The Illinois Policy Institute’s vice president of marketing, Austin Berg, debates his his Mincing Rascals podcast co-host, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn, on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “far tax” proposal.

Mark Konkol: “So for the sake of my fellow chubby Americans, I asked (Carolina Population Center researcher Barry) Popkin for his honest take on Illinois’ rotund governor’s public health leadership in hopes we might all learn something. ‘He’s done great things by you, except his weight is not what we like. … You can’t live in America and not know that.'”

E. Scott Santi and Kelly R. Welsh lead the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago: “Despite our many competitive advantages — our diverse economy, broad mix of industries, talented and diverse workforce, outstanding educational institutions and research facilities, central location and world-class transportation network — our job growth is far below our potential and significantly lags the national average and our peer states. And soon, we won’t be able to afford the investments we need.”

A republication of our Wirepoints article.

An actuary’s perspective.

So far this year, recreational pot dispensaries in Illinois have sold nearly 9.5 million marijuana products worth a total of more than $431 million.

The Illinois State Board of Education supports proposals to lower the compulsory age for starting kindergarten from 6 years old to 5. Kindergarten enrollment would grow by 3,000 students next fall if the compulsory age was dropped, a spokesperson said.

Since 2012, according to the report, adjusted gross receipts for all casinos in the state have fallen 42.5 percent, or nearly $700 million, while the combined total of casino and video gambling revenues has grown 32 percent.

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said he won’t enforce the restrictions. “If there’s a warrant signed by a judge that we have to go in and do ‘x, y, z’ to a specific business, well then, that’s a law that I have to enforce like an eviction or whatever. But just to say ‘hey, I have this authority,’ … I’m not going to play that. Here are the facts, and I deal with facts.”

“First we need to learn why past major reform efforts have come up short,” said Better Government Association CEO David Greising. “Next we should look at what is underway today, and finally, there is the challenge of getting something done. We have our work cut out for us.”

Less housing wealth will be a concern even if state lawmakers could be trusted not to abuse their new taxing powers to spread tax hikes to the middle class or retirees, as Connecticut also did.

“About two dozen coal plants in Illinois have been retired in the last 15 years…And the energy-economics institute says that mine closures and job losses can be offset by cleaner air, non-agricultural income for farmers and local governments from renewable-power projects, and lower electricity costs and economic activity from the build-out of new projects.”

Some suggestions were made by the panel to improve the data flow. Another suggestion is to increase the number of teacher institute days in the Illinois School Code and permit up to two days to be dedicated to training regarding child abuse prevention and sexual harassment.

Many Illinois child care providers believe they can handle larger groups more safely than kindergartens can, because they have more staff. Kindergartens are allowed to have 30 children out on the playground at one time. Day care centers are limited to 15 children maximum.

A coalition of hospitals and community clinics took up the cause in Chicago, where a city study showed chronic disease and gun violence are top causes for the almost nine-year gap in life expectancy between Black and white residents; They published an open letter in June calling racism a “real threat to the health of our patients, families and communities.”

Rich Miller: “(T)he last time the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute polled Speaker Madigan’s job approval rating was last year. It found 71% disapproved of the way Madigan did his job while only 20% approved – a 51-point difference. Those results weren’t all that different from the same poll’s question on whether Illinoisans supported a new state tax on retirement income. A total of 73% opposed it while 23% supported – a 50-point margin.”

Zach Mottl, the fourth generation of his family to own and operate a Lyons-based business: “Trial lawyers love our state for its generous system…The trial bar donates heavily to Illinois lawmakers, lawmakers ensure the system remains in place, and so the cycle continues.”

What is replacing the weekend mixers and parties? U of I is using Memorial Stadium for safe, socially distanced fun. On Fridays students can come with a group of up to 10 friends to see a movie on the big scoreboard screen. They get popcorn and candy and drinks. On Saturdays, U of I has free pizza and a band.