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Governments will be compelled to spend the cash infusion “to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a strong, more equitable economy.” But importantly, Treasury officials said states and territories are not allowed to use the funding to offset lost revenue as the result of a tax cut or make a deposit to a pension fund.
Ten Republican legislators, but no Democrats, stood with Ted Dabrowski, President of Wirepoints, to dissect Illinois’ failing pension problem across its cities, which is preventing their ability to provide current fire protection, police protection and other essential core services.
Eric Zorn: “Nobody expects the county’s top prosecutor to micromanage every hearing and every motion in every case, even the big cases. But when the city is on edge, when there are protests in the streets demanding answers and when every word matters, she needs to take charge and be accountable….The way Foxx has blamed, punished and effectively fired underlings to distract from her failure is infamous.”
IDES also noted that unemployment offices in Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, and North Carolina – among other states – are still closed to the public, and claimants in those states are also instructed to handle things online or by phone. IDES said all states have the same concerns about reopening safely.
Last week, Lightfoot revealed Chicago was on track to be “fully open” by the Fourth of July holiday and said such a shift will take place when the city sees “continued improvement in COVID metrics and more widespread vaccine uptake.” On Monday, she voiced worries about rising COVID metrics that have been reported in multiple neighborhoods.
In Chicago, multiple other vaccines are required for Chicago Public Schools students, Dr. Allison Arwady pointed out, however students can obtain a written exemption from a physician.
Among other topics reportedly covered – Lightfoot’s apparent opposition to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office releasing inmates from jail during the start of the pandemic and Lightfoot’s concerns about enforcement of stay-at-home orders.
“How could the former director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the head of the veterans home refuse to answer any questions about the outbreak that costs the lives of 36 veterans?” said Sem. Sue Rezin. “When I asked that question, I was told the inspector general does not have the power to compel former directors and employees to testify.”
Most of the reports of fraud involved identity theft. Other cases included imposter scams, fraud involving credit bureaus, online shopping scams, and banking scams. Leader researcher Nick VinZant said Illinois’ unemployment issues played a part in the state resident’s losses.
The annual amount of the state budget to cover pension payments for the five funds the state manages is approaching nearly a quarter of every tax dollar the state takes in.
In a near-unanimous action, the House voted 114-0 to approve a bill sponsored by Rep. Mark Batinick that would impose a 12-month ban on any board member of a public pension system going to work for that system or any of its vendors. Four representatives did not vote.
Dates and times for vaccinations will be promoted in advance and will be chosen strategically around shift changes. The effort will begin this month with 10 sites in Chicago, Rockford and Schaumburg in the first wave of the program before branching out throughout Illinois.
House Bill 1711 would change state law to allow the sale of dogs and cats only if they come from an animal control facility or shelter. It passed the House with bipartisan support last month.
Reaching the bridge phase means 70% of Illinois residents 65 and older are vaccinated in addition to maintaining 20% ICU bed availability and holding COVID-19 mortality rates, hospitalizations and cases steady for a 28-day period.
“Good financial news isn’t something that visits Illinois too often. But when it does, it should be rewarded. It also is something that policymakers should be eager to build upon.”
Here’s how that could work: the extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits for 17 weeks (which brings us to September 6th when the added benefit expires) would add up to $5,100. What if the government gave you 40 percent of that – or more than $2,000 – if you got a job now? You’d have employment to pay the bills, and a lump sum of cash in hand.
Prices locally are up 14 cents in the last month and more than a dollar over the last year.
The effort will begin in mid-May with 10 sites in Chicago, Schaumburg and Rockford in the first wave of the program.
“There hasn’t been another mayor in recent memory who has invited public participation in this process,” Lightfoot said. “We’ve heard loud and clear from parents that you want a seat at the table.”
A republication of our Wirepoints article.
The Bridge Phase will begin May 14, allowing for higher capacity limits at places like museums, zoos and spectator events as well as increased business operations during a transitional period between the current guidelines and a full reopening.
The SALT deduction has been part of the federal tax code since its inception in 1913, and on a dollar basis had been one of the highest claimed deductions from federal tax filers.
The credit would mean an estimated $35 million less each year in state income tax revenue and other state tax revenue from companies and other investors offering financing to developers in return for the state tax advantages. But advocates say legislation to create the credit — something offered by 20 other states, including Missouri, Colorado and Nebraska — wouldn’t affect state revenues for at least one or two years.
Under the 2016 Illinois Police and Community Relations Act, which governs investigations regarding whether a police officer who has shot someone to death should be charged with a crime, a criminal investigation into a fatal shooting by police has to be done by two investigators from outside the agency that employs the officer involved.
“How can an entity like Navy Pier Inc. — which receives taxpayer money overseeing one of the most lucrative, publicly owned pieces of real estate in the city and pays MPEA just $1 each year in rent — operate behind the scrim of secrecy for so long?”
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