WICS NewsChannel 20 :: News - Top Stories - Committee Questions Payment Of Rauner Education Advisor

 

The Illinois House is back in session, and lawmakers began the day with a committee to discuss the pay of Governor Bruce Rauner's education czar.

Right now Beth Purvis -- Governor Rauner's top education advisor -- makes $250,000 a year. Her salary comes from the Department of Human Services budget, a department that would face painful cuts under the Governor's proposed budget.

A spokesman for the Governor called the hearing a sham, saying it was a distraction from Democrats' budget proposal -- which has a $4 billion hole.

The Governor's office also called lawmakers out for sexism, saying the attack on Purvis' character only comes because she's a woman and that male Democratic staffers make more than she does.

While the Governor's office greatly defended Purvis and her credentials, lawmakers in the committee say it isn't about her resume or qualifications; they just want to know which budget should be paying her.

"Secretary Purvis was recruited because of her expertise not only in those areas but, at large, across early childhood education, childhood development, cradle-to-career," said the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff Rich Goldberg.

"There's no argument regarding her credentials or anything like that," said Representative Rita Mayfield of Waukegan. "It is more about being fiscally responsible in this budget and making sure that we are meeting the priorities of the state and addressing our most vulnerable population."

Some Republicans noted that former Governor Pat Quinn had several employees on the Human Services payroll, and questioned why this issue wasn't brought up back then.

Rauner's spokesperson says this is something that has always been done under past administrations.

When the Governor's spokesperson was asked why Purvis was not present for the hearing, he said she didn't need to be subjected to what he was calling a sham.

Lawmakers asked the Governor's office to come back to the committee to discuss Purvis' place on the Human Services payroll again, but no timetable has been set for that meeting.

WICS NewsChannel 20 :: News - Top Stories - Committee Questions Payment Of Rauner Education Advisor

Democrats to hold hearing on Rauner education czar's salary - Education Week

 

Illinois Democrats have scheduled a hearing on why Gov. Bruce Rauner's education secretary is being paid from the state's human services budget.

Lawmakers are expected to discuss Beth Purvis' $250,000-per-year salary at a hearing Thursday in Springfield.

Documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times showed the money comes from human services, even though Purvis reports to Rauner's office.

The Republican governor has recommended cutting millions from the agency's budget for programs that deal with autism and burials for the indigent.

Democratic Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago is chairman of the House Human Services Appropriations committee. In a letter to Rauner last week he called the arrangement "troubling."

Rauner's office says Purvis is paid with agency's funds because "a portion of her portfolio is in early childhood development."

Democrats to hold hearing on Rauner education czar's salary - Education Week

Illinois wind-farm project runs into opposition

PONTIAC, Ill. — A final decision on whether Livingston County will allow a Chicago firm to build a new wind-energy farm is still to come, but the project has run into local-government hurdles.

The Livingston County Zoning Board of Appeals voted this week against granting a special-use permit to the Pleasant Ridge Wind Energy Project. Chicago-based Invenergy LLC hopes to build the 136-turbine project near Forrest in Livingston County. The town is about 40 miles northeast of Bloomington.

According to The Daily Leader in Pontiac (http://bit.ly/1KS7rlW ), members of the appeals board this week raised questions about whether the project meets the county's comprehensive plan and whether the company had made proper financial assurances to the county.

The final decision will be made by the Livingston County Board. No date has been set.

Above is from:   http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150605/NEWS/150609578?utm_source=newsletter-20150606&utm_medium=email&utm_term=view_as_webpage&utm_campaign=newsletter

Original Story from: http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/article/20150604/NEWS/150609717/0/SEARCH

Zoning Board of Appeals votes against wind farm

 

By Kent Casson
For The Daily Leader

Posted Jun. 4, 2015 at 10:10 AM

    In a 6-0 vote Tuesday night, the Livingston County Zoning Board of Appeals voted against the proposed Pleasant Ridge Wind Energy Project.

    The advisory vote didn’t come without much discussion from board members. After months of hearings and countless pages of testimony, attorney Tom Blakeman instructed the board to evaluate all of the evidence to make a determination. Acting chairman Michael Cornale acknowledged the time, effort and resources put into the hearings.

    “I want to thank everyone throughout this process,” he said.

    Zoning Board members spent the evening deciding whether or not the wind energy application met or did not meet the standards of a special use permit. They had the choice to deny, grant or grant subject to special use conditions.

    Joan Huisman raised questions over financial assurance. She said the only financial assurance she saw was a bank letter.

    “We don’t have any dollars to look at.”

    The board mirrored an earlier decision from the Planning Commission that the project does not meet the comprehensive plan and the WECS ordinance. Whether or not the project would endanger public health or general welfare prompted a few comments.

    “That’s a hard question to answer because no two people are the same,” said John Vitzthum.

    “Based on the evidence, there’s a question mark,” added Richard Kiefer.

    Agriculture and land values were also taken into consideration by board members. Kiefer believes the company has somewhat addressed property values and guarantees. Board members seemed to agree the project would not impede growth or development in an ag zoning district.

    Diana Iverson noted the possible inconvenience the project could cause during harvest season and for school buses traveling on country roads. Kiefer said anything that changes habits is an inconvenience.

    Huisman made the initial motion for the vote with a second by Kiefer. The issue now goes before the Livingston County Agriculture, Zoning and Emergency Services Committee today at 5 p.m. for consideration and the entire Livingston County Board has the final say. A date on the final vote has not yet been scheduled.

By Kent Casson
For The Daily Leader

Pontiac Daily Leader - Pontiac, IL

By Kent Casson
For The Daily Leader

Posted Jun. 4, 2015 at 10:10 AM