passed out of Committee, 6-3. I'll post the roll call when I see it. Opposition is from Republicans, who don't like the cost-shifting portion, which will make it very hard for local districts. I didn't hear any opposition based on the idea that it's unconstitutional or unfair to employees. Good advice right here. Call those senators!
The Opposition Speaks
Here's the opposition today. Long tape, with representatives from the entire coalition. Half a million people represented by this coalition; if we rally now, we could pretty much replace the governor with anyone who runs against him. Ty Fahner makes a delightful cameo at the end. I'll break this into smaller chunks when I have time. It's a state video feed, meaning you're looking at the backs of people sitting still. So, it's basically audio.
Pension Alert
House Pensions and Personnel Committee meeting at 9:00 AM. SB 1673 on the docket. I'll stream it here. *Update:* The pension attack passed out of Committee, 6-3. I'll post the roll call when I see it. Opposition is from Republicans, who don't like the cost-shifting portion, which will make it very hard for local districts. I didn't hear any opposition based on the idea that it's unconstitutional or unfair to employees. Good advice right here. Call those senators!