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Chicago Tribune: Chicago Teachers Union rejects fact-finding report, starting clock on potential strike
The Chicago Teachers Union rejected proposed contract terms recommended by an independent fact-finder, creating the possibility of a strike before the school year ends.
The union had been expected to reject the findings of Steven Bierig, a Highland park attorney who has been involved since February in talks to replace a contract for roughly 27,000 CTU members that expired June 30.
QC Times: Illinois House Democrats propose redistricting amendment
Illinois House Democrats are proposing their own plan for changing the way the state’s legislative districts are drawn.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has made redistricting reform a key component of his “turnaround agenda,” but Democrats say a Republican proposal and one being pushed by a group called Independent Maps wouldn’t adequately take into account minority populations when drawing boundaries, a claim supporters dispute.
Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he filed the new proposal because he doesn’t think the other plan would pass constitutional muster because of its lack of protection for minority voters.
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel's police task force has done its job. Now comes the hard part.
In the thick report that summarizes four months of heavy lifting, Mayor Rahm Emanuel‘s task force on police accountability notes that it is at least the sixth such panel to recommend reforms to the Chicago Police Department.
We’re going to count seven, including a two-year review of the department’s disciplinary process led by former federal prosecutor Ron Safer, commissioned by Emanuel and shelved in 2014.
“These reform efforts typically occurred in response to corruption-related scandals,” observes the current task force, also born of crisis.
RRStar: Streamlining Illinois government can start near the top
Illinois was without a lieutenant governor for two years after Pat Quinn was promoted in the wake of the impeachment and removal from office of Rod Blagojevich. Nobody noticed. The office should have been left vacant permanently.
Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, has introduced legislation to do just that. The House State Government Administration Committee unanimously approved McSweeney’s bill to eliminate the lieutenant governor starting in 2019, the end of current Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti’s term.
If the measure is approved by the General Assembly, voters would have the final say in November. We’re sure voters will see the wisdom of streamlining Illinois government, and the lieutenant governor’s office is a good place to start.
SJR: School funding amendment seen as long shot at Statehouse
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s proposed education funding constitutional amendmentcould have major financial implications if it makes it to the ballot and voters approve.
However, political observers locally view the chances of that happening as a long shot.
The Chicago Democrat’s legislation, filed Tuesday, declares that education is a fundamental “right” — as opposed to “goal” — and that the state has the “preponderant financial responsibility” for funding schools.
Pantagraph: Public pension bill a sensible solution
Peter Murphy is the executive director and the CEO of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.
His job includes lobbying on the behalf of the state’s park districts. Although he is paid indirectly through tax dollars — districts pay to be a part of the association — he is not a public employee. He is not elected or appointed by the public and is not directly responsible to taxpayers.
But when Murphy retires, he will receive a six-figure pension from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, a pension fund for public employees. Murphy has contributed to his pension and so has the park district association. That only covers a small part of Murphy’s pension. Ultimately, the taxpayers will pay for it.
Northwest Herald: Consolidation a must for Ill. government units
Illinois has nearly 7,000 units of local government. That’s the highest count of any state in the nation, and the runner-up is not even close.
One of those units of government is the Naperville Township Road District, where seven employees maintain less than 20 miles of road at a cost of $116,000 per mile. City officials have said they could maintain the same distance at half the cost, and have moved to take over the road district’s duties on behalf of local taxpayers.
But the final decision on whether to outsource maintenance of those roads to the city rests with Naperville Township Road Commissioner Stan Wojtasiak, who has put local taxpayers on the hook for thousands of dollars in meals and treats, including alcohol, over the course of his tenure, according to the Naperville Sun. Wojtasiak said he spent the money to boost staff morale, and has yet to announce his decision regarding consolidation.