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* I almost hate to ask this, but what issues do you think Gov. Pritzker should take on in next year’s spring session? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 2:59 pm
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Do a budget and convince the Speaker to adjourn on April 1st
Comment by Wow Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:01 pm
Repeal the FOID card in its entirety.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:03 pm
A complete overhaul and revamping of higher education.
Make Illinois’ higher education institutions and systems a destination, not a place Illinoisans won’t send their own students.
Thinking… Big… right?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:03 pm
fix what he has passed.
Comment by oldlobbyist Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:03 pm
Gun safety would be good.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act for sure, though that might happen in the veto session?
Following through the execution of all the ideas just passed, including the DCFS staffing, seems most critical.
Comment by Matthew Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:05 pm
World peace. What the heck, he’s on a roll.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:06 pm
I would like JB to tackle how the state funds K-12. Even if we have to raise income taxes across the board. We have to get property tax relief for those who csn least afford it.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:07 pm
I predict next session to be the year of the trailer bill.
Comment by Centennial Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:07 pm
Public Safety Pension Fund Consolidation into IMRF.
Comment by Robert Montgomery Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:09 pm
Universal pre-K.
Fix DCFS.
Legalize psychedelic mushrooms (don’t laugh, some cities are decriminalizing, a familiar first step.)
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:09 pm
He seems to have built trust with both business and labor. I’d love to see what kind of ideas that working relationship could generate to help our economy.
Comment by The Captain Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:11 pm
Early Retirement Incentive
Comment by Birds on the bat Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:12 pm
I’d like to see him let the legislators pick their pet issues, with a focus on one or two big issues. With almost everyone up for re-election, it’ll be hard to get a lot done, so let the legislators themselves do the heavy lifting with MJM and Cullerton wrangling votes for the endangered members.
Pritzker should largely stay in the back seat, save for one or two big issues. My pick would be strengthening clean energy programs. It’ll be a solid Democratic talking point that will probably coincide with national politics and help the economy and the environment at the same time. Otherwise, he needs to focus on not screwing up the implementation of all the big policies he got this year.
Comment by OutOfState Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:13 pm
Changing from legislatively required pension contribution amounts to actuarially required state contributions.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:13 pm
=Do a budget and convince the Speaker to adjourn on April 1st=
This * 10. It’s been done. MJM and Pate got together and adjourned in early April once.
=I predict next session to be the year of the trailer bill.=
Seems likely.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:13 pm
Take a serious shot at reforming Illinois’ broken human services delivery system.
From outdated treatment models like state DD centers to underpaid and overworked community level substance abuse and mental health centers, to thousands of adults in Illinois waiting for services on the PUNS list, the system is a mess.
JB appears to like big jobs and human services is a huge one.
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:15 pm
More gun control, please.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:17 pm
Real high speed internet like google fiber and improving access to quality internet to all areas of the state. The Governor experience leading that tech startup center 1871 would be beneficial in such an endeavor.
Possibly lay the ground work for some improvements in healthcare.
Comment by ItsMillerTime Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:17 pm
since hes got a constitutional amendment coming on the 2020 ballot, toss in pension reform of some kind. let the voters truly decide. sure theres debate if its legal , but lets roll the dice and see what plays out. you took a swing in 2013…
Comment by happy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:17 pm
Well, one of his biggest campaign promises was medicare for all style health care for illinois so, that.
Comment by tgk Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:19 pm
==Changing from legislatively required pension contribution amounts to actuarially required state contributions.==
I like Ole’ Nelson’s suggestion. Of course that would require an additional $4 billion per year. So very doubtful.
Comment by Smalls Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:19 pm
He did a great start but I would like to see affordable pre-school services ramped up even more. The middle class is being hurt by the current rules in that pre-school can be made free for those with low income and the rich can afford it. For those in the middle families are neglecting children the opportunity because the cost is over $2,000 almost everywhere and with multiple kids that becomes a difficult expense.
Comment by Seats Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:20 pm
===…toss in pension reform of some kind. let the voters truly decide.===
Yah, ‘bout that.
The ILSC, the constitution’s contract clause, you seem to ignore this like so many.
The money is owed.
Tier II addresses your other concern.
Unless you, personally, have a constitutional way, and a legal way to ignore the contract clause… please stop spreading this premise.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:22 pm
review Illinois university system and make a goal to cut waste and an overgrown admin at every level. MAKE all Illinois universities accountable for the degrees they issue and the debt on their students
Comment by truthteller Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:22 pm
===biggest campaign promises was medicare for all style health care===
Not even close.
He proposed allowing people to buy into Medicaid without a government match.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:23 pm
Have state fund public schools as suggested by Il Constitution, in return for which would be a corresponding lowering of property taxes. Tie them together
Consider bring back county orphanages with parenting classes women’s shelters, addiction services. One stop shop for those in need. Figurer out best interest of child and act quickly on those interests. Dream big.
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:24 pm
Too early for me to give it any thought.
I hope he takes the opportunity to do a deep dive into managing and supervising the executive branch, looking for ways to make improvements in delivery of services.
With the constant crisis since the Blago years, it seems managing the executive branch has not been top of mind.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:26 pm
Pass a balanced budget.
Fix DCFS.
Move local govt funding off of property taxes.
Private-sector job creation. In every region.
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:26 pm
==He seems to have built trust with both business and labor. I’d love to see what kind of ideas that working relationship could generate to help our economy.==
As a follow-up to Captain, incentivizing green projects and environmentally friendly procurements. We need to be the Midwest leader in this category and that alone will attract businesses. This is important to farmers too so there should be bi-partisan cooperation
Comment by Buster Scruggs Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:27 pm
Public safety issues, including guns.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:30 pm
Since there’s been talk of increasing Local Government Distributive Fund back to 10% of the state income tax, but that funds only helps counties/municipalities, perhaps take the addition 3.94% of the state income & instead put it to the new fund to reduce homeowner property taxes, directly reducing property taxes & helping fund all the local governments.
Comment by 62656 Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:30 pm
Improve and speed up processing times at the crime lab, encourage government consolidation, more funding for pre-school, ideas to end the bill backlog.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:34 pm
Education funding and finding a way to more fully fund the reformed education funding formula. Always a popular issue, and I am sure they can find an acceptable new source of money.
A lot of these suggestions are more difficult than what passed and less politically advantageous.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:35 pm
To the property tax relief idea.
My feel is this;
A bipartisan legislative plan, that once it’s rolled out by the legislative folks willing to run on it, then the governor should be part of the process.
Here’s why.
Locals knowing the local legislators are crafting this reform will force legislative hands to be all-in in ways they wouldn’t be if they only picked a colored switch to flip.
The property tax overhaul is one where the 4 caucuses could take on, and invite the governor later in process.
Once a Governor Pritzker is involved, governors then own.
Let the legislature frame out the structure they will live with.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:36 pm
How about tackling redundant units of government–townships and single-school school districts? That requires some political capital to do but it’s clearly “good government” policy.
Comment by Benjamin Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:36 pm
Elimination of townships and some other local units of government.
Comment by Tom Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:38 pm
High speed rail
Comment by Builder Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:38 pm
Actually get the legislature to lower property taxes or even freeze them for a couple of years. Even if the value of the home goes up. Task forces and panels on property tax reform go nowhere.
Comment by Steward As Well.... Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:38 pm
Increasing the property tax credit homeowners can claim on their IL income tax return might be a quick clean way to offer property tax relief.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:41 pm
Overhaul IDOC to improve transparency and accountability through an independent ombudsperson, give correctional officers the resources they need to keep facilities safe, increase access to education and vocational training and quality comprehensive healthcare.
Comment by LakeviewJ Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:41 pm
“G” as the state letter.
Comment by Southern Illinois Mayor Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:41 pm
Gonna be hard to top Southern Illinois Mayor.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:42 pm
Single Payer, tied to a revamp of the states Human Services delivery system
Comment by tweed Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:42 pm
Bump up state portion of school funding for property tax relief.
Comment by Nick Name Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:46 pm
Legalize online poker again. It’s a far-greater skill based game than sports betting.
Comment by Bothanspy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:50 pm
It might not be next year but it will be soon. As of now a state can’t file for Bankruptcy but with the way things are headed the state is going to have to figure out a way.
Comment by Mike Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:53 pm
Move the Illinois primary to first in the nation during veto session, announce your candidacy, drop a cool $500 million into your campaign fund, and win the Democratic primary. /s
Comment by Greenpeace Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:54 pm
Universal pre-K. The real investment in Illinois’ future.
Comment by Commander Norton Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 3:55 pm
Gun safety. The drumbeat grows louder to enact meaningful reforms and the feds are completely useless on this subject.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:03 pm
Pension reform, school funding, guns
Comment by Catherine Meyer Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:06 pm
===Pension reform===
Pay what’s owed.
That’s done.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:11 pm
Tax retirement income
Comment by A Well-Regulated Commenter Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:16 pm
Cool County property tax assessment reform.
Comment by DougChicago Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:19 pm
Cook I mean. It’s only a cool county for the Madigan, Burke et alii insiders who run the operation.
Comment by DougChicago Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:20 pm
Mike
I think you misspelled Illinois policy in your search engine. Most commenters here deal in nonfiction. States can’t declare bankruptcy.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:24 pm
Clean energy jobs act and gun control.
Comment by KBS Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:24 pm
“Think Big” gun reform with comprehensive background checks and removal of guns from convicted felons.
Comment by Enviro Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:25 pm
4:24 was me.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:25 pm
Rebalance funding for Illinois citizen with intellectual/developmental disabilities in support of community living.
Comment by BobO Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:31 pm
Go through all the bad laws on the books and rewrite them so that they actually make sense. Remove special interests from legislation.
Comment by Unionman Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 4:42 pm
===Remove special interests from legislation. ===
Sounds great, but ask yourself ig you want politicians writng laws without consulting any of the entities that they are regulating or taxing or whatever.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:01 pm
== More gun control, please. ==
Nope. Illinois already has some of the strictest laws on the books. What is needed is more money spent on enforcement of existing laws instead of the hand slaps in the Chicago courts. If the Feds won’t do it, the State’s attorneys need to.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:06 pm
Dream list: Focus (Billions in appropriated money, not billion in borrowing) on bill backlog, implement Biennial budgeting, extend sales tax to services (if we overhaul the income tax, then the sales is next, right?), establishment of rainy day reserves.
Comment by DarkDante Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:08 pm
I do hope they tackle the property tax issue, but until there is more State level tax money, about all they can do is implement cost savings measures like salary caps, consolidation, and eliminating unfunded mandates.
Any serious level of property tax relief may have to wait until FY22.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:11 pm
== Changing from legislatively required pension contribution amounts to actuarially required state contributions. ==
I’d like to see that also but, again, it is going to take more State level tax money.
Probably another FY22 or FY23 issue where they will need to raise the progressive tax rates to generate the needed funds.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:14 pm
Start preparing for Illinois’s tricentennial in 2118.
Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:16 pm
I’d like to see that also but, again, it is going to take more State level tax money.
Yes would be a heavy lift, but it would be my top issue “want”. If we had been doing this all along, we would be in great fiscal shape.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:18 pm
Government consolidation-we have way too many governmental taxing units in this state. Follow through on one good Rauner idea and consolidate them.
Comment by OurMagician Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:28 pm
Rereading the comments, I was reminded the major money out there to be taxed is services. If the GA is willing to tax services, they could possibly do increased school funding for reduced property taxes and/or pension increases.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:30 pm
1. Reinvent education funding in the state. Everything from Pre-K to Higher Ed. Work collaboratively with everyone to reimagine how the system can work.
2. Local Government Consolidation. The number and types of units of local government that we have are relics of the pre-1970 constitution. Again, get everyone to the table and start with a blank page.
Not that either are heavy lifts. /s
Comment by Back to the Mountains Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 5:56 pm
“I hope he takes the opportunity to do a deep dive into managing and supervising the executive branch, looking for ways to make improvements in delivery of services.”
This. Blago and Quinn put very little effort into making state government more efficient. Rauner made a halfhearted attempt in his last year. It would be nice to see a governor who spends a significant portion of his time actually governing.
Comment by Pelonski Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 6:14 pm
A hobby.
Comment by A guy Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 6:50 pm
Property tax reform / ed funding will require more revenue. No reason to make the the tax amendment harder to pass. If it does, then you can couple broader base/ lower sales tax rate with significant property tax reform and reduction. In the meantime, focus on growing the economy long term: 1) higher education, agree w OW. Couple his experience with 1871 to build a true workforce development and business incubator system statewide. 2) clean energy reforms - boost job creation and significantly reduce our carbon footprint. 3) set aggressive standards for preK. Build consensus and the infrastructure to fund it more completely when economic growth and a more rational tax and education funding system permit it.
Comment by WH Mess Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 6:52 pm
Redistricting reform because the current method is inherently corrupt and wrong. It shouldn’t be limited to the General Assembly either.
Comment by Just Me Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 9:13 pm
Stop the elderly from driving.
Comment by Glengarry Monday, Jun 3, 19 @ 10:35 pm
Make FOID card revocation work.
Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 1:03 am
== Stop the elderly from driving. ==
Depending on your definition of elderly, they already make it harder to keep a license the older you get.
From the SOS website:
drivers age 81 through 86 — licenses are valid for two years; drivers age 87 and older must renew their licenses each year.
Vision screening is required for all drivers renewing at a facility.
All persons age 75 and older must take a driving exam.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 4:50 am
Any property tax reform should include reforming the tax sale timelines/process so people in dire financial straits have a better chance at saving their house.
Comment by Cygnus Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 6:17 am
reinstate parole that was eliminated in 1978
Comment by bill Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 6:53 am
@Bill: “Reinstate parole”. We have it; now called “Mandatory Supervised Release”. Same thing, longer name.
Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 7:22 am
I second the need to address the underinvested and broken human services system. If the next spring session fails to address this, it will be a total betrayal of Illinois communities. Human services agencies and people who rely on the social safety net have been fighting too hard for too long.
Comment by Quill Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 8:36 am
Hunt dutifully for all of the additional manners in which the residents can be taxed. If that fails, raise all the existing taxes even more. Especially parking, which gets hit every single time anyone needs more tax revenue.
Comment by BigDoggie Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 8:43 am
Universal enfranchisement for all citizens regardless of criminal history.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 8:56 am
Downstate Public Safety Pension Fund Consolidation and Pension Payment Schedule modification.
Comment by Franklin Park Mayor Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 10:42 am
1. Schools: completely restructure the school funding model, provide funding for universal pre-k and also full-day kindergarten
2. HHS/DCFS/IDOC restructuring/funding/reform, including a focus on mental health care and treatment
3. Common-sense gun control. Fix the FOID. Develop a ballistics database and require registration within that database for all guns owned in Illinois. Require FOIDs to be surrendered when the owner of a gun has that gun stolen and used in a crime - that is not responsible gun ownership. Remove guns from those that have mental health issues or history of domestic abuse.
Comment by Notorious RBG Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 11:32 am
@ Notorious RBG: “Common sense” guns laws like that have been tried and failed in other countries. Ask Canada about mandatory registration which failed, as well as the states that require ballistic fingerprinting that never stopped a crime, or led to a conviction, while wasting millions of tax dollars. Revoking a crime victim’s FOID for having their gun used in a crime would be overturned by the courts (blaming the victim once again for acts beyond their control).
Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 5:19 pm
Illinois has a witness protection program. One never hears about it during discussions about crime. How can it be effective if no one knows about it? There are many communities that could benefit from more publicity about this program, as people are afraid of retaliation if they come forward. East St. Louis, Springfield, Rockford, Danville, Harvey, Chicago all would benefit from this. Where are the billboards, the Goodyear Blimps, the milk cartons? This should be everywhere.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Jun 6, 19 @ 8:30 am
Speaking of greater publicity, people are still abandoning their newborns. Why don’t people know they can give up their infant at a firehouse of police station? Kids should be taught this in kindergarten so by the time they are teenagers it is a well known fact. We need more funding for publicity if that is what it takes. Come on this is a pro life issue. Let’s get it done.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Jun 6, 19 @ 8:34 am
I understand the nuance in this essay, although I hope to read more writing in this vein from you in time.
Comment by quick cash loans no checks Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 10:49 am