Inside:
- Federal prosecutors seek nearly 6-year sentence for Madigan confidant
- Keeping an eye out for the delivery tax
- Homeschool bill down, but not out
- Summer in the 71st
Federal prosecutors seek nearly 6-year sentence for Madigan confidant
Earlier this summer the former Speaker of the Illinois House, Mike Madigan, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for his role in a statehouse corruption scandal. A few days ago federal prosecutors asked for almost as much prison time for one of his confidants.
Michael McClain, formerly a powerful statehouse lobbyist who prosecutors say had an “unbreakable” bond with Madigan, was recently convicted as part of the ComEd conspiracy to pay more than $1 million to five Madigan allies to curry favor with the Speaker.
The sentencing is scheduled for July 24. Sentencing for other figures found guilty in the corruption case is coming up later this summer. McClain’s attorneys asked for probation.
Read more from WBEZ here.
Keeping an eye out for the delivery tax
Taxes were raised by almost $1 billion to pay for all the spending in this year’s state budget (I voted No), but one tax that was talked about in the spring did not make it into the final package: the $1.50 delivery tax on Illinois businesses. However, bad ideas have a way of coming back around in Springfield, so I am still keeping an eye out just in case we see this proposal again.
Like a lot of bad ideas in Springfield, this one was introduced very late in session to avoid much discussion or transparency. It was part of the conversation about how to bail out the Chicago area’s troubled Regional Transit Authority, which some reports say has a deficit of as much as $770 million. Naturally, Illinois Democrats looked to higher taxes as a solution, and included this delivery tax in a bill which passed the Senate but was not heard in the House.
Officially called the “Retail Delivery Climate Impact Fee Act,” the legislation would impose a $1.50 “climate impact fee” starting January 1 on each retail delivery of an item delivered by a motor vehicle within the state of Illinois if it includes any item subject to Illinois sales tax, with a few exclusions. Eighty percent of the money raised from the tax would go to Chicago-area transit systems, with the rest being spread around to downstate transit agencies.
Restaurants, small businesses and major delivery services were just some of those who spoke out against the tax. Seniors and those with mobility issues would be especially hard hit by a tax on deliveries.
As the Chicago area transit fiscal situation worsens, the temptation will be high for a tax increase. The House will be back in Springfield for the fall session in mid-October. Illinois residents and businesses should stay on guard in case this bad idea comes up once again.
Homeschool bill down, but not out
Earlier this year we celebrated the stoppage of a terrible bill to impose intrusive mandates on homeschool families in Illinois. Thousands of concerned citizens engaged with the process and made their opposition to House Bill 2827 known. Their combined voices were enough to prevent the bill from being brought up for a vote in the spring session.
But while the bill was stopped this spring, that does not mean it could not come back up again in the future. Recently the lead sponsor of the bill gave an interview in which she said she continues to work the bill, still trying to gain enough support to move it forward in next year’s spring session, or possibly as early as the fall veto session which meets in October. Those who worked so hard to prevent this bad bill from becoming law this spring should remain vigilant against a possible future effort to try again.
Stay tuned and stay engaged!
Summer in the 71st
Summer is a great season in our 71st District, there is always something going on!
Last Wednesday night into Thursday morning we enjoyed the Knox County Fair, which has a large midway with a great selection of rides for the young and old. The main event was the tractor and truck pull. A mix of large and small green, blue, red and yellow tractors. We sat with Representative (retired) Don and Carolyn Moffitt in the grandstand waiting for their son Justin to pull with his truck. By the time he pulled it was 12:40am. We were the last four people in the grandstand. Justin got third in his truck class in a very close pull. Congratulations to the Knox County Fair board for an outstanding fair season.
Thursday night we attended the Stern Center ice cream social with a performance of the Monmouth Community band. I had a dish of chocolate, vanilla ice cream and a slice of homemade peach pie! Delicious. We left there to attend a presentation at Warren County Museum to learn about General Warren, Revolutionary War and Warren County’s namesake. Gen Warren was an outstanding leader.
Over the weekend we attended the Mercer County 4-H livestock auction postponed one day because of the weather. Normally the livestock is present, but the animals, chickens and ducks were removed for safety considerations. I bought Josiah Stevenson’s four rabbits. It was great seeing all the area businesses, family members and friends support the local 4-H clubs.
The grandstand was full of spectators watching the demolition derby also going on at the fair. The tractor and truck pull had to be rescheduled for Sunday. It seemed to me the midway had more rides and games than previous years. Great job Mercer County fair board for an outstanding fair.
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