The Beat Goes On: Pension Bill Passes, in Back and Forth Tug-of War on House Floor

The House voted on Tuesday to allow borrowing nearly $4 Billion to make the state's pension payment. It as one of the major dramas floating as the legislators work to wrap up a legislative session that was supposed to be ended on May 7.

The House voted earlier on Tuesday -- around 4 PM - on whether to borrow to make the payment. IT was noted by supporters of borrowing that this was the best of three bad options. Either the state borrows -- at approximately 4% -- to make the payment, OR they face a built-in 8.5% interest accumulation clause if they fail to make the payment. And the third option was to take the money that would have gone to pay those doing business with the state, and use that money to pay the pension payment. But when you pay vendors late, you have to pay 12.5 % interest on the bill.

So what do you want to pay if you're forced to borrow; 4%, 8.5%, or 12.5% ? If you picked 4% as your option, then you side with those who voted to borrow the money. Still, the bill passed by just ONE vote.

Some on the Democratic side of the aisle say the logic of lower interest rates is so clear, that the Republicans are playing pure politics on this issue by voting against it. In fact one of the more dramatic moments in the last ten years in the House came when the Governor stood on the House floor and stared down House Republican leader, Tom Cross, as Cross went into a series of ways the state is being mismanaged, and that we therefore go from one crisis to another.

And that lies at the heart of the Republican opposition to more borrowing. That by borrowing the money to make the payment, the legislature is becoming an enabler of bad policy decisions, and that the Quinn Administration - and the Legislature -- are therefore not facing the tough choices of cutting spending, regulation, and enacting pro-business policies that would lead to greater economic growth -- and thus more money to the state to balance its budget through organic revenue growth.

With these factors in place the vote on whether to borrow FAILED TO PASS on the first vote --failing BY ONE VOTE. And the irony here is Rep David Miller -- the Democratic candidate for Comptroller -- voted NO, in a parliamentary move to place him on the winning side, should the vote be defeated. The Dem leadership didn't have the vote count nailed, and thus sank the first vote themselves by having Miller vote no.

When you vote on the winning side of an issue, you can offer a Motion to Reconsider. That is to say, to allow another vote on the bill. And when it was defeated by one vote - Miller offered his Motion to Reconsider. This lead to another vote some two hours later, in which Miller voted FOR borrowing.. and the bill passed.

Even this lengthy post is a simple version of the political gamesmanship, and drama that was going on around this one issue. IT is also instructive of the horrible state of legislative cooperation-- or lack thereof -- that is hanging over every vote as the lawmakers now try again to put together some bill they'll call a budget, that will allow them to go home.

But the larger issue facing the state isn't this pension borrowing, or this year's budget. It's that the State of Illinois is not having a government facing the realities of needed cuts, needed revenue, needed reforms.. in any kind of organized cooperative fashion, that the citizens would expect of leaders trying to honestly resolve a financial crisis.

And so we won't resolve it. The financial crisis in Illinois will continue to linger.. and next year at this time... we'll be writing about just how they're going to make the pension payment. By then, we'll be past the elections. Perhaps then, with the governor's race behind us, and lawmakers safe for two years.. the tough choices will be faced, and the changes that will return fiscal sanity will be made.

But not this Spring.

Cross and Radogno Sponsor Constitutional Amendment to Create a Fair Map

From the Offices of the Illinois Senate Republicans and Illinois House Republicans

(Springfield) After seeing the early success of a citizens’ movement to take back Illinois, Republican Leaders Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) filed resolutions today to amend the Illinois Constitution with reforms that would take the power of drawing legislative maps out of lawmakers’ hands and place it into the hands of an independent commission.

“This resolution will also take away the ridiculous “hat provision” which has decided who draws the legislative map for the last three decades,” said Cross. “When lawmakers and the governor can’t agree on a legislative map—we draw a name out of a hat. We’re the only state in the nation that allows this winner take all approach.”

House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 56 and Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 104 take an initiative sponsored by the League of Women Voters and other government reform groups and put it into legislation for General Assembly passage.

“We are proposing to take the politics out of the redistricting process and let voters choose their elected representatives. This is the reform that citizens are demanding. This proposal is specifically designed to empower the voters of Illinois,” Leader Radogno said. “We know we could face strong opposition but regardless of the past we have a responsibility to seek good public policy. Redistricting reform must happen in Illinois.”

“We will continue to push hard for a House vote on our amendment. The residents are demanding it,” added Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). “The political reality is that the Democrats in control don’t want it.”

The current process allows legislative leaders to draw district boundaries behind closed doors. The constitutional amendment would require public hearings, ensure public display of proposed maps and allow public submission of proposed maps. Since 2001, incumbents have a 98% reelection rate; passage of the amendment will encourage competition and promote diversity.

The League of Women Voters has taken the lead in recommending the constitutional amendment, and has partnered with other reform groups, including: the Better Government Association, members of the Illinois Reform Commission, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Common Cause – Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity, Illinois Alliance for Growth, Independent Voters of Illinois and United Power for Action and Justice.

“We are thrilled that legislative leaders are proposing this constitutional amendment with our language in it—and we are hopeful that lawmakers will do the right thing and pass it through the General Assembly,” said Jan Czarnik, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters.

According to state law, in order for the Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment to appear on the ballot in November—the General Assembly must pass it with a 3/5th majority by May 2, 2010 (six months before the election).

“There are other proposals out there, but we believe only one that empowers an independent authority is true reform,” said Deputy Senate Republican Leader Dale Righter. “Any proposal that continues to have lawmakers draw their own districts is not reform.”

Republicans Propose Campaign Finance Reform

From the Office of the Illinois House Republicans

In keeping their pledge to Illinois residents to continue to push true campaign finance reform, Illinois House Republican Leader Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and his members support a bill that would impose campaign contribution limits on legislative leaders’ caucus committees and political parties in the general election.

“The current law puts contribution limits on everyone EXCEPT the four legislative leaders and political parties in the general election. That is not fair—we must apply the rules to everyone,” said Cross. “We could not support the bill that passed last year because it only imposed these limits in primary elections. This new bill closes the gaping loophole that was created by that law.”

“Simply put, unlimited money means unlimited power in the hands of a few individuals. That’s business as usual in Illinois, and it’s unacceptable,” said Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington). “The legislation we’re introducing today does what the bill signed into law last year should have done, impose reasonable caps across the board in the General Election. This will be a big step in putting power back into the hands of individual voters.”

Senate Republicans are also in favor of this improvement to the current law.

“The Democrat majorities and the Governor failed to capitalize on a unique opportunity to pass meaningful campaign finance reform. By not capping contributions limits for legislative leaders and political parties during the General Election, their measure will have limited impact. We now have an opportunity to right that wrong and enact true campaign finance reform,” Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said.

House Bill 5008 will extend the varied campaign contribution limitations that were created in Senate Bill 1466 (P.A. 96-832) to the general election. The current limitations on legislative leaders and political parties will only apply during the primary elections starting in 2011.

“This should be a no-brainer if we want to curb the influence of the leaders in Illinois,” said Cross. “The majority of money is spent in general elections. According to our analysis in the 2008 election cycle—the Democratic Party of Illinois spent 40 times more in the general election compared to what it spent in the primary.”

“Everyone who voted to pass the bill to impose these limits in primary elections should have no problem voting to impose the exact same limits in general elections,” added Rep. Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg).

House Republican Leader Tom Cross Endorses McKenna/Murphy

From the Campaign Office of Andy McKenna for Governor

CHICAGO – Republican Gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna and Lieutenant Governor candidate Matt Murphy announced today they have secured the coveted endorsement of Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross.

“This election is pivotal to our future and I am confident Andy McKenna and Matt Murphy are the right team to lead our state out of the fiscal nightmare the Democrats have created,” said Cross.

Cross, who led the fight to defeat the Democrats’ plans to increase taxes during the last legislative session, will serve as a Co-Chairman of the McKenna/Murphy ticket in part due to their shared view of opposing tax hikes.

“Leader Cross’ endorsement underscores the momentum that grows each day with our message of cutting spending, lowering taxes and creating jobs in Illinois,” said McKenna.

Leader Cross is the second major endorsement of the McKenna/Murphy ticket. Lake County Republican Chairman Dan Venturi personally endorsed the team last week.

“I am honored to have Leader Cross’ support of our campaign to create jobs and ease the tax burden on the hardworking families in Illinois,” added Murphy.

Cross, McKenna and Murphy announced the endorsement at stops in both Chicago and Springfield.

Tom Cross represents the 84th State House District which encompasses portions of Kendall, Will and DuPage Counties. He has been House Republican Leader since 2003.

Gov Quinn Vetoes Campaign Finance Bill

Chicago – August 27, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today vetoed campaign finance House Bill 7 saying Illinois deserves a stronger and better election reform law. At the ceremony announcing his veto, Governor Quinn was joined by the General Assembly’s four party leaders and community activists.

“I think we can do better. I look forward to working with Democrat and Republican leaders, activists and everyday citizens on improving our state election campaign laws and restoring the public’s faith in our democratic process,” said Governor Quinn. (Veto message attached.)
Among those attending the veto signing: House Speaker Michael Madigan; Senate President John Cullerton; House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno.

“By beginning the process anew, we have the opportunity to bring together the Governor, legislators of both parties, and public watchdog groups to develop a comprehensive plan that sets limits on contributions and provides for more public scrutiny of those contributions,” said Radogno.

Also attending were George Ranney, president and CEO of Metropolis 2020 and co-chair of CHANGE Illinois!, and Cindy Canary, director of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

"The Governor and the legislative leaders are to be commended for agreeing to veto HB7 and to begin work immediately on a new version of campaign finance limits,” said Ranney. “The members of the CHANGE Illinois! coalition are committed to working with Governor and members of the Illinois General Assembly.”

Canary of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform said, “Too many election campaigns have been fueled by large donations from special interests. We need a limits system that breaks that reliance on big contributors and encourages small donors and voters to participate more fully in the electoral process. We are open to discussing the details of a new system of campaign contribution limits, but we will not compromise on these principles.”

During the veto signing session, Governor Quinn also outlined a series of major government and political reforms he initiated and supported this year.

“We have made great strides during this Year of Reform and I intend to do much more,” Governor Quinn said.