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Suburban double dippers hit taxpayers in the wallet

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Several collar county board members are being paid salaries for their work at the same time they also are collecting pensions for the same county board work. Did you know that?

It’s true. And at the moment, it’s perfectly legal, though some Illinois lawmakers are trying to change that and fix what they see as other corruption problems in county governments.

OPINION

More than a dozen county board members in Lake, McHenry, Will and Kane County are being paid both salaries and pensions at the same time for their work as county commissioners. They’ve received as much as $82,124 in annual pension payouts from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund for jobs in which they’re also still getting salaries of between $21,000 and $43,018, according to an analysis by the Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin.

This is happening because of a 2016 law that says county commissioners cannot continue to work toward a pension unless they provide documentation they’re working at least 19 hours a week at that job. Elected officials who did not provide that proof were kicked out of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund but, because they had contributed previously to IMRF, they were able to start collecting their accumulated pensions even though they’re still working, and being paid, as commissioners.

Senate Bill 1236 aims to stop that, along with three other problems that have surfaced in county governments because of a lack of accountability and transparency. Sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Terry Link of Indian Creek, the bill passed the Senate 45-6 last month. It passed 13-3 out of a House committee last week and could get a full House vote soon.

“The pension is a retirement vehicle,” state Rep. Sam Yingling, a Round Lake Beach Democrat, said in an interview. “It’s not something for public officials to use to double dip at the taxpayer trough.”

If Link and Yingling succeed in getting their legislation enacted, elected local officials would be prohibited from receiving a salary or other compensation if they are collecting pension benefits from IMRF for the same job. An official’s salary would be zeroed out at the start of a new term if that official is collecting a pension for the same job.

Several Lake County board members, the Illinois Association of County Board Members, the Illinois State Association of Counties and the Illinois Municipal League all filed witness slips opposing passage of SB 1236 before last week’s committee hearing.

Some lawmakers questioned why the legislation didn’t cut off the pension rather than the salary for officials who are collecting both. Yingling noted people can defer their pension payments if they win re-election to a local office they once held.

Others wondered about scenarios in which a teacher could retire from full-time work, begin collecting a pension, but want to then work part-time or as a substitute.

State Rep. Daniel Didich, a Buffalo Grove Democrat, answered, noting those officials could begin collecting their pensions once they finally quit working at those jobs.

“I think the public is absolutely fed up with this type of behavior and practice in government,” Yingling added. “This is good government to install these protections and measures for taxpayers and I strongly believe in them.”

Other provisions in the legislation would allow for the removal of county board chairs, who are elected to that leadership role by their fellow commissioners by a four-fifths vote of the board. Yingling said that provision was needed after the revelation that former Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor had abused a county credit card and submitted fraudulent charges for reimbursement. Lawlor resigned after the abuses came to light and sought treatment for addiction.

SB 1236 also boosts transparency by requiring that vendors in line for a county contract of more than $30,000 must disclose any family relationships with county officials. Yingling said some vendors in Lake County have been awarded no-bid contracts and then it’s come to light they have relationships with officeholders.

Lastly, the legislation requires county boards to alert new countywide officials that they have the option to ask that a transitional audit be conducted at county expense when they take office.

Lake County Circuit Court Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein said she fought with a prior county administrator and board members for months after she took office to try to definitely determine what happened with contracts for an e-filing system that never was completed, even though $4.9 million had been spent on it over a five-year period by her predecessor. County officials since have agreed to pay for an assessment, a less formal form of a forensic audit.

“This bill is a huge step in the right direction to provide accountability and protections to the public against inappropriate spending of taxpayer funds,” she previously told state lawmakers.

Illinois leads the nation in numbers of governments, which makes it that much harder for taxpayers to hold them all accountable. SB 1236 should help if it becomes law.

The public, Yingling said, is “demanding that action be taken to stop rampant fraud and abuse.”

Madeleine Doubek is executive director of CHANGE Illinois, a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for political and government reforms.

 

 

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via Chicago Sun-Times http://bit.ly/2xAxGgE

May 13, 2019 at 05:52PM

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New State Representative Replaces Costello | Alton Daily News

http://bit.ly/2JA8e0n

 

Replacing Jerry Costello Jr., who resigned from state legislature last week to take a high ranking job at the state’s Department of Natural Resources, is state Rep. Nathan Reitz. Democratic party leaders made the selection and Reitz was sworn in on Thursday. Costello had publicly opposed a progressive income tax.

Ideas Illinois noted President Donald Trump carried that legislative district in 2016 and said Reitz must choose between siding with the progressive income tax or with “middle-class families.”

(Copyright WBGZ Radio / www.AltonDailyNews.com)

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via Alton Daily News

May 12, 2019 at 07:27AM

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Rep. Gordon-Booth: Prioritize resources for crime victims in Illinois

http://bit.ly/2Vu3Oz6

Resources for survivors of crime must be a priority for communities who are in dire need of — and deserve — better services. I recently participated in National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with fellow lawmakers, local leaders and survivors of crime from across Illinois. It presented an important opportunity to reflect how we are meeting the needs of crime survivors and communities that desperately want safety.

There is no responsibility more important to me than ensuring every community in Illinois is safe. As a member of our state legislature and a mother personally affected by crime and violence, I consider it my duty to work for healthy and thriving communities.

That’s why in recent years I’ve worked across party lines to advance some of the most comprehensive justice reform bills in Illinois history. They have given our state the opportunity to begin replacing the enormously ineffective and wasteful criminal justice system policies of the past with solutions that can actually help improve safety.

For people who have been victims of violent or non-violent crime, the feeling of not being safe lingers long after the dust has settled. And the truth is, we have known for some time our current system hasn’t been keeping us safe.

This issue hits close to home for my family: Four years ago, my husband and I endured the devastating loss of our son, DJ, to gun violence. It became unclear when recovery would be possible — if ever. The grief and isolation families feel in these moments are things no parent should ever have to experience.

Each instance of gun violence has many victims. Our pain was exacerbated when victims of DJ’s murder sought government support and services to help navigate the healing process. We discovered a lesson many already know: Our justice system was better at re-victimizing than meeting the needs of people at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

It’s why we must continue working to shift the focus of our justice and public safety systems. The needs of crime survivors must be increasingly centered, so that crime victims receive the services they need. That’s why I successfully moved legislation to provide trauma recovery services that help end cycles of harm and violence. Currently eight in 10 survivors report experiencing at least one type of trauma after their victimization, and two out of three crime victims report receiving no help after the incident. This is not acceptable. We can and must do more.

At the same time, we must hold people accountable while creating a path for earned redemption. The so-called “tough-on-crime” policies of the past have burned through our taxpayer dollars while leaving us no safer. Instead, we must continue to advance important reforms that reduce recidivism and halt the cycle of crime.

The barriers faced by people living with a past conviction after they’ve completed their sentence must be lifted if we want to prioritize the health and safety of communities. The opportunity to gain employment and pursue other life-stabilizing activities helps people support themselves and their families and turn their lives around — in turn, creating safer communities.

Similarly, it is critical we enact policies that ensure people in our state prison system successfully complete rehabilitation programs proven to significantly reduce the likelihood they will commit another crime when they return to their communities upon their release.

Illinois has an opportunity to continue charting a new path, with a vision that provides safety for all. As a survivor, I’m committed to doing whatever I can to achieve that goal and prevent more people from joining the ranks of crime survivors. Now is the time to double down to achieve true safety and well-being for all communities.

Jehan Gordon-Booth is a Democrat from Peoria and the representative for the 92nd district in the Illinois House.

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Region: Springfield,Feeds,Opinion,Region: Central,City: Springfield

via Opinion – The State Journal-Register http://bit.ly/2EMjS6J

May 9, 2019 at 08:12PM

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Son of former state representative appointed to replace Costello in Illinois House – Belleville News-Democrat

http://bit.ly/2vUvMVn

Son of former state representative appointed to replace Costello in Illinois house

Conservative Democratic state Reps. Jerry Costello II and Monica Bristow

With Democrats having a supermajority in the Illinois House, what does that mean for conservative Democrats Jerry Costello of Smithton and Monica Bristow of Godfrey? How much leverage do they have? How tough is it for them to push their views? By

With Democrats having a supermajority in the Illinois House, what does that mean for conservative Democrats Jerry Costello of Smithton and Monica Bristow of Godfrey? How much leverage do they have? How tough is it for them to push their views? By

A Steeleville man has been appointed to replace former state Rep. Jerry Costello II, and he has a familiar last name.

Nathan Reitz, the son of former state Rep. Dan Reitz, was appointed by the Democratic Party chairman in Perry, Randolph, Monroe and St. Clair Counties to finish Costello’s term. On Tuesday, Costello was named as the director of law enforcement for the Illinois Department of Resources.

“As a lifelong Southern Illinoisan, I know that our community deserves a representative who will continue fighting every day for Southern Illinois and our values,” Nathan Reitz said. “Having spent my career in the energy industry, I am determined to help grow our local economy and making the decisions that help create new jobs. As state representative, I will fight every day to protect our Second Amendment rights, provide tax relief and responsible budget making, and make sure that Southern Illinois always has a strong voice in Springfield. There is a lot to accomplish, and I look forward to working together with my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to make Southern Illinois and our state a better place to live and work in.”

Among the issues facing the general assembly, where Democrats have supermajorities in both chambers, is whether to support key parts of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s agenda. The first year governor has called for going to a progressive income tax system in the state and legalizing recreational marijuana to help bring additional revenue to the state.

Costello, the son of former Congressman Jerry Costello, opposed both measures.

The Illinois Republican Party was quick to criticize the appointment.

“The fix is in. One of the last votes Nathan Reitz’s father, former State Rep. Dan Reitz, took was Mike Madigan’s 2011 tax hike,” Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said. “Now, Pritzker and Madigan want one of the first votes of Nathan Reitz to be yet another tax hike on Illinois families and small businesses. Tax-hiking is the Reitz family business. Reitz must follow Jerry Costello’s lead and oppose the Pritzker-Madigan-backed graduated income tax. If Reitz supports the tax hike, voters and taxpayers will make Reitz’s tenure in the General Assembly a short one.”

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via “Illinois Politics” – Google News http://bit.ly/2Sc9ojT

May 9, 2019 at 04:39PM

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New caucus as auditor whacks DCFS

http://bit.ly/2JlCV9c

We’ll never know how close State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin) came to being another Semaj Crosby, A.J. Freund, or Ta’naja Barnes.

“I was exposed to opiates in the womb from my birth mother,” Moeller told a Statehouse news conference. “The state took me away and placed me in the care of my loving grandparents.”

Moeller is now a co-chair of the newly-formed Illinois House Child Welfare Reform Caucus. The bipartisan group of representatives hopes to finally get the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services turned around.

State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), a lawmaker of more than thirty years’ tenure, says it’s only gotten worse over those years.

“We are the cause that a lot of families are split up,” she said. “We are the cause that a lot of families are on alcohol and drugs. We are the cause that a lot of families have to work three part-time jobs and then still come home and take care of their children.”

And a man who says he is a survivor of abuse, James McIntyre, said, “We left families alone. We left families stranded. We let that kid know that his voice does not matter.” McIntyre is co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Foster Care Alumni Association of America.

McIntyre added that abuse and neglect crosses all racial, income, and religious lines.

The new caucus was announced the same day as an auditor general’s report which said calls to the DCFS hotline went to voicemail and were not returned for a week; and that caseworkers are overloaded to illegal levels.

http://bit.ly/1RZKzPv

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Region: Springfield,News,Region: Central,City: Springfield

via News – Newsradio 1240 & 93.5 FM WTAX https://wtax.com

May 7, 2019 at 07:05PM

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Pritzker names Costello II DNR Law Enforcement Director

http://bit.ly/2vIF6f1

Pritzker names Costello II DNR Law Enforcement Director

Posted: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 11:47 AM EDT Updated: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 11:49 AM EDT

SPRINGFIELD (WSIL) — State Rep. Jerry Costello II has resigned from his house seat to become the Director of Law Enforcement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Gov. JB Pritzker appointed Costello to the role Tuesday. Costello II, (D-Smithton), represented Illinois’ 116th district since 2011 upon graduation from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and military service in Iraq under the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

“After serving his country in the battlefields of Iraq and the people of Southern Illinois in the statehouse, I’m thrilled Jerry Costello is continuing his public service by leading law enforcement at the Department of Natural Resources,” said Pritzker. “His wide-ranging experience brings much value to an important piece of state government.”

Costello II resigned from his house seat Tuesday. He also chaired the Agriculture and Conservation committee.

“It’s an honor to lead the dedicated group of men and women who keep Illinoisans safe while they enjoy our state’s natural resources,” said Costello II. “I’m excited to start this new chapter, and I thank Gov. Pritzker for the opportunity to serve.”

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via WSIL – News http://bit.ly/2jOahgw

May 7, 2019 at 10:52AM

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Rep. Jerry Costello resigns from House, takes IDNR top cop job

http://bit.ly/2Vi4asF

* Other governors might have made Jerry wait until after the session so he could vote with the governor’s agenda. But Gov. Bruce Rauner did the same sort of thing by appointing legislators who didn’t love his policies to top agency jobs (pro-AFSCME folks like Raymond Poe) and then replacing them with people who would be more, um, amenable…

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker appointed state Rep. Jerry Costello II to serve as the Director of Law Enforcement at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

“After serving his country in the battlefields of Iraq and the people of Southern Illinois in the statehouse, I’m thrilled Jerry Costello is continuing his public service by leading law enforcement at the Department of Natural Resources,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “His wide-ranging experience brings much value to an important piece of state government.”

“It’s an honor to lead the dedicated group of men and women who keep Illinoisans safe while they enjoy our state’s natural resources,” said state Rep. Jerry Costello II. “I’m excited to start this new chapter, and I thank Gov. Pritzker for the opportunity to serve.”

Background

Jerry Costello II will serve as the Director of Law Enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Costello has represented the 116th district in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2011 and currently chairs the Agriculture and Conservation committee. A graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Costello decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Not long after signing up, he and his unit saw combat during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military service in Iraq, Costello returned to Illinois where he became a police officer and started a family. Initially a patrolman, he would rise through the ranks and become assistant chief of police. Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Costello lives in Smithton with his wife Lori and their three children.

Beginning his transition into the new role, Rep. Costello resigned from his House seat effective today.

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via Capitol Fax.com http://capitolfax.com

May 7, 2019 at 10:41AM

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House bill could grant both student trustees a vote

http://bit.ly/2GBmTGs

Under state Rep. Katie Stuart’s, D-Edwardsville, new legislation, both student trustees would have a vote on the SIU Board of Trustees. The bill has passed through the Illinois House and has already experienced its first reading in the Senate.

HB2239 is an amendment to the Southern Illinois University Management Act; it specifically changing the mentions of student trustees voting in sections two, four and five. Stuart filed the bill on Feb. 7.

Board of Trustees Chair Phil Gilbert is in support of the bill, as he said giving both student trustees a vote is the fair thing to do.

“I think that it doesn’t seem fair to have one campus’ student trustee have a vote and the other student trustee not [have] a vote, so I think in terms of fairness, it would be fair to have both student trustees have a [vote],” Gilbert said.

SIU Carbondale student trustee Brione Lockett said he discussed HB2239 with former trustee and board vice chair Shirley Portwood, and they both agreed the changes make sense on a fundamental level. The reason behind this being that the non-voting student trustee is still subject to the same responsibilities as the voting student trustee.

“[Portwood] also stated that it just makes sense,” Lockett said. “You’re asking people to read all this stuff and spend all this time traveling to all these places and learn all these things and not get a vote. That didn’t make sense, and I couldn’t agree more.”

However simple the rationale may seem, SIUE student trustee Molly Smith said this is not the first time a bill of this sort has been proposed, and it may encounter some of the same roadblocks as before. Smith said if the SIU system changes its board, other systems may feel pressure to follow suit.

As it stands now, the governor decides which student trustee has a vote. In the most recent years, the vote has alternated from year to year, but this is not always the case.

“In the past, the governor who makes the designation has alternated between the two campuses, so even if this bill doesn’t pass, according to tradition — and of course, it’s still up to the governor — SIU Edwardsville student trustee would have the vote during the next year because the Carbondale student trustee had the vote last year,” Gilbert said.

Lockett holds the student trustee vote on the board. While Smith does not have official voting power, she said she and Lockett would communicate about issues being brought before the board, and Lockett would especially consider her input with matters that would largely impact SIUE students.

However, Smith recognizes this may not always be the dynamic between future student trustees and believes the bill would be even more beneficial in those circumstances.

“We have a really good relationship, but for future students, maybe both votes would be really beneficial,” Smith said.

Lockett said if the new legislation does not pass before the next student trustee terms begin July 1, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker has not yet decided which student trustee has the vote, the voting power would stay with Lockett. However, Lockett doubts this will be a concern as he’s confident the bill will pass.

“If the bill doesn’t go through, it stays with the school that had the vote in years prior. But I doubt — and nothing’s for sure — but I’m 99 percent certain that the bill that would allow both students to vote would pass,” Lockett said.

Lockett said he feels the bill has already overcome the largest hurdle: obtaining House approval. Due to Stuart being a Democrat from the Metro East, an area that supported Pritzker during the elections, he feels that the legislators are more likely to sway in the bill’s favor.

“It passed the House, and in the state of Illinois, the House is where it’s the most difficult to get anything to pass — I feel,” Lockett said. “In recent years, it has been very difficult. I don’t know if that’s because there’s been a different governor and then a majority democratic legislators, but now it’s dominant democratic legislators and the Democratic governor.”

To stay updated on HB2239’s progress, visit the Illinois General Assembly Website.

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via AlestleLive.com

April 23, 2019 at 05:29PM

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Connor backs bill to defend immigrant communities from financial predators

http://bit.ly/2DrlqAw

State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is supporting a bill that would protect immigrant communities from predatory notaries attempting to steal from them.

House Bill 2176 amends the Illinois Notary Public Act and would require notaries who are not licensed attorneys to clearly inform clients that they cannot accept fees for legal work, both verbally and by openly-displayed notices written in both English and Spanish, according to a news release from Connor’s office.

“All Illinoisans deserve protection from criminals who try to exploit them for money,” Connor said. “Notaries have been damaging our immigrant communities for personal gain by performing legal tasks they have no authority to do, or even by accepting thousands of dollars in fees and giving no services.”

Notaries who do not follow these procedures can be fined up to $1,500, up from the previous $1,000 fine, and possibly lose their licenses.

“Financial opportunists take advantage of the difference between what notaries can do in other countries versus their more limited roll in the U.S.,” Connor said. “We cannot allow immigrant families to face attempts at exploitation alone. Notaries swindling vulnerable people … should be held accountable.”

The bill passed the Illinois House unanimously earlier this month and now goes to the Senate. State Rep. Celina Villanueva filed the bill.

Before becoming a state legislator, Connor worked for about 20 years in the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

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City: Joliet,Region: Joliet,Region: South Suburbs,Opinion

via The Herald-News http://bit.ly/2CJDfuJ

April 22, 2019 at 11:15PM

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